485BPOS 1 d485bpos.htm DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC. DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc.
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As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28 2011

File No. 002-73948

File No. 811-03258

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM N-1A

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933   [X]  

Pre-Effective Amendment No.     

  [   ]  

Post-Effective Amendment No. 125

  [X]  

and/or

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940   [X]  

Amendment No. 126

   

(Check appropriate box or boxes.)

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX        78746

(Address of Principal Executive Office)                (Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code    (512) 306-7400

Catherine L. Newell, Esquire, Vice President and Secretary

DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc.,

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX    78746

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

Please send copies of all communications to:

Jana L. Cresswell, Esquire

Stradley, Ronon, Stevens & Young, LLP

2600 One Commerce Square

Philadelphia, PA 19103

(215) 564-8048

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):

 

[X] immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
[   ] on [Date] pursuant to paragraph (b)
[   ] 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
[   ] on [Date] pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
[   ] 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
[   ] on [Date] pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485

If appropriate, check the following box:


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[    ] This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.


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The Trustees and principal officers of The DFA Investment Trust Company and Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund also have executed this registration statement.

Title of Securities Being Registered:

ASIA PACIFIC SMALL COMPANY PORTFOLIO

CONTINENTAL SMALL COMPANY PORTFOLIO

CSTG&E INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL CORE EQUITY PORTFOLIO

CSTG&E U.S. SOCIAL CORE EQUITY 2 PORTFOLIO

DFA CALIFORNIA INTERMEDIATE-TERM MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO

DFA CALIFORNIA SHORT-TERM MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO

DFA COMMODITY STRATEGY PORTFOLIO

DFA FIVE-YEAR GLOBAL FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO

DFA GLOBAL REAL ESTATE SECURITIES PORTFOLIO

DFA INFLATION-PROTECTED SECURITIES PORTFOLIO

DFA INTERMEDIATE GOVERNMENT FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO

DFA INTERMEDIATE-TERM EXTENDED QUALITY PORTFOLIO

DFA INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE SECURITIES PORTFOLIO

DFA INTERNATIONAL SMALL CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO

DFA INTERNATIONAL VALUE EX TOBACCO PORTFOLIO

DFA INVESTMENT GRADE PORTFOLIO

DFA ONE-YEAR FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO

DFA REAL ESTATE SECURITIES PORTFOLIO

DFA SELECTIVELY HEDGED GLOBAL FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO

DFA SHORT-TERM EXTENDED QUALITY PORTFOLIO

DFA SHORT-TERM GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO

DFA SHORT-TERM MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO

DFA TWO-YEAR GLOBAL FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO

DFA VA GLOBAL MODERATE ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO

EMERGING MARKETS PORTFOLIO

EMERGING MARKETS SMALL CAP PORTFOLIO

EMERGING MARKETS CORE EQUITY PORTFOLIO

EMERGING MARKETS SOCIAL CORE EQUITY PORTFOLIO

EMERGING MARKETS VALUE PORTFOLIO

ENHANCED U.S. LARGE COMPANY PORTFOLIO

INTERNATIONAL CORE EQUITY PORTFOLIO

INTERNATIONAL SMALL COMPANY PORTFOLIO

INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY CORE 1 PORTFOLIO

INTERNATIONAL VECTOR EQUITY PORTFOLIO

JAPANESE SMALL COMPANY PORTFOLIO

LARGE CAP INTERNATIONAL PORTFOLIO

LWAS/DFA INTERNATIONAL HIGH BOOK TO MARKET PORTFOLIO

T.A. U.S. CORE EQUITY 2 PORTFOLIO

T.A. WORLD EX U.S. CORE EQUITY PORTFOLIO

TAX-MANAGED DFA INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO

TAX-MANAGED U.S. EQUITY PORTFOLIO

TAX-MANAGED U.S. MARKETWIDE VALUE PORTFOLIO

TAX-MANAGED U.S. SMALL CAP PORTFOLIO

TAX-MANAGED U.S. TARGETED VALUE PORTFOLIO


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U.S. CORE EQUITY 1 PORTFOLIO

U.S. CORE EQUITY 2 PORTFOLIO

U.S. LARGE CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO

U.S. MICRO CAP PORTFOLIO

U.S. SMALL CAP PORTFOLIO

U.S. SMALL CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO

U.S. SOCIAL CORE EQUITY 2 PORTFOLIO

U.S. SUSTAINABILITY CORE 1 PORTFOLIO

U.S. TARGETED VALUE PORTFOLIO

U.S. VECTOR EQUITY PORTFOLIO

UNITED KINGDOM SMALL COMPANY PORTFOLIO

VA GLOBAL BOND PORTFOLIO

VA INTERNATIONAL SMALL PORTFOLIO

VA INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO

VA SHORT-TERM FIXED PORTFOLIO

VA U.S. LARGE VALUE PORTFOLIO

VA U.S. TARGETED VALUE PORTFOLIO

WORLD EX U.S. VALUE PORTFOLIO


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This Post-Effective Amendment No. 125/126 to Registration File Nos. 002-73948/811-03258 includes the following:

 

1. FACING PAGE

 

2. CONTENTS PAGE

 

3. PART A — Prospectus relating to the Institutional Class shares of the Registrant’s Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio, U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio, U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio, U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, U.S. Small Cap Portfolio, U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio, U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio, U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio, U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio, DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio, Large Cap International Portfolio, International Small Company Portfolio, Japanese Small Company Portfolio, Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio, United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio, Continental Small Company Portfolio, DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio, DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio, DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio, International Core Equity Portfolio, International Vector Equity Portfolio, Emerging Markets Portfolio, Emerging Markets Value Portfolio, Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio, Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio, World ex U.S. Value Portfolio, DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio series of shares.

 

4. PART A — Prospectus relating to the Class R2 shares of the Registrant’s U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, Emerging Markets Value Portfolio series of shares

 

5. PART A — Prospectus relating to the Institutional Class shares of the Registrant’s DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Short-Term Government Portfolio, DFA Five Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Intermediate Government Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio, DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio, DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio, DFA Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio, DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio, DFA Investment Grade Portfolio series of shares

 

6. PART A — Prospectus relating to the Registrant’s Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio, Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio, Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio, T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio, Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio, T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio series of shares

 

7. PART A — Prospectus relating to the Registrant’s LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio series of shares

 

8. PART A — Prospectus relating to the Registrant’s VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio, VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, VA International Value Portfolio, VA International Small Portfolio, VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio, VA Global Bond Portfolio series of shares

 

9. PART A — Prospectus relating to the Registrant’s U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio, U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio, International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio, DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio, Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio series of shares


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10. PART A — Prospectus relating to the Registrant’s CSTG&E U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio and CSTG&E International Social Core Equity Portfolio series of shares

 

11. PART A — Prospectus relating to the Registrant’s DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio series of shares

 

12. PART A — Prospectus relating to the Registrant’s DFA California Intermediate-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio series of shares

 

13. PART B — Statement of Additional Information relating to the Institutional Class shares of the Registrant’s Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio, U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio, U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio, U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, U.S. Small Cap Portfolio, U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio, U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio, U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio, U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio, DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio, Large Cap International Portfolio, International Small Company Portfolio, Japanese Small Company Portfolio, Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio, United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio, Continental Small Company Portfolio, DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio, DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio, DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio, International Core Equity Portfolio, International Vector Equity Portfolio, Emerging Markets Portfolio, Emerging Markets Value Portfolio, Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio, Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio, World ex U.S. Value Portfolio, DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio series of shares

 

14. PART B — Statement of Additional Information relating to the Class R2 shares of the Registrant’s U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, Emerging Markets Value Portfolio series of shares

 

15. PART B — Statement of Additional Information relating to the Institutional Class shares of the Registrant’s DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Short-Term Government Portfolio, DFA Five Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Intermediate Government Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio, DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio, DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio, DFA Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio, DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio, DFA Investment Grade Portfolio series of shares

 

16. PART B — Statement of Additional Information relating to the Registrant’s Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio, Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio, Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio, T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio, Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio, T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio series of shares

 

17. PART B — Statement of Additional Information relating to the Registrant’s LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio series of shares

 

18. PART B — Statement of Additional Information relating to the Registrant’s VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio, VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, VA International Value Portfolio, VA International Small Portfolio, VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio, VA Global Bond Portfolio series of shares

 

19. PART B — Statement of Additional Information relating to the Registrant’s U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio, U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio, International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio, DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio, Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio series of shares


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20. PART B — Statement of Additional Information relating to the Registrant’s CSTG&E U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio and CSTG&E International Social Core Equity Portfolio series of shares

 

21. PART B — Statement of Additional Information relating to the Registrant’s DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio series of shares

 

22. PART B — Statement of Additional Information relating to the Registrant’s DFA California Intermediate-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio series of shares

 

23. PART C — Other Information

 

24. SIGNATURES

 

 


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P R O S P E C T U S

February 28, 2011

Please carefully read the important information it contains before investing.

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

 

Dimensional Investment Group Inc.

PORTFOLIOS FOR LONG-TERM INVESTORS SEEKING TO INVEST IN:

DOMESTIC SECURITIES

 

U.S. LARGE COMPANY PORTFOLIO

(formerly, U.S. Large Company Institutional Index Portfolio)

Ticker: DFUSX

ENHANCED U.S. LARGE COMPANY PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFELX

U.S. LARGE CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFLVX

U.S. SMALL CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFSVX

U.S. TARGETED VALUE PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFFVX

U.S. CORE EQUITY 1 PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFEOX

U.S. CORE EQUITY 2 PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFQTX

U.S. VECTOR EQUITY PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFVEX

U.S. SMALL CAP PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFSTX

U.S. MICRO CAP PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFSCX

DFA REAL ESTATE SECURITIES PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFREX

 

 

INTERNATIONAL SECURITIES

 

DFA COMMODITY STRATEGY PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DCMSX

LARGE CAP INTERNATIONAL PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFALX

DFA INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFIVX

INTERNATIONAL CORE EQUITY PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFIEX

INTERNATIONAL SMALL COMPANY PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFISX

JAPANESE SMALL COMPANY PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFJSX

ASIA PACIFIC SMALL COMPANY PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFRSX

UNITED KINGDOM SMALL COMPANY PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFUKX

CONTINENTAL SMALL COMPANY PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFCSX

DFA INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE SECURITIES PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFITX

DFA GLOBAL REAL ESTATE SECURITIES PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFGEX

DFA INTERNATIONAL SMALL CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DISVX

INTERNATIONAL VECTOR EQUITY PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFVQX

WORLD EX U.S. VALUE PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFWVX

EMERGING MARKETS PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFEMX

EMERGING MARKETS VALUE PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFEVX

EMERGING MARKETS SMALL CAP PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DEMSX

EMERGING MARKETS CORE EQUITY PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFCEX

 

 

INSTITUTIONAL CLASS SHARES

This Prospectus describes the Institutional Class shares of each Portfolio which:

Are generally available only to institutional investors and clients of registered investment advisors.

Do not charge sales commissions or loads.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

U.S. LARGE COMPANY PORTFOLIO

     1   

Investment Objective

     1   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     1   

Principal Investment Strategies

     2   

Principal Risks

     2   

Performance

     3   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     4   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     4   

Tax Information

     4   

ENHANCED U.S. LARGE COMPANY PORTFOLIO

     5   

Investment Objective

     5   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     5   

Principal Investment Strategies

     5   

Principal Risks

     7   

Performance

     7   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     8   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     8   

Tax Information

     9   

U.S. LARGE CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO

     10   

Investment Objective

     10   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     10   

Principal Investment Strategies

     11   

Principal Risks

     11   

Performance

     12   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     13   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     13   

Tax Information

     13   

U.S. SMALL CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO

     14   

Investment Objective

     14   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     14   

Principal Investment Strategies

     14   

Principal Risks

     15   

Performance

     16   

 

i


Table of Contents

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     16   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     17   

Tax Information

     17   

U.S. TARGETED VALUE PORTFOLIO

     18   

Investment Objective

     18   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     18   

Principal Investment Strategies

     18   

Principal Risks

     19   

Performance

     20   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     21   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     21   

Tax Information

     21   

U.S. CORE EQUITY 1 PORTFOLIO

     22   

Investment Objective

     22   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     22   

Principal Investment Strategies

     22   

Principal Risks

     23   

Performance

     24   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     25   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     25   

Tax Information

     25   

U.S. CORE EQUITY 2 PORTFOLIO

     26   

Investment Objective

     26   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     26   

Principal Investment Strategies

     26   

Principal Risks

     27   

Performance

     28   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     29   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     29   

Tax Information

     29   

U.S. VECTOR EQUITY PORTFOLIO

     30   

Investment Objective

     30   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     30   

Principal Investment Strategies

     30   

Principal Risks

     31   

 

ii


Table of Contents

Performance

     32   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     33   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     33   

Tax Information

     33   

U.S. SMALL CAP PORTFOLIO

     34   

Investment Objective

     34   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     34   

Principal Investment Strategies

     34   

Principal Risks

     35   

Performance

     36   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     36   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     37   

Tax Information

     37   

U.S. MICRO CAP PORTFOLIO

     38   

Investment Objective

     38   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     38   

Principal Investment Strategies

     38   

Principal Risks

     39   

Performance

     40   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     40   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     41   

Tax Information

     41   

DFA REAL ESTATE SECURITIES PORTFOLIO

     42   

Investment Objective

     42   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     42   

Principal Investment Strategies

     42   

Principal Risks

     43   

Performance

     44   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     45   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     45   

Tax Information

     45   

DFA COMMODITY STRATEGY PORTFOLIO

     46   

Investment Objective

     46   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     46   

 

iii


Table of Contents

Principal Investment Strategies

     46   

Principal Risks

     48   

Performance

     50   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     50   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     50   

Tax Information

     51   

LARGE CAP INTERNATIONAL PORTFOLIO

     52   

Investment Objective

     52   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     52   

Principal Investment Strategies

     52   

Principal Risks

     53   

Performance

     54   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     55   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     55   

Tax Information

     55   

DFA INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO

     56   

Investment Objective

     56   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     56   

Principal Investment Strategies

     57   

Principal Risks

     57   

Performance

     58   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     59   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     59   

Tax Information

     59   

INTERNATIONAL CORE EQUITY PORTFOLIO

     60   

Investment Objective

     60   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     60   

Principal Investment Strategies

     60   

Principal Risks

     61   

Performance

     62   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     63   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     63   

Tax Information

     63   

 

iv


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INTERNATIONAL SMALL COMPANY PORTFOLIO

     64   

Investment Objective

     64   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     64   

Principal Investment Strategies

     65   

Principal Risks

     65   

Performance

     66   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     67   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     67   

Tax Information

     68   

JAPANESE SMALL COMPANY PORTFOLIO

     69   

Investment Objective

     69   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     69   

Principal Investment Strategies

     70   

Principal Risks

     70   

Performance

     71   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     72   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     72   

Tax Information

     73   

ASIA PACIFIC SMALL COMPANY PORTFOLIO

     74   

Investment Objective

     74   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     74   

Principal Investment Strategies

     75   

Principal Risks

     76   

Performance

     76   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     77   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     77   

Tax Information

     78   

UNITED KINGDOM SMALL COMPANY PORTFOLIO

     79   

Investment Objective

     79   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     79   

Principal Investment Strategies

     80   

Principal Risks

     80   

Performance

     81   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     82   

 

v


Table of Contents

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     82   

Tax Information

     83   

CONTINENTAL SMALL COMPANY PORTFOLIO

     84   

Investment Objective

     84   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     84   

Principal Investment Strategies

     85   

Principal Risks

     85   

Performance

     86   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     87   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     87   

Tax Information

     88   

DFA INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE SECURITIES PORTFOLIO

     89   

Investment Objective

     89   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     89   

Principal Investment Strategies

     89   

Principal Risks

     90   

Performance

     91   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     92   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     93   

Tax Information

     93   

DFA GLOBAL REAL ESTATE SECURITIES PORTFOLIO

     94   

Investment Objective

     94   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     94   

Principal Investment Strategies

     95   

Principal Risks

     96   

Performance

     97   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     98   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     98   

Tax Information

     98   

DFA INTERNATIONAL SMALL CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO

     99   

Investment Objective

     99   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     99   

Principal Investment Strategies

     99   

Principal Risks

     100   

 

vi


Table of Contents

Performance

     101   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     102   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     102   

Tax Information

     102   

INTERNATIONAL VECTOR EQUITY PORTFOLIO

     103   

Investment Objective

     103   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     103   

Principal Investment Strategies

     104   

Principal Risks

     105   

Performance

     105   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     106   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     106   

Tax Information

     106   

WORLD EX U.S. VALUE PORTFOLIO

     107   

Investment Objective

     107   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     107   

Principal Investment Strategies

     108   

Principal Risks

     109   

Performance

     110   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     110   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     110   

Tax Information

     110   

EMERGING MARKETS PORTFOLIO

     111   

Investment Objective

     111   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     111   

Principal Investment Strategies

     112   

Principal Risks

     112   

Performance

     113   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     114   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     114   

Tax Information

     114   

EMERGING MARKETS VALUE PORTFOLIO

     115   

Investment Objective

     115   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     115   

 

vii


Table of Contents

Principal Investment Strategies

     116   

Principal Risks

     116   

Performance

     117   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     118   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     118   

Tax Information

     118   

EMERGING MARKETS SMALL CAP PORTFOLIO

     119   

Investment Objective

     119   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     119   

Principal Investment Strategies

     120   

Principal Risks

     120   

Performance

     121   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     122   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     122   

Tax Information

     122   

EMERGING MARKETS CORE EQUITY PORTFOLIO

     123   

Investment Objective

     123   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     123   

Principal Investment Strategies

     123   

Principal Risks

     124   

Performance

     125   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     126   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     126   

Tax Information

     126   

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES

     127   

U.S. Large Company Portfolio

     127   

Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio

     127   

Additional Information Regarding Credit Risk

     129   

Standard & Poor’s—Information and Disclaimers

     129   

U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio, U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio and U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

     130   

U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio, U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio and U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio

     131   

U.S. Small Cap Portfolio and U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio

     132   

DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio

     133   

 

viii


Table of Contents

DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio

     134   

Investments in Commodity-Linked Derivative Instruments

     134   

Investments in the Subsidiary

     135   

Investments in Fixed Income Securities

     137   

International Portfolios

     138   

Approved Markets

     138   

Developed Markets

     139   

Emerging Markets

     139   

Large Cap International Portfolio

     140   

DFA International Value Portfolio

     141   

International Core Equity Portfolio

     142   

International Small Company Portfolios

     142   

International Small Company Portfolio

     143   

Japanese Small Company Portfolio

     144   

Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio

     144   

United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio

     145   

Continental Small Company Portfolio

     146   

DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio

     146   

DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio

     147   

DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio

     148   

International Vector Equity Portfolio

     149   

World ex U.S. Portfolio

     149   

Emerging Markets Portfolio, Emerging Markets Value Portfolio, Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio and Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio

     151   

Market Capitalization Weighted Approach

     153   

Portfolio Construction—Small Company Funds

     154   

Portfolio Transactions—All Portfolios

     154   

Other Information

     155   

SECURITIES LOANS

     155   

SECURITIES LENDING REVENUE

     156   

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS

     156   

Management Fees

     158   

Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreements

     159   

Performance

     162   

 

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Table of Contents

DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

     162   

PURCHASE OF SHARES

     166   

Cash Purchases

     166   

In-Kind Purchases

     167   

POLICY REGARDING EXCESSIVE OR SHORT-TERM TRADING

     168   

VALUATION OF SHARES

     170   

Net Asset Value

     170   

Public Offering Price

     172   

EXCHANGE OF SHARES

     173   

REDEMPTION OF SHARES

     174   

Redemption Procedure

     174   

Redemption of Small Accounts

     174   

In-Kind Redemptions

     174   

THE FEEDER PORTFOLIOS

     175   

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

     176   

DELIVERY OF SHAREHOLDER DOCUMENTS

     176   

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

     176   

SERVICE PROVIDERS

     205   

 

x


Table of Contents

U.S. Large Company Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The U.S. Large Company Portfolio (formerly, U.S. Large Company Institutional Index Portfolio) seeks, as its investment objective, to approximate the total investment return of the S&P 500® Index.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the U.S. Large Company Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses* (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.075

Other Expenses

     0.035

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.11 % 

Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or (Recovery)**

     0.01

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver
and/or Expense Reimbursement or (Recovery)

     0.10

*   The information in the table reflects the fees and expenses of the U.S. Large Company Portfolio when it operated in a master-feeder structure. Effective September 10, 2010, the Portfolio changed its investment structure to a stand-alone investment structure. The fees and expenses of the Portfolio would not have exceeded those disclosed in the table if the stand-alone investment structure had been utilized for the fiscal period ended October 31, 2010.
**   The Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its administration fee in certain circumstances. The Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the U.S. Large Company Portfolio will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and may not be terminated by the Advisor prior to that date. Under certain circumstances, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed up to thirty-six months after such fee waiver and/or expense assumption.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the U.S. Large Company Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs for the Portfolio reflect the net expenses of the Portfolio that result from the contractual expense waiver and assumption in the first year only. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

l Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 10       $ 34       $ 61       $ 140   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The U.S. Large Company Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the U.S. Large Company Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 1% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

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Table of Contents

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

The U.S. Large Company Portfolio generally invests in the stocks that comprise the S&P 500® Index in approximately the proportions they are represented in the S&P 500® Index. The S&P 500® Index is comprised of a broad and diverse group of stocks. Generally, these are the U.S. stocks with the largest market capitalizations and, as a group, they represent approximately 75% of the total market capitalization of all publicly traded U.S. stocks. For the U.S. Large Company Portfolio, the Advisor considers the stocks that comprise the S&P 500® Index to be those of large companies. Under normal market conditions, at least 95% of the U.S. Large Company Portfolio’s net assets will be invested in the stocks that comprise the S&P 500® Index. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the U.S. Large Company Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of large U.S. companies.

 

Ordinarily, portfolio securities will not be sold except to reflect additions or deletions of the stocks that comprise the S&P 500® Index, including as a result of mergers, reorganizations and similar transactions and, to the extent necessary, to provide cash to pay redemptions of the U.S. Large Company Portfolio’s shares. Given the impact on prices of securities affected by the reconstitution of the S&P 500® Index around the time of a reconstitution date, the U.S. Large Company Portfolio may purchase or sell securities that may be impacted by the reconstitution before or after the reconstitution date of the S&P 500® Index.

 

The U.S. Large Company Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on their uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The U.S. Large Company Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

About the S&P 500® Index: The Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Stock Price Index® is market capitalization weighted (adjusted for free float). Its performance is usually cyclical because it reflects periods when stock prices generally rise or fall. For information concerning Standard & Poor’s Rating Group, a division of The McGraw Hill Companies (“S&P”), and disclaimers of S&P with respect to the U.S. Large Company Portfolio, see “Standard & Poor’s—Information and Disclaimers.”

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the U.S. Large Company Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the U.S. Large Company Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the

 

2


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value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the U.S. Large Company Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The U.S. Large Company Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the U.S. Large Company Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The U.S. Large Company Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the U.S. Large Company Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. A negative pre-tax total return translates into a higher after-tax return because this calculation assumes that an investor received a tax deduction for the loss incurred on the sale.

 

U.S. Large Company Portfolio

 

LOGO

 

January 2001-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

15.93 (4/09-6/09)

   -21.78 (10/08-12/08)

 

     Periods ending December 31, 2010

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year

    Five
Years


    Ten
Years


 

U.S. Large Company Institutional Index Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     14.99     2.37     1.40

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     14.66     1.97     1.01

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     10.05     1.91     1.05

S&P 500® Index(1)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     15.06     2.29     1.41

 

(1)  

Copyright© 2010 Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

 

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INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the U.S. Large Company Portfolio. Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, is responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the U.S. Large Company Portfolio and has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the U.S. Large Company Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the U.S. Large Company Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the U.S. Large Company Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

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Table of Contents

Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio seeks, as its investment objective, to achieve a total return which exceeds the total return performance of the S&P 500® Index. Total return is comprised of income and capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.20

Other Expenses

     0.06

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses*

     0.01

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.27

*   Since the “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses” are not directly borne by the Portfolio, they are not reflected in the Portfolio’s financial statements, and therefore, the amounts listed in “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses” will differ from those presented in the Financial Highlights.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 28       $ 87       $ 152       $ 343   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 78% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

The Advisor believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the

 

5


Table of Contents

Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

The Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio seeks to outperform the S&P 500® Index primarily through investment in S&P 500® Index futures and short-term fixed income obligations. The Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio may invest in all of the stocks represented in the S&P 500® Index, options on stock indices, stock index futures, options on stock index futures, swap agreements on stock indices and shares of investment companies that invest in stock indices. The Portfolio invests in fixed income obligations, which may include securities of foreign issuers. The Portfolio may, from time to time, also invest in options on stock indices, stock index futures, options on stock index futures and swap agreements based on indices other than, but similar to, the S&P 500® Index (such instruments whether or not based on the S&P 500® Index are hereinafter collectively referred to as “Index Derivatives”). The S&P 500® Index is comprised of a broad and diverse group of stocks. Generally, these are the U.S. stocks with the largest market capitalizations and, as a group, they represent approximately 75% of the total market capitalization of all publicly traded U.S. stocks. The Advisor considers stocks that comprise the S&P 500® Index to be those of large companies. Under normal circumstances, the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in short-term fixed income obligations that are overlaid by futures, swaps and other derivatives of the S&P 500® Index to create exposure to the performance of large U.S. companies or in securities of large U.S. companies directly. Alternatively, the Portfolio may invest at least 80% of its net assets directly in securities of large companies.

 

The Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio may invest all of its assets in Index Derivatives. Certain of these Index Derivatives are speculative and may subject the Portfolio to additional risks. Assets of the Portfolio not invested in S&P 500® Index or Index Derivatives may be invested in short-term fixed income obligations including: U.S. government obligations, U.S. government agency obligations, corporate debt obligations, bank obligations, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, foreign government and agency obligations, supranational organization obligations, foreign issuer obligations and eurodollar obligations. The Portfolio’s investment in fixed income obligations will be considered investment grade at the time of purchase. The fixed income obligations purchased by the Portfolio will typically mature within two years from the date of settlement and the average dollar-weighted maturity of the fixed income obligations will be two years or less.

 

The Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio may use foreign currency contracts to hedge foreign currency risks. The Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio uses index swap agreements and/or stock index futures to hedge against changes in securities prices. The Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions. Additionally, the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio uses index swap agreements and stock index futures to attempt to achieve its investment objectives.

 

The Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

About the S&P 500® Index: The Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Stock Price Index® is market capitalization weighted (adjusted for free float). Its performance is usually cyclical because it reflects periods when stock prices generally rise or fall. For information concerning Standard & Poor’s Rating Group, a division of The McGraw Hill Companies (“S&P”), and disclaimers of S&P with respect to the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio, see “Standard & Poor’s—Information and Disclaimers.”

 

6


Table of Contents

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio may hedge foreign currency risk.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. Derivatives can be used for hedging (attempting to reduce risk by offsetting one investment position with another) or non-hedging purposes. Hedging with derivatives may increase expenses, and there is no guarantee that a hedging strategy will work. While hedging can reduce or eliminate losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

Interest Rate Risk: Fixed income securities are subject to interest rate risk because the prices of fixed income securities tend to move in the opposite direction of interest rates. When interest rates rise, fixed income security prices fall. When interest rates fall, fixed income security prices rise. In general, fixed income securities with longer maturities are more sensitive to these price changes.

 

Credit Risk: Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security may be unable to make interest payments and/or repay principal when due. A downgrade to an issuer’s credit rating or a perceived change in an issuer’s financial strength may affect a security’s value, and thus, impact the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio’s performance. Credit risk is greater for fixed income securities with ratings below investment grade (BB or below by Standard & Poor’s Rating Group or Ba or below by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.). Fixed income securities that are below investment grade involve high credit risk and are considered speculative.

 

Income Risk: Income risk is the risk that falling interest rates will cause the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio’s income to decline.

 

Call Risk: Call risk is the risk that during periods of falling interest rates, a bond issuer will call or repay a higher-yielding bond before its maturity date, forcing the Portfolio to reinvest in bonds with lower interest rates than the original obligations.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio.

 

7


Table of Contents

The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

    January 2001-December 2010    


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

16.84 (4/09-6/09)

   -21.79 (10/08-12/08)

 

     Periods ending December 31, 2010

 

Annualized Returns (%)    


   One
Year


    Five
Years


    Ten
Years


 

Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     15.66     2.45     1.52

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     15.36     0.55     0.30

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     10.17     1.06     0.61

S&P 500® Index(1)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     15.06     2.29     1.41

 

(1)  

Copyright© 2010 Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio. Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, is responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio and has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio through a financial intermediary should

 

8


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contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

9


Table of Contents

U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio is a Feeder Portfolio and pursues its objective by investing substantially all of its assets in its corresponding Master Fund, The U.S. Large Cap Value Series (the “U.S. Large Cap Value Series”) of the Trust, which has the same investment objective and policies as the U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses* (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.25

Other Expenses

     0.03

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.28

*   The “Management Fee” includes an investment management fee payable by the U.S. Large Cap Value Series and an administration fee payable by the U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio. The amounts set forth under “Other Expenses” and “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses” reflect the direct expenses of the U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio and the indirect expenses of the Portfolio’s portion of the expenses of the U.S. Large Cap Value Series.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 29       $ 90       $ 157       $ 356   

 

The Example reflects the aggregate estimated annual operating expenses of the U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio and the Portfolio’s portion of the expenses of the U.S. Large Cap Value Series.

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The U.S. Large Cap Value Series pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the U.S. Large Cap Value Series’ portfolio turnover rate was 28% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

10


Table of Contents

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

The U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio pursues its investment objective by investing substantially all of its assets in the U.S. Large Cap Value Series. The U.S. Large Cap Value Series, using a market capitalization weighted approach, purchases a broad and diverse group of readily marketable common stocks of large U.S. companies that the Advisor determines to be value stocks. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of the U.S. large cap company, the greater its representation in the Series. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value (a “book to market ratio”).

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the U.S. Large Cap Value Series will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of large cap U.S. companies. As of the date of this Prospectus, for purposes of the U.S. Large Cap Value Series, the Advisor considers large cap companies to be companies whose market capitalizations are generally in the highest 90% of total market capitalization or companies whose market capitalizations are larger than the 1,000th largest U.S. company, whichever results in the higher market capitalization break. Total market capitalization is based on the market capitalization of U.S. operating companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), NYSE Alternext US LLC, Nasdaq Global Market® or such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor. Under the Advisor’s market capitalization guidelines described above, as of December 31, 2010, the market capitalization of a large cap company was $2,357 million, or above. This dollar amount will change due to market conditions.

 

The U.S. Large Cap Value Series and the U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio each may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on their uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The U.S. Large Cap Value Series may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the U.S. Large Cap Value Series that owns them, and, in turn, the U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio itself, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the U.S. Large Cap Value Series and U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio use

 

11


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derivatives, the U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the U.S. Large Cap Value Series may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The U.S. Large Cap Value Series could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. A negative pre-tax total return translates into a higher after-tax return because this calculation assumes that an investor received a tax deduction for the loss incurred on the sale.

 

U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2001-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

23.58 (4/09-6/09)

   -27.86 (10/08-12/08)

 

12


Table of Contents
     Periods ending December 31, 2010

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Five
Years


    Ten
Years


 

U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     20.18     1.60     5.30

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     19.84     1.09     4.60

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     13.49     1.30     4.37

Russell 1000® Value Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     15.51     1.28     3.25

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio and the U.S. Large Cap Value Series. Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, is responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio and the U.S. Large Cap Series and has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

13


Table of Contents

U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.50

Other Expenses

     0.02

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.52

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 53       $ 167       $ 291       $ 653   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 19% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

14


Table of Contents

U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio, using a market capitalization weighted approach, purchases a broad and diverse group of the readily marketable common stocks of U.S. small cap companies that the Advisor determines to be value stocks. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of the U.S. small cap company, the greater its representation in the Portfolio. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value (a “book to market ratio”).

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of small cap U.S. companies. As of the date of this Prospectus, for purposes of the U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio, the Advisor considers small cap companies to be companies whose market capitalizations are generally in the lowest 10% of total market capitalization or companies whose market capitalizations are smaller than the 1,000th largest U.S. company, whichever results in the higher market capitalization break. Total market capitalization is based on the market capitalization of U.S. operating companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), NYSE Alternext US LLC, Nasdaq Global Market® or such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor. Under the Advisor’s market capitalization guidelines described above, as of December 31, 2010, the market capitalization of a small cap company was $2,357 million, or below. This dollar amount will change due to market conditions.

 

The U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

15


Table of Contents

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. A negative pre-tax total return translates into a higher after-tax return because this calculation assumes that an investor received a tax deduction for the loss incurred on the sale.

 

U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2001-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

28.03 (4/03-6/03)

   -28.70 (10/08-12/08)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010    

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
  Year  


    Five
Years


    Ten
  Years  


 

U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     30.90     3.71     11.14

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     30.81     3.00     9.69

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     20.20     3.08     9.35

Russell 2000® Value Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     24.50     3.52     8.42

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio. Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, is responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio and has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

16


Table of Contents

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

17


Table of Contents

U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.35

Other Expenses

     0.03

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.38

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 39       $ 122       $ 213       $ 480   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 20% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

18


Table of Contents

The U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, using a market capitalization weighted approach, purchases a broad and diverse group of the readily marketable common stocks of U.S. small and mid cap companies that the Advisor determines to be value stocks. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of the eligible company, the greater its representation in the Portfolio. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value (a “book to market ratio”).

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of U.S. companies. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Advisor considers for investment companies whose market capitalizations are generally smaller than the 500th largest U.S. company. As of December 31, 2010, companies smaller than the 500th largest U.S. company fall in lowest 19% of total U.S. market capitalization. Total market capitalization is based on the market capitalization of U.S. operating companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), NYSE Alternext US LLC, Nasdaq Global Market® or such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor. As of December 31, 2010, the market capitalization of a company smaller than the 500th largest U.S. company was approximately $5,005 million or below. This dollar amount will change due to market conditions.

 

The U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

19


Table of Contents

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and since inception returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

    January 2001-December 2010    


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

26.65 (4/03-6/03)

   -27.48 (10/08-12/08)

 

     Periods ending December 31, 2010

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
    Year    


    Five
    Years    


    Ten
    Years    


 

U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     29.01     4.36     10.72

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     28.83     3.72     9.10

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     19.06     3.56     8.72

Russell 2000® Value Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     24.50     3.52     8.42

 

20


Table of Contents

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio. Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, is responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio and has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

21


Table of Contents

U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.17

Other Expenses

     0.03

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.20

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 20       $ 64       $ 113       $ 255   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 4% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

22


Table of Contents

The U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio purchases a broad and diverse group of common stocks of U.S. companies with a greater emphasis on small capitalization and value companies as compared to their representation in the U.S. Universe. The Advisor generally defines the U.S. Universe as a free float adjusted market capitalization weighted portfolio of U.S. operating companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), NYSE Alternext US LLC or Nasdaq Global Market® or such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor. The Portfolio’s increased exposure to small and value companies may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to the largest U.S. growth companies relative to their weight in the U.S. Universe, which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization.

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of U.S. companies. The percentage allocation of the assets of the U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio to securities of the largest U.S. growth companies as defined above will generally be reduced from between 2.5% and 25% of their percentage weight in the U.S. Universe. For example, as of December 31, 2010, securities of the largest U.S. growth companies comprised 16% of the U.S. Universe and the Advisor allocated approximately 10% of the U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio to securities of the largest U.S. growth companies. The percentage by which the U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio’s allocation to securities of the largest U.S. growth companies is reduced will fluctuate with market movements. Additionally, the range by which the U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio’s percentage allocation to the securities of the largest U.S. growth companies is reduced as compared to the U.S. Universe will change from time to time.

 

The U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio also may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the

 

23


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derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year and since inception returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

    January 2006-December 2010    


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

17.92 (4/09-6/09)

   -23.48 (10/08-12/08)

 

     Periods ending December 31, 2010

 

Annualized Returns (%)    


   One
Year


    Five
Years


    Since 9/15/05
Inception


 

U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     20.11     3.32     3.56

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     19.80     3.00     3.24

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     13.35     2.75     2.96

Russell 3000® Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     16.93     2.74     3.03

 

24


Table of Contents

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio. Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, is responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio and has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

25


Table of Contents

U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.20

Other Expenses

     0.03

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.23

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 24       $ 74       $ 130       $ 293   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 7% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

26


Table of Contents

The U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio purchases a broad and diverse group of common stocks of U.S. companies with a greater emphasis on small capitalization and value companies as compared to their representation in the U.S. Universe. The Advisor generally defines the U.S. Universe as a free float adjusted market capitalization weighted portfolio of U.S. operating companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), NYSE Alternext US LLC or Nasdaq Global Market® or such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor. The Portfolio’s increased exposure to small and value companies may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to the largest U.S. growth companies relative to their weight in the U.S. Universe, which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization.

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of U.S. companies. The percentage allocation of the assets of the U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio to securities of the largest U.S. growth companies as defined above will generally be reduced from between 5% and 35% of their percentage weight in the U.S. Universe. For example, as of December 31, 2010, securities of the largest U.S. growth companies comprised 16% of the U.S. Universe and the Advisor allocated approximately 4% of the U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio to securities of the largest U.S. growth companies. The percentage by which the U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio’s allocation to securities of the largest U.S. growth companies is reduced will fluctuate with market movements. Additionally, the range by which the U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio’s percentage allocation to the securities of the largest U.S. growth companies is reduced as compared to the U.S. Universe will change from time to time.

 

The U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio also may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the

 

27


Table of Contents

derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year and since inception returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. A negative pre-tax total return translates into a higher after-tax return because this calculation assumes that an investor received a tax deduction for the loss incurred on the sale.

 

U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2006-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

19.26 (4/09-6/09)

   -24.17 (10/08-12/08)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010    

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Five
Years


    Since 9/15/05
Inception


 

U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     21.81     3.15     3.45

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     21.52     2.85     3.14

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     14.46     2.61     2.87

Russell 3000® Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     16.93     2.74     3.03

 

28


Table of Contents

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio. Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, is responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio and has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

29


Table of Contents

U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.30

Other Expenses

     0.03

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.33

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 34       $ 106       $ 185       $ 418   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 11% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

30


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The U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio purchases a broad and diverse group of common stocks of U.S. operating companies with a greater emphasis on small capitalization and value companies as compared to their representation in the U.S. Universe. The Advisor generally defines the U.S. Universe as a free float adjusted market capitalization weighted portfolio of U.S. operating companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), NYSE Alternext US LLC or Nasdaq Global Market® or such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor. The Portfolio’s increased exposure to small capitalization and value companies may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to the largest U.S. growth companies relative to their weight in the U.S. Universe or by avoiding purchases in that segment of the market, either of which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization.

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of U.S. companies. The percentage allocation of the assets of the U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio to securities of the largest U.S. growth companies as defined above will generally be reduced from between 5% and 50% of their percentage weight in the U.S. Universe. For example, as of December 31, 2010, securities of the largest U.S. growth companies comprised 16% of the U.S. Universe and the Advisor allocated approximately 1% of the U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio to securities of the largest U.S. growth companies. The percentage by which the Portfolio’s allocation to securities of the largest U.S. growth companies is reduced will fluctuate with market movements and other factors. Additionally, the range by which the Portfolio’s percentage allocation to the securities of the largest U.S. growth companies is reduced as compared to the U.S. Universe will change from time to time.

 

The U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio also may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity,

 

31


Table of Contents

interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year and since inception returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. A negative pre-tax total return translates into a higher after-tax return because this calculation assumes that an investor received a tax deduction for the loss incurred on the sale.

 

U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2006-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

21.41 (7/09-9/09)

   -26.14 (10/08-12/08)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010    

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Five
Years


    Since  12/30/05
Inception

 

U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     25.12     3.39     3.39

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     24.89     3.02     3.02

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     16.56     2.76     2.76

Russell 2500® Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     26.71     4.86     4.86

 

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Table of Contents

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio. Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, is responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio and has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

33


Table of Contents

U.S. Small Cap Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the U.S. Small Cap Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the U.S. Small Cap Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.35%   

Other Expenses

     0.02%   

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.37%   

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the U.S. Small Cap Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 38       $ 119       $ 208       $ 468   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The U.S. Small Cap Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the U.S. Small Cap Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the U.S. Small Cap Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 19% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

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Table of Contents

The U.S. Small Cap Portfolio, using a market capitalization weighted approach, purchases a broad and diverse group of readily marketable common stocks of U.S. small cap companies. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of the U.S. small cap company, the greater its representation in the Portfolio. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions.

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the U.S. Small Cap Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of small cap U.S. companies. As of the date of this Prospectus, for purposes of the U.S. Small Cap Portfolio, the Advisor considers small cap companies to be companies whose market capitalizations are generally in the lowest 10% of total market capitalization or companies whose market capitalizations are smaller than the 1,000th largest U.S. company, whichever results in the higher market capitalization break. Total market capitalization is based on the market capitalization of U.S. operating companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), NYSE Alternext US LLC, Nasdaq Global Market® or such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor. Under the Advisor’s market capitalization guidelines described above, as of December 31, 2010, the market capitalization of a small cap company was $2,357 million, or below. This dollar amount will change due to market conditions. When implementing its strategy, the U.S. Small Cap Portfolio will, as of the date of this Prospectus, generally purchase securities of companies that are in the lowest 8% of total market capitalization but may also purchase securities of companies above this range that are considered small cap companies under the Advisor’s market capitalization guidelines.

 

The U.S. Small Cap Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The U.S. Small Cap Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the U.S. Small Cap Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the U.S. Small Cap Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the U.S. Small Cap Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in

 

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recovering the loaned securities. The U.S. Small Cap Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the U.S. Small Cap Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the U.S. Small Cap Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The U.S. Small Cap Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the U.S. Small Cap Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

U.S. Small Cap Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2001-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

25.94 (4/09-6/09)

   -26.85 (10/08-12/08)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010    

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year

    Five
Years

    Ten
Years

 

U.S. Small Cap Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     30.70     5.21     8.33

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     30.52     4.59     7.58

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     20.12     4.31     7.06

Russell 2000® Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     26.85     4.47     6.33

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the U.S. Small Cap Portfolio. Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, is responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the U.S. Small Cap Portfolio and has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

 

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PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the U.S. Small Cap Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the U.S. Small Cap Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The U.S. Small Cap Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the U.S. Small Cap Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

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U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.50

Other Expenses

     0.02

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.52

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


   3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$53    $ 167       $ 291       $ 653   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 9% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

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The U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio, using a market capitalization weighted approach, purchases a broad and diverse group of the common stocks of U.S. micro cap companies. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of the U.S. micro cap company, the greater its representation in the Portfolio. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions.

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of U.S. micro cap companies. As of the date of this Prospectus, for the purposes of the U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio, the Advisor considers micro cap companies to be companies whose market capitalizations are generally in the lowest 5% of total market capitalization or companies whose market capitalizations are smaller than the 1,500th largest U.S. company, whichever results in the higher market capitalization break. Total market capitalization is based on the market capitalization of U.S. operating companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), NYSE Alternext US LLC, Nasdaq Global Market® or such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor. Under the Advisor’s market capitalization guidelines described above, as of December 31, 2010, the market capitalization of a micro cap company was $1,126 million, or below. This dollar amount will change due to market conditions. When implementing its strategy, the U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio will, as of the date of this Prospectus, generally purchase securities of companies that are in the lowest 4% of total market capitalization but may also purchase securities of companies above this range that are considered micro cap companies under the Advisor’s market capitalization guidelines.

 

The U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

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PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. A negative pre-tax total return translates into a higher after-tax return because this calculation assumes that an investor received a tax deduction for the loss incurred on the sale.

 

U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

  January 2001-December 2010  


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

27.35 (4/03-6/03)

   -26.98 (10/08-12/08)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010    

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Five
Years


    Ten
Years

 

U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     31.29     3.21     9.63

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     31.15     2.38     8.47

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     20.48     2.55     8.10

Russell 2000® Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     26.85     4.47     6.33

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio. Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, is responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio and has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

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PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

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DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.30

Other Expenses

     0.03

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.33

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


   3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$34    $ 106       $ 185       $ 418   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 2% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

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The DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio, using a market capitalization weighted approach, purchases readily marketable equity securities of companies whose principal activities include development, ownership, construction, management, or sale of residential, commercial or industrial real estate. The Portfolio will principally invest in equity securities of companies in certain real estate investment trusts and companies engaged in residential construction and firms, except partnerships, whose principal business is to develop commercial property. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of the U.S. real estate company, the greater its representation in the Portfolio. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions.

 

The DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio will purchase shares of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio’s net assets will be invested in securities of companies in the real estate industry. The DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio generally considers a company to be principally engaged in the real estate industry if the company (i) derives at least 50% of its revenue or profits from the development, ownership, construction, management, or sale of residential, commercial, industrial, or other real estate; (ii) has at least 50% of the value of its assets invested in residential, commercial, industrial, or other real estate; or (iii) is organized as a REIT or REIT-like entity. REIT-like entities are types of real estate companies that pool investors’ funds for investment primarily in income producing real estate or real estate related loans or interests. The DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio will make equity investments only in securities traded in the U.S. securities markets, principally on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), NYSE Alternext US LLC or such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor and over-the-counter market.

 

The DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio is authorized to use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Risks of Concentrating in the Real Estate Industry: The DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio is concentrated in the real estate industry. The exclusive focus by DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio on the real estate industry will cause the Portfolio to be exposed to the general risks of direct real estate ownership. The value of securities in the real estate industry can be affected by changes in real estate values and rental income, property taxes, interest rates, and tax and regulatory requirements. Investing in REITs and REIT-like entities involves certain unique risks in addition to those risks associated with investing in the real estate industry in general. REITs and REIT-like entities are dependent upon management skill, may not be diversified, and are subject to heavy cash flow dependency and self-liquidation. REITs and REIT-like entities also are subject to the possibility of failing to qualify for tax free pass-through of income. Also, because REITs and REIT-like entities typically are invested in a limited number of projects or in a particular market segment, these entities are more susceptible to adverse developments affecting a single project or market segment than more broadly diversified investments. The performance of DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio may be materially different from the broad equity market.

 

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Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2001-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

33.83 (7/09-9/09)

   -38.39 (10/08-12/08)

 

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           Periods ending December 31, 2010    

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year

    Five
Years

    Ten
Years

 

DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     28.67     2.59     10.50

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     27.43     1.13     8.80

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     18.56     1.54     8.36

S&P 500® Index(1)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     15.06     2.29     1.41

Dow Jones U.S. Select REIT Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     28.07     2.32     10.42

 

(1)  

Copyright© 2010 Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio. Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, is responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio and has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

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DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio is to seek total return consisting of capital appreciation and current income.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses* (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.30

Other Expenses

     0.14

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses

     0.03

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.47

*   The shares of the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio are new, so the operating expenses shown are based on anticipated fees and expenses for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2011.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

l Year


     3 Years

 
$ 48       $ 151   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio’s performance. Because the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio is new, information about portfolio turnover rate is not yet available.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that commodity and fixed income investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on risk and return, instead of focusing on forecasting or market timing.

 

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The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective by generally investing in a universe of allowable commodity-linked derivative instruments and fixed income investment opportunities. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio gains exposure to commodities markets by investing in derivative instruments, such as structured notes whose principal and/or coupon payments are linked to commodities or commodity indices, in swap agreements, and/or in other commodity-linked instruments (such as futures contracts on individual commodities or commodity indices). The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its total assets in Dimensional Cayman Commodity Fund I Ltd. (the “Subsidiary”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Portfolio formed in the Cayman Islands, which has the same investment objective as the Portfolio and has a strategy of investing in derivative instruments, such as commodity-linked swap agreements and other commodity-linked instruments, futures contracts on individual commodities, and options on these instruments. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio, directly and/or through its investment in the Subsidiary, expects to use such derivatives extensively as part of its investment strategy.

 

In pursuing the fixed income portion of the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio’s investment strategy, the Advisor identifies a broadly-diversified universe of eligible U.S. and foreign fixed income securities with precisely-defined maturity ranges and credit quality characteristics. The Advisor will then seek to purchase a broad and diverse portfolio of securities meeting these credit quality standards. In making these purchase decisions, if the anticipated maturity risk premium is greater for longer-term securities in the eligible maturity range, the Advisor will focus investment in that longer-term area; otherwise, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio will focus investment in the short-term range of the eligible maturity range.

 

The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio will invest in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, bank obligations, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, obligations of other domestic and foreign issuers having investment grade ratings (i.e., rated AAA to BBB- by Standard & Poor’s Rating Group (“S&P”) or Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”) or Aaa to Baa3 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”)), securities of domestic or foreign issuers denominated in U.S. dollars but not trading in the United States, and obligations of supranational organizations. At the present time, the Advisor expects that most fixed income investments will be made in the obligations of issuers that are located in developed countries, such as those countries that are members of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development. However, in the future, the Advisor anticipates investing in issuers located in other countries as well. The fixed income securities in which the Portfolio invests are considered investment grade at the time of purchase.

 

The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio’s fixed income securities primarily will mature within five years from the date of settlement, and the Portfolio maintains an average portfolio duration of three years or less. Duration is a measure of the expected life of a fixed income security that is used to determine the sensitivity of a security’s price to changes in interest rates. The longer a security’s duration, the more sensitive it will be to changes in interest rates. Similarly, a portfolio with a longer average portfolio duration will be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than a fund with a shorter average portfolio duration.

 

The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio’s investments may include foreign securities denominated in foreign currencies. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio intends to hedge foreign currency exposure to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency rates, to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or to transfer balances from one currency to another. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may hedge such currency exposure by entering into foreign forward currency contracts. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio also may enter into credit default swaps on issuers or indices to buy or sell credit protection to hedge its credit exposure, gain market or issuer exposure without owning the underlying securities, or increase the Portfolio’s expected total return.

 

The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio is “non-diversified,” which means that the Portfolio may invest its assets in a smaller number of issuers than a diversified fund.

 

The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

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PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Commodity Risk: The value of commodity-linked derivative instruments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity, such as drought, floods, weather, livestock disease, embargoes, tariffs, and international economic, political, and regulatory developments.

 

Use of leveraged commodity-linked derivatives creates an opportunity for increased return but, at the same time, creates the possibility for greater loss (including the likelihood of greater volatility of the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio’s net asset value), and there can be no assurance that the Portfolio’s use of leverage will be successful.

 

Derivatives Risk: Derivatives can be used for hedging (attempting to reduce risk by offsetting one investment position with another) or non-hedging purposes. While hedging can reduce or eliminate losses, it also can reduce or eliminate gains. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of those derivatives. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks, including commodity, correlation, interest rate, liquidity, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio also may use derivatives for leverage. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio’s use of derivatives, particularly commodity-linked derivatives, involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate, or index, and the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested. For example, potential losses from commodity-linked notes or swap agreements can be unlimited. Additional risks are associated with the use of credit default swaps, including counterparty and credit risk (the risk that the other party to a swap agreement will not fulfill its contractual obligations, whether because of bankruptcy or other default) and liquidity risk (the possible lack of a secondary market for the swap agreement). Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances and there can be no assurance that the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio will engage in these transactions to reduce exposure to other risks when that would be beneficial.

 

Focus Risk: The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may be exposed, from time to time, to the performance of a small number of commodity sectors (e.g., energy, metals or agricultural), which may represent a large portion of the Portfolio. As a result, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may be subject to greater volatility than if the Portfolio were more broadly diversified among commodity sectors.

 

Non-Diversification Risk: The risk that the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may be more volatile than a diversified fund because the Portfolio invests its assets in a smaller number of issuers. The gains or losses on a single security, therefore, may have a greater impact on the Portfolio’s net asset value.

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities also are exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio seeks to hedge foreign currency exposure.

 

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Interest Rate Risk: Fixed income securities are subject to interest rate risk because the prices of fixed income securities tend to move in the opposite direction of interest rates. When interest rates rise, fixed income security prices fall. When interest rates fall, fixed income security prices rise. In general, fixed income securities with longer maturities are more sensitive to these price changes. In addition, falling interest rates may cause the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio’s income to decline.

 

Credit Risk: Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security, or the counterparty to an agreement or contract, including a derivative instrument, such as a credit default swap, may be unable or unwilling to meet its financial obligations. A downgrade to an issuer’s credit rating or a perceived change in an issuer’s financial strength may affect a security’s value, and thus, impact the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio’s performance.

 

Call Risk: Call risk is the risk that during periods of falling interest rates, a bond issuer will call or repay a higher-yielding bond before its maturity date, forcing the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio to reinvest in bonds with lower interest rates than the original obligations.

 

Liquidity Risk: Certain portfolio holdings, such as commodity-linked derivative instruments and swap agreements, may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio would like. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may have to lower the price, sell other holdings instead, or forego an investment opportunity. Any of these could have a negative effect on management of the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio or the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Subsidiary Risk: By investing in the Subsidiary, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments. The derivatives and other investments held by the Subsidiary are generally similar to those that are permitted to be held by the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio and are subject to the same risks that apply to similar investments if held directly by the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio. These risks are described elsewhere in this Prospectus. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Subsidiary will be achieved.

 

The Subsidiary is not registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and, unless otherwise noted in this Prospectus, is not subject to all of the investor protections of the 1940 Act. However, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio wholly owns and controls the Subsidiary, and the Portfolio and the Subsidiary are both managed by the Advisor, making it unlikely that the Subsidiary will take action contrary to the interests of the Portfolio and its shareholders. The Board of Directors of DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. (the “Fund”) has oversight responsibility for the investment activities of the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio, including its investment in the Subsidiary, and the Portfolio’s role as the sole shareholder of the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary will be subject to investment restrictions and limitations and compliance policies and procedures substantially similar to those imposed on the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio by the 1940 Act.

 

Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio and/or the Subsidiary to continue to operate as it does currently and could adversely affect the Portfolio. For example, the Cayman Islands currently do not impose any income, corporate, or capital gains tax, estate duty, inheritance tax, gift tax, or withholding tax on the Subsidiary. If Cayman Islands law changes, such that the Subsidiary must pay Cayman Islands taxes, Portfolio shareholders likely would suffer decreased investment returns.

 

Tax Risk: As a regulated investment company, the Portfolio must derive at least 90% of its gross income for each taxable year from sources treated as qualifying income under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Portfolio has obtained private letter rulings from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) confirming that the income the Portfolio derives from a form of commodity-linked note and the Subsidiary constitutes qualifying income under the Code. If future regulatory or legislative changes alter the tax treatment of commodity-linked and other structured notes and the Portfolio’s investment in the Subsidiary, the income and gains from the Portfolio’s investment in the Subsidiary might be nonqualifying income, and there is a possibility such change in position might be applied to the Portfolio retroactively, in which case the Portfolio

 

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might not qualify as a regulated investment company for one or more years. In this event, the Portfolio’s Board may authorize a significant change in investment strategy or Portfolio liquidation. For more information, please see the “DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAX MATTERS” section in the Portfolio’s Statement of Additional Information.

 

Leveraging Risk: Certain transactions that the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may enter into may give rise to a form of leverage. Such transactions may include, among others, structured notes, swap agreements, futures contracts, and loans of portfolio securities. The use of leverage may cause the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio to liquidate portfolio positions when it may not be advantageous to do so to satisfy its obligations or to meet segregation requirements. Leverage may cause the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio to be more volatile than if the Portfolio had not been leveraged. This is because leverage tends to exaggerate the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of the Portfolio’s portfolio securities.

 

Regulatory Risk: Governments, agencies, or other regulatory bodies may adopt or change laws or regulations that could adversely affect the issuer, the market value of the security, or the Portfolio’s performance.

 

Valuation Risk: The lack of an active trading market may make it difficult to obtain an accurate price for a security held by the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio. Many commodity-linked derivative instruments are not actively traded.

 

Securities Lending Risk: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio could also lose money if the Portfolio does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

Performance information is not available for the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio because it has less than one calendar year of performance. Updated performance information for the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio can be obtained in the future by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day-to-day management of the Portfolio:

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

David A. Plecha, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1989.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

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TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio are taxable and generally will be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

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Large Cap International Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the Large Cap International Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Large Cap International Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.25%   

Other Expenses

     0.05%   

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.30%   

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the Large Cap International Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 31       $ 97       $ 169       $ 381   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Large Cap International Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Large Cap International Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Large Cap International Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 7% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

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The Large Cap International Portfolio purchases stocks of large non-U.S. companies using an adjusted market capitalization weighted approach in each country or region designated by the Advisor as an approved market for investment. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of a large company within an eligible country, the greater its representation in the Portfolio. However, using an adjusted market capitalization weighted approach the Advisor may adjust market capitalization weights to reflect the market capitalization of a particular company and valuation ratios (ie, book to market value) and modify those weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions. The Advisor will seek to set country weights based on the relative adjusted market capitalizations of eligible large companies within each country.

 

The Large Cap International Portfolio intends to purchase stocks of large non-U.S. companies associated with developed market countries that the Advisor has designated as approved markets. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Large Cap International Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of large cap companies in the particular markets in which the Portfolio invests. The Advisor determines the minimum market capitalization of a large company with respect to each country or region in which the Portfolio invests. As of December 31, 2010, for the Large Cap International Portfolio, the lowest minimum market capitalization of a large company in any country or region in which the Large Cap International Portfolio invests was $1,438 million. This threshold will change due to market conditions.

 

The Large Cap International Portfolio may gain exposure to companies in an approved market by purchasing equity securities in the form of depositary receipts, which may be listed or traded outside the issuer’s domicile country. The Portfolio also may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for foreign or U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The Large Cap International Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The Large Cap International Portfolio does not hedge foreign currency risk.

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Large Cap International Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the Large Cap International Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

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Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the Large Cap International Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Large Cap International Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the Large Cap International Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Large Cap International Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Large Cap International Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the Large Cap International Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

Large Cap International Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2001-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

25.18 (4/09-6/09)

   -20.63 (10/08-12/08)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010    

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year

    Five Years

    Ten Years

 

Large Cap International Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     9.25     3.25     3.87

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     8.62     2.71     3.38

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     6.34     2.71     3.21

MSCI World ex USA Index (net dividends)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     8.95     3.05     3.98

 

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INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the Large Cap International Portfolio. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the Large Cap International Portfolio:

 

   

Karen Umland, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1998.

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

Joseph H. Chi, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2005.

 

   

Jed S. Fogdall, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2004.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the Large Cap International Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Large Cap International Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Large Cap International Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the Large Cap International Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

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DFA International Value Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the DFA International Value Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The DFA International Value Portfolio is a Feeder Portfolio and pursues its objective by investing substantially all of its assets in its corresponding Master Fund, The DFA International Value Series (the “DFA International Value Series”) of The DFA Investment Trust Company (the “Trust”), which has the same investment objective and policies as the Portfolio.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the DFA International Value Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses* (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.40

Other Expenses

     0.05

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.45

*   The “Management Fee” includes an investment management fee payable by the DFA International Value Series and an administration fee payable by the DFA International Value Portfolio. The amounts set forth under “Other Expenses” and “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses” reflect the direct expenses of the DFA International Value Portfolio and the indirect expenses of the Portfolio’s portion of the expenses of the DFA International Value Series.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the DFA International Value Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


   3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$46    $ 144       $ 252       $ 567   

 

The Example reflects the aggregate estimated annual operating expenses of the DFA International Value Portfolio and the DFA International Value Portfolio’s portion of the expenses of the DFA International Value Series.

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The DFA International Value Series pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the DFA International Value Portfolio’s

 

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performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the DFA International Value Series’ portfolio turnover rate was 20% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

The DFA International Value Portfolio invests substantially all of its assets in the DFA International Value Series. The DFA International Value Series, using a market capitalization weighted approach, purchases stocks of large non-U.S. companies in countries with developed markets that the Advisor determines to be value stocks. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of a large company within an eligible country, the greater its representation in the Series. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value (a “book to market ratio”).

 

The DFA International Value Series intends to purchase stocks of large companies associated with developed market countries that the Advisor has designated as approved markets. The Advisor determines the minimum market capitalization of a large company with respect to each country or region in which the Series invests. As of December 31, 2010, for the DFA International Value Series, the lowest minimum market capitalization of a large company in any country or region in which the DFA International Value Series invests was $1,438 million. This threshold will change due to market conditions.

 

The DFA International Value Series may gain exposure to companies associated with approved markets by purchasing equity securities in the form of depositary receipts, which may be listed or traded outside the issuer’s domicile country. The DFA International Value Series and the DFA International Value Portfolio each may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for foreign or U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on their uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The DFA International Value Series may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The DFA International Value Series does not hedge foreign currency risk.

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the DFA International Value Series that owns them, and, in turn, the DFA International Value Portfolio itself, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

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Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the DFA International Value Series and the DFA International Value Portfolio use derivatives, the DFA International Value Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the DFA International Value Series may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The DFA International Value Series could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the DFA International Value Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The DFA International Value Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the DFA International Value Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

DFA International Value Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2001-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

33.93 (4/09-6/09)

   -24.43 (10/08-12/08)

 

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     Periods ending December 31, 2010

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year

    Five
Years

    Ten
Years

 

DFA International Value Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     10.57     4.12     7.76

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     10.02     3.35     6.91

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     7.17     3.32     6.47

MSCI World ex USA Index (net dividends)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     8.95     3.05     3.98

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the DFA International Value Portfolio and the DFA International Value Series. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the DFA International Value Portfolio and the DFA International Value Series:

 

   

Karen Umland, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1998.

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

Joseph H. Chi, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2005.

 

   

Jed S. Fogdall, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2004.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the DFA International Value Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the DFA International Value Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The DFA International Value Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the DFA International Value Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

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International Core Equity Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the International Core Equity Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the International Core Equity Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.35

Other Expenses

     0.05

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.40

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the International Core Equity Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


   3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$41    $ 128       $ 224       $ 505   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The International Core Equity Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the International Core Equity Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the International Core Equity Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 2% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

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The International Core Equity Portfolio purchases a broad and diverse group of stocks of non-U.S. companies in developed markets with a greater emphasis on small capitalization and value companies as compared to their representation in the International Universe. For purposes of this Portfolio, the Advisor defines the International Universe as a market capitalization weighted portfolio of non-U.S. companies in developed markets that have been authorized as approved markets for investment by the Advisor’s Investment Committee. The Portfolio’s increased exposure to small capitalization and value companies may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the International Core Equity Portfolio’s assets to the largest growth companies relative to their weight in the International Universe, which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization.

 

The International Core Equity Portfolio intends to purchase stocks of companies associated with developed market countries that the Advisor has designated as approved markets. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the International Core Equity Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities. The Advisor determines company size on a country or region specific basis and based primarily on market capitalization. The percentage allocation of the assets of the International Core Equity Portfolio to securities of the largest growth companies as defined above will generally be reduced from between 5% and 35% of their percentage weight in the International Universe. As of December 31, 2010, securities of the largest growth companies in the International Universe comprised approximately 16% of the International Universe and the Advisor allocated approximately 4% of the International Core Equity Portfolio to securities of the largest growth companies in the International Universe. The percentage by which the Portfolio’s allocation to securities of the largest growth companies is reduced will fluctuate with market movements and other factors. Additionally, the range by which the International Core Equity Portfolio’s percentage allocation to the securities of the largest growth companies is reduced as compared to the International Universe will change from time to time. The Advisor determines company size on a country or region specific basis and based primarily on market capitalization.

 

The International Core Equity Portfolio may gain exposure to companies associated with approved markets by purchasing equity securities in the form of depositary receipts, which may be listed or traded outside the issuer’s domicile country. The International Core Equity Portfolio also may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for foreign or U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The International Core Equity Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The International Core Equity Portfolio does not hedge foreign currency risk.

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the International Core Equity Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more

 

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vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the International Core Equity Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the International Core Equity Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The International Core Equity Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the International Core Equity Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the International Core Equity Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year and since inception returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The International Core Equity Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the International Core Equity Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

International Core Equity Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2006-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

31.34 (4/09-6/09)

   -22.25 (10/08-12/08)

 

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     Periods ending December 31, 2010

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Five
Years


    Since 9/15/05
Inception


 

International Core Equity Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     13.91     4.12     5.10

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     13.34     3.63     4.63

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     9.36     3.45     4.31

MSCI World ex USA Index (net dividends)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     8.95     3.05     3.96

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the International Core Equity Portfolio. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the International Core Equity Portfolio:

 

   

Karen Umland, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1998.

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

Joseph H. Chi, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2005.

 

   

Jed S. Fogdall, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2004.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the International Core Equity Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the International Core Equity Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The International Core Equity Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the International Core Equity Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

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International Small Company Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the International Small Company Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The International Small Company Portfolio pursues its objective by investing substantially all of its assets in The Canadian Small Company Series, The Japanese Small Company Series, The Asia Pacific Small Company Series, The United Kingdom Small Company Series and The Continental Small Company Series (the “International Small Company Master Funds”) of The DFA Investment Trust Company (the “Trust”).

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the International Small Company Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.40

Other Expenses

     0.01

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses

     0.15

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.56

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the International Small Company Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 57       $ 179       $ 313       $ 701   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

A mutual fund generally pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when mutual fund shares are held in a taxable account. The International Small Company Portfolio does not pay transaction costs when buying and selling shares of the International Small Company Master Funds; however, the International Small Company Master Funds pay transaction costs when buying and selling securities for their portfolio. The transaction costs incurred by the International Small Company Master Funds, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the International Small Company Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the International Small Company Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 12.8%.

 

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PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

The International Small Company Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective of providing investors with access to securities portfolios consisting of a broad range of equity securities of primarily small Canadian, Japanese, United Kingdom, European and Asia Pacific companies. The International Small Company Portfolio also may have some exposure to small cap equity securities associated with other countries or regions. The International Small Company Portfolio pursues its investment objective by investing substantially all of its assets in the International Small Company Master Funds. Each International Small Company Master Fund invests in small companies using a market capitalization weighted approach in each country or region designated by the Advisor as an approved market for investment. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of a small company within an eligible country, the greater its representation in the International Small Company Master Fund. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions.

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the International Small Company Portfolio, through its investments in the International Small Company Master Funds, will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of small companies. The International Small Company Portfolio and each International Small Company Master Fund may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage its cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

Each International Small Company Master Fund may gain exposure to companies associated with approved markets by purchasing equity securities in the form of depositary receipts, which may be listed or traded outside the issuer’s domicile country. The International Small Company Master Funds each may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts, to gain market exposure on their uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions or enter into futures contracts or options on futures contracts for equity securities and indices of its approved markets or other equity market securities or indices, including those of the United States.

 

The International Small Company Master Funds may lend their portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Fund of Funds Risk: The investment performance of the International Small Company Portfolio is affected by the investment performance of the International Small Company Master Funds in which the International Small Company Portfolio invests. The ability of the International Small Company Portfolio to achieve its investment objective depends on the ability of the International Small Company Master Funds to meet their investment objectives and on the Advisor’s decisions regarding the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among the International Small Company Master Funds. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the International Small Company Portfolio or any International Small Company Master Fund will be achieved. Through its investments in the International Small Company Master Funds, the International Small Company

 

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Portfolio is subject to the risks of the International Small Company Master Funds’ investments. The risks of the International Small Company Master Funds’ investments are described below.

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The International Small Company Master Funds do not hedge foreign currency risk.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the International Small Company Master Funds that own them, and, in turn, the International Small Company Portfolio itself, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the International Small Company Master Funds use derivatives, the International Small Company Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the International Small Company Master Funds may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The International Small Company Master Funds could also lose money if they do not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the International Small Company Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in International Small Company Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The International Small Company Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the International Small Company Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

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International Small Company Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2001-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

31.49 (4/09-6/09)

   -22.43 (7/08-9/08)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010    

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Five
Years


    Ten
Years


 

International Small Company Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     23.91     5.43     11.58

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     23.18     4.64     10.81

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     15.81     4.49     10.12

MSCI World ex USA Small Cap Index (net dividends) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     24.51     3.79     10.06

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the International Small Company Portfolio and International Small Company Master Funds. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the International Small Company Portfolio and International Small Company Master Funds:

 

   

Karen Umland, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1998.

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

Joseph H. Chi, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2005.

 

   

Jed S. Fogdall, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2004.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the International Small Company Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the International Small Company Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The International Small Company Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

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TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the International Small Company Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

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Japanese Small Company Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the Japanese Small Company Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The Japanese Small Company Portfolio is a Feeder Portfolio and pursues its objective by investing substantially all of its assets in its corresponding Master Fund, The Japanese Small Company Series (the “Japanese Small Company Series”) of The DFA Investment Trust Company (the “Trust”), which has the same investment objective and policies as the Portfolio.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Japanese Small Company Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses* (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.50

Other Expenses

     0.07

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.57

*   The “Management Fee” includes an investment management fee payable by the Japanese Small Company Series and an administration fee payable by the Japanese Small Company Portfolio. The amounts set forth under “Other Expenses” and “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses” reflect the direct expenses of the Japanese Small Company Portfolio and the indirect expenses of the Portfolio’s portion of the expenses of the Japanese Small Company Series.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the Japanese Small Company Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


   3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$58    $ 183       $ 318       $ 714   

 

The Example reflects the aggregate estimated annual operating expenses of the Japanese Small Company Portfolio and the Japanese Small Company Portfolio’s portion of the expenses of the Japanese Small Company Series.

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Japanese Small Company Series pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Japanese Small Company Portfolio’s

 

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performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Japanese Small Company Series’ portfolio turnover rate was 10% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

The Japanese Small Company Portfolio pursues its investment objective by investing substantially all of its assets in the Japanese Small Company Series. The Japanese Small Company Series, using a market capitalization weighted approach, purchases a broad and diverse group of readily marketable stocks of small companies associated with Japan. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of a Japanese small company, the greater its representation in the Series. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions.

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Japanese Small Company Series will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of Japanese small companies. The Advisor first ranks eligible companies by market capitalization. The Advisor then determines the universe of eligible stocks by defining the maximum market capitalization of a small company in Japan. As of December 31, 2010, the Advisor considered Japanese small companies to be those companies with a market capitalization below $1,438 million. This dollar amount will change due to market conditions.

 

The Japanese Small Company Series may gain exposure to companies associated with Japan by purchasing equity securities in the form of depositary receipts, which may be listed or traded outside the issuer’s domicile country. The Japanese Small Company Series and the Japanese Small Company Portfolio each may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for Japanese equity securities and indices or other equity market securities and indices, including those of the United States, to gain market exposure on their uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The Japanese Small Company Series may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The Japanese Small Company Series does not hedge foreign currency risk.

 

Japan Market Risk: Because the Japanese Small Company Series concentrates investments in Japan, the Japanese Small Company Portfolio’s performance is expected to be closely tied to the social, political and economic conditions within Japan and to be more volatile than the performance of funds with more geographically diverse investments.

 

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Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Japanese Small Company Series that owns them, and, in turn, the Japanese Small Company Portfolio itself, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the Japanese Small Company Series and the Japanese Small Company Portfolio use derivatives, the Japanese Small Company Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the Japanese Small Company Series may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Japanese Small Company Series could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the Japanese Small Company Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in Japanese Small Company Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Japanese Small Company Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the Japanese Small Company Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

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Japanese Small Company Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

  January 2001-December 2010  


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

26.51 (1/04-3/04)

   -15.28 (1/09-3/09)

 

     Periods ending December 31, 2010

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Five
Years


    Ten
Years


 

Japanese Small Company Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     17.50     -3.04     7.20

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     17.35     -3.28     6.95

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     11.81     -2.58     6.30

MSCI Japan Small Cap Index (net dividends)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     19.94     -5.95     4.49

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the Japanese Small Company Portfolio and Japanese Small Company Series. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the Japanese Small Company Portfolio and Japanese Small Company Series:

 

   

Karen Umland, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1998.

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

Joseph H. Chi, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2005.

 

   

Jed S. Fogdall, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2004.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the Japanese Small Company Portfolio on any business day the Portfolio is open by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Japanese Small Company Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Japanese Small Company Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

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TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the Japanese Small Company Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

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Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio is a Feeder Portfolio and pursues its objective by investing substantially all of its assets in its corresponding Master Fund, The Asia Pacific Small Company Series (the “Asia Pacific Small Company Series”) of The DFA Investment Trust Company (the “Trust”), which has the same investment objective and policies as the Portfolio.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses* (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.50

Other Expenses

     0.11

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.61

Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or (Recovery)**

     (0.02 %) 

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or (Recovery)

     0.63

*   The “Management Fee” includes an investment management fee payable by the Asia Pacific Small Company Series and an administration fee payable by the Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio. The amounts set forth under “Other Expenses” and “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses” reflect the direct expenses of the Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio and the indirect expenses of the Portfolio’s portion of the expenses of the Asia Pacific Small Company Series.
**   The Advisor has agreed to waive certain fees and in certain instances, assume certain expenses of the Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio. The Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and may not be terminated by the Advisor prior to that date. Under certain circumstances, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed up to thirty-six months after such fee waiver and/or expense assumption.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 64       $ 197       $ 342       $ 764   

 

The Example reflects the aggregate estimated annual operating expenses of the Asia Small Company Portfolio and the Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio’s portion of the expenses of the Asia Pacific Small Company Series.

 

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Portfolio Turnover

 

The Asia Pacific Small Company Series pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Asia Pacific Small Company Series’ portfolio turnover rate was 18% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

The Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio pursues its investment objective by investing substantially all of its assets in the Asia Pacific Small Company Series. The Asia Pacific Small Company Series, using a market capitalization weighted approach, purchases a broad and diverse group of readily marketable stocks of small companies associated with Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Rim Asian countries designated by the Advisor as approved markets for investment. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of a small company within an eligible country, the greater its representation in the Series. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions.

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Asia Pacific Small Company Series will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of small companies located in Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Rim Asian countries. The Advisor determines the maximum market capitalization of a small company with respect to each country in which the Series invests. As of December 31, 2010, for the Asia Pacific Small Company Series, the highest maximum market capitalization of a small company in any country in which the Asia Pacific Small Company Series invests was $2,139 million. This threshold will change due to market conditions.

 

The Asia Pacific Small Company Series may gain exposure to companies associated with approved markets by purchasing equity securities in the form of depositary receipts, which may be listed or traded outside the issuer’s domicile country. The Asia Pacific Small Company Series and the Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio each may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for Asia Pacific equity securities and indices or other equity market securities and indices, including those of the United States, to gain market exposure on their uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The Asia Pacific Small Company Series may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

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PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The Asia Pacific Small Company Series does not hedge foreign currency risk.

 

Asia Pacific Market Risk: Because the Asia Pacific Small Company Series concentrates investments in Asia Pacific countries, the Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio’s performance is expected to be closely tied to the social, political and economic conditions within such Asia Pacific countries and to be more volatile than the performance of funds with more geographically diverse investments.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Asia Pacific Small Company Series that owns them, and, in turn, the Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio itself, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the Asia Pacific Small Company Series and the Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio use derivatives, the Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the Asia Pacific Small Company Series may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Asia Pacific Small Company Series could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and

 

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local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

  January 2001-December 2010  


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

45.62 (4/09-6/09)

   -33.12 (10/08-12/08)

 

           Periods ending December 31, 2010      

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year

    Five
Years

    Ten
Years

 

Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     29.42     16.41     17.52

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     27.46     15.32     16.30

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     19.33     13.85     15.14

MSCI Pacific ex Japan Small Cap Index (net dividends)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     27.69     10.87     16.49

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio and Asia Pacific Small Company Series. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio and Asia Pacific Small Company Series:

 

   

Karen Umland, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1998.

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

Joseph H. Chi, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2005.

 

   

Jed S. Fogdall, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2004.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed

 

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investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

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United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio is a Feeder Portfolio and pursues its objective by investing substantially all of its assets in its corresponding Master Fund, The United Kingdom Small Company Series (the “United Kingdom Small Company Series”) of The DFA Investment Trust Company (the “Trust”), which has the same investment objective and policies as the Portfolio.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses* (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.50

Other Expenses

     0.14

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.64

Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or (Recovery)**

     0.04

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or (Recovery)

     0.60

*   The “Management Fee” includes an investment management fee payable by the United Kingdom Small Company Series and an administration fee payable by the United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio. The amounts set forth under “Other Expenses” and “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses” reflect the direct expenses of the United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio and the indirect expenses of the Portfolio’s portion of the expenses of the United Kingdom Small Company Series.
**   The Advisor has agreed to waive certain fees and in certain instances, assume certain expenses of the United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio. The Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and may not be terminated by the Advisor prior to that date. Under certain circumstances, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed up to thirty-six months after such fee waiver and/or expense assumption.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs for the Portfolio reflect the net expenses of the Portfolio that result from the contractual expense waiver and assumption in the first year only. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 61       $ 201       $ 353       $ 795   

 

The Example reflects the aggregate estimated annual operating expenses of the United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio and the United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio’s portion of the expenses of the United Kingdom Small Company Series.

 

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Portfolio Turnover

 

The United Kingdom Small Company Series pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the United Kingdom Small Company Series’ portfolio turnover rate was 15% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

The United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio pursues its investment objective by investing substantially all of its assets in the United Kingdom Small Company Series. The United Kingdom Small Company Series, using a market capitalization weighted approach, purchases a broad and diverse group of readily marketable stocks of small companies associated with the United Kingdom. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of a United Kingdom small company, the greater its representation in the Series. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions.

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the United Kingdom Small Company Series will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of United Kingdom small companies. As of December 31, 2010, the Advisor considered United Kingdom small companies to be those companies with a market capitalization below $3,669 million. This dollar amount will change due to market conditions.

 

The United Kingdom Small Company Series may gain exposure to companies associated with the United Kingdom by purchasing equity securities in the form of depositary receipts, which may be listed or traded outside the issuer’s domicile country. The United Kingdom Small Company Series and the United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio each may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for United Kingdom equity securities and indices or other equity market securities and indices, including those of the United States, to gain market exposure on their uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The United Kingdom Small Company Series may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The United Kingdom Small Company Series does not hedge foreign currency risk.

 

 

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United Kingdom Market Risk: Because the United Kingdom Small Company Series concentrates investments in the United Kingdom, the United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio’s performance is expected to be closely tied to the social, political and economic conditions within the United Kingdom and to be more volatile than the performance of funds with more geographically diverse investments.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the United Kingdom Small Company Series that owns them, and, in turn, the United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio itself, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the United Kingdom Small Company Series and the United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio use derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the United Kingdom Small Company Series may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The United Kingdom Small Company Series could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

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United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2001-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

33.83 (4/09-6/09)

   -33.64 (10/08-12/08)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010    

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year

    Five
Years

    Ten
Years

 

United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     29.08     5.29     8.88

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     28.56     4.57     7.86

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     19.37     4.46     7.52

MSCI UK Small Cap Index (net dividends)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     26.95     4.28     8.76

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio and United Kingdom Small Company Series. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio and United Kingdom Small Company Series:

 

   

Karen Umland, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1998.

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

Joseph H. Chi, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2005.

 

   

Jed S. Fogdall, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2004.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio on any business day the Portfolio is open by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

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TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

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Continental Small Company Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the Continental Small Company Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The Continental Small Company Portfolio is a Feeder Portfolio and pursues its objective by investing substantially all of its assets in its corresponding Master Fund, The Continental Small Company Series (the “Continental Small Company Series”) of The DFA Investment Trust Company (the “Trust”), which has the same investment objective and policies as the Portfolio.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Continental Small Company Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses* (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.50

Other Expenses

     0.09

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.59

*   The “Management Fee” includes an investment management fee payable by the Continental Small Company Series and an administration fee payable by the Continental Small Company Portfolio. The amounts set forth under “Other Expenses” and “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses” reflect the direct expenses of the Continental Small Company Portfolio and the indirect expenses of the Portfolio’s portion of the expenses of the Continental Small Company Series.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the Continental Small Company Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 60       $ 189       $ 329       $ 738   

 

The Example reflects the aggregate estimated annual operating expenses of the Continental Small Company Portfolio and the Continental Small Company Portfolio’s portion of the expenses of the Continental Small Company Series.

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Continental Small Company Series pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not

 

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reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Continental Small Company Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Continental Small Company Series’ portfolio turnover rate was 12% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

The Continental Small Company Portfolio pursues its investment objective by investing substantially all of its assets in the Continental Small Company Series. The Continental Small Company Series, using a market capitalization weighted approach, purchases a broad and diverse group of readily marketable stocks of small companies associated with European countries designated by the Advisor as approved markets for investment. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of a small company within an eligible country, the greater its representation in the Series. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions.

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Continental Small Company Series will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of small companies located in continental Europe. The Advisor determines the maximum market capitalization of a small company with respect to each country or region in which the Series invests. As of December 31, 2010, for the Continental Small Company Series, the highest maximum market capitalization of a small company in any country or region in which the Continental Small Company Series invests was $4,264 million. This threshold will change due to market conditions. The Series also may invest up to 20% of its net assets in small companies associated with non-European countries that the Advisor has identified as approved markets for investment.

 

The Continental Small Company Series may gain exposure to companies associated with approved markets by purchasing equity securities in the form of depositary receipts, which may be listed or traded outside the issuer’s domicile country. The Continental Small Company Series and the Continental Small Company Portfolio each may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for continental European equity securities and indices or other equity market securities and indices, including those of the United States, to gain market exposure on their uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The Continental Small Company Series may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The Continental Small Company Series does not hedge foreign currency risk.

 

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European Market Risk: Because the Continental Small Company Series concentrates investments in European countries, the Continental Small Company Portfolio’s performance is expected to be closely tied to the social, political and economic conditions within such European countries and to be more volatile than the performance of funds with more geographically diverse investments.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Continental Small Company Series that owns them, and, in turn, the Continental Small Company Portfolio itself, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the Continental Small Company Series and the Continental Small Company Portfolio use derivatives, the Continental Small Company Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the Continental Small Company Series may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Continental Small Company Series could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the Continental Small Company Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in Continental Small Company Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Continental Small Company Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the Continental Small Company Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

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Continental Small Company Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2001-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

31.47 (4/09-6/09)

   -25.40 (10/08-12/08)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010    

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Five
Years


    Ten
Years


 

Continental Small Company Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     16.57     6.92     12.42

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     16.04     6.27     10.94

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of
Portfolio Shares

     10.94     5.86     10.43

MSCI Europe ex UK Small Cap Index (net dividends)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     18.37     7.14     11.25

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the Continental Small Company Portfolio and Continental Small Company Series. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the Continental Small Company Portfolio and Continental Small Company Series:

 

   

Karen Umland, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1998.

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

Joseph H. Chi, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2005.

 

   

Jed S. Fogdall, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2004.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the Continental Small Company Portfolio on any business day the Portfolio is open by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Continental Small Company Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Continental Small Company Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

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TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the Continental Small Company Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

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DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.35

Other Expenses

     0.06

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.41

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 42       $ 132       $ 230       $ 518   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 6% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

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The DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio, using a market capitalization weighted approach, purchases a broad and diverse set of securities of non-U.S. companies principally engaged in the real estate industry, including developed and emerging markets, with a particular focus on non-U.S. real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) and companies the Advisor considers to be REIT-like entities. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of a real estate company within an eligible country, the greater its representation in the Portfolio. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions. The Advisor also may limit or fix the Portfolio’s exposure to a particular country or issuer.

 

The Portfolio considers a company to be principally engaged in the real estate industry if the company’s principal activities include development, ownership, construction, management, or sale of residential, commercial or industrial real estate. REIT-like entities are types of real estate companies that pool investors’ funds for investment primarily in income producing real estate or real estate related loans or interests.

 

The DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio intends to purchase stocks of companies associated with developed and emerging markets countries that the Advisor has designated as approved markets for investment. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Portfolio’s net assets will be invested in securities of companies in the real estate industry. The DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio generally considers a company to be principally engaged in the real estate industry if the company (i) derives at least 50% of its revenue or profits from the development, ownership, construction, management, or sale of residential, commercial, industrial, or other real estate; (ii) has at least 50% of the value of its assets invested in residential, commercial, industrial, or other real estate; or (iii) is organized as a REIT or REIT-like entity. REIT-like entities are types of real estate companies that pool investors’ funds for investment primarily in income producing real estate or real estate related loans or interests. The Portfolio also may invest in stapled securities, where one or more of the underlying securities represents interests in a company or subsidiary in the real estate industry.

 

The DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio may gain exposure to companies associated with approved markets by purchasing equity securities in the form of depositary receipts, which may be listed or traded outside the issuers domicile country. The DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio is authorized to use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio does not hedge foreign currency risk.

 

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Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Risks of Concentrating in the Real Estate Industry: The DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio is concentrated in the real estate industry. The exclusive focus by the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio on the real estate industry will cause the Portfolio to be exposed to the general risks of direct real estate ownership. The value of securities in the real estate industry can be affected by changes in real estate values and rental income, property taxes, interest rates, and tax and regulatory requirements. Investing in REITs and REIT-like entities involves certain unique risks in addition to those risks associated with investing in the real estate industry in general. REITs and REIT-like entities are dependent upon management skill, may not be diversified, and are subject to heavy cash flow dependency and self-liquidation. REITs and REIT-like entities also are subject to the possibility of failing to qualify for tax free pass-through of income. Also, foreign REIT-like entities could be deemed for tax purposes as passive foreign investment companies (PFICs), which could result in the receipt of taxable dividends to shareholders at an unfavorable tax rate. Also, because REITs and REIT-like entities typically are invested in a limited number of projects or in a particular market segment, these entities are more susceptible to adverse developments affecting a single project or market segment than more broadly diversified investments. The performance of the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio may be materially different from the broad equity market.

 

Emerging Markets Risk: Numerous emerging market countries have a history of, and continue to experience serious, and potentially continuing, economic and political problems. Stock markets in many emerging market countries are relatively small, expensive to trade in and risky. Foreigners are often limited in their ability to invest in, and withdraw assets from, these markets. Additional restrictions may be imposed under other conditions.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year and since inception returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

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The after-tax returns presented in the table for the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. A negative pre-tax total return translates into a higher after-tax return because this calculation assumes that an investor received a tax deduction for the loss incurred on the sale.

 

DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2008-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

28.61 (7/09-9/09)

   -33.03 (10/08-12/08)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010    

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year

    Since  3/1/07
Inception

 

DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio

                

Return Before Taxes

     18.09     -8.89

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     13.73     -11.16

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     12.16     -8.50

S&P Global ex US REIT Index(1) (net dividends)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     16.91     -8.72

 

(1)  

Copyright© 2010 Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio:

 

   

Karen Umland, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1998.

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

Joseph H. Chi, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2005.

 

   

Jed S. Fogdall, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2004.

 

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PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

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DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio pursues its objective by investing substantially all of its assets in DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio and the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio (the “Underlying Funds”).

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.35

Other Expenses

     0.02

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses

     0.36

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.73

Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or (Recovery)*

     0.32

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or (Recovery)

     0.41

*   The Advisor has agreed to waive certain fees and in certain instances, assume certain expenses of the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio. The Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and may not be terminated by the Advisor prior to that date. Under certain circumstances, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed up to thirty-six months after such fee waiver and/or expense assumption.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs for the Portfolio reflect the net expenses of the Portfolio that result from the contractual expense waiver and assumption in the first year only. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 42       $ 201       $ 374       $ 876   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

A mutual fund generally pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when mutual fund shares are held in a taxable account. The DFA Global Real Estate Securities

 

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Portfolio does not pay transaction costs when buying and selling shares of the Underlying Funds; however, the Underlying Funds pay transaction costs when buying and selling securities for their portfolio. The transaction costs incurred by the Underlying Funds, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 3.8%.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

The DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio seeks to achieve exposure to a broad portfolio of securities of U.S. and non-U.S. companies in the real estate industry, with a focus on real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) or companies that the Advisor considers REIT-like entities by primarily purchasing shares of the Underlying Funds. The DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio and Underlying Funds generally consider a company to be principally engaged in the real estate industry if the company (i) derives at least 50% of its revenue or profits from the development, ownership, construction, management, or sale of residential, commercial, industrial, or other real estate; (ii) has at least 50% of the value of its assets invested in residential, commercial, industrial, or other real estate; or (iii) is organized as a REIT or REIT-like entity. REIT-like entities are types of real estate companies that pool investors’ funds for investment primarily in income producing real estate or real estate related loans or interests. Each Underlying Fund invests in companies principally engaged in the real estate industry in its designated market using a market capitalization weighted approach. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of a real estate company within an eligible country, the greater its representation in the Underlying Fund. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions. The Advisor also may limit or fix the Portfolio’s exposure to a particular country or issuer.

 

Each Underlying Fund intends to purchase stocks of companies associated with countries that the Advisor has identified as approved markets for investment for such Underlying Fund. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Portfolio’s net assets will be invested directly, or indirectly through its investment in the Underlying Funds, in securities of companies in the real estate industry. In addition to, or in place of, investments in the Underlying Funds, the Portfolio also is permitted to invest directly in the same types of securities of companies in the real estate industry that are eligible investments for the Underlying Funds.

 

Each Underlying Fund is authorized to use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The Underlying Funds may lend their portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

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PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Fund of Funds Risk: The investment performance of the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio is affected by the investment performance of the Underlying Funds in which the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio invests. The ability of the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio to achieve its investment objective depends on the ability of the Underlying Funds to meet their investment objectives and on the Advisor’s decisions regarding the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among Underlying Funds. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio or any Underlying Fund will be achieved. Through its investments in the Underlying Funds, the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio is subject to the risks of the Underlying Funds’ investments. The risks of the Underlying Funds’ investments are described below.

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The Underlying Funds do not hedge foreign currency risk.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Underlying Funds that own them, and, in turn, the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio itself, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Risks of Concentrating in the Real Estate Industry: The DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio is concentrated in the real estate industry. The exclusive focus by DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio on the real estate industry will cause the Portfolio to be exposed to the general risks of direct real estate ownership. The value of securities in the real estate industry can be affected by changes in real estate values and rental income, property taxes, interest rates, and tax and regulatory requirements. Investing in REITs and REIT-like entities involves certain unique risks in addition to those risks associated with investing in the real estate industry in general. REITs and REIT-like entities are dependent upon management skill, may not be diversified, and are subject to heavy cash flow dependency and self-liquidation. REITs and REIT-like entities also are subject to the possibility of failing to qualify for tax free pass-through of income. Also, foreign REIT-like entities could be deemed for tax purposes as passive foreign investment companies (PFICs), which could result in the receipt of taxable dividends to shareholders at an unfavorable tax rate. Also, because REITs and REIT-like entities typically are invested in a limited number of projects or in a particular market segment, these entities are more susceptible to adverse developments affecting a single project or market segment than more broadly diversified investments. The performance of DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio may be materially different from the broad equity market.

 

Emerging Markets Risk: Numerous emerging market countries have a history of, and continue to experience serious, and potentially continuing, economic and political problems. Stock markets in many emerging market countries are relatively small, expensive to trade in and risky. Foreigners are often limited in their ability to invest in, and withdraw assets from, these markets. Additional restrictions may be imposed under other conditions.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the Underlying Funds use derivatives, the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of

 

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risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the Underlying Funds may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Underlying Funds could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

PERFORMANCE

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year and since inception returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. A negative pre-tax total return translates into a higher after-tax return because this calculation assumes that an investor received a tax deduction for the loss incurred on the sale.

DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

LOGO

 

  January 2009-December 2010  

 

Highest Quarter

     Lowest Quarter  

31.45 (7/09-9/09)

     -25.68 (1/09-3/09)   

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010      

Annualized Returns (%)

   One
Year
    Since 6/4/08
Inception
 

DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio

    

Return Before Taxes

     23.79     -2.99

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     21.13     -4.85

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     15.59     -3.62

S&P Global REIT Index(1) (net dividends)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     22.09     -4.89

 

(1)

Copyright© 2010 Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

 

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INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio and the Underlying Funds. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio and the Underlying Funds:

 

   

Karen Umland, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1998.

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

Joseph H. Chi, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2005.

 

   

Jed S. Fogdall, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2004.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

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DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.65

Other Expenses

     0.05

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.70

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 72       $ 224       $ 390       $ 871   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 18% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

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The DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio, using a market capitalization weighted approach, purchases stocks of small, non-U.S. companies in countries with developed markets that the Advisor determines to be value stocks at the time of purchase. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of a small company within an eligible country, the greater its representation in the Portfolio. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value (“book to market ratio”).

 

The DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio intends to purchase stocks of small value companies associated with developed market countries that the Advisor has designated as approved markets. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of small companies in the particular markets in which it invests. The Advisor determines the maximum market capitalization of a small company with respect to each country in which the Portfolio invests. In the countries or regions authorized for investment, the Advisor first ranks eligible companies listed on selected exchanges based on the companies’ market capitalizations. The Advisor then determines the universe of eligible stocks by defining the maximum market capitalization of a small company that may be purchased by the Portfolio with respect to each country or region. As of December 31, 2010, for the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio, the highest maximum market capitalization of a small company in any country in which the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio invests was $4,264 million. This threshold will vary by country or region. For example, as of December 31, 2010, the Advisor considered a small company in the United Kingdom to have a market capitalization below $3,669 million, a small company in Hong Kong to have a market capitalization below $1,612 million, and a small company in Japan to have a market capitalization below $1,438 million. This threshold will change due to market conditions.

 

The DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio may gain exposure to companies associated with approved markets by purchasing equity securities in the form of depositary receipts, which may be listed or traded outside the issuer’s domicile country. The DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio also may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for foreign and U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets.

 

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Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio does not hedge foreign currency risk.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2001-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

31.78 (4/09-6/09)

   -20.83 (7/08-9/08)

 

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         Periods ending December 31, 2010    

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year

    Five
Years

    Ten
Years

 

DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     18.10     4.90     13.42

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     17.44     3.98     12.54

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     12.43     4.09     11.85

MSCI World ex USA Small Cap Index (net dividends) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     24.51     3.79     10.06

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio:

 

   

Karen Umland, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1998.

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

Joseph H. Chi, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2005.

 

   

Jed S. Fogdall, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2004.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

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International Vector Equity Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the International Vector Equity Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the International Vector Equity Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.45

Other Expenses

     0.08

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.53

Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or (Recovery)*

     (0.01 %) 

Total Annual Fund Operatings Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or (Recovery)

     0.54

*   The Advisor has agreed to waive certain fees and in certain instances, assume certain expenses of the International Vector Equity Portfolio. The Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the International Vector Equity Portfolio will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and may not be terminated by the Advisor prior to that date. Under certain circumstances, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed up to thirty-six months after such fee waiver and/or expense assumption.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the International Vector Equity Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 55       $ 171       $ 297       $ 666   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The International Vector Equity Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the International Vector Equity Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the International Vector Equity Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 5% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

 

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PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

The International Vector Equity Portfolio purchases a broad and diverse group of stocks of non-U.S. operating companies in developed markets, with a greater emphasis on small capitalization and value companies as compared to their representation in the International Universe. For purposes of this Portfolio, the Advisor defines International Universe as a market capitalization weighted portfolio of non-U.S. companies in developed markets that have been authorized for investment by the Advisor’s Investment Committee. The Portfolio’s increased exposure to small capitalization and value companies may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the International Vector Equity Portfolio’s assets to the largest growth companies relative to their weight in the International Universe or by avoiding purchases in that segment of the market, either of which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization.

 

The Advisor determines company size on a country or region specific basis and based primarily on market capitalization. The Advisor will also establish a minimum market capitalization that a company must meet in order to be considered for purchase, which minimum will change due to market conditions.

 

The International Vector Equity Portfolio intends to purchase stocks of companies associated with developed markets countries that the Advisor has designated as approved markets for investment. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities. The percentage allocation of the assets of the International Vector Equity Portfolio to securities of the largest growth companies will generally be reduced by between 5% and 50% of their percentage weight in the International Universe. For example, as of December 31, 2010, securities of the largest growth companies in the International Universe comprised approximately 16% of the International Universe and the Advisor allocated less than 1% of the International Vector Equity Portfolio to securities of the largest growth companies in the International Universe. The percentage by which the Portfolio’s allocation to securities of the largest growth companies is reduced, as compared to the International Universe, will change from time to time, depending on market movements and other factors. The Advisor determines company size on a country or region specific basis and based primarily on market capitalization. Additionally, the range by which the International Vector Equity Portfolio’s percentage allocation to the securities of the largest growth companies is reduced as compared to the International Universe will change from time to time.

 

The International Vector Equity Portfolio may gain exposure to companies associated with approved markets by purchasing equity securities in the form of depositary receipts, which may be listed or traded outside the issuer’s domicile country. The International Vector Equity Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for foreign or U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The International Vector Equity Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

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PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the International Vector Equity Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The International Vector Equity Portfolio does not hedge foreign currency risk.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the International Vector Equity Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the International Vector Equity Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The International Vector Equity Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the International Vector Equity Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the International Vector Equity Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year and since inception returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The International Vector Equity Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the International Vector Equity Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. A negative pre-tax total return translates into a higher after-tax return because this calculation assumes that an investor received a tax deduction for the loss incurred on the sale.

 

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International Vector Equity Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2009-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

34.37 (4/09-6/09)

   -13.50 (4/10-6/10)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010  

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Since 8/14/08
Inception


 

International Vector Equity Portfolio

                

Return Before Taxes

     17.30     5.64

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     16.68     5.27

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     11.66     4.71

MSCI World ex USA Index (net dividends)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     8.95     -0.52

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the International Vector Equity Portfolio. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the International Vector Equity Portfolio:

 

   

Karen Umland, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1998.

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

Joseph H. Chi, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2005.

 

   

Jed S. Fogdall, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2004.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the International Vector Equity Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the International Vector Equity Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The International Vector Equity Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the International Vector Equity Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

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World ex U.S. Value Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the World ex U.S. Value Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the World ex U.S. Value Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.47%   

Other Expenses

     0.62%   

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses

     0.28%   

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     1.37%   

Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement on (Recovery)*

     0.47%   

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement on (Recovery)

     0.90%   

*   Pursuant to a Fee Waiver Agreement for the Portfolio, the Advisor has agreed to waive up to the full amount of the Portfolio’s management fee of 0.47% to the extent necessary to offset the proportionate share of the management fees paid by the Portfolio through its investment in other funds managed by the Advisor (the “Underlying Funds”). In addition, under the Fee Waiver Agreement, the Advisor also has agreed to waive all or a portion of the management fee that remains payable by the Portfolio (i.e. the management fee remaining after the proportionate share of the Underlying Funds’ management fees have been offset) to the extent necessary to reduce the Portfolio’s ordinary operating expenses (including expenses incurred through its investment in other investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) so that such Portfolio Expenses do not exceed 0.60% of the Portfolio’s average net assets on an annualized basis. The Fee Waiver Agreement for the Portfolio will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and may not be terminated by the Advisor prior to that date. Under certain circumstances, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived up to thirty-six months after such fee waiver.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the World ex U.S. Value Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs for the Portfolio reflect the net expenses of the Portfolio that result from the contractual expense waiver in the first year only. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


   3 Years

 
$92    $ 388   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

A mutual fund generally pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in

 

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higher taxes when mutual fund shares are held in a taxable account. The World ex U.S. Value Portfolio does not pay transaction costs when buying and selling shares of other mutual funds (the “Underlying Funds”); however, the Underlying Funds pay transaction costs when buying and selling securities for their portfolios. The transaction costs incurred by the Underlying Funds, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 18.6% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

The World ex U.S. Value Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective through exposure to a broad portfolio of securities of non-U.S. companies associated with countries with developed and emerging markets, including frontier markets (emerging market countries in an earlier stage of development), that the Advisor believes to be value stocks at the time of purchase. To achieve this exposure, the Advisor will generally purchase shares of The DFA International Value Series (the “DFA International Value Series”), DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio, and Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund (the “Underlying Funds”), which are other funds managed by the Advisor. The Portfolio currently intends to allocate its investments among the Underlying Funds in the following manner: 50% to 80% in the DFA International Value Series; 5% to 20% in the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio; and 10% to 30% in the Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund. In addition to, or in place of, investments in the Underlying Funds, the Portfolio also is permitted to invest directly in the same types of securities of companies that are described in this Prospectus as eligible investments for the Underlying Funds. The Portfolio and Underlying Funds generally consider securities to be value stocks if they have a high book value in relation to their market value. In assessing market value, the Advisor may consider additional factors such as price to cash flow or price earnings ratios as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer’s industry. The criteria the Advisor uses for assessing value are subject to change from time to time. The Advisor may consider the relative market capitalization weighting of developed and emerging markets within the universe of eligible securities when allocating Portfolio investments among the Underlying Funds or securities.

 

Using a market capitalization weighted approach, the DFA International Value Series invests in large value companies associated with developed market countries and the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio invests in small value companies associated with developed market countries. Generally, the Advisor determines if a company is large or small based on its market capitalization. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of a company meeting the Advisor’s eligibility thresholds within an eligible country or region, the greater its representation in the Underlying Fund. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions. The Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund may purchase securities of value companies associated with emerging markets, including frontier markets, across all market capitalizations. With respect to each Underlying Fund, the Advisor may limit or fix the Underlying Fund’s exposure to a particular country, region or issuer.

 

The Portfolio and each Underlying Fund intends to purchase stocks of companies associated with countries that the Advisor has identified as approved markets for investment for such Portfolio or Underlying Fund. As a

 

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non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Portfolio’s net assets will be invested directly, or indirectly through its investment in the Underlying Funds, in securities of non-U.S. companies.

 

The Portfolio and Underlying Funds may gain exposure to companies associated with approved markets by purchasing equity securities in the form of depositary receipts which may be domiciled or traded outside the issuer’s domicile country.

 

Each Underlying Fund is authorized to use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions. The Portfolio and Underlying Funds may lend their portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Fund of Funds Risk: The investment performance of the World ex U.S. Value Portfolio is affected by the investment performance of the Underlying Funds in which the Portfolio invests. The ability of the Portfolio to achieve its investment objective depends on the ability of the Underlying Funds to meet their investment objectives and on the Advisor’s decisions regarding the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among Underlying Funds. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Portfolio or any Underlying Fund will be achieved. Through its investments in the Underlying Funds, the Portfolio is subject to the risks of the Underlying Funds’ investments. The risks of the Underlying Funds’ investments are described below.

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The Underlying Funds do not hedge foreign currency risk.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the World ex U.S. Value Portfolio and the Underlying Funds to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Underlying Funds that own them, and, in turn, the World ex U.S. Value Portfolio itself, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Emerging Markets Risk: Numerous emerging market countries have a history of, and continue to experience serious, and potentially continuing, economic and political problems. Stock markets in many emerging market countries are relatively small, expensive to trade in and risky. Foreigners are often limited in their ability to invest in, and withdraw assets from, these markets. Additional restrictions may be imposed under other conditions. Frontier market countries generally have smaller economies or less developed capital markets and, as a result, the risks of investing in emerging market countries are magnified in frontier market countries.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than

 

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other types of investments. When the Underlying Funds use derivatives, the World ex U.S. Value Portfolio will be exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Underlying Fund could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, an Underlying Fund may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. An Underlying Fund could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences. To the extent that the Portfolio holds securities directly and lends those securities, it will be also subject to the foregoing risks with respect to its loaned securities.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

Performance information is not available for the World ex U.S. Value Portfolio because it has less than one calendar year of performance.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the World ex U.S. Value Portfolio and the Underlying Funds. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the Portfolio and Underlying Funds:

 

   

Karen E. Umland, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1998.

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

Joseph H. Chi, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2005.

 

   

Jed S. Fogdall, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2004.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the World ex U.S. Value Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the World ex U.S. Value Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

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Emerging Markets Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the Emerging Markets Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The Emerging Markets Portfolio is a Feeder Portfolio and pursues its objective by investing substantially all of its assets in its corresponding Master Fund, The Emerging Markets Series (the “Emerging Markets Series”) of The DFA Investment Trust Company (the “Trust”), which has the same investment objective and policies as the Portfolio.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Emerging Markets Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses* (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.50

Other Expenses

     0.10

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.60

*   The “Management Fee” includes an investment management fee payable by the Emerging Markets Series and an administration fee payable by the Emerging Markets Portfolio. The amounts set forth under “Other Expenses” and “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses” reflect the direct expenses of the Emerging Markets Portfolio and the indirect expenses of the Portfolio’s portion of the expenses of the Emerging Markets Series.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the Emerging Markets Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


   3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$61    $ 192       $ 335       $ 750   

 

The Example reflects the aggregate estimated annual operating expenses of the Emerging Markets Portfolio and the Emerging Markets Portfolio’s portion of the expenses of the Emerging Markets Series.

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Emerging Markets Series pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Emerging Markets Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Emerging Markets Series’ portfolio turnover rate was 12% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

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PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

The Emerging Markets Portfolio pursues its investment objective by investing substantially all of its assets in the Emerging Markets Series. The Emerging Markets Series purchases a broad market coverage of larger companies associated with emerging markets, including frontier markets (emerging market countries in an earlier stage of development), authorized for investment by the Advisor’s Investment Committee (“Approved Markets”). The Advisor’s definition of large varies across countries and is based primarily on market capitalization. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In each country authorized for investment, the Advisor first ranks eligible companies listed on selected exchanges based on the companies’ market capitalizations. The Advisor then defines the minimum market capitalization for a large company in that country. As of December 31, 2010, Russia had the highest size threshold, $4,077 million, and the lowest size threshold, $683 million, was in Hungary. These thresholds will change due to market conditions.

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Emerging Markets Series will invest at least 80% of its net assets in emerging markets investments that are defined in the Prospectus as Approved Market securities.

 

The Emerging Markets Series may gain exposure to companies associated with Approved Markets by purchasing equity securities in the form of depositary receipts, which may be listed or traded outside the issuer’s domicile country. The Emerging Markets Series and the Emerging Markets Portfolio each may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for Approved Market or other equity market securities and indices, including those of the United States, to gain market exposure on their uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The Emerging Markets Series may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The Emerging Markets Series does not hedge foreign currency risk.

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Emerging Markets Series that owns them, and, in turn, the Emerging Markets Portfolio itself, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Emerging Markets Risk: Numerous emerging market countries have a history of, and continue to experience serious, and potentially continuing, economic and political problems. Stock markets in many emerging market countries are relatively small, expensive to trade in and risky. Foreigners are often limited in their ability to invest in, and withdraw assets from, these markets. Additional restrictions may be imposed under other

 

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conditions. Frontier market countries generally have smaller economies or less developed capital markets and, as a result, the risks of investing in emerging market countries are magnified in frontier market countries.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the Emerging Markets Series and the Emerging Markets Portfolio use derivatives, the Emerging Markets Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the Emerging Markets Series may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Emerging Markets Series could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the Emerging Markets Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Emerging Markets Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the Emerging Markets Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

Emerging Markets Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2001-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

33.14 (4/09-6/09)

   -27.83 (10/08-12/08)

 

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         Periods ending December 31, 2010    

 

Annualized Returns (%)  


   One
Year

    Five
Years

    Ten
Years

 

Emerging Markets Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     21.82     13.31     15.54

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     20.39     12.52     15.01

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     15.79     11.53     13.99

MSCI Emerging Markets Index (net dividends)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     18.88     12.78     15.89

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the Emerging Markets Portfolio and Emerging Markets Series. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the Emerging Markets Portfolio and Emerging Markets Series:

 

   

Karen Umland, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1998.

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

Joseph H. Chi, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2005.

 

   

Jed S. Fogdall, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2004.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the Emerging Markets Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Emerging Markets Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Emerging Markets Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the Emerging Markets Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

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Emerging Markets Value Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The Emerging Markets Value Portfolio is a Feeder Portfolio and pursues its objective by investing substantially all of its assets in its corresponding Master Fund, the Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund (the “Emerging Markets Value Fund”), which has the same investment objective and policies as the Portfolio.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses* (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.50

Other Expenses

     0.10

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.60

*   The “Management Fee” includes an investment management fee payable by the Emerging Markets Value Fund and an administration fee payable by the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio. The amounts set forth under “Other Expenses” and “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses” reflect the direct expenses of the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio and the indirect expenses of the Portfolio’s portion of the expenses of the Emerging Markets Value Fund.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 61       $ 192       $ 335       $ 750   

 

The Example reflects the aggregate estimated annual operating expenses of the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio and the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio’s portion of the expenses of the Emerging Markets Value Fund.

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Emerging Markets Value Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Emerging Markets Value Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 15% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

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PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

The Emerging Markets Value Portfolio pursues its investment objective by investing substantially all of its assets in the Emerging Markets Value Fund. The Emerging Markets Value Fund purchases emerging market equity securities that are deemed by the Advisor to be value stocks at the time of purchase and associated with emerging markets, including frontier markets (emerging market countries in an earlier stage of development), authorized for investment by the Advisor’s Investment Committee (“Approved Markets”). Securities are considered value stocks primarily because they have a high book value in relation to their market value. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Emerging Markets Value Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in emerging markets investments that are defined in the Prospectus as Approved Markets securities. The Emerging Market Value Fund may purchase emerging market equity securities across all market capitalizations.

 

The Emerging Markets Value Fund may gain exposure to companies associated with Approved Markets by purchasing equity securities in the form of depositary receipts, which may be listed or traded outside the issuer’s domicile country. The Emerging Markets Value Portfolio and the Emerging Markets Value Fund each may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for Approved Market or other equity market securities and indices, including those of the United States, to gain market exposure on their uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The Emerging Markets Value Fund may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The Emerging Markets Value Fund does not hedge foreign currency risk.

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Emerging Markets Value Fund that owns them, and, in turn, the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio itself, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Emerging Markets Risk: Numerous emerging market countries have a history of, and continue to experience serious, and potentially continuing, economic and political problems. Stock markets in many emerging market countries are relatively small, expensive to trade in and risky. Foreigners are often limited in their ability to invest in, and withdraw assets from, these markets. Additional restrictions may be imposed under other conditions. Frontier market countries generally have smaller economies or less developed capital markets and, as a result, the risks of investing in emerging market countries are magnified in frontier market countries.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company

 

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stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the Emerging Markets Value Fund and the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio use derivatives, the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the Emerging Markets Value Fund may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Emerging Markets Value Fund could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Emerging Markets Value Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

Emerging Markets Value Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

  January 2001-December 2010  


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

44.78 (4/09-6/09)

   -28.51 (10/08-12/08)

 

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         Periods ending December 31, 2010  

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Five
Years


    Ten
Years


 

Emerging Markets Value Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     22.06     16.77     21.06

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     20.87     15.28     19.77

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     15.48     14.10     18.59

MSCI Emerging Markets Index (net dividends)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     18.88     12.78     15.89

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio and Emerging Markets Value Fund. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the Emerging Markets Portfolio and Emerging Markets Value Fund:

 

   

Karen Umland, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1998.

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

Joseph H. Chi, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2005.

 

   

Jed S. Fogdall, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2004.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Emerging Markets Value Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

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Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio is a Feeder Portfolio and pursues its objective by investing substantially all of its assets in its corresponding Master Fund, The Emerging Markets Small Cap Series (the “Emerging Markets Small Cap Series”) of The DFA Investment Trust Company (the “Trust”), which has the same investment objective and policies as the Portfolio.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses* (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.65

Other Expenses

     0.13

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.78

*   The “Management Fee” includes an investment management fee payable by the Emerging Markets Small Cap Series and an administration fee payable by the Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio. The amounts set forth under “Other Expenses” and “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses” reflect the direct expenses of the Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio and the indirect expenses of the Portfolio’s portion of the expenses of the Emerging Markets Small Cap Series.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 80       $ 249       $ 433       $ 966   

 

The Example reflects the aggregate estimated annual operating expenses of the Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio and the Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio’s portion of the Emerging Markets Small Cap Series.

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Emerging Markets Small Cap Series pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Emerging Markets Small Cap Series’ portfolio turnover rate was 15% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

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PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

The Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio pursues its investment objective by investing substantially all of its assets in the Emerging Markets Small Cap Series. The Emerging Markets Small Cap Series purchases a broad market coverage of smaller companies associated with each emerging market, including frontier markets (emerging market countries in an earlier stage of development), authorized for investment by the Advisor’s Investment Committee (“Approved Markets”). The Advisor’s definition of small varies across countries and is based primarily on market capitalization. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In each country authorized for investment, the Advisor first ranks eligible companies listed on selected exchanges based on the companies’ market capitalizations. The Advisor then defines the maximum market capitalization for a small company in that country. As of December 31, 2010, China had the highest size threshold, $3,539 million, and the lowest size threshold, $683 million, was in Hungary. These thresholds will change due to market conditions.

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Emerging Markets Small Cap Series will invest at least 80% of its net assets in emerging market investments that are designated in the Prospectus as Approved Market securities of small companies.

 

The Emerging Markets Small Cap Series may gain exposure to companies associated with Approved Markets by purchasing equity securities in the form of depositary receipts, which may be listed or traded outside the issuer’s domicile country. The Emerging Markets Small Cap Series and the Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio each may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for Approved Market or other equity market securities and indices, including those of the United States, to gain market exposure on their uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The Emerging Markets Small Cap Series may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The Emerging Markets Small Cap Series does not hedge foreign currency risk.

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Emerging Markets Series that owns them, and, in turn, the Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio itself, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

 

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Emerging Markets Risk: Numerous emerging market countries have a history of, and continue to experience serious, and potentially continuing, economic and political problems. Stock markets in many emerging market countries are relatively small, expensive to trade in and risky. Foreigners are often limited in their ability to invest in, and withdraw assets from, these markets. Additional restrictions may be imposed under other conditions. Frontier market countries generally have smaller economies or less developed capital markets and, as a result, the risks of investing in emerging market countries are magnified in frontier market countries.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the Emerging Markets Small Cap Series and the Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio use derivatives, the Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the Emerging Markets Small Cap Series may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Emerging Markets Small Cap Series could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2001-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

47.06 (4/09-6/09)

   -25.39 (10/08-12/08)

 

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         Periods ending December 31, 2010    

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Five
Years


    Ten
Years


 

Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     30.18     17.51     19.70

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     29.15     16.56     18.96

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     20.66     15.18     17.78

MSCI Emerging Markets Index (net dividends)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     18.88     12.78     15.89

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio and Emerging Markets Small Cap Series. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio and Emerging Markets Small Cap Series:

 

   

Karen Umland, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1998.

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

Joseph H. Chi, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2005.

 

   

Jed S. Fogdall, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2004.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

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Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.55

Other Expenses

     0.10

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.65

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 66       $ 208       $ 362       $ 810   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 4% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

 

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The Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio purchases a broad and diverse group of securities associated with emerging markets, including frontier markets (emerging market countries in an earlier stage of development), authorized for investment by the Advisor’s Investment Committee (“Approved Markets”), with an increased exposure to securities of small cap issuers and securities that it considers to be value securities. In assessing value, the Advisor may consider factors such as the issuer’s securities having a high book value in relation to their market value, as well as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios. The criteria the Advisor uses for assessing value are subject to change from time to time.

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in emerging markets investments that are defined in the Prospectus as Approved Market securities.

 

The Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio may gain exposure to companies in Approved Markets by purchasing equity securities in the form of depositary receipts, which may be listed or traded outside the issuer’s domicile country. The Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for Approved Market or other equity market securities and indices, including those of the United States, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio does not hedge foreign currency risk.

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Emerging Markets Risk: Numerous emerging market countries have a history of, and continue to experience serious, and potentially continuing, economic and political problems. Stock markets in many emerging market countries are relatively small, expensive to trade in and risky. Foreigners are often limited in their ability to invest in, and withdraw assets from, these markets. Additional restrictions may be imposed under other conditions. Frontier market countries generally have smaller economies or less developed capital markets and, as a result, the risks of investing in emerging market countries are magnified in frontier market countries.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

 

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Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

PERFORMANCE

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year and since inception returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

LOGO

 

January 2006-December 2010

 

Highest Quarter

     Lowest Quarter   

40.20 (4/09-6/09)

     -26.51 (10/08-12/08)   

 

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         Periods ending December 31, 2010    

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Five
Years


    Since 4/5/05
Inception


 

Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     23.62     15.05     17.13

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     23.27     14.68     16.81

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     15.64     13.13     15.14

MSCI Emerging Markets Index (net dividends)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     18.88     12.78     16.39

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio:

 

   

Karen Umland, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1998.

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

Joseph H. Chi, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2005.

 

   

Jed S. Fogdall, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2004.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES

 

The two investment companies described in this Prospectus offer a variety of investment portfolios. Each of the investment companies’ Portfolios has its own investment objective and policies, and is the equivalent of a separate mutual fund. The U.S. Large Company Portfolio and DFA International Value Portfolio are offered by Dimensional Investment Group Inc. The other Portfolios contained in this Prospectus are offered by DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. The Portfolios described in this Prospectus are designed for long-term investors. The U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio also offers two additional classes of shares, Class R1 shares and Class R2 shares, and the DFA International Value Portfolio and Emerging Markets Value Portfolio also offer one additional class of shares, Class R2 shares, which are offered to qualified investors in a separate prospectus.

 

U.S. Large Company Portfolio

 

U.S. Large Company Portfolio seeks, as its investment objective, to approximate the total investment return of the S&P 500® Index. The U.S. Large Company Portfolio intends to invest in all of the stocks that comprise the S&P 500® Index in approximately the proportions they are represented in the S&P 500® Index.

 

Ordinarily, portfolio securities will not be sold except to reflect additions or deletions of the stocks that comprise the S&P 500® Index, including as a result of mergers, reorganizations and similar transactions and, to the extent necessary, to provide cash to pay redemptions of the U.S. Large Company Portfolio’s shares.

 

The U.S. Large Company Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the U.S. stock market while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the U.S. Large Company Portfolio may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

For information concerning Standard & Poor’s Rating Group, a division of The McGraw Hill Companies (“S&P”), and disclaimers of S&P with respect to the U.S. Large Company Portfolio, see “Standard & Poor’s—Information and Disclaimers.”

 

Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio

 

Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio seeks, as its investment objective, to achieve a total return which exceeds the total return performance of the S&P 500® Index. The Portfolio may invest in all of the stocks represented in the S&P 500® Index, options on stock indices, stock index futures, options on stock index futures, swap agreements on stock indices and shares of investment companies that invest in stock indices. The Portfolio generally invests in S&P 500® futures contracts and fixed income obligations. The Portfolio may, from time to time, also invest in options on stock indices, stock index futures, options on stock index futures and swap agreements based on indices other than, but similar to, the S&P 500® Index (such instruments whether or not based on the S&P 500® Index hereinafter collectively referred to as “Index Derivatives”). For information concerning S&P, and disclaimers of S&P with respect to the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio, see “Standard & Poor’sInformation and Disclaimers.”

 

The Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio may invest all of its assets in Index Derivatives. Assets of the Portfolio may be invested in fixed income obligations including:

 

1. U.S. Government Obligations—Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury which are direct obligations of the U.S. government, including bills, notes and bonds.

 

2. U.S. Government Agency Obligations—Issued or guaranteed by U.S. government-sponsored instrumentalities and federal agencies, which have different levels of credit support. The U.S. government agency

 

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obligations include, but are not limited to, securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States, such as the Federal Housing Administration and Ginnie Mae, including Ginnie Mae pass-through certificates. Other securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities sponsored by the U.S. government may be supported only by the issuer’s right to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, subject to certain limits, such as securities issued by Federal Home Loan Banks, or are supported only by the credit of such agencies, such as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

 

3. Corporate Debt Obligations—Nonconvertible corporate debt securities (e.g., bonds and debentures), which have received an investment grade rating by Moody’s, Fitch or S&P or, if unrated, have been determined by the Advisor to be of comparable quality.

 

4. Bank Obligations—Obligations of U.S. banks and savings and loan associations and dollar-denominated obligations of U.S. subsidiaries and branches of foreign banks, such as certificates of deposit (including marketable variable rate certificates of deposit), time deposits and bankers’ acceptances. Bank certificates of deposit will only be acquired from banks having assets in excess of $1,000,000,000.

 

5. Commercial Paper—Rated, at the time of purchase, A3 or better by S&P or Prime3 or better by Moody’s, or F3 or better by Fitch or, if unrated, issued by a corporation having an outstanding unsecured debt issue rated at least Baa3 by Moody’s or BBB- by S&P or Fitch.

 

6. Repurchase Agreements—Instruments through which the Portfolios purchase securities (“underlying securities”) from a bank or a registered U.S. government securities dealer, with an agreement by the seller to repurchase the securities at an agreed price, plus interest at a specified rate. The underlying securities will be limited to U.S. government and agency obligations described in (1) and (2) above. The Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio will not enter into a repurchase agreement with a duration of more than seven days if, as a result, more than 10% of the value of the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio’s total assets would be so invested. In addition, a repurchase agreement with a duration of more than seven days will be subject to the Portfolio’s illiquid securities policy. The Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio also will only invest in repurchase agreements with a bank if the bank has at least $1,000,000,000 in assets and is approved by the Investment Committee of the Advisor. The Advisor will monitor the market value of the securities plus any accrued interest thereon so that they will at least equal the repurchase price.

 

7. Foreign Government and Agency Obligations—Bills, notes, bonds and other debt securities issued or guaranteed by foreign governments, or their agencies and instrumentalities.

 

8. Supranational Organization Obligations—Debt securities of supranational organizations such as the European Coal and Steel Community, the European Economic Community and the World Bank, which are chartered to promote economic development.

 

9. Foreign Issuer Obligations—Debt securities of non-U.S. issuers that have received a rating of BBB- or better by S&P or Fitch or Baa3 or better by Moody’s, or, if unrated, have been determined by the Advisor to be of comparable quality.

 

10. Eurodollar Obligations—Debt securities of domestic or foreign issuers denominated in U.S. dollars but not trading in the United States.

 

11. Money Market Funds—The Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds.

 

The percentage of assets of the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio that will be invested in S&P 500® Index stocks, Index Derivatives, fixed income investments and in shares of other investment companies may vary from time to time, within the discretion of the Advisor and according to restraints imposed by the federal

 

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securities laws and regulations governing mutual funds. The Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio will maintain a segregated account consisting of liquid assets (or, as permitted by applicable interpretations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), enter into offsetting positions) to cover its open positions in Index Derivatives to avoid leveraging by the Portfolio.

 

The Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio will enter into positions in futures and options on futures only to the extent such positions are permissible with respect to applicable rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission without registering the Portfolio as a commodity pool operator. In addition, the Portfolio may not be able to utilize Index Derivatives to the extent otherwise permissible or desirable because of constraints imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or by unanticipated illiquidity in the marketplace for such instruments.

 

It is the position of the SEC that over-the-counter options are illiquid. Accordingly, the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio will invest in such options only to the extent consistent with its 15% limit on investment in illiquid securities.

 

The Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio may also invest in shares of affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds. In addition, the Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the U.S. equity markets while maintaining liquidity. The Portfolio’s investments in the securities of other investment companies, including ETFs and money market funds, may involve the duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

Additional Information Regarding Credit Risk. Below investment grade fixed income securities may also fluctuate in value more than higher quality fixed income securities and, during periods of market volatility, may be more difficult to sell at the time and price the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio desires. Government agency obligations have different levels of credit support and, therefore, different degrees of credit risk. Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States, such as the Federal Housing Administration and Ginnie Mae, present little credit risk. Other securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities sponsored by the U.S. government, that are supported only by the issuer’s right to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, subject to certain limitations, and securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities sponsored by the U.S. government that are sponsored by the credit of the issuing agencies, such as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, are subject to a greater degree of credit risk. U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the credit of the agency may still involve a risk of non-payment of principal and/or interest.

 

Standard & Poor’sInformation and Disclaimers. The U.S. Large Company Portfolio and the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P. S&P makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the U.S. Large Company Portfolio or the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the U.S. Large Company Portfolio or the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio particularly or the ability of the S&P 500® Index to track general stock market performance. S&P’s only relationship to the U.S. Large Company Portfolio or the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade names of S&P and of the S&P 500® Index which is determined, composed and calculated by S&P without regard to the U.S. Large Company Portfolio or the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio. S&P has no obligation to take the needs of the U.S. Large Company Portfolio or the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio or their respective owners into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the S&P 500® Index. S&P is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the prices and amount of the U.S. Large Company Portfolio or the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio or the issuance or sale of the U.S. Large Company Portfolio or the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the U.S. Large Company Portfolio or the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio are to be converted into cash. S&P has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the U.S. Large Company Portfolio or the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio.

 

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S&P DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE S&P 500® INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN AND S&P SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTERRUPTIONS THEREIN. S&P MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY LICENSEE, OWNERS OF THE PRODUCT, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE S&P 500® INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. S&P MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE S&P 500® INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL S&P HAVE ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

 

U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio,

U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio and

U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

 

The investment objective of each of the U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio, U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio and the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio (the “U.S. Value Portfolios”) is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio is a “Feeder Portfolio,” which is a Portfolio that does not generally buy individual securities directly. Instead, it invests in a corresponding fund, or “Master Fund,” that in turn purchases stocks and other securities. The U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio pursues its investment objectives by investing substantially all of its assets in its corresponding Master Fund, The U.S. Large Cap Value Series (the “Large Cap Value Series”) of The DFA Investment Trust Company (the “Trust”), which has the same investment objective and policies as the U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio. The U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio and the U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio generally will pursue their investment objective by investing directly in securities of U.S. companies. Ordinarily, each of the Large Cap Value Series, U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio and the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio will invest its assets in a broad and diverse group of readily marketable common stocks of U.S. companies which the Advisor determines to be value stocks at the time of purchase. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value (a “book to market ratio”). In assessing value, the Advisor may consider additional factors, such as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios, as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer’s industry. The criteria the Advisor uses for assessing value are subject to change from time to time.

 

The Large Cap Value Series, U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio and U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio will purchase securities that are listed on the U.S. national securities exchanges or traded on the over-the-counter market. Each of the Large Cap Value Series, U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio and U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio uses a market capitalization weighted approach. See “Market Capitalization Weighted Approach” in this Prospectus.

 

On not less than a semi-annual basis, for each of the Large Cap Value Series, U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio and U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, the Advisor will calculate book to market ratios and review total market capitalization to determine those companies whose stock may be eligible for investment.

 

The Large Cap Value Series, U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio and U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio do not intend to purchase or sell securities based on the prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

The Large Cap Value Series may sell portfolio securities when the issuer’s market capitalization falls below that of the issuer with the minimum market capitalization that is then eligible for purchase by that Series. Each of the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio and the U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio may sell portfolio securities when the issuer’s market capitalization increases to a level that exceeds that of the issuer with the largest market capitalization that is then eligible for investment by that Portfolio.

 

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In addition, the Large Cap Value Series may sell portfolio securities when its book to market ratios fall below those of the security with the lowest such ratio that is then eligible for purchase by that Series. The U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio and the U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio may also sell portfolio securities in the same circumstances, however, each of these funds may retain securities of issuers with relatively smaller market capitalizations for longer periods, despite a decrease in the issuers’ book to market ratios.

 

The total market capitalization ranges, and the value criteria used by the Advisor for the Large Cap Value Series, U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio and U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, as described above, generally apply at the time of purchase by the Large Cap Value Series, U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio and U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio. Large Cap Value Series, U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio and U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio are not required to dispose of a security if the security’s issuer is no longer within the total market capitalization range or does not meet current value criteria. Similarly, the Advisor is not required to sell a security even if the decline in the market capitalization reflects a serious financial difficulty or potential or actual insolvency of the company. Securities that do meet the market capitalization and/or value criteria nevertheless may be sold at any time when, in the Advisor’s judgment, circumstances warrant their sale. See “Portfolio Transactions—All Portfolios” in this Prospectus.

 

The Large Cap Value Series, U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio and U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio each may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the U.S. stock market while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the U.S. Large Cap Value Series, U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio and U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio each may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio,

U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio and

U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio, the U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio and U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation.

 

The U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio, the U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio and the U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio each seeks to achieve its investment objective by purchasing a broad and diverse group of common stocks of U.S. companies with an increased exposure to small capitalization and value companies relative to the U.S. Universe. While both the U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio and the U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio (the “U.S. Core Portfolios”) seek increased exposure to small capitalization and value companies, U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio’s emphasis on small capitalization and value companies is greater than that of U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio. The Advisor generally defines the U.S. Universe as a market capitalization weighted portfolio of U.S. operating companies listed on the NYSE, NYSE Alternext, Nasdaq Global Market® and such other U.S. national securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor (U.S. Universe). The increased exposure to small and value companies may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of a Portfolio’s assets to the largest U.S. growth companies relative to their weight in the U.S. Universe, which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. Additionally, for the U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio, increased exposure to small and value companies may be achieved by avoiding purchases in that segment of the market. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization. In assessing growth and value, the Advisor may consider additional factors, such as price-to-cash-flow or price-to-earnings ratios, as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer’s industry.

 

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The U.S. Core Portfolios and the U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio will purchase securities that are listed on the NYSE, NYSE Alternext, Nasdaq Global Market® or such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor.

 

The U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio, The U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio and U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio each may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the U.S. stock market while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, each Portfolio may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage the Portfolio’s cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

U.S. Small Cap Portfolio and

U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio

 

Each of the U.S. Small Cap Portfolio and the U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio (the “U.S. Small Company Portfolios”) has an investment objective to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The U.S. Small Company Portfolios provide investors with access to securities portfolios consisting of small U.S. companies. Company size will be determined for purposes of the U.S. Small Company Portfolios on the basis of a company’s market capitalization, which will be calculated by multiplying the price of a company’s stock by the number of its shares of outstanding common stock.

 

As of the date of this Prospectus, for purposes of this U.S. Small Cap Portfolio, the Advisor considers small cap companies to be companies whose market capitalizations are generally in the lowest 10% of total market capitalization or companies whose market capitalizations are smaller than the 1,000th largest U.S. company, whichever results in the higher market capitalization break. The U.S. Small Cap Portfolio also may purchase securities of foreign issuers that are traded in the U.S. securities markets, but such investments may not exceed 5% of the gross assets of the Portfolio. Generally, it is the intention of the Portfolio to purchase common stock of eligible companies using a market capitalization weighted approach. See “Portfolio Construction—Small Company Funds.” In addition, the U.S. Small Cap Portfolio is authorized to purchase private placements of interest-bearing debentures that are convertible into common stock (“privately placed convertible debentures”). Such investments are considered illiquid and the value thereof, together with the value of all other illiquid investments, may not exceed 15% of the value of the U.S. Small Portfolio’s net assets at the time of purchase.

 

As of the date of this Prospectus, for purposes of the U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio, the Advisor considers micro cap companies to be companies whose market capitalizations are generally in the lowest 5% of total market capitalization or companies whose market capitalizations are smaller than the 1,500th largest U.S. company, whichever results in the higher market capitalization break. The U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio may purchase securities of foreign issuers which are traded in the U.S. securities markets, but such investments may not exceed 5% of the gross assets of the Portfolio. There is some overlap in the companies in which the U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio and the U.S. Small Cap Portfolio invest. Generally, it is the intention of the Portfolio to purchase the stock of eligible companies using a market capitalization weighted approach. See “Portfolio Construction—Small Company Funds.” The U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio is authorized to invest in privately placed convertible debentures, and the value thereof, together with the value of all other illiquid investments, may not exceed 10% of the value of the Portfolio’s net assets at the time of purchase.

 

For the discussion of portfolio construction and portfolio transactions for the U.S. Small Company Portfolios, see “Portfolio Construction—Small Company Funds.”

 

Each U.S. Small Company Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the U.S. stock market while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, each U.S. Small Company Portfolio

 

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may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage the Portfolio’s cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio will concentrate investments in readily marketable equity securities of companies whose principal activities include development, ownership, construction, management, or sale of residential, commercial or industrial real estate. Investments will include, principally, equity securities of companies in the following sectors of the real estate industry: certain real estate investment trusts and companies engaged in residential construction and firms, except partnerships, whose principal business is to develop commercial property.

 

The DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio will purchase shares of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). REITs pool investors’ funds for investment primarily in income producing real estate or real estate related loans or interests. A REIT is not taxed on income distributed to shareholders if it complies with several requirements relating to its organization, ownership, assets, and income and a requirement that it distribute to its shareholders at least 90% of its taxable income (other than net capital gains) for each taxable year. REITs can generally be classified as Equity REITs, Mortgage REITs and Hybrid REITs. Equity REITs invest the majority of their assets directly in real property and derive their income primarily from rents. Equity REITs can also realize capital gains by selling properties that have appreciated in value. Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages and derive their income primarily from interest payments. Hybrid REITs combine the characteristics of both Equity REITs and Mortgage REITs. At the present time, the Portfolio intends to invest only in Hybrid REITs and Equity REITs.

 

On at least a semi-annual basis, the Advisor will identify a schedule of eligible investments consisting of equity securities of companies in the real estate industry described above. It is the intention of the Portfolio to invest in the securities of eligible companies using a market capitalization weighted approach. See “Market Capitalization Weighted Approach.”

 

While a company’s stock may meet the applicable criteria described above, the stock may not be purchased by the DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio if, at the time of purchase, in the judgment of the Advisor, the issuer is in extreme financial difficulty or is involved in a merger or consolidation or is the subject of an acquisition that could result in the company no longer being considered principally engaged in the real estate business or a significant portion of the issuers securities are closely held or if the Advisor determines, in its judgment, that the purchase of such stock is inappropriate given other conditions.

 

If securities must be sold in order to obtain funds to make redemption payments, such securities may be repurchased by the DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio, as additional cash becomes available to it. However, the Portfolio has retained the right to borrow to make redemption payments and is also authorized to redeem its shares in kind. See “REDEMPTION OF SHARES.” Further, because the securities of certain companies whose shares are eligible for purchase are thinly traded, the Portfolio might not be able to purchase the number of shares that strict adherence to market capitalization weighting might require.

 

Investments will not be based upon an issuer’s dividend payment policy or record. However, many of the companies whose securities will be included in the DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio do pay dividends. It is anticipated, therefore, that the Portfolio will receive dividend income. Periodically, the Advisor may expand the investments eligible for the Portfolio to include equity securities of companies in sectors of the real estate industry in addition to those described above as eligible for investment as of the date of this Prospectus.

 

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The DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the U.S. stock market while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the Portfolio may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage the Portfolio’s cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio is to seek total return consisting of capital appreciation and current income. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio invests in commodity-linked derivative instruments, such as commodity-linked structured notes, swap agreements, commodity options, futures, and options on futures that provide exposure to the investment returns of the commodities markets without investing directly in physical commodities. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio will limit its direct investments in commodity-linked derivatives, including swaps, futures, and options, such that the income derived from such commodity-linked derivatives is limited to a maximum of 10% of the Portfolio’s annual gross income. If future regulatory or legislative changes alter the tax treatment of commodity-linked derivatives, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may no longer be required to limit its direct investments in these instruments.

 

The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio also may gain exposure to commodity markets by investing up to 25% of the Portfolio’s total assets in the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary is advised by the Advisor and has the same investment objective as the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio. The Subsidiary (unlike the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio) may invest without certain limitations in commodity-linked notes, swap agreements, and other commodity-linked derivative instruments, including futures contracts on individual commodities or a subset of commodities and options on commodities. However, the Subsidiary will be subject to fundamental, non-fundamental, and certain investment restrictions and limitations substantially similar to those imposed on the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio by the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”). If future regulatory or legislative changes alter the tax treatment of commodity-linked derivatives, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may no longer invest in the Subsidiary.

 

The remainder of the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio’s assets (other than amounts invested in structured notes, swaps and other derivatives or the Subsidiary) is expected to consist predominantly of fixed income instruments. For the fixed income securities the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may purchase, please refer to “Investments in Fixed Income Securities,” below. Under normal market conditions, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio will maintain an average duration of the fixed income portion of the Portfolio (excluding structured notes) of three years or less. In determining the credit quality of a security, the Advisor will use the highest rating assigned to the security. Duration is a measure of the expected life of a fixed income security that is used to determine the sensitivity of a security’s price to changes in interest rates. The longer a security’s duration, the more sensitive it will be to changes in interest rates. Similarly, a portfolio with a longer average portfolio duration will be more sensitive to changes in interest rates than a fund with a shorter average portfolio duration.

 

The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio is “non-diversified,” which means that the Portfolio may invest its assets in a smaller number of issuers than a diversified fund.

 

Investments in Commodity-Linked Derivative Instruments. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio’s investments in commodity-linked derivative instruments will give the Portfolio exposure to the performance of a basket of commodity futures. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio’s investment in commodity-linked derivative instruments may subject the Portfolio to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities, particularly if the instruments involve leverage. The prices of commodity-linked instruments may move in different directions than investments in traditional equity and debt securities or commodity spot prices. There can

 

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be no guarantee that the Portfolio’s commodity-linked investments will not be correlated with traditional financial assets under any particular market conditions or correlated with commodity spot prices. Commodity-linked derivative instruments may not track the performance of commodity spot prices. In fact, commodity-linked structured notes may be structured in a way that results in the Portfolio’s performance diverging from a commodity or commodity-index, perhaps materially. For example, a note can be structured to limit the loss or the gain on the investment, which would result in the Portfolio not participating in declines or increases in the underlying commodity or commodity index that exceed the limits.

 

In addition, 25% or more of the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio’s total assets may be indirectly exposed to industries in one or more commodity sectors. Further, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio can invest more than 25% of its total assets in instruments (such as structured notes) issued by companies in the financial services sector (which includes the banking, brokerage, and insurance industries). In that case, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio’s values will fluctuate in response to events affecting issues in those sectors.

 

The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio invests in commodity-linked derivatives that are structured notes, futures, swaps, and hybrid instruments excluded from regulation under the Commodity Exchange Act (the “CEA”), so that the Portfolio will not be considered a “commodity pool.” From time to time, the Portfolio may invest in instruments that are regulated under the CEA.

 

The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio typically will seek to gain exposure to the commodities markets by investing in commodity-linked structured notes with principal and/or coupon payments linked to the value of a commodity or a commodity index. These notes may be issued by U.S. and foreign banks, brokerage firms, insurance companies, and other corporations. These notes are debt securities of the issuer and so, in addition to fluctuating in response to changes in the underlying commodity, commodities, or commodity index, will be subject to credit and interest rate risks that typically affect debt securities. While structured notes typically are not rated, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio does not intend to enter into structured notes with issuers that do not have debt ratings of investment grade.

 

The use of commodity-linked structured notes and other derivatives strategies, such as swaps or futures, is a principal strategy of the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio. Derivatives strategies and the writing of uncovered (or so-called “naked”) options are speculative and may hurt the Portfolio’s performance. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may attempt to hedge its investments in order to mitigate risk, but the Portfolio is not required to do so. In the event that the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio’s direct investment in commodity-linked derivatives is not limited in the future due to regulatory or legislative changes in the tax treatment of such derivatives, the Portfolio’s investment in commodity-linked derivatives may result in it having greater or lesser exposure to commodities than the value of the Portfolio’s net assets. Additional information about the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio’s derivatives and options strategy and related risks is included in the Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”).

 

Investments in the Subsidiary. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may also gain exposure to commodity markets by investing up to 25% of its total assets in the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary invests primarily in commodity-linked derivative instruments, including swap agreements, commodity options, futures, and options on futures. Although the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may invest in these commodity-linked derivative instruments directly, the Portfolio may gain exposure to these derivative instruments indirectly by investing in the Subsidiary. To the extent that the Advisor believes that investing in the Subsidiary to provide exposure to these commodity-linked derivative instruments is better suited to provide exposure to the commodity market than commodity index-linked notes, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio’s investment in the Subsidiary likely will increase. The Subsidiary also will invest in fixed income instruments, some of which are intended to serve as margin or collateral for the Subsidiary’s derivatives position.

 

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The derivative instruments in which the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio and the Subsidiary intend to invest include instruments linked to commodity indices. Additionally, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio or the Subsidiary may invest in derivative instruments linked to the value of a particular commodity or commodity futures contract, or a subset of commodities or commodity futures contracts, including swaps on commodity futures. The Portfolio’s or the Subsidiary’s investments in commodity-linked derivative instruments may specify exposure to commodity futures with different roll dates, reset dates, or contract months than those specified by a particular commodity index. As a result, the commodity-linked derivatives component of the Portfolio’s investment portfolio may deviate from the returns of any particular commodity index. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio or the Subsidiary also may overweight or underweight its exposure to a particular commodity or a subset of commodities, such that the Portfolio has greater or lesser exposure than is represented by a particular commodity index. The portion of the Portfolio’s or Subsidiary’s assets exposed to any particular commodity or commodity sector will vary based on market conditions, but from time to time the portion could be substantial. To the extent that the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio invests in the Subsidiary, the Portfolio may be subject to the risks associated with those derivative instruments and other securities, which are discussed elsewhere in this Prospectus.

 

The Subsidiary is managed pursuant to substantial similar compliance policies and procedures, as the policies and procedures adopted by the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio pursuant to the 1940 Act. As a result, the Advisor, in managing the Subsidiary’s portfolio, is subject to the same 1940 Act investment policies and restrictions that apply to the management of the Portfolio and, in particular, to the requirements relating to portfolio leverage, liquidity, brokerage, and the timing and method of the valuation of the Subsidiary’s portfolio investments and shares of the Subsidiary. These policies and restrictions are described in detail in the Portfolio’s SAI. The Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer oversees implementation of the Subsidiary’s policies and procedures, and makes periodic reports to the Fund’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) regarding the Subsidiary’s compliance with its policies and procedures. The internal guidelines of the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may be more restrictive than the investment policies described in this Prospectus. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio and Subsidiary will test for compliance with certain investment restrictions on a consolidated basis, except that with respect to the Subsidiary’s investments that may involve leverage, the Subsidiary will comply with asset segregation requirements under the 1940 Act and the SEC’s interpretations thereof to the same extent as the Portfolio. The Subsidiary’s investments in commodity-linked derivatives may result in the Subsidiary having greater or lesser exposure to commodities than the value of the Subsidiary’s net assets. A greater exposure to commodities than the value of the Subsidiary’s net assets may require the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio to make additional contributions of capital to the Subsidiary so that the Subsidiary can comply with the asset segregation requirements of the 1940 Act.

 

The Subsidiary has entered into a separate contract with the Advisor whereby the Advisor or its affiliates provide investment advisory and other services to the Subsidiary. For the investment advisory services it provides, the Advisor is entitled to a fee from the Subsidiary equal to 0.30% of the Subsidiary’s average net assets on an annualized basis; however, pursuant to a contractual agreement, the Advisor has agreed to waive the management fee of the Subsidiary. Neither the Advisor nor any affiliate receives separate compensation from the Subsidiary for providing it with administrative services. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio pays the Advisor and its affiliates based on the Portfolio’s assets, including the assets invested in the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary also has entered into separate contracts for the provision of custody, administrative, and accounting services with the same or with affiliates of the same service providers that provide those services to the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio.

 

The financial statements of the Subsidiary will be available in the Portfolio’s future annual and semi-annual reports either separately or on a consolidated basis with the Portfolio’s financial statements. Please refer to the SAI for additional information about the organization and management of the Subsidiary.

 

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Investments in Fixed Income Securities. The following is a description of the categories of fixed income investments that may be acquired by the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio:

 

1. U.S. Government Obligations—Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury that are direct obligations of the U.S. government, including bills, notes and bonds.

 

2. U.S. Government Agency Obligations—Issued or guaranteed by U.S. government-sponsored instrumentalities and federal agencies, which have different levels of credit support. The U.S. government agency obligations include, but are not limited to, securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States, such as the Federal Housing Administration and Ginnie Mae, including Ginnie Mae pass-through certificates. Other securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities sponsored by the U.S. government may be supported only by the issuer’s right to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, subject to certain limits, such as securities issued by Federal Home Loan Banks, or are supported only by the credit of such agencies, such as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

 

3. Foreign Issuer Obligations—Debt securities of non-U.S. issuers that have received a rating of BBB- or better by S&P or Fitch or Baa3 or better by Moody’s, or, if unrated, have been determined by the Advisor to be of comparable quality.

 

4. Bank Obligations—Obligations of U.S. banks and savings and loan associations and dollar-denominated obligations of U.S. subsidiaries and branches of foreign banks, such as commodity-linked structured notes, certificates of deposit (including marketable variable rate certificates of deposit), time deposits and bankers’ acceptances. Bank certificates of deposit will be acquired only from banks having assets in excess of $1,000,000,000.

 

5. Commercial Paper—Rated, at the time of purchase, A3 or better by S&P or Prime3 or better by Moody’s, or F3 or better by Fitch or, if unrated, issued by a corporation having an outstanding unsecured debt issue rated at least Baa3 by Moody’s or BBB- by S&P or Fitch.

 

6. Repurchase Agreements—Instruments through which the Portfolio purchases securities (“underlying securities”) from a bank or a registered U.S. government securities dealer, with an agreement by the seller to repurchase the securities at an agreed price, plus interest, at a specified rate. The underlying securities will be limited to U.S. government and agency obligations described in (1) and (2) above. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio will not enter into a repurchase agreement with a duration of more than seven days if, as a result, more than 10% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets would be so invested. In addition, a repurchase agreement with a duration of more than seven days will be subject to the Portfolio’s illiquid securities policy. Also, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio only will invest in repurchase agreements with a bank if the bank has at least $1,000,000,000 in assets and is approved by the Investment Committee of the Advisor. The Advisor will monitor the market value of the securities plus any accrued interest thereon so that they will at least equal the repurchase price.

 

7. Foreign Government and Agency Obligations—Bills, notes, bonds, and other debt securities issued or guaranteed by foreign governments, or their agencies and instrumentalities.

 

8. Supranational Organization Obligations—Debt securities of supranational organizations such as the European Coal and Steel Community, the European Economic Community, and the World Bank, which are chartered to promote economic development.

 

9. Eurodollar Obligations—Debt securities of domestic or foreign issuers denominated in U.S. dollars but not trading in the United States.

 

10. Money Market Funds—The Portfolio may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds.

 

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11. Corporate Debt Obligations—Nonconvertible corporate debt securities (e.g., bonds and debentures) and commodity-linked structured notes, which have received an investment grade rating by Moody’s, Fitch, or S&P, or if unrated, have been determined by the Advisor to be of comparable quality.

 

The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio also may invest in exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to commodity markets while maintaining liquidity. The Portfolio’s investments in the securities of other investment companies, including ETFs and money market funds, may involve the duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

The categories of investments that may be acquired by the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may include both fixed and floating rate securities. Floating rate securities bear interest at rates that vary with prevailing market rates. Interest rate adjustments are made periodically (e.g., every six months), usually based on a money market index such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) or the Treasury bill rate.

 

The Portfolio’s fixed income investments will be managed with a view to capturing credit risk premiums and term or maturity premiums. The term “credit risk premium” means the anticipated incremental return on investment for holding obligations considered to have greater credit risk than direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury, and “maturity risk premium” means the anticipated incremental return on investment for holding securities having maturities of longer than one month compared to securities having a maturity of one month. The Advisor believes that credit risk premiums are available largely through investment in commercial paper, certificates of deposit, and corporate obligations. The holding period for assets of the Portfolio will be chosen with a view to maximizing anticipated returns, net of trading costs.

 

The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may engage in frequent trading of portfolio securities and, therefore, is expected to have a high portfolio turnover rate. The rate of portfolio turnover will depend upon market and other conditions; it will not be a limiting factor when management believes that portfolio changes are appropriate. While the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio acquires securities in principal transactions and, therefore, does not pay brokerage commissions, the spread between the bid and asked prices of a security may be considered to be a “cost” of trading. Such costs ordinarily increase with trading activity. However, securities ordinarily will be sold when, in the Advisor’s judgment, the monthly return of the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio will be increased as a result of portfolio transactions after taking into account the cost of trading. It is anticipated that short-term instruments will be acquired in the primary and secondary markets. A high portfolio turnover rate may have negative tax consequences to shareholders and may result in increased trading costs.

 

The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio normally will seek to hedge its exposure to foreign currencies to reduce the risk of loss due to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio will hedge its exposure to foreign currencies through the use of currency futures and options on futures, forward currency contracts, and currency options.

 

International Portfolios

 

Approved Markets. As of the date of this Prospectus, the countries listed in the following tables for each international Feeder Portfolio and its corresponding Master Fund (an “International Master Fund”) and each non-Feeder Portfolio are designated as “Approved Markets” for which the International Master Fund or Portfolio is authorized to invest. The Advisor will determine in its discretion when and whether to invest in countries that have been authorized as Approved Markets, depending on a number of factors, such as asset growth in a Master Fund/Portfolio and characteristics of each country’s markets. The Investment Committee of the Advisor also may designate other countries as Approved Markets for investment in the future, in addition to the countries listed in the tables. Also, an International Master Fund or Portfolio may continue to hold investments in countries that are not currently designated as Approved Markets, but had been authorized for investment in the past, and may reinvest distributions received in connection with such existing investments in such previously Approved Markets. Emerging Markets approved for investment may include countries in an earlier stage of development that are sometimes referred to as frontier markets. As of the date of this Prospectus, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio does not hold any foreign investments.

 

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DEVELOPED MARKETS

 

Countries  

Large Cap
International

Portfolio

  DFA
International
Value
Portfolio &
DFA
International
Value Series
  International
Core
Equity
Portfolio
  Japanese
Small
Company
Portfolio
&
Japanese
Small
Company
Series
 

Asia Pacific
Small
Company
Portfolio &
Asia Pacific

Small
Company
Series

  Canadian
Small
Company
Series
  U.K. Small
Company
Portfolio
&
U.K. Small
Company
Series
  Continental
Small
Company
Portfolio &
Continental
Small
Company
Series
  DFA
International
Real Estate
Securities
Portfolio
  DFA Global
Real Estate
Securities
Portfolio
  DFA
International
Small Cap
Value
Portfolio
  International
Vector Equity
Portfolio
  World ex
U.S.  Value
Portfolio

Australia

  Invests   Invests   Invests     Invests         Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests

Austria

  Invests   Invests   Invests           Invests       Invests   Invests   Invests

Belgium

  Invests   Invests   Invests           Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests

Canada

  Invests   Invests   Invests       Invests       Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests

Denmark

  Invests   Invests   Invests           Invests       Invests   Invests   Invests

Finland

  Invests   Invests   Invests           Invests       Invests   Invests   Invests

France

  Invests   Invests   Invests           Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests

Germany

  Invests   Invests   Invests           Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests

Greece

  Invests   Invests   Invests           Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests

Hong Kong

  Invests   Invests   Invests     Invests         Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests

Ireland

  Invests   Invests   Invests           Invests       Invests   Invests   Invests

Israel

  Invests   Invests   Invests           Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests

Italy

  Invests   Invests   Invests           Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests

Japan

  Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests           Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests

Netherlands

  Invests   Invests   Invests           Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests

New Zealand

  Invests   Invests   Invests     Invests         Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests

Norway

  Invests   Invests   Invests           Invests       Invests   Invests   Invests

Portugal

  Invests   Invests   Invests           Invests       Invests   Invests   Invests

Singapore

  Invests   Invests   Invests     Invests         Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests

Spain

  Invests   Invests   Invests           Invests       Invests   Invests   Invests

Sweden

  Invests   Invests   Invests           Invests       Invests   Invests   Invests

Switzerland

  Invests   Invests   Invests           Invests       Invests   Invests   Invests

United Kingdom

  Invests   Invests   Invests         Invests     Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests

United States

                    Invests      

 

EMERGING MARKETS

 

Countries  

DFA

International

Real Estate
Securities
Portfolio

 

DFA

Global

Real Estate
Securities
Portfolio

 

World ex U.S.
Value Portfolio

  Emerging
Markets
Portfolio
&
Emerging
Markets
Series
  Emerging
Markets
Value
Portfolio &
Emerging
Markets
Value Fund
  Emerging
Markets Small
Cap Portfolio &
Emerging
Markets
Small Cap Series
  Emerging
Markets Core
Equity Portfolio

Brazil

      Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests

Chile

      Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests

China

  Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests

Columbia

        Invests       Invests

Czech Republic

      Invests   Invests   Invests     Invests

Egypt

        Invests       Invests

Hungary

      Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests

India

      Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests

Indonesia

      Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests

Malaysia

  Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests

Mexico

      Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests

Philippines

      Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests

Peru

        Invests       Invests

Poland

      Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests

Russia

      Invests   Invests   Invests     Invests

South Africa

  Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests

South Korea

      Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests

Taiwan

  Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests

Thailand

      Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests

Turkey

  Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests   Invests

 

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The International Master Funds and Portfolios invest in securities of Approved Markets (as identified in the tables above) listed on bona fide securities exchanges or traded on the over-the-counter markets. These exchanges or over-the-counter markets may be either within or outside the issuer’s domicile country. For example, the securities may be listed or traded in the form of European Depositary Receipts, Global Depositary Receipts, American Depositary Receipts, or other types of depositary receipts (including non-voting depositary receipts) or may be listed on bona fide securities exchanges in more than one country. An International Master Fund or Portfolio will consider for purchase securities that are associated with an Approved Market, and include, among others: (a) securities of companies that are organized under the laws of, or maintain their principal place of business in, an Approved Market; (b) securities for which the principal trading market is in an Approved Market; (c) securities issued or guaranteed by the government of an Approved Market, its agencies or instrumentalities, or the central bank of such country or territory; (d) securities denominated in an Approved Market currency issued by companies to finance operations in Approved Markets; (e) securities of companies that derive at least 50% of their revenues or profits from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed in Approved Markets or have at least 50% of their assets in Approved Markets; (f) equity securities of companies in Approved Markets in the form of depositary shares; (g) securities of pooled investment vehicles that invest primarily in securities of Approved Markets or derivative instruments that derive their value from securities of Approved Markets; or (h) securities included in the Portfolio’s benchmark index. Securities of Approved Markets may include securities of companies that have characteristics and business relationships common to companies in other countries or regions. As a result, the value of the securities of such companies may reflect economic and market forces in such other countries or regions as well as in the Approved Markets. The Advisor, however, will select only those companies that, in its view, have sufficiently strong exposure to economic and market forces in Approved Markets. For example, the Advisor may invest in companies organized and located in the United States or other countries or regions outside of Approved Markets, including companies having their entire production facilities outside of Approved Markets, when such companies meet the criteria discussed above to be considered associated with Approved Markets.

 

Large Cap International Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the Large Cap International Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation by investing in the stocks of non-U.S. large companies. Under normal market conditions, the Large Cap International Portfolio intends to invest at least 40% of its assets in three or more non-U.S. countries by investing in securities of companies associated with such countries. The Large Cap International Portfolio invests its assets in securities of companies associated with Approved Markets (For a description of the securities and countries approved for investment, see “International PortfoliosApproved Markets”).

 

The Large Cap International Portfolio intends to purchase stocks of large companies in Europe, Australia, Canada and the Far East. The Advisor determines company size on a country or region specific basis and based primarily on market capitalization. In the countries or regions authorized for investment, the Advisor first ranks eligible companies listed on selected exchanges based on the companies’ market capitalizations. The Advisor then determines the universe of eligible stocks by defining the minimum market capitalization of a large company that may be purchased by the Large Cap International Portfolio with respect to each country or region. As of December 31, 2010, for the Large Cap International Portfolio, the lowest minimum market capitalization of a large company in any country or region in which the Large Cap International Portfolio invests was $1,438 million. This threshold will vary by country or region. For example, as of December 31, 2010, the Advisor considered a large company in the European Monetary Union (the “EMU”) to have a market capitalization of at least $3,133 million, a large company in Australia to have a market capitalization of at least $2,139 million, and a large company in Japan to have a market capitalization of at least $1,438 million. These dollar amounts will change due to market conditions.

 

The Large Cap International Portfolio intends to purchase securities in each applicable country and to set country weights using an adjusted market capitalization weighted approach. Market capitalization weighting may be adjusted to consider a company’s market capitalization and to increase exposure to companies with higher

 

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valuation ratios relative to other companies with lower valuation ratios and also may be modified considering the factors under “Market Capitalization Weighted Approach”. As a result, the weightings of certain companies and countries in the Large Cap International Portfolio may vary from their weightings in international indices, such as those published by FTSE International, Morgan Stanley Capital International or Citigroup.

 

The Large Cap International Portfolio does not seek current income as an investment objective and investments will not be based upon an issuer’s dividend payment policy or record. However, many of the companies whose securities will be included in the Portfolio do pay dividends. It is anticipated, therefore, that the Large Cap International Portfolio will receive dividend income.

 

The Large Cap International Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the equity markets while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the Large Cap International Portfolio may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage the Portfolio’s cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

DFA International Value Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the DFA International Value Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The DFA International Value Portfolio invests substantially all of its assets in The DFA International Value Series of the Trust (the “International Value Series”), which has the same investment objective and policies as the Portfolio. The International Value Series seeks to achieve its objective by purchasing the stocks of large non-U.S. companies that the Advisor determines to be value stocks at the time of purchase. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value (a “book to market ratio”). In assessing value, the Advisor may consider additional factors such as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer’s industry. The criteria the Advisor uses for assessing value are subject to change from time to time.

 

Under normal market conditions, the International Value Series intends to invest at least 40% of its assets in three or more non-U.S. countries by investing in securities of companies associated with such countries. The International Value Series invests its assets in securities of companies associated with Approved Markets (For a description of the securities and countries approved for investment, see “International PortfoliosApproved Markets”).

 

In the countries or regions authorized for investment, the Advisor first ranks eligible companies listed on selected exchanges based on the companies’ market capitalizations. The Advisor then determines the universe of eligible stocks by defining the minimum market capitalization of a large company that may be purchased by the International Value Series with respect to each country or region. As of December 31, 2010, for the DFA International Value Series, the lowest minimum market capitalization of a large company in any country or region in which the DFA International Value Series invests was $1,438 million. This threshold will vary by country or region. For example, as of December 31, 2010, the Advisor considered a large company in the EMU to have a market capitalization of at least $3,133 million, a large company in Australia to have a market capitalization of at least $2,139 million, and a large company in Japan to have a market capitalization of at least $1,438 million. These dollar amounts will change due to market conditions.

 

The International Value Series intends to purchase securities within each applicable country using a market capitalization weighted approach. The Advisor, using this approach and its judgment, will seek to set country weights based on the relative market capitalization of eligible large companies within each country. See “Market Capitalization Weighted Approach.” As a result, the weightings of countries in the International Value Series may vary from their weightings in international indices, such as those published by FTSE International, Morgan Stanley Capital International or Citigroup.

 

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The International Value Series does not seek current income as an investment objective and investments will not be based upon an issuer’s dividend payment policy or record. However, many of the companies whose securities will be included in the International Value Series do pay dividends. It is anticipated, therefore, that the International Value Series will receive dividend income.

 

The International Value Series may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the equity markets while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the International Value Series may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

International Core Equity Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the International Core Equity Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The International Core Equity Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective by purchasing a broad and diverse group of stocks of non-U.S. companies with an increased exposure to small capitalization and value companies relative to the International Universe. For purposes of the International Core Equity Portfolio, the Advisor defines the International Universe as a market capitalization weighted portfolio of non-U.S. companies in developed markets that have been authorized for investment by the Advisor’s Investment Committee (International Universe). See “International PortfoliosApproved Markets.” The increased exposure to small capitalization and value companies may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the International Core Equity Portfolio’s assets to the largest growth companies relative to their weight in the International Universe, which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization. In assessing growth and value, the Advisor may consider additional factors, such as price-to-cash-flow or price-to-earnings ratios, as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer’s industry.

 

Under normal market conditions, the International Core Equity Portfolio intends to invest at least 40% of its assets in three or more non-U.S. countries by investing in securities of companies associated with such countries.

 

The International Core Equity Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the equity markets while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the International Core Equity Portfolio may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

International Small Company Portfolios

 

The International Small Company Portfolio is a “fund of funds,” which means that it uses assets to purchase other mutual funds (the “Underlying Funds”). The International Small Company Portfolio and The Canadian Small Company Series (the “Canadian Small Company Series”), The Japanese Small Company Series (the “Japanese Small Company Series”), The Asia Pacific Small Company Series (the “Asia Pacific Small Company Series”), The United Kingdom Small Company Series (the “United Kingdom Small Company Series”) and The Continental Small Company Series (the “Continental Small Company Series”) of the Trust (the latter five being referred to hereinafter as the “International Small Company Master Funds”) each have an investment objective to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The Feeder Portfolios of the International Small Company Master Funds (the “International Small Company Portfolios”) provide investors with access to securities portfolios consisting of small Canadian, Japanese, United Kingdom, European (including the Mediterranean) and Asia Pacific

 

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companies. Company size will be determined for purposes of these Portfolios and Master Funds on the basis of a company’s market capitalization, which will be calculated by multiplying the number of outstanding shares of the company by the price per share of the company’s stock.

International Small Company Portfolio

The International Small Company Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing virtually all of its assets in up to five International Small Company Master Funds (the Underlying Funds to the International Small Company Portfolio), in such relative proportions as determined by the Advisor from time to time. For a complete description of the investment objectives and policies, portfolio structure and transactions for each International Small Company Master Fund, see “International Small Company Portfolio—The Canadian Small Company Series”; “International Small Company Portfolios—Japanese Small Company Portfolio; Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio; United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio; and Continental Small Company Portfolio.” The International Small Company Portfolio is designed for investors who wish to achieve their investment objective of capital appreciation by participating in the investment performance of a broad range of equity securities of Canadian, Japanese, United Kingdom, European (including the Mediterranean) and Asia Pacific small companies.

As of the date of this Prospectus, the International Small Company Portfolio invests in the shares of the International Small Company Master Funds within the following percentage ranges:

 

International Small Company Master Funds

   Investment Range

Canadian Small Company Series

   0-20%

Japanese Small Company Series

   10-35%

Asia Pacific Small Company Series

   0-25%

United Kingdom Small Company Series

   10-30%

Continental Small Company Series

   25-50%

The allocation of the assets of International Small Company Portfolio to be invested in the International Small Company Master Funds will be determined by the Advisor on at least a semi-annual basis. In setting the target allocation, the Advisor will first consider the market capitalizations of all eligible companies in each of the International Small Company Master Funds. The Advisor will calculate the market capitalizations for each International Small Company Master Fund in the manner described below for the Canadian Small Company Series and for each other International Small Company Master Fund under “International Small Company Portfolios—Japanese Small Company Portfolio; Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio; United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio; Continental Small Company Portfolio.” The Advisor expects to change the relative weights ascribed to each International Small Company Master Fund, based on its updated market capitalization calculations, when it determines that fundamental changes in the relative values ascribed by market forces to each relevant geographic area have occurred. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the International Small Company Portfolio, through its investments in the International Small Company Master Funds, will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of small companies.

The Canadian Small Company Series. The Canadian Small Company Series generally will purchase a broad and diverse group of readily marketable stocks of Canadian small companies. The Canadian Small Company Series invests in securities of companies associated with Canada, which is the Canadian Small Company Series’ Approved Market (For a description of the securities approved for investment, see “International PortfoliosApproved Markets), listed or traded in the form of European Depositary Receipts, Global Depositary Receipts, American Depositary Receipts or other types of depositary receipts (including non-voting depositary receipts) or dual listed securities. The Advisor measures company size based primarily on market capitalization. The Advisor first ranks eligible companies by market capitalization. The Advisor then determines the universe of eligible

 

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stocks by defining the maximum market capitalization of a small company in Canada. As of December 31, 2010, the Advisor considered Canadian small companies to be those companies with a market capitalization of $2,759 million or below. This dollar amount will change due to market conditions. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Canadian Small Company Series will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of Canadian small companies.

 

The Advisor will also establish a minimum market capitalization that a company must meet in order to be considered for purchase, which minimum will change due to market conditions. The Canadian Small Company Series intends to invest in stock of eligible companies using a market capitalization weighted approach. See “Portfolio Construction—Small Company Funds.”

 

The Canadian Small Company Series may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments that provide exposure to the Canadian equity market or other equity markets, including the United States, for the purpose of gaining exposure to the equity markets while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the Canadian Small Company Series may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

Japanese Small Company Portfolio

 

The Japanese Small Company Portfolio invests all of its assets in the Japanese Small Company Series, which has the same investment objective and policies as the Portfolio. The Japanese Small Company Series generally will purchase a broad and diverse group of readily marketable stocks of Japanese small companies. The Japanese Small Company Series invests in securities of companies associated with Japan, which is the Japanese Small Company Series’ Approved Market (For a description of the securities approved for investment, see “International PortfoliosApproved Markets”). The Advisor measures company size based primarily on market capitalization. The Advisor first ranks eligible companies by market capitalization. The Advisor then determines the universe of eligible stocks by defining the maximum market capitalization of a small company in Japan. As of December 31, 2010, the Advisor considered Japanese small companies to be those companies with a market capitalization below $1,438 million. This dollar amount will change due to market conditions. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Japanese Small Company Series will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of Japanese small companies.

 

The Advisor will also establish a minimum market capitalization that a company must meet in order to be considered for purchase, which minimum will change due to market conditions. The Japanese Small Company Series intends to invest in the stock of eligible companies using a market capitalization weighted approach. See “Portfolio Construction—Small Company Funds.”

 

The Japanese Small Company Series may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments that provide exposure to the Japanese equity market or other equity markets, including the United States, for the purpose of gaining exposure to the equity markets while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the Japanese Small Company Series may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage the Series’ cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio

 

The Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio invests all of its assets in the Asia Pacific Small Company Series, which has the same investment objective and policies as the Portfolio. The Asia Pacific Small Company Series generally will purchase stocks of a broad and diverse group of small companies located in Australia, New

 

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Zealand and Pacific Rim Asian countries. The Asia Pacific Small Company Series invests in securities of companies associated with Approved Markets (For a description of the securities and countries approved for investment, see “International PortfoliosApproved Markets”). The Advisor measures company size on a country specific basis and based primarily on market capitalization. In the countries authorized for investment, the Advisor first ranks eligible companies based on the companies’ market capitalizations. The Advisor then determines the universe of eligible stocks by defining the maximum market capitalization of a small company that may be purchased by the Asia Pacific Small Company Series with respect to each country authorized for investment. As of December 31, 2010, for the Asia Pacific Small Company Series, the highest maximum market capitalization of a small company in any country in which the Asia Pacific Small Company Series invests was $2,139 million. This threshold will vary by country. As of December 31, 2010, the Advisor considered Asia Pacific small companies to be those companies with a market capitalization below $2,139 million in Australia, $1,612 million in Hong Kong, $1,799 million in New Zealand and $1,505 million in Singapore. These dollar amounts will change due to market conditions. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Asia Pacific Small Company Series will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of small companies located in Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Rim Asian countries.

 

The Advisor will also establish a minimum market capitalization that a company must meet in order to be considered for purchase, which minimum will change due to market conditions. The Asia Pacific Small Company Series intends to invest in eligible companies using a market capitalization weighted approach. The Advisor may, in its discretion, either limit further investments in a particular country or divest the Asia Pacific Small Company Series of holdings in a particular country. See “Portfolio Construction—Small Company Funds.

 

The Asia Pacific Small Company Series may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments that provide exposure to Asia Pacific equity markets or other equity markets, including the United States, for the purpose of gaining exposure to the equity markets while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the Asia Pacific Small Company Series may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage the cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio

 

The United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio invests all of its assets in the United Kingdom Small Company Series, which has the same investment objective and policies as the Portfolio. The United Kingdom Small Company Series generally will purchase a broad and diverse group of readily marketable stocks of United Kingdom small companies. The United Kingdom Small Company Series invests in securities of companies associated with the United Kingdom, which is the United Kingdom Small Company Series’ Approved Market (For a description of the securities approved for investment, see “International PortfoliosApproved Markets”). The Advisor measures company size based primarily on the market capitalization of companies in the United Kingdom. The Advisor first ranks eligible companies by market capitalization. The Advisor then determines the universe of eligible stocks by defining the maximum market capitalization of a small company in the United Kingdom. As of December 31, 2010, the Advisor considered United Kingdom small companies to be those companies with a market capitalization below $3,669 million. This dollar amount will change due to market conditions. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the United Kingdom Small Company Series will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of United Kingdom small companies.

 

The Advisor will also establish a minimum market capitalization that a company must meet in order to be considered for purchase, which minimum will change due to market conditions. The United Kingdom Small Company Series intends to invest in stock of eligible companies using a market capitalization weighted approach. See “Portfolio Construction—Small Company Funds.”

 

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The United Kingdom Small Company Series may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments that provide exposure to the United Kingdom equity market or other equity markets, including the United States, for the purpose of gaining exposure to the equity markets while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the United Kingdom Small Company Series may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

Continental Small Company Portfolio

 

The Continental Small Company Portfolio invests all of its assets in the Continental Small Company Series, which has the same investment objective and policies as the Portfolio. The Continental Small Company Series generally will purchase readily marketable stocks of a broad and diverse group of small European companies. The Series also may invest in up to 20% of its net assets in small companies associated with non-European countries that the Advisor has identified as authorized for investment. The Continental Small Company Series invests in securities of companies associated with Approved Markets (For a description of the securities and countries approved for investment, see “International PortfoliosApproved Markets”). The Advisor determines company size on a country or region specific basis and based primarily on market capitalization. In the countries or regions authorized for investment, the Advisor first ranks eligible companies listed on selected exchanges based on the companies’ market capitalizations. The Advisor then determines the universe of eligible stocks by defining the maximum market capitalization of a small company that may be purchased by the Continental Small Company Series with respect to each country or region. As of December 31, 2010, for the Continental Small Company Series, the highest maximum market capitalization of a small company in any country or region in which the Continental Small Company Series invests was $4,264 million. This threshold will vary by country or region. For example, as of December 31, 2010, the Advisor considered a small company in the EMU to have a market capitalization below $3,133 million, a small company in Denmark to have a market capitalization below $2,568 million, and a small company in Sweden to have a market capitalization below $2,971 million. These dollar amounts will change due to market conditions. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Continental Small Company Series will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of small companies located in continental Europe.

 

The Advisor will establish a minimum market capitalization that a company must meet in order to be considered for purchase, which minimum will change due to market conditions. The Continental Small Company Series intends to invest in the stock of eligible companies using a market capitalization weighted approach. The Advisor may in its discretion either limit further investments in a particular country or divest the Continental Small Company Series of holdings in a particular country. See “Portfolio Construction—Small Company Funds.”

 

The Continental Small Company Series may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments that provide exposure to the continental European equity markets or other equity markets, including the United States, for the purpose of gaining exposure to the equity markets while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the Continental Small Company Series may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The Portfolio will concentrate its investments in a broad and diverse set of securities of non-U.S. companies principally engaged in the real estate industry with a particular focus on non-U.S. REITs and companies the Advisor considers to be REIT-like entities. The DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio

 

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considers a company to be principally engaged in the real estate industry if the company’s principal activities include development, ownership, construction, management, or sale of residential, commercial or industrial real estate. REIT-like entities are types of real estate companies that pool investors’ funds for investment primarily in income producing real estate or real estate related loans or interests.

 

Under normal market conditions, the DFA International Real Estate Portfolio intends to invest at least 40% of its assets in three or more non-U.S. countries by investing in securities of companies associated with such countries. The DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio purchases non-U.S. real estate securities of companies associated with Approved Markets (For a description of the securities and countries approved for investment, see “International PortfoliosApproved Markets”).

 

On at least a semi-annual basis, the Advisor will identify a schedule of eligible investments consisting of equity securities of non-U.S. companies in the real estate industry as described above. It is the intention of the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio to invest in the securities of eligible companies generally using a market capitalization weighted approach to determine individual security weights and country weights. See “Market Capitalization Weighted Approach.” The use of a market capitalization weighted approach may result in the Portfolio having more than 25% of its assets in companies located in a single country.

 

While a company’s stock may meet the applicable criteria described above, the stock may not be purchased by the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio if, in the judgment of the Advisor, the issuer is in extreme financial difficulty or is involved in a merger or consolidation or is the subject of an acquisition that could result in the company no longer being considered principally engaged in the real estate business or a significant portion of the issuer’s securities are closely held or if the Advisor determines, in its judgment, that the purchase of such stock is inappropriate given other conditions.

 

If securities must be sold in order to obtain funds to make redemption payments, such securities may be repurchased by the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio, as additional cash becomes available to the Portfolio. However, the Portfolio has retained the right to borrow to make redemption payments and also is authorized to redeem its shares in kind. See “REDEMPTION OF SHARES.” Further, because the securities of certain companies whose shares are eligible for purchase are thinly traded, the Portfolio might not be able to purchase the number of shares that would otherwise be purchased using strict market capitalization weighting.

 

Investments will not be based upon an issuer’s dividend payment policy or record. However, many of the companies whose securities will be included in the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio do pay dividends. It is anticipated, therefore, that the Portfolio will receive dividend income. Periodically, the Advisor may expand the investments eligible for the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio to include equity securities of eligible companies and additional countries to respond to market events, new listings and/or new legal structures in non-U.S. markets, among others.

 

The DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments that provide exposure to equity markets, including the United States, both within and outside the real estate industry, and for the purposes of gaining exposure to the equity markets, while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage the Portfolio’s cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio is a “fund of funds,” which means that the

 

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Portfolio uses its assets to purchase other mutual funds. The DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio seeks to achieve exposure to a broad portfolio of securities of U.S. and non-U.S. companies in the real estate industry, with a focus on REITs or companies that the Advisor considers REIT-like entities by primarily purchasing shares of the DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio and the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio (the “Underlying Funds”). For a complete description of the investment objectives and policies, portfolio structure and transactions for each of the Underlying Funds, see “DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio” and the “DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio.”

 

In addition to, or in place of, investments in the Underlying Funds, the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio also is permitted to invest directly in the same types of securities of companies in the real estate industry that are described in this Prospectus as eligible investments for the Underlying Funds.

 

Each Underlying Fund may enter into futures contracts and options on futures contracts for equity securities and indices, and such investments may or may not provide exposure to the real estate industry. The DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio and each Underlying Fund may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments that provide exposure to equity markets, including the United States, both within and outside the real estate industry, and for the purposes of gaining exposure to the equity markets, while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio and each Underlying Fund may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds. The DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio and Underlying Funds may invest in such money market funds and other short-term investments to manage cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

The Portfolio primarily allocates its investments between the two Underlying Funds. On at least a semi-annual basis, the Advisor will identify a schedule of eligible investments consisting of equity securities of all companies in the real estate industry eligible for investment by each Underlying Fund. It is the intention of each Underlying Fund to invest in the securities of eligible companies using a market capitalization weighted approach to determine security weights and country weights. See “Market Capitalization Weighted Approach.”

 

DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective by purchasing the stocks of small, non-U.S. companies that the Advisor determines to be value stocks at the time of purchase. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book to market ratio. In assessing value, the Advisor may consider additional factors such as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios, as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer’s industry. The criteria the Advisor uses for measuring value are subject to change from time to time.

 

The DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio intends to purchase the stocks of small companies in countries with developed markets. Under normal market conditions, the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio intends to invest at least 40% of its assets in three or more non-U.S. countries by investing in securities of companies associated with such countries. The DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio invests its assets in securities of companies associated with Approved Markets (For a description of the securities and countries approved for investment, see “International PortfoliosApproved Markets”).

 

The DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio intends to invest in the stock of eligible companies using a market capitalization weighted approach. The Advisor, using this approach and its judgment, will seek to set country weights based on the relative market capitalizations of eligible small companies within each country. See “Market Capitalization Weighted Approach.” As a result, the weightings of countries in the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio may vary from their weightings in international indices, such as those published by FTSE International, Morgan Stanley Capital International or Citigroup.

 

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The DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio does not seek current income as an investment objective and investments will not be based upon an issuer’s dividend payment policy or record. However, many of the companies whose securities will be included in the Portfolio do pay dividends. It is anticipated, therefore, that the Portfolio will receive dividend income.

 

The DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the equity markets while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the Portfolio may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage the Portfolio’s cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

International Vector Equity Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the International Vector Equity Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The International Vector Equity Portfolio’s investment objective may be changed without shareholder approval.

 

The International Vector Equity Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective by purchasing a broad and diverse group of stocks of non-U.S. operating companies, with an increased exposure to small capitalization and value companies relative to the International Universe. For purposes of the International Vector Equity Portfolio, the Advisor defines the International Universe as a market capitalization weighted portfolio of non-U.S. companies associated with developed markets that have been authorized for investment by the Advisor’s Investment Committee (International Universe). See “International PortfoliosApproved Markets.”

 

An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization. In assessing growth and value, the Advisor may consider additional factors, such as price-to-cash-flow or price-to-earnings ratios, as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer’s industry. The criteria the Advisor uses for assessing growth and value are subject to change from time to time.

 

The International Vector Equity Portfolio does not seek current income as an investment objective and investments will not be based upon an issuer’s dividend payment policy or record. However, many of the companies whose securities will be included in the Portfolio do pay dividends. It is anticipated, therefore, that the Portfolio will receive dividend income.

 

Under normal market conditions, the International Vector Equity Portfolio intends to invest at least 40% of its assets in three or more non-U.S. countries by investing in securities of companies associated with such countries.

 

The International Vector Equity Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the equity markets, including the U.S. equity market, while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the International Vector Equity Portfolio may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered or unregistered money market funds to manage the Portfolio’s cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

World ex U.S. Value Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the World ex U.S. Value Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The Portfolio is a “fund of funds,” which means that the Portfolio generally allocates its assets among other

 

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mutual funds managed by the Advisor though it also has the ability to invest directly in securities. The Portfolio seeks to achieve exposure to a broad portfolio of securities of non-U.S. companies associated with countries with developed and emerging markets, including frontier markets (emerging markets in an earlier stage of development), that the Advisor believes to be value stocks at the time of purchase by primarily purchasing shares of The DFA International Value Series (the “International Value Series”), DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio, and Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund (the “Underlying Funds”). For a complete description of the investment objectives and policies, portfolio structure and transactions for each of the Underlying Funds, see “DFA International Value Portfolio,” “DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio” and “Emerging Markets Value Portfolio.”

 

Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value (a “book to market ratio”). In assessing value, the Advisor may consider additional factors such as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios, as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer’s industry. The criteria the Advisor uses for assessing value are subject to change from time to time.

 

The Portfolio typically allocates its investments among the Underlying Funds in the following manner: 50% to 80% in the International Value Series; 5% to 20% in the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio; and 10% to 30% in the Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund. The International Value Series and DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio invest in the securities of eligible companies using a market capitalization weighted approach to determine security weights and country weights. See “Market Capitalization Weighted Approach.”

 

The Advisor will determine in its discretion when and whether to invest in markets that have been authorized as Approved Markets for each Underlying Fund, depending on a number of factors, such as asset growth in the Underlying Fund and characteristics of each such market. The Investment Committee of the Advisor also may authorize other markets for investment in the future, in addition to the Approved Markets identified above, or may remove one or more markets from the list of Approved Markets for an Underlying Fund. Also, an Underlying Fund may continue to hold investments in countries that are not currently designated as Approved Markets, but had been authorized for investment in the past, and may reinvest distributions received in connection with such existing investments in such previously Approved Markets. For a description of the securities approved for investment, see “International Portfolios—Approved Markets.

 

In addition to, or in place of, investments in the Underlying Funds, the World ex U.S. Value Portfolio also is permitted to invest directly in the same types of securities of companies that are described in this Prospectus as eligible investments for the Underlying Funds.

 

The value criteria used by the Advisor, as described above, generally apply at the time of purchase by the Portfolio or an Underlying Fund. The Portfolio and Underlying Funds are not required to dispose of a security if the security’s issuer does not meet current value criteria. Similarly, the Advisor is not required to sell a security even if the decline in the market capitalization reflects a serious financial difficulty or potential or actual insolvency of the company. Securities which do meet the value criteria nevertheless may be sold at any time when, in the Advisor’s judgment, circumstances warrant their sale. See “Portfolio Transactions—All Portfolios.”

 

Each Underlying Fund may enter into futures contracts and options on futures contracts for equity securities and indices. The World ex U.S. Value Portfolio and each Underlying Fund may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purposes of gaining exposure to the equity markets, while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the Portfolio and each Underlying Fund may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds. The Portfolio and Underlying Funds may invest in such money market funds and other short-term investments to manage cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

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Emerging Markets Portfolio,

Emerging Markets Value Portfolio,

Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio and

Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the Emerging Markets Portfolio, the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio, the Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio, and the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The Emerging Markets Portfolio is a Feeder Portfolio and pursues its objective by investing substantially all of its assets in its corresponding Master Fund, The Emerging Markets Series of the Trust (the “Emerging Markets Series”), which has the same investment objective and policies as the Portfolio. The Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio is a Feeder Portfolio and pursues its objective by investing substantially all of its assets in its corresponding Master Fund, The Emerging Markets Small Cap Series of the Trust (the “Emerging Markets Small Cap Series”), which has the same investment objective and policies as the Portfolio. The Emerging Markets Value Portfolio is a Feeder Portfolio and pursues its objective by investing substantially all of its assets in its corresponding Master Fund, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund (the “Emerging Markets Value Fund”), which has the same investment objective and policies as the Portfolio. The Emerging Markets Value Fund pursues its objective through investment primarily in emerging market equity securities. The Emerging Markets Series, the Emerging Markets Small Cap Series, and the Emerging Markets Value Fund are referred to collectively as the “Emerging Markets Master Funds.” Each of the Emerging Markets Master Funds and the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in companies associated with emerging markets, including frontier markets (emerging market countries in an earlier stage of development), designated as Approved Markets by the Investment Committee of the Advisor (For a description of the securities and countries approved for investment, see “International PortfoliosApproved Markets”). Each Emerging Markets Master Fund and the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio invests its assets primarily in Approved Market equity securities listed on bona fide securities exchanges or actively traded on over-the-counter markets.

 

The Emerging Markets Value Fund seeks to achieve its objective by purchasing emerging market equity securities that are deemed by the Advisor to be value stocks at the time of purchase. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because they have a high book value in relation to their market value. In assessing value, the Advisor may consider additional factors, such as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios, as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer’s industry. The criteria the Advisor uses for assessing value are subject to change from time to time.

 

The Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio will seek to purchase a broad and diverse group of securities, with an increased exposure to securities of small cap issuers and securities that it considers to be value securities. In assessing value, the Advisor may consider factors such as the issuer’s securities having a high book value in relation to their market value, as well as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios. The criteria the Advisor uses for assessing value are subject to change from time to time.

 

Each of the Emerging Markets Master Funds and the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio may not invest in all such companies or Approved Markets described above or achieve approximate market weights, for reasons which include constraints imposed within Approved Markets (e.g., restrictions on purchases by foreigners) and each Emerging Markets Master Fund’s and the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio’s policy not to invest more than 25% of its assets in any one industry.

 

In determining what countries are eligible markets for the Emerging Markets Master Funds and the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio, the Advisor may consider various factors, including without limitation, the data, analysis, and classification of countries published or disseminated by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (commonly known as the World Bank), the International Finance Corporation, FTSE International, Morgan Stanley Capital International, Citigroup and the Heritage Foundation. Approved emerging markets may not include all such emerging markets. In determining whether to approve markets for

 

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investment, the Advisor will take into account, among other things, market liquidity, relative availability of investor information, government regulation, including fiscal and foreign exchange repatriation rules and the availability of other access to these markets for the Emerging Markets Series, the Emerging Markets Small Cap Series, the Emerging Markets Value Fund and the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio.

 

Pending the investment of new capital in Approved Markets securities, the Emerging Markets Master Funds and the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio will typically invest in money market instruments or other highly liquid debt instruments including those denominated in U.S. dollars (including, without limitation, repurchase agreements). In addition, each Emerging Markets Master Fund and the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio, may, for liquidity, or for temporary defensive purposes during periods in which market or economic or political conditions warrant, purchase highly liquid debt instruments or hold freely convertible currencies, although each Emerging Markets Master Fund does not expect the aggregate of all such amounts to exceed 10% of its net assets under normal circumstances and the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio does not expect the aggregate of all such amounts to exceed 20% of its net assets under normal circumstances.

 

The Emerging Markets Master Funds and Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio also may invest up to 10% of their total assets in shares of other investment companies that invest in one or more Approved Markets, although they intend to do so only where access to those markets is otherwise significantly limited. In some Approved Markets, it may be necessary or advisable for an Emerging Markets Master Fund or the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio to establish a wholly owned subsidiary or a trust for the purpose of investing in the local markets.

 

The Emerging Markets Series’ and Emerging Markets Small Cap Series’ policy of seeking broad market diversification means that the Advisor will not utilize “fundamental” securities research techniques in identifying securities selections. The decision to include or exclude the shares of an issuer will be made primarily on the basis of such issuer’s relative market capitalization determined by reference to other companies located in the same country. Company size is measured in terms of reference to other companies located in the same country and in terms of local currencies in order to eliminate the effect of variations in currency exchange rates. In addition, the Emerging Markets Series may consider a company’s book to market ratio.

 

The Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio seeks broad market diversification with an increased exposure to securities of small cap issuers and securities that it considers to be value securities. The Advisor will not utilize “fundamental” securities research techniques in identifying securities selections for the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio. Even though a company’s stock may meet the applicable market capitalization criterion for a Series or the Emerging Markets Value Fund’s or Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio’s criterion for investment, it may not be included for one or more of a number of reasons. For example, in the Advisor’s judgment, the issuer may be considered in extreme financial difficulty or a material portion of its securities may be closely held and not likely available to support market liquidity. To this extent, there will be the exercise of discretion and consideration by the Advisor in purchasing securities in an Approved Market and in determining the allocation of investments among Approved Markets.

 

Changes in the composition and relative ranking (in terms of book to market ratio) of the stocks which are eligible for purchase by the Emerging Markets Value Fund take place with every trade when the securities markets are open for trading due primarily to price fluctuations of such securities. On a periodic basis, the Advisor will identify value stocks that are eligible for investment and re-evaluate eligible value stocks no less than semi-annually.

 

The Emerging Markets Master Funds and the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio do not seek current income as an investment objective, and investments will not be based upon an issuer’s dividend payment policy or record. However, many of the companies whose securities will be included in an Emerging Markets Master Fund or the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio do pay dividends. It is anticipated, therefore, that the Emerging Markets Master Funds and the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio will receive dividend income.

 

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The Emerging Markets Master Funds and Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio may also invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments that provide exposure to Approved Markets or other equity markets, including the United States, for the purposes of gaining exposure to the equity markets while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the Emerging Markets Master Funds and Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

Market Capitalization Weighted Approach

 

The portfolio structures of the U.S. Large Cap Value Series, each U.S. Value Portfolio, each U.S. Small Company Portfolio, the DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio, the International Value Series, the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio, DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio, each International Small Company Master Fund and the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio involve market capitalization weighting in determining individual security weights and, where applicable, country or region weights. Market capitalization weighting means each security is generally purchased based on the issuer’s relative market capitalization. Market capitalization weighting will be modified by the Advisor for a variety of factors. The Advisor may consider such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors determined to be appropriate by the Advisor given market conditions. The Advisor may deviate from market capitalization weighting to limit or fix the exposure of a Portfolio or Master Fund to a particular issuer to a maximum proportion of the assets of the Portfolio or Master Fund. The Advisor may exclude the stock of a company that meets applicable market capitalization criterion if the Advisor determines, in its judgment, that the purchase of such stock is inappropriate in light of other conditions. These adjustments will result in a deviation from traditional market capitalization weighting.

 

Adjustment for free float modifies market capitalization weighting to exclude the share capital of a company that is not freely available for trading in the public equity markets. For example, the following types of shares may be excluded: (i) those held by strategic investors (such as governments, controlling shareholders and management), (ii) treasury shares, or (iii) shares subject to foreign ownership restrictions.

 

Deviation from market capitalization weighting also will occur because the Advisor generally intends to purchase in round lots. Furthermore, the Advisor may reduce the relative amount of any security held in order to retain sufficient portfolio liquidity. A portion, but generally not in excess of 20% of assets, may be invested in interest bearing obligations, such as money market instruments, thereby causing further deviation from market capitalization weighting. A further deviation may occur due to holdings in privately placed convertible debentures and securities received in connection with corporate actions.

 

Block purchases of eligible securities may be made at opportune prices, even though such purchases exceed the number of shares that, at the time of purchase, adherence to a market capitalization weighted approach would otherwise require. In addition, securities eligible for purchase or otherwise represented in a Portfolio or Master Fund may be acquired in exchange for the issuance of shares. See “PURCHASE OF SHARES—In Kind Purchases.” While such transactions might cause a deviation from market capitalization weighting, they would ordinarily be made in anticipation of further growth of assets.

 

Changes in the composition and relative ranking (in terms of market capitalization) of the stocks that are eligible for purchase take place with every trade when the securities markets are open for trading due, primarily, to price fluctuations of such securities. On at least a semi-annual basis, the Advisor will identify companies whose stock is eligible for investment by a Portfolio or Master Fund. Additional investments generally will not be made in securities that have changed in value sufficiently to be excluded from the Advisor’s then current market capitalization requirement for eligible portfolio securities. This may result in further deviation from

 

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market capitalization weighting. Such deviation could be substantial if a significant amount of holdings of a Portfolio or Master Fund change in value sufficiently to be excluded from the requirement for eligible securities, but not by a sufficient amount to warrant their sale.

 

Country weights may be based on the total market capitalization of companies within each country. The calculation of country market capitalization may take into consideration the free float of companies within a country or whether these companies are eligible to be purchased for the particular strategy. In addition, to maintain a satisfactory level of diversification, the Investment Committee may limit or fix the exposure to a particular country or region to a maximum proportion of the assets of that vehicle. Country weights may also deviate from target weights due to general day-to-day trading patterns and price movements. As a result, the weighting of countries may vary from their weighting in published international indices.

 

Portfolio Construction—Small Company Funds

 

Each of the U.S. Small Company Portfolios, the International Small Company Portfolios and the International Small Company Master Funds (collectively the “Small Company Funds”) intends to invest in the securities of eligible companies using a market capitalization weighted approach. See “Market Capitalization Weighted Approach.” The following discussion applies to the investment policies of the Small Company Funds.

 

The decision to include or exclude the shares of an issuer will be made on the basis of such issuer’s relative market capitalization determined by reference to other companies located in the same country or region. Company size is measured in terms of local currencies in order to eliminate the effect of variations in currency exchange rates. Even though a company’s stock may meet the applicable market capitalization criterion, it may not be purchased if (i) in the Advisor’s judgment, the issuer is in extreme financial difficulty, (ii) the issuer is involved in a merger or consolidation or is the subject of an acquisition, (iii) a significant portion of the issuer’s securities are closely held, or (iv) the Advisor determines, in its judgment, that the purchase of such stock is inappropriate given other conditions. Further, securities of REITs generally will not be acquired (except as part of a merger, consolidation, acquisition of assets or other corporate action).

 

If securities must be sold in order to obtain funds to make redemption payments, such securities may be repurchased, as additional cash becomes available. In most instances, however, management would anticipate selling securities which had appreciated sufficiently to be eligible for sale and, therefore, would not need to repurchase such securities.

 

Generally, current income is not sought as an investment objective and investments will not be based upon an issuer’s dividend payment policy or record. However, many of the companies whose securities will be selected for investment do pay dividends. It is anticipated, therefore, that dividend income will be received.

 

Portfolio Transactions—All Portfolios

 

Securities will not be purchased or sold based on the prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase. Securities which have depreciated in value since their acquisition will not be sold solely because prospects for the issuer are not considered attractive or due to an expected or realized decline in securities prices in general. Securities will not be sold to realize short-term profits, but when circumstances warrant, they may be sold without regard to the length of time held. Securities, including those eligible for purchase, may be disposed of, however, at any time when, in the Advisor’s judgment, circumstances warrant their sale, including but not limited to tender offers, mergers and similar transactions, or bids made for block purchases at opportune prices. Generally, securities will be purchased with the expectation that they will be held for longer than one year and will be held until such time as they are no longer considered an appropriate holding in light of the investment policy of each Portfolio and Master Fund.

 

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Other Information

 

Commodity Pool Operator Exemption

 

Each Portfolio, Master Fund and Underlying Fund is operated by a person that has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the CEA, and, therefore, such person is not subject to registration or regulation as a pool operator under the CEA.

 

Fund of Funds Portfolio Turnover

 

The portfolio turnover rate provided for the International Small Company Portfolio, DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio and World ex U.S. Value Portfolio (each a “fund of funds”) under the heading “Portfolio Turnover” for the respective Portfolio is unaudited. The portfolio turnover rate presented for each fund of funds was derived from the portfolio turnover rate of the Underlying Funds in which the fund of funds invests.

 

SECURITIES LOANS

 

All of the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds are authorized to lend securities to qualified brokers, dealers, banks and other financial institutions for the purpose of earning additional income, although inasmuch as the Feeder Portfolios will only hold shares of a corresponding Master Fund, these Portfolios do not intend to lend those shares. While a Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund may earn additional income from lending securities, such activity is incidental to the investment objective of a Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund. For information concerning the revenue from securities lending, see “SECURITIES LENDING REVENUE.” The value of securities loaned may not exceed 33 1/3% of the value of a Portfolio’s or Master Fund’s total assets, which includes the value of collateral received. To the extent a Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund loans a portion of its securities, a Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund will receive collateral consisting generally of cash or U.S. government securities, which will be maintained by marking to market daily in an amount equal to at least (i) 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities with respect to securities of the U.S. government or its agencies, (ii) 102% of the current market value of the loaned securities with respect to U.S. securities, and (iii) 105% of the current market value of the loaned securities with respect to foreign securities. Subject to their stated investment policies, the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds will generally invest the cash collateral received for the loaned securities in The DFA Short Term Investment Fund (the “Money Market Series), an affiliated registered money market fund advised by the Advisor for which the Advisor receives a management fee of 0.05% of the average daily net assets of the Money Market Series. The Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds may also invest such collateral in securities of the U.S. government or its agencies, repurchase agreements collateralized by securities of the U.S. government or its agencies, and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds. For purposes of this paragraph, agencies include both agency debentures and agency mortgage backed securities.

 

In addition, the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds will be able to terminate the loan at any time and will receive reasonable interest on the loan, as well as amounts equal to any dividends, interest or other distributions on the loaned securities. However, dividend income received from loaned securities may not be eligible to be taxed at qualified dividend income rates. See the SAI for a further discussion of the tax consequences related to securities lending. A Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund will be entitled to recall a loaned security in time to vote proxies or otherwise obtain rights to vote proxies of loaned securities if the Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund knows a material event will occur. In the event of the bankruptcy of the borrower, DFA Investment Dimensions Group, Inc., Dimensional Investment Group Inc. (each a “Fund” and collectively the “Funds”), the Emerging Markets Value Fund or the Trust could experience delay in recovering the loaned securities or only recover cash or a security of equivalent value. See “Principal Risks—Securities Lending” for a discussion of the risks related to securities lending.

 

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SECURITIES LENDING REVENUE

 

During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the following Portfolios received the following net revenues from a securities lending program (see “SECURITIES LOANS”), which constituted a percentage of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio or Master Fund:

 

Portfolio


   Net Revenue

     Percentage
of Net
Assets


 

U.S. Large Company Portfolio**

   $ 296,000         0.01%   

U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio*

   $ 3,106,000         0.05%   

U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio

   $ 6,907,000         0.11%   

U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

   $ 2,001,000         0.10%   

U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio

   $ 1,290,000         0.05%   

U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio

   $ 2,935,000         0.07%   

U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio

   $ 1,374,000         0.10%   

U.S. Small Cap Portfolio

   $ 6,255,000         0.21%   

U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio

   $ 6,623,000         0.21%   

DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio

   $ 2,224,000         0.09%   

Large Cap International Portfolio

   $ 1,961,000         0.14%   

DFA International Value Portfolio*

   $ 6,128,000         0.13%   

International Core Equity Portfolio

   $ 7,037,000         0.17%   

International Small Company Portfolio*

   $ 10,238,000         0.22%   

Japanese Small Company Portfolio*

   $ 238,000         0.21%   

Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio*

   $ 301,000         0.27%   

United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio*

   $ 6,000         0.02%   

Continental Small Company Portfolio*

   $ 337,000         0.30%   

DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio

   $ 1,278,000         0.16%   

DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio

   $ 10,942,000         0.15%   

International Vector Equity Portfolio

   $ 526,000         0.17%   

World ex U.S. Value Portfolio*

   $ 4,000         0.01%   

Emerging Markets Portfolio*

   $ 1,913,000         0.09%   

Emerging Markets Value Portfolio*

   $ 8,393,000         0.09%   

Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio*

   $ 2,482,000         0.18%   

Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio

   $ 3,539,000         0.11%   

*   A Portfolio with corresponding Master Fund(s) or Underlying Fund(s) taxed as a partnership. “Net Revenue” reflects the proportional share of the securities lending revenue generated by the Master Fund(s) or Underlying Fund(s) that was received by the Portfolio.
**   Prior to September 10, 2010, the U.S. Large Company Portfolio operated as Feeder Portfolio in a master/feeder structure. The U.S. Large Company Portfolio invested all of its assets into The U.S. Large Company Series prior to September 10, 2010 and the “Net Revenue” reflects the Portfolio’s proportional share of the securities lending revenue generated by The U.S. Large Company Series, through September 10, 2010, and the U.S. Large Company Portfolio during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS

 

The Advisor serves as investment advisor to the Portfolios and the Master Funds. Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with each Non-Feeder Portfolio and Master Fund, the Advisor is responsible for the management of their respective assets. Additionally, pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with each Feeder Portfolio, the Advisor, for no additional compensation, manages the portion of each Feeder Portfolio’s

 

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assets that are retained by the Feeder Portfolio for cash management purposes and, at its discretion, may make a determination to withdraw a Feeder Portfolio’s investment from its corresponding Master Fund to invest in another Master Fund if the Advisor believes it is in the best interests of the Feeder Portfolio and its shareholders to do so. The Portfolios and the Master Funds are managed using a team approach. The investment team includes the Investment Committee of the Advisor, portfolio managers and trading personnel.

 

The Investment Committee is composed primarily of certain officers and directors of the Advisor who are appointed annually. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Investment Committee has ten members. Investment strategies for all Portfolios and all Master Funds are set by the Investment Committee, which meets on a regular basis and also as needed to consider investment issues. The Investment Committee also sets and reviews all investment related policies and procedures and approves any changes in regards to approved countries, security types and brokers.

 

In accordance with the team approach used to manage the portfolios, the portfolio managers and portfolio traders implement the policies and procedures established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers and portfolio traders also make daily investment decisions regarding the portfolios including running buy and sell programs based on the parameters established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers named below coordinate the efforts of all other portfolio managers with respect to the day to day management of the category of portfolios indicated.

 

Domestic portfolios

  

Stephen A. Clark

International portfolios

  

Stephen A. Clark, Karen E. Umland,

Joseph H. Chi, Jed S. Fogdall and David A. Plecha

 

Mr. Clark is a Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and chairman of the Investment Committee. Mr. Clark received his MBA from the University of Chicago and his BS from Bradley University. Mr. Clark joined the Advisor as a Portfolio Manager in 2001 and has been responsible for the portfolio management group since January 2006.

 

Ms. Umland is a Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and a member of the Investment Committee. She received her BA from Yale University in 1988 and her MBA from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1993. Ms. Umland joined the Advisor in 1993 and has been a Portfolio Manager and responsible for the international portfolios (except the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio) since 1998.

 

Mr. Chi is a Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and a member of the Investment Committee. Mr. Chi has an MBA and BS from the University of California, Los Angeles and also a JD from the University of Southern California. Mr. Chi joined the Advisor as a Portfolio Manager in 2005 and has been responsible for the international portfolios (except the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio) since 2010.

 

Mr. Fogdall is a Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and a member of the Investment Committee. Mr. Fogdall has an MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles and a BS from Purdue University. Mr. Fogdall joined the Advisor as a Portfolio Manager in 2004 and has been responsible for the international portfolios (except the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio) since 2010.

 

Mr. Plecha is a Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and a member of the Investment Committee. Mr. Plecha received his BS from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1983 and his MBA from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1987. Mr. Plecha has been a portfolio manager since 1989 and responsible for the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio since the end of 2010.

 

The Portfolios’ Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) provides information about each portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, and the portfolio manager’s ownership of Fund shares.

 

The Advisor provides the Portfolios, the Master Funds and Underlying Funds with a trading department and selects brokers and dealers to effect securities transactions. Securities transactions are placed with a view to

 

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obtaining best price and execution. The Advisor’s address is 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746. A discussion regarding the basis for the Boards of Trustees/Directors approving the investment management agreements with respect to the Portfolios and Master Funds, is available in the semi-annual reports for the Portfolios and Master Funds for the fiscal period ending April 30, 2010.

 

The Funds and the Master Funds bear all of their own costs and expenses, including: services of their independent registered public accounting firm, legal counsel, brokerage fees, commissions and transfer taxes in connection with the acquisition and disposition of portfolio securities, taxes, insurance premiums, costs incidental to meetings of their shareholders and directors or trustees, the cost of filing their registration statements under the federal securities laws and the cost of any filings required under state securities laws, reports to shareholders, and transfer and dividend disbursing agency, administrative services and custodian fees, except as provided in the Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreements for certain classes of the Portfolios. Expenses allocable to a particular Portfolio or Master Fund or class of a Portfolio are so allocated. The expenses of a Fund which are not allocable to a particular Portfolio or class of a Portfolio are to be borne by each Portfolio or class of a Portfolio of the Fund on the basis of its relative net assets. Similarly, the expenses of the Trust which are not allocable to a particular Series are to be borne by each Master Fund on the basis of its relative net assets.

 

The Advisor has been engaged in the business of providing investment management services since May 1981. The Advisor is currently organized as a Delaware limited partnership and is controlled and operated by its general partner, Dimensional Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation. The Advisor controls Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (“DFAL”) and DFA Australia Limited (“DFA Australia”). As of January 31, 2011, assets under management for all Dimensional affiliated advisors totaled approximately $209 billion.

 

Management Fees

 

The “Annual Fund Operating Expenses” table describes the fees incurred by a Portfolio (not including the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio) for the services provided by the Advisor for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010. The “Annual Fund Operating Expenses” table describes the anticipated fees to be incurred by the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio for the services provided by the Advisor for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011. The “Management Fee” listed in the table for the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio includes the investment advisory fee that is payable by the Portfolio to the Advisor and the investment advisory fee that is payable by the Subsidiary to the Advisor. The “Management Fee” listed in the table for each Feeder Portfolio includes the investment management fee that was payable by the Portfolio’s Master Fund to the Advisor and the administrative fee that was payable by the Portfolio to the Advisor. The “Management Fee” listed in the table for each of the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio, U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio, U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, U.S. Small Cap Portfolio and U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio includes both an investment advisory fee and administrative fee that was payable by the Portfolio to the Advisor. The “Management Fee” listed in the table for the International Small Company Portfolio provides the administrative fee that was payable by the Portfolio to the Advisor. The “Management Fee” listed in the table for the remaining Non-Feeder Portfolios provides the investment advisory fee that was payable by the respective Portfolio to the Advisor.

 

Investment Services—The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio, the Japanese Small Company Series, the Asia Pacific Small Company Series, the International Core Equity Portfolio, the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio, the DFA Global Real Estate Portfolio, the International Vector Equity Portfolio, the Large Cap International Portfolio, the International Value Series, the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio, the World ex U.S. Value Portfolio, the Emerging Markets Series, the Emerging Markets Small Cap Series, the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio and the Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund

 

Pursuant to Sub Advisory Agreements with the Advisor, DFA Australia, Level 43 Gateway, 1 Macquarie Place, Sydney, New South Wales 2000, Australia, has the authority and responsibility to select brokers and dealers to execute securities transactions for the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio, the Japanese Series, Asia Pacific Series, International Core Equity Portfolio, DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio, DFA

 

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Global Real Estate Portfolio, International Vector Equity Portfolio, the Large Cap International Portfolio, the International Value Series, the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio, the World ex U.S. Value Portfolio, the Emerging Markets Series, the Emerging Markets Small Cap Series, the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio and the Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund. DFA Australia’s duties include the maintenance of a trading desk for each Series or Portfolio and the determination of the best and most efficient means of executing securities transactions. On at least a semi-annual basis, the Advisor reviews the holdings of the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio, the Japanese Small Company Series, Asia Pacific Small Company Series, International Core Equity Portfolio, DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio, DFA Global Real Estate Portfolio, International Vector Equity Portfolio, the Large Cap International Portfolio, the International Value Series, the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio, the World ex U.S. Value Portfolio, the Emerging Markets Series, the Emerging Markets Small Cap Series, the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio and the Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund, and reviews the trading process and the execution of securities transactions. The Advisor is responsible for determining those securities which are eligible for purchase and sale by these Series and the Portfolio and may delegate this task, subject to its own review, to DFA Australia. DFA Australia maintains and furnishes to the Advisor information and reports on Japanese and Asia Pacific Rim small companies, including its recommendations of securities to be added to the securities that are eligible for purchase by each Series and Portfolio as well as making recommendations and elections on corporate actions.

 

Investment Services—The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio, the United Kingdom Small Company Series, the Continental Small Company Series, the International Core Equity Portfolio, the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio, the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio, the International Vector Equity Portfolio, the Large Cap International Portfolio, the International Value Series, the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio, the World ex U.S. Value Portfolio, the Emerging Markets Series, the Emerging Markets Small Cap Series, the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio and the Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund

 

Pursuant to Sub-Advisory Agreements with the Advisor, DFAL, 20 Triton Street, Regent’s Place, London, NW13BF, United Kingdom, a company that is organized under the laws of England, has the authority and responsibility to select brokers or dealers to execute securities transactions for the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio, the United Kingdom Series, Continental Series, International Core Equity Portfolio, DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio, DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio, International Vector Equity Portfolio, the Large Cap International Portfolio, the International Value Series, the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio, the World ex U.S. Value Portfolio, the Emerging Markets Series, the Emerging Markets Small Cap Series, the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio and the Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund. DFAL’s duties include the maintenance of a trading desk for the Series and Portfolio and the determination of the best and most efficient means of executing securities transactions. On at least a semi-annual basis, the Advisor reviews the holdings of the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio, the United Kingdom Small Company Series, Continental Small Company Series, International Core Equity Portfolio, DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio, International Vector Equity Portfolio, DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio, the Large Cap International Portfolio, the International Value Series, the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio, the World ex U.S. Value Portfolio, the Emerging Markets Series, the Emerging Markets Small Cap Series, the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio and the Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund and reviews the trading process and the execution of securities transactions. The Advisor is responsible for determining those securities which are eligible for purchase and sale by these Series and the Portfolio and may delegate this task, subject to its own review, to DFAL. DFAL maintains and furnishes to the Advisor information and reports on United Kingdom and European small companies, including its recommendations of securities to be added to the securities that are eligible for purchase by the Series and the Portfolio as well as making recommendations and elections on corporate actions. DFAL is a member of the Financial Services Authority (“FSA”), a self-regulatory organization for investment managers operating under the laws of England.

 

Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreements

 

Pursuant to an Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and/or Expense Assumption Agreement, the Advisor has contractually agreed to waive certain fees, including administration/advisory fees, and in certain instances,

 

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assume certain expenses of the Portfolios, as described in the notes below. The Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and/or Expense Assumption Agreement for the Portfolios below will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by a Fund or the Advisor.

 

The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its administration fee to the extent necessary to reduce the ordinary operating expenses (not including expenses incurred through investment in other investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) of the Portfolio so that the Portfolio Expenses, on an annualized basis, do not exceed the rate listed below for the Portfolio (the “Annualized Expense Ratio”). At any time that the Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio are less than the Annualized Expense Ratio identified below, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that the amount of such reimbursement will not cause the annualized Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio to exceed the Annualized Expense Ratio identified below. The Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement.

 

Portfolio


   Annualized
Expense Ratio


 

U.S. Large Company Portfolio

     0.10

 

The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive its administration fee and investment advisory fee and to assume the Portfolio’s direct and indirect expenses (excluding the expenses the Portfolio incurs indirectly through investment in other investment companies) to the extent necessary to limit the expenses to the below listed percentage of the Portfolio’s average net assets on an annualized basis (the “Expense Limitation Amount”). At any time that the direct expenses of a Portfolio are less than Expense Limitation Amount identified below, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that the amount of such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s direct expenses to exceed the applicable Expense Limitation Amount identified below. The Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement.

 

Portfolio


   Expense  Limitation
Amount

 

U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

     0.50

 

The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its managment fee and assume the ordinary operating expenses of a Portfolio (excluding the expenses the Portfolio incurs indirectly through investment in other investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) to the extent necessary to limit the Portfolio Expenses of each Portfolio, on an annualized basis, to the rates listed below as a percentage of average net assets. At any time that the Portfolio Expenses of a Portfolio are less than the Portfolio’s Expense Limitation Amount, the Advisor retains the right to recover any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that such recovery will not cause the Portfolio’s annualized Portfolio Expenses to exceed the Expense Limitation Amount. A Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement.

 

Portfolio


   Expense  Limitation
Amount

 

U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio

     0.23

U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio

     0.26

U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio

     0.36

International Core Equity Portfolio

     0.49

DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio

     0.65

International Vector Equity Portfolio

     0.60

Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio

     0.85

 

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The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of the management fee and to assume the expenses of the Portfolio to the extent necessary to limit the ordinary operating expenses of the Portfolio (not including expenses incurred through an investment in unaffiliated investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) to the below listed percentage of the Portfolio’s average net assets on an annualized basis (the “Expense Limitation Amount”). At any time that the Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio are less than the Expense Limitation Amount identified below, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that the amount of such reimbursement will not cause the annualized Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio to exceed the Expense Limitation Amount identified below. The Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement.

 

Portfolio


   Expense  Limitation
Amount

 

DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio

     0.55

 

The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive its administration fee and to assume the Portfolio’s other direct expenses (not including expenses incurred though its investment in other investment companies) to the extent necessary to limit the direct expenses of the Portfolio (not including expenses incurred through its investment in other investment companies) to the below listed percentage of the Portfolio’s average net assets on an annualized basis (the “Expense Limitation Amount”). At any time that the direct expenses of a Portfolio are less than Expense Limitation Amount identified below, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that the amount of such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s direct expenses to exceed the applicable Expense Limitation Amount identified below. The Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement.

 

Portfolio


   Expense  Limitation
Amount

 

International Small Company Portfolio

     0.45

 

The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive its administration fee and to assume the Portfolio’s other direct expenses to the extent necessary to limit the Portfolio’s direct expenses to the below listed percentage of the Portfolio’s average net assets on an annualized basis for each such Portfolio (the “Expense Limitation Amount”). The Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and/or Expenses Assumption Agreement does not include the indirect expenses each Portfolio bears as a shareholder of its Master Fund. At any time that the direct expenses of a Portfolio are less than the Expense Limitation Amount identified below, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that the amount of such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s direct expenses to exceed the applicable Expense Limitation Amount identified below. The Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement.

 

Portfolio


   Expense  Limitation
Amount

 

Japanese Small Company Portfolio

     0.47

Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio

     0.47

United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio

     0.47

Continental Small Company Portfolio

     0.47

 

The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and to assume the expenses of the Portfolio (including the expenses that the Portfolio bears as a shareholder of other investment companies managed by the Advisor but excluding the expenses that the Portfolio incurs indirectly through its investment in unaffiliated investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) to the extent necessary to limit the Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio to the below listed percentages of the Portfolio’s average net assets on an annualized basis (the “Expense Limitation Amount”). At any time that the Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio are less than the Expense Limitation Amount identified below, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement

 

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for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that the amount of such reimbursement will not cause the annualized Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio to exceed the applicable Expense Limitation Amount identified below. The Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement.

 

Portfolio


   Expense  Limitation
Amount

 

DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio

     0.55

 

The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive up to the full amount of the Portfolio’s management fee of 0.47% to the extent necessary to offset the proportionate share of the management fees paid by the Portfolio through its investment in other funds managed by the Adviser (the “Underlying Funds”). In addition, the Advisor also agrees to waive all or a portion of the management fee that remains payable by the Portfolio (i.e. the management fee remaining after the proportionate share of the Underlying Funds’ management fees have been offset (the “Remaining Management Fee”)) to the extent necessary to reduce the Portfolio’s ordinary operating expenses (including expenses incurred through its investment in other investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) to the below listed percentage of the Portfolio’s average net assets on an annualized basis (the “Expense Limitation Amount”). The maximum amount that may be waived to limit Portfolio Expenses is the amount of the Remaining Management Fee. At any time that the Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio are less than the Expense Limitation Amount identified below, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that the amount of such reimbursement will not cause the annualized Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio to exceed the Expense Limitation Amount identified below. The Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement.

 

Portfolio


   Expense  Limitation
Amount

 

World ex U.S. Value Portfolio

     0.60

 

Performance

 

Prior to March 30, 2002, reimbursement fees were charged to purchasers of shares of certain Portfolios and paid to the Portfolios to offset costs incurred by a Portfolio when investing the proceeds from the sale of its shares. These reimbursement fees are reflected in the historical performance for these Portfolios presented in the performance tables but not in the bar charts. The reimbursement fees (as a percentage of offering price) for each applicable Portfolio were as follows: 0.50% for the Japanese Small Company Portfolio; 1.00% for the Continental Small Company Portfolio; 1.00% for the Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio; 0.50% for the Emerging Markets Portfolio; 0.50% for the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio; 1.00% for the Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio; 0.675% for the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio; and 0.675% for the International Small Company Portfolio.

 

DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

 

Dividends and Distributions. Each Portfolio intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company under the Code. As a regulated investment company, a Portfolio generally pays no federal income tax on the income and gains it distributes to you. Dividends from net investment income of the Domestic Equity Securities and the International Equity Securities (other than the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio and DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio) are distributed quarterly (on a calendar basis) and any net realized capital gains (after any reductions for available capital loss carryforwards) are distributed annually, typically in December. The DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio and DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio make distributions from net investment income and any net realized capital gains (after any reductions for available capital loss carryforwards) annually, typically in December. The DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio, U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio, U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio, DFA Real Estate Securities

 

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Portfolio, International Core Equity Portfolio, DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio and Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio may also make an additional dividend distribution from net investment income in October of each year. A Portfolio may distribute such income dividends and capital gains more frequently, if necessary, in order to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the Portfolio.

 

Capital gains distributions may vary considerably from year to year as a result of a Portfolio’s normal investment activities and cash flows. During a time of economic downturn, a Portfolio may experience capital losses and unrealized depreciation in value of investments, the effect of which may be to reduce or eliminate capital gains distributions for a period of time. Even though a Portfolio may experience a current year loss, it may nonetheless distribute prior year capital gains.

 

You will automatically receive all income dividends and capital gains distributions in additional shares of the Portfolio whose shares you hold at net asset value (as of the business date following the dividend record date), unless, upon written notice to the Advisor and completion of account information, you select one of the options listed below:

 

Income Option—to receive income dividends in cash and capital gains distributions in additional shares at net asset value.

 

Capital Gains Option—to receive capital gains distributions in cash and income dividends in additional shares at net asset value.

 

Cash Option—to receive both income dividends and capital gains distributions in cash.

 

     Net Investment Income
Distribution


 

Portfolio/Master Fund


   Quarterly

     Monthly

     Annually

 

Domestic Equity Portfolios

                          

U.S. Large Company

     X                     

Enhanced U.S. Large Company

     X                     

U.S. Large Cap Value

     X                     

U.S. Small Cap Value

     X                     

U.S. Targeted Value

     X                     

U.S. Core Equity 1

     X                     

U.S. Core Equity 2

     X                     

U.S. Vector Equity

     X                     

U.S. Small Cap

     X                     

U.S. Micro Cap

     X                     

DFA Real Estate Securities

     X                     

International Equity Portfolios

                          

Commodity Strategy

     X                     

Large Cap International

     X                     

DFA International Value

     X                     

International Core Equity

     X                     

International Small Company

     X                     

Japanese Small Company

     X                     

Asia Pacific Small Company

     X                     

United Kingdom Small Company

     X                     

Continental Small Company

     X                     

DFA International Real Estate Securities

                       X   

DFA Global Real Estate Securities

                       X   

DFA International Small Cap Value

     X                     

International Vector Equity

     X                     

World ex U.S. Value

     X                     

Emerging Markets

     X                     

Emerging Markets Value

     X                     

Emerging Markets Small Cap

     X                     

Emerging Markets Core Equity

     X                     

 

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Annual Statements. Each year, you will receive a statement that shows the tax status of distributions you received the previous calendar year. Distributions declared in December to shareholders of record in such month, but paid in January, are taxable as if they were paid in December.

 

Avoid “Buying A Dividend.” At the time you purchase your Portfolio shares, a Portfolio’s net asset value may reflect undistributed income, undistributed capital gains, or net unrealized appreciation in value of portfolio securities held by the Portfolio. A subsequent distribution to you of such amounts, although constituting a return of your investment, would be taxable. Buying shares in a Portfolio just before it declares an income dividend or capital gains distribution is sometimes known as “buying a dividend.”

 

Tax Considerations. This discussion of “Tax Considerations” should be read in conjunction with the remaining subsections below containing additional information. Also, unless otherwise indicated, the discussion below with respect to a Portfolio includes in the case of a Feeder Portfolio invested in a Master Fund or a Portfolio invested in an Underlying Fund classified as a partnership, its pro rata share of its corresponding Master Fund’s or Underlying Fund’s income and assets and in the case of a Portfolio invested in an Underlying Fund classified as a corporation, its pro rata share of the dividends and distributions paid by such Underlying Fund.

 

In general, if you are a taxable investor, Portfolio distributions (other than exempt-interest dividends) are taxable to you as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both. This is true whether you reinvest your distributions in additional Portfolio shares or receive them in cash.

 

For federal income tax purposes, Portfolio distributions of short-term capital gains are taxable to you as ordinary income. Portfolio distributions of long-term capital gains are taxable to you as long-term capital gains no matter how long you have owned your shares. A Portfolio with a high portfolio turnover rate (a measure of how frequently assets within a Portfolio are bought and sold) is more likely to generate short-term capital gains than a Portfolio with a low portfolio turnover rate. With respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2013, unless such provision is extended or made permanent, a portion of income dividends reported by the Portfolio as qualified dividend income may be eligible for taxation by individual shareholders at long-term capital gain rates provided certain holding period requirements are met.

 

If a Portfolio qualifies to pass through to you the tax benefits from foreign taxes it pays on its investments, and elects to do so, then any foreign taxes it pays on these investments may be passed through to you as a foreign tax credit.

 

The Board of Trustees of a Master Fund reserves the right to change the entity classification of a Master Fund for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time, as may be permitted or required under the Code. For instance, the Board might cause a Master Fund that is classified as a partnership to elect to be classified as a corporation and taxable as a regulated investment company or disregarded entity (if it has one shareholder) or vice versa. Such a change in entity classification may be prompted by, among other things, changes in law, the investment strategy of a Master Fund, or the nature and number of shareholders of a Master Fund or other factors or events adversely affecting the ability of a Master Fund to comply with the Code. A change in entity classification of a Master Fund may be a taxable event, causing the Master Fund and shareholders of the Master Fund that are subject to tax to recognize a taxable gain or loss. Such a change in entity classification would also cause the shareholders of the Master Fund to be subject to a different taxation regime, which may adversely affect some shareholders depending upon their particular circumstances.

 

Sale or Redemption of Portfolio Shares. The sale of shares of a Portfolio is a taxable event and may result in a capital gain or loss to you. Capital gain or loss may be realized from an ordinary redemption of shares or an exchange of shares between two Portfolios. Any loss incurred on the sale or exchange of a Portfolio’s shares, held for six months or less, will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of capital gain dividends received with respect to such shares.

 

Backup Withholding. By law, a Portfolio may be required to withhold 28% of taxable dividends, capital gains distributions, and redemption proceeds paid to you if you do not provide your proper taxpayer

 

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identification number and certain required certifications. You may avoid this withholding requirement by providing and certifying on the account registration form your correct Taxpayer Identification Number and by certifying that you are not subject to backup withholding and are a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). A Portfolio must also withhold if the IRS instructs it to do so.

 

State and Local Taxes. In addition to federal taxes, you may be subject to state and local taxes on distributions from a Portfolio and on gains arising on redemption or exchange of a Portfolio’s shares. Distributions of interest income and capital gains realized from certain types of U.S. government securities may be exempt from state personal income taxes. To the extent an Underlying Fund organized as a corporation invests in U.S. government obligations, distributions derived from interest on these obligations and paid to its corresponding Portfolio and, in turn, to shareholders are unlikely to be exempt from state and local income tax.

 

Non-U.S. Investors. Non-U.S. investors may be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a 30% or lower treaty rate and are subject to special U.S. tax certification requirements to avoid backup withholding and claim any treaty benefits. Exemptions from U.S. withholding tax are provided for capital gain dividends paid by a Portfolio from long-term capital gains, if any, exempt-interest dividends, and, with respect to taxable years of a Portfolio that begin before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended or made permanent), interest-related dividends paid by a Portfolio from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources and short-term capital gain dividends. However, notwithstanding such exemptions from U.S. withholding at the source, any such dividends and distributions of income and capital gains will be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 28% if you fail to properly certify that you are not a U.S. person. Non-U.S. investors also may be subject to U.S. estate tax. Non-U.S. investors should also see the discussion below under the subheading, “Special Tax Considerations for Investors that invest in the DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio, DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio, and the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio-Investment in U.S. Real Property.”

 

Special Tax Considerations for Investors that Invest in the DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio, DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio, or the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio.

 

PFIC Securities. The Portfolio may invest in securities of foreign entities that could be deemed for tax purposes to be PFICs. In general, a PFIC is any foreign corporation if 75% or more of its gross income for its taxable year is passive income, or 50% or more of its average assets (by value) are held for the production of passive income. When investing in PFIC securities, the Portfolio intends to mark-to-market these securities and recognize any unrealized gains as ordinary income at the end of its fiscal year. Deductions for losses are allowable only to the extent of any current or previously recognized gains. These gains (reduced by allowable losses) are treated as ordinary income that the Portfolio is required to distribute, even though it has not sold or received dividends from these securities. You should also be aware that the designation of a foreign security as a PFIC security will cause its income dividends to fall outside of the definition of qualified foreign corporation dividends. These dividends generally will not qualify for the reduced rate of taxation on qualified dividends when distributed to you by the Portfolio.

 

Investment in REITS. A U.S. REIT is not subject to federal income tax on the income and gains it distributes to shareholders. Dividends paid by a U.S. REIT, other than capital gain distributions, will be taxable as ordinary income up to the amount of the U.S. REIT’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Capital gain dividends paid by a U.S. REIT to the Portfolio will be treated as long term capital gains by the Portfolio and, in turn, may be distributed by the Portfolio to its shareholders as a capital gain distribution. Because of certain noncash expenses, such as property depreciation, an equity U.S. REIT’s cash flow may exceed its taxable income. The equity U.S. REIT, and in turn the Portfolio, may distribute this excess cash to shareholders in the form of a return of capital distribution. However, if a U.S. REIT is operated in a manner that fails to qualify as a REIT, an investment in the U.S. REIT would become subject to double taxation, meaning the taxable income of the U.S. REIT would be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders and the dividends would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income (or possibly as qualified dividend income) to the extent of the U.S. REIT’s current and accumulated earnings and profits.

 

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Receipt of Excess Inclusion Income by a Portfolio. The Portfolio may derive “excess inclusion income” from certain equity interests in mortgage pooling vehicles either directly or through an investment in a U.S. REIT. Please see the SAI for a discussion of the risks and special tax consequences to shareholders in the event the Portfolio realizes excess inclusion income in excess of certain threshold amounts.

 

Investment in U.S. Real Property. The sale of a U.S. real property interest by a REIT in which a Portfolio invests may trigger special tax consequences to the Portfolio’s foreign shareholders. Please see the SAI for a discussion of the risks and special tax consequences to shareholders from a sale of a U.S. real property interest by a REIT in which the Portfolio invests.

 

Special Tax Considerations for Investors that Invest in the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio.

 

The Portfolio’s strategy of investing in the Subsidiary and commodity-linked derivatives may cause the Portfolio to recognize more ordinary income than would be the case if the Portfolio invested directly in commodities. Dividends paid by the Subsidiary to the Portfolio and interest income earned by the Portfolio on fixed income securities will not be qualified dividend income eligible for taxation at long-term capital gain rates.

 

Investment in Commodities. The Portfolio must meet certain requirements under the Code for favorable tax treatment as a regulated investment company, including the asset diversification and income requirements. The Portfolio has obtained a private letter ruling from the IRS confirming that income derived from the Portfolio’s investment in the Subsidiary constitutes qualifying income to the Portfolio and the Portfolio intends to limit its investment in the Subsidiary to no more than 25% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets in order to satisfy the asset diversification requirement. In addition, the Portfolio has obtained a private letter ruling from the IRS confirming the Portfolio may treat any income the Portfolio derives from direct investments in commodity-linked notes as qualifying income. If, due to regulatory or legislative changes, the IRS were to determine that income from a form of commodity-linked note and/or the Portfolio’s investment in the Subsidiary is nonqualifying, the Portfolio might fail to satisfy the income requirement.

 

This discussion of “DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES” is not intended or written to be used as tax advice. Because everyone’s tax situation is unique, you should consult your tax professional about federal, state, local or foreign tax consequences before making an investment in a Portfolio. Prospective investors should also consult the statement of additional information.

 

PURCHASE OF SHARES

 

Cash Purchases

 

Investors may purchase Institutional Class shares of any Portfolio by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment. The Portfolios generally are available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions, and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor (“Eligible Investors”). Eligible Investors include employees, former employees, shareholders and directors of the Advisor and the Funds and friends and family members of such persons. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor, and all investors must complete and submit the necessary account registration forms in good order. The Funds reserve the right to reject any initial or additional investment and to suspend the offering of shares of any Portfolio.

 

“Good order” with respect to the purchase of shares means that (1) a fully completed and properly signed Account Registration Form and any additional supporting legal documentation required by the Advisor have been received in legible form, and (2) the Advisor has been notified of the purchase by telephone and, if the Advisor so requests, also in writing, no later than the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. ET) on the day of the purchase. If an order to purchase shares must be canceled due to nonpayment, the

 

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purchaser will be responsible for any loss incurred by a Fund arising out of such cancellation. To recover any such loss, the Funds reserve the right to redeem shares owned by any purchaser whose order is canceled, and such purchaser may be prohibited or restricted in the manner of placing further orders.

 

Investors having an account with a bank that is a member or a correspondent of a member of the Federal Reserve System may purchase shares by first calling the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment, then requesting the bank to transmit immediately available funds (federal funds) by wire to PNC Bank, N.A. for the account of DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. (specify Portfolio) or, with regard to purchases of the U.S. Large Company Portfolio or the DFA International Value Portfolio for the account of Dimensional Investment Group Inc. Additional investments also may be made through the wire procedure by first notifying the Advisor. Investors who wish to purchase shares of any Portfolio (other than the U.S. Large Company Portfolio or the DFA International Value Portfolio) by check should send their check to DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc., c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., Attn: AIM: 19K-1A18, 760 Moore Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406. To purchase shares of the U.S. Large Company Portfolio or the DFA International Value Portfolio investors should send their check to Dimensional Investment Group Inc., c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing, at the above address.

 

Payment of the total amount due should be made in U.S. dollars. However, subject to approval by the Advisor, payment may be made in any freely convertible currency and the necessary foreign exchange transactions will be arranged on behalf of, and at the expense of, the applicant. Applicants settling in any currency other than U.S. dollars are advised that a delay in processing a purchase or redemption may occur to allow for currency conversion.

 

Shares also may be purchased and sold by individuals through securities firms that may charge a service fee or commission for such transactions. No such fee or commission is charged on shares that are purchased or redeemed directly from the Funds. Investors who are clients of investment advisory organizations may also be subject to investment advisory fees under their own arrangements with such organizations.

 

In-Kind Purchases

 

If accepted by the Funds, shares of the Portfolios may be purchased in exchange for securities that are eligible for acquisition by the Portfolios (or their corresponding Master Funds or Underlying Funds) or otherwise represented in their portfolios as described in this Prospectus or as otherwise consistent with the Funds’ policies or procedures or in exchange for local currencies in which such securities of the International Portfolios, the International Value Series and Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio, are denominated. Securities and local currencies accepted by the Funds for exchange and Fund shares to be issued in the exchange will be valued as set forth under “VALUATION OF SHARES” at the time of the next determination of net asset value after such acceptance. All dividends, interest, subscription, or other rights pertaining to such securities shall become the property of the Portfolio whose shares are being acquired and must be delivered to the Fund by the investor upon receipt from the issuer. Investors who desire to purchase shares of the International Portfolios or Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio with local currencies should first contact the Advisor.

 

The Funds will not accept securities in exchange for shares of a Portfolio unless: (1) such securities are, at the time of the exchange, eligible to be included, or otherwise represented, in the Portfolio whose shares are to be issued (or in its corresponding Master Fund or Underlying Funds) and current market quotations are readily available for such securities; (2) the investor represents and agrees that all securities offered to be exchanged are not subject to any restrictions upon their sale by the Portfolio under the Securities Act of 1933 or under the laws of the country in which the principal market for such securities exists, or otherwise; and (3) at the discretion of the respective Fund, the value of any such security (except U.S. government securities) being exchanged, together with other securities of the same issuer owned by the Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund, may not exceed 5% of the net assets of the Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund immediately after the transaction, however, this last limitation does not apply to the International Small Company Portfolio.

 

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A gain or loss for federal income tax purposes will generally be realized by investors who are subject to federal taxation upon the exchange depending upon the cost of the securities or local currency exchanged. Investors interested in such exchanges should contact the Advisor. Purchases of shares will be made in full and fractional shares calculated to three decimal places. In the interest of economy and convenience, certificates for shares will not be issued.

 

POLICY REGARDING EXCESSIVE OR SHORT-TERM TRADING

 

The Portfolios are designed for long-term investors (except as described below) and are not intended for investors that engage in excessive short-term trading activity that may be harmful to the Portfolios, including but not limited to market timing. Short-term or excessive trading into and out of the Portfolios can disrupt portfolio management strategies, harm performance and increase Portfolio expenses for all shareholders, including long-term shareholders who do not generate these costs.

 

In addition, certain Portfolios and Master Funds may be more susceptible to the risks of short-term trading than other Portfolios and Master Funds. The nature of the holdings of the International Portfolios and International Master Funds may present opportunities for a shareholder to engage in a short-term trading strategy that exploits possible delays between changes in the price of a Portfolio’s or Master Fund’s holdings and the reflection of those changes in the Portfolio’s net asset value (called “arbitrage market timing”). Such delays may occur because an International Portfolio or its Master Fund, if applicable, has significant investments in foreign securities where, due to time zone differences, the values of those securities are established some time before the Portfolio and/or the Master Fund calculate their net asset values. In such circumstances, the available market prices for such foreign securities may not accurately reflect the latest indications of value at the time the International Portfolio calculates its net asset value. The U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio, the U.S. Small Cap Portfolio and the U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio also may be subject to arbitrage market timing because the Portfolios have significant holdings in small cap securities, which may have prices that do not accurately reflect the latest indications of value of these securities at the time the Portfolios calculate their net asset values due to, among other reasons, infrequent trading or illiquidity. There is a possibility that arbitrage market timing may dilute the value of a Portfolio’s shares if redeeming shareholders receive proceeds (and purchasing shareholders receive shares) based upon a net asset value that does not reflect appropriate fair value prices.

 

The Boards of Directors of the Funds (collectively, the “Board”) have adopted a policy (the “Trading Policy”) and the Advisor and DFA Securities LLC (collectively, “Dimensional”) and Dimensional’s agents have implemented the following procedures, which are designed to discourage and prevent market timing or excessive short-term trading in the Funds: (i) trade activity monitoring and purchase blocking procedures; and (ii) use of fair value pricing.

 

The Funds, Dimensional and their agents monitor trades and flows of money in and out of the Portfolios from time to time in an effort to detect excessive short-term trading activities, and for consistent enforcement of the Trading Policy. The Funds reserve the right to take the actions necessary to stop excessive or disruptive trading activities, including refusing or canceling purchase or exchange orders for any reason, without prior notice, particularly purchase or exchange orders that the Funds believe are made on behalf of market timers. The Funds, Dimensional and their agents reserve the right to restrict, refuse or cancel any purchase or exchange request made by an investor indefinitely if the Funds or Dimensional believe that any combination of trading activity in the accounts is potentially disruptive to a Portfolio. In making such judgments, the Funds and Dimensional seek to act in a manner that is consistent with the interests of shareholders. For purposes of applying these procedures, Dimensional may consider an investor’s trading history in the Portfolios, and accounts under common ownership, influence or control.

 

In addition to the Funds’ general ability to restrict potentially disruptive trading activity as described above, the Funds also have adopted purchase blocking procedures. Under the Funds’ purchase blocking procedures,

 

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where an investor has engaged in any two purchases and two redemptions (including redemptions that are part of an exchange transaction) in a Portfolio in any rolling 30 calendar day monitoring period (i.e., two “round trips”), the Funds and Dimensional intend to block the investor from making any additional purchases in that Portfolio for 90 calendar days (a “purchase block”). If implemented, a purchase block will begin at some point after the transaction that caused the investor to have engaged in the prohibited two round-trips is detected by the Funds, Dimensional, or their agents. The Funds and Dimensional are permitted to implement a longer purchase block, or permanently bar future purchases by an investor, if they determine that it is appropriate.

 

Under the Funds’ purchase blocking procedures, the following purchases and redemptions will not trigger a purchase block: (i) purchases and redemptions of shares having a value in each transaction of less than $5,000; (ii) purchases and redemptions by U.S. registered investment companies that operate as fund of funds and non-U.S. investment companies that operate as fund of funds that the Funds or Dimensional, in their sole discretion, have determined are not designed and/or are not serving as vehicles for excessive short-term or other disruptive trading (in each case, the fund of funds shall agree to be subject to monitoring by Dimensional); (iii) purchases and redemptions by a feeder portfolio of a master fund’s shares; (iv) systematic or automated transactions where the shareholder, financial advisor or investment fiduciary does not exercise direct control over the investment decision; (v) retirement plan contributions, loans, loan repayments and distributions (including hardship withdrawals) identified as such in the retirement plan recordkeeper’s system; (vi) purchase transactions involving transfers of assets, rollovers, Roth IRA conversions and IRA recharacterizations; (vii) purchases of shares with Portfolio dividends or capital gain distributions; (viii) transfers and reregistrations of shares within the same Portfolio; and (ix) transactions by 529 Plans. Notwithstanding the Funds’ purchase blocking procedures, all transactions in Portfolio shares are subject to the right of the Funds and Dimensional to restrict potentially disruptive trading activity (including purchases and redemptions described above that will not be subject to the purchase blocking procedures).

 

The Funds, Dimensional or their designees will have the ability, pursuant to Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act, to request information from financial intermediaries, such as 401(k) plan administrators, trust companies and broker dealers (together, “Intermediaries”), concerning trades placed in omnibus and other multi-investor accounts (together, “Omnibus Accounts”), in order to attempt to monitor trades that are placed by the underlying shareholders of these Omnibus Accounts. The Funds, Dimensional and their designees will use the information obtained from the Intermediaries to monitor trading in the Funds and to attempt to identify shareholders in Omnibus Accounts engaged in trading that is inconsistent with the Trading Policy or otherwise not in the best interests of the Funds. The Funds, Dimensional or their designees, when they detect trading patterns in shares of the Funds that may constitute short-term or excessive trading, will provide written instructions to the Intermediary to restrict or prohibit further purchases or exchanges of shares of the Portfolios by a shareholder that has been identified as having engaged in excessive or short-term transactions in the Portfolios’ shares (directly or indirectly through the Intermediary’s account) that violate the Trading Policy.

 

The ability of the Funds and Dimensional to impose these limitations, including the purchase blocking procedures, on investors investing through Intermediaries is dependent on the receipt of information necessary to identify transactions by the underlying investors and the Intermediary’s cooperation in implementing the Trading Policy. Investors seeking to engage in excessive short-term trading practices may deploy a variety of strategies to avoid detection, and despite the efforts of the Funds and Dimensional to prevent excessive short-term trading, there is no assurance that the Funds, Dimensional or their agents will be able to identify those shareholders or curtail their trading practices. The ability of the Funds, Dimensional and their agents to detect and limit excessive short-term trading also may be restricted by operational systems and technological limitations.

 

The purchase blocking procedures of the Trading Policy may not apply to redemptions by shareholders whose shares are held on the books of Intermediaries if the Intermediaries have not adopted procedures to implement this Policy. The Funds and Dimensional will work with Intermediaries to develop such policies to institute the purchase blocking procedures or other procedures that the Funds and Dimensional determine are reasonably designed to achieve the objective of this Trading Policy. At the time the Intermediaries adopt these

 

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procedures, shareholders whose accounts are on the books of such Intermediaries will be subject to the Trading Policy’s purchase blocking procedures or another frequent trading policy that achieves the objective of the purchase blocking procedures. Investors that invest in the Portfolios through an Intermediary should contact the Intermediary for information concerning the policies and procedures that apply to the investor.

 

As of the date of this Prospectus, the ability of the Funds and Dimensional to apply the purchase blocking procedures on purchases by all investors and the ability of the Funds and Dimensional to monitor trades through Omnibus Accounts maintained by Intermediaries may be restricted due to systems limitations of both the Funds’ service providers and the Intermediaries. The Funds expect that the application of the Trading Policy as described above, including the purchase blocking procedures (subject to the limitations described above), will be able to be implemented by Intermediaries in compliance with Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act.

 

In addition, the purchase blocking procedures will not apply to a redemption transaction in which a Portfolio distributes portfolio securities to a shareholder in-kind, where the redemption will not disrupt the efficient portfolio management of the Portfolio/Master Fund/Underlying Fund and the redemption is consistent with the interests of the remaining shareholders of the Portfolio/Master Fund/Underlying Fund.

 

In addition to monitoring trade activity, the Board has adopted fair value pricing procedures that govern the pricing of the securities of the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds. These procedures are designed to help ensure that the prices at which Portfolio shares are purchased and redeemed are fair, and do not result in dilution of shareholder interests or other harm to shareholders. See the discussion under “VALUATION OF SHARES—Net Asset Value” for additional details regarding fair value pricing of the Portfolio’s securities.

 

Although the procedures are designed to discourage excessive short-term trading, none of the procedures individually nor all of the procedures taken together can completely eliminate the possibility that excessive short-term trading activity in a Portfolio may occur. The Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds do not knowingly accommodate excessive or disruptive trading activities, including market timing.

 

VALUATION OF SHARES

 

Net Asset Value

 

The net asset value per share of each class of each Portfolio and the net asset value per share of each Master Fund and Underlying Fund is calculated after the close of the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. ET) by dividing the total value of the investments and other assets of the Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund less any liabilities, by the total outstanding shares of the stock of the respective Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund. Note: The time at which transactions and shares are priced may be changed in case of an emergency or if the NYSE closes at a time other than 4:00 p.m. ET.

 

The value of the shares of each Non-Feeder Portfolio will fluctuate in relation to its own investment experience. The value of the shares of the Feeder Portfolios and International Small Company Portfolio will fluctuate in relation to the investment experience of the Master Funds or Underlying Funds in which such Portfolios invest. Securities held by the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds will be valued in accordance with applicable laws and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors or Trustees, and generally, as described below.

 

Securities held by the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds (including over-the-counter securities) are valued at the last quoted sale price of the day. Securities held by the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds that are listed on Nasdaq are valued at the Nasdaq Official Closing Price (“NOCP”). If there is no last reported sale price or NOCP of the day, the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds value the securities at the mean of the most recent quoted bid and asked prices. Price information on listed securities is taken from the exchange where the security is primarily traded. Generally, securities issued by open-end

 

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investment companies, such as the Master Funds and Underlying Funds, are valued using their respective net asset values or public offering prices, as appropriate, for purchase orders placed at the close of the NYSE.

 

Debt securities will be valued on the basis of prices provided by one or more pricing services or other reasonably reliable sources including broker/dealers that typically handle the purchase and sale of such securities. Securities which are traded over-the-counter and on a stock exchange generally will be valued according to the broadest and most representative market, and it is expected that for bonds and other fixed income securities, this ordinarily will be the over-the-counter market.

 

The value of the securities and other assets of the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds for which no market quotations are readily available (including restricted securities), or for which market quotations have become unreliable, are determined in good faith at fair value in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Directors or Trustees, as the case may be. Fair value pricing may also be used if events that have a significant effect on the value of an investment (as determined in the discretion of the Investment Committee of the Advisor) occur before the net asset value is calculated. When fair value pricing is used, the prices of securities used by the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds may differ from the quoted or published prices for the same securities on their primary markets or exchanges.

 

To the extent that a Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund holds large numbers of securities, it is likely that it will have a larger number of securities that may be deemed illiquid and therefore must be valued pursuant to special procedures adopted by the Board of Directors or Trustees, than would a fund that holds a smaller number of securities. Portfolios that invest in small capitalization companies are more likely to hold illiquid securities than would a fund that invests in larger capitalization companies.

 

As of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds holding foreign equity securities (the “Foreign Equity Funds”) will also fair value price in the circumstances described below. Generally, trading in foreign securities markets is completed each day at various times before the close of the NYSE. For example, trading in the Japanese securities markets is completed each day at the close of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (normally, 2:00 a.m. ET), which is fourteen hours before the close of the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. ET) and the time that the net asset values of the Foreign Equity Funds are computed. Due to the time differences between the closings of the relevant foreign securities exchanges and the time the Foreign Equity Funds price their shares at the close of the NYSE, the Foreign Equity Funds will fair value their foreign investments when it is determined that the market quotations for the foreign investments are either unreliable or not readily available. The fair value prices will attempt to reflect the impact of the U.S. financial markets’ perceptions and trading activities on the Foreign Equity Funds’ foreign investments since the last closing prices of the foreign investments were calculated on their primary foreign securities markets or exchanges. For these purposes, the Boards of Directors/Trustees of the Foreign Equity Funds have determined that movements in relevant indices or other appropriate market indicators, after the close of the Tokyo Stock Exchange or the London Stock Exchange, demonstrate that market quotations may be unreliable, and may trigger fair value pricing. Consequently, fair valuation of portfolio securities may occur on a daily basis. The fair value pricing by the Foreign Equity Funds utilizes data furnished by an independent pricing service (and that data draws upon, among other information, the market values of foreign investments). When a Foreign Equity Fund uses fair value pricing, the values assigned to the Foreign Equity Fund’s foreign investments may not be the quoted or published prices of the investments on their primary markets or exchanges. The Boards of Directors/Trustees of the Foreign Equity Funds monitor the operation of the method used to fair value price the Foreign Equity Funds’ foreign investments.

 

Valuing securities at fair value involves greater reliance on judgment than valuing securities that have readily available market quotations. There can be no assurance that a Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund could obtain the fair value assigned to a security if it were to sell the security at approximately the time at which the Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund determines its net asset value per share. As a result, the sale or redemption by a Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund of its shares at net asset value, at a time when a holding or holdings are valued at fair value, may have the effect of diluting or increasing the economic interest of existing shareholders.

 

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The net asset values per share of the International Portfolios (in respect to those Portfolios that are Feeder Portfolios and International Small Company Portfolio, the Master Funds) are expressed in U.S. dollars by translating the net assets of each Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund using the mean of the most recent bid and asked prices for the dollar as quoted by generally recognized reliable sources. Because the International Portfolios and Master Funds and the International Underlying Funds own securities that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges which may trade on days when the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds do not price their shares, the net asset values of the International Portfolios and such Master Funds and Underlying Funds may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem shares.

 

Most Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds generally calculate their net asset values per share and accept purchase and redemption orders on days that the NYSE is open for trading. The Japanese Small Company Series, U.K. Small Company Series and Continental Small Company Series (and each Series’ corresponding Feeder Portfolio) are each closed on days that the foreign securities exchange(s) on which their portfolio securities are principally traded are closed. Purchase and redemption orders for shares of such Portfolios or Master Funds will not be accepted on those days.

 

Certain of the securities holdings of the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio, DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio, the Emerging Markets Series, Emerging Markets Small Cap Series, the Emerging Markets Value Fund and Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio in Approved Markets may be subject to tax, investment and currency repatriation regulations of the Approved Markets that could have a material effect on the values of the securities. For example, such funds might be subject to different levels of taxation on current income and realized gains depending upon the holding period of the securities. In general, a longer holding period (e.g., 5 years) may result in the imposition of lower tax rates than a shorter holding period (e.g., 1 year). The DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio, the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio, the Emerging Markets Master Funds and the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio may also be subject to certain contractual arrangements with investment authorities in an Approved Market which require a Master Fund or Portfolio to maintain minimum holding periods or to limit the extent of repatriation of income and realized gains.

 

Futures contracts are valued using the settlement price established each day on the exchange on which they are traded. The value of such futures contracts held by a Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund is determined each day as of such close. Swap contracts generally are valued at a price at which the counterparties to such contracts would repurchase the instrument or terminate the contracts. Structured note agreements are valued in accordance with a dealer-supplied valuation based on changes in the value of the underling index.

 

The Subsidiary is subject to the same valuation procedures as the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio.

 

Public Offering Price

 

Provided that the transfer agent has received the investor’s Account Registration Form in good order and the custodian has received the investor’s payment, shares of the Portfolio selected will be priced at the public offering price, which is the net asset value of the shares next determined after receipt of the investor’s funds by the custodian. The transfer agent or the Funds may, from time to time, appoint sub-transfer agents or various financial intermediaries (“Intermediaries”) for the receipt of purchase orders, redemption orders and funds from certain investors. Intermediaries, in turn, are authorized to designate other financial intermediaries (“Sub-designees”) to receive purchase and redemption orders for the Portfolios’ shares from investors. With respect to such investors, the shares of the Portfolio selected will be priced at the public offering price calculated after receipt of the purchase order by the Intermediary or Sub-designee, as applicable, that is authorized to receive purchase orders. If the investor buys shares through an Intermediary or a Sub-designee, the purchase price will be the public offering price next calculated after the Intermediary or Sub-designee, as applicable, receives the order, rather than on the day the custodian receives the investor’s payment (provided that the Intermediary or Sub-designee, as applicable, has received the investor’s purchase order in good order, and the investor has complied with the Intermediary’s or Sub-designee’s payment procedures). No reimbursement fee or sales charge

 

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is imposed on purchases. If an order to purchase shares must be canceled due to non-payment, the purchaser will be responsible for any loss incurred by a Portfolio arising out of such cancellation. The Funds reserve the right to redeem shares owned by any purchaser whose order is canceled to recover any resulting loss to a Portfolio and may prohibit or restrict the manner in which such purchaser may place further orders.

 

EXCHANGE OF SHARES

 

Investors may exchange Institutional Class shares of one Portfolio for Institutional Class shares of another Portfolio by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed exchange, and then sending a letter of instruction to: DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. or, in the case of the DFA International Value Portfolio or U.S. Large Company Portfolio, to Dimensional Investment Group Inc. A letter of instruction for an exchange of shares may be sent by mail to the following: Attn: Client Operations, 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746. Shareholders that invest in the Portfolios through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary for information regarding exchanges.

 

The minimum amount for an exchange is $100,000. Exchanges are accepted into or from any of the Portfolios offered in this Prospectus. There is no fee imposed on an exchange. However, the Funds reserve the right to impose an administrative fee in order to cover the costs incurred in processing an exchange. Any such fee will be disclosed in the Prospectus. An exchange is treated as a redemption and a purchase. Therefore, an investor could realize a taxable gain or a loss on the transaction. The Funds reserve the right to revise or terminate the exchange privilege, waive the minimum amount requirement, limit the amount of or reject any exchange, as deemed necessary, at any time.

 

Investors in any Portfolio eligible for the exchange privilege also may exchange all or part of their Portfolio shares into certain other portfolios of Dimensional Investment Group Inc., subject to the minimum purchase requirement set forth in the applicable portfolio’s prospectus. Investors may contact the Advisor at the above-listed phone number for more information on such exchanges and to request a copy of the prospectuses of other portfolios of Dimensional Investment Group Inc.

 

The exchange privilege is not intended to afford shareholders a way to speculate on short-term movements in the markets. Accordingly, in order to prevent excessive use of the exchange privilege that may potentially disrupt the management of the Portfolios or otherwise adversely affect the Funds, any proposed exchange will be subject to the approval of the Advisor. Such approval will depend on: (i) the size of the proposed exchange; (ii) the prior number of exchanges by that shareholder; (iii) the nature of the underlying securities and the cash position of the Portfolios involved in the proposed exchange; (iv) the transaction costs involved in processing the exchange; and (v) the total number of redemptions by exchange already made out of a Portfolio. Excessive use of the exchange privilege is defined as any pattern of exchanges among portfolios by an investor that evidences market timing.

 

The redemption and purchase prices of shares redeemed and purchased by exchange, respectively, are the net asset values next determined after the Advisor has received a letter of instruction in good order. “Good order” means a completed letter of instruction specifying the dollar amount to be exchanged, signed by all registered owners (or representatives thereof) of the shares; and if a Fund does not have on file the authorized signatures for the account, proof of authority. Exchanges will be accepted only if stock certificates have not been issued and the shares of the Portfolio being acquired are registered in the investor’s state of residence.

 

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REDEMPTION OF SHARES

 

Redemption Procedure

 

Investors who desire to redeem shares of a Portfolio must first contact the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400. Shareholders who invest in the Portfolios through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding redemption procedures. Each Portfolio will redeem shares at the net asset value of such shares next determined, either: (1) where stock certificates have not been issued, after receipt of a written request for redemption in good order, by the transfer agent (or by an Intermediary or a Sub-designee, if applicable), or (2) if stock certificates have been issued, after receipt of the stock certificates in good order at the office of the transfer agent. “Good order” means that the request to redeem shares must include all necessary documentation, to be received in writing by the Advisor no later than the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. ET), including but not limited to: the stock certificate(s), if issued; a letter of instruction or a stock assignment specifying the number of shares or dollar amount to be redeemed, signed by all registered owners (or representatives thereof) of the shares; and, if a Fund does not have on file the authorized signatures for the account, proof of authority.

 

Shareholders redeeming shares for which certificates have not been issued, who have authorized redemption payment by wire in writing, may request that redemption proceeds be paid in federal funds wired to the bank they have designated in writing. The Funds reserve the right to send redemption proceeds by check in its discretion; a shareholder may request overnight delivery of such check at the shareholder’s own expense. If the proceeds are wired to the shareholder’s account at a bank that is not a member of the Federal Reserve System, there could be a delay in crediting the funds to the shareholder’s bank account. The Funds reserve the right at any time to suspend or terminate the redemption by wire procedure after prior notification to shareholders. No fee is charged for redemptions. The redemption of all shares in an account will result in the account being closed. A new Account Registration Form will be required for future investments. See “PURCHASE OF SHARES.” In the interests of economy and convenience, certificates for shares are not issued.

 

Although the redemption payments will ordinarily be made within seven days after receipt, payment to investors redeeming shares that were purchased by check will not be made until the Funds can verify that the payments for the purchase have been, or will be, collected, which may take up to ten days or more. Investors may avoid this delay by submitting a certified check along with the purchase order.

 

Redemption of Small Accounts

 

With respect to each Portfolio, the Funds reserve the right to redeem an account if the value of the shares in a specific Portfolio is $500 or less because of redemptions. Before a Fund involuntarily redeems shares from such an account and sends the proceeds to the stockholder, the Fund will give written notice of the redemption to the stockholder at least sixty days before the redemption date. The stockholder will then have sixty days from the date of the notice to make an additional investment in order to bring the value of the shares in the account for a specific Portfolio to more than $500 and avoid such involuntary redemption. The redemption price to be paid to a stockholder for shares redeemed by a Fund under this right will be the aggregate net asset value of the shares in the account at the close of business on the redemption date. The right to redeem small accounts applies to accounts established with the Fund’s transfer agent.

 

In-Kind Redemptions

 

When in the best interests of a Portfolio, the Portfolio that is not a Feeder Portfolio may also make a redemption payment, in whole or in part, by a distribution of portfolio securities that the Portfolio owns in lieu of cash. When in the best interests of a Feeder Portfolio or the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio or International Small Company Portfolio, the Feeder Portfolio or the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio or International Small Company Portfolio may make a redemption payment, in whole or in part, by a distribution of portfolio securities that the Feeder Portfolio or the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio receives from

 

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the Master Fund or Underlying Funds in lieu of cash. Such distributions will be made in accordance with the federal securities laws and regulations governing mutual funds. Investors may incur brokerage charges and other transaction costs selling securities that were received in payment of redemptions. The International Portfolios reserve the right to redeem their shares in the currencies in which their investments (and, in respect of the Feeder Portfolios, International Small Company Portfolio and the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio, the currencies in which the investments of the corresponding Master Funds or Underlying Funds) are denominated. Investors may incur charges in converting such securities to dollars and the value of the securities may be affected by currency exchange fluctuations.

 

THE FEEDER PORTFOLIOS

 

Other institutional investors, including other mutual funds, may invest in each Master Fund. Accordingly, the expenses of such other funds and, correspondingly, their returns may differ from those of the Feeder Portfolios. Please contact The DFA Investment Trust Company and the Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund at 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746, (512) 306-7400 for information about the availability of investing in a Master Fund other than through a Feeder Portfolio.

 

The aggregate amount of expenses for a Feeder Portfolio and the corresponding Master Fund may be greater than it would be if the Portfolio were to invest directly in the securities held by the corresponding Master Fund. However, the total expense ratios for the Feeder Portfolios and the Master Funds are expected to be less over time than such ratios would be if the Portfolios were to invest directly in the underlying securities. This arrangement enables various institutional investors, including the Feeder Portfolios, to pool their assets, which may be expected to result in economies by spreading certain fixed costs over a larger asset base. Each shareholder in a Master Fund, including a Feeder Portfolio, will pay its proportionate share of the expenses of that Master Fund. By investing in shares of the International Master Funds, International Small Company Portfolio will indirectly bear its pro rata share of the operating expenses, management expenses and brokerage costs of such Master Funds, as well as the expense of operating the Portfolio.

 

The shares of the Master Funds will be offered to institutional investors for the purpose of increasing the funds available for investment, to reduce expenses as a percentage of total assets and to achieve other economies that might be available at higher asset levels. Investment in a Master Fund by other institutional investors offers potential benefits to the Master Funds, and through their investment in the Master Funds, the Feeder Portfolios also. However, such economies and expense reductions might not be achieved, and additional investment opportunities, such as increased diversification, might not be available if other institutions do not invest in the Master Funds. Also, if an institutional investor were to redeem its interest in a Master Fund, the remaining investors in that Master Fund could experience higher pro rata operating expenses, thereby producing lower returns, and the Master Fund’s security holdings may become less diverse, resulting in increased risk. Institutional investors that have a greater pro rata ownership interest in a Master Fund than the corresponding Feeder Portfolio could have effective voting control over the operation of the Master Fund.

 

If the Board of Directors of the relevant Fund determines that it is in the best interest of a Feeder Portfolio, the Feeder Portfolio may withdraw its investment in a Master Fund at any time. Upon any such withdrawal, the Board would consider what action the Portfolio might take, including either seeking to invest its assets in another registered investment company with the same investment objective as the Portfolio, which might not be possible, or retaining an investment advisor to manage the Portfolio’s assets in accordance with its own investment objective, possibly at increased cost. Shareholders of a Feeder Portfolio will receive written notice thirty days before the effective date of any change in the investment objective of its corresponding Master Fund. A withdrawal by a Feeder Portfolio of its investment in the corresponding Master Fund could result in a distribution in kind of portfolio securities (as opposed to a cash distribution) to the Portfolio. Should such a distribution occur, the Portfolio could incur brokerage fees or other transaction costs in converting such securities to cash in order to pay redemptions. In addition, a distribution in kind to the Portfolio could result in a less diversified

 

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portfolio of investments and could affect adversely the liquidity of the Portfolio. Any net capital gains so realized will be distributed to such a Portfolio’s shareholders as described in “DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES.”

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

Each Portfolio, Master Fund and Underlying Fund generally will disclose up to its 25 largest portfolio holdings (or with respect to a Feeder Portfolio, the holdings of its Master Fund) (other than cash and cash equivalents) and the percentages that each of these largest portfolio holdings represent of the total assets of the Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund, as of the most recent month-end, online at the Advisor’s public website, http://www.dimensional.com, within 20 days after the end of each month. Each Portfolio, Master Fund and Underlying Fund also generally will disclose its complete portfolio holdings (or with respect to a Feeder Portfolio, the holdings of its Master Fund) (other than cash and cash equivalents), as of month-end, online at the Advisor’s public website, two months following the month-end or more frequently and at different periods when authorized in accordance with the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds’ policies and procedures. Please consult the SAI for a description of the other policies and procedures that govern disclosure of the portfolio holdings by the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds.

 

DELIVERY OF SHAREHOLDER DOCUMENTS

 

To eliminate duplicate mailings and reduce expenses, the Portfolios may deliver a single copy of certain shareholder documents, such as this Prospectus and annual and semi-annual reports, to related shareholders at the same address, even if accounts are registered in different names. This practice is known as “householding.” The Portfolios will not household personal information documents, such as account statements. If you do not want the mailings of these documents to be combined with other members of your household, please call us collect at (512) 306-7400. We will begin sending individual copies of the shareholder documents to you within 30 days of receiving your request.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

The Financial Highlights table is meant to help you understand each Portfolio’s financial performance for the past 5 years or, if shorter, the period of that Portfolio’s operations, as indicated by the table. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio does not have Financial Highlights as of October 31, 2010. The total returns in the table represent the rate that you would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Portfolio, assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. This information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, whose report, along with the Portfolios’ financial statements, is included in the annual reports. Further information about the Portfolios’ performance is contained in the annual reports, which are available upon request.

 

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DIMENSIONAL INVESTMENT GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    U.S. Large Company Portfolio
(formerly, U.S. Large Company Institutional Index Portfolio)

 
    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010

    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009


    Period
Ended

Oct.  31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

  $ 8.16      $ 7.62      $ 11.63      $ 11.00      $ 9.82      $ 9.23   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Income from Investment Operations

                                               

Net Investment Income (Loss)

    0.18     0.18     0.20     0.22     0.19     0.17   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

    1.15        0.55        (3.99     0.62        1.18        0.61   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total from Investment Operations

    1.33        0.73        (3.79     0.84        1.37        0.78   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                               

Net Investment Income

    (0.15     (0.19     (0.22     (0.21     (0.19     (0.19
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

    (0.15     (0.19     (0.22     (0.21     (0.19     (0.19
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

  $ 9.34      $ 8.16      $ 7.62      $ 11.63      $ 11.00      $ 9.82   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

    16.47     10.07     (33.10 )%†      7.71     14.11     8.50
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

  $ 3,712,973      $ 785,689      $ 729,218      $ 1,002,142      $ 877,405      $ 692,595   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    0.10 %(B)      0.10 %*      0.10 %^*      0.10 %*      0.10 %*      0.10 %* 

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Assumption of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)

    0.11 %(B)      0.13 %*      0.11 %^*      0.11 %*      0.11 %*      0.14 %* 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    1.99     2.53     2.10 %^      1.90     1.90     1.82

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    1 %(A)      N/A        N/A        N/A        N/A        N/A   

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
*   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
(A)   For the period September 10, 2010 through October 31, 2010. Effective September 10, 2010, the Portfolio directly invests in securities rather than through The U.S. Large Company Series.
(B)   Represents the combined ratios for the portfolio and for the period November 1, 2009 through September 9, 2010, its respective pro-rata share of The U.S. Large Company Series.

 

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DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 
    Year
Ended
Oct.  31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009

    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

  $ 6.48      $ 6.47      $ 10.91      $ 10.95      $ 9.82      $ 9.35   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                               

Net Investment Income (Loss)

    0.07     0.05     0.39     0.30     0.12     0.29   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

    1.05        0.61        (3.74     0.45        1.19        0.37   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

    1.12        0.66        (3.35     0.75        1.31        0.66   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                               

Net Investment Income

    (0.07     (0.59     (0.36     (0.36     (0.18     (0.19

Net Realized Gains

           (0.06     (0.73     (0.43              
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

    (0.07     (0.65     (1.09     (0.79     (0.18     (0.19
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

  $ 7.53      $ 6.48      $ 6.47      $ 10.91      $ 10.95      $ 9.82   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

    17.40     12.23     (33.89 )%†      7.13     13.52     7.08
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

  $ 157,730      $ 165,231      $ 200,331      $ 337,050      $ 347,216      $ 313,543   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    0.26     0.29 %(B)      0.25 %^*      0.25 %*      0.26 %*      0.34 %* 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    0.98     0.86     4.74 %^      2.67     1.19     3.11

Portfolio Trunover Rate

    78     46 %(A)      N/A        N/A        N/A        N/A   

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
*   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
(A)   For the period February 28, 2009 through October 31, 2009. Effective February 28, 2009, the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio invests directly in securities rather than through the Series.
(B)   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and for the period November 1, 2008 through February 27, 2009, its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.

 

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DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 
     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,

2010

    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009

    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 15.81      $ 14.58      $ 24.44      $ 25.40      $ 21.93      $ 19.37   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                                

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.33     0.31     0.36     0.33     0.38     0.30   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     2.76        1.28        (8.83     (0.43     3.50        2.49   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

     3.09        1.59        (8.47     (0.10     3.88        2.79   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                                

Net Investment Income

     (0.32     (0.34     (0.35     (0.32     (0.35     (0.23

Net Realized Gains

            (0.02     (1.04     (0.54     (0.06       
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.32     (0.36     (1.39     (0.86     (0.41     (0.23
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 18.58      $ 15.81      $ 14.58      $ 24.44      $ 25.40      $ 21.93   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

     19.72     11.76     (36.63 )%†      (0.49 )%      17.97     14.49
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 6,921,036      $ 5,863,652      $ 5,330,448      $ 7,535,552      $ 6,410,086      $ 4,046,083   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets*

     0.28     0.30     0.28 %^      0.27     0.28     0.30

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     1.86     2.26     1.86 %^      1.28     1.64     1.48

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
*   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.

 

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DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 
    Year
Ended

Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009


    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

  $ 17.69      $ 16.32      $ 26.49      $ 31.59      $ 28.74      $ 27.71   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                               

Net Investment Income (Loss)

    0.09     0.04     0.18     0.30     0.28     0.29   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

    4.79        1.54        (7.86     (2.72     5.06        2.66   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

    4.88        1.58        (7.68     (2.42     5.34        2.95   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                               

Net Investment Income

    (0.08     (0.21     (0.22     (0.28     (0.23     (0.26

Net Realized Gains

                  (2.27     (2.40     (2.26     (1.66
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

    (0.08     (0.21     (2.49     (2.68     (2.49     (1.92
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

  $ 22.49      $ 17.69      $ 16.32      $ 26.49      $ 31.59      $ 28.74   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

    27.69     9.97     (31.80 )%†      (8.41 )%      20.29     11.32
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

  $ 6,555,277      $ 5,669,659      $ 5,503,945      $ 8,802,846      $ 8,738,278      $ 6,924,234   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    0.52     0.54 %(B)      0.52 %^*      0.52 %*      0.53 %*      0.55 %* 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    0.43     0.27     0.86 %^      0.98     0.94     1.04

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    19     21 %(A)      N/A        N/A        N/A        N/A   

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
*   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
(A)   For the period February 28, 2009 through October 31, 2009. Effective February 28, 2009, the U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio invests directly in securities rather than through the Series.
(B)   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and for the period November 1, 2008 through February 27, 2009, its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.

 

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DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 
    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009

    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

  $ 11.70      $ 10.84      $ 15.89      $ 18.69      $ 17.33      $ 17.09   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                               

Net Investment Income (Loss)

    0.09     0.12     0.18     0.20     0.21     0.32   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

    3.06        0.88        (4.68     (1.32     2.84        1.59   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

    3.15        1.00        (4.50     (1.12     3.05        1.91   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                               

Net Investment Income

    (0.09     (0.14     (0.15     (0.20     (0.25     (0.23

Net Realized Gains

                  (0.40     (1.48     (1.44     (1.44
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

    (0.09     (0.14     (0.55     (1.68     (1.69     (1.67
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

  $ 14.76      $ 11.70      $ 10.84      $ 15.89      $ 18.69      $ 17.33   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

    27.02     9.47     (29.27 )%†      (6.59 )%      19.48     12.17
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

  $ 2,223,982      $ 1,449,437      $ 855,448      $ 554,805      $ 215,338      $ 172,595   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    0.38     0.41     0.40 %^      0.41 %(A)      0.46 %*      0.47 %* 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    0.69     1.19     1.39 %^      1.12     1.19     1.91

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    20     17     20 %†      9 %†(B)      N/A        N/A   

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-Annualized.
*   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
(A)   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and for the period December 1, 2006 through March 29, 2007, its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.
(B)   For the period March 30, 2007 through November 30, 2007. Effective March 30, 2007, the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio invests directly in securities rather than through the Series.

 

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DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 
     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010

    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009

    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    For the Period
Sept. 15, 2005***
to
Nov. 30, 2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 8.54      $ 7.81      $ 11.83      $ 11.50      $ 10.22      $ 10.00   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                                

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.15     0.15     0.17     0.19     0.17     0.03   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     1.61        0.73        (4.03     0.35        1.28        0.19   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

     1.76        0.88        (3.86     0.54        1.45        0.22   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                                

Net Investment Income

     (0.12     (0.15     (0.16     (0.18     (0.17       

Net Realized Gains

                          (0.03              
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.12     (0.15     (0.16     (0.21     (0.17       
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.18      $ 8.54      $ 7.81      $ 11.83      $ 11.50      $ 10.22   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

     20.80     11.64     (32.85 )%†      4.68     14.35     2.20 %† 
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 2,897,409      $ 1,989,583      $ 1,320,562      $ 1,210,031      $ 652,270      $ 123,591   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

     0.20     0.22     0.20 %^      0.20     0.23     0.23 %^@ 

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Assumption of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)

     0.20     0.22     0.20 %^      0.20     0.23     0.37 %^@ 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     1.53     2.02     1.78 %^      1.53     1.52     1.85 %^@ 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     4     7     5 %†      10     6     0 %† 

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-Annualized.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
***   Commencement of Operations.
@   Because of commencement of operations and related preliminary transaction costs, these ratios are not necessarily indicative of future ratios.

 

182


Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio Institutional Class Shares  
    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010
    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009
    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**
    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007
    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006
    For the Period
Sept. 15, 2005***
to
Nov. 30, 2005
 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

  $ 8.39      $ 7.73      $ 11.77      $ 11.65      $ 10.24      $ 10.00   
                                               

Income From Investment Operations

           

Net Investment Income (Loss)

    0.14     0.14     0.17     0.19     0.17     0.03   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

    1.64        0.66        (4.04     0.13        1.40        0.21   
                                               

Total From Investment Operations

    1.78        0.80        (3.87     0.32        1.57        0.24   
                                               

Less Distributions

           

Net Investment Income

    (0.11     (0.14     (0.17     (0.17     (0.16       

Net Realized Gains

                         (0.03              
                                               

Total Distributions

    (0.11     (0.14     (0.17     (0.20     (0.16       
                                               

Net Asset Value, End of Period

  $ 10.06      $ 8.39      $ 7.73      $ 11.77      $ 11.65      $ 10.24   
                                               

Total Return

    21.41     10.66     (33.16 )%†      2.78     15.50     2.40 %† 
                                               

Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

  $ 4,990,367      $ 3,804,325      $ 2,501,028      $ 2,939,420      $ 1,216,310      $ 182,078   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    0.23     0.24     0.23 %^      0.23     0.26     0.26 %^@ 

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Assumption of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)

 

 

0.23

    0.24     0.23 %^      0.23     0.26     0.38 %^@ 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    1.47     1.89     1.77 %^      1.55     1.55     1.92 %^@ 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    7     4     8 %†      7     5     0 %† 

 

# Computed using average shares outstanding.
^ Annualized.
Non-Annualized.
** The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
*** Commencement of Operations.
@ Because of commencement of operations and related preliminary transaction costs, these ratios are not necessarily indicative of future ratios.

 

183


Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio Institutional Class Shares  
     Year
Ended
Oct.  31,
2010
    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009
    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**
    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007
     For the Period
Dec. 30, 2005***
to
Nov. 30, 2006
 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 8.03      $ 7.48      $ 11.38      $ 11.79       $ 10.00   
                                         

Income From Investment Operations

           

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.10     0.11     0.15     0.16      0.13

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     1.79        0.57        (3.89     (0.25      1.73   
                                         

Total From Investment Operations

     1.89        0.68        (3.74     (0.09      1.86   
                                         

Less Distributions

           

Net Investment Income

     (0.10     (0.13     (0.16     (0.14      (0.07

Net Realized Gains

                          (0.18        
                                         

Total Distributions

     (0.10     (0.13     (0.16     (0.32      (0.07
                                         

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 9.82      $ 8.03      $ 7.48      $ 11.38       $ 11.79   
                                         

Total Return

    
23.65

    9.47     (33.29 )%†      (0.87 )%       18.65 %† 
                                         

Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $
1,558,423
  
  $ 1,178,114      $ 850,623      $ 959,742       $ 403,312   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    
0.33

    0.35     0.34 %^      0.34      0.36 %^@ 

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Assumption of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)

    
0.33

    0.35     0.34 %^      0.33      0.39 %^@ 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     1.13     1.60     1.66 %^      1.29      1.24 %^@ 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     11     11     11 %†      14      24 %† 

 

# Computed using average shares outstanding.
^ Annualized.
Non-annualized.
** The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
*** Commencement of operations.
@ Because of commencement of operations and related preliminary transaction costs, these ratios are not necessarily indicative of future ratios.

 

184


Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    U.S. Small Cap Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 
    Year Ended
Oct. 31, 2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009

    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

  $ 14.89      $ 13.35      $ 20.64      $ 22.46      $ 20.75      $ 19.13   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                               

Net Investment Income (Loss)

    0.13     0.06     0.14     0.21     0.17     0.15   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

    4.17        1.65        (6.08     (0.66     2.84        1.75   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

    4.30        1.71        (5.94     (0.45     3.01        1.90   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                               

Net Investment Income

    (0.13     (0.17     (0.17     (0.21     (0.13     (0.13

Net Realized Gains

                  (1.18     (1.16     (1.17     (0.15
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

    (0.13     (0.17     (1.35     (1.37     (1.30     (0.28
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

  $ 19.06      $ 14.89      $ 13.35      $ 20.64      $ 22.46      $ 20.75   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

    28.99     13.08     (30.67 )%†      (2.17 )%      15.49     10.04
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

  $ 3,391,457      $ 2,522,001      $ 2,066,849      $ 3,285,093      $ 3,297,199      $ 2,641,670   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    0.37     0.40 %(B)      0.38 %^*      0.38 %*      0.38 %*      0.40 %* 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    0.76     0.50     0.86 %^      0.95     0.82     0.78

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    19     17 %(A)      N/A        N/A        N/A        N/A   

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
*   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
(A)   For the period February 28, 2009 through October 31, 2009. Effective February 28, 2009, the Portfolios invest directly in securities rather than through the Series.
(B)   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and for the period November 1, 2008 through February 27, 2009, its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.

 

185


Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 
     Year Ended
Oct. 31, 2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009

    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 9.57      $ 9.19      $ 14.80      $ 16.83      $ 15.91      $ 15.06   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                                

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.06     0.03     0.10     0.14     0.10     0.07   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     2.68        0.54        (4.32     (0.69     2.04        1.43   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

     2.74        0.57        (4.22     (0.55     2.14        1.50   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                                

Net Investment Income

     (0.06     (0.19     (0.13     (0.13     (0.08     (0.06

Net Realized Gains

                   (1.26     (1.35     (1.14     (0.59
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.06     (0.19     (1.39     (1.48     (1.22     (0.65
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 12.25      $ 9.57      $ 9.19      $ 14.80      $ 16.83      $ 15.91   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

     28.77     6.61     (31.33 )%†      (3.63 )%      14.52     10.33
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 3,178,286      $ 2,818,365      $ 2,924,225      $ 4,700,371      $ 4,824,003      $ 3,949,511   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

     0.52     0.54 %(B)      0.53 %^*      0.52 %*      0.53 %*      0.55 %* 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     0.58     0.38     0.91 %^      0.89     0.64     0.48

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     9     12 %(A)      N/A        N/A        N/A        N/A   

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
*   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
(A)   For the period February 28, 2009 through October 31, 2009. Effective February 28, 2009, the Portfolios invest directly in securities rather than through the Series.
(B)   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and for the period November 1, 2008 through February 27, 2009, its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.

 

186


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DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 
     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,

2010

    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009

    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 15.29      $ 16.16      $ 27.20      $ 33.80      $ 25.75      $ 23.02   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                                

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.58     0.58     0.64     0.62     0.64     0.82   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     5.92        (0.62     (9.28     (5.64     8.84        3.33   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

     6.50        (0.04     (8.64     (5.02     9.48        4.15   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                                

Net Investment Income

     (0.55     (0.83     (0.30     (0.70     (1.02     (0.86

Net Realized Gains

                   (2.10     (0.88     (0.41     (0.56
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.55     (0.83     (2.40     (1.58     (1.43     (1.42
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 21.24      $ 15.29      $ 16.16      $ 27.20      $ 33.80      $ 25.75   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

     43.21     0.98     (34.46 )%†      (15.45 )%      38.23     18.81
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 2,689,552      $ 2,018,559      $ 1,746,961      $ 2,671,457      $ 2,837,026      $ 1,836,650   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

     0.33     0.36     0.33 %^      0.33     0.33     0.37

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     3.13     4.54     3.01 %^      1.99     2.25     3.11

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     2     2     13 %†      17     10     3

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.

 

187


Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Large Cap International Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 
    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009

    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

  $ 18.02      $ 14.81      $ 27.18      $ 23.60      $ 19.00      $ 17.31   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                               

Net Investment Income (Loss)

    0.48     0.48     0.68     0.68     0.55     0.44   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

    1.43        3.16        (12.06     3.57        4.68        1.72   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

    1.91        3.64        (11.38     4.25        5.23        2.16   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                               

Net Investment Income

    (0.51     (0.43     (0.64     (0.67     (0.63     (0.47

Net Realized Gains

                  (0.35                     
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

    (0.51     (0.43     (0.99     (0.67     (0.63     (0.47
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

  $ 19.42      $ 18.02      $ 14.81      $ 27.18      $ 23.60      $ 19.00   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

    10.99     25.20     (43.14 )%†      18.18     28.00     12.73
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

  $ 1,616,686      $ 1,364,351      $ 1,206,860      $ 2,224,180      $ 1,673,239      $ 1,125,455   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    0.30     0.32     0.29 %^      0.29     0.29     0.37

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    2.65     3.14     3.18 %^      2.62     2.56     2.41

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    7     12     12 %†      5     4     4

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.

 

188


Table of Contents

DIMENSIONAL INVESTMENT GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     DFA International Value Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 
     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009

    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 16.46      $ 12.54      $ 25.51      $ 22.71      $ 17.67      $ 15.73   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                                

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.39     0.40     0.74     0.72     0.66     0.48   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     1.34        3.92        (12.44     3.09        5.37        1.89   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total from Investment Operations

     1.73        4.32        (11.70     3.81        6.03        2.37   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                                

Net Investment Income

     (0.38     (0.40     (0.78     (0.63     (0.65     (0.42

Net Realized Gains

                   (0.49     (0.38     (0.34     (0.01
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

  

 

(0.38

    (0.40     (1.27     (1.01     (0.99     (0.43
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 17.81      $ 16.46      $ 12.54      $ 25.51      $ 22.71      $ 17.67   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

     10.94     35.11     (47.96 )%†      17.09     35.39     15.40
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

  

$

5,157,857

  

  $ 4,437,846      $ 3,350,073      $ 6,262,069      $ 4,456,059      $ 2,518,457   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets*

  

 

0.45

    0.46     0.44 %^      0.44     0.44     0.48

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     2.34     3.00     3.86 %^      2.89     3.25     2.86

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-Annualized.
*   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.

 

189


Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     International Core Equity Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 
     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009

    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    For the Period
Sept. 15, 2005***
to
Nov. 30, 2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 9.79      $ 7.46      $ 14.35      $ 12.82      $ 10.07      $ 10.00   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                                

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.23     0.23     0.37     0.35     0.28     0.04

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     0.96        2.32        (6.76     1.54        2.71        0.03   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

     1.19        2.55        (6.39     1.89        2.99        0.07   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                                

Net Investment Income

     (0.20     (0.22     (0.35     (0.32     (0.24       

Net Realized Gains

                   (0.15     (0.04              
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.20     (0.22     (0.50     (0.36     (0.24       
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.78      $ 9.79      $ 7.46      $ 14.35      $ 12.82      $ 10.07   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

     12.48     34.81     (45.76 )%†      14.83     30.06     0.70 %† 
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 4,866,989      $ 3,699,842      $ 1,981,049      $ 2,342,187      $ 851,077      $ 121,249   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

     0.40     0.41     0.41 %^      0.41     0.48     0.49 %^@ 

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Assumption of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)

     0.40     0.41     0.41 %^      0.41     0.46     0.90 %^@ 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     2.31     2.84     3.39 %^      2.49     2.35     1.89 %^@ 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     2     5     4 %†      4     2     0 %† 

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-Annualized.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
*** Commencement of Operations.
@   Because of commencement of operations and related preliminary transaction costs, these ratios are not necessarily indicative of future ratios.

 

190


Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    International Small Company Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 
    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,

2010

    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009

    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

  $ 13.99      $ 10.07      $ 20.80      $ 19.43      $ 16.19      $ 14.12   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                               

Net Investment Income (Loss)

    0.28     0.28     0.44     0.43     0.36     0.31

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

    2.13        3.91        (9.55     2.07        4.02        2.38   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

    2.41        4.19        (9.11     2.50        4.38        2.69   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                               

Net Investment Income

    (0.26     (0.27     (0.45     (0.46     (0.36     (0.29

Net Realized Gains

                  (1.17     (0.67     (0.78     (0.33
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

    (0.26     (0.27     (1.62     (1.13     (1.14     (0.62
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

  $ 16.14      $ 13.99      $ 10.07      $ 20.80      $ 19.43      $ 16.19   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

    17.61     42.34     (47.13 )%†      13.29     28.51     19.74
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

  $ 5,511,594     

$

4,269,864

  

  $ 3,084,373      $ 5,597,209      $ 4,546,071      $ 2,725,231   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets*

    0.56     0.57     0.55 %^      0.55     0.56     0.64

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (excluding Waivers and Assumption of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)*

    0.56  

 

0.57

    0.55 %^      0.55     0.56     0.64

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    1.94     2.48     2.90 %^      2.03     2.04     2.05

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
*   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.

 

191


Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     Japanese Small Company Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 
     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009

    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 14.32      $ 11.97      $ 16.75      $ 17.23      $ 17.97      $ 13.99   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                                

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.22     0.22     0.29     0.27     0.22     0.16

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     (0.18     2.39        (4.78     (0.52     (0.73     4.00   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

     0.04        2.61        (4.49     (0.25     (0.51     4.16   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                                

Net Investment Income

     (0.23     (0.26     (0.29     (0.23     (0.23     (0.18

Net Realized Gains

                                          
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.23     (0.26     (0.29     (0.23     (0.23     (0.18
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 14.13      $ 14.32      $ 11.97      $ 16.75      $ 17.23      $ 17.97   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

     0.33     22.08     (27.16 )%†      (1.51 )%      (2.94 )%      30.13
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 114,933      $ 114,058      $ 133,373      $ 199,080      $ 168,957      $ 169,995   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets*

     0.57     0.59     0.58 %^      0.56     0.61     0.68

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Assumption of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)*

     0.57     0.59     0.58 %^      0.56     0.58     0.68

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     1.52     1.68     2.18 %^      1.51     1.19     1.03

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
*   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.

 

192


Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 
     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009

    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 20.59      $ 11.67      $ 28.73      $ 20.26      $ 15.28      $ 14.54   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                                

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.69     0.50     0.83     0.79     0.64     0.70   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     4.99        8.95        (17.04     8.43        4.92        0.54   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

     5.68        9.45        (16.21     9.22        5.56        1.24   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                                

Net Investment Income

     (0.63     (0.53     (0.85     (0.75     (0.58     (0.50

Net Realized Gains

                                          

Return of Capital

                                          
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

    
(0.63

    (0.53     (0.85     (0.75     (0.58     (0.50
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $
25.64
  
  $ 20.59      $ 11.67      $ 28.73      $ 20.26      $ 15.28   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

    
28.36

    84.11     (57.94 )%†      46.55     37.52     8.81
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $
131,511
  
  $ 101,853      $ 64,044      $ 146,307      $ 71,537      $ 38,927   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets*

     0.63     0.65     0.62 %^      0.62     0.64     0.74

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Assumption of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)*

    
0.61

    0.65     0.61 %^      0.59     0.64     0.86

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    
3.14

    3.53     3.85 %^      3.13     3.68     3.89

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
*   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.

 

193


Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 
     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009

    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 19.83      $ 14.27      $ 31.29      $ 32.97      $ 24.65      $ 23.47   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                                

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.50     0.55     0.77     0.78     0.61     0.64

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized
and Unrealized)

     4.41        5.44        (15.84     (0.08     9.61        2.15   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

     4.91        5.99        (15.07     0.70        10.22        2.79   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                                

Net Investment Income

     (0.50     (0.43     (0.72     (1.03     (0.68     (0.59

Net Realized Gains

                   (1.22     (1.35     (1.22     (1.02

Return of Capital

                   (0.01                     
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.50     (0.43     (1.95     (2.38     (1.90     (1.61
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 24.24      $ 19.83      $ 14.27      $ 31.29      $ 32.97      $ 24.65   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

     25.37     42.81     (50.97 )%†      1.94     44.15     12.35
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 33,751      $ 27,863      $ 25,883      $ 37,139      $ 31,808      $ 20,578   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets*

     0.60     0.61     0.59 %^      0.59     0.60     0.70

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Assumption of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)*

     0.64     0.70     0.65 %^      0.62     0.67     0.89

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average
Net Assets

     2.39     3.62     3.41 %^      2.28     2.20     2.70

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
*   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.

 

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DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     Continental Small Company Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 
     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009

    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 15.02      $ 10.73      $ 22.95      $ 20.47      $ 15.78      $ 14.12   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                                

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.27     0.28     0.52     0.40     0.31     0.21   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     1.89        4.29        (11.32     3.00        6.28        2.28   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

     2.16        4.57        (10.80     3.40        6.59        2.49   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                                

Net Investment Income

     (0.25     (0.28     (0.45     (0.38     (0.34     (0.30

Net Realized Gains

                   (0.96     (0.54     (1.56     (0.53

Return of Capital

                   (0.01                     
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.25     (0.28     (1.42     (0.92     (1.90     (0.83
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 16.93      $ 15.02      $ 10.73      $ 22.95      $ 20.47      $ 15.78   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

     14.85     43.12     (49.89 )%†      16.99     46.33     18.42
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 128,106      $ 110,926      $ 93,988      $ 170,909      $ 90,261      $ 52,061   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets*

     0.59     0.62     0.59 %^      0.61     0.62     0.71

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Assumption of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)*

     0.59     0.61     0.59 %^      0.57     0.61     0.78

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     1.78 %*      2.39     3.04 %^      1.70     1.78     1.77

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
*   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.

 

195


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DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio
Institutional Class Shares


 
     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009

    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    For the Period
March 1, 2007***
to
Nov. 30, 2007


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 5.24      $ 4.18      $ 9.35      $ 10.00   
    


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.31     0.26     0.34     0.23

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     0.58        0.91        (5.08     (0.76
    


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

     0.89        1.17        (4.74     (0.53
    


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                

Net Investment Income

     (0.55     (0.11     (0.43     (0.12

Net Realized Gains

                            

Return of Capital

                            
    


 


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.55     (0.11     (0.43     (0.12
    


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 5.58      $ 5.24      $ 4.18      $ 9.35   
    


 


 


 


Total Return

     18.96     29.25     (52.85 )%†      (5.38 )%† 
    


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 958,554      $ 742,329      $ 394,480      $ 336,840   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

     0.41     0.43     0.44 %^      0.48 %^@ 

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Assumption of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)

     0.41     0.43     0.44 %^      0.48 %^@ 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     6.42     6.40     5.20 %^      3.50 %^@ 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     6     5     1 %†      2 %† 

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-Annualized.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
***   Commencement of operations.
@   Because of commencement of operations and related preliminary transaction costs, these ratios are not necessarily indicative of future ratios.

 

196


Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     DFA Global Real Estate
Securities Portfolio
Institutional Class Shares


 
     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009

    For the Period
June 4, 2008***
to
Oct. 31, 2008**


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 6.75      $ 6.04      $ 10.00   
    


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                        

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.40     0.19    

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     1.60        0.62        (3.96
    


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

     2.00        0.81        (3.96
    


 


 


Less Distributions

                        

Net Investment Income

     (0.47     (0.10       

Net Realized Gains

                     
    


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.47     (0.10       
    


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 8.28      $ 6.75      $ 6.04   
    


 


 


Total Return

     31.38     13.81     (39.60 )%† 
    


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 695,461      $ 432,502      $ 90,672   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets*

     0.41     0.47     0.54 %^@ 

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Assumption of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)*

     0.73     0.79     0.86 %^@ 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     5.59     3.40     (0.04 )%^@ 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     N/A        N/A        N/A   

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
*   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from the commencement of operations through October 31, 2008.
***   Commencement of operations.
@   Because of commencement of operations and related preliminary transaction costs, these ratios are not necessarily indicative of future ratios.

 

197


Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 
    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010

    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009

    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

  $ 14.92      $ 10.82      $ 22.05      $ 21.71      $ 17.57      $ 15.16   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                               

Net Investment Income (Loss)

    0.24     0.26     0.52     0.46     0.36     0.40

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

    1.22        4.14        (9.60     1.66        4.95        2.77   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

    1.46        4.40        (9.08     2.12        5.31        3.17   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                               

Net Investment Income

    (0.22     (0.24     (0.58     (0.53     (0.38     (0.36

Net Realized Gains

           (0.06     (1.57     (1.25     (0.79     (0.40
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

    (0.22     (0.30     (2.15     (1.78     (1.17     (0.76
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

  $ 16.16      $ 14.92      $ 10.82      $ 22.05      $ 21.71      $ 17.57   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

    10.01     41.42     (45.17 )%†      10.25     31.73     21.75
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

  $ 7,655,318      $ 6,859,957      $ 4,799,748      $ 8,180,859      $ 6,733,067      $ 4,128,428   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    0.70     0.71     0.69 %^      0.69     0.70     0.75

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    1.57     2.19     3.22 %^      2.03     1.85     2.44

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    18     22     16 %†      18     14     13

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.

 

198


Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     International Vector
Equity Portfolio
Institutional Class Shares


 
     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009

    For the Period
Aug. 14, 2008***
to
Oct. 31,  2008**


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 9.22      $ 6.74      $ 10.00   
    


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                        

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.18     0.17     0.06

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     1.05        2.46        (3.32
    


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

     1.23        2.63        (3.26
    


 


 


Less Distributions

                        

Net Investment Income

     (0.17     (0.15       

Net Realized Gains

                     
    


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.17     (0.15       
    


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.28      $ 9.22      $ 6.74   
    


 


 


Total Return

     13.62     39.52     (32.60 )%† 
    


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 363,123      $ 262,544      $ 66,774   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

     0.54     0.60     0.60 %^@ 

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Assumption of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)

     0.53     0.59     1.15 %^@ 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     1.91     2.31     3.01 %^@ 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     5     8     0 %† 

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from the commencement of operations through October 31, 2008.
***   Commencement of operations.
@   Because of commencement of operations and related preliminary transaction costs, these ratios are not necessarily indicative of future ratios.

 

199


Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     World ex U.S.
Value Portfolio


 
     Period
Aug. 23, 2010***
to

Oct. 31, 2010

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 10.00       
    


Income from Investment Operations

        

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.02 #     

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     1.33       
    


Total from Investment Operations

     1.35       
    


Less Distributions

        

Net Investment Income

     —         
    


Total Distributions

     —         
    


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 11.35       
    


Total Return

     13.50 %† 
    


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 29,616   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets*

     0.90 %^** 

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Assumption of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)*

     1.37 %^** 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     0.76 %^** 

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
*   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and its respective pro-rata share of its Master Funds.
**   Because of commencement of operations and related preliminary transaction costs, these ratios are not necessarily indicative of future ratios.
***   Commencement of operations.

 

200


Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Emerging Markets Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 
    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009

    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

  $ 25.23      $ 17.05      $ 35.23      $ 25.40      $ 19.89      $ 15.61   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                               

Net Investment Income (Loss)

    0.48     0.42     0.70     0.64     0.48     0.58

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

    6.07        8.42        (16.85     9.88        5.61        4.13   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

    6.55        8.84        (16.15     10.52        6.09        4.71   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                               

Net Investment Income

    (0.46     (0.41     (0.69     (0.53     (0.58     (0.43

Net Realized Gains

    (0.42     (0.25     (1.34     (0.16              
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

    (0.88     (0.66     (2.03     (0.69     (0.58     (0.43
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

  $ 30.90      $ 25.23      $ 17.05      $ 35.23      $ 25.40      $ 19.89   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

    26.53     53.39     (48.37 )%†      42.08     31.31     30.65
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

  $ 2,372,498      $ 1,966,288      $ 1,508,260      $ 3,388,442      $ 2,344,990      $ 1,805,186   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets*

    0.60     0.62     0.60 %^      0.60     0.61     0.69

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (excluding Waivers and Assumption of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)*

    0.60     0.62     0.60 %^      0.60     0.61     0.69

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    1.76     2.15     2.59 %^      2.12     2.13     3.28

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^ Annualized.
Non-annualized.
* Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.
** The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.

 

201


Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     Emerging Markets Value Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 
     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010

    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009


    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 28.90      $ 19.36      $ 45.85      $ 31.26      $ 22.86      $ 17.93   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                                

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.45     0.38     0.98     0.78     0.60     0.50   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     8.01        12.41        (25.48     14.82        8.65        4.96   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total from Investment Operations

     8.46        12.79        (24.50     15.60        9.25        5.46   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                                

Net Investment Income

     (0.39     (0.34     (1.00     (0.63     (0.60     (0.44

Net Realized Gains

     (0.70     (2.91     (0.99     (0.38     (0.25     (0.09
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

     (1.09     (3.25     (1.99     (1.01     (0.85     (0.53
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 36.27      $ 28.90      $ 19.36      $ 45.85      $ 31.26      $ 22.86   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

     30.04     78.59     (55.65 )%†      50.98     41.55     31.06
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 11,542,870     

$

7,401,266

  

  $ 3,735,580      $ 7,485,802      $ 4,283,696      $ 2,077,480   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets*

     0.60     0.62     0.60 %^      0.60     0.63     0.70

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     1.40     1.76     2.82 %^      2.00     2.22     2.45

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
*   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.

 

202


Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 
     Year
Ended

Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009


    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 17.45      $ 9.33      $ 23.74      $ 17.96      $ 13.37      $ 11.44   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                                

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.34     0.26     0.44     0.31     0.30     0.27

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     6.79        8.14        (12.95     6.86        4.86        2.37   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

     7.13        8.40        (12.51     7.17        5.16        2.64   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                                

Net Investment Income

     (0.32     (0.28     (0.41     (0.26     (0.26     (0.22

Net Realized Gains

                   (1.49     (1.13     (0.31     (0.49
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.32     (0.28     (1.90     (1.39     (0.57     (0.71
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 24.26      $ 17.45      $ 9.33      $ 23.74      $ 17.96      $ 13.37   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

     41.33     91.35     (57.00 )%†      42.58     39.95     24.27
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 1,833,038      $ 1,133,958      $ 547,329      $ 1,458,152      $ 838,948      $ 482,378   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets*

     0.78     0.80     0.77 %^      0.78     0.81     0.97

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     1.70     2.05     2.61 %^      1.48     1.92     2.21

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-Annualized.
*   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.

 

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DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio Institutional Class  Shares  
    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010
    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009
    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**
    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007
    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006
    For the Period
April 5, 2005***
to
Nov. 30, 2005
 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

  $ 16.49      $ 9.88      $ 21.20      $ 15.13      $ 11.54      $ 10.00   
                                               

Income From Investment Operations

           

Net Investment Income (Loss)

    0.30     0.25     0.43     0.35     0.27     0.10   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

    4.81        6.56        (11.27     6.10        3.54        1.51   
                                               

Total From Investment Operations

    5.11        6.81        (10.84     6.45        3.81        1.61   
                                               

Less Distributions

           

Net Investment Income

    (0.29     (0.20     (0.40     (0.32     (0.22     (0.07

Net Realized Gains

                  (0.08     (0.06              
                                               

Total Distributions

    (0.29     (0.20     (0.48     (0.38     (0.22     (0.07
                                               

Net Asset Value, End of Period

  $ 21.31      $ 16.49      $ 9.88      $ 21.20      $ 15.13      $ 11.54   
                                               

Total Return

    31.30     69.47     (51.93 )%†      43.20     33.39     16.12 %† 
                                               

Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

  $ 4,179,882      $ 2,455,035      $ 1,155,526      $ 1,829,466      $ 822,136      $ 218,563   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    0.65     0.67     0.65 %^      0.65     0.74     1.00 %^@ 

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Assumption of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)

    0.65     0.67     0.65 %^      0.65     0.72     1.09 %^@ 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    1.63     2.03     2.62 %^      1.87     2.02     1.79 %^@ 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    4     6     3 %†      2     6     2 %† 

 

# Computed using average shares outstanding.
^ Annualized.
Non-annualized.
** The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
*** Commencement of operations.
@ Because of commencement of operations and related preliminary transaction costs, these ratios are not necessarily indicative of future ratios.

 

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Table of Contents

SERVICE PROVIDERS

 

Investment Advisor

 

DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LP

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

Tel. No. (512) 306-7400

 

Sub-Advisors

 

DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LTD.

20 Triton Street, Regent’s Place

London NW13BF

United Kingdom

Tel. No. (20) 3033-3300

 

DFA AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Level 43 Gateway

1 Macquarie Place

Sydney, New South Wales 2000

Australia

Tel. No. (612) 8 336-7100

 

Custodian—International

 

CITIBANK, N.A.

111 Wall Street

New York, NY 10005

Custodian—Domestic

 

PFPC TRUST COMPANY

(to be renamed BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company effective July 1, 2011)

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

Accounting Services, Dividend Disbursing

and Transfer Agent

BNY MELLON INVESTMENT SERVICING

(US) INC.

(formerly, PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.)

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

Legal Counsel

STRADLEY RONON STEVENS & YOUNG, LLP

2600 One Commerce Square

Philadelphia, PA 19103-7098

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP

Two Commerce Square

Suite 1700

2001 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042

 

 

205


Table of Contents

Other Available Information

 

You can find more information about the Funds and their Portfolios in the Funds’ SAI and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports.

 

Statement of Additional Information. The SAI supplements, and is technically part of, this Prospectus. It includes an expanded discussion of investment practices, risks, and fund operations.

 

Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to Shareholders. These reports focus on Portfolio holdings and performance. The Annual Report also discusses the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Portfolios in their last fiscal year.

 

Request free copies from:

 

   

Your investment advisor—you are a client of an investment advisor who has invested in the Portfolios on your behalf.

 

   

The Fund—you represent an institutional investor, registered investment advisor or other qualifying investor. Call collect at (512) 306-7400.

 

   

Access them on our web site at http://www.dimensional.com.

 

   

Access them on the EDGAR Database in the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.

 

   

Review and copy them at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington D.C. (phone 1-800-SEC-0330).

 

   

Request copies from the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102 or at publicinfo@sec.gov (you will be charged a copying fee). Information on the operation of the SEC’s public reference room is available by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090.

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

(512) 306-7400

 

Dimensional Investment Group Inc. (DFA International Value Portfolio)—Registration No. 811-6067

DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. (all other Portfolios)—Registration No. 811-3258

 

LOGO   LOGO    RRD022811-001


Table of Contents

P R O S P E C T U S

 

February 28, 2011

Please carefully read the important information it contains before investing.

 

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 


 

DIMENSIONAL INVESTMENT GROUP INC.

 

PORTFOLIOS FOR LONG-TERM INVESTORS SEEKING TO INVEST IN:

 

DOMESTIC EQUITY SECURITIES

 

U.S. TARGETED VALUE PORTFOLIO

CLASS R1 TICKER: DFTVX

CLASS R2 TICKER: DFTPX

 

INTERNATIONAL EQUITY SECURITIES

 

DFA INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO

CLASS R2 TICKER: DFIPX

EMERGING MARKETS VALUE PORTFOLIO

CLASS R2 TICKER: DFEPX

ALLOCATION PORTFOLIOS

 

GLOBAL EQUITY PORTFOLIO

CLASS R2 TICKER: DGERX

GLOBAL 60/40 PORTFOLIO

CLASS R2 TICKER: DFPRX

GLOBAL 25/75 PORTFOLIO

CLASS R2 TICKER: DFGPX

 

 

CLASS R1 SHARES

CLASS R2 SHARES

 

The U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio offers three classes of shares: Institutional Class shares, Class R1 shares and Class R2 shares. The other Portfolios described in this Prospectus offer two classes of shares: Institutional Class shares and Class R2 shares.

This Prospectus describes the Class R1 shares and Class R2 shares of the Portfolios which: Are generally

available to retirement plans.

Do not charge a sales commission or “load.”

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

U.S. TARGETED VALUE PORTFOLIO

     1   

Investment Objective

     1   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     1   

Principal Investment Strategies

     2   

Principal Risks

     2   

Performance

     3   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     4   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     4   

Tax Information

     4   

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

     4   

DFA INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO

     5   

Investment Objective

     5   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     5   

Principal Investment Strategies

     6   

Principal Risks

     6   

Performance

     7   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     8   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     8   

Tax Information

     8   

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

     8   

EMERGING MARKETS VALUE PORTFOLIO

     9   

Investment Objective

     9   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     9   

Principal Investment Strategies

     10   

Principal Risks

     10   

Performance

     11   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     12   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     12   

Tax Information

     13   

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

     13   

GLOBAL EQUITY PORTFOLIO

     14   

Investment Objective

     14   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     14   

Principal Investment Strategies

     15   

 

i


Table of Contents

Principal Risks

     15   

Performance

     16   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     17   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     17   

Tax Information

     17   

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

     18   

GLOBAL 60/40 PORTFOLIO

     19   

Investment Objective

     19   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     19   

Principal Investment Strategies

     20   

Principal Risks

     21   

Performance

     22   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     23   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     23   

Tax Information

     23   

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

     23   

GLOBAL 25/75 PORTFOLIO

     24   

Investment Objective

     24   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     24   

Principal Investment Strategies

     25   

Principal Risks

     26   

Performance

     27   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     28   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     28   

Tax Information

     28   

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

     28   

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES—EQUITY PORTFOLIOS

     29   

U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

     29   

International Portfolios

     30   

Approved Markets

     30   

Developed Markets

     30   

Emerging Markets

     31   

DFA International Value Portfolio

     32   

Emerging Markets Value Portfolio

     32   

Market Capitalization Weighted Approach

     34   

 

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Table of Contents

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES—ALLOCATION PORTFOLIOS

     36   

Global Equity Portfolio

     36   

Global 60/40 Portfolio

     36   

Global 25/75 Portfolio

     37   

Asset Allocation Investment Approach

     38   

Investments in Underlying Funds

     38   

Description of Investments of the Fixed Income Underlying Funds

     45   

Investments in the Banking Industry by Certain Fixed Income Underlying Funds

     46   

Additional Risks of the Underlying Funds

     47   

Portfolio Transactions—All Equity Portfolios

     48   

Other Information

     48   

SECURITIES LOANS

     48   

SECURITIES LENDING REVENUE

     49   

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS

     49   

Management Fees

     51   

Shareholder Services

     51   

Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreements

     52   

Performance

     53   

DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

     53   

PURCHASE OF SHARES

     56   

Cash Purchases

     56   

In-Kind Purchases

     56   

POLICY REGARDING EXCESSIVE OR SHORT-TERM TRADING

     57   

VALUATION OF SHARES

     59   

Net Asset Value

     59   

Public Offering Price

     61   

EXCHANGE OF SHARES

     61   

REDEMPTION OF SHARES

     62   

Redemption Procedure for Retirement Plan Participants

     62   

Redemption Procedure for Retirement Plans

     62   

Redemption of Small Accounts

     63   

In-Kind Redemptions

     63   

THE FEEDER PORTFOLIOS

     63   

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

     64   

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

     64   

SERVICE PROVIDERS

     72   

 

iii


Table of Contents

U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment):

 

Class R1

     None   

Class R2

     None   

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

     Class R1

    Class R2

 

Management Fee

     0.35     0.35

Other Expenses:

                

Shareholder Services Fees

     0.10 %*      0.25 %* 

Other Expenses

     0.04     0.04

Total Other Expenses

     0.14     0.29

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.49     0.64

*   An amount up to 0.10% of the average net assets of the Portfolio’s Class R1 shares and an amount up to 0.25% of the average net assets of the Portfolio’s Class R2 shares may be used to compensate service agents that provide shareholder servicing, record keeping, account maintenance and other services to investors in the Portfolio’s Class R1 shares and Class R2 shares (“Shareholder Services Agent”).

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and the operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

     1 Year

     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 

Class R1

   $ 50       $ 157       $ 274       $ 616   

Class R2

   $ 65       $ 205       $ 357       $ 798   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 20% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

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PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

The U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, using a market capitalization weighted approach, purchases a broad and diverse group of the readily marketable common stocks of U.S. small and mid cap companies that the Advisor determines to be value stocks. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of the eligible company, the greater its representation in the Portfolio. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value (a “book to market ratio”).

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of U.S. companies. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Advisor considers for investment companies whose market capitalization are generally smaller than the 500th largest U.S. company. As of December 31, 2010, companies smaller than the 500th largest U.S. company fall in lowest 19% of total U.S. market capitalization. Total market capitalization is based on the market capitalization of U.S. operating companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), NYSE Alternext US LLC, Nasdaq Global Market® or such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor. As of December 31, 2010, the market capitalization of a company smaller than the 500th largest U.S. company was approximately $5,005 million or below. This dollar amount will change due to market conditions.

 

The U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

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Table of Contents

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar charts show the changes in the performance of U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio’s Class R1 shares and Class R2 shares from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year and since inception returns of the Class R1 shares and Class R2 shares compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The past performance of the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

US Targeted Value Portfolio Class R1 Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2009-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

24.44 (7/09-9/09)

   -16.83 (1/09-3/09)

 

       Periods ending December 31, 2010 

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year

    Since 1/31/08
Inception


 

U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio—Class R1 shares

                

Return Before Taxes

     29.02     5.85

Russell 2000® Value Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     24.50     3.73

 

3


Table of Contents

US Targeted Value Portfolio Class R2 Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2009-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

24.37 (7/09-9/09)

   -16.98 (1/09-3/09)

 

       Periods ending December 31, 2010 

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year

    Since 6/30/08
Inception


 

U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio—Class R2 shares

                

Return Before Taxes

     28.64     8.65

Russell 2000® Value Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     24.50     6.96

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio. Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, is responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio and has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Class R1 shares and Class R2 shares of the Portfolio are generally sold only to defined contribution plans and other similar group benefit plans that are exempt from taxation under the Internal Revenue Code and employer sponsored non-qualified deferred compensation plans (“Retirement Plans”). Investors who are considering an investment in the Portfolio should contact their employer or the Shareholder Services Agent for the Retirement Plan for details about the purchase procedures and the classes of shares that are available for purchase. A participant in a Retirement Plan or a client of an institution who desires to redeem shares of the Portfolio must furnish a redemption request to the Shareholder Services Agent designated under the Retirement Plan or by the institution. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

The Class R1 shares and Class R2 shares of the Portfolio may pay financial intermediaries (such as Shareholder Services Agents) for performing certain shareholder services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the financial intermediary to recommend the Portfolio over another investment. Ask your Shareholder Services Agent or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

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Table of Contents

DFA International Value Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the DFA International Value Portfolio (the “DFA International Value Portfolio” or the “Portfolio”) is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The DFA International Value Portfolio is a Feeder Portfolio and pursues its objective by investing substantially all of its assets in its corresponding Master Fund, The DFA International Value Series (the “International Value Series” or “Master Fund”) of The DFA Investment Trust Company (the “Trust”), which has the same investment objective and policies as the Portfolio.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Class R2 shares of the DFA International Value Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses* (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.40

Other Expenses:

        

Shareholder Services Fees

     0.25 %** 

Other Expenses

     0.07

Total Other Expenses

     0.32

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.72

*   The “Management Fee” includes an investment management fee payable by the International Value Series and an administration fee payable by the DFA International Value Portfolio. The amounts set forth under “Other Expenses” and “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses” reflect the direct expenses of the DFA International Value Portfolio and the indirect expenses of the Portfolio’s portion of the expenses of the International Value Series.
**   An amount up to 0.25% of the average net assets of the Portfolio’s Class R2 shares may be used to compensate service agents that provide shareholder servicing, record keeping, account maintenance and other services to investors in the Portfolio’s Class R2 shares (“Shareholder Services Agent”).

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the DFA International Value Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and the operating expenses remain the same. The costs for the Class R2 shares of the Portfolio reflect the net expenses that result from the contractual expense waiver and assumption in the first year only. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 74       $ 230       $ 401       $ 894   

 

The Example reflects the aggregate estimated annual operating expenses of the DFA International Value Portfolio and the DFA International Value Portfolio’s portion of the expenses of the International Value Series.

 

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Table of Contents

Portfolio Turnover

 

The International Value Series pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the DFA International Value Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the International Value Series’ portfolio turnover rate was 20% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

The DFA International Value Portfolio invests substantially all of its assets in the International Value Series. The International Value Series, using a market capitalization weighted approach, purchases stocks of large non-U.S. companies in countries with developed markets that the Advisor determines to be value stocks. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of a large company within an eligible country, the greater its representation in the Series. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value (a “book to market ratio”).

 

The International Value Series intends to purchase stocks of large companies associated with developed market countries that the Advisor has designated as approved markets. The Advisor determines the minimum market capitalization of a large company with respect to each country or region in which the Series invests. As of December 31, 2010, for the International Value Series, the lowest minimum market capitalization of a large company in any country or region in which the International Value Series invests was $1,438 million. This threshold will change due to market conditions.

 

The International Value Series may gain exposure to companies associated with approved markets by purchasing equity securities in the form of depositary receipts, which may be listed or traded outside the issuer’s domicile country. The International Value Series and the DFA International Value Portfolio each may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for foreign or U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on their uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The International Value Series may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The International Value Series does not hedge foreign currency risk.

 

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Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the International Value Series that owns them, and, in turn, the DFA International Value Portfolio itself, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the International Value Series and the DFA International Value Portfolio use derivatives, the DFA International Value Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the International Value Series may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The International Value Series could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the DFA International Value Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the performance of the Portfolio’s Class R2 shares from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year and since inception returns of the Class R2 shares of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The DFA International Value Portfolio’s past performance is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

DFA International Value Portfolio Class R2 Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2009-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

33.78 (4/09-6/09)

   -16.23 (1/09-3/09)

 

 

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      Periods ending December 31, 2010 

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year

    Since 4/30/08
Inception


 

DFA International Value Portfolio

                

Return Before Taxes

     10.27     -5.62%   

MSCI World ex USA Index (net dividends)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     8.95     -5.79%   

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the DFA International Value Portfolio and the International Value Series. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the DFA International Value Portfolio and the International Value Series:

 

   

Karen Umland, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1998.

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

Joseph H. Chi, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2005.

 

   

Jed S. Fogdall, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2004.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Class R2 shares of the Portfolio are generally sold only to defined contribution plans and other similar group benefit plans that are exempt from taxation under the Internal Revenue Code and employer sponsored non-qualified deferred compensation plans (“Retirement Plans”). Investors who are considering an investment in the Portfolio should contact their employer or the Shareholder Services Agent for the Retirement Plan for details about the purchase procedures and the classes of shares that are available for purchase. A participant in a Retirement Plan or a client of an institution who desires to redeem shares of the Portfolio must furnish a redemption request to the Shareholder Services Agent designated under the Retirement Plan or by the institution. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the DFA International Value Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

The Class R2 shares of the Portfolio may pay financial intermediaries (such as Shareholder Services Agents) for performing certain shareholder services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the financial intermediary to recommend the Portfolio over another investment. Ask your Shareholder Services Agent or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

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Table of Contents

Emerging Markets Value Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio (the “Emerging Markets Value Portfolio” or the “Portfolio”) is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The Emerging Markets Value Portfolio is a Feeder Portfolio and pursues its objective by investing substantially all of its assets in its corresponding Master Fund, the Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund (the “Emerging Markets Value Fund” or “Master Fund”), which has the same investment objective and policies as the Portfolio.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Class R2 shares (formerly Class R2A shares) of the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses* (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.50

Other Expenses:

        

Shareholder Services Fees

     0.25 %** 

Other Expenses

     0.11

Total Other Expenses

     0.36

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.86

*   The “Management Fee” includes an investment management fee payable by the Emerging Markets Value Fund and an administration fee payable by the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio. The amounts set forth above reflect the direct expenses of the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio and the indirect expenses of the Portfolio’s portion of the expenses of the Emerging Markets Value Fund. The Class R2 shares are a new class of shares of the Portfolio, so the “Total Other Expenses” shown are based on anticipated fees and expenses for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2011.
**   An amount up to 0.25% of the average net assets of the Portfolio’s Class R2 shares may be used to compensate service agents that provide shareholder servicing, record keeping, account maintenance and other services to investors in the Portfolio’s Class R2 shares (“Shareholder Services Agent”).

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and the operating expenses remain the same. The costs for the Portfolio reflect the net expenses that result from the contractual expense waiver and assumption in the first year only. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 88       $ 274       $ 477       $ 1,061   

 

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The Example reflects the aggregate estimated annual operating expenses of the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio and the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio’s portion of the expenses of the Emerging Markets Value Fund.

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Emerging Markets Value Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Emerging Markets Value Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 15% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

The Emerging Markets Value Portfolio pursues its investment objective by investing substantially all of its assets in the Emerging Markets Value Fund. The Emerging Markets Value Fund purchases emerging market equity securities that are deemed by the Advisor to be value stocks at the time of purchase and associated with emerging markets, including frontier markets (emerging market countries in an earlier stage of development), authorized for investment by the Advisor’s Investment Committee (“Approved Markets”). Securities are considered value stocks primarily because they have a high book value in relation to their market value. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Emerging Markets Value Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in emerging markets investments that are defined in the Prospectus as Approved Markets securities. The Emerging Market Value Fund may purchase emerging market equity securities across all market capitalizations.

 

The Emerging Markets Value Fund may gain exposure to companies associated with Approved Markets by purchasing equity securities in the form of depositary receipts, which may be listed or traded outside the issuer’s domicile country. The Emerging Markets Value Portfolio and the Emerging Markets Value Fund each may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for Approved Market or other equity market securities and indices, including those of the United States, to gain market exposure on their uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The Emerging Markets Value Fund may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The Emerging Markets Value Fund does not hedge foreign currency risk.

 

10


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Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Emerging Markets Value Fund that owns them, and, in turn, the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio itself, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Emerging Markets Risk: Numerous emerging market countries have a history of, and continue to experience serious, and potentially continuing, economic and political problems. Stock markets in many emerging market countries are relatively small, expensive to trade and risky. Foreigners are often limited in their ability to invest in, and withdraw assets from, these markets. Additional restrictions may be imposed under other conditions. Frontier market countries generally have smaller economies or less developed capital markets and, as a result, the risks of investing in emerging market countries are magnified in frontier market countries.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the Emerging Markets Value Fund and the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio use derivatives, the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the Emerging Markets Value Fund may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Emerging Markets Value Fund could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The returns presented for the Class R2 shares (formerly the Class R2A shares) of the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio reflect the performance of a predecessor share class (the “Predecessor Share Class”). The Portfolio adopted the performance of the Predecessor Share Class as a result of a conversion in which the shares of the Predecessor Share Class were converted into Class R2A shares. The Class R2A shares were subsequently renamed Class R2 shares. The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the performance of the Portfolio’s Class R2 shares from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year and since inception returns of the Class R2 shares of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Emerging Markets Value Portfolio’s past performance is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

11


Table of Contents

Emerging Markets Value Portfolio Class R2 Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2009-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

44.77 (4/09-6/09)

   -9.34 (4/10-6/10

 

      Periods ending December 31, 2010 

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Since 1/29/08
Inception


 

Emerging Markets Value Portfolio

                

Return Before Taxes

     21.46     6.31

MSCI Emerging Markets Index (net dividends)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     18.88     3.85

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio and Emerging Markets Value Fund. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the Emerging Markets Portfolio and Emerging Markets Value Fund:

 

   

Karen Umland, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1998.

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

Joseph H. Chi, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2005.

 

   

Jed S. Fogdall, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2004.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

The Class R2 shares of the Portfolio are generally sold only to defined contribution plans and other similar group benefit plans that are exempt from taxation under the Internal Revenue Code and employer sponsored non-qualified deferred compensation plans (“Retirement Plans”). Investors who are considering an investment in the Portfolio should contact their employer or the Shareholder Services Agent for the Retirement Plan for details about the purchase procedures and the classes of shares that are available for purchase. A participant in a Retirement Plan or a client of an institution who desires to redeem shares of the Portfolio must furnish a redemption request to the Shareholder Services Agent designated under the Retirement Plan or by the institution. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

12


Table of Contents

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

The Class R2 shares of the Portfolio may pay financial intermediaries (such as Shareholder Services Agents) for performing certain shareholder services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the financial intermediary to recommend the Portfolio over another investment. Ask your Shareholder Services Agent or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

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Table of Contents

Global Equity Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the Global Equity Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Class R2 shares of the Global Equity Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.30

Other Expenses:

        

Shareholder Services Fees

     0.25 %* 

Other Expenses

     0.03

Total Other Expenses

     0.28

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses

     0.31

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.89

Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or
(Recovery)**

     0.30

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or (Recovery)

     0.59

*   An amount up to 0.25% of the average net assets of the Portfolio’s Class R2 shares may be used to compensate service agents that provide shareholder servicing, record keeping, account maintenance and other services to investors in the Portfolio’s Class R2 shares (“Shareholder Services Agent”).
**   The Advisor has agreed to waive certain fees and in certain instances, assume certain expenses of the Global Equity Portfolio. The Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the Global Equity Portfolio will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and may not be terminated by the Advisor prior to that date.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the Global Equity Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and the operating expenses remain the same. The costs for the Portfolio reflect the net expenses that result from the contractual expense waiver and assumption in the first year only. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 60       $ 254       $ 464       $ 1,068   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

A mutual fund generally pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in

 

14


Table of Contents

higher taxes when mutual fund shares are held in a taxable account. The Global Equity Portfolio does not pay transaction costs when buying and selling shares of other mutual funds managed by the Advisor (the “Underlying Funds”); however, the Underlying Funds pay transaction costs when buying and selling securities for their portfolio. The transaction costs incurred by the Underlying Funds, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Global Equity Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Global Equity Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 4.7%.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

To achieve its investment objective, the Global Equity Portfolio under normal market circumstances, allocates its assets to Underlying Funds that invest in domestic and international equity securities. In addition to its allocation strategy of providing exposure to the domestic equity and international equity markets through investment in the Underlying Funds, the Global Equity Portfolio further diversifies its investment portfolio by allocating its assets among Underlying Funds that represent a variety of different asset classes, such as large capitalization, small capitalization and emerging markets stocks.

 

As of February 28, 2011, the Global Equity Portfolio invests in domestic equity Underlying Funds that purchase a broad portfolio of stocks of U.S. operating companies of all market capitalization sizes with an emphasis on small and value companies and a domestic equity Underlying Fund that primarily invests in publicly traded REITs. The Global Equity Portfolio also purchases international equity Underlying Funds that purchase a broad portfolio of stocks of companies in developed and emerging markets of all market capitalization sizes with an emphasis on small and value companies. The Underlying Funds in which the Global Equity Portfolio invests as of February 28, 2011 are described in the Portfolio’s Prospectus in the section entitled “ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES—ALLOCATION PORTFOLIOS—Investments in Underlying Funds.” Periodically the Advisor will review the allocations for the Global Equity Portfolio in each Underlying Fund and may adjust allocation to Underlying Funds or may add or remove Underlying Funds without notice to shareholders. In addition, when the Advisor determines that the market forces have caused fundamental changes in the relative values of the assets of the Underlying Funds, the Advisor may modify the allocations of the Global Equity Portfolio.

 

Certain Underlying Funds may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for foreign or U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on their uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions. Also the Underlying Funds may lend their portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Fund of Funds Risk: The investment performance of the Global Equity Portfolio is affected by the investment performance of the Underlying Funds in which the Portfolio invests. The ability of the Global Equity Portfolio to achieve its investment objective depends on the ability of the Underlying Funds to meet their investment objectives and on the Advisor’s decisions regarding the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among the Underlying Funds. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Global Equity Portfolio or any Underlying Fund will be achieved. Through its investments in Underlying Funds, the Global Equity Portfolio is subject to the risks of the Underlying Funds’ investments. Certain of the risks of the Underlying Funds’ investments are described below.

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Underlying Funds that own them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

15


Table of Contents

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar).

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

Emerging Markets Risk: Numerous emerging market countries have a history of, and continue to experience serious, and potentially continuing, economic and political problems. Stock markets in many emerging market countries are relatively small, expensive to trade in and risky. Foreigners are often limited in their ability to invest in, and withdraw assets from, these markets. Additional restrictions may be imposed under other conditions. Frontier market countries generally have smaller economies or less developed capital markets and, as a result, the risks of investing in emerging market countries are magnified in frontier market countries.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. Derivatives can be used for hedging (attempting to reduce risk by offsetting one investment position with another) or non-hedging purposes. Hedging with derivatives may increase expenses, and there is no guarantee that a hedging strategy will work. While hedging can reduce or eliminate losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the Underlying Funds use derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the Underlying Funds may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Underlying Funds could also lose money if they do not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

Other risks of the Underlying Funds are described in the Global Equity Portfolio’s Prospectus in the section entitled “ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES—ALLOCATION PORTFOLIOS.”

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the Global Equity Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and since inception returns of the Class R2 shares (formerly Class R Shares) of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Global Equity Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

16


Table of Contents

Global Equity Portfolio Class R2 Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2004-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

23.58 (4/09-6/09)

   -23.74 (10/08-12/08)

 

       Periods ending December 31, 2010

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year

    Five
Years

    Since 12/24/03
Inception


 

Global Equity Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     19.02     3.66     6.93

MSCI World Index (net dividends)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     11.76     2.43     5.38 %(1) 

 

(1)  

Since December 31, 2003, the date following the Global Equity Portfolio’s inception for which data is available.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the Global Equity Portfolio. Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, is responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the Global Equity Portfolio and has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Class R2 shares of the Portfolio are generally sold only to defined contribution plans and other similar group benefit plans that are exempt from taxation under the Internal Revenue Code and employer sponsored non-qualified deferred compensation plans (“Retirement Plans”). Investors who are considering an investment in the Portfolio should contact their employer or the Shareholder Services Agent for the Retirement Plan for details about the purchase procedures and the classes of shares that are available for purchase. A participant in a Retirement Plan or a client of an institution who desires to redeem shares of the Portfolio must furnish a redemption request to the Shareholder Services Agent designated under the Retirement Plan or by the institution. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the Global Equity Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

 

17


Table of Contents

PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

The Class R2 shares of the Portfolio may pay financial intermediaries (such as Shareholder Services Agents) for performing certain shareholder services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the financial intermediary to recommend the Portfolio over another investment. Ask your Shareholder Services Agent or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

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Table of Contents

Global 60/40 Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the Global 60/40 Portfolio (the “60/40 Portfolio”) is to seek total return consisting of capital appreciation and current income.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Class R2 shares of the 60/40 Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.25

Other Expenses:

        

Shareholder Services Fees

     0.25 %* 

Other Expenses

     0.04

Total Other Expenses

     0.29

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses

     0.27

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.81

Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or
(Recovery)**

     0.23

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or (Recovery)

     0.58

*   An amount up to 0.25% of the average net assets of the Portfolio’s Class R2 shares may be used to compensate service agents that provide shareholder servicing, record keeping, account maintenance and other services to investors in the Portfolio’s Class R2 shares (“Shareholder Services Agent”).
**   Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) has agreed to waive certain fees for the Class R2 shares and in certain instances, assume certain expenses of the 60/40 Portfolio. The Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the 60/40 Portfolio will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and may not be terminated by the Advisor prior to that date.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the 60/40 Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and the operating expenses remain the same. The costs for the Class R2 shares of the Portfolio reflect the net expenses that result from the contractual expense waiver and assumption in the first year only. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

l Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 59       $ 236       $ 427       $ 980   

 

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Table of Contents

Portfolio Turnover

 

A mutual fund generally pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when mutual fund shares are held in a taxable account. The 60/40 Portfolio does not pay transaction costs when buying and selling shares of other mutual funds managed by the Advisor (the “Underlying Funds”); however, the Underlying Funds pay transaction costs when buying and selling securities for their portfolio. The transaction costs incurred by the Underlying Funds, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the 60/40 Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the 60/40 Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 20.1%.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

To achieve its investment objective, the 60/40 Portfolio under normal market circumstances, allocates its assets to Underlying Funds that invest in equity and fixed income securities. Generally, the 60/40 Portfolio invests its assets in domestic and international equity Underlying Funds and fixed income Underlying Funds to achieve an allocation of approximately 40% to 80% (with a target allocation of approximately 60%) of the 60/40 Portfolio’s assets to domestic and international equity Underlying Funds and 20% to 60% (with a target allocation of approximately 40%) of its assets to fixed income Underlying Funds. When the Advisor determines that market forces have caused fundamental changes in the relative values of the assets of the Underlying Funds, the Advisor may modify the allocations of the 60/40 Portfolio. To maintain target allocations, adjustments may be made by purchasing or selling shares of the Underlying Funds or applying future investments and redemptions by the 60/40 Portfolio in proportions necessary to rebalance the investments in the Underlying Funds.

 

In addition to its allocation strategy of providing exposure to the domestic and international equity and fixed income markets through investment in the Underlying Funds, the 60/40 Portfolio further diversifies its investment portfolio by allocating its assets among Underlying Funds that represent a variety of different asset classes. As of February 28, 2011, the 60/40 Portfolio invests in: (1) domestic equity Underlying Funds that purchase a broad portfolio of stocks of U.S. operating companies of all market capitalization sizes with an emphasis on small and value companies and a domestic equity Underlying Fund that primarily invests in publicly traded REITs; (2) international equity Underlying Funds that purchase a broad portfolio of stocks of companies in developed and emerging markets of all market capitalization sizes with an emphasis on small and value companies; and (3) fixed income Underlying Funds that may purchase U.S. and foreign debt securities such as obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, bank obligations, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, obligations of other domestic and foreign issuers having investment grade ratings, obligations of supranational organizations and inflation-protected securities. Certain fixed income Underlying Funds in which the 60/40 Portfolio invests will concentrate their assets in the banking industry under certain market conditions. The fixed income securities (other than inflation-protected securities) purchased by the Underlying Funds generally will mature within five years from the date of settlement. The term to maturity for inflation-protected securities purchased by an Underlying Fund will generally be five to twenty years. The Underlying Funds in which the 60/40 Portfolio invests as of February 28, 2011 are described in the Portfolio’s Prospectus in the section entitled “ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES—ALLOCATION PORTFOLIOS—Investments in Underlying Funds.” Periodically the Advisor will review the allocations for the 60/40 Portfolio in each Underlying Fund and may adjust allocations to the Underlying Funds or may add or remove Underlying Funds without notice to shareholders.

 

Certain Underlying Funds may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for foreign or U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on their uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions. Certain fixed income Underlying Funds use foreign currency contracts to hedge foreign currency risks. Also the Underlying Funds may lend their portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

20


Table of Contents

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Fund of Funds Risk: The investment performance of the 60/40 Portfolio is affected by the investment performance of the Underlying Funds in which the Portfolio invests. The ability of the 60/40 Portfolio to achieve its investment objective depends on the ability of the Underlying Funds to meet their investment objectives and on the Advisor’s decisions regarding the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among the Underlying Funds. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the 60/40 Portfolio or any Underlying Fund will be achieved. Through its investments in Underlying Funds, the 60/40 Portfolio is subject to the risks of the Underlying Funds’ investments. Certain of the risks of the Underlying Funds’ investments are described below.

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Underlying Funds that own them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar).

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

Emerging Markets Risk: Numerous emerging market countries have a history of, and continue to experience serious, and potentially continuing, economic and political problems. Stock markets in many emerging market countries are relatively small, expensive to trade in and risky. Foreigners are often limited in their ability to invest in, and withdraw assets from, these markets. Additional restrictions may be imposed under other conditions. Frontier market countries generally have smaller economies or less developed capital markets and, as a result, the risks of investing in emerging market countries are magnified in frontier market countries.

 

Interest Rate Risk: Fixed income securities are subject to interest rate risk because the prices of fixed income securities tend to move in the opposite direction of interest rates. When interest rates rise, fixed income security prices fall. When interest rates fall, fixed income security prices rise. In general, fixed income securities with longer maturities are more sensitive to these price changes.

 

Credit Risk: Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security may be unable to make interest payments and/or repay principal when due. A downgrade to an issuer’s credit rating or a perceived change in an issuer’s financial strength may affect a security’s value, and thus, impact a fixed income Underlying Funds’ performance.

 

Risks of Banking Concentration: Focus on the banking industry would link the performance of the Underlying Funds to changes in the performance of the banking industry generally. Banks are very sensitive to changes in money market and general economic conditions. The profitability of the banking industry is dependent upon banks being able to obtain funds at reasonable costs and upon liquidity in the capital and credit markets to finance their lending operations. Adverse general economic conditions can cause financial difficulties for a bank’s borrowers and the borrowers’ failure to repay their loans can adversely affect the bank’s financial situation. Banks are subject to extensive regulation and decisions by regulators may limit the loans banks make and the interest rates and fees they charge, which could reduce bank profitability.

 

21


Table of Contents

Income Risk: Income risk is the risk that falling interest rates will cause a fixed income Underlying Funds’ income to decline.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. Derivatives can be used for hedging (attempting to reduce risk by offsetting one investment position with another) or non-hedging purposes. Hedging with derivatives may increase expenses, and there is no guarantee that a hedging strategy will work. While hedging can reduce or eliminate losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the Underlying Funds use derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the Underlying Funds may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Underlying Funds could also lose money if they do not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

Other risks of the Underlying Funds are described in the 60/40 Portfolio’s Prospectus in the section entitled “ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES—ALLOCATION PORTFOLIOS.”

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the 60/40 Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and since inception returns of the Class R2 shares (formerly Class R Shares) of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The 60/40 Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

Global 60/40 Portfolio Class R2 Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2004-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter
15.80 (4/09-6/09)    -14.08 (10/08-12/08)

 

22


Table of Contents
     Periods ending December 31, 2010

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year

    Five
Years

    Since 12/24/03
Inception


 

Global 60/40 Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     13.44     4.55     5.93

MSCI World Index (net dividends) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     11.76     2.43     5.38 %(1) 

Citigroup World Government Bond Hedged 1-3 Year Currency Hedged U.S. Dollar Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     1.35     3.85     3.44 %(1) 

Global 60/40 Composite Index (MSCI/Citigroup)(2)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     7.99     3.50     4.88 %(1) 

 

(1)  

Since December 31, 2003, the date following the Global 60/40 Portfolio’s inception for which data is available.

(2)  

The Global 60/40 Composite Index (MSCI/Citigroup) is an unmanaged hypothetical index composed of 60% MSCI World Index (net dividends) and 40% Citigroup World Government Bond Hedged 1-3 Year Index.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the 60/40 Portfolio. Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, is responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the 60/40 Portfolio and has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

The Class R2 shares of the Portfolio are generally sold only to defined contribution plans and other similar group benefit plans that are exempt from taxation under the Internal Revenue Code and employer sponsored non-qualified deferred compensation plans (“Retirement Plans”). Investors who are considering an investment in the Portfolio should contact their employer or the Shareholder Services Agent for the Retirement Plan for details about the purchase procedures and the classes of shares that are available for purchase. A participant in a Retirement Plan or a client of an institution who desires to redeem shares of the Portfolio must furnish a redemption request to the Shareholder Services Agent designated under the Retirement Plan or by the institution. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the 60/40 Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

The Class R2 shares of the Portfolio may pay financial intermediaries (such as Shareholder Services Agents) for performing certain shareholder services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the financial intermediary to recommend the Portfolio over another investment. Ask your Shareholder Services Agent or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

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Table of Contents

Global 25/75 Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the Global 25/75 Portfolio (the “25/75 Portfolio”) is to seek total return consistent with current income and preservation of capital with some capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Class R2 shares of the 25/75 Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.20

Other Expenses:

        

Shareholder Services Fees

     0.25 %* 

Other Expenses

     0.11

Total Other Expenses

     0.36

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses

     0.22

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.78

Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or (Recovery)**

     0.15

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or (Recovery)

     0.63

*   An amount up to 0.25% of the average net assets of the Portfolio’s Class R2 shares may be used to compensate service agents that provide shareholder servicing, record keeping, account maintenance and other services to investors in the Portfolio’s Class R2 shares (“Shareholder Services Agent”).
** The Advisor has agreed to waive certain fees and in certain instances, assume certain expenses of the 25/75 Portfolio. The Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the 25/75 Portfolio will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and may not be terminated by the Advisor prior to that date.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the 25/75 Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and the operating expenses remain the same. The costs for the Class R2 shares of the Portfolio reflect the net expenses that result from the contractual expense waiver and assumption in the first year only. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 64       $ 234       $ 419       $ 952   

 

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Table of Contents

Portfolio Turnover

 

A mutual fund generally pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when mutual fund shares are held in a taxable account. The 25/75 Portfolio does not pay transaction costs when buying and selling shares of other mutual funds managed by the Advisor (the “Underlying Funds”); however, the Underlying Funds pay transaction costs when buying and selling securities for their portfolio. The transaction costs incurred by the Underlying Funds, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the 25/75 Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the 25/75 Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 39.3%.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

To achieve its investment objective, the 25/75 Portfolio under normal market circumstances, allocates the majority of its assets to fixed income underlying funds, but the Portfolio also invests a small portion of its assets to domestic and international equity Underlying Funds. Generally, the 25/75 Portfolio invests its assets in domestic and international equity Underlying Funds and fixed income Underlying Funds to achieve an allocation of approximately 5% to 45% (with a target allocation of approximately 25%) of the Portfolio’s assets to domestic and international equity Underlying Funds and approximately 55% to 95% (with a target allocation of approximately 75%) of the Portfolio’s assets to fixed income Underlying Funds. When the Advisor determines that market forces have caused fundamental changes in the relative values of the assets of the Underlying Funds, the Advisor may modify the allocations of the 25/75 Portfolio. To maintain target allocations, adjustments may be made by purchasing or selling shares of the Underlying Funds or applying future investments and redemptions by the 25/75 Portfolio in proportions necessary to rebalance the investments in the Underlying Funds.

 

In addition to its allocation strategy of providing exposure to the domestic and international equity and fixed income markets through investment in the Underlying Funds, the 25/75 Portfolio further diversifies its investment portfolio by allocating its assets among Underlying Funds that represent a variety of different asset classes. As of February 28, 2011, the 25/75 Portfolio invests in: (1) fixed income Underlying Funds that may purchase U.S. and foreign debt securities such as obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, bank obligations, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, obligations of other domestic and foreign issuers having investment grade ratings, obligations of supranational organizations and inflation-protected securities; (2) domestic equity Underlying Funds that purchase a broad portfolio of stocks of U.S. operating companies of all market capitalization sizes with an emphasis on small and value companies and a domestic equity Underlying Fund that primarily invests in publicly traded REITs; and (3) international equity Underlying Funds that purchase a broad portfolio of stocks of companies in developed and emerging markets of all market capitalization sizes with an emphasis on small and value companies. Certain fixed income Underlying Funds in which the 25/75 Portfolio invests will concentrate their assets in the banking industry under certain market conditions. The fixed income securities (other than inflation-protected securities) purchased by the Underlying Funds generally will mature within five years from the date of settlement. The term to maturity for inflation-protected securities purchased by an Underlying Fund will generally be five to twenty years. The Underlying Funds in which the 25/75 Portfolio invests as of February 28, 2011 are described in the Portfolio’s Prospectus in the section entitled “ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES—ALLOCATION PORTFOLIOS—Investments in Underlying Funds.” Periodically the Advisor will review the allocations for the 25/75 Portfolio in each Underlying Fund and may adjust allocations to the Underlying Funds or may add or remove Underlying Funds without notice to shareholders.

 

Certain Underlying Funds may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for foreign or U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on their uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions. Certain fixed income Underlying Funds use foreign currency contracts to hedge foreign currency risks. Also the Underlying Funds may lend their portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

25


Table of Contents

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Fund of Funds Risk: The investment performance of the 25/75 Portfolio is affected by the investment performance of the Underlying Funds in which the Portfolio invests. The ability of the 25/75 Portfolio to achieve its investment objective depends on the ability of the Underlying Funds to meet their investment objectives and on the Advisor’s decisions regarding the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among the Underlying Funds. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the 25/75 Portfolio or any Underlying Fund will be achieved. Through its investments in Underlying Funds, the 25/75 Portfolio is subject to the risks of the Underlying Funds’ investments. Certain of the risks of the Underlying Funds’ investments are described below.

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Underlying Funds that own them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar).

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

Emerging Markets Risk: Numerous emerging market countries have a history of, and continue to experience serious, and potentially continuing, economic and political problems. Stock markets in many emerging market countries are relatively small, expensive to trade in and risky. Foreigners are often limited in their ability to invest in, and withdraw assets from, these markets. Additional restrictions may be imposed under other conditions. Frontier market countries generally have smaller economies or less developed capital markets and, as a result, the risks of investing in emerging market countries are magnified in frontier market countries.

 

Interest Rate Risk: Fixed income securities are subject to interest rate risk because the prices of fixed income securities tend to move in the opposite direction of interest rates. When interest rates rise, fixed income security prices fall. When interest rates fall, fixed income security prices rise. In general, fixed income securities with longer maturities are more sensitive to these price changes.

 

Credit Risk: Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security may be unable to make interest payments and/or repay principal when due. A downgrade to an issuer’s credit rating or a perceived change in an issuer’s financial strength may affect a security’s value, and thus, impact a fixed income Underlying Funds’ performance.

 

Risks of Banking Concentration: Focus on the banking industry would link the performance of the Underlying Funds to changes in the performance of the banking industry generally. Banks are very sensitive to changes in money market and general economic conditions. The profitability of the banking industry is dependent upon banks being able to obtain funds at reasonable costs and upon liquidity in the capital and credit markets to finance their lending operations. Adverse general economic conditions can cause financial difficulties for a bank’s borrowers and the borrowers’ failure to repay their loans can adversely affect the bank’s financial situation. Banks are subject to extensive regulation and decisions by regulators may limit the loans banks make and the interest rates and fees they charge, which could reduce bank profitability.

 

26


Table of Contents

Income Risk: Income risk is the risk that falling interest rates will cause a fixed income Underlying Funds’ income to decline.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. Derivatives can be used for hedging (attempting to reduce risk by offsetting one investment position with another) or non-hedging purposes. Hedging with derivatives may increase expenses, and there is no guarantee that a hedging strategy will work. While hedging can reduce or eliminate losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the Underlying Funds use derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the Underlying Funds may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Underlying Funds could also lose money if they do not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

Other risks of the Underlying Funds are described in the 25/75 Portfolio’s Prospectus in the section entitled “ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES—ALLOCATION PORTFOLIOS.”

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the 25/75 Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and since inception returns of the Class R2 shares (formerly Class R Shares) of the Portfolio compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The 25/75 Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

Global 25/75 Portfolio Class R2 Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2004-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

7.34 (4/09-6/09)

   -4.03 (10/08-12/08)

 

27


Table of Contents
      Periods ending December 31, 2010 

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year

    Five
Years


    Since 12/24/03
Inception


 

Global 25/75 Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     7.55     4.67     4.68

MSCI World Index (net dividends)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     11.76     2.43     5.38 %(1) 

Citigroup World Government Bond Hedged 1-3 Year Currency Hedged U.S. Dollar Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     1.35     3.85     3.44 %(1) 

Global 25/75 Composite Index (MSCI/Citigroup)(2)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     4.25     3.89     4.17 %(1) 

 

(1)  

Since December 31, 2003, the date following the 25/75 Portfolio’s inception for which data is available.

(2)  

The Global 25/75 Composite Index (MSCI/Citigroup) is an unmanaged hypothetical index composed of 25% MSCI World Index (net dividends) and 75% Citigroup World Government Bond Hedged 1-3 Year Index.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the 25/75 Portfolio. Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, is responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the 25/75 Portfolio and has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

The Class R2 shares of the Portfolio are generally sold only to defined contribution plans and other similar group benefit plans that are exempt from taxation under the Internal Revenue Code and employer sponsored non-qualified deferred compensation plans (“Retirement Plans”). Investors who are considering an investment in the Portfolio should contact their employer or the Shareholder Services Agent for the Retirement Plan for details about the purchase procedures and the classes of shares that are available for purchase. A participant in a Retirement Plan or a client of an institution who desires to redeem shares of the Portfolio must furnish a redemption request to the Shareholder Services Agent designated under the Retirement Plan or by the institution. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the 25/75 Portfolio are taxable and will generally be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

The Class R2 shares of the Portfolio may pay financial intermediaries (such as Shareholder Services Agents) for performing certain shareholder services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the financial intermediary to recommend the Portfolio over another investment. Ask your Shareholder Services Agent or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES—EQUITY PORTFOLIOS

 

The two investment companies described in this Prospectus offer a variety of investment portfolios. Each of the investment companies’ Portfolios has its own investment objective and policies, and is the equivalent of a separate mutual fund. U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio and Emerging Markets Value Portfolio are offered by DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. The other Portfolios contained in this Prospectus are offered by Dimensional Investment Group Inc. The Portfolios described in this Prospectus are designed for long-term investors. Each Portfolio also offers an additional class of shares, Institutional Class shares, which are offered to qualified investors in a separate prospectus.

 

U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio generally will pursue its investment objective by investing directly in securities of U.S. companies. Ordinarily, the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio will invest its assets in a broad and diverse group of readily marketable common stocks of U.S. companies which the Advisor determines to be value stocks at the time of purchase. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value (a “book to market ratio”). In assessing value, the Advisor may consider additional factors, such as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios, as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer’s industry. The criteria the Advisor uses for assessing value are subject to change from time to time.

 

The U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio will purchase securities that are listed on the U.S. national securities exchanges or traded on the over-the-counter market. The U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio uses a market capitalization weighted approach. See Market Capitalization Weighted Approach in this Prospectus.

 

On not less than a semi-annual basis, for the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, the Advisor will calculate book to market ratios and review total market capitalization to determine those companies whose stock may be eligible for investment.

 

The U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio does not intend to purchase or sell securities based on the prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

The U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio may sell portfolio securities when the issuer’s market capitalization increases to a level that exceeds that of the issuer with the largest market capitalization that is then eligible for investment by the Portfolio.

 

In addition, the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio may sell portfolio securities when its book to market ratios fall below those of the security with the lowest such ratio that is then eligible for purchase by the Portfolio, however, it may retain securities of issuers with relatively smaller market capitalizations for longer periods, despite a decrease in the issuers’ book to market ratios.

 

The total market capitalization ranges, and the value criteria used by the Advisor for the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, as described above, generally apply at the time of purchase by the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio. The U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio is not required to dispose of a security if the security’s issuer is no longer within the total market capitalization range or does not meet current value criteria. Similarly, the Advisor is not required to sell a security even if the decline in the market capitalization reflects a serious financial difficulty or potential or actual insolvency of the company. Securities that do meet the market capitalization and/or value criteria nevertheless may be sold at any time when, in the Advisor’s judgment, circumstances warrant their sale. See “Portfolio Transactions—All Equity Portfolios” in this Prospectus.

 

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The U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the U.S. stock market while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

International Portfolios

 

Approved Markets. As of the date of this Prospectus, the countries listed in the following tables for each international Feeder Portfolio and its corresponding Master Fund (an “International Master Fund”) are designated as “Approved Markets” for which the International Master Fund or Portfolio is authorized to invest. The Advisor will determine in its discretion when and whether to invest in countries that have been authorized as Approved Markets, depending on a number of factors, such as asset growth in a Master Fund/Portfolio and characteristics of each country’s markets. The Investment Committee of the Advisor also may designate other countries as Approved Markets for investment in the future, in addition to the countries listed in the tables. Also, an International Master Fund or Portfolio may continue to hold investments in countries that are not currently designated as Approved Markets, but had been authorized for investment in the past, and may reinvest distributions received in connection with such existing investments in such previously Approved Markets. Emerging Markets approved for investment may include countries in an earlier stage of development that are sometimes referred to as frontier markets.

 

DEVELOPED MARKETS

 

Countries   DFA
International
Value
Portfolio &
DFA
International
Value Series

Australia

  Invests

Austria

  Invests

Belgium

  Invests

Canada

  Invests

Denmark

  Invests

Finland

  Invests

France

  Invests

Germany

  Invests

Greece

  Invests

Hong Kong

  Invests

Ireland

  Invests

Israel

  Invests

Italy

  Invests

Japan

  Invests

Netherlands

  Invests

New Zealand

  Invests

Norway

  Invests

Portugal

  Invests

Singapore

  Invests

Spain

  Invests

Sweden

  Invests

Switzerland

  Invests

United Kingdom

  Invests

 

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EMERGING MARKETS

 

Countries   Emerging
Markets
Value
Portfolio &
Emerging
Markets
Value Fund

Brazil

  Invests

Chile

  Invests

China

  Invests

Columbia

 

Czech Republic

  Invests

Egypt

 

Hungary

  Invests

India

  Invests

Indonesia

  Invests

Malaysia

  Invests

Mexico

  Invests

Philippines

  Invests

Peru

 

Poland

  Invests

Russia

  Invests

South Africa

  Invests

South Korea

  Invests

Taiwan

  Invests

Thailand

  Invests

Turkey

  Invests

 

The International Master Funds and Portfolios invest in securities of Approved Markets (as identified in the tables above) listed on bona fide securities exchanges or traded on the over-the-counter markets. These exchanges or over-the-counter markets may be either within or outside the issuer’s domicile country. For example, the securities may be listed or traded in the form of European Depositary Receipts, Global Depositary Receipts, American Depositary Receipts, or other types of depositary receipts (including non-voting depositary receipts) or may be listed on bona fide securities exchanges in more than one country. An International Master Fund or Portfolio will consider for purchase securities that are associated with an Approved Market, and include, among others: (a) securities of companies that are organized under the laws of, or maintain their principal place of business in, an Approved Market; (b) securities for which the principal trading market is in an Approved Market; (c) securities issued or guaranteed by the government of an Approved Market, its agencies or instrumentalities, or the central bank of such country or territory; (d) securities denominated in an Approved Market currency issued by companies to finance operations in Approved Markets; (e) securities of companies that derive at least 50% of their revenues or profits from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed in Approved Markets or have at least 50% of their assets in Approved Markets; (f) equity securities of companies in Approved Markets in the form of depositary shares; (g) securities of pooled investment vehicles that invest primarily in securities of Approved Markets or derivative instruments that derive their value from securities of Approved Markets; or (h) securities included in the Portfolio’s benchmark index. Securities of Approved Markets may include securities of companies that have characteristics and business relationships common to companies in other countries or regions. As a result, the value of the securities of such companies may reflect economic and market forces in such other countries or regions as well as in the Approved Markets. The Advisor, however, will select only those companies that, in its view, have sufficiently strong exposure to economic and market forces in Approved Markets. For example, the Advisor may invest in companies organized and located in the United States or other countries or regions outside of Approved Markets, including companies having their entire production facilities outside of Approved Markets, when such companies meet the criteria discussed above to be considered associated with Approved Markets.

 

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DFA International Value Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the DFA International Value Portfolio (the “DFA International Value Portfolio” or the “Portfolio”) is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The DFA International Value Portfolio invests substantially all of its assets in The DFA International Value Series of the Trust (the “International Value Series” or “Master Fund”), which has the same investment objective and policies as the Portfolio. The International Value Series seeks to achieve its objective by purchasing the stocks of large non-U.S. companies that the Advisor determines to be value stocks at the time of purchase. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value (a “book to market ratio”). In assessing value, the Advisor may consider additional factors such as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer’s industry. The criteria the Advisor uses for assessing value are subject to change from time to time.

 

Under normal market conditions, the International Value Series intends to invest at least 40% its assets in three or more non-U.S. countries by investing in securities of companies associated with such countries. The International Value Series invests its assets in securities of companies associated with Approved Markets (For a description of the securities and countries approved for investment, see “International Portfolios—Approved Markets”).

 

In the countries or regions authorized for investment, the Advisor first ranks eligible companies listed on selected exchanges based on the companies’ market capitalizations. The Advisor then determines the universe of eligible stocks by defining the minimum market capitalization of a large company that may be purchased by the International Value Series with respect to each country or region. As of December 31, 2010, for the DFA International Value Series, the lowest minimum market capitalization of a large company in any country or region in which the International Value Series invests was $1,438 million. This threshold will vary by country or region. For example, as of December 31, 2010, the Advisor considered a large company in the European Monetary Union (the “EMU”) to have a market capitalization of at least $3,133 million, a large company in Australia to have a market capitalization of at least $2,139 million, and a large company in Japan to have a market capitalization of at least $1,438 million. These dollar amounts will change due to market conditions.

 

The International Value Series intends to purchase securities within each applicable country using a market capitalization weighted approach. The Advisor, using this approach and its judgment, will seek to set country weights based on the relative market capitalization of eligible large companies within each country. See “Market Capitalization Weighted Approach.” As a result, the weightings of certain countries in the International Value Series may vary from their weightings in international indices, such as those published by FTSE International, Morgan Stanley Capital International or Citigroup.

 

The International Value Series does not seek current income as an investment objective and investments will not be based upon an issuer’s dividend payment policy or record. However, many of the companies whose securities will be included in the International Value Series do pay dividends. It is anticipated, therefore, that the International Value Series will receive dividend income.

 

The International Value Series may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the equity markets while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the International Value Series may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

Emerging Markets Value Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio (the “Emerging Markets Value Portfolio” or “Portfolio”) is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The Emerging Markets Value Portfolio is a

 

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Feeder Portfolio and pursues its objective by investing substantially all of its assets in its corresponding Master Fund, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund (the “Emerging Markets Value Fund” or “Master Fund”), which has the same investment objective and policies as the Portfolio. The Emerging Markets Value Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in companies associated with emerging markets, including frontier markets (emerging market countries in an earlier stage of development), designated as Approved Markets by the Investment Committee of the Advisor (For a description of the securities and countries approved for investment, see “International Portfolios—Approved Markets”). The Emerging Markets Value Fund invests its assets primarily in Approved Market equity securities listed on bona fide securities exchanges or actively traded on over-the-counter markets.

 

The Emerging Markets Value Fund seeks to achieve its objective by purchasing emerging market equity securities that are deemed by the Advisor to be value stocks at the time of purchase. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because they have a high book value in relation to their market value. In assessing value, the Advisor may consider additional factors, such as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios, as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer’s industry. The criteria the Advisor uses for assessing value are subject to change from time to time.

 

The Emerging Markets Value Fund may not invest in all such companies or Approved Markets described above or achieve approximate market weights, for reasons which include constraints imposed within Approved Markets (e.g., restrictions on purchases by foreigners) and the Emerging Markets Value Fund’s policy not to invest more than 25% of its assets in any one industry.

 

In determining what countries are eligible markets for the Emerging Markets Value Fund, the Advisor may consider various factors, including without limitation, the data, analysis, and classification of countries published or disseminated by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (commonly known as the World Bank), the International Finance Corporation, FTSE International, Morgan Stanley Capital International, Citigroup and the Heritage Foundation. Approved emerging markets may not include all such emerging markets. In determining whether to approve markets for investment, the Advisor will take into account, among other things, market liquidity, relative availability of investor information, government regulation, including fiscal and foreign exchange repatriation rules and the availability of other access to these markets for the Emerging Markets Value Fund.

 

Pending the investment of new capital in Approved Markets securities, the Emerging Markets Value Fund will typically invest in money market instruments or other highly liquid debt instruments including those denominated in U.S. dollars (including, without limitation, repurchase agreements). In addition, the Emerging Markets Value Fund may, for liquidity, or for temporary defensive purposes during periods in which market or economic or political conditions warrant, purchase highly liquid debt instruments or hold freely convertible currencies, although the Emerging Markets Value Fund does not expect the aggregate of all such amounts to exceed 10% of its net assets under normal circumstances.

 

The Emerging Markets Value Fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in shares of other investment companies that invest in one or more Approved Markets, although it intends to do so only where access to those markets is otherwise significantly limited. In some Approved Markets, it will be necessary or advisable for the Emerging Markets Value Fund to establish a wholly owned subsidiary or a trust for the purpose of investing in the local markets.

 

Even though a company’s stock may meet the applicable market capitalization criterion for the Emerging Markets Value Fund’s criterion for investment, it may not be included for one or more of a number of reasons. For example, in the Advisor’s judgment, the issuer may be considered in extreme financial difficulty or a material portion of its securities may be closely held and not likely available to support market liquidity. To this

 

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extent, there will be the exercise of discretion and consideration by the Advisor in purchasing securities in an Approved Market and in determining the allocation of investments among Approved Markets.

 

Changes in the composition and relative ranking (in terms of book to market ratio) of the stocks which are eligible for purchase by the Emerging Markets Value Fund take place with every trade when the securities markets are open for trading due primarily to price fluctuations of such securities. On a periodic basis, the Advisor will identify value stocks that are eligible for investment and re-evaluate eligible value stocks no less than semi-annually.

 

The Emerging Markets Value Fund does not seek current income as an investment objective, and investments will not be based upon an issuer’s dividend payment policy or record. However, many of the companies whose securities will be included in the Emerging Markets Value Fund do pay dividends. It is anticipated, therefore, that the Emerging Markets Value Fund will receive dividend income.

 

The Emerging Markets Value Fund may also invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments that provide exposure to Approved Markets or other equity markets, including the United States, for the purposes of gaining exposure to the equity markets while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the Emerging Markets Value Fund may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

Market Capitalization Weighted Approach

 

The portfolio structures of the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio and the International Value Series involve market capitalization weighting in determining individual security weights and, where applicable, country or region weights. Market capitalization weighting means each security is generally purchased based on the issuer’s relative market capitalization. Market capitalization weighting will be modified by the Advisor for a variety of factors. The Advisor may consider such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors determined to be appropriate by the Advisor given market conditions. The Advisor may deviate from market capitalization weighting to limit or fix the exposure of a Portfolio or Master Fund to a particular issuer to a maximum proportion of the assets of the Portfolio or Master Fund. The Advisor may exclude the stock of a company that meets applicable market capitalization criterion if the Advisor determines, in its judgment, that the purchase of such stock is inappropriate in light of other conditions. These adjustments will result in a deviation from traditional market capitalization weighting.

 

Adjustment for free float modifies market capitalization weighting to exclude the share capital of a company that is not freely available for trading in the public equity markets. For example, the following types of shares may be excluded: (i) those held by strategic investors (such as governments, controlling shareholders and management), (ii) treasury shares, or (iii) shares subject to foreign ownership restrictions.

 

Deviation from market capitalization weighting also will occur because the Advisor generally intends to purchase in round lots. Furthermore, the Advisor may reduce the relative amount of any security held in order to retain sufficient portfolio liquidity. A portion, but generally not in excess of 20% of assets, may be invested in interest bearing obligations, such as money market instruments, thereby causing further deviation from market capitalization weighting. A further deviation may occur due to holdings of privately placed convertible debentures and securities received in connection with corporate actions.

 

Block purchases of eligible securities may be made at opportune prices, even though such purchases exceed the number of shares that, at the time of purchase, adherence to a market capitalization weighted approach would otherwise require. In addition, securities eligible for purchase or otherwise represented in a Portfolio or Master

 

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Fund may be acquired in exchange for the issuance of shares. See “PURCHASE OF SHARES—In Kind Purchases.” While such transactions might cause a deviation from market capitalization weighting, they would ordinarily be made in anticipation of further growth of assets.

 

Changes in the composition and relative ranking (in terms of market capitalization) of the stocks that are eligible for purchase take place with every trade when the securities markets are open for trading due, primarily, to price fluctuations of such securities. On at least a semi-annual basis, the Advisor will identify companies whose stock is eligible for investment by a Portfolio or Master Fund. Additional investments generally will not be made in securities that have changed in value sufficiently to be excluded from the Advisor’s then current market capitalization requirement for eligible portfolio securities. This may result in further deviation from market capitalization weighting. Such deviation could be substantial if a significant amount of holdings of a Portfolio or Master Fund change in value sufficiently to be excluded from the requirement for eligible securities, but not by a sufficient amount to warrant their sale.

 

Country weights may be based on the total market capitalization of companies within each country. The calculation of country market capitalization may take into consideration the free float of companies within a country or whether these companies are eligible to be purchased for the particular strategy. In addition, to maintain a satisfactory level of diversification, the Investment Committee may limit or fix the exposure to a particular country or region to a maximum proportion of the assets of that vehicle. Country weights may also deviate from target weights due to general day-to-day trading patterns and price movements. As a result, the weighting of countries may vary from their weighting in published international indices.

 

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND

POLICIES—ALLOCATION PORTFOLIOS

 

The Advisor seeks to construct a diversified portfolio for each of the Global Equity Portfolio, Global 60/40 Portfolio (the “60/40 Portfolio”) and Global 25/75 Portfolio (the “25/75 Portfolio” and together with the Global Equity Portfolio and the 60/40 Portfolio, the “Allocation Portfolios”) by purchasing shares of Underlying Funds that invest in equity securities of domestic issuers (the “Domestic Equity Underlying Funds”) and international issuers (the “International Equity Underlying Funds” and together with the Domestic Equity Underlying Funds, the “Equity Underlying Funds”). The 60/40 Portfolio and 25/75 Portfolio will also purchase shares of Underlying Funds that invest in fixed income securities of domestic and international issuers (the “Fixed Income Underlying Funds”).

 

The Underlying Funds in which each Allocation Portfolio may invest, each Allocation Portfolio’s allocation with respect to each Underlying Fund, the target asset allocation and allocation range between Equity Underlying Funds and Fixed Income Underlying Funds, and the investment policies of the Underlying Funds, may be changed at any time by the Advisor without shareholder approval.

 

Global Equity Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the Global Equity Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. To achieve its investment objective, the Global Equity Portfolio generally allocates its assets to a combination of Equity Underlying Funds. The Global Equity Portfolio may invest its assets in both Domestic Equity Underlying Funds and International Equity Underlying Funds. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Global Equity Portfolio intends to invest in the Domestic Equity Underlying Funds and International Equity Underlying Funds listed below under the heading “Asset Allocation Investment Approach.”

 

Periodically, the Advisor will review the allocations for the Global Equity Portfolio in each Underlying Fund. From time to time, the Advisor may add or remove Underlying Funds in the Global Equity Portfolio without notice to shareholders. In addition, when the Advisor determines that market forces have caused fundamental changes in the relative values of the assets of the Underlying Funds, the Advisor may modify the allocations of the Global Equity Portfolio. To maintain target allocations, adjustments may be made by purchasing or selling shares of the Underlying Funds or applying future investments and redemptions by the Global Equity Portfolio in proportions necessary to rebalance the investments in the Underlying Funds.

 

By investing all of its assets in Equity Underlying Funds, the Global Equity Portfolio is expected to provide the most aggressive equity exposure of the three Allocation Portfolios, and hence, corresponding level of overall risk.

 

As a non-fundamental investment policy, under normal circumstances, the Global Equity Portfolio will generally invest at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities (in the form of shares of the Equity Underlying Funds).

 

In addition to other short-term investments, the Global Equity Portfolio and each Underlying Fund may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage cash pending investment or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

Global 60/40 Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the 60/40 Portfolio is to seek total return consisting of capital appreciation and current income. To achieve its investment objective, the 60/40 Portfolio, under normal market circumstances, allocates its assets to Underlying Funds that invest in equity and fixed income securities. Generally, the 60/40

 

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Portfolio invests its assets in Equity Underlying Funds and Fixed Income Underlying Funds to achieve an allocation of approximately 40% to 80% (with a target allocation of approximately 60%) of the Portfolio’s assets to Equity Underlying Funds and 20% to 60% (with a target allocation of approximately 40%) of its assets to Fixed Income Underlying Funds. With respect to investments in Equity Underlying Funds, the 60/40 Portfolio may invest its assets in both Domestic Equity Underlying Funds and International Equity Underlying Funds. As of the date of this Prospectus, the 60/40 Portfolio intends to invest in the Domestic Equity Underlying Funds, International Equity Underlying Funds and Fixed Income Underlying Funds listed below under the heading “Asset Allocation Investment Approach.”

 

Periodically, the Advisor will review the allocations for the 60/40 Portfolio in each Underlying Fund. From time to time, the Advisor may add or remove Underlying Funds in the 60/40 Portfolio without notice to shareholders. In addition, when the Advisor determines that market forces have caused fundamental changes in the relative values of the assets of the Underlying Funds, the Advisor may modify the allocations of the 60/40 Portfolio. To maintain target allocations, adjustments may be made by purchasing or selling shares of the Underlying Funds or applying future investments and redemptions by the 60/40 Portfolio in proportions necessary to rebalance the investments in the Underlying Funds.

 

By investing its assets in Underlying Funds that invest in a variety of equity and fixed income securities, the 60/40 Portfolio is expected to fall in between the other two Portfolios with regard to expected equity exposure. As a result, the 60/40 Portfolio’s risk is also expected to fall between the risks of the Global Equity Portfolio and 25/75 Portfolio.

 

In addition to other short-term investments, the 60/40 Portfolio and each Underlying Fund may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage cash pending investment or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

Global 25/75 Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the 25/75 Portfolio is to seek total return consistent with current income and preservation of capital with some capital appreciation. To achieve its investment objective, the 25/75 Portfolio, under normal market circumstances, allocates the majority of its assets to Fixed Income Underlying Funds, but the Portfolio also invests a small portion of its assets to Equity Underlying Funds. Generally, the 25/75 Portfolio invests its assets in Equity Underlying Funds and Fixed Income Underlying Funds to achieve an allocation of approximately 5% to 45% (with a target allocation of approximately 25%) of the Portfolio’s assets to Equity Underlying Funds and approximately 55% to 95% (with a target allocation of approximately 75%) of the Portfolio’s assets to Fixed Income Underlying Funds. As of the date of this Prospectus, the 25/75 Portfolio intends to invest in the Domestic Equity Underlying Funds, International Equity Underlying Funds and Fixed Income Underlying Funds listed below under the heading “Asset Allocation Investment Approach.”

 

Periodically, the Advisor will review the allocations for the 25/75 Portfolio in each Underlying Fund. From time to time, the Advisor may add or remove Underlying Funds in the 25/75 Portfolio without notice to shareholders. When the Advisor determines that market forces have caused fundamental changes in the relative values of the assets of the Underlying Funds, the Advisor may modify the allocations of the 25/75 Portfolio. To maintain target allocations, adjustments may be made by purchasing and selling shares of the Underlying Funds or applying future investments and redemptions by the 25/75 Portfolio in proportions necessary to rebalance the investments in the Underlying Fund.

 

By investing the majority of its assets in Fixed Income Underlying Funds, the 25/75 Portfolio is expected to provide lower equity exposure than the other two Allocation Portfolios, and hence, lower levels of overall risk.

 

In addition to other short-term investments, the 25/75 Portfolio and each Underlying Fund may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage cash pending investment or

 

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to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

Asset Allocation Investment Approach

 

The Allocation Portfolios provide investors with an option to choose one of three diversified investment portfolios, which combine multiple equity investment strategies with varying levels of fixed income strategies. The Advisor employs different asset allocation strategies for each Allocation Portfolio by purchasing shares of Underlying Funds that invest in equity securities of domestic and international issuers in different proportions for each Allocation Portfolio, and shares of Underlying Funds that invest in fixed income securities of domestic and international issuers in different proportions for the 60/40 Portfolio and 25/75 Portfolio. The target allocation of assets between Equity Underlying Funds and Fixed Income Underlying Funds, and the range of allocations for each Allocation Portfolio, under normal circumstances, are shown in the table below:

 

     Global Equity
Portfolio
Allocation


   Global 60/40
Portfolio
Allocation


   Global 25/75
Portfolio
Allocation


     Target

   Range

   Target

   Range

   Target

   Range

Equity Underlying Funds

   100%    90%–100%    60%    40%–80%    25%    5%–45%

Fixed Income Underlying Funds

       0%    0%    40%    20%–60%    75%    55%–95%

 

Each Allocation Portfolio’s target allocation generally relates to a different level of equity and fixed income exposure, and hence, a different level of overall risk. The Global Equity Portfolio seeks to provide maximum capital appreciation, resulting in the highest level of equity risk of the three Portfolios. The 25/75 Portfolio seeks to provide investors with a return consistent with relatively low levels of equity risk. The 60/40 Portfolio’s equity risk level falls between that of the Global Equity and 25/75 Portfolios.

 

As of the date of this Prospectus, each Allocation Portfolio is expected to invest mainly in the Underlying Funds listed below, each an investment portfolio of the DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. (the “Fund”), except that the Global Equity Portfolio is not expected to invest in the Fixed Income Underlying Funds. While each Allocation Portfolio currently intends to invest in the Underlying Funds identified below, each Allocation Portfolio may add or eliminate Underlying Funds as may be determined from time to time by the Advisor without notice to shareholders.

 

Domestic Equity Underlying Funds—DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio, U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio and U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio.

 

International Equity Underlying Funds—International Core Equity Portfolio and Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio.

 

Fixed Income Underlying Funds—DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio and DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio.

 

Investments in Underlying Funds

 

Investment Objectives, Strategies and Policies of the Underlying Funds

 

The Advisor believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

 

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The Advisor believes that fixed income investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on bond market risk and return, not on interest rate forecasting or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely defined maturity ranges and credit quality characteristics. The Advisor will then seek to purchase a broad and diverse portfolio of securities meeting these credit quality standards. In making these purchase decisions, if the anticipated maturity risk premium is greater for longer-term securities in the eligible maturity range, the Advisor will focus investment in that longer-term area, otherwise, the portfolio will focus investment in the short-term range of the eligible maturity range. The Advisor also places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low.

 

The following is a summary of the investment strategies, objectives and policies of the Underlying Funds in which the Allocation Portfolios invest as of the date of this Prospectus. Additional information concerning the investment policies of the Underlying Funds may be found in the Allocation Portfolios’ Statement of Additional Information.

 

Domestic Equity Underlying Funds

 

DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio—The DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio, using a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted approach, purchases readily marketable equity securities of companies whose principal activities include development, ownership, construction, management, or sale of residential, commercial or industrial real estate. The Portfolio will principally invest in equity securities of companies in certain real estate investment trusts and companies engaged in residential construction and firms, except partnerships, whose principal business is to develop commercial property. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of the U.S. real estate company, the greater its representation in the Portfolio. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions. The DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio will purchase shares of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).

 

U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio—The U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio purchases a broad and diverse group of common stocks of U.S. companies with a greater emphasis on small capitalization and value companies as compared to their representation in the U.S. Universe. The Advisor generally defines the U.S. Universe as a market capitalization weighted portfolio of U.S. operating companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), NYSE Alternext US LLC or Nasdaq Global Market® and such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor. The Portfolio’s increased exposure to small and value companies may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to the largest U.S. growth companies relative to their weight in the U.S. Universe, which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization.

 

U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio—The U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio purchases a broad and diverse group of common stocks of U.S. companies with a greater emphasis on small capitalization and value companies as compared to their representation in the U.S. Universe. The Advisor generally defines the U.S. Universe as a market capitalization weighted portfolio of U.S. operating companies listed on the NYSE, NYSE Alternext US LLC or Nasdaq Global Market® and such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor. The Portfolio’s increased exposure to small and value companies may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to the largest U.S. growth companies relative to their weight in the U.S. Universe, which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization.

 

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International Equity Underlying Funds

 

International Core Equity Portfolio—The International Core Equity Portfolio purchases a broad and diverse group of stocks of non-U.S. companies in developed markets with a greater emphasis on small capitalization and value companies as compared to their representation in the International Universe. For purposes of this Portfolio, the Advisor defines the International Universe as a market capitalization weighted portfolio of non-U.S. companies in developed markets that have been authorized as approved markets for investment by the Advisor’s Investment Committee. The Portfolio’s increased exposure to small capitalization and value companies may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the International Core Equity Portfolio’s assets to the largest growth companies relative to their weight in the International Universe, which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization.

 

The International Core Equity Portfolio intends to purchase stocks of companies associated with developed market countries that the Advisor has designated as approved markets. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the International Core Equity Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities. The Advisor determines company size on a country or region specific basis and based primarily on market capitalization. The percentage allocation of the assets of the International Core Equity Portfolio to securities of the largest growth companies as defined above will generally be reduced from between 5% and 35% of their percentage weight in the International Universe. As of December 31, 2010, securities of the largest growth companies in the International Universe comprised approximately 16% of the International Universe and the Advisor allocated approximately 4% of the International Core Equity Portfolio to securities of the largest growth companies in the International Universe. The percentage by which the Portfolio’s allocation to securities of the largest growth companies is reduced will fluctuate with market movements and other factors. Additionally, the range by which the International Core Equity Portfolio’s percentage allocation to the securities of the largest growth companies is reduced as compared to the International Universe will change from time to time. The Advisor determines company size on a country or region specific basis and based primarily on market capitalization.

 

Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio—The Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio purchases a broad and diverse group of securities associated with emerging markets, including frontier markets, authorized for investment by the Advisor’s Investment Committee with an increased exposure to securities of small cap issuers and securities that it considers to be value securities. In assessing value, the Advisor may consider factors such as the issuer’s securities having a high book value in relation to their market value, as well as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios. The criteria the Advisor uses for assessing value are subject to change from time to time.

 

Fixed Income Underlying Funds

 

DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio—The DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio (the “Two-Year Global Portfolio”) seeks to maximize risk-adjusted total returns from a universe of U.S. and foreign debt securities maturing in two years or less. The Two-Year Global Portfolio invests in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, corporate debt obligations, bank obligations, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, obligations of other domestic and foreign issuers, securities of domestic or foreign issuers denominated in U.S. dollars but not trading in the United States, and obligations of supranational organizations. At the present time, the Advisor expects that most investments will be made in the obligations of issuers which are in developed countries, such as those countries which are members of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (“OECD”). However, in the future, the Advisor anticipates investing in issuers located in other countries as well. The fixed income securities in which the Two-Year Global Portfolio invests are considered investment grade at the time of purchase. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio intends to invest its assets in issuers organized or having a majority of their assets in, or deriving a majority of their operating income in, at least three different countries, one of which may be the

 

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United States. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities that mature within two years from the date of settlement.

 

It is the policy of the Two-Year Global Portfolio that the weighted average length of maturity of investments will not exceed two years. However, investments may be made in obligations maturing in a shorter time period (from overnight, to up to two years from the date of settlement). Because many of the Portfolio’s investments will be denominated in foreign currencies, the Portfolio will also enter into forward foreign currency contracts to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency rates, to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or to transfer balances from one currency to another. The Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The Two-Year Global Portfolio may concentrate its investments in obligations of U.S. and foreign banks and bank holding companies. The Portfolio will concentrate its assets (invest more than 25% of its total assets) in obligations of U.S. and/or foreign banks and bank holding companies (“banking industry securities”) when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking industry securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group generally for a period of five consecutive days when the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. See the section entitled “Investments in the Banking Industry by Certain Fixed Income Underlying Funds” below for additional information.

 

DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio—The DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio (the “Five-Year Global Portfolio”) seeks to achieve its investment objectives by generally investing in a universe of U.S. and foreign debt securities maturing in five years or less. The Five-Year Global Portfolio primarily invests in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, obligations of other foreign issuers rated AA or better, corporate debt obligations, bank obligations, commercial paper, and supranational organizations. At the present time, the Advisor expects that most investments will be made in the obligations of issuers which are in developed countries, such as those countries which are members of the OECD. However, in the future, the Advisor anticipates investing in issuers located in other countries as well. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio intends to invest its assets in issuers organized or having a majority of their assets in, or deriving a majority of their operating income in, at least three different countries, one of which may be the United States. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities that mature within five years from the date of settlement.

 

It is the policy of the Five-Year Global Portfolio that the weighted average length of maturity of investments will not exceed five years. However, investments may be made in obligations maturing in a shorter time period (from overnight, to up to five years from the date of settlement). The Portfolio is authorized to invest more than 25% of its total assets in U.S. Treasury bonds, bills and notes and obligations of federal agencies and instrumentalities. Because many of the Portfolio’s investments will be denominated in foreign currencies, the Portfolio will also enter into forward foreign currency contracts to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency rates, to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or to transfer balances from one currency to another. The Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio—The DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio (the “Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio”) seeks to maximize total returns from a universe of U.S. and foreign debt securities maturing in two years or less. The Portfolio may selectively hedge its foreign currency risks depending on market conditions. The debt securities in which the Portfolio may invest include obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, corporate debt obligations, bank obligations, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, obligations of other domestic and foreign issuers, securities of domestic or foreign issuers denominated in U.S. dollars but not trading

 

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in the United States, and obligations of supranational organizations. At the present time, the Advisor expects that most investments will be made in the obligations of issuers that are located in developed countries, such as those countries which are members of the OECD. However, in the future, the Advisor anticipates investing in issuers located in other countries as well. The fixed income securities in which the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio invests are considered investment grade at the time of purchase. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio intends to invest its assets in issuers organized or having a majority of their assets in, or deriving a majority of their operating income in, at least three different countries, one of which may be the United States.

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities. It is the policy of the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio that the weighted average length of maturity of its investments will not exceed two years. However, investments may be made in obligations maturing in a shorter time period (from overnight, to up to two years from the date of settlement).

 

Because many of the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio’s investments may be denominated in foreign currencies, the Portfolio may hedge the currency exposure of the foreign securities by entering into foreign forward currency contracts, or leave some or all of the currency exposure unhedged, to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency rates, to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or to transfer balances from one currency to another. The decision to hedge the Portfolio’s currency exposure with respect to a foreign market will be based on, among other things, a comparison of the respective foreign and U.S. short-term interest rates and the Portfolio’s existing exposure to a given foreign currency. The Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio may concentrate its investments in obligations of U.S. and foreign banks and bank holding companies. The Portfolio will concentrate its assets (invest more than 25% of its total assets) in obligations of U.S. and/or foreign banks and bank holding companies (“banking industry securities”) when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking industry securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group generally for a period of five consecutive days when the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. See the section entitled “Investments in the Banking Industry by Certain Fixed Income Underlying Funds” below for additional information.

 

DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio—The DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio (the “Inflation-Protected Portfolio”) seeks its investment objective by investing in a universe of inflation-protected securities that are structured to provide returns that at least keep up with the rate of inflation over the long-term. The Inflation-Protected Portfolio ordinarily invests in inflation-protected securities issued by the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities and the credit quality of such inflation protected securities will be that of such applicable U.S. government, agency or instrumentality issuer.

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in inflation-protected securities. Inflation-protected securities (also known as inflation-indexed securities) are securities whose principal and/or interest payments are adjusted for inflation, unlike conventional debt securities that make fixed principal and interest payments. Inflation-protected securities include Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (“TIPS”), which are securities issued by the U.S. Treasury. The principal value of TIPS is adjusted for inflation (payable at maturity) and the semi-annual interest payments by TIPS equal a fixed percentage of the inflation-adjusted principal amount. These inflation adjustments are based upon the Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (CPI-U). The original principal value of TIPS is guaranteed, even during periods of deflation. At maturity, TIPS are redeemed at the greater of their inflation-adjusted principal or par amount at original issue. Other types of inflation-protected securities may use other methods to adjust for inflation and other measures of inflation. In addition, inflation-protected securities issued by entities other than the U.S. Treasury may not provide a guarantee of principal value at maturity.

 

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Generally, the Inflation-Protected Portfolio will purchase inflation-protected securities with maturities of between five and twenty years from the date of settlement, although it is anticipated that, at times, the Portfolio will purchase securities outside of this range. The Portfolio ordinarily will have an average weighted maturity, based upon market values, of between three to twelve years.

 

The Inflation-Protected Portfolio is authorized to invest more than 25% of its total assets in Treasury bonds, bills and notes and obligations of U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities. The Portfolio will not shift the maturity of its investments in anticipation of interest rate movements.

 

DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio—The DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio (the “Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio”) seeks to maximize total returns from a universe of U.S. and foreign corporate debt securities with an investment grade credit rating. The Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio invests with an emphasis on a universe of U.S. and foreign corporate debt securities the Advisor considers to be of extended quality as they are rated in the lower half of the investment grade spectrum (i.e., rated BBB- to A+ by Standard & Poor’s Rating Group (“S&P”) or Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”) or Baa3 to A1 by Moody’s Investor’s Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”)). The Portfolio will not emphasize investments in the lower half of the investment grade spectrum, however, when the Advisor believes the credit risk premium does not warrant the investment. The Portfolio will also invest in higher-rated corporate debt securities, obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, bank obligations, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, obligations of other domestic and foreign issuers having investment grade ratings, securities of domestic or foreign issuers denominated in U.S. dollars but not trading in the United States, and obligations of supranational organizations. At the present time, the Advisor expects that most investments will be made in the obligations of issuers that are located in developed countries, such as those countries which are members of the OECD. However, in the future, the Advisor anticipates investing in issuers located in other countries as well.

 

The Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio primarily invests in securities that mature within five years from the date of settlement and maintains an average portfolio duration of three years or less. Duration is a measure of the expected life of a fixed income security that is used to determine the sensitivity of a security’s price to changes in interest rates. The longer a security’s duration, the more sensitive it will be to changes in interest rates. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities considered to be investment grade quality.

 

The Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio’s investments may include foreign securities denominated in foreign currencies. The Portfolio intends to hedge foreign currency exposure to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency rates. The Portfolio may enter into foreign forward currency contracts to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or to transfer balances from one currency to another. The Portfolio may hedge such currency exposure by entering into foreign forward currency contracts. The Portfolio also may enter into credit default swaps on issuers or indices to buy or sell credit protection to hedge its credit exposure; gain market or issuer exposure without owning the underlying securities; or increase the Portfolio’s total return. The Portfolio also may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts, for non-hedging purposes as a substitute for direct investment or to allow the Portfolio to remain fully invested while maintaining the liquidity required to pay redemptions.

 

The Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio may concentrate its investments in obligations of U.S. and foreign banks and bank holding companies. The Portfolio will concentrate its assets (invest more than 25% of its total assets) in obligations of U.S. and/or foreign banks and bank holding companies (“banking industry securities”) when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking industry securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group generally for a period of five consecutive days when the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. See the section entitled “Investments in the Banking Industry by Certain Fixed Income Underlying Funds” below for additional information.

 

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DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio—The DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio (the “Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio”) seeks to maximize total returns from a universe of U.S. and foreign corporate debt securities with an investment grade credit rating. The Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio invests with an emphasis on a universe of U.S. and foreign corporate debt securities the Advisor considers to be of extended quality as they are rated in the lower half of the investment grade spectrum (i.e., rated BBB- to A+ by S&P or Fitch or Baa3 to A1 by Moody’s. The Portfolio will not emphasize investments in the lower half of the investment grade spectrum, however, when the Advisor believes the credit risk premium does not warrant the investment. The Portfolio will also invest in higher-rated corporate debt securities, obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, bank obligations, repurchase agreements, obligations of other domestic and foreign issuers having investment grade ratings, securities of domestic or foreign issuers denominated in U.S. dollars but not trading in the United States, and obligations of supranational organizations. At the present time, the Advisor expects that most investments will be made in the obligations of issuers that are located in developed countries, such as those countries which are members of OECD. However, in the future, the Advisor anticipates investing in issuers located in other countries as well.

 

The Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio primarily invests in securities that mature within three to fifteen years from the date of settlement and maintains an average dollar-weighted portfolio duration of between three and ten years. Duration is a measure of the expected life of a fixed income security that is used to determine the sensitivity of a security’s price to changes in interest rates. The longer a security’s duration, the more sensitive it will be to changes in interest rates. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities considered to be investment grade quality.

 

The Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio’s investments may include foreign securities denominated in foreign currencies. The Portfolio intends to hedge foreign currency exposure to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency rates. The Portfolio may enter into foreign forward currency contracts to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or to transfer balances from one currency to another. The Portfolio also may enter into credit default swaps on issuers or indices to buy or sell credit protection to hedge its credit exposure; gain market or issuer exposure without owning the underlying securities; or increase the Portfolio’s total return. The Portfolio also may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts, for non-hedging purposes as a substitute for direct investment or to allow the Portfolio to remain fully invested while maintaining the liquidity required to pay redemptions.

 

The Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio may concentrate its investments in obligations of U.S. and foreign banks and bank holding companies. The Portfolio will concentrate its assets (invest more than 25% of its total assets) in obligations of U.S. and/or foreign banks and bank holding companies (“banking industry securities”) when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking industry securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group generally for a period of five consecutive days when the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. See the section entitled “Investments in the Banking Industry by Certain Fixed Income Underlying Funds” in the Portfolio’s prospectus for additional information.

 

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Description of Investments of the Fixed Income Underlying Funds

 

The following is a description of the categories of investments, which may be acquired by the Fixed Income Underlying Funds.

 

     Permissible
Categories:


 

Two-Year Global Portfolio

     1-11   

Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio

     1-11   

Five-Year Global Portfolio

     1-11   

Inflation-Protected Portfolio

     1,2,6,11   

Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio

     1,2,4,6-8,10-14   

Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio

     1,2,4,6-8,10-12,14   

 

1. U.S. Government Obligations—Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury which are direct obligations of the U.S. government, including bills, notes and bonds.

 

2. U.S. Government Agency Obligations—Issued or guaranteed by U.S. government-sponsored instrumentalities and federal agencies, which have different levels of credit support. The U.S. government agency obligations include, but are not limited to, securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States, such as the Federal Housing Administration and Ginnie Mae, including Ginnie Mae pass-through certificates. Other securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities sponsored by the U.S. government may be supported only by the issuer’s right to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, subject to certain limits, such as securities issued by Federal Home Loan Banks, or are supported only by the credit of such agencies, such as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

 

3. Corporate Debt Obligations—Nonconvertible corporate debt securities (e.g., bonds and debentures), which are issued by companies whose commercial paper is rated Prime1 by Moody’s or A1 or better by S&P or F1 or better by Fitch and dollar-denominated obligations of foreign issuers issued in the U.S. If the issuer’s commercial paper is unrated, then the debt security would have to be rated at least AA by S&P or Aa2 by Moody’s or AA by Fitch. If there is neither a commercial paper rating nor a rating of the debt security, then the Advisor must determine that the debt security is of comparable quality to equivalent issues of the same issuer rated at least AA or Aa2.

 

4. Bank Obligations—Obligations of U.S. banks and savings and loan associations and dollar-denominated obligations of U.S. subsidiaries and branches of foreign banks, such as certificates of deposit (including marketable variable rate certificates of deposit), time deposits and bankers’ acceptances. Bank certificates of deposit will only be acquired from banks having assets in excess of $1,000,000,000.

 

5. Commercial Paper—Rated, at the time of purchase, A1 or better by S&P or Prime1 by Moody’s, or F1 or better by Fitch or, if unrated, issued by a corporation having an outstanding unsecured debt issue rated Aaa by Moody’s or AAA by S&P or AAA by Fitch.

 

6. Repurchase Agreements—Instruments through which the Fixed Income Underlying Funds purchase securities (“underlying securities”) from a bank or a registered U.S. government securities dealer, with an agreement by the seller to repurchase the securities at an agreed price, plus interest at a specified rate. The underlying securities will be limited to U.S. government and agency obligations described in (1) and (2) above. The Fixed Income Underlying Funds will not enter into a repurchase agreement with a duration of more than seven days if, as a result, more than 10% of the value of the Fixed Income Underlying Fund’s total assets would be so invested. In addition, a repurchase agreement with a duration of more than seven days will be subject to a Fixed Income Underlying Fund’s illiquid securities policy. The Fixed Income Underlying Funds also will only invest in repurchase agreements with a bank if the bank has at least $1,000,000,000 in assets and is approved by the Investment Committee of the Advisor. The Advisor will monitor the market value of the securities plus any accrued interest thereon so that they will at least equal the repurchase price.

 

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7. Foreign Government and Agency Obligations—Bills, notes, bonds and other debt securities issued or guaranteed by foreign governments, or their agencies and instrumentalities.

 

8. Supranational Organization Obligations—Debt securities of supranational organizations such as the European Coal and Steel Community, the European Economic Community and the World Bank, which are chartered to promote economic development.

 

9. Foreign Issuer Obligations—Debt securities of non-U.S. issuers rated AA or better by S&P or Aa2 or better by Moody’s or AA or better by Fitch.

 

10. Eurodollar Obligations—Debt securities of domestic or foreign issuers denominated in U.S. dollars but not trading in the United States.

 

11. Money Market Funds—The Fixed Income Underlying Funds may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

12. Corporate Debt ObligationsShort-Term Extended Quality Portfolio—Nonconvertible corporate debt securities (e.g., bonds and debentures), which have received an investment grade rating by Moody’s, Fitch, S&P or, if unrated, have been determined by the Advisor to be of comparable quality.

 

13. Commercial Paper—Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio—Rated, at the time of purchase, A3 or better by S&P or Prime3 or better by Moody’s, or F3 or better by Fitch or, if unrated, issued by a corporation having an outstanding unsecured debt issue rated at least Baa3 by Moody’s or BBB- by S&P or Fitch.

 

14. Foreign Issuer Obligations—Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio—Debt securities of non-U.S. issuers that have received a rating of BBB- or better by S&P or Fitch or Baa3 or better by Moody’s, or, if unrated, have been determined by the Advisor to be of comparable quality.

 

The categories of investments that may be acquired by each of the Fixed Income Underlying may include both fixed and floating rate securities. Floating rate securities bear interest at rates that vary with prevailing market rates. Interest rate adjustments are made periodically (e.g., every six months), usually based on a money market index such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) or the Treasury bill rate.

 

Investments in the Banking Industry by Certain Fixed Income Underlying Funds

 

The Two-Year Global Portfolio, Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio, Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio will invest more than 25% of their total respective assets in obligations of U.S. and foreign banks and bank holding companies (“banking industry securities”) when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking industry securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group generally for a period of five consecutive days when the NYSE is open for trading. For purposes of this policy, the Advisor considers eligible portfolio investments to be those securities that are on the Advisor’s then current buy list that are available for purchase. This policy can only be changed by a vote of shareholders. When investment in such obligations exceeds 25% of the total net assets of any of these Portfolios such Portfolio will be considered to be concentrating its investments in the banking industry. Once the Two-Year Global Portfolio, Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio or Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio concentrates its investments in the banking industry, the Portfolio may remain concentrated in the banking industry until the purchase of new investments in the normal course of executing the Portfolio’s investment strategy result in less than 25% of the Portfolio’s total assets consisting of banking industry securities.

 

The types of bank and bank holding company obligations in which the Two-Year Global Portfolio, Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio, Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio may invest include: dollar-denominated certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances,

 

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commercial paper and other debt obligations issued in the United States provided such obligations meet each Portfolio’s established credit rating criteria as stated under “Description of Investments of the Fixed Income Underlying Funds.” In addition, the Two-Year Global Portfolio, Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio, Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio are authorized to invest more than 25% of their total assets in Treasury bonds, bills and notes and obligations of federal agencies and instrumentalities. The Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio and Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio may also invest in non-dollar denominated certificates.

 

Additional Risks of the Underlying Funds

 

The investment performance of each of the Allocation Portfolios is affected by the investment performance of the Underlying Funds in which an Allocation Portfolio invests. The ability of an Allocation Portfolio to achieve its investment objective depends on the ability of the Underlying Funds to meet their investment objectives and on the Advisor’s decisions regarding the allocation of the Allocation Portfolio’s assets among the Underlying Funds. Through their investments in Underlying Funds, the Allocation Portfolios are subject to the risks of the Underlying Funds’ investments. In addition to the risks of the Underlying Funds’ investments described in “PRINCIPAL RISKS” for each Portfolio, certain other risks of the Underlying Funds’ investments are described below.

 

Risks of Concentrating in the Real Estate Industry: The DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio in which each of the Allocation Portfolios invests may be concentrated in the real estate industry. The exclusive focus of DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio on the real estate industry will cause DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio to be exposed to the general risks of direct real estate ownership. The DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio in which each of the Allocation Portfolios invests is subject to this risk. The value of securities in the real estate industry can be affected by changes in real estate values and rental income, property taxes, interest rates, and tax and regulatory requirements. Investing in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) and REIT-like entities involves certain unique risks in addition to those risks associated with investing in the real estate industry in general. REITs and REIT-like entities are dependent upon management skill, may not be diversified, and are subject to heavy cash flow dependency and self-liquidation. REITs and REIT-like entities also are subject to the possibility of failing to qualify for tax free pass-through of income. Also, because REITs and REIT-like entities typically are invested in a limited number of projects or in a particular market segment, these entities are more susceptible to adverse developments affecting a single project or market segment than more broadly diversified investments. The performance of an Underlying Fund concentrated in the real estate industry may be materially different from the broad equity market.

 

Inflation-Protected Securities Interest Rate Risk: The Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio in which each of the 60/40 Portfolio and 25/75 Portfolio invests is subject to this risk. Inflation-protected securities may react differently from other fixed income securities to changes in interest rates. Because interest rates on inflation-protected securities are adjusted for inflation, the values of these securities are not materially affected by inflation expectations. Therefore, the value of inflation-protected securities are anticipated to change in response to changes in “real” interest rates, which represent nominal (stated) interest rates reduced by the expected impact of inflation. Generally, the value of an inflation-protected security will fall when real interest rates rise and will rise when real interest rates fall.

 

Risks of Investing for Inflation Protection: The Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio in which each of the 60/40 Portfolio and 25/75 Portfolio invests is subject to this risk. Because the interest and/or principal payments on an inflation-protected security are adjusted periodically for changes in inflation, the income distributed by the Inflation-Protected Portfolio may be irregular. Although the U.S. Treasury guarantees to pay at least the original face value of any inflation-protected securities the Treasury issues, other issuers may not offer the same guarantee. Also, inflation-protected securities, including those issued by the U.S. Treasury, are not protected against deflation. As a result, in a period of deflation, the inflation-protected securities held by the Portfolio may not pay any income and the Portfolio may suffer a loss during such periods. While inflation-protected securities

 

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are expected to be protected from long-term inflationary trends, short-term increases in inflation may lead to a decline in the Portfolio’s value. If interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation, the Portfolio’s investment in these securities may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the securities’ inflation measures. In addition, positive adjustments to principal generally will result in taxable income to the Portfolio at the time of such adjustments (which generally would be distributed by the Portfolio as part of its taxable dividends), even though the principal amount is not paid until maturity. The current market value of inflation-protected securities is not guaranteed and will fluctuate.

 

Portfolio Transactions—All Equity Portfolios

 

Securities will not be purchased or sold based on the prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase. Securities which have depreciated in value since their acquisition will not be sold solely because prospects for the issuer are not considered attractive or due to an expected or realized decline in securities prices in general. Securities will not be sold to realize short-term profits, but when circumstances warrant, they may be sold without regard to the length of time held. Securities, including those eligible for purchase, may be disposed of, however, at any time when, in the Advisor’s judgment, circumstances warrant their sale, including but not limited to tender offers, mergers and similar transactions, or bids made for block purchases at opportune prices. Generally, securities will be purchased with the expectation that they will be held for longer than one year and will be held until such time as they are no longer considered an appropriate holding in light of the investment policy of each Portfolio and Master Fund.

 

Other Information

 

Commodity Pool Operator Exemption

 

Each Portfolio, Master Fund and Underlying Fund is operated by a person that has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”), and, therefore, such person is not subject to registration or regulation as a pool operator under the CEA.

 

Fund of Funds Portfolio Turnover

 

The portfolio turnover rate provided for the Global Equity Portfolio, Global 60/40 Portfolio and Global 25/75 Portfolio (each a “fund of funds”) under the heading “Portfolio Turnover” for the respective Portfolio is unaudited. The portfolio turnover rate presented for each fund of funds was derived from the portfolio turnover rate of the Underlying Funds in which the fund of funds invests.

 

SECURITIES LOANS

 

All of the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds are authorized to lend securities to qualified brokers, dealers, banks and other financial institutions for the purpose of earning additional income, although inasmuch as the Feeder Portfolios will only hold shares of a corresponding Master Fund, these Portfolios do not intend to lend those shares. While a Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund may earn additional income from lending securities, such activity is incidental to the investment objective of a Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund. For information concerning the revenue from securities lending, see “SECURITIES LENDING REVENUE.” The value of securities loaned may not exceed 33 1/3% of the value of a Portfolio‘s or Master Fund’s total assets, which includes the value of collateral received. To the extent a Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund loans a portion of its securities, a Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund will receive collateral consisting generally of cash or U.S. government securities, which will be maintained by marking to market daily in an amount equal to at least (i) 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities with respect to securities of the U.S. government or its agencies, (ii) 102% of the current market value of the loaned securities with respect to U.S. securities, and (iii) 105% of the current market value of the loaned securities with respect to foreign securities. Subject to their stated investment policies, the Portfolios, Master Funds and

 

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Underlying Funds will generally invest the cash collateral received for the loaned securities in The DFA Short Term Investment Fund (the “Money Market Series”), an affiliated registered money market fund advised by the Advisor for which the Advisor receives a management fee of 0.05% of the average daily net assets of the Money Market Series. The Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds may also invest such collateral in securities of the U.S. government or its agencies, repurchase agreements collateralized by securities of the U.S. government or its agencies, and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds. For purposes of this paragraph, agencies include both agency debentures and agency mortgage backed securities.

 

In addition, the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds will be able to terminate the loan at any time and will receive reasonable interest on the loan, as well as amounts equal to any dividends, interest or other distributions on the loaned securities. However, dividend income received from loaned securities may not be eligible to be taxed at qualified dividend income rates. See the SAI for a further discussion of the tax consequences related to securities lending. A Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund will be entitled to recall a loaned security in time to vote proxies or otherwise obtain rights to vote proxies of loaned securities if the Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund knows a material event will occur. In the event of the bankruptcy of the borrower, DFA Investment Dimensions Group, Inc., Dimensional Investment Group Inc. (each a “Fund” and collectively the “Funds”), Emerging Markets Value Fund or the Trust could experience delay in recovering the loaned securities or only recover cash or a security of equivalent value. See “PRINCIPAL RISKSSecurities Lending” for a discussion of the risks related to securities lending.

 

SECURITIES LENDING REVENUE

 

During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the following Portfolios received the following net revenues from a securities lending program (see “SECURITIES LOANS”), which constituted a percentage of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio:

 

Portfolio


   Net Revenue

     Percentage
of Net
Assets


 

U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

   $ 2,001,000         0.10

DFA International Value Portfolio*

   $ 6,128,000         0.13

Emerging Markets Value Portfolio*

   $ 8,393,000         0.09

*   A Portfolio with corresponding Master Fund(s) taxed as a partnership. “Net Revenue” reflects the proportional share of the securities lending revenue generated by the Master Fund(s) that was received by the Portfolio.

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS

 

The Advisor serves as investment advisor to the Portfolios and the Master Funds. Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with each Non-Feeder Portfolio and Master Fund, the Advisor is responsible for the management of their respective assets. Additionally, pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with each Feeder Portfolio, the Advisor, for no additional compensation, manages the portion of each Feeder Portfolio’s assets that are retained by the Feeder Portfolio for cash management purposes and, at its discretion, may make a determination to withdraw a Feeder Portfolio’s investment from its corresponding Master Fund to invest in another Master Fund if the Advisor believes it is in the best interests of the Feeder Portfolio and its shareholders to do so. The Portfolios and the Master Funds are managed using a team approach. The investment team includes the Investment Committee of the Advisor, portfolio managers and trading personnel.

 

The Investment Committee is composed primarily of certain officers and directors of the Advisor who are appointed annually. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Investment Committee has ten members. Investment

 

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strategies for all Portfolios and all Master Funds are set by the Investment Committee, which meets on a regular basis and also as needed to consider investment issues. The Investment Committee also sets and reviews all investment related policies and procedures and approves any changes in regards to approved countries, security types and brokers.

 

In accordance with the team approach used to manage the portfolios, the portfolio managers and portfolio traders implement the policies and procedures established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers and portfolio traders also make daily investment decisions regarding the portfolios including running buy and sell programs based on the parameters established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers named below coordinate the efforts of all other portfolio managers with respect to the day to day management of the category of portfolios indicated.

 

Domestic equity portfolios and Allocation Portfolios

   Stephen A. Clark

International equity portfolios

   Stephen A. Clark,
Karen E. Umland,
Joseph H. Chi and
Jed S. Fogdall

 

Mr. Clark is a Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and chairman of the Investment Committee. Mr. Clark received his MBA from the University of Chicago and his BS from Bradley University. Mr. Clark joined the Advisor as a portfolio manager in 2001 and has been responsible for the portfolio management group since January 2006.

 

Ms. Umland is a Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and a member of the Investment Committee. She received her BA from Yale University in 1988 and her MBA from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1993. Ms. Umland joined the Advisor in 1993 and has been a portfolio manager and responsible for the international equity portfolios since 1998.

 

Mr. Chi is a Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and a member of the Investment Committee. Mr. Chi has an MBA and BS from the University of California, Los Angeles and also a JD from the University of Southern California. Mr. Chi joined the Advisor as a portfolio manager in 2005 and has been responsible for the international equity portfolios since 2010.

 

Mr. Fogdall is a Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and a member of the Investment Committee. Mr. Fogdall has an MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles and a BS from Purdue University. Mr. Fogdall joined the Advisor as a portfolio manager in 2004 and has been responsible for the international equity portfolios since 2010.

 

The Portfolios’ Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) provides information about each portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, and the portfolio manager’s ownership of Fund shares.

 

The Advisor provides the Portfolios, the Master Funds and Underlying Funds with a trading department and selects brokers and dealers to effect securities transactions. Securities transactions are placed with a view to obtaining best price and execution. The Advisor’s address is 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746. A discussion regarding the basis for the Boards of Trustees/Directors approving the investment management agreements with respect to the Portfolios and Master Funds, is available in the semi-annual reports for the Portfolios and Master Funds for the fiscal period ending April 30, 2010.

 

The Funds and the Master Funds bear all of their own costs and expenses, including: services of their independent registered public accounting firm, legal counsel, brokerage fees, commissions and transfer taxes in connection with the acquisition and disposition of portfolio securities, taxes, insurance premiums, costs

 

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incidental to meetings of their shareholders and directors or trustees, the cost of filing their registration statements under the federal securities laws and the cost of any filings required under state securities laws, reports to shareholders, and transfer and dividend disbursing agency, administrative services and custodian fees, except as provided in the Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreements for certain classes of the Portfolios. Expenses allocable to a particular Portfolio or Master Fund or class of a Portfolio are so allocated. The expenses of a Fund which are not allocable to a particular Portfolio or class of a Portfolio are to be borne by each Portfolio or class of a Portfolio of the Fund on the basis of its relative net assets. Similarly, the expenses of the Trust which are not allocable to a particular Series are to be borne by each Master Fund on the basis of its relative net assets.

 

The Advisor has been engaged in the business of providing investment management services since May 1981. The Advisor is currently organized as a Delaware limited partnership and is controlled and operated by its general partner, Dimensional Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation. The Advisor controls Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (“DFAL”) and DFA Australia Limited (“DFA Australia”). As of January 31, 2011, assets under management for all Dimensional affiliated advisors totaled approximately $209 billion.

 

Management Fees

 

The Annual Fund Operating Expenses” table describes the fees incurred by a Portfolio for the services provided by the Advisor for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010. The “Management Fee” listed in the table for each Feeder Portfolio includes the investment management fee that was payable by the Portfolio’s Master Fund to the Advisor and the administrative fee that was payable by the Portfolio to the Advisor. The “Management Fee” listed in the table for the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio includes both an investment advisory fee and administrative fee that was payable by the Portfolio to the Advisor. The “Management Fee” listed in the table for each of the Global Equity Portfolio, Global 60/40 Portfolio and Global 25/75 Portfolio provides the administrative fee that was payable by the Portfolio to the Advisor. The “Management Fee” listed in the table for the remaining Non-Feeder Portfolios provides the investment advisory fee that was payable by the respective Portfolio to the Advisor.

 

Sub-Advisors

 

The Advisor has entered into Sub-Advisory Agreements with DFAL and DFA Australia, respectively, with respect to the International Value Series and the Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund (individually a “Sub-Advised Portfolio” and, collectively, the “Sub-Advised Portfolios”). Pursuant to the terms of each Sub-Advisory Agreement, DFAL and DFA Australia each have the authority and responsibility to select brokers or dealers to execute securities transactions for the Sub-Advised Portfolios. Each Sub-Advisor’s duties include the maintenance of a trading desk and the determination of the best and most efficient means of executing securities transactions. On at least a semi-annual basis, the Advisor will review the holdings of each Sub-Advised Portfolio and review the trading process and the execution of securities transactions. The Advisor is responsible for determining those securities which are eligible for purchase and sale by a Sub-Advised Portfolio and may delegate this task, subject to its own review, to DFAL and DFA Australia. DFAL and DFA Australia maintain and furnish to the Advisor information and reports on companies in certain markets, including recommendations of securities to be added to the securities that are eligible for purchase by each Sub-Advised Portfolio, as well as making recommendations and elections on corporate actions. The Advisor controls DFAL and DFA Australia. DFA Australia is a U.S. federally registered investment advisor located at Level 43 Gateway, 1 Macquarie Place, Sydney, New South Wales 2000, Australia. DFAL is a U.S. federally registered investment advisor located at 20 Triton Street, Regent’s Place, London NW13BF, United Kingdom. DFAL is a member of the Financial Services Authority (“FSA”), a self-regulatory organization for investment managers operating under the laws of England.

 

Shareholder Services

 

On behalf of the Portfolios, the Funds enter into agreements with Shareholder Services Agents to provide shareholder servicing, recordkeeping, account maintenance and other services to shareholders of the Class R1

 

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shares and Class R2 shares. For the array of services provided to Class R1 shareholders of the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, the Fund pays such Shareholder Services Agents an amount up to 0.10% of the average net assets of the Class R1 shares for such services. For the array of services provided to Class R2 shareholders, the Funds pay such Shareholder Services Agents an amount up to 0.25% of the average net assets of the Class R2 shares for such services.

 

Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreements

 

Pursuant to an Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and/or Expense Assumption Agreement, the Advisor has contractually agreed to waive certain fees, including administration/advisory fees, and in certain instances, assume certain expenses of the Class R1 shares and Class R2 shares, as described in the notes below. The Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and/or Expense Assumption Agreement for each of the Class R1 shares and Class R2 shares below will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by a Fund or the Advisor.

 

CLASS R1 SHARES

 

The Advisor has contractually agreed to reduce all or a portion of its administration fee and investment advisory fee and to assume the Portfolio’s direct and indirect expenses (excluding the expenses the Portfolio incurs indirectly through investment in other investment companies) to the extent necessary to limit the annualized expenses of the Portfolio to the rate listed below (the “Annualized Expense Ratio”). At any time that the annualized expenses of the Portfolio are less than the Annualized Expense Ratio identified below, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that the amount of such reimbursement does not cause the Annualized Expense Ratio of the Portfolio to exceed the Annualized Expense Ratio identified below. The Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement.

 

Portfolio


   Annualized
Expense Ratio


 

U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

     0.62

 

CLASS R2 SHARES

 

The Advisor has contractually agreed to assume the Portfolio’s direct expenses (excluding management fees and custodian fees) to the extent necessary to limit the annualized expenses (excluding the expenses the Portfolio incurs indirectly through investment in other investment companies) of the Portfolio to the rate listed below (the “Annualized Expense Ratio”). At any time that the annualized expenses of the Portfolio are less than the Annualized Expense Ratio identified below, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that the amount of such reimbursement does not cause the Annualized Expense Ratio of the Portfolio to exceed the Annualized Expense Ratio identified below. The Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement.

 

Portfolio


   Annualized
Expense Ratio


 

Emerging Markets Value Portfolio

     0.96

 

The Advisor has contractually agreed to reduce all or a portion of its administration fee and investment advisory fee and to assume the Portfolio’s direct and indirect expenses (excluding the expenses the Portfolio incurs indirectly through investment in other investment companies) to the extent necessary to limit the annualized expenses of the Portfolio to the rate listed below (the “Annualized Expense Ratio”). At any time that

 

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the annualized expenses of the Portfolio are less than the Annualized Expense Ratio identified below, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that the amount of such reimbursement does not cause the Annualized Expense Ratio of the Portfolio to exceed the Annualized Expense Ratio identified below. The Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement.

 

Portfolio


   Annualized
Expense Ratio


 

U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

     0.77

 

The Advisor has contractually agreed to assume the Portfolio’s direct expenses (excluding management fees and custodian fees), to the extent necessary to limit the annualized expenses (excluding the expenses the Portfolio incurs indirectly through investment in other investment companies) of the Portfolio to the rate listed below (the “Annualized Expense Ratio”). At any time that the annualized expenses of the Portfolio are less than the Annualized Expense Ratio identified below, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that the amount of such reimbursement does not cause the Annualized Expense Ratio of the Portfolio to exceed the Annualized Expense Ratio identified below. The Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement.

 

Portfolio


   Annualized
Expense Ratio


 

DFA International Value Portfolio

     0.79

 

In order to limit the total administration and management fees received by the Advisor, the Advisor has agreed to waive the administration fee each Portfolio pays to the Advisor to the extent necessary to limit the proportionate share of the total combined administration fee paid by each Portfolio and management fees paid by each Portfolio’s Underlying Funds to the Advisor to 0.27% for the Global Equity Portfolio, to 0.25% for the 60/40 Portfolio and to 0.22% for the 25/75 Portfolio (each an “Annualized Expense Ratio”). The maximum amount waived under this waiver is the full amount of a Portfolio’s administration fee to the Advisor. At any time that the annualized expenses of a Portfolio are less than its Annualized Expense Ratio identified above, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that the amount of such reimbursement does not cause the Annualized Expense Ratio of the Portfolio to exceed the Annualized Expense Ratio identified above. A Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement.

 

Performance

 

Prior to March 30, 2002, reimbursement fees were charged to purchasers of shares of the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio and paid to the Portfolio to offset costs incurred by the Portfolio when investing the proceeds from the sale of its shares. These reimbursement fees are reflected in the historical performance for the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio presented in the performance tables but not in the bar charts. The reimbursement fees (as a percentage of offering price) applicable for the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio was 0.50%.

 

DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

 

Dividends and Distributions. Each Portfolio intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). As a regulated investment company, a Portfolio generally pays no federal income tax on the income and gains it distributes to you. Dividends from net

 

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investment income of a Portfolio are distributed quarterly (on a calendar basis) and any net realized capital gains (after any reductions for available capital loss carryforwards) are distributed annually, typically in December. A Portfolio may distribute such income dividends and capital gains more frequently, if necessary, in order to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the Portfolio.

 

Capital gains distributions may vary considerably from year to year as a result of a Portfolio’s normal investment activities and cash flows. During a time of economic downturn, a Portfolio may experience capital losses and unrealized depreciation in value of investments, the effect of which may be to reduce or eliminate capital gains distributions for a period of time. Even though a Portfolio may experience a current year loss, it may nonetheless distribute prior year capital gains.

 

You will automatically receive all income dividends and capital gains distributions in additional shares of the Portfolio whose shares you hold at net asset value (as of the business date following the dividend record date), unless, upon written notice to the Advisor and completion of account information, you select one of the options listed below:

 

Income Option—to receive income dividends in cash and capital gains distributions in additional shares at net asset value.

 

Capital Gains Option—to receive capital gains distributions in cash and income dividends in additional shares at net asset value.

 

Cash Option—to receive both income dividends and capital gains distributions in cash.

 

Annual Statements. Each year, you will receive a statement that shows the tax status of distributions you received the previous calendar year. Distributions declared in December to shareholders of record in such month, but paid in January, are taxable as if they were paid in December.

 

Avoid “Buying A Dividend.” At the time you purchase your Portfolio shares, a Portfolio’s net asset value may reflect undistributed income, undistributed capital gains, or net unrealized appreciation in value of portfolio securities held by the Portfolio. A subsequent distribution to you of such amounts, although constituting a return of your investment, would be taxable. Buying shares in a Portfolio just before it declares an income dividend or capital gains distribution is sometimes known as “buying a dividend.”

 

Tax Considerations. This discussion of “Tax Considerations” should be read in conjunction with the remaining subsections below containing additional information. Dividends and distributions paid to a qualified, tax-deferred retirement plan, such as a 401(k) plan, accumulate free of federal income taxes. In addition, the sale or redemption by a tax-deferred retirement plan of a Portfolio’s shares will not be subject to federal income taxes. However, the beneficiaries of such tax-deferred retirement plans may be taxed later upon withdrawal of monies from their accounts. Also, unless otherwise indicated, the discussion below with respect to a Portfolio includes in the case of a Feeder Portfolio invested in a Master Fund or a Portfolio invested in an Underlying Fund classified as a partnership, its pro rata share of its corresponding Master Fund’s or Underlying Fund’s income and assets and in the case of a Portfolio invested in an Underlying Fund classified as a corporation, its pro rata share of the dividends and distributions paid by such Underlying Fund.

 

In general, if you are a taxable investor, Portfolio distributions (other than exempt-interest dividends) are taxable to you as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both. This is true whether you reinvest your distributions in additional Portfolio shares or receive them in cash.

 

For federal income tax purposes, Portfolio distributions of short-term capital gains are taxable to you as ordinary income. Portfolio distributions of long-term capital gains are taxable to you as long-term capital gains no matter how long you have owned your shares. A Portfolio with a high portfolio turnover rate (a measure of how frequently assets within a Portfolio are bought and sold) is more likely to generate short-term capital gains

 

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than a Portfolio with a low portfolio turnover rate. With respect to taxable years of a Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2013, unless such provision is extended or made permanent, a portion of income dividends reported by a Portfolio as qualified dividend income may be eligible for taxation by individual shareholders at long-term capital gain rates provided certain holding period requirements are met.

 

If a Portfolio qualifies to pass through to you the tax benefits from foreign taxes it pays on its investments, and elects to do so, then any foreign taxes it pays on these investments may be passed through to you as a foreign tax credit.

 

The Board of Trustees of a Master Fund reserves the right to change the entity classification of a Master Fund for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time, as may be permitted or required under the Code. For instance, the Board might cause a Master Fund that is classified as a partnership to elect to be classified as a corporation and taxable as a regulated investment company or disregarded entity (if it has one shareholder) or vice versa. Such a change in entity classification may be prompted by, among other things, changes in law, the investment strategy of a Master Fund, or the nature and number of shareholders of a Master Fund or other factors or events adversely affecting the ability of a Master Fund to comply with the Code. A change in entity classification of a Master Fund may be a taxable event, causing the Master Fund and shareholders of the Master Fund that are subject to tax to recognize a taxable gain or loss. Such a change in entity classification would also cause the shareholders of the Master Fund to be subject to a different taxation regime, which may adversely affect some shareholders depending upon their particular circumstances.

 

Sale or Redemption of Portfolio Shares. The sale of shares of a Portfolio is a taxable event and may result in a capital gain or loss to you. Capital gain or loss may be realized from an ordinary redemption of shares or an exchange of shares between two Portfolios. Any loss incurred on the sale or exchange of a Portfolio’s shares, held for six months or less, will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of capital gain dividends received with respect to such shares.

 

Backup Withholding. By law, a Portfolio may be required to withhold 28% of taxable dividends, capital gains distributions, and redemption proceeds paid to you if you do not provide your proper taxpayer identification number and certain required certifications. You may avoid this withholding requirement by providing and certifying on the account registration form your correct Taxpayer Identification Number and by certifying that you are not subject to backup withholding and are a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). A Portfolio must also withhold if the IRS instructs it to do so.

 

State and Local Taxes. In addition to federal taxes, you may be subject to state and local taxes on distributions from a Portfolio and on gains arising on redemption or exchange of a Portfolio’s shares. Distributions of interest income and capital gains realized from certain types of U.S. government securities may be exempt from state personal income taxes. To the extent an Underlying Fund organized as a corporation invests in U.S. government obligations, distributions derived from interest on these obligations and paid to its corresponding Portfolio and, in turn, to shareholders are unlikely to be exempt from state and local income tax.

 

Non-U.S. Investors. Non-U.S. investors may be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a 30% or lower treaty rate and are subject to special U.S. tax certification requirements to avoid backup withholding and claim any treaty benefits. Exemptions from U.S. withholding tax are provided for capital gain dividends paid by a Portfolio from long-term capital gains, if any, exempt-interest dividends, and, with respect to taxable years of a Portfolio that begin before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended or made permanent), interest-related dividends paid by a Portfolio from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources and short-term capital gain dividends. However, notwithstanding such exemptions from U.S. withholding at the source, any such dividends and distributions of income and capital gains will be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 28% if you fail to properly certify that you are not a U.S. person. Non-U.S. investors also may be subject to U.S. estate tax.

 

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This discussion of “DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES” is not intended or written to be used as tax advice. Because everyone’s tax situation is unique, you should consult your tax professional about federal, state, local or foreign tax consequences before making an investment in a Portfolio. Prospective investors should also consult the SAI.

 

PURCHASE OF SHARES

 

Cash Purchases

 

Class R1 shares and Class R2 shares of the Portfolios are generally sold only to defined contribution plans and other similar group benefit plans that are exempt from taxation under the Internal Revenue Code and employer sponsored non-qualified deferred compensation plans (“Retirement Plans”). Class R1 shares and Class R2 shares of the Portfolios are available to a Retirement Plan, if the Shareholder Services Agent for the Retirement Plan has entered into an agreement with the Funds to provide shareholder services to the Retirement Plan and Retirement Plan Participants in connection with their investments in the Class R1 shares or Class R2 shares of the Portfolios. Provided that the Portfolios are available under an employer’s Retirement Plan, shares may be purchased by following the procedures adopted by the respective employer or Shareholder Services Agent and approved by the Funds’ management for making investments. Investors who are considering an investment in the Portfolios should contact their employer or the Shareholder Services Agent for the Retirement Plan for details about the purchase procedures and the classes of shares and Portfolios that are available for purchase. The Funds do not impose a minimum purchase requirement, but investors who wish to purchase shares of the Portfolios should determine whether their employer’s Retirement Plan or Shareholder Services Agent imposes a minimum transaction requirement. Purchases of shares will be made in full and fractional shares calculated to three decimal places. In the interest of economy and convenience, certificates for shares will not be issued. The Funds reserve the right to reject any initial or additional investment and to suspend the offering of shares of any Portfolio or class of any Portfolio.

 

In-Kind Purchases

 

If accepted by the Funds, shares of the Portfolios may be purchased in exchange for securities that are eligible for acquisition by the Portfolios (or their corresponding Master Funds) or otherwise represented in their portfolios as described in this Prospectus or as otherwise consistent with the Funds’ policies or procedures or in exchange for local currencies in which such securities of the International Value Series, International Equity Underlying Funds and Fixed Income Underlying Funds denominated. Securities and local currencies accepted by the Funds for exchange and Fund shares to be issued in the exchange will be valued as set forth under “VALUATION OF SHARES” at the time of the next determination of net asset value after such acceptance. All dividends, interest, subscription, or other rights pertaining to such securities shall become the property of the Portfolio whose shares are being acquired and must be delivered to the Fund by the investor upon receipt from the issuer. Investors who desire to purchase shares of the Portfolios with local currencies should first contact the Advisor.

 

The Funds will not accept securities in exchange for shares of a Portfolio unless: (1) such securities are, at the time of the exchange, eligible to be included, or otherwise represented, in the Portfolio whose shares are to be issued (or in its corresponding Master Fund) and current market quotations are readily available for such securities; (2) the investor represents and agrees that all securities offered to be exchanged are not subject to any restrictions upon their sale by the Portfolio under the Securities Act of 1933 or under the laws of the country in which the principal market for such securities exists, or otherwise; and (3) at the discretion of the respective Fund, the value of any such security (except U.S. government securities) being exchanged, together with other securities of the same issuer owned by the Portfolio or Master Fund, may not exceed 5% of the net assets of the Portfolio or Master Fund immediately after the transaction.

 

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A gain or loss for federal income tax purposes will generally be realized by investors who are subject to federal taxation upon the exchange depending upon the cost of the securities or local currency exchanged. Investors interested in such exchanges should contact the Advisor.

 

POLICY REGARDING EXCESSIVE OR SHORT-TERM TRADING

 

The Portfolios are designed for long-term investors (except as described below) and are not intended for investors that engage in excessive short-term trading activity that may be harmful to the Portfolios, including but not limited to market timing. Short-term or excessive trading into and out of the Portfolios can disrupt portfolio management strategies, harm performance and increase Portfolio expenses for all shareholders, including long-term shareholders who do not generate these costs.

 

In addition, certain Portfolios and Master Funds may be more susceptible to the risks of short-term trading than other Portfolios and Master Funds. The nature of the holdings of the International Portfolios and International Master Funds may present opportunities for a shareholder to engage in a short-term trading strategy that exploits possible delays between changes in the price of a Portfolio’s or Master Fund’s holdings and the reflection of those changes in the Portfolio’s net asset value (called “arbitrage market timing”). Such delays may occur because an International Portfolio or its Master Fund, if applicable, has significant investments in foreign securities where, due to time zone differences, the values of those securities are established some time before the Portfolio and/or the Master Fund calculate their net asset values. In such circumstances, the available market prices for such foreign securities may not accurately reflect the latest indications of value at the time the International Portfolio calculates its net asset value. There is a possibility that arbitrage market timing may dilute the value of a Portfolio’s shares if redeeming shareholders receive proceeds (and purchasing shareholders receive shares) based upon a net asset value that does not reflect appropriate fair value prices.

 

The Boards of Directors of the Funds (collectively, the “Board”) have adopted a policy (the “Trading Policy”) and the Advisor and DFA Securities LLC (collectively, “Dimensional”) and Dimensional’s agents have implemented the following procedures, which are designed to discourage and prevent market timing or excessive short-term trading in the Funds: (i) trade activity monitoring and purchase blocking procedures; and (ii) use of fair value pricing.

 

The Funds, Dimensional and their agents monitor trades and flows of money in and out of the Portfolios from time to time in an effort to detect excessive short-term trading activities, and for consistent enforcement of the Trading Policy. The Funds reserve the right to take the actions necessary to stop excessive or disruptive trading activities, including refusing or canceling purchase or exchange orders for any reason, without prior notice, particularly purchase or exchange orders that the Funds believe are made on behalf of market timers. The Funds, Dimensional and their agents reserve the right to restrict, refuse or cancel any purchase or exchange request made by an investor indefinitely if the Funds or Dimensional believe that any combination of trading activity in the accounts is potentially disruptive to a Portfolio. In making such judgments, the Fund and Dimensional seek to act in a manner that is consistent with the interests of shareholders. For purposes of applying these procedures, Dimensional may consider an investor’s trading history in the Portfolios, and accounts under common ownership, influence or control.

 

In addition to the Funds’ general ability to restrict potentially disruptive trading activity as described above, the Funds also have adopted purchase blocking procedures. Under the Funds’ purchase blocking procedures, where an investor has engaged in any two purchases and two redemptions (including redemptions that are part of an exchange transaction) in a Portfolio in any rolling 30 calendar day monitoring period (i.e., two “round trips”), the Funds and Dimensional intend to block the investor from making any additional purchases in that Portfolio for 90 calendar days (a “purchase block”). If implemented, a purchase block will begin at some point after the transaction that caused the investor to have engaged in the prohibited two round-trips is detected by the Funds,

 

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Dimensional, or their agents. The Funds and Dimensional are permitted to implement a longer purchase block, or permanently bar future purchases by an investor, if they determine that it is appropriate.

 

Under the Funds’ purchase blocking procedures, the following purchases and redemptions will not trigger a purchase block: (i) purchases and redemptions of shares having a value in each transaction of less than $5,000; (ii) purchases and redemptions by U.S. registered investment companies that operate as fund of funds and non-U.S. investment companies that operate as fund of funds that the Funds or Dimensional, in their sole discretion, have determined are not designed and/or are not serving as vehicles for excessive short-term or other disruptive trading (in each case, the fund of funds shall agree to be subject to monitoring by Dimensional); (iii) purchases and redemptions by a feeder portfolio of a master fund’s shares; (iv) systematic or automated transactions where the shareholder, financial advisor or investment fiduciary does not exercise direct control over the investment decision; (v) retirement plan contributions, loans, loan repayments and distributions (including hardship withdrawals) identified as such in the retirement plan recordkeeper’s system; (vi) purchase transactions involving transfers of assets, rollovers, Roth IRA conversions and IRA recharacterizations; (vii) purchases of shares with Portfolio dividends or capital gain distributions; (viii) transfers and reregistrations of shares within the same Portfolio; and (ix) transactions by 529 Plans. Notwithstanding the Funds’ purchase blocking procedures, all transactions in Portfolio shares are subject to the right of the Funds and Dimensional to restrict potentially disruptive trading activity (including purchases and redemptions described above that will not be subject to the purchase blocking procedures).

 

The Funds, Dimensional or their designees will have the ability, pursuant to Rule 22c-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), to request information from financial intermediaries, such as 401(k) plan administrators, trust companies and broker dealers (together, “Intermediaries”), concerning trades placed in omnibus and other multi-investor accounts (together, “Omnibus Accounts”), in order to attempt to monitor trades that are placed by the underlying shareholders of these Omnibus Accounts. The Funds, Dimensional and their designees will use the information obtained from the Intermediaries to monitor trading in the Funds and to attempt to identify shareholders in Omnibus Accounts engaged in trading that is inconsistent with the Trading Policy or otherwise not in the best interests of the Funds. The Funds, Dimensional or their designees, when they detect trading patterns in shares of the Funds that may constitute short-term or excessive trading, will provide written instructions to the Intermediary to restrict or prohibit further purchases or exchanges of shares of the Portfolios by a shareholder that has been identified as having engaged in excessive or short-term transactions in the Portfolios’ shares (directly or indirectly through the Intermediary’s account) that violate the Trading Policy.

 

The ability of the Funds and Dimensional to impose these limitations, including the purchase blocking procedures, on investors investing through Intermediaries is dependent on the receipt of information necessary to identify transactions by the underlying investors and the Intermediary’s cooperation in implementing the Trading Policy. Investors seeking to engage in excessive short-term trading practices may deploy a variety of strategies to avoid detection, and despite the efforts of the Funds and Dimensional to prevent excessive short-term trading, there is no assurance that the Funds, Dimensional or their agents will be able to identify those shareholders or curtail their trading practices. The ability of the Funds, Dimensional and their agents to detect and limit excessive short-term trading also may be restricted by operational systems and technological limitations.

 

The purchase blocking procedures of the Trading Policy may not apply to redemptions by shareholders whose shares are held on the books of Intermediaries if the Intermediaries have not adopted procedures to implement this Policy. The Funds and Dimensional will work with Intermediaries to develop such policies to institute the purchase blocking procedures or other procedures that the Funds and Dimensional determine are reasonably designed to achieve the objective of this Trading Policy. At the time the Intermediaries adopt these procedures, shareholders whose accounts are on the books of such Intermediaries will be subject to the Trading Policy’s purchase blocking procedures or another frequent trading policy that achieves the objective of the purchase blocking procedures. Investors that invest in the Portfolios through an Intermediary should contact the Intermediary for information concerning the policies and procedures that apply to the investor.

 

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As of the date of this Prospectus, the ability of the Funds and Dimensional to apply the purchase blocking procedures on purchases by all investors and the ability of the Funds and Dimensional to monitor trades through Omnibus Accounts maintained by Intermediaries may be restricted due to systems limitations of both the Funds’ service providers and the Intermediaries. The Funds expect that the application of the Trading Policy as described above, including the purchase blocking procedures (subject to the limitations described above), will be able to be implemented by Intermediaries in compliance with Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act.

 

In addition, the purchase blocking procedures will not apply to a redemption transaction in which a Portfolio distributes portfolio securities to a shareholder in-kind, where the redemption will not disrupt the efficient portfolio management of the Portfolio/Master Fund and the redemption is consistent with the interests of the remaining shareholders of the Portfolio/Master Fund.

 

In addition to monitoring trade activity, the Board has adopted fair value pricing procedures that govern the pricing of the securities of the Portfolios and Master Funds. These procedures are designed to help ensure that the prices at which Portfolio shares are purchased and redeemed are fair, and do not result in dilution of shareholder interests or other harm to shareholders. See the discussion under “VALUATION OF SHARES—Net Asset Value” for additional details regarding fair value pricing of the Portfolio’s securities.

 

Although the procedures are designed to discourage excessive short-term trading, none of the procedures individually nor all of the procedures taken together can completely eliminate the possibility that excessive short-term trading activity in a Portfolio may occur. The Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds do not knowingly accommodate excessive or disruptive trading activities, including market timing.

 

VALUATION OF SHARES

 

Net Asset Value

 

The net asset value per share of each class of each Portfolio and the net asset value per share of each Master Fund and Underlying Fund is calculated after the close of the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. ET) by dividing the total value of the investments and other assets of the Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund less any liabilities, by the total outstanding shares of the stock of the respective class of the Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund. Note: The time at which transactions and shares are priced may be changed in case of an emergency or if the NYSE closes at a time other than 4:00 p.m. ET.

 

The value of the shares of each Non-Feeder Portfolio will fluctuate in relation to its own investment experience. The value of the shares of the Feeder Portfolios, International Small Company Portfolio and Allocation Portfolios will fluctuate in relation to the investment experience of the Master Funds or Underlying Fund in which such Portfolios invest. Securities held by the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds will be valued in accordance with applicable laws and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors or Trustees, and generally, as described below.

 

Securities held by the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds (including over-the-counter securities) are valued at the last quoted sale price of the day. Securities held by the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds that are listed on Nasdaq are valued at the Nasdaq Official Closing Price (“NOCP”). If there is no last reported sale price or NOCP of the day, the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds value the securities at the mean of the most recent quoted bid and asked prices. Price information on listed securities is taken from the exchange where the security is primarily traded. Generally, securities issued by open-end investment companies, such as the Master Funds and Underlying Funds, are valued using their respective net asset values or public offering prices, as appropriate, for purchase orders placed at the close of the NYSE.

 

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The value of the securities and other assets of the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds for which no market quotations are readily available (including restricted securities), or for which market quotations have become unreliable, are determined in good faith at fair value in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Directors or Trustees, as the case may be. Fair value pricing may also be used if events that have a significant effect on the value of an investment (as determined in the discretion of the Investment Committee of the Advisor) occur before the net asset value is calculated. When fair value pricing is used, the prices of securities used by the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds may differ from the quoted or published prices for the same securities on their primary markets or exchanges.

 

To the extent that a Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund holds large numbers of securities, it is likely that it will have a larger number of securities that may be deemed illiquid and therefore must be valued pursuant to special procedures adopted by the Board of Directors or Trustees, than would a fund that holds a smaller number of securities. Portfolios that invest in small capitalization companies are more likely to hold illiquid securities than would a fund that invests in larger capitalization companies.

 

As of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds holding foreign equity securities (the “Foreign Equity Funds”) will also fair value price in the circumstances described below. Generally, trading in foreign securities markets is completed each day at various times before the close of the NYSE. For example, trading in the Japanese securities markets is completed each day at the close of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (normally, 2:00 a.m. ET), which is fourteen hours before the close of the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. ET) and the time that the net asset values of the Foreign Equity Funds are computed. Due to the time differences between the closings of the relevant foreign securities exchanges and the time the Foreign Equity Funds price their shares at the close of the NYSE, the Foreign Equity Funds will fair value their foreign investments when it is determined that the market quotations for the foreign investments are either unreliable or not readily available. The fair value prices will attempt to reflect the impact of the U.S. financial markets’ perceptions and trading activities on the Foreign Equity Funds’ foreign investments since the last closing prices of the foreign investments were calculated on their primary foreign securities markets or exchanges. For these purposes, the Boards of Directors/Trustees of the Foreign Equity Funds have determined that movements in relevant indices or other appropriate market indicators, after the close of the Tokyo Stock Exchange or the London Stock Exchange, demonstrate that market quotations may be unreliable, and may trigger fair value pricing. Consequently, fair valuation of portfolio securities may occur on a daily basis. The fair value pricing by the Foreign Equity Funds utilizes data furnished by an independent pricing service (and that data draws upon, among other information, the market values of foreign investments). When a Foreign Equity Fund uses fair value pricing, the values assigned to the Foreign Equity Fund’s foreign investments may not be the quoted or published prices of the investments on their primary markets or exchanges. The Boards of Directors/Trustees of the Foreign Equity Funds monitor the operation of the method used to fair value price the Foreign Equity Funds’ foreign investments.

 

Valuing securities at fair value involves greater reliance on judgment than valuing securities that have readily available market quotations. There can be no assurance that a Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund could obtain the fair value assigned to a security if it were to sell the security at approximately the time at which the Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund determines its net asset value per share. As a result, the sale or redemption by a Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund of its shares at net asset value, at a time when a holding or holdings are valued at fair value, may have the effect of diluting or increasing the economic interest of existing shareholders.

 

The net asset values per share of the International Equity Portfolios (in respect to those Portfolios that are Feeder Portfolios, the Master Funds) and the International Equity Underlying Funds are expressed in U.S. dollars by translating the net assets of each Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund using the mean of the most recent bid and asked prices for the dollar as quoted by generally recognized reliable sources. Since the International Equity Portfolios and Master Funds and the International Equity Underlying Funds own securities that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges which may trade on days when the Portfolios, Master Funds and

 

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Underlying Funds do not price their shares, the net asset values of the International Equity Portfolios and such Master Funds and Underlying Funds may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem shares.

 

Most Portfolios, Master Funds, and Underlying Funds generally calculate their net asset values per share and accept purchase and redemption orders on days that the NYSE is open for trading.

 

Certain of the securities holdings of the Emerging Markets Value Fund in Approved Markets may be subject to tax, investment and currency repatriation regulations of the Approved Markets that could have a material effect on the values of the securities. For example, such funds might be subject to different levels of taxation on current income and realized gains depending upon the holding period of the securities. In general, a longer holding period (e.g., 5 years) may result in the imposition of lower tax rates than a shorter holding period (e.g., 1 year). The Emerging Markets Value Fund may also be subject to certain contractual arrangements with investment authorities in an Approved Market which require a Master Fund or Portfolio to maintain minimum holding periods or to limit the extent of repatriation of income and realized gains.

 

Futures contracts are valued using the settlement price established each day on the exchange on which they are traded. The value of such futures contracts held by a Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund is determined each day as of such close.

 

Public Offering Price

 

Provided that the Shareholder Services Agent designated by a Retirement Plan has received the investor’s investment instructions in good order and the custodian has received the investor’s payment, shares of the Portfolio selected will be priced at the public offering price, which is the net asset value of the shares next determined after receipt of the investor’s funds by the custodian. The transfer agent or the Funds may, from time to time, appoint sub-transfer agents (such as Shareholder Services Agents) or various financial intermediaries (“Intermediaries”) for the receipt of purchase orders, redemption orders and funds from certain investors. Intermediaries, in turn, are authorized to designate other financial intermediaries (“Sub-designees”) to receive purchase and redemption orders for the Portfolios’ shares from investors. With respect to such investors, the shares of the Portfolio selected will be priced at the public offering price calculated after receipt of the purchase order by the Intermediary or Sub-designee, as applicable, that is authorized to receive purchase orders. If the investor buys shares through an Intermediary or a Sub-designee, the purchase price will be the public offering price next calculated after the Intermediary or Sub-designee, as applicable, receives the order, rather than on the day the custodian receives the investor’s payment (provided that the Intermediary or Sub-designee, as applicable, has received the investor’s purchase order in good order, and the investor has complied with the Intermediary’s or Sub-designee’s payment procedures). No reimbursement fee or sales charge is imposed on purchases. If an order to purchase shares must be canceled due to non-payment, the purchaser will be responsible for any loss incurred by a Portfolio arising out of such cancellation. The Funds reserve the right to redeem shares owned by any purchaser whose order is canceled to recover any resulting loss to a Portfolio and may prohibit or restrict the manner in which such purchaser may place further orders.

 

EXCHANGE OF SHARES

 

Investors may exchange Class R2 shares of one Portfolio described in this Prospectus for the same class of shares of another Portfolio described in this Prospectus. The minimum amount for an exchange is $100,000.

 

Retirement Plan participants may be able to exchange shares. Please contact your employer or the Shareholder Services Agent to determine if an exchange of shares is available and the documentation required.

 

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The exchange privilege is not intended to afford shareholders a way to speculate on short-term movements in the markets. Accordingly, in order to prevent excessive use of the exchange privilege that may potentially disrupt the management of any Portfolio or otherwise adversely affect the Funds, the exchange privilege may be terminated, and any proposed exchange is subject to the approval of the Advisor. Such approval will depend on: (i) the size of the proposed exchange; (ii) the prior number of exchanges by that shareholder; (iii) the nature of the underlying securities and the cash position of the Portfolios involved in the proposed exchange; (iv) the transaction costs involved in processing the exchange; and (v) the total number of redemptions by exchange already made out of the Portfolio. Excessive use of the exchange privilege is defined as any pattern of exchanges among portfolios by an investor that evidences market timing.

 

For Retirement Plan participants exchanging shares, the redemption and purchase prices of shares redeemed and purchased by exchange, respectively, are the net asset values next determined after the Shareholder Services Agent has received appropriate instructions in the form required by such Shareholder Services Agent.

 

There is no fee imposed on an exchange. However, the Funds reserve the right to impose an administrative fee in order to cover the costs incurred in processing an exchange. Any such fee will be disclosed in the Prospectus. The Funds reserve the right to revise or terminate the exchange privilege, waive the minimum amount requirement, limit the amount of or reject any exchange, as deemed necessary, at any time.

 

REDEMPTION OF SHARES

 

Redemption Procedure for Retirement Plan Participants

 

A participant in a Retirement Plan or a client of an institution who desires to redeem shares of a Portfolio must furnish a redemption request to the Shareholder Services Agent designated under the Retirement Plan or by the institution in the form required by such Shareholder Services Agent. The Shareholder Services Agent will adopt procedures approved by management of the Funds for transmitting redemption orders.

 

Redemption Procedure for Retirement Plans

 

A Retirement Plan that desires to redeem shares of a Portfolio must furnish a redemption request to the Funds. Each Portfolio will redeem shares at the net asset value of such class of shares next determined after receipt of a request for redemption in good order by the Portfolio’s transfer agent. “Good order” means that the request to redeem shares must include all necessary documentation, to be received in writing by the Advisor no later than the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. ET), including but not limited to: the stock certificate(s), if issued; a letter of instruction or a stock assignment specifying the number of shares or dollar amount to be redeemed, signed by all registered owners (or representatives thereof) of the shares; and, if a Fund does not have on file the authorized signatures for the account, proof of authority. A Retirement Plan that has authorized redemption payment on redemption request to the Funds may request that redemption proceeds be paid in federal funds wired to the bank they have designated on the redemption request. The Funds reserve the right to send redemption proceeds by check in their discretion; a shareholder may request overnight delivery of such check at the shareholder’s own expense. If the proceeds are wired to the shareholder’s account at a bank which is not a member of the Federal Reserve System, there could be a delay in crediting the funds to the bank account. The Funds reserve the right at any time to suspend or terminate the redemption by wire procedure after notification to the Retirement Plan. No charge is made by the Funds for redemptions. The redemption of all shares in an account will result in the account being closed. A new Account Registration Form will be required for future investments.

 

Although the redemption payments will ordinarily be made within seven days after receipt, payment to investors redeeming shares which were purchased by check will not be made until a Fund can verify that the payments for the purchase have been, or will be, collected, which may take up to ten days or more. Investors may avoid this delay by submitting a certified check along with the purchase order.

 

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Redemption of Small Accounts

 

With respect to each Portfolio, the Funds reserve the right to redeem an account if the value of the shares in a specific Portfolio is $500 or less because of redemptions. Before a Fund involuntarily redeems shares from such an account and sends the proceeds to the stockholder, the Fund will give written notice of the redemption to the stockholder at least sixty days before the redemption date. The stockholder will then have sixty days from the date of the notice to make an additional investment in order to bring the value of the shares in the account for a specific Portfolio to more than $500 and avoid such involuntary redemption. The redemption price to be paid to a stockholder for shares redeemed by a Fund under this right will be the aggregate net asset value of the shares in the account at the close of business on the redemption date. The right to redeem small accounts applies to accounts established with the Funds’ transfer agent.

 

In-Kind Redemptions

 

When in the best interests of a Portfolio, the Portfolio that is not a Feeder Portfolio may also make a redemption payment, in whole or in part, by a distribution of portfolio securities that the Portfolio owns in lieu of cash. When in the best interests of a Feeder Portfolio, the Feeder Portfolio may make a redemption payment, in whole or in part, by a distribution of portfolio securities that the Feeder Portfolio receives from the Master Fund in lieu of cash. Such distributions will be made in accordance with the federal securities laws and regulations governing mutual funds. Investors may incur brokerage charges and other transaction costs selling securities that were received in payment of redemptions. The International Equity Portfolios reserve the right to redeem their shares in the currencies in which their investments (and, in respect of the Feeder Portfolios, the currencies in which the corresponding Master Funds’ or Underlying Funds investments) are denominated. Investors may incur charges in converting such securities to dollars and the value of the securities may be affected by currency exchange fluctuations.

 

THE FEEDER PORTFOLIOS

 

Other institutional investors, including other mutual funds, may invest in each Master Fund. Accordingly, the expenses of such other funds and, correspondingly, their returns may differ from those of the Feeder Portfolios. Please contact The DFA Investment Trust Company and the Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund at 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746, (512) 306-7400 for information about the availability of investing in a Master Fund other than through a Feeder Portfolio.

 

The aggregate amount of expenses for a Feeder Portfolio and the corresponding Master Fund may be greater than it would be if the Portfolio were to invest directly in the securities held by the corresponding Master Fund. However, the total expense ratios for the Feeder Portfolios and the Master Funds are expected to be less over time than such ratios would be if the Portfolios were to invest directly in the underlying securities. This arrangement enables various institutional investors, including the Feeder Portfolios, to pool their assets, which may be expected to result in economies by spreading certain fixed costs over a larger asset base. Each shareholder in a Master Fund, including a Feeder Portfolio, will pay its proportionate share of the expenses of that Master Fund.

 

The shares of the Master Funds will be offered to institutional investors for the purpose of increasing the funds available for investment, to reduce expenses as a percentage of total assets and to achieve other economies that might be available at higher asset levels. Investment in a Master Fund by other institutional investors offers potential benefits to the Master Funds, and through their investment in the Master Funds, the Feeder Portfolios also. However, such economies and expense reductions might not be achieved, and additional investment opportunities, such as increased diversification, might not be available if other institutions do not invest in the Master Funds. Also, if an institutional investor were to redeem its interest in a Master Fund, the remaining investors in that Master Fund could experience higher pro rata operating expenses, thereby producing lower

 

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returns, and the Master Fund’s security holdings may become less diverse, resulting in increased risk. Institutional investors that have a greater pro rata ownership interest in a Master Fund than the corresponding Feeder Portfolio could have effective voting control over the operation of the Master Fund.

 

If the Board of Directors of the relevant Fund determines that it is in the best interest of a Feeder Portfolio, the Feeder Portfolio may withdraw its investment in a Master Fund at any time. Upon any such withdrawal, the Board would consider what action the Portfolio might take, including either seeking to invest its assets in another registered investment company with the same investment objective as the Portfolio, which might not be possible, or retaining an investment advisor to manage the Portfolio’s assets in accordance with its own investment objective, possibly at increased cost. Shareholders of a Feeder Portfolio will receive written notice thirty days before the effective date of any change in the investment objective of its corresponding Master Fund. A withdrawal by a Feeder Portfolio of its investment in the corresponding Master Fund could result in a distribution in kind of portfolio securities (as opposed to a cash distribution) to the Portfolio. Should such a distribution occur, the Portfolio could incur brokerage fees or other transaction costs in converting such securities to cash in order to pay redemptions. In addition, a distribution in kind to the Portfolio could result in a less diversified portfolio of investments and could affect adversely the liquidity of the Portfolio. Moreover, a distribution in kind by the Master Fund corresponding to the DFA International Value and Emerging Markets Value Portfolios may constitute a taxable exchange for federal income tax purposes, resulting in gain or loss to such Portfolios. Any net capital gains so realized will be distributed to such a Portfolio’s shareholders as described in “DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES.”

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

Each Portfolio Master Fund and Underlying Fund generally will disclose up to its 25 largest portfolio holdings (or with respect to a Feeder Portfolio, the holdings of its Master Fund) (other than cash and cash equivalents) and the percentages that each of these largest portfolio holdings represent of the total assets of the Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund, as of the most recent month-end, online at the Advisor’s public website, http://www.dimensional.com, within 20 days after the end of each month. Each Portfolio, Master Fund and Underlying Fund also generally will disclose its complete portfolio holdings (or with respect to a Feeder Portfolio, the holdings of its Master Fund) (other than cash and cash equivalents), as of month-end, online at the Advisor’s public website, two months following the month-end or more frequently and at different periods when authorized in accordance with the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds’ policies and procedures. Please consult the SAI for a description of the other policies and procedures that govern disclosure of the portfolio holdings by the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

The Financial Highlights table is meant to help you understand each Portfolio’s financial performance for the past 5 years or, if shorter, the period of that Portfolio’s operations, as indicated by the table. The total returns in the table represent the rate that you would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Portfolio, assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. This information for each of the fiscal years has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, whose report, along with the Portfolios’ financial statements, is included in the annual reports. Further information about the Portfolios’ performance is contained in the annual reports, which are available upon request. The financial highlights information presented in the table below for the Class R2 shares (formerly Class R2A shares) of the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio is the financial history of the predecessor share class (the “Predecessor Share Class”) of the Portfolio. The Predecessor Share Class was converted into Class R2A shares of the Portfolio. The Class R2A shares were renamed the Class R2 shares.

 

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DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

Class R1 Shares

 

     U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio1

 
     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct.  31,

2009

    For the Period
January 31, 2008***
to
Oct. 31, 2008**


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 11.73      $ 10.92      $ 14.69   
    


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                        

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.07     0.12     0.13

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     3.07        0.87        (3.76
    


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

     3.14        0.99        (3.63
    


 


 


Less Distributions

                        

Net Investment Income

     (0.12     (0.18     (0.14

Net Realized Gains

                     
    


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.12     (0.18     (0.14
    


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 14.75      $ 11.73      $ 10.92   
    


 


 


Total Return

     26.93     9.36     (24.96 )%† 
    


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 41,316      $ 31,393      $ 25,599   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

     0.49     0.52     0.50 %^@ 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     0.59     1.12     1.24 %^@ 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     20     17     20 %† 

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from the commencement of operations through October 31, 2008.
***   Commencement of operations.
@   Because of commencement of operations and related preliminary transaction costs, these ratios are not necessarily indicative of future ratios.
1   On October 29, 2010, the Board of Directors/Trustees adopted a Plan of Recapitalization of U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio’s Class R1. On November 19, 2010, a reverse stock split was executed whereby each shareholder of Class R1 Shares received one share for every 1.469 shares held. The purpose of the reverse split was to reduce the number of Class R1 Shares, thereby increasing the net asset value of each Class R1 Share outstanding in order to more closely align the net asset values with the net asset value of U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio’s Institutional Class Shares. The per share data in the financial highlights have been retroactively restated to reflect the reverse stock splits for the Class R1 Shares.

 

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DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

Class R2 Shares

 

     U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio1

 
     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct.  31,

2009

    For the Period
June 30, 2008***
to
Oct. 31, 2008**


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 11.74      $ 10.91      $ 13.94   
    


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                        

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.05     0.10     0.05

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     3.07        0.88        (3.02
    


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

     3.12        0.98        (2.97
    


 


 


Less Distributions

                        

Net Investment Income

     (0.10     (0.15     (0.06

Net Realized Gains

                     
    


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.10     (0.15     (0.06
    


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 14.76      $ 11.74      $ 10.91   
    


 


 


Total Return

     26.66     9.23     (21.40 )%† 
    


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 5,967      $ 2,930      $ 1,715   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

     0.64     0.67     0.66 %^@ 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     0.44     0.91     1.35 %^@ 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     20     17     20 %† 

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from the commencement of operations through October 31, 2008.
***   Commencement of operations.
@   Because of commencement of operations and related preliminary transaction costs, these ratios are not necessarily indicative of future ratios.
1   On October 29, 2010, the Board of Directors/Trustees adopted a Plan of Recapitalization of U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio’s Class R2 Shares. On November 19, 2010, a reverse stock split was executed whereby each shareholder of Class R2 Shares received one share for every 1.394 shares held. The purpose of the reverse split was to reduce the number of Class R2 Shares, thereby increasing the net asset value of each Class R2 Share outstanding in order to more closely align the net asset values with the net asset value of U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio’s Institutional Class Shares. The per share data in the financial highlights have been retroactively restated to reflect the reverse stock splits for the Class R2 Shares.

 

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Table of Contents

DIMENSIONAL INVESTMENT GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

Class R2 Shares

 

     DFA International
Value  Portfolio1


 
     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct.  31,

2009

    For the Period
April 30, 2008***
to
Oct. 31, 2008**


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 17.13      $ 13.58      $ 26.31   
    


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                        

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.37     0.42     0.66

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     1.29        4.10        (11.73
    


 


 


Total from Investment Operations

     1.66        4.52        (11.07
    


 


 


Less Distributions

                        

Net Investment Income

     (0.97     (0.97     (1.66

Net Realized Gains

                     
    


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.97     (0.97     (1.66
    


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 17.82      $ 17.13      $ 13.58   
    


 


 


Total Return

     10.60     34.86     (44.63 )%† 
    


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 4,952      $ 3,443      $ 3,372   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets*

     0.72     0.74     0.73 %^@ 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     2.11     2.96     7.47 %^@ 

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
*   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from the commencement of operations through October 31, 2008.
***   Commencement of operations.
@   Because of commencement of operations and related preliminary transaction costs, these ratios are not necessarily indicative of future ratios.
1   On October 29, 2010, the Board of Directors/Trustees adopted a Plan of Recapitalization of DFA International Value Portfolio’s Class R2 Shares. On November 19, 2010, a reverse stock split was executed whereby each shareholder of Class R2 Shares received one share for every 2.631 shares held. The purpose of the reverse split was to reduce the number of Class R2 Shares, thereby increasing the net asset value of each Class R2 Share outstanding in order to more closely align the net asset value with the net asset value of DFA International Value Portfolio’s Institutional Class Shares. The per share data in the financial highlights have been retroactively restated to reflect the reverse stock splits for the Class R2 Shares.

 

67


Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

Class R2 Shares

(formerly Class R2A Shares)

 

     Emerging Markets Value Portfolio

 
     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct.  31,

2009

    For the Period
January 29, 2008***
to
Oct. 31, 2008**

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 2.50      $ 4.56      $ 10.00   
    


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                        

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.03     0.03     0.21

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     0.49        1.14        (4.93
    


 


 


Total from Investment Operations

     0.52        1.17        (4.72
    


 


 


Less Distributions

                        

Net Investment Income

     (0.38     (0.32     (0.72

Net Realized Gains

     (0.70     (2.91       
    


 


 


Total Distributions

     (1.08     (3.23     (0.72
    


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 1.94      $ 2.50      $ 4.56   
    


 


 


Total Return

     29.71     78.29     (50.51 )%† 
    


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 39,668      $ 5,082      $ 1,799   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets*

     0.86     0.90     0.92 %^@ 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     1.39     1.39     3.35 %^@ 

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
*   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from the commencement of operations through October 31, 2008.
***   Commencement of operations.
@   Because of commencement of operations and related preliminary transaction costs, these ratios are not necessarily indicative of future ratios.

 

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Table of Contents

DIMENSIONAL INVESTMENT GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

Class R2 Shares

(formerly Class R Shares)

 

    Global Equity Portfolio

 
    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009


    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

  $ 10.82      $ 9.17      $ 15.49      $ 14.76      $ 12.90      $ 11.54   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                               

Net Investment Income

    0.15     0.17     0.24     0.22     0.19     0.19

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

    1.91        1.64        (6.06     0.86        2.29        1.33   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total from Investment Operations

    2.06        1.81        (5.82     1.08        2.48        1.52   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                               

Net Investment Income

    (0.17     (0.16     (0.18     (0.18     (0.18     (0.14

Net Realized Gains

                  (0.32     (0.17     (0.44     (0.02
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

    (0.17     (0.16     (0.50     (0.35     (0.62     (0.16
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

  $ 12.71      $ 10.82      $ 9.17      $ 15.49      $ 14.76      $ 12.90   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

    19.21     20.06     (38.72 )%†      7.42     20.04     13.25
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

  $ 3,483      $ 6,782      $ 6,819      $ 27,904      $ 32,717      $ 16,092   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets*

    0.59     0.62     0.60 %^      0.58     0.62     0.71

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Assumption of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)*

    0.89     0.91     0.87 %^      0.84     0.85     0.80

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    1.32     1.83     1.99 %^      1.38     1.38     1.32

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
*   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.

 

69


Table of Contents

DIMENSIONAL INVESTMENT GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

Class R2 Shares

(formerly Class R Shares)

 

     Global 60/40 Portfolio

   
 
     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009


    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


   
 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 11.13      $ 9.55      $ 13.16      $ 12.65      $ 11.58      $ 10.83           
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                                        

Net Investment Income

     0.17     0.14     0.30     0.22     0.11     0.19        

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     1.37        1.60        (3.60     0.60        1.40        0.73           
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total from Investment Operations

     1.54        1.74        (3.30     0.82        1.51        0.92           
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                                        

Net Investment Income

     (0.16     (0.12     (0.18     (0.22     (0.18     (0.16        

Net Realized Gains

            (0.04     (0.13     (0.09     (0.26     (0.01        
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.16     (0.16     (0.31     (0.31     (0.44     (0.17        
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 12.51      $ 11.13      $ 9.55      $ 13.16      $ 12.65      $ 11.58           
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

     14.01     18.46     (25.63 )%†      6.50     13.49     8.57        
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 3,748      $ 5,187      $ 5,081      $ 7,631      $ 7,379      $ 1,857           

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets*

     0.58     0.60     0.59 %^      0.57     0.65     0.70        

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Assumption of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)*

     0.81     0.83     0.80 %^      0.76     0.77     0.80        

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     1.44     1.42     2.78 %^      1.67     0.89     1.73        

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
*   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.

 

70


Table of Contents

DIMENSIONAL INVESTMENT GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

Class R2 Shares

(formerly Class R Shares)

 

     Global 25/75 Portfolio

 
     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009


    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 10.95      $ 10.04      $ 11.42      $ 11.11      $ 10.62      $ 10.33   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                                

Net Investment Income

     0.22     0.15     0.30     0.19     0.03     0.20

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     0.72        1.06        (1.39     0.41        0.77        0.25   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total from Investment Operations

     0.94        1.21        (1.09     0.60        0.80        0.45   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                                

Net Investment Income

     (0.24     (0.14     (0.21     (0.20     (0.20     (0.16

Net Realized Gains

            (0.16     (0.08     (0.09     (0.11       
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.24     (0.30     (0.29     (0.29     (0.31     (0.16
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 11.65      $ 10.95      $ 10.04      $ 11.42      $ 11.11      $ 10.62   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

     8.70     12.19     (9.72 )%†      5.47     7.75     4.47
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 418      $ 1,701      $ 1,342      $ 1,564      $ 2,701      $ 46   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets*

     0.63     0.62     0.62 %^      0.62     0.62     0.79

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Assumption of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)*

  

 

0.78

    0.77     0.78 %^      0.71     0.74     0.95

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     1.93     1.49     3.00 %^      1.66     0.28     2.00

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
*   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.

 

71


Table of Contents

SERVICE PROVIDERS

 

Investment Advisor

 

DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LP

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

Tel. No. (512) 306-7400

 

Sub-Advisors

 

DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LTD.

20 Triton Street, Regent’s Place

London NW13BF

United Kingdom

Tel. No. (20) 3033-3300

 

DFA AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Level 43 Gateway

1 MacQuarie Place

Sydney, New South Wales 2000

Australia

Tel. No. (612) 8 336-7100

 

Custodian—International

 

CITIBANK, N.A.

111 Wall Street

New York, NY 10005

Custodian—Domestic

 

PFPC TRUST COMPANY

(to be renamed BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company effective July 1, 2011)

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

Accounting Services, Dividend Disbursing

and Transfer Agent

BNY MELLON INVESTMENT

SERVICING (US) INC.

(formerly, PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.)

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

Legal Counsel

STRADLEY RONON STEVENS & YOUNG, LLP

2600 One Commerce Square

Philadelphia, PA 19103-7098

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP

Two Commerce Square

Suite 1700

2001 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042

 

 

72


Table of Contents

Other Available Information

 

You can find more information about the Funds and their Portfolios in the Funds’ SAI and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports.

 

Statement of Additional Information. The SAI supplements, and is technically part of, this Prospectus. It includes an expanded discussion of investment practices, risks, and fund operations.

 

Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to Shareholders. These reports focus on Portfolio holdings and performance. The Annual Report also discusses the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Portfolios in their last fiscal year.

 

Request free copies from:

 

   

Your Shareholder Services Agent—if you are a participant in a Retirement Plan offering the Portfolios.

 

   

The Funds—if you represent a Retirement Plan sponsor. Call collect at (512) 306-7400.

 

   

Access them on our web site at http://www.dimensional.com.

 

   

Access them on the EDGAR Database in the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.

 

   

Review and copy them at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington D.C. (phone 1-800-SEC-0330).

 

   

Request copies from the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102 or at publicinfo@sec.gov (you will be charged a copying fee). Information on the operation of the SEC’s public reference room is available by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090.

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

(512) 306-7400

 

Dimensional Investment Group Inc. (DFA International Value Portfolio, Global Equity Portfolio, Global 60/40 Portfolio and Global 25/75 Portfolio)—Registration No. 811-6067

DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. (all other Portfolios)—Registration No. 811-3258

 

LOGO   LOGO    RRD022811-016


Table of Contents

P R O S P E C T U S

 

February 28, 2011

Please carefully read the important information it contains before investing.

 

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 


 

DFA ONE-YEAR FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFIHX

 

DFA TWO-YEAR GLOBAL FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFGFX

 

DFA SELECTIVELY HEDGED GLOBAL FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFSHX

 

DFA SHORT-TERM GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO

(formerly, DFA Five-Year Government Portfolio)

Ticker: DFFGX

 

DFA FIVE-YEAR GLOBAL FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFGBX

 

DFA INTERMEDIATE GOVERNMENT FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFIGX

 

DFA SHORT-TERM EXTENDED QUALITY PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFEQX

 

 

DFA INTERMEDIATE-TERM EXTENDED QUALITY PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFTEX

 

DFA INVESTMENT GRADE PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFAPX

 

DFA INFLATION-PROTECTED SECURITIES PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DIPSX

 

DFA SHORT-TERM MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFSMX

 

DFA CALIFORNIA SHORT-TERM MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFCMX

 

INSTITUTIONAL CLASS SHARES

 

This Prospectus describes the Institutional Class shares of each Portfolio which:

 

Are generally available only to institutional investors and clients of registered investment advisors.

 

Do not charge sales commissions or loads.

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

DFA ONE-YEAR FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO

     1   

Investment Objective

     1   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     1   

Principal Investment Strategies

     1   

Principal Risks

     2   

Performance

     3   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     4   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     4   

Tax Information

     4   

DFA TWO-YEAR GLOBAL FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO

     5   

Investment Objective

     5   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     5   

Principal Investment Strategies

     5   

Principal Risks

     6   

Performance

     7   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     8   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     8   

Tax Information

     8   

DFA SELECTIVELY HEDGED GLOBAL FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO

     9   

Investment Objective

     9   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     9   

Principal Investment Strategies

     9   

Principal Risks

     10   

Performance

     11   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     12   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     12   

Tax Information

     12   

DFA SHORT-TERM GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO

     13   

Investment Objective

     13   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     13   

Principal Investment Strategies

     14   

Principal Risks

     14   

Performance

     15   

 

 

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Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     16   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     16   

Tax Information

     16   

DFA FIVE-YEAR GLOBAL FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO

     17   

Investment Objective

     17   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     17   

Principal Investment Strategies

     17   

Principal Risks

     18   

Performance

     19   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     20   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     20   

Tax Information

     20   

DFA INTERMEDIATE GOVERNMENT FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO

     21   

Investment Objective

     21   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     21   

Principal Investment Strategies

     21   

Principal Risks

     22   

Performance

     23   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     24   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     24   

Tax Information

     24   

DFA SHORT-TERM EXTENDED QUALITY PORTFOLIO

     25   

Investment Objective

     25   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     25   

Principal Investment Strategies

     26   

Principal Risks

     27   

Performance

     28   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     29   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     29   

Tax Information

     29   

DFA INTERMEDIATE-TERM EXTENDED QUALITY PORTFOLIO

     30   

Investment Objective

     30   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     30   

Principal Investment Strategies

     31   

Principal Risks

     32   

 

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Performance

     33   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     33   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     33   

Tax Information

     33   

DFA INVESTMENT GRADE PORTFOLIO

     34   

Investment Objective

     34   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     34   

Principal Investment Strategies

     35   

Principal Risks

     36   

Performance

     37   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     38   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     38   

Tax Information

     38   

DFA INFLATION-PROTECTED SECURITIES PORTFOLIO

     39   

Investment Objective

     39   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     39   

Principal Investment Strategies

     39   

Principal Risks

     40   

Performance

     41   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     42   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     42   

Tax Information

     42   

DFA SHORT-TERM MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO

     43   

Investment Objective

     43   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     43   

Principal Investment Strategies

     44   

Principal Risks

     45   

Performance

     45   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     46   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     46   

Tax Information

     47   

DFA CALIFORNIA SHORT-TERM MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO

     48   

Investment Objective

     48   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     48   

Principal Investment Strategies

     48   

 

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Principal Risks

     50   

Performance

     51   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     52   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     52   

Tax Information

     52   

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

     53   

Description of Investments of the Portfolios Other than the Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio and California Municipal Bond Portfolio

     53   

Investments in the Banking Industry

     55   

Portfolio Strategies

     55   

Other Information

     56   

SECURITIES LOANS

     56   

SECURITIES LENDING REVENUE

     57   

MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIOS

     57   

Management Fees

     58   

Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreements

     59   

DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

     60   

PURCHASE OF SHARES

     64   

Cash Purchases

     64   

In-Kind Purchases

     65   

POLICY REGARDING EXCESSIVE OR SHORT-TERM TRADING

     66   

VALUATION OF SHARES

     68   

Net Asset Value

     68   

Public Offering Price

     69   

EXCHANGE OF SHARES

     69   

REDEMPTION OF SHARES

     70   

Redemption Procedure

     70   

Redemption of Small Accounts

     71   

In-Kind Redemptions

     71   

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

     71   

DELIVERY OF SHAREHOLDER DOCUMENTS

     71   

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

     72   

SERVICE PROVIDERS

     84   

 

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DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio (the “One-Year Portfolio”) is to achieve a stable real return in excess of the rate of inflation with a minimum of risk.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the One-Year Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.15

Other Expenses

     0.02

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.17

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the One-Year Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 17       $ 55       $ 96       $ 217   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The One-Year Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 66% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that fixed income investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on bond market risk and return, not on interest rate forecasting or market timing.

 

In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely defined maturity ranges and credit quality characteristics. The Advisor will then seek to purchase a broad and diverse portfolio of securities meeting these credit quality standards. In making these purchase decisions, if the anticipated maturity risk premium is greater for longer-term securities in the eligible

 

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maturity range, the Advisor will focus investment in that longer-term area, otherwise, the portfolio will focus investment in the short-term range of the eligible maturity range. The Advisor also places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low.

 

The One-Year Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective by generally investing in a universe of high quality fixed income securities that typically mature in one year or less. The Portfolio may, however, take a large position in securities maturing within two years of the date of settlement when higher yields are available. The One-Year Portfolio invests in U.S. government obligations, U.S. government agency obligations, dollar-denominated obligations of foreign issuers issued in the U.S., foreign government and agency obligations, bank obligations, including U.S. subsidiaries and branches of foreign banks, corporate obligations, commercial paper, repurchase agreements and obligations of supranational organizations. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities and maintain a weighted average portfolio maturity that will not exceed one year. The Portfolio principally invests in certificates of deposit, commercial paper, bankers’ acceptances, notes and bonds.

 

The One-Year Portfolio may concentrate its investments in obligations of U.S. and foreign banks and bank holding companies. The Portfolio will concentrate its assets (invest more than 25% of its total assets) in obligations of U.S. and/or foreign banks and bank holding companies (“banking industry securities”) when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking industry securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group generally for a period of five consecutive days when the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. See the section entitled “Investments in the Banking Industry” in the Portfolio’s prospectus for additional information.

 

The One-Year Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities owned by the One-Year Portfolio to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Foreign Securities Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets.

 

Interest Rate Risk: Fixed income securities are subject to interest rate risk because the prices of fixed income securities tend to move in the opposite direction of interest rates. When interest rates rise, fixed income security prices fall. When interest rates fall, fixed income security prices rise. In general, fixed income securities with longer maturities are more sensitive to these price changes.

 

Credit Risk: Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security may be unable to make interest payments and/or repay principal when due. A downgrade to an issuer’s credit rating or a perceived change in an issuer’s financial strength may affect a security’s value, and thus, impact the One-Year Portfolio’s performance.

 

Risks of Banking Concentration: Focus on the banking industry would link the performance of the One-Year Portfolio to changes in the performance of the banking industry generally. Banks are very sensitive to changes in money market and general economic conditions. The profitability of the banking industry is dependent upon banks being able to obtain funds at reasonable costs and upon liquidity in the capital and credit markets to finance their lending operations. Adverse general economic conditions can cause financial difficulties for a bank’s borrowers and the borrowers’ failure to repay their loans can adversely affect the bank’s financial situation. Banks are subject to extensive regulation and decisions by regulators may limit the loans banks make and the interest rates and fees they charge, which could reduce bank profitability.

 

Income Risk: Income risk is the risk that falling interest rates will cause the One-Year Portfolio’s income to decline.

 

 

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Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the One-Year Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the One-Year Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the One-Year Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2001-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

2.46 (10/08-12/08)

   -0.53 (4/04-6/04)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010  

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Five
Years


    Ten
Years


 

DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     1.16     3.40     3.14

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     0.84     2.36     2.06

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     0.77     2.29     2.03

BofA Merrill Lynch Six-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index* (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     0.36     2.97     2.78

BofA Merrill Lynch One-Year U.S. Treasury Note Index* (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     0.83     3.31     3.17

 

*   Source Merrill Lynch, used with permission. MERRILL LYNCH IS LICENSING THE MERRILL LYNCH INDICES “AS IS,” MAKES NO WARRANTIES REGARDING SAME, DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND OR COMPLETENESS OF THE MERRILL LYNCH INDICES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN OR DERIVED THEREFROM, AND ASSUMES NO LIABILITY IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR USE.

 

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INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the One-Year Portfolio. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the One-Year Portfolio:

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

David A. Plecha, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1989.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the One-Year Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the One-Year Portfolio are taxable and generally will be taxed as ordinary income, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

 

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DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio (the “Two-Year Global Portfolio”) is to maximize total returns consistent with preservation of capital. Total return is comprised of income and capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Two-Year Global Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.15

Other Expenses

     0.03

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.18

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the Two-Year Global Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 18       $ 58       $ 101       $ 230   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Two-Year Global Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 109% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that fixed income investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on bond market risk and return, not on interest rate forecasting or market timing.

 

In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely defined maturity ranges and credit quality characteristics. The Advisor will then seek to purchase a broad and diverse portfolio of securities meeting these credit quality standards. In making these

 

5


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purchase decisions, if the anticipated maturity risk premium is greater for longer-term securities in the eligible maturity range, the Advisor will focus investment in that longer-term area, otherwise, the portfolio will focus investment in the short-term range of the eligible maturity range. The Advisor also places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low.

 

The Two-Year Global Portfolio seeks to maximize risk-adjusted total returns from a universe of U.S. and foreign debt securities maturing in two years or less. The Two-Year Global Portfolio invests in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, corporate debt obligations, bank obligations, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, obligations of other domestic and foreign issuers, securities of domestic or foreign issuers denominated in U.S. dollars but not trading in the United States, and obligations of supranational organizations. At the present time, the Advisor expects that most investments will be made in the obligations of issuers which are in developed countries, such as those countries which are members of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (“OECD”). However, in the future, the Advisor anticipates investing in issuers located in other countries as well. The fixed income securities in which the Two-Year Global Portfolio invests are considered investment grade at the time of purchase. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio intends to invest its assets in issuers organized or having a majority of their assets in, or deriving a majority of their operating income in, at least three different countries, one of which may be the United States. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities that mature within two years from the date of settlement.

 

It is the policy of the Two-Year Global Portfolio that the weighted average length of maturity of investments will not exceed two years. However, investments may be made in obligations maturing in a shorter time period (from overnight, to up to two years from the date of settlement). Because many of the Portfolio’s investments will be denominated in foreign currencies, the Portfolio will also enter into forward foreign currency contracts to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency rates, to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or to transfer balances from one currency to another. The Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The Two-Year Global Portfolio may concentrate its investments in obligations of U.S. and foreign banks and bank holding companies. The Portfolio will concentrate its assets (invest more than 25% of its total assets) in obligations of U.S. and/or foreign banks and bank holding companies (“banking industry securities”) when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking industry securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group generally for a period of five consecutive days when the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. See the section entitled “Investments in the Banking Industry” in the Portfolio’s prospectus for additional information.

 

The Two-Year Global Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Two-Year Global Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The Two-Year Global Portfolio hedges foreign currency risk.

 

 

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Interest Rate Risk: Fixed income securities are subject to interest rate risk because the prices of fixed income securities tend to move in the opposite direction of interest rates. When interest rates rise, fixed income security prices fall. When interest rates fall, fixed income security prices rise. In general, fixed income securities with longer maturities are more sensitive to these price changes.

 

Credit Risk: Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security may be unable to make interest payments and/or repay principal when due. A downgrade to an issuer’s credit rating or a perceived change in an issuer’s financial strength may affect a security’s value, and thus, impact the Two-Year Global Portfolio’s performance.

 

Risks of Banking Concentration: Focus on the banking industry would link the performance of the Two-Year Global Portfolio to changes in the performance of the banking industry generally. Banks are very sensitive to changes in money market and general economic conditions. The profitability of the banking industry is dependent upon banks being able to obtain funds at reasonable costs and upon liquidity in the capital and credit markets to finance their lending operations. Adverse general economic conditions can cause financial difficulties for a bank’s borrowers and the borrowers’ failure to repay their loans can adversely affect the bank’s financial situation. Banks are subject to extensive regulation and decisions by regulators may limit the loans banks make and the interest rates and fees they charge, which could reduce bank profitability.

 

Income Risk: Income risk is the risk that falling interest rates will cause the Two-Year Global Portfolio’s income to decline.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. Derivatives can be used for hedging (attempting to reduce risk by offsetting one investment position with another) or non-hedging purposes. While hedging can reduce or eliminate losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the Two-Year Global Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the Two-Year Global Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the Two-Year Global Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the Two-Year Global Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

 

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DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2001-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

2.44 (7/01-9/01)

   -1.21 (4/04-6/04)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010  

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Five
Years


    Ten
Years


 

DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     1.75     3.52     3.34

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     1.20     2.56     2.34

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     1.16     2.45     2.27

Citigroup World Government Bond Index 1-3 Year Currency Hedged U.S. Dollar
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     1.35     3.85     3.64

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the Two-Year Global Portfolio. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the Two-Year Global Portfolio:

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

David A. Plecha, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1989.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the Two-Year Global Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the Two-Year Global Portfolio are taxable and generally will be taxed as ordinary income, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

 

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DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio (the “Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio”) is to maximize total returns within the universe of domestic and foreign debt securities that the Portfolio invests. Total return is comprised of income and capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.15

Other Expenses

     0.05

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.20

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 20       $ 64       $ 113       $ 255   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 78% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that fixed income investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on bond market risk and return, not on interest rate forecasting or market timing.

 

In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely defined maturity ranges and credit quality characteristics. The Advisor will then seek to purchase a broad and diverse portfolio of securities meeting these credit quality standards. In making these purchase decisions, if the anticipated maturity risk premium is greater for longer-term securities in the eligible

 

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maturity range, the Advisor will focus investment in that longer-term area, otherwise, the portfolio will focus investment in the short-term range of the eligible maturity range. The Advisor also places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low.

 

The Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio seeks to maximize total returns from a universe of U.S. and foreign debt securities maturing in two years or less. The Portfolio may selectively hedge its foreign currency risks depending on market conditions. The debt securities in which the Portfolio may invest include obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, corporate debt obligations, bank obligations, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, obligations of other domestic and foreign issuers, securities of domestic or foreign issuers denominated in U.S. dollars but not trading in the United States, and obligations of supranational organizations. At the present time, the Advisor expects that most investments will be made in the obligations of issuers that are located in developed countries, such as those countries which are members of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (“OECD”). However, in the future, the Advisor anticipates investing in issuers located in other countries as well. The fixed income securities in which the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio invests are considered investment grade at the time of purchase. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio intends to invest its assets in issuers organized or having a majority of their assets in, or deriving a majority of their operating income in, at least three different countries, one of which may be the United States.

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities. It is the policy of the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio that the weighted average length of maturity of its investments will not exceed two years. However, investments may be made in obligations maturing in a shorter time period (from overnight, to up to two years from the date of settlement).

 

Because many of the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio’s investments may be denominated in foreign currencies, the Portfolio may hedge the currency exposure of the foreign securities by entering into foreign forward currency contracts, or leave some or all of the currency exposure unhedged, to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency rates, to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or to transfer balances from one currency to another. The decision to hedge the Portfolio’s currency exposure with respect to a foreign market will be based on, among other things, a comparison of the respective foreign and U.S. short-term interest rates and the Portfolio’s existing exposure to a given foreign currency. The Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio may concentrate its investments in obligations of U.S. and foreign banks and bank holding companies. The Portfolio will concentrate its assets (invest more than 25% of its total assets) in obligations of U.S. and/or foreign banks and bank holding companies (“banking industry securities”) when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking industry securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group generally for a period of five consecutive days when the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. See the section entitled “Investments in the Banking Industry” in the Portfolio’s prospectus for additional information.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency

 

10


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will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio may hedge the currency exposure of its foreign securities or leave some or all of the currency exposed unhedged.

 

Interest Rate Risk: Fixed income securities are subject to interest rate risk because the prices of fixed income securities tend to move in the opposite direction of interest rates. When interest rates rise, fixed income security prices fall. When interest rates fall, fixed income security prices rise. In general, fixed income securities with longer maturities are more sensitive to these price changes.

 

Credit Risk: Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security may be unable to make interest payments and/or repay principal when due. A downgrade to an issuer’s credit rating or a perceived change in an issuer’s financial strength may affect a security’s value, and thus, impact the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio’s performance.

 

Risks of Banking Concentration: Focus on the banking industry would link the performance of the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio to changes in the performance of the banking industry generally. Banks are very sensitive to changes in money market and general economic conditions. The profitability of the banking industry is dependent upon banks being able to obtain funds at reasonable costs and upon liquidity in the capital and credit markets to finance their lending operations. Adverse general economic conditions can cause financial difficulties for a bank’s borrowers and the borrowers’ failure to repay their loans can adversely affect the bank’s financial situation. Banks are subject to extensive regulation and decisions by regulators may limit the loans banks make and the interest rates and fees they charge, which could reduce bank profitability.

 

Income Risk: Income risk is the risk that falling interest rates will cause the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio’s income to decline.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. Derivatives can be used for hedging (attempting to reduce risk by offsetting one investment position with another) or non-hedging purposes. Hedging with derivatives may increase expenses, and there is no guarantee that a hedging strategy will work. While hedging can reduce or eliminate losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year and since inception returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

 

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DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2009-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

5.62 (4/09-6/09)

   -1.09 (4/10-6/10)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010  

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Since 1/9/08
Inception


 

DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio

                

Return Before Taxes

     4.76     1.72

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     4.25     1.55

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     3.09     1.37

Citigroup World Government Bond Index 1-3 Years (unhedged)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     3.16     4.58

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio:

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

David A. Plecha, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1989.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio are taxable and generally will be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

 

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DFA Short-Term Government Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the DFA Short-Term Government Portfolio (the “Short-Term Government Portfolio”) (formerly, DFA Five-Year Government Portfolio) is to maximize total returns from the universe of debt obligations of the U.S. government and U.S. government agencies. Total return is comprised of income and capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Short-Term Government Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)*

 

Management Fee

     0.18

Other Expenses

     0.03

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.21

*   The “Management Fee” and “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses” have been adjusted to reflect the estimated management fee to be paid by the Portfolio for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011, as a result of a decrease in the management fee payable by the Portfolio from 0.20% to 0.17% effective February 28, 2011.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the Short-Term Government Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 22       $ 68       $ 118       $ 268   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Short-Term Government Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 64% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

13


Table of Contents

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that fixed income investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on bond market risk and return, not on interest rate forecasting or market timing.

 

In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely defined maturity ranges and credit quality characteristics. The Advisor will then seek to purchase a broad and diverse portfolio of securities meeting these credit quality standards. In making these purchase decisions, if the anticipated maturity risk premium is greater for longer-term securities in the eligible maturity range, the Advisor will focus investment in that longer-term area, otherwise, the portfolio will focus investment in the short-term range of the eligible maturity range. The Advisor also places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low.

 

The Short-Term Government Portfolio seeks to maximize risk-adjusted total returns from a universe of obligations of the U.S. government and its agencies maturing in five years or less. The credit quality of the securities purchased by the Portfolio will be that of the U.S. government or its agency. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in government securities that mature within five years from the date of settlement. It is the policy of the Portfolio that the maximum length of maturity of investments will not exceed five years from the date of settlement. However, investments may be made in obligations maturing in a shorter time period (from overnight, to up to five years from the date of settlement). The Advisor expects that the Portfolio’s average portfolio maturity and average portfolio duration will be three years or less. Duration is a measure of the expected life of a fixed income security that is used to determine the sensitivity of a security’s price to changes in interest rates. The longer a security’s duration, the more sensitive it will be to interest rates. The Portfolio will also acquire repurchase agreements backed by U.S. government securities. The Portfolio is authorized to invest more than 25% of its total assets in U.S. Treasury bonds, bills and notes and obligations of federal agencies and instrumentalities.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Short-Term Government Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Interest Rate Risk: Fixed income securities are subject to interest rate risk because the prices of fixed income securities tend to move in the opposite direction of interest rates. When interest rates rise, fixed income security prices fall. When interest rates fall, fixed income security prices rise. In general, fixed income securities with longer maturities are more sensitive to these price changes.

 

Credit Risk: Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security may be unable to make interest payments and/or repay principal when due. A downgrade to an issuer’s credit rating or a perceived change in an issuer’s financial strength may affect a security’s value, and thus, impact the Short-Term Government Portfolio’s performance. Government agency obligations have different levels of credit support and, therefore, different degrees of credit risk. Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States, such as the Federal Housing Administration and Ginnie Mae, present little credit risk. Other securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities sponsored by the U.S. government, that are supported only by the issuer’s right to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, subject to certain limitations, and securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities sponsored by the U.S. government that are sponsored by the credit of the issuing agencies, such as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, are subject to a greater degree of credit risk. U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the credit of the agency may still involve a risk of non-payment of principal and/or interest.

 

14


Table of Contents

Income Risk: Income risk is the risk that falling interest rates will cause the Short-Term Government Portfolio’s income to decline.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the Short-Term Government Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the Short-Term Government Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

DFA Short-Term Government Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2001-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

6.59 (10/08-12/08)

   -3.22 (4/04-6/04)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010  

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Five
Years


    Ten
Years


 

DFA Short-Term Government Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     4.45     4.72     4.83

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     3.38     3.43     3.43

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     3.12     3.29     3.34

BofA Merrill Lynch 1-5 Year Treasuries/Agencies Index*
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     3.46     4.90     4.54

 

*   Source Merrill Lynch, used with permission. MERRILL LYNCH IS LICENSING THE MERRILL LYNCH INDICES “AS IS,” MAKES NO WARRANTIES REGARDING SAME, DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND OR COMPLETENESS OF THE MERRILL LYNCH INDICES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN OR DERIVED THEREFROM, AND ASSUMES NO LIABILITY IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR USE.

 

15


Table of Contents

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the Short-Term Government Portfolio. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the Short-Term Government Portfolio:

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

David A. Plecha, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1989.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the Short-Term Government Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the Short-Term Government Portfolio are taxable and generally will be taxed as ordinary income, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

 

16


Table of Contents

DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio (the “Five-Year Global Portfolio”) is to provide a market rate of return for a fixed income portfolio with low relative volatility of returns. The Five-Year Global Portfolio seeks to focus the eligible universe on securities with relatively less expected upward or downward movement in market value.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Five-Year Global Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.25

Other Expenses

     0.03

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.28

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the Five-Year Global Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 29       $ 90       $ 157       $ 356   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Five-Year Global Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 73% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that fixed income investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on bond market risk and return, not on interest rate forecasting or market timing.

 

In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely defined maturity ranges and credit quality characteristics. The Advisor will then seek to

 

17


Table of Contents

purchase a broad and diverse portfolio of securities meeting these credit quality standards. In making these purchase decisions, if the anticipated maturity risk premium is greater for longer-term securities in the eligible maturity range, the Advisor will focus investment in that longer-term area, otherwise, the portfolio will focus investment in the short-term range of the eligible maturity range. The Advisor also places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low.

 

The Five-Year Global Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective by generally investing in a universe of U.S. and foreign debt securities maturing in five years or less. The Five-Year Global Portfolio primarily invests in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, obligations of other foreign issuers rated AA or better, corporate debt obligations, bank obligations, commercial paper, and supranational organizations. At the present time, the Advisor expects that most investments will be made in the obligations of issuers which are in developed countries, such as those countries which are members of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (“OECD”). However, in the future, the Advisor anticipates investing in issuers located in other countries as well. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio intends to invest its assets in issuers organized or having a majority of their assets in, or deriving a majority of their operating income in, at least three different countries, one of which may be the United States. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities that mature within five years from the date of settlement.

 

It is the policy of the Five-Year Global Portfolio that the weighted average length of maturity of investments will not exceed five years. However, investments may be made in obligations maturing in a shorter time period (from overnight, to up to five years from the date of settlement). The Portfolio is authorized to invest more than 25% of its total assets in U.S. Treasury bonds, bills and notes and obligations of federal agencies and instrumentalities. Because many of the Portfolio’s investments will be denominated in foreign currencies, the Portfolio will also enter into forward foreign currency contracts to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency rates, to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or to transfer balances from one currency to another. The Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The Five-Year Global Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Five-Year Global Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The Five-Year Global Portfolio hedges foreign currency risk.

 

Interest Rate Risk: Fixed income securities are subject to interest rate risk because the prices of fixed income securities tend to move in the opposite direction of interest rates. When interest rates rise, fixed income security prices fall. When interest rates fall, fixed income security prices rise. In general, fixed income securities with longer maturities are more sensitive to these price changes.

 

Credit Risk: Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security may be unable to make interest payments and/or repay principal when due. A downgrade to an issuer’s credit rating or a perceived change in an issuer’s financial strength may affect a security’s value, and thus, impact the Five-Year Global Portfolio’s performance.

 

 

18


Table of Contents

Income Risk: Income risk is the risk that falling interest rates will cause the Five-Year Global Portfolio’s income to decline.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. Derivatives can be used for hedging (attempting to reduce risk by offsetting one investment position with another) or non-hedging purposes. Hedging with derivatives may increase expenses, and there is no guarantee that a hedging strategy will work. While hedging can reduce or eliminate losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the Five-Year Global Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the Five-Year Global Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the Five-Year Global Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the Five-Year Global Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2001-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

5.34 (7/02-9/02)

   -3.26 (4/04-6/04)

 

 

19


Table of Contents
         Periods ending December 31, 2010  

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Five
Years


    Ten
Years


 

DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     5.30     4.52     4.63

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     3.30     3.48     3.33

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     3.79     3.30     3.23

Citigroup World Government Bond Index 1-5 Year Currency Hedged U.S. Dollar
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     1.99     4.24     4.03

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the Five-Year Global Portfolio. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the Five-Year Global Portfolio:

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

David A. Plecha, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1989.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the Five-Year Global Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the Five-Year Global Portfolio are taxable and generally will be taxed as ordinary, capital gains, or some combination of both, income unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

 

20


Table of Contents

DFA Intermediate Government Fixed Income Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the DFA Intermediate Government Fixed Income Portfolio (the “Intermediate Government Portfolio”) is to earn current income consistent with preservation of capital.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Intermediate Government Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.10

Other Expenses

     0.03

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.13

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the Intermediate Government Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 13       $ 42       $ 73       $ 166   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Intermediate Government Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 7% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that fixed income investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on bond market risk and return, not on interest rate forecasting or market timing.

 

In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely defined maturity ranges and credit quality characteristics. The Advisor will then seek to purchase a broad portfolio of securities that result in the Portfolio maintaining similar characteristics to the whole universe of eligible securities. The Advisor also places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low.

 

 

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Table of Contents

The Intermediate Government Portfolio primarily invests in high quality, low-risk obligations of the U.S. government and its agencies with maturities of between five and fifteen years. The Intermediate Government Portfolio normally invests in non-callable obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government and U.S. government agencies, AAA-rated, dollar-denominated obligations of foreign governments, obligations of supranational organizations, and futures contracts on U.S. Treasury securities. Since government guaranteed mortgage-backed securities are considered callable, such securities will not be included in the Portfolio.

 

Generally, the Intermediate Government Portfolio will purchase securities with maturities of between five and fifteen years from the date of settlement. The Portfolio will not shift the maturity of its investments in anticipation of interest rate movements and ordinarily will have an average weighted maturity, based upon market values, of between three to ten years. In any event, as a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income government securities and maintain a weighted average portfolio maturity of between three and ten years.

 

The Intermediate Government Portfolio may invest more than 5% of its assets in the obligations of foreign governments. Those obligations at the time of purchase must be either rated in the highest rating category of a nationally recognized statistical rating organization or, in the case of any obligation that is unrated, of comparable quality. The Portfolio is authorized to invest more than 25% of its total assets in Treasury bonds, bills and notes and obligations of federal agencies and instrumentalities. The Portfolio also may invest in futures contracts on U.S. Treasury securities or options on such contracts for the purposes of remaining fully invested and maintaining liquidity to pay redemptions. However, the Portfolio will not purchase futures contracts or options thereon if as a result more than 5% of its net assets would then consist of initial margin deposits and premiums required to establish such positions.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Intermediate Government Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Interest Rate Risk: Fixed income securities are subject to interest rate risk because the prices of fixed income securities tend to move in the opposite direction of interest rates. When interest rates rise, fixed income security prices fall. When interest rates fall, fixed income security prices rise. In general, fixed income securities with longer maturities are more sensitive to these price changes.

 

Credit Risk: Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security may be unable to make interest payments and/or repay principal when due. A downgrade to an issuer’s credit rating or a perceived change in an issuer’s financial strength may affect a security’s value, and thus, impact the Intermediate Government Portfolio’s performance. Government agency obligations have different levels of credit support and, therefore, different degrees of credit risk. Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States, such as the Federal Housing Administration and Ginnie Mae, present little credit risk. Other securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities sponsored by the U.S. government, that are supported only by the issuer’s right to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, subject to certain limitations, and securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities sponsored by the U.S. government that are sponsored by the credit of the issuing agencies, such as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, are subject to a greater degree of credit risk. U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the credit of the agency may still involve a risk of non-payment of principal and/or interest.

 

Income Risk: Income risk is the risk that falling interest rates will cause the Intermediate Government Portfolio’s income to decline.

 

 

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Table of Contents

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the Intermediate Government Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the Intermediate Government Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the Intermediate Government Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

DFA Intermediate Government Fixed Income Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2001-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

9.29 (10/08-12/08)

   -3.93 (4/04-6/04)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010  

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Five
Years


    Ten
Years


 

DFA Intermediate Government Fixed Income Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     6.92     6.34     6.27

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     5.46     4.74     4.42

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     4.56     4.51     4.31

Barclays Capital U.S. Government Bond Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     5.52     5.45     5.42

 

 

23


Table of Contents

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the Intermediate Government Portfolio. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the Intermediate Government Portfolio:

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

David A. Plecha, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1989.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the Intermediate Government Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the Intermediate Government Portfolio are taxable and generally will be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

 

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Table of Contents

DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio (the “Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio”) is to maximize total returns from the universe of debt securities in which the Portfolio invests. Total return is comprised of income and capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.20

Other Expenses

     0.04

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.24

Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or (Recovery)*

     0.02

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or (Recovery)

     0.22

*   The Advisor has agreed to waive certain fees and in certain instances, assume certain expenses of the Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio. The Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and may not be terminated by the Advisor prior to that date. Under certain circumstances, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed up to thirty-six months after such fee waiver and/or expense assumption.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs for the Portfolio reflect the net expenses of the Portfolio that result from the contractual expense waiver and assumption in the first year only. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 23       $ 75       $ 133       $ 304   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 14% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

 

25


Table of Contents

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that fixed income investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on bond market risk and return, not on interest rate forecasting or market timing.

 

In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely defined maturity ranges and credit quality characteristics. The Advisor will then seek to purchase a broad portfolio of securities from this eligible subset. The Advisor also places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low.

 

The Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio seeks to maximize total returns from a universe of U.S. and foreign corporate debt securities with an investment grade credit rating. The Portfolio invests with an emphasis on a universe of U.S. and foreign corporate debt securities the Advisor considers to be of extended quality as they are rated in the lower half of the investment grade spectrum (i.e., rated BBB- to A+ by Standard & Poor’s Rating Group (“S&P”) or Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”) or Baa3 to A1 by Moody’s Investor’s Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”)). The Portfolio will not emphasize investments in the lower half of the investment grade spectrum, however, when the Advisor believes the credit risk premium does not warrant the investment. The Portfolio will also invest in higher-rated corporate debt securities, obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, bank obligations, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, obligations of other domestic and foreign issuers having investment grade ratings, securities of domestic or foreign issuers denominated in U.S. dollars but not trading in the United States, and obligations of supranational organizations. At the present time, the Advisor expects that most investments will be made in the obligations of issuers that are located in developed countries, such as those countries which are members of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (“OECD”). However, in the future, the Advisor anticipates investing in issuers located in other countries as well.

 

The Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio primarily invests in securities that mature within five years from the date of settlement and maintains an average portfolio maturity and an average portfolio duration of three years or less. Duration is a measure of the expected life of a fixed income security that is used to determine the sensitivity of a security’s price to changes in interest rates. The longer a security’s duration, the more sensitive it will be to changes in interest rates. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities considered to be investment grade quality.

 

The Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio’s investments may include foreign securities denominated in foreign currencies. The Portfolio intends to hedge foreign currency exposure to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency rates. The Portfolio may enter into foreign forward currency contracts to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or to transfer balances from one currency to another. The Portfolio also may enter into credit default swaps on issuers or indices to buy or sell credit protection to hedge its credit exposure; gain market or issuer exposure without owning the underlying securities; or increase the Portfolio’s total return. The Portfolio also may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts, for non-hedging purposes as a substitute for direct investment or to allow the Portfolio to remain fully invested while maintaining the liquidity required to pay redemptions.

 

The Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio may concentrate its investments in obligations of U.S. and foreign banks and bank holding companies. The Portfolio will concentrate its assets (invest more than 25% of its total assets) in obligations of U.S. and/or foreign banks and bank holding companies (“banking industry securities”) when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking industry securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group generally for a period of five consecutive days when the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. See the section entitled “Investments in the Banking Industry” in the Portfolio’s prospectus for additional information.

 

The Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

26


Table of Contents

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio hedges foreign currency risk.

 

Interest Rate Risk: Fixed income securities are subject to interest rate risk because the prices of fixed income securities tend to move in the opposite direction of interest rates. When interest rates rise, fixed income security prices fall. When interest rates fall, fixed income security prices rise. In general, fixed income securities with longer maturities are more sensitive to these price changes.

 

Credit Risk: Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security may be unable to make interest payments and/or repay principal when due. A downgrade to an issuer’s credit rating or a perceived change in an issuer’s financial strength may affect a security’s value, and thus, impact the Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio’s performance. Credit risk is greater for fixed income securities with ratings below investment grade (BB or below by S&P or Ba or below by Moody’s). Fixed income securities that are below investment grade involve high credit risk and are considered speculative. Below investment grade fixed income securities may also fluctuate in value more than higher quality fixed income securities and, during periods of market volatility, may be more difficult to sell at the time and price the Portfolio desires.

 

Income Risk: Income risk is the risk that falling interest rates will cause the Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio’s income to decline.

 

Risks of Banking Concentration: Focus on the banking industry would link the performance of the Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio to changes in the performance of the banking industry generally. Banks are very sensitive to changes in money market and general economic conditions. The profitability of the banking industry is dependent upon banks being able to obtain funds at reasonable costs and upon liquidity in the capital and credit markets to finance their lending operations. Adverse general economic conditions can cause financial difficulties for a bank’s borrowers and the borrowers’ failure to repay their loans can adversely affect the bank’s financial situation. Banks are subject to extensive regulation and decisions by regulators may limit the loans banks make and the interest rates and fees they charge, which could reduce bank profitability.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. Derivatives can be used for hedging (attempting to reduce risk by offsetting one investment position with another) or non-hedging purposes. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of those derivatives. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested. Additional risks are associated with the use of credit default swaps including counterparty and credit risk (the risk that the other party to a swap agreement will not fulfill its contractual obligations, whether because of bankruptcy or other default) and liquidity risk (the possible lack of a secondary market for the swap agreement).

 

27


Table of Contents

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year and since inception returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2010-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

2.42 (7/10-9/10)

   -0.67 (10/10-12/10)

 

     Periods ending December 31, 2010

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Since 3/4/2009
Inception


 

DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio

                

Return Before Taxes

     5.15     7.07

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     4.05     5.91

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     3.35     5.36

BofA Merrill Lynch 1-5 Year US Corporate and Government Index*
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     4.17     5.15

 

*   Source Merrill Lynch, used with permission. MERRILL LYNCH IS LICENSING THE MERRILL LYNCH INDICES “AS IS,” MAKES NO WARRANTIES REGARDING SAME, DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND OR COMPLETENESS OF THE MERRILL LYNCH INDICES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN OR DERIVED THEREFROM, AND ASSUMES NO LIABILITY IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR USE.

 

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Table of Contents

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio:

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

David A. Plecha, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1989.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio are taxable and generally will be taxed as ordinary income, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

29


Table of Contents

DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio (the “Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio”) is to maximize total returns from the universe of debt securities in which the Portfolio invests. Total return is comprised of income and capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.20

Other Expenses

     0.15

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.35

Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursements or (Recovery)*

     0.13

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or (Recovery)

     0.22

*   The Advisor has agreed to waive certain fees and in certain instances, assume certain expenses of the Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio. The Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and may not be terminated by the Advisor prior to that date. Under certain circumstances, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed up to thirty-six months after such fee waiver and/or expense assumption.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs for the Portfolio reflect the net expenses of the Portfolio that result from the contractual expense waiver and assumption in the first year only. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


   3 Years

$23    $99

 

Because the Portfolio is new, the Example is based on the anticipated expenses for the Portfolio for the current fiscal year, and does not extend over five- and ten-year periods.

 

 

30


Table of Contents

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, will affect the Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 1% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that fixed income investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on bond market risk and return, not on interest rate forecasting or market timing.

 

In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely defined maturity ranges and credit quality characteristics. The Advisor will then seek to purchase a broad portfolio of securities from this eligible subset. The Advisor also places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low.

 

The Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio seeks to maximize total returns from a universe of U.S. and foreign corporate debt securities with an investment grade credit rating. The Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio invests with an emphasis on a universe of U.S. and foreign corporate debt securities the Advisor considers to be of extended quality as they are rated in the lower half of the investment grade spectrum (i.e., rated BBB- to A+ by Standard & Poor’s Rating Group (“S&P”) or Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”) or Baa3 to A1 by Moody’s Investor’s Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”)). The Portfolio will not emphasize investments in the lower half of the investment grade spectrum, however, when the Advisor believes the credit risk premium does not warrant the investment. The Portfolio will also invest in higher-rated corporate debt securities, obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, bank obligations, repurchase agreements, obligations of other domestic and foreign issuers having investment grade ratings, securities of domestic or foreign issuers denominated in U.S. dollars but not trading in the United States, and obligations of supranational organizations. At the present time, the Advisor expects that most investments will be made in the obligations of issuers that are located in developed countries, such as those countries which are members of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (“OECD”). However, in the future, the Advisor anticipates investing in issuers located in other countries as well.

 

The Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio primarily invests in securities that mature within three to fifteen years from the date of settlement and maintains an average dollar-weighted portfolio duration of between three and ten years. Duration is a measure of the expected life of a fixed income security that is used to determine the sensitivity of a security’s price to changes in interest rates. The longer a security’s duration, the more sensitive it will be to changes in interest rates. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities considered to be investment grade quality.

 

The Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio’s investments may include foreign securities denominated in foreign currencies. The Portfolio intends to hedge foreign currency exposure to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency rates. The Portfolio may enter into foreign forward currency contracts to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or to transfer balances from one currency to another. The Portfolio also may enter into credit default swaps on issuers or indices to buy or sell credit protection to hedge its credit exposure; gain market or issuer exposure without owning the underlying securities; or increase the Portfolio’s total return. The Portfolio also may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts, for non-hedging purposes as a substitute for direct investment or to allow the Portfolio to remain fully invested while maintaining the liquidity required to pay redemptions.

 

31


Table of Contents

The Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio may concentrate its investments in obligations of U.S. and foreign banks and bank holding companies. The Portfolio will concentrate its assets (invest more than 25% of its total assets) in obligations of U.S. and/or foreign banks and bank holding companies (“banking industry securities”) when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking industry securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group generally for a period of five consecutive days when the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. See the section entitled “Investments in the Banking Industry” in the Portfolio’s prospectus for additional information.

 

The Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio, which owns the securities, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio will hedge foreign currency risk.

 

Interest Rate Risk: Fixed income securities are subject to interest rate risk because the prices of fixed income securities tend to move in the opposite direction of interest rates. When interest rates rise, fixed income securities prices fall. When interest rates fall, fixed income securities prices rise. In general, fixed income securities with longer maturities are more sensitive to these price changes.

 

Credit Risk: Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security may be unable to make interest payments and/or repay principal when due. A downgrade to an issuer’s credit rating or a perceived change in an issuer’s financial strength may affect a security’s value, and thus, impact the Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio’s performance. Credit risk is greater for fixed income securities with ratings below investment grade (BB or below by S&P or Ba or below by Moody’s). Fixed income securities that are below investment grade involve high credit risk and are considered speculative. Below investment grade fixed income securities may also fluctuate in value more than higher quality fixed income securities and, during periods of market volatility, may be more difficult to sell at the time and price the Portfolio desires.

 

Income Risk: Income risk is the risk that falling interest rates will cause the Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio’s income to decline.

 

Risks of Banking Concentration: Focus on the banking industry would link the performance of the Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio to changes in the performance of the banking industry generally. Banks are very sensitive to changes in money market and general economic conditions. The profitability of the banking industry is dependent upon banks being able to obtain funds at reasonable costs and upon liquidity in the capital and credit markets to finance their lending operations. Adverse general economic conditions can cause financial difficulties for a bank’s borrowers and the borrowers’ failure to repay their loans can adversely affect the bank’s financial situation. Banks are subject to extensive regulation and decisions by regulators may limit the loans banks make and the interest rates and fees they charge, which could reduce bank profitability.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. Derivatives can be used for hedging (attempting to reduce risk by offsetting one investment

 

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position with another) or non-hedging purposes. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of those derivatives. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested. Additional risks are associated with the use of credit default swaps including counterparty and credit risk (the risk that the other party to a swap agreement will not fulfill its contractual obligations, whether because of bankruptcy or other default) and liquidity risk (the possible lack of a secondary market for the swap agreement).

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

Performance information is not available for the Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio because it has less than one calendar year of performance. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained in the future by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio:

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

David A. Plecha, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1989.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio are taxable and generally will be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

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DFA Investment Grade Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the DFA Investment Grade Portfolio (the “Investment Grade Portfolio”) is to seek to maximize total returns from the universe of eligible investments. Total return is comprised of income and capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Investment Grade Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)*

 

Management Fee

     0.20

Other Expenses

     0.19

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses

     0.20

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.59

Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or (Recovery)**

     0.37

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or (Recovery)

     0.22

*   The shares of the Investment Grade Portfolio are new, so the “Other Expenses” and “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses” shown are based on anticipated fees and expenses for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2011.
**   The Advisor has agreed to waive certain fees in certain instances for the Investment Grade Portfolio. The Fee Waiver Agreement for the Investment Grade Portfolio will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and may not be terminated by the Advisor prior to that date. Under certain circumstances, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed up to thirty-six months after such fee waiver and/or expense assumption.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the Investment Grade Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs for the Investment Grade Portfolio reflect the net expenses of the portfolio that result from the contractual fee waiver in the first year only. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

l Year


     3 Years

 
$ 23       $ 152   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Investment Grade Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Investment Grade Portfolio is new, information about portfolio turnover rate is not yet available.

 

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PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that fixed income investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on bond market risk and return, not on interest rate forecasting or market timing.

 

The Investment Grade Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective through exposure to a broad portfolio of investment grade debt securities of U.S. and non-U.S. corporate and government issuers. To achieve this exposure, the Advisor will generally purchase shares of the Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio, Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio, Short-Term Government Portfolio, and Intermediate Government Portfolio (the “Underlying Funds”), which are other funds managed by the Advisor. The Investment Grade Portfolio currently intends to allocate its investments among the Underlying Funds in the following manner: 40% to 80% in the Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio; and 30% to 70% in the Short-Term Government Portfolio, and Intermediate Government Income Portfolio. In addition to, or in place of, investments in the Underlying Funds, the Investment Grade Portfolio also is permitted to invest directly in investment grade fixed income securities. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Investment Grade Portfolio’s net assets will be invested directly, or indirectly through its investment in the Underlying Funds, in fixed income securities considered to be investment grade quality.

 

The Investment Grade Portfolio will be managed with a view to capturing credit risk premiums and maturity risk premiums. The term “credit risk premium” means the expected incremental return on investment for holding obligations considered to have greater credit risk than direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury, and “maturity risk premium” means the expected incremental return on investment for holding securities having longer-term maturities as compared to shorter-term maturities. In making the allocation decisions among the Underlying Funds, the Advisor will increase or decrease investment in Underlying Funds that provide exposure to intermediate-term securities depending on the expected maturity risk premium and also increase or decrease investment in Underlying Funds that provide exposure to non-government securities depending on the expected credit risk premium.

 

The Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio (collectively, the “Extended Quality Portfolios”) each invest in a universe of U.S. and foreign corporate debt securities with an investment grade credit rating. Each Extended Quality Portfolio invests with an emphasis on a universe of U.S. and foreign corporate debt securities the Advisor considers to be of extended quality as they are rated in the lower half of the investment grade spectrum (i.e., rated BBB- to A+ by Standard & Poor’s Rating Group (“S&P”) or Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”) or Baa3 to A1 by Moody’s Investor’s Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”)). An Extended Quality Portfolio will not emphasize investments in the lower half of the investment grade spectrum, however, when the Advisor believes the credit risk premium does not warrant the investment. Each Extended Quality Portfolio will also invest in higher-rated corporate debt securities, obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, bank obligations, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, obligations of other domestic and foreign issuers having investment grade ratings, securities of domestic or foreign issuers denominated in U.S. dollars but not trading in the United States, and obligations of supranational organizations. At the present time, the Advisor expects that most investments for an Extended Quality Portfolio will be made in the obligations of issuers that are located in developed countries, such as those countries which are members of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (“OECD”). However, in the future, the Advisor anticipates investing in issuers located in other countries as well.

 

The Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio primarily invests in securities that mature within five years from the date of settlement and maintains an average portfolio maturity and average portfolio duration of three years or less. The Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio primarily invests in securities that mature within three to fifteen years from the date of settlement and maintains an average portfolio duration of between three years and ten years.

 

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Each Extended Quality Portfolio’s investments may include foreign securities denominated in foreign currencies. Each Extended Quality Portfolio intends to hedge foreign currency exposure to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency rates. Each Extended Quality Portfolio may enter into foreign forward currency contracts to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or to transfer balances from one currency to another. Each Extended Quality Portfolio also may enter into credit default swaps on issuers or indices to buy or sell credit protection to hedge its credit exposure; gain market or issuer exposure without owning the underlying securities; or increase the Portfolio’s total return. Each Extended Quality Portfolio also may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts, for non-hedging purposes as a substitute for direct investment or to allow the Portfolio to remain fully invested while maintaining the liquidity required to pay redemptions.

 

The Short-Term Government Portfolio and Intermediate Government Portfolio (collectively, the “Government Portfolios”) each invest in a universe of high quality, non-callable obligations of the U.S. government and its agencies. The Short-Term Government Portfolio invests in securities maturing in five years or less from the date of settlement and the Intermediate Government Portfolio invests in securities with maturities of between five and fifteen years from the date of settlement. Each Government Portfolio is authorized to invest more than 25% of its total assets in Treasury bonds, bills and notes and obligations of federal agencies and instrumentalities. The Short-Term Government Portfolio expects that the Portfolio’s average portfolio maturity and average portfolio duration will be three years or less. The Intermediate Government Portfolio expects to maintain a weighted average portfolio maturity of between three to ten years.

 

In addition to U.S. government and agency obligations, the Intermediate Government Portfolio also invests in AAA-rated, dollar-denominated obligations of foreign governments and obligations of supranational organizations. The Intermediate Government Portfolio also may invest in futures contracts on U.S. Treasury securities or options on such contracts for the purposes of remaining fully invested and maintaining liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The Investment Grade Portfolio and Underlying Funds may lend their portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Fund of Funds Risk: The investment performance of the Investment Grade Portfolio is affected by the investment performance of the Underlying Funds in which the Portfolio invests. The ability of the Portfolio to achieve its investment objective depends on the ability of the Underlying Funds to meet their investment objectives and on the Advisor’s decisions regarding the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among Underlying Funds. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Portfolio or any Underlying Fund will be achieved. Through its investments in the Underlying Funds, the Portfolio is subject to the risks of the Underlying Funds’ investments. The risks of the Underlying Funds’ investments are described below.

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Underlying Funds that own them, and, in turn, the Investment Grade Portfolio itself, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Interest Rate Risk: Fixed income securities are subject to interest rate risk because the prices of fixed income securities tend to move in the opposite direction of interest rates. When interest rates rise, fixed income security prices fall. When interest rates fall, fixed income security prices rise. In general, fixed income securities with longer maturities are more sensitive to these price changes.

 

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Credit Risk: Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security may be unable to make interest payments and/or repay principal when due. A downgrade to an issuer’s credit rating or a perceived change in an issuer’s financial strength may affect a security’s value, and thus, impact an Underlying Fund’s performance. Government agency obligations have different levels of credit support and, therefore, different degrees of credit risk. Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States, such as the Federal Housing Administration and Ginnie Mae, present little credit risk. Other securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities sponsored by the U.S. government, that are supported only by the issuer’s right to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, subject to certain limitations, and securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities sponsored by the U.S. government that are sponsored by the credit of the issuing agencies, such as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, are subject to a greater degree of credit risk. U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the credit of the agency may still involve a risk of non-payment of principal and/or interest.

 

Income Risk: Income risk is the risk that falling interest rates will cause the Investment Grade Portfolio’s income to decline.

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities also are exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar).

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. Derivatives can be used for hedging (attempting to reduce risk by offsetting one investment position with another) or non-hedging purposes. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When an Underlying Fund uses derivatives, the Underlying Fund will be directly exposed to the risks of those derivatives. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Investment Grade Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested. Additional risks are associated with the use of credit default swaps including counterparty and credit risk (the risk that the other party to a swap agreement will not fulfill its contractual obligations, whether because of bankruptcy or other default) and liquidity risk (the possible lack of a secondary market for the swap agreement).

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, an Underlying Fund may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. An Underlying Fund could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences. To the extent that the Investment Grade Portfolio holds securities directly and lends those securities, it will be also subject to the foregoing risks with respect to its loaned securities.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

Performance information is not available for the Investment Grade Portfolio because it has not yet commenced operations. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained in the future by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

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INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the Investment Grade Portfolio and Underlying Funds. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day-to-day management of the Portfolio and Underlying Funds:

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

David A. Plecha, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1989.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the Investment Grade Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the Investment Grade Portfolio are taxable and generally will be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

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DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio (the “Inflation-Protected Portfolio”) is to provide inflation protection and earn current income consistent with inflation-protected securities.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Inflation-Protected Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.10

Other Expenses

     0.03

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.13

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the Inflation-Protected Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 13       $ 42       $ 73       $ 166   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Inflation-Protected Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 12% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that fixed income investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on bond market risk and return, not on interest rate forecasting or market timing.

 

In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely defined maturity ranges and credit quality characteristics. The Advisor will then seek to

 

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purchase a broad range of portfolio securities that result in the Portfolio maintaining similar characteristics to the whole universe of eligible securities. The Advisor also places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low.

 

The Inflation-Protected Portfolio seeks its investment objective by investing in a universe of inflation-protected securities that are structured to provide returns that at least keep up with the rate of inflation over the long-term. The Inflation-Protected Portfolio ordinarily invests in inflation-protected securities issued by the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities and the credit quality such inflation-protected securities will be that of such applicable U.S. government, agency or instrumentality issuer.

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in inflation-protected securities. Inflation-protected securities (also known as inflation-indexed securities) are securities whose principal and/or interest payments are adjusted for inflation, unlike conventional debt securities that make fixed principal and interest payments. Inflation-protected securities include Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (“TIPS”), which are securities issued by the U.S. Treasury. The principal value of TIPS is adjusted for inflation (payable at maturity) and the semi-annual interest payments by TIPS equal a fixed percentage of the inflation-adjusted principal amount. These inflation adjustments are based upon the Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (CPI-U). The original principal value of TIPS is guaranteed, even during periods of deflation. At maturity, TIPS are redeemed at the greater of their inflation-adjusted principal or par amount at original issue. Other types of inflation-protected securities may use other methods to adjust for inflation and other measures of inflation. In addition, inflation-protected securities issued by entities other than the U.S. Treasury may not provide a guarantee of principal value at maturity.

 

Generally, the Inflation-Protected Portfolio will purchase inflation-protected securities with maturities of between five and twenty years from the date of settlement, although it is anticipated that, at times, the Portfolio will purchase securities outside of this range. The Portfolio ordinarily will have an average weighted maturity, based upon market values, of between three to twelve years.

 

The Inflation-Protected Portfolio is authorized to invest more than 25% of its total assets in Treasury bonds, bills and notes and obligations of U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities. The Portfolio will not shift the maturity of its investments in anticipation of interest rate movements.

 

The Inflation-Protected Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Inflation-Protected Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Interest Rate Risk: Fixed income securities are subject to interest rate risk because the prices of fixed income securities tend to move in the opposite direction of interest rates. When interest rates rise, fixed income security prices fall. When interest rates fall, fixed income security prices rise. In general, fixed income securities with longer maturities are more sensitive to these price changes.

 

Inflation-Protected Securities Interest Rate Risk: Inflation-protected securities may react differently from other fixed income securities to changes in interest rates. Because interest rates on inflation-protected securities are adjusted for inflation, the values of these securities are not materially affected by inflation expectations. Therefore, the value of inflation-protected securities are anticipated to change in response to changes in “real” interest rates, which represent nominal (stated) interest rates reduced by the expected impact of inflation. Generally, the value of an inflation-protected security will fall when real interest rates rise and will rise when real interest rates fall.

 

 

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Credit Risk: Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security may be unable to make interest payments and/or repay principal when due. A downgrade to an issuer’s credit rating or a perceived change in an issuer’s financial strength may affect a security’s value, and thus, impact the Inflation-Protected Portfolio’s performance. Government agency obligations have different levels of credit support and, therefore, different degrees of credit risk. Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States, such as the Federal Housing Administration and Ginnie Mae, present little credit risk. Other securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities sponsored by the U.S. government, that are supported only by the issuer’s right to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, subject to certain limitations, and securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities sponsored by the U.S. government that are sponsored by the credit of the issuing agencies, such as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, are subject to a greater degree of credit risk. U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the credit of the agency may still involve a risk of non-payment of principal and/or interest.

 

Risks of Investing for Inflation Protection: Because the interest and/or principal payments on an inflation-protected security are adjusted periodically for changes in inflation, the income distributed by the Inflation-Protected Portfolio may be irregular. Although the U.S. Treasury guarantees to pay at least the original face value of any inflation-protected securities the Treasury issues, other issuers may not offer the same guarantee. Also, inflation-protected securities, including those issued by the U.S. Treasury, are not protected against deflation. As a result, in a period of deflation, the inflation-protected securities held by the Portfolio may not pay any income and the Portfolio may suffer a loss during such periods. While inflation-protected securities are expected to be protected from long-term inflationary trends, short-term increases in inflation may lead to a decline in the Portfolio’s value. If interest rates rise due to reasons other than inflation, the Portfolio’s investment in these securities may not be protected to the extent that the increase is not reflected in the securities’ inflation measures. In addition, positive adjustments to principal generally will result in taxable income to the Portfolio at the time of such adjustments (which generally would be distributed by the Portfolio as part of its taxable dividends), even though the principal amount is not paid until maturity. The current market value of inflation-protected securities is not guaranteed and will fluctuate.

 

Income Risk: Income risk is the risk that falling interest rates will cause the Inflation-Protected Portfolio’s income to decline.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the Inflation-Protected Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the Inflation-Protected Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year and since inception returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the Inflation-Protected Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

 

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DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2007-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

6.32 (1/08-3/08)

   -4.00 (7/08-9/08)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010  

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Since 9/18/06
Inception


 

DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio

                

Return Before Taxes

     6.81     6.32

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     5.88     5.15

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     4.53     4.74

Barclays Capital US TIPS Index (Series-L)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     6.31     6.10

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the Inflation-Protected Portfolio. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the Inflation-Protected Portfolio:

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

David A. Plecha, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1989.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the Inflation-Protected Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the Inflation-Protected Portfolio are taxable and generally will be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

 

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DFA Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the DFA Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio (the “Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio”) is to provide current income that is exempt from federal personal income taxes and to preserve investors’ principal.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.20

Other Expenses

     0.03

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses*

     0.01

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.24

*   Since the “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses” are not directly borne by the Portfolio, they are not reflected in the Portfolio’s financial statements, and therefore, the amounts listed in “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses” will differ from those presented in the Financial Highlights.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 25       $ 77       $ 135       $ 306   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 1% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

 

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PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that fixed income investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on bond market risk and return, not on interest rate forecasting or market timing.

 

In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely defined maturity ranges and credit quality characteristics. The Advisor will then seek to purchase a broad and diverse portfolio of securities meeting these credit quality standards. In making these purchase decisions, if the anticipated maturity risk premium is greater for longer-term securities in the eligible maturity range, the Advisor will focus investment in that longer-term area, otherwise, the portfolio will focus investment in the short-term range of the eligible maturity range. The Advisor also places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low.

 

The Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio seeks its investment objective by investing primarily in a universe of investment grade municipal securities, the interest on which is exempt from regular federal income tax. Municipal securities include bonds, notes, commercial paper and other instruments (including participation interests in such securities) issued by or on behalf of the states, territories and possessions of the United States (including the District of Columbia) and their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities. The interest on the municipal securities purchased by the Portfolio, in the opinion of bond counsel for the issuers, is exempt from federal income tax (i.e., excludable from gross income for individuals for federal income tax purposes but not necessarily exempt from state or local taxes). As a fundamental investment policy, under normal market conditions, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in municipal securities that pay interest exempt from federal income tax. The Portfolio does not currently intend to invest its assets in securities whose interest is subject to the federal alternative minimum tax.

 

Generally, the Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio will acquire obligations that mature within three years from the date of settlement, but substantial investments may be made in obligations maturing up to ten years from the date of settlement when greater returns are available, and in variable rate demand notes with longer maturities. Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will maintain a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of three years or less. If a security has been redeemed by the issuer at a date prior to the stated final maturity date for the purposes of the above maturity restriction, the early redemption date shall be considered the maturity date regardless of the stated final maturity.

 

At least 75% of the assets of the Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio will be invested in municipal securities that, at the time of purchase, are rated in the top three credit-rating categories (Aaa, Aa and A for Moody’s Investor’s Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or AAA, AA and A for Standard & Poor’s Rating Group (“S&P”) or AAA, AA and A for Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”)) with regard to investments in bonds, and rated P1, MIG1, MIG2 or MIG3 by Moody’s or A1 or better, SP-1 or better or SP-2 by S&P or F1 or better or F2 by Fitch with regard to investments in notes. No more than 20% of the Portfolio’s assets will be invested in municipal securities that, at the time of purchase, for bonds, are rated Baa or lower (by Moody’s) or BBB or lower (by S&P or Fitch), and for notes, are rated MIG4 by Moody’s or SP-3 by S&P or F3 by Fitch. The remaining 5% of the Portfolio’s assets may be invested in securities with lower credit ratings or that are unrated.

 

The Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio may (1) purchase certain municipal securities that are insured, (2) invest in municipal securities secured by mortgages on single-family homes and multi-family projects, (3) invest in pre-refunded municipal securities, (4) purchase tax-exempt municipal securities on a “when-issued” basis, and (5) use bond (interest rate) futures and options contracts, credit swaps, interest rate swaps and other types of derivatives to hedge against changes in interest rates. The Portfolio may also use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

 

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PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Interest Rate Risk: Fixed income securities are subject to interest rate risk because the prices of fixed income securities tend to move in the opposite direction of interest rates. When interest rates rise, fixed income security prices fall. When interest rates fall, fixed income security prices rise. In general, fixed income securities with longer maturities are more sensitive to these price changes.

 

Credit Risk: Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security may be unable to make interest payments and/or repay principal when due. A downgrade to an issuer’s credit rating or a perceived change in an issuer’s financial strength may affect a security’s value, and thus, impact the Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio’s performance. Credit risk is greater for fixed income securities with ratings below investment grade (BB or below by S&P or Ba or below by Moody’s). Fixed income securities that are below investment grade involve high credit risk and are considered speculative. Below investment grade fixed income securities may also fluctuate in value more than higher quality fixed income securities and, during periods of market volatility, may be more difficult to sell at the time and price the Portfolio desires.

 

Income Risk: Income risk is the risk that falling interest rates will cause the Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio’s income to decline.

 

Tax Liability Risk: Tax liability risk is the risk that distributions by the Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio become taxable to shareholders as ordinary income due to noncompliant conduct by a municipal bond issuer, unfavorable changes in federal or state tax laws, or adverse interpretations of tax laws by the Internal Revenue Service or state tax authorities. Such adverse interpretations or actions could cause interest from a security to become taxable, possibly retroactively, subjecting, shareholders to increased tax liability. In addition, such adverse interpretations or actions could cause the value of a security, and therefore, the value of the Portfolio’s shares, to decline.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. Hedging with derivatives may increase expenses, and there is no guarantee that a hedging strategy will work. While hedging can reduce or eliminate losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and since inception returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

 

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The after-tax returns presented in the table for the Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

DFA Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2003-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

1.93 (10/08-12/08)

   -1.36 (4/04-6/04)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010  

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Five
Years


    Since 8/20/02
Inception


 

DFA Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     1.10     2.82     2.38

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     1.10     2.82     2.38

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     1.31     2.74     2.34

Barclays Capital Municipal Bond Index 3 Years
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     1.81     4.22     3.38

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio:

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

David A. Plecha, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1989.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

 

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TAX INFORMATION

 

The distributions you receive from the Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio primarily are exempt from regular federal income tax. A portion of these distributions, however, may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax and state and local taxes. The Portfolio may also make distributions that generally are taxable to you as ordinary income.

 

 

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DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio (the “California Municipal Bond Portfolio”) is to seek to provide current income that is expected to be exempt from federal personal income taxes and California state personal income taxes.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the California Municipal Bond Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.20

Other Expenses

     0.04

Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses*

     0.01

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.25

*   Since the “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses” are not directly borne by the Portfolio, they are not reflected in the Portfolio’s financial statements, and therefore, the amounts listed in “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses” will differ from those presented in the Financial Highlights.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the California Municipal Bond Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 26       $ 80       $ 141       $ 318   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The California Municipal Bond Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 4% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that fixed income investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on bond market risk and return, not on interest rate forecasting or market timing.

 

 

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In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely defined maturity ranges and credit quality characteristics. The Advisor will then seek to purchase a broad and diverse portfolio of securities meeting these credit quality standards. In making these purchase decisions, if the anticipated maturity risk premium is greater for longer-term securities in the eligible maturity range, the Advisor will focus investment in that longer-term area, otherwise, the portfolio will focus investment in the short-term range of the eligible maturity range. The Advisor also places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low.

 

The California Municipal Bond Portfolio seeks its investment objective by investing primarily in a universe of municipal securities issued by or on behalf of California state or local governments and their agencies, instrumentalities and regional governmental authorities, the interest on which is exempt from regular federal income tax and the state personal income tax of California. The California Municipal Bond Portfolio invests primarily in municipal securities issued by or on behalf of California state or local governments and their agencies, instrumentalities and regional governmental authorities. The Portfolio may also invest a portion of its assets in municipal securities issued by U.S. territories that are exempt from state taxation under federal law. Municipal securities in which the Portfolio may invest include, among others, revenue bonds, general obligation bonds, industrial development bonds, municipal lease obligations, commercial paper variable rate demand obligations and other instruments (including participation interests in such securities). The Portfolio intends to invest in municipal securities that in the opinion of bond counsel for the issuers and under current tax law provide interest that is exempt from California and federal personal income taxes. As a fundamental investment policy, under normal market conditions, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in municipal securities that pay interest exempt from federal personal income tax and the California state personal income taxes. The Portfolio does not currently intend to invest its assets in securities whose interest is subject to the federal alternative minimum tax.

 

Generally, the Portfolio will acquire obligations that mature within three years from the date of settlement, but substantial investments may be made in obligations maturing up to ten years from the date of settlement when greater returns are available, and in variable rate demand notes with longer maturities. Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will maintain a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of three years or less. The Portfolio intends to maintain a dollar-weighted average credit quality equal to or better than the lower of: (i) a credit quality rating of AA by S&P or Aa2 by Moody’s or AA by Fitch or (ii) the credit quality of general obligation bonds issued by the state of California. For purposes of the above policy on dollar-weighted average credit quality, unrated securities may be included if such securities have been determined by the Advisor to be of comparable quality. The Portfolio may invest in individual municipal securities of any credit quality rating, including securities considered to be below investment grade. If a security has been redeemed by the issuer at a date prior to the stated final maturity date for the purposes of the above maturity restriction, the early redemption date shall be considered the maturity date regardless of the stated final maturity.

 

Municipal securities are often issued to obtain funds for various public purposes, including the construction of a wide range of public facilities, such as bridges, highways, housing, hospitals, mass transportation facilities, schools, streets and public utilities, such as water and sewer works. Municipal securities include municipal leases, certificates of participation, municipal obligation components and municipal custody receipts. The Portfolio may invest more than 25% of its assets in municipal securities issued to finance projects in a particular segment of the bond market including, but not limited to, health care, housing, education, utilities, and transportation. The Portfolio also may invest more than 25% of its assets in industrial development bonds.

 

The California Municipal Bond Portfolio may (1) purchase certain municipal securities that are insured, (2) invest in municipal securities secured by mortgages on single-family homes and multi-family projects, (3) invest in pre-refunded municipal securities, (4) purchase tax-exempt municipal securities on a “when-issued” basis and (5) use bond (interest rate) futures and options contracts, credit swaps, interest rate swaps and other types of derivatives to hedge against changes in interest rates. The Portfolio may also use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

 

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Although the Portfolio attempts to invest all of its assets in tax-exempt securities, it is possible, although not anticipated, that a portion of its assets may be invested in securities that pay taxable interest, including interest that may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax. These investments could generate taxable income for shareholders.

 

The California Municipal Bond Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

The California Municipal Bond Portfolio is primarily designed for investment by California taxpayers.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the California Municipal Bond Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Interest Rate Risk: Fixed income securities are subject to interest rate risk because the prices of fixed income securities tend to move in the opposite direction of interest rates. When interest rates rise, fixed income security prices fall. When interest rates fall, fixed income security prices rise. In general, fixed income securities with longer maturities are more sensitive to these price changes.

 

Credit Risk: Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security may be unable to make interest payments and/or repay principal when due. A downgrade to an issuer’s credit rating or a perceived change in an issuer’s financial strength may affect a security’s value, and thus, impact the California Municipal Bond Portfolio’s performance. Credit risk is greater for fixed income securities with ratings below investment grade (BB or below by S&P or Ba or below by Moody’s). Fixed income securities that are below investment grade involve high credit risk and are considered speculative. Below investment grade fixed income securities may also fluctuate in value more than higher quality fixed income securities and, during periods of market volatility, may be more difficult to sell at the time and price the Portfolio desires.

 

Income Risk: Income risk is the risk that falling interest rates will cause the California Municipal Bond Portfolio’s income to decline.

 

Tax Liability Risk: Tax liability risk is the risk that distributions by the California Municipal Bond Portfolio become taxable to shareholders as ordinary income due to noncompliant conduct by a municipal bond issuer, unfavorable changes in federal or state tax laws, or adverse interpretations of tax laws by the Internal Revenue Service or state tax authorities. Such adverse interpretations or actions could cause interest from a security to become taxable, possibly retroactively, subjecting shareholders to increased tax liability. In addition, such adverse interpretations or actions could cause the value of a security, and therefore, the value of the Portfolio’s shares, to decline.

 

State-Specific Risk: Because the California Municipal Bond Portfolio focuses its investments primarily in California municipal securities, the value of the Portfolio’s investments will be highly sensitive to events affecting the fiscal stability of the State of California and its agencies, municipalities, authorities and other instrumentalities that issue securities. Having a significant percentage of its assets invested in the securities of fewer issuers, particularly obligations of government issuers of a single state, could result in greater credit risk exposure to a smaller number of issuers due to economic, regulatory or political problems in California. Also, to the extent that the Portfolio makes significant investments in securities issued to finance projects in a particular segment of the California municipal securities market such focused investment may cause the value of the Portfolio’s shares to change more than the value of shares of funds that invest more broadly. The deterioration of California’s fiscal situation as a result of the economic recession that began in the first quarter of 2008 increases

 

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the risk of investing in California municipal securities, including the risk of potential issuer default, and also heightens the risk that the prices of California municipal securities will experience greater volatility. These risks are disclosed in more detail in the Portfolio’s Statement of Additional Information.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. Derivatives can be used for hedging (attempting to reduce risk by offsetting one investment position with another) or non-hedging purposes. Hedging with derivatives may increase expenses, and there is no guarantee that a hedging strategy will work. While hedging can reduce or eliminate losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the California Municipal Bond Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the California Municipal Bond Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the California Municipal Bond Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year and since inception returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the California Municipal Bond Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 

LOGO

 

January 2008-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

2.20 (10/08-12/08)

   -0.95 (10/10-12/10)

 

 

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     Periods ending December 31, 2010

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Since 4/2/07
Inception


 

DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio

                

Return Before Taxes

     1.19     2.87

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     1.19     2.87

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     1.40     2.78

BofA Merrill Lynch 1-3 Year California Municipal Bond Index*
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     1.32     3.78

 

*   Source Merrill Lynch, used with permission. MERRILL LYNCH IS LICENSING THE MERRILL LYNCH INDICES “AS IS,” MAKES NO WARRANTIES REGARDING SAME, DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY AND OR COMPLETENESS OF THE MERRILL LYNCH INDICES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN OR DERIVED THEREFROM, AND ASSUMES NO LIABILITY IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR USE.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the California Municipal Bond Portfolio. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the California Municipal Bond Portfolio:

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

David A. Plecha, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1989.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the California Municipal Bond Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The distributions you receive from the California Municipal Bond Portfolio primarily are exempt from regular federal and state income tax for residents of California. A portion of these distributions, however, may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax. The Portfolio may also make distributions that generally are taxable to you as ordinary income.

 

 

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

 

The investment company described in this Prospectus offers a variety of investment portfolios. Each of the investment company’s Portfolios has its own investment objective and policies, and is the equivalent of a separate mutual fund. The Portfolios, except the One-Year Portfolio, described in this Prospectus are designed for long-term investors.

 

Description of Investments of the Portfolios Other than the Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio and California Municipal Bond Portfolio

 

The following is a description of the categories of investments that may be acquired by the Portfolios* (other than the Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio and California Municipal Bond Portfolio):

 

     Permissible Categories:

 

One-Year Portfolio

     1-8,10-11   

Two-Year Global Portfolio

     1-11   

Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio

     1-11   

Short-Term Government Portfolio

     1,2,6,11   

Five-Year Global Portfolio

     1-11   

Intermediate Government Portfolio

     1,2,6,7,8,11   

Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio

     1,2,4,6-8,10-14   

Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio

     1,2,4,6-8,10-12,14   

Inflation-Protected Portfolio

     1,2,6,11   

*   In connection with the Investment Grade Portfolio, the following is a description of the categories of investments that may be acquired by the Portfolio’s underlying Funds.

 

1. U.S. Government Obligations—Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury which are direct obligations of the U.S. government, including bills, notes and bonds.

 

2. U.S. Government Agency Obligations—Issued or guaranteed by U.S. government-sponsored instrumentalities and federal agencies, which have different levels of credit support. The U.S. government agency obligations include, but are not limited to, securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States, such as the Federal Housing Administration and Ginnie Mae, including Ginnie Mae pass-through certificates. Other securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities sponsored by the U.S. government may be supported only by the issuer’s right to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, subject to certain limits, such as securities issued by Federal Home Loan Banks, or are supported only by the credit of such agencies, such as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

 

3. Corporate Debt Obligations—Nonconvertible corporate debt securities (e.g., bonds and debentures), which are issued by companies whose commercial paper is rated Prime1 by Moody’s or A1 or better by S&P or F1 or better by Fitch and dollar-denominated obligations of foreign issuers issued in the U.S. If the issuer’s commercial paper is unrated, then the debt security would have to be rated at least AA by S&P or Aa2 by Moody’s or AA by Fitch. If there is neither a commercial paper rating nor a rating of the debt security, then the Advisor must determine that the debt security is of comparable quality to equivalent issues of the same issuer rated at least AA or Aa2.

 

4. Bank Obligations—Obligations of U.S. banks and savings and loan associations and dollar-denominated obligations of U.S. subsidiaries and branches of foreign banks, such as certificates of deposit (including marketable variable rate certificates of deposit), time deposits and bankers’ acceptances. Bank certificates of deposit will only be acquired from banks having assets in excess of $1,000,000,000.

 

 

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5. Commercial Paper—Rated, at the time of purchase, A1 or better by S&P or Prime1 by Moody’s, or F1 or better by Fitch or, if unrated, issued by a corporation having an outstanding unsecured debt issue rated Aaa by Moody’s or AAA by S&P or AAA by Fitch.

 

6. Repurchase Agreements—Instruments through which the Portfolios purchase securities (“underlying securities”) from a bank or a registered U.S. government securities dealer, with an agreement by the seller to repurchase the securities at an agreed price, plus interest at a specified rate. The underlying securities will be limited to U.S. government and agency obligations described in (1) and (2) above. The Portfolios will not enter into a repurchase agreement with a duration of more than seven days if, as a result, more than 10% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets would be so invested. In addition, a repurchase agreement with a duration of more than seven days will be subject to a Portfolio’s illiquid securities policy. The Portfolios also will only invest in repurchase agreements with a bank if the bank has at least $1,000,000,000 in assets and is approved by the Investment Committee of the Advisor. The Advisor will monitor the market value of the securities plus any accrued interest thereon so that they will at least equal the repurchase price.

 

7. Foreign Government and Agency Obligations—Bills, notes, bonds and other debt securities issued or guaranteed by foreign governments, or their agencies and instrumentalities.

 

8. Supranational Organization Obligations—Debt securities of supranational organizations such as the European Coal and Steel Community, the European Economic Community and the World Bank, which are chartered to promote economic development.

 

9. Foreign Issuer Obligations—Debt securities of non-U.S. issuers rated AA or better by S&P or Aa2 or better by Moody’s or AA or better by Fitch.

 

10. Eurodollar Obligations—Debt securities of domestic or foreign issuers denominated in U.S. dollars but not trading in the United States.

 

11. Money Market Funds—The Portfolios may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

12. Corporate Debt ObligationsShort-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio—Nonconvertible corporate debt securities (e.g., bonds and debentures), which have received an investment grade rating by Moody’s, Fitch or S&P or, if unrated, have been determined by the Advisor to be of comparable quality.

 

13. Commercial Paper—Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio—Rated, at the time of purchase, A3 or better by S&P or Prime3 or better by Moody’s, or F3 or better by Fitch or, if unrated, issued by a corporation having an outstanding unsecured debt issue rated at least Baa3 by Moody’s or BBB- by S&P or Fitch.

 

14. Foreign Issuer Obligations—Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio—Debt securities of non-U.S. issuers that have received a rating of BBB- or better by S&P or Fitch or Baa3 or better by Moody’s, or, if unrated, have been determined by the Advisor to be of comparable quality.

 

The categories of investments that may be acquired by each of the Portfolios (other than Intermediate Government Portfolio) may include both fixed and floating rate securities. Floating rate securities bear interest at rates that vary with prevailing market rates. Interest rate adjustments are made periodically (e.g., every six months), usually based on a money market index such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) or the Treasury bill rate.

 

 

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Investments in the Banking Industry

 

The One-Year Portfolio, Two-Year Global Portfolio, Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio, Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio will invest more than 25% of their total respective assets in obligations of U.S. and foreign banks and bank holding companies (“banking industry securities”) when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking industry securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group generally for a period of five consecutive days when the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for trading. For purposes of this policy, the Advisor considers eligible portfolio investments to be those securities that are on the Advisor’s then current buy list that are available for purchase. This policy can only be changed by a vote of shareholders. When investment in such obligations exceeds 25% of the total net assets of any of these Portfolios such Portfolio will be considered to be concentrating its investments in the banking industry. Once a Portfolio concentrates its investments in the banking industry, the Portfolio may remain concentrated in the banking industry until the purchase of new investments in the normal course of executing the Portfolio’s investment strategy result in less than 25% of the Portfolio’s total assets consisting of banking industry securities.

 

As of the date of this Prospectus, the One-Year Portfolio is concentrating its investments in the banking industry.

 

The types of bank and bank holding company obligations in which the Portfolios may invest include: dollar-denominated certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, commercial paper and other debt obligations issued in the United States provided such obligations meet each Portfolio’s established credit rating criteria as stated under “Description of Investments of the Portfolios Other than the Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio and California Municipal Bond Portfolio.” In addition, the Portfolios are authorized to invest more than 25% of their total assets in Treasury bonds, bills and notes and obligations of federal agencies and instrumentalities. The Two-Year Global Portfolio, Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio, Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio may also invest in non-dollar denominated certificates.

 

Portfolio Strategies

 

The One-Year Portfolio, Two-Year Global Portfolio, Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio, Short-Term Government Portfolio, Five-Year Global Portfolio, Intermediate Government Portfolio, Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio, Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and Inflation-Protected Portfolio will be managed with a view to capturing credit risk premiums and term or maturity premiums. The term “credit risk premium” means the anticipated incremental return on investment for holding obligations considered to have greater credit risk than direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury, and “maturity risk premium” means the anticipated incremental return on investment for holding securities having longer-term maturities as compared to securities having shorter-term maturities. At times when, in the Advisor’s judgment, eligible foreign securities do not offer maturity risk premiums that compare favorably with those offered by eligible U.S. Securities, a Portfolio will be invested primarily in the latter securities. The Advisor believes that credit risk premiums are available largely through investment in commercial paper, certificates of deposit and corporate obligations. The holding period for assets of the Portfolios will be chosen with a view to maximizing anticipated returns, net of trading costs.

 

The One-Year Portfolio, Two-Year Global Portfolio, Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio, Short-Term Government Portfolio, Five-Year Global Portfolio and Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio may engage in frequent trading of portfolio securities and, therefore, are expected to have a high portfolio turnover rate. The rate of portfolio turnover will depend upon market and other conditions; it will not be a limiting factor when management believes that portfolio changes are appropriate. While the Portfolios acquire securities in principal transactions and, therefore, do not pay brokerage commissions, the spread between the bid and asked prices of a security may be considered to be a “cost” of trading. Such costs ordinarily increase with trading activity.

 

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However, securities ordinarily will be sold when, in the Advisor’s judgment, the monthly return of a Portfolio will be increased as a result of portfolio transactions after taking into account the cost of trading. It is anticipated that short-term instruments will be acquired in the primary and secondary markets. A high portfolio turnover rate may have negative tax consequences to shareholders and may result in increased trading costs.

 

The Investment Grade Portfolio will be managed with a view to capturing credit risk premiums and maturity risk premiums. The term “credit risk premium” means the expected incremental return on investment for holding obligations considered to have greater credit risk than direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury, and “maturity risk premium” means the expected incremental return on investment for holding securities having longer-term maturities as compared to shorter-term maturities. In making the allocation decisions among the Underlying Funds, the Advisor will increase or decrease investment in Underlying Funds that provide exposure to intermediate-term securities depending on the expected maturity risk premium and also increase or decrease investment in Underlying Funds that provide exposure to non-government securities depending on the expected credit risk premium.

 

The Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio will be managed with a view to capturing credit risk premiums and term or maturity premiums. The Advisor believes that credit risk premiums for a municipal securities portfolio are available largely through investment in high grade municipal securities. The holding period for assets of the Short-Term Municipal Portfolio will be chosen with a view to maximizing anticipated returns, net of trading costs, and the Advisor may consider potential realized and unrealized capital gains.

 

The Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio may also invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments to gain exposure to the municipal bond market pending investment in municipal bonds. The Portfolio may also invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

The California Municipal Bond Portfolio will be managed with a view to capturing credit risk premiums and term or maturity premiums. The Advisor believes that credit risk premiums for a California municipal securities portfolio are available through investment in municipal securities that may include certain securities that are below investment grade. The holding period for assets of the Portfolio will be chosen with a view to maximizing anticipated returns, net of trading costs.

 

The California Municipal Bond Portfolio may also invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments, as well as affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds, to gain exposure to the California municipal bond market pending investment in municipal bonds.

 

Other Information

 

Commodity Pool Operator Exemption:

 

Each Portfolio is operated by a person that has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”), and, therefore, such person is not subject to registration or regulation as a pool operator under the CEA.

 

SECURITIES LOANS

 

Each Portfolio is authorized to lend securities to qualified brokers, dealers, banks and other financial institutions for the purpose of earning additional income. While a Portfolio may earn additional income from lending securities, such activity is incidental to the investment objective of the Portfolio. For information concerning the revenue from securities lending, see “SECURITIES LENDING REVENUE.” The value of securities loaned may not exceed 33 1/3% of the value of a Portfolio’s total assets, which includes the value of collateral received. To the extent a Portfolio loans a portion of its securities, the Portfolio will receive collateral

 

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consisting generally of cash or U.S. government securities, which will be maintained by marking to market daily in an amount equal to at least (i) 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities with respect to securities of the U.S. government or its agencies, (ii) 102% of the current market value of the loaned securities with respect to U.S. securities, and (iii) 105% of the current market value of the loaned securities with respect to foreign securities. Subject to their stated investment policies, the Portfolios will generally invest the cash collateral received for the loaned securities in the DFA Short Term Investment Fund (the “Money Market Series”), an affiliated registered money market fund advised by the Advisor for which the Advisor receives a management fee of 0.05% of the average daily net assets of the Money Market Series. The Portfolios may also invest such collateral in securities of the U.S. government or its agencies, repurchase agreements collateralized by securities of the U.S. government or its agencies, and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds. For purposes of this paragraph, agencies include both agency debentures and agency mortgage backed securities.

 

In addition, the Portfolios will be able to terminate the loan at any time and will receive reasonable interest on the loan, as well as amounts equal to any dividends, interest or other distributions on the loaned securities. However, dividend income received from loaned securities may not be eligible to be taxed at qualified dividend income rates. See the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) for a further discussion of the tax consequences related to securities lending. A Portfolio will be entitled to recall a loaned security in time to vote proxies or otherwise obtain rights to vote proxies of loaned securities if the Portfolio knows a material event will occur. In the event of the bankruptcy of the borrower, DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. (the “Fund”) could experience delay in recovering the loaned securities or only recover cash or a security of equivalent value. See “PRINCIPAL RISKS—Securities Lending” for a discussion of the risks related to securities lending.

 

SECURITIES LENDING REVENUE

 

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the following Portfolios received net revenues from a securities lending program (see “SECURITIES LOANS”):

 

Portfolio


   Net Revenue

     Percentage
of Net
Assets


 

One-Year Portfolio

   $ 278,000         0.01

Two-Year Global Portfolio

   $ 507,000         0.01

Five-Year Global Portfolio

   $ 630,000         0.02

Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio

   $ 17,000         0.00

Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio

   $ 4,000         0.00

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIOS

 

The Advisor serves as investment advisor to each of the Portfolios. Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Fund on behalf of each Portfolio, the Advisor is responsible for the management of each of the Portfolio’s assets. Each of the portfolios is managed using a team approach. The investment team includes the Investment Committee of the Advisor, portfolio managers and trading personnel.

 

The Investment Committee is composed primarily of certain officers and directors of the Advisor who are appointed annually. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Investment Committee has seven members. Investment strategies for the Portfolios are set by the Investment Committee, which meets on a regular basis and also as needed to consider investment issues. The Investment Committee also sets and reviews all investment related policies and procedures and approves any changes in regards to approved countries, security types and brokers.

 

In accordance with the team approach used to manage the portfolios, the portfolio managers and portfolio traders implement the policies and procedures established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers and portfolio traders also make daily investment decisions regarding the portfolios including running buy and sell

 

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programs based on the parameters established by the Investment Committee. Stephen A. Clark and David A. Plecha each serve as a portfolio manager of each Portfolio and coordinate the efforts of all other portfolio managers with respect to the day to day management of the Portfolios.

 

Mr. Clark is a Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and chairman of the Investment Committee. Mr. Clark received his MBA from the University of Chicago and his BS from Bradley University. Mr. Clark joined the Advisor as a portfolio manager in 2001 and has been responsible for the portfolio management group since January 2006.

 

Mr. Plecha is a Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and a member of the Investment Committee. Mr. Plecha received his BS from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1983 and his MBA from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1987. Mr. Plecha has been a portfolio manager since 1989 and responsible for the fixed income portfolios since the end of 1991.

 

The Portfolios’ SAI provides information about the portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, and the portfolio manager’s ownership of Fund shares.

 

The Advisor provides the Portfolios with a trading department and selects brokers and dealers to effect securities transactions. Securities transactions are placed with a view to obtaining best price and execution. A discussion regarding the basis for the Boards of Trustees/Directors approving the investment management agreements with respect to the Portfolios is available in the semi-annual reports for the Portfolios for the fiscal period ending April 30, 2010. The Advisor’s address is 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746. The Advisor has been engaged in the business of providing investment management services since May 1981. The Advisor is currently organized as a Delaware limited partnership and is controlled and operated by its general partner, Dimensional Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation. The Advisor controls Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (“DFAL”) and DFA Australia Limited (“DFA Australia”). As of January 31, 2011, assets under management for all Dimensional affiliated advisors totaled approximately $209 billion.

 

The Fund bears all of its own costs and expenses, including: services of its independent registered public accounting firm, legal counsel, brokerage fees, commissions and transfer taxes in connection with the acquisition and disposition of portfolio securities, taxes, insurance premiums, costs incidental to meetings of its shareholders and directors, the cost of filing its registration statements under the federal securities laws and the cost of any filings required under state securities laws, reports to shareholders, and transfer and dividend disbursing agency, administrative services and custodian fees, except as provided in the Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreements for certain classes of the Portfolios. Expenses allocable to a particular Portfolio or class of a Portfolio are so allocated. The expenses of the Fund which are not allocable to a particular Portfolio or class of a Portfolio are to be borne by each Portfolio or class of a Portfolio of the Fund on the basis of its relative net assets.

 

Management Fees

 

The “Annual Fund Operating Expenses” table describes the fees incurred by each Portfolio (except the Short-Term Government Portfolio and Investment Grade Portfolio) for the services provided by the Advisor for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010. The “Management Fee” listed in the table for each of the One-Year Portfolio and Two-Year Global Portfolio includes both an investment advisory fee and administrative fee that was payable by the Portfolio to the Advisor. The “Management Fee” listed in the table for the remaining Portfolios provides the investment advisory fee that was payable by the respective Portfolio to the Advisor.

 

The “Annual Fund Operating Expenses” table for the Short-Term Government Portfolio table describes the estimated management fee to be paid by the Portfolio for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011, as a result of a decrease in the management fee payable by the Portfolio. Effective February 28, 2011, the rate of the management fee paid to the Advisor by the Short-Term Government Portfolio was reduced to 0.17% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets on an annualized basis. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the actual management fee paid by the Portfolio to the Advisor was 0.20% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets on an annualized basis.

 

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The “Annual Fund Operating Expenses” table for the Investment Grade Portfolio describes the anticipated fees to be incurred by the Portfolio for the services provided by the Advisor for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011.

 

Sub-Advisors

 

Pursuant to Sub-Advisory Agreements with the Advisor, DFA Australia, Level 43 Gateway, 1 Macquarie Place, Sydney, New South Wales 2000, Australia, has the authority and responsibility to select brokers and dealers to execute securities transactions for the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio, Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio, Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and Investment Grade Portfolio. DFA Australia’s duties include the maintenance of a trading desk for each Portfolio and the determination of the best and most efficient means of executing securities transactions. On at least a semi-annual basis, the Advisor reviews each Portfolio’s holdings and reviews the trading process and the execution of securities transactions. The Advisor is responsible for determining those securities which are eligible for purchase and sale by a Portfolio and may delegate this task, subject to its own review, to DFA Australia. DFA Australia maintains and furnishes to the Advisor information and reports on Japanese and Asia Pacific Rim small companies, including its recommendations of securities to be added to the securities that are eligible for purchase by each Portfolio as well as making recommendations and elections on corporate actions. The Advisor pays DFA Australia for the services it provides to the Portfolio.

 

Pursuant to Sub-Advisory Agreements with the Advisor, DFAL, 20 Triton Street, Regent’s Place, London, NW13BF, United Kingdom, a company that is organized under the laws of England, has the authority and responsibility to select brokers or dealers to execute securities transactions for the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio, Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio, Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and Investment Grade Porftolio. DFAL’s duties include the maintenance of a trading desk for each Portfolio and the determination of the best and most efficient means of executing securities transactions. On at least a semi-annual basis, the Advisor reviews the holdings of the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio, Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio, Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and Investment Grade Portfolio and reviews the trading process and the execution of securities transactions. The Advisor is responsible for determining those securities which are eligible for purchase and sale by a Portfolio and may delegate this task, subject to its own review, to DFAL. DFAL maintains and furnishes to the Advisor information and reports on United Kingdom and European small companies, including its recommendations of securities to be added to the securities that are eligible for purchase by each Portfolio as well as making recommendations and elections on corporate actions. DFAL is a member of the Financial Services Authority (“FSA”), a self-regulatory organization for investment managers operating under the laws of England.

 

Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreements

 

Pursuant to an Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and/or Expense Assumption Agreement for the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio, Short-Term Government Portfolio, Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio, Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio, Investment Grade Portfolio, Inflation-Protected Portfolio, Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio and California Municipal Bond Portfolio, the Advisor has agreed to waive certain fees and in certain instances, assume certain expenses of the Portfolios, as described below. The Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and/or Expense Assumption Agreement described below will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by the Fund or the Advisor.

 

The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and to assume the ordinary operating expenses of each of the following Portfolios (excluding the expenses that the Portfolio incurs indirectly through its investment in other investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) to the extent necessary to limit the Portfolio Expenses for each Portfolio, on an annualized basis, to the following percentages of the respective Portfolio’s average net assets (the “Expense Limitation Amount”). At any time that the Portfolio Expenses of a Portfolio are less than the Portfolio’s Expense Limitation Amount, identified below, the Advisor

 

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retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s annualized Portfolio Expenses to exceed the Expense Limitation Amount. A Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement.

 

Portfolio


   Expense Limitation
Amount


 

Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio

     0.25

Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio

     0.22

Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio

     0.22

Inflation-Protected Portfolio

     0.20

California Municipal Bond Portfolio

     0.30

 

The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee to the extent necessary to reduce the ordinary operating expenses (not including expenses incurred through its investment in other investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) of each of the following Portfolios so that such Portfolio Expenses, on an annualized basis, do not exceed the rate reflected below for each such Portfolio (the “Expense Limitation Amount”). At any time that the Portfolio Expenses of a Portfolio are less than the Expense Limitation Amount, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived to the extent that such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s annualized Portfolio Expenses to exceed the Expense Limitation Amount. A Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement.

 

Portfolio


   Expense Limitation
Amount


 

Short-Term Government Portfolio

     0.20

Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio

     0.30

 

The Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of the management fee and to assume the expenses of the Investment Grade Portfolio (including the expenses that the Portfolio bears as a shareholder of other funds managed by the Advisor but excluding the expenses that the Portfolio incurs indirectly through its investment in unaffiliated investment companies) (the “Portfolio Expenses”) to the extent necessary to limit Portfolio Expenses to no more than 0.22% of the Portfolio’s average net assets on an annualized basis (the “Expense Limitation Amount”). At any time that the Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio are less than the Portfolio’s Expense Limitation Amount, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for the amount of any remaining management fees previously waived to the extent that such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s annualized Portfolio Expenses to exceed the Portfolio’s Expense Limitation Amount.

 

DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

 

Dividends and Distributions. Each Portfolio intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code. As a regulated investment company, a Portfolio generally pays no federal income tax on the income and gains it distributes to you. Dividends from net investment income are distributed monthly (except for January) by the One-Year Portfolio, Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio, Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio, Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio and California Municipal Bond Portfolio; distributed quarterly by the Two-Year Global Portfolio, Short-Term Government Portfolio, Five-Year Global Portfolio, Intermediate Government Portfolio, Investment Grade Portfolio and Inflation-Protected Portfolio; and distributed annually by the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio. The Two-Year Global Portfolio, Five-Year Global Portfolio, Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio, and Inflation-Protected Portfolio may make an additional dividend distribution from net investment income in October of each year. Any net realized capital gains (after any reductions for available capital loss carryforwards) are distributed annually, typically in

 

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December. A Portfolio may distribute such income dividends and capital gains more frequently, if necessary, in order to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the Portfolio.

 

Capital gains distributions may vary considerably from year to year as a result of a Portfolio’s normal investment activities and cash flows. During a time of economic downturn, a Portfolio may experience capital losses and unrealized depreciation in value of investments, the effect of which may be to reduce or eliminate capital gains distributions for a period of time. Even though a Portfolio may experience a current year loss, it may nonetheless distribute prior year capital gains.

 

You will automatically receive all income dividends and capital gains distributions in additional shares of the Portfolio whose shares you hold at net asset value (as of the business date following the dividend record date), unless, upon written notice to the Advisor and completion of account information, you select one of the options listed below:

 

Income Option—to receive income dividends in cash and capital gains distributions in additional shares at net asset value.

 

Capital Gains Option—to receive capital gains distributions in cash and income dividends in additional shares at net asset value.

 

Cash Option—to receive both income dividends and capital gains distributions in cash.

 

     Net Investment Income
Distribution

 

Portfolio


   Annually

     Quarterly

     Monthly

 

One-Year Portfolio*

                       X   

Two-Year Global Portfolio

              X            

Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio

     X                     

Short-Term Government Portfolio

              X            

Five-Year Global Portfolio

              X            

Intermediate Government Portfolio

              X            

Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio*

                       X   

Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio*

                       X   

Investment Grade Portfolio

              X            

Inflation-Protected Portfolio

              X            

Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio*

                       X   

California Municipal Bond Portfolio*

                       X   

*   Any net investment income will be distributed each month, except January.

 

Annual Statements. Each year, you will receive a statement that shows the tax status of distributions you received the previous calendar year. Distributions declared in December to shareholders of record in such month, but paid in January, are taxable as if they were paid in December.

 

Avoid “Buying A Dividend. At the time you purchase your Portfolio shares, a Portfolio’s net asset value may reflect undistributed income, undistributed capital gains, or net unrealized appreciation in value of portfolio securities held by the Portfolio. A subsequent distribution to you of such amounts, although constituting a return of your investment, would be taxable. Buying shares in a Portfolio just before it declares an income dividend or capital gains distribution is sometimes known as “buying a dividend.”

 

Tax Considerations. This discussion of Tax Considerations should be read in conjunction with the remaining subsections below containing additional information. Also, unless otherwise indicated, the discussion below with respect to a Portfolio includes in the case of a Portfolio invested in an Underlying Fund classified as a corporation its pro rata share of the dividends and distributions paid by an Underlying Fund.

 

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In general, if you are a taxable investor, Portfolio distributions (other than exempt-interest dividends) are taxable to you as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both. This is true whether you reinvest your distributions in additional Portfolio shares or receive them in cash.

 

For federal income tax purposes, Portfolio distributions of short-term capital gains are taxable to you as ordinary income. Portfolio distributions of long-term capital gains are taxable to you as long-term capital gains no matter how long you have owned your shares. A Portfolio with a high portfolio turnover rate (a measure of how frequently assets within a Portfolio are bought and sold) is more likely to generate short-term capital gains than a Portfolio with a low portfolio turnover rate. With respect to taxable years of a Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2013, unless such provision is extended or made permanent, a portion of income dividends reported by a Portfolio as qualified dividend income may be eligible for taxation by individual shareholders at long-term capital gain rates provided certain holding period requirements are met. Because the income of each Portfolio primarily is derived from investments earning interest rather than dividend income, generally none or only a small portion of the income dividends paid to you by a Portfolio is anticipated to be qualified dividend income eligible for taxation by individuals at long-term capital gain tax rates.

 

If a Portfolio qualifies to pass through to you the tax benefits from foreign taxes it pays on its investments, and elects to do so, then any foreign taxes it pays on these investments may be passed through to you as a foreign tax credit.

 

Sale or Redemption of Portfolio Shares. The sale of shares of a Portfolio is a taxable event and may result in a capital gain or loss to you. Capital gain or loss may be realized from an ordinary redemption of shares or an exchange of shares between two Portfolios. Any loss incurred on the sale or exchange of a Portfolio’s shares, held for six months or less, will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of capital gain dividends received with respect to such shares.

 

Backup Withholding. By law, a Portfolio may be required to withhold 28% of taxable dividends, capital gains distributions, and redemption proceeds paid to you if you do not provide your proper taxpayer identification number and certain required certifications. You may avoid this withholding requirement by providing and certifying on the account registration form your correct Taxpayer Identification Number and by certifying that you are not subject to backup withholding and are a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). A Portfolio must also withhold if the IRS instructs it to do so.

 

State and Local Taxes. In addition to federal taxes, you may be subject to state and local taxes on distributions from a Portfolio and on gains arising on redemption or exchange of a Portfolio’s shares. Distributions of interest income and capital gains realized from certain types of U.S. government securities may be exempt from state personal income taxes. To the extent an Underlying Fund organized as a corporation invests in U.S. government obligations, distributions derived from interest on these obligations and paid to a Portfolio and, in turn, to shareholders are unlikely to be exempt from state and local income tax.

 

Non-U.S. Investors. Non-U.S. investors may be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a 30% or lower treaty rate and are subject to special U.S. tax certification requirements to avoid backup withholding and claim any treaty benefits. Exemptions from U.S. withholding tax are provided for capital gain dividends paid by a Portfolio from long-term capital gains, if any, exempt-interest dividends, and, with respect to taxable years of a Portfolio that begin before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended or made permanent), interest-related dividends paid by a Portfolio from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources and short-term capital gain dividends. However, notwithstanding such exemptions from U.S. withholding at the source, any such dividends and distributions of income and capital gains will be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 28% if you fail to properly certify that you are not a U.S. person. Non-U.S. investors also may be subject to U.S. estate tax.

 

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Special Tax Considerations for Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio and California Municipal Bond Portfolio.

 

Exempt-Interest Dividends. In the case of the Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio and the California Municipal Bond Portfolio (the “Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolios”), most portfolio distributions will consist of exempt-interest dividends (dividends paid from interest earned on municipal securities). In general, exempt-interest dividends are exempt from regular federal income tax. Exempt-interest dividends from interest earned on municipal securities of a state, or its political subdivisions, generally are exempt from that state’s personal income tax. Most states, however, do not grant tax-free treatment to interest from municipal securities of other states.

 

Because of these tax exemptions, the Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolios may not be suitable investments for retirement plans and other tax-exempt investors. Corporate shareholders should note that these dividends may be fully taxable in states that impose corporate franchise taxes, and they should consult with their tax advisors about the taxability of this income before investing in either of the Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolios.

 

Exempt-interest dividends are taken into account when determining the taxable portion of your social security or railroad retirement benefits. In addition, the Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolios do not currently intend to invest their assets in securities whose interest is subject to the federal alternative minimum tax.

 

While each Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio endeavors to purchase only bona fide tax-exempt securities, there are risks that: (a) a security issued as tax-exempt may be reclassified by the Internal Revenue Service, or a state tax authority, as taxable and/or (b) future legislative, administrative or court actions could adversely impact the qualification of income from a tax-exempt security as tax-free. Such reclassifications or actions could cause interest from a security to become taxable, possibly retroactively, subjecting you to increased tax liability. In addition, such reclassifications or actions could cause the value of a security, and therefore, the value of a Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio’s shares, to decline.

 

Taxable Income Dividends. The Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolios may invest a portion of their assets in securities that pay income that is not tax-exempt. The Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolios may also distribute to you any market discount and net short-term capital gains from the sale of its portfolio securities. If you are a taxable investor, Portfolio distributions from this income are taxable to you as ordinary income, and generally will not be treated as qualified dividend income subject to reduced rates of taxation for individuals. Distributions of ordinary income are taxable whether you reinvest your distributions in additional Portfolio shares or receive them in cash.

 

Capital Gain Distributions. The Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolios may also realize net long-term capital gains from the sale of portfolio securities. Portfolio distributions of long-term capital gains are taxable to you as long-term capital gains no matter how long you have owned your shares.

 

Any loss incurred on the sale or exchange of the Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolios’ shares held for six months or less will be disallowed to the extent of any exempt-interest dividends paid to you with respect to your Portfolio shares, and any remaining loss will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributed to you by the Portfolio on those shares. However, under the RIC Mod Act, this rule will not apply to any loss incurred on a redemption or exchange of shares of a Portfolio that declares exempt-interest dividends daily and distributes them at least monthly for which your holding period begins after December 22, 2010.

 

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Residents of California. You may exclude any exempt-interest dividends paid to you by the California Municipal Bond Portfolio from your California taxable income for purposes of the California personal income tax if:

 

   

the dividends are derived from interest on obligations of the State of California and its political subdivisions or qualifying obligations of U.S. territories and possessions that are exempt from state taxation under federal law;

 

   

the dividends paid do not exceed the amount of interest (minus certain non-deductible expenses) the Portfolio receives, during its taxable year, on obligations that, when held by an individual, pay interest exempt from taxation by California; and

 

   

the Portfolio properly identifies the dividends as California exempt-interest dividends in a written notice mailed to the investor not later than 60 days after the close of the Portfolio’s taxable year.

 

The California Municipal Bond Portfolio may designate dividends as exempt from California income tax, only if:

 

   

it qualifies as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code; and

 

   

at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, at least 50 percent of the value of its total assets consists of obligations the interest on which is exempt from taxation by the State of California when held by an individual.

 

Distributions from the California Municipal Bond Portfolio, including exempt-interest dividends, are taxable to shareholders that are subject to certain provisions of the California Corporation Tax Law, including the corporation franchise tax.

 

This discussion of “DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES” is not intended or written to be used as tax advice. Because everyone’s tax situation is unique, you should consult your tax professional about federal, state, local or foreign tax consequences before making an investment in a Portfolio. Prospective investors should also consult the SAI.

 

PURCHASE OF SHARES

 

Cash Purchases

 

Investors may purchase Institutional Class shares of any Portfolio by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment. The Portfolios generally are available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions, and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor (“Eligible Investors”). Eligible Investors include employees, former employees, shareholders and directors of the Advisor and the Fund and friends and family members of such persons. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor, and all investors must complete and submit the necessary account registration forms in good order. The Fund reserves the right to reject any initial or additional investment and to suspend the offering of shares of any Portfolio.

 

“Good order” with respect to the purchase of shares means that (1) a fully completed and properly signed Account Registration Form and any additional supporting legal documentation required by the Advisor have been received in legible form, and (2) the Advisor has been notified of the purchase by telephone and, if the Advisor so requests, also in writing, no later than the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. ET) on the day of the purchase. If an order to purchase shares must be canceled due to nonpayment, the purchaser will be responsible for any loss incurred by the Fund arising out of such cancellation. To recover any such loss, the Fund reserves the right to redeem shares owned by any purchaser whose order is canceled, and such purchaser may be prohibited or restricted in the manner of placing further orders.

 

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Investors having an account with a bank that is a member or a correspondent of a member of the Federal Reserve System may purchase shares by first calling the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment, then requesting the bank to transmit immediately available funds (federal funds) by wire to PNC Bank, N.A. for the account of DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. (specify Portfolio). Additional investments also may be made through the wire procedure by first notifying the Advisor. Investors who wish to purchase shares of any Portfolio by check should send their check to DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc., c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., Attn: AIM: 19K-1A18, 760 Moore Road, King of Prussia, PA, 19406.

 

Payment of the total amount due should be made in U.S. dollars. However, subject to approval by the Advisor, payment may be made in any freely convertible currency and the necessary foreign exchange transactions will be arranged on behalf of, and at the expense of, the applicant. Applicants settling in any currency other than U.S. dollars are advised that a delay in processing a purchase or redemption may occur to allow for currency conversion.

 

Shares also may be purchased and sold by individuals through securities firms that may charge a service fee or commission for such transactions. No such fee or commission is charged on shares that are purchased or redeemed directly from the Fund. Investors who are clients of investment advisory organizations may also be subject to investment advisory fees under their own arrangements with such organizations.

 

In-Kind Purchases

 

If accepted by the Fund, shares of the Portfolios may be purchased in exchange for securities that are eligible for acquisition by the Portfolios or otherwise represented in their portfolios as described in this Prospectus or as otherwise consistent with the Fund’s policies or procedures or in exchange for local currencies in which such securities of the Two-Year Global Portfolio, Five-Year Global Portfolio and Extended Quality Portfolio are denominated. Securities and local currencies accepted by the Fund for exchange and Fund shares to be issued in the exchange will be valued as set forth under “VALUATION OF SHARES” at the time of the next determination of net asset value after such acceptance. All dividends, interest, subscription, or other rights pertaining to such securities shall become the property of the Portfolio whose shares are being acquired and must be delivered to the Fund by the investor upon receipt from the issuer. Investors who desire to purchase shares of the Two-Year Global Portfolio, Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio, Five-Year Global Portfolio, Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio, Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio or Investment Grade Portfolio with local currencies should first contact the Advisor.

 

The Fund will not accept securities in exchange for shares of a Portfolio unless: (1) such securities are, at the time of the exchange, eligible to be included, or otherwise represented, in the Portfolio whose shares are to be issued and current market quotations are readily available for such securities; (2) the investor represents and agrees that all securities offered to be exchanged are not subject to any restrictions upon their sale by the Portfolio under the Securities Act of 1933 or under the laws of the country in which the principal market for such securities exists, or otherwise; and (3) at the discretion of the Fund, the value of any such security (except U.S. government securities) being exchanged, together with other securities of the same issuer owned by the Portfolio may not exceed 5% of the net assets of the Portfolio immediately after the transaction, however, this last limitation does not apply to the Five-Year Global Portfolio. The Fund will accept such securities for investment and not resale.

 

A gain or loss for federal income tax purposes will generally be realized by investors who are subject to federal taxation upon the exchange depending upon the cost of the securities or local currency exchanged. Investors interested in such exchanges should contact the Advisor. Purchases of shares will be made in full and fractional shares calculated to three decimal places. In the interest of economy and convenience, certificates for shares will not be issued.

 

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POLICY REGARDING EXCESSIVE OR SHORT-TERM TRADING

 

The Portfolios are designed for long-term investors (except as described below) and are not intended for investors that engage in excessive short-term trading activity that may be harmful to the Portfolios, including but not limited to market timing. Short-term or excessive trading into and out of the Portfolios can disrupt portfolio management strategies, harm performance and increase Portfolio expenses for all shareholders, including long-term shareholders who do not generate these costs.

 

The Board of Directors of the Fund (the “Board”) has adopted a policy (the “Trading Policy”) and the Advisor and DFA Securities LLC (collectively, “Dimensional”) and Dimensional’s agents have implemented the following procedures, which are designed to discourage and prevent market timing or excessive short-term trading in the Fund: (i) trade activity monitoring and purchase blocking procedures; and (ii) use of fair value pricing.

 

The Fund, Dimensional and their agents monitor trades and flows of money in and out of the Portfolios from time to time in an effort to detect excessive short-term trading activities, and for consistent enforcement of the Trading Policy. The Fund reserves the right to take the actions necessary to stop excessive or disruptive trading activities, including refusing or canceling purchase or exchange orders for any reason, without prior notice, particularly purchase or exchange orders that the Fund believes are made on behalf of market timers. The Fund, Dimensional and their agents reserve the right to restrict, refuse or cancel any purchase or exchange request made by an investor indefinitely if the Fund or Dimensional believe that any combination of trading activity in the accounts is potentially disruptive to a Portfolio. In making such judgments, the Fund and Dimensional seek to act in a manner that is consistent with the interests of shareholders. For purposes of applying these procedures, Dimensional may consider an investor’s trading history in the Portfolios, and accounts under common ownership, influence or control.

 

In addition to the Fund’s general ability to restrict potentially disruptive trading activity as described above, the Fund also has adopted purchase blocking procedures. Under the Fund’s purchase blocking procedures, where an investor has engaged in any two purchases and two redemptions (including redemptions that are part of an exchange transaction) in a Portfolio in any rolling 30 calendar day monitoring period (i.e., two “round trips”), the Fund and Dimensional intend to block the investor from making any additional purchases in that Portfolio for 90 calendar days (a “purchase block”). If implemented, a purchase block will begin at some point after the transaction that caused the investor to have engaged in the prohibited two round-trips is detected by the Fund, Dimensional, or their agents. The Fund and Dimensional are permitted to implement a longer purchase block, or permanently bar future purchases by an investor, if they determine that it is appropriate.

 

Under the Fund’s purchase blocking procedures, the following purchases and redemptions will not trigger a purchase block: (i) purchases and redemptions of shares having a value in each transaction of less than $5,000; (ii) purchases and redemptions by U.S. registered investment companies that operate as fund of funds and non-U.S. investment companies that operate as fund of funds that the Fund or Dimensional, in their sole discretion, have determined are not designed and/or are not serving as vehicles for excessive short-term or other disruptive trading (in each case, the fund of funds shall agree to be subject to monitoring by Dimensional); (iii) purchases and redemptions by a feeder portfolio of a master fund’s shares; (iv) systematic or automated transactions where the shareholder, financial advisor or investment fiduciary does not exercise direct control over the investment decision; (v) retirement plan contributions, loans, loan repayments and distributions (including hardship withdrawals) identified as such in the retirement plan recordkeeper’s system; (vi) purchase transactions involving transfers of assets, rollovers, Roth IRA conversions and IRA recharacterizations; (vii) purchases of shares with Portfolio dividends or capital gain distributions; (viii) transfers and reregistrations of shares within the same Portfolio; and (ix) transactions by 529 Plans. Notwithstanding the Fund’s purchase blocking procedures, all transactions in Portfolio shares are subject to the right of the Fund and Dimensional to restrict potentially disruptive trading activity (including purchases and redemptions described above that will not be subject to the purchase blocking procedures).

 

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The Fund, Dimensional or their designees will have the ability, pursuant to Rule 22c-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), to request information from financial intermediaries, such as 401(k) plan administrators, trust companies and broker dealers (together, “Intermediaries”), concerning trades placed in omnibus and other multi-investor accounts (together, “Omnibus Accounts”), in order to attempt to monitor trades that are placed by the underlying shareholders of these Omnibus Accounts. The Fund, Dimensional and their designees will use the information obtained from the Intermediaries to monitor trading in the Fund and to attempt to identify shareholders in Omnibus Accounts engaged in trading that is inconsistent with the Trading Policy or otherwise not in the best interests of the Fund. The Fund, Dimensional or their designees, when they detect trading patterns in shares of the Fund that may constitute short-term or excessive trading, will provide written instructions to the Intermediary to restrict or prohibit further purchases or exchanges of shares of the Portfolios by a shareholder that has been identified as having engaged in excessive or short-term transactions in the Portfolios’ shares (directly or indirectly through the Intermediary’s account) that violate the Trading Policy.

 

The ability of the Fund and Dimensional to impose these limitations, including the purchase blocking procedures, on investors investing through Intermediaries is dependent on the receipt of information necessary to identify transactions by the underlying investors and the Intermediary’s cooperation in implementing the Trading Policy. Investors seeking to engage in excessive short-term trading practices may deploy a variety of strategies to avoid detection, and despite the efforts of the Fund and Dimensional to prevent excessive short-term trading, there is no assurance that the Fund, Dimensional or their agents will be able to identify those shareholders or curtail their trading practices. The ability of the Fund, Dimensional and their agents to detect and limit excessive short-term trading also may be restricted by operational systems and technological limitations.

 

The purchase blocking procedures of the Trading Policy may not apply to redemptions by shareholders whose shares are held on the books of Intermediaries if the Intermediaries have not adopted procedures to implement this Policy. The Fund and Dimensional will work with Intermediaries to develop such policies to institute the purchase blocking procedures or other procedures that the Fund and Dimensional determine are reasonably designed to achieve the objective of this Trading Policy. At the time the Intermediaries adopt these procedures, shareholders whose accounts are on the books of such Intermediaries will be subject to the Trading Policy’s purchase blocking procedures or another frequent trading policy that achieves the objective of the purchase blocking procedures. Investors that invest in the Portfolios through an Intermediary should contact the Intermediary for information concerning the policies and procedures that apply to the investor.

 

As of the date of this Prospectus, the ability of the Fund and Dimensional to apply the purchase blocking procedures on purchases by all investors and the ability of the Fund and Dimensional to monitor trades through Omnibus Accounts maintained by Intermediaries may be restricted due to systems limitations of both the Fund’s service providers and the Intermediaries. The Funds expect that the application of the Trading Policy as described above, including the purchase blocking procedures (subject to the limitations described above), will be able to be implemented by Intermediaries in compliance with Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act.

 

The One-Year Portfolio is managed for both long-term investors and investors who may invest in the One-Year Portfolio on a short-term basis. Dimensional and DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. do not apply the purchase blocking procedures and may allow more frequent purchases and sales of shares by an investor in the One-Year Portfolio than in the shares of other Portfolios, in circumstances where the investor’s trading activity is not excessive and overly disruptive to the Portfolio and portfolio management strategies, or undertaken for prohibited purposes (including market timing). In monitoring this activity, Dimensional, in its discretion, may determine that an investor’s frequent purchases and sales of shares of the One-Year Portfolio are excessive and overly disruptive, or undertaken for prohibited purposes (including market timing), and therefore, inconsistent with the interests of the Portfolio’s other shareholders. In those instances, Dimensional may refuse to process additional purchases or exchanges of shares of the One-Year Portfolio by the investor. Permitting investors to purchase shares of the One-Year Portfolio for short-term purposes may increase the costs of the Portfolio and negatively impact the performance of the Portfolio.

 

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In addition, the purchase blocking procedures will not apply to a redemption transaction in which a Portfolio distributes portfolio securities to a shareholder in-kind, where the redemption will not disrupt the efficient portfolio management of the Portfolio and the redemption is consistent with the interests of the remaining shareholders of the Portfolio.

 

In addition to monitoring trade activity, the Board has adopted fair value pricing procedures that govern the pricing of the securities of the Portfolios. These procedures are designed to help ensure that the prices at which Portfolio shares are purchased and redeemed are fair, and do not result in dilution of shareholder interests or other harm to shareholders. See the discussion under “VALUATION OF SHARES—Net Asset Value” for additional details regarding fair value pricing of the Portfolio’s securities.

 

Although the procedures are designed to discourage excessive short-term trading, none of the procedures individually nor all of the procedures taken together can completely eliminate the possibility that excessive short-term trading activity in a Portfolio may occur. The Portfolios do not knowingly accommodate excessive or disruptive trading activities, including market timing.

 

VALUATION OF SHARES

 

Net Asset Value

 

The net asset value per share of each Portfolio is calculated on days that the NYSE is open for trading. The net asset value per share of each Portfolio is calculated after the close of the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. ET) by dividing the total value of the Portfolio’s investments and other assets, less any liabilities, by the total outstanding shares of the stock of the Portfolio. Each Portfolio generally calculates its net asset value per share and accepts purchase and redemption orders on days that the NYSE is open for trading. Note: The time at which transactions and shares are priced may be changed in case of an emergency or if the NYSE closes at a time other than 4:00 p.m. ET.

 

The value of shares of each Portfolio, other than the Investment Grade Portfolio, will fluctuate in relation to its investment experience. The value of the shares of the Investment Grade Portfolio will fluctuate in relation to its own investment experience and the investment experience of the Underlying Funds in which the Portfolio invests. The value of the shares of a Portfolio will tend to fluctuate with interest rates because, unlike money market funds, the Portfolio does not seek to stabilize the value of its shares by use of the “amortized cost” method of asset valuation. Securities held by a Portfolio will be valued in accordance with applicable laws and procedures adopted by the Board, and generally, as described below.

 

Debt securities will be valued on the basis of prices provided by one or more pricing services or other reasonably reliable sources including broker/dealers that typically handle the purchase and sale of such securities using data reflecting the earlier closing of the principal markets for those securities. Securities which are traded over-the-counter and on a stock exchange generally will be valued according to the broadest and most representative market, and it is expected that for bonds and other fixed income securities, this ordinarily will be the over-the-counter market. Net asset value includes interest on fixed income securities which is accrued daily. Generally, securities issued by open-end investment companies are valued using their respective net asset values or public offering prices, as appropriate, for purchase orders placed at the close of the NYSE.

 

The value of the securities and other assets of a Portfolio for which no market quotations are readily available (including restricted securities), or for which market quotations have become unreliable, are determined in good faith at fair value in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of the Fund. Fair value pricing also may be used if events that have a significant effect on the value of an investment (as determined in the discretion of the Investment Committee of the Advisor) occur before the net asset value is calculated. When fair value pricing is used, the prices of securities used by a Portfolio may differ from the quoted or published prices for the same securities on their primary markets or exchanges.

 

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Valuing securities at fair value involves greater reliance on judgment than valuing securities that have readily available market quotations. There can be no assurance that a Portfolio could obtain the fair value assigned to a security if it were to sell the security at approximately the time at which the Portfolio determines its net asset value per share. As a result, the sale or redemption by a Portfolio of its shares at net asset value, at a time when a holding or holdings are valued at fair value, may have the effect of diluting or increasing the economic interest of existing shareholders.

 

The net asset values per share of the Two-Year Global Portfolio, Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio, Five-Year Global Portfolio, Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio are expressed in U.S. dollars by translating the net assets of each Portfolio using the mean of the most recent bid and asked prices for the dollar as quoted by generally recognized reliable sources. Since these Portfolios own securities that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges which may trade on days when the Portfolio does not price its shares, the net asset values of these Portfolios may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem shares.

 

Futures contracts are valued using the settlement price established each day on the exchange on which they are traded. The value of such futures contracts held by the Portfolio is determined each day as of such close.

 

Public Offering Price

 

Provided that the transfer agent has received the investor’s Account Registration Form in good order and the custodian has received the investor’s payment, shares of the Portfolio selected will be priced at the public offering price, which is the net asset value of the shares next determined after receipt of the investor’s funds by the custodian. The transfer agent or the Fund may, from time to time, appoint sub-transfer agents or various financial intermediaries (“Intermediaries”) for the receipt of purchase orders, redemption orders and funds from certain investors. Intermediaries, in turn, are authorized to designate other financial intermediaries (“Sub-designees”) to receive purchase and redemption orders for the Portfolios’ shares from investors. With respect to such investors, the shares of the Portfolio selected will be priced at the public offering price calculated after receipt of the purchase order by the Intermediary or Sub-designee, as applicable, that is authorized to receive purchase orders. If the investor buys shares through an Intermediary or a Sub-designee, the purchase price will be the public offering price next calculated after the Intermediary or Sub-designee, as applicable, receives the order, rather than on the day the custodian receives the investor’s payment (provided that the Intermediary or Sub-designee, as applicable, has received the investor’s purchase order in good order, and the investor has complied with the Intermediary’s or Sub-designee’s payment procedures). No reimbursement fee or sales charge is imposed on purchases. If an order to purchase shares must be canceled due to non-payment, the purchaser will be responsible for any loss incurred by a Portfolio arising out of such cancellation. The Fund reserves the right to redeem shares owned by any purchaser whose order is canceled to recover any resulting loss to a Portfolio and may prohibit or restrict the manner in which such purchaser may place further orders.

 

EXCHANGE OF SHARES

 

Investors may exchange Institutional Class shares of one Portfolio for Institutional Class shares of another Portfolio by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed exchange, and then sending a letter of instruction to: DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. A letter of instruction for an exchange of shares may be sent by mail to the following: Attn: Client Operations, 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746. Shareholders that invest in the Portfolios through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary for information regarding exchanges.

 

The minimum amount for an exchange is $100,000. Exchanges are accepted into or from any of the Portfolios offered in this Prospectus. There is no fee imposed on an exchange. However, the Fund reserves the right to impose an administrative fee in order to cover the costs incurred in processing an exchange. Any such fee

 

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will be disclosed in the Prospectus. An exchange is treated as a redemption and a purchase. Therefore, an investor could realize a taxable gain or a loss on the transaction. The Fund reserves the right to revise or terminate the exchange privilege, waive the minimum amount requirement, limit the amount of or reject any exchange, as deemed necessary, at any time.

 

Investors in any Portfolio eligible for the exchange privilege also may exchange all or part of their Portfolio shares into certain other portfolios of the Fund and Dimensional Investment Group Inc., subject to the minimum purchase requirement set forth in the applicable portfolio’s prospectus. Investors may contact the Advisor at the above-listed phone number for more information on such exchanges and to request a copy of the prospectuses of other portfolios of the Fund and Dimensional Investment Group Inc.

 

The exchange privilege is not intended to afford shareholders a way to speculate on short-term movements in the markets. Accordingly, in order to prevent excessive use of the exchange privilege that may potentially disrupt the management of the Portfolios or otherwise adversely affect the Fund, any proposed exchange will be subject to the approval of the Advisor. Such approval will depend on: (i) the size of the proposed exchange; (ii) the prior number of exchanges by that shareholder; (iii) the nature of the underlying securities and the cash position of the Portfolios involved in the proposed exchange; (iv) the transaction costs involved in processing the exchange; and (v) the total number of redemptions by exchange already made out of a Portfolio. Excessive use of the exchange privilege is defined as any pattern of exchanges among portfolios by an investor that evidences market timing.

 

The redemption and purchase prices of shares redeemed and purchased by exchange, respectively, are the net asset values next determined after the Advisor has received a letter of instruction in good order. “Good order” means a completed letter of instruction specifying the dollar amount to be exchanged, signed by all registered owners (or representatives thereof) of the shares; and if the Fund does not have on file the authorized signatures for the account, proof of authority. Exchanges will be accepted only if stock certificates have not been issued and the shares of the Portfolio being acquired are registered in the investor’s state of residence.

 

REDEMPTION OF SHARES

 

Redemption Procedure

 

Investors who desire to redeem shares of a Portfolio must first contact the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400. Shareholders who invest in the Portfolios through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding redemption procedures. Each Portfolio will redeem shares at the net asset value of such shares next determined, either: (1) where stock certificates have not been issued, after receipt of a written request for redemption in good order, by the transfer agent (or by an Intermediary or a Sub-designee, if applicable), or (2) if stock certificates have been issued, after receipt of the stock certificates in good order at the office of the transfer agent. “Good order” means that the request to redeem shares must include all necessary documentation, to be received in writing by the Advisor no later than the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. ET), including but not limited to: the stock certificate(s), if issued; a letter of instruction or a stock assignment specifying the number of shares or dollar amount to be redeemed, signed by all registered owners (or representatives thereof) of the shares; and, if the Fund does not have on file the authorized signatures for the account, proof of authority.

 

Shareholders redeeming shares for which certificates have not been issued, who have authorized redemption payment by wire in writing, may request that redemption proceeds be paid in federal funds wired to the bank they have designated in writing. The Fund reserves the right to send redemption proceeds by check in its discretion; a shareholder may request overnight delivery of such check at the shareholder’s own expense. If the proceeds are wired to the shareholder’s account at a bank that is not a member of the Federal Reserve System, there could be a delay in crediting the funds to the shareholder’s bank account. The Fund reserves the right at any time to suspend or terminate the redemption by wire procedure after prior notification to shareholders. No fee is charged for redemptions. The redemption of all shares in an account will result in the account being closed. A new Account

 

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Registration Form will be required for future investments. See “PURCHASE OF SHARES.” In the interests of economy and convenience, certificates for shares are not issued.

 

Although the redemption payments will ordinarily be made within seven days after receipt, payment to investors redeeming shares that were purchased by check will not be made until the Fund can verify that the payments for the purchase have been, or will be, collected, which may take up to ten days or more. Investors may avoid this delay by submitting a certified check along with the purchase order.

 

Redemption of Small Accounts

 

With respect to each Portfolio, the Fund reserves the right to redeem an account if the value of the shares in a specific Portfolio is $500 or less because of redemptions. Before the Fund involuntarily redeems shares from such an account and sends the proceeds to the stockholder, the Fund will give written notice of the redemption to the stockholder at least sixty days before the redemption date. The stockholder will then have sixty days from the date of the notice to make an additional investment in order to bring the value of the shares in the account for a specific Portfolio to more than $500 and avoid such involuntary redemption. The redemption price to be paid to a stockholder for shares redeemed by the Fund under this right will be the aggregate net asset value of the shares in the account at the close of business on the redemption date. The right to redeem small accounts applies to accounts established with the Fund’s transfer agent.

 

In-Kind Redemptions

 

When in the best interests of a Portfolio, the Portfolio may make a redemption payment, in whole or in part, by a distribution of portfolio securities that the Portfolio owns in lieu of cash. Such distributions will be made in accordance with the federal securities laws and regulations governing mutual funds. Investors may incur brokerage charges and other transaction costs selling securities that were received in payment of redemptions. The Two-Year Global Portfolio, Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio, Five-Year Global Portfolio, Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio, Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and Investment Grade Portfolio reserve the right to redeem their shares in the currencies in which their investments are denominated. Investors may incur charges in converting such securities to dollars and the value of the securities may be affected by currency exchange fluctuations.

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

Each Portfolio generally will disclose up to its 25 largest portfolio holdings (other than cash and cash equivalents) and the percentages that each of these largest portfolio holdings represent of the total assets of the Portfolio as of the most recent month-end, online at the Advisor’s public Web site, http://www.dimensional.com, within 20 days after the end of each month. Each Portfolio also generally will disclose its complete portfolio holdings (other than cash and cash equivalents), as of month-end, online at the Advisor’s public Web site, two months following the month-end or more frequently and at different periods when authorized in accordance with the Portfolios policies and procedures. Please consult the SAI for a description of the other policies and procedures that govern disclosure of the portfolio holdings by the Portfolios.

 

DELIVERY OF SHAREHOLDER DOCUMENTS

 

To eliminate duplicate mailings and reduce expenses, the Portfolios may deliver a single copy of certain shareholder documents, such as this Prospectus and annual and semi-annual reports, to related shareholders at the same address, even if accounts are registered in different names. This practice is known as “householding.” The Portfolios will not household personal information documents, such as account statements. If you do not want the mailings of these documents to be combined with other members of your household, please call us collect at (512) 306-7400. We will begin sending individual copies of the shareholder documents to you within 30 days of receiving your request.

 

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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

The Financial Highlights table is meant to help you understand each Portfolio’s financial performance for the past 5 years or, if shorter, the period of that Portfolio’s operations, as indicated by the table. The total returns in the table represent the rate that you would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Portfolio, assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. This information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, whose report, along with the Portfolios’ financial statements, is included in the annual reports. Further information about the Portfolios’ performance is contained in the annual reports, which are available upon request. No financial information is presented for the Investment Grade Portfolio since the Portfolio was not publicly offered prior to the date of this Prospectus.

 

 

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DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 
    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009


    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

  $ 10.33      $ 10.17      $ 10.21      $ 10.20      $ 10.14      $ 10.20   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                               

Net Investment Income (Loss)

    0.07     0.13     0.31     0.51     0.40     0.28   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

    0.05        0.25        (0.04     0.01        0.06        (0.05
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

    0.12        0.38        0.27        0.52        0.46        0.23   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                               

Net Investment Income

    (0.07     (0.22     (0.31     (0.51     (0.40     (0.29

Net Realized Gains

                                         
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

    (0.07     (0.22     (0.31     (0.51     (0.40     (0.29
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

  $ 10.38      $ 10.33      $ 10.17      $ 10.21      $ 10.20      $ 10.14   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

    1.19     3.80     2.68 %†      5.20     4.58     2.24
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

  $ 5,754,601      $ 4,269,615      $ 3,194,420      $ 3,229,577      $ 2,418,551      $ 1,953,884   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    0.17     0.20 %***      0.18 %^*      0.18 %*      0.18 %*      0.19 %* 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    0.67     1.26     3.30 %^      4.96     3.89     2.78

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    66     2 %@      N/A        N/A        N/A        N/A   

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
*   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
***   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and for the period November 1, 2008 through October 22, 2009, its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.
@   For the period October 24, 2009 through October 31, 2009. Effective October 24, 2009, the Portfolio directly invests in securities rather than through the Series.

 

 

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DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 
    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009


    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

  $ 10.27      $ 10.36      $ 10.39      $ 10.17      $ 9.88      $ 9.92   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                               

Net Investment Income (Loss)

    0.12     0.19     0.39     0.27     0.07     0.31   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

    0.07        0.18        (0.09     0.24        0.36        (0.14
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

    0.19        0.37        0.30        0.51        0.43        0.17   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                               

Net Investment Income

    (0.21     (0.46     (0.33     (0.29     (0.14     (0.21

Net Realized Gains

    (0.01                                   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

    (0.22     (0.46     (0.33     (0.29     (0.14     (0.21
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

  $ 10.24      $ 10.27      $ 10.36      $ 10.39      $ 10.17      $ 9.88   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

    1.83     3.71     2.93 %†      5.06     4.41     1.77
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

  $ 4,053,423      $ 3,846,029      $ 3,124,985      $ 3,097,898      $ 2,423,622      $ 1,992,869   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    0.18     0.20 %***      0.18 %^*      0.18 %*      0.19 %*      0.21 %* 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    1.13     1.89     4.12 %^      2.59     0.72     3.25

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    109     1 %@      N/A        N/A        N/A        N/A   

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
*   Represents the combined ratio for the respective portfolio and its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
***   Represents the combined ratio for the respective portfolio and for the period November 1, 2008 through October 22, 2009, its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.
@   For the period October 24, 2009 through October 31, 2009. Effective October 24, 2009, the Portfolio directly invests in securities rather than through the Series.

 

 

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DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income
Portfolio Institutional Class Shares


 
     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009


    For the Period
Jan. 9, 2008***
to
Oct. 31,  2008**


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 10.00      $ 8.91      $ 10.00   
    


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                        

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.19     0.26     0.33

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     0.22        0.83        (1.39
    


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

     0.41        1.09        (1.06
    


 


 


Less Distributions

                        

Net Investment Income

                     

Net Realized Gains

     (0.01              

Return of Capital

                   (0.03
    


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.01            (0.03
    


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.40      $ 10.00      $ 8.91   
    


 


 


Total Return

     4.08     12.23     (10.67 )%† 
    


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 524,375      $ 303,440      $ 198,165   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

     0.20     0.24     0.24 %^@ 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     1.84     2.81     4.32 %^@ 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     78     28     21 %† 

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from the commencement of operations through October 31, 2008.
***   Commencement of operations.
@   Because of commencement of operations and related preliminary transaction costs, these ratios are not necessarily indicative of future ratios.

 

 

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Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    DFA Short-Term Government Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 
    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009


    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

  $ 10.92      $ 10.44      $ 10.44      $ 10.43      $ 10.41      $ 10.64   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                               

Net Investment Income (Loss)

    0.25     0.26     0.26     0.50     0.46     0.35   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

    0.32        0.49        0.07        0.01        (0.02     (0.24
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

    0.57        0.75        0.33        0.51        0.44        0.11   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                               

Net Investment Income

    (0.26     (0.27     (0.33     (0.50     (0.42     (0.34

Net Realized Gains

    (0.08                                   

Return of Capital

                                         
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

    (0.34     (0.27     (0.33     (0.50     (0.42     (0.34
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

  $ 11.15      $ 10.92      $ 10.44      $ 10.44      $ 10.43      $ 10.41   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

    5.32     7.27     3.25 %†      4.98     4.36     1.02
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

  $ 1,110,308      $ 1,008,237      $ 1,115,037      $ 1,216,609      $ 932,121      $ 748,847   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    0.23     0.25     0.23 %^      0.23     0.23     0.25

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    2.29     2.44     2.77 %^      4.81     4.45     3.47

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    64     72     79 %†      0     86     36

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.

 

 

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Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 
    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009


    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

  $ 11.27      $ 10.68      $ 10.84      $ 10.53      $ 10.48      $ 10.50   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                               

Net Investment Income (Loss)

    0.29     0.27     0.25     0.32     0.28     0.34

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

    0.54        0.55        (0.10     0.20        0.12        (0.11
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

    0.83        0.82        0.15        0.52        0.40        0.23   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                               

Net Investment Income

    (0.40     (0.23     (0.30     (0.21     (0.33     (0.25

Net Realized Gains

                                         

Return of Capital

                  (0.01            (0.02       
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

    (0.40     (0.23     (0.31     (0.21     (0.35     (0.25
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

  $ 11.70      $ 11.27      $ 10.68      $ 10.84      $ 10.53      $ 10.48   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

    7.51     7.74     1.40 %†      5.00     3.89     2.15
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

  $ 4,395,516      $ 3,220,787      $ 3,319,257      $ 3,484,919      $ 2,387,784      $ 1,699,793   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    0.28     0.30     0.28 %^      0.28     0.29     0.33

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    2.56     2.48     2.53 %^      3.01     2.72     3.22

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    73     70     55 %†      108     92     69

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.

 

 

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DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    DFA Intermediate Government Fixed Income Portfolio
Institutional Class Shares


 
    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009


    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

  $ 12.31      $ 11.66      $ 11.86      $ 11.48      $ 11.45      $ 11.79   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                               

Net Investment Income (Loss)

    0.49     0.51     0.49     0.54     0.53     0.52   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

    0.57        0.72        (0.17     0.35        0.05        (0.29
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

    1.06        1.23        0.32        0.89        0.58        0.23   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                               

Net Investment Income

    (0.48     (0.52     (0.52     (0.51     (0.49     (0.53

Net Realized Gains

    (0.05     (0.06                   (0.06     (0.04

Return of Capital

                                         
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

    (0.53     (0.58     (0.52     (0.51     (0.55     (0.57
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

  $ 12.84      $ 12.31      $ 11.66      $ 11.86      $ 11.48      $ 11.45   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

    8.85     10.71     2.73 %†      8.06     5.31     1.87
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

  $ 1,869,828      $ 1,484,155      $ 1,248,514      $ 1,314,853      $ 871,392      $ 463,538   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    0.13     0.15     0.13 %^      0.13     0.14     0.15

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    3.91     4.18     4.44 %^      4.72     4.72     4.61

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    7     8     14 %†      0     3     16

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.

 

 

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Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     DFA Short-Term Extended
Quality Portfolio
Institutional Class Shares


 
     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    For the Period
March 4, 2009**
to
Oct. 31, 2009


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 10.56      $ 10.00   
    


 


Income From Investment Operations

                

Net Investment Income (Loss)#

     0.33        0.24   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     0.37        0.50   
    


 


Total From Investment Operations

     0.70        0.74   
    


 


Less Distributions

                

Net Investment Income

     (0.32     (0.18

Net Realized Gains

     (0.01       
    


 


Total Distributions

     (0.33     (0.18
    


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.93      $ 10.56   
    


 


Total Return

     6.73     7.49 %† 
    


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 754,269      $ 378,475   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

     0.22     0.22 %^* 

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Assumption of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)

     0.24     0.28 %^* 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     3.04     3.54 %^* 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     14     2 %† 

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
*   Because of commencement of operations and related preliminary transaction costs, these ratios are not necessarily indicative of future ratios.
**   Commencement of operations.

 

 

79


Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     DFA Intermediate-Term Extended
Quality Portfolio
Institutional Class Shares


 
     For the Period
July 20, 2010**
to
Oct. 31, 2010


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 10.00   
    


Income From Investment Operations

        

Net Investment Income (Loss)#

     0.08   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     0.24   
    


Total From Investment Operations

     0.32   
    


Less Distributions

        

Net Investment Income

     (0.04

Net Realized Gains

       
    


Total Distributions

     (0.04
    


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.28   
    


Total Return

     3.15 %† 
    


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 144,093   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

     0.22 %^* 

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Assumption of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)

     0.35 %^* 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     2.77 %^* 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     1 %† 

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
*   Because of commencement of operations and related preliminary transaction costs, these ratios are not necessarily indicative of future ratios.
**   Commencement of operations.

 

 

80


Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio
Institutional Class Shares


 
     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009


    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    For the Period
Sept. 18, 2006***
to
Nov. 30, 2006


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 10.95      $ 9.41      $ 10.80      $ 10.19      $ 10.00   
    


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                        

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.29     0.12     0.70     0.45     0.02

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     0.92        1.53        (1.48     0.50        0.17   
    


 


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

     1.21        1.65        (0.78     0.95        0.19   
    


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                        

Net Investment Income

     (0.31     (0.10     (0.61     (0.34       

Net Realized Gains

            (0.01                     
    


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.31     (0.11     (0.61     (0.34       
    


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 11.85      $ 10.95      $ 9.41      $ 10.80      $ 10.19   
    


 


 


 


 


Total Return

     11.29     17.70     (7.90 )%†      9.59     1.90 %† 
    


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 1,396,779      $ 774,110      $ 371,747      $ 240,403      $ 34,299   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

     0.13     0.16     0.15 %^      0.20     0.20 %^@ 

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Assumption of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)

     0.13     0.16     0.14 %^      0.21     0.60 %^@ 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     2.57     1.20     7.01 %^      4.58     0.94 %^@ 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     12     6     3 %†      0     0 %† 

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
***   Commencement of operations.
@   Because of commencement of operations and related preliminary transaction costs, these ratios are not necessarily indicative of future ratios.

 

 

81


Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     DFA Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

 
     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009


    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 10.24      $ 10.02      $ 10.05      $ 10.02      $ 9.99      $ 10.09   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                                

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.18     0.20     0.19     0.31     0.28     0.22   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     0.10        0.23        (0.03     0.02        0.02        (0.11
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

     0.28        0.43        0.16        0.33        0.30        0.11   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                                

Net Investment Income

     (0.18     (0.21     (0.19     (0.30     (0.27     (0.21

Net Realized Gains

                                          
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.18     (0.21     (0.19     (0.30     (0.27     (0.21
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.34      $ 10.24      $ 10.02      $ 10.05      $ 10.02      $ 9.99   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

     2.73     4.32     1.63 %†      3.38     3.01     1.11
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 1,414,926      $ 1,168,259      $ 991,918      $ 948,426      $ 697,942      $ 511,543   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

     0.23     0.25     0.23 %^      0.23     0.26     0.30

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Assumption of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)

     0.23     0.25     0.23 %^      0.23     0.24     0.29

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     1.72     1.99     2.04 %^      3.07     2.77     2.22

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     1     0     1 %†      0     0     2

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.

 

 

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DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    DFA California Short-Term
Municipal Bond Portfolio
Institutional Class  Shares


 
    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009


    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    For the Period
April 2, 2007***
to
Nov. 30,  2007


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

  $ 10.26      $ 10.00      $ 10.07      $ 10.00   
   


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                               

Net Investment Income (Loss)#

    0.19        0.22        0.21        0.20   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

    0.13        0.27        (0.06     0.02   
   


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

    0.32        0.49        0.15        0.22   
   


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                               

Net Investment Income

    (0.19     (0.23     (0.22     (0.15
   


 


 


 


Net Realized Gains

                           
   


 


 


 


Total Distributions

    (0.19     (0.23     (0.22     (0.15
   


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

  $ 10.39      $ 10.26      $ 10.00      $ 10.07   
   


 


 


 


Total Return

    3.14     4.91     1.45 %†      2.23 %† 
   


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

  $ 297,631      $ 210,774      $ 180,915      $ 128,983   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    0.24     0.26     0.27 %^      0.30 %^@ 

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Assumption of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)

    0.24     0.26     0.26 %^      0.33 %^@ 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    1.83     2.17     2.27 %^      3.22 %^@ 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    4     4     17 %†      7 %† 

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-annualized.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
***   Commencement of operations.
@   Because of commencement of operations and related preliminary transaction costs, these ratios are not necessarily indicative of future ratios.

 

 

83


Table of Contents

SERVICE PROVIDERS

 

Investment Advisor

 

DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LP

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

Tel. No. (512) 306-7400

 

Sub-Advisors

 

DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LTD.

20 Triton Street, Regent’s Place

London NW13BF

United Kingdom

Tel. No. (20) 3033-3300

 

DFA AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Level 43 Gateway

1 Macquarie Place

Sydney, New South Wales 2000

Australia

Tel. No. (612) 8 336-7100

 

Custodian—International

 

CITIBANK, N.A.

111 Wall Street

New York, NY 10005

Custodian—Domestic

 

PFPC TRUST COMPANY

(to be renamed BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company effective July 1, 2011)

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

Accounting Services, Dividend Disbursing

and Transfer Agent

BNY MELLON INVESTMENT SERVICING

(US) INC.

(formerly, PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.)

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

Legal Counsel

STRADLEY RONON STEVENS & YOUNG, LLP

2600 One Commerce Square

Philadelphia, PA 19103-7098

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP

Two Commerce Square

Suite 1700

2001 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042

 

 

 

84


Table of Contents

Other Available Information

 

You can find more information about the Fund and its Portfolios in the Fund’s SAI and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports.

 

Statement of Additional Information. The SAI supplements, and is technically part of, this Prospectus. It includes an expanded discussion of investment practices, risks, and fund operations.

 

Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to Shareholders. These reports focus on Portfolio holdings and performance. The Annual Report also discusses the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Portfolios in their last fiscal year.

 

Request free copies from:

 

   

Your investment advisor—you are a client of an investment advisor who has invested in the Portfolios on your behalf.

 

   

The Fund—you represent an institutional investor, registered investment advisor or other qualifying investor. Call collect at (512) 306-7400.

 

   

Access them on our Web site at http://www.dimensional.com.

 

   

Access them on the EDGAR Database in the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.

 

   

Review and copy them at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington D.C. (phone 1-800-SEC-0330).

 

   

Request copies from the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102 or at publicinfo@sec.gov (you will be charged a copying fee). Information on the operation of the SEC’s public reference room is available by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090.

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

(512) 306-7400

 

DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc.—Registration No. 811-3258

 

LOGO   LOGO    RRD022811-024


Table of Contents

P R O S P E C T U S

 

February 28, 2011

Please carefully read the important information it contains before investing.

 

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 


 

PORTFOLIOS FOR LONG-TERM INVESTORS SEEKING TO INVEST IN:

 

DOMESTIC EQUITY SECURITIES

 

TAX-MANAGED U.S. MARKETWIDE VALUE PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DTMMX

 

TAX-MANAGED U.S. TARGETED VALUE PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DTMVX

 

TAX-MANAGED U.S. EQUITY PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DTMEX

 

TAX-MANAGED U.S. SMALL CAP PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFTSX

 

T.A. U.S. CORE EQUITY 2 PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFTCX

 

INTERNATIONAL EQUITY SECURITIES

 

TAX-MANAGED DFA INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DTMIX

 

T.A. WORLD EX U.S. CORE EQUITY PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFTWX

 

This Prospectus describes the shares of each Portfolio which:

 

Are generally available only to institutional investors and clients of registered investment advisors.

 

Do not charge sales commissions or loads.

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

TAX-MANAGED U.S. MARKETWIDE VALUE PORTFOLIO

     1   

Investment Objective

     1   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     1   

Principal Investment Strategies

     2   

Principal Risks

     2   

Performance

     3   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     4   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     4   

Tax Information

     4   

TAX-MANAGED U.S. TARGETED VALUE PORTFOLIO

     5   

Investment Objective

     5   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     5   

Principal Investment Strategies

     5   

Principal Risks

     6   

Performance

     7   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     8   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     8   

Tax Information

     8   

TAX-MANAGED U.S. EQUITY PORTFOLIO

     9   

Investment Objective

     9   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     9   

Principal Investment Strategies

     10   

Principal Risks

     10   

Performance

     11   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     12   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     12   

Tax Information

     12   

TAX-MANAGED U.S. SMALL CAP PORTFOLIO

     13   

Investment Objective

     13   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     13   

Principal Investment Strategies

     13   

Principal Risks

     14   

Performance

     15   

 

 

i


Table of Contents

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     16   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     16   

Tax Information

     16   

T.A. U.S. CORE EQUITY 2 PORTFOLIO

     17   

Investment Objective

     17   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     17   

Principal Investment Strategies

     17   

Principal Risks

     18   

Performance

     19   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     20   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     20   

Tax Information

     20   

TAX-MANAGED DFA INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO

     21   

Investment Objective

     21   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     21   

Principal Investment Strategies

     21   

Principal Risks

     22   

Performance

     23   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     24   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     24   

Tax Information

     24   

T.A. WORLD EX U.S. CORE EQUITY PORTFOLIO

     25   

Investment Objective

     25   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     25   

Principal Investment Strategies

     25   

Principal Risks

     26   

Performance

     27   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     28   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     29   

Tax Information

     29   

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

     30   

Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio and Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

     30   

Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio

     31   

Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio

     31   

T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio

     32   

 

 

ii


Table of Contents

Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio

     32   

T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio

     33   

Approved Markets

     35   

Market Capitalization Weighted Approach

     35   

Portfolio Transactions

     36   

Tax Management Strategies—Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio, Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio, Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio and Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio

     37   

Consideration of Tax Implications—T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio and T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio

     37   

Other Information

     38   

SECURITIES LOANS

     38   

SECURITIES LENDING REVENUE

     39   

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

     39   

Management Fees

     41   

Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreements

     41   

DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

     42   

PURCHASE OF SHARES

     44   

Cash Purchases

     44   

In-Kind Purchases

     45   

POLICY REGARDING EXCESSIVE OR SHORT-TERM TRADING

     46   

VALUATION OF SHARES

     48   

Net Asset Value

     48   

Public Offering Price

     50   

EXCHANGE OF SHARES

     50   

REDEMPTION OF SHARES

     51   

Redemption Procedure

     51   

Redemption of Small Accounts

     51   

In-Kind Redemptions

     52   

THE FEEDER PORTFOLIO

     52   

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

     53   

DELIVERY OF SHAREHOLDER DOCUMENTS

     53   

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

     53   

SERVICE PROVIDERS

     61   

 

 

iii


Table of Contents

Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation while minimizing federal income taxes on returns. The Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio is a Feeder Portfolio and pursues its objective by investing substantially all of its assets in its corresponding Master Fund, The Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series (the “Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series”) of The DFA Investment Trust Company (the “Trust”), which has the same investment objective and policies as the Portfolio.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses* (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.35

Other Expenses

     0.03

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.38

*   The “Management Fee” includes an investment management fee payable by the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series and an administration fee payable by the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio. The amounts set forth under “Other Expenses” and “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses” reflect the direct expenses of the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio and the indirect expenses of the Portfolio’s portion of the expenses of the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 39       $ 122       $ 213       $ 480   

 

The Example reflects the aggregate estimated annual operating expenses of the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio and the Portfolio’s portion of the expenses of the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series.

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are

 

1


Table of Contents

not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series’ portfolio turnover rate was 25% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

The Advisor’s tax management strategies for the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series are designed to maximize the after tax value of a shareholder’s investment. Generally, the Advisor buys and sells securities for the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series with the goals of: (i) delaying and minimizing the realization of net capital gains (e.g., selling stocks with capital losses to offset gains, realized or anticipated); and (ii) maximizing the extent to which any realized net capital gains are long-term in nature (i.e., taxable at lower capital gains tax rates).

 

The Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio pursues its investment objective by investing substantially all of its assets in the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series. The Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series, using a market capitalization weighted approach, generally purchases a broad and diverse group of common stocks of U.S. companies that the Advisor determines to be value stocks. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of the U.S. company, the greater its representation in the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value.

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of U.S. companies. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Advisor considers for purchase by Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series common stocks of companies whose market capitalizations generally fall within the range of total market capitalization. Total market capitalization is based on the market capitalization of U.S. operating companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), NYSE Alternext US LLC, Nasdaq Global Market® or such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor.

 

The Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series and the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio each may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on their uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series that owns them, and, in turn, the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio itself, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

 

2


Table of Contents

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Tax-Management Strategy Risk: The tax-management strategies may alter investment decisions and affect portfolio holdings, when compared to those of non-tax managed mutual funds. The Advisor anticipates that performance of the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio may deviate from that of non-tax managed mutual funds.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series and Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio use derivatives, each will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

3


Table of Contents

Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio

 

LOGO

 

January 2001-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

24.40 (4/09-6/09)

   -27.72 (10/08-12/08)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010  

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year

    Five
Years


    Ten Years

 

Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     21.57     1.73     3.96

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     21.34     1.42     3.71

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     14.28     1.44     3.38

Russell 3000® Value Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     16.23     1.45     3.63

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio and the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series. Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, is responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio and the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series and has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio are taxable and generally will be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

 

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Table of Contents

Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation while minimizing federal income taxes on returns.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.42

Other Expenses

     0.03

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.45

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 46       $ 144       $ 252       $ 567   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 26% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

 

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The Advisor’s tax management strategies for the Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio are designed to maximize the after tax value of a shareholder’s investment. Generally, the Advisor buys and sells securities for the Portfolio with the goals of: (i) delaying and minimizing the realization of net capital gains (e.g., selling stocks with capital losses to offset gains, realized or anticipated); and (ii) maximizing the extent to which any realized net capital gains are long-term in nature (i.e., taxable at lower capital gains tax rates).

 

The Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, using a market capitalization weighted approach, generally purchases a broad and diverse group of readily marketable common stocks of U.S. small and mid cap companies that the Advisor determines to be value stocks. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of the eligible company, the greater its representation in the Portfolio. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value.

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of U.S. companies. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Advisor considers for investment companies whose market capitalizations are generally smaller than the 500th largest U.S. company. As of December 31, 2010, companies smaller than the 500th largest U.S. company fall in the lowest 15% of total market capitalization. Total market capitalization is based on the market capitalization of U.S. operating companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), NYSE Alternext US LLC, Nasdaq Global Market® or such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor. As of December 31, 2010, the market capitalization of a company smaller than the 500th largest U.S. company was approximately $5,005 million or below. This dollar amount will change due to market conditions.

 

The Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Tax-Management Strategy Risk: The tax-management strategies may alter investment decisions and affect portfolio holdings, when compared to those of non-tax managed mutual funds. The Advisor anticipates that performance of the Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio may deviate from that of non-tax managed mutual funds.

 

 

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Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. A negative pre-tax total return translates into a higher after-tax return because this calculation assumes that an investor received a tax deduction for the loss incurred on the sale.

 

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Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

 

LOGO

 

January 2001-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

27.69 (4/03-6/03)

   -28.06 (10/08-12/08)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010  

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Five
Years


    Ten Years

 

Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     30.43     2.41     8.57

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     30.29     1.79     8.03

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     19.94     2.04     7.56

Russell 2000® Value Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     24.50     3.52     8.42

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio. Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, is responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio and has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio are taxable and generally will be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

 

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Table of Contents

Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation while minimizing federal income taxes on returns.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.20

Other Expenses

     0.03

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.23

Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or (Recovery)*

     0.01

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or (Recovery)

     0.22

*   The Advisor has agreed to waive certain fees and in certain instances, assume certain expenses of the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio. The Fee Waiver and/or Expense Assumption Agreement for the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and may not be terminated by the Advisor prior to that date. Under certain circumstances, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed up to thirty-six months after such fee waiver and/or expense assumption.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs for the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio reflect the net expenses of the Portfolio that result from the contractual expense waiver and assumption in the first year only. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 23       $ 73       $ 129       $ 292   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Prior to February 28, 2011, the Portfolio operated as a Feeder Portfolio in a master/feeder structure. During the most recent fiscal year, the Master Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 7% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

 

9


Table of Contents

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

The Advisor’s tax management strategies for the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio are designed to maximize the after tax value of a shareholder’s investment. Generally, the Advisor buys and sells securities for the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio with the goals of: (i) delaying and minimizing the realization of net capital gains (e.g., selling stocks with capital losses to offset gains, realized or anticipated); and (ii) maximizing the extent to which any realized net capital gains are long-term in nature (i.e., taxable at lower capital gains tax rates).

 

The Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio, using a market capitalization weighted approach, generally purchases a broad and diverse group of common stocks of U.S. companies. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of the U.S. company, the greater its representation in the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions.

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of U.S. companies. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Advisor considers for purchase by Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio common stocks of companies whose market capitalizations generally fall within the range of total market capitalization. Total market capitalization is based on the market capitalization of U.S. operating companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), NYSE Alternext US LLC, Nasdaq Global Market® or such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor.

 

The Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on their uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities and, in turn, the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

10


Table of Contents

Tax-Management Strategy Risk: The tax-management strategies may alter investment decisions and affect portfolio holdings, when compared to those of non-tax managed mutual funds. The Advisor anticipates that performance of the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio may deviate from that of non-tax managed mutual funds.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio use derivatives, it will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and since inception returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

 

11


Table of Contents

Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio

 

LOGO

 

January 2002-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

15.73 (4/03-6/03)

   -21.50 (10/08-12/08)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010  

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year

    Five
Years

    Since  9/25/01
Inception

 

Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     16.80     2.39     4.78

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     16.50     2.11     4.54

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     11.25     2.01     4.12

Russell 3000 Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     16.93     2.74     5.34

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio. Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, is responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio and has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio are taxable and generally will be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

12


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Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation while minimizing federal income taxes on returns.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.50

Other Expenses

     0.03

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.53

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 54       $ 170       $ 296       $ 665   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 27% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

13


Table of Contents

The Advisor’s tax management strategies for the Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio are designed to maximize the after tax value of a shareholder’s investment. Generally, the Advisor buys and sells securities for the Portfolio with the goals of: (i) delaying and minimizing the realization of net capital gains (e.g., selling stocks with capital losses to offset gains, realized or anticipated); and (ii) maximizing the extent to which any realized net capital gains are long-term in nature (i.e., taxable at lower capital gains tax rates).

 

The Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio, using a market capitalization weighted approach, generally purchases a broad and diverse group of readily marketable common stocks of U.S. small cap companies. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of the U.S. small cap company, the greater its representation in the Portfolio. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions.

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of small cap U.S. companies. As of the date of this Prospectus, for purposes of the Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio, the Advisor considers small cap companies to be companies whose market capitalizations are generally in the lowest 10% of total market capitalization or companies whose market capitalizations are smaller than the 1,000th largest U.S. company, whichever results in the higher market capitalization break. Total market capitalization is based on the market capitalization of U.S. operating companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), NYSE Alternext US LLC, Nasdaq Global Market® or such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor. Under the Advisor’s market capitalization guidelines described above, as of December 31, 2010, the market capitalization of a small cap company was $2,357 million, or below. This dollar amount will change due to market conditions. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the U.S. Small Cap Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of small cap U.S. companies.

 

The Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Tax-Management Strategy Risk: The tax-management strategies may alter investment decisions and affect portfolio holdings, when compared to those of non-tax managed mutual funds. The Advisor anticipates that performance of the Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio may deviate from that of non-tax managed mutual funds.

 

 

14


Table of Contents

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio

 

LOGO

 

January 2001-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

26.05 (4/03-6/03)

   -28.03 (10/08-12/08)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010  

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year

    Five
Years

    Ten
Years

 

Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     28.60     2.58     6.67

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     28.48     2.19     6.45

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     18.73     2.17     5.86

Russell 2000® Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     26.85     4.47     6.33

 

 

15


Table of Contents

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio. Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, is responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio and has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio are taxable and generally will be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

 

16


Table of Contents

T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation while considering federal income tax implications of investment decisions.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.22

Other Expenses

     0.03

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.25

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 26       $ 80       $ 141       $ 318   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 5% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

17


Table of Contents

When constructing the T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio’s investment portfolio, the Advisor intends to consider federal tax implications when making investment decisions with respect to individual securities to seek to provide a tax advantage. When consistent with the Portfolio’s investment policies, the Advisor will buy and sell securities for the Portfolio considering the goals of: (i) delaying and minimizing the realization of net capital gains (e.g., selling stocks with capital losses to offset gains, realized or anticipated); and (ii) maximizing the extent to which any realized net capital gains are long-term in nature (i.e., taxable at lower capital gains tax rates).

 

The T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio purchases a broad and diverse group of common stocks of U.S. companies with a greater emphasis on small capitalization and value companies as compared to their representation in the U.S. Universe. The Advisor generally defines the U.S. Universe as a market capitalization weighted portfolio of U.S. operating companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), NYSE Alternext US LLC or Nasdaq Global Market® or such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor. The Portfolio’s increased exposure to small and value companies may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to the largest U.S. growth companies relative to their weight in the U.S. Universe, which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization.

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of U.S. companies. The percentage allocation of the assets of the T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio to securities of the largest U.S. growth companies will generally be reduced from between 5% and 35% of their percentage weight in the U.S. Universe. For example, as of December 31, 2010, securities of the largest U.S. growth companies comprised 16% of the U.S. Universe and the Advisor allocated approximately 4% of the T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio to securities of the largest U.S. growth companies. The percentage by which the T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio’s allocation to securities of the largest U.S. growth companies is reduced will fluctuate with market movements. Additionally, the range by which the T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio’s percentage allocation to the securities of the largest U.S. growth companies is reduced as compared to the U.S. Universe will change from time to time.

 

The T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

 

18


Table of Contents

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Tax Advantage Strategy Risk: An investment strategy that considers the tax implications of investment decisions may alter the construction of the T.A. U.S. Core Equity Portfolio and affect the portfolio holdings, when compared to those of non-tax managed mutual funds. The Advisor anticipates that performance of the Portfolio may deviate from that of non-tax managed mutual funds.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year and since inception returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. A negative pre-tax total return translates into a higher after-tax return because this calculation assumes that an investor received a tax deduction for the loss incurred on the sale.

 

 

19


Table of Contents

T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio

 

LOGO

 

January 2008-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter  

18.98 (7/09-9/09)

   -24.21 (10/08-12/08)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010  

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year

    Since  10/4/07
Inception

 

T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio

                

Return Before Taxes

     21.67     -1.95

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     21.40     -2.19

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     14.38     -1.70

Russell® 3000 Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     16.93     -3.26

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio. Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, is responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio and has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio are taxable and generally will be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

 

20


Table of Contents

Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation while minimizing federal income taxes on returns.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

   0.50%

Other Expenses

   0.05%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

   0.55%

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

l Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 56       $ 176       $ 307       $ 689   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 28% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

21


Table of Contents

The Advisor’s tax management strategies for the Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio are designed to maximize the after tax value of a shareholder’s investment. Generally, the Advisor buys and sells securities for the Portfolio with the goals of: (i) delaying and minimizing the realization of net capital gains (e.g., selling stocks with capital losses to offset gains, realized or anticipated); and (ii) maximizing the extent to which any realized net capital gains are long-term in nature (i.e., taxable at lower capital gains tax rates).

 

The Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio, using a market capitalization weighted approach, generally purchases stocks of large non-U.S. companies in countries with developed markets that the Advisor determines to be value stocks. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of a large company within an eligible country, the greater its representation in the Portfolio. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value.

 

The Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio intends to purchase stocks of large companies associated with developed market countries that the Advisor has designated as approved markets. The Advisor determines the minimum market capitalization of a large company with respect to each country or region in which the Portfolio invests. As of December 31, 2010, for the Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio, the lowest minimum market capitalization of a large company in any country or region in which the Portfolio invests was $1,438 million. This threshold will change due to market conditions.

 

The Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio also may gain exposure to companies associated with approved markets by purchasing equity securities in the form of depositary receipts, which may be listed or traded outside the issuer’s domicile country. The Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for foreign or U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio does not hedge foreign currency risk.

 

Tax-Management Strategy Risk: The tax-management strategies may alter investment decisions and affect portfolio holdings, when compared to those of non-tax managed mutual funds. The Advisor anticipates that performance of the Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio may deviate from that of non-tax managed mutual funds.

 

 

22


Table of Contents

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio

 

LOGO

 

January 2001-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

33.74 (4/09-6/09)

   -22.66 (10/08-12/08)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010  

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Five
Years


    Ten Years

 

Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     10.21     4.53     7.68

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     9.97     3.88     7.15

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     7.21     4.12     6.83

MSCI World ex USA Index (net dividends)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     8.95     3.05     3.98

 

 

23


Table of Contents

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio:

 

   

Karen Umland, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1998.

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

Joseph H. Chi, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2005.

 

   

Jed S. Fogdall, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2004.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio are taxable and generally will be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

 

24


Table of Contents

T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation while considering federal tax implications of investment decisions.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

   0.40%

Other Expenses

   0.08%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

   0.48%

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

l Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 49       $ 154       $ 269       $ 604   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 2% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the

 

25


Table of Contents

investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

When constructing the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio’s investment portfolio, the Advisor intends to consider federal tax implications when making investment decisions with respect to individual securities to seek to provide a tax advantage. When consistent with the Portfolio’s investment policies, the Advisor will buy and sell securities for the Portfolio considering the goals of: (i) delaying and minimizing the realization of net capital gains (e.g., selling stocks with capital losses to offset gains, realized or anticipated); and (ii) maximizing the extent to which any realized net capital gains are long-term in nature (i.e., taxable at lower capital gains tax rates).

 

The Advisor purchases for the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio a broad and diverse group of common stocks of non-U.S. companies in countries with developed and emerging markets with a greater emphasis on small capitalization and value companies as compared to their representation in the Non-U.S. Universe. For purposes of this Portfolio, the Advisor defines the Non-U.S. Universe as a market capitalization weighted portfolio of non-U.S. companies in developed and emerging markets that have been authorized for investment as approved markets by the Advisor’s Investment Committee. The Portfolio’s increased exposure to small capitalization and value companies may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio’s assets to the largest growth companies relative to their weight in the Non-U.S. Universe, which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization.

 

The T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio intends to purchase stocks of companies associated with developed market and emerging market countries, including frontier markets (emerging market countries in an earlier stage of development), that the Advisor has designated as approved markets. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in non-U.S. equity securities and/or investments that provide expose to non-U.S. securities. The Advisor determines company size on a country or region specific basis and based primarily on market capitalization. The percentage allocation of the assets of the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio to securities of the largest growth companies will generally be reduced from between 5% and 35% of their percentage weight in the Non-U.S. Universe. As of December 31, 2010, securities of the largest growth companies in the Non-U.S. Universe comprised approximately 15% of the Non-U.S. Universe and the Advisor allocated approximately 3% of the Portfolio to securities of the largest growth companies in the Non-U.S. Universe. The percentage by which the Portfolio’s allocation to securities of the largest growth companies is reduced will fluctuate with market movements and other factors. Additionally, the range by which the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio’s percentage allocation to the securities of the largest growth companies is reduced as compared to the Non-U.S. Universe will change from time to time.

 

The T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for foreign or U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions. The Portfolio may engage in spot foreign currency transactions for the purposes of settling the Portfolio’s purchases and sales of foreign securities.

 

The T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio that owns

 

26


Table of Contents

them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio does not hedge foreign currency risk.

 

Emerging Markets Risk: Numerous emerging market countries have a history of, and continue to experience serious, and potentially continuing, economic and political problems. Stock markets in many emerging market countries are relatively small, expensive to trade and risky. Foreigners are often limited in their ability to invest in, and withdraw assets from, these markets. Additional restrictions may be imposed under other conditions. Frontier market countries generally have smaller economies or less developed capital markets and, as a result, the risks of investing in emerging market countries are magnified in frontier market countries.

 

Tax Advantage Strategy Risk: An investment strategy that considers the tax implications of investment decisions may alter the construction of the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio and affect portfolio holdings, when compared to those of non-tax managed mutual funds. The Advisor anticipates that performance of the Portfolio may deviate from that of non-tax managed mutual funds.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how

 

27


Table of Contents

annualized one year and since inception returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio

 

LOGO

 

January 2009-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

33.22 (4/09-6/09)

   -12.33 (4/10-6/10)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010    

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year

    Since  3/6/08
Inception

 

T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio

                

Return Before Taxes

     15.57     1.10

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     15.28     0.84

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     10.58     0.96

MSCI All Country World ex USA Index (net dividends) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     11.15     -2.28

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio:

 

   

Karen Umland, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1998.

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

Joseph H. Chi, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2005.

 

   

Jed S. Fogdall, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2004.

 

 

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PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio are taxable and generally will be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

 

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

 

The investment company described in this Prospectus offers a variety of investment portfolios. Each of the investment company’s Portfolios has its own investment objective and policies, and is the equivalent of a separate mutual fund. The Portfolios described in this Prospectus are designed for long-term investors.

 

Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio and Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

 

The investment objective of each of the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio and Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation while minimizing federal income taxes on returns. The Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio is a Feeder Portfolio and pursues its investment objective by investing substantially all of its assets in its corresponding Master Fund, the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series of the Trust, which has the same investment objective and policies as the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio. The Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio generally invests directly in portfolio securities of U.S. companies.

 

Ordinarily, each of the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series and Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio will invest its assets in the a broad and diverse group of common stocks of U.S. companies that the Advisor determines to be value stocks at the time of purchase. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because the shares have a high book value in relation to their market value (a “book to market ratio”). In assessing value, however, the Advisor may consider additional factors, such as a company’s price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios, as well as economic conditions and developments in the company’s industry. The criteria the Advisor uses for assessing value are subject to change from time to time.

 

The Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series and Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio will purchase securities that are listed on the U.S. national securities exchanges or traded on the over-the-counter market. Each of the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series and Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio uses a market capitalization weighted approach. See “Market Capitalization Weighted Approach” in this Prospectus.

 

On not less than a semi-annual basis, for each of the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series and Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, the Advisor will calculate book to market ratios and review total market capitalization to determine those companies whose stock may be eligible for investment.

 

The Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series and Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio do not intend to purchase or sell securities based on the prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

The total market capitalization ranges, and the value criteria used by the Advisor for The Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series and the Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, as described above, generally apply at the time of purchase by either The Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series or the Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio. The Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series and the Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio are not required to dispose of a security if the security’s issuer is no longer within the total market capitalization range or does not meet current value criteria. Similarly, the Advisor is not required to sell a security even if the decline in the market capitalization reflects a serious financial difficulty or potential or actual insolvency of the company. Securities that do meet the market capitalization and/or value criteria nevertheless may be sold at any time when, in the Advisor’s judgement, circumstances warrant their sale. See “Portfolio Transactions” in this Prospectus.

 

The Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series and Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio may each invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the U.S. equity markets while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments

 

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and other short-term investments, the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series and Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio may each invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation while minimizing federal income taxes on returns.

 

The Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio generally will invest its assets in a broad and diverse group of the common stocks of companies listed on the U.S. national securities exchanges or traded on the over-the-counter market. The Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio uses a market capitalization weighted approach. See “Market Capitalization Weighted Approach” in this Prospectus.

 

The total market capitalization range used by the Advisor for The Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio, as described above, generally applies at the time of purchase by The Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio. The Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio is not required to dispose of a security if the security’s issuer is no longer within this total market capitalization range. Similarly, the Advisor is not required to dispose of a security even if the decline in the market capitalization reflects a serious financial difficulty or potential or actual insolvency of the company. Securities that do meet the market capitalization range nevertheless may be sold at any time when, in the Advisor’s judgement, circumstances warrant their sale. See “Portfolio Transactions” in this Prospectus.

 

The Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the U.S. equity markets while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation while minimizing federal income taxes on returns. The Portfolio provides investors with access to a securities portfolio generally consisting of small U.S. companies traded on a U.S. national securities exchange or on an over-the-counter market. Company size will be determined for purposes of the Portfolio solely on the basis of a company’s market capitalization, which will be calculated by multiplying the price of a company’s stock by the number of its shares of outstanding common stock. As of the date of this Prospectus, for this Portfolio, the Advisor considers small cap companies to be all companies whose market capitalizations are generally in the lowest 10% of total market capitalization or companies whose market capitalizations are smaller than the 1,000th largest U.S. company, whichever results in the higher market capitalization break.

 

The Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio intends to invest in the securities of eligible companies using a market capitalization weighted approach. See “Market Capitalization Weighted Approach.”

 

The Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio may purchase securities of foreign issuers that are traded in the U.S. securities markets, but such investments may not exceed 5% of the gross assets of the Portfolio. In addition, the Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio is authorized to invest in privately placed convertible debentures. Such investments are considered illiquid and the value thereof, together with the value of all other illiquid investments, may not exceed 15% of the value of the Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio’s net assets at the time of purchase.

 

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The Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the U.S. equity markets while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the Portfolio may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation while minimizing federal income tax implications of investment decisions. The Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective by purchasing a broad and diverse group of common stocks of U.S. companies with an increased exposure to small capitalization and value companies relative to the U.S. Universe, while excluding securities of companies based upon the Portfolio’s social issue screens. The Advisor generally defines the U.S. Universe as a market capitalization weighted portfolio of U.S. operating companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), NYSE Alternext US LLC (“NYSE Alternext”), Nasdaq Global Market® (“Nasdaq”) and such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor from time to time (U.S. Universe). The increased exposure to small and value companies may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to the largest U.S. growth companies relative to their weight in the U.S. Universe, which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization. In assessing growth and value, the Advisor may consider additional factors, such as price-to-cash-flow or price-to-earnings ratios, as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer’s industry.

 

The T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the U.S. stock market while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation while minimizing federal income taxes on returns. The Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective by purchasing the stocks of large non-U.S. companies which the Advisor determines to be value stocks at the time of the purchase. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value (a “book to market ratio”). In assessing value, the Advisor may consider additional factors, such as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios, as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer’s industry. The criteria the Advisor uses for assessing value are subject to change from time to time. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio may invest in the stocks of large companies associated with Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom (collectively, the “Approved Markets”). The Advisor will determine, in its discretion, when and whether to invest in countries that have been authorized as Approved Markets, depending on a number of factors, such as asset growth in the Portfolio and the characteristics of each country’s markets. The Investment Committee of the Advisor may designate other countries as Approved Markets for investment in the future, in addition to the countries identified above, or the Investment Committee may remove one or more countries from the list of Approved Markets. In addition, the Portfolio may continue to hold investments in countries that are not currently designated as Approved Markets, but had been authorized for

 

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investment in the past, and may reinvest distributions received in connection with such existing investments in such previously Approved Markets. (For a description of the securities approved for investment, see “Approved Markets”).

 

Under normal market conditions, the Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio intends to invest at least 40% of its assets in three or more non-U.S. countries by investing in securities of companies associated with such countries.

 

In the countries or regions authorized for investment, the Advisor first ranks eligible companies listed on selected exchanges based on the companies’ market capitalization. The Advisor then determines the universe of eligible stocks by defining the minimum market capitalization of a large company that may be purchased by the Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio with respect to each country or region. As of December 31, 2010, for the Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio, the lowest minimum market capitalization of a large company in any country or region in which the Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio invests was $1,438 million. This threshold will change due to market conditions. For example, as of December 31, 2010, the Advisor considered a large company in the European Monetary Union (EMU) to have a market capitalization of at least $3,133 million, a large company in Australia to have a market capitalization of at least $2,139 million, and a large company in Japan to have a market capitalization of at least $1,438 million. These dollar amounts will change due to market conditions.

 

The Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio intends to purchase securities within each applicable country using a market capitalization weighted approach. The Advisor, using this approach and its judgment, will seek to set country weights based on the relative market capitalizations of eligible large companies within each country. See “Market Capitalization Weighted Approach.” As a result, the weightings of countries in the Portfolio may vary from their weighting in international indices, such as those published by FTSE International, Morgan Stanley Capital International or Citigroup.

 

The Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio does not seek current income as an investment objective. However, many of the companies whose securities will be included in the Portfolio do pay dividends. It is anticipated, therefore, that the Portfolio will receive dividend income.

 

The Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the equity markets while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation while considering federal tax implications of investment decisions. The Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective by purchasing a broad and diverse group of stocks of non-U.S. companies with an increased exposure to small capitalization and value companies relative to the Non-U.S. Universe. For purposes of this Portfolio, the Advisor defines the “Non-U.S. Universe” as a market capitalization weighted portfolio of non-U.S. companies in developed and emerging markets, including frontier markets, that have been authorized for investment as Approved Markets by the Advisor’s Investment Committee. As of the date of this Prospectus, the following markets have been authorized for investment as Approved Markets for the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio and comprise the Non-U.S. Universe: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Chile, China, Columbia,

 

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Czech Republic, Egypt, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Turkey. The Advisor will determine in its discretion when and whether to invest in markets that have been authorized as Approved Markets, depending on a number of factors, such as asset growth in the Portfolio and characteristics of each such market. The Investment Committee of the Advisor also may authorize other markets for investment in the future, in addition to the Approved Markets identified above, or may remove one or more markets from the list of Approved Markets. Also, the Portfolio may continue to hold investments in countries that are not currently designated as Approved Markets, but had been authorized for investment in the past, and may reinvest distributions received in connection with such existing investments in such previously Approved Markets. (For a description of the securities approved for investment, see “Approved Markets”).

 

Under normal market conditions, the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio intends to invest at least 40% of its assets in three or more non-U.S. countries by investing in securities of companies associated with such countries.

 

The increased exposure to small capitalization and value companies for the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to the largest growth companies relative to their weight in the Non-U.S. Universe, which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization. In assessing growth and value, the Advisor may consider additional factors, such as price-to-cash-flow or price-to-earnings ratios, as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer’s industry.

 

The Portfolio may not invest in all companies of an Approved Market or all Approved Markets as described above, for reasons which include constraints imposed within Approved Markets (e.g., restrictions on purchases by foreigners), and the Portfolio’s policy not to invest more than 25% of its assets in any one industry.

 

In determining which emerging market countries are eligible markets for the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio, the Advisor may consider various factors, including, without limitation, the data, analysis, and classification of countries published or disseminated by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (commonly known as the World Bank), the International Finance Corporation, FTSE International, Morgan Stanley Capital International, Citigroup, and the Heritage Foundation. Approved emerging markets may not include all such emerging markets. In determining whether to approve emerging markets for investment, the Advisor will take into account, among other things, market liquidity, relative availability of investor information, government regulation, including fiscal and foreign exchange repatriation rules and the availability of other access to these markets for the Portfolio.

 

Even though a company’s stock may meet the criteria for investment, a company’s stock may not be included in the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio for one or more of a number of reasons. For example, in the Advisor’s judgment, the issuer may be considered in extreme financial difficulty or a material portion of its securities may be closely held and not likely available to support market liquidity. There will be the exercise of discretion and consideration by the Advisor in purchasing securities in an Approved Market and in determining the allocation of investments among Approved Markets.

 

The T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the equity markets while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the Portfolio may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

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Approved Markets

 

The Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio and T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio (each an “International Portfolio” and collectively, the “International Portfolios”) each invests in securities of Approved Markets as identified above for each International Portfolio. The Approved Markets securities invested in by each International Portfolio will be listed on bona fide securities exchanges or traded on the over-the-counter markets. These exchanges or over-the-counter markets may be either within or outside the issuer’s domicile country. For example, the securities may be listed or traded in the form of European Depositary Receipts, Global Depositary Receipts, American Depositary Receipts, or other types of depositary receipts (including non-voting depositary receipts) or may be listed on bona fide securities exchanges in more than one country. Approved Market securities are defined as securities that are associated with an Approved Market, and include, among others: (a) securities of companies that are organized under the laws of, or maintain their principal place of business in, an Approved Market; (b) securities for which the principal trading market is in an Approved Market; (c) securities issued or guaranteed by the government of an Approved Market country, its agencies or instrumentalities, or the central bank of such country; (d) securities denominated in an Approved Market currency issued by companies to finance operations in Approved Markets; (e) securities of companies that derive at least 50% of their revenues or profits from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed in Approved Markets or have at least 50% of their assets in Approved Markets; (f) Approved Markets equity securities in the form of depositary shares; (g) securities of pooled investment vehicles that invest primarily in Approved Markets securities or derivative instruments that derive their value from Approved Markets securities; or (h) securities included in the International Portfolio’s benchmark index. Securities of Approved Markets may include securities of companies that have characteristics and business relationships common to companies in other countries. As a result, the value of the securities of such companies may reflect economic and market forces in such other countries as well as in the Approved Markets. The Advisor, however, will select only those companies that, in its view, have sufficiently strong exposure to economic and market forces in Approved Markets. For example, the Advisor may invest in companies organized and located in the United States or other countries outside of Approved Markets, including companies having their entire production facilities outside of Approved Markets, when such companies meet the criteria discussed above to be considered associated with Approved Markets.

 

Market Capitalization Weighted Approach

 

The portfolio structures of Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series, Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio, Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio and Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio each involve market capitalization weighting in determining individual security weights and, where applicable, country or region weights. Market capitalization weighting means each security is generally purchased based on the issuer’s relative market capitalization. Market capitalization weighting will be modified by the Advisor for a variety of factors. The Advisor may consider such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors determined to be appropriate by the Advisor given market conditions. The Advisor may deviate from market capitalization weighting to limit or fix the exposure of the Portfolio to a particular issuer to a maximum proportion of the assets of the Portfolio. The Advisor may exclude the stock of a company that meets applicable market capitalization criterion if the Advisor determines, in its best judgment, that the purchase of such stock is inappropriate in light of other conditions. These adjustments will result in a deviation from traditional market capitalization weighting.

 

Adjustment for free float modifies market capitalization weighting to exclude the share capital of a company that is not freely available for trading in the public equity markets. For example, the following types of shares may be excluded: (i) those held by strategic investors (such as governments, controlling shareholders and management), (ii) treasury shares, or (iii) shares subject to foreign ownership restrictions.

 

Deviation from market capitalization weighting also will occur because the Advisor generally intends to purchase in round lots. Furthermore, the Advisor may reduce the relative amount of any security held in order to

 

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retain sufficient portfolio liquidity. A portion, but generally not in excess of 20% of assets, may be invested in interest bearing obligations, such as money market instruments, thereby causing further deviation from market capitalization weighting. A further deviation may occur due to holdings of privately placed convertible debentures and securities received in connection with corporate actions.

 

The Portfolios and the Master Fund should not be expected to adhere to their market capitalization weighted approach to the same extent as non-tax-managed portfolios advised by the Advisor. The tax management strategies used by the Advisor to defer the realization of net capital gains or minimize dividend income, from time to time, may cause deviation from the market capitalization weighted approach.

 

Block purchases of eligible securities may be made at opportune prices, even though such purchases exceed the number of shares that, at the time of purchase, adherence to a market capitalization weighted approach would otherwise require. In addition, securities eligible for purchase or otherwise represented in a Portfolio or Master Fund may be acquired in exchange for the issuance of shares. See “PURCHASE OF SHARES—In-Kind Purchases.” While such transactions might cause a deviation from market capitalization weighting, they would ordinarily be made in anticipation of further growth of assets.

 

Changes in the composition and relative ranking (in terms of market capitalization) of the stocks that are eligible for purchase take place with every trade when the securities markets are open for trading due, primarily, to price fluctuations of such securities. On at least a semi-annual basis, the Advisor will identify companies whose stock is eligible for investment by a Portfolio or Master Fund. Additional investments generally will not be made in securities that have changed in value sufficiently to be excluded from the Advisor’s then current market capitalization requirement for eligible portfolio securities. This may result in further deviation from market capitalization weighting. Such deviation could be substantial if a significant amount of holdings of a Portfolio or Master Fund change in value sufficiently to be excluded from the requirement for eligible securities, but not by a sufficient amount to warrant their sale.

 

Country weights may be based on the total market capitalization of companies within each country. The calculation of country market capitalization may take into consideration the free float of companies within a country or whether these companies are eligible to be purchased for the particular strategy. In addition, to maintain a satisfactory level of diversification, the Investment Committee may limit or fix the exposure to a particular country or region to a maximum proportion of the assets of that vehicle. Country weights may also deviate from target weights due to general day-to-day trading patterns and price movements. As a result, the weighting of countries may vary from their weighting in published international indices.

 

Portfolio Transactions

 

Securities will not be purchased or sold based on the prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase. Securities which have depreciated in value since their acquisition will not be sold solely because prospects for the issuer are not considered attractive or due to an expected or realized decline in securities prices in general. Securities will not be sold to realize short-term profits, but when circumstances warrant, they may be sold without regard to the length of time held. Securities, including those eligible for purchase, may be disposed of, however, at any time when, in the Advisor’s judgment, circumstances warrant their sale, including but not limited to tender offers, mergers and similar transactions, or bids made for block purchases at opportune prices. Generally, securities will be purchased with the expectation that they will be held for longer than one year and will be held until such time as they are no longer considered an appropriate holding in light of the investment policy of each Portfolio or the Master Fund.

 

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Tax Management Strategies—Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio, Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio, Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio and Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio

 

Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio, Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio, Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio and Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio each seek to maximize the after tax value of an investment by managing its portfolio in a manner that will defer the realization of net capital gains where possible and may attempt to reduce dividend income.

 

When selling securities, a Portfolio or Master Fund typically will select the highest cost shares of the specific security in order to minimize the realization of capital gains. In certain cases, the highest cost shares may produce a short-term capital gain. Since short-term capital gains generally are taxed at higher tax rates than long-term capital gains, the highest cost shares with a long-term holding period may be disposed of instead. Each Portfolio or Master Fund, when possible, generally will refrain from disposing of a security until the long-term holding period for capital gains for tax purposes has been satisfied. Additionally, each Portfolio or Master Fund, when consistent with all other tax management policies, may sell securities in order to realize capital losses. Realized capital losses can be used to offset realized capital gains, thus reducing capital gains distributions.

 

The Advisor may attempt to time the purchases and sales of securities to reduce the receipt of dividends when possible. With respect to dividends that are received, the Portfolios and the Master Fund may not be eligible to flow through the dividends received deduction attributable to holdings in U.S. equity securities to corporate shareholders if, because of certain timing rules, hedging activities, or debt financing activities at the Portfolio or Master Fund level, the requisite holding period of the dividend paying stock is not met.

 

The Portfolios and the Master Fund are expected to deviate from their market capitalization weightings to a greater extent than non-tax-managed portfolios. For example, the Advisor may determine to hold shares of a company in a small cap portfolio despite changes to that company’s market capitalization as part of the portfolio’s tax management strategy. For that reason, in this example, under normal conditions shareholders should expect a tax managed small cap portfolio to have a different overall market capitalization exposure than a non-tax managed small cap portfolio. In addition, the Advisor may delay buying the stock of a company that meets applicable market capitalization criteria in order to avoid dividend income, and may sell stock of a company that meets applicable market capitalization criteria in order to realize a capital loss. Also, the Portfolios and Master Fund may dispose of securities whenever the Advisor determines that disposition is consistent with their tax management strategies or is otherwise in the best interest of a Portfolio or Master Fund.

 

Although the Advisor intends to manage each Portfolio or Master Fund in a manner which considers the effects of the realization of capital gains and taxable dividend income each year, the Portfolios may nonetheless distribute taxable gains and dividends to shareholders. Of course, realization of capital gains is not entirely within the Advisor’s control. Capital gains distributions may vary considerably from year to year; there will be no capital gains distributions in years when a Portfolio or Master Fund realizes a net capital loss. Furthermore, the redeeming shareholders will be required to pay taxes on their capital gains, if any, on a redemption of a Portfolio’s shares, whether paid in cash or in kind, if the amount received on redemption is greater than the amount of the shareholder’s tax basis in the shares redeemed.

 

Consideration of Tax Implications—T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio and T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio

 

When constructing its investment portfolio, the T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio and T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio each intends to consider federal tax implications when making investment decisions with respect to individual securities to seek to provide a tax advantage. When selling securities, each Portfolio typically will select the highest cost shares of the specific security in order to minimize the realization of capital gains. In certain cases, the highest cost shares may produce a short-term capital gain. Since short-term capital

 

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gains generally are taxed at higher tax rates than long-term capital gains, the highest cost shares with a long-term holding period may be disposed of instead. Each Portfolio, when possible, will generally refrain from disposing of a security until the long-term holding period for capital gains for tax purposes has been satisfied. Additionally, each Portfolio, when consistent with its investment and tax policies, may sell securities in order to realize capital losses. Realized capital losses can be used to offset realized capital gains, thus reducing capital gains distributions. The Advisor may delay buying the stock of a company that meets applicable investment criteria in order to avoid dividend income, and may sell the stock of a company that meets applicable investment criteria in order to realize a capital loss. Also, each Portfolio may dispose of securities whenever the Advisor determines that disposition is consistent with the Portfolio’s tax and investment management strategies or is otherwise in the best interest of the Portfolio. As part of its investment decisions, the Advisor may also consider the effects of holding periods and securities lending, among other factors, that may affect the tax characteristics of the income received.

 

Although the Advisor intends to manage each Portfolio in a manner that considers the effects of the realization of capital gains and taxable dividend income each year, the Portfolio may nonetheless distribute taxable gains and dividends to shareholders. Of course, realization of capital gains is not entirely within the Advisor’s control. Capital gains distributions may vary considerably from year to year; there will be no capital gains distributions in years when the Portfolio realizes a net capital loss. Furthermore, the redeeming shareholders will be required to pay taxes on their capital gains, if any, on a redemption of the Portfolio’s shares, whether paid in cash or in kind, if the amount received on redemption is greater than the amount of the shareholder’s tax basis in the shares redeemed.

 

Other Information

 

Commodity Pool Operator Exemption:

 

The Master Fund and Portfolios are operated by a person that has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”), and, therefore, such person is not subject to registration or regulation as a pool operator under the CEA.

 

SECURITIES LOANS

 

All of the Portfolios and the Master Fund are authorized to lend securities to qualified brokers, dealers, banks and other financial institutions for the purpose of earning additional income, although inasmuch as the Feeder Portfolio will only hold shares of its corresponding Master Fund, the Portfolio does not intend to lend those shares. While a Portfolio or Master Fund may earn additional income from lending securities, such activity is incidental to the investment objective of a Portfolio or Master Fund. For information concerning the revenue from securities lending, see SECURITIES LENDING REVENUE.” The value of securities loaned may not exceed 33 1/3% of the value of a Portfolio’s or Master Fund’s total assets, which includes the value of collateral received. To the extent a Portfolio or Master Fund loans a portion of its securities, a Portfolio or Master Fund will receive collateral consisting generally of cash or U.S. government securities, which will be maintained by marking to market daily in an amount equal to at least (i) 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities with respect to securities of the U.S. government or its agencies, (ii) 102% of the current market value of the loaned securities with respect to U.S. securities, and (iii) 105% of the current market value of the loaned securities with respect to foreign securities. Subject to their stated investment policies, the Portfolios and Master Fund will generally invest the cash collateral received for the loaned securities in the DFA Short Term Investment Fund (the “Money Market Series”), an affiliated registered money market fund advised by the Advisor for which the Advisor receives a management fee of 0.05% of the average daily net assets of the Money Market Series. The Portfolios and Master Fund may also invest such collateral in securities of the U.S. government or its agencies, repurchase agreements collateralized by securities of the U.S. government or its agencies, and affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds. For purposes of this paragraph, agencies include both agency debentures and agency mortgage backed securities.

 

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In addition, the Portfolios and Master Fund will be able to terminate the loan at any time and will receive reasonable interest on the loan, as well as amounts equal to any dividends, interest or other distributions on the loaned securities. However, dividend income received from loaned securities may not be eligible to be taxed at qualified dividend income rates. As a result, the Portfolios and Master Fund may limit the use of securities lending to limit the impact of these tax consequences. See the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) for a further discussion of the tax consequences related to securities lending. A Portfolio or Master Fund will be entitled to recall a loaned security in time to vote proxies or otherwise obtain rights to vote proxies of loaned securities if the Portfolio or Master Fund knows a material event will occur. In the event of the bankruptcy of the borrower, the Fund or the Trust could experience delay in recovering the loaned securities or only recover cash or a security of equivalent value. See “PRINCIPAL RISKSSecurities Lending” for a discussion of the risks related to securities lending.

 

SECURITIES LENDING REVENUE

 

For the fiscal year October 31, 2010, the following Portfolios received the following net revenues from a securities lending program, which constituted a percentage of the average daily net assets of each Portfolio (see “SECURITIES LOANS”):

 

Portfolio


   Net Revenue

     Percentage
of Net
Assets

 

Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value*

   $ 961,000         0.05

Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value

   $ 1,465,000         0.07

Tax-Managed U.S. Equity**

   $ 397,000         0.03

Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap

   $ 2,026,000         0.19

T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2

   $ 1,190,000         0.07

Tax-Managed DFA International Value

   $ 1,228,000         0.07

T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity

   $ 486,000         0.06

*   A Feeder Portfolio whose corresponding Master Fund is taxed as a partnership. “Net Revenue” reflects the proportional share of the securities lending revenue generated by the Master Fund that was received by the Feeder Portfolio.
**   Prior to February 28, 2011, the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio operated as a Feeder Portfolio in a master/feeder structure. The Tax-Managed U.S. Equity invested all of its assets in The Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Series prior to February 28, 2011. For the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio, the “Net Revenue” reflects the proportional share of securities lending revenue generated by The Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Series that was received by the Portfolio.

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

 

The Advisor serves as investment advisor to the Portfolios and the Master Fund. Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Fund and the Trust on behalf of each Non-Feeder Portfolio and the Master Fund, respectively, the Advisor is responsible for the management of each of the Portfolio’s and Master Fund’s assets. Additionally, pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Feeder Portfolio, the Advisor, for no additional compensation, manages the portion of the Feeder Portfolio’s assets that are retained by the Feeder Portfolio for cash management purposes and, at its discretion, may make a determination to withdraw the Feeder Portfolio’s investment from its corresponding Master Fund to invest in another Master Fund if the Advisor believes it is in the best interests of the Feeder Portfolio and its shareholders to do so. The Portfolios and the Master Fund are managed using a team approach. The investment team includes the Investment Committee of the Advisor, portfolio managers and trading personnel.

 

 

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The Investment Committee is composed primarily of certain officers and directors of the Advisor who are appointed annually. As of the date of this Prospectus the Investment Committee has ten members. Investment strategies for the Portfolios and Master Fund are set by the Investment Committee, which meets on a regular basis and also as needed to consider investment issues. The Investment Committee also sets and reviews all investment related policies and procedures and approves any changes in regards to approved countries, security types and brokers.

 

In accordance with the team approach used to manage the Portfolios and Master Fund, the portfolio managers and portfolio traders implement the policies and procedures established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers and portfolio traders also make daily investment decisions regarding the Portfolios and Master Fund including running buy and sell programs based on the parameters established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers named below coordinate the efforts of all other portfolio managers with respect to the day-to-day management of the Portfolios and Master Fund indicated below.

 

Domestic Equity portfolios

   Stephen A. Clark

International Equity portfolios

   Stephen A. Clark, Karen E. Umland,

Joseph H. Chi and Jed S. Fogdall

 

Mr. Clark is a Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and chairman of the Investment Committee. Mr. Clark received his MBA from the University of Chicago and his BS from Bradley University. Mr. Clark joined the Advisor as a portfolio manager in 2001 and has been responsible for the portfolio management group since January 2006.

 

Ms. Umland is a Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and a member of the Investment Committee. She received her BA from Yale University in 1988 and her MBA from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1993. Ms. Umland joined the Advisor in 1993 and has been a portfolio manager and responsible for the international equity portfolios since 1998.

 

Mr. Chi is a Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and a member of the Investment Committee. Mr. Chi has an MBA and BS from the University of California, Los Angeles and also a JD from the University of Southern California. Mr. Chi joined the Advisor as a portfolio manager in 2005 and has been responsible for the international portfolios since 2010.

 

Mr. Fogdall is a Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and a member of the Investment Committee. Mr. Fogdall has an MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles and a BS from Purdue University. Mr. Fogdall joined the Advisor as a portfolio manager in 2004 and has been responsible for the international portfolios since 2010.

 

The SAI provides information about each portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, and the portfolio manager’s ownership of each Portfolio’s shares.

 

The Advisor provides the Portfolios and the Master Fund with a trading department and selects brokers and dealers to effect securities transactions. Securities transactions are placed with a view to obtaining best price and execution. A discussion regarding the basis for the Boards of Trustees/Directors approving the investment management agreements with respect to the Non-Feeder Portfolios and Master Fund is available in the semi-annual report for the Portfolios for the fiscal period ending April 30, 2010. The Advisor’s address is 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746. The Advisor has been engaged in the business of providing investment management services since May 1981. The Advisor is currently organized as a Delaware limited partnership and is controlled and operated by its general partner, Dimensional Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation. The Advisor controls Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (“DFAL”) and DFA Australia Limited (“DFA Australia”). As of January 31, 2011, assets under management for all Dimensional affiliated advisors totaled approximately $209 billion.

 

 

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The Fund and the Trust bear all of their own costs and expenses, including: services of their independent registered public accounting firm, legal counsel, brokerage fees, commissions and transfer taxes in connection with the acquisition and disposition of portfolio securities, taxes, insurance premiums, costs incidental to meetings of their shareholders and directors or trustees, the cost of filing their registration statements under the federal securities laws and the cost of any filings required under state securities laws, reports to shareholders, and transfer and dividend disbursing agency, administrative services and custodian fees. Expenses allocable to a particular Portfolio or Master Fund are so allocated. The expenses of the Fund which are not allocable to a particular Portfolio are to be borne by each Portfolio of the Fund on the basis of its relative net assets. Similarly, the expenses of the Trust which are not allocable to a particular Master Fund are to be borne by each Master Fund on the basis of its relative net assets.

 

Management Fees

 

The “Annual Fund Operating Expenses” table describes the fees incurred by a Portfolio for the services provided by the Advisor for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010. The “Management Fee” listed in the table for the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio includes the investment management fee that was payable by the Portfolio’s Master Fund to the Advisor and the administrative fee that was payable by the Portfolio to the Advisor. The “Management Fee” listed in the table for the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio includes both an investment advisory fee and administrative fee that is payable by the Portfolio to the Advisor. The “Management Fee” listed in the table for the remaining Non-Feeder Portfolios provides the investment advisory fee that was payable by the respective Portfolio to the Advisor.

 

Sub-Advisors

 

The Advisor has entered into Sub-Advisory Agreements with Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (“DFAL”) and DFA Australia Limited (“DFA Australia”), respectively, with respect to the International Portfolios. Pursuant to the terms of each Sub-Advisory Agreement, DFAL and DFA Australia each have the authority and responsibility to select brokers or dealers to execute securities transactions for the International Portfolios. Each Sub-Advisor’s duties include the maintenance of a trading desk and the determination of the best and most efficient means of executing securities transactions. On at least a semi-annual basis, the Advisor will review the holdings of each International Portfolio and review the trading process and the execution of securities transactions. The Advisor is responsible for determining those securities which are eligible for purchase and sale by an International Portfolio and may delegate this task, subject to its own review, to DFAL and DFA Australia. DFAL and DFA Australia maintain and furnish to the Advisor information and reports on companies in certain markets, including recommendations of securities to be added to the securities that are eligible for purchase by each International Portfolio, as well as making recommendations and elections on corporate actions. The Advisor controls DFAL and DFA Australia. DFA Australia is a U.S. federally registered investment advisor located at Level 43 Gateway, 1 Macquarie Place, Sydney, New South Wales 2000, Australia. DFAL is a U.S. federally registered investment advisor located at 20 Triton Street, Regent’s Place, London NW13BF, United Kingdom. DFAL is a member of the Financial Services Authority (“FSA”), a self-regulatory organization for investment managers operating under the laws of England.

 

Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreements

 

Pursuant to an Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and/or Expense Assumption Agreement for the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio, T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio and T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio, the Advisor has agreed to waive certain fees and in certain instances, assume certain expenses of the Portfolios, as described below. The Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and/or Expense Assumption Agreement for the Portfolios will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by the Fund or the Advisor.

 

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The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive its administration fee and assume the expenses of the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio to the extent necessary to reduce the Portfolio’s expenses when its total operating expenses exceed 0.22% of the average net assets of the Portfolio on an annualized basis. At any time that the annualized expenses of the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio are less than 0.22% of the Portfolio’s average net assets on an annualized basis, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or any expenses previously assumed to the extent that such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s annualized expenses to exceed 0.22% of its average net assets. The Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees waived or expenses assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement.

 

The Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and to assume the T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio’s ordinary operating expenses (excluding the expenses the Portfolio incurs indirectly through investment in other investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) to the extent necessary to limit the Portfolio Expenses to 0.30% of the Portfolio’s average net assets on an annualized basis (the “Expense Limitation Amount”). At any time that the Portfolio’s annualized Portfolio Expenses are less than the Portfolio’s Expense Limitation Amount, described in the prior sentence, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s annualized expenses to exceed the Expense Limitation Amount. The Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement.

 

The Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and to assume the expenses of the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio (including the expenses that the Portfolio bears as a shareholder of other funds managed by the Advisor but excluding the expenses that the Portfolio incurs indirectly through its investment in unaffiliated investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) to the extent necessary to limit the Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio to 0.60% of the Portfolio’s average net assets on an annualized basis (the “Expense Limitation Amount”). At any time that the Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio are less than the Portfolio’s Expense Limitation Amount, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s annualized Portfolio Expenses to exceed the Portfolio’s Expense Limitation Amount. The Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement.

 

DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

 

Dividends and Distributions. Each Portfolio intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). As a regulated investment company, a Portfolio generally pays no federal income tax on the income and gains it distributes to you. Dividends from net investment income of a Portfolio are distributed quarterly (on a calendar basis) and any net realized capital gains (after any reductions for available capital loss carryforwards) are distributed annually, typically in December. A Portfolio may distribute such income dividends and capital gains more frequently, if necessary, in order to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the Portfolio.

 

Capital gains distributions may vary considerably from year to year as a result of a Portfolio’s normal investment activities and cash flows. During a time of economic downturn, a Portfolio may experience capital losses and unrealized depreciation in value of investments, the effect of which may be to reduce or eliminate capital gains distributions for a period of time. Even though a Portfolio may experience a current year loss, it may nonetheless distribute prior year capital gains.

 

You will automatically receive all income dividends and capital gains distributions in additional shares of the Portfolio whose shares you hold at net asset value (as of the business date following the dividend record

 

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date), unless, upon written notice to the Advisor and completion of account information, you select one of the options listed below:

 

Income Option—to receive income dividends in cash and capital gains distributions in additional shares at net asset value.

 

Capital Gains Option—to receive capital gains distributions in cash and income dividends in additional shares at net asset value.

 

Cash Option—to receive both income dividends and capital gains distributions in cash.

 

Annual Statements. Each year, you will receive a statement that shows the tax status of distributions you received the previous calendar year. Distributions declared in December to shareholders of record in such month, but paid in January, are taxable as if they were paid in December.

 

Avoid “Buying A Dividend.” At the time you purchase your Portfolio shares, a Portfolio’s net asset value may reflect undistributed income, undistributed capital gains, or net unrealized appreciation in value of portfolio securities held by the Portfolio. A subsequent distribution to you of such amounts, although constituting a return of your investment, would be taxable. Buying shares in a Portfolio just before it declares an income dividend or capital gains distribution is sometimes known as “buying a dividend.”

 

Tax Considerations. This discussion of “Tax Considerations” should be read in conjunction with the remaining subsections below containing additional information. Also, unless otherwise indicated, the discussion below with respect to a Portfolio includes in the case of a Feeder Portfolio, its pro rata share of its corresponding Master Fund’s income and assets.

 

In general, if you are a taxable investor, Portfolio distributions (other than exempt-interest dividends) are taxable to you as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both. This is true whether you reinvest your distributions in additional Portfolio shares or receive them in cash.

 

For federal income tax purposes, Portfolio distributions of short-term capital gains are taxable to you as ordinary income. Portfolio distributions of long-term capital gains are taxable to you as long-term capital gains no matter how long you have owned your shares. A Portfolio with a high portfolio turnover rate (a measure of how frequently assets within a Portfolio are bought and sold) is more likely to generate short-term capital gains than a Portfolio with a low portfolio turnover rate. With respect to taxable years of a Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2013, unless such provision is extended or made permanent, a portion of income dividends reported by a Portfolio as qualified dividend income may be eligible for taxation by individual shareholders at long-term capital gain rates provided certain holding period requirements are met.

 

If a Portfolio qualifies to pass through to you the tax benefits from foreign taxes it pays on its investments, and elects to do so, then any foreign taxes it pays on these investments may be passed through to you as a foreign tax credit.

 

The Board of Trustees of a Master Fund reserves the right to change the entity classification of a Master Fund for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time, as may be permitted or required under the Code. For instance, the Board might cause a Master Fund that is classified as a partnership to elect to be classified as a corporation and taxable as a regulated investment company or disregarded entity (if it has one shareholder) or vice versa. Such a change in entity classification may be prompted by, among other things, changes in law, the investment strategy of a Master Fund, or the nature and number of shareholders of a Master Fund or other factors or events adversely affecting the ability of a Master Fund to comply with the Code. A change in entity classification of a Master Fund may be a taxable event, causing the Master Fund and shareholders of the Master Fund that are subject to tax to recognize a taxable gain or loss. Such a change in entity classification would also cause the shareholders of the Master Fund to be subject to a different taxation regime, which may adversely affect some shareholders depending upon their particular circumstances.

 

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Sale or Redemption of Portfolio Shares. The sale of shares of a Portfolio is a taxable event and may result in a capital gain or loss to you. Capital gain or loss may be realized from an ordinary redemption of shares or an exchange of shares between two Portfolios. Any loss incurred on the sale or exchange of a Portfolio’s shares, held for six months or less, will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of capital gain dividends received with respect to such shares.

 

Backup Withholding. By law, a Portfolio may be required to withhold 28% of taxable dividends, capital gains distributions, and redemption proceeds paid to you if you do not provide your proper taxpayer identification number and certain required certifications. You may avoid this withholding requirement by providing and certifying on the account registration form your correct Taxpayer Identification Number and by certifying that you are not subject to backup withholding and are a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). A Portfolio must also withhold if the IRS instructs it to do so.

 

State and Local Taxes. In addition to federal taxes, you may be subject to state and local taxes on distributions from a Portfolio and on gains arising on redemption or exchange of a Portfolio’s shares. Distributions of interest income and capital gains realized from certain types of U.S. government securities may be exempt from state personal income taxes.

 

Non-U.S. Investors. Non-U.S. investors may be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a 30% or lower treaty rate and are subject to special U.S. tax certification requirements to avoid backup withholding and claim any treaty benefits. Exemptions from U.S. withholding tax are provided for capital gain dividends paid by a Portfolio from long-term capital gains, if any, exempt-interest dividends, and, with respect to taxable years of a Portfolio that begin before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended or made permanent), interest-related dividends paid by a Portfolio from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources and short-term capital gain dividends. However, notwithstanding such exemptions from U.S. withholding at the source, any such dividends and distributions of income and capital gains will be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 28% if you fail to properly certify that you are not a U.S. person. Non-U.S. investors also may be subject to U.S. estate tax.

 

This discussion of “DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES” is not intended or written to be used as tax advice. Because everyone’s tax situation is unique, you should consult your tax professional about federal, state, local or foreign tax consequences before making an investment in a Portfolio. Prospective investors should also consult the SAI.

 

PURCHASE OF SHARES

 

Cash Purchases

 

Investors may purchase shares of any Portfolio by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment. The Portfolios generally are available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor (“Eligible Investors”). Eligible Investors include employees, former employees, shareholders and directors of the Advisor and the Funds and friends and family members of such persons. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor, and all investors must complete and submit the necessary account registration forms in good order. The Fund reserves the right to reject any initial or additional investment and to suspend the offering of shares of any Portfolio.

 

“Good order” with respect to the purchase of shares means that (1) a fully completed and properly signed Account Registration Form and any additional supporting legal documentation required by the Advisor have been received in legible form and (2) the Advisor has been notified of the purchase by telephone and, if the Advisor so requests, also in writing, no later than the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m.

 

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ET) on the day of the purchase. If an order to purchase shares must be canceled due to nonpayment, the purchaser will be responsible for any loss incurred by the Fund arising out of such cancellation. To recover any such loss, the Fund reserves the right to redeem shares owned by any purchaser whose order is canceled, and such purchaser may be prohibited or restricted in the manner of placing further orders.

 

Investors having an account with a bank that is a member or a correspondent of a member of the Federal Reserve System may purchase shares by first calling the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment, then requesting the bank to transmit immediately available funds (Federal Funds) by wire to PNC Bank, N.A. for the account of DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. (specify Portfolio). Additional investments also may be made through the wire procedure by first notifying the Advisor. Investors who wish to purchase shares of any Portfolio by check should send their check to DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc., c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., Attn: AIM: 19K-1A18, 760 Moore Road, King of Prussia, PA.

 

Payment of the total amount due should be made in U.S. dollars. However, subject to approval by the Advisor, payment may be made in any freely convertible currency and the necessary foreign exchange transactions will be arranged on behalf of, and at the expense of, the applicant. Applicants settling in any currency other than U.S. dollars are advised that a delay in processing a purchase or redemption may occur to allow for currency conversion.

 

Shares also may be purchased and sold by individuals through securities firms that may charge a service fee or commission for such transactions. No such fee or commission is charged on shares that are purchased or redeemed directly from the Fund. Investors who are clients of investment advisory organizations may also be subject to investment advisory fees under their own arrangements with such organizations.

 

In-Kind Purchases

 

If accepted by the Fund, shares of the Portfolios may be purchased in exchange for securities that are eligible for acquisition by the Portfolios (or the Master Fund) or otherwise represented in their portfolios as described in this Prospectus or as otherwise consistent with the Fund’s policies or procedures or in exchange for local currencies in which such securities of an International Portfolio are denominated. Securities and local currencies accepted by the Fund for exchange and Fund shares to be issued in the exchange will be valued as set forth under “VALUATION OF SHARES” at the time of the next determination of net asset value after such acceptance. All dividends, interest, subscription, or other rights pertaining to such securities shall become the property of the Portfolio whose shares are being acquired and must be delivered to the Fund by the investor upon receipt from the issuer. Investors who desire to purchase shares of an International Portfolio with local currencies should first contact the Advisor.

 

The Fund will not accept securities in exchange for shares of a Portfolio unless: (1) such securities are, at the time of the exchange, eligible to be included, or otherwise represented, in the Portfolio whose shares are to be issued (or in its Master Fund) and current market quotations are readily available for such securities; (2) the investor represents and agrees that all securities offered to be exchanged are not subject to any restrictions upon their sale by the Portfolio or Master Fund under the Securities Act of 1933 or under the laws of the country in which the principal market for such securities exists, or otherwise; and (3) at the discretion of the Fund, the value of any such security (except U.S. Government securities) being exchanged together with other securities of the same issuer owned by the Portfolio or Master Fund may not exceed 5% of the net assets of the Portfolio or Master Fund immediately after the transaction.

 

A gain or loss for federal income tax purposes will generally be realized by investors who are subject to federal taxation upon the exchange depending upon the cost of the securities or local currency exchanged. Investors interested in such exchanges should contact the Advisor. Purchases of shares will be made in full and fractional shares calculated to three decimal places. In the interest of economy and convenience, certificates for shares will not be issued.

 

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POLICY REGARDING EXCESSIVE OR SHORT-TERM TRADING

 

The Portfolios are designed for long-term investors and are not intended for investors that engage in excessive short-term trading activity that may be harmful to the Portfolios, including but not limited to market timing. Short-term or excessive trading into and out of the Portfolios can disrupt portfolio management strategies, harm performance and increase Portfolio expenses for all shareholders, including long-term shareholders who do not generate these costs.

 

In addition, certain Portfolios may be more susceptible to the risks of short-term trading than other Portfolios. The nature of an International Portfolio’s holdings may present opportunities for a shareholder to engage in a short-term trading strategy that exploits possible delays between changes in the price of a Portfolio’s holdings and the reflection of those changes in the Portfolio’s net asset value (called “arbitrage market timing”). Such delays may occur because an International Portfolio has significant investments in foreign securities where, due to time zone differences, the values of those securities are established some time before the Portfolio calculates its net asset value. In such circumstances, the available market prices for such foreign securities may not accurately reflect the latest indications of value at the time an International Portfolio calculates its net asset value. Each International Portfolio and the Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio also may be subject to arbitrage market timing because they have significant holdings in small cap securities, which may have prices that do not accurately reflect the latest indications of value of these securities at the time these Portfolios calculate their net asset values due to, among other reasons, infrequent trading or illiquidity. There is a possibility that arbitrage market timing may dilute the value of a Portfolio’s shares if redeeming shareholders receive proceeds (and purchasing shareholders receive shares) based upon a net asset value that does not reflect appropriate fair value prices.

 

The Board of Directors of the Fund and Board of Trustees of the Trust (collectively, the “Board”) have adopted a policy (the “Trading Policy”) and the Advisor and DFA Securities LLC (collectively, “Dimensional”) and Dimensional’s agents have implemented the following procedures, which are designed to discourage and prevent market timing or excessive short-term trading in the Fund and Trust: (i) trade activity monitoring and purchase blocking procedures; and (ii) use of fair value pricing.

 

The Fund, Dimensional and their agents monitor trades and flows of money in and out of the Portfolios from time to time in an effort to detect excessive short-term trading activities, and for consistent enforcement of the Trading Policy. The Fund reserves the right to take the actions necessary to stop excessive or disruptive trading activities, including refusing or canceling purchase or exchange orders for any reason, without prior notice, particularly purchase or exchange orders that the Fund believes are made on behalf of market timers. The Fund, Dimensional and their agents reserve the right to restrict, refuse or cancel any purchase or exchange request made by an investor indefinitely if the Fund or Dimensional believe that any combination of trading activity in the accounts is potentially disruptive to a Portfolio. In making such judgments, the Fund and Dimensional seek to act in a manner that is consistent with the interests of shareholders. For purposes of applying these procedures, Dimensional may consider an investor’s trading history in the Portfolios, and accounts under common ownership, influence or control.

 

In addition to the Fund’s general ability to restrict potentially disruptive trading activity as described above, the Fund also has adopted purchase blocking procedures. Under the Fund’s purchase blocking procedures, where an investor has engaged in any two purchases and two redemptions (including redemptions that are part of an exchange transaction) in a Portfolio in any rolling 30 calendar day monitoring period (i.e., two “round trips”), the Fund and Dimensional intend to block the investor from making any additional purchases in that Portfolio for 90 calendar days (a “purchase block”). If implemented, a purchase block will begin at some point after the transaction that caused the investor to have engaged in the prohibited two round-trips is detected by the Fund, Dimensional, or their agents. The Fund and Dimensional are permitted to implement a longer purchase block, or permanently bar future purchases by an investor, if they determine that it is appropriate.

 

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Under the Fund’s purchase blocking procedures, the following purchases and redemptions will not trigger a purchase block: (i) purchases and redemptions of shares having a value in each transaction of less than $5,000; (ii) purchases and redemptions by U.S. registered investment companies that operate as fund of funds and non-U.S. investment companies that operate as fund of funds that the Funds or Dimensional, in their sole discretion, have determined are not designed and/or are not serving as vehicles for excessive short-term or other disruptive trading (in each case, the fund of funds shall agree to be subject to monitoring by Dimensional); (iii) purchases and redemptions by a feeder portfolio of a master fund’s shares; (iv) systematic or automated transactions where the shareholder, financial advisor or investment fiduciary does not exercise direct control over the investment decision; (v) retirement plan contributions, loans, loan repayments and distributions (including hardship withdrawals) identified as such in the retirement plan recordkeeper’s system; (vi) purchase transactions involving transfers of assets, rollovers, Roth IRA conversions and IRA recharacterizations; (vii) purchases of shares with Portfolio dividends or capital gain distributions; (viii) transfers and reregistrations of shares within the same Portfolio; and (ix) transactions by 529 Plans. Notwithstanding the Fund’s purchase blocking procedures, all transactions in Portfolio shares are subject to the right of the Fund and Dimensional to restrict potentially disruptive trading activity (including purchases and redemptions described above that will not be subject to the purchase blocking procedures).

 

In addition, the purchase blocking procedures will not apply to a redemption transaction in which a Portfolio distributes portfolio securities to a shareholder in-kind, where the redemption will not disrupt the efficient portfolio management of the Portfolio/Master Fund and the redemption is consistent with the interests of the remaining shareholders of the Portfolio/Master Fund.

 

The Fund, Dimensional or their designees will have the ability, pursuant to Rule 22c-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), to request information from financial intermediaries, such as 401(k) plan administrators, trust companies and broker dealers (together, “Intermediaries”), concerning trades placed in omnibus and other multi-investor accounts (together, “Omnibus Accounts”), in order to attempt to monitor trades that are placed by the underlying shareholders of these Omnibus Accounts. The Fund, Dimensional and their designees will use the information obtained from the Intermediaries to monitor trading in the Fund and to attempt to identify shareholders in Omnibus Accounts engaged in trading that is inconsistent with the Trading Policy or otherwise not in the best interests of the Fund. The Fund, Dimensional or their designees, when they detect trading patterns in shares of the Fund that may constitute short-term or excessive trading, will provide written instructions to the Intermediary to restrict or prohibit further purchases or exchanges of shares of the Portfolios by a shareholder that has been identified as having engaged in excessive or short-term transactions in the Portfolio’s shares (directly or indirectly through the Intermediary’s account) that violate the Trading Policy.

 

The ability of the Fund and Dimensional to impose these limitations, including the purchase blocking procedures, on investors investing through Intermediaries is dependent on the receipt of information necessary to identify transactions by the underlying investors and the Intermediary’s cooperation in implementing the Trading Policy. Investors seeking to engage in excessive short-term trading practices may deploy a variety of strategies to avoid detection, and despite the efforts of the Fund and Dimensional to prevent excessive short-term trading, there is no assurance that the Fund, Dimensional or their agents will be able to identify those shareholders or curtail their trading practices. The ability of the Fund, Dimensional and their agents to detect and limit excessive short-term trading also may be restricted by operational systems and technological limitations.

 

The purchase blocking procedures of the Trading Policy may not apply to redemptions by shareholders whose shares are held on the books of Intermediaries if the Intermediaries have not adopted procedures to implement this Policy. The Fund and Dimensional will work with Intermediaries to develop such policies to institute the purchase blocking procedures or other procedures that the Fund and Dimensional determine are reasonably designed to achieve the objective of this Trading Policy. At the time the Intermediaries adopt these procedures, shareholders whose accounts are on the books of such Intermediaries will be subject to the Trading Policy’s purchase blocking procedures or another frequent trading policy that achieves the objective of the purchase blocking procedures. Investors that invest in the Portfolios through an Intermediary should contact the Intermediary for information concerning the policies and procedures that apply to the investor.

 

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As of the date of this Prospectus, the ability of the Fund and Dimensional to apply the purchase blocking procedures on purchases by all investors and the ability of the Fund and Dimensional to monitor trades through Omnibus Accounts maintained by Intermediaries may be restricted due to systems limitations of both the Fund’s service providers and the Intermediaries. The Fund expects that the application of the Trading Policy as described above, including the purchase blocking procedures (subject to the limitations described above), will be able to be implemented by Intermediaries in compliance with Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act.

 

In addition to monitoring trade activity, the Board has adopted fair value pricing procedures that govern the pricing of the securities of the Portfolios and Master Fund. These procedures are designed to help ensure that the prices at which Portfolio shares are purchased and redeemed are fair, and do not result in dilution of shareholder interests or other harm to shareholders. See the discussion under “VALUATION OF SHARES—Net Asset Value” for additional details regarding fair value pricing of the Portfolio’s securities.

 

Although the procedures are designed to discourage excessive short-term trading, none of the procedures individually nor all of the procedures taken together can completely eliminate the possibility that excessive short-term trading activity in a Portfolio may occur. The Portfolios and Master Fund do not knowingly accommodate excessive or disruptive trading activities, including market timing.

 

VALUATION OF SHARES

 

Net Asset Value

 

The net asset value per share of each Portfolio and the Master Fund is generally calculated on days that the NYSE is open for trading. The net asset value per share of each Portfolio and the Master Fund is calculated after the close of the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. ET) by dividing the total value of the Portfolio’s or Master Fund’s investments and other assets, less any liabilities, by the total outstanding shares of the stock of the respective Portfolio or Master Fund. Each Portfolio and the Master Fund generally accepts purchase and redemption orders on days that the NYSE is open for trading. Note: The time at which transactions and shares are priced may be changed in case of an emergency or if the NYSE closes at a time other than 4:00 p.m. ET.

 

The value of the shares of each Non-Feeder Portfolio will fluctuate in relation to its own investment experience. The value of the shares of the Feeder Portfolio will fluctuate in relation to the investment experience of the Master Fund in which such Portfolio invests. Securities held by the Portfolios and Master Fund will be valued in accordance with applicable laws and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors or Trustees, and generally, as described below.

 

Securities held by the Portfolios and Master Fund (including over-the-counter securities) are valued at the last quoted sale price of the day. Securities held by the Portfolios and Master Fund that are listed on Nasdaq are valued at the Nasdaq Official Closing Price (“NOCP”). If there is no last reported sale price or NOCP of the day, the Portfolios and Master Fund value the securities at the mean of the most recent quoted bid and asked prices. Price information on listed securities is taken from the exchange where the security is primarily traded. Generally, securities issued by open-end investment companies, such as the Master Fund, are valued using their respective net asset values or public offering prices, as appropriate, for purchase orders placed at the close of the NYSE.

 

The value of the securities and other assets of the Portfolios and Master Fund for which no market quotations are readily available (including restricted securities), or for which market quotations have become unreliable, are determined in good faith at fair value in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Directors or Trustees, as the case may be. Fair value pricing may also be used if events that have a significant effect on the value of an investment (as determined in the discretion of the Investment Committee of the Advisor) occur before the net asset value is calculated. When fair value pricing is used, the prices of securities used by the Portfolios and the Master Fund may differ from the quoted or published prices for the same securities on their primary markets or exchanges.

 

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As of the date of this Prospectus, each International Portfolio will also fair value price in the circumstances described below. Generally, trading in foreign securities markets is completed each day at various times prior to the close of the NYSE. For example, trading in the Japanese securities markets is completed each day at the close of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (normally, 2:00 a.m. ET), which is fourteen hours prior to the close of the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. ET) and the time that the net asset value of each International Portfolio is computed. Due to the time differences between the closings of the relevant foreign securities exchanges and the time the International Portfolio prices its shares at the close of the NYSE, each International Portfolio will fair value its foreign investments when it is determined that the market quotations for the foreign investments are either unreliable or not readily available. The fair value prices will attempt to reflect the impact of the U.S. financial markets’ perceptions and trading activities on each International Portfolio’s foreign investments since the last closing prices of the foreign investments were calculated on their primary foreign securities markets or exchanges. For these purposes, the Board of Directors of the Fund has determined that movements in relevant indices or other appropriate market indicators, after the close of the Tokyo Stock Exchange or the London Stock Exchange, demonstrate that market quotations may be unreliable, and may trigger fair value pricing. Consequently, fair valuation of portfolio securities may occur on a daily basis. The fair value pricing by each International Portfolio utilizes data furnished by an independent pricing service (and that data draws upon, among other information, the market values of foreign investments). When an International Portfolio uses fair value pricing, the values assigned to the International Portfolio’s foreign investments may not be the quoted or published prices of the investments on their primary markets or exchanges. The Board of Directors of the Fund monitors the operation of the method used to fair value price each International Portfolio’s foreign investments.

 

Valuing securities at fair value involves greater reliance on judgment than valuing securities that have readily available market quotations. There can be no assurance that a Portfolio or the Master Fund could obtain the fair value assigned to a security if it were to sell the security at approximately the time at which the Portfolio or Master Fund determines its net asset value per share. As a result, the sale or redemption by a Portfolio or the Master Fund of its shares at net asset value, at a time when a holding or holdings are valued at fair value, may have the effect of diluting or increasing the economic interest of existing shareholders.

 

The net asset value per share of the International Portfolio is expressed in U.S. dollars by translating the net assets of the International Portfolio using the mean of the most recent bid and asked prices for the dollar as quoted by generally recognized reliable sources. Because the International Portfolio owns securities that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges which may trade on days when the International Portfolio does not price its shares, the net asset value of the International Portfolio may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem shares.

 

Certain of the securities holdings of the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio in Approved Markets may be subject to tax, investment and currency repatriation regulations of the Approved Markets that could have a material effect on the values of the securities. For example, such fund might be subject to different levels of taxation on current income and realized gains depending upon the holding period of the securities. In general, a longer holding period (e.g., 5 years) may result in the imposition of lower tax rates than a shorter holding period (e.g., 1 year). The T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio may also be subject to certain contractual arrangements with investment authorities in an Approved Market which require the Portfolio to maintain minimum holding periods or to limit the extent of repatriation of income and realized gains.

 

Futures contracts are valued using the settlement price established each day on the exchange on which they are traded. The value of such futures contracts held by a Portfolio or the Master Fund is determined each day as of such close.

 

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Public Offering Price

 

Provided that the transfer agent has received the investor’s Account Registration Form in good order and the custodian has received the investor’s payment, shares of the Portfolio selected will be priced at the public offering price, which is the net asset value of the shares next determined after receipt of the investor’s funds by the custodian. The transfer agent or the Fund may, from time to time, appoint sub-transfer agents or various financial intermediaries (“Intermediaries”) for the receipt of purchase orders, redemption orders and funds from certain investors. Intermediaries, in turn, are authorized to designate other financial intermediaries (“Sub-designees”) to receive purchase and redemption orders for the Portfolios’ shares from investors. With respect to such investors, the shares of the Portfolio selected will be priced at the public offering price calculated after receipt of the purchase order by the Intermediary or Sub-designee, as applicable, that is authorized to receive purchase orders. If the investor buys shares through an Intermediary or a Sub-designee, the purchase price will be the public offering price next calculated after the Intermediary or Sub-designee, as applicable, receives the order, rather than on the day the custodian receives the investor’s payment (provided that the Intermediary or Sub-designee, as applicable, has received the investor’s purchase order in good order, and the investor has complied with the Intermediary’s or Sub-designee’s payment procedures). No reimbursement fee or sales charge is imposed on purchases. If an order to purchase shares must be canceled due to non-payment, the purchaser will be responsible for any loss incurred by a Portfolio arising out of such cancellation. The Portfolios reserve the right to redeem shares owned by any purchaser whose order is canceled to recover any resulting loss to a Portfolio and may prohibit or restrict the manner in which such purchaser may place further orders.

 

EXCHANGE OF SHARES

 

Investors may exchange shares of one Portfolio for those of another Portfolio by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed exchange and then sending a letter of instruction. A letter of instruction for an exchange of shares may be sent by mail to:

 

DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc.

Attn: Client Operations

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

 

The minimum amount for an exchange is $100,000. Exchanges are accepted into or from any of the Portfolios offered in this Prospectus. Contact the Advisor for information regarding the other portfolios of the Fund available for exchanges and to request a copy of the prospectus(es) of such portfolios. Investors in any Portfolio eligible for the exchange privilege also may exchange all or part of their Portfolio shares into portfolios of Dimensional Investment Group Inc., subject to the minimum purchase requirement set forth in the applicable portfolio’s prospectus. Investors may contact the Advisor at the above-listed phone number for more information on such exchanges and to request a copy of the prospectuses of the portfolios of Dimensional Investment Group Inc.

 

The exchange privilege is not intended to afford shareholders a way to speculate on short-term movements in the markets. Accordingly, in order to prevent excessive use of the exchange privilege that may potentially disrupt the management of the Portfolios or otherwise adversely affect the Fund, any proposed exchange will be subject to the approval of the Advisor. Such approval will depend on: (i) the size of the proposed exchange; (ii) the prior number of exchanges by that shareholder; (iii) the nature of the underlying securities and the cash position of the Portfolios involved in the proposed exchange; (iv) the transaction costs involved in processing the exchange; and (v) the total number of redemptions by exchange already made out of a Portfolio. Excessive use of the exchange privilege is defined as any pattern of exchanges among portfolios by an investor that evidences market timing.

 

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The redemption and purchase prices of shares redeemed and purchased by exchange, respectively, are the net asset values next determined after the Advisor has received a letter of instruction in good order. “Good order” means a completed letter of instruction specifying the dollar amount to be exchanged, signed by all registered owners of the shares (or representatives thereof); and if the Fund does not have on file the authorized signatures for the account, proof of authority. Exchanges will be accepted only if stock certificates have not been issued and the shares of the Portfolio being acquired are registered in the investor’s state of residence.

 

There is no fee imposed on an exchange. However, the Fund reserves the right to impose an administrative fee in order to cover the costs incurred in processing an exchange. Any such fee will be disclosed in the prospectus. An exchange is treated as a redemption and a purchase. Therefore, an investor could realize a taxable gain or a loss on the transaction. The Fund reserves the right to revise or terminate the exchange privilege, waive the minimum amount requirement, limit the amount of or reject any exchange, as deemed necessary, at any time.

 

REDEMPTION OF SHARES

 

Redemption Procedure

 

Investors who desire to redeem shares of a Portfolio must first contact the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400. Shareholders who invest in the Portfolios through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding redemption procedures. Each Portfolio will redeem shares at the net asset value of such shares next determined, either: (1) where stock certificates have not been issued, after receipt of a written request for redemption in good order, by the transfer agent (or Intermediary or Sub-designee, if applicable) or (2) if stock certificates have been issued, after receipt of the stock certificates in good order at the office of the transfer agent (or Intermediary or Sub-designee, if applicable). “Good order” means that the request to redeem shares must include all necessary documentation, to be received in writing by the Advisor no later than the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. ET), including but not limited to: the stock certificate(s), if issued; a letter of instruction or a stock assignment specifying the number of shares or dollar amount to be redeemed, signed by all registered owners (or authorized representatives thereof) of the shares; and, if the Fund does not have on file the authorized signatures for the account, proof of authority.

 

Shareholders redeeming shares for which certificates have not been issued, who have authorized redemption payment by wire in writing, may request that redemption proceeds be paid in federal funds wired to the bank they have designated in writing. The Fund reserves the right to send redemption proceeds by check in its discretion; a shareholder may request overnight delivery of such check at the shareholder’s own expense. If the proceeds are wired to the shareholder’s account at a bank that is not a member of the Federal Reserve System, there could be a delay in crediting the funds to the shareholder’s bank account. The Fund reserves the right at any time to suspend or terminate the redemption by wire procedure after prior notification to shareholders. No fee is charged for redemptions. The redemption of all shares in an account will result in the account being closed. A new Account Registration Form will be required for future investments. (See “PURCHASE OF SHARES.”) In the interests of economy and convenience, certificates for shares are not issued.

 

Although the redemption payments will ordinarily be made within seven days after receipt, payment to investors redeeming shares that were purchased by check will not be made until the Fund can verify that the payments for the purchase have been, or will be, collected, which may take up to ten days or more. Investors may avoid this delay by submitting a certified check along with the purchase order.

 

Redemption of Small Accounts

 

With respect to each Portfolio, the Fund reserves the right to redeem an account if the value of the shares in a specific Portfolio is $500 or less because of redemptions. Before the Fund involuntarily redeems shares from such an account and sends the proceeds to the stockholder, the Fund will give written notice of the redemption to the stockholder at least sixty days before the redemption date. The stockholder will then have sixty days from the

 

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date of the notice to make an additional investment in order to bring the value of the shares in the account for a specific Portfolio to more than $500 and avoid such involuntary redemption. The redemption price to be paid to a stockholder for shares redeemed by the Fund under this right will be the aggregate net asset value of the shares in the account at the close of business on the redemption date. The right to redeem small accounts applies to accounts established with the Fund’s transfer agent.

 

In-Kind Redemptions

 

When in the best interests of the Feeder Portfolio, the Feeder Portfolio may make a redemption payment, in whole or in part, by a distribution of portfolio securities that the Feeder Portfolio receives from the Master Fund in lieu of cash. A Portfolio that is not a Feeder Portfolio may also make a redemption payment, in whole or in part, by a distribution of portfolio securities that the Portfolio owns in lieu of cash, when in the best interests of the Portfolio. The Portfolios and the Master Fund are also authorized to make redemption payments solely by a distribution of portfolio securities (or a combination of securities and cash) when it is determined by the Advisor to be consistent with the tax management strategies described in this Prospectus. Such distributions will be made in accordance with the federal securities laws and regulations governing mutual funds. Investors may incur brokerage charges and other transaction costs when selling securities that were received in payment of redemptions. The Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio and T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio each reserve the right to redeem its shares in the currencies in which its investments are denominated. Investors may incur charges in converting such securities to dollars and the value of the securities may be affected by currency exchange fluctuations.

 

THE FEEDER PORTFOLIO

 

The Master Feeder structure is relatively complex. While this structure is designed to reduce costs, it may not do so. As a result, the Feeder Portfolio may encounter operational or other complications. Other institutional investors, including other mutual funds, may invest in the Master Fund. Accordingly, the expenses of such other funds and, correspondingly, their returns may differ from those of the Feeder Portfolio. Please contact The DFA Investment Trust Company at 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746, (512) 306-7400 for information about the availability of investing in the Master Fund other than through the Feeder Portfolio.

 

The aggregate amount of expenses for the Feeder Portfolio and the corresponding Master Fund may be greater than it would be if the Portfolio were to invest directly in the securities held by the Master Fund. However, the total expense ratios for the Feeder Portfolio and the Master Fund are expected to be less over time than such ratios would be if the Portfolio were to invest directly in the underlying securities. This arrangement enables various institutional investors, including the Feeder Portfolio, to pool their assets, which may be expected to result in economies by spreading certain fixed costs over a larger asset base. Each shareholder in the Master Fund, including the Feeder Portfolio, will pay its proportionate share of the expenses of that Master Fund.

 

The shares of the Master Fund will be offered to institutional investors for the purpose of increasing the funds available for investment, to reduce expenses as a percentage of total assets and to achieve other economies that might be available at higher asset levels. Investment in the Master Fund by other institutional investors offers potential benefits to the Master Fund, and through its investment in the Master Fund, the Feeder Portfolio also. However, such economies and expense reductions might not be achieved, and additional investment opportunities, such as increased diversification, might not be available if other institutions do not invest in the Master Fund. Also, if an institutional investor were to redeem its interest in the Master Fund, the remaining investors in the Master Fund could experience higher pro rata operating expenses, thereby producing lower returns, and the Master Fund’s security holdings may become less diverse, resulting in increased risk. Institutional investors that have a greater pro rata ownership interest in the Master Fund than the Feeder Portfolio could have effective voting control over the operation of the Master Fund.

 

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If the Board of Directors of the Fund determines that it is in the best interest of the Feeder Portfolio, the Feeder Portfolio may withdraw its investment in the Master Fund at any time. Upon any such withdrawal, the Board would consider what action the Portfolio might take, including either seeking to invest its assets in another registered investment company with the same investment objective as the Portfolio, which might not be possible, or retaining an investment advisor to manage the Portfolio’s assets in accordance with its own investment objective, possibly at increased cost. Shareholders of the Feeder Portfolio will receive written notice thirty days before the effective date of any change in the investment objective of the Master Fund. A withdrawal by the Feeder Portfolio of its investment in the Master Fund could result in a distribution in kind of portfolio securities (as opposed to a cash distribution) to the Portfolio. Should such a distribution occur, the Portfolio could incur brokerage fees or other transaction costs in converting such securities to cash in order to pay redemptions. In addition, a distribution in kind to the Portfolio could result in a less diversified portfolio of investments and could affect adversely the liquidity of the Portfolio.

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

Each Portfolio generally will disclose up to its 25 largest portfolio holdings (or with respect to the Feeder Portfolio, the holdings of the Master Fund) (other than cash and cash equivalents) and the percentages that each of these largest portfolio holdings represent of the total assets of the Portfolio or Master Fund, as of the most recent month-end, online at the Advisor’s public Web site, http://www.dimensional.com, within 20 days after the end of each month. Each Portfolio also generally will disclose its complete portfolio holdings (or with respect to the Feeder Portfolio, the holdings of the Master Fund) (other than cash and cash equivalents), as of month-end, online at the Advisor’s public Web site, two months following the month-end or more frequently and at different periods when authorized in accordance with the Portfolios and Master Fund’s policies and procedures. Please consult the SAI for a description of the other policies and procedures that govern disclosure of the portfolio holdings by the Portfolios and Master Fund.

 

DELIVERY OF SHAREHOLDER DOCUMENTS

 

To eliminate duplicate mailings and reduce expenses, the Portfolios may deliver a single copy of certain shareholder documents, such as this Prospectus and annual and semi-annual reports, to related shareholders at the same address, even if accounts are registered in different names. This practice is known as “householding.” The Portfolios will not household personal information documents, such as account statements. If you do not want the mailings of these documents to be combined with other members of your household, please call us collect at (512) 306-7400. We will begin sending individual copies of the shareholder documents to you within 30 days of receiving your request.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

The Financial Highlights table is meant to help you understand each Portfolio’s financial performance for the past five years or, if shorter, the period of that Portfolio’s operations, as indicated by the table. The total returns in the table represent the rate that you would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Portfolio, assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. The information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, whose report, along with the Portfolios’ annual financial statements, are included in the annual report. Further information about each Portfolio’s performance is contained in the annual report which is available upon request.

 

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DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio

 
    Year
Ended
Oct.  31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009

    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008^

    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007

    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006

    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

  $ 11.61      $ 10.59      $ 17.51      $ 17.67      $ 15.26      $ 13.27   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                               

Net Investment Income (Loss)

    0.16     0.21     0.27     0.27     0.24     0.18   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

    2.17        1.06        (6.66     (0.16     2.39        1.96   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

    2.33        1.27        (6.39     0.11        2.63        2.14   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                               

Net Investment Income

    (0.16     (0.25     (0.29     (0.27     (0.22     (0.15

Net Realized Gains

                  (0.24                     
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

    (0.16     (0.25     (0.53     (0.27     (0.22     (0.15
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

  $ 13.78      $ 11.61      $ 10.59      $ 17.51      $ 17.67      $ 15.26   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

    20.17     12.54     (37.53 )%**      0.54     17.45     16.27
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

  $ 1,896,941      $ 1,618,256      $ 1,576,757      $ 2,747,843      $ 2,505,779      $ 1,754,320   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets*

    0.38     0.40     0.38 %@      0.37     0.38     0.40

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Assumption of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)*

    0.38     0.40     0.38 %@      0.37     0.38     0.40

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    1.24     2.07     1.93 %@      1.45     1.47     1.35

^   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
*   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.
**   Non-Annualized
@   Annualized

 

54


Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

 
    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010

    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009

    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008^

    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007

    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006

    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

  $ 14.96      $ 14.41      $ 23.09      $ 27.39      $ 25.60      $ 23.32   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                               

Net Investment Income (Loss)

    0.11     0.14     0.20     0.25     0.22     0.09   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

    4.13        0.60        (7.29     (1.87     3.90        2.68   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

    4.24        0.74        (7.09     (1.62     4.12        2.77   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                               

Net Investment Income

    (0.11     (0.19     (0.18     (0.24     (0.19     (0.10

Net Realized Gains

                  (1.41     (2.44     (2.14     (0.39
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

    (0.11     (0.19     (1.59     (2.68     (2.33     (0.49
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

  $ 19.09      $ 14.96      $ 14.41      $ 23.09      $ 27.39      $ 25.60   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

    28.43     5.41     (32.85 )%**      (6.58 )%      17.70     12.09
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

  $ 2,145,546      $ 1,700,343      $ 1,662,774      $ 2,905,694      $ 3,203,763      $ 2,634,891   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    0.45     0.47     0.45 %@      0.47     0.53     0.55

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    0.63     1.04     1.07 %@      0.98     0.85     0.39

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    26     34     40 %**      28     35     21

^   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 to October 31, 2008.
# Computed using average shares outstanding.
**   Non-Annualized
@   Annualized

 

55


Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio

 
    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010

    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009

    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008^

    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007

    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006

    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

  $ 10.94      $ 10.36      $ 15.57      $ 14.75      $ 13.26      $ 12.23   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                               

Net Investment Income (Loss)

    0.20     0.22     0.23     0.25     0.21     0.16   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

    1.76        0.60        (5.19     0.81        1.47        1.05   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

    1.96        0.82        (4.96     1.06        1.68        1.21   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                               

Net Investment Income

    (0.20     (0.24     (0.25     (0.24     (0.19     (0.18

Net Realized Gains

                                         
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

    (0.20     (0.24     (0.25     (0.24     (0.19     (0.18
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

  $ 12.70      $ 10.94      $ 10.36      $ 15.57      $ 14.75      $ 13.26   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

    18.10     8.30     (32.30 )%**      7.23     12.84     9.97
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

  $ 1,286,236      $ 1,141,449      $ 1,268,330      $ 1,823,812      $ 1,487,611      $ 999,215   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets*

    0.22     0.22     0.22 %@      0.22     0.23     0.25

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Assumption of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)*

    0.23     0.26     0.23 %@      0.23     0.24     0.26

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    1.70     2.24     1.76 %@      1.59     1.55     1.35

^   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 to October 31, 2008.
# Computed using average shares outstanding.
*   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund Series.
** Non-Annualized
@ Annualized

 

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Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio

 
    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010

    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009

    Period
Ended

Oct. 31,
2008^

    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007

    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006

    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

  $ 16.26      $ 15.83      $ 25.86      $ 26.27      $ 22.95      $ 20.53   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                               

Net Investment Income (Loss)

    0.11     0.13     0.19     0.18     0.10     0.04   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

    4.20        0.47        (7.87     (0.42     3.30        2.42   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

    4.31        0.60        (7.68     (0.24     3.40        2.46   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                               

Net Investment Income

    (0.10     (0.17     (0.18     (0.17     (0.08     (0.04

Net Realized Gains

                  (2.17                     
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

    (0.10     (0.17     (2.35     (0.17     (0.08     (0.04
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

  $ 20.47      $ 16.26      $ 15.83      $ 25.86      $ 26.27      $ 22.95   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

    26.61     3.98     (32.53 )%**      (0.94 )%      14.88     11.98
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

  $ 1,141,494      $ 957,145      $ 1,077,395      $ 1,779,245      $ 1,653,038      $ 1,242,288   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    0.53     0.55     0.53 %@      0.53     0.53     0.55

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    0.58     0.88     0.98 %@      0.65     0.41     0.21

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    27     28     39 %**      31     22     15

^   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
**   Non-Annualized
@   Annualized

 

57


Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio

 
     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010

    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009

    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**

    For the Period
Oct. 4, 2007***
to
Nov. 30, 2007

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 6.83      $ 6.31      $ 9.40      $ 10.00   
    


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                

Net Investment Income (Loss)#

     0.11        0.11        0.13        0.02   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     1.35        0.52        (3.12     (0.62
    


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

     1.46        0.63        (2.99     (0.60
    


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                

Net Investment Income

     (0.11     (0.11     (0.10       

Net Realized Gains

                            
    


 


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.11     (0.11     (0.10       
    


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 8.18      $ 6.83      $ 6.31      $ 9.40   
    


 


 


 


Total Return

     21.49     10.28     (32.16 )%†      (6.00 )%† 
    


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 2,014,584      $ 1,444,886      $ 585,165      $ 106,507   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

     0.25     0.28     0.29 %^      0.30 %^@ 

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Assumption of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)

     0.25     0.28     0.29 %^      0.60 %^@ 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     1.45     1.82     1.75 %^      2.09 %^@ 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     5     5     9 %†      0 %† 

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized
  Non-annualized
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
***   Commencement of operations.
@   Because of commencement of operations and related preliminary transaction costs, these ratios are not necessarily indicative of future ratios.

 

58


Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio

   
 
    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010

    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009

    Period
Ended

Oct. 31,
2008^

    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007

    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006

    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

  $ 13.49      $ 10.55      $ 21.91      $ 19.96      $ 15.51      $ 13.63   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                               

Net Investment Income (Loss)#

    0.31        0.32        0.59        0.59        0.54        0.33   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

    1.03        3.00        (9.60     2.76        4.71        1.90   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

    1.34        3.32        (9.01     3.35        5.25        2.23   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                               

Net Investment Income

    (0.30     (0.38     (0.64     (0.48     (0.59     (0.35

Net Realized Gains

                  (1.71     (0.92     (0.21       
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

    (0.30     (0.38     (2.35     (1.40     (0.80     (0.35
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

  $ 14.53      $ 13.49      $ 10.55      $ 21.91      $ 19.96      $ 15.51   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

    10.34     32.27     (45.58 )%**      17.51     35.01     16.63
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

  $ 1,834,003      $ 1,637,834      $ 1,393,229      $ 2,859,270      $ 2,370,683      $ 1,571,217   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    0.55     0.56     0.54 %@      0.54     0.54     0.60

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Assumption of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)

    0.55     0.56     0.54 %@      0.54     0.54     0.60

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    2.29     2.92     3.76 %@      2.77     3.04     2.23

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    28     24     24 %**      20     13     11

^   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
**   Non-Annualized
@   Annualized

 

59


Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio

 
     Year
Ended

Oct.  31,
2010


    Year
Ended

    Oct. 31,    
2009


    For the Period
    Mar. 6, 2008***     
to
Oct. 31, 2008

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 8.13      $ 5.85      $ 10.00   
    


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                        

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.17     0.16     0.15

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     1.17        2.27        (4.15
    


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

     1.34        2.43        (4.00
    


 


 


Less Distributions

                        

Net Investment Income

     (0.16     (0.15     (0.15
    


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.16     (0.15     (0.15
    


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 9.31      $ 8.13      $ 5.85   
    


 


 


Total Return

     16.78     42.13     (40.61 )%† 
    


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 966,999      $ 668,728      $ 228,318   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

     0.48     0.54     0.60 %^@ 

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Assumption of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)

     0.48     0.51     0.85 %^@ 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     2.00     2.38     3.27 %^@ 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     2     5     2 %† 

#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized
  Non-annualized
***   Commencement of operations.
@   Because of commencement of operations and related preliminary transaction costs, these ratios are not necessarily indicative of future ratios.

 

 

60


Table of Contents

SERVICE PROVIDERS

 

Investment Advisor

 

DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LP

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

Tel. No. (512) 306-7400

 

Sub-Advisors

 

DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LTD.

20 Triton Street, Regent’s Place

London NW13BF

United Kingdom

Tel. No. (20) 3033-3300

 

DFA AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Level 43 Gateway

1 Macquarie Place

Sydney, New South Wales 2000

Australia

Tel. No. (612) 8 336-7100

 

Custodian—International

 

CITIBANK, N.A.

111 Wall Street

New York, NY 10005

Custodian—Domestic

 

PFPC TRUST COMPANY

(to be renamed BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company effective July 1, 2011)

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

Accounting Services, Dividend Disbursing

and Transfer Agent

BNY MELLON INVESTMENT SERVICING

(US) INC.

(formerly, PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.)

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

Legal Counsel

STRADLEY RONON STEVENS & YOUNG, LLP

2600 One Commerce Square

Philadelphia, PA 19103-7098

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP

Two Commerce Square

Suite 1700

2001 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042

 

 

 

61


Table of Contents

Other Available Information

 

You can find more information about the Fund and the Portfolios in the Fund’s SAI and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports.

 

Statement of Additional Information. The SAI supplements, and is technically part of, this Prospectus. It includes an expanded discussion of investment practices, risks, and fund operations.

 

Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to Shareholders. These reports focus on Portfolio holdings and performance. The Annual Report also discusses the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Portfolios in their last fiscal year.

 

Request free copies from:

 

   

Your investment advisor—you are a client of an investment advisor who has invested in the Portfolios on your behalf.

 

   

The Fund—you represent an institutional investor, registered investment advisor or other qualifying investor. Call collect at (512) 306-7400.

 

   

Access them on our Web site at http://www.dimensional.com.

 

   

Access them on the EDGAR Database in the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.

 

   

Review and copy them at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington D.C. (phone 1-800-SEC-0330).

 

   

Request copies from the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102 or at publicinfo@sec.gov (you will be charged a copying fee). Information on the operation of the SEC’s public reference room is available by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090.

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

(512) 306-7400

 

DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc.—Registration No. 811-3258

 

LOGO   LOGO    RRD022811-002


Table of Contents

PROSPECTUS

 

February 28, 2011

Please carefully read the important information it contains before investing.

 

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 


 

DIMENSIONAL INVESTMENT GROUP INC.

 

PORTFOLIOS FOR LONG-TERM INVESTORS:

 

LWAS/DFA U.S. HIGH BOOK TO MARKET PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFBMX

 

LWAS/DFA INTERNATIONAL HIGH BOOK TO MARKET PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFHBX

 

LWAS/DFA TWO-YEAR FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFCFX

 

LWAS/DFA TWO-YEAR GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFYGX

 

This Prospectus describes shares of each Portfolio which:

 

Are exclusively available to clients of LWI Financial Inc.

 

Do not charge sales commissions or loads.

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed on the adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

LWAS/DFA U.S. HIGH BOOK TO MARKET PORTFOLIO

     1   

Investment Objective

     1   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     1   

Principal Investment Strategies

     2   

Principal Risks

     2   

Performance

     3   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     4   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     4   

Tax Information

     4   

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

     4   

LWAS/DFA INTERNATIONAL HIGH BOOK TO MARKET PORTFOLIO

     5   

Investment Objective

     5   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     5   

Principal Investment Strategies

     6   

Principal Risks

     6   

Performance

     7   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     8   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     8   

Tax Information

     8   

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

     8   

LWAS/DFA TWO-YEAR FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO

     9   

Investment Objective

     9   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     9   

Principal Investment Strategies

     9   

Principal Risks

     10   

Performance

     11   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     12   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     12   

Tax Information

     13   

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

     13   

LWAS/DFA TWO-YEAR GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO

     14   

Investment Objective

     14   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     14   

 

i


Table of Contents

Principal Investment Strategies

     14   

Principal Risks

     15   

Performance

     16   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     17   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     17   

Tax Information

     17   

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

     17   

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES-EQUITY PORTFOLIOS

     18   

LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio

     18   

LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio

     18   

Equity Portfolios

     20   

Market Capitalization Weighted Approach

     20   

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES-FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIOS

     22   

Description of Investments

     22   

Investments in the Banking Industry

     23   

Portfolio Strategy

     23   

Other Information

     24   

SECURITIES LOANS

     24   

SECURITIES LENDING REVENUE

     25   

MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIOS

     25   

Management Fees

     27   

Client Service Agent

     27   

DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

     27   

POLICY REGARDING EXCESSIVE OR SHORT-TERM TRADING

     30   

VALUATION OF SHARES

     32   

Net Asset Value

     32   

Public Offering Price

     34   

PURCHASE OF SHARES

     34   

In-Kind Purchases

     34   

EXCHANGE OF SHARES

     35   

REDEMPTION OF SHARES

     35   

Redemption Procedure

     35   

Redemption of Small Accounts

     36   

In-Kind Redemptions

     36   

 

ii


Table of Contents

THE FEEDER PORTFOLIOS

     36   

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

     37   

DELIVERY OF SHAREHOLDER DOCUMENTS

     37   

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

     38   

SERVICE PROVIDERS

     42   

 

iii


Table of Contents

LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio, is a Feeder Portfolio and pursues its objective by investing substantially all of its assets in its corresponding Master Fund, The U.S. Large Cap Value Series (the “U.S. Large Cap Value Series”) of The DFA Investment Trust Company (the “Trust”), which has the same investment objective and policies as the Portfolio.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses* (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.11

Other Expenses:

        

LWIF Financial Inc. Client Services Fee

     0.15

Other Expenses

     0.09

Total Other Expenses

     0.24

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.35

*   The “Management Fee” includes an investment management fee payable by the U.S. Large Cap Value Series and an administration fee payable by the LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio. The amounts set forth under “Other Expenses” and “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses” reflect the direct expenses of the LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio and the indirect expenses of the Portfolio’s portion of the expenses of the U.S. Large Cap Value Series.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 36       $ 113       $ 197       $ 443   

 

The Example reflects the aggregate estimated annual operating expenses of the LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio and the Portfolio’s portion of the expenses of the U.S. Large Cap Value Series.

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The U.S. Large Cap Value Series pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and

 

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may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the U.S. Large Cap Value Series’ portfolio turnover rate was 28% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

The LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio pursues its objective by investing substantially all of its assets in the U.S. Large Cap Value Series. The U.S. Large Cap Value Series, using a market capitalization weighted approach, generally purchases a broad and diverse group of readily marketable common stocks of large U.S. companies that the Advisor determines to be value stocks. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of the U.S. large cap company, the greater its representation in the Series. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value (a “book to market ratio”).

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the U.S. Large Cap Value Series will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of large cap U.S. companies. As of the date of this Prospectus, for purposes of the U.S. Large Cap Value Series, the Advisor considers large cap companies to be companies whose market capitalizations are generally in the highest 90% of total market capitalization or companies whose market capitalizations are larger than the 1,000th largest U.S. company, whichever results in the higher market capitalization break. Total market capitalization is based on the market capitalization of U.S. operating companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), NYSE Alternext US LLC, Nasdaq Global Market® or such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor. Under the Advisor’s market capitalization guidelines described above, as of December 31, 2010, the market capitalization of a large cap company was $2,357 million, or above. This dollar amount will change due to market conditions.

 

The U.S. Large Cap Value Series and the LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio each may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on their uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The U.S. Large Cap Value Series may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the U.S. Large Cap Value Series that owns them and in turn, the LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio itself, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

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Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the U.S. Large Cap Value Series and LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio use derivatives, the LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the U.S. Large Cap Value Series may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The U.S. Large Cap Value Series could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio

 

LOGO

 

  January 2001-December 2010  


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

23.55 (4/09-6/09)

   -27.86 (10/08-12/08)

 

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Periods ending December 31, 2010


 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Five
Years


    Ten
Years


 

LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     20.12     1.54     5.25

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     19.79     0.98     4.47

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     13.44     1.26     4.31

Russell 1000® Value Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     15.51     1.28     3.25

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio and the U.S. Large Cap Value Series. Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, is responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio and the U.S. Large Cap Value Series and has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Shares of the Portfolio are only eligible for purchase by clients of LWI Financial Inc. (“LWIF”). Investors should first contact LWIF at (800) 366-7266, ext. 7, to notify LWIF of a proposed investment. An investor who desires to redeem shares of the Portfolio must furnish a redemption request to LWIF in the form required by LWIF.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio are taxable and generally will be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

The LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio pays LWIF, a financial intermediary, for performing shareholder services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Portfolio over another investment. Ask your financial advisor or visit your financial intermediary’s Web site for more information.

 

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LWAS/DFA International High Book To Market Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio is long-term capital appreciation. The LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio is a Feeder Portfolio and pursues its objective by investing substantially all of its assets in its corresponding Master Fund, The DFA International Value Series (the “DFA International Value Series”) of The DFA Investment Trust Company (the “Trust”), which has the same investment objective and policies as the Portfolio.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses* (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.21

Other Expenses:

        

LWIF Financial Inc. Client Services Fee

     0.19

Other Expenses

     0.10

Total Other Expenses

     0.29

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.50

*   The “Management Fee” includes an investment management fee payable by the DFA International Value Series and an administration fee payable by the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio. The amounts set forth under “Other Expenses” and “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses” reflect the direct expenses of the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio and the indirect expenses of the Portfolio’s portion of the expenses of the DFA International Value Series.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

l Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 51       $ 160       $ 280       $ 628   

 

The Example reflects the aggregate estimated annual operating expenses of the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio and the Portfolio’s portion of the expenses of the DFA International Value Series.

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The DFA International Value Series pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and

 

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may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the DFA International Value Series’ portfolio turnover rate was 20% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

The LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio invests substantially all of its assets in the DFA International Value Series. The DFA International Value Series, using a market capitalization weighted approach, generally purchases stocks of large non-U.S. companies in countries with developed markets that the Advisor determines to be value stocks. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of a large company within an eligible country, the greater its representation in the Series. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value (a “book to market ratio”).

 

The DFA International Value Series intends to purchase stocks of large companies associated with developed market countries that the Advisor has designated as approved markets. The Advisor determines the minimum market capitalization of a large company with respect to each country or region in which the Series invests. As of December 31, 2010, for the DFA International Value Series, the lowest minimum market capitalization of a large company in any country or region in which the DFA International Value Series invests was $1,438 million. This threshold will change due to market conditions.

 

The DFA International Value Series may gain exposure to companies associated with approved markets by purchasing equity securities in the form of depositary receipts, which may be listed or traded outside the issuer’s domicile country. The DFA International Value Series and the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio each may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for foreign or U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on their uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The DFA International Value Series may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the International Value Series that owns them, and in turn the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio itself, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

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Foreign Securities and Currencies: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The DFA International Value Series does not hedge foreign currency risk.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the DFA International Value Series and the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio use derivatives, the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the DFA International Value Series may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The DFA International Value Series could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio

 

LOGO

 

January 2001-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

33.91 (4/09-6/09)

   -24.54 (10/08-12/08)

 

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Periods ending December 31, 2010


 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Five
Years


    Ten
Years


 

LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     10.51     4.05     7.71

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     8.92     1.74     5.82

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     8.31     2.89     6.09

MSCI World ex USA Index(1) (net dividends)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     8.95     3.05     3.98

 

(1)  

The MSCI World ex USA Index measures the developed markets in the entire developed world less the United States.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio and the DFA International Value Series. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio and the DFA International Value Series:

 

   

Karen Umland, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1998.

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

Joseph H. Chi, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2005.

 

   

Jed S. Fogdall, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2004.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Shares of the Portfolio are only eligible for purchase by clients of LWI Financial Inc. (“LWIF”). Investors should first contact LWIF at (800) 366-7266, ext. 7, to notify LWIF of a proposed investment. An investor who desires to redeem shares of the Portfolio must furnish a redemption request to LWIF in the form required by LWIF.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio are taxable and generally will be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

The LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio pays LWIF, a financial intermediary, for performing shareholder services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Portfolio over another investment. Ask your financial advisor or visit your financial intermediary’s Web site for more information.

 

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LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio is to maximize total returns consistent with preservation of capital. Total return is comprised of income and capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.15

Other Expenses:

        

LWIF Financial Inc. Client Services Fee

     0.08

Other Expenses

     0.08

Total Other Expenses

     0.16

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.31

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

l Year

     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 32       $ 100       $ 174       $ 393   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 113% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that fixed income investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on bond market risk and return, not on interest rate forecasting or market timing.

 

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In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely defined maturity ranges and credit quality characteristics. The Advisor will then seek to purchase a broad and diverse portfolio of securities meeting these credit quality standards. In making these purchase decisions, if the anticipated maturity risk premium is greater for longer-term securities in the eligible maturity range, the Advisor will focus investment in that longer-term area, otherwise, the portfolio will focus investment in the short-term range of the eligible maturity range. The Advisor also places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low.

 

The LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio seeks to maximize risk-adjusted total returns from a universe of high quality, U.S. issued, dollar-denominated fixed income securities with maturities of no more than two years. The LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio may invest in U.S. government obligations, U.S. government agency obligations, dollar-denominated obligations of foreign issuers issued in the U.S., bank obligations, including U.S. subsidiaries and branches of foreign banks, corporate obligations, commercial paper, repurchase agreements and obligations of supranational organizations. The LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio principally invests in certificates of deposit, commercial paper, bankers’ acceptances, notes and bonds. The fixed income securities in which the Portfolio invests are considered investment grade at the time of purchase.

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities that mature within two years from the date of settlement.

 

The LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio may concentrate its investments in obligations of U.S. and foreign banks and bank holding companies. The Portfolio will concentrate its assets (invest more than 25% of its total assets) in obligations of U.S. and/or foreign banks and bank holding companies (“banking industry securities”) when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking industry securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group generally for a period of five consecutive days when the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. See the section entitled “Investments in the Banking Industry” in the Portfolio’s prospectus for additional information.

 

The LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio may invest in futures contracts and options on futures contracts. The LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio may use bond (interest rate) futures and options contracts, swaps and other types of derivatives to hedge against changes in interest rates. To the extent that it invests in futures contracts and options thereon for other than bona fide hedging purposes, it will not purchase futures contracts or options thereon, if, as a result, more than 5% of its net assets would then consist of initial margin deposits and premiums required to establish such positions. The Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Income Risk: Income risk is the risk that falling interest rates will cause the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio’s income to decline.

 

Interest Rate Risk: Fixed income securities are subject to interest rate risk because the prices of fixed income securities tend to move in the opposite direction of interest rates. When interest rates rise, fixed income security

 

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prices fall. When interest rates fall, fixed income security prices rise. In general, securities with longer maturities are more sensitive to these price changes.

 

Credit Risk: Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security may be unable to make interest payments and/or repay principal when due. A downgrade to an issuer’s credit rating or a perceived change in an issuer’s financial strength may affect a security’s value, and thus, impact the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio’s performance. Government agency obligations have different levels of credit support and, therefore, different degrees of credit risk. Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States, such as the Federal Housing Administration and Ginnie Mae, present little credit risk. Other securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities sponsored by the U.S. government, that are supported only by the issuer’s right to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, subject to certain limitations, and securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities sponsored by the U.S. government that are sponsored by the credit of the issuing agencies, such as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, are subject to a greater degree of credit risk. U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the credit of the agency may still involve a risk of non-payment of principal and/or interest.

 

Risks of Banking Concentration: Focus on the banking industry would link the performance of the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio to changes in performance of the banking industry generally. Banks are very sensitive to changes in money market and general economic conditions. The profitability of the banking industry is dependent upon banks being able to obtain funds at reasonable costs and upon liquidity in the capital and credit markets to finance their lending operations. Adverse general economic conditions can cause financial difficulties for a bank’s borrowers and the borrowers’ failure to repay their loans can adversely affect the bank’s financial situation. Banks are subject to extensive regulation and decisions by regulators may limit the loans banks make and the interest rates and fees they charge, which could reduce bank profitability.

 

Foreign Securities Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. Derivatives can be used for hedging (attempting to reduce risk by offsetting one investment position with another) or non-hedging purposes. Hedging with derivatives may increase expenses, and there is no guarantee that a hedging strategy will work. While hedging can reduce or eliminate losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

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LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio

 

LOGO

 

January 2001-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

2.54 (10/08-12/08)

   -1.22 (4/04-6/04)

 

     Periods ending December 31, 2010

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Five
Years


    Ten
Years


 

LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     1.83     3.52     3.31

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     1.42     2.50     2.13

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     1.21     2.41     2.12

BofA Merrill Lynch U.S. Corporate and Government Index 1-3 years*
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     2.82     4.49     4.27

 

*   Source Merrill Lynch, used with permission. MERRILL LYNCH IS LICENSING THE MERRILL LYNCH INDICES “AS IS,” MAKES NO WARRANTIES REGARDING SAME, DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE QUALITY, ACCURACY AND/OR COMPLETENESS OF THE MERRILL LYNCH INDICES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN OR DERIVED THEREFROM, AND ASSUMES NO LIABILITY IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR USE.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio:

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

David A. Plecha, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1989.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Shares of the Portfolio are only eligible for purchase by clients of LWI Financial Inc. (“LWIF”). Investors should first contact LWIF at (800) 366-7266, ext. 7, to notify LWIF of a proposed investment. An investor who desires to redeem shares of the Portfolio must furnish a redemption request to LWIF in the form required by LWIF.

 

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TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio are taxable and generally will be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio pays LWIF, a financial intermediary, for performing shareholder services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Portfolio over another investment. Ask your financial advisor or visit your financial intermediary’s Web site for more information.

 

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LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the LWAS/DFA Two-year Government Portfolio is to maximize total returns available from the universe of debt obligations of the U.S. government and U.S. government agencies consistent with the preservation of capital. Total return is comprised of income and capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.15

Other Expenses:

        

LWIF Financial Inc. Client Services Fee

     0.08

Other Expenses

     0.06

Total Other Expenses

     0.14

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.29

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

l Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 30       $ 93       $ 163       $ 368   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 166% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that fixed income investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on bond market risk and return, not on interest rate forecasting or market timing.

 

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In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely defined maturity ranges and credit quality characteristics. The Advisor will then seek to purchase a broad and diverse portfolio of securities meeting these credit quality standards. In making these purchase decisions, if the anticipated maturity risk premium is greater for longer-term securities in the eligible maturity range, the Advisor will focus investment in that longer-term area, otherwise, the portfolio will focus investment in the short-term range of the eligible maturity range. The Advisor also places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low.

 

The LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio seeks to maximize risk-adjusted total returns from a universe of obligations of the U.S. government and its agencies maturing in two years or less. The credit quality of the securities purchased by the Portfolio will be that of the U.S. government or its agency. The LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio generally pursues its objective by purchasing U.S. government obligations and U.S. government agency obligations that mature within two years from the date of settlement. The Portfolio also may enter into repurchase agreements backed by U.S. government securities.

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in government securities that mature within two years from the date of settlement.

 

The LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio may invest in futures contracts and options on futures contracts. The LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio may use bond (interest rate) futures and options contracts, swaps and other types of derivatives to hedge against changes in interest rates. To the extent that it invests in futures contracts and options thereon for other than bona fide hedging purposes, it will not purchase futures contracts or options thereon, if, as a result, more than 5% of its net assets would then consist of initial margin deposits and premiums required to establish such positions. The Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Income Risk: Income risk is the risk that falling interest rates will cause the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio’s income to decline.

 

Interest Rate Risk: Fixed income securities are subject to interest rate risk because the prices of fixed income securities tend to move in the opposite direction of interest rates. When interest rates rise, fixed income security prices fall. When interest rates fall, fixed income security prices rise. In general, securities with longer maturities are more sensitive to these price changes.

 

Credit Risk: Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security may be unable to make interest payments and/or repay principal when due. A downgrade to an issuer’s credit rating or a perceived change in an issuer’s financial strength may affect a security’s value, and thus, impact the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio’s performance. Government agency obligations have different levels of credit support and, therefore, different degrees of credit risk. Securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States, such as the Federal Housing Administration and Ginnie Mae, present little credit risk. Other securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities sponsored by the U.S.

 

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government, that are supported only by the issuer’s right to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, subject to certain limitations, and securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities sponsored by the U.S. government that are sponsored by the credit of the issuing agencies, such as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, are subject to a greater degree of credit risk. U.S. government agency securities issued or guaranteed by the credit of the agency may still involve a risk of non-payment of principal and/or interest.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. Derivatives can be used for hedging (attempting to reduce risk by offsetting one investment position with another) or non-hedging purposes. Hedging with derivatives may increase expenses, and there is no guarantee that a hedging strategy will work. While hedging can reduce or eliminate losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio

 

LOGO

 

January 2001-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

3.83 (10/08-12/08)

   -1.07 (4/04-6/04)

 

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     Periods ending December 31, 2010

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Five
Years


    Ten
Years


 

LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     1.89     3.60     3.48

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     1.28     2.55     2.21

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     1.24     2.48     2.22

BofA Merrill Lynch US Treasury and Agency Index 1-3 Years*
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     2.34     4.29     4.03

 

*   Previously called BofA Merrill Lynch US Government Bond Index 1-3 years. Source Merrill Lynch, used with permission. MERRILL LYNCH IS LICENSING THE MERRILL LYNCH INDICES “AS IS,” MAKES NO WARRANTIES REGARDING SAME, DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE QUALITY, ACCURACY AND/OR COMPLETENESS OF THE MERRILL LYNCH INDICES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN OR DERIVED THEREFROM, AND ASSUMES NO LIABILITY IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR USE.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio:

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

David A. Plecha, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1989.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Shares of the Portfolio are only eligible for purchase by clients of LWI Financial Inc. (“LWIF”). Investors should first contact LWIF at (800) 366-7266, ext. 7, to notify LWIF of a proposed investment. An investor who desires to redeem shares of the Portfolio must furnish a redemption request to LWIF in the form required by LWIF.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio are taxable and generally will be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

The LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio pays LWIF, a financial intermediary, for performing shareholder services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Portfolio over another investment. Ask your financial advisor or visit your financial intermediary’s Web site for more information.

 

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES-EQUITY PORTFOLIOS

 

The two investment companies described in this Prospectus offer a variety of investment portfolios. Each of the investment companies’ Portfolios has its own investment objective and policies, and is the equivalent of a separate mutual fund. LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio is offered by DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. The other Portfolios contained in this Prospects are offered by Dimensional Investment Group Inc. The Portfolios described in this Prospectus are designed for long-term investors.

 

LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio is a Feeder Portfolio and pursues its investment objective by investing substantially all of its assets in the U.S. Large Cap Value Series of the Trust, which has the same investment objective and policies as the Portfolio. Ordinarily, the U.S. Large Cap Value Series will invest its assets in a broad and diverse group of readily marketable common stocks of large U.S. companies which the Advisor determines to be value stocks at the time of purchase. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value (a “book to market ratio”). In assessing value, the Advisor may consider additional factors such as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios, as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer’s industry. The criteria the Advisor uses for assessing value are subject to change from time to time.

 

The U.S. Large Cap Value Series will purchase securities that are listed on the U.S. national securities exchanges or traded on the over-the-counter market. The U.S. Large Cap Value Series uses a market capitalization weighted approach. See “Market Capitalization Weighted Approach” in this Prospectus.

 

On not less than a semi-annual basis, the Advisor will calculate book to market ratios and review total market capitalization to determine those companies whose stock may be eligible for investment for the U.S. Large Cap Value Series. The U.S. Large Cap Value Series does not intend to purchase or sell securities based on the prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

The U.S. Large Cap Value Series may sell portfolio securities when the issuer’s market capitalization falls below that of the issuer with the minimum market capitalization that is then eligible for purchase by the Series. In addition, the U.S. Large Cap Value Series may sell portfolio securities when its book to market ratios fall below those of the security with the lowest such ratio that is then eligible for purchase by the Series.

 

The total market capitalization range and the value criteria used by the Advisor for the U.S. Large Cap Value Series, as described above, generally apply at the time of purchase. The U.S. Large Cap Value Series is not required to dispose of a security if the security’s issuer is no longer within the total market capitalization range or does not meet current value criteria. Similarly, the Advisor is not required to sell a security even if the decline in the market capitalization reflects a serious financial difficulty or potential or actual insolvency of the company. Securities that do meet the market capitalization and/or value criteria nevertheless may be sold at any time when, in the Advisor’s judgment, circumstances warrant their sale. See “Equity Portfolios” in this Prospectus.

 

The U.S. Large Cap Value Series may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the U.S. stock market while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the U.S. Large Cap Value Series may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds.

 

LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio invests

 

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substantially all of its assets in the DFA International Value Series of the Trust, which has the same investment objective and policies as the Portfolio. The DFA International Value Series seeks to achieve its objective by purchasing the stocks of large non-U.S. companies which the Advisor determines to be value stocks at the time of the purchase. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value (a “book to market ratio”). In assessing value, the Advisor may consider additional factors such as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios, as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer’s industry. The criteria the Advisor uses for assessing value are subject to change from time to time. As of the date of this Prospectus, the DFA International Value Series may invest in the stocks of large companies associated with Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom (collectively, the “Approved Markets”). The Investment Committee of the Advisor also may authorize other countries for investment in the future, in addition to the Approved Markets listed above. In addition, the DFA International Value Series may continue to hold securities of developed market countries that are not listed above as Approved Markets, but had been authorized for investment in the past, and may reinvest distributions received in connection with such existing investments in such previously Approved Markets.

 

Under normal market conditions, the DFA International Value Series intends to invest at least 40% of its assets in three or more non-U.S. countries by investing in securities of companies associated with such countries.

 

In the countries or regions authorized for investment, the Advisor first ranks eligible companies listed on selected exchanges based on the companies’ market capitalization. The Advisor then determines the universe of eligible stocks by defining the minimum market capitalization of a large company that may be purchased by the DFA International Value Series with respect to each country or region. As of December 31, 2010, for the DFA International Value Series, the lowest minimum market capitalization of a large company in any country or region in which the DFA International Value Series invests was $1,438 million. This threshold will vary by country or region. For example, as of December 31, 2010, the Advisor considered a large company in the European Monetary Union (EMU) to have a market capitalization of at least $3,133 million, a large company in Australia to have a market capitalization of at least $2,139 million and a large company in Japan to have a market capitalization of at least $1,438 million. These dollar amounts will change due to market conditions.

 

The DFA International Value Series intends to purchase securities within each applicable country using a market capitalization weighted approach. The Advisor, using this approach and its judgment, will seek to set country weights based on the relative market capitalizations of eligible large companies within each country. See “Market Capitalization Weighted Approach” in this Prospectus. As a result, the weightings of countries in the DFA International Value Series may vary from their weighting in international indices, such as those published by FTSE International, Morgan Stanley Capital International or Citigroup.

 

The value criteria used by the Advisor for the DFA International Value Series, as described above, generally apply at the time of purchase by the DFA International Value Series. The DFA International Value Series is not required to dispose of a security if the security’s issuer does not meet current value criteria. Similarly, the Advisor is not required to sell a security even if the decline in the market capitalization reflects a serious financial difficulty or potential or actual insolvency of the company. Securities which do meet the value criteria nevertheless may be sold at any time when, in the Advisor’s judgment, circumstances warrant their sale. See “Equity Portfolios” in this Prospectus.

 

The DFA International Value Series does not seek current income as an investment objective and investments will not be based upon an issuer’s dividend payment policy or record. However, many of the companies whose securities will be included in the DFA International Value Series do pay dividends. It is anticipated, therefore, that the DFA International Value Series will receive dividend income.

 

The DFA International Value Series invests in securities of Approved Markets (as identified above) listed on bona fide securities exchanges or traded on the over-the-counter markets. These exchanges or

 

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over-the-counter markets may be either within or outside the issuer’s domicile country. For example, the securities may be listed or traded in the form of European Depository Receipts, Global Depository Receipts, American Depository Receipts, or other types of depository receipts (including non-voting depositary receipts) or may be listed on bona fide securities exchanges in more than one country. The DFA International Value Series will consider for purchase securities that are associated with an Approved Market, and include, among others: (a) securities of companies that are organized under the laws of, or maintain their principal place of business in, an Approved Market; (b) securities for which the principal trading market is in an Approved Market; (c) securities issued or guaranteed by the government of an Approved Market, its agencies or instrumentalities, or the central bank of such country or territory; (d) securities denominated in an Approved Market currency issued by companies to finance operations in Approved Markets; (e) securities of companies that derive at least 50% of their revenues or profits from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed in Approved Markets or have at least 50% of their assets in Approved Markets; (f) equity securities of companies in Approved Markets in the form of depositary shares; (g) securities of pooled investment vehicles that invest primarily in securities of Approved Markets or derivative instruments that derive their value from securities of Approved Markets; or (h) securities included in the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio’s benchmark index. Securities of Approved Markets may include securities of companies that have characteristics and business relationships common to companies in other countries or regions. As a result, the value of the securities of such companies may reflect economic and market forces in such other countries or regions as well as in the Approved Markets. The Advisor, however, will select only those companies that, in its view, have sufficiently strong exposure to economic and market forces in Approved Markets. For example, the Advisor may invest in companies organized and located in the United States or other countries or regions outside of Approved Markets, including companies having their entire production facilities outside of Approved Markets, when such companies meet the criteria discussed above to be considered associated with Approved Markets.

 

The DFA International Value Series may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the equity markets while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the DFA International Value Series may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

Equity Portfolios

 

With respect to the LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio and the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio (the “Equity Portfolios”) and the U.S. Large Cap Value Series and the DFA International Value Series (each, a “Master Fund” and collectively, the “Master Funds”) in which the Equity Portfolios invest, investments will generally be made in eligible securities using a market capitalization weighted approach. See “Market Capitalization Weighted Approach.” Securities will not be purchased or sold based on the prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase. Securities which have depreciated in value since their acquisition will not be sold solely because prospects for the issuer are not considered attractive or due to an expected or realized decline in securities prices in general. Securities will not be sold to realize short-term profits, but when circumstances warrant, they may be sold without regard to the length of time held. Securities, including those eligible for purchase, may be disposed of, however, at any time when, in the Advisor’s judgment, circumstances warrant their sale, including, but not limited to, tender offers, mergers and similar transactions, or bids made for block purchases at opportune prices. Generally, securities will be purchased with the expectation that they will be held for longer than one year and will be held until such time as they are no longer considered an appropriate holding in light of the investment policy of each Equity Portfolio and Master Fund.

 

Market Capitalization Weighted Approach

 

The portfolio structures of the Master Funds in which the Equity Portfolios invest involve market capitalization weighting in determining individual security weights and, where applicable, country or region

 

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weights. Market capitalization weighting means each security is generally purchased based on the issuer’s relative market capitalization. Market capitalization weighting will be modified by the Advisor for a variety of factors. The Advisor may consider such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors determined to be appropriate by the Advisor given market conditions. The Advisor may deviate from market capitalization weighting to limit or fix the exposure of the Master Funds to a particular issuer to a maximum proportion of the assets of the Master Funds. The Advisor may exclude the stock of a company that meets applicable market capitalization criterion if the Advisor determines, in its judgment, that the purchase of such stock is inappropriate in light of other conditions. These adjustments will result in a deviation from traditional market capitalization weighting.

 

Adjustment for free float modifies market capitalization weighting to exclude the share capital of a company that is not freely available for trading in the public equity markets. For example, the following types of shares may be excluded: (i) those held by strategic investors (such as governments, controlling shareholders and management), (ii) treasury shares, or (iii) shares subject to foreign ownership restrictions.

 

Deviation from market capitalization weighting also will occur because the Advisor generally intends to purchase in round lots. Furthermore, the Advisor may reduce the relative amount of any security held in order to retain sufficient portfolio liquidity. A portion, but generally not in excess of 20% of assets, may be invested in interest bearing obligations, such as money market instruments, thereby causing further deviation from market capitalization weighting. A further deviation may occur due to holdings of privately placed convertible debentures and securities received in connection with corporate actions.

 

Block purchases of eligible securities may be made at opportune prices, even though such purchases exceed the number of shares that, at the time of purchase, adherence to a market capitalization weighted approach would otherwise require. In addition, securities eligible for purchase or otherwise represented in a Master Fund may be acquired in exchange for the issuance of shares. See “PURCHASE OF SHARES—In-Kind Purchases.” While such transactions might cause a deviation from market capitalization weighting, they would ordinarily be made in anticipation of further growth of assets.

 

Changes in the composition and relative ranking (in terms of market capitalization) of the stocks that are eligible for purchase take place with every trade when the securities markets are open for trading due, primarily, to price fluctuations of such securities. On at least a semi-annual basis, the Advisor will identify companies whose stock is eligible for investment by a Master Fund. Additional investments generally will not be made in securities that have changed in value sufficiently to be excluded from the Advisor’s then current market capitalization requirement for eligible portfolio securities. This may result in further deviation from market capitalization weighting. Such deviation could be substantial if a significant amount of holdings of a Master Fund change in value sufficiently to be excluded from the requirement for eligible securities, but not by a sufficient amount to warrant their sale.

 

Country weights may be based on the total market capitalization of companies within each country. The calculation of country market capitalization may take into consideration the free float of companies within a country or whether these companies are eligible to be purchased for the particular strategy. In addition, to maintain a satisfactory level of diversification, the Investment Committee may limit or fix the exposure to a particular country or region to a maximum proportion of the assets of that vehicle. Country weights may also deviate from target weights due to general day-to-day trading patterns and price movements. As a result, the weighting of countries may vary from their weighting in published international indices.

 

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES-FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIOS

 

Description of Investments

 

The following is a description of the categories of investments which may be acquired by the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio and the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio (the “Fixed Income Portfolios”):

 

     Permissible
Categories

LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio

   1-10

LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio

   1, 2, 6, 9

 

1. U.S. Government Obligations—Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury which are direct obligations of the U.S. government, including bills, notes and bonds.

 

2. U.S. Government Agency Obligations—Issued or guaranteed by U.S. government-sponsored instrumentalities and federal agencies, which have different levels of credit support. The U.S. Government Agency Obligations include, but are not limited to, securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. Government that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States, such as the Federal Housing Administration and Ginnie Mae, including Ginnie Mae pass-through certificates. Other securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities sponsored by the U.S. government may be supported only by the issuer’s right to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, subject to certain limits, such as securities issued by Federal Home Loan Banks, or are supported only by the credit of such agencies, such as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

 

3. Corporate Debt Obligations—Non-convertible corporate debt securities (e.g., bonds and debentures) which are issued by companies whose commercial paper is rated Prime-1 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or A-1 or better by Standard & Poor’s Rating Group, a Division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (“S&P”) or F1 or better by Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”) and dollar-denominated obligations of foreign issuers issued in the U.S. If the issuer’s commercial paper is unrated, then the debt security would have to be rated at least AA by S&P or Aa2 by Moody’s or AA by Fitch. If there is neither a commercial paper rating nor a rating of the debt security, then the Advisor must determine that the debt security is of comparable quality to equivalent issues of the same issuer rated at least AA or Aa2.

 

4. Bank Obligations—Obligations of U.S. banks and savings and loan associations and dollar-denominated obligations of U.S. subsidiaries and branches of foreign banks, such as certificates of deposit (including marketable variable rate certificates of deposit), time deposits and bankers’ acceptances. Bank certificates of deposit will be acquired only if the bank has assets in excess of $1,000,000,000.

 

5. Commercial Paper—Rated, at the time of purchase, A-1 or better by S&P or Prime-1 by Moody’s or F1 or better by Fitch, or, if unrated, issued by a corporation having an outstanding unsecured debt issue rated Aaa by Moody’s or AAA by S&P or AAA by Fitch.

 

6. Repurchase Agreements—Instruments through which the Fixed Income Portfolios purchase securities (“underlying securities”) from a bank or a registered U.S. government securities dealer, with an agreement by the seller to repurchase the securities at an agreed price, plus interest at a specified rate. The underlying securities will be limited to U.S. government and agency obligations described in (1) and (2) above. The Fixed Income Portfolios will not enter into a repurchase agreement with a duration of more than seven days if, as a result, more than 10% of the value of the Fixed Income Portfolio’s total assets would be so invested. In addition, a repurchase agreement with a duration of more than seven days will be subject to a Fixed Income Portfolio’s illiquid securities policy. The Portfolios also will only invest in repurchase agreements with a bank if the bank has at least $1,000,000,000 in assets and is approved by the Investment Committee of the Advisor. The Advisor will

 

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monitor the market value of the securities plus any accrued interest thereon so that they will at least equal the repurchase price.

 

7. Foreign Government and Agency Obligations—Bills, notes, bonds and other debt securities issued or guaranteed by foreign governments or their agencies or instrumentalities.

 

8. Supranational Organization Obligations—Debt securities of supranational organizations such as the European Coal and Steel Community, the European Economic Community and the World Bank, which are chartered to promote economic development.

 

9. Money Market Funds—The Fixed Income Portfolios may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

10. Eurodollar ObligationsDebt securities of domestic or foreign issuers denominated in U.S. dollars but not trading in the United States.

 

The categories of investments that may be acquired by the Fixed Income Portfolios may include both fixed and floating rate securities. Floating rate securities bear interest at rates that vary with prevailing market rates. Interest rate adjustments are made periodically (e.g., every six months), usually based on a money market index such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) or the Treasury bill rate.

 

Investments in the Banking Industry

 

The LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio will invest more than 25% of its total assets in obligations of U.S. and foreign banks and bank holding companies (“banking industry securities”) when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking industry securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group generally for a period of five consecutive days when the NYSE is open for trading. For purposes of this policy, the Advisor considers eligible portfolio investments to be those securities that are on the Advisor’s then current buy list that are available for purchase. This policy can only be changed by a vote of shareholders. When investment in such obligations exceeds 25% of the total net assets of the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio, the Portfolio will be considered to be concentrating its investments in the banking industry. Once the Portfolio concentrates its investments in the banking industry, the Portfolio may remain concentrated in the banking industry until the purchase of new investments in the normal course of executing the Portfolio’s investment strategy results in less than 25% of the Portfolio’s total assets consisting of banking industry securities. As of the date of this Prospectus, the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio is concentrating its investments in banking industry securities.

 

The types of bank and bank holding company obligations in which the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio may invest include: dollar-denominated certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, commercial paper and other debt obligations issued in the United States and which mature within two years of the date of settlement, provided such obligations meet the Portfolio’s established credit rating criteria as stated under “Description of Investments.” In addition, the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio and the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio are each authorized to invest more than 25% of its total assets in Treasury bonds, bills and notes and obligations of federal agencies and instrumentalities.

 

Portfolio Strategy

 

The LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio will be managed with a view to capturing credit risk premiums and term or maturity premiums. The term “credit risk premium” means the anticipated incremental return on investment for holding obligations considered to have greater credit risk than direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury, and “maturity risk premium” means the anticipated incremental return on investment for holding securities having maturities of longer than one month compared to securities having a maturity of one month.

 

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The Advisor believes that credit risk premiums are available largely through investment in high grade commercial paper, certificates of deposit and corporate obligations. The holding period for assets of the LWAS/ DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio will be chosen with a view to maximizing anticipated returns, net of trading costs.

 

The Fixed Income Portfolios are expected to have high portfolio turnover rates due to the relatively short maturities of the securities to be acquired. The rate of portfolio turnover will depend upon market and other conditions; it will not be a limiting factor when management believes that portfolio changes are appropriate. It is anticipated that the annual turnover rate of the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio could be 0% to 200%, and the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio could be 0% to 200%. Taxable distributions ordinarily increase with trading activity. While the Fixed Income Portfolios acquire securities in principal transactions and, therefore, do not pay brokerage commissions, the spread between the bid and asked prices of a security may be considered to be a “cost” of trading. Such costs ordinarily increase with trading activity. However, as stated above, securities ordinarily will be sold when, in the Advisor’s judgment, the monthly return of the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio or the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio will be increased as a result of portfolio transactions after taking into account the cost of trading. It is anticipated that short-term instruments will be acquired in the primary and secondary markets.

 

Other Information

 

Commodity Pool Operator Exemption:

 

The Master Funds and Portfolios are operated by a person that has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”), and, therefore, such person is not subject to registration or regulation as a pool operator under the CEA.

 

SECURITIES LOANS

 

The Portfolios and Master Funds are authorized to lend securities to qualified brokers, dealers, banks and other financial institutions for the purpose of earning additional income, although inasmuch as the Equity Portfolios will only hold shares of a corresponding Master Fund, these Portfolios do not intend to lend those shares. While the Portfolios or Master Funds may earn additional income from lending securities, such activity is incidental to their investment objectives. For information concerning the revenue from securities lending see “SECURITIES LENDING REVENUE.” The value of securities loaned may not exceed 33 1/3% of the value of each Portfolio’s or Master Fund’s total assets. To the extent a Portfolio or Master Fund loans a portion of its securities, the Portfolio or the Master Fund will receive collateral consisting generally of cash or U.S. government securities, which will be maintained by marking to market daily in an amount equal to at least (i) 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities with respect to securities of the U.S. government or its agencies, and (ii) 102% of the current market value of the loaned securities with respect to U.S. securities, and (iii) 105% of the current market value of the loaned securities with respect to foreign securities. Subject to their stated investment policies, the Portfolios or Master Funds will generally invest the cash collateral received for the loaned securities in The DFA Short Term Investment Fund (the “Money Market Series”), an affiliated registered money market fund advised by the Advisor for which the Advisor receives a management fee of 0.05% of the average daily net assets of the Money Market Series. The Portfolios or Master Funds also may invest the collateral received for the loaned securities in securities of the U.S. government or its agencies, repurchase agreements collateralized by securities of the U.S. government or its agencies and affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds. For purposes of this paragraph, agencies include both agency debentures and agency mortgage backed securities.

 

In addition, a Portfolio or Master Fund will be able to terminate the loan at any time, will receive reasonable compensation on the loan, as well as amounts equal to any dividends, interest or other distributions on the loaned securities. However, dividend income received from loaned securities may not be eligible to be taxed at qualified dividend income rates. See the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) for a further discussion of the tax

 

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consequences related to securities lending. A Portfolio or Master Fund will be entitled to recall a loaned security in time to vote proxies or otherwise obtain rights to vote proxies of loaned securities if the Portfolio or Master Fund knows a material event will occur. In the event of the bankruptcy of the borrower, a Portfolio or Master Fund could experience delay in recovering the loaned securities or only recover cash or a security of equivalent value. See “PRINCIPAL RISKS—Securities Lending” for a discussion of the risks related to securities lending. Although each Feeder Fund is authorized to lend its portfolio securities, as long as it only holds shares of its Master Fund, it will not do so.

 

SECURITIES LENDING REVENUE

 

During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the following Portfolios received the following net revenues from a securities lending program, which constituted a percentage of the average daily net assets of the Portfolios (see “SECURITIES LOANS”):

 

Portfolio


   Net Revenue

     Percentage
of Net
Assets

 

LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio*

   $ 33,000         0.05

LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio*

   $ 109,000         0.13

*   A Feeder Portfolio whose corresponding Master Fund is taxed as a partnership. “Net Revenue” reflects the proportional share of the securities lending revenue generated by the Master Fund that was received by the Feeder Portfolio.

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIOS

 

The Advisor serves as investment advisor to the Portfolios and the Master Funds. Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with each Non-Feeder Portfolio and Master Fund, the Advisor is responsible for the management of each Portfolios’ assets. Additionally, pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with each Feeder Portfolio, the Advisor, for no additional compensation, manages the portion of each Feeder Portfolio’s assets that are retained by the Feeder Portfolio for cash management purposes and, at its discretion, may make a determination to withdraw a Feeder Portfolio’s investment from its corresponding Master Fund to invest in another Master Fund if the Advisor believes it is in the best interests of the Feeder Portfolio and its shareholders to do so. The Portfolios and the Master Funds are managed using a team approach. The investment team includes the Investment Committee of the Advisor, portfolio managers and trading personnel.

 

The Investment Committee is composed primarily of certain officers and directors of the Advisor who are appointed annually. As of the date of this Prospectus the Investment Committee has ten members. Investment strategies for the Portfolios and Master Funds are set by the Investment Committee, which meets on a regular basis and also as needed to consider investment issues. The Investment Committee also sets and reviews all investment related policies and procedures and approves any changes in regards to approved countries, security types and brokers.

 

In accordance with the team approach used to manage the Portfolios and Master Funds, the portfolio managers and portfolio traders implement the policies and procedures established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers and portfolio traders also make daily investment decisions regarding the Portfolios and Master Funds including running buy and sell programs based on the parameters established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers named below each serve as a portfolio manager to the Portfolio and

 

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coordinate the efforts of all other portfolio managers with respect to the day-to-day management of the Portfolios and Master Funds indicated below.

 

LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio U.S. Large Cap Value Series

   Stephen A. Clark

LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio DFA International Value Series

   Stephen A. Clark, Karen E. Umland,
Joseph H. Chi and Jed S. Fogdall

Fixed Income Portfolios

   Stephen A. Clark and

David A. Plecha

 

Mr. Clark is a Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and chairman of the Investment Committee. Mr. Clark received his MBA from the University of Chicago and his BS from Bradley University. Mr. Clark joined the Advisor as a portfolio manager in 2001 and has been responsible for the portfolio management group since January 2006.

 

Ms. Umland is a Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and a member of the Investment Committee. She received her BA from Yale University in 1988 and her MBA from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1993. Ms. Umland joined the Advisor in 1993 and has been a portfolio manager and responsible for the international equity portfolios since 1998.

 

Mr. Chi is a Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and a member of the Investment Committee. Mr. Chi has an MBA and BS from the University of California, Los Angeles and also a JD from the University of Southern California. Mr. Chi joined the Advisor as a portfolio manager in 2005 and has been responsible for the international portfolios since 2010.

 

Mr. Fogdall is a Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and a member of the Investment Committee. Mr. Fogdall has an MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles and a BS from Purdue University. Mr. Fogdall joined the Advisor as a portfolio manager in 2004 and has been responsible for the international portfolios since 2010.

 

Mr. Plecha is a Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and a member of the Investment Committee. Mr. Plecha received his BS from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1983 and his MBA from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1987. Mr. Plecha has been a portfolio manager since 1989 and responsible for the fixed income portfolios since the end of 1991.

 

The SAI provides information about each portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, and the portfolio manager’s ownership of Fund shares.

 

The Advisor provides all Portfolios and Master Funds with a trading department and selects brokers and dealers to effect securities transactions. Securities transactions are placed with a view to obtaining the best price and execution of such transactions. A discussion regarding the basis for the Boards of Trustees/Directors approving the investment management agreements with respect to the Portfolios and Master Funds is available in the semi-annual reports for the Portfolios for the fiscal period ending April 30, 2010. The Advisor’s address is 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746. The Advisor has been engaged in the business of providing investment management services since May 1981. The Advisor is currently organized as a Delaware limited partnership and is controlled and operated by its general partner, Dimensional Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation. As of January 31, 2011, assets under management for all Dimensional affiliated advisors totaled approximately $209 billion.

 

The DFA Investment Dimensions Group, Inc., Dimensional Investment Group Inc. (each a “Fund,” and collectively the “Funds”) and the Trust bear all of their own costs and expenses, including: services of its independent registered public accounting firm, legal counsel, brokerage commissions and transfer taxes in

 

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connection with the acquisition and disposition of portfolio securities, taxes, insurance premiums, costs incidental to meetings of its shareholders and directors or trustees, the cost of filing its registration statements under federal securities laws and the cost of any filings required under state securities laws, reports to shareholders, and transfer and dividend disbursing agency, administrative services and custodian fees. Expenses allocable to a particular Portfolio or Master Fund are so allocated. Expenses of a Fund which are not allocable to a particular Portfolio are borne by each Portfolio of that Fund on the basis of its relative net assets. Similarly, the expenses of the Trust which are not allocable to a particular Master Fund are to be borne by each Master Fund of the Trust on the basis of its relative net assets.

 

Management Fees

 

The “Annual Fund Operating Expenses” table describes the fees incurred by each Portfolio for the services provided by the Advisor for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010. The “Management Fee” listed in the table for each Feeder Portfolio includes the investment management fee that was payable by the Portfolio’s Master Fund to the Advisor and the administrative fee that was payable by the Portfolio to the Advisor. The “Management Fee” listed in the table for the Non-Feeder Portfolios provides the investment advisory fee that was payable by the respective Portfolio to the Advisor.

 

Sub-Advisors

 

The Advisor has entered into a Sub-Advisory Agreement with Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (“DFAL”) and DFA Australia Limited (“DFA Australia”), respectively, with respect to the DFA International Value Series. Pursuant to the terms of each Sub-Advisory Agreement, DFAL and DFA Australia (i) select brokers or dealers to execute purchases and sales of securities in the DFA Value International Series’ portfolio, and assist the Advisor in determining eligible securities available for purchase and sale in the DFA International Value Series; (ii) allocate trades among brokers or dealers; (iii) determine the best and most efficient means of purchasing and selling portfolio securities in order to receive best price and execution; and (iv) provide investment and ancillary services for the Advisor. The Advisor controls DFAL and DFA Australia. DFA Australia is a U.S. federally registered investment advisor located at Level 43 Gateway, 1 Macquarie Place, Sydney, New South Wales 2000, Australia. DFAL is a U.S. federally registered investment advisor located at 20 Triton Street, Regent’s Place, London, NW13BF, United Kingdom.

 

Client Service Agent

 

Pursuant to a Client Service Agent Agreement with each Portfolio, LWIF (formerly, Assante Asset Management, Inc.) serves as the client service agent to each Portfolio and performs various services for the Portfolios. These services include establishment of a toll-free telephone number for shareholders of each Portfolio to use to obtain or receive up-to-date account information; providing to shareholders quarterly and other reports with respect to the performance of each Portfolio; and providing shareholders with such information regarding the operations and affairs of each Portfolio, and their investment in its shares, as the shareholders or the applicable Board of Directors may reasonably request.

 

DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

 

Dividends and Distributions. Each Portfolio intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). As a regulated investment company, a Portfolio generally pays no federal income tax on the income and gains it distributes to you. Dividends from net investment income of a Portfolio are distributed quarterly (on a calendar basis) and any net realized capital gains (after any reductions for available capital loss carryforwards) are distributed annually, typically in December. A Portfolio may distribute such income dividends and capital gains more frequently, if necessary, in order to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the Portfolio.

 

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Capital gains distributions may vary considerably from year to year as a result of a Portfolio’s normal investment activities and cash flows. During a time of economic downturn, a Portfolio may experience capital losses and unrealized depreciation in value of investments, the effect of which may be to reduce or eliminate capital gains distributions for a period of time. Even though a Portfolio may experience a current year loss, it may nonetheless distribute prior year capital gains.

You will automatically receive all income dividends and capital gains distributions in additional shares of the Portfolio whose shares you hold at net asset value (as of the business date following the dividend record date), unless, upon written notice to the Advisor and completion of account information, you select one of the options listed below:

Income Option—to receive income dividends in cash and capital gains distributions in additional shares at net asset value.

Capital Gains Option—to receive capital gains distributions in cash and income dividends in additional shares at net asset value.

Cash Option—to receive both income dividends and capital gains distributions in cash.

Annual Statements. Each year, you will receive a statement that shows the tax status of distributions you received the previous calendar year. Distributions declared in December to shareholders of record in such month, but paid in January, are taxable as if they were paid in December.

Avoid “Buying A Dividend.At the time you purchase your Portfolio shares, a Portfolio’s net asset value may reflect undistributed income, undistributed capital gains, or net unrealized appreciation in value of portfolio securities held by the Portfolio. A subsequent distribution to you of such amounts, although constituting a return of your investment, would be taxable. Buying shares in a Portfolio just before it declares an income dividend or capital gains distribution is sometimes known as “buying a dividend.”

Tax Considerations. This discussion of “Tax Considerations” should be read in conjunction with the remaining subsections below containing additional information. Also, unless otherwise indicated, the discussion below with respect to a Portfolio includes in the case of a Feeder Portfolio its pro rata share of its corresponding Master Fund’s income and assets.

In general, if you are a taxable investor, Portfolio distributions (other than exempt-interest dividends) are taxable to you as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both. This is true whether you reinvest your distributions in additional Portfolio shares or receive them in cash.

For federal income tax purposes, Portfolio distributions of short-term capital gains are taxable to you as ordinary income. Portfolio distributions of long-term capital gains are taxable to you as long-term capital gains no matter how long you have owned your shares. A Portfolio with a high portfolio turnover rate (a measure of how frequently assets within a Portfolio are bought and sold) is more likely to generate short-term capital gains than a Portfolio with a low portfolio turnover rate. With respect to taxable years of a Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2013, unless such provision is extended or made permanent, a portion of income dividends reported by a Portfolio as qualified dividend income may be eligible for taxation by individual shareholders at long-term capital gain rates provided certain holding period requirements are met.

If a Portfolio qualifies to pass through to you the tax benefits from foreign taxes it pays on its investments, and elects to do so, then any foreign taxes it pays on these investments may be passed through to you as a foreign tax credit.

 

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The Board of Trustees of a Master Fund reserves the right to change the entity classification of a Master Fund for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time, as may be permitted or required under the Code. For instance, the Board might cause a Master Fund that is classified as a partnership to elect to be classified as a corporation and taxable as a regulated investment company or disregarded entity (if it has one shareholder) or vice versa. Such a change in entity classification may be prompted by, among other things, changes in law, the investment strategy of a Master Fund, or the nature and number of shareholders of a Master Fund or other factors or events adversely affecting the ability of a Master Fund to comply with the Code. A change in entity classification of a Master Fund may be a taxable event, causing the Master Fund and shareholders of the Master Fund that are subject to tax to recognize a taxable gain or loss. Such a change in entity classification would also cause the shareholders of the Master Fund to be subject to a different taxation regime, which may adversely affect some shareholders depending upon their particular circumstances.

Sale or Redemption of Portfolio Shares. The sale of shares of a Portfolio is a taxable event and may result in a capital gain or loss to you. Capital gain or loss may be realized from an ordinary redemption of shares or an exchange of shares between two Portfolios. Any loss incurred on the sale or exchange of a Portfolio’s shares, held for six months or less, will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of capital gain dividends received with respect to such shares.

Backup Withholding. By law, a Portfolio may be required to withhold 28% of taxable dividends, capital gains distributions, and redemption proceeds paid to you if you do not provide your proper taxpayer identification number and certain required certifications. You may avoid this withholding requirement by providing and certifying on the account registration form your correct Taxpayer Identification Number and by certifying that you are not subject to backup withholding and are a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). A Portfolio must also withhold if the IRS instructs it to do so.

State and Local Taxes. In addition to federal taxes, you may be subject to state and local taxes on distributions from a Portfolio and on gains arising on redemption or exchange of a Portfolio’s shares. Distributions of interest income and capital gains realized from certain types of U.S. government securities may be exempt from state personal income taxes.

Non-U.S. Investors. Non-U.S. investors may be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a 30% or lower treaty rate and are subject to special U.S. tax certification requirements to avoid backup withholding and claim any treaty benefits. Exemptions from U.S. withholding tax are provided for capital gain dividends paid by a Portfolio from long-term capital gains, if any, exempt-interest dividends, and, with respect to taxable years of a Portfolio that begin before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended or made permanent), interest-related dividends paid by a Portfolio from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources and short-term capital gain dividends. However, notwithstanding such exemptions from U.S. withholding at the source, any such dividends and distributions of income and capital gains will be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 28% if you fail to properly certify that you are not a U.S. person. Non-U.S. investors also may be subject to U.S. estate tax.

This discussion of “DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES” is not intended or written to be used as tax advice. Because everyone’s tax situation is unique, you should consult your tax professional about federal, state, local or foreign tax consequences before making an investment in a Portfolio. Prospective investors should also consult the SAI.

 

 

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POLICY REGARDING EXCESSIVE OR SHORT-TERM TRADING

 

The Portfolios are designed for long-term investors and are not intended for investors that engage in excessive short-term trading activity that may be harmful to the Portfolios, including but not limited to market timing. Short-term or excessive trading into and out of the Portfolios can disrupt portfolio management strategies, harm performance and increase Portfolio expenses for all shareholders, including long-term shareholders who do not generate these costs.

 

In addition, the nature of the holdings of the DFA International Value Series in which the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio invests may present opportunities for a shareholder to engage in a short-term trading strategy that exploits possible delays between changes in the price the Master Fund’s holdings and the reflection of those changes in the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio’s net asset value (called “arbitrage market timing”). Such delays may occur because LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio’s Master Fund has significant investments in foreign securities where, due to time zone differences, the values of those securities are established some time before the Master Fund and Portfolio calculate their net asset values. In such circumstances, the available market prices for such foreign securities may not accurately reflect the latest indications of value at the time the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio and its Master Fund calculate their net asset values. There is a possibility that arbitrage market timing may dilute the value of the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio’s shares if redeeming shareholders receive proceeds (and purchasing shareholders receive shares) based upon a net asset value that does not reflect appropriate fair value prices.

 

The Boards of Directors of the Funds and the Board of Trustees of the Trust (collectively, the “Board”) have adopted a policy (the “Trading Policy”) and the Advisor and DFA Securities LLC (collectively, “Dimensional”) and Dimensional’s agents have implemented the following procedures, which are designed to discourage and prevent market timing or excessive short-term trading in the Funds: (i) trade activity monitoring and purchase blocking procedures; and (ii) use of fair value pricing.

 

The Funds, Dimensional and their agents monitor trades and flows of money in and out of the Portfolios from time to time in an effort to detect excessive short-term trading activities, and for consistent enforcement of the Trading Policy. The Funds reserve the right to take the actions necessary to stop excessive or disruptive trading activities, including refusing or canceling purchase or exchange orders for any reason, without prior notice, particularly purchase or exchange orders that the Funds believe are made on behalf of market timers. The Funds, Dimensional and their agents reserve the right to restrict, refuse or cancel any purchase or exchange request made by an investor indefinitely if the Funds or Dimensional believe that any combination of trading activity in the accounts is potentially disruptive to a Portfolio. In making such judgments, the Fund and Dimensional seek to act in a manner that is consistent with the interests of shareholders. For purposes of applying these procedures, Dimensional may consider an investor’s trading history in the Portfolios, and accounts under common ownership, influence or control.

 

In addition to the Funds’ general ability to restrict potentially disruptive trading activity as described above, the Funds also have adopted purchase blocking procedures. Under the Funds’ purchase blocking procedures, where an investor has engaged in any two purchases and two redemptions (including redemptions that are part of an exchange transaction) in a Portfolio in any rolling 30 calendar day monitoring period (i.e., two “round trips”), the Funds and Dimensional intend to block the investor from making any additional purchases in that Portfolio for 90 calendar days (a “purchase block”). If implemented, a purchase block will begin at some point after the transaction that caused the investor to have engaged in the prohibited two round-trips is detected by the Funds, Dimensional, or their agents. The Funds and Dimensional are permitted to implement a longer purchase block, or permanently bar future purchases by an investor, if they determine that it is appropriate.

 

Under the Funds’ purchase blocking procedures, the following purchases and redemptions will not trigger a purchase block: (i) purchases and redemptions of shares having a value in each transaction of less than $5,000;

 

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(ii) purchases and redemptions by U.S. registered investment companies that operate as fund of funds and non-U.S. investment companies that operate as fund of funds that the Funds or Dimensional, in their sole discretion, have determined are not designed and/or are not serving as vehicles for excessive short-term or other disruptive trading (in each case, the fund of funds shall agree to be subject to monitoring by Dimensional); (iii) purchases and redemptions by a feeder portfolio of a master fund’s shares; (iv) systematic or automated transactions where the shareholder, financial advisor or investment fiduciary does not exercise direct control over the investment decision; (v) retirement plan contributions, loans, loan repayments and distributions (including hardship withdrawals) identified as such in the retirement plan recordkeeper’s system; (vi) purchase transactions involving transfers of assets, rollovers, Roth IRA conversions and IRA recharacterizations; (vii) purchases of shares with Portfolio dividends or capital gain distributions; (viii) transfers and reregistrations of shares within the same Portfolio; and (ix) transactions by 529 Plans. Notwithstanding the Funds’ purchase blocking procedures, all transactions in Portfolio shares are subject to the right of the Funds and Dimensional to restrict potentially disruptive trading activity (including purchases and redemptions described above that will not be subject to the purchase blocking procedures).

 

In addition, the purchase blocking procedures will not apply to a redemption transaction in which a Portfolio distributes portfolio securities to a shareholder in-kind, where the redemption will not disrupt the efficient portfolio management of the Portfolio/Master Fund and the redemption is consistent with the interests of the remaining shareholders of the Portfolio/Master Fund.

 

The Funds, Dimensional or their designees will have the ability, pursuant to Rule 22c-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, (the “1940 Act”), to request information from financial intermediaries, such as 401(k) plan administrators, trust companies and broker dealers (together, “Intermediaries”), concerning trades placed in omnibus and other multi-investor accounts (together, “Omnibus Accounts”), in order to attempt to monitor trades that are placed by the underlying shareholders of these Omnibus Accounts. The Funds, Dimensional and their designees will use the information obtained from the Intermediaries to monitor trading in the Funds and to attempt to identify shareholders in Omnibus Accounts engaged in trading that is inconsistent with the Trading Policy or otherwise not in the best interests of the Funds. The Funds, Dimensional or their designees, when they detect trading patterns in shares of the Funds that may constitute short-term or excessive trading, will provide written instructions to the Intermediary to restrict or prohibit further purchases or exchanges of shares of the Portfolios by a shareholder that has been identified as having engaged in excessive or short-term transactions in the Portfolios’ shares (directly or indirectly through the Intermediary’s account) that violate the Trading Policy.

 

The ability of the Funds and Dimensional to impose these limitations, including the purchase blocking procedures, on investors investing through Intermediaries is dependent on the receipt of information necessary to identify transactions by the underlying investors and the Intermediary’s cooperation in implementing the Trading Policy. Investors seeking to engage in excessive short-term trading practices may deploy a variety of strategies to avoid detection, and despite the efforts of the Funds and Dimensional to prevent excessive short-term trading, there is no assurance that the Funds, Dimensional or their agents will be able to identify those shareholders or curtail their trading practices. The ability of the Funds, Dimensional and their agents to detect and limit excessive short-term trading also may be restricted by operational systems and technological limitations.

 

The purchase blocking procedures of the Trading Policy may not apply to redemptions by shareholders whose shares are held on the books of Intermediaries if the Intermediaries have not adopted procedures to implement this Policy. The Funds and Dimensional will work with Intermediaries to develop such policies to institute the purchase blocking procedures or other procedures that the Funds and Dimensional determine are reasonably designed to achieve the objective of this Trading Policy. At the time the Intermediaries adopt these procedures, shareholders whose accounts are on the books of such Intermediaries will be subject to the Trading Policy’s purchase blocking procedures or another frequent trading policy that achieves the objective of the purchase blocking procedures. Investors that invest in the Portfolios through an Intermediary should contact the Intermediary for information concerning the policies and procedures that apply to the investor.

 

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As of the date of this Prospectus, the ability of the Funds and Dimensional to apply the purchase blocking procedures on purchases by all investors and the ability of the Funds and Dimensional to monitor trades through Omnibus Accounts maintained by Intermediaries may be restricted due to systems limitations of both the Funds’ service providers and the Intermediaries. The Funds expect that the application of the Trading Policy as described above, including the purchase blocking procedures (subject to the limitations described above), will be able to be implemented by Intermediaries in compliance with Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act.

 

In addition to monitoring trade activity, the Board has adopted fair value pricing procedures that govern the pricing of the securities of the Portfolios and Master Funds. These procedures are designed to help ensure that the prices at which Portfolio shares are purchased and redeemed are fair, and do not result in dilution of shareholder interests or other harm to shareholders. See the discussion under “VALUATION OF SHARES—Net Asset Value” for additional details regarding fair value pricing of the Portfolio’s securities.

 

Although the procedures are designed to discourage excessive short-term trading, none of the procedures individually nor all of the procedures taken together can completely eliminate the possibility that excessive short- term trading activity in a Portfolio may occur. The Portfolios and Master Funds do not knowingly accommodate excessive or disruptive trading activities, including market timing.

 

VALUATION OF SHARES

 

Net Asset Value

 

The net asset value per share of each Portfolio and Master Fund is calculated after the close of the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. ET) by dividing the total value of the Portfolio’s or Master Fund’s investments and other assets, less any liabilities, by the total outstanding shares of the stock of the respective Portfolio or Master Fund. Each Portfolio and Master Fund generally calculates its net asset value per share and accepts purchase and redemption orders on days that the NYSE is open for trading. Note: The time at which transactions and shares are priced may be changed in case of an emergency or if the NYSE closes at a time other than 4:00 p.m. ET.

 

The value of the shares of each non-Feeder Portfolio will fluctuate in relation to its own investment experience. The value of the shares of the Feeder Portfolios will fluctuate in relation to the investment experience of the Master Funds in which such Portfolios invest. Securities held by the Portfolios and Master Funds will be valued in accordance with applicable laws and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors or Trustees, and generally, as described below.

 

Securities held by a Portfolio or Master Fund (including over-the-counter securities) are valued at the last quoted sale price of the day. Securities held by a Portfolio or Master Fund that are listed on Nasdaq are valued at the Nasdaq Official Closing Price (“NOCP”). If there is no last reported sale price or NOCP of the day, the Portfolio or Master Fund values the securities at the mean of the most recent quoted bid and asked prices. Price information on listed securities is taken from the exchange where the security is primarily traded. Generally, securities issued by open-end investment companies, such as the Master Funds, are valued using their respective net asset values or public offering prices, as appropriate, for purchase orders placed at the close of the NYSE.

 

The value of the shares of the Fixed Income Portfolios will tend to fluctuate with interest rates because, unlike money market funds, these Portfolios do not seek to stabilize the value of their respective shares by use of the “amortized cost” method of asset valuation. Net asset value includes interest on fixed income securities which is accrued daily. Debt securities will be valued on the basis of prices provided by one or more pricing services or other reasonably reliable sources including broker/dealers that typically handle the purchase and sale of such securities. Securities which are traded over-the-counter and on a stock exchange generally will be valued according to the broadest and most representative market, and it is expected that for bonds and other fixed income securities, this ordinarily will be the over-the-counter market.

 

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The value of the securities and other assets of the Portfolios and Master Funds for which no market quotations are readily available (including restricted securities), or for which market quotations have become unreliable, are determined in good faith at fair value in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Directors or Trustees, as the case may be. Fair value pricing may also be used if events that have a significant effect on the value of an investment (as determined in the discretion of the Investment Committee of the Advisor) occur before the net asset value is calculated. When fair value pricing is used, the prices of securities used by the Portfolios and the Master Funds may differ from the quoted or published prices for the same securities on their primary markets or exchanges.

 

As of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolios and Master Funds holding foreign equity securities (the “Foreign Equity Funds”) will also fair value price in the circumstances described below. Generally, trading in foreign securities markets is completed each day at various times prior to the close of the NYSE. For example, trading in the Japanese securities markets is completed each day at the close of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (normally, 2:00 a.m. ET), which is fourteen hours prior to the close of the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. ET) and the time that the net asset values of the Foreign Equity Funds are computed. Due to the time differences between the closings of the relevant foreign securities exchanges and the time the Foreign Equity Funds price their shares at the close of the NYSE, the Foreign Equity Funds will fair value their foreign investments when it is determined that the market quotations for the foreign investments are either unreliable or not readily available. The fair value prices will attempt to reflect the impact of the U.S. financial markets’ perceptions and trading activities on the Foreign Equity Funds’ foreign investments since the last closing prices of the foreign investments were calculated on their primary foreign securities markets or exchanges. For these purposes, the Boards of Directors/Trustees of the Portfolios and Master Funds have determined that movements in relevant indices or other appropriate market indicators, after the close of the Tokyo Stock Exchange or the London Stock Exchange, demonstrate that market quotations may be unreliable, and may trigger fair value pricing. Consequently, fair valuation of portfolio securities may occur on a daily basis. The fair value pricing by the Portfolios and Master Funds utilizes data furnished by an independent pricing service (and that data draws upon, among other information, the market values of foreign investments). When a Foreign Equity Fund uses fair value pricing, the values assigned to the Foreign Equity Fund’s foreign investments may not be the quoted or published prices of the investments on their primary markets or exchanges. The Boards of Directors/Trustees of the Portfolios and Master Funds monitor the operation of the method used to fair value price the Foreign Equity Funds’ foreign investments.

 

Valuing securities at fair value involves greater reliance on judgment than valuing securities that have readily available market quotations. There can be no assurance that a Portfolio or Master Fund could obtain the fair value assigned to a security if it were to sell the security at approximately the time at which the Portfolio or Master Fund determines its net asset value per share. As a result, the sale or redemption by a Portfolio of its shares at net asset value, at a time when a holding or holdings are valued at fair value, may have the effect of diluting or increasing the economic interest of existing shareholders.

 

The net asset value per share of the DFA International Value Series (in which the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio invests all of its assets) is expressed in U.S. dollars by translating the net assets of the DFA International Value Series using the mean of the most recent bid and asked prices for the dollar as quoted by generally recognized reliable sources. Since the DFA International Value Series own securities that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges which may trade on days when the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio and DFA International Value Series do not price their shares, the net asset value of the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem shares.

 

Futures contracts are valued using the settlement price established each day on the exchange on which they are traded. The value of such futures contracts held by a Portfolio or Master Fund is determined each day as of such close.

 

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Public Offering Price

 

Provided that LWIF has received the investor’s investment instructions in good order and the Custodian has received the investor’s payment, shares of the Portfolio selected will be priced at the public offering price, which is the net asset value of the shares next determined after receipt of the order by BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (formerly, PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.) (“BNY Mellon”), the Funds’ transfer agent. The transfer agent or the Funds may, from time to time, appoint sub-transfer agents or various financial intermediaries (“Intermediaries”) for the receipt of purchase orders, redemption orders and funds from certain investors. Intermediaries, in turn, are authorized to designate other financial intermediaries (“Sub-designees”) to receive purchase and redemption orders for the Portfolios’ shares from investors. With respect to such investors, the shares of the Portfolio selected will be priced at the public offering price calculated after receipt of the purchase order by the Intermediary or Sub-designee, as applicable, that is authorized to receive purchase orders. If the investor buys shares through an Intermediary or a Sub-designee, the purchase price will be the public offering price next calculated after the Intermediary or Sub-designee, as applicable, receives the order, rather than on the day the custodian receives the investor’s payment (provided that the Intermediary or Sub-designee, as applicable, has received the investor’s purchase order in good order, and the investor has complied with the Intermediary’s or Sub-designee’s payment procedures).

 

Management believes that any dilutive effect of the cost of investing the proceeds of the sale of the shares of the Portfolios is minimal and, therefore, the shares of the Portfolios are currently sold at net asset value, without imposition of a fee that would be used to reimburse a Portfolio for such cost (“reimbursement fee”). Reimbursement fees may be charged prospectively from time to time based upon the future experience of the Portfolios and the corresponding Master Funds. Any such charges will be described in the Prospectus. If an order to purchase shares must be canceled due to non-payment, the purchaser will be responsible for any loss incurred by a Portfolio arising out of such cancellation. The Funds reserve the right to redeem shares owned by any purchaser whose order is canceled to recover any resulting loss to a Portfolio and may prohibit or restrict the manner in which such purchaser may place further orders.

 

PURCHASE OF SHARES

 

Only clients of LWIF are eligible to purchase shares of the Portfolios. Investors should first contact LWIF at (800) 366-7266, ext. 7, to notify LWIF of the proposed investment. Most shares of the Portfolios that will be purchased or sold through omnibus accounts maintained by securities firms may be subject to a service fee or commission for such transactions. Clients of LWIF may also be subject to investment advisory fees under their own arrangements with LWIF. Purchases of shares will be made in full and fractional shares calculated to three decimal places. Requests to purchase shares are processed at the net asset value of the shares next determined after receipt of the request in good order. In the interest of economy and convenience, certificates for shares will not be issued.

 

In-Kind Purchases

 

If accepted by the applicable Fund, shares of a Portfolio may be purchased in exchange for securities that are eligible for acquisition by such Portfolio (or its corresponding Master Fund) or otherwise represented in its portfolio as described in this Prospectus or otherwise consistent with the Funds’ policies and procedures. Shares of the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio may also be purchased in exchange for local currencies in which securities owned by its corresponding Master Fund are denominated. Securities and local currencies accepted by a Fund for exchange and Fund shares to be issued in the exchange will be valued as set forth under “VALUATION OF SHARES” at the time of the next determination of net asset value after such acceptance. All dividends, interests, subscription, or other rights pertaining to such securities shall become the property of the Portfolio (or its corresponding Master Fund) whose shares are being acquired and must be delivered to the applicable Fund by the investor upon receipt from the issuer.

 

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The Funds will not accept securities in exchange for shares of a Portfolio unless: (1) such securities are, at the time of the exchange, eligible to be included, or otherwise represented, in the Portfolio (or its corresponding Master Fund) and current market quotations are readily available for such securities; (2) the investor represents and agrees that all securities offered to be exchanged are not subject to any restrictions upon their sale by the Portfolio (or its corresponding Master Fund) under the Securities Act of 1933 or under the laws of the country in which the principal market for such securities exists or otherwise; and (3) at the discretion of the applicable Fund, the value of any such security (except U.S. government securities) being exchanged together with other securities of the same issuer owned by the Portfolio (or Master Fund) may not exceed 5% of the net assets of the Portfolio (or Master Fund) immediately after the transaction.

 

A gain or loss for federal income tax purposes will generally be realized by investors who are subject to federal taxation upon the exchange depending upon the cost of the securities or local currency exchanged. Investors interested in such exchanges should contact the Advisor.

 

EXCHANGE OF SHARES

 

An investor may exchange shares of one Portfolio for those of another Portfolio described in this Prospectus or another portfolio of the Funds, by first contacting LWIF and completing the documentation required by LWIF and the Advisor. Exchanges are accepted only into those portfolios of the Funds that are eligible for the exchange privilege. Investors should contact LWIF for a list of those portfolios of the Funds that accept exchanges and the minimum amount required for exchanges into the portfolios.

 

The exchange privilege is not intended to afford shareholders a way to speculate on short-term movements in the markets. Accordingly, in order to prevent excessive use of the exchange privilege that may potentially disrupt the management of the Portfolios or otherwise adversely affect the Funds, any proposed exchange will be subject to the approval of the Advisor. Such approval will depend on: (i) the size of the proposed exchange; (ii) the prior number of exchanges by that shareholder; (iii) the nature of the underlying securities and the cash position of the portfolios involved in the proposed exchange; (iv) the transaction costs involved in processing the exchange; and (v) the total number of redemptions by exchange already made out of the Portfolio.

 

The redemption and purchase prices of shares redeemed and purchased by exchange, respectively, are the net asset values next determined after the Advisor has received a letter of instruction in good order. “Good order” means a completed letter of instruction specifying the dollar amount to be exchanged, signed by all registered owners (or representatives thereof) of the shares; and if a Fund does not have on file the authorized signatures for the account, proof of authority. Exchanges will be accepted only if stock certificates have not been issued and the shares of the Portfolio being acquired are registered in the investor’s state of residence.

 

There is no fee imposed on an exchange. However, the Funds reserve the right to impose an administrative fee in order to cover the costs incurred in processing an exchange. Any such fee will be disclosed in the Prospectus. An exchange is treated as a redemption and a purchase. Therefore, the investor could realize a taxable gain or loss on the transaction. The Funds reserve the right to revise or terminate the exchange privilege or limit the amount of or reject any exchange, as deemed necessary, at any time.

 

REDEMPTION OF SHARES

 

Redemption Procedure

 

An investor who desires to redeem shares of a Portfolio must furnish a redemption request to LWIF in the form required by LWIF. The Portfolio will redeem shares at the net asset value of such shares next determined after receipt of a request for redemption in good order by BNY Mellon (or an Intermediary or a Sub-designee, if applicable).

 

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“Good order” means that the request to redeem shares must include all necessary documentation, to be received in writing by no later than the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. ET), including but not limited to: the stock certificate(s), if issued; a letter of instruction or a stock assignment specifying the number of shares or dollar amount to be redeemed, signed by all registered owners (or representatives thereof) of the shares; and if a Fund does not have on file the authorized signatures for the account, proof of authority.

 

Although the redemption payments will ordinarily be made within seven days after receipt, payment to investors redeeming shares which were purchased by check will not be made until the Funds can verify that the payments for the purchase have been, or will be, collected, which may take up to ten days or more. Investors may avoid this delay by submitting a certified check along with the purchase order.

 

Redemption of Small Accounts

 

With respect to each Portfolio, the Funds reserve the right to redeem an account if the value of the shares in a specific account is $500 or less because of redemptions. Before a Fund involuntarily redeems shares from such an account and sends the proceeds to the stockholder, the Fund will give written notice of the redemption to the stockholder at least sixty days before the redemption date. The stockholder will then have sixty days from the date of the notice to make an additional investment in the Portfolio in order to bring the value of the shares in the account for a specific Portfolio to more than $500 and avoid such involuntary redemption. The redemption price to be paid to a stockholder for shares redeemed by a Fund under this right will be the aggregate net asset value of the shares in the account at the close of business on the redemption date. The right to redeem small accounts applies to accounts established with the Fund’s transfer agent.

 

In-Kind Redemptions

 

When in the best interests of a Portfolio, it may make a redemption payment, in whole or in part, by a distribution of portfolio securities that the Portfolio owns from the Portfolio being redeemed (or its corresponding Master Fund) in lieu of cash in accordance with Rule 18f-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio also reserves the right to redeem its shares in the currencies in which the DFA International Value Series’ investments are denominated. Investors may incur brokerage charges and other transaction costs selling securities that were received in payment of redemptions and the value of foreign securities or currencies may be affected by currency exchange fluctuations.

 

THE FEEDER PORTFOLIOS

 

The Master-Feeder structure is relatively complex. While this structure is designed to reduce costs, it may not do so. As a result, a Equity Portfolio might encounter operational or other complications. Other institutional investors, including other mutual funds, may invest in each Master Fund. The expenses of such other funds and, correspondingly, their returns, may differ from those of the Feeder Portfolios. Please contact The DFA Investment Trust Company at 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building one, Austin, TX 78746, (512) 306-7400 for information about the availability of investing in a Master Fund other than through a Feeder Portfolio.

 

The aggregate amount of expenses for a Feeder Portfolio and the corresponding Master Fund may be greater than it would be if the Portfolio were to invest directly in the securities held by the corresponding Master Fund. However, the total expense ratios for the Feeder Portfolios and the Master Funds are expected to be less over time than such ratios would be if the Portfolios were to invest directly in the underlying securities. This arrangement enables various institutional investors, including the Feeder Portfolios, to pool their assets, which may be expected to result in economies by spreading certain fixed costs over a larger asset base. Each shareholder in a Master Fund, including a Feeder Portfolio, will pay its proportionate share of the expenses of that Master Fund.

 

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The shares of the Master Funds will be offered to institutional investors for the purpose of increasing the funds available for investment, to reduce expenses as a percentage of total assets and to achieve other economies that might be available at higher asset levels. Investment in a Master Fund by other institutional investors offers potential benefits to the Master Funds, and through their investment in the Master Funds, the Feeder Portfolios also. However, such economies and expense reductions might not be achieved, and additional investment opportunities, such as increased diversification, might not be available if other institutions do not invest in the Master Funds. Also, if an institutional investor were to redeem its interest in a Master Fund, the remaining investors in that Master Fund could experience higher pro rata operating expenses, thereby producing lower returns, and the Master Fund’s security holdings may become less diverse, resulting in increased risk. Institutional investors that have a greater pro rata ownership interest in a Master Fund than the corresponding Feeder Portfolio could have effective voting control over the operation of the Master Fund.

 

If the Board of Directors of the relevant Fund determines that it is in the best interest of a Feeder Portfolio, the Feeder Portfolio may withdraw its investment in a Master Fund at any time. Upon any such withdrawal, the Board would consider what action the Portfolio might take, including either seeking to invest its assets in another registered investment company with the same investment objective as the Portfolio, which might not be possible, or retaining an investment advisor to manage the Portfolio’s assets in accordance with its own investment objective, possibly at increased cost. Shareholders of a Feeder Portfolio will receive written notice thirty days before the effective date of any changes in the investment objective of its corresponding Master Fund. A withdrawal by a Feeder Portfolio of its investment in the corresponding Master Fund could result in a distribution in kind of portfolio securities (as opposed to a cash distribution) to the Portfolio. Should such a distribution occur, the Portfolio could incur brokerage fees or other transaction costs in converting such securities to cash in order to pay redemptions. In addition, a distribution in kind to a Portfolio could result in a less diversified portfolio of investments and could affect adversely the liquidity of the Portfolio. Moreover, a distribution in kind by a Master Fund to a Feeder Portfolio may constitute a taxable exchange for federal income tax purposes resulting in gain or loss to such Portfolio. Any net capital gains so realized will be distributed to that Portfolio’s shareholders as described in “DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES.”

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

Each Portfolio and Master Fund generally will disclose up to 25 of its largest portfolio holdings (or with respect to a Feeder Portfolio, the holdings of its Master Fund) (other than cash and cash equivalents) and the percentages that each of these largest portfolio holdings represent of the total assets of the Portfolio or Master Fund, as of the most recent month-end, online at the Advisor’s public website, http://www.dimensional.com, within 20 days after the end of each month. Each Portfolio and Master Fund also generally will disclose its complete portfolio holdings (or with respect to a Feeder Portfolio, the holdings of its Master Fund) (other than cash and cash equivalents), as of month-end, online at the Advisor’s public website, two months following the month-end or more frequently and at different periods when authorized in accordance with the Portfolios and Master Funds’ policies and procedures. Please consult the SAI for a description of the other policies and procedures that govern disclosure of the portfolio holdings by the Portfolios and Master Funds.

 

DELIVERY OF SHAREHOLDER DOCUMENTS

 

To eliminate duplicate mailings and reduce expenses, a Portfolio may deliver a single copy of certain shareholder documents, such as this Prospectus and annual and semi-annual reports, to related shareholders at the same address, even if accounts are registered in different names. This practice is known as “householding.” A Portfolio will not household personal information documents, such as account statements. If you do not want the mailings of these documents to be combined with other members of your household, please call us collect at (512) 306-7400. We will begin sending individual copies of the shareholder documents to you within 30 days of receiving your request.

 

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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

The Financial Highlights table is meant to help you understand each Portfolio’s financial performance for the past five years. The total returns in the table represent the rate that you would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Portfolio, assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. This information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, whose report, along with the Portfolios’ annual financial statements, are included in the annual reports which are available upon request.

 

DIMENSIONAL INVESTMENT GROUP INC.

 

LWAS/DFA U.S. HIGH BOOK TO MARKET PORTFOLIO

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(for a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009


    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,*
2008

    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007

    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006

    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

  

$

9.80

  

  $ 9.04      $ 15.35      $ 16.10      $ 13.91      $ 12.28   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                                

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.19     0.18     0.21     0.20     0.23     0.19   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     1.72        0.79        (5.48     (0.26     2.23        1.57   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total from Investment Operations

     1.91        0.97        (5.27     (0.06     2.46        1.76   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                                

Net Investment Income

     (0.19     (0.21     (0.21     (0.20     (0.22     (0.13

Net Realized Gains

     —          —          (0.83     (0.49     (0.05     —     
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.19     (0.21     (1.04     (0.69     (0.27     (0.13
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

  

$

11.52

  

  $ 9.80      $ 9.04      $ 15.35      $ 16.10      $ 13.91   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

  

 

19.71

    11.61     (36.69 )%†      (0.51 )%      17.90     14.44

Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

     $67,314      $ 65,927      $ 68,462      $ 119,833      $ 124,983      $ 103,311   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets**

  

 

0.35

    0.38     0.33 %^      0.32     0.32     0.34

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     1.78     2.20     1.72 %^      1.20     1.54     1.43

*   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
#   Computed using average shares outstanding
  Non-annualized.
**   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund.
^   Annualized.

 

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DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

LWAS/DFA INTERNATIONAL HIGH BOOK TO MARKET PORTFOLIO

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(for a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009


    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,*
2008

    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007

    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006

    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 9.66      $ 11.40      $ 24.32      $ 21.89      $ 17.49      $ 15.93   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                                

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.22     0.25     0.66     0.65     0.61     0.48   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     0.79        2.14        (11.36     2.98        5.23        1.87   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total from Investment Operations

     1.01        2.39        (10.70     3.63        5.84        2.35   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                                

Net Investment Income

     (0.23     (0.27     (0.70     (0.58     (0.63     (0.43

Net Realized Gains

     (0.06     (3.86     (1.52     (0.62     (0.81     (0.36
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.29     (4.13     (2.22     (1.20     (1.44     (0.79
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.38      $ 9.66      $ 11.40      $ 24.32      $ 21.89      $ 17.49   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

     10.85     34.92     (47.99 )%†      17.05     35.40     15.32

Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 85,892      $ 85,504      $ 84,319      $ 185,239      $ 179,984      $ 138,782   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets**

     0.50     0.52     0.47 %^      0.46     0.47     0.50

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     2.29     2.99     3.74 %^      2.76     3.14     2.88

*   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
  Non-annualized.
**   Represents the combined ratios for the respective portfolio and its respective pro-rata share of its Master Fund.
^   Annualized.

 

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DIMENSIONAL INVESTMENT GROUP INC.

 

LWAS/DFA TWO-YEAR FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(for a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009

    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,*
2008

    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007

    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006

    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 10.03      $ 9.84      $ 9.95      $ 9.94      $ 9.82      $ 9.90   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                                

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.08     0.19     0.28     0.49     0.35     0.27   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     0.11        0.23        (0.04     —          0.08        (0.11
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total from Investment Operations

     0.19        0.42        0.24        0.49        0.43        0.16   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                                

Net Investment Income

     (0.09     (0.23     (0.35     (0.48     (0.31     (0.24

Net Realized Gains

     —          —          —          —          —          —     
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.09     (0.23     (0.35     (0.48     (0.31     (0.24
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.13      $ 10.03      $ 9.84      $ 9.95      $ 9.94      $ 9.82   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

     1.89     4.31     2.46 %†      5.03     4.47     1.65

Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 89,264      $ 77,398      $ 84,065      $ 96,442      $ 86,082      $ 80,199   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

     0.31     0.34     0.31 %^      0.31     0.31     0.36

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     0.82     1.92     3.04 %^      4.94     3.57     2.72

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     113     77     20 %†      22     15     48

*   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
  Non-annualized.
^   Annualized.

 

40


Table of Contents

DIMENSIONAL INVESTMENT GROUP INC.

 

LWAS/DFA TWO-YEAR GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(for a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009

    Period
Ended

Oct. 31,*
2008

    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007

    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006

    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 10.10      $ 9.80      $ 9.89      $ 9.87      $ 9.75      $ 9.83   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                                

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.07     0.18     0.24     0.46     0.34     0.26   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     0.13        0.33        (0.03     0.01        0.08        (0.10
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total from Investment Operations

     0.20        0.51        0.21        0.47        0.42        0.16   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                                

Net Investment Income

     (0.08     (0.21     (0.30     (0.45     (0.30     (0.24

Net Realized Gains

     (0.15     —          —          —          —          —     
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.23     (0.21     (0.30     (0.45     (0.30     (0.24
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.07      $ 10.10      $ 9.80      $ 9.89      $ 9.87      $ 9.75   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

     1.98     5.21     2.13 %†      4.85     4.42     1.67

Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 173,724      $ 136,508      $ 133,785      $ 110,338      $ 72,948      $ 68,708   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

     0.29     0.31     0.30 %^      0.31     0.32     0.37

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     0.72     1.76     2.69 %^      4.66     3.45     2.67

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     166     112     7 %†      0     29     44

*   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
  Non-annualized.
^   Annualized.

 

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Table of Contents

SERVICE PROVIDERS

 

Investment Advisor

 

DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LP

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

Tel. No. (512) 306-7400

 

Custodian—Domestic

 

PFPC TRUST COMPANY

(to be renamed BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company effective July 1, 2011)

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

Accounting Services, Dividend Disbursing and

Transfer Agent

 

BNY MELLON INVESTMENT SERVICING (US) INC. (formerly, PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.)

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

Sub-Advisors

 

DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LTD.

20 Triton Street,

Regent’s Place

London NW13BF

United Kingdom

Tel. No. (20) 3033-3300

 

DFA AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Level 43 Gateway

1 Macquarie Place

Sydney, New South Wales 2000

Australia

Tel. No. (612) 8 336-7100

Client Service Agent

 

LWI FINANCIAL INC.

3055 Olin Ave., Suite 2000

San Jose, CA 95128

Tel. No. (800) 366-7266

 

Custodian—International

 

CITIBANK, N.A.

111 Wall Street

New York, NY 10005

 

Legal Counsel

 

STRADLEY RONON STEVENS & YOUNG, LLP

2600 One Commerce Square

Philadelphia, PA 19103-7098

 

Independent Registered

Public Accounting Firm

 

PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP

Two Commerce Square

Suite 1700

2001 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042

 

 

42


Table of Contents

Other Available Information

 

You can find more information about the Funds and their Portfolios in the Funds’ SAI and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports.

 

Statement of Additional Information. The SAI supplements, and is technically part of, this Prospectus. It includes an expanded discussion of investment practices, risks, and fund operations.

 

Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to Shareholders. These reports focus on Portfolio holdings and performance. The Annual Report also discusses the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Portfolios in their last fiscal year.

 

How to get these and other materials:

 

   

Clients of LWI Financial Inc. (LWIF) should call (800) 366-7266 ext. 7.

 

   

If you are an LWIF client, call that firm toll-free at (800) 366-7266 to request free copies. Additional materials describing the Funds and Portfolios, as well as the Advisor and its investment approach, are also available.

 

   

Access them on our website at http://www.dimensional.com.

 

   

Access them on the EDGAR database in the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.

 

   

Review and copy them at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington D.C. (phone 1-800-SEC-0330).

 

   

Request copies from the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102 or at publicinfo@sec.gov (you will be charged a copying fee). Information on the operation of the SEC’s public reference room is available by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090.

 

    Client Service Agent:
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP   LWI Financial Inc.

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

  3055 Olin Ave., Suite 2000

Austin, TX 78746

  San Jose, CA 95128
(512) 306-7400   (800) 366-7266

 

DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. (LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio)—Registration No. 811-3258

Dimensional Investment Group Inc. (all other Portfolios)—Registration No. 811-6067

 

LOGO                 LOGO   RRD022811-003


Table of Contents

P R O S P E C T U S

 

February 28, 2011

Please carefully read the important information it contains before investing.

 

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 


 

PORTFOLIOS FOR INVESTORS SEEKING TO INVEST IN:

 

DOMESTIC EQUITY PORTFOLIOS

 

VA U.S. LARGE VALUE PORTFOLIO

VA U.S. TARGETED VALUE PORTFOLIO

 

INTERNATIONAL EQUITY PORTFOLIOS

 

VA INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO

VA INTERNATIONAL SMALL PORTFOLIO

 

FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIOS

 

VA SHORT-TERM FIXED PORTFOLIO

VA GLOBAL BOND PORTFOLIO

 

This Prospectus describes the shares of each Portfolio which:

 

Are available to insurance company separate accounts funding variable life and variable annuity contracts.

 

Do not charge sales commissions or loads.

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

VA U.S. LARGE VALUE PORTFOLIO

     1   

Investment Objective

     1   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     1   

Principal Investment Strategies

     1   

Principal Risks

     2   

Performance

     3   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     3   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     3   

Tax Information

     4   

VA U.S. TARGETED VALUE PORTFOLIO

     5   

Investment Objective

     5   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     5   

Principal Investment Strategies

     5   

Principal Risks

     6   

Performance

     7   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     7   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     8   

Tax Information

     8   

VA INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO

     9   

Investment Objective

     9   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     9   

Principal Investment Strategies

     9   

Principal Risks

     10   

Performance

     11   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     11   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     12   

Tax Information

     12   

VA INTERNATIONAL SMALL PORTFOLIO

     13   

Investment Objective

     13   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     13   

Principal Investment Strategies

     13   

Principal Risks

     14   

Performance

     15   

 

i


Table of Contents

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     15   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     16   

Tax Information

     16   

VA SHORT-TERM FIXED PORTFOLIO

     17   

Investment Objective

     17   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     17   

Principal Investment Strategies

     17   

Principal Risks

     18   

Performance

     19   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     20   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     20   

Tax Information

     20   

VA GLOBAL BOND PORTFOLIO

     21   

Investment Objective

     21   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     21   

Principal Investment Strategies

     21   

Principal Risks

     22   

Performance

     23   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     24   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     24   

Tax Information

     24   

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES FOR THE PORTFOLIOS

     25   

VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio and VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

     25   

VA International Value Portfolio

     25   

VA International Small Portfolio

     26   

Approved Markets

     28   

Portfolio Transactions—Domestic and International Equity Portfolios

     29   

Market Capitalization Weighted Approach—Domestic and International Equity Portfolios

     29   

Description of Investments—Fixed Income Portfolios

     30   

Investments in the Banking Industry—VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio

     32   

Portfolio Strategy—Fixed Income Portfolios

     32   

Other Information

     33   

SECURITIES LOANS

     33   

SECURITIES LENDING REVENUE

     33   

 

ii


Table of Contents

MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIOS

     34   

Management Fees

     35   

DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

     35   

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

     36   

Redemption of Small Accounts

     36   

POLICY REGARDING EXCESSIVE OR SHORT-TERM TRADING

     37   

VALUATION OF SHARES

     39   

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

     41   

DELIVERY OF SHAREHOLDER DOCUMENTS

     41   

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

     41   

SERVICE PROVIDERS

     48   

 

iii


Table of Contents

VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio. The expenses in the table do not include any fees or charges imposed by the variable insurance contract. If such fees and charges were included, the expenses would be higher.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.25

Other Expenses

     0.05

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.30

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example does not include any fees or charges imposed by the variable insurance contract. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 31       $ 97       $ 169       $ 381   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 33% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

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Table of Contents

The VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio, using a market capitalization weighted approach, purchases a broad and diverse group of readily marketable common stocks of large U.S. companies that the Advisor determines to be value stocks. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of the U.S. large cap company, the greater its representation in the Portfolio. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value (a “book to market ratio”).

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of large cap U.S. companies. As of the date of this Prospectus, for purposes of the Portfolio, the Advisor considers large cap companies to be companies whose market capitalizations are generally in the highest 90% of total market capitalization or companies whose market capitalizations are larger than the 1,000th largest U.S. company, whichever results in the higher market capitalization break. Total market capitalization is based on the market capitalization of U.S. operating companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), NYSE Alternext US LLC, Nasdaq Global Market® or such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor. Under the Advisor’s market capitalization guidelines described above, as of December 31, 2010, the market capitalization of a large cap company was $2,357 million, or above. This dollar amount will change due to market conditions.

 

The VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

2


Table of Contents

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The performance reflected in the bar chart for the Portfolio does not reflect any insurance company separate account charges, which if reflected would lower returns. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio

 

LOGO

 

January 2001-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

24.33 (4/09-6/09)

   -27.59 (10/08-12/08)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010    

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year

    Five
Years

    Ten
Years

 

VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     20.63     1.84     4.18

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     20.29     1.36     3.72

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     13.75     1.53     3.53

Russell 1000® Value Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     15.51     1.28     3.25

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio. Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, is responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio and has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Shares of the VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio are sold only to insurance company separate accounts or to other investment companies funded by insurance company separate accounts. Purchases and redemptions of

 

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Table of Contents

shares of the Portfolio by a separate account will be effected at the net asset value per share. Contract owners do not deal directly with the Portfolio with respect to the acquisition or redemption of shares of the Portfolio. Please see the prospectus of the insurance company separate account for information regarding the purchase and redemption of shares of the Portfolio.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions paid from the VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio to the insurance company separate accounts generally will consist of ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both. Because shares of the Portfolio must be purchased through separate accounts, such distributions will be exempt from current taxation by contract holders if left to accumulate within the separate account.

 

4


Table of Contents

VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the V.A. U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio. The expenses in the table do not include any fees or charges imposed by the variable insurance contract. If such fees and charges were included, the expenses would be higher.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.35

Other Expenses

     0.07

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.42

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example does not include any fees or charges imposed by the variable insurance contract. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 43       $ 135       $ 235       $ 530   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 32% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

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The VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, using a market capitalization weighted approach, purchases a broad and diverse group of the readily marketable common stocks of U.S. small and mid cap companies that the Advisor determines to be value stocks. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of the eligible company, the greater its representation in the Portfolio. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value (a “book to market ratio”).

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of U.S. companies. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Advisor considers for investment companies whose market capitalizations are generally smaller than the 500th largest U.S. company. As of December 31, 2010, companies smaller than the 500th largest U.S. company fall in the lowest 20% of total U.S. market capitalization. Total market capitalization is based on the market capitalization of U.S. operating companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), NYSE Alternext US LLC, Nasdaq Global Market® or such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor. As of December 31, 2010, the market capitalization of a company smaller than the 500th largest U.S. company was $5,005 million, or below. This dollar amount will change due to market conditions.

 

The VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio may lose money and there may be a

 

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delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The performance reflected in the bar chart for the Portfolio does not reflect any insurance company separate account charges, which if reflected would lower returns. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

 

LOGO

 

January 2001-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

31.89 (4/03-6/03)

   -27.68 (10/08-12/08)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010    

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Five
Years


    Ten
Years


 

VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     29.07     1.41     9.91

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     28.95     0.48     8.35

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     19.05     1.09     8.32

Russell 2000® Value Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     24.50     3.52     8.42

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio. Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, is responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio and has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

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PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Shares of the VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio are sold only to insurance company separate accounts or to other investment companies funded by insurance company separate accounts. Purchases and redemptions of shares of the Portfolio by a separate account will be effected at the net asset value per share. Contract owners do not deal directly with the Portfolio with respect to the acquisition or redemption of shares of the Portfolio. Please see the prospectus of the insurance company separate account for information regarding the purchase and redemption of shares of the Portfolio.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions paid from the VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio to the insurance company separate accounts generally will consist of ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both. Because shares of the Portfolio must be purchased through separate accounts, such distributions will be exempt from current taxation by contract holders if left to accumulate within the separate account.

 

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VA International Value Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the VA International Value Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the VA International Value Portfolio. The expenses in the table do not include any fees or charges imposed by the variable insurance contract. If such fees and charges were included, the expenses would be higher.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.40

Other Expenses

     0.10

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.50

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the VA International Value Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example does not include any fees or charges imposed by the variable insurance contract. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 51       $ 160       $ 280       $ 628   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The VA International Value Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 21% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

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The VA International Value Portfolio, using a market capitalization weighted approach, purchases stocks of large non-U.S. companies in countries with developed markets that the Advisor determines to be value stocks. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of a large company within an eligible country, the greater its representation in the Portfolio. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value (a “book to market ratio”).

 

The VA International Value Portfolio intends to purchase stocks of large companies associated with developed market countries that the Advisor has designated as approved markets. The Advisor determines the minimum market capitalization of a large company with respect to each country or region in which the Portfolio invests. As of December 31, 2010, for the Portfolio, the lowest minimum market capitalization of a large company in any country or region in which the Portfolio invests was $1,438 million. This threshold will change due to market conditions.

 

The VA International Value Portfolio also may gain exposure to companies associated with approved markets by purchasing equity securities in the form of depositary receipts, which may be listed or traded outside the issuer’s domicile country. The VA International Value Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for foreign or U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The VA International Value Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the VA International Value Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The VA International Value Portfolio does not hedge foreign currency risk.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the VA International Value Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the VA International Value Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

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PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the VA International Value Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The performance reflected in the bar chart for the Portfolio does not reflect any insurance company separate account charges, which if reflected would lower returns. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the VA International Value Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

VA International Value Portfolio

 

LOGO

 

January 2001-December 2010


Highest Quarter

  

Lowest Quarter

34.09 (4/09-6/09)

  

-24.61 (10/08-12/08)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010    

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year

    Five
Years

    Ten
Years

 

VA International Value Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     10.53     4.24     7.68

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     10.14     2.93     6.61

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     7.22     3.55     6.56

MSCI World ex USA Index (net dividends)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     8.95     3.05     3.98

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for VA International Value Portfolio. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the VA International Value Portfolio:

 

   

Karen Umland, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1998.

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

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Joseph H. Chi, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2005.

 

   

Jed S. Fogdall, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2004.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Shares of the VA International Value Portfolio are sold only to insurance company separate accounts or to other investment companies funded by insurance company separate accounts. Purchases and redemptions of shares of the Portfolio by a separate account will be effected at the net asset value per share. Contract owners do not deal directly with the Portfolio with respect to the acquisition or redemption of shares of the Portfolio. Please see the prospectus of the insurance company separate account for information regarding the purchase and redemption of shares of the Portfolio.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions paid from the VA International Value Portfolio to the insurance company separate accounts generally will consist of ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both. Because shares of the Portfolio must be purchased through separate accounts, such distributions will be exempt from current taxation by contract holders if left to accumulate within the separate account.

 

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VA International Small Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the VA International Small Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the VA International Small Portfolio. The expenses in the table do not include any fees or charges imposed by the variable insurance contract. If such fees and charges were included, the expenses would be higher.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.50

Other Expenses

     0.13

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.63

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the VA International Small Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example does not include any fees or charges imposed by the variable insurance contract. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 64       $ 202       $ 351       $ 786   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The VA International Small Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the VA International Small Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the VA International Small Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 9% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

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The VA International Small Portfolio, using a market capitalization weighted approach, purchases securities of (1) Japanese small companies; (2) United Kingdom small companies; (3) small companies organized under the laws of certain European countries; (4) small companies associated with Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Rim Asian countries; and (5) Canadian small companies. The VA International Small Portfolio also may have some exposure to small cap equity securities associated with other countries or regions. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of a small company within an eligible country, the greater its representation in the Portfolio. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions. The Advisor will determine the allocation of assets among the five segments and will periodically review and modify such allocation, all in its sole discretion. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of small companies. As of December 31, 2010, the highest maximum market capitalization of a small company in any country in which the VA International Small Portfolio invests was $4,264 million.

 

The VA International Small Portfolio also may gain exposure to companies associated with approved markets by purchasing equity securities in the form of depositary receipts, which may be listed or traded outside the issuer’s domicile country. The VA International Small Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for foreign or U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The VA International Small Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the VA International Small Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The VA International Small Portfolio does not hedge foreign currency risk.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the VA International Small Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the VA International Small Portfolio may lose money and there may be a

 

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delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the VA International Small Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The performance reflected in the bar chart for the Portfolio does not reflect any insurance company separate account charges, which if reflected would lower returns. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the VA International Small Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

VA International Small Portfolio

 

LOGO

 

January 2001-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

31.25 (4/09-6/09)

   -22.08 (7/08-9/08)

 

     Periods ending December 31, 2010

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
    Year    


    Five
    Years    

    Ten
    Years    


 

VA International Small Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     24.80     5.82     11.68

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     24.30     4.59     10.47

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     16.45     4.72     10.03

MSCI World ex USA Small Cap Index (net dividends) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     24.51     3.79     10.06

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the VA International Small Portfolio. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the VA International Small Portfolio:

 

   

Karen Umland, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1998.

 

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Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

Joseph H. Chi, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2005.

 

   

Jed S. Fogdall, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2004.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Shares of the VA International Small Portfolio are sold only to insurance company separate accounts or to other investment companies funded by insurance company separate accounts. Purchases and redemptions of shares of the Portfolio by a separate account will be effected at the net asset value per share. Contract owners do not deal directly with the Portfolio with respect to the acquisition or redemption of shares of the Portfolio. Please see the prospectus of the insurance company separate account for information regarding the purchase and redemption of shares of the Portfolio.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions paid from the VA International Small Portfolio to the insurance company separate accounts generally will consist of ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both. Because shares of the Portfolio must be purchased through separate accounts, such distributions will be exempt from current taxation by contract holders if left to accumulate within the separate account.

 

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VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio is to achieve a stable real return in excess of the rate of inflation with a minimum of risk.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio. The expenses in the table do not include any fees or charges imposed by the variable insurance contract. If such fees and charges were included, the expenses would be higher.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.25

Other Expenses

     0.05

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.30

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example does not include any fees or charges imposed by the variable insurance contract. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 31       $ 97       $ 169       $ 381   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 79% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that fixed income investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on bond market risk and return, not on interest rate forecasting or market timing.

 

In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely defined maturity ranges and credit quality characteristics. The Advisor will then seek to purchase a broad and diverse portfolio of securities meeting these credit quality standards. In making these

 

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purchase decisions, if the anticipated maturity risk premium is greater for longer-term securities in the eligible maturity range, the Advisor will focus investment in that longer-term area, otherwise, the portfolio will focus investment in the short-term range of the eligible maturity range. The Advisor also places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low.

 

The VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective by generally investing in a universe of high quality fixed income securities that typically mature in one year or less. The Portfolio may, however, take a large position in securities maturing within two years from the date of settlement when higher yields are available. The Portfolio purchases U.S. government obligations, U.S. government agency obligations, dollar-denominated obligations of foreign issuers issued in the U.S., foreign government and agency obligations, bank obligations, including U.S. subsidiaries and branches of foreign banks, corporate obligations, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, obligations of supranational organizations and affiliated and unaffiliated unregistered money market funds. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities and maintain a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity that will not exceed one year. The Portfolio principally invests in certificates of deposit, commercial paper, bankers’ acceptances, notes and bonds.

 

The VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio may concentrate its investments in obligations of U.S. and foreign banks and bank holding companies. The Portfolio will invest more than 25% of its total assets in obligations of U.S. and/or foreign banks and bank holding companies (“banking industry securities”) when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking industry securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group for a period of five consecutive days when the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. See the section entitled “Investments in the Banking Industry—VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio” in the Portfolio’s prospectus for additional information.

 

The VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Foreign Securities Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets.

 

Interest Rate Risk: Fixed income securities are subject to interest rate risk because the prices of fixed income securities tend to move in the opposite direction of interest rates. When interest rates rise, fixed income security prices fall. When interest rates fall, fixed income security prices rise. In general, fixed income securities with longer maturities are more sensitive to these price changes.

 

Credit Risk: Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security may be unable to make interest payments and/or repay principal when due. A downgrade to an issuer’s credit rating or a perceived change in an issuer’s financial strength may affect a security’s value, and thus, impact the VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio’s performance.

 

Income Risk: Income Risk is the risk that falling interest rates will cause the VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio’s income to decline.

 

Risks of Banking Concentration: Focus on the banking industry would link the performance of the VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio to changes in performance of the banking industry generally. For example, a change in the

 

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market’s perception of the riskiness of banks compared to non-banks would cause the value of the Portfolio’s securities to fluctuate. Banks are very sensitive to changes in money market and general economic conditions. The profitability of the banking industry is dependent upon banks being able to obtain funds at reasonable costs and upon liquidity in the capital and credit markets to finance their lending operations. Adverse general economic conditions can cause financial difficulties for a bank’s borrowers and the borrowers’ failure to repay their loans can adversely affect the bank’s financial situation. Banks are subject to extensive regulation and decisions by regulators may limit the loans banks make and the interest rates and fees they charge, which could reduce bank profitability.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The performance reflected in the bar chart for the Portfolio does not reflect any insurance company separate account charges, which if reflected would lower returns. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio

 

LOGO

 

January 2001-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

2.34 (10/08-12/08)

   -0.59 (4/04-6/04)

 

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     Periods ending December 31, 2010

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
    Year    


    Five
    Years    


    Ten
    Years    

 

VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     1.11     3.29     2.99

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     0.79     2.30     1.99

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     0.75     2.25     1.97

BofA Merrill Lynch Six-Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index*
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     0.36     2.97     2.78

BofA Merrill Lynch One-Year U.S. Treasury Note Index*
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     0.83     3.31     3.17

 

*   Source Merrill Lynch, used with permission. MERRILL LYNCH IS LICENSING THE MERRILL LYNCH INDICES “AS IS,” MAKES NO WARRANTIES REGARDING SAME, DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE QUALITY, ACCURACY AND/OR COMPLETENESS OF THE MERRILL LYNCH INDICES OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN OR DERIVED THEREFROM, AND ASSUMES NO LIABILITY IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR USE.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio:

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

David A. Plecha, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1989.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Shares of the VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio are sold only to insurance company separate accounts or to other investment companies funded by insurance company separate accounts. Purchases and redemptions of shares of the Portfolio by a separate account will be effected at the net asset value per share. Contract owners do not deal directly with the Portfolio with respect to the acquisition or redemption of shares of the Portfolio. Please see the prospectus of the insurance company separate account for information regarding the purchase and redemption of shares of the Portfolio.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions paid from the VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio to the insurance company separate accounts generally will consist of ordinary income. Because shares of the Portfolio must be purchased through separate accounts, such distributions will be exempt from current taxation by contract holders if left to accumulate within the separate account.

 

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VA Global Bond Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the VA Global Bond Portfolio is to provide a market rate of return for a fixed income portfolio with low relative volatility of returns.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the VA Global Bond Portfolio. The expenses in the table do not include any fees or charges imposed by the variable insurance contract. If such fees and charges were included, the expenses would be higher.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.25

Other Expenses

     0.06

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.31

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the VA Global Bond Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example does not include any fees or charges imposed by the variable insurance contract. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 32       $ 100       $ 174       $ 393   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The VA Global Bond Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the VA Global Bond Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the VA Global Bond Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 80% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that fixed income investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on bond market risk and return, not on interest rate forecasting or market timing.

 

In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely defined maturity ranges and credit quality characteristics. The Advisor will then seek to purchase a broad and diverse portfolio of securities meeting these credit quality standards. In making these

 

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purchase decisions, if the anticipated maturity risk premium is greater for longer-term securities in the eligible maturity range, the Advisor will focus investment in that longer-term area, otherwise, the portfolio will focus investment in the short-term range of the eligible maturity range. The Advisor also places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low.

 

The VA Global Bond Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective by generally investing in a universe of U.S. and foreign debt securities maturing in five years or less. The Portfolio primarily purchases obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, obligations of other foreign issuers rated AA or better, corporate debt obligations, bank obligations, commercial paper and supranational organizations. At the present time, the Advisor expects that most investments will be made in the obligations of issuers which are developed countries, such as those countries which are members of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). However, in the future, the Advisor anticipates investing in issuers located in other countries as well. The fixed income securities in which the VA Global Bond Portfolio invests are considered investment grade at the time of purchase. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio intends to invest its assets in issuers organized or having a majority of their assets in, or deriving a majority of their operating income in, at least three different countries, one of which may be the United States. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities. The Portfolio will generally invest its assets in obligations which mature within five years from the date of settlement. Because many of the Portfolio’s investments will be denominated in foreign currencies, the Portfolio will also enter into forward foreign currency contracts solely for the purpose of hedging against fluctuations in currency exchange rates.

 

The VA Global Bond Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the VA Global Bond Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The VA Global Bond Portfolio hedges foreign currency risk.

 

Interest Rate Risk: Fixed income securities are subject to interest rate risk because the prices of fixed income securities tend to move in the opposite direction of interest rates. When interest rates rise, fixed income security prices fall. When interest rates fall, fixed income security prices rise. In general, fixed income securities with longer maturities are more sensitive to these price changes.

 

Credit Risk: Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security may be unable to make interest payments and/or repay principal when due. A downgrade to an issuer’s credit rating or a perceived change in an issuer’s financial strength may affect a security’s value, and thus, impact the VA Global Bond Portfolio’s performance.

 

Income Risk: Income Risk is the risk that falling interest rates will cause the Portfolio’s income to decline.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. Derivatives can be used for hedging (attempting to reduce risk by offsetting one investment position with another) or non-hedging purposes. Hedging with derivatives may increase expenses, and there is no guarantee that a hedging strategy will work. While hedging can reduce or eliminate losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the VA Global Bond Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed

 

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to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the VA Global Bond Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the VA Global Bond Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The performance reflected in the bar chart for the Portfolio does not reflect any insurance company separate account charges, which if reflected would lower returns. The table illustrates how annualized one year, five year and ten year returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the VA Global Bond Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

VA Global Bond Portfolio

 

LOGO

 

January 2001-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

5.15 (7/02-9/02)

   -3.30 (4/04-6/04)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010  

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Five
Years


    Ten
Years


 

VA Global Bond Portfolio

                        

Return Before Taxes

     5.53     4.79     4.69

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     3.42     3.66     3.37

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     4.12     3.49     3.29

Citigroup World Government Bond Index 1-5 Year Currency Hedged U.S. Dollar
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     1.99     4.24     4.03

 

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INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the VA Global Bond Portfolio. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the VA Global Bond Portfolio:

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

David A. Plecha, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1989.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Shares of the VA Global Bond Portfolio are sold only to insurance company separate accounts or to other investment companies funded by insurance company separate accounts. Purchases and redemptions of shares of the Portfolio by a separate account will be effected at the net asset value per share. Contract owners do not deal directly with the Portfolio with respect to the acquisition or redemption of shares of the Portfolio. Please see the prospectus of the insurance company separate account for information regarding the purchase and redemption of shares of the Portfolio.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions paid from the VA Global Bond Portfolio to the insurance company separate accounts generally will consist of ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both. Because shares of the Portfolio must be purchased through separate accounts, such distributions will be exempt from current taxation by contract holders if left to accumulate within the separate account.

 

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES FOR THE PORTFOLIOS

 

The investment company described in this Prospectus offers a variety of investment portfolios. Each of the investment company’s Portfolios has its own investment objective and policies, and is the equivalent of a separate mutual fund. The Portfolios described in this Prospectus are designed for long-term investors.

 

VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio and VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

 

The investment objective of each of the Domestic Equity Portfolios is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio and VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio will invest in a broad and diverse group of readily marketable common stocks of U.S. companies which the Advisor determines to be value stocks at the time of purchase. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value (a “book to market ratio”). In assessing value, the Advisor may consider additional factors, such as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios, as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer’s industry. The criteria the Advisor uses for assessing value are subject to change from time to time.

 

The VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio and VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio will purchase securities that are listed on the U.S. national securities exchanges or traded on the over-the-counter market. Each of the VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio and VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio uses a market capitalization weighted approach. See “Market Capitalization Weighted Approach—Domestic and International Equity Portfolios” in this Prospectus.

 

The total market capitalization ranges, and the value criteria used by the Advisor for the VA U.S. Large Value and VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolios, as described above, generally apply at the time of purchase by the VA U.S. Large Value and VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolios. The VA U.S. Large Value and VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolios are not required to dispose of a security if the security’s issuer is no longer within the total market capitalization range or does not meet current value criteria. Similarly, the Advisor is not required to sell a security even if the decline in the market capitalization reflects a serious financial difficulty or potential or actual insolvency of the company. Securities which do meet the market capitalization and/or value criteria nevertheless may be sold at any time when, in the Advisor’s judgment, circumstances warrant their sale. See “Portfolio Transactions—Domestic and International Equity Portfolios” in this Prospectus.

 

The VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the U.S. stock market while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the Portfolios may each invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

VA International Value Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the VA International Value Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective by purchasing the stocks of large non-U.S. companies which the Advisor determines to be value stocks at the time of the purchase. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value (a “book to market ratio”). In assessing value, the Advisor may consider additional factors, such as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios, as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer’s industry. The criteria the Advisor uses for assessing value are subject to change from time to time. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio may invest in the stocks of large companies associated with Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the

 

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Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom (collectively, the “Approved Markets”). The Advisor will determine, in its discretion, when and whether to invest in countries that have been authorized as Approved Markets, depending on a number of factors, such as asset growth in the Portfolio and the characteristics of each country’s markets. The Investment Committee of the Advisor may designate other countries as Approved Markets for investment in the future, in addition to the countries identified above, or the Investment Committee may remove one or more countries from the list of Approved Markets. In addition, the Portfolio may continue to hold investments in countries that are not currently designated as Approved Markets, but had been authorized for investment in the past, and may reinvest distributions received in connection with such existing investments in such previously Approved Markets. (For a description of the securities approved for investment, see “Approved Markets”).

 

Under normal market conditions, the VA International Value Portfolio intends to invest at least 40% of its assets in three or more non-U.S. countries by investing in securities of companies associated with such countries.

 

In the countries or regions authorized for investment, the Advisor first ranks eligible companies listed on selected exchanges based on the companies’ market capitalization. The Advisor then determines the universe of eligible stocks by defining the minimum market capitalization of a large company that may be purchased by the VA International Value Portfolio with respect to each country or region. As of December 31, 2010, for the Portfolio, the lowest minimum market capitalization of a large company in any country or region in which the Portfolio invests was $1,438 million. This threshold will change due to market conditions. For example, as of December 31, 2010, the Advisor considered a large company in the European Monetary Union (EMU) to have a market capitalization of at least $3,133 million, a large company in Australia to have a market capitalization of at least $2,139 million, and a large company in Japan to have a market capitalization of at least $1,438 million. These dollar amounts will change due to market conditions.

 

The VA International Value Portfolio intends to purchase securities within each applicable country using a market capitalization weighted approach. The Advisor, using this approach and its judgment, will seek to set country weights based on the relative market capitalizations of eligible large companies within each country. See “Market Capitalization Weighted Approach—Domestic and International Equity Portfolios.” As a result, the weightings of countries in the Portfolio may vary from their weighting in international indices, such as those published by FTSE International, Morgan Stanley Capital International or Citigroup. On at least a semi-annual basis, the Advisor will review total market capitalization to prepare lists of non-U.S. large companies whose stocks are eligible for investment by the VA International Value Portfolio.

 

The VA International Value Portfolio does not seek current income as an investment objective and investments will not be based upon an issuer’s dividend payment policy or record. However, many of the companies whose securities will be included in the Portfolio do pay dividends. It is anticipated, therefore, that the Portfolio will receive dividend income.

 

The VA International Value Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the equity markets while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the Portfolio may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

VA International Small Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the VA International Small Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. It provides investors with access to securities portfolios consisting of small Japanese, United Kingdom, Continental, Asia Pacific and Canadian companies. It generally will invest its assets in a broad and diverse group of readily marketable securities of (1) Japanese small companies; (2) United Kingdom small

 

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companies; (3) small companies organized under the laws of certain European countries; (4) small companies associated with Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Rim Asian countries; and (5) Canadian small companies (collectively, the “Approved Markets”). The VA International Small Portfolio also may have some exposure to small cap equity securities associated with other countries and regions. The Advisor will determine, in its discretion, when and whether to invest in countries that have been authorized as Approved Markets, depending on a number of factors, such as asset growth in the Portfolio and the characteristics of each country’s markets. The Investment Committee of the Advisor may designate other countries as Approved Markets for investment in the future, in addition to the Approved Markets identified above, or may remove one or more countries from the list of Approved Markets. In addition, the Portfolio may continue to hold investments in countries that are not currently designated as Approved Markets, but had been authorized for investment in the past, and may reinvest distributions received in connection with such existing investments in such previously Approved Markets. The Advisor will determine the allocation of assets among the five segments of VA International Small Portfolio and will periodically review and adjust such allocation, all in its sole discretion. (For a description of the securities approved for investment, see “Approved Markets”).

 

The VA International Small Portfolio intends to invest in the stock of eligible companies on a market capitalization weighted approach. See “Market Capitalization Weighted Approach—Domestic and International Equity Portfolios.” The decision to include or exclude the shares of an issuer will be made on the basis of such issuer’s relative market capitalization determined by reference to other companies located in the same country or region. Company size is measured in terms of local currencies in order to eliminate the effect of variations in currency exchange rates. On a periodic basis, the Advisor will review each Portfolio’s holdings and determine which, at the time of such review, are no longer considered Japanese, United Kingdom, Continental, Asia Pacific or Canadian small companies or otherwise in an eligible country.

 

The VA International Small Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the equity markets while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the Portfolio may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

Japanese Small Company Segment

 

The Portfolio is authorized to purchase readily marketable stocks of a broad and diverse group of Japanese small companies. The Advisor measures company size based primarily on market capitalization. With respect to this segment of the Portfolio, the Advisor first ranks eligible companies by market capitalization. The Advisor then determines the universe of eligible stocks by defining the maximum market capitalization of a small company in Japan. As of December 31, 2010, the Advisor considered Japanese small companies to be those companies with a market capitalization below $1,438 million. This dollar amount will change due to market conditions.

 

United Kingdom Small Company Segment

 

The Portfolio is authorized to purchase readily marketable stocks of a broad and diverse group of United Kingdom small companies. The Advisor measures company size based primarily on market capitalization. With respect to this segment of the Portfolio, the Advisor first ranks eligible companies listed on selected exchanges in the United Kingdom. The Advisor then determines the universe of eligible stocks by defining the maximum market capitalization of a small company in the United Kingdom. As of December 31, 2010, the Advisor considered United Kingdom small companies to be those companies with a market capitalization below $3,669 million. This dollar amount will change due to market conditions.

 

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Continental Small Company Segment

 

The Portfolio is authorized to purchase readily marketable stocks of a broad and diverse group of small companies organized under the laws of certain European countries. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio may invest in small companies associated with Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. With respect to this segment of the Portfolio, the Advisor determines company size on a country or region specific basis and based primarily on market capitalization. In the countries or regions authorized for investment, the Advisor first ranks eligible companies listed on selected exchanges based on the companies’ market capitalization. The Advisor then determines the universe of eligible stocks by defining the maximum market capitalization of a small company that may be purchased with respect to each country or region. This threshold will vary by country or region. For example, as of December 31, 2010, the Advisor considered a small company in the EMU to have a market capitalization below $3,133 million, a small company in Denmark to have a market capitalization below $2,568 million, and a small company in Sweden to have a market capitalization below $2,971 million. These dollar amounts will change due to market conditions.

 

Asia Pacific Small Company Segment

 

The Portfolio is authorized to purchase stocks of small companies associated with Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Rim Asian countries. With respect to this segment of the Portfolio, the Advisor measures company size on a country specific basis and based primarily on market capitalization. In the countries authorized for investment, the Advisor first ranks eligible companies based on the companies’ market capitalization. The Advisor then determines the universe of eligible stocks by defining the maximum market capitalization of a small company that may be purchased by the Portfolio with respect to each country authorized for investment. This threshold will vary by country. As of December 31, 2010, for the Portfolio, the highest maximum market capitalization of a small company in any county in which the Portfolio, invests was $2,139 million. As of December 31, 2010, the Advisor considered Asia Pacific small companies to be those companies with a market capitalization below $2,139 million in Australia, $1,612 million in Hong Kong, $1,799 million in New Zealand and $1,505 million in Singapore. These dollar amounts will change due to market conditions. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio is authorized to invest in Asia Pacific small companies associated with Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Singapore. In the future, the Advisor may add small companies associated with other Asian countries as securities markets in these countries become accessible.

 

Canadian Small Company Segment

 

The Portfolio is authorized to purchase readily marketable stocks of a broad and diverse group of Canadian small companies. The Advisor measures company size based primarily on market capitalization. The Advisor first ranks eligible companies by market capitalization. The Advisor then determines the universe of eligible stocks by defining the maximum market capitalization of a small company in Canada. As of December 31, 2010, the Advisor considered Canadian small companies to be those companies with a market capitalization below $2,759 million. This dollar amount will change due to market conditions.

 

Approved Markets

 

The VA International Value Portfolio and VA International Small Portfolio (each an “International Equity Portfolio” and collectively, the “International Equity Portfolios”) each invests in securities of Approved Markets as identified above for each International Equity Portfolio. The Approved Markets securities invested in by each International Equity Portfolio will be listed on bona fide securities exchanges or traded on the over-the-counter markets. These exchanges or over-the-counter markets may be either within or outside the issuer’s domicile country. For example, the securities may be listed or traded in the form of European Depositary Receipts, Global Depositary Receipts, American Depositary Receipts, or other types of depositary receipts (including non-voting depositary receipts) or may be listed on bona fide securities exchanges in more than one country. Approved Market securities are defined as securities that are associated with an Approved Market, and include, among

 

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others: (a) securities of companies that are organized under the laws of, or maintain their principal place of business in, an Approved Market; (b) securities for which the principal trading market is in an Approved Market; (c) securities issued or guaranteed by the government of an Approved Market country, its agencies or instrumentalities, or the central bank of such country; (d) securities denominated in an Approved Market currency issued by companies to finance operations in Approved Markets; (e) securities of companies that derive at least 50% of their revenues or profits from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed in Approved Markets or have at least 50% of their assets in Approved Markets; (f) Approved Markets equity securities in the form of depositary shares; (g) securities of pooled investment vehicles that invest primarily in Approved Markets securities or derivative instruments that derive their value from Approved Markets securities; or (h) securities included in the International Equity Portfolio’s benchmark index. Securities of Approved Markets may include securities of companies that have characteristics and business relationships common to companies in other countries. As a result, the value of the securities of such companies may reflect economic and market forces in such other countries as well as in the Approved Markets. The Advisor, however, will select only those companies that, in its view, have sufficiently strong exposure to economic and market forces in Approved Markets. For example, the Advisor may invest in companies organized and located in the United States or other countries outside of Approved Markets, including companies having their entire production facilities outside of Approved Markets, when such companies meet the criteria discussed above to be considered associated with Approved Markets.

 

Portfolio Transactions—Domestic and International Equity Portfolios

 

The Domestic and International Equity Portfolios do not intend to purchase or sell securities based on the prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase. Generally, securities will be purchased with the expectation that they will be held for longer than one year.

 

The VA U.S. Large Value and VA International Value Portfolios may sell portfolio securities when the issuer’s market capitalization falls substantially below that of the issuer with the minimum market capitalization which is then eligible for purchase by the Portfolio. The VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio may sell portfolio securities when the issuer’s market capitalization increases to a level that exceeds that of the issuer with the largest market capitalization which is then eligible for investment by the Portfolio. However, securities, including those eligible for purchase, may be sold at any time when, in the Advisor’s judgment, circumstances warrant their sale.

 

In addition, the VA U.S. Large Value and VA International Value Portfolios may sell portfolio securities when their book to market ratio falls substantially below that of the security with the lowest such ratio that is then eligible for purchase by the Portfolio. The VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio may also sell portfolio securities in the same circumstances; however, that Portfolio may retain securities of issuers with relatively smaller market capitalizations for longer periods, despite a decrease in the issuer’s book to market ratio. The VA International Small Portfolio will not sell securities which have depreciated in value solely because prospects for the issuer are not considered attractive or due to an expected or realized decline in securities prices in general.

 

Market Capitalization Weighted Approach—Domestic and International Equity Portfolios

 

The portfolio structures of the Domestic and International Equity Portfolios involve market capitalization weighting in determining individual security weights and, where applicable, country or region weights. Market capitalization weighting means each security is generally purchased based on the issuer’s relative market capitalization. Market capitalization weighting will be modified by the Advisor for a variety of factors. The Advisor may consider such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors determined to be appropriate by the Advisor given market conditions. The Advisor may deviate from market capitalization weighting to limit or fix the exposure of a Portfolio to a particular issuer to a maximum proportion of the assets of the Portfolio. The Advisor may exclude the stock of a company that meets applicable market capitalization criterion if the Advisor determines, in its judgment, that the purchase of such stock is inappropriate in light of other conditions. These adjustments will result in a deviation from traditional market capitalization weighting.

 

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Adjustment for free float modifies market capitalization weighting to exclude the share capital of a company that is not freely available for trading in the public equity markets. For example, the following types of shares may be excluded: (i) those held by strategic investors (such as governments, controlling shareholders and management), (ii) treasury shares, or (iii) shares subject to foreign ownership restrictions.

 

Deviation from market capitalization weighting also will occur because the Advisor generally intends to purchase in round lots. Furthermore, the Advisor may reduce the relative amount of any security held in order to retain sufficient portfolio liquidity. A portion, but generally not in excess of 20% of assets, may be invested in interest bearing obligations, such as money market instruments, thereby causing further deviation from market capitalization weighting. A further deviation may occur due to holdings of privately placed convertible debentures and securities received in connection with corporate actions.

 

Block purchases of eligible securities may be made at opportune prices, even though such purchases exceed the number of shares that, at the time of purchase, adherence to a market capitalization weighted approach would otherwise require. In addition, securities eligible for purchase or otherwise represented in a Portfolio may be acquired in exchange for the issuance of shares. While such transactions might cause a deviation from market capitalization weighting, they would ordinarily be made in anticipation of further growth of assets.

 

Changes in the composition and relative ranking (in terms of market capitalization) of the stocks that are eligible for purchase take place with every trade when the securities markets are open for trading due, primarily, to price fluctuations of such securities. On at least a semi-annual basis, the Advisor will identify companies whose stock is eligible for investment by a Portfolio. Additional investments generally will not be made in securities that have changed in value sufficiently to be excluded from the Advisor’s then current market capitalization requirement for eligible portfolio securities. This may result in further deviation from market capitalization weighting. Such deviation could be substantial if a significant amount of holdings of a Portfolio change in value sufficiently to be excluded from the requirement for eligible securities, but not by a sufficient amount to warrant their sale.

 

Country weights may be based on the total market capitalization of companies within each country. The calculation of country market capitalization may take into consideration the free float of companies within a country or whether these companies are eligible to be purchased for the particular strategy. In addition, to maintain a satisfactory level of diversification, the Investment Committee may limit or fix the exposure to a particular country or region to a maximum proportion of the assets of that vehicle. Country weights may also deviate from target weights due to general day-to-day trading patterns and price movements. As a result, the weighting of certain countries may vary from their weighting in published international indices.

 

Description of Investments—Fixed Income Portfolios

 

The following is a description of the categories of investments which may be acquired by the Fixed Income Portfolios. VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio may invest in all of the securities and obligations listed in categories 1-8, 10 and 11, and VA Global Bond Portfolio may invest in the securities and obligations listed in categories 1-11.

 

1. U.S. Government Obligations—Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury which are direct obligations of the U.S. government, including bills, notes and bonds.

 

2. U.S. Government Agency Obligations—Issued or guaranteed by U.S. government-sponsored instrumentalities and federal agencies, which have different levels of credit support. The U.S. government agency obligations include, but are not limited to, securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States, such as the Federal Housing Administration and Ginnie Mae, including Ginnie Mae pass-through certificates. Other securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government may be supported only by the issuer’s right to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, subject to certain limits, such as securities issued by Federal Home Loan Banks, or are supported only by the credit of such agencies, such as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

 

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3. Corporate Debt Obligations—Non-convertible corporate debt securities (e.g., bonds and debentures) which are issued by companies whose commercial paper is rated Prime-1 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or A-1 or better by Standard & Poor’s Rating Group, a Division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (“S&P”) or F1 better by Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”) and dollar-denominated obligations of foreign issuers issued in the U.S. If the issuer’s commercial paper is unrated, then the debt security would have to be rated at least AA by S&P or Aa2 by Moody’s or AA by Fitch. If there is neither a commercial paper rating nor a rating of the debt security, then the Advisor must determine that the debt security is of comparable quality to equivalent issues of the same issuer rated at least AA or Aa2.

 

4. Bank Obligations—Obligations of U.S. banks and savings and loan associations and dollar-denominated obligations of U.S. subsidiaries and branches of foreign banks, such as certificates of deposit (including marketable variable rate certificates of deposit), time deposits and bankers’ acceptances. Bank certificates of deposit will only be acquired from banks with assets in excess of $1,000,000,000.

 

5. Commercial Paper—Rated, at the time of purchase, A-1 or better by S&P or Prime-1 by Moody’s or F1 or better by Fitch, or, if unrated, issued by a corporation having an outstanding unsecured debt issue rated Aaa by Moody’s or AAA by S&P or AAA by Fitch.

 

6. Repurchase Agreements—Instruments through which the Portfolios purchase securities (“underlying securities”) from a bank or a registered U.S. government securities dealer, with an agreement by the seller to repurchase the securities at an agreed price, plus interest at a specified rate. The underlying securities will be limited to U.S. government and agency obligations described in (1) and (2) above. The Portfolios will not enter into a repurchase agreement with a duration of more than seven days if, as a result, more than 10% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets would be so invested. In addition, a repurchase agreement with a duration of more than seven days will be subject to a Portfolio’s illiquid securities policy. The Portfolios also will only invest in repurchase agreements with a bank if the bank has at least $1,000,000,000 in assets and is approved by the Investment Committee of the Advisor. The Advisor will monitor the market value of the securities plus any accrued interest thereon so that they will at least equal the repurchase price.

 

7. Foreign Government and Agency Obligations—Bills, notes, bonds and other debt securities issued or guaranteed by foreign governments, or their agencies and instrumentalities.

 

8. Supranational Organization Obligations—Debt securities of supranational organizations such as the European Coal and Steel Community, the European Economic Community and the World Bank, which are chartered to promote economic development.

 

9. Foreign Issuer Obligations—Debt securities of non-U.S. issuers rated AA or better by S&P or Aa2 or better by Moody’s or AA or better by Fitch.

 

10. Eurodollar Obligations—Debt securities of domestic or foreign issuers denominated in U.S. dollars but not trading in the United States.

 

11. Money Market Funds—The Portfolios may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated unregistered money market funds. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

Investors should be aware that the net asset values of the Fixed Income Portfolios may change as general levels of interest rates fluctuate. When interest rates increase, the value of a portfolio of fixed-income securities can be expected to decline. Conversely, when interest rates decline, the value of a portfolio of fixed-income securities can be expected to increase.

 

The categories of investments that may be acquired by the Fixed Income Portfolios may include both fixed and floating rate securities. Floating rate securities bear interest at rates that vary with prevailing market rates. Interest rate adjustments are made periodically (e.g., every six months), usually based on a money market index such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) or the Treasury bill rate.

 

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Investments in the Banking Industry—VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio

 

VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio will invest more than 25% of its total assets in obligations of U.S. and/or foreign banks and bank holding companies (“banking industry securities”) when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking industry securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group generally for a period of five consecutive days when the NYSE is open for trading. For purposes of this policy, the Advisor considers eligible portfolio investments to be those securities that are on the Advisor’s then current buy list that are available for purchase. This policy can only be changed by a vote of shareholders of the Portfolio. Banks and bank holding companies are considered to constitute a single industry, the banking industry. When investment in such obligations exceeds 25% of the total net assets of the Portfolio, the Portfolio will be considered to be concentrating its investments in the banking industry. Once the Portfolio concentrates its investments in the banking industry, the Portfolio may remain concentrated in the banking industry until the purchase of new investments in the normal course of executing the Portfolio’s investment strategy result in less than 25% of the Portfolio’s total assets consisting of banking industry securities.

 

The types of bank and bank holding company obligations in which VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio may invest include: dollar-denominated certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, commercial paper and other debt obligations issued in the United States and which mature within two years of the date of settlement, provided such obligations meet the Portfolio’s established credit rating criteria as stated under Description of Investments—Fixed Income Portfolios.” In addition, the Portfolio is authorized to invest more than 25% of its total assets in U.S. Treasury bonds, bills and notes and obligations of federal agencies and instrumentalities.

 

Portfolio Strategy—Fixed Income Portfolios

 

VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio will be managed with a view to capturing credit risk premiums and term or maturity premiums. The term “credit risk premium” means the anticipated incremental return on investment for holding obligations considered to have greater credit risk than direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury, and “maturity risk premium” means the anticipated incremental return on investment for holding securities having maturities of longer than one month compared to securities having a maturity of one month. The Advisor believes that credit risk premiums are available largely through investment in commercial paper, certificates of deposit and corporate obligations. The holding period for assets of the Portfolio will be chosen with a view to maximizing anticipated returns, net of trading costs.

 

VA Global Bond Portfolio will be managed with a view to capturing credit risk premiums and maturity risk premiums. Ordinarily, the Portfolio will invest primarily in obligations issued or guaranteed by foreign governments and their agencies and instrumentalities, obligations of other foreign issuers rated AA or better and supranational organizations. The Portfolio will own obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities also. At times when, in the Advisor’s judgment, eligible foreign securities do not offer maturity risk premiums that compare favorably with those offered by eligible U.S. securities, the Portfolio will be invested primarily in the latter securities.

 

VA Global Bond Portfolio will not invest more than 25% of its total assets in securities issued by issuers in a single industry, or by any one foreign government or in obligations of supranational organizations. VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio and the VA Global Bond Portfolio are expected to have a high portfolio turnover rate due to the relatively short maturities of the securities to be acquired. The rate of portfolio turnover will depend upon market and other conditions; it will not be a limiting factor when management believes that portfolio changes are appropriate. While the Fixed Income Portfolios acquire securities in principal transactions and, therefore, do not pay brokerage commissions, the spread between the bid and asked prices of a security may be considered to be a “cost” of trading. Such costs ordinarily increase with trading activity. However, as stated above, securities ordinarily will be sold when, in the Advisor’s judgment, the monthly return of a Portfolio will be increased as a result of portfolio transactions after taking into account the cost of trading. It is anticipated that short-term instruments will be acquired in the primary and secondary markets.

 

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Other Information

 

Commodity Pool Operator Exemption:

 

The Portfolios are operated by a person that has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”), and, therefore, such person is not subject to registration or regulation as a pool operator under the CEA.

 

SECURITIES LOANS

 

All of the Portfolios are authorized to lend securities to qualified brokers, dealers, banks and other financial institutions for the purpose of earning additional income. While a Portfolio may earn additional income from lending securities, such activity is incidental to the investment objective of a Portfolio. For information concerning the revenue from securities lending, see “SECURITIES LENDING REVENUE.” The value of securities loaned may not exceed 33 1/3% of the value of a Portfolio’s total assets, which includes the value of collateral received. To the extent a Portfolio loans a portion of its securities, a Portfolio will receive collateral consisting generally of cash or securities of the U.S. government or its agencies, which will be maintained by marking to market daily in an amount equal to at least (i) 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities with respect to securities of the U.S. government or its agencies, (ii) 102% of the current market value of the loaned securities with respect to U.S. securities, and (iii) 105% of the current market value of the loaned securities with respect to foreign securities. Subject to their stated investment policies, the Portfolios will generally invest the cash collateral received for the loaned securities in The DFA Short Term Investment Fund (the “Money Market Series”), an affiliated registered money market fund advised by the Advisor for which the Advisor receives a management fee of 0.05% of the average daily net assets of the Money Market Series. For purposes of this paragraph, agencies include both agency debentures and agency mortgage backed securities.

 

In addition, the Portfolios will be able to terminate the loan at any time, will receive reasonable compensation on the loan, as well as amounts equal to any dividends, interest or other distributions on the loaned securities. However, dividend income received from loaned securities may not be eligible to be taxed at qualified dividend income rates. See the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) for a further discussion of the tax consequences related to securities lending. A Portfolio will be entitled to recall a loaned security in time to vote proxies or otherwise obtain rights to vote proxies of loaned securities if the Portfolio knows a material event will occur. In the event of the bankruptcy of the borrower, DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. (“the Fund”) could experience delay in recovering the loaned securities or only recover cash or a security of equivalent value. See “PRINCIPAL RISKSSecurities Lending” for a discussion of the risks related to securities lending.

 

SECURITIES LENDING REVENUE

 

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the Domestic Equity Portfolios and the International Equity Portfolios received the following net revenues from a securities lending program, which constituted a percentage of the average daily net assets of each Portfolio (see “SECURITIES LOANS”):

 

Portfolio


   Net Revenue

     Percentage
of Net
Assets


 

VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio

   $ 69,000         0.06

VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

   $ 116,000         0.14

VA International Value Portfolio

   $ 104,000         0.12

VA International Small Portfolio

   $ 143,000         0.22

VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio

   $ 5,000         0.01

VA Global Bond Portfolio

   $ 14,000         0.01

 

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MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIOS

 

The Advisor serves as investment advisor to each of the Portfolios. Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Fund on behalf of each Portfolio, the Advisor is responsible for the management of each of the Portfolio’s assets. Each Portfolio is managed using a team approach. The investment team includes the Investment Committee of the Advisor, portfolio managers and trading personnel.

 

The Investment Committee is composed primarily of certain officers and directors of the Advisor who are appointed annually. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Investment Committee has ten members. Investment strategies for all Portfolios are set by the Investment Committee, which meets on a regular basis and also as needed to consider investment issues. The Investment Committee also sets and reviews all investment related policies and procedures and approves any changes in regards to approved countries, security types and brokers.

 

In accordance with the team approach used to manage the Portfolios, the portfolio managers and portfolio traders implement the policies and procedures established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers and portfolio traders also make daily investment decisions regarding the Portfolios including running buy and sell programs based on the parameters established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers named below coordinate the efforts of all other portfolio managers with respect to the day-to-day management of the Portfolios indicated.

 

Domestic Equity Portfolios

     Stephen A. Clark

International Equity Portfolios

     Stephen A. Clark, Karen E. Umland, Joseph H. Chi and Jed S. Fogdall

Fixed Income Portfolios

     Stephen A. Clark and David A. Plecha

 

Mr. Clark is a Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and chairman of the Investment Committee. Mr. Clark received his MBA from the University of Chicago and his BS from Bradely University. Mr. Clark joined the Advisor as a portfolio manager in 2001 and has been responsible for the portfolio management group since January 2006.

 

Ms. Umland is a Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and a member of the Investment Committee. She received her BA from Yale University in 1988 and her MBA from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1993. Ms. Umland joined the Advisor in 1993 and has been a portfolio manager and responsible for the international equity portfolios since 1998.

 

Mr. Chi is a Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and a member of the Investment Committee. Mr. Chi has an MBA and BS from the University of California, Los Angeles and also a JD from the University of Southern California. Mr. Chi joined the Advisor as a portfolio manager in 2005 and has been responsible for the international equity portfolios since 2010.

 

Mr. Fogdall is a Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and a member of the Investment Committee. Mr. Fogdall has an MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles and a BS from Purdue University. Mr. Fogdall joined the Advisor as a portfolio manager in 2004 and has been responsible for the international equity portfolios since 2010.

 

Mr. Plecha is a Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and a member of the Investment Committee. Mr. Plecha received his BS from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1983 and his MBA from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1987. Mr. Plecha has been a portfolio manager since 1989 and responsible for the fixed income portfolios since the end of 1991.

 

The Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) provides information about each portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, and the portfolio manager’s ownership of each Portfolio’s shares.

 

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The Advisor provides the Portfolios with a trading department and selects brokers and dealers to effect securities transactions. Securities transactions are placed with a view to obtaining best price and execution. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Directors approving the investment management agreement with respect to the Portfolios is available in the semi-annual report for the Portfolios for the fiscal period ending April 30, 2010. The Advisor has been engaged in the business of providing investment management services since May 1981. The Advisor is currently organized as a Delaware limited partnership and is controlled and operated by its general partner, Delaware Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation. As of January 31, 2011, assets under management for all Dimensional affiliated advisors totaled approximately $209 billion.

 

The Fund bears all of its own costs and expenses, including: services of its independent registered public accounting firm, legal counsel, brokerage fees, commissions and transfer taxes in connection with the acquisition and disposition of portfolio securities, taxes, insurance premiums, costs incidental to meetings of its shareholders and directors, the cost of filing its registration statements under federal and state securities laws, reports to shareholders, and transfer and dividend disbursing agency, administrative services and custodian fees. Expenses allocable to a particular Portfolio are so allocated. Expenses which are not allocable to a particular Portfolio are borne by each Portfolio on the basis of its relative net assets.

 

Management Fees

 

The “Annual Fund Operating Expenses” table describes the fees incurred by a Portfolio for the services provided by the Advisor for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010. The “Management Fee” listed in the table for the Portfolios provides the investment advisory fee that was payable by the respective Portfolio to the Advisor. The VA Global Bond Portfolio’s investment advisory fees are based on an effective annual rate of 0.25% of the first $100 million of average daily net assets and 0.20% of average daily net assets exceeding $100 million.

 

Sub-Advisors

 

The Advisor has entered into Sub-Advisory Agreements with Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (“DFAL”) and DFA Australia Limited (“DFA Australia”), respectively, with respect to the International Equity Portfolios. Pursuant to the terms of each Sub-Advisory Agreement, DFAL and DFA Australia each have the authority and responsibility to select brokers or dealers to execute securities transactions for the International Equity Portfolios. Each Sub-Advisor’s duties include the maintenance of a trading desk and the determination of the best and most efficient means of executing securities transactions. On at least a semi-annual basis, the Advisor will review the holdings of each International Equity Portfolio and review the trading process and the execution of securities transactions. The Advisor is responsible for determining those securities which are eligible for purchase and sale by an International Equity Portfolio and may delegate this task, subject to its own review, to DFAL and DFA Australia. DFAL and DFA Australia maintain and furnish to the Advisor information and reports on companies in certain markets, including recommendations of securities to be added to the securities that are eligible for purchase by each International Equity Portfolio, as well as making recommendations and elections on corporate actions. The Advisor controls DFAL and DFA Australia. DFA Australia is a U.S. federally registered investment advisor located at Level 43 Gateway, 1 Macquarie Place, Sydney, New South Wales 2000, Australia. DFAL is a U.S. federally registered investment advisor located at 20 Triton Street, Regent’s Place, London NW13BF, United Kingdom. DFAL is a member of the Financial Services Authority (“FSA”), a self-regulatory organization for investment managers operating under the laws of England.

 

DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

 

Dividends and Distributions. Each Portfolio intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). As a regulated investment company, a Portfolio generally pays no federal income tax on the income and gains it distributes to shareholders. Dividends from net investment income of a Portfolio are distributed annually and any net realized capital gains

 

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(after any reductions for available capital loss carryforwards) are distributed annually, typically in December. A Portfolio may distribute such income dividends and capital gains more frequently, if necessary, in order to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the Portfolio.

 

Capital gains distributions may vary considerably from year to year as a result of a Portfolio’s normal investment activities and cash flows. During a time of economic downturn, a Portfolio may experience capital losses and unrealized depreciation in value of investments, the effect of which may be to reduce or eliminate capital gains distributions for a period of time. Even though a Portfolio may experience a current year loss, it may nonetheless distribute prior year capital gains.

 

Shareholders of a Portfolio will automatically receive all income dividends and capital gains distributions in additional shares of the Portfolio whose shares they hold at net asset value (as of the business date following the dividend record date).

 

Tax Considerations. Shares of a Portfolio must be purchased through insurance company separate accounts used to fund variable life and variable annuity insurance contracts. As a result, it is anticipated that any dividend or capital gains distributions from a Portfolio will be exempt from current taxation by contract holders if left to accumulate within a variable insurance contract. Withdrawals from such contracts may be subject to ordinary income tax plus a 10% penalty tax if made before age 59 1/2.

 

The tax status of your investment in a Portfolio depends upon the features of your variable life or variable annuity insurance contract. For further information, please refer to the prospectus of the insurance company separate account.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

 

Shares of the Portfolios are sold only to insurance company separate accounts or to other investment companies funded by insurance company separate accounts. Purchases and redemptions of shares of each Portfolio by a separate account will be effected at the net asset value per share. (See “VALUATION OF SHARES.”) Contract owners do not deal directly with the Fund with respect to the acquisition or redemption of shares of the Portfolios. Please see the prospectus of the insurance company separate account for information regarding the purchase and redemption of shares of the Portfolios. When in the best interests of a Portfolio, the Portfolio may make a redemption payment, in whole or in part, by a distribution of portfolio securities in lieu of cash in accordance with Rule 18f-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”). Investors may incur brokerage charges and other transaction costs selling securities that were received in payment of redemptions. The International Equity Portfolios and the VA Global Bond Portfolio reserve the right to redeem their shares in the currencies in which their investments are denominated. Investors may incur charges in converting such securities to dollars and the value of the securities may be affected by currency exchange fluctuations.

 

Redemption of Small Accounts

 

With respect to each Portfolio, the Fund reserves the right to redeem a shareholder’s account if the value of the shares in the Portfolio is $500 or less because of redemption by the shareholder. Before the Fund involuntarily redeems shares from such an account and sends the proceeds to the shareholder, the Fund will give written notice of the redemption to the shareholder at least sixty days before the redemption date. The shareholder will then have sixty days from the date of the notice to make an additional investment in the Fund in order to bring the value of the shares in the account for the Portfolio to more than $500 and avoid such involuntary redemption. The redemption price to be paid to a shareholder for shares redeemed by the Fund under this right will be the aggregate net asset value of the shares in the account at the close of business on the redemption date. The right to redeem small accounts applies to accounts established with the Fund’s transfer agent.

 

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POLICY REGARDING EXCESSIVE OR SHORT-TERM TRADING

 

The Portfolios are designed for long-term investors and are not intended for investors that engage in excessive short-term trading activity that may be harmful to the Portfolios, including but not limited to market timing. Short-term or excessive trading into and out of the Portfolios can disrupt portfolio management strategies, harm performance and increase Portfolio expenses for all shareholders, including long-term shareholders who do not generate these costs.

 

In addition, certain Portfolios may be more susceptible to the risks of short-term trading than other Portfolios. The nature of the International Equity Portfolios’ holdings may present opportunities for a shareholder to engage in a short-term trading strategy that exploits possible delays between changes in the price of an International Equity Portfolio’s holdings and the reflection of those changes in the Portfolio’s net asset value (called “arbitrage market timing”). Such delays may occur because the International Equity Portfolios have significant investments in foreign securities where, due to time zone differences, the values of those securities are established some time before these Portfolios calculate their net asset values. In such circumstances, the available market prices for such foreign securities may not accurately reflect the latest indications of value at the time the International Equity Portfolios calculate their net asset value. The VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio also may be subject to arbitrage market timing because the Portfolio has significant holdings in small cap securities, which may have prices that do not accurately reflect the latest indications of value of these securities at the time the Portfolio calculates its net asset value due to, among other reasons, infrequent trading or illiquidity. There is a possibility that arbitrage market timing may dilute the value of a Portfolio’s shares if redeeming shareholders receive proceeds (and purchasing shareholders receive shares) based upon a net asset value that does not reflect appropriate fair value prices.

 

The Board of Directors of the Fund (the “Board”) has adopted a policy (the “Trading Policy”) and the Advisor and DFA Securities LLC (collectively, “Dimensional”) and Dimensional’s agents have implemented the following procedures, which are designed to discourage and prevent market timing or excessive short-term trading in the Fund: (i) trade activity monitoring and purchase blocking procedures; and (ii) use of fair value pricing.

 

The Fund, Dimensional and their agents monitor trades and flows of money in and out of the Portfolios from time to time in an effort to detect excessive short-term trading activities, and for consistent enforcement of the Trading Policy. The Fund reserves the right to take the actions necessary to stop excessive or disruptive trading activities, including refusing or canceling purchase or exchange orders for any reason, without prior notice, particularly purchase or exchange orders that the Fund believes are made on behalf of market timers. The Fund, Dimensional and their agents reserve the right to restrict, refuse or cancel any purchase or exchange request made by an investor indefinitely if the Fund or Dimensional believe that any combination of trading activity in the accounts is potentially disruptive to a Portfolio. In making such judgments, the Fund and Dimensional seek to act in a manner that is consistent with the interests of shareholders. For purposes of applying these procedures, Dimensional may consider an investor’s trading history in the Portfolios, and accounts under common ownership, influence or control.

 

In addition to the Fund’s general ability to restrict potentially disruptive trading activity as described above, the Fund also has adopted purchase blocking procedures. Under the Fund’s purchase blocking procedures, where an investor has engaged in any two purchases and two redemptions (including redemptions that are part of an exchange transaction) in a Portfolio in any rolling 30 calendar day monitoring period (i.e., two “round trips”), the Fund and Dimensional intend to block the investor from making any additional purchases in that Portfolio for 90 calendar days (a “purchase block”). If implemented, a purchase block will begin at some point after the transaction that caused the investor to have engaged in the prohibited two round-trips is detected by the Fund, Dimensional, or their agents. The Fund and Dimensional are permitted to implement a longer purchase block, or permanently bar future purchases by an investor, if they determine that it is appropriate.

 

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Under the Fund’s purchase blocking procedures, the following purchases and redemptions will not trigger a purchase block: (i) purchases and redemptions of shares having a value in each transaction of less than $5,000; (ii) purchases and redemptions by U.S. registered investment companies that operate as fund of funds and non-U.S. investment companies that operate as fund of funds that the Funds or Dimensional, in their sole discretion, have determined are not designed and/or are not serving as vehicles for excessive short-term or other disruptive trading (in each case, the fund of funds shall agree to be subject to monitoring by Dimensional); (iii) purchases and redemptions by a feeder portfolio of a master fund’s shares; (iv) systematic or automated transactions where the shareholder, financial advisor or investment fiduciary does not exercise direct control over the investment decision; (v) retirement plan contributions, loans, loan repayments and distributions (including hardship withdrawals) identified as such in the retirement plan recordkeeper’s system; (vi) purchase transactions involving transfers of assets, rollovers, Roth IRA conversions and IRA recharacterizations; (vii) purchases of shares with Portfolio dividends or capital gain distributions; (viii) transfers and reregistrations of shares within the same Portfolio; and (ix) transactions by 529 Plans. Notwithstanding the Fund’s purchase blocking procedures, all transactions in Portfolio shares are subject to the right of the Fund and Dimensional to restrict potentially disruptive trading activity (including purchases and redemptions described above that will not be subject to the purchase blocking procedures).

 

In addition, the purchase blocking procedures will not apply to a redemption transaction in which a Portfolio distributes portfolio securities to a shareholder in-kind, where the redemption will not disrupt the efficient portfolio management of the Portfolio and the redemption is consistent with the interests of the remaining shareholders of the Portfolio.

 

The Fund, Dimensional or their designees have the ability, pursuant to Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act, to request information from financial intermediaries, such as 401(k) plan administrators, trust companies and broker dealers (together, “Intermediaries”), concerning trades placed in omnibus and other multi-investor accounts (together, “Omnibus Accounts”), in order to attempt to monitor trades that are placed by the underlying shareholders of these Omnibus Accounts. The Fund, Dimensional and their designees will use the information obtained from the Intermediaries to monitor trading in the Fund and to attempt to identify shareholders in Omnibus Accounts engaged in trading that is inconsistent with the Trading Policy or otherwise not in the best interests of the Fund. The Fund, Dimensional or their designees, when they detect trading patterns in shares of the Fund that may constitute short-term or excessive trading, will provide written instructions to the Intermediary to restrict or prohibit further purchases or exchanges of shares of the Portfolios by a shareholder that has been identified as having engaged in excessive or short-term transactions in the Portfolio’s shares (directly or indirectly through the Intermediary’s account) that violate the Trading Policy.

 

The ability of the Fund and Dimensional to impose these limitations, including the purchase blocking procedures, on investors investing through Intermediaries is dependent on the receipt of information necessary to identify transactions by the underlying investors and the Intermediary’s cooperation in implementing the Trading Policy. Investors seeking to engage in excessive short-term trading practices may deploy a variety of strategies to avoid detection, and despite the efforts of the Fund and Dimensional to prevent excessive short-term trading, there is no assurance that the Fund, Dimensional or their agents will be able to identify those shareholders or curtail their trading practices. The ability of the Fund, Dimensional and their agents to detect and limit excessive short-term trading also may be restricted by operational systems and technological limitations.

 

The purchase blocking procedures of the Trading Policy may not apply to redemptions by shareholders whose shares are held on the books of Intermediaries if the Intermediaries have not adopted procedures to implement this Policy. The Fund and Dimensional will work with Intermediaries to develop such policies to institute the purchase blocking procedures or other procedures that the Fund and Dimensional determine are reasonably designed to achieve the objective of this Trading Policy. At the time the Intermediaries adopt these procedures, shareholders whose accounts are on the books of such Intermediaries will be subject to the Trading Policy’s purchase blocking procedures or another frequent trading policy that achieves the objective of the purchase blocking procedures. Investors that invest in the Portfolios through an Intermediary should contact the Intermediary for information concerning the policies and procedures that apply to the investor.

 

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As of the date of this Prospectus, the ability of the Fund and Dimensional to apply the purchase blocking procedures on purchases by all investors and the ability of the Fund and Dimensional to monitor trades through Omnibus Accounts maintained by Intermediaries may be restricted due to systems limitations of both the Fund’s service providers and the Intermediaries. The Fund expects that the application of the Trading Policy as described above, including the purchase blocking procedures (subject to the limitations described above), will be able to be implemented by Intermediaries in compliance with Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act.

 

In addition to monitoring trade activity, the Board has adopted fair value pricing procedures that govern the pricing of the securities of the Portfolios. These procedures are designed to help ensure that the prices at which Portfolio shares are purchased and redeemed are fair, and do not result in dilution of shareholder interests or other harm to shareholders. See the discussion under “VALUATION OF SHARES” for additional details regarding fair value pricing of the Portfolio’s securities.

 

Although the procedures are designed to discourage excessive short-term trading, none of the procedures individually nor all of the procedures taken together can completely eliminate the possibility that excessive short-term trading activity in a Portfolio may occur. The Portfolios do not knowingly accommodate excessive or disruptive trading activities, including market timing.

 

VALUATION OF SHARES

 

The net asset value per share of each Portfolio is generally calculated on days that the NYSE is open for trading. The net asset value per share of each Portfolio is calculated after the close of the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. ET) by dividing the total value of the Portfolio’s investments and other assets, less any liabilities, by the total outstanding shares of the stock of the Portfolio. Note: The time at which transactions and shares are priced may be changed in case of an emergency or if the NYSE closes at a time other than 4:00 p.m. ET.

 

The value of the shares of each Portfolio will fluctuate in relation to its own investment experience. Securities held by the Portfolios will be valued in accordance with applicable laws and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors, and generally, as described below.

 

Securities held by the Portfolios (including over-the-counter securities) are valued at the last quoted sale price of the day. Securities held by the Portfolios that are listed on Nasdaq are valued at the Nasdaq Official Closing Price (“NOCP”). If there is no last reported sale price or NOCP of the day, the Portfolios value the securities at the mean of the most recent quoted bid and asked prices. Price information on listed securities is taken from the exchange where the security is primarily traded. Generally, securities issued by open-end investment companies are valued using their respective net asset values or public offering prices, as appropriate, for purchase orders placed at the close of the NYSE.

 

The value of the shares of the Fixed Income Portfolios will tend to fluctuate with interest rates because, unlike money market funds, these Portfolios do not seek to stabilize the value of their respective shares by use of the “amortized cost” method of asset valuation. Net asset value includes interest on fixed income securities which is accrued daily. Debt securities will be valued on the basis of prices provided by one or more pricing services or other reasonably reliable sources including broker/dealers that typically handle the purchase and sale of such securities. Securities which are traded over-the-counter and on a stock exchange generally will be valued according to the broadest and most representative market, and it is expected that for bonds and other fixed income securities, this ordinarily will be the over-the-counter market.

 

The value of the securities and other assets of the Portfolios for which no market quotations are readily available (including restricted securities), or for which market quotations have become unreliable, are determined in good faith at fair value in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. Fair value pricing may also be used if events that have a significant effect on the value of an investment (as determined in the

 

39


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discretion of the Investment Committee of the Advisor) occur before the net asset value is calculated. When fair value pricing is used, the prices of securities used by the Portfolios may differ from the quoted or published prices for the same securities on their primary markets or exchanges.

 

To the extent that a Portfolio holds large numbers of securities, it is likely that it will have a larger number of securities that may be deemed illiquid and therefore must be valued pursuant to special procedures adopted by the Board of Directors, than would a fund that holds a smaller number of securities. The VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio is more likely to hold illiquid securities than would a fund that invests in larger capitalization companies.

 

As of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolios holding foreign equity securities (the “Foreign Equity Funds”) will also fair value price in the circumstances described below. Generally, trading in foreign securities markets is completed each day at various times prior to the close of the NYSE. For example, trading in the Japanese securities markets is completed each day at the close of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (normally, 2:00 a.m. ET), which is fourteen hours prior to the close of the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. ET) and the time that the net asset values of the Foreign Equity Funds are computed. Due to the time differences between the closings of the relevant foreign securities exchanges and the time the Foreign Equity Funds price their shares at the close of the NYSE, the Foreign Equity Funds will fair value their foreign investments when it is determined that the market quotations for the foreign investments are either unreliable or not readily available. The fair value prices will attempt to reflect the impact of the U.S. financial markets’ perceptions and trading activities on the Foreign Equity Funds’ foreign investments since the last closing prices of the foreign investments were calculated on their primary foreign securities markets or exchanges. For these purposes, the Board of Directors of the Portfolios have determined that movements in relevant indices or other appropriate market indicators, after the close of the Tokyo Stock Exchange or the London Stock Exchange, demonstrate that market quotations may be unreliable, and may trigger fair value pricing. Consequently, fair valuation of portfolio securities may occur on a daily basis. The fair value pricing by the Portfolios utilizes data furnished by an independent pricing service (and that data draws upon, among other information, the market values of foreign investments). When a Foreign Equity Fund uses fair value pricing, the values assigned to the Foreign Equity Fund’s foreign investments may not be the quoted or published prices of the investments on their primary markets or exchanges. The Board of Directors of the Portfolios monitor the operation of the method used to fair value price the Foreign Equity Funds’ foreign investments.

 

Valuing securities at fair value involves greater reliance on judgment than valuing securities that have readily available market quotations. There can be no assurance that a Portfolio could obtain the fair value assigned to a security if it were to sell the security at approximately the time at which the Portfolio determines its net asset value per share. As a result, the sale or redemption by a Portfolio of its shares at net asset value, at a time when a holding or holdings are valued at fair value, may have the effect of diluting or increasing the economic interest of existing shareholders.

 

The net asset values per share of the International Equity Portfolios and VA Global Bond Portfolio are expressed in U.S. dollars by translating the net assets of each Portfolio using the mean of the most recent bid and asked prices for the dollar as quoted by generally recognized reliable sources. Since the International Equity Portfolios own securities that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges which may trade on days when the Portfolios do not price their shares, the net asset values of the International Equity Portfolios may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem shares.

 

Futures contracts are valued using the settlement price established each day on the exchange on which they are traded. The value of such futures contracts held by a Portfolio is determined each day as of such close.

 

40


Table of Contents

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

Each Portfolio generally will disclose up to 25 of its largest portfolio holdings (other than cash and cash equivalents) and the percentages that each of these largest portfolio holdings represent of the total assets of the Portfolio, as of the most recent month-end, online at the Advisor’s public Web site, http://www.dimensional.com, within 20 days after the end of each month. Each Portfolio also generally will disclose its complete portfolio holdings (other than cash and cash equivalents), as of month-end, online at the Advisor’s public Web site, two months following the month-end or more frequently and at different periods when authorized in accordance with the Portfolios’ policies and procedures. Please consult the SAI for a description of the other policies and procedures that govern disclosure of the portfolio holdings by the Portfolios.

 

DELIVERY OF SHAREHOLDER DOCUMENTS

 

To eliminate duplicate mailings and reduce expenses, the Portfolios may deliver a single copy of certain shareholder documents, such as this Prospectus and annual and semi-annual reports, to related shareholders at the same address, even if accounts are registered in different names. This practice is known as “householding.” The Portfolios will not household personal information documents, such as account statements. If you do not want the mailings of these documents to be combined with other members of your household, please call us collect at (512) 306-7400. We will begin sending individual copies of the shareholder documents to you within 30 days of receiving your request.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

The Financial Highlights table is meant to help you understand each Portfolio’s financial performance for the past 5 years as indicated by the table. The total returns in the table represent the rate that you would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Portfolio, assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. This information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, whose report, along with the Portfolios’ annual financial statements, are included in the annual report which is available upon request. The total return information shown in the Financial Highlights tables does not reflect the expenses that apply to a separate account or the related insurance policies. If these charges were included, the total return figures for all periods shown would be reduced.

 

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DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

 

    VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio

 
    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009


    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

  $ 11.94      $ 11.10      $ 17.45      $ 18.89      $ 16.93      $ 15.01   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                               

Net Investment Income (Loss)

    0.25     0.23     0.27     0.24     0.25     0.19   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

    2.12        0.92        (6.40     (0.30     2.60        1.88   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total from Investment Operations

    2.37        1.15        (6.13     (0.06     2.85        2.07   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                               

Net Investment Income

    (0.22     (0.31     (0.22     (0.22     (0.20     (0.15

Net Realized Gains

                         (1.16     (0.69       
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

    (0.22     (0.31     (0.22     (1.38     (0.89     (0.15
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

  $ 14.09      $ 11.94      $ 11.10      $ 17.45      $ 18.89      $ 16.93   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

    20.08     11.01     (35.56 )%^      (0.47 )%      17.74     13.91
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

  $ 122,672      $ 99,834      $ 89,009      $ 140,825      $ 120,776      $ 86,031   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    0.30     0.33     0.31 %#      0.28     0.32     0.38

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    1.87     2.24     1.86 %#      1.28     1.44     1.27

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    33     38     21 %^      9     14     13

*   Computed using average shares outstanding.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
^   Non-Annualized
#   Annualized

 

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DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

 

     VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

 
     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009


    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 8.27      $ 8.13      $ 13.25      $ 17.23      $ 16.57      $ 16.95   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                                

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.07     0.08     0.12     0.15     0.15     0.05   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     2.15        0.24        (3.98     (1.85     2.63        1.42   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total from Investment Operations

     2.22        0.32        (3.86     (1.70     2.78        1.47   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                                

Net Investment Income

     (0.09     (0.14     (0.14     (0.14     (0.05     (0.06

Net Realized Gains

            (0.04     (1.12     (2.14     (2.07     (1.79
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.09     (0.18     (1.26     (2.28     (2.12     (1.85
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.40      $ 8.27      $ 8.13      $ 13.25      $ 17.23      $ 16.57   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

     27.00     4.32     (32.03 )%^      (11.45 )%      19.33     9.61
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 93,851      $ 67,307      $ 69,829      $ 101,695      $ 100,337      $ 77,914   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

     0.42     0.45     0.50 %#      0.56     0.57     0.63

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     0.68     1.11     1.24 %#      1.01     0.93     0.33

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     32     19     23 %^      32     38     35

*   Computed using average shares outstanding.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
^   Non-Annualized
#   Annualized

 

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DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

 

     VA International Value Portfolio

 
     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009


    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 11.22      $ 10.20      $ 21.98      $ 20.37      $ 16.08      $ 14.25   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                                

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.25     0.27     0.57     0.67     0.55     0.32   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     0.89        2.47        (9.89     2.68        4.91        1.96   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total from Investment Operations

     1.14        2.74        (9.32     3.35        5.46        2.28   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                                

Net Investment Income

     (0.29     (0.54     (0.66     (0.56     (0.38     (0.27

Net Realized Gains

            (1.18     (1.80     (1.18     (0.79     (0.18
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.29     (1.72     (2.46     (1.74     (1.17     (0.45
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 12.07      $ 11.22      $ 10.20      $ 21.98      $ 20.37      $ 16.08   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

     10.35     33.92     (47.39 )%^      17.66     36.16     16.42
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 103,601      $ 75,350      $ 60,973      $ 114,279      $ 91,603      $ 61,613   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

     0.50     0.52     0.49 %#      0.47     0.49     0.59

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     2.28     3.03     3.73 %#      3.18     3.09     2.21

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     21     20     18 %^      19     13     12

*   Computed using average shares outstanding.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
^   Non-Annualized
#   Annualized

 

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DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

 

     VA International Small Portfolio

 
     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009


    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 9.20      $ 7.33      $ 15.41      $ 14.76      $ 12.93      $ 11.22   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                                

Net Investment Income (Loss)

     0.18     0.18     0.32     0.28     0.26     0.22   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     1.42        2.46        (6.75     1.63        3.10        1.92   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total from Investment Operations

     1.60        2.64        (6.43     1.91        3.36        2.14   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                                

Net Investment Income

     (0.18     (0.28     (0.27     (0.28     (0.22     (0.21

Net Realized Gains

            (0.49     (1.38     (0.98     (1.31     (0.22
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.18     (0.77     (1.65     (1.26     (1.53     (0.43
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.62      $ 9.20      $ 7.33      $ 15.41      $ 14.76      $ 12.93   
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

     17.68     41.04     (46.30 )%^      13.94     28.59     19.72
    


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 78,148      $ 58,954      $ 44,770      $ 79,720      $ 60,106      $ 43,662   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

     0.63     0.66     0.62 %#      0.62     0.64     0.73

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     1.87     2.41     2.90 %#      1.84     1.91     1.86

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     9     14     18 %^      20     14     21

*   Computed using average shares outstanding.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
^   Non-Annualized
#   Annualized

 

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DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

 

    VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio

 
    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009


    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

  $ 10.42      $ 10.34      $ 10.56      $ 10.44      $ 10.26      $ 10.20   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                               

Net Investment Income (Loss)

    0.06     0.19     0.29     0.51     0.41     0.26   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

    0.05        0.20        (0.04     (0.01     0.04        (0.06
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total from Investment Operations

    0.11        0.39        0.25        0.50        0.45        0.20   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                               

Net Investment Income

    (0.16     (0.31     (0.47     (0.38     (0.27     (0.14

Net Realized Gains

    (0.06                                   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

    (0.22     (0.31     (0.47     (0.38     (0.27     (0.14
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

  $ 10.31      $ 10.42      $ 10.34      $ 10.56      $ 10.44      $ 10.26   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

    1.09     3.84     2.48 %^      4.99     4.49     1.98
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

  $ 89,166      $ 82,248      $ 86,805      $ 83,736      $ 65,937      $ 52,364   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    0.30     0.34     0.31 %#      0.31     0.32     0.34

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    0.60     1.85     3.03 %#      4.93     3.98     2.77

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    79     68     20 %^      22     29     31

*   Computed using average shares outstanding.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
^   Non-Annualized
#   Annualized

 

46


Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

 

    VA Global Bond Portfolio

 
    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009


    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008**


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2006


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2005


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

  $ 11.44      $ 10.97      $ 10.95      $ 10.46      $ 10.55      $ 10.55   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                               

Net Investment Income (Loss)

    0.30     0.28     0.24     0.32     0.27     0.33

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

    0.54        0.57               0.21        0.12        (0.12
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total from Investment Operations

    0.84        0.85        0.24        0.53        0.39        0.21   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                               

Net Investment Income

    (0.46     (0.38     (0.22     (0.04     (0.48     (0.21

Net Realized Gains

                                         
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

    (0.46     (0.38     (0.22     (0.04     (0.48     (0.21
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

  $ 11.82      $ 11.44      $ 10.97      $ 10.95      $ 10.46      $ 10.55   
   


 


 


 


 


 


Total Return

    7.61     7.93     2.18 %^      5.06     3.90     1.98
   


 


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

  $ 107,954      $ 89,641      $ 92,313      $ 96,146      $ 77,418      $ 61,828   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    0.31     0.34     0.32 %#      0.31     0.33     0.41

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    2.64     2.51     2.42 %#      3.02     2.59     3.12

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    80     65     61 %^      85     97     75

*   Computed using average shares outstanding.
**   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
^   Non-Annualized
#   Annualized

 

47


Table of Contents

SERVICE PROVIDERS

 

Investment Advisor

 

DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LP

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

Tel. No. (512) 306-7400

 

Sub-Advisors

 

DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LTD.

20 Triton Street, Regent’s Place

London NW13BF

United Kingdom

Tel. No. (20) 3033-3300

 

DFA AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Level 43 Gateway

1 Macquarie Place

Sydney, New South Wales 2000

Australia

Tel. No. (612) 8 336-7100

 

Custodians—International

 

CITIBANK, N.A.

111 Wall Street

New York, NY 10005

Custodian—Domestic

 

PFPC TRUST COMPANY

(to be renamed BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company effective July 1, 2011)

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

Accounting Services, Dividend Disbursing

and Transfer Agent

BNY MELLON INVESTMENT

SERVICING (US) INC.

(formerly, PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.) 301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

Legal Counsel

STRADLEY RONON STEVENS & YOUNG, LLP

2600 One Commerce Square

Philadelphia, PA 19103-7098

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP

Two Commerce Square

Suite 1700

2001 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042

 

 

48


Table of Contents

Other Available Information

 

You can find more information about the Fund and its Portfolios in the Fund’s SAI and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports.

 

Statement of Additional Information. The SAI supplements, and is technically part of, this Prospectus. It includes an expanded discussion of investment practices, risks, and fund operations.

 

Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to Shareholders. These reports focus on Portfolio holdings and performance. The Annual Report also discusses the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Portfolios in their last fiscal year.

 

Request free copies from:

 

   

Your investment advisor—you are a client of an investment advisor who has invested in the Portfolios on your behalf.

 

   

The Fund—you represent an institutional investor, registered investment advisor or other qualifying investor. Call collect at (512) 306-7400.

 

   

Access them on our Web site at http://www.dimensional.com.

 

   

Access them on the EDGAR Database in the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.

 

   

Review and copy them at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington D.C. (phone 1-800-SEC-0330).

 

   

Request copies from the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102 or at publicinfo@sec.gov (you will be charged a copying fee). Information on the operation of the SEC’s public reference room is available by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090.

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

(512) 306-7400

 

DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. (all other Portfolios)—Registration No. 811-3258

 

         RRD022811-004


Table of Contents

P R O S P E C T U S

 

February 28, 2011

Please carefully read the important information it contains before investing.

 

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 


 

PORTFOLIOS FOR LONG-TERM INVESTORS:

 

U.S. SOCIAL CORE EQUITY 2 PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFUEX

 

U.S. SUSTAINABILITY CORE 1 PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFSIX

 

INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY CORE 1 PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFSPX

 

DFA INTERNATIONAL VALUE EX TOBACCO PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFVLX

 

EMERGING MARKETS SOCIAL CORE EQUITY PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFESX

 

This Prospectus describes shares of each Portfolio which:

 

Are generally available only to institutional investors and clients of registered investment advisors.

 

Do not charge sales commissions or loads.

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the

adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

U.S. SOCIAL CORE EQUITY 2 PORTFOLIO

     1   

Investment Objective

     1   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     1   

Principal Investment Strategies

     1   

Principal Risks

     3   

Performance

     3   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     4   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     4   

Tax Information

     4   

U.S. SUSTAINABILITY CORE 1 PORTFOLIO

     5   

Investment Objective

     5   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     5   

Principal Investment Strategies

     6   

Principal Risks

     7   

Performance

     8   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     8   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     9   

Tax Information

     9   

INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY CORE 1 PORTFOLIO

     10   

Investment Objective

     10   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     10   

Principal Investment Strategies

     11   

Principal Risks

     12   

Performance

     13   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     14   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     14   

Tax Information

     14   

DFA INTERNATIONAL VALUE EX TOBACCO PORTFOLIO

     15   

Investment Objective

     15   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     15   

Principal Investment Strategies

     16   

Principal Risks

     17   

Performance

     17   

 

 

i


Table of Contents

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     18   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     18   

Tax Information

     19   

EMERGING MARKETS SOCIAL CORE EQUITY PORTFOLIO

     20   

Investment Objective

     20   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     20   

Principal Investment Strategies

     20   

Principal Risks

     21   

Performance

     22   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     23   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     23   

Tax Information

     24   

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

     25   

U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio

     25   

U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

     25   

International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

     26   

DFA International Value Ex Tobacco Portfolio

     27   

Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio

     29   

Approved Markets

     30   

Applying the Social Screen Portfolios’ Social Criteria

     31   

Applying the Sustainability Portfolios’ Environmental Impact Considerations

     32   

Portfolio Transactions

     34   

Other Information

     34   

SECURITIES LOANS

     34   

SECURITIES LENDING REVENUE

     35   

MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIOS

     35   

Management Fees

     36   

Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreements

     37   

DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

     38   

ELECTRONIC SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

     40   

PURCHASE OF SHARES

     40   

Cash Purchases

     40   

In-Kind Purchases

     41   

 

 

ii


Table of Contents

POLICY REGARDING EXCESSIVE OR SHORT-TERM TRADING

     41   

VALUATION OF SHARES

     44   

Net Asset Value

     44   

Public Offering Price

     45   

EXCHANGE OF SHARES

     46   

REDEMPTION OF SHARES

     46   

Redemption Procedure

     46   

Redemption of Small Accounts

     47   

In-Kind Redemptions

     47   

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

     47   

DELIVERY OF SHAREHOLDER DOCUMENTS

     48   

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

     48   

SERVICE PROVIDERS

     54   

 

 

iii


Table of Contents

U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio is long-term capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.25%   

Other Expenses

     0.08%   

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.33%   

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


   3 Years

   5 Years

   10 Years

$34    $106    $185    $418

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 13% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

 

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Table of Contents

The U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio purchases a broad and diverse group of common stocks of U.S. companies with a greater emphasis on small capitalization and value companies as compared to their representation in the U.S. Universe, while excluding companies based on the Portfolio’s social issue screens. The Advisor generally defines the U.S. Universe as a market capitalization weighted portfolio of U.S. operating companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), NYSE Alternext US LLC or Nasdaq Global Market® or such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor. The Portfolio’s increased exposure to small and value companies may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to the largest U.S. growth companies relative to their weight in the U.S. Universe, which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization.

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of U.S. companies. The percentage allocation of the assets of the U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio to securities of the largest U.S. growth companies as defined above will generally be reduced from between 5% and 35% of their percentage weight in the U.S. Universe. For example, as of December 31, 2010, securities of the largest U.S. growth companies comprised 16% of the U.S. Universe and the Advisor allocated approximately 4% of the U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio to securities of the largest U.S. growth companies. The percentage by which the U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio’s allocation to securities of the largest U.S. growth companies is reduced will fluctuate with market movements. Additionally, the range by which the U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio’s percentage allocation to the securities of the largest U.S. growth companies is reduced as compared to the U.S. Universe will change from time to time.

 

The U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio also may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions. The above-referenced investments are not subject to, though they may incorporate, the Portfolio’s social criteria.

 

The U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

The U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio seeks to purchase securities that are consistent with the Portfolio’s social issue screens, which are monitored by an independent third party. The Portfolio seeks to exclude from its investment portfolio those companies that are identified by the Portfolio’s social issue screens, as further discussed below. The Portfolio’s social issue screens are designed to identify companies that: (1) earn at least 20% of their total business revenue through the production and/or sale of military weapons and/or weapons of mass destruction; (2) are engaged in certain for profit business activities in or with the Republic of the Sudan; (3) earn at least 15% of their total business revenue through the production and/or sale of tobacco or alcohol products; (4) earn at least 20% of their total business revenue from gambling activities; (5) directly participate in abortions; (6) manufacture pharmaceuticals, abortive agents or contraceptives; (7) earn at least 15% of their total business revenue from publishing or selling pornographic materials; (8) are for-profit health care providers; and (9) have had major recent controversies relating to child labor infractions in the U.S. or abroad.

 

The Portfolio may modify this list of social issue screens, at any time, without prior shareholder approval or notice.

 

 

2


Table of Contents

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Social Investment Risk: The U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio’s social issue screens may limit the number of investment opportunities available to the Portfolio, and as a result, at times the Portfolio may produce different returns than funds that are not subject to such special investment conditions. For example, the Portfolio may decline to purchase certain securities when it is otherwise advantageous to do so, or the Portfolio may sell certain securities for social reasons when it is otherwise disadvantageous to do so.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year and since inception returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through

 

3


Table of Contents

tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. A negative pre-tax total return translates into a higher after-tax return because this calculation assumes that an investor received a tax deduction for the loss incurred on the sale.

 

U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio

 

LOGO

 

January 2008-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

19.44 (7/09-9/09)

   -25.97 (10/08-12/08)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010  

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year

    Since  10/1/07
Inception

 

U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio

                

Return Before Taxes

     22.48     –2.94

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     22.20     –3.21

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     14.83     –2.57

Russell 3000® Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     16.93     –3.30

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio. Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, is responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio and has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio are taxable and generally will be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

 

4


Table of Contents

U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio is long-term capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.29%   

Other Expenses

     0.08%   

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.37%   

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1  Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 38       $ 119       $ 208       $ 468   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 6% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

5


Table of Contents

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

The U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio purchases a broad and diverse group of common stocks of U.S. companies with a greater emphasis on small capitalization and value companies as compared to their representation in the U.S. Universe, while adjusting the composition of the Portfolio based on environmental impact considerations. The Advisor generally defines the U.S. Universe as a market capitalization weighted portfolio of U.S. operating companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), NYSE Alternext US LLC or Nasdaq Global Market® or such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor. The Portfolio’s increased exposure to small and value companies may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to the largest U.S. growth companies relative to their weight in the U.S. Universe, which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization.

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of U.S. companies. The percentage allocation of the assets of the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio to securities of the largest U.S. growth companies as defined above will generally be reduced from between 2.5% and 25% of their percentage weight in the U.S. Universe. For example, as of December 31, 2010, securities of the largest U.S. growth companies comprised 16% of the U.S. Universe and the Advisor allocated approximately 12% of the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio to securities of the largest U.S. growth companies. The percentage by which the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio’s allocation to securities of the largest U.S. growth companies is reduced will fluctuate with market movements, environmental impact considerations and other factors. Additionally, the range by which the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio’s percentage allocation to the securities of the largest U.S. growth companies is reduced as compared to the U.S. Universe will change from time to time and may be impacted by the Portfolio’s investment strategies with respect to environmental impact considerations.

 

The U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio also may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions. The above-referenced investments are not subject to, although they may incorporate, the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio’s environmental impact considerations.

 

The U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

The Advisor intends to take into account the impact that companies have on the environment when making investment decisions for the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio by adjusting the composition of the Portfolio based on environmental impact considerations. Relative to a portfolio without environmental impact considerations, the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio will exclude or underweight securities of companies that, according to the Portfolio’s environmental impact considerations, may have a relatively negative impact on the environment as compared either to other companies in the Portfolio’s entire investment universe or other companies with similar business lines. Similarly, relative to a portfolio without environmental impact considerations, the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio will overweight securities of companies that, according to

 

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the Portfolio’s environmental impact considerations, may have a relatively positive impact on the environment as compared either to other companies in the Portfolio’s entire investment universe or other companies with similar business lines. Negative factors include issues relating to agricultural chemicals, climate change, hazardous waste, ozone depleting chemicals, regulatory problems, substantial emissions, negative economic impact, and other environmental concerns. Positive factors include issues relating to beneficial products and services, clean energy, environmental management systems, pollution prevention, recycling and other strengths. The Advisor has engaged a third party service provider to provide research and ratings information relating to the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio’s environmental impact considerations with respect to securities in the portfolio, where information is available from such provider.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Environmental Impact Consideration Investment Risk: The U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio’s environmental impact considerations may limit the number of investment opportunities available to the Portfolio, and as a result, at times, the Portfolio may produce more modest gains than funds that are not subject to such special investment considerations. For example, the Portfolio may decline to purchase, or underweight its investment in, certain securities due to environmental impact considerations when other investment considerations would suggest that a more significant investment in such securities would be advantageous. In addition, the Portfolio may sell certain securities due to environmental impact considerations when it is otherwise disadvantageous to do so. The environmental impact considerations may cause the Portfolio’s industry allocation to deviate from that of funds without these considerations and of conventional benchmarks.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

 

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PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year and since inception returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. A negative pre-tax total return translates into a higher after-tax return because this calculation assumes that an investor received a tax deduction for the loss incurred on the sale.

 

U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

 

LOGO

 

January 2009-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

18.89 (4/09-6/09)

   -11.40 (1/09-3/09)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010  

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year

    Since 3/12/08
Inception


 

U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

                

Return Before Taxes

     18.68     2.93

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     18.39     2.62

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     12.39     2.39

Russell 3000® Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     16.93     1.85

 

The implementation and management of the Advisor’s “Sustainability” portfolios, including without limitation, the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio is protected by U.S. Patent Nos. 7,596,525 B1 and 7,599,874 B1.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio. Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, is responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio and has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

 

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PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio are taxable and generally will be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

 

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International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio is long-term capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.42

Other Expenses

     0.13

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.55

Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or (Recovery)*

     (0.02 %) 

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or (Recovery)

     0.57

*   The Advisor has agreed to waive certain fees and in certain instances, assume certain expenses of the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio. The Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by the Fund or the Advisor. Under certain circumstances, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed up to thirty-six months after such fee waiver and/or expense assumption.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs for the Portfolio reflect the net expenses of the Portfolio that result from the contractual expense waiver and assumption in the first year only. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

l Year


   3 Years

   5 Years

   10 Years

$58    $178    $309    $691

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 7% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

 

10


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PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

The International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio purchases a broad and diverse group of stocks of non-U.S. companies in developed markets with a greater emphasis on small capitalization and value companies as compared to their representation in the International Universe, while adjusting the composition of the Portfolio based on environmental impact considerations. For purposes of this Portfolio, the Advisor defines the International Universe as a market capitalization weighted portfolio of non-U.S. companies in developed markets that have been authorized as approved markets for investment by the Advisor’s Investment Committee. The Portfolio’s increased exposure to small capitalization and value companies may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio’s assets to the largest growth companies relative to their weight in the International Universe, which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization.

 

The International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio intends to purchase stocks of companies associated with developed market countries that the Advisor has designated as approved markets. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities. The Advisor determines company size on a country or region specific basis and based primarily on market capitalization. The percentage allocation of the assets of the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio to securities of the largest growth companies as defined above will generally be reduced from between 5% and 35% of their percentage weight in the International Universe. As of December 31, 2010, securities of the largest growth companies in the International Universe comprised approximately 16% of the International Universe and the Advisor allocated approximately 9% of the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio to securities of the largest growth companies in the International Universe. The percentage by which the Portfolio’s allocation to securities of the largest growth companies is reduced will fluctuate with market movements, environmental impact considerations and other factors. Additionally, the range by which the Portfolio’s percentage allocation to the securities of the largest growth companies is reduced as compared to the International Universe will change from time to time and may be impacted by the Portfolio’s investment strategies with respect to environmental impact considerations.

 

The International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio may gain exposure to companies associated with approved markets by purchasing equity securities in the form of depositary receipts, which may be listed or traded outside the issuer’s domicile country. The International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio also may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for foreign or U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions. The above-referenced investments are not subject to, although they may incorporate, the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio’s environmental impact considerations.

 

The International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

The Advisor intends to take into account the impact that companies have on the environment when making investment decisions for the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio by adjusting the composition of the

 

11


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Portfolio based on environmental impact considerations. Relative to a portfolio without environmental impact considerations, the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio intends to exclude or underweight securities of companies that, according to the Portfolio’s environmental impact considerations, may have a relatively negative impact on the environment as compared either to other companies in the Portfolio’s entire investment universe or other companies with similar business lines. Similarly, relative to a portfolio without environmental impact considerations, the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio intends to overweight securities of companies that, according to the Portfolio’s environmental impact considerations, may have a relatively positive impact on the environment as compared either to other companies in the Portfolio’s entire investment universe or other companies with similar business lines. Negative factors include issues relating to agricultural chemicals, climate change, hazardous waste, ozone depleting chemicals, regulatory problems, substantial emissions, negative economic impact, and other environmental concerns. Positive factors include issues relating to beneficial products and services, clean energy, environmental management systems, pollution prevention, recycling and other strengths. The Advisor has engaged a third party service provider to provide research and ratings information relating to the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio’s environmental impact considerations with respect to securities in the portfolio, where information is available from such provider.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio does not hedge foreign currency risk.

 

Environmental Impact Consideration Investment Risk: The International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio’s environmental impact considerations may limit the number of investment opportunities available to the Portfolio, and as a result, at times, the Portfolio may produce different results than funds that are not subject to such special investment considerations. For example, the Portfolio may decline to purchase, or underweight its investment in, certain securities due to environmental impact considerations when other investment considerations would suggest that a more significant investment in such securities would be advantageous. In addition, the Portfolio may sell certain securities due to environmental impact considerations when it is otherwise disadvantageous to do so. The environmental impact considerations may cause the Portfolio’s industry allocation to deviate from that of funds without these considerations and of conventional benchmarks.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio

 

12


Table of Contents

will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year and since inception returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. A negative pre-tax total return translates into a higher after-tax return because this calculation assumes that an investor received a tax deduction for the loss incurred on the sale.

 

International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

 

LOGO

 

January 2009-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

28.71 (4/09-6/09)

   -14.03 (1/09-3/09)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010  

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year

    Since 3/12/08
Inception


 

International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

                

Return Before Taxes

     11.54     –2.54%   

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     11.11     –2.82%   

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     7.85     –2.13%   

MSCI World ex USA Index (net dividends)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     8.95     –3.63%   

 

 

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The implementation and management of the Advisor’s “Sustainability” portfolios, including without limitation, the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio, is protected by U.S. Patent Nos. 7,596,525 B1 and 7,599,874 B1.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio:

 

   

Karen Umland, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1998.

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

Joseph H. Chi, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2005.

 

   

Jed S. Fogdall, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2004.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio are taxable and generally will be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

 

14


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DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio is long-term capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.45

Other Expenses

     0.17

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.62

Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or (Recovery)*

     0.02

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or (Recovery)

     0.60

*   The Advisor has agreed to waive certain fees and in certain instances, assume certain expenses of the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio. The Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by the Fund or the Advisor. Under certain circumstances, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed up to thirty-six months after such fee waiver and/or expense assumption.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. The costs for the Portfolio reflect the net expenses of the Portfolio that result from the contractual expense waiver and assumption in the first year only. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 61       $ 197       $ 344       $ 772   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 23% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

 

15


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PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

The DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio, using a market capitalization weighted approach, purchases stocks of large non-U.S. companies in countries with developed markets that the Advisor determines to be value stocks at the time of purchase, while excluding securities of companies based on the Portfolio’s social issue screen to exclude tobacco companies. The Portfolio defines tobacco companies as companies that derive more than 10% of their total business revenue, or more than 10% of total sales, from the production and/or manufacturing of tobacco and/or tobacco related products. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of a large company within an eligible country, the greater its representation in the Portfolio. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value (a “book to market ratio”).

 

The DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio intends to purchase stocks of large companies associated with developed market countries that the Advisor has designated as approved markets. The Advisor determines the minimum market capitalization of a large company with respect to each country or region in which the Portfolio invests. As of December 31, 2010, for the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio, the lowest minimum market capitalization of a large company in any country or region in which the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio invests was $1,438 million. This threshold will change due to market conditions.

 

The DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio may gain exposure to companies associated with Approved Markets by purchasing equity securities in the form of depositary receipts, which may be listed or traded outside the issuer’s domicile country. The DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for foreign or U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions. The above-referenced investments are not subject to, though they may incorporate, the Portfolio’s social criteria.

 

The DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

The DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio seeks to purchase securities that are consistent with the Portfolio’s social issue screen, which is monitored by an independent third party. The Portfolio seeks to exclude from its investment portfolio those companies that are identified by the Portfolio’s social issue screen, which is designed to identify companies that derive more than 10% of their total business revenue, or more than 10% of total sales, from the production and/or manufacturing of tobacco and/or tobacco related products. The Portfolio may add or remove other social issue screens at any time, without prior shareholder approval or notice.

 

16


Table of Contents

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio does not hedge foreign currency risk.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Social Investment Risk: The DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio’s social issue screen may limit the number of investment opportunities available to the Portfolio, and as a result, at times the Portfolio may produce different returns than funds that are not subject to such special investment conditions. For example, the Portfolio may decline to purchase certain securities when it is otherwise advantageous to do so, or the Portfolio may sell certain securities for social reasons when it is otherwise disadvantageous to do so.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year and since inception returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those

 

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shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. A negative pre-tax total return translates into a higher after-tax return because this calculation assumes that an investor received a tax deduction for the loss incurred on the sale.

 

DFA International Value ex Tabacco Portfolio

 

LOGO

 

January 2009-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

33.89 (4/09-6/09)

   -17.45 (1/09-3/09)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010  

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year

    Since  6/30/08
Inception

 

DFA International Value ex Tabacco Portfolio

                

Return Before Taxes

     10.77     –0.97%   

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     10.30     –1.33%   

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     7.38     –0.88%   

MSCI World ex USA Index (net dividends)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     8.95     –3.66%   

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio:

 

   

Karen Umland, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1998.

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

Joseph H. Chi, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2005.

 

   

Jed S. Fogdall, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2004.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the DFA International Value ex Tobacco

 

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Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio are taxable and generally will be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

 

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Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio is long-term capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.55

Other Expenses

     0.12

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.67

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

l Year


     3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$ 68       $ 214       $ 373       $ 835   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 14% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

 

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The Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio purchases a broad and diverse group of securities associated with emerging markets, including frontier markets (emerging market countries in an earlier stage of development), authorized for investment by the Advisor’s Investment Committee (“Approved Markets”), with an increased exposure to small capitalization and value companies while excluding securities of certain emerging markets companies based upon the Portfolio’s social issue screens. In assessing value, the Advisor may consider factors such as the issuer’s securities having a high book value in relation to their market value, as well as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios. The criteria the Advisor uses for assessing value are subject to change from time to time.

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in emerging markets equity securities that are defined in the prospectus as Approved Markets securities.

 

The Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio may gain exposure to companies in Approved Markets by purchasing equity securities in the form of depositary receipts, which may be listed or traded outside the issuer’s domicile country. The Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for Approved Market or other equity market securities and indices, including those of the United States, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions. The above-referenced investments are not subject to, though they may incorporate, the Portfolio’s social criteria.

 

The Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

The Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio seeks to purchase securities that are consistent with the Portfolio’s social issue screens, which are monitored by an independent third party. The Portfolio seeks to exclude from its investment portfolio those companies that are identified by the Portfolio’s social issue screens, as further discussed below. The Portfolio’s social issue screens are designed to identify companies that: (1) earn at least 20% of their total business revenue through the production and/or sale of military weapons and/or weapons of mass destruction; (2) are engaged in certain for profit business activities in or with the Republic of the Sudan; (3) earn at least 15% of their total business revenue through the production and/or sale of tobacco or alcohol products; (4) earn at least 20% of their total business revenue from gambling activities; (5) directly participate in abortions; (6) manufacture pharmaceuticals, abortive agents or contraceptives; (7) earn at least 15% of their total business revenue from publishing or selling pornographic materials or from other adult entertainment businesses; and (8) are for-profit health care providers.

 

The Portfolio may modify this list of social issue screens, at any time, without prior shareholder approval or notice.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

 

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Emerging Markets Risk: Numerous emerging market countries have a history of, and continue to experience serious, and potentially continuing, economic and political problems. Stock markets in many emerging market countries are relatively small, expensive to trade and risky. Foreigners are often limited in their ability to invest in, and withdraw assets from, these markets. Additional restrictions may be imposed under other conditions. Frontier market countries generally have smaller economies or less developed capital markets and, as a result, the risks of investing in emerging market countries are magnified in frontier market countries.

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio does not hedge foreign currency risk.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Social Investment Risk: The Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio’s social issue screen may limit the number of investment opportunities available to the Portfolio, and as a result, at times the Portfolio may produce different returns than funds that are not subject to such special investment conditions. For example, the Portfolio may decline to purchase certain securities when it is otherwise advantageous to do so, or the Portfolio may sell certain securities for social reasons when it is otherwise disadvantageous to do so.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year and since inception returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact

 

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of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

 

Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio

 

LOGO

 

January 2007-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

40.60 (4/09-6/09)

   -27.29 (10/08-12/08)

 

         Periods ending December 31, 2010  

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year

    Since 8/31/06
Inception


 

Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio

                

Return Before Taxes

     23.42     14.42

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     22.26     13.58

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     16.46     12.41

MSCI Emerging Markets Index (net dividends)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     18.88     12.04

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio:

 

   

Karen Umland, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1998.

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

Joseph H. Chi, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2005.

 

   

Jed S. Fogdall, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2004.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and

 

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redemption procedures. The Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio are taxable and generally will be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

 

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

 

The investment company described in this Prospectus offers a variety of investment portfolios. Each of the investment company’s Portfolios has its own investment objective and policies, and is the equivalent of a separate mutual fund. The Portfolios described in this Prospectus are designed for long-term investors.

 

U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective by purchasing a broad and diverse group of common stocks of U.S. companies with an increased exposure to small capitalization and value companies relative to the U.S. Universe, while excluding securities of companies based upon the Portfolio’s social issue screens. The Advisor generally defines the U.S. Universe as a free float adjusted market capitalization weighted portfolio of U.S. operating companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), NYSE Alternext US LLC (“NYSE Alternext”), Nasdaq Global Market® (“Nasdaq”) and such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor from time to time (U.S. Universe). The increased exposure to small and value companies may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to the largest U.S. growth companies relative to their weight in the U.S. Universe, which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization. In assessing growth and value, the Advisor may consider additional factors, such as price-to-cash-flow or price-to-earnings ratios, as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer’s industry.

 

The U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the U.S. stock market while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage the Portfolio’s cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses. The above-referenced investments are not subject to, though they may incorporate, the Portfolio’s social criteria.

 

U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective by purchasing a broad and diverse group of common stocks of U.S. companies with an increased exposure to small capitalization and value companies relative to the U.S. Universe, while, relative to a portfolio without the environmental impact considerations, excluding or underweighting securities of companies that, according to the Portfolio’s environmental impact considerations, may have a relatively negative impact on the environment and overweighting securities of companies that may have a relatively positive impact on the environment. (See “Applying the Sustainability Portfolios’ Environmental Impact Considerations in this Prospectus). The Advisor generally defines the “U.S. Universe” as a free float adjusted market capitalization weighted portfolio of U.S. operating companies listed on the NYSE, NYSE Alternext, Nasdaq and such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor. The increased exposure to small and value companies may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio’s assets to the largest U.S. growth companies relative to their weight in the U.S. Universe, which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization. In assessing growth and value, the Advisor may consider additional factors, such as price-to-cash-flow or price-to-earnings ratios, as well as economic conditions and

 

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developments in the issuer’s industry. The implementation and management of the Advisor’s “Sustainability” portfolios, including without limitation, the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio is protected by U.S. Patent Nos. 7,596,525 B1 and 7,599,874 B1.

 

The U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the U.S. stock market while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage the Portfolio’s cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses. The above-referenced investments are not subject to, although they may incorporate, the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio’s environmental impact considerations.

 

International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective by purchasing a broad and diverse group of stocks of non-U.S. companies with an increased exposure to small capitalization and value companies relative to the International Universe, while, relative to a portfolio without environmental impact considerations, excluding or underweighting securities of companies that, according to the Portfolio’s environmental impact considerations, may have a relatively negative impact on the environment and overweighting securities of companies that may have a relatively positive impact on the environment. (See “Applying the Sustainability Portfolios’ Environmental Impact Considerations” in this Prospectus). For purposes of this Portfolio, the Advisor defines the “International Universe” as a market capitalization weighted portfolio of non-U.S. companies in developed markets that have been authorized for investment by the Advisor’s Investment Committee. As of the date of this Prospectus, the following markets have been authorized for investment for the Portfolio and comprise the International Universe: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom (collectively, the “Approved Markets”). The Advisor will determine in its discretion when and whether to invest in markets that have been authorized as Approved Markets, depending on a number of factors, such as asset growth in the Portfolio and characteristics of each such market. The Investment Committee of the Advisor also may authorize other markets for investment in the future, in addition to the Approved Markets identified above, or may remove one or more markets from the list of Approved Markets. Also, the Portfolio may continue to hold investments in countries that are not currently designated as Approved Markets, but had been authorized for investment in the past, and may reinvest distributions received in connection with such existing investments in such previously Approved Markets. (For a description of the securities approved for investment, see “Approved Markets”). The implementation and management of the Advisor’s “Sustainability” portfolios, including without limitation, the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio is protected by U.S. Patent Nos. 7,596,525 B1 and 7,599,874 B1.

 

Under normal market conditions, the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio intends to invest at least 40% of its assets in three or more non-U.S. countries by investing in securities of companies associated with such countries.

 

The increased exposure to small capitalization and value companies for the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to the largest growth companies relative to their weight in the International Universe, which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization. In assessing growth and value, the Advisor may consider additional factors, such as price-to-cash-flow or price-to-earnings ratios, as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer’s industry.

 

 

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The International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the equity markets while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses. The above-referenced investments are not subject to, although they may incorporate, the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio’s environmental impact considerations.

 

DFA International Value Ex Tobacco Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective by purchasing the stocks of large non-U.S. companies which the Advisor determines to be value stocks at the time of the purchase, while excluding securities of tobacco companies based upon the Portfolio’s social issue screen. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value (a “book to market ratio”). In assessing value, the Advisor may consider additional factors such as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios, as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer’s industry. The criteria the Advisor uses for assessing value are subject to change from time to time. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio may invest in the stocks of large companies associated with Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom (collectively, the “Approved Markets”). The Advisor will determine, in its discretion, when and whether to invest in countries that have been authorized as Approved Markets, depending on a number of factors, such as asset growth in the Portfolio and the characteristics of each country’s markets. The Investment Committee of the Advisor may designate other countries as Approved Markets for investment in the future, in addition to the countries identified above, or the Investment Committee may remove one or more countries from the list of Approved Markets. In addition, the Portfolio may continue to hold investments in countries that are not currently designated as Approved Markets, but had been authorized for investment in the past, and may reinvest distributions received in connection with such existing investments in such previously Approved Markets. (For a description of the securities approved for investment, see “Approved Markets”).

 

Under normal market conditions, the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio intends to invest at least 40% of its assets in three or more non-U.S. countries by investing in securities of companies associated with such countries.

 

In the countries or regions authorized for investment, the Advisor first ranks eligible companies listed on selected exchanges based on the companies’ market capitalization. The Advisor then determines the universe of eligible stocks by defining the minimum market capitalization of a large company that may be purchased by the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio with respect to each country or region. As of December 31, 2010, for the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio, the lowest minimum market capitalization of a large company in any country or region in which the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio invests was $1,438 million. This threshold will change due to market conditions. For example, as of December 31, 2010, the Advisor considered a large company in the European Monetary Union (EMU) to have a market capitalization of at least $2,139 million, a large company in Australia to have a market capitalization of at least $3,133 million, and a large company in Japan to have a market capitalization of at least $1,438 million. These dollar amounts will change due to market conditions.

 

The DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio intends to purchase securities within each applicable country using a market capitalization weighted approach. The Advisor, using this approach and its judgment, will seek to set country weights based on the relative market capitalizations of eligible large companies within each country. The portfolio structure of the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio also involves market

 

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capitalization weighting in determining individual security weights. Market capitalization weighting means each security is generally purchased based on the issuer’s relative market capitalization. Market capitalization weighting will be modified by the Advisor for a variety of factors. The Advisor may consider such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors determined to be appropriate by the Advisor given market conditions. The Advisor may deviate from market capitalization weighing to limit or fix the exposure of the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio to a particular issuer to a maximum proportion of the assets of the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio. The Advisor will exclude the stock of a company that meets applicable market capitalization criteria if the company does not meet the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio’s social criteria. The Advisor also may exclude the stock of a company that meets applicable market capitalization criteria if the Advisor determines, in its judgment, that the purchase of such stock is inappropriate in light of other conditions. These adjustments will result in a deviation from traditional market capitalization weighting.

 

Adjustment for free float modifies market capitalization weighting to exclude the share capital of a company that is not freely available for trading in the public equity markets. For example, the following types of shares may be excluded: (i) those held by strategic investors (such as governments, controlling shareholders and management), (ii) treasury shares, or (iii) shares subject to foreign ownership restrictions.

 

Deviation from market capitalization weighting also will occur because the Advisor generally intends to purchase securities in round lots. Furthermore, the Advisor may reduce the relative amount of any security held in order to retain sufficient portfolio liquidity. A portion, but generally not in excess of 20% of the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio’s net assets, may be invested in interest bearing obligations, such as money market instruments, thereby causing further deviation from market capitalization weighting. A further deviation may occur due to holdings of privately placed convertible debentures and securities received in connection with corporate actions.

 

Block purchases of eligible securities may be made at opportune prices, even though such purchases exceed the number of shares that, at the time of purchase, adherence to a market capitalization weighted approach would otherwise require.

 

Changes in the composition and relative ranking (in terms of market capitalization) of the stocks that are eligible for purchase take place with every trade when the securities markets are open for trading due, primarily, to price fluctuations of such securities. On at least a semi-annual basis, the Advisor will identify companies whose stock is eligible for investment by the Portfolio. Additional investments generally will not be made in securities that have changed in value sufficiently to be excluded from the Advisor’s then-current market capitalization requirement for eligible portfolio securities. This may result in further deviation from market capitalization weighting. Such deviation could be substantial if a significant amount of holdings of the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio change in value sufficiently to be excluded from the requirement for eligible securities, but not by a sufficient amount to warrant their sale.

 

Country weights may be based on the total market capitalization of companies within each country. The calculation of country market capitalization may take into consideration the free float of companies within a country or whether these companies are eligible to be purchased by the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio. In addition, to maintain a satisfactory level of diversification, the Investment Committee may limit or fix the exposure to a particular country or region to a maximum proportion of the assets of the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio. Country weights may also deviate from target weights due to general day-to-day trading patterns and price movements. As a result, the weighting of countries may vary from their weighting in published international indices, such as those published by FTSE International, Morgan Stanley Capital International or Citigroup.

 

The DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio does not seek current income as an investment objective and investments will not be based upon an issuer’s dividend payment policy or record. However, many of the companies whose securities will be included in the Portfolio do pay dividends. It is anticipated, therefore, that the Portfolio will receive dividend income.

 

 

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The DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the equity markets while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses. The above-referenced investments are not subject to, though they may incorporate, the Portfolio’s social criteria.

 

Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in companies associated with emerging markets designated by the Investment Committee of the Advisor (“Approved Markets”). Emerging Markets approved for investment may include countries in an earlier stage of development that are sometimes referred to as frontier markets. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio invests in the following countries that are designated as Approved Markets: Brazil, Chile, China, Columbia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Turkey. The Advisor will determine, in its discretion, when and whether to invest in countries that have been authorized as Approved Markets, depending on a number of factors, such as asset growth in the Portfolio and the characteristics of each country’s markets. The Investment Committee of the Advisor may designate other countries as Approved Markets for investment in the future, in addition to the countries identified above, or the Investment Committee may remove one or more countries from the list of Approved Markets. In addition, the Portfolio may continue to hold investments in countries that are not currently designated as Approved Markets, but had been authorized for investment in the past, and may reinvest distributions received in connection with such existing investments in such previously Approved Markets. (For a description of the securities approved for investment, see “Approved Markets”).

 

The Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio seeks to purchase a broad and diverse group of equity securities, generally with an increased exposure to securities of small cap issuers and securities that the Portfolio considers to be value securities. In addition to seeking exposure to small cap issuers and value securities, the Portfolio seeks to exclude certain securities based upon the Portfolio’s social issue screens. In assessing value, the Advisor may consider factors such as the issuer’s securities having a high book value in relation to their market value, and price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios. The criteria the Advisor uses for assessing value are subject to change from time to time.

 

The Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio may not invest in all such companies or Approved Markets described above, for reasons which include constraints imposed within Approved Markets (e.g., restrictions on purchases by foreigners), and the Portfolio’s policy not to invest more than 25% of its assets in any one industry.

 

In determining which countries are eligible markets for the Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio, the Advisor may consider various factors, including, without limitation, the data, analysis, and classification of countries published or disseminated by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (commonly known as the World Bank), the International Finance Corporation, FTSE International, MSCI Barra, Citigroup, and the Heritage Foundation. Approved emerging markets may not include all such emerging markets. In determining whether to approve markets for investment, the Advisor will take into account, among other things, market liquidity, relative availability of investor information, government regulation, including fiscal and foreign exchange repatriation rules and the availability of other access to these markets for the Portfolio.

 

 

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Pending the investment of new capital in Approved Markets securities, the Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio will typically invest in money market instruments or other highly liquid debt instruments including those denominated in U.S. dollars (including, without limitation, repurchase agreements). In addition, the Portfolio may, for liquidity, or for temporary defensive purposes during periods in which market or economic or political conditions warrant, purchase highly liquid debt instruments or hold freely convertible currencies, although the Portfolio does not expect the aggregate of all such amounts to exceed 20% of its net assets under normal circumstances.

 

The Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio also may invest up to 10% of its total assets in shares of other investment companies that invest in one or more Approved Markets, although it intends to do so only where access to those markets is otherwise significantly limited. In some Approved Markets, it may be necessary or advisable for the Portfolio to establish a wholly-owned subsidiary or a trust for the purpose of investing in the local markets.

 

The Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio seeks broad market diversification generally with an increased exposure to securities of small cap issuers and securities that it considers to be value securities, while also purchasing securities that are consistent with the Portfolio’s social issue screens. The Advisor will not utilize “fundamental” securities research techniques in identifying securities selections for the Portfolio.

 

Even though a company’s stock may meet the criteria for investment, a company’s stock may not be included in the Portfolio for one or more of a number of reasons. For example, in the Advisor’s judgment, the issuer may be considered in extreme financial difficulty or a material portion of its securities may be closely held and not likely available to support market liquidity. There will be the exercise of discretion and consideration by the Advisor in purchasing securities in an Approved Market and in determining the allocation of investments among Approved Markets.

 

The Portfolio does not seek current income as an investment objective, and investments will not be based upon an issuer’s dividend payment policy or record. However, many of the companies whose securities will be included in the Portfolio do pay dividends. It is anticipated, therefore, that the Portfolio will receive dividend income.

 

The Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio may also invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments that provide exposure to Approved Markets or other equity markets, including the United States, for the purposes of gaining exposure to the equity markets while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses. The above-referenced investments are not subject to, though they may incorporate, the Portfolio’s social criteria.

 

Approved Markets

 

The International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio, DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio and Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio (each an “International Portfolio” and collectively, the “International Portfolios”) each invests in securities of Approved Markets as identified above for each International Portfolio. The Approved Markets securities invested in by each International Portfolio will be listed on bona fide securities exchanges or traded on the over-the-counter markets. These exchanges or over-the-counter markets may be either within or outside the issuer’s domicile country. For example, the securities may be listed or traded in the form of European Depositary Receipts, Global Depositary Receipts, American Depositary Receipts, or other types of depositary receipts (including non-voting depositary receipts) or may be listed on bona fide securities exchanges in more than one country. Approved Market securities are

 

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defined as securities that are associated with an Approved Market, and include, among others: (a) securities of companies that are organized under the laws of, or maintain their principal place of business in, an Approved Market; (b) securities for which the principal trading market is in an Approved Market; (c) securities issued or guaranteed by the government of an Approved Market country, its agencies or instrumentalities, or the central bank of such country; (d) securities denominated in an Approved Market currency issued by companies to finance operations in Approved Markets; (e) securities of companies that derive at least 50% of their revenues or profits from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed in Approved Markets or have at least 50% of their assets in Approved Markets; (f) Approved Markets equity securities in the form of depositary shares; (g) securities of pooled investment vehicles that invest primarily in Approved Markets securities or derivative instruments that derive their value from Approved Markets securities; or (h) securities included in the International Portfolio’s benchmark index. Securities of Approved Markets may include securities of companies that have characteristics and business relationships common to companies in other countries. As a result, the value of the securities of such companies may reflect economic and market forces in such other countries as well as in the Approved Markets. The Advisor, however, will select only those companies that, in its view, have sufficiently strong exposure to economic and market forces in Approved Markets. For example, the Advisor may invest in companies organized and located in the United States or other countries outside of Approved Markets, including companies having their entire production facilities outside of Approved Markets, when such companies meet the criteria discussed above to be considered associated with Approved Markets.

 

Applying the Social Screen Portfolios’ Social Criteria (For U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio, Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio and the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio)

 

The U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio, Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio and the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio (the “Social Screen Portfolios”) each seek to purchase securities that are consistent with the social issue screens that have been identified in this Prospectus for such Social Screen Portfolio. The Fund has engaged an independent third party Social Screen Portfolios Vendor to monitor each Social Screen Portfolio’s social issue screens. As of the date of this Prospectus, KLD Research & Analytics, Inc. has been engaged to be the Social Screen Portfolios Vendor. Each Social Screen Portfolio seeks to exclude from its investment portfolio those companies that are identified by the Social Screen Portfolio’s social issue screens.

 

The Social Screen Portfolios’ social issue screens are designed to meet the social investing needs of shareholders; the exclusion, purchase, or sale of specific securities in a Portfolio should not be construed as reflecting a judgment by the Advisor or the Board of Directors of the Fund relating to any social issue.

 

A Social Screen Portfolio and the Advisor do not determine which stocks to exclude pursuant to such Social Screen Portfolio’s social issue screens. Instead, the Social Screen Portfolios and the Advisor rely on the social investment research provided by the Social Screen Portfolios Vendor. The Social Screen Portfolios Vendor is generally in the business of providing social investment research on publicly traded companies. Through its research, the Social Screen Portfolios Vendor shall determine if and when a company’s activities are significant enough to warrant exclusion under a Portfolio’s social issue screens. The Social Screen Portfolios Vendor may periodically modify its social criteria screening process.

 

Each Social Screen Portfolio will endeavor not to buy any stock that fails the Portfolio’s social issue screens as indicated in the research provided by the Social Screen Portfolios Vendor. Because of this approach, a Social Screen Portfolio may not invest in certain types of companies, industries, and segments of the U.S. market. The Advisor will endeavor to ensure that each Social Screen Portfolio’s investments are consistent with the social issue screens, but there can be no guarantee that every investment will do so. Even if an investment is not excluded by the social issue screens, the Advisor has the option of excluding the investment if it is determined to be unsuitable.

 

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At times, each Social Screen Portfolio may hold stocks that do not meet the Social Screen Portfolio’s social criteria, because for instance the stocks ceased meeting the social criteria after the Social Screen Portfolio bought them or the Social Screen Portfolio obtained the stocks despite the Portfolio’s social criteria due to inadvertent error, corporate action or otherwise. The Advisor will seek to sell these stocks in an orderly manner. Although the Advisor will seek to minimize any adverse effect of holding or selling these stocks on the value of a Social Screen Portfolio’s investments, to the extent that costs or losses are realized no remuneration will be due the Social Screen Portfolio. Ordinarily, a Social Screen Portfolio will sell the stocks within 90 days of determining that the stocks do not meet the social criteria. However, a Social Screen Portfolio will sell the stocks after a longer period if the Advisor believes that doing so will avoid a loss to the overall value of the Social Screen Portfolio’s investments.

 

Applying the Sustainability Portfolios’ Environmental Impact Considerations (For U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio and the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio)

 

The Advisor intends to take into account the impact that companies have on the environment when making investment decisions for the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio and the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio (the “Sustainability Portfolios”) by adjusting the composition of the Sustainability Portfolios based on environmental impact considerations. Relative to a portfolio without environmental impact considerations, a Sustainability Portfolio intends to exclude or underweight securities of companies that, according to the Sustainability Portfolios’ environmental impact considerations, may have a relatively negative impact on the environment as compared either to other companies in the Sustainability Portfolios’ entire investment universe or other companies with similar business lines. Similarly, relative to a portfolio without environmental impact considerations, the Sustainability Portfolios intend to overweight securities of companies that, according to the Sustainability Portfolios’ environmental impact considerations, may have a relatively positive impact on the environment as compared either to other companies in the Sustainability Portfolios’ entire investment universe or other companies with similar business lines. The Advisor has engaged a third party service provider to provide research and ratings information relating to the Sustainability Portfolios’ environmental impact considerations with respect to securities in the portfolios, where information is available from such providers.

 

Examples of the types of considerations that are expected to be used to evaluate companies’ impact on the environment are as follows:

 

Negative Factors:

 

   

Agricultural chemicals: The company produces substantial amounts of agricultural chemicals, including pesticides.

 

   

Climate change: A substantial percentage of the company’s revenues relate, directly or indirectly, to the sale of coal or oil and their derivative fuel products.

 

   

Hazardous waste: The company has incurred substantial liabilities, such as significant fines or civil penalties, for hazardous waste or waste management violations.

 

   

Ozone depleting chemicals: The company is a manufacturer of ozone depleting chemicals such as HCFCs, methyl chloroform, methylene, chloride, or bromines.

 

   

Regulatory problems: The company recently has incurred substantial fines or civil penalties for, or demonstrated a pattern of issues regarding, violations of air, water, or other environmental regulations.

 

   

Substantial emissions: The company exhibits markedly high emissions of toxic chemicals into the air and water from individual plants.

 

   

Negative economic impact: The company’s actions have incited major controversies regarding the quality of life, or property values in the community.

 

   

Other environmental concerns: The company has had material involvement in an environmental controversy not covered by other factors.

 

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Positive Factors:

 

   

Beneficial products and services: The company earns substantial revenues through the development of innovative products with environmental benefits, including remediation products, environmental services, or products that promote the efficient use of energy.

 

   

Clean energy: The company has taken notable steps to reduce the impact of its operations on global climate change and air pollution through the use of renewable energy or other clean fuels, or through the introduction of energy efficient programs or sale of products promoting energy efficiency.

 

   

Environmental management systems: The company has exhibited a strong commitment to environmental management systems through ISO 14001 certification and other voluntary programs.

 

   

Pollution prevention: The company has established strong pollution prevention programs, including those designed to cut both emissions and toxic uses.

 

   

Recycling: The company either uses a significant percentage of recycled materials in its manufacturing process, or is a major firm in the recycling industry.

 

   

Other strengths: The company has undertaken noteworthy environmental initiatives not covered by other factors.

 

The environmental impact considerations listed above seek to identify factors that the Advisor believes indicate whether or not a company, as compared to other companies with similar business lines, promotes sustainability by pursuing economic growth and development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations. The Sustainability Portfolios may periodically modify their environmental impact considerations.

 

Based on the research and ratings information provided by the third party service providers on a company with respect to both the positive and negative environmental factors, the Advisor will determine an overall environmental impact score for the company. The Advisor will use the overall environmental impact score of a company to determine whether the securities of the company should be: (i) excluded from a Portfolio’s securities holdings; (ii) underweighted within the Sustainability Portfolios; or (iii) overweighted within the Sustainability Portfolios.

 

As described above, the Advisor will endeavor to consider the environmental impact of each company when constructing a Sustainability Portfolio’s investment portfolio. However, the Advisor may not be able to assess the environmental impact of each company eligible for purchase by a Portfolio. For example, the Advisor may not be able to determine an overall environmental impact score for each company based on the environmental considerations described above because the third party service providers may not have data on the entire universe of companies considered by the Advisor for the Sustainability Portfolios, or may not have information with respect to each factor listed above as an environmental impact consideration. The environmental impact of a company may change while the Sustainability Portfolios are holding the company’s securities due to actions taken by the company or new information that becomes available concerning the company, and such information may impact the Sustainability Portfolios’ decision to buy shares in the future of such company but will not necessarily result in changes to current holdings of such shares. For instance, if negative information about a company becomes available, while future investment decisions should reflect that information, the Sustainability Portfolios may continue to hold the securities it already owns in the short or long term, so that the composition of the Sustainability Portfolios may not, at all times, reflect the most current environmental impact considerations. The Sustainability Portfolios’ exposure to companies, industries and sectors of the market may be affected by environmental impact data obtained that may not be completely accurate with respect to any company or by a given environmental factor that may not be as relevant as assumed in the overall score.

 

Because the Advisor takes into account environmental impact considerations when constructing the investment portfolio for a Portfolio, the Portfolio may not invest in, or may deviate in its exposure to, certain

 

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types of companies, industries, and segments of the designated markets in which similar Sustainability Portfolios without environmental impact considerations invest.

 

Each Sustainability Portfolios’ environmental impact considerations are designed to meet the investing needs of shareholders; the exclusion, purchase, or sale of specific securities in a Portfolio should not be construed as reflecting a judgment by the Advisor or the Board of the Fund relating to any environmental issue.

 

Portfolio Transactions

 

Securities will not be purchased or sold based on the prospects for the economy, the securities markets, or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase. Securities that have depreciated in value since their acquisition will not be sold solely because prospects for the issuer are not considered attractive or due to an expected or realized decline in securities prices in general. Securities will not be sold to realize short-term profits, but when circumstances warrant, they may be sold without regard to the length of time held. Securities, including those eligible for purchase, may be disposed of, however, at any time when, in the Advisor’s judgment, circumstances warrant their sale, including, but not limited to, tender offers, mergers, and similar transactions, or bids made for block purchases at opportune prices. Generally, securities will be purchased with the expectation that they will be held for longer than one year and will be held until such time as they are no longer an appropriate holding in light of the investment policies of each Portfolio.

 

Other Information

 

Commodity Pool Operator Exemption:

 

Each Portfolio is operated by a person that has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”), and, therefore, such person is not subject to registration or regulation as a pool operator under the CEA.

 

SECURITIES LOANS

 

Each Portfolio is authorized to lend securities to qualified brokers, dealers, banks, and other financial institutions for the purpose of earning additional income. While each Portfolio may earn additional income from lending securities, such activity is incidental to the investment objective of the Portfolio. The value of securities loaned may not exceed 33 1/3% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets, which includes the value of collateral received. To the extent a Portfolio loans a portion of its securities, the Portfolio will receive collateral consisting generally of cash or U.S. government securities, which will be maintained by marking to market daily in an amount equal to at least (i) 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities, with respect to securities of the U.S. government or its agencies, (ii) 102% of the current market value of the loaned securities, with respect to U.S. securities, and (iii) 105% of the current market value of the loaned securities, with respect to foreign securities. Subject to its stated investment policies, each Portfolio will generally invest the cash collateral received for the loaned securities in The DFA Short Term Investment Fund (the “Money Market Series”), an affiliated registered money market fund advised by the Advisor for which the Advisor receives a management fee of 0.05% of the average daily net assets of the Money Market Series. Each Portfolio also may invest the cash collateral received for the loaned securities in securities of the U.S. government or its agencies, repurchase agreements collateralized by securities of the U.S. government or its agencies, and affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds. For purposes of this paragraph, agencies include both agency debentures and agency mortgage backed securities.

 

In addition, a Portfolio will be able to terminate the loan at any time and will receive reasonable interest on the loan, as well as amounts equal to any dividends, interest, or other distributions on the loaned securities. However, dividend income received from loaned securities may not be eligible to be taxed at qualified dividend income rates. See the Portfolios’ Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”) for a further discussion of the

 

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tax consequences related to securities lending. Each Portfolio will be entitled to recall a loaned security to vote proxies or otherwise obtain rights to vote proxies of loaned securities if the Portfolio knows that a material event will occur. In the event of the bankruptcy of the borrower, the Fund could experience delay in recovering the loaned securities or only recover cash or a security of equivalent value. See “PRINCIPAL RISKS—Securities Lending for a discussion of the risks related to securities lending.

 

SECURITIES LENDING REVENUE

 

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the following Portfolios received the following net revenues from a securities lending program, which constituted a percentage of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio (see “SECURITIES LOANS”):

 

Portfolio


   Net Revenue

     Percentage
of Net
Assets


 

U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio

   $ 80,000         0.08

U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

   $ 68,000         0.06

International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

   $ 110,000         0.13

DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio

   $ 67,000         0.13

Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio

   $ 440,000         0.09

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIOS

 

The Advisor serves as investment advisor to each of the Portfolios. Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Fund on behalf of each Portfolio, the Advisor is responsible for the management of each of the Portfolio’s assets. Each of the Portfolios is managed using a team approach. The investment team includes the Investment Committee of the Advisor, portfolio managers, and trading personnel.

 

The Investment Committee is composed primarily of certain officers and directors of the Advisor who are appointed annually. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Investment Committee has ten members. Investment strategies for the Portfolios are set by the Investment Committee, which meets on a regular basis and also as needed to consider investment issues. The Investment Committee also sets and reviews all investment related policies and procedures and approves any changes in regards to approved countries, security types, and brokers.

 

In accordance with the team approach used to manage the Portfolios, the portfolio managers and portfolio traders implement the policies and procedures established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers and portfolio traders also make daily investment decisions regarding the Portfolios, including running buy and sell programs, based on the parameters established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers named below coordinate the efforts of all other portfolio managers with respect to the day-to-day management of the listed Portfolios.

 

U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio

   Stephen A. Clark

U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

    

International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

   Stephen A. Clark,

Karen E. Umland,

Joseph H. Chi and

Jed S. Fogdall

DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio

  

Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio

  
    

 

Mr. Clark is a Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and chairman of the Investment Committee. Mr. Clark received his MBA from the University of Chicago and his BS from Bradley University. Mr. Clark joined the Advisor as a portfolio manager in 2001 and has been responsible for the portfolio management group since January 2006.

 

 

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Ms. Umland is a Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and a member of the Investment Committee. She received her BA from Yale University in 1988 and her MBA from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1993. Ms. Umland joined the Advisor in 1993 and has been a portfolio manager and responsible for the international equity portfolios since 1998.

 

Mr. Chi is a Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and a member of the Investment Committee. Mr. Chi has an MBA and BS from the University of California, Los Angeles and also a JD from the University of Southern California. Mr. Chi joined the Advisor as a portfolio manager in 2005 and has been responsible for the international equity portfolios since 2010.

 

Mr. Fogdall is a Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and a member of the Investment Committee. Mr. Fogdall has an MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles and a BS from Purdue University. Mr. Fogdall joined the Advisor as a portfolio manager in 2004 and has been responsible for the international equity portfolios since 2010.

 

The SAI for the Fund provides information about each portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, and the portfolio manager’s ownership of Fund shares.

 

The Advisor provides each Portfolio with a trading department and selects brokers and dealers to effect securities transactions. Securities transactions are placed with a view to obtaining best price and execution. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the investment management agreements with respect to each Portfolio is available in the semi-annual report for the Portfolios for the fiscal period ending April 30, 2010. The Advisor’s address is 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX, 78746. The Advisor has been engaged in the business of providing investment management services since May 1981. The Advisor is currently organized as a Delaware limited partnership and is controlled and operated by its general partner, Dimensional Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation. As of January 31, 2011, assets under management for all Dimensional affiliated advisors totaled approximately $209 billion.

 

The Fund bears all of its own costs and expenses, including: services of its independent registered public accounting firm, legal counsel, Social Screen Portfolios Vendor, brokerage fees, commissions, and transfer taxes in connection with the acquisition and disposition of portfolio securities, taxes, insurance premiums, costs incidental to meetings of its shareholders and directors, the cost of filing its registration statements under the federal securities laws and the cost of any filings required under state securities laws, reports to shareholders, and transfer and dividend disbursing agency, administrative services, and custodian fees. Expenses allocable to a particular portfolio of the Fund are so allocated. The expenses of the Fund that are not allocable to a particular portfolio are borne by each portfolio on the basis of its relative net assets or equally.

 

Management Fees

 

The “Annual Fund Operating Expenses table describes the fees incurred by each Portfolio for the services provided by the Advisor for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010. The “Management Fee” listed in the table for the Portfolios provides the investment advisory fee that was payable by the respective Portfolio to the Advisor.

 

Sub-Advisors

 

The Advisor has entered into Sub-Advisory Agreements with Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (“DFAL”) and DFA Australia Limited (“DFA Australia”), respectively, with respect to the International Portfolios. Pursuant to the terms of each Sub-Advisory Agreement, DFAL and DFA Australia each have the authority and responsibility to select brokers or dealers to execute securities transactions for the International Portfolios. Each Sub-Advisor’s duties include the maintenance of a trading desk and the determination of the best and most efficient means of executing securities transactions. On at least a semi-annual basis, the Advisor will review the holdings of each International Portfolio and review the trading process and the execution of securities transactions. The Advisor is responsible for determining those securities that are eligible for purchase and sale

 

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by an International Portfolio and may delegate this task, subject to its own review, to DFAL and DFA Australia. DFAL and DFA Australia maintain and furnish to the Advisor information and reports on companies in certain markets, including recommendations of securities to be added to the securities that are eligible for purchase by each International Portfolio, as well as making recommendations and elections on corporate actions. The Advisor controls DFAL and DFA Australia. DFA Australia is a U.S. federally registered investment advisor located at Level 43 Gateway, 1 Macquarie Place, Sydney, New South Wales 2000, Australia. DFAL is a U.S. federally registered investment advisor located at 20 Triton Street, Regent’s Place, London NW13BF, United Kingdom. DFAL is a member of the Financial Services Authority (“FSA”), a self-regulatory organization for investment managers operating under the laws of England.

 

Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreements

 

Pursuant to an Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement, the Advisor has contractually agreed to waive certain fees, including management fees, and in certain instances, assume certain expenses of the Portfolios, as described below. The Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreements for the Portfolios described below will remain in effect through February 28, 2010, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by a Fund or the Advisor.

 

The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee to the extent necessary to reduce the U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio’s ordinary operating expenses (not including expenses incurred through its investment in other investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) of the U.S. Social Core Equity Portfolio so that the Portfolio Expenses, on an annualized basis, do not exceed 0.60% (the “Expense Limitation Amount”). At any time, Portfolio Expenses of the U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio are less than the Expense Limitation Amount, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement of any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that the amount of such reimbursement will not cause the annualized Portfolio Expenses to exceed the applicable Expense Limitation Amount. The U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived by the Advisor more than thirty-six months prior to the date of any such reimbursement.

 

The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and to assume the ordinary operating expenses of each of the Portfolios listed below (excluding the expenses that the Portfolio incurs indirectly through its investment in other investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) to the extent necessary to limit the Portfolio Expenses for each Portfolio listed below, on an annualized basis, to the rate reflected below for each Portfolio (the “Expense Limitation Amount”). At any time, the Portfolio Expenses of a Portfolio are less than the applicable Expense Limitation Amount, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that the amount of such reimbursement will not cause the annualized Portfolio Expenses to exceed the Expense Limitation Amount. A Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement. For the Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio, the Advisor has voluntarily agreed to assume the costs of the Portfolio’s engagement of its Social Screen Vendor but may terminate the assumption of this expense at any time.

 

Portfolio


   Expense
Limits


 

U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

     0.37

International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

     0.57

Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio

     0.85

 

The Advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and to assume the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio’s expenses (including the expenses that the Portfolio bears as a shareholder of other funds managed by the Advisor but excluding the expenses that the Portfolio incurs indirectly through its investment in unaffiliated investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) to the extent necessary to

 

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limit the Portfolio Expenses, on an annualized basis, to 0.60% (the “Expense Limitation Amount”). At any time, the Portfolio Expenses are less than the Expense Limitation Amount, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that such reimbursement will not cause the annualized Portfolio Expenses to exceed the Expense Limitation Amount. The DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement.

 

DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

 

Dividends and Distributions. Each Portfolio intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). As a regulated investment company, a Portfolio generally pays no federal income tax on the income and gains it distributes to you. Dividends from net investment income of a Portfolio are distributed quarterly (on a calendar basis) and any net realized capital gains (after any reductions for available capital loss carryforwards) are distributed annually, typically in December. A Portfolio may distribute such income dividends and capital gains more frequently, if necessary, in order to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the Portfolio.

 

Capital gains distributions may vary considerably from year to year as a result of a Portfolio’s normal investment activities and cash flows. During a time of economic downturn, a Portfolio may experience capital losses and unrealized depreciation in value of investments, the effect of which may be to reduce or eliminate capital gains distributions for a period of time. Even though a Portfolio may experience a current year loss, it may nonetheless distribute prior year capital gains.

 

You will automatically receive all income dividends and capital gains distributions in additional shares of the Portfolio whose shares you hold at net asset value (as of the business date following the dividend record date), unless, upon written notice to the Advisor and completion of account information, you select one of the options listed below:

 

Income Option—to receive income dividends in cash and capital gains distributions in additional shares at net asset value.

 

Capital Gains Option—to receive capital gains distributions in cash and income dividends in additional shares at net asset value.

 

Cash Option—to receive both income dividends and capital gains distributions in cash.

 

Annual Statements. Each year, you will receive a statement that shows the tax status of distributions you received the previous calendar year. Distributions declared in December to shareholders of record in such month, but paid in January, are taxable as if they were paid in December.

 

Avoid “Buying A Dividend.” At the time you purchase your Portfolio shares, a Portfolio’s net asset value may reflect undistributed income, undistributed capital gains, or net unrealized appreciation in value of portfolio securities held by the Portfolio. A subsequent distribution to you of such amounts, although constituting a return of your investment, would be taxable. Buying shares in a Portfolio just before it declares an income dividend or capital gains distribution is sometimes known as “buying a dividend.”

 

Tax Considerations. This discussion of “Tax Considerations” should be read in conjunction with the remaining subsections below containing additional information.

 

In general, if you are a taxable investor, Portfolio distributions (other than exempt-interest dividends) are taxable to you as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both. This is true whether you reinvest your distributions in additional Portfolio shares or receive them in cash.

 

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For federal income tax purposes, Portfolio distributions of short-term capital gains are taxable to you as ordinary income. Portfolio distributions of long-term capital gains are taxable to you as long-term capital gains no matter how long you have owned your shares. A Portfolio with a high portfolio turnover rate (a measure of how frequently assets within a Portfolio are bought and sold) is more likely to generate short-term capital gains than a Portfolio with a low portfolio turnover rate. With respect to taxable years of a Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2013, unless such provision is extended or made permanent, a portion of income dividends reported by a Portfolio as qualified dividend income may be eligible for taxation by individual shareholders at long-term capital gain rates provided certain holding period requirements are met.

 

If a Portfolio qualifies to pass through to you the tax benefits from foreign taxes it pays on its investments, and elects to do so, then any foreign taxes it pays on these investments may be passed through to you as a foreign tax credit.

 

Sale or Redemption of Portfolio Shares. The sale of shares of a Portfolio is a taxable event and may result in a capital gain or loss to you. Capital gain or loss may be realized from an ordinary redemption of shares or an exchange of shares between two Portfolios. Any loss incurred on the sale or exchange of a Portfolio’s shares, held for six months or less, will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of capital gain dividends received with respect to such shares.

 

Backup Withholding. By law, a Portfolio may be required to withhold 28% of taxable dividends, capital gains distributions, and redemption proceeds paid to you if you do not provide your proper taxpayer identification number and certain required certifications. You may avoid this withholding requirement by providing and certifying on the account registration form your correct Taxpayer Identification Number and by certifying that you are not subject to backup withholding and are a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). A Portfolio must also withhold if the IRS instructs it to do so.

 

State and Local Taxes. In addition to federal taxes, you may be subject to state and local taxes on distributions from a Portfolio and on gains arising on redemption or exchange of a Portfolio’s shares. Distributions of interest income and capital gains realized from certain types of U.S. government securities may be exempt from state personal income taxes.

 

Non-U.S. Investors. Non-U.S. investors may be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a 30% or lower treaty rate and are subject to special U.S. tax certification requirements to avoid backup withholding and claim any treaty benefits. Exemptions from U.S. withholding tax are provided for capital gain dividends paid by a Portfolio from long-term capital gains, if any, exempt-interest dividends, and, with respect to taxable years of a Portfolio that begin before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended or made permanent), interest-related dividends paid by a Portfolio from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources and short-term capital gain dividends. However, notwithstanding such exemptions from U.S. withholding at the source, any such dividends and distributions of income and capital gains will be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 28% if you fail to properly certify that you are not a U.S. person. Non-U.S. investors also may be subject to U.S. estate tax.

 

This discussion of “DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES” is not intended or written to be used as tax advice. Because everyone’s tax situation is unique, you should consult your tax professional about federal, state, local or foreign tax consequences before making an investment in a Portfolio. Prospective investors should also consult the SAI.

 

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ELECTRONIC SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

 

In order to conserve natural resources, which the Advisor understands is an important consideration of the shareholders of the Portfolios, shareholders, when opening an account through a financial intermediary that provides electronic delivery, are encouraged to consent to the acceptance of all shareholder information about the Portfolio(s) in which the shareholders invest, through electronic delivery. Shareholder information includes prospectuses, statements of additional information, annual and semi-annual reports, confirmations and statements. Additionally, the Portfolios’ website address is www.dimensional.com. The current Prospectus of the Portfolios is available for viewing and printing on the website. An interruption in transmissions over the Internet generally or a problem in the transmission of the Portfolios’ website in particular could result in a delay or interruption in the ability of shareholders to access the website.

 

PURCHASE OF SHARES

 

Cash Purchases

 

Investors may purchase shares of each Portfolio by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment. Each Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions, and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor (“Eligible Investors”). Eligible Investors include employees, former employees, shareholders and directors of the Advisor and the Fund, and friends and family members of such persons. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor, and all investors must complete and submit the necessary account registration forms in good order. The Fund reserves the right to reject any initial or additional investment and to suspend the offering of shares of a Portfolio.

 

“Good order” with respect to the purchases of shares means that (1) a fully completed and properly signed Account Registration Form and any additional supporting legal documentation required by the Advisor have been received in legible form, and (2) the Advisor has been notified of the purchase by telephone and, if the Advisor so requests, also in writing, no later than the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. ET) on the day of the purchase. If an order to purchase shares must be cancelled due to nonpayment, the purchaser will be responsible for any loss incurred by the Fund arising out of such cancellation. To recover any such loss, the Fund reserves the right to redeem shares owned by any purchaser whose order is cancelled, and such purchaser may be prohibited or restricted in the manner of placing further orders.

 

Investors having an account with a bank that is a member or a correspondent of a member of the Federal Reserve System may purchase shares by first calling the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment, then requesting the bank to transmit immediately available funds (federal funds) by wire to PNC Bank, N.A. for the account of DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. (specify Portfolio). Additional investments also may be made through the wire procedure by first notifying the Advisor. Investors who wish to purchase shares of the Portfolio by check should send their check to DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc., c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (formerly, PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.), Attn: AIM: 19K-1A18, 760 Moore Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406.

 

Payment of the total amount due should be made in U.S. dollars. However, subject to approval by the Advisor, payment may be made in any freely convertible currency and the necessary foreign exchange transactions will be arranged on behalf of, and at the expense of, the applicant. Applicants settling in any currency other than U.S. dollars are advised that a delay in processing a purchase or redemption may occur to allow for currency conversion.

 

 

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Shares also may be purchased and sold by individuals through securities firms that may charge a service fee or commission for such transactions. No such fee or commission is charged on shares that are purchased or redeemed directly from the Fund. Investors who are clients of investment advisory organizations may also be subject to investment advisory fees under their own arrangements with such organizations.

 

In-Kind Purchases

 

If accepted by the Fund, shares of a Portfolio may be purchased in exchange for securities that are eligible for acquisition by the Portfolio or otherwise represented in its portfolio as described in this Prospectus or as otherwise consistent with the Fund’s policies and procedures or, in the case of the International Portfolios, in exchange for local currencies in which such securities of the International Portfolios are denominated. Securities and local currencies accepted by the Fund for exchange and Portfolio shares to be issued in the exchange will be valued as set forth under “VALUATION OF SHARES” at the time of the next determination of net asset value after such acceptance. All dividends, interests, subscription, or other rights pertaining to such securities shall become the property of the Portfolio and must be delivered to the Fund by the investor upon receipt from the issuer. Investors who desire to purchase shares of the International Portfolios with local currencies should first contact the Advisor.

 

The Fund will not accept securities in exchange for shares of a Portfolio unless: (1) such securities are, at the time of the exchange, eligible to be included, or otherwise represented, in the Portfolio and current market quotations are readily available for such securities; (2) the investor represents and agrees that all securities offered to be exchanged are not subject to any restrictions upon their sale by the Portfolio under the Securities Act of 1933 or under the laws of the country in which the principal market for such securities exists, or otherwise; and (3) at the discretion of the Fund, the value of any such security (except U.S. government securities) being exchanged, together with other securities of the same issuer owned by the Portfolio, may not exceed 5% of the net assets of the Portfolio immediately after the transaction.

 

A gain or loss for federal income tax purposes will generally be realized by investors who are subject to federal taxation upon the exchange depending upon the cost of the securities or local currency exchanged. Investors interested in such exchanges should contact the Advisor. Purchases of shares will be made in full and fractional shares calculated to three decimal places. In the interest of economy and convenience, certificates for shares will not be issued.

 

POLICY REGARDING EXCESSIVE OR SHORT-TERM TRADING

 

Each Portfolio is designed for long-term investors and is not intended for investors that engage in excessive short-term trading activity that may be harmful to the Portfolio, including but not limited to market timing. Short-term or excessive trading into and out of a Portfolio can disrupt portfolio management strategies, harm performance, and increase Portfolio expenses for all shareholders, including long-term shareholders who do not generate these costs.

 

In addition, the nature of the International Portfolios’ holdings may present opportunities for a shareholder to engage in a short-term trading strategy that exploits possible delays between changes in the price of the International Portfolios’ holdings and the reflection of those changes in the International Portfolios’ net asset value (called “arbitrage market timing”). Such delays may occur because the International Portfolios have significant investments in foreign securities where, due to time zone differences, the values of those securities are established some time before the International Portfolios calculate their net asset value. In such circumstances, the available market prices for such foreign securities may not accurately reflect the latest indications of value at the time the International Portfolios calculate their net asset value. There is a possibility that arbitrage market timing may dilute the value of the International Portfolios’ shares if redeeming shareholders receive proceeds (and purchasing shareholders receive shares) based upon a net asset value that does not reflect appropriate fair value prices.

 

 

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The Board of the Fund has adopted a policy (the “Trading Policy”) and the Advisor and DFA Securities LLC (collectively, “Dimensional”) and Dimensional’s agents have implemented the following procedures, which are designed to discourage and prevent market timing or excessive short-term trading in the Portfolio: (i) trade activity monitoring and purchase blocking procedures, and (ii) use of fair value pricing.

 

The Fund, Dimensional and their agents monitor trades and flows of money in and out of the Portfolios from time to time in an effort to detect excessive short-term trading activities, and for consistent enforcement of the Trading Policy. The Fund reserves the right to take the actions necessary to stop excessive or disruptive trading activities, including refusing or canceling purchase or exchange orders for any reason, without prior notice, particularly purchase or exchange orders that the Fund believes are made on behalf of market timers. The Fund, Dimensional and their agents reserve the right to restrict, refuse or cancel any purchase or exchange request made by an investor indefinitely if the Fund or Dimensional believes that any combination of trading activity in the accounts is potentially disruptive to a Portfolio. In making such judgments, the Fund and Dimensional seek to act in a manner that is consistent with the interests of shareholders. For purposes of applying these procedures, Dimensional may consider an investor’s trading history in a Portfolio, and accounts under common ownership, influence or control.

 

In addition to the Fund’s general ability to restrict potentially disruptive trading activity as described above, the Fund also has adopted purchase blocking procedures. Under the Fund’s purchase blocking procedures, where an investor has engaged in any two purchases and two redemptions (including redemptions that are part of an exchange transaction) in a Portfolio in any rolling 30 calendar day monitoring period (i.e., two “round trips”), the Fund and Dimensional intend to block the investor from making any additional purchases in the Portfolio for 90 calendar days (a “purchase block”). If implemented, a purchase block will begin at some point after the transaction that caused the investor to have engaged in the prohibited two round-trips is detected by the Fund, Dimensional, or their agents. The Fund and Dimensional are permitted to implement a longer purchase block, or permanently bar future purchases by an investor, if they determine that it is appropriate.

 

Under the Fund’s purchase blocking procedures, the following purchases and redemptions will not trigger a purchase block: (i) purchases and redemptions of shares having a value in each transaction of less than $5,000; (ii) purchases and redemptions by U.S. registered investment companies that operate as funds of funds and non-U.S. investment companies that operate as fund of funds that the Funds or Dimensional, in their sole discretion, have determined are not designed and/or are not serving as vehicles for excessive short-term or other disruptive trading (in each case, the fund of funds shall agree to be subject to monitoring by Dimensional); (iii) purchases and redemptions by a feeder portfolio of a master fund’s shares; (iv) systematic or automated transactions where the shareholder, financial advisor or investment fiduciary does not exercise direct control over the investment decision; (v) retirement plan contributions, loans, loan repayments and distributions (including hardship withdrawals) identified as such in the retirement plan recordkeeper’s system; (vi) purchase transactions involving transfers of assets, rollovers, Roth IRA conversions and IRA recharacterizations; (vii) purchases of shares with Portfolio dividends or capital gain distributions; (viii) transfers and reregistrations of shares within a Portfolio; and (ix) transactions by 529 Plans. Notwithstanding the Fund’s purchase blocking procedures, all transactions in Portfolio shares are subject to the right of the Fund and Dimensional to restrict potentially disruptive trading activity (including purchases and redemptions described above that will not be subject to the purchase blocking procedures).

 

The Fund, Dimensional or their designees will have the ability, pursuant to Rule 22c-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), to request information from financial intermediaries, such as 401(k) plan administrators, trust companies and broker-dealers (together, “Intermediaries”), concerning trades placed in omnibus and other multi-investor accounts (together, “Omnibus Accounts”), in order to attempt to monitor trades that are placed by the underlying shareholders of these Omnibus Accounts. The Fund, Dimensional and their designees will use the information obtained from the Intermediaries to monitor trading in the Fund and to attempt to identify shareholders in Omnibus Accounts engaged in trading that is inconsistent with the Trading Policy or otherwise not in the best interests of the Fund. The Fund, Dimensional or their designees, when they detect

 

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trading patterns in shares of a Portfolio (or other portfolios of the Fund) that may constitute short-term or excessive trading, will provide written instructions to the Intermediary to restrict or prohibit further purchases or exchanges of shares of the Portfolio (and other portfolios of the Fund) by a shareholder that has been identified as having engaged in excessive or short-term transactions in the Portfolio’s shares (directly or indirectly through the Intermediary’s account) that violate the Trading Policy.

 

The ability of the Fund and Dimensional to impose these limitations, including the purchase blocking procedures, on investors investing through Intermediaries is dependent on the receipt of information necessary to identify transactions by the underlying investors and the Intermediary’s cooperation in implementing the Trading Policy. Investors seeking to engage in excessive short-term trading practices may deploy a variety of strategies to avoid detection, and despite the efforts of the Fund and Dimensional to prevent excessive short-term trading, there is no assurance that the Fund, Dimensional or their agents will be able to identify those shareholders or curtail their trading practices. The ability of the Fund, Dimensional and their agents to detect and limit excessive short-term trading also may be restricted by operational systems and technological limitations.

 

The purchase blocking procedures of the Trading Policy may not apply to redemptions by shareholders whose shares are held on the books of Intermediaries if the Intermediaries have not adopted procedures to implement this Policy. The Fund and Dimensional will work with Intermediaries to develop such policies to institute the purchase blocking procedures or other procedures that the Fund and Dimensional determine are reasonably designed to achieve the objective of this Trading Policy. At the time the Intermediaries adopt these procedures, shareholders whose accounts are on the books of such Intermediaries will be subject to the Trading Policy’s purchase blocking procedures or another frequent trading policy that achieves the objective of the purchase blocking procedures. Investors that invest in a Portfolio through an Intermediary should contact the Intermediary for information concerning the policies and procedures that apply to the investor.

 

As of the date of this Prospectus, the ability of the Fund and Dimensional to apply the purchase blocking procedures on purchases by all investors and the ability of the Fund and Dimensional to monitor trades through Omnibus Accounts maintained by Intermediaries may be restricted due to systems limitations of both the Fund’s service providers and the Intermediaries. The Fund expects that the application of the Trading Policy as described above, including the purchase blocking procedures (subject to the limitations described above), will be able to be implemented by Intermediaries in compliance with Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act.

 

In addition, the purchase blocking procedures will not apply to a redemption transaction in which a Portfolio distributes portfolio securities to a shareholder in-kind, where the redemption will not disrupt the efficient portfolio management of the Portfolio and the redemption is consistent with the interests of the remaining shareholders of the Portfolio.

 

In addition to monitoring trade activity, the Board has adopted fair value pricing procedures that govern the pricing of the securities of the Portfolios. These procedures are designed to help ensure that the prices at which Portfolio shares are purchased and redeemed are fair, and do not result in dilution of shareholder interests or other harm to shareholders. See the discussion under “VALUATION OF SHARES—Net Asset Value” for additional details regarding fair value pricing of the Portfolios’ securities.

 

Although the procedures are designed to discourage excessive short-term trading, none of the procedures individually nor all of the procedures taken together can completely eliminate the possibility that excessive short-term trading activity in a Portfolio may occur. The Portfolios do not knowingly accommodate excessive or disruptive trading activities, including market timing.

 

 

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VALUATION OF SHARES

 

Net Asset Value

 

The net asset value per share of each Portfolio is calculated after the close of the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. ET) by dividing the total value of the Portfolio’s investments and other assets, less any liabilities, by the total outstanding shares of the stock of the respective Portfolio. Each Portfolio generally calculates its net asset value per share and accepts purchase and redemption orders on days that the NYSE is open for trading. Note: The time at which transactions and shares are priced may be changed in case of an emergency or if the NYSE closes at a time other than 4:00 p.m. ET.

 

The value of shares of each Portfolio will fluctuate in relation to its investment experience. Securities held by the Portfolios will be valued in accordance with applicable laws and procedures adopted by the Board, and generally, as described below.

 

Securities held by the Portfolios (including over-the-counter securities) are valued at the last quoted sale price of the day. Securities held by the Portfolios that are listed on Nasdaq are valued at the Nasdaq Official Closing Price (“NOCP”). If there is no last reported sales price or NOCP of the day, the Portfolios value the securities at the mean between the most recent quoted bid and asked prices. Price information on listed securities is taken from the exchange where the security is primarily traded. Generally, securities issued by open-end investment companies are valued using their respective net asset values or public offering prices, as appropriate, for purchase orders placed at the close of the NYSE.

 

The value of the securities and other assets of the Portfolios for which no market quotations are readily available (including restricted securities), or for which market quotations have become unreliable, are determined in good faith at fair value in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of the Fund. Fair value pricing may also be used if events that have a significant effect on the value of an investment (as determined in the discretion of the Investment Committee of the Advisor) occur before the net asset value is calculated. When fair value pricing is used, the prices of securities used by the Portfolios may differ from the quoted or published prices for the same securities on their primary markets or exchanges.

 

As of the date of this Prospectus, the International Portfolios will also fair value price in the circumstances described below. Generally, trading in foreign securities markets is completed each day at various times before the close of the NYSE. For example, trading in the Japanese securities markets is completed each day at the close of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (normally 2:00 a.m. ET), which is fourteen hours before to the close of the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. ET) and the time that the net asset value of the International Portfolios is computed. Due to the time differences between the closings of the relevant foreign securities exchanges and the time the International Portfolios price their shares at the close of the NYSE, the International Portfolios will fair value its foreign investments when it is determined that the market quotations for the foreign investments are either unreliable or not readily available. The fair value prices will attempt to reflect the impact of the U.S. financial markets’ perceptions and trading activities on the International Portfolios’ foreign investments since the last closing prices of the foreign investments were calculated on their primary foreign securities markets or exchanges. For these purposes, the Board of the Fund has determined that movements in relevant indices or other appropriate market indicators, after the close of the Tokyo Stock Exchange or the London Stock Exchange, demonstrate that market quotations may be unreliable, and may trigger fair value pricing. Consequently, fair valuation of portfolio securities may occur on a daily basis. The fair value pricing by the International Portfolios utilizes data furnished by an independent pricing service (and that data draws upon, among other information, the market values of foreign investments). When the International Portfolios use fair value pricing, the values assigned to the International Portfolios’ foreign investments may not be the quoted or published prices of the investments on their primary markets or exchanges. The Board of the Fund monitors the operation of the method used to fair value price the International Portfolios’ foreign investments.

 

 

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Valuing securities at fair value involves greater reliance on judgment than valuing securities that have readily available market quotations. There can be no assurance that a Portfolio could obtain the fair value assigned to a security if it were to sell the security at approximately the time at which the Portfolio determines its net asset value per share. As a result, the sale or redemption by a Portfolio of its shares at net asset value, at a time when a holding or holdings are valued at fair value, may have the effect of diluting or increasing the economic interest of existing shareholders.

 

The net asset value per share of the International Portfolios are expressed in U.S. dollars by translating the net assets of the International Portfolios using the mean of the most recent bid and asked prices for the dollar as quoted by generally recognized reliable sources. Since the International Portfolios own securities that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges that may trade on days when the International Portfolios do not price its shares, the net asset value of the International Portfolios may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem shares.

 

Certain of the securities holdings of the Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio may be subject to tax, investment, and currency repatriation regulations that could have a material effect on the values of the securities. For example, the Portfolio might be subject to different levels of taxation on current income and realized gains depending upon the holding period of the securities. In general, a longer holding period (e.g., 5 years) may result in the imposition of lower tax rates than a shorter holding period (e.g., 1 year). The Portfolio may also be subject to certain contractual arrangements with investment authorities in an Approved Market that require the Portfolio to maintain minimum holding periods or to limit the extent of repatriation of income and realized gains.

 

Futures contracts are valued using the settlement price established each day on the exchange on which they are traded. The value of such futures contracts held by the Portfolios is determined each day as of such close.

 

Public Offering Price

 

Provided that the transfer agent has received the investor’s Account Registration Form in good order and the custodian has received the investor’s payment, shares of the Portfolio selected will be priced at the public offering price, which is the net asset value of the shares next determined after receipt of the investor’s funds by the custodian. The transfer agent or the Fund may appoint, from time to time, sub-transfer agents or various financial intermediaries (“Intermediaries”) for the receipt of purchase orders, redemption orders, and funds from certain investors. Intermediaries, in turn, are authorized to designate other financial intermediaries (“Sub-designees”) to receive purchase and redemption orders for the Portfolios’ shares from investors. With respect to such investors, the shares of a Portfolio will be priced at the public offering price calculated after receipt of the purchase order by the Intermediary or Sub-designee, as applicable, that is authorized to receive purchase orders. If the investor buys shares through an Intermediary or Sub-designee, the purchase price will be the public offering price next calculated after the Intermediary or Sub-designee, as applicable, receives the order, rather than on the day the custodian receives the investor’s payment (provided that the Intermediary or Sub-designee, as applicable, has received the investor’s purchase order in good order, and the investor has complied with the Intermediary’s or Sub-designee’s payment procedures). No reimbursement fee or sales charge is imposed on purchases. If an order to purchase shares must be canceled due to non-payment, the purchaser will be responsible for any loss incurred by a Portfolio arising out of such cancellation. The Funds reserve the right to redeem shares owned by any purchaser whose order is canceled to recover any resulting loss to a Portfolio and may prohibit or restrict the manner in which such purchaser may place further orders.

 

 

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EXCHANGE OF SHARES

 

Investors may exchange shares of a Portfolio for shares of another portfolio by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed exchange and then sending a letter of instruction. Letters of instruction regarding exchange of shares may be mailed to the following address:

 

DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc.

Attn: Client Operations

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

 

The minimum amount for an exchange is $100,000. Contact the Advisor for information regarding the portfolios available for exchanges and to request a copy of the prospectus(es) of such portfolios. There is no fee imposed on an exchange. However, the Fund reserves the right to impose an administrative fee in order to cover the costs incurred in processing an exchange. Any such fee will be disclosed in the Prospectus. An exchange is treated as a redemption and a purchase. Therefore, an investor could realize a taxable gain or loss on the transaction. The Fund reserves the right to revise or terminate the exchange privilege, limit the amount of or reject any exchange, or waive the minimum amount requirement as deemed necessary, at any time.

 

Investors in a Portfolio also may exchange all or part of their Portfolio shares into certain portfolios of Dimensional Investment Group Inc., subject to the minimum purchase requirement set forth in the applicable portfolio’s prospectus. Investors may contact the Advisor at the above-listed phone number for more information on such exchanges and to request a copy of the prospectuses of portfolios of Dimensional Investment Group Inc.

 

The exchange privilege is not intended to afford shareholders a way to speculate on short-term movements in the markets. Accordingly, in order to prevent excessive use of the exchange privilege that may potentially disrupt the management of the Portfolios or otherwise adversely affect the Fund, any proposed exchange is subject to the approval of the Advisor. Such approval will depend on: (i) the size of the proposed exchange; (ii) the prior number of exchanges by that shareholder; (iii) the nature of the underlying securities and the cash position of the portfolios involved in the proposed exchange; (iv) the transaction costs involved in processing the exchange; and (v) the total number of redemptions by exchange already made out of a Portfolio. Excessive use of the exchange privilege is defined as any pattern of exchanges among portfolios by an investor that evidences market timing.

 

The redemption and purchase prices of shares redeemed and purchased by exchange, respectively, are the net asset values next determined after the Advisor has received a letter of instruction in good order. “Good order” means a completed letter of instruction specifying the dollar amount to be exchanged, signed by all registered owners (or representatives thereof) of the shares; and if the Fund does not have on file the authorized signatures for the account, proof of authority. Exchanges will be accepted only if stock certificates have not been issued and the shares of the portfolio being acquired are registered in the investor’s state of residence.

 

REDEMPTION OF SHARES

 

Redemption Procedure

 

Investors who desire to redeem shares of a Portfolio must first contact the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400. Shareholders who invest in the Portfolios through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding redemption procedures. Each Portfolio will redeem shares at the net asset value of such shares next determined, either: (1) where stock certificates have not been issued, after receipt of a written request for redemption in good order, by the transfer agent (or by an Intermediary or a Sub-designee, if applicable), or (2) if stock certificates have been issued, after receipt of the stock certificates in good order at the office of the transfer agent. “Good order” means that the request to redeem shares must include all necessary documentation, to be received in writing by the Advisor no later than the close of regular trading on the NYSE

 

46


Table of Contents

(normally 4:00 p.m. ET), including but not limited to: the stock certificate(s), if issued; a letter of instruction or a stock assignment specifying the number of shares or dollar amount to be redeemed, signed by all registered owners (or authorized representatives thereof) of the shares; and if the Fund does not have on file the authorized signatures for the account, proof of authority.

 

Shareholders redeeming shares for which certificates have not been issued, who have authorized redemption payment by wire in writing, may request that redemption proceeds be paid in federal funds wired to the bank they have designated in writing. The Fund reserves the right to send redemption proceeds by check in its discretion; a shareholder may request overnight delivery of such check at the shareholder’s own expense. If the proceeds are wired to the shareholder’s account at a bank that is not a member of the Federal Reserve System, there could be a delay in crediting the funds to the shareholder’s bank account. The Fund reserves the right at any time to suspend or terminate the redemption by wire procedure after prior notification to shareholders. No fee is charged for redemptions. The redemption of all shares in an account will result in the account being closed. A new Account Registration Form will be required for future investments. See “PURCHASE OF SHARES.” In the interests of economy and convenience, certificates for shares are not issued.

 

Although the redemption payments will ordinarily be made within seven days after receipt, payment to investors redeeming shares that were purchased by check will not be made until the Fund can verify that the payments for the purchase have been, or will be, collected, which may take up to ten days or more. Investors may avoid this delay by submitting a certified check along with the purchase order.

 

Redemption of Small Accounts

 

With respect to each Portfolio, the Fund reserves the right to redeem an account if the value of the shares in a specific Portfolio is $500 or less because of redemptions. Before the Fund involuntarily redeems shares from such an account and sends the proceeds to the shareholder, the Fund will give written notice of the redemption to the shareholder at least sixty days before the redemption date. The shareholder will then have sixty days from the date of the notice to make an additional investment in order to bring the value of the shares in the account for a specific Portfolio to more than $500 and avoid such involuntary redemption. The redemption price to be paid to a shareholder for shares redeemed by the Fund under this right will be the aggregate net asset value of the shares in the account at the close of business on the redemption date. This right to redeem small accounts applies to accounts established with the Fund’s transfer agent.

 

In-Kind Redemptions

 

When in the best interests of a Portfolio, it may make a redemption payment, in whole or in part, by a distribution of portfolio securities that the Portfolio owns in lieu of cash. Such distributions will be made in accordance with the federal securities laws and regulations governing mutual funds. Investors may incur brokerage charges and other transaction costs selling securities that were received in payment of redemptions. Each International Portfolio also reserves the right to redeem its shares in the currencies in which its investments are denominated. Investors may incur brokerage charges and other transaction costs in selling such securities and converting such currencies to dollars. Also, the value of foreign securities or currencies may be affected by currency exchange fluctuations.

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

Each Portfolio generally will disclose up to its 25 largest portfolio holdings (other than cash and cash equivalents) and the percentages that each of these largest portfolio holdings represent of the total assets of the Portfolio, as of the most recent month-end, online at the Advisor’s public website, http://www.dimensional.com, within 20 days after the end of each month. Each Portfolio also generally will disclose its complete portfolio holdings (other than cash and cash equivalents), as of month-end, online at the Advisor’s public website, two months following the month-end or more frequently and at different periods when authorized in accordance with the Portfolios’ policies and procedures. Please consult the SAI for a description of the other policies and procedures that govern disclosure of the portfolio holdings by the Portfolios.

 

 

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Table of Contents

DELIVERY OF SHAREHOLDER DOCUMENTS

 

To eliminate duplicate mailings and reduce expenses, the Portfolios may deliver a single copy of certain shareholder documents, such as this Prospectus and annual and semi-annual reports, to related shareholders at the same address, even if accounts are registered in different names. This practice is known as “householding.” The Portfolios will not household personal information documents, such as account statements. If you do not want the mailings of these documents to be combined with those of other members of your household, please call us collect at (512) 306-7400. We will begin sending individual copies of the shareholder documents to you within 30 days of receiving your request.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

The Financial Highlights table is meant to help you understand each Portfolio’s financial performance for the past five years or, if shorter, the period of that Portfolio’s operations, as indicated by the table. The total returns in the table represent the rate that you would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Portfolio, assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. This information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, whose report, along with the Portfolio’s annual financial statements, are included in the Fund’s annual report which is available upon request.

 

 

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Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

U.S. SOCIAL CORE EQUITY 2 PORTFOLIO

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct.  31,
2009


    Period
Ended*
Oct. 31,
2008


    For the Period
Oct. 1, 2007**
to
Nov. 30, 2007


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 6.57      $ 6.12      $ 9.33      $ 10.00   
    


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                

Net Investment Income (Loss)#

     0.10        0.10        0.12        0.02   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     1.25        0.46        (3.21     (0.69
    


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

     1.35        0.56        (3.09     (0.67
    


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                

Net Investment Income

     (0.09     (0.11     (0.12       
    


 


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.09     (0.11     (0.12       
    


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 7.83      $ 6.57      $ 6.12      $ 9.33   
    


 


 


 


Total Return

     20.75     9.49     (33.48 )%†      (6.70 )%† 
    


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 120,881      $ 76,815      $ 30,363      $ 35,489   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

     0.33     0.41     0.49 %^      0.53 %^@ 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     1.32     1.62     1.56 %^      1.55 %^@ 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     13     8     7 %†      0 %† 

*   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
  Non-annualized.
^   Annualized.
**   Commencement of operations.
@   Because of commencement of operations and related preliminary transaction costs, these ratios are not necessarily indicative of future ratios.

 

 

49


Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

U.S. SUSTAINABILITY CORE 1 PORTFOLIO

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,

2010

    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009


    For the Period
March 12, 2008**
to
Oct. 31, 2008


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 8.15      $ 7.39      $ 10.00   
    


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                        

Net Investment Income (Loss)#

     0.13        0.14        0.10   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     1.42        0.77        (2.64
    


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

     1.55        0.91        (2.54
    


 


 


Less Distributions

                        

Net Investment Income

     (0.13     (0.15     (0.07

Net Realized Gains

                     
    


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.13     (0.15     (0.07
    


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 9.57      $ 8.15      $ 7.39   
    


 


 


Total Return

     19.15     12.69     (25.62 )%^ 
    


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 127,397      $ 85,299      $ 51,194   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

     0.37     0.37     0.37 %*@ 

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Assumption of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)

     0.37     0.47     0.61 %*@ 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     1.46     1.97     1.74 %*@ 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     6     18     12 %^ 

**   Commencement of Operations.
#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Non-Annualized.
*   Annualized.
@   Because of commencement of operations and related preliminary transaction costs, these ratios are not necessarily indicative of future ratios.

 

 

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Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY CORE 1 PORTFOLIO

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct.  31,
2009


    For the Period
March 12, 2008**
to
Oct. 31, 2008


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 7.70      $ 6.00      $ 10.00   
    


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                        

Net Investment Income (Loss)#

     0.17        0.16        0.17   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     0.68        1.70        (4.03
    


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

     0.85        1.86        (3.86
    


 


 


Less Distributions

                        

Net Investment Income

     (0.16     (0.16     (0.14

Net Realized Gains

                     
    


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.16     (0.16     (0.14
    


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 8.39      $ 7.70      $ 6.00   
    


 


 


Total Return

     11.29     31.56     (39.13 )%^ 
    


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 106,545      $ 74,124      $ 37,655   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

     0.57     0.57     0.57 %*@ 

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Assumption of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)

     0.55     0.66     1.00 %*@ 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     2.15     2.57     3.18 %*@ 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     7     7     2 %^ 

**   Commencement of Operations.
#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Non-Annualized.
*   Annualized.
@   Because of commencement of operations and related preliminary transaction costs, these ratios are not necessarily indicative of future ratios.

 

 

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Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

DFA INTERNATIONAL VALUE EX TOBACCO PORTFOLIO

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

    Year
Ended

Oct. 31,
2010

    Year
Ended
Oct.  31,
2009


    For the Period
June 30, 2008*
to
Oct. 31, 2008


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

  $ 8.22      $ 6.33      $ 10.00   
   


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                       

Net Investment Income (Loss)#

    0.19        0.20        0.08   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

    0.64        1.90        (3.72
   


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

    0.83        2.10        (3.64
   


 


 


Less Distributions

                       

Net Investment Income

    (0.18     (0.21     (0.03
   


 


 


Total Distributions

    (0.18     (0.21     (0.03
   


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

  $ 8.87      $ 8.22      $ 6.33   
   


 


 


Total Return

    10.49     33.74     (36.47 )%† 
   


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

  $ 64,645      $ 49,627      $ 31,792   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    0.60     0.60     0.60 %^@ 

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Assumptions of Expenses and/or Recovery of Previously Waived Fees)

    0.62     0.70     0.66 %^@ 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    2.30     2.98     2.18 %^@ 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    23     32     1 %† 

*   Commencement of operations.
#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
  Non-annualized.
^   Annualized.
@   Because of commencement of operations and related preliminary transaction costs, these ratios are not necessarily indicative of future ratios.

 

 

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Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

EMERGING MARKETS SOCIAL CORE EQUITY PORTFOLIO

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period)

 

     Year
Ended

Oct. 31,
2010

    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009


    Period
Ended*
Oct. 31,
2008


    Year
Ended
Nov. 30,
2007


    For the Period
Aug. 31, 2006**
to
Nov. 30, 2006


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 11.51      $ 6.92      $ 16.27      $ 11.46      $ 10.00   
    


 


 


 


 


Income From Investment Operations

                                        

Net Investment Income (Loss)#

     0.20        0.18        0.30        0.28        0.03   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     3.29        4.59        (8.28     4.74        1.43   
    


 


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

     3.49        4.77        (7.98     5.02        1.46   
    


 


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                        

Net Investment Income

     (0.20 )       (0.18     (0.32     (0.21       

Net Realized Gains

                   (1.05              
    


 


 


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.20     (0.18     (1.37     (0.21       
    


 


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 14.80      $ 11.51      $ 6.92      $ 16.27      $ 11.46   
    


 


 


 


 


Total Return

     30.63     69.84     (53.24 )%†      44.12     14.60 %† 
    


 


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 615,735      $ 460,705      $ 215,101      $ 482,671      $ 358,924   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

     0.67     0.70     0.66 %^      0.66     0.78 %^@ 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     1.57     2.10     2.54 %^      2.02     1.09 %^@ 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     14     4     13 %†      12     0 %† 

*   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
  Non-annualized.
^   Annualized.
**   Commencement of operations.
@   Because of commencement of operations and related preliminary transaction costs, these ratios are not necessarily indicative of future ratios.

 

 

53


Table of Contents

SERVICE PROVIDERS

 

Investment Advisor

 

DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LP

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

Tel. No. (512) 306-7400

 

Sub-Advisors

 

DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LTD.

20 Triton Street, Regent’s Place

London NW13BF

United Kingdom

Tel. No. (20) 3033-3300

 

DFA AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Level 43 Gateway

1 Macquarie Place

Sydney, New South Wales 2000

Australia

Tel. No. (612) 8 336-7100

 

Custodian—International

 

CITIBANK, N.A.

111 Wall Street

New York, NY 10005

 

Custodian—Domestic

 

PFPC TRUST COMPANY

(to be renamed

BNY Mellon Investment

Servicing Trust Company

effective July 1, 2011)

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Accounting Services, Dividend Disbursing,

and Transfer Agent

BNY MELLON INVESTMENT SERVICING (US) INC.

(formerly, PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.)

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

Legal Counsel

STRADLEY RONON STEVENS & YOUNG, LLP

2600 One Commerce Square

Philadelphia, PA 19103-7098

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP

Two Commerce Square

Suite 1700

2001 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042

 

Social Screen Portfolios Vendor

 

KLD RESEARCH & ANALYTICS, INC.

260 Summer Street, 4th Floor

Boston, MA 02210

 

 

 

54


Table of Contents

Other Available Information

 

You can find more information about the Fund and the Portfolios in the Portfolios’ SAI and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports.

 

Statement of Additional Information. The SAI supplements, and is technically part of, this Prospectus. It includes an expanded discussion of investment practices, risks, and fund operations.

 

Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to Shareholders. These reports focus on Portfolio holdings and performance. The Annual Report also discusses the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Portfolios in its last fiscal year.

 

How to get these and other materials:

 

Request free copies from:

 

   

Your investment advisor—you are a client of an investment advisor who has invested in the Portfolios on your behalf.

 

   

The Fund—you represent an institutional investor, registered investment advisor or other qualifying investor. Call collect at (512) 306-7400.

 

   

Access them on our website at http://www.dimensional.com.

 

   

Access them on the EDGAR Database in the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.

 

   

Review and copy them at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington D.C. (phone 1-800-SEC-0330).

 

   

Request copies from the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102 or at publicinfo@sec.gov (you will be charged a copying fee). Information on the operation of the SEC’s public reference room is available by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090.

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

(512) 306-7400

 

DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc.—Registration No. 811-3258

 

LOGO   LOGO    RRD022811-014


Table of Contents

PROSPECTUS

 

February 28, 2011

Please carefully read the important information it contains before investing.

 

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 


 

CSTG&E U.S. SOCIAL CORE EQUITY 2 PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFCUX

 

CSTG&E INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL CORE EQUITY PORTFOLIO

Ticker: DFCCX

 

The Portfolios described herein are not registered for sale in all states. Potential investors should call Dimensional Fund Advisors at (512) 306-7400 or ask their financial advisors about the availability of the Portfolios in their states. The information contained herein is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy the Portfolios mentioned, and no offers or sales will be made, in any jurisdictions in which the offer or sale of these Portfolios are not qualified or otherwise exempt from regulation.

 

This Prospectus describes the shares of each Portfolio which

 

Are generally available only to certain institutional investors.

 

Do not charge sales commissions or loads.

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

CSTG&E U.S. SOCIAL CORE EQUITY 2 PORTFOLIO

     1   

Investment Objective

     1   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     1   

Principal Investment Strategies

     1   

Principal Risks

     2   

Performance

     3   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     4   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     4   

Tax Information

     4   

CSTG&E INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL CORE EQUITY PORTFOLIO

     5   

Investment Objective

     5   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     5   

Principal Investment Strategies

     5   

Principal Risks

     7   

Performance

     7   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     8   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     9   

Tax Information

     9   

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

     10   

CSTG&E U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio

     10   

CSTG&E International Social Core Equity Portfolio

     10   

Applying the Portfolios’ Social Criteria

     11   

Portfolio Transactions

     12   

Other Information

     12   

SECURITIES LOANS

     13   

SECURITIES LENDING REVENUE

     13   

MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIOS

     13   

Management Fees

     15   

DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

     15   

POLICY REGARDING EXCESSIVE OR SHORT-TERM TRADING

     17   

VALUATION OF SHARES

     19   

Net Asset Value

     19   

Public Offering Price

     21   

 

i


Table of Contents

PURCHASE OF SHARES

     21   

Cash Purchases

     21   

In-Kind Purchases

     22   

EXCHANGE OF SHARES

     22   

REDEMPTION OF SHARES

     23   

Redemption Procedure

     23   

Redemption of Small Accounts

     24   

In-Kind Redemptions

     24   

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

     24   

DELIVERY OF SHAREHOLDER DOCUMENTS

     24   

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

     25   

SERVICE PROVIDERS

     28   

 

ii


Table of Contents

CSTG&E U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the CSTG&E U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio (the “U.S. Social Core Portfolio”) is long-term capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the U.S. Social Core Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

   0.27%

Other Expenses

   0.10%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

   0.37%

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the U.S. Social Core Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


   3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$38    $ 119       $ 208       $ 468   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The U.S. Social Core Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the U.S. Social Core Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 7% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

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The U.S. Social Core Portfolio purchases a broad and diverse group of common stocks of U.S. companies with a greater emphasis on small capitalization and value companies as compared to their representation in the U.S. Universe, while excluding companies based on the Portfolio’s social issue screens. The Advisor generally defines the U.S. Universe as a market capitalization weighted portfolio of U.S. operating companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), NYSE Alternext US LLC or Nasdaq Global Market® or such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor. The Portfolio’s increased exposure to small and value companies may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to the largest U.S. growth companies relative to their weight in the U.S. Universe, which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization.

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, U.S. Social Core Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of U.S. companies. The percentage allocation of the assets of the U.S. Social Core Portfolio to securities of the largest U.S. growth companies as defined above will generally be reduced from between 5% and 35% of their percentage weight in the U.S. Universe. For example, as of December 31, 2010, securities of the largest U.S. growth companies comprised 16% of the U.S. Universe and the Advisor allocated approximately 5% of the U.S. Social Core Portfolio to securities of the largest U.S. growth companies. The percentage by which the U.S. Social Core Portfolio’s allocation to securities of the largest U.S. growth companies is reduced will fluctuate with market movements, results of social issue screens and other factors. Additionally, the range by which the U.S. Social Core Portfolio’s percentage allocation to the securities of the largest U.S. growth companies is reduced as compared to the U.S. Universe will change from time to time.

 

The U.S. Social Core Portfolio also may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions. The above-referenced investments are not subject to, though they may incorporate, the Portfolio’s social criteria.

 

The U.S. Social Core Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

The U.S. Social Core Portfolio seeks to purchase securities that are consistent with the Portfolio’s social issue screens, which are monitored by an independent third party. The Portfolio seeks to exclude from its investment portfolio those companies that are identified by the Portfolio’s social issue screens. The Portfolio’s social issue screens generally are designed to identify companies that derive 15% or more of their revenue from the following industries: Casinos and Gambling; Drug retail; Brewers; Distillers and Vintners; Tobacco; Health Care Equipment and Supplies; Health Care Distributors; Health Care Facilities; Health Care Services; Managed Health Care; Health Care Technology; Biotechnology; Life Sciences Tools and Services; Pharmaceuticals; and Adult Entertainment. The Portfolio may modify this list of social issue screens, at any time, without prior shareholder approval or notice.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the U.S. Social Core Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

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Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Social Investment Risk: The U.S. Social Core Portfolio’s social issue screens may limit the number of investment opportunities available to the Portfolio, and as a result, at times the Portfolio may produce different returns than funds that are not subject to such special investment conditions. For example, the Portfolio may decline to purchase certain securities when it is otherwise advantageous to do so, or the Portfolio may sell certain securities for social reasons when it is otherwise disadvantageous to do so.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the U.S. Social Core Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the U.S. Social Core Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The U.S. Social Core Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the U.S. Social Core Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the U.S. Social Core Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year and since inception returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The U.S. Social Core Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

The after-tax returns presented in the table for the U.S. Social Core Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. A negative pre-tax total return translates into a higher after-tax return because this calculation assumes that an investor received a tax deduction for the loss incurred on the sale.

 

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CSTG&E U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio

 

LOGO

 

January 2008-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

19.58 (4/09-6/09)

   -25.41 (10/08-12/08)

 

     Periods ending December 31, 2010

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Since 8/3/07
Inception


 

CSTG&E U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio

                

Return Before Taxes

     23.26     -0.46

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     22.96     -0.74

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     15.35     -0.46

Russell 3000® Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

     16.93     -0.84

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the U.S. Social Core Portfolio. Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, is responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the U.S. Social Core Portfolio and has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the U.S. Social Core Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Portfolio generally is available for investment only by certain institutional investors. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the U.S. Social Core Portfolio are taxable and generally will be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

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CSTG&E International Social Core Equity Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the CSTG&E International Social Core Equity Portfolio (the “International Social Core Portfolio”) is long-term capital appreciation.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the International Social Core Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

   0.42%

Other Expenses

   0.14%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

   0.56%

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the International Social Core Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year


   3 Years

     5 Years

     10 Years

 
$57    $ 179       $ 313       $ 701   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The International Social Core Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the International Social Core Portfolio’s portfolio turnover rate was 5% of the average value of its investment portfolio.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low. The Advisor does not intend to purchase or sell securities for the investment portfolio based on prospects for the economy, the securities markets or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase.

 

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The International Social Core Portfolio purchases a broad and diverse group of stocks of non-U.S. companies in developed markets with a greater emphasis on small capitalization and value companies as compared to their representation in the International Universe, while excluding companies based on the Portfolio’s social issue screens. For purposes of this Portfolio, the Advisor defines the International Universe as a market capitalization weighted portfolio of non-U.S. companies in developed markets that have been authorized as approved markets for investment by the Advisor’s Investment Committee. The Portfolio’s increased exposure to small capitalization and value companies may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the International Social Core Portfolio’s assets to the largest growth companies relative to their weight in the International Universe, which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization.

 

The International Social Core Portfolio intends to purchase stocks of companies associated with developed market countries that the Advisor has designated as approved markets. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the International Social Core Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities. The Advisor determines company size on a country or region specific basis and based primarily on market capitalization. The percentage allocation of the assets of the International Social Core Portfolio to securities of the largest growth companies as defined above will generally be reduced from between 5% and 35% of their percentage weight in the International Universe. As of December 31, 2010, securities of the largest growth companies in the International Universe comprised approximately 16% of the International Universe and the Advisor allocated approximately 3% of the International Social Core Portfolio to securities of the largest growth companies in the International Universe. The percentage by which the Portfolio’s allocation to securities of the largest growth companies is reduced will fluctuate with market movements, results of social issue screens and other factors. Additionally, the range by which the Portfolio’s percentage allocation to the securities of the largest growth companies is reduced as compared to the International Universe will change from time to time.

 

The International Social Core Portfolio may gain exposure to companies associated with approved markets by purchasing equity securities in the form of depositary receipts, which may be listed or traded outside the issuer’s domicile country. The International Social Core Portfolio also may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for foreign or U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions. The above-referenced investments are not subject to, although they may incorporate, the International Social Core Portfolio’s social criteria.

 

The International Social Core Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

The International Social Core Portfolio seeks to purchase securities that are consistent with the Portfolio’s social issue screens, which are monitored by an independent third party. The Portfolio seeks to exclude from its investment portfolio those companies that are identified by the Portfolio’s social issue screens. The Portfolio’s social issue screens generally are designed to identify companies that derive 15% or more of their revenue from the following industries: Casinos and Gambling; Drug retail; Brewers; Distillers and Vintners; Tobacco; Health Care Equipment and Supplies; Health Care Distributors; Health Care Facilities; Health Care Services; Managed Health Care; Health Care Technology; Biotechnology; Life Sciences Tools and Services; Pharmaceuticals; and Adult Entertainment. The Portfolio may modify this list of social issue screens, at any time, without prior shareholder approval or notice.

 

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PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the International Social Core Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Value Investment Risk: Value stocks may perform differently from the market as a whole and following a value-oriented investment strategy may cause the Portfolio to at times underperform equity funds that use other investment strategies.

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments, and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities also are exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar). The International Social Core Portfolio does not hedge foreign currency risk.

 

Social Investment Risk: The International Social Core Portfolio’s social issue screens may limit the number of investment opportunities available to the Portfolio, and as a result, at times the Portfolio may produce different returns than funds that are not subject to such special investment conditions. For example, the Portfolio may decline to purchase certain securities when it is otherwise advantageous to do so, or the Portfolio may sell certain securities for social reasons when it is otherwise disadvantageous to do so.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the International Social Core Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the International Social Core Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The International Social Core Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

The bar chart and table immediately following illustrate the variability of the International Social Core Portfolio’s returns and are meant to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Portfolio. The bar chart shows the changes in the International Social Core Portfolio’s performance from year to year. The table illustrates how annualized one year and since inception returns, both before and after taxes, compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. The International Social Core Portfolio’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not an indication of future results. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

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The after-tax returns presented in the table for the International Social Core Portfolio are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. In addition, the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold shares of the Portfolio through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. A negative pre-tax total return translates into a higher after-tax return because this calculation assumes that an investor received a tax deduction for the loss incurred on the sale.

 

CSTG&E International Social Core Equity Portfolio

 

LOGO

 

January 2008-December 2010


Highest Quarter

   Lowest Quarter

30.56 (4/09-6/09)

   -21.22 (10/08-12/08)

 

     Periods ending December 31, 2010

 

Annualized Returns (%)


   One
Year


    Since 8/3/07
Inception


 

CSTG&E International Social Core Equity Portfolio

                

Return Before Taxes

     13.46     -3.02

Return After Taxes on Distributions

     13.03     -3.31

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Portfolio Shares

     9.11     -2.52

MSCI World ex USA Index (net dividends)
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes on sales)

     8.95     -4.50

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the International Social Core Portfolio. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the International Social Core Portfolio:

 

   

Karen Umland, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1998.

 

   

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

   

Joseph H. Chi, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2005.

 

   

Jed S. Fogdall, Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2004.

 

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PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the International Social Core Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Portfolio generally is available for investment only by certain institutional investors. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions you receive from the International Social Core Portfolio are taxable and generally will be taxed as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account.

 

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

 

The investment company described in this Prospectus offers a variety of investment portfolios. Each of the investment company’s Portfolios has its own investment objective and policies, and is the equivalent of a separate mutual fund. The Portfolios described in this Prospectus are designed for long-term investors.

 

CSTG&E U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the U.S. Social Core Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The U.S. Social Core Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective by purchasing a broad and diverse group of common stocks of U.S. companies with an increased exposure to small capitalization and value companies relative to the U.S. Universe, while excluding securities of certain companies based upon the Portfolio’s social issue screens. The Advisor generally defines the U.S. Universe as a market capitalization weighted portfolio of U.S. operating companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), NYSE Alternext US LLC (“NYSE Alternext”), Nasdaq Global Market® (“Nasdaq”) or such other U.S. national securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor from time to time (U.S. Universe). The increased exposure to small and value companies may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the U.S. Social Core Portfolio’s assets to the largest U.S. growth companies relative to their weight in the U.S. Universe, which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization. In assessing growth and value, the Advisor may consider additional factors, such as price-to-cash-flow or price-to-earnings ratios, as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer’s industry.

 

The U.S. Social Core Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the U.S. stock market while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the U.S. Social Core Portfolio may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage the Portfolio’s cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses. The above-referenced investments are not subject to, though they may incorporate, the Portfolio’s social criteria.

 

CSTG&E International Social Core Equity Portfolio

 

The investment objective of the International Social Core Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The International Social Core Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective by purchasing a broad and diverse group of stocks of non-U.S. companies with an increased exposure to small capitalization and value companies relative to the International Universe, while excluding securities of certain companies based upon the Portfolio’s social issue screens. For purposes of this Portfolio, the Advisor defines the “International Universe” as a market capitalization weighted portfolio of non-U.S. companies in developed markets that have been authorized for investment by the Advisor’s Investment Committee. As of the date of this Prospectus, the following countries have been authorized for investment for the Portfolio and comprise the International Universe: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom (collectively, the “Approved Markets”). The Advisor will determine in its discretion when and whether to invest in countries that have been authorized, depending on a number of factors, such as asset growth in the Portfolio and characteristics of each country’s markets. The Investment Committee of the Advisor also may authorize other countries for investment in the future, in addition to the Approved Markets identified above, or may remove one or more countries from the list of Approved Markets. Also, the Portfolio may continue to hold securities of developed market countries that are not listed above as Approved Markets, but had been authorized for investment in the past, and may reinvest distributions received in connection with such existing investments in such previously Approved Markets.

 

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Under normal market conditions, the International Social Core Portfolio intends to invest at least 40% of its assets in three or more non-U.S. countries by investing in securities of companies associated with such countries.

 

The increased exposure to small capitalization and value companies for the International Social Core Portfolio may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to the largest growth companies relative to their weight in the International Universe, which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization. In assessing growth and value, the Advisor may consider additional factors, such as price-to-cash-flow or price-to-earnings ratios, as well as economic conditions and developments in the issuer’s industry.

 

The International Social Core Portfolio invests in securities of Approved Markets (as identified above). The Approved Markets securities invested in by the International Social Core Portfolio will be listed on bona fide securities exchanges or traded on the over-the-counter markets. These exchanges or over-the-counter markets may be either within or outside the issuer’s domicile country. For example, the securities may be listed or traded in the form of European Depositary Receipts, Global Depositary Receipts, American Depositary Receipts, or other types of depositary receipts (including non-voting depositary receipts) or may be listed on bona fide securities exchanges in more than one country. The International Social Core Portfolio will consider for purchase securities that are associated with an Approved Market, and include, among others: (a) securities of companies that are organized under the laws of, or maintain their principal place of business in, an Approved Market; (b) securities for which the principal trading market is in an Approved Market; (c) securities issued or guaranteed by the government of an Approved Market, its agencies or instrumentalities, or the central bank of such country; (d) securities denominated in an Approved Market currency issued by companies to finance operations in Approved Markets; (e) securities of companies that derive at least 50% of their revenues or profits from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed in Approved Markets or have at least 50% of their assets in Approved Markets; (f) equity securities of companies in Approved Markets in the form of depositary shares; (g) securities of pooled investment vehicles that invest primarily in securities of Approved Markets or derivative instruments that derive their value from securities of Approved Markets; or (h) securities included in the Portfolio’s benchmark index. Securities of Approved Markets may include securities of companies that have characteristics and business relationships common to companies in other countries. As a result, the value of the securities of such companies may reflect economic and market forces in such other countries as well as in the Approved Markets. The Advisor, however, will select only those companies which, in its view, have sufficiently strong exposure to economic and market forces in Approved Markets. For example, the Advisor may invest in companies organized and located in the United States or other countries outside of Approved Markets, including companies having their entire production facilities outside of Approved Markets, when such companies meet the criteria discussed above to be considered associated with Approved Markets.

 

The International Social Core Portfolio may invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the equity markets while maintaining liquidity. In addition to money market instruments and other short-term investments, the International Social Core Portfolio may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage cash pending investment in other securities or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses. The above-referenced investments are not subject to, although they may incorporate, the International Social Core Portfolio’s social criteria.

 

Applying the Portfolios’ Social Criteria

 

Each Portfolio seeks to purchase securities that are consistent with the Portfolio’s social issue screens that have been identified in this Prospectus for the Portfolio. The Fund has engaged an independent third party Social Screen Vendor to monitor each Portfolio’s social issue screens. As of the date of this Prospectus, KLD

 

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Research & Analytics, Inc. has been engaged to be the Social Screen Vendor. Each Portfolio seeks to exclude from its investment portfolio those companies that are identified by the Portfolio’s social issue screens.

 

Each Portfolio’s social issue screens are designed to meet the social investing needs of shareholders; the exclusion, purchase, or sale of specific securities in a Portfolio should not be construed as reflecting a judgment by the Advisor or the Board of Directors of the Fund relating to any social issue.

 

The Portfolios and the Advisor do not determine which stocks to exclude pursuant to the Portfolios’ social issue screens. Instead, the Portfolios and the Advisor rely on the social investment research provided by the Social Screen Vendor. The Social Screen Vendor is generally in the business of providing social investment research on publicly traded companies. Through its research, the Social Screen Vendor shall determine if and when a company’s activities are significant enough to warrant exclusion under a Portfolio’s social issue screens. The Social Screen Vendor may periodically modify its social criteria screening process.

 

Each Portfolio will endeavor not to buy any stock that fails the Portfolio’s social issue screens as indicated in the research provided by the Social Screen Vendor. Because of this approach, a Portfolio may not invest in certain types of companies, industries, and segments of the designated markets in which it invests. The Advisor will endeavor to ensure that a Portfolio’s investments are consistent with the social issue screens, but there can be no guarantee that every investment will do so. Even if an investment is not excluded by the social issue screens, the Advisor has the option of excluding the investment if it is determined to be unsuitable.

 

At times, a Portfolio may hold stocks that do not meet the Portfolio’s social criteria, because for instance the stocks ceased meeting the social criteria after the Portfolio bought them or the Portfolio obtained the stocks despite the Portfolio’s social criteria due to inadvertent error, corporate action or otherwise. The Advisor will seek to sell these stocks in an orderly manner. Although the Advisor will seek to minimize any adverse effect of holding or selling these stocks on the value of a Portfolio’s investments, to the extent that costs or losses are realized, no remuneration will be due the Portfolio. Ordinarily, a Portfolio will sell the stocks within 90 days of determining that the stocks do not meet the social criteria. However, a Portfolio will sell the stocks after a longer period if the Advisor believes that doing so will avoid a loss to the overall value of the Portfolio’s investments.

 

Portfolio Transactions

 

Securities will not be purchased or sold based on the prospects for the economy, the securities markets, or the individual issuers whose shares are eligible for purchase. Securities that have depreciated in value since their acquisition will not be sold solely because prospects for the issuer are not considered attractive or due to an expected or realized decline in securities prices in general. Securities will not be sold to realize short-term profits, but when circumstances warrant, they may be sold without regard to the length of time held. Securities, including those eligible for purchase, may be disposed of, however, at any time when, in the Advisor’s judgment, circumstances warrant their sale, including, but not limited to, tender offers, mergers, and similar transactions, or bids made for block purchases at opportune prices. Generally, securities will be purchased with the expectation that they will be held for longer than one year and will be held until such time as they are no longer an appropriate holding in light of the investment policies of a Portfolio.

 

Other Information

 

Commodity Pool Operator Exemption:

 

Each Portfolio is operated by a person that has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”), and, therefore, such person is not subject to registration or regulation as a pool operator under the CEA.

 

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SECURITIES LOANS

 

Each Portfolio is authorized to lend securities to qualified brokers, dealers, banks, and other financial institutions for the purpose of earning additional income. While each Portfolio may earn additional income from lending securities, such activity is incidental to the investment objective of the Portfolio. The value of securities loaned may not exceed 33 1/3% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets, which includes the value of collateral received. To the extent a Portfolio loans a portion of its securities, the Portfolio will receive collateral consisting generally of cash or U.S. government securities, which will be maintained by marking to market daily in an amount equal to at least (i) 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities, with respect to securities of the U.S. government or its agencies, (ii) 102% of the current market value of the loaned securities, with respect to U.S. securities, and (iii) 105% of the current market value of the loaned securities, with respect to foreign securities. Subject to its stated investment policies, each Portfolio will generally invest the cash collateral received for the loaned securities in The DFA Short Term Investment Fund (the “Money Market Series”), an affiliated registered money market fund advised by the Advisor for which the Advisor receives a management fee of 0.05% of the average daily net assets of the Money Market Series. Each Portfolio also may invest the cash collateral received for the loaned securities in securities of the U.S. government or its agencies, repurchase agreements collateralized by securities of the U.S. government or its agencies, and affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds. For purposes of this paragraph, agencies include both agency debentures and agency mortgage backed securities.

 

In addition, a Portfolio will be able to terminate the loan at any time and will receive reasonable interest on the loan, as well as amounts equal to any dividends, interest, or other distributions on the loaned securities. However, dividend income received from loaned securities may not be eligible to be taxed at qualified dividend income rates. See the Portfolios’ Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”) for a further discussion of the tax consequences related to securities lending. Each Portfolio will be entitled to recall a loaned security to vote proxies or otherwise obtain rights to vote proxies of loaned securities if the Portfolio knows that a material event will occur. In the event of the bankruptcy of the borrower, the Fund could experience delay in recovering the loaned securities or only recover cash or a security of equivalent value. See “PRINCIPAL RISKS—Securities Lending” for a discussion of the risks related to securities lending.

 

SECURITIES LENDING REVENUE

 

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the Portfolios received the following net revenues from a securities lending program, which constituted a percentage of the average daily net assets of the Portfolios (see “SECURITIES LOANS”):

 

     Net Revenue

     Percentage
of Net
Assets


 

U.S. Social Core Portfolio

   $ 56,000         0.07

International Social Core Portfolio

   $ 99,000         0.13

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIOS

 

The Advisor serves as investment advisor to each Portfolio. Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Fund on behalf of each Portfolio, the Advisor is responsible for the management of each Portfolio’s assets. Each Portfolio is managed using a team approach. The investment team includes the Investment Committee of the Advisor, portfolio managers, and trading personnel.

 

The Investment Committee is composed primarily of certain officers and directors of the Advisor who are appointed annually. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Investment Committee has ten members. Investment

 

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strategies for each Portfolio are set by the Investment Committee, which meets on a regular basis and also as needed to consider investment issues. The Investment Committee also sets and reviews all investment related policies and procedures and approves any changes in regards to Approved Markets, security types, and brokers.

 

In accordance with the team approach used to manage each Portfolio, the portfolio managers and portfolio traders implement the policies and procedures established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers and portfolio traders also make daily investment decisions regarding each Portfolio, including running buy and sell programs, based on the parameters established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers named below coordinate the efforts of all other portfolio managers with respect to the day to day management of each Portfolio indicated below.

 

CSTG&E U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio

   Stephen A. Clark

CSTG&E International Social Core Equity Portfolio

   Stephen A. Clark,

Karen E. Umland,

Joseph H. Chi and

Jed S. Fogdall

 

Mr. Clark is a Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and chairman of the Investment Committee. Mr. Clark received his MBA from the University of Chicago and his BS from Bradley University. Mr. Clark joined the Advisor as a portfolio manager in 2001 and has been responsible for the portfolio management group since January 2006.

 

Ms. Umland is a Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and a member of the Investment Committee. She received her BA from Yale University in 1988 and her MBA from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1993. Ms. Umland joined the Advisor in 1993 and has been a portfolio manager and responsible for the international equity portfolios since 1998.

 

Mr. Chi is a Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and is a member of the Investment Committee. Mr. Chi has an MBA and BS from the University of California, Los Angeles and also a JD from the University of Southern California. Mr. Chi joined the Advisor as a portfolio manager in 2005 and has been responsible for the international portfolios since 2010.

 

Mr. Fogdall is a Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and is a member of the Investment Committee. Mr. Fogdall has an MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles and a BS from Purdue University. Mr. Fogdall joined the Advisor as a portfolio manager in 2004 and has been responsible for the international portfolios since 2010.

 

The Portfolios’ SAI provides information about each portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by each portfolio manager, and each portfolio manager’s ownership of Portfolio shares.

 

The Advisor provides each Portfolio with a trading department and selects brokers and dealers to effect securities transactions. Securities transactions are placed with a view to obtaining best price and execution. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Directors approving the investment management agreements with respect to the Portfolios is available in the semi-annual report for the Portfolios for the fiscal period ending April 30, 2010. The Advisor’s address is 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746. The Advisor has been engaged in the business of providing investment management services since May 1981. The Advisor is currently organized as a Delaware limited partnership and is controlled and operated by its general partner, Dimensional Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation. As of January 31, 2011, assets under management of all Dimensional affiliated advisors totaled approximately $209 billion.

 

The Fund bears all of its own costs and expenses, including: services of its independent registered public accounting firm, legal counsel, Social Screen Vendor, brokerage fees, commissions, and transfer taxes in connection with the acquisition and disposition of portfolio securities, taxes, insurance premiums, costs incidental to meetings of its shareholders and directors, the cost of filing its registration statements under the

 

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federal securities laws and the cost of any filings required under state securities laws, reports to shareholders, and transfer and dividend disbursing agency, administrative services, and custodian fees. Expenses allocable to a particular portfolio of the Fund are so allocated. The expenses of the Fund that are not allocable to a particular portfolio are borne by each portfolio on the basis of its relative net assets or equally.

 

Management Fees

 

The “Annual Fund Operating Expenses” table describes the fees incurred by each Portfolio for the services provided by the Advisor for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010. The “Management Fee” listed in the table for the Portfolios provides the investment advisory fee that was payable by the respective Portfolio to the Advisor.

 

Sub-Advisors

 

The Advisor has entered into a Sub-Advisory Agreement with Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (“DFAL”) and DFA Australia Limited (“DFA Australia”), respectively, with respect to the International Social Core Portfolio. Pursuant to the terms of each Sub-Advisory Agreement, DFAL and DFA Australia each have the authority and responsibility to select brokers or dealers to execute securities transactions for the International Social Core Portfolio. Each Sub-Advisor’s duties include the maintenance of a trading desk and the determination of the best and most efficient means of executing securities transactions. On at least a semi-annual basis, the Advisor will review the holdings of the International Social Core Portfolio and review the trading process and the execution of securities transactions. The Advisor is responsible for determining those securities which are eligible for purchase and sale by the International Social Core Portfolio and may delegate this task, subject to its own review, to DFAL and DFA Australia. DFAL and DFA Australia maintain and furnish to the Advisor information and reports on small companies in certain markets, including recommendations of securities to be added to the securities that are eligible for purchase by the International Social Core Portfolio, as well as making recommendations and elections on corporate actions. The Advisor controls DFAL and DFA Australia. DFA Australia is a U.S. federally registered investment advisor located at Level 43 Gateway, 1 Macquarie Place, Sydney, New South Wales 2000, Australia. DFAL is a U.S. federally registered investment advisor located at 20 Triton Street, Regent’s Place, London NW13BF, United Kingdom.

 

DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

 

Dividends and Distributions. Each Portfolio intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). As a regulated investment company, a Portfolio generally pays no federal income tax on the income and gains it distributes to you. Dividends from net investment income of a Portfolio are distributed quarterly (on a calendar basis) and any net realized capital gains (after any reductions for available capital loss carryforwards) are distributed annually, typically in December. A Portfolio may distribute such income dividends and capital gains more frequently, if necessary, in order to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the Portfolio.

 

Capital gains distributions may vary considerably from year to year as a result of a Portfolio’s normal investment activities and cash flows. During a time of economic downturn, a Portfolio may experience capital losses and unrealized depreciation in value of investments, the effect of which may be to reduce or eliminate capital gains distributions for a period of time. Even though a Portfolio may experience a current year loss, it may nonetheless distribute prior year capital gains.

 

You will automatically receive all income dividends and capital gains distributions in additional shares of the Portfolio whose shares you hold at net asset value (as of the business date following the dividend record date), unless, upon written notice to the Advisor and completion of account information, you select one of the options listed below:

 

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Income Option—to receive income dividends in cash and capital gains distributions in additional shares at net asset value.

 

Capital Gains Option—to receive capital gains distributions in cash and income dividends in additional shares at net asset value.

 

Cash Option—to receive both income dividends and capital gains distributions in cash.

 

Annual Statements. Each year, you will receive a statement that shows the tax status of distributions you received the previous calendar year. Distributions declared in December to shareholders of record in such month, but paid in January, are taxable as if they were paid in December.

 

Avoid Buying A Dividend.” At the time you purchase your Portfolio shares, a Portfolio’s net asset value may reflect undistributed income, undistributed capital gains, or net unrealized appreciation in value of portfolio securities held by the Portfolio. A subsequent distribution to you of such amounts, although constituting a return of your investment, would be taxable. Buying shares in a Portfolio just before it declares an income dividend or capital gains distribution is sometimes known as “buying a dividend.”

 

Tax Considerations. This discussion of “Tax Considerations” should be read in conjunction with the remaining subsections below containing additional information.

 

In general, if you are a taxable investor, Portfolio distributions (other than exempt-interest dividends) are taxable to you as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both. This is true whether you reinvest your distributions in additional Portfolio shares or receive them in cash.

 

For federal income tax purposes, Portfolio distributions of short-term capital gains are taxable to you as ordinary income. Portfolio distributions of long-term capital gains are taxable to you as long-term capital gains no matter how long you have owned your shares. A Portfolio with a high portfolio turnover rate (a measure of how frequently assets within a Portfolio are bought and sold) is more likely to generate short-term capital gains than a Portfolio with a low portfolio turnover rate. With respect to taxable years of a Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2013, unless such provision is extended or made permanent, a portion of income dividends reported by a Portfolio as qualified dividend income may be eligible for taxation by individual shareholders at long-term capital gain rates provided certain holding period requirements are met.

 

If a Portfolio qualifies to pass through to you the tax benefits from foreign taxes it pays on its investments, and elects to do so, then any foreign taxes it pays on these investments may be passed through to you as a foreign tax credit.

 

Sale or Redemption of Portfolio Shares. The sale of shares of a Portfolio is a taxable event and may result in a capital gain or loss to you. Capital gain or loss may be realized from an ordinary redemption of shares or an exchange of shares between two Portfolios. Any loss incurred on the sale or exchange of a Portfolio’s shares, held for six months or less, will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of capital gain dividends received with respect to such shares.

 

Backup Withholding. By law, a Portfolio may be required to withhold 28% of taxable dividends, capital gains distributions, and redemption proceeds paid to you if you do not provide your proper taxpayer identification number and certain required certifications. You may avoid this withholding requirement by providing and certifying on the account registration form your correct Taxpayer Identification Number and by certifying that you are not subject to backup withholding and are a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). A Portfolio must also withhold if the IRS instructs it to do so.

 

State and Local Taxes. In addition to federal taxes, you may be subject to state and local taxes on distributions from a Portfolio and on gains arising on redemption or exchange of a Portfolio’s shares.

 

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Distributions of interest income and capital gains realized from certain types of U.S. government securities may be exempt from state personal income taxes.

 

Non-U.S. Investors. Non-U.S. investors may be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a 30% or lower treaty rate and are subject to special U.S. tax certification requirements to avoid backup withholding and claim any treaty benefits. Exemptions from U.S. withholding tax are provided for capital gain dividends paid by a Portfolio from long-term capital gains, if any, exempt-interest dividends, and, with respect to taxable years of a Portfolio that begin before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended or made permanent), interest-related dividends paid by a Portfolio from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources and short-term capital gain dividends. However, notwithstanding such exemptions from U.S. withholding at the source, any such dividends and distributions of income and capital gains will be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 28% if you fail to properly certify that you are not a U.S. person. Non-U.S. investors also may be subject to U.S. estate tax.

 

This discussion of “DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES” is not intended or written to be used as tax advice. Because everyone’s tax situation is unique, you should consult your tax professional about federal, state, local or foreign tax consequences before making an investment in a Portfolio. Prospective investors should also consult the SAI.

 

POLICY REGARDING EXCESSIVE OR SHORT-TERM TRADING

 

The Portfolios are designed for long-term investors and are not intended for investors that engage in excessive short-term trading activity that may be harmful to the Portfolios, including but not limited to market timing. Short-term or excessive trading into and out of the Portfolios can disrupt portfolio management strategies, harm performance, and increase Portfolio expenses for all shareholders, including long-term shareholders who do not generate these costs.

 

In addition, the International Social Core Portfolio may be more susceptible to the risks of short-term trading than other Portfolios. The nature of the holdings of the International Social Core Portfolio may present opportunities for a shareholder to engage in a short-term trading strategy that exploits possible delays between changes in the price of the Portfolio’s holdings and the reflection of those changes in the Portfolio’s net asset value (called “arbitrage market timing”). Such delays may occur because the International Social Core Portfolio has significant investments in foreign securities where, due to time zone differences, the values of those securities are established some time before the Portfolio calculates its net asset value. In such circumstances, the available market prices for such foreign securities may not accurately reflect the latest indications of value at the time the International Social Core Portfolio calculates its net asset value. There is a possibility that arbitrage market timing may dilute the value of the International Social Core Portfolio’s shares if redeeming shareholders receive proceeds (and purchasing shareholders receive shares) based upon a net asset value that does not reflect appropriate fair value prices.

 

The Board of Directors of the Fund (the “Board”) has adopted a policy (the “Trading Policy”) and the Advisor and DFA Securities LLC (collectively, “Dimensional”) and Dimensional’s agents have implemented the following procedures, which are designed to discourage and prevent market timing or excessive short-term trading in the Portfolios: (i) trade activity monitoring and purchase blocking procedures, and (ii) use of fair value pricing.

 

The Fund, Dimensional and their agents monitor trades and flows of money in and out of the Portfolios from time to time in an effort to detect excessive short-term trading activities, and for consistent enforcement of the Trading Policy. The Fund reserves the right to take the actions necessary to stop excessive or disruptive trading activities, including refusing or canceling purchase or exchange orders for any reason, without prior notice,

 

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particularly purchase or exchange orders that the Fund believes are made on behalf of market timers. The Fund, Dimensional and their agents reserve the right to restrict, refuse or cancel any purchase or exchange request made by an investor indefinitely if the Fund or Dimensional believes that any combination of trading activity in the accounts is potentially disruptive to a Portfolio. In making such judgments, the Fund and Dimensional seek to act in a manner that is consistent with the interests of shareholders. For purposes of applying these procedures, Dimensional may consider an investor’s trading history in the Portfolios, and accounts under common ownership, influence or control.

 

In addition to the Fund’s general ability to restrict potentially disruptive trading activity as described above, the Fund also has adopted purchase blocking procedures. Under the Fund’s purchase blocking procedures, where an investor has engaged in any two purchases and two redemptions (including redemptions that are part of an exchange transaction) in a Portfolio in any rolling 30 calendar day monitoring period (i.e., two “round trips”), the Fund and Dimensional intend to block the investor from making any additional purchases in that Portfolio for 90 calendar days (a “purchase block”). If implemented, a purchase block will begin at some point after the transaction that caused the investor to have engaged in the prohibited two round-trips is detected by the Fund, Dimensional, or their agents. The Fund and Dimensional are permitted to implement a longer purchase block, or permanently bar future purchases by an investor, if they determine that it is appropriate.

 

Under the Fund’s purchase blocking procedures, the following purchases and redemptions will not trigger a purchase block: (i) purchases and redemptions of shares having a value in each transaction of less than $5,000; (ii) purchases and redemptions by U.S. registered investment companies that operate as funds of funds and non-U.S. investment companies that operate as fund of funds that the Funds or Dimensional, in their sole discretion, have determined are not designed and/or are not serving as vehicles for excessive short-term or other disruptive trading (in each case, the fund of funds shall agree to be subject to monitoring by Dimensional); (iii) purchases and redemptions by a feeder portfolio of a master fund’s shares; (iv) systematic or automated transactions where the shareholder, financial advisor or investment fiduciary does not exercise direct control over the investment decision; (v) retirement plan contributions, loans, loan repayments and distributions (including hardship withdrawals) identified as such in the retirement plan recordkeeper’s system; (vi) purchase transactions involving transfers of assets, rollovers, Roth IRA conversions and IRA recharacterizations; (vii) purchases of shares with Portfolio dividends or capital gain distributions; (viii) transfers and reregistrations of shares within a Portfolio; and (ix) transactions by 529 Plans. Notwithstanding the Fund’s purchase blocking procedures, all transactions in Portfolio shares are subject to the right of the Fund and Dimensional to restrict potentially disruptive trading activity (including purchases and redemptions described above that will not be subject to the purchase blocking procedures).

 

The Fund, Dimensional or their designees have the ability, pursuant to Rule 22c-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), to request information from financial intermediaries, such as 401(k) plan administrators, trust companies and broker-dealers (together, “Intermediaries”), concerning trades placed in omnibus and other multi-investor accounts (together, “Omnibus Accounts”), in order to attempt to monitor trades that are placed by the underlying shareholders of these Omnibus Accounts. The Fund, Dimensional and their designees will use the information obtained from the Intermediaries to monitor trading in the Fund and to attempt to identify shareholders in Omnibus Accounts engaged in trading that is inconsistent with the Trading Policy or otherwise not in the best interests of the Fund. The Fund, Dimensional or their designees, when they detect trading patterns in shares of a Portfolio (or other portfolios of the Fund) that may constitute short-term or excessive trading, will provide written instructions to the Intermediary to restrict or prohibit further purchases or exchanges of shares of the Portfolio (and other portfolios of the Fund) by a shareholder that has been identified as having engaged in excessive or short-term transactions in a Portfolio’s shares (directly or indirectly through the Intermediary’s account) that violate the Trading Policy.

 

The ability of the Fund and Dimensional to impose these limitations, including the purchase blocking procedures, on investors investing through Intermediaries is dependent on the receipt of information necessary to identify transactions by the underlying investors and the Intermediary’s cooperation in implementing the Trading

 

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Policy. Investors seeking to engage in excessive short-term trading practices may deploy a variety of strategies to avoid detection, and despite the efforts of the Fund and Dimensional to prevent excessive short-term trading, there is no assurance that the Fund, Dimensional or their agents will be able to identify those shareholders or curtail their trading practices. The ability of the Fund, Dimensional and their agents to detect and limit excessive short-term trading also may be restricted by operational systems and technological limitations.

 

The purchase blocking procedures of the Trading Policy may not apply to redemptions by shareholders whose shares are held on the books of Intermediaries if the Intermediaries have not adopted procedures to implement this Policy. The Fund and Dimensional will work with Intermediaries to develop such policies to institute the purchase blocking procedures or other procedures that the Fund and Dimensional determine are reasonably designed to achieve the objective of this Trading Policy. At the time the Intermediaries adopt these procedures, shareholders whose accounts are on the books of such Intermediaries will be subject to the Trading Policy’s purchase blocking procedures or another frequent trading policy that achieves the objective of the purchase blocking procedures. Investors that invest in the Portfolios through an Intermediary should contact the Intermediary for information concerning the policies and procedures that apply to the investor.

 

As of the date of this Prospectus, the ability of the Fund and Dimensional to apply the purchase blocking procedures on purchases by all investors and the ability of the Fund and Dimensional to monitor trades through Omnibus Accounts maintained by Intermediaries may be restricted due to systems limitations of both the Fund’s service providers and the Intermediaries. The Fund expects that the application of the Trading Policy as described above, including the purchase blocking procedures (subject to the limitations described above), will be able to be implemented by Intermediaries in compliance with Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act.

 

In addition, the purchase blocking procedures will not apply to a redemption transaction in which a Portfolio distributes portfolio securities to a shareholder in-kind, where the redemption will not disrupt the efficient portfolio management of the Portfolio and the redemption is consistent with the interests of the remaining shareholders of the Portfolio.

 

In addition to monitoring trade activity, the Board has adopted fair value pricing procedures that govern the pricing of the securities of the Portfolios. These procedures are designed to help ensure that the prices at which Portfolio shares are purchased and redeemed are fair, and do not result in dilution of shareholder interests or other harm to shareholders. See the discussion under “VALUATION OF SHARES—Net Asset Value” for additional details regarding fair value pricing of the Portfolios’ securities.

 

Although the procedures are designed to discourage excessive short-term trading, none of the procedures individually nor all of the procedures taken together can completely eliminate the possibility that excessive short- term trading activity in a Portfolio may occur. The Portfolios do not knowingly accommodate excessive or disruptive trading activities, including market timing.

 

VALUATION OF SHARES

 

Net Asset Value

 

The net asset value per share of a Portfolio is calculated after the close of the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. ET) by dividing the total value of the Portfolio’s investments and other assets, less any liabilities, by the total outstanding shares of the stock of the Portfolio. A Portfolio generally calculates its net asset value per share and accepts purchase and redemption orders on days that the NYSE is open for trading. Note: The time at which transactions and shares are priced may be changed in case of an emergency or if the NYSE closes at a time other than 4:00 p.m. ET.

 

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The value of the shares of a Portfolio will fluctuate in relation to its investment experience. Securities held by a Portfolio will be valued in accordance with applicable laws and procedures adopted by the Board, and generally, as described below.

 

Securities held by a Portfolio (including over-the-counter securities) are valued at the last quoted sale price of the day. Securities held by a Portfolio that are listed on Nasdaq are valued at the Nasdaq Official Closing Price (“NOCP”). If there is no last reported sales price or NOCP of the day, a Portfolio values the securities at the mean between the most recent quoted bid and asked prices. Price information on listed securities is taken from the exchange where the security is primarily traded. Generally, securities issued by open-end investment companies are valued using their respective net asset values or public offering prices, as appropriate, for purchase orders placed at the close of the NYSE.

 

The value of the securities and other assets of a Portfolio for which no market quotations are readily available (including restricted securities), or for which market quotations have become unreliable, are determined in good faith at fair value in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of the Fund. Fair value pricing may also be used if events that have a significant effect on the value of an investment (as determined in the discretion of the Investment Committee of the Advisor) occur before the net asset value is calculated. When fair value pricing is used, the prices of securities used by a Portfolio may differ from the quoted or published prices for the same securities on their primary markets or exchanges.

 

As of the date of this Prospectus, the International Social Core Portfolio will also fair value price in the circumstances described below. Generally, trading in foreign securities markets is completed each day at various times before the close of the NYSE. For example, trading in the Japanese securities markets is completed each day at the close of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (normally, 2:00 a.m. ET), which is fourteen hours before the close of the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. ET) and the time that the net asset values of the International Social Core Portfolio is computed. Due to the time differences between the closings of the relevant foreign securities exchanges and the time the International Social Core Portfolio prices its shares at the close of the NYSE, the International Social Core Portfolio will fair value its foreign investments when it is determined that the market quotations for the foreign investments are either unreliable or not readily available. The fair value prices will attempt to reflect the impact of the U.S. financial markets’ perceptions and trading activities on the International Social Core Portfolio’s foreign investments since the last closing prices of the foreign investments were calculated on their primary foreign securities markets or exchanges. For these purposes, the Board of Directors of the Fund has determined that movements in relevant indices or other appropriate market indicators, after the close of the Tokyo Stock Exchange or the London Stock Exchange, demonstrate that market quotations may be unreliable, and may trigger fair value pricing. Consequently, fair valuation of portfolio securities may occur on a daily basis. The fair value pricing by the International Social Core Portfolio utilizes data furnished by an independent pricing service (and that data draws upon, among other information, the market values of foreign investments). When the International Social Core Portfolio uses fair value pricing, the values assigned to the International Social Core Portfolio’s foreign investments may not be the quoted or published prices of the investments on their primary markets or exchanges. The Board of Directors of the Fund monitors the operation of the method used to fair value price the International Social Core Portfolio’s foreign investments.

 

Valuing securities at fair value involves greater reliance on judgment than valuing securities that have readily available market quotations. There can be no assurance that a Portfolio could obtain the fair value assigned to a security if it were to sell the security at approximately the time at which the Portfolio determines its net asset value per share. As a result, the sale or redemption by a Portfolio of its shares at net asset value, at a time when a holding or holdings are valued at fair value, may have the effect of diluting or increasing the economic interest of existing shareholders.

 

The net asset value per share of the International Social Core Portfolio is expressed in U.S. dollars by translating the net assets of the Portfolio using the mean of the most recent bid and asked prices for the dollar as quoted by generally recognized reliable sources. Since the International Social Core Portfolio owns securities

 

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that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges that may trade on days when the Portfolio does not price its shares, the net asset value of the Portfolio may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem shares.

 

Futures contracts are valued using the settlement price established each day on the exchange on which they are traded. The value of such futures contracts held by a Portfolio is determined each day as of such close.

 

Public Offering Price

 

Provided that the transfer agent has received the investor’s Account Registration Form in good order and the custodian has received the investor’s payment, shares of a Portfolio will be priced at the public offering price, which is the net asset value of the shares next determined after receipt of the investor’s funds by the custodian. The transfer agent or the Fund may appoint, from time to time, sub-transfer agents or various financial intermediaries (“Intermediaries”) for the receipt of purchase orders, redemption orders, and funds from certain investors. Intermediaries, in turn, are authorized to designate other financial intermediaries (“Sub-designees”) to receive purchase and redemption orders for a Portfolio’s shares from investors. With respect to such investors, the shares of a Portfolio will be priced at the public offering price calculated after receipt of the purchase order by the Intermediary or Sub-designee, as applicable, that is authorized to receive purchase orders. If the investor buys shares through an Intermediary or Sub-designee, the purchase price will be the public offering price next calculated after the Intermediary or Sub-designee, as applicable, receives the order, rather than on the day the custodian receives the investor’s payment (provided that the Intermediary or Sub-designee, as applicable, has received the investor’s purchase order in good order, and the investor has complied with the Intermediary’s or Sub-designee’s payment procedures). No reimbursement fee or sales charge is imposed on purchases. If an order to purchase shares must be canceled due to non-payment, the purchaser will be responsible for any loss incurred by a Portfolio arising out of such cancellation. The Fund reserves the right to redeem shares owned by any purchaser whose order is canceled to recover any resulting loss to a Portfolio and may prohibit or restrict the manner in which such purchaser may place further orders.

 

PURCHASE OF SHARES

 

Cash Purchases

 

Investors may purchase shares of a Portfolio by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment. The Portfolios generally are available for investment only by certain institutional investors. All investments are subject to approval by the Advisor and all investors must complete and submit the necessary account registration forms in good order. The Fund reserves the right to reject any initial or additional investment and to suspend the offering of shares of a Portfolio.

 

“Good order” with respect to the purchases of shares means that (1) a fully completed and properly signed Account Registration Form and any additional supporting legal documentation required by the Advisor have been received in legible form, and (2) the Advisor has been notified of the purchase by telephone and, if the Advisor so requests, also in writing, no later than the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. ET) on the day of the purchase. If an order to purchase shares must be cancelled due to nonpayment, the purchaser will be responsible for any loss incurred by the Fund arising out of such cancellation. To recover any such loss, the Fund reserves the right to redeem shares owned by any purchaser whose order is cancelled, and such purchaser may be prohibited or restricted in the manner of placing further orders.

 

Investors having an account with a bank that is a member or a correspondent of a member of the Federal Reserve System may purchase shares by first calling the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment, then requesting the bank to transmit immediately available funds (federal funds) by wire to PNC Bank, N.A. for the account of DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. (specify Portfolio). Additional investments also may be made through the wire procedure by first notifying the Advisor.

 

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Investors who wish to purchase shares of a Portfolio by check should send their check to DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc., c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (formerly, PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.), Attn: AIM: 19K-1A18, 760 Moore Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406.

 

Payment of the total amount due should be made in U.S. dollars. However, subject to approval by the Advisor, payment may be made in any freely convertible currency and the necessary foreign exchange transactions will be arranged on behalf of, and at the expense of, the applicant. Applicants settling in any currency other than U.S. dollars are advised that a delay in processing a purchase or redemption may occur to allow for currency conversion.

 

Shares also may be purchased and sold by individuals through securities firms that may charge a service fee or commission for such transactions. No such fee or commission is charged on shares that are purchased or redeemed directly from the Fund. Investors who are clients of investment advisory organizations may also be subject to investment advisory fees under their own arrangements with such organizations.

 

In-Kind Purchases

 

If accepted by the Fund, shares of a Portfolio may be purchased in exchange for securities that are eligible for acquisition by the Portfolio or otherwise represented in its portfolio as described in this Prospectus or in exchange for local currencies in which such securities of the International Social Core Portfolio are denominated. Securities and local currencies accepted by the Fund for exchange and Portfolio shares to be issued in the exchange will be valued as set forth under “VALUATION OF SHARES” at the time of the next determination of net asset value after such acceptance. All dividends, interests, subscription, or other rights pertaining to such securities shall become the property of the Portfolio whose shares are being acquired and must be delivered to the Fund by the investor upon receipt from the issuer. Investors who desire to purchase shares of a Portfolio with local currencies should first contact the Advisor.

 

The Fund will not accept securities in exchange for shares of a Portfolio unless: (1) such securities are, at the time of the exchange, eligible to be included, or otherwise represented, in the Portfolio and current market quotations are readily available for such securities; (2) the investor represents and agrees that all securities offered to be exchanged are not subject to any restrictions upon their sale by the Portfolio under the Securities Act of 1933 or under the laws of the country in which the principal market for such securities exists, or otherwise; and (3) at the discretion of the Fund, the value of any such security (except U.S. government securities) being exchanged, together with other securities of the same issuer owned by the Portfolio, may not exceed 5% of the net assets of the Portfolio immediately after the transaction.

 

A gain or loss for federal income tax purposes will generally be realized by investors who are subject to federal taxation upon the exchange depending upon the cost of the securities or local currency exchanged. Investors interested in such exchanges should contact the Advisor. Purchases of shares will be made in full and fractional shares calculated to three decimal places. In the interest of economy and convenience, certificates for shares will not be issued.

 

EXCHANGE OF SHARES

 

Investors may exchange shares of a Portfolio for shares of another portfolio by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed exchange and then sending a letter of instruction. Letters of instruction regarding an exchange of shares may be mailed to DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. as follows:

 

Attn: Client Operations

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

 

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The minimum amount for an exchange is $100,000. Contact the Advisor for information regarding the portfolios available for exchanges and to request a copy of the prospectus(es) of such portfolios. There is no fee imposed on an exchange. However, the Fund reserves the right to impose an administrative fee in order to cover the costs incurred in processing an exchange. Any such fee will be disclosed in the Prospectus. An exchange is treated as a redemption and a purchase. Therefore, an investor could realize a taxable gain or loss on the transaction. The Fund reserves the right to revise or terminate the exchange privilege, limit the amount of or reject any exchange, or waive the minimum amount requirement as deemed necessary, at any time.

 

Investors in a Portfolio also may exchange all or part of their Portfolio shares into certain portfolios of Dimensional Investment Group Inc., subject to the minimum purchase requirement set forth in the applicable portfolio’s prospectus. Investors may contact the Advisor at the above-listed phone number for more information on such exchanges and to request a copy of the prospectuses of portfolios of Dimensional Investment Group Inc.

 

The exchange privilege is not intended to afford shareholders a way to speculate on short-term movements in the markets. Accordingly, in order to prevent excessive use of the exchange privilege that may potentially disrupt the management of a Portfolio or otherwise adversely affect the Fund, any proposed exchange is subject to the approval of the Advisor. Such approval will depend on: (i) the size of the proposed exchange; (ii) the prior number of exchanges by that shareholder; (iii) the nature of the underlying securities and the cash position of the portfolios involved in the proposed exchange; (iv) the transaction costs involved in processing the exchange; and (v) the total number of redemptions by exchange already made out of the Portfolio. Excessive use of the exchange privilege is defined as any pattern of exchanges among portfolios by an investor that evidences market timing.

 

The redemption and purchase prices of shares redeemed and purchased by exchange, respectively, are the net asset values next determined after the Advisor has received a letter of instruction in good order. “Good order” means a completed letter of instruction specifying the dollar amount to be exchanged, signed by all registered owners (or representatives thereof) of the shares; and if the Fund does not have on file the authorized signatures for the account, proof of authority. Exchanges will be accepted only if stock certificates have not been issued and the shares of the Portfolio being acquired are registered in the investor’s state of residence.

 

REDEMPTION OF SHARES

 

Redemption Procedure

 

Investors who desire to redeem shares of a Portfolio must first contact the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400. A Portfolio will redeem shares at the net asset value of such shares next determined after receipt of a written request for redemption in good order, by the transfer agent (or by an Intermediary or a Sub-designee, if applicable). “Good order” means that the request to redeem shares must include all necessary documentation, to be received in writing by the Advisor no later than the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. ET), including but not limited to: a letter of instruction or a stock assignment specifying the number of shares or dollar amount to be redeemed, signed by all registered owners (or authorized representatives thereof) of the shares; and if the Fund does not have on file the authorized signatures for the account, proof of authority.

 

Shareholders redeeming shares who have authorized redemption payment by wire in writing, may request that redemption proceeds be paid in federal funds wired to the bank they have designated in writing. The Fund reserves the right to send redemption proceeds by check in its discretion; a shareholder may request overnight delivery of such check at the shareholder’s own expense. If the proceeds are wired to the shareholder’s account at a bank that is not a member of the Federal Reserve System, there could be a delay in crediting the funds to the shareholder’s bank account. The Fund reserves the right at any time to suspend or terminate the redemption by wire procedure after prior notification to shareholders. No fee is charged for redemptions. The redemption of all

 

23


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shares in an account will result in the account being closed. A new Account Registration Form will be required for future investments. See “PURCHASE OF SHARES.” In the interests of economy and convenience, certificates for shares are not issued.

 

Although the redemption payments will ordinarily be made within seven days after receipt, payment to investors redeeming shares that were purchased by check will not be made until the Fund can verify that the payments for the purchase have been, or will be, collected, which may take up to ten days or more. Investors may avoid this delay by submitting a certified check along with the purchase order.

 

Redemption of Small Accounts

 

With respect to the Portfolios, the Fund reserves the right to redeem an account if the value of the shares in a Portfolio is $500 or less because of redemptions. Before the Fund involuntarily redeems shares from such an account and sends the proceeds to the shareholder, the Fund will give written notice of the redemption to the shareholder at least sixty days before the redemption date. The shareholder will then have sixty days from the date of the notice to make an additional investment in order to bring the value of the shares in the account for the Portfolio to more than $500 and avoid such involuntary redemption. The redemption price to be paid to a shareholder for shares redeemed by the Fund under this right will be the aggregate net asset value of the shares in the account at the close of business on the redemption date. The right to redeem small accounts applies to accounts established with the Fund’s transfer agent.

 

In-Kind Redemptions

 

When in the best interests of a Portfolio, it may make a redemption payment, in whole or in part, by a distribution of portfolio securities that the Portfolio owns in lieu of cash. Such distributions will be made in accordance with the federal securities laws and regulations governing mutual funds. A Portfolio also reserves the right to redeem its shares in the currencies in which its investments are denominated. Investors may incur brokerage charges and other transaction costs in selling such securities and converting such currencies to dollars. Also, the value of foreign securities or currencies may be affected by currency exchange fluctuations.

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

Each Portfolio generally will disclose up to its 25 largest portfolio holdings (other than cash and cash equivalents) and the percentages that each of these largest portfolio holdings represent of the total assets of the Portfolio, as of the most recent month-end, online at the Advisor’s public website, http://www.dimensional.com, within 20 days after the end of each month. Each Portfolio also generally will disclose its complete portfolio holdings (other than cash and cash equivalents), as of month-end, online at the Advisor’s public website, two months following the month-end or more frequently and at different periods when authorized in accordance with the Portfolios’ policies and procedures. Please consult the SAI for a description of the other policies and procedures that govern disclosure of the portfolio holdings by the Portfolios.

 

DELIVERY OF SHAREHOLDER DOCUMENTS

 

To eliminate duplicate mailings and reduce expenses, the Portfolios may deliver a single copy of certain shareholder documents, such as this Prospectus and annual and semi-annual reports, to related shareholders at the same address, even if accounts are registered in different names. This practice is known as “householding.” The Portfolios will not household personal information documents, such as account statements. If you do not want the mailings of these documents to be combined with those of other members of your household, please call us collect at (512) 306-7400. We will begin sending individual copies of the shareholder documents to you within 30 days of receiving your request.

 

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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

The Financial Highlights table is meant to help you understand each Portfolio’s financial performance for the past five years or, if shorter, the period of that Portfolio’s operations, as indicated by the table. The total returns in the table represent the rate that you would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Portfolio, assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. The information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, whose report, along with the Portfolios’ annual financial statements are included in the Fund’s annual report which is available upon request.

 

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Table of Contents

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

CSTG&E U.S. SOCIAL CORE EQUITY 2 PORTFOLIO

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period))

 

     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009


    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008*


    For the Period
Aug. 3, 2007**
to
Nov. 30, 2007


 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 7.05      $ 6.53      $ 10.03      $ 10.00   
    


 


 


 


Income from Investment Operations

                                

Net Investment Income (Loss)#

     0.11        0.12        0.14        0.05   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     1.44        0.53        (3.50     (0.01
    


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

     1.55        0.65        (3.36     0.04   
    


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                

Net Investment Income

     (0.11     (0.13     (0.14     (0.01
    


 


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.11     (0.13     (0.14     (0.01
    


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 8.49      $ 7.05      $ 6.53      $ 10.03   
    


 


 


 


Total Return

     22.14     10.26     (33.87 )%†      0.42 %† 
    


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 82,083      $ 72,368      $ 68,503      $ 95,612   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

     0.37     0.40     0.38 %^      0.46 %^@ 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     1.36     1.89     1.68 %^      1.46 %^@ 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     7     12     5 %†      1 %† 

*   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-Annualized.
**  

Commencement of Operations.

@   Because of commencement of operations and related preliminary transaction costs, these ratios are not necessarily indicative of future ratios.

 

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DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

CSTG&E INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL CORE EQUITY PORTFOLIO

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(For a share outstanding throughout each period))

 

     Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2010


    Year
Ended
Oct. 31,
2009


    Period
Ended
Oct. 31,
2008*


    For the Period
Aug. 3, 2007**
to

Nov. 30,  2007

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 7.21      $ 5.57      $ 10.42      $ 10.00   
    


 


 


 


Income from Investment Operations

                                

Net Investment Income (Loss)#

     0.16        0.16        0.26        0.06   

Net Gains (Losses) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized)

     0.70        1.65        (4.85     0.37   
    


 


 


 


Total From Investment Operations

     0.86        1.81        (4.59     0.43   
    


 


 


 


Less Distributions

                                

Net Investment Income

     (0.15     (0.17     (0.26     (0.01
    


 


 


 


Total Distributions

     (0.15     (0.17     (0.26     (0.01
    


 


 


 


Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 7.92      $ 7.21      $ 5.57      $ 10.42   
    


 


 


 


Total Return

     12.32     33.26     (45.01 )%†      4.33 %† 
    


 


 


 


Net Assets, End of Period (thousands)

   $ 84,836      $ 76,201      $ 56,479      $ 95,903   

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

     0.56     0.60     0.60 %^      0.78 %^@ 

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     2.12     2.69     3.24 %^      1.90 %^@ 

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     5     10     6 %†      1 %† 
                                  

*   The fiscal year end for the Portfolio was changed from November 30 to October 31. The information presented covers the period from December 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008.
#   Computed using average shares outstanding.
^   Annualized.
  Non-Annualized.
**   Commencement of Operations.
@   Because of commencement of operations and related preliminary transaction costs, these ratios are not necessarily indicative of future ratios.

 

27


Table of Contents

SERVICE PROVIDERS

 

Investment Advisor

 

DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS INC.

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

Tel. No. (512) 306-7400

 

Sub-Advisors

 

DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LTD.

20 Triton Street, Regent’s Place London NW13BF

United Kingdom Tel. No. (20) 3033-3300

 

DFA AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Level 43 Gateway

1 Macquarie Place

Sydney, New South Wales 2000

Australia

Tel. No. (612) 8 336-7100

 

Custodian—International

 

CITIBANK, N.A.

111 Wall Street

New York, NY 10005

 

Custodian—Domestic

 

PFPC TRUST COMPANY

(to be renamed BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company effective July 1, 2011)

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Accounting Services, Dividend Disbursing

and Transfer Agent

BNY MELLON INVESTMENT SERVICING (US) INC. (formerly, PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.)

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

Legal Counsel

STRADLEY RONON STEVENS & YOUNG, LLP

2600 One Commerce Square

Philadelphia, PA 19103-7098

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP

Two Commerce Square Suite 1700

2001 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042

 

Social Screen Vendor

KLD RESEARCH & ANALYTICS, INC.

250 Summer Street, 4th Floor

Boston, MA 02210

 

 

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Table of Contents

Other Available Information

 

You can find more information about the Fund and the Portfolios in the Portfolios’ SAI and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports.

 

Statement of Additional Information. The SAI supplements, and is technically part of, this Prospectus. It includes an expanded discussion of investment practices, risks, and fund operations.

 

Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to Shareholders. These reports focus on Portfolio holdings and performance. The Annual Report also discusses the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected each Portfolio in its last fiscal year. The Portfolios are new, so these reports are not yet available for the Portfolios.

 

Request free copies from:

 

   

Your investment advisor—if you are a client of an investment advisor who has invested in the Portfolio on your behalf.

 

   

The Fund—if you represent an institutional investor, registered investment advisor or other qualifying investor. Call collect at (512) 306-7400.

 

   

Access them on our website at http://www.dimensional.com.

 

   

Access them on the EDGAR Database in the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.

 

   

Review and copy them at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington D.C. (phone 1-800-SEC-0330).

 

   

Request copies from the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102 or at publicinfo@sec.gov (you will be charged a copying fee). Information on the operation of the SEC’s public reference room is available by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090.

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

(512) 306-7400

 

DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc.—Registration No. 811-3258

 

         RRD022811-015


Table of Contents

P R O S P E C T U S

 

February 28, 2011

Please carefully read the important information it contains before investing.

 

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 


 

THE PORTFOLIO DESCRIBED IN THIS PROSPECTUS:

 

Ÿ    Is exclusively available to insurance company separate accounts funding variable life and variable annuity insurance contracts.

 

Ÿ    Does not charge a sales commission or “load.”

 

Ÿ    Is designed for long-term investors.

 

DFA VA GLOBAL MODERATE ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

DFA VA GLOBAL MODERATE ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO

  

1

Investment Objective

   1

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

   1

Principal Investment Strategies

   2

Principal Risks

   3

Performance

   4

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

   4

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

   5

Tax Information

   5

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

   5

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES

   6

Investments in Underlying Funds

   6

Description of Investments of the Fixed Income Underlying Funds

   11

Investments in the Banking Industry by certain Fixed Income Underlying Funds

   13

Additional Risks of the Underlying Funds

   13

Other Information

   14

SECURITIES LOANS

  

14

MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIO

  

14

Management Fees

   15

Shareholder Services

   15

Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement

   16

DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

  

16

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

  

16

Redemption of Small Accounts

   17

POLICY REGARDING EXCESSIVE OR SHORT-TERM TRADING

  

17

VALUATION OF SHARES

  

19

Net Asset Value

   19

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

  

21

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

  

21

SERVICE PROVIDERS

  

22

 

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Table of Contents

DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio is to seek total return consisting of capital appreciation and current income. The DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio is a “fund of funds,” which means that the Portfolio uses its assets to purchase other mutual funds (the “Underlying Funds”) managed by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”).

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio. The expenses in the table do not include any fees or charges imposed by the variable insurance contract. If such fees and charges were included, the expenses in the table would be higher.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment):        None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses(1) (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

 

Management Fee

     0.25

Other Expenses:

        

Shareholder Services Fees

     0.10 %(2) 

Other Expenses

     0.10 % 

Total Other Expenses

     0.20

Acquired Fund Fees & Expenses

     0.05 %(3) 

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.50

Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or (Recovery)(4)

     0.05

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or (Recovery)

     0.45

(1)  

The shares of the Portfolio are new, so the operating expenses shown are based on anticipated fees and expenses for the fiscal period ending October 31, 2011.

(2)  

“Shareholder Services Fees” are paid to third parties that provide administrative and shareholder services to investors.

(3)  

Represents the amount of fees and expenses anticipated to be incurred by the Portfolio through its investments in the Underlying Funds and other investment companies for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2011.

(4)  

The Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and to assume certain expenses of the Portfolio. The Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and may not be terminated by the Advisor prior to that date. Under certain circumstances, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed up to thirty-six months after such fee waiver and/or expense assumption.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example does not include any fees or charges imposed by the variable insurance contract. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses

 

1


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remain the same. The costs for the Portfolio reflect the net expenses of the Portfolio that result from the contractual expense waiver and assumption in the first year only. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

l Year


     3 Years

 
$ 46       $ 155   

 

Because the DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio is new, the Example is based on the anticipated expenses for the Portfolio for the current fiscal year, and does not extend over five- and ten-year periods.

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

A mutual fund generally pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when mutual fund shares are held in a taxable account. The DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio does not pay transaction costs when buying and selling shares of the Underlying Funds; however, the Underlying Funds pay transaction costs when buying and selling securities for their portfolio. The transaction costs incurred by the Underlying Funds, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio’s performance. Because the DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio is new, information about its portfolio turnover rate is not yet available.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

To achieve its investment objective, the Portfolio, under normal market circumstances, purchases shares of the Underlying Funds to achieve a moderate allocation to global equity securities. Generally, the DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio invests its assets in domestic and international equity Underlying Funds and fixed income Underlying Funds to achieve an allocation that provides a moderate allocation to global equity securities, with an allocation of approximately 50% to 70% of the Portfolio’s assets to domestic and international equity Underlying Funds and 30% to 50% of its assets to fixed income Underlying Funds. When the Advisor determines that market forces have caused fundamental changes in the relative values of the assets of the Underlying Funds, the Advisor may modify the allocations of the DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio. To maintain target allocations, adjustments may be made by purchasing or selling shares of the Underlying Funds or applying future investments and redemptions by the DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio in proportions necessary to rebalance the investments in the Underlying Funds.

 

In addition to its allocation strategy of providing exposure to the domestic and international equity and fixed income markets through investment in the Underlying Funds, the DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio further diversifies its investment portfolio by allocating its assets among Underlying Funds that represent a variety of different asset classes. As of February 28, 2011, the DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio invests in: (1) domestic equity Underlying Funds that purchase a broad portfolio of stocks of U.S. operating companies of all market capitalization sizes and a domestic equity Underlying Fund that primarily invests in publicly traded REITs; (2) international equity Underlying Funds that purchase a broad portfolio of stocks of companies in developed and emerging markets of all market capitalization sizes; and (3) fixed income Underlying Funds that may purchase U.S. and foreign debt securities such as obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, bank obligations, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, obligations of other domestic and foreign issuers having investment grade ratings, obligations of supranational organizations and inflation-protected securities. Certain fixed income Underlying Funds in which the DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio invests will concentrate their assets in the banking industry under certain market conditions. The Underlying Funds in which the DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio invests as of February 28, 2011 are described in the Portfolio’s Prospectus in the section entitled “Investments in Underlying Funds.” Periodically the Advisor will review the allocations for the

 

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DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio in each Underlying Fund and may add or remove Underlying Funds without notice to shareholders.

 

Certain Underlying Funds may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts for foreign or U.S. equity securities and indices, to gain market exposure on their uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions. Certain fixed income Underlying Funds use foreign currency contracts to hedge foreign currency risks. Also the Underlying Funds may lend their portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

Certain of the Underlying Funds are available for investment only by insurance company separate accounts that fund variable life and variable annuity contracts.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Fund of Funds Risk: The investment performance of the DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio is affected by the investment performance of the Underlying Funds in which the DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio invests. The ability of the DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio to achieve its investment objective depends on the ability of the Underlying Funds to meet their investment objectives and on the Advisor’s decisions regarding the allocation of the DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio’s assets among the Underlying Funds. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio or any Underlying Fund will be achieved. Through its investments in the Underlying Funds, the DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio is subject to the risks of the Underlying Funds’ investments. Certain risks of the Underlying Funds’ investments are described below.

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political and issuer specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Underlying Funds that own them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio, there is a risk that you will lose money.

 

Foreign Securities and Currencies Risk: Foreign securities prices may decline or fluctuate because of: (a) economic or political actions of foreign governments and/or (b) less regulated or liquid securities markets. Investors holding these securities are also exposed to foreign currency risk (the possibility that foreign currency will fluctuate in value against the U.S. dollar).

 

Small Company Risk: Securities of small companies are often less liquid than those of large companies and this could make it difficult to sell a small company security at a desired time or price. As a result, small company stocks may fluctuate relatively more in price. In general, smaller capitalization companies are also more vulnerable than larger companies to adverse business or economic developments and they may have more limited resources.

 

Emerging Markets Risk: Numerous emerging market countries have a history of, and continue to experience serious, and potentially continuing, economic and political problems. Stock markets in many emerging market countries are relatively small, expensive to trade and risky. Foreigners are often limited in their ability to invest in, and withdraw assets from, these markets. Additional restrictions may be imposed under other conditions. Frontier market countries generally have smaller economies or less developed capital markets and, as a result, the risks of investing in emerging market countries are magnified in frontier market countries.

 

Interest Rate Risk: Fixed income securities are subject to interest rate risk because the prices of fixed income securities tend to move in the opposite direction of interest rates. When interest rates rise, fixed income security prices fall. When interest rates fall, fixed income security prices rise. In general, fixed income securities with longer maturities are more sensitive to these price changes.

 

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Credit Risk: Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security may be unable to make interest payments and/or repay principal when due. A downgrade to an issuer’s credit rating or a perceived change in an issuer’s financial strength may affect a security’s value, and thus, impact a fixed income Underlying Funds’ performance.

 

Risks of Banking Concentration: Certain fixed income Underlying Funds in which the DFA VA Global Moderate Portfolio invests will concentrate their assets in the banking industry under certain market conditions. Focus on the banking industry would link the performance of the Underlying Funds to changes in the performance of the banking industry generally. Banks are very sensitive to changes in money market and general economic conditions. The profitability of the banking industry is dependent upon banks being able to obtain funds at reasonable costs and upon liquidity in the capital and credit markets to finance their lending operations. Adverse general economic conditions can cause financial difficulties for a bank’s borrowers and the borrowers’ failure to repay their loans can adversely affect the bank’s financial situation. Banks are subject to extensive regulation and decisions by regulators may limit the loans banks make and the interest rates and fees they charge, which could reduce bank profitability.

 

Income Risk: Income risk is the risk that falling interest rates will cause a fixed income Underlying Fund’s income to decline.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. Derivatives can be used for hedging (attempting to reduce risk by offsetting one investment position with another) or non-hedging purposes. Hedging with derivatives may increase expenses, and there is no guarantee that a hedging strategy will work. While hedging can reduce or eliminate losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the Underlying Funds use derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the Underlying Funds may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Underlying Funds could also lose money if they do not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

Other risks of the Underlying Funds are described in the DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio’s prospectus in the section entitled “Additional Risks of the Underlying Funds.”

 

PERFORMANCE

 

Performance information is not available for the DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio because it has not yet commenced operations. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained in the future by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio. Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, is responsible for coordinating the day to day management of the DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio and has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

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PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Shares of the Portfolio are sold only to insurance company separate accounts used to fund variable life and variable annuity insurance contracts. Contract owners do not deal directly with the Fund with respect to the acquisition or redemption of shares of the DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio. Please see the offering material of the insurance company separate account for information regarding the purchase and redemption of shares of the DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio.

 

TAX INFORMATION

 

The dividends and distributions paid from the DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio to the insurance company separate accounts generally will consist of ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both. Because shares of the Portfolio must be purchased through separate accounts, such distributions will be exempt from current taxation by contract holders if left to accumulate within the separate account.

 

PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

The Portfolio may pay financial intermediaries for performing certain shareholder services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the financial intermediary to recommend the Portfolio over another investment. Ask your financial advisor or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) seeks to construct a diversified portfolio the Portfolio by purchasing shares of Underlying Funds that invest in equity securities of domestic issuers (the “Domestic Equity Underlying Funds”) and international issuers (the “International Equity Underlying Funds” and together with the Domestic Equity Underlying Funds, the “Equity Underlying Funds”). The Portfolio will also purchase shares of Underlying Funds that invest in fixed income securities of domestic and international issuers (the “Fixed Income Underlying Funds”).

 

The investment objective of the Portfolio is to seek total return consisting of capital appreciation and current income. To achieve its investment objective, the Portfolio, under normal market circumstances, purchases shares of the Underlying Funds to achieve a moderate allocation to global equity securities. Generally, a moderate allocation to global equity securities is achieved by investing approximately 50% to 70% of the Portfolio’s assets in Equity Underlying Funds and 30% to 50% of its assets in Fixed Income Underlying Funds. With respect to investments in Equity Underlying Funds, the Portfolio may invest its assets in both Domestic Equity Underlying Funds and International Equity Underlying Funds.

 

As of the date of this Prospectus, the Portfolio is expected to invest mainly in the Underlying Funds listed below, each an investment portfolio of the DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. (the “Fund”). While the Portfolio currently intends to invest in the Underlying Funds identified below, the Portfolio may add or eliminate Underlying Funds as may be determined from time to time by the Advisor without notice to shareholders.

 

Domestic Equity Underlying Funds—DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio, U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio and U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio, VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio.

 

International Equity Underlying Funds—International Core Equity Portfolio, Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio and VA International Value Portfolio.

 

Fixed Income Underlying Funds—DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio, VA Global Bond Portfolio, VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio.

 

Periodically, the Advisor will review the allocations for the Portfolio in each Underlying Fund. From time to time, the Advisor may add or remove Underlying Funds in the Portfolio without notice to shareholders. In addition, when the Advisor determines that market forces have caused fundamental changes in the relative values of the assets of the Underlying Funds, the Advisor may modify the allocations of the Portfolio. To maintain allocation ranges, adjustments may be made by purchasing or selling shares of the Underlying Funds or applying future investments and redemptions by the Portfolio in proportions necessary to rebalance the investments in the Underlying Funds.

 

In addition to other short-term investments, the Underlying Funds may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds to manage cash pending investment or to maintain liquidity for the payment of redemptions or other purposes. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

Investments in Underlying Funds

 

Investment Objectives, Strategies and Policies of the Underlying Funds

 

The Advisor believes that equity investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on sources of expected returns, not on stock picking or market timing. In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined risk and return characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low.

 

The Advisor believes that fixed income investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on bond market risk and return, not on interest rate forecasting or market timing. In constructing an investment

 

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portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely-defined maturity and credit quality characteristics. It then places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low.

 

The following is a summary of the investment strategies, objectives and policies of the Underlying Funds in which the Portfolios invest as of the date of this Prospectus. Additional information concerning the investment policies of the Underlying Funds may be found in the Portfolios’ Statement of Additional Information.

 

Domestic Equity Underlying Funds

 

DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio—The investment objective of the DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio, using a free float adjusted market capitalization weighted approach, purchases readily marketable equity securities of companies whose principal activities include development, ownership, construction, management, or sale of residential, commercial or industrial real estate. The Portfolio will principally invest in equity securities of companies in certain real estate investment trusts and companies engaged in residential construction and firms, except partnerships, whose principal business is to develop commercial property. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of the U.S. real estate company, the greater its representation in the Portfolio. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions. The DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio will purchase shares of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).

 

U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio—The investment objective of the U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio purchases a broad and diverse group of common stocks of U.S. companies with a greater emphasis on small capitalization and value companies as compared to their representation in the U.S. Universe. The Advisor generally defines the U.S. Universe as a free float adjusted market capitalization weighted portfolio of U.S. operating companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), NYSE Alternext US LLC or Nasdaq Global Market® or such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor. The Portfolio’s increased exposure to small and value companies may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to the largest U.S. growth companies relative to their weight in the U.S. Universe, which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization.

 

U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio—The investment objective of the U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio purchases a broad and diverse group of common stocks of U.S. companies with a greater emphasis on small capitalization and value companies as compared to their representation in the U.S. Universe. The Advisor generally defines the U.S. Universe as a free float adjusted market capitalization weighted portfolio of U.S. operating companies listed on the NYSE, NYSE Alternext US LLC or Nasdaq Global Market® or such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor. The Portfolio’s increased exposure to small and value companies may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to the largest U.S. growth companies relative to their weight in the U.S. Universe, which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization.

 

VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio—The investment objective of the VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio, using a market capitalization weighted approach, purchases a broad and diverse group of readily marketable common stocks of large U.S.

 

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companies that the Advisor determines to be value stocks. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of the U.S. large cap company, the greater its representation in the Portfolio. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value (a “book to market ratio”).

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of large cap U.S. companies. As of the date of this Prospectus, for purposes of the Portfolio, the Advisor considers large cap companies to be companies whose market capitalizations are generally in the highest 90% of total market capitalization or companies whose market capitalizations are larger than the 1,000th largest U.S. company, whichever results in the higher market capitalization break. Total market capitalization is based on the market capitalization of U.S. operating companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), NYSE Alternext US LLC, Nasdaq Global Market® or such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor. Under the Advisor’s market capitalization guidelines described above, as of December 31, 2010, the market capitalization of a large cap company was $2,357 million, or above. This dollar amount will change due to market conditions.

 

International Equity Underlying Funds

 

International Core Equity Portfolio—The investment objective of the International Core Equity Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The International Core Equity Portfolio purchases a broad and diverse group of stocks of non-U.S. companies in developed markets with a greater emphasis on small capitalization and value companies as compared to their representation in the International Universe. For purposes of this Portfolio, the Advisor defines the International Universe as a market capitalization weighted portfolio of non-U.S. companies in developed markets that have been authorized as approved markets for investment by the Advisor’s Investment Committee. The Portfolio’s increased exposure to small capitalization and value companies may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the International Core Equity Portfolio’s assets to the largest growth companies relative to their weight in the International Universe, which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization.

 

The International Core Equity Portfolio intends to purchase stocks of companies associated with developed market countries that the Advisor has designated as approved markets. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the International Core Equity Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities. The Advisor determines company size on a country or region specific basis and based primarily on market capitalization. The percentage allocation of the assets of the International Core Equity Portfolio to securities of the largest growth companies as defined above will generally be reduced from between 5% and 35% of their percentage weight in the International Universe. As of December 31, 2010, securities of the largest growth companies in the International Universe comprised approximately 16% of the International Universe and the Advisor allocated approximately 4% of the International Core Equity Portfolio to securities of the largest growth companies in the International Universe. The percentage by which the Portfolio’s allocation to securities of the largest growth companies is reduced will fluctuate with market movements and other factors. Additionally, the range by which the International Core Equity Portfolio’s percentage allocation to the securities of the largest growth companies is reduced as compared to the International Universe will change from time to time. The Advisor determines company size on a country or region specific basis and based primarily on market capitalization.

 

Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio—The investment objective of the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio purchases a

 

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broad and diverse group of securities associated with emerging markets, including frontier markets (emerging market countries in an earlier stage of development), authorized for investment by the Advisor’s Investment Committee (“Approved Markets”) with an increased exposure to securities of small cap issuers and securities that it considers to be value securities. In assessing value, the Advisor may consider factors such as the issuer’s securities having a high book value in relation to their market value, as well as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios. The criteria the Advisor uses for assessing value are subject to change from time to time.

 

VA International Value Portfolio—The investment objective of the VA International Value Portfolio is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The VA International Value Portfolio, using a market capitalization weighted approach, purchases stocks of large non-U.S. companies in countries with developed markets that the Advisor determines to be value stocks. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of a large company within an eligible country, the greater its representation in the Portfolio. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value (a “book to market ratio”).

 

The VA International Value Portfolio intends to purchase stocks of large companies associated with developed market countries that the Advisor has designated as approved markets. The Advisor determines the minimum market capitalization of a large company with respect to each country or region in which the Portfolio invests. As of December 31, 2010, for the Portfolio, the lowest minimum market capitalization of a large company in any country or region in which the Portfolio invests was $1,438 million. This threshold will change due to market conditions.

 

Fixed Income Underlying Funds

 

DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio—The investment objective of the DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio (the “Two-Year Global Portfolio”) is to maximize total returns consistent with preservation of capital. The Two-Year Global Portfolio seeks to maximize risk-adjusted total returns from a universe of U.S. and foreign debt securities maturing in two years or less. The Two-Year Global Portfolio invests in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, corporate debt obligations, bank obligations, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, obligations of other domestic and foreign issuers, securities of domestic or foreign issuers denominated in U.S. dollars but not trading in the United States, and obligations of supranational organizations. At the present time, the Advisor expects that most investments will be made in the obligations of issuers which are in developed countries, such as those countries which are members of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (“OECD”). However, in the future, the Advisor anticipates investing in issuers located in other countries as well. The fixed income securities in which the Two-Year Global Portfolio invests are considered investment grade at the time of purchase. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio intends to invest its assets in issuers organized or having a majority of their assets in, or deriving a majority of their operating income in, at least three different countries, one of which may be the United States. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities that mature within two years from the date of settlement.

 

It is the policy of the Two-Year Global Portfolio that the weighted average length of maturity of investments will not exceed two years. However, investments may be made in obligations maturing in a shorter time period (from overnight, to up to two years from the date of settlement). Because many of the Portfolio’s investments will be denominated in foreign currencies, the Portfolio will also enter into forward foreign currency contracts to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency rates, to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or to transfer balances from one currency to another. The Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

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The Two-Year Global Portfolio may concentrate its investments in obligations of U.S. and foreign banks and bank holding companies. The Portfolio will concentrate its assets (invest more than 25% of its total assets) in obligations of U.S. and/or foreign banks and bank holding companies (“banking industry securities”) when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking industry securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group generally for a period of five consecutive days when the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. See the section entitled “Investments in the Banking Industry by certain Fixed Income Underlying Funds” below for additional information.

 

DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio—The DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio (the “Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio”) seeks to maximize total returns from a universe of U.S. and foreign debt securities maturing in two years or less. The Portfolio may selectively hedge its foreign currency risks depending on market conditions. The debt securities in which the Portfolio may invest include obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, corporate debt obligations, bank obligations, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, obligations of other domestic and foreign issuers, securities of domestic or foreign issuers denominated in U.S. dollars but not trading in the United States, and obligations of supranational organizations. At the present time, the Advisor expects that most investments will be made in the obligations of issuers that are located in developed countries, such as those countries which are members of the OECD. However, in the future, the Advisor anticipates investing in issuers located in other countries as well. The fixed income securities in which the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio invests are considered investment grade at the time of purchase. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio intends to invest its assets in issuers organized or having a majority of their assets in, or deriving a majority of their operating income in, at least three different countries, one of which may be the United States.

 

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities. It is the policy of the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio that the weighted average length of maturity of its investments will not exceed two years. However, investments may be made in obligations maturing in a shorter time period (from overnight, to up to two years from the date of settlement).

 

Because many of the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio’s investments may be denominated in foreign currencies, the Portfolio may hedge the currency exposure of the foreign securities by entering into foreign forward currency contracts, or leave some or all of the currency exposure unhedged, to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency rates, to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or to transfer balances from one currency to another. The decision to hedge the Portfolio’s currency exposure with respect to a foreign market will be based on, among other things, a comparison of the respective foreign and U.S. short-term interest rates and the Portfolio’s existing exposure to a given foreign currency. The Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

The Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio may concentrate its investments in obligations of U.S. and foreign banks and bank holding companies. The Portfolio will concentrate its assets (invest more than 25% of its total assets) in obligations of U.S. and/or foreign banks and bank holding companies (“banking industry securities”) when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking industry securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group generally for a period of five consecutive days when the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. See the section entitled “Investments in the Banking Industry by certain Fixed Income Underlying Funds” below for additional information.

 

VA Global Bond Portfolio—The investment objective of the VA Global Bond Portfolio is to provide a market rate of return for a fixed income portfolio with low relative volatility of returns. The VA Global Bond Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective by generally investing in a universe of U.S. and foreign debt securities maturing in five years or less. The Portfolio primarily purchases obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, obligations of other foreign issuers rated AA or better, corporate debt obligations, bank obligations, commercial paper and supranational organizations. At

 

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the present time, the Advisor expects that most investments will be made in the obligations of issuers which are developed countries, such as those countries which are members of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The fixed income securities in which the VA Global Bond Portfolio invests are considered investment grade at the time of purchase. However, in the future, the Advisor anticipates investing in issuers located in other countries as well. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio intends to invest its assets in issuers organized or having a majority of their assets in, or deriving a majority of their operating income in, at least three different countries, one of which may be the United States. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities. The Portfolio will generally invest its assets in obligations which mature within five years from the date of settlement. Because many of the Portfolio‘s investments will be denominated in foreign currencies, the Portfolio will also enter into forward foreign currency contracts solely for the purpose of hedging against fluctuations in currency exchange rates.

 

VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio—The investment objective of the VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio is to achieve a stable real return in excess of the rate of inflation with a minimum of risk. The VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective by generally investing in a universe of high quality fixed income securities that typically mature in one year or less. The Portfolio may, however, take a large position in securities maturing within two years from the date of settlement when greater returns are available. The Portfolio purchases U.S. government obligations, U.S. government agency obligations, dollar-denominated obligations of foreign issuers issued in the U.S., foreign government and agency obligations, bank obligations, including U.S. subsidiaries and branches of foreign banks, corporate obligations, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, obligations of supranational organizations and affiliated and unaffiliated unregistered money market funds. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities and maintain a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity that will not exceed one year. The Portfolio principally invests in certificates of deposit, commercial paper, bankers’ acceptances, notes and bonds.

 

The VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio may concentrate its investments in obligations of U.S. and foreign banks and bank holding companies. The Portfolio will invest more than 25% of its total assets in obligations of U.S. and/or foreign banks and bank holding companies (“banking industry securities”) when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking industry securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group for a period of five consecutive days when the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. See the section entitled “Investments in the Banking Industry by certain Fixed Income Underlying Funds” below for additional information.

 

Description of Investments of the Fixed Income Underlying Funds

 

The following is a description of the categories of investments, which may be acquired by the Fixed Income Underlying Funds.

 

     Permissible Categories:

Two-Year Global Portfolio

   1-11

Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio

   1-11

VA Global Bond Fund Portfolio

   1-11

VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio

   1-8, 10-11

 

Description of Investments for Fixed Income Underlying Funds

 

1. U.S. Government Obligations—Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury which are direct obligations of the U.S. government, including bills, notes and bonds.

 

2. U.S. Government Agency Obligations—Issued or guaranteed by U.S. government-sponsored instrumentalities and federal agencies, which have different levels of credit support. The U.S. government agency

 

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obligations include, but are not limited to, securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States, such as the Federal Housing Administration and Ginnie Mae, including Ginnie Mae pass-through certificates. Other securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities sponsored by the U.S. government may be supported only by the issuer’s right to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, subject to certain limits, such as securities issued by Federal Home Loan Banks, or are supported only by the credit of such agencies, such as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

 

3. Corporate Debt Obligations—Nonconvertible corporate debt securities (e.g., bonds and debentures), which are issued by companies whose commercial paper is rated Prime1 by Moody’s or A1 or better by S&P or F1 or better by Fitch and dollar-denominated obligations of foreign issuers issued in the U.S. If the issuer’s commercial paper is unrated, then the debt security would have to be rated at least AA by S&P or Aa2 by Moody’s or AA by Fitch. If there is neither a commercial paper rating nor a rating of the debt security, then the Advisor must determine that the debt security is of comparable quality to equivalent issues of the same issuer rated at least AA or Aa2.

 

4. Bank Obligations—Obligations of U.S. banks and savings and loan associations and dollar-denominated obligations of U.S. subsidiaries and branches of foreign banks, such as certificates of deposit (including marketable variable rate certificates of deposit), time deposits and bankers’ acceptances. Bank certificates of deposit will only be acquired from banks having assets in excess of $1,000,000,000.

 

5. Commercial Paper—Rated, at the time of purchase, A1 or better by S&P or Prime1 by Moody’s, or F1 or better by Fitch or, if unrated, issued by a corporation having an outstanding unsecured debt issue rated Aaa by Moody’s or AAA by S&P or AAA by Fitch.

 

6. Repurchase Agreements—Instruments through which the Fixed Income Underlying Funds purchase securities (“underlying securities”) from a bank or a registered U.S. government securities dealer, with an agreement by the seller to repurchase the securities at an agreed price, plus interest at a specified rate. The underlying securities will be limited to U.S. government and agency obligations described in (1) and (2) above. The Fixed Income Underlying Funds will not enter into a repurchase agreement with a duration of more than seven days if, as a result, more than 10% of the value of the Fixed Income Underlying Fund’s total assets would be so invested. In addition, a repurchase agreement with a duration of more than seven days will be subject to a Fixed Income Underlying Fund’s illiquid securities policy. The Fixed Income Underlying Funds also will only invest in repurchase agreements with a bank if the bank has at least $1,000,000,000 in assets and is approved by the Investment Committee of the Advisor. The Advisor will monitor the market value of the securities plus any accrued interest thereon so that they will at least equal the repurchase price.

 

7. Foreign Government and Agency Obligations—Bills, notes, bonds and other debt securities issued or guaranteed by foreign governments, or their agencies and instrumentalities.

 

8. Supranational Organization Obligations—Debt securities of supranational organizations such as the European Coal and Steel Community, the European Economic Community and the World Bank, which are chartered to promote economic development.

 

9. Foreign Issuer Obligations—Debt securities of non-U.S. issuers rated AA or better by S&P or Aa2 or better by Moody’s or AA or better by Fitch.

 

10. Eurodollar Obligations—Debt securities of domestic or foreign issuers denominated in U.S. dollars but not trading in the United States.

 

11. Money Market Funds—The Fixed Income Underlying Funds may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

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The categories of investments that may be acquired by each of the Fixed Income Underlying may include both fixed and floating rate securities. Floating rate securities bear interest at rates that vary with prevailing market rates. Interest rate adjustments are made periodically (e.g., every six months), usually based on a money market index such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) or the Treasury bill rate.

 

Investments in the Banking Industry by certain Fixed Income Underlying Funds

 

The Two-Year Global Portfolio, Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio and VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio will invest more than 25% of their total respective assets in obligations of U.S. and foreign banks and bank holding companies (“banking industry securities”) when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking industry securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group generally for a period of five consecutive days when the NYSE is open for trading. For purposes of this policy, the Advisor considers eligible portfolio investments to be those securities that are on the Advisor’s then current buy list that are available for purchase. This policy can only be changed by a vote of shareholders. When investment in such obligations exceeds 25% of the total net assets of any of these Portfolios such Portfolio will be considered to be concentrating its investments in the banking industry. Once the Two-Year Global Portfolio, Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio or VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio concentrates its investments in the banking industry, the Portfolio may remain concentrated in the banking industry until the purchase of new investments in the normal course of executing the Portfolio’s investment strategy result in less than 25% of the Portfolio’s total assets consisting of banking industry securities.

 

The types of bank and bank holding company obligations in which the Two-Year Global Portfolio, Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio, and VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio may invest include: dollar-denominated certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, commercial paper and other debt obligations issued in the United States provided such obligations meet the Portfolio’s established credit rating criteria as stated under “Description of Investments of the Fixed Income Underlying Funds.” In addition, the Two-Year Global Portfolio and Selectively Hedged Global are authorized to invest more than 25% of their total assets in Treasury bonds, bills and notes and obligations of federal agencies and instrumentalities. The Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio may also invest in non-dollar denominated certificates.

 

Additional Risks of the Underlying Funds

 

The investment performance of the Portfolio is affected by the investment performance of the Underlying Funds in which the Portfolio invests. The Portfolio also indirectly pays its proportionate share of the expenses of the Underlying Funds in which it invests. The ability of the Portfolio to achieve its investment objective depends on the ability of the Underlying Funds to meet their investment objectives and on the Advisor’s decisions regarding the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets among the Underlying Funds. Through their investments in Underlying Funds, the Portfolios are subject to the risks of the Underlying Funds’ investments. In addition to the risks of the Underlying Funds’ investments described in “PRINCIPAL RISKS” for the Portfolio, certain other risks of the Underlying Funds’ investments are described below.

 

Risks of Concentrating in the Real Estate Industry: The DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio in which the DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio invests may be concentrated in the real estate industry. The exclusive focus of DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio on the real estate industry will cause DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio to be exposed to the general risks of direct real estate ownership. The performance of an Underlying Fund concentrated in the real estate industry may be materially different from the broad equity market. The DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio in which the DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio invests is subject to this risk. The value of securities in the real estate industry can be affected by changes in real estate values and rental income, property taxes, interest rates, and tax and regulatory requirements. Investing in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) and REIT-like entities involves certain unique risks in addition to those risks associated with investing in the real estate industry in general. REITs and REIT-like entities are dependent upon management skill, may not be diversified, and are subject to heavy cash flow dependency and self-liquidation.

 

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REITs and REIT-like entities also are subject to the possibility of failing to qualify for tax free pass-through of income. Also, because REITs and REIT-like entities typically are invested in a limited number of projects or in a particular market segment, these entities are more susceptible to adverse developments affecting a single project or market segment than more broadly diversified investments.

 

Other Information

 

Commodity Pool Operator Exemption:

 

The Portfolio is operated by a person that has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”), and, therefore, such person is not subject to registration or regulation as a pool operator under the CEA.

 

SECURITIES LOANS

 

The Underlying Funds are authorized to lend securities to qualified brokers, dealers, banks, and other financial institutions for the purpose of earning additional income. While an Underlying Fund may earn additional income from lending securities, such activity is incidental to the investment objective of the Underlying Fund. The value of securities loaned may not exceed 33 1/3% of the value of the Underlying Fund’s total assets, which includes the value of collateral received. To the extent an Underlying Fund loans a portion of its securities, the Underlying Fund will receive collateral consisting generally of cash or U.S. government securities, which will be maintained by marking to market daily in an amount equal to at least: (i) 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities, with respect to securities of the U.S. government or its agencies; (ii) 102% of the current market value of the loaned securities, with respect to U.S. securities; and (iii) 105% of the current market value of the loaned securities, with respect to foreign securities. Subject to its stated investment policies, an Underlying Fund will generally invest the cash collateral received for the loaned securities in The DFA Short Term Investment Fund (the “Money Market Series”), an affiliated registered money market fund advised by the Advisor for which the Advisor receives a management fee of 0.05% of the average daily net assets of the Money Market Series. The Underlying Funds may also invest such collateral in securities of the U.S. government or its agencies, repurchase agreements collateralized by securities of the U.S. government or its agencies, and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds. For purposes of this paragraph, agencies include both agency debentures and agency mortgage-backed securities.

 

In addition, an Underlying Fund will be able to terminate the loan at any time and will receive reasonable interest on the loan, as well as amounts equal to any dividends, interest, or other distributions on the loaned securities. However, dividend income received from loaned securities may not be eligible to be taxed at qualified dividend income rates. An Underlying Fund will be entitled to recall a loaned security to vote proxies or otherwise obtain rights to vote proxies of loaned securities if the Underlying Fund knows that a material event will occur. In the event of the bankruptcy of a borrower, the Fund could experience delay in recovering the loaned securities or only recover cash or a security of equivalent value. See “PRINCIPAL RISKSSecurities Lending” for a discussion of the risks related to securities lending.

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

The Advisor serves as investment advisor to the Portfolio and each of the Underlying Funds. Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Portfolio and each Underlying Fund, the Advisor is responsible for the management of the Portfolio’s and each Underlying Fund’s respective assets. The Portfolio and each Underlying Fund is managed using a team approach. The investment team includes the Investment Committee of the Advisor, portfolio managers, and trading personnel.

 

The Investment Committee is composed primarily of certain officers and directors of the Advisor who are appointed annually. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Investment Committee has ten members. Investment

 

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strategies for the Portfolio are set by the Investment Committee, which meets on a regular basis and also as needed to consider investment issues. The Investment Committee also sets and reviews all investment related policies and procedures and approves any changes in regards to approved countries, security types, and brokers.

 

In accordance with the team approach used to manage the Portfolio, the portfolio managers and portfolio traders implement the policies and procedures established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers and portfolio traders also make daily investment decisions regarding the Portfolio, including running buy and sell programs, based on the parameters established by the Investment Committee. Stephen A. Clark serves as the portfolio manager for the Portfolio and coordinates the efforts of all other portfolio managers with respect to the day-to-day management of the Portfolio.

 

Mr. Clark is a Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and chairman of the Investment Committee. Mr. Clark received his MBA from the University of Chicago and his BS from Bradley University. Mr. Clark joined the Advisor as a portfolio manager in 2001 and has been responsible for the portfolio management group since January 2006.

 

The Portfolio’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) provides information about the portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, and the portfolio manager’s ownership of Portfolio shares.

 

The Advisor provides the Underlying Funds with a trading department and selects brokers and dealers to effect securities transactions. Securities transactions are placed with a view to seeking best price and execution. The Advisor’s address is 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Directors’ approving the investment management agreement with respect to the Portfolio will be available in future annual or semi-annual reports to shareholders of the Portfolio.

 

DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. (the “Fund”) bears all of its own costs and expenses, including: services of its independent registered public accounting firm, legal counsel, brokerage commissions, and transfer taxes in connection with the acquisition and disposition of portfolio securities, taxes, insurance premiums, costs incidental to meetings of its shareholders and directors, the cost of filing its registration statements under the federal securities laws and the cost of any filings required under state securities laws, reports to shareholders, and transfer and dividend disbursing agency, administrative services, and custodian fees, except as provided in the Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement. Expenses allocable to a particular portfolio of the Fund are so allocated. The expenses of the Fund that are not allocable to a particular portfolio are borne by each portfolio on the basis of its relative net assets or equally.

 

The Advisor has been engaged in the business of providing investment management services since May 1981. The Advisor is currently organized as a Delaware limited partnership and is controlled and operated by its general partner, Dimensional Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation. The Advisor controls Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (“DFAL”) and DFA Australia Limited (“DFA Australia”). As of January 31, 2011, assets under management for all Dimensional affiliated advisors totaled approximately $209 billion.

 

Management Fees

 

The “Annual Fund Operating Expenses” table describes the anticipated fees to be incurred by the Portfolio for the services provided by the Advisor for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011. The “Management Fee” listed in the table for the Portfolio provides the advisory fee that is payable by the Portfolio to the Advisor.

 

Shareholder Services

 

On behalf of the Portfolio, the Fund will enter into agreements with third parties to provide administrative services, shareholder servicing, recordkeeping, account maintenance and other services to investors. For

 

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shareholder servicing, the Fund will pay to such third parties an amount calculated at an annual rate of 0.10% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets.

 

Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement

 

Pursuant to a Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the Portfolio, the Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and to assume the expenses of the Portfolio (including the Shareholder Services Fees and the expenses that the Portfolio bears as a shareholder the Underlying Funds, but excluding the expenses that the Portfolio incurs indirectly through its investment in unaffiliated investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) to the extent necessary to limit the Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio to 0.45% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets on an annualized basis (the “Expense Limitation Amount”). At any time that the Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio are less than the Portfolio’s Expense Limitation Amount, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s annualized Portfolio Expenses to exceed the Portfolio’s Expense Limitation Amount. The Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement. The Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement will remain in effect for an initial period until February 28, 2012, and then shall continue in effect from year to year for one-year periods thereafter unless terminated by the Advisor.

 

DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS, AND TAXES

 

Dividends and Distributions. The Portfolio intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). As a regulated investment company, the Portfolio generally pays no federal income tax on the income and gains it distributes to shareholders. Dividends from net investment income of the Portfolio are distributed annually and any net realized capital gains (after any reductions for available capital loss carryforwards) are distributed annually, typically in December. The Portfolio may distribute such income dividends and capital gains more frequently, if necessary, in order to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the Portfolio.

 

Capital gains distributions may vary considerably from year to year as a result of the Portfolio’s normal investment activities and cash flows. During a time of economic downturn, the Portfolio may experience capital losses and unrealized depreciation in value of investments, the effect of which may be to reduce or eliminate capital gains distributions for a period of time. Even though the Portfolio may experience a current year loss, it may nonetheless distribute prior year capital gains.

 

Shareholders of the Portfolio will automatically receive all income dividends and capital gains distributions in additional shares of the Portfolio at net asset value (as of the business date following the dividend record date).

 

Tax Considerations. Shares of the Portfolio must be purchased through insurance company separate accounts used to fund variable life and variable annuity insurance contracts. As a result, it is anticipated that any dividend or capital gains distributions from the Portfolio will be exempt from current taxation by contract holders if left to accumulate within a variable insurance contract. Withdrawals from such contracts may be subject to ordinary income tax plus a 10% penalty tax if made before age 59½.

 

The tax status of your investment in the Portfolio depends upon the features of your variable life or variable annuity insurance contract. For further information, please refer to the prospectus of the insurance company separate account.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

 

Shares of the Portfolio are sold only to insurance company separate accounts used to fund variable life and variable annuity insurance contracts. Purchases and redemptions of shares of the Portfolio by a separate account

 

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will be effected at the net asset value per share. (See “VALUATION OF SHARES.”) Contract owners do not deal directly with the Fund with respect to the acquisition or redemption of shares of the Portfolio. Please see the offering material of the insurance company separate account for information regarding the purchase and redemption of shares of the Portfolio. When in the best interests of the Portfolio, the Portfolio may satisfy a redemption request, in whole or in part, by an in-kind distribution of Portfolio securities in lieu of cash in accordance with Rule 18f-1 under the 1940 Act. Investors may incur brokerage charges and other transaction costs selling securities that are received from an in-kind distribution.

 

Redemption of Small Accounts

 

The Fund reserves the right to redeem a shareholder’s account if the value of the shares in the Portfolio is $500 or less because of redemption by the shareholder. Before the Fund involuntarily redeems shares from such an account and sends the proceeds to the shareholder, the Fund will give written notice of the redemption to the shareholder at least sixty days before the redemption date. The shareholder will then have sixty days from the date of the notice to make an additional investment in the Fund in order to bring the value of the shares in the account for the Portfolio to more than $500 and avoid such involuntary redemption. The redemption price to be paid to a shareholder for shares redeemed by the Fund under this right will be the aggregate net asset value of the shares in the account at the close of business on the redemption date. The right to redeem small accounts applies to accounts established with the Fund’s transfer agent.

 

POLICY REGARDING EXCESSIVE OR SHORT-TERM TRADING

 

The Portfolio is designed for long-term investors and is not intended for investors that engage in excessive short-term trading activity that may be harmful to the Portfolio and its shareholders, including but not limited to market timing. Short-term or excessive trading into and out of the Portfolio can disrupt portfolio management strategies, harm performance, and increase Portfolio expenses for all shareholders, including long-term shareholders who do not generate these costs.

 

In addition, the nature of the Portfolio’s holdings may present opportunities for a shareholder to engage in a short-term trading strategy that exploits possible delays between changes in the price of the Portfolio’s holdings and the reflection of those changes in the Portfolio’s net asset value (called “arbitrage market timing”). Such delays may occur because the Portfolio has significant investments in foreign securities where, due to time zone differences, the values of those securities are established some time before the Portfolio calculates its net asset value. In such circumstances, the available market prices for such foreign securities may not accurately reflect the latest indications of value at the time the Portfolio calculates its net asset value. There is a possibility that arbitrage market timing may dilute the value of the Portfolio’s shares if redeeming shareholders receive proceeds (and purchasing shareholders receive shares) based upon a net asset value that does not reflect appropriate fair value prices).

 

The Board of Directors of the Fund (the “Board”) has adopted a policy (the “Trading Policy”) and the Advisor and DFA Securities LLC (collectively, “Dimensional”) and Dimensional’s agents have implemented the following procedures, which are designed to discourage and prevent market timing or excessive short-term trading in the Portfolio: (i) trade activity monitoring and purchase blocking procedures, and (ii) use of fair value pricing.

 

The Fund, Dimensional, and their agents monitor trades and flows of money into and out of the Portfolio from time to time in an effort to detect excessive short-term trading activities, and for consistent enforcement of the Trading Policy. The Fund reserves the right to take the actions necessary to stop excessive or disruptive trading activities, including refusing or canceling purchase or exchange orders for any reason, without prior notice, particularly purchase or exchange orders that the Fund believes are made on behalf of market timers. The Fund, Dimensional, and their agents reserve the right to restrict, refuse, or cancel any purchase or exchange

 

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request made by an investor indefinitely if the Fund or Dimensional believes that any combination of trading activity in the accounts is potentially disruptive to the Portfolio. In making such judgments, the Fund and Dimensional seek to act in a manner that is consistent with the interests of shareholders. For purposes of applying these procedures, Dimensional may consider an investor’s trading history in the Portfolio and accounts under common ownership, influence, or control.

 

In addition to the Fund’s general ability to restrict potentially disruptive trading activity as described above, the Fund also has adopted purchase blocking procedures. Under the Fund’s purchase blocking procedures, where an investor has engaged in any two purchases and two redemptions (including redemptions that are part of an exchange transaction) in the Portfolio in any rolling 30 calendar day monitoring period (i.e., two “round-trips”), the Fund and Dimensional intend to block the investor from making any additional purchases in the Portfolio for 90 calendar days (a “purchase block”). If implemented, a purchase block will begin at some point after the transaction that caused the investor to have engaged in the prohibited two round-trips is detected by the Fund, Dimensional, or their agents. The Fund and Dimensional are permitted to implement a longer purchase block, or permanently bar future purchases by an investor, if they determine that it is appropriate.

 

Under the Fund’s purchase blocking procedures, the following purchases and redemptions will not trigger a purchase block: (i) purchases and redemptions of shares having a value in each transaction of less than $5,000; (ii) purchases and redemptions by U.S.-registered investment companies that operate as funds of funds and non-U.S. investment companies that operate as fund of funds that the Funds or Dimensional, in their sole discretion, have determined are not designed and/or are not serving as vehicles for excessive short-term or other disruptive trading (in each case, the fund of funds shall agree to be subject to monitoring by Dimensional); (iii) purchases and redemptions by a feeder portfolio of a master fund’s shares; (iv) systematic or automated transactions where the shareholder, financial advisor, or investment fiduciary does not exercise direct control over the investment decision; (v) retirement plan contributions, loans, loan repayments, and distributions (including hardship withdrawals) identified as such in the retirement plan recordkeeper’s system; (vi) purchase transactions involving transfers of assets, rollovers, Roth IRA conversions, and IRA recharacterizations; (vii) purchases of shares with Portfolio dividends or capital gain distributions; (viii) transfers and reregistrations of shares within the Portfolio; and (ix) transactions by 529 Plans. Notwithstanding the Fund’s purchase blocking procedures, all transactions in Portfolio shares are subject to the right of the Fund and Dimensional to restrict potentially disruptive trading activity (including purchases and redemptions described above that will not be subject to the purchase blocking procedures).

 

The Fund, Dimensional, or their designees have the ability, pursuant to Rule 22c-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), to request information from financial intermediaries, such as 401(k) plan administrators, trust companies, insurance companies acting on behalf of separate accounts and broker-dealers (together, “Intermediaries”), concerning trades placed in omnibus and other multi-investor accounts (together, “Omnibus Accounts”), in order to attempt to monitor trades that are placed by the underlying shareholders of these Omnibus Accounts. The Fund, Dimensional, and their designees will use the information obtained from the Intermediaries to monitor trading in the Fund and to attempt to identify shareholders in Omnibus Accounts engaged in trading that is inconsistent with the Trading Policy or otherwise not in the best interests of the Fund. The Fund, Dimensional, or their designees, when they detect trading patterns in shares of the Portfolio (or other portfolios of the Fund) that may constitute short-term or excessive trading, will provide written instructions to the Intermediary to restrict or prohibit further purchases or exchanges of shares of the Portfolio (and other portfolios of the Fund) by a shareholder that has been identified as having engaged in excessive or short-term transactions in the Portfolio’s shares (directly or indirectly through the Intermediary’s account) that violate the Trading Policy.

 

The ability of the Fund and Dimensional to impose these limitations, including the purchase blocking procedures, on investors investing through Intermediaries is dependent on the receipt of information necessary to identify transactions by the underlying investors and the Intermediary’s cooperation in implementing the Trading Policy. Investors seeking to engage in excessive short-term trading practices may deploy a variety of strategies to

 

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avoid detection, and despite the efforts of the Fund and Dimensional to prevent excessive short-term trading, there is no assurance that the Fund, Dimensional, or their agents will be able to identify those shareholders or curtail their trading practices. The ability of the Fund, Dimensional, and their agents to detect and limit excessive short-term trading also may be restricted by operational systems and technological limitations.

 

The purchase blocking procedures of the Trading Policy may not apply to redemptions by shareholders whose shares are held on the books of Intermediaries if the Intermediaries have not adopted procedures to implement this Policy. The Fund and Dimensional will work with Intermediaries to develop such policies to institute the purchase blocking procedures or other procedures that the Fund and Dimensional determine are reasonably designed to achieve the objective of this Trading Policy. At the time the Intermediaries adopt these procedures, shareholders whose accounts are on the books of such Intermediaries will be subject to the Trading Policy’s purchase blocking procedures or another frequent trading policy that achieves the objective of the purchase blocking procedures. Investors that invest in the Portfolio through an Intermediary should contact the Intermediary for information concerning the policies and procedures that apply to the investors.

 

As of the date of this Prospectus, the ability of the Fund and Dimensional to apply the purchase blocking procedures on purchases by all investors, and the ability of the Fund and Dimensional to monitor trades through Omnibus Accounts maintained by Intermediaries, may be restricted due to systems limitations of both the Fund’s service providers and the Intermediaries. The Fund expects that the application of the Trading Policy as described above, including the purchase blocking procedures (subject to the limitations described above), will be able to be implemented by Intermediaries in compliance with Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act.

 

In addition, the purchase blocking procedures will not apply to a redemption transaction in which the Portfolio distributes portfolio securities to a shareholder in-kind, where the redemption will not disrupt the efficient portfolio management of the Portfolio and the redemption is consistent with the interests of the remaining shareholders of the Portfolio.

 

In addition to monitoring trade activity, the Board has adopted fair value pricing procedures that govern the pricing of the securities of the Portfolio. These procedures are designed to help ensure that the prices at which Portfolio shares are purchased and redeemed are fair, and do not result in dilution of shareholder interests or other harm to shareholders. See the discussion under “VALUATION OF SHARES—Net Asset Value” for additional details regarding fair value pricing of the Portfolio’s securities.

 

Although the procedures are designed to discourage excessive short-term trading, none of the procedures individually nor all of the procedures taken together can completely eliminate the possibility that excessive short-term trading activity in the Portfolio may occur. The Portfolio and the Underlying Funds do not knowingly accommodate excessive or disruptive trading activities, including market timing.

 

VALUATION OF SHARES

 

Net Asset Value

 

The net asset value per share of the Portfolio and the net asset value per share of each Underlying Fund are generally calculated on days that the NYSE is open for trading. The net asset value per share of the Portfolio and the net asset value per share of each Underlying Fund is calculated after the close of the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. ET) by dividing the total value of the Portfolio’s or Underlying Fund’s investments and other assets, less any liabilities, by the total outstanding shares of the stock of the respective Portfolio or Underlying Fund. Note: The time at which transactions and shares are priced may be changed in case of an emergency or if the NYSE closes at a time other than 4:00 p.m. ET.

 

The value of the shares of the Portfolio will fluctuate in relation to the investment experience of the Underlying Funds in which the Portfolio invests. Securities held by the Underlying Funds will be valued in accordance with applicable laws and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors or Trustees, and generally, as described below.

 

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Securities held by the Underlying Funds (including over-the-counter securities) are valued at the last quoted sale price of the day. Securities held by the Underlying Funds that are listed on Nasdaq are valued at the Nasdaq Official Closing Price (“NOCP”). If there is no last reported sale price or NOCP of the day, the Underlying Funds value the securities at the mean of the most recent quoted bid and asked prices. Price information on listed securities is taken from the exchange where the security is primarily traded. Generally, securities issued by open-end investment companies, such as the Underlying Funds, are valued using their respective net asset values or public offering prices, as appropriate, for purchase orders placed at the close of the NYSE.

 

The value of the shares of the Fixed Income Underlying Funds will tend to fluctuate with interest rates because, unlike money market funds, these Underlying Funds do not seek to stabilize the value of their respective shares by use of the “amortized cost” method of asset valuation. Net asset value includes interest on fixed income securities which is accrued daily. Debt securities will be valued on the basis of prices provided by one or more pricing services or other reasonably reliable sources including broker/dealers that typically handle the purchase and sale of such securities. Securities which are traded over-the-counter and on a stock exchange generally will be valued according to the broadest and most representative market, and it is expected that for bonds and other fixed income securities, this ordinarily will be the over-the-counter market.

 

The value of the securities and other assets of the Underlying Funds for which no market quotations are readily available (including restricted securities), or for which market quotations have become unreliable, are determined in good faith at fair value in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Directors or Trustees of the Underlying Funds, as the case may be. Fair value pricing may also be used if events that have a significant effect on the value of an investment (as determined in the discretion of the Investment Committee of the Advisor) occur before the net asset value is calculated. When fair value pricing is used, the prices of securities used by the Underlying Funds may differ from the quoted or published prices for the same securities on their primary markets or exchanges.

 

As of the date of this Prospectus, the Underlying Funds holding foreign equity securities (the “Foreign Equity Funds”) will also fair value price in the circumstances described below. Generally, trading in foreign securities markets is completed each day at various times prior to the close of the NYSE. For example, trading in the Japanese securities markets is completed each day at the close of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (normally, 2:00 a.m. ET), which is fourteen hours prior to the close of the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. ET) and the time that the net asset values of the Foreign Equity Funds are computed. Due to the time differences between the closings of the relevant foreign securities exchanges and the time the Foreign Equity Funds price their shares at the close of the NYSE, the Foreign Equity Funds will fair value their foreign investments when it is determined that the market quotations for the foreign investments are either unreliable or not readily available. The fair value prices will attempt to reflect the impact of the U.S. financial markets’ perceptions and trading activities on the Foreign Equity Funds’ foreign investments since the last closing prices of the foreign investments were calculated on their primary foreign securities markets or exchanges. For these purposes, the Boards of Directors/Trustees of the Underlying Funds have determined that movements in relevant indices or other appropriate market indicators, after the close of the Tokyo Stock Exchange or the London Stock Exchange, demonstrate that market quotations may be unreliable, and may trigger fair value pricing. Consequently, fair valuation of portfolio securities may occur on a daily basis. The fair value pricing by the Underlying Funds utilizes data furnished by an independent pricing service (and that data draws upon, among other information, the market values of foreign investments). When a Foreign Equity Fund uses fair value pricing, the values assigned to the Foreign Equity Fund’s foreign investments may not be the quoted or published prices of the investments on their primary markets or exchanges. The Boards of Directors/Trustees of the Underlying Funds monitor the operation of the method used to fair value price the Foreign Equity Funds’ foreign investments.

 

Valuing securities at fair value involves greater reliance on judgment than valuing securities that have readily available market quotations. There can be no assurance that an Underlying Fund could obtain the fair value assigned to a security if it were to sell the security at approximately the time at which the Underlying Funds and the Portfolios determine their net asset value per share. As a result, the sale or redemption by a

 

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Portfolio of its shares at net asset value, at a time when a holding or holdings are valued at fair value, may have the effect of diluting or increasing the economic interest of existing shareholders.

 

The net asset values per share of each of the International Equity Underlying Fund, VA Global Bond Fund, DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio, and DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio are expressed in U.S. dollars by translating the net assets of each Underlying Fund using the mean of the most recent bid and asked prices for the dollar as quoted by generally recognized reliable sources. Since certain Underlying Funds own securities that are primarily listed on foreign exchanges which may trade on days when the Portfolios and Underlying Funds do not price their shares, the net asset value of a Portfolio may change on days when shareholders will not be able to purchase or redeem shares.

 

Certain of the securities holdings of the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio in Approved Markets may be subject to tax, investment and currency repatriation regulations of the Approved Markets that could have a material effect on the values of the securities. For example, the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio might be subject to different levels of taxation on current income and realized gains depending upon the holding period of the securities. In general, a longer holding period (e.g., 5 years) may result in the imposition of lower tax rates than a shorter holding period (e.g., 1 year). The Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio may also be subject to certain contractual arrangements with investment authorities in an Approved Market which require the Portfolio to maintain minimum holding periods or to limit the extent of repatriation of income and realized gains.

 

Futures contracts are valued using the settlement price established each day on the exchange on which they are traded. The value of such futures contracts held by an Underlying Fund is determined each day as of such close.

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

The Portfolio generally will disclose its complete portfolio holdings (other than cash and cash equivalents), as of month-end, online at the Advisor’s public website, two months following the month-end or more frequently and different periods when authorized in accordance with the Portfolio’s policies and procedures. Please consult the SAI for a description of the other policies and procedures that govern disclosure of the portfolio holdings by the Portfolio.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

No financial information is presented for the Portfolio since the Portfolio was not publicly offered prior to the date of this Prospectus.

 

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SERVICE PROVIDERS

 

Investment Advisor

 

DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LP

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

Tel. No. (512) 306-7400

 

Custodian

 

PFPC TRUST COMPANY

(to be renamed BNY Mellon Investment Servicing

Trust Company effective July 1, 2011)

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP

Two Commerce Square

Suite 1700

2001 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042

Accounting Services, Dividend Disbursing,

and Transfer Agent

 

BNY MELLON INVESTMENT

SERVICING (US) INC.

(formerly, PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.)

400 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

Legal Counsel

 

STRADLEY RONON STEVENS & YOUNG, LLP

2600 One Commerce Square

Philadelphia, PA 19103-7098

 

 

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Other Available Information

 

You can find more information about the Fund and the Portfolio in the Fund’s SAI and the Fund’s Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to Shareholders.

 

Statement of Additional Information. The SAI supplements, and is technically part of, this Prospectus. It includes an expanded discussion of investment practices, risks, and Fund operations.

 

Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to Shareholders. These reports focus on Portfolio holdings and performance. The Annual Report also discusses the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Portfolio in its last fiscal year. The Portfolio is new so these reports are not yet available.

 

Request free copies from:

 

   

The Fund—Call collect at (512) 306-7400.

 

   

Access them on our website at www.dimensional.com.

 

   

Access them on the EDGAR Database in the SEC’s Internet site at www.sec.gov.

 

   

Review and copy them at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington D.C. (phone 1-800-SEC-0330).

 

   

Request copies from the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102, or at publicinfo@sec.gov (you will be charged a copying fee). Information on the operation of the SEC’s public reference room is available by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090.

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

(512) 306-7400

 

DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc.—Registration No. 811-3258

 

LOGO

  LOGO    RRD022811-027


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P R O S P E C T U S

 

February 28, 2011

Please carefully read the important information it contains before investing.

 

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 


 

PORTFOLIO FOR LONG-TERM INVESTORS:

 

DFA CALIFORNIA INTERMEDIATE-TERM MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO

 

The Portfolio described in this Prospectus:

 

Is generally only available to institutional investors and clients of registered investment advisors.

 

Does not charge a sales commission or load.

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

DFA CALIFORNIA INTERMEDIATE-TERM MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO

        

Investment Objective

     1   

Fees and Expenses of the Portfolio

     1   

Principal Investment Strategies

     2   

Principal Risks

     3   

Performance

     4   

Investment Advisor/Portfolio Management

     4   

Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares

     4   

Tax Information

     5   

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES

     6   

Portfolio Strategies of the Portfolio

     6   

Other Information

     6   

SECURITIES LOANS

     6   

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

     7   

Management Fees

     8   

Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement

     8   

DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

     8   

PURCHASE OF SHARES

     11   

Cash Purchases

     11   

In-Kind Purchases

     12   

POLICY REGARDING EXCESSIVE OR SHORT-TERM TRADING

     12   

VALUATION OF SHARES

     14   

Net Asset Value

     14   

Public Offering Price

     15   

EXCHANGE OF SHARES

     15   

REDEMPTION OF SHARES

     16   

Redemption Procedure

     16   

Redemption of Small Accounts

     17   

In-Kind Redemptions

     17   

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

     17   

DELIVERY OF SHAREHOLDER DOCUMENTS

     17   

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

     18   

SERVICE PROVIDERS

     19   

 

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DFA California Intermediate-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The investment objective of the DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) is to seek to provide current income that is expected to be exempt from federal personal income taxes and California state personal income taxes.

 

FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE PORTFOLIO

 

This table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Portfolio.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)*

 

Management Fee

     0.20

Other Expenses

     0.12

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

     0.32

Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or (Recovery)**

     0.02

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement or (Recovery)

     0.30

*   The shares of the Portfolio are new, so the “Other Expenses” and “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses” shown are based on anticipated fees and expenses for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2011.
**   Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee in certain circumstances. The Fee Waiver and/or Expense Assumption Agreement for the Portfolio will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by the Fund or the Advisor. Under certain circumstances, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed up to thirty-six months after such fee waiver and/or expense assumption.

 

Example

 

This Example is meant to help you compare the cost of investing in the Portfolio with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Portfolio for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Portfolio’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be:

 

l Year


     3 Years

 
$ 31       $ 101   

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Portfolio pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Portfolio shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in Annual Fund Operating Expenses or in the Example, affect the Portfolio’s performance. Because the Portfolio is new, information about portfolio turnover rate is not yet available.

 

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PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

The Advisor believes that fixed income investing should involve a long-term view and a systematic focus on bond market risk and return, not on interest rate forecasting or market timing.

 

In constructing an investment portfolio, the Advisor identifies a broadly diversified universe of eligible securities with precisely defined maturity ranges and credit quality characteristics. The Advisor will then seek to purchase a broad and diverse portfolio of securities meeting these credit quality standards. In making these purchase decisions, if the anticipated maturity risk premium is greater for longer-term securities in the eligible maturity range, the Advisor will focus investment in that longer-term area, otherwise, the portfolio will focus investment in the shorter-term range of the eligible maturity range. The Advisor also places priority on efficiently managing portfolio turnover and keeping trading costs low.

 

The Portfolio seeks its investment objective by investing primarily in a universe of municipal securities issued by or on behalf of California state or local governments and their agencies, instrumentalities and regional governmental authorities, the interest on which is exempt from regular federal income tax and the state personal income tax of California. The Portfolio invests primarily in municipal securities issued by or on behalf of California state or local governments and their agencies, instrumentalities and regional governmental authorities. The Portfolio may also invest a portion of its assets in municipal securities issued by U.S. territories that are exempt from state taxation under federal law. Municipal securities in which the Portfolio may invest include, among others, revenue bonds, general obligation bonds, industrial development bonds, municipal lease obligations, commercial paper variable rate demand obligations and other instruments (including participation interests in such securities). The Portfolio intends to invest in municipal securities that in the opinion of bond counsel for the issuers and under current tax law provide interest that is exempt from California and federal personal income taxes. As a fundamental investment policy, under normal market conditions, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in municipal securities that pay interest exempt from federal personal income tax and California state personal income taxes. The Portfolio does not currently intend to invest its assets in securities whose interest is subject to the federal alternative minimum tax.

 

Generally, the Portfolio will acquire obligations that mature more than three years from the date of settlement. Under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will maintain a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of more than three years but less than ten years. The Portfolio intends to maintain a dollar-weighted average credit quality equal to or better than the lower of: (i) a credit quality rating of AA by S&P or Aa2 by Moody’s or AA by Fitch or (ii) the credit quality of general obligation bonds issued by the state of California. For purposes of the above policy on dollar-weighted average credit quality, unrated securities may be included if such securities have been determined by the Advisor to be of comparable quality. The Portfolio may invest in individual municipal securities of any credit quality rating, including securities considered to be below investment grade. If a security has been redeemed by the issuer at a date prior to the stated final maturity date for the purposes of the above maturity restriction, the early redemption date shall be considered the maturity date regardless of the stated final maturity.

 

Municipal securities are often issued to obtain funds for various public purposes, including the construction of a wide range of public facilities, such as bridges, highways, housing, hospitals, mass transportation facilities, schools, streets and public utilities, such as water and sewer works. Municipal securities include municipal leases, certificates of participation, municipal obligation components and municipal custody receipts. The Portfolio may invest more than 25% of its assets in municipal securities issued to finance projects in a particular segment of the bond market including, but not limited to, health care, housing, education, utilities, and transportation. The Portfolio also may invest more than 25% of its assets in industrial development bonds.

 

The Portfolio may (1) purchase certain municipal securities that are insured, (2) invest in municipal securities secured by mortgages on single-family homes and multi-family projects, (3) invest in pre-refunded municipal securities, (4) purchase tax-exempt municipal securities on a “when-issued” basis and (5) use bond

 

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(interest rate) futures and options contracts, credit swaps, interest rate swaps and other types of derivatives to hedge against changes in interest rates. The Portfolio may also use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

Although the Portfolio attempts to invest all of its assets in tax-exempt securities, it is possible, although not anticipated, that a portion of its assets may be invested in securities that pay taxable interest, including interest that may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax. These investments could generate taxable income for shareholders.

 

The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to generate additional income.

 

The Portfolio is primarily designed for investment by California taxpayers.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

Market Risk: Even a long-term investment approach cannot guarantee a profit. Economic, political, and issuer-specific events will cause the value of securities, and the Portfolio that owns them, to rise or fall. Because the value of your investment in the Portfolio will fluctuate, there is the risk that you will lose money.

 

Interest Rate Risk: Fixed income securities are subject to interest rate risk because the prices of fixed income securities tend to move in the opposite direction of interest rates. When interest rates rise, fixed income security prices fall. When interest rates fall, fixed income security prices rise. In general, fixed income securities with longer maturities are more sensitive to these price changes. In addition, falling interest rates may cause the Portfolio’s income to decline.

 

Credit Risk: Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a security may be unable to make interest payments and/or repay principal when due. A downgrade to an issuer’s credit rating or a perceived change in an issuer’s financial strength may affect a security’s value, and thus, impact the Portfolio’s performance. Credit risk is greater for fixed income securities with ratings below investment grade (BB or below by S&P or Ba or below by Moody’s). Fixed income securities that are below investment grade involve high credit risk and are considered speculative. Below investment grade fixed income securities may also fluctuate in value more than higher quality fixed income securities and, during periods of market volatility, may be more difficult to sell at the time and price the Portfolio desires.

 

Tax Liability Risk: Tax liability risk is the risk that distributions by the Portfolio become taxable to shareholders as ordinary income due to noncompliant conduct by a municipal bond issuer, unfavorable changes in federal or state tax laws, or adverse interpretations of tax laws by the Internal Revenue Service or state tax authorities. Such adverse interpretations or actions could cause interest from a security to become taxable, possibly retroactively, subjecting shareholders to increased tax liability. In addition, such adverse interpretations or actions could cause the value of a security, and therefore, the value of the Portfolio’s shares, to decline.

 

State-Specific Risk: Because the Portfolio focuses its investments primarily in California municipal securities, the value of the Portfolio’s investments will be highly sensitive to events affecting the fiscal stability of the State of California and its agencies, municipalities, authorities and other instrumentalities that issue securities. Having a significant percentage of its assets invested in the securities of fewer issuers, particularly obligations of government issuers of a single state, could result in greater credit risk exposure to a smaller number of issuers due to economic, regulatory or political problems in California. Also, to the extent that the Portfolio makes significant investments in securities issued to finance projects in a particular segment of the California municipal securities market such focused investment may cause the value of the Portfolio’s shares to change more than the value of shares of funds that invest more broadly. The deterioration of California’s fiscal situation as a result of

 

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the economic recession that began in the first quarter of 2008 increases the risk of investing in California municipal securities, including the risk of potential issuer default, and also heightens the risk that the prices of California municipal securities will experience greater volatility. These risks are disclosed in more detail in the Portfolio’s Statement of Additional Information.

 

Derivatives: Derivatives are securities, such as futures contracts, whose value is derived from that of other securities or indices. Derivatives can be used for hedging (attempting to reduce risk by offsetting one investment position with another) or non-hedging purposes. Hedging with derivatives may increase expenses, and there is no guarantee that a hedging strategy will work. While hedging can reduce or eliminate losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains. The use of derivatives for non-hedging purposes may be considered more speculative than other types of investments. When the Portfolio uses derivatives, the Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of that derivative. Derivative securities are subject to a number of risks including liquidity, interest rate, market, credit and management risks, and the risk of improper valuation. Changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index, and the Portfolio could lose more than the principal amount invested.

 

Securities Lending: Securities lending involves the risk that the borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. As a result, the Portfolio may lose money and there may be a delay in recovering the loaned securities. The Portfolio could also lose money if it does not recover the securities and/or the value of the collateral falls, including the value of investments made with cash collateral. Securities lending also may have certain potential adverse tax consequences.

 

PERFORMANCE

 

Performance information is not available for the Portfolio because it has less than one calendar year of performance. Updated performance information for the Portfolio can be obtained in the future by visiting www.dimensional.com.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR/PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP serves as the investment advisor for the Portfolio. The following portfolio managers are responsible for coordinating the day-to-day management of the Portfolio:

 

 

Stephen A. Clark, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 2001.

 

 

David A. Plecha, Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor, has been a portfolio manager since 1989.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF FUND SHARES

 

Investors may purchase or redeem shares of the Portfolio on any business day by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment or redemption. Shareholders that invest in the Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding purchase and redemption procedures. The Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor.

 

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TAX INFORMATION

 

The distributions you receive from the Portfolio primarily are exempt from regular federal and state income tax for residents of California. A portion of these distributions, however, may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax. The Fund may also make distributions that are taxable to you as ordinary income or capital gains.

 

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES

 

The investment company described in this Prospectus offers a variety of investment portfolios. Each of the investment company’s portfolios has its own investment objective and is the equivalent of a separate mutual fund. The Portfolio described in this Prospectus is designed for long-term investors.

 

Portfolio Strategies of the Portfolio

 

The Portfolio will be managed with a view to capturing credit risk premiums and term or maturity premiums. The Advisor believes that credit risk premiums for a California municipal securities portfolio are available through investment in municipal securities that may include certain securities that are below investment grade. The holding period for assets of the Portfolio will be chosen with a view to maximizing anticipated returns, net of trading costs.

 

The Portfolio may also invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similarly structured pooled investments, as well as affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds, to gain exposure to the municipal bond market pending investment in California municipal bonds.

 

Other Information

 

Commodity Pool Operator Exemption

 

The Portfolio is operated by a person that has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the CEA, and, therefore, such person is not subject to registration or regulation as a pool operator under the CEA.

 

SECURITIES LOANS

 

The Portfolio is authorized to lend securities to qualified brokers, dealers, banks and other financial institutions for the purpose of earning additional income. While the Portfolio may earn additional income from lending securities, such activity is incidental to the investment objective of the Portfolio. The value of securities loaned may not exceed 33 1/3% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets, which includes the value of collateral received. To the extent the Portfolio loans a portion of its securities, the Portfolio will receive collateral consisting generally of cash or U.S. government securities, which will be maintained by marking to market daily in an amount equal to at least (i) 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities with respect to securities of the U.S. government or its agencies; (ii) 102% of the current market value of the loaned securities with respect to U.S. securities; and (iii) 105% of the current market value of the loaned securities with respect to foreign securities. Subject to its stated investment policies, the Portfolio will generally invest the cash collateral it receives for its loaned securities in shares of The DFA Short Term Investment Fund (the “Money Market Series”), an affiliated registered money market fund advised by the Advisor for which the Advisor receives a management fee of 0.05% of the average daily net assets of the Money Market Series. The Portfolio may also invest such collateral in securities of the U.S. government or its agencies, repurchase agreements collateralized by securities of the U.S. government or its agencies, and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds. For purposes of this paragraph, agencies include both agency debentures and agency mortgage backed securities.

 

In addition, the Portfolio will be able to terminate the loan at any time and will receive reasonable interest on the loan, as well as amounts equal to any dividends, interest, or other distributions on the loaned securities. However, dividend income received from loaned securities may not be eligible to be taxed at qualified dividend income rates. The Portfolio will be entitled to recall a loaned security in time to vote proxies or otherwise obtain rights to vote proxies of loaned securities if the Portfolio knows a material event will occur. In the event of the

 

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bankruptcy of the borrower of the Portfolio’s securities, the Fund could experience delay in recovering the loaned securities or only recover cash or a security of equivalent value. See “Principal Risks—Securities Lending Risk” for a discussion of the risks related to securities lending.

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

 

The Advisor serves as investment advisor to the Portfolio. Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Fund on behalf of the Portfolio, the Advisor is responsible for the management of the Portfolio’s assets. The Portfolio is managed using a team approach. The investment team includes the Investment Committee of the Advisor, portfolio managers, and trading personnel.

 

The Investment Committee is composed primarily of certain officers and directors of the Advisor who are appointed annually. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Investment Committee has ten members. Investment strategies for the Portfolio are set by the Investment Committee, which meets on a regular basis and also as needed to consider investment issues. The Investment Committee also sets and reviews all investment-related policies and procedures and approves any changes in regards to approved countries, security types, and brokers.

 

In accordance with the team approach used to manage the portfolios, the portfolio managers and portfolio traders implement the policies and procedures established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers and portfolio traders also make daily investment decisions regarding the portfolios including running buy and sell programs based on the parameters established by the Investment Committee. Stephen A. Clark and David A. Plecha each serve as a portfolio manager of the Portfolio and coordinate the efforts of all other portfolio managers with respect to the day to day management of the Portfolio.

 

Mr. Clark is a Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and chairman of the Investment Committee. Mr. Clark received his MBA from the University of Chicago and his BS from Bradley University. Mr. Clark joined the Advisor as a Portfolio Manager in 2001 and has been responsible for the portfolio management group since January 2006.

 

Mr. Plecha is a Senior Portfolio Manager and Vice President of the Advisor and a member of the Investment Committee. Mr. Plecha received his BS from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1983 and his MBA from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1987. Mr. Plecha has been a portfolio manager since 1989 and responsible for the fixed income portfolios since the end of 1991.

 

The Portfolio’s SAI provides information about each portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts managed by the portfolio manager, and the portfolio manager’s ownership of Fund shares.

 

The Advisor provides the Portfolio with a trading department and selects brokers and dealers to effect securities transactions. Securities transactions are placed with a view to obtaining best price and execution. The Advisor’s address is 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board approving the investment management agreement with respect to the Portfolio will be available in future annual or semi-annual reports for the Portfolio.

 

The Fund bears all of its own costs and expenses, including: services of its independent registered public accounting firm, legal counsel, brokerage fees, commissions and transfer taxes in connection with the acquisition and disposition of portfolio securities, taxes, insurance premiums, costs incidental to meetings of its shareholders and directors or trustees, the cost of filing its registration statements under the federal securities laws and the cost of any filings required under state securities laws, reports to shareholders, and transfer and dividend disbursing agency, administrative services and custodian fees, except as provided in the Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreements for certain portfolios of the Fund. Expenses allocable to a particular portfolio of the Fund are so allocated. The expenses of the Fund that are not allocable to a particular portfolio are to be borne by each portfolio of the Fund on the basis of its relative net assets.

 

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The Advisor has been engaged in the business of providing investment management services since May 1981. The Advisor is currently organized as a Delaware limited partnership and is controlled and operated by its general partner, Dimensional Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation. As of January 31, 2011, assets under management for all Advisor-affiliated advisors totaled approximately $209 billion.

 

Management Fees

 

The “Annual Fund Operating Expenses” table describes the anticipated fees to be incurred by the Portfolio for the services provided by the Advisor for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011.

 

Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement

 

Pursuant to an Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and/or Expense Assumption Agreement for the Portfolio, the Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee to the extent necessary to reduce the Portfolio’s ordinary operating expenses (not including the expenses that the Portfolio incurs through an investment in other investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) when its Portfolio Expenses exceed 0.30% of its average net assets on an annualized basis. At any time that the Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio are less than 0.30% of its average net assets on an annualized basis, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that the amount of such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s annualized Portfolio Expenses to exceed 0.30% of its average net assets. The Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months prior to the date of any such reimbursement. The Fee Waiver and/or Expense Assumption Agreement for the Portfolio will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by the Fund or the Advisor.

 

DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

 

Dividends and Distributions. The Portfolio intends to qualify each year as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). As a regulated investment company, the Portfolio generally pays no federal income tax on the income and gains it distributes to you. Dividends from net investment income of the Portfolio are distributed monthly (on a calendar basis) and any net realized capital gains (after any reductions for available capital loss carryforwards) are distributed annually, typically in December. The Portfolio may distribute such income dividends and capital gains more frequently, if necessary, in order to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the Portfolio.

 

Capital gains distributions may vary considerably from year to year as a result of the Portfolio’s normal investment activities and cash flows. During a time of economic downturn, the Portfolio may experience capital losses and unrealized depreciation in value of investments, the effect of which may be to reduce or eliminate capital gains distributions for a period of time. Even though the Portfolio may experience a current year loss, it may nonetheless distribute prior year capital gains.

 

You will automatically receive all income dividends and capital gains distributions in additional shares of the Portfolio at net asset value (as of the business date following the dividend record date), unless, upon written notice to the Advisor and completion of account information, you select one of the options listed below:

 

Income Option—to receive income dividends in cash and capital gains distributions in additional shares at net asset value.

 

Capital Gains Option—to receive capital gains distributions in cash and income dividends in additional shares at net asset value.

 

Cash Option—to receive both income dividends and capital gains distributions in cash.

 

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Annual Statements. Each year, you will receive a statement that shows the tax status of distributions you received the previous calendar year. Distributions declared in December to shareholders of record in such month, but paid in January, are taxable as if they were paid in December.

 

Avoid “Buying A Dividend.” At the time you purchase your Portfolio shares, the Portfolio’s net asset value may reflect undistributed income, undistributed capital gains, or net unrealized appreciation in value of portfolio securities held by the Portfolio. A subsequent distribution to you of such amounts, although constituting a return of your investment, would be taxable. Buying shares in the Portfolio just before it declares an income dividend or capital gains distribution is sometimes known as “buying a dividend.”

 

Tax Considerations. This discussion of “Tax Considerations” should be read in conjunction with the remaining subsections below containing additional information.

 

In general, if you are a taxable investor, Portfolio distributions (other than exempt interest dividends) are taxable to you as ordinary income, capital gains, or some combination of both. This is true whether you reinvest your distributions in additional Portfolio shares or receive them in cash.

 

Exempt-Interest Dividends. In the case of the Portfolio, most distributions will consist of exempt-interest dividends (dividends paid from interest earned on municipal securities). In general, exempt-interest dividends are exempt from regular federal income tax. Exempt-interest dividends from interest earned on municipal securities of a state, or its political subdivisions, generally are exempt from that state’s personal income tax. Most states, however, do not grant tax-free treatment to interest from municipal securities of other states.

 

Because of these tax exemptions, the Portfolio may not be a suitable investment for retirement plans and other tax-exempt investors. Corporate shareholders should note that these dividends may be fully taxable in states that impose corporate franchise taxes, and they should consult with their tax advisors about the taxability of this income before investing in the Portfolio.

 

Exempt-interest dividends are taken into account when determining the taxable portion of your social security or railroad retirement benefits. In addition, the Portfolio does not currently intend to invest its assets in securities whose interest is subject to the federal alternative minimum tax.

 

While the Portfolio endeavors to purchase only bona fide tax-exempt securities, there are risks that: (a) a security issued as tax-exempt may be reclassified by the Internal Revenue Service, or a state tax authority, as taxable and/or (b) future legislative, administrative or court actions could adversely impact the qualification of income from a tax-exempt security as tax-free. Such reclassifications or actions could cause interest from a security to become taxable, possibly retroactively, subjecting you to increased tax liability. In addition, such reclassifications or actions could cause the value of a security, and therefore, the value of the Portfolio’s shares, to decline.

 

Taxable Income Dividends. The Portfolio may invest a portion of its assets in securities that pay income that is not tax-exempt. The Portfolio may also distribute to you any market discount and net short-term capital gains from the sale of its portfolio securities. If you are a taxable investor, Portfolio distributions from this income are taxable to you as ordinary income, and generally will not be treated as qualified dividend income subject to reduced rates of taxation for individuals. Distributions of ordinary income are taxable whether you reinvest your distributions in additional Portfolio shares or receive them in cash.

 

Capital Gain Distributions. The Portfolio may also realize net long-term capital gains from the sale of portfolio securities. Portfolio distributions of long-term capital gains are taxable to you as long-term capital gains no matter how long you have owned your shares. A Portfolio with a high portfolio turnover rate (a measure of how frequently assets within a Portfolio are bought and sold) is more likely to generate short-term capital gains than a Portfolio with a low portfolio turnover rate.

 

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Sale or Redemption of Portfolio Shares. The sale of shares of the Portfolio is a taxable event and may result in a capital gain or loss to you. Capital gain or loss may be realized from an ordinary redemption of shares or an exchange of shares between two Portfolios. Any loss incurred on the sale or exchange of the Portfolio’s shares held for six months or less will be disallowed to the extent of any exempt-interest dividends paid to you with respect to your Portfolio shares, and any remaining loss will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributed to you by the Portfolio on those shares. However, under the RIC Mod Act, this rule will not apply to any loss incurred on a redemption or exchange of shares of a Portfolio that declares exempt-interest dividends daily and distributes them at least monthly for which your holding period begins after December 22, 2010.

 

Residents of California. You may exclude any exempt-interest dividends paid to you by the Portfolio from your California taxable income for purposes of the California personal income tax if:

 

 

the dividends are derived from interest on obligations of the State of California and its political subdivisions or qualifying obligations of U.S. territories and possessions that are exempt from state taxation under federal law;

 

 

the dividends paid do not exceed the amount of interest (minus certain non-deductible expenses) the Portfolio receives, during its taxable year, on obligations that, when held by an individual, pay interest exempt from taxation by California; and

 

 

the Portfolio properly identifies the dividends as California exempt-interest dividends in a written notice mailed to the investor not later than 60 days after the close of the Portfolio’s taxable year.

 

The Portfolio may designate dividends as exempt from California income tax, only if:

 

 

it qualifies as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code; and

 

 

at the close of each quarter of its taxable year, at least 50 percent of the value of its total assets consists of obligations the interest on which is exempt from taxation by the State of California when held by an individual.

 

Distributions from the Portfolio, including exempt-interest dividends, are taxable to shareholders that are subject to certain provisions of the California Corporation Tax Law, including the corporation franchise tax.

 

Backup Withholding. By law, the Portfolio may be required to withhold 28% of taxable dividends, capital gains distributions, and redemption proceeds paid to you if you do not provide your proper taxpayer identification number and certain required certifications. You may avoid this withholding requirement by providing and certifying on the account registration form your correct Taxpayer Identification Number and by certifying that you are not subject to backup withholding and are a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). The Portfolio must also withhold if the IRS instructs it to do so.

 

State and Local Taxes. In addition to federal taxes, you may be subject to state and local taxes on distributions from the Portfolio and on gains arising on redemption or exchange of the Portfolio’s shares. Distributions of interest income and capital gains realized from certain types of U.S. government securities may be exempt from state personal income taxes.

 

Non-U.S. Investors. Non-U.S. investors may be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a 30% or lower treaty rate and are subject to special U.S. tax certification requirements to avoid backup withholding and claim any treaty benefits. Exemptions from U.S. withholding tax are provided for capital gain dividends paid by the Portfolio from long-term capital gains, if any, exempt-interest dividends, and, with respect to taxable years of the Portfolio that begin before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended or made permanent), interest-related dividends paid by the Portfolio from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources and short-term capital gain dividends. However, notwithstanding such exemptions from U.S. withholding at the source, any such

 

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dividends and distributions of income and capital gains will be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 28% if you fail to properly certify that you are not a U.S. person. Non-U.S. investors also may be subject to U.S. estate tax.

 

This discussion of “DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES” is not intended or written to be used as tax advice. Because everyone’s tax situation is unique, you should consult your tax professional about federal, state, local, or foreign tax consequences before making an investment in the Portfolio. Prospective investors should also consult the SAI.

 

PURCHASE OF SHARES

 

Cash Purchases

 

Investors may purchase shares of the Portfolio by first contacting the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment. The Portfolio generally is available for investment only by institutional clients, clients of registered investment advisors, clients of financial institutions, and a limited number of certain other investors as approved from time to time by the Advisor (“Eligible Investors”). Eligible Investors include employees, former employees, shareholders, and directors of the Advisor and the Fund and friends and family members of such persons. All investments are subject to approval of the Advisor, and all investors must complete and submit the necessary account registration forms in good order. The Fund reserves the right to reject any initial or additional investment and to suspend the offering of shares of the Portfolio.

 

“Good order” with respect to the purchase of shares means that (1) a fully completed and properly signed Account Registration Form and any additional supporting legal documentation required by the Advisor have been received in legible form, and (2) the Advisor has been notified of the purchase by telephone and, if the Advisor so requests, also in writing, no later than the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. ET) on the day of the purchase. If an order to purchase shares must be canceled due to nonpayment, the purchaser will be responsible for any loss incurred by the Fund arising out of such cancellation. To recover any such loss, the Fund reserves the right to redeem shares owned by any purchaser whose order is canceled, and such purchaser may be prohibited or restricted in the manner of placing further orders.

 

Investors having an account with a bank that is a member or a correspondent of a member of the Federal Reserve System may purchase shares by first calling the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed investment, then requesting the bank to transmit immediately available funds (federal funds) by wire to PNC Bank, N.A. for the account of DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. (DFA California Intermediate-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio). Additional investments also may be made through the wire procedure by first notifying the Advisor. Investors who wish to purchase shares of the Portfolio by check should send their check to DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc., c/o BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc., Attn: AIM: 19K-1A18, 760 Moore Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406.

 

Payment of the total amount due should be made in U.S. dollars. However, subject to approval by the Advisor, payment may be made in any freely convertible currency and the necessary foreign exchange transactions will be arranged on behalf of, and at the expense of, the applicant. Applicants settling in any currency other than U.S. dollars are advised that a delay in processing a purchase or redemption may occur to allow for currency conversion.

 

Shares also may be purchased and sold by individuals through securities firms that may charge a service fee or commission for such transactions. No such fee or commission is charged on shares that are purchased or redeemed directly from the Fund. Investors who are clients of investment advisory organizations may also be subject to investment advisory fees under their own arrangements with such organizations.

 

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In-Kind Purchases

 

If accepted by the Fund, shares of the Portfolio may be purchased in exchange for securities that are eligible for acquisition by the Portfolio or otherwise represented in their portfolios as described in this Prospectus or as otherwise consistent with the Fund’s policies or procedures. Securities accepted by the Fund for exchange and Fund shares to be issued in the exchange will be valued as set forth under “VALUATION OF SHARES” at the time of the next determination of net asset value after such acceptance. All dividends, interest, subscription, or other rights pertaining to such securities shall become the property of the Portfolio whose shares are being acquired and must be delivered to the Fund by the investor upon receipt from the issuer.

 

The Fund will not accept securities in exchange for shares of the Portfolio unless: (1) such securities are, at the time of the exchange, eligible to be included, or otherwise represented, in the Portfolio and current market quotations are readily available for such securities; (2) the investor represents and agrees that all securities offered to be exchanged are not subject to any restrictions upon their sale by the Portfolio under the Securities Act of 1933 or under the laws of the country in which the principal market for such securities exists, or otherwise; and (3) at the discretion of the Fund, the value of any such security (except U.S. government securities) being exchanged, together with other securities of the same issuer owned by the Portfolio, may not exceed 5% of the net assets of the Portfolio immediately after the transaction.

 

A gain or loss for federal income tax purposes will generally be realized by investors who are subject to federal taxation upon the exchange, depending upon the cost of the securities or local currency exchanged. Investors interested in such exchanges should contact the Advisor. Purchases of shares will be made in full and fractional shares calculated to three decimal places. In the interest of economy and convenience, certificates for shares will not be issued.

 

POLICY REGARDING EXCESSIVE OR SHORT-TERM TRADING

 

The Portfolio is designed for long-term investors and is not intended for investors that engage in excessive short-term trading activity that may be harmful to the Portfolio, including but not limited to market timing. Short-term or excessive trading into and out of the Portfolio can disrupt portfolio management strategies, harm performance and increase Portfolio expenses for all shareholders, including long-term shareholders who do not generate these costs.

 

The Board of the Fund has adopted a policy (the “Trading Policy”) and the Advisor and DFA Securities LLC (collectively, “Dimensional”) and Dimensional’s agents have implemented the following procedures, which are designed to discourage and prevent market timing or excessive short-term trading in the Fund: (i) trade activity monitoring and purchase blocking procedures; and (ii) use of fair value pricing.

 

The Fund, Dimensional, and their agents monitor trades and flows of money in and out of the Portfolio from time to time in an effort to detect excessive short-term trading activities, and for consistent enforcement of the Trading Policy. The Fund reserves the right to take the actions necessary to stop excessive or disruptive trading activities, including refusing or canceling purchase or exchange orders for any reason, without prior notice, particularly purchase or exchange orders that the Fund believes are made on behalf of market timers. The Fund, Dimensional and their agents reserve the right to restrict, refuse, or cancel any purchase or exchange request made by an investor indefinitely if the Fund or Dimensional believe that any combination of trading activity in the accounts is potentially disruptive to the Portfolio. In making such judgments, the Fund and Dimensional seek to act in a manner that is consistent with the interests of shareholders. For purposes of applying these procedures, Dimensional may consider an investor’s trading history in the Portfolio, and accounts under common ownership, influence, or control.

 

In addition to the Fund’s general ability to restrict potentially disruptive trading activity as described above, the Fund also has adopted purchase blocking procedures. Under the Fund’s purchase blocking procedures, where

 

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an investor has engaged in any two purchases and two redemptions (including redemptions that are part of an exchange transaction) in the Portfolio in any rolling 30 calendar day monitoring period (i.e., two “round trips”), the Fund and Dimensional intend to block the investor from making any additional purchases in the Portfolio for 90 calendar days (a “purchase block”). If implemented, a purchase block will begin at some point after the transaction that caused the investor to have engaged in the prohibited two round-trips is detected by the Fund, Dimensional, or their agents. The Fund and Dimensional are permitted to implement a longer purchase block, or permanently bar future purchases by an investor, if they determine that it is appropriate.

 

Under the Fund’s purchase blocking procedures, the following purchases and redemptions will not trigger a purchase block: (i) purchases and redemptions of shares having a value in each transaction of less than $5,000; (ii) purchases and redemptions by U.S. registered investment companies that operate as fund of funds and non-U.S. investment companies that operate as fund of funds that the Fund or Dimensional, in their sole discretion, have determined are not designed and/or are not serving as vehicles for excessive short-term or other disruptive trading (in each case, the fund of funds shall agree to be subject to monitoring by Dimensional); (iii) purchases and redemptions by a feeder portfolio of a master fund’s shares; (iv) systematic or automated transactions where the shareholder, financial advisor or investment fiduciary does not exercise direct control over the investment decision; (v) retirement plan contributions, loans, loan repayments and distributions (including hardship withdrawals) identified as such in the retirement plan recordkeeper’s system; (vi) purchase transactions involving transfers of assets, rollovers, Roth IRA conversions and IRA recharacterizations; (vii) purchases of shares with Portfolio dividends or capital gain distributions; (viii) transfers and reregistrations of shares within the same Portfolio; and (ix) transactions by 529 Plans. Notwithstanding the Fund’s purchase blocking procedures, all transactions in Portfolio shares are subject to the right of the Fund and Dimensional to restrict potentially disruptive trading activity (including purchases and redemptions described above that will not be subject to the purchase blocking procedures).

 

The Fund, Dimensional or their designees will have the ability, pursuant to Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act, to request information from financial intermediaries, such as 401(k) plan administrators, trust companies and broker dealers (together, “Intermediaries”), concerning trades placed in omnibus and other multi-investor accounts (together, “Omnibus Accounts”), in order to attempt to monitor trades that are placed by the underlying shareholders of these Omnibus Accounts. The Fund, Dimensional and their designees will use the information obtained from the Intermediaries to monitor trading in the Fund and to attempt to identify shareholders in Omnibus Accounts engaged in trading that is inconsistent with the Trading Policy or otherwise not in the best interests of the Fund. The Fund, Dimensional or their designees, when they detect trading patterns in shares of the Fund that may constitute short-term or excessive trading, will provide written instructions to the Intermediary to restrict or prohibit further purchases or exchanges of shares of the Portfolio by a shareholder that has been identified as having engaged in excessive or short-term transactions in the Portfolio’s shares (directly or indirectly through the Intermediary’s account) that violate the Trading Policy.

 

The ability of the Fund and Dimensional to impose these limitations, including the purchase blocking procedures, on investors investing through Intermediaries is dependent on the receipt of information necessary to identify transactions by the underlying investors and the Intermediary’s cooperation in implementing the Trading Policy. Investors seeking to engage in excessive short-term trading practices may deploy a variety of strategies to avoid detection, and despite the efforts of the Fund and Dimensional to prevent excessive short-term trading, there is no assurance that the Fund, Dimensional or their agents will be able to identify those shareholders or curtail their trading practices. The ability of the Fund, Dimensional and their agents to detect and limit excessive short-term trading also may be restricted by operational systems and technological limitations.

 

The purchase blocking procedures of the Trading Policy may not apply to redemptions by shareholders whose shares are held on the books of Intermediaries if the Intermediaries have not adopted procedures to implement this Policy. The Fund and Dimensional will work with Intermediaries to develop such policies to institute the purchase blocking procedures or other procedures that the Fund and Dimensional determine are reasonably designed to achieve the objective of this Trading Policy. At the time the Intermediaries adopt these

 

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procedures, shareholders whose accounts are on the books of such Intermediaries will be subject to the Trading Policy’s purchase blocking procedures or another frequent trading policy that achieves the objective of the purchase blocking procedures. Investors that invest in the Portfolio through an Intermediary should contact the Intermediary for information concerning the policies and procedures that apply to the investor.

 

As of the date of this Prospectus, the ability of the Fund and Dimensional to apply the purchase blocking procedures on purchases by all investors and the ability of the Fund and Dimensional to monitor trades through Omnibus Accounts maintained by Intermediaries may be restricted due to systems limitations of the Fund’s service providers and the Intermediaries. The Fund expects that the application of the Trading Policy as described above, including the purchase blocking procedures (subject to the limitations described above), will be able to be implemented by Intermediaries in compliance with Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act.

 

In addition, the purchase blocking procedures will not apply to a redemption transaction in which the Portfolio distributes portfolio securities to a shareholder in-kind, where the redemption will not disrupt the efficient portfolio management of the Portfolio and the redemption is consistent with the interests of the remaining shareholders of the Portfolio.

 

In addition to monitoring trade activity, the Board has adopted fair value pricing procedures that govern the pricing of the securities of the Portfolio. These procedures are designed to help ensure that the prices at which Portfolio shares are purchased and redeemed are fair, and do not result in dilution of shareholder interests or other harm to shareholders. See the discussion under “VALUATION OF SHARES—Net Asset Value” for additional details regarding fair value pricing of the Portfolio’s securities.

 

Although the procedures are designed to discourage excessive short-term trading, none of the procedures individually nor all of the procedures taken together can completely eliminate the possibility that excessive short-term trading activity in the Portfolio may occur. The Portfolio does not knowingly accommodate excessive or disruptive trading activities, including market timing.

 

VALUATION OF SHARES

 

Net Asset Value

 

The net asset value per share of the Portfolio is calculated after the close of the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. ET) by dividing the total value of the investments and other assets of the Portfolio less any liabilities, by the total outstanding shares of the stock of the Portfolio. The Portfolio generally calculates its net asset value per share and accepts purchase and redemption orders on days that the NYSE is open for trading. Note: The time at which transactions and shares are priced may be changed in case of an emergency or if the NYSE closes at a time other than 4:00 p.m. ET.

 

The value of shares of the Portfolio will fluctuate in relation to its investment experience. The value of the shares of the Portfolio will tend to fluctuate with interest rates because, unlike money market funds, the Portfolio does not seek to stabilize the value of its shares by use of the “amortized cost” method of asset valuation. Securities held by the Portfolio will be valued in accordance with applicable laws and procedures adopted by the Board, and generally, as described below.

 

Debt securities will be valued on the basis of prices provided by one or more pricing services or other reasonably reliable sources including broker/dealers that typically handle the purchase and sale of such securities. Securities that are traded over-the-counter and on a stock exchange generally will be valued according to the broadest and most representative market, and it is expected that for bonds and other fixed income securities, this ordinarily will be the over-the-counter market.

 

The value of the securities and other assets of the Portfolio for which no market quotations are readily available (including restricted securities), or for which market quotations have become unreliable, are determined

 

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in good faith at fair value in accordance with procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board. Fair value pricing may also be used if events that have a significant effect on the value of an investment (as determined in the discretion of the Investment Committee of the Advisor) occur before the net asset value is calculated. When fair value pricing is used, the prices of securities used by the Portfolio may differ from the quoted or published prices for the same securities on their primary markets or exchanges.

 

Valuing securities at fair value involves greater reliance on judgment than valuing securities that have readily available market quotations. There can be no assurance that the Portfolio could obtain the fair value assigned to a security if the Portfolio were to sell the security at approximately the time at which the Portfolio determines its net asset value per share. As a result, the sale or redemption by the Portfolio of its shares at net asset value, at a time when a holding or holdings are valued at fair value, may have the effect of diluting or increasing the economic interest of existing shareholders.

 

Futures contracts are valued using the settlement price established each day on the exchanges on which the futures contracts are traded. The values of the Portfolio’s futures contracts are determined each day as of such close.

 

Public Offering Price

 

Provided that the transfer agent has received the investor’s Account Registration Form in good order and the custodian has received the investor’s payment, shares of the Portfolio selected will be priced at the public offering price, which is the net asset value of the shares next determined after receipt of the investor’s funds by the custodian. The transfer agent or the Fund may, from time to time, appoint sub-transfer agents or various financial intermediaries (“Intermediaries”) for the receipt of purchase orders, redemption orders, and funds from certain investors. Intermediaries, in turn, are authorized to designate other financial intermediaries (“Subdesignees”) to receive purchase and redemption orders for the Portfolio’s shares from investors. With respect to such investors, the shares of the Portfolio will be priced at the public offering price calculated after receipt of the purchase order by the Intermediary or Subdesignee, as applicable, that is authorized to receive purchase orders. If the investor buys shares through an Intermediary or a Subdesignee, the purchase price will be the public offering price next calculated after the Intermediary or Subdesignee, as applicable, receives the order, rather than on the day the custodian receives the investor’s payment (provided that the Intermediary or Subdesignee, as applicable, has received the investor’s purchase order in good order, and the investor has complied with the Intermediary’s or Subdesignee’s payment procedures). No reimbursement fee or sales charge is imposed on purchases. If an order to purchase shares must be canceled due to non-payment, the purchaser will be responsible for any loss incurred by the Portfolio arising out of such cancellation. The Fund reserves the right to redeem shares owned by any purchaser whose order is canceled to recover any resulting loss to the Portfolio and may prohibit or restrict the manner in which such purchaser may place further orders.

 

EXCHANGE OF SHARES

 

Investors may exchange shares of the Portfolio for shares of another portfolio of the Fund or a portfolio of Dimensional Investment Group Inc., an open-end investment management company. Investors should first contact the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400 to notify the Advisor of the proposed exchange, and then send a letter of instruction to: DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. A letter of instruction for an exchange of shares may be sent by mail to the following: Attn: Client Operations, 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746. Shareholders that invest in the Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary for information regarding exchanges.

 

The minimum amount for an exchange is $100,000. Exchanges are accepted into those portfolios that are eligible for the exchange privilege. Investors may contact the Advisor at the above-listed phone number for more information on such exchanges, for a list of those portfolios that accept exchanges, and to request a copy of the

 

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prospectuses of other portfolios of the Fund or Dimensional Investment Group Inc. There is no fee imposed on an exchange. However, the Fund reserves the right to impose an administrative fee in order to cover the costs incurred in processing an exchange. Any such fee will be disclosed in the Prospectus. An exchange is treated as a redemption and a purchase. Therefore, an investor could realize a taxable gain or a loss on the transaction. The Fund reserves the right to revise or terminate the exchange privilege, waive the minimum amount requirement, limit the amount of or reject any exchange, as deemed necessary, at any time.

 

The exchange privilege is not intended to afford shareholders a way to speculate on short-term movements in the markets. Accordingly, in order to prevent excessive use of the exchange privilege that may potentially disrupt the management of the Portfolio or otherwise adversely affect the Fund, any proposed exchange will be subject to the approval of the Advisor. Such approval will depend on: (i) the size of the proposed exchange; (ii) the prior number of exchanges by that shareholder; (iii) the nature of the underlying securities and the cash position of the Portfolio involved in the proposed exchange; (iv) the transaction costs involved in processing the exchange; and (v) the total number of redemptions by exchange already made out of the Portfolio. Excessive use of the exchange privilege is defined as any pattern of exchanges among portfolios by an investor that evidences market timing.

 

The redemption and purchase prices of shares redeemed and purchased by exchange, respectively, are the net asset values next determined after the Advisor has received a letter of instruction in good order. “Good order” means a completed letter of instruction specifying the dollar amount to be exchanged, signed by all registered owners (or representatives thereof) of the shares; and if the Fund does not have on file the authorized signatures for the account, proof of authority. Exchanges will be accepted only if stock certificates have not been issued and the shares of the Portfolio being acquired are registered in the investor’s state of residence.

 

REDEMPTION OF SHARES

 

Redemption Procedure

 

Investors who desire to redeem shares of the Portfolio must first contact the Advisor at (888) 576-1167 or (512) 306-7400. Shareholders who invest in the Portfolio through a financial intermediary should contact their financial intermediary regarding redemption procedures. The Portfolio will redeem shares at the net asset value of such shares next determined, either: (1) where stock certificates have not been issued, after receipt of a written request for redemption in good order, by the transfer agent (or by an Intermediary or a Subdesignee, if applicable), or (2) if stock certificates have been issued, after receipt of the stock certificates in good order at the office of the transfer agent. “Good order” means that the request to redeem shares must include all necessary documentation, to be received in writing by the Advisor no later than the close of regular trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. ET), including but not limited to: the stock certificate(s), if issued; a letter of instruction or a stock assignment specifying the number of shares or dollar amount to be redeemed, signed by all registered owners (or representatives thereof) of the shares; and, if the Fund does not have on file the authorized signatures for the account, proof of authority.

 

Shareholders redeeming shares for which certificates have not been issued, who have authorized redemption payment by wire in writing, may request that redemption proceeds be paid in federal funds wired to the bank they have designated in writing. The Fund reserves the right to send redemption proceeds by check in its discretion; a shareholder may request overnight delivery of such check at the shareholder’s own expense. If the proceeds are wired to the shareholder’s account at a bank that is not a member of the Federal Reserve System, there could be a delay in crediting the funds to the shareholder’s bank account. The Fund reserves the right at any time to suspend or terminate the redemption by wire procedure after prior notification to shareholders. No fee is charged for redemptions. The redemption of all shares in an account will result in the account being closed. A new Account Registration Form will be required for future investments. See “PURCHASE OF SHARES.” In the interests of economy and convenience, certificates for shares are not issued.

 

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Although the redemption payments will ordinarily be made within seven days after receipt, payment to investors redeeming shares that were purchased by check will not be made until the Fund can verify that the payments for the purchase have been, or will be, collected, which may take up to ten days or more. Investors may avoid this delay by submitting a certified check along with the purchase order.

 

Redemption of Small Accounts

 

The Fund reserves the right to redeem an account if the value of the shares in the Portfolio is $500 or less because of redemptions. Before the Fund involuntarily redeems shares from such an account and sends the proceeds to the stockholder, the Fund will give written notice of the redemption to the stockholder at least sixty days before the redemption date. The stockholder will then have sixty days from the date of the notice to make an additional investment in order to bring the value of the shares in the account for the Portfolio to more than $500 and avoid such involuntary redemption. The redemption price to be paid to a stockholder for shares redeemed by the Fund under this right will be the aggregate net asset value of the shares in the account at the close of business on the redemption date. The right to redeem small accounts applies to accounts established with the Fund’s transfer agent.

 

In-Kind Redemptions

 

When in the best interests of the Portfolio, the Portfolio may make a redemption payment, in whole or in part, by a distribution of portfolio securities that the Portfolio owns in lieu of cash. Such distributions will be made in accordance with the federal securities laws and regulations governing mutual funds. Investors may incur brokerage charges and other transaction costs selling securities that were received in payment of redemptions. The Portfolio reserves the right to redeem its shares in the currencies in which its investments are denominated. Investors may incur charges in converting such securities to dollars and the value of the securities may be affected by currency exchange fluctuations.

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

The Portfolio generally will disclose up to its 25 largest portfolio holdings (other than cash and cash equivalents) and the percentages that each of these largest portfolio holdings represent of the total assets of the Portfolio, as of the most recent month-end, online at the Advisor’s public Web site, http://www.dimensional.com, within 20 days after the end of each month. The Portfolio also generally will disclose its complete portfolio holdings (other than cash and cash equivalents), as of month-end, online at the Advisor’s public Web site, two months following the month-end or more frequently and at different periods when authorized in accordance with the Portfolio’s policies and procedures. Please consult the SAI for a description of the other policies and procedures that govern disclosure of the portfolio holdings by the Portfolio.

 

DELIVERY OF SHAREHOLDER DOCUMENTS

 

To eliminate duplicate mailings and reduce expenses, the Portfolio may deliver a single copy of certain shareholder documents, such as this Prospectus and annual and semi-annual reports, to related shareholders at the same address, even if accounts are registered in different names. This practice is known as “householding.” The Portfolio will not household personal information documents, such as account statements. If you do not want the mailings of these documents to be combined with other members of your household, please call us collect at (512) 306-7400. We will begin sending individual copies of the shareholder documents to you within 30 days of receiving your request.

 

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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

No financial information is presented for the Portfolio since the Portfolio was not publicly offered prior to the date of this Prospectus.

 

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SERVICE PROVIDERS

 

Investment Advisor

 

DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LP

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

Tel. No. (512) 306-7400

 

Accounting Services, Dividend Disbursing and Transfer Agent

 

BNY MELLON INVESTMENT SERVICING

(US) INC.

(formerly, PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.)

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

 

Custodian

 

PFPC TRUST COMPANY

(to be renamed BNY Mellon Investment

Servicing Trust Company effective July 1, 2011)

301 Bellevue Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19809

Legal Counsel

 

STRADLEY, RONON, STEVENS & YOUNG, LLP

2600 One Commerce Square

Philadelphia, PA 19103-7098

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP

Two Commerce Square

Suite 1700

2001 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042

 

 

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Other Available Information

 

You can find more information about the Fund and the Portfolio in the Fund’s SAI and Annual and Semi-Annual Reports.

 

Statement of Additional Information. The SAI supplements, and is technically part of, this Prospectus. It includes an expanded discussion of investment practices, risks, and fund operations.

 

Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to Shareholders. These reports focus on Portfolio holdings and performance. The Annual Report also discusses the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Portfolio in its last fiscal year.

 

Request free copies from:

 

   

Your investment advisor—you are a client of an investment advisor who has invested in the Portfolio on your behalf.

 

   

The Fund—you represent an institutional investor, registered investment advisor or other qualifying investor. Call collect at (512) 306-7400.

 

   

Access them on our Web site at http://www.dimensional.com.

 

   

Access them on the EDGAR Database in the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.

 

   

Review and copy them at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington D.C. (phone 1-800-SEC-0330).

 

   

Request copies from the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102 or at publicinfo@sec.gov (you will be charged a copying fee). Information on the operation of the SEC’s public reference room is available by calling the SEC at 1-202-551-8090.

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

(512) 306-7400

 

DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc.—Registration No. 811-3258

 

LOGO   LOGO     

RRD022811-    


Table of Contents

INSTITUTIONAL CLASS SHARES

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

DIMENSIONAL INVESTMENT GROUP INC.

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, Texas 78746

Telephone: (512) 306-7400

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

February 28, 2011

DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. (“DFAIDG”) is an open-end management investment company that offers sixty-two series of shares. Dimensional Investment Group Inc. (“DIG”) is an open-end management investment company that offers fifteen series of shares. DFAIDG and DIG are collectively referred to as the “Funds” in this Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”). This SAI relates to twenty-seven series of DFAIDG and two series of DIG (individually, a “Portfolio” and collectively, the “Portfolios”):

DOMESTIC PORTFOLIOS

 

U.S. Large Company Portfolio

(formerly U.S. Large Company Institutional Index Portfolio)

Ticker: DFUSX

  

U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio

Ticker: DFEOX

Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio

Ticker: DFELX

  

U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio

Ticker: DFQTX

U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio (Feeder)

Ticker: DFLVX

  

U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio

Ticker: DFVEX

U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio

Ticker: DFSVX

  

U.S. Small Cap Portfolio

Ticker: DFSTX

U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

Ticker: DFFVX

  

U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio

Ticker: DFSCX

  

DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio

Ticker: DFREX

INTERNATIONAL PORTFOLIOS

DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio

Ticker: DCMSX

  

DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio

Ticker: DFITX

Large Cap International Portfolio

Ticker: DFALX

  

DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio

Ticker: DFGEX

DFA International Value Portfolio (Feeder)

Ticker: DFIVX

  

DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio

Ticker: DISVX

International Core Equity Portfolio

Ticker: DFIEX

  

International Vector Equity Portfolio

Ticker: DFVQX

International Small Company Portfolio

Ticker: DFISX

  

World ex U.S. Value Portfolio

Ticker: DFWVX

Japanese Small Company Portfolio (Feeder)

Ticker: DFJSX

  

Emerging Markets Portfolio (Feeder)

Ticker: DFEMX

Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio (Feeder)

Ticker: DFRSX

  

Emerging Markets Value Portfolio (Feeder)

Ticker: DFEVX

United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio (Feeder)

Ticker: DFUKX

  

Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio (Feeder)

Ticker: DEMSX

Continental Small Company Portfolio (Feeder)

Ticker: DFCSX

  

Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio

Ticker: DFCEX

This SAI is not a Prospectus but should be read in conjunction with the Portfolios’ Prospectus dated February 28, 2011, as amended from time to time. The audited financial statements and financial highlights of the Funds are incorporated by reference from the Funds’ annual reports to shareholders. The Prospectus and annual reports can be obtained by writing to the above address or by calling the above telephone number.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS AND POLICIES

     2   

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

     3   

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

     7   

OPTIONS ON STOCK INDICES

     9   

SWAPS

     11   

FUTURES CONTRACTS

     12   

ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES OF THE DFA COMMODITY STRATEGY PORTFOLIO

     13   

FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

     23   

CASH MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

     24   

CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES

     26   

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

     26   

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATES

     27   

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

     27   

SERVICES TO THE FUNDS

     38   

ADVISORY FEES

     41   

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

     45   

GENERAL INFORMATION

     50   

CODE OF ETHICS

     51   

SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS

     51   

PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

     52   

PURCHASE OF SHARES

     61   

REDEMPTION AND TRANSFER OF SHARES

     62   

TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIOS AND THEIR SHAREHOLDERS

     62   

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

     77   

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

     79   

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     87   

PERFORMANCE DATA

     88   

 

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PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS AND POLICIES

Each of the Portfolios identified as a “Feeder” (a “Feeder Portfolio”) on the cover page of this SAI seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing substantially all of its investable assets in a corresponding series of The DFA Investment Trust Company (the “Trust”) or in the case of the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio, in the Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund (“DEM”). The series of the Trust and DEM are referred to as the “Master Funds.” Each of the International Small Company Portfolio, the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio and the World ex U.S. Value Portfolio is a “fund of funds” that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing its assets in funds managed by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor” or “Dimensional”). The series of Trust and the portfolios of DFAIDG in which the International Small Company Portfolio, the DFA Global Real Estate Portfolio and the World ex U.S. Value Portfolio invest may be referred to as the “Underlying Funds.” The Underlying Funds in which the International Small Company Portfolio invests are Master Funds that include The Canadian Small Company Series, The Japanese Small Company Series, The Asia Pacific Small Company Series, The United Kingdom Small Company Series and The Continental Small Company Series (the “International Master Funds”). The Underlying Funds in which the DFA Global Real Estate Portfolio invests include the DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio and the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio. The Underlying Funds in which the World ex U.S. Value Portfolio invests include The DFA International Value Series, a series of the Trust, the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio and DEM. This SAI describes the Institutional Class shares of the Portfolios. The U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio offers two additional classes of shares, Class R1 shares and Class R2 shares. DFA International Value Portfolio and Emerging Markets Value Portfolio each offer one additional class of shares, Class R2 shares. The Class R1 shares and the Class R2 shares are offered to qualified investors in a separate prospectus.

Dimensional serves as investment advisor to each of the Portfolios and each Master Fund, and provides administrative services to the Feeder Portfolios, Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio, U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio, U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, U.S. Small Cap Portfolio, U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio and the International Small Company Portfolio. The Advisor is organized as a Delaware limited partnership and is controlled and operated by its general partner, Dimensional Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation.

The following information supplements the information set forth in the Prospectus. Unless otherwise indicated, the following information applies to all of the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds, including the Feeder Portfolios, through their investment in the Master Funds, the International Small Company Portfolio through its investment in the International Master Funds, and the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio and the World ex U.S. Value Portfolio through their investment in their respective Underlying Funds. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this SAI have the meaning assigned to them in the Prospectus.

Each of the Portfolios, the Master Funds and the Underlying Funds is diversified under the federal securities laws and regulations.

Because the structure of the Domestic and International Portfolios is based on the relative market capitalizations of eligible holdings, it is possible that the Portfolios might include at least 5% of the outstanding voting securities of one or more issuers. In such circumstances, a Portfolio and the issuer would be deemed affiliated persons and certain requirements under the federal securities laws and regulations regulating dealings between mutual funds and their affiliates might become applicable.

Each of the Portfolios (except the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio and DFA International Value Portfolio) has adopted a non-fundamental policy as required by Rule 35d-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) that, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the value of each Portfolio’s net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, will be invested in a specific type of investment. Additionally, if a Portfolio changes its 80% investment policy, the Portfolio will notify shareholders at least 60 days before the change, and will change the name of the Portfolio. For more information on each Portfolio’s specific 80% policy, see each Portfolio’s “PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES” section in the Prospectus.

 

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BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

The following table reports brokerage commissions paid by the designated Portfolios and Master Funds. For each Feeder Portfolio, the amounts include commissions paid by the corresponding Master Fund. Neither the International Small Company Portfolio nor the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio incurs any brokerage costs in connection with their purchase or redemption of shares of the Underlying Funds.

The following table reports brokerage commissions paid by the Portfolios during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009 and the fiscal period from December 1, 2007 to October 31, 2008.

 

Master Fund/Portfolio

  

FISCAL

    

FISCAL

    

FISCAL

 
     

YEAR

    

YEAR

    

PERIOD

 
     

ENDED

    

ENDED

    

ENDED

 
     

2010

    

2009

    

2008

 

U.S. Large Company Portfolio1

   $         120,894       $         167,104       $         105,549   

Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio2

   $ 26,634       $ 34,143       $ 42,757   

The U.S. Large Cap Value Series

   $ 2,779,149       $ 3,220,013       $ 1,904,981   

U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio2

   $ 3,824,559       $ 5,743,264       $ 4,431,995   

The U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

   $ 1,433,780       $ 1,527,923       $ 1,073,523   

U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio

   $ 417,797       $ 505,558       $ 436,959   

U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio

   $ 668,573       $ 975,266       $ 657,003   

U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio

   $ 321,861       $ 447,615       $ 373,928   

U.S. Small Cap Portfolio2

   $ 1,412,800       $ 1,856,558       $ 1,097,430   

U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio2

   $ 1,096,855       $ 1,578,226       $ 1,324,316   

DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio

   $ 110,320       $ 309,412       $ 316,584   

Large Cap International Portfolio

   $ 162,955       $ 158,893       $ 203,243   

DFA International Value Series

   $ 1,550,273       $ 1,030,380       $ 1,078,752   

International Core Equity Portfolio

   $ 425,523       $ 631,766       $ 623,738   

The Japanese Small Company Series

   $ 137,593       $ 112,121       $ 102,948   

The Asia Pacific Small Company Series

   $ 156,803       $ 207,564       $ 344,087   

The United Kingdom Small Company Series

   $ 127,423       $ 49,068       $ 166,519   

The Continental Small Company Series

   $ 308,737       $ 123,417       $ 345,580   

DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio

   $ 119,337       $ 136,808       $ 301,745   

DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio

   $ 1,477,516       $ 1,208,400       $ 1,792,512   

 

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Master Fund/Portfolio

  

FISCAL
YEAR
ENDED

2010

    

FISCAL
YEAR
ENDED

2009

    

FISCAL
PERIOD
ENDED

2008

 

International Vector Equity Portfolio

   $ 48,857       $ 82,108       $ 45,064   

World ex U.S. Value Portfolio

   $ NA         NA         NA   

The Emerging Markets Series

   $ 493,684       $ 593,461       $     1,403,836   

Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund
(Emerging Markets Value Portfolio)

   $     3,302,337       $     3,092,361       $ 2,577,695   

The Emerging Markets Small Cap Series

   $ 520,740       $ 349,798       $ 754,597   

Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio

   $ 779,967       $ 645,268       $ 513,703   

 

1

Represents the brokerage commissions for the Master Fund into which the Portfolio invested prior to September 10, 2010. Effective September 10, 2010, the Portfolio invests directly in securities rather than through its Master Fund.

 

2

Represents the brokerage commissions for the Master Fund into which the Portfolio invested prior to February 28, 2009. Effective February 28, 2009, the Portfolio invests directly in securities rather than through its Master Fund.

The substantial increases or decreases in the amount of brokerage commissions paid by certain Portfolios from year to year indicated in the foregoing table resulted primarily from asset changes that required increases or decreases in the amount of securities that were bought and sold by those Portfolios.

Please note that while the following discussion relates to the policies of the Portfolios with respect to brokerage commissions, it should be understood that, with respect to a Feeder Portfolio and the International Small Company Portfolio, the discussion applies to the Master Fund in which the Feeder Portfolio invests substantially all of its assets, the International Master Funds in which the International Small Company Portfolio invests and the Underlying Funds in which the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio and the World ex U.S. Value Portfolio invest.

Portfolio transactions will be placed with a view to receiving the best price and execution. The Portfolios will seek to acquire and dispose of securities in a manner which would cause as little fluctuation in the market prices of stocks being purchased or sold as possible in light of the size of the transactions being effected, and brokers will be selected with this goal in view. The Advisor monitors the performance of brokers which effect transactions for the Portfolios to determine the effect that the brokers’ trading has on the market prices of the securities in which the Portfolios invest. The Advisor also checks the rate of commission being paid by the Portfolios to their brokers to ascertain that the rates are competitive with those charged by other brokers for similar services. The Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. also performs these services for The United Kingdom Small Company Series, The Continental Small Company Series, the International Core Equity Portfolio, the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio, the International Vector Equity Portfolio, the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio, the Large Cap International Portfolio, the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio, The DFA International Value Series, The Emerging Markets Series, The Emerging Markets Small Cap Series and DEM and DFA Australia Limited also performs these services for The Japanese Small Company Series, The Asia Pacific Small Company Series, the International Core Equity Portfolio, the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio, the International Vector Equity Portfolio, the DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio, the Large Cap International Portfolio, the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio, The DFA International Value Series, The Emerging Markets Series, The Emerging Markets Small Cap Series and DEM.

Subject to obtaining best price and execution, transactions may be placed with brokers that have assisted in the sale of Portfolio shares. The Advisor, however, pursuant to policies and procedures approved by the Boards of Trustees/Directors of DFAIDG, DIG, DEM and the Trust, is prohibited from selecting brokers and dealers to effect

 

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a Portfolio’s portfolio securities transactions based (in whole or in part) on a broker’s or dealer’s promotion or sale of shares issued by a Portfolio or any other registered investment companies.

Companies eligible for purchase by the Portfolios (except the U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio and its Master Fund, and the U.S. Large Company Portfolio) may be thinly traded securities. The Advisor believes that it needs maximum flexibility to effect trades on a best execution basis. As deemed appropriate, the Advisor places buy and sell orders for the Portfolios and Master Funds with various brokerage firms that may act as principal or agent. The Advisor may also make use of direct market access and algorithmic, program or electronic trading methods. The Advisor may extensively use electronic trading systems as such systems can provide the ability to customize the orders placed and can assist in the Advisor’s execution strategies.

Transactions also may be placed with brokers who provide the Advisor or the sub-advisors with investment research, such as reports concerning individual issuers, industries and general economic and financial trends and other research services. The investment advisory agreements permit the Advisor knowingly to pay commissions on these transactions that are greater than another broker, dealer or exchange member might charge if the Advisor, in good faith, determines that the commissions paid are reasonable in relation to the research or brokerage services provided by the broker or dealer when viewed in terms of either a particular transaction or the Advisor’s overall responsibilities to the accounts under its management. Research services furnished by brokers through whom securities transactions are effected may be used by the Advisor in servicing all of its accounts and not all such services may be used by the Advisor with respect to the Portfolios.

During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the Portfolios or, in the case of a Feeder Portfolio, its corresponding Master Fund, paid commissions for securities transactions to brokers which provided market price monitoring services, market studies, brokerage services and research services to the Portfolios or Master Funds as follows:

 

    

Value of    

Securities    

Transactions    

    

Brokerage    

Commissions    

 

U.S. Large Company Portfolio1

     $690,196,199         $12,464   

U.S. Large Cap Value Series

     $4,321,259,643         $298,874   

U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio

     $1,534,024,591         $537,179   

U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

     $884,950,104         $277,390   

U.S. Small Cap Portfolio

     $867,123,302         $211,226   

U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio

     $529,851,715         $46,229   

U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio

     $833,985,940         $77,681   

U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio

     $337,517,303         $36,606   

U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio1

     $558,858,816         $81,533   

DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio

     $188,792,216         $12,008   

Large Cap International Portfolio

     $240,179,244         $14,823   

DFA International Value Series

     $2,046,724,375         $136,527   

International Core Equity Portfolio

     $562,492,794         $34,022   

Japanese Small Company Series

     $170,403,142         $8,782   

 

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Value of    

Securities    

Transactions    

    

Brokerage    

Commissions    

 

Asia Pacific Small Company Series

     $207,743,042         $13,887   

United Kingdom Small Company Series

     $214,520,638         $10,757   

Continental Small Company Series

     $440,912,962         $22,696   

DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio

     $127,865,617         $11,482   

DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio

     $1,642,486,862         $113,553   

International Vector Equity Portfolio

     $70,669,657         $4,589   

Emerging Markets Series

     $363,714,534         $50,281   

Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund

      (Emerging Markets Value Portfolio)

     $2,436,531,600         $302,270   

Emerging Markets Small Cap Series

     $423,092,342         $57,236   

Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio

     $730,317,495         $77,771   

 

1

Prior to September 10, 2010 the information represents the value of securities transactions and brokerage commissions for the Master Fund into which the Portfolio invested.

A Feeder Portfolio will not incur any brokerage costs in connection with its purchase or redemption of shares of its corresponding Master Fund.

Certain Portfolios or Master Funds may purchase securities of their regular brokers or dealers (as defined in Rule 10b-1 of the 1940 Act). The table below lists the regular brokers or dealers of each Portfolio, or in the case of a Feeder Portfolio, its corresponding Master Fund, whose securities (or securities of the broker’s or dealer’s parent company) were acquired by the Portfolio or Master Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, as well as the value of such securities held by the Portfolio or Master Fund as of October 31, 2010.

 

                        Master Fund/Portfolio   

Broker or Dealer

  

Value of Securities

 

U.S. Large Company Portfolio

   Citigroup Inc.      $36,329,724   

U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio

   Investment Technology Group      $319,645   

U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio

   Jeffries Group Inc.      $1,991,311   

U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio

     
   Jeffries Group Inc.      $4,156,952   

U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio

   Jeffries Group Inc.      $538,425   

Large Cap International Portfolio

   TD Securities      $8,852,406   

Large Cap International Portfolio

   Instinet      $2,585,042   

Large Cap International Portfolio

   Societe Generale      $4,920,618   

Large Cap International Portfolio

   Credit Suisse      $6,520,660   

Large Cap International Portfolio

   Macquarie      $1,585,668   

Large Cap International Portfolio

   UBS Securities      $8,712,438   

Large Cap International Portfolio

   CA Cheuvreux      $2,096,909   

 

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                    Master Fund/Portfolio   

Broker or Dealer

  

Value of Securities

 

DFA International Value Series

   Societe Generale      $64,514,496   

DFA International Value Series

   Credit Suisse      $79,874,951   

DFA International Value Series

   UBS Securities      $63,098,401   

DFA International Value Series

   CA Cheuvreux      $34,040,351   

International Core Equity Portfolio

   TD Securities      $16,913,099   

International Core Equity Portfolio

   Instinet      $6,467,613   

International Core Equity Portfolio

   Societe Generale      $13,170,089   

International Core Equity Portfolio

   Credit Suisse      $17,617,867   

International Core Equity Portfolio

   Macquarie      $7,020,455   

International Core Equity Portfolio

   UBS Securities      $14,776,205   

International Vector Equity Portfolio

   TD Securities      $791,138   

International Vector Equity Portfolio

   Instinet      $335,233   

International Vector Equity Portfolio

   Credit Suisse      $565,959   

International Vector Equity Portfolio

   Macquarie      $619,722   

International Vector Equity Portfolio

   UBS Securities      $1,467,372   

United Kingdom Small Company Series

   Charles Stanley & Co Limited      $499,017   

United Kingdom Small Company Series

   Collins Stewart plc      $316,961   

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

Each of the Portfolios has adopted certain limitations which may not be changed with respect to any Portfolio without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio. A “majority” is defined as the lesser of: (1) at least 67% of the voting securities of the Portfolio (to be affected by the proposed change) present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio are present or represented by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of such Portfolio.

The Portfolios will not:

 

  (1)

borrow money, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or any rules, exemptions or interpretations thereunder that may be adopted, granted or issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”);

 

  (2)

make loans, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or any rules, exemptions or interpretations thereunder that may be adopted, granted or issued by the Commission; provided that in no event shall a Portfolio be permitted to make a loan to a natural person;

 

  (3)

purchase or sell real estate, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, and provided that this restriction does not prevent a Portfolio from: (i) purchasing or selling securities or instruments secured by real estate or interests therein, securities or instruments representing interests in real estate or securities or instruments of issuers that invest, deal or otherwise engage in transactions in real estate or interests therein; and (ii) purchasing or selling real estate mortgage loans;

 

  (4)

purchase or sell physical commodities, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, and provided that this restriction does not prevent a Portfolio from: (i) engaging in transactions involving currencies and futures contracts and options thereon; or (ii) investing in securities or other instruments that are secured by physical commodities;

 

  (5)

purchase the securities of any one issuer, if immediately after such investment, a Portfolio would not qualify as a “diversified company” as that term is defined by the 1940 Act, as amended, and as modified or interpreted by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time (this restriction does not apply to the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio);

 

  (6)

engage in the business of underwriting securities issued by others; or

 

  (7)

issue senior securities (as such term is defined in Section 18(f) of the 1940 Act), except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act.

 

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The U.S. Large Company Portfolio, Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio, U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio, U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio, U.S. Small Cap Portfolio, U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio, DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio, Large Cap International Portfolio, DFA International Value Portfolio, DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio, International Small Company Portfolio, Emerging Markets Portfolio, Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio, Japanese Small Company Portfolio, Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio, United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio and Continental Small Company Portfolio will not:

 

  (8)

sell securities short.

The Portfolios, except the U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio, U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio, U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio, International Core Equity Portfolio, Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio, DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio, DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio and International Vector Equity Portfolio, will not:

 

  (9)

acquire any securities of companies within one industry if, as a result of such acquisition, more than 25% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets would be invested in securities of companies within such industry; except that the DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio shall invest more than 25% of its total assets in securities of companies in the real estate industry.

The U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio, U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio, U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio, DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio, International Core Equity Portfolio, Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio, DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio, DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio, International Vector Equity Portfolio and World ex U.S. Value Portfolio will not:

 

  (10)

concentrate (invest more than 25% of its net assets) in securities of issuers in a particular industry (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or securities of other investment companies), except that the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio and the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio shall invest more than 25% of their total assets in securities of companies in the real estate industry.

The investment limitations described in (5), (9), and (10) above do not prohibit each Feeder Portfolio, International Small Company Portfolio and DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio from investing all or substantially all of its assets in the shares of one or more registered, open-end investment companies, such as the Master Funds, the International Master Funds, or Underlying Funds, respectively. In applying the investment limitations, each such Portfolio will look through to the security holdings of the Underlying Funds in which the Portfolio invests. The investment limitations of each Master Fund are similar to those of the corresponding Feeder Portfolio. The investment limitations of the Underlying Funds are set forth in their respective statements of additional information.

The investment limitations described in (4) above shall not prevent the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio from purchasing or selling commodity-linked derivative instruments, including, but not limited to, swap agreements and commodity-linked structured notes, options, and futures contracts with respect to indices or individual commodities.

The investment limitations described in (5) and (10) above do not prohibit the World ex U.S. Value Portfolio from investing all or substantially all of its assets in the shares of other registered, open-end investment companies, such as the Underlying Funds. In applying the investment limitations described in (5) and (10) above, the World ex U.S. Value Portfolio will look through to the security holdings of the Underlying Funds in which it invests.

For purposes of the investment limitation described in (1) above, the Emerging Markets Portfolio, Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio, and Emerging Markets Value Portfolio (indirectly through their investments in the corresponding Master Funds) may borrow in connection with a foreign currency transaction or the settlement of a portfolio trade. Additionally, with respect to the investment limitation described in (1) above, each Portfolio will maintain asset coverage of at least 300% (as described in the 1940 Act), inclusive of any amounts borrowed, with respect to any borrowings made by such Portfolio. The Portfolios do not currently intend to borrow money for investment purposes.

Although the investment limitation described in (2) above prohibits loans, each Portfolio is authorized to lend portfolio securities. Inasmuch as the Feeder Portfolios and International Small Company Portfolio will only hold shares of certain Master Funds, these Portfolios do not intend to lend those shares.

 

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Each Portfolio is required to operate in accordance with the Commission staff’s current position on illiquid securities, which limits investments in illiquid securities to 15% of a Portfolio’s net assets. For these purposes, Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio may invest in commercial paper that is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”), subject to the requirements regarding credit ratings stated in the Prospectus under “ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES – Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio.” Further, pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, the Portfolios may purchase certain unregistered (i.e. restricted) securities upon a determination that a liquid institutional market exists for the securities. If it is determined that a liquid market does exist, the securities will not be subject to the 15% limitation on holdings of illiquid securities. While maintaining oversight, the Boards of Directors have delegated the day-to-day function of making liquidity determinations to the Advisor. For Rule 144A securities to be considered liquid, there must be at least two dealers making a market in such securities. After purchase, the Board of Directors of DFAIDG or DIG, as applicable, and the Advisor will continue to monitor the liquidity of Rule 144A securities.

The investment limitation described in (8) above does not prohibit the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio from maintaining a short position, or purchasing, writing or selling puts, calls, straddles, spreads or combinations thereof in connection with transactions in options, futures, and options on futures and transactions arising under swap agreements or other derivative instruments.

For purposes of the investment limitations described in (9) and (10) above, management does not consider securities that are issued by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities to be investments in an “industry.” However, management currently considers securities issued by a foreign government (but not the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities) to be subject to the 25% limitation. Thus, not more than 25% of a Portfolio’s total assets will be invested in securities issued by any one foreign government or supranational organization. A Portfolio might invest in certain securities issued by companies in a particular industry whose obligations are guaranteed by a foreign government. Management could consider such a company to be within the particular industry and, therefore, the Portfolio will invest in the securities of such a company only if the Portfolio can do so under the Portfolio’s policy of not being concentrated in any single industry.

Notwithstanding any of the above investment limitations, the Emerging Markets Series, the Emerging Markets Small Cap Series, the Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund, the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio, the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio, the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio and the World ex U.S. Value Portfolio may establish subsidiaries or other similar vehicles for the purpose of conducting their investment operations if such subsidiaries or vehicles are required by local laws or regulations governing foreign investors, or whose use is otherwise considered by such Master Funds and Portfolios to be advisable. Each Master Fund, the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio, the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio, the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio or the World ex U.S. Value Portfolio would “look through” any such vehicle or subsidiary to determine compliance with its investment restrictions.

The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio has established a subsidiary, Dimensional Cayman Commodity Fund I Ltd. (the “Subsidiary”) for the purposes of conducting its investment operations. With respect to its investments, the wholly-owned Subsidiary of the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio formed in the Cayman Islands, will follow fundamental and non-fundamental investment restrictions substantially similar to those imposed on the Portfolio by the 1940 Act as described above. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio and Subsidiary will test for compliance with certain investment restrictions on a consolidated basis, except that with respect to the Subsidiary’s investments that may involve leverage, the Subsidiary will comply with asset segregation requirements under the 1940 Act and the SEC’s interpretations thereof to the same extent as the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio.

Unless otherwise indicated, all limitations applicable to the Portfolios’ and Master Funds’ investments apply only at the time that a transaction is undertaken.

OPTIONS ON STOCK INDICES

The Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio may purchase and sell options on stock indices. With respect to the sale of call options on stock indices, pursuant to published positions of the Commission, the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio will either (1) maintain with its custodian liquid assets equal to the contract value (less any margin deposits); (2) hold a portfolio of stocks substantially replicating the movement of the index underlying

 

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the call option; or (3) hold a separate call on the same index as the call written where the exercise price of the call held is (a) equal to or less than the exercise price of the call written, or (b) greater than the exercise price of the call written, provided the difference is maintained by the Portfolio in liquid assets in a segregated account with its custodian. With respect to the sale of put options on stock indices, pursuant to published Commission positions, the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio will either (1) maintain liquid assets equal to the exercise price (less any margin deposits) in a segregated account with its custodian; or (2) hold a put on the same index as the put written where the exercise price of the put held is (a) equal to or greater than the exercise price of the put written, or (b) less than the exercise price of the put written, provided an amount equal to the difference is maintained by the Portfolio in liquid assets in a segregated account with its custodian.

Prior to the earlier of exercise or expiration, an option may be closed out by an offsetting purchase or sale of an option of the same series (type, exchange, underlying index, exercise price, and expiration). There can be no assurance, however, that a closing purchase or sale transaction can be effected when the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio desires.

The Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio will realize a gain from a closing purchase transaction if the cost of the closing option is less than the premium received from writing the option, or, if it is more, the Portfolio will realize a loss. The principal factors affecting the market value of a put or a call option include supply and demand, interest rates, the current market price of the underlying index in relation to the exercise price of the option, the volatility of the underlying index, and the time remaining until the expiration date.

If an option written by the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio expires, the Portfolio realizes a gain equal to the premium received at the time the option was written. If an option purchased by the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio expires unexercised, the Portfolio realizes a loss equal to the premium paid.

The premium paid for a put or call option purchased by the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio is an asset of the Portfolio. The premium received for an option written by the Portfolio is recorded as a deferred credit. The value of an option purchased or written is marked to market daily and is valued at the closing price on the exchange on which it is traded or, if not traded on an exchange or no closing price is available, at the mean between the last bid and asked prices.

Risks Associated with Options on Indices

There are several risks associated with transactions in options on indices. For example, there are significant differences between the securities and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between these markets, causing a given transaction not to achieve its objectives. The value of an option position will reflect, among other things, the current market price of the underlying index, the time remaining until expiration, the relationship of the exercise price, the term structure of interest rates, estimated price volatility of the underlying index and general market conditions. A decision as to whether, when and how to use options involves the exercise of skill and judgment, and even a well conceived transaction may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected events.

Options normally have expiration dates of up to 90 days. The exercise price of the options may be below, equal to or above the current market value of the underlying index. Purchased options that expire unexercised have no value. Unless an option purchased by the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio is exercised or unless a closing transaction is effected with respect to that position, the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio will realize a loss in the amount of the premium paid and any transaction costs.

A position in an exchange-listed option may be closed out only on an exchange that provides a secondary market for identical options. Although the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio intends to purchase or write only those options for which there appears to be an active secondary market, there is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular option at any specific time. Closing transactions may be effected with respect to options traded in the over the counter markets only by negotiating directly with the other party to the option contract, or in a secondary market for the option if such a market exists. There can be no assurance that the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio will be able to liquidate an over the counter option at a favorable price at any time prior to expiration. In the event of insolvency of the counter-party, the Portfolio may be unable to liquidate

 

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an over the counter option. Accordingly, it may not be possible to effect closing transactions with respect to certain options, with the result that the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio would have to exercise those options which it has purchased in order to realize any profit. With respect to options written by the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio, the inability to enter into a closing transaction may result in material losses to the Portfolio.

Index prices may be distorted if trading of a substantial number of securities included in the index is interrupted causing the trading of options on that index to be halted. If a trading halt occurred, the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio would not be able to close out options which it had purchased and may incur losses if the underlying index moved adversely before trading resumed. If a trading halt occurred and restrictions prohibiting the exercise of options were imposed through the close of trading on the last day before expiration, exercises on that day would be settled on the basis of a closing index value that may not reflect current price information for securities representing a substantial portion of the value of the index.

The Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio’s activities in the options markets may result in higher fund turnover rates and additional brokerage costs; however, the Portfolio may also save on commissions by using options as a hedge rather than buying or selling individual securities in anticipation or as a result of market movements.

Investment Limitations on Options Transactions

The ability of the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio to engage in options transactions is subject to certain limitations. The Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio will only invest in over-the-counter options to the extent consistent with the 15% limit on investments in illiquid securities.

SWAPS

Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio may enter into equity index swap agreements for purposes of attempting to obtain a particular desired return at a lower cost to the Portfolio than if the Portfolio had invested directly in an instrument that yielded that desired return. Swap agreements are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a few weeks to more than one year. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments. The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are generally calculated with respect to a “notional amount,” i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested in a group of securities representing a particular index.

The “notional amount” of the swap agreement is only a fictive basis on which to calculate the obligations that the parties to a swap agreement have agreed to exchange. Most swap agreements entered into by Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio would calculate the obligations of the parties to the agreement on a “net basis.” Consequently, the Portfolio’s current obligations (or rights) under a swap agreement will generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement (the “net amount”). The Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio’s current obligations under a swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against amounts owed to the Portfolio) and any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed to a swap counterparty will be covered by the maintenance of a segregated account consisting of liquid assets to avoid any potential leveraging of the Portfolio’s portfolio. The Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio will not enter into a swap agreement with any single party if the net amount owed or to be received under existing contracts with that party would exceed 5% of the Portfolio’s assets.

Because they are two-party contracts and because they may have terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered to be illiquid, and, therefore, swap agreements entered into by Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio and other illiquid securities will be limited to 15% of the net assets of the Portfolio. Moreover, Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty. The Advisor will cause Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio to enter into swap agreements only with counterparties that the Investment Committee of the Advisor has approved. Certain restrictions imposed on Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio by the Code may limit the Portfolio’s ability to use swap agreements. The swap market is a relatively new market and is largely unregulated. It is possible that developments in the swaps market, including potential government

 

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regulation, could adversely affect Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio’s ability to terminate existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.

FUTURES CONTRACTS

Please note that while the following discussion relates to the policies of certain Portfolios with respect to futures contracts, it should be understood that with respect to a Feeder Portfolio, the discussion applies to the Feeder Portfolio and to the Master Fund in which the Feeder Portfolio invests substantially all of its assets and, with respect to the International Small Company Portfolio and the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio and the World ex U.S. Value Portfolio, the International Master Funds and Underlying Funds, respectively.

All Portfolios and Underlying Funds may enter into futures contracts and options on futures contracts. Such Portfolios (with the exception of Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio) may enter into futures contracts and options on future contracts to gain market exposure on the Portfolio’s uninvested cash pending investments in securities and to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions. The Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio may use futures contracts and options thereon to hedge against securities prices or as part of its overall investment strategy.

Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of defined securities at a specified future time and at a specified price. Futures contracts that are standardized as to maturity date and underlying financial instrument are traded on national futures exchanges. Each Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund will be required to make a margin deposit in cash or government securities with a futures commission merchant (an “FCM”) to initiate and maintain positions in futures contracts. Minimal initial margin requirements are established by the futures exchanges and FCMs may establish margin requirements which are higher than the exchange requirements. After a futures contract position is opened, the value of the contract is marked to market daily. If the futures contract price changes to the extent that the margin on deposit does not satisfy margin requirements, payment of additional “variation” margin to be held by the FCM will be required. Conversely, a reduction in the required margin would result in a repayment of excess margin to the custodial accounts of the Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund. Variation margin payments may be made to and from the futures broker for as long as the contract remains open. Each Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund expects to earn income on its margin deposits. Each Master Fund, Underlying Fund and Portfolio intends to limit its futures-related investment activity so that other than with respect to bona fide hedging activity (as defined in Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) General Regulations Section 1.3(z)): (i) the aggregate initial margin and premiums paid to establish commodity futures and commodity option contract positions (determined at the time the most recent position was established) does not exceed 5% of the liquidation value of the portfolio of the Master Fund, Underlying Fund or Portfolio, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such contracts it has entered into (provided that, in the case of an option that is in-the-money at the time of purchase, the in-the-money amount may be excluded in calculating such 5% limitation); or (ii) the aggregate net “notional value” (i.e., the size of a commodity futures or commodity option contract in contract units (taking into account any multiplier specified in the contract), multiplied by the current market price (for a futures contract) or strike price (for an option contract) of each such unit) of all non-hedge commodity futures and commodity option contracts that the Master Fund, Underlying Fund or Portfolio has entered into (determined at the time the most recent position was established) does not exceed the liquidation value of the portfolio of the Master Fund, Underlying Fund or Portfolio, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such contracts that the Master Fund, Underlying Fund or Portfolio has entered into.

Positions in futures contracts may be closed out only on an exchange that provides a secondary market. However, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular futures contract at any specific time. Therefore, it might not be possible to close a futures position and, in the event of adverse price movements, the Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund would continue to be required to make variation margin deposits. In such circumstances, if the Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund has insufficient cash, it might have to sell portfolio securities to meet daily margin requirements at a time when it might be disadvantageous to do so. Management intends to minimize the possibility that it will be unable to close out a futures contract by only entering into futures which are traded on national futures exchanges and for which there appears to be a liquid secondary market. Pursuant to published positions of the Commission and interpretations of the staff of the Commission, a Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund (or its custodian) is required to maintain segregated accounts or to segregate assets through notations on the books of the custodian, consisting of liquid assets (or, as

 

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permitted under applicable interpretations, enter into offsetting positions) in connection with its futures contract transactions in order to cover its obligations with respect to such contracts. These requirements are designed to limit the amount of leverage that a Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund may use by entering into futures transactions.

ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES OF THE DFA COMMODITY STRATEGY PORTFOLIO

Commodity-Linked Derivatives. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio invests in commodity-linked derivative instruments, such as swap agreements, commodity options, futures, options on futures, and structured notes. The prices of commodity-linked derivative instruments may move in different directions than investments in traditional equity securities, fixed income securities and commodity spot prices.

The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio intends to invest in instruments that are linked to some or all of the commodity market sectors under normal market conditions. The five principal sectors include energy, livestock, agriculture, industrial metals, and precious metals.

In selecting investments for the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio, the Advisor may evaluate the underlying commodity, futures contract, index, or other economic variable that is linked to the instrument, the issuer of the instrument, and whether the principal of the instrument is protected by any form of credit enhancement or guarantee.

Swap Agreements. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may enter into swap agreements with respect to commodities, interest rates and indexes of commodities or securities, specific securities and commodities, and mortgage, credit and event-linked swaps, and to the extent the Portfolio may invest in foreign currency-denominated securities, may enter into swap agreements with respect to foreign currencies.

The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may enter into swap transactions for any legal purpose consistent with its investment objective and policies, such as for the purpose of attempting to obtain or preserve a particular return or spread at a lower cost than obtaining a return or spread through purchases and/or sales of instruments in other markets, to seek to increase total return (speculation), to protect against currency fluctuations, as a duration management technique, to protect against any increase in the price of securities the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio anticipates purchasing at a later date, or to gain exposure to certain markets in the most economical way possible.

Swap agreements are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a few weeks to more than one year. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments, which may be adjusted for an interest factor. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio intends to invest in commodity swap agreements. An investment in a commodity swap agreement, for example, may involve the exchange of floating-rate interest payments for the total return on a commodity index. In a total return commodity swap, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio will receive the price appreciation of a commodity index, a portion of the index, or a single commodity in exchange for paying an agreed-upon fee. If the commodity swap is for one period, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may pay a fixed fee, established at the outset of the swap. However, if the term of the commodity swap is more than one period, with interim swap payments, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may pay an adjustable or floating fee. With a “floating” rate, the fee may be pegged to a base rate, such as the London Interbank Offered Rate, and adjusted each period. Therefore, if interest rates increase over the term of the swap contract, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may be required to pay a higher fee at each swap reset date.

The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may enter into credit default swap agreements. The “buyer” in a credit default contract is obligated to pay the “seller” a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract provided that no event of default on an underlying reference obligation has occurred. If an event of default occurs, the seller must pay the buyer the full notional value, or “par value,” of the reference obligation in exchange for the reference obligation. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may be either the buyer or seller in a credit default swap transaction. If the Portfolio is a buyer and no event of default occurs, the Portfolio will lose its investment and recover nothing. However, if an event of default occurs, the Portfolio (if the buyer) will receive the full notional

 

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value of the reference obligation that may have little or no value. As a seller, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio receives a fixed rate of income throughout the term of the contract, which typically is between six months and three years, provided that there is no default event. If an event of default occurs, the seller must pay the buyer the full notional value of the reference obligation. Credit default swap transactions involve greater risks than if the Portfolio had invested in the reference obligation directly.

Most swap agreements entered into by the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio will calculate the obligations of the parties to the agreement on a “net” basis, which means that the two payment streams are netted out, with the Portfolio receiving or paying, as the case may be, only the net amount of the two payments. Consequently, the Portfolio’s current obligations (or rights) under a swap agreement will generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement. The Portfolio’s current obligations under a swap agreement will be accrued daily (offset against any amounts owed to the Portfolio) and any accrued but unpaid net amounts owed to a swap counterparty will be covered by the segregation of assets determined to be liquid by the Advisor in accordance with procedures established by the Board of Directors of DFAIDG, to avoid any potential leveraging of the Portfolio’s portfolio. Obligations under swap agreements so covered will not be construed to be “senior securities” for purposes of the Portfolio’s investment restriction concerning senior securities.

Because they are two party contracts and because they may have terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered to be illiquid. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counterparty beyond any collateral received. The Portfolio will enter into swap agreements only with counterparties that meet certain standards of creditworthiness as determined by the Adviser’s Investment Committee. Pursuant to restrictions imposed on the Portfolio by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), which limit the Portfolio’s ability to use swap agreements, the Portfolio limits its direct investments in commodity-linked swap agreements so that the income derived from all agreements linked to commodities at the Portfolio level does not exceed 10% of the Portfolio’s gross income.

The types of swap agreements in which the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio intends to invest do not involve the delivery of securities, other underlying assets, or principal. Accordingly, the risk of loss is limited to the net amount of interest payments that the Portfolio is contractually obligated to make. If the other party to the swap agreement defaults, the Portfolio’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that the Portfolio is contractually entitled to receive. To the extent that the net amount payable by the Portfolio under a swap are held in a segregated account consisting of cash or liquid securities, the Portfolio and the Advisor believe that swaps do not constitute senior securities under the 1940 Act and, accordingly, will not treat them as being subject to the Portfolio’s borrowing restriction.

The Subsidiary will comply with the asset segregation requirements to the same extent as the Portfolio.

Commodity-Linked Notes. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may gain exposure to the commodities markets through commodity-linked structured notes, swap agreements and commodity futures and options. These instruments have one or more commodity-dependent components. They are derivative instruments because at least part of their value is derived from the value of an underlying commodity index, commodity futures contract, index, or other readily measurable economic variable. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may invest, either directly or though investments in the Subsidiary, in commodity-linked structured notes, futures and swap agreements whose performance is linked to individual commodities or commodity indices, such as the Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index Total Return, the S&P GSCI Commodity Index, or other similar indices, and options on them.

Limitations on Leverage. As discussed in the Prospectus, some of the commodity-linked notes in which the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio invests may involve leverage. Economic leverage occurs when an investor has the right to a return on an investment that exceeds the return that the investor would expect to receive based on the amount contributed to the investment. Economically leveraged derivative instruments can increase the gain or the loss associated with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio will seek to limit the amount of economic leverage the Portfolio has under any one commodity-linked note in which the Portfolio it invests and the leverage of the Portfolio’s overall portfolio. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio will not invest in a commodity-linked note if, at the time of purchase:

 

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1.         the note’s “leverage ratio” exceeds 300% of the price increase (or decrease) in the underlying index, commodity or group of commodities; or

2.         the Portfolio’s “portfolio leverage ratio” exceeds 150%, measured at the time of purchase.

“Leverage ratio” is the expected increase in the value of a derivative instrument, assuming a one percent increase in the underlying index. In other words, for a derivative instrument with a leverage factor of 150%, a 1% gain in the underlying index would be expected to result in a 1.5% gain in value for the derivative instrument. “Portfolio leverage ratio” is defined as the average (mean) leverage ratio of all instruments in the Portfolio’s portfolio, weighted by the market values of such instruments or, in the case of futures contracts, their notional values. To the extent that the policy on the Portfolio’s use of leverage stated above conflicts with the 1940 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder, the Portfolio will comply with the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act.

Principal Protection. Commodity-linked structured notes and certain other commodity-linked instruments may be principal protected, partially protected, or offer no principal protection. A principal protected hybrid instrument means that the issuer will pay, at a minimum, the par value of the note at maturity. Therefore, if the commodity value to which the hybrid instrument is linked declines over the life of the note, the Portfolio will receive at maturity the face or stated value of the note.

With a principal protected commodity-linked instrument, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio would receive at maturity the greater of the par value of the note or the increase in value of the underlying commodity index. This protection is, in effect, an option whose value is subject to the volatility and price level of the underlying commodity index. This optionality can be added to an instrument, but only for a cost higher than that of a partially protected (or no protection) instrument. The Advisor’s decision on whether to use principal protection depends in part on the cost of the protection. In addition, the utility of the protection feature depends upon the ability of the issuer to meet its obligation to buy back the security, and, therefore, depends on the creditworthiness of the issuer.

With full principal protection, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio will receive at the maturity of the commodity-linked instrument either the stated par value of the commodity-linked instrument, or, potentially, an amount greater than the stated par value if the underlying commodity index, futures contract, or economic variable to which the commodity-linked instrument is linked has increased in value. Partially protected commodity-linked instruments may suffer some loss of principal if the underlying commodity index, futures contract, or economic variable to which the commodity-linked instrument is linked declines in value during the term of the commodity-linked instrument. However, partially protected commodity-linked instruments have a specified limit as to the amount of principal that the instruments may lose.

The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio also may invest in commodity-linked instruments that offer no principal protection. At maturity, there is a risk that the underlying commodity index, futures contract, or other economic variable may have declined sufficiently in value such that some or all of the face value of the instrument might not be returned. Some of the instruments that the Portfolio may invest in may have no principal protection and the instrument could lose all of its value.

With a partially protected or no principal protection commodity-linked instrument, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may receive at maturity an amount less than the instrument’s par value if the commodity index or other economic variable value to which the note is linked declines over the term of the note. The Advisor, at its discretion, may invest in a partially protected principal structured note or, within the 10% limitation set forth above, a note without principal protection. In deciding to purchase a note without principal protection, the Advisor may consider, among other things, the expected performance of the underlying commodity index, commodity futures contract, or other economic variable over the term of the note, the cost of the note, and any other economic factors that the Advisor believes are relevant.

Regulatory Aspects. Certain structured notes and swap agreements are exempt from most provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act (the “CEA”) and, therefore, are not regulated as futures or commodity option transactions under the CEA, pursuant to regulations approved by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. To qualify for this exemption, a structured note or swap agreement must be entered into by “eligible participants,” which include

 

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the following, provided the participants’ total assets exceed established levels: a bank or trust company, savings association or credit union, insurance company, investment company subject to regulation under the 1940 Act, commodity pool, corporation, partnership, proprietorship, organization, trust or other entity, employee benefit plan, governmental entity, broker-dealer, futures commission merchant, natural person, or regulated foreign person. To be eligible, natural persons and most other entities must have total assets exceeding $10 million; commodity pools and employee benefit plans must have assets exceeding $5 million. In addition, an eligible structured note or swap transaction must meet three conditions. First, the structured note or swap agreement may not be part of a fungible class of agreements that are standardized as to their material economic terms. Second, the creditworthiness of parties with actual or potential obligations under the structured note or swap agreement must be a material consideration in entering into or determining the terms of the instrument, including pricing, cost or credit enhancement terms. Third, structured notes or swap agreements may not be entered into and traded on or through a multilateral transaction execution facility. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may invest in commodity-linked structured notes or swap agreements and other commodity-linked instruments that qualify for exclusion from regulation under the CEA and the regulations adopted thereunder.

This exemption is not exclusive, and participants may continue to rely on existing exclusions for swaps, such as the Policy Statement issued in July 1989 that recognized a safe harbor for swap transactions from regulation as futures or commodity option transactions under the CEA or its regulations. The Policy Statement applies to swap transactions settled in cash that (1) have individually tailored terms, (2) lack exchange-style offset and the use of a clearing organization or margin system, (3) are undertaken in conjunction with a line of business, and (4) are not marketed to the public.

Futures Activities

The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may enter into commodity, foreign currency, interest rate and commodity or securities index futures contracts and purchase and write (sell) related options traded on exchanges designated by the CFTC or, consistent with CFTC regulations, on foreign exchanges. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio invests in futures contracts on individual commodities or a subset of commodities and options on them through the Portfolio’s investment in the Subsidiary. These futures contracts are standardized contracts for the future delivery of foreign currency or an interest rate sensitive security or, in the case of stock index and certain other futures contracts, a cash settlement with reference to a specified multiplier times the change in the specified index, exchange rate, or interest rate. An option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in a futures contract.

The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio reserves the right to engage in transactions involving futures contracts and options on futures contracts to the extent allowed by CFTC regulations in effect from time to time and in accordance with the Portfolio’s policies. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio is operated by a person who has claimed an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the CEA and, therefore, who is not subject to registration or regulation as a pool operator under the CEA. As a result, the Portfolio is not restricted in its ability to enter into futures contracts and options thereon under regulations of the CFTC.

Futures Contracts. A commodity futures contract provides for the future sale by one party and the future purchase by the other party of a specified amount of a commodity, such as an energy, agricultural or metal commodity, at a specified price, date, time and place. A foreign currency futures contract provides for the future sale by one party and the future purchase by the other party of a certain amount of a specified non-U.S. currency at a specified price, date, time and place. An interest rate futures contract provides for the future sale by one party and the purchase by the other party of a certain amount of a specific interest rate sensitive financial instrument (debt security) at a specified price, date, time and place. Securities and commodities indexes are typically capitalization or production weighted, respectively. A securities index or commodities index futures contract is an agreement to be settled by delivery of an amount of cash equal to a specified multiplier times the difference between the value of the index at the close of the last trading day on the contract and the price at which the agreement is made. The clearing house of the exchange on which a futures contract is entered into becomes the counterparty to each purchaser and seller of the futures contract.

Except for commissions, no consideration is paid or received by the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio upon entering into a futures contract. Instead, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio is required to segregate with

 

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its futures commission merchant an amount of cash or securities acceptable to the broker equal to approximately 1% to 10% of the contract amount (this amount is subject to change by the exchange on which the contract is traded, and brokers may charge a higher amount). This amount is known as “initial margin” and is in the nature of a performance bond or good faith deposit on the contract which is returned to the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio upon termination of the futures contract, assuming all contractual obligations have been satisfied. The broker will have access to amounts in the margin account if the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio fails to meet its contractual obligations. Subsequent payments, known as “variation margin,” to and from the broker, will be made daily as the currency, financial instrument index underlying the futures contract fluctuates, making the long and short positions in the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as “marking-to-market.” As a result of the small margin deposit that is required, a small change in the market price of a futures contract can produce major losses. The Portfolio also will incur brokerage costs in connection with entering into futures contracts.

At any time prior to the expiration of a futures contract, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may elect to close the position by taking an opposite position, which will operate to terminate the Portfolio’s existing position in the contract. Positions in futures contracts and options on futures contracts (described below) may be closed out only on the exchange on which they were entered into (or through a linked exchange). No secondary market for such contracts exists. Although the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may enter into futures contracts only if there is an active market for such contracts, there is no assurance that an active market will exist at any particular time. Most futures exchanges limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in futures contract prices during a single trading day. Once the daily limit has been reached in a particular contract, no trades may be made that day at a price beyond that limit or trading may be suspended for specified periods during the day. It is possible that futures contract prices could move to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of futures positions at an advantageous price and subjecting the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio to substantial losses. In such event, and in the event of adverse price movements, the Portfolio would be required to make daily cash payments of variation margin. In such situations, if the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio had insufficient cash, it might have to sell securities to meet daily variation margin requirements at a time when it would be disadvantageous to do so. In addition, if the transaction is entered into for hedging purposes, in such circumstances the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may realize a loss on a futures contract or option that is not offset by an increase in the value of the hedged position. Losses incurred in futures transactions and the costs of these transactions will affect the Portfolio’s performance.

Despite the daily price limits on the futures exchanges, the price volatility of commodity futures contracts has been historically greater than that for traditional securities, such as stocks and bonds. To the extent that the Portfolio invests in commodity futures contracts, the assets of the Portfolio, and therefore the prices of the Portfolio’s shares, may be subject to greater volatility.

There are additional factors associated with commodity futures contracts which may subject the Portfolio’s investments in the contracts to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. Unlike the financial futures markets, in the commodity futures markets there are costs of physical storage associated with purchasing the underlying commodity. The price of the commodity futures contract will reflect the storage costs of purchasing the physical commodity, including the time value of money invested in the physical commodity. To the extent that the storage costs for an underlying commodity change while the Portfolio is invested in futures contracts on that commodity, the value of the futures contract may change proportionately. In the commodity futures markets, producers of the underlying commodity may decide to hedge the price risk of selling the commodity by selling futures contracts today to lock in the price of the commodity at delivery tomorrow. In order to induce speculators to purchase the other side of the same futures contract, the commodity producer generally must sell the futures contract at a lower price than the expected future spot price of the commodity. Conversely, if most hedgers in the futures market are purchasing futures contracts to hedge against a rise in prices, then speculators will only sell the other side of the futures contract at a higher futures price than the expected future spot price of the commodity. The changing nature of the hedgers and speculators in the commodities markets will influence whether futures prices are above or below the expected future spot price, which can have significant implications for the Portfolio. If the nature of hedgers and speculators in futures markets has shifted when it is time for the Portfolio to reinvest the proceeds of a maturing futures contract in a new futures contract, the Portfolio might reinvest at higher or lower futures prices, or choose to pursue other investments. The commodities which underlie commodity futures contracts may be subject to additional economic and non-economic variables, such as drought, floods, weather, livestock disease, embargoes, tariffs, and international economic, political and regulatory developments. These factors may have a larger impact

 

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on commodity prices and commodity-linked instruments, including futures contracts, than on traditional securities. Certain commodities are also subject to limited pricing flexibility because of supply and demand factors. Others are subject to broad price fluctuations as a result of the volatility of the prices for certain raw materials and the instability of the supplies of other materials.

Options on Futures Contracts. The Portfolio may purchase and write put and call options on foreign currency, interest rate and stock and commodity index futures contracts and may enter into closing transactions with respect to such options to terminate existing positions. There is no guarantee that such closing transactions can be effected; the ability to establish and close out positions on such options will be subject to the existence of a liquid market.

An option on a currency, interest rate or commodity or securities index futures contract, as contrasted with the direct investment in such a contract, gives the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in a futures contract at a specified exercise price at any time prior to the expiration date of the option. The writer of the option is required upon exercise to assume an offsetting futures position (a short position if the option is a call and a long position if the option is a put). Upon exercise of an option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option will be accompanied by delivery of the accumulated balance in the writer’s futures margin account, which represents the amount by which the market price of the futures contract exceeds, in the case of a call, or is less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option on the futures contract. The potential loss related to the purchase of an option on a futures contract is limited to the premium paid for the option (plus transaction costs). Because the value of the option is fixed at the point of sale, there are no daily cash payments by the purchaser to reflect changes in the value of the underlying contract; however, the value of the option does change daily and that change would be reflected in the net asset value of the Portfolio.

Hedging Generally. The Portfolio may enter into options and futures transactions for several purposes, including generating current income to offset expenses or increase return, and as hedges to reduce investment risk, generally by making an investment expected to move in the opposite direction of a portfolio position. A hedge is designed to offset a loss in a portfolio position with a gain in the hedged position; at the same time, however, a properly correlated hedge will result in a gain in the portfolio position being offset by a loss in the hedged position. As a result, the use of options and futures transactions for hedging purposes could limit any potential gain from an increase in the value of the position hedged. In addition, the movement in the portfolio position hedged may not be of the same magnitude as the movement in the hedge. With respect to futures contracts, since the value of portfolio securities will far exceed the value of the futures contracts sold by the Portfolio, an increase in the value of the futures contracts could only mitigate, but not totally offset, the decline in the value of the Portfolio’s assets.

In hedging transactions based on an index, whether the Portfolio will realize a gain or loss depends upon movements in the level of securities prices in the stock market generally or, in the case of certain indices, in an industry or market segment, rather than movements in the price of a particular security. The risk of imperfect correlation increases as the composition of the Portfolio’s portfolio varies from the composition of the index. In an effort to compensate for imperfect correlation of relative movements in the hedged position and the hedge, the Portfolio’s hedge positions may be in a greater or lesser dollar amount than the dollar amount of the hedged position. Such “over hedging” or “under hedging” may adversely affect the Portfolio’s net investment results if the markets do not move as anticipated when the hedge is established. Securities index futures transactions may be subject to additional correlation risks. First, all participants in the futures market are subject to margin deposit and maintenance requirements. Rather than meeting additional margin deposit requirements, investors may close futures contracts through offsetting transactions that would distort the normal relationship between the securities index and futures markets. Secondly, from the point of view of speculators, the deposit requirements in the futures market are less onerous than margin requirements in the securities market. Therefore, increased participation by speculators in the futures market also may cause temporary price distortions. Because of the possibility of price distortions in the futures market and the imperfect correlation between movements in the securities index and movements in the price of securities index futures, a correct forecast of general market trends by the Advisor still may not result in a successful hedging transaction.

The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio will engage in hedging transactions and there can be no assurance that the use of these transactions will be successful. Even a well-conceived hedge may be unsuccessful to some

 

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degree because of unexpected market behavior or trends. Losses incurred in hedging transactions and the costs of these transactions will affect the Portfolio’s performance.

To the extent that the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio engages in commodity-linked derivatives and in the strategies described below, the Portfolio may experience losses greater than if these strategies had not been utilized. In addition to the risks described, these instruments may be illiquid and/or subject to trading limits, and the Portfolio may be unable to close out a position without incurring substantial losses, if at all. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio is also subject to the risk of a default by a counterparty to an off-exchange transaction.

Options and Currency Exchange Transactions. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may purchase and write (sell) options on securities, securities indices, currencies, swap agreements and commodity indices for hedging purposes. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may enter into futures contracts and options on futures contracts on securities, securities and commodity indices, currencies and commodities and may engage in spot and forward currency exchange transactions (known as “foreign exchange transactions”) for these same purposes. The amount of assets considered to be “at risk” in these transactions is, in the case of purchasing options, the amount of the premium paid, and, in the case of writing options, the value of the underlying obligation.

Currency Transactions. The value in U.S. dollars of the assets of the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio that are invested in foreign securities may be affected favorably or unfavorably by a variety of factors not applicable to investment in U.S. securities, and the Portfolio may incur costs in connection with conversion between various currencies. Currency exchange transactions may be from any non-U.S. currency into U.S. dollars or into other appropriate currencies and may be entered into for hedging purposes or to seek to enhance total return (speculation). The Portfolio will conduct its currency exchange transactions on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the rate prevailing in the currency exchange market or through entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell currency. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may also enter into currency futures contracts or options on such contracts (as described below) or purchase exchange-traded currency options.

Forward Currency Contracts. A forward currency contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract as agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts are entered into in the interbank market conducted directly between currency traders (usually large commercial banks and brokers) and their customers. Forward currency contracts are similar to currency futures contracts, except that futures contracts are traded on commodities exchanges and are standardized as to contract size and delivery date.

At or before the maturity of a forward contract entered into to hedge against currency fluctuations with respect to a portfolio security, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio either may sell the portfolio security and make delivery of the currency, or retain the security and fully or partially offset the Portfolio’s contractual obligation to deliver the currency by negotiating with its trading partner to enter into an offsetting transaction. If the Portfolio retains the portfolio security and engages in an offsetting transaction, the Portfolio, at the time of execution of the offsetting transaction, will incur a gain or a loss to the extent that movement has occurred in forward contract prices.

Forward currency contracts are highly volatile, and a relatively small price movement in a forward currency contract may result in substantial losses to the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio. To the extent the Portfolio engages in forward currency contracts to generate current income, the Portfolio will be subject to these risks which the Portfolio might otherwise avoid (e.g., through use of hedging transactions).

Currency Options. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may purchase exchange-traded put and call options on foreign currencies. Put options convey the right to sell the underlying currency at a price that is anticipated to be higher than the spot price of the currency at the time the option is exercised. Call options convey the right to buy the underlying currency at a price that is expected to be lower than the spot price of the currency at the time the option is exercised.

Currency Hedging. The Portfolio’s currency hedging will be limited to hedging involving either specific transactions or portfolio positions. Transaction hedging is the purchase or sale of forward currency with respect to specific receivables or payables of the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio generally accruing in connection with the purchase or sale of the Portfolio’s portfolio securities. Position hedging is the sale of forward currency with respect

 

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to portfolio security positions. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may not position hedge to an extent greater than the aggregate market value (at the time of entering into the hedge) of the hedged securities.

A decline in the U.S. dollar value of a foreign currency in which the Portfolio’s securities are denominated will reduce the U.S. dollar value of the securities, even if their value in the foreign currency remains constant. The use of currency hedges does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities, but it does establish a rate of exchange that can be achieved in the future. For example, in order to protect against diminutions in the U.S. dollar value of non-dollar denominated securities it holds, the Portfolio may purchase foreign currency put options. If the value of the foreign currency does decline, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio will have the right to sell the currency for a fixed amount in dollars and will thereby offset, in whole or in part, the adverse effect on the U.S. dollar value of its securities that otherwise would have resulted. Conversely, if a rise in the U.S. dollar value of a currency in which securities to be acquired are denominated is projected, thereby potentially increasing the cost of the securities, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may purchase call options on the particular currency. The purchase of these options could offset, at least partially, the effects of the adverse movements in exchange rates. The benefit to the Portfolio derived from purchases of currency options, like the benefit derived from other types of options, will be reduced by premiums and other transaction costs. Because transactions in currency exchange are generally conducted on a principal basis, no fees or commissions are generally involved. Instead, profit to the currency trader is included in the purchase price. Currency hedging involves some of the same risks and considerations as other transactions with similar instruments. Although currency hedges limit the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of a hedged currency, at the same time currency hedges also limit any potential gain that might result should the value of the currency increase. If a devaluation is generally anticipated, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may not be able to contract to sell a currency at a price above the devaluation level the Portfolio anticipates.

While the values of currency futures and options on futures, forward currency contracts and currency options may be expected to correlate with exchange rates, the values will not reflect other factors that may affect the value of the Portfolio’s investments and a currency hedge may not be entirely successful in mitigating changes in the value of the Portfolio’s investments denominated in that currency. A currency hedge, for example, should protect a Yen-denominated bond against a decline in the Yen, but will not protect the Portfolio against a price decline if the issuer’s creditworthiness deteriorates.

Commodities and Securities Index Options. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may purchase and write exchange- or board of trade-listed and OTC put and call options on commodities and securities indexes. A commodities index measures the movement of a certain group of commodities by assigning relative values to the commodities included in the index, fluctuating with changes in the market values of the commodities included in the index. A securities index measures the movement of a certain group of securities by assigning relative values to the securities included in the index, fluctuating with changes in the market values of the securities included in the index.

Some commodities index options are based on a broad market index, such as the Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index, or a narrower sub-index covering a single commodity or a themed basket of commodities.

Options on commodities and securities indexes are similar to options on commodities and securities, respectively, except that the delivery requirements are different. Instead of giving the right to take or make delivery of commodities or securities, respectively, at a specified price, an option on a commodities or securities index gives the holder the right to receive a cash “exercise settlement amount” equal to (a) the amount, if any, by which the fixed exercise price of the option exceeds (in the case of a put) or is less than (in the case of a call) the closing value of the underlying index on the date of exercise, multiplied by (b) a fixed “index multiplier.”

Receipt of this cash amount will depend upon the closing level of the commodities or securities index upon which the option is based being greater than, in the case of a call, or less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the index and the exercise price of the option times a specified multiple. The writer of the option is obligated, in return for the premium received, to make delivery of this amount. Commodities and securities index options may be offset by entering into closing transactions as described above for commodities and securities options.

Uncovered Options Transactions. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may write options that are not covered (or so called “naked options”) on portfolio securities. When the Portfolio sells an uncovered call option, it

 

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does not simultaneously have a long position in the underlying security. When the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio sells an uncovered put option, it does not simultaneously have a short position in the underlying security. Uncovered options are riskier than covered options because there is no underlying security held by the Portfolio that can act as a partial hedge. Uncovered calls have speculative characteristics and the potential for loss is unlimited. There is also a risk, especially with less liquid preferred and debt securities, that the securities may not be available for purchase. Uncovered put options have speculative characteristics and the potential loss is substantial.

OTC Options. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may purchase OTC or dealer options or sell covered OTC options. Unlike exchange-listed options where an intermediary or clearing corporation, such as the Clearing Corporation, assures that all transactions in such options are properly executed, the responsibility for performing all transactions with respect to OTC options rests solely with the writer and the holder of those options. A listed call option writer, for example, is obligated to deliver the underlying securities to the clearing organization if the option is exercised, and the clearing organization is then obligated to pay the writer the exercise price of the option. If the Portfolio were to purchase a dealer option, however, it would rely on the dealer from whom it purchased the option to perform if the option were exercised. If the dealer fails to honor the exercise of the option by the Portfolio, the Portfolio would lose the premium it paid for the option and the expected benefit of the transaction.

Exchange-traded options generally have a continuous liquid market while OTC or dealer options do not. Consequently, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio will generally be able to realize the value of a dealer option the Portfolio has purchased only by exercising the option or reselling the option to the dealer who issued the option. Similarly, when the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio writes a dealer option, the Portfolio generally will be able to close out the option prior to its expiration only by entering into a closing purchase transaction with the dealer to which the Portfolio originally wrote the option. Although the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio will seek to enter into dealer options only with dealers who will agree to and that are expected to be capable of entering into closing transactions with the Portfolio, there can be no assurance that the Portfolio will be able to liquidate a dealer option at a favorable price at any time prior to expiration. The inability to enter into a closing transaction may result in material losses to the Portfolio. Until the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio, as a covered OTC call option writer, is able to effect a closing purchase transaction, the Portfolio will not be able to liquidate securities (or other assets) used to cover the written option until the option expires or is exercised. This requirement may impair the Portfolio’s ability to sell portfolio securities or, with respect to currency options, currencies at a time when such sale might be advantageous.

Asset Coverage for Forward Contracts, Swap Agreements, Options, Futures and Options on Futures. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio will comply with guidelines established by the SEC with respect to coverage of forward currency contracts; swap agreements; options written by the Portfolio on commodities, currencies, securities and commodity and security indexes; and currency, interest rate and commodity and security index futures contracts and options on these futures contracts. These guidelines may, in certain instances, require segregation by the Portfolio of cash or liquid securities with its custodian or a designated sub-custodian to the extent the Portfolio’s obligations with respect to these strategies are not otherwise “covered” through ownership of the underlying security, financial instrument or currency or by other portfolio positions or by other means consistent with applicable regulatory policies. Segregated assets cannot be sold or transferred unless equivalent assets are substituted in their place or it is no longer necessary to segregate them. As a result, there is a possibility that segregation of a large percentage of the Portfolio’s assets could impede portfolio management or the Portfolio’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations. The Subsidiary will comply with these asset segregation requirements to the same extent as the Portfolio.

For example, a call option written by the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio on an index may require the Portfolio to own portfolio securities that correlate with the index or to segregate assets (as described above) equal to the excess of the index value over the exercise price on a current basis. A put option written by the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may require the Portfolio to segregate assets (as described above) equal to the exercise price. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio could purchase a put option if the strike price of that option is the same or higher than the strike price of the put option sold by the Portfolio. If the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio holds a futures or forward contract, the Portfolio could purchase a put option on the same futures or forward contract with a strike price as high or higher than the price of the contract held. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may enter into fully or partially offsetting transactions so that its net position, coupled with any segregated assets (equal to any

 

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remaining obligation), equals its net obligation. Asset coverage may be achieved by other means when consistent with applicable regulatory policies.

Investments in the Subsidiary

The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its total assets in the shares of its wholly-owned and controlled Subsidiary, as determined at the time of investment. Under normal market conditions the Portfolio intends to invest between 15% and 25% of its assets in the Subsidiary, provided, however, that if future regulatory or legislative changes alter the tax treatment of commodity-linked derivatives, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may no longer invest in the Subsidiary. Investments in the Subsidiary are expected to provide the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio with exposure to the commodity markets within the limitations of Subchapter M of the Code and recent IRS revenue rulings, as discussed below under “Taxation of the Portfolios and Their Shareholders–Investments in Commodities.” The Subsidiary is advised by the Advisor and has the same investment objective as the Portfolio. The Subsidiary may invest in commodity-linked swap agreements and other commodity-linked derivative instruments, including futures contracts on individual commodities or a subset of commodities and options on them. These investments are subject to substantially similar fundamental, non-fundamental, and certain other investment restrictions as imposed on the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio by the 1940 Act, including the timing and method of the valuation of the Subsidiary’s portfolio investments and shares of the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary is managed pursuant to substantially similar compliance policies and procedures, as the policies and procedures adopted by the Portfolio pursuant to the 1940 Act. The Subsidiary is a company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and is overseen by its own board of directors. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio is the sole shareholder of the Subsidiary, and it is not currently expected that shares of the Subsidiary will be sold or offered to other investors.

The Subsidiary invests primarily in commodity-linked derivative instruments, including swap agreements, commodity options, futures, and options on futures. Although the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may enter into these commodity-linked derivative instruments directly, the Portfolio likely will gain exposure to these derivative instruments indirectly by investing in the Subsidiary. To the extent that the Advisor believes that these commodity-linked derivative instruments are better suited to provide exposure to the commodities market than commodity index-linked notes, the Portfolio may invest in the Subsidiary. The Subsidiary also will invest in fixed income instruments, some of which are intended to serve as margin or collateral for the Subsidiary’s derivatives position.

The derivative instruments in which the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio and the Subsidiary primarily intend to invest are instruments linked to certain commodity indices. Additionally, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio or the Subsidiary may invest in derivative instruments linked to the value of a particular commodity or commodity futures contract, or a subset of commodities or commodity futures contracts, including swaps on commodity futures. The Portfolio’s or the Subsidiary’s investments in commodity-linked derivative instruments may specify exposure to commodity futures with different roll dates, reset dates, or contract months than those specified by a particular commodity index. As a result, the commodity-linked derivatives component of the Portfolio’s portfolio may deviate from the returns of any particular commodity index. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio or the Subsidiary also may overweight or underweight its exposure to a particular commodity index or a subset of commodities, such that the Portfolio has greater or lesser exposure to that index than the value of the Portfolio’s net assets, or greater or lesser exposure to a subset of commodities than is represented by a particular commodity index. The portion of the Portfolio’s or Subsidiary’s assets exposed to any particular commodity or commodity sector will vary based on market conditions, but from time to time the portion could be substantial. To the extent that the Portfolio invests in the Subsidiary, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio may be subject to the risks associated with those derivative instruments and other securities discussed above.

The Subsidiary has an investment management agreement with the Advisor pursuant to which the Advisor manages the assets of the Subsidiary. For the investment advisory services it provides, the Advisor is entitled to a fee from the Subsidiary equal to 0.30% of the Subsidiary’s average net assets on an annualized basis. Pursuant to a contractual agreement, the Advisor has agreed to waive the management fee of the Subsidiary. Pursuant to Sub-Advisory Agreements with the Advisor, each of DFA Australia Limited (“DFA Australia”), Level 43 Gateway, 1 Macquarie Place, Sydney, New South Wales 2000, Australia, and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (“DFAL”), 20 Triton Street, Regent’s Place, London, NW13BF, United Kingdom, a company organized under the laws of

 

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England, may have the authority and responsibility to select brokers and dealers to execute securities transactions for the Subsidiary. The duties of each of DFA Australia and DFAL may include the maintenance of a trading desk for the Subsidiary and the determination of the best and most efficient means of executing securities transactions. On at least a semi-annual basis, the Advisor reviews the holdings of the Subsidiary and reviews the trading process and the execution of securities transactions. The Advisor is responsible for determining those securities which are eligible for purchase and sale by the Subsidiary and may delegate this task, subject to the Advisor’s own review, to DFA Australia and/or DFAL. DFA Australia may maintain and furnish to the Advisor information and reports on Japanese and Asia Pacific Rim small companies, including its recommendations of securities to be added to the securities that are eligible for purchase by the subsidiary as well as making recommendations and elections on corporate actions. DFAL may maintain and furnish to the Advisor information and reports on United Kingdom and European small companies, including its recommendations of securities to be added to the securities that are eligible for purchase by the Subsidiary as well as making recommendations and elections on corporate actions. DFAL is a member of the Financial Services Authority, a self-regulatory organization for investment managers operating under the laws of England. The Subsidiary has entered into an administration agreement with the Advisor pursuant to which the Advisor provides certain administrative services to the Subsidiary, but receives no additional compensation for doing so. The Subsidiary also has entered into separate contracts for the provision of custody, transfer agency, and accounting agent services with the same or with affiliates of the same service providers that provide those services to the Portfolio.

The financial statements of the Subsidiary will be included in the Portfolio’s future annual and semi-annual reports (which will include the Subsidiary’s full audited financial statements and unaudited financial statements, respectively) provided to DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio shareholders. Copies of the reports are provided without charge upon request.

The Subsidiary is not registered under the 1940 Act, and unless otherwise noted in the Prospectus or this SAI, is not subject to all of the investor protections of the 1940 Act. However, the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio wholly owns and controls the Subsidiary, and the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio and the Subsidiary both are managed by the Advisor, making it unlikely that the Subsidiary will take action contrary to the interests of the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio and its shareholders. DFAIDG’s Board has oversight responsibility for the investment activities of the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio, including its investment in the Subsidiary, and the Portfolio’s role as sole shareholder of the Subsidiary. As noted above, the Subsidiary will be subject to substantially similar investment restrictions and limitations, and follow substantially similar compliance policies and procedures, as required of the Portfolio by the 1940 Act. In addition, changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Portfolio and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in the Prospectus and the SAI, and could adversely affect the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio. For example, the Cayman Islands currently does not impose any income, corporate, or capital gains tax, estate duty, inheritance tax, gift tax, or withholding tax on the Subsidiary. If Cayman Islands law changes such that the Subsidiary must pay Cayman Islands taxes, Portfolio shareholders likely would suffer decreased investment returns.

FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

The International Equity Master Funds and Portfolios and Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio may acquire and sell forward foreign currency exchange contracts in order to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency exchange rates. The Portfolios and Master Funds will conduct their foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies. A forward foreign currency exchange contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days (usually less than one year) from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts are traded in the interbank market conducted directly between traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. A forward contract generally has no deposit requirement, and no commissions are charged at any stage for trades. Although foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference (the spread) between the price at which they are buying and selling various currencies.

 

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With respect to an International Equity Portfolio or Master Fund, the Portfolio or Master Fund may enter into a forward contract in connection with the purchase or sale of foreign equity securities, typically to “lock in” the value of the transaction with respect to a different currency. In addition, a Portfolio or Master Fund may, from time to time, enter into a forward contract to transfer balances from one currency to another currency.

The Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio may enter into forward foreign currency contracts to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or to transfer balances from one currency to another currency. A Series or Portfolio may enter into a forward contract to buy or sell the amount of foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of the portfolio securities quoted or denominated in such foreign currency. The precise matching of the forward contract amounts and the value of the securities involved will not generally be possible since the future value of such securities in foreign currencies will change as a consequence of market movements in the value of those securities between the date the forward contract is entered into and the date it expires. The Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio typically hedges its foreign currency exposure.

CASH MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

All non-Feeder Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds engage in cash management practices in order to earn income on uncommitted cash balances. Generally, cash is uncommitted pending investment in other securities, payment of redemptions or in other circumstances where the Advisor believes liquidity is necessary or desirable. For example, in the case of the Emerging Markets Master Funds, cash investments may be made for temporary defensive purposes during periods in which market, economic or political conditions warrant.

All the non-Feeder Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds may invest cash in short-term repurchase agreements. In addition, the following cash investments are permissible:

 

Portfolios and Master Funds    Permissible Cash Investments*   

Percentage

Guidelines**

    

         

U.S. Large Company Portfolios

   Short-term fixed income obligations; index futures contracts and options thereon; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    5%

    

         

Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio

   Short-term fixed income obligations; index futures contracts and options thereon; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    N.A.

    

         
Japanese Small Company, Asia Pacific Small Company, United Kingdom Small Company and Continental Small Company    Short-term fixed income obligations; high quality, highly liquid fixed income securities, such as money market instruments; index futures contracts and options thereon; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    20%

    

         

U.S. Small Cap Portfolio

   Short-term fixed income obligations; high quality, highly liquid fixed income securities, such as money market instruments; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    20%

    

         

U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio

   Short-term fixed income obligations; high quality, highly liquid fixed income securities, such as money market instruments; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    20%

    

         

U.S. Large Cap Value and U.S. Small Cap Value

   High quality, highly liquid fixed income securities, such as money market instruments; index futures contracts and options thereon; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    20%

    

         

 

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Portfolios and Master Funds    Permissible Cash Investments*   

Percentage

Guidelines**

              
U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio    High quality, highly liquid fixed income securities, such as money market instruments; index futures contracts and options thereon; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    20%
              
U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio, U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio and U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio    High quality, highly liquid fixed income securities, such as money market instruments; index futures contracts and options thereon; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    20%
              
DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio    Fixed income obligations, such as money market instruments; index futures contracts and options thereon; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    20%
              
DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio    Money market instruments, highly liquid debt securities, freely convertible currencies; and affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    20%
              
Large Cap International Portfolio    Fixed income obligations, such as money market instruments; index futures contracts and options thereon; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    20%
              
International Small Company Portfolio    Short-term, high quality fixed income obligations; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    Small portion
              
DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio    Index future contracts and options thereon; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    20%
              
DFA International Value Portfolio    Fixed income obligations, such as money market instruments; index futures contracts and options thereon; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    20%
              
DFA International Value Series    Fixed income obligations, such as money market instruments; index futures contracts and options thereon; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    20%
              
International Core Equity Portfolio    High quality, highly liquid fixed income securities, such as money market instruments; index futures contracts and options thereon; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    20%
              
DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio    High quality, highly liquid fixed income securities, such as money market instruments; index futures contracts and options thereon; freely convertible currencies; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    20%
              
DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio    Short-term repurchase agreements; money market instruments; investment grade debt securities; freely convertible currencies, shares of affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds ***; index futures contracts, and options thereon.    20%
              
International Vector Equity Portfolio    Short-term repurchase agreements; money market instruments; investment grade debt securities; freely convertible currencies; shares of affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***; index futures contracts, and options thereon.    20%

 

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Table of Contents
Portfolios and Master Funds    Permissible Cash Investments*   

Percentage

Guidelines**

    

         

World ex U.S. Value Portfolio

   Money market instruments; highly liquid debt securities; freely convertible currencies; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    20%

    

         

The Emerging Markets Master Funds

   Money market instruments; highly liquid debt securities; freely convertible currencies; index futures contracts and options thereon; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    10%

    

         

Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio

   Money market instruments; highly liquid debt securities; freely convertible currencies; index futures contracts and options thereon; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    20%

 

  *

With respect to fixed income instruments, except in connection with corporate actions, the non-Feeder Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds will invest in fixed income instruments that at the time of purchase have an investment grade rating by a rating agency or are deemed to be investment grade by the Advisor.

 

  **

The percentage guidelines set forth above are not absolute limitations, but the non-Feeder Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds do not expect to exceed these guidelines under normal circumstances.

 

***

Investments in money market mutual funds may involve duplication of certain fees and expenses.

CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES

Each of the International Equity Portfolios, International Equity Master Funds, International Equity Underlying Funds and the World ex U.S. Value Portfolio and each of its Underlying Funds may invest up to 5% of its assets in convertible debentures issued by non-U.S. companies located in the countries where such Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund is permitted to invest. In addition, the U.S. Small Cap Portfolio and the U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio are authorized to invest in private placements of interest-bearing debentures that are convertible into common stock. Convertible debentures include corporate bonds and notes that may be converted into or exchanged for common stock. These securities are generally convertible either at a stated price or a stated rate (that is, for a specific number of shares of common stock or other security). As with other fixed income securities, the price of a convertible debenture to some extent varies inversely with interest rates. While providing a fixed income stream (generally higher in yield than the income derived from a common stock but lower than that afforded by a nonconvertible debenture), a convertible debenture also affords the investor an opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation of the common stock into which it is convertible. As the market price of the underlying common stock declines, convertible debentures tend to trade increasingly on a yield basis and so may not experience market value declines to the same extent as the underlying common stock. When the market price of the underlying common stock increases, the price of a convertible debenture tends to rise as a reflection of the value of the underlying common stock. To obtain such a higher yield, a Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund may be required to pay for a convertible debenture an amount in excess of the value of the underlying common stock. Common stock acquired by a Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund upon conversion of a convertible debenture will generally be held for as long as the Advisor anticipates such stock will provide the Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund with opportunities which are consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objective and policies.

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

The following non-Feeder Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds may also invest in Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the equity markets while maintaining liquidity:

 

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U.S. Large Company Portfolio

Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio

U.S. Large Cap Value Series

U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio

U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio

U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio

U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio

U.S. Small Cap Portfolio

U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio

DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio

DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio

Large Cap International Portfolio

DFA International Value Portfolio

The DFA International Value Series

International Core Equity Portfolio

International Small Company Portfolio

The Japanese Small Company Series

The Asia Pacific Small Company Series

The United Kingdom Small Company Series

The Continental Small Company Series

DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio

DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio

DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio

International Vector Equity Portfolio

World ex U.S. Value Portfolio

The Emerging Markets Series

The Emerging Markets Small Cap Series

Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund

Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio

An ETF is an investment company whose goal is to track or replicate a desired index, such as a sector, market or global segment. ETFs are passively managed, and traded similar to a publicly traded company. The risks and costs of investing in ETFs are comparable to investing in a publicly traded company. The goal of an ETF is to correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of its underlying index. The risk of not correlating to the index is an additional risk to the investors of ETFs. When a Portfolio invests in an ETF, shareholders of the Portfolio bear their proportionate share of the underlying ETF’s fees and expenses.

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATES

Generally, securities will be purchased by the Equity Portfolios, Equity Master Funds and Equity Underlying Funds with the expectation that they will be held for longer than one year. The Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio is expected to have high portfolio turnover rates due to the relatively short maturities of the securities to be acquired. In addition, variations in turnover rates occur because securities are sold when, in the Advisor’s judgment, the return will be increased as a result of portfolio transactions after taking into account the cost of trading.

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Directors

Organization of the Board

The Board of Directors of each Fund (each a “Board”) is responsible for establishing the Funds’ policies and for overseeing the management of each Fund. The Board of Directors elects the officers of each Fund, who, along with third party service providers, are responsible for administering the day-to-day operations of the Fund.

 

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The Board of Directors of each Fund is comprised of two interested Directors and six disinterested Directors. David G. Booth, an interested Director, is Chairman of each Board. Each Board has not found it necessary to appoint a lead disinterested Director because it believes that the existing structure of each Board allows for effective communication among the disinterested Directors, between the disinterested Directors and interested Directors, as well as between the disinterested Directors and management. The existing Board structure for each Fund also provides the disinterested Directors with adequate influence over the governance of the Board and each Fund, while also providing the Board with the invaluable insight of the two interested Directors, who, as both officers of the Fund and the Advisor, participate in the day-to-day management of each Fund’s affairs, including risk management.

The agenda for each quarterly meeting of the Board is provided at least two weeks prior to the meeting to the disinterested Directors in order to provide the Directors with the opportunity to contact Fund management and/or the disinterested Directors’ independent counsel regarding agenda items. In addition, the disinterested Directors regularly communicate with Mr. Booth regarding items of interest to them in between regularly scheduled meetings of the Board. The Board of each Fund meets in person at least four times each year and by telephone at other times. At each in-person meeting, the disinterested Directors meet in executive session with their independent counsel to discuss matters outside the presence of management.

Each Board has three standing committees, an Audit Committee, a Nominating Committee and a Portfolio Performance and Service Review Committee (“Performance Committee”) that are composed entirely of disinterested Directors. As described below, through these Committees, the disinterested Directors have direct oversight of each Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies, the selection and nomination of candidates to each Fund’s Board and the review of the investment performance of the series of each Fund and the performance of each Fund’s service providers.

Each Board’s Audit Committee is comprised of George M. Constantinides, Roger G. Ibbotson and Abbie J. Smith. The Audit Committee for each Board oversees the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies and practices, each Fund’s internal controls, each Fund’s financial statements and the independent audits thereof and performs other oversight functions as requested by each Board. The Audit Committee for each Board recommends the appointment of each Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and also acts as a liaison between each Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and the full Board. There were two Audit Committee meetings held for each Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

Each Board’s Nominating Committee is comprised of George M. Constantinides, John P. Gould, Roger G. Ibbotson, Myron S. Scholes, Edward P. Lazear and Abbie J. Smith. The Nominating Committee for each Board makes recommendations for nominations of disinterested and interested members on the Board to the disinterested Board members and to the full board. The Nominating Committee of each Board evaluates a candidate’s qualification for Board membership and the independence of such candidate from the Advisor and other principal service providers. There were three Nominating Committee meetings held for each Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

Each Board’s Performance Committee is comprised of George M. Constantinides, Roger G. Ibbotson, Abbie J. Smith, Edward P. Lazear, John P. Gould and Myron S. Scholes. The Performance Committee regularly reviews and monitors the investment performance of each Fund’s series, including the Portfolios, and reviews the performance of each Fund’s service providers. There were seven Performance Committee meetings held for each Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

In addition to the Audit Committee, Nominating Committee and Performance Committee, each Board has an Investment Review Committee that assists the Board in carrying out its fiduciary duties with respect to the oversight of a Fund and its performance (the “Review Committee”). The Review Committee consists of both interested and disinterested Directors. The Review Committee is comprised of John P. Gould, Edward P. Lazear, Myron S. Scholes and Eduardo A. Repetto. At the request of a Board or the Advisor, the Review Committee (i) reviews the design of possible new series of the Fund, (ii) reviews performance of existing Portfolios of the Fund, and discusses and recommends possible enhancements to the Portfolios’ investment strategies, (iii) reviews proposals by the Advisor to modify or enhance the investment strategies or policies of each Portfolio, and (iv) considers issues relating to investment services for each Portfolio of the Fund. The Review Committee was formed

 

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Table of Contents

on December 17, 2010. Consequently, there were no Review Committee meetings held for a Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

The Board of each Fund, including all of the disinterested Directors, oversees and approves the contracts of the third party service providers that provide advisory, administrative, custodial and other services to the Fund.

Board Oversight of Risk Management

The Board of each Fund, as a whole, considers risk management issues as part of its general oversight responsibilities throughout the year at regular board meetings, through regular reports that have been developed by Fund management and the Advisor. These reports address certain investment, valuation and compliance matters. The Board also may receive special written reports or presentations on a variety of risk issues, either upon the Board’s request or upon the initiative of the Advisor. In addition, the Audit Committee of the Board meets regularly with management of the Advisor to review reports on the Advisor’s examinations of functions and processes that affect each Fund.

With respect to investment risk, the Board receives regular written reports describing and analyzing the investment performance of each Fund’s portfolios. The Board discusses these reports and the portfolios’ performance and investment risks with management of the Advisor at the Board’s regular meetings. The Investment Committee of the Advisor meets regularly to discuss a variety of issues, including the impact that the investment in particular securities or instruments, such as derivatives, may have on the portfolios. To the extent that the Investment Committee of the Advisor decides to materially change an investment strategy or policy of a portfolio and such change could have a significant impact on the portfolio’s risk profile, the Advisor will present such change to the Board for their approval.

With respect to valuation, the Advisor and each Fund’s Administrative and Accounting Agent provide regular written reports to the Board that enables the Board to review fair valued securities in a particular portfolio. Such reports also include information concerning illiquid and any worthless securities held by each portfolio. In addition, each Fund’s Audit Committee reviews valuation procedures and pricing results with the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm in connection with such Committee’s review of the results of the audit of each portfolio’s year-end financial statements.

With respect to compliance risks, the Board receives regular compliance reports prepared by the Advisor’s compliance group and meets regularly with each Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) to discuss compliance issues, including compliance risks. As required under SEC rules, the disinterested Directors meet at least quarterly in executive session with the CCO, and each Fund’s CCO prepares and presents an annual written compliance report to the Board. Each Fund’s Board adopts compliance policies and procedures for the Fund and receives information about the compliance procedures in place for the Fund’s service providers. The compliance policies and procedures are specifically designed to detect and prevent violations of the federal securities laws.

The Advisor periodically provides information to the Board relevant to enterprise risk management describing the way in which certain risks are managed at the complex-wide level by the Advisor. Such presentations include areas such as counter-party risk, material fund vendor or service provider risk, investment risk, reputational risk, personnel risk and business continuity risk.

Director Qualifications

When a vacancy occurs on the Board, the Nominating Committee of the Board evaluates a candidate’s qualification for Board membership and the independence of such candidate from the Advisor and other principal service providers. The Nominating Committee will consider nominees recommended by Qualifying Fund Shareholders if a vacancy occurs among Board members. A Qualifying Fund Shareholder is a shareholder, or group of shareholders, that: (i) owns of record, or beneficially through a financial intermediary, 5% or more of a Fund’s outstanding shares, and (ii) has owned such shares for 12 months or more prior to submitting the recommendation to the Committee. Such recommendations shall be directed to the Secretary of a Fund at 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, Texas 78746. The Qualifying Fund Shareholder’s letter should include: (i) the name and address of the Qualifying Fund Shareholder making the recommendation; (ii) the number of shares of each Portfolio

 

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Table of Contents

of a Fund that are owned of record and beneficially by such Qualifying Fund Shareholder, and the length of time that such shares have been so owned by the Qualifying Fund Shareholder; (iii) a description of all arrangements and understandings between such Qualifying Fund Shareholder and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the recommendation is being made; (iv) the name and address of the nominee; and (v) the nominee’s resume or curriculum vitae. The Qualifying Fund Shareholder’s letter must be accompanied by a written consent of the individual to stand for election if nominated for the Board and to serve if elected by shareholders. The Committee also may seek such additional information about the nominee as the Committee considers appropriate, including information relating to such nominee that is required to be disclosed in solicitations or proxies for the election of Board members.

The Nominating Committee of the Board of each Fund believes that it is in the best interests of each Fund and its shareholders to obtain highly-qualified individuals to serve as members of the Board. Each Fund’s Board believes that each Director currently serving on the Board has the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills to allow the Board to effectively oversee the management of the Fund and protect the interests of shareholders. Each Board noted that each Director had professional experience in areas of importance for investment companies. The Board considered that each disinterested Director held an academic position in the areas of finance, economics or accounting. The Board also noted that John P. Gould, Myron S. Scholes and Abbie J. Smith each had experience serving as a director on the boards of operating companies and/or other investment companies. In addition, the Board considered that David G. Booth and Eduardo A. Repetto contributed valuable experience due to their positions with the Advisor. Certain biographical information for each disinterested Director and each interested Director of a Fund is set forth in the tables below, including a description of each Director’s experience as a Director of a Fund and as a director or trustee of other funds, as well as other recent professional experience.

Disinterested Directors

 

Name, Address and

            Age

      Position       

Term of

Office1

and

Length of

Service

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years   

Portfolios

within the

DFA Fund

Complex2

Overseen

  

Other

Directorships of

Public

Companies Held

During Past 5

Years

George M.

Constantinides

University of

Chicago Booth

School of Business

5807 S. Woodlawn

Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

Age: 63

  Director   

DFAIDG–since 1983

DIG–since 1993

   Leo Melamed Professor of Finance, University of Chicago Booth School of Business.    89 portfolios in 4 investment companies    None

John P. Gould

University of

Chicago Booth

School of Business

5807 S. Woodlawn

Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

Age: 72

  Director   

DFAIDG–since 1986

DIG–since 1993

   Steven G. Rothmeier Distinguished Service Professor of Economics, University of Chicago Booth School of Business (since 1965). Member and Chair, Competitive Markets Advisory Council, Chicago Mercantile Exchange (futures trading exchange) (since 2004). Formerly, Director of UNext Inc. (1999-2006). Formerly, Member of the Board of Milwaukee Insurance Company (1997-2010).    89 portfolios in 4 investment companies    Trustee, Harbor Funds (registered investment company) (278Portfolios) (since 1994).

Roger G. Ibbotson

Yale School of

Management

P.O. Box 208200

New Haven, CT

06520-8200

Age: 67

  Director   

DFAIDG–since 1981

DIG–since 1993

   Professor in Practice of Finance, Yale School of Management (since 1984). Consultant to Morningstar, Inc. (since 2006). Chairman, CIO and Partner, Zebra Capital Management, LLC (hedge fund and asset manager) (since 2001). Formerly, Chairman, Ibbotson Associates, Inc., Chicago, IL (software, data, publishing and consulting) (1977-2006). Formerly, Director, BIRR Portfolio Analysis, Inc. (software products) (1990-2010).    89 portfolios in 4 investment companies    None

 

30


Table of Contents

Name, Address and

            Age

      Position       

Term of

Office1

and

Length of

Service

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years   

Portfolios

within the

DFA Fund

Complex2

Overseen

  

Other

Directorships of

Public

Companies Held

During Past 5

Years

Edward P. Lazear Stanford University

Graduate School of

Business

518 Memorial Way

Stanford, CA 94305-

5015

Age: 63

  Trustee/ Director   

DFAIDG–since 2010

DIG–since 2010

   Morris Arnold Cox Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution (since 2002). Jack Steele Parker Professor of Human Resources Management and Economics, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University (since 1995). Cornerstone Research (expert testimony and economic and financial analysis) (since 2009). Formerly, Chairman of the President George W. Bush’s Council of Economic Advisers (2006- 2009). Council of Economic Advisors, State of California (2005-2006). Commissioner, White House Panel on Tax Reform (2005).    89 portfolios in 4 investment companies    None

Myron S. Scholes

c/o Dimensional

Fund Advisors LP

6300 Bee Cave

Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

Age: 69

  Director   

DFAIDG–since 1981

DIG–since 1993

   Frank E. Buck Professor Emeritus of Finance, Stanford University (since 1981). Formerly, Chairman, Platinum Grove Asset Management L.P. (hedge fund) (formerly, Oak Hill Platinum Partners) (1999-2009). Formerly, Managing Partner, Oak Hill Capital Management (private equity firm) (until 2004).    89 portfolios in 4 investment companies    Director, American Century Fund Complex (registered investment companies) (40 Portfolios) (since 1980). Formerly, Director, Chicago Mercantile Exchange (2001-2008).

Abbie J. Smith

University of

Chicago Booth

School of Business

5807 S. Woodlawn

Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

Age: 57

  Director   

DFAIDG–since 2000

DIG–since 2000

   Boris and Irene Stern Distinguished Service Professor of Accounting, University of Chicago Booth School of Business (since 1980); Co-Director Investment Research, Fundamental Investment Advisors (hedge fund) (since 2008).    89 portfolios in 4 investment companies    Director, HNI Corporation (formerly known as HON Industries Inc.) (office furniture) (since 2000); Director, Ryder System Inc. (transportation, logistics and supply-chain management) (since 2003); and Trustee, UBS Funds (3 investment companies within the fund complex) (52 portfolios) (since 2009).

Interested Directors

The following Interested Directors are described as such because they are deemed to be “interested persons,” as that term is defined under the 1940 Act, due to their positions with the Advisor.

 

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Name, Address

    and Age

     Position   

Term of

Office1

and

Length of

Service

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years   

Portfolios

within the

DFA Fund

Complex2

Overseen

  

Other Directorships
of Public Companies
Held During Past 5

Years

David G. Booth

6300 Bee Cave

Road, Building

One

Austin, TX

78746

Age: 64

  

Chairman,

Director,
President

and Co-
Chief
Executive
Officer

  

DFAIDG–
since 1981

DIG–since
1992

   Chairman, Director/Trustee, President, Co-Chief Executive
Officer and, formerly, Chief Executive Officer (until
1/1/2010) and Chief Investment Officer (2003 to
3/30/2007) of the following companies: Dimensional Fund
Advisors LP, DFA Securities LLC, Dimensional Emerging
Markets Value Fund, DFAIDG, Dimensional Investment
Group Inc. and The DFA Investment Trust Company.
Chairman, Director, President and Co-Chief Executive
Officer of Dimensional Holdings Inc. and formerly Chief
Executive Officer (until 1/1/2010) and Chief Investment
Officer (until 3/30/2007). Director of Dimensional Fund
Advisors Ltd. and formerly, Chief Investment Officer.
Director of DFA Australia Limited and formerly, President
and Chief Investment Officer. Director of Dimensional
Funds PLC. and Dimensional Funds II PLC. Chairman and
President of Dimensional SmartNest LLC and
Dimensional SmartNest (US) LLC. Limited Partner, Oak
Hill Partners (since 2001) and VSC Investors, LLC (since
2007). Trustee, University of Chicago. Trustee, University
of Kansas Endowment Association. Formerly, Director,
SA Funds (registered investment company). Chairman,
Director and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Dimensional
Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director, Dimensional
Cayman Commodity Fund I Ltd.
   89 portfolios in 4
investment
companies
   None

Eduardo A.

Repetto

6300 Bee Cave

Road,

Building One

Austin, TX

78746

Age: 44

   Director, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer   

DFAIDG- since 2009

DIG- since 2009

   Co-Chief Executive Officer (beginning January 2010), Chief Investment Officer (beginning March 2007) and formerly, Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, Dimensional Holdings Inc., DFA Securities LLC, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund, DFAIDG, Dimensional Investment Group Inc., The DFA Investment Trust Company and Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC; Director of all such entities except Dimensional Fund Advisors LP and DFA Securities LLC. Chief Investment Officer, Vice President and Director of DFA Australia Limited. Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC and Dimensional Cayman Commodity Fund I Ltd.    89 portfolios in 4 investment companies    None
1

Each Director holds office for an indefinite term until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

 

2

Each Director is a director or trustee of each of the four registered investment companies within the DFA Fund Complex, which include: the Funds; The DFA Investment Trust Company; and Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund. Each Disinterested Director also serves on the Independent Review Committee of the Dimensional Funds, mutual funds registered in the provinces of Canada and managed by the Advisor’s affiliate, Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

Information relating to each Director’s ownership (including the ownership of his or her immediate family) in the Portfolios of the Funds in this SAI and in all registered investment companies in the DFA Fund Complex as of December 31, 2010 is set forth in the chart below.

 

Name    Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned   

Aggregate Dollar Range of Shares Owned

in All Funds Overseen by Director in

Family of Investment Companies

Disinterested Directors:          
George M. Constantinides    None   

None Directly; Over $100,000 in Simulated

Funds**

John P. Gould    None   

None Directly; Over $100,000 in Simulated

Funds **

 

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Table of Contents
Name    Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned   

Aggregate Dollar Range of Shares Owned

in All Funds Overseen by Director in

Family of Investment Companies

Roger G. Ibbotson   

U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio – Over $100,000

U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio – Over $100,000

International Core Equity Portfolio – Over $100,000

   Over $100,000; Over $100,000 in Simulated Funds**

Edward P. Lazear

 

   None    None Directly.
Myron S. Scholes    U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio - $50,001-$100,000   

$50,001-$100,000; Over $100,000 in

Simulated Funds**

Abbie J. Smith    None   

None Directly; Over $100,000 in Simulated

Funds **

Interested Directors:          

David G. Booth

 

   U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio – Over $100,000    Over $100,000
Eduardo A. Repetto   

U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio – Over $100,000

U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio – Over $100,000

U.S. Large Company Portfolio - $50,001 - $100,000

International Core Equity Portfolio - $10,001 - $50,000

Large Cap International Portfolio – $10,001 - $50,000

   Over $100,000

**         As discussed below, the compensation to certain of the disinterested Directors may be in amounts that correspond to a hypothetical investment in a cross-section of the DFA Funds. Thus, the disinterested Directors who are so compensated experience the same investment returns that are experienced by shareholders of the DFA Funds although the disinterested Directors do not directly own shares of the DFA Funds.

Set forth below is a table listing, for each Director entitled to receive compensation, the compensation received from the Funds during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010 and the total compensation received from all four registered investment companies for which the Advisor served as investment advisor during that same period. The table also provides the compensation paid by each Fund to the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

 

Name and Position

  Aggregate
Compensation
from
DFAIDG*
  Aggregate
Compensation
from DIG
  Pension or
Retirement

Benefits as
Part of
Expenses
  Estimated
Annual
Benefit
upon
Retirement
  Total
Compensation
from Funds
and DFA Fund
Complex Paid
to Directors†

George M. Constantinides

Director

  $108,410   $14,974   N/A   N/A   $175,000

John P. Gould

Director

  $108,410   $14,974   N/A   N/A   $175,000

Roger G. Ibbotson

Director

  $114,889   $15,817   N/A   N/A   $185,000

Edward P. Lazear**

Director

  $0   $0   N/A   N/A   $0

Myron S. Scholes

Director

  $108,410   $14,974   N/A   N/A   $175,000

Abbie J. Smith

Director

  $108,410   $14,974   N/A   N/A   $175,000

Christopher S. Crossan

Chief Compliance Officer

  $210,470   $29,359   N/A   N/A   N/A

 

The term DFA Fund Complex refers to the four registered investment companies for which the Advisor performs advisory or administrative services and for which the individuals listed above serve as directors/trustees on the Boards of Directors/Trustees of such companies.

 

*

Under a deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) adopted effective January 1, 2002, the disinterested Directors of the Fund may defer receipt of all or a portion of the compensation for serving as members of the four Boards

 

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of Directors/Trustees of the investment companies in the DFA Fund Complex (the “DFA Funds”). Amounts deferred under the Plan are treated as though equivalent dollar amounts had been invested in shares of a cross-section of the DFA Funds (the “Reference Funds” or “Simulated Funds”). The amounts ultimately received by the disinterested Directors under the Plan will be directly linked to the investment performance of the Reference Funds. Deferral of fees in accordance with the Plan will have a negligible effect on a fund’s assets, liabilities, and net income per share, and will not obligate a fund to retain the services of any disinterested Director or to pay any particular level of compensation to the disinterested Director. The total amount of deferred compensation accrued by the disinterested Directors from the DFA Fund Complex who participated in the Plan during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010 is as follows: $185,000 (Mr. Ibbotson). A disinterested Director’s deferred compensation will be distributed at the earlier of: (a) January in the year after the disinterested Director’s resignation from the Boards of Directors/Trustees of the DFA Funds, or death or disability; or (b) five years following the first deferral, in such amounts as the disinterested Director has specified. The obligations of the DFA Funds to make payments under the Plan will be unsecured general obligations of the DFA Funds, payable out of the general assets and property of the DFA Funds.

 

**

Mr. Lazear did not serve as a Director until December 17, 2010; therefore, he did not receive any compensation from a Fund or a DFA Fund Complex as of October 31, 2010.

Officers

Below is the name, age, and information regarding positions with the Fund and the principal occupation for each officer of the Fund. The address of each officer is 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746. Each of the officers listed below holds the same office (except as otherwise noted) in the following entities: Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, Dimensional Holdings Inc., DFA Securities LLC, the Funds, the Trust, and DEM (collectively, the “DFA Entities”).

 

Name and Age    Position  

Term of

Office1

and

    Length of    

Service

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

April A. Aandal

Age: 48

   Vice President and Chief Learning Officer  

Since

2008

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Chief Learning Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2008). Formerly Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2004-2008).

Darryl D. Avery

Age: 44

   Vice President  

Since

2005

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Arthur H. Barlow

Age: 55

   Vice President  

Since

1993

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Scott A. Bosworth

Age: 42

   Vice President  

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since November 1997).

Valerie A. Brown

Age: 44

   Vice President and Assistant Secretary  

Since

2001

   Vice President and Assistant Secretary of all the DFA Entities, DFA Australia Limited, Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., and Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

David P. Butler

Age: 45

   Vice President  

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Director of Global Financial Advisor Services of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since 2008). Formerly, Director US Financial Advisor Services of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2005).

Joseph H. Chi

Age: 44

   Vice President  

Since

2009

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since October 2005).

Stephen A. Clark

Age: 38

   Vice President  

Since

2004

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Robert P. Cornell

Age: 61

   Vice President  

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Financial Services Group of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since August 1993).

 

34


Table of Contents
Name and Age    Position  

Term of

Office1

and

    Length of    
Service

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

Christopher S. Crossan

Age: 45

  

Vice President and

Chief Compliance

Officer

 

Since

2004

   Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of all the DFA Entities.

James L. Davis

Age: 54

   Vice President  

Since

1999

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Robert T. Deere

Age: 53

   Vice President  

Since

1994

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities and DFA Australia Limited.

Peter F. Dillard

Age: 39

   Vice President  

Since

2010

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Research Associate for Dimensional Fund Advisors, LP (since August 2008). Formerly, Research Assistant for DFA from April 2006 – August 2008. Prior to April 2006, Manager at Hilton Hotels Corp. (September 2004 – April 2006).

Robert W. Dintzner

Age: 40

   Vice President  

Since

2001

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Chief Communications Officer (since 2010).

Beth Ann Dranguet

Age: 40

   Vice President  

Since

2010

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Counsel for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since July 2007). Formerly, Associate at Vinson & Elkins LLP (September 1999 – July 2007).

Kenneth Elmgren

Age: 56

   Vice President  

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Managing Principal of Beverly Capital (May 2004 to September 2006).

Richard A. Eustice

Age: 45

  

Vice President and

Assistant Secretary

 

Since

1998

   Vice President and Assistant Secretary of all the DFA Entities and DFA Australia Limited. Chief Operating Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (since July 2008). Formerly, Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Eugene F. Fama, Jr.

Age: 50

   Vice President  

Since

1993

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Gretchen A. Flicker

Age: 39

   Vice President  

Since

2004

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Jed S. Fogdall

Age: 36

   Vice President  

Since

2008

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2004).

Jeremy P. Freeman

Age: 40

   Vice President  

Since

2009

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Technology Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since June 2006). Formerly, Principal at AIM Investments/Amvescap PLC (now Invesco) (June 1998 – June 2006).

Mark R. Gochnour

Age: 43

   Vice President  

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

Henry F. Gray

Age: 43

   Vice President  

Since

2000

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited.

John T. Gray

Age: 36

   Vice President  

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (January 2005 to February 2007).

Joel H. Hefner

Age: 43

   Vice President  

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since June 1998).

Julie C. Henderson

Age: 36

  

Vice President and

Fund Controller

 

Since

2005

   Vice President and Fund Controller of all the DFA Entities.

Kevin B. Hight

Age: 43

   Vice President  

Since

2005

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Christine W. Ho

Age: 43

   Vice President  

Since

2004

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Jeff J. Jeon

Age: 37

   Vice President  

Since

2004

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Patrick M. Keating

Age: 56

   Vice President  

Since

2003

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities and Chief Operating Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Director, Vice President, and Chief Privacy Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director of DFA Australia Limited.

 

35


Table of Contents
Name and Age    Position  

Term of

Office1

and

    Length of    

Service

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

David M. Kershner

Age: 39

   Vice President   Since

2010

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since June 2004).

Joseph F. Kolerich

Age: 39

   Vice President   Since

2004

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since April 2001).

Michael F. Lane

Age: 43

   Vice President   Since

2004

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Kristina M. LaRusso

Age: 35

   Vice President   Since

2006

   Vice President of all DFA Entities. Formerly, Operations Supervisor of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (March 2003 to December 2006).

Juliet H. Lee

Age: 40

   Vice President   Since

2005

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Human Resources Manager of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2004).

Apollo D. Lupescu

Age: 41

   Vice President   Since

2009

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since February 2004).

Kenneth M. Manell

Age: 38

   Vice President   Since

2010

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Counsel for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2006). Formerly, Assistant General Counsel at Castle & Cooke (January 2004 – September 2006).

Aaron M. Marcus

Age: 40

  

Vice President and

Head of Global

Human Resources

  Since

2008

   Vice President of all DFA Entities and Head of Global Human Resources of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Formerly, Global Head of Recruiting and Vice President of Goldman Sachs & Co. (June 2006 to January 2008); Global Co-Head of HR of the Equities & FICC Division, and Vice President of Goldman Sachs & Co. (May 2005 to May 2006);

David R. Martin

Age: 54

  

Vice President, Chief

Financial Officer and

Treasurer

  Since

2007

   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of all the DFA Entities. Director, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. and DFA Australia Limited. Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director of Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC. Formerly, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Janus Capital Group Inc. (June 2005 to March 2007).

Catherine L. Newell

Age: 46

  

Vice President and

Secretary

  Vice

President

since 1997

and

Secretary

since 2000

   Vice President and Secretary of all the DFA Entities. Director, Vice President and Secretary of DFA Australia Limited. Director, Vice President and Secretary of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (since February 2002, April 1997, and May 2002, respectively). Vice President and Secretary of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director of Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC (since 2002 and 2006, respectively).

Christian Newton

Age: 35

   Vice President   Since
2009
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Web Services Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2008). Formerly, Design Manager (2005 – 2008) of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

Carolyn L. O

Age: 36

   Vice President   Since
2010
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Counsel for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2007). Prior to September 2007, Associate at K&L Gates LLP (January 2004 – September 2007).

Gerard K. O’Reilly

Age: 34

   Vice President   Since
2007
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Research Associate of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2004 to 2006).

Daniel C. Ong

Age: 37

   Vice President   Since
2009
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since July 2005).

Kyle K. Ozaki

Age: 32

   Vice President   Since
2010
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Compliance Officer for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2008). Formerly, Compliance Officer (February 2006 – December 2007) and Compliance Analyst (August 2004 – January 2006).

 

36


Table of Contents
Name and Age    Position  

Term of

Office1

and

    Length of    

Service

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

Carmen Palafox

Age: 36

   Vice President  

Since

2006

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Operations Manager of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since May 1996).

Sonya K. Park

Age: 38

   Vice President  

Since

2005

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

David A. Plecha

Age: 49

   Vice President  

Since

1993

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities, DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Theodore W. Randall

Age: 37

   Vice President  

Since

2008

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Research Associate of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2006 to 2008); Systems Developer of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2001 to 2006).

L. Jacobo Rodríguez

Age: 39

   Vice President  

Since

2005

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Julie A. Saft

Age: 51

   Vice President  

Since

2010

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Client Systems Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since July 2008). Formerly, Senior Manager at Vanguard (November 1997 – July 2008).

David E. Schneider

Age: 65

   Vice President  

Since

2001

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Director of Institutional Services of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

Walid A. Shinnawi

Age: 49

   Vice President  

Since

2010

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since March 2006). Formerly, Senior Director at Moody’s KMV (1999-March 2006).

Bruce A. Simmons

Age: 46

   Vice President  

Since

2009

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Investment Operations Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since May 2007). Formerly, Vice President Client and Fund Reporting at Mellon Financial (September 2005 – May 2007).

Ted R. Simpson

Age: 42

   Vice President  

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since December 2002).

Bryce D. Skaff

Age: 36

   Vice President  

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (December 1999 to January 2007).

Grady M. Smith

Age: 54

   Vice President  

Since

2004

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Carl G. Snyder

Age: 47

   Vice President  

Since

2000

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited.

Lawrence R. Spieth

Age: 63

   Vice President  

Since

2004

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Bradley G. Steiman

Age: 37

   Vice President  

Since

2004

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities and Director and Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

Robert C. Trotter

Age: 52

   Vice President  

Since

2009

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Manager Technology for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since March 2007). Formerly, Director of Technology at AMVESCAP (2002 – 2007).

Karen E. Umland

Age: 44

   Vice President  

Since

1997

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities, DFA Australia Limited, Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., and Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

Brian J. Walsh

Age: 41

   Vice President  

Since

2009

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since 2004).

Weston J. Wellington

Age: 59

   Vice President  

Since

1997

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited.

Ryan J. Wiley

Age: 34

   Vice President  

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Trader of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Formerly, Portfolio Manager (2006 to 2007) and Trader (2001 to 2006).

Paul E. Wise

Age: 55

   Vice President  

Since

2005

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Chief Technology Officer for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since 2004).
1

Each officer holds office for an indefinite term at the pleasure of the Boards of Directors and until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

 

37


Table of Contents

As of January 31, 2011, Directors and officers as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding stock of each Portfolio described in this SAI.

SERVICES TO THE FUNDS

Administrative Services—The Feeder Portfolios, U.S. Large Company Portfolio, Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio, U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio, U.S. Small Cap Portfolio, U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio and International Small Company Portfolio

The Funds have entered into administration agreements with the Advisor, on behalf of the Feeder Portfolios, U.S. Large Company Portfolio, Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio, U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio, U.S. Small Cap Portfolio, U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio and International Small Company Portfolio. Pursuant to each administration agreement, the Advisor performs various services, including: supervision of the services provided by the Portfolio’s custodian and transfer and dividend disbursing agent and others who provide services to the Fund for the benefit of the Portfolio; providing shareholders with information about the Portfolio and their investments as the shareholders or the Fund may request; assisting the Portfolio in conducting meetings of shareholders; furnishing information as the Board of Directors may require regarding the Master Funds or Underlying Funds (as applicable), and any other administrative services for the benefit of the Portfolio as the Board of Directors may reasonably request. For its administrative services, the Feeder Portfolios, U.S. Large Company Portfolio, Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio, U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio, U.S. Small Cap Portfolio, U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio and International Small Company Portfolio are obligated to pay the Advisor a monthly fee based on average net assets equal to one-twelfth of the percentages listed below:

 

Portfolio

  

Administration Fee

U.S. Large Company Portfolio

       0.05%  (a)

Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio

       0.15%

U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio

       0.15%

U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio

       0.30%

U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

       0.25%  (b)

U.S. Small Cap Portfolio

       0.32%

U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio

       0.40%

DFA International Value Portfolio

       0.20%

International Small Company Portfolio

       0.40%  (c)

Japanese Small Company Portfolio

       0.40%  (d)

Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio

       0.40%  (d)

United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio

       0.40%  (d)

Continental Small Company Portfolio

       0.40%  (d)

Emerging Markets Portfolio

       0.40%

Emerging Markets Value Portfolio

       0.40%

Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio

       0.45%

(a)        Pursuant to the Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the U.S. Large Company Portfolio, the Advisor has agreed to waive its administration fee to the extent necessary to reduce the Portfolio’s expenses to the extent that its total direct and indirect expenses (prior to September 10, 2010, including the expenses the Portfolio bears as a shareholder of its Master Fund) exceed 0.10% of its average net assets on an annualized basis. At any time that the total direct and indirect expenses of the U.S. Large Company Portfolio are less than 0.10% of its assets on an annualized basis, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived to the extent that such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s total direct and indirect expenses to exceed 0.10% if its average daily net assets on an annualized basis. The Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by DFAIDG or the Advisor. For additional information concerning the Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreements, see “Annual Fund Operating Expenses” in the Prospectus.

 

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Table of Contents

(b)        Pursuant to the Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, the Advisor has agreed to waive its administration fee and to assume the Portfolio’s direct and indirect expenses to the extent necessary to limit the expenses of the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio to 0.50% of the average net assets on an annualized basis. The Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by DFAIDG or the Advisor. For additional information concerning the Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreements, see “Annual Fund Operating Expenses” in the Prospectus.

(c)        Pursuant to the Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the International Small Company Portfolio, the Advisor has agreed to waive its administration fee and to assume the Portfolio’s other direct expenses to the extent necessary to limit the direct expenses of the International Small Company Portfolio to 0.45% of its average net assets on an annualized basis. This fee waiver and expense assumption arrangement does not include the indirect expenses the Portfolio bears as a shareholder of the International Master Funds. The Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by DFAIDG or the Advisor. For additional information concerning the Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement, see “Annual Fund Operating Expenses” in the Prospectus.

(d)        Pursuant to the Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the Japanese Small Company Portfolio, Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio, United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio and Continental Small Company Portfolio, the Advisor has agreed to waive its administration fee and to assume each Portfolio’s other direct expenses to the extent necessary to limit the direct expenses of the Portfolio to 0.47% of its average net assets on an annualized basis. These fee waiver and expense assumption arrangements do not include the indirect expenses the Portfolio bears as a shareholder of its Master Fund. The Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by DFAIDG or the Advisor. For additional information concerning the Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreements, see “Annual Fund Operating Expenses” in the Prospectus.

Each class of each Portfolio pays its proportionate share of the fees paid by the Portfolio to Advisor based on the average net assets of the classes.

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009 and the fiscal period from December 1, 2007 to October 31, 2008, the Portfolios paid administrative fees to the Advisor as set forth in the following table (the dollar amount is shown prior to any fee waivers by the Advisor):

 

Portfolio

  

FISCAL
YEAR
ENDED
2010

(000)

 

FISCAL
YEAR
ENDED

2009

(000)

 

FISCAL
PERIOD
ENDED
2008

(000)

     

U.S. Large Company Portfolio

   $1,0761   $3404   $4298  

Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio

   $238   $237   $380  

U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio

   $9,730   $7,521   $9,628  

U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio

   $18,946   $14,851   $21,131  

U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

   $4,988   $2,823   $1,875  

U.S. Small Cap Portfolio

   $9,485   $6,693   $7,938  

U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio

   $12,357   $10,155   $14,755  

DFA International Value Portfolio

   $9,323   $7,097   $10,005  

International Small Company Portfolio

   $18,673   $13,452   $18,152  

Japanese Small Company Portfolio

   $455   $446   $650  

Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio

   $4412   $2865   $4469  

United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio

   $1163   $956   $13910  

Continental Small Company Portfolio

   $448   $3627   $556  

Emerging Markets Portfolio

   $8,397   $6,299   $10,054  

Emerging Markets Value Portfolio

   $35,877   $20,346   $25,407  

 

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Table of Contents

Portfolio

  

FISCAL
YEAR
ENDED
2010

(000)

  

FISCAL
YEAR
ENDED

2009

(000)

  

FISCAL
PERIOD
ENDED
2008

(000)

Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio

   $6,212      $3,484    $4,706

1

   $    759 after waiver

2

   $    466 after recoupment of fees previously waived

3

   $    103 after waiver

4

   $    107 after waiver

5

   $    290 after recoupment of fees previously waived

6

   $    75 after waiver

7

   $    373 after recoupment of fees previously waived

8

   $    345 after waiver

9

   $    450 after recoupment of fees previously waived

10

   $    120 after waiver

Administrative Services—All Portfolios

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (formerly, PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”), 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809, serves as the accounting services, dividend disbursing and transfer agent for all the Portfolios and Master Funds. The services provided by BNY Mellon are subject to supervision by the executive officers and the Boards of Directors of the Funds, and include day-to-day keeping and maintenance of certain records, calculation of the offering price of the shares, preparation of reports, liaison with its custodians, and transfer and dividend disbursing agency services. For the administrative and accounting services provided by BNY Mellon, the non-Feeder Portfolios, the Feeder Portfolio’s Master Funds and the Underlying Funds pay BNY Mellon annual fees that are calculated daily and paid monthly according to a fee schedule based on the aggregate average net assets of the Fund Complex, which includes four registered investment companies and a group trust. The fee schedule is set forth in the table below:

.0110% of the Fund Complex’s first $50 billion of average net assets;

.0085% of the Fund Complex’s next $25 billion of average net assets; and

.0075% of the Fund Complex’s average net assets in excess of $75 billion.

The fees charged to a non-Feeder Portfolio, a Master Fund or an Underlying Fund under the fee schedule are allocated to each such non-Feeder Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund based on the non-Feeder Portfolio’s, Master Fund’s or Underlying Fund’s pro-rata portion of the aggregate average net assets of the Fund Complex.

Each Portfolio is also subject to a monthly fee. The Feeder Portfolios, International Small Company Portfolio, DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio and World ex U.S. Value Portfolio are each subject to a monthly fee of $1,000. The U.S. Large Company Portfolio, Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio, U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio, U.S. Small Cap Portfolio, U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio, U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio, U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio, U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio and DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio are each subject to a monthly fee of $1,666. The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio, Large Cap International Portfolio, International Core Equity Portfolio, DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio, DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio, International Vector Equity Portfolio and Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio, are each subject to a monthly base fee of $2,083. The Master Funds in which the Feeder Portfolios invest and the Underlying Funds in which the DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio and International Small Company Portfolio invest are also subject to certain monthly base fees. Each domestic equity Master Fund or Underlying Fund is subject to a monthly base fee of $1,666 and each international equity Master Fund or Underlying Fund is subject to a monthly base fee of $2,083.

The Portfolios also pay separate fees to BNY Mellon with respect to the services BNY Mellon provides as transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent.

 

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Custodians

Citibank, N.A., 111 Wall Street, New York, New York, 10005, is the global custodian for the following Portfolios and Master Funds: Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio (co-custodian with PFPC Trust Co.), DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio, Large Cap International Portfolio, The DFA International Value Series, The Japanese Small Company Series, The Asia Pacific Small Company Series, The United Kingdom Small Company Series, The Continental Small Company Series, The Canadian Small Company Series, DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio, International Core Equity Portfolio, DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio, International Vector Equity Portfolio, World ex U.S. Value Portfolio, The Emerging Markets Series, The Emerging Markets Small Cap Series, Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio and Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund. PFPC Trust Company (to be renamed BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company effective July 1, 2011), 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809, serves as the custodian for DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio, the Domestic Equity non-Feeder Portfolios and all of the Feeder Portfolios and The U.S. Large Cap Value Series.

Distributor

Each Fund’s shares are distributed by DFA Securities LLC (formerly, DFA Securities Inc.) (“DFAS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Advisor. DFAS is registered as a limited purpose broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. The principal business address of DFAS is 1299 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, California 90401.

DFAS acts as an agent of the Funds by serving as the principal underwriter of the Funds’ shares. Pursuant to each Fund’s Distribution Agreement, DFAS uses its best efforts to seek or arrange for the sale of shares of the Fund, which are continuously offered. No sales charges are paid by investors or the Funds. No compensation is paid by the Funds to DFAS under the Distribution Agreements.

Legal Counsel

Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP serves as legal counsel to the Funds. Its address is 2600 One Commerce Square, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7098.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) is the independent registered public accounting firm to the Funds and audits the annual financial statements of the Funds. PwC’s address is Two Commerce Square, Suite 1700, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042.

ADVISORY FEES

David G. Booth and Rex A. Sinquefield, as directors and/or officers of the Advisor and shareholders of the outstanding stock of the Advisor’s general partner, may be deemed controlling persons of the Advisor. Mr. Booth also serves as Director and officer of the Funds. For the services it provides as investment advisor to each non-Feeder Portfolio (or, with respect to each Feeder Portfolio, the corresponding Master Fund), the Advisor is paid a monthly fee calculated as a percentage of average net assets of the Portfolio (or, with respect to each Feeder Portfolio, the corresponding Master Fund). The Advisor is paid no fee for the services it provides as investment adviser to each Feeder Portfolio. Each class of each Portfolio pays its proportionate share of the fees paid by the Portfolio to the Advisor based on the average net assets of the classes.

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009, and the fiscal period from December 1, 2007 to October 31, 2008, the Portfolios (or their corresponding Master Funds) paid management fees (to the Advisor and any sub-advisor) as set forth in the following table (the dollar amount is shown prior to any fee waivers by the Advisor):

 

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FISCAL
YEAR
ENDED
2010

(000)

 

FISCAL
YEAR
ENDED

2009

(000)

 

FISCAL
PERIOD
ENDED
2008

(000)

 

  U.S. Large Company Portfolio (b)

   $919   $762   $981
 

  Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio (h)

   $79   $79   $127
 

  U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio (a)

   $8,301   $6,414   $8,436
 

  U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

   $1,995   $1,129   $750
 

  U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio (h)

   $12,631   $9,901   $14,090
 

  U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio (c)

   $4,117   $2,668   $2,182
 

  U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio (c)

   $8,868   $5,833   $5,405
 

  U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio (c)

   $4,200   $2,766   $2,790
 

  U.S. Small Cap Portfolio (h)

   $889   $628   $805
 

  U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio (h)

   $3,089   $2,539   $3,690
 

  DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio

   $7,245   $4,606   $6,845
 

  DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio(l)

   NA   NA   NA
 

  Large Cap International Portfolio

   $3,622   $2,880   $4,438
 

  DFA International Value Portfolio (a)

   $12,890   $9,991   $14,643
 

  International Core Equity Portfolio (c)

   $14,583   $9,575   $7,918
 

  International Small Company Portfolio (e)

   $4,661   $3,357   $4,530
 

  Japanese Small Company Portfolio (a)

   $1,181   $1,101   $1,220
 

  Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio (a)

   $770   $488   $871
 

  United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio (a)

   $851   $585   $899
 

  Continental Small Company Portfolio (a)

   $1,724   $1,230   $1,806
 

  DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio (f)

   $2,803   $1,753   $1,513
 

  DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio

   $46,090   $35,181   $44,953
 

  International Vector Equity Portfolio(j)

   $1,3691   $8114   $376
 

  World ex U.S. Value Portfolio(k)

   $252   NA   NA
 

  Emerging Markets Portfolio (a)

   $2,246   $1,697   $2,774
 

  Emerging Markets Value Portfolio (a)

   $9,448   $5,493   $6,904
 

  Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio (a)

   $2,840   $1,597   $2,174
 

  Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio (g)

   $17,369   $9,732   $8,838
 

  DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio(i)

   $1,9453   $7695   $987

1

 

$    1,397 after recoupment of fees previously waived

      

2

 

$    0 after waiver

      

3

 

$    159 after waiver

      

4

 

$    9 after waiver

      

5

 

$    63 after waiver

      

6

 

$    828 after recoupment of fees previously waived

      

7

 

$    7 after waiver

      

 

(a)

The Master Fund has more than one Feeder Portfolio and/or direct investor; the dollar amount represents the total dollar amount of management fees paid by the Master Fund to the Advisor.

(b)

Prior to September 10, 2010, the Portfolio was a Feeder Portfolio and the dollar amount accrued prior to September 10, 2010 represents the amount paid by the Master Fund in which the Portfolio invested its assets and the amount accrued from September 11, 2010 through October 31, 2010 in the Portfolio. Pursuant to the Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the Portfolio, the Advisor has agreed to waive its administration fee to the extent necessary to reduce the Portfolio’s expenses to the extent that its total direct and indirect expenses (prior to September 10, 2010, including the expenses the Portfolio bears as a shareholder of its Master Fund) exceed 0.10% of its average net assets on an annualized basis. At any time that the total direct and indirect expenses of the Portfolio are less than 0.10% of its assets on an annualized basis, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived to the extent that such reimbursement

 

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will not cause the Portfolio’s total direct and indirect expenses to exceed 0.10% if its average daily net assets on an annualized basis. The Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees waived by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement. The Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for a Portfolio will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by a Fund or the Advisor.

(c)

Pursuant to a Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for each of these Portfolios, the Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and assume the ordinary operating expenses of a Portfolio (excluding the expenses the Portfolio incurs indirectly through investment in other investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) to the extent necessary to limit the Portfolio Expenses of the U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio, U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio and International Core Equity Portfolio to 0.23%, 0.26% and 0.49%, respectively, of each Portfolio’s average net assets on an annualized basis (the “Expense Limitation Amount”). At any time that the annualized Portfolio Expenses of a Portfolio are less than that Portfolio’s Expense Limitation Amount described above, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s annualized Portfolio Expenses to exceed its Expense Limitation Amount. A Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement. The Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for a Portfolio will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by a Fund or the Advisor.

(d)

Pursuant to the Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio, the Advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and assume the Portfolio’s ordinary operating expenses (excluding the expenses the Portfolio incurs indirectly through investment in other investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) to the extent necessary to limit the Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio to 0.36% of its average net assets on an annualized basis. At any time that the annualized Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio are less than 0.36% of its average net assets on an annualized basis, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s annualized Portfolio Expenses to exceed 0.36% of its average net assets. The Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement. The Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for a Portfolio will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by a Fund or the Advisor.

 

(e)

Each of the five International Master Funds in which the Portfolio invests its assets has more than one Feeder Portfolio (which are also included elsewhere in this table). The dollar amount represents the total dollar amount of management fees attributable to this Portfolio paid by each International Master Fund to the Advisor.

(f)

Pursuant to a Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio, the Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and to assume the Portfolio’s ordinary operating expenses (excluding the expenses the Portfolio incurs indirectly through its investment in other investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) to the extent necessary to limit the Portfolio Expenses to 0.65% of the Portfolio’s average net assets on an annualized basis (the “Expense Limitation Amount”). At any time that the Portfolio’s annualized Portfolio Expenses are less that the Portfolio’s Expense Limitation Amount, described in the prior sentence, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expense previously assumed to the extent that such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s annualized Portfolio Expenses to exceed the Expense Limitation Amount. The Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement. The Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for a Portfolio will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by a Fund or the Advisor.

(g)

Pursuant to a Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio, the Advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and to assume the Portfolio’s ordinary operating expenses (excluding the expenses the Portfolio incurs indirectly through its investment in other investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) to the extent necessary to limit the Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio to 0.85% of its average net assets on an annualized basis. At any time that the annualized Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio are less than 0.85% of its average net assets on an annualized basis, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses

 

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previously assumed to the extent that such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s annualized Portfolio Expenses to exceed 0.85% of its average net assets. The Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement. The Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for a Portfolio will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by a Fund or the Advisor.

(h)

Prior to February 28, 2009, the Portfolio was a Feeder Portfolio and the dollar amount prior to February 28, 2009 represents the amount paid by the Master Fund in which the Portfolio invested its assets.

(i)

The DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio commenced operations on June 4, 2008. Pursuant to a Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the Portfolio, the Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and to assume the expenses of the Portfolio (including the expenses that the Portfolio bears as a shareholder of other funds managed by the Advisor but excluding the expenses that the Portfolio incurs indirectly through its investment in unaffiliated investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) to the extent necessary to limit the Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio to 0.55% of the Portfolio’s average net assets on an annualized basis (the “Expense Limitation Amount”). At any time that the Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio are less than the Portfolio’s Expense Limitation Amount, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s annualized Portfolio Expenses to exceed the Portfolio’s Expense Limitation Amount. The Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement. The Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement will remain in effect for an initial period until February 28, 2012, and then shall continue in effect from year to year for one-year periods thereafter unless terminated by the Advisor. The Advisor has voluntarily agreed to waive all or a portion of the Portfolio’s management fee to the extent necessary to limit the total management fees paid by the Portfolio to the Advisor directly and indirectly (the proportionate share of the management fees paid by the Portfolio through its investment in other funds managed by the Advisor) to 0.35% of the Portfolio’s average net assets on an annualized basis.

(j)

The International Vector Equity Portfolio commenced operations on August 14, 2008. Pursuant to a Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the Portfolio, the Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and to assume expenses of the Portfolio to the extent necessary to reduce the Portfolio’s ordinary operating expenses (not including expenses incurred through an investment in other investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) to the extent necessary to limit the Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio to 0.60% of the Portfolio’s average net assets on an annualized basis (“Expense Limitation Amount”). At any time that the annualized Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio are less than the Portfolio’s Expense Limitation Amount, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s annualized expenses to exceed the Portfolio’s Expense Limitation Amount. The Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement. The Fee Waiver Agreement will remain in effect for an initial period until February 28, 2012, and then shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter, for one-year periods, unless terminated by the Fund or the Advisor.

(k)

The World ex U.S. Value Portfolio commenced operations on August 23, 2010. Pursuant to a Fee Waiver Agreement for the Portfolio, the Advisor has agreed to waive up to the full amount of the Portfolio’s management fee of 0.47% to the extent necessary to offset the proportionate share of the management fees paid by the Portfolio through its investment in other funds managed by the Advisor (the “Underlying Funds”). In addition, under the Fee Waiver Agreement, the Advisor also has agreed to waive all or a portion of the management fee that remains payable by the Portfolio (i.e. the management fee remaining after the proportionate share of the Underlying Funds’ management fees have been offset (the “Remaining Management Fee”)) to the extent necessary to reduce the Portfolio’s ordinary operating expenses (including expenses incurred through its investment in other investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) so that such Portfolio Expenses do not exceed 0.60% of the Portfolio’s average net assets on an annualized basis (the “Expense Limitation Amount”). The maximum amount that may be waived to limit Portfolio Expenses pursuant to this paragraph is the amount of the Remaining Management Fee. Further, at any time that the Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio are less than the Portfolio’s Expense Limitation Amount, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for the amount of any Remaining Management Fees previously waived to the extent that such

 

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reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s annualized Portfolio Expenses to exceed the Portfolio’s Expense Limitation Amount. The Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement. The Fee Waiver Agreement for the Portfolio will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and may not be terminated by a Fund or the Advisor prior to that date.

  (l)

The DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio commenced operations on November 9, 2010. Pursuant to a Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the Portfolio, the Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of the management fee and to assume the expenses of the Portfolio (including the expenses that the Portfolio bears as a shareholder of other investment companies managed by the Advisor but excluding the expenses that the Portfolio incurs through an investment in unaffiliated investment companies) (the “Portfolio Expenses”) to the extent necessary to limit the Portfolio Expenses to no more than 0.55% of the Portfolio’s average net assets on an annualized basis (the “Expense Limitation Amount”). At any time that the Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio are less than the Portfolio’s Expense Limitation Amount, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for the amount of any remaining management fees previously waived to the extent that such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s annualized Portfolio Expenses to exceed the Portfolio’s Expense Limitation Amount. The Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement. The Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the Portfolio will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and may not be terminated by a Fund or the Advisor prior to that date.

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

In accordance with the team approach used to manage the Portfolios, Master Funds and the Underlying Funds, the portfolio managers and portfolio traders implement the policies and procedures established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers and portfolio traders also make daily investment decisions regarding the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds including running buy and sell programs based on the parameters established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers named below are the portfolio managers that coordinate the efforts of all other portfolio managers with respect to the day-to-day management of the category of portfolios indicated.

 

Domestic portfolios

     

Stephen A. Clark

    

     

International portfolios

     

Stephen A. Clark, Karen E. Umland,

     

Joseph H. Chi, Jed S. Fogdall and David A. Plecha

Investments in Each Portfolio

Information relating to each portfolio manager’s ownership (including the ownership of his or her immediate family) in the Portfolios contained in this SAI that he or she manages as of October 31, 2010 is set forth in the chart below.

Stephen A. Clark

 

Portfolio    Dollar Range of Portfolio
Shares Owned
    

  U.S. Large Company Portfolio

   None   

  Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio

   None   

  U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio1

   None   

  U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio

   None   

  U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

   None   

  U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio

   None   

  U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio

   $100,001-$500,000   

 

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  U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio

   None   

  U.S. Small Cap Portfolio

   None   

  U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio

   None   

  DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio

   $10,001-$50,000   

  DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio

   None   

  Large Cap International Portfolio

   None   

  DFA International Value Portfolio1

   None   

  International Core Equity Portfolio

   $100,001-$500,000   

  International Small Company Portfolio

   None   

  Japanese Small Company Portfolio1

   None   

  Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio1

   None   

  United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio1

   None   

  Continental Small Company Portfolio1

   None   

  DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio

   $10,001-$50,000   

  DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio

   None   

  DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio

   None   

  International Vector Equity Portfolio

   None   

  World ex U.S. Value Portfolio

   None   

  Emerging Markets Portfolio1

   None   

  Emerging Markets Value Portfolio1

   None   

  Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio1

   None   

  Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio

   $10,001-$50,000   
               1

Stephen A. Clark serves as the portfolio manager for the Portfolio and for the Master Fund in which the Portfolio invests substantially all of its assets.

Karen E. Umland

 

Portfolio    Dollar Range of Portfolio

Shares Owned

  

  Large Cap International Portfolio

   $0-$10,000   

  DFA International Value Portfolio1

   $100,001-$500,000   

  International Core Equity Portfolio

   None   

  International Small Company Portfolio

   $10,001-$50,000   

  Japanese Small Company Portfolio1

   $0-$10,000   

  Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio1

   None   

  United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio1

   None   

  Continental Small Company Portfolio1

   None   

  DFA International Real Estate Securities

   None   

  DFA Global Real Estate Securities

   None   

  DFA International Small Cap Value

   None   

  International Vector Equity Portfolio

   None   

  World ex U.S. Value Portfolio

   None   

  Emerging Markets Portfolio1

   $50,001-$100,000   

  Emerging Markets Value Portfolio1

   None   

  Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio1

   None   

  Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio

   None   
               1

Karen E. Umland serves as the portfolio manager for the Portfolio and for the Master Fund in which the Portfolio invests substantially all of its assets.

Joseph H. Chi

 

Portfolio    Dollar Range of Portfolio

Shares Owned

  

 

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  Large Cap International Portfolio

   None   

  DFA International Value Portfolio1

   None   

  International Core Equity Portfolio

   $0-$10,000   

  International Small Company Portfolio

   None   

  Japanese Small Company Portfolio1

   None   

  Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio1

   None   

  United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio1

   None   

  Continental Small Company Portfolio1

   None   

  DFA International Real Estate Securities

   $0-$10,000   

  DFA Global Real Estate Securities

   None   

  DFA International Small Cap Value

   $50,001-$100,000   

  International Vector Equity Portfolio

   $10,001-$50,000   

  World ex U.S. Value Portfolio

   None   

  Emerging Markets Portfolio1

   None   

  Emerging Markets Value Portfolio1

   $10,001-$50,000   

  Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio1

   $10,001-$50,000   

  Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio

   $50,001-$100,000   
               1

Joseph H. Chi serves as the portfolio manager for the Portfolio and for the Master Fund in which the Portfolio invests substantially all of its assets.

Jed S. Fogdall

 

Portfolio    Dollar Range of Portfolio

Shares Owned

  

  Large Cap International Portfolio

   None   

  DFA International Value Portfolio1

   None   

  International Core Equity Portfolio

   $ 100,001 -$ 500,000   

  International Small Company Portfolio

   None   

  Japanese Small Company Portfolio1

   None   

  Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio1

   None   

  United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio1

   None   

  Continental Small Company Portfolio1

   None   

  DFA International Real Estate Securities

   None   

  DFA Global Real Estate Securities

   $ 10,001 -$ 50,000   

  DFA International Small Cap Value

   None   

  International Vector Equity Portfolio

   None   

  World ex U.S. Value Portfolio

   None   

  Emerging Markets Portfolio1

   None   

  Emerging Markets Value Portfolio1

   None   

  Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio1

   None   

  Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio

   $10,001-$50,000   

 

               1

Jed S. Fogdall serves as the portfolio manager for the Portfolio and for the Master Fund in which the Portfolio invests substantially all of its assets.

David A. Plecha

 

Portfolio    Dollar Range of Portfolio

Shares Owned

  

  DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio

   None   

 

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Description of Compensation Structure

Portfolio managers receive a base salary and bonus. Compensation of a portfolio manager is determined at the discretion of the Advisor and is based on a portfolio manager’s experience, responsibilities, the perception of the quality of his or her work efforts and other subjective factors. The compensation of portfolio managers is not directly based upon the performance of the Portfolios or other accounts that the portfolio managers manage. The Advisor reviews the compensation of each portfolio manager annually and may make modifications in compensation as its Compensation Committee deems necessary to reflect changes in the market. Each portfolio manager’s compensation consists of the following:

 

   

Base salary. Each portfolio manager is paid a base salary. The Advisor considers the factors described above to determine each portfolio manager’s base salary.

 

   

Semi-Annual Bonus. Each portfolio manager may receive a semi-annual bonus. The amount of the bonus paid to each portfolio manager is based upon the factors described above.

Portfolio managers may be awarded the right to purchase restricted shares of the stock of the Advisor, as determined from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Advisor or its delegates. Portfolio managers also participate in benefit and retirement plans and other programs available generally to all employees.

In addition, portfolio managers may be given the option of participating in the Advisor’s Long Term Incentive Plan. The level of participation for eligible employees may be dependent on overall level of compensation, among other considerations. Participation in this program is not based on or related to the performance of any individual strategies or any particular client accounts.

Other Managed Accounts

In addition to the Portfolios (and with respect to the Feeder Portfolios, the Master Fund in which a Feeder Portfolio invests substantially all of its assets) and the Underlying Funds, each portfolio manager manages (i) other U.S. registered investment companies advised or sub-advised by the Advisor, (ii) other pooled investment vehicles that are not U.S. registered mutual funds and (iii) other accounts managed for organizations and individuals. The following table sets forth information regarding the total accounts for which each portfolio manager has the primary responsibility for coordinating the day-to-day management responsibilities.

 

Name of Portfolio Manager   

Number of Accounts Managed and Total

Assets by Category As of October 31, 2010

    

Stephen A. Clark

  

•   92 U.S. registered mutual funds with $133,626 million in total assets under management.

 

•   20 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $25,316 million in total assets under management. Out of these unregistered pooled investment vehicles, one client with an investment of $220 million in an unregistered pooled investment vehicle pays a performance-based advisory fee.

 

•   73 other accounts with $11,603 million in total assets under management, of which one account with $731 million in assets may be subject to a performance fee.

  

Karen E. Umland

  

•   37 U.S. registered mutual funds with $58,973 million in total assets under management.

 

•   4 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $1,303 million in total assets under management.

 

•   26 other accounts with $7,671 million in total assets under

  

 

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      management of which one account with $731 million in assets may be subject to a
      performance fee.

    

Joseph H. Chi

  

•   37 U.S. registered mutual funds with $58,973 million in total assets under management.

 

•   4 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $1,303 million in total assets under management.

 

•   26 other accounts with $7,671 million in total assets under management of which one account with $731 million in assets may be subject to a performance fee.

  

Jed S. Fogdall

  

•   37 U.S. registered mutual funds with $58,973 million in total assets under management.

 

•   4 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $1,303 million in total assets under management.

 

•   26 other accounts with $7,671 million in total assets under management of which one account with $731 million in assets may be subject to a performance fee.

  

David A. Plecha

  

•   18 U.S. registered mutual funds with $23,044 million in total assets under management.

 

•   9 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $18,146 million in total assets under management.

 

•   4 other accounts with $19 million in total assets under management.

  

Potential Conflicts of Interest

Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has the primary day-to-day responsibilities with respect to more than one Portfolio/Master Fund/Underlying Fund and other accounts. Other accounts include registered mutual funds (other than the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds), other unregistered pooled investment vehicles, and other accounts managed for organizations and individuals (“Accounts”). An Account may have similar investment objectives to a Portfolio/Master Fund/Underlying Fund, or may purchase, sell or hold securities that are eligible to be purchased, sold or held by a Portfolio/Master Fund/Underlying Fund. Actual or apparent conflicts of interest include:

 

   

Time Management. The management of multiple Portfolios/Master Funds/Underlying Funds and/or Accounts may result in a portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of each Portfolio/Master Fund/Underlying Fund and/or Accounts. The Advisor seeks to manage such competing interests for the time and attention of portfolio managers by having portfolio managers focus on a particular investment discipline. Most Accounts managed by a portfolio manager are managed using the same investment models that are used in connection with the management of the Portfolios/Master Funds/Underlying Funds.

 

   

Investment Opportunities. It is possible that at times identical securities will be held by more than one Portfolio/Master Fund/Underlying Fund and/or Account. However, positions in the same security may vary and the length of time that any Portfolio/Master Fund/Underlying Fund or Account may choose to hold its investment in the same security may likewise vary. If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity that may be suitable for more than one Portfolio/Master Fund/Underlying Fund or Account, a Portfolio/Master Fund/Underlying Fund may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to an allocation of filled purchase or sale orders across all eligible Portfolios/Master Funds/Underlying Funds and Accounts. To deal with these situations, the Advisor has adopted procedures for allocating portfolio transactions across multiple Portfolios/Master Funds/Underlying Funds and Accounts.

 

   

Broker Selection. With respect to securities transactions for the Portfolios/Master Funds/Underlying Funds, the Advisor determines which broker to use to execute each order, consistent with its duty to seek best execution of the transaction. However, with respect to certain Accounts (such as separate

 

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accounts), the Advisor may be limited by the client with respect to the selection of brokers or may be instructed to direct trades through a particular broker. In these cases, the Advisor or its affiliates may place separate, non-simultaneous, transactions for a Portfolio/Master Fund/Underlying Fund and another Account that may temporarily affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment of the Portfolio/Master Fund/Underlying Fund or the Account.

 

   

Performance-Based Fees. For some Accounts, the Advisor may be compensated based on the profitability of the Account, such as by a performance-based management fee. These incentive compensation structures may create a conflict of interest for the Advisor with regard to Accounts where the Advisor is paid based on a percentage of assets because the portfolio manager may have an incentive to allocate securities preferentially to the Accounts where the Advisor might share in investment gains.

 

   

Investment in an Account. A portfolio manager or his/her relatives may invest in an Account that he or she manages and a conflict may arise where he or she may therefore have an incentive to treat the Account in which the portfolio manager or his/her relatives invest preferentially as compared to other Accounts for which he or she has portfolio management responsibilities.

The Advisor and the Funds have adopted certain compliance procedures that are reasonably designed to address these types of conflicts. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises.

GENERAL INFORMATION

DFAIDG was incorporated under Maryland law on June 15, 1981. Until June 1983, DFAIDG was named DFA Small Company Fund Inc. Until September 1995, Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio was named Asia-Australia Small Company Portfolio; U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio was named U.S. Large Cap High Book to Market Portfolio; U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio was named U.S. Small Cap High Book to Market Portfolio; U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio was named The Small Company Shares; and Continental Small Company Portfolio was named The Continental European Portfolio. From September 1995 until December 1996, The DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio was named DFA/AEW Real Estate Securities Portfolio. From September 1995 until August 1997, the U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio was named the U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio and from August 1997 to April 1, 2001, it was known as the U.S. 6-10 Value Portfolio. From September 1995 until April 1, 2001, the U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio was known as the U.S. 9-10 Small Company Portfolio. From April 1, 2001 to December 12, 2006, the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio was known as the U.S. Small XM Value Portfolio. Prior to April 1, 2001, the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, the U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio, the U.S. Small Cap Portfolio and the U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio were known as the U.S. 4-10 Value Portfolio, the U.S. 6-10 Value Portfolio, the U.S. 6-10 Small Company Portfolio and the U.S. 9-10 Small Company Portfolio, respectively. Similarly, the Master Funds in which these four Portfolios invested – The U.S. Targeted Value Series, The U.S. Small Cap Value Series, The U.S. Small Cap Series and The U.S. Micro Cap Series – were, prior to April 1, 2001, known as The U.S. 4-10 Value Series, The U.S. 6-10 Value Series, The U.S. 6-10 Small Company Series and the U.S. 9-10 Small Company Series, respectively. Effective as of March 30, 2007, the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio was no longer a feeder portfolio and now holds the portfolio securities previously held by The U.S. Targeted Value Series, the Master Fund in which the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio invested. Effective February 28, 2009, the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio was no longer a feeder portfolio and now holds the portfolio securities previously held by The Enhanced U.S. Large Company Series, the Master Fund in which the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio invested. Effective as of February 28, 2009, the U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio was no longer a feeder portfolio and now holds the portfolio securities previously held by The U.S. Small Cap Value Series, the Master Fund in which the U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio invested. Effective as of February 28, 2009, the U.S. Small Cap Portfolio was no longer a feeder portfolio and now holds the portfolio securities previously held by The U.S. Small Cap Series, the Master Fund in which the U.S. Small Cap Portfolio invested. Effective as of February 28, 2009, the U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio was no longer a feeder portfolio and now holds the portfolio securities previously held by The U.S. Micro Cap Series, the Master Fund in which the U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio invested. From September 1995 until September 13, 2005, the Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio was known as the Pacific Rim Small Company Portfolio. Until May 8, 2010, U.S. Large Company Portfolio was named U.S. Large Company Institutional Index Portfolio. Effective as of September 10, 2010, the U.S. Large Company Portfolio was no longer a feeder portfolio and now holds the portfolio securities

 

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previously held by The U.S. Large Company Series, the Master Fund in which the U.S. Large Company Portfolio invested.

DIG was incorporated under Maryland law on March 19, 1990. DIG was known as DFA U.S. Large Cap Inc. from February 1992, until it amended its Articles of Incorporation in April 1993, to change to its present name. Prior to the February 1992 amendment to the Articles of Incorporation, DIG was known as DFA U.S. Large Cap Portfolio Inc.

The DFA Investment Trust Company was organized as a Delaware statutory trust (a form of entity formerly known as a business trust) on October 27, 1992. The Trust offers shares of its Master Funds only to institutional investors in private offerings. Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund (“DEM”) was incorporated under Maryland law on January 9, 1991 and was reorganized as a Delaware statutory trust effective October 30, 2009. DEM offers its shares only to institutional investors in private offerings. On November 21, 1997, the shareholders of DEM approved its conversion from a closed-end management investment company to an open-end management investment company.

CODE OF ETHICS

The Funds, the Trust, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund, the Advisor, DFA Australia Limited, DFA Fund Advisors Ltd. and DFAS have adopted a revised Code of Ethics, under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act, for certain access persons of the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds. The Code of Ethics is designed to ensure that access persons act in the interest of the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds, and their shareholders with respect to any personal trading of securities. Under the Code of Ethics, access persons are generally prohibited from knowingly buying or selling securities (except for mutual funds, U.S. government securities and money market instruments) which are being purchased, sold or considered for purchase or sale by a Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund unless their proposed purchases are approved in advance. The Code of Ethics also contains certain reporting requirements and securities trading clearance procedures.

SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS

The shares of each Portfolio, when issued and paid for in accordance with the Portfolio’s Prospectus, will be fully paid and non-assessable shares. Each share of common stock of a Portfolio represents an equal proportional interest in the assets and liabilities of the Portfolio and has identical, non-cumulative voting, dividend, redemption liquidation, and other rights and preferences as each other class of the Portfolio, except that on a matter affecting a single class only shares of that class of the Portfolio are permitted to vote on the matter.

With respect to matters which require shareholder approval, shareholders are entitled to vote only with respect to matters which affect the interest of the Portfolio or class of shares of the Portfolio which they hold, except as otherwise required by applicable law. If liquidation of a Fund should occur, the Fund’s shareholders would be entitled to receive on a per class basis the assets of the particular Portfolio whose shares they own, as well as a proportionate share of Fund assets not attributable to any particular class. Ordinarily, the Funds do not intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders, except as required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law. Each Fund’s bylaws provide that special meetings of shareholders shall be called at the written request of shareholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting. Such meeting may be called to consider any matter, including the removal of one or more directors. Shareholders will receive shareholder communications with respect to such matters as required by the 1940 Act, including semi-annual and annual financial statements of the Funds, the latter being audited.

Whenever a Feeder Portfolio, as an investor in its corresponding Master Fund, is asked to vote on a shareholder proposal, the relevant Fund will solicit voting instructions from the Feeder Portfolio’s shareholders with respect to the proposal. The Directors of the Fund will then vote the Feeder Portfolio’s shares in the Master Fund in accordance with the voting instructions received from the Feeder Portfolio’s shareholders. The Directors of the Fund will vote shares of the Feeder Portfolio for which they receive no voting instructions in accordance with their best judgment. With regard to a Master Fund or Underlying Fund of the Trust organized as a partnership for federal tax purposes, if a majority shareholder of the Master Fund declares bankruptcy, a majority in interest of the

 

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remaining shareholders in the Master Fund or Underlying Fund must vote to approve the continuing existence of the Master Fund or Underlying Fund or the Master Fund or Underlying Fund will be liquidated.

Shareholder inquiries may be made by writing or calling the Fund at the address or telephone number appearing on the cover of this SAI. Only those individuals whose signatures are on file for the account in question may receive specific account information or make changes in the account registration.

PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

As of January 31, 2011, the following persons beneficially owned 5% or more of the outstanding stock of the Portfolios, as set forth below:

 

U.S. LARGE COMPANY PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

     56.38%   

101 Montgomery Street

  

San Francisco, CA 94104

  

National Financial Services LLC*

     10.49%   

200 Liberty Street

  

One World Financial Center

  

New York, NY 10281

  

Ameritrade, Inc.*

     8.08%   

1005 N. Ameritrade Place

  

Bellevue, NE 68005

  

ENHANCED U.S. LARGE COMPANY PORTFOLIO

  

Ameritrade, Inc.*

     37.40%   

1005 N. Ameritrade Place

  

Bellevue, NE 68005

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

     37.20%   

101 Montgomery Street

  

San Francisco, CA 94104

  

National Financial Services LLC*

     9.78%   

200 Liberty Street

  

One World Financial Center

  

New York, NY 10281

  

U.S. LARGE CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

     41.17%   

101 Montgomery Street

  

San Francisco, CA 94104

  

Ameritrade, Inc.*

     20.79%   

1005 N. Ameritrade Place

  

Bellevue, NE 68005

  

National Financial Services LLC*

     14.70%   

200 Liberty Street

  

One World Financial Center

  

New York, NY 10281

  

 

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U.S. TARGETED VALUE PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

     36.98%   

101 Montgomery Street

  

San Francisco, CA 94104

  

National Financial Services LLC*

     20.65%   

200 Liberty Street

  

One World Financial Center

  

New York, NY 10281

  

Ameritrade, Inc.*

     9.63%   

1005 N. Ameritrade Place

  

Bellevue, NE 68005

  

U.S. SMALL CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

     40.20%   

101 Montgomery Street

  

San Francisco, CA 94104

  

National Financial Services LLC*

     11.84%   

200 Liberty Street

  

One World Financial Center

  

New York, NY 10281

  

Ameritrade, Inc.*

     5.60%   

1005 N. Ameritrade Place

  

Bellevue, NE 68005

  

U.S. CORE EQUITY 1 PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

     39.01%   

101 Montgomery Street

  

San Francisco, CA 94104

  

National Financial Services LLC*

     15.71%   

200 Liberty Street

  

One World Financial Center

  

New York, NY 10281

  

Ameritrade, Inc.*

     10.51%   

1005 N. Ameritrade Place

  

Bellevue, NE 68005

  

DFA Global Equity Portfolio

     8.01%   

1299 Ocean Avenue, 11th Floor

  

Santa Monica, CA 90401

  

U.S. CORE EQUITY 2 PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

     32.99%   

101 Montgomery Street

  

San Francisco, CA 94104

  
  
  
  

 

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National Financial Services LLC*

   18.76%

200 Liberty Street

  

One World Financial Center

  

New York, NY 10281

  

DFA Global Equity Portfolio

   14.22%

1299 Ocean Avenue, 11th Floor

  

Santa Monica, CA 90401

  

Ameritrade, Inc.*

   8.08%

1005 N. Ameritrade Place

  

Bellevue, NE 68005

  

Trust Company of America*

   7.64%

P.O. Box 6503

  

Englewood, CO 80155

  

U.S. VECTOR EQUITY PORTFOLIO

  

National Financial Services LLC*

   32.90%

200 Liberty Street

  

One World Financial Center

  

New York, NY 10281

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

   26.95%

101 Montgomery Street

  

San Francisco, CA 94104

  

Trust Company of America*

   17.44%

P.O. Box 6503

  

Englewood, CO 80155

  

Ameritrade, Inc.*

   11.78%

1005 N. Ameritrade Place

  

Bellevue, NE 68005

  

Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company*

   6.02%

P.O. Box 2900

  

Valley Forge, PA 19482-2900

  

U.S. SMALL CAP PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

   26.09%

101 Montgomery Street

  

San Francisco, CA 94104

  

National Financial Services LLC*

   12.51%

200 Liberty Street

  

One World Financial Center

  

New York, NY 10281

  

Ameritrade, Inc.*

   11.32%

1005 N. Ameritrade Place

  

Bellevue, NE 68005

  

 

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Utah Retirement Systems Defined Contribution Plan

   6.33%

540 E 200 S

  

Salt Lake City, UT 84102

  

Stichting Shell Pensioenfonds

   5.97%

P.O. Box 65

  

2501 CB The Hague

  

The Netherlands

  

U.S. MICRO CAP PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

   40.81%

101 Montgomery Street

  

San Francisco, CA 94104

  

National Financial Services LLC*

   16.82%

200 Liberty Street

  

One World Financial Center

  

New York, NY 10281

  

Ameritrade, Inc.*

   8.24%

1005 N. Ameritrade Place

  

Bellevue, NE 68005

  

Board of Trustees

   5.10%

National Electrical Benefit Fund

  

1125 15th St NW Suite 401

  

Washington, DC 20005

  

DFA REAL ESTATE SECURITIES PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

   41.95%

101 Montgomery Street

  

San Francisco, CA 94104

  

National Financial Services LLC*

   17.71%

200 Liberty Street

  

One World Financial Center

  

New York, NY 10281

  

DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio

   13.69%

1299 Ocean Avenue, 11th Floor

  

Santa Monica, CA 90401

  

Ameritrade, Inc.*

   9.04%

1005 N. Ameritrade Place

  

Bellevue, NE 68005

  

Trust Company of America*

   5.53%

P.O. Box 6503

  

Englewood, CO 80155

  

DFA COMMODITY STRATEGY PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

   68.22%

 

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101 Montgomery Street

  

San Francisco, CA 94104

  

National Financial Services LLC*

     19.68%   

200 Liberty Street

  

One World Financial Center

  

New York, NY 10281

  

LARGE CAP INTERNATIONAL PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

     50.70%   

101 Montgomery Street

  

San Francisco, CA 94104

  

Ameritrade, Inc.*

     21.77%   

1005 N. Ameritrade Place

  

Bellevue, NE 68005

  

National Financial Services LLC*

     8.92%   

200 Liberty Street

  

One World Financial Center

  

New York, NY 10281

  

DFA INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

     33.58%   

101 Montgomery Street

  

San Francisco, CA 94104

  

National Financial Services LLC*

     13.11%   

200 Liberty Street

  

One World Financial Center

  

New York, NY 10281

  

Ameritrade, Inc.*

     9.43%   

1005 N. Ameritrade Place

  

Bellevue, NE 68005

  

JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Trustee for

     5.92%   

The Thrift Plan for Employees of the

  

Federal Reserve System

  

3 Chase Metro-Tech Center

  

5th Floor

  

Brooklyn, NY 11245

  

INTERNATIONAL CORE EQUITY PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

     40.81%   

101 Montgomery Street

  

San Francisco, CA 94104

  

National Financial Services LLC*

     18.65%   

200 Liberty Street

  

One World Financial Center

  

 

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New York, NY 10281

  

DFA Global Equity Portfolio

   10.33%

1299 Ocean Avenue, 11th Floor

  

Santa Monica, CA 90401

  

Ameritrade, Inc.*

   9.04%

1005 N. Ameritrade Place

  

Bellevue, NE 68005

  

INTERNATIONAL SMALL COMPANY PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

   35.66%

101 Montgomery Street

  

San Francisco, CA 94104

  

National Financial Services LLC*

   14.02%

200 Liberty Street

  

One World Financial Center

  

New York, NY 10281

  

JAPANESE SMALL COMPANY PORTFOLIO

  

Wendel & Co

   29.21%

c/o The Bank of New York

  

2 Hanson Plaza, 6th Floor

  

Brooklyn, NY 11217

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

   24.39%

101 Montgomery Street

  

San Francisco, CA 94104

  

Mac & Co FBO Karlin Holdings

   12.35%

525 William Penn Place

  

P.O. Box 3198

  

National Financial Services LLC*

   7.43%

200 Liberty Street

  

One World Financial Center

  

New York, NY 10281

  

The RBB Fund Inc. Free Market International Equity Fund

   7.25%

5955 Deerfield Blvd

  

Mason, OH 45040

  

ASIA PACIFIC SMALL COMPANY PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

   53.98%

101 Montgomery Street

  

San Francisco, CA 94104

  

Ameritrade, Inc.*

   13.76%

1005 N. Ameritrade Place

  

Bellevue, NE 68005

  

National Financial Services LLC*

   10.96%

 

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200 Liberty Street

  

One World Financial Center

  

New York, NY 10281

  

The RBB Fund Inc Free Market International Equity Fund

     6.80%   

5955 Deerfield Blvd

  

Mason, OH 45040

  

UNITED KINGDOM SMALL COMPANY PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

     65.21%   

101 Montgomery Street

  

San Francisco, CA 94104

  

The RBB Fund Inc Free Market International Equity Fund

     23.73%   

5955 Deerfield Blvd

  

Mason, OH 45040

  

National Financial Services LLC*

     6.12%   

200 Liberty Street

  

One World Financial Center

  

New York, NY 10281

  

CONTINENTAL SMALL COMPANY PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

     31.44%   

101 Montgomery Street

  

San Francisco, CA 94104

  

Wendel & Co.

     24.71%   

c/o The Bank of New York

  

2 Hanson Plaza, 6th Floor

  

Brooklyn, NY 11217

  

The RBB Fund Inc Free Market International Equity Fund

     14.73%   

5955 Deerfield Blvd

  

Mason, OH 45040

  

Ameritrade, Inc.*

     12.95%   

1005 N. Ameritrade Place

  

Bellevue, NE 68005

  

DFA INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE SECURITIES PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

     37.18%   

101 Montgomery Street

  

San Francisco, CA 94104

  

DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio

  

1299 Ocean Avenue, 11th Floor

     30.49%   

Santa Monica, CA 90401

  

National Financial Services LLC*

     15.12%   

200 Liberty Street

  

One World Financial Center

  

New York, NY 10281

  

 

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Ameritrade, Inc.*

     6.28%   

1005 N. Ameritrade Place

  

Bellevue, NE 68005

  

Trust Company of America*

     5.53%   

P.O. Box 6503

  

Englewood, CO 80155

  

DFA GLOBAL REAL ESTATE SECURITIES PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

     65.01%   

101 Montgomery Street

  

San Francisco, CA 94104

  

National Financial Services LLC*

     18.76%   

200 Liberty Street

  

One World Financial Center

  

New York, NY 10281

  

Ameritrade, Inc.*

     10.60%   

1005 N. Ameritrade Place

  

Bellevue, NE 68005

  

DFA INTERNATIONAL SMALL CAP VALUE PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

     35.08%   

101 Montgomery Street

  

San Francisco, CA 94104

  

National Financial Services LLC*

     13.48%   

200 Liberty Street

  

One World Financial Center

  

New York, NY 10281

  

Ameritrade, Inc.*

     6.13%   

1005 N. Ameritrade Place

  

Bellevue, NE 68005

  

INTERNATIONAL VECTOR EQUITY PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

     51.01%   

101 Montgomery Street

  

San Francisco, CA 94104

  

National Financial Services LLC*

     18.72%   

200 Liberty Street

  

One World Financial Center

  

New York, NY 10281

  

Ameritrade, Inc.*

     17.40%   

1005 N. Ameritrade Place

  

Bellevue, NE 68005

  

WORLD EX U.S. VALUE PORTFOLIO

  

 

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The Employees Retirement Plan of the Denver Board of Water

   64.18%

Commissioner*

  

1600 West 12th Avenue Mailcode 210

  

Denver, CO 80204

  

U.S. Bank as Trustee Metro Wastewater

   20.51%

Reclamation District Retirement Plan*

  

950 17th Street

  

Denver, CO 80202

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

   10.50%

101 Montgomery Street

  

San Francisco, CA 94104

  

EMERGING MARKETS PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

   40.32%

101 Montgomery Street

  

San Francisco, CA 94104

  

National Financial Services LLC*

   17.64%

200 Liberty Street

  

One World Financial Center

  

New York, NY 10281

  

Ameritrade, Inc.*

   10.13%

1005 N. Ameritrade Place

  

Bellevue, NE 68005

  

EMERGING MARKETS VALUE PORTFOLIO

  

National Financial Services LLC*

   15.46%

200 Liberty Street

  

One World Financial Center

  

New York, NY 10281

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

   11.82%

101 Montgomery Street

  

San Francisco, CA 94104

  

EMERGING MARKETS SMALL CAP PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

   29.13%

101 Montgomery Street

  

San Francisco, CA 94104

  

National Financial Services LLC*

   9.19%

200 Liberty Street

  

One World Financial Center

  

New York, NY 10281

  

Missouri Local Government Employees

   7.56%

Retirement System

  

701 West Main Street

  

P.O. Box 1665

  

Jefferson City, MO 65102

  

 

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Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund*

   6.51%

350 Winter Street, NE Ste 100

  

Salem, OR 97301

  

Ameritrade, Inc.*

   5.63%

1005 N. Ameritrade Place

  

Bellevue, NE 68005

  

Fondo de Pensiones Obligatorias Proteccion

   5.38%

CLL 49 N 63-100 Piso 8

  

Medellin, Colombia

  

EMERGING MARKETS CORE EQUITY PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

   42.21%

101 Montgomery Street

  

San Francisco, CA 94104

  

National Financial Services LLC*

   15.54%

200 Liberty Street

  

One World Financial Center

  

New York, NY 10281

  

Ameritrade, Inc.*

   8.72%

1005 N. Ameritrade Place

  

Bellevue, NE 68005

  

Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company*

   5.46%

P.O. Box 2900

  

Valley Forge, PA 19482-2900

  

 

 

*

Owner of record only (omnibus).

PURCHASE OF SHARES

The following information supplements the information set forth in the prospectus under the caption “PURCHASE OF SHARES.”

The Funds will accept purchase and redemption orders on each day that the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for business, regardless of whether the Federal Reserve System is closed. However, no purchases by wire may be made on any day that the Federal Reserve System is closed. The Funds will generally be closed on days that the NYSE is closed. The NYSE is scheduled to be open Monday through Friday throughout the year except for days closed to recognize New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The Federal Reserve System is closed on the same days as the NYSE, except that it is open on Good Friday and closed on Columbus Day and Veterans’ Day. Orders for redemptions and purchases will not be processed if the Funds are closed.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange (“TSE”) is closed on the following days in 2011: January 3 and 10, February 11, March 21, April 29, May 3-5, July 18, September 19 and 23, October 10, November 3 and 23 and December 23. Orders for the purchase and redemption of shares of the Japanese Small Company Portfolio received on those days will be priced as of the close of the NYSE on the next day that the TSE is open for trading (provided that the NYSE is open on such day). The London Stock Exchange (“LSE”) is closed on the following days in 2011: January 3, April 22, 25 and 29, May 2 and 30, August 29, and December 26 and 27. Orders for the purchase and redemption of shares of the United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio received on those days will be processed as of the close of

 

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the NYSE on the next day that the London Stock Exchange is open for trading (provided that the NYSE is open on such day). In 2011, the foreign securities exchanges on which The Continental Small Company Series’ portfolio securities are principally traded are closed on April 22 and 25.

The Japanese Small Company Portfolio is closed on days that the TSE is closed. The United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio is closed on days that the LSE is closed. In 2011, the Continental Small Company Portfolio is closed on April 22 and 25. Purchase and redemption orders for shares of such Portfolios will not be accepted on those days.

The Funds reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to suspend the offering of shares of any or all Portfolios or reject purchase orders when, in the judgment of management, such suspension or rejection is in the best interest of that Fund or a Portfolio. Securities accepted in exchange for shares of a Portfolio will be acquired for investment purposes and will be considered for sale under the same circumstances as other securities in the Portfolio.

The Funds or their transfer agent may, from time to time, appoint a sub-transfer agent, such as a broker, for the receipt of purchase and redemption orders and funds from certain investors. With respect to purchases and redemptions through a sub-transfer agent, a Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when the sub-transfer agent receives the order. Shares of a Portfolio will be priced at the public offering price next calculated after receipt of the purchase or redemption order by the sub-transfer agent.

Reimbursement fees may be charged prospectively from time to time based upon the future experience of the Portfolios, which are currently sold at net asset value. Any such charges will be described in the Prospectus.

REDEMPTION AND TRANSFER OF SHARES

The following information supplements the information set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “REDEMPTION OF SHARES.”

Each Fund may suspend redemption privileges or postpone the date of payment: (1) during any period when the NYSE is closed, or trading on the NYSE is restricted as determined by the Commission, (2) during any period when an emergency exists as defined by the rules of the Commission as a result of which it is not reasonably practicable for such Fund to dispose of securities owned by it, or fairly to determine the value of its assets and (3) for such other periods as the Commission may permit.

Shareholders may transfer shares of any Portfolio to another person by making a written request to the Advisor who will transmit the request to the Transfer Agent. The request should clearly identify the account and number of shares to be transferred, and include the signature of all registered owners and all stock certificates, if any, which are subject to the transfer. The signature on the letter of request, the stock certificate or any stock power must be guaranteed in the same manner as described in the Prospectus under “REDEMPTION OF SHARES.” As with redemptions, the written request must be received in good order before any transfer can be made.

TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIOS AND THEIR SHAREHOLDERS

The following is a summary of some of the federal income tax consequences of investing in a Portfolio (sometimes referred to as “the Portfolio”). Unless you are invested in the Portfolio through a qualified retirement plan, you should consider the tax implications of investing and consult your own tax advisor. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Portfolio or its shareholders, and the discussion here and in the Prospectus is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning.

This “TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIOS AND THEIR SHAREHOLDERS” section is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and applicable regulations in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative, regulatory or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly change the tax rules applicable to the Portfolio and its shareholders. Any of these changes or court decisions may have a retroactive effect.

 

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Different tax rules may apply depending on how a Master Fund or an Underlying Fund in which a Portfolio invests is organized for federal income tax purposes. These rules could affect the amount, timing or character of the income distributed to shareholders of a Portfolio. The Feeder Portfolios invest in Master Funds organized as partnerships for federal income tax purposes. The International Small Company Portfolio invests in Underlying Funds organized as partnerships for federal income tax purposes. The DFA Global Real Estate Portfolio invests in Underlying Funds organized as corporations for federal income tax purposes. The World ex U.S. Value Portfolio invests in Underlying Funds organized as either partnerships or corporations for federal income tax purposes.

Unless otherwise indicated, the discussion below with respect to a Portfolio includes in the case of a Feeder Portfolio invested in a Master Fund or a Portfolio invested in an Underlying Fund classified as a partnership, its pro rata share of its corresponding Master Fund’s or Underlying Fund’s income and assets and in the case of a Portfolio invested in an Underlying Fund classified as a corporation, its pro rata share of the dividends and distributions paid by such Underlying Fund.

This is for general information only and not tax advice and does not purport to deal with all federal tax consequences applicable to all categories of investors, some of which may be subject to special rules. You should consult your own tax advisor regarding your particular circumstances before making an investment in the Portfolio.

Taxation of the Portfolio

The Portfolio has elected and intends to qualify (or, if newly organized, intends to elect and qualify) each year as a regulated investment company (sometimes referred to as a “regulated investment company,” “RIC” or “portfolio”) under Subchapter M of the Code. If the Portfolio qualifies, the Portfolio will not be subject to federal income tax on the portion of its investment company taxable income (that is, generally, taxable interest, dividends, net short-term capital gains, and other taxable ordinary income, net of expenses, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and net capital gain (that is, the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) that it distributes to shareholders.

Qualification as a regulated investment company. In order to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, the Portfolio must satisfy the following requirements:

 

   

Distribution Requirement —the Portfolio must distribute at least 90% of its investment company taxable income and 90% of its net tax-exempt income, if any, for the tax year (certain distributions made by the Portfolio after the close of its tax year are considered distributions attributable to the previous tax year for purposes of satisfying this requirement).

 

   

Income Requirement —the Portfolio must derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived from its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies and net income derived from qualified publicly traded partnerships (“QPTPs”).

 

   

Asset Diversification Test —the Portfolio must satisfy the following asset diversification test at the close of each quarter of the Portfolio’s tax year: (1) at least 50% of the value of the Portfolio’s assets must consist of cash and cash items, U.S. Government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and securities of other issuers (as to which the Portfolio has not invested more than 5% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets in securities of an issuer and as to which the Portfolio does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer); and (2) no more than 25% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets may be invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies) or of two or more issuers which the Portfolio controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses, or, collectively, in the securities of QPTPs.

 

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In some circumstances, the character and timing of income realized by the Portfolio for purposes of the Income Requirement or the identification of the issuer for purposes of the Asset Diversification Test is uncertain under current law with respect to a particular investment, and an adverse determination or future guidance by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) with respect to such type of investment may adversely affect the Portfolio’s ability to satisfy these requirements. SeeTax Treatment of Portfolio Transactions” below with respect to the application of these requirements to certain types of investments. In other circumstances, the Portfolio may be required to sell portfolio holdings in order to meet the Income Requirement, Distribution Requirement, or Asset Diversification Test which may have a negative impact on the Portfolio’s income and performance.

The Portfolio may use ”equalization accounting” (in lieu of making some cash distributions) in determining the portion of its income and gains that has been distributed. If the Portfolio uses equalization accounting, it will allocate a portion of its undistributed investment company taxable income and net capital gain to redemptions of Portfolio shares and will correspondingly reduce the amount of such income and gains that it distributes in cash. If the IRS determines that the Portfolio’s allocation is improper and that the Portfolio has under-distributed its income and gain for any taxable year, the Portfolio may be liable for federal income and/or excise tax. In addition, any such under-distribution of income might cause the Portfolio to fail to satisfy the Income Requirement and thereby not qualify as a regulated investment company for such taxable year.

If for any taxable year the Portfolio does not qualify as a regulated investment company, all of its taxable income (including its net capital gain) would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders, and the dividends would be taxable to the shareholders as ordinary income (or possibly as qualified dividend income) to the extent of the Portfolio’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Failure to qualify as a regulated investment company would thus have a negative impact on the Portfolio’s income and performance. Subject to savings provisions for certain inadvertent failures to satisfy the Income Requirement or Asset Diversification Test which, in general, are limited to those due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, it is possible that the Portfolio will not qualify as a regulated investment company in any given tax year. Even if such savings provisions apply, the Portfolio may be subject to a monetary sanction of $50,000 or more. Moreover, the Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of the Portfolio as a regulated investment company if it determines such a course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.

Portfolio turnover. For investors that hold their Portfolio shares in a taxable account, a high portfolio turnover rate (except in a money market fund that maintains a stable net asset value) may result in higher taxes. This is because a portfolio with a high turnover rate is likely to generate more short-term and less long-term capital gain or loss than a comparable portfolio with a low turnover rate. Any such higher taxes would reduce the Portfolio’s after-tax performance.

Capital loss carryovers. The capital losses of the Portfolio, if any, do not flow through to shareholders. Rather, the Portfolio may use its capital losses, subject to applicable limitations, to offset its capital gains without being required to pay taxes on or distribute to shareholders such gains that are offset by the losses. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (“RIC Mod Act”), if the Portfolio has a “net capital loss” (that is, capital losses in excess of capital gains) for a taxable year beginning after December 22, 2010 (the date of enactment of the RIC Mod Act), the excess (if any) of the Portfolio’s net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gains is treated as a short-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Portfolio’s next taxable year, and the excess (if any) of the Portfolio’s net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gains is treated as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Portfolio’s next taxable year. Any such net capital losses of the Portfolio that are not used to offset capital gains may be carried forward indefinitely to reduce any future capital gains realized by the Portfolio in succeeding taxable years. However, for any net capital losses realized in taxable years of the Portfolio beginning on or before December 22, 2010, the Portfolio is only permitted to carry forward such capital losses for eight years as a short-term capital loss. Under a transition rule, capital losses arising in a taxable year beginning after December 22, 2010 must be used before capital losses realized in a prior taxable year. The amount of capital losses that can be carried forward and used in any single year is subject to an annual limitation if there is a more than 50% “change in ownership” of the Portfolio. An ownership change generally results when shareholders owning 5% or more of the Portfolio increase their aggregate holdings by more than 50% over a three-year look-back period. An ownership change could result in capital loss carryovers being used at a slower rate (or, in the case of those realized in taxable years of the Portfolio beginning on or before December 22, 2010, to expire unutilized), thereby reducing the Portfolio’s ability to offset capital gains with those

 

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losses. An increase in the amount of taxable gains distributed to the Portfolio’s shareholders could result from an ownership change. The Portfolio undertakes no obligation to avoid or prevent an ownership change, which can occur in the normal course of shareholder purchases and redemptions or as a result of engaging in a tax-free reorganization with another portfolio. Moreover, because of circumstances beyond the Portfolio’s control, there can be no assurance that the Portfolio will not experience, or has not already experienced, an ownership change.

Deferral of late year losses. For taxable years of the Portfolio beginning after December 22, 2010, the Portfolio may elect to treat part or all of any “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in determining the Portfolio’s taxable income, net capital gain, net short-term capital gain, and earnings and profits. The effect of this election is to treat any such “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in characterizing Portfolio distributions for any calendar year (see “Distributions of Capital Gains” below). A “qualified late year loss” includes:

 

   

any net capital loss, net long-term capital loss, or net short-term capital loss incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year (“post-October losses”), and

 

   

the excess, if any, of (1) the sum of (a) specified losses incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year, and (b) other ordinary losses incurred after December 31 of the current taxable year, over (2) the sum of (a) specified gains incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year, and (b) other ordinary gains incurred after December 31 of the current taxable year.

The terms “specified losses” and “specified gains” mean ordinary losses and gains from the sale, exchange, or other disposition of property (including the termination of a position with respect to such property), foreign currency losses, and losses resulting from holding stock in a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) for which a mark-to-market election is in effect. The terms “ordinary losses” and “ordinary gains” mean other ordinary losses and gains that are not described in the preceding sentence. Since the Portfolio has a fiscal year ending in October, the amount of qualified late-year losses (if any) is computed without regard to any items of income, gain, or loss that are (a) post-October losses, (b) specified losses, and (c) specified gains.

Undistributed capital gains. The Portfolio may retain or distribute to shareholders its net capital gain for each taxable year. The Portfolio currently intends to distribute net capital gains. If the Portfolio elects to retain its net capital gain, the Portfolio will be taxed thereon (except to the extent of any available capital loss carryovers) at the highest corporate tax rate (currently 35%). If the Portfolio elects to retain its net capital gain, it is expected that the Portfolio also will elect to have shareholders treated as if each received a distribution of its pro rata share of such gain, with the result that each shareholder will be required to report its pro rata share of such gain on its tax return as long-term capital gain, will receive a refundable tax credit for its pro rata share of tax paid by the Portfolio on the gain, and will increase the tax basis for its shares by an amount equal to the deemed distribution less the tax credit.

Fund-of-funds corporate structures. In the case of a Portfolio that invests in Underlying Funds classified as corporations, distributions by the Underlying Funds, redemptions of shares in the Underlying Funds, and changes in asset allocations by the Portfolio may result in taxable distributions to Portfolio shareholders of ordinary income or capital gains. A Portfolio that is a fund of funds generally will not be able currently to offset gains realized by one Underlying Fund against losses realized by another Underlying Fund. If shares of an Underlying Fund are purchased within 30 days before or after redeeming at a loss other shares of that Underlying Fund (whether pursuant to a rebalancing by the Portfolio or otherwise), all or a part of the loss will not be deductible by the Portfolio and instead will increase its basis for the newly purchased shares. Effective for taxable years of a Portfolio beginning after December 22, 2010, a Portfolio that is a “qualified fund of funds,” meaning at least 50 percent of the value of the total assets of which (at the close of each quarter of the taxable year) is represented by interests in other RICs, is eligible to pass-through to the Portfolio’s shareholders (a) foreign tax credits reported by an Underlying Fund that invests in foreign securities, and (b) exempt-interest dividends reported by an Underlying Fund that invests in tax-exempt obligations. In contrast, a Portfolio that is a fund of funds, but not so qualified, is not eligible to pass-through to the Portfolio’s shareholders amounts reported by an Underlying Fund as foreign tax credits or exempt-interest dividends. A fund of funds, whether so qualified or not, is eligible to pass-through to shareholders qualified dividends earned by an Underlying Fund (see “Qualified Dividend Income for Individuals” and “Dividends Received Deduction for Corporations” below). However, dividends paid to shareholders by a fund of funds from

 

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interest earned by an Underlying Fund on U.S. Government obligations are unlikely to be exempt from state and local income tax (see “U.S. Government Securities” below”).

Excise tax distribution requirements. To avoid a 4% federal excise tax, the Code requires the Portfolio to distribute to you by December 31 of each year, at a minimum, the following amounts: 98% of its taxable ordinary income earned during the calendar year; 98% (or 98.2% beginning January 1, 2011) of its capital gain net income earned during the twelve-month period ending October 31; and 100% of any undistributed amounts from the prior year. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay these distributions in December (or to pay them in January, in which case you must treat them as received in December) but can give no assurances that its distributions will be sufficient to eliminate all taxes.

Foreign income tax. Investment income received by the Portfolio from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign income tax withheld at the source and the amount of tax withheld generally will be treated as an expense of the Portfolio. The United States has entered into tax treaties with many foreign countries which entitle the Portfolio to a reduced rate of, or exemption from, tax on such income. It is impossible to determine the effective rate of foreign tax in advance since the amount of the Portfolio’s assets to be invested in various countries is not known. Under certain circumstances, the Portfolio may elect to pass-through foreign tax credits to shareholders, although it reserves the right not to do so. See “Investment in Foreign SecuritiesPass-through of foreign tax credits” below.

Investments in Commodities – Commodity Strategy Portfolio

The Portfolio invests in commodity-linked derivatives and the stock of its own wholly-owned subsidiary (the “Subsidiary”) to gain exposure to the commodity markets. This strategy may cause the Portfolio to realize more ordinary income than would be the case if the Portfolio invested directly in commodities. Also, the commodity-linked derivatives and the income earned thereon must be taken into account by the Portfolio in complying with the Distribution and Income Requirements and the Asset Diversification Test as described below.

Distribution Requirement. The Portfolio intends to distribute the Subsidiary’s income each year in satisfaction of the Portfolio’s Distribution Requirement. The Subsidiary will be classified for federal income tax purposes as a controlled foreign corporation (CFC) with respect to the Portfolio. As such, the Portfolio will be required to include in its gross income each year amounts earned by the Subsidiary during that year (subpart F income), whether or not such earnings are distributed by the Subsidiary to the Portfolio. Subpart F income will be distributed by the Portfolio to shareholders each year as ordinary income and will not be qualified dividend income eligible for taxation at long-term capital gain rates.

Income Requirement. As described above, the Portfolio must derive at least 90% of its gross income from qualifying sources to qualify as a regulated investment company. Gains from the disposition of commodities, including precious metals, are not considered qualifying income for purposes of satisfying the Income Requirement. Also, IRS has issued a revenue ruling which holds that income derived from commodity-linked swaps is not qualifying income under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. As such, the Portfolio’s ability to utilize commodity-linked swaps as part of its investment strategy is limited to a maximum of 10% of its gross income. However, the IRS, has issued to the Portfolio a private letter ruling concluding that the income from a form of commodity-linked note is qualifying income for these purposes. In addition, the IRS has also issued a private letter ruling to the Portfolio concluding that income derived from the Subsidiary will be qualifying income, even if the subsidiary itself owns commodity-linked swaps, regardless of whether the Portfolio receives the income in the form of current distributions or recognizes the income in advance of receiving distributions from the subsidiary. There can be no assurance that the IRS will not change its position with respect to some or all of these issues. If the IRS were to change its position with respect to the conclusions reached in these private letter rulings, the Board may authorize a significant change in investment strategy or Portfolio liquidation. The tax treatment of the Portfolio and its shareholders in the event the Portfolio fails to qualify as a RIC is described above under “Taxation of the PortfolioQualification as a regulated investment company.”

Asset Diversification Test. For purposes of the Asset Diversification Test, the Portfolio’s investment in the Subsidiary would be considered a security of one issuer. Accordingly, the Portfolio intends to limit its investment in

 

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the Subsidiary to no more than 25% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets in order to satisfy the Asset Diversification Test.

Taxation of the Subsidiary. On the basis of current law and practice, the Subsidiary will not be liable for income tax in the Cayman Islands. Distributions by the Subsidiary to the Portfolio will not be subject to withholding tax in the Cayman Islands. In addition, the Subsidiary’s investment in commodity-linked derivatives and other assets held as collateral are anticipated to qualify for a safe harbor under Code Section 864(b) so that the Subsidiary will not be treated as conducting a U.S. trade or business. Thus, the Subsidiary should not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net basis. However, if certain of the Subsidiary’s activities were determined not to be of the type described in the safe harbor (which is not expected), then the activities of the Subsidiary may constitute a U.S. trade or business, or be taxed as such.

In general, a foreign corporation, such as the Subsidiary, that does not conduct a U.S. trade or business is nonetheless subject to tax at a flat rate of 30 percent (or lower tax treaty rate), generally payable through withholding, on the gross amount of certain U.S.-source income that is not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business, subject to certain exemptions, including among others, exemptions for capital gains, portfolio interest and income from notional principal contracts. It is not anticipated that the Subsidiary will be subject to material amounts of U.S. withholding tax on its portfolio investments. The Subsidiary intends to properly certify its status as a non-U.S. person to each custodian and withholding agent to avoid U.S. backup withholding requirements discussed below.

Distributions of Net Investment Income

The Portfolio receives ordinary income generally in the form of dividends and/or interest on its investments. In the case of a Feeder Portfolio that invests in a Master Fund or a Portfolio that invests in an Underlying Fund classified as a partnership, the Portfolio’s income generally consists of its share of dividends and interest earned by the Master Fund or Underlying Fund. A Portfolio investing in an Underlying Fund classified as a corporation receives income generally in the form of dividends. The Portfolio may also recognize ordinary income from other sources, including, but not limited to, certain gains on foreign currency-related transactions. This income, less expenses incurred in the operation of the Portfolio, constitutes the Portfolio’s net investment income from which dividends may be paid to you. If you are a taxable investor, distributions of net investment income generally are taxable as ordinary income to the extent of the Portfolio’s earnings and profits. In the case of a Portfolio whose strategy includes investing in stocks of corporations, a portion of the income dividends paid to shareholders by a Portfolio may be qualified dividends eligible to be taxed at reduced rates.

Distributions of Capital Gains

The Portfolio may realize a capital gain or loss in connection with sales or other dispositions of its portfolio securities. A Portfolio investing in an Underlying Fund classified as a corporation may also derive capital gains through its redemption of shares of an Underlying Fund classified as a corporation (see “Taxation of the PortfolioFund-of-funds corporate structures” above). Distributions derived from the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss will be taxable to you as ordinary income. Distributions from the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long you have held your shares in the Portfolio. Any net capital gain of the Portfolio generally will be distributed once each year, and may be distributed more frequently, if necessary, to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the Portfolio.

Returns of Capital

Distributions by the Portfolio that are not paid from earnings and profits will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of (and in reduction of) the shareholder’s tax basis in his shares; any excess will be treated as gain from the sale of his shares. Thus, the portion of a distribution that constitutes a return of capital will decrease the shareholder’s tax basis in his Portfolio shares (but not below zero), and will result in an increase in the amount of gain (or decrease in the amount of loss) that will be recognized by the shareholder for tax purposes on the later sale of such Portfolio shares. Return of capital distributions can occur for a number of reasons including, among others, the Portfolio over-estimates the income to be received from certain investments such as those classified as

 

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partnerships or equity real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) (see “Tax Treatment of Portfolio TransactionsInvestments in U.S. REITs” below).

Investment in Foreign Securities

The Portfolio may be subject to foreign withholding taxes on income from certain foreign securities. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes on the Portfolio and/or its shareholders. Any foreign withholding taxes could reduce the Portfolio’s distributions paid to you.

Pass-through of foreign tax credits. If at the end of the fiscal year, (i) more than 50% in value of the total assets of the Portfolio (or if the Portfolio is a qualified fund of funds as described above under the heading “Taxation of the PortfolioFund of funds corporate structures”, an Underlying Fund), or (ii) in the case of a Feeder Portfolio (or a Portfolio that invests in Underlying Funds classified as partnerships), more than 50% in value of the total assets of the Feeder Portfolio attributable from the Master Fund (or of the Portfolio attributable from the Underlying Fund), are invested in securities of foreign corporations, the Portfolio may elect to pass through to its shareholders their pro rata share of foreign income taxes paid by the Portfolio (or Underlying Fund or Master Fund). If this election is made, the Portfolio may report more taxable income to you than it actually distributes. You will then be entitled either to deduct your share of these taxes in computing your taxable income or to claim a foreign tax credit for these taxes against your U.S. federal income tax (subject to limitations for certain shareholders). The Portfolio will provide you with the information necessary to claim this deduction or credit on your personal income tax return if it makes this election. The Portfolio (or Underlying Fund or Master Fund) reserves the right not to pass through to its shareholders the amount of foreign income taxes paid by the Portfolio (or Underlying Fund or Master Fund).

The amount of any foreign tax credits available to you (as a result of the pass-through to you of your pro rata share of foreign taxes paid by the Portfolio) will be reduced if you receive from the Portfolio qualifying dividends from qualifying foreign corporations that are subject to tax at reduced rates. Shareholders in these circumstances should talk with their personal tax advisors about their foreign tax credits and the procedures that they should follow to claim these credits on their personal income tax returns.

Effect of foreign debt investments on distributions. Most foreign exchange gains realized on the sale of debt securities are treated by the Portfolio as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes. Similarly, foreign exchange losses realized on the sale of debt securities generally are treated as ordinary losses. These gains when distributed are taxable to you as ordinary income, and any losses reduce the Portfolio’s ordinary income otherwise available for distribution to you. This treatment could increase or decrease the Portfolio’s ordinary income distributions to you, and may cause some or all of the Portfolio’s previously distributed income to be classified as a return of capital.

PFIC securities. The Portfolio may invest in securities of foreign entities that could be deemed for tax purposes to be PFICs. In general, a PFIC is any foreign corporation if 75% or more of its gross income for its taxable year is passive income, or 50% or more of its average assets (by value) are held for the production of passive income. When investing in PFIC securities, the Portfolio intends to mark-to-market these securities and recognize any unrealized gains as ordinary income at the end of its fiscal year. Deductions for losses are allowable only to the extent of any current or previously recognized gains. These gains (reduced by allowable losses) are treated as ordinary income that the Portfolio is required to distribute, even though it has not sold or received dividends from these securities. You should also be aware that the designation of a foreign security as a PFIC security will cause its income dividends to fall outside of the definition of qualified foreign corporation dividends. These dividends generally will not qualify for the reduced rate of taxation on qualified dividends when distributed to you by the Portfolio. In addition, if the Portfolio (or an Underlying Fund organized as a corporation) is unable to identify an investment as a PFIC and thus does not make a mark-to-market election, the Portfolio (or Underlying Fund) may be subject to U.S. federal income tax (the effect of which might be mitigated by making a mark-to-market election in a year prior to the sale) on a portion of any “excess distribution” or gain from the disposition of such shares even if such income is distributed as a taxable dividend by the Portfolio to its shareholders. Additional charges in the nature of interest may be imposed on the Portfolio (or Underlying Fund) in respect of deferred taxes arising from such distributions or gains. Any such taxes or interest charges could in turn reduce the Portfolio’s distributions paid to

 

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you. Also, see “Investments in CommoditiesCommodity Strategy Portfolio” with respect to the investment in the Subsidiary.

Information on the Amount and Tax Character of Distributions

The Portfolio will inform you of the amount and character of your distributions at the time they are paid, and will advise you of the tax status of such distributions for federal income tax purposes shortly after the close of each calendar year. If you have not held Portfolio shares for a full year, the Portfolio may report to shareholders and distribute to you, as ordinary income, qualified dividends, or capital gains, and in the case of non-U.S. shareholders the Portfolio may further report and distribute as interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends, a percentage of income that is not equal to the actual amount of such income earned during the period of your investment in the Portfolio. Taxable distributions declared by the Portfolio in December to shareholders of record in such month, but paid in January, are taxable to you as if they were paid in December.

Sales, Exchanges and Redemptions of Portfolio Shares

In general. If you are a taxable investor, sales, exchanges and redemptions (including redemptions in kind) are taxable transactions for federal and state income tax purposes. If you redeem your Portfolio shares, the IRS requires you to report any gain or loss on your redemption. If you held your shares as a capital asset, the gain or loss that you realize will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term or short-term, generally depending on how long you have held your shares.

Redemptions at a loss within six months of purchase. Any loss incurred on a redemption of shares of the Portfolio held for six months or less will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributed to you by the Portfolio on those shares.

Wash sales. All or a portion of any loss that you realize on a redemption of your Portfolio shares will be disallowed to the extent that you buy other shares in the Portfolio (through reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) within 30 days before or after your share redemption. Any loss disallowed under these rules will be added to your tax basis in the new shares.

Cost basis reporting. Under the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008, the Portfolio’s administrative agent will be required to provide you with cost basis information on the sale of any of your shares in the Portfolio, subject to certain exceptions. This cost basis reporting requirement is effective for shares purchased in the Portfolio on or after January 1, 2012.

Conversion of shares into shares of the same Portfolio. The conversion of shares of one class into another class of the same Portfolio is not taxable for federal income tax purposes. Shareholders should also consult their tax advisors regarding the state and local tax consequences of a conversion or exchange of shares of the same Portfolio.

Tax shelter reporting. Under Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to the Portfolio’s shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886.

U.S. Government Securities

To the extent the Portfolio (or in the case of a Feeder Portfolio, the Master Fund or an Underlying Fund classified as a partnership) invests in certain U.S. government obligations, dividends paid by the Portfolio to shareholders that are derived from interest on these obligations should be exempt from state and local personal income taxes, subject in some states to minimum investment or reporting requirements that must be met by the Portfolio, the Feeder Portfolio’s corresponding Master Fund or the Underlying Fund. To the extent an Underlying Fund organized as a corporation invests in U.S. government obligations, dividends derived from interest on these obligations and paid to the corresponding Portfolio and, in turn, to you are unlikely to be exempt from state and local income tax. The income on portfolio investments in certain securities, such as repurchase agreements, commercial paper and federal agency-backed obligations (e.g., Government National Mortgage Association

 

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(“GNMA”) or Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) securities), generally does not qualify for tax-free treatment. The rules on exclusion of this income are different for corporate shareholders.

Qualified Dividend Income for Individuals

With respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2013 (unless such provision is extended or made permanent), ordinary income dividends reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as derived from qualified dividend income will be taxed in the hands of individuals and other noncorporate shareholders at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain. “Qualified dividend income” means dividends paid to the Portfolio (a) by domestic corporations, (b) by foreign corporations that are either (i) incorporated in a possession of the United States, or (ii) are eligible for benefits under certain income tax treaties with the United States that include an exchange of information program, or (c) with respect to stock of a foreign corporation that is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. Both the Portfolio and the investor must meet certain holding period requirements to qualify Portfolio dividends for this treatment. Specifically, the Portfolio must hold the stock for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the stock becomes ex-dividend. Similarly, investors must hold their Portfolio shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the Portfolio distribution goes ex-dividend. Income derived from investments in derivatives, fixed-income securities, U.S. REITs, PFICs, and income received “in lieu of” dividends in a securities lending transaction generally is not eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income. Additionally, income from the Subsidiary will not be eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income. If the qualifying dividend income received by the Portfolio is equal to or greater than 95% of the Portfolio’s gross income (exclusive of net capital gain) in any taxable year, all of the ordinary income dividends paid by the Portfolio will be qualifying dividend income.

Dividends-Received Deduction for Corporations

For corporate shareholders, a portion of the dividends paid by the Portfolio may qualify for the 70% corporate dividends-received deduction. The portion of dividends paid by the Portfolio that so qualifies will be reported by the Portfolio to shareholders each year and cannot exceed the gross amount of dividends received by the Portfolio from domestic (U.S.) corporations. The availability of the dividends-received deduction is subject to certain holding period and debt financing restrictions that apply to both the Portfolio and the investor. Specifically, the amount that the Portfolio may report as eligible for the dividends-received deduction will be reduced or eliminated if the shares on which the dividends earned by the Portfolio were debt-financed or held by the Portfolio for less than a minimum period of time, generally 46 days during a 91-day period beginning 45 days before the stock becomes ex-dividend. Similarly, if your Portfolio shares are debt-financed or held by you for less than a 46-day period then the dividends-received deduction for Portfolio dividends on your shares may also be reduced or eliminated. Even if reported as dividends eligible for the dividends-received deduction, all dividends (including any deducted portion) must be included in your alternative minimum taxable income calculation. Income derived by the Portfolio from investments in derivatives, fixed-income and foreign securities generally is not eligible for this treatment.

Limitation on Deductibility of Losses

Losses incurred on the sale of securities by the Portfolio (or corresponding Master Fund) to another Portfolio or Master Fund will be disallowed if, as of the date of sale, the selling and purchasing portfolios are considered related parties. If the selling and purchasing portfolios are both corporations, they are treated as related parties if five or fewer persons, who are individuals, estates or trusts, own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the outstanding shares in both the selling and purchasing portfolios. If the selling and purchasing portfolios are both Master Funds (i.e., both partnerships) or a Master Fund and a Portfolio (i.e., a partnership and a corporation), they are treated as related parties if the same persons own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the outstanding shares in both the selling and purchasing portfolios. Under attribution rules, the shareholders of a Feeder Portfolio would be considered to own the shares of the corresponding Master Fund on a pro rata basis for purposes of applying the loss disallowance rule. Other attribution rules may apply.

Tax Treatment of Portfolio Transactions.

 

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Set forth below is a general description of the tax treatment of certain types of securities, investment techniques and transactions that may apply to a portfolio and, in turn, effect the amount, character and timing of dividends and distributions payable by the portfolio to its shareholders. This section should be read in conjunction with the discussion in the Prospectus under “Principal Investment Strategies” and “Principal Risks” for a detailed description of the various types of securities and investment techniques that apply to the Portfolio.

In general. In general, gain or loss recognized by a portfolio on the sale or other disposition of portfolio investments will be a capital gain or loss. Such capital gain and loss may be long-term or short-term depending, in general, upon the length of time a particular investment position is maintained and, in some cases, upon the nature of the transaction. Property held for more than one year generally will be eligible for long-term capital gain or loss treatment. The application of certain rules described below may serve to alter the manner in which the holding period for a security is determined or may otherwise affect the characterization as long-term or short-term, and also the timing of the realization and/or character, of certain gains or losses.

Certain fixed-income investments. Gain recognized on the disposition of a debt obligation purchased by a portfolio at a market discount (generally, at a price less than its principal amount) will be treated as ordinary income to the extent of the portion of the market discount that accrued during the period of time the portfolio held the debt obligation unless the portfolio made a current inclusion election to accrue market discount into income as it accrues. If a portfolio purchases a debt obligation (such as a zero coupon security or pay-in-kind security) that was originally issued at a discount, the portfolio generally is required to include in gross income each year the portion of the original issue discount that accrues during such year. Therefore, a portfolio’s investment in such securities may cause the portfolio to recognize income and make distributions to shareholders before it receives any cash payments on the securities. To generate cash to satisfy those distribution requirements, a portfolio may have to sell portfolio securities that it otherwise might have continued to hold or to use cash flows from other sources such as the sale of portfolio shares.

Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of or in default present tax issues for a portfolio. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as whether and to what extent a portfolio should recognize market discount on a debt obligation, when a portfolio may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount or market discount, when and to what extent a portfolio may take deductions for bad debts or worthless securities and how a portfolio should allocate payments received on obligations in default between principal and income. These and other related issues will be addressed by a portfolio in order to ensure that it distributes sufficient income to preserve its status as a regulated investment company.

Options, futures, forward contracts, swap agreements and hedging transactions. In general, option premiums received by a portfolio are not immediately included in the income of the portfolio. Instead, the premiums are recognized when the option contract expires, the option is exercised by the holder, or the portfolio transfers or otherwise terminates the option (e.g., through a closing transaction). If an option written by a portfolio is exercised and the portfolio sells or delivers the underlying stock, the portfolio generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to (a) sum of the strike price and the option premium received by the portfolio minus (b) the portfolio’s basis in the stock. Such gain or loss generally will be short-term or long-term depending upon the holding period of the underlying stock. If securities are purchased by a portfolio pursuant to the exercise of a put option written by it, the portfolio generally will subtract the premium received from its cost basis in the securities purchased. The gain or loss with respect to any termination of a portfolio’s obligation under an option other than through the exercise of the option and related sale or delivery of the underlying stock generally will be short-term gain or loss depending on whether the premium income received by the portfolio is greater or less than the amount paid by the portfolio (if any) in terminating the transaction. Thus, for example, if an option written by a portfolio expires unexercised, the portfolio generally will recognize short-term gain equal to the premium received.

The tax treatment of certain futures contracts entered into by a portfolio as well as listed non-equity options written or purchased by the portfolio on U.S. exchanges (including options on futures contracts, broad-based equity indices and debt securities) may be governed by section 1256 of the Code (“section 1256 contracts”). Gains or losses on section 1256 contracts generally are considered 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gains or losses (“60/40”), although certain foreign currency gains and losses from such contracts may be treated as ordinary in character. Also, any section 1256 contracts held by a portfolio at the end of each taxable year (and, for purposes of the 4% excise tax, on certain other dates as prescribed under the Code) are “marked to market” with the result that

 

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unrealized gains or losses are treated as though they were realized and the resulting gain or loss is treated as ordinary or 60/40 gain or loss, as applicable. Section 1256 contracts do not include any interest rate swap, currency swap, basis swap, interest rate cap, interest rate floor, commodity swap, equity swap, equity index swap, credit default swap, or similar agreement.

In addition to the special rules described above in respect of options and futures transactions, a portfolio’s transactions in other derivative instruments (including options, forward contracts and swap agreements) as well as its other hedging, short sale, or similar transactions, may be subject to one or more special tax rules (including the constructive sale, notional principal contract, straddle, wash sale and short sale rules). These rules may affect whether gains and losses recognized by a portfolio are treated as ordinary or capital or as short-term or long-term, accelerate the recognition of income or gains to the portfolio, defer losses to the portfolio, and cause adjustments in the holding periods of the portfolio’s securities. These rules, therefore, could affect the amount, timing and/or character of distributions to shareholders. Moreover, because the tax rules applicable to derivative financial instruments are in some cases uncertain under current law, an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to these rules (which determination or guidance could be retroactive) may affect whether a portfolio has made sufficient distributions and otherwise satisfied the relevant requirements to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company and avoid a portfolio-level tax.

Certain of a portfolio’s investments in derivatives and foreign currency-denominated instruments, and the portfolio’s transactions in foreign currencies and hedging activities, may produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. If a portfolio’s book income is less than the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any), the portfolio could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regulated investment company. If a portfolio’s book income exceeds the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any), the distribution of any such excess will be treated as (i) a

dividend to the extent of the portfolio’s remaining earnings and profits (including current earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income, reduced, for taxable years of the Portfolio beginning after December 22, 2010, by related deductions), (ii) thereafter, as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient’s basis in the shares, and (iii) thereafter, as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset.

Foreign currency transactions. A portfolio’s transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated debt obligations and certain foreign currency options, futures contracts and forward contracts (and similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned. This treatment could increase or decrease a portfolio’s ordinary income distributions to you, and may cause some or all of the portfolio’s previously distributed income to be classified as a return of capital. In certain cases, a portfolio may make an election to treat such gain or loss as capital.

Investments in non-U.S. REITs. While non-U.S. REITs often use complex acquisition structures that seek to minimize taxation in the source country, an investment by a portfolio in a non-U.S. REIT may subject the portfolio, directly or indirectly, to corporate taxes, withholding taxes, transfer taxes and other indirect taxes in the country in which the real estate acquired by the non-U.S. REIT is located. The portfolio’s pro rata share of any such taxes will reduce the portfolio’s return on its investment. A portfolio’s investment in a non-U.S. REIT may be considered an investment in a PFIC, as discussed above in “Investment in Foreign Securities — PFIC securities.” Additionally, foreign withholding taxes on distributions from the non-U.S. REIT may be reduced or eliminated under certain tax treaties, as discussed above in “Taxation of the Portfolio — Foreign income tax.” Also, the portfolio in certain limited circumstances may be required to file an income tax return in the source country and pay tax on any gain realized from its investment in the non-U.S. REIT under rules similar to those in the United States which tax foreign persons on gain realized from dispositions of interests in U.S. real estate.

Investments in U.S. REITs. A U.S. REIT is not subject to federal income tax on the income and gains it distributes to shareholders. Dividends paid by a U.S. REIT, other than capital gain distributions, will be taxable as ordinary income up to the amount of the U.S. REIT’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Capital gain dividends paid by a U.S. REIT to a portfolio will be treated as long term capital gains by the portfolio and, in turn, may be distributed by the portfolio to its shareholders as a capital gain distribution. Because of certain noncash expenses, such as property depreciation, an equity U.S. REIT’s cash flow may exceed its taxable income. The equity

 

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U.S. REIT, and in turn a portfolio, may distribute this excess cash to shareholders in the form of a return of capital distribution. However, if a U.S. REIT is operated in a manner that fails to qualify as a REIT, an investment in the U.S. REIT would become subject to double taxation, meaning the taxable income of the U.S. REIT would be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders and the dividends would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income (or possibly as qualified dividend income) to the extent of the U.S. REIT’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Also, see “Tax Treatment of Portfolio TransactionsInvestment in taxable mortgage pools (excess inclusion income)” and “Non -U.S. Investors — Investment in U.S. real property” with respect to certain other tax aspects of investing in U.S. REITs.

Investment in taxable mortgage pools (excess inclusion income). Under a Notice issued by the IRS, the Code and Treasury regulations to be issued, a portion of a portfolio’s income from a U.S. REIT that is attributable to the REIT’s residual interest in a real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMICs”) or equity interests in a “taxable mortgage pool” (referred to in the Code as an excess inclusion) will be subject to federal income tax in all events. The excess inclusion income of a regulated investment company, such as a portfolio, will be allocated to shareholders of the regulated investment company in proportion to the dividends received by such shareholders, with the same consequences as if the shareholders held the related REMIC residual interest or, if applicable, taxable mortgage pool directly. In general, excess inclusion income allocated to shareholders (i) cannot be offset by net operating losses (subject to a limited exception for certain thrift institutions), (ii) will constitute unrelated business taxable income to entities (including qualified pension plans, individual retirement accounts, 401(k) plans, Keogh plans or other tax-exempt entities) subject to tax on unrelated business income (“UBTI”), thereby potentially requiring such an entity that is allocated excess inclusion income, and otherwise might not be required to file a tax return, to file a tax return and pay tax on such income, and (iii) in the case of a foreign stockholder, will not qualify for any reduction in U.S. federal withholding tax. In addition, if at any time during any taxable year a “disqualified organization” (which generally includes certain cooperatives, governmental entities, and tax-exempt organizations not subject to UBTI) is a record holder of a share in a regulated investment company, then the regulated investment company will be subject to a tax equal to that portion of its excess inclusion income for the taxable year that is allocable to the disqualified organization, multiplied by the highest federal income tax rate imposed on corporations. The Notice imposes certain reporting requirements upon regulated investment companies that have excess inclusion income. There can be no assurance that a portfolio will not allocate to shareholders excess inclusion income.

These rules are potentially applicable to a portfolio with respect to any income it receives from the equity interests of certain mortgage pooling vehicles, either directly or, as is more likely, through an investment in a U.S. REIT. It is unlikely that these rules will apply to a portfolio that has a non-REIT strategy.

Investments in partnerships and qualified publicly traded partnerships (“QPTP”). For purposes of the Income Requirement, income derived by a portfolio from a partnership that is not a QPTP will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership that would be qualifying income if realized directly by the portfolio. For purposes of testing whether a portfolio satisfies the Asset Diversification Test, the portfolio generally is treated as owning a pro rata share of the underlying assets of a partnership. See “Taxation of the PortfolioQualification as a regulated investment company.” In contrast, different rules apply to a partnership that is a QPTP. A QPTP is a partnership (a) the interests in which are traded on an established securities market, (b) that is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, and (c) that derives less than 90% of its income from sources that satisfy the Income Requirement (e.g., because it invests in commodities). All of the net income derived by a portfolio from an interest in a QPTP will be treated as qualifying income but the portfolio may not invest more than 25% of its total assets in one or more QPTPs. However, there can be no assurance that a partnership classified as a QPTP in one year will qualify as a QPTP in the next year. Any such failure to annually qualify as a QPTP might, in turn, cause a portfolio to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company.

Securities lending. While securities are loaned out by a portfolio, the portfolio generally will receive from the borrower amounts equal to any dividends or interest paid on the borrowed securities. For federal income tax purposes, payments made “in lieu of” dividends are not considered dividend income. These distributions will neither qualify for the reduced rate of taxation for individuals on qualified dividends nor the 70% dividends received deduction for corporations. Also, any foreign tax withheld on payments made “in lieu of” dividends or interest will not qualify for the pass-through of foreign tax credits to shareholders.

 

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Investments in convertible securities. Convertible debt is ordinarily treated as a “single property” consisting of a pure debt interest until conversion, after which the investment becomes an equity interest. If the security is issued at a premium (i.e., for cash in excess of the face amount payable on retirement), the creditor-holder may amortize the premium over the life of the bond. If the security is issued for cash at a price below its face amount, the creditor-holder must accrue original issue discount in income over the life of the debt. The creditor-holder’s exercise of the conversion privilege is treated as a nontaxable event. Mandatorily convertible debt (e.g., an exchange traded note or ETN issued in the form of an unsecured obligation that pays a return based on the performance of a specified market index, exchange currency, or commodity) is often, but not always, treated as a contract to buy or sell the reference property rather than debt. Similarly, convertible preferred stock with a mandatory conversion feature is ordinarily, but not always, treated as equity rather than debt. Dividends received generally are qualified dividend income and eligible for the corporate dividends received deduction. In general, conversion of preferred stock for common stock of the same corporation is tax-free. Conversion of preferred stock for cash is a taxable redemption. Any redemption premium for preferred stock that is redeemable by the issuing company might be required to be amortized under original issue discount (“OID”) principles.

Backup Withholding

By law, the Portfolio may be required to withhold a portion of your taxable dividends and sales proceeds unless you:

 

   

provide your correct social security or taxpayer identification number,

 

   

certify that this number is correct,

 

   

certify that you are not subject to backup withholding, and

 

   

certify that you are a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien).

The Portfolio also must withhold if the IRS instructs it to do so. When withholding is required, the amount will be 28% of any distributions or proceeds paid. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS. Certain payees and payments are exempt from backup withholding and information reporting. The special U.S. tax certification requirements applicable to non-U.S. investors are described under the “Non-U.S. Investors” heading below.

Non-U.S. Investors

Non-U.S. investors (shareholders who, as to the United States, are nonresident alien individuals, foreign trusts or estates, foreign corporations, or foreign partnerships) may be subject to U.S. withholding and estate tax and are subject to special U.S. tax certification requirements. Non-U.S. investors should consult their tax advisors about the applicability of U.S. tax withholding and the use of the appropriate forms to certify their status.

In general. The United States imposes a flat 30% withholding tax (or a withholding tax at a lower treaty rate) on U.S. source dividends, including on income dividends paid to you by the Portfolio. Exemptions from this U.S. withholding tax are provided for dividends reported by the Portfolio as exempt-interest dividends, capital gain dividends and paid by the Portfolio from its net long-term capital gains, and with respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended, or made permanent), interest-related dividends paid by the Portfolio from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources and short-term capital gain dividends. However, notwithstanding such exemptions from U.S. withholding at the source, any dividends and distributions of income and capital gains, including the proceeds from the sale of your Portfolio shares, will be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 28% if you fail to properly certify that you are not a U.S. person.

Capital gain dividends and short-term capital gain dividends. In general, (i) a capital gain dividend reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as paid from its net long-term capital gains or (ii) with respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended or made permanent), a short-term capital gain dividend reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as paid from its net short-term capital

 

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gains, other than long- or short-term capital gains realized on disposition of U.S. real property interests (see the discussion below) are not subject to U.S. withholding tax unless you are a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the calendar year.

Interest-related dividends. With respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended or made permanent), dividends reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as interest-related dividends and paid from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources are not subject to U.S. withholding tax. “Qualified interest income” includes, in general, U.S. source (1) bank deposit interest, (2) short-term original discount, (3) interest (including original issue discount, market discount, or acquisition discount) on an obligation which is in registered form, unless it is earned on an obligation issued by a corporation or partnership in which the Portfolio is a 10-percent shareholder or is contingent interest, and (4) any interest-related dividend from another regulated investment company. On any payment date, the amount of an income dividend that is reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as an interest-related dividend may be more or less than the amount that is so qualified. This is because the reporting of interest related dividends is based on an estimate of the Portfolio’s qualified net interest income for its entire fiscal year, which can only be determined with exactness at fiscal year end. As a consequence, the Portfolio may over withhold a small amount of U.S. tax from a dividend payment. In this case, the non-U.S. investor’s only recourse may be to either forgo recovery of the excess withholding, or to file a United States nonresident income tax return to recover the excess withholding.

Further limitations on tax reporting for interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends for non-U.S. investors. It may not be practical in every case for the Portfolio to report to shareholders, and the Portfolio reserves the right in these cases to not report, small amounts of interest-related or short-term capital gain dividends. Additionally, the Portfolio’s reporting of interest-related or short-term capital gain dividends may not be passed through to shareholders by intermediaries who have assumed tax reporting responsibilities for this income in managed or omnibus accounts due to systems limitations or operational constraints.

Net investment income from dividends on stock and foreign source interest income continue to be subject to withholding tax; effectively connected income. Ordinary dividends paid by the Portfolio to non-U.S. investors on the income earned on portfolio investments in (i) the stock of domestic and foreign corporations, and (ii) the debt of foreign issuers continue to be subject to U.S. withholding tax. If you hold your Portfolio shares in connection with a U.S. trade or business, your income and gains will be considered effectively connected income and taxed in the U.S. on a net basis, in which case you may be required to file a nonresident U.S. income tax return.

Investment in U.S. real property. The Portfolio may invest in equity securities of corporations that invest in U.S. real property, including U.S. REITs. The sale of a U.S. real property interest (“USRPI”) by the Portfolio or by a U.S. REIT or U.S. real property holding corporation in which the Portfolio invests may trigger special tax consequences to the Portfolio’s non-U.S. shareholders.

The Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 (“FIRPTA”) makes non-U.S. persons subject to U.S. tax on disposition of a USRPI as if he or she were a U.S. person. Such gain is sometimes referred to as FIRPTA gain. The Code provides a look-through rule for distributions of FIRPTA gain by a RIC received from a U.S. REIT or another RIC classified as a U.S. real property holding corporation or realized by the RIC on a sale of a USRPI (other than a domestically controlled U.S. REIT or RIC that is classified as a qualified investment entity) if all of the following requirements are met:

 

   

The RIC is classified as a qualified investment entity. A RIC is classified as a “qualified investment entity” with respect to a distribution to a non-U.S. person which is attributable directly or indirectly to a distribution from a U.S. REIT if, in general, 50% or more of the RIC’s assets consists of interests in U.S. REITs and U.S. real property holding corporations, and

 

   

You are a non-U.S. shareholder that owns more than 5% of a class of Portfolio shares at any time during the one-year period ending on the date of the distribution.

 

   

If these conditions are met, such Portfolio distributions to you are treated as gain from the disposition of a USRPI, causing the distributions to be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a rate of 35% (unless reduced by future regulations), and requiring that you file a nonresident U.S. income tax return.

 

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In addition, even if you do not own more than 5% of a class of Portfolio shares, but the Portfolio is a qualified investment entity, such Portfolio distributions to you will be taxable as ordinary dividends rather than as a capital gain dividend (a distribution of long-term capital gains) or a short-term capital gain dividend subject to withholding at the 30% or lower treaty withholding rate.

These rules apply to dividends paid by the Portfolio before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended or made permanent), except that after this date, the Portfolio’s distributions from a U.S. REIT (whether or not domestically controlled) attributable to FIRPTA gain will continue to be subject to the withholding rules described above provided the Portfolio would otherwise be classified as a qualified investment entity.

FIRPTA “wash sale” rule. If the Portfolio is a qualified investment entity and a non-U.S. shareholder of the Portfolio (i) disposes of his interest in the Portfolio during the 30- day period preceding the Portfolio distribution that would have been treated as a distribution from the disposition of a USRPI by a U.S. REIT in which the Portfolio invests, (ii) acquires an identical stock interest during the 61 -day period beginning the first day of such 30-day period preceding the distribution, and (iii) does not in fact receive the distribution in a manner that subjects the non-U.S. shareholder to tax under FIRPTA, then the non-U.S. shareholder is required to pay U.S. tax on an amount equal to the amount of the distribution that was not taxed under FIRPTA as a result of the disposition. These rules also apply to substitute dividend payments and other similar arrangements; the portion of the substitute dividend or similar payment treated as FIRPTA gain equals the portion of the RIC distribution such payment is in lieu of that otherwise would have been treated as FIRPTA gain.

Gain on sale of Portfolio shares as FIRPTA gain. In addition, a sale or redemption of Portfolio shares will be FIRPTA gain only if –

 

   

As a non-U.S. shareholder, you own more than 5% of a class of shares in the Portfolio;

 

   

The Portfolio is not domestically controlled (50% or more in value of the Portfolio has been owned directly or indirectly by non-U.S. shareholders during the 5-year period ending on the date of disposition); and

 

   

50% or more of the Portfolio’s assets consist of:

 

 

more-than 5% interests in publicly traded companies that are United States Real Property Holding Corporations (“USRPHC”),

 

 

interests in non-publicly traded companies that are USRPHCs, and

 

 

interests in U.S. REITs that are not controlled by U.S. shareholders where the REIT shares are either not publicly traded or are publicly traded and the Portfolio owns more than 5%.

In the unlikely event a sale of Portfolio shares results in FIRPTA gain, the gain will be taxed as income “effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business.” As a result, the non-U.S. shareholder will be required to pay U.S. income tax on such gain and file a nonresident U.S. income tax return.

Because the Portfolio expects to invest less than 50% of its assets at all times, directly or indirectly, in U.S. real property interests, the Portfolio expects that neither gain on the sale or redemption of Portfolio shares nor Portfolio dividends and distributions would be subject to FIRPTA reporting and tax withholding.

U.S. estate tax. Transfers by gift of shares of the Portfolio by a foreign shareholder who is a nonresident alien individual will not be subject to U.S. federal gift tax. For decedents dying during 2010, the U.S. federal estate tax was reinstated retroactively, except where the executor of the estate of a decedent makes an election to opt out of the estate tax and instead be subject to modified carryover basis rules. For decedents dying after 2010, an individual who, at the time of death, is a non-U.S. shareholder will nevertheless be subject to U.S. federal estate tax with respect to Portfolio shares at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. citizens and residents, unless a treaty exemption applies. If a treaty exemption is available, a decedent’s estate may nonetheless need to file a U.S. estate tax return to claim the exemption in order to obtain a U.S. federal transfer certificate. The transfer certificate will identify the property (i.e., Portfolio shares) as to which the U.S. federal estate tax lien has been released. In the absence of a treaty, there is a $13,000 statutory estate tax credit (equivalent to U.S. situs assets with a value of $60,000). For estates with U.S. situs assets of not more than $60,000, the Portfolio may accept, in lieu of a transfer certificate, an affidavit from an appropriate individual evidencing that decedent’s U.S. situs assets are below this threshold amount. In addition, a partial exemption from U.S estate tax may apply to Portfolio shares held by the estate of a

 

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nonresident decedent. The amount treated as exempt is based upon the proportion of the assets held by the Portfolio at the end of the quarter immediately preceding the decedent’s death that are debt obligations, deposits, or other property that generally would be treated as situated outside the United States if held directly by the estate. This provision applies to decedents dying after December 31, 2004 and before January 1, 2012, unless such provision is extended or made permanent.

U.S. tax certification rules. Special U.S. tax certification requirements apply to non-U.S. shareholders both to avoid U.S. back up withholding imposed at a rate of 28% and to obtain the benefits of any treaty between the United States and the shareholder’s country of residence. In general, a non-U.S. shareholder must provide a Form W-8 BEN (or other applicable Form W-8) to establish that you are not a U.S. person, to claim that you are the beneficial owner of the income and, if applicable, to claim a reduced rate of, or exemption from, withholding as a resident of a country with which the United States has an income tax treaty. A Form W-8BEN provided without a U.S. taxpayer identification number will remain in effect for a period beginning on the date signed and ending on the last day of the third succeeding calendar year unless an earlier change of circumstances makes the information on the form incorrect.

The tax consequences to a non-U.S. shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of an applicable tax treaty may be different from those described herein. Non-U.S. shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in the Portfolio, including the applicability of foreign tax.

Effect of Future Legislation; Local Tax Considerations

The foregoing general discussion of U.S. federal income tax consequences is based on the Code and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and any such changes or decisions may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein. Rules of state and local taxation of ordinary income, qualified dividend income and capital gain dividends may differ from the rules for U.S. federal income taxation described above. Distributions may also be subject to additional state, local and foreign taxes depending on each shareholder’s particular situation. Non-U.S. shareholders may be subject to U.S. tax rules that differ significantly from those summarized above. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors as to the consequences of these and other state and local tax rules affecting investment in the Portfolio.

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

The Boards of Directors of DIG, DFAIDG and DEM, and the Board of Trustees of the Trust have delegated the authority to vote proxies for the portfolio securities held by the non-Feeder Portfolios, Master Funds, and Underlying Funds to the Advisor in accordance with the Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (the “Voting Policies”) and Proxy Voting Guidelines (“Voting Guidelines”) adopted by the Advisor. The Voting Guidelines are largely based on those developed by Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third party, except with respect to certain matters for which the Advisor has modified the standard voting guidelines. A concise summary of the Voting Guidelines is provided in an Appendix to this SAI.

The Investment Committee at the Advisor is generally responsible for overseeing the Advisor’s proxy voting process. The Investment Committee has formed a Corporate Governance Committee composed of certain officers, directors and other personnel of the Advisor and has delegated to its members authority to (i) oversee the voting of proxies, (ii) make determinations as to how to vote certain specific proxies, (iii) verify the on-going compliance with the Voting Policies, and (iv) review the Voting Policies from time to time and recommend changes to the Investment Committee. The Corporate Governance Committee may designate one or more of its members to oversee specific, ongoing compliance with respect to the Voting Policies and may designate other personnel of the Advisor to vote proxies on behalf of the non-Feeder Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds, including all authorized traders of the Advisor.

The Advisor seeks to vote votes (or refrains from voting) proxies in a manner consistent with the best interests of the non-Feeder Portfolios, Master Funds, and Underlying Funds as understood by the Advisor at the time of the vote. Generally, the Advisor analyzes proxy statements on behalf of the non-Feeder Portfolios, Master Funds,

 

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and Underlying Funds and instructs the vote (or refrains from voting) in accordance with the Voting Policies and the Voting Guidelines. Since most proxies the Advisor receives are instructed to be voted in accordance with the Voting Guidelines, it normally will not be necessary for the Advisor to make an actual determination of how to vote a particular proxy, thereby largely eliminating conflicts of interest for the Advisor during the proxy voting process. However, the Voting Policies do address the procedures to be followed if a conflict of interest arises between the interests of the non-Feeder Portfolios, Master Funds, or Underlying Funds, and the interests of the Advisor or its affiliates. If a Corporate Governance Committee (“Committee”) member has actual knowledge of a conflict of interest and recommends a vote contrary to the Voting Guidelines (or in the case where the Voting Guidelines do not prescribe a particular vote and the proposed vote is contrary to the recommendation of ISS), the Committee member will bring the vote to the Committee which will (a) determine how the vote should be cast keeping in mind the principle of preserving shareholder value, or (b) determine to abstain from voting, unless abstaining would be materially adverse to the interest of the non-Feeder Portfolios, Master Funds, or Underlying Funds. To the extent the Committee makes a determination regarding how to vote or to abstain for a proxy on behalf of a non-Feeder Portfolio, Master Fund, or Underlying Fund in the circumstances described in this paragraph, the Advisor will report annually on such determinations to the Board of Directors of the applicable Fund or the Board of Trustees of the Trust, as applicable.

The Advisor will usually instruct voting of proxies in accordance with the Voting Guidelines. The Voting Guidelines provide a framework for analysis and decision making, however, the Voting Guidelines do not address all potential issues. In order to be able to address all the relevant facts and circumstances related to a proxy vote, the Advisor reserves the right to instruct votes counter to the Voting Guidelines if, after a review of the matter, the Advisor believes that the best interests of the non-Feeder Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund would be served by such a vote. In such a circumstance, the analysis will be documented in writing and periodically presented to the Corporate Governance Committee. To the extent that the Voting Guidelines do not cover potential voting issues, the Advisor will vote on such issues in a manner that is consistent with the spirit of the Voting Guidelines and that the Advisor believes would be in the best interests of the non-Feeder Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund.

The Advisor seeks to vote (or refrain from voting) proxies in a manner that the Advisor determines is in the best interests of a non-Feeder Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund and which seeks to maximize the value of that non-Feeder Portfolio’s, Master Fund’s or Underlying Fund’s investments. In some cases, the Advisor may determine that it is in the best interests of a non-Feeder Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund to refrain from exercising proxy voting rights. The Advisor may determine that voting is not in the best interest of a non-Feeder Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund and refrain from voting if the costs, including the opportunity costs, of voting would, in the view of the Advisor, exceed the expected benefits of voting. For securities on loan, the Advisor will balance the revenue-producing value of loans against the difficult-to-assess value of casting votes. It is the Advisor’s belief that the expected value of casting a vote generally will be less than the securities lending income, either because the votes will not have significant economic consequences or because the outcome of the vote would not be affected by the Advisor recalling loaned securities in order to ensure they are voted. The Advisor does intend to recall securities on loan if it determines that voting the securities is likely to materially affect the value of the non-Feeder Portfolio’s, Master Fund’s or Underlying Fund’s investment and that it is in the non-Feeder Portfolio’s, Master Fund’s or Underlying Fund’s best interests to do so. In cases where the Advisor does not receive a solicitation or enough information within a sufficient time (as reasonably determined by the Advisor) prior to the proxy-voting deadline, the Advisor or its services provider may be unable to vote.

With respect to non-U.S. securities, it is typically both difficult and costly to vote proxies due to local regulations, customs, and other requirements or restrictions. The Advisor does not intend to vote proxies of non-U.S. companies if the Advisor determines that the expected economic costs from voting outweigh the anticipated economic benefit to a non-Feeder Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund associated with voting. The Advisor intends to make its determination on whether to vote proxies of non-U.S. companies on a portfolio-by-portfolio basis, and generally seeks to implement uniform voting procedures for all proxies of companies in a country. The Advisor periodically reviews voting logistics, including costs and other voting difficulties, on a portfolio by portfolio and country by country basis, in order to determine if there have been any material changes that would affect the Advisor’s decision of whether or not to vote. In the event the Advisor is made aware of and believes an issue to be voted is likely to materially affect the economic value of a non-Feeder Portfolio, Master Fund or

 

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Underlying Fund, that its vote is reasonably likely to influence the ultimate outcome of the contest, and the expected benefits of voting the proxies exceed the costs, the Advisor will make every reasonable effort to vote such proxies.

The Advisor and the Funds have retained ISS to provide certain services with respect to proxy voting. ISS provides information on shareholder meeting dates and proxy materials; translates proxy materials printed in a foreign language; provides research on proxy proposals and voting recommendations in accordance with the Voting Guidelines; effects votes on behalf of the non-Feeder Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds; and provides reports concerning the proxies voted (the “Proxy Voting Services”). In addition, the Advisor may retain the services of supplemental third-party proxy service providers to provide, among other things, research on proxy proposals and voting recommendations for certain shareholder meetings, as identified in the Voting Guidelines. Although the Advisor retains third-party service providers for proxy issues, the Advisor remains responsible for proxy voting decisions. In this regard, the Advisor uses commercially reasonable efforts to oversee the directed delegation to third-party proxy voting service providers, upon which the Advisor relies to carry out the Proxy Voting Services. In the event that the Voting Guidelines are not implemented precisely as the Advisor intends because of the actions or omissions of any third party service providers, custodians or sub-custodians or other agents or any such persons experience any irregularities (e.g. misvotes or missed votes), then such instances will not necessarily be deemed by the Advisor as a breach of the Voting Policies.

Information regarding how each of the non-Feeder Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds voted proxies related to its portfolio securities during the 12 month period ended June 30 of each year is available, no later than August 31 of each year, without charge, (i) upon request, by calling collect: (512) 306-7400 or (ii) on the Advisor’s website at http://www.dimensional.com and (iii) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

The Advisor and the Boards of Directors of DFAIDG, DIG, DEM and Board of Trustees of the Trust (collectively, the “Boards”) have adopted a policy (the “Policy”) to govern disclosure of the portfolio holdings of the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds (“Holdings Information”), and to prevent the misuse of material non-public Holdings Information. The Advisor has determined that the Policy and its procedures (1) are reasonably designed to ensure that disclosure of Holdings Information is in the best interests of the shareholders of the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds, and (2) appropriately address the potential for material conflicts of interest.

Disclosure of Holdings Information as Required by Applicable Law. Holdings Information (whether a partial listing of portfolio holdings or a complete listing of portfolio holdings) shall be disclosed to any person as required by applicable law, rules and regulations.

Online Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings Information. Each Portfolio, Master Fund and Underlying Fund generally discloses up to its twenty-five largest portfolio holdings and the percentages that each of these largest portfolio holdings represent of the total assets of the Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund (“largest holdings”), as of the most recent month-end, online at the Advisor’s public website, http://www.dimensional.com, within twenty days after the end of each month. This online disclosure may also include information regarding the industry allocations of the Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund. Each Portfolio, Master Fund and Underlying Fund generally discloses its complete Holdings Information (other than cash and cash equivalents), as of month-end, online at the Advisor’s public website, http://www.dimensional.com, two months following the month-end, or more frequently and at different periods when authorized by a Designated Person (as defined below).

Disclosure of Holdings Information to Recipients. Each of the Advisor’s Chairmen, Director of Institutional Services, Head of Portfolio Management and Trading and General Counsel (together, the “Designated Persons”) may authorize disclosing non-public Holdings Information more frequently or at different periods than as described above solely to those financial advisors, registered accountholders, authorized consultants, authorized custodians, or third-party data service providers (each a “Recipient”) who: (i) specifically request the more current non-public Holdings Information and (ii) execute a Use and Nondisclosure Agreement (each a “Nondisclosure Agreement”). Each Nondisclosure Agreement subjects the Recipient to a duty of confidentiality with respect to the non-public Holdings Information, and prohibits the Recipient from trading based on the non-public Holdings Information. Any non-public Holdings Information that is disclosed shall not include any material information about a Portfolio’s,

 

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Master Fund’s or Underlying Fund’s trading strategies or pending portfolio transactions. The non-public Holdings Information provided to a Recipient under a Nondisclosure Agreement, unless indicated otherwise, is not subject to a time delay before dissemination. Designated Persons may also approve the distribution of Holdings Information for a Portfolio more frequently or at a period other than as described above.

As of January 31, 2011, the Advisor and the Portfolios and Master Funds had ongoing arrangements with the following Recipients to make available non-public Holdings Information:

 

Recipient

 

  

Master Funds/Portfolios

 

  

Business Purpose

 

  

Frequency

 

AP3-Tredje AP Fondon

   U.S. Small Cap Portfolio   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Upon Request

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

   All Portfolios and Master Funds   

Fund Administrator, Accounting Agent and Transfer Agent

 

   Daily

Bank of New York

   All Portfolios and Master Funds   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Upon request

CTC Consulting, Inc.

   All Portfolios and Master Funds   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Quarterly

California Institute of Technology

   Emerging Markets Series and International Small Company Portfolio   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Monthly/Quarterly

Callan Associates

   U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio, U.S. Large Cap Value Series and U.S. Small Cap Portfolio   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Monthly

Cambridge Associates Limited

   U.S. Small Cap Portfolio, U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio, DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio, DFA International Value Series, Japanese Small Company Series, Emerging Markets Series, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund and Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Monthly

 

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Recipient

 

  

Master Funds/Portfolios

 

  

Business Purpose

 

  

Frequency

 

Capital Advisors   

U.S. Large Company Portfolio, Enhanced U.S. Large Company, U.S.
Large Company Portfolio, U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, U.S. Small Cap
Value Portfolio, U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio, U.S. Equity 2 Portfolio,
U.S. Small Cap Portfolio, U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio, DFA Real Estate
Securities Portfolio, Large Cap International Portfolio, International Core
Equity Portfolio, International Small Company Portfolio, Asia Pacific
Small Company Series, Continental Small Company Series, International
Small Cap Value Portfolio, Emerging Markets Series. Emerging Markets
Small Cap Portfolio, Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio, and DFA
International Value Series

 

   Monitoring investor
exposure and investment
strategy
   Quarterly

Citibank, N.A.

  

DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio and all International Equity Master Funds and Portfolios

 

   Fund Custodian    Daily

Citibank, N.A.

   All Portfolios and Master Funds   

Middle office operational support service provider to the Advisor

 

   Daily

Citizens Bank Wealth Management, N.A.

  

U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio, DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio, International Core Equity Portfolio and Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio

 

  

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Quarterly

Colonial Consulting Co.

  

U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio, U.S. Large Cap Value Series, U.S. Small Cap Portfolio, U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, DFA International Value Series, Emerging Markets Series and Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund

 

   Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Monthly

Complementa

   Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Upon Request

 

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Recipient

 

  

Master Funds/Portfolios

 

  

Business Purpose

 

  

Frequency

 

Cuprum AFP

  

Asia Pacific Small Company Series, Continental Small Company Series, Large Cap International Portfolio, International Core Equity Portfolio, DFA International Value Series, International Small Company Portfolio, DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio, Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio, Emerging Markets Series, Emerging Markets Small Cap Series, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund, U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio, U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio, U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio, U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio, U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, U.S. Small Cap Portfolio, U.S. Large Cap Value Series and DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio

 

   Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Quarterly

Edelman Financial

  

U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio, US. Small Cap Portfolio, U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio, U.S. Large Cap Value Series, DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio, Large Cap International Portfolio, DFA International Value Series, Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio, Emerging Markets Series, and Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund

 

   Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Quarterly

First Energy Corporation

   U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Quarterly

Fund Evaluation Group, LLC

   All Portfolios and Master Funds   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Upon Request

Harbor Capital Advsiors, Inc.

   U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Monthly

Hewitt Associates

  

U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio, Emerging Markets Series, DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio and Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund

 

   Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Upon request

Independent Fiduciary Services, Inc

   U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Quarterly

Integrys Energy Group Inc.

   U.S. Large Cap Value Series    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Monthly

InterMountain Healthcare

   International Small Company Portfolio    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Upon Request

 

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Recipient

 

  

Master Funds/Portfolios

 

  

Business Purpose

 

  

Frequency

 

Jeffrey Slocum & Associates

   DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Quarterly

Lockheed Martin

   DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio and Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Monthly

Lynx Investment Advisory

  

Emerging Markets Series, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund, U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio, U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio, DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio, DFA International Value Series and DFA Five-Year Government Portfolio

 

   Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Quarterly

Marco Consulting Group

   U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio, U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio and U.S. Small Cap Portfolio   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Monthly

Marquette Associates, Inc.

  

U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio, U.S. Large Cap Value Series, International Small Company Portfolio, DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio, DFA International Value Series, Emerging Markets Small Cap Series, Emerging Markets Series, Emerging Markets Value Portfolio, International Core Equity Portfolio, International Small Cap Value Portfolio, U.S. Large Company Portfolio, U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio, U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio III, U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio and U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio

 

   Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Quarterly

Meketa Investment Group, Inc.

   U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund, Emerging Markets Small Cap Series and DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Monthly

Mercer Investment Consulting, Inc.

   U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio, U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio, Large Cap International Portfolio and DFA International Value Series   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Quarterly

Merck & Co., Inc.

   DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio and Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Monthly

Minnesota Mutual Life Insurance

   U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio, U.S. Small Cap Portfolio, U.S. Large Cap Value Series, DFA International Value Series, U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio and U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Quarterly

 

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Recipient

 

    

Master Funds/Portfolios

 

  

Business Purpose

 

  

Frequency

 

Montana Board of Investments

     International Small Company Portfolio    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Monthly

NEPC

     Emerging Markets Series and International Value Series   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Quarterly

Omaha Fire & Police

     DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Monthly

PFPC Trust Company (to be renamed BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company effective July 1, 2011)

 

     All Feeder Portfolios, Domestic Portfolios, Domestic Master Funds and DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio    Fund Custodian    Daily

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

     All Portfolios and Master Funds   

Independent registered public accounting firm

 

   Upon request

Pricing Service Vendor

     International Equity Portfolios and International Equity Master Funds   

Fair value information services

 

   Daily

R.V. Kuhns

     U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio and International Small Cap Value Portfolio   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Monthly

Rachor Investment Advisory

    

U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio, U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio, International Core Equity Portfolio, Continental Small Company Series, Asia Pacific Small Company Series, Japanese Small Company Series, United Kingdom Small Company Series, Emerging Markets Series, Emerging Markets Small Cap Series, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund, and U.S. Real Estate Securities Portfolio

 

   Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Monthly

Regence Group Retirement Plan Trust

     Emerging Markets Series and DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Monthly/ Annually

Richards and Tierney

     U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Monthly

Rocaton Investment Advisors

     U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio and DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Monthly/ Quarterly

Rock Creek Group, LP

     Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Monthly

Rogerscasey, Inc.

     Emerging Markets Social Core Portfolio    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Quarterly

 

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Recipient

 

  

Master Funds/Portfolios

 

  

Business Purpose

 

  

Frequency

 

Russell Mellon Analytical Service

   U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio, U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio, Large Cap International Portfolio and DFA International Value Series   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Monthly

Sparinvest

   U.S. Large Cap Value Series   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Upon Request

State Street Bank and Trust

   U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio, U.S. Small Cap Portfolio, Emerging Markets Value Portfolio, Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio and DFA International Value Series   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Monthly

Steward Capital Management

  

U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio, U.S. Large Cap Value Series, DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio, DFA International Value Series and Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund

 

   Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Quarterly

Stichting Shell Pensioenfonds

   U.S. Small Cap Portfolio    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Upon request

Strategic Investment Solutions

  

U.S. Small Cap Portfolio, U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio, International Small Cap Portfolio, DFA International Value Series, Emerging Markets Value Portfolio and Japanese Small Company Series

 

   Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Monthly

Stratford Advisory Group

  

DFA International Value Series, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund, U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio, Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio, Emerging Markets Small Cap Series, U.S. Large Value Series and International Small Company Portfolio

 

   Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Quarterly

Summitt Strategies, Inc.

  

U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund, DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio, International Small Cap Portfolio and Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio

 

   Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Quarterly

Tamarac (Savant)

   U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio, US. Small Cap Value Portfolio, U.S. Small Cap Portfolio, U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio III, Tax-Managed Targeted Value Portfolio and Tax-Managed Marketwide Value Portfolio II    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Monthly

 

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Recipient

 

  

Master Funds/Portfolios

 

  

Business Purpose

 

  

Frequency

 

Texas Mutual Insurance Company

   U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Monthly

Towers Watson

  

U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio, U.S. Small Cap Portfolio, U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio, U.S. Large Cap Value Series, U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund, International Small Company Portfolio and DFA International Value Series

 

   Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Monthly

University of California

   Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Monthly

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

   DFA International Value Series and Emerging Markets Series   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Quarterly

U.S. Institutional Investment Consultants

   DFA International Value Series   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Quarterly

Verizon Investment Management Corp

   U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Upon Request

Vermogens Adries Administratie (VAA) BV

   U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio and DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Upon Request

Watershed Investment Consultants

   Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund, U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio, U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio and World ex U.S. Value Portfolio   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Quarterly

Wilshire Associates

   U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio, U.S. Small Cap Portfolio, DFA International Value Series and Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Quarterly

Wurts & Associates

   All Portfolios and Master Funds   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Monthly

Yanni Partners, Inc.

   U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Quarterly

In addition, certain employees of the Advisor and its subsidiaries receive Holdings Information on a quarterly, monthly or daily basis, or upon request, in order to perform their business functions. None of the Portfolios, the Master Funds, the Underlying Funds, the Advisor or any other party receives any compensation in connection with these arrangements.

The Policy includes the following procedures to ensure that disclosure of Holdings Information is in the best interests of shareholders, and to address any conflicts between the interests of shareholders, on the one hand,

 

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and the interests of the Advisor, DFAS or any affiliated person of the Funds, the Trust, the Advisor or DFAS, on the other. In order to protect the interests of shareholders, the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds, and to ensure no adverse effect on shareholders, in the limited circumstances where a Designated Person is considering making non-public Holdings Information available to a Recipient, the Advisor’s Director of Institutional Services and the Chief Compliance Officer will consider any conflicts of interest. If the Chief Compliance Officer, following appropriate due diligence, determines in his or her reasonable judgment that (1) the Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund, as applicable, has a legitimate business purpose for providing the non-public Holdings Information to a Recipient, and (2) disclosure of non-public Holdings Information to the Recipient would be in the interests of the shareholders and outweighs possible reasonably anticipated adverse effects, then the Chief Compliance Officer may approve the proposed disclosure.

The Chief Compliance Officer documents all disclosures of non-public Holdings Information (including the legitimate business purpose for the disclosure), and periodically reports to the Board on such arrangements. The Chief Compliance Officer is also responsible for ongoing monitoring of the distribution and use of non-public Holdings Information. Such arrangements are reviewed by the Chief Compliance Officer on an annual basis. Specifically, the Chief Compliance Officer requests an annual certification from each Recipient that the Recipient has complied with all terms contained in the Nondisclosure Agreement. Recipients who fail to provide the requested certifications are prohibited from receiving non-public Holdings Information.

The Board exercises continuing oversight of the disclosure of Holdings Information by: (1) overseeing the implementation and enforcement of the Policy by the Chief Compliance Officer of the Advisor and of the Funds and Trust; (2) considering reports and recommendations by the Chief Compliance Officer concerning the implementation of the Policy and any material compliance matters that may arise in connection with the Policy; and (3) considering whether to approve or ratify any amendments to the Policy. The Advisor and the Board reserve the right to amend the Policy at any time, and from time to time without prior notice, in their sole discretion.

Prohibitions on Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings and Receipt of Compensation. No person is authorized to disclose Holdings Information or other investment positions (whether online at http://www.dimensional.com, in writing, by fax, by e-mail, orally or by other means) except in accordance with the Policy. In addition, no person is authorized to make disclosure pursuant to the Policy if such disclosure is otherwise in violation of the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws.

The Policy prohibits a Portfolio, a Master Fund, an Underlying Fund, the Advisor or an affiliate thereof from receiving any compensation or other consideration of any type for the purpose of obtaining disclosure of non-public Holdings Information or other investment positions. “Consideration” includes any agreement to maintain assets in the Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund or in other investment companies or accounts managed by the Advisor or by any affiliated person of the Advisor.

The Policy and its procedures are intended to provide useful information concerning the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds to existing and prospective shareholders, while at the same time preventing the improper use of Holdings Information. However, there can be no assurance that the furnishing of any Holdings Information is not susceptible to inappropriate uses, particularly in the hands of sophisticated investors, or that the Holdings Information will not in fact be misused in other ways, beyond the control of the Advisor.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Two Commerce Square, Suite 1700, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042, is the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm. PwC audits the Funds’ annual financial statements. The audited financial statements and financial highlights of the Portfolios for their fiscal period ended October 31, 2010, as set forth in the Funds’ annual reports to shareholders, including the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, are incorporated by reference into this SAI.

The audited financial statements of the Master Funds (which are series of the Trust) and the audited financial statements of Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund for the fiscal period ended October 31, 2010, as set forth in the Trust’s and Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund’s annual reports to shareholders, including the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, are incorporated by reference into this SAI. Because the DFA

 

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Commodity Strategy Portfolio had not commenced operations as of October 31, 2010, the annual reports of DFAIDG for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010 do not contain any data regarding the DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio.

A shareholder may obtain a copy of the annual reports, upon request and without charge, by contacting the Funds at the address or telephone number appearing on the cover of this SAI.

PERFORMANCE DATA

The Portfolios may compare their investment performance to appropriate market and mutual fund indices and investments for which reliable performance data is available. Such indices are generally unmanaged and are prepared by entities and organizations which track the performance of investment companies or investment advisors. Unmanaged indices often do not reflect deductions for administrative and management costs and expenses. The performance of the Portfolios may also be compared in publications to averages, performance rankings, or other information prepared by recognized mutual fund statistical services. Any performance information, whether related to the Portfolios or to the Advisor, should be considered in light of a Portfolio’s investment objectives and policies, characteristics and the quality of the portfolio and market conditions during the time period indicated and should not be considered to be representative of what may be achieved in the future.

 

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APPENDIX

Concise Summary of 2011 U.S. Proxy Voting Guidelines

Effective for Meetings on or after January 3, 2011

In order to provide greater analysis on certain shareholder meetings, the Advisor has elected to receive research reports for certain meetings, as indicated below, from Glass Lewis in addition to Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”).

Specifically, if available, the Advisor may obtain research from Glass Lewis in addition to ISS for shareholder meetings in the following circumstances: (1) where the Advisor’s clients have a significant aggregate holding in the issuer and the meeting agenda contains proxies concerning: Anti-takeover Defenses or Voting Related Issues, Mergers and Acquisitions or Reorganizations or Restructurings, Capital Structure Issues, Compensation Issues or a proxy contest; or (2) where the Advisor in its discretion, has deemed that additional research is warranted.

Where research is obtained from Glass Lewis in accordance with these Guidelines, the Advisor will first review the research reports obtained from ISS and Glass Lewis. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are the same, the Advisor will vote accordingly. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are inconsistent, the Advisor will vote in accordance with the ISS recommendation unless the Corporate Governance Committee determines that voting in accordance with the Glass Lewis recommendation is more consistent with the principle of preserving shareholder value.

Routine/Miscellaneous

Auditor Ratification

Vote FOR proposals to ratify auditors, unless any of the following apply:

   

An auditor has a financial interest in or association with the company, and is therefore not independent;

   

There is reason to believe that the independent auditor has rendered an opinion which is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position;

   

Poor accounting practices are identified that rise to a serious level of concern, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP; and material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures; or

   

Fees for non-audit services (“Other” fees) are excessive.

Non-audit fees are excessive if:

   

Non-audit (“other”) fees >audit fees + audit-related fees + tax compliance/preparation fees

Board of Directors

Voting on Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections

Votes on director nominees should be determined CASE-BY-CASE.

Four fundamental principles apply when determining votes on director nominees:

  1.    Board Accountability

  2.    Board Responsiveness

  3.    Director Independence

  4.    Director Competence

 

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1.  Board Accountability

VOTE WITHHOLD/AGAINST1 the entire board of directors (except new nominees2 , who should be considered CASE-BY-CASE), for the following:

Problematic Takeover Defenses:

  1.1. The board is classified, and a continuing director responsible for a problematic governance issue at the board/committee level that would warrant a withhold/against vote recommendation is not up for election—any or all appropriate nominees (except new) may be held accountable;

 

  1.2. The board lacks accountability and oversight, coupled with sustained poor performance relative to peers. Sustained poor performance is measured by one- and three-year total shareholder returns in the bottom half of a company’s four-digit GICS industry group (Russell 3000 companies only). Take into consideration the company’s five-year total shareholder return and five-year operational metrics. Problematic provisions include but are not limited to:
   

A classified board structure;

 

   

A supermajority vote requirement;

 

   

Majority vote standard for director elections with no carve out for contested elections;

 

   

The inability for shareholders to call special meetings;

 

   

The inability for shareholders to act by written consent;

 

   

A dual-class structure; and/or

 

   

A non-shareholder approved poison pill.

 

  1.3. The company’s poison pill has a “dead-hand” or “modified dead-hand” feature. Vote withhold/against every year until this feature is removed;
  1.4.

The board adopts a poison pill with a term of more than 12 months (“long-term pill”), or renews any existing pill, including any “short-term” pill (12 months or less), without shareholder approval. A commitment or policy that puts a newly-adopted pill to a binding shareholder vote may potentially offset an adverse vote recommendation. Review such companies with classified boards every year, and such companies with annually-elected boards at least once every three years, and vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD votes from all nominees if the company still maintains a non-shareholder-approved poison pill. This

 

 

1 In general, companies with a plurality vote standard use “Withhold” as the valid contrary vote option in director elections; companies with a majority vote standard use “Against”. However, it will vary by company and the proxy must be checked to determine the valid contrary vote option for the particular company.

2 A “new nominee” is any current nominee who has not already been elected by shareholders and who joined the board after the problematic action in question transpired. If ISS cannot determine whether the nominee joined the board before or after the problematic action transpired, the nominee will be considered a “new nominee” if he or she joined the board within the 12 months prior to the upcoming shareholder meeting.

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policy applies to all companies adopting or renewing pills after the announcement of this policy (Nov 19, 2009);

 

  1.5. The board makes a material adverse change to an existing poison pill without shareholder approval.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on all nominees if:

  1.6. the board adopts a poison pill with a term of 12 months or less (“short-term pill”) without shareholder approval, taking into account the following factors:
   

The date of the pill‘s adoption relative to the date of the next meeting of shareholders- i.e. whether the company had time to put the pill on ballot for shareholder ratification given the circumstances;

   

The issuer‘s rationale;

   

The issuer’s governance structure and practices; and

   

The issuer’s track record of accountability to shareholders.

Problematic Audit-Related Practices

Generally, vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from the members of the Audit Committee if:

  1.7. The non-audit fees paid to the auditor are excessive (see discussion under “Auditor Ratification”);
  1.8. The company receives an adverse opinion on the company’s financial statements from its auditor; or
  1.9. There is persuasive evidence that the audit committee entered into an inappropriate indemnification agreement with its auditor that limits the ability of the company, or its shareholders, to pursue legitimate legal recourse against the audit firm.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on members of the Audit Committee and/or the full board if:

  1.10.Poor accounting practices are identified that rise to a level of serious concern, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP; and material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures. Examine the severity, breadth, chronological sequence and duration, as well as the company’s efforts at remediation or corrective actions, in determining whether WITHHOLD/AGAINST votes are warranted.

Problematic Compensation Practices

Vote WITHHOLD/AGAINST the members of the Compensation Committee and potentially the full board if:

  1.11. There is a negative correlation between chief executive pay and company performance (see Pay for Performance Policy);
  1.12. The company reprices underwater options for stock, cash, or other consideration without prior shareholder approval, even if allowed in the company’s equity plan;
  1.13. The company fails to submit one-time transfers of stock options to a shareholder vote;
  1.14. The company fails to fulfill the terms of a burn rate commitment made to shareholders;
  1.15. The company has problematic pay practices. Problematic pay practices may warrant withholding votes from the CEO and potentially the entire board as well.

Governance Failures

Under extraordinary circumstances, vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from directors individually, committee members, or the entire board, due to:

 

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  1.16. Material failures of governance, stewardship, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company;
  1.17. Failure to replace management as appropriate; or
  1.18. Egregious actions related to the director(s)’ service on other boards that raise substantial doubt about his or her ability to effectively oversee management and serve the best interests of shareholders at any company.

2.  Board Responsiveness

Vote WITHHOLD/AGAINST the entire board of directors (except new nominees, who should be considered CASE-BY-CASE), if:

  2.1. The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received approval by a majority of the shares outstanding the previous year; or
  2.2. The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received approval of the majority of shares cast in the last year and one of the two previous years.
  2.3 The board failed to act on takeover offers where the majority of the shareholders tendered their shares; or
  2.4. At the previous board election, any director received more than 50 percent withhold/against votes of the shares cast and the company has failed to address the issue(s) that caused the high withhold/against vote.

3.  Director Independence

Vote WITHHOLD/AGAINST Inside Directors and Affiliated Outside Directors (per the Categorization of Directors) when:

  3.1. The inside or affiliated outside director serves on any of the three key committees: audit, compensation, or nominating;
  3.2. The company lacks an audit, compensation, or nominating committee so that the full board functions as that committee;
  3.3. The company lacks a formal nominating committee, even if the board attests that the independent directors fulfill the functions of such a committee; or
  3.4. The full board is less than majority independent.

4.  Director Competence

VOTE WITHHOLD/AGAINST the entire board of directors (except new nominees, who should be considered CASE-BY-CASE), if:

 

  4.1. The company’s proxy indicates that not all directors attended 75 percent of the aggregate board and committee meetings, but fails to provide the required disclosure of the names of the director(s) involved.

Generally vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from individual directors who:

  4.2. Attend less than 75 percent of the board and committee meetings (with the exception of new nominees). Acceptable reasons for director(s) absences are generally limited to the following:
   

Medical issues/illness;

   

Family emergencies; and

 

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If the director’s total service was three meetings or fewer and the director missed only one meeting.

These reasons for directors’ absences will only be considered by ISS if disclosed in the proxy or another SEC filing. If the disclosure is insufficient to determine whether a director attended at least 75 percent of board and committee meetings in aggregate, vote AGAINST/WITHHOLD from the director.

Vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from individual directors who:

 

  4.3.

Sit on more than six public company boards 3 ; or

 

  4.4.

Are CEOs of public companies who sit on the boards of more than two public companies besides their own—withhold only at their outside boards.

Voting for Director Nominees in Contested Elections*

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on the election of directors in contested elections, considering the following factors:

 

 

Long-term financial performance of the target company relative to its industry;

 

Management’s track record;

 

Background to the proxy contest;

 

Qualifications of director nominees (both slates);

 

Strategic plan of dissident slate and quality of critique against management;

 

Likelihood that the proposed goals and objectives can be achieved (both slates);

 

Stock ownership positions.

Independent Chair (Separate Chair/CEO)

Generally vote FOR shareholder proposals requiring that the chairman’s position be filled by an independent director, unless the company satisfies all of the following criteria:

The company maintains the following counterbalancing governance structure :

 

 

Designated lead director, elected by and from the independent board members with clearly delineated and comprehensive duties. (The role may alternatively reside with a presiding director, vice chairman, or rotating lead director; however the director must serve a minimum of one year in order to qualify as a lead director.) The duties should include, but are not limited to, the following:

    -

presides at all meetings of the board at which the chairman is not present, including executive sessions of the independent directors;

 

    -

serves as liaison between the chairman and the independent directors;

 

    -

approves information sent to the board;

 

    -

approves meeting agendas for the board;

 

    -

approves meeting schedules to assure that there is sufficient time for discussion of all agenda items;

 

 

3 Dimensional will screen votes otherwise subject to this policy based on the qualifications and circumstances of the directors involved.

* See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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    -

has the authority to call meetings of the independent directors;

 

    -

if requested by major shareholders, ensures that he is available for consultation and direct communication;

 

   

Two-thirds independent board;

   

All independent key committees;

   

Established governance guidelines;

   

A company in the Russell 3000 universe must not have exhibited sustained poor total shareholder return (TSR) performance, defined as one- and three-year TSR in the bottom half of the company’s four-digit GICS industry group (using Russell 3000 companies only), unless there has been a change in the Chairman/CEO position within that time. For companies not in the Russell 3000 universe, the company must not have underperformed both its peers and index on the basis of both one-year and three-year total shareholder returns , unless there has been a change in the Chairman/CEO position within that time;

   

The company does not have any problematic governance or management issues, examples of which include, but are not limited to:

    -

Egregious compensation practices;

 

    -

Multiple related-party transactions or other issues putting director independence at risk;

 

    -

Corporate and/or management scandals;

 

    -

Excessive problematic corporate governance provisions; or

 

    -

Flagrant actions by management or the board with potential or realized negative impacts on shareholders.

Shareholder Rights & Defenses*

Net Operating Loss (NOL) Protective Amendments

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt a protective amendment for the stated purpose of protecting a company’ s net operating losses (“NOLs”) if the effective term of the protective amendment would exceed the shorter of three years and the exhaustion of the NOL.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE, considering the following factors, for management proposals to adopt an NOL protective amendment that would remain in effect for the shorter of three years (or less) and the exhaustion of the NOL:

   

The ownership threshold (NOL protective amendments generally prohibit stock ownership transfers that would result in a new 5-percent holder or increase the stock ownership percentage of an existing 5 -percent holder);

   

The value of the NOLs;

   

Shareholder protection mechanisms (sunset provision or commitment to cause expiration of the protective amendment upon exhaustion or expiration of the NOL);

   

The company’ s existing governance structure including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, track record of responsiveness to shareholders, and any other problematic governance concerns; and

   

Any other factors that may be applicable.

Poison Pills- Management Proposals to Ratify Poison Pill

 

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Vote CASE-BY-CASE on management proposals on poison pill ratification, focusing on the features of the shareholder rights plan. Rights plans should contain the following attributes:

 

   

No lower than a 20% trigger, flip-in or flip-over;

 

   

A term of no more than three years;

 

   

No dead-hand, slow-hand, no-hand or similar feature that limits the ability of a future board to redeem the pill;

 

   

Shareholder redemption feature (qualifying offer clause); if the board refuses to redeem the pill 90 days after a qualifying offer is announced, 10 percent of the shares may call a special meeting or seek a written consent to vote on rescinding the pill.

In addition, the rationale for adopting the pill should be thoroughly explained by the company. In examining the request for the pill, take into consideration the company’s existing governance structure, including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, and any problematic governance concerns.

Poison Pills- Management Proposals toRatify a Pill to Preserve Net Operating Losses (NOLs)

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt a poison pill for the stated purpose of protecting a company’s net operating losses (“NOLs”) if the term of the pill would exceed the shorter of three years and the exhaustion of the NOL.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on management proposals for poison pill ratification, considering the following factors, if the term of the pill would be the shorter of three years (or less) and the exhaustion of the NOL:

 

   

The ownership threshold to transfer (NOL pills generally have a trigger slightly below 5 percent);

 

   

The value of the NOLs;

 

   

Shareholder protection mechanisms (sunset provision, or commitment to cause expiration of the pill upon exhaustion or expiration of NOLs);

 

   

The company’s existing governance structure including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, track record of responsiveness to shareholders, and any other problematic governance concerns; and

 

   

Any other factors that may be applicable.

Shareholder Ability to Act by Written Consent

Generally vote AGAINST management and shareholder proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholders’ ability to act by written consent.

Generally vote FOR management and shareholder proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to act by written consent, taking into account the following factors:

 

   

Shareholders’ current right to act by written consent;

 

   

The consent threshold;

 

   

The inclusion of exclusionary or prohibitive language;

 

   

Investor ownership structure; and

 

   

Shareholder support of, and management’s response to, previous shareholder proposals.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals if, in addition to the considerations above, the company has the following governance and antitakeover provisions:

 

   

An unfettered4 right for shareholders to call special meetings at a 10 percent threshold;

 

   

A majority vote standard in uncontested director elections;

 

 

 

4

"Unfettered" means no restrictions on agenda items, no restrictions on the number of shareholders who can group together to reach the 10 percent threshold, and only reasonable limits on when a meeting can be called: no greater than 30 days after the last annual meeting and no greater than 90 prior to the next annual meeting.

 

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No non-shareholder-approved pill; and

 

   

An annually elected board.

Shareholder Ability to Call Special Meetings

Vote AGAINST management or shareholder proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholders’ ability to call special meetings.

Generally vote FOR management or shareholder proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to call special meetings taking into account the following factors:

 

   

Shareholders’ current right to call special meetings;

 

   

Minimum ownership threshold necessary to call special meetings (10% preferred);

 

   

The inclusion of exclusionary or prohibitive language;

 

   

Investor ownership structure; and

 

   

Shareholder support of, and management’s response to, previous shareholder proposals.

CAPITAL/RESTRUCTURING*

Common Stock Authorization

Vote FOR proposals to increase the number of authorized common shares where the primary purpose of the increase is to issue shares in connection with a transaction on the same ballot that warrants support.

Vote AGAINST proposals at companies with more than one class of common stock to increase the number of authorized shares of the class of common stock that has superior voting rights.

Vote AGAINST proposals to increase the number of authorized common shares if a vote for a reverse stock split on the same ballot is warranted despite the fact that the authorized shares would not be reduced proportionally.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on all other proposals to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance. Take into account company-specific factors that include, at a minimum, the following:

   

Past Board Performance:

 

  o The company’s use of authorized shares during the last three years

 

   

The Current Request:

 

  o Disclosure in the proxy statement of the specific purposes of the proposed increase;

 

  o Disclosure in the proxy statement of specific and severe risks to shareholders of not approving the request; and

 

  o The dilutive impact of the request as determined by an allowable increase calculated by ISS (typically 100 percent of existing authorized shares) that reflects the company’s need for shares and total shareholder returns.

Preferred Stock Authorization

Vote FOR proposals to increase the number of authorized preferred shares where the primary purpose of the increase is to issue shares in connection with a transaction on the same ballot that warrants support.

Vote AGAINST proposals at companies with more than one class or series of preferred stock to increase the number of authorized shares of the class or series of preferred stock that has superior voting rights.

 

 

 

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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Vote CASE-BY-CASE on all other proposals to increase the number of shares of preferred stock authorized for issuance. Take into account company-specific factors that include, at a minimum, the following:

   

Past Board Performance:

 

  o The company’s use of authorized preferred shares during the last three years;

 

   

The Current Request:

 

  o Disclosure in the proxy statement of the specific purposes for the proposed increase;

 

  o Disclosure in the proxy statement of specific and severe risks to shareholders of not approving the request;

 

  o In cases where the company has existing authorized preferred stock, the dilutive impact of the request as determined by an allowable increase calculated by ISS (typically 100 percent of existing authorized shares) that reflects the company’s need for shares and total shareholder returns; and

 

  o Whether the shares requested are blank check preferred shares that can be used for antitakeover purposes.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Vote CASE –BY- CASE on mergers and acquisitions. Review and evaluate the merits and drawbacks of the proposed transaction, balancing various and sometimes countervailing factors including:

   

Valuation - Is the value to be received by the target shareholders (or paid by the acquirer) reasonable? While the fairness opinion may provide an initial starting point for assessing valuation reasonableness, emphasis is placed on the offer premium, market reaction and strategic rationale.

 

   

Market reaction - How has the market responded to the proposed deal? A negative market reaction should cause closer scrutiny of a deal.

 

   

Strategic rationale - Does the deal make sense strategically? From where is the value derived? Cost and revenue synergies should not be overly aggressive or optimistic, but reasonably achievable. Management should also have a favorable track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions.

 

   

Negotiations and process - Were the terms of the transaction negotiated at arm’s-length? Was the process fair and equitable? A fair process helps to ensure the best price for shareholders. Significant negotiation “wins” can also signify the deal makers’ competency. The comprehensiveness of the sales process (e.g., full auction, partial auction, no auction) can also affect shareholder value.

 

   

Conflicts of interest - Are insiders benefiting from the transaction disproportionately and inappropriately as compared to non-insider shareholders? As the result of potential conflicts, the directors and officers of the company may be more likely to vote to approve a merger than if they did not hold these interests. Consider whether these interests may have influenced these directors and officers to support or recommend the merger. The CIC figure presented in the ”ISS Transaction Summary” section of this report is an aggregate figure that can in certain cases be a misleading indicator of the true value transfer from shareholders to insiders. Where such figure appears to be excessive, analyze the underlying assumptions to determine whether a potential conflict exists.

 

   

Governance - Will the combined company have a better or worse governance profile than the current governance profiles of the respective parties to the transaction? If the governance profile is to change for the worse, the burden is on the company to prove that other issues (such as valuation) outweigh any deterioration in governance.

 

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COMPENSATION*

Executive Pay Evaluation

Underlying all evaluations are five global principles that most investors expect corporations to adhere to in designing and administering executive and director compensation programs:

 

  1. Maintain appropriate pay-for-performance alignment, with emphasis on long-term shareholder value: This principle encompasses overall executive pay practices, which must be designed to attract, retain, and appropriately motivate the key employees who drive shareholder value creation over the long term. It will take into consideration, among other factors, the link between pay and performance; the mix between fixed and variable pay; performance goals; and equity-based plan costs;

 

  2. Avoid arrangements that risk “pay for failure”: This principle addresses the appropriateness of long or indefinite contracts, excessive severance packages, and guaranteed compensation;

 

  3. Maintain an independent and effective compensation committee: This principle promotes oversight of executive pay programs by directors with appropriate skills, knowledge, experience, and a sound process for compensation decision-making (e.g., including access to independent expertise and advice when needed);

 

  4. Provide shareholders with clear, comprehensive compensation disclosures: This principle underscores the importance of informative and timely disclosures that enable shareholders to evaluate executive pay practices fully and fairly;

 

  5. Avoid inappropriate pay to non-executive directors: This principle recognizes the interests of shareholders in ensuring that compensation to outside directors does not compromise their independence and ability to make appropriate judgments in overseeing managers’ pay and performance. At the market level, it may incorporate a variety of generally accepted best practices.

Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation- Management Proposals (Management Say-on-Pay)

Evaluate executive pay and practices, as well as certain aspects of outside director compensation CASE-BY-CASE.

Vote AGAINST management say on pay (MSOP) proposals, AGAINST/WITHHOLD on compensation committee members (or, in rare cases where the full board is deemed responsible, all directors including the CEO), and/or AGAINST an equity-based incentive plan proposal if:

 

   

There is a misalignment between CEO pay and company performance (pay for performance);

 

   

The company maintains problematic pay practices;

 

   

The board exhibits poor communication and responsiveness to shareholders.

Voting Alternatives

 

 

* See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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In general, the management say on pay (MSOP) ballot item is the primary focus of voting on executive pay practices—dissatisfaction with compensation practices can be expressed by voting against MSOP rather than withholding or voting against the compensation committee. However, if there is no MSOP on the ballot, then the negative vote will apply to members of the compensation committee. In addition, in egregious cases, or if the board fails to respond to concerns raised by a prior MSOP proposal, then vote withhold or against compensation committee members (or, if the full board is deemed accountable, all directors). If the negative factors involve equity-based compensation, then vote AGAINST an equity-based plan proposal presented for shareholder approval.

Additional CASE-BY-CASE considerations for the management say on pay (MSOP) proposals:

   

Evaluation of performance metrics in short-term and long-term plans, as discussed and explained in the Compensation Discussion & Analysis (CD&A). Consider the measures, goals, and target awards reported by the company for executives’ short- and long-term incentive awards: disclosure, explanation of their alignment with the company’s business strategy, and whether goals appear to be sufficiently challenging in relation to resulting payouts;

 

   

Evaluation of peer group benchmarking used to set target pay or award opportunities. Consider the rationale stated by the company for constituents in its pay benchmarking peer group, as well as the benchmark targets it uses to set or validate executives’ pay (e.g., median, 75th percentile, etc.,) to ascertain whether the benchmarking process is sound or may result in pay “ratcheting” due to inappropriate peer group constituents (e.g., much larger companies) or targeting (e.g., above median); and

 

   

Balance of performance-based versus non-performance-based pay. Consider the ratio of performance-based (not including plain vanilla stock options) vs. non-performance-based pay elements reported for the CEO’s latest reported fiscal year compensation, especially in conjunction with concerns about other factors such as performance metrics/goals, benchmarking practices, and pay-for-performance disconnects.

Primary Evaluation Factors for Executive Pay

Pay for Performance

Evaluate the alignment of the CEO’s pay with performance over time, focusing particularly on companies that have underperformed their peers over a sustained period. From a shareholders’ perspective, performance is predominantly gauged by the company’s stock performance over time. Even when financial or operational measures are utilized in incentive awards, the achievement related to these measures should ultimately translate into superior shareholder returns in the long-term.

Focus on companies with sustained underperformance relative to peers, considering the following key factors:

   

Whether a company’s one-year and three-year total shareholder returns (“TSR”) are in the bottom half of its industry group (i.e., four-digit GICS – Global Industry Classification Group); and

 

   

Whether the total compensation of a CEO who has served at least two consecutive fiscal years is aligned with the company’s total shareholder return over time, including both recent and long-term periods.

If a company falls in the bottom half of its four-digit GICS, further analysis of the CD&A is required to better understand the various pay elements and whether they create or reinforce shareholder alignment. Also assess the CEO’s pay relative to the company’s TSR over a time horizon of at least five years. The

 

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most recent year-over-year increase or decrease in pay remains a key consideration, but there will be additional emphasis on the long term trend of CEO total compensation relative to shareholder return. Also consider the mix of performance-based compensation relative to total compensation. In general, standard stock options or time-vested restricted stock are not considered to be performance-based. If a company provides performance-based incentives to its executives, the company is highly encouraged to provide the complete disclosure of the performance measure and goals (hurdle rate) so that shareholders can assess the rigor of the performance program. The use of non-GAAP financial metrics also makes it very challenging for shareholders to ascertain the rigor of the program as shareholders often cannot tell the type of adjustments being made and if the adjustments were made consistently. Complete and transparent disclosure helps shareholders to better understand the company’s pay for performance linkage.

Problematic Pay Practices

If the company maintains problematic pay practices, generally vote:

   

AGAINST management “say on pay” (MSOP) proposals;

 

   

AGAINST/WITHHOLD on compensation committee members (or in rare cases where the full board is deemed responsible, all directors including the CEO):

 

  o

In egregious situations;

 

  o

When no MSOP item is on the ballot; or

 

  o

When the board has failed to respond to concerns raised in prior MSOP evaluations; and/or

 

   

AGAINST an equity incentive plan proposal if excessive non-performance-based equity awards are the major contributors to a pay-for-performance misalignment.

The focus is on executive compensation practices that contravene the global pay principles, including:

 

   

Problematic practices related to non-performance-based compensation elements;

 

   

Incentives that may motivate excessive risk-taking; and

 

   

Options Backdating.

Problematic Pay Practices related to Non-Performance-Based Compensation Elements

Pay elements that are not directly based on performance are generally evaluated CASE-BY-CASE considering the context of a company’s overall pay program and demonstrated pay-for-performance philosophy. Please refer to ISS’ Compensation FAQ document for detail on specific pay practices that have been identified as potentially problematic and may lead to negative recommendations if they are deemed to be inappropriate or unjustified relative to executive pay best practices. The list below highlights the problematic practices that carry significant weight in this overall consideration and may result in adverse vote recommendations:

   

Repricing or replacing of underwater stock options/SARS without prior shareholder approval (including cash buyouts and voluntary surrender of underwater options);

 

   

Excessive perquisites or tax gross-ups, including any gross-up related to a secular trust or restricted stock vesting;

 

   

New or extended agreements that provide for:

 

  o CIC payments exceeding 3 times base salary and average/target/most recent bonus;

 

  o CIC severance payments without involuntary job loss or substantial diminution of duties (“single” or “modified single” triggers);

 

  o CIC payments with excise tax gross-ups (including “modified” gross-ups).

 

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Incentives that may Motivate Excessive Risk-Taking

Assess company policies and disclosure related to compensation that could incentivize excessive risk-taking, for example:

 

   

Multi-year guaranteed bonuses;

 

   

A single performance metric used for short- and long-term plans;

 

   

Lucrative severance packages;

 

   

High pay opportunities relative to industry peers;

 

   

Disproportionate supplemental pensions; or

 

   

Mega annual equity grants that provide unlimited upside with no downside risk.

Factors that potentially mitigate the impact of risky incentives include rigorous claw-back provisions and robust stock ownership/holding guidelines.

Options Backdating

Vote CASE- BY -CASE on options backdating issues. Generally, when a company has recently practiced options backdating, WITHHOLD from or vote AGAINST the compensation committee, depending on the severity of the practices and the subsequent corrective actions on the part of the board. When deciding on votes on compensation committee members who oversaw questionable options grant practices or current compensation committee members who fail to respond to the issue proactively, consider several factors, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

   

Reason and motive for the options backdating issue, such as inadvertent vs. deliberate grant date changes;

 

   

Duration of options backdating;

 

   

Size of restatement due to options backdating;

 

   

Corrective actions taken by the board or compensation committee, such as canceling or re-pricing backdated options, the recouping of option gains on backdated grants; and

 

   

Adoption of a grant policy that prohibits backdating, and creates a fixed grant schedule or window period for equity grants in the future.

A CASE- BY -CASE analysis approach allows distinctions to be made between companies that had “sloppy” plan administration versus those that acted deliberately and/or committed fraud, as well as those companies that subsequently took corrective action. Cases where companies have committed fraud are considered most egregious.

Board Communications and Responsiveness

Consider the following factors CASE-BY-CASE when evaluating ballot items related to executive pay:

 

   

Poor disclosure practices, including:

 

  -

Unclear explanation of how the CEO is involved in the pay setting process;

 

  -

Retrospective performance targets and methodology not discussed;

 

  -

Methodology for benchmarking practices and/or peer group not disclosed and explained.

 

   

Board’s responsiveness to investor input and engagement on compensation issues, for example:

 

  -

Failure to respond to majority-supported shareholder proposals on executive pay topics; or

 

  -

Failure to respond to concerns raised in connection with significant opposition to MSOP proposals.

Frequency of Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation (Management “Say on Pay”)

 

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Vote FOR annual advisory votes on compensation, which provide the most consistent and clear communication channel for shareholder concerns about companies’ executive pay programs.

Voting on Golden Parachutes in an Acquisition, Merger, Consolidation, or Proposed Sale

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to approve the company’s golden parachute compensation, consistent with ISS’ policies on problematic pay practices related to severance packages. Features that may lead to a vote AGAINST include:

 

   

Recently adopted or materially amended agreements that include excise tax gross-up provisions (since prior annual meeting);

 

   

Recently adopted or materially amended agreements that include modified single triggers (since prior annual meeting);

 

   

Single trigger payments that will happen immediately upon a change in control, including cash payment and such items as the acceleration of performance-based equity despite the failure to achieve performance measures;

 

   

Single-trigger vesting of equity based on a definition of change in control that requires only shareholder approval of the transaction (rather than consummation);

 

   

Potentially excessive severance payments;

 

   

Recent amendments or other changes that may make packages so attractive as to influence merger agreements that may not be in the best interests of shareholders;

 

   

In the case of a substantial gross-up from pre-existing/grandfathered contract: the element that triggered the gross-up (i.e., option mega-grants at low point in stock price, unusual or outsized payments in cash or equity made or negotiated prior to the merger); or

 

   

The company’s assertion that a proposed transaction is conditioned on shareholder approval of the golden parachute advisory vote. ISS would view this as problematic from a corporate governance perspective.

In cases where the golden parachute vote is incorporated into a company’s separate advisory vote on compensation (“management “say on pay”), ISS will evaluate the “say on pay” proposal in accordance with these guidelines, which may give higher weight to that component of the overall evaluation.

Equity-Based and Other Incentive Plans

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on equity-based compensation plans. Vote AGAINST the equity plan if any of the following factors apply:

 

   

The total cost of the company’s equity plans is unreasonable;

 

   

The plan expressly permits the repricing of stock options/stock appreciate rights (SARs) without prior shareholder approval;

 

   

The CEO is a participant in the proposed equity-based compensation plan and there is a disconnect between CEO pay and the company’s performance where over 50 percent of the year-over-year increase is attributed to equity awards (see Pay-for-Performance);

 

   

The company’s three year burn rate exceeds the greater of 2% or the mean plus one standard deviation of its industry group but no more than two percentage points (+/-) from the prior-year industry group cap ;

 

   

Liberal Change of Control Definition: The plan provides for the acceleration of vesting of equity awards even though an actual change in control may not occur (e.g., upon shareholder approval of a transaction or the announcement of a tender offer); or

 

   

The plan is a vehicle for problematic pay practices.

 

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Shareholder Proposals on Compensation

Golden Coffins/Executive Death Benefits

Generally vote FOR proposals calling companies to adopt a policy of obtaining shareholder approval for any future agreements and corporate policies that could oblige the company to make payments or awards following the death of a senior executive in the form of unearned salary or bonuses, accelerated vesting or the continuation in force of unvested equity grants, perquisites and other payments or awards made in lieu of compensation. This would not apply to any benefit programs or equity plan proposals that the broad-based employee population is eligible.

Hold Equity Past Retirement or for a Significant Period of Time

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals asking companies to adopt policies requiring senior executive officers to retain all or a significant portion of the shares acquired through compensation plans, either:

 

   

while employed and/or for two years following the termination of their employment ; or

 

   

for a substantial period following the lapse of all other vesting requirements for the award (“lock-up period”), with ratable release of a portion of the shares annually during the lock-up period.

The following factors will be taken into account:

 

   

Whether the company has any holding period, retention ratio, or officer ownership requirements in place. These should consist of:

 

  -

Rigorous stock ownership guidelines;

 

  -

A holding period requirement coupled with a significant long-term ownership requirement; or

 

  -

A meaningful retention ratio;

 

   

Actual officer stock ownership and the degree to which it meets or exceeds the proponent’s suggested holding period/retention ratio or the company’s own stock ownership or retention requirements;

 

   

Post-termination holding requirement policies or any policies aimed at mitigating risk taking by senior executives;

 

   

Problematic pay practices, current and past, which may promote a short-term versus a long-term focus.

A rigorous stock ownership guideline should be at least 10x base salary for the CEO, with the multiple declining for other executives. A meaningful retention ratio should constitute at least 50 percent of the stock received from equity awards (on a net proceeds basis) held on a long-term basis, such as the executive’s tenure with the company or even a few years past the executive’s termination with the company.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals asking companies to adopt policies requiring Named Executive Officers to retain 75% of the shares acquired through compensation plans while employed and/or for two years following the termination of their employment, and to report to shareholders regarding this policy. The following factors will be taken into account:

   

Whether the company has any holding period, retention ratio, or officer ownership requirements in place. These should consist of:

 

  -

Rigorous stock ownership guidelines, or

 

  -

A holding period requirement coupled with a significant long-term ownership requirement, or

 

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  -

A meaningful retention ratio,

 

   

Actual officer stock ownership and the degree to which it meets or exceeds the proponent’s suggested holding period/retention ratio or the company’s own stock ownership or retention requirements.

 

   

Problematic pay practices, current and past, which may promote a short-term versus a long-term focus.

A rigorous stock ownership guideline should be at least 10x base salary for the CEO, with the multiple declining for other executives. A meaningful retention ratio should constitute at least 50 percent of the stock received from equity awards (on a net proceeds basis) held on a long-term basis, such as the executive’s tenure with the company or even a few years past the executive’s termination with the company.

Generally vote AGAINST shareholder proposals that mandate a minimum amount of stock that directors must own in order to qualify as a director or to remain on the board. While ISS favors stock ownership on the part of directors, the company should determine the appropriate ownership requirement.

Social/Environmental Issues

Overall Approach

Generally vote FOR the management’s recommendation on shareholder proposals involving social/environmental issues. When evaluating social and environmental shareholder proposals, Dimensional considers the most important factor to be whether adoption of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value.

 

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2011 International Proxy Voting Guidelines Summary

Effective for Meetings on or after January 3, 2011

In order to provide greater analysis on certain shareholder meetings, the Advisor has elected to receive research reports for certain meetings, as indicated below, from Glass Lewis in addition to Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”).

Specifically, if available, the Advisor may obtain research from Glass Lewis in addition to ISS for shareholder meetings in the following circumstances: (1) where the Advisor’s clients have a significant aggregate holding in the issuer and the meeting agenda contains proxies concerning: Anti-takeover Defenses or Voting Related Issues, Mergers and Acquisitions or Reorganizations or Restructurings, Capital Structure Issues, Compensation Issues or a proxy contest; or (2) where the Advisor in its discretion, has deemed that additional research is warranted.

Where research is obtained from Glass Lewis in accordance with these Guidelines, the Advisor will first review the research reports obtained from ISS and Glass Lewis.9 If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are the same, the Advisor will vote accordingly. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are inconsistent, the Advisor will vote in accordance with the ISS recommendation unless the Corporate Governance Committee determines that voting in accordance with the Glass Lewis recommendation is more consistent with the principle of preserving shareholder value.

 

1.

Operational Items

Financial Results/Director and Auditor Reports

Vote FOR approval of financial statements and director and auditor reports, unless:

 

   

There are concerns about the accounts presented or audit procedures used; or

   

The company is not responsive to shareholder questions about specific items that should be publicly disclosed.

Appointment of Auditors and Auditor Fees

Vote FOR the (re)election of auditors and/or proposals authorizing the board to fix auditor fees, unless:

 

   

There are serious concerns about the procedures used by the auditor;

   

There is reason to believe that the auditor has rendered an opinion which is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position;

   

External auditors have previously served the company in an executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company;

   

Name of the proposed auditors has not been published;

   

The auditors are being changed without explanation; or

   

Fees for non-audit services exceed standard annual audit-related fees (only applies to companies on the MSCI EAFE index and/or listed on any country main index).

In circumstances where fees for non-audit services include fees related to significant one-time capital structure events (initial public offerings, bankruptcy emergencies, and spin-offs) and the company makes public disclosure of the amount and nature of those fees, which are an exception to the standard “non-audit fee” category, then such fees may be excluded from the non-audit fees considered in determining the ratio of non-audit to audit fees.

For concerns related to the audit procedures, independence of auditors, and/or name of auditors, ISS may recommend AGAINST the auditor (re)election. For concerns related to fees paid to the auditors, ISS

 

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may recommend AGAINST remuneration of auditors if this is a separate voting item; otherwise ISS may recommend AGAINST the auditor election.

Appointment of Internal Statutory Auditors

Vote FOR the appointment or (re)election of statutory auditors, unless:

 

   

There are serious concerns about the statutory reports presented or the audit procedures used;

   

Questions exist concerning any of the statutory auditors being appointed; or

   

The auditors have previously served the company in an executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company.

Allocation of Income

Vote FOR approval of the allocation of income, unless:

   

The dividend payout ratio has been consistently below 30 percent without adequate explanation; or

   

The payout is excessive given the company’s financial position.

Amendments to Articles of Association

Vote amendments to the articles of association on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Change in Company Fiscal Term

Vote FOR resolutions to change a company’s fiscal term unless a company’s motivation for the change is to postpone its AGM.

Lower Disclosure Threshold for Stock Ownership

Vote AGAINST resolutions to lower the stock ownership disclosure threshold below 5 percent unless specific reasons exist to implement a lower threshold.

Amend Quorum Requirements

Vote proposals to amend quorum requirements for shareholder meetings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Transact Other Business

Vote AGAINST other business when it appears as a voting item.

2. Board of Directors

Director Elections

Vote FOR management nominees in the election of directors, unless:

 

   

Adequate disclosure has not been provided in a timely manner;

   

There are clear concerns over questionable finances or restatements;

   

There have been questionable transactions with conflicts of interest;

   

There are any records of abuses against minority shareholder interests; or

   

The board fails to meet minimum corporate governance standards.

Vote FOR individual nominees unless there are specific concerns about the individual, such as criminal wrongdoing or breach of fiduciary responsibilities.

 

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Vote AGAINST individual directors if repeated absences at board meetings have not been explained (in countries where this information is disclosed).

Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis for contested elections of directors, e.g. the election of shareholder nominees or the dismissal of incumbent directors, determining which directors are best suited to add value for shareholders.

Vote FOR employee and/or labor representatives if they sit on either the audit or compensation committee and are required by law to be on those committees*. Vote AGAINST employee and/or labor representatives if they sit on either the audit or compensation committee, if they are not required to be on those committees.

Under extraordinary circumstances, vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from directors individually, on a committee, or the entire board, due to:

 

   

Material failures of governance, stewardship, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company; or

 

   

Failure to replace management as appropriate; or

 

   

Egregious actions related to the director(s) ’ service on other boards that raise substantial doubt about his or her ability to effectively oversee management and serve the best interests of shareholders at any company.

[Please see the ISS International Classification of Directors.]

 

 

* See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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ISS Classification of Directors - International Policy 2011

 

Executive Director

 

•    Employee or executive of the company;

 

•    Any director who is classified as a non-executive, but receives salary, fees, bonus, and/or other benefits that are in line with the highest-paid executives of the company.

 

Non-Independent Non-Executive Director (NED)

 

•    Any director who is attested by the board to be a non-independent NED;

 

•    Any director specifically designated as a representative of a significant shareholder of the company;

 

•    Any director who is also an employee or executive of a significant shareholder of the company;

 

•    Any director who is nominated by a dissenting significant shareholder, unless there is a clear lack of material[5] connection with the dissident, either currently or historically;

 

•    Beneficial owner (direct or indirect) of at least 10% of the company’s stock, either in economic terms or in voting rights (this may be aggregated if voting power is distributed among more than one member of a defined group, e.g., family members who beneficially own less than 10% individually, but collectively own more than 10%), unless market best practice dictates a lower ownership and/or disclosure threshold (and in other special market-specific circumstances);

 

•    Government representative;

 

•    Currently provides (or a relative[1] provides) professional services[2] to the company, to an affiliate of the company, or to an individual officer of the company or of one of its affiliates in excess of $10,000 per year;

 

•    Represents customer, supplier, creditor, banker, or other entity with which company maintains transactional/commercial relationship (unless company discloses information to apply a materiality test[3]);

 

•    Any director who has conflicting or cross-directorships with executive directors or the chairman of the company;

 

•    Relative[1] of a current employee of the company or its affiliates;

 

•    Relative[1] of a former executive of the company or its affiliates;

 

•    A new appointee elected other than by a formal process through the General Meeting (such as a contractual appointment by a substantial shareholder);

 

•    Founder/co-founder/member of founding family but not currently an employee;

 

•    Former executive (5 year cooling off period);

 

•    Years of service is generally not a determining factor unless it is recommended best practice in a market and/or in extreme circumstances, in which case it may be considered.[4]

 

•    Any additional relationship or principle considered to compromise independence under local corporate governance best practice guidance.

 

Independent NED

 

•    No material[5] connection, either directly or indirectly, to the company (other than a board seat) or the dissenting significant shareholder.

 

Employee Representative

 

•    Represents employees or employee shareholders of the company (classified as “employee representative” but considered a non-independent NED).

 

Footnotes:

 

[1] “Relative” follows the definition of “immediate family members” which covers spouses, parents, children, stepparents, step-children, siblings, in-laws, and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of any director, nominee for director, executive officer, or significant shareholder of the company.

[2] Professional services can be characterized as advisory in nature and generally include the following: investment banking/financial advisory services; commercial banking (beyond deposit services); investment services; insurance services; accounting/audit services; consulting services; marketing services; and legal services. The case of participation in a banking syndicate by a non-lead bank should be considered a transaction (and hence subject to the associated materiality test) rather than a professional relationship.

[3] A business relationship may be material if the transaction value (of all outstanding transactions) entered into between the company and the company or organization with which the director is associated is equivalent to either 1 percent of the company’s turnover or 1 percent of the turnover of the company or organization with which the director is associated. OR, A business relationship may be material if the transaction value (of all outstanding financing operations) entered into between the company and the company or organization with which the director is associated is more than 10 percent of the company’s shareholder equity or the transaction value, (of all outstanding financing operations), compared to the company’s total assets, is more than 5 percent.

[4] For example, in continental Europe, directors with a tenure exceeding 12 years will be considered non-independent. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, directors with a tenure exceeding nine years will be considered non-independent, unless the company provides sufficient and clear justification that the director is independent despite his long tenure.

[5] For purposes of ISS’ director independence classification, “material” will be defined as a standard of relationship financial, personal or

 

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otherwise that a reasonable person might conclude could potentially influence one’s objectivity in the boardroom in a manner that would have a meaningful impact on an individual’s ability to satisfy requisite fiduciary standards on behalf of shareholders.

Contested Director Elections*

For contested elections of directors, e.g. the election of shareholder nominees or the dismissal of incumbent directors, ISS will make its recommendation on a case-by-case basis, determining which directors are best suited to add value for shareholders.

The analysis will generally be based on, but not limited to, the following major decision factors:

   

Company performance relative to its peers;

   

Strategy of the incumbents versus the dissidents;

   

Independence of directors/nominees;

   

Experience and skills of board candidates;

   

Governance profile of the company;

   

Evidence of management entrenchment;

   

Responsiveness to shareholders;

   

Whether a takeover offer has been rebuffed;

   

Whether minority or majority representation is being sought.

When analyzing a contested election of directors, ISS will generally focus on two central questions: (1) Have the dissidents proved that board change is warranted? And (2) if so, are the dissident board nominees likely to effect positive change (i.e., maximize long-term shareholder value).

Discharge of Directors

Generally vote FOR the discharge of directors, including members of the management board and/or supervisory board, unless there is reliable information about significant and compelling controversies that the board is not fulfilling its fiduciary duties warranted by:

 

   

A lack of oversight or actions by board members which invoke shareholder distrust related to malfeasance or poor supervision, such as operating in private or company interest rather than in shareholder interest; or

   

Any legal issues (e.g. civil/criminal) aiming to hold the board responsible for breach of trust in the past or related to currently alleged actions yet to be confirmed (and not only the fiscal year in question), such as price fixing, insider trading, bribery, fraud, and other illegal actions; or

   

Other egregious governance issues where shareholders will bring legal action against the company or its directors.

For markets which do not routinely request discharge resolutions (e.g. common law countries or markets where discharge is not mandatory), analysts may voice concern in other appropriate agenda items, such as approval of the annual accounts or other relevant resolutions, to enable shareholders to express discontent with the board.

Director, Officer, and Auditor Indemnification and Liability Provisions

Vote proposals seeking indemnification and liability protection for directors and officers on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote AGAINST proposals to indemnify external auditors.

Board Structure

 

* See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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Vote FOR proposals to fix board size.

Vote AGAINST the introduction of classified boards and mandatory retirement ages for directors.

Vote AGAINST proposals to alter board structure or size in the context of a fight for control of the company or the board.

3.   Capital Structure*

Share Issuance Requests

General Issuances

Vote FOR issuance requests with preemptive rights to a maximum of 100 percent over currently issued capital.

Vote FOR issuance requests without preemptive rights to a maximum of 20 percent of currently issued capital.

Specific Issuances

Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on all requests, with or without preemptive rights.

Increases in Authorized Capital

Vote FOR non-specific proposals to increase authorized capital up to 100 percent over the current authorization unless the increase would leave the company with less than 30 percent of its new authorization outstanding.

Vote FOR specific proposals to increase authorized capital to any amount, unless:

 

   

The specific purpose of the increase (such as a share-based acquisition or merger) does not meet ISS guidelines for the purpose being proposed; or

 

   

The increase would leave the company with less than 30 percent of its new authorization outstanding after adjusting for all proposed issuances.

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt unlimited capital authorizations.

Reduction of Capital

Vote FOR proposals to reduce capital for routine accounting purposes unless the terms are unfavorable to shareholders.

Vote proposals to reduce capital in connection with corporate restructuring on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Capital Structures

Vote FOR resolutions that seek to maintain or convert to a one-share, one-vote capital structure.

Vote AGAINST requests for the creation or continuation of dual-class capital structures or the creation of new or additional super voting shares.

Preferred Stock

 

 

* See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take .

 

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Vote FOR the creation of a new class of preferred stock or for issuances of preferred stock up to 50 percent of issued capital unless the terms of the preferred stock would adversely affect the rights of existing shareholders.

Vote FOR the creation/issuance of convertible preferred stock as long as the maximum number of common shares that could be issued upon conversion meets ISS guidelines on equity issuance requests.

Vote AGAINST the creation of a new class of preference shares that would carry superior voting rights to the common shares.

Vote AGAINST the creation of blank check preferred stock unless the board clearly states that the authorization will not be used to thwart a takeover bid.

Vote proposals to increase blank check preferred authorizations on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Debt Issuance Requests

Vote non-convertible debt issuance requests on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, with or without preemptive rights.

Vote FOR the creation/issuance of convertible debt instruments as long as the maximum number of common shares that could be issued upon conversion meets ISS guidelines on equity issuance requests.

Vote FOR proposals to restructure existing debt arrangements unless the terms of the restructuring would adversely affect the rights of shareholders.

Pledging of Assets for Debt

Vote proposals to approve the pledging of assets for debt on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Increase in Borrowing Powers

Vote proposals to approve increases in a company’s borrowing powers on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Share Repurchase Plans

Generally vote FOR market repurchase authorities (share repurchase programs) if the terms comply with the following criteria:

 

   

A repurchase limit of up to 10 percent of outstanding issued share capital (15 percent in UK/Ireland);

 

   

A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company’s issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and

 

   

A duration of no more than 5 years, or such lower threshold as may be set by applicable law, regulation or code of governance best practice.

Authorities to repurchase shares in excess of the 10 percent repurchase limit will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. ISS may support such share repurchase authorities under special circumstances, which are required to be publicly disclosed by the company, provided that, on balance, the proposal is in shareholders’ interests. In such cases, the authority must comply with the following criteria:

 

   

A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company’s issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and

 

   

A duration of no more than 18 months.

In markets where it is normal practice not to provide a repurchase limit, ISS will evaluate the proposal based on the company’s historical practice. However, ISS expects companies to disclose such limits and, in the future, may recommend a vote against companies that fail to do so. In such cases, the authority must comply with the following criteria:

 

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A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company’s issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and

   

A duration of no more than 18 months.

In addition, ISS will recommend AGAINST any proposal where:

 

   

The repurchase can be used for takeover defenses;

 

   

There is clear evidence of abuse;

 

   

There is no safeguard against selective buybacks; and/or

 

   

Pricing provisions and safeguards are deemed to be unreasonable in light of market practice.

Reissuance of Repurchased Shares

Vote FOR requests to reissue any repurchased shares unless there is clear evidence of abuse of this authority in the past.

Capitalization of Reserves for Bonus Issues/Increase in Par Value

Vote FOR requests to capitalize reserves for bonus issues of shares or to increase par value.

4. Other Items

Reorganizations/Restructurings*

Vote reorganizations and restructurings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Mergers and Acquisitions*

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on mergers and acquisitions taking into account the following:

For every M&A analysis, ISS reviews publicly available information as of the date of the report and evaluates the merits and drawbacks of the proposed transaction, balancing various and sometimes countervailing factors including:

 

   

Valuation - Is the value to be received by the target shareholders (or paid by the acquirer) reasonable? While the fairness opinion may provide an initial starting point for assessing valuation reasonableness, ISS places emphasis on the offer premium, market reaction, and strategic rationale.

 

   

Market reaction - How has the market responded to the proposed deal? A negative market reaction will cause ISS to scrutinize a deal more closely.

 

   

Strategic rationale - Does the deal make sense strategically? From where is the value derived? Cost and revenue synergies should not be overly aggressive or optimistic, but reasonably achievable. Management should also have a favourable track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions.

 

   

Conflicts of interest - Are insiders benefiting from the transaction disproportionately and inappropriately as compared to non-insider shareholders? ISS will consider whether any special interests may have influenced these directors and officers to support or recommend the merger.

 

   

Governance - Will the combined company have a better or worse governance profile than the current governance profiles of the respective parties to the transaction? If the governance profile is to change for the worse, the burden is on the company to prove that other issues (such as valuation) outweigh any deterioration in governance.

 

 

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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Vote AGAINST if the companies do not provide sufficient information upon request to make an informed voting decision.

Mandatory Takeover Bid Waivers*

Vote proposals to waive mandatory takeover bid requirements on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Reincorporation Proposals

Vote reincorporation proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Expansion of Business Activities

Vote FOR resolutions to expand business activities unless the new business takes the company into risky areas.

Related-Party Transactions

In evaluating resolutions that seek shareholder approval on related party transactions (RPTs), vote on a case-by-case basis, considering factors including, but not limited to, the following:

 

   

the parties on either side of the transaction;

 

   

the nature of the asset to be transferred/service to be provided;

 

   

the pricing of the transaction (and any associated professional valuation);

 

   

the views of independent directors (where provided);

 

   

the views of an independent financial adviser (where appointed);

 

   

whether any entities party to the transaction (including advisers) is conflicted; and

 

   

the stated rationale for the transaction, including discussions of timing.

If there is a transaction that ISS deemed problematic and that was not put to a shareholder vote, ISS may recommend against the election of the director involved in the related-party transaction or the full board.

Antitakeover Mechanisms

Generally vote AGAINST all antitakeover proposals, unless they are structured in such a way that they give shareholders the ultimate decision on any proposal or offer.

Shareholder Proposals

Vote all shareholder proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote FOR proposals that would improve the company’s corporate governance or business profile at a reasonable cost.

Vote AGAINST proposals that limit the company’s business activities or capabilities or result in significant costs being incurred with little or no benefit.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Issues

Generally vote FOR the management’s recommendation on shareholder proposals involving CSR Issues. When evaluating social and environmental shareholder proposals, Dimensional considers the most important factor to be whether adoption of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value.

 

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CLASS R1 SHARES

CLASS R2 SHARES

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

DIMENSIONAL INVESTMENT GROUP INC.

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, Texas 78746

Telephone: (512) 306-7400

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

February 28, 2011

DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. (“DFAIDG”) is an open-end management investment company that offers sixty-two series of shares. Dimensional Investment Group Inc. (“DIG”) is an open-end management investment company that offers fifteen series of shares. DFAIDG and DIG are collectively referred to as the “Funds” in this Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”). This SAI relates to the Class R1 shares of one series of DFAIDG, Class R2 shares of two series of DFAIDG and Class R2 shares of four series of DIG (individually, a “Portfolio” and collectively, the “Portfolios”):

 

DOMESTIC EQUITY SECURITIES   INTERNATIONAL EQUITY SECURITIES
U.S. TARGETED VALUE PORTFOLIO   DFA INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO
Class R1 Ticker: DFTVX   Class R2 Ticker: DFIPX
Class R2 Ticker: DFTPX   EMERGING MARKETS Value Portfolio
  Class R2 Ticker: DFEPX

 

ALLOCATION PORTFOLIOS
GLOBAL EQUITY PORTFOLIO
Class R2 Ticker: DGERX
GLOBAL 60/40 PORTFOLIO
Class R2 Ticker: DFPRX
GLOBAL 25/75 PORTFOLIO
Class R2 Ticker: DFGPX

This SAI is not a Prospectus but should be read in conjunction with the Portfolios’ Prospectus dated February 28, 2011, as amended from time to time. The audited financial statements and financial highlights of the the Class R1 and Class R2 Shares of the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio and the Class R2 shares of the DFA International Value Portfolio, Emerging Markets Value Portfolio and Allocation Portfolios (formerly, Class R shares of the Allocation Portfolios) are incorporated by reference from the Funds’ annual reports to shareholders. The Prospectus and annual reports can be obtained by writing to the above address or by calling the above telephone number.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS AND POLICIES

     1   

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

     1   

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

     3   

FUTURES CONTRACTS

     5   

FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

     6   

CASH MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

     6   

CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES

     8   

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

     8   

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATES

     8   

ADDITIONAL POLICIES OF THE UNDERLYING FUNDS OF THE ALLOCATION PORTFOLIOS

     9   

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

     16   

SERVICES TO THE FUNDS

     26   

ADVISORY FEES

     29   

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

     30   

GENERAL INFORMATION

     33   

CODE OF ETHICS

     34   

SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS

     34   

PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

     34   

PURCHASE OF SHARES

     36   

REDEMPTION AND TRANSFER OF SHARES

     36   

TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIOS AND THEIR SHAREHOLDERS

     37   

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

     50   

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

     52   

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     56   

PERFORMANCE DATA

     56   

 


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PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS AND POLICIES

The DFA International Value Portfolio is a Feeder Portfolio that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing substantially all of its investable assets in a corresponding series of The DFA Investment Trust Company (the “Trust”). The Emerging Markets Value Portfolio is a Feeder Portfolio that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing substantially all of its investable assets in the Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund (“DEM”). The series of the Trust and DEM are referred to as the “Master Funds.” Each of the Allocation Portfolios is a “fund of funds” that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing its assets in funds managed by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor” or “Dimensional”). DEM, the series of Trust and the portfolios of DFAIDG in which the Allocation Portfolios invest may be referred to as the “Underlying Funds.” The Underlying Funds in which the Allocation Portfolios invest include, U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio, U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio, DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio, International Core Equity Portfolio, Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio, DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio, DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio, each a series of DFAIDG. The U.S. Targeted ValuePortfolio offers three classes of shares, Institutional Class shares, Class R1 shares and Class R2 shares. DFA International Value Portfolio, Emerging Markets Value Portfolio and the Allocation Portfolios each offer two classes of shares, Institutional Class shares and Class R2 shares. The Institutional Class shares of the Portfolios are offered to qualified investors in a separate prospectus.

Dimensional serves as investment advisor to each of the Portfolios and each Master Fund, and provides administrative services to the Feeder Portfolios, U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio and the Allocation Portfolios. The Advisor is organized as a Delaware limited partnership and is controlled and operated by its general partner, Dimensional Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this SAI have the meaning assigned to them in the Prospectus.

The following information supplements the information set forth in the Prospectus. Unless otherwise indicated, the following information applies to all of the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds, including the Feeder Portfolios, through their investment in the Master Funds, and the Allocation Portfolios through their investment in the Underlying Funds.

Each of the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds is diversified under the federal securities laws and regulations.

Because the structure of the Domestic Equity and International Equity Portfolios is based on the relative market capitalizations of eligible holdings, it is possible that the Portfolios might include at least 5% of the outstanding voting securities of one or more issuers. In such circumstances, a Portfolio and the issuer would be deemed affiliated persons and certain requirements under the federal securities laws and regulations regulating dealings between mutual funds and their affiliates might become applicable.

Each of the Portfolios (except DFA International Value Portfolio, Global 60/40 Portfolio and Global 25/75 Portfolio), or in the case of a Feeder Portfolio, its Master Fund, has adopted a non-fundamental policy as required by Rule 35d-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) that, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the value of each Portfolio’s net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, will be invested in a specific type of investment. Additionally, if a Portfolio changes its 80% investment policy, the Portfolio will notify shareholders at least 60 days before the change, and will change the name of the Portfolio. For more information on each Portfolio’s specific 80% policy, see each Portfolio’s “PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES” section in the Prospectus.

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

The following table reports brokerage commissions paid by the designated Portfolios and Master Funds. For each Feeder Portfolio, the amounts include commissions paid by the corresponding Master Fund. Neither the International Small Company Portfolio nor the Allocation Portfolios incurs any brokerage costs in connection with their purchase or redemption of shares of the Underlying Funds.

 

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The following table reports brokerage commissions paid by the Portfolios during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009 and the fiscal period from December 1, 2007 to October 31, 2008.

 

Master Fund/Portfolio

  

FISCAL
YEAR
ENDED

2010

    

FISCAL
YEAR
ENDED

2009

    

FISCAL
PERIOD
ENDED

2008

 

The U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

   $ 1,433,780       $ 1,527,923       $ 1,073,523   

DFA International Value Series

   $ 1,550,273       $ 1,030,080       $ 1,078,752   

Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund (Emerging Markets Value Portfolio)

   $ 3,302,337       $ 3,092,361       $ 2,577,695   

The substantial increases or decreases in the amount of brokerage commissions paid by certain Portfolios from year to year indicated in the foregoing table resulted primarily from asset changes that required increases or decreases in the amount of securities that were bought and sold by those Portfolios.

Please note that while the following discussion relates to the policies of the Portfolios with respect to brokerage commissions, it should be understood that, with respect to a Feeder Portfolio and an Allocation Portfolio, the discussion applies to the Master Fund in which the Feeder Portfolio invests substantially all of its assets and the Underlying Funds in which an Allocation Portfolio invests.

Portfolio transactions will be placed with a view to receiving the best price and execution. The Portfolios will seek to acquire and dispose of securities in a manner which would cause as little fluctuation in the market prices of stocks being purchased or sold as possible in light of the size of the transactions being effected, and brokers will be selected with this goal in view. The Advisor monitors the performance of brokers which effect transactions for the Portfolios to determine the effect that the brokers’ trading has on the market prices of the securities in which the Portfolios invest. The Advisor also checks the rate of commission being paid by the Portfolios to their brokers to ascertain that the rates are competitive with those charged by other brokers for similar services. Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. and DFA Australia Limited also perform these services for The DFA International Value Series and DEM.

Subject to obtaining best price and execution, transactions may be placed with brokers that have assisted in the sale of Portfolio shares. The Advisor, however, pursuant to policies and procedures approved by the Boards of Trustees/Directors of DFAIDG, DIG, DEM and the Trust, is prohibited from selecting brokers and dealers to effect a Portfolio’s portfolio securities transactions based (in whole or in part) on a broker’s or dealer’s promotion or sale of shares issued by a Portfolio or any other registered investment companies.

Companies eligible for purchase by the Portfolios may be thinly traded securities. The Advisor believes that it needs maximum flexibility to effect trades on a best execution basis. As deemed appropriate, the Advisor places buy and sell orders for the Portfolios and Master Funds with various brokerage firms that may act as principal or agent. The Advisor may also make use of direct market access and algorithmic, program or electronic trading methods. The Advisor may extensively use electronic trading systems as such systems can provide the ability to customize the orders placed and can assist in the Advisor’s execution strategies.

Transactions also may be placed with brokers who provide the Advisor or the sub-advisors with investment research, such as reports concerning individual issuers, industries and general economic and financial trends and other research services. The investment advisory agreements permit the Advisor knowingly to pay commissions on these transactions that are greater than another broker, dealer or exchange member might charge if the Advisor, in good faith, determines that the commissions paid are reasonable in relation to the research or brokerage services provided by the broker or dealer when viewed in terms of either a particular transaction or the Advisor’s overall responsibilities to the accounts under its management. Research services furnished by brokers through whom

 

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securities transactions are effected may be used by the Advisor in servicing all of its accounts and not all such services may be used by the Advisor with respect to the Portfolios.

During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the Portfolios or, in the case of a Feeder Portfolio, its corresponding Master Fund, paid commissions for securities transactions to brokers which provided market price monitoring services, market studies, brokerage services and research services to the Portfolios or Master Funds as follows:

 

    

Value of

Securities

Transactions

    

Brokerage

Commissions

 

U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

     $884,950,104         $277,390   

DFA International Value Series

   $ 2,046,724,375         $136,527   

Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund (Emerging Markets Value Portfolio)

   $ 2,436,531,600         $302,270   

A Feeder Portfolio will not incur any brokerage costs in connection with its purchase or redemption of shares of its corresponding Master Fund.

Certain Portfolios or Master Funds may purchase securities of their regular brokers or dealers (as defined in Rule 10b-1 of the 1940 Act). The table below lists the regular brokers or dealers of each Portfolio, or in the case of a Feeder Portfolio, its corresponding Master Fund, whose securities (or securities of the broker’s or dealer’s parent company) were acquired by the Portfolio or Master Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, as well as the value of such securities held by the Portfolio or Master Fund as of October 31, 2010.

 

Master Fund/Portfolio

  

Broker or Dealer

  

Value of Securities

DFA International Value Series

   Societe Generale    $64,514,496

DFA International Value Series

   Credit Suisse    $79,874,951

DFA International Value Series

   UBS Securities    $63,098,401

DFA International Value Series

   CA Cheuvreux    $34,040,351

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

Each of the Portfolios has adopted certain limitations which may not be changed with respect to any Portfolio without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio. A “majority” is defined as the lesser of: (1) at least 67% of the voting securities of the Portfolio (to be affected by the proposed change) present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio are present or represented by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of such Portfolio.

The Portfolios will not:

 

  (1)

borrow money, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or any rules, exemptions or interpretations thereunder that may be adopted, granted or issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”);

 

  (2)

make loans, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or any rules, exemptions or interpretations thereunder that may be adopted, granted or issued by the SEC; provided that in no event shall a Portfolio be permitted to make a loan to a natural person;

 

  (3)

purchase or sell real estate, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, and provided that this restriction does not prevent a Portfolio from: (i) purchasing or selling securities or instruments secured by real estate or interests therein, securities or instruments representing interests in real estate or securities or instruments of issuers that invest, deal or otherwise engage in transactions in real estate or interests therein; and (ii) purchasing or selling real estate mortgage loans;

 

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  (4)

purchase or sell physical commodities, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, and provided that this restriction does not prevent a Portfolio from: (i) engaging in transactions involving currencies and futures contracts and options thereon; or (ii) investing in securities or other instruments that are secured by physical commodities;

 

  (5)

purchase the securities of any one issuer, if immediately after such investment, a Portfolio would not qualify as a “diversified company” as that term is defined by the 1940 Act, as amended, and as modified or interpreted by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time;

 

  (6)

engage in the business of underwriting securities issued by others; or

 

  (7)

issue senior securities (as such term is defined in Section 18(f) of the 1940 Act), except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act.

 

  (8)

sell securities short; provided that the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, Emerging Markets Value Portfolio, Global Equity Portfolio, Global 60/40 Portfolio, and Global 25/75 Portfolio are not subject to this limitation; or

 

  (9)

acquire any securities of companies within one industry if, as a result of such acquisition, more than 25% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets would be invested in securities of companies within such industry .

The investment limitations described in (5) and (9) above do not prohibit each Feeder Portfolio and each Allocation Portfolio from investing all or substantially all of its assets in the shares of one or more registered, open-end investment companies, such as the Master Funds or Underlying Funds, respectively. In applying the investment limitations, each such Portfolio will look through to the security holdings of the Underlying Funds in which the Portfolio invests. The investment limitations of each Master Fund are similar to those of the corresponding Feeder Portfolio. The Underlying Funds may have investment limitations that are more or less restrictive than those of the Allocation Portfolios. The investment limitations of the Underlying Funds are set forth in their respective statements of additional information.

For purposes of the investment limitation described in (1) above, the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio (indirectly through its investment in its corresponding Master Fund) may borrow in connection with a foreign currency transaction or the settlement of a portfolio trade. Additionally, with respect to the investment limitation described in (1) above, the Portfolio will maintain asset coverage of at least 300% (as described in the 1940 Act), inclusive of any amounts borrowed, with respect to any borrowings made by the Portfolio.

Although the investment limitation described in (2) above prohibits loans, each Portfolio is authorized to lend portfolio securities. Inasmuch as the Feeder Portfolios will only hold shares of certain Master Funds, these Portfolios do not intend to lend those shares.

Each Portfolio is required to operate in accordance with the SEC staff’s current position on illiquid securities, which limits investments in illiquid securities to 15% of a Portfolio’s net assets. Further, pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, the Portfolios may purchase certain unregistered (i.e. restricted) securities upon a determination that a liquid institutional market exists for the securities. If it is determined that a liquid market does exist, the securities will not be subject to the 15% limitation on holdings of illiquid securities. While maintaining oversight, the Boards of Directors have delegated the day-to-day function of making liquidity determinations to the Advisor. For Rule 144A securities to be considered liquid, there must be at least two dealers making a market in such securities. After purchase, the Board of Directors of DFAIDG or DIG, as applicable, and the Advisor will continue to monitor the liquidity of Rule 144A securities.

For purposes of the investment limitations described in (9) above, management does not consider securities that are issued by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities to be investments in an “industry.” However, management currently considers securities issued by a foreign government (but not the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities) to be subject to the 25% limitation. Thus, not more than 25% of a Portfolio’s total assets will be invested in securities issued by any one foreign government or supranational organization. A Portfolio might invest in certain securities issued by companies in a particular industry whose obligations are guaranteed by a foreign government. Management could consider such a company to be within the particular industry and, therefore, the Portfolio will invest in the securities of such a company only if the Portfolio can do so under the Portfolio’s policy of not being concentrated in any single industry.

 

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Notwithstanding any of the above investment limitations, the Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund may establish subsidiaries or other similar vehicles for the purpose of conducting their investment operations if such subsidiaries or vehicles are required by local laws or regulations governing foreign investors or whose use is otherwise considered by such Funds to be advisable. The Fund would “look through” any such vehicle or subsidiary to determine compliance with its investment restrictions.

Unless otherwise indicated, all limitations applicable to the Portfolios’ and Master Funds’ investments apply only at the time that a transaction is undertaken.

FUTURES CONTRACTS

Please note that while the following discussion relates to the policies of certain Portfolios with respect to futures contracts, it should be understood that with respect to a Feeder Portfolio, the discussion applies to the Feeder Portfolio and to the Master Fund in which the Feeder Portfolio invests substantially all of its assets and, with respect to the Allocation Portfolios, the Underlying Funds.

All Portfolios and Underlying Funds, except the Global Equity Portfolio, Global 60/40 Portfolio, Global 25/75 Portfolio, DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Five-Year Government Portfolio and DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio, may enter into futures contracts and options on futures contracts. Such Portfolios may enter into futures contracts and options on future contracts to gain market exposure on the Portfolio’s uninvested cash pending investments in securities and to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of defined securities at a specified future time and at a specified price. Futures contracts that are standardized as to maturity date and underlying financial instrument are traded on national futures exchanges. Each Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund will be required to make a margin deposit in cash or government securities with a futures commission merchant (an “FCM”) to initiate and maintain positions in futures contracts. Minimal initial margin requirements are established by the futures exchanges and FCMs may establish margin requirements which are higher than the exchange requirements. After a futures contract position is opened, the value of the contract is marked to market daily. If the futures contract price changes to the extent that the margin on deposit does not satisfy margin requirements, payment of additional “variation” margin to be held by the FCM will be required. Conversely, a reduction in the required margin would result in a repayment of excess margin to the custodial accounts of the Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund. Variation margin payments may be made to and from the futures broker for as long as the contract remains open. Each Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund expects to earn income on its margin deposits. Each Master Fund, Underlying Fund and Portfolio intends to limit its futures-related investment activity so that other than with respect to bona fide hedging activity (as defined in Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) General Regulations Section 1.3(z)): (i) the aggregate initial margin and premiums paid to establish commodity futures and commodity option contract positions (determined at the time the most recent position was established) does not exceed 5% of the liquidation value of the portfolio of the Master Fund, Underlying Fund or Portfolio, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such contracts it has entered into (provided that, in the case of an option that is in-the-money at the time of purchase, the in-the-money amount may be excluded in calculating such 5% limitation); or (ii) the aggregate net “notional value” (i.e., the size of a commodity futures or commodity option contract in contract units (taking into account any multiplier specified in the contract), multiplied by the current market price (for a futures contract) or strike price (for an option contract) of each such unit) of all non-hedge commodity futures and commodity option contracts that the Master Fund, Underlying Fund or Portfolio has entered into (determined at the time the most recent position was established) does not exceed the liquidation value of the portfolio of the Master Fund, Underlying Fund or Portfolio, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such contracts that the Master Fund, Underlying Fund or Portfolio has entered into.

Positions in futures contracts may be closed out only on an exchange that provides a secondary market. However, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular futures contract at any specific time. Therefore, it might not be possible to close a futures position and, in the event of adverse price movements, the Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund would continue to be required to make variation margin deposits. In such circumstances, if the Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund has insufficient cash, it might have to sell portfolio securities to meet daily margin requirements at a time when it might be disadvantageous to do

 

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so. Management intends to minimize the possibility that it will be unable to close out a futures contract by only entering into futures which are traded on national futures exchanges and for which there appears to be a liquid secondary market. Pursuant to published positions of the SEC and interpretations of the staff of the SEC, a Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund (or its custodian) is required to maintain segregated accounts or to segregate assets through notations on the books of the custodian, consisting of liquid assets (or, as permitted under applicable interpretations, enter into offsetting positions) in connection with its futures contract transactions in order to cover its obligations with respect to such contracts. These requirements are designed to limit the amount of leverage that a Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund may use by entering into futures transactions.

FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

The International Equity Master Funds and Portfolios may acquire and sell forward foreign currency exchange contracts in order to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency exchange rates. The Portfolios and Master Funds will conduct their foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies. A forward foreign currency exchange contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days (usually less than one year) from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts are traded in the interbank market conducted directly between traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. A forward contract generally has no deposit requirement, and no commissions are charged at any stage for trades. Although foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference (the spread) between the price at which they are buying and selling various currencies.

With respect to an International Equity Portfolio or Master Fund, the Portfolio or Master Fund may enter into a forward contract in connection with the purchase or sale of foreign equity securities, typically to “lock in” the value of the transaction with respect to a different currency. In addition, a Portfolio or Master Fund may, from time to time, enter into a forward contract to transfer balances from one currency to another currency.

A Series or Portfolio may enter into a forward contract to buy or sell the amount of foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of the portfolio securities quoted or denominated in such foreign currency. The precise matching of the forward contract amounts and the value of the securities involved will not generally be possible since the future value of such securities in foreign currencies will change as a consequence of market movements in the value of those securities between the date the forward contract is entered into and the date it expires.

CASH MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

All non-Feeder Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds engage in cash management practices in order to earn income on uncommitted cash balances. Generally, cash is uncommitted pending investment in other securities, payment of redemptions or in other circumstances where the Advisor believes liquidity is necessary or desirable. For example, in the case of the Emerging Markets Value Fund, cash investments may be made for temporary defensive purposes during periods in which market, economic or political conditions warrant.

All the non-Feeder Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds may invest cash in short-term repurchase agreements. In addition, the following cash investments are permissible:

 

Portfolios and Master Funds               Permissible Cash Investments*   

Percentage

Guidelines**

    

        
U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio   High quality, highly liquid fixed income securities, such as money market instruments; index futures contracts and options thereon; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    20%

    

        

 

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Portfolios and Master Funds                Permissible Cash Investments*   

Percentage

Guidelines**

U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio and U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio    High quality, highly liquid fixed income securities, such as money market instruments; index futures contracts and options thereon; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    20%
              
DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio    Fixed income obligations, such as money market instruments; index futures contracts and options thereon; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    20%
              
DFA International Value Portfolio and Master Fund    Fixed income obligations, such as money market instruments; index futures contracts and options thereon; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    20%
              
International Core Equity Portfolio    High quality, highly liquid fixed income securities, such as money market instruments; index futures contracts and options thereon; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    20%
              
Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund    Money market instruments; highly liquid debt securities; freely convertible currencies; index futures contracts and options thereon; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    10%
              
Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio    Money market instruments; highly liquid debt securities; freely convertible currencies; index futures contracts and options thereon; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    20%
              
DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio    Short-term repurchase agreements; affiliated and unaffiliated registered or unregistered money market funds***    N.A.
              
DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio    Money market instruments; debt; freely convertible currencies; shares of affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds; index futures contracts, and options thereon.***    20%
              
DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio    Short-term repurchase agreements; money market instruments; investment-grade debt securities; freely convertible currencies; shares of affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds; index futures contracts, and options thereon.***    20%
              
DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio    Short-term repurchase agreements; short-term government fixed income obligations; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds, including government money market funds***    N.A.
              

Global Equity Portfolio

Global 60/40 Portfolio

Global 25/75 Portfolio

   U.S. government securities, repurchase agreements and short-term paper; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    5%
*

With respect to fixed income instruments, except in connection with corporate actions, the non-Feeder Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds will invest in fixed income instruments that at the time of purchase have an investment grade rating by a rating agency or are deemed to be investment grade by the Advisor.

 

**

The percentage guidelines set forth above are not absolute limitations, but the non-Feeder Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds do not expect to exceed these guidelines under normal circumstances.

 

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*** Investments in money market mutual funds may involve duplication of certain fees and expenses.

CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES

Each of the International Equity Portfolios, International Equity Master Funds and International Equity Underlying Funds may invest up to 5% of its assets in convertible debentures issued by non-U.S. companies located in the countries where such Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund is permitted to invest. Convertible debentures include corporate bonds and notes that may be converted into or exchanged for common stock. These securities are generally convertible either at a stated price or a stated rate (that is, for a specific number of shares of common stock or other security). As with other fixed income securities, the price of a convertible debenture to some extent varies inversely with interest rates. While providing a fixed income stream (generally higher in yield than the income derived from a common stock but lower than that afforded by a nonconvertible debenture), a convertible debenture also affords the investor an opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation of the common stock into which it is convertible. As the market price of the underlying common stock declines, convertible debentures tend to trade increasingly on a yield basis and so may not experience market value declines to the same extent as the underlying common stock. When the market price of the underlying common stock increases, the price of a convertible debenture tends to rise as a reflection of the value of the underlying common stock. To obtain such a higher yield, a Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund may be required to pay for a convertible debenture an amount in excess of the value of the underlying common stock. Common stock acquired by a Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund upon conversion of a convertible debenture will generally be held for as long as the Advisor anticipates such stock will provide the Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund with opportunities which are consistent with its investment objective and policies.

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

The following non-Feeder Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds may also invest in Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the equity markets while maintaining liquidity:

U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio

U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio

DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio

DFA International Value Portfolio

International Core Equity Portfolio

Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund

An ETF is an investment company whose goal is to track or replicate a desired index, such as a sector, market or global segment. ETFs are passively managed, and traded similar to a publicly traded company. The risks and costs of investing in ETFs are comparable to investing in a publicly traded company. The goal of an ETF is to correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of its underlying index. The risk of not correlating to the index is an additional risk to the investors of ETFs. When a Portfolio invests in an ETF, shareholders of the Portfolio bear their proportionate share of the underlying ETF’s fees and expenses.

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATES

Generally, securities will be purchased by the Equity Portfolios, Equity Master Funds and Equity Underlying Funds with the expectation that they will be held for longer than one year. The One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio, the Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio, the DFA Five-Year Government Portfolio, the DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio and the Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio are expected to have high portfolio turnover rates due to the relatively short maturities of the securities to be acquired. The portfolio turnover rate for the DFA Five-Year Government Portfolio has varied from year to year due to market and other conditions. In addition, variations in turnover rates occur because securities are sold when, in the Advisor’s judgment, the return will be increased as a result of portfolio transactions after taking into account the cost of trading.

 

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ADDITIONAL POLICIES OF THE UNDERLYING FUNDS OF THE ALLOCATION PORTFOLIOS

Domestic Equity Underlying Funds

DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio – The DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio, using a market capitalization weighted approach, purchases readily marketable equity securities of companies whose principal activities include development, ownership, construction, management, or sale of residential, commercial or industrial real estate. The Portfolio will principally invest in equity securities of companies in certain real estate investment trusts and companies engaged in residential construction and firms, except partnerships, whose principal business is to develop commercial property. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of the U.S. real estate company, the greater its representation in the Portfolio. The Advisor may adjust market capitalization weights after considering such factors as momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions. The DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio will purchase shares of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).

U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio – The U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio purchases a broad and diverse group of common stocks of U.S. companies with a greater emphasis on small capitalization and value companies as compared to their representation in the U.S. Universe. The Advisor generally defines the U.S. Universe as a market capitalization weighted portfolio of U.S. operating companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), NYSE Alternext US LLC or Nasdaq Global Market® and such other U.S. national securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor. The Portfolio’s increased exposure to small and value companies may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to the largest U.S. growth companies relative to their weight in the U.S. Universe, which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization.

U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio – The U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio purchases a broad and diverse group of common stocks of U.S. companies with a greater emphasis on small capitalization and value companies as compared to their representation in the U.S. Universe. The Advisor generally defines the U.S. Universe as a market capitalization weighted portfolio of U.S. operating companies listed on the NYSE, NYSE Alternext US LLC or Nasdaq Global Market® and such other U.S. national securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor. The Portfolio’s increased exposure to small and value companies may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to the largest U.S. growth companies relative to their weight in the U.S. Universe, which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization.

International Equity Underlying Funds

International Core Equity Portfolio – The International Core Equity Portfolio purchases a broad and diverse group of stocks of non-U.S. companies in developed markets with a greater emphasis on small capitalization and value companies as compared to their representation in the International Universe. For purposes of this Portfolio, the Advisor defines the International Universe as a market capitalization weighted portfolio of non-U.S. companies in developed markets that have been authorized as approved markets for investment by the Advisor’s Investment Committee. The Portfolio’s increased exposure to small capitalization and value companies may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the International Core Equity Portfolio’s assets to the largest growth companies relative to their weight in the International Universe, which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization.

 

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The International Core Equity Portfolio intends to purchase stocks of companies associated with developed market countries that the Advisor has designated as approved markets. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the International Core Equity Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities. The Advisor determines company size on a country or region specific basis and based primarily on market capitalization. The percentage allocation of the assets of the International Core Equity Portfolio to securities of the largest growth companies as defined above will generally be reduced from between 5% and 35% of their percentage weight in the International Universe. As of December 31, 2010, securities of the largest growth companies in the International Universe comprised approximately 16% of the International Universe and the Advisor allocated approximately 4% of the International Core Equity Portfolio to securities of the largest growth companies in the International Universe. The percentage by which the Portfolio’s allocation to securities of the largest growth companies is reduced will fluctuate with market movements and other factors. Additionally, the range by which the International Core Equity Portfolio’s percentage allocation to the securities of the largest growth companies is reduced as compared to the International Universe will change from time to time. The Advisor determines company size on a country or region specific basis and based primarily on market capitalization.

Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio - The Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio purchases a broad and diverse group of securities associated with emerging markets, including frontier markets, authorized for investment by the Advisor’s Investment Committee, with an increased exposure to securities of small cap issuers and securities that it considers to be value securities. In assessing value, the Advisor may consider factors such as the issuer’s securities having a high book value in relation to their market value, as well as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios. The criteria the Advisor uses for assessing value are subject to change from time to time.

Fixed Income Underlying Funds

DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio – The DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio (the “Two-Year Global Portfolio”) seeks to maximize risk-adjusted total returns from a universe of U.S. and foreign debt securities maturing in two years or less. The Two-Year Global Portfolio invests in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, corporate debt obligations, bank obligations, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, obligations of other domestic and foreign issuers, securities of domestic or foreign issuers denominated in U.S. dollars but not trading in the United States, and obligations of supranational organizations. At the present time, the Advisor expects that most investments will be made in the obligations of issuers which are in developed countries, such as those countries which are members of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (“OECD”). However, in the future, the Advisor anticipates investing in issuers located in other countries as well. The fixed income securities in which the Two-Year Global Portfolio invests are considered investment grade at the time of purchase. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio intends to invest its assets in issuers organized or having a majority of their assets in, or deriving a majority of their operating income in, at least three different countries, one of which may be the United States. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities that mature within two years from the date of settlement.

It is the policy of the Two-Year Global Portfolio that the weighted average length of maturity of investments will not exceed two years. However, investments may be made in obligations maturing in a shorter time period (from overnight, to up to two years from the date of settlement). Because many of the Portfolio’s investments will be denominated in foreign currencies, the Portfolio will also enter into forward foreign currency contracts to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency rates, to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or to transfer balances from one currency to another. The Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

The Two-Year Global Portfolio may concentrate its investments in obligations of U.S. and foreign banks and bank holding companies. The Portfolio will concentrate its assets (invest more than 25% of its total assets) in obligations of U.S. and/or foreign banks and bank holding companies (“banking industry securities”) when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking industry securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group generally for a period of five consecutive days when

 

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the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. See the section entitled “Investments in the Banking Industry by certain Fixed Income Underlying Funds” below for additional information.

DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio – The DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio (the “Five-Year Global Portfolio”) seeks to achieve its investment objectives by generally investing in a universe of U.S. and foreign debt securities maturing in five years or less. The Five-Year Global Portfolio primarily invests in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, obligations of other foreign issuers rated AA or better, corporate debt obligations, bank obligations, commercial paper, and supranational organizations. At the present time, the Advisor expects that most investments will be made in the obligations of issuers which are in developed countries, such as those countries which are members of the OECD. However, in the future, the Advisor anticipates investing in issuers located in other countries as well. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio intends to invest its assets in issuers organized or having a majority of their assets in, or deriving a majority of their operating income in, at least three different countries, one of which may be the United States. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities that mature within five years from the date of settlement.

It is the policy of the Five-Year Global Portfolio that the weighted average length of maturity of investments will not exceed five years. However, investments may be made in obligations maturing in a shorter time period (from overnight, to up to five years from the date of settlement). The Portfolio is authorized to invest more than 25% of its total assets in U.S. Treasury bonds, bills and notes and obligations of federal agencies and instrumentalities. Because many of the Portfolio’s investments will be denominated in foreign currencies, the Portfolio will also enter into forward foreign currency contracts to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency rates, to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or to transfer balances from one currency to another. The Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio – The DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio (the “Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio”) seeks to maximize total returns from a universe of U.S. and foreign debt securities maturing in two years or less. The Portfolio may selectively hedge its foreign currency risks depending on market conditions. The debt securities in which the Portfolio may invest include obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, corporate debt obligations, bank obligations, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, obligations of other domestic and foreign issuers, securities of domestic or foreign issuers denominated in U.S. dollars but not trading in the United States, and obligations of supranational organizations. At the present time, the Advisor expects that most investments will be made in the obligations of issuers that are located in developed countries, such as those countries which are members of the OECD. However, in the future, the Advisor anticipates investing in issuers located in other countries as well. The fixed income securities in which the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio invests are considered investment grade at the time of purchase. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio intends to invest its assets in issuers organized or having a majority of their assets in, or deriving a majority of their operating income in, at least three different countries, one of which may be the United States.

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities. It is the policy of the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio that the weighted average length of maturity of its investments will not exceed two years. However, investments may be made in obligations maturing in a shorter time period (from overnight, to up to two years from the date of settlement).

Because many of the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio’s investments may be denominated in foreign currencies, the Portfolio may hedge the currency exposure of the foreign securities by entering into foreign forward currency contracts, or leave some or all of the currency exposure unhedged, to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency rates, to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or to transfer balances from one currency to another. The decision to hedge the Portfolio’s currency exposure with respect to a foreign market will be based on, among other things, a comparison of the respective foreign and U.S. short-term interest rates and the Portfolio’s existing exposure to a given foreign currency. The Portfolio may use derivatives, such as

 

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futures contracts and options on futures contracts, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

The Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio may concentrate its investments in obligations of U.S. and foreign banks and bank holding companies. The Portfolio will concentrate its assets (invest more than 25% of its total assets) in obligations of U.S. and/or foreign banks and bank holding companies (“banking industry securities”) when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking industry securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group generally for a period of five consecutive days when the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. See the section entitled “Investments in the Banking Industry by certain Fixed Income Underlying Funds” below for additional information.

DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio – The DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio (the “Inflation-Protected Portfolio”) seeks its investment objective by investing in a universe of inflation-protected securities that are structured to provide returns that at least keep up with the rate of inflation over the long-term. The Inflation-Protected Portfolio ordinarily invests in inflation-protected securities issued by the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities and the credit quality such inflation protected securities will be that of such applicable U.S. government agency or instrumentality issuer.

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in inflation-protected securities. Inflation-protected securities (also known as inflation-indexed securities) are securities whose principal and/or interest payments are adjusted for inflation, unlike conventional debt securities that make fixed principal and interest payments. Inflation-protected securities include Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (“TIPS”), which are securities issued by the U.S. Treasury. The principal value of TIPS is adjusted for inflation (payable at maturity) and the semi-annual interest payments by TIPS equal a fixed percentage of the inflation-adjusted principal amount. These inflation adjustments are based upon the Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (CPI-U). The original principal value of TIPS is guaranteed, even during periods of deflation. At maturity, TIPS are redeemed at the greater of their inflation-adjusted principal or par amount at original issue. Other types of inflation-protected securities may use other methods to adjust for inflation and other measures of inflation. In addition, inflation-protected securities issued by entities other than the U.S. Treasury may not provide a guarantee of principal value at maturity.

Generally, the Inflation-Protected Portfolio will purchase inflation-protected securities with maturities of between five and twenty years from the date of settlement, although it is anticipated that, at times, the Portfolio will purchase securities outside of this range. The Portfolio ordinarily will have an average weighted maturity, based upon market values, of between three to twelve years.

The Inflation-Protected Portfolio is authorized to invest more than 25% of its total assets in Treasury bonds, bills and notes and obligations of U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities. The Portfolio will not shift the maturity of its investments in anticipation of interest rate movements.

DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio – The Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio seeks to maximize total returns from a universe of U.S. and foreign corporate debt securities with an investment grade credit rating. The Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio invests with an emphasis on a universe of U.S. and foreign corporate debt securities the Advisor considers to be of extended quality as they are rated in the lower half of the investment grade spectrum (i.e., rated BBB- to A+ by Standard & Poor’s Rating Group (“S&P”) or Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”) or Baa3 to A1 by Moody’s Investor’s Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”)). The Portfolio will not emphasize investments in the lower half of the investment grade spectrum, however, when the Advisor believes the credit risk premium does not warrant the investment. The Portfolio will also invest in higher-rated corporate debt securities, obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, bank obligations, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, obligations of other domestic and foreign issuers having investment grade ratings, securities of domestic or foreign issuers denominated in U.S. dollars but not trading in the United States, and obligations of supranational organizations. At the present time, the Advisor expects that most investments will be made in the obligations of issuers that are located in developed countries, such as those countries which are members of the OECD. However, in the future, the Advisor anticipates investing in issuers located in other countries as well.

 

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The Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio primarily invests in securities that mature within five years from the date of settlement and maintains an average portfolio duration of three years or less. Duration is a measure of the expected life of a fixed income security that is used to determine the sensitivity of a security’s price to changes in interest rates. The longer a security’s duration, the more sensitive it will be to changes in interest rates. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities considered to be investment grade quality.

The Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio’s investments may include foreign securities denominated in foreign currencies. The Portfolio intends to hedge any foreign currency exposure to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency rates. The Portfolio may enter into foreign forward currency contracts to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or to transfer balances from one currency to another. The Portfolio also may enter into credit default swaps on issuers or indices to buy or sell credit protection to hedge its credit exposure; gain market or issuer exposure without owning the underlying securities; or increase the Portfolio’s total return. The Portfolio also may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts, for non-hedging purposes as a substitute for direct investment or to allow the Portfolio to remain fully invested while maintaining the liquidity required to pay redemptions.

The Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio may concentrate its investments in obligations of U.S. and foreign banks and bank holding companies. The Portfolio will concentrate its assets (invest more than 25% of its total assets) in obligations of U.S. and/or foreign banks and bank holding companies (“banking industry securities”) when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking industry securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group generally for a period of five consecutive days when the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. See the section entitled “Investments in the Banking Industry by certain Fixed Income Underlying Funds” below for additional information.

DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio – The DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio seeks to maximize total returns from a universe of U.S. and foreign corporate debt securities with an investment grade credit rating. The Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio invests with an emphasis on a universe of U.S. and foreign corporate debt securities the Advisor considers to be of extended quality as they are rated in the lower half of the investment grade spectrum (i.e., rated BBB- to A+ by S&P or Fitch or Baa3 to A1 by Moody’s. The Portfolio will not emphasize investments in the lower half of the investment grade spectrum, however, when the Advisor believes the credit risk premium does not warrant the investment. The Portfolio will also invest in higher-rated corporate debt securities, obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, bank obligations, repurchase agreements, obligations of other domestic and foreign issuers having investment grade ratings, securities of domestic or foreign issuers denominated in U.S. dollars but not trading in the United States, and obligations of supranational organizations. At the present time, the Advisor expects that most investments will be made in the obligations of issuers that are located in developed countries, such as those countries which are members of OECD. However, in the future, the Advisor anticipates investing in issuers located in other countries as well.

The Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio primarily invests in securities that mature within three to fifteen years from the date of settlement and maintains an average dollar-weighted portfolio duration of between three and ten years. Duration is a measure of the expected life of a fixed income security that is used to determine the sensitivity of a security’s price to changes in interest rates. The longer a security’s duration, the more sensitive it will be to changes in interest rates. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities considered to be investment grade quality.

The Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio’s investments may include foreign securities denominated in foreign currencies. The Portfolio intends to hedge foreign currency exposure to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency rates. The Portfolio may enter into foreign forward currency contracts to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or to transfer balances from one currency to another. The Portfolio also may enter into credit default swaps on issuers or indices to buy or sell credit protection to hedge its credit exposure; gain market or issuer exposure without owning the underlying securities; or increase the Portfolio’s total return. The Portfolio also may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts, for non-hedging purposes as a substitute for direct investment or to allow the Portfolio to remain fully invested while maintaining the liquidity required to pay redemptions.

 

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The Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio may concentrate its investments in obligations of U.S. and foreign banks and bank holding companies. The Portfolio will concentrate its assets (invest more than 25% of its total assets) in obligations of U.S. and/or foreign banks and bank holding companies (“banking industry securities”) when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking industry securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group generally for a period of five consecutive days when the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. See the section entitled “Investments in the Banking Industry by Certain Fixed Income Underlying Funds in the Portfolio’s prospectus for additional information.

Description of Investments of the Fixed Income Underlying Funds

The following is a description of the categories of investments, which may be acquired by the Fixed Income Underlying Funds.

 

    

Permissible Categories:

 

Two-Year Global Portfolio

     1-11           

Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio

     1-11           

Five-Year Global Portfolio

     1-11           

Inflation-Protected Portfolio

     1,2,6,11           

Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio

     1,2,4,6-8,10-14           

Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio

     1,2,4,6-8,10-12,14           

1.  U.S. Government Obligations—Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury which are direct obligations of the U.S. government, including bills, notes and bonds.

2.    U.S. Government Agency Obligations—Issued or guaranteed by U.S. government-sponsored instrumentalities and federal agencies, which have different levels of credit support. The U.S. government agency obligations include, but are not limited to, securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States, such as the Federal Housing Administration and Ginnie Mae, including Ginnie Mae pass-through certificates. Other securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities sponsored by the U.S. government may be supported only by the issuer’s right to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, subject to certain limits, such as securities issued by Federal Home Loan Banks, or are supported only by the credit of such agencies, such as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

3.    Corporate Debt Obligations—Nonconvertible corporate debt securities (e.g., bonds and debentures), which are issued by companies whose commercial paper is rated Prime1 by Moody’s or A1 or better by S&P or F1 or better by Fitch and dollar-denominated obligations of foreign issuers issued in the U.S. If the issuer’s commercial paper is unrated, then the debt security would have to be rated at least AA by S&P or Aa2 by Moody’s or AA by Fitch. If there is neither a commercial paper rating nor a rating of the debt security, then the Advisor must determine that the debt security is of comparable quality to equivalent issues of the same issuer rated at least AA or Aa2.

4.  Bank Obligations—Obligations of U.S. banks and savings and loan associations and dollar-denominated obligations of U.S. subsidiaries and branches of foreign banks, such as certificates of deposit (including marketable variable rate certificates of deposit), time deposits and bankers’ acceptances. Bank certificates of deposit will only be acquired from banks having assets in excess of $1,000,000,000.

5.  Commercial Paper—Rated, at the time of purchase, A1 or better by S&P or Prime1 by Moody’s, or F1 or better by Fitch or, if unrated, issued by a corporation having an outstanding unsecured debt issue rated Aaa by Moody’s or AAA by S&P or AAA by Fitch.

6.    Repurchase Agreements—Instruments through which the Fixed Income Underlying Funds purchase securities (“underlying securities”) from a bank or a registered U.S. government securities dealer, with an agreement by the seller to repurchase the securities at an agreed price, plus interest at a specified rate. The underlying securities will be limited to U.S. government and agency obligations described in (1) and (2) above. The Fixed Income Underlying Funds will not enter into a repurchase agreement with a duration of more than seven days if, as a result,

 

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more than 10% of the value of the Fixed Income Underlying Fund’s total assets would be so invested. In addition, a repurchase agreement with a duration of more than seven days will be subject to a Fixed Income Underlying Fund’s illiquid securities policy. The Fixed Income Underlying Funds also will only invest in repurchase agreements with a bank if the bank has at least $1,000,000,000 in assets and is approved by the Investment Committee of the Advisor. The Advisor will monitor the market value of the securities plus any accrued interest thereon so that they will at least equal the repurchase price.

7.    Foreign Government and Agency Obligations—Bills, notes, bonds and other debt securities issued or guaranteed by foreign governments, or their agencies and instrumentalities.

8.    Supranational Organization Obligations—Debt securities of supranational organizations such as the European Coal and Steel Community, the European Economic Community and the World Bank, which are chartered to promote economic development.

9.    Foreign Issuer Obligations—Debt securities of non-U.S. issuers rated AA or better by S&P or Aa2 or better by Moody’s or AA or better by Fitch.

10.    Eurodollar Obligations—Debt securities of domestic or foreign issuers denominated in U.S. dollars but not trading in the United States.

11.  Money Market Funds—The Fixed Income Underlying Funds may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

12.  Corporate Debt ObligationsShort-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio—Nonconvertible corporate debt securities (e.g., bonds and debentures), which have received an investment grade rating by Moody’s, Fitch, S&P or, if unrated, have been determined by the Advisor to be of comparable quality.

13.  Commercial Paper—Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio—Rated, at the time of purchase, A3 or better by S&P or Prime3 or better by Moody’s, or F3 or better by Fitch or, if unrated, issued by a corporation having an outstanding unsecured debt issue rated at least Baa3 by Moody’s or BBB-by S&P or Fitch.

14.  Foreign Issuer Obligations—Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio—Debt securities of non-U.S. issuers that have received a rating of BBB-or better by S&P or Fitch or Baa3 or better by Moody’s, or, if unrated, have been determined by the Advisor to be of comparable quality.

The categories of investments that may be acquired by each of the Fixed Income Underlying may include both fixed and floating rate securities. Floating rate securities bear interest at rates that vary with prevailing market rates. Interest rate adjustments are made periodically (e.g., every six months), usually based on a money market index such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) or the Treasury bill rate.

Investments in the Banking Industry by certain Fixed Income Underlying Funds

The Two-Year Global Portfolio, Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio will invest more than 25% of their total respective assets in obligations of U.S. and foreign banks and bank holding companies (“banking industry securities”) when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking industry securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group generally for a period of five consecutive days when the NYSE is open for trading. For purposes of this policy, the Advisor considers eligible portfolio investments to be those securities that are on the Advisor’s then current buy list that are available for purchase. This policy can only be changed by a vote of shareholders. When investment in such obligations exceeds 25% of the total net assets of

 

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sany of these Portfolios such Portfolio will be considered to be concentrating its investments in the banking industry. Once the Two-Year Global Portfolio, Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio or Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio or Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio concentrates its investments in the banking industry, the Portfolio may remain concentrated in the banking industry until the purchase of new investments in the normal course of executing the Portfolio’s investment strategy result in less than 25% of the Portfolio’s total assets consisting of banking industry securities.

The types of bank and bank holding company obligations in which the Two-Year Global Portfolio, Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio, Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio may invest include: dollar-denominated certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, commercial paper and other debt obligations issued in the United States provided such obligations meet each Portfolio’s established credit rating criteria as stated under “Description of Investments of the Fixed Income Underlying Funds.” In addition, the Two-Year Global Portfolio, Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio, Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio are authorized to invest more than 25% of their total assets in Treasury bonds, bills and notes and obligations of federal agencies and instrumentalities. The Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio, Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio Portfolio may also invest in non-dollar denominated certificates.

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Directors

Organization of the Board

The Board of Directors of each Fund (each a “Board”) is responsible for establishing the Funds policies and for overseeing the management of each Fund. The Board of Directors elects the officers of each Fund, who, along with third party service providers, are responsible for administering the day-to-day operations of the Fund. The Board of Directors of each Fund is comprised of two interested Directors and six disinterested Directors. David G. Booth, an interested Director, is Chairman of each Board. Each Board has not found it necessary to appoint a lead disinterested Director because it believes that the existing structure of each Board allows for effective communication among the disinterested Directors, between the disinterested Directors and interested Directors, as well as between the disinterested Directors and management. The existing Board structure for each Fund also provides the disinterested Directors with adequate influence over the governance of the Board and each Fund, while also providing the Board with the invaluable insight of the two interested Directors, who, as both officers of the Fund and the Advisor, participate in the day-to-day management of each Fund’s affairs, including risk management.

The agenda for each quarterly meeting of the Board is provided at least two weeks prior to the meeting to the disinterested Directors in order to provide the Directors with the opportunity to contact Fund management and/or the disinterested Directors’ independent counsel regarding agenda items. In addition, the disinterested Directors regularly communicate with Mr. Booth regarding items of interest to them in between regularly scheduled meetings of the Board. The Board of each Fund meets in person at least four times each year and by telephone at other times. At each in-person meeting, the disinterested Directors meet in executive session with their independent counsel to discuss matters outside the presence of management.

Each Board has three standing committees, an Audit Committee, a Nominating Committee and a Portfolio Performance and Service Review Committee (“Performance Committee”) that are composed entirely of disinterested Directors. As described below, through these Committees, the disinterested Directors have direct oversight of each Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies, the selection and nomination of candidates to each Fund’s Board and the review of the investment performance of the series of each Fund and the performance of each Fund’s service providers.

Each Board’s Audit Committee is comprised of George M. Constantinides, Roger G. Ibbotson and Abbie J. Smith. The Audit Committee for each Board oversees the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies and practices, each Fund’s internal controls, each Fund’s financial statements and the independent audits thereof and performs other oversight functions as requested by each Board. The Audit Committee for each Board recommends

 

16


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the appointment of each Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and also acts as a liaison between each Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and the full Board. There were two Audit Committee meetings held for each Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

Each Board’s Nominating Committee is comprised of George M. Constantinides, John P. Gould, Roger G. Ibbotson, Myron S. Scholes, Edward P. Lazear and Abbie J. Smith. The Nominating Committee for each Board makes recommendations for nominations of disinterested and interested members on the Board to the disinterested Board members and to the full board. The Nominating Committee of each Board evaluates a candidate’s qualification for Board membership and the independence of such candidate from the Advisor and other principal service providers. There were three Nominating Committee meetings held for each Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

Each Board’s Performance Committee is comprised of George M. Constantinides, Roger G. Ibbotson, Abbie J. Smith, Edward P. Lazear, John P. Gould and Myron S. Scholes. The Performance Committee regularly reviews and monitors the investment performance of each Fund’s series, including the Portfolios, and reviews the performance of each Fund’s service providers. There were seven Performance Committee meetings held for each Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

In addition to the Audit Committee, Nominating Committee and Performance Committee, each Board has an Investment Review Committee that assists the Board in carrying out its fiduciary duties with respect to the oversight of a Fund and its performance (the “Review Committee”). The Review Committee consists of both interested and disinterested Directors. The Review Committee is comprised of John P. Gould, Edward P. Lazear, Myron S. Scholes and Eduardo A. Repetto. At the request of a Board or the Advisor, the Review Committee (i) reviews the design of possible new series of the Fund, (ii) reviews performance of existing Portfolios of the Fund, and discusses and recommends possible enhancements to the Portfolios’ investment strategies, (iii) reviews proposals by the Advisor to modify or enhance the investment strategies or policies of each Portfolio, and (iv) considers issues relating to investment services for each Portfolio of the Fund. The Review Committee was formed on December 17, 2010. Consequently, there were no Review Committee meetings held for a Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

The Board of each Fund, including all of the disinterested Directors, oversees and approves the contracts of the third party service providers that provide advisory, administrative, custodial and other services to the Fund.

Board Oversight of Risk Management

The Board of each Fund, as a whole, considers risk management issues as part of its general oversight responsibilities throughout the year at regular board meetings, through regular reports that have been developed by Fund management and the Advisor. These reports address certain investment, valuation and compliance matters. The Board also may receive special written reports or presentations on a variety of risk issues, either upon the Board’s request or upon the initiative of the Advisor. In addition, the Audit Committee of the Board meets regularly with management of the Advisor to review reports on the Advisor’s examinations of functions and processes that affect each Fund.

With respect to investment risk, the Board receives regular written reports describing and analyzing the investment performance of each Fund’s portfolios. The Board discusses these reports and the portfolios’ performance and investment risks with management of the Advisor at the Board’s regular meetings. The Investment Committee of the Advisor meets regularly to discuss a variety of issues, including the impact that the investment in particular securities or instruments, such as derivatives, may have on the portfolios. To the extent that the Investment Committee of the Advisor decides to materially change an investment strategy or policy of a portfolio and such change could have a significant impact on the portfolio’s risk profile, the Advisor will present such change to the Board for their approval.

With respect to valuation, the Advisor and each Fund’s Administrative and Accounting Agent provide regular written reports to the Board that enables the Board to review fair valued securities in a particular portfolio. Such reports also include information concerning illiquid and any worthless securities held by each portfolio. In addition, each Fund’s Audit Committee reviews valuation procedures and pricing results with the Fund’s

 

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independent registered public accounting firm in connection with such Committee’s review of the results of the audit of each portfolio’s year-end financial statements.

With respect to compliance risks, the Board receives regular compliance reports prepared by the Advisor’s compliance group and meets regularly with each Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) to discuss compliance issues, including compliance risks. As required under SEC rules, the disinterested Directors meet at least quarterly in executive session with the CCO, and each Fund’s CCO prepares and presents an annual written compliance report to the Board. Each Fund’s Board adopts compliance policies and procedures for the Fund and receives information about the compliance procedures in place for the Fund’s service providers. The compliance policies and procedures are specifically designed to detect and prevent violations of the federal securities laws.

The Advisor periodically provides information to the Board relevant to enterprise risk management describing the way in which certain risks are managed at the complex-wide level by the Advisor. Such presentations include areas such as counter-party risk, material fund vendor or service provider risk, investment risk, reputational risk, personnel risk and business continuity risk.

Director Qualifications

When a vacancy occurs on the Board, the Nominating Committee of the Board evaluates a candidate’s qualification for Board membership and the independence of such candidate from the Advisor and other principal service providers. The Nominating Committee will consider nominees recommended by Qualifying Fund Shareholders if a vacancy occurs among Board members. A Qualifying Fund Shareholder is a shareholder, or group of shareholders, that: (i) owns of record, or beneficially through a financial intermediary, 5% or more of a Fund’s outstanding shares, and (ii) has owned such shares for 12 months or more prior to submitting the recommendation to the Committee. Such recommendations shall be directed to the Secretary of [a Fund] at 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, Texas 78746. The Qualifying Fund Shareholder’s letter should include: (i) the name and address of the Qualifying Fund Shareholder making the recommendation; (ii) the number of shares of each Portfolio of a Fund that are owned of record and beneficially by such Qualifying Fund Shareholder, and the length of time that such shares have been so owned by the Qualifying Fund Shareholder; (iii) a description of all arrangements and understandings between such Qualifying Fund Shareholder and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the recommendation is being made; (iv) the name and address of the nominee; and (v) the nominee’s resume or curriculum vitae. The Qualifying Fund Shareholder’s letter must be accompanied by a written consent of the individual to stand for election if nominated for the Board and to serve if elected by shareholders. The Committee also may seek such additional information about the nominee as the Committee considers appropriate, including information relating to such nominee that is required to be disclosed in solicitations or proxies for the election of Board members.

The Nominating Committee of the Board of each Fund believes that it is in the best interests of each Fund and its shareholders to obtain highly-qualified individuals to serve as members of the Board. Each Fund’s Board believes that each Director currently serving on the Board has the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills to allow the Board to effectively oversee the management of the Fund and protect the interests of shareholders. Each Board noted that each Director had professional experience in areas of importance for investment companies. The Board considered that each disinterested Director held an academic position in the areas of finance, economics or accounting. The Board also noted that John P. Gould, Myron S. Scholes and Abbie J. Smith each had experience serving as a director on the boards of operating companies and/or other investment companies. In addition, the Board considered that David G. Booth and Eduardo A. Repetto contributed valuable experience due to their positions with the Advisor. Certain biographical information for each disinterested Director and each interested Director of a Fund is set forth in the tables below, including a description of each Director’s experience as a Director of a Fund and as a director or trustee of other funds, as well as other recent professional experience.

 

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Disinterested Directors

 

Name, Address and

Age

   Position   

Term of

Office1

and

Length of

Service

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years   

Portfolios

within the

DFA Fund

Complex2

Overseen

  

Other

Directorships of

Public

Companies Held

During Past 5

Years

George M. Constantinides University of Chicago Booth School of Business

5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

Age: 63

   Director   

DFAIDG–since 1983

DIG–since 1993

   Leo Melamed Professor of Finance, University of Chicago Booth School of Business.    89 portfolios in 4 investment companies    None

John P. Gould

University of Chicago Booth School of Business

5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

Age: 72

   Director   

DFAIDG–since 1986

DIG–since 1993

   Steven G. Rothmeier Distinguished Service Professor of Economics, University of Chicago Booth School of Business (since 1965). Member and Chair, Competitive Markets Advisory Council, Chicago Mercantile Exchange (futures trading exchange) (since 2004). Formerly, Director of UNext Inc. (1999-2006). Formerly, Member of the Board of Milwaukee Insurance Company (1997-2010).    89 portfolios in 4 investment companies   

Trustee, Harbor Funds (registered investment company) (28 Portfolios) (since 1994).

Roger G. Ibbotson

Yale School of Management

P.O. Box 208200

New Haven, CT 06520-8200

Age: 67

   Director   

DFAIDG–since 1981

DIG–since 1993

   Professor in Practice of Finance, Yale School of Management (since 1984). Consultant to Morningstar, Inc. (since 2006). Chairman, CIO and Partner, Zebra Capital Management, LLC (hedge fund and asset manager) (since 2001). Formerly, Chairman, Ibbotson Associates, Inc., Chicago, IL (software, data, publishing and consulting) (1977-2006). Formerly, Director, BIRR Portfolio Analysis, Inc. (software products) (1990-2010).    89 portfolios in 4 investment companies    None

Edward P. Lazear

Stanford University Graduate School of Business

518 Memorial Way Stanford, CA 94305-5015

Age: 63

   Director   

DFAIDG–since 2010

DIG–since 2010

   Morris Arnold Cox Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution (since 2002). Jack Steele Parker Professor of Human Resources Management and Economics, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University (since 1995). Cornerstone Research (expert testimony and economic and financial analysis) (since 2009). Formerly, Chairman of the President George W. Bush’s Council of Economic Advisers (2006- 2009). Council of Economic Advisors, State of California (2005-2006). Commissioner, White House Panel on Tax Reform (2005).    89 portfolios in 4 investment companies    None

Myron S. Scholes

c/o Dimensional Fund Advisors LP

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

Age: 69

   Director   

DFAIDG–since 1981

DIG–since 1993

   Frank E. Buck Professor Emeritus of Finance, Stanford University (since 1981). Formerly, Chairman, Platinum Grove Asset Management L.P. (hedge fund) (formerly, Oak Hill Platinum Partners) (1999-2009). Formerly, Managing Partner, Oak Hill Capital Management (private equity firm) (until 2004).    89 portfolios in 4 investment companies    Director, American Century Fund Complex (registered investment companies) (40 Portfolios) (since 1980). Formerly, Director, Chicago Mercantile Exchange (2001-2008).

 

19


Table of Contents

Name, Address and

Age

   Position   

Term of

Office1

and

Length of

Service

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years   

Portfolios

within the

DFA Fund

Complex2

Overseen

  

Other

Directorships of

Public

Companies Held

During Past 5

Years

Abbie J. Smith

University of Chicago Booth School of Business

5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

Age:57

   Director   

DFAIDG–since 2000

DIG–since 2000

   Boris and Irene Stern Distinguished Service Professor of Accounting, University of Chicago Booth School of Business (since 1980); Co-Director Investment Research, Fundamental Investment Advisors (hedge fund) (since 2008).    89 portfolios in 4 investment companies    Director, HNI Corporation (formerly known as HON Industries Inc.) (office furniture) (since 2000); Director, Ryder System Inc. (transportation, logistics and supply-chain management) (since 2003); and Trustee, UBS Funds (3 investment companies within the fund complex) (52 portfolios) (since 2009).

Interested Directors

The following Interested Directors are described as such because they are deemed to be “interested persons,” as that term is defined under the 1940 Act, due to their positions with the Advisor.

 

Name, Address

and Age

   Position   

Term of

Office1

and

Length of

Service

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years   

Portfolios

within the

DFA Fund

Complex2

Overseen

  

Other Directorships

of Public Companies

Held During Past 5

Years

David G. Booth

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

Age: 64

   Chairman, Director, President and Co-Chief Executive Officer   

DFAIDG–since 1981

DIG–since 1992

   Chairman, Director/Trustee, President, Co-Chief Executive Officer and, formerly, Chief Executive Officer (until 1/1/2010) and Chief Investment Officer (2003 to 3/30/2007) of the following companies: Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, DFA Securities LLC, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund, DFAIDG, Dimensional Investment Group Inc. and The DFA Investment Trust Company. Chairman, Director, President and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Dimensional Holdings Inc. and formerly Chief Executive Officer (until 1/1/2010) and Chief Investment Officer (until 3/30/2007). Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. and formerly, Chief Investment Officer. Director of DFA Australia Limited and formerly, President and Chief Investment Officer. Director of Dimensional Funds PLC. and Dimensional Funds II PLC. Chairman and President of Dimensional SmartNest LLC and Dimensional SmartNest (US) LLC. Limited Partner, Oak Hill Partners (since 2001) and VSC Investors, LLC (since 2007). Trustee, University of Chicago. Trustee, University of Kansas Endowment Association. Formerly, Director, SA Funds (registered investment company). Chairman, Director and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director, Dimensional Cayman Commodity Fund I Ltd.    89 portfolios in 4 investment companies    None

 

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Table of Contents

Name, Address

and Age

   Position   

Term of Office1

and

Length of
Service

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years   

Portfolios

within the

DFA Fund
Complex2
Overseen

  

Other Directorships

of Public Companies

Held During Past 5

Years

Eduardo A. Repetto

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

Age: 44

   Director, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer   

DFAIDG- since 2009

DIG- since 2009

   Co-Chief Executive Officer (beginning January 2010), Chief Investment Officer (beginning March 2007) and formerly, Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, Dimensional Holdings Inc., DFA Securities LLC, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund, DFAIDG, Dimensional Investment Group Inc., The DFA Investment Trust Company and Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC; Director of all such entities except Dimensional Fund Advisors LP and DFA Securities LLC. Chief Investment Officer, Vice President and Director of DFA Australia Limited. Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC and Dimensional Cayman Commodity Fund I Ltd.    89 portfolios in 4 investment companies    None
  1

Each Director holds office for an indefinite term until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

 

  2

Each Director is a director or trustee of each of the four registered investment companies within the DFA Fund Complex, which include: the Funds; The DFA Investment Trust Company; and Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund. Each Disinterested Director also serves on the Independent Review Committee of the Dimensional Funds, mutual funds registered in the provinces of Canada and managed by the Advisor’s affiliate, Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

Information relating to each Director’s ownership (including the ownership of his or her immediate family) in the Portfolios of the Funds in this SAI and in all registered investment companies in the DFA Fund Complex as of December 31, 2010 is set forth in the chart below.

 

Name    Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned   

Aggregate Dollar Range of Shares Owned

in All Funds Overseen by Director in

Family of Investment Companies

Disinterested Directors:

         

George M. Constantinides

   None    None Directly; Over $100,000 in Simulated Funds**

John P. Gould

   None    None Directly; Over $100,000 in Simulated Funds **

Roger G. Ibbotson

   None    Over $100,000; Over $100,000 in Simulated Funds**

Edward P. Lazear

 

   None    None Directly.

Myron S. Scholes

   None    $50,001-$100,000; Over $100,000 in Simulated Funds**

Abbie J. Smith

   None    None Directly; Over $100,000 in Simulated Funds **

Interested Directors:

         

David G. Booth

   None    Over $100,000

Eduardo A. Repetto

   None    Over $100,000

**          As discussed below, the compensation to certain of the disinterested Directors may be in amounts that correspond to a hypothetical investment in a cross-section of the DFA Funds. Thus, the disinterested Directors who are so compensated experience the same investment returns that are experienced by shareholders of the DFA Funds although the disinterested Directors do not directly own shares of the DFA Funds.

Set forth below is a table listing, for each Director entitled to receive compensation, the compensation received from the Funds during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010 and the total compensation received from all four registered investment companies for which the Advisor served as investment advisor during that same period. The table also provides the compensation paid by each Fund to the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

 

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Table of Contents

Name and Position

  

Aggregate

Compensation

from

DFAIDG*

  

Aggregate

Compensation

from DIG

  

Pension or

Retirement

Benefits as

Part of

Expenses

  

Estimated
Annual

Benefit

upon

Retirement

  

Total

Compensation

from Funds

and DFA Fund

Complex Paid

to Directors†

George M. Constantinides
Director

   $108,410    $14,974    N/A    N/A    $175,000

John P. Gould
Director

   $108,410    $14,974    N/A    N/A    $175,000

Roger G. Ibbotson
Director

   $114,889    $15,817    N/A    N/A    $185,000

Edward P. Lazear**
Director

   $0    $0    N/A    N/A    $0

Myron S. Scholes
Director

   $108,410    $14,974    N/A    N/A    $175,000

Abbie J. Smith
Director

   $108,410    $14,974    N/A    N/A    $175,000

Christopher S. Crossan
Chief Compliance Officer

   $210,470    $29,359    N/A    N/A    N/A

 

The term DFA Fund Complex refers to the four registered investment companies for which the Advisor performs advisory or administrative services and for which the individuals listed above serve as directors/trustees on the Boards of Directors/Trustees of such companies.

 

*

Under a deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) adopted effective January 1, 2002, the disinterested Directors of the Fund may defer receipt of all or a portion of the compensation for serving as members of the four Boards of Directors/Trustees of the investment companies in the DFA Fund Complex (the “DFA Funds”). Amounts deferred under the Plan are treated as though equivalent dollar amounts had been invested in shares of a cross-section of the DFA Funds (the “Reference Funds” or “Simulated Funds”). The amounts ultimately received by the disinterested Directors under the Plan will be directly linked to the investment performance of the Reference Funds. Deferral of fees in accordance with the Plan will have a negligible effect on a fund’s assets, liabilities, and net income per share, and will not obligate a fund to retain the services of any disinterested Director or to pay any particular level of compensation to the disinterested Director. The total amount of deferred compensation accrued by the disinterested Directors from the DFA Fund Complex who participated in the Plan during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010 is as follows: $185,000 (Mr. Ibbotson). A disinterested Director’s deferred compensation will be distributed at the earlier of: (a) January in the year after the disinterested Director’s resignation from the Boards of Directors/Trustees of the DFA Funds, or death or disability; or (b) five years following the first deferral, in such amounts as the disinterested Director has specified. The obligations of the DFA Funds to make payments under the Plan will be unsecured general obligations of the DFA Funds, payable out of the general assets and property of the DFA Funds.

 

**

Mr. Lazear did not serve as a Director until December 17, 2010; therefore, he did not receive any compensation from a Fund or the DFA Fund Complex as of October 31, 2010.

Officers

Below is the name, age, and information regarding positions with the Fund and the principal occupation for each officer of the Fund. The address of each officer is 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746. Each of the officers listed below holds the same office (except as otherwise noted) in the following entities: Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, Dimensional Holdings Inc., DFA Securities LLC, the Funds, the Trust, and DEM (collectively, the “DFA Entities”).

 

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Table of Contents
Name and Age   Position  

    Term of    

Office1

and

Length of

Service

   Principal Occupation  During Past 5 Years

April A. Aandal

Age: 48

  Vice President and Chief Learning Officer  

Since

2008

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Chief Learning Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2008). Formerly Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2004-2008).

Darryl D. Avery

Age: 44

  Vice President  

Since

2005

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Arthur H. Barlow

Age: 55

  Vice President  

Since

1993

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Scott A. Bosworth

Age: 42

  Vice President  

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since November 1997).

Valerie A. Brown

Age: 44

  Vice President and Assistant Secretary  

Since

2001

   Vice President and Assistant Secretary of all the DFA Entities, DFA Australia Limited, Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., and Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

David P. Butler

Age: 45

  Vice President  

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Director of Global Financial Advisor Services of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since 2008). Formerly, Director US Financial Advisor Services of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2005).

Joseph H. Chi

Age: 44

  Vice President  

Since

2009

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since October 2005).

Stephen A. Clark

Age: 38

  Vice President  

Since

2004

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Robert P. Cornell

Age: 61

  Vice President  

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Financial Services Group of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since August 1993).

Christopher S. Crossan

Age: 45

  Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer  

Since

2004

   Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of all the DFA Entities.

James L. Davis

Age: 54

  Vice President  

Since

1999

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Robert T. Deere

Age: 53

  Vice President  

Since

1994

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities and DFA Australia Limited.

Peter F. Dillard

Age: 39

  Vice President  

Since

2010

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Research Associate for Dimensional Fund Advisors, LP (since August 2008). Formerly, Research Assistant for DFA from April 2006 – August 2008. Prior to April 2006, Manager at Hilton Hotels Corp. (September 2004 – April 2006).

Robert W. Dintzner

Age: 40

  Vice President  

Since

2001

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Chief Communications Officer (since 2010).

Beth Ann Dranguet

Age: 40

  Vice President  

Since

2010

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Counsel for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since July 2007). Formerly, Associate at Vinson & Elkins LLP (September 1999 – July 2007).

Kenneth Elmgren

Age: 56

  Vice President  

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Managing Principal of Beverly Capital (May 2004 to September 2006).

Richard A. Eustice

Age: 45

  Vice President and Assistant Secretary  

Since

1998

   Vice President and Assistant Secretary of all the DFA Entities and DFA Australia Limited. Chief Operating Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (since July 2008). Formerly, Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Eugene F. Fama, Jr.

Age: 50

  Vice President  

Since

1993

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Gretchen A. Flicker

Age: 39

  Vice President  

Since

2004

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

 

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Table of Contents
Name and Age   Position  

    Term of    

Office1

and

Length of

Service

   Principal Occupation  During Past 5 Years

Jed S. Fogdall

Age: 36

  Vice President  

Since

2008

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2004).

Jeremy P. Freeman

Age: 40

  Vice President  

Since

2009

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Technology Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since June 2006). Formerly, Principal at AIM Investments/Amvescap PLC (now Invesco) (June 1998 – June 2006).

Mark R. Gochnour

Age: 43

  Vice President  

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

Henry F. Gray

Age: 43

  Vice President  

Since

2000

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited.

John T. Gray

Age: 36

  Vice President  

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (January 2005 to February 2007).

Joel H. Hefner

Age: 43

  Vice President  

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since June 1998).

Julie C. Henderson

Age: 36

  Vice President and Fund Controller  

Since

2005

   Vice President and Fund Controller of all the DFA Entities.

Kevin B. Hight

Age: 43

  Vice President  

Since

2005

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Christine W. Ho

Age: 43

  Vice President  

Since

2004

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Jeff J. Jeon

Age: 37

  Vice President  

Since

2004

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Patrick M. Keating

Age: 56

  Vice President  

Since

2003

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities and Chief Operating Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Director, Vice President, and Chief Privacy Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director of DFA Australia Limited.

David M. Kershner

Age: 39

  Vice President  

Since

2010

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since June 2004).

Joseph F. Kolerich

Age: 39

  Vice President  

Since

2004

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since April 2001).

Michael F. Lane

Age: 43

  Vice President  

Since

2004

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Kristina M. LaRusso

Age: 35

  Vice President  

Since

2006

   Vice President of all DFA Entities. Formerly, Operations Supervisor of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (March 2003 to December 2006).

Juliet H. Lee

Age: 40

  Vice President  

Since

2005

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Human Resources Manager of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2004).

Apollo D. Lupescu

Age: 41

  Vice President  

Since

2009

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since February 2004).

Kenneth M. Manell

Age: 38

  Vice President  

Since

2010

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Counsel for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2006). Formerly, Assistant General Counsel at Castle & Cooke (January 2004 – September 2006).

Aaron M. Marcus

Age: 40

  Vice President and Head of Global Human Resources  

Since

2008

   Vice President of all DFA Entities and Head of Global Human Resources of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Formerly, Global Head of Recruiting and Vice President of Goldman Sachs & Co. (June 2006 to January 2008); Global Co-Head of HR of the Equities & FICC Division, and Vice President of Goldman Sachs & Co. (May 2005 to May 2006);

 

24


Table of Contents
Name and Age   Position  

    Term of    

Office1

and

Length of

Service

   Principal Occupation  During Past 5 Years

David R. Martin

Age: 54

 

Vice President, Chief

Financial Officer and

Treasurer

 

Since

2007

   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of all the DFA Entities. Director, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. and DFA Australia Limited. Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director of Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC. Formerly, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Janus Capital Group Inc. (June 2005 to March 2007).

Catherine L. Newell

Age: 46

 

Vice President and

Secretary

  Vice President since 1997 and Secretary since 2000    Vice President and Secretary of all the DFA Entities. Director, Vice President and Secretary of DFA Australia Limited. Director, Vice President and Secretary of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (since February 2002, April 1997, and May 2002, respectively). Vice President and Secretary of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director of Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC (since 2002 and 2006, respectively).

Christian Newton

Age: 35

  Vice President  

Since

2009

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Web Services Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2008). Formerly, Design Manager (2005 – 2008) of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

Carolyn L. O

Age: 36

  Vice President  

Since

2010

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Counsel for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2007). Prior to September 2007, Associate at K&L Gates LLP (January 2004 – September 2007).

Gerard K. O’Reilly

Age: 34

  Vice President  

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Research Associate of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2004 to 2006).

Daniel C. Ong

Age: 37

  Vice President  

Since

2009

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since July 2005).

Kyle K. Ozaki

Age: 32

  Vice President  

Since

2010

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Compliance Officer for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2008). Formerly, Compliance Officer (February 2006 – December 2007) and Compliance Analyst (August 2004 – January 2006).

Carmen Palafox

Age: 36

  Vice President  

Since

2006

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Operations Manager of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since May 1996).

Sonya K. Park

Age: 38

  Vice President  

Since

2005

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

David A. Plecha

Age: 49

  Vice President  

Since

1993

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities, DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Theodore W. Randall

Age: 37

  Vice President  

Since

2008

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Research Associate of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2006 to 2008); Systems Developer of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2001 to 2006).

L. Jacobo Rodríguez

Age: 39

  Vice President  

Since

2005

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Julie A. Saft

Age: 51

  Vice President  

Since

2010

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Client Systems Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since July 2008). Formerly, Senior Manager at Vanguard (November 1997 – July 2008).

David E. Schneider

Age: 65

  Vice President  

Since

2001

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Director of Institutional Services of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

Walid A. Shinnawi

Age: 49

  Vice President  

Since

2010

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since March 2006). Formerly, Senior Director at Moody’s KMV (1999-March 2006).

 

25


Table of Contents
Name and Age   Position  

    Term of    

Office1

and

Length of

Service

   Principal Occupation  During Past 5 Years

Bruce A. Simmons

Age: 46

  Vice President  

Since

2009

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Investment Operations Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since May 2007). Formerly, Vice President Client and Fund Reporting at Mellon Financial (September 2005 – May 2007).

Ted R. Simpson

Age: 42

  Vice President  

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since December 2002).

Bryce D. Skaff

Age: 36

  Vice President  

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (December 1999 to January 2007).

Grady M. Smith

Age: 54

  Vice President  

Since

2004

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Carl G. Snyder

Age: 47

  Vice President  

Since

2000

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited.

Lawrence R. Spieth

Age: 63

  Vice President  

Since

2004

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Bradley G. Steiman

Age: 37

  Vice President  

Since

2004

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities and Director and Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

Robert C. Trotter

Age: 52

  Vice President  

Since

2009

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Manager Technology for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since March 2007). Formerly, Director of Technology at AMVESCAP (2002 – 2007).

Karen E. Umland

Age: 44

  Vice President  

Since

1997

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities, DFA Australia Limited, Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., and Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

Brian J. Walsh

Age: 41

  Vice President  

Since

2009

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since 2004).

Weston J. Wellington

Age: 59

  Vice President  

Since

1997

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited.

Ryan J. Wiley

Age: 34

  Vice President  

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Trader of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Formerly, Portfolio Manager (2006 to 2007) and Trader (2001 to 2006).

Paul E. Wise

Age: 55

  Vice President  

Since

2005

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Chief Technology Officer for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since 2004).
1

Each officer holds office for an indefinite term at the pleasure of the Boards of Directors and until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

As of January 31, 2011, Directors and officers as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding stock of each Portfolio described in this SAI, except that Directors and officers, as a group, owned approximately 28.3% of the Global 25/75 Portfolio.

SERVICES TO THE FUNDS

Administrative Services—The Feeder Portfolios, U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio and Allocation Portfolios

The Funds have entered into administration agreements with the Advisor, on behalf of the Feeder Portfolios, U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio and each Allocation Portfolio. Pursuant to each administration agreement, the Advisor performs various services, including: supervision of the services provided by the Portfolio’s custodian and transfer and dividend disbursing agent and others who provide services to the Fund for the benefit of the Portfolio; providing shareholders with information about the Portfolio and their investments as the shareholders or the Fund may request; assisting the Portfolio in conducting meetings of shareholders; furnishing information as the Board of Directors may require regarding the Master Funds or Underlying Funds (as applicable), and any other administrative services for the benefit of the Portfolio as the Board of Directors may reasonably request. For its administrative services, the Feeder Portfolios, U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, Global Equity Portfolio, Global 60/40

 

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Table of Contents

Portfolio and Global 25/75 Portfolio are obligated to pay the Advisor a monthly fee based on average net assets equal to one-twelfth of the percentages listed below:

 

Portfolio

   Administration Fee

U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

   0.25%    (a)

DFA International Value Portfolio

   0.20%    (b)

Emerging Markets Value Portfolio

   0.40%    (b)

Global Equity Portfolio

   0.30%    (c)

Global 60/40 Portfolio

   0.25%    (c)

Global 25/75 Portfolio

   0.20%    (c)

(a)      Pursuant to the Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the Class R1 shares of the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, the Advisor has agreed to waive its administration fee and to assume the Portfolio’s direct and indirect expenses (excluding the expenses the Portfolio incurs indirectly through investment in other investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) to the extent necessary to limit Portfolio Expenses of the Class R1 shares of the Portfolio to 0.62% of the Class R1 shares’ average net assets on an annualized basis (the “Expense Limitation Amount”). Pursuant to the Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the Class R2 shares of the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, the Advisor has agreed to waive its administration fee and to assume the Portfolio’s direct and indirect expenses (excluding the expenses the Portfolio incurs indirectly through investment in other investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) to the extent necessary to limit Portfolio Expenses of the Class R2 shares of the Portfolio to 0.77% of the Class R2 shares’ average net assets on an annualized basis. The Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreements for the Class R1 shares and Class R2 shares of the Portfolio will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by DFAIDG or the Advisor. For additional information concerning the Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreements, see “Annual Fund Operating Expenses” in the Prospectus.

(b)      Pursuant to the Expense Assumption Agreement for the Class R2 shares of the DFA International Value Portfolio and Emerging Markets Value Portfolio, the Advisor has agreed to assume the Portfolio’s direct expenses (excluding management fees and custodian fees) to the extent necessary to limit the expenses of the Class R2 shares of each Portfolio to the following rates as a percentage of average net assets on an annualized basis: 0.79% for the DFA International Value Portfolio and 0.95% for the Emerging Markets Value Portfolio. The Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreements for the Class R2 shares of each Portfolio will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by DIG, DFAIDG or the Advisor. For additional information concerning the Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreements, see “Annual Fund Operating Expenses” in the Prospectus.

(c)      Pursuant to a Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the Global Equity Portfolio, Global 60/40 Portfolio and the Global 25/75 Portfolio, the Advisor has agreed to waive certain fees and in certain instances, assume certain expenses of the Portfolios, as described below. The Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the Portfolios will remain in effect through [February 28, 2012, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by the Fund or the Advisor.

Pursuant to the Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement, in order to limit the total administration and management fees received by the Advisor, the Advisor has agreed to waive the administration fee each Allocation Portfolio pays to the Advisor to the extent necessary to limit the proportionate share of the total combined administration fee paid by each Allocation Portfolio and management fees paid by each Allocation Portfolio’s Underlying Funds to the Advisor to 0.27% for the Global Equity Portfolio, to 0.25% for the Global 60/40 Portfolio and to 0.22% for the Global 25/75 Portfolio. The maximum amount waived under this waiver is the full amount of a Portfolio’s administration fee to the Advisor. At any time that the rate of the fees and annualized expenses of an Allocation Portfolio are less than the rates listed above for the Portfolio on an annualized basis, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s Class R2 shares’ fees or expenses to exceed the fee or expense limitations listed above. The Allocation Portfolios are not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees waived or expenses assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement.

 

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Table of Contents

Each class of each Portfolio pays its proportionate share of the fees paid by the Portfolio to Advisor based on the average net assets of the classes.

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009 and the fiscal period from December 1, 2007 to October 31, 2008, the Portfolios paid administrative fees to the Advisor as set forth in the following table (the dollar amount is shown prior to any fee waivers by the Advisor):

 

Portfolio

   FISCAL
YEAR
ENDED
2010

(000)
   FISCAL
YEAR
ENDED
2009

(000)
   FISCAL
PERIOD
ENDED
2008

(000)

U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

   $  4,988    $2,823    $1,875

DFA International Value Portfolio

   $  9,323    $7,097    $10,005

Emerging Markets Value Portfolio

   $  35,877    $20,346    $25,407

Global Equity Portfolio

   $  4,3821    $3,1074    $3,3467

Global 60/40 Portfolio

   $  2,0872    $1,4935    $1,7358

Global 25/75 Portfolio

   $  3933    $2796    $2899

 

1

$     16 after waiver

2

$     128 after waiver

3

$     64 after waiver

4

$     93 after waiver

5

$     133 after waiver

6

$     78 after waiver

7

$     282 after waiver

8

$     276 after waiver

9

$     61 after waiver

Administrative Services—All Portfolios

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (formerly, PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”), 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809, serves as the accounting services, dividend disbursing and transfer agent for all the Portfolios and Master Funds. The services provided by BNY Mellon are subject to supervision by the executive officers and the Boards of Directors of the Funds, and include day-to-day keeping and maintenance of certain records, calculation of the offering price of the shares, preparation of reports, liaison with its custodians, and transfer and dividend disbursing agency services. For the administrative and accounting services provided by BNY Mellon, the non-Feeder Portfolios, the Feeder Portfolio’s Master Funds and the Underlying Funds pay BNY Mellon annual fees that are calculated daily and paid monthly according to a fee schedule based on the aggregate average net assets of the Fund Complex, which includes four registered investment companies and a group trust. The fee schedule is set forth in the table below:

.0110% of the Fund Complex’s first $50 billion of average net assets;

.0085% of the Fund Complex’s next $25 billion of average net assets; and

.0075% of the Fund Complex’s average net assets in excess of $75 billion.

The fees charged to a non-Feeder Portfolio, a Master Fund or an Underlying Fund under the fee schedule are allocated to each such non-Feeder Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund based on the non-Feeder Portfolio’s, Master Fund’s, or Underlying Fund’s pro-rata portion of the aggregate average net assets of the Fund Complex.

Each Portfolio is also subject to a monthly fee. The Feeder Portfolios and Allocation Portfolios are each subject to a monthly fee of $1,000. The U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio is subject to a monthly fee of $1,666. The Master Funds in which the Feeder Portfolios invest and the Underlying Funds in which the Allocation Portfolios invest are also subject to certain monthly base fees. Each domestic equity or domestic fixed income Master Fund or Underlying Fund is subject to a monthly base fee of $1,666 and each international equity or international fixed

 

28


Table of Contents

income Master Fund or Underlying Fund is subject to a monthly base fee of $2,083. The Class R1 shares and Class R2 shares of the Portfolios each pay a shareholder servicing administrative fee of $83.33 per month ($1,000 per year) to BNY Mellon for administrative and accounting services in connection with the assessment of shareholder services fees by the Class R1 shares and Class R2 shares.

The Portfolios also pay separate fees to BNY Mellon with respect to the services BNY Mellon provides as transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent.

Shareholder Services

On behalf of the Portfolios, the Funds enter into agreements with Shareholder Services Agents to provide shareholder servicing, recordkeeping, account maintenance and other services to shareholders of the Class R1 shares and Class R2 shares. For the array of services provided to Class R1 shareholders, the Funds pay such Shareholder Services Agents an amount up to 0.10% of the average net assets of the Class R1 shares for such services. For the array of services provided to Class R2 shareholders, the Funds pay such Shareholder Services Agents an amount up to 0.25% of the average net assets of the Class R2 shares for such services.

Custodians

Citibank, N.A., 111 Wall Street, New York, New York, 10005, is the global custodian for The DFA International Value Series and Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund. PFPC Trust Company (to be renamed BNY Mellon Investment Services Trust Company effective July 1, 2011), 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809, serves as the custodian for the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, the Allocation Portfolios and all of the Feeder Portfolios.

Distributor

Each Fund’s shares are distributed by DFA Securities LLC (formerly, DFA Securities Inc.) (“DFAS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Advisor. DFAS is registered as a limited purpose broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. The principal business address of DFAS is 1299 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, California 90401.

DFAS acts as an agent of the Funds by serving as the principal underwriter of the Funds’ shares. Pursuant to each Fund’s Distribution Agreement, DFAS uses its best efforts to seek or arrange for the sale of shares of the Fund, which are continuously offered. No sales charges are paid by investors or the Funds. No compensation is paid by the Funds to DFAS under the Distribution Agreements.

Legal Counsel

Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP serves as legal counsel to the Funds. Its address is 2600 One Commerce Square, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7098.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) is the independent registered public accounting firm to the Funds and audits the annual financial statements of the Funds. PwC’s address is Two Commerce Square, Suite 1700, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042.

ADVISORY FEES

David G. Booth and Rex A. Sinquefield, as directors and/or officers of the Advisor and shareholders of the outstanding stock of the Advisor’s general partner, may be deemed controlling persons of the Advisor. Mr. Booth also serves as Director and officer of the Funds. For the services it provides as investment advisor to each non-feeder Portfolio (or, with respect to each Feeder Portfolio, the corresponding Master Fund), the Advisor is paid a monthly fee calculated as a percentage of average net assets of the Portfolio (or, with respect to each Feeder

 

29


Table of Contents

Portfolio the corresponding Master Fund). The Advisor is paid no fee for the services it provides as investment advisor to each Allocation Portfolio and Feeder Portfolio. As shareholders of the Underlying Funds, the Allocation Portfolios pay their proportionate shares of the management fees paid to the Advisor by the Underlying Funds. Each class of each Portfolio pays its proportionate share of the fees paid by the Portfolio to Advisor based on the average net assets of the classes.

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009 and the fiscal period from December 1, 2007 to October 31, 2008 the Portfolios (or their corresponding Master Funds) paid management fees (to the Advisor and any sub-advisor) as set forth in the following table:

 

      FISCAL
YEAR
ENDED
2010

(000)
   FISCAL
YEAR
ENDED
2009

(000)
   FISCAL
PERIOD
ENDED
2008

(000)

U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

   $1,995    $1,129    $750

DFA International Value Portfolio (a)

   $12,890    $9,991    $14,643

Emerging Markets Value Portfolio (a)

   $9,448    $5,493    $6,904

 

(a)

The Master Fund has more than one Feeder Portfolio and/or direct investor; the dollar amount represents the total dollar amount of management fees paid by the Master Fund to the Advisor.

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

In accordance with the team approach used to manage the Portfolios, Master Funds and the Underlying Funds, the portfolio managers and portfolio traders implement the policies and procedures established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers and portfolio traders also make daily investment decisions regarding the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds including running buy and sell programs based on the parameters established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers named below coordinate the efforts of all other portfolio managers with respect to the day-to-day management of the category of portfolios indicated.

 

Domestic equity portfolios and Allocation Portfolios

 

Stephen A. Clark

International equity portfolios

 

Stephen A. Clark, Karen E. Umland,

 

Joseph H. Chi, and Jed S. Fogdall

Investments in Each Portfolio

Information relating to each portfolio manager’s ownership (including the ownership of his or her immediate family) in the Portfolios contained in this SAI that he or she manages as of October 31, 2010 is set forth in the chart below.

Stephen A. Clark

 

Portfolio

  

Dollar Range of Portfolio

Shares Owned

U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

   None

DFA International Value Portfolio1

   None

Emerging Markets Value Portfolio1

   None

Global Equity Allocation Portfolio

   None

Global 25/75 Portfolio

   None

Global 60/40 Portfolio

   $100,001-$500,000

1         Stephen A. Clark serves as the portfolio manager for the Portfolio and for the Master Fund in which the Portfolio invests  substantially all of its assets.

Karen E. Umland

 

30


Table of Contents

Portfolio

  

Dollar Range of Portfolio

Shares Owned

         DFA International Value Portfolio1

   $100,001-$500,000

         Emerging Markets Value Portfolio

   None

1        Karen E. Umland serves as the portfolio manager for the Portfolio and for the Master Fund in which the Portfolio invests substantially all of its assets.

Joseph H. Chi

 

Portfolio

  

Dollar Range of Portfolio

Shares Owned

         DFA International Value Portfolio1

   None

         Emerging Markets Value Portfolio

   $10,001-$50,000

1        Joseph H. Chi serves as the portfolio manager for the Portfolio and for the Master Fund in which the Portfolio invests substantially all of its assets.

Jed S. Fogdall

 

Portfolio

  

Dollar Range of Portfolio

Shares Owned

         DFA International Value Portfolio1

   None

         Emerging Markets Value Portfolio

   None

1        Jed S. Fogdall serves as the portfolio manager for the Portfolio and for the Master Fund in which the Portfolio invests substantially all of its assets.

Description of Compensation Structure

Portfolio managers receive a base salary and bonus. Compensation of a portfolio manager is determined at the discretion of the Advisor and is based on a portfolio manager’s experience, responsibilities, the perception of the quality of his or her work efforts and other subjective factors. The compensation of portfolio managers is not directly based upon the performance of the Portfolios or other accounts that the portfolio managers manage. The Advisor reviews the compensation of each portfolio manager annually and may make modifications in compensation as it deems necessary to reflect changes in the market. Each portfolio manager’s compensation consists of the following:

 

   

Base salary. Each portfolio manager is paid a base salary. The Advisor considers the factors described above to determine each portfolio manager’s base salary.

 

   

Semi-Annual Bonus. Each portfolio manager may receive a semi-annual bonus. The amount of the bonus paid to each portfolio manager is based upon the factors described above.

Portfolio managers may be awarded the right to purchase restricted shares of the stock of the Advisor as determined from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Advisor or its delegees. Portfolio managers also participate in benefit and retirement plans and other programs available generally to all employees.

In addition, portfolio managers may be given the option of participating in the Advisor’s Long Term Incentive Plan. The level of participation for eligible employees may be dependent on overall level of compensation, among other considerations. Participation in this program is not based on or related to the performance of any individual strategies or any particular client accounts.

Other Managed Accounts

In addition to the Portfolios (and with respect to the Feeder Portfolios, the Master Fund in which a Feeder Portfolio invests substantially all of its assets) and the Underlying Funds, each portfolio manager manages (i) other U.S. registered investment companies advised or sub-advised by the Advisor, (ii) other pooled investment vehicles that are not U.S. registered mutual funds and (iii) other accounts managed for organizations and individuals. The

 

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Table of Contents

following table sets forth information regarding the total accounts for which each portfolio manager has the primary responsibility for coordinating the day-to-day management responsibilities.

 

Name of Portfolio Manager

  

Number of Accounts Managed and

Total Assets by Category As of October 31, 2010

Stephen A. Clark

  

•    92 U.S. registered mutual funds with $133,626 million in total assets under management.

•    20 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $25,316 million in total assets under management. Out of these unregistered pooled investment vehicles, one client with an investment of $220 million in an unregistered pooled investment vehicle pays a performance-based advisory fee.

•    73 other accounts with $11,603 million in total assets under management, of which one account with $731 million in assets may be subject to a performance fee.

Karen E. Umland

  

•    37 U.S. registered mutual funds with $58,973 million in total assets under management.

•    4 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $1,303 million in total assets under management.

•    26 other accounts with $7,671 million in total assets under management of which one account with $731 million in assets may be subject to a performance fee.

Joseph H. Chi

  

•    37 U.S. registered mutual funds with $58,973 million in total assets under management.

•    4 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $1,303 million in total assets under management.

•    26 other accounts with $7,671 million in total assets under management of which one account with $731 million in assets may be subject to a performance fee.

Jed S. Fodgall

  

•    37 U.S. registered mutual funds with $58,973 million in total assets under management.

•    4 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $1,303 million in total assets under management.

•    26 other accounts with $7,671 million in total assets under management of which one account with $731 million in assets may be subject to a performance fee.

Potential Conflicts of Interest

Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has the primary day-to-day responsibilities with respect to more than one Portfolio/Master Fund/Underlying Fund and other accounts. Other accounts include registered mutual funds (other than the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds), other unregistered pooled investment vehicles, and other accounts managed for organizations and individuals (“Accounts”). An Account may have similar investment objectives to a Portfolio/Master Fund/Underlying Fund, or may purchase, sell or hold securities that are eligible to be purchased, sold or held by a Portfolio/Master Fund/Underlying Fund. Actual or apparent conflicts of interest include:

 

   

Time Management. The management of multiple Portfolios/Master Funds/Underlying Funds and/or Accounts may result in a portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of each Portfolio/Master Fund/Underlying Fund and/or Accounts. The Advisor seeks to manage such competing interests for the time and attention of portfolio managers by having portfolio managers focus on a particular investment discipline. Most Accounts managed by a portfolio manager are

 

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managed using the same investment models that are used in connection with the management of the Portfolios/Master Funds/Underlying Funds.

 

   

Investment Opportunities. It is possible that at times identical securities will be held by more than one Portfolio/Master Fund/Underlying Fund and/or Account. However, positions in the same security may vary and the length of time that any Portfolio/Master Fund/Underlying Fund or Account may choose to hold its investment in the same security may likewise vary. If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity that may be suitable for more than one Portfolio/Master Fund/Underlying Fund or Account, a Portfolio/Master Fund/Underlying Fund may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to an allocation of filled purchase or sale orders across all eligible Portfolios/Master Funds/Underlying Funds and Accounts. To deal with these situations, the Advisor has adopted procedures for allocating portfolio transactions across multiple Portfolios/Master Funds/Underlying Funds and Accounts.

 

   

Broker Selection. With respect to securities transactions for the Portfolios/Master Funds/Underlying Funds, the Advisor determines which broker to use to execute each order, consistent with its duty to seek best execution of the transaction. However, with respect to certain Accounts (such as separate accounts), the Advisor may be limited by the client with respect to the selection of brokers or may be instructed to direct trades through a particular broker. In these cases, the Advisor or its affiliates may place separate, non-simultaneous, transactions for a Portfolio/Master Fund/Underlying Fund and another Account that may temporarily affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment of the Portfolio/Master Fund/Underlying Fund or the Account.

 

   

Performance-Based Fees. For some Accounts, the Advisor may be compensated based on the profitability of the Account, such as by a performance-based management fee. These incentive compensation structures may create a conflict of interest for the Advisor with regard to Accounts where the Advisor is paid based on a percentage of assets because the portfolio manager may have an incentive to allocate securities preferentially to the Accounts where the Advisor might share in investment gains.

 

   

Investment in an Account. A portfolio manager or his/her relatives may invest in an Account that he or she manages and a conflict may arise where he or she may therefore have an incentive to treat the Account in which the portfolio manager or his/her relatives invest preferentially as compared to other Accounts for which he or she has portfolio management responsibilities.

The Advisor and the Funds have adopted certain compliance procedures that are reasonably designed to address these types of conflicts. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises.

GENERAL INFORMATION

DFAIDG was incorporated under Maryland law on June 15, 1981. Until June 1983, DFAIDG was named DFA Small Company Fund Inc. From April 1, 2001 to December 12, 2006, the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio was known as the U.S. Small XM Value Portfolio. Prior to April 1, 2001, the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio was known as the U.S. 4-10 Value Portfolio. Similarly, the Master Fund in which the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio invested– The U.S. Targeted Value Series– was, prior to April 1, 2001, known as The U.S. 4-10 Value Series. Effective as of March 30, 2007, the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio was no longer a feeder portfolio and now holds the portfolio securities previously held by The U.S. Targeted Value Series, the Master Fund in which the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio invested.

DIG was incorporated under Maryland law on March 19, 1990. DIG was known as DFA U.S. Large Cap Inc. from February 1992, until it amended its Articles of Incorporation in April 1993, to change to its present name. Prior to the February 1992 amendment to the Articles of Incorporation, DIG was known as DFA U.S. Large Cap Portfolio Inc.

 

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The DFA Investment Trust Company was organized as a Delaware statutory trust (a form of entity formerly known as a business trust) on October 27, 1992. The Trust offers shares of its Master Funds only to institutional investors in private offerings. Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund was incorporated under Maryland law on January 9, 1991 and was reorganized as a Delaware statutory trust effective October 30, 2009. DEM offers its shares only to institutional investors in private offerings. On November 21, 1997, the shareholders of DEM approved its conversion from a closed-end management investment company to an open-end management investment company.

CODE OF ETHICS

The Funds, the Trust, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund, the Advisor, DFA Australia Limited, DFA Fund Advisors Ltd. and DFAS have adopted a Code of Ethics, under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act, for certain access persons of the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds. The Code is designed to ensure that access persons act in the interest of the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds, and their shareholders with respect to any personal trading of securities. Under the Code, access persons are generally prohibited from knowingly buying or selling securities (except for mutual funds, U.S. government securities and money market instruments) which are being purchased, sold or considered for purchase or sale by a Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund unless their proposed purchases are approved in advance. The Code also contains certain reporting requirements and securities trading clearance procedures.

SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS

The shares of each Portfolio, when issued and paid for in accordance with the Portfolio’s Prospectus, will be fully paid and non-assessable shares. Each share of common stock of a class of a Portfolio represents an equal proportional interest in the assets and liabilities of the Portfolio and has identical, non-cumulative voting, dividend, redemption liquidation, and other rights and preferences as each other class of the Portfolio, except that on a matter affecting a single class only shares of that class of the Portfolio are permitted to vote on the matter.

With respect to matters which require shareholder approval, shareholders are entitled to vote only with respect to matters which affect the interest of the Portfolio or class of shares of the Portfolio which they hold, except as otherwise required by applicable law. If liquidation of a Fund should occur, the Fund’s shareholders would be entitled to receive on a per class basis the assets of the particular Portfolio whose shares they own, as well as a proportionate share of Fund assets not attributable to any particular class. Ordinarily, the Funds do not intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders, except as required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law. Each Fund’s bylaws provide that special meetings of shareholders shall be called at the written request of shareholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting. Such meeting may be called to consider any matter, including the removal of one or more directors. Shareholders will receive shareholder communications with respect to such matters as required by the 1940 Act, including semi-annual and annual financial statements of the Funds, the latter being audited.

Whenever a Feeder Portfolio, as an investor in its corresponding Master Fund, is asked to vote on a shareholder proposal, the relevant Fund will solicit voting instructions from the Feeder Portfolio’s shareholders with respect to the proposal. The Directors of the Fund will then vote the Feeder Portfolio’s shares in the Master Fund in accordance with the voting instructions received from the Feeder Portfolio’s shareholders. The Directors of the Fund will vote shares of the Feeder Portfolio for which they receive no voting instructions in accordance with their best judgment. With regard to a Master Fund or Underlying Fund of the Trust organized as a partnership for federal tax purposes, if a majority shareholder of the Master Fund or Underlying Fund declares bankruptcy, a majority in interest of the remaining shareholders in the Master Fund or Underlying Fund must vote to approve the continuing existence of the Master Fund or Underlying Fund or the Master Fund or Underlying Fund will be liquidated.

PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

As of January 31, 2011, the following persons beneficially owned 5% or more of the outstanding stock of the Class R1 and Class R2 shares of the Portfolios, as set forth below:

 

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U.S. TARGETED VALUE PORTFOLIO – CLASS R1 SHARES   

Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company

P.O. Box 2900

Valley Forge, PA 19482-2900

   95.34%
U.S. TARGETED VALUE PORTFOLIO – CLASS R2 SHARES   

Wilmington Trust Retirement and Institutional Services Corporation

P.O. Box 52129

Phoenix, AZ 85072

   63.96%

Valic Retirement Services Co

2929 Allen Parkway Suite Ag-20

Houston, TX 77019

   14.08%

Principal Financial Group

711 High Street

Des Moines, IA 50392

   9.84%

TD Ameritrade Trust Company*

P.O. Box 17748

Denver, CO 80217

   7.74%
DFA INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO – CLASS R2 SHARES   

Wells Fargo Bank NA

FBO City of Wichita Employees Deferred Compensation Plan

8515 E Orchard Road

Greenwood, CO 80111

   45.66%

Principal Financial Group

711 High Street

Des Moines, IA 50392

   24.67%

VantageTrust

c/o ICMA-RC Services LLC

777 North Capitol St, NE

Washington, D.C. 20002

   7.99%

Orchard Trust Company ttee/custodian

FBO Employee Benefits Clients

8515 E Orchard Road

Greenwood Village, CO 80111

   7.59%

National Financial Services LLC*

   7.53%
EMERGING MARKETS VALUE PORTFOLIO – CLASS R2 SHARES   

Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company

   79.75%

National Financial Services LLC

   7.01%

TD Ameritrade Trust Company*

   5.94%

 

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GLOBAL EQUITY PORTFOLIO – CLASS R2 SHARES   

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

   91.67%

National Financial Services LLC*

   8.33%
GLOBAL 60/40 PORTFOLIO – CLASS R2 SHARES   

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

   100.00%
GLOBAL 25/75 PORTFOLIO – CLASS R2 SHARES   

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

   98.73%

 

 

*

Owner of record only (omnibus).

Shareholder inquiries may be made by writing or calling the Funds at the address or telephone number appearing on the cover of this SAI. Only those individuals whose signatures are on file for the account in question may receive specific account information or make changes in the account registration.

PURC HASE OF SHARES

The following information supplements the information set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “PURCHASE OF SHARES.”

The Funds will accept purchase and redemption orders on each day that the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for business, regardless of whether the Federal Reserve System is closed. However, no purchases by wire may be made on any day that the Federal Reserve System is closed. The Funds will generally be closed on days that the NYSE is closed. The NYSE is scheduled to be open Monday through Friday throughout the year except for days closed to recognize New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The Federal Reserve System is closed on the same days as the NYSE, except that it is open on Good Friday and closed on Columbus Day and Veterans’ Day. Orders for redemptions and purchases will not be processed if the Funds are closed.

The Funds reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to suspend the offering of shares of any or all Portfolios or reject purchase orders when, in the judgment of management, such suspension or rejection is in the best interest of that Fund or a Portfolio. Securities accepted in exchange for shares of a Portfolio will be acquired for investment purposes and will be considered for sale under the same circumstances as other securities in the Portfolio.

The Funds or their transfer agent may, from time to time, appoint a sub-transfer agent, such as a broker, for the receipt of purchase and redemption orders and funds from certain investors. With respect to purchases and redemptions through a sub-transfer agent, a Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when the sub-transfer agent receives the order. Shares of a Portfolio will be priced at the public offering price next calculated after receipt of the purchase or redemption order by the sub-transfer agent.

Reimbursement fees may be charged prospectively from time to time based upon the future experience of the Portfolios, which are currently sold at net asset value. Any such charges will be described in the Prospectus.

REDEMPTION A ND TRANSFER OF SHARES

The following information supplements the information set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “REDEMPTION OF SHARES.”

 

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Each Fund may suspend redemption privileges or postpone the date of payment: (1) during any period when the NYSE is closed, or trading on the NYSE is restricted as determined by the SEC, (2) during any period when an emergency exists as defined by the rules of the SEC as a result of which it is not reasonably practicable for such Fund to dispose of securities owned by it, or fairly to determine the value of its assets and (3) for such other periods as the SEC may permit.

Shareholders may transfer shares of any Portfolio to another person by making a written request to the Advisor who will transmit the request to the Transfer Agent. The request should clearly identify the account and number of shares to be transferred, and include the signature of all registered owners and all stock certificates, if any, which are subject to the transfer. The signature on the letter of request, the stock certificate or any stock power must be guaranteed in the same manner as described in the Prospectus under “REDEMPTION OF SHARES.” As with redemptions, the written request must be received in good order before any transfer can be made.

TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIOS AND THEIR SHAREHOLDERS

The following is a summary of some of the federal income tax consequences of investing in a Portfolio (sometimes referred to as “the Portfolio”). Unless you are invested in the Portfolio through a qualified retirement plan, you should consider the tax implications of investing and consult your own tax advisor. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Portfolio or its shareholders, and the discussion here and in the Prospectus is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning.

This “TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIOS AND THEIR SHAREHOLDERS” section is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and applicable regulations in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative, regulatory or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly change the tax rules applicable to the Portfolio and its shareholders. Any of these changes or court decisions may have a retroactive effect.

Different tax rules may apply depending on how a Master Fund or an Underlying Fund in which a Portfolio invests is organized for federal income tax purposes. The Allocation Portfolios invest in Underlying Funds organized as either partnerships or corporations for federal income tax purposes. The International Equity Portfolios are Feeder Portfolios that invests all of their assets in the Master Funds which are organized as partnerships for federal income tax purposes. These rules could affect the amount, timing or character of the income distributed to shareholders of a Portfolio.

Unless otherwise indicated, the discussion below with respect to a Portfolio includes in the case of a Feeder Portfolio invested in a Master Fund or a Portfolio invested in an Underlying Fund classified as a partnership, its pro rata share of its corresponding Master Fund’s or Underlying Fund’s income and assets and in the case of a Portfolio invested in an Underlying Fund classified as a corporation, its pro rata share of the dividends and distributions paid by such Underlying Fund.

This is for general information only and not tax advice and does not purport to deal with all federal tax consequences applicable to all categories of investors, some of which may be subject to special rules. You should consult your own tax advisor regarding your particular circumstances before making an investment in the Portfolio.

Taxation of the Portfolio

The Portfolio has elected and intends to qualify (or, if newly organized, intends to elect and qualify) each year as a regulated investment company (sometimes referred to as a “regulated investment company,” “RIC” or “portfolio”) under Subchapter M of the Code. If the Portfolio qualifies, the Portfolio will not be subject to federal income tax on the portion of its investment company taxable income (that is, generally, taxable interest, dividends, net short-term capital gains, and other taxable ordinary income, net of expenses, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and net capital gain (that is, the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) that it distributes to shareholders.

 

 

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Qualification as a regulated investment company. In order to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, the Portfolio must satisfy the following requirements:

 

   

Distribution Requirement —the Portfolio must distribute at least 90% of its investment company taxable income and 90% of its net tax-exempt income, if any, for the tax year (certain distributions made by the Portfolio after the close of its tax year are considered distributions attributable to the previous tax year for purposes of satisfying this requirement).

 

   

Income Requirement —the Portfolio must derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived from its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies and net income derived from qualified publicly traded partnerships (“QPTPs”).

 

   

Asset Diversification Test —the Portfolio must satisfy the following asset diversification test at the close of each quarter of the Portfolio’s tax year: (1) at least 50% of the value of the Portfolio’s assets must consist of cash and cash items, U.S. Government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and securities of other issuers (as to which the Portfolio has not invested more than 5% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets in securities of an issuer and as to which the Portfolio does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer); and (2) no more than 25% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets may be invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies) or of two or more issuers which the Portfolio controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses, or, collectively, in the securities of QPTPs.

In some circumstances, the character and timing of income realized by the Portfolio for purposes of the Income Requirement or the identification of the issuer for purposes of the Asset Diversification Test is uncertain under current law with respect to a particular investment, and an adverse determination or future guidance by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) with respect to such type of investment may adversely affect the Portfolio’s ability to satisfy these requirements. See “Tax Treatment of Portfolio Transactions” below with respect to the application of these requirements to certain types of investments. In other circumstances, the Portfolio may be required to sell portfolio holdings in order to meet the Income Requirement, Distribution Requirement, or Asset Diversification Test which may have a negative impact on the Portfolio’s income and performance.

The Portfolio may use “equalization accounting” (in lieu of making some cash distributions) in determining the portion of its income and gains that has been distributed. If the Portfolio uses equalization accounting, it will allocate a portion of its undistributed investment company taxable income and net capital gain to redemptions of Portfolio shares and will correspondingly reduce the amount of such income and gains that it distributes in cash. If the IRS determines that the Portfolio’s allocation is improper and that the Portfolio has under-distributed its income and gain for any taxable year, the Portfolio may be liable for federal income and/or excise tax. In addition, any such under-distribution of income might cause the Portfolio to fail to satisfy the Income Requirement and thereby not qualify as a regulated investment company for such taxable year.

If for any taxable year the Portfolio does not qualify as a regulated investment company, all of its taxable income (including its net capital gain) would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders, and the dividends would be taxable to the shareholders as ordinary income (or possibly as qualified dividend income) to the extent of the Portfolio’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Failure to qualify as a regulated investment company would thus have a negative impact on the Portfolio’s income and performance. Subject to savings provisions for certain inadvertent failures to satisfy the Income Requirement or Asset Diversification Test which, in general, are limited to those due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, it is possible that the Portfolio will not qualify as a regulated investment company in any given tax year. Even if such savings provisions apply, the Portfolio may be subject to a monetary sanction of $50,000 or more. Moreover, the Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of the Portfolio as a regulated investment company if it determines such a course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.

 

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Portfolio turnover. For investors that hold their Portfolio shares in a taxable account, a high portfolio turnover rate (except in a money market fund that maintains a stable net asset value) may result in higher taxes. This is because a portfolio with a high turnover rate is likely to generate more short-term and less long-term capital gain or loss than a comparable portfolio with a low turnover rate. Any such higher taxes would reduce the Portfolio’s after-tax performance.

Capital loss carryovers. The capital losses of the Portfolio, if any, do not flow through to shareholders. Rather, the Portfolio may use its capital losses, subject to applicable limitations, to offset its capital gains without being required to pay taxes on or distribute to shareholders such gains that are offset by the losses. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (“RIC Mod Act”), if the Portfolio has a “net capital loss” (that is, capital losses in excess of capital gains) for a taxable year beginning after December 22, 2010 (the date of enactment of the RIC Mod Act), the excess (if any) of the Portfolio's net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gains is treated as a short-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Portfolio's next taxable year, and the excess (if any) of the Portfolio's net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gains is treated as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Portfolio's next taxable year. Any such net capital losses of the Portfolio that are not used to offset capital gains may be carried forward indefinitely to reduce any future capital gains realized by the Portfolio in succeeding taxable years. However, for any net capital losses realized in taxable years of the Portfolio beginning on or before December 22, 2010, the Portfolio is only permitted to carry forward such capital losses for eight years as a short-term capital loss. Under a transition rule, capital losses arising in a taxable year beginning after December 22, 2010 must be used before capital losses realized in a prior taxable year. The amount of capital losses that can be carried forward and used in any single year is subject to an annual limitation if there is a more than 50% “change in ownership” of the Portfolio. An ownership change generally results when shareholders owning 5% or more of the Portfolio increase their aggregate holdings by more than 50% over a three-year look-back period. An ownership change could result in capital loss carryovers being used at a slower rate (or, in the case of those realized in taxable years of the Portfolio beginning on or before December 22, 2010, to expire unutilized), thereby reducing the Portfolio’s ability to offset capital gains with those losses. An increase in the amount of taxable gains distributed to the Portfolio’s shareholders could result from an ownership change. The Portfolio undertakes no obligation to avoid or prevent an ownership change, which can occur in the normal course of shareholder purchases and redemptions or as a result of engaging in a tax-free reorganization with another portfolio. Moreover, because of circumstances beyond the Portfolio’s control, there can be no assurance that the Portfolio will not experience, or has not already experienced, an ownership change.

Deferral of late year losses. For taxable years of the Portfolio beginning after December 22, 2010, the Portfolio may elect to treat part or all of any “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in determining the Portfolio’s taxable income, net capital gain, net short-term capital gain, and earnings and profits. The effect of this election is to treat any such “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in characterizing Portfolio distributions for any calendar year (see “Distributions of Capital Gains” below). A “qualified late year loss” includes:

 

   

any net capital loss, net long-term capital loss, or net short-term capital loss incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year (“post-October losses”), and

 

   

the excess, if any, of (1) the sum of (a) specified losses incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year, and (b) other ordinary losses incurred after December 31 of the current taxable year, over (2) the sum of (a) specified gains incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year, and (b) other ordinary gains incurred after December 31 of the current taxable year.

The terms “specified losses” and “specified gains” mean ordinary losses and gains from the sale, exchange, or other disposition of property (including the termination of a position with respect to such property), foreign currency losses, and losses resulting from holding stock in a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) for which a mark-to-market election is in effect. The terms “ordinary losses” and “ordinary gains” mean other ordinary losses and gains that are not described in the preceding sentence. Since the Portfolio has a fiscal year ending in October, the amount of qualified late-year losses (if any) is computed without regard to any items of income, gain, or loss that are (a) post-October losses, (b) specified losses, and (c) specified gains.

 

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Undistributed capital gains. The Portfolio may retain or distribute to shareholders its net capital gain for each taxable year. The Portfolio currently intends to distribute net capital gains. If the Portfolio elects to retain its net capital gain, the Portfolio will be taxed thereon (except to the extent of any available capital loss carryovers) at the highest corporate tax rate (currently 35%). If the Portfolio elects to retain its net capital gain, it is expected that the Portfolio also will elect to have shareholders treated as if each received a distribution of its pro rata share of such gain, with the result that each shareholder will be required to report its pro rata share of such gain on its tax return as long-term capital gain, will receive a refundable tax credit for its pro rata share of tax paid by the Portfolio on the gain, and will increase the tax basis for its shares by an amount equal to the deemed distribution less the tax credit.

Fund-of-funds corporate structures. In the case of a Portfolio that invests in Underlying Funds classified as corporations, distributions by the Underlying Funds, redemptions of shares in the Underlying Funds, and changes in asset allocations by the Portfolio may result in taxable distributions to Portfolio shareholders of ordinary income or capital gains. A Portfolio that is a fund of funds generally will not be able currently to offset gains realized by one Underlying Fund against losses realized by another Underlying Fund. If shares of an Underlying Fund are purchased within 30 days before or after redeeming at a loss other shares of that Underlying Fund (whether pursuant to a rebalancing by the Portfolio or otherwise), all or a part of the loss will not be deductible by the Portfolio and instead will increase its basis for the newly purchased shares. Effective for taxable years of a Portfolio beginning after December 22, 2010, a Portfolio that is a “qualified fund of funds,” meaning at least 50 percent of the value of the total assets of which (at the close of each quarter of the taxable year) is represented by interests in other RICs, is eligible to pass-through to the Portfolio’s shareholders (a) foreign tax credits reported by an Underlying Fund that invests in foreign securities, and (b) exempt-interest dividends reported by an Underlying Fund that invests in tax-exempt obligations. In contrast, a Portfolio that is a fund of funds, but not so qualified, is not eligible to pass-through to the Portfolio’s shareholders amounts reported by an Underlying Fund as foreign tax credits or exempt-interest dividends. A fund of funds, whether so qualified or not, is eligible to pass-through to shareholders qualified dividends earned by an Underlying Fund (see “Qualified Dividend Income for Individuals” and “Dividends Received Deduction for Corporations” below). However, dividends paid to shareholders by a fund of funds from interest earned by an Underlying Fund on U.S. Government obligations are unlikely to be exempt from state and local income tax (see “U.S. Government Securities” below”).

Excise tax distribution requirements. To avoid a 4% federal excise tax, the Code requires the Portfolio to distribute to you by December 31 of each year, at a minimum, the following amounts: 98% of its taxable ordinary income earned during the calendar year; 98% (or 98.2% beginning January 1, 2011) of its capital gain net income earned during the twelve-month period ending October 31; and 100% of any undistributed amounts from the prior year. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay these distributions in December (or to pay them in January, in which case you must treat them as received in December) but can give no assurances that its distributions will be sufficient to eliminate all taxes.

Foreign income tax. Investment income received by the Portfolio from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign income tax withheld at the source and the amount of tax withheld generally will be treated as an expense of the Portfolio. The United States has entered into tax treaties with many foreign countries which entitle the Portfolio to a reduced rate of, or exemption from, tax on such income. It is impossible to determine the effective rate of foreign tax in advance since the amount of the Portfolio's assets to be invested in various countries is not known. Under certain circumstances, the Portfolio may elect to pass-through foreign tax credits to shareholders, although it reserves the right not to do so. See “Investment in Foreign SecuritiesPass-through of foreign tax credits” below.

Distributions of Net Investment Income

The Portfolio receives ordinary income generally in the form of dividends and/or interest on its investments. In the case of a Feeder Portfolio that invests in a Master Fund or a Portfolio that invests in an Underlying Fund classified as a partnership, the Portfolio’s income generally consists of its share of dividends and interest earned by the Master Fund or Underlying Fund. A Portfolio investing in an Underlying Fund classified as a corporation receives income generally in the form of dividends. The Portfolio may also recognize ordinary income from other sources, including, but not limited to, certain gains on foreign currency-related transactions. This income, less expenses incurred in the operation of the Portfolio, constitutes the Portfolio's net investment income from which dividends may be paid to you. If you are a taxable investor, distributions of net investment income generally are

 

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taxable as ordinary income to the extent of the Portfolio’s earnings and profits. In the case of a Portfolio whose strategy includes investing in stocks of corporations, a portion of the income dividends paid to shareholders by a Portfolio may be qualified dividends eligible to be taxed at reduced rates.

Distributions of Capital Gains

The Portfolio may realize a capital gain or loss in connection with sales or other dispositions of its portfolio securities. A Portfolio investing in an Underlying Fund classified as a corporation may also derive capital gains through its redemption of shares of an Underlying Fund classified as a corporation (see “Taxation of the Portfolio –Fund-of-funds corporate structures” above). Distributions derived from the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss will be taxable to you as ordinary income. Distributions from the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long you have held your shares in the Portfolio. Any net capital gain of the Portfolio generally will be distributed once each year, and may be distributed more frequently, if necessary, to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the Portfolio.

Returns of Capital

Distributions by the Portfolio that are not paid from earnings and profits will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of (and in reduction of) the shareholder's tax basis in his shares; any excess will be treated as gain from the sale of his shares. Thus, the portion of a distribution that constitutes a return of capital will decrease the shareholder’s tax basis in his Portfolio shares (but not below zero), and will result in an increase in the amount of gain (or decrease in the amount of loss) that will be recognized by the shareholder for tax purposes on the later sale of such Portfolio shares. Return of capital distributions can occur for a number of reasons including, among others, the Portfolio over-estimates the income to be received from certain investments such as those classified as partnerships or equity REITs (see “Tax Treatment of Portfolio TransactionsInvestments in U.S. REITs” below).

Investment in Foreign Securities

The Portfolio may be subject to foreign withholding taxes on income from certain foreign securities. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes on the Portfolio and/or its shareholders. Any foreign withholding taxes could reduce the Portfolio’s distributions paid to you.

Pass-through of foreign tax credits. If at the end of the fiscal year, (i) more than 50% in value of the total assets of the Portfolio (or if the Portfolio is a qualified fund of funds as described above under the heading “Taxation of the PortfolioFund of funds corporate structures”, an Underlying Fund), or (ii) in the case of a Feeder Portfolio (or a Portfolio that invests in Underlying Funds classified as partnerships), more than 50% in value of the total assets of the Feeder Portfolio attributable from the Master Fund (or of the Portfolio attributable from the Underlying Fund), are invested in securities of foreign corporations, the Portfolio may elect to pass through to its shareholders their pro rata share of foreign income taxes paid by the Portfolio (or Underlying Fund or Master Fund). If this election is made, the Portfolio may report more taxable income to you than it actually distributes. You will then be entitled either to deduct your share of these taxes in computing your taxable income or to claim a foreign tax credit for these taxes against your U.S. federal income tax (subject to limitations for certain shareholders). The Portfolio will provide you with the information necessary to claim this deduction or credit on your personal income tax return if it makes this election. The Portfolio (or Underlying Fund or Master Fund) reserves the right not to pass through to its shareholders the amount of foreign income taxes paid by the Portfolio (or Underlying Fund or Master Fund).

The amount of any foreign tax credits available to you (as a result of the pass-through to you of your pro rata share of foreign taxes paid by the Portfolio) will be reduced if you receive from the Portfolio qualifying dividends from qualifying foreign corporations that are subject to tax at reduced rates. Shareholders in these circumstances should talk with their personal tax advisors about their foreign tax credits and the procedures that they should follow to claim these credits on their personal income tax returns.

 

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Effect of foreign debt investments on distributions. Most foreign exchange gains realized on the sale of debt securities are treated by the Portfolio as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes. Similarly, foreign exchange losses realized on the sale of debt securities generally are treated as ordinary losses. These gains when distributed are taxable to you as ordinary income, and any losses reduce the Portfolio’s ordinary income otherwise available for distribution to you. This treatment could increase or decrease the Portfolio’s ordinary income distributions to you, and may cause some or all of the Portfolio’s previously distributed income to be classified as a return of capital.

PFIC securities. The Portfolio may invest in securities of foreign entities that could be deemed for tax purposes to be PFICs. In general, a PFIC is any foreign corporation if 75% or more of its gross income for its taxable year is passive income, or 50% or more of its average assets (by value) are held for the production of passive income. When investing in PFIC securities, the Portfolio intends to mark-to-market these securities and recognize any unrealized gains as ordinary income at the end of its fiscal year. Deductions for losses are allowable only to the extent of any current or previously recognized gains. These gains (reduced by allowable losses) are treated as ordinary income that the Portfolio is required to distribute, even though it has not sold or received dividends from these securities. You should also be aware that the designation of a foreign security as a PFIC security will cause its income dividends to fall outside of the definition of qualified foreign corporation dividends. These dividends generally will not qualify for the reduced rate of taxation on qualified dividends when distributed to you by the Portfolio. In addition, if the Portfolio (or an Underlying Fund organized as a corporation) is unable to identify an investment as a PFIC and thus does not make a mark-to-market election, the Portfolio (or Underlying Fund) may be subject to U.S. federal income tax (the effect of which might be mitigated by making a mark-to-market election in a year prior to the sale) on a portion of any “excess distribution” or gain from the disposition of such shares even if such income is distributed as a taxable dividend by the Portfolio to its shareholders. Additional charges in the nature of interest may be imposed on the Portfolio (or Underlying Fund) in respect of deferred taxes arising from such distributions or gains. Any such taxes or interest charges could in turn reduce the Portfolio’s distributions paid to you.

Information on the Amount and Tax Character of Distributions

The Portfolio will inform you of the amount and character of your distributions at the time they are paid, and will advise you of the tax status of such distributions for federal income tax purposes shortly after the close of each calendar year. If you have not held Portfolio shares for a full year, the Portfolio may report to shareholders and distribute to you, as ordinary income, qualified dividends, or capital gains, and in the case of non-U.S. shareholders the Portfolio may further report and distribute as interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends, a percentage of income that is not equal to the actual amount of such income earned during the period of your investment in the Portfolio. Taxable distributions declared by the Portfolio in December to shareholders of record in such month, but paid in January, are taxable to you as if they were paid in December.

Sales, Exchanges and Redemptions of Portfolio Shares

In general. If you are a taxable investor, sales, exchanges and redemptions (including redemptions in kind) are taxable transactions for federal and state income tax purposes. If you redeem your Portfolio shares, the IRS requires you to report any gain or loss on your redemption. If you held your shares as a capital asset, the gain or loss that you realize will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term or short-term, generally depending on how long you have held your shares.

Redemptions at a loss within six months of purchase. Any loss incurred on a redemption of shares of the Portfolio held for six months or less will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributed to you by the Portfolio on those shares.

Wash sales. All or a portion of any loss that you realize on a redemption of your Portfolio shares will be disallowed to the extent that you buy other shares in the Portfolio (through reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) within 30 days before or after your share redemption. Any loss disallowed under these rules will be added to your tax basis in the new shares.

 

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Cost basis reporting. Under the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008, the Portfolio’s administrative agent will be required to provide you with cost basis information on the sale of any of your shares in the Portfolio, subject to certain exceptions. This cost basis reporting requirement is effective for shares purchased in the Portfolio on or after January 1, 2012.

Conversion of shares into shares of the same Portfolio. The conversion of shares of one class into another class of the same Portfolio is not taxable for federal income tax purposes. Shareholders should also consult their tax advisors regarding the state and local tax consequences of a conversion or exchange of shares of the same Portfolio.

Tax shelter reporting. Under Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to the Portfolio’s shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886.

U.S. Government Securities

To the extent the Portfolio (or in the case of a Feeder Portfolio, the Master Fund or an Underlying Fund classified as a partnership) invests in certain U.S. government obligations, dividends paid by the Portfolio to shareholders that are derived from interest on these obligations should be exempt from state and local personal income taxes, subject in some states to minimum investment or reporting requirements that must be met by the Portfolio, the Feeder Portfolio’s corresponding Master Fund or the Underlying Fund. To the extent an Underlying Fund organized as a corporation invests in U.S. government obligations, dividends derived from interest on these obligations and paid to the corresponding Portfolio and, in turn, to you are unlikely to be exempt from state and local income tax. The income on portfolio investments in certain securities, such as repurchase agreements, commercial paper and federal agency-backed obligations (e.g., Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) or Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) securities), generally does not qualify for tax-free treatment. The rules on exclusion of this income are different for corporate shareholders.

Qualified Dividend Income for Individuals

With respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2013 (unless such provision is extended or made permanent), ordinary income dividends reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as derived from qualified dividend income will be taxed in the hands of individuals and other noncorporate shareholders at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain. “Qualified dividend income” means dividends paid to the Portfolio (a) by domestic corporations, (b) by foreign corporations that are either (i) incorporated in a possession of the United States, or (ii) are eligible for benefits under certain income tax treaties with the United States that include an exchange of information program, or (c) with respect to stock of a foreign corporation that is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. Both the Portfolio and the investor must meet certain holding period requirements to qualify Portfolio dividends for this treatment. Specifically, the Portfolio must hold the stock for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the stock becomes ex-dividend. Similarly, investors must hold their Portfolio shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the Portfolio distribution goes ex-dividend. Income derived from investments in derivatives, fixed-income securities, U.S. REITs, PFICs, and income received “in lieu of” dividends in a securities lending transaction generally is not eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income. If the qualifying dividend income received by the Portfolio is equal to or greater than 95% of the Portfolio's gross income (exclusive of net capital gain) in any taxable year, all of the ordinary income dividends paid by the Portfolio will be qualifying dividend income.

Dividends-Received Deduction for Corporations

For corporate shareholders, a portion of the dividends paid by the Portfolio may qualify for the 70% corporate dividends-received deduction. The portion of dividends paid by the Portfolio that so qualifies will be reported by the Portfolio to shareholders each year and cannot exceed the gross amount of dividends received by the Portfolio from domestic (U.S.) corporations. The availability of the dividends-received deduction is subject to certain holding period and debt financing restrictions that apply to both the Portfolio and the investor. Specifically, the amount that the] Portfolio may report as eligible for the dividends-received deduction will be reduced or eliminated if the shares on which the dividends earned by the Portfolio were debt-financed or held by the Portfolio for less than a minimum period of time, generally 46 days during a 91-day period beginning 45 days before the stock

 

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becomes ex-dividend. Similarly, if your Portfolio shares are debt-financed or held by you for less than a 46-day period then the dividends-received deduction for Portfolio dividends on your shares may also be reduced or eliminated. Even if reported as dividends eligible for the dividends-received deduction, all dividends (including any deducted portion) must be included in your alternative minimum taxable income calculation. Income derived by the Portfolio from investments in derivatives, fixed-income and foreign securities generally is not eligible for this treatment.

Limitation on Deductibility of Losses

Losses incurred on the sale of securities by the Portfolio (or corresponding Master Fund) to another Portfolio (or Master Fund) will be disallowed if, as of the date of sale, the selling and purchasing portfolios are considered related parties. If the selling and purchasing portfolios are both corporations, they are treated as related parties if five or fewer persons, who are individuals, estates or trusts, own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the outstanding shares in both the selling and purchasing portfolios. If the selling and purchasing portfolios are both Master Funds (i.e., both partnerships) or a Master Fund and a Portfolio (i.e., a partnership and a corporation), they are treated as related parties if the same persons own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the outstanding shares in both the selling and purchasing portfolios. Under attribution rules, the shareholders of a Feeder Portfolio would be considered to own the shares of the corresponding Master Fund on a pro rata basis for purposes of applying the loss disallowance rule. Other attribution rules may apply.

Tax Treatment of Portfolio Transactions

Set forth below is a general description of the tax treatment of certain types of securities, investment techniques and transactions that may apply to a portfolio and, in turn, effect the amount, character and timing of dividends and distributions payable by the portfolio to its shareholders. This section should be read in conjunction with the discussion in the Prospectus under “Principal Investment Strategies” and “Principal Risks” for a detailed description of the various types of securities and investment techniques that apply to the Portfolio.

In general. In general, gain or loss recognized by a portfolio on the sale or other disposition of portfolio investments will be a capital gain or loss. Such capital gain and loss may be long-term or short-term depending, in general, upon the length of time a particular investment position is maintained and, in some cases, upon the nature of the transaction. Property held for more than one year generally will be eligible for long-term capital gain or loss treatment. The application of certain rules described below may serve to alter the manner in which the holding period for a security is determined or may otherwise affect the characterization as long-term or short-term, and also the timing of the realization and/or character, of certain gains or losses.

Certain fixed-income investments. Gain recognized on the disposition of a debt obligation purchased by a portfolio at a market discount (generally, at a price less than its principal amount) will be treated as ordinary income to the extent of the portion of the market discount that accrued during the period of time the portfolio held the debt obligation unless the portfolio made a current inclusion election to accrue market discount into income as it accrues. If a portfolio purchases a debt obligation (such as a zero coupon security or pay-in-kind security) that was originally issued at a discount, the portfolio generally is required to include in gross income each year the portion of the original issue discount that accrues during such year. Therefore, a portfolio’s investment in such securities may cause the portfolio to recognize income and make distributions to shareholders before it receives any cash payments on the securities. To generate cash to satisfy those distribution requirements, a portfolio may have to sell portfolio securities that it otherwise might have continued to hold or to use cash flows from other sources such as the sale of portfolio shares.

Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of or in default present tax issues for a portfolio. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as whether and to what extent a portfolio should recognize market discount on a debt obligation, when a portfolio may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount or market discount, when and to what extent a portfolio may take deductions for bad debts or worthless securities and how a portfolio should allocate payments received on obligations in default between principal and income. These and other related issues will be addressed by a portfolio in order to ensure that it distributes sufficient income to preserve its status as a regulated investment company.

 

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Options, futures, forward contracts, swap agreements and hedging transactions. In general, option premiums received by a portfolio are not immediately included in the income of the portfolio. Instead, the premiums are recognized when the option contract expires, the option is exercised by the holder, or the portfolio transfers or otherwise terminates the option (e.g., through a closing transaction). If an option written by a portfolio is exercised and the portfolio sells or delivers the underlying stock, the portfolio generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to (a) sum of the strike price and the option premium received by the portfolio minus (b) the portfolio’s basis in the stock. Such gain or loss generally will be short-term or long-term depending upon the holding period of the underlying stock. If securities are purchased by a portfolio pursuant to the exercise of a put option written by it, the portfolio generally will subtract the premium received from its cost basis in the securities purchased. The gain or loss with respect to any termination of a portfolio’s obligation under an option other than through the exercise of the option and related sale or delivery of the underlying stock generally will be short-term gain or loss depending on whether the premium income received by the portfolio is greater or less than the amount paid by the portfolio (if any) in terminating the transaction. Thus, for example, if an option written by a portfolio expires unexercised, the portfolio generally will recognize short-term gain equal to the premium received.

The tax treatment of certain futures contracts entered into by a portfolio as well as listed non-equity options written or purchased by the portfolio on U.S. exchanges (including options on futures contracts, broad-based equity indices and debt securities) may be governed by section 1256 of the Code (“section 1256 contracts”). Gains or losses on section 1256 contracts generally are considered 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gains or losses (“60/40”), although certain foreign currency gains and losses from such contracts may be treated as ordinary in character. Also, any section 1256 contracts held by a portfolio at the end of each taxable year (and, for purposes of the 4% excise tax, on certain other dates as prescribed under the Code) are “marked to market” with the result that unrealized gains or losses are treated as though they were realized and the resulting gain or loss is treated as ordinary or 60/40 gain or loss, as applicable. Section 1256 contracts do not include any interest rate swap, currency swap, basis swap, interest rate cap, interest rate floor, commodity swap, equity swap, equity index swap, credit default swap, or similar agreement.

In addition to the special rules described above in respect of options and futures transactions, a portfolio’s transactions in other derivative instruments (including options, forward contracts and swap agreements) as well as its other hedging, short sale, or similar transactions, may be subject to one or more special tax rules (including the constructive sale, notional principal contract, straddle, wash sale and short sale rules). These rules may affect whether gains and losses recognized by a portfolio are treated as ordinary or capital or as short-term or long-term, accelerate the recognition of income or gains to the portfolio, defer losses to the portfolio, and cause adjustments in the holding periods of the portfolio’s securities. These rules, therefore, could affect the amount, timing and/or character of distributions to shareholders. Moreover, because the tax rules applicable to derivative financial instruments are in some cases uncertain under current law, an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to these rules (which determination or guidance could be retroactive) may affect whether a portfolio has made sufficient distributions and otherwise satisfied the relevant requirements to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company and avoid a portfolio-level tax.

Certain of a portfolio’s investments in derivatives and foreign currency-denominated instruments, and the portfolio’s transactions in foreign currencies and hedging activities, may produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. If a portfolio’s book income is less than the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any), the portfolio could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regulated investment company. If a portfolio’s book income exceeds the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any), the distribution of any such excess will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of the portfolio’s remaining earnings and profits (including current earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income, reduced, for taxable years of the Portfolio beginning after December 22, 2010, by related deductions), (ii) thereafter, as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient’s basis in the shares, and (iii) thereafter, as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset.

Foreign currency transactions. A portfolio’s transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated debt obligations and certain foreign currency options, futures contracts and forward contracts (and similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned. This treatment could increase or decrease a portfolio’s ordinary income distributions to you, and may cause some or all of the portfolio’s previously distributed income to

 

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be classified as a return of capital. In certain cases, a portfolio may make an election to treat such gain or loss as capital.

Investments in non-U.S. REITs. While non-U.S. REITs often use complex acquisition structures that seek to minimize taxation in the source country, an investment by a portfolio in a non-U.S. REIT may subject the portfolio, directly or indirectly, to corporate taxes, withholding taxes, transfer taxes and other indirect taxes in the country in which the real estate acquired by the non-U.S. REIT is located. The portfolio’s pro rata share of any such taxes will reduce the portfolio’s return on its investment. A portfolio’s investment in a non-U.S. REIT may be considered an investment in a PFIC, as discussed above in “Investment in Foreign Securities PFIC securities.” Additionally, foreign withholding taxes on distributions from the non-U.S. REIT may be reduced or eliminated under certain tax treaties, as discussed above in “Taxation of the Portfolio Foreign income tax.” Also, the portfolio in certain limited circumstances may be required to file an income tax return in the source country and pay tax on any gain realized from its investment in the non-U.S. REIT under rules similar to those in the United States which tax foreign persons on gain realized from dispositions of interests in U.S. real estate.

Investments in U.S. REITs. A U.S. REIT is not subject to federal income tax on the income and gains it distributes to shareholders. Dividends paid by a U.S. REIT, other than capital gain distributions, will be taxable as ordinary income up to the amount of the U.S. REIT’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Capital gain dividends paid by a U.S. REIT to a portfolio will be treated as long term capital gains by the portfolio and, in turn, may be distributed by the portfolio to its shareholders as a capital gain distribution. Because of certain noncash expenses, such as property depreciation, an equity U.S. REIT’s cash flow may exceed its taxable income. The equity U.S. REIT, and in turn a portfolio, may distribute this excess cash to shareholders in the form of a return of capital distribution. However, if a U.S. REIT is operated in a manner that fails to qualify as a REIT, an investment in the U.S. REIT would become subject to double taxation, meaning the taxable income of the U.S. REIT would be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders and the dividends would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income (or possibly as qualified dividend income) to the extent of the U.S. REIT’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Also, see “Tax Treatment of Portfolio Transactions Investment in taxable mortgage pools(excess inclusion income)” and “Non-U.S. Investors — Investment in U.S. real property” with respect to certain other tax aspects of investing in U.S. REITs.

Investment in taxable mortgage pools (excess inclusion income). Under a Notice issued by the IRS, the Code and Treasury regulations to be issued, a portion of a portfolio’s income from a U.S. REIT that is attributable to the REIT’s residual interest in a [real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMICs”) or equity interests in a “taxable mortgage pool” (referred to in the Code as an excess inclusion) will be subject to federal income tax in all events. The excess inclusion income of a regulated investment company, such as a portfolio, will be allocated to shareholders of the regulated investment company in proportion to the dividends received by such shareholders, with the same consequences as if the shareholders held the related REMIC residual interest or, if applicable, taxable mortgage pool directly. In general, excess inclusion income allocated to shareholders (i) cannot be offset by net operating losses (subject to a limited exception for certain thrift institutions), (ii) will constitute unrelated business taxable income to entities (including qualified pension plans, individual retirement accounts, 401(k) plans, Keogh plans or other tax-exempt entities) subject to tax on unrelated business income (“UBTI”), thereby potentially requiring such an entity that is allocated excess inclusion income, and otherwise might not be required to file a tax return, to file a tax return and pay tax on such income, and (iii) in the case of a foreign stockholder, will not qualify for any reduction in U.S. federal withholding tax. In addition, if at any time during any taxable year a “disqualified organization” (which generally includes certain cooperatives, governmental entities, and tax-exempt organizations not subject to UBTI) is a record holder of a share in a regulated investment company, then the regulated investment company will be subject to a tax equal to that portion of its excess inclusion income for the taxable year that is allocable to the disqualified organization, multiplied by the highest federal income tax rate imposed on corporations. The Notice imposes certain reporting requirements upon regulated investment companies that have excess inclusion income. There can be no assurance that a portfolio will not allocate to shareholders excess inclusion income.

These rules are potentially applicable to a portfolio with respect to any income it receives from the equity interests of certain mortgage pooling vehicles, either directly or, as is more likely, through an investment in a U.S. REIT. It is unlikely that these rules will apply to a portfolio that has a non-REIT strategy.

 

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Investments in partnerships and qualified publicly traded partnerships (“QPTP”). For purposes of the Income Requirement, income derived by a portfolio from a partnership that is not a QPTP will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership that would be qualifying income if realized directly by the portfolio. For purposes of testing whether a portfolio satisfies the Asset Diversification Test, the portfolio generally is treated as owning a pro rata share of the underlying assets of a partnership. See “Taxation of the PortfolioQualification as a regulated investment company.” In contrast, different rules apply to a partnership that is a QPTP. A QPTP is a partnership (a) the interests in which are traded on an established securities market, (b) that is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, and (c) that derives less than 90% of its income from sources that satisfy the Income Requirement (e.g., because it invests in commodities). All of the net income derived by a portfolio from an interest in a QPTP will be treated as qualifying income but the portfolio may not invest more than 25% of its total assets in one or more QPTPs. However, there can be no assurance that a partnership classified as a QPTP in one year will qualify as a QPTP in the next year. Any such failure to annually qualify as a QPTP might, in turn, cause a portfolio to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company.

Securities lending. While securities are loaned out by a portfolio, the portfolio generally will receive from the borrower amounts equal to any dividends or interest paid on the borrowed securities. For federal income tax purposes, payments made “in lieu of” dividends are not considered dividend income. These distributions will neither qualify for the reduced rate of taxation for individuals on qualified dividends nor the 70% dividends received deduction for corporations. Also, any foreign tax withheld on payments made “in lieu of” dividends or interest will not qualify for the pass-through of foreign tax credits to shareholders.

Investments in convertible securities. Convertible debt is ordinarily treated as a “single property” consisting of a pure debt interest until conversion, after which the investment becomes an equity interest. If the security is issued at a premium (i.e., for cash in excess of the face amount payable on retirement), the creditor-holder may amortize the premium over the life of the bond. If the security is issued for cash at a price below its face amount, the creditor-holder must accrue original issue discount in income over the life of the debt. The creditor-holder’s exercise of the conversion privilege is treated as a nontaxable event. Mandatorily convertible debt (e.g., an exchange traded note or ETN issued in the form of an unsecured obligation that pays a return based on the performance of a specified market index, exchange currency, or commodity) is often, but not always, treated as a contract to buy or sell the reference property rather than debt. Similarly, convertible preferred stock with a mandatory conversion feature is ordinarily, but not always, treated as equity rather than debt. Dividends received generally are qualified dividend income and eligible for the corporate dividends received deduction. In general, conversion of preferred stock for common stock of the same corporation is tax-free. Conversion of preferred stock for cash is a taxable redemption. Any redemption premium for preferred stock that is redeemable by the issuing company might be required to be amortized under original issue discount (“OID”) principles.

Backup Withholding

By law, the Portfolio may be required to withhold a portion of your taxable dividends and sales proceeds unless you:

 

   

provide your correct social security or taxpayer identification number,

   

certify that this number is correct,

   

certify that you are not subject to backup withholding, and

   

certify that you are a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien).

The Portfolio also must withhold if the IRS instructs it to do so. When withholding is required, the amount will be 28% of any distributions or proceeds paid. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS. Certain payees and payments are exempt from backup withholding and information reporting. The special U.S. tax certification requirements applicable to non-U.S. investors are described under the “Non-U.S. Investors” heading below.

 

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Non-U.S. Investors

Non-U.S. investors (shareholders who, as to the United States, are nonresident alien individuals, foreign trusts or estates, foreign corporations, or foreign partnerships) may be subject to U.S. withholding and estate tax and are subject to special U.S. tax certification requirements. Non-U.S. investors should consult their tax advisors about the applicability of U.S. tax withholding and the use of the appropriate forms to certify their status.

In general. The United States imposes a flat 30% withholding tax (or a withholding tax at a lower treaty rate) on U.S. source dividends, including on income dividends paid to you by the Portfolio. Exemptions from this U.S. withholding tax are provided for dividends reported by the Portfolio as exempt-interest dividends, capital gain dividends and paid by the Portfolio from its net long-term capital gains, and with respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended, or made permanent), interest-related dividends paid by the Portfolio from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources and short-term capital gain dividends. However, notwithstanding such exemptions from U.S. withholding at the source, any dividends and distributions of income and capital gains, including the proceeds from the sale of your Portfolio shares, will be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 28% if you fail to properly certify that you are not a U.S. person.

Capital gain dividends and short-term capital gain dividends. In general, (i) a capital gain dividend reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as paid from its net long-term capital gains or (ii) with respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended or made permanent), a short-term capital gain dividend reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as paid from its net short-term capital gains, other than long- or short-term capital gains realized on disposition of U.S. real property interests (see the discussion below) are not subject to U.S. withholding tax unless you are a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the calendar year.

Interest-related dividends. With respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended or made permanent), dividends reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as interest-related dividends and paid from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources are not subject to U.S. withholding tax. “Qualified interest income” includes, in general, U.S. source (1) bank deposit interest, (2) short-term original discount, (3) interest (including original issue discount, market discount, or acquisition discount) on an obligation which is in registered form, unless it is earned on an obligation issued by a corporation or partnership in which the Portfolio is a 10-percent shareholder or is contingent interest, and (4) any interest-related dividend from another regulated investment company. On any payment date, the amount of an income dividend that is reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as an interest-related dividend may be more or less than the amount that is so qualified. This is because the reporting of interest related dividends is based on an estimate of the Portfolio’s qualified net interest income for its entire fiscal year, which can only be determined with exactness at fiscal year end. As a consequence, the Portfolio may over withhold a small amount of U.S. tax from a dividend payment. In this case, the non-U.S. investor’s only recourse may be to either forgo recovery of the excess withholding, or to file a United States nonresident income tax return to recover the excess withholding.

Further limitations on tax reporting for interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends for non-U.S. investors. It may not be practical in every case for the Portfolio to report to shareholders, and the Portfolio reserves the right in these cases to not report, small amounts of interest-related or short-term capital gain dividends. Additionally, the Portfolio’s reporting of interest-related or short-term capital gain dividends may not be passed through to shareholders by intermediaries who have assumed tax reporting responsibilities for this income in managed or omnibus accounts due to systems limitations or operational constraints.

Net investment income from dividends on stock and foreign source interest income continue to be subject to withholding tax; effectively connected income. Ordinary dividends paid by the Portfolio to non-U.S. investors on the income earned on portfolio investments in (i) the stock of domestic and foreign corporations, and (ii) the debt of foreign issuers continue to be subject to U.S. withholding tax. If you hold your Portfolio shares in connection with a U.S. trade or business, your income and gains will be considered effectively connected income and taxed in the U.S. on a net basis, in which case you may be required to file a nonresident U.S. income tax return.

Investment in U.S. real property. The Portfolio may invest in equity securities of corporations that invest in U.S. real property, including U.S. REITs. The sale of a U.S. real property interest (“USRPI”) by the Portfolio or by a

 

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U.S. REIT or U.S. real property holding corporation in which the Portfolio invests may trigger special tax consequences to the Portfolio’s non-U.S. shareholders.

The Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 (“FIRPTA”) makes non-U.S. persons subject to U.S. tax on disposition of a USRPI as if he or she were a U.S. person. Such gain is sometimes referred to as FIRPTA gain. The Code provides a look-through rule for distributions of FIRPTA gain by a RIC received from a U.S. REIT or another RIC classified as a U.S. real property holding corporation or realized by the RIC on a sale of a USRPI (other than a domestically controlled U.S. REIT or RIC that is classified as a qualified investment entity) if all of the following requirements are met:

 

   

The RIC is classified as a qualified investment entity. A RIC is classified as a “qualified investment entity” with respect to a distribution to a non-U.S. person which is attributable directly or indirectly to a distribution from a U.S. REIT if, in general, 50% or more of the RIC’s assets consists of interests in U.S. REITs and U.S. real property holding corporations, and

 

   

You are a non-U.S. shareholder that owns more than 5% of a class of Portfolio shares at any time during the one-year period ending on the date of the distribution.

 

   

If these conditions are met, such Portfolio distributions to you are treated as gain from the disposition of a USRPI, causing the distributions to be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a rate of 35% (unless reduced by future regulations), and requiring that you file a nonresident U.S. income tax return.

 

   

In addition, even if you do not own more than 5% of a class of Portfolio shares, but the Portfolio is a qualified investment entity, such Portfolio distributions to you will be taxable as ordinary dividends rather than as a capital gain dividend (a distribution of long-term capital gains) or a short-term capital gain dividend subject to withholding at the 30% or lower treaty withholding rate.

These rules apply to dividends paid by the Portfolio before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended or made permanent), except that after this date, the Portfolio’s distributions from a U.S. REIT (whether or not domestically controlled) attributable to FIRPTA gain will continue to be subject to the withholding rules described above provided the Portfolio would otherwise be classified as a qualified investment entity.

Because the Portfolio expects to invest less than 50% of its assets at all times, directly or indirectly, in U.S. real property interests, the Portfolio expects that neither gain on the sale or redemption of Portfolio shares nor Portfolio dividends and distributions would be subject to FIRPTA reporting and tax withholding.

U.S. estate tax. Transfers by gift of shares of the Portfolio by a foreign shareholder who is a nonresident alien individual will not be subject to U.S. federal gift tax. For decedents dying during 2010, the U.S. federal estate tax was reinstated retroactively, except where the executor of the estate of a decedent makes an election to opt out of the estate tax and instead be subject to modified carryover basis rules. For decedents dying after 2010, an individual who, at the time of death, is a non-U.S. shareholder will nevertheless be subject to U.S. federal estate tax with respect to Portfolio shares at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. citizens and residents, unless a treaty exemption applies. If a treaty exemption is available, a decedent’s estate may nonetheless need to file a U.S. estate tax return to claim the exemption in order to obtain a U.S. federal transfer certificate. The transfer certificate will identify the property (i.e., Portfolio shares) as to which the U.S. federal estate tax lien has been released. In the absence of a treaty, there is a $13,000 statutory estate tax credit (equivalent to U.S. situs assets with a value of $60,000). For estates with U.S. situs assets of not more than $60,000, the Portfolio may accept, in lieu of a transfer certificate, an affidavit from an appropriate individual evidencing that decedent’s U.S. situs assets are below this threshold amount. In addition, a partial exemption from U.S estate tax may apply to Portfolio shares held by the estate of a nonresident decedent. The amount treated as exempt is based upon the proportion of the assets held by the Portfolio at the end of the quarter immediately preceding the decedent's death that are debt obligations, deposits, or other property that generally would be treated as situated outside the United States if held directly by the estate. This provision applies to decedents dying after December 31, 2004 and before January 1, 2012, unless such provision is extended or made permanent.

U.S. tax certification rules. Special U.S. tax certification requirements apply to non-U.S. shareholders both to avoid U.S. back up withholding imposed at a rate of 28% and to obtain the benefits of any treaty between the United States and the shareholder’s country of residence. In general, a non-U.S. shareholder must provide a Form

 

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W-8 BEN (or other applicable Form W-8) to establish that you are not a U.S. person, to claim that you are the beneficial owner of the income and, if applicable, to claim a reduced rate of, or exemption from, withholding as a resident of a country with which the United States has an income tax treaty. A Form W-8BEN provided without a U.S. taxpayer identification number will remain in effect for a period beginning on the date signed and ending on the last day of the third succeeding calendar year unless an earlier change of circumstances makes the information on the form incorrect.

The tax consequences to a non-U.S. shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of an applicable tax treaty may be different from those described herein. Non-U.S. shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in the Portfolio, including the applicability of foreign tax.

Effect of Future Legislation; Local Tax Considerations

The foregoing general discussion of U.S. federal income tax consequences is based on the Code and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and any such changes or decisions may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein. Rules of state and local taxation of ordinary income, qualified dividend income and capital gain dividends may differ from the rules for U.S. federal income taxation described above. Distributions may also be subject to additional state, local and foreign taxes depending on each shareholder’s particular situation. Non-U.S. shareholders may be subject to U.S. tax rules that differ significantly from those summarized above. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors as to the consequences of these and other state and local tax rules affecting investment in the Portfolio.

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

The Boards of Directors of DIG, DFAIDG and DEM, and the Board of Trustees of the Trust have delegated the authority to vote proxies for the portfolio securities held by the non-Feeder Portfolios, Master Funds, and Underlying Funds to the Advisor in accordance with the Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (the “Voting Policies”) and Proxy Voting Guidelines (“Voting Guidelines”) adopted by the Advisor. The Voting Guidelines are largely based on those developed by Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third party, except with respect to certain matters for which the Advisor has modified the standard voting guidelines. A concise summary of the Voting Guidelines is provided in an Appendix to this SAI.

The Investment Committee at the Advisor is generally responsible for overseeing the Advisor’s proxy voting process. The Investment Committee has formed a Corporate Governance Committee composed of certain officers, directors and other personnel of the Advisor and has delegated to its members authority to (i) oversee the voting of proxies, (ii) make determinations as to how to vote certain specific proxies, (iii) verify the on-going compliance with the Voting Policies, and (iv) review the Voting Policies from time to time and recommend changes to the Investment Committee. The Corporate Governance Committee may designate one or more of its members to oversee specific, ongoing compliance with respect to the Voting Policies and may designate other personnel of the Advisor to vote proxies on behalf of the non-Feeder Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds, including all authorized traders of the Advisor.

The Advisor seeks to vote (or refrains from voting) proxies in a manner consistent with the best interests of the non-Feeder Portfolios, Master Funds, and Underlying Funds as understood by the Advisor at the time of the vote. Generally, the Advisor analyzes proxy statements on behalf of the non-Feeder Portfolios, Master Funds, and Underlying Funds and instructs the vote (or refrains from voting) in accordance with the Voting Policies and the Voting Guidelines. Since most proxies the Advisor receives are intended to be voted in accordance with the Voting Guidelines, it normally will not be necessary for the Advisor to make an actual determination of how to vote a particular proxy, thereby largely eliminating conflicts of interest for the Advisor during the proxy voting process. However, the Voting Policies do address the procedures to be followed if a conflict of interest arises between the interests of the non-Feeder Portfolios, Master Funds, or Underlying Funds, and the interests of the Advisor or its affiliates. If a Corporate Governance Committee (“Committee”) member has actual knowledge of a conflict of interest and recommends a vote contrary to the Voting Guidelines (or in the case where the Voting Guidelines do not prescribe a particular vote and the proposed vote is contrary to the recommendation of ISS), the Committee member

 

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will bring the vote to the Committee which will (a) determine how the vote should be cast keeping in mind the principle of preserving shareholder value, or (b) determine to abstain from voting, unless abstaining would be materially adverse to the interest of the non-Feeder Portfolios, Master Funds, or Underlying Funds. To the extent the Committee makes a determination regarding how to vote or to abstain for a proxy on behalf of a non-Feeder Portfolio, Master Fund, or Underlying Fund in the circumstances described in this paragraph, the Advisor will report annually on such determinations to the Board of Directors of the applicable Fund or the Board of Trustees of the Trust, as applicable.

The Advisor will usually instruct voting of proxies in accordance with the Voting Guidelines. The Voting Guidelines provide a framework for analysis and decision making, however, the Voting Guidelines do not address all potential issues. In order to be able to address all the relevant facts and circumstances related to a proxy vote, the Advisor reserves the right to instruct votes counter to the Voting Guidelines if, after a review of the matter, the Advisor believes that the best interests of the non-Feeder Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund would be served by such a vote. In such a circumstance, the analysis will be documented in writing and periodically presented to the Corporate Governance Committee. To the extent that the Voting Guidelines do not cover potential voting issues, the Advisor will instruct the vote on such issues in a manner that is consistent with the spirit of the Voting Guidelines and that the Advisor believes would be in the best interests of the non-Feeder Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund.

The Advisor seeks to vote (or refrain from voting) proxies in a manner that the Advisor determines is in the best interests of a non-Feeder Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund and which seeks to maximize the value of that that fund’s investments. In some cases, the Advisor may determine that it is in the best interests of a non-Feeder Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund to refrain from exercising proxy voting rights. The Advisor may determine that voting is not in the best interest of a non-Feeder Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund and refrain from voting if the costs, including the opportunity costs, of voting would, in the view of the Advisor, exceed the expected benefits of voting. For securities on loan, the Advisor will balance the revenue-producing value of loans against the difficult-to-assess value of casting votes. It is the Advisor’s belief that the expected value of casting a vote generally will be less than the securities lending income, either because the votes will not have significant economic consequences or because the outcome of the vote would not be affected by the Advisor recalling loaned securities in order to ensure they are voted. The Advisor does intend to recall securities on loan if it determines that voting the securities is likely to materially affect the value of the investment of the non-Feeder Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund and that it is in that fund’s best interests to do so. In cases where the Advisor does not receive a solicitation or enough information within a sufficient time (as reasonably determined by the Advisor) prior to the proxy-voting deadline, the Advisor or its service provider may be unable to vote.

With respect to non-U.S. securities, it is typically both difficult and costly to vote proxies due to local regulations, customs, and other requirements or restrictions. The Advisor does not intend to vote proxies of non-U.S. companies if the Advisor determines that the expected economic costs from voting outweigh the anticipated economic benefit to a non-Feeder Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund associated with voting. The Advisor intends to make its determination on whether to vote proxies of non-U.S. companies on a portfolio-by-portfolio basis, and generally seeks to implement uniform voting procedures for all proxies of companies in a country. The Advisor periodically reviews voting logistics, including costs and other voting difficulties, on a portfolio-by-portfolio and country-by-country basis, in order to determine if there have been any material changes that would affect the Advisor’s decision of whether or not to vote. In the event the Advisor is made aware of and believes an issue to be voted is likely to materially affect the economic value of a non-Feeder Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund, that its vote is reasonably likely to influence the ultimate outcome of the contest, and the expected benefits of voting the proxies exceed the costs, the Advisor will seek to make every reasonable effort to vote such proxies.

The Advisor and the Funds have retained ISS to provide certain services with respect to proxy voting. ISS provides information on shareholder meeting dates and proxy materials; translates proxy materials printed in a foreign language; provides research on proxy proposals and voting recommendations in accordance with the Voting Guidelines; effects votes on behalf of the non-Feeder Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds; and provides reports concerning the proxies voted (“Proxy Voting Services”). In addition, the Advisor may retain the services of supplemental third-party proxy service providers to provide, among other things, research on proxy proposals and voting recommendations for certain shareholder meetings, as identified in the Voting Guidelines. Although the

 

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Advisor retains third-party service providers for proxy issues, the Advisor remains ultimately responsible for all proxy voting decisions. In this regard, the Advisor uses commercially reasonable efforts to oversee the directed delegation to third-party proxy voting service providers, upon which the Advisor relies to carry out the Proxy Voting Services. In the event that the Voting Guidelines are not implemented precisely as the Advisor intends because of the actions or omissions of any third party service providers, custodians or sub-custodians or other agents or any such persons experience any irregularities (e.g. misvotes or missed votes), then such instances will not necessarily be deemed by the Advisor as a breach of the Voting Policies.

Information regarding how each of the non-Feeder Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds voted proxies related to its portfolio securities during the 12 month period ended June 30 of each year is available, no later than August 31 of each year, without charge, (i) upon request, by calling collect: (512) 306-7400 or (ii) on the Advisor’s website at http://www.dimensional.com and (iii) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

The Advisor and the Boards of Directors of DFAIDG, DIG, DEM and Board of Trustees of the Trust (collectively, the “Boards”) have adopted a policy (the “Policy”) to govern disclosure of the portfolio holdings of the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds (“Holdings Information”), and to prevent the misuse of material non-public Holdings Information. The Advisor has determined that the Policy and its procedures (1) are reasonably designed to ensure that disclosure of Holdings Information is in the best interests of the shareholders of the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds, and (2) appropriately address the potential for material conflicts of interest.

Disclosure of Holdings Information as Required by Applicable Law. Holdings Information (whether a partial listing of portfolio holdings or a complete listing of portfolio holdings) shall be disclosed to any person as required by applicable law, rules and regulations.

Online Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings Information. Each Portfolio, Master Fund and Underlying Fund generally discloses up to its twenty-five largest portfolio holdings and the percentages that each of these largest portfolio holdings represent of the total assets of the Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund (“largest holdings”), as of the most recent month-end, online at the Advisor’s public website, http://www.dimensional.com, within twenty days after the end of each month. This online disclosure may also include information regarding the industry allocations of the Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund. Each Portfolio, Master Fund and Underlying Fund generally discloses its complete Holdings Information (other than cash and cash equivalents), as of month-end, online at the Advisor’s public website, http://www.dimensional.com, two months following the month-end, or more frequently and at different periods when authorized by a Designated Person (as defined below).

Disclosure of Holdings Information to Recipients. Each of the Advisor’s Chairmen, Director of Institutional Services, Head of Portfolio Management and Trading and General Counsel (together, the “Designated Persons”) may authorize disclosing non-public Holdings Information more frequently or at different periods than as described above solely to those financial advisors, registered accountholders, authorized consultants, authorized custodians, or third-party data service providers (each a “Recipient”) who: (i) specifically request the more current non-public Holdings Information and (ii) execute a Use and Nondisclosure Agreement (each a “Nondisclosure Agreement”). Each Nondisclosure Agreement subjects the Recipient to a duty of confidentiality with respect to the non-public Holdings Information, and prohibits the Recipient from trading based on the non-public Holdings Information. Any non-public Holdings Information that is disclosed shall not include any material information about the trading strategies or pending portfolio transactions of a Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund. The non-public Holdings Information provided to a Recipient under a Nondisclosure Agreement, unless indicated otherwise, is not subject to a time delay before dissemination. Designated Persons may also approve the distribution of Holdings Information for a Portfolio more frequently or at a period other than as described above.

As of January 31, 2011, the Advisor and the Portfolios and Master Funds had ongoing arrangements with the following Recipients to make available non-public Holdings Information:

 

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Recipient

 

  

Master Funds/Portfolios

 

  

Business Purpose

 

  

Frequency

 

BNY Mellon Investment

Servicing (US) Inc.

   All Portfolios and Master Funds   

Fund Administrator,

Accounting Agent and

Transfer Agent

 

   Daily
Bank of New York    All Portfolios and Master Funds   

Monitoring investor

exposure and investment

strategy

 

   Upon request
CTC Consulting, Inc.    All Portfolios and Master Funds   

Monitoring investor

exposure and investment

strategy

 

   Quarterly

Cambridge Associates

Limited

  

DFA International Value Series

and Dimensional Emerging Markets

Value Fund

 

  

Monitoring investor

exposure and investment

strategy

   Monthly
Capital Advisors   

U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, Emerging

Markets Value Portfolio and DFA

International Value Series

 

  

Monitoring investor

exposure and investment

strategy

   Quarterly
Citibank, N.A.   

All International Equity Master

Funds and Portfolios

 

   Fund Custodian    Daily
Citibank, N.A.    All Portfolios and Master Funds   

Middle office operational

support service provider to

the Advisor

 

   Daily
Colonial Consulting Co.   

U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, DFA

International Value Series and

Emerging Markets Value Portfolio

 

  

Monitoring investor

exposure and investment

strategy

   Monthly
Complementa   

Dimensional Emerging Markets

Value Fund

  

Monitoring investor

exposure and investment

strategy

 

   Upon Request
Cuprum AFP   

DFA International Value Series,

Dimensional Emerging Markets

Value Fund and U.S. Targeted

Value Portfolio

 

  

Monitoring investor

exposure and investment

strategy

   Quarterly
Lockheed Martin    Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund   

Monitoring investor

exposure and investment

strategy

 

   Upon request
Lynx Investment Advisory   

Dimensional Emerging Markets

Value Fund and DFA International

Value Series

 

  

Monitoring investor

exposure and investment

strategy

   Quarterly
Marquette Associates, Inc.   

DFA International Value Series,

Global Equity Portfolio, Global

6040 Portfolio and Global 2575

Portfolio

 

  

Monitoring investor

exposure and investment

strategy

   Quarterly
Meketa Investment Group, Inc.   

Dimensional Emerging Markets

Value Fund

  

Monitoring investor

exposure and investment

strategy

 

   Upon request

 

 

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Recipient

 

  

Master Funds/Portfolios

 

  

Business Purpose

 

  

Frequency

 

Mercer Investment Consulting, Inc.

 

   DFA International Value Series   

Monitoring investor

exposure and investment strategy

   Quarterly
Minnesota Mutual Life Insurance   

DFA International Value Series, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund and U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

 

  

Monitoring investor

exposure and investment strategy

   Quarterly

PFPC Trust Company (to be renamed BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company effective July1, 2011)

 

  

All Feeder Portfolios, Allocation Portfolios and Domestic Portfolios

   Fund Custodian    Daily

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

 

   All Portfolios and Master Funds   

Independent registered

public accounting firm

   Upon request
Pricing Service Vendor   

International Equity Portfolios and International Equity Master Funds

 

   Fair value information services    Daily

Rachor Investment Advisory

 

   Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund   

Monitoring investor

exposure and investment strategy

   Monthly
Rock Creek Group, LP   

Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund

 

  

Monitoring investor

exposure and investment strategy

   Quarterly

Russell Mellon Analytical Service

 

   U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio and DFA International Value Series   

Monitoring investor

exposure and investment strategy

   Monthly

State Street Bank and Trust

 

   Emerging Markets Value Portfolio   

Monitoring investor

exposure and investment strategy

   Monthly
Steward Capital Management   

DFA International Value Series and Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund

 

  

Monitoring investor

exposure and investment strategy

   Quarterly

Strategic Investment Solutions

 

   Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund and DFA International Value Series   

Monitoring investor

exposure and investment strategy

   Monthly
Stratford Advisory Group   

DFA International Value Series and Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund

 

  

Monitoring investor

exposure and investment strategy

   Quarterly
Summitt Strategies, Inc.   

U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio and Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund

 

  

Monitoring investor

exposure and investment strategy

   Quarterly
University of California   

Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund

 

  

Monitoring investor

exposure and investment strategy

   Monthly

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

 

   DFA International Value Series   

Monitoring investor

exposure and investment strategy

   Upon Request

 

 

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Recipient

 

  

Master Funds/Portfolios

 

  

Business Purpose

 

  

Frequency

 

U.S. Institutional Investment Consultants

 

   DFA International Value Series   

Monitoring investor

exposure and investment strategy

 

   Quarterly
Watershed Investment Consultants   

Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund

 

  

Monitoring investor

exposure and investment strategy

   Quarterly
Wilshire Associates   

DFA International Value Series and Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund

 

  

Monitoring investor

exposure and investment strategy

   Quarterly
Wurts& Associates    All Portfolios and Master Funds   

Monitoring investor

exposure and investment strategy

 

   Monthly

In addition, certain employees of the Advisor and its subsidiaries receive Holdings Information on a quarterly, monthly or daily basis, or upon request, in order to perform their business functions. None of the Portfolios, the Master Funds, the Underlying Funds, the Advisor or any other party receives any compensation in connection with these arrangements.

The Policy includes the following procedures to ensure that disclosure of Holdings Information is in the best interests of shareholders, and to address any conflicts between the interests of shareholders, on the one hand, and the interests of the Advisor, DFAS or any affiliated person of the Funds, the Trust, the Advisor or DFAS, on the other. In order to protect the interests of shareholders, the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds, and to ensure no adverse effect on shareholders, in the limited circumstances where a Designated Person is considering making non-public Holdings Information available to a Recipient, the Advisor’s Director of Institutional Services and the Chief Compliance Officer will consider any conflicts of interest. If the Chief Compliance Officer, following appropriate due diligence, determines in his or her reasonable business judgment that (1) the Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund, as applicable, has a legitimate business purpose for providing the non-public Holdings Information to a Recipient, and (2) disclosure of non-public Holdings Information to the Recipient would be in the interests of the shareholders and outweighs possible reasonably anticipated adverse effects, then the Chief Compliance Officer may approve the proposed disclosure.

The Chief Compliance Officer documents all disclosures of non-public Holdings Information (including the legitimate business purpose for the disclosure), and periodically reports to the Board on such arrangements. The Chief Compliance Officer is also responsible for ongoing monitoring of the distribution and use of non-public Holdings Information. Such arrangements are reviewed by the Chief Compliance Officer on an annual basis. Specifically, the Chief Compliance Officer requests an annual certification from each Recipient that the Recipient has complied with all terms contained in the Nondisclosure Agreement. Recipients who fail to provide the requested certifications are prohibited from receiving non-public Holdings Information.

The Board exercises continuing oversight of the disclosure of Holdings Information by: (1) overseeing the implementation and enforcement of the Policy by the Chief Compliance Officer of the Advisor and of the Funds and Trust; (2) considering reports and recommendations by the Chief Compliance Officer concerning the implementation of the Policy and any material compliance matters that may arise in connection with the Policy; and (3) considering whether to approve or ratify any amendments to the Policy. The Advisor and the Board reserve the right to amend the Policy at any time, and from time to time without prior notice, in their sole discretion.

Prohibitions on Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings and Receipt of Compensation. No person is authorized to disclose Holdings Information or other investment positions (whether online at http://www.dimensional.com, in writing, by fax, by e-mail, orally or by other means) except in accordance with the Policy. In addition, no person is authorized to make disclosure pursuant to the Policy if such disclosure is otherwise in violation of the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws.

 

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The Policy prohibits a Portfolio, a Master Fund, an Underlying Fund, the Advisor or an affiliate thereof from receiving any compensation or other consideration of any type for the purpose of obtaining disclosure of non-public Holdings Information or other investment positions. “Consideration” includes any agreement to maintain assets in the Portfolio, Master Fund or Underlying Fund or in other investment companies or accounts managed by the Advisor or by any affiliated person of the Advisor.

The Policy and its procedures are intended to provide useful information concerning the Portfolios, Master Funds and Underlying Funds to existing and prospective shareholders, while at the same time preventing the improper use of Holdings Information. However, there can be no assurance that the furnishing of any Holdings Information is not susceptible to inappropriate uses, particularly in the hands of sophisticated investors, or that the Holdings Information will not in fact be misused in other ways, beyond the control of the Advisor.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Two Commerce Square, Suite 1700, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042, is the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm. PwC audits the Funds’ annual financial statements. The audited financial statements and financial highlights of the Class R1 and Class R2 Shares of the U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio and the Class R2 shares of the DFA International Value Portfolio, Emerging Markets Value Portfolio and Allocation Portfolios (formerly Class R shares of the Allocation Portfolios) for their fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, as set forth in the Funds’ annual reports to shareholders, including the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, are incorporated by reference into this SAI.

The audited financial statements of the DFA International Value Series (which is a series of the Trust) and the audited financial statements of Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund for the fiscal period ended October 31, 2010, as set forth in the Trust’s and Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund’s annual reports to shareholders, including the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, are incorporated by reference into this SAI.

A shareholder may obtain a copy of the annual reports and semi-annual reports, upon request and without charge, by contacting the Funds at the address or telephone number appearing on the cover of this SAI.

PERFORM ANCE DATA

The Portfolios may compare their investment performance to appropriate market and mutual fund indices and investments for which reliable performance data is available. Such indices are generally unmanaged and are prepared by entities and organizations which track the performance of investment companies or investment advisors. Unmanaged indices often do not reflect deductions for administrative and management costs and expenses. The performance of the Portfolios may also be compared in publications to averages, performance rankings, or other information prepared by recognized mutual fund statistical services. Any performance information, whether related to the Portfolios or to the Advisor, should be considered in light of a Portfolio’s investment objectives and policies, characteristics and the quality of the portfolio and market conditions during the time period indicated and should not be considered to be representative of what may be achieved in the future.

 

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APPENDIX

Concise Summary of 2011 U.S. Proxy Voting Guidelines

Effective for Meetings on or after January 3, 2011

In order to provide greater analysis on certain shareholder meetings, the Advisor has elected to receive research reports for certain meetings, as indicated below, from Glass Lewis in addition to Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”).

Specifically, if available, the Advisor may obtain research from Glass Lewis in addition to ISS for shareholder meetings in the following circumstances: (1) where the Advisor’s clients have a significant aggregate holding in the issuer and the meeting agenda contains proxies concerning: Anti-takeover Defenses or Voting Related Issues, Mergers and Acquisitions or Reorganizations or Restructurings, Capital Structure Issues, Compensation Issues or a proxy contest; or (2) where the Advisor in its discretion, has deemed that additional research is warranted.

Where research is obtained from Glass Lewis in accordance with these Guidelines, the Advisor will first review the research reports obtained from ISS and Glass Lewis. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are the same, the Advisor will vote accordingly. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are inconsistent, the Advisor will vote in accordance with the ISS recommendation unless the Corporate Governance Committee determines that voting in accordance with the Glass Lewis recommendation is more consistent with the principle of preserving shareholder value.

Routine/Miscellaneous

Auditor Ratification

Vote FOR proposals to ratify auditors, unless any of the following apply:

 

   

An auditor has a financial interest in or association with the company, and is therefore not independent;

   

There is reason to believe that the independent auditor has rendered an opinion which is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position;

   

Poor accounting practices are identified that rise to a serious level of concern, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP; and material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures; or

   

Fees for non-audit services (“Other” fees) are excessive.

Non-audit fees are excessive if:

   

Non-audit (“other”) fees >audit fees + audit-related fees + tax compliance/preparation fees

Board of Directors

Voting on Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections

Votes on director nominees should be determined CASE-BY-CASE.

Four fundamental principles apply when determining votes on director nominees:

  1.

Board Accountability

  2.

Board Responsiveness

  3.

Director Independence

  4.

Director Competence

 

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1.

Board Accountability

VOTE WITHHOLD/AGAINST1 the entire board of directors (except new nominees2 , who should be considered CASE-BY-CASE), for the following:

Problematic Takeover Defenses:

  1.1. The board is classified, and a continuing director responsible for a problematic governance issue at the board/committee level that would warrant a withhold/against vote recommendation is not up for election — any or all appropriate nominees (except new) may be held accountable;

 

  1.2. The board lacks accountability and oversight, coupled with sustained poor performance relative to peers. Sustained poor performance is measured by one- and three-year total shareholder returns in the bottom half of a company’s four-digit GICS industry group (Russell 3000 companies only). Take into consideration the company’s five-year total shareholder return and five-year operational metrics. Problematic provisions include but are not limited to:
   

A classified board structure;

 

   

A supermajority vote requirement;

 

   

Majority vote standard for director elections with no carve out for contested elections;

 

   

The inability for shareholders to call special meetings;

 

   

The inability for shareholders to act by written consent;

 

   

A dual-class structure; and/or

 

   

A non-shareholder approved poison pill.

 

  1.3. The company’s poison pill has a “dead-hand” or “modified dead-hand” feature. Vote withhold/against every year until this feature is removed;
  1.4.

The board adopts a poison pill with a term of more than 12 months (“long-term pill”), or renews any existing pill, including any “short-term” pill (12 months or less), without shareholder approval. A commitment or policy that puts a newly-adopted pill to a binding shareholder vote may potentially offset an adverse vote recommendation. Review such companies with classified boards every year, and such companies with annually-elected boards at least once every three years, and vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD votes from all nominees if the company still maintains a non-shareholder-approved poison pill. This

 

 

 

1

In general, companies with a plurality vote standard use “Withhold” as the valid contrary vote option in director elections; companies with a majority vote standard use “Against”. However, it will vary by company and the proxy must be checked to determine the valid contrary vote option for the particular company.

 

2

A “new nominee” is any current nominee who has not already been elected by shareholders and who joined the board after the problematic action in question transpired. If [ISS] cannot determine whether the nominee joined the board before or after the problematic action transpired, the nominee will be considered a “new nominee” if he or she joined the board within the 12 months prior to the upcoming shareholder meeting.

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policy applies to all companies adopting or renewing pills after the announcement of this policy (Nov 19, 2009);

  1.5. The board makes a material adverse change to an existing poison pill without shareholder approval.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on all nominees if:

  1.6. the board adopts a poison pill with a term of 12 months or less (“short-term pill”) without shareholder approval, taking into account the following factors:
   

The date of the pill‘s adoption relative to the date of the next meeting of shareholders- i.e. whether the company had time to put the pill on ballot for shareholder ratification given the circumstances;

   

The issuer’s rationale;

   

The issuer’s governance structure and practices; and

   

The issuer’s track record of accountability to shareholders.

Problematic Audit-Related Practices

Generally, vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from the members of the Audit Committee if:

  1.7. The non-audit fees paid to the auditor are excessive (see discussion under “Auditor Ratification”);
  1.8. The company receives an adverse opinion on the company’s financial statements from its auditor; or
  1.9. There is persuasive evidence that the audit committee entered into an inappropriate indemnification agreement with its auditor that limits the ability of the company, or its shareholders, to pursue legitimate legal recourse against the audit firm.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on members of the Audit Committee and/or the full board if:

  1.10. Poor accounting practices are identified that rise to a level of serious concern, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP; and material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures. Examine the severity, breadth, chronological sequence and duration, as well as the company’s efforts at remediation or corrective actions, in determining whether WITHHOLD/AGAINST votes are warranted.

Problematic Compensation Practices

Vote WITHHOLD/AGAINST the members of the Compensation Committee and potentially the full board if:

  1.11. There is a negative correlation between chief executive pay and company performance (see Pay for Performance Policy);
  1.12. The company reprices underwater options for stock, cash, or other consideration without prior shareholder approval, even if allowed in the company’s equity plan;
  1.13. The company fails to submit one-time transfers of stock options to a shareholder vote;
  1.14. The company fails to fulfill the terms of a burn rate commitment made to shareholders;
  1.15. The company has problematic pay practices. Problematic pay practices may warrant withholding votes from the CEO and potentially the entire board as well.

Governance Failures

Under extraordinary circumstances, vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from directors individually, committee members, or the entire board, due to:

 

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  1.16.         Material failures of governance, stewardship, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company;

 

  1.17.         Failure to replace management as appropriate; or

 

  1.18.         Egregious actions related to the director(s)’ service on other boards that raise substantial doubt about his or her ability to effectively oversee management and serve the best interests of shareholders at any company.

 

2.

Board Responsiveness

Vote WITHHOLD/AGAINST the entire board of directors (except new nominees, who should be considered CASE-BY-CASE), if:

 

  2.1. The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received approval by a majority of the shares outstanding the previous year; or

 

  2.2. The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received approval of the majority of shares cast in the last year and one of the two previous years.

 

  2.3. The board failed to act on takeover offers where the majority of the shareholders tendered their shares; or

 

  2.4. At the previous board election, any director received more than 50 percent withhold/against votes of the shares cast and the company has failed to address the issue(s) that caused the high withhold/against vote.

 

3. Director Independence

Vote WITHHOLD/AGAINST Inside Directors and Affiliated Outside Directors (per the Categorization of Directors) when:

  3.1. The inside or affiliated outside director serves on any of the three key committees: audit, compensation, or nominating;

 

  3.2. The company lacks an audit, compensation, or nominating committee so that the full board functions as that committee;

 

  3.3. The company lacks a formal nominating committee, even if the board attests that the independent directors fulfill the functions of such a committee; or

 

  3.4. The full board is less than majority independent.

 

4.

Director Competence

VOTE WITHHOLD/AGAINST the entire board of directors (except new nominees, who should be considered CASE-BY-CASE), if:

 

  4.1. The company’s proxy indicates that not all directors attended 75 percent of the aggregate board and committee meetings, but fails to provide the required disclosure of the names of the
director(s) involved.

Generally vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from individual directors who:

  4.2. Attend less than 75 percent of the board and committee meetings (with the exception of new nominees). Acceptable reasons for director(s) absences are generally limited to the following:
   

Medical issues/illness;

   

Family emergencies; and

 

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If the director's total service was three meetings or fewer and the director missed only one meeting.

These reasons for directors’ absences will only be considered by ISS if disclosed in the proxy or another SEC filing. If the disclosure is insufficient to determine whether a director attended at least 75 percent of board and committee meetings in aggregate, vote AGAINST/WITHHOLD from the director.

Vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from individual directors who:

  4.3. Sit on more than six public company boards3; or

 

  4.4. Are CEOs of public companies who sit on the boards of more than two public companies besides their own— withhold only at their outside boards.

Voting for Director Nominees in Contested Elections*

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on the election of directors in contested elections, considering the following factors:

   

Long-term financial performance of the target company relative to its industry;

   

Management’s track record;

   

Background to the proxy contest;

   

Qualifications of director nominees (both slates);

   

Strategic plan of dissident slate and quality of critique against management;

   

Likelihood that the proposed goals and objectives can be achieved (both slates);

   

Stock ownership positions.

Independent Chair (Separate Chair/CEO)

Generally vote FOR shareholder proposals requiring that the chairman’s position be filled by an independent director, unless the company satisfies all of the following criteria:

The company maintains the following counterbalancing governance structure:

   

Designated lead director, elected by and from the independent board members with clearly delineated and comprehensive duties. (The role may alternatively reside with a presiding director, vice chairman, or rotating lead director; however the director must serve a minimum of one year in order to qualify as a lead director.) The duties should include, but are not limited to, the following:

  - presides at all meetings of the board at which the chairman is not present, including executive sessions of the independent directors;

 

  - serves as liaison between the chairman and the independent directors;

 

  - approves information sent to the board;

 

  - approves meeting agendas for the board;

 

  - approves meeting schedules to assure that there is sufficient time for discussion of all agenda items;

 

 

3 Dimensional will screen votes otherwise subject to this policy based on the qualifications and circumstances of the directors involved.

* See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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  - has the authority to call meetings of the independent directors;

 

  - if requested by major shareholders, ensures that he is available for consultation and direct communication;

 

   

Two-thirds independent board;

   

All independent key committees;

   

Established governance guidelines;

   

A company in the Russell 3000 universe must not have exhibited sustained poor total shareholder return (TSR) performance, defined as one- and three-year TSR in the bottom half of the company’s four-digit GICS industry group [(using Russell 3000 companies only), unless there has been a change in the Chairman/CEO position within that time. For companies not in the Russell 3000 universe, the company must not have underperformed both its peers and index on the basis of both one-year and three-year total shareholder returns], unless there has been a change in the Chairman/CEO position within that time;

   

The company does not have any problematic governance or management issues, examples of which include, but are not limited to:

  - Egregious compensation practices;

 

  - Multiple related-party transactions or other issues putting director independence at risk;

 

  - Corporate and/or management scandals;

 

  - Excessive problematic corporate governance provisions; or

 

  - Flagrant actions by management or the board with potential or realized negative impacts on shareholders.

Shareholder Rights & Defenses*

Net Operating Loss (NOL) Protective Amendments

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt a protective amendment for the stated purpose of protecting a company’s net operating losses (“NOLs”) if the effective term of the protective amendment would exceed the shorter of three years and the exhaustion of the NOL.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE, considering the following factors, for management proposals to adopt an NOL protective amendment that would remain in effect for the shorter of three years (or less) and the exhaustion of the NOL:

   

The ownership threshold (NOL protective amendments generally prohibit stock ownership transfers that would result in a new 5-percent holder or increase the stock ownership percentage of an existing 5-percent holder);

   

The value of the NOLs;

   

Shareholder protection mechanisms (sunset provision or commitment to cause expiration of the protective amendment upon exhaustion or expiration of the NOL);

   

The company’s existing governance structure including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, track record of responsiveness to shareholders, and any other problematic governance concerns; and

   

Any other factors that may be applicable.

 

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Poison Pills- Management Proposals to Ratify Poison Pill

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on management proposals on poison pill ratification, focusing on the features of the shareholder rights plan. Rights plans should contain the following attributes:

   

No lower than a 20% trigger, flip-in or flip-over;

   

A term of no more than three years;

   

No dead-hand, slow-hand, no-hand or similar feature that limits the ability of a future board to redeem the pill;

   

Shareholder redemption feature (qualifying offer clause); if the board refuses to redeem the pill 90 days after a qualifying offer is announced, 10 percent of the shares may call a special meeting or seek a written consent to vote on rescinding the pill.

In addition, the rationale for adopting the pill should be thoroughly explained by the company. In examining the request for the pill, take into consideration the company’s existing governance structure, including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, and any problematic governance concerns.

Poison Pills- Management Proposals to Ratify a Pill to Preserve Net Operating Losses (NOLs)

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt a poison pill for the stated purpose of protecting a company’s net operating losses (“NOLs”) if the term of the pill would exceed the shorter of three years and the exhaustion of the NOL.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on management proposals for poison pill ratification][, considering the following factors, if the term of the pill would be the shorter of three years (or less) and the exhaustion of the NOL:

   

The ownership threshold to transfer (NOL pills generally have a trigger slightly below 5 percent);

   

The value of the NOLs;

   

Shareholder protection mechanisms (sunset provision, or commitment to cause expiration of the pill upon exhaustion or expiration of NOLs);

   

The company’s existing governance structure including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, track record of responsiveness to shareholders, and any other problematic governance concerns; and

   

Any other factors that may be applicable.

Shareholder Ability to Act by Written Consent

Generally vote AGAINST management and shareholder proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholders’ ability to act by written consent.

Generally vote FOR management and shareholder proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to act by written consent, taking into account the following factors:

   

Shareholders’ current right to act by written consent;

   

The consent threshold;

   

The inclusion of exclusionary or prohibitive language;

   

Investor ownership structure; and

   

Shareholder support of, and management's response to, previous shareholder proposals.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals if, in addition to the considerations above, the company has the following governance and antitakeover provisions:

   

An unfettered4 right for shareholders to call special meetings at a 10 percent threshold;

   

A majority vote standard in uncontested director elections;

 

4 “Unfettered” means no restrictions on agenda items, no restrictions on the number of shareholders who can group together to reach the 10 percent threshold, and only reasonable limits on when a meeting can be called: no greater than 30 days after the last annual meeting and no greater than 90 prior to the next annual meeting.

 

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No non-shareholder-approved pill; and

   

An annually elected board.

Shareholder Ability to Call Special Meetings

Vote AGAINST management or shareholder proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholders’ ability to call special meetings.

Generally vote FOR management or shareholder proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to call special meetings taking into account the following factors:

 

   

Shareholders’ current right to call special meetings;

 

   

Minimum ownership threshold necessary to call special meetings (10% preferred);

 

   

The inclusion of exclusionary or prohibitive language;

 

   

Investor ownership structure; and

 

   

Shareholder support of, and management’s response to, previous shareholder proposals.

 

CAPITAL/RESTRUCTURING*

Common Stock Authorization

Vote FOR proposals to increase the number of authorized common shares where the primary purpose of the increase is to issue shares in connection with a transaction on the same ballot that warrants support.

Vote AGAINST proposals at companies with more than one class of common stock to increase the number of authorized shares of the class of common stock that has superior voting rights.

Vote AGAINST proposals to increase the number of authorized common shares if a vote for a reverse stock split on the same ballot is warranted despite the fact that the authorized shares would not be reduced proportionally.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on all other proposals to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance. Take into account company-specific factors that include, at a minimum, the following:

   

Past Board Performance:

  ¡ The company’s use of authorized shares during the last three years
   

The Current Request:

  ¡

Disclosure in the proxy statement of the specific purposes of the proposed increase;

  ¡

Disclosure in the proxy statement of specific and severe risks to shareholders of not approving the request; and

  ¡

The dilutive impact of the request as determined by an allowable increase calculated by ISS (typically 100 percent of existing authorized shares) that reflects the company’s need for shares and total shareholder returns.

Preferred Stock Authorization

Vote FOR proposals to increase the number of authorized preferred shares where the primary purpose of the increase is to issue shares in connection with a transaction on the same ballot that warrants support.

Vote AGAINST proposals at companies with more than one class or series of preferred stock to increase the number of authorized shares of the class or series of preferred stock that has superior voting rights.

 

 

* See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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Vote CASE-BY-CASE on all other proposals to increase the number of shares of preferred stock authorized for issuance. Take into account company-specific factors that include, at a minimum, the following:

   

Past Board Performance:

 

  o

The company’s use of authorized preferred shares during the last three years;

   

The Current Request:

  o

Disclosure in the proxy statement of the specific purposes for the proposed increase;

  o

Disclosure in the proxy statement of specific and severe risks to shareholders of not approving the request;

  o

In cases where the company has existing authorized preferred stock, the dilutive impact of the request as determined by an allowable increase calculated by ISS (typically 100 percent of existing authorized shares) that reflects the company’s need for shares and total shareholder returns; and

  o

Whether the shares requested are blank check preferred shares that can be used for antitakeover purposes.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Vote CASE –BY- CASE on mergers and acquisitions. Review and evaluate the merits and drawbacks of the proposed transaction, balancing various and sometimes countervailing factors including:

   

Valuation - Is the value to be received by the target shareholders (or paid by the acquirer) reasonable? While the fairness opinion may provide an initial starting point for assessing valuation reasonableness, emphasis is placed on the offer premium, market reaction and strategic rationale.

   

Market reaction - How has the market responded to the proposed deal? A negative market reaction should cause closer scrutiny of a deal.

   

Strategic rationale - Does the deal make sense strategically? From where is the value derived? Cost and revenue synergies should not be overly aggressive or optimistic, but reasonably achievable. Management should also have a favorable track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions.

   

Negotiations and process - Were the terms of the transaction negotiated at arm's-length? Was the process fair and equitable? A fair process helps to ensure the best price for shareholders. Significant negotiation "wins" can also signify the deal makers’ competency. The comprehensiveness of the sales process (e.g., full auction, partial auction, no auction) can also affect shareholder value.

   

Conflicts of interest - Are insiders benefiting from the transaction disproportionately and inappropriately as compared to non-insider shareholders? As the result of potential conflicts, the directors and officers of the company may be more likely to vote to approve a merger than if they did not hold these interests. Consider whether these interests may have influenced these directors and officers to support or recommend the merger. The CIC figure presented in the “ISS Transaction Summary” section of this report is an aggregate figure that can in certain cases be a misleading indicator of the true value transfer from shareholders to insiders. Where such figure appears to be excessive, analyze the underlying assumptions to determine whether a potential conflict exists.

   

Governance - Will the combined company have a better or worse governance profile than the current governance profiles of the respective parties to the transaction? If the governance profile is to change for the worse, the burden is on the company to prove that other issues (such as valuation) outweigh any deterioration in governance.

 

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COMPENSATION *

Executive Pay Evaluation

Underlying all evaluations are five global principles that most investors expect corporations to adhere to in designing and administering executive and director compensation programs:

 

1.

  

Maintain appropriate pay-for-performance alignment, with emphasis on long-term shareholder value: This principle encompasses overall executive pay practices, which must be designed to attract, retain, and appropriately motivate the key employees who drive shareholder value creation over the long term. It will take into consideration, among other factors, the link between pay and performance; the mix between fixed and variable pay; performance goals; and equity-based plan costs;

2.   

Avoid arrangements that risk “pay for failure”: This principle addresses the appropriateness of long or indefinite contracts, excessive severance packages, and guaranteed compensation;

3.   

Maintain an independent and effective compensation committee: This principle promotes oversight of executive pay programs by directors with appropriate skills, knowledge, experience, and a sound process for compensation decision-making (e.g., including access to independent expertise and advice when needed);

4.   

Provide shareholders with clear, comprehensive compensation disclosures: This principle underscores the importance of informative and timely disclosures that enable shareholders to evaluate executive pay practices fully and fairly;

5.   

Avoid inappropriate pay to non-executive directors: This principle recognizes the interests of shareholders in ensuring that compensation to outside directors does not compromise their independence and ability to make appropriate judgments in overseeing managers’ pay and performance. At the market level, it may incorporate a variety of generally accepted best practices.

Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation- Management Proposals (Management Say-on-Pay)

Evaluate executive pay and practices, as well as certain aspects of outside director compensation CASE-BY-CASE.

Vote AGAINST management say on pay (MSOP) proposals, AGAINST/WITHHOLD on compensation committee members (or, in rare cases where the full board is deemed responsible, all directors including the CEO), and/or AGAINST an equity-based incentive plan proposal if:

 

   

There is a misalignment between CEO pay and company performance (pay for performance);

   

The company maintains problematic pay practices;

   

The board exhibits poor communication and responsiveness to shareholders.

Voting Alternatives

 

 

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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In general, the management say on pay (MSOP) ballot item is the primary focus of voting on executive pay practices— dissatisfaction with compensation practices can be expressed by voting against MSOP rather than withholding or voting against the compensation committee. However, if there is no MSOP on the ballot, then the negative vote will apply to members of the compensation committee. In addition, in egregious cases, or if the board fails to respond to concerns raised by a prior MSOP proposal, then vote withhold or against compensation committee members (or, if the full board is deemed accountable, all directors). If the negative factors involve equity-based compensation, then vote AGAINST an equity-based plan proposal presented for shareholder approval.

Additional CASE-BY-CASE considerations for the management say on pay (MSOP) proposals:

   

Evaluation of performance metrics in short-term and long-term plans, as discussed and explained in the Compensation Discussion & Analysis (CD&A). Consider the measures, goals, and target awards reported by the company for executives’ short- and long-term incentive awards: disclosure, explanation of their alignment with the company’s business strategy, and whether goals appear to be sufficiently challenging in relation to resulting payouts;

   

Evaluation of peer group benchmarking used to set target pay or award opportunities. Consider the rationale stated by the company for constituents in its pay benchmarking peer group, as well as the benchmark targets it uses to set or validate executives’ pay (e.g., median, 75th percentile, etc.,) to ascertain whether the benchmarking process is sound or may result in pay “ratcheting” due to inappropriate peer group constituents (e.g., much larger companies) or targeting (e.g., above median); and

   

Balance of performance-based versus non-performance-based pay. Consider the ratio of performance-based (not including plain vanilla stock options) vs. non-performance-based pay elements reported for the CEO’s latest reported fiscal year compensation, especially in conjunction with concerns about other factors such as performance metrics/goals, benchmarking practices, and pay-for-performance disconnects.

Primary Evaluation Factors for Executive Pay

Pay for Performance

Evaluate the alignment of the CEO’s pay with performance over time, focusing particularly on companies that have underperformed their peers over a sustained period. From a shareholders’ perspective, performance is predominantly gauged by the company’s stock performance over time. Even when financial or operational measures are utilized in incentive awards, the achievement related to these measures should ultimately translate into superior shareholder returns in the long-term.

Focus on companies with sustained underperformance relative to peers, considering the following key factors:

   

Whether a company’s one-year and three-year total shareholder returns (“TSR”) are in the bottom half of its industry group (i.e., four-digit GICS – Global Industry Classification Group); and

 

   

Whether the total compensation of a CEO who has served at least two consecutive fiscal years is aligned with the company’s total shareholder return over time, including both recent and long-term periods.

If a company falls in the bottom half of its four-digit GICS, further analysis of the CD&A is required to better understand the various pay elements and whether they create or reinforce shareholder alignment. Also assess the CEO’s pay relative to the company’s TSR over a time horizon of at least five years. The

 

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most recent year-over-year increase or decrease in pay remains a key consideration, but there will be additional emphasis on the long term trend of CEO total compensation relative to shareholder return. Also consider the mix of performance-based compensation relative to total compensation. In general, standard stock options or time-vested restricted stock are not considered to be performance-based. If a company provides performance-based incentives to its executives, the company is highly encouraged to provide the complete disclosure of the performance measure and goals (hurdle rate) so that shareholders can assess the rigor of the performance program. The use of non-GAAP financial metrics also makes it very challenging for shareholders to ascertain the rigor of the program as shareholders often cannot tell the type of adjustments being made and if the adjustments were made consistently. Complete and transparent disclosure helps shareholders to better understand the company’s pay for performance linkage.

Problematic Pay Practices

If the company maintains problematic pay practices, generally vote:

   

AGAINST management “say on pay” (MSOP) proposals;

   

AGAINST/WITHHOLD on compensation committee members (or in rare cases where the full board is deemed responsible, all directors including the CEO):

  o

In egregious situations;

  o

When no MSOP item is on the ballot; or

  o

When the board has failed to respond to concerns raised in prior MSOP evaluations; and/or

   

AGAINST an equity incentive plan proposal if excessive non-performance-based equity awards are the major contributors to a pay-for-performance misalignment.

The focus is on executive compensation practices that contravene the global pay principles, including:

   

Problematic practices related to non-performance-based compensation elements;

   

Incentives that may motivate excessive risk-taking; and

   

Options Backdating.

Problematic Pay Practices related to Non-Performance-Based Compensation Elements

Pay elements that are not directly based on performance are generally evaluated CASE-BY-CASE considering the context of a company’s overall pay program and demonstrated pay-for-performance philosophy. Please refer to ISS’ Compensation FAQ document for detail on specific pay practices that have been identified as potentially problematic and may lead to negative recommendations if they are deemed to be inappropriate or unjustified relative to executive pay best practices. The list below highlights the problematic] practices that carry [significant] weight in this overall consideration and may result in [adverse] vote recommendations:

 

   

Repricing or replacing of underwater stock options/SARS without prior shareholder approval (including cash buyouts and voluntary surrender of underwater options);

   

Excessive perquisites or tax gross-ups, including any gross-up related to a secular trust or restricted stock vesting;

   

New or extended agreements that provide for:

  o

CIC payments exceeding 3 times base salary and average/target/most recent bonus;

  o CIC severance payments without involuntary job loss or substantial diminution of duties (“single” or “modified single” triggers);
  o

CIC payments with excise tax gross-ups (including “modified” gross-ups).

 

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Incentives that may Motivate Excessive Risk-Taking

Assess company policies and disclosure related to compensation that could incentivize excessive risk-taking, for example:

   

Multi-year guaranteed bonuses;

   

A single performance metric used for short- and long-term plans;

   

Lucrative severance packages;

   

High pay opportunities relative to industry peers;

   

Disproportionate supplemental pensions; or

   

Mega annual equity grants that provide unlimited upside with no downside risk.

Factors that potentially mitigate the impact of risky incentives include rigorous claw-back provisions and robust stock ownership/holding guidelines.

Options Backdating

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on options backdating issues. Generally, when a company has recently practiced options backdating, WITHHOLD from or vote AGAINST the compensation committee, depending on the severity of the practices and the subsequent corrective actions on the part of the board. When deciding on votes on compensation committee members who oversaw questionable options grant practices or current compensation committee members who fail to respond to the issue proactively, consider several factors, including, but not limited to, the following:

   

Reason and motive for the options backdating issue, such as inadvertent vs. deliberate grant date changes;

   

Duration of options backdating;

   

Size of restatement due to options backdating;

   

Corrective actions taken by the board or compensation committee, such as canceling or re-pricing backdated options, the recouping of option gains on backdated grants; and

   

Adoption of a grant policy that prohibits backdating, and creates a fixed grant schedule or window period for equity grants in the future.

A CASE-BY-CASE analysis approach allows distinctions to be made between companies that had “sloppy” plan administration versus those that acted deliberately and/or committed fraud, as well as those companies that subsequently took corrective action. Cases where companies have committed fraud are considered most egregious.

Board Communications and Responsiveness

Consider the following factors CASE-BY-CASE when evaluating ballot items related to executive pay:

   

Poor disclosure practices, including:

  -

Unclear explanation of how the CEO is involved in the pay setting process;

  -

Retrospective performance targets and methodology not discussed;

  -

Methodology for benchmarking practices and/or peer group not disclosed and explained.

   

Board’s responsiveness to investor input and engagement on compensation issues, for example:

  -

Failure to respond to majority-supported shareholder proposals on executive pay topics; or

  -

Failure to respond to concerns raised in connection with significant opposition to MSOP proposals.

 

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Frequency of Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation (Management “Say on Pay”)

Vote FOR annual advisory votes on compensation, which provide the most consistent and clear communication channel for shareholder concerns about companies’ executive pay programs.

Voting on Golden Parachutes in an Acquisition, Merger, Consolidation, or Proposed Sale

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to approve the company’s golden parachute compensation, consistent with ISS’ policies on problematic pay practices related to severance packages. Features that may lead to a vote AGAINST include:

   

Recently adopted or materially amended agreements that include excise tax gross-up provisions (since prior annual meeting);

   

Recently adopted or materially amended agreements that include modified single triggers (since prior annual meeting);

   

Single trigger payments that will happen immediately upon a change in control, including cash payment and such items as the acceleration of performance-based equity despite the failure to achieve performance measures;

   

Single-trigger vesting of equity based on a definition of change in control that requires only shareholder approval of the transaction (rather than consummation);

   

Potentially excessive severance payments;

   

Recent amendments or other changes that may make packages so attractive as to influence merger agreements that may not be in the best interests of shareholders;

   

In the case of a substantial gross-up from pre-existing/grandfathered contract: the element that triggered the gross-up (i.e., option mega-grants at low point in stock price, unusual or outsized payments in cash or equity made or negotiated prior to the merger); or

   

The company’s assertion that a proposed transaction is conditioned on shareholder approval of the golden parachute advisory vote. ISS would view this as problematic from a corporate governance perspective.

In cases where the golden parachute vote is incorporated into a company’s separate advisory vote on compensation (“management “say on pay”), ISS will evaluate the “say on pay” proposal in accordance with these guidelines, which may give higher weight to that component of the overall evaluation.

Equity-Based and Other Incentive Plans

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on equity-based compensation plans. Vote AGAINST the equity plan if any of the following factors apply:

   

The total cost of the company’s equity plans is unreasonable;

   

The plan expressly permits the repricing of stock options/stock appreciate rights (SARs) without prior shareholder approval;

   

The CEO is a participant in the proposed equity-based compensation plan and there is a disconnect between CEO pay and the company’s performance where over 50 percent of the year-over-year increase is attributed to equity awards (see Pay-for-Performance);

   

The company’s three year burn rate exceeds the greater of 2% or the mean plus one standard deviation of its industry group but no more than two percentage points (+/-) from the prior-year industry group cap;

   

Liberal Change of Control Definition: The plan provides for the acceleration of vesting of equity awards even though an actual change in control may not occur (e.g., upon shareholder approval of a transaction or the announcement of a tender offer); or

   

The plan is a vehicle for problematic pay practices.

 

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Shareholder Proposals on Compensation

Golden Coffins/Executive Death Benefits

Generally vote FOR proposals calling companies to adopt a policy of obtaining shareholder approval for any future agreements and corporate policies that could oblige the company to make payments or awards following the death of a senior executive in the form of unearned salary or bonuses, accelerated vesting or the continuation in force of unvested equity grants, perquisites and other payments or awards made in lieu of compensation. This would not apply to any benefit programs or equity plan proposals that the broad-based employee population is eligible.

Hold Equity Past Retirement or for a Significant Period of Time

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals asking companies to adopt policies requiring senior executive officers to retain all or a significant portion of the shares acquired through compensation plans, either:

   

while employed and/or for two years following the termination of their employment ; or

   

for a substantial period following the lapse of all other vesting requirements for the award (“lock-up period”), with ratable release of a portion of the shares annually during the lock-up period.

The following factors will be taken into account:

   

Whether the company has any holding period, retention ratio, or officer ownership requirements in place. These should consist of:

  -

Rigorous stock ownership guidelines;

  - A holding period requirement coupled with a significant long-term ownership requirement; or
  -

A meaningful retention ratio;

   

Actual officer stock ownership and the degree to which it meets or exceeds the proponent’s suggested holding period/retention ratio or the company’s own stock ownership or retention requirements;

   

Post-termination holding requirement policies or any policies aimed at mitigating risk taking by senior executives;

   

Problematic pay practices, current and past, which may promote a short-term versus a long-term focus.

A rigorous stock ownership guideline should be at least 10x base salary for the CEO, with the multiple declining for other executives. A meaningful retention ratio should constitute at least 50 percent of the stock received from equity awards (on a net proceeds basis) held on a long-term basis, such as the executive’s tenure with the company or even a few years past the executive’s termination with the company.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals asking companies to adopt policies requiring Named Executive Officers to retain 75% of the shares acquired through compensation plans while employed and/or for two years following the termination of their employment, and to report to shareholders regarding this policy. The following factors will be taken into account:

   

Whether the company has any holding period, retention ratio, or officer ownership requirements in place. These should consist of:

  -

Rigorous stock ownership guidelines, or

 

  - A holding period requirement coupled with a significant long-term ownership requirement, or

 

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  -

A meaningful retention ratio,

 

   

Actual officer stock ownership and the degree to which it meets or exceeds the proponent’s suggested holding period/retention ratio or the company’s own stock ownership or retention requirements.

   

Problematic pay practices, current and past, which may promote a short-term versus a long-term focus.

A rigorous stock ownership guideline should be at least 10x base salary for the CEO, with the multiple declining for other executives. A meaningful retention ratio should constitute at least 50 percent of the stock received from equity awards (on a net proceeds basis) held on a long-term basis, such as the executive’s tenure with the company or even a few years past the executive’s termination with the company.

Generally vote AGAINST shareholder proposals that mandate a minimum amount of stock that directors must own in order to qualify as a director or to remain on the board. While ISS favors stock ownership on the part of directors, the company should determine the appropriate ownership requirement.

Social/Environmental Issues

Overall Approach

Generally vote FOR the management’s recommendation on shareholder proposals involving social/environmental issues. When evaluating social and environmental shareholder proposals, Dimensional considers the most important factor to be whether adoption of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value.

 

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2011 International Proxy Voting Guidelines Summary

Effective for Meetings on or after January 3, 2011

In order to provide greater analysis on certain shareholder meetings, the Advisor has elected to receive research reports for certain meetings, as indicated below, from Glass Lewis in addition to Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”).

Specifically, if available, the Advisor may obtain research from Glass Lewis in addition to ISS for shareholder meetings in the following circumstances: (1) where the Advisor’s clients have a significant aggregate holding in the issuer and the meeting agenda contains proxies concerning: Anti-takeover Defenses or Voting Related Issues, Mergers and Acquisitions or Reorganizations or Restructurings, Capital Structure Issues, Compensation Issues or a proxy contest; or (2) where the Advisor in its discretion, has deemed that additional research is warranted.

Where research is obtained from Glass Lewis in accordance with these Guidelines, the Advisor will first review the research reports obtained from ISS and Glass Lewis. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are the same, the Advisor will vote accordingly. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are inconsistent, the Advisor will vote in accordance with the ISS recommendation unless the Corporate Governance Committee determines that voting in accordance with the Glass Lewis recommendation is more consistent with the principle of preserving shareholder value.

1. Operational Items

Financial Results/Director and Auditor Reports

Vote FOR approval of financial statements and director and auditor reports, unless:

 

   

There are concerns about the accounts presented or audit procedures used; or

   

The company is not responsive to shareholder questions about specific items that should be publicly disclosed.

Appointment of Auditors and Auditor Fees

Vote FOR the (re)election of auditors and/or proposals authorizing the board to fix auditor fees, unless:

 

   

There are serious concerns about the procedures used by the auditor;

   

There is reason to believe that the auditor has rendered an opinion which is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position;

   

External auditors have previously served the company in an executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company;

   

Name of the proposed auditors has not been published;

   

The auditors are being changed without explanation; or

   

Fees for non audit services exceed standard annual audit related fees (only applies to companies on the MSCI EAFE index and/or listed on any country main index).

In circumstances where fees for non audit services include fees related to significant one time capital structure events (initial public offerings, bankruptcy emergencies, and spin offs) and the company makes public disclosure of the amount and nature of those fees, which are an exception to the standard “non audit fee” category, then such fees may be excluded from the non audit fees considered in determining the ratio of non audit to audit fees.

For concerns related to the audit procedures, independence of auditors, and/or name of auditors, ISS may recommend AGAINST the auditor (re)election. For concerns related to fees paid to the auditors, ISS may recommend AGAINST remuneration of auditors if this is a separate voting item; otherwise ISS may recommend AGAINST the auditor election.

 

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Appointment of Internal Statutory Auditors

Vote FOR the appointment or (re)election of statutory auditors, unless:

 

   

There are serious concerns about the statutory reports presented or the audit procedures used;

   

Questions exist concerning any of the statutory auditors being appointed; or

   

The auditors have previously served the company in an executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company.

Allocation of Income

Vote FOR approval of the allocation of income, unless:

   

The dividend payout ratio has been consistently below 30 percent without adequate explanation; or

   

The payout is excessive given the company’s financial position.

Amendments to Articles of Association

Vote amendments to the articles of association on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Change in Company Fiscal Term

Vote FOR resolutions to change a company’s fiscal term unless a company’s motivation for the change is to postpone its AGM.

Lower Disclosure Threshold for Stock Ownership

Vote AGAINST resolutions to lower the stock ownership disclosure threshold below 5 percent unless specific reasons exist to implement a lower threshold.

Amend Quorum Requirements

Vote proposals to amend quorum requirements for shareholder meetings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Transact Other Business

Vote AGAINST other business when it appears as a voting item.

2. Board of Directors

Director Elections

Vote FOR management nominees in the election of directors, unless:

 

   

Adequate disclosure has not been provided in a timely manner;

   

There are clear concerns over questionable finances or restatements;

   

There have been questionable transactions with conflicts of interest;

   

There are any records of abuses against minority shareholder interests; or

   

The board fails to meet minimum corporate governance standards.

Vote FOR individual nominees unless there are specific concerns about the individual, such as criminal wrongdoing or breach of fiduciary responsibilities.

Vote AGAINST individual directors if repeated absences at board meetings have not been explained (in countries where this information is disclosed).

 

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Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis for contested elections of directors, e.g. the election of shareholder nominees or the dismissal of incumbent directors, determining which directors are best suited to add value for shareholders.*

Vote FOR employee and/or labor representatives if they sit on either the audit or compensation committee and are required by law to be on those committees.* Vote AGAINST employee and/or labor representatives if they sit on either the audit or compensation committee, if they are not required to be on those committees.*

Under extraordinary circumstances, vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from directors individually, on a committee, or the entire board, due to:

 

   

Material failures of governance, stewardship, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company; or

 

   

Failure to replace management as appropriate; or

 

   

Egregious actions related to the director(s)’ service on other boards that raise substantial doubt about his or her ability to effectively oversee management and serve the best interests of shareholders at any company.

[Please see the ISS International Classification of Directors.]

 

 

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the     Advisor may take.

 

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ISS Classification of Directors - International Policy 2011

 

Executive Director

   

Employee or executive of the company;

   

Any director who is classified as a non-executive, but receives salary, fees, bonus, and/or other benefits that are in line with the highest-paid executives of the company.

Non-Independent Non-Executive Director (NED)

   

Any director who is attested by the board to be a non-independent NED;

   

Any director specifically designated as a representative of a significant shareholder of the company;

   

Any director who is also an employee or executive of a significant shareholder of the company;

   

Any director who is nominated by a dissenting significant shareholder, unless there is a clear lack of material[5] connection with the dissident, either currently or historically;

   

Beneficial owner (direct or indirect) of at least 10% of the company’s stock, either in economic terms or in voting rights (this may be aggregated if voting power is distributed among more than one member of a defined group, e.g., family members who beneficially own less than 10% individually, but collectively own more than 10%), unless market best practice dictates a lower ownership and/or disclosure threshold (and in other special market-specific circumstances);

   

Government representative;

   

Currently provides (or a relative[1] provides) professional services[2] to the company, to an affiliate of the company, or to an individual officer of the company or of one of its affiliates in excess of $10,000 per year;

   

Represents customer, supplier, creditor, banker, or other entity with which company maintains transactional/commercial relationship (unless company discloses information to apply a materiality test[3]);

   

Any director who has conflicting or cross-directorships with executive directors or the chairman of the company;

   

Relative[1] of a current employee of the company or its affiliates;

   

Relative[1] of a former executive of the company or its affiliates;

   

A new appointee elected other than by a formal process through the General Meeting (such as a contractual appointment by a substantial shareholder);

   

Founder/co-founder/member of founding family but not currently an employee;

   

Former executive (5 year cooling off period);

   

Years of service is generally not a determining factor unless it is recommended best practice in a market and/or in extreme circumstances, in which case it may be considered.[4]

   

Any additional relationship or principle considered to compromise independence under local corporate governance best practice guidance.

Independent NED

   

No material[5] connection, either directly or indirectly, to the company (other than a board seat) or the dissenting significant shareholder.

Employee Representative

   

Represents employees or employee shareholders of the company (classified as “employee representative” but considered a non-independent NED).

Footnotes:

[1] “Relative” follows the definition of “immediate family members” which covers spouses, parents, children, stepparents, step-children, siblings, in-laws, and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of any director, nominee for director, executive officer, or significant shareholder of the company.

[2] Professional services can be characterized as advisory in nature and generally include the following: investment banking/financial advisory services; commercial banking (beyond deposit services); investment services; insurance services; accounting/audit services; consulting services; marketing services; and legal services. The case of participation in a banking syndicate by a non-lead bank should be considered a transaction (and hence subject to the associated materiality test) rather than a professional relationship.

[3] A business relationship may be material if the transaction value (of all outstanding transactions) entered into between the company and the company or organization with which the director is associated is equivalent to either 1 percent of the company’s turnover or 1 percent of the turnover of the company or organization with which the director is associated. OR, A business relationship may be material if the transaction value (of all outstanding financing operations) entered into between the company and the company or organization with which the director is associated is more than 10 percent of the company’s shareholder equity or the transaction value, (of all outstanding financing operations), compared to the company’s total assets, is more than 5 percent.

[4] For example, in continental Europe, directors with a tenure exceeding 12 years will be considered non-independent. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, directors with a tenure exceeding nine years will be considered non-independent, unless the company provides sufficient and clear justification that the director is independent despite his long tenure.

[5] For purposes of ISS’ director independence classification, “material” will be defined as a standard of relationship financial, personal or

 

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otherwise that a reasonable person might conclude could potentially influence one’s objectivity in the boardroom in a manner that would have a meaningful impact on an individual's ability to satisfy requisite fiduciary standards on behalf of shareholders.

Contested Director Elections*

For contested elections of directors, e.g. the election of shareholder nominees or the dismissal of incumbent directors, ISS will make its recommendation on a case-by-case basis, determining which directors are best suited to add value for shareholders.

The analysis will generally be based on, but not limited to, the following major decision factors:

   

Company performance relative to its peers;

   

Strategy of the incumbents versus the dissidents;

   

Independence of directors/nominees;

   

Experience and skills of board candidates;

   

Governance profile of the company;

   

Evidence of management entrenchment;

   

Responsiveness to shareholders;

   

Whether a takeover offer has been rebuffed;

   

Whether minority or majority representation is being sought.

When analyzing a contested election of directors, ISS will generally focus on two central questions: (1) Have the dissidents proved that board change is warranted? And (2) if so, are the dissident board nominees likely to effect positive change (i.e., maximize long-term shareholder value).

Discharge of Directors

Generally vote FOR the discharge of directors, including members of the management board and/or supervisory board, unless there is reliable information about significant and compelling controversies that the board is not fulfilling its fiduciary duties warranted by:

 

   

A lack of oversight or actions by board members which invoke shareholder distrust related to malfeasance or poor supervision, such as operating in private or company interest rather than in shareholder interest; or

   

Any legal issues (e.g. civil/criminal) aiming to hold the board responsible for breach of trust in the past or related to currently alleged actions yet to be confirmed (and not only the fiscal year in question), such as price fixing, insider trading, bribery, fraud, and other illegal actions; or

   

Other egregious governance issues where shareholders will bring legal action against the company or its directors.

For markets which do not routinely request discharge resolutions (e.g. common law countries or markets where discharge is not mandatory), analysts may voice concern in other appropriate agenda items, such as approval of the annual accounts or other relevant resolutions, to enable shareholders to express discontent with the board.

Director, Officer, and Auditor Indemnification and Liability Provisions

Vote proposals seeking indemnification and liability protection for directors and officers on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote AGAINST proposals to indemnify external auditors.

 

 

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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Board Structure

Vote FOR proposals to fix board size.

Vote AGAINST the introduction of classified boards and mandatory retirement ages for directors.

Vote AGAINST proposals to alter board structure or size in the context of a fight for control of the company or the board.

3. Capital Structure

Share Issuance Requests

General Issuances

Vote FOR issuance requests with preemptive rights to a maximum of 100 percent over currently issued capital.

Vote FOR issuance requests without preemptive rights to a maximum of 20 percent of currently issued capital.

Specific Issuances

Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on all requests, with or without preemptive rights.

Increases in Authorized Capital

Vote FOR non-specific proposals to increase authorized capital up to 100 percent over the current authorization unless the increase would leave the company with less than 30 percent of its new authorization outstanding.

Vote FOR specific proposals to increase authorized capital to any amount, unless:

   

The specific purpose of the increase (such as a share-based acquisition or merger) does not meet [ISS] guidelines for the purpose being proposed; or

   

The increase would leave the company with less than 30 percent of its new authorization outstanding after adjusting for all proposed issuances.

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt unlimited capital authorizations.

Reduction of Capital

Vote FOR proposals to reduce capital for routine accounting purposes unless the terms are unfavorable to shareholders.

Vote proposals to reduce capital in connection with corporate restructuring on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Capital Structures

Vote FOR resolutions that seek to maintain or convert to a one-share, one-vote capital structure.

Vote AGAINST requests for the creation or continuation of dual-class capital structures or the creation of new or additional [super voting] shares.

 

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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Preferred Stock

Vote FOR the creation of a new class of preferred stock or for issuances of preferred stock up to 50 percent of issued capital unless the terms of the preferred stock would adversely affect the rights of existing shareholders.

Vote FOR the creation/issuance of convertible preferred stock as long as the maximum number of common shares that could be issued upon conversion meets ISS guidelines on equity issuance requests.

Vote AGAINST the creation of a new class of preference shares that would carry superior voting rights to the common shares.

Vote AGAINST the creation of blank check preferred stock unless the board clearly states that the authorization will not be used to thwart a takeover bid.

Vote proposals to increase blank check preferred authorizations on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Debt Issuance Requests

Vote non-convertible debt issuance requests on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, with or without preemptive rights.

Vote FOR the creation/issuance of convertible debt instruments as long as the maximum number of common shares that could be issued upon conversion meets ISS guidelines on equity issuance requests.

Vote FOR proposals to restructure existing debt arrangements unless the terms of the restructuring would adversely affect the rights of shareholders.

Pledging of Assets for Debt

Vote proposals to approve the pledging of assets for debt on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Increase in Borrowing Powers

Vote proposals to approve increases in a company's borrowing powers on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Share Repurchase Plans

Generally vote FOR market repurchase authorities (share repurchase programs) if the terms comply with the following criteria:

 

   

A repurchase limit of up to 10 percent of outstanding issued share capital (15 percent in UK/Ireland);

 

   

A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company’s issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and

 

   

A duration of no more than 5 years, or such lower threshold as may be set by applicable law, regulation or code of governance best practice.

Authorities to repurchase shares in excess of the 10 percent repurchase limit will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. ISS may support such share repurchase authorities under special circumstances, which are required to be publicly disclosed by the company, provided that, on balance, the proposal is in shareholders' interests. In such cases, the authority must comply with the following criteria:

 

   

A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company's issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and

 

   

A duration of no more than 18 months.

In markets where it is normal practice not to provide a repurchase limit, ISS will evaluate the proposal based on the company’s historical practice. However, ISS expects companies to disclose such limits and, in the future, may recommend a vote against companies that fail to do so. In such cases, the authority must comply with the following criteria:

 

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A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company's issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and

   

A duration of no more than 18 months.

In addition, ISS will recommend AGAINST any proposal where:

 

   

The repurchase can be used for takeover defenses;

   

There is clear evidence of abuse;

   

There is no safeguard against selective buybacks; and/or

   

Pricing provisions and safeguards are deemed to be unreasonable in light of market practice.

Reissuance of Repurchased Shares

Vote FOR requests to reissue any repurchased shares unless there is clear evidence of abuse of this authority in the past.

Capitalization of Reserves for Bonus Issues/Increase in Par Value

Vote FOR requests to capitalize reserves for bonus issues of shares or to increase par value.

4. Other Items

Reorganizations/Restructurings*

Vote reorganizations and restructurings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Mergers and Acquisitions*

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on mergers and acquisitions taking into account the following:

For every M&A analysis, ISS reviews publicly available information as of the date of the report and evaluates the merits and drawbacks of the proposed transaction, balancing various and sometimes countervailing factors including:

 

   

Valuation - Is the value to be received by the target shareholders (or paid by the acquirer) reasonable? While the fairness opinion may provide an initial starting point for assessing valuation reasonableness, ISS places emphasis on the offer premium, market reaction, and strategic rationale.

 

   

Market reaction - How has the market responded to the proposed deal? A negative market reaction will cause ISS to scrutinize a deal more closely.

 

   

Strategic rationale - Does the deal make sense strategically? From where is the value derived? Cost and revenue synergies should not be overly aggressive or optimistic, but reasonably achievable. Management should also have a favourable track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions.

 

   

Conflicts of interest - Are insiders benefiting from the transaction disproportionately and inappropriately as compared to non-insider shareholders? ISS will consider whether any special interests may have influenced these directors and officers to support or recommend the merger.

 

   

Governance - Will the combined company have a better or worse governance profile than the current governance profiles of the respective parties to the transaction? If the governance profile is to change for the worse, the burden is on the company to prove that other issues (such as valuation) outweigh any deterioration in governance.

 

 

* See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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Vote AGAINST if the companies do not provide sufficient information upon request to make an informed voting decision.

Mandatory Takeover Bid Waivers *

Vote proposals to waive mandatory takeover bid requirements on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Reincorporation Proposals

Vote reincorporation proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Expansion of Business Activities

Vote FOR resolutions to expand business activities unless the new business takes the company into risky areas.

Related-Party Transactions

In evaluating resolutions that seek shareholder approval on related party transactions (RPTs), vote on a case-by-case basis, considering factors including, but not limited to, the following:

 

   

the parties on either side of the transaction;

   

the nature of the asset to be transferred/service to be provided;

   

the pricing of the transaction (and any associated professional valuation);

   

the views of independent directors (where provided);

   

the views of an independent financial adviser (where appointed);

   

whether any entities party to the transaction (including advisers) is conflicted; and

   

the stated rationale for the transaction, including discussions of timing.

If there is a transaction that ISS deemed problematic and that was not put to a shareholder vote, ISS may recommend against the election of the director involved in the related-party transaction or the full board.

Antitakeover Mechanisms

Generally vote AGAINST all antitakeover proposals, unless they are structured in such a way that they give shareholders the ultimate decision on any proposal or offer.

Shareholder Proposals

Vote all shareholder proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote FOR proposals that would improve the company’s corporate governance or business profile at a reasonable cost.

Vote AGAINST proposals that limit the company’s business activities or capabilities or result in significant costs being incurred with little or no benefit.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Issues

Generally vote FOR the management’s recommendation on shareholder proposals involving CSR Issues. When evaluating social and environmental shareholder proposals, Dimensional considers the most important factor to be whether adoption of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value.

 

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INSTITUTIONAL CLASS SHARES

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, Texas 78746

Telephone: (512) 306-7400

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

February 28, 2011

DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. (“DFAIDG”) is an open-end management investment company that offers sixty-two series of shares. DFAIDG is referred to as the “Fund” in this Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”). This SAI relates to twelve series of DFAIDG (individually, a “Portfolio” and collectively, the “Portfolios”):

DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio

Ticker: DFIHX

DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio

Ticker: DFGFX

DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio

Ticker: DFSHX

DFA Short-Term Government Portfolio

(formerly, DFA Five-Year Government Portfolio)

Ticker: DFFGX

DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio

Ticker: DFGBX

DFA Intermediate Government Fixed Income Portfolio

Ticker: DFIGX

DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio

Ticker: DFEQX

DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio

Ticker: DFTEX

DFA Investment Grade Portfolio

Ticker: DFAPX

DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio

Ticker: DIPSX

DFA Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio

Ticker: DFSMX

DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio

Ticker: DFCMX

This SAI is not a prospectus but should be read in conjunction with the Portfolios’ prospectus dated February 28, 2011, as amended from time to time. The audited financial statements and financial highlights of the Fund are incorporated by reference from the Fund’s annual report to shareholders. As of the date of this prospectus, the DFA Investment Grade Portfolio had not commenced operations and, therefore, no financial information is shown for the DFA Investment Grade Portfolio in the Fund’s annual report for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010. The prospectus and annual reports can be obtained by writing to the above address or by calling the above telephone number.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS AND POLICIES

     2   

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

     2   

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

     3   

FUTURES CONTRACTS

     5   

CREDIT DEFAULT SWAPS

     6   

FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

     7   

CASH MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

     7   

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

     8   

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATES

     9   

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES FOR THE DFA SHORT-TERM MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO AND DFA CALIFORNIA SHORT-TERM MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO

     9   

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

     15   

SERVICES TO THE PORTFOLIOS

     25   

ADVISORY FEES

     27   

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

     29   

GENERAL INFORMATION

     32   

CODE OF ETHICS

     32   

SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS

     32   

PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

     33   

PURCHASE OF SHARES

     35   

REDEMPTION AND TRANSFER OF SHARES

     36   

TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIOS AND THEIR SHAREHOLDERS

     36   

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

     49   

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

     51   

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     54   

PERFORMANCE DATA

     54   

 

1


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PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS AND POLICIES

The DFA Investment Grade Portfolio is a “fund of funds” that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing its assets in funds managed by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor” or “Dimensional”). As of the date of this SAI, the DFA Investment Grade Portfolio invests in the DFA Short-Term Government Portfolio, DFA Intermediate Government Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio (collectively, the “Underlying Funds”), each a series of DFAIDG.

Dimensional serves as investment advisor to each of the Portfolios. The Advisor is organized as a Delaware limited partnership and is controlled and operated by its general partner, Dimensional Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation.

The following information supplements the information set forth in the prospectus. Unless otherwise indicated, the following information applies to all of the Portfolios. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this SAI have the meaning assigned to them in the Prospectus.

Each of the Portfolios is diversified under the federal securities laws and regulations.

Each of the Portfolios has adopted a non-fundamental policy as required by Rule 35d-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) that, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the value of each Portfolio’s net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, will be invested in a specific type of investment. Additionally, if a Portfolio changes its 80% investment policy, the Portfolio will notify shareholders at least 60 days before the change, and will change the name of the Portfolio. For more information on each Portfolio’s specific 80% policy, see each Portfolio’s “PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES” section in the Prospectus.

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

The Portfolios acquire and sell securities on a net basis with dealers which are major market makers in such securities. The Investment Committee of the Advisor selects dealers on the basis of their size, market making, and credit analysis ability. When executing portfolio transactions, the Advisor seeks to obtain the most favorable price for the securities being traded among the dealers with whom the Portfolios effect transactions.

Portfolio transactions will be placed with a view to receiving the best price and execution. The Portfolios will seek to acquire and dispose of securities in a manner which would cause as little fluctuation in the market prices of securities being purchased or sold as possible in light of the size of the transactions being effected, and brokers will be selected with this goal in view. The Advisor monitors the performance of brokers which effect transactions for the Portfolios to determine the effect that the brokers’ trading has on the market prices of the securities in which the Portfolios invest. The Advisor also checks the rate of commission being paid by the Portfolios to their brokers to ascertain that the rates are competitive with those charged by other brokers for similar services.

Subject to obtaining best price and execution, transactions may be placed with brokers that have assisted in the sale of Portfolio shares. The Advisor, however, pursuant to policies and procedures approved by the Board of Directors of DFAIDG, is prohibited from selecting brokers and dealers to effect a Portfolio’s portfolio securities transactions based (in whole or in part) on a broker’s or dealer’s promotion or sale of shares issued by a Portfolio or any other registered investment companies.

The Advisor believes that it needs maximum flexibility to effect trades on a best execution basis. As deemed appropriate, the Advisor places buy and sell orders for the Portfolio with various brokerage firms that may act as principal or agent. The Advisor may also make use of direct market access and algorithmic, program or electronic trading methods. The Advisor may extensively use electronic trading systems as such systems can provide the ability to customize the orders placed and can assist in the Advisor's execution strategies.

 

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Transactions also may be placed with brokers who provide the Advisor or the sub-advisors with investment research, such as reports concerning individual issuers, industries and general economic and financial trends and other research services. The investment advisory agreements permit the Advisor knowingly to pay commissions on these transactions that are greater than another broker, dealer or exchange member might charge if the Advisor, in good faith, determines that the commissions paid are reasonable in relation to the research or brokerage services provided by the broker or dealer when viewed in terms of either a particular transaction or the Advisor’s overall responsibilities to the accounts under its management. Research services furnished by brokers through whom securities transactions are effected may be used by the Advisor in servicing all of its accounts and not all such services may be used by the Advisor with respect to the Portfolios.

During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the Portfolios did not pay commissions for securities transactions to brokers which provided market price monitoring services, market studies and research services. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the Portfolios did not purchase securities of their regular brokers or dealers (as defined in Rule 10b-1 of the 1940 Act).

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

Each of the Portfolios has adopted certain limitations which may not be changed with respect to any Portfolio without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio. A “majority” is defined as the lesser of: (1) at least 67% of the voting securities of the Portfolio (to be affected by the proposed change) present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio are present or represented by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of such Portfolio.

The Portfolios will not:

 

  (1)

borrow money, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or any rules, exemptions or interpretations thereunder that may be adopted, granted or issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”);

 

  (2)

make loans, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or any rules, exemptions or interpretations thereunder that may be adopted, granted or issued by the SEC; provided that in no event shall a Portfolio be permitted to make a loan to a natural person;

 

  (3)

purchase or sell real estate, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, and provided that this restriction does not prevent a Portfolio from: (i) purchasing or selling securities or instruments secured by real estate or interests therein, securities or instruments representing interests in real estate or securities or instruments of issuers that invest, deal or otherwise engage in transactions in real estate or interests therein; and (ii) purchasing or selling real estate mortgage loans;

 

  (4)

purchase or sell physical commodities, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, and provided that this restriction does not prevent a Portfolio from: (i) engaging in transactions involving currencies and futures contracts and options thereon; or (ii) investing in securities or other instruments that are secured by physical commodities;

 

  (5)

purchase the securities of any one issuer, if immediately after such investment, a Portfolio would not qualify as a “diversified company” as that term is defined by the 1940 Act, as amended, and as modified or interpreted by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time;

 

  (6)

engage in the business of underwriting securities issued by others; or

 

  (7)

issue senior securities (as such term is defined in Section 18(f) of the 1940 Act), except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act.

The DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Intermediate Government Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Short-Term Government Portfolio, and DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio will not:

 

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  (8)

sell securities short.

The Portfolios, except the DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio, and DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio, will not:

 

  (9)

acquire any securities of companies within one industry if, as a result of such acquisition, more than 25% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets would be invested in securities of companies within such industry; except that each of the DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio shall invest more than 25% of its total assets in obligations of banks and bank holding companies in the circumstances described in the prospectus under “Investments in the Banking Industry” and as otherwise described under “PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES.”

The DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Investment Grade Portfolio, DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio, and DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio will not:

 

  (10)  

concentrate (invest more than 25% of its net assets) in securities of issuers in a particular industry (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or securities of other investment companies), except that the DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio shall invest more than 25% of its total assets in obligations of banks and bank holding companies in the circumstances described in the prospectus under “Investments in the Banking Industry” and as otherwise described under “PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES.”

With respect to the investment limitation described in (1) above, each Portfolio will maintain asset coverage of at least 300% (as described in the 1940 Act), inclusive of any amounts borrowed, with respect to any borrowings made by such Portfolio. The Portfolios do not currently intend to borrow money for investment purposes.

Although the investment limitation described in (2) above prohibits loans, each Portfolio is authorized to lend portfolio securities.

Each Portfolio is required to operate in accordance with the SEC staff’s current position on illiquid securities, which limits investments in illiquid securities to 15% of a Portfolio’s net assets. For these purposes, each of the DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio may invest in commercial paper that is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”), subject to the requirements regarding credit ratings stated in the prospectus under “Description of Investments of the Portfolios Other than the Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio and California Municipal Bond Portfolio.” Further, pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, the Portfolios may purchase certain unregistered (i.e. restricted) securities upon a determination that a liquid institutional market exists for the securities. If it is determined that a liquid market does exist, the securities will not be subject to the 15% limitation on holdings of illiquid securities. While maintaining oversight, the Board of Directors has delegated the day-to-day function of making liquidity determinations to the Advisor. For Rule 144A securities to be considered liquid, there must be at least two dealers making a market in such securities. After purchase, the Board of Directors of DFAIDG, and the Advisor will continue to monitor the liquidity of Rule 144A securities.

The investment limitations described in (5) and (8) above do not prohibit the DFA Investment Grade Portfolio from investing all or substantially all of its assets in the shares of other registered, open-end investment companies, such as the Underlying Funds. In applying the investment limitations described in (5) and (8) above, the Portfolio will look through to the security holdings of the Underlying Funds in which it invests.

The investment limitation described in (8) above does not prohibit the DFA Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio from maintaining a short position, or purchasing, writing or selling puts, calls, straddles, spreads or combinations thereof in connection with transactions in options, futures, and options on futures and transactions arising under swap agreements or other derivative instruments.

 

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For purposes of the investment limitations described in (9) and (10) above, each of the DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio , DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio, as disclosed in the prospectus under “Investments in the Banking Industry,” will invest more than 25% of its total assets in obligations of U.S. and foreign banks and bank holding companies (“banking industry securities”) when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking industry securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group generally for a period of five consecutive days when the NYSE is open for trading.

For purposes of the investment limitations described in (9) and (10) above, management does not consider securities that are issued by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities to be investments in an “industry.” However, management currently considers securities issued by a foreign government (but not the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities) to be subject to the 25% limitation. Thus, not more than 25% of a Portfolio’s total assets will be invested in securities issued by any one foreign government or supranational organization. A Portfolio might invest in certain securities issued by companies in a particular industry whose obligations are guaranteed by a foreign government. Management could consider such a company to be within the particular industry and, therefore, the Portfolio will invest in the securities of such a company only if the Portfolio can do so under the Portfolio’s policy of not being concentrated in any single industry.

For purposes of the investment limitations described above, in regards to the DFA Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio and the DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio, the identification of the issuer of a municipal security depends on the terms and conditions of the security. When assets and revenues of a political subdivision are separate from those of the government that created the subdivision and the security is backed only by the assets and revenues of the subdivision, the subdivision is deemed to be the sole issuer. Similarly, in the case of an industrial development bond, if only the assets and revenues of a nongovernmental user back the bond, then the nongovernmental user would be deemed to be the sole issuer. If, however, in either case, the creating government or some other entity guarantees the security, the guarantee would be considered a separate entity that would be treated as an issue of the guaranteeing entity.

Additionally, for the DFA Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio and the DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio, for purposes of the investment limitations above, tax-exempt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S., state or local governments or political subdivisions of governments are not considered to be a part of any industry.

Unless otherwise indicated, all limitations applicable to the Portfolios’ investments apply only at the time that a transaction is undertaken.

FUTURES CONTRACTS

All Portfolios, except the DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Short-Term Government Portfolio and DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio, may enter into futures contracts and options on futures contracts to gain market exposure on the Portfolio’s uninvested cash pending investments in securities and to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of defined securities at a specified future time and at a specified price. Futures contracts that are standardized as to maturity date and underlying financial instrument are traded on national futures exchanges. Each Portfolio will be required to make a margin deposit in cash or government securities with a futures commission merchant (an “FCM”) to initiate and maintain positions in futures contracts. Minimal initial margin requirements are established by the futures exchanges and FCMs may establish margin requirements which are higher than the exchange requirements. After a futures contract position is opened, the value of the contract is marked to market daily. If the futures contract price changes to the extent that the margin on deposit does not satisfy margin requirements, payment of additional “variation” margin to be held by the FCM will be required. Conversely, a reduction in the required margin would result in a repayment of excess margin to the custodial accounts of the Portfolio. Variation margin payments may be made to and from the futures broker for as long as the contract

 

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remains open. Each Portfolio expects to earn income on its margin deposits. Each Portfolio intends to limit its futures-related investment activity so that other than with respect to bona fide hedging activity (as defined in Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) General Regulations Section 1.3(z)): (i) the aggregate initial margin and premiums paid to establish commodity futures and commodity option contract positions (determined at the time the most recent position was established) does not exceed 5% of the liquidation value of the portfolio of the Portfolio, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such contracts it has entered into (provided that, in the case of an option that is in-the-money at the time of purchase, the in-the-money amount may be excluded in calculating such 5% limitation); or (ii) the aggregate net “notional value” (i.e., the size of a commodity futures or commodity option contract in contract units (taking into account any multiplier specified in the contract), multiplied by the current market price (for a futures contract) or strike price (for an option contract) of each such unit) of all non-hedge commodity futures and commodity option contracts that the Portfolio has entered into (determined at the time the most recent position was established) does not exceed the liquidation value of the portfolio of the Portfolio, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such contracts that the Portfolio has entered into.

Positions in futures contracts may be closed out only on an exchange that provides a secondary market. However, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular futures contract at any specific time. Therefore, it might not be possible to close a futures position and, in the event of adverse price movements, the Portfolio would continue to be required to make variation margin deposits. In such circumstances, if the Portfolio has insufficient cash, it might have to sell portfolio securities to meet daily margin requirements at a time when it might be disadvantageous to do so. Management intends to minimize the possibility that it will be unable to close out a futures contract by only entering into futures which are traded on national futures exchanges and for which there appears to be a liquid secondary market. Pursuant to published positions of the SEC and interpretations of the staff of the SEC, a Portfolio (or its custodian) is required to maintain segregated accounts or to segregate assets through notations on the books of the custodian, consisting of liquid assets (or, as permitted under applicable interpretations, enter into offsetting positions) in connection with its futures contract transactions in order to cover its obligations with respect to such contracts. These requirements are designed to limit the amount of leverage that a Portfolio may use by entering into futures transactions.

CREDIT DEFAULT SWAPS

The DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio, DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio (the “Extended Quality Portfolios”) and DFA Investment Grade Portfolio also may enter into credit default swap agreements. The Portfolios may enter into a credit default swap on a single security or instrument (sometimes referred to as a “CDS” transaction) or on a basket or index of securities (sometimes referred to as a “CDX” transaction). The “buyer” in a credit default contract typically is obligated to pay the “seller” a periodic stream of payments over the term of the contract, provided that no credit event with respect to any underlying reference obligation has occurred. If a credit event occurs, the seller typically must pay the buyer the “par value” (full notional value) of the reference obligation in exchange for the reference obligation. The Portfolios may be either the buyer or the seller in the transaction. If a Portfolio is a buyer and no credit event occurs, the Portfolio may lose its investment and recover nothing. However, if a credit event occurs, the buyer typically receives full notional value for a reference obligation that may have little or no value. As a seller, a Portfolio typically receives a fixed rate of income throughout the term of the contract, which typically is between six months and three years, provided a credit event does not occur. If a credit event occurs, the seller typically must pay the buyer the full notional amount of the reference obligation.

Credit default swaps involve greater risks than if the Portfolios had invested in the reference obligation directly, since, in addition to general market risks, credit default swaps are subject to illiquidity risk, counterparty risk and credit risk. A buyer also will lose its investment and recover nothing should no credit event occur and the swap is held to its termination date. If a credit event were to occur, the value of any deliverable obligation received by the seller, coupled with the up-front or periodic payments previously received, may be less than the full notional value the seller pays to the buyer, resulting in a loss of value to the Portfolio. When a Portfolio acts as a seller of a credit default swap, the Portfolio is exposed to many of the same risks of leverage since, if a credit event occurs, the seller may be required to pay the buyer the full notional value of the contract net of any amounts owed by the buyer related to its delivery of deliverable obligations.

 

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The Advisor and the Fund do not believe that a Portfolio’s obligations under swap contracts are senior securities and, accordingly, the Portfolio will not treat them as being subject to the Portfolio’s borrowing or senior securities restrictions. However, with respect to swap contracts that provide for the netting of payments, the net amount of the excess, if any, of the Portfolio’s obligations over its entitlements with respect to each swap contract will be accrued on a daily basis and an amount of segregated assets having an aggregate market value at least equal to the accrued excess will be maintained to cover the transactions in accordance with SEC positions. With respect to swap contracts that do not provide for the netting of payments by the counterparties, the full notional amount for which the Portfolio is obligated under the swap contract with respect to each swap contract will be accrued on a daily basis and assets having an aggregate market value at least equal to the accrued full notional value will be segregated and maintained to cover the transactions in accordance with SEC positions. To the extent that a Portfolio cannot dispose of a swap in the ordinary course of business within seven days at approximately the value at which the Portfolio has valued the swap, the Portfolio will treat the swap as illiquid and subject to its overall limit on illiquid investments of 15% of the Portfolio’s net assets.

FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

The DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio, Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and DFA Investment Grade Portfolio may acquire and sell forward foreign currency exchange contracts in order to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency exchange rates. The Portfolios will conduct their foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies. A forward foreign currency exchange contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days (usually less than one year) from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts are traded in the interbank market conducted directly between traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. A forward contract generally has no deposit requirement, and no commissions are charged at any stage for trades. Although foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference (the spread) between the price at which they are buying and selling various currencies.

The DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio, DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and DFA Investment Grade Portfolio may enter into forward foreign currency contracts to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or to transfer balances from one currency to another currency. A Portfolio may enter into a forward contract to buy or sell the amount of foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of the portfolio securities quoted or denominated in such foreign currency. The precise matching of the forward contract amounts and the value of the securities involved will not generally be possible since the future value of such securities in foreign currencies will change as a consequence of market movements in the value of those securities between the date the forward contract is entered into and the date it expires. The DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio and DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio typically hedge their foreign currency exposure. DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio may hedge the currency exposure of its foreign securities or leave some or all of the currency exposure unhedged.

CASH MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

The Portfolios engage in cash management practices in order to earn income on uncommitted cash balances. Generally, cash is uncommitted pending investment in other securities, payment of redemptions or in other circumstances where the Advisor believes liquidity is necessary or desirable. For example, a Portfolio may make cash investments for temporary defensive purposes during periods in which market, economic or political conditions warrant.

The Portfolios may invest cash in short-term repurchase agreements. In addition, the following cash investments are permissible:

 

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Portfolios    Permissible Cash Investments*   

Percentage

Guidelines**

              
DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio    Short-term repurchase agreements; affiliated and unaffiliated registered or unregistered money market funds***    N.A.
              
DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio    Short-term repurchase agreements; affiliated and unaffiliated registered or unregistered money market funds***    N.A.
              
DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio    Short-term repurchase agreements; affiliated and unaffiliated registered or unregistered money market funds***    N.A.
              
DFA Intermediate Government Fixed Income Portfolio    Futures contracts on U.S. Treasury securities or options on such contracts; affiliated and unaffiliated registered or unregistered money market funds***    N.A.
              
DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio    Short-term repurchase agreements; short-term government fixed income obligations; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds, including government money market funds***    N.A.
              
DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio    Money market instruments, debt, freely convertible currencies, shares of affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds, index futures contracts, and options thereon.    20%
              
DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio    Short-term repurchase agreements; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds, index futures contracts, and options thereon.    20%
              
DFA Investment Grade Portfolio    Money market instruments, debt, freely convertible currencies and shares of affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds.***    N.A.
              
DFA Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio    Short-term fixed income obligations same as One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio; highly liquid debt securities; index futures contracts and options thereon; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds, including tax-exempt money market funds***    20%
              
DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio    Short-term fixed income obligations; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds ***    20%

 

*

With respect to fixed income instruments, except in connection with corporate actions, the Portfolios will invest in fixed income instruments that at the time of purchase have an investment grade rating by a rating agency or are deemed to be investment grade by the Advisor.

 

**

The percentage guidelines set forth above are not absolute limitations, but the Portfolios do not expect to exceed these guidelines under normal circumstances.

 

***

Investments in money market mutual funds may involve duplication of certain fees and expenses.

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

The DFA Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio and DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio may invest in Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the municipal bond market pending investment in municipal bonds.

 

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An ETF is an investment company whose goal is to track or replicate a desired index, such as a sector, market or global segment. ETFs are passively managed, and traded similar to a publicly traded company. The risks and costs of investing in ETFs are comparable to investing in a publicly traded company. The goal of an ETF is to correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of its underlying index. The risk of not correlating to the index is an additional risk to the investors of ETFs. When a Portfolio invests in an ETF, shareholders of the Portfolio bear their proportionate share of the underlying ETF’s fees and expenses.

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RATES

The One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio, Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Short-Term Government Portfolio, DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio and DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio are expected to have high portfolio turnover rates due to the relatively short maturities of the securities to be acquired. The portfolio turnover rate for the DFA Short-Term Government Portfolio has varied from year to year due to market and other conditions. In addition, variations in turnover rates occur because securities are sold when, in the Advisor’s judgment, the return will be increased as a result of portfolio transactions after taking into account the cost of trading.

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES FOR THE DFA SHORT-TERM MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO AND

DFA CALIFORNIA SHORT-TERM MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO

The DFA Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio and DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio (the “Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolios”) each may invest in certain types of securities and engage in certain investment practices that the other Portfolios do not. In addition to the securities and investment practices described in the prospectus, set forth below is a description of certain types of securities that the Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolios may purchase and certain investment techniques that each Portfolio may use to attempt to achieve its investment objective.

Variable Rate Obligations and Demand Notes

The Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolios may invest in variable rate obligations. Variable rate obligations have a yield that is adjusted periodically based on changes in the level of prevailing interest rates. Floating rate obligations have an interest rate fixed to a known lending rate, such as the prime rate, and are automatically adjusted when the known rate changes. Variable rate obligations lessen the capital fluctuations usually inherent in fixed income investments. This diminishes the risk of capital depreciation of investment securities in a Portfolio and, consequently, of Portfolio shares. However, if interest rates decline, the yield of the Portfolio will decline, causing a Portfolio and its shareholders to forego the opportunity for capital appreciation of that Portfolio’s investments and of their shares.

The Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolios may invest in floating rate and variable rate demand notes. Demand notes provide that the holder may demand payment of the note at its par value plus accrued interest by giving notice to the issuer. To ensure the ability of the issuer to make payment on demand, a bank letter of credit or other liquidity facility may support the note.

Pre-refunded Municipal Securities

The Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolios may invest in pre-refunded municipal securities. Pre-refunded municipal securities are tax-exempt bonds that have been refunded to a call date prior to the final maturity of principal, or “escrowed-to-maturity bonds,” that have been refunded prior to the final maturity of principal and remain outstanding in the municipal market. The payment of principal and interest of the pre-refunded municipal securities held by a Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio is funded from securities in a designated escrow account that holds U.S. Treasury securities or other obligations of the U.S. Government (including its agencies and instrumentalities (“Agency Securities”). While still tax-exempt, pre-refunded municipal securities usually will bear a Aaa rating (if a re-rating has been requested and paid for) because they are backed by U.S. Treasury or Agency

 

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Securities held in an escrow account established by the municipality and an independent escrow agent. While a secondary market exists for pre-refunded municipal securities, if a Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio sells pre-refunded municipal bonds prior to maturity, the price received may be more or less than the original cost, depending on market conditions at the time of sale. Investment in pre-refunded municipal securities held by a Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio may subject the Portfolio to interest rate risk and market risk. To the extent permitted by the SEC and the Internal Revenue Service, a Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio’s investment in pre-refunded municipal bonds backed by U.S. Treasury and Agency Securities in the manner described above, will, for purposes of diversification tests applicable to the Portfolio, be considered an investment in the respective U.S. Treasury and Agency Securities.

Standby Commitments

These instruments, which are similar to a put, give each Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio the option to obligate a broker, dealer or bank to repurchase a security held by the Portfolio at a specified price.

Tender Option Bonds

Tender option bonds are relatively long-term bonds that are coupled with the option to tender the securities to a bank, broker-dealer or other financial institution at periodic intervals and receive the face value of the bond. This investment structure is commonly used as a means of enhancing a security’s liquidity.

Structured or Indexed Securities

The Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolios may invest in structured or indexed securities. The value of the principal of and/or interest on such securities is determined by reference to changes in the value of specific currencies, interest rates, commodities, indices or other financial indicators (the “Reference”) or the relative change in the two or more References. The interest rate or the principal amount payable upon maturity or redemption may be increased or decreased depending upon changes in the applicable Reference. The terms of the structured or indexed securities may provide that, in certain circumstances, no principal is due at maturity and, therefore, may result in a loss of a Portfolio’s investment. Structured or indexed securities may be positively or negatively indexed, so that appreciation of the Reference may produce an increase or a decrease in the interest rate or value of the security at maturity. In addition, changes in interest rates or the value of the security at maturity may be some multiple of the change in the value of the Reference. Consequently, structured or indexed securities may entail a greater degree of market risk than other types of debt securities because the Portfolio bears the risk of the Reference. Structured or indexed securities may also be more volatile, less liquid and more difficult to accurately price than less complex securities.

Zero Coupon Bonds

The Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolios may invest in zero coupon bonds. Zero coupon bonds generally pay no cash interest (or dividends, in the case of preferred stock) to their holders prior to maturity. Accordingly, such securities usually are issued and traded at a deep discount from their face or par value and generally are subject to greater fluctuations of market value in response to changing interest rates than securities of comparable maturities and credit quality that pay cash interest (or dividends, in the case of preferred stock) on a current basis. Although a Portfolio will receive no payments on its zero coupon bonds prior to their maturity or disposition, a Portfolio would be required, for federal income tax purposes, generally to include in its dividends each year an amount equal to the annual income that accrues on its zero coupon securities. Such dividends will be paid from the cash assets of a Portfolio, from borrowings or by liquidation of portfolio securities, if necessary, at a time that a Portfolio otherwise would not have done so. To the extent a Portfolio is required to liquidate thinly traded securities, it may be able to sell such securities only at prices lower than if such securities were more widely traded. The risks associated with holding securities that are not readily marketable may be accentuated at such time. To the extent the proceeds from any such dispositions are used by a Portfolio to pay distributions that Portfolio will not be able to purchase additional income-producing securities with such proceeds, and as a result, its current income ultimately may be reduced.

 

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Municipal Lease Obligations

The Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolios may invest in municipal lease obligations. These securities are sometimes considered illiquid because of the thinness of the market in which they are traded. Under the supervision of the Board of Directors, the Advisor may determine to treat certain municipal lease obligations as liquid, and therefore not subject to a Portfolio’s 15% limit on illiquid securities. The factors that the Advisor may consider in making these liquidity determinations include: (1) the frequency of trades and quotations for the security; (2) the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential buyers; (3) the willingness of dealers to underwrite and make a market in the security; (4) the nature of the marketplace trades, including the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers, and the mechanics of transfer; and (5) factors unique to a particular security, including general creditworthiness of the issuer, the importance to the issuer of the property covered by the lease and the likelihood that the marketability of the securities will be maintained throughout the time the security is held by a Portfolio.

When-Issued Securities

The Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolios may purchase tax-exempt securities on a “when-issued” basis. In buying “when-issued” securities, a Portfolio commits to buy securities at a certain price even though the securities may not normally be delivered for up to 45 days. A Portfolio pays for the securities and begins earning interest when the securities are actually delivered. As a consequence, it is possible that the market price of the securities at the time of delivery may be higher or lower than the purchase price. It is also possible that the securities will never be issued and the commitment cancelled.

Municipal Bond Insurance

The Advisor anticipates that a portion of each Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio’s investment portfolio will be invested in municipal securities whose principal and interest payments are guaranteed by a private insurance company at the time of purchase. Each Portfolio’s insurance coverage may take one of several forms. A primary insurance policy is purchased by a municipal securities issuer at the time the securities are issued. This insurance is likely to increase the credit rating of the securities, as well as their purchase price and resale value. A mutual fund insurance policy is purchased by a Portfolio and used to guarantee specific securities only while the securities are held by the Portfolio. Finally, a secondary market insurance policy is purchased by a bond investor (such as a Portfolio) or a broker after the bond has been issued and insures the bond until its maturity date. Both primary insurance and secondary market insurance are non-cancelable and continue in force so long as the insured security is outstanding and the respective insurer remains in business. Premiums for portfolio insurance, if any, would be paid from a Portfolio’s assets and would reduce the current yield on its investment portfolio by the amount of such premiums.

Portfolio insurance coverage that terminates upon the sale of an insured security by a Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio, may not improve the resale value of the security. Therefore, unless a Portfolio elects to purchase secondary market insurance with respect to such securities or such securities are already covered by primary insurance, the Portfolio generally will retain any such securities insured by portfolio insurance that are in default or in significant risk of default, and will place a value on the insurance equal to the difference between the market value of the defaulted security and the market value of similar securities that are not in default.

Each Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio is authorized to obtain portfolio insurance from insurers that have obtained a claims-paying ability rating of AAA from S&P or Aaa (or a short-term rating of MIG-1) from Moody’s.

A Moody’s insurance claims-paying ability rating is an opinion of the ability of an insurance company to repay punctually senior policyholder obligations and claims. An insurer with an insurance claims-paying ability rating of Aaa is adjudged by Moody’s to be of the best quality. In the opinion of Moody’s, the policy obligations of an insurance company with an insurance claims-paying ability rating of Aaa carry the smallest degree of credit risk and, while the financial strength of these companies is likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the company’s fundamentally strong position. An S&P insurance claims-paying ability rating is an assessment of an operating insurance company’s financial capacity to meet obligations under an insurance policy

 

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in accordance with its terms. An insurer with an insurance claims-paying ability rating of AAA has the highest rating assigned by S&P. The capacity of an insurer so rated to honor insurance contracts is adjudged by S&P to be extremely strong and highly likely to remain so over a long period of time.

An insurance claims-paying ability rating by Moody’s or S&P does not constitute an opinion on any specific insurance contract in that such an opinion can only be rendered upon the review of the specific insurance contract. Furthermore, an insurance claims-paying ability rating does not take into account deductibles, surrender or cancellation penalties or the timeliness of payment; nor does it address the ability of a company to meet non-policy obligations (i.e., debt contracts).

The assignment of ratings by Moody’s or S&P to debt issues that are fully or partially supported by insurance policies, contracts or guarantees is a separate process from the determination of insurance claims-paying ability ratings. The likelihood of a timely flow of funds from the insurer to the trustee for the bondholders is a likely element in the rating determination for such debt issues.

Participation Interests

A participation interest in a municipal security gives the purchaser an undivided interest in the municipal obligation in the proportion that a Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio’s participation interest bears to the total principal amount of the municipal obligation. These instruments may have fixed, floating or variable rates of interest. If the participation interest is unrated, or has been given a rating below one that is otherwise permissible for purchase by a Portfolio, the participation interest will be backed by an irrevocable letter of credit or guarantee of a bank that the Board of Directors has determined meets certain quality standards, or the payment obligation otherwise will be collateralized by government securities. Each Portfolio will have the right, with respect to certain participation interests, to demand payment, on a specified number of days’ notice, for all or any part of the Portfolio’s participation interest in the municipal obligation, plus accrued interest. Each Portfolio intends to exercise its right to demand payment only upon a default under the terms of the municipal obligation, or to maintain or improve the quality of its investment portfolio.

Municipal Custody Receipts

The Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolios also may acquire custodial receipts or certificates underwritten by securities dealers or banks that evidence ownership of future interest payments, principal payments, or both, on certain municipal securities. The underwriter of these certificates or receipts typically purchases municipal securities and deposits the securities in an irrevocable trust or custody account with a custodian bank, which then issues receipts or certificates that evidence ownership of the periodic unmatured coupon payments and the final principal payment on the securities. Custody receipts evidencing specific coupon or principal payments have the same general attributes as zero coupon municipal securities described above. Although under the terms of a custody receipt a Portfolio would be typically authorized to assert its rights directly against the issuer of the underlying obligation, a Portfolio could be required to assert through the custodian bank those rights as may exist against the underlying issuers. Thus, in the event the underlying issuer fails to pay principal and/or interest when due, a Portfolio may be subject to delays, expenses and risks that are greater than those that would have been involved if the Portfolio had purchased a direct obligation of the issuer. In addition, in the event that the trust or custody account in which the underlying security has been deposited is determined to be an association taxable as a corporation, instead of a non-taxable entity, the yield on the underlying security would be reduced in recognition of any taxes paid.

CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL SECURITIES RISKS

The DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio invests primarily in California municipal securities and, therefore, its performance is closely tied to the ability of California municipal issuers to continue to make principal and interest payments. Below is a brief discussion of certain factors that may affect California municipal issuers and does not purport to be a complete description of such factors. These factors only apply to the DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio. The financial condition of California, its public authorities and local governments could affect the market values of, and therefore the net asset value per share and the interest

 

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income of the DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio, or result in the default of existing obligations, including obligations that may be held by the Portfolio.

The information contained below is based primarily upon information derived from state official statements, Certified Annual Financial Reports, state and industry trade publications, newspaper articles, other public documents relating to securities offerings of California municipal issuers, and other historically reliable sources. It is only a brief summary of the complex factors affecting the financial situation in California. It has not been independently verified by the DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio. The DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio makes no representation or warranty regarding the completeness or accuracy of such information.

Economic Outlook

The California economy is the largest among the states and one of the largest in the world. Major components of the State’s economy are high technology, trade, entertainment, agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, construction, and services. In 2009, California, along with the rest of the United States, confronted the worst recession in recent history. The recession resulted in a sharp increase in California's unemployment and a drop in baseline revenues of more than 20 percent from their peak. The key factors involved in the California economic downturn are the same as that for the nation; that is, declining real estate markets, decreasing availability of credit, shrinking equity values and growing unemployment.

California personal income rose by an estimated 2.8% in 2010, and is projected to grow 3.5% in 2011. Statewide taxable sales in California appear to have hit bottom in the second half of 2009, and are bouncing back. After 2011-12, taxable sales are expected to grow by 4% to 7% annually. California's unemployment rate was 11.4% in 2009, increased to an estimated 12.5% in 2010 and is projected to decrease to 11.9% in 2011. The consensus is that the state’s economy will continue to recover slowly and sluggishly in the coming years.

Revenues and Expenditures

The California Legislative Analyst’s Office, in its November 2010 California’s Fiscal Outlook, estimated that the state will end the 2010-11 budget year with a deficit of $6 billion if no corrective actions are taken. In 2011-12, expenditures would exceed revenues by $19 billion and leave the state with a year-end deficit of over $25 billion. The assumption that the state will be unable to secure around $3.5 billion of budgeted funding, is a major contributor to the $6 billion year-end deficit projected for 2010-11.

Limitation on Taxes

Certain California municipal obligations may be obligations of issuers that rely in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, on ad valorem property taxes as a source of revenue. The taxing powers of California local governments and districts are limited by Article XIII A of the California Constitution, enacted by the voters in 1978 and commonly known as “Proposition 13.” Proposition 13 reduced and limited the future growth of property taxes and limited the ability of local governments to impose special taxes devoted to a specific purpose without two-thirds voter approval. Proposition 218, another constitutional amendment initiative enacted in 1996 further limited the ability of local governments to raise taxes and fees. Counties, in particular have had fewer revenue raising options than many other local government entities, while having to maintain many services.

Appropriations Limits

California and its local governments are subject to an annual “appropriations limit” imposed by Article XIII B of the California Constitution, enacted by the voters in 1979 and significantly amended by Propositions 98 and 111 in 1988 and 1990, respectively. Proposition 98, as modified by Proposition 111, changed State funding of public education below the university level and the operation of the appropriations limit, primarily by guaranteeing K–14 schools a minimum amount of funding. The Proposition 98 guarantee is funded by local property taxes and the General Fund. Article XIII B prohibits the State or any covered local government from spending “appropriations subject to limitation” in excess of the appropriations limit imposed. “Appropriations subject to limitation” are authorizations to spend “proceeds of taxes,” which consist of tax revenues, and certain other funds, including

 

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proceeds from regulatory licenses, user charges or other fees, to the extent that such proceeds exceed the cost of providing the product or service, but “proceeds of taxes” exclude most State subventions to local governments. No limit is imposed on appropriations of funds that are not “proceeds of taxes,” such as reasonable user charges or fees, and certain other non-tax funds.

Among the expenditures not included in the Article XIII B appropriations limit are (1) the debt service cost of bonds issued or authorized prior to January 1, 1979 or subsequently authorized by the voters, (2) appropriations required to comply with mandates of courts or the federal government, (3) appropriations for certain capital outlay projects, (4) appropriations for tax refunds, (4) appropriations of revenues derived from any increase in gasoline taxes and vehicle weight fees above January 1, 1990 levels, (5) appropriations of certain taxes imposed by initiative, and 6) appropriations made in certain cases of emergency. The appropriations limit for each year is based on the appropriations limit for the prior year, adjusted annually to reflect changes in per capita income and population, and any transfers of service responsibilities between government units.

Obligations of the State of California

Under the California Constitution, debt service on outstanding general obligation bonds is the second charge to the General Fund after support of the public school system and public institutions of higher education. The State had approximately $71 billion aggregate principal amount of non-self liquidating general obligation bonds outstanding and approximately $8.6 billion of self liquidating general obligation bonds outstanding as of December 1, 2010.

On March 2, 2004, California voters approved two measures designed to address the cumulative budget deficit and to implement structural reform. Under the California Economic Recovery Bond Act (Proposition 57), the State is authorized to issue up to $15 billion of economic recovery bonds (“ERBs”), of which approximately $7.3 billion remain outstanding as of December 1, 2010 after California issued $10.9 billion in ERBs in fiscal year 2004 and $3.2 billion in fiscal year 2008 to finance the negative General Fund reserve as of June 30, 2004, and other General Fund obligations undertaken prior to June 30, 2004. The Balanced Budget Amendment (Proposition 58) restricts future long-term deficit financing and requires the State to adopt and maintain a balanced budget and to establish a reserve fund.

Other Issuers of California Municipal Obligations

There are a number of State agencies, instrumentalities and political subdivisions of the State that issue municipal obligations, some of which may be conduit revenue obligations payable from payments from private borrowers. These entities are subject to various economic risks and uncertainties, and the credit quality of the securities issued may vary considerably from the credit quality of the obligations backed by the full faith and credit of the State. The State of California has no obligation with respect to any obligations or securities of a county or any of the other participating entities, although under existing legal precedents, the State may be obligated to ensure that school districts have sufficient funds to operate.

Bond Ratings

In January 2010, Standard and Poor’s lowered its rating on California’s general obligation bonds from “A” to “A-”. In doing so, it cited California’s severe fiscal imbalance and impending recurrence of a cash deficiency as factors in reaching its decision. In April of 2010, Moody’s raised the state’s general obligation credit rating to A1 from Baa1. The rating reflects a recalibration of certain public finance ratings by Moody’s. Moody’s is recalibrating its US municipal ratings from the municipal scale to the global scale. The recalibration does not reflect a chance in credit quality or a change in credit opinion or an issue or issuer. The recalibration is simply a change in scale. In April 2010 Fitch raised the state’s general obligation credit rating to A- from BBB. The rating reflects a recalibration of certain public finance ratings by Fitch. Fitch made the following statement regarding the recalibration “The recalibration of certain public finance ratings should not be interpreted as an improvement in the credit quality of those securities. Rather, they are adjustments to denote a comparable level of credit risk as ratings in other sectors.” There can be no assurance that such ratings will be maintained in the future. It should be noted that the creditworthiness of obligations issued by local California issuers may be unrelated to the creditworthiness of

 

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obligations issued by the State of California, and that there is no obligation on the part of the State to make payment on such local obligations in the event of default.

Legal Proceedings

There are numerous civil actions pending against the State, which could, if decided against the State, require the State to make significant future expenditures and may substantially impair revenues and cash flow. It is not possible to predict what impact, if any, such proceedings may have on the DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio.

Other Considerations

Substantially all of California is within an active geologic region subject to major seismic activity. Northern California, in 1989, and southern California, in 1994, experienced major earthquakes causing billions of dollars in damages. Any California municipal obligation in the DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio could be affected by an interruption of revenues because of damaged facilities, or, consequently, income tax deductions for casualty losses or property tax assessment reductions. Compensatory financial assistance could be constrained by the inability of (i) an issuer to have obtained earthquake insurance coverage at reasonable rates; (ii) an insurer to perform on its contracts of insurance in the event of widespread losses; or (iii) the Federal or State government to appropriate sufficient funds within their respective budget limitations. The DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio is susceptible to political, economic, or regulatory factors affecting issuers of California municipal obligations. These include the possible adverse effects of certain California constitutional amendments, legislative measures, voter initiatives and other matters. The information provided is only a brief summary of the complex factors affecting the financial situation in California and is derived from sources that are generally available to investors and are believed to be accurate. It is based in part on information obtained from various State and local agencies in California or contained in Official Statements for various California municipal obligations. No independent verification has been made of the accuracy or completeness of any of the preceding information.

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Directors

Organization of the Board

The Board of Directors of the Fund (the “Board”) is responsible for establishing the Fund’s policies and for overseeing the management of the Fund. The Board of Directors elects the officers of the Fund, who, along with third party service providers, are responsible for administering the day-to-day operations of the Fund. The Board of Directors of the Fund is comprised of two interested Directors and six disinterested Directors. David G. Booth, an interested Director, is Chairman of the Board. The Board has not found it necessary to appoint a lead disinterested Director because it believes that the existing structure of the Board allows for effective communication among the disinterested Directors, between the disinterested Directors and interested Directors, as well as between the disinterested Directors and management. The existing Board structure for the Fund also provides the disinterested Directors with adequate influence over the governance of the Board and the Fund, while also providing the Board with the invaluable insight of the two interested Directors, who, as both officers of the Fund and the Advisor, participate in the day-to-day management of the Fund’s affairs, including risk management.

The agenda for each quarterly meeting of the Board is provided at least two weeks prior to the meeting to the disinterested Directors in order to provide the Directors with the opportunity to contact Fund management and/or the disinterested Directors’ independent counsel regarding agenda items. In addition, the disinterested Directors regularly communicate with Mr. Booth regarding items of interest to them in between regularly scheduled meetings of the Board. The Board of the Fund meets in person at least four times each year and by telephone at other times. At each in-person meeting, the disinterested Directors meet in executive session with their independent counsel to discuss matters outside the presence of management.

 

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The Board has three standing committees, an Audit Committee, a Nominating Committee and a Portfolio Performance and Service Review Committee (“Performance Committee”) that are composed entirely of disinterested Directors. As described below, through these Committees, the disinterested Directors have direct oversight of the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies, the selection and nomination of candidates to the Fund’s Board and the review of the investment performance of the series of the Fund and the performance of the Fund’s service providers.

The Board’s Audit Committee is comprised of George M. Constantinides, Roger G. Ibbotson and Abbie J. Smith. The Audit Committee for the Board oversees the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies and practices, the Fund’s internal controls, the Fund’s financial statements and the independent audits thereof and performs other oversight functions as requested by the Board. The Audit Committee for the Board recommends the appointment of the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and also acts as a liaison between the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and the full Board. There were two Audit Committee meetings held for the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

The Board’s Nominating Committee is comprised of George M. Constantinides, John P. Gould, Roger G. Ibbotson, Edward P. Lazear, Myron S. Scholes and Abbie J. Smith. The Nominating Committee for the Board makes recommendations for nominations of disinterested and interested members on the Board to the disinterested Board members and to the full board. The Nominating Committee evaluates a candidate’s qualification for Board membership and the independence of such candidate from the Advisor and other principal service providers. There were three Nominating Committee meetings held for the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

The Board’s Performance Committee is comprised of George M. Constantinides, Roger G. Ibbotson, Abbie J. Smith, John P. Gould, Edward P. Lazear and Myron S. Scholes. The Performance Committee regularly reviews and monitors the investment performance of the Fund’s series, including the Portfolios, and reviews the performance of the Fund’s service providers. There were seven Performance Committee meetings held for the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

In addition to the Audit Committee, Nominating Committee and Performance Committee, the Board has an Investment Review Committee that assists the Board in carrying out its fiduciary duties with respect to the oversight of the Fund and its performance (the “Review Committee”). The Review Committee consists of both interested and disinterested Directors. The Review Committee is comprised of John P. Gould, Edward P. Lazear, Myron S. Scholes and Eduardo A. Repetto. At the request of the Board or the Advisor, the Review Committee (i) reviews the design of possible new series of the Fund, (ii) reviews performance of existing Portfolios of the Fund, and discusses and recommends possible enhancements to the Portfolios’ investment strategies, (iii) reviews proposals by the Advisor to modify or enhance the investment strategies or policies of each Portfolio, and (iv) considers issues relating to investment services for each Portfolio of the Fund. The Review Committee was formed on December 17, 2010. Consequently, there were no Review Committee meetings held for the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

The Board of the Fund, including all of the disinterested Directors, oversees and approves the contracts of the third party service providers that provide advisory, administrative, custodial and other services to the Fund.

Board Oversight of Risk Management

The Board, as a whole, considers risk management issues as part of its general oversight responsibilities throughout the year at regular board meetings, through regular reports that have been developed by Fund management and the Advisor. These reports address certain investment, valuation and compliance matters. The Board also may receive special written reports or presentations on a variety of risk issues, either upon the Board’s request or upon the initiative of the Advisor. In addition, the Audit Committee of the Board meets regularly with management of the Advisor to review reports on the Advisor’s examinations of functions and processes that affect the Fund.

With respect to investment risk, the Board receives regular written reports describing and analyzing the investment performance of the Fund’s portfolios. The Board discusses these reports and the portfolios’ performance and investment risks with management of the Advisor at the Board’s regular meetings. The Investment Committee

 

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of the Advisor meets regularly to discuss a variety of issues, including the impact that the investment in particular securities or instruments, such as derivatives, may have on the portfolios. To the extent that the Investment Committee of the Advisor decides to materially change an investment strategy or policy of a portfolio and such change could have a significant impact on the portfolio’s risk profile, the Advisor will present such change to the Board for their approval.

With respect to valuation, the Advisor and the Fund’s Administrative and Accounting Agent provide regular written reports to the Board that enables the Board to review fair valued securities in a particular portfolio. Such reports also include information concerning illiquid and any worthless securities held by each portfolio. In addition, the Fund’s Audit Committee reviews valuation procedures and pricing results with the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm in connection with such Committee’s review of the results of the audit of each portfolio’s year-end financial statements.

With respect to compliance risks, the Board receives regular compliance reports prepared by the Advisor’s compliance group and meets regularly with the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) to discuss compliance issues, including compliance risks. As required under SEC rules, the disinterested Directors meet at least quarterly in executive session with the CCO, and the Fund’s CCO prepares and presents an annual written compliance report to the Board. The Fund’s Board adopts compliance policies and procedures for the Fund and receives information about the compliance procedures in place for the Fund’s service providers. The compliance policies and procedures are specifically designed to detect and prevent violations of the federal securities laws.

The Advisor periodically provides information to the Board relevant to enterprise risk management describing the way in which certain risks are managed at the complex-wide level by the Advisor. Such presentations include areas such as counter-party risk, material fund vendor or service provider risk, investment risk, reputational risk, personnel risk and business continuity risk.

Director Qualifications

When a vacancy occurs on the Board, the Nominating Committee of the Board evaluates a candidate’s qualification for Board membership and the independence of such candidate from the Advisor and other principal service providers. The Nominating Committee will consider nominees recommended by Qualifying Fund Shareholders if a vacancy occurs among Board members. A Qualifying Fund Shareholder is a shareholder, or group of shareholders, that: (i) owns of record, or beneficially through a financial intermediary, 5% or more of the Fund’s outstanding shares, and (ii) has owned such shares for 12 months or more prior to submitting the recommendation to the Committee. Such recommendations shall be directed to the Secretary of the Fund at 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, Texas 78746. The Qualifying Fund Shareholder’s letter should include: (i) the name and address of the Qualifying Fund Shareholder making the recommendation; (ii) the number of shares of each Portfolio of the Fund that are owned of record and beneficially by such Qualifying Fund Shareholder, and the length of time that such shares have been so owned by the Qualifying Fund Shareholder; (iii) a description of all arrangements and understandings between such Qualifying Fund Shareholder and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the recommendation is being made; (iv) the name and address of the nominee; and (v) the nominee’s resume or curriculum vitae. The Qualifying Fund Shareholder’s letter must be accompanied by a written consent of the individual to stand for election if nominated for the Board and to serve if elected by shareholders. The Committee also may seek such additional information about the nominee as the Committee considers appropriate, including information relating to such nominee that is required to be disclosed in solicitations or proxies for the election of Board members.

The Nominating Committee of the Board believes that it is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders to obtain highly-qualified individuals to serve as members of the Board. The Fund’s Board believes that each Director currently serving on the Board has the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills to allow the Board to effectively oversee the management of the Fund and protect the interests of shareholders. The Board noted that each Director had professional experience in areas of importance for investment companies. The Board considered that each disinterested Director held an academic position in the areas of finance, economics or accounting. The Board also noted that John P. Gould, Myron S. Scholes and Abbie J. Smith each had experience serving as a director on the boards of operating companies and/or other investment companies. In addition, the Board considered that David G. Booth and Eduardo A. Repetto contributed valuable experience due to their

 

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positions with the Advisor. Certain biographical information for each disinterested Director and each interested Director of the Fund is set forth in the tables below, including a description of each Director’s experience as a Director of the Fund and as a director or trustee of other funds, as well as other recent professional experience.

Disinterested Directors

 

Name, Address and
Age
   Position   

Term of
Office1

and

Length of
Service

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years   

Portfolios

within the

DFA Fund

Complex2

Overseen

  

Other
Directorships of

Public

Companies Held

During Past 5

Years

George M. Constantinides University of Chicago Booth School of Business

5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

Age: 63

   Director    Since 1983    Leo Melamed Professor of Finance, University of Chicago Booth School of Business.   

89 portfolios

in 4

investment

companies

   None

John P. Gould

University of Chicago Booth School of Business

5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

Age: 72

   Director    Since 1986    Steven G. Rothmeier Distinguished Service Professor of Economics, University of Chicago Booth School of Business (since 1965). Member and Chair, Competitive Markets Advisory Council, Chicago Mercantile Exchange (futures trading exchange) (since 2004). Formerly, Director of UNext Inc. (1999-2006). Formerly, Member of the Board of Milwaukee Insurance Company (1997-2010).   

89 portfolios

in 4

investment

companies

   Trustee, Harbor Funds (registered investment company) (28 Portfolios) (since 1994).

Roger G. Ibbotson

Yale School of Management

P.O. Box 208200

New Haven, CT 06520-8200

Age: 67

   Director    Since 1981    Professor in Practice of Finance, Yale School of Management (since 1984). Consultant to Morningstar, Inc. (since 2006). Chairman, CIO and Partner, Zebra Capital Management, LLC (hedge fund and asset manager) (since 2001). Formerly, Chairman, Ibbotson Associates, Inc., Chicago, IL (software, data, publishing and consulting) (1977-2006). Formerly, Director, BIRR Portfolio Analysis, Inc. (software products) (1990-2010).   

89 portfolios

in 4

investment

companies

   None

Edward P. Lazear Stanford University Graduate School of Business

518 Memorial Way Stanford, CA 94305-5015

Age: 62

   Director    Since 2010    Morris Arnold Cox Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution (since 2002). Jack Steele Parker Professor of Human Resources Management and Economics, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University (since 1995). Cornerstone Research (expert testimony and economic and financial analysis) (since 2009). Formerly, Chairman of the President George W. Bush’s Council of Economic Advisers (2006- 2009). Council of Economic Advisors, State of California (2005-2006). Commissioner, White House Panel on Tax Reform (2005).   

89 portfolios

in 4

investment

companies

   None

Myron S. Scholes

c/o Dimensional Fund Advisors LP

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

Age: 69

   Director    Since 1981    Frank E. Buck Professor Emeritus of Finance, Stanford University (since 1981). Formerly, Chairman, Platinum Grove Asset Management L.P. (hedge fund) (formerly, Oak Hill Platinum Partners) (1999-2009). Formerly, Managing Partner, Oak Hill Capital Management (private equity firm) (until 2004). Formerly, Director, Chicago Mercantile Exchange (2001-2008).   

89 portfolios

in 4

investment

companies

   Director, American Century Fund Complex (registered investment companies) (40 Portfolios) (since 1980).

 

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Name, Address and

Age

   Position   

Term of

Office1

and

Length of

Service

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years   

Portfolios

within the

DFA Fund

Complex2

Overseen

  

Other
Directorships of

Public
Companies Held

During Past 5
Years

Abbie J. Smith

University of Chicago Booth School of Business

5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

Age: 57

   Director    Since 2000   

Boris and Irene Stern Distinguished Service Professor of Accounting, University of Chicago Booth School of Business (since 1980); Co-Director Investment Research, Fundamental Investment Advisors (hedge fund) (since 2008).

  

89 portfolios

in 4

investment

companies

   Director, HNI Corporation (formerly known as HON Industries Inc.) (office furniture) (since 2000); Director, Ryder System Inc. (transportation, logistics and supply-chain management) (since 2003); and Trustee, UBS Funds (3 investment companies within the fund complex) (52 portfolios) (since 2009).

Interested Directors

The following Interested Directors are described as such because they are deemed to be “interested persons,” as that term is defined under the 1940 Act, due to their positions with the Advisor.

 

Name, Address

and Age

   Position   

Term of

Office1

and

Length of
Service

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years   

Portfolios

within the

DFA Fund

Complex2

Overseen

  

Other Directorships
of Public Companies
Held During Past 5

Years

David G. Booth

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

Age: 64

  

Chairman, Director, President and Co-Chief Executive Officer

   Since 1981   

Chairman, Director/Trustee, President, Co-Chief Executive Officer and, formerly, Chief Executive Officer (until 1/1/2010) and Chief Investment Officer (2003 to 3/30/2007) of the following companies: Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, DFA Securities LLC, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund, DFAIDG, Dimensional Investment Group Inc. and The DFA Investment Trust Company. Chairman, Director, President and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Dimensional Holdings Inc. and formerly Chief Executive Officer (until 1/1/2010) and Chief Investment Officer (until 3/30/2007). Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. and formerly, Chief Investment Officer. Director of DFA Australia Limited and formerly, President and Chief Investment Officer. Director of Dimensional Funds PLC. and Dimensional Funds II PLC. Chairman and President of Dimensional SmartNest LLC and Dimensional SmartNest (US) LLC. Limited Partner, Oak Hill Partners (since 2001) and VSC Investors, LLC (since 2007). Trustee, University of Chicago. Trustee, University of Kansas Endowment Association. Formerly, Director, SA Funds (registered investment company). Chairman, Director and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director, Dimensional Cayman Commodity Fund I Ltd.

  

89 portfolios

in 4

investment

companies

  

None

 

19


Table of Contents

Name, Address

and Age

   Position   

Term of

Office1

and

Length of
Service

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years    Portfolios
within the
DFA Fund
Complex2
Overseen
  

Other Directorships
of Public Companies
Held During Past 5

Years

Eduardo A. Repetto 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One Austin, TX 78746 Age: 44    Director, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer    Since 2009    Co-Chief Executive Officer (beginning January 2010), Chief Investment Officer (beginning March 2007) and formerly, Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, Dimensional Holdings Inc., DFA Securities LLC, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund, DFAIDG, Dimensional Investment Group Inc., The DFA Investment Trust Company and Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC; Director of all such entities except Dimensional Fund Advisors LP and DFA Securities LLC. Chief Investment Officer, Vice President and Director of DFA Australia Limited. Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC and Dimensional Cayman Commodity Fund I Ltd.   

89 portfolios

in 4

investment

companies

   None
1

Each Director holds office for an indefinite term until his or her successor is elected.

 

2

Each Director is a director or trustee of each of the four registered investment companies within the DFA Fund Complex, which include: the Fund; Dimensional Investment Group Inc. (“DIG”); The DFA Investment Trust Company (the “Trust”); and Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund (“DEM”). Each Disinterested Director also serves on the Independent Review Committee of the Dimensional Funds, mutual funds registered in the provinces of Canada and managed by the Advisor’s affiliate, Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

Information relating to each Director’s ownership (including the ownership of his or her immediate family) in the Portfolios of the Fund in this SAI and in all registered investment companies in the DFA Fund Complex as of December 31, 2010 is set forth in the chart below.

 

Name    Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned   

Aggregate Dollar Range of Shares Owned

in All Funds Overseen by Director in

Family of Investment Companies

Disinterested Directors:          
George M. Constantinides    None   

None Directly; Over $100,000 in Simulated

Funds**

John P. Gould    None   

None Directly; Over $100,000 in Simulated

Funds **

Roger G. Ibbotson    None   

Over $100,000; Over $100,000 in Simulated

Funds**

Edward P. Lazear

 

   None    None Directly.
Myron S. Scholes    None   

$50,001-$100,000;

Over $100,000 in Simulated Funds**

Abbie J. Smith    None   

None Directly; Over $100,000 in Simulated

Funds **

Interested Directors:          
David G. Booth   

DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio – Over

$100,000

DFA Short-Term Municipal Bond

Portfolio – Over $100,000

   Over $100,000
Eduardo A. Repetto   

DFA Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio – Over $100,000

DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio – Over $100,000

DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio – Over

$100,000

   Over $100,000

**     As discussed below, the compensation to certain of the disinterested Directors may be in amounts that correspond to a hypothetical investment in a cross-section of the DFA Funds. Thus, the disinterested Directors who are so compensated experience the same investment returns that are experienced by shareholders of the DFA Funds although the disinterested Directors do not directly own shares of the DFA Funds.

Set forth below is a table listing, for each Director entitled to receive compensation, the compensation received from the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010 and the total compensation received from all four registered investment companies for which the Advisor served as investment advisor during that same fiscal

 

20


Table of Contents

period. The table also provides the compensation paid by the Fund to the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

 

Name and Position

   Aggregate
Compensation
from the Fund*
  

Pension or

Retirement

Benefits as Part

of Fund

Expenses

  

Estimated Annual

Benefits upon

Retirement

  

Total

Compensation

from the Fund

and DFA Fund

Complex Paid

to Directors

George M. Constantinides
Director

   $108,410    N/A    N/A    $175,000

John P. Gould
Director

   $108,410    N/A    N/A    $175,000

Roger G. Ibbotson
Director

   $114,889    N/A    N/A    $185,000

Edward P. Lazear**
Director

   $0    N/A    N/A    $0

Myron S. Scholes
Director

   $108,410    N/A    N/A    $175,000

Abbie J. Smith
Director

   $108,410    N/A    N/A    $175,000

Christopher S. Crossan
Chief Compliance Officer

   $210,470    N/A    N/A    N/A

 

The term DFA Fund Complex refers to the four registered investment companies for which the Advisor performs advisory or administrative services and for which the individuals listed above serve as directors/trustees on the Boards of Directors/Trustees of such companies.

 

* Under a deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) adopted effective January 1, 2002, the disinterested Directors of the Fund may defer receipt of all or a portion of the compensation for serving as members of the four Boards of Directors/Trustees of the investment companies in the DFA Fund Complex (the “DFA Funds”). Amounts deferred under the Plan are treated as though equivalent dollar amounts had been invested in shares of a cross-section of the DFA Funds (the “Reference Funds” or “Simulated Funds”). The amounts ultimately received by the disinterested Directors under the Plan will be directly linked to the investment performance of the Reference Funds. Deferral of fees in accordance with the Plan will have a negligible effect on a fund’s assets, liabilities, and net income per share, and will not obligate a fund to retain the services of any disinterested Director or to pay any particular level of compensation to the disinterested Director. The total amount of deferred compensation accrued by the disinterested Directors from the DFA Fund Complex who participated in the Plan during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010 is as follows: $185,000 (Mr. Ibbotson). A disinterested Director’s deferred compensation will be distributed at the earlier of: (a) January in the year after the disinterested Director’s resignation from the Boards of Directors/Trustees of the DFA Funds, or death or disability, or (b) five years following the first deferral, in such amounts as the disinterested Director has specified. The obligations of the DFA Funds to make payments under the Plan will be unsecured general obligations of the DFA Funds, payable out of the general assets and property of the DFA Funds.

 

** Mr. Lazear did not serve as a Director until December 17, 2010; therefore, he did not receive any compensation from the Fund or the DFA Fund Complex as of October 31, 2010.

Officers

Below is the name, age, information regarding positions with the Fund and the principal occupation for each officer of the Fund. The address of each officer is 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746. Each of the officers listed below holds the same office (except as otherwise noted) in the following entities: Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, Dimensional Holdings Inc., DFA Securities LLC, the Fund, DIG, the Trust, and DEM (collectively, the “DFA Entities”).

 

21


Table of Contents
Name and Age    Position   

Term of

Office1

and

Length of

Service

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

April A. Aandal

Age: 48

   Vice President and Chief Learning Officer   

Since

2008

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Chief Learning Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2008). Formerly Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2004-2008).

Darryl D. Avery

Age: 44

   Vice President   

Since

2005

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Arthur H. Barlow

Age: 55

   Vice President   

Since

1993

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Scott A. Bosworth

Age: 42

   Vice President   

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since November 1997).

Valerie A. Brown

Age: 44

   Vice President and Assistant Secretary   

Since

2001

   Vice President and Assistant Secretary of all the DFA Entities, DFA Australia Limited, Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., and Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

David P. Butler

Age: 45

   Vice President   

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Director of Global Financial Advisor Services of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since 2008). Formerly, Director US Financial Advisor Services of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2005).

Joseph H. Chi

Age: 44

   Vice President   

Since

2009

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since October 2005).

Stephen A. Clark

Age: 38

   Vice President   

Since

2004

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Robert P. Cornell

Age: 61

   Vice President   

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Financial Services Group of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since August 1993).

Christopher S. Crossan

Age: 45

   Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer   

Since

2004

   Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of all the DFA Entities.

James L. Davis

Age: 54

   Vice President   

Since

1999

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Robert T. Deere

Age: 53

   Vice President   

Since

1994

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities and DFA Australia Limited.

Peter F. Dillard

Age: 39

   Vice President   

Since

2010

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Research Associate for Dimensional Fund Advisors, LP (since August 2008). Formerly, Research Assistant for DFA from April 2006 – August 2008. Prior to April 2006, Manager at Hilton Hotels Corp. (September 2004 – April 2006).

Robert W. Dintzner

Age: 40

   Vice President   

Since

2001

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Chief Communications Officer (since 2010).

Beth Ann Dranguet

Age: 40

   Vice President   

Since

2010

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Counsel for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since July 2007). Formerly, Associate at Vinson & Elkins LLP (September 1999 – July 2007).

Kenneth Elmgren

Age: 56

   Vice President   

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Managing Principal of Beverly Capital (May 2004 to September 2006).

Richard A. Eustice

Age: 45

   Vice President and Assistant Secretary   

Since

1998

   Vice President and Assistant Secretary of all the DFA Entities and DFA Australia Limited. Chief Operating Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (since July 2008). Formerly, Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Eugene F. Fama, Jr.

Age: 50

   Vice President   

Since

1993

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Gretchen A. Flicker

Age: 39

   Vice President   

Since

2004

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

 

 

22


Table of Contents
Name and Age    Position   

Term of

Office1

and

Length of

Service

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

Jed S. Fogdall

Age: 36

   Vice President   

Since

2008

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2004).

Jeremy P. Freeman

Age: 40

   Vice President   

Since

2009

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Technology Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since June 2006). Formerly, Principal at AIM Investments/Amvescap PLC (now Invesco) (June 1998 – June 2006).

Mark R. Gochnour

Age: 43

   Vice President   

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

Henry F. Gray

Age: 43

   Vice President   

Since

2000

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited.

John T. Gray

Age: 36

   Vice President   

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (January 2005 to February 2007).

Joel H. Hefner

Age: 43

   Vice President   

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since June 1998).

Julie C. Henderson

Age: 36

   Vice President and Fund Controller   

Since

2005

   Vice President and Fund Controller of all the DFA Entities.

Kevin B. Hight

Age: 43

   Vice President   

Since

2005

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Christine W. Ho

Age: 43

   Vice President   

Since

2004

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Jeff J. Jeon

Age: 37

   Vice President   

Since

2004

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Patrick M. Keating

Age: 56

   Vice President   

Since

2003

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities and Chief Operating Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Director, Vice President, and Chief Privacy Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director of DFA Australia Limited.

David M. Kershner

Age: 39

   Vice President   

Since

2010

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since June 2004).

Joseph F. Kolerich

Age: 39

   Vice President   

Since

2004

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since April 2001).

Michael F. Lane

Age: 43

   Vice President   

Since

2004

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Kristina M. LaRusso

Age: 35

   Vice President   

Since

2006

   Vice President of all DFA Entities. Formerly, Operations Supervisor of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (March 2003 to December 2006).

Juliet H. Lee

Age: 40

   Vice President   

Since

2005

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Human Resources Manager of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2004).

Apollo D. Lupescu

Age: 41

   Vice President   

Since

2009

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since February 2004).

Kenneth M. Manell

Age: 38

   Vice President   

Since

2010

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Counsel for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2006). Formerly, Assistant General Counsel at Castle & Cooke (January 2004 – September 2006).

Aaron M. Marcus

Age: 40

  

Vice President and

Head of Global

Human Resources

  

Since

2008

   Vice President of all DFA Entities and Head of Global Human Resources of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Formerly, Global Head of Recruiting and Vice President of Goldman Sachs & Co. (June 2006 to January 2008); Global Co-Head of HR of the Equities & FICC Division, and Vice President of Goldman Sachs & Co. (May 2005 to May 2006);

 

 

23


Table of Contents
Name and Age    Position   

Term of

Office1

and

Length of

Service

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

David R. Martin

Age: 54

  

Vice President, Chief

Financial Officer and

Treasurer

  

Since

2007

   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of all the DFA Entities. Director, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. and DFA Australia Limited. Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director of Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC. Formerly, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Janus Capital Group Inc. (June 2005 to March 2007).

Catherine L. Newell

Age: 46

  

Vice President and

Secretary

  

Vice

President

since 1997

and Secretary

since 2000

   Vice President and Secretary of all the DFA Entities. Director, Vice President and Secretary of DFA Australia Limited. Director, Vice President and Secretary of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (since February 2002, April 1997, and May 2002, respectively). Vice President and Secretary of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director of Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC (since 2002 and 2006, respectively).

Christian Newton

Age: 35

   Vice President   

Since

2009

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Web Services Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2008). Formerly, Design Manager (2005 – 2008) of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

Carolyn L. O

Age: 36

   Vice President   

Since

2010

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Counsel for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2007). Prior to September 2007, Associate at K&L Gates LLP (January 2004 – September 2007).

Gerard K. O’Reilly

Age: 34

   Vice President   

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Research Associate of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2004 to 2006).

Daniel C. Ong

Age: 37

   Vice President   

Since

2009

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since July 2005).

Kyle K. Ozaki

Age: 32

   Vice President   

Since

2010

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Compliance Officer for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2008). Formerly, Compliance Officer (February 2006 – December 2007) and Compliance Analyst (August 2004 – January 2006).

Carmen Palafox

Age: 36

   Vice President   

Since

2006

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Operations Manager of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since May 1996).

Sonya K. Park

Age: 38

   Vice President   

Since

2005

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

David A. Plecha

Age: 49

   Vice President   

Since

1993

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities, DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Theodore W. Randall

Age: 37

   Vice President   

Since

2008

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Research Associate of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2006 to 2008); Systems Developer of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2001 to 2006).

L. Jacobo Rodríguez

Age: 39

   Vice President   

Since

2005

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Julie A. Saft

Age: 51

   Vice President   

Since

2010

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Client Systems Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since July 2008). Formerly, Senior Manager at Vanguard (November 1997 – July 2008).

David E. Schneider

Age: 65

   Vice President   

Since

2001

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Director of Institutional Services of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

Walid A. Shinnawi

Age: 49

   Vice President   

Since

2010

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since March 2006). Formerly, Senior Director at Moody’s KMV (1999-March 2006).

 

 

24


Table of Contents
Name and Age    Position   

Term of
Office1

and

Length of
Service

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

Bruce A. Simmons

Age: 46

   Vice President   

Since

2009

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Investment Operations Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since May 2007). Formerly, Vice President Client and Fund Reporting at Mellon Financial (September 2005 – May 2007).

Ted R. Simpson

Age: 42

   Vice President   

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since December 2002).

Bryce D. Skaff

Age: 36

   Vice President   

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (December 1999 to January 2007).

Grady M. Smith

Age: 54

   Vice President   

Since

2004

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Carl G. Snyder

Age: 47

   Vice President   

Since

2000

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited.

Lawrence R. Spieth

Age: 63

   Vice President   

Since

2004

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Bradley G. Steiman

Age: 37

   Vice President   

Since

2004

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities and Director and Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

Robert C. Trotter

Age: 52

   Vice President   

Since

2009

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Manager Technology for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since March 2007). Formerly, Director of Technology at AMVESCAP (2002 – 2007).

Karen E. Umland

Age: 44

   Vice President   

Since

1997

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities, DFA Australia Limited, Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., and Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

Brian J. Walsh

Age: 41

   Vice President   

Since

2009

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since 2004).

Weston J. Wellington

Age: 59

   Vice President   

Since

1997

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited.

Ryan J. Wiley

Age: 34

   Vice President   

Since

2007

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Trader of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Formerly, Portfolio Manager (2006 to 2007) and Trader (2001 to 2006).

Paul E. Wise

Age: 55

   Vice President   

Since

2005

   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Chief Technology Officer for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since 2004).
1

Each officer holds office for an indefinite term at the pleasure of the Boards of Directors and until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

As of January 31, 2011, Directors and officers as a group own less than 1% of the outstanding stock of each Portfolio described in this SAI, except that Directors and officers, as a group, owned approximately 9% of the DFA Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio.

SERVICES TO THE PORTFOLIOS

Administrative Services—The DFA One-Year Fixed Income and DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolios

The Fund has entered into an administration agreement with the Advisor, on behalf of the DFA One-Year Fixed Income and DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolios. Pursuant to the administration agreement, the Advisor performs various services, including: supervision of the services provided by the Portfolio’s custodian and transfer and dividend disbursing agent and others who provide services to the Fund for the benefit of the Portfolio; providing shareholders with information about the Portfolio and their investments as the shareholders or the Fund may request; assisting the Portfolio in conducting meetings of shareholders; and any other administrative services for the benefit of the Portfolio as the Board of Directors may reasonably request. For its administrative services, the

 

25


Table of Contents

Portfolios are obligated to pay the Advisor a monthly fee based on average net assets equal to one-twelfth of the percentages listed below:

 

Portfolio

   Administration Fee

DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio

   0.10%                

DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio

   0.10%                

Each class of each Portfolio pays its proportionate share of the fees paid by the Portfolio to Advisor based on the average net assets of the classes.

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009 and the fiscal period from December 1, 2007 to October 31, 2008 the fiscal year ended, the Portfolios paid administrative fees to the Advisor as set forth in the following table:

 

Portfolio

  

FISCAL
YEAR
ENDED
2010

(000)

    

FISCAL
YEAR
ENDED
2009

(000)

    

FISCAL
PERIOD
ENDED
2008

(000)

        

DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio

     $ 5,071                   $3,448                   $3,110                

DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio

     $ 4,149                   $3,169                   $2,920                

Administrative Services—All Portfolios

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (formerly, PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.) (“BNY Mellon”), 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809, serves as the accounting services, dividend disbursing and transfer agent for the Portfolios. The services provided by BNY Mellon are subject to supervision by the executive officers and the Board of Directors of the Fund, and include day-to-day keeping and maintenance of certain records, calculation of the offering price of the shares, preparation of reports, liaison with its custodians, and transfer and dividend disbursing agency services. For the administrative and accounting services provided by BNY Mellon, the Portfolios pay BNY Mellon annual fees that are calculated daily and paid monthly according to a fee schedule based on the aggregate average net assets in the Fund Complex, which includes four registered investment companies and a group trust. The fee schedule is set forth in the table below:

.0110% of the Fund Complex’s first $50 billion of average net assets;

.0085% of the Fund Complex’s next $25 billion of average net assets; and

.0075% of the Fund Complex’s average net assets in excess of $75 billion.

The fees charged to a Portfolio under the fee schedule are allocated to each such Portfolio based on the Portfolio’s pro-rata portion of the aggregate average net assets of the Fund Complex.

Each Portfolio is also subject to a monthly fee. The DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Short-Term Government Portfolio, DFA Intermediate Government Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio, DFA Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio and DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio are each subject to a monthly fee of $1,666. The DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio are each subject to a monthly base fee of $2,083. The DFA Investment Grade Portfolio is subject to a monthly base fee of $1,000.

The Portfolios also pay separate fees to BNY Mellon with respect to the services BNY Mellon provides as transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent.

 

26


Table of Contents

Custodians

Citibank, N.A., 111 Wall Street, New York, New York, 10005, is the global custodian for the DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio. PFPC Trust Company (to be renamed BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company effective July 1, 2011), 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809, serves as the custodian for the DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Short-Term Government Portfolio, DFA Intermediate Government Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Investment Grade Portfolio, DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio, DFA Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio and DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio. Each custodian maintains a separate account or accounts for a Portfolio; receives, holds, and releases portfolio securities on account of the Portfolio; makes receipts and disbursements of money on behalf of the Portfolio; and collects and receives income and other payments and distributions on account of the Portfolio’s portfolio securities.

Distributor

The Fund’s shares are distributed by DFA Securities LLC (formerly, DFA Securities Inc.) (“DFAS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Advisor. DFAS is registered as a limited purpose broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. The principal business address of DFAS is 1299 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, California 90401.

DFAS acts as an agent of the Fund by serving as the principal underwriter of the Fund’s shares. Pursuant to the Fund’s Distribution Agreement, DFAS uses its best efforts to seek or arrange for the sale of shares of the Fund, which are continuously offered. No sales charges are paid by investors or the Fund. No compensation is paid by the Fund to DFAS under the Distribution Agreement.

Legal Counsel

Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP serves as legal counsel to the Fund. Its address is 2600 One Commerce Square, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7098.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) is the independent registered public accounting firm to the Fund and audits the annual financial statements of the Fund. PwC’s address is Two Commerce Square, Suite 1700, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042.

ADVISORY FEES

David G. Booth and Rex A. Sinquefield, as directors and/or officers of the Advisor and shareholders of the outstanding stock of the Advisor’s general partner, may be deemed controlling persons of the Advisor. Mr. Booth also serves as Director and officer of the Fund. For the services it provides as investment advisor to each Portfolio, the Advisor is paid a monthly fee calculated as a percentage of average net assets of the Portfolio. Each class of each Portfolio pays its proportionate share of the fees paid by the Portfolio to the Advisor based on the average net assets of the classes.

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009 and the fiscal period from December 1, 2007 to October 31, 2008, the Portfolios paid management fees (to the Advisor and any sub-advisor) as set forth in the following table (the dollar amount is shown prior to any fee waivers by the Advisor):

 

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FISCAL
YEAR
ENDED
2010

(000)

 

FISCAL
YEAR
ENDED
2009

(000)

  

FISCAL
PERIOD
ENDED
2008

(000)

   

DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio(a)

   $2,536   $1,735    $1,563  

DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio(a)

   2,075   $1,627    $1,546  

DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio(b)(c)

   $617   $318    $184  

DFA Short-Term Government Portfolio(d)

   $2,103   $2,022    $2,205  

DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio

   $9,385   $7,617    $8,193  

DFA Intermediate Government Fixed Income Portfolio

   $1,690   $1,333    $1,254  

DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio(c)(e)

   $1,114 1   $300  3    N/A  

DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio(c)(f)

   $46 2   N/A    N/A  

DFA Investment Grade Portfolio(g)

   N/A   N/A    N/A  

DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio(c)

   $1,069   $536    $316  4  

DFA Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio(d)

   $2,630   $2,064    $1,813  

DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio(c)

   $532   $385    $318  5  

 

[1]

$1,021 after waiver

[2]

$15 after waiver

[3]

$213 after waiver

[4]

$347 after recoupment of fees previously waived

[5]

$334 after recoupment of fees previously waived

 

(a)

Prior to October 23, 2009, the Portfolio was a Feeder Portfolio and the dollar amount prior to October 23, 2009 represents the amount paid by the Master Fund in which the Portfolio invested its assets. Prior to October 23, 2009, the Master Fund had more than one Feeder Portfolio and/or direct investor and, therefore, the dollar amount represents the total dollar amount of management fees paid by the Master Fund to the Advisor.

(b)

The DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio commenced operations on January 9, 2008.

(c)

Pursuant to an Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and/or Expense Assumption Agreement, the Advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and to assume the ordinary operating expenses of each of the following Portfolios (excluding the expenses that the Portfolio incurs indirectly through its investment in other investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) to the extent necessary to limit the Portfolio Expenses for each Portfolio, on an annualized basis, to the following percentages of the respective Portfolio’s average net assets (the “Expense Limitation Amount”). At any time that the Portfolio Expenses of a Portfolio are less than the Portfolio’s Expense Limitation Amount, identified below, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s annualized Portfolio Expenses to exceed the Expense Limitation Amount. A Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement. The Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and/or Expense Assumption Agreement described below will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by the Fund or the Advisor.

 

Portfolio    Expense Limitation Amount

Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio

   0.25%                

Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio

   0.22%                

Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio

   0.22%                

Inflation-Protected Portfolio

   0.20%                

California Municipal Bond Portfolio

   0.30%                

 

(d)

Pursuant to an Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and/or Expense Assumption Agreement, the Advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee to the extent necessary to reduce the

 

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ordinary operating expenses (not including expenses incurred through its investment in other investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) of each of the following Portfolios so that such Portfolio Expenses, on an annualized basis, do not exceed the rate reflected below for each such Portfolio (the “Expense Limitation Amount”). At any time that the Portfolio Expenses of a Portfolio are less than the Expense Limitation Amount, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived to the extent that such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s annualized Portfolio Expenses to exceed the Expense Limitation Amount. A Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement. The Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and/or Expense Assumption Agreement described below will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by the Fund or the Advisor.

 

Portfolio    Expense Limitation Amount

Short-Term Government Portfolio

   0.20%                

Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio

   0.30%                

 

(e)

The DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio commenced operations on March 4, 2009.

(f)

The DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio commenced operations on July 20, 2010.

(g)

The DFA Investment Grade Portfolio has not commenced operations as of the date of this SAI. Pursuant to an Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and/or Expense Assumption Agreement, the Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of the management fee and to assume the expenses of the Investment Grade Portfolio (including the expenses that the Portfolio bears as a shareholder of other funds managed by the Advisor but excluding the expenses that the Portfolio incurs indirectly through its investment in unaffiliated investment companies) (the “Portfolio Expenses”) to the extent necessary to limit Portfolio Expenses to no more than 0.22% of the Portfolio’s average net assets on an annualized basis (the “Expense Limitation Amount”). At any time that the Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio are less than the Portfolio’s Expense Limitation Amount, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for the amount of any remaining management fees previously waived to the extent that such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s annualized Portfolio Expenses to exceed the Portfolio’s Expense Limitation Amount. The Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and/or Expense Assumption Agreement described below will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by the Fund or the Advisor.

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

In accordance with the team approach used to manage the Portfolios, the portfolio managers and portfolio traders implement the policies and procedures established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers and portfolio traders also make daily investment decisions regarding the Portfolios including running buy and sell programs based on the parameters established by the Investment Committee. Stephen A. Clark and David A. Plecha are the portfolio managers that coordinate the efforts of all other portfolio managers with respect to the day-to-day management of the Portfolios.

Investments in Each Portfolio

Information relating to each portfolio manager’s ownership (including the ownership of his immediate family) in the Portfolios contained in this SAI that he manages as of October 31, 2010 is set forth in the chart below.

 

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Name of Portfolio

Manager

   Portfolio    Dollar Range of
Portfolio Shares Owned

Stephen A. Clark

  

DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio

   $100,001-$500,000
  

DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio

   None
  

DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio

   None
  

DFA Short-Term Government Portfolio

   None
  

DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio

   $10,001-$50,000
  

DFA Intermediate Government Fixed Income Portfolio

   None
  

DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio

   $100,001-$500,000
  

DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio

   $100,001-$500,000
  

DFA Investment Grade Portfolio

   None
  

DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio

   $100,001-$500,000
  

DFA Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio

   None
  

DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio

   None

David A. Plecha

  

DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio

   $10,001-$50,000
  

DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio

   $10,001-$50,000
  

DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio

   $10,001-$50,000
  

DFA Short-Term Government Portfolio

   $10,001-$50,000
  

DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio

   $10,001-$50,000
  

DFA Intermediate Government Fixed Income Portfolio

   $10,001-$50,000
  

DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio

   $10,001-$50,000
  

DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio

   $10,001-$50,000
  

DFA Investment Grade Portfolio

   None
  

DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio

   $10,001-$50,000
  

DFA Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio

   $10,001-$50,000
  

DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio

   $10,001-$50,000

Description of Compensation Structure

Portfolio managers receive a base salary and bonus. Compensation of a portfolio manager is determined at the discretion of the Advisor and is based on a portfolio manager’s experience, responsibilities, the perception of the quality of his or her work efforts and other subjective factors. The compensation of portfolio managers is not directly based upon the performance of the Portfolios or other accounts that the portfolio managers manage. The Advisor reviews the compensation of each portfolio manager annually and may make modifications in compensation as its Compensation Committee deems necessary to reflect changes in the market. Each portfolio manager’s compensation consists of the following:

 

 

Base salary.   Each portfolio manager is paid a base salary. The Advisor considers the factors described above to determine each portfolio manager’s base salary.

 

 

Semi-Annual Bonus.  Each portfolio manager may receive a semi-annual bonus. The amount of the bonus paid to each portfolio manager is based upon the factors described above.

Portfolio managers may be awarded the right to purchase restricted shares of the stock of the Advisor, as determined from time to time, by the Board of Directors of the Advisor or its delegates. Portfolio managers also participate in benefit and retirement plans and other programs available generally to all employees.

In addition, portfolio managers may be given the option of participating in the Advisor’s Long Term Incentive Plan. The level of participation for eligible employees may be dependent on overall level of compensation, among other considerations. Participation in this program is not based on or related to the performance of any individual strategies or any particular client accounts.

Other Managed Accounts

 

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In addition to the Portfolios, the portfolio managers manage (i) other U.S. registered investment companies advised or sub-advised by the Advisor, (ii) other pooled investment vehicles that are not U.S. registered mutual funds and (iii) other accounts managed for organizations and individuals. The following table sets forth information regarding the total accounts for which the portfolio manager has the primary responsibility for coordinating the day-to-day management responsibilities.

 

Name of Portfolio Manager   

  Number of Accounts Managed and Total

  Assets by Category As of October 31, 2010

 

Stephen A. Clark

  

•      92 U.S. registered mutual funds with $133,626 million in total assets under management.

 

•      20 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $25,316 million in total assets under management. Out of these unregistered pooled investment vehicles, one client with an investment of $220 million in an unregistered pooled investment vehicle pays a performance-based advisory fee.

 

•      73 other accounts with $11,603 million in total assets under management, of which one account with $731 million in assets may be subject to a performance fee.

David A. Plecha

  

•      18 U.S. registered mutual funds with $23,044 million in total assets under management.

 

•      9 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $18,146 million in total assets under management.

 

•      4 other accounts with $19 million in total assets under management.

Potential Conflicts of Interest

Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has the primary day-to-day responsibilities with respect to more than one Portfolio and other accounts. Other accounts include registered mutual funds (other than the Portfolios in this SAI), other unregistered pooled investment vehicles, and other accounts managed for organizations and individuals (“Accounts”). An Account may have similar investment objectives to a Portfolio, or may purchase, sell or hold securities that are eligible to be purchased, sold or held by a Portfolio. Actual or apparent conflicts of interest include:

 

   

Time Management.  The management of multiple Portfolios and/or Accounts may result in a portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of each Portfolio and/or Accounts. The Advisor seeks to manage such competing interests for the time and attention of portfolio managers by having portfolio managers focus on a particular investment discipline. Most Accounts managed by a portfolio manager are managed using the same investment models that are used in connection with the management of the Portfolios.

 

   

Investment Opportunities.  It is possible that at times identical securities will be held by more than one Portfolio and/or Account. However, positions in the same security may vary and the length of time that any Portfolio or Account may choose to hold its investment in the same security may likewise vary. If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity that may be suitable for more than one Portfolio or Account, a Portfolio may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to an allocation of filled purchase or sale orders across all eligible Portfolios and Accounts. To deal with these situations, the Advisor has adopted procedures for allocating portfolio transactions across multiple Portfolios and Accounts.

 

   

Broker Selection.  With respect to securities transactions for the Portfolios, the Advisor determines which broker to use to execute each order, consistent with its duty to seek best execution of the transaction. However, with respect to certain Accounts (such as separate accounts), the Advisor may be limited by the client with respect to the selection of brokers or may be instructed to direct trades

 

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through a particular broker. In these cases, the Advisor or its affiliates may place separate, non-simultaneous, transactions for a Portfolio and another Account that may temporarily affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment of the Portfolio or the Account.

 

   

Performance-Based Fees.  For some Accounts, the Advisor may be compensated based on the profitability of the Account, such as by a performance-based management fee. These incentive compensation structures may create a conflict of interest for the Advisor with regard to Accounts where the Advisor is paid based on a percentage of assets because the portfolio manager may have an incentive to allocate securities preferentially to the Accounts where the Advisor might share in investment gains.

 

   

Investment in an Account.  A portfolio manager or his/her relatives may invest in an Account that he or she manages and a conflict may arise where he or she may therefore have an incentive to treat the Account in which the portfolio manager or his/her relatives invest preferentially as compared to other Accounts for which he or she has portfolio management responsibilities.

The Advisor and the Fund have adopted certain compliance procedures that are reasonably designed to address these types of conflicts. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises.

GENERAL INFORMATION

DFAIDG was incorporated under Maryland law on June 15, 1981. Until June 1983, DFAIDG was named DFA Small Company Fund Inc. Until September 1995, DFA Intermediate Government Fixed Income Portfolio was named DFA Intermediate Government Bond Portfolio; DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio was named DFA Global Bond Portfolio; and DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio was named DFA Fixed Income Shares. Effective as of October 23, 2009, the DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio and DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio were no longer feeder portfolios and now hold the portfolio securities previously held by The DFA One-Year Fixed Income Series and The DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Series, respectively, the Master Funds in which the Portfolios invested. The Fund generally offers shares of the Portfolios only to institutional investors and clients of registered investment advisers. Until February 28, 2010, DFA Short-Term Government Portfolio was named DFA Five-Year Government Portfolio.

CODE OF ETHICS

The Fund, the Advisor, DFA Australia Limited, DFA Fund Advisors Ltd. and DFAS have adopted a revised Code of Ethics, under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act, for certain access persons of the Portfolios. The Code of Ethics is designed to ensure that access persons act in the interest of the Portfolios and their shareholders with respect to any personal trading of securities. Under the Code of Ethics, access persons are generally prohibited from knowingly buying or selling securities (except for mutual funds, U.S. government securities and money market instruments) which are being purchased, sold or considered for purchase or sale by a Portfolio unless their proposed purchases are approved in advance. The Code of Ethics also contains certain reporting requirements and securities trading clearance procedures.

SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS

The shares of each Portfolio, when issued and paid for in accordance with the Portfolio’s prospectus, will be fully paid and non-assessable shares. Each share of common stock of a Portfolio represents an equal proportional interest in the assets and liabilities of the Portfolio and has identical, non-cumulative voting, dividend, redemption liquidation, and other rights and preferences as each other class of the Portfolio, except that on a matter affecting a single class only shares of that class of the Portfolio are permitted to vote on the matter.

 

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With respect to matters which require shareholder approval, shareholders are entitled to vote only with respect to matters which affect the interest of the Portfolio which they hold, except as otherwise required by applicable law. If liquidation of the Fund should occur, the Fund’s shareholders would be entitled to receive on a per class basis the assets of the particular Portfolio whose shares they own, as well as a proportionate share of Fund assets not attributable to any particular Portfolio. Ordinarily, the Fund does not intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders, except as required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law. The Fund’s bylaws provide that special meetings of shareholders shall be called at the written request of shareholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting. Such meeting may be called to consider any matter, including the removal of one or more directors. Shareholders will receive shareholder communications with respect to such matters as required by the 1940 Act, including semi-annual and annual financial statements of the Fund, the latter being audited.

Shareholder inquiries may be made by writing or calling the Fund at the address or telephone number appearing on the cover of this SAI. Only those individuals whose signatures are on file for the account in question may receive specific account information or make changes in the account registration.

PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

As of January 31, 2011, the following persons beneficially owned 5% or more of the outstanding stock of the Portfolios, as set forth below:

DFA ONE-YEAR FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO

 

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     42.73

National Financial Services LLC*

200 Liberty Street

One World Financial Center

New York, NY 10281

     18.20

Qualcomm Incorporated

5775 Morehouse Drive

San Diego, CA 92121

     9.15

Ameritrade, Inc.

1005 N. Ameritrade Place

Bellevue, NE 68005

     7.16

Trust Company of America*

P.O. Box 6503

Englewood, CO 80155

     6.46

DFA SELECTIVELY HEDGED GLOBAL FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO

 

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.* 1

     39.83

DFA Global 60/40 Portfolio

1299 Ocean Avenue, 11th Floor

Santa Monica, CA 90401

     25.14

National Financial Services LLC*1

     11.45

 

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Ameritrade, Inc.*1

     8.31

The Trust Company of the South*

     5.20

P.O. Box 1898

  

Burlington, NC 27216

  

DFA TWO-YEAR GLOBAL FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*1

     57.94

National Financial Services LLC*1

     18.46

Ameritrade, Inc.*1

     9.51

Trust Company of America*1

     5.11

DFA SHORT-TERM GOVERNMENT PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*1

     45.38

National Financial Services LLC*1

     18.00

Ameritrade, Inc.*1

     13.43

DFA FIVE-YEAR GLOBAL FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*1

     35.67

National Financial Services LLC*1

     21.41

Ameritrade, Inc.*1

     19.05

Trust Company of America*1

     7.80

DFA INTERMEDIATE GOVERNMENT FIXED INCOME PORTFOLIO

  

Ameritrade, Inc.*1

     40.91

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*1

     36.30

National Financial Services LLC*1

     8.83

DFA SHORT-TERM EXTENDED QUALITY PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.* 1

     49.42

National Financial Services LLC*1

     13.37

DFA Global 60/40 Portfolio1

     10.75

Ameritrade, Inc.* 1

     10.54

DFA Global 25/75 Portfolio

     7.71

1299 Ocean Avenue, 11th Floor

  

Santa Monica, CA 90401

  

 

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DFA INTERMEDIATE-TERM EXTENDED QUALITY PORTFOLIO

  

DFA Global 60/40 Portfolio1

     29.71

National Financial Services LLC*1

     29.24

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.* 1

     26.55

Ameritrade, Inc.* 1

     11.02

DFA INFLATION-PROTECTED SECURITIES PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.* 1

     57.74

National Financial Services LLC*1

     12.36

Ameritrade, Inc.*1

     11.85

DFA SHORT-TERM MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.* 1

     42.18

National Financial Services LLC*1

     31.10

Trust Company of America*1

     10.99

Ameritrade, Inc.*1

     7.96

DFA CALIFORNIA SHORT-TERM MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.* 1

     66.38

National Financial Services LLC*1

     15.97

Ameritrade, Inc.* 1

     12.16

 

 

 

*

Owner of record only (omnibus).

 

1

See address for shareholder previously noted above in list.

PURCHASE OF SHARES

The following information supplements the information set forth in the prospectus under the caption “PURCHASE OF SHARES.”

The Fund will accept purchase and redemption orders on each day that the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for business, regardless of whether the Federal Reserve System is closed. However, no purchases by wire may be made on any day that the Federal Reserve System is closed. The Fund will generally be closed on days that the NYSE is closed. The NYSE is scheduled to be open Monday through Friday throughout the year except for days closed to recognize New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The Federal Reserve System is closed on the same days as the NYSE, except that it is open on Good Friday and closed on Columbus Day and Veterans’ Day. Orders for redemptions and purchases will not be processed if the Fund is closed.

 

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The Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend the offering of shares of any or all Portfolios or reject purchase orders when, in the judgment of management, such suspension or rejection is in the best interest of the Fund or a Portfolio. Securities accepted in exchange for shares of a Portfolio will be acquired for investment purposes and will be considered for sale under the same circumstances as other securities in the Portfolio.

The Fund or its transfer agent may, from time to time, appoint a sub-transfer agent, such as a broker, for the receipt of purchase and redemption orders and funds from certain investors. With respect to purchases and redemptions through a sub-transfer agent, a Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when the sub-transfer agent receives the order. Shares of a Portfolio will be priced at the public offering price next calculated after receipt of the purchase or redemption order by the sub-transfer agent.

Management believes that any dilutive effect of the cost of investing the proceeds of the sale of the shares of the Portfolios is minimal and, therefore, the shares of the Portfolios are currently sold at net asset value, without imposition of a reimbursement fee. Reimbursement fees may be charged prospectively from time to time based upon the future experience of the Portfolios, which are currently sold at net asset value. Any such charges will be described in the prospectus.

REDEMPTION AND TRANSFER OF SHARES

The following information supplements the information set forth in the prospectus under the caption “REDEMPTION OF SHARES.”

The Fund may suspend redemption privileges or postpone the date of payment: (1) during any period when the NYSE is closed, or trading on the NYSE is restricted as determined by the SEC, (2) during any period when an emergency exists as defined by the rules of the SEC as a result of which it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund to dispose of securities owned by it, or fairly to determine the value of its assets and (3) for such other periods as the SEC may permit.

Shareholders may transfer shares of any Portfolio to another person by making a written request to the Advisor who will transmit the request to the Transfer Agent. The request should clearly identify the account and number of shares to be transferred, and include the signature of all registered owners and all stock certificates, if any, which are subject to the transfer. The signature on the letter of request, the stock certificate or any stock power must be guaranteed in the same manner as described in the Prospectus under “REDEMPTION OF SHARES.” As with redemptions, the written request must be received in good order before any transfer can be made.

TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIO AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS

The following is a summary of some of the federal income tax consequences of investing in a Portfolio (sometimes referred to as “the Portfolio”). Unless you are invested in the Portfolio through a qualified retirement plan, you should consider the tax implications of investing and consult your own tax advisor. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Portfolio or its shareholders, and the discussion here and in the Prospectus is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning.

This “TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIO AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS” section is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and applicable regulations in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative, regulatory or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly change the tax rules applicable to the Portfolio and its shareholders. Any of these changes or court decisions may have a retroactive effect.

Different tax rules may apply depending on how an Underlying Fund in which a Portfolio invests is organized for federal income tax purposes. The Investment Grade Portfolio invests in Underlying Funds organized as corporations for federal income tax purposes. These rules could affect the amount, timing or character of the income distributed to shareholders of a Portfolio.

 

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Unless otherwise indicated, the discussion below with respect to a Portfolio includes its pro rata share of the dividends and distributions paid by an Underlying Fund classified as a corporation.

For investors in the Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolios, the following discussion should be read in conjunction with the discussion below under the subheading, “Additional Tax Information With Respect To Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolios.”

This is for general information only and not tax advice and does not purport to deal with all federal tax consequences applicable to all categories of investors, some of which may be subject to special rules. You should consult your own tax advisor regarding your particular circumstances before making an investment in the Portfolio.

Taxation of the Portfolio

The Portfolio has elected and intends to qualify (or, if newly organized, intends to elect and qualify) each year as a regulated investment company (sometimes referred to as a “regulated investment company,” “RIC” or “portfolio”) under Subchapter M of the Code. If the Portfolio qualifies, the Portfolio will not be subject to federal income tax on the portion of its investment company taxable income (that is, generally, taxable interest, dividends, net short-term capital gains, and other taxable ordinary income, net of expenses, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and net capital gain (that is, the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) that it distributes to shareholders.

Qualification as a regulated investment company.    In order to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, the Portfolio must satisfy the following requirements:

 

   

Distribution Requirement —the Portfolio must distribute at least 90% of its investment company taxable income and 90% of its net tax-exempt income, if any, for the tax year (certain distributions made by the Portfolio after the close of its tax year are considered distributions attributable to the previous tax year for purposes of satisfying this requirement).

 

   

Income Requirement —the Portfolio must derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived from its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies and net income derived from qualified publicly traded partnerships (“QPTPs”).

 

   

Asset Diversification Test —the Portfolio must satisfy the following asset diversification test at the close of each quarter of the Portfolio’s tax year: (1) at least 50% of the value of the Portfolio’s assets must consist of cash and cash items, U.S. Government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and securities of other issuers (as to which the Portfolio has not invested more than 5% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets in securities of an issuer and as to which the Portfolio does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer); and (2) no more than 25% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets may be invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies) or of two or more issuers which the Portfolio controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses, or, collectively, in the securities of QPTPs.

In some circumstances, the character and timing of income realized by the Portfolio for purposes of the Income Requirement or the identification of the issuer for purposes of the Asset Diversification Test is uncertain under current law with respect to a particular investment, and an adverse determination or future guidance by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) with respect to such type of investment may adversely affect the Portfolio’s ability to satisfy these requirements. SeeTax Treatment of Portfolio Transactions” below with respect to the application of these requirements to certain types of investments. In other circumstances, the Portfolio may be required to sell portfolio holdings in order to meet the Income Requirement, Distribution Requirement, or Asset Diversification Test which may have a negative impact on the Portfolio’s income and performance.

 

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The Portfolio may use “equalization accounting” (in lieu of making some cash distributions) in determining the portion of its income and gains that has been distributed. If the Portfolio uses equalization accounting, it will allocate a portion of its undistributed investment company taxable income and net capital gain to redemptions of Portfolio shares and will correspondingly reduce the amount of such income and gains that it distributes in cash. If the IRS determines that the Portfolio’s allocation is improper and that the Portfolio has under-distributed its income and gain for any taxable year, the Portfolio may be liable for federal income and/or excise tax. In addition, any such under-distribution of income might cause the Portfolio to fail to satisfy the Income Requirement and thereby not qualify as a regulated investment company for such taxable year.

If for any taxable year the Portfolio does not qualify as a regulated investment company, all of its taxable income (including its net capital gain) would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders, and the dividends would be taxable to the shareholders as ordinary income (or possibly as qualified dividend income) to the extent of the Portfolio’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Failure to qualify as a regulated investment company would thus have a negative impact on the Portfolio’s income and performance. Subject to savings provisions for certain inadvertent failures to satisfy the Income Requirement or Asset Diversification Test which, in general, are limited to those due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, it is possible that the Portfolio will not qualify as a regulated investment company in any given tax year. Even if such savings provisions apply, the Portfolio may be subject to a monetary sanction of $50,000 or more. Moreover, the Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of the Portfolio as a regulated investment company if it determines such a course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.

Portfolio turnover. For investors that hold their Portfolio shares in a taxable account, a high portfolio turnover rate (except in a money market fund that maintains a stable net asset value) may result in higher taxes. This is because a portfolio with a high turnover rate is likely to generate more short-term and less long-term capital gain or loss than a comparable portfolio with a low turnover rate. Any such higher taxes would reduce the Portfolio’s after-tax performance.

Capital loss carryovers.   The capital losses of the Portfolio, if any, do not flow through to shareholders. Rather, the Portfolio may use its capital losses, subject to applicable limitations, to offset its capital gains without being required to pay taxes on or distribute to shareholders such gains that are offset by the losses. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (“RIC Mod Act”), if the Portfolio has a “net capital loss” (that is, capital losses in excess of capital gains) for a taxable year beginning after December 22, 2010 (the date of enactment of the RIC Mod Act), the excess (if any) of the Portfolio’s net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gains is treated as a short-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Portfolio’s next taxable year, and the excess (if any) of the Portfolio’s net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gains is treated as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Portfolio’s next taxable year. Any such net capital losses of the Portfolio that are not used to offset capital gains may be carried forward indefinitely to reduce any future capital gains realized by the Portfolio in succeeding taxable years. However, for any net capital losses realized in taxable years of the Portfolio beginning on or before December 22, 2010, the Portfolio is only permitted to carry forward such capital losses for eight years as a short-term capital loss. Under a transition rule, capital losses arising in a taxable year beginning after December 22, 2010 must be used before capital losses realized in a prior taxable year. The amount of capital losses that can be carried forward and used in any single year is subject to an annual limitation if there is a more than 50% “change in ownership” of the Portfolio. An ownership change generally results when shareholders owning 5% or more of the Portfolio increase their aggregate holdings by more than 50% over a three-year look-back period. An ownership change could result in capital loss carryovers being used at a slower rate (or, in the case of those realized in taxable years of the Portfolio beginning on or before December 22, 2010, to expire unutilized), thereby reducing the Portfolio’s ability to offset capital gains with those losses. An increase in the amount of taxable gains distributed to the Portfolio’s shareholders could result from an ownership change. The Portfolio undertakes no obligation to avoid or prevent an ownership change, which can occur in the normal course of shareholder purchases and redemptions or as a result of engaging in a tax-free reorganization with another portfolio. Moreover, because of circumstances beyond the Portfolio’s control, there can be no assurance that the Portfolio will not experience, or has not already experienced, an ownership change.

Deferral of late year losses.   For taxable years of the Portfolio beginning after December 22, 2010, the Portfolio may elect to treat part or all of any “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding

 

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taxable year in determining the Portfolio’s taxable income, net capital gain, net short-term capital gain, and earnings and profits. The effect of this election is to treat any such “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in characterizing Portfolio distributions for any calendar year (see “Distributions of Capital Gains” below). A “qualified late year loss” includes:

any net capital loss, net long-term capital loss, or net short-term capital loss incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year (“post-October losses”), and

the excess, if any, of (1) the sum of (a) specified losses incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year, and (b) other ordinary losses incurred after December 31 of the current taxable year, over (2) the sum of (a) specified gains incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year, and (b) other ordinary gains incurred after December 31 of the current taxable year.

The terms “specified losses” and “specified gains” mean ordinary losses and gains from the sale, exchange, or other disposition of property (including the termination of a position with respect to such property), foreign currency losses, and losses resulting from holding stock in a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) for which a mark-to-market election is in effect. The terms “ordinary losses” and “ordinary gains” mean other ordinary losses and gains that are not described in the preceding sentence. Since the Portfolio has a fiscal year ending in October, the amount of qualified late-year losses (if any) is computed without regard to any items of income, gain, or loss that are (a) post-October losses, (b) specified losses, and (c) specified gains.

Undistributed capital gains. The Portfolio may retain or distribute to shareholders its net capital gain for each taxable year. The Portfolio currently intends to distribute net capital gains. If the Portfolio elects to retain its net capital gain, the Portfolio will be taxed thereon (except to the extent of any available capital loss carryovers) at the highest corporate tax rate (currently 35%). If the Portfolio elects to retain its net capital gain, it is expected that the Portfolio also will elect to have shareholders treated as if each received a distribution of its pro rata share of such gain, with the result that each shareholder will be required to report its pro rata share of such gain on its tax return as long-term capital gain, will receive a refundable tax credit for its pro rata share of tax paid by the Portfolio on the gain, and will increase the tax basis for its shares by an amount equal to the deemed distribution less the tax credit.

Fund-of-funds corporate structures. In the case of a Portfolio that invests in Underlying Funds classified as corporations, distributions by the Underlying Funds, redemptions of shares in the Underlying Funds, and changes in asset allocations by the Portfolio may result in taxable distributions to Portfolio shareholders of ordinary income or capital gains. A Portfolio that is a fund of funds generally will not be able currently to offset gains realized by one Underlying Fund against losses realized by another Underlying Fund. If shares of an Underlying Fund are purchased within 30 days before or after redeeming at a loss other shares of that Underlying Fund (whether pursuant to a rebalancing by the Portfolio or otherwise), all or a part of the loss will not be deductible by the Portfolio and instead will increase its basis for the newly purchased shares. Effective for taxable years of a Portfolio beginning after December 22, 2010, a Portfolio that is a “qualified fund of funds,” meaning at least 50 percent of the value of the total assets of which (at the close of each quarter of the taxable year) is represented by interests in other RICs, is eligible to pass-through to the Portfolio’s shareholders (a) foreign tax credits reported by an Underlying Fund that invests in foreign securities, and (b) exempt-interest dividends reported by an Underlying Fund that invests in tax-exempt obligations. In contrast, a Portfolio that is a fund of funds, but not so qualified, is not eligible to pass-through to the Portfolio’s shareholders amounts reported by an Underlying Fund as foreign tax credits or exempt-interest dividends. A fund of funds, whether so qualified or not, is eligible to pass-through to shareholders qualified dividends earned by an Underlying Fund (see “Qualified Dividend Income for Individuals” and “Dividends Received Deduction for Corporations” below). However, dividends paid to shareholders by a fund of funds from interest earned by an Underlying Fund on U.S. Government obligations are unlikely to be exempt from state and local income tax (see “U.S. Government Securities” below”).

Excise tax distribution requirements.  To avoid a 4% federal excise tax, the Code requires the Portfolio to distribute to you by December 31 of each year, at a minimum, the following amounts: 98% of its taxable ordinary income earned during the calendar year; 98% (or 98.2% beginning January 1, 2011) of its capital gain net income earned during the twelve-month period ending October 31; and 100% of any undistributed amounts from the prior year. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay these distributions in December (or to pay them in January, in which

 

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case you must treat them as received in December) but can give no assurances that its distributions will be sufficient to eliminate all taxes.

Foreign income tax.  Investment income received by the Portfolio from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign income tax withheld at the source and the amount of tax withheld generally will be treated as an expense of the Portfolio. The United States has entered into tax treaties with many foreign countries which entitle the Portfolio to a reduced rate of, or exemption from, tax on such income. It is impossible to determine the effective rate of foreign tax in advance since the amount of the Portfolio's assets to be invested in various countries is not known. Under certain circumstances, the Portfolio may elect to pass-through foreign tax credits to shareholders, although it reserves the right not to do so. See “Investment in Foreign SecuritiesPass-through of foreign tax credits” below.

Distributions of Net Investment Income

The Portfolio receives ordinary income generally in the form of dividends and/or interest on its investments. A Portfolio investing in an Underlying Fund classified as a corporation receives income generally in the form of dividends. The Portfolio may also recognize ordinary income from other sources, including, but not limited to, certain gains on foreign currency-related transactions. This income, less expenses incurred in the operation of the Portfolio, constitutes the Portfolio's net investment income from which dividends may be paid to you. If you are a taxable investor, distributions of net investment income generally are taxable as ordinary income to the extent of the Portfolio’s earnings and profits.

Distributions of Capital Gains

The Portfolio may realize a capital gain or loss in connection with sales or other dispositions of its portfolio securities. A Portfolio investing in an Underlying Fund classified as a corporation may also derive capital gains through its redemption of shares of an Underlying Fund classified as a corporation (see “Taxation of the PortfolioFund-of-funds corporate structures” above). Distributions derived from the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss will be taxable to you as ordinary income. Distributions from the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long you have held your shares in the Portfolio. Any net capital gain of the Portfolio generally will be distributed once each year, and may be distributed more frequently, if necessary, to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the Portfolio.

Returns of Capital

Distributions by the Portfolio that are not paid from earnings and profits will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of (and in reduction of) the shareholder's tax basis in his shares; any excess will be treated as gain from the sale of his shares. Thus, the portion of a distribution that constitutes a return of capital will decrease the shareholder’s tax basis in his Portfolio shares (but not below zero), and will result in an increase in the amount of gain (or decrease in the amount of loss) that will be recognized by the shareholder for tax purposes on the later sale of such Portfolio shares. Return of capital distributions can occur for a number of reasons including, among others, the Portfolio over-estimates the income to be received from certain investments such as those classified as partnerships or equity real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) (see “Tax Treatment of Portfolio Transactions — Investments in U.S. REITs” below).

Investment in Foreign Securities

The Portfolio may be subject to foreign withholding taxes on income from certain foreign securities. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes on the Portfolio and/or its shareholders. Any foreign withholding taxes could reduce the Portfolio’s distributions paid to you.

Pass-through of foreign tax credits.  If at the end of the fiscal year more than 50% in value of the total assets of the Portfolio (or if the Portfolio is a qualified fund of funds as described above under the heading “Taxation of the PortfolioFund-of-funds corporate structures”, an Underlying Fund) are invested in securities of foreign corporations, the Portfolio may elect to pass through to its shareholders their pro rata share of foreign

 

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income taxes paid by the Portfolio (or Underlying Fund). If this election is made, the Portfolio may report more taxable income to you than it actually distributes. You will then be entitled either to deduct your share of these taxes in computing your taxable income or to claim a foreign tax credit for these taxes against your U.S. federal income tax (subject to limitations for certain shareholders). The Portfolio will provide you with the information necessary to claim this deduction or credit on your personal income tax return if it makes this election. The Portfolio (or Underlying Fund) reserves the right not to pass through to its shareholders the amount of foreign income taxes paid by the Portfolio (or Underlying Fund).

The amount of any foreign tax credits available to you (as a result of the pass-through to you of your pro rata share of foreign taxes paid by the Portfolio) will be reduced if you receive from the Portfolio qualifying dividends from qualifying foreign corporations that are subject to tax at reduced rates. Shareholders in these circumstances should talk with their personal tax advisors about their foreign tax credits and the procedures that they should follow to claim these credits on their personal income tax returns.

Effect of foreign debt investments on distributions.  Most foreign exchange gains realized on the sale of debt securities are treated by the Portfolio as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes. Similarly, foreign exchange losses realized on the sale of debt securities generally are treated as ordinary losses. These gains when distributed are taxable to you as ordinary income, and any losses reduce the Portfolio’s ordinary income otherwise available for distribution to you. This treatment could increase or decrease the Portfolio’s ordinary income distributions to you, and may cause some or all of the Portfolio’s previously distributed income to be classified as a return of capital.

PFIC securities.  The Portfolio may invest in securities of foreign entities that could be deemed for tax purposes to be PFICs. In general, a PFIC is any foreign corporation if 75% or more of its gross income for its taxable year is passive income, or 50% or more of its average assets (by value) are held for the production of passive income. When investing in PFIC securities, the Portfolio intends to mark-to-market these securities and recognize any unrealized gains as ordinary income at the end of its fiscal year. Deductions for losses are allowable only to the extent of any current or previously recognized gains. These gains (reduced by allowable losses) are treated as ordinary income that the Portfolio is required to distribute, even though it has not sold or received dividends from these securities. You should also be aware that the designation of a foreign security as a PFIC security will cause its income dividends to fall outside of the definition of qualified foreign corporation dividends. These dividends generally will not qualify for the reduced rate of taxation on qualified dividends when distributed to you by the Portfolio. In addition, if the Portfolio (or an Underlying Fund organized as a corporation) is unable to identify an investment as a PFIC and thus does not make a mark-to-market election, the Portfolio (or Underlying Fund) may be subject to U.S. federal income tax (the effect of which might be mitigated by making a mark-to-market election in a year prior to the sale) on a portion of any “excess distribution” or gain from the disposition of such shares even if such income is distributed as a taxable dividend by the Portfolio to its shareholders. Additional charges in the nature of interest may be imposed on the Portfolio (or Underlying Fund) in respect of deferred taxes arising from such distributions or gains. Any such taxes or interest charges could in turn reduce the Portfolio’s distributions paid to you.

Information on the Amount and Tax Character of Distributions

The Portfolio will inform you of the amount and character of your distributions at the time they are paid, and will advise you of the tax status of such distributions for federal income tax purposes shortly after the close of each calendar year. If you have not held Portfolio shares for a full year, the Portfolio may report to shareholders and distribute to you, as ordinary income, qualified dividends, or capital gains, and in the case of non-U.S. shareholders the Portfolio may further report and distribute as interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends, a percentage of income that is not equal to the actual amount of such income earned during the period of your investment in the Portfolio. Taxable distributions declared by the Portfolio in December to shareholders of record in such month, but paid in January, are taxable to you as if they were paid in December.

Sales, Exchanges and Redemptions of Portfolio Shares

In general. If you are a taxable investor, sales, exchanges and redemptions (including redemptions in kind) are taxable transactions for federal and state income tax purposes. If you redeem your Portfolio shares, the IRS

 

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requires you to report any gain or loss on your redemption. If you held your shares as a capital asset, the gain or loss that you realize will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term or short-term, generally depending on how long you have held your shares.

Redemptions at a loss within six months of purchase.  Any loss incurred on a redemption of shares of the Portfolio held for six months or less will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributed to you by the Portfolio on those shares.

Wash sales.  All or a portion of any loss that you realize on a redemption of your Portfolio shares will be disallowed to the extent that you buy other shares in the Portfolio (through reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) within 30 days before or after your share redemption. Any loss disallowed under these rules will be added to your tax basis in the new shares.

Cost basis reporting.  Under the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008, the Portfolio’s administrative agent will be required to provide you with cost basis information on the sale of any of your shares in the Portfolio, subject to certain exceptions. This cost basis reporting requirement is effective for shares purchased in the Portfolio on or after January 1, 2012.

Conversion of shares into shares of the same Portfolio.  The conversion of shares of one class into another class of the same Portfolio is not taxable for federal income tax purposes. Shareholders should also consult their tax advisors regarding the state and local tax consequences of a conversion or exchange of shares of the same Portfolio.

Tax shelter reporting.  Under Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to the Portfolio’s shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886.

U.S. Government Securities

To the extent the Portfolio invests in certain U.S. government obligations, dividends paid by the Portfolio to shareholders that are derived from interest on these obligations should be exempt from state and local personal income taxes, subject in some states to minimum investment or reporting requirements that must be met by the Portfolio. To the extent an Underlying Fund organized as a corporation invests in U.S. government obligations, dividends derived from interest on these obligations and paid to the Portfolio and, in turn, to you are unlikely to be exempt from state and local income tax. The income on portfolio investments in certain securities, such as repurchase agreements, commercial paper and federal agency-backed obligations (e.g., Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) or Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) securities), generally does not qualify for tax-free treatment. The rules on exclusion of this income are different for corporate shareholders.

Qualified Dividend Income for Individuals

With respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2013 (unless such provision is extended or made permanent), ordinary income dividends reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as derived from qualified dividend income will be taxed in the hands of individuals and other noncorporate shareholders at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain. “Qualified dividend income” means dividends paid to the Portfolio (a) by domestic corporations, (b) by foreign corporations that are either (i) incorporated in a possession of the United States, or (ii) are eligible for benefits under certain income tax treaties with the United States that include an exchange of information program, or (c) with respect to stock of a foreign corporation that is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. Both the Portfolio and the investor must meet certain holding period requirements to qualify Portfolio dividends for this treatment. Specifically, the Portfolio must hold the stock for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the stock becomes ex-dividend. Similarly, investors must hold their Portfolio shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the Portfolio distribution goes ex-dividend. Income derived from investments in derivatives, fixed-income securities, U.S. REITs, PFICs, and income received “in lieu of” dividends in a securities lending transaction generally is not eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income. If the qualifying dividend income received by the Portfolio is equal to or greater than 95% of the Portfolio's gross income (exclusive of net capital gain) in any taxable year, all of the ordinary income dividends paid by the Portfolio will be qualifying dividend income. Because the income of the

 

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Portfolio is derived primarily from interest on debt securities, none or only a small amount of the Portfolio’s dividends will be qualified dividend income. Income dividends from interest earned by the Portfolio on debt securities will continue to be taxed at the higher ordinary income tax rate.

Dividends-Received Deduction for Corporations

For corporate shareholders, a portion of the dividends paid by the Portfolio may qualify for the 70% corporate dividends-received deduction. The portion of dividends paid by the Portfolio that so qualifies will be reported by the Portfolio to shareholders each year and cannot exceed the gross amount of dividends received by the Portfolio from domestic (U.S.) corporations . The availability of the dividends-received deduction is subject to certain holding period and debt financing restrictions that apply to both the Portfolio and the investor. Specifically, the amount that the Portfolio may report as eligible for the dividends-received deduction will be reduced or eliminated if the shares on which the dividends earned by the Portfolio were debt-financed or held by the Portfolio for less than a minimum period of time, generally 46 days during a 91-day period beginning 45 days before the stock becomes ex-dividend. Similarly, if your Portfolio shares are debt-financed or held by you for less than a 46-day period then the dividends-received deduction for Portfolio dividends on your shares may also be reduced or eliminated. Even if reported as dividends eligible for the dividends-received deduction, all dividends (including any deducted portion) must be included in your alternative minimum taxable income calculation. Income derived by the Portfolio from investments in derivatives, fixed-income and foreign securities generally is not eligible for this treatment. Because the income of the Portfolio is derived primarily from interest on debt securities, none or only a small amount of their distributions are expected to qualify for the corporate dividends-received deduction.

Limitation on Deductibility of Losses

Losses incurred on the sale of securities by the Portfolio to another Portfolio will be disallowed if, as of the date of sale, the selling and purchasing portfolios are considered related parties. If the selling and purchasing portfolios are both corporations, they are treated as related parties if five or fewer persons, who are individuals, estates or trusts, own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the outstanding shares in both the selling and purchasing portfolios. Other attribution rules may apply.

Tax Treatment of Portfolio Transactions

Set forth below is a general description of the tax treatment of certain types of securities, investment techniques and transactions that may apply to a portfolio and, in turn, effect the amount, character and timing of dividends and distributions payable by the portfolio to its shareholders. This section should be read in conjunction with the discussion in the Prospectus under “Principal Investment Strategies” and “Principal Risks” for a detailed description of the various types of securities and investment techniques that apply to the Portfolio.

In general.  In general, gain or loss recognized by a portfolio on the sale or other disposition of portfolio investments will be a capital gain or loss. Such capital gain and loss may be long-term or short-term depending, in general, upon the length of time a particular investment position is maintained and, in some cases, upon the nature of the transaction. Property held for more than one year generally will be eligible for long-term capital gain or loss treatment. The application of certain rules described below may serve to alter the manner in which the holding period for a security is determined or may otherwise affect the characterization as long-term or short-term, and also the timing of the realization and/or character, of certain gains or losses.

Certain fixed-income investments.  Gain recognized on the disposition of a debt obligation purchased by a portfolio at a market discount (generally, at a price less than its principal amount) will be treated as ordinary income to the extent of the portion of the market discount that accrued during the period of time the portfolio held the debt obligation unless the portfolio made a current inclusion election to accrue market discount into income as it accrues. If a portfolio purchases a debt obligation (such as a zero coupon security or pay-in-kind security) that was originally issued at a discount, the portfolio generally is required to include in gross income each year the portion of the original issue discount that accrues during such year. Therefore, a portfolio’s investment in such securities may cause the portfolio to recognize income and make distributions to shareholders before it receives any cash payments on the securities. To generate cash to satisfy those distribution requirements, a portfolio may have to sell portfolio

 

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securities that it otherwise might have continued to hold or to use cash flows from other sources such as the sale of portfolio shares.

Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of or in default present tax issues for a portfolio. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as whether and to what extent a portfolio should recognize market discount on a debt obligation, when a portfolio may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount or market discount, when and to what extent a portfolio may take deductions for bad debts or worthless securities and how a portfolio should allocate payments received on obligations in default between principal and income. These and other related issues will be addressed by a portfolio in order to ensure that it distributes sufficient income to preserve its status as a regulated investment company.

Options, futures, forward contracts, swap agreements and hedging transactions.  In general, option premiums received by a portfolio are not immediately included in the income of the portfolio. Instead, the premiums are recognized when the option contract expires, the option is exercised by the holder, or the portfolio transfers or otherwise terminates the option (e.g., through a closing transaction). If an option written by a portfolio is exercised and the portfolio sells or delivers the underlying stock, the portfolio generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to (a) sum of the strike price and the option premium received by the portfolio minus (b) the portfolio’s basis in the stock. Such gain or loss generally will be short-term or long-term depending upon the holding period of the underlying stock. If securities are purchased by a portfolio pursuant to the exercise of a put option written by it, the portfolio generally will subtract the premium received from its cost basis in the securities purchased. The gain or loss with respect to any termination of a portfolio’s obligation under an option other than through the exercise of the option and related sale or delivery of the underlying stock generally will be short-term gain or loss depending on whether the premium income received by the portfolio is greater or less than the amount paid by the portfolio (if any) in terminating the transaction. Thus, for example, if an option written by a portfolio expires unexercised, the portfolio generally will recognize short-term gain equal to the premium received.

The tax treatment of certain futures contracts entered into by a portfolio as well as listed non-equity options written or purchased by the portfolio on U.S. exchanges (including options on futures contracts, broad-based equity indices and debt securities) may be governed by section 1256 of the Code (“section 1256 contracts”). Gains or losses on section 1256 contracts generally are considered 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gains or losses (“60/40”), although certain foreign currency gains and losses from such contracts may be treated as ordinary in character. Also, any section 1256 contracts held by a portfolio at the end of each taxable year (and, for purposes of the 4% excise tax, on certain other dates as prescribed under the Code) are “marked to market” with the result that unrealized gains or losses are treated as though they were realized and the resulting gain or loss is treated as ordinary or 60/40 gain or loss, as applicable. Section 1256 contracts do not include any interest rate swap, currency swap, basis swap, interest rate cap, interest rate floor, commodity swap, equity swap, equity index swap, credit default swap, or similar agreement.

In addition to the special rules described above in respect of options and futures transactions, a portfolio’s transactions in other derivative instruments (including options, forward contracts and swap agreements) as well as its other hedging, short sale, or similar transactions, may be subject to one or more special tax rules (including the constructive sale, notional principal contract, straddle, wash sale and short sale rules). These rules may affect whether gains and losses recognized by a portfolio are treated as ordinary or capital or as short-term or long-term, accelerate the recognition of income or gains to the portfolio, defer losses to the portfolio, and cause adjustments in the holding periods of the portfolio’s securities. These rules, therefore, could affect the amount, timing and/or character of distributions to shareholders. Moreover, because the tax rules applicable to derivative financial instruments are in some cases uncertain under current law, an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to these rules (which determination or guidance could be retroactive) may affect whether a portfolio has made sufficient distributions and otherwise satisfied the relevant requirements to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company and avoid a portfolio-level tax.

Certain of a portfolio’s investments in derivatives and foreign currency-denominated instruments, and the portfolio’s transactions in foreign currencies and hedging activities, may produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. If a portfolio’s book income is less than the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any), the portfolio could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regulated investment company. If a portfolio’s book income exceeds the sum of its taxable income and net tax-

 

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exempt income (if any), the distribution of any such excess will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of the portfolio’s remaining earnings and profits (including current earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income, reduced, for taxable years of the Portfolio beginning after December 22, 2010, by related deductions), (ii) thereafter, as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient’s basis in the shares, and (iii) thereafter, as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset.

Foreign currency transactions. A portfolio’s transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated debt obligations and certain foreign currency options, futures contracts and forward contracts (and similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned. This treatment could increase or decrease a portfolio’s ordinary income distributions to you, and may cause some or all of the portfolio’s previously distributed income to be classified as a return of capital. In certain cases, a portfolio may make an election to treat such gain or loss as capital.

Securities lending. While securities are loaned out by a portfolio, the portfolio generally will receive from the borrower amounts equal to any dividends or interest paid on the borrowed securities. For federal income tax purposes, payments made “in lieu of” dividends are not considered dividend income. These distributions will neither qualify for the reduced rate of taxation for individuals on qualified dividends nor the 70% dividends received deduction for corporations. Also, any foreign tax withheld on payments made “in lieu of” dividends or interest will not qualify for the pass-through of foreign tax credits to shareholders. Additionally, in the case of a portfolio with a strategy of investing in tax-exempt securities, any payments made “in lieu of” tax-exempt interest will be considered taxable income to the portfolio, and thus, to the investors, even though such interest may be tax-exempt when paid to the borrower.

Investments in convertible securities. Convertible debt is ordinarily treated as a “single property” consisting of a pure debt interest until conversion, after which the investment becomes an equity interest. If the security is issued at a premium (i.e., for cash in excess of the face amount payable on retirement), the creditor-holder may amortize the premium over the life of the bond. If the security is issued for cash at a price below its face amount, the creditor-holder must accrue original issue discount in income over the life of the debt. The creditor-holder’s exercise of the conversion privilege is treated as a nontaxable event. Mandatorily convertible debt (e.g., an exchange traded note or ETN issued in the form of an unsecured obligation that pays a return based on the performance of a specified market index, exchange currency, or commodity) is often, but not always, treated as a contract to buy or sell the reference property rather than debt. Similarly, convertible preferred stock with a mandatory conversion feature is ordinarily, but not always, treated as equity rather than debt. Dividends received generally are qualified dividend income and eligible for the corporate dividends received deduction. In general, conversion of preferred stock for common stock of the same corporation is tax-free. Conversion of preferred stock for cash is a taxable redemption. Any redemption premium for preferred stock that is redeemable by the issuing company might be required to be amortized under original issue discount (“OID”) principles.

Pre-refunded municipal securities.  A portfolio may invest in pre-refunded municipal securities. For purposes of the Asset Diversification Test, a portfolio’s investment in pre-refunded municipal securities backed by U.S. Treasury and Agency Securities will be considered an investment in the respective U.S. Treasury and Agency Securities that were deposited in the escrow account for the securities.

Backup Withholding

By law, the Portfolio may be required to withhold a portion of your taxable dividends and sales proceeds unless you:

 

   

provide your correct social security or taxpayer identification number,

 

   

certify that this number is correct,

 

   

certify that you are not subject to backup withholding, and

 

   

certify that you are a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien).

 

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The Portfolio also must withhold if the IRS instructs it to do so. When withholding is required, the amount will be 28% of any distributions or proceeds paid. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS. Certain payees and payments are exempt from backup withholding and information reporting. The special U.S. tax certification requirements applicable to non-U.S. investors are described under the “Non-U.S. Investors” heading below.

Non-U.S. Investors

Non-U.S. investors (shareholders who, as to the United States, are nonresident alien individuals, foreign trusts or estates, foreign corporations, or foreign partnerships) may be subject to U.S. withholding and estate tax and are subject to special U.S. tax certification requirements. Non-U.S. investors should consult their tax advisors about the applicability of U.S. tax withholding and the use of the appropriate forms to certify their status.

In general.  The United States imposes a flat 30% withholding tax (or a withholding tax at a lower treaty rate) on U.S. source dividends, including on income dividends paid to you by the Portfolio. Exemptions from this U.S. withholding tax are provided for dividends reported by the Portfolio as exempt-interest dividends, capital gain dividends and paid by the Portfolio from its net long-term capital gains, and with respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended, or made permanent), interest-related dividends paid by the Portfolio from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources and short-term capital gain dividends. However, notwithstanding such exemptions from U.S. withholding at the source, any dividends and distributions of income and capital gains, including the proceeds from the sale of your Portfolio shares, will be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 28% if you fail to properly certify that you are not a U.S. person.

Capital gain dividends and short-term capital gain dividends.  In general, (i) a capital gain dividend reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as paid from its net long-term capital gains or (ii) with respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended or made permanent), a short-term capital gain dividend reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as paid from its net short-term capital gains, other than long- or short-term capital gains realized on disposition of U.S. real property interests (see the discussion below) are not subject to U.S. withholding tax unless you are a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the calendar year.

Interest-related dividends.  With respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended or made permanent), dividends reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as interest-related dividends and paid from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources are not subject to U.S. withholding tax. “Qualified interest income” includes, in general, U.S. source (1) bank deposit interest, (2) short-term original discount, (3) interest (including original issue discount, market discount, or acquisition discount) on an obligation which is in registered form, unless it is earned on an obligation issued by a corporation or partnership in which the Portfolio is a 10-percent shareholder or is contingent interest, and (4) any interest-related dividend from another regulated investment company. On any payment date, the amount of an income dividend that is reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as an interest-related dividend may be more or less than the amount that is so qualified. This is because the reporting of interest related dividends is based on an estimate of the Portfolio’s qualified net interest income for its entire fiscal year, which can only be determined with exactness at fiscal year end. As a consequence, the Portfolio may over withhold a small amount of U.S. tax from a dividend payment. In this case, the non-U.S. investor’s only recourse may be to either forgo recovery of the excess withholding, or to file a United States nonresident income tax return to recover the excess withholding.

Further limitations on tax reporting for interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends for non-U.S. investors.  It may not be practical in every case for the Portfolio to report to shareholders, and the Portfolio reserves the right in these cases to not report, small amounts of interest-related or short-term capital gain dividends. Additionally, the Portfolio’s reporting of interest-related or short-term capital gain dividends may not be passed through to shareholders by intermediaries who have assumed tax reporting responsibilities for this income in managed or omnibus accounts due to systems limitations or operational constraints.

 

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Exempt-interest dividends.  Exempt-interest dividends reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as paid from interest earned on municipal securities are not subject to U.S. withholding tax.

Net investment income from dividends on stock and foreign source interest income continue to be subject to withholding tax; effectively connected income.  Ordinary dividends paid by the Portfolio to non-U.S. investors on the income earned on portfolio investments in (i) the stock of domestic and foreign corporations, and (ii) the debt of foreign issuers continue to be subject to U.S. withholding tax. If you hold your Portfolio shares in connection with a U.S. trade or business, your income and gains will be considered effectively connected income and taxed in the U.S. on a net basis, in which case you may be required to file a nonresident U.S. income tax return.

U.S. estate tax. Transfers by gift of shares of the Portfolio by a foreign shareholder who is a nonresident alien individual will not be subject to U.S. federal gift tax. For decedents dying during 2010, the U.S. federal estate tax was reinstated retroactively, except where the executor of the estate of a decedent makes an election to opt out of the estate tax and instead be subject to modified carryover basis rules. For decedents dying after 2010, an individual who, at the time of death, is a non-U.S. shareholder will nevertheless be subject to U.S. federal estate tax with respect to Portfolio shares at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. citizens and residents, unless a treaty exemption applies. If a treaty exemption is available, a decedent’s estate may nonetheless need to file a U.S. estate tax return to claim the exemption in order to obtain a U.S. federal transfer certificate. The transfer certificate will identify the property (i.e., Portfolio shares) as to which the U.S. federal estate tax lien has been released. In the absence of a treaty, there is a $13,000 statutory estate tax credit (equivalent to U.S. situs assets with a value of $60,000). For estates with U.S. situs assets of not more than $60,000, the Portfolio may accept, in lieu of a transfer certificate, an affidavit from an appropriate individual evidencing that decedent’s U.S. situs assets are below this threshold amount. In addition, a partial exemption from U.S estate tax may apply to Portfolio shares held by the estate of a nonresident decedent. The amount treated as exempt is based upon the proportion of the assets held by the Portfolio at the end of the quarter immediately preceding the decedent’s death that are debt obligations, deposits, or other property that generally would be treated as situated outside the United States if held directly by the estate. This provision applies to decedents dying after December 31, 2004 and before January 1, 2012, unless such provision is extended or made permanent.

U.S. tax certification rules. Special U.S. tax certification requirements apply to non-U.S. shareholders both to avoid U.S. back up withholding imposed at a rate of 28% and to obtain the benefits of any treaty between the United States and the shareholder’s country of residence. In general, a non-U.S. shareholder must provide a Form W-8 BEN (or other applicable Form W-8) to establish that you are not a U.S. person, to claim that you are the beneficial owner of the income and, if applicable, to claim a reduced rate of, or exemption from, withholding as a resident of a country with which the United States has an income tax treaty. A Form W-8BEN provided without a U.S. taxpayer identification number will remain in effect for a period beginning on the date signed and ending on the last day of the third succeeding calendar year unless an earlier change of circumstances makes the information on the form incorrect.

The tax consequences to a non-U.S. shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of an applicable tax treaty may be different from those described herein. Non-U.S. shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in the Portfolio, including the applicability of foreign tax.

Effect of Future Legislation; Local Tax Considerations

The foregoing general discussion of U.S. federal income tax consequences is based on the Code and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and any such changes or decisions may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein. Rules of state and local taxation of ordinary income, qualified dividend income and capital gain dividends may differ from the rules for U.S. federal income taxation described above. Distributions may also be subject to additional state, local and foreign taxes depending on each shareholder’s particular situation. Non-U.S. shareholders may be subject to U.S. tax rules that differ significantly from those summarized above. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors as to the consequences of these and other state and local tax rules affecting investment in the Portfolio.

 

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Additional Tax Information With Respect To Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolios

Exempt-interest dividends.  By meeting certain requirements of the Code, each of the Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolios qualifies to pay exempt-interest dividends to its shareholders. These dividends are derived from interest income exempt from regular federal income tax and are not subject to regular federal income tax when they are paid to shareholders. However, shareholders required to file a federal income tax return will be required to report the receipt of exempt-interest dividends on their returns. Exempt-interest dividends that are excluded from federal taxable income may still be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax. See the discussion below under the heading, “Alternative minimum tax.”

In addition, to the extent that exempt-interest dividends are derived from interest on obligations of a state or its political subdivisions, or from interest on qualifying U.S. territorial obligations (including qualifying obligations of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam), they also may be exempt from that state’s personal income taxes. Most states, however, do not grant tax-free treatment to interest on state and municipal securities of other states.

Taxable income dividends. The Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolios may earn taxable income from many sources, including temporary investments, discount from stripped obligations or their coupons, income from securities loans or other taxable transactions, and ordinary income from the sale of market discount bonds. If you are a taxable investor, any distributions by the Portfolio from this income will be taxable to you as ordinary income, whether you receive them in cash or in additional shares.

Distributions of capital gains and gain or loss on sale or exchange of your portfolio shares; redemption at a loss within six months of purchase. The Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolios may realize capital gain or loss on sale of portfolio securities. Distributions of capital gains are taxable to you. Distributions from net short-term capital gain will be taxable to you as ordinary income. Distributions from net long-term capital gain will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long you have held your shares in a Portfolio. If you are a taxable investor, when you sell your shares in a Portfolio, you may realize a capital gain or loss, which is subject to federal income tax. Any loss incurred on the redemption or exchange of shares held for six months or less will be disallowed to the extent of any exempt-interest dividends paid to you with respect to your Portfolio shares, and any remaining loss will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributed to you by the Portfolio on those shares. However, under the RIC Mod Act, this rule will not apply to any loss incurred on a redemption or exchange of shares of a fund that declares exempt-interest dividends daily and distributes them at least monthly for which your holding period begins after December 22, 2010.

Information On The Amount and Tax Character of Distributions.  The Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolios will inform you of the amount of your exempt-interest dividends, taxable ordinary income and capital gain dividends at the time they are paid, and will advise you of their tax status for federal income tax purposes shortly after the end of each calendar year, including the portion, if any, of the distributions that on average are comprised of taxable income or interest income that is a tax preference item when determining your alternative minimum tax. If you have not held Portfolio shares for a full year, a Portfolio may designate and distribute to you, as taxable, as tax-exempt or as tax preference income, a percentage of income that is not equal to the actual amount of such income earned during the period of your investment in the Portfolio. Taxable distributions declared by a Portfolio in December to shareholders of record in such month, but paid in January, are taxed to you as if made in December.

Alternative minimum tax.  Interest on certain private activity bonds, while exempt from regular federal income tax, is a preference item for you when determining your alternative minimum tax under the Code and under the income tax provisions of several states. Private activity bond interest could subject you to or increase your liability under federal and state alternative minimum taxes, depending on your personal or corporate tax position. However, under recently enacted provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, tax-exempt interest on private activity bonds issued in 2009 and 2010 is not an item of tax preference for purposes of the alternative minimum tax. If you are a person defined in the Code as a “substantial user” (or persons related to such users) of a facility financed by private activity bonds, you should consult with your tax advisor before buying shares of either Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio. The Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolios do not currently intend to invest their assets in securities whose interest is subject to the federal alternative minimum tax.

 

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Effect on taxation of social security benefits; denial of interest deduction; “substantial users.”  Exempt-interest dividends must be taken into account in computing the portion, if any, of social security or railroad retirement benefits that must be included in an individual shareholder's gross income subject to federal income tax. Interest on debt you incur to buy or hold shares of the Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolios may not be deductible for federal income tax purposes. Indebtedness may be allocated to shares of a Portfolio even though not directly traceable to the purchase of such shares. Moreover, a shareholder who is (or is related to) a “substantial user” of a facility financed by industrial development bonds held by the Portfolio will likely be subject to tax on dividends paid by the Portfolio that are derived from interest on such bonds. Receipt of exempt-interest dividends may result in other collateral federal income tax consequences to certain taxpayers, including financial institutions, property and casualty insurance companies and foreign corporations engaged in a trade or business in the United States.

Loss of status of securities as tax-exempt.  Failure of the issuer of a tax-exempt security to comply with certain legal or contractual requirements relating to the security could cause interest on the security, as well as Portfolio distributions derived from this interest, to become taxable, perhaps retroactively to the date the security was issued. In such a case, the Portfolio may be required to report to the IRS and send to shareholders amended Forms 1099 for a prior taxable year in order to report additional taxable income. This, in turn, could require shareholders to file amended federal and state income tax returns for such prior year to report and pay tax and interest on their pro rata share of the additional amount of taxable income.

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

The Board of Directors of the Fund has delegated the authority to vote proxies for the portfolio securities held by the Portfolios to the Advisor in accordance with the Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (the “Voting Policies”) and Proxy Voting Guidelines (“Voting Guidelines”) adopted by the Advisor. The Voting Guidelines are largely based on those developed by Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third party, except with respect to certain matters for which the Advisor has modified the standard voting guidelines. A concise summary of the Voting Guidelines is provided in an Appendix to this SAI.

The Investment Committee at the Advisor is generally responsible for overseeing the Advisor’s proxy voting process. The Investment Committee has formed a Corporate Governance Committee composed of certain officers, directors and other personnel of the Advisor and has delegated to its members authority to (i) oversee the voting of proxies, (ii) make determinations as to how to vote certain specific proxies, (iii) verify the on-going compliance with the Voting Policies, and (iv) review the Voting Policies from time to time and recommend changes to the Investment Committee. The Corporate Governance Committee may designate one or more of its members to oversee specific, ongoing compliance with respect to the Voting Policies and may designate other personnel of the Advisor to vote proxies on behalf of the Portfolios, including all authorized traders of the Advisor.

The Advisor seeks to vote (or refrains from voting) proxies in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Portfolios as understood by the Advisor at the time of the vote. Generally, the Advisor analyzes proxy statements on behalf of the Portfolios and instructs the vote (or refrains from voting) in accordance with the Voting Policies and the Voting Guidelines. Since most proxies the Advisor receives are instructed to be voted in accordance with the Voting Guidelines, it normally will not be necessary for the Advisor to make an actual determination of how to vote a particular proxy, thereby largely eliminating conflicts of interest for the Advisor during the proxy voting process. However, the Voting Policies do address the procedures to be followed if a conflict of interest arises between the interests of the Portfolios, and the interests of the Advisor or its affiliates. If a Corporate Governance Committee (“Committee”) member has actual knowledge of a conflict of interest and recommends a vote contrary to the Voting Guidelines (or in the case where the Voting Guidelines do not prescribe a particular vote and the proposed vote is contrary to the recommendation of ISS), the Committee member will bring the vote to the Committee which will (a) determine how the vote should be cast keeping in mind the principle of preserving shareholder value, or (b) determine to abstain from voting, unless abstaining would be materially adverse to the interest of the Portfolios. To the extent the Committee makes a determination regarding how to vote or to abstain for a proxy on behalf of a Portfolio in the circumstances described in this paragraph, the Advisor will report annually on such determinations to the Board of Directors of the Fund.

 

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The Advisor will usually instruct voting of proxies in accordance with the Voting Guidelines. The Voting Guidelines provide a framework for analysis and decision making, however, the Voting Guidelines do not address all potential issues. In order to be able to address all the relevant facts and circumstances related to a proxy vote, the Advisor reserves the right to instruct votes counter to the Voting Guidelines if, after a review of the matter, the Advisor believes that the best interests of the Portfolio would be served by such a vote. In such a circumstance, the analysis will be documented in writing and periodically presented to the Corporate Governance Committee. To the extent that the Voting Guidelines do not cover potential voting issues, the Advisor will vote on such issues in a manner that is consistent with the spirit of the Voting Guidelines and that the Advisor believes would be in the best interests of the Portfolio.

The Advisor seeks to vote (or refrain from voting) proxies in a manner that the Advisor determines is in the best interests of a Portfolio and which seeks to maximize the value of that Portfolio’s investments. In some cases, the Advisor may determine that it is in the best interests of a Portfolio to refrain from exercising proxy voting rights. The Advisor may determine that voting is not in the best interest of a Portfolio and refrain from voting if the costs, including the opportunity costs, of voting would, in the view of the Advisor, exceed the expected benefits of voting. For securities on loan, the Advisor will balance the revenue-producing value of loans against the difficult-to-assess value of casting votes. It is the Advisor’s belief that the expected value of casting a vote generally will be less than the securities lending income, either because the votes will not have significant economic consequences or because the outcome of the vote would not be affected by the Advisor recalling loaned securities in order to ensure they are voted. The Advisor does intend to recall securities on loan if it determines that voting the securities is likely to materially affect the value of the Portfolio’s investment and that it is in the Portfolio’s best interests to do so. In cases where the Advisor does not receive a solicitation or enough information within a sufficient time (as reasonably determined by the Advisor) prior to the proxy-voting deadline, the Advisor or its services provider may be unable to vote.

With respect to non-U.S. securities, it is typically both difficult and costly to vote proxies due to local regulations, customs, and other requirements or restrictions. The Advisor does not intend to vote proxies of non-U.S. companies if the Advisor determines that the expected economic costs from voting outweigh the anticipated economic benefit to a Portfolio associated with voting. The Advisor intends to make its determination on whether to vote proxies of non-U.S. companies on a portfolio-by-portfolio basis, and generally seeks to implement uniform voting procedures for all proxies of companies in a country. The Advisor periodically reviews voting logistics, including costs and other voting difficulties, on a portfolio by portfolio and country by country basis, in order to determine if there have been any material changes that would affect the Advisor’s decision of whether or not to vote. In the event the Advisor is made aware of and believes an issue to be voted is likely to materially affect the economic value of a Portfolio, that its vote is reasonably likely to influence the ultimate outcome of the contest, and the expected benefits of voting the proxies exceed the costs, the Advisor will make every reasonable effort to vote such proxies.

The Advisor and the Fund have retained ISS to provide certain services with respect to proxy voting. ISS provides information on shareholder meeting dates and proxy materials; translates proxy materials printed in a foreign language; provides research on proxy proposals and voting recommendations in accordance with the Voting Guidelines; effects votes on behalf of the Portfolios; and provides reports concerning the proxies voted (the “Proxy Voting Services”). In addition, the Advisor may retain the services of supplemental third-party proxy service providers to provide, among other things, research on proxy proposals and voting recommendations for certain shareholder meetings, as identified in the Voting Guidelines. Although the Advisor retains third-party service providers for proxy issues, the Advisor remains responsible for proxy voting decisions. In this regard, the Advisor uses commercially reasonable efforts to oversee the directed delegation to third-party proxy voting service providers, upon which the Advisor relies to carry out the Proxy Voting Services. In the event that the Voting Guidelines are not implemented precisely as the Advisor intends because of the actions or omissions of any third party service providers, custodians or sub-custodians or other agents or any such persons experience any irregularities (e.g. misvotes or missed votes), then such instances will not necessarily be deemed by the Advisor as a breach of the Voting Policies.

Information regarding how each of the Portfolios voted proxies related to its portfolio securities during the 12 month period ended June 30 of each year is available, no later than August 31 of each year, without charge, (i)

 

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upon request, by calling collect: (512) 306-7400 or (ii) on the Advisor’s website at http://www.dimensional.com and (iii) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

The Advisor and the Board of Directors of DFAIDG have adopted a policy (the “Policy”) to govern disclosure of the portfolio holdings of the Portfolios (“Holdings Information”), and to prevent the misuse of material non-public Holdings Information. The Advisor has determined that the Policy and its procedures (1) are reasonably designed to ensure that disclosure of Holdings Information is in the best interests of the shareholders of the Portfolios, and (2) appropriately address the potential for material conflicts of interest.

Disclosure of Holdings Information as Required by Applicable Law. Holdings Information (whether a partial listing of portfolio holdings or a complete listing of portfolio holdings) shall be disclosed to any person as required by applicable law, rules and regulations.

Online Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings Information. Each Portfolio generally discloses up to its twenty-five largest portfolio holdings and the percentages that each of these largest portfolio holdings represent of the total assets of the Portfolio (“largest holdings”), as of the most recent month-end, online at the Advisor’s public website, http://www.dimensional.com, within twenty days after the end of each month. This online disclosure may also include information regarding the industry allocations of the Portfolio. Each Portfolio generally discloses its complete Holdings Information (other than cash and cash equivalents), as of month-end, online at the Advisor’s public website, http://www.dimensional.com, two months following the month-end, or more frequently and at different periods when authorized by a Designated Person (as defined below).

Disclosure of Holdings Information to Recipients.  Each of the Advisor’s Chairman, Director of Institutional Services, Head of Portfolio Management and Trading and General Counsel (together, the “Designated Persons”) may authorize disclosing non-public Holdings Information more frequently or at different periods than as described above solely to those financial advisors, registered accountholders, authorized consultants, authorized custodians, or third-party data service providers (each a “Recipient”) who: (i) specifically request the more current non-public Holdings Information and (ii) execute a Use and Nondisclosure Agreement (each a “Nondisclosure Agreement”). Each Nondisclosure Agreement subjects the Recipient to a duty of confidentiality with respect to the non-public Holdings Information, and prohibits the Recipient from trading based on the non-public Holdings Information. Any non-public Holdings Information that is disclosed shall not include any material information about a Portfolio’s trading strategies or pending portfolio transactions. The non-public Holdings Information provided to a Recipient under a Nondisclosure Agreement, unless indicated otherwise, is not subject to a time delay before dissemination. Designated Persons may also approve the distribution of Holdings Information for a Portfolio more frequently or at a period other than as described above.

As of January 31, 2011, the Advisor and the Portfolios had ongoing arrangements with the following Recipients to make available non-public Holdings Information:

 

Recipient

 

  

Master Funds/Portfolios

 

  

Business Purpose

 

  

Frequency

 

American Medical Association

   DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Monthly

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

   All Portfolios   

Fund Administrator, Accounting Agent and Transfer Agent

 

   Daily

Bank of New York

   All Portfolios except DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Upon request

 

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Recipient

 

  

Master Funds/Portfolios

 

  

Business Purpose

 

  

Frequency

 

CTC Consulting, Inc.

  

All Portfolios except DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio

 

   Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Quarterly

Callan Associates

  

DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio and DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio

 

   Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Monthly

Capital Advisors

  

DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Five-Year Government Portfolio, DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio and DFA Intermediate Government Fixed Income Portfolio

 

   Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Quarterly

Citibank, N.A.

  

DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio

 

   Fund Custodian    Daily

Citibank, N.A.

   All Portfolios   

Middle office operational support service provider to the Advisor

 

   Daily

Demvest Equities LP

   DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Monthly

Fund Evaluation Group LLC

   All Portfolios   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Upon Request

Lynx Investment Advisory

  

DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Short-Term Government Portfolio and DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio

 

   Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Quarterly

Marquette Associates, Inc.

   DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio   

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Upon request

 

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Recipient

 

  

Master Funds/Portfolios

 

  

Business Purpose

 

  

Frequency

 

PFPC Trust Company

(to be renamed BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company effective July 1, 2011)

  

DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Intermediate Government Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio, DFA Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio, DFA Short-Term Government Portfolio, DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio

 

   Fund Custodian    Daily
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP    All Portfolios   

Independent registered public accounting firm

 

   Upon request
Rachor Investment Advisory   

DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio and DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio

 

   Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Monthly
TFC Financial Management   

DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio and DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio

 

   Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Monthly
Wilshire Associates   

DFA One-Year Fixed Income Series and DFA Short-Term Government Portfolio

 

   Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Quarterly
Wurts & Associates   

All Portfolios except DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio

 

   Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Monthly

In addition, certain employees of the Advisor and its subsidiaries receive Holdings Information on a quarterly, monthly or daily basis, or upon request, in order to perform their business functions. None of the Portfolios, the Advisor or any other party receives any compensation in connection with these arrangements.

The Policy includes the following procedures to ensure that disclosure of Holdings Information is in the best interests of shareholders, and to address any conflicts between the interests of shareholders, on the one hand, and the interests of the Advisor, DFAS or any affiliated person of the Fund, the Advisor or DFAS, on the other. In order to protect the interests of shareholders and the Portfolios, and to ensure no adverse effect on shareholders, in the limited circumstances where a Designated Person is considering making non-public Holdings Information available to a Recipient, the Advisor’s Director of Institutional Services and the Chief Compliance Officer will consider any conflicts of interest. If the Chief Compliance Officer, following appropriate due diligence, determines in his or her reasonable judgment that (1) the Portfolio has a legitimate business purpose for providing the non-public Holdings Information to a Recipient, and (2) disclosure of non-public Holdings Information to the Recipient would be in the interests of the shareholders and outweighs possible reasonably anticipated adverse effects, then the Chief Compliance Officer may approve the proposed disclosure.

The Chief Compliance Officer documents all disclosures of non-public Holdings Information (including the legitimate business purpose for the disclosure), and periodically reports to the Board on such arrangements. The Chief Compliance Officer is also responsible for ongoing monitoring of the distribution and use of non-public Holdings Information. Such arrangements are reviewed by the Chief Compliance Officer on an annual basis. Specifically, the Chief Compliance Officer requests an annual certification from each Recipient that the Recipient

 

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has complied with all terms contained in the Nondisclosure Agreement. Recipients who fail to provide the requested certifications are prohibited from receiving non-public Holdings Information.

The Board exercises continuing oversight of the disclosure of Holdings Information by: (1) overseeing the implementation and enforcement of the Policy by the Chief Compliance Officer of the Advisor and of the Fund; (2) considering reports and recommendations by the Chief Compliance Officer concerning the implementation of the Policy and any material compliance matters that may arise in connection with the Policy; and (3) considering whether to approve or ratify any amendments to the Policy. The Advisor and the Board reserve the right to amend the Policy at any time, and from time to time without prior notice, in their sole discretion.

Prohibitions on Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings and Receipt of Compensation.  No person is authorized to disclose Holdings Information or other investment positions (whether online at http://www.dimensional.com, in writing, by fax, by e-mail, orally or by other means) except in accordance with the Policy. In addition, no person is authorized to make disclosure pursuant to the Policy if such disclosure is otherwise in violation of the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws.

The Policy prohibits a Portfolio, the Advisor or an affiliate thereof from receiving any compensation or other consideration of any type for the purpose of obtaining disclosure of non-public Holdings Information or other investment positions. “Consideration” includes any agreement to maintain assets in the Portfolio or in other investment companies or accounts managed by the Advisor or by any affiliated person of the Advisor.

The Policy and its procedures are intended to provide useful information concerning the Portfolios to existing and prospective shareholders, while at the same time preventing the improper use of Holdings Information. However, there can be no assurance that the furnishing of any Holdings Information is not susceptible to inappropriate uses, particularly in the hands of sophisticated investors, or that the Holdings Information will not in fact be misused in other ways, beyond the control of the Advisor.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Two Commerce Square, Suite 1700, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042, is the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. PwC audits the Fund’s annual financial statements. The audited financial statements and financial highlights of the Portfolios for their fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, as set forth in the Fund’s annual reports to shareholders, including the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, are incorporated by reference into this SAI.

A shareholder may obtain a copy of the annual reports, upon request and without charge, by contacting the Funds at the address or telephone number appearing on the cover of this SAI.

PERFORMANCE DATA

The Portfolios may compare their investment performance to appropriate market and mutual fund indices and investments for which reliable performance data is available. Such indices are generally unmanaged and are prepared by entities and organizations which track the performance of investment companies or investment advisors. Unmanaged indices often do not reflect deductions for administrative and management costs and expenses. The performance of the Portfolios may also be compared in publications to averages, performance rankings, or other information prepared by recognized mutual fund statistical services. Any performance information, whether related to the Portfolios or to the Advisor, should be considered in light of a Portfolio’s investment objectives and policies, characteristics and the quality of the portfolio and market conditions during the time period indicated and should not be considered to be representative of what may be achieved in the future.

 

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APPENDIX

Concise Summary of 2011 U.S. Proxy Voting Guidelines

Effective for Meetings on or after January 3, 2011

In order to provide greater analysis on certain shareholder meetings, the Advisor has elected to receive research reports for certain meetings, as indicated below, from Glass Lewis in addition to Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”).

Specifically, if available, the Advisor may obtain research from Glass Lewis in addition to ISS for shareholder meetings in the following circumstances: (1) where the Advisor’s clients have a significant aggregate holding in the issuer and the meeting agenda contains proxies concerning: Anti-takeover Defenses or Voting Related Issues, Mergers and Acquisitions or Reorganizations or Restructurings, Capital Structure Issues, Compensation Issues or a proxy contest; or (2) where the Advisor in its discretion, has deemed that additional research is warranted.

Where research is obtained from Glass Lewis in accordance with these Guidelines, the Advisor will first review the research reports obtained from ISS and Glass Lewis. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are the same, the Advisor will vote accordingly. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are inconsistent, the Advisor will vote in accordance with the ISS recommendation unless the Corporate Governance Committee determines that voting in accordance with the Glass Lewis recommendation is more consistent with the principle of preserving shareholder value.

Routine/Miscellaneous

Auditor Ratification

Vote FOR proposals to ratify auditors, unless any of the following apply:

   

An auditor has a financial interest in or association with the company, and is therefore not independent;

   

There is reason to believe that the independent auditor has rendered an opinion which is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position;

   

Poor accounting practices are identified that rise to a serious level of concern, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP; and material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures; or

   

Fees for non-audit services (“Other” fees) are excessive.

Non-audit fees are excessive if:

   

Non-audit (“other”) fees >audit fees + audit-related fees + tax compliance/preparation fees

Board of Directors

Voting on Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections

Votes on director nominees should be determined CASE-BY-CASE.

Four fundamental principles apply when determining votes on director nominees:

  1.

Board Accountability

  2.

Board Responsiveness

  3.

Director Independence

  4.

Director Competence

 

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1.    Board Accountability

VOTE WITHHOLD/AGAINST1 the entire board of directors (except new nominees2, who should be considered CASE-BY-CASE), for the following:

Problematic Takeover Defenses:

   1.1. The board is classified, and a continuing director responsible for a problematic governance issue at the board/committee level that would warrant a withhold/against vote recommendation is not up for election — any or all appropriate nominees (except new) may be held accountable;

 

   1.2. The board lacks accountability and oversight, coupled with sustained poor performance relative to peers. Sustained poor performance is measured by one-and three-year total shareholder returns in the bottom half of a company’s four-digit GICS industry group (Russell 3000 companies only). Take into consideration the company’s five-year total shareholder return and five-year operational metrics. Problematic provisions include but are not limited to:
   

A classified board structure;

 

   

A supermajority vote requirement;

 

   

Majority vote standard for director elections with no carve out for contested elections;

 

   

The inability for shareholders to call special meetings;

 

   

The inability for shareholders to act by written consent;

 

   

A dual-class structure; and/or

 

   

A non-shareholder approved poison pill.

 

   1.3. The company’s poison pill has a “dead-hand” or “modified dead-hand” feature. Vote withhold/against every year until this feature is removed;
   1.4.

The board adopts a poison pill with a term of more than 12 months (“long-term pill”), or renews any existing pill, including any “short-term” pill (12 months or less), without shareholder approval. A commitment or policy that puts a newly-adopted pill to a binding shareholder vote may potentially offset an adverse vote

 

 

1 In general, companies with a plurality vote standard use “Withhold” as the valid contrary vote option in director elections; companies with a majority vote standard use “Against”. However, it will vary by company and the proxy must be checked to determine the valid contrary vote option for the particular company.

2 A “new nominee” is any current nominee who has not already been elected by shareholders and who joined the board after the problematic action in question transpired. If ISS cannot determine whether the nominee joined the board before or after the problematic action transpired, the nominee will be considered a “new nominee” if he or she joined the board within the 12 months prior to the upcoming shareholder meeting.

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recommendation. Review such companies with classified boards every year, and such companies with annually-elected boards at least once every three years, and vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD votes from all nominees if the company still maintains a non-shareholder-approved poison pill. This policy applies to all companies adopting or renewing pills after the announcement of this policy (Nov 19, 2009);

   1.5. The board makes a material adverse change to an existing poison pill without shareholder approval.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on all nominees if:

   1.6. the board adopts a poison pill with a term of 12 months or less (“short-term pill”) without shareholder approval, taking into account the following factors:
   

The date of the pill‘s adoption relative to the date of the next meeting of shareholders-i.e. whether the company had time to put the pill on ballot for shareholder ratification given the circumstances;

   

The issuer’s rationale;

   

The issuer’s governance structure and practices; and

   

The issuer’s track record of accountability to shareholders.

Problematic Audit-Related Practices

Generally, vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from the members of the Audit Committee if:

   1.7. The non-audit fees paid to the auditor are excessive (see discussion under “Auditor Ratification”);
   1.8. The company receives an adverse opinion on the company’s financial statements from its auditor; or
   1.9. There is persuasive evidence that the audit committee entered into an inappropriate indemnification agreement with its auditor that limits the ability of the company, or its shareholders, to pursue legitimate legal recourse against the audit firm.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on members of the Audit Committee and/or the full board if:

   1.10.           Poor accounting practices are identified that rise to a level of serious concern, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP; and material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures. Examine the severity, breadth, chronological sequence and duration, as well as the company’s efforts at remediation or corrective actions, in determining whether WITHHOLD/AGAINST votes are warranted.

Problematic Compensation Practices

Vote WITHHOLD/AGAINST the members of the Compensation Committee and potentially the full board if:

   1.11.           There is a negative correlation between chief executive pay and company performance (see Pay for Performance Policy);
   1.12.           The company reprices underwater options for stock, cash, or other consideration without prior shareholder approval, even if allowed in the company’s equity plan;
   1.13.           The company fails to submit one-time transfers of stock options to a shareholder vote;

 

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   1.14.

          The company fails to fulfill the terms of a burn rate commitment made to shareholders;

   1.15.

          The company has problematic pay practices. Problematic pay practices may warrant withholding votes from the CEO and potentially the entire board as well.

Governance Failures

Under extraordinary circumstances, vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from directors individually, committee members, or the entire board, due to:

   1.16.

          Material failures of governance, stewardship, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company;

   1.17.

          Failure to replace management as appropriate; or

   1.18.

          Egregious actions related to the director(s)’ service on other boards that raise substantial doubt about his or her ability to effectively oversee management and serve the best interests of shareholders at any company.

2.     Board Responsiveness

Vote WITHHOLD/AGAINST the entire board of directors (except new nominees, who should be considered CASE-BY-CASE), if:

   2.1.

The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received approval by a majority of the shares outstanding the previous year; or

 

   2.2.

The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received approval of the majority of shares cast in the last year and one of the two previous years.

 

   2.3.

The board failed to act on takeover offers where the majority of the shareholders tendered their shares; or

 

   2.4.

At the previous board election, any director received more than 50 percent withhold/against votes of the shares cast and the company has failed to address the issue(s) that caused the high withhold/against vote.

3.     Director Independence

Vote WITHHOLD/AGAINST Inside Directors and Affiliated Outside Directors (per the Categorization of Directors) when:

   3.1.

The inside or affiliated outside director serves on any of the three key committees: audit, compensation, or nominating;

 

   3.2.

The company lacks an audit, compensation, or nominating committee so that the full board functions as that committee;

 

   3.3.

The company lacks a formal nominating committee, even if the board attests that the independent directors fulfill the functions of such a committee; or

 

   3.4.

The full board is less than majority independent.

4.     Director Competence

VOTE WITHHOLD/AGAINST the entire board of directors (except new nominees, who should be considered CASE-BY-CASE), if:

 

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   4.1. The company’s proxy indicates that not all directors attended 75 percent of the aggregate board and committee meetings, but fails to provide the required disclosure of the names of the director(s) involved.

Generally vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from individual directors who:

   4.2. Attend less than 75 percent of the board and committee meetings (with the exception of new nominees). Acceptable reasons for director(s) absences are generally limited to the following:
   

Medical issues/illness;

   

Family emergencies; and

   

If the director’s total service was three meetings or fewer and the director missed only one meeting.

These reasons for directors' absences will only be considered by ISS if disclosed in the proxy or another SEC filing. If the disclosure is insufficient to determine whether a director attended at least 75 percent of board and committee meetings in aggregate, vote AGAINST/WITHHOLD from the director.

Vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from individual directors who:

   4.3. Sit on more than six public company boards3; or

 

   4.4. Are CEOs of public companies who sit on the boards of more than two public companies besides their own— withhold only at their outside boards.

Voting for Director Nominees in Contested Elections*

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on the election of directors in contested elections, considering the following factors:

 

   

Long-term financial performance of the target company relative to its industry;

   

Management’s track record;

   

Background to the proxy contest;

   

Qualifications of director nominees (both slates);

   

Strategic plan of dissident slate and quality of critique against management;

   

Likelihood that the proposed goals and objectives can be achieved (both slates);

   

Stock ownership positions.

Independent Chair (Separate Chair/CEO)

Generally vote FOR shareholder proposals requiring that the chairman’s position be filled by an independent director, unless the company satisfies all of the following criteria:

The company maintains the following counterbalancing governance structure:

 

   

Designated lead director, elected by and from the independent board members with clearly delineated and comprehensive duties. (The role may alternatively reside with a presiding director, vice chairman, or rotating lead director; however the director

 

 

3 Dimensional will screen votes otherwise subject to this policy based on the qualifications and circumstances of the directors involved.

* See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

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must serve a minimum of one year in order to qualify as a lead director.) The duties should include, but are not limited to, the following:

  - presides at all meetings of the board at which the chairman is not present, including executive sessions of the independent directors;

 

  - serves as liaison between the chairman and the independent directors;

 

  - approves information sent to the board;

 

  - approves meeting agendas for the board;

 

  - approves meeting schedules to assure that there is sufficient time for discussion of all agenda items;

 

  - has the authority to call meetings of the independent directors;

 

  - if requested by major shareholders, ensures that he is available for consultation and direct communication;

 

   

Two-thirds independent board;

   

All independent key committees;

   

Established governance guidelines;

   

A company in the Russell 3000 universe must not have exhibited sustained poor total shareholder return (TSR) performance, defined as one- and three-year TSR in the bottom half of the company’s four-digit GICS industry group (using Russell 3000 companies only), unless there has been a change in the Chairman/CEO position within that time. For companies not in the Russell 3000 universe, the company must not have underperformed both its peers and index on the basis of both one-year and three-year total shareholder returns, unless there has been a change in the Chairman/CEO position within that time;

   

The company does not have any problematic governance or management issues, examples of which include, but are not limited to:

  - Egregious compensation practices;

 

  - Multiple related-party transactions or other issues putting director independence at risk;

 

  - Corporate and/or management scandals;

 

  - Excessive problematic corporate governance provisions; or

 

  - Flagrant actions by management or the board with potential or realized negative impacts on shareholders.

Shareholder Rights & Defenses*

Net Operating Loss (NOL) Protective Amendments

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt a protective amendment for the stated purpose of protecting a company's net operating losses (“NOLs”) if the effective term of the protective amendment would exceed the shorter of three years and the exhaustion of the NOL.

 

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Vote CASE-BY-CASE, considering the following factors, for management proposals to adopt an NOL protective amendment that would remain in effect for the shorter of three years (or less) and the exhaustion of the NOL:

   

The ownership threshold (NOL protective amendments generally prohibit stock ownership transfers that would result in a new 5-percent holder or increase the stock ownership percentage of an existing 5-percent holder);

   

The value of the NOLs;

   

Shareholder protection mechanisms (sunset provision or commitment to cause expiration of the protective amendment upon exhaustion or expiration of the NOL);

   

The company’s existing governance structure including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, track record of responsiveness to shareholders, and any other problematic governance concerns; and

   

Any other factors that may be applicable.

Poison Pills- Management Proposals to Ratify Poison Pill

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on management proposals on poison pill ratification, focusing on the features of the shareholder rights plan. Rights plans should contain the following attributes:

   

No lower than a 20% trigger, flip-in or flip-over;

   

A term of no more than three years;

   

No dead-hand, slow-hand, no-hand or similar feature that limits the ability of a future board to redeem the pill;

   

Shareholder redemption feature (qualifying offer clause); if the board refuses to redeem the pill 90 days after a qualifying offer is announced, 10 percent of the shares may call a special meeting or seek a written consent to vote on rescinding the pill.

In addition, the rationale for adopting the pill should be thoroughly explained by the company. In examining the request for the pill, take into consideration the company’s existing governance structure, including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, and any problematic governance concerns.

Poison Pills- Management Proposals to Ratify a Pill to Preserve Net Operating Losses (NOLs)

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt a poison pill for the stated purpose of protecting a company’s net operating losses (“NOLs”) if the term of the pill would exceed the shorter of three years and the exhaustion of the NOL.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on management proposals for poison pill ratification, considering the following factors, if the term of the pill would be the shorter of three years (or less) and the exhaustion of the NOL:

   

The ownership threshold to transfer (NOL pills generally have a trigger slightly below 5 percent);

   

The value of the NOLs;

   

Shareholder protection mechanisms (sunset provision, or commitment to cause expiration of the pill upon exhaustion or expiration of NOLs);

   

The company’s existing governance structure including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, track record of responsiveness to shareholders, and any other problematic governance concerns; and

   

Any other factors that may be applicable.

 

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Shareholder Ability to Act by Written Consent

Generally vote AGAINST management and shareholder proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholders’ ability to act by written consent.

Generally vote FOR management and shareholder proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to act by written consent, taking into account the following factors:

   

Shareholders’ current right to act by written consent;

   

The consent threshold;

   

The inclusion of exclusionary or prohibitive language;

   

Investor ownership structure; and

   

Shareholder support of, and management’s response to, previous shareholder proposals.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals if, in addition to the considerations above, the company has the following governance and antitakeover provisions:

   

An unfettered4 right for shareholders to call special meetings at a 10 percent threshold;

   

A majority vote standard in uncontested director elections;

   

No non-shareholder-approved pill; and

   

An annually elected board.

Shareholder Ability to Call Special Meetings

Vote AGAINST management or shareholder proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholders’ ability to call special meetings.

Generally vote FOR management or shareholder proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to call special meetings taking into account the following factors:

   

Shareholders’ current right to call special meetings;

   

Minimum ownership threshold necessary to call special meetings (10% preferred);

   

The inclusion of exclusionary or prohibitive language;

   

Investor ownership structure; and

   

Shareholder support of, and management’s response to, previous shareholder proposals.

CAPITAL/RESTRUCTURING*

Common Stock Authorization

Vote FOR proposals to increase the number of authorized common shares where the primary purpose of the increase is to issue shares in connection with a transaction on the same ballot that warrants support.

 

 

4

“Unfettered” means no restrictions on agenda items, no restrictions on the number of shareholders who can group together to reach the 10 percent threshold, and only reasonable limits on when a meeting can be called: no greater than 30 days after the last annual meeting and no greater than 90 prior to the next annual meeting.

 

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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Vote AGAINST proposals at companies with more than one class of common stock to increase the number of authorized shares of the class of common stock that has superior voting rights.

Vote AGAINST proposals to increase the number of authorized common shares if a vote for a reverse stock split on the same ballot is warranted despite the fact that the authorized shares would not be reduced proportionally.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on all other proposals to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance. Take into account company-specific factors that include, at a minimum, the following:

   

Past Board Performance:

  o

The company’s use of authorized shares during the last three years

   

The Current Request:

  o

Disclosure in the proxy statement of the specific purposes of the proposed increase;

  o Disclosure in the proxy statement of specific and severe risks to shareholders of not approving the request; and
  o The dilutive impact of the request as determined by an allowable increase calculated by ISS (typically 100 percent of existing authorized shares) that reflects the company’s need for shares and total shareholder returns.

Preferred Stock Authorization

Vote FOR proposals to increase the number of authorized preferred shares where the primary purpose of the increase is to issue shares in connection with a transaction on the same ballot that warrants support.

Vote AGAINST proposals at companies with more than one class or series of preferred stock to increase the number of authorized shares of the class or series of preferred stock that has superior voting rights.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on all other proposals to increase the number of shares of preferred stock authorized for issuance. Take into account company-specific factors that include, at a minimum, the following:

   

Past Board Performance:

  o The company’s use of authorized preferred shares during the last three years;
   

The Current Request:

  o Disclosure in the proxy statement of the specific purposes for the proposed increase;
  o Disclosure in the proxy statement of specific and severe risks to shareholders of not approving the request;
  o In cases where the company has existing authorized preferred stock, the dilutive impact of the request as determined by an allowable increase calculated by ISS (typically 100 percent of existing authorized shares) that reflects the company’s need for shares and total shareholder returns; and
  o Whether the shares requested are blank check preferred shares that can be used for antitakeover purposes.

Mergers and Acquisitions

 

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Vote CASE –BY- CASE on mergers and acquisitions. Review and evaluate the merits and drawbacks of the proposed transaction, balancing various and sometimes countervailing factors including:

   

Valuation - Is the value to be received by the target shareholders (or paid by the acquirer) reasonable? While the fairness opinion may provide an initial starting point for assessing valuation reasonableness, emphasis is placed on the offer premium, market reaction and strategic rationale.

   

Market reaction - How has the market responded to the proposed deal? A negative market reaction should cause closer scrutiny of a deal.

   

Strategic rationale - Does the deal make sense strategically? From where is the value derived? Cost and revenue synergies should not be overly aggressive or optimistic, but reasonably achievable. Management should also have a favorable track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions.

   

Negotiations and process - Were the terms of the transaction negotiated at arm’s-length? Was the process fair and equitable? A fair process helps to ensure the best price for shareholders. Significant negotiation “wins” can also signify the deal makers’ competency. The comprehensiveness of the sales process (e.g., full auction, partial auction, no auction) can also affect shareholder value.

   

Conflicts of interest - Are insiders benefiting from the transaction disproportionately and inappropriately as compared to non-insider shareholders? As the result of potential conflicts, the directors and officers of the company may be more likely to vote to approve a merger than if they did not hold these interests. Consider whether these interests may have influenced these directors and officers to support or recommend the merger. The CIC figure presented in the “ISS Transaction Summary” section of this report is an aggregate figure that can in certain cases be a misleading indicator of the true value transfer from shareholders to insiders. Where such figure appears to be excessive, analyze the underlying assumptions to determine whether a potential conflict exists.

   

Governance - Will the combined company have a better or worse governance profile than the current governance profiles of the respective parties to the transaction? If the governance profile is to change for the worse, the burden is on the company to prove that other issues (such as valuation) outweigh any deterioration in governance.

COMPENSATION*

Executive Pay Evaluation

Underlying all evaluations are five global principles that most investors expect corporations to adhere to in designing and administering executive and director compensation programs:

 

  1.

Maintain appropriate pay-for-performance alignment, with emphasis on long-term shareholder value: This principle encompasses overall executive pay practices,

 

 

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

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which must be designed to attract, retain, and appropriately motivate the key employees who drive shareholder value creation over the long term. It will take into consideration, among other factors, the link between pay and performance; the mix between fixed and variable pay; performance goals; and equity-based plan costs;

  2. Avoid arrangements that risk “pay for failure”: This principle addresses the appropriateness of long or indefinite contracts, excessive severance packages, and guaranteed compensation;
  3. Maintain an independent and effective compensation committee: This principle promotes oversight of executive pay programs by directors with appropriate skills, knowledge, experience, and a sound process for compensation decision-making (e.g., including access to independent expertise and advice when needed);
  4. Provide shareholders with clear, comprehensive compensation disclosures: This principle underscores the importance of informative and timely disclosures that enable shareholders to evaluate executive pay practices fully and fairly;
  5. Avoid inappropriate pay to non-executive directors: This principle recognizes the interests of shareholders in ensuring that compensation to outside directors does not compromise their independence and ability to make appropriate judgments in overseeing managers’ pay and performance. At the market level, it may incorporate a variety of generally accepted best practices.

Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation- Management Proposals (Management Say-on-Pay)

Evaluate executive pay and practices, as well as certain aspects of outside director compensation CASE-BY-CASE.

Vote AGAINST management say on pay (MSOP) proposals, AGAINST/WITHHOLD on compensation committee members (or, in rare cases where the full board is deemed responsible, all directors including the CEO), and/or AGAINST an equity-based incentive plan proposal if:

 

   

There is a misalignment between CEO pay and company performance (pay for performance);

   

The company maintains problematic pay practices;

   

The board exhibits poor communication and responsiveness to shareholders.

Voting Alternatives

In general, the management say on pay (MSOP) ballot item is the primary focus of voting on executive pay practices— dissatisfaction with compensation practices can be expressed by voting against MSOP rather than withholding or voting against the compensation committee. However, if there is no MSOP on the ballot, then the negative vote will apply to members of the compensation committee. In addition, in egregious cases, or if the board fails to respond to concerns raised by a prior MSOP proposal, then vote withhold or against compensation committee members (or, if the full board is deemed accountable, all directors). If the negative factors involve equity-based compensation, then vote AGAINST an equity-based plan proposal presented for shareholder approval.

Additional CASE-BY-CASE considerations for the management say on pay (MSOP) proposals:

   

Evaluation of performance metrics in short-term and long-term plans, as discussed and explained in the Compensation Discussion & Analysis (CD&A). Consider the measures, goals, and target awards reported by the company for executives’ short- and long-term incentive awards: disclosure, explanation of their alignment with the

 

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company’s business strategy, and whether goals appear to be sufficiently challenging in relation to resulting payouts;

   

Evaluation of peer group benchmarking used to set target pay or award opportunities. Consider the rationale stated by the company for constituents in its pay benchmarking peer group, as well as the benchmark targets it uses to set or validate executives’ pay (e.g., median, 75th percentile, etc.,) to ascertain whether the benchmarking process is sound or may result in pay “ratcheting” due to inappropriate peer group constituents (e.g., much larger companies) or targeting (e.g., above median); and

   

Balance of performance-based versus non-performance-based pay. Consider the ratio of performance-based (not including plain vanilla stock options) vs. non-performance-based pay elements reported for the CEO’s latest reported fiscal year compensation, especially in conjunction with concerns about other factors such as performance metrics/goals, benchmarking practices, and pay-for-performance disconnects.

Primary Evaluation Factors for Executive Pay

Pay for Performance

Evaluate the alignment of the CEO’s pay with performance over time, focusing particularly on companies that have underperformed their peers over a sustained period. From a shareholders’ perspective, performance is predominantly gauged by the company’s stock performance over time. Even when financial or operational measures are utilized in incentive awards, the achievement related to these measures should ultimately translate into superior shareholder returns in the long-term.

Focus on companies with sustained underperformance relative to peers, considering the following key factors:

   

Whether a company’s one-year and three-year total shareholder returns (“TSR”) are in the bottom half of its industry group (i.e., four-digit GICS – Global Industry Classification Group); and

   

Whether the total compensation of a CEO who has served at least two consecutive fiscal years is aligned with the company’s total shareholder return over time, including both recent and long-term periods.

If a company falls in the bottom half of its four-digit GICS, further analysis of the CD&A is required to better understand the various pay elements and whether they create or reinforce shareholder alignment. Also assess the CEO’s pay relative to the company’s TSR over a time horizon of at least five years. The most recent year-over-year increase or decrease in pay remains a key consideration, but there will be additional emphasis on the long term trend of CEO total compensation relative to shareholder return. Also consider the mix of performance-based compensation relative to total compensation. In general, standard stock options or time-vested restricted stock are not considered to be performance-based. If a company provides performance-based incentives to its executives, the company is highly encouraged to provide the complete disclosure of the performance measure and goals (hurdle rate) so that shareholders can assess the rigor of the performance program. The use of non-GAAP financial metrics also makes it very challenging for shareholders to ascertain the rigor of the program as shareholders often

 

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cannot tell the type of adjustments being made and if the adjustments were made consistently. Complete and transparent disclosure helps shareholders to better understand the company’s pay for performance linkage.

Problematic Pay Practices

If the company maintains problematic pay practices, generally vote:

   

AGAINST management “say on pay” (MSOP) proposals;

   

AGAINST/WITHHOLD on compensation committee members (or in rare cases where the full board is deemed responsible, all directors including the CEO):

  o In egregious situations;
  o When no MSOP item is on the ballot; or
  o When the board has failed to respond to concerns raised in prior MSOP evaluations; and/or
   

AGAINST an equity incentive plan proposal if excessive non-performance-based equity awards are the major contributors to a pay-for-performance misalignment.

The focus is on executive compensation practices that contravene the global pay principles, including:

 

   

Problematic practices related to non-performance-based compensation elements;

   

Incentives that may motivate excessive risk-taking; and

   

Options Backdating.

Problematic Pay Practices related to Non-Performance-Based Compensation Elements

Pay elements that are not directly based on performance are generally evaluated CASE-BY-CASE considering the context of a company’s overall pay program and demonstrated pay-for-performance philosophy. Please refer to ISS’ Compensation FAQ document for detail on specific pay practices that have been identified as potentially problematic and may lead to negative recommendations if they are deemed to be inappropriate or unjustified relative to executive pay best practices. The list below highlights the problematic practices that carry significant weight in this overall consideration and may result in adverse vote recommendations:

   

Repricing or replacing of underwater stock options/SARS without prior shareholder approval (including cash buyouts and voluntary surrender of underwater options);

   

Excessive perquisites or tax gross-ups, including any gross-up related to a secular trust or restricted stock vesting;

   

New or extended agreements that provide for:

  o CIC payments exceeding 3 times base salary and average/target/most recent bonus;
  o CIC severance payments without involuntary job loss or substantial diminution of duties (“single” or “modified single” triggers);
  o CIC payments with excise tax gross-ups (including “modified” gross-ups).

Incentives that may Motivate Excessive Risk-Taking

 

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Assess company policies and disclosure related to compensation that could incentivize excessive risk-taking, for example:

   

Multi-year guaranteed bonuses;

   

A single performance metric used for short- and long-term plans;

   

Lucrative severance packages;

   

High pay opportunities relative to industry peers;

   

Disproportionate supplemental pensions; or

   

Mega annual equity grants that provide unlimited upside with no downside risk.

Factors that potentially mitigate the impact of risky incentives include rigorous claw-back provisions and robust stock ownership/holding guidelines.

Options Backdating

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on options backdating issues. Generally, when a company has recently practiced options backdating, WITHHOLD from or vote AGAINST the compensation committee, depending on the severity of the practices and the subsequent corrective actions on the part of the board. When deciding on votes on compensation committee members who oversaw questionable options grant practices or current compensation committee members who fail to respond to the issue proactively, consider several factors, including, but not limited to, the following:

   

Reason and motive for the options backdating issue, such as inadvertent vs. deliberate grant date changes;

   

Duration of options backdating;

   

Size of restatement due to options backdating;

   

Corrective actions taken by the board or compensation committee, such as canceling or re-pricing backdated options, the recouping of option gains on backdated grants; and

   

Adoption of a grant policy that prohibits backdating, and creates a fixed grant schedule or window period for equity grants in the future.

A CASE-BY-CASE analysis approach allows distinctions to be made between companies that had “sloppy” plan administration versus those that acted deliberately and/or committed fraud, as well as those companies that subsequently took corrective action. Cases where companies have committed fraud are considered most egregious.

Board Communications and Responsiveness

Consider the following factors CASE-BY-CASE when evaluating ballot items related to executive pay:

   

Poor disclosure practices, including:

  - Unclear explanation of how the CEO is involved in the pay setting process;
  - Retrospective performance targets and methodology not discussed;
  - Methodology for benchmarking practices and/or peer group not disclosed and explained.
   

Board’s responsiveness to investor input and engagement on compensation issues, for example:

  -

Failure to respond to majority-supported shareholder proposals on executive pay topics; or

 

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  - Failure to respond to concerns raised in connection with significant opposition to MSOP proposals.

Frequency of Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation (Management “Say on Pay”)

Vote FOR annual advisory votes on compensation, which provide the most consistent and clear communication channel for shareholder concerns about companies’ executive pay programs.

Voting on Golden Parachutes in an Acquisition, Merger, Consolidation, or Proposed Sale

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to approve the company’s golden parachute compensation, consistent with ISS’ policies on problematic pay practices related to severance packages. Features that may lead to a vote AGAINST include:

  Recently adopted or materially amended agreements that include excise tax gross-up provisions (since prior annual meeting);
  Recently adopted or materially amended agreements that include modified single triggers (since prior annual meeting);
  Single trigger payments that will happen immediately upon a change in control, including cash payment and such items as the acceleration of performance-based equity despite the failure to achieve performance measures;
  Single-trigger vesting of equity based on a definition of change in control that requires only shareholder approval of the transaction (rather than consummation);
  Potentially excessive severance payments;
  Recent amendments or other changes that may make packages so attractive as to influence merger agreements that may not be in the best interests of shareholders;
  In the case of a substantial gross-up from pre-existing/grandfathered contract: the element that triggered the gross-up (i.e., option mega-grants at low point in stock price, unusual or outsized payments in cash or equity made or negotiated prior to the merger); or
  The company’s assertion that a proposed transaction is conditioned on shareholder approval of the golden parachute advisory vote. ISS would view this as problematic from a corporate governance perspective.

In cases where the golden parachute vote is incorporated into a company’s separate advisory vote on compensation (“management “say on pay”), ISS will evaluate the “say on pay” proposal in accordance with these guidelines, which may give higher weight to that component of the overall evaluation.

Equity-Based and Other Incentive Plans

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on equity-based compensation plans. Vote AGAINST the equity plan if any of the following factors apply:

  The total cost of the company’s equity plans is unreasonable;
  The plan expressly permits the repricing of stock options/stock appreciate rights (SARs) without prior shareholder approval;
  The CEO is a participant in the proposed equity-based compensation plan and there is a disconnect between CEO pay and the company’s performance where over 50 percent of the year-over-year increase is attributed to equity awards (see Pay-for-Performance);

 

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  The company’s three year burn rate exceeds the greater of 2% or the mean plus one standard deviation of its industry group but no more than two percentage points (+/-) from the prior-year industry group cap;
  Liberal Change of Control Definition: The plan provides for the acceleration of vesting of equity awards even though an actual change in control may not occur (e.g., upon shareholder approval of a transaction or the announcement of a tender offer); or
  The plan is a vehicle for problematic pay practices.

Shareholder Proposals on Compensation

Golden Coffins/Executive Death Benefits

Generally vote FOR proposals calling companies to adopt a policy of obtaining shareholder approval for any future agreements and corporate policies that could oblige the company to make payments or awards following the death of a senior executive in the form of unearned salary or bonuses, accelerated vesting or the continuation in force of unvested equity grants, perquisites and other payments or awards made in lieu of compensation. This would not apply to any benefit programs or equity plan proposals that the broad-based employee population is eligible.

Hold Equity Past Retirement or for a Significant Period of Time

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals asking companies to adopt policies requiring senior executive officers to retain all or a significant portion of the shares acquired through compensation plans, either:

  while employed and/or for two years following the termination of their employment ; or
  for a substantial period following the lapse of all other vesting requirements for the award (“lock-up period”), with ratable release of a portion of the shares annually during the lock-up period.

The following factors will be taken into account:

  Whether the company has any holding period, retention ratio, or officer ownership requirements in place. These should consist of:
  - Rigorous stock ownership guidelines;
  - A holding period requirement coupled with a significant long-term ownership requirement; or
  - A meaningful retention ratio;
  Actual officer stock ownership and the degree to which it meets or exceeds the proponent’s suggested holding period/retention ratio or the company’s own stock ownership or retention requirements;
  Post-termination holding requirement policies or any policies aimed at mitigating risk taking by senior executives;
  Problematic pay practices, current and past, which may promote a short-term versus a long-term focus.

A rigorous stock ownership guideline should be at least 10x base salary for the CEO, with the multiple declining for other executives. A meaningful retention ratio should constitute at least 50 percent of the stock received from equity awards (on a net proceeds basis) held on a long-term

 

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basis, such as the executive’s tenure with the company or even a few years past the executive’s termination with the company.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals asking companies to adopt policies requiring Named Executive Officers to retain 75% of the shares acquired through compensation plans while employed and/or for two years following the termination of their employment, and to report to shareholders regarding this policy. The following factors will be taken into account:

  Whether the company has any holding period, retention ratio, or officer ownership requirements in place. These should consist of:
  - Rigorous stock ownership guidelines, or

 

  - A holding period requirement coupled with a significant long-term ownership requirement, or

 

  - A meaningful retention ratio,

 

  Actual officer stock ownership and the degree to which it meets or exceeds the proponent’s suggested holding period/retention ratio or the company’s own stock ownership or retention requirements.
  Problematic pay practices, current and past, which may promote a short-term versus a long-term focus.

A rigorous stock ownership guideline should be at least 10x base salary for the CEO, with the multiple declining for other executives. A meaningful retention ratio should constitute at least 50 percent of the stock received from equity awards (on a net proceeds basis) held on a long-term basis, such as the executive’s tenure with the company or even a few years past the executive’s termination with the company.

Generally vote AGAINST shareholder proposals that mandate a minimum amount of stock that directors must own in order to qualify as a director or to remain on the board. While ISS favors stock ownership on the part of directors, the company should determine the appropriate ownership requirement.

Social/Environmental Issues

Overall Approach

Generally vote FOR the management’s recommendation on shareholder proposals involving social/environmental issues. When evaluating social and environmental shareholder proposals, Dimensional considers the most important factor to be whether adoption of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value.

 

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2011 International Proxy Voting Guidelines Summary

Effective for Meetings on or after January 3, 2011

In order to provide greater analysis on certain shareholder meetings, the Advisor has elected to receive research reports for certain meetings, as indicated below, from Glass Lewis in addition to Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”).

Specifically, if available, the Advisor may obtain research from Glass Lewis in addition to ISS for shareholder meetings in the following circumstances: (1) where the Advisor’s clients have a significant aggregate holding in the issuer and the meeting agenda contains proxies concerning: Anti-takeover Defenses or Voting Related Issues, Mergers and Acquisitions or Reorganizations or Restructurings, Capital Structure Issues, Compensation Issues or a proxy contest; or (2) where the Advisor in its discretion, has deemed that additional research is warranted.

Where research is obtained from Glass Lewis in accordance with these Guidelines, the Advisor will first review the research reports obtained from ISS and Glass Lewis. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are the same, the Advisor will vote accordingly. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are inconsistent, the Advisor will vote in accordance with the ISS recommendation unless the Corporate Governance Committee determines that voting in accordance with the Glass Lewis recommendation is more consistent with the principle of preserving shareholder value.

1. Operational Items

Financial Results/Director and Auditor Reports

Vote FOR approval of financial statements and director and auditor reports, unless:

 

  There are concerns about the accounts presented or audit procedures used; or

 

  The company is not responsive to shareholder questions about specific items that should be publicly disclosed.

Appointment of Auditors and Auditor Fees

Vote FOR the (re)election of auditors and/or proposals authorizing the board to fix auditor fees, unless:

 

  There are serious concerns about the procedures used by the auditor;
  There is reason to believe that the auditor has rendered an opinion which is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position;
  External auditors have previously served the company in an executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company;
  Name of the proposed auditors has not been published;
  The auditors are being changed without explanation; or
  Fees for non-audit services exceed standard annual audit-related fees (only applies to companies on the MSCI EAFE index and/or listed on any country main index).

In circumstances where fees for non-audit services include fees related to significant one-time capital structure events (initial public offerings, bankruptcy emergencies, and spin-offs) and the company makes public disclosure of the amount and nature of those fees, which are an exception to the standard “non-audit fee” category, then such fees may be excluded from the non-audit fees considered in determining the ratio of non-audit to audit fees.

 

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For concerns related to the audit procedures, independence of auditors, and/or name of auditors, ISS may recommend AGAINST the auditor (re)election. For concerns related to fees paid to the auditors, ISS may recommend AGAINST remuneration of auditors if this is a separate voting item; otherwise ISS may recommend AGAINST the auditor election.

Appointment of Internal Statutory Auditors

Vote FOR the appointment or (re)election of statutory auditors, unless:

 

   

There are serious concerns about the statutory reports presented or the audit procedures used;

 

   

Questions exist concerning any of the statutory auditors being appointed; or

 

   

The auditors have previously served the company in an executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company.

Allocation of Income

Vote FOR approval of the allocation of income, unless:

   

The dividend payout ratio has been consistently below 30 percent without adequate explanation; or

   

The payout is excessive given the company’s financial position.

Amendments to Articles of Association

Vote amendments to the articles of association on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Change in Company Fiscal Term

Vote FOR resolutions to change a company’s fiscal term unless a company’s motivation for the change is to postpone its AGM.

Lower Disclosure Threshold for Stock Ownership

Vote AGAINST resolutions to lower the stock ownership disclosure threshold below 5 percent unless specific reasons exist to implement a lower threshold.

Amend Quorum Requirements

Vote proposals to amend quorum requirements for shareholder meetings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Transact Other Business

Vote AGAINST other business when it appears as a voting item.

2. Board of Directors

Director Elections

Vote FOR management nominees in the election of directors, unless:

 

   

Adequate disclosure has not been provided in a timely manner;

 

   

There are clear concerns over questionable finances or restatements;

 

   

There have been questionable transactions with conflicts of interest;

 

   

There are any records of abuses against minority shareholder interests; or

 

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The board fails to meet minimum corporate governance standards.

Vote FOR individual nominees unless there are specific concerns about the individual, such as criminal wrongdoing or breach of fiduciary responsibilities.

Vote AGAINST individual directors if repeated absences at board meetings have not been explained (in countries where this information is disclosed).

Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis for contested elections of directors, e.g. the election of shareholder nominees or the dismissal of incumbent directors, determining which directors are best suited to add value for shareholders. *

Vote FOR employee and/or labor representatives if they sit on either the audit or compensation committee and are required by law to be on those committees. * Vote AGAINST employee and/or labor representatives if they sit on either the audit or compensation committee, if they are not required to be on those committees. *

Under extraordinary circumstances, vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from directors individually, on a committee, or the entire board, due to:

 

   

Material failures of governance, stewardship, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company; or

 

   

Failure to replace management as appropriate; or

 

   

Egregious actions related to the director(s)’ service on other boards that raise substantial doubt about his or her ability to effectively oversee management and serve the best interests of shareholders at any company.

[Please see the ISS International Classification of Directors.]

 

* See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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ISS Classification of Directors - International Policy 2011

 

Executive Director

 

   

Employee or executive of the company;

 

   

Any director who is classified as a non-executive, but receives salary, fees, bonus, and/or other benefits that are in line with the highest-paid executives of the company.

Non-Independent Non-Executive Director (NED)

 

   

Any director who is attested by the board to be a non-independent NED;

 

   

Any director specifically designated as a representative of a significant shareholder of the company;

 

   

Any director who is also an employee or executive of a significant shareholder of the company;

 

   

Any director who is nominated by a dissenting significant shareholder, unless there is a clear lack of material[5] connection with the dissident, either currently or historically;

 

   

Beneficial owner (direct or indirect) of at least 10% of the company's stock, either in economic terms or in voting rights (this may be aggregated if voting power is distributed among more than one member of a defined group, e.g., family members who beneficially own less than 10% individually, but collectively own more than 10%), unless market best practice dictates a lower ownership and/or disclosure threshold (and in other special market-specific circumstances);

 

   

Government representative;

 

   

Currently provides (or a relative[1] provides) professional services[2] to the company, to an affiliate of the company, or to an individual officer of the company or of one of its affiliates in excess of $10,000 per year;

 

   

Represents customer, supplier, creditor, banker, or other entity with which company maintains transactional/commercial relationship (unless company discloses information to apply a materiality test[3]);

 

   

Any director who has conflicting or cross-directorships with executive directors or the chairman of the company;

 

   

Relative[1] of a current employee of the company or its affiliates;

 

   

Relative[1] of a former executive of the company or its affiliates;

 

   

A new appointee elected other than by a formal process through the General Meeting (such as a contractual appointment by a substantial shareholder);

 

   

Founder/co-founder/member of founding family but not currently an employee;

 

   

Former executive (5 year cooling off period);

 

   

Years of service is generally not a determining factor unless it is recommended best practice in a market and/or in extreme circumstances, in which case it may be considered.[4]

 

   

Any additional relationship or principle considered to compromise independence under local corporate governance best practice guidance.

Independent NED

 

   

No material[5] connection, either directly or indirectly, to the company (other than a board seat) or the dissenting significant shareholder.

Employee Representative

 

   

Represents employees or employee shareholders of the company (classified as “employee representative” but considered a non-independent NED).

Footnotes:

[1] “Relative” follows the definition of “immediate family members” which covers spouses, parents, children, stepparents, step-children, siblings, in-laws, and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of any director, nominee for director, executive officer, or significant shareholder of the company.

[2] Professional services can be characterized as advisory in nature and generally include the following: investment banking/financial advisory services; commercial banking (beyond deposit services); investment services; insurance services; accounting/audit services; consulting services; marketing services; and legal services. The case of participation in a banking syndicate by a non-lead bank should be considered a transaction (and hence subject to the associated materiality test) rather than a professional relationship.

[3] A business relationship may be material if the transaction value (of all outstanding transactions) entered into between the company and the company or organization with which the director is associated is equivalent to either 1 percent of the company's turnover or 1 percent of the turnover of the company or organization with which the director is associated. OR, A business relationship may be material if the transaction value (of all outstanding financing operations) entered into between the company and the company or organization with which the director is associated is more than 10 percent of the company's shareholder equity or the transaction value, (of all outstanding financing operations), compared to the company's total assets, is more than 5 percent.

 

 

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[4] For example, in continental Europe, directors with a tenure exceeding 12 years will be considered non-independent. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, directors with a tenure exceeding nine years will be considered non-independent, unless the company provides sufficient and clear justification that the director is independent despite his long tenure.

[5] For purposes of ISS’ director independence classification, “material” will be defined as a standard of relationship financial, personal or otherwise that a reasonable person might conclude could potentially influence one’s objectivity in the boardroom in a manner that would have a meaningful impact on an individual's ability to satisfy requisite fiduciary standards on behalf of shareholders.

Contested Director Elections*

For contested elections of directors, e.g. the election of shareholder nominees or the dismissal of incumbent directors, ISS will make its recommendation on a case-by-case basis, determining which directors are best suited to add value for shareholders.

The analysis will generally be based on, but not limited to, the following major decision factors:

   

Company performance relative to its peers;

   

Strategy of the incumbents versus the dissidents;

   

Independence of directors/nominees;

   

Experience and skills of board candidates;

   

Governance profile of the company;

   

Evidence of management entrenchment;

   

Responsiveness to shareholders;

   

Whether a takeover offer has been rebuffed;

   

Whether minority or majority representation is being sought.

When analyzing a contested election of directors, ISS will generally focus on two central questions: (1) Have the dissidents proved that board change is warranted? And (2) if so, are the dissident board nominees likely to effect positive change (i.e., maximize long-term shareholder value).

Discharge of Directors

Generally vote FOR the discharge of directors, including members of the management board and/or supervisory board, unless there is reliable information about significant and compelling controversies that the board is not fulfilling its fiduciary duties warranted by:

 

   

A lack of oversight or actions by board members which invoke shareholder distrust related to malfeasance or poor supervision, such as operating in private or company interest rather than in shareholder interest; or

 

   

Any legal issues (e.g. civil/criminal) aiming to hold the board responsible for breach of trust in the past or related to currently alleged actions yet to be confirmed (and not only the fiscal year in question), such as price fixing, insider trading, bribery, fraud, and other illegal actions; or

 

   

Other egregious governance issues where shareholders will bring legal action against the company or its directors.

For markets which do not routinely request discharge resolutions (e.g. common law countries or markets where discharge is not mandatory), analysts may voice concern in other appropriate

 

 

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

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agenda items, such as approval of the annual accounts or other relevant resolutions, to enable shareholders to express discontent with the board.

Director, Officer, and Auditor Indemnification and Liability Provisions

Vote proposals seeking indemnification and liability protection for directors and officers on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote AGAINST proposals to indemnify external auditors.

Board Structure

Vote FOR proposals to fix board size.

Vote AGAINST the introduction of classified boards and mandatory retirement ages for directors.

Vote AGAINST proposals to alter board structure or size in the context of a fight for control of the company or the board.

3. Capital Structure*

Share Issuance Requests

General Issuances

Vote FOR issuance requests with preemptive rights to a maximum of 100 percent over currently issued capital.

Vote FOR issuance requests without preemptive rights to a maximum of 20 percent of currently issued capital.

Specific Issuances

Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on all requests, with or without preemptive rights.

Increases in Authorized Capital

Vote FOR non-specific proposals to increase authorized capital up to 100 percent over the current authorization unless the increase would leave the company with less than 30 percent of its new authorization outstanding.

Vote FOR specific proposals to increase authorized capital to any amount, unless:

 

   

The specific purpose of the increase (such as a share-based acquisition or merger) does not meet ISS guidelines for the purpose being proposed; or

 

   

The increase would leave the company with less than 30 percent of its new authorization outstanding after adjusting for all proposed issuances.

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt unlimited capital authorizations.

Reduction of Capital

Vote FOR proposals to reduce capital for routine accounting purposes unless the terms are unfavorable to shareholders.

 

 

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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Vote proposals to reduce capital in connection with corporate restructuring on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Capital Structures

Vote FOR resolutions that seek to maintain or convert to a one-share, one-vote capital structure.

Vote AGAINST requests for the creation or continuation of dual-class capital structures or the creation of new or additional super voting shares.

Preferred Stock

Vote FOR the creation of a new class of preferred stock or for issuances of preferred stock up to 50 percent of issued capital unless the terms of the preferred stock would adversely affect the rights of existing shareholders.

Vote FOR the creation/issuance of convertible preferred stock as long as the maximum number of common shares that could be issued upon conversion meets ISS guidelines on equity issuance requests.

Vote AGAINST the creation of a new class of preference shares that would carry superior voting rights to the common shares.

Vote AGAINST the creation of blank check preferred stock unless the board clearly states that the authorization will not be used to thwart a takeover bid.

Vote proposals to increase blank check preferred authorizations on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Debt Issuance Requests

Vote non-convertible debt issuance requests on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, with or without preemptive rights.

Vote FOR the creation/issuance of convertible debt instruments as long as the maximum number of common shares that could be issued upon conversion meets ISS guidelines on equity issuance requests.

Vote FOR proposals to restructure existing debt arrangements unless the terms of the restructuring would adversely affect the rights of shareholders.

Pledging of Assets for Debt

Vote proposals to approve the pledging of assets for debt on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Increase in Borrowing Powers

Vote proposals to approve increases in a company’s borrowing powers on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Share Repurchase Plans

Generally vote FOR market repurchase authorities (share repurchase programs) if the terms comply with the following criteria:

 

   

A repurchase limit of up to 10 percent of outstanding issued share capital (15 percent in UK/Ireland);

 

   

A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company’s issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and

 

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A duration of no more than 5 years, or such lower threshold as may be set by applicable law, regulation or code of governance best practice.

Authorities to repurchase shares in excess of the 10 percent repurchase limit will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. ISS may support such share repurchase authorities under special circumstances, which are required to be publicly disclosed by the company, provided that, on balance, the proposal is in shareholders’ interests. In such cases, the authority must comply with the following criteria:

 

   

A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company’s issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and

 

   

A duration of no more than 18 months.

In markets where it is normal practice not to provide a repurchase limit, ISS will evaluate the proposal based on the company’s historical practice. However, ISS expects companies to disclose such limits and, in the future, may recommend a vote against companies that fail to do so. In such cases, the authority must comply with the following criteria:

 

   

A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company’s issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and

 

   

A duration of no more than 18 months.

In addition, ISS will recommend AGAINST any proposal where:

 

   

The repurchase can be used for takeover defenses;

 

   

There is clear evidence of abuse;

 

   

There is no safeguard against selective buybacks; and/or

 

   

Pricing provisions and safeguards are deemed to be unreasonable in light of market practice.

Reissuance of Repurchased Shares

Vote FOR requests to reissue any repurchased shares unless there is clear evidence of abuse of this authority in the past.

Capitalization of Reserves for Bonus Issues/Increase in Par Value

Vote FOR requests to capitalize reserves for bonus issues of shares or to increase par value.

4. Other Items

Reorganizations/Restructurings*

Vote reorganizations and restructurings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Mergers and Acquisitions*

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on mergers and acquisitions taking into account the following:

 

 

 

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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For every M&A analysis, ISS reviews publicly available information as of the date of the report and evaluates the merits and drawbacks of the proposed transaction, balancing various and sometimes countervailing factors including:

 

   

Valuation - Is the value to be received by the target shareholders (or paid by the acquirer) reasonable? While the fairness opinion may provide an initial starting point for assessing valuation reasonableness, ISS places emphasis on the offer premium, market reaction, and strategic rationale.

 

   

Market reaction - How has the market responded to the proposed deal? A negative market reaction will cause ISS to scrutinize a deal more closely.

 

   

Strategic rationale - Does the deal make sense strategically? From where is the value derived? Cost and revenue synergies should not be overly aggressive or optimistic, but reasonably achievable. Management should also have a favourable track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions.

 

   

Conflicts of interest - Are insiders benefiting from the transaction disproportionately and inappropriately as compared to non-insider shareholders? ISS will consider whether any special interests may have influenced these directors and officers to support or recommend the merger.

 

   

Governance - Will the combined company have a better or worse governance profile than the current governance profiles of the respective parties to the transaction? If the governance profile is to change for the worse, the burden is on the company to prove that other issues (such as valuation) outweigh any deterioration in governance.

Vote AGAINST if the companies do not provide sufficient information upon request to make an informed voting decision.

Mandatory Takeover Bid Waivers *

Vote proposals to waive mandatory takeover bid requirements on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Reincorporation Proposals

Vote reincorporation proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Expansion of Business Activities

Vote FOR resolutions to expand business activities unless the new business takes the company into risky areas.

Related-Party Transactions

In evaluating resolutions that seek shareholder approval on related party transactions (RPTs), vote on a case-by-case basis, considering factors including, but not limited to, the following:

 

   

the parties on either side of the transaction;

 

   

the nature of the asset to be transferred/service to be provided;

 

   

the pricing of the transaction (and any associated professional valuation);

 

   

the views of independent directors (where provided);

 

   

the views of an independent financial adviser (where appointed);

 

   

whether any entities party to the transaction (including advisers) is conflicted; and

 

   

the stated rationale for the transaction, including discussions of timing.

 

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If there is a transaction that ISS deemed problematic and that was not put to a shareholder vote, ISS may recommend against the election of the director involved in the related-party transaction or the full board.

Antitakeover Mechanisms

Generally vote AGAINST all antitakeover proposals, unless they are structured in such a way that they give shareholders the ultimate decision on any proposal or offer.

Shareholder Proposals

Vote all shareholder proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote FOR proposals that would improve the company’s corporate governance or business profile at a reasonable cost.

Vote AGAINST proposals that limit the company’s business activities or capabilities or result in significant costs being incurred with little or no benefit.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Issues

Generally vote FOR the management’s recommendation on shareholder proposals involving CSR Issues. When evaluating social and environmental shareholder proposals, Dimensional considers the most important factor to be whether adoption of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value.

 

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DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

 

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746

Telephone: (512) 306-7400

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

February 28, 2011

 

DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. (the “Fund”) is an open-end management investment company that offers sixty-two series of shares. This statement of additional information (“SAI”) relates to seven series of the Fund (individually, a “Portfolio” and collectively, the “Portfolios”):

 

DOMESTIC EQUITY PORTFOLIOS

 

Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio (Feeder)    Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio     
Ticker: DTMMX    Ticker: DTMEX     
Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio    Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio     
Ticker: DTMVX    Ticker: DFTSX     

T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio

Ticker: DFTCX

         

 

INTERNATIONAL EQUITY PORTFOLIOS

 

Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio

Ticker: DTMIX

 

T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio

Ticker: DFTWX

 

This statement of additional information is not a prospectus but should be read in conjunction with the Portfolios’ prospectus dated February 28, 2011, as amended from time to time. The audited financial statements and financial highlights of the Portfolios (as applicable) are incorporated by reference from the Fund’s annual report to shareholders and the audited financial statements and financial highlights for the Master Fund are incorporated by reference from The DFA Investment Trust Company’s (the “Trust”) annual report to shareholders. The prospectus and the annual reports can be obtained by writing to the above address or by calling the above telephone number.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS AND POLICIES

  2

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

  2

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

  4

FUTURES CONTRACTS

  6

FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

  7

CASH MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

  7

CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES

  8

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

  9

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

  9

SERVICES TO THE FUND

  8

ADVISORY FEES

  10

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

  11

GENERAL INFORMATION

  14

CODE OF ETHICS

  15

SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS

  15

PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

  16

PURCHASE OF SHARES

  17

REDEMPTION AND TRANSFER OF SHARES

  18

TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIO AND THEIR SHAREHOLDERS

  18

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

  31

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

  33

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

  36

PERFORMANCE DATA

  36

 

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PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS AND POLICIES

 

The Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio, as identified on the cover page of this SAI, is a Feeder Portfolio (the “Feeder Portfolio”) that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing substantially all of its investable assets in The Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series (the “Master Fund”), a series of The DFA Investment Trust Company (the “Trust”). Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor” or “Dimensional”)serves as investment advisor to each of the Portfolios and the Master Fund, and provides administrative services to the Feeder Portfolio. The Advisor is organized as a Delaware limited partnership and is controlled and operated by its general partner, Dimensional Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this SAI have the meanings assigned to them in the Prospectus.

 

The following information supplements the information set forth in the Prospectus. Unless otherwise indicated, the following information applies to all of the Portfolios and the Master Fund, including the Feeder Portfolio, through its investment in the Master Fund.

 

Each of the Portfolios and the Master Fund is diversified under the federal securities laws and regulations.

 

Because the structure of the Portfolios and Master Fund is based on the relative market capitalizations of eligible holdings, it is possible that a Portfolio might include at least 5% of the outstanding voting securities of one or more issuers. In such circumstances, a Portfolio and the issuer would be deemed affiliated persons and certain requirements under the federal securities laws and regulations regulating dealings between mutual funds and their affiliates might become applicable.

 

Each of the Portfolios (except the Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio) has adopted a non-fundamental policy as required by Rule 35d-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) that, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the value of each Portfolio’s net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, will be invested in a specific type of investment. Additionally, if a Portfolio changes its 80% investment policy, the Portfolio will notify shareholders at least 60 days before the change, and will change the name of the Portfolio. For more information on each Portfolio’s specific 80% policy, see each Portfolio’s “PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES” section in the Prospectus.

 

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

 

The following table reports brokerage commissions paid by the designated Portfolios for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009 and the fiscal period from December 1, 2007 to October 31, 2008. For the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio, the amounts are commissions paid by its corresponding Master Fund.

 

    

Fiscal Year
Ended

2010


    

Fiscal Year
Ended

2009


    

Fiscal Period
Ended

2008


 

Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio

   $ 817,476       $ 1,223,079       $ 2,194,755   

Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio 1

   $ 119,979       $ 548,646       $ 330,932   

Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

   $ 1,329,960       $ 1,595,895       $ 2,886,103   

Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio

   $ 787,549       $ 948,573       $ 1,746,451   

T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio

   $ 315,077       $ 671,196       $ 396,690   

Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio

   $ 539,979       $ 401,875       $ 604,748   

T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio

   $ 136,392       $ 189,252       $ 179,855   
1

Represents the brokerage commissions for the master fund into which the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio invested prior to February 28, 2011.

 

The substantial increases or decreases in the amount of brokerage commissions paid by certain Portfolios from year to year indicated in the foregoing table resulted primarily from asset changes that required increases or

 

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decreases in the amount of securities that were bought and sold by the Portfolio.

 

Please note that while the following discussion relates to the policies of the Portfolios with respect to brokerage commissions, it should be understood that, with respect to the Feeder Portfolio, the discussion applies to the Master Fund in which the Feeder Portfolio invests substantially all of its assets.

 

Portfolio transactions will be placed with a view to receiving the best price and execution. The Portfolios will seek to acquire and dispose of securities in a manner, which would cause as little fluctuation in the market prices of stocks being purchased or sold as possible in light of the size of the transactions being effected, and brokers will be selected with this goal in view. The Advisor monitors the performance of brokers, which effect transactions for the Portfolios to determine the effect that their trading has on the market prices of the securities in which they invest. The Advisor also checks the rate of commission being paid by the Portfolios to their brokers to ascertain that the rates are competitive with those charged by other brokers for similar services. Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. and DFA Australia Limited also perform these services for the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio and the Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio.

 

Subject to obtaining best price and execution, transactions may be placed with brokers that have assisted in the sale of Portfolio shares. The Advisor, however, pursuant to policies and procedures approved by the Board of Directors of the Fund and the Board of Trustees of the Trust, is prohibited from selecting brokers and dealers to effect a Portfolio’s or Master Fund’s portfolio securities transactions based (in whole or in part) on a broker’s or dealer’s promotion or sale of shares issued by a Portfolio or any other registered investment companies.

 

Companies eligible for purchase by each Portfolio or Master Fund may be thinly traded securities. The Advisor believes that it needs maximum flexibility to effect trades on a best execution basis. As deemed appropriate, the Advisor places buy and sell orders for the Portfolios and Master Fund with various brokerage firms that may act as principal or agent. The Advisor may also make use of direct market access and algorithmic, program or electronic trading methods. The Advisor may extensively use electronic trading systems as such systems can provide the ability to customize the orders placed and can assist in the Advisor’s execution strategies.

 

Transactions may be placed with brokers who provide the Advisor with investment research, such as reports concerning individual issuers, industries and general economic and financial trends and other research services. The investment advisory agreements permit the Advisor knowingly to pay commissions on these transactions that are greater than another broker, dealer or exchange member might charge if the Advisor, in good faith, determines that the commissions paid are reasonable in relation to the research or brokerage services provided by the broker or dealer when viewed in terms of either a particular transaction or the Advisor’s overall responsibilities to the accounts under its management. Research services furnished by brokers through whom securities transactions are effected may be used by the Advisor in servicing all of its accounts and not all such services may be used by the Advisor with respect to the Portfolios.

 

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the Portfolios or, in the case of the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio, its corresponding Master Fund, paid commissions for securities transactions to brokers which provided market price monitoring services, market studies, brokerage services and research services to the Portfolios or Master Fund as follows:

 

    

Value of

Securities

Transactions


  

Brokerage

Commissions


Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series

   $1,168,179,453    $86,433

Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio 1

   $181,686,614    $14,539

Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

   $845,845,021    $241,130

Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio

   $508,356,824    $93,637

T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio

   $385,029,575    $33,369

Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio

   $766,627,769    $48,893

 

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T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio

   $ 161,563,044       $ 13,947   
1

Represents the value of securities transactions and brokerage commissions for the master fund into which the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio invested prior to February 28, 2011.

 

The Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio does not incur any brokerage costs in connection with its purchases or redemptions of shares of its Master Fund.

 

The Portfolios or Master Fund may purchase securities of their regular brokers or dealers (as defined in Rule 10b-1 of the 1940 Act). The table below lists the regular brokers or dealers of each Portfolio, or in the case of the Feeder Portfolio, its corresponding Master Fund, whose securities (or securities of the broker’s or dealer’s parent company) were acquired by the Portfolio or Master Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, as well as the value of such securities held by the Portfolio or Master Fund as of October 31, 2010.

 

                      Master Fund/Portfolio                Broker or Dealer        Value of Securities

Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio

   Credit Suisse Group    $9,790,316

Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio

   Societe Generale Group    $14,058,480

Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio

   Macquarie Group    $6,503,330

Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio

   UBS AG    $1,698,244

Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio 1

   Jeffries Group Inc.    $308,051

T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio

   Investment Technology Group, Inc.    $267,014

T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio

   Jeffries Group Inc.    $1,961,734

T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio

   Deutsche Bank AG    $2,649,027

T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio

   HSBC Group    $9,012,853

T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio

   CA Cheuvreux    $795,079

T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio

   Macquarie Group    $903,496

T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio

   Societe Generale Group    $1,829,206

T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio

   UBS AG    $3,177,236

T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio

   Credit Suisse Group    $2,980,988

T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio

   Instinet, LLC    $920,105
1

Represents the value of securities held in the regular broker or dealer for the master fund into which the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio invested prior to February 28, 2011.

 

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

 

Each of the Portfolios has adopted certain limitations which may not be changed with respect to any Portfolio without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio. A “majority” is defined as the lesser of: (1) at least 67% of the voting securities of the Portfolio (to be affected by the proposed change) present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio are present or represented by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of such Portfolio.

 

The Portfolios will not:

 

  (1) borrow money, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or any rules, exemptions or interpretations thereunder that may be adopted, granted or issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”);

 

  (2) make loans, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or any rules, exemptions or interpretations thereunder that may be adopted, granted or issued by the SEC; provided that in no event shall a Portfolio be permitted to make a loan to a natural person;

 

  (3)

purchase or sell real estate, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, and provided that this restriction does not prevent a Portfolio from: (i) purchasing or selling securities

 

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or instruments secured by real estate or interests therein, securities or instruments representing interests in real estate or securities or instruments of issuers that invest, deal or otherwise engage in transactions in real estate or interests therein; and (ii) purchasing or selling real estate mortgage loans;

 

  (4) purchase or sell physical commodities, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, and provided that this restriction does not prevent a Portfolio from: (i) engaging in transactions involving currencies and futures contracts and options thereon; or (ii) investing in securities or other instruments that are secured by physical commodities;

 

  (5) purchase the securities of any one issuer, if immediately after such investment, a Portfolio would not qualify as a “diversified company” as that term is defined by the 1940 Act, as amended, and as modified or interpreted by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time;

 

  (6) engage in the business of underwriting securities issued by others; or

 

  (7) issue senior securities (as such term is defined in Section 18(f) of the 1940 Act), except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act.

The Portfolios, except the T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio and T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio, will not:

 

  (8) acquire any securities of companies within one industry if, as a result of such acquisition, more than 25% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets would be invested in securities of companies within such industry.

 

The T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio and T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio will not:

 

  (9) concentrate (invest more than 25% of its net assets) in securities of issuers in a particular industry (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or securities of other investment companies).

 

The investment limitations described in (5) and (8) above do not prohibit the Feeder Portfolio from investing all or substantially all of its assets in the shares of another registered, open-end investment company, such as its corresponding Master Fund. The investment limitations of the Master Fund are the same as those of the Feeder Portfolio.

 

With respect to the investment limitation described in (1) above, each Portfolio will maintain asset coverage of at least 300% (as described in the 1940 Act), inclusive of any amounts borrowed, with respect to any borrowings made by such Portfolio.

 

Although the investment limitation described in (2) above prohibits loans, the Portfolios are authorized to lend portfolio securities. Inasmuch as the Feeder Portfolio will only hold shares of its Master Fund, the Feeder Portfolio does not intend to lend those shares.

 

Each Portfolio is required to operate in accordance with the SEC staff’s current position on illiquid securities, which limits investments in illiquid securities to 15% of a Portfolio’s net assets. Further, pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Portfolios may purchase certain unregistered (i.e. restricted) securities upon a determination that a liquid institutional market exists for the securities. If it is determined that a liquid market does exist, the securities will not be subject to the 15% limitation on holdings of illiquid securities. While maintaining oversight, the Board of Directors has delegated the day-to-day function of making liquidity determinations to the Advisor. For Rule 144A securities to be considered liquid, there must be at least two dealers making a market in such securities. After purchase, the Board of Directors and the Advisor will continue to monitor the liquidity of Rule 144A securities.

 

For purposes of the investment limitation described in (9) above, management does not consider securities that are issued by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities to be investments in an “industry.” However, management currently considers securities issued by a foreign government (but not the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities) to be subject to the 25% limitation. Thus, not more than 25% of the total assets of the

 

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T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio or T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio will be invested in securities issued by any one foreign government or supranational organization. A Portfolio might invest in certain securities issued by companies in a particular industry whose obligations are guaranteed by a foreign government. Management could consider such a company to be within the particular industry and, therefore, the Portfolio will invest in the securities of such a company only if the Portfolio can do so under the Portfolio’s policy of not being concentrated in any single industry.

 

Notwithstanding any of the above investment limitations, the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio may establish subsidiaries or other similar vehicles for the purpose of conducting its investment operations if such subsidiaries or vehicles are required by local laws or regulations governing foreign investors, or whose use is otherwise considered by the Portfolio to be advisable. The T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio would “look through” any such vehicle or subsidiary to determine compliance with its investment restrictions.

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all limitations applicable to the Portfolios’ and Master Fund’s investments apply only at the time that a transaction is undertaken.

 

FUTURES CONTRACTS

 

Each Portfolio and Master Fund may enter into futures contracts and options on futures contracts to gain market exposure on the Portfolio’s or Master Fund’s uninvested cash pending investment in securities and to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

 

Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of defined securities at a specified future time and at a specified price. Futures contracts that are standardized as to maturity date and underlying financial instrument are traded on national futures exchanges. Each Portfolio or Master Fund will be required to make a margin deposit in cash or government securities with a futures commission merchant (“FCM”) to initiate and maintain positions in futures contracts. Minimal initial margin requirements are established by the futures exchanges, and FCMs may establish margin requirements, which are higher than the exchange requirements. After a futures contract position is opened, the value of the contract is marked to market daily. If the futures contract price changes to the extent that the margin on deposit does not satisfy margin requirements, payment of additional “variation” margin to be held by the FCM will be required. Conversely, a reduction in the required margin would result in a repayment of excess margin to the custodial accounts of the Portfolio or Master Fund. Variation margin payments may be made to and from the futures broker for as long as the contract remains open. Each Portfolio and Master Fund expects to earn income on its margin deposits. Each Master Fund and Portfolio intends to limit its futures-related investment activity so that other than with respect to bona fide hedging activity (as defined in Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) General Regulations Section 1.3 (z)): (i) the aggregate initial margin and premiums paid to establish commodity futures and commodity option contract positions (determined at the time the most recent position was established) does not exceed 5% of the liquidation value of the portfolio of the Master Fund or Portfolio, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such contracts it has entered into (provided that, in the case of an option that is in-the-money at the time of purchase, the in-the-money amount may be excluded in calculating such 5% limitation) or (ii) the aggregate net “notional value” (i.e., the size of a commodity futures or commodity option contract in contract units (taking into account any multiplier specified in the contract), multiplied by the current market price (for a futures contract) or strike price (for an option contract) of each such unit) of all non-hedge commodity futures and commodity option contracts that the Master Fund or Portfolio has entered into (determined at the time the most recent position was established) does not exceed the liquidation value of the portfolio of the Master Fund or Portfolio, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such contracts that the Master Fund or Portfolio has entered into.

 

Positions in futures contracts may be closed out only on an exchange that provides a secondary market. However, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular futures contract at any specific time. Therefore, it might not be possible to close a futures position and, in the event of adverse price movements, the Portfolio or Master Fund would continue to be required to make variation margin deposits. In such

 

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circumstances, if the Portfolio or Master Fund has insufficient cash, it might have to sell portfolio securities to meet daily margin requirements at a time when it might be disadvantageous to do so. Management intends to minimize the possibility that it will be unable to close out a futures contract by only entering into futures which are traded on national futures exchanges and for which there appears to be a liquid secondary market. Pursuant to published positions of the SEC and interpretations of the staff of the SEC, a Portfolio or Master Fund (or its custodian) is required to maintain segregated accounts or to segregate assets through notations on the books of the custodians, consisting of liquid assets (or, as permitted under applicable interpretations, enter into offsetting positions) in connection with their futures contract transactions in order to cover its obligations with respect to such contracts. These requirements are designed to limit the amount of leverage the Portfolios or Master Fund may use by entering into futures transactions.

 

FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

 

The Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio and T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio may each acquire and sell forward foreign currency exchange contracts in order to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency exchange rates. A Portfolio will conduct its foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies. A forward foreign currency exchange contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days (usually less than one year) from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts are traded in the interbank market conducted directly between traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. A forward contract generally has no deposit requirement, and no commissions are charged at any stage for trades. Although foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference (the spread) between the price at which they are buying and selling various currencies.

 

The Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio and T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio may each enter into a forward contract in connection with the purchase or sale of foreign equity securities, typically to “lock in” the value of the transaction with respect to a different currency. In addition, a Portfolio may, from time to time, enter into a forward contract to transfer balances from one currency to another currency.

 

CASH MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

 

The non-Feeder Portfolios and the Master Fund engage in cash management practices in order to earn income on uncommitted cash balances. Generally, cash is uncommitted pending investment in other obligations, payment of redemptions or in other circumstances where the Advisor believes liquidity is necessary or desirable. For example, in the case of the Master Fund, cash investments may be made for temporary defensive purposes during periods in which market, economic or political conditions warrant.

 

The non-Feeder Portfolios and the Master Fund may invest cash in short-term repurchase agreements. In addition, the following cash investments are permissible:

 

Portfolios and Master Fund    Permissible Cash Investment *   

Percentage

Guidelines**

           

Tax Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio and

Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio

   Short-term fixed income obligations; high quality, highly liquid fixed income securities, such as money market instruments; index futures contracts and options thereon; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    20%
     
           

 

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Portfolios and Master Fund   Permissible Cash Investment *   

Percentage

Guidelines**

Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series and Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio   High quality, highly liquid fixed income securities such as money market instruments; index futures contracts and options thereon; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    20%
     
          
Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio   Fixed income obligations such as money market instruments; index futures contracts and options thereon; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    20%
     
          
T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio   High quality, highly liquid fixed income securities, such as money market instruments; index futures contracts and options thereon; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***    20%
     
          
T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio   Short-term repurchase agreements; money market instruments; debt securities; freely convertible currencies; shares of affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market mutual funds***; index futures contracts and options thereon    20%

 

*   With respect to fixed income instruments, except in connection with corporate actions, the Portfolios and Master Fund will invest in fixed income instruments that at the time of purchase have an investment grade rating by a rating agency or are deemed to be investment grade by the Advisor.

 

**   The percentage guidelines set forth above are not absolute limitations but the Portfolios and Master Fund do not expect to exceed these guidelines under normal circumstances.

 

***   Investments in money market mutual funds may involve duplication of certain fees and expenses.

 

CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES

 

The Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio and T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio may invest up to 5% of its assets in convertible debentures issued by non-U.S. companies located in the countries where such Portfolio is permitted to invest. Convertible debentures include corporate bonds and notes that may be converted into or exchanged for common stock. These securities are generally convertible either at a stated price or a stated rate (that is, for a specific number of shares of common stock or other security). As with other fixed income securities, the price of a convertible debenture to some extent varies inversely with interest rates. While providing a fixed income stream (generally higher in yield than the income derived from a common stock but lower than that afforded by a nonconvertible debenture), a convertible debenture also affords the investor an opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation of the common stock into which it is convertible. As the market price of the underlying common stock declines, convertible debentures tend to trade increasingly on a yield basis and so may not experience market value declines to the same extent as the underlying common stock. When the market price of the underlying common stock increases, the price of a convertible debenture tends to rise as a reflection of the value of the underlying common stock. To obtain such a higher yield, a Portfolio may be required to pay for a convertible debenture an amount in excess of the value of the underlying common stock. Common stock acquired by a Portfolio upon conversion of a convertible debenture will generally be held for as long as the Advisor anticipates such stock will provide the Portfolio with opportunities, which are consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objective and policies.

 

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EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

 

The non-Feeder Funds and Master Fund may also invest in Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the equity markets while maintaining liquidity. An ETF is an investment company whose goal is to track or replicate a desired index, such as a sector, market or global segment. ETFs are passively managed, and traded similarly to a publicly traded company. The risks and costs of investing in ETFs are comparable to that of investing in a publicly traded company. The goal of an ETF is to correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of its underlying index. The risk of not correlating to the index is an additional risk to the investors of ETFs. When a non-Feeder Fund or Master Fund invests in an ETF, shareholders of the Portfolio bear their proportionate share of the underlying ETF’s fees and expenses.

 

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

 

Directors

 

Organization of the Board

 

The Board of Directors of the Fund (the “Board”) is responsible for establishing the Fund’s policies and for overseeing the management of the Fund. The Board of Directors elects the officers of the Fund, who, along with third party service providers, are responsible for administering the day-to-day operations of the Fund. The Board of Directors of the Fund is comprised of two interested Directors and six disinterested Directors. David G. Booth, an interested Director, is Chairman of the Board. The Board has not found it necessary to appoint a lead disinterested Director because it believes that the existing structure of the Board allows for effective communication among the disinterested Directors, between the disinterested Directors and interested Directors, as well as between the disinterested Directors and management. The existing Board structure for the Fund also provides the disinterested Directors with adequate influence over the governance of the Board and the Fund, while also providing the Board with the invaluable insight of the two interested Directors, who, as both officers of the Fund and the Advisor, participate in the day-to-day management of the Fund’s affairs, including risk management.

 

The agenda for each quarterly meeting of the Board is provided at least two weeks prior to the meeting to the disinterested Directors in order to provide the Directors with the opportunity to contact Fund management and/or the disinterested Directors’ independent counsel regarding agenda items. In addition, the disinterested Directors regularly communicate with Mr. Booth regarding items of interest to them in between regularly scheduled meetings of the Board. The Board of the Fund meets in person at least four times each year and by telephone at other times. At each in-person meeting, the disinterested Directors meet in executive session with their independent counsel to discuss matters outside the presence of management.

 

The Board has three standing committees, an Audit Committee, a Nominating Committee and a Portfolio Performance and Service Review Committee (“Performance Committee”) that are composed entirely of disinterested Directors. As described below, through these Committees, the disinterested Directors have direct oversight of the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies, the selection and nomination of candidates to the Fund’s Board and the review of the investment performance of the series of the Fund and the performance of the Fund’s service providers.

 

The Board’s Audit Committee is comprised of George M. Constantinides, Roger G. Ibbotson and Abbie J. Smith. The Audit Committee for the Board oversees the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies and practices, the Fund’s internal controls, the Fund’s financial statements and the independent audits thereof and performs other oversight functions as requested by the Board. The Audit Committee for the Board recommends the appointment of the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and also acts as a liaison between the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and the full Board. There were two Audit Committee meetings held for the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

 

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The Board’s Nominating Committee is comprised of George M. Constantinides, John P. Gould, Roger G. Ibbotson, Edward P. Lazear, Myron S. Scholes and Abbie J. Smith. The Nominating Committee for the Board makes recommendations for nominations of disinterested and interested members on the Board to the disinterested Board members and to the full board. The Nominating Committee evaluates a candidate’s qualification for Board membership and the independence of such candidate from the Advisor and other principal service providers. There were three Nominating Committee meetings held for the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

 

The Board’s Performance Committee is comprised of George M. Constantinides, Roger G. Ibbotson, Abbie J. Smith, John P. Gould, Edward P. Lazear and Myron S. Scholes. The Performance Committee regularly reviews and monitors the investment performance of the Fund’s series, including the Portfolios, and reviews the performance of the Fund’s service providers. There were seven Performance Committee meetings held for the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

 

In addition to the Audit Committee, Nominating Committee and Performance Committee, the Board has an Investment Review Committee that assists the Board in carrying out its fiduciary duties with respect to the oversight of the Fund and its performance (the “Review Committee”). The Review Committee consists of both interested and disinterested Directors. The Review Committee is comprised of John P. Gould, Edward P. Lazear, Myron S. Scholes and Eduardo A. Repetto. At the request of the Board or the Advisor, the Review Committee (i) reviews the design of possible new series of the Fund, (ii) reviews performance of existing Portfolios of the Fund, and discusses and recommends possible enhancements to the Portfolios’ investment strategies, (iii) reviews proposals by the Advisor to modify or enhance the investment strategies or policies of each Portfolio, and (iv) considers issues relating to investment services for each Portfolio of the Fund. The Review Committee was formed on December 17, 2010. Consequently, there were no Review Committee meetings held for the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

 

The Board of the Fund, including all of the disinterested Directors, oversees and approves the contracts of the third party service providers that provide advisory, administrative, custodial and other services to the Fund.

 

Board Oversight of Risk Management

 

The Board, as a whole, considers risk management issues as part of its general oversight responsibilities throughout the year at regular board meetings, through regular reports that have been developed by Fund management and the Advisor. These reports address certain investment, valuation and compliance matters. The Board also may receive special written reports or presentations on a variety of risk issues, either upon the Board’s request or upon the initiative of the Advisor. In addition, the Audit Committee of the Board meets regularly with management of the Advisor to review reports on the Advisor’s examinations of functions and processes that affect the Fund.

 

With respect to investment risk, the Board receives regular written reports describing and analyzing the investment performance of the Fund’s portfolios. The Board discusses these reports and the portfolios’ performance and investment risks with management of the Advisor at the Board’s regular meetings. The Investment Committee of the Advisor meets regularly to discuss a variety of issues, including the impact that the investment in particular securities or instruments, such as derivatives, may have on the portfolios. To the extent that the Investment Committee of the Advisor decides to materially change an investment strategy or policy of a portfolio and such change could have a significant impact on the portfolio’s risk profile, the Advisor will present such change to the Board for their approval.

 

With respect to valuation, the Advisor and the Fund’s Administrative and Accounting Agent provide regular written reports to the Board that enables the Board to review fair valued securities in a particular portfolio. Such reports also include information concerning illiquid and any worthless securities held by each portfolio. In addition, the Fund’s Audit Committee reviews valuation procedures and pricing results with the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm in connection with such Committee’s review of the results of the audit of each portfolio’s year-end financial statements.

 

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With respect to compliance risks, the Board receives regular compliance reports prepared by the Advisor’s compliance group and meets regularly with the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) to discuss compliance issues, including compliance risks. As required under SEC rules, the disinterested Directors meet at least quarterly in executive session with the CCO, and the Fund’s CCO prepares and presents an annual written compliance report to the Board. The Fund’s Board adopts compliance policies and procedures for the Fund and receives information about the compliance procedures in place for the Fund’s service providers. The compliance policies and procedures are specifically designed to detect and prevent violations of the federal securities laws.

The Advisor periodically provides information to the Board relevant to enterprise risk management describing the way in which certain risks are managed at the complex-wide level by the Advisor. Such presentations include areas such as counter-party risk, material fund vendor or service provider risk, investment risk, reputational risk, personnel risk and business continuity risk.

Director Qualifications

When a vacancy occurs on the Board, the Nominating Committee of the Board evaluates a candidate’s qualification for Board membership and the independence of such candidate from the Advisor and other principal service providers. The Nominating Committee will consider nominees recommended by Qualifying Fund Shareholders if a vacancy occurs among Board members. A Qualifying Fund Shareholder is a shareholder, or group of shareholders, that: (i) owns of record, or beneficially through a financial intermediary, 5% or more of the Fund’s outstanding shares, and (ii) has owned such shares for 12 months or more prior to submitting the recommendation to the Committee. Such recommendations shall be directed to the Secretary of the Fund at 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, Texas 78746. The Qualifying Fund Shareholder’s letter should include: (i) the name and address of the Qualifying Fund Shareholder making the recommendation; (ii) the number of shares of each Portfolio of the Fund that are owned of record and beneficially by such Qualifying Fund Shareholder, and the length of time that such shares have been so owned by the Qualifying Fund Shareholder; (iii) a description of all arrangements and understandings between such Qualifying Fund Shareholder and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the recommendation is being made; (iv) the name and address of the nominee; and (v) the nominee’s resume or curriculum vitae. The Qualifying Fund Shareholder’s letter must be accompanied by a written consent of the individual to stand for election if nominated for the Board and to serve if elected by shareholders. The Committee also may seek such additional information about the nominee as the Committee considers appropriate, including information relating to such nominee that is required to be disclosed in solicitations or proxies for the election of Board members.

The Nominating Committee of the Board believes that it is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders to obtain highly-qualified individuals to serve as members of the Board. The Fund’s Board believes that each Director currently serving on the Board has the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills to allow the Board to effectively oversee the management of the Fund and protect the interests of shareholders. The Board noted that each Director had professional experience in areas of importance for investment companies. The Board considered that each disinterested Director held an academic position in the areas of finance, economics or accounting. The Board also noted that John P. Gould, Myron S. Scholes and Abbie J. Smith each had experience serving as a director on the boards of operating companies and/or other investment companies. In addition, the Board considered that David G. Booth and Eduardo A. Repetto contributed valuable experience due to their positions with the Advisor. Certain biographical information for each disinterested Director and each interested Director of the Fund is set forth in the tables below, including a description of each Director’s experience as a Director of the Fund and as a director or trustee of other funds, as well as other recent professional experience.

Disinterested Directors

 

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Name, Address and

Age

   Position        

Term of      
Office1      

and      
Length of      
Service       

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years   

Portfolios      
within the      
DFA Fund       
Complex2      

Overseen      

   Other
Directorships  of
Public
Companies Held
During Past 5
Years

George M. Constantinides University of Chicago Booth School of Business

5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

Age: 63

  

Director

   Since      
1983      
  

Leo Melamed Professor of Finance, University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

   89 portfolios

in 4      
investment      
companies      

   None

John P. Gould

University of Chicago Booth School of Business

5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

Age: 72

  

Director

   Since      
1986      
  

Steven G. Rothmeier Distinguished Service Professor of Economics, University of Chicago Booth School of Business (since 1965). Member and Chair, Competitive Markets Advisory Council, Chicago Mercantile Exchange (futures trading exchange) (since 2004). Formerly, Director of UNext Inc. (1999-2006). Formerly, Member of the Board of Milwaukee Insurance Company (1997-2010).

 

   89 portfolios

in 4      
investment      
companies      

   Trustee, Harbor Funds (registered investment company) (28 Portfolios) (since 1994).

Roger G. Ibbotson

Yale School of Management

P.O. Box 208200

New Haven, CT 06520-8200

Age: 67

  

Director

   Since      
1981      
  

Professor in Practice of Finance, Yale School of Management (since 1984). Consultant to Morningstar, Inc. (since 2006). Chairman, CIO and Partner, Zebra Capital Management, LLC (hedge fund and asset manager) (since 2001). Formerly, Chairman, Ibbotson Associates, Inc., Chicago, IL (software, data, publishing and consulting) (1977-2006). Formerly, Director, BIRR Portfolio Analysis, Inc. (software products) (1990-2010).

 

   89 portfolios

in 4      
investment      
companies      

   None

Edward P. Lazear

Stanford University

Graduate School of Business

518 Memorial Way

Stanford, CA 94305-5015

Age: 62

  

Director

   Since      
2010      
  

Morris Arnold Cox Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution (since 2002). Jack Steele Parker Professor of Human Resources Management and Economics, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University (since 1995). Cornerstone Research (expert testimony and economic and financial analysis) (since 2009). Formerly, Chairman of the President George W. Bush’s Council of Economic Advisers (2006- 2009). Council of Economic Advisors, State of California (2005-2006). Commissioner, White House Panel on Tax Reform (2005).

 

   89 portfolios      

in 4      
investment      
companies      

   None

Myron S. Scholes

c/o Dimensional Fund Advisors LP

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

Age: 69

  

Director

   Since      
1981      
  

Frank E. Buck Professor Emeritus of Finance, Stanford University (since 1981). Formerly, Chairman, Platinum Grove Asset Management L.P. (hedge fund) (formerly, Oak Hill Platinum Partners) (1999-2009). Formerly, Managing Partner, Oak Hill Capital Management (private equity firm) (until 2004). Formerly, Director, Chicago Mercantile Exchange (2001-2008).

   89 portfolios      

in 4

investment      
companies      

  

Director,

American Century Fund Complex (registered investment companies) (40 Portfolios) (since 1980).

 

 

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Name, Address and

Age

   Position        

Term of      
Office1      

and      
Length of      
Service       

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years    Portfolios      
within the      
DFA Fund      
Complex2      
Overseen       
   Other
Directorships  of
Public
Companies Held
During Past 5
Years

Abbie J. Smith

University of

Chicago Booth

School of Business

5807 S. Woodlawn

Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

Age: 57

   Director    Since      
2000      
   Boris and Irene Stern Distinguished Service Professor of Accounting, University of Chicago Booth School of Business (since 1980); Co-Director Investment Research, Fundamental Investment Advisors (hedge fund) (since 2008).    89 portfolios      

in 4      

investment      
companies      

  

Director, HNI Corporation (formerly known as HON Industries Inc.) (office furniture) (since 2000); Director, Ryder System Inc. (transportation, logistics and supply-chain management) (since 2003); and Trustee, UBS Funds (3 investment companies within the fund complex) (52 portfolios) (since 2009).

 

 

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Interested Directors

The following Interested Directors are described as such because they are deemed to be “interested persons,” as that term is defined under the 1940 Act, due to their positions with the Advisor.

 

Name, Address

and Age

   Position   

Term of      
Office1      

and      
Length of      
Service       

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years    Portfolios      
within the      
DFA Fund      
Complex2      
Overseen       
  

Other
Directorships of
Public

Companies Held
During Past 5
Years

David G. Booth

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

Age: 64

   Chairman,
Director,
President
and Co-
Chief
Executive
Officer
   Since 1981   

Chairman, Director/Trustee, President, Co-Chief Executive Officer and, formerly, Chief Executive Officer (until 1/1/2010) and Chief Investment Officer (2003 to 3/30/2007) of the following companies: Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, DFA Securities LLC, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund, DFAIDG, Dimensional Investment Group Inc. and The DFA Investment Trust Company. Chairman, Director, President and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Dimensional Holdings Inc. and formerly Chief Executive Officer (until 1/1/2010) and Chief Investment Officer (until 3/30/2007). Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. and formerly, Chief Investment Officer. Director of DFA Australia Limited and formerly, President and Chief Investment Officer. Director of Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC. Chairman and President of Dimensional SmartNest LLC and Dimensional SmartNest (US) LLC. Limited Partner, Oak Hill Partners (since 2001) and VSC Investors, LLC (since 2007). Trustee, University of Chicago. Trustee, University of Kansas Endowment Association. Formerly, Director, SA Funds (registered investment company). Chairman, Director and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director, Dimensional Cayman Commodity Fund I Ltd.

 

   89 portfolios      
in 4      
investment      
companies      
   None

Eduardo A. Repetto

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

Age: 44

   Director,
Co-Chief
Executive
Officer
and Chief
Investment
Officer
   Since 2009   

Co-Chief Executive Officer (beginning January 2010), Chief Investment Officer (beginning March 2007) and formerly, Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, Dimensional Holdings Inc., DFA Securities LLC, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund, DFAIDG, Dimensional Investment Group Inc., The DFA Investment Trust Company, and Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC; Director of all such entities except Dimensional Fund Advisors LP and DFA Securities LLC. Chief Investment Officer, Vice President and Director of DFA Australia Limited. Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC and Dimensional Cayman Commodity Fund I Ltd.

 

   89 portfolios      
in 4      
investment      
companies      
   None

 

1

Each Director holds office for an indefinite term until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

 

2

Each Director is a director or trustee of each of the four registered investment companies within the DFA Fund Complex, which include: the Fund; Dimensional Investment Group Inc.; The DFA Investment Trust Company; and Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund. Each Disinterested Director also serves on the Independent

 

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Review Committee of the Dimensional Funds, mutual funds registered in the provinces of Canada and managed by the Advisor’s affiliate, Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

Information relating to each Director’s ownership (including the ownership of his or her immediate family) in each Portfolio of the Fund in this SAI and in all registered investment companies in the DFA Fund Complex as of December 31, 2010 is set forth in the chart below.

 

Name    Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned   

Aggregate Dollar Range of Shares Owned

in All Funds Overseen by Director in

Family of Investment Companies

Disinterested Directors:

         

George M. Constantinides

   None   

None Directly; Over $100,000 in Simulated

Funds**

John P. Gould

   None   

None Directly; Over $100,000 in Simulated

Funds **

Roger G. Ibbotson

   None   

Over $100,000; Over $100,000 in Simulated

Funds**

Edward P. Lazear

 

  

None

 

  

None Directly.

 

Myron S. Scholes

   None   

$50,001-$100,000; Over $100,000 in

Simulated Funds**

Abbie J. Smith

   None   

None Directly; Over $100,000 in Simulated

Funds **

Interested Directors:

         

David G. Booth

   None    Over $100,000

Eduardo A. Repetto

   T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio – Over $100,000    Over $100,000

**         As discussed below, the compensation to certain of the disinterested Directors may be in amounts that correspond to a hypothetical investment in a cross-section of the DFA Funds. Thus, the disinterested Directors who are so compensated experience the same investment returns that are experienced by shareholders of the DFA Funds although the disinterested Directors do not directly own shares of the DFA Funds.

Set forth below is a table listing, for each Director entitled to receive compensation, the compensation received from the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010 and the total compensation received from all four registered investment companies for which the Advisor served as investment advisor during that same period. The table also provides the compensation paid by the Fund to the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

 

Name and Position

   Aggregate
Compensation
from the Fund
   Pension or
Retirement
Benefits as Part of
Expenses
   Estimated Annual
Benefit upon
Retirement
   Total
Compensation
from Funds
and DFA Fund
Complex Paid to
Directors†

George M. Constantinides
Director

   $108,410    N/A    N/A    $175,000

John P. Gould
Director

   $108,410    N/A    N/A    $175,000

Roger G. Ibbotson
Director

   $114,889    N/A    N/A    $185,000

Edward P. Lazear**
Director

   $0    N/A    N/A    $0

Myron S. Scholes
Director

   $108,410    N/A    N/A    $175,000

Abbie J. Smith
Director

   $108,410    N/A    N/A    $175,000

 

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Name and Position

   Aggregate
Compensation
from the Fund
   Pension or
Retirement
Benefits as Part of

Expenses
   Estimated Annual
Benefit upon
Retirement
   Total
Compensation
from Funds
and DFA Fund
Complex Paid to
Directors†

Christopher S. Crossan
Chief Compliance Officer

   $210,470    N/A    N/A    N/A

 

The term DFA Fund Complex refers to the four registered investment companies for which the Advisor performs advisory or administrative services and for which the individuals listed above serve as directors/trustees on the Boards of Directors/Trustees of such companies.

 

*

Under a deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) adopted effective January 1, 2002, the disinterested Directors of the Fund may defer receipt of all or a portion of the compensation for serving as members of the four Boards of Directors/Trustees of the investment companies in the DFA Fund complex (the “DFA Funds”). Amounts deferred under the Plan are treated as though equivalent dollar amounts had been invested in shares of a cross-section of the DFA Funds (the “Reference Funds” or “Simulated Funds”). The amounts ultimately received by the disinterested Directors under the Plan will be directly linked to the investment performance of the Reference Funds. Deferral of fees in accordance with the Plan will have a negligible effect on a fund’s assets, liabilities, and net income per share, and will not obligate a fund to retain the services of any disinterested Director or to pay any particular level of compensation to the disinterested Director. The total amount of deferred compensation accrued by the disinterested Directors from the DFA Fund Complex who participated in the Plan during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010 is as follows: $185,000 (Mr. Ibbotson). A disinterested Director’s deferred compensation will be distributed at the earlier of: (a) January in the year after the disinterested Director’s resignation from the Boards of Directors/Trustees of the DFA Funds, or death or disability; or (b) five years following the first deferral, in such amounts as the disinterested Director has specified. The obligations of the DFA Funds to make payments under the Plan will be unsecured general obligations of the DFA Funds, payable out of the general assets and property of the DFA Funds.

 

**

Mr. Lazear did not serve as a Director until December 17, 2010; therefore, he did not receive any compensation from the Fund or the DFA Fund Complex as of October 31, 2010.

Officers

Below is the name, age, and information regarding positions with the Fund and the principal occupation for each officer of the Fund. The address of each officer is 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746. Each of the officers listed below holds the same office (except as otherwise noted) in the following entities: Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, Dimensional Holdings Inc., DFA Securities LLC, DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc., Dimensional Investment Group Inc., The DFA Investment Trust Company, and Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund (collectively, the “DFA Entities”).

 

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Name and Age    Position    Term of      
Office1      
and      
Length of      
Service       
   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

April A. Aandal

Age: 48

   Vice President and Chief Learning Officer    Since      
2008      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Chief Learning Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2008). Formerly Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2004-2008).

Darryl D. Avery

Age: 44

   Vice President    Since      
2005      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Arthur H. Barlow

Age: 55

   Vice President    Since      
1993      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Scott A. Bosworth

Age: 42

   Vice President    Since      
2007      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since November 1997).

Valerie A. Brown

Age: 44

   Vice President and Assistant Secretary    Since      
2001      
  

Vice President and Assistant Secretary of all the DFA Entities, DFA Australia Limited, Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., and Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

David P. Butler

Age: 45

   Vice President    Since      
2007      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Director of Global Financial Advisor Services of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since 2008). Formerly, Director US Financial Advisor Services of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2005).

Joseph H. Chi

Age: 44

   Vice President    Since      
2009      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since October 2005).

Stephen A. Clark

Age: 38

   Vice President    Since      
2004      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Robert P. Cornell

Age: 61

   Vice President    Since      
2007      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Financial Services Group of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since August 1993).

Christopher S. Crossan

Age: 45

   Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer    Since      
2004      
  

Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of all the DFA Entities.

James L. Davis

Age: 54

   Vice President    Since      
1999      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Robert T. Deere

Age: 53

   Vice President    Since      
1994      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities and DFA Australia Limited.

Peter F. Dillard

Age: 39

   Vice President    Since      
2010      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Research Associate for Dimensional Fund Advisors, LP (since August 2008). Formerly, Research Assistant for DFA from April 2006 – August 2008. Prior to April 2006, Manager at Hilton Hotels Corp. (September 2004 – April 2006).

Robert W. Dintzner

Age: 40

   Vice President    Since      
2001      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Chief Communications Officer (since 2010).

Beth Ann Dranguet

Age: 40

   Vice President    Since      
2010      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Counsel for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since July 2007). Formerly, Associate at Vinson & Elkins LLP (September 1999 – July 2007).

Kenneth Elmgren

Age: 56

   Vice President    Since      
2007      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Managing Principal of Beverly Capital (May 2004 to September 2006).

Richard A. Eustice

Age: 45

   Vice President and Assistant Secretary    Since      
1998      
  

Vice President and Assistant Secretary of all the DFA Entities and DFA Australia Limited. Chief Operating Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (since July 2008). Formerly, Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Eugene F. Fama, Jr.

Age: 50

   Vice President    Since      
1993      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Gretchen A. Flicker

Age: 39

   Vice President    Since
2004      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Jed S. Fogdall

Age: 36

   Vice President    Since      
2008      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2004).

 

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Table of Contents
Name and Age    Position    Term of      
Office1      
and      
Length of      
Service       
   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

Jeremy P. Freeman

Age: 40

   Vice President    Since      
2009      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Technology Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since June 2006). Formerly, Principal at AIM Investments/Amvescap PLC (now Invesco) (June 1998 – June 2006).

Mark R. Gochnour

Age: 43

   Vice President    Since      
2007      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

Henry F. Gray

Age: 43

   Vice President    Since      
2000      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited.

John T. Gray

Age: 36

   Vice President    Since      
2007      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (January 2005 to February 2007).

Joel H. Hefner

Age: 43

   Vice President    Since      
2007      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since June 1998).

Julie C. Henderson

Age: 36

   Vice President and Fund Controller    Since      
2005      
  

Vice President and Fund Controller of all the DFA Entities.

Kevin B. Hight

Age: 43

   Vice President    Since      
2005      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Christine W. Ho

Age: 43

   Vice President    Since      
2004      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Jeff J. Jeon

Age: 37

   Vice President    Since      
2004      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Patrick M. Keating

Age: 56

   Vice President    Since      
2003      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities and Chief Operating Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Director, Vice President, and Chief Privacy Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director of DFA Australia Limited.

David M. Kershner

Age: 39

   Vice President    Since      
2010      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since June 2004).

Joseph F. Kolerich

Age: 39

   Vice President    Since      
2004      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since April 2001).

Michael F. Lane

Age: 43

   Vice President    Since      
2004      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Kristina M. LaRusso

Age: 35

   Vice President    Since      
2006      
  

Vice President of all DFA Entities. Formerly, Operations Supervisor of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (March 2003 to December 2006).

Juliet H. Lee

Age: 40

   Vice President    Since      
2005      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Human Resources Manager of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2004).

Apollo D. Lupescu

Age: 41

   Vice President    Since      
2009      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since February 2004).

Kenneth M. Manell

Age: 38

   Vice President    Since      
2010      
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Counsel for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2006). Formerly, Assistant General Counsel at Castle & Cooke (January 2004 – September 2006).

Aaron M. Marcus

Age: 40

   Vice President and Head of Global Human Resources    Since      
2008      
  

Vice President of all DFA Entities and Head of Global Human Resources of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Formerly, Global Head of Recruiting and Vice President of Goldman Sachs & Co. (June 2006 to January 2008); Global Co-Head of HR of the Equities & FICC Division, and Vice President of Goldman Sachs & Co. (May 2005 to May 2006);

David R. Martin

Age: 54

   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    Since      
2007      
  

Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of all the DFA Entities. Director, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. and DFA Australia Limited. Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director of Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC. Formerly, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Janus Capital Group Inc. (June 2005 to March 2007).

 

18


Table of Contents
Name and Age    Position    Term of  
Office1  
and  
Length of  
Service  
   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

Catherine L. Newell

Age: 46

   Vice President and Secretary    Vice
President
since 1997
and
Secretary
since 2000
  

Vice President and Secretary of all the DFA Entities. Director, Vice President and Secretary of DFA Australia Limited. Director, Vice President and Secretary of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (since February 2002, April 1997, and May 2002, respectively). Vice President and Secretary of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director of Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC (since 2002 and 2006, respectively).

Christian Newton

Age: 35

   Vice President    Since
2009
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Web Services Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2008). Formerly, Design Manager (2005 – 2008) of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

Carolyn L. O

Age: 36

   Vice President    Since
2010
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Counsel for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2007). Prior to September 2007, Associate at K&L Gates LLP (January 2004 – September 2007).

Gerard K. O’Reilly

Age: 34

   Vice President    Since
2007
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Research Associate of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2004 to 2006).

Daniel C. Ong

Age: 37

   Vice President    Since
2009
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since July 2005).

Kyle K. Ozaki

Age: 32

   Vice President    Since
2010
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Compliance Officer for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2008). Formerly, Compliance Officer (February 2006 – December 2007) and Compliance Analyst (August 2004 – January 2006).

Carmen Palafox

Age: 36

   Vice President    Since
2006
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Operations Manager of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since May 1996).

Sonya K. Park

Age: 38

   Vice President    Since
2005
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

David A. Plecha

Age: 49

   Vice President    Since
1993
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities, DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Theodore W. Randall

Age: 37

   Vice President    Since
2008
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Research Associate of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2006 to 2008); Systems Developer of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2001 to 2006).

L. Jacobo Rodríguez

Age: 39

   Vice President    Since
2005
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Julie A. Saft

Age: 51

   Vice President    Since
2010
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Client Systems Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since July 2008). Formerly, Senior Manager at Vanguard (November 1997 – July 2008).

David E. Schneider

Age: 65

   Vice President    Since
2001
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Director of Institutional Services of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

Walid A. Shinnawi

Age: 49

   Vice President    Since
2010
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since March 2006). Formerly, Senior Director at Moody’s KMV (1999-March 2006).

Bruce A. Simmons

Age: 46

   Vice President    Since
2009
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Investment Operations Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since May 2007). Formerly, Vice President Client and Fund Reporting at Mellon Financial (September 2005 – May 2007).

Ted R. Simpson

Age: 42

   Vice President    Since
2007
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since December 2002).

Bryce D. Skaff

Age: 36

   Vice President    Since
2007
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (December 1999 to January 2007).

 

19


Table of Contents
Name and Age    Position    Term of    
Office1    
and    
Length of    
Service    
   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

Grady M. Smith

Age: 54

   Vice President    Since    
2004    
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Carl G. Snyder

Age: 47

   Vice President    Since    
2000    
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited.

Lawrence R. Spieth

Age: 63

   Vice President    Since    
2004    
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Bradley G. Steiman

Age: 37

   Vice President    Since    
2004    
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities and Director and Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

Robert C. Trotter

Age: 52

   Vice President    Since    
2009    
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Manager Technology for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since March 2007). Formerly, Director of Technology at AMVESCAP (2002 – 2007).

Karen E. Umland

Age: 44

   Vice President    Since    
1997    
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities, DFA Australia Limited, Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., and Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

Brian J. Walsh

Age: 41

   Vice President    Since    
2009    
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since 2004).

Weston J. Wellington

Age: 59

   Vice President    Since    
1997    
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited.

Ryan J. Wiley

Age: 34

   Vice President    Since    
2007    
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Trader of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Formerly, Portfolio Manager (2006 to 2007) and Trader (2001 to 2006).

Paul E. Wise

Age: 55

   Vice President    Since    
2005    
  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Chief Technology Officer for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since 2004).

1

Each officer holds office for an indefinite term at the pleasure of the Boards of Directors and until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

As of January 31, 2011, Directors and officers as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding stock of each Portfolio described in this SAI.

SERVICES TO THE FUND

Administrative Services— Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value and Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolios

The Fund has entered into administration agreements with the Advisor, on behalf of the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value and Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolios. Pursuant to the administration agreement, the Advisor performs various services, including: supervision of the services provided by the Portfolio’s custodian and transfer and dividend disbursing agent and others who provide services to the Fund for the benefit of the Portfolio; providing shareholders with information about the Portfolio and their investments as the shareholders or the Fund may request; assisting the Portfolio in conducting meetings of shareholders; furnishing information as the Board of Directors may require regarding the Master Fund; and any other administrative services for the benefit of the Portfolio as the Board of Directors may reasonably request. For its administrative services, the Portfolios are obligated to pay the Advisor a monthly fee based on average net assets equal to one-twelfth of the percentages listed below:

 

Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value

     0.15

Tax-Managed U.S. Equity

     0.15

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009 and the fiscal period from December 1, 2007 to October 31, 2008, the Portfolios paid administrative fees to the Advisor as set forth in the following table (the dollar amount is shown prior to any fee waivers by the Advisor):

 

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Table of Contents
    

Fiscal Year
Ended

2010

   

Fiscal Year
Ended

2009

   

Fiscal Period
Ended

2008

 

Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value

   $ 2,683,000      $ 2,085,000      $ 3,274,000   

Tax-Managed U.S. Equity

   $ 1,835,000 1    $ 1,549,000 2    $ 2,379,000 3 

 

  1

$1,689,000 after waiver

  2

$1,182,000 after waiver

  3

$2,229,000 after waiver

Pursuant to an Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and/or Expense Assumption Agreement for the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio, the Advisor has contractually agreed to waive its administration fee and assume the expenses of the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio to the extent necessary to reduce the Portfolio’s expenses when its total operating expenses exceed 0.22% of the average net assets of the Portfolio on an annualized basis. At any time that the annualized expenses of the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio are less than 0.22% of the Portfolio’s average net assets on an annualized basis, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or any expenses previously assumed to the extent that such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s annualized expenses to exceed 0.22% of its average net assets. The Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees waived or expenses assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement. The Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and/or Expense Assumption Agreement for the Portfolio will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by the Fund or the Advisor.

Administrative Services—All Portfolios

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”) (formerly, PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.), 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809, serves as the accounting services, dividend disbursing and transfer agent for all the Portfolios and the Master Fund. The services provided by BNY Mellon are subject to supervision by the executive officers and the Board of Directors of the Fund, and include day-to-day keeping and maintenance of certain records, calculation of the offering price of the shares, preparation of reports, liaison with its custodians, and transfer and dividend disbursing agency services. For the administrative and accounting services provided by BNY Mellon, the Master Fund and non-Feeder Portfolios pay BNY Mellon annual fees that are calculated daily and paid monthly according to a fee schedule based on the aggregate average net assets of the Fund Complex, which includes four registered investment companies and a group trust. The fee schedule is set forth in the table below:

 

    

.0110% of the Fund Complex’s first $50 billion of average net assets;

    

.0085% of the Fund Complex’s next $25 billion of average net assets; and

    

.0075% of the Fund Complex’s average net assets in excess of $75 billion.

The fees charged to the Master Fund or non-Feeder Portfolios under the fee schedule are allocated to each such Master Fund or non-Feeder Portfolio based on the Master Fund’s or non-Feeder Portfolio’s pro-rata portion of the aggregate average net assets of the Fund Complex.

The Master Fund and non-Feeder Portfolios are also subject to a monthly base fee. The Master Fund, the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio, Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio and T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio are each subject to a monthly base fee of $1,666. The Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio and T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio are each subject to a monthly base fee of $2,083. The Feeder Portfolio is subject to a monthly fee of $1,000. The Portfolios also pay separate fees to BNY Mellon with respect to the services BNY Mellon provides as transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent.

Custodians

Citibank, N.A., 111 Wall Street, New York, New York, 10005, is the global custodian for the Tax-

 

21


Table of Contents

Managed DFA International Value Portfolio and T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio, and PFPC Trust Company (to be renamed BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company effective July 1, 2011), 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809, serves as the custodian for all of the other Portfolios and the Master Fund.

Distributor

The Fund’s shares are distributed by DFA Securities LLC (formerly, DFA Securities Inc.) (“DFAS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Advisor. DFAS is registered as a limited purpose broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. The principal business address of DFAS is 1299 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, California 90401.

DFAS acts as an agent of the Fund by serving as the principal underwriter of the Fund’s shares. Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement with the Fund, DFAS uses its best efforts to seek or arrange for the sale of shares of the Fund, which are continuously offered. No sales charges are paid by investors or the Fund. No compensation is paid by the Fund to DFAS under the Distribution Agreement.

Legal Counsel

Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP serves as legal counsel to the Fund. Its address is 2600 One Commerce Square, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7098.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) is the independent registered public accounting firm to the Fund and audits the annual financial statements of the Fund. PwC’s address is Two Commerce Square, Suite 1700, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042.

ADVISORY FEES

David G. Booth and Rex A. Sinquefield, as directors and/or officers of the Advisor and shareholders of the outstanding stock of the Advisor’s general partner, may be deemed controlling persons of the Advisor. Mr. Booth also serves as Director and officer of the Fund. For the services it provides as investment advisor to each non-Feeder Portfolio (or, with respect to the Feeder Portfolio, its corresponding Master Fund), the Advisor is paid a monthly fee calculated as a percentage of average net assets of the Portfolio (or, with respect to the Feeder Portfolio, corresponding Master Fund). The Advisor is paid no fee for the services it provides as investment adviser to the Feeder Portfolios. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009 and the fiscal period from December 1, 2007 to October 31, 2008, the Portfolios (or the Master Fund) paid management fees to the Advisor as set forth in the following table (the dollar amount is shown prior to any fee waivers by the Advisor):

    

Fiscal Year
Ended

2010

(000)

  

Fiscal Year
Ended

2009

(000)

    

Fiscal Period
Ended

2008

(000)

 

The Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series(a)

   $  5,042      $  3,861            $  6,098      

Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio (b)

   $  612        $ 516                $ 793          

Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

   $  8,301      $  6,097            $  9,702      

Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio

   $  5,332      $  4,333            $  7,145      

T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio(c)

   $  3,883      $  2,406            $  7892         

Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio

   $  8,402      $  6,701            $  10,673    

T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio(d)

   $  3,188      $ 1,9111            $  2643        

 

  1

$ 2,046 after recoupment of previously waived fees

  2

$ 813 after waiver and reimbursement by the Advisor

  3

$97 after waiver

 

22


Table of Contents
(a)

The Master Fund has more than one Feeder Portfolio; the dollar amount represents the total dollar amount of management fees paid by the Master Fund to the Advisor. The Feeder Portfolio has entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Advisor, under which the Advisor, for no additional compensation, manages the portion of the feeder’s assets that are retained by the feeder for cash management purposes and, at its discretion, may make a determination to withdraw the Feeder’s investment from the Master Fund to invest in another Master Fund if the Advisor believes it is in the best interests of the feeder and its shareholders to do so.

 

(b)

Prior to February 28, 2011, the Portfolio was a Feeder Portfolio and the dollar amount prior to February 28, 2011 represents the amount paid by the Master Fund in which the Portfolio invested its assets. Prior to February 28, 2011, the Master Fund had more than one feeder portfolio and/or direct investor and, therefore, the dollar amount represents the total dollar amount of management fees paid by the Master Fund to the Advisor for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

 

(c)

Pursuant to an Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and/or Expense Assumption Agreement for the T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio, the Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and to assume the T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio’s ordinary operating expenses (excluding the expenses the Portfolio incurs indirectly through investment in other investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) to the extent necessary to limit the Portfolio Expenses to 0.30% of the Portfolio’s average net assets on an annualized basis (the “Expense Limitation Amount”). At any time that the Portfolio’s annualized Portfolio Expenses are less than the Portfolio’s Expense Limitation Amount, described in the prior sentence, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s annualized expenses to exceed the Expense Limitation Amount. The Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement. The Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and/or Expense Assumption Agreement for the Portfolio will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by the Fund or the Advisor.

 

(d)

The T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio commenced operations on March 6, 2008. Pursuant to an Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and/or Expense Assumption Agreement for the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio, the Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and to assume the expenses of the T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio (including the expenses that the Portfolio bears as a shareholder of other funds managed by the Advisor but excluding the expenses that the Portfolio incurs indirectly through its investment in unaffiliated investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) to the extent necessary to limit the Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio to 0.60% of the Portfolio’s average net assets on an annualized basis (the “Expense Limitation Amount”). At any time that the Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio are less than the Portfolio’s Expense Limitation Amount, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s annualized Portfolio Expenses to exceed the Portfolio’s Expense Limitation Amount. The Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement. . The Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and/or Expense Assumption Agreement for the Portfolios will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by the Fund or the Advisor.

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

In accordance with the team approach used to manage the Portfolios and Master Fund, the portfolio managers and portfolio traders implement the policies and procedures established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers and portfolio traders also make daily investment decisions regarding the Portfolios (or for the Feeder Portfolio, its Master Fund) including running buy and sell programs based on the parameters established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers named below coordinate the efforts of all other portfolio managers with respect to the day to day management of the category of portfolios indicated.

 

Domestic Equity Portfolios

  

Stephen A. Clark

 

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Table of Contents

International Equity Portfolios

   Stephen A. Clark, Karen E. Umland, Joseph H. Chi and Jed S. Fogdall

Investments in Each Portfolio

Information relating to each portfolio manager’s ownership (including the ownership of his or her immediate family) in the Portfolio(s) contained in this SAI that he or she manages as of October 31, 2010 is set forth in the chart below.

 

Name of Portfolio

Manager

   Portfolio  

Dollar Range of Portfolio

Shares Owned

Stephen A. Clark

   Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio1

Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio

Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio

T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio

Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio

T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio

  None

None

None

None

None

None

$100,001-$500,000

Karen E. Umland

   Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio

T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio

  None

None

Joseph H. Chi

   Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio

T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio

  None

None

Jed S. Fogdall

   Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio

T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio

  None

None

 

 

  1

Stephen A. Clark serves as the portfolio manager for the Portfolio and for the Master Fund in which the Portfolio invests substantially all of its assets.

Description of Compensation Structure

Portfolio managers receive a base salary and bonus. Compensation of a portfolio manager is determined at the discretion of the Advisor and is based on a portfolio manager’s experience, responsibilities, the perception of the quality of his or her work efforts, and other subjective factors. The compensation of portfolio managers is not directly based upon the performance of the portfolio or other accounts that the portfolio managers manage. The Advisor reviews the compensation of each portfolio manager annually and may make modifications in compensation as deemed necessary to reflect changes in the market. Each portfolio manager’s compensation consists of the following:

 

 

Base salary. Each portfolio manager is paid a base salary. The Advisor considers the factors described above to determine each portfolio manager’s base salary.

 

 

Semi-Annual Bonus. Each portfolio manager may receive a semi-annual bonus. The amount of the bonus paid to each portfolio manager is based upon the factors described above.

Portfolio managers may be awarded the right to purchase restricted shares of the stock of the Advisor, as determined from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Advisor or its delegees. Portfolio managers also participate in benefit and retirement plans and other programs available generally to all employees.

In addition, portfolio managers may be given the option of participating in the Advisor’s Long Term

 

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Table of Contents

Incentive Plan. The level of participation for eligible employees may be dependent on overall level of compensation, among other considerations. Participation in this program is not based on or related to the performance of any individual strategies or any particular client accounts.

Other Managed Accounts

In addition to the Portfolios (or with respect to the Feeder Portfolio, the Master Fund in which the Feeder Portfolio invests substantially all of its assets), each portfolio manager manages (i) other U.S. registered investment companies advised or sub-advised by the Advisor, (ii) other pooled investment vehicles that are not U.S. registered mutual funds and (iii) other accounts managed for organizations and individuals. The following table sets forth information regarding the total accounts for which each portfolio manager has the primary responsibility for coordinating the day-to-day management responsibilities.

 

Name of Portfolio Manager   

Number of Accounts Managed and Total

Assets by Category As of October 31, 2010

 

    

Stephen A. Clark

  

  92 U.S. registered mutual funds with $133,626 million in total assets under management.

 

  20 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $25,316 million in total assets under management. Out of these unregistered pooled investment vehicles, one client with an investment of $220 million in an unregistered pooled investment vehicle pays a performance-based advisory fee.

 

  73 other accounts with $11,603 million in total assets under management, of which one account with $731 million in assets may be subject to a performance fee.

  

Karen E. Umland

  

  37 U.S. registered mutual funds with $58,973 million in total assets under management.

 

  4 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $1,303 million in total assets under management.

 

  26 other accounts with $7,671 million in total assets under management, of which one account with $731 million in assets may be subject to a performance fee.

  

Joseph H. Chi

  

  37 U.S. registered mutual funds with $58,973 million in total assets under management.

 

  4 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $1,303 million in total assets under management.

 

  26 other accounts with $7,671 million in total assets under management, of which one account with $731 million in assets may be subject to a performance fee.

  

Jed S. Fogdall

  

  37 U.S. registered mutual funds with $58,973 million in total assets under management.

 

  4 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $1,303 million in total assets under management.

 

  26 other accounts with $7,671 million in total assets under management, of which one account with $731 million in assets may be subject to a performance fee.

  

Potential Conflicts of Interest

 

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Table of Contents

Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has the primary day-to-day responsibilities with respect to more than one Portfolio/Master Fund and other accounts. Other accounts include registered mutual funds (other than the Portfolios (or Master Fund in which the Feeder Portfolio invests) in this SAI), other unregistered pooled investment vehicles, and other accounts managed for organizations and individuals (“Accounts”). An Account may have similar investment objectives to a Portfolio/Master Fund, or may purchase, sell or hold securities that are eligible to be purchased, sold or held by a Portfolio/Master Fund. Actual or apparent conflicts of interest include:

 

   

Time Management. The management of multiple Portfolios/Master Funds and/or Accounts may result in a portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of each Portfolio/Master Fund and/or Accounts. The Advisor seeks to manage such competing interests for the time and attention of portfolio managers by having portfolio managers focus on a particular investment discipline. Most Accounts managed by a portfolio manager are managed using the same investment models that are used in connection with the management of the Portfolios/Master Fund.

 

   

Investment Opportunities. It is possible that at times identical securities will be held by more than one Portfolio/Master Fund and/or Account. However, positions in the same security may vary and the length of time that any Portfolio/Master Fund or Account may choose to hold its investment in the same security may likewise vary. If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity that may be suitable for more than one Portfolio/Master Fund or Account, a Portfolio/Master Fund may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to an allocation of filled purchase or sale orders across all eligible Portfolios/Master Funds and Accounts. To deal with these situations, the Advisor has adopted procedures for allocating portfolio transactions across multiple Portfolios/Master Funds and Accounts.

 

   

Broker Selection. With respect to securities transactions for the Portfolios/Master Funds, the Advisor determines which broker to use to execute each order, consistent with its duty to seek best execution of the transaction. However, with respect to certain Accounts (such as separate accounts), the Advisor may be limited by the client with respect to the selection of brokers or may be instructed to direct trades through a particular broker. In these cases, the Advisor or its affiliates may place separate, non-simultaneous, transactions for a Portfolio/Master Fund and another Account that may temporarily affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment of the Portfolio/Master Fund or the Account.

 

   

Performance-Based Fees. For some Accounts, the Advisor may be compensated based on the profitability of the Account, such as by a performance-based management fee. These incentive compensation structures may create a conflict of interest for the Advisor with regard to Accounts where the Advisor is paid based on a percentage of assets because the portfolio manager may have an incentive to allocate securities preferentially to the Accounts where the Advisor might share in investment gains.

 

   

Investment in an Account. A portfolio manager or his/her relatives may invest in an Account that he or she manages and a conflict may arise where he or she may therefore have an incentive to treat the Account in which the portfolio manager or his/her relatives invest preferentially as compared to other Accounts for which he or she has portfolio management responsibilities.

The Advisor and the Fund have adopted certain compliance procedures that are reasonably designed to address these types of conflicts. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Fund was incorporated under Maryland law on June 15, 1981. Until June 1983, the Fund was named DFA Small Company Fund Inc. The Fund commenced offering shares of Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio, Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio and Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio in December 1998; and Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio on April 16, 1999. The Fund commenced offering

 

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shares of the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio on September 25, 2001. Effective February 28, 2011, the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio is no longer a feeder portfolio and now holds the portfolio securities previously held by The Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Series, the Master Fund in which the Portfolio invested.

The DFA Investment Trust Company was organized as a Delaware statutory trust (a form of entity formerly known as a business trust) on October 27, 1992. The Trust offers shares of the Master Fund only to institutional investors in private offerings.

Until April 1, 2001, the Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio was known as the Tax-Managed U.S. 6-10 Small Company Portfolio. Until September 24, 2001, the Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio was known as the Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Portfolio. From December 1998 to April 1, 2001, the Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio was known as the Tax-Managed U.S. 5-10 Value Portfolio. From April 1, 2001 to March 29, 2007, the Tax- Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio was known as the Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio.

CODE OF ETHICS

The Fund, the Trust, the Advisor and DFAS have adopted a Code of Ethics, under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act, for certain access persons of the Portfolios and the Master Fund. The Code is designed to ensure that access persons act in the interest of the Portfolios and Master Fund, and their shareholders, with respect to any personal trading of securities. Under the Code, access persons are generally prohibited from knowingly buying or selling securities (except for mutual funds, U.S. government securities and money market instruments) which are being purchased, sold or considered for purchase or sale by a Portfolio or Master Fund unless their proposed purchases are approved in advance. The Code also contains certain reporting requirements and securities trading clearance procedures.

SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS

The shares of each Portfolio, when issued and paid for in accordance with the Portfolio’s Prospectus, will be fully paid and non-assessable shares. Each share of common stock of a Portfolio represents an equal proportional interest in the assets and liabilities of the Portfolio and has identical, non-cumulative voting, dividend, redemption liquidation, and other rights and preferences.

With respect to matters which require shareholder approval, shareholders are entitled to vote only with respect to matters which affect the interest of the class of shares (Portfolio) which they hold, except as otherwise required by applicable law. If liquidation of the Fund should occur, the Fund’s shareholders would be entitled to receive on a per class basis the assets of the particular Portfolio whose shares they own, as well as a proportionate share of Fund assets not attributable to any particular class. Ordinarily, the Fund does not intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders, except as required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law. The Fund’s bylaws provide that special meetings of shareholders shall be called at the written request of shareholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting. Such meeting may be called to consider any matter, including the removal of one or more Directors. Shareholders will receive shareholder communications with respect to such matters as required by the 1940 Act, including semi-annual and annual financial statements of the Fund, the latter being audited.

Whenever the Feeder Portfolio, as an investor in its Master Fund, is asked to vote on a shareholder proposal, the Fund will solicit voting instructions from the Feeder Portfolio’s shareholders with respect to the proposal. The Directors of the Fund will then vote the Feeder Portfolio’s shares in the Master Fund in accordance with the voting instructions received from the Feeder Portfolio’s shareholders. The Directors of the Fund will vote shares of the Feeder Portfolio for which they receive no voting instructions in accordance with their best judgment. If a majority shareholder of the Master Fund declares bankruptcy, a majority in interest of the remaining shareholders in the Master Fund must vote to approve the continuing existence of the Master Fund or the Master Fund will be liquidated.

 

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PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

As of January 31, 2011, the following persons beneficially owned 5% or more of the outstanding stock of the Portfolios, as set forth below:

TAX-MANAGED U.S. MARKETWIDE VALUE PORTFOLIO

 

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

     60.87  

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

    

National Financial Services LLC*

     15.55  

200 Liberty Street

One World Financial Center

New York, NY 10281

    

Ameritrade, Inc.*

     13.88  

1005 N. Ameritrade Place

Bellevue, NE 68005

    

Trust Company of America*

     5.65  

P.O. Box 6503

Englewood, CO 80155

    

TAX-MANAGED U.S. TARGETED VALUE PORTFOLIO

 

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*1

     72.12  

National Financial Services LLC*1

     12.88  

Ameritrade, Inc. *1

     10.91  

TAX-MANAGED U.S. SMALL CAP PORTFOLIO

 

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*1

     72.27  

Ameritrade, Inc. *1

     12.33  

National Financial Services LLC*1

     10.36  

TAX-MANAGED DFA INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO

 

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*1

     70.22  

National Financial Services LLC*1

     12.17  

Ameritrade, Inc. *1

     12.10  

TAX-MANAGED U.S. EQUITY PORTFOLIO

 

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*1

     63.79  

National Financial Services LLC*1

     12.20  

 

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Ameritrade, Inc. *1

     8.34  

T.A. U.S. CORE EQUITY 2 PORTFOLIO

 

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*1

     54.50  

National Financial Services LLC*1

     24.67  

Ameritrade, Inc.*1

     14.13  

T.A. WORLD EX U.S. CORE EQUITY PORTFOLIO

 

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*1

     47.33  

National Financial Services LLC*1

     29.62  

Ameritrade, Inc.*1

     13.73  

 

*

Owner of record only (omnibus).

 

1

See address for shareholder previously noted above in list.

Shareholder inquiries may be made by writing or calling the Fund at the address or telephone number appearing on the cover of this SAI. Only those individuals whose signatures are on file for the account in question may receive specific account information or make changes in the account registration.

PURCHASE OF SHARES

The following information supplements the information set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “PURCHASE OF SHARES.”

The Fund will accept purchase and redemption orders on each day that the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for business, regardless of whether the Federal Reserve System is closed. However, no purchases by wire may be made on any day that the Federal Reserve System is closed. The Fund generally will be closed on days that the NYSE is closed. The NYSE is scheduled to be open Monday through Friday throughout the year except for days closed to recognize New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The Federal Reserve System is closed on the same days as the NYSE, except that it is open on Good Friday and closed on Columbus Day and Veterans’ Day. Orders for redemptions and purchases will not be processed if the Fund is closed.

The Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend the offering of shares of any or all Portfolios or reject purchase orders when, in the judgment of management, such suspension or rejection is in the best interest of the Fund or a Portfolio. Securities accepted in exchange for shares of a Portfolio will be acquired for investment purposes and will be considered for sale under the same circumstances as other securities in the Portfolio.

The Fund or its transfer agent may from time to time appoint a sub-transfer agent, such as a broker, for the receipt of purchase and redemption orders and funds from certain investors. With respect to purchases and redemptions through a sub-transfer agent, the Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when the sub-transfer agent receives the order. Shares of a Portfolio will be priced at the public offering price next calculated after receipt of the purchase or redemption order by the sub-transfer agent.

 

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Reimbursement fees may be charged prospectively from time to time based upon the future experience of the Portfolios, which are currently sold at net asset value. Any such charges will be described in the prospectus.

REDEMPTION AND TRANSFER OF SHARES

The following information supplements the information set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “REDEMPTION OF SHARES.”

The Fund may suspend redemption privileges or postpone the date of payment: (1) during any period when the NYSE is closed, or trading on the NYSE is restricted as determined by the SEC, (2) during any period when an emergency exists as defined by the rules of the SEC as a result of which it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund to dispose of securities owned by it, or fairly to determine the value of its assets and (3) for such other periods as the SEC may permit.

Shareholders may transfer shares of any Portfolio to another person by making a written request to the Advisor who will transmit the request to the Transfer Agent. The request should clearly identify the account and number of shares to be transferred, and include the signature of all registered owners and all stock certificates, if any, which are subject to the transfer. The signature on the letter of request, the stock certificate or any stock power must be guaranteed in the same manner as described in the prospectus under “REDEMPTION OF SHARES.” As with redemptions, the written request must be received in good order before any transfer can be made.

TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIO AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS

The following is a summary of some of the federal income tax consequences of investing in a Portfolio (sometimes referred to as “the Portfolio”). Unless you are invested in the Portfolio through a qualified retirement plan, you should consider the tax implications of investing and consult your own tax advisor. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Portfolio or its shareholders, and the discussion here and in the Prospectus is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning.

This “TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIO AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS” section is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and applicable regulations in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative, regulatory or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly change the tax rules applicable to the Portfolio and its shareholders. Any of these changes or court decisions may have a retroactive effect.

Different tax rules may apply depending on how a Master Fund in which a Feeder Portfolio invests is organized for federal income tax purposes. These rules could affect the amount, timing or character of the income distributed to shareholders of a Portfolio. The Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio invests in a Master Fund which is organized as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.

Unless otherwise indicated, the discussion below with respect to a Portfolio includes in the case of a Feeder Portfolio, its pro rata share of its corresponding Master Fund’s income and assets.”

This is for general information only and not tax advice and does not purport to deal with all federal tax consequences applicable to all categories of investors, some of which may be subject to special rules. You should consult your own tax advisor regarding your particular circumstances before making an investment in the Portfolio.

Taxation of the Portfolio

The Portfolio has elected and intends to qualify (or, if newly organized, intends to elect and qualify) each year as a regulated investment company (sometimes referred to as a “regulated investment company,” “RIC” or “portfolio”) under Subchapter M of the Code. If the Portfolio qualifies, the Portfolio will not be subject to federal

 

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income tax on the portion of its investment company taxable income (that is, generally, taxable interest, dividends, net short-term capital gains, and other taxable ordinary income, net of expenses, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and net capital gain (that is, the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) that it distributes to shareholders.

Qualification as a regulated investment company. In order to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, the Portfolio must satisfy the following requirements:

 

 

Distribution Requirement —the Portfolio must distribute at least 90% of its investment company taxable income and 90% of its net tax-exempt income, if any, for the tax year (certain distributions made by the Portfolio after the close of its tax year are considered distributions attributable to the previous tax year for purposes of satisfying this requirement).

 

 

Income Requirement —the Portfolio must derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived from its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies and net income derived from qualified publicly traded partnerships (“QPTPs”).

 

 

Asset Diversification Test —the Portfolio must satisfy the following asset diversification test at the close of each quarter of the Portfolio’s tax year: (1) at least 50% of the value of the Portfolio’s assets must consist of cash and cash items, U.S. Government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and securities of other issuers (as to which the Portfolio has not invested more than 5% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets in securities of an issuer and as to which the Portfolio does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer); and (2) no more than 25% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets may be invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies) or of two or more issuers which the Portfolio controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses, or, collectively, in the securities of QPTPs.

In some circumstances, the character and timing of income realized by the Portfolio for purposes of the Income Requirement or the identification of the issuer for purposes of the Asset Diversification Test is uncertain under current law with respect to a particular investment, and an adverse determination or future guidance by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) with respect to such type of investment may adversely affect the Portfolio’s ability to satisfy these requirements. SeeTax Treatment of Portfolio Transactions” below with respect to the application of these requirements to certain types of investments. In other circumstances, the Portfolio may be required to sell portfolio holdings in order to meet the Income Requirement, Distribution Requirement, or Asset Diversification Test which may have a negative impact on the Portfolio’s income and performance.

The Portfolio may use “equalization accounting” (in lieu of making some cash distributions) in determining the portion of its income and gains that has been distributed. If the Portfolio uses equalization accounting, it will allocate a portion of its undistributed investment company taxable income and net capital gain to redemptions of Portfolio shares and will correspondingly reduce the amount of such income and gains that it distributes in cash. If the IRS determines that the Portfolio’s allocation is improper and that the Portfolio has under-distributed its income and gain for any taxable year, the Portfolio may be liable for federal income and/or excise tax. In addition, any such under-distribution of income might cause the Portfolio to fail to satisfy the Income Requirement and thereby not qualify as a regulated investment company for such taxable year.

If for any taxable year the Portfolio does not qualify as a regulated investment company, all of its taxable income (including its net capital gain) would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders, and the dividends would be taxable to the shareholders as ordinary income (or possibly as qualified dividend income) to the extent of the Portfolio’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Failure to qualify as a regulated investment company would thus have a negative impact on the Portfolio’s income and performance. Subject to savings provisions for certain inadvertent failures to satisfy the Income Requirement or

 

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Asset Diversification Test which, in general, are limited to those due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, it is possible that the Portfolio will not qualify as a regulated investment company in any given tax year. Even if such savings provisions apply, the Portfolio may be subject to a monetary sanction of $50,000 or more. Moreover, the Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of the Portfolio as a regulated investment company if it determines such a course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.

Portfolio turnover. For investors that hold their Portfolio shares in a taxable account, a high portfolio turnover rate (except in a money market fund that maintains a stable net asset value) may result in higher taxes. This is because a portfolio with a high turnover rate is likely to generate more short-term and less long-term capital gain or loss than a comparable portfolio with a low turnover rate. Any such higher taxes would reduce the Portfolio’s after-tax performance.

Capital loss carryovers. The capital losses of the Portfolio, if any, do not flow through to shareholders. Rather, the Portfolio may use its capital losses, subject to applicable limitations, to offset its capital gains without being required to pay taxes on or distribute to shareholders such gains that are offset by the losses. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (“RIC Mod Act”), if the Portfolio has a “net capital loss” (that is, capital losses in excess of capital gains) for a taxable year beginning after December 22, 2010 (the date of enactment of the RIC Mod Act), the excess (if any) of the Portfolio’s net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gains is treated as a short-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Portfolio’s next taxable year, and the excess (if any) of the Portfolio’s net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gains is treated as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Portfolio’s next taxable year. Any such net capital losses of the Portfolio that are not used to offset capital gains may be carried forward indefinitely to reduce any future capital gains realized by the Portfolio in succeeding taxable years. However, for any net capital losses realized in taxable years of the Portfolio beginning on or before December 22, 2010, the Portfolio is only permitted to carry forward such capital losses for eight years as a short-term capital loss. Under a transition rule, capital losses arising in a taxable year beginning after December 22, 2010 must be used before capital losses realized in a prior taxable year. The amount of capital losses that can be carried forward and used in any single year is subject to an annual limitation if there is a more than 50% “change in ownership” of the Portfolio. An ownership change generally results when shareholders owning 5% or more of the Portfolio increase their aggregate holdings by more than 50% over a three-year look-back period. An ownership change could result in capital loss carryovers being used at a slower rate (or, in the case of those realized in taxable years of the Portfolio beginning on or before December 22, 2010, to expire unutilized), thereby reducing the Portfolio’s ability to offset capital gains with those losses. An increase in the amount of taxable gains distributed to the Portfolio’s shareholders could result from an ownership change. The Portfolio undertakes no obligation to avoid or prevent an ownership change, which can occur in the normal course of shareholder purchases and redemptions or as a result of engaging in a tax-free reorganization with another portfolio. Moreover, because of circumstances beyond the Portfolio’s control, there can be no assurance that the Portfolio will not experience, or has not already experienced, an ownership change.

Deferral of late year losses. For taxable years of the Portfolio beginning after December 22, 2010, the Portfolio may elect to treat part or all of any “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in determining the Portfolio’s taxable income, net capital gain, net short-term capital gain, and earnings and profits. The effect of this election is to treat any such “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in characterizing Portfolio distributions for any calendar year (see “Distributions of Capital Gains” below). A “qualified late year loss” includes:

 

 

any net capital loss, net long-term capital loss, or net short-term capital loss incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year (“post-October losses”), and

 

 

the excess, if any, of (1) the sum of (a) specified losses incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year, and (b) other ordinary losses incurred after December 31 of the current taxable year, over (2) the sum of (a) specified gains incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year, and (b) other ordinary gains incurred after December 31 of the current taxable year.

The terms “specified losses” and “specified gains” mean ordinary losses and gains from the sale, exchange, or other

 

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disposition of property (including the termination of a position with respect to such property), foreign currency losses, and losses resulting from holding stock in a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) for which a mark-to-market election is in effect. The terms “ordinary losses” and “ordinary gains” mean other ordinary losses and gains that are not described in the preceding sentence. Since the Portfolio has a fiscal year ending in October, the amount of qualified late-year losses (if any) is computed without regard to any items of income, gain, or loss that are (a) post-October losses, (b) specified losses, and (c) specified gains.

Undistributed capital gains. The Portfolio may retain or distribute to shareholders its net capital gain for each taxable year. The Portfolio currently intends to distribute net capital gains. If the Portfolio elects to retain its net capital gain, the Portfolio will be taxed thereon (except to the extent of any available capital loss carryovers) at the highest corporate tax rate (currently 35%). If the Portfolio elects to retain its net capital gain, it is expected that the Portfolio also will elect to have shareholders treated as if each received a distribution of its pro rata share of such gain, with the result that each shareholder will be required to report its pro rata share of such gain on its tax return as long-term capital gain, will receive a refundable tax credit for its pro rata share of tax paid by the Portfolio on the gain, and will increase the tax basis for its shares by an amount equal to the deemed distribution less the tax credit.

Excise tax distribution requirements. To avoid a 4% federal excise tax, the Code requires the Portfolio to distribute to you by December 31 of each year, at a minimum, the following amounts: 98% of its taxable ordinary income earned during the calendar year; 98% (or 98.2% beginning January 1, 2011) of its capital gain net income earned during the twelve-month period ending October 31; and 100% of any undistributed amounts from the prior year. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay these distributions in December (or to pay them in January, in which case you must treat them as received in December) but can give no assurances that its distributions will be sufficient to eliminate all taxes.

Foreign income tax. Investment income received by the Portfolio from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign income tax withheld at the source and the amount of tax withheld generally will be treated as an expense of the Portfolio. The United States has entered into tax treaties with many foreign countries which entitle the Portfolio to a reduced rate of, or exemption from, tax on such income. It is impossible to determine the effective rate of foreign tax in advance since the amount of the Portfolio's assets to be invested in various countries is not known. Under certain circumstances, the Portfolio may elect to pass-through foreign tax credits to shareholders, although it reserves the right not to do so. See “Investment in Foreign SecuritiesPass-through of foreign tax credits” below.

Distributions of Net Investment Income

The Portfolio receives ordinary income generally in the form of dividends and/or interest on its investments. In the case of a Feeder Portfolio that invests in a Master Fund, the Portfolio’s income generally consists of its share of dividends and interest earned by the Master Fund. The Portfolio may also recognize ordinary income from other sources, including, but not limited to, certain gains on foreign currency-related transactions. This income, less expenses incurred in the operation of the Portfolio, constitutes the Portfolio's net investment income from which dividends may be paid to you. If you are a taxable investor, distributions of net investment income generally are taxable as ordinary income to the extent of the Portfolio’s earnings and profits. In the case of a Portfolio whose strategy includes investing in stocks of corporations, a portion of the income dividends paid to shareholders by a Portfolio may be qualified dividends eligible to be taxed at reduced rates.

Distributions of Capital Gains

The Portfolio may realize a capital gain or loss in connection with sales or other dispositions of its portfolio securities. Distributions derived from the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss will be taxable to you as ordinary income. Distributions from the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long you have held your shares in the Portfolio. Any net capital gain of the Portfolio generally will be distributed once each year, and may be distributed more frequently, if necessary, to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the Portfolio.

 

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Returns of Capital

Distributions by the Portfolio that are not paid from earnings and profits will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of (and in reduction of) the shareholder's tax basis in his shares; any excess will be treated as gain from the sale of his shares. Thus, the portion of a distribution that constitutes a return of capital will decrease the shareholder’s tax basis in his Portfolio shares (but not below zero), and will result in an increase in the amount of gain (or decrease in the amount of loss) that will be recognized by the shareholder for tax purposes on the later sale of such Portfolio shares. Return of capital distributions can occur for a number of reasons including, among others, the Portfolio over-estimates the income to be received from certain investments such as those classified as partnerships or equity REITs (see “Tax Treatment of Portfolio Transactions — Investments in U.S. REITs” below).

Investment in Foreign Securities

The Portfolio may be subject to foreign withholding taxes on income from certain foreign securities. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes on the Portfolio and/or its shareholders. Any foreign withholding taxes could reduce the Portfolio’s distributions paid to you.

Pass-through of foreign tax credits. If at the end of the fiscal year more than 50% in value of the total assets of the Portfolio (or, in the case of a Feeder Portfolio, more than 50% in value of the total assets of the Feeder Portfolio attributable from the Master Fund) are invested in securities of foreign corporations, the Portfolio may elect to pass through to its shareholders their pro rata share of foreign income taxes paid by the Portfolio (or Master Fund). If this election is made, the Portfolio may report more taxable income to you than it actually distributes. You will then be entitled either to deduct your share of these taxes in computing your taxable income or to claim a foreign tax credit for these taxes against your U.S. federal income tax (subject to limitations for certain shareholders). The Portfolio will provide you with the information necessary to claim this deduction or credit on your personal income tax return if it makes this election. The Portfolio (or Master Fund) reserves the right not to pass through to its shareholders the amount of foreign income taxes paid by the Portfolio (or Master Fund).

The amount of any foreign tax credits available to you (as a result of the pass-through to you of your pro rata share of foreign taxes paid by the Portfolio) will be reduced if you receive from the Portfolio qualifying dividends from qualifying foreign corporations that are subject to tax at reduced rates. Shareholders in these circumstances should talk with their personal tax advisors about their foreign tax credits and the procedures that they should follow to claim these credits on their personal income tax returns.

Effect of foreign debt investments on distributions. Most foreign exchange gains realized on the sale of debt securities are treated by the Portfolio as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes. Similarly, foreign exchange losses realized on the sale of debt securities generally are treated as ordinary losses. These gains when distributed are taxable to you as ordinary income, and any losses reduce the Portfolio’s ordinary income otherwise available for distribution to you. This treatment could increase or decrease the Portfolio’s ordinary income distributions to you, and may cause some or all of the Portfolio’s previously distributed income to be classified as a return of capital.

PFIC securities. The Portfolio may invest in securities of foreign entities that could be deemed for tax purposes to be PFICs. In general, a PFIC is any foreign corporation if 75% or more of its gross income for its taxable year is passive income, or 50% or more of its average assets (by value) are held for the production of passive income. When investing in PFIC securities, the Portfolio intends to mark-to-market these securities and recognize any unrealized gains as ordinary income at the end of its fiscal year. Deductions for losses are allowable only to the extent of any current or previously recognized gains. These gains (reduced by allowable losses) are treated as ordinary income that the Portfolio is required to distribute, even though it has not sold or received dividends from these securities. You should also be aware that the designation of a foreign security as a PFIC security will cause its income dividends to fall outside of the definition of qualified foreign corporation dividends. These dividends generally will not qualify for the reduced rate of taxation on qualified dividends when distributed to you by the Portfolio. In addition, if the Portfolio is unable to identify an investment as a PFIC and thus does not make a mark-

 

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to-market election, the Portfolio may be subject to U.S. federal income tax (the effect of which might be mitigated by making a mark-to-market election in a year prior to the sale) on a portion of any “excess distribution” or gain from the disposition of such shares even if such income is distributed as a taxable dividend by the Portfolio to its shareholders. Additional charges in the nature of interest may be imposed on the Portfolio in respect of deferred taxes arising from such distributions or gains. Any such taxes or interest charges could in turn reduce the Portfolio’s distributions paid to you.

Information on the Amount and Tax Character of Distributions

The Portfolio will inform you of the amount and character of your distributions at the time they are paid, and will advise you of the tax status of such distributions for federal income tax purposes shortly after the close of each calendar year. If you have not held Portfolio shares for a full year, the Portfolio may report to shareholders and distribute to you, as ordinary income, qualified dividends, or capital gains, and in the case of non-U.S. shareholders the Portfolio may further report and distribute as interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends, a percentage of income that is not equal to the actual amount of such income earned during the period of your investment in the Portfolio. Taxable distributions declared by the Portfolio in December to shareholders of record in such month, but paid in January, are taxable to you as if they were paid in December.

Sales, Exchanges and Redemptions of Portfolio Shares

In general. If you are a taxable investor, sales, exchanges and redemptions (including redemptions in kind) are taxable transactions for federal and state income tax purposes. If you redeem your Portfolio shares, the IRS requires you to report any gain or loss on your redemption. If you held your shares as a capital asset, the gain or loss that you realize will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term or short-term, generally depending on how long you have held your shares.

Redemptions at a loss within six months of purchase. Any loss incurred on a redemption of shares of the Portfolio held for six months or less will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributed to you by the Portfolio on those shares.

Wash sales. All or a portion of any loss that you realize on a redemption of your Portfolio shares will be disallowed to the extent that you buy other shares in the Portfolio (through reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) within 30 days before or after your share redemption. Any loss disallowed under these rules will be added to your tax basis in the new shares.

Cost basis reporting. Under the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008, the Portfolio’s administrative agent will be required to provide you with cost basis information on the sale of any of your shares in the Portfolio, subject to certain exceptions. This cost basis reporting requirement is effective for shares purchased in the Portfolio on or after January 1, 2012.

Tax shelter reporting. Under Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to the Portfolio’s shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886.

U.S. Government Securities

To the extent the Portfolio (or in the case of a Feeder Portfolio, the Master Fund) invests in certain U.S. government obligations, dividends paid by the Portfolio to shareholders that are derived from interest on these obligations should be exempt from state and local personal income taxes, subject in some states to minimum investment or reporting requirements that must be met by the Portfolio or the Feeder Portfolio’s corresponding Master Fund. The income on portfolio investments in certain securities, such as repurchase agreements, commercial paper and federal agency-backed obligations (e.g., Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) or Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) securities), generally does not qualify for tax-free treatment. The rules on exclusion of this income are different for corporate shareholders.

 

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Qualified Dividend Income for Individuals

With respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2013 (unless such provision is extended or made permanent), ordinary income dividends reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as derived from qualified dividend income will be taxed in the hands of individuals and other noncorporate shareholders at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain. “Qualified dividend income” means dividends paid to the Portfolio (a) by domestic corporations, (b) by foreign corporations that are either (i) incorporated in a possession of the United States, or (ii) are eligible for benefits under certain income tax treaties with the United States that include an exchange of information program, or (c) with respect to stock of a foreign corporation that is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. Both the Portfolio and the investor must meet certain holding period requirements to qualify Portfolio dividends for this treatment. Specifically, the Portfolio must hold the stock for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the stock becomes ex-dividend. Similarly, investors must hold their Portfolio shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the Portfolio distribution goes ex-dividend. Income derived from investments in derivatives, fixed-income securities, U.S. REITs, PFICs, and income received “in lieu of” dividends in a securities lending transaction generally is not eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income. If the qualifying dividend income received by the Portfolio is equal to or greater than 95% of the Portfolio’s gross income (exclusive of net capital gain) in any taxable year, all of the ordinary income dividends paid by the Portfolio will be qualifying dividend income.

Dividends-Received Deduction for Corporations

For corporate shareholders, a portion of the dividends paid by the Portfolio may qualify for the 70% corporate dividends-received deduction. The portion of dividends paid by the Portfolio that so qualifies will be reported by the Portfolio to shareholders each year and cannot exceed the gross amount of dividends received by the Portfolio from domestic (U.S.) corporations. The availability of the dividends-received deduction is subject to certain holding period and debt financing restrictions that apply to both the Portfolio and the investor. Specifically, the amount that the Portfolio may report as eligible for the dividends-received deduction will be reduced or eliminated if the shares on which the dividends earned by the Portfolio were debt-financed or held by the Portfolio for less than a minimum period of time, generally 46 days during a 91-day period beginning 45 days before the stock becomes ex-dividend. Similarly, if your Portfolio shares are debt-financed or held by you for less than a 46-day period then the dividends-received deduction for Portfolio dividends on your shares may also be reduced or eliminated. Even if reported as dividends eligible for the dividends-received deduction, all dividends (including any deducted portion) must be included in your alternative minimum taxable income calculation. Income derived by the Portfolio from investments in derivatives, fixed-income and foreign securities generally is not eligible for this treatment.

Limitation on Deductibility of Losses

Losses incurred on the sale of securities by the Portfolio (or corresponding Master Fund) to another Portfolio or Master Fund will be disallowed if, as of the date of sale, the selling and purchasing portfolios are considered related parties. If the selling and purchasing portfolios are both corporations, they are treated as related parties if five or fewer persons, who are individuals, estates or trusts, own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the outstanding shares in both the selling and purchasing portfolios. If the selling and purchasing portfolios are both Master Funds (i.e., both partnerships) or a Master Fund and a Portfolio (i.e., a partnership and a corporation), they are treated as related parties if the same persons own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the outstanding shares in both the selling and purchasing portfolios. Under attribution rules, the shareholders of a Feeder Portfolio would be considered to own the shares of the corresponding Master Fund on a pro rata basis for purposes of applying the loss disallowance rule. Other attribution rules may apply.

Tax Treatment of Portfolio Transactions

Set forth below is a general description of the tax treatment of certain types of securities, investment techniques and transactions that may apply to a portfolio and, in turn, effect the amount, character and timing of

 

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dividends and distributions payable by the portfolio to its shareholders. This section should be read in conjunction with the discussion in the Prospectus under “Principal Investment Strategies” and “Principal Risks” for a detailed description of the various types of securities and investment techniques that apply to the Portfolio.

In general. In general, gain or loss recognized by a portfolio on the sale or other disposition of portfolio investments will be a capital gain or loss. Such capital gain and loss may be long-term or short-term depending, in general, upon the length of time a particular investment position is maintained and, in some cases, upon the nature of the transaction. Property held for more than one year generally will be eligible for long-term capital gain or loss treatment. The application of certain rules described below may serve to alter the manner in which the holding period for a security is determined or may otherwise affect the characterization as long-term or short-term, and also the timing of the realization and/or character, of certain gains or losses.

Certain fixed-income investments. Gain recognized on the disposition of a debt obligation purchased by a portfolio at a market discount (generally, at a price less than its principal amount) will be treated as ordinary income to the extent of the portion of the market discount that accrued during the period of time the portfolio held the debt obligation unless the portfolio made a current inclusion election to accrue market discount into income as it accrues. If a portfolio purchases a debt obligation (such as a zero coupon security or pay-in-kind security) that was originally issued at a discount, the portfolio generally is required to include in gross income each year the portion of the original issue discount that accrues during such year. Therefore, a portfolio’s investment in such securities may cause the portfolio to recognize income and make distributions to shareholders before it receives any cash payments on the securities. To generate cash to satisfy those distribution requirements, a portfolio may have to sell portfolio securities that it otherwise might have continued to hold or to use cash flows from other sources such as the sale of portfolio shares.

Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of or in default present tax issues for a portfolio. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as whether and to what extent a portfolio should recognize market discount on a debt obligation, when a portfolio may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount or market discount, when and to what extent a portfolio may take deductions for bad debts or worthless securities and how a portfolio should allocate payments received on obligations in default between principal and income. These and other related issues will be addressed by a portfolio in order to ensure that it distributes sufficient income to preserve its status as a regulated investment company.

Options, futures, forward contracts, swap agreements and hedging transactions. In general, option premiums received by a portfolio are not immediately included in the income of the portfolio. Instead, the premiums are recognized when the option contract expires, the option is exercised by the holder, or the portfolio transfers or otherwise terminates the option (e.g., through a closing transaction). If an option written by a portfolio is exercised and the portfolio sells or delivers the underlying stock, the portfolio generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to (a) sum of the strike price and the option premium received by the portfolio minus (b) the portfolio’s basis in the stock. Such gain or loss generally will be short-term or long-term depending upon the holding period of the underlying stock. If securities are purchased by a portfolio pursuant to the exercise of a put option written by it, the portfolio generally will subtract the premium received from its cost basis in the securities purchased. The gain or loss with respect to any termination of a portfolio’s obligation under an option other than through the exercise of the option and related sale or delivery of the underlying stock generally will be short-term gain or loss depending on whether the premium income received by the portfolio is greater or less than the amount paid by the portfolio (if any) in terminating the transaction. Thus, for example, if an option written by a portfolio expires unexercised, the portfolio generally will recognize short-term gain equal to the premium received.

The tax treatment of certain futures contracts entered into by a portfolio as well as listed non-equity options written or purchased by the portfolio on U.S. exchanges (including options on futures contracts, broad-based equity indices and debt securities) may be governed by section 1256 of the Code (“section 1256 contracts”). Gains or losses on section 1256 contracts generally are considered 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gains or losses (“60/40”), although certain foreign currency gains and losses from such contracts may be treated as ordinary in character. Also, any section 1256 contracts held by a portfolio at the end of each taxable year (and, for purposes of the 4% excise tax, on certain other dates as prescribed under the Code) are “marked to market” with the result that

 

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unrealized gains or losses are treated as though they were realized and the resulting gain or loss is treated as ordinary or 60/40 gain or loss, as applicable. Section 1256 contracts do not include any interest rate swap, currency swap, basis swap, interest rate cap, interest rate floor, commodity swap, equity swap, equity index swap, credit default swap, or similar agreement.

In addition to the special rules described above in respect of options and futures transactions, a portfolio’s transactions in other derivative instruments (including options, forward contracts and swap agreements) as well as its other hedging, short sale, or similar transactions, may be subject to one or more special tax rules (including the constructive sale, notional principal contract, straddle, wash sale and short sale rules). These rules may affect whether gains and losses recognized by a portfolio are treated as ordinary or capital or as short-term or long-term, accelerate the recognition of income or gains to the portfolio, defer losses to the portfolio, and cause adjustments in the holding periods of the portfolio’s securities. These rules, therefore, could affect the amount, timing and/or character of distributions to shareholders. Moreover, because the tax rules applicable to derivative financial instruments are in some cases uncertain under current law, an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to these rules (which determination or guidance could be retroactive) may affect whether a portfolio has made sufficient distributions and otherwise satisfied the relevant requirements to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company and avoid a portfolio-level tax.

Certain of a portfolio’s investments in derivatives and foreign currency-denominated instruments, and the portfolio’s transactions in foreign currencies and hedging activities, may produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. If a portfolio’s book income is less than the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any), the portfolio could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regulated investment company. If a portfolio’s book income exceeds the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any), the distribution of any such excess will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of the portfolio’s remaining earnings and profits (including current earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income, reduced, for taxable years of the Portfolio beginning after December 22, 2010, by related deductions), (ii) thereafter, as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient’s basis in the shares, and (iii) thereafter, as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset.

Foreign currency transactions. A portfolio’s transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated debt obligations and certain foreign currency options, futures contracts and forward contracts (and similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned. This treatment could increase or decrease a portfolio’s ordinary income distributions to you, and may cause some or all of the portfolio’s previously distributed income to be classified as a return of capital. In certain cases, a portfolio may make an election to treat such gain or loss as capital.

Investments in non-U.S. REITs. While non-U.S. REITs often use complex acquisition structures that seek to minimize taxation in the source country, an investment by a portfolio in a non-U.S. REIT may subject the portfolio, directly or indirectly, to corporate taxes, withholding taxes, transfer taxes and other indirect taxes in the country in which the real estate acquired by the non-U.S. REIT is located. The portfolio’s pro rata share of any such taxes will reduce the portfolio’s return on its investment. A portfolio’s investment in a non-U.S. REIT may be considered an investment in a PFIC, as discussed above in “Investment in Foreign Securities — PFIC securities.” Additionally, foreign withholding taxes on distributions from the non-U.S. REIT may be reduced or eliminated under certain tax treaties, as discussed above in “Taxation of the Portfolio — Foreign income tax.” Also, the portfolio in certain limited circumstances may be required to file an income tax return in the source country and pay tax on any gain realized from its investment in the non-U.S. REIT under rules similar to those in the United States which tax foreign persons on gain realized from dispositions of interests in U.S. real estate.

Investments in U.S. REITs. A U.S. REIT is not subject to federal income tax on the income and gains it distributes to shareholders. Dividends paid by a U.S. REIT, other than capital gain distributions, will be taxable as ordinary income up to the amount of the U.S. REIT’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Capital gain dividends paid by a U.S. REIT to a portfolio will be treated as long term capital gains by the portfolio and, in turn, may be distributed by the portfolio to its shareholders as a capital gain distribution. Because of certain noncash

 

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expenses, such as property depreciation, an equity U.S. REIT’s cash flow may exceed its taxable income. The equity U.S. REIT, and in turn a portfolio, may distribute this excess cash to shareholders in the form of a return of capital distribution. However, if a U.S. REIT is operated in a manner that fails to qualify as a REIT, an investment in the U.S. REIT would become subject to double taxation, meaning the taxable income of the U.S. REIT would be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders and the dividends would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income (or possibly as qualified dividend income) to the extent of the U.S. REIT’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Also, see “Tax Treatment of Portfolio Transactions — Investment in taxable mortgage pools (excess inclusion income)” and “Non-U.S. Investors — Investment in U.S. real property” with respect to certain other tax aspects of investing in U.S. REITs.

Investment in taxable mortgage pools (excess inclusion income). Under a Notice issued by the IRS, the Code and Treasury regulations to be issued, a portion of a portfolio’s income from a U.S. REIT that is attributable to the REIT’s residual interest in a real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMICs”) or equity interests in a “taxable mortgage pool” (referred to in the Code as an excess inclusion) will be subject to federal income tax in all events. The excess inclusion income of a regulated investment company, such as a portfolio, will be allocated to shareholders of the regulated investment company in proportion to the dividends received by such shareholders, with the same consequences as if the shareholders held the related REMIC residual interest or, if applicable, taxable mortgage pool directly. In general, excess inclusion income allocated to shareholders (i) cannot be offset by net operating losses (subject to a limited exception for certain thrift institutions), (ii) will constitute unrelated business taxable income to entities (including qualified pension plans, individual retirement accounts, 401(k) plans, Keogh plans or other tax-exempt entities) subject to tax on unrelated business income (“UBTI”), thereby potentially requiring such an entity that is allocated excess inclusion income, and otherwise might not be required to file a tax return, to file a tax return and pay tax on such income, and (iii) in the case of a foreign stockholder, will not qualify for any reduction in U.S. federal withholding tax. In addition, if at any time during any taxable year a “disqualified organization” (which generally includes certain cooperatives, governmental entities, and tax-exempt organizations not subject to UBTI) is a record holder of a share in a regulated investment company, then the regulated investment company will be subject to a tax equal to that portion of its excess inclusion income for the taxable year that is allocable to the disqualified organization, multiplied by the highest federal income tax rate imposed on corporations. The Notice imposes certain reporting requirements upon regulated investment companies that have excess inclusion income. There can be no assurance that a portfolio will not allocate to shareholders excess inclusion income.

These rules are potentially applicable to a portfolio with respect to any income it receives from the equity interests of certain mortgage pooling vehicles, either directly or, as is more likely, through an investment in a U.S. REIT. It is unlikely that these rules will apply to a portfolio that has a non-REIT strategy.

Investments in partnerships and qualified publicly traded partnerships (“QPTP”). For purposes of the Income Requirement, income derived by a portfolio from a partnership that is not a QPTP will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership that would be qualifying income if realized directly by the portfolio. For purposes of testing whether a portfolio satisfies the Asset Diversification Test, the portfolio generally is treated as owning a pro rata share of the underlying assets of a partnership. See “Taxation of the PortfolioQualification as a regulated investment company.” In contrast, different rules apply to a partnership that is a QPTP. A QPTP is a partnership (a) the interests in which are traded on an established securities market, (b) that is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, and (c) that derives less than 90% of its income from sources that satisfy the Income Requirement (e.g., because it invests in commodities). All of the net income derived by a portfolio from an interest in a QPTP will be treated as qualifying income but the portfolio may not invest more than 25% of its total assets in one or more QPTPs. However, there can be no assurance that a partnership classified as a QPTP in one year will qualify as a QPTP in the next year. Any such failure to annually qualify as a QPTP might, in turn, cause a portfolio to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company.

Securities lending. While securities are loaned out by a portfolio, the portfolio generally will receive from the borrower amounts equal to any dividends or interest paid on the borrowed securities. For federal income tax purposes, payments made “in lieu of” dividends are not considered dividend income. These distributions will neither qualify for the reduced rate of taxation for individuals on qualified dividends nor the 70% dividends received

 

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deduction for corporations. Also, any foreign tax withheld on payments made “in lieu of” dividends or interest will not qualify for the pass-through of foreign tax credits to shareholders.

Investments in convertible securities. Convertible debt is ordinarily treated as a “single property” consisting of a pure debt interest until conversion, after which the investment becomes an equity interest. If the security is issued at a premium (i.e., for cash in excess of the face amount payable on retirement), the creditor-holder may amortize the premium over the life of the bond. If the security is issued for cash at a price below its face amount, the creditor-holder must accrue original issue discount in income over the life of the debt. The creditor-holder’s exercise of the conversion privilege is treated as a nontaxable event. Mandatorily convertible debt (e.g., an exchange traded note or ETN issued in the form of an unsecured obligation that pays a return based on the performance of a specified market index, exchange currency, or commodity) is often, but not always, treated as a contract to buy or sell the reference property rather than debt. Similarly, convertible preferred stock with a mandatory conversion feature is ordinarily, but not always, treated as equity rather than debt. Dividends received generally are qualified dividend income and eligible for the corporate dividends received deduction. In general, conversion of preferred stock for common stock of the same corporation is tax-free. Conversion of preferred stock for cash is a taxable redemption. Any redemption premium for preferred stock that is redeemable by the issuing company might be required to be amortized under original issue discount (“OID”) principles.

Backup Withholding

By law, the Portfolio may be required to withhold a portion of your taxable dividends and sales proceeds unless you:

 

 

provide your correct social security or taxpayer identification number,

 

 

certify that this number is correct,

 

 

certify that you are not subject to backup withholding, and

 

 

certify that you are a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien).

The Portfolio also must withhold if the IRS instructs it to do so. When withholding is required, the amount will be 28% of any distributions or proceeds paid. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS. Certain payees and payments are exempt from backup withholding and information reporting. The special U.S. tax certification requirements applicable to non-U.S. investors are described under the “Non-U.S. Investors” heading below.

Non-U.S. Investors

Non-U.S. investors (shareholders who, as to the United States, are nonresident alien individuals, foreign trusts or estates, foreign corporations, or foreign partnerships) may be subject to U.S. withholding and estate tax and are subject to special U.S. tax certification requirements. Non-U.S. investors should consult their tax advisors about the applicability of U.S. tax withholding and the use of the appropriate forms to certify their status.

In general. The United States imposes a flat 30% withholding tax (or a withholding tax at a lower treaty rate) on U.S. source dividends, including on income dividends paid to you by the Portfolio. Exemptions from this U.S. withholding tax are provided for dividends reported by the Portfolio as exempt-interest dividends, capital gain dividends and paid by the Portfolio from its net long-term capital gains, and with respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended, or made permanent), interest-related dividends paid by the Portfolio from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources and short-term capital gain dividends. However, notwithstanding such exemptions from U.S. withholding at the source, any dividends and distributions of income and capital gains, including the proceeds from the sale of your Portfolio shares, will be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 28% if you fail to properly certify that you are not a U.S. person.

 

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Capital gain dividends and short-term capital gain dividends. In general, (i) a capital gain dividend reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as paid from its net long-term capital gains or (ii) with respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended or made permanent), a short-term capital gain dividend reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as paid from its net short-term capital gains, other than long- or short-term capital gains realized on disposition of U.S. real property interests (see the discussion below) are not subject to U.S. withholding tax unless you are a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the calendar year.

Interest-related dividends. With respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended or made permanent), dividends reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as interest-related dividends and paid from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources are not subject to U.S. withholding tax. “Qualified interest income” includes, in general, U.S. source (1) bank deposit interest, (2) short-term original discount, (3) interest (including original issue discount, market discount, or acquisition discount) on an obligation which is in registered form, unless it is earned on an obligation issued by a corporation or partnership in which the Portfolio is a 10-percent shareholder or is contingent interest, and (4) any interest-related dividend from another regulated investment company. On any payment date, the amount of an income dividend that is reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as an interest-related dividend may be more or less than the amount that is so qualified. This is because the reporting of interest related dividends is based on an estimate of the Portfolio’s qualified net interest income for its entire fiscal year, which can only be determined with exactness at fiscal year end. As a consequence, the Portfolio may over withhold a small amount of U.S. tax from a dividend payment. In this case, the non-U.S. investor’s only recourse may be to either forgo recovery of the excess withholding, or to file a United States nonresident income tax return to recover the excess withholding.

Further limitations on tax reporting for interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends for non-U.S. investors. It may not be practical in every case for the Portfolio to report to shareholders, and the Portfolio reserves the right in these cases to not report, small amounts of interest-related or short-term capital gain dividends. Additionally, the Portfolio’s reporting of interest-related or short-term capital gain dividends may not be passed through to shareholders by intermediaries who have assumed tax reporting responsibilities for this income in managed or omnibus accounts due to systems limitations or operational constraints.

Net investment income from dividends on stock and foreign source interest income continue to be subject to withholding tax; effectively connected income. Ordinary dividends paid by the Portfolio to non-U.S. investors on the income earned on portfolio investments in (i) the stock of domestic and foreign corporations, and (ii) the debt of foreign issuers continue to be subject to U.S. withholding tax. If you hold your Portfolio shares in connection with a U.S. trade or business, your income and gains will be considered effectively connected income and taxed in the U.S. on a net basis, in which case you may be required to file a nonresident U.S. income tax return.

Investment in U.S. real property. The Portfolio may invest in equity securities of corporations that invest in U.S. real property, including U.S. REITs. The sale of a U.S. real property interest (“USRPI”) by the Portfolio or by a U.S. REIT or U.S. real property holding corporation in which the Portfolio invests may trigger special tax consequences to the Portfolio’s non-U.S. shareholders.

The Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 (“FIRPTA”) makes non-U.S. persons subject to U.S. tax on disposition of a USRPI as if he or she were a U.S. person. Such gain is sometimes referred to as FIRPTA gain. The Code provides a look-through rule for distributions of FIRPTA gain by a RIC received from a U.S. REIT or another RIC classified as a U.S. real property holding corporation or realized by the RIC on a sale of a USRPI (other than a domestically controlled U.S. REIT or RIC that is classified as a qualified investment entity) if all of the following requirements are met:

 

 

The RIC is classified as a qualified investment entity. A RIC is classified as a “qualified investment entity” with respect to a distribution to a non-U.S. person which is attributable directly or indirectly to a distribution from a U.S. REIT if, in general, 50% or more of the RIC’s assets consists of interests in U.S. REITs and U.S. real property holding corporations, and

 

 

You are a non-U.S. shareholder that owns more than 5% of a class of Portfolio shares at any time

 

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during the one-year period ending on the date of the distribution.

 

 

If these conditions are met, such Portfolio distributions to you are treated as gain from the disposition of a USRPI, causing the distributions to be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a rate of 35% (unless reduced by future regulations), and requiring that you file a nonresident U.S. income tax return.

 

 

In addition, even if you do not own more than 5% of a class of Portfolio shares, but the Portfolio is a qualified investment entity, such Portfolio distributions to you will be taxable as ordinary dividends rather than as a capital gain dividend (a distribution of long-term capital gains) or a short-term capital gain dividend subject to withholding at the 30% or lower treaty withholding rate.

These rules apply to dividends paid by the Portfolio before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended or made permanent), except that after this date, the Portfolio’s distributions from a U.S. REIT (whether or not domestically controlled) attributable to FIRPTA gain will continue to be subject to the withholding rules described above provided the Portfolio would otherwise be classified as a qualified investment entity.

Because the Portfolio expects to invest less than 50% of its assets at all times, directly or indirectly, in U.S. real property interests, the Portfolio expects that neither gain on the sale or redemption of Portfolio shares nor Portfolio dividends and distributions would be subject to FIRPTA reporting and tax withholding.

U.S. estate tax. Transfers by gift of shares of the Portfolio by a foreign shareholder who is a nonresident alien individual will not be subject to U.S. federal gift tax. For decedents dying during 2010, the U.S. federal estate tax was reinstated retroactively, except where the executor of the estate of a decedent makes an election to opt out of the estate tax and instead be subject to modified carryover basis rules. For decedents dying after 2010, an individual who, at the time of death, is a non-U.S. shareholder will nevertheless be subject to U.S. federal estate tax with respect to Portfolio shares at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. citizens and residents, unless a treaty exemption applies. If a treaty exemption is available, a decedent’s estate may nonetheless need to file a U.S. estate tax return to claim the exemption in order to obtain a U.S. federal transfer certificate. The transfer certificate will identify the property (i.e., Portfolio shares) as to which the U.S. federal estate tax lien has been released. In the absence of a treaty, there is a $13,000 statutory estate tax credit (equivalent to U.S. situs assets with a value of $60,000). For estates with U.S. situs assets of not more than $60,000, the Portfolio may accept, in lieu of a transfer certificate, an affidavit from an appropriate individual evidencing that decedent’s U.S. situs assets are below this threshold amount. In addition, a partial exemption from U.S estate tax may apply to Portfolio shares held by the estate of a nonresident decedent. The amount treated as exempt is based upon the proportion of the assets held by the Portfolio at the end of the quarter immediately preceding the decedent’s death that are debt obligations, deposits, or other property that generally would be treated as situated outside the United States if held directly by the estate. This provision applies to decedents dying after December 31, 2004 and before January 1, 2012, unless such provision is extended or made permanent.

U.S. tax certification rules. Special U.S. tax certification requirements apply to non-U.S. shareholders both to avoid U.S. back up withholding imposed at a rate of 28% and to obtain the benefits of any treaty between the United States and the shareholder’s country of residence. In general, a non-U.S. shareholder must provide a Form W-8 BEN (or other applicable Form W-8) to establish that you are not a U.S. person, to claim that you are the beneficial owner of the income and, if applicable, to claim a reduced rate of, or exemption from, withholding as a resident of a country with which the United States has an income tax treaty. A Form W-8BEN provided without a U.S. taxpayer identification number will remain in effect for a period beginning on the date signed and ending on the last day of the third succeeding calendar year unless an earlier change of circumstances makes the information on the form incorrect.

The tax consequences to a non-U.S. shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of an applicable tax treaty may be different from those described herein. Non-U.S. shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in the Portfolio, including the applicability of foreign tax.

Effect of Future Legislation; Local Tax Considerations

 

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The foregoing general discussion of U.S. federal income tax consequences is based on the Code and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and any such changes or decisions may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein. Rules of state and local taxation of ordinary income, qualified dividend income and capital gain dividends may differ from the rules for U.S. federal income taxation described above. Distributions may also be subject to additional state, local and foreign taxes depending on each shareholder’s particular situation. Non-U.S. shareholders may be subject to U.S. tax rules that differ significantly from those summarized above. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors as to the consequences of these and other state and local tax rules affecting investment in the Portfolio.

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

The Board of Directors of the Fund and the Board of Trustees of the Trust have delegated the authority to vote proxies for the portfolio securities held by the non-Feeder Portfolios and Master Fund to the Advisor in accordance with the Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (the “Voting Policies”) and Proxy Voting Guidelines (“Voting Guidelines”) adopted by the Advisor. The Voting Guidelines are largely based on those developed by Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third party, except with respect to certain matters for which the Advisor has modified the standard voting guidelines. A concise summary of the Voting Guidelines is provided in an Appendix to this SAI.

The Investment Committee at the Advisor is generally responsible for overseeing the Advisor’s proxy voting process. The Investment Committee has formed a Corporate Governance Committee composed of certain officers, directors and other personnel of the Advisor and has delegated to its members authority to (i) oversee the voting of proxies, (ii) make determinations as to how to vote certain specific proxies, (iii) verify the on-going compliance with the Voting Policies, and (iv) review the Voting Policies from time to time and recommend changes to the Investment Committee. The Corporate Governance Committee may designate one or more of its members to oversee specific, ongoing compliance with respect to the Voting Policies and may designate other personnel of the Advisor to vote proxies on behalf of the Portfolios and Master Fund, including all authorized traders of the Advisor.

The Advisor seeks to vote (or refrains from voting) proxies in a manner consistent with the best interests of the non-Feeder Portfolios and Master Fund as understood by the Advisor at the time of the vote. Generally, the Advisor analyzes proxy statements on behalf of the non-Feeder Portfolios and Master Fund and instructs the vote (or refrains from voting) in accordance with the Voting Policies and the Voting Guidelines. Since most proxies the Advisor receives are instructed to be voted in accordance with the Voting Guidelines, it normally will not be necessary for the Advisor to make an actual determination of how to vote a particular proxy, thereby largely eliminating conflicts of interest for the Advisor during the proxy voting process. However, the Voting Policies do address the procedures to be followed if a conflict of interest arises between the interests of the non-Feeder Portfolios or Master Fund, and the interests of the Advisor or its affiliates. If a Corporate Governance Committee (“Committee”) member has actual knowledge of a conflict of interest and recommends a vote contrary to the Voting Guidelines (or in the case where the Voting Guidelines do not prescribe a particular vote and the proposed vote is contrary to the recommendation of ISS), the Committee member will bring the vote to the Committee which will (a) determine how the vote should be cast keeping in mind the principle of preserving shareholder value, or (b) determine to abstain from voting, unless abstaining would be materially adverse to the interest of the non-Feeder Portfolios and Master Fund. To the extent the Committee makes a determination regarding how to vote or to abstain for a proxy on behalf of a non-Feeder Portfolio or Master Fund in the circumstances described in this paragraph, the Advisor will report annually on such determinations to the Board of Directors of the Fund or Board of Trustees of the Trust, as applicable.

The Advisor will usually instruct voting of proxies in accordance with the Voting Guidelines. The Voting Guidelines provide a framework for analysis and decision making, however, the Voting Guidelines do not address all potential issues. In order to be able to address all the relevant facts and circumstances related to a proxy vote, the Advisor reserves the right to instruct votes counter to the Voting Guidelines if, after a review of the matter, the Advisor believes that the best interests of the Portfolio or Master Fund would be served by such a vote. In such a circumstance, the analysis will be documented in writing and periodically presented to the Corporate Governance

 

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Committee. To the extent that the Voting Guidelines do not cover potential voting issues, the Advisor will instruct the vote on such issues in a manner that is consistent with the spirit of the Voting Guidelines and that the Advisor believes would be in the best interests of the Portfolio or Master Fund.

The Advisor seeks to vote (or refrain from voting) proxies in a manner that the Advisor determines is in the best interests of a Portfolio or Master Fund and which seeks to maximize the value of that Portfolio’s or Master Fund’s investments. In some cases, the Advisor may determine that it is in the best interests of a Portfolio or Master Fund to refrain from exercising proxy voting rights. The Advisor may determine that voting is not in the best interest of a Portfolio or Master Fund and refrain from voting if the costs, including the opportunity costs, of voting would, in the view of the Advisor, exceed the expected benefits of voting. For securities on loan, the Advisor will balance the revenue-producing value of loans against the difficult-to-assess value of casting votes. It is the Advisor’s belief that the expected value of casting a vote generally will be less than the securities lending income, either because the votes will not have significant economic consequences or because the outcome of the vote would not be affected by the Advisor recalling loaned securities in order to ensure they are voted. The Advisor does intend to recall securities on loan if it determines that voting the securities is likely to materially affect the value of the Portfolio’s or Master Fund’s investment and that it is in the Portfolio’s or Master Fund’s best interests to do so. In cases where the Advisor does not receive a solicitation or enough information within a sufficient time (as reasonably determined by the Advisor) prior to the proxy-voting deadline, the Advisor or its service provider may be unable to vote.

With respect to non-U.S. securities, it is typically both difficult and costly to vote proxies due to local regulations, customs, and other requirements or restrictions. The Advisor does not intend to vote proxies of non-U.S. companies if the Advisor determines that the expected economic costs from voting outweigh the anticipated economic benefit to a Portfolio or Master Fund associated with voting. The Advisor intends to make its determination on whether to vote proxies of non-U.S. companies on a portfolio-by-portfolio basis, and generally seeks to implement uniform voting procedures for all proxies of companies in a country. The Advisor periodically reviews voting logistics, including costs and other voting difficulties, on a portfolio by portfolio and country by country basis, in order to determine if there have been any material changes that would affect the Advisor’s decision of whether or not to vote. In the event the Advisor is made aware of and believes an issue to be voted is likely to materially affect the economic value of a Portfolio or Master Fund, that its vote is reasonably likely to influence the ultimate outcome of the contest, and the expected benefits of voting the proxies exceed the costs, the Advisor will seek to make every reasonable effort to vote such proxies.

The Advisor and the Fund have retained ISS to provide certain services with respect to proxy voting. ISS will provide information on shareholder meeting dates and proxy materials; translate proxy materials printed in a foreign language; provide research on proxy proposals and voting recommendations in accordance with the Voting Guidelines; effect votes on behalf of the Portfolios and Master Fund; and provide reports concerning the proxies voted (“Proxy Voting Services”). In addition, the Advisor may retain the services of supplemental third-party proxy service providers to provide research, among other things, on proxy proposals and voting recommendations for certain shareholder meetings, as identified in the Voting Guidelines. Although the Advisor retains third-party services providers for proxy issues, the Advisor remains responsible for proxy voting decisions. In this regard, the Advisor uses commercially reasonably efforts to oversee the directed delegation to third-party proxy voting service providers, upon which the Advisor relies to carry out the Proxy Voting Services. In the event that the Voting Guidelines are not implemented precisely as the Advisor intends because of the actions or omissions of any third party service providers, custodians or sub-custodians or other agents or any such persons experience any irregularities (e.g. misvotes or missed votes), then such instances will not necessarily be deemed by the Advisor as a breach of the Voting Policies.

Information regarding how each of the Portfolios and Master Fund voted proxies related to its portfolio securities during the 12 month period ended June 30 of each year is available, no later than August 31 of each year, without charge, (i) upon request, by calling collect: (512) 306-7400 or (ii) on the Advisor’s website at http://www.dimensional.com and (iii) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

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DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

The Advisor, the Board of Directors of the Fund and the Board of Trustees of the Trust (together, the “Board”) has adopted a policy (the “Policy”) to govern disclosure of the portfolio holdings of the Portfolios and Master Fund (“Holdings Information”), and to prevent the misuse of material non-public Holdings Information. The Advisor has determined that the Policy and its procedures (1) are reasonably designed to ensure that disclosure of Holdings Information is in the best interests of the shareholders of the Portfolios, and (2) appropriately address the potential for material conflicts of interest.

Disclosure of Holdings Information as Required by Applicable Law. Holdings Information (whether a partial listing of portfolio holdings or a complete listing of portfolio holdings) shall be disclosed to any person as required by applicable law, rules and regulations.

Online Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings Information. Each Portfolio and Master Fund generally disclose up to twenty-five of its largest portfolio holdings (or with respect to the Feeder Portfolio, up to the twenty-five largest portfolio holdings of its Master Fund) and the percentages that each of the largest portfolio holdings represent of the Portfolio’s or Master Fund’s total assets (“largest holdings”), as of the most recent month-end, online at the Advisor’s public website, http://www.dimensional.com, within twenty days after the end of each month. This online disclosure may also include information regarding the Portfolio’s or Master Fund’s industry allocations. Each Portfolio and Master Fund generally disclose its complete Holdings Information (or with respect to the Feeder Portfolio, the Holdings Information of its Master Fund) (other than cash and cash equivalents), as of month-end, online at the Advisor’s public website, http://www.dimensional.com, two months following the month-end, or more frequently and at different periods when authorized by a Designated Person (as defined below).

Disclosure of Holdings Information to Recipients. Each of the Advisor’s Chairmen, Director of Institutional Services, Head of Portfolio Management and Trading and General Counsel (together, the “Designated Persons”) may authorize disclosing non-public Holdings Information more frequently or at different periods than as described above solely to those financial advisors, registered accountholders, authorized consultants, authorized custodians, or third-party data service providers (each a “Recipient”) who: (i) specifically request the more current non-public Holdings Information and (ii) execute a Use and Nondisclosure Agreement (each a “Nondisclosure Agreement”). Each Nondisclosure Agreement subjects the Recipient to a duty of confidentiality with respect to the non-public Holdings Information, and prohibits the Recipient from trading based on the non-public Holdings Information. Any non-public Holdings Information that is disclosed shall not include any material information about a Portfolio’s or Master Fund’s trading strategies or pending portfolio transactions. The non-public Holdings Information provided to a Recipient under a Nondisclosure Agreement, unless indicated otherwise, is not subject to a time delay before dissemination. Designated Persons may also approve the distribution of Holdings Information for a Portfolio more frequently or at a period other than as described above.

As of January 31, 2011, the Advisor and the Portfolios and Master Fund for the Feeder Portfolio had ongoing arrangements with the following Recipients to make available non-public Holdings Information:

 

Recipient

 

  

Master Fund/Portfolios

 

  

Business Purpose

 

  

Frequency

 

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

  

Portfolios and Master Fund

  

Fund Administrator, Accounting Agent and Transfer Agent

 

  

Daily

Bank of New York

  

Portfolios and Master Fund

  

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

  

Upon request

CTC Consulting, Inc.

  

Portfolios and Master Fund

  

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

  

Quarterly

 

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Recipient

 

  

Master Fund/Portfolios

 

  

Business Purpose

 

  

Frequency

 

Capital Advisors

  

Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio, Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio, Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio and Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio

 

  

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

  

Quarterly

Citibank, N.A.

  

Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio and T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio

 

  

Fund Custodian

  

Daily

Citibank, N.A.

  

Portfolios and Master Fund

  

Middle office operational support service provider to the Advisor

 

  

Daily

Cuprum AFP

  

Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series, Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio, Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio, Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio and Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio

 

  

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

  

Quarterly

Fund Evaluation Group LLC

  

Portfolios and Master Fund

  

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

  

Upon Request

LVA Indices

  

Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio, Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio, Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio and U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

 

  

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

  

Quarterly

Mercer Investment Consulting, Inc.

  

Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio

  

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

  

Quarterly

PFPC Trust Company

(to be renamed BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company effective July 1, 2011)

 

  

Feeder Portfolio and Master Fund and Domestic Equity Funds

  

Fund Custodian

  

Daily

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

  

Portfolios and Master Fund

  

Independent registered public accounting firm

 

  

Upon Request

Pricing Service Vendor

  

Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio and T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio

 

  

Fair value information services

  

Daily

Tamarac (Savant)

  

Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series, Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio and Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio

  

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

  

Monthly

 

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Recipient

 

  

Master Fund/Portfolios

 

  

Business Purpose

 

  

Frequency

 

Wurts & Associates    Portfolios and Master Fund    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Monthly

In addition, certain employees of the Advisor and its subsidiaries receive Holdings Information on a quarterly, monthly or daily basis, or upon request, in order to perform their business functions. None of the Portfolios, the Master Fund, the Advisor or any other party receives any compensation in connection with these arrangements.

The Policy includes the following procedures to ensure that disclosure of Holdings Information is in the best interests of shareholders, and to address any conflicts between the interests of shareholders, on the one hand, and the interests of the Advisor, DFAS or any affiliated person of the Fund, the Trust, the Advisor or DFAS, on the other. In order to protect the interests of shareholders and the Portfolios, and to ensure no adverse effect on shareholders, in the limited circumstances where a Designated Person is considering making non-public Holdings Information available to a Recipient, the Advisor’s Director of Institutional Services and the Chief Compliance Officer will consider any conflicts of interest. If the Chief Compliance Officer, following appropriate due diligence, determines in his or her reasonable business judgment that: (1) the Portfolio has a legitimate business purpose for providing the non-public Holdings Information to a Recipient, and (2) disclosure of non-public Holdings Information to the Recipient would be in the interests of the shareholders and outweighs possible reasonably anticipated adverse effects, then the Chief Compliance Officer may approve the proposed disclosure.

The Chief Compliance Officer documents all disclosures of non-public Holdings Information (including the legitimate business purpose for the disclosure), and periodically reports to the Board on such arrangements. The Chief Compliance Officer also is responsible for ongoing monitoring of the distribution and use of non-public Holdings Information. Such arrangements are reviewed by the Chief Compliance Officer on an annual basis. Specifically, the Chief Compliance Officer requests an annual certification from each Recipient that the Recipient has complied with all terms contained in the Nondisclosure Agreement. Recipients who fail to provide the requested certifications are prohibited from receiving non-public Holdings Information.

The Board exercises continuing oversight of the disclosure of Holdings Information by: (1) overseeing the implementation and enforcement of the Policy by the Chief Compliance Officer of the Advisor and of the Fund; (2) considering reports and recommendations by the Chief Compliance Officer concerning the implementation of the Policy and any material compliance matters that may arise in connection with the Policy; and (3) considering whether to approve or ratify any amendments to the Policy. The Advisor and the Board reserve the right to amend the Policy at any time, and from time to time without prior notice, in their sole discretion.

Prohibitions on Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings and Receipt of Compensation. No person is authorized to disclose Holdings Information or other investment positions (whether online at http://www.dimensional.com, in writing, by fax, by e-mail, orally or by other means) except in accordance with the Policy. In addition, no person is authorized to make disclosure pursuant to the Policy if such disclosure is otherwise in violation of the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws.

The Policy prohibits a Portfolio, the Advisor or an affiliate thereof from receiving any compensation or other consideration of any type for the purpose of obtaining disclosure of non-public Holdings Information or other investment positions. “Consideration” includes any agreement to maintain assets in a Portfolio or in other investment companies or accounts managed by the Advisor or by any affiliated person of the Advisor.

The Policy and its procedures are intended to provide useful information concerning the Portfolios to existing and prospective shareholders, while at the same time preventing the improper use of Holdings Information. However, there can be no assurance that the furnishing of any Holdings Information is not susceptible to inappropriate uses, particularly in the hands of sophisticated investors, or that the Holdings Information will not in

 

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fact be misused in other ways, beyond the control of the Advisor.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Two Commerce Square, Suite 1700, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042, is the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. PwC audits the Fund’s annual financial statements. The audited financial statements and financial highlights of the Portfolios for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, as set forth in the Fund’s annual reports to shareholders, including the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, are incorporated by reference into this SAI.

The audited financial statements of The Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Series (which is a series of the Trust) for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, as set forth in the Trust’s annual report to shareholders, including the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, are incorporated by reference into this SAI.

A shareholder may obtain a copy of the annual reports, upon request and without charge, by contacting the Fund at the address or telephone number appearing on the cover of this SAI.

PERFORMANCE DATA

The Portfolios and the Master Fund may compare their investment performance to appropriate market and mutual fund indices and investments for which reliable performance data is available. Such indices are generally unmanaged and are prepared by entities and organizations, which track the performance of investment companies or investment advisors. Unmanaged indices often do not reflect deductions for administrative and management costs and expenses. The performance of the Portfolios and Master Fund may also be compared in publications to averages, performance rankings, or other information prepared by recognized mutual fund statistical services. Any performance information, whether related to the Portfolios or Master Fund or to the Advisor, should be considered in light of a Portfolio’s investment objectives and policies, characteristics and the quality of the portfolio and market conditions during the time period indicated and should not be considered to be representative of what may be achieved in the future.

 

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APPENDIX

Concise Summary of 2011 U.S. Proxy Voting Guidelines

Effective for Meetings on or after January 3, 2011

In order to provide greater analysis on certain shareholder meetings, the Advisor has elected to receive research reports for certain meetings, as indicated below, from Glass Lewis in addition to Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”).

Specifically, if available, the Advisor may obtain research from Glass Lewis in addition to ISS for shareholder meetings in the following circumstances: (1) where the Advisor’s clients have a significant aggregate holding in the issuer and the meeting agenda contains proxies concerning: Anti-takeover Defenses or Voting Related Issues, Mergers and Acquisitions or Reorganizations or Restructurings, Capital Structure Issues, Compensation Issues or a proxy contest; or (2) where the Advisor in its discretion, has deemed that additional research is warranted.

Where research is obtained from Glass Lewis in accordance with these Guidelines, the Advisor will first review the research reports obtained from ISS and Glass Lewis. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are the same, the Advisor will vote accordingly. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are inconsistent, the Advisor will vote in accordance with the ISS recommendation unless the Corporate Governance Committee determines that voting in accordance with the Glass Lewis recommendation is more consistent with the principle of preserving shareholder value.

 

Routine/Miscellaneous

Auditor Ratification

Vote FOR proposals to ratify auditors, unless any of the following apply:

 

   

An auditor has a financial interest in or association with the company, and is therefore not independent;

   

There is reason to believe that the independent auditor has rendered an opinion which is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position;

   

Poor accounting practices are identified that rise to a serious level of concern, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP; and material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures; or

   

Fees for non-audit services (“Other” fees) are excessive.

Non-audit fees are excessive if:

 

   

Non-audit (“other”) fees >audit fees + audit-related fees + tax compliance/preparation fees

Board of Directors

Voting on Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections

Votes on director nominees should be determined CASE-BY-CASE.

Four fundamental principles apply when determining votes on director nominees:

   1.     Board Accountability

   2.     Board Responsiveness

   3.     Director Independence


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   4.  Director Competence

1.   Board Accountability

VOTE WITHHOLD/AGAINST1 the entire board of directors (except new nominees2, who should be considered CASE-BY-CASE), for the following:

Problematic Takeover Defenses:

 

  1.1. The board is classified, and a continuing director responsible for a problematic governance issue at the board/committee level that would warrant a withhold/against vote recommendation is not up for election — any or all appropriate nominees (except new) may be held accountable;

 

  1.2. The board lacks accountability and oversight, coupled with sustained poor performance relative to peers. Sustained poor performance is measured by one- and three-year total shareholder returns in the bottom half of a company’s four-digit GICS industry group (Russell 3000 companies only). Take into consideration the company’s five-year total shareholder return and five-year operational metrics. Problematic provisions include but are not limited to:

 

  A classified board structure;

 

  A supermajority vote requirement;

 

  Majority vote standard for director elections with no carve out for contested elections;

 

  The inability for shareholders to call special meetings;

 

  The inability for shareholders to act by written consent;

 

  A dual-class structure; and/or

 

  A non-shareholder approved poison pill.

 

  1.3. The company’s poison pill has a “dead-hand” or “modified dead-hand” feature. Vote withhold/against every year until this feature is removed;
  1.4. The board adopts a poison pill with a term of more than 12 months (“long-term pill”), or renews any existing pill, including any “short-term” pill (12 months or less), without shareholder approval. A commitment or policy that puts a newly-adopted pill to a binding shareholder vote may potentially offset an adverse vote recommendation. Review such companies with classified boards every year, and such companies with annually-elected

 

 

1 In general, companies with a plurality vote standard use “Withhold” as the valid contrary vote option in director elections; companies with a majority vote standard use “Against”. However, it will vary by company and the proxy must be checked to determine the valid contrary vote option for the particular company.

2 A “new nominee” is any current nominee who has not already been elected by shareholders and who joined the board after the problematic action in question transpired. If ISS cannot determine whether the nominee joined the board before or after the problematic action transpired, the nominee will be considered a “new nominee” if he or she joined the board within the 12 months prior to the upcoming shareholder meeting.


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boards at least once every three years, and vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD votes from all nominees if the company still maintains a non-shareholder-approved poison pill. This policy applies to all companies adopting or renewing pills after the announcement of this policy (Nov 19, 2009);

  1.5. The board makes a material adverse change to an existing poison pill without shareholder approval.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on all nominees if:

  1.6. the board adopts a poison pill with a term of 12 months or less (“short-term pill”) without shareholder approval, taking into account the following factors:

 

  The date of the pill‘s adoption relative to the date of the next meeting of shareholders- i.e. whether the company had time to put the pill on ballot for shareholder ratification given the circumstances;
  The issuer’s rationale;
  The issuer’s governance structure and practices; and
  The issuer’s track record of accountability to shareholders.

Problematic Audit-Related Practices

Generally, vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from the members of the Audit Committee if:

 

  1.7. The non-audit fees paid to the auditor are excessive (see discussion under “Auditor Ratification”);
  1.8. The company receives an adverse opinion on the company’s financial statements from its auditor; or
  1.9. There is persuasive evidence that the audit committee entered into an inappropriate indemnification agreement with its auditor that limits the ability of the company, or its shareholders, to pursue legitimate legal recourse against the audit firm.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on members of the Audit Committee and/or the full board if:

 

  1.10. Poor accounting practices are identified that rise to a level of serious concern, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP; and material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures. Examine the severity, breadth, chronological sequence and duration, as well as the company’s efforts at remediation or corrective actions, in determining whether WITHHOLD/AGAINST votes are warranted.

Problematic Compensation Practices

Vote WITHHOLD/AGAINST the members of the Compensation Committee and potentially the full board if:

 

  1.11. There is a negative correlation between chief executive pay and company performance (see Pay for Performance Policy);
  1.12. The company reprices underwater options for stock, cash, or other consideration without prior shareholder approval, even if allowed in the company’s equity plan;
  1.13. The company fails to submit one-time transfers of stock options to a shareholder vote;
  1.14. The company fails to fulfill the terms of a burn rate commitment made to shareholders;


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  1.15. The company has problematic pay practices. Problematic pay practices may warrant withholding votes from the CEO and potentially the entire board as well.

Governance Failures

Under extraordinary circumstances, vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from directors individually, committee members, or the entire board, due to:

 

  1.16. Material failures of governance, stewardship, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company;
  1.17. Failure to replace management as appropriate; or
  1.18. Egregious actions related to the director(s)’ service on other boards that raise substantial doubt about his or her ability to effectively oversee management and serve the best interests of shareholders at any company.

2.   Board Responsiveness

Vote WITHHOLD/AGAINST the entire board of directors (except new nominees, who should be considered CASE-BY-CASE), if:

 

  2.1. The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received approval by a majority of the shares outstanding the previous year; or

 

  2.2. The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received approval of the majority of shares cast in the last year and one of the two previous years.

 

  2.3. The board failed to act on takeover offers where the majority of the shareholders tendered their shares; or

 

  2.4. At the previous board election, any director received more than 50 percent withhold/against votes of the shares cast and the company has failed to address the issue(s) that caused the high withhold/against vote.

3.   Director Independence

Vote WITHHOLD/AGAINST Inside Directors and Affiliated Outside Directors (per the Categorization of Directors) when:

 

  3.1. The inside or affiliated outside director serves on any of the three key committees: audit, compensation, or nominating;

 

  3.2. The company lacks an audit, compensation, or nominating committee so that the full board functions as that committee;

 

  3.3. The company lacks a formal nominating committee, even if the board attests that the independent directors fulfill the functions of such a committee; or

 

  3.4. The full board is less than majority independent.

4.  Director Competence

VOTE WITHHOLD/AGAINST the entire board of directors (except new nominees, who should be considered CASE-BY-CASE), if:

 

  4.1. The company’s proxy indicates that not all directors attended 75 percent of the aggregate board and committee meetings, but fails to provide the required disclosure of the names of the director(s) involved.


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Generally vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from individual directors who:

 

  4.2. Attend less than 75 percent of the board and committee meetings (with the exception of new nominees). Acceptable reasons for director(s) absences are generally limited to the following:
 

Medical issues/illness;

 

Family emergencies; and

 

If the director’s total service was three meetings or fewer and the director missed only one meeting.

These reasons for directors’ absences will only be considered by ISS if disclosed in the proxy or another SEC filing. If the disclosure is insufficient to determine whether a director attended at least 75 percent of board and committee meetings in aggregate, vote AGAINST/WITHHOLD from the director.

Vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from individual directors who:

 

  4.3.

Sit on more than six public company boards3; or

 

  4.4.

Are CEOs of public companies who sit on the boards of more than two public companies besides their own— withhold only at their outside boards.

Voting for Director Nominees in Contested Elections*

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on the election of directors in contested elections, considering the following factors:

 

 

Long-term financial performance of the target company relative to its industry;

 

Management’s track record;

 

Background to the proxy contest;

 

Qualifications of director nominees (both slates);

 

Strategic plan of dissident slate and quality of critique against management;

 

Likelihood that the proposed goals and objectives can be achieved (both slates);

 

Stock ownership positions.

Independent Chair (Separate Chair/CEO)

Generally vote FOR shareholder proposals requiring that the chairman’s position be filled by an independent director, unless the company satisfies all of the following criteria:

The company maintains the following counterbalancing governance structure:

• Designated lead director, elected by and from the independent board members with clearly delineated and comprehensive duties. (The role may alternatively reside with a presiding director, vice chairman, or rotating lead director; however the director must serve a minimum of one year in order to qualify as a lead director.) The duties should include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

 

3

Dimensional will screen votes otherwise subject to this policy based on the qualifications and circumstances of the directors involved.

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.


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  -

presides at all meetings of the board at which the chairman is not present, including executive sessions of the independent directors;

 

  -

serves as liaison between the chairman and the independent directors;

 

  -

approves information sent to the board;

 

  -

approves meeting agendas for the board;

 

  -

approves meeting schedules to assure that there is sufficient time for discussion of all agenda items;

 

  -

has the authority to call meetings of the independent directors;

 

  -

if requested by major shareholders, ensures that he is available for consultation and direct communication;

 

 

Two-thirds independent board;

 

All independent key committees;

 

Established governance guidelines;

 

  A company in the Russell 3000 universe must not have exhibited sustained poor total shareholder return (TSR) performance, defined as one- and three-year TSR in the bottom half of the company’s four-digit GICS industry group (using Russell 3000 companies only), unless there has been a change in the Chairman/CEO position within that time. For companies not in the Russell 3000 universe, the company must not have underperformed both its peers and index on the basis of both one-year and three-year total shareholder returns, unless there has been a change in the Chairman/CEO position within that time;

 

  The company does not have any problematic governance or management issues, examples of which include, but are not limited to:

 

  -

Egregious compensation practices;

 

  -

Multiple related-party transactions or other issues putting director independence at risk;

 

  -

Corporate and/or management scandals;

 

  -

Excessive problematic corporate governance provisions; or

 

  -

Flagrant actions by management or the board with potential or realized negative impacts on shareholders.

Shareholder Rights & Defenses*

Net Operating Loss (NOL) Protective Amendments

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt a protective amendment for the stated purpose of protecting a company’s net operating losses (“NOLs”) if the effective term of the protective amendment would exceed the shorter of three years and the exhaustion of the NOL.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE, considering the following factors, for management proposals to adopt an NOL protective amendment that would remain in effect for the shorter of three years (or less) and the exhaustion of the NOL:

 

  The ownership threshold (NOL protective amendments generally prohibit stock ownership transfers that would result in a new 5-percent holder or increase the stock ownership percentage of an existing 5-percent holder);


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The value of the NOLs;

   

Shareholder protection mechanisms (sunset provision or commitment to cause expiration of the protective amendment upon exhaustion or expiration of the NOL);

   

The company’s existing governance structure including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, track record of responsiveness to shareholders, and any other problematic governance concerns; and

   

Any other factors that may be applicable.

Poison Pills- Management Proposals to Ratify Poison Pill

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on management proposals on poison pill ratification, focusing on the features of the shareholder rights plan. Rights plans should contain the following attributes:

 

   

No lower than a 20% trigger, flip-in or flip-over;

   

A term of no more than three years;

   

No dead-hand, slow-hand, no-hand or similar feature that limits the ability of a future board to redeem the pill;

   

Shareholder redemption feature (qualifying offer clause); if the board refuses to redeem the pill 90 days after a qualifying offer is announced, 10 percent of the shares may call a special meeting or seek a written consent to vote on rescinding the pill.

In addition, the rationale for adopting the pill should be thoroughly explained by the company. In examining the request for the pill, take into consideration the company’s existing governance structure, including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, and any problematic governance concerns.

Poison Pills- Management Proposals toRatify a Pill to Preserve Net Operating Losses (NOLs)

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt a poison pill for the stated purpose of protecting a company’s net operating losses (“NOLs”) if the term of the pill would exceed the shorter of three years and the exhaustion of the NOL.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on management proposals for poison pill ratification, considering the following factors, if the term of the pill would be the shorter of three years (or less) and the exhaustion of the NOL:

 

   

The ownership threshold to transfer (NOL pills generally have a trigger slightly below 5 percent);

   

The value of the NOLs;

   

Shareholder protection mechanisms (sunset provision, or commitment to cause expiration of the pill upon exhaustion or expiration of NOLs);

   

The company’s existing governance structure including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, track record of responsiveness to shareholders, and any other problematic governance concerns; and

   

Any other factors that may be applicable.

Shareholder Ability to Act by Written Consent

Generally vote AGAINST management and shareholder proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholders’ ability to act by written consent.

Generally vote FOR management and shareholder proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to act by written consent, taking into account the following factors:

 

   

Shareholders’ current right to act by written consent;

   

The consent threshold;

   

The inclusion of exclusionary or prohibitive language;

   

Investor ownership structure; and

   

Shareholder support of, and management’s response to, previous shareholder proposals.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals if, in addition to the considerations above, the company has the following governance and antitakeover provisions:


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An unfettered4 right for shareholders to call special meetings at a 10 percent threshold;

 

A majority vote standard in uncontested director elections;

 

No non-shareholder-approved pill; and

 

An annually elected board.

Shareholder Ability to Call Special Meetings

Vote AGAINST management or shareholder proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholders’ ability to call special meetings.

Generally vote FOR management or shareholder proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to call special meetings taking into account the following factors:

 

 

Shareholders’ current right to call special meetings;

 

Minimum ownership threshold necessary to call special meetings (10% preferred);

 

The inclusion of exclusionary or prohibitive language;

 

Investor ownership structure; and

 

Shareholder support of, and management’s response to, previous shareholder proposals.

CAPITAL/RESTRUCTURING*

Common Stock Authorization

Vote FOR proposals to increase the number of authorized common shares where the primary purpose of the increase is to issue shares in connection with a transaction on the same ballot that warrants support.

Vote AGAINST proposals at companies with more than one class of common stock to increase the number of authorized shares of the class of common stock that has superior voting rights.

Vote AGAINST proposals to increase the number of authorized common shares if a vote for a reverse stock split on the same ballot is warranted despite the fact that the authorized shares would not be reduced proportionally.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on all other proposals to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance. Take into account company-specific factors that include, at a minimum, the following:

 

 

Past Board Performance:

 

  o

The company’s use of authorized shares during the last three years

 

 

The Current Request:

 

  o

Disclosure in the proxy statement of the specific purposes of the proposed increase;

 

  o

Disclosure in the proxy statement of specific and severe risks to shareholders of not approving the request; and

 

  o

The dilutive impact of the request as determined by an allowable increase calculated by ISS (typically 100 percent of existing authorized shares) that reflects the company’s need for shares and total shareholder returns.

 

 

 

 

4

“Unfettered” means no restrictions on agenda items, no restrictions on the number of shareholders who can group together to reach the 10 percent threshold, and only reasonable limits on when a meeting can be called: no greater than 30 days after the last annual meeting and no greater than 90 prior to the next annual meeting.

 

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.


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Preferred Stock Authorization

Vote FOR proposals to increase the number of authorized preferred shares where the primary purpose of the increase is to issue shares in connection with a transaction on the same ballot that warrants support.

Vote AGAINST proposals at companies with more than one class or series of preferred stock to increase the number of authorized shares of the class or series of preferred stock that has superior voting rights.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on all other proposals to increase the number of shares of preferred stock authorized for issuance. Take into account company-specific factors that include, at a minimum, the following:

 

   

Past Board Performance:

  o

The company’s use of authorized preferred shares during the last three years;

   

The Current Request:

  o

Disclosure in the proxy statement of the specific purposes for the proposed increase;

  o

Disclosure in the proxy statement of specific and severe risks to shareholders of not approving the request;

  o

In cases where the company has existing authorized preferred stock, the dilutive impact of the request as determined by an allowable increase calculated by ISS (typically 100 percent of existing authorized shares) that reflects the company’s need for shares and total shareholder returns; and

  o

Whether the shares requested are blank check preferred shares that can be used for antitakeover purposes.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Vote CASE –BY- CASE on mergers and acquisitions. Review and evaluate the merits and drawbacks of the proposed transaction, balancing various and sometimes countervailing factors including:

 

   

Valuation - Is the value to be received by the target shareholders (or paid by the acquirer) reasonable? While the fairness opinion may provide an initial starting point for assessing valuation reasonableness, emphasis is placed on the offer premium, market reaction and strategic rationale.

   

Market reaction - How has the market responded to the proposed deal? A negative market reaction should cause closer scrutiny of a deal.

   

Strategic rationale - Does the deal make sense strategically? From where is the value derived? Cost and revenue synergies should not be overly aggressive or optimistic, but reasonably achievable. Management should also have a favorable track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions.

   

Negotiations and process - Were the terms of the transaction negotiated at arm’s-length? Was the process fair and equitable? A fair process helps to ensure the best price for shareholders. Significant negotiation “wins” can also signify the deal makers’ competency. The comprehensiveness of the sales process (e.g., full auction, partial auction, no auction) can also affect shareholder value.

   

Conflicts of interest - Are insiders benefiting from the transaction disproportionately and inappropriately as compared to non-insider shareholders? As the result of potential conflicts, the directors and officers of the company may be more likely to vote to approve a merger than if they did not hold these interests. Consider whether these interests may have influenced these directors and officers to support or recommend the merger. The CIC figure presented in the “ISS Transaction Summary” section of this report is an aggregate figure that can in certain cases be a misleading indicator of the true value transfer from


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shareholders to insiders. Where such figure appears to be excessive, analyze the underlying assumptions to determine whether a potential conflict exists.

 

   

Governance - Will the combined company have a better or worse governance profile than the current governance profiles of the respective parties to the transaction? If the governance profile is to change for the worse, the burden is on the company to prove that other issues (such as valuation) outweigh any deterioration in governance.

COMPENSATION*

Executive Pay Evaluation

Underlying all evaluations are five global principles that most investors expect corporations to adhere to in designing and administering executive and director compensation programs:

 

  1. Maintain appropriate pay-for-performance alignment, with emphasis on long-term shareholder value: This principle encompasses overall executive pay practices, which must be designed to attract, retain, and appropriately motivate the key employees who drive shareholder value creation over the long term. It will take into consideration, among other factors, the link between pay and performance; the mix between fixed and variable pay; performance goals; and equity-based plan costs;
  2. Avoid arrangements that risk “pay for failure”: This principle addresses the appropriateness of long or indefinite contracts, excessive severance packages, and guaranteed compensation;
  3. Maintain an independent and effective compensation committee: This principle promotes oversight of executive pay programs by directors with appropriate skills, knowledge, experience, and a sound process for compensation decision-making (e.g., including access to independent expertise and advice when needed);
  4. Provide shareholders with clear, comprehensive compensation disclosures: This principle underscores the importance of informative and timely disclosures that enable shareholders to evaluate executive pay practices fully and fairly;
  5. Avoid inappropriate pay to non-executive directors: This principle recognizes the interests of shareholders in ensuring that compensation to outside directors does not compromise their independence and ability to make appropriate judgments in overseeing managers’ pay and performance. At the market level, it may incorporate a variety of generally accepted best practices.

Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation- Management Proposals (Management Say-on-Pay)

Evaluate executive pay and practices, as well as certain aspects of outside director compensation CASE-BY-CASE.

Vote AGAINST management say on pay (MSOP) proposals, AGAINST/WITHHOLD on compensation committee members (or, in rare cases where the full board is deemed responsible, all directors including the CEO), and/or AGAINST an equity-based incentive plan proposal if:

 

   

There is a misalignment between CEO pay and company performance (pay for performance);

   

The company maintains problematic pay practices;

 

 

* See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.


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The board exhibits poor communication and responsiveness to shareholders.

Voting Alternatives

In general, the management say on pay (MSOP) ballot item is the primary focus of voting on executive pay practices— dissatisfaction with compensation practices can be expressed by voting against MSOP rather than withholding or voting against the compensation committee. However, if there is no MSOP on the ballot, then the negative vote will apply to members of the compensation committee. In addition, in egregious cases, or if the board fails to respond to concerns raised by a prior MSOP proposal, then vote withhold or against compensation committee members (or, if the full board is deemed accountable, all directors). If the negative factors involve equity-based compensation, then vote AGAINST an equity-based plan proposal presented for shareholder approval.

Additional CASE-BY-CASE considerations for the management say on pay (MSOP) proposals:

 

  Evaluation of performance metrics in short-term and long-term plans, as discussed and explained in the Compensation Discussion & Analysis (CD&A). Consider the measures, goals, and target awards reported by the company for executives’ short- and long-term incentive awards: disclosure, explanation of their alignment with the company’s business strategy, and whether goals appear to be sufficiently challenging in relation to resulting payouts;
  Evaluation of peer group benchmarking used to set target pay or award opportunities. Consider the rationale stated by the company for constituents in its pay benchmarking peer group, as well as the benchmark targets it uses to set or validate executives’ pay (e.g., median, 75th percentile, etc.,) to ascertain whether the benchmarking process is sound or may result in pay “ratcheting” due to inappropriate peer group constituents (e.g., much larger companies) or targeting (e.g., above median); and
  Balance of performance-based versus non-performance-based pay. Consider the ratio of performance-based (not including plain vanilla stock options) vs. non-performance-based pay elements reported for the CEO’s latest reported fiscal year compensation, especially in conjunction with concerns about other factors such as performance metrics/goals, benchmarking practices, and pay-for-performance disconnects.

Primary Evaluation Factors for Executive Pay

Pay for Performance

Evaluate the alignment of the CEO’s pay with performance over time, focusing particularly on companies that have underperformed their peers over a sustained period. From a shareholders’ perspective, performance is predominantly gauged by the company’s stock performance over time. Even when financial or operational measures are utilized in incentive awards, the achievement related to these measures should ultimately translate into superior shareholder returns in the long-term.

Focus on companies with sustained underperformance relative to peers, considering the following key factors:

 

 

Whether a company’s one-year and three-year total shareholder returns (“TSR”) are in the bottom half of its industry group (i.e., four-digit GICS – Global Industry Classification Group); and

 

Whether the total compensation of a CEO who has served at least two consecutive fiscal years is aligned with the company’s total shareholder return over time, including both recent and long-term periods.

If a company falls in the bottom half of its four-digit GICS, further analysis of the CD&A is required to better understand the various pay elements and whether they create or reinforce shareholder alignment. Also assess the CEO’s pay relative to the


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company’s TSR over a time horizon of at least five years. The most recent year-over-year increase or decrease in pay remains a key consideration, but there will be additional emphasis on the long term trend of CEO total compensation relative to shareholder return. Also consider the mix of performance-based compensation relative to total compensation. In general, standard stock options or time-vested restricted stock are not considered to be performance-based. If a company provides performance-based incentives to its executives, the company is highly encouraged to provide the complete disclosure of the performance measure and goals (hurdle rate) so that shareholders can assess the rigor of the performance program. The use of non-GAAP financial metrics also makes it very challenging for shareholders to ascertain the rigor of the program as shareholders often cannot tell the type of adjustments being made and if the adjustments were made consistently. Complete and transparent disclosure helps shareholders to better understand the company’s pay for performance linkage.

Problematic Pay Practices

If the company maintains problematic pay practices, generally vote:

 

  AGAINST management “say on pay” (MSOP) proposals;
  AGAINST/WITHHOLD on compensation committee members (or in rare cases where the full board is deemed responsible, all directors including the CEO):
  o In egregious situations;
  o When no MSOP item is on the ballot; or
  o When the board has failed to respond to concerns raised in prior MSOP evaluations; and/or
  AGAINST an equity incentive plan proposal if excessive non-performance-based equity awards are the major contributors to a pay-for-performance misalignment.

The focus is on executive compensation practices that contravene the global pay principles, including:

 

 

Problematic practices related to non-performance-based compensation elements;

 

Incentives that may motivate excessive risk-taking; and

 

Options Backdating.

Problematic Pay Practices related to Non-Performance-Based Compensation Elements

Pay elements that are not directly based on performance are generally evaluated CASE-BY-CASE considering the context of a company’s overall pay program and demonstrated pay-for-performance philosophy. Please refer to ISS’ Compensation FAQ document for detail on specific pay practices that have been identified as potentially problematic and may lead to negative recommendations if they are deemed to be inappropriate or unjustified relative to executive pay best practices. The list below highlights the problematic practices that carry significant weight in this overall consideration and may result in adverse vote recommendations:

 

  Repricing or replacing of underwater stock options/SARS without prior shareholder approval (including cash buyouts and voluntary surrender of underwater options);
  Excessive perquisites or tax gross-ups, including any gross-up related to a secular trust or restricted stock vesting;
  New or extended agreements that provide for:
  o CIC payments exceeding 3 times base salary and average/target/most recent bonus;
  o CIC severance payments without involuntary job loss or substantial diminution of duties (“single” or “modified single” triggers);
  o CIC payments with excise tax gross-ups (including “modified” gross-ups).


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Incentives that may Motivate Excessive Risk-Taking

Assess company policies and disclosure related to compensation that could incentivize excessive risk-taking, for example:

 

 

Multi-year guaranteed bonuses;

 

A single performance metric used for short- and long-term plans;

 

Lucrative severance packages;

 

High pay opportunities relative to industry peers;

 

Disproportionate supplemental pensions; or

 

Mega annual equity grants that provide unlimited upside with no downside risk.

Factors that potentially mitigate the impact of risky incentives include rigorous claw-back provisions and robust stock ownership/holding guidelines.

Options Backdating

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on options backdating issues. Generally, when a company has recently practiced options backdating, WITHHOLD from or vote AGAINST the compensation committee, depending on the severity of the practices and the subsequent corrective actions on the part of the board. When deciding on votes on compensation committee members who oversaw questionable options grant practices or current compensation committee members who fail to respond to the issue proactively, consider several factors, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

 

Reason and motive for the options backdating issue, such as inadvertent vs. deliberate grant date changes;

 

Duration of options backdating;

 

Size of restatement due to options backdating;

 

Corrective actions taken by the board or compensation committee, such as canceling or re-pricing backdated options, the recouping of option gains on backdated grants; and

 

Adoption of a grant policy that prohibits backdating, and creates a fixed grant schedule or window period for equity grants in the future.

A CASE-BY-CASE analysis approach allows distinctions to be made between companies that had “sloppy” plan administration versus those that acted deliberately and/or committed fraud, as well as those companies that subsequently took corrective action. Cases where companies have committed fraud are considered most egregious.

Board Communications and Responsiveness

Consider the following factors CASE-BY-CASE when evaluating ballot items related to executive pay:

 

 

Poor disclosure practices, including:

  -

Unclear explanation of how the CEO is involved in the pay setting process;

  -

Retrospective performance targets and methodology not discussed;

  -

Methodology for benchmarking practices and/or peer group not disclosed and explained.

 

Board’s responsiveness to investor input and engagement on compensation issues, for example:

  -

Failure to respond to majority-supported shareholder proposals on executive pay topics; or

  -

Failure to respond to concerns raised in connection with significant opposition to MSOP proposals.


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Frequency of Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation (Management “Say on Pay”)

Vote FOR annual advisory votes on compensation, which provide the most consistent and clear communication channel for shareholder concerns about companies' executive pay programs.

Voting on Golden Parachutes in an Acquisition, Merger, Consolidation, or Proposed Sale

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to approve the company’s golden parachute compensation, consistent with ISS’ policies on problematic pay practices related to severance packages. Features that may lead to a vote AGAINST include:

 

 

Recently adopted or materially amended agreements that include excise tax gross-up provisions (since prior annual meeting);

 

Recently adopted or materially amended agreements that include modified single triggers (since prior annual meeting);

 

Single trigger payments that will happen immediately upon a change in control, including cash payment and such items as the acceleration of performance-based equity despite the failure to achieve performance measures;

 

Single-trigger vesting of equity based on a definition of change in control that requires only shareholder approval of the transaction (rather than consummation);

 

Potentially excessive severance payments;

 

Recent amendments or other changes that may make packages so attractive as to influence merger agreements that may not be in the best interests of shareholders;

 

In the case of a substantial gross-up from pre-existing/grandfathered contract: the element that triggered the gross-up (i.e., option mega-grants at low point in stock price, unusual or outsized payments in cash or equity made or negotiated prior to the merger); or

 

The company’s assertion that a proposed transaction is conditioned on shareholder approval of the golden parachute advisory vote. ISS would view this as problematic from a corporate governance perspective.

In cases where the golden parachute vote is incorporated into a company’s separate advisory vote on compensation (“management “say on pay”), ISS will evaluate the “say on pay” proposal in accordance with these guidelines, which may give higher weight to that component of the overall evaluation.

Equity-Based and Other Incentive Plans

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on equity-based compensation plans. Vote AGAINST the equity plan if any of the following factors apply:

 

 

The total cost of the company’s equity plans is unreasonable;

 

The plan expressly permits the repricing of stock options/stock appreciate rights (SARs) without prior shareholder approval;

 

The CEO is a participant in the proposed equity-based compensation plan and there is a disconnect between CEO pay and the company’s performance where over 50 percent of the year-over-year increase is attributed to equity awards (see Pay-for-Performance);

 

The company’s three year burn rate exceeds the greater of 2% or the mean plus one standard deviation of its industry group but no more than two percentage points (+/-) from the prior-year industry group cap;

 

Liberal Change of Control Definition: The plan provides for the acceleration of vesting of equity awards even though an actual change in control may not occur (e.g., upon shareholder approval of a transaction or the announcement of a tender offer); or

 

The plan is a vehicle for problematic pay practices.


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Shareholder Proposals on Compensation

Golden Coffins/Executive Death Benefits

Generally vote FOR proposals calling companies to adopt a policy of obtaining shareholder approval for any future agreements and corporate policies that could oblige the company to make payments or awards following the death of a senior executive in the form of unearned salary or bonuses, accelerated vesting or the continuation in force of unvested equity grants, perquisites and other payments or awards made in lieu of compensation. This would not apply to any benefit programs or equity plan proposals that the broad-based employee population is eligible.

Hold Equity Past Retirement or for a Significant Period of Time

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals asking companies to adopt policies requiring senior executive officers to retain all or a significant portion of the shares acquired through compensation plans, either:

 

 

while employed and/or for two years following the termination of their employment ; or

  for a substantial period following the lapse of all other vesting requirements for the award (“lock-up period”), with ratable release of a portion of the shares annually during the lock-up period.

The following factors will be taken into account:

 

  Whether the company has any holding period, retention ratio, or officer ownership requirements in place. These should consist of:
  - Rigorous stock ownership guidelines;
  - A holding period requirement coupled with a significant long-term ownership requirement; or
  - A meaningful retention ratio;
  Actual officer stock ownership and the degree to which it meets or exceeds the proponent’s suggested holding period/retention ratio or the company’s own stock ownership or retention requirements;
  Post-termination holding requirement policies or any policies aimed at mitigating risk taking by senior executives;
  Problematic pay practices, current and past, which may promote a short-term versus a long-term focus.

A rigorous stock ownership guideline should be at least 10x base salary for the CEO, with the multiple declining for other executives. A meaningful retention ratio should constitute at least 50 percent of the stock received from equity awards (on a net proceeds basis) held on a long-term basis, such as the executive’s tenure with the company or even a few years past the executive’s termination with the company.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals asking companies to adopt policies requiring Named Executive Officers to retain 75% of the shares acquired through compensation plans while employed and/or for two years following the termination of their employment, and to report to shareholders regarding this policy. The following factors will be taken into account:

 

  Whether the company has any holding period, retention ratio, or officer ownership requirements in place. These should consist of:
  - Rigorous stock ownership guidelines, or

 

  - A holding period requirement coupled with a significant long-term ownership requirement, or

 

  - A meaningful retention ratio,


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Actual officer stock ownership and the degree to which it meets or exceeds the proponent’s suggested holding period/retention ratio or the company’s own stock ownership or retention requirements.

   

Problematic pay practices, current and past, which may promote a short-term versus a long-term focus.

A rigorous stock ownership guideline should be at least 10x base salary for the CEO, with the multiple declining for other executives. A meaningful retention ratio should constitute at least 50 percent of the stock received from equity awards (on a net proceeds basis) held on a long-term basis, such as the executive’s tenure with the company or even a few years past the executive’s termination with the company.

Generally vote AGAINST shareholder proposals that mandate a minimum amount of stock that directors must own in order to qualify as a director or to remain on the board. While ISS favors stock ownership on the part of directors, the company should determine the appropriate ownership requirement.

Social/Environmental Issues

Overall Approach

Generally vote FOR the management’s recommendation on shareholder proposals involving social/environmental issues. When evaluating social and environmental shareholder proposals, Dimensional considers the most important factor to be whether adoption of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value.


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2011 International Proxy Voting Guidelines Summary

Effective for Meetings on or after January 3, 2011

In order to provide greater analysis on certain shareholder meetings, the Advisor has elected to receive research reports for certain meetings, as indicated below, from Glass Lewis in addition to Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS” ).

Specifically, if available, the Advisor may obtain research from Glass Lewis in addition to ISS for shareholder meetings in the following circumstances: (1) where the Advisor’s clients have a significant aggregate holding in the issuer and the meeting agenda contains proxies concerning: Anti-takeover Defenses or Voting Related Issues, Mergers and Acquisitions or Reorganizations or Restructurings, Capital Structure Issues, Compensation Issues or a proxy contest; or (2) where the Advisor in its discretion, has deemed that additional research is warranted.

Where research is obtained from Glass Lewis in accordance with these Guidelines, the Advisor will first review the research reports obtained from ISS and Glass Lewis. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are the same, the Advisor will vote accordingly. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are inconsistent, the Advisor will vote in accordance with the ISS recommendation unless the Corporate Governance Committee determines that voting in accordance with the Glass Lewis recommendation is more consistent with the principle of preserving shareholder value.

1. Operational Items

Financial Results/Director and Auditor Reports

Vote FOR approval of financial statements and director and auditor reports, unless:

 

   

There are concerns about the accounts presented or audit procedures used; or

   

The company is not responsive to shareholder questions about specific items that should be publicly disclosed.

Appointment of Auditors and Auditor Fees

Vote FOR the (re)election of auditors and/or proposals authorizing the board to fix auditor fees, unless:

 

   

There are serious concerns about the procedures used by the auditor;

   

There is reason to believe that the auditor has rendered an opinion which is neither accurate nor indicative of the company's financial position;

   

External auditors have previously served the company in an executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company;

   

Name of the proposed auditors has not been published;

   

The auditors are being changed without explanation; or

   

Fees for non-audit services exceed standard annual audit-related fees (only applies to companies on the MSCI EAFE index and/or listed on any country main index).

In circumstances where fees for non-audit services include fees related to significant one-time capital structure events (initial public offerings, bankruptcy emergencies, and spin-offs) and the company makes public disclosure of the amount and nature of those fees, which are an exception to the standard “non-audit fee” category, then such fees may be excluded from the non-audit fees considered in determining the ratio of non-audit to audit fees.

For concerns related to the audit procedures, independence of auditors, and/or name of auditors, ISS may recommend AGAINST the auditor (re)election. For concerns related to fees paid to the auditors, ISS may recommend AGAINST remuneration of auditors if this is a separate voting item; otherwise ISS may recommend AGAINST the auditor election.


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Appointment of Internal Statutory Auditors

Vote FOR the appointment or (re)election of statutory auditors, unless:

 

   

There are serious concerns about the statutory reports presented or the audit procedures used;

   

Questions exist concerning any of the statutory auditors being appointed; or

   

The auditors have previously served the company in an executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company.

Allocation of Income

Vote FOR approval of the allocation of income, unless:

 

   

The dividend payout ratio has been consistently below 30 percent without adequate explanation; or

   

The payout is excessive given the company's financial position.

Amendments to Articles of Association

Vote amendments to the articles of association on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Change in Company Fiscal Term

Vote FOR resolutions to change a company's fiscal term unless a company's motivation for the change is to postpone its AGM.

Lower Disclosure Threshold for Stock Ownership

Vote AGAINST resolutions to lower the stock ownership disclosure threshold below 5 percent unless specific reasons exist to implement a lower threshold.

Amend Quorum Requirements

Vote proposals to amend quorum requirements for shareholder meetings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Transact Other Business

Vote AGAINST other business when it appears as a voting item.

2. Board of Directors

Director Elections

Vote FOR management nominees in the election of directors, unless:

 

   

Adequate disclosure has not been provided in a timely manner;

   

There are clear concerns over questionable finances or restatements;

   

There have been questionable transactions with conflicts of interest;

   

There are any records of abuses against minority shareholder interests; or

   

The board fails to meet minimum corporate governance standards.

Vote FOR individual nominees unless there are specific concerns about the individual, such as criminal wrongdoing or breach of fiduciary responsibilities.


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Vote AGAINST individual directors if repeated absences at board meetings have not been explained (in countries where this information is disclosed).

Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis for contested elections of directors, e.g. the election of shareholder nominees or the dismissal of incumbent directors, determining which directors are best suited to add value for shareholders.*

Vote FOR employee and/or labor representatives if they sit on either the audit or compensation committee and are required by law to be on those committees.* Vote AGAINST employee and/or labor representatives if they sit on either the audit or compensation committee, if they are not required to be on those committees.*

Under extraordinary circumstances, vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from directors individually, on a committee, or the entire board, due to:

 

   

Material failures of governance, stewardship, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company; or

 

   

Failure to replace management as appropriate; or

 

   

Egregious actions related to the director(s)’ service on other boards that raise substantial doubt about his or her ability to effectively oversee management and serve the best interests of shareholders at any company.

[Please see the ISS International Classification of Directors.]

 

 

 

* See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.


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ISS Classification of Directors - International Policy 2011

 

Executive Director

 

•    Employee or executive of the company;

 

•    Any director who is classified as a non-executive, but receives salary, fees, bonus, and/or other benefits that are in line with the highest-paid executives of the company.

 

Non-Independent Non-Executive Director (NED)

 

•    Any director who is attested by the board to be a non-independent NED;

 

•    Any director specifically designated as a representative of a significant shareholder of the company;

 

•    Any director who is also an employee or executive of a significant shareholder of the company;

 

•    Any director who is nominated by a dissenting significant shareholder, unless there is a clear lack of material[5] connection with the dissident, either currently or historically;

 

•    Beneficial owner (direct or indirect) of at least 10% of the company's stock, either in economic terms or in voting rights (this may be aggregated if voting power is distributed among more than one member of a defined group, e.g., family members who beneficially own less than 10% individually, but collectively own more than 10%), unless market best practice dictates a lower ownership and/or disclosure threshold (and in other special market-specific circumstances);

 

•    Government representative;

 

•    Currently provides (or a relative[1] provides) professional services[2] to the company, to an affiliate of the company, or to an individual officer of the company or of one of its affiliates in excess of $10,000 per year;

 

•    Represents customer, supplier, creditor, banker, or other entity with which company maintains transactional/commercial relationship (unless company discloses information to apply a materiality test[3]);

 

•    Any director who has conflicting or cross-directorships with executive directors or the chairman of the company;

 

•    Relative[1] of a current employee of the company or its affiliates;

 

•    Relative[1] of a former executive of the company or its affiliates;

 

•    A new appointee elected other than by a formal process through the General Meeting (such as a contractual appointment by a substantial shareholder);

 

•    Founder/co-founder/member of founding family but not currently an employee;

 

•    Former executive (5 year cooling off period);

 

•    Years of service is generally not a determining factor unless it is recommended best practice in a market and/or in extreme circumstances, in which case it may be considered.[4]

 

•    Any additional relationship or principle considered to compromise independence under local corporate governance best practice guidance.

 

Independent NED

 

•    No material[5] connection, either directly or indirectly, to the company (other than a board seat) or the dissenting significant shareholder.

 

Employee Representative

 

•    Represents employees or employee shareholders of the company (classified as “employee representative” but considered a non-independent NED).

 

Footnotes:

 

[1] “Relative” follows the definition of “immediate family members” which covers spouses, parents, children, stepparents, step-children, siblings, in-laws, and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of any director, nominee for director, executive officer, or significant shareholder of the company.

[2] Professional services can be characterized as advisory in nature and generally include the following: investment banking/financial advisory services; commercial banking (beyond deposit services); investment services; insurance services; accounting/audit services; consulting services; marketing services; and legal services. The case of participation in a banking syndicate by a non-lead bank should be considered a transaction (and hence subject to the associated materiality test) rather than a professional relationship.

[3] A business relationship may be material if the transaction value (of all outstanding transactions) entered into between the company and the company or organization with which the director is associated is equivalent to either 1 percent of the company’s turnover or 1 percent of the turnover of the company or organization with which the director is associated. OR, A business relationship may be material if the transaction value (of all outstanding financing operations) entered into between the company and the company or organization with which the director is associated is more than 10 percent of the company's shareholder equity or the transaction value, (of all outstanding financing operations), compared to the company's total assets, is more than 5 percent.

[4] For example, in continental Europe, directors with a tenure exceeding 12 years will be considered non-independent. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, directors with a tenure exceeding nine years will be considered non-independent, unless the company provides sufficient and clear justification that the director is independent despite his long tenure.

[5] For purposes of ISS’ director independence classification, “material” will be defined as a standard of relationship financial, personal or


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otherwise that a reasonable person might conclude could potentially influence one's objectivity in the boardroom in a manner that would have a meaningful impact on an individual's ability to satisfy requisite fiduciary standards on behalf of shareholders.

Contested Director Elections *

For contested elections of directors, e.g. the election of shareholder nominees or the dismissal of incumbent directors, ISS will make its recommendation on a case-by-case basis, determining which directors are best suited to add value for shareholders.

The analysis will generally be based on, but not limited to, the following major decision factors:

 

   

Company performance relative to its peers;

   

Strategy of the incumbents versus the dissidents;

   

Independence of directors/nominees;

   

Experience and skills of board candidates;

   

Governance profile of the company;

   

Evidence of management entrenchment;

   

Responsiveness to shareholders;

   

Whether a takeover offer has been rebuffed;

   

Whether minority or majority representation is being sought.

When analyzing a contested election of directors, ISS will generally focus on two central questions: (1) Have the dissidents proved that board change is warranted? And (2) if so, are the dissident board nominees likely to effect positive change (i.e., maximize long-term shareholder value).

Discharge of Directors

Generally vote FOR the discharge of directors, including members of the management board and/or supervisory board, unless there is reliable information about significant and compelling controversies that the board is not fulfilling its fiduciary duties warranted by:

 

   

A lack of oversight or actions by board members which invoke shareholder distrust related to malfeasance or poor supervision, such as operating in private or company interest rather than in shareholder interest; or

   

Any legal issues (e.g. civil/criminal) aiming to hold the board responsible for breach of trust in the past or related to currently alleged actions yet to be confirmed (and not only the fiscal year in question), such as price fixing, insider trading, bribery, fraud, and other illegal actions; or

   

Other egregious governance issues where shareholders will bring legal action against the company or its directors.

For markets which do not routinely request discharge resolutions (e.g. common law countries or markets where discharge is not mandatory), analysts may voice concern in other appropriate agenda items, such as approval of the annual accounts or other relevant resolutions, to enable shareholders to express discontent with the board.

Director, Officer, and Auditor Indemnification and Liability Provisions

Vote proposals seeking indemnification and liability protection for directors and officers on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote AGAINST proposals to indemnify external auditors.

 

 

*See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.


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Board Structure

Vote FOR proposals to fix board size.

Vote AGAINST the introduction of classified boards and mandatory retirement ages for directors.

Vote AGAINST proposals to alter board structure or size in the context of a fight for control of the company or the board.

3. Capital Structure*

Share Issuance Requests

General Issuances

Vote FOR issuance requests with preemptive rights to a maximum of 100 percent over currently issued capital.

Vote FOR issuance requests without preemptive rights to a maximum of 20 percent of currently issued capital.

Specific Issuances

Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on all requests, with or without preemptive rights.

Increases in Authorized Capital

Vote FOR non-specific proposals to increase authorized capital up to 100 percent over the current authorization unless the increase would leave the company with less than 30 percent of its new authorization outstanding.

Vote FOR specific proposals to increase authorized capital to any amount, unless:

   

The specific purpose of the increase (such as a share-based acquisition or merger) does not meet ISS guidelines for the purpose being proposed; or

   

The increase would leave the company with less than 30 percent of its new authorization outstanding after adjusting for all proposed issuances.

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt unlimited capital authorizations.

Reduction of Capital

Vote FOR proposals to reduce capital for routine accounting purposes unless the terms are unfavorable to shareholders.

Vote proposals to reduce capital in connection with corporate restructuring on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Capital Structures

Vote FOR resolutions that seek to maintain or convert to a one-share, one-vote capital structure.

Vote AGAINST requests for the creation or continuation of dual-class capital structures or the creation of new or additional super voting shares.

 

 

* See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.


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Preferred Stock

Vote FOR the creation of a new class of preferred stock or for issuances of preferred stock up to 50 percent of issued capital unless the terms of the preferred stock would adversely affect the rights of existing shareholders.

Vote FOR the creation/issuance of convertible preferred stock as long as the maximum number of common shares that could be issued upon conversion meets ISS guidelines on equity issuance requests.

Vote AGAINST the creation of a new class of preference shares that would carry superior voting rights to the common shares.

Vote AGAINST the creation of blank check preferred stock unless the board clearly states that the authorization will not be used to thwart a takeover bid.

Vote proposals to increase blank check preferred authorizations on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Debt Issuance Requests

Vote non-convertible debt issuance requests on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, with or without preemptive rights.

Vote FOR the creation/issuance of convertible debt instruments as long as the maximum number of common shares that could be issued upon conversion meets ISS guidelines on equity issuance requests.

Vote FOR proposals to restructure existing debt arrangements unless the terms of the restructuring would adversely affect the rights of shareholders.

Pledging of Assets for Debt

Vote proposals to approve the pledging of assets for debt on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Increase in Borrowing Powers

Vote proposals to approve increases in a company's borrowing powers on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Share Repurchase Plans

Generally vote FOR market repurchase authorities (share repurchase programs) if the terms comply with the following criteria:

 

   

A repurchase limit of up to 10 percent of outstanding issued share capital (15 percent in UK/Ireland);

   

A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company's issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and

   

A duration of no more than 5 years, or such lower threshold as may be set by applicable law, regulation or code of governance best practice.

Authorities to repurchase shares in excess of the 10 percent repurchase limit will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. ISS may support such share repurchase authorities under special circumstances, which are required to be publicly disclosed by the company, provided that, on balance, the proposal is in shareholders' interests. In such cases, the authority must comply with the following criteria:

 

   

A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company's issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and

   

A duration of no more than 18 months.


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In markets where it is normal practice not to provide a repurchase limit, ISS will evaluate the proposal based on the company's historical practice. However, ISS expects companies to disclose such limits and, in the future, may recommend a vote against companies that fail to do so. In such cases, the authority must comply with the following criteria:

 

   

A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company’s issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and

   

A duration of no more than 18 months.

In addition, ISS will recommend AGAINST any proposal where:

 

   

The repurchase can be used for takeover defenses;

   

There is clear evidence of abuse;

   

There is no safeguard against selective buybacks; and/or

   

Pricing provisions and safeguards are deemed to be unreasonable in light of market practice.

Reissuance of Repurchased Shares

Vote FOR requests to reissue any repurchased shares unless there is clear evidence of abuse of this authority in the past.

Capitalization of Reserves for Bonus Issues/Increase in Par Value

Vote FOR requests to capitalize reserves for bonus issues of shares or to increase par value.

4. Other Items

Reorganizations/Restructurings*

Vote reorganizations and restructurings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Mergers and Acquisitions*

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on mergers and acquisitions taking into account the following:

For every M&A analysis, ISS reviews publicly available information as of the date of the report and evaluates the merits and drawbacks of the proposed transaction, balancing various and sometimes countervailing factors including:

 

   

Valuation - Is the value to be received by the target shareholders (or paid by the acquirer) reasonable? While the fairness opinion may provide an initial starting point for assessing valuation reasonableness, ISS places emphasis on the offer premium, market reaction, and strategic rationale.

   

Market reaction - How has the market responded to the proposed deal? A negative market reaction will cause ISS to scrutinize a deal more closely.

   

Strategic rationale - Does the deal make sense strategically? From where is the value derived? Cost and revenue synergies should not be overly aggressive or optimistic, but reasonably achievable. Management should also have a favourable track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions.

   

Conflicts of interest - Are insiders benefiting from the transaction disproportionately and inappropriately as compared to non-insider shareholders? ISS will consider whether any special interests may have influenced these directors and officers to support or recommend the merger.

 

 

* See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.


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Governance - Will the combined company have a better or worse governance profile than the current governance profiles of the respective parties to the transaction? If the governance profile is to change for the worse, the burden is on the company to prove that other issues (such as valuation) outweigh any deterioration in governance.

Vote AGAINST if the companies do not provide sufficient information upon request to make an informed voting decision.

Mandatory Takeover Bid Waivers *

Vote proposals to waive mandatory takeover bid requirements on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Reincorporation Proposals

Vote reincorporation proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Expansion of Business Activities

Vote FOR resolutions to expand business activities unless the new business takes the company into risky areas.

Related-Party Transactions

In evaluating resolutions that seek shareholder approval on related party transactions (RPTs), vote on a case-by-case basis, considering factors including, but not limited to, the following:

 

   

the parties on either side of the transaction;

   

the nature of the asset to be transferred/service to be provided;

   

the pricing of the transaction (and any associated professional valuation);

   

the views of independent directors (where provided);

   

the views of an independent financial adviser (where appointed);

   

whether any entities party to the transaction (including advisers) is conflicted; and

   

the stated rationale for the transaction, including discussions of timing.

If there is a transaction that ISS deemed problematic and that was not put to a shareholder vote, ISS may recommend against the election of the director involved in the related-party transaction or the full board.

Antitakeover Mechanisms

Generally vote AGAINST all antitakeover proposals, unless they are structured in such a way that they give shareholders the ultimate decision on any proposal or offer.

Shareholder Proposals

Vote all shareholder proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote FOR proposals that would improve the company's corporate governance or business profile at a reasonable cost.

Vote AGAINST proposals that limit the company's business activities or capabilities or result in significant costs being incurred with little or no benefit.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Issues

Generally vote FOR the management’s recommendation on shareholder proposals involving CSR Issues. When evaluating social and environmental shareholder proposals, Dimensional considers the most important factor to be whether adoption of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value.


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DIMENSIONAL INVESTMENT GROUP INC.

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, Texas 78746

Telephone: (512) 306-7400

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

February 28, 2011

 

LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio

Ticker: DFBMX

 

  

LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio

Ticker: DFCFX

 

LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio

Ticker: DFHBX

 

 

  

LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio

Ticker: DFYGX

 

This statement of additional information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus but should be read in conjunction with the prospectus of LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio, LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio, LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio and LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio (individually, a “Portfolio” and collectively, the “Portfolios”), dated February 28, 2011, as amended from time to time. LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio is a series of DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. (“DFAIDG”), an open-end management investment company. The other three Portfolios are series of Dimensional Investment Group Inc. (“DIG”), an open-end management investment company. DFAIDG and DIG are called the “Funds” in this SAI. The audited financial statements and financial highlights of the Portfolios are incorporated by reference from the Funds’ annual report to shareholders and the audited financial statements and financial highlights of each Portfolio’s Master Fund are incorporated by reference from The DFA Investment Trust Company’s (the “Trust”) annual report to shareholders. The prospectus and annual report can be obtained by writing to the above address or by calling the above telephone number.

 


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS AND POLICIES

     2   

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

     2   

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

     4   

FUTURES CONTRACTS

     5   

FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

     6   

CASH MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

     7   

CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES

     7   

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

     7   

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

     8   

SERVICES TO THE FUNDS

     18   

ADVISORY FEES

     20   

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

     20   

GENERAL INFORMATION

     24   

CODE OF ETHICS

     24   

SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS

     24   

PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

     25   

PURCHASE OF SHARES

     26   

REDEMPTION OF SHARES

     27   

TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIO AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS

     27   

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

     39   

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

     41   

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     44   

PERFORMANCE DATA

     45   

 

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PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS AND POLICIES

The LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio invests substantially all of its assets in The U.S. Large Cap Value Series (the “U.S. Large Cap Value Series”) of The DFA Investment Trust Company (the “Trust”). The LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio invests substantially all of its assets in The DFA International Value Series (the “International Value Series”) of the Trust. The LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market and the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolios are identified as a “Feeder” or “Feeder Portfolios” in this SAI. The U.S. Large Cap Value Series and the International Value Series of the Trust are called “Master Funds” in this SAI.

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) serves as investment advisor to each of the Portfolios and each Master Fund, and provides administrative services to the Feeder Portfolios. The Advisor is organized as a Delaware limited partnership and is controlled and operated by its general partner, Dimensional Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation.

The following information supplements the information set forth in the prospectus. Unless otherwise indicated, it applies to all of the Portfolios and Master Funds, including the Feeder Portfolios, through their investment in the Master Funds. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this SAI have the meaning assigned to them in the prospectus.

Each of the Portfolios and the Master Funds are diversified under the federal securities laws and regulations.

Because the structures of the Master Funds are based on the relative market capitalizations of eligible holdings, it is possible that a Master Fund might include at least 5% of the outstanding voting securities of one or more issuers. In such circumstances, the Master Fund and the issuer would be deemed affiliated persons and certain requirements under the federal securities laws and regulations regulating dealings between mutual funds and their affiliates might become applicable.

The LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio and LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio have adopted a non-fundamental policy as required by Rule 35d-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) that, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the value of each Portfolio’s net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, will be invested in a specific type of investment. Additionally, if a Portfolio changes its 80% investment policy, the Portfolio will notify shareholders at least 60 days before the change, and will change the name of the Portfolio. For more information on each Portfolio's specific 80% policy, see each Portfolio's "PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES" section in the Prospectus.

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

The following table reports brokerage commissions paid by the designated Portfolios during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009, and the fiscal period from December 1, 2007 to October 31, 2008.

 

Master Fund/Portfolio

  

FISCAL

YEAR

ENDED

2010

    

FISCAL

YEAR

ENDED

2009

    

FISCAL

PERIOD

ENDED

2008

 

U.S. Large Cap Value Series

   $ 2,779,149       $ 3,220,013       $ 1,904,981   

DFA International Value Series

   $ 1,550,273       $ 1,030,380       $ 1,078,752   

 

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The LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio and the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio (collectively, the “Fixed Income Portfolios”) acquire and sell securities on a net basis with dealers which are major market makers in such securities. The Investment Committee of the Advisor selects dealers on the basis of their size and market making ability. When executing portfolio transactions for the Fixed Income Portfolios, the Advisor seeks to obtain the most favorable price for the securities being traded among the dealers with whom the Fixed Income Portfolios effect transactions.

Portfolio transactions will be placed with a view to receiving the best price and execution. In addition, the Advisor will seek to acquire and dispose of securities in a manner which would cause as little fluctuation in the market prices of stocks being purchased or sold as possible in light of the size of the transactions being effected. Brokers will be selected with these goals in view. The Advisor monitors the performance of brokers which effect transactions for the Fixed Income Portfolios, if any, and the Master Funds to determine the effect that the brokers’ trading has on the market prices of the securities in which the Portfolios and Master Funds invest. The Advisor also checks the rate of commission being paid by the Fixed Income Portfolios, if any, and the Master Funds to brokers to ascertain that the rates are competitive with those charged by other brokers for similar services. The substantial increases or decreases in the amount of brokerage commissions paid by the Master Funds from year to year resulted primarily from asset changes that required increases or decreases in the amount of securities that were bought and sold by the Master Funds.

Subject to obtaining best price and execution, transactions may be placed with brokers that have assisted in the sale of the Portfolios’ shares. The Advisor, however, pursuant to policies and procedures approved by the Boards of Directors of DFAIDG and DIG and the Board of Trustees of the Trust, is prohibited from selecting brokers and dealers to effect a Portfolio’s or Master Fund’s portfolio securities transactions based (in whole or in part) on a broker’s or dealer’s promotion or sale of shares issued by a Portfolio or any other registered investment companies.

Companies eligible for purchase by the Portfolios (except the LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio and its Master Fund) may be thinly traded securities. The Advisor believes that it needs maximum flexibility to effect trades on a best execution basis. As deemed appropriate, the Advisor places buy and sell orders for the Portfolios and Master Funds with various brokerage firms that may act as principal or agent. The Advisor may also make use of direct market access and algorithmic, program or electronic trading methods. The Advisor may extensively use electronic trading systems as such systems can provide the ability to customize the orders placed and can assist in the Advisor's execution strategies.

Transactions also may be placed with brokers who provide the Advisor with investment research, such as reports concerning individual issuers, industries and general economic and financial trends and other research services. The investment advisory agreements permit the Advisor knowingly to pay commissions on these transactions which are greater than another broker, dealer or exchange member might charge if the Advisor, in good faith, determines that the commissions paid are reasonable in relation to the research or brokerage services provided by the broker or dealer when viewed in terms of either a particular transaction or the Advisor’s overall responsibilities to assets under its management. Research services furnished by brokers through whom securities transactions are effected may be used by the Advisor in servicing all of its accounts and not all such services may be used by the Advisor with respect to the applicable Portfolio or Master Fund.

During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the Master Funds paid commissions for securities transactions to brokers which provided market price monitoring services, market studies, brokerage services and research services to the Master Funds as follows:

 

     Value of
Securities
Transactions
   Brokerage
Commissions

U.S. Large Cap Value Series

   $4,321,259,643    $298,874

DFA International Value Series

   $2,046,724,375    $136,527

 

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The Feeder Portfolios will not incur any brokerage costs in connection with their purchase or redemption of shares of the Master Funds.

Certain Portfolios or Master Funds may purchase securities of their regular brokers or dealers (as defined in Rule 10b-1 of the 1940 Act). The table below lists the regular brokers or dealers of each Portfolio, or in the case of a Feeder Portfolio, its corresponding Master Fund, whose securities (or securities of the broker’s or dealer’s parent company) were acquired by the Portfolio or Master Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, as well as the value of such securities held by the Portfolio or Master Fund as of October 31, 2010.

 

Master Fund/Portfolio

  

Broker or Dealer

  

Value of
Securities

DFA International Value Series

   Credit Suisse Group    $79,874,951

DFA International Value Series

   Societe Generale    $64,514,496

DFA International Value Series

   CA Cheuvreux    $34,040,351

DFA International Value Series

   UBS AG    $63,098,401
     

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

Each of the Portfolios has adopted certain limitations which may not be changed with respect to any Portfolio without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio. A “majority” is defined as the lesser of: (1) at least 67% of the voting securities of the Portfolio (to be affected by the proposed change) present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio are present or represented by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of such Portfolio.

The Portfolios will not:

 

  (1)

borrow money, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or any rules, exemptions or interpretations thereunder that may be adopted, granted or issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”);

 

  (2)

make loans, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or any rules, exemptions or interpretations thereunder that may be adopted, granted or issued by the SEC; provided that in no event shall a Portfolio be permitted to make a loan to a natural person;

 

  (3)

purchase or sell real estate, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, and provided that this restriction does not prevent a Portfolio from: (i) purchasing or selling securities or instruments secured by real estate or interests therein, securities or instruments representing interests in real estate or securities or instruments of issuers that invest, deal or otherwise engage in transactions in real estate or interests therein; and (ii) purchasing or selling real estate mortgage loans;

 

  (4)

purchase or sell physical commodities, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, and provided that this restriction does not prevent a Portfolio from: (i) engaging in transactions involving currencies and futures contracts and options thereon; or (ii) investing in securities or other instruments that are secured by physical commodities;

 

  (5)

purchase the securities of any one issuer, if immediately after such investment, a Portfolio would not qualify as a “diversified company” as that term is defined by the 1940 Act, as amended, and as modified or interpreted by regulatory authority having jurisdiction;

 

  (6)

engage in the business of underwriting securities issued by others;

 

  (7)

issue senior securities (as such term is defined in Section 18(f) of the 1940 Act), except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act;

 

  (8)

sell securities short; or

 

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  (9)

acquire any securities of companies within one industry if, as a result of such acquisition, more than 25% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets would be invested in securities of companies within such industry, except the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio shall invest more than 25% of its total assets in obligations of banks and bank holding companies in the circumstances described in the prospectus under “Investments in the Banking Industry” and as otherwise described under “PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES.”

The investment limitations described in (5) and (9) above do not prohibit each Feeder Portfolio from investing all or substantially all of its assets in the shares of one or more registered, open-end investment companies, such as the Master Funds.

With respect to the investment limitation described in (1) above, each Portfolio will maintain asset coverage of at least 300% (as described in the 1940 Act), inclusive of any amounts borrowed, with respect to any borrowings made by such Portfolio.

Although the investment limitation described in (2) above prohibits loans, each Portfolio is authorized to lend portfolio securities. Inasmuch as the Feeder Portfolios will only hold shares of the Master Funds, these Portfolios do not intend to lend those shares.

For purposes of the investment limitation described in (9) above, the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio, as disclosed in the prospectus under Investments in the Banking Industry,” will invest more than 25% of its total assets in obligations of U.S. and foreign banks and bank holding companies (“banking industry securities”) when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking industry securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group generally for a period of five consecutive days when the NYSE is open for trading.

Each Portfolio is required to operate in accordance with the SEC staff’s current position on illiquid securities, which limits investments in illiquid securities to 15% of a Portfolio’s net assets. For these purposes, the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio may invest in commercial paper that is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”), subject to the requirements regarding credit ratings stated in the prospectus under “Description of Investments.” Further, pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, the Portfolios may purchase certain unregistered (i.e. restricted) securities upon a determination that a liquid institutional market exists for the securities. If it is determined that a liquid market does exist, the securities will not be subject to the 15% limitation on holdings of illiquid securities. While maintaining oversight, the Boards of Directors have delegated the day-to-day function of making liquidity determinations to the Advisor. For Rule 144A securities to be considered liquid, there must be at least two dealers making a market in such securities. After purchase, the Board of Directors of DFAIDG or DIG, as applicable, and the Advisor will continue to monitor the liquidity of Rule 144A securities.

Unless otherwise indicated, all limitations applicable to the Portfolios’ and Master Funds’ investments apply only at the time that a transaction is undertaken.

FUTURES CONTRACTS

The Portfolios and the Master Funds may enter into futures contracts and options on futures contracts to gain market exposure on the Portfolio’s or Master Fund’s uninvested cash pending investments in securities and to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions. Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of defined securities at a specified future time and at a specified price. Futures contracts that are standardized as to maturity date and underlying financial instrument are traded on national futures exchanges. Each Portfolio or Master Fund will be required to make a margin deposit in cash or government securities with a futures commission merchant (“FCM”) to initiate and maintain positions in futures contracts. Minimal initial margin requirements are established by the futures exchanges, and FCMs may establish margin requirements which are higher than the exchange requirements. After a futures contract position is opened, the value of the contract is marked to market daily. If the futures contract price changes, to the extent that the margin on deposit does not satisfy margin requirements, payment of additional “variation” margin to be held by the FCM will

 

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be required. Conversely, a reduction in the required margin would result in a repayment of excess margin to the custodial accounts of a Portfolio or Master Fund. Variation margin payments may be made to and from the futures broker for as long as the contract remains open. Each Portfolio and Master Fund expects to earn income on its margin deposits. Each Portfolio or Master Fund intends to limit its futures-related investment activity so that other than with respect to bona fide hedging activity (as defined in Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) General Regulations Section 1.3 (z)): (i) the aggregate initial margin and premiums paid to establish commodity futures and commodity option contract positions (determined at the time the most recent position was established) does not exceed 5% of the liquidation value of the portfolio of the Portfolio or Master Fund, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such contracts it has entered into (provided that, in the case of an option that is in-the-money at the time of purchase, the in-the-money amount may be excluded in calculating such 5% limitation) or (ii) the aggregate net “notional value” (i.e., the size of a commodity futures or commodity option contract in contract units (taking into account any multiplier specified in the contract), multiplied by the current market price (for a futures contract) or strike price (for an option contract) of each such unit) of all non-hedge commodity futures and commodity option contracts that the Portfolio or Master Fund has entered into (determined at the time the most recent position was established) does not exceed the liquidation value of the portfolio of the Portfolio or Master Fund, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such contracts that the Portfolio or Master Fund has entered into.

Positions in futures contracts may be closed out only on an exchange that provides a secondary market. However, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular futures contract at any specific time. Therefore, it might not be possible to close a futures position and, in the event of adverse price movements, a Portfolio or Master Fund would continue to be required to make variation margin deposits. In such circumstances, if a Portfolio or Master Fund has insufficient cash, it might have to sell portfolio securities to meet daily margin requirements at a time when it might be disadvantageous to do so. Management intends to minimize the possibility that it will be unable to close out a futures contract by only entering into futures which are traded on national futures exchanges and for which there appears to be a liquid secondary market. Pursuant to published positions of the SEC and interpretations of the staff of the SEC, a Portfolio or Master Fund (or its custodian) is required to maintain segregated accounts or to segregate assets through notations on the books of the custodian, consisting of liquid assets (or, as permitted under applicable interpretations, enter into offsetting positions) in connection with its futures contract transactions in order to cover its obligations with respect to such contracts. These requirements are designed to limit the amount of leverage that a Portfolio or Master Fund may use by entering into futures transactions.

FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

The International Value Series may acquire and sell forward foreign currency exchange contracts in order to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency exchange rates. The International Value Series will conduct its foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies. A forward foreign currency exchange contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days (usually less than one year) from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts are traded in the interbank market conducted directly between traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. A forward contract generally has no deposit requirement, and no commissions are charged at any stage for trades. Although foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference (the spread) between the price at which they are buying and selling various currencies.

The International Value Series may enter into a forward contract in connection with the purchase or sale of foreign equity securities, typically to “lock in” the value of the transaction with respect to a different currency. In addition, the International Value Series may, from time to time, enter into a forward contract to transfer balances from one currency to another currency.

 

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CASH MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

The non-Feeder Portfolios and Master Funds engage in cash management practices in order to earn income on uncommitted cash balances. Generally, cash is uncommitted pending investment in other securities, payment of redemptions or in other circumstances where the Advisor believes liquidity is necessary or desirable. For example, cash investments may be made for temporary defensive purposes during periods in which market, economic or political conditions warrant.

The non-Feeder Portfolios and Master Funds may invest cash in short-term repurchase agreements. In addition, the U.S. Large Cap Value Series may invest a portion of its assets, normally not more than 20%, in high quality, highly liquid fixed income securities such as money market instruments; index futures contracts and options thereon; and affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds. The International Value Series may invest a portion of its assets, normally not more than 20%, in fixed income obligations, such as money market instruments; index futures contracts and options thereon; and affiliated and unaffiliated, registered and unregistered money market funds. The Fixed Income Portfolios may each invest up to 20% in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds. The 20% guidelines set forth above are not absolute limitations, but the Master Funds and the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio and the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio do not expect to exceed these guidelines under normal circumstances. With respect to fixed income instruments, except in connection with corporate actions, the Portfolios and Master Funds will invest in fixed income instruments that at the time of purchase have an investment grade rating by a rating agency or are deemed to be investment grade by the Advisor. Investments in money market mutual funds may involve duplication of certain fees and expenses.

To the extent that the Master Funds or Portfolios invest in futures contracts and options thereon for other than bona fide hedging purposes, they will not enter into such transactions if, immediately thereafter, the sum of the amount of initial margin deposits and premiums paid for open futures options would exceed 5% of the Master Funds or Portfolios net assets, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on such contracts they have entered into; provided, however, that, in the case of an option that is in-the-money at the time of purchase, the in-the-money amount may be excluded in calculating the 5%.

CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES

The International Value Series may invest up to 5% of its assets in convertible debentures issued by non- U.S. companies located in the countries where it is permitted to invest. Convertible debentures include corporate bonds and notes that may be converted into or exchanged for common stock. These securities are generally convertible either at a stated price or a stated rate (that is, for a specific number of shares of common stock or other security). As with other fixed income securities, the price of a convertible debenture to some extent varies inversely with interest rates. While providing a fixed income stream (generally higher in yield than the income derived from a common stock but lower than that afforded by a nonconvertible debenture), a convertible debenture also affords the investor an opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation of the common stock into which it is convertible. As the market price of the underlying common stock declines, convertible debentures tend to trade increasingly on a yield basis and so may not experience market value declines to the same extent as the underlying common stock. When the market price of the underlying common stock increases, the price of a convertible debenture tends to rise as a reflection of the value of the underlying common stock. To obtain such a higher yield, the International Value Series may be required to pay for a convertible debenture an amount in excess of the value of the underlying common stock. Common stock acquired upon conversion of a convertible debenture will generally be held for as long as the Advisor anticipates such stock will provide the Series with opportunities which are consistent with the International Value Series’ investment objective and policies.

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

Each Master Fund may also invest in Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”) and similarly structured pooled investments that provide exposure to equity markets for the purposes of gaining exposure to the equity markets while maintaining liquidity. An ETF is an investment company whose goal is to track or replicate a desired index,

 

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such as a sector, market or global segment. ETFs are passively managed, and traded similarly to a publicly traded company. The risks and costs of investing in ETFs are similar to those of investing in a publicly traded company. The goal of an ETF is to correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of its underlying index. The risk of not correlating to the index is an additional risk to the investors of ETFs. When a Master Fund invests in an ETF, shareholders of the Master Fund bear their proportionate share of the underlying ETF’s fees and expenses.

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Directors

Organization of the Board

The Board of Directors of each Fund (the “Board”) is responsible for establishing the Funds’ policies and for overseeing the management of the Fund. Each Board of Directors elects the officers of the Fund, who, along with third party service providers, are responsible for administering the day-to-day operations of the Funds. Each Board of Directors of the Funds is comprised of two interested Directors and six disinterested Directors. David G. Booth, an interested Director, is Chairman of the Board. Each Board has not found it necessary to appoint a lead disinterested Director because it believes that the existing structure of each Board allows for effective communication among the disinterested Directors, between the disinterested Directors and interested Directors, as well as between the disinterested Directors and management. The existing Board structure for the Funds also provides the disinterested Directors with adequate influence over the governance of the Board and the Funds, while also providing the Board with the invaluable insight of the two interested Directors, who, as both officers of the Fund and the Advisor, participate in the day-to-day management of the Fund’s affairs, including risk management.

The agenda for each quarterly meeting of each Board is provided at least two weeks prior to the meeting to the disinterested Directors in order to provide the Directors with the opportunity to contact Fund management and/or the disinterested Directors’ independent counsel regarding agenda items. In addition, the disinterested Directors regularly communicate with Mr. Booth regarding items of interest to them in between regularly scheduled meetings of the Board. Each Board of the Funds meets in person at least four times each year and by telephone at other times. At each in-person meeting, the disinterested Directors meet in executive session with their independent counsel to discuss matters outside the presence of management.

Each Board has three standing committees, an Audit Committee, a Nominating Committee and a Portfolio Performance and Service Review Committee (“Performance Committee”) that are composed entirely of disinterested Directors. As described below, through these Committees, the disinterested Directors have direct oversight of the Funds’ accounting and financial reporting policies, the selection and nomination of candidates to the Fund’s Board and the review of the investment performance of the series of the Funds and the performance of the Funds’ service providers.

Each Board’s Audit Committee is comprised of George M. Constantinides, Roger G. Ibbotson and Abbie J. Smith. The Audit Committee for each Board oversees each Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies and practices, each Fund’s internal controls, the Fund’s financial statements and the independent audits thereof and performs other oversight functions as requested by each Board. The Audit Committee for each Board recommends the appointment of each Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and also acts as a liaison between each Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and the full Board. There were two Audit Committee meetings held for each Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

Each Board’s Nominating Committee is comprised of George M. Constantinides, John P. Gould, Roger G. Ibbotson, Edward P. Lazear, Myron S. Scholes and Abbie J. Smith. The Nominating Committee for each Board makes recommendations for nominations of disinterested and interested members on the Board to the disinterested Board members and to the full board. The Nominating Committee of each Board evaluates a candidate’s qualification for Board membership and the independence of such candidate from the Advisor and other principal

 

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service providers. There were three Nominating Committee meetings held for each Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

Each Board’s Performance Committee is comprised of George M. Constantinides, Roger G. Ibbotson, Abbie J. Smith, John P. Gould, Edward P. Lazear and Myron S. Scholes. Each Performance Committee regularly reviews and monitors the investment performance of the Fund’s series, including the Portfolios, and reviews the performance of the Fund’s service providers. There were seven Performance Committee meetings held for each Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

In addition to the Audit Committee, Nominating Committee and Performance Committee, each Board has an Investment Review Committee that assists the Board in carrying out its fiduciary duties with respect to the oversight of a Fund and its performance (the “Review Committee”). The Review Committee consists of both interested and disinterested Directors. The Review Committee is comprised of John P. Gould, Edward P. Lazear, Myron S. Scholes and Eduardo A. Repetto. At the request of a Board or the Advisor, the Review Committee (i) reviews the design of possible new series of the Fund, (ii) reviews performance of existing Portfolios of the Fund, and discusses and recommends possible enhancements to the Portfolios’ investment strategies, (iii) reviews proposals by the Advisor to modify or enhance the investment strategies or policies of each Portfolio, and (iv) considers issues relating to investment services for each Portfolio of the Fund. The Review Committee was formed on December 17, 2010. Consequently, there were no Review Committee meetings held for a Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

The Board of each Fund, including all of the disinterested Directors, oversees and approves the contracts of the third party service providers that provide advisory, administrative, custodial and other services to the Funds.

Board Oversight of Risk Management

The Board of each Fund, as a whole, considers risk management issues as part of its general oversight responsibilities throughout the year at regular board meetings, through regular reports that have been developed by Fund management and the Advisor. These reports address certain investment, valuation and compliance matters. Each Board also may receive special written reports or presentations on a variety of risk issues, either upon the Board’s request or upon the initiative of the Advisor. In addition, the Audit Committee of the Board meets regularly with management of the Advisor to review reports on the Advisor’s examinations of functions and processes that affect each Fund.

With respect to investment risk, each Board receives regular written reports describing and analyzing the investment performance of the Funds’ portfolios. Each Board discusses these reports and the portfolios’ performance and investment risks with management of the Advisor at each Board’s regular meetings. The Investment Committee of the Advisor meets regularly to discuss a variety of issues, including the impact that the investment in particular securities or instruments, such as derivatives, may have on the portfolios. To the extent that the Investment Committee of the Advisor decides to materially change an investment strategy or policy of a portfolio and such change could have a significant impact on the portfolio’s risk profile, the Advisor will present such change to each Board for their approval.

With respect to valuation, the Advisor and the Funds’ Administrative and Accounting Agent provide regular written reports to each Board that enables the Board to review fair valued securities in a particular portfolio. Such reports also include information concerning illiquid and any worthless securities held by each portfolio. In addition, the Funds’ Audit Committee reviews valuation procedures and pricing results with the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm in connection with such Committee’s review of the results of the audit of each portfolio’s year-end financial statements.

With respect to compliance risks, each Board receives regular compliance reports prepared by the Advisor’s compliance group and meets regularly with the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) to discuss compliance issues, including compliance risks. As required under SEC rules, the disinterested Directors meet at least quarterly in executive session with the CCO, and the Funds’ CCO prepares and presents an annual written compliance report to each Board. Each Funds’ Board adopts compliance policies and procedures for the Funds and

 

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receives information about the compliance procedures in place for the Funds’ service providers. The compliance policies and procedures are specifically designed to detect and prevent violations of the federal securities laws.

The Advisor periodically provides information to each Board relevant to enterprise risk management describing the way in which certain risks are managed at the complex-wide level by the Advisor. Such presentations include areas such as counter-party risk, material fund vendor or service provider risk, investment risk, reputational risk, personnel risk and business continuity risk.

Director Qualifications

When a vacancy occurs on each Board, the Nominating Committee of each Board evaluates a candidate’s qualification for Board membership and the independence of such candidate from the Advisor and other principal service providers. Each Nominating Committee will consider nominees recommended by Qualifying Fund Shareholders if a vacancy occurs among Board members. A Qualifying Fund Shareholder is a shareholder, or group of shareholders, that: (i) owns of record, or beneficially through a financial intermediary, 5% or more of the Fund’s outstanding shares, and (ii) has owned such shares for 12 months or more prior to submitting the recommendation to the Committee. Such recommendations shall be directed to the Secretary of a Fund at 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, Texas 78746. The Qualifying Fund Shareholder’s letter should include: (i) the name and address of the Qualifying Fund Shareholder making the recommendation; (ii) the number of shares of each Portfolio of a Fund that are owned of record and beneficially by such Qualifying Fund Shareholder, and the length of time that such shares have been so owned by the Qualifying Fund Shareholder; (iii) a description of all arrangements and understandings between such Qualifying Fund Shareholder and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the recommendation is being made; (iv) the name and address of the nominee; and (v) the nominee’s resume or curriculum vitae. The Qualifying Fund Shareholder’s letter must be accompanied by a written consent of the individual to stand for election if nominated for the Board and to serve if elected by shareholders. The Committee also may seek such additional information about the nominee as the Committee considers appropriate, including information relating to such nominee that is required to be disclosed in solicitations or proxies for the election of Board members.

The Nominating Committee of the Board of each Fund, believes that it is in the best interests of each Fund and its shareholders to obtain highly-qualified individuals to serve as members of the Board. Each Funds’ Board believes that each Director currently serving on the Board has the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills to allow the Board to effectively oversee the management of the Fund and protect the interests of shareholders. Each Board noted that each Director had professional experience in areas of importance for investment companies. Each Board considered that each disinterested Director held an academic position in the areas of finance, economics or accounting. Each Board also noted that John P. Gould, Myron S. Scholes and Abbie J. Smith each had experience serving as a director on the boards of operating companies and/or other investment companies. In addition, each Board considered that David G. Booth and Eduardo A. Repetto contributed valuable experience due to their positions with the Advisor. Certain biographical information for each disinterested Director and each interested Director of a Fund is set forth in the tables below, including a description of each Director’s experience as a Director of a Fund and as a director or trustee of other funds, as well as other recent professional experience.

 

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Disinterested Directors

 

Name, Address and  

Age

 

 

  Position

 

 

Term of

Office1

and

Length of

Service

 

  

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

 

 

Portfolios

within the

DFA Fund

Complex2

Overseen

 

  

Other

Directorships of

Public

Companies Held

During Past 5

Years

 

George M. Constantinides University of Chicago Booth School of Business

5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

Age: 63

    Director  

DFAIDG–since 1983

DIG–since 1993

   Leo Melamed Professor of Finance, University of Chicago Booth School of Business.   89 portfolios in 4 investment companies    None

John P. Gould

University of Chicago Booth School of Business

5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

Age: 72

    Director  

DFAIDG–since 1986

DIG–since 1993

   Steven G. Rothmeier Distinguished Service Professor of Economics, University of Chicago Booth School of Business (since 1965). Member Competitive Markets Advisory Committee, Chicago Mercantile Exchange (futures trading exchange) (since 2004). Formerly, Director of UNext Inc. (1999-2006). Formerly, Member of the Board of Milwaukee Insurance Company (1997-2010).   89 portfolios in 4 investment companies    Trustee, Harbor Funds (registered investment company) (28 Portfolios) (since 1994).

Roger G. Ibbotson

Yale School of Management

P.O. Box 208200

New Haven, CT 06520-8200

Age: 67

    Director  

DFAIDG–since 1981

DIG–since 1993

   Professor in Practice of Finance, Yale School of Management (since 1984). Consultant to Morningstar, Inc. (since 2006). Chairman, CIO and Partner, Zebra Capital Management, LLC (hedge fund and asset manager) (since 2001). Formerly, Chairman, Ibbotson Associates, Inc., Chicago, IL (software, data, publishing and consulting) (1977-2006). Formerly, Director, BIRR Portfolio Analysis, Inc. (software products) (1990-2010).   89 portfolios in 4 investment companies    None

Edward P. Lazear Stanford University Graduate School of Business

518 Memorial Way

Stanford, CA 94305-5015

Age: 62

 

    Director   Since 2010   

Morris Arnold Cox Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution (since 2002). Jack Steele Parker Professor of Human Resources Management and Economics, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University (since 1995). Cornerstone Research (expert testimony and economic and financial analysis) (since 2009). Formerly, Chairman of the President George W. Bush’s Council of Economic Advisers (2006- 2009). Council of Economic Advisors, State of California (2005-2006). Commissioner, White House Panel on Tax Reform (2005).

 

  89 portfolios in 4 investment companies    None

Myron S. Scholes

c/o Dimensional Fund Advisors LP

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

Age: 69

 

    Director  

DFAIDG–since 1981

DIG–since 1993

   Frank E. Buck Professor Emeritus of Finance, Stanford University (since 1981). Formerly, Chairman, Platinum Grove Asset Management L.P. (hedge fund) (formerly, Oak Hill Platinum Partners) (1999-2009). Formerly, Managing Partner, Oak Hill Capital Management (private equity firm) (until 2004).   89 portfolios in 4 investment companies   

Director, American Century Fund Complex (registered investment companies) (40 Portfolios) (since 1980). Formerly, Director, Chicago Mercantile Exchange (2001-2008).

 

 

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Name, Address and  

Age

 

 

  Position

 

 

Term of

Office1

and

Length of

Service

 

  

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

 

 

Portfolios

within the

DFA Fund

Complex2

Overseen

 

  

Other

Directorships of

Public

Companies Held

During Past 5

Years

 

Abbie J. Smith

University of Chicago Booth School of Business

5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

Age: 57

    Director  

DFAIDG–since 2000

DIG–since 2000

   Boris and Irene Stern Distinguished Service Professor of Accounting, University of Chicago Booth School of Business (since 1980); Co-Director Investment Research, Fundamental Investment Advisors (hedge fund) (since 2008).   89 portfolios in 4 investment companies   

Director, HNI Corporation (formerly known as HON Industries Inc.) (office furniture) (since 2000); Director, Ryder System Inc. (transportation, logistics and supply-chain management) (since 2003); and Trustee, UBS Funds (3 investment companies within the fund complex) (52 portfolios) (since 2009).

 

Interested Directors

The following Interested Directors are described as such because they are deemed to be “interested persons,” as that term is defined under the 1940 Act, due to their positions with the Advisor.

 

Name, Address and  
Age

 

 

  Position

 

 

Term of

Office1

and

Length of

Service

 

  

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

 

 

Portfolios

within the

DFA Fund

Complex2

Overseen

 

  

Other Directorships
of Public Companies

Held During Past 5

Years

 

David G. Booth

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

Age: 64

 

  Chairman,   Director,   President   and

  Co-Chief   Executive   Officer

 

DFAIDG–since 1981

DIG–since 1992

   Chairman, Director/Trustee, President, Co-Chief Executive Officer and, formerly, Chief Executive Officer (until 1/1/2010) and Chief Investment Officer (2003 to 3/30/2007) of the following companies: Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, DFA Securities LLC, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund (“DEM”), DFAIDG, DIG and The DFA Investment Trust Company (the “Trust”). Chairman, Director, President and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Dimensional Holdings Inc. and formerly Chief Executive Officer (until 1/1/2010) and Chief Investment Officer (until 3/30/2007). Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. and formerly, Chief Investment Officer. Director of DFA Australia Limited and formerly, President and Chief Investment Officer. Formerly, Director of Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC. Chairman and President of Dimensional SmartNest (US) LLC. Limited Partner, Oak Hill Partners and VSC Investors, LLC. Trustee, University of Chicago. Trustee, University of Kansas Endowment Association. Formerly, Director, SA Funds (registered investment company). Chairman, Director and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director, Dimensional Cayman Commodity Fund I Ltd.   89 portfolios in 4 investment companies    None

 

 

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Name, Address

and Age

 

 

  Position

 

 

Term of

Office1

and

Length of

Service

 

  

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

 

 

Portfolios

within the

DFA Fund

Complex2

Overseen

 

  

Other Directorships
of Public Companies

Held During Past 5

Years

 

Eduardo A. Repetto 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One Austin, TX 78746

Age: 44

  Director, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer  

DFAIDG- since 2009

DIG- since 2009

  

Co-Chief Executive Officer (beginning January 2010), Chief Investment Officer (beginning March 2007) and formerly, Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, Dimensional Holdings Inc., DFA Securities LLC, DEM, DFAIDG, DIG, The DFA Investment Trust Company and Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC; Director of all such entities except Dimensional Fund Advisors LP and DFA Securities LLC. Chief Investment Officer, Vice President and Director of DFA Australia Limited. Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II and Dimensional Cayman Commodity Fund I Ltd.

 

  89 portfolios in 4 investment companies    None
1

Each Director holds office for an indefinite term until his or her successor is elected.

 

2

Each Director is a director or trustee of each of the four registered investment companies within the DFA Fund Complex, which include: the Funds; The Trust; and DEM. Each Disinterested Director also serves on the Independent Review Committee of the Dimensional Funds, mutual funds registered in the provinces of Canada and managed by the Advisor’s affiliate, Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

Information relating to each Director’s ownership (including the ownership of his or her immediate family) in each Portfolio of the Fund in this SAI and in all registered investment companies in the DFA Fund Complex as of December 31, 2010 is set forth in the chart below.

 

Name    Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned   

Aggregate Dollar Range of Shares Owned

in All Funds Overseen by Director in

Family of Investment Companies

Disinterested Directors:

         

George M. Constantinides

   None   

None Directly; Over $100,000 in Simulated

Funds**

John P. Gould

   None   

None Directly; Over $100,000 in Simulated

Funds **

Roger G. Ibbotson

   None   

Over $100,000; Over $100,000 in Simulated

Funds**

Edward P. Lazear

 

   None    None Directly.

Myron S. Scholes

   None   

$50,001-$100,000; Over $100,000 in

Simulated Funds**

Abbie J. Smith

   None   

None Directly; Over $100,000 in Simulated

Funds **

Interested Directors:

         

David G. Booth

 

   None    Over $100,000

Eduardo A. Repetto

   None    Over $100,000

**           As discussed below, the compensation to certain of the disinterested Directors may be in amounts that correspond to a hypothetical investment in a cross-section of the DFA Funds. Thus, the disinterested Directors who are so compensated experience the same investment returns that are experienced by shareholders of the DFA Funds although the disinterested Directors do not directly own shares of the DFA Funds.

Set forth below is a table listing, for each Director entitled to receive compensation, the compensation received from the Funds during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010 and the total compensation received from all four registered investment companies for which the Advisor served as investment advisor during that same fiscal year. The table also provides the compensation paid by the Funds to the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

 

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Director

  

Aggregate

Compensation

from

DFAIDG*

  

Aggregate

Compensation

from DIG*

  

Pension or

Retirement

Benefits as

Part

of Fund

Expenses

  

Estimated

Annual

Benefits upon

Retirement

  

Total

Compensation

from the Funds

and DFA Fund

Complex Paid to

Directors†

George M. Constantinides
Director

  

$108,410

  

$14,974

   N/A    N/A    $175,000

John P. Gould
Director

   $108,410    $14,974    N/A    N/A    $175,000

Roger G. Ibbotson
Director

   $114,889    $15,817    N/A    N/A    $185,000

Edward P. Lazear**
Director

   $0    $0    N/A    N/A    $0

Myron S. Scholes
Director

   $108,410    $14,974    N/A    N/A    $175,000

Abbie J. Smith
Director

   $108,410    $14,974    N/A    N/A    $175,000

Christopher S. Crossan
Chief Compliance Officer

   $210,470    $29,359    N/A    N/A    N/A

 

The term DFA Fund Complex refers to the four registered investment companies for which the Advisor performs advisory or administrative services and for which the individuals listed above serve as directors/trustees on the Boards of Directors/Trustees of such companies.

 

*

Under a deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) adopted effective January 1, 2002, the disinterested Directors of the Fund may defer receipt of all or a portion of the compensation for serving as members of the four Boards of Directors/Trustees of the investment companies in the DFA Fund Complex (the “DFA Funds”). Amounts deferred under the Plan are treated as though equivalent dollar amounts had been invested in shares of a cross-section of the DFA Funds (the “Reference Funds” or “Simulated Funds”). The amounts ultimately received by the disinterested Directors under the Plan will be directly linked to the investment performance of the Reference Funds. Deferral of fees in accordance with the Plan will have a negligible effect on a fund’s assets, liabilities, and net income per share, and will not obligate a fund to retain the services of any disinterested Director or to pay any particular level of compensation to the disinterested Director. The total amount of deferred compensation accrued by the disinterested Directors from the DFA Fund Complex who participated in the Plan during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010 is as follows: $185,000 (Mr. Ibbotson). A disinterested Director’s deferred compensation will be distributed at the earlier of: (a) January in the year after the disinterested Director’s resignation from the Boards of Directors/Trustees of the DFA Funds, or death or disability; or (b) five years following the first deferral, in such amounts as the disinterested Director has specified. The obligations of the DFA Funds to make payments under the Plan will be unsecured general obligations of the DFA Funds, payable out of the general assets and property of the DFA Funds.

 

**

Mr. Lazear did not serve as a Director until December 17, 2010; therefore, he did not receive any compensation from a Fund or the DFA Fund Complex as of October 31, 2010.

Officers

Below is the name, age, and information regarding positions with the Fund and the principal occupation for each officer of the Fund. The address of each officer is 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746. Each of the officers listed below holds the same office (except as otherwise noted) in the following entities: Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, Dimensional Holdings Inc., DFA Securities LLC, the Funds, the Trust, and DEM (collectively, the “DFA Entities”).

 

14


Table of Contents

Name and Age

 

  

Position

 

 

Term of

Office1

and

Length of

Service

 

  

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

 

April A. Aandal

Age: 48

   Vice President and Chief Learning Officer  

Since

2008

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Chief Learning Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2008). Formerly Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2004-2008).

Darryl D. Avery

Age: 44

   Vice President  

Since

2005

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Arthur H. Barlow

Age: 55

   Vice President  

Since

1993

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Scott A. Bosworth

Age: 42

   Vice President  

Since

2007

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since November 1997).

Valerie A. Brown

Age: 44

   Vice President and Assistant Secretary  

Since

2001

  

Vice President and Assistant Secretary of all the DFA Entities, DFA Australia Limited, Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., and Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

David P. Butler

Age: 45

   Vice President  

Since

2007

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Director of Global Financial Advisor Services of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since 2008). Formerly, Director US Financial Advisor Services of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2005).

Joseph H. Chi

Age: 44

   Vice President  

Since

2009

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since October 2005).

Stephen A. Clark

Age: 38

   Vice President  

Since

2004

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Robert P. Cornell

Age: 61

   Vice President  

Since

2007

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Financial Services Group of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since August 1993).

Christopher S. Crossan

Age: 45

   Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer  

Since

2004

  

Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of all the DFA Entities.

James L. Davis

Age: 54

   Vice President  

Since

1999

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Robert T. Deere

Age: 53

   Vice President  

Since

1994

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities and DFA Australia Limited.

Peter F. Dillard

Age: 39

   Vice President  

Since

2010

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Research Associate for Dimensional Fund Advisors, LP (since August 2008). Formerly, Research Assistant for DFA from April 2006 – August 2008. Prior to April 2006, Manager at Hilton Hotels Corp. (September 2004 – April 2006).

Robert W. Dintzner

Age: 40

   Vice President  

Since

2001

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Chief Communications Officer (since 2010).

Beth Ann Dranguet

Age: 40

   Vice President  

Since

2010

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Counsel for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since July 2007). Formerly, Associate at Vinson & Elkins LLP (September 1999 – July 2007).

Kenneth Elmgren

Age: 56

   Vice President  

Since

2007

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Managing Principal of Beverly Capital (May 2004 to September 2006).

Richard A. Eustice

Age: 45

   Vice President and Assistant Secretary  

Since

1998

  

Vice President and Assistant Secretary of all the DFA Entities and DFA Australia Limited. Chief Operating Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (since July 2008). Formerly, Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Eugene F. Fama, Jr.

Age: 50

   Vice President  

Since

1993

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Gretchen A. Flicker

Age: 39

   Vice President  

Since

2004

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

 

15


Table of Contents

Name and Age

 

  

Position

 

 

Term of

Office1

and

Length of

Service

 

  

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

 

Jed S. Fogdall

Age: 36

   Vice President  

Since

2008

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2004).

Jeremy P. Freeman

Age: 40

   Vice President  

Since

2009

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Technology Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since June 2006). Formerly, Principal at AIM Investments/Amvescap PLC (now Invesco) (June 1998 – June 2006).

Mark R. Gochnour

Age: 43

   Vice President  

Since

2007

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

Henry F. Gray

Age: 43

   Vice President  

Since

2000

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited.

John T. Gray

Age: 36

   Vice President  

Since

2007

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (January 2005 to February 2007).

Joel H. Hefner

Age: 43

   Vice President  

Since

2007

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since June 1998).

Julie C. Henderson

Age: 36

   Vice President and Fund Controller  

Since

2005

  

Vice President and Fund Controller of all the DFA Entities.

Kevin B. Hight

Age: 43

   Vice President  

Since

2005

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Christine W. Ho

Age: 43

   Vice President  

Since

2004

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Jeff J. Jeon

Age: 37

   Vice President  

Since

2004

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Patrick M. Keating

Age: 56

   Vice President  

Since

2003

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities and Chief Operating Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Director, Vice President, and Chief Privacy Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director of DFA Australia Limited.

David M. Kershner

Age: 39

   Vice President  

Since

2010

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since June 2004).

Joseph F. Kolerich

Age: 39

   Vice President  

Since

2004

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since April 2001).

Michael F. Lane

Age: 43

   Vice President  

Since

2004

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Kristina M. LaRusso

Age: 35

   Vice President  

Since

2006

  

Vice President of all DFA Entities. Formerly, Operations Supervisor of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (March 2003 to December 2006).

Juliet H. Lee

Age: 40

   Vice President  

Since

2005

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Human Resources Manager of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2004).

Apollo D. Lupescu

Age: 41

   Vice President  

Since

2009

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since February 2004).

Kenneth M. Manell

Age: 38

   Vice President  

Since

2010

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Counsel for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2006). Formerly, Assistant General Counsel at Castle & Cooke (January 2004 – September 2006).

Aaron M. Marcus

Age: 40

   Vice President and Head of Global Human Resources  

Since

2008

  

Vice President of all DFA Entities and Head of Global Human Resources of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Formerly, Global Head of Recruiting and Vice President of Goldman Sachs & Co. (June 2006 to January 2008); Global Co-Head of HR of the Equities & FICC Division, and Vice President of Goldman Sachs & Co. (May 2005 to May 2006);

 

16


Table of Contents

Name and Age

 

  

Position

 

 

Term of

Office1

and

Length of

Service

 

  

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

 

David R. Martin

Age: 54

   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer  

Since

2007

  

Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of all the DFA Entities. Director, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. and DFA Australia Limited. Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director of Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC. Formerly, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Janus Capital Group Inc. (June 2005 to March 2007).

Catherine L. Newell

Age: 46

   Vice President and Secretary  

Vice

President

since 1997

and

Secretary

since 2000

  

Vice President and Secretary of all the DFA Entities. Director, Vice President and Secretary of DFA Australia Limited. Director, Vice President and Secretary of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (since February 2002, April 1997, and May 2002, respectively). Vice President and Secretary of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director of Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC (since 2002 and 2006, respectively).

Christian Newton

Age: 35

   Vice President  

Since

2009

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Web Services Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2008). Formerly, Design Manager (2005 – 2008) of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

Carolyn L. O

Age: 36

   Vice President  

Since

2010

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Counsel for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2007). Prior to September 2007, Associate at K&L Gates LLP (January 2004 – September 2007).

Gerard K. O’Reilly

Age: 34

   Vice President  

Since

2007

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Research Associate of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2004 to 2006).

Daniel C. Ong

Age: 37

   Vice President  

Since

2009

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since July 2005).

Kyle K. Ozaki

Age: 32

   Vice President  

Since

2010

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Compliance Officer for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2008). Formerly, Compliance Officer (February 2006 – December 2007) and Compliance Analyst (August 2004 – January 2006).

Carmen Palafox

Age: 36

   Vice President  

Since

2006

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Operations Manager of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since May 1996).

Sonya K. Park

Age: 38

   Vice President  

Since

2005

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

David A. Plecha

Age: 49

   Vice President  

Since

1993

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities, DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Theodore W. Randall

Age: 37

   Vice President  

Since

2008

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Research Associate of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2006 to 2008); Systems Developer of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2001 to 2006).

L. Jacobo Rodríguez

Age: 39

   Vice President  

Since

2005

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Julie A. Saft

Age: 51

   Vice President  

Since

2010

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Client Systems Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since July 2008). Formerly, Senior Manager at Vanguard (November 1997 – July 2008).

David E. Schneider

Age: 65

   Vice President  

Since

2001

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Director of Institutional Services of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

Walid A. Shinnawi

Age: 49

   Vice President  

Since

2010

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since March 2006). Formerly, Senior Director at Moody’s KMV (1999-March 2006).

 

17


Table of Contents

Name and Age

 

  

Position

 

 

Term of

Office1

and

Length of

Service

 

  

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

 

Bruce A. Simmons

Age: 46

   Vice President  

Since

2009

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Investment Operations Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since May 2007). Formerly, Vice President Client and Fund Reporting at Mellon Financial (September 2005 – May 2007).

Ted R. Simpson

Age: 42

   Vice President  

Since

2007

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since December 2002).

Bryce D. Skaff

Age: 36

   Vice President  

Since

2007

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (December 1999 to January 2007).

Grady M. Smith

Age: 54

   Vice President  

Since

2004

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Carl G. Snyder

Age: 47

   Vice President  

Since

2000

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited.

Lawrence R. Spieth

Age: 63

   Vice President  

Since

2004

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Bradley G. Steiman

Age: 37

   Vice President  

Since

2004

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities and Director and Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

Robert C. Trotter

Age: 52

   Vice President  

Since

2009

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Manager Technology for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since March 2007). Formerly, Director of Technology at AMVESCAP (2002 – 2007).

Karen E. Umland

Age: 44

   Vice President  

Since

1997

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities, DFA Australia Limited, Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., and Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

Brian J. Walsh

Age: 41

   Vice President  

Since

2009

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since 2004).

Weston J. Wellington

Age: 59

   Vice President  

Since

1997

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited.

Ryan J. Wiley

Age: 34

   Vice President  

Since

2007

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Trader of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Formerly, Portfolio Manager (2006 to 2007) and Trader (2001 to 2006).

Paul E. Wise

Age: 55

   Vice President  

Since

2005

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Chief Technology Officer for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since 2004).

1

Each officer holds office for an indefinite term at the pleasure of the Boards of Directors and until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

As of January 31, 2011, Directors and officers as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding stock of each Portfolio described in this SAI.

SERVICES TO THE FUNDS

Administrative Services – The Feeder Portfolios

The Funds have entered into administration agreements with the Advisor, on behalf of each Feeder Portfolio. Pursuant to each administration agreement, the Advisor performs various services, including: supervision of the services provided by the Portfolio’s custodian and transfer and dividend disbursing agent and others who provide services to a Fund for the benefit of a Portfolio; providing shareholders with information about the Portfolio and their investments as they or the Fund may request; assisting the Portfolio in conducting meetings of shareholders; furnishing information as the Board of Directors may require regarding the Master Fund, and any other administrative services for the benefit of the Portfolio as the Board of Directors may reasonably request. For its administrative services, each Feeder Portfolio pays the Advisor a monthly fee, which, on an annual basis, equals 0.01% of the average daily net assets of each Portfolio. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009, and the fiscal period from December 1, 2007 to October 31, 2008, the Advisor was paid

 

18


Table of Contents

administrative fees of $7,000, $6,000 and $10,000, respectively, by LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio, and $8,000, $7,000 and $13,000, respectively, by LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio.

Administrative Services – All Portfolios

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (formerly, PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.) (“BNY Mellon”), 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809, serves as the accounting services, dividend disbursing and transfer agent for the Portfolios and Master Funds. The services provided by BNY Mellon are subject to supervision by the executive officers and the Boards of Directors of the Funds and include day-to-day keeping and maintenance of certain records, calculation of the net asset value of the shares, preparation of reports, liaison with the custodians, and dividend disbursing agency services. For the administrative and accounting services provided by BNY Mellon, the Master Funds and the Fixed Income Portfolios pay BNY Mellon annual fees that are calculated daily and paid monthly according to a fee schedule based on the aggregate average net assets in the Fund Complex, which includes four registered investment companies and a group trust. The fee schedule is set forth in the table below:

.0110% of the Fund Complex’s first $50 billion of average net assets;

.0085% of the Fund Complex’s next $25 billion of average net assets; and

.0075% of the Fund Complex’s average net assets in excess of $75 billion.

The fees charged to a Master Fund or a Fixed Income Portfolio under the fee schedule are allocated to each such Master Fund or Fixed Income Portfolio based on the Master Fund’s or Fixed Income Portfolio’s pro-rata portion of the aggregate average net assets of the Fund Complex.

The Master Funds and Fixed Income Portfolios are also subject to a monthly base fee. The U.S. Large Cap Value Series and the Fixed Income Portfolios are each subject to a monthly base fee of $1,666. The International Value Series is subject to a monthly base fee of $2,083. Each Feeder Portfolio is subject to a monthly fee of $1,000.

The Portfolios also pay separate fees to BNY Mellon with respect to the services BNY Mellon provides as transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent.

Custodians

PFPC Trust Company (to be renamed BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company effective July 1, 2011), 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809, serves as the custodian for the Portfolios and U.S. Large Cap Value Series. Citibank, N.A., 111 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005, is the global custodian for the International Value Series.

Distributor

Each Fund’s shares are distributed by DFA Securities LLC (formerly, DFA Securities Inc.) (“DFAS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Advisor. DFAS is registered as a limited purpose broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. The principal business address of DFAS is 1299 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, California 90401.

DFAS acts as an agent of the Funds by serving as the principal underwriter of the Funds’ shares. Pursuant to each Fund’s Distribution Agreement, DFAS uses its best efforts to seek or arrange for the sale of shares of the Fund, which are continuously offered. No sales charges are paid by investors or the Funds. No compensation is paid by the Funds to DFAS under the Distribution Agreements.

Legal Counsel

Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP serves as legal counsel to the Funds. Their address is 2600 One Commerce Square, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7098.

 

19


Table of Contents

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) is the independent registered public accounting firm for the Funds and audits the annual financial statements of the Funds. PwC’s address is Two Commerce Square, Suite 1700, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042.

Client Services

For its services as Client Services Agent, each Portfolio pays LWI Financial Inc. a monthly fee which, on an annual basis, equals 0.15% of the average daily net assets of the LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio, 0.19% of the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio and 0.08% of the Fixed Income Portfolios.

ADVISORY FEES

David G. Booth and Rex A. Sinquefield, as directors and/or officers of the Advisor and shareholders of the outstanding stock of the Advisor’s general partner, may be deemed controlling persons of the Advisor. Mr. Booth also serves as Director and officer of the Funds. For the services it provides as investment advisor to the Fixed Income Portfolios and the Master Funds, the Advisor is paid a monthly fee calculated as a percentage of average net assets of each Fixed Income Portfolio and Master Fund. The Advisor is paid no fee for the services it provides as investment adviser to each Feeder Portfolio.

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009 and the fiscal period from December 1, 2007 to October 31, 2008, the Fixed Income Portfolios and the Master Funds paid management fees to the Advisor (and any sub-advisor) as set forth in the following table:

 

Master Fund/Portfolio

   FISCAL YEAR
ENDED
   FISCAL YEAR
ENDED
  

FISCAL

PERIOD

    

2010

(000)

  

2009

(000)

  

ENDED

2008

(000)

U.S. Large Cap Value Series (1)

   $8,301    $6,414    $8,436

International Value Series (1)

   $12,890    $9,991    $14,643

LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio

   $124    $112    $127

LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio

   $230    $193    $172

 

(1)

The Master Fund has more than one feeder portfolio; this dollar amount represents the total dollar amount of advisory fees paid by the Master Fund to the Advisor.

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

In accordance with the team approach used to manage the Portfolios and Master Funds, the portfolio managers and portfolio traders implement the policies and procedures established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers and portfolio traders also make daily investment decisions regarding the Portfolios and Master Funds including running buy and sell programs based on the parameters established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers named below are the portfolio managers that coordinate the efforts of all other portfolio managers with respect to the day to day management of the category of portfolios indicated.

 

20


Table of Contents

U.S. Large Cap Value Series and

 

Stephen A. Clark

LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to

 

Market Portfolio

 

International Value Series and

 

Stephen A. Clark,

LWAS/DFA International

 

Karen E. Umland,

High Book to Market Portfolio

 

Joseph H. Chi and

 

Jed S. Fogdall

Fixed Income Portfolios

 

Stephen A. Clark and David A. Plecha

Investments in Each Portfolio

Information relating to each portfolio manager’s ownership (including the ownership of their immediate families) in the Portfolios contained in this SAI that they manage as of October 31, 2010 is set forth in the chart below.

 

Name of Portfolio

Manager

  Portfolio  

Dollar Range of

Portfolio Shares Owned

Stephen A. Clark

 

LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio

LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio

LWAS/DFA Two Year Fixed Income Portfolio

LWAS/DFA Two Year Government Portfolio

 

None

None

None

None

Karen E. Umland

  LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio1   None

Joseph H. Chi

  LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio   None

Jed S. Fogdall

  LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio   None

David A. Plecha

 

LWAS/DFA Two Year Fixed Income Portfolio

LWAS/DFA Two Year Government Portfolio

 

None

None

 

1

Karen E. Umland does not invest in this Portfolio, but invests in another feeder portfolio (ownership range of $100,001 - $500,000) that invests substantially all of its assets in the same Master Fund as the Portfolio.

Description of Compensation Structure

Portfolio managers receive a base salary and bonus. Compensation of a portfolio manager is determined at the discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Advisor and is based on a portfolio manager’s experience, responsibilities, the perception of the quality of his or her work efforts and other subjective factors. The compensation of portfolio managers is not directly based upon the performance of the Portfolios or other accounts that the portfolios managers manage. The Advisor reviews the compensation of each portfolio manager annually and may make modifications in compensation as its Compensation Committee deems necessary to reflect changes in the market. Each portfolio manager’s compensation consists of the following:

 

   

Base salary. Each portfolio manager is paid a base salary. The Advisor considers the factors described above to determine each portfolio manager’s base salary.

 

   

Semi-Annual Bonus. Each portfolio manager may receive a semi-annual bonus. The amount of the bonus paid to each portfolio manager is based upon the factors described above.

Portfolio managers may be awarded the right to purchase restricted shares of the stock of the Advisor, as determined from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Advisor or its delegates. Portfolio managers also participate in benefit and retirement plans and other programs available generally to all employees.

 

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Table of Contents

In addition, portfolio managers may be given the option of participating in the Advisor’s Long Term Incentive Plan. The level of participation for eligible employees may be dependent on overall level of compensation, among other considerations. Participation in this program is not based on or related to the performance of any individual strategies or any particular client accounts.

Other Managed Accounts

In addition to the Portfolios (and with respect to the Feeder Portfolios, the Master Fund in which a Feeder Portfolio invests substantially all of its assets), each portfolio manager manages (i) other U.S. registered investment companies advised or sub-advised by the Advisor, (ii) other pooled investment vehicles that are not U.S. registered mutual funds and (iii) other accounts managed for organizations and individuals. The following table sets forth information regarding the total accounts for which each portfolio manager has the primary responsibility for coordinating the day-to-day management responsibilities.

 

Name of Portfolio Manager

 

  

Number of Accounts Managed and Total

Assets by Category As of October 31, 2010

 

 

Stephen A. Clark

  

• 92 U.S. registered mutual funds with $133,626 million in total assets under management.

 

• 20 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $25,316 million in total assets under management. Out of these unregistered pooled investment vehicles, one client with an investment of $220 million in an unregistered pooled investment vehicle pays a performance-based advisory fee.

 

• 73 other accounts with $11,603 million in total assets under management, of which one account with $731 million in assets may be subject to a performance fee.

 

Karen E. Umland

  

• 37 U.S. registered mutual funds with $58,973 million in total assets under management.

 

• 4 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $1,303 million in total assets under management.

 

• 26 other accounts with $7,671 million in total assets under management, of which one account with $731 million in assets may be subject to a performance fee.

 

Joseph H. Chi

  

• 37 U.S. registered mutual funds with $58,973 million in total assets under management.

 

• 4 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $1,303 million in total assets under management.

 

• 26 other accounts with $7,671 million in total assets under management, of which one account with $731 million in assets may be subject to a performance fee.

 

Jed S. Fogdall

  

• 37 U.S. registered mutual funds with $58,973 million in total assets under management.

 

• 4 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $1,303 million in total assets under management.

 

• 26 other accounts with $7,671 million in total assets under management, of which one account with $731 million in assets may be subject to a performance fee.

 

David A. Plecha

  

• 18 U.S. registered mutual funds with $23,044 million in total assets under management.

 

• 9 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $18,146 million in

 

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Name of Portfolio Manager

 

 

Number of Accounts Managed and Total

Assets by Category As of October 31, 2010

 

   
   

    total assets under management.

• 4 other accounts with $19 million in total assets under management.

 

Potential Conflicts of Interest

Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has the primary day-to-day responsibilities with respect to more than one Portfolio/Master Fund and other accounts. Other accounts include registered mutual funds (other than the Portfolios and Master Funds) other unregistered pooled investment vehicles, and other accounts managed for organizations and individuals (“Accounts”). An Account may have similar investment objectives to a Portfolio/Master Fund, or may purchase, sell or hold securities that are eligible to be purchased, sold or held by a Portfolio/Master Fund. Actual or apparent conflicts of interest include:

 

   

Time Management. The management of multiple Portfolios/Master Funds and/or Accounts may result in a portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of each Portfolio/Master Fund and/or Accounts. The Advisor seeks to manage such competing interests for the time and attention of portfolio managers by having portfolio managers focus on a particular investment discipline. Most Accounts managed by a portfolio manager are managed using the same investment models that are used in connection with the management of the Portfolios/Master Funds.

 

   

Investment Opportunities. It is possible that at times identical securities will be held by more than one Portfolio/Master Fund and/or Account. However, positions in the same security may vary and the length of time that any Portfolio/Master Fund or Account may choose to hold its investment in the same security may likewise vary. If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity that may be suitable for more than one Portfolio/Master Fund or Account, a Portfolio/Master Fund may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to an allocation of filled purchase or sale orders across all eligible Portfolios/Master Funds and Accounts. To deal with these situations, the Advisor has adopted procedures for allocating portfolio transactions across multiple Portfolios/Master Funds and Accounts.

 

   

Broker Selection. With respect to securities transactions for the Portfolios/Master Funds, the Advisor determines which broker to use to execute each order, consistent with its duty to seek best execution of the transaction. However, with respect to certain Accounts (such as separate accounts), the Advisor may be limited by the client with respect to the selection of brokers or may be instructed to direct trades through a particular broker. In these cases, the Advisor or its affiliates may place separate, non-simultaneous, transactions for a Portfolio/Master Fund and another Account that may temporarily affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment of the Portfolio/Master Fund or the Account.

 

   

Performance-Based Fees. For some Accounts, the Advisor may be compensated based on the profitability of the Account, such as by a performance-based management fee. These incentive compensation structures may create a conflict of interest for the Advisor with regard to Accounts where the Advisor is paid based on a percentage of assets because the portfolio manager may have an incentive to allocate securities preferentially to the Accounts where the Advisor might share in investment gains.

 

   

Investment in an Account. A portfolio manager or his/her relatives may invest in an Account that he or she manages and a conflict may arise where he or she may therefore have an incentive to treat the Account in which the portfolio manager or his/her relatives invest preferentially as compared to other Accounts for which he or she has portfolio management responsibilities.

The Advisor and the Funds have adopted certain compliance procedures that are reasonably designed to address these types of conflicts. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises.

 

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GENERAL INFORMATION

DFAIDG was incorporated under Maryland law on June 15, 1981. Until June 1983, DFAIDG was named DFA Small Company Fund Inc.

DIG was incorporated under Maryland law on March 19, 1990. DIG was known as DFA U.S. Large Cap Inc. from February 1992, until it amended its Articles of Incorporation in April 1993, to change to its present name. Prior to a February 1992 amendment to the Articles of Incorporation, it was known as DFA U.S. Large Cap Portfolio Inc. DIG began offering shares of the Fixed Income Portfolios and the LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio in May 1996.

The DFA Investment Trust Company was organized as a Delaware statutory trust (a form of entity formerly known as a business trust) on October 27, 1992. The Trust offers shares of its series, including the U.S. Large Cap Value Series and the International Value Series, only to institutional investors in private offerings.

Until February 1996, the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio was named DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio. From February 1996 until July 2000, the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio was known as the RWB/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio. From July 2000 to October 28, 2004, the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio was known as the AAM/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio. Until July 2000, the LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio was known as the RWB/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio; the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio was known as the RWB/DFA Two-Year Corporate Fixed Income Portfolio; and the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio was known as the RWB/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio. From July 2000 until April 2002, the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio was known as the AAM/DFA Two-Year Corporate Fixed Income Portfolio. From April 2002 to October 28, 2004, the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio was known as the AAM/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio. From July 2000 to October 28, 2004, the LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio was known as the AAM/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio; and the LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio was known as the AAM/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio.

CODE OF ETHICS

The Funds, the Trust, the Advisor and DFAS have adopted a revised Code of Ethics, under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act, for certain access persons of the Portfolios and Master Funds. The Code of Ethics is designed to ensure that access persons act in the interest of the Portfolios and Master Funds, and their shareholders, with respect to any personal trading of securities. Under the Code of Ethics, access persons are generally prohibited from knowingly buying or selling securities (except for mutual funds, U.S. government securities and money market instruments) which are being purchased, sold or considered for purchase or sale by a Portfolio or Master Fund unless their proposed purchases are approved in advance. The Code of Ethics also contains certain reporting requirements and securities trading clearance procedures.

SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS

The shares of each Portfolio, when issued and paid for in accordance with the Portfolios’ prospectus, will be fully paid and non-assessable shares. Each share of common stock of a Portfolio represents an equal proportional interest in the assets and liabilities of the Portfolio and has identical, non-cumulative voting, dividend, redemption liquidation, and other rights and preferences.

With respect to matters which require shareholder approval, shareholders are entitled to vote only with respect to matters which affect the interest of the class of shares (Portfolio) which they hold, except as otherwise required by applicable law. If liquidation of a Fund should occur, shareholders would be entitled to receive on a per class basis the assets of the particular Portfolio whose shares they own, as well as a proportionate share of Fund assets not attributable to any particular Portfolio. Ordinarily, the Funds do not intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders, except as required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law. Each Fund’s by-laws provide that special

 

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meetings of shareholders shall be called at the written request of shareholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting. Such meeting may be called to consider any matter, including the removal of one or more Directors. Shareholders will receive shareholder communications with respect to such matters as required by the 1940 Act, including semi-annual and annual financial statements of the Fund.

A Fund may withdraw the investment of a Feeder Portfolio in a Master Fund at any time, if the Board of Directors of the Fund determines that it is in the best interests of the Portfolio to do so. Upon any such withdrawal, the Board of Directors of the Fund would consider what action might be taken, including the investment of all of the assets of the Portfolio in another pooled investment entity having the same investment objective as the Portfolio or the hiring of an investment advisor to manage the Portfolio’s assets in accordance with the investment policies described above.

Whenever a Feeder Portfolio, as an investor in its corresponding Master Fund, is asked to vote on a shareholder proposal, the respective Fund will solicit voting instructions from the Portfolio’s shareholders with respect to the proposal. The Directors of the Fund will then vote the Feeder Portfolio’s shares in the Master Fund in accordance with the voting instructions received from the Feeder Portfolio’s shareholders. The Directors of each Fund will vote shares of the Portfolio for which they receive no voting instructions in accordance with their best judgment.

Shareholder inquiries may be made by writing or calling the Client Service Agent at the address or telephone number appearing on the back cover of the prospectus. Only those individuals whose signatures are on file for the account in question may receive specific account information or make changes in the account registration.

PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

As of January 31, 2011, the following person(s) beneficially owned 5% or more of the outstanding stock of each Portfolio:

 

 

LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

     84.57

101 Montgomery Street

  

San Francisco, CA 94104

  

Pershing LLC*

     12.91

One Pershing Plaza

  

P.O. Box 2052

  

Jersey City, NJ 07303

  

LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*1

     82.54

Pershing LLC*1

     15.21

 

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LWAS/DFA Two-Year Fixed Income Portfolio

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*1

     64.74

Pershing LLC*1

     20.56

National Financial Services LLC*

     14.33

200 Liberty Street

  

One World Financial Center

  

New York, NY 10281

  

LWAS/DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*1

     61.04

Pershing LLC*1

     32.36

 

 

*

Owners of record only (omnibus).

 

1

See address for shareholder previously noted above in list.

PURCHASE OF SHARES

The following information supplements the information set forth in the prospectus under the caption “PURCHASE OF SHARES.”

The Funds will accept purchase and redemption orders on each day that the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for business, regardless of whether the Federal Reserve System is closed. However, no purchases by wire may be made on any day that the Federal Reserve System is closed. The Funds will generally be closed on days that the NYSE is closed. The NYSE is scheduled to be open Monday through Friday throughout the year except for days closed to recognize New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The Federal Reserve System is closed on the same days as the NYSE, except that it is open on Good Friday and closed on Columbus Day and Veterans’ Day. Orders for redemptions and purchases will not be processed if the Funds are closed.

The Funds reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to suspend the offering of shares of any or all Portfolios or reject purchase orders when, in the judgment of management, such suspension or rejection is in the best interest of that Fund or Portfolio. Securities accepted in exchange for shares of a Portfolio will be acquired for investment purposes and will be considered for sale under the same circumstances as other securities in the Portfolio.

The Funds or their transfer agent may from time to time appoint a sub-transfer agent, such as a broker, for the receipt of purchase and redemption orders and funds from certain investors. With respect to purchases and redemptions through a sub-transfer agent, the Funds will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when the sub-transfer agent receives the order. Shares of a Portfolio will be priced at the public offering price next calculated after receipt of the purchase or redemption order by the sub-transfer agent.

Management believes that any dilutive effect of the cost of investing the proceeds of the sale of the shares of the Portfolios is minimal and, therefore, the shares of the Portfolios are currently sold at net asset value, without imposition of a reimbursement fee. Reimbursement fees may be charged prospectively from time to time based upon the future experience of the Portfolios, which are currently sold at net asset value. Any such charges will be described in the prospectus.

 

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REDEMPTION OF SHARES

The following information supplements the information set forth in the prospectus under the caption “REDEMPTION OF SHARES.”

Each Fund may suspend redemption privileges or postpone the date of payment: (1) during any period when the NYSE is closed, or trading on the NYSE is restricted as determined by the SEC, (2) during any period when an emergency exists as defined by the rules of the SEC as a result of which it is not reasonably practicable for such Fund to dispose of securities owned by it, or fairly to determine the value of its assets, and (3) for such other periods as the SEC may permit.

Shareholders may transfer shares of a Portfolio to another person by making a written request therefore to the Advisor who will transmit the request to BNY Mellon. The request should clearly identify the account and number of shares to be transferred, and include the signature of all registered owners and all stock certificates, if any, which are subject to the transfer. The signature on the letter of request, the stock certificate or any stock power must be guaranteed in the same manner as described in the prospectus under “REDEMPTION OF SHARES.” As with redemptions, the written request must be received in good order before any transfer can be made.

TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIO AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS

The following is a summary of some of the federal income tax consequences of investing in a Portfolio (sometimes referred to as “the Portfolio”). Unless you are invested in the Portfolio through a qualified retirement plan, you should consider the tax implications of investing and consult your own tax advisor. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Portfolio or its shareholders, and the discussion here and in the Prospectus is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning.

This “TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIO AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS” section is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and applicable regulations in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative, regulatory or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly change the tax rules applicable to the Portfolio and its shareholders. Any of these changes or court decisions may have a retroactive effect.

Different tax rules may apply depending on how a Master Fund in which a Feeder Portfolio invests is organized for federal income tax purposes. These rules could affect the amount, timing or character of the income distributed to shareholders of a Portfolio. The LWAS/DFA U.S. High Book to Market Portfolio and the LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio invest in Master Funds organized as partnerships for federal income tax purposes.

Unless otherwise indicated, the discussion below with respect to a Portfolio includes in the case of a Feeder Portfolio, its pro rata share of its corresponding Master Fund’s income and assets.

This is for general information only and not tax advice and does not purport to deal with all federal tax consequences applicable to all categories of investors, some of which may be subject to special rules. You should consult your own tax advisor regarding your particular circumstances before making an investment in the Portfolio.

Taxation of the Portfolio

The Portfolio has elected and intends to qualify (or, if newly organized, intends to elect and qualify) each year as a regulated investment company (sometimes referred to as a “regulated investment company,” “RIC” or “portfolio”) under Subchapter M of the Code. If the Portfolio qualifies, the Portfolio will not be subject to federal income tax on the portion of its investment company taxable income (that is, generally, taxable interest, dividends, net short-term capital gains, and other taxable ordinary income, net of expenses, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and net capital gain (that is, the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) that it distributes to shareholders.

 

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Qualification as a regulated investment company.  In order to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, the Portfolio must satisfy the following requirements:

 

   

Distribution Requirement —the Portfolio must distribute at least 90% of its investment company taxable income and 90% of its net tax-exempt income, if any, for the tax year (certain distributions made by the Portfolio after the close of its tax year are considered distributions attributable to the previous tax year for purposes of satisfying this requirement).

 

   

Income Requirement —the Portfolio must derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived from its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies and net income derived from qualified publicly traded partnerships (“QPTPs”).

 

   

Asset Diversification Test —the Portfolio must satisfy the following asset diversification test at the close of each quarter of the Portfolio’s tax year: (1) at least 50% of the value of the Portfolio’s assets must consist of cash and cash items, U.S. Government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and securities of other issuers (as to which the Portfolio has not invested more than 5% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets in securities of an issuer and as to which the Portfolio does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer); and (2) no more than 25% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets may be invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies) or of two or more issuers which the Portfolio controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses, or, collectively, in the securities of QPTPs.

In some circumstances, the character and timing of income realized by the Portfolio for purposes of the Income Requirement or the identification of the issuer for purposes of the Asset Diversification Test is uncertain under current law with respect to a particular investment, and an adverse determination or future guidance by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) with respect to such type of investment may adversely affect the Portfolio’s ability to satisfy these requirements. SeeTax Treatment of Portfolio Transactions” below with respect to the application of these requirements to certain types of investments. In other circumstances, the Portfolio may be required to sell portfolio holdings in order to meet the Income Requirement, Distribution Requirement, or Asset Diversification Test which may have a negative impact on the Portfolio’s income and performance.

The Portfolio may use “equalization accounting” (in lieu of making some cash distributions) in determining the portion of its income and gains that has been distributed. If the Portfolio uses equalization accounting, it will allocate a portion of its undistributed investment company taxable income and net capital gain to redemptions of Portfolio shares and will correspondingly reduce the amount of such income and gains that it distributes in cash. If the IRS determines that the Portfolio’s allocation is improper and that the Portfolio has under-distributed its income and gain for any taxable year, the Portfolio may be liable for federal income and/or excise tax. In addition, any such under-distribution of income might cause the Portfolio to fail to satisfy the Income Requirement and thereby not qualify as a regulated investment company for such taxable year.

If for any taxable year the Portfolio does not qualify as a regulated investment company, all of its taxable income (including its net capital gain) would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders, and the dividends would be taxable to the shareholders as ordinary income (or possibly as qualified dividend income) to the extent of the Portfolio’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Failure to qualify as a regulated investment company would thus have a negative impact on the Portfolio’s income and performance. Subject to savings provisions for certain inadvertent failures to satisfy the Income Requirement or Asset Diversification Test which, in general, are limited to those due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, it is possible that the Portfolio will not qualify as a regulated investment company in any given tax year. Even if such savings provisions apply, the Portfolio may be subject to a monetary sanction of $50,000 or more. Moreover, the Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of the Portfolio as a regulated investment company if it determines such a course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.

 

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Portfolio turnover. For investors that hold their Portfolio shares in a taxable account, a high portfolio turnover rate (except in a money market fund that maintains a stable net asset value) may result in higher taxes. This is because a portfolio with a high turnover rate is likely to generate more short-term and less long-term capital gain or loss than a comparable portfolio with a low turnover rate. Any such higher taxes would reduce the Portfolio’s after-tax performance.

Capital loss carryovers. The capital losses of the Portfolio, if any, do not flow through to shareholders. Rather, the Portfolio may use its capital losses, subject to applicable limitations, to offset its capital gains without being required to pay taxes on or distribute to shareholders such gains that are offset by the losses. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (“RIC Mod Act”), if the Portfolio has a “net capital loss” (that is, capital losses in excess of capital gains) for a taxable year beginning after December 22, 2010 (the date of enactment of the RIC Mod Act), the excess (if any) of the Portfolio’s net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gains is treated as a short-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Portfolio's next taxable year, and the excess (if any) of the Portfolio’s net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gains is treated as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Portfolio’s next taxable year. Any such net capital losses of the Portfolio that are not used to offset capital gains may be carried forward indefinitely to reduce any future capital gains realized by the Portfolio in succeeding taxable years. However, for any net capital losses realized in taxable years of the Portfolio beginning on or before December 22, 2010, the Portfolio is only permitted to carry forward such capital losses for eight years as a short-term capital loss. Under a transition rule, capital losses arising in a taxable year beginning after December 22, 2010 must be used before capital losses realized in a prior taxable year. The amount of capital losses that can be carried forward and used in any single year is subject to an annual limitation if there is a more than 50% “change in ownership” of the Portfolio. An ownership change generally results when shareholders owning 5% or more of the Portfolio increase their aggregate holdings by more than 50% over a three-year look-back period. An ownership change could result in capital loss carryovers being used at a slower rate (or, in the case of those realized in taxable years of the Portfolio beginning on or before December 22, 2010, to expire unutilized), thereby reducing the Portfolio’s ability to offset capital gains with those losses. An increase in the amount of taxable gains distributed to the Portfolio’s shareholders could result from an ownership change. The Portfolio undertakes no obligation to avoid or prevent an ownership change, which can occur in the normal course of shareholder purchases and redemptions or as a result of engaging in a tax-free reorganization with another portfolio. Moreover, because of circumstances beyond the Portfolio’s control, there can be no assurance that the Portfolio will not experience, or has not already experienced, an ownership change.

Deferral of late year losses. For taxable years of the Portfolio beginning after December 22, 2010, the Portfolio may elect to treat part or all of any “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in determining the Portfolio’s taxable income, net capital gain, net short-term capital gain, and earnings and profits. The effect of this election is to treat any such “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in characterizing Portfolio distributions for any calendar year (see “Distributions of Capital Gains” below). A “qualified late year loss” includes:

 

   

any net capital loss, net long-term capital loss, or net short-term capital loss incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year (“post-October losses”), and

 

   

the excess, if any, of (1) the sum of (a) specified losses incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year, and (b) other ordinary losses incurred after December 31 of the current taxable year, over (2) the sum of (a) specified gains incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year, and (b) other ordinary gains incurred after December 31 of the current taxable year.

The terms “specified losses” and “specified gains” mean ordinary losses and gains from the sale, exchange, or other disposition of property (including the termination of a position with respect to such property), foreign currency losses, and losses resulting from holding stock in a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) for which a mark-to-market election is in effect. The terms “ordinary losses” and “ordinary gains” mean other ordinary losses and gains that are not described in the preceding sentence. Since the Portfolio has a fiscal year ending in October, the amount of qualified late-year losses (if any) is computed without regard to any items of income, gain, or loss that are (a) post-October losses, (b) specified losses, and (c) specified gains.

 

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Undistributed capital gains. The Portfolio may retain or distribute to shareholders its net capital gain for each taxable year. The Portfolio currently intends to distribute net capital gains. If the Portfolio elects to retain its net capital gain, the Portfolio will be taxed thereon (except to the extent of any available capital loss carryovers) at the highest corporate tax rate (currently 35%). If the Portfolio elects to retain its net capital gain, it is expected that the Portfolio also will elect to have shareholders treated as if each received a distribution of its pro rata share of such gain, with the result that each shareholder will be required to report its pro rata share of such gain on its tax return as long-term capital gain, will receive a refundable tax credit for its pro rata share of tax paid by the Portfolio on the gain, and will increase the tax basis for its shares by an amount equal to the deemed distribution less the tax credit.

Excise tax distribution requirements. To avoid a 4% federal excise tax, the Code requires the Portfolio to distribute to you by December 31 of each year, at a minimum, the following amounts: 98% of its taxable ordinary income earned during the calendar year; 98% (or 98.2% beginning January 1, 2011) of its capital gain net income earned during the twelve-month period ending October 31; and 100% of any undistributed amounts from the prior year. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay these distributions in December (or to pay them in January, in which case you must treat them as received in December) but can give no assurances that its distributions will be sufficient to eliminate all taxes.

Foreign income tax. Investment income received by the Portfolio from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign income tax withheld at the source and the amount of tax withheld generally will be treated as an expense of the Portfolio. The United States has entered into tax treaties with many foreign countries which entitle the Portfolio to a reduced rate of, or exemption from, tax on such income. It is impossible to determine the effective rate of foreign tax in advance since the amount of the Portfolio’s assets to be invested in various countries is not known. Under certain circumstances, the Portfolio may elect to pass-through foreign tax credits to shareholders, although it reserves the right not to do so. See “Investment in Foreign SecuritiesPass-through of foreign tax credits” below.

Distributions of Net Investment Income

The Portfolio receives ordinary income generally in the form of dividends and/or interest on its investments. In the case of a Feeder Portfolio that invests in a Master Fund, the Portfolio’s income generally consists of its share of dividends and interest earned by the Master Fund. The Portfolio may also recognize ordinary income from other sources, including, but not limited to, certain gains on foreign currency-related transactions. This income, less expenses incurred in the operation of the Portfolio, constitutes the Portfolio's net investment income from which dividends may be paid to you. If you are a taxable investor, distributions of net investment income generally are taxable as ordinary income to the extent of the Portfolio’s earnings and profits. In the case of a Portfolio whose strategy includes investing in stocks of corporations, a portion of the income dividends paid to shareholders by a Portfolio may be qualified dividends eligible to be taxed at reduced rates.

Distributions of Capital Gains

The Portfolio may realize a capital gain or loss in connection with sales or other dispositions of its portfolio securities. Distributions derived from the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss will be taxable to you as ordinary income. Distributions from the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long you have held your shares in the Portfolio. Any net capital gain of the Portfolio generally will be distributed once each year, and may be distributed more frequently, if necessary, to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the Portfolio.

Returns of Capital

Distributions by the Portfolio that are not paid from earnings and profits will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of (and in reduction of) the shareholder's tax basis in his shares; any excess will be treated as gain from the sale of his shares. Thus, the portion of a distribution that constitutes a return of capital will decrease the shareholder’s tax basis in his Portfolio shares (but not below zero), and will result in an increase in the amount of gain (or decrease in the amount of loss) that will be recognized by the shareholder for tax purposes on the later sale of such Portfolio shares. Return of capital distributions can occur for a number of reasons including, among others, the Portfolio over-estimates the income to be received from certain investments such as those classified as

 

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partnerships or equity real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) (see “Tax Treatment of Portfolio TransactionsInvestments in U.S. REITs” below).

Investment in Foreign Securities

The Portfolio may be subject to foreign withholding taxes on income from certain foreign securities. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes on the Portfolio and/or its shareholders. Any foreign withholding taxes could reduce the Portfolio’s distributions paid to you.

Pass-through of foreign tax credits. If at the end of the fiscal year more than 50% in value of the total assets of the Portfolio (or, in the case of a Feeder Portfolio, more than 50% in value of the total assets of the Feeder Portfolio attributable from the Master Fund) are invested in securities of foreign corporations, the Portfolio may elect to pass through to its shareholders their pro rata share of foreign income taxes paid by the Portfolio (or Master Fund). If this election is made, the Portfolio may report more taxable income to you than it actually distributes. You will then be entitled either to deduct your share of these taxes in computing your taxable income or to claim a foreign tax credit for these taxes against your U.S. federal income tax (subject to limitations for certain shareholders). The Portfolio will provide you with the information necessary to claim this deduction or credit on your personal income tax return if it makes this election. The Portfolio (or Master Fund) reserves the right not to pass through to its shareholders the amount of foreign income taxes paid by the Portfolio (or Master Fund).

The amount of any foreign tax credits available to you (as a result of the pass-through to you of your pro rata share of foreign taxes paid by the Portfolio) will be reduced if you receive from the Portfolio qualifying dividends from qualifying foreign corporations that are subject to tax at reduced rates. Shareholders in these circumstances should talk with their personal tax advisors about their foreign tax credits and the procedures that they should follow to claim these credits on their personal income tax returns.

Effect of foreign debt investments on distributions. Most foreign exchange gains realized on the sale of debt securities are treated by the Portfolio as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes. Similarly, foreign exchange losses realized on the sale of debt securities generally are treated as ordinary losses. These gains when distributed are taxable to you as ordinary income, and any losses reduce the Portfolio’s ordinary income otherwise available for distribution to you. This treatment could increase or decrease the Portfolio’s ordinary income distributions to you, and may cause some or all of the Portfolio’s previously distributed income to be classified as a return of capital.

PFIC securities. The Portfolio may invest in securities of foreign entities that could be deemed for tax purposes to be PFICs. In general, a PFIC is any foreign corporation if 75% or more of its gross income for its taxable year is passive income, or 50% or more of its average assets (by value) are held for the production of passive income. When investing in PFIC securities, the Portfolio intends to mark-to-market these securities and recognize any unrealized gains as ordinary income at the end of its fiscal year. Deductions for losses are allowable only to the extent of any current or previously recognized gains. These gains (reduced by allowable losses) are treated as ordinary income that the Portfolio is required to distribute, even though it has not sold or received dividends from these securities. You should also be aware that the designation of a foreign security as a PFIC security will cause its income dividends to fall outside of the definition of qualified foreign corporation dividends. These dividends generally will not qualify for the reduced rate of taxation on qualified dividends when distributed to you by the Portfolio. In addition, if the Portfolio is unable to identify an investment as a PFIC and thus does not make a mark-to-market election, the Portfolio may be subject to U.S. federal income tax (the effect of which might be mitigated by making a mark-to-market election in a year prior to the sale) on a portion of any “excess distribution” or gain from the disposition of such shares even if such income is distributed as a taxable dividend by the Portfolio to its shareholders. Additional charges in the nature of interest may be imposed on the Portfolio in respect of deferred taxes arising from such distributions or gains. Any such taxes or interest charges could in turn reduce the Portfolio’s distributions paid to you.

 

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Information on the Amount and Tax Character of Distributions

The Portfolio will inform you of the amount and character of your distributions at the time they are paid, and will advise you of the tax status of such distributions for federal income tax purposes shortly after the close of each calendar year. If you have not held Portfolio shares for a full year, the Portfolio may report to shareholders and distribute to you, as ordinary income, qualified dividends, or capital gains, and in the case of non-U.S. shareholders the Portfolio may further report and distribute as interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends, a percentage of income that is not equal to the actual amount of such income earned during the period of your investment in the Portfolio. Taxable distributions declared by the Portfolio in December to shareholders of record in such month, but paid in January, are taxable to you as if they were paid in December.

Sales, Exchanges and Redemptions of Portfolio Shares

In general. If you are a taxable investor, sales, exchanges and redemptions (including redemptions in kind) are taxable transactions for federal and state income tax purposes. If you redeem your Portfolio shares, the IRS requires you to report any gain or loss on your redemption. If you held your shares as a capital asset, the gain or loss that you realize will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term or short-term, generally depending on how long you have held your shares.

Redemptions at a loss within six months of purchase. Any loss incurred on a redemption of shares of the Portfolio held for six months or less will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributed to you by the Portfolio on those shares.

Wash sales. All or a portion of any loss that you realize on a redemption of your Portfolio shares will be disallowed to the extent that you buy other shares in the Portfolio (through reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) within 30 days before or after your share redemption. Any loss disallowed under these rules will be added to your tax basis in the new shares.

Cost basis reporting. Under the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008, the Portfolio’s administrative agent will be required to provide you with cost basis information on the sale of any of your shares in the Portfolio, subject to certain exceptions. This cost basis reporting requirement is effective for shares purchased in the Portfolio on or after January 1, 2012.

Tax shelter reporting. Under Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to the Portfolio’s shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886.

U.S. Government Securities

To the extent the Portfolio (or in the case of a Feeder Portfolio, the Master Fund) invests in certain U.S. government obligations, dividends paid by the Portfolio to shareholders that are derived from interest on these obligations should be exempt from state and local personal income taxes, subject in some states to minimum investment or reporting requirements that must be met by the Portfolio or the Feeder Portfolio’s corresponding Master Fund. The income on portfolio investments in certain securities, such as repurchase agreements, commercial paper and federal agency-backed obligations (e.g., Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) or Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) securities), generally does not qualify for tax-free treatment. The rules on exclusion of this income are different for corporate shareholders.

Qualified Dividend Income for Individuals

With respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2013 (unless such provision is extended or made permanent), ordinary income dividends reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as derived from qualified dividend income will be taxed in the hands of individuals and other noncorporate shareholders at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain. “Qualified dividend income” means dividends paid to the Portfolio (a) by domestic corporations, (b) by foreign corporations that are either (i) incorporated in a possession of the United States, or (ii) are eligible for benefits under certain income tax treaties with the United States that include an

 

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exchange of information program, or (c) with respect to stock of a foreign corporation that is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. Both the Portfolio and the investor must meet certain holding period requirements to qualify Portfolio dividends for this treatment. Specifically, the Portfolio must hold the stock for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the stock becomes ex-dividend. Similarly, investors must hold their Portfolio shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the Portfolio distribution goes ex-dividend. Income derived from investments in derivatives, fixed-income securities, U.S. REITs, PFICs, and income received “in lieu of” dividends in a securities lending transaction generally is not eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income. If the qualifying dividend income received by the Portfolio is equal to or greater than 95% of the Portfolio's gross income (exclusive of net capital gain) in any taxable year, all of the ordinary income dividends paid by the Portfolio will be qualifying dividend income.

Dividends-Received Deduction for Corporations

For corporate shareholders, a portion of the dividends paid by the Portfolio may qualify for the 70% corporate dividends-received deduction. The portion of dividends paid by the Portfolio that so qualifies will be reported by the Portfolio to shareholders each year and cannot exceed the gross amount of dividends received by the Portfolio from domestic (U.S.) corporations. The availability of the dividends-received deduction is subject to certain holding period and debt financing restrictions that apply to both the Portfolio and the investor. Specifically, the amount that the Portfolio may report as eligible for the dividends-received deduction will be reduced or eliminated if the shares on which the dividends earned by the Portfolio were debt-financed or held by the Portfolio for less than a minimum period of time, generally 46 days during a 91-day period beginning 45 days before the stock becomes ex-dividend. Similarly, if your Portfolio shares are debt-financed or held by you for less than a 46-day period then the dividends-received deduction for Portfolio dividends on your shares may also be reduced or eliminated. Even if reported as dividends eligible for the dividends-received deduction, all dividends (including any deducted portion) must be included in your alternative minimum taxable income calculation. Income derived by the Portfolio from investments in derivatives, fixed-income and foreign securities generally is not eligible for this treatment.

Limitation on Deductibility of Losses

Losses incurred on the sale of securities by the Portfolio (or corresponding Master Fund) to another Portfolio or Master Fund will be disallowed if, as of the date of sale, the selling and purchasing portfolios are considered related parties. If the selling and purchasing portfolios are both corporations, they are treated as related parties if five or fewer persons, who are individuals, estates or trusts, own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the outstanding shares in both the selling and purchasing portfolios. If the selling and purchasing portfolios are both Master Funds (i.e., both partnerships) or a Master Fund and a Portfolio (i.e., a partnership and a corporation), they are treated as related parties if the same persons own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the outstanding shares in both the selling and purchasing portfolios. Under attribution rules, the shareholders of a Feeder Portfolio would be considered to own the shares of the corresponding Master Fund on a pro rata basis for purposes of applying the loss disallowance rule. Other attribution rules may apply.

Tax Treatment of Portfolio Transactions

Set forth below is a general description of the tax treatment of certain types of securities, investment techniques and transactions that may apply to a portfolio and, in turn, effect the amount, character and timing of dividends and distributions payable by the portfolio to its shareholders. This section should be read in conjunction with the discussion in the Prospectus under “Principal Investment Strategies” and “Principal Risks” for a detailed description of the various types of securities and investment techniques that apply to the Portfolio.

In general. In general, gain or loss recognized by a portfolio on the sale or other disposition of portfolio investments will be a capital gain or loss. Such capital gain and loss may be long-term or short-term depending, in general, upon the length of time a particular investment position is maintained and, in some cases, upon the nature of the transaction. Property held for more than one year generally will be eligible for long-term capital gain or loss treatment. The application of certain rules described below may serve to alter the manner in which the holding period for a security is determined or may otherwise affect the characterization as long-term or short-term, and also the timing of the realization and/or character, of certain gains or losses.

 

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Certain fixed-income investments. Gain recognized on the disposition of a debt obligation purchased by a portfolio at a market discount (generally, at a price less than its principal amount) will be treated as ordinary income to the extent of the portion of the market discount that accrued during the period of time the portfolio held the debt obligation unless the portfolio made a current inclusion election to accrue market discount into income as it accrues. If a portfolio purchases a debt obligation (such as a zero coupon security or pay-in-kind security) that was originally issued at a discount, the portfolio generally is required to include in gross income each year the portion of the original issue discount that accrues during such year. Therefore, a portfolio’s investment in such securities may cause the portfolio to recognize income and make distributions to shareholders before it receives any cash payments on the securities. To generate cash to satisfy those distribution requirements, a portfolio may have to sell portfolio securities that it otherwise might have continued to hold or to use cash flows from other sources such as the sale of portfolio shares.

Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of or in default present tax issues for a portfolio. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as whether and to what extent a portfolio should recognize market discount on a debt obligation, when a portfolio may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount or market discount, when and to what extent a portfolio may take deductions for bad debts or worthless securities and how a portfolio should allocate payments received on obligations in default between principal and income. These and other related issues will be addressed by a portfolio in order to ensure that it distributes sufficient income to preserve its status as a regulated investment company.

Options, futures, forward contracts, swap agreements and hedging transactions. In general, option premiums received by a portfolio are not immediately included in the income of the portfolio. Instead, the premiums are recognized when the option contract expires, the option is exercised by the holder, or the portfolio transfers or otherwise terminates the option (e.g., through a closing transaction). If an option written by a portfolio is exercised and the portfolio sells or delivers the underlying stock, the portfolio generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to (a) sum of the strike price and the option premium received by the portfolio minus (b) the portfolio’s basis in the stock. Such gain or loss generally will be short-term or long-term depending upon the holding period of the underlying stock. If securities are purchased by a portfolio pursuant to the exercise of a put option written by it, the portfolio generally will subtract the premium received from its cost basis in the securities purchased. The gain or loss with respect to any termination of a portfolio’s obligation under an option other than through the exercise of the option and related sale or delivery of the underlying stock generally will be short-term gain or loss depending on whether the premium income received by the portfolio is greater or less than the amount paid by the portfolio (if any) in terminating the transaction. Thus, for example, if an option written by a portfolio expires unexercised, the portfolio generally will recognize short-term gain equal to the premium received.

The tax treatment of certain futures contracts entered into by a portfolio as well as listed non-equity options written or purchased by the portfolio on U.S. exchanges (including options on futures contracts, broad-based equity indices and debt securities) may be governed by section 1256 of the Code (“section 1256 contracts”). Gains or losses on section 1256 contracts generally are considered 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gains or losses (“60/40”), although certain foreign currency gains and losses from such contracts may be treated as ordinary in character. Also, any section 1256 contracts held by a portfolio at the end of each taxable year (and, for purposes of the 4% excise tax, on certain other dates as prescribed under the Code) are “marked to market” with the result that unrealized gains or losses are treated as though they were realized and the resulting gain or loss is treated as ordinary or 60/40 gain or loss, as applicable. Section 1256 contracts do not include any interest rate swap, currency swap, basis swap, interest rate cap, interest rate floor, commodity swap, equity swap, equity index swap, credit default swap, or similar agreement.

In addition to the special rules described above in respect of options and futures transactions, a portfolio’s transactions in other derivative instruments (including options, forward contracts and swap agreements) as well as its other hedging, short sale, or similar transactions, may be subject to one or more special tax rules (including the constructive sale, notional principal contract, straddle, wash sale and short sale rules). These rules may affect whether gains and losses recognized by a portfolio are treated as ordinary or capital or as short-term or long-term, accelerate the recognition of income or gains to the portfolio, defer losses to the portfolio, and cause adjustments in the holding periods of the portfolio’s securities. These rules, therefore, could affect the amount, timing and/or character of distributions to shareholders. Moreover, because the tax rules applicable to derivative financial

 

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instruments are in some cases uncertain under current law, an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to these rules (which determination or guidance could be retroactive) may affect whether a portfolio has made sufficient distributions and otherwise satisfied the relevant requirements to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company and avoid a portfolio-level tax.

Certain of a portfolio’s investments in derivatives and foreign currency-denominated instruments, and the portfolio’s transactions in foreign currencies and hedging activities, may produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. If a portfolio’s book income is less than the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any), the portfolio could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regulated investment company. If a portfolio’s book income exceeds the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any), the distribution of any such excess will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of the portfolio’s remaining earnings and profits (including current earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income, reduced, for taxable years of the Portfolio beginning after December 22, 2010, by related deductions), (ii) thereafter, as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient’s basis in the shares, and (iii) thereafter, as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset.

Foreign currency transactions. A portfolio’s transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated debt obligations and certain foreign currency options, futures contracts and forward contracts (and similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned. This treatment could increase or decrease a portfolio’s ordinary income distributions to you, and may cause some or all of the portfolio’s previously distributed income to be classified as a return of capital. In certain cases, a portfolio may make an election to treat such gain or loss as capital.

Investments in non-U.S. REITs. While non-U.S. REITs often use complex acquisition structures that seek to minimize taxation in the source country, an investment by a portfolio in a non-U.S. REIT may subject the portfolio, directly or indirectly, to corporate taxes, withholding taxes, transfer taxes and other indirect taxes in the country in which the real estate acquired by the non-U.S. REIT is located. The portfolio’s pro rata share of any such taxes will reduce the portfolio’s return on its investment. A portfolio’s investment in a non-U.S. REIT may be considered an investment in a PFIC, as discussed above in “Investment in Foreign Securities PFIC securities.” Additionally, foreign withholding taxes on distributions from the non-U.S. REIT may be reduced or eliminated under certain tax treaties, as discussed above in “Taxation of the Portfolio Foreign income tax.” Also, the portfolio in certain limited circumstances may be required to file an income tax return in the source country and pay tax on any gain realized from its investment in the non-U.S. REIT under rules similar to those in the United States which tax foreign persons on gain realized from dispositions of interests in U.S. real estate.

Investments in U.S. REITs. A U.S. REIT is not subject to federal income tax on the income and gains it distributes to shareholders. Dividends paid by a U.S. REIT, other than capital gain distributions, will be taxable as ordinary income up to the amount of the U.S. REIT’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Capital gain dividends paid by a U.S. REIT to a portfolio will be treated as long term capital gains by the portfolio and, in turn, may be distributed by the portfolio to its shareholders as a capital gain distribution. Because of certain noncash expenses, such as property depreciation, an equity U.S. REIT’s cash flow may exceed its taxable income. The equity U.S. REIT, and in turn a portfolio, may distribute this excess cash to shareholders in the form of a return of capital distribution. However, if a U.S. REIT is operated in a manner that fails to qualify as a REIT, an investment in the U.S. REIT would become subject to double taxation, meaning the taxable income of the U.S. REIT would be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders and the dividends would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income (or possibly as qualified dividend income) to the extent of the U.S. REIT’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Also, see “Tax Treatment of Portfolio Transactions Investment in taxable mortgage pools (excess inclusion income)” and “Non-U.S. Investors Investment in U.S. real property” with respect to certain other tax aspects of investing in U.S. REITs.

Investment in taxable mortgage pools (excess inclusion income). Under a Notice issued by the IRS, the Code and Treasury regulations to be issued, a portion of a portfolio’s income from a U.S. REIT that is attributable to the REIT’s residual interest in a real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMICs”) or equity interests in a “taxable mortgage pool” (referred to in the Code as an excess inclusion) will be subject to federal income tax in all

 

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events. The excess inclusion income of a regulated investment company, such as a portfolio, will be allocated to shareholders of the regulated investment company in proportion to the dividends received by such shareholders, with the same consequences as if the shareholders held the related REMIC residual interest or, if applicable, taxable mortgage pool directly. In general, excess inclusion income allocated to shareholders (i) cannot be offset by net operating losses (subject to a limited exception for certain thrift institutions), (ii) will constitute unrelated business taxable income to entities (including qualified pension plans, individual retirement accounts, 401(k) plans, Keogh plans or other tax-exempt entities) subject to tax on unrelated business income (“UBTI”), thereby potentially requiring such an entity that is allocated excess inclusion income, and otherwise might not be required to file a tax return, to file a tax return and pay tax on such income, and (iii) in the case of a foreign stockholder, will not qualify for any reduction in U.S. federal withholding tax. In addition, if at any time during any taxable year a “disqualified organization” (which generally includes certain cooperatives, governmental entities, and tax-exempt organizations not subject to UBTI) is a record holder of a share in a regulated investment company, then the regulated investment company will be subject to a tax equal to that portion of its excess inclusion income for the taxable year that is allocable to the disqualified organization, multiplied by the highest federal income tax rate imposed on corporations. The Notice imposes certain reporting requirements upon regulated investment companies that have excess inclusion income. There can be no assurance that a portfolio will not allocate to shareholders excess inclusion income.

These rules are potentially applicable to a portfolio with respect to any income it receives from the equity interests of certain mortgage pooling vehicles, either directly or, as is more likely, through an investment in a U.S. REIT. It is unlikely that these rules will apply to a portfolio that has a non-REIT strategy.

Investments in partnerships and qualified publicly traded partnerships (“QPTP”). For purposes of the Income Requirement, income derived by a portfolio from a partnership that is not a QPTP will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership that would be qualifying income if realized directly by the portfolio. For purposes of testing whether a portfolio satisfies the Asset Diversification Test, the portfolio generally is treated as owning a pro rata share of the underlying assets of a partnership. See “Taxation of the PortfolioQualification as a regulated investment company.” In contrast, different rules apply to a partnership that is a QPTP. A QPTP is a partnership (a) the interests in which are traded on an established securities market, (b) that is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, and (c) that derives less than 90% of its income from sources that satisfy the Income Requirement (e.g., because it invests in commodities). All of the net income derived by a portfolio from an interest in a QPTP will be treated as qualifying income but the portfolio may not invest more than 25% of its total assets in one or more QPTPs. However, there can be no assurance that a partnership classified as a QPTP in one year will qualify as a QPTP in the next year. Any such failure to annually qualify as a QPTP might, in turn, cause a portfolio to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company.

Securities lending. While securities are loaned out by a portfolio, the portfolio generally will receive from the borrower amounts equal to any dividends or interest paid on the borrowed securities. For federal income tax purposes, payments made “in lieu of” dividends are not considered dividend income. These distributions will neither qualify for the reduced rate of taxation for individuals on qualified dividends nor the 70% dividends received deduction for corporations. Also, any foreign tax withheld on payments made “in lieu of” dividends or interest will not qualify for the pass-through of foreign tax credits to shareholders.

Investments in convertible securities. Convertible debt is ordinarily treated as a “single property” consisting of a pure debt interest until conversion, after which the investment becomes an equity interest. If the security is issued at a premium (i.e., for cash in excess of the face amount payable on retirement), the creditor-holder may amortize the premium over the life of the bond. If the security is issued for cash at a price below its face amount, the creditor-holder must accrue original issue discount in income over the life of the debt. The creditor-holder's exercise of the conversion privilege is treated as a nontaxable event. Mandatorily convertible debt (e.g., an exchange traded note or ETN issued in the form of an unsecured obligation that pays a return based on the performance of a specified market index, exchange currency, or commodity) is often, but not always, treated as a contract to buy or sell the reference property rather than debt. Similarly, convertible preferred stock with a mandatory conversion feature is ordinarily, but not always, treated as equity rather than debt. Dividends received generally are qualified dividend income and eligible for the corporate dividends received deduction. In general, conversion of preferred stock for common stock of the same corporation is tax-free. Conversion of preferred stock for cash is a taxable redemption.

 

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Any redemption premium for preferred stock that is redeemable by the issuing company might be required to be amortized under original issue discount (“OID”) principles.

Backup Withholding

By law, the Portfolio may be required to withhold a portion of your taxable dividends and sales proceeds unless you:

 

   

provide your correct social security or taxpayer identification number,

 

   

certify that this number is correct,

 

   

certify that you are not subject to backup withholding, and

 

   

certify that you are a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien).

The Portfolio also must withhold if the IRS instructs it to do so. When withholding is required, the amount will be 28% of any distributions or proceeds paid. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS. Certain payees and payments are exempt from backup withholding and information reporting. The special U.S. tax certification requirements applicable to non-U.S. investors are described under the “Non-U.S. Investors” heading below.

Non-U.S. Investors

Non-U.S. investors (shareholders who, as to the United States, are nonresident alien individuals, foreign trusts or estates, foreign corporations, or foreign partnerships) may be subject to U.S. withholding and estate tax and are subject to special U.S. tax certification requirements. Non-U.S. investors should consult their tax advisors about the applicability of U.S. tax withholding and the use of the appropriate forms to certify their status.

In general. The United States imposes a flat 30% withholding tax (or a withholding tax at a lower treaty rate) on U.S. source dividends, including on income dividends paid to you by the Portfolio. Exemptions from this U.S. withholding tax are provided for dividends reported by the Portfolio as exempt -interest dividends, capital gain dividends and paid by the Portfolio from its net long-term capital gains, and with respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended, or made permanent), interest-related dividends paid by the Portfolio from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources and short-term capital gain dividends. However, notwithstanding such exemptions from U.S. withholding at the source, any dividends and distributions of income and capital gains, including the proceeds from the sale of your Portfolio shares, will be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 28% if you fail to properly certify that you are not a U.S. person.

Capital gain dividends and short-term capital gain dividends. In general, (i) a capital gain dividend reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as paid from its net long-term capital gains or (ii) with respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended or made permanent), a short-term capital gain dividend reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as paid from its net short-term capital gains, other than long- or short-term capital gains realized on disposition of U.S. real property interests (see the discussion below) are not subject to U.S. withholding tax unless you are a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the calendar year.

Interest-related dividends. With respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended or made permanent), dividends reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as interest-related dividends and paid from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources are not subject to U.S. withholding tax. “Qualified interest income” includes, in general, U.S. source (1) bank deposit interest, (2) short-term original discount, (3) interest (including original issue discount, market discount, or acquisition discount) on an obligation which is in registered form, unless it is earned on an obligation issued by a corporation or partnership in which the Portfolio is a 10-percent shareholder or is contingent interest, and (4) any interest-related dividend from another regulated investment company. On any payment date, the amount of an income dividend that is reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as an interest-related dividend may be more or less than the amount that is so qualified.

 

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This is because the reporting of interest related dividends is based on an estimate of the Portfolio’s qualified net interest income for its entire fiscal year, which can only be determined with exactness at fiscal year end. As a consequence, the Portfolio may over withhold a small amount of U.S. tax from a dividend payment. In this case, the non-U.S. investor’s only recourse may be to either forgo recovery of the excess withholding, or to file a United States nonresident income tax return to recover the excess withholding.

Further limitations on tax reporting for interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends for non-U.S. investors. It may not be practical in every case for the Portfolio to report to shareholders, and the Portfolio reserves the right in these cases to not report, small amounts of interest-related or short-term capital gain dividends. Additionally, the Portfolio’s reporting of interest-related or short-term capital gain dividends may not be passed through to shareholders by intermediaries who have assumed tax reporting responsibilities for this income in managed or omnibus accounts due to systems limitations or operational constraints.

Net investment income from dividends on stock and foreign source interest income continue to be subject to withholding tax; effectively connected income. Ordinary dividends paid by the Portfolio to non-U.S. investors on the income earned on portfolio investments in (i) the stock of domestic and foreign corporations, and (ii) the debt of foreign issuers continue to be subject to U.S. withholding tax. If you hold your Portfolio shares in connection with a U.S. trade or business, your income and gains will be considered effectively connected income and taxed in the U.S. on a net basis, in which case you may be required to file a nonresident U.S. income tax return.

Investment in U.S. real property. The Portfolio may invest in equity securities of corporations that invest in U.S. real property, including U.S. REITs. The sale of a U.S. real property interest (“USRPI”) by the Portfolio or by a U.S. REIT or U.S. real property holding corporation in which the Portfolio invests may trigger special tax consequences to the Portfolio’s non-U.S. shareholders.

The Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 (“FIRPTA”) makes non-U.S. persons subject to U.S. tax on disposition of a USRPI as if he or she were a U.S. person. Such gain is sometimes referred to as FIRPTA gain. The Code provides a look-through rule for distributions of FIRPTA gain by a RIC received from a U.S. REIT or another RIC classified as a U.S. real property holding corporation or realized by the RIC on a sale of a USRPI (other than a domestically controlled U.S. REIT or RIC that is classified as a qualified investment entity) if all of the following requirements are met:

 

   

The RIC is classified as a qualified investment entity. A RIC is classified as a “qualified investment entity” with respect to a distribution to a non-U.S. person which is attributable directly or indirectly to a distribution from a U.S. REIT if, in general, 50% or more of the RIC’s assets consists of interests in U.S. REITs and U.S. real property holding corporations, and

 

   

You are a non-U.S. shareholder that owns more than 5% of a class of Portfolio shares at any time during the one-year period ending on the date of the distribution.

 

   

If these conditions are met, such Portfolio distributions to you are treated as gain from the disposition of a USRPI, causing the distributions to be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a rate of 35% (unless reduced by future regulations), and requiring that you file a nonresident U.S. income tax return.

 

   

In addition, even if you do not own more than 5% of a class of Portfolio shares, but the Portfolio is a qualified investment entity, such Portfolio distributions to you will be taxable as ordinary dividends rather than as a capital gain dividend (a distribution of long-term capital gains) or a short-term capital gain dividend subject to withholding at the 30% or lower treaty withholding rate.

These rules apply to dividends paid by the Portfolio before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended or made permanent), except that after this date, the Portfolio’s distributions from a U.S. REIT (whether or not domestically controlled) attributable to FIRPTA gain will continue to be subject to the withholding rules described above provided the Portfolio would otherwise be classified as a qualified investment entity.

Because the Portfolio expects to invest less than 50% of its assets at all times, directly or indirectly, in U.S. real property interests, the Portfolio expects that neither gain on the sale or redemption of Portfolio shares nor Portfolio dividends and distributions would be subject to FIRPTA reporting and tax withholding.

 

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U.S. estate tax. Transfers by gift of shares of the Portfolio by a foreign shareholder who is a nonresident alien individual will not be subject to U.S. federal gift tax. For decedents dying during 2010, the U.S. federal estate tax was reinstated retroactively, except where the executor of the estate of a decedent makes an election to opt out of the estate tax and instead be subject to modified carryover basis rules. For decedents dying after 2010, an individual who, at the time of death, is a non-U.S. shareholder will nevertheless be subject to U.S. federal estate tax with respect to Portfolio shares at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. citizens and residents, unless a treaty exemption applies. If a treaty exemption is available, a decedent’s estate may nonetheless need to file a U.S. estate tax return to claim the exemption in order to obtain a U.S. federal transfer certificate. The transfer certificate will identify the property (i.e., Portfolio shares) as to which the U.S. federal estate tax lien has been released. In the absence of a treaty, there is a $13,000 statutory estate tax credit (equivalent to U.S. situs assets with a value of $60,000). For estates with U.S. situs assets of not more than $60,000, the Portfolio may accept, in lieu of a transfer certificate, an affidavit from an appropriate individual evidencing that decedent’s U.S. situs assets are below this threshold amount. In addition, a partial exemption from U.S estate tax may apply to Portfolio shares held by the estate of a nonresident decedent. The amount treated as exempt is based upon the proportion of the assets held by the Portfolio at the end of the quarter immediately preceding the decedent's death that are debt obligations, deposits, or other property that generally would be treated as situated outside the United States if held directly by the estate. This provision applies to decedents dying after December 31, 2004 and before January 1, 2012, unless such provision is extended or made permanent.

U.S. tax certification rules. Special U.S. tax certification requirements apply to non-U.S. shareholders both to avoid U.S. back up withholding imposed at a rate of 28% and to obtain the benefits of any treaty between the United States and the shareholder’s country of residence. In general, a non-U.S. shareholder must provide a Form W-8 BEN (or other applicable Form W-8) to establish that you are not a U.S. person, to claim that you are the beneficial owner of the income and, if applicable, to claim a reduced rate of, or exemption from, withholding as a resident of a country with which the United States has an income tax treaty. A Form W-8BEN provided without a U.S. taxpayer identification number will remain in effect for a period beginning on the date signed and ending on the last day of the third succeeding calendar year unless an earlier change of circumstances makes the information on the form incorrect.

The tax consequences to a non-U.S. shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of an applicable tax treaty may be different from those described herein. Non-U.S. shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in the Portfolio, including the applicability of foreign tax.

Effect of Future Legislation; Local Tax Considerations

The foregoing general discussion of U.S. federal income tax consequences is based on the Code and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and any such changes or decisions may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein. Rules of state and local taxation of ordinary income, qualified dividend income and capital gain dividends may differ from the rules for U.S. federal income taxation described above. Distributions may also be subject to additional state, local and foreign taxes depending on each shareholder’s particular situation. Non-U.S. shareholders may be subject to U.S. tax rules that differ significantly from those summarized above. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors as to the consequences of these and other state and local tax rules affecting investment in the Portfolio.

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

The Boards of Directors of the Funds have delegated the authority to vote proxies for the portfolio securities held by the non-Feeder Portfolios and Master Funds to the Advisor in accordance with the Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (the “Voting Policies”) and Proxy Voting Guidelines (“Voting Guidelines”) adopted by the Advisor. The Voting Guidelines are largely based on those developed by Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third party, except with respect to certain matters for which the Advisor has modified the standard voting guidelines. A concise summary of the Voting Guidelines is provided in an Appendix to this SAI.

 

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The Investment Committee at the Advisor is generally responsible for overseeing the Advisor’s proxy voting process. The Investment Committee has formed a Corporate Governance Committee composed of certain officers, directors and other personnel of the Advisor and has delegated to its members authority to (i) oversee the voting of proxies, (ii) make determinations as to how to vote certain specific proxies, (iii) verify the on-going compliance with the Voting Policies, and (iv) review the Voting Policies from time to time and recommend changes to the Investment Committee. The Corporate Governance Committee may designate one or more of its members to oversee specific, ongoing compliance with respect to the Voting Policies and may designate other personnel of the Advisor to vote proxies on behalf of the Portfolios and Master Funds, including all authorized traders of the Advisor.

The Advisor seeks to vote (or refrains from voting) proxies in a manner consistent with the best interests of the non-Feeder Portfolios and Master Funds as understood by the Advisor at the time of the vote. Generally, the Advisor analyzes proxy statements on behalf of the non-Feeder Portfolios and Master Funds and instructs the vote (or refrains from voting), in accordance with the Voting Policies and the Voting Guidelines. Since most proxies the Advisor receives are instructed to be voted in accordance with the Voting Guidelines, it normally will not be necessary for the Advisor to make an actual determination of how to vote a particular proxy, thereby largely eliminating conflicts of interest for the Advisor during the proxy voting process. However, the Voting Policies do address the procedures to be followed if a conflict of interest arises between the interests of the non-Feeder Portfolios or Master Funds, and the interests of the Advisor or its affiliates. If a Corporate Governance Committee (“Committee”) member has actual knowledge of a conflict of interest and recommends a vote contrary to the Voting Guidelines (or in the case where the Voting Guidelines do not prescribe a particular vote and the proposed vote is contrary to the recommendation of ISS), the Committee member will bring the vote to the Committee which will (a) determine how the vote should be cast keeping in mind the principle of preserving shareholder value, or (b) determine to abstain from voting, unless abstaining would be materially adverse to the interest of the non-Feeder Portfolios or Master Funds. To the extent the Committee makes a determination regarding how to vote or to abstain for a proxy on behalf of a non-Feeder Portfolio or Master Fund in the circumstances described in this paragraph, the Advisor will report annually on such determinations to the Board of Directors of the Fund or the Board of Trustees of the Trust, as applicable.

The Advisor will usually instruct voting of proxies in accordance with the Voting Guidelines. The Voting Guidelines provide a framework for analysis and decision making, however, the Voting Guidelines do not address all potential issues. In order to be able to address all the relevant facts and circumstances related to a proxy vote, the Advisor reserves the right to instruct votes counter to the Voting Guidelines if, after a review of the matter, the Advisor believes that the best interests of the Portfolio or Master Fund would be served by such a vote. In such a circumstance, the analysis will be documented in writing and periodically presented to the Corporate Governance Committee. To the extent that the Voting Guidelines do not cover potential voting issues, the Advisor will vote on such issues in a manner that is consistent with the spirit of the Voting Guidelines and that the Advisor believes would be in the best interests of the Portfolio or Master Fund.

The Advisor seeks to vote (or refrains from voting) proxies in a manner that the Advisor determines is in the best interests of a Portfolio or Master Fund and which seeks to maximize the value of that Portfolio’s or Master Fund’s investments. In some cases, the Advisor may determine that it is in the best interests of a Portfolio or Master Fund to refrain from exercising proxy voting rights. The Advisor may determine that voting is not in the best interest of a Portfolio or Master Fund and refrain from voting if the costs, including the opportunity costs, of voting would, in the view of the Advisor, exceed the expected benefits of voting. For securities on loan, the Advisor will balance the revenue-producing value of loans against the difficult-to-assess value of casting votes. It is the Advisor’s belief that the expected value of casting a vote generally will be less than the securities lending income, either because the votes will not have significant economic consequences or because the outcome of the vote would not be affected by the Advisor recalling loaned securities in order to ensure they are voted. The Advisor does intend to recall securities on loan if it determines that voting the securities is likely to materially affect the value of the Portfolio’s or Master Fund’s investment and that it is in the Portfolio’s or Master Fund’s best interests to do so. In cases where the Advisor does not receive a solicitation or enough information within a sufficient time (as reasonably determined by the Advisor) prior to the proxy-voting deadline, the Advisor or its service provider may be unable to vote.

 

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With respect to non-U.S. securities, it is typically both difficult and costly to vote proxies due to local regulations, customs, and other requirements or restrictions. The Advisor does not intend to vote proxies of non-U.S. companies if the Advisor determines that the expected economic costs from voting outweigh the anticipated economic benefit to a Portfolio or Master Fund associated with voting. The Advisor intends to make its determination on whether to vote proxies of non-U.S. companies on a portfolio-by-portfolio basis, and generally seeks to implement uniform voting procedures for all proxies of companies in a country. The Advisor periodically reviews voting logistics, including costs and other voting difficulties, on a portfolio by portfolio and country by country basis, in order to determine if there have been any material changes that would affect the Advisor’s decision of whether or not to vote. In the event the Advisor is made aware of and believes an issue to be voted is likely to materially affect the economic value of a Portfolio or Master Fund, that its vote is reasonably likely to influence the ultimate outcome of the contest, and the expected benefits of voting the proxies exceed the costs, the Advisor will make every reasonable effort to vote such proxies.

The Advisor and the Funds have retained ISS to provide certain services with respect to proxy voting. ISS will provide information on shareholder meeting dates and proxy materials; translate proxy materials printed in a foreign language; provide research on proxy proposals and voting recommendations in accordance with the Voting Guidelines; effect votes on behalf of the Portfolios and Master Funds; and provide reports concerning the proxies voted (the “Proxy Voting Services”). In addition, the Advisor may retain the services of supplemental third-party proxy service providers to provide, among other things, research on proxy proposals and voting recommendations for certain shareholder meetings, as identified in the Voting Guidelines. Although the Advisor retains third-party service providers for proxy issues, the Advisor remains responsible for proxy voting decisions. In this regard, the Advisor uses commercially reasonable efforts to oversee the directed delegation to third-party proxy voting service providers, upon which the Advisor relies to carry out the Proxy Voting Services. In the event that the Voting Guidelines are not implemented precisely as the Advisor intends because of the actions or omissions of any third party service providers, custodians or sub-custodians or other agents or any such persons experience any irregularities (e.g. misvotes or missed votes), then such instances will not necessarily be deemed by the Advisor as a breach of the Voting Policies.

Information regarding how each of the Portfolios and Master Funds voted proxies related to its portfolio securities during the 12 month period ended June 30 of each year is available, no later than August 31 of each year, without charge, (i) upon request, by calling collect: (512) 306-7400 or (ii) on the Advisor’s website at http://www.dimensional.com and (iii)  on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

The Advisor and the Boards of Directors of the Funds and Board of Directors of the Trust (collectively, the “Board”) have adopted a policy (the “Policy”) to govern disclosure of the portfolio holdings of the Portfolios and Master Funds (“Holdings Information”), and to prevent the misuse of material non-public Holdings Information. The Advisor has determined that the Policy and its procedures (1) are reasonably designed to ensure that disclosure of Holdings Information is in the best interests of the shareholders of the Portfolios and Master Funds, and (2) appropriately address the potential for material conflicts of interest.

Disclosure of Holdings Information as Required by Applicable Law. Holdings Information (whether a partial listing of portfolio holdings or a complete listing of portfolio holdings) shall be disclosed to any person as required by applicable law, rules and regulations.

Online Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings Information. Each Portfolio and Master Fund generally discloses up to its twenty-five largest portfolio holdings (or with respect to a Feeder Portfolio, up to the twenty-five largest portfolio holdings of its Master Fund) (“largest holdings”) and the percentages that each of these largest portfolio holdings represent of the Portfolio’s or Master Fund’s total assets, as of the most recent month-end, online at the Advisor’s public website, http://www.dimensional.com, within twenty days after the end of each month. This online disclosure may also include information regarding the Portfolio’s or Master Fund’s industry allocations. Each Portfolio and Master Fund generally discloses its complete Holdings Information (or with respect to a Feeder Portfolio, the Holdings Information of its Master Fund) (other than cash and cash equivalents), as of month-end,

 

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online at the Advisor’s public website, http://www.dimensional.com, two months following the month-end, or more frequently and at different periods when authorized by a Designated Person (as defined below).

Disclosure of Holdings Information to Recipients. Each of the Advisor’s Chairmen, Director of Institutional Services, Head of Portfolio Management and Trading and General Counsel (together, the “Designated Persons”) may authorize disclosing non-public Holdings Information more frequently or at different periods than as described above solely to those financial advisors, registered accountholders, authorized consultants, authorized custodians, or third-party data service providers (each a “Recipient”) who: (i) specifically request the more current non-public Holdings Information and (ii) execute a Use and Nondisclosure Agreement (each a “Nondisclosure Agreement”). Each Nondisclosure Agreement subjects the Recipient to a duty of confidentiality with respect to the non-public Holdings Information, and prohibits the Recipient from trading based on the non-public Holdings Information. Any non-public Holdings Information that is disclosed shall not include any material information about a Portfolio’s or Master Fund’s trading strategies or pending portfolio transactions. The non-public Holdings Information provided to a Recipient under a Nondisclosure Agreement is not subject to a time delay before dissemination. Designated Persons may also approve the distribution Holdings Information for a Portfolio more frequently or at a period other than as described above.

As of January 31, 2011, the Advisor and the Portfolios and Master Funds had ongoing arrangements with the following Recipients to make available non-public Holdings Information:

 

  Recipient   

Master Funds/Portfolios

 

   Business Purpose    Frequency

  BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

   All Portfolios and Master Funds    Fund Administrator, Accounting Agent and Transfer Agent   

Daily

  Bank of New York

   All Portfolios and Master Funds    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy   

Upon request

  CTC Consulting, Inc.

   All Portfolios and Master Funds    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy   

Quarterly

  Callan Associates

   U.S. Large Cap Value Series    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy   

Monthly

  Cambridge Associates Limited

   International Value Series    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy   

Monthly

  Citibank, N.A.

   International Value Series    Fund Custodian   

Daily

  Citibank, N.A.

   All Portfolios and Master Funds    Middle office operational support service provider to the Advisor   

Daily

  Cuprum AFP

   U.S. Large Cap Value Series and International Value Series    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy   

Quarterly

  Edelman Financial

   U.S. Large Cap Value Series and International Value Series    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy   

Quarterly

  Fund Evaluation Group LLC

   All Portfolios    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy   

Upon Request

  Integrys Energy Group Inc.

   U.S. Large Cap Value Series    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy   

Monthly

  Lynx Investment Advisory

   U.S. Large Cap Value Series and International Value Series    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy   

Quarterly

  Marquette Associates, Inc.

   U.S. Large Cap Value Series and International Value Series    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy   

Upon request

  Mercer Investment Consulting, Inc.

   International Value Series    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy   

Quarterly

 

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  Recipient   

Master Funds/Portfolios

 

   Business Purpose    Frequency

  Minnesota Mutual Life Insurance

   U.S. Large Cap Value Series and International Value Series    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy   

Quarterly

  PFPC Trust Company

  (to be renamed BNY Mellon Investment

  Servicing Trust Company effective July 1, 2011)

   Feeder Portfolios and U.S. Large Cap Value Series    Fund Custodian   

Daily

  PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

   All Portfolios and Master Funds    Independent registered public accounting firm   

Uponrequest

  Pricing Service Vendor

   International Value Series    Fair value information services   

Daily

  Sparinvest

   U.S. Large Cap Value Series    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy   

Upon request

  State Street Bank and Trust

   U.S. Large Cap Value Series and International Value Series    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy   

Monthly

  Steward Capital Management

   U.S. Large Cap Value Series and International Value Series    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy   

Quarterly

  Strategic Investment Solutions

   U.S. Large Cap Value Series    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy   

Monthly

  Stratford Advisory Group

   International Value Series    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy   

Quarterly

  Tamarac (Savant)

   U.S. Large Cap Value Series    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy   

Monthly

  University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

   International Value Series    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy   

Quarterly

  U.S. Institutional Investment Consultants

   International Value Series    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy   

Quarterly

  Watershed Investment Consultants

   International Value Series    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy   

Quarterly

  Wilshire Associates

   International Value Series    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy   

Quarterly

  Wurts & Associates

   All Portfolios and Master Funds    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy   

Monthly

In addition, certain employees of the Advisor and its subsidiaries receive Holdings Information on a quarterly, monthly or daily basis, or upon request, in order to perform their business functions. The Portfolios, the Master Funds, the Advisor or other parties do not receive any compensation in connection with these arrangements.

The Policy includes the following procedures to ensure that disclosure of Holdings Information is in the best interests of shareholders, and to address any conflicts between the interests of shareholders, on the one hand, and the interests of the Advisor, DFAS or any affiliated person of the Funds, the Advisor or DFAS, on the other. In order to protect the interests of shareholders, the Portfolios and the Master Funds, and to ensure no adverse effect on shareholders, in the limited circumstances where a Designated Person is considering making non-public Holdings Information available to a Recipient, the Advisor’s Director of Institutional Services and the Chief Compliance Officer will consider any conflicts of interest. If the Chief Compliance Officer, following appropriate due diligence, determines in his or her reasonable business judgment that (1) the Portfolio or Master Fund, as applicable, has a legitimate business purpose for providing the non-public Holdings Information to a Recipient, and (2) disclosure of non-public Holdings Information to the Recipient would be in the interests of the shareholders and outweighs

 

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possible reasonably anticipated adverse effects, then the Chief Compliance Officer may approve the proposed disclosure.

The Chief Compliance Officer documents all disclosures of non-public Holdings Information (including the legitimate business purpose for the disclosure), and periodically reports to the Board on such arrangements. The Chief Compliance Officer is also responsible for ongoing monitoring of the distribution and use of non-public Holdings Information. Such arrangements are reviewed by the Chief Compliance Officer on an annual basis. Specifically, the Chief Compliance Officer requests an annual certification from each Recipient that the Recipient has complied with all terms contained in the Nondisclosure Agreement. Recipients who fail to provide the requested certifications are prohibited from receiving non-public Holdings Information.

The Board exercises continuing oversight of the disclosure of Holdings Information by: (1) overseeing the implementation and enforcement of the Policy by the Chief Compliance Officer of the Advisor and of the Funds and Trust; (2) considering reports and recommendations by the Chief Compliance Officer concerning the implementation of the Policy and any material compliance matters that may arise in connection with the Policy; and (3) considering whether to approve or ratify any amendments to the Policy. The Advisor and the Board reserve the right to amend the Policy at any time, and from time to time without prior notice, in their sole discretion.

Prohibitions on Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings and Receipt of Compensation. No person is authorized to disclose Holdings Information or other investment positions (whether online at http://www.dimensional.com, in writing, by fax, by e-mail, orally or by other means) except in accordance with the Policy. In addition, no person is authorized to make disclosure pursuant to the Policy if such disclosure is otherwise in violation of the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws.

The Policy prohibits a Portfolio, a Master Fund, the Advisor or an affiliate thereof from receiving any compensation or other consideration of any type for the purpose of obtaining disclosure of non-public Holdings Information or other investment positions. “Consideration” includes any agreement to maintain assets in the Portfolio or Master Fund or in other investment companies or accounts managed by the Advisor or by any affiliated person of the Advisor.

The Policy and its procedures are intended to provide useful information concerning the Portfolios and Master Funds to existing and prospective shareholders, while at the same time preventing the improper use of Holdings Information. However, there can be no assurance that the furnishing of any Holdings Information is not susceptible to inappropriate uses, particularly in the hands of sophisticated investors, or that the Holdings Information will not in fact be misused in other ways, beyond the control of the Advisor.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Two Commerce Square, Suite 1700, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042, is the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm. PwC audit the Funds’ annual financial statements. The audited financial statements and financial highlights of the Feeder Portfolios for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, as set forth in the Funds’ annual reports to shareholders, including the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, are incorporated by reference into this SAI.

The audited financial statements of the U.S. Large Cap Value Series and the International Value Series for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, as set forth in the Trust’s annual report to shareholders, including the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, are incorporated by reference into this SAI.

A shareholder may obtain a copy of the annual reports upon request and without charge, by contacting the Funds at the address or telephone number appearing on the cover of this SAI.

 

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PERFORMANCE DATA

The Portfolios may compare their investment performance to appropriate market and mutual fund indices and investments for which reliable performance data is available. Such indices are generally unmanaged and are prepared by entities and organizations which track the performance of investment companies or investment advisors. Unmanaged indices often do not reflect deductions for administrative and management costs and expenses. The performance of the Portfolios may also be compared in publications to averages, performance rankings or other information prepared by recognized mutual fund statistical services. Any performance information, whether related to the Portfolios or to the Advisor, should be considered in light of a Portfolio’s investment objectives and policies, characteristics and the quality of the portfolio and market conditions during the time period indicated and should not be considered to be representative of what may be achieved in the future.

 

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APPENDIX

Concise Summary of 2011 U.S. Proxy Voting Guidelines

Effective for Meetings on or after January 3, 2011

In order to provide greater analysis on certain shareholder meetings, the Advisor has elected to receive research reports for certain meetings, as indicated below, from Glass Lewis in addition to Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”).

Specifically, if available, the Advisor may obtain research from Glass Lewis in addition to ISS for shareholder meetings in the following circumstances: (1) where the Advisor’s clients have a significant aggregate holding in the issuer and the meeting agenda contains proxies concerning: Anti-takeover Defenses or Voting Related Issues, Mergers and Acquisitions or Reorganizations or Restructurings, Capital Structure Issues, Compensation Issues or a proxy contest; or (2) where the Advisor in its discretion, has deemed that additional research is warranted.

Where research is obtained from Glass Lewis in accordance with these Guidelines, the Advisor will first review the research reports obtained from ISS and Glass Lewis.1 If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are the same, the Advisor will vote accordingly. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are inconsistent, the Advisor will vote in accordance with the ISS recommendation unless the Corporate Governance Committee determines that voting in accordance with the Glass Lewis recommendation is more consistent with the principle of preserving shareholder value.

Routine/Miscellaneous

Auditor Ratification

Vote FOR proposals to ratify auditors, unless any of the following apply:

 

   

An auditor has a financial interest in or association with the company, and is therefore not independent;

 

   

There is reason to believe that the independent auditor has rendered an opinion which is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position;

 

   

Poor accounting practices are identified that rise to a serious level of concern, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP; and material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures; or

 

   

Fees for non-audit services (“Other” fees) are excessive.

Non-audit fees are excessive if:

 

   

Non-audit (“other”) fees >audit fees + audit-related fees + tax compliance/preparation fees

Board of Directors

Voting on Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections

Votes on director nominees should be determined CASE-BY-CASE.

Four fundamental principles apply when determining votes on director nominees:

 

  1.

  Board Accountability

  2.

  Board Responsiveness

  3.

  Director Independence

 

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        4.

    Director Competence

 

1.

Board Accountability

VOTE WITHHOLD/AGAINST1 the entire board of directors (except new nominees2 , who should be considered CASE-BY-CASE), for the following:

Problematic Takeover Defenses:

 

 

1.1.  The board is classified, and a continuing director responsible for a problematic governance issue at the board/committee level that would warrant a withhold/against vote recommendation is not up for election — any or all appropriate nominees (except new) may be held accountable;

 

1.2.  The board lacks accountability and oversight, coupled with sustained poor performance relative to peers. Sustained poor performance is measured by one- and three-year total shareholder returns in the bottom half of a company’s four-digit GICS industry group (Russell 3000 companies only). Take into consideration the company’s five-year total shareholder return and five-year operational metrics. Problematic provisions include but are not limited to:

   

A classified board structure;

 

   

A supermajority vote requirement;

 

   

Majority vote standard for director elections with no carve out for contested elections;

 

   

The inability for shareholders to call special meetings;

 

   

The inability for shareholders to act by written consent;

 

   

A dual-class structure; and/or

 

   

A non-shareholder approved poison pill.

 

 

1.3.  The company’s poison pill has a “dead-hand” or “modified dead-hand” feature. Vote withhold/against every year until this feature is removed;

1.4.  The board adopts a poison pill with a term of more than 12 months (“long-term pill”), or renews any existing pill, including any “short-term” pill (12 months or less), without shareholder approval. A commitment or policy that puts a newly-adopted pill to a binding shareholder vote may potentially offset an adverse vote recommendation. Review such companies with classified boards every year, and such companies with annually-elected

 

boards at least once every three years, and vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD votes from all nominees if the company still maintains a non-shareholder-approved poison pill. This policy applies to all companies adopting or renewing pills after the announcement of this policy (Nov 19, 2009);

1.5.  The board makes a material adverse change to an existing poison pill without shareholder approval.

 

 

1

In general, companies with a plurality vote standard use “Withhold” as the valid contrary vote option in director elections; companies with a majority vote standard use “Against”. However, it will vary by company and the proxy must be checked to determine the valid contrary vote option for the particular company.

 

2

A “new nominee” is any current nominee who has not already been elected by shareholders and who joined the board after the problematic action in question transpired. If ISS cannot determine whether the nominee joined the board before or after the problematic action transpired, the nominee will be considered a “new nominee” if he or she joined the board within the 12 months prior to the upcoming shareholder meeting.

 

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Vote CASE-BY-CASE on all nominees if:

 

1.6.  the board adopts a poison pill with a term of 12 months or less (“short-term pill”) without shareholder approval, taking into account the following factors:

   

The date of the pill‘s adoption relative to the date of the next meeting of shareholders- i.e. whether the company had time to put the pill on ballot for shareholder ratification given the circumstances;

   

The issuer’s rationale;

   

The issuer’s governance structure and practices; and

   

The issuer’s track record of accountability to shareholders.

Problematic Audit-Related Practices

Generally, vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from the members of the Audit Committee if:

 

 

1.7.  The non-audit fees paid to the auditor are excessive (see discussion under “Auditor Ratification”);

1.8.  The company receives an adverse opinion on the company’s financial statements from its auditor; or

1.9.  There is persuasive evidence that the audit committee entered into an inappropriate indemnification agreement with its auditor that limits the ability of the company, or its shareholders, to pursue legitimate legal recourse against the audit firm.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on members of the Audit Committee and/or the full board if:

 

1.10.Poor accounting practices are identified that rise to a level of serious concern, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP; and material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures. Examine the severity, breadth, chronological sequence and duration, as well as the company’s efforts at remediation or corrective actions, in determining whether WITHHOLD/AGAINST votes are warranted.

Problematic Compensation Practices

Vote WITHHOLD/AGAINST the members of the Compensation Committee and potentially the full board if:

 

 

1.11.There is a negative correlation between chief executive pay and company performance (see Pay for Performance Policy);

1.12.The company reprices underwater options for stock, cash, or other consideration without prior shareholder approval, even if allowed in the company's equity plan;

1.13.The company fails to submit one-time transfers of stock options to a shareholder vote;

1.14.The company fails to fulfill the terms of a burn rate commitment made to shareholders;

1.15.The company has problematic pay practices. Problematic pay practices may

 

warrant withholding votes from the CEO and potentially the entire board as well.

Governance Failures

Under extraordinary circumstances, vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from directors individually, committee members, or the entire board, due to:

 

 

1.16.Material failures of governance, stewardship, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company;

1.17.Failure to replace management as appropriate; or

1.18.Egregious actions related to the director(s)’ service on other boards that raise substantial doubt about his or her ability to effectively oversee management and serve the best interests of shareholders at any company.

 

2.

Board Responsiveness

 

 

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Vote WITHHOLD/AGAINST the entire board of directors (except new nominees, who should be considered CASE-BY-CASE), if:

 

 

2.1.  The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received approval by a majority of the shares outstanding the previous year; or

 

2.2.  The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received approval of the majority of shares cast in the last year and one of the two previous years.

 

2.3.  The board failed to act on takeover offers where the majority of the shareholders tendered their shares; or

 

2.4.  At the previous board election, any director received more than 50 percent withhold/against votes of the shares cast and the company has failed to address the issue(s) that caused the high withhold/against vote.

 

3.

Director Independence

Vote WITHHOLD/AGAINST Inside Directors and Affiliated Outside Directors (per the Categorization of Directors) when:

 

 

3.1.  The inside or affiliated outside director serves on any of the three key committees: audit, compensation, or nominating;

 

3.2.  The company lacks an audit, compensation, or nominating committee so that the full board functions as that committee;

 

3.3.  The company lacks a formal nominating committee, even if the board attests that the independent directors fulfill the functions of such a committee; or

 

3.4.  The full board is less than majority independent.

 

4.

Director Competence

VOTE WITHHOLD/AGAINST the entire board of directors (except new nominees, who should be considered CASE-BY-CASE), if:

 

 

4.1.  The company’s proxy indicates that not all directors attended 75 percent of the aggregate board and committee meetings, but fails to provide the required disclosure of the names of the director(s) involved.

 

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Generally vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from individual directors who:

 

 

4.2.  Attend less than 75 percent of the board and committee meetings (with the exception of new nominees). Acceptable reasons for director(s) absences are generally limited to the following:

   

Medical issues/illness;

   

Family emergencies; and

   

If the director’s total service was three meetings or fewer and the director missed only one meeting.

These reasons for directors’ absences will only be considered by ISS if disclosed in the proxy or another SEC filing. If the disclosure is insufficient to determine whether a director attended at least 75 percent of board and committee meetings in aggregate, vote AGAINST/WITHHOLD from the director.

Vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from individual directors who:

 

 

4.3.  Sit on more than six public company boards3; or

 

4.4.  Are CEOs of public companies who sit on the boards of more than two public companies besides their own— withhold only at their outside boards.

Voting for Director Nominees in Contested Elections*

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on the election of directors in contested elections, considering the following factors:

 

   

Long-term financial performance of the target company relative to its industry;

   

Management’s track record;

   

Background to the proxy contest;

   

Qualifications of director nominees (both slates);

   

Strategic plan of dissident slate and quality of critique against management;

   

Likelihood that the proposed goals and objectives can be achieved (both slates);

   

Stock ownership positions.

Independent Chair (Separate Chair/CEO)

Generally vote FOR shareholder proposals requiring that the chairman’s position be filled by an independent director, unless the company satisfies all of the following criteria:

The company maintains the following counterbalancing governance structure:

 

   

Designated lead director, elected by and from the independent board members with clearly delineated and comprehensive duties. (The role may alternatively reside with a presiding director, vice chairman, or rotating lead director; however the director must serve a minimum of one year in order to qualify as a lead director.) The duties should include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

 

 

3

Dimensional will screen votes otherwise subject to this policy based on the qualifications and circumstances of the directors involved.

 

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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  -

presides at all meetings of the board at which the chairman is not present, including executive sessions of the independent directors;

 

  -

serves as liaison between the chairman and the independent directors;

 

  -

approves information sent to the board;

 

  -

approves meeting agendas for the board;

 

  -

approves meeting schedules to assure that there is sufficient time for discussion of all agenda items;

 

  -

has the authority to call meetings of the independent directors;

 

  -

if requested by major shareholders, ensures that he is available for consultation and direct communication;

 

   

Two-thirds independent board;

   

All independent key committees;

   

Established governance guidelines;

   

A company in the Russell 3000 universe must not have exhibited sustained poor total shareholder return (TSR) performance, defined as one- and three-year TSR in the bottom half of the company’s four-digit GICS industry group (using Russell 3000 companies only), unless there has been a change in the Chairman/CEO position within that time. For companies not in the Russell 3000 universe, the company must not have underperformed both its peers and index on the basis of both one-year and three-year total shareholder returns, unless there has been a change in the Chairman/CEO position within that time;

   

The company does not have any problematic governance or management issues, examples of which include, but are not limited to:

 

  -

Egregious compensation practices;

 

  -

Multiple related-party transactions or other issues putting director independence at risk;

 

  -

Corporate and/or management scandals;

 

  -

Excessive problematic corporate governance provisions; or

 

  -

Flagrant actions by management or the board with potential or realized negative impacts on shareholders.

Shareholder Rights & Defenses*

Net Operating Loss (NOL) Protective Amendments

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt a protective amendment for the stated purpose of protecting a company's net operating losses (“NOLs”) if the effective term of the protective amendment would exceed the shorter of three years and the exhaustion of the NOL.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE, considering the following factors, for management proposals to adopt an NOL protective amendment that would remain in effect for the shorter of three years (or less) and the exhaustion of the NOL:

 

   

The ownership threshold (NOL protective amendments generally prohibit stock ownership transfers that would result in a new 5-percent holder or increase the stock ownership percentage of an existing 5-percent holder);

 

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The value of the NOLs;

 

   

Shareholder protection mechanisms (sunset provision or commitment to cause expiration of the protective amendment upon exhaustion or expiration of the NOL);

 

   

The company’s existing governance structure including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, track record of responsiveness to shareholders, and any other problematic governance concerns; and

 

   

Any other factors that may be applicable.

Poison Pills- Management Proposals to Ratify Poison Pill

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on management proposals on poison pill ratification, focusing on the features of the shareholder rights plan. Rights plans should contain the following attributes:

 

   

No lower than a 20% trigger, flip-in or flip-over;

 

   

A term of no more than three years;

 

   

No dead-hand, slow-hand, no-hand or similar feature that limits the ability of a future board to redeem the pill;

 

   

Shareholder redemption feature (qualifying offer clause); if the board refuses to redeem the pill 90 days after a qualifying offer is announced, 10 percent of the shares may call a special meeting or seek a written consent to vote on rescinding the pill.

In addition, the rationale for adopting the pill should be thoroughly explained by the company. In examining the request for the pill, take into consideration the company’s existing governance structure, including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, and any problematic governance concerns.

Poison Pills- Management Proposals toRatify a Pill to Preserve Net Operating Losses (NOLs)

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt a poison pill for the stated purpose of protecting a company's net operating losses (“NOLs”) if the term of the pill would exceed the shorter of three years and the exhaustion of the NOL.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on management proposals for poison pill ratification, considering the following factors, if the term of the pill would be the shorter of three years (or less) and the exhaustion of the NOL:

 

   

The ownership threshold to transfer (NOL pills generally have a trigger slightly below 5 percent);

   

The value of the NOLs;

 

   

Shareholder protection mechanisms (sunset provision, or commitment to cause expiration of the pill upon exhaustion or expiration of NOLs);

 

   

The company’s existing governance structure including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, track record of responsiveness to shareholders, and any other problematic governance concerns; and

 

   

Any other factors that may be applicable.

Shareholder Ability to Act by Written Consent

Generally vote AGAINST management and shareholder proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholders' ability to act by written consent.

Generally vote FOR management and shareholder proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to act by written consent, taking into account the following factors:

 

   

Shareholders’ current right to act by written consent;

 

   

The consent threshold;

 

   

The inclusion of exclusionary or prohibitive language;

 

   

Investor ownership structure; and

 

   

Shareholder support of, and management's response to, previous shareholder proposals.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals if, in addition to the considerations above, the company has the following governance and antitakeover provisions:

 

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An unfettered4 right for shareholders to call special meetings at a 10 percent threshold;

 

   

A majority vote standard in uncontested director elections;

 

   

No non-shareholder-approved pill; and

 

   

An annually elected board.

Shareholder Ability to Call Special Meetings

Vote AGAINST management or shareholder proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholders’ ability to call special meetings.

Generally vote FOR management or shareholder proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to call special meetings taking into account the following factors:

 

   

Shareholders’ current right to call special meetings;

 

   

Minimum ownership threshold necessary to call special meetings (10% preferred);

 

   

The inclusion of exclusionary or prohibitive language;

 

   

Investor ownership structure; and

 

   

Shareholder support of, and management’s response to, previous shareholder proposals.

CAPITAL/RESTRUCTURING*

Common Stock Authorization

Vote FOR proposals to increase the number of authorized common shares where the primary purpose of the increase is to issue shares in connection with a transaction on the same ballot that warrants support.

Vote AGAINST proposals at companies with more than one class of common stock to increase the number of authorized shares of the class of common stock that has superior voting rights.

Vote AGAINST proposals to increase the number of authorized common shares if a vote for a reverse stock split on the same ballot is warranted despite the fact that the authorized shares would not be reduced proportionally.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on all other proposals to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance. Take into account company-specific factors that include, at a minimum, the following:

 

   

Past Board Performance:

 

  o

The company’s use of authorized shares during the last three years

 

   

The Current Request:

 

  o

Disclosure in the proxy statement of the specific purposes of the proposed increase;

 

  o

Disclosure in the proxy statement of specific and severe risks to shareholders of not approving the request; and

 

  o

The dilutive impact of the request as determined by an allowable increase calculated by ISS (typically 100 percent of existing authorized shares) that reflects the company’s need for shares and total shareholder returns.

 

 

 

4

Unfettered” means no restrictions on agenda items, no restrictions on the number of shareholders who can group together to reach the 10 percent threshold, and only reasonable limits on when a meeting can be called: no greater than 30 days after the last annual meeting and no greater than 90 prior to the next annual meeting.

 

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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Preferred Stock Authorization

Vote FOR proposals to increase the number of authorized preferred shares where the primary purpose of the increase is to issue shares in connection with a transaction on the same ballot that warrants support.

Vote AGAINST proposals at companies with more than one class or series of preferred stock to increase the number of authorized shares of the class or series of preferred stock that has superior voting rights.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on all other proposals to increase the number of shares of preferred stock authorized for issuance. Take into account company-specific factors that include, at a minimum, the following:

 

   

Past Board Performance:

 

  o

The company’s use of authorized preferred shares during the last three years;

 

   

The Current Request:

 

  o

Disclosure in the proxy statement of the specific purposes for the proposed increase;

 

  o

Disclosure in the proxy statement of specific and severe risks to shareholders of not approving the request;

 

  o

In cases where the company has existing authorized preferred stock, the dilutive impact of the request as determined by an allowable increase calculated by ISS (typically 100 percent of existing authorized shares) that reflects the company's need for shares and total shareholder returns; and

 

  o

Whether the shares requested are blank check preferred shares that can be used for antitakeover purposes.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Vote CASE –BY- CASE on mergers and acquisitions. Review and evaluate the merits and drawbacks of the proposed transaction, balancing various and sometimes countervailing factors including:

 

   

Valuation - Is the value to be received by the target shareholders (or paid by the acquirer) reasonable? While the fairness opinion may provide an initial starting point for assessing valuation reasonableness, emphasis is placed on the offer premium, market reaction and strategic rationale.

   

Market reaction - How has the market responded to the proposed deal? A negative market reaction should cause closer scrutiny of a deal.

   

Strategic rationale - Does the deal make sense strategically? From where is the value derived? Cost and revenue synergies should not be overly aggressive or optimistic, but reasonably achievable. Management should also have a favorable track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions.

   

Negotiations and process - Were the terms of the transaction negotiated at arm’s-length? Was the process fair and equitable? A fair process helps to ensure the best price for shareholders. Significant negotiation “wins” can also signify the deal makers’ competency. The comprehensiveness of the sales process (e.g., full auction, partial auction, no auction) can also affect shareholder value.

   

Conflicts of interest - Are insiders benefiting from the transaction disproportionately and inappropriately as compared to non-insider shareholders? As the result of potential conflicts, the directors and officers of the company may be more likely to vote to approve a merger than if they did not hold these interests. Consider whether these interests may have influenced these directors and officers to support or recommend the merger. The CIC figure presented in the “ISS Transaction Summary” section of this report is an aggregate figure that can in certain cases be a misleading indicator of the true value transfer from shareholders to insiders. Where such figure appears to be excessive, analyze the underlying

 

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assumptions to determine whether a potential conflict exists.

   

Governance - Will the combined company have a better or worse governance profile than the current governance profiles of the respective parties to the transaction? If the governance profile is to change for the worse, the burden is on the company to prove that other issues (such as valuation) outweigh any deterioration in governance.

 

COMPENSATION*

Executive Pay Evaluation

Underlying all evaluations are five global principles that most investors expect corporations to adhere to in designing and administering executive and director compensation programs:

 

  1.

Maintain appropriate pay-for-performance alignment, with emphasis on long-term shareholder value: This principle encompasses overall executive pay practices, which must be designed to attract, retain, and appropriately motivate the key employees who drive shareholder value creation over the long term. It will take into consideration, among other factors, the link between pay and performance; the mix between fixed and variable pay; performance goals; and equity-based plan costs;

  2.

Avoid arrangements that risk “pay for failure”: This principle addresses the appropriateness of long or indefinite contracts, excessive severance packages, and guaranteed compensation;

  3.

Maintain an independent and effective compensation committee: This principle promotes oversight of executive pay programs by directors with appropriate skills, knowledge, experience, and a sound process for compensation decision-making (e.g., including access to independent expertise and advice when needed);

  4.

Provide shareholders with clear, comprehensive compensation disclosures: This principle underscores the importance of informative and timely disclosures that enable shareholders to evaluate executive pay practices fully and fairly;

  5.

Avoid inappropriate pay to non-executive directors: This principle recognizes the interests of shareholders in ensuring that compensation to outside directors does not compromise their independence and ability to make appropriate judgments in overseeing managers’ pay and performance. At the market level, it may incorporate a variety of generally accepted best practices.

Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation- Management Proposals (Management Say-on-Pay)

Evaluate executive pay and practices, as well as certain aspects of outside director compensation CASE-BY-CASE.

Vote AGAINST management say on pay (MSOP) proposals, AGAINST/WITHHOLD on compensation committee members (or, in rare cases where the full board is deemed responsible, all directors including the CEO), and/or AGAINST an equity-based incentive plan proposal if:

 

   

There is a misalignment between CEO pay and company performance (pay for performance);

   

The company maintains problematic pay practices;

   

The board exhibits poor communication and responsiveness to shareholders.

 

* See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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Voting Alternatives

In general, the management say on pay (MSOP) ballot item is the primary focus of voting on executive pay practices-- dissatisfaction with compensation practices can be expressed by voting against MSOP rather than withholding or voting against the compensation committee. However, if there is no MSOP on the ballot, then the negative vote will apply to members of the compensation committee. In addition, in egregious cases, or if the board fails to respond to concerns raised by a prior MSOP proposal, then vote withhold or against compensation committee members (or, if the full board is deemed accountable, all directors). If the negative factors involve equity-based compensation, then vote AGAINST an equity-based plan proposal presented for shareholder approval.

Additional CASE-BY-CASE considerations for the management say on pay (MSOP) proposals:

 

   

Evaluation of performance metrics in short-term and long-term plans, as discussed and explained in the Compensation Discussion & Analysis (CD&A). Consider the measures, goals, and target awards reported by the company for executives’ short- and long-term incentive awards: disclosure, explanation of their alignment with the company’s business strategy, and whether goals appear to be sufficiently challenging in relation to resulting payouts;

   

Evaluation of peer group benchmarking used to set target pay or award opportunities. Consider the rationale stated by the company for constituents in its pay benchmarking peer group, as well as the benchmark targets it uses to set or validate executives’ pay (e.g., median, 75th percentile, etc.,) to ascertain whether the benchmarking process is sound or may result in pay “ratcheting” due to inappropriate peer group constituents (e.g., much larger companies) or targeting (e.g., above median); and

   

Balance of performance-based versus non-performance-based pay. Consider the ratio of performance-based (not including plain vanilla stock options) vs. non-performance-based pay elements reported for the CEO’s latest reported fiscal year compensation, especially in conjunction with concerns about other factors such as performance metrics/goals, benchmarking practices, and pay-for-performance disconnects.

Primary Evaluation Factors for Executive Pay

Pay for Performance

Evaluate the alignment of the CEO’s pay with performance over time, focusing particularly on companies that have underperformed their peers over a sustained period. From a shareholders’ perspective, performance is predominantly gauged by the company’s stock performance over time. Even when financial or operational measures are utilized in incentive awards, the achievement related to these measures should ultimately translate into superior shareholder returns in the long-term.

Focus on companies with sustained underperformance relative to peers, considering the following key factors:

 

   

Whether a company’s one-year and three-year total shareholder returns (“TSR”) are in the bottom half of its industry group (i.e., four-digit GICS – Global Industry Classification Group); and

   

Whether the total compensation of a CEO who has served at least two consecutive fiscal years is aligned with the company’s total shareholder return over time, including both recent and long-term periods.

If a company falls in the bottom half of its four-digit GICS, further analysis of the CD&A is required to better understand the various pay elements and whether they create or reinforce shareholder alignment. Also assess the CEO’s pay relative to the company’s TSR over a time horizon of at least five years. The most recent year-over-year increase or decrease in pay remains

 

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a key consideration, but there will be additional emphasis on the long term trend of CEO total compensation relative to shareholder return. Also consider the mix of performance-based compensation relative to total compensation. In general, standard stock options or time-vested restricted stock are not considered to be performance-based. If a company provides performance-based incentives to its executives, the company is highly encouraged to provide the complete disclosure of the performance measure and goals (hurdle rate) so that shareholders can assess the rigor of the performance program. The use of non-GAAP financial metrics also makes it very challenging for shareholders to ascertain the rigor of the program as shareholders often cannot tell the type of adjustments being made and if the adjustments were made consistently. Complete and transparent disclosure helps shareholders to better understand the company’s pay for performance linkage.

Problematic Pay Practices

If the company maintains problematic pay practices, generally vote:

 

   

AGAINST management “say on pay” (MSOP) proposals;

   

AGAINST/WITHHOLD on compensation committee members (or in rare cases where the full board is deemed responsible, all directors including the CEO):

  o

In egregious situations;

  o

When no MSOP item is on the ballot; or

  o

When the board has failed to respond to concerns raised in prior MSOP evaluations; and/or

   

AGAINST an equity incentive plan proposal if excessive non-performance-based equity awards are the major contributors to a pay-for-performance misalignment.

The focus is on executive compensation practices that contravene the global pay principles, including:

 

   

Problematic practices related to non-performance-based compensation elements;

   

Incentives that may motivate excessive risk-taking; and

   

Options Backdating.

Problematic Pay Practices related to Non-Performance-Based Compensation Elements

Pay elements that are not directly based on performance are generally evaluated CASE-BY-CASE considering the context of a company's overall pay program and demonstrated pay-for-performance philosophy. Please refer to ISS’ Compensation FAQ document for detail on specific pay practices that have been identified as potentially problematic and may lead to negative recommendations if they are deemed to be inappropriate or unjustified relative to executive pay best practices. The list below highlights the problematic practices that carry significant weight in this overall consideration and may result in adverse vote recommendations:

 

   

Repricing or replacing of underwater stock options/SARS without prior shareholder approval (including cash buyouts and voluntary surrender of underwater options);

   

Excessive perquisites or tax gross-ups, including any gross-up related to a secular trust or restricted stock vesting;

   

New or extended agreements that provide for:

  o

CIC payments exceeding 3 times base salary and average/target/most recent bonus;

  o

CIC severance payments without involuntary job loss or substantial diminution of duties (“single” or “modified single” triggers);

  o

CIC payments with excise tax gross-ups (including “modified” gross-ups).

 

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Incentives that may Motivate Excessive Risk-Taking

Assess company policies and disclosure related to compensation that could incentivize excessive risk-taking, for example:

 

   

Multi-year guaranteed bonuses;

   

A single performance metric used for short- and long-term plans;

   

Lucrative severance packages;

   

High pay opportunities relative to industry peers;

   

Disproportionate supplemental pensions; or

   

Mega annual equity grants that provide unlimited upside with no downside risk.

Factors that potentially mitigate the impact of risky incentives include rigorous claw-back provisions and robust stock ownership/holding guidelines.

Options Backdating

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on options backdating issues. Generally, when a company has recently practiced options backdating, WITHHOLD from or vote AGAINST the compensation committee, depending on the severity of the practices and the subsequent corrective actions on the part of the board. When deciding on votes on compensation committee members who oversaw questionable options grant practices or current compensation committee members who fail to respond to the issue proactively, consider several factors, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

   

Reason and motive for the options backdating issue, such as inadvertent vs. deliberate grant date changes;

   

Duration of options backdating;

   

Size of restatement due to options backdating;

   

Corrective actions taken by the board or compensation committee, such as canceling or re-pricing backdated options, the recouping of option gains on backdated grants; and

   

Adoption of a grant policy that prohibits backdating, and creates a fixed grant schedule or window period for equity grants in the future.

A CASE-BY-CASE analysis approach allows distinctions to be made between companies that had “sloppy” plan administration versus those that acted deliberately and/or committed fraud, as well as those companies that subsequently took corrective action. Cases where companies have committed fraud are considered most egregious.

Board Communications and Responsiveness

Consider the following factors CASE-BY-CASE when evaluating ballot items related to executive pay:

 

   

Poor disclosure practices, including:

  -

Unclear explanation of how the CEO is involved in the pay setting process;

  -

Retrospective performance targets and methodology not discussed;

  -

Methodology for benchmarking practices and/or peer group not disclosed and explained.

   

Board’s responsiveness to investor input and engagement on compensation issues, for example:

  -

Failure to respond to majority-supported shareholder proposals on executive pay topics; or

  -

Failure to respond to concerns raised in connection with significant opposition to MSOP proposals.

 

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Frequency of Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation (Management “Say on Pay”)

Vote FOR annual advisory votes on compensation, which provide the most consistent and clear communication channel for shareholder concerns about companies' executive pay programs.

Voting on Golden Parachutes in an Acquisition, Merger, Consolidation, or Proposed Sale

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to approve the company’s golden parachute compensation, consistent with ISS' policies on problematic pay practices related to severance packages. Features that may lead to a vote AGAINST include:

 

   

Recently adopted or materially amended agreements that include excise tax gross-up provisions (since prior annual meeting);

   

Recently adopted or materially amended agreements that include modified single triggers (since prior annual meeting);

   

Single trigger payments that will happen immediately upon a change in control, including cash payment and such items as the acceleration of performance-based equity despite the failure to achieve performance measures;

   

Single-trigger vesting of equity based on a definition of change in control that requires only shareholder approval of the transaction (rather than consummation);

   

Potentially excessive severance payments;

   

Recent amendments or other changes that may make packages so attractive as to influence merger agreements that may not be in the best interests of shareholders;

   

In the case of a substantial gross-up from pre-existing/grandfathered contract: the element that triggered the gross-up (i.e., option mega-grants at low point in stock price, unusual or outsized payments in cash or equity made or negotiated prior to the merger); or

   

The company’s assertion that a proposed transaction is conditioned on shareholder approval of the golden parachute advisory vote. ISS would view this as problematic from a corporate governance perspective.

In cases where the golden parachute vote is incorporated into a company's separate advisory vote on compensation (“management “say on pay”), ISS will evaluate the “say on pay” proposal in accordance with these guidelines, which may give higher weight to that component of the overall evaluation.

Equity-Based and Other Incentive Plans

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on equity-based compensation plans. Vote AGAINST the equity plan if any of the following factors apply:

 

   

The total cost of the company’s equity plans is unreasonable;

   

The plan expressly permits the repricing of stock options/stock appreciate rights (SARs) without prior shareholder approval;

   

The CEO is a participant in the proposed equity-based compensation plan and there is a disconnect between CEO pay and the company’s performance where over 50 percent of the year-over-year increase is attributed to equity awards (see Pay-for-Performance);

   

The company’s three year burn rate exceeds the greater of 2% or the mean plus one standard deviation of its industry group but no more than two percentage points (+/-) from the prior-year industry group cap;

   

Liberal Change of Control Definition: The plan provides for the acceleration of vesting of equity awards even though an actual change in control may not occur (e.g., upon shareholder approval of a transaction or the announcement of a tender offer); or

   

The plan is a vehicle for problematic pay practices.

 

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Shareholder Proposals on Compensation

Golden Coffins/Executive Death Benefits

Generally vote FOR proposals calling companies to adopt a policy of obtaining shareholder approval for any future agreements and corporate policies that could oblige the company to make payments or awards following the death of a senior executive in the form of unearned salary or bonuses, accelerated vesting or the continuation in force of unvested equity grants, perquisites and other payments or awards made in lieu of compensation. This would not apply to any benefit programs or equity plan proposals that the broad-based employee population is eligible.

Hold Equity Past Retirement or for a Significant Period of Time

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals asking companies to adopt policies requiring senior executive officers to retain all or a significant portion of the shares acquired through compensation plans, either:

 

   

while employed and/or for two years following the termination of their employment ; or

   

for a substantial period following the lapse of all other vesting requirements for the award (“lock-up period”), with ratable release of a portion of the shares annually during the lock-up period.

The following factors will be taken into account:

 

   

Whether the company has any holding period, retention ratio, or officer ownership requirements in place. These should consist of:

  -

Rigorous stock ownership guidelines;

  -

A holding period requirement coupled with a significant long-term ownership requirement; or

  -

A meaningful retention ratio;

   

Actual officer stock ownership and the degree to which it meets or exceeds the proponent’s suggested holding period/retention ratio or the company’s own stock ownership or retention requirements;

   

Post-termination holding requirement policies or any policies aimed at mitigating risk taking by senior executives;

   

Problematic pay practices, current and past, which may promote a short-term versus a long-term focus.

A rigorous stock ownership guideline should be at least 10x base salary for the CEO, with the multiple declining for other executives. A meaningful retention ratio should constitute at least 50 percent of the stock received from equity awards (on a net proceeds basis) held on a long-term basis, such as the executive’s tenure with the company or even a few years past the executive’s termination with the company.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals asking companies to adopt policies requiring Named Executive Officers to retain 75% of the shares acquired through compensation plans while employed and/or for two years following the termination of their employment, and to report to shareholders regarding this policy. The following factors will be taken into account:

 

   

Whether the company has any holding period, retention ratio, or officer ownership requirements in place. These should consist of:

  -

Rigorous stock ownership guidelines, or

 

  -

A holding period requirement coupled with a significant long-term ownership requirement, or

 

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  -

A meaningful retention ratio,

 

   

Actual officer stock ownership and the degree to which it meets or exceeds the proponent’s suggested holding period/retention ratio or the company’s own stock ownership or retention requirements.

   

Problematic pay practices, current and past, which may promote a short-term versus a long-term focus.

A rigorous stock ownership guideline should be at least 10x base salary for the CEO, with the multiple declining for other executives. A meaningful retention ratio should constitute at least 50 percent of the stock received from equity awards (on a net proceeds basis) held on a long-term basis, such as the executive’s tenure with the company or even a few years past the executive’s termination with the company.

Generally vote AGAINST shareholder proposals that mandate a minimum amount of stock that directors must own in order to qualify as a director or to remain on the board. While ISS favors stock ownership on the part of directors, the company should determine the appropriate ownership requirement.

Social/Environmental Issues

Overall Approach

Generally vote FOR the management’s recommendation on shareholder proposals involving social/environmental issues. When evaluating social and environmental shareholder proposals, Dimensional considers the most important factor to be whether adoption of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value.

 

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2011 International Proxy Voting Guidelines Summary

Effective for Meetings on or after January 3, 2011

In order to provide greater analysis on certain shareholder meetings, the Advisor has elected to receive research reports for certain meetings, as indicated below, from Glass Lewis in addition to Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”).

Specifically, if available, the Advisor may obtain research from Glass Lewis in addition to ISS for shareholder meetings in the following circumstances: (1) where the Advisor’s clients have a significant aggregate holding in the issuer and the meeting agenda contains proxies concerning: Anti-takeover Defenses or Voting Related Issues, Mergers and Acquisitions or Reorganizations or Restructurings, Capital Structure Issues, Compensation Issues or a proxy contest; or (2) where the Advisor in its discretion, has deemed that additional research is warranted.

Where research is obtained from Glass Lewis in accordance with these Guidelines, the Advisor will first review the research reports obtained from ISS and Glass Lewis. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are the same, the Advisor will vote accordingly. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are inconsistent, the Advisor will vote in accordance with the ISS recommendation unless the Corporate Governance Committee determines that voting in accordance with the Glass Lewis recommendation is more consistent with the principle of preserving shareholder value.

1. Operational Items

Financial Results/Director and Auditor Reports

Vote FOR approval of financial statements and director and auditor reports, unless:

 

   

There are concerns about the accounts presented or audit procedures used; or

 

   

The company is not responsive to shareholder questions about specific items that should be publicly disclosed.

Appointment of Auditors and Auditor Fees

Vote FOR the (re)election of auditors and/or proposals authorizing the board to fix auditor fees, unless:

 

   

There are serious concerns about the procedures used by the auditor;

   

There is reason to believe that the auditor has rendered an opinion which is neither accurate nor indicative of the company's financial position;

   

External auditors have previously served the company in an executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company;

   

Name of the proposed auditors has not been published;

   

The auditors are being changed without explanation; or

   

Fees for non-audit services exceed standard annual audit-related fees (only applies to companies on the MSCI EAFE index and/or listed on any country main index).

In circumstances where fees for non-audit services include fees related to significant one-time capital structure events (initial public offerings, bankruptcy emergencies, and spin-offs) and the company makes public disclosure of the amount and nature of those fees, which are an exception to the standard "non-audit fee" category, then such fees may be excluded from the non-audit fees considered in determining the ratio of non-audit to audit fees.

For concerns related to the audit procedures, independence of auditors, and/or name of auditors, ISS may recommend AGAINST the auditor (re)election. For concerns related to fees paid to the auditors, ISS may recommend AGAINST remuneration of auditors if this is a separate voting item; otherwise ISS may recommend AGAINST the auditor election.

 

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Appointment of Internal Statutory Auditors

Vote FOR the appointment or (re)election of statutory auditors, unless:

 

   

There are serious concerns about the statutory reports presented or the audit procedures used;

 

   

Questions exist concerning any of the statutory auditors being appointed; or

 

   

The auditors have previously served the company in an executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company.

Allocation of Income

Vote FOR approval of the allocation of income, unless:

 

   

The dividend payout ratio has been consistently below 30 percent without adequate explanation; or

   

The payout is excessive given the company's financial position.

Amendments to Articles of Association

Vote amendments to the articles of association on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Change in Company Fiscal Term

Vote FOR resolutions to change a company's fiscal term unless a company's motivation for the change is to postpone its AGM.

Lower Disclosure Threshold for Stock Ownership

Vote AGAINST resolutions to lower the stock ownership disclosure threshold below 5 percent unless specific reasons exist to implement a lower threshold.

Amend Quorum Requirements

Vote proposals to amend quorum requirements for shareholder meetings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Transact Other Business

Vote AGAINST other business when it appears as a voting item.

2. Board of Directors

Director Elections

Vote FOR management nominees in the election of directors, unless:

 

   

Adequate disclosure has not been provided in a timely manner;

 

   

There are clear concerns over questionable finances or restatements;

 

   

There have been questionable transactions with conflicts of interest;

 

   

There are any records of abuses against minority shareholder interests; or

 

   

The board fails to meet minimum corporate governance standards.

Vote FOR individual nominees unless there are specific concerns about the individual, such as criminal wrongdoing or breach of fiduciary responsibilities.

 

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Vote AGAINST individual directors if repeated absences at board meetings have not been explained (in countries where this information is disclosed).

Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis for contested elections of directors, e.g. the election of shareholder nominees or the dismissal of incumbent directors, determining which directors are best suited to add value for shareholders.*

Vote FOR employee and/or labor representatives if they sit on either the audit or compensation committee and are required by law to be on those committees.* Vote AGAINST employee and/or labor representatives if they sit on either the audit or compensation committee, if they are not required to be on those committees.*

Under extraordinary circumstances, vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from directors individually, on a committee, or the entire board, due to:

 

   

Material failures of governance, stewardship, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company; or

   

Failure to replace management as appropriate; or

   

Egregious actions related to the director(s)’ service on other boards that raise substantial doubt about his or her ability to effectively oversee management and serve the best interests of shareholders at any company.

 

[Please see the ISS International Classification of Directors.]

 

 

* See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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ISS Classification of Directors - International Policy 2011

 

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Executive Director

 

 

Employee or executive of the company;

 

Any director who is classified as a non-executive, but receives salary, fees, bonus, and/or other benefits that are in line with the highest-paid executives of the company.

Non-Independent Non-Executive Director (NED)

 

Any director who is attested by the board to be a non-independent NED;

 

Any director specifically designated as a representative of a significant shareholder of the company;

 

Any director who is also an employee or executive of a significant shareholder of the company;

 

Any director who is nominated by a dissenting significant shareholder, unless there is a clear lack of material[5] connection with the dissident, either currently or historically;

 

Beneficial owner (direct or indirect) of at least 10% of the company[']s stock, either in economic terms or in voting rights (this may be aggregated if voting power is distributed among more than one member of a defined group, e.g., family members who beneficially own less than 10% individually, but collectively own more than 10%), unless market best practice dictates a lower ownership and/or disclosure threshold (and in other special market-specific circumstances);

 

Government representative;

 

Currently provides (or a relative[1] provides) professional services[2] to the company, to an affiliate of the company, or to an individual officer of the company or of one of its affiliates in excess of $10,000 per year;

 

Represents customer, supplier, creditor, banker, or other entity with which company maintains transactional/commercial relationship (unless company discloses information to apply a materiality test[3]);

 

Any director who has conflicting or cross-directorships with executive directors or the chairman of the company;

 

Relative[1] of a current employee of the company or its affiliates;

 

Relative[1] of a former executive of the company or its affiliates;

 

A new appointee elected other than by a formal process through the General Meeting (such as a contractual appointment by a substantial shareholder);

 

Founder/co-founder/member of founding family but not currently an employee;

 

Former executive (5 year cooling off period);

 

Years of service is generally not a determining factor unless it is recommended best practice in a market and/or in extreme circumstances, in which case it may be considered.[4]

 

Any additional relationship or principle considered to compromise independence under local corporate[ governance] best practice guidance.

Independent NED

 

 

No material[5] connection, either directly or indirectly, to the company (other than a board seat) or the dissenting significant shareholder.

Employee Representative

 

 

Represents employees or employee shareholders of the company (classified as “employee representative” but considered a non-independent NED).

Footnotes:

[1] “Relative” follows the definition of “immediate family members” which covers spouses, parents, children, stepparents, step-children, siblings, in-laws, and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of any director, nominee for director, executive officer, or significant shareholder of the company.

[2] Professional services can be characterized as advisory in nature and generally include the following: investment banking/financial advisory services; commercial banking (beyond deposit services); investment services; insurance services; accounting/audit services; consulting services; marketing services; and legal services. The case of participation in a banking syndicate by a non-lead bank should be considered a transaction (and hence subject to the associated materiality test) rather than a professional relationship.

[3] A business relationship may be material if the transaction value (of all outstanding transactions) entered into between the company and the company or organization with which the director is associated is equivalent to either 1 percent of the company[']s turnover or 1 percent of the turnover of the company or organization with which the director is associated. OR, A business relationship may be material if the transaction value (of all outstanding financing operations) entered into between the company and the company or organization with which the director is associated is more than 10 percent of the company[']s shareholder equity or the transaction value[,] (of all outstanding financing operations)[,] compared to the company[']s total assets[,] is more than 5 percent.

[4] For example, in continental Europe, directors with a tenure exceeding 12 years will be considered non-independent. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, directors with a tenure exceeding nine years will be considered non-independent, unless the company provides sufficient and clear justification that the director is independent despite his long tenure.

[5] For purposes of [ISS'] director independence classification, “material” will be defined as a standard of relationship financial, personal or otherwise that a reasonable person might conclude could potentially influence one[']s objectivity in the boardroom in a manner that would have a meaningful impact on an individual's ability to satisfy requisite fiduciary standards on behalf of shareholders.

 

 

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Contested Director Elections*

For contested elections of directors, e.g. the election of shareholder nominees or the dismissal of incumbent directors, ISS will make its recommendation on a case-by-case basis, determining which directors are best suited to add value for shareholders.

The analysis will generally be based on, but not limited to, the following major decision factors:

 

 

Company performance relative to its peers;

 

Strategy of the incumbents versus the dissidents;

 

Independence of directors/nominees;

 

Experience and skills of board candidates;

 

Governance profile of the company;

 

Evidence of management entrenchment;

 

Responsiveness to shareholders;

 

Whether a takeover offer has been rebuffed;

 

Whether minority or majority representation is being sought.

When analyzing a contested election of directors, ISS will generally focus on two central questions: (1) Have the dissidents proved that board change is warranted? And (2) if so, are the dissident board nominees likely to effect positive change (i.e., maximize long-term shareholder value).

Discharge of Directors

Generally vote FOR the discharge of directors, including members of the management board and/or supervisory board, unless there is reliable information about significant and compelling controversies that the board is not fulfilling its fiduciary duties warranted by:

 

 

A lack of oversight or actions by board members which invoke shareholder distrust related to malfeasance or poor supervision, such as operating in private or company interest rather than in shareholder interest; or

 

 

Any legal issues (e.g. civil/criminal) aiming to hold the board responsible for breach of trust in the past or related to currently alleged actions yet to be confirmed (and not only the fiscal year in question), such as price fixing, insider trading, bribery, fraud, and other illegal actions; or

 

 

Other egregious governance issues where shareholders will bring legal action against the company or its directors.

For markets which do not routinely request discharge resolutions (e.g. common law countries or markets where discharge is not mandatory), analysts may voice concern in other appropriate agenda items, such as approval of the annual accounts or other relevant resolutions, to enable shareholders to express discontent with the board.

Director, Officer, and Auditor Indemnification and Liability Provisions

Vote proposals seeking indemnification and liability protection for directors and officers on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote AGAINST proposals to indemnify external auditors.

Board Structure

Vote FOR proposals to fix board size.

 

 

 

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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Vote AGAINST the introduction of classified boards and mandatory retirement ages for directors.

Vote AGAINST proposals to alter board structure or size in the context of a fight for control of the company or the board.

3. Capital Structure *

Share Issuance Requests

General Issuances

Vote FOR issuance requests with preemptive rights to a maximum of 100 percent over currently issued capital.

Vote FOR issuance requests without preemptive rights to a maximum of 20 percent of currently issued capital.

Specific Issuances

Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on all requests, with or without preemptive rights.

Increases in Authorized Capital

Vote FOR non-specific proposals to increase authorized capital up to 100 percent over the current authorization unless the increase would leave the company with less than 30 percent of its new authorization outstanding.

Vote FOR specific proposals to increase authorized capital to any amount, unless:

 

The specific purpose of the increase (such as a share-based acquisition or merger) does not meet ISS guidelines for the purpose being proposed; or

 

The increase would leave the company with less than 30 percent of its new authorization outstanding after adjusting for all proposed issuances.

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt unlimited capital authorizations.

Reduction of Capital

Vote FOR proposals to reduce capital for routine accounting purposes unless the terms are unfavorable to shareholders.

Vote proposals to reduce capital in connection with corporate restructuring on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Capital Structures

Vote FOR resolutions that seek to maintain or convert to a one-share, one-vote capital structure.

Vote AGAINST requests for the creation or continuation of dual-class capital structures or the creation of new or additional super voting shares.

Preferred Stock

 

 

 

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take .

 

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Vote FOR the creation of a new class of preferred stock or for issuances of preferred stock up to 50 percent of issued capital unless the terms of the preferred stock would adversely affect the rights of existing shareholders.

Vote FOR the creation/issuance of convertible preferred stock as long as the maximum number of common shares that could be issued upon conversion meets ISS guidelines on equity issuance requests.

Vote AGAINST the creation of a new class of preference shares that would carry superior voting rights to the common shares.

Vote AGAINST the creation of blank check preferred stock unless the board clearly states that the authorization will not be used to thwart a takeover bid.

Vote proposals to increase blank check preferred authorizations on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Debt Issuance Requests

Vote non-convertible debt issuance requests on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, with or without preemptive rights.

Vote FOR the creation/issuance of convertible debt instruments as long as the maximum number of common shares that could be issued upon conversion meets ISS guidelines on equity issuance requests.

Vote FOR proposals to restructure existing debt arrangements unless the terms of the restructuring would adversely affect the rights of shareholders.

Pledging of Assets for Debt

Vote proposals to approve the pledging of assets for debt on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Increase in Borrowing Powers

Vote proposals to approve increases in a company's borrowing powers on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Share Repurchase Plans

Generally vote FOR market repurchase authorities (share repurchase programs) if the terms comply with the following criteria:

 

   

A repurchase limit of up to 10 percent of outstanding issued share capital (15 percent in UK/Ireland);

 

   

A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company's issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and

 

   

A duration of no more than 5 years, or such lower threshold as may be set by applicable law, regulation or code of governance best practice.

Authorities to repurchase shares in excess of the 10 percent repurchase limit will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. ISS may support such share repurchase authorities under special circumstances, which are required to be publicly disclosed by the company, provided that, on balance, the proposal is in shareholders' interests. In such cases, the authority must comply with the following criteria:

 

   

A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company's issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and

 

   

A duration of no more than 18 months.

In markets where it is normal practice not to provide a repurchase limit, ISS will evaluate the proposal based on the company's historical practice. However, ISS expects companies to disclose such limits and, in the future, may recommend a vote against companies that fail to do so. In such cases, the authority must comply with the following criteria:

 

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A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company's issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and

   

A duration of no more than 18 months.

In addition, ISS will recommend AGAINST any proposal where:

 

   

The repurchase can be used for takeover defenses;

 

   

There is clear evidence of abuse;

 

   

There is no safeguard against selective buybacks; and/or

 

   

Pricing provisions and safeguards are deemed to be unreasonable in light of market practice.

Reissuance of Repurchased Shares

Vote FOR requests to reissue any repurchased shares unless there is clear evidence of abuse of this authority in the past.

Capitalization of Reserves for Bonus Issues/Increase in Par Value

Vote FOR requests to capitalize reserves for bonus issues of shares or to increase par value.

4. Other Items

Reorganizations/Restructurings*

Vote reorganizations and restructurings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Mergers and Acquisitions*

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on mergers and acquisitions taking into account the following:

For every M&A analysis, ISS reviews publicly available information as of the date of the report and evaluates the merits and drawbacks of the proposed transaction, balancing various and sometimes countervailing factors including:

 

   

Valuation - Is the value to be received by the target shareholders (or paid by the acquirer) reasonable? While the fairness opinion may provide an initial starting point for assessing valuation reasonableness, ISS places emphasis on the offer premium, market reaction, and strategic rationale.

 

   

Market reaction - How has the market responded to the proposed deal? A negative market reaction will cause ISS to scrutinize a deal more closely.

 

   

Strategic rationale - Does the deal make sense strategically? From where is the value derived? Cost and revenue synergies should not be overly aggressive or optimistic, but reasonably achievable. Management should also have a favourable track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions.

 

   

Conflicts of interest - Are insiders benefiting from the transaction disproportionately and inappropriately as compared to non-insider shareholders? ISS will consider whether any special interests may have influenced these directors and officers to support or recommend the merger.

 

   

Governance - Will the combined company have a better or worse governance profile than the current governance profiles of the respective parties to the transaction? If the governance profile is to change for the worse, the burden is on the company to prove that other issues (such as valuation) outweigh any deterioration in governance.

 

 

* See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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Vote AGAINST if the companies do not provide sufficient information upon request to make an informed voting decision.

Mandatory Takeover Bid Waivers*

Vote proposals to waive mandatory takeover bid requirements on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Reincorporation Proposals

Vote reincorporation proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Expansion of Business Activities

Vote FOR resolutions to expand business activities unless the new business takes the company into risky areas.

Related-Party Transactions

In evaluating resolutions that seek shareholder approval on related party transactions (RPTs), vote on a case-by-case basis, considering factors including, but not limited to, the following:

 

   

the parties on either side of the transaction;

 

   

the nature of the asset to be transferred/service to be provided;

 

   

the pricing of the transaction (and any associated professional valuation);

 

   

the views of independent directors (where provided);

 

   

the views of an independent financial adviser (where appointed);

 

   

whether any entities party to the transaction (including advisers) is conflicted; and

 

   

the stated rationale for the transaction, including discussions of timing.

If there is a transaction that ISS deemed problematic and that was not put to a shareholder vote, ISS may recommend against the election of the director involved in the related-party transaction or the full board.

Antitakeover Mechanisms

Generally vote AGAINST all antitakeover proposals, unless they are structured in such a way that they give shareholders the ultimate decision on any proposal or offer.

Shareholder Proposals

Vote all shareholder proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote FOR proposals that would improve the company's corporate governance or business profile at a reasonable cost.

Vote AGAINST proposals that limit the company's business activities or capabilities or result in significant costs being incurred with little or no benefit.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Issues

Generally vote FOR the management’s recommendation on shareholder proposals involving CSR Issues. When evaluating social and environmental shareholder proposals, Dimensional considers the most important factor to be whether adoption of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value.

 

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DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746

Telephone: (512) 306-7400

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

February 28, 2011

DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. (the “Fund”) is an open-end management investment company that offers sixty-two series of shares. This statement of additional information (“SAI”) describes six of those series:

 

Domestic Equity Portfolios

VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio

      VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio
International Equity Portfolios

VA International Value Portfolio

      VA International Small Portfolio
Fixed Income Portfolios

VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio

      VA Global Bond Portfolio

(individually, a “Portfolio” and collectively, the “Portfolios”). The shares of the Portfolios are sold only to separate accounts of insurance companies in conjunction with variable life and variable annuity contracts. This SAI is not a prospectus but should be read in conjunction with the Portfolios’ prospectus dated February 28, 2011, as amended from time to time. The audited financial statements and financial highlights of the Portfolios are incorporated by reference from the Fund’s annual report to shareholders. The prospectus and annual report can be obtained free of charge by writing to the above address or by calling the above telephone number.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS AND POLICIES

     2   

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

     2   

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

     4   

FUTURES CONTRACTS

     5   

FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

     6   

CASH MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

     6   

CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES

     7   

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

     7   

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

     8   

SERVICES TO THE FUND

     18   

ADVISORY FEES

     19   

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

     20   

GENERAL INFORMATION

     22   

CODE OF ETHICS

     23   

SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS

     23   

PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

     23   

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

     25   

TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIO AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS

     25   

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

     31   

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

     32   

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     34   

PERFORMANCE DATA

     34   


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PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS AND POLICIES

The following information supplements the information set forth in the prospectus. Unless otherwise indicated, it applies to all of the Portfolios. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) serves as investment advisor to each of the Portfolios. The Advisor is organized as a Delaware limited partnership and is controlled and operated by its general partner, Dimensional Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this SAI have the meaning assigned to them in the prospectus. Each of the Portfolios is diversified under the federal securities laws and regulations.

Because the structure of the Domestic Equity and International Equity Portfolios are based on the relative market capitalizations of eligible holdings, it is possible that the Portfolios might include at least 5% of the outstanding voting securities of one or more issuers. In such circumstances, a Portfolio and the issuer would be deemed “affiliated persons” and certain requirements under the federal securities laws and regulations regulating dealings between mutual funds and their affiliates might become applicable.

Each of the Portfolios (except the VA International Value Portfolio) has adopted a non-fundamental policy as required by Rule 35d-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) that, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the value of each Portfolio’s net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, will be invested in a specific type of investment. Additionally, if a Portfolio changes its 80% investment policy, the Portfolio will notify shareholders at least 60 days before the change, and will change the name of the Portfolio. For more information on each Portfolio’s specific 80% policy, see each Portfolio’s “PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES” section in the Prospectus.

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

The following table reports brokerage commissions paid by the Portfolios during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009 and the fiscal period from December 1, 2007 to October 31, 2008.

 

    

    Fiscal Year
    Ended    

    2010     

    

    Fiscal Year
    Ended    

    2009     

    

    Fiscal Period
    Ended    

    2008     

 

VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio

     $  46,351               $  45,395               $  27,632         

VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

     $  61,789               $  52,008               $  55,920         

VA International Value Portfolio

     $  29,988               $  13,686               $  17,653         

VA International Small Portfolio

     $  10,840               $    6,892               $  13,077         

The substantial increases or decreases in the amount of brokerage commissions paid by certain Portfolios from year to year indicated in the foregoing table resulted primarily from asset changes that required increases or decreases in the amount of securities that were bought and sold by those Portfolios.

The Fixed Income Portfolios acquire and sell securities on a net basis with dealers which are major market makers in such securities. The Investment Committee of the Advisor selects dealers on the basis of their size and market making ability. When executing portfolio transactions, the Advisor seeks to obtain the most favorable price for the securities being traded among the dealers with whom the Fixed Income Portfolios effect transactions.

Portfolio transactions will be placed with a view to receiving the best price and execution. The Portfolios will seek to acquire and dispose of securities in a manner which would cause as little fluctuation in the market prices of stocks being purchased or sold as possible in light of the size of the transactions being effected. Brokers will be selected with this goal in view. The Advisor monitors the performance of brokers which effect transactions for the Portfolios to determine the effect that the brokers’ trading has on the market prices of the securities in which the Portfolios invest. The Advisor also checks the rate of commission being paid by the Portfolios to their brokers to

 

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ascertain that the rates are competitive with those charged by other brokers for similar services. Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. also performs these services for the United Kingdom and Continental Small Company segments of VA International Small Portfolio and DFA Australia Limited also performs these services for the Japanese and Asia Pacific Small Company segments of VA International Small Portfolio.

Subject to obtaining best price and execution, transactions may be placed with brokers that have assisted in the sale of Portfolio shares. The Advisor, however, pursuant to policies and procedures approved by the Board of Directors of the Fund, is prohibited from selecting brokers and dealers to effect a Portfolio’s portfolio securities transactions based (in whole or in part) on a broker’s or dealer’s promotion or sale of shares issued by a Portfolio or any other registered investment companies.

Companies eligible for purchase by the Portfolios (except the VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio and VA Global Bond Portfolio) may be thinly traded securities. The Advisor believes that it needs maximum flexibility to effect trades on a best execution basis. As deemed appropriate, the Advisor places buy and sell orders for the Portfolio with various brokerage firms that may act as principal or agent. The Advisor may also make use of direct market access and algorithmic, program or electronic trading methods. The Advisor may extensively use electronic trading systems as such systems can provide the ability to customize the orders placed and can assist in the Advisor's execution strategies.

Transactions also may be placed with brokers who provide the Advisor with investment research, such as reports concerning individual issuers, industries and general economic and financial trends and other research services. The investment advisory agreements permit the Advisor knowingly to pay commissions on these transactions that are greater than another broker, dealer or exchange member might charge if the Advisor, in good faith, determines that the commissions paid are reasonable in relation to the research or brokerage services provided by the broker or dealer when viewed in terms of either a particular transaction or the Advisor’s overall responsibilities to the accounts under its management. Research services furnished by brokers through whom securities transactions are effected may be used by the Advisor in servicing all of its accounts and not all such services may be used by the Advisor with respect to the Portfolios.

During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the Portfolios paid commissions for securities transactions to brokers which provided market price monitoring services, market studies, brokerage services and research services to the Portfolios as set forth in the following table:

 

    

Value of

Securities Transactions

  

Brokerage

Commissions

VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio

   $  73,855,630    $  5,266

VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio

   $  53,009,824    $  8,890

VA International Value Portfolio

   $  48,763,697    $  3,043

VA International Small Portfolio

   $  15,685,515    $  974

Certain Portfolios may purchase securities of their regular brokers or dealers (as defined in Rule 10b-1 of the 1940 Act). The table below lists the regular brokers or dealers of each Portfolio whose securities (or securities of the broker’s or dealer’s parent company) were acquired by the Portfolio during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, as well as the value of such securities held by the Portfolio as of October 31, 2010.

 

                 Portfolio    Broker or Dealer    Value of Securities

VA International Value Portfolio

   Credit Suisse Group    $  1,267,724

VA International Value Portfolio

   Macquarie Group    $  302,831

VA International Value Portfolio

   Societe Generale Group    $  653,953

VA International Value Portfolio

   UBS AG    $  735,061

VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio

   Citigroup Inc.    $  4,152,924

 

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INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

Each of the Portfolios has adopted certain limitations which may not be changed with respect to any Portfolio without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio. A “majority” is defined as the lesser of: (1) at least 67% of the voting securities of the Portfolio (to be affected by the proposed change) present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio are present or represented by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of such Portfolio.

The Portfolios will not:

 

  (1)

borrow money, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or any rules, exemptions or interpretations thereunder that may be adopted, granted or issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”);

 

  (2)

make loans, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or any rules, exemptions or interpretations thereunder that may be adopted, granted or issued by the SEC; provided that in no event shall a Portfolio be permitted to make a loan to a natural person;

 

  (3)

purchase or sell real estate, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, and provided that this restriction does not prevent a Portfolio from: (i) purchasing or selling securities or instruments secured by real estate or interests therein, securities or instruments representing interests in real estate or securities or instruments of issuers that invest, deal or otherwise engage in transactions in real estate or interests therein; and (ii) purchasing or selling real estate mortgage loans;

 

  (4)

purchase or sell physical commodities, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, and provided that this restriction does not prevent a Portfolio from: (i) engaging in transactions involving currencies and futures contracts and options thereon; or (ii) investing in securities or other instruments that are secured by physical commodities;

 

  (5)

purchase the securities of any one issuer, if immediately after such investment, a Portfolio would not qualify as a “diversified company” as that term is defined by the 1940 Act, as amended, and as modified or interpreted by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time;

 

  (6)

engage in the business of underwriting securities issued by others;

 

  (7)

acquire any securities of companies within one industry if, as a result of such acquisition, more than 25% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets would be invested in securities of companies within such industry; except VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio shall invest more than 25% of its total assets in obligations of banks and bank holding companies in the circumstances described in the prospectus under “Investments in the Banking Industry” and as otherwise described under “PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES”;

 

  (8)

sell securities short; or

 

  (9)

issue senior securities (as such term is defined in Section 18(f) of the 1940 Act), except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act.

With respect to the investment limitation described in (1) above, each Portfolio will maintain asset coverage of at least 300% (as described in the 1940 Act), inclusive of any amounts borrowed, with respect to any borrowings made by such Portfolio.

Although the investment limitation described in (2) above prohibits loans, each Portfolio is authorized to lend portfolio securities.

For purposes of the investment limitation described in (7) above, the VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio, as disclosed in the prospectus under “Investments in the Banking IndustryVA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio,” will invest more than 25% of its total assets in obligations of U.S. and foreign banks and bank holding companies (“banking industry securities”) when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking industry

 

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securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group generally for a period of five consecutive days when the NYSE is open for trading.

Each Portfolio is required to operate in accordance with the SEC staff’s current position on illiquid securities, which limits investments in illiquid securities to 15% of a Portfolio’s net assets. For these purposes, each of the VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio and VA Global Bond Portfolio may invest in commercial paper that is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”), subject to the requirements regarding credit ratings stated in the prospectus under “Description of Investments—Fixed Income Portfolios.” Further, pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, the Portfolios may purchase certain unregistered (i.e. restricted) securities upon a determination that a liquid institutional market exists for the securities. If it is determined that a liquid market does exist, the securities will not be subject to the 15% limitation on holdings of illiquid securities. While maintaining oversight, the Board of Directors has delegated the day-to-day function of making liquidity determinations to the Advisor. For Rule 144A securities to be considered liquid, there must be at least two dealers making a market in such securities. After purchase, the Board of Directors and the Advisor will continue to monitor the liquidity of Rule 144A securities.

Unless otherwise indicated, all limitations applicable to the Portfolios’ investments apply only at the time that a transaction is undertaken.

FUTURES CONTRACTS

All Portfolios, except the VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio, may enter into futures contracts and options on futures contracts to gain market exposure on the Portfolio’s uninvested cash pending investments in securities and to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions. Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of defined securities at a specified future time and at a specified price. Futures contracts that are standardized as to maturity date and underlying financial instrument are traded on national futures exchanges. Each Portfolio will be required to make a margin deposit in cash or government securities with a futures commission merchant (“FCM”) to initiate and maintain positions in futures contracts. Minimal initial margin requirements are established by the futures exchanges, and FCMs may establish margin requirements which are higher than the exchange requirements. After a futures contract position is opened, the value of the contract is marked to market daily. If the futures contract price changes, to the extent that the margin on deposit does not satisfy margin requirements, payment of additional “variation” margin to be held by the FCM will be required. Conversely, a reduction in the required margin would result in a repayment of excess margin to the custodial accounts of the Portfolio. Variation margin payments may be made to and from the futures broker for as long as the contract remains open. Each Portfolio expects to earn income on its margin deposits. Each Portfolio intends to limit its futures-related investment activity so that other than with respect to bona fide hedging activity (as defined in Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) General Regulations Section 1.3 (z)): (i) the aggregate initial margin and premiums paid to establish commodity futures and commodity option contract positions (determined at the time the most recent position was established) do not exceed 5% of the liquidation value of a Portfolio’s portfolio, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such contracts it has entered into (provided that, in the case of an option that is in-the-money at the time of purchase, the in-the-money amount may be excluded in calculating such 5% limitation) or (ii) the aggregate net “notional value” (i.e., the size of a commodity futures or commodity option contract in contract units (taking into account any multiplier specified in the contract), multiplied by the current market price (for a futures contract) or strike price (for an option contract) of each such unit) of all non-hedge commodity futures and commodity option contracts that a Portfolio has entered into (determined at the time the most recent position was established) does not exceed the liquidation value of a Portfolio’s portfolio, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such contracts that a Portfolio has entered into.

Positions in futures contracts may be closed out only on an exchange that provides a secondary market. However, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular futures contract at any specific time. Therefore, it might not be possible to close a futures position and, in the event of adverse price movements, the Portfolio would continue to be required to make variation margin deposits. In such circumstances, if the Portfolio has insufficient cash, it might have to sell portfolio securities to meet daily margin requirements at a time when it might be disadvantageous to do so. Management intends to minimize the possibility that it will be unable to close out a futures contract by only entering into futures which are traded on national futures exchanges

 

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and for which there appears to be a liquid secondary market. Pursuant to published positions of the SEC and interpretations of the staff of the SEC, a Portfolio (or its custodian) is required to maintain segregated accounts or to segregate assets through notations on the books of the custodians, consisting of liquid assets (or, as permitted under applicable interpretations, enter into offsetting positions) in connection with its futures contract transactions in order to cover its obligations with respect to such contracts. These requirements are designed to limit the amount of leverage that a Portfolio may use by entering into futures transactions.

FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

The International Equity Portfolios and VA Global Bond Portfolio may acquire and sell forward foreign currency exchange contracts in order to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency exchange rates. The Portfolios will conduct their foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies. A forward foreign currency exchange contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days (usually less than one year) from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts are traded in the interbank market conducted directly between traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. A forward contract generally has no deposit requirement, and no commissions are charged at any stage for trades. Although foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference (the spread) between the price at which they are buying and selling various currencies.

With respect to an International Equity Portfolio, the Portfolio may enter into a forward contract in connection with the purchase or sale of foreign equity securities, typically to “lock in” the value of the transaction with respect to a different currency. In addition, a Portfolio may, from time to time, enter into a forward contract to transfer balances from one currency to another currency.

The VA Global Bond Portfolio may enter into forward foreign currency contracts to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or to transfer balances from one currency to another currency. The VA Global Bond Portfolio may enter into a forward contract to buy or sell the amount of foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of the portfolio securities quoted or denominated in such foreign currency. The precise matching of the forward contract amounts and the value of the securities involved will not generally be possible since the future value of such securities in foreign currencies will change as a consequence of market movements in the value of those securities between the date the forward contract is entered into and the date it expires.

CASH MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

All Portfolios engage in cash management practices in order to earn income on uncommitted cash balances. Generally, cash is uncommitted pending investment in other securities, payment of redemptions or in other circumstances where the Advisor believes liquidity is necessary or desirable. For example, cash investments may be made for temporary defensive purposes during periods in which market, economic or political conditions warrant.

All the Portfolios may invest cash in short-term repurchase agreements. In addition, the following cash investments are permissible:

 

Portfolios

   Permissible Cash Investment        

Percentage

Guidelines**

 

The Domestic Equity Portfolios

  

High quality, highly liquid fixed income securities,* such as money market instruments; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***

        20%

    

              

VA International Value Portfolio

  

Fixed income obligations* as may be

         

 

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Portfolios

   Permissible Cash Investment        

Percentage

Guidelines**

 

    

acquired by the Fixed Income Portfolios; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***

        20%

    

              

VA International Small Portfolio

  

Fixed income obligations,* such as money market instruments; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***

        20%

    

              

The Fixed Income Portfolios

  

Affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***

        20%

*     With respect to fixed income instruments, except in connection with corporate actions, the Portfolios will invest in fixed income instruments that at the time of purchase have an investment grade rating by a rating agency or are deemed to be investment grade by the Advisor.

**   The percentage guidelines set forth above are not absolute limitations, but the Portfolios do not expect to exceed these guidelines under normal circumstances.

*** Investments in money market mutual funds may involve duplication of certain fees and expenses.

CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES

VA International Small Portfolio may invest up to 5% of its assets in convertible debentures issued by non-U.S. companies. Convertible debentures include corporate bonds and notes that may be converted into or exchanged for common stock. These securities are generally convertible either at a stated price or a stated rate (that is, for a specific number of shares of common stock or other security). As with other fixed income securities, the price of a convertible debenture to some extent varies inversely with interest rates. While providing a fixed-income stream (generally higher in yield than the income derived from a common stock but lower than that afforded by a non-convertible debenture), a convertible debenture also affords the investor an opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation of the common stock into which it is convertible. As the market price of the underlying common stock declines, convertible debentures tend to trade increasingly on a yield basis and so may not experience market value declines to the same extent as the underlying common stock. When the market price of the underlying common stock increases, the price of a convertible debenture tends to rise as a reflection of the value of the underlying common stock. To obtain such a higher yield, the Portfolio may be required to pay for a convertible debenture an amount in excess of the value of the underlying common stock. Common stock acquired by the Portfolio upon conversion of a convertible debenture will generally be held for as long as the Advisor anticipates such stock will provide the Portfolio with opportunities which are consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objective and policies.

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

The Portfolios, except the VA Short-Term Fixed and VA Global Bond Portfolios, may invest in Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”) and similarly structured pooled investments that provide exposure to equity markets for the purposes of gaining exposure to the equity markets while maintaining liquidity. An ETF is an investment company whose goal is to track or replicate a desired index, such as a sector, market or global segment. ETFs are passively managed, and traded similarly to a publicly traded company. The risks and costs of investing in ETFs are similar to those of investing in a publicly traded company. The goal of an ETF is to correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of its underlying index. The risk of not correlating to the index is an additional risk to the investors of ETFs. When a Portfolio invests in an ETF, shareholders of the Portfolio bear their proportionate share of the underlying ETF’s fees and expenses.

 

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DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Directors

Organization of the Board

The Board of Directors of the Fund (the “Board”) is responsible for establishing the Fund’s policies and for overseeing the management of the Fund. The Board of Directors elects the officers of the Fund, who, along with third party service providers, are responsible for administering the day-to-day operations of the Fund. The Board of Directors of the Fund is comprised of two interested Directors and six disinterested Directors. David G. Booth, an interested Director, is Chairman of the Board. The Board has not found it necessary to appoint a lead disinterested Director because it believes that the existing structure of the Board allows for effective communication among the disinterested Directors, between the disinterested Directors and interested Directors, as well as between the disinterested Directors and management. The existing Board structure for the Fund also provides the disinterested Directors with adequate influence over the governance of the Board and the Fund, while also providing the Board with the invaluable insight of the two interested Directors, who, as both officers of the Fund and the Advisor, participate in the day-to-day management of the Fund’s affairs, including risk management.

The agenda for each quarterly meeting of the Board is provided at least two weeks prior to the meeting to the disinterested Directors in order to provide the Directors with the opportunity to contact Fund management and/or the disinterested Directors’ independent counsel regarding agenda items. In addition, the disinterested Directors regularly communicate with Mr. Booth regarding items of interest to them in between regularly scheduled meetings of the Board. The Board of the Fund meets in person at least four times each year and by telephone at other times. At each in-person meeting, the disinterested Directors meet in executive session with their independent counsel to discuss matters outside the presence of management.

The Board has three standing committees, an Audit Committee, a Nominating Committee and a Portfolio Performance and Service Review Committee (“Performance Committee”) that are composed entirely of disinterested Directors. As described below, through these Committees, the disinterested Directors have direct oversight of the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies, the selection and nomination of candidates to the Fund’s Board and the review of the investment performance of the series of the Fund and the performance of the Fund’s service providers.

The Board’s Audit Committee is comprised of George M. Constantinides, Roger G. Ibbotson and Abbie J. Smith. The Audit Committee for the Board oversees the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies and practices, the Fund’s internal controls, the Fund’s financial statements and the independent audits thereof and performs other oversight functions as requested by the Board. The Audit Committee for the Board recommends the appointment of the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and also acts as a liaison between the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and the full Board. There were two Audit Committee meetings held for the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

The Board’s Nominating Committee is comprised of George M. Constantinides, John P. Gould, Roger G. Ibbotson, Edward P. Lazear, Myron S. Scholes and Abbie J. Smith. The Nominating Committee for the Board makes recommendations for nominations of disinterested and interested members on the Board to the disinterested Board members and to the full board. The Nominating Committee evaluates a candidate’s qualification for Board membership and the independence of such candidate from the Advisor and other principal service providers. There were three Nominating Committee meetings held for the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

The Board’s Performance Committee is comprised of George M. Constantinides, Roger G. Ibbotson, Abbie J. Smith, John P. Gould, Edward P. Lazear and Myron S. Scholes. The Performance Committee regularly reviews and monitors the investment performance of the Fund’s series, including the Portfolios, and reviews the performance of the Fund’s service providers. There were seven Performance Committee meetings held for the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

 

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In addition to the Audit Committee, Nominating Committee and Performance Committee, the Board has an Investment Review Committee that assists the Board in carrying out its fiduciary duties with respect to the oversight of the Fund and its performance (the “Review Committee”). The Review Committee consists of both interested and disinterested Directors. The Review Committee is comprised of John P. Gould, Edward P. Lazear, Myron S. Scholes and Eduardo A. Repetto. At the request of the Board or the Advisor, the Review Committee (i) reviews the design of possible new series of the Fund, (ii) reviews performance of existing Portfolios of the Fund, and discusses and recommends possible enhancements to the Portfolios’ investment strategies, (iii) reviews proposals by the Advisor to modify or enhance the investment strategies or policies of each Portfolio, and (iv) considers issues relating to investment services for each Portfolio of the Fund. The Review Committee was formed on December 17, 2010. Consequently, there were no Review Committee meetings held for the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

The Board of the Fund, including all of the disinterested Directors, oversees and approves the contracts of the third party service providers that provide advisory, administrative, custodial and other services to the Fund.

Board Oversight of Risk Management

The Board, as a whole, considers risk management issues as part of its general oversight responsibilities throughout the year at regular board meetings, through regular reports that have been developed by Fund management and the Advisor. These reports address certain investment, valuation and compliance matters. The Board also may receive special written reports or presentations on a variety of risk issues, either upon the Board’s request or upon the initiative of the Advisor. In addition, the Audit Committee of the Board meets regularly with management of the Advisor to review reports on the Advisor’s examinations of functions and processes that affect the Fund.

With respect to investment risk, the Board receives regular written reports describing and analyzing the investment performance of the Fund’s portfolios. The Board discusses these reports and the portfolios’ performance and investment risks with management of the Advisor at the Board’s regular meetings. The Investment Committee of the Advisor meets regularly to discuss a variety of issues, including the impact that the investment in particular securities or instruments, such as derivatives, may have on the portfolios. To the extent that the Investment Committee of the Advisor decides to materially change an investment strategy or policy of a portfolio and such change could have a significant impact on the portfolio’s risk profile, the Advisor will present such change to the Board for their approval.

With respect to valuation, the Advisor and the Fund’s Administrative and Accounting Agent provide regular written reports to the Board that enables the Board to review fair valued securities in a particular portfolio. Such reports also include information concerning illiquid and any worthless securities held by each portfolio. In addition, the Fund’s Audit Committee reviews valuation procedures and pricing results with the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm in connection with such Committee’s review of the results of the audit of each portfolio’s year-end financial statements.

With respect to compliance risks, the Board receives regular compliance reports prepared by the Advisor’s compliance group and meets regularly with the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) to discuss compliance issues, including compliance risks. As required under SEC rules, the disinterested Directors meet at least quarterly in executive session with the CCO, and the Fund’s CCO prepares and presents an annual written compliance report to the Board. The Fund’s Board adopts compliance policies and procedures for the Fund and receives information about the compliance procedures in place for the Fund’s service providers. The compliance policies and procedures are specifically designed to detect and prevent violations of the federal securities laws.

The Advisor periodically provides information to the Board relevant to enterprise risk management describing the way in which certain risks are managed at the complex-wide level by the Advisor. Such presentations include areas such as counter-party risk, material fund vendor or service provider risk, investment risk, reputational risk, personnel risk and business continuity risk.

Director Qualifications

 

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When a vacancy occurs on the Board, the Nominating Committee of the Board evaluates a candidate’s qualification for Board membership and the independence of such candidate from the Advisor and other principal service providers. The Nominating Committee will consider nominees recommended by Qualifying Fund Shareholders if a vacancy occurs among Board members. A Qualifying Fund Shareholder is a shareholder, or group of shareholders, that: (i) owns of record, or beneficially through a financial intermediary, 5% or more of the Fund’s outstanding shares, and (ii) has owned such shares for 12 months or more prior to submitting the recommendation to the Committee. Such recommendations shall be directed to the Secretary of the Fund at 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, Texas 78746. The Qualifying Fund Shareholder’s letter should include: (i) the name and address of the Qualifying Fund Shareholder making the recommendation; (ii) the number of shares of each Portfolio of the Fund that are owned of record and beneficially by such Qualifying Fund Shareholder, and the length of time that such shares have been so owned by the Qualifying Fund Shareholder; (iii) a description of all arrangements and understandings between such Qualifying Fund Shareholder and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the recommendation is being made; (iv) the name and address of the nominee; and (v) the nominee’s resume or curriculum vitae. The Qualifying Fund Shareholder’s letter must be accompanied by a written consent of the individual to stand for election if nominated for the Board and to serve if elected by shareholders. The Committee also may seek such additional information about the nominee as the Committee considers appropriate, including information relating to such nominee that is required to be disclosed in solicitations or proxies for the election of Board members.

The Nominating Committee of the Board believes that it is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders to obtain highly-qualified individuals to serve as members of the Board. The Fund’s Board believes that each Director currently serving on the Board has the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills to allow the Board to effectively oversee the management of the Fund and protect the interests of shareholders. The Board noted that each Director had professional experience in areas of importance for investment companies. The Board considered that each disinterested Director held an academic position in the areas of finance, economics or accounting. The Board also noted that John P. Gould, Myron S. Scholes and Abbie J. Smith each had experience serving as a director on the boards of operating companies and/or other investment companies. In addition, the Board considered that David G. Booth and Eduardo A. Repetto contributed valuable experience due to their positions with the Advisor. Certain biographical information for each disinterested Director and each interested Director of the Fund is set forth in the tables below, including a description of each Director’s experience as a Director of the Fund and as a director or trustee of other funds, as well as other recent professional experience.

Disinterested Directors

 

Name, Address and

            Age

  Position     Term of 

Office1 

and 

Length 

of 

Service 

 

Principal Occupation During Past 5

Years

 

Portfolios within  the DFA Fund  Complex2 

Overseen 

  Other Directorships of      
Public Companies Held     
During Past 5 Years     

George M. Constantinides University of Chicago Booth School of Business

5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

Age: 63

  Director     Since
1983
  Leo Melamed Professor of Finance, University of Chicago Booth School of Business.   89 portfolios in 4 investment companies   None

John P. Gould

University of Chicago Booth School of Business

5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

Age: 72

  Director     Since
1986
 

Steven G. Rothmeier Distinguished Service Professor of Economics, University of Chicago Booth School of Business (since 1965). Member and Chair, Competitive Markets Advisory Council, Chicago Mercantile Exchange (futures trading exchange) (since 2004). Formerly, Director of UNext Inc. (1999-2006). Formerly, Member of the Board of Milwaukee Insurance Company (1997-2010).

 

  89 portfolios in 4 investment companies   Trustee, Harbor Funds
(registered investment
company) (28 Portfolios)
(since 1994).

 

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Name, Address and

            Age

  Position     Term of 

Office1 

and 

Length 

of 

Service 

 

Principal Occupation During Past 5

Years

 

Portfolios within  the DFA Fund  Complex2 

Overseen 

  Other Directorships of      
Public Companies Held     
During Past 5 Years     

Roger G. Ibbotson

Yale School of

Management

P.O. Box 208200

New Haven, CT

06520-8200

Age: 67

  Director   Since
1981
 

Professor in Practice of Finance, Yale School of Management (since 1984). Consultant to Morningstar, Inc. (since 2006). Chairman, CIO and Partner, Zebra Capital Management, LLC (hedge fund and asset manager) (since 2001). Formerly, Chairman, Ibbotson Associates, Inc., Chicago, IL (software, data, publishing and consulting) (1977-2006). Formerly, Director, BIRR Portfolio Analysis, Inc. (software products) (1990-2010).

 

  89 portfolios in 4 investment companies   None

Edward P. Lazear

Stanford University

Graduate School of

Business

518 Memorial Way

Stanford, CA 94305-5015

Age: 62

  Director   Since
2010
 

Morris Arnold Cox Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution (since 2002). Jack Steele Parker Professor of Human Resources Management and Economics, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University (since 1995). Cornerstone Research (expert testimony and economic and financial analysis) (since 2009). Formerly, Chairman of the President George W. Bush’s Council of Economic Advisers (2006- 2009). Council of Economic Advisors, State of California (2005-2006). Commissioner, White House Panel on Tax Reform (2005).

 

  89 portfolios in 4 investment companies   None

Myron S. Scholes

c/o Dimensional Fund

Advisors LP

6300 Bee Cave Road,

Building One

Austin, TX 78746

Age: 69

 

  Director   Since
1981
  Frank E. Buck Professor Emeritus of Finance, Stanford University (since 1981). Formerly, Chairman, Platinum Grove Asset Management L.P. (hedge fund) (formerly, Oak Hill Platinum Partners) (1999-2009). Formerly, Managing Partner, Oak Hill Capital Management (private equity firm) (until 2004). Formerly, Director, Chicago Mercantile Exchange (2001-2008).   89 portfolios in 4 investment companies   Director, American Century
Fund Complex (registered
investment companies) (40
Portfolios) (since 1980).

Abbie J. Smith

University of Chicago

Booth School of

Business

5807 S. Woodlawn

Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

Age: 57

  Director   Since
2000
  Boris and Irene Stern Distinguished Service Professor of Accounting, University of Chicago Booth School of Business (since 1980); Co-Director Investment Research, Fundamental Investment Advisors (hedge fund) (since 2008).   89 portfolios in 4 investment companies   Director, HNI Corporation
(formerly known as HON
Industries Inc.) (office
furniture) (since 2000);
Director, Ryder System Inc.
(transportation, logistics
and supply-chain
management) (since 2003);
and Trustee, UBS Funds (3
investment companies
within the fund complex)
(52 portfolios) (since 2009).
                        

Interested Directors

The following Interested Directors are described as such because they are deemed to be “interested persons,” as that term is defined under the 1940 Act, due to their positions with the Advisor.

 

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    Name, Address

        and Age

  Position     Term of 

Office1 

and 

Length 

of 

Service 

  Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years  

Portfolios 

within the 

DFA Fund  Complex2 

Overseen 

  Other 

Directorships of 
Public Companies 

Held During Past 5 

Years 

David G. Booth

6300 Bee Cave

Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

Age: 64

  Chairman,
Director,
President
and Co-
Chief
Executive
Officer
  Since
1981
 

Chairman, Director/Trustee, President, Co-Chief Executive Officer and, formerly, Chief Executive Officer (until 1/1/2010) and Chief Investment Officer (2003 to 3/30/2007) of the following companies: Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, DFA Securities LLC, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund, DFAIDG, Dimensional Investment Group Inc. and The DFA Investment Trust Company. Chairman, Director, President and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Dimensional Holdings Inc. and formerly Chief Executive Officer (until 1/1/2010) and Chief Investment Officer (until 3/30/2007). Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. and formerly, Chief Investment Officer. Director of DFA Australia Limited and formerly, President and Chief Investment Officer. Director of Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC. Chairman and President of Dimensional SmartNest LLC and Dimensional SmartNest (US) LLC. Limited Partner, Oak Hill Partners (since 2001) and VSC Investors, LLC (since 2007). Trustee, University of Chicago. Trustee, University of Kansas Endowment Association. Formerly, Director, SA Funds (registered investment company). Chairman, Director and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director, Dimensional Cayman Commodity Fund I Ltd.

 

  89 portfolios in 4 investment companies   None

Eduardo A. Repetto

6300 Bee Cave

Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

Age: 44

  Director,
Co-Chief
Executive
Officer
and Chief
Investment
Officer
  Since
2009
 

Co-Chief Executive Officer (beginning January 2010), Chief Investment Officer (beginning March 2007) and formerly, Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, Dimensional Holdings Inc., DFA Securities LLC, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund, DFAIDG, Dimensional Investment Group Inc., The DFA Investment Trust Company, and Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC; Director of all such entities except Dimensional Fund Advisors LP and DFA Securities LLC. Chief Investment Officer, Vice President and Director of DFA Australia Limited. Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC and Dimensional Cayman Commodity Fund I Ltd.

 

  89 portfolios in 4 investment companies   None

 

  1

Each Director holds office for an indefinite term until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

 

  2

Each Director is a director or trustee of each of the four registered investment companies within the DFA Fund Complex, which include: the Fund; Dimensional Investment Group Inc.; The DFA Investment Trust Company; and Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund. Each Disinterested Director also serves on the Independent Review Committee of the Dimensional Funds, mutual funds registered in the provinces of Canada and managed by the Advisor’s affiliate, Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

 

12


Table of Contents

Information relating to each Director’s ownership (including the ownership of his or her immediate family) in each Portfolio of the Fund in this SAI and in all registered investment companies in the DFA Fund Complex as of December 31, 2010 is set forth in the chart below.

 

Name

   Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned    Aggregate Dollar Range of Shares Owned in All Funds Overseen by Director in Family of Investment Companies

Disinterested Directors:

         

George M. Constantinides

   None   

None Directly; Over $100,000 in

Simulated Funds**

John P. Gould

   None   

None Directly; Over $100,000 in

Simulated Funds **

Roger G. Ibbotson

   None   

Over $100,000; Over $100,000 in

Simulated Funds**

Edward P. Lazear

   None   

None Directly.

 

Myron S. Scholes

   None   

$50,001-$100,000; Over $100,000 in

Simulated Funds**

Abbie J. Smith

   None   

None Directly; Over $100,000 in

Simulated Funds **

Interested Directors:

         

David G. Booth

   None   

Over $100,000

 

Eduardo A. Repetto

   None    Over $100,000

**     As discussed below, the compensation to certain of the disinterested Directors may be in amounts that correspond to a hypothetical investment in a cross-section of the DFA Funds. Thus, the disinterested Directors who are so compensated experience the same investment returns that are experienced by shareholders of the DFA Funds although the disinterested Directors do not directly own shares of the DFA Funds.

Set forth below is a table listing, for each Director entitled to receive compensation, the compensation received from the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010 and the total compensation received from all four registered investment companies for which the Advisor served as investment advisor during that same period. The table also provides the compensation paid by the Fund to the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer for fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

 

Name and Position

  

Aggregate

Compensation

from the Fund

  

Pension or

Retirement

Benefits as

Part of

Expenses

  

Estimated
Annual
Benefit upon
Retirement

  

Total

Compensation

from Funds

and DFA Fund

Complex Paid to

Directors†

George M. Constantinides

  Director

   $108,410    N/A    N/A    $175,000

John P. Gould

  Director

   $108,410    N/A    N/A    $175,000

Roger G. Ibbotson

  Director

   $114,889    N/A    N/A    $185,000

Edward P. Lazear**

  Director

   $0    N/A    N/A    $0

Myron S. Scholes

  Director

   $108,410    N/A    N/A    $175,000

Abbie J. Smith

  Director

   $108,410    N/A    N/A    $175,000

 

13


Table of Contents

Name and Position

  

Aggregate

Compensation

from the Fund

  

Pension or
Retirement
Benefits as
Part of
Expenses

  

Estimated
Annual
Benefit upon
Retirement

  

Total

Compensation

from Funds

and DFA Fund

Complex Paid to

Directors†

Christopher S. Crossan

  Chief Compliance Officer

   $210,470    N/A    N/A    N/A

 

The term DFA Fund Complex refers to the four registered investment companies for which the Advisor performs advisory or administrative services and for which the individuals listed above serve as directors/trustees on the Boards of Directors/Trustees of such companies.

 

*

Under a deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) adopted effective January 1, 2002, the disinterested Directors of the Fund may defer receipt of all or a portion of the compensation for serving as members of the four Boards of Directors/Trustees of the investment companies in the DFA Fund complex (the “DFA Funds”). Amounts deferred under the Plan are treated as though equivalent dollar amounts had been invested in shares of a cross-section of the DFA Funds (the “Reference Funds” or “Simulated Fund”). The amounts ultimately received by the disinterested Directors under the Plan will be directly linked to the investment performance of the Reference Funds. Deferral of fees in accordance with the Plan will have a negligible effect on a fund’s assets, liabilities, and net income per share, and will not obligate a fund to retain the services of any disinterested Director or to pay any particular level of compensation to the disinterested Director. The total amount of deferred compensation accrued by the disinterested Directors from the DFA Fund Complex who participated in the Plan during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010 is as follows: $185,000 (Mr. Ibbotson). A disinterested Director’s deferred compensation will be distributed at the earlier of: (a) January in the year after the disinterested Director’s resignation from the Boards of Directors/Trustees of the DFA Funds, or death or disability; or (b) five years following the first deferral, in such amounts as the disinterested Director has specified. The obligations of the DFA Funds to make payments under the Plan will be unsecured general obligations of the DFA Funds, payable out of the general assets and property of the DFA Funds.

 

**

Mr. Lazear did not serve as a Director until December 17, 2010; therefore, he did not receive any compensation from the Fund or the DFA Fund Complex as of October 31, 2010.

Officers

Below is the name, age, information regarding positions with the Fund and the principal occupation for each officer of the Fund. The address of each officer is 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746. Each of the officers listed below holds the same office (except as otherwise noted) in the following entities: Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, Dimensional Holdings Inc., DFA Securities LLC, DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc., Dimensional Investment Group Inc., The DFA Investment Trust Company, and Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund (collectively, the “DFA Entities”).

 

         Name and Age    Position   

Term of  

Office1  

and  

Length of  

Service  

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

April A. Aandal

Age: 48

  

Vice President and

Chief Learning

Officer

   Since
2008
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Chief Learning Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2008). Formerly Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2004-2008).

Darryl D. Avery

Age: 44

   Vice President    Since
2005
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Arthur H. Barlow

Age: 55

   Vice President    Since
1993
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Scott A. Bosworth

Age: 42

   Vice President    Since
2007
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since November 1997).

 

14


Table of Contents
         Name and Age    Position   

Term of  

Office1  

and  

Length of  

Service  

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

Valerie A. Brown

Age: 44

  

Vice President and

Assistant Secretary

   Since
2001
   Vice President and Assistant Secretary of all the DFA Entities, DFA Australia Limited, Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., and Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

David P. Butler

Age: 45

   Vice President    Since
2007
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Director of Global Financial Advisor Services of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since 2008). Formerly, Director US Financial Advisor Services of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2005).

Joseph H. Chi

Age: 44

   Vice President    Since
2009
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since October 2005).

Stephen A. Clark

Age: 38

   Vice President    Since
2004
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Robert P. Cornell

Age: 61

   Vice President    Since
2007
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Financial Services Group of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since August 1993).

Christopher S. Crossan

Age: 45

   Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer    Since
2004
   Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of all the DFA Entities.

James L. Davis

Age: 54

   Vice President    Since
1999
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Robert T. Deere

Age: 53

   Vice President    Since
1994
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities and DFA Australia Limited.

Peter F. Dillard

Age: 39

   Vice President    Since
2010
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Research Associate for Dimensional Fund Advisors, LP (since August 2008). Formerly, Research Assistant for DFA from April 2006 – August 2008. Prior to April 2006, Manager at Hilton Hotels Corp. (September 2004 – April 2006).

Robert W. Dintzner

Age: 40

   Vice President    Since
2001
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Chief Communications Officer (since 2010).

Beth Ann Dranguet

Age: 40

   Vice President    Since
2010
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Counsel for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since July 2007). Formerly, Associate at Vinson & Elkins LLP (September 1999 – July 2007).

Kenneth Elmgren

Age: 56

   Vice President    Since
2007
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Managing Principal of Beverly Capital (May 2004 to September 2006).

Richard A. Eustice

Age: 45

  

Vice President and

Assistant Secretary

   Since
1998
   Vice President and Assistant Secretary of all the DFA Entities and DFA Australia Limited. Chief Operating Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (since July 2008). Formerly, Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Eugene F. Fama, Jr.

Age: 50

   Vice President    Since
1993
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Gretchen A. Flicker

Age: 39

   Vice President    Since
2004
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Jed S. Fogdall

Age: 36

   Vice President    Since
2008
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2004).

Jeremy P. Freeman

Age: 40

   Vice President    Since
2009
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Technology Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since June 2006). Formerly, Principal at AIM Investments/Amvescap PLC (now Invesco) (June 1998 – June 2006).

Mark R. Gochnour

Age: 43

   Vice President    Since
2007
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

Henry F. Gray

Age: 43

   Vice President    Since
2000
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited.

 

15


Table of Contents
         Name and Age    Position   

Term of  

Office1  

and  

Length of  

Service  

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

John T. Gray

Age: 36

   Vice President    Since
2007
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (January 2005 to February 2007).

Joel H. Hefner

Age: 43

   Vice President    Since
2007
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since June 1998).

Julie C. Henderson

Age: 36

  

Vice President and

Fund Controller

   Since
2005
   Vice President and Fund Controller of all the DFA Entities.

Kevin B. Hight

Age: 43

   Vice President    Since
2005
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Christine W. Ho

Age: 43

   Vice President    Since
2004
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Jeff J. Jeon

Age: 37

   Vice President    Since
2004
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Patrick M. Keating

Age: 56

   Vice President    Since
2003
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities and Chief Operating Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Director, Vice President, and Chief Privacy Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director of DFA Australia Limited.

David M. Kershner

Age: 39

   Vice President    Since
2010
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since June 2004).

Joseph F. Kolerich

Age: 39

   Vice President    Since
2004
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since April 2001).

Michael F. Lane

Age: 43

   Vice President    Since
2004
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Kristina M. LaRusso

Age: 35

   Vice President    Since
2006
   Vice President of all DFA Entities. Formerly, Operations Supervisor of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (March 2003 to December 2006).

Juliet H. Lee

Age: 40

   Vice President    Since
2005
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Human Resources Manager of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2004).

Apollo D. Lupescu

Age: 41

   Vice President    Since
2009
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since February 2004).

Kenneth M. Manell

Age: 38

   Vice President    Since
2010
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Counsel for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2006). Formerly, Assistant General Counsel at Castle & Cooke (January 2004 – September 2006).

Aaron M. Marcus

Age: 40

  

Vice President and

Head of Global

Human Resources

   Since
2008
   Vice President of all DFA Entities and Head of Global Human Resources of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Formerly, Global Head of Recruiting and Vice President of Goldman Sachs & Co. (June 2006 to January 2008); Global Co-Head of HR of the Equities & FICC Division, and Vice President of Goldman Sachs & Co. (May 2005 to May 2006);

David R. Martin

Age: 54

  

Vice President, Chief

Financial Officer

and Treasurer

   Since
2007
   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of all the DFA Entities. Director, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. and DFA Australia Limited. Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director of Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC. Formerly, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Janus Capital Group Inc. (June 2005 to March 2007).

Catherine L. Newell

Age: 46

  

Vice President and

Secretary

   Vice
President
since 1997
and
Secretary
since 2000
   Vice President and Secretary of all the DFA Entities. Director, Vice President and Secretary of DFA Australia Limited. Director, Vice President and Secretary of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (since February 2002, April 1997, and May 2002, respectively). Vice President and Secretary of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director of Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC (since 2002 and 2006, respectively).

 

16


Table of Contents
         Name and Age    Position   

Term of  

Office1  

and  

Length of  

Service  

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

Christian Newton

Age: 35

   Vice President    Since
2009
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Web Services Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2008). Formerly, Design Manager (2005 – 2008) of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

Carolyn L. O

Age: 36

   Vice President    Since
2010
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Counsel for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2007). Prior to September 2007, Associate at K&L Gates LLP (January 2004 – September 2007).

Gerard K. O’Reilly

Age: 34

   Vice President    Since
2007
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Research Associate of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2004 to 2006).

Daniel C. Ong

Age: 37

   Vice President    Since
2009
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since July 2005).

Kyle K. Ozaki

Age: 32

   Vice President    Since
2010
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Compliance Officer for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2008). Formerly, Compliance Officer (February 2006 – December 2007) and Compliance Analyst (August 2004 – January 2006).

Carmen Palafox

Age: 36

   Vice President    Since
2006
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Operations Manager of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since May 1996).

Sonya K. Park

Age: 38

   Vice President    Since
2005
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

David A. Plecha

Age: 49

   Vice President    Since
1993
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities, DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Theodore W. Randall

Age: 37

   Vice President    Since
2008
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Research Associate of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2006 to 2008); Systems Developer of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2001 to 2006).

L. Jacobo Rodríguez

Age: 39

   Vice President    Since
2005
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Julie A. Saft

Age: 51

   Vice President    Since
2010
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Client Systems Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since July 2008). Formerly, Senior Manager at Vanguard (November 1997 – July 2008).

David E. Schneider

Age: 65

   Vice President    Since
2001
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Director of Institutional Services of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

Walid A. Shinnawi

Age: 49

   Vice President    Since
2010
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since March 2006). Formerly, Senior Director at Moody’s KMV (1999-March 2006).

Bruce A. Simmons

Age: 46

   Vice President    Since
2009
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Investment Operations Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since May 2007). Formerly, Vice President Client and Fund Reporting at Mellon Financial (September 2005 – May 2007).

Ted R. Simpson

Age: 42

   Vice President    Since
2007
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since December 2002).

Bryce D. Skaff

Age: 36

   Vice President    Since
2007
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (December 1999 to January 2007).

Grady M. Smith

Age: 54

   Vice President    Since
2004
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Carl G. Snyder

Age: 47

   Vice President    Since
2000
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited.

Lawrence R. Spieth

Age: 63

   Vice President    Since
2004
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Bradley G. Steiman

Age: 37

   Vice President    Since
2004
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities and Director and Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

 

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Table of Contents
         Name and Age    Position   

Term of  

Office1  

and  

Length of  

Service  

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

Robert C. Trotter

Age: 52

   Vice President    Since
2009
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Manager Technology for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since March 2007). Formerly, Director of Technology at AMVESCAP (2002 – 2007).

Karen E. Umland

Age: 44

   Vice President    Since
1997
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities, DFA Australia Limited, Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., and Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

Brian J. Walsh

Age: 41

   Vice President    Since
2009
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since 2004).

Weston J. Wellington

Age: 59

   Vice President    Since
1997
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited.

Ryan J. Wiley

Age: 34

   Vice President    Since
2007
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Trader of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Formerly, Portfolio Manager (2006 to 2007) and Trader (2001 to 2006).

Paul E. Wise

Age: 55

   Vice President    Since
2005
   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Chief Technology Officer for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since 2004).
  1

Each officer holds office for an indefinite term at the pleasure of the Boards of Directors and until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

As of January 31, 2011, Directors and officers as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding stock of each Portfolio described in this SAI.

SERVICES TO THE FUND

Administrative Services

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”) (formerly, PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.), 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809, serves as the accounting services, dividend disbursing and transfer agent for each Portfolio. The services provided by BNY Mellon are subject to supervision by the executive officers and the Board of Directors of the Fund, and include day-to-day keeping and maintenance of certain records, calculation of the offering price of the shares, preparation of reports, liaison with its custodians, and transfer and dividend disbursing agency services. For the administrative and accounting services provided by BNY Mellon, the Portfolios pay BNY Mellon annual fees that are calculated daily and paid monthly according to a fee schedule based on the aggregate average net assets of the Fund Complex, which includes four registered investment companies and a group trust. The fee schedule is set forth in the table below:

.0110% of the Fund Complex’s first $50 billion of average net assets;

.0085% of the Fund Complex’s next $25 billion of average net assets; and

.0075% of the Fund Complex’s average net assets in excess of $75 billion.

The fees charged to the Portfolio under the fee schedule are allocated to each Portfolio based on the Portfolio’s pro rata portion of the aggregate average net assets of the Fund Complex.

Each Portfolio is also subject to a monthly base fee. The Domestic Equity Portfolios and VA Short-Term Fixed Income Portfolio are each subject to a monthly base fee of $1,666. The International Equity Portfolios and VA Global Bond Portfolio are each subject to a monthly base fee of $2,083.

The Portfolios also pay separate fees to BNY Mellon with respect to the services BNY Mellon provides as transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent.

Custodians

PFPC Trust Company (to be renamed BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company effective July 1, 2011), 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809, serves as custodian for the Domestic Equity Portfolios and VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio. Citibank, N.A., 111 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005, serves as the global

 

18


Table of Contents

custodian for the International Equity Portfolios and VA Global Bond Portfolio. The custodians maintain a separate account or accounts for the Portfolios; receive, hold and release portfolio securities on account of the Portfolios; make receipts and disbursements of money on behalf of the Portfolios; and collect and receive income and other payments and distributions on account of the Portfolios’ portfolio securities.

Distributor

The Fund’s shares are distributed by DFA Securities LLC (formerly, DFA Securities Inc.) (“DFAS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Advisor. DFAS is registered as a limited purpose broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. The principal business address of DFAS is 1299 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, California 90401.

DFAS acts as an agent of the Fund by serving as the principal underwriter of the Fund’s shares. Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement with the Fund, DFAS uses its best efforts to seek or arrange for the sale of shares of the Fund, which are continuously offered. No sales charges are paid by investors or the Fund. No compensation is paid by the Fund to DFAS under the Distribution Agreement.

Legal Counsel

Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP serves as legal counsel to the Fund. Their address is 2600 One Commerce Square, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7098.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) is the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund and audits the annual financial statements of the Fund. PwC’s address is Two Commerce Square, Suite 1700, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042.

ADVISORY FEES

David G. Booth and Rex A. Sinquefield, as directors and/or officers of the Advisor and shareholders of the outstanding stock of the Advisor’s general partner, may be deemed controlling persons of the Advisor. Mr. Booth also serves as Director and officer of the Fund. For the services it provides as investment advisor to each Portfolio, the Advisor is paid a monthly fee calculated as a percentage of average net assets of the Portfolio. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009 and the fiscal period from December 1, 2007 to October 31, 2008, the Portfolios paid advisory fees to the Advisor (and any sub-advisor) as set forth in the following table:

 

Portfolio

  

Fiscal Year

Ended

2010

  (000)  

    

Fiscal Year

Ended

2009

  (000)  

    

Fiscal Period

Ended

2008

  (000)  

 

VA U.S. Targeted Value

     $      285             $      215             $      361       

VA U.S. Large Value

     $      278             $      214             $      291       

VA International Value

     $      341             $      257             $      358       

VA International Small

     $      330             $      246             $      320       

VA Short-Term Fixed

     $      217             $      202             $      198       

VA Global Bond

     $      247             $      217             $      224       

The Advisor pays DFAL a fee equal to 50,000 pounds sterling total per year, payable on a quarterly basis, for services to the VA International Small Portfolio. The Advisor pays DFA Australia a fee equal to $13,000 per year, payable on a quarterly basis, for services to VA International Small Portfolio.

 

19


Table of Contents

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

In accordance with the team approach used to manage the Portfolios, the portfolio managers and portfolio traders implement the policies and procedures established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers and portfolio traders also make daily investment decisions regarding the Portfolios including running buy and sell programs based on the parameters established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers named below coordinate the efforts of all other portfolio managers with respect to the day-to-day management of the category of portfolios indicated.

 

  

Domestic Equity Portfolios

  

Stephen A. Clark

  

International Equity Portfolios

  

Stephen A. Clark, Karen E. Umland, Joseph H. Chi and Jed S. Fogdall

  

Fixed Income Portfolios

  

Stephen A. Clark and David A. Plecha

Investments in Each Portfolio

The portfolio managers and their immediate families did not own any shares of the Portfolios contained in this SAI that they manage as of October 31, 2010.

Description of Compensation Structure

Portfolio managers receive a base salary and bonus. Compensation of a portfolio manager is determined at the discretion of the Advisor and is based on a portfolio manager’s experience, responsibilities, the perception of the quality of his or her work efforts and other subjective factors. The compensation of portfolio managers is not directly based upon the performance of the Portfolios or other accounts that the portfolio managers manage. The Advisor reviews the compensation of each portfolio manager annually and may make modifications in compensation as it deems necessary to reflect changes in the market. Each portfolio manager’s compensation consists of the following:

 

   

Base salary. Each portfolio manager is paid a base salary. The Advisor considers the factors described above to determine each portfolio manager’s base salary.

 

   

Semi-Annual Bonus. Each portfolio manager may receive a semi-annual bonus. The amount of the bonus paid to each portfolio manager is based upon the factors described above.

Portfolio managers may be awarded the right to purchase restricted shares of the stock of the Advisor, as determined from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Advisor or its delegees. Portfolio managers also participate in benefit and retirement plans and other programs available generally to all employees.

In addition, portfolio managers may be given the option of participating in the Advisor’s Long Term Incentive Plan. The level of participation for eligible employees may be dependent on overall level of compensation, among other considerations. Participation in this program is not based on or related to the performance of any individual strategies or any particular client accounts.

Other Managed Accounts

In addition to the Portfolios, each portfolio manager manages (i) other U.S. registered investment companies advised or sub-advised by the Advisor, (ii) other pooled investment vehicles that are not U.S. registered mutual funds and (iii) other accounts managed for organizations and individuals. The following table sets forth information regarding the total accounts for which each portfolio manager has the primary responsibility for coordinating the day-to-day management responsibilities.

 

20


Table of Contents
Name of Portfolio Manager   

Number of Accounts Managed and Total

Assets by Category As of October 31, 2010

 

Stephen A. Clark   

•    92 U.S. registered mutual funds with $133,626 million in total assets under management.

 

•    20 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $25,316 million in total assets under management. Out of these unregistered pooled investment vehicles, one client with an investment of $220 million in an unregistered pooled investment vehicle pays a performance-based advisory fee.

 

•    73 other accounts with $11,603 million in total assets under management, of which one account with $731 million in assets may be subject to a performance fee.

Karen E. Umland   

•    37 U.S. registered mutual funds with $58,973 million in total assets under management.

 

•    4 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $1,303 million in total assets under management.

 

•    26 other accounts with $7,671 million in total assets under management, of which one account with $731 million in assets may be subject to a performance fee.

Joseph H. Chi   

•    37 U.S. registered mutual funds with $58,973 million in total assets under management.

 

•    4 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $1,303 million in total assets under management.

 

•    26 other accounts with $7,671 million in total assets under management, of which one account with $731 million in assets may be subject to a performance fee.

Jed S. Fogdall   

•    37 U.S. registered mutual funds with $58,973 million in total assets under management.

 

•    4 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $1,303 million in total assets under management.

 

•    26 other accounts with $7,671 million in total assets under management, of which one account with $731 million in assets may be subject to a performance fee.

David A. Plecha   

•    18 U.S. registered mutual funds with $23,044 million in total assets under management.

 

•    9 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $18,146 million in total assets under management.

 

•    4 other accounts with $19 million in total assets under management.

Potential Conflicts of Interest

Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has the primary day-to-day responsibilities with respect to more than one Portfolio and other accounts. Other accounts include registered mutual funds (other than the Portfolios in this SAI), other unregistered pooled investment vehicles, and other accounts managed for organizations and individuals (“Accounts”). An Account may have similar investment objectives to a Portfolio, or may purchase, sell or hold securities that are eligible to be purchased, sold or held by a Portfolio. Actual or apparent conflicts of interest include:

 

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Time Management. The management of multiple Portfolios and/or Accounts may result in a portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of each Portfolio and/or Accounts. The Advisor seeks to manage such competing interests for the time and attention of portfolio managers by having portfolio managers focus on a particular investment discipline. Most Accounts managed by a portfolio manager are managed using the same investment models that are used in connection with the management of the Portfolios.

 

   

Investment Opportunities. It is possible that at times identical securities will be held by more than one Portfolio and/or Account. However, positions in the same security may vary and the length of time that any Portfolio or Account may choose to hold its investment in the same security may likewise vary. If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity that may be suitable for more than one Portfolio or Account, a Portfolio may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to an allocation of filled purchase or sale orders across all eligible Portfolios and Accounts. To deal with these situations, the Advisor has adopted procedures for allocating portfolio transactions across multiple Portfolios and Accounts.

 

   

Broker Selection. With respect to securities transactions for the Portfolios, the Advisor determines which broker to use to execute each order, consistent with its duty to seek best execution of the transaction. However, with respect to certain Accounts (such as separate accounts), the Advisor may be limited by the client with respect to the selection of brokers or may be instructed to direct trades through a particular broker. In these cases, the Advisor or its affiliates may place separate, non-simultaneous, transactions for a Portfolio and another Account that may temporarily affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment of the Portfolio or the Account.

 

   

Performance-Based Fees. For some Accounts, the Advisor may be compensated based on the profitability of the Account, such as by a performance-based management fee. These incentive compensation structures may create a conflict of interest for the Advisor with regard to Accounts where the Advisor is paid based on a percentage of assets because the portfolio manager may have an incentive to allocate securities preferentially to the Accounts where the Advisor might share in investment gains.

 

   

Investment in an Account. A portfolio manager or his/her relatives may invest in an Account that he or she manages and a conflict may arise where he or she may therefore have an incentive to treat the Account in which the portfolio manager or his/her relatives invest preferentially as compared to other Accounts for which he or she has portfolio management responsibilities.

The Advisor and the Fund have adopted certain compliance procedures that are reasonably designed to address these types of conflicts. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Fund was incorporated under Maryland law on June 15, 1981. Until June 1983, the Fund was named DFA Small Company Fund Inc. From September 18, 1995 until May 1, 2008, VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio was named the VA Large Value Portfolio. From inception until September 18, 1995, VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio was named DFA Global Value Portfolio and VA Global Bond Portfolio was named DFA Global Bond Portfolio. Prior to May 1, 2008, the VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio was named the VA Small Value Portfolio. The shares of each Portfolio, when issued and paid for in accordance with the Fund’s prospectus, will be fully paid and non-assessable shares, with equal, non-cumulative voting rights and no preferences as to conversion, exchange, dividends, redemption or any other feature.

Pursuant to an exemptive order from the SEC, shares of the Portfolios may be sold to registered separate accounts of various insurance companies offering variable annuity and variable life products. At present, the Board of Directors of the Fund does not foresee any disadvantage arising from the fact that each Portfolio may offer its shares to separate accounts of various insurance companies to serve as an investment vehicle for their variable separate accounts. However, a material conflict could arise between the interest of the different participating

 

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separate accounts. The Fund’s Board of Directors would monitor events in order to identify any material irreconcilable conflicts that may possibly arise and to determine what action, if any, should be taken in response to such conflicts of interest. If such conflicts were to occur, one or more insurance companies’ separate accounts might be required to withdraw its investments in one or more Portfolios, or shares of another Portfolio may be substituted by the Fund. As a result, a Portfolio might be forced to sell a portion of its securities at a disadvantageous price. In the event of such a material conflict, the affected insurance companies agree to take any necessary steps, including removing its separate account from the Portfolio if required by law, to resolve the matter.

CODE OF ETHICS

The Fund, the Advisor and DFAS have adopted a Code of Ethics, under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act, for certain access persons of the Portfolios. The Code is designed to ensure that access persons act in the interest of the Portfolios, and their shareholders, with respect to any personal trading of securities. Under the Code, access persons are generally prohibited from knowingly buying or selling securities (except for mutual funds, U.S. government securities and money market instruments) which are being purchased, sold or considered for purchase or sale by a Portfolio unless their proposed purchases are approved in advance. The Code also contains certain reporting requirements and securities trading clearance procedures.

SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS

Because of current federal securities law requirements, the Fund expects that its life insurance company shareholders will offer their contract owners the opportunity to instruct them as to how Portfolio shares allocable to their variable contracts will be voted with respect to certain matters, such as approval of investment advisory agreements. Generally, an insurance company will vote all Portfolio shares held in a separate account in the same proportion as it receives instructions from contract owners in that separate account. Under certain circumstances described in the insurance company separate account prospectus, the insurance company may not vote in accordance with the contract owner’s instructions.

With respect to matters which require shareholder approval, shareholders are entitled to vote only with respect to matters which affect the interest of the class of shares (Portfolio) which they hold, except as otherwise required by applicable law. If liquidation of the Fund should occur, shareholders would be entitled to receive on a per class basis the assets of the particular Portfolio whose shares they own, as well as a proportionate share of Fund assets not attributable to any particular class. Ordinarily, the Fund does not intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders, except as required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law. The Fund’s by-laws provide that special meetings of shareholders shall be called at the written request of shareholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting. Such meeting may be called to consider any matter, including the removal of one or more directors. Shareholders will receive shareholder communications with respect to such matters as required by the 1940 Act, including semi-annual and annual financial statements of the Fund, the latter being audited.

Shareholder inquiries may be made by writing or calling the Fund at the address or telephone number appearing on the cover. Only those individuals whose signatures are on file for the account in question may receive specific account information or make changes in the account registration.

PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

As of January 31, 2011, the following person(s) beneficially owned 5% or more of the outstanding stock of the Portfolios:

 

VA U.S. LARGE VALUE PORTFOLIO   

Monumental Life Insurance Company

     67.22

Products Dimensional VA*

4333 Edgewood Road NE

Cedar Rapids, IA 52499

  

 

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ING DFA World Equity Portfolio

     12.20

7337 E. Doubletree Ranch Road

Scottsdale, AZ

  

 

Sun Life Financial Insurance and Annuity

     6.85

Company (Bermuda) LTD

Argyle House

41 Cedar Avenue

Hamilton HM12, Bermuda

  

 

VA U.S. TARGETED VALUE PORTFOLIO

  

Monumental Life Insurance Company

     64.94

Products Dimensional VA*1

  

 

ING DFA World Equity Portfolio1

     15.21

 

VA INTERNATIONAL VALUE PORTFOLIO

  

Monumental Life Insurance Company

     61.74

Products Dimensional VA*1

  

 

ING DFA World Equity Portfolio1

     23.07

 

VA INTERNATIONAL SMALL PORTFOLIO

  

Monumental Life Insurance Company

     62.52

Products Dimensional VA*1

  

 

ING DFA World Equity Portfolio1

     14.08

 

Sun Life Financial Insurance and Annuity

     8.16

Company (Bermuda) Ltd *1

  

 

VA SHORT-TERM FIXED PORTFOLIO

  

Monumental Life Insurance Company

     81.67

Products Dimensional VA*1

  

 

Monumental Life Insurance Company*

     5.72

Advisors Edge Select Symmetry

  

4333 Edgewood Road NE

Cedar Rapids, IA 52499

  

 

VA GLOBAL BOND PORTFOLIO

  

 

Monumental Life Insurance Company

     77.05

Products Dimensional VA*1

  

 

Sun Life Financial Insurance and Annuity

     7.58

Company (Bermuda) Ltd *1

  

 

*

Owner of record only (omnibus).

 

1

See address for shareholder previously listed above.

 

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PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

The following information supplements the information set forth in the prospectus under the caption “PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES.”

The Fund will accept purchase and redemption orders on each day that the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for business, regardless of whether the Federal Reserve System is closed. However, no purchases by wire may be made on any day that the Federal Reserve System is closed. The Fund will generally be closed on days that the NYSE is closed. The NYSE is scheduled to be open Monday through Friday throughout the year except for days closed to recognize New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The Federal Reserve System is closed on the same days as the NYSE, except that it is open on Good Friday and closed on Columbus Day and Veterans’ Day. Orders for redemptions and purchases will not be processed if the Fund is closed.

Management believes that any dilutive effect of the cost of investing the proceeds of the sale of the shares of the Portfolios is minimal and, therefore, the shares of the Portfolios are currently sold at net asset value, without imposition of a reimbursement fee. Reimbursement fees may be charged prospectively from time to time based upon the future experience of the Portfolios. Any such charges will be described in the prospectus.

The Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend the offering of shares of any or all Portfolios or reject purchase orders when, in the judgment of management, such suspension or rejection is in the best interest of the Fund or a Portfolio.

The Fund may suspend redemption privileges or postpone the date of payment: (1) during any period when the NYSE is closed, or trading on the NYSE is restricted as determined by the SEC, (2) during any period when an emergency exists as defined by the rules of the SEC as a result of which it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund to dispose of securities owned by it, or fairly to determine the value of its assets and (3) for such other periods as the SEC may permit.

The Fund or its transfer agent may from time to time appoint a sub-transfer agent, such as a broker, for the receipt of purchase and redemption orders and funds from certain investors. With respect to purchases and redemptions through a sub-transfer agent, the Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when the sub-transfer agent receives the order. Shares of a Portfolio will be priced at the public offering price next calculated after receipt of the purchase or redemption order by the sub-transfer agent.

TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIO AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS

The following is a summary of some of the federal income tax consequences of investing in a Portfolio (sometimes referred to as “the Portfolio”). Because shares of the Portfolio are sold only to separate accounts of insurance companies, the tax consequences described below are generally not applicable to an owner of a variable life or variable annuity contract.

This “TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIO AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS” section is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and applicable regulations in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative, regulatory or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly change the tax rules applicable to the Portfolio and its shareholders. Any of these changes or court decisions may have a retroactive effect.

This discussion of “TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIOS AND THEIR SHAREHOLDERS” is not intended or written to be used as tax advice. The tax status of your investment in the Portfolio depends upon the features of your variable life or variable annuity contract. For further information, please refer to the prospectus of the insurance company separate account that offers your contract.

Taxation of the Portfolio

 

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The Portfolio has elected and intends to qualify (or, if newly organized, intends to elect and qualify) each year as a regulated investment company (sometimes referred to as a “regulated investment company,” “RIC” or “portfolio”) under Subchapter M of the Code. If the Portfolio qualifies, the Portfolio will not be subject to federal income tax on the portion of its investment company taxable income (that is, generally, taxable interest, dividends, net short-term capital gains, and other taxable ordinary income, net of expenses, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and net capital gain (that is, the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) that it distributes to shareholders.

Qualification as a regulated investment company. In order to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, the Portfolio must satisfy the following requirements:

 

   

Distribution Requirement —the Portfolio must distribute at least 90% of its investment company taxable income and 90% of its net tax-exempt income, if any, for the tax year (certain distributions made by the Portfolio after the close of its tax year are considered distributions attributable to the previous tax year for purposes of satisfying this requirement).

   

Income Requirement —the Portfolio must derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived from its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies and net income derived from qualified publicly traded partnerships (“QPTPs”).

   

Asset Diversification Test —the Portfolio must satisfy the following asset diversification test at the close of each quarter of the Portfolio’s tax year: (1) at least 50% of the value of the Portfolio’s assets must consist of cash and cash items, U.S. Government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and securities of other issuers (as to which the Portfolio has not invested more than 5% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets in securities of an issuer and as to which the Portfolio does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer); and (2) no more than 25% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets may be invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies) or of two or more issuers which the Portfolio controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses, or, collectively, in the securities of QPTPs.

In some circumstances, the character and timing of income realized by the Portfolio for purposes of the Income Requirement or the identification of the issuer for purposes of the Asset Diversification Test is uncertain under current law with respect to a particular investment, and an adverse determination or future guidance by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) with respect to such type of investment may adversely affect the Portfolio’s ability to satisfy these requirements. In other circumstances, the Portfolio may be required to sell portfolio holdings in order to meet the Income Requirement, Distribution Requirement, or Asset Diversification Test which may have a negative impact on the Portfolio’s income and performance.

The Portfolio may use “equalization accounting” (in lieu of making some cash distributions) in determining the portion of its income and gains that has been distributed. If the Portfolio uses equalization accounting, it will allocate a portion of its undistributed investment company taxable income and net capital gain to redemptions of Portfolio shares and will correspondingly reduce the amount of such income and gains that it distributes in cash. If the IRS determines that the Portfolio’s allocation is improper and that the Portfolio has under-distributed its income and gain for any taxable year, the Portfolio may be liable for federal income and/or excise tax. In addition, any such under-distribution of income might cause the Portfolio to fail to satisfy the Income Requirement and thereby not qualify as a regulated investment company for such taxable year.

If for any taxable year the Portfolio does not qualify as a regulated investment company, all of its taxable income (including its net capital gain) would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders, and the dividends would be taxable to the shareholders as ordinary income (or possibly as qualified dividend income) to the extent of the Portfolio’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Failure to qualify as a regulated investment company would thus have a negative impact on the Portfolio’s income and performance. Subject to savings provisions for certain inadvertent failures to satisfy the Income Requirement or

 

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Asset Diversification Test which, in general, are limited to those due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, it is possible that the Portfolio will not qualify as a regulated investment company in any given tax year. Even if such savings provisions apply, the Portfolio may be subject to a monetary sanction of $50,000 or more. Moreover, the Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of the Portfolio as a regulated investment company if it determines such a course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.

Capital loss carryovers. The capital losses of the Portfolio, if any, do not flow through to shareholders. Rather, the Portfolio may use its capital losses, subject to applicable limitations, to offset its capital gains without being required to pay taxes on or distribute to shareholders such gains that are offset by the losses. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (“RIC Mod Act”), if the Portfolio has a “net capital loss” (that is, capital losses in excess of capital gains) for a taxable year beginning after December 22, 2010 (the date of enactment of the RIC Mod Act), the excess (if any) of the Portfolio’s net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gains is treated as a short-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Portfolio’s next taxable year, and the excess (if any) of the Portfolio’s net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gains is treated as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Portfolio’s next taxable year. Any such net capital losses of the Portfolio that are not used to offset capital gains may be carried forward indefinitely to reduce any future capital gains realized by the Portfolio in succeeding taxable years. However, for any net capital losses realized in taxable years of the Portfolio beginning on or before December 22, 2010, the Portfolio is only permitted to carry forward such capital losses for eight years as a short-term capital loss. Under a transition rule, capital losses arising in a taxable year beginning after December 22, 2010 must be used before capital losses realized in a prior taxable year. The amount of capital losses that can be carried forward and used in any single year is subject to an annual limitation if there is a more than 50% “change in ownership” of the Portfolio. An ownership change generally results when shareholders owning 5% or more of the Portfolio increase their aggregate holdings by more than 50% over a three-year look-back period. An ownership change could result in capital loss carryovers being used at a slower rate (or, in the case of those realized in taxable years of the Portfolio beginning on or before December 22, 2010, to expire unutilized), thereby reducing the Portfolio’s ability to offset capital gains with those losses. An increase in the amount of taxable gains distributed to the Portfolio’s shareholders could result from an ownership change. The Portfolio undertakes no obligation to avoid or prevent an ownership change, which can occur in the normal course of shareholder purchases and redemptions or as a result of engaging in a tax-free reorganization with another portfolio. Moreover, because of circumstances beyond the Portfolio’s control, there can be no assurance that the Portfolio will not experience, or has not already experienced, an ownership change.

Deferral of late year losses. For taxable years of the Portfolio beginning after December 22, 2010, the Portfolio may elect to treat part or all of any “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in determining the Portfolio’s taxable income, net capital gain, net short-term capital gain, and earnings and profits. The effect of this election is to treat any such “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in characterizing Portfolio distributions for any calendar year (see “Taxation of Portfolio Distributions Distributions of capital gains” below). A “qualified late year loss” includes:

any net capital loss, net long-term capital loss, or net short-term capital loss incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year (“post-October losses”), and

the excess, if any, of (1) the sum of (a) specified losses incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year, and (b) other ordinary losses incurred after December 31 of the current taxable year, over (2) the sum of (a) specified gains incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year, and (b) other ordinary gains incurred after December 31 of the current taxable year.

The terms “specified losses” and “specified gains” mean ordinary losses and gains from the sale, exchange, or other disposition of property (including the termination of a position with respect to such property), foreign currency losses, and losses resulting from holding stock in a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) for which a mark-to-market election is in effect. The terms “ordinary losses” and “ordinary gains” mean other ordinary losses and gains that are not described in the preceding sentence. Since the Portfolio has a fiscal year ending in October, the amount of qualified late-year losses (if any) is computed without regard to any items of income, gain, or loss that are (a) post-October losses, (b) specified losses, and (c) specified gains.

 

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Undistributed capital gains. The Portfolio may retain or distribute to shareholders its net capital gain for each taxable year. The Portfolio currently intends to distribute net capital gains. If the Portfolio elects to retain its net capital gain, the Portfolio will be taxed thereon (except to the extent of any available capital loss carryovers) at the highest corporate tax rate (currently 35%). If the Portfolio elects to retain its net capital gain, it is expected that the Portfolio also will elect to have shareholders treated as if each received a distribution of its pro rata share of such gain, with the result that each shareholder will be required to report its pro rata share of such gain on its tax return as long-term capital gain, will receive a refundable tax credit for its pro rata share of tax paid by the Portfolio on the gain, and will increase the tax basis for its shares by an amount equal to the deemed distribution less the tax credit.

Excise tax distribution requirements. To avoid a 4% federal excise tax, the Code requires the Portfolio to distribute to its shareholders by December 31 of each year, at a minimum, the following amounts: 98% of its taxable ordinary income earned during the calendar year; 98% (or 98.2% beginning January 1, 2011) of its capital gain net income earned during the twelve-month period ending October 31; and 100% of any undistributed amounts from the prior year. Federal excise taxes will not apply to the Portfolio in a given calendar year, however, if all of its shareholders (other than certain “permitted shareholders”) at all times during the calendar year are segregated asset accounts of life insurance companies where the shares are held in connection with variable products. For purposes of determining whether the Portfolio qualifies for this exemption, any shares attributable to an investment in the Portfolio made in connection with organization of the Portfolio is disregarded as long as the investment doesn’t exceed $250,000. Under the RIC Mod Act, permitted shareholders now include other RICs eligible for the exemption (e.g. insurance dedicated funds-of-funds). If the Portfolio fails to qualify for the exemption, the Portfolio intends to declare and pay these distributions in December (or to pay them in January, in which case shareholders must treat them as received in December) but can give no assurances that its distributions will be sufficient to eliminate all taxes.

Foreign income tax. Investment income received by the Portfolio from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign income tax withheld at the source and the amount of tax withheld generally will be treated as an expense of the Portfolio. The United States has entered into tax treaties with many foreign countries which entitle the Portfolio to a reduced rate of, or exemption from, tax on such income. It is impossible to determine the effective rate of foreign tax in advance since the amount of the Portfolio's assets to be invested in various countries is not known. Under certain circumstances, the Portfolio may elect to pass-through foreign tax credits to shareholders, although it reserves the right not to do so.

Special Rules Applicable to Variable Contracts

The Portfolio intends to comply with the diversification requirements imposed by Section 817(h) of the Code and the regulations thereunder. These requirements, which are in addition to the diversification requirements imposed on the Portfolio by the 1940 Act and Subchapter M of the Code, place certain limitations on (i) the assets of the insurance company separate accounts that may be invested in securities of a single issuer and (ii) eligible investors. Because Section 817(h) and those regulations treat the assets of the Portfolio as assets of the corresponding division of the insurance company separate accounts, the Portfolio intends to comply with these diversification requirements. Specifically, the regulations provide that, except as permitted by the “safe harbor” described below, as of the end of each calendar quarter or within 30 days thereafter no more than 55% of the Portfolio’s total assets may be represented by any one investment, no more than 70% by any two investments, no more than 80% by any three investments and no more than 90% by any four investments. For this purpose, all securities of the same issuer are considered a single investment, and while each U.S. Government agency and instrumentality is considered a separate issuer, a particular foreign government and its agencies, instrumentalities and political subdivisions all will be considered the same issuer. Section 817(h) provides, as a safe harbor, that a separate account will be treated as being adequately diversified if the Asset Diversification is satisfied and no more than 55% of the value of the account’s total assets are cash and cash items (including receivables), government securities and securities of other RICs. The regulations also provide that the Portfolio’s shareholders are limited, generally, to life insurance company separate accounts, general accounts of the same life insurance company, an investment adviser or affiliate in connection with the creation or management of the Portfolio or the trustee of a qualified pension plan. Failure of the Portfolio to satisfy the Section 817(h) requirements would result in taxation of and treatment of the contract holders investing in a corresponding insurance company division other than as described in the applicable prospectuses of the various insurance company separate accounts.

 

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Also, a contract holder should not be able to direct the Portfolio’s investment in any particular asset so as to avoid the prohibition on investor control. The Treasury Department may issue future pronouncements addressing the circumstances in which a variable contract owner’s control of the investments of a separate account may cause the contract owner, rather than the insurance company, to be treated as the owner of the assets held by the separate account. If the contract owner is considered the owner of the separate account, income and gains produced by those securities would be included currently in the contract owner’s gross income. It is not known what standards will be set forth in any such pronouncements or when, if at all, these pronouncements may be issued.

Reference should be made to the prospectus for the applicable contract for more information regarding the federal income tax consequences to an owner of a contract.

Taxation of Portfolio Distributions

The Portfolio anticipates distributing substantially all of its investment company taxable income and net capital gain for each taxable year.

Distributions of net investment income. The Portfolio receives ordinary income generally in the form of dividends and/or interest on its investments. The Portfolio may also recognize ordinary income from other sources, including, but not limited to, certain gains on foreign currency-related transactions. This income, less expenses incurred in the operation of the Portfolio, constitutes its net investment income from which dividends may be paid to shareholders.

Distributions of capital gains. The Portfolio may realize a capital gain or loss in connection with sales or other dispositions of its portfolio securities. Distributions derived from the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Distributions from the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss will be taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long the shareholder has held their shares in the Portfolio.

Returns of capital. Distributions by the Portfolio that are not paid from earnings and profits will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of (and in reduction of) the shareholder’s tax basis in his shares; any excess will be treated as gain from the sale of his shares. Thus, the portion of a distribution that constitutes a return of capital will decrease the shareholder’s tax basis in his Portfolio shares (but not below zero), and will result in an increase in the amount of gain (or decrease in the amount of loss) that will be recognized by the shareholder for tax purposes on the later sale of such Portfolio shares. Return of capital distributions can occur for a number of reasons including, among others, the Portfolio over-estimates the income to be received from certain investments such as those classified as partnerships or equity real estate investment trusts.

Dividends-received deduction for corporations. Ordinary income dividends designated by the Portfolio as derived from qualified dividends from domestic corporations will qualify for the 70% dividends received deduction generally available to corporations. The availability of the dividends-received deduction is subject to certain holding period and debt financing restrictions imposed under the Code on the corporation claiming the deduction. Income derived by the Portfolio from investments in derivatives, fixed-income and foreign securities generally is not eligible for this treatment.

Tax shelter reporting. Under Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to the Portfolio’s shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the Internal Revenue Service a disclosure statement on Form 8886.

Consent dividends. The Portfolio may utilize consent dividend provisions of Section 565 of the Code to make distributions. Provided that all shareholders agree in a consent filed with the income tax return of the Portfolio to treat as a dividend the amount specified in the consent, the amount will be considered a distribution just as any other distribution paid in money and reinvested back into the Portfolio.

Investment in Foreign Securities

 

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The Portfolio may be subject to foreign withholding taxes on income from certain foreign securities. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes on the Portfolio and/or its shareholders. Any foreign withholding taxes could reduce the Portfolio’s distributions paid to its shareholders.

Pass-through of foreign tax credits. If at the end of the fiscal year more than 50% in value of the total assets of the Portfolio are invested in securities of foreign corporations, the Portfolio may elect to pass through to its shareholders their pro rata share of foreign income taxes paid by the Portfolio. If this election is made, the Portfolio may report more taxable income to a shareholder than it actually distributes. The shareholder will then be entitled either to deduct their share of these taxes in computing their taxable income or to claim a foreign tax credit for these taxes against their U.S. federal income tax (subject to limitations for certain shareholders). The Portfolio will provide shareholders with the information necessary to claim this deduction or credit on their personal income tax return if it makes this election. The Portfolio reserves the right not to pass through to its shareholders the amount of foreign income taxes paid by the Portfolio.

Effect of foreign debt investments on distributions. Most foreign exchange gains realized on the sale of debt securities are treated by the Portfolio as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes. Similarly, foreign exchange losses realized on the sale of debt securities generally are treated as ordinary losses. These gains when distributed are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income, and any losses reduce the Portfolio’s ordinary income otherwise available for distribution. This treatment could increase or decrease the Portfolio’s ordinary income distributions, and may cause some or all of the Portfolio’s previously distributed income to be classified as a return of capital.

PFIC securities. The Portfolio may invest in securities of foreign entities that could be deemed for tax purposes to be PFICs. In general, a PFIC is any foreign corporation if 75% or more of its gross income for its taxable year is passive income, or 50% or more of its average assets (by value) are held for the production of passive income. When investing in PFIC securities, the Portfolio intends to mark-to-market these securities and recognize any unrealized gains as ordinary income at the end of its fiscal year. Deductions for losses are allowable only to the extent of any current or previously recognized gains. These gains (reduced by allowable losses) are treated as ordinary income that the Portfolio is required to distribute, even though it has not sold or received dividends from these securities. Shareholders should also be aware that the designation of a foreign security as a PFIC security will cause its income dividends to fall outside of the definition of qualified foreign corporation dividends. These dividends generally will not qualify for the reduced rate of taxation on qualified dividends when distributed to shareholders by the Portfolio. In addition, if the Portfolio is unable to identify an investment as a PFIC and thus does not make a mark-to-market election, the Portfolio may be subject to U.S. federal income tax (the effect of which might be mitigated by making a mark-to-market election in a year prior to the sale) on a portion of any “excess distribution” or gain from the disposition of such shares even if such income is distributed as a taxable dividend by the Portfolio to its shareholders. Additional charges in the nature of interest may be imposed on the Portfolio in respect of deferred taxes arising from such distributions or gains. Any such taxes or interest charges could in turn reduce the Portfolio’s distributions paid to its shareholders.

Investment in Complex Securities

The Portfolio may invest in complex securities and such investments may be subject to numerous special and complicated tax rules. These rules could affect whether gains or losses recognized by the Portfolio are treated as ordinary income or capital gain, accelerate the recognition of income to the Portfolio, defer the Portfolio’s ability to recognize losses, and subject the Portfolio to U.S. federal income tax on income from certain of the Portfolio’s foreign investments. In turn, these rules may affect the amount, timing and/or tax character of the Portfolio’s income and, in turn, of the income distributed to its shareholders.

Effect of Future Legislation; Local Tax Considerations

The foregoing general discussion of U.S. federal income tax consequences is based on the Code and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and any such changes or decisions may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein. Rules of state and local taxation of

 

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ordinary income, qualified dividend income and capital gain dividends may differ from the rules for U.S. federal income taxation described above. Distributions may also be subject to additional state, local and foreign taxes depending on each shareholder’s particular situation. Non-U.S. shareholders may be subject to U.S. tax rules that differ significantly from those summarized above. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors as to the consequences of these and other state and local tax rules affecting investment in the Portfolio.

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

The Board of Directors of the Fund has delegated the authority to vote proxies for the portfolio securities held by the Portfolios to the Advisor in accordance with the Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (the “Voting Policies”) and Proxy Voting Guidelines (“Voting Guidelines”) adopted by the Advisor. The Voting Guidelines are largely based on those developed by Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third party service provider, except with respect to certain matters for which the Advisor has modified the standard voting guidelines. A concise summary of the Voting Guidelines is provided in an Appendix to this SAI.

The Investment Committee at the Advisor is generally responsible for overseeing the Advisor’s proxy voting process. The Investment Committee has formed a Corporate Governance Committee composed of certain officers, directors and other personnel of the Advisor and has delegated to its members authority to (i) oversee the voting of proxies, (ii) make determinations as to how to vote certain specific proxies, (iii) verify the on-going compliance with the Voting Policies, and (iv) review the Voting Policies from time to time and recommend changes to the Investment Committee. The Corporate Governance Committee may designate one or more of its members to oversee specific, ongoing compliance with respect to the Voting Policies and may designate other personnel of the Advisor to vote proxies on behalf of the Portfolios, including all authorized traders of the Advisor.

The Advisor seeks to vote (or refrains from voting) proxies in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Portfolios as understood by the Advisor at the time of the vote. Generally, the Advisor analyzes proxy statements on behalf of the Portfolios and instructs the vote (or refrains from voting) in accordance with the Voting Policies and the Voting Guidelines. Since most proxies the Advisor receives are instructed to be voted in accordance with the Voting Guidelines, it normally will not be necessary for the Advisor to make an actual determination of how to vote a particular proxy, thereby largely eliminating conflicts of interest for the Advisor during the proxy voting process. However, the Voting Policies do address the procedures to be followed if a conflict of interest arises between the interests of the Portfolios, and the interests of the Advisor or its affiliates. If a Corporate Governance Committee (“Committee”) member has actual knowledge of a conflict of interest and recommends a vote contrary to the Voting Guidelines (or in the case where the Voting Guidelines do not prescribe a particular vote and the proposed vote is contrary to the recommendation of ISS), the Committee member will bring the vote to the Committee which will (a) determine how the vote should be cast keeping in mind the principle of preserving shareholder value, or (b) determine to abstain from voting, unless abstaining would be materially adverse to the interest of the Portfolios. To the extent the Committee makes a determination regarding how to vote or to abstain for a proxy on behalf of a Portfolio in the circumstances described in this paragraph, the Advisor will report annually on such determinations to the Board of Directors of the Fund.

The Advisor will usually instruct voting of proxies in accordance with the Voting Guidelines. The Voting Guidelines provide a framework for analysis and decision making, however, the Voting Guidelines do not address all potential issues. In order to be able to address all the relevant facts and circumstances related to a proxy vote, the Advisor reserves the right to instruct votes counter to the Voting Guidelines if, after a review of the matter, the Advisor believes that the best interests of the Portfolio would be served by such a vote. In such a circumstance, the analysis will be documented in writing and periodically presented to the Corporate Governance Committee. To the extent that the Voting Guidelines do not cover potential voting issues, the Advisor will instruct the vote on such issues in a manner that is consistent with the spirit of the Voting Guidelines and that the Advisor believes would be in the best interests of the Portfolio.

The Advisor seeks to vote (or refrain from voting) proxies in a manner that the Advisor determines is in the best interests of a Portfolio and which seeks to maximize the value of that Portfolio’s investments. In some cases, the Advisor may determine that it is in the best interests of a Portfolio to refrain from exercising proxy voting rights. The Advisor may determine that voting is not in the best interest of a Portfolio and refrain from voting if the costs, including the opportunity costs, of voting would, in the view of the Advisor, exceed the expected benefits of voting.

 

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For securities on loan, the Advisor will balance the revenue-producing value of loans against the difficult-to-assess value of casting votes. It is the Advisor’s belief that the expected value of casting a vote generally will be less than the securities lending income, either because the votes will not have significant economic consequences or because the outcome of the vote would not be affected by the Advisor recalling loaned securities in order to ensure they are voted. The Advisor does intend to recall securities on loan if it determines that voting the securities is likely to materially affect the value of the Portfolio’s investment and that it is in the Portfolio’s best interests to do so. In cases where the Advisor does not receive a solicitation or enough information within a sufficient time (as reasonably determined by the Advisor) prior to the proxy-voting deadline, the Advisor or its service provider may be unable to vote.

With respect to non-U.S. securities, it is typically both difficult and costly to vote proxies due to local regulations, customs, and other requirements or restrictions. The Advisor does not intend to vote proxies of non-U.S. companies if the Advisor determines that the expected economic costs from voting outweigh the anticipated economic benefit to a Portfolio associated with voting. The Advisor intends to make its determination on whether to vote proxies of non-U.S. companies on a portfolio-by-portfolio basis, and generally seeks to implement uniform voting procedures for all proxies of companies in a country. The Advisor periodically reviews voting logistics, including costs and other voting difficulties, on a portfolio by portfolio and country by country basis, in order to determine if there have been any material changes that would affect the Advisor’s decision of whether or not to vote. In the event the Advisor is made aware of an believes an issue to be voted is likely to materially affect the economic value of a Portfolio, that its vote is reasonably likely to influence the ultimate outcome of the contest, and the expected benefits of voting the proxies exceed the costs, the Advisor seeks to will make every reasonable effort to vote such proxies.

The Advisor and the Fund have retained ISS to provide certain services with respect to proxy voting. ISS will provide information on shareholder meeting dates and proxy materials; translate proxy materials printed in a foreign language; provide research on proxy proposals and voting recommendations in accordance with the Voting Guidelines; effect votes on behalf of the Portfolios; and provide reports concerning the proxies voted (“Proxy Voting Services”). In addition, the Advisor may retain the services of supplemental third-party proxy service providers to provide, among other things, research on proxy proposals and voting recommendations for certain shareholder meetings, as identified in the Voting Guidelines. Although the Advisor retains third-party service providers for proxy issues, the Advisor remains responsible for proxy voting decisions. In this regard, the Advisor uses commercially reasonably efforts to oversee the directed delegation to third-party proxy voting service providers, upon which the Advisor relies to carry out the Proxy Voting Services. In the event that the Voting Guidelines are not implemented precisely as the Advisor intends because of the actions or omissions of any third party service providers, custodians or sub-custodians or other agents or any such persons experience any irregularities (e.g. misvotes or missed votes), then such instances will not necessarily be deemed by the Advisor as a breach of the Voting Policies.

Information regarding how each of the Portfolios voted proxies related to its portfolio securities during the 12 month period ended June 30 of each year is available, no later than August 31 of each year, without charge, (i) upon request, by calling collect: (512) 306-7400 or (ii) on the Advisor’s website at http://www.dimensional.com and (iii) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

The Advisor and the Board of Directors of the Fund (the “Board”) have adopted a policy (the “Policy”) to govern disclosure of the portfolio holdings of the Portfolios (“Holdings Information”), and to prevent the misuse of material non-public Holdings Information. The Advisor has determined that the Policy and its procedures (1) are reasonably designed to ensure that disclosure of Holdings Information is in the best interests of the shareholders of the Portfolios, and (2) appropriately address the potential for material conflicts of interest.

Disclosure of Holdings Information as Required by Applicable Law. Holdings Information (whether a partial listing of portfolio holdings or a complete listing of portfolio holdings) shall be disclosed to any person as required by applicable law, rules and regulations.

 

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Online Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings Information. Each Portfolio generally discloses up to its twenty-five largest portfolio holdings and the percentages that each of these largest portfolio holdings represent of the Portfolio’s total assets (“largest holdings”), as of the most recent month-end, online at the Advisor’s public website, http://www.dimensional.com, within twenty days after the end of each month. This online disclosure may also include information regarding the Portfolio’s industry allocations. Each Portfolio generally discloses its complete Holdings Information (other than cash and cash equivalents), as of month-end, online at the Advisor’s public website, http://www.dimensional.com, two months following the month-end, or more frequently and at different periods when authorized by a Designated Person (as defined below).

Disclosure of Holdings Information to Recipients. Each of the Advisor’s Chairmen, Director of Institutional Services, Head of Portfolio Management and Trading and General Counsel (together, the “Designated Persons”) may authorize disclosing non-public Holdings Information more frequently or at different periods than as described above solely to those financial advisors, registered accountholders, authorized consultants, authorized custodians, or third-party data service providers (each a “Recipient”) who: (i) specifically request the more current non-public Holdings Information and (ii) execute a Use and Nondisclosure Agreement (each a “Nondisclosure Agreement”). Each Nondisclosure Agreement subjects the Recipient to a duty of confidentiality with respect to the non-public Holdings Information, and prohibits the Recipient from trading based on the non-public Holdings Information. Any non-public Holdings Information that is disclosed shall not include any material information about a Portfolio’s trading strategies or pending portfolio transactions. The non-public Holdings Information provided to a Recipient under a Nondisclosure Agreement is not subject to a time delay before dissemination. Designated Persons may also approve the distribution of Holdings Information for a Portfolio more frequently or at a period other than as described above.

As of January 31, 2011, the Advisor and the Portfolios had ongoing arrangements with the following Recipients to make available non-public Holdings Information:

 

Recipient   

Portfolios

 

   Business Purpose        Frequency   

BNY Mellon Investment

Servicing (US) Inc.

   All Portfolios    Fund Administrator, Accounting Agent and Transfer Agent   

Daily

  

Citibank, N.A.

   International Equity Portfolios and VA Global Bond Portfolio    Fund Custodian   

Daily

  

Citibank, N.A.

   All Portfolios    Middle office operational support service provider to the Advisor   

Daily

  

Fund Evaluation Group LLC

   All Portfolios    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy   

Upon Request

  

Fund Evaluation Group LLC

   All Portfolios    Fair value information services   

Upon Request

  

PFPC Trust Company

(to be renamed BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company effective July 1, 2011)

   Domestic Equity Portfolios and VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio    Fund Custodian   

Daily

  

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

   All Portfolios    Independent registered public accounting firm   

Upon Request

  

Pricing Service Vendor

   International Equity    Fair value information services   

Daily

  

In addition, certain employees of the Advisor and its subsidiaries receive Holdings Information on a quarterly, monthly or daily basis, or upon request, in order to perform their business functions. The Portfolios, the Advisor, or other parties do not receive any compensation in connection with these arrangements.

The Policy includes the following procedures to ensure that disclosure of Holdings Information is in the best interests of shareholders, and to address any conflicts between the interests of shareholders, on the one hand, and the interests of the Advisor, DFAS or any affiliated person of the Funds, the Trust, the Advisor or DFAS, on the other. In order to protect the interests of shareholders, the Portfolios, and to ensure no adverse effect on

 

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shareholders, in the limited circumstances where a Designated Person is considering making non-public Holdings Information available to a Recipient, the Advisor’s Director of Institutional Services and the Chief Compliance Officer will consider any conflicts of interest. If the Chief Compliance Officer, following appropriate due diligence, determines in his or her reasonable business judgment that (1) the Portfolio has a legitimate business purpose for providing the non-public Holdings Information to a Recipient, and (2) disclosure of non-public Holdings Information to the Recipient would be in the interests of the shareholders and outweighs possible reasonably anticipated adverse effects, then the Chief Compliance Officer may approve the proposed disclosure.

The Chief Compliance Officer documents all disclosures of non-public Holdings Information (including the legitimate business purpose for the disclosure), and periodically reports to the Board on such arrangements. The Chief Compliance Officer is also responsible for ongoing monitoring of the distribution and use of non-public Holdings Information. Such arrangements are reviewed by the Chief Compliance Officer on an annual basis. Specifically, the Chief Compliance Officer requests an annual certification from each Recipient that the Recipient has complied with all terms contained in the Nondisclosure Agreement. Recipients who fail to provide the requested certifications are prohibited from receiving non-public Holdings Information.

The Board exercises continuing oversight of the disclosure of Holdings Information by: (1) overseeing the implementation and enforcement of the Policy by the Chief Compliance Officer of the Advisor and of the Fund; (2) considering reports and recommendations by the Chief Compliance Officer concerning the implementation of the Policy and any material compliance matters that may arise in connection with the Policy; and (3) considering whether to approve or ratify any amendments to the Policy. The Advisor and the Board reserve the right to amend the Policy at any time, and from time to time without prior notice, in their sole discretion.

Prohibitions on Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings and Receipt of Compensation. No person is authorized to disclose Holdings Information or other investment positions (whether online at http://www.dimensional.com, in writing, by fax, by e-mail, orally or by other means) except in accordance with the Policy. In addition, no person is authorized to make disclosure pursuant to the Policy if such disclosure is otherwise in violation of the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws.

The Policy prohibits a Portfolio, the Advisor or an affiliate thereof from receiving any compensation or other consideration of any type for the purpose of obtaining disclosure of non-public Holdings Information or other investment positions. “Consideration” includes any agreement to maintain assets in the Portfolio or in other investment companies or accounts managed by the Advisor or by any affiliated person of the Advisor.

The Policy and its procedures are intended to provide useful information concerning the Portfolios to existing and prospective shareholders, while at the same time preventing the improper use of Holdings Information. However, there can be no assurance that the furnishing of any Holdings Information is not susceptible to inappropriate uses, particularly in the hands of sophisticated investors, or that the Holdings Information will not in fact be misused in other ways, beyond the control of the Advisor.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Two Commerce Square, Suite 1700, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042, is the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and audits the Fund’s annual financial statements. The audited financial statements and financial highlights of the Portfolios for the fiscal period ended October 31, 2010, as set forth in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders relating to the Portfolios, including the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, are incorporated by reference into this SAI.

An investor may obtain a copy of the annual reports, upon request and without charge, by contacting the Fund at the address or telephone number appearing on the cover of this SAI.

PERFORMANCE DATA

 

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The Portfolios may compare their investment performance to appropriate market and mutual fund indices and investments for which reliable performance data is available. Such indices are generally unmanaged and are prepared by entities and organizations which track the performance of investment companies or investment advisors. Unmanaged indices often do not reflect deductions for administrative and management costs and expenses. The performance of the Portfolios may also be compared in publications to averages, performance rankings, or other information prepared by recognized mutual fund statistical services. Any performance information, whether related to the Portfolios or to the Advisor, should be considered in light of a Portfolio’s investment objectives and policies, characteristics and the quality of the portfolio and market conditions during the time period indicated and should not be considered to be representative of what may be achieved in the future.

 

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APPENDIX

Concise Summary of 2011 U.S. Proxy Voting Guidelines

Effective for Meetings on or after January 3, 2011

In order to provide greater analysis on certain shareholder meetings, the Advisor has elected to receive research reports for certain meetings, as indicated below, from Glass Lewis in addition to Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”).

Specifically, if available, the Advisor may obtain research from Glass Lewis in addition to ISS for shareholder meetings in the following circumstances: (1) where the Advisor’s clients have a significant aggregate holding in the issuer and the meeting agenda contains proxies concerning: Anti-takeover Defenses or Voting Related Issues, Mergers and Acquisitions or Reorganizations or Restructurings, Capital Structure Issues, Compensation Issues or a proxy contest; or (2) where the Advisor in its discretion, has deemed that additional research is warranted.

Where research is obtained from Glass Lewis in accordance with these Guidelines, the Advisor will first review the research reports obtained from ISS and Glass Lewis. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are the same, the Advisor will vote accordingly. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are inconsistent, the Advisor will vote in accordance with the ISS recommendation unless the Corporate Governance Committee determines that voting in accordance with the Glass Lewis recommendation is more consistent with the principle of preserving shareholder value.

Routine/Miscellaneous

Auditor Ratification

Vote FOR proposals to ratify auditors, unless any of the following apply:

 

   

An auditor has a financial interest in or association with the company, and is therefore not independent;

   

There is reason to believe that the independent auditor has rendered an opinion which is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position;

   

Poor accounting practices are identified that rise to a serious level of concern, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP; and material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures; or

   

Fees for non-audit services (“Other” fees) are excessive.

Non-audit fees are excessive if:

 

   

Non-audit (“other”) fees >audit fees + audit-related fees + tax compliance/preparation fees

Board of Directors

Voting on Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections

Votes on director nominees should be determined CASE-BY-CASE.

Four fundamental principles apply when determining votes on director nominees:

 

  1.

Board Accountability

  2.

Board Responsiveness

 

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  3.

Director Independence

  4.

Director Competence

 

1.

Board Accountability

VOTE WITHHOLD/AGAINST1 the entire board of directors (except new nominees2, who should be considered CASE-BY-CASE), for the following:

Problematic Takeover Defenses:

 

  1.1. The board is classified, and a continuing director responsible for a problematic governance issue at the board/committee level that would warrant a withhold/against vote recommendation is not up for election — any or all appropriate nominees (except new) may be held accountable;

 

  1.2. The board lacks accountability and oversight, coupled with sustained poor performance relative to peers. Sustained poor performance is measured by one- and three-year total shareholder returns in the bottom half of a company’s four-digit GICS industry group (Russell 3000 companies only). Take into consideration the company’s five-year total shareholder return and five-year operational metrics. Problematic provisions include but are not limited to:
 

A classified board structure;

 

 

A supermajority vote requirement;

 

 

Majority vote standard for director elections with no carve out for contested elections;

 

 

The inability for shareholders to call special meetings;

 

 

The inability for shareholders to act by written consent;

 

 

A dual-class structure; and/or

 

 

A non-shareholder approved poison pill.

 

  1.3. The company’s poison pill has a “dead-hand” or “modified dead-hand” feature. Vote withhold/against every year until this feature is removed;

 

  1.4. The board adopts a poison pill with a term of more than 12 months (“long-term pill”), or renews any existing pill, including any “short-term” pill (12 months or less), without shareholder approval. A commitment or policy that puts a newly-adopted pill to a binding shareholder vote may potentially offset an adverse vote recommendation. Review such

 

 

1  In

general, companies with a plurality vote standard use “Withhold” as the valid contrary vote option in director elections; companies with a majority vote standard use “Against”. However, it will vary by company and the proxy must be checked to determine the valid contrary vote option for the particular company.

 

2  A

“new nominee” is any current nominee who has not already been elected by shareholders and who joined the board after the problematic action in question transpired. If ISS cannot determine whether the nominee joined the board before or after the problematic action transpired, the nominee will be considered a “new nominee” if he or she joined the board within the 12 months prior to the upcoming shareholder meeting.

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companies with classified boards every year, and such companies with annually-elected boards at least once every three years, and vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD votes from all nominees if the company still maintains a non-shareholder-approved poison pill. This policy applies to all companies adopting or renewing pills after the announcement of this policy (Nov 19, 2009);

  1.5. The board makes a material adverse change to an existing poison pill without shareholder approval.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on all nominees if:

 

  1.6. the board adopts a poison pill with a term of 12 months or less (“short-term pill”) without shareholder approval, taking into account the following factors:
 

The date of the pill‘s adoption relative to the date of the next meeting of shareholders- i.e. whether the company had time to put the pill on ballot for shareholder ratification given the circumstances;

 

The issuer‘s rationale;

 

The issuer’s governance structure and practices; and

 

The issuer’s track record of accountability to shareholders.

Problematic Audit-Related Practices

Generally, vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from the members of the Audit Committee if:

 

  1.7. The non-audit fees paid to the auditor are excessive (see discussion under “Auditor Ratification”);
  1.8. The company receives an adverse opinion on the company’s financial statements from its auditor; or
  1.9. There is persuasive evidence that the audit committee entered into an inappropriate indemnification agreement with its auditor that limits the ability of the company, or its shareholders, to pursue legitimate legal recourse against the audit firm.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on members of the Audit Committee and/or the full board if:

 

  1.10.     Poor accounting practices are identified that rise to a level of serious concern, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP; and material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures. Examine the severity, breadth, chronological sequence and duration, as well as the company’s efforts at remediation or corrective actions, in determining whether WITHHOLD/AGAINST votes are warranted.

Problematic Compensation Practices

Vote WITHHOLD/AGAINST the members of the Compensation Committee and potentially the full board if:

 

  1.11.     There is a negative correlation between chief executive pay and company performance (see

    Pay for Performance Policy);

  1.12.     The company reprices underwater options for stock, cash, or other consideration without
      prior

shareholder approval, even if allowed in the company’s equity plan;

  1.13.     The company fails to submit one-time transfers of stock options to a shareholder vote;
  1.14.     The company fails to fulfill the terms of a burn rate commitment made to shareholders;

 

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  1.15.     The company has problematic pay practices. Problematic pay practices may warrant withholding votes from the CEO and potentially the entire board as well.

Governance Failures

Under extraordinary circumstances, vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from directors individually, committee members, or the entire board, due to:

 

  1.16.     Material failures of governance, stewardship, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company;
  1.17.     Failure to replace management as appropriate; or
  1.18.     Egregious actions related to the director(s)’ service on other boards that raise substantial doubt about his or her ability to effectively oversee management and serve the best interests of shareholders at any company.

2. Board Responsiveness

Vote WITHHOLD/AGAINST the entire board of directors (except new nominees, who should be considered CASE-BY-CASE), if:

 

  2.1. The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received approval by a majority of the shares outstanding the previous year; or

 

  2.2. The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received approval of the majority of shares cast in the last year and one of the two previous years.

 

  2.3. The board failed to act on takeover offers where the majority of the shareholders tendered their shares; or

 

  2.4. At the previous board election, any director received more than 50 percent withhold/against votes of the shares cast and the company has failed to address the issue(s) that caused the high withhold/against vote.

3. Director Independence

Vote WITHHOLD/AGAINST Inside Directors and Affiliated Outside Directors (per the Categorization of Directors) when:

 

  3.1. The inside or affiliated outside director serves on any of the three key committees: audit, compensation, or nominating;

 

  3.2. The company lacks an audit, compensation, or nominating committee so that the full board functions as that committee;

 

  3.3. The company lacks a formal nominating committee, even if the board attests that the independent directors fulfill the functions of such a committee; or

 

  3.4. The full board is less than majority independent.

4. Director Competence

VOTE WITHHOLD/AGAINST the entire board of directors (except new nominees, who should be considered CASE-BY-CASE), if:

 

  4.1. The company’s proxy indicates that not all directors attended 75 percent of the aggregate board and committee meetings, but fails to provide the required disclosure of the names of the director(s) involved.

 

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Generally vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from individual directors who:

 

  4.2. Attend less than 75 percent of the board and committee meetings (with the exception of new nominees). Acceptable reasons for director(s) absences are generally limited to the following:
 

Medical issues/illness;

 

Family emergencies; and

 

If the director’s total service was three meetings or fewer and the director missed only one meeting.

These reasons for directors’ absences will only be considered by ISS if disclosed in the proxy or another SEC filing. If the disclosure is insufficient to determine whether a director attended at least 75 percent of board and committee meetings in aggregate, vote AGAINST/WITHHOLD from the director.

Vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from individual directors who:

 

  4.3. Sit on more than six public company boards3; or

 

  4.4. Are CEOs of public companies who sit on the boards of more than two public companies besides their own—withhold only at their outside boards.

Voting for Director Nominees in Contested Elections*

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on the election of directors in contested elections, considering the following factors:

 

  Long-term financial performance of the target company relative to its industry;
  Management’s track record;
  Background to the proxy contest;
  Qualifications of director nominees (both slates);
  Strategic plan of dissident slate and quality of critique against management;
  Likelihood that the proposed goals and objectives can be achieved (both slates);
  Stock ownership positions.

Independent Chair (Separate Chair/CEO)

Generally vote FOR shareholder proposals requiring that the chairman’s position be filled by an independent director, unless the company satisfies all of the following criteria:

The company maintains the following counterbalancing governance structure:

 

  Designated lead director, elected by and from the independent board members with clearly delineated and comprehensive duties. (The role may alternatively reside with a presiding director, vice chairman, or rotating lead director; however the director must serve a minimum of one year in order to qualify as a lead director.) The duties should include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

 

3 Dimensional will screen votes otherwise subject to this policy based on the qualifications and circumstances of the directors involved.

* See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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  - presides at all meetings of the board at which the chairman is not present, including executive sessions of the independent directors;

 

  - serves as liaison between the chairman and the independent directors;

 

  - approves information sent to the board;

 

  - approves meeting agendas for the board;

 

  - approves meeting schedules to assure that there is sufficient time for discussion of all agenda items;

 

  - has the authority to call meetings of the independent directors;

 

  - if requested by major shareholders, ensures that he is available for consultation and direct communication;

 

  Two-thirds independent board;
  All independent key committees;
  Established governance guidelines;
  A company in the Russell 3000 universe must not have exhibited sustained poor total shareholder return (TSR) performance, defined as one- and three-year TSR in the bottom half of the company’s four-digit GICS industry group (using Russell 3000 companies only), unless there has been a change in the Chairman/CEO position within that time. For companies not in the Russell 3000 universe, the company must not have underperformed both its peers and index on the basis of both one-year and three-year total shareholder returns, unless there has been a change in the Chairman/CEO position within that time;
  The company does not have any problematic governance or management issues, examples of which include, but are not limited to:
  - Egregious compensation practices;

 

  - Multiple related-party transactions or other issues putting director independence at risk;

 

  - Corporate and/or management scandals;

 

  - Excessive problematic corporate governance provisions; or

 

  - Flagrant actions by management or the board with potential or realized negative impacts on shareholders.

Shareholder Rights & Defenses*

Net Operating Loss (NOL) Protective Amendments

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt a protective amendment for the stated purpose of protecting a company's net operating losses (“NOLs”) if the effective term of the protective amendment would exceed the shorter of three years and the exhaustion of the NOL.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE, considering the following factors, for management proposals to adopt an NOL protective amendment that would remain in effect for the shorter of three years (or less) and the exhaustion of the NOL:

 

  The ownership threshold (NOL protective amendments generally prohibit stock ownership transfers that would result in a new 5-percent holder or increase the stock ownership percentage of an existing 5-percent holder);

 

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  The value of the NOLs;
  Shareholder protection mechanisms (sunset provision or commitment to cause expiration of the protective amendment upon exhaustion or expiration of the NOL);
  The company’s existing governance structure including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, track record of responsiveness to shareholders, and any other problematic governance concerns; and
  Any other factors that may be applicable.

Poison Pills- Management Proposals to Ratify Poison Pill

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on management proposals on poison pill ratification, focusing on the features of the shareholder rights plan. Rights plans should contain the following attributes:

 

  No lower than a 20% trigger, flip-in or flip-over;
  A term of no more than three years;
  No dead-hand, slow-hand, no-hand or similar feature that limits the ability of a future board to redeem the pill;
  Shareholder redemption feature (qualifying offer clause); if the board refuses to redeem the pill 90 days after a qualifying offer is announced, 10 percent of the shares may call a special meeting or seek a written consent to vote on rescinding the pill.

In addition, the rationale for adopting the pill should be thoroughly explained by the company. In examining the request for the pill, take into consideration the company’s existing governance structure, including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, and any problematic governance concerns.

Poison Pills- Management Proposals toRatify a Pill to Preserve Net Operating Losses (NOLs)

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt a poison pill for the stated purpose of protecting a company’s net operating losses (“NOLs”) if the term of the pill would exceed the shorter of three years and the exhaustion of the NOL.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on management proposals for poison pill ratification, considering the following factors, if the term of the pill would be the shorter of three years (or less) and the exhaustion of the NOL:

 

  The ownership threshold to transfer (NOL pills generally have a trigger slightly below 5 percent);
  The value of the NOLs;
  Shareholder protection mechanisms (sunset provision, or commitment to cause expiration of the pill upon exhaustion or expiration of NOLs);
  The company’s existing governance structure including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, track record of responsiveness to shareholders, and any other problematic governance concerns; and
  Any other factors that may be applicable.

Shareholder Ability to Act by Written Consent

Generally vote AGAINST management and shareholder proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholders’ ability to act by written consent.

Generally vote FOR management and shareholder proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to act by written consent, taking into account the following factors:

 

  Shareholders’ current right to act by written consent;
  The consent threshold;
  The inclusion of exclusionary or prohibitive language;
  Investor ownership structure; and
  Shareholder support of, and management’s response to, previous shareholder proposals.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals if, in addition to the considerations above, the company has the following governance and antitakeover provisions:

 

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  An unfettered4 right for shareholders to call special meetings at a 10 percent threshold;
  A majority vote standard in uncontested director elections;
  No non-shareholder-approved pill; and
  An annually elected board.

Shareholder Ability to Call Special Meetings

Vote AGAINST management or shareholder proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholders’ ability to call special meetings.

Generally vote FOR management or shareholder proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to call special meetings taking into account the following factors:

 

  Shareholders’ current right to call special meetings;
  Minimum ownership threshold necessary to call special meetings (10% preferred);
  The inclusion of exclusionary or prohibitive language;
  Investor ownership structure; and
  Shareholder support of, and management’s response to, previous shareholder proposals.

CAPITAL/RESTRUCTURING*

Common Stock Authorization

Vote FOR proposals to increase the number of authorized common shares where the primary purpose of the increase is to issue shares in connection with a transaction on the same ballot that warrants support.

Vote AGAINST proposals at companies with more than one class of common stock to increase the number of authorized shares of the class of common stock that has superior voting rights.

Vote AGAINST proposals to increase the number of authorized common shares if a vote for a reverse stock split on the same ballot is warranted despite the fact that the authorized shares would not be reduced proportionally.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on all other proposals to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance. Take into account company-specific factors that include, at a minimum, the following:

 

  Past Board Performance:
  o The company’s use of authorized shares during the last three years
  The Current Request:
  o Disclosure in the proxy statement of the specific purposes of the proposed increase;
  o Disclosure in the proxy statement of specific and severe risks to shareholders of not approving the request; and
  o The dilutive impact of the request as determined by an allowable increase calculated by ISS (typically 100 percent of existing authorized shares) that reflects the company’s need for shares and total shareholder returns.

 

 

 

4

Unfettered” means no restrictions on agenda items, no restrictions on the number of shareholders who can group together to reach the 10 percent threshold, and only reasonable limits on when a meeting can be called: no greater than 30 days after the last annual meeting and no greater than 90 prior to the next annual meeting.

 

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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Preferred Stock Authorization

Vote FOR proposals to increase the number of authorized preferred shares where the primary purpose of the increase is to issue shares in connection with a transaction on the same ballot that warrants support.

Vote AGAINST proposals at companies with more than one class or series of preferred stock to increase the number of authorized shares of the class or series of preferred stock that has superior voting rights.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on all other proposals to increase the number of shares of preferred stock authorized for issuance. Take into account company-specific factors that include, at a minimum, the following:

 

  Past Board Performance:
  o The company’s use of authorized preferred shares during the last three years;
  The Current Request:
  o

Disclosure in the proxy statement of the specific purposes for the proposed increase;

  o Disclosure in the proxy statement of specific and severe risks to shareholders of not approving the request;
  o In cases where the company has existing authorized preferred stock, the dilutive impact of the request as determined by an allowable increase calculated by ISS (typically 100 percent of existing authorized shares) that reflects the company’s need for shares and total shareholder returns; and
  o Whether the shares requested are blank check preferred shares that can be used for antitakeover purposes.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Vote CASE –BY- CASE on mergers and acquisitions. Review and evaluate the merits and drawbacks of the proposed transaction, balancing various and sometimes countervailing factors including:

 

  Valuation - Is the value to be received by the target shareholders (or paid by the acquirer) reasonable? While the fairness opinion may provide an initial starting point for assessing valuation reasonableness, emphasis is placed on the offer premium, market reaction and strategic rationale.
  Market reaction - How has the market responded to the proposed deal? A negative market reaction should cause closer scrutiny of a deal.
  Strategic rationale - Does the deal make sense strategically? From where is the value derived? Cost and revenue synergies should not be overly aggressive or optimistic, but reasonably achievable. Management should also have a favorable track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions.
  Negotiations and process - Were the terms of the transaction negotiated at arm’s-length? Was the process fair and equitable? A fair process helps to ensure the best price for shareholders. Significant negotiation “wins” can also signify the deal makers’ competency. The comprehensiveness of the sales process (e.g., full auction, partial auction, no auction) can also affect shareholder value.
 

Conflicts of interest - Are insiders benefiting from the transaction disproportionately and inappropriately as compared to non-insider shareholders? As the result of potential conflicts, the directors and officers of the company may be more likely to vote to approve a merger than if they did not hold these interests. Consider whether these interests may have influenced these directors and officers to support or recommend the merger. The CIC figure presented in the “ISS Transaction Summary” section of this report is an aggregate figure that can in certain cases be a misleading indicator of the true value transfer from shareholders to insiders. Where such figure appears to be excessive, analyze the underlying

 

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assumptions to determine whether a potential conflict exists.

  Governance - Will the combined company have a better or worse governance profile than the current governance profiles of the respective parties to the transaction? If the governance profile is to change for the worse, the burden is on the company to prove that other issues (such as valuation) outweigh any deterioration in governance.

 

COMPENSATION*

Executive Pay Evaluation

Underlying all evaluations are five global principles that most investors expect corporations to adhere to in designing and administering executive and director compensation programs:

 

  1. Maintain appropriate pay-for-performance alignment, with emphasis on long-term shareholder value: This principle encompasses overall executive pay practices, which must be designed to attract, retain, and appropriately motivate the key employees who drive shareholder value creation over the long term. It will take into consideration, among other factors, the link between pay and performance; the mix between fixed and variable pay; performance goals; and equity-based plan costs;
  2. Avoid arrangements that risk “pay for failure”: This principle addresses the appropriateness of long or indefinite contracts, excessive severance packages, and guaranteed compensation;
  3. Maintain an independent and effective compensation committee: This principle promotes oversight of executive pay programs by directors with appropriate skills, knowledge, experience, and a sound process for compensation decision-making (e.g., including access to independent expertise and advice when needed);
  4. Provide shareholders with clear, comprehensive compensation disclosures: This principle underscores the importance of informative and timely disclosures that enable shareholders to evaluate executive pay practices fully and fairly;
  5. Avoid inappropriate pay to non-executive directors: This principle recognizes the interests of shareholders in ensuring that compensation to outside directors does not compromise their independence and ability to make appropriate judgments in overseeing managers’ pay and performance. At the market level, it may incorporate a variety of generally accepted best practices.

Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation- Management Proposals (Management Say-on-Pay)

Evaluate executive pay and practices, as well as certain aspects of outside director compensation CASE-BY-CASE.

Vote AGAINST management say on pay (MSOP) proposals, AGAINST/WITHHOLD on compensation committee members (or, in rare cases where the full board is deemed responsible, all directors including the CEO), and/or AGAINST an equity-based incentive plan proposal if:

 

  There is a misalignment between CEO pay and company performance (pay for performance);
  The company maintains problematic pay practices;
  The board exhibits poor communication and responsiveness to shareholders.

 

 

* See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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Voting Alternatives

In general, the management say on pay (MSOP) ballot item is the primary focus of voting on executive pay practices— dissatisfaction with compensation practices can be expressed by voting against MSOP rather than withholding or voting against the compensation committee. However, if there is no MSOP on the ballot, then the negative vote will apply to members of the compensation committee. In addition, in egregious cases, or if the board fails to respond to concerns raised by a prior MSOP proposal, then vote withhold or against compensation committee members (or, if the full board is deemed accountable, all directors). If the negative factors involve equity-based compensation, then vote AGAINST an equity-based plan proposal presented for shareholder approval.

Additional CASE-BY-CASE considerations for the management say on pay (MSOP) proposals:

 

  Evaluation of performance metrics in short-term and long-term plans, as discussed and explained in the Compensation Discussion & Analysis (CD&A). Consider the measures, goals, and target awards reported by the company for executives’ short- and long-term incentive awards: disclosure, explanation of their alignment with the company’s business strategy, and whether goals appear to be sufficiently challenging in relation to resulting payouts;
  Evaluation of peer group benchmarking used to set target pay or award opportunities. Consider the rationale stated by the company for constituents in its pay benchmarking peer group, as well as the benchmark targets it uses to set or validate executives’ pay (e.g., median, 75th percentile, etc.,) to ascertain whether the benchmarking process is sound or may result in pay “ratcheting” due to inappropriate peer group constituents (e.g., much larger companies) or targeting (e.g., above median); and
  Balance of performance-based versus non-performance-based pay. Consider the ratio of performance-based (not including plain vanilla stock options) vs. non-performance-based pay elements reported for the CEO’s latest reported fiscal year compensation, especially in conjunction with concerns about other factors such as performance metrics/goals, benchmarking practices, and pay-for-performance disconnects.

Primary Evaluation Factors for Executive Pay

Pay for Performance

Evaluate the alignment of the CEO’s pay with performance over time, focusing particularly on companies that have underperformed their peers over a sustained period. From a shareholders’ perspective, performance is predominantly gauged by the company’s stock performance over time. Even when financial or operational measures are utilized in incentive awards, the achievement related to these measures should ultimately translate into superior shareholder returns in the long-term.

Focus on companies with sustained underperformance relative to peers, considering the following key factors:

 

  Whether a company’s one-year and three-year total shareholder returns (“TSR”) are in the bottom half of its industry group (i.e., four-digit GICS – Global Industry Classification Group); and
  Whether the total compensation of a CEO who has served at least two consecutive fiscal years is aligned with the company’s total shareholder return over time, including both recent and long-term periods.

If a company falls in the bottom half of its four-digit GICS, further analysis of the CD&A is required to better understand the various pay elements and whether they create or reinforce shareholder alignment. Also assess the CEO’s pay relative to the company’s TSR over a time horizon of at least five years. The most recent year-over-year increase or decrease in pay remains

 

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a key consideration, but there will be additional emphasis on the long term trend of CEO total compensation relative to shareholder return. Also consider the mix of performance-based compensation relative to total compensation. In general, standard stock options or time-vested restricted stock are not considered to be performance-based. If a company provides performance-based incentives to its executives, the company is highly encouraged to provide the complete disclosure of the performance measure and goals (hurdle rate) so that shareholders can assess the rigor of the performance program. The use of non-GAAP financial metrics also makes it very challenging for shareholders to ascertain the rigor of the program as shareholders often cannot tell the type of adjustments being made and if the adjustments were made consistently. Complete and transparent disclosure helps shareholders to better understand the company’s pay for performance linkage.

Problematic Pay Practices

If the company maintains problematic pay practices, generally vote:

 

   

AGAINST management “say on pay” (MSOP) proposals;

   

AGAINST/WITHHOLD on compensation committee members (or in rare cases where the full board is deemed responsible, all directors including the CEO):

¡    In egregious situations;

¡    When no MSOP item is on the ballot; or

¡    When the board has failed to respond to concerns raised in prior MSOP evaluations; and/or

   

AGAINST an equity incentive plan proposal if excessive non-performance-based equity awards are the major contributors to a pay-for-performance misalignment.

The focus is on executive compensation practices that contravene the global pay principles, including:

 

   

Problematic practices related to non-performance-based compensation elements;

   

Incentives that may motivate excessive risk-taking; and

   

Options Backdating.

Problematic Pay Practices related to Non-Performance-Based Compensation Elements

Pay elements that are not directly based on performance are generally evaluated CASE-BY-CASE considering the context of a company’s overall pay program and demonstrated pay-for-performance philosophy. Please refer to ISS' Compensation FAQ document for detail on specific pay practices that have been identified as potentially problematic and may lead to negative recommendations if they are deemed to be inappropriate or unjustified relative to executive pay best practices. The list below highlights the problematic practices that carry significant weight in this overall consideration and may result in adverse vote recommendations:

 

   

Repricing or replacing of underwater stock options/SARS without prior shareholder

 approval (including cash buyouts and voluntary surrender of underwater options);

   

Excessive perquisites or tax gross-ups, including any gross-up related to a secular trust or

 restricted stock vesting;

   

New or extended agreements that provide for:

¡    CIC payments exceeding 3 times base salary and average/target/most recent bonus;

¡    CIC severance payments without involuntary job loss or substantial diminution of duties

       (“single” or “modified single” triggers);

¡     CIC payments with excise tax gross-ups (including “modified” gross-ups).

 

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Incentives that may Motivate Excessive Risk-Taking

Assess company policies and disclosure related to compensation that could incentivize excessive risk-taking, for example:

 

   

Multi-year guaranteed bonuses;

   

A single performance metric used for short- and long-term plans;

   

Lucrative severance packages;

   

High pay opportunities relative to industry peers;

   

Disproportionate supplemental pensions; or

   

Mega annual equity grants that provide unlimited upside with no downside risk.

Factors that potentially mitigate the impact of risky incentives include rigorous claw-back provisions and robust stock ownership/holding guidelines.

Options Backdating

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on options backdating issues. Generally, when a company has recently practiced options backdating, WITHHOLD from or vote AGAINST the compensation committee, depending on the severity of the practices and the subsequent corrective actions on the part of the board. When deciding on votes on compensation committee members who oversaw questionable options grant practices or current compensation committee members who fail to respond to the issue proactively, consider several factors, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

   

Reason and motive for the options backdating issue, such as inadvertent vs. deliberate grant date changes;

   

Duration of options backdating;

   

Size of restatement due to options backdating;

   

Corrective actions taken by the board or compensation committee, such as canceling or re-pricing backdated options, the recouping of option gains on backdated grants; and

   

Adoption of a grant policy that prohibits backdating, and creates a fixed grant schedule or window period for equity grants in the future.

A CASE-BY-CASE analysis approach allows distinctions to be made between companies that had “sloppy” plan administration versus those that acted deliberately and/or committed fraud, as well as those companies that subsequently took corrective action. Cases where companies have committed fraud are considered most egregious.

Board Communications and Responsiveness

Consider the following factors CASE-BY-CASE when evaluating ballot items related to executive pay:

 

   

Poor disclosure practices, including:

  -

Unclear explanation of how the CEO is involved in the pay setting process;

  -

Retrospective performance targets and methodology not discussed;

  -

Methodology for benchmarking practices and/or peer group not disclosed and explained.

   

Board’s responsiveness to investor input and engagement on compensation issues, for example:

  -

Failure to respond to majority-supported shareholder proposals on executive pay topics; or

  -

Failure to respond to concerns raised in connection with significant opposition to MSOP proposals.

Frequency of Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation (Management “Say on Pay”)

 

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Vote FOR annual advisory votes on compensation, which provide the most consistent and clear communication channel for shareholder concerns about companies’ executive pay programs.

Voting on Golden Parachutes in an Acquisition, Merger, Consolidation, or Proposed Sale

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to approve the company’s golden parachute compensation, consistent with ISS’ policies on problematic pay practices related to severance packages. Features that may lead to a vote AGAINST include:

 

   

Recently adopted or materially amended agreements that include excise tax gross-up provisions (since prior annual meeting);

   

Recently adopted or materially amended agreements that include modified single triggers (since prior annual meeting);

   

Single trigger payments that will happen immediately upon a change in control, including cash payment and such items as the acceleration of performance-based equity despite the failure to achieve performance measures;

   

Single-trigger vesting of equity based on a definition of change in control that requires only shareholder approval of the transaction (rather than consummation);

   

Potentially excessive severance payments;

   

Recent amendments or other changes that may make packages so attractive as to influence merger agreements that may not be in the best interests of shareholders;

   

In the case of a substantial gross-up from pre-existing/grandfathered contract: the element that triggered the gross-up (i.e., option mega-grants at low point in stock price, unusual or outsized payments in cash or equity made or negotiated prior to the merger); or

   

The company’s assertion that a proposed transaction is conditioned on shareholder approval of the golden parachute advisory vote. ISS would view this as problematic from a corporate governance perspective.

In cases where the golden parachute vote is incorporated into a company’s separate advisory vote on compensation (“management” say on pay”), ISS will evaluate the “say on pay” proposal in accordance with these guidelines, which may give higher weight to that component of the overall evaluation.

Equity-Based and Other Incentive Plans

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on equity-based compensation plans. Vote AGAINST the equity plan if any of the following factors apply:

 

   

The total cost of the company’s equity plans is unreasonable;

   

The plan expressly permits the repricing of stock options/stock appreciate rights (SARs) without prior shareholder approval;

   

The CEO is a participant in the proposed equity-based compensation plan and there is a disconnect between CEO pay and the company’s performance where over 50 percent of the year-over-year increase is attributed to equity awards (see Pay-for-Performance);

   

The company’s three year burn rate exceeds the greater of 2% or the mean plus one standard deviation of its industry group but no more than two percentage points (+/-) from the prior-year industry group cap;

   

Liberal Change of Control Definition: The plan provides for the acceleration of vesting of equity awards even though an actual change in control may not occur (e.g., upon shareholder approval of a transaction or the announcement of a tender offer); or

   

The plan is a vehicle for problematic pay practices.

Shareholder Proposals on Compensation

 

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Golden Coffins/Executive Death Benefits

Generally vote FOR proposals calling companies to adopt a policy of obtaining shareholder approval for any future agreements and corporate policies that could oblige the company to make payments or awards following the death of a senior executive in the form of unearned salary or bonuses, accelerated vesting or the continuation in force of unvested equity grants, perquisites and other payments or awards made in lieu of compensation. This would not apply to any benefit programs or equity plan proposals that the broad-based employee population is eligible.

Hold Equity Past Retirement or for a Significant Period of Time

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals asking companies to adopt policies requiring senior executive officers to retain all or a significant portion of the shares acquired through compensation plans, either:

 

   

while employed and/or for two years following the termination of their employment ; or

   

for a substantial period following the lapse of all other vesting requirements for the award (“lock-up period”), with ratable release of a portion of the shares annually during the lock-up period.

The following factors will be taken into account:

 

   

Whether the company has any holding period, retention ratio, or officer ownership requirements in place. These should consist of:

  -

Rigorous stock ownership guidelines;

  -

A holding period requirement coupled with a significant long-term ownership requirement; or

  -

A meaningful retention ratio;

   

Actual officer stock ownership and the degree to which it meets or exceeds the proponent’s suggested holding period/retention ratio or the company’s own stock ownership or retention requirements;

   

Post-termination holding requirement policies or any policies aimed at mitigating risk taking by senior executives;

   

Problematic pay practices, current and past, which may promote a short-term versus a long-term focus.

A rigorous stock ownership guideline should be at least 10x base salary for the CEO, with the multiple declining for other executives. A meaningful retention ratio should constitute at least 50 percent of the stock received from equity awards (on a net proceeds basis) held on a long-term basis, such as the executive’s tenure with the company or even a few years past the executive’s termination with the company.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals asking companies to adopt policies requiring Named Executive Officers to retain 75% of the shares acquired through compensation plans while employed and/or for two years following the termination of their employment, and to report to shareholders regarding this policy. The following factors will be taken into account:

 

   

Whether the company has any holding period, retention ratio, or officer ownership requirements in place. These should consist of:

  -

Rigorous stock ownership guidelines, or

  -

A holding period requirement coupled with a significant long-term ownership requirement, or

 

  -

A meaningful retention ratio,

 

   

Actual officer stock ownership and the degree to which it meets or exceeds the proponent’s

 

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suggested holding period/retention ratio or the company’s own stock ownership or retention requirements.

   

Problematic pay practices, current and past, which may promote a short-term versus a long-term focus.

A rigorous stock ownership guideline should be at least 10x base salary for the CEO, with the multiple declining for other executives. A meaningful retention ratio should constitute at least 50 percent of the stock received from equity awards (on a net proceeds basis) held on a long-term basis, such as the executive’s tenure with the company or even a few years past the executive’s termination with the company.

Generally vote AGAINST shareholder proposals that mandate a minimum amount of stock that directors must own in order to qualify as a director or to remain on the board. While ISS favors stock ownership on the part of directors, the company should determine the appropriate ownership requirement.

Social/Environmental Issues

Overall Approach

Generally vote FOR the management’s recommendation on shareholder proposals involving social/environmental issues. When evaluating social and environmental shareholder proposals, Dimensional considers the most important factor to be whether adoption of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value.

 

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2011 International Proxy Voting Guidelines Summary

Effective for Meetings on or after January 3, 2011

In order to provide greater analysis on certain shareholder meetings, the Advisor has elected to receive research reports for certain meetings, as indicated below, from Glass Lewis in addition to Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”).

Specifically, if available, the Advisor may obtain research from Glass Lewis in addition to ISS for shareholder meetings in the following circumstances: (1) where the Advisor’s clients have a significant aggregate holding in the issuer and the meeting agenda contains proxies concerning: Anti-takeover Defenses or Voting Related Issues, Mergers and Acquisitions or Reorganizations or Restructurings, Capital Structure Issues, Compensation Issues or a proxy contest; or (2) where the Advisor in its discretion, has deemed that additional research is warranted.

Where research is obtained from Glass Lewis in accordance with these Guidelines, the Advisor will first review the research reports obtained from ISS and Glass Lewis. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are the same, the Advisor will vote accordingly. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are inconsistent, the Advisor will vote in accordance with the ISS recommendation unless the Corporate Governance Committee determines that voting in accordance with the Glass Lewis recommendation is more consistent with the principle of preserving shareholder value.

1. Operational Items

Financial Results/Director and Auditor Reports

Vote FOR approval of financial statements and director and auditor reports, unless:

 

   

There are concerns about the accounts presented or audit procedures used; or

 

   

The company is not responsive to shareholder questions about specific items that should be publicly disclosed.

Appointment of Auditors and Auditor Fees

Vote FOR the (re)election of auditors and/or proposals authorizing the board to fix auditor fees, unless:

 

   

There are serious concerns about the procedures used by the auditor;

   

There is reason to believe that the auditor has rendered an opinion which is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position;

   

External auditors have previously served the company in an executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company;

   

Name of the proposed auditors has not been published;

   

The auditors are being changed without explanation; or

   

Fees for non-audit services exceed standard annual audit-related fees (only applies to companies on the MSCI EAFE index and/or listed on any country main index).

In circumstances where fees for non-audit services include fees related to significant one-time capital structure events (initial public offerings, bankruptcy emergencies, and spin-offs) and the company makes public disclosure of the amount and nature of those fees, which are an exception to the standard “non-audit fee” category, then such fees may be excluded from the non-audit fees considered in determining the ratio of non-audit to audit fees.

For concerns related to the audit procedures, independence of auditors, and/or name of auditors, ISS may recommend AGAINST the auditor (re)election. For concerns related to fees paid to the auditors, ISS may recommend AGAINST remuneration of auditors if this is a separate voting item; otherwise ISS may recommend AGAINST the auditor election.

 

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Appointment of Internal Statutory Auditors

Vote FOR the appointment or (re)election of statutory auditors, unless:

 

   

There are serious concerns about the statutory reports presented or the audit procedures used;

 

   

Questions exist concerning any of the statutory auditors being appointed; or

 

   

The auditors have previously served the company in an executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company.

Allocation of Income

Vote FOR approval of the allocation of income, unless:

 

   

The dividend payout ratio has been consistently below 30 percent without adequate explanation; or

   

The payout is excessive given the company's financial position.

Amendments to Articles of Association

Vote amendments to the articles of association on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Change in Company Fiscal Term

Vote FOR resolutions to change a company’s fiscal term unless a company’s motivation for the change is to postpone its AGM.

Lower Disclosure Threshold for Stock Ownership

Vote AGAINST resolutions to lower the stock ownership disclosure threshold below 5 percent unless specific reasons exist to implement a lower threshold.

Amend Quorum Requirements

Vote proposals to amend quorum requirements for shareholder meetings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Transact Other Business

Vote AGAINST other business when it appears as a voting item.

2. Board of Directors

Director Elections

Vote FOR management nominees in the election of directors, unless:

 

   

Adequate disclosure has not been provided in a timely manner;

 

   

There are clear concerns over questionable finances or restatements;

 

   

There have been questionable transactions with conflicts of interest;

 

   

There are any records of abuses against minority shareholder interests; or

 

   

The board fails to meet minimum corporate governance standards.

Vote FOR individual nominees unless there are specific concerns about the individual, such as criminal wrongdoing or breach of fiduciary responsibilities.

 

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Vote AGAINST individual directors if repeated absences at board meetings have not been explained (in countries where this information is disclosed).

Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis for contested elections of directors, e.g. the election of shareholder nominees or the dismissal of incumbent directors, determining which directors are best suited to add value for shareholders.*

Vote FOR employee and/or labor representatives if they sit on either the audit or compensation committee and are required by law to be on those committees. * Vote AGAINST employee and/or labor representatives if they sit on either the audit or compensation committee, if they are not required to be on those committees.*

Under extraordinary circumstances, vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from directors individually, on a committee, or the entire board, due to:

 

   

Material failures of governance, stewardship, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company; or

   

Failure to replace management as appropriate; or

   

Egregious actions related to the director(s)’ service on other boards that raise substantial doubt about his or her ability to effectively oversee management and serve the best interests of shareholders at any company.

[Please see the ISS International Classification of Directors.]

 

 

 

* See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the

    Advisor may take.

 

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ISS Classification of Directors - International Policy 2011

 

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Executive Director

•     Employee or executive of the company;

•     Any director who is classified as a non-executive, but receives salary, fees, bonus, and/or other benefits that are in line with the highest-paid executives of the company.

Non-Independent Non-Executive Director (NED)

•     Any director who is attested by the board to be a non-independent NED;

•     Any director specifically designated as a representative of a significant shareholder of the company;

•     Any director who is also an employee or executive of a significant shareholder of the company;

•     Any director who is nominated by a dissenting significant shareholder, unless there is a clear lack of material[5] connection with the dissident, either currently or historically;

•     Beneficial owner (direct or indirect) of at least 10% of the company’s stock, either in economic terms or in voting rights (this may be aggregated if voting power is distributed among more than one member of a defined group, e.g., family members who beneficially own less than 10% individually, but collectively own more than 10%), unless market best practice dictates a lower ownership and/or disclosure threshold (and in other special market-specific circumstances);

•     Government representative;

•     Currently provides (or a relative[1] provides) professional services[2] to the company, to an affiliate of the company, or to an individual officer of the company or of one of its affiliates in excess of $10,000 per year;

•     Represents customer, supplier, creditor, banker, or other entity with which company maintains transactional/commercial relationship (unless company discloses information to apply a materiality test[3]);

•     Any director who has conflicting or cross-directorships with executive directors or the chairman of the company;

•     Relative[1] of a current employee of the company or its affiliates;

•     Relative[1] of a former executive of the company or its affiliates;

•     A new appointee elected other than by a formal process through the General Meeting (such as a contractual appointment by a substantial shareholder);

•     Founder/co-founder/member of founding family but not currently an employee;

•     Former executive (5 year cooling off period);

•     Years of service is generally not a determining factor unless it is recommended best practice in a market and/or in extreme circumstances, in which case it may be considered.[4]

•     Any additional relationship or principle considered to compromise independence under local corporate governance best practice guidance.

Independent NED

•     No material[5] connection, either directly or indirectly, to the company (other than a board seat) or the dissenting significant shareholder.

Employee Representative

•     Represents employees or employee shareholders of the company (classified as “employee representative” but considered a non-independent NED).

Footnotes:

[1] “Relative” follows the definition of “immediate family members” which covers spouses, parents, children, stepparents, step-children, siblings, in-laws, and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of any director, nominee for director, executive officer, or significant shareholder of the company.

[2] Professional services can be characterized as advisory in nature and generally include the following: investment banking/financial advisory services; commercial banking (beyond deposit services); investment services; insurance services; accounting/audit services; consulting services; marketing services; and legal services. The case of participation in a banking syndicate by a non-lead bank should be considered a transaction (and hence subject to the associated materiality test) rather than a professional relationship.

[3] A business relationship may be material if the transaction value (of all outstanding transactions) entered into between the company and the company or organization with which the director is associated is equivalent to either 1 percent of the company’s turnover or 1 percent of the turnover of the company or organization with which the director is associated. OR, A business relationship may be material if the transaction value (of all outstanding financing operations) entered into between the company and the company or organization with which the director is associated is more than 10 percent of the company’s shareholder equity or the transaction value, (of all outstanding financing operations), compared to the company’s total assets, is more than 5 percent.

[4] For example, in continental Europe, directors with a tenure exceeding 12 years will be considered non-independent. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, directors with a tenure exceeding nine years will be considered non-independent, unless the company provides sufficient and clear justification that the director is independent despite his long tenure.

[5] For purposes of ISS’ director independence classification, “material” will be defined as a standard of relationship financial, personal or otherwise that a reasonable person might conclude could potentially influence one’s objectivity in the boardroom in a manner that would have a meaningful impact on an individual’s ability to satisfy requisite fiduciary standards on behalf of shareholders.

 

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Contested Director Elections*

For contested elections of directors, e.g. the election of shareholder nominees or the dismissal of incumbent directors, ISS will make its recommendation on a case-by-case basis, determining which directors are best suited to add value for shareholders.

The analysis will generally be based on, but not limited to, the following major decision factors:

 

   

Company performance relative to its peers;

   

Strategy of the incumbents versus the dissidents;

   

Independence of directors/nominees;

   

Experience and skills of board candidates;

   

Governance profile of the company;

   

Responsiveness to shareholders;

   

Whether a takeover offer has been rebuffed;

   

Whether minority or majority representation is being sought.

When analyzing a contested election of directors, ISS will generally focus on two central questions: (1) Have the dissidents proved that board change is warranted? And (2) if so, are the dissident board nominees likely to effect positive change (i.e., maximize long-term shareholder value).

Discharge of Directors

Generally vote FOR the discharge of directors, including members of the management board and/or supervisory board, unless there is reliable information about significant and compelling controversies that the board is not fulfilling its fiduciary duties warranted by:

•      A lack of oversight or actions by board members which invoke shareholder distrust related to malfeasance or poor supervision, such as operating in private or company interest rather than in shareholder interest; or

•      Any legal issues (e.g. civil/criminal) aiming to hold the board responsible for breach of trust in the past or related to currently alleged actions yet to be confirmed (and not only the fiscal year in question), such as price fixing, insider trading, bribery, fraud, and other illegal actions; or

•      Other egregious governance issues where shareholders will bring legal action against the company or its directors.

For markets which do not routinely request discharge resolutions (e.g. common law countries or markets where discharge is not mandatory), analysts may voice concern in other appropriate agenda items, such as approval of the annual accounts or other relevant resolutions, to enable shareholders to express discontent with the board.

Director, Officer, and Auditor Indemnification and Liability Provisions

Vote proposals seeking indemnification and liability protection for directors and officers on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote AGAINST proposals to indemnify external auditors.

Board Structure

Vote FOR proposals to fix board size.

 

 

*  See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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Vote AGAINST the introduction of classified boards and mandatory retirement ages for directors.

Vote AGAINST proposals to alter board structure or size in the context of a fight for control of the company or the board.

3. Capital Structure*

Share Issuance Requests

General Issuances

Vote FOR issuance requests with preemptive rights to a maximum of 100 percent over currently issued capital.

Vote FOR issuance requests without preemptive rights to a maximum of 20 percent of currently issued capital.

Specific Issuances

Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on all requests, with or without preemptive rights.

Increases in Authorized Capital

Vote FOR non-specific proposals to increase authorized capital up to 100 percent over the current authorization unless the increase would leave the company with less than 30 percent of its new authorization outstanding.

Vote FOR specific proposals to increase authorized capital to any amount, unless:

   

The specific purpose of the increase (such as a share-based acquisition or merger) does not meet ISS guidelines for the purpose being proposed; or

   

The increase would leave the company with less than 30 percent of its new authorization outstanding after adjusting for all proposed issuances.

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt unlimited capital authorizations.

Reduction of Capital

Vote FOR proposals to reduce capital for routine accounting purposes unless the terms are unfavorable to shareholders.

Vote proposals to reduce capital in connection with corporate restructuring on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Capital Structures

Vote FOR resolutions that seek to maintain or convert to a one-share, one-vote capital structure.

Vote AGAINST requests for the creation or continuation of dual-class capital structures or the creation of new or additional super voting shares.

Preferred Stock

 

 

 

  *

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the

    Advisor

may take.

 

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Vote FOR the creation of a new class of preferred stock or for issuances of preferred stock up to 50 percent of issued capital unless the terms of the preferred stock would adversely affect the rights of existing shareholders.

Vote FOR the creation/issuance of convertible preferred stock as long as the maximum number of common shares that could be issued upon conversion meets ISS guidelines on equity issuance requests.

Vote AGAINST the creation of a new class of preference shares that would carry superior voting rights to the common shares.

Vote AGAINST the creation of blank check preferred stock unless the board clearly states that the authorization will not be used to thwart a takeover bid.

Vote proposals to increase blank check preferred authorizations on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Debt Issuance Requests

Vote non-convertible debt issuance requests on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, with or without preemptive rights.

Vote FOR the creation/issuance of convertible debt instruments as long as the maximum number of common shares that could be issued upon conversion meets ISS guidelines on equity issuance requests.

Vote FOR proposals to restructure existing debt arrangements unless the terms of the restructuring would adversely affect the rights of shareholders.

Pledging of Assets for Debt

Vote proposals to approve the pledging of assets for debt on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Increase in Borrowing Powers

Vote proposals to approve increases in a company’s borrowing powers on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Share Repurchase Plans

Generally vote FOR market repurchase authorities (share repurchase programs) if the terms comply with the following criteria:

 

   

A repurchase limit of up to 10 percent of outstanding issued share capital (15 percent in UK/Ireland);

   

A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company’s issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and

   

A duration of no more than 5 years, or such lower threshold as may be set by applicable law, regulation or code of governance best practice.

Authorities to repurchase shares in excess of the 10 percent repurchase limit will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. ISS may support such share repurchase authorities under special circumstances, which are required to be publicly disclosed by the company, provided that, on balance, the proposal is in shareholders’ interests. In such cases, the authority must comply with the following criteria:

 

   

A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company’s issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and

   

A duration of no more than 18 months.

In markets where it is normal practice not to provide a repurchase limit, ISS will evaluate the proposal based on the company’s historical practice. However, ISS expects companies to disclose such limits and, in the future, may recommend a vote against companies that fail to do so. In such cases, the authority must comply with the following criteria:

 

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A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company's issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and

 

   

A duration of no more than 18 months.

In addition, ISS will recommend AGAINST any proposal where:

 

   

The repurchase can be used for takeover defenses;

 

   

There is clear evidence of abuse;

 

   

There is no safeguard against selective buybacks; and/or

 

   

Pricing provisions and safeguards are deemed to be unreasonable in light of market practice.

Reissuance of Repurchased Shares

Vote FOR requests to reissue any repurchased shares unless there is clear evidence of abuse of this authority in the past.

Capitalization of Reserves for Bonus Issues/Increase in Par Value

Vote FOR requests to capitalize reserves for bonus issues of shares or to increase par value.

4. Other Items

Reorganizations/Restructurings*

Vote reorganizations and restructurings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Mergers and Acquisitions*

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on mergers and acquisitions taking into account the following:

For every M&A analysis, ISS reviews publicly available information as of the date of the report and evaluates the merits and drawbacks of the proposed transaction, balancing various and sometimes countervailing factors including:

 

   

Valuation - Is the value to be received by the target shareholders (or paid by the acquirer) reasonable? While the fairness opinion may provide an initial starting point for assessing valuation reasonableness, ISS places emphasis on the offer premium, market reaction, and strategic rationale.

   

Market reaction - How has the market responded to the proposed deal? A negative market reaction will cause ISS to scrutinize a deal more closely.

   

Strategic rationale - Does the deal make sense strategically? From where is the value derived? Cost and revenue synergies should not be overly aggressive or optimistic, but reasonably achievable. Management should also have a favourable track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions.

   

Conflicts of interest - Are insiders benefiting from the transaction disproportionately and inappropriately as compared to non-insider shareholders? ISS will consider whether any special interests may have influenced these directors and officers to support or recommend the merger.

   

Governance - Will the combined company have a better or worse governance profile than the current governance profiles of the respective parties to the transaction? If the governance profile is to change for the worse, the burden is on the company to prove that other issues (such as valuation) outweigh any deterioration in governance.

 

 

 

  *

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the

      Advisor

may take.

 

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Vote AGAINST if the companies do not provide sufficient information upon request to make an informed voting decision.

Mandatory Takeover Bid Waivers *

Vote proposals to waive mandatory takeover bid requirements on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Reincorporation Proposals

Vote reincorporation proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Expansion of Business Activities

Vote FOR resolutions to expand business activities unless the new business takes the company into risky areas.

Related-Party Transactions

In evaluating resolutions that seek shareholder approval on related party transactions (RPTs), vote on a case-by-case basis, considering factors including, but not limited to, the following:

 

   

the parties on either side of the transaction;

 

   

the nature of the asset to be transferred/service to be provided;

 

   

the pricing of the transaction (and any associated professional valuation);

 

   

the views of independent directors (where provided);

 

   

the views of an independent financial adviser (where appointed);

 

   

whether any entities party to the transaction (including advisers) is conflicted; and

 

   

the stated rationale for the transaction, including discussions of timing.

If there is a transaction that ISS deemed problematic and that was not put to a shareholder vote, ISS may recommend against the election of the director involved in the related-party transaction or the full board.

Antitakeover Mechanisms

Generally vote AGAINST all antitakeover proposals, unless they are structured in such a way that they give shareholders the ultimate decision on any proposal or offer.

Shareholder Proposals

Vote all shareholder proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote FOR proposals that would improve the company's corporate governance or business profile at a reasonable cost.

Vote AGAINST proposals that limit the company's business activities or capabilities or result in significant costs being incurred with little or no benefit.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Issues

Generally vote FOR the management’s recommendation on shareholder proposals involving CSR Issues. When evaluating social and environmental shareholder proposals, Dimensional considers the most important factor to be whether adoption of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value.

 

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DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, Texas 78746

Telephone: (512) 306-7400

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

February 28, 2011

 

U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio

Ticker: DFUEX

 

Dfa International Value Ex Tobacco Portfolio

Ticker: DFVLX

U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

Ticker: DFSIX

 

Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio

Ticker: DFESX

International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

Ticker: DFSPX

   

This statement of additional information (“SAI”) relates to the shares of U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio, U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio, International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio, DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio and Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio (individually, a “Portfolio” and collectively, the “Portfolios”) of DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. (the “Fund”).

This SAI is not a prospectus but should be read in conjunction with the prospectus of the Portfolios, dated February 28, 2011, as amended from time to time. The audited financial statements and financial highlights of the Fund are incorporated by reference from the Fund’s annual report to shareholders. The prospectus and annual report can be obtained by writing to the Fund at the above address or by calling the above telephone number.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS AND POLICIES

     2   

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

     2   

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

     4   

FUTURES CONTRACTS

     5   

FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

     6   

CASH MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

     6   

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

     7   

CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES

     7   

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

     7   

SERVICES TO THE PORTFOLIOS

     18   

ADVISORY FEES

     19   

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

     20   

GENERAL INFORMATION

     23   

CODE OF ETHICS

     23   

SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS

     23   

PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

     24   

PURCHASE OF SHARES

     25   

REDEMPTION AND TRANSFER OF SHARES

     26   

TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIO AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS

     26   

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

     38   

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

     40   

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     42   

PERFORMANCE DATA

     42   

 

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PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS AND POLICIES

The following information supplements the information set forth in the Prospectus of the Portfolios. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this SAI have the meaning assigned to them in the Prospectus.

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) serves as investment advisor to each Portfolio. The Advisor is organized as a Delaware limited partnership and is controlled and operated by its general partner, Dimensional Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation.

Each Portfolio is diversified under the federal securities laws and regulations.

Because the structure of the Portfolios is based on the relative market capitalizations of eligible holdings, it is possible that the Portfolio might include at least 5% of the outstanding voting securities of one or more issuers. In such circumstances, the Portfolio and the issuer would be deemed affiliated persons and certain requirements under the federal securities laws and regulations regulating dealings between mutual funds and their affiliates might become applicable.

Each of the U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio, U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio, International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio and Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio has adopted a non-fundamental policy as required by Rule 35d-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) that, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the value of each Portfolio’s net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, will be invested in a specific type of investment. Additionally, if a Portfolio changes its 80% investment policy, the Portfolio will notify shareholders at least 60 days before the change, and will change the name of the Portfolio. For more information on each Portfolio's specific 80% policy, see each Portfolio’s “PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES” section in the Prospectus.

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

The following table reports brokerage commissions paid by the Portfolios during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009 and the fiscal period from December 1, 2007 to October 31, 2008.

 

    
 
 

 

FISCAL
YEAR
ENDED

2010

  
  
  

  

    
 
 

 

FISCAL
YEAR
ENDED

2009

  
  
  

  

    
 

 

 

FISCAL
PERIOD

ENDED

2008

  
  

  

  

U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio

   $ 31,135       $ 35,301       $ 7,363   

U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

   $ 20,394       $ 34,105       $ 38,791   

International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

   $ 18,164       $ 14,954       $ 26,670   

DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio

   $ 19,274       $ 15,487       $ 241,391   

Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio

   $ 137,675       $  112,041       $ 153,187   

The substantial increases or decreases in the amount of brokerage commissions paid by certain Portfolios from year to year resulted primarily from asset changes that required increases or decreases in the amount of securities that were bought and sold by the Portfolios.

Portfolio transactions of each Portfolio will be placed with a view to receiving the best price and execution. In addition, the Advisor will seek to acquire and dispose of securities in a manner that would cause as little fluctuation in the market prices of stocks being purchased or sold as possible in light of the size of the transactions being effected, and brokers will be selected with these goals in view. The Advisor monitors the performance of brokers that effect transactions for each Portfolio to determine the effect that the brokers’ trading has on the market prices of the securities in which the Portfolio invests. The Advisor also checks the rate of commission being paid by

 

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a Portfolio to its brokers to ascertain that the rates are competitive with those charged by other brokers for similar services.

Subject to obtaining best price and execution, transactions may be placed with brokers that have assisted in the sale of Fund shares. The Advisor, however, pursuant to policies and procedures approved by the Board of Directors of the Fund, is prohibited from selecting brokers and dealers to effect a Portfolio’s portfolio securities transactions based (in whole or in part) on a broker’s or dealer’s promotion or sale of shares issued by a Portfolio or any other registered investment companies.

Companies eligible for purchase by a Portfolio may be thinly traded securities. The Advisor believes that it needs maximum flexibility to effect trades on a best execution basis. As deemed appropriate, the Advisor places buy and sell orders for the Portfolios and Master Funds with various brokerage firms that may act as principal or agent. The Advisor may also make use of direct market access and algorithmic, program or electronic trading methods. The Advisor may extensively use electronic trading systems as such systems can provide the ability to customize the orders placed and can assist in the Advisor’s execution strategies.

Transactions also may be placed with brokers who provide the Advisor with investment research, such as reports concerning individual issuers, industries, and general economic and financial trends, and other research services. The Investment Advisory Agreement for each Portfolio permits the Advisor knowingly to pay commissions on these transactions that are greater than another broker, dealer, or exchange member might charge if the Advisor, in good faith, determines that the commissions paid are reasonable in relation to the research or brokerage services provided by the broker or dealer when viewed in terms of either a particular transaction or the Advisor’s overall responsibilities to the accounts under its management. Research services furnished by brokers through whom securities transactions are effected may be used by the Advisor in servicing all of its accounts and not all such services may be used by the Advisor with respect to the Portfolios.

During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the Portfolios paid commissions for securities transactions to brokers which provided market price monitoring services, market studies, brokerage services and research services to the Portfolios as follows:

 

   Value of Securities
Transactions
   Brokerage Commissions

U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio

   $49,702,606    $3,491

U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

   $35,318,156    $2,107

International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

   $26,276,385    $1,600

DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio

   $26,102,386    $1,741

Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio

   $92,887,433    $12,615

The Portfolios may purchase securities of their regular brokers or dealers (as defined in Rule 10b-1 of the 1940 Act). The table below lists the regular brokers or dealers of each Portfolio whose securities (or securities of the broker’s or dealer’s parent company) were acquired by the Portfolio during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, as well as the value of such securities held by the Portfolio as of October 31, 2010.

 

Portfolio

   Broker or Dealer    Value of Securities

U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio

   Jefferies    $90,934

U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

   Jefferies    $59,825

 

 

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Portfolio

  

Broker or Dealer

   Value of Securities

U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

   Investment Technology Group, Inc.    $12,816

International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

   Credit Suisse Group    $499,520

International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

   TD Securities    $425,776

International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

   Instinet, LLC    $126,373

International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

   Societe Generale    $371,234

International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

   UBS AG    $443,069

DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio

   Credit Suisse Group    $260,205

DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio

   Macquarie Group    $150,737

DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio

   UBS AG    $26,140

DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio

   Societe Generale    $749,433

Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio

   AKbank TAS    $839,826

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

Each of the Portfolios has adopted certain limitations which may not be changed with respect to any Portfolio without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio. A “majority” is defined as the lesser of: (1) at least 67% of the voting securities of the Portfolio (to be affected by the proposed change) present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio are present or represented by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of such Portfolio.

The Portfolios will not:

 

  (1)

borrow money, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or any rules, exemptions or interpretations thereunder that may be adopted, granted or issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”);

 

  (2)

make loans, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or any rules, exemptions or interpretations thereunder that may be adopted, granted or issued by the SEC; provided that in no event shall a Portfolio be permitted to make a loan to a natural person;

 

  (3)

purchase or sell real estate, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, and provided that this restriction does not prevent a Portfolio from: (i) purchasing or selling securities or instruments secured by real estate or interests therein, securities or instruments representing interests in real estate or securities or instruments of issuers that invest, deal or otherwise engage in transactions in real estate or interests therein; and (ii) purchasing or selling real estate mortgage loans;

 

  (4)

purchase or sell physical commodities, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, and provided that this restriction does not prevent a Portfolio from: (i) engaging in

 

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transactions involving currencies and futures contracts and options thereon; or (ii) investing in securities or other instruments that are secured by physical commodities;

 

  (5)

purchase the securities of any one issuer, if immediately after such investment, a Portfolio would not qualify as a “diversified company” as that term is defined by the 1940 Act, as amended, and as modified or interpreted by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time;

 

  (6)

engage in the business of underwriting securities issued by others;

 

  (7)

concentrate (invest more than 25% of its net assets) in securities of issuers in a particular industry (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or securities of other investment companies); or

 

  (8)

issue senior securities (as such term is defined in Section 18(f) of the 1940 Act), except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act.

With respect to the investment limitation described in (1) above, a Portfolio will maintain asset coverage of at least 300% (as described in the 1940 Act), inclusive of any amounts borrowed, with respect to any borrowings made by a Portfolio. Each Portfolio, except for the Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio, does not currently intend to borrow money for investment purposes.

In applying the investment limitation described in (7) above, the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio will look through to the security holdings of any investment company in which it invests that concentrates its assets in a particular industry.

Each Portfolio is required to operate in accordance with the SEC staff’s current position on illiquid securities, which limits investments in illiquid securities to 15% of a Portfolio’s net assets.

Notwithstanding any of the above investment limitations, the Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio may establish subsidiaries or other similar vehicles for the purpose of conducting its investment operations in Approved Markets, if such subsidiaries or vehicles are required by local laws or regulations governing foreign investors or whose use is otherwise considered by the Portfolio to be advisable. The Portfolio would “look through” any such vehicle or subsidiary to determine compliance with its investment restrictions.

Unless otherwise indicated, all limitations applicable to a Portfolio’s investments apply only at the time that a transaction is undertaken.

FUTURES CONTRACTS

Each Portfolio may use futures contracts and options on futures contracts for non-hedging purposes as a substitute for direct investment or to allow the Portfolio to remain fully invested while maintaining the liquidity required to pay redemptions.

Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of defined securities at a specified future time and at a specified price. Futures contracts that are standardized as to maturity date and underlying financial instrument are traded on national futures exchanges. Each Portfolio will be required to make a margin deposit in cash or government securities with a futures commission merchant (an “FCM”) to initiate and maintain positions in futures contracts. Minimal initial margin requirements are established by the futures exchanges and FCMs may establish margin requirements that are higher than the exchange requirements. After a futures contract position is opened, the value of the contract is marked to market daily. If the futures contract price changes, to the extent that the margin on deposit does not satisfy margin requirements, payment of additional “variation” margin to be held by the FCM will be required. Conversely, a reduction in the required margin would result in a repayment of excess margin to the custodial account of the Portfolio. Variation margin payments may be made to and from the futures broker for as long as the contract remains open. Each Portfolio expects to earn income on its margin deposits. Each Portfolio intends to limit its futures-related investment activity so that other than with respect to bona fide hedging activity (as defined in Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) General Regulations Section 1.3(z)): (i) the aggregate initial

 

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margin and premiums paid to establish commodity futures and commodity option contract positions (determined at the time the most recent position was established) do not exceed 5% of the liquidation value of the Portfolio’s portfolio, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such contracts the Portfolio has entered into (provided that, in the case of an option that is in-the-money at the time of purchase, the in-the-money amount may be excluded in calculating such 5% limitation), or (ii) the aggregate net “notional value” (i.e., the size of a commodity futures or commodity option contract in contract units (taking into account any multiplier specified in the contract), multiplied by the current market price (for a futures contract) or strike price (for an option contract) of each such unit) of all non-hedge commodity futures and commodity option contracts that the Portfolio has entered into (determined at the time the most recent position was established) does not exceed the liquidation value of the Portfolio’s portfolio, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such contracts that the Portfolio has entered into.

Positions in futures contracts may be closed out only on an exchange that provides a secondary market. However, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular futures contract at any specific time. Therefore, it might not be possible to close a futures position and, in the event of adverse price movements, a Portfolio would continue to be required to make variation margin deposits. In such circumstances, if a Portfolio has insufficient cash, it might have to sell portfolio securities to meet daily margin requirements at a time when it might be disadvantageous to do so. Management intends to minimize the possibility that it will be unable to close out a futures contract by only entering into futures that are traded on national futures exchanges and for which there appears to be a liquid secondary market. Pursuant to published positions of the SEC and interpretations of the staff of the SEC, each Portfolio (or its custodian) is required to maintain segregated accounts or to segregate assets through notations on the books of the custodian, consisting of liquid assets (or, as permitted under applicable regulations, enter into offsetting positions) in connection with its futures contract transactions in order to cover its obligations with respect to such contracts. These requirements are designed to limit the amount of leverage that a Portfolio may use by entering into future transactions.

FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

The International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio, DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio and Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio (each an “International Portfolio” and collectively, the “International Portfolios”) may acquire and sell forward foreign currency exchange contracts in order to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency exchange rates. Each International Portfolio will conduct its foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies. A forward foreign currency exchange contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days (usually less than one year) from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts are traded in the interbank market conducted directly between traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. A forward contract generally has no deposit requirement, and no commissions are charged at any stage for trades. Although foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference (the spread) between the price at which they are buying and selling various currencies.

An International Portfolio may enter into a forward contract in connection with the purchase or sale of foreign equity securities, typically to “lock in” the value of the transaction with respect to a different currency. In addition, an International Portfolio may, from time to time, enter into a forward contract to transfer balances from one currency to another currency.

CASH MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

Each Portfolio engages in cash management practices in order to earn income on uncommitted cash balances. Generally, cash is uncommitted pending investment in other securities, payment of redemptions, or in other circumstances where the Advisor believes liquidity is necessary or desirable. For example, a Portfolio may make cash investments for temporary defensive purposes during periods in which market, economic, or political conditions warrant.

 

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Each Portfolio may invest cash in short-term repurchase agreements. In addition, each Portfolio may invest a portion of its assets, ordinarily not more than 20%, in money market instruments, debt securities that at the time of purchase have an investment grade rating by a rating agency or are deemed to be investment grade by the Advisor, freely convertible currencies, shares of affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds, index futures contracts, and options thereon. Investments in money market mutual funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses. The 20% guideline is not an absolute limitation, but each Portfolio does not expect to exceed this guideline under normal circumstances.

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

Each Portfolio may also invest in Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”) and similarly structured pooled investments that provide exposure to equity markets for the purposes of gaining exposure to the equity markets while maintaining liquidity. An ETF is an investment company whose goal is to track or replicate a desired index, such as a sector, market or global segment. ETFs are passively managed, and traded similarly to a publicly traded company. The risks and costs of investing in ETFs are similar to those of investing in a publicly traded company. The goal of an ETF is to correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of its underlying index. The risk of not correlating to the index is an additional risk to the investors of ETFs. When a Portfolio invests in an ETF, shareholders of the Portfolio bear their proportionate share of the underlying ETF’s fees and expenses. ETFs in which a Portfolio invests are not subject to, though they may incorporate, the Portfolio’s social criteria or environmental impact considerations. (See the Portfolios’ Prospectus for information regarding the U.S. Social Core Equity 2, DFA International Value ex Tobacco and Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolios’ Social Criteria and the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 and International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolios’ environmental impact considerations.)

CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES

Each International Portfolio may invest up to 5% of its assets in convertible debentures issued by non-U.S. companies located in the Approved Markets. Convertible debentures include corporate bonds and notes that may be converted into or exchanged for common stock. These securities are generally convertible either at a stated price or a stated rate (that is, for a specific number of shares of common stock or other security). As with other fixed income securities, the price of a convertible debenture, to some extent, varies inversely with interest rates. While providing a fixed income stream (generally higher in yield than the income derived from a common stock, but lower than that afforded by a nonconvertible debenture), a convertible debenture also affords the investor an opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation of the common stock into which the debenture is convertible. As the market price of the underlying common stock declines, convertible debentures tend to trade increasingly on a yield basis and so may not experience market value declines to the same extent as the underlying common stock. When the market price of the underlying common stock increases, the price of a convertible debenture tends to rise as a reflection of the value of the underlying common stock. To obtain such a higher yield, a Portfolio may be required to pay for a convertible debenture an amount in excess of the value of the underlying common stock. Common stock acquired by an International Portfolio upon conversion of a convertible debenture will generally be held for as long as the Advisor anticipates such stock will provide the International Portfolio with opportunities that are consistent with the International Portfolio’s investment objective and policies.

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Directors

Organization of the Board

The Board of Directors of the Fund (the “Board”) is responsible for establishing the Fund’s policies and for overseeing the management of the Fund. The Board of Directors elects the officers of the Fund, who, along with third party service providers, are responsible for administering the day-to-day operations of the Fund. The Board of Directors of the Fund is comprised of two interested Directors and six disinterested Directors. David G. Booth, an interested Director, is Chairman of the Board. The Board has not found it necessary to appoint a lead disinterested Director because it believes that the existing structure of the Board allows for effective communication among the disinterested Directors, between the disinterested Directors and interested Directors, as well as between the

 

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disinterested Directors and management. The existing Board structure for the Fund also provides the disinterested Directors with adequate influence over the governance of the Board and the Fund, while also providing the Board with the invaluable insight of the two interested Directors, who, as both officers of the Fund and the Advisor, participate in the day-to-day management of the Fund’s affairs, including risk management.

The agenda for each quarterly meeting of the Board is provided at least two weeks prior to the meeting to the disinterested Directors in order to provide the Directors with the opportunity to contact Fund management and/or the disinterested Directors’ independent counsel regarding agenda items. In addition, the disinterested Directors regularly communicate with Mr. Booth regarding items of interest to them in between regularly scheduled meetings of the Board. The Board of the Fund meets in person at least four times each year and by telephone at other times. At each in-person meeting, the disinterested Directors meet in executive session with their independent counsel to discuss matters outside the presence of management.

The Board has three standing committees, an Audit Committee, a Nominating Committee and a Portfolio Performance and Service Review Committee (“Performance Committee”) that are composed entirely of disinterested Directors. As described below, through these Committees, the disinterested Directors have direct oversight of the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies, the selection and nomination of candidates to the Fund’s Board and the review of the investment performance of the series of the Fund and the performance of the Fund’s service providers.

The Board’s Audit Committee is comprised of George M. Constantinides, Roger G. Ibbotson and Abbie J. Smith. The Audit Committee for the Board oversees the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies and practices, the Fund’s internal controls, the Fund’s financial statements and the independent audits thereof and performs other oversight functions as requested by the Board. The Audit Committee for the Board recommends the appointment of the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and also acts as a liaison between the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and the full Board. There were two Audit Committee meetings held for the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

The Board’s Nominating Committee is comprised of George M. Constantinides, John P. Gould, Roger G. Ibbotson, Edward P. Lazear, Myron S. Scholes and Abbie J. Smith. The Nominating Committee for the Board makes recommendations for nominations of disinterested and interested members on the Board to the disinterested Board members and to the full board. The Nominating Committee of the Board evaluates a candidate’s qualification for Board membership and the independence of such candidate from the Advisor and other principal service providers. There were three Nominating Committee meetings held for the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

The Board’s Performance Committee is comprised of George M. Constantinides, Roger G. Ibbotson, Abbie J. Smith, John P. Gould, Edward P. Lazear and Myron S. Scholes. The Performance Committee regularly reviews and monitors the investment performance of the Fund’s series, including the Portfolios, and reviews the performance of the Fund’s service providers. There were seven Performance Committee meetings held for the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

In addition to the Audit Committee, Nominating Committee and Performance Committee, the Board has an Investment Review Committee that assists the Board in carrying out its fiduciary duties with respect to the oversight of the Fund and its performance (the “Review Committee”). The Review Committee consists of both interested and disinterested Directors. The Review Committee is comprised of John P. Gould, Edward P. Lazear, Myron S. Scholes and Eduardo A. Repetto. At the request of the Board or the Advisor, the Review Committee (i) reviews the design of possible new series of the Fund, (ii) reviews performance of existing Portfolios of the Fund, and discusses and recommends possible enhancements to the Portfolios’ investment strategies, (iii) reviews proposals by the Advisor to modify or enhance the investment strategies or policies of each Portfolio, and (iv) considers issues relating to investment services for each Portfolio of the Fund. The Review Committee was formed on December 17, 2010. Consequently, there were no Review Committee meetings held for the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

The Board of the Fund, including all of the disinterested Directors, oversees and approves the contracts of the third party service providers that provide advisory, administrative, custodial and other services to the Fund.

Board Oversight of Risk Management

 

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The Board, as a whole, considers risk management issues as part of its general oversight responsibilities throughout the year at regular board meetings, through regular reports that have been developed by Fund management and the Advisor. These reports address certain investment, valuation and compliance matters. The Board also may receive special written reports or presentations on a variety of risk issues, either upon the Board’s request or upon the initiative of the Advisor. In addition, the Audit Committee of the Board meets regularly with management of the Advisor to review reports on the Advisor’s examinations of functions and processes that affect the Fund.

With respect to investment risk, the Board receives regular written reports describing and analyzing the investment performance of the Fund’s portfolios. The Board discusses these reports and the portfolios’ performance and investment risks with management of the Advisor at the Board’s regular meetings. The Investment Committee of the Advisor meets regularly to discuss a variety of issues, including the impact that the investment in particular securities or instruments, such as derivatives, may have on the portfolios. To the extent that the Investment Committee of the Advisor decides to materially change an investment strategy or policy of a portfolio and such change could have a significant impact on the portfolio’s risk profile, the Advisor will present such change to the Board for their approval.

With respect to valuation, the Advisor and the Fund’s Administrative and Accounting Agent provide regular written reports to the Board that enables the Board to review fair valued securities in a particular portfolio. Such reports also include information concerning illiquid and any worthless securities held by each portfolio. In addition, the Fund’s Audit Committee reviews valuation procedures and pricing results with the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm in connection with such Committee’s review of the results of the audit of each portfolio’s year-end financial statements.

With respect to compliance risks, the Board receives regular compliance reports prepared by the Advisor’s compliance group and meets regularly with the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) to discuss compliance issues, including compliance risks. As required under SEC rules, the disinterested Directors meet at least quarterly in executive session with the CCO, and the Fund’s CCO prepares and presents an annual written compliance report to the Board. The Fund’s Board adopts compliance policies and procedures for the Fund and receives information about the compliance procedures in place for the Fund’s service providers. The compliance policies and procedures are specifically designed to detect and prevent violations of the federal securities laws.

The Advisor periodically provides information to the Board relevant to enterprise risk management describing the way in which certain risks are managed at the complex-wide level by the Advisor. Such presentations include areas such as counter-party risk, material fund vendor or service provider risk, investment risk, reputational risk, personnel risk and business continuity risk.

Director Qualifications

When a vacancy occurs on the Board, the Nominating Committee of the Board evaluates a candidate’s qualification for Board membership and the independence of such candidate from the Advisor and other principal service providers. The Nominating Committee will consider nominees recommended by Qualifying Fund Shareholders if a vacancy occurs among Board members. A Qualifying Fund Shareholder is a shareholder, or group of shareholders, that: (i) owns of record, or beneficially through a financial intermediary, 5% or more of the Fund’s outstanding shares, and (ii) has owned such shares for 12 months or more prior to submitting the recommendation to the Committee. Such recommendations shall be directed to the Secretary of the Fund at 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, Texas 78746. The Qualifying Fund Shareholder’s letter should include: (i) the name and address of the Qualifying Fund Shareholder making the recommendation; (ii) the number of shares of each Portfolio of the Fund that are owned of record and beneficially by such Qualifying Fund Shareholder, and the length of time that such shares have been so owned by the Qualifying Fund Shareholder; (iii) a description of all arrangements and understandings between such Qualifying Fund Shareholder and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the recommendation is being made; (iv) the name and address of the nominee; and (v) the nominee’s resume or curriculum vitae. The Qualifying Fund Shareholder’s letter must be accompanied by a written consent of the individual to stand for election if nominated for the Board and to serve if elected by shareholders. The Committee also may seek such additional information about the nominee as the Committee

 

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considers appropriate, including information relating to such nominee that is required to be disclosed in solicitations or proxies for the election of Board members.

The Nominating Committee of the Board believes that it is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders to obtain highly-qualified individuals to serve as members of the Board. The Fund’s Board believes that each Director currently serving on the Board has the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills to allow the Board to effectively oversee the management of the Fund and protect the interests of shareholders. The Board noted that each Director had professional experience in areas of importance for investment companies. The Board considered that each disinterested Director held an academic position in the areas of finance, economics or accounting. The Board also noted that John P. Gould, Myron S. Scholes and Abbie J. Smith each had experience serving as a director on the boards of operating companies and/or other investment companies. In addition, the Board considered that David G. Booth and Eduardo A. Repetto contributed valuable experience due to their positions with the Advisor. Certain biographical information for each disinterested Director and each interested Director of the Fund is set forth in the tables below, including a description of each Director’s experience as a Director of the Fund and as a director or trustee of other funds, as well as other recent professional experience.

Disinterested Directors

 

Name, Address and  

Age

 

  

Position  

 

  

Term of

Office1

and

Length of

Service

 

  

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

 

  

Portfolios

within the

DFA Fund

Complex2

Overseen

 

  

Other

Directorships of

Public

Companies Held

During Past 5

Years

 

George M. Constantinides University of Chicago Booth School of Business

5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

Age: 63

   Director    Since 1983    Leo Melamed Professor of Finance, University of Chicago Booth School of Business.    89 portfolios in 4 investment companies    None

John P. Gould

University of Chicago Booth School of Business

5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

Age: 72

   Director    Since 1986    Steven G. Rothmeier Distinguished Service Professor of Economics, University of Chicago Booth School of Business (since 1965). Member Competitive Markets Advisory Committee, Chicago Mercantile Exchange (futures trading exchange) (since 2004). Formerly, Director of UNext Inc. (1999-2006). Formerly, Member of the Board of Milwaukee Insurance Company (1997-2010).    89 portfolios in 4 investment companies    Trustee, Harbor Funds (registered investment company) (28 Portfolios) (since 1994).

Roger G. Ibbotson

Yale School of Management

P.O. Box 208200

New Haven, CT 06520-8200

Age: 67

   Director    Since 1981    Professor in Practice of Finance, Yale School of Management (since 1984). Consultant to Morningstar, Inc. (since 2006). Chairman, CIO and Partner, Zebra Capital Management, LLC (hedge fund and asset manager) (since 2001). Formerly, Chairman, Ibbotson Associates, Inc., Chicago, IL (software, data, publishing and consulting) (1977-2006). Formerly, Director, BIRR Portfolio Analysis, Inc. (software products) (1990-2010).    89 portfolios in 4 investment companies    None

 

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Name, Address and
Age

 

  

Position

 

  

Term of
Office1

and

Length of
Service

 

  

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

 

  

Portfolios
within the
DFA Fund
Complex2
Overseen

 

  

Other
Directorships of
Public

Companies Held
During Past 5
Years

 

Edward P. Lazear Stanford University Graduate School of Business

518 Memorial Way

Stanford, CA 94305-5015

Age: 62

   Director    Since 2010    Morris Arnold Cox Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution (since 2002). Jack Steele Parker Professor of Human Resources Management and Economics, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University (since 1995). Cornerstone Research (expert testimony and economic and financial analysis) (since 2009). Formerly, Chairman of the President George W. Bush’s Council of Economic Advisers (2006- 2009). Council of Economic Advisors, State of California (2005-2006). Commissioner, White House Panel on Tax Reform (2005).    89 portfolios in 4 investment companies    None

Myron S. Scholes

c/o Dimensional Fund Advisors LP

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

Age: 69

   Director    Since 1981    Frank E. Buck Professor Emeritus of Finance, Stanford University (since 1981). Formerly, Chairman, Platinum Grove Asset Management L.P. (hedge fund) (formerly, Oak Hill Platinum Partners) (1999-2009). Formerly, Managing Partner, Oak Hill Capital Management (private equity firm) (until 2004).    89 portfolios in 4 investment companies    Director, American Century Fund Complex (registered investment companies) (40 Portfolios) (since 1980). Formerly, Director, Chicago Mercantile Exchange (2001-2008).

Abbie J. Smith

University of Chicago Booth School of Business

5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

Age: 57

   Director    Since 2000    Boris and Irene Stern Distinguished Service Professor of Accounting, University of Chicago Booth School of Business (since 1980); Co-Director Investment Research, Fundamental Investment Advisors (hedge fund) (since 2008).    89 portfolios in 4 investment companies    Director, HNI Corporation (formerly known as HON Industries Inc.) (office furniture) (since 2000); Director, Ryder System Inc. (transportation, logistics and supply-chain management) (since 2003); and Trustee, UBS Funds (3 investment companies within the fund complex) (52 portfolios) (since 2009).

 

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Interested Directors

The following Interested Directors are described as such because they are deemed to be “interested persons,” as that term is defined under the 1940 Act, due to their positions with the Advisor.

 

Name, Address and
Age

 

  

Position

 

  

Term of
Office1

and

Length of
Service

 

  

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

 

  

Portfolios
within the
DFA Fund
Complex2
Overseen

 

  

Other Directorships
of Public Companies
Held During Past 5
Years

 

David G. Booth

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

Age: 64

   Chairman, Director, President and Co-Chief Executive Officer    Since 1981    Chairman, Director/Trustee, President, Co-Chief Executive Officer and, formerly, Chief Executive Officer (until 1/1/2010) and Chief Investment Officer (2003 to 3/30/2007) of the following companies: Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, DFA Securities LLC, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund (“DEM”), DFAIDG, Dimensional Investment Group Inc. (“DIG”) and The DFA Investment Trust Company (the “Trust”). Chairman, Director, President and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Dimensional Holdings Inc. and formerly Chief Executive Officer (until 1/1/2010) and Chief Investment Officer (until 3/30/2007). Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. and formerly, Chief Investment Officer. Director of DFA Australia Limited and formerly, President and Chief Investment Officer. Director of Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC. Chairman and President of Dimensional Smart Nest LLC and Dimensional Smart Nest (US) LLC. Limited Partner, Oak Hill Partners and VSC Investors, LLC. Trustee, University of Chicago Booth. Trustee, University of Kansas Endowment Association. Formerly, Director, SA Funds (registered investment company). Chairman, Director and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director, Dimensional Cayman Commodity Fund I Ltd.    89 portfolios in 4 investment companies    None
Eduardo A. Repetto 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One Austin, TX 78746 Age: 44    Director, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer    Since 2009    Co-Chief Executive Officer (beginning January 2010), Chief Investment Officer (beginning March 2007) and formerly, Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, Dimensional Holdings Inc., DFA Securities LLC, DEM, DFAIDG, DIG, The DFA Investment Trust Company and Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC; Director of all such entities except Dimensional Fund Advisors LP and DFA Securities LLC. Chief Investment Officer, Vice President and Director of DFA Australia Limited. Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Cayman Commodity Fund I Ltd.    89 portfolios in 4 investment companies    None
 1

Each Director holds office for an indefinite term until his or her successor is elected.

 

 2

Each Director is a director or trustee of each of the four registered investment companies within the DFA Fund Complex, which include: the Fund; DIG; the Trust; and DEM. Each Disinterested Director also serves on the Independent Review Committee of the Dimensional Funds, mutual funds registered in the provinces of Canada and managed by the Advisor’s affiliate, Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

Information relating to each Director’s ownership (including the ownership of his or her immediate family) in each Portfolio of the Fund in this SAI and in all registered investment companies in the DFA Fund Complex as of December 31, 2010 is set forth in the chart below.

 

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Name    Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned   

Aggregate Dollar Range of Shares Owned

in All Funds Overseen by Director in

Family of Investment Companies

Disinterested Directors:

         

George M. Constantinides

   None    None Directly; Over $100,000 in Simulated Funds**

John P. Gould

   None    None Directly; Over $100,000 in Simulated Funds **

Roger G. Ibbotson

   None    Over $100,000; Over $100,000 in Simulated Funds**

Edward P. Lazear

   None    None Directly.

Myron S. Scholes

   None   

$50,001-$100,000;

Over $100,000 in Simulated Funds**

Abbie J. Smith

   None    None Directly; Over $100,000 in Simulated Funds **

Interested Directors:

         

David G. Booth

  

U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio – Over $100,000

International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio – Over $100,000

   Over $100,000

Eduardo A. Repetto

   None    Over $100,000

**      As discussed below, the compensation to certain of the disinterested Directors may be in amounts that correspond to a hypothetical investment in a cross-section of the DFA Funds. Thus, the disinterested Directors who are so compensated experience the same investment returns that are experienced by shareholders of the DFA Funds although the disinterested Directors do not directly own shares of the DFA Funds.

Set forth below is a table listing, for each Director entitled to receive compensation, the compensation received from the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010 and the total compensation received from all four registered investment companies for which the Advisor served as investment advisor during that same fiscal year. The table also provides the compensation paid by the Fund to the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

 

  Name and Position    Aggregate
Compensation
from the
Fund*
   Pension or
Retirement
Benefits as
Part of
Fund
Expenses
   Estimated
Annual
Benefits
upon
Retirement
   Total
Compensation
from the Fund
and DFA Fund
Complex Paid to
Directors†
      

George M. Constantinides

Director

   $108,410    N/A    N/A    $175,000   

John P. Gould

Director

   $108,410    N/A    N/A    $175,000   

Roger G. Ibbotson

Director

   $114,889    N/A    N/A    $185,000   

Edward P. Lazear**

Director

   $0    N/A    N/A    $0   

Myron S. Scholes

Director

   $108,410    N/A    N/A    $175,000   

Abbie J. Smith

Director

   $108,410    N/A    N/A    $175,000   

Christopher S. Crossan

Chief Compliance Officer

   $210,470    N/A    N/A    N/A   

 

The term DFA Fund Complex refers to the four registered investment companies for which the Advisor performs advisory or administrative services and for which the individuals listed above serve as directors/trustees on the Boards of Directors/Trustees of such companies.

 

*

Under a deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) adopted effective January 1, 2002, the disinterested Directors of the Fund may defer receipt of all or a portion of the compensation for serving as members of the four Boards of Directors/Trustees of the investment companies in the DFA Fund Complex (the “DFA Funds”). Amounts deferred under the Plan are treated as though equivalent dollar amounts had been invested in shares of a cross-section of the DFA Funds (the “Reference Funds” or “Simulated Funds”). The amounts ultimately received by the disinterested Directors under the Plan will be directly linked to the investment performance of the Reference Funds. Deferral of fees in accordance with the Plan will have a negligible effect on a fund’s assets, liabilities, and net income per share, and will not obligate a fund to

 

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retain the services of any disinterested Director or to pay any particular level of compensation to the disinterested Director. The total amount of deferred compensation accrued by the disinterested Directors from the DFA Fund Complex who participated in the Plan during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010 is as follows: $185,000 (Mr. Ibbotson). A disinterested Director’s deferred compensation will be distributed at the earlier of: (a) January in the year after the disinterested Director’s resignation from the Boards of Directors/Trustees of the DFA Funds, or death or disability; or (b) five years following the first deferral, in such amounts as the disinterested Director has specified. The obligations of the DFA Funds to make payments under the Plan will be unsecured general obligations of the DFA Funds, payable out of the general assets and property of the DFA Funds.

 

**

Mr. Lazear did not serve as a Director until December 17, 2010; therefore, he did not receive any compensation from the Fund or the DFA Fund Complex as of October 31, 2010.

Officers

Below is the name, age, and information regarding positions with the Fund and the principal occupation for each officer of the Fund. The address of each officer is 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746. Each of the officers listed below holds the same office (except as otherwise noted) in the following entities: Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, Dimensional Holdings Inc., DFA Securities LLC, the Fund, DIG, the Trust, and DEM (collectively, the “DFA Entities”).

 

Name and Age

 

  

Position

 

  

Term of
Office1
and
Length of

Service

 

  

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

 

April A. Aandal

Age: 48

  

Vice President and Chief

Learning Officer

   Since 2008    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Chief Learning Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2008). Formerly Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2004-2008).

Darryl D. Avery

Age: 44

   Vice President    Since 2005    Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Arthur H. Barlow

Age: 55

   Vice President    Since 1993    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Scott A. Bosworth

Age: 42

   Vice President    Since 2007    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since November 1997).

Valerie A. Brown

Age: 44

   Vice President and Assistant Secretary    Since 2001    Vice President and Assistant Secretary of all the DFA Entities, DFA Australia Limited, Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., and Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

David P. Butler

Age: 45

   Vice President    Since 2007    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Director of Global Financial Advisor Services of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since 2008). Formerly, Director US Financial Advisor Services of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2005).

Joseph H. Chi

Age: 44

   Vice President    Since 2009    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since October 2005).

Stephen A. Clark

Age: 38

   Vice President    Since 2004    Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Robert P. Cornell

Age: 61

   Vice President    Since 2007    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Financial Services Group of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since August 1993).

Christopher S. Crossan

Age: 45

   Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer    Since 2004    Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of all the DFA Entities.

James L. Davis

Age: 54

   Vice President    Since 1999    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Robert T. Deere

Age: 53

   Vice President    Since 1994    Vice President of all the DFA Entities and DFA Australia Limited.

 

14


Table of Contents

Name and Age

 

  

Position

 

  

Term of
Office 1
and
Length of
Service

 

  

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

 

Peter F. Dillard

Age: 39

   Vice President    Since 2010    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Research Associate for Dimensional Fund Advisors, LP (since August 2008). Formerly, Research Assistant for DFA from April 2006 – August 2008. Prior to April 2006, Manager at Hilton Hotels Corp. (September 2004 – April 2006).

Robert W. Dintzner

Age: 40

   Vice President    Since 2001    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Chief Communications Officer (since 2010).

Beth Ann Dranguet

Age: 40

   Vice President    Since 2010    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Counsel for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since July 2007). Formerly, Associate at Vinson & Elkins LLP (September 1999 – July 2007).

Kenneth Elmgren

Age: 56

   Vice President    Since 2007    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Managing Principal of Beverly Capital (May 2004 to September 2006).

Richard A. Eustice

Age: 45

   Vice President and Assistant Secretary    Since 1998    Vice President and Assistant Secretary of all the DFA Entities and DFA Australia Limited. Chief Operating Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (since July 2008). Formerly, Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Eugene F. Fama, Jr.

Age: 50

   Vice President    Since 1993    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Gretchen A. Flicker

Age: 39

   Vice President    Since 2004    Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Jed S. Fogdall

Age: 36

   Vice President    Since 2008    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2004).

Jeremy P. Freeman

Age: 40

   Vice President    Since 2009    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Technology Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since June 2006). Formerly, Principal at AIM Investments/Amvescap PLC (now Invesco) (June 1998 – June 2006).

Mark R. Gochnour

Age: 43

   Vice President    Since 2007    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

Henry F. Gray

Age: 43

   Vice President    Since 2000    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited.

John T. Gray

Age: 36

   Vice President    Since 2007    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (January 2005 to February 2007).

Joel H. Hefner

Age: 43

   Vice President    Since 2007    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since June 1998).

Julie C. Henderson

Age: 36

   Vice President and Fund Controller    Since 2005    Vice President and Fund Controller of all the DFA Entities.

Kevin B. Hight

Age: 43

   Vice President    Since 2005    Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Christine W. Ho

Age: 43

   Vice President    Since 2004    Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Jeff J. Jeon

Age: 37

   Vice President    Since 2004    Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Patrick M. Keating

Age: 56

   Vice President    Since 2003    Vice President of all the DFA Entities and Chief Operating Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Director, Vice President, and Chief Privacy Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director of DFA Australia Limited.

David M. Kershner

Age: 39

   Vice President    Since 2010    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since June 2004).

Joseph F. Kolerich

Age: 39

   Vice President    Since 2004    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since April 2001).

Michael F. Lane

Age: 43

   Vice President    Since 2004    Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

 

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Table of Contents

Name and Age

 

  

Position

 

  

Term of
Office 1
and
Length of
Service

 

  

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

 

Kristina M. LaRusso

Age: 35

   Vice President    Since 2006    Vice President of all DFA Entities. Formerly, Operations Supervisor of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (March 2003 to December 2006).

Juliet H. Lee

Age: 40

   Vice President    Since 2005    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Human Resources Manager of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2004).

Apollo D. Lupescu

Age: 41

   Vice President    Since 2009    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since February 2004).

Kenneth M. Manell

Age: 38

   Vice President    Since 2010    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Counsel for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2006). Formerly, Assistant General Counsel at Castle & Cooke (January 2004 – September 2006).

Aaron M. Marcus

Age: 40

   Vice President and Head of Global Human Resources    Since 2008    Vice President of all DFA Entities and Head of Global Human Resources of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Formerly, Global Head of Recruiting and Vice President of Goldman Sachs & Co. (June 2006 to January 2008); Global Co-Head of HR of the Equities & FICC Division, and Vice President of Goldman Sachs & Co. (May 2005 to May 2006);

David R. Martin

Age: 54

   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    Since 2007    Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of all the DFA Entities. Director, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. and DFA Australia Limited. Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director of Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC. Formerly, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Janus Capital Group Inc. (June 2005 to March 2007).

Catherine L. Newell

Age: 46

   Vice President and Secretary    Vice President since 1997 and Secretary since 2000    Vice President and Secretary of all the DFA Entities. Director, Vice President and Secretary of DFA Australia Limited. Director, Vice President and Secretary of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (since February 2002, April 1997, and May 2002, respectively). Vice President and Secretary of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director of Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC (since 2002 and 2006, respectively).

Christian Newton

Age: 35

   Vice President    Since 2009    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Web Services Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2008). Formerly, Design Manager (2005 – 2008) of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

Carolyn L. O

Age: 36

   Vice President    Since 2010    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Counsel for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2007). Prior to September 2007, Associate at K&L Gates LLP (January 2004 – September 2007).

Gerard K. O’Reilly

Age: 34

   Vice President    Since 2007    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Research Associate of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2004 to 2006).

Daniel C. Ong

Age: 37

   Vice President    Since 2009    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since July 2005).

Kyle K. Ozaki

Age: 32

   Vice President    Since 2010    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Compliance Officer for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2008). Formerly, Compliance Officer (February 2006 – December 2007) and Compliance Analyst (August 2004 – January 2006).

Carmen Palafox

Age: 36

   Vice President    Since 2006    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Operations Manager of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since May 1996).

Sonya K. Park

Age: 38

   Vice President    Since 2005    Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

 

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Table of Contents

Name and Age

 

  

Position

 

  

Term of
Office1
and
Length of
Service

 

  

Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

 

David A. Plecha

Age: 49

   Vice President    Since 1993    Vice President of all the DFA Entities, DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Theodore W. Randall

Age: 37

   Vice President    Since 2008    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Research Associate of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2006 to 2008); Systems Developer of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2001 to 2006).

L. Jacobo Rodríguez

Age: 39

   Vice President    Since 2005    Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Julie A. Saft

Age: 51

   Vice President    Since 2010    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Client Systems Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since July 2008). Formerly, Senior Manager at Vanguard (November 1997 – July 2008).

David E. Schneider

Age: 65

   Vice President    Since 2001    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Director of Institutional Services of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

Walid A. Shinnawi

Age: 49

   Vice President    Since 2010    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since March 2006). Formerly, Senior Director at Moody’s KMV (1999-March 2006).

Bruce A. Simmons

Age: 46

   Vice President    Since 2009    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Investment Operations Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since May 2007). Formerly, Vice President Client and Fund Reporting at Mellon Financial (September 2005 – May 2007).

Ted R. Simpson

Age: 42

   Vice President    Since 2007    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since December 2002).

Bryce D. Skaff

Age: 36

   Vice President    Since 2007    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (December 1999 to January 2007).

Grady M. Smith

Age: 54

   Vice President    Since 2004    Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Carl G. Snyder

Age: 47

   Vice President    Since 2000    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited.

Lawrence R. Spieth

Age: 63

   Vice President    Since 2004    Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Bradley G. Steiman

Age: 37

   Vice President    Since 2004    Vice President of all the DFA Entities and Director and Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

Robert C. Trotter

Age: 52

   Vice President    Since 2009    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Manager Technology for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since March 2007). Formerly, Director of Technology at AMVESCAP (2002 – 2007).

Karen E. Umland

Age: 44

   Vice President    Since 1997    Vice President of all the DFA Entities, DFA Australia Limited, Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., and Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

Brian J. Walsh

Age: 41

   Vice President    Since 2009    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since 2004).

Weston J. Wellington

Age: 59

   Vice President    Since 1997    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited.

Ryan J. Wiley

Age: 34

   Vice President    Since 2007    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Trader of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Formerly, Portfolio Manager (2006 to 2007) and Trader (2001 to 2006).

Paul E. Wise

Age: 55

   Vice President    Since 2005    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Chief Technology Officer for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since 2004).
 1

Each officer holds office for an indefinite term at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

 

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Table of Contents

As of January 31, 2011, Directors and officers as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding stock of each Portfolio described in this SAI, except Directors and officers, as a group, owned approximately 3.8% of the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio and 4% of the International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio.

SERVICES TO THE PORTFOLIOS

Administrative Services

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (formerly, PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”), 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809, serves as the accounting services, dividend disbursing, and transfer agent for the Portfolios. The services provided by BNY Mellon are subject to supervision by the executive officers and the Board of Directors of the Fund and include day-to-day keeping and maintenance of certain records, calculation of the offering price of the shares, preparation of reports, liaison with its custodian, and transfer and dividend disbursing agency services. For the administrative and accounting services provided by BNY Mellon, each Portfolio pays BNY Mellon annual fees that are calculated daily and paid monthly according to a fee schedule based on the aggregate average net assets in the Fund Complex, which includes four registered investment companies and a group trust. The fee schedule is set forth in the table below:

.0110% of the Fund Complex’s first $50 billion of average net assets;

.0085% of the Fund Complex’s next $25 billion of average net assets; and

.0075% of the Fund Complex’s average net assets in excess of $75 billion.

The fees charged to each Portfolio under the fee schedule are allocated to a Portfolio based on the Portfolio’s pro rata portion of the aggregate net assets of the Fund Complex.

Each Portfolio is also subject to a monthly base fee. The U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio and U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio are subject to a monthly base fee of $1,666. Each International Portfolio is subject to a monthly base fee of $2,083.

Each Portfolio also pays separate fees to BNY Mellon with respect to the services BNY Mellon provides as transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent.

Custodian

PFPC Trust Company (to be renamed BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company effective July 1, 2011), 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809, serves as the custodian for the U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio and U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio. Citibank, N.A., 111 Wall Street, New York, New York, 10005, serves as global custodian for each International Portfolio.

A Portfolio’s custodian maintains a separate account or accounts for the Portfolio; receives, holds, and releases portfolio securities on account of the Portfolio; makes receipts and disbursements of money on behalf of the Portfolio; and collects and receives income and other payments and distributions on account of the Portfolio’s portfolio securities.

Distributor

The Fund’s shares are distributed by DFA Securities LLC (formerly, DFA Securities Inc.) (“DFAS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Advisor. DFAS is registered as a limited purpose broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. The principal business address of DFAS is 1299 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, California 90401.

DFAS acts as an agent of the Fund by serving as the principal underwriter of the Fund’s shares. Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement with the Fund, DFAS uses its best efforts to seek or arrange for the sale of shares of the Fund, which are continuously offered. No sales charges are paid by investors or the Fund. No compensation is paid by the Fund to DFAS under the Distribution Agreement.

 

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Table of Contents

Legal Counsel

Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP serves as legal counsel to the Fund. Its address is 2600 One Commerce Square, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7098.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) is the independent registered public accounting firm to the Fund and audits the annual financial statements of the Fund. PwC’s address is Two Commerce Square, Suite 1700, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042.

ADVISORY FEES

David G. Booth and Rex A. Sinquefield, as directors and/or officers of the Advisor and shareholders of the outstanding stock of the Advisor’s general partner, may be deemed controlling persons of the Advisor. Mr. Booth also serves as Director and officer of the Fund. For the services it provides as investment advisor to each Portfolio, the Advisor is paid a monthly fee calculated as a percentage of average net assets of the Portfolio.

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009 and the fiscal period from December 1, 2007 to October 31, 2008, the Portfolios paid management fees to the Advisor as set forth in the following table (the dollar amount is shown prior to any fee waivers by the Advisor):

 

    

FISCAL
YEAR
ENDED

2010
(000)

 

FISCAL
YEAR
ENDED

2009
(000)

 

FISCAL
PERIOD
ENDED

2008
(000)

U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio (a)

   $252   $114   $83

U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio (b)

   $3081   $1854   $847

International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio (b)

   $3542   $2235   $768

DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio (c)

   $2343   $1976   $639

Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio (d)

   $2,807   $1,808   $1,923

1 $307 after waiver

2 $369 after recoupment of fees previously waived

3 $226 after waiver

4 $122 after waiver

5 $176 after waiver

6 $151 after waiver

7 $13 after waiver

8 $0 after waiver

9 $54 after waiver

(a)      Pursuant to an Amended and Restated Fee Waiver Agreement for the U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio, the Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee to the extent necessary to reduce the Portfolio’s ordinary operating expenses (not including expenses incurred through its investment in other investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) up to the amount of its total management fee when the Portfolio Expenses exceed 0.60% of the Portfolio’s average net assets on an annualized basis. At any time that the annualized Portfolio Expenses are less than 0.60% of its average net assets on an annualized basis, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived to the extent that such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s annualized expenses to exceed 0.60% of its average net assets. The Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement. The Amended and Restated Fee Waiver Agreement will remain in effect for a period of one year through February 28, 2012, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by the Fund or the Advisor.

(b)      Pursuant to an Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for each of the U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio and International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio, the Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and to assume the ordinary operating expenses of the Portfolio

 

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Table of Contents

(excluding the expenses that the Portfolio incurs indirectly through its investment in other investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) to the extent necessary to limit the Portfolio Expenses of the U.S. Portfolio and International Portfolio to 0.37% and 0.57%, respectively, of each Portfolio’s average net assets on an annualized basis (the “Expense Limitation Amount”). At any time that the Portfolio Expenses of a Portfolio are less than the Portfolio’s Expense Limitation Amount, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s annualized Portfolio Expenses to exceed the Portfolio’s Expense Limitation Amount. A Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement. The Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for each Portfolio will remain in effect for a period of one year through February 28, 2012, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by the Fund or the Advisor.

(c)      Pursuant to an Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio, the Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and to assume expenses of the Portfolio to the extent necessary to reduce the Portfolio’s ordinary operating expenses (including the expenses that the Portfolio bears as a shareholder of other funds managed by the Advisor but excluding the expenses that the Portfolio incurs indirectly through its investment in unaffiliated investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) to the extent necessary to limit the Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio to 0.60% of the Portfolio’s average net assets on an annualized basis (“Expense Limitation Amount”). At any time that the annualized Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio are less than the Portfolio’s Expense Limitation Amount, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s annualized expenses to exceed the Portfolio’s Expense Limitation Amount. The Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement. The Amended and Restated Fee Waiver Agreement will remain in effect for a period of one year through February 28, 2012, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by the Fund or the Advisor.

(d)      Pursuant to an Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio, the Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and to assume the Portfolio’s Expenses to the extent necessary to limit the expenses to 0.85% of the Portfolio’s average net assets on an annualized basis (the “Emerging Markets Expense Limitation Amount”). At any time that the Portfolio’s annualized expenses are less than the Portfolio’s Emerging Markets Expense Limitation Amount, described in the prior sentence, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s annualized expenses to exceed the Emerging Markets Expense Limitation Amount. The Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement. For the Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio, DFA has voluntarily agreed to assume the costs of the Portfolio’s engagement of its Social Screen Vendor but may terminate the assumption of this expense at any time. The Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement will remain in effect for a period of one year through February 28, 2012, and shall continue in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by the Fund or the Advisor.

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

In accordance with the team approach used to manage the Portfolios, the portfolio managers and portfolio traders implement the policies and procedures established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers and portfolio traders also make daily investment decisions regarding the Portfolios, including running buy and sell programs based on the parameters established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers named below are the portfolio managers that coordinate the efforts of all other portfolio managers with respect to the day-to-day management of the Portfolios indicated.

 

20


Table of Contents

Stephen A. Clark

  

U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio

U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

Stephen A. Clark, Karen E. Umland,

Joseph H. Chi and Jed S. Fogdall

  

International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio

Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio

Investments in the Portfolio

The portfolio managers and their immediate families did not own any shares of the Portfolios contained in this SAI that they manage as of October 31, 2010.

Description of Compensation Structure

Portfolio managers receive a base salary and bonus. Compensation of a portfolio manager is determined at the discretion of the Advisor and is based on a portfolio manager’s experience, responsibilities, the perception of the quality of his or her work efforts, and other subjective factors. The compensation of portfolio managers is not directly based upon the performance of the Portfolios or other accounts that the portfolio managers manage. The Advisor reviews the compensation of each portfolio manager annually and may make modifications in compensation as its Compensation Committee deems necessary to reflect changes in the market. Each portfolio manager’s compensation consists of the following:

 

   

Base salary. Each portfolio manager is paid a base salary. The Advisor considers the factors described above to determine each portfolio manager’s base salary.

 

   

Semi-Annual Bonus. Each portfolio manager may receive a semi-annual bonus. The amount of the bonus paid to each portfolio manager is based upon the factors described above.

Portfolio managers may be awarded the right to purchase restricted shares of the stock of the Advisor, as determined from time to time, by the Board of Directors of the Advisor or its delegates. Portfolio managers also participate in benefit and retirement plans and other programs available generally to all employees.

In addition, portfolio managers may be given the option of participating in the Advisor’s Long Term Incentive Plan. The level of participation for eligible employees may be dependent on overall level of compensation, among other considerations. Participation in this program is not based on or related to the performance of any individual strategies or any particular client accounts.

Other Managed Accounts

In addition to the Portfolios, the portfolio managers manage: (i) other U.S. registered investment companies advised or sub-advised by the Advisor; (ii) other pooled investment vehicles that are not U.S. registered mutual funds; and (iii) other accounts managed for organizations and individuals. The following table sets forth information regarding the total accounts for which each portfolio manager has the primary responsibility for coordinating the day-to-day management responsibilities.

 

Name of Portfolio Manager

  

Number of Accounts Managed and Total

Assets by Category As of October 31, 2010

Stephen A. Clark

  

• 92 U.S. registered mutual funds with $133,626 million in total assets under management.

• 20 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $25,316 million in total assets under management. Out of these unregistered pooled investment vehicles, one client with an investment of $220 million in an unregistered pooled investment vehicle pays a performance-based advisory fee.

 

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Table of Contents

Name of Portfolio Manager

  

Number of Accounts Managed and Total

Assets by Category As of October 31, 2010

    

• 73 other accounts with 11,603 million in total assets under management, of which one account with $731 million in assets may be subject to a performance fee.

Karen E. Umland

  

• 37 U.S. registered mutual funds with $58,973 million in total assets under management.

• 4 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $1,303 million in total assets under management.

• 26 other accounts with $7,671 million in total assets under management, of which one account with $731 million in assets may be subject to a performance fee.

Joseph H. Chi

  

• 37 U.S. registered mutual funds with $58,973 million in total assets under management.

• 4 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $1,303 million in total assets under management.

• 26 other accounts with $7,671 million in total assets under management, of which one account with $731 million in assets may be subject to a performance fee.

Jed S. Fogdall

  

• 37 U.S. registered mutual funds with $58,973 million in total assets under management.

• 4 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $1,303 million in total assets under management.

• 26 other accounts with $7,671 million in total assets under management, of which one account with $731 million in assets may be subject to a performance fee.

Potential Conflicts of Interest

Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has the primary day-to-day responsibilities with respect to more than one portfolio and other accounts. Other accounts include registered mutual funds (other than the Portfolios), other unregistered pooled investment vehicles, and other accounts managed for organizations and individuals (“Accounts”). An Account may have similar investment objectives to a Portfolio, or may purchase, sell, or hold securities that are eligible to be purchased, sold, or held by a Portfolio. Actual or apparent conflicts of interest include:

 

   

Time Management. The management of multiple portfolios and/or Accounts may result in a portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of each portfolio and/or Account. The Advisor seeks to manage such competing interests for the time and attention of portfolio managers by having portfolio managers focus on a particular investment discipline. Most Accounts managed by a portfolio manager are managed using the same investment models that are used in connection with the management of the Portfolios.

 

   

Investment Opportunities. It is possible that at times identical securities will be held by more than one portfolio and/or Account. However, positions in the same security may vary and the length of time that any portfolio or Account may choose to hold its investment in the same security may likewise vary. If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity that may be suitable for more than one portfolio or Account, a Portfolio may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to an allocation of filled purchase or sale orders across all eligible portfolios and Accounts. To deal with these situations, the Advisor has adopted procedures for allocating portfolio transactions across multiple portfolios and Accounts.

 

22


Table of Contents
   

Broker Selection. With respect to securities transactions for the Portfolios the Advisor determines which broker to use to execute each order, consistent with the Advisor’s duty to seek best execution of the transaction. However, with respect to certain Accounts (such as separate accounts), the Advisor may be limited by the client with respect to the selection of brokers or may be instructed to direct trades through a particular broker. In these cases, the Advisor or its affiliates may place separate, non-simultaneous, transactions for a Portfolio and another Account that may temporarily affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment of the Portfolio or the Account.

 

   

Performance-Based Fees. For some Accounts, the Advisor may be compensated based on the profitability of the Account, such as by a performance-based management fee. These incentive compensation structures may create a conflict of interest for the Advisor with regard to Accounts where the Advisor is paid based on a percentage of assets because the portfolio manager may have an incentive to allocate securities preferentially to the Accounts where the Advisor might share in investment gains.

 

   

Investment in an Account. A portfolio manager or his/her relatives may invest in an Account that he or she manages and a conflict may arise where he or she may therefore have an incentive to treat the Account in which the portfolio manager or his/her relatives invest preferentially as compared to a Portfolio or other Accounts for which he or she has portfolio management responsibilities.

The Advisor and the Fund have adopted certain compliance procedures that are reasonably designed to address these types of conflicts. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Fund was incorporated under Maryland law on June 15, 1981. Until June 1983, the Fund was named DFA Small Company Fund Inc. Until May 29, 2007, the Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio was named Emerging Markets Social Core Portfolio. The Fund generally offers shares of the Portfolios only to institutional investors and clients of registered investment advisers.

CODE OF ETHICS

The Fund, the Advisor, and DFAS have adopted a revised Code of Ethics, under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act, for certain access persons of the Portfolios. The Code of Ethics is designed to ensure that access persons act in the interest of a Portfolio, and its shareholders, with respect to any personal trading of securities. Under the Code of Ethics, access persons are generally prohibited from knowingly buying or selling securities (except for mutual funds, U.S. government securities, and money market instruments) which are being purchased, sold, or considered for purchase or sale by a Portfolio unless the access persons’ proposed purchases are approved in advance. The Code of Ethics also contains certain reporting requirements and securities trading clearance procedures.

SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS

The shares of each Portfolio, when issued and paid for in accordance with the Portfolios’ Prospectus, will be fully paid and non-assessable shares. Each share of common stock represents an equal proportional interest in the assets and liabilities of a Portfolio and has identical, non-cumulative voting, dividend, redemption liquidation, and other rights and preferences.

With respect to matters that require shareholder approval, shareholders are entitled to vote only with respect to matters that affect the interest of the portfolio of shares that they hold, except as otherwise required by applicable law. If liquidation of the Fund should occur, shareholders would be entitled to receive, on a per class basis, the assets of the particular portfolio whose shares they own, as well as a proportionate share of Fund assets not attributable to any particular portfolio. Ordinarily, the Fund does not intend to hold annual meetings of

 

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shareholders, except as required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law. The Fund’s bylaws provide that special meetings of shareholders shall be called at the written request of shareholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting. Such meeting may be called to consider any matter, including the removal of one or more directors. Shareholders will receive shareholder communications with respect to such matters as required by the 1940 Act, including semi-annual and annual financial statements of the Fund.

Shareholder inquiries may be made by writing or calling the Fund at the address or telephone number appearing on the cover of this SAI. Only those individuals whose signatures are on file for the account in question may receive specific account information or make changes in the account registration.

PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

As of January 31, 2011, the following persons beneficially owned 5% or more of the outstanding stock of the Portfolios, as set forth below:

 

U.S. SOCIAL CORE EQUITY 2 PORTFOLIO

  

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     28.58

Maryville Academy

1150 N. River Road

Des Plaines, IL 60016

     17.90

Baptist Foundation of Alabama

7650 Halcyon Summit Drive

PO Box 241227

Montgomery, AL 36124

     9.44

Sisters of Charity

215 Seton Road

Halifax, NS B3M DC9 Canada

     6.89

National Financial Services LLC

200 Liberty Street

One World Financial Center

New York, NY 10281

     5.98

Comerica Bank Custodian FBO

Diocese of Toledo Priest Retirement

411 W Lafayette 7th Floor

Detroit, MI 48226

     5.53

Wilmington Trust

Retirement and Institutional Services Corporation

P.O. Box 52129

Phoenix, AZ 85072

     5.18
U.S. SUSTAINABILITY CORE 1 PORTFOLIO   

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*1

     50.23

Ameritrade, Inc.*

     29.38

 

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1005 N. Ameritrade Place

Bellevue, NE 68005

  

National Financial Services LLC*1

     17.92
INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY CORE 1 PORTFOLIO   

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*1

     43.09

Ameritrade, Inc.*1

     31.76

National Financial Services LLC*1

     22.73
DFA INTERNATIONAL VALUE EX TOBACCO PORTFOLIO   

Regence BlueShield

1800 9th Avenue, Suite 1025

Seattle, WA 98101

     57.27

Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon

1800 9th Avenue, Suite 1025

Seattle, WA 98101

     31.64

Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah

1800 9th Avenue, Suite 1025

Seattle, WA 98101

     11.10
EMERGING MARKETS SOCIAL CORE EQUITY PORTFOLIO   

Ascension Health

4600 Edmundson Road

St. Louis, MO 63134

     46.44

Ascension Health Master Pension Trust

4600 Edmundson Road

St. Louis, MO 63134

     30.25

 

*

Owner of record only (omnibus).

1

See address for shareholder previously noted above in list.

PURCHASE OF SHARES

The following information supplements the information set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “PURCHASE OF SHARES.”

The Fund will accept purchase and redemption orders on each day that the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for business, regardless of whether the Federal Reserve System is closed. However, no purchases by wire may be made on any day that the Federal Reserve System is closed. The Fund generally will be closed on days that the NYSE is closed. The NYSE is scheduled to be open Monday through Friday throughout the year except for days closed to recognize New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. The Federal Reserve System is closed on the same days as the NYSE, except that it is open on Good Friday and closed on Columbus Day and Veterans’ Day. Orders for redemptions and purchases will not be processed if the Fund is closed.

 

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The Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend the offering of shares of a Portfolio or reject purchase orders when, in the judgment of management, such suspension or rejection is in the best interest of the Fund or the Portfolio. Securities accepted in exchange for shares of a Portfolio will be acquired for investment purposes and will be considered for sale under the same circumstances as other securities in the Portfolio.

The Fund or its transfer agent may from time to time appoint a sub-transfer agent, such as a broker, for the receipt of purchase and redemption orders and funds from certain investors. With respect to purchases and redemptions through a sub-transfer agent, the Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when the sub-transfer agent receives the order. Shares of a Portfolio will be priced at the public offering price next calculated after receipt of the purchase or redemption order by the sub-transfer agent.

Management believes that any dilutive effect of the cost of investing the proceeds of the sale of the shares of the Portfolios is minimal and, therefore, the shares of the Portfolios are currently sold at net asset value, without imposition of a reimbursement fee. Reimbursement fees may be charged prospectively from time to time based upon the future experience of a Portfolio, which is currently sold at net asset value. Any such charges will be described in the Prospectus.

REDEMPTION AND TRANSFER OF SHARES

The following information supplements the information set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “REDEMPTION OF SHARES.”

The Fund may suspend redemption privileges or postpone the date of payment: (1) during any period when the NYSE is closed, or trading on the NYSE is restricted as determined by the SEC; (2) during any period when an emergency exists as defined by the rules of the SEC as a result of which it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund to dispose of securities owned by it, or fairly to determine the value of its assets; and (3) for such other periods as the SEC may permit.

Shareholders may transfer shares of a Portfolio to another person by making a written request to the Advisor, who will transmit the request to the transfer agent. The request should clearly identify the account and number of shares to be transferred, and include the signature of all registered owners and all stock certificates, if any, which are subject to the transfer. The signature on the letter of request, the stock certificate, or any stock power must be guaranteed in the same manner as described in the Prospectus under “REDEMPTION OF SHARES.” As with redemptions, the written request must be received in good order before any transfer can be made.

TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIO AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS

The following is a summary of some of the federal income tax consequences of investing in a Portfolio (sometimes referred to as “the Portfolio”). Unless you are invested in the Portfolio through a qualified retirement plan, you should consider the tax implications of investing and consult your own tax advisor. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Portfolio or its shareholders, and the discussion here and in the Prospectus is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning.

This TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIO AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS section is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and applicable regulations in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative, regulatory or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly change the tax rules applicable to the Portfolio and its shareholders. Any of these changes or court decisions may have a retroactive effect.

This is for general information only and not tax advice and does not purport to deal with all federal tax consequences applicable to all categories of investors, some of which may be subject to special rules. You should consult your own tax advisor regarding your particular circumstances before making an investment in the Portfolio.

 

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Taxation of the Portfolio

The Portfolio has elected and intends to qualify (or, if newly organized, intends to elect and qualify) each year as a regulated investment company (sometimes referred to as a “regulated investment company,” “RIC” or “portfolio”)under Subchapter M of the Code. If the Portfolio qualifies, the Portfolio will not be subject to federal income tax on the portion of its investment company taxable income (that is, generally, taxable interest, dividends, net short-term capital gains, and other taxable ordinary income, net of expenses, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and net capital gain (that is, the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) that it distributes to shareholders.

Qualification as a regulated investment company. In order to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, the Portfolio must satisfy the following requirements:

 

   

Distribution Requirement —the Portfolio must distribute at least 90% of its investment company taxable income and 90% of its net tax-exempt income, if any, for the tax year (certain distributions made by the Portfolio after the close of its tax year are considered distributions attributable to the previous tax year for purposes of satisfying this requirement).

 

   

Income Requirement —the Portfolio must derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived from its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies and net income derived from qualified publicly traded partnerships (“QPTPs”).

 

   

Asset Diversification Test —the Portfolio must satisfy the following asset diversification test at the close of each quarter of the Portfolio’s tax year: (1) at least 50% of the value of the Portfolio’s assets must consist of cash and cash items, U.S. Government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and securities of other issuers (as to which the Portfolio has not invested more than 5% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets in securities of an issuer and as to which the Portfolio does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer); and (2) no more than 25% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets may be invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies) or of two or more issuers which the Portfolio controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses, or, collectively, in the securities of QPTPs.

In some circumstances, the character and timing of income realized by the Portfolio for purposes of the Income Requirement or the identification of the issuer for purposes of the Asset Diversification Test is uncertain under current law with respect to a particular investment, and an adverse determination or future guidance by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) with respect to such type of investment may adversely affect the Portfolio’s ability to satisfy these requirements. SeeTax Treatment of Portfolio Transactions” below with respect to the application of these requirements to certain types of investments. In other circumstances, the Portfolio may be required to sell portfolio holdings in order to meet the Income Requirement, Distribution Requirement, or Asset Diversification Test which may have a negative impact on the Portfolio’s income and performance.

The Portfolio may use “equalization accounting” (in lieu of making some cash distributions) in determining the portion of its income and gains that has been distributed. If the Portfolio uses equalization accounting, it will allocate a portion of its undistributed investment company taxable income and net capital gain to redemptions of Portfolio shares and will correspondingly reduce the amount of such income and gains that it distributes in cash. If the IRS determines that the Portfolio’s allocation is improper and that the Portfolio has under-distributed its income and gain for any taxable year, the Portfolio may be liable for federal income and/or excise tax. In addition, any such under-distribution of income might cause the Portfolio to fail to satisfy the Income Requirement and thereby not qualify as a regulated investment company for such taxable year.

If for any taxable year the Portfolio does not qualify as a regulated investment company, all of its taxable income (including its net capital gain) would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders, and the dividends would be taxable to the shareholders as ordinary income (or

 

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possibly as qualified dividend income) to the extent of the Portfolio’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Failure to qualify as a regulated investment company would thus have a negative impact on the Portfolio’s income and performance. Subject to savings provisions for certain inadvertent failures to satisfy the Income Requirement or Asset Diversification Test which, in general, are limited to those due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, it is possible that the Portfolio will not qualify as a regulated investment company in any given tax year. Even if such savings provisions apply, the Portfolio may be subject to a monetary sanction of $50,000 or more. Moreover, the Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of the Portfolio as a regulated investment company if it determines such a course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.

Portfolio turnover. For investors that hold their Portfolio shares in a taxable account, a high portfolio turnover rate (except in a money market fund that maintains a stable net asset value) may result in higher taxes. This is because a portfolio with a high turnover rate is likely to generate more short-term and less long-term capital gain or loss than a comparable portfolio with a low turnover rate. Any such higher taxes would reduce the Portfolio’s after-tax performance.

Capital loss carryovers. The capital losses of the Portfolio, if any, do not flow through to shareholders. Rather, the Portfolio may use its capital losses, subject to applicable limitations, to offset its capital gains without being required to pay taxes on or distribute to shareholders such gains that are offset by the losses. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (“RIC Mod Act”), if the Portfolio has a "net capital loss" (that is, capital losses in excess of capital gains) for a taxable year beginning after December 22, 2010 (the date of enactment of the RIC Mod Act), the excess (if any) of the Portfolio's net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gains is treated as a short-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Portfolio's next taxable year, and the excess (if any) of the Portfolio's net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gains is treated as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Portfolio's next taxable year. Any such net capital losses of the Portfolio that are not used to offset capital gains may be carried forward indefinitely to reduce any future capital gains realized by the Portfolio in succeeding taxable years. However, for any net capital losses realized in taxable years of the Portfolio beginning on or before December 22, 2010, the Portfolio is only permitted to carry forward such capital losses for eight years as a short-term capital loss. Under a transition rule, capital losses arising in a taxable year beginning after December 22, 2010 must be used before capital losses realized in a prior taxable year. The amount of capital losses that can be carried forward and used in any single year is subject to an annual limitation if there is a more than 50% “change in ownership” of the Portfolio. An ownership change generally results when shareholders owning 5% or more of the Portfolio increase their aggregate holdings by more than 50% over a three-year look-back period. An ownership change could result in capital loss carryovers being used at a slower rate (or, in the case of those realized in taxable years of the Portfolio beginning on or before December 22, 2010, to expire unutilized), thereby reducing the Portfolio’s ability to offset capital gains with those losses. An increase in the amount of taxable gains distributed to the Portfolio’s shareholders could result from an ownership change. The Portfolio undertakes no obligation to avoid or prevent an ownership change, which can occur in the normal course of shareholder purchases and redemptions or as a result of engaging in a tax-free reorganization with another portfolio. Moreover, because of circumstances beyond the Portfolio’s control, there can be no assurance that the Portfolio will not experience, or has not already experienced, an ownership change.

Deferral of late year losses. For taxable years of the Portfolio beginning after December 22, 2010, the Portfolio may elect to treat part or all of any "qualified late year loss" as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in determining the Portfolio’s taxable income, net capital gain, net short-term capital gain, and earnings and profits. The effect of this election is to treat any such “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in characterizing Portfolio distributions for any calendar year (see “Distributions of Capital Gains” below). A "qualified late year loss" includes:

 

   

any net capital loss, net long-term capital loss, or net short-term capital loss incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year (“post-October losses”), and

   

the excess, if any, of (1) the sum of (a) specified losses incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year, and (b) other ordinary losses incurred after December 31 of the current taxable year, over (2) the sum of (a) specified gains incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year, and (b) other ordinary gains incurred after December 31 of the current taxable year.

 

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The terms “specified losses” and “specified gains” mean ordinary losses and gains from the sale, exchange, or other disposition of property (including the termination of a position with respect to such property), foreign currency losses, and losses resulting from holding stock in a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) for which a mark-to-market election is in effect. The terms “ordinary losses” and “ordinary gains” mean other ordinary losses and gains that are not described in the preceding sentence. Since the Portfolio has a fiscal year ending in October, the amount of qualified late-year losses (if any) is computed without regard to any items of income, gain, or loss that are (a) post-October losses, (b) specified losses, and (c) specified gains.

Undistributed capital gains. The Portfolio may retain or distribute to shareholders its net capital gain for each taxable year. The Portfolio currently intends to distribute net capital gains. If the Portfolio elects to retain its net capital gain, the Portfolio will be taxed thereon (except to the extent of any available capital loss carryovers) at the highest corporate tax rate (currently 35%). If the Portfolio elects to retain its net capital gain, it is expected that the Portfolio also will elect to have shareholders treated as if each received a distribution of its pro rata share of such gain, with the result that each shareholder will be required to report its pro rata share of such gain on its tax return as long-term capital gain, will receive a refundable tax credit for its pro rata share of tax paid by the Portfolio on the gain, and will increase the tax basis for its shares by an amount equal to the deemed distribution less the tax credit.

Excise tax distribution requirements. To avoid a 4% federal excise tax, the Code requires the Portfolio to distribute to you by December 31 of each year, at a minimum, the following amounts: 98% of its taxable ordinary income earned during the calendar year; 98% (or 98.2% beginning January 1, 2011) of its capital gain net income earned during the twelve-month period ending October 31; and 100% of any undistributed amounts from the prior year. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay these distributions in December (or to pay them in January, in which case you must treat them as received in December) but can give no assurances that its distributions will be sufficient to eliminate all taxes.

Foreign income tax. Investment income received by the Portfolio from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign income tax withheld at the source and the amount of tax withheld generally will be treated as an expense of the Portfolio. The United States has entered into tax treaties with many foreign countries which entitle the Portfolio to a reduced rate of, or exemption from, tax on such income. It is impossible to determine the effective rate of foreign tax in advance since the amount of the Portfolio’s assets to be invested in various countries is not known. Under certain circumstances, the Portfolio may elect to pass-through foreign tax credits to shareholders, although it reserves the right not to do so. See “Investment in Foreign SecuritiesPass-through of foreign tax credits” below.

Distributions of Net Investment Income

The Portfolio receives ordinary income generally in the form of dividends and/or interest on its investments. The Portfolio may also recognize ordinary income from other sources, including, but not limited to, certain gains on foreign currency-related transactions. This income, less expenses incurred in the operation of the Portfolio, constitutes the Portfolio's net investment income from which dividends may be paid to you. If you are a taxable investor, distributions of net investment income generally are taxable as ordinary income to the extent of the Portfolio’s earnings and profits. In the case of a Portfolio whose strategy includes investing in stocks of corporations, a portion of the income dividends paid to shareholders by a Portfolio may be qualified dividends eligible to be taxed at reduced rates.

Distributions of Capital Gains

The Portfolio may realize a capital gain or loss in connection with sales or other dispositions of its portfolio securities. Distributions derived from the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss will be taxable to you as ordinary income. Distributions from the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long you have held your shares in the Portfolio. Any net capital gain of the Portfolio generally will be distributed once each year, and may be distributed more frequently, if necessary, to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the Portfolio.

Returns of Capital

 

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Distributions by the Portfolio that are not paid from earnings and profits will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of (and in reduction of) the shareholder's tax basis in his shares; any excess will be treated as gain from the sale of his shares. Thus, the portion of a distribution that constitutes a return of capital will decrease the shareholder’s tax basis in his Portfolio shares (but not below zero), and will result in an increase in the amount of gain (or decrease in the amount of loss) that will be recognized by the shareholder for tax purposes on the later sale of such Portfolio shares. Return of capital distributions can occur for a number of reasons including, among others, the Portfolio over-estimates the income to be received from certain investments such as those classified as partnerships or equity real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) (see “Tax Treatment of Portfolio TransactionsInvestments in U.S. REITs” below).

Investment in Foreign Securities

The Portfolio may be subject to foreign withholding taxes on income from certain foreign securities. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes on the Portfolio and/or its shareholders. Any foreign withholding taxes could reduce the Portfolio’s distributions paid to you.

Pass-through of foreign tax credits. If at the end of the fiscal year more than 50% in value of the total assets of the Portfolio are invested in securities of foreign corporations, the Portfolio may elect to pass through to its shareholders their pro rata share of foreign income taxes paid by the Portfolio. If this election is made, the Portfolio may report more taxable income to you than it actually distributes. You will then be entitled either to deduct your share of these taxes in computing your taxable income or to claim a foreign tax credit for these taxes against your U.S. federal income tax (subject to limitations for certain shareholders). The Portfolio will provide you with the information necessary to claim this deduction or credit on your personal income tax return if it makes this election. The Portfolio reserves the right not to pass through to its shareholders the amount of foreign income taxes paid by the Portfolio.

The amount of any foreign tax credits available to you (as a result of the pass-through to you of your pro rata share of foreign taxes paid by the Portfolio) will be reduced if you receive from the Portfolio qualifying dividends from qualifying foreign corporations that are subject to tax at reduced rates. Shareholders in these circumstances should talk with their personal tax advisors about their foreign tax credits and the procedures that they should follow to claim these credits on their personal income tax returns.

Effect of foreign debt investments on distributions. Most foreign exchange gains realized on the sale of debt securities are treated by the Portfolio as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes. Similarly, foreign exchange losses realized on the sale of debt securities generally are treated as ordinary losses. These gains when distributed are taxable to you as ordinary income, and any losses reduce the Portfolio’s ordinary income otherwise available for distribution to you. This treatment could increase or decrease the Portfolio’s ordinary income distributions to you, and may cause some or all of the Portfolio’s previously distributed income to be classified as a return of capital.

PFIC securities. The Portfolio may invest in securities of foreign entities that could be deemed for tax purposes to be PFICs. In general, a PFIC is any foreign corporation if 75% or more of its gross income for its taxable year is passive income, or 50% or more of its average assets (by value) are held for the production of passive income. When investing in PFIC securities, the Portfolio intends to mark-to-market these securities and recognize any unrealized gains as ordinary income at the end of its fiscal year. Deductions for losses are allowable only to the extent of any current or previously recognized gains. These gains (reduced by allowable losses) are treated as ordinary income that the Portfolio is required to distribute, even though it has not sold or received dividends from these securities. You should also be aware that the designation of a foreign security as a PFIC security will cause its income dividends to fall outside of the definition of qualified foreign corporation dividends. These dividends generally will not qualify for the reduced rate of taxation on qualified dividends when distributed to you by the Portfolio. In addition, if the Portfolio is unable to identify an investment as a PFIC and thus does not make a mark-to-market election, the Portfolio may be subject to U.S. federal income tax (the effect of which might be mitigated by making a mark-to-market election in a year prior to the sale) on a portion of any “excess distribution” or gain from the disposition of such shares even if such income is distributed as a taxable dividend by the Portfolio to its shareholders. Additional charges in the nature of interest may be imposed on the Portfolio in respect of deferred

 

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taxes arising from such distributions or gains. Any such taxes or interest charges could in turn reduce the Portfolio’s distributions paid to you.

Information on the Amount and Tax Character of Distributions

The Portfolio will inform you of the amount and character of your distributions at the time they are paid, and will advise you of the tax status of such distributions for federal income tax purposes shortly after the close of each calendar year. If you have not held Portfolio shares for a full year, the Portfolio may report to shareholders and distribute to you, as ordinary income, qualified dividends, or capital gains, and in the case of non-U.S. shareholders the Portfolio may further report and distribute as interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends, a percentage of income that is not equal to the actual amount of such income earned during the period of your investment in the Portfolio. Taxable distributions declared by the Portfolio in December to shareholders of record in such month, but paid in January, are taxable to you as if they were paid in December.

Sales, Exchanges and Redemptions of Portfolio Shares

In general. If you are a taxable investor, sales, exchanges and redemptions (including redemptions in kind) are taxable transactions for federal and state income tax purposes. If you redeem your Portfolio shares, the IRS requires you to report any gain or loss on your redemption. If you held your shares as a capital asset, the gain or loss that you realize will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term or short-term, generally depending on how long you have held your shares.

Redemptions at a loss within six months of purchase. Any loss incurred on a redemption of shares of the Portfolio held for six months or less will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributed to you by the Portfolio on those shares.

Wash sales. All or a portion of any loss that you realize on a redemption of your Portfolio shares will be disallowed to the extent that you buy other shares in the Portfolio (through reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) within 30 days before or after your share redemption. Any loss disallowed under these rules will be added to your tax basis in the new shares.

Cost basis reporting. Under the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008, the Portfolio’s administrative agent will be required to provide you with cost basis information on the sale of any of your shares in the Portfolio, subject to certain exceptions. This cost basis reporting requirement is effective for shares purchased in the Portfolio on or after January 1, 2012.

Tax shelter reporting. Under Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to the Portfolio’s shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886.

U.S. Government Securities

To the extent the Portfolio invests in certain U.S. government obligations, dividends paid by the Portfolio to shareholders that are derived from interest on these obligations should be exempt from state and local personal income taxes, subject in some states to minimum investment or reporting requirements that must be met by the Portfolio. The income on portfolio investments in certain securities, such as repurchase agreements, commercial paper and federal agency-backed obligations (e.g., Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) or Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) securities), generally does not qualify for tax-free treatment. The rules on exclusion of this income are different for corporate shareholders.

Qualified Dividend Income for Individuals

With respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2013 (unless such provision is extended or made permanent), ordinary income dividends reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as derived from qualified dividend income will be taxed in the hands of individuals and other noncorporate shareholders at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain. “Qualified dividend income” means dividends paid to the Portfolio (a) by

 

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domestic corporations, (b) by foreign corporations that are either (i) incorporated in a possession of the United States, or (ii) are eligible for benefits under certain income tax treaties with the United States that include an exchange of information program, or (c) with respect to stock of a foreign corporation that is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. Both the Portfolio and the investor must meet certain holding period requirements to qualify Portfolio dividends for this treatment. Specifically, the Portfolio must hold the stock for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the stock becomes ex-dividend. Similarly, investors must hold their Portfolio shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the Portfolio distribution goes ex-dividend. Income derived from investments in derivatives, fixed-income securities, U.S. REITs, PFICs, and income received “in lieu of” dividends in a securities lending transaction generally is not eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income. If the qualifying dividend income received by the Portfolio is equal to or greater than 95% of the Portfolio's gross income (exclusive of net capital gain) in any taxable year, all of the ordinary income dividends paid by the Portfolio will be qualifying dividend income.

Dividends-Received Deduction for Corporations

For corporate shareholders, a portion of the dividends paid by the Portfolio may qualify for the 70% corporate dividends-received deduction. The portion of dividends paid by the Portfolio that so qualifies will be reported by the Portfolio to shareholders each year and cannot exceed the gross amount of dividends received by the Portfolio from domestic (U.S.) corporations. The availability of the dividends-received deduction is subject to certain holding period and debt financing restrictions that apply to both the Portfolio and the investor. Specifically, the amount that the Portfolio may report as eligible for the dividends-received deduction will be reduced or eliminated if the shares on which the dividends earned by the Portfolio were debt-financed or held by the Portfolio for less than a minimum period of time, generally 46 days during a 91-day period beginning 45 days before the stock becomes ex-dividend. Similarly, if your Portfolio shares are debt-financed or held by you for less than a 46-day period then the dividends-received deduction for Portfolio dividends on your shares may also be reduced or eliminated. Even if reported as dividends eligible for the dividends-received deduction, all dividends (including any deducted portion) must be included in your alternative minimum taxable income calculation. Income derived by the Portfolio from investments in derivatives, fixed-income and foreign securities generally is not eligible for this treatment.

Limitation on Deductibility of Losses

Losses incurred on the sale of securities by the Portfolio to another Portfolio will be disallowed if, as of the date of sale, the selling and purchasing portfolios are considered related parties. If the selling and purchasing portfolios are both corporations, they are treated as related parties if five or fewer persons, who are individuals, estates or trusts, own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the outstanding shares in both the selling and purchasing portfolios. Other attribution rules may apply.

Tax Treatment of Portfolio Transactions

Set forth below is a general description of the tax treatment of certain types of securities, investment techniques and transactions that may apply to a portfolio and, in turn, effect the amount, character and timing of dividends and distributions payable by the portfolio to its shareholders. This section should be read in conjunction with the discussion in the Prospectus under “Principal Investment Strategies” and “Principal Risks” for a detailed description of the various types of securities and investment techniques that apply to the Portfolio.

In general. In general, gain or loss recognized by a portfolio on the sale or other disposition of portfolio investments will be a capital gain or loss. Such capital gain and loss may be long-term or short-term depending, in general, upon the length of time a particular investment position is maintained and, in some cases, upon the nature of the transaction. Property held for more than one year generally will be eligible for long-term capital gain or loss treatment. The application of certain rules described below may serve to alter the manner in which the holding period for a security is determined or may otherwise affect the characterization as long-term or short-term, and also the timing of the realization and/or character, of certain gains or losses.

Certain fixed-income investments. Gain recognized on the disposition of a debt obligation purchased by a portfolio at a market discount (generally, at a price less than its principal amount) will be treated as ordinary income

 

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to the extent of the portion of the market discount that accrued during the period of time the portfolio held the debt obligation unless the portfolio made a current inclusion election to accrue market discount into income as it accrues. If a portfolio purchases a debt obligation (such as a zero coupon security or pay-in-kind security) that was originally issued at a discount, the portfolio generally is required to include in gross income each year the portion of the original issue discount that accrues during such year. Therefore, a portfolio’s investment in such securities may cause the portfolio to recognize income and make distributions to shareholders before it receives any cash payments on the securities. To generate cash to satisfy those distribution requirements, a portfolio may have to sell portfolio securities that it otherwise might have continued to hold or to use cash flows from other sources such as the sale of portfolio shares.

Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of or in default present tax issues for a portfolio. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as whether and to what extent a portfolio should recognize market discount on a debt obligation, when a portfolio may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount or market discount, when and to what extent a portfolio may take deductions for bad debts or worthless securities and how a portfolio should allocate payments received on obligations in default between principal and income. These and other related issues will be addressed by a portfolio in order to ensure that it distributes sufficient income to preserve its status as a regulated investment company.

Options, futures, forward contracts, swap agreements and hedging transactions. In general, option premiums received by a portfolio are not immediately included in the income of the portfolio. Instead, the premiums are recognized when the option contract expires, the option is exercised by the holder, or the portfolio transfers or otherwise terminates the option (e.g., through a closing transaction). If an option written by a portfolio is exercised and the portfolio sells or delivers the underlying stock, the portfolio generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to (a) sum of the strike price and the option premium received by the portfolio minus (b) the portfolio’s basis in the stock. Such gain or loss generally will be short-term or long-term depending upon the holding period of the underlying stock. If securities are purchased by a portfolio pursuant to the exercise of a put option written by it, the portfolio generally will subtract the premium received from its cost basis in the securities purchased. The gain or loss with respect to any termination of a portfolio’s obligation under an option other than through the exercise of the option and related sale or delivery of the underlying stock generally will be short-term gain or loss depending on whether the premium income received by the portfolio is greater or less than the amount paid by the portfolio (if any) in terminating the transaction. Thus, for example, if an option written by a portfolio expires unexercised, the portfolio generally will recognize short-term gain equal to the premium received.

The tax treatment of certain futures contracts entered into by a portfolio as well as listed non-equity options written or purchased by the portfolio on U.S. exchanges (including options on futures contracts, broad-based equity indices and debt securities) may be governed by section 1256 of the Code (“section 1256 contracts”). Gains or losses on section 1256 contracts generally are considered 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gains or losses (“60/40”), although certain foreign currency gains and losses from such contracts may be treated as ordinary in character. Also, any section 1256 contracts held by a portfolio at the end of each taxable year (and, for purposes of the 4% excise tax, on certain other dates as prescribed under the Code) are “marked to market” with the result that unrealized gains or losses are treated as though they were realized and the resulting gain or loss is treated as ordinary or 60/40 gain or loss, as applicable. Section 1256 contracts do not include any interest rate swap, currency swap, basis swap, interest rate cap, interest rate floor, commodity swap, equity swap, equity index swap, credit default swap, or similar agreement.

In addition to the special rules described above in respect of options and futures transactions, a portfolio’s transactions in other derivative instruments (including options, forward contracts and swap agreements) as well as its other hedging, short sale, or similar transactions, may be subject to one or more special tax rules (including the constructive sale, notional principal contract, straddle, wash sale and short sale rules). These rules may affect whether gains and losses recognized by a portfolio are treated as ordinary or capital or as short-term or long-term, accelerate the recognition of income or gains to the portfolio, defer losses to the portfolio, and cause adjustments in the holding periods of the portfolio’s securities. These rules, therefore, could affect the amount, timing and/or character of distributions to shareholders. Moreover, because the tax rules applicable to derivative financial instruments are in some cases uncertain under current law, an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to these rules (which determination or guidance could be retroactive) may affect whether a portfolio has

 

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made sufficient distributions and otherwise satisfied the relevant requirements to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company and avoid a portfolio-level tax.

Certain of a portfolio’s investments in derivatives and foreign currency-denominated instruments, and the portfolio’s transactions in foreign currencies and hedging activities, may produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. If a portfolio’s book income is less than the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any), the portfolio could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regulated investment company. If a portfolio’s book income exceeds the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any), the distribution of any such excess will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of the portfolio’s remaining earnings and profits (including current earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income, reduced, for taxable years of the Portfolio beginning after December 22, 2010, by related deductions), (ii) thereafter, as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient’s basis in the shares, and (iii) thereafter, as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset.

Foreign currency transactions. A portfolio’s transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated debt obligations and certain foreign currency options, futures contracts and forward contracts (and similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned. This treatment could increase or decrease a portfolio's ordinary income distributions to you, and may cause some or all of the portfolio's previously distributed income to be classified as a return of capital. In certain cases, a portfolio may make an election to treat such gain or loss as capital.

Investments in non-U.S. REITs. While non-U.S. REITs often use complex acquisition structures that seek to minimize taxation in the source country, an investment by a portfolio in a non-U.S. REIT may subject the portfolio, directly or indirectly, to corporate taxes, withholding taxes, transfer taxes and other indirect taxes in the country in which the real estate acquired by the non-U.S. REIT is located. The portfolio’s pro rata share of any such taxes will reduce the portfolio’s return on its investment. A portfolio’s investment in a non-U.S. REIT may be considered an investment in a PFIC, as discussed above in “Investment in Foreign Securities PFIC securities.” Additionally, foreign withholding taxes on distributions from the non-U.S. REIT may be reduced or eliminated under certain tax treaties, as discussed above in “Taxation of the Portfolio Foreign income tax.” Also, the portfolio in certain limited circumstances may be required to file an income tax return in the source country and pay tax on any gain realized from its investment in the non-U.S. REIT under rules similar to those in the United States which tax foreign persons on gain realized from dispositions of interests in U.S. real estate.

Investments in U.S. REITs. A U.S. REIT is not subject to federal income tax on the income and gains it distributes to shareholders. Dividends paid by a U.S. REIT, other than capital gain distributions, will be taxable as ordinary income up to the amount of the U.S. REIT’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Capital gain dividends paid by a U.S. REIT to a portfolio will be treated as long term capital gains by the portfolio and, in turn, may be distributed by the portfolio to its shareholders as a capital gain distribution. Because of certain noncash expenses, such as property depreciation, an equity U.S. REIT’s cash flow may exceed its taxable income. The equity U.S. REIT, and in turn a portfolio, may distribute this excess cash to shareholders in the form of a return of capital distribution. However, if a U.S. REIT is operated in a manner that fails to qualify as a REIT, an investment in the U.S. REIT would become subject to double taxation, meaning the taxable income of the U.S. REIT would be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders and the dividends would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income (or possibly as qualified dividend income) to the extent of the U.S. REIT’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Also, see “Tax Treatment of Portfolio TransactionsInvestment in taxable mortgage pools (excess inclusion income)” and “Non-U.S. Investors — Investment in U.S. real property” with respect to certain other tax aspects of investing in U.S. REITs.

Investment in taxable mortgage pools (excess inclusion income). Under a Notice issued by the IRS, the Code and Treasury regulations to be issued, a portion of a portfolio’s income from a U.S. REIT that is attributable to the REIT’s residual interest in a real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMICs”) or equity interests in a “taxable mortgage pool” (referred to in the Code as an excess inclusion) will be subject to federal income tax in all events. The excess inclusion income of a regulated investment company, such as a portfolio, will be allocated to shareholders of the regulated investment company in proportion to the dividends received by such shareholders,

 

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with the same consequences as if the shareholders held the related REMIC residual interest or, if applicable, taxable mortgage pool directly. In general, excess inclusion income allocated to shareholders (i) cannot be offset by net operating losses (subject to a limited exception for certain thrift institutions), (ii) will constitute unrelated business taxable income to entities (including qualified pension plans, individual retirement accounts, 401(k) plans, Keogh plans or other tax-exempt entities) subject to tax on unrelated business income (“UBTI”), thereby potentially requiring such an entity that is allocated excess inclusion income, and otherwise might not be required to file a tax return, to file a tax return and pay tax on such income, and (iii) in the case of a foreign stockholder, will not qualify for any reduction in U.S. federal withholding tax. In addition, if at any time during any taxable year a “disqualified organization” (which generally includes certain cooperatives, governmental entities, and tax-exempt organizations not subject to UBTI) is a record holder of a share in a regulated investment company, then the regulated investment company will be subject to a tax equal to that portion of its excess inclusion income for the taxable year that is allocable to the disqualified organization, multiplied by the highest federal income tax rate imposed on corporations. The Notice imposes certain reporting requirements upon regulated investment companies that have excess inclusion income. There can be no assurance that a portfolio will not allocate to shareholders excess inclusion income.

These rules are potentially applicable to a portfolio with respect to any income it receives from the equity interests of certain mortgage pooling vehicles, either directly or, as is more likely, through an investment in a U.S. REIT. It is unlikely that these rules will apply to a portfolio that has a non-REIT strategy.

Investments in partnerships and qualified publicly traded partnerships (“QPTP”). For purposes of the Income Requirement, income derived by a portfolio from a partnership that is not a QPTP will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership that would be qualifying income if realized directly by the portfolio. For purposes of testing whether a portfolio satisfies the Asset Diversification Test, the portfolio generally is treated as owning a pro rata share of the underlying assets of a partnership. See “Taxation of the PortfolioQualification as a regulated investment company.” In contrast, different rules apply to a partnership that is a QPTP. A QPTP is a partnership (a) the interests in which are traded on an established securities market, (b) that is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, and (c) that derives less than 90% of its income from sources that satisfy the Income Requirement (e.g., because it invests in commodities). All of the net income derived by a portfolio from an interest in a QPTP will be treated as qualifying income but the portfolio may not invest more than 25% of its total assets in one or more QPTPs. However, there can be no assurance that a partnership classified as a QPTP in one year will qualify as a QPTP in the next year. Any such failure to annually qualify as a QPTP might, in turn, cause a portfolio to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company.

Securities lending. While securities are loaned out by a portfolio, the portfolio generally will receive from the borrower amounts equal to any dividends or interest paid on the borrowed securities. For federal income tax purposes, payments made “in lieu of” dividends are not considered dividend income. These distributions will neither qualify for the reduced rate of taxation for individuals on qualified dividends nor the 70% dividends received deduction for corporations. Also, any foreign tax withheld on payments made “in lieu of” dividends or interest will not qualify for the pass-through of foreign tax credits to shareholders.

Investments in convertible securities. Convertible debt is ordinarily treated as a “single property” consisting of a pure debt interest until conversion, after which the investment becomes an equity interest. If the security is issued at a premium (i.e., for cash in excess of the face amount payable on retirement), the creditor-holder may amortize the premium over the life of the bond. If the security is issued for cash at a price below its face amount, the creditor-holder must accrue original issue discount in income over the life of the debt. The creditor-holder's exercise of the conversion privilege is treated as a nontaxable event. Mandatorily convertible debt (e.g., an exchange traded note or ETN issued in the form of an unsecured obligation that pays a return based on the performance of a specified market index, exchange currency, or commodity) is often, but not always, treated as a contract to buy or sell the reference property rather than debt. Similarly, convertible preferred stock with a mandatory conversion feature is ordinarily, but not always, treated as equity rather than debt. Dividends received generally are qualified dividend income and eligible for the corporate dividends received deduction. In general, conversion of preferred stock for common stock of the same corporation is tax-free. Conversion of preferred stock for cash is a taxable redemption. Any redemption premium for preferred stock that is redeemable by the issuing company might be required to be amortized under original issue discount (“OID”) principles.

 

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Backup Withholding

By law, the Portfolio may be required to withhold a portion of your taxable dividends and sales proceeds unless you:

 

   

provide your correct social security or taxpayer identification number,

   

certify that this number is correct,

   

certify that you are not subject to backup withholding, and

   

certify that you are a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien).

The Portfolio also must withhold if the IRS instructs it to do so. When withholding is required, the amount will be 28% of any distributions or proceeds paid. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS. Certain payees and payments are exempt from backup withholding and information reporting. The special U.S. tax certification requirements applicable to non-U.S. investors are described under the “Non-U.S. Investors” heading below.

Non-U.S. Investors

Non-U.S. investors (shareholders who, as to the United States, are nonresident alien individuals, foreign trusts or estates, foreign corporations, or foreign partnerships) may be subject to U.S. withholding and estate tax and are subject to special U.S. tax certification requirements. Non-U.S. investors should consult their tax advisors about the applicability of U.S. tax withholding and the use of the appropriate forms to certify their status.

In general. The United States imposes a flat 30% withholding tax (or a withholding tax at a lower treaty rate) on U.S. source dividends, including on income dividends paid to you by the Portfolio. Exemptions from this U.S. withholding tax are provided for dividends reported by the Portfolio as exempt-interest dividends, capital gain dividends and paid by the Portfolio from its net long-term capital gains, and with respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended, or made permanent), interest-related dividends paid by the Portfolio from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources and short-term capital gain dividends. However, notwithstanding such exemptions from U.S. withholding at the source, any dividends and distributions of income and capital gains, including the proceeds from the sale of your Portfolio shares, will be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 28% if you fail to properly certify that you are not a U.S. person.

Capital gain dividends and short-term capital gain dividends. In general, (i) a capital gain dividend reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as paid from its net long-term capital gains or (ii) with respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended or made permanent), a short-term capital gain dividend reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as paid from its net short-term capital gains, other than long- or short-term capital gains realized on disposition of U.S. real property interests (see the discussion below) are not subject to U.S. withholding tax unless you are a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the calendar year.

Interest-related dividends. With respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended or made permanent), dividends reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as interest-related dividends and paid from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources are not subject to U.S. withholding tax. “Qualified interest income” includes, in general, U.S. source (1) bank deposit interest, (2) short-term original discount, (3) interest (including original issue discount, market discount, or acquisition discount) on an obligation which is in registered form, unless it is earned on an obligation issued by a corporation or partnership in which the Portfolio is a 10-percent shareholder or is contingent interest, and (4) any interest-related dividend from another regulated investment company. On any payment date, the amount of an income dividend that is reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as an interest-related dividend may be more or less than the amount that is so qualified. This is because the reporting of interest related dividends is based on an estimate of the Portfolio’s qualified net interest income for its entire fiscal year, which can only be determined with exactness at fiscal year end. As a consequence, the Portfolio may over withhold a small amount of U.S. tax from a dividend payment. In this case, the

 

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non-U.S. investor’s only recourse may be to either forgo recovery of the excess withholding, or to file a United States nonresident income tax return to recover the excess withholding.

Further limitations on tax reporting for interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends for non-U.S. investors. It may not be practical in every case for the Portfolio to report to shareholders, and the Portfolio reserves the right in these cases to not report, small amounts of interest-related or short-term capital gain dividends. Additionally, the Portfolio’s reporting of interest-related or short-term capital gain dividends may not be passed through to shareholders by intermediaries who have assumed tax reporting responsibilities for this income in managed or omnibus accounts due to systems limitations or operational constraints.

Net investment income from dividends on stock and foreign source interest income continue to be subject to withholding tax; effectively connected income. Ordinary dividends paid by the Portfolio to non-U.S. investors on the income earned on portfolio investments in (i) the stock of domestic and foreign corporations, and (ii) the debt of foreign issuers continue to be subject to U.S. withholding tax. If you hold your Portfolio shares in connection with a U.S. trade or business, your income and gains will be considered effectively connected income and taxed in the U.S. on a net basis, in which case you may be required to file a nonresident U.S. income tax return.

Investment in U.S. real property. The Portfolio may invest in equity securities of corporations that invest in U.S. real property, including U.S. REITs. The sale of a U.S. real property interest (“USRPI”) by the Portfolio or by a U.S. REIT or U.S. real property holding corporation in which the Portfolio invests may trigger special tax consequences to the Portfolio’s non-U.S. shareholders.

The Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 (“FIRPTA”) makes non-U.S. persons subject to U.S. tax on disposition of a USRPI as if he or she were a U.S. person. Such gain is sometimes referred to as FIRPTA gain. The Code provides a look-through rule for distributions of FIRPTA gain by a RIC received from a U.S. REIT or another RIC classified as a U.S. real property holding corporation or realized by the RIC on a sale of a USRPI (other than a domestically controlled U.S. REIT or RIC that is classified as a qualified investment entity) if all of the following requirements are met:

 

   

The RIC is classified as a qualified investment entity. A RIC is classified as a “qualified investment entity” with respect to a distribution to a non-U.S. person which is attributable directly or indirectly to a distribution from a U.S. REIT if, in general, 50% or more of the RIC’s assets consists of interests in U.S. REITs and U.S. real property holding corporations, and

   

You are a non-U.S. shareholder that owns more than 5% of a class of Portfolio shares at any time during the one-year period ending on the date of the distribution.

   

If these conditions are met, such Portfolio distributions to you are treated as gain from the disposition of a USRPI, causing the distributions to be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a rate of 35% (unless reduced by future regulations), and requiring that you file a nonresident U.S. income tax return.

   

In addition, even if you do not own more than 5% of a class of Portfolio shares, but the Portfolio is a qualified investment entity, such Portfolio distributions to you will be taxable as ordinary dividends rather than as a capital gain dividend (a distribution of long-term capital gains) or a short-term capital gain dividend subject to withholding at the 30% or lower treaty withholding rate.

These rules apply to dividends paid by the Portfolio before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended or made permanent), except that after this date, the Portfolio’s distributions from a U.S. REIT (whether or not domestically controlled) attributable to FIRPTA gain will continue to be subject to the withholding rules described above provided the Portfolio would otherwise be classified as a qualified investment entity.

Because the Portfolio expects to invest less than 50% of its assets at all times, directly or indirectly, in U.S. real property interests, the Portfolio expects that neither gain on the sale or redemption of Portfolio shares nor Portfolio dividends and distributions would be subject to FIRPTA reporting and tax withholding.

U.S. estate tax. Transfers by gift of shares of the Portfolio by a foreign shareholder who is a nonresident alien individual will not be subject to U.S. federal gift tax. For decedents dying during 2010, the U.S. federal estate tax was reinstated retroactively, except where the executor of the estate of a decedent makes an election to opt out of

 

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the estate tax and instead be subject to modified carryover basis rules. For decedents dying after 2010, an individual who, at the time of death, is a non-U.S. shareholder will nevertheless be subject to U.S. federal estate tax with respect to Portfolio shares at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. citizens and residents, unless a treaty exemption applies. If a treaty exemption is available, a decedent’s estate may nonetheless need to file a U.S. estate tax return to claim the exemption in order to obtain a U.S. federal transfer certificate. The transfer certificate will identify the property (i.e., Portfolio shares) as to which the U.S. federal estate tax lien has been released. In the absence of a treaty, there is a $13,000 statutory estate tax credit (equivalent to U.S. situs assets with a value of $60,000). For estates with U.S. situs assets of not more than $60,000, the Portfolio may accept, in lieu of a transfer certificate, an affidavit from an appropriate individual evidencing that decedent’s U.S. situs assets are below this threshold amount. In addition, a partial exemption from U.S estate tax may apply to Portfolio shares held by the estate of a nonresident decedent. The amount treated as exempt is based upon the proportion of the assets held by the Portfolio at the end of the quarter immediately preceding the decedent's death that are debt obligations, deposits, or other property that generally would be treated as situated outside the United States if held directly by the estate. This provision applies to decedents dying after December 31, 2004 and before January 1, 2012, unless such provision is extended or made permanent.

U.S. tax certification rules. Special U.S. tax certification requirements apply to non-U.S. shareholders both to avoid U.S. back up withholding imposed at a rate of 28% and to obtain the benefits of any treaty between the United States and the shareholder’s country of residence. In general, a non-U.S. shareholder must provide a Form W-8 BEN (or other applicable Form W-8) to establish that you are not a U.S. person, to claim that you are the beneficial owner of the income and, if applicable, to claim a reduced rate of, or exemption from, withholding as a resident of a country with which the United States has an income tax treaty. A Form W-8BEN provided without a U.S. taxpayer identification number will remain in effect for a period beginning on the date signed and ending on the last day of the third succeeding calendar year unless an earlier change of circumstances makes the information on the form incorrect.

The tax consequences to a non-U.S. shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of an applicable tax treaty may be different from those described herein. Non-U.S. shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in the Portfolio, including the applicability of foreign tax.

Effect of Future Legislation; Local Tax Considerations

The foregoing general discussion of U.S. federal income tax consequences is based on the Code and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and any such changes or decisions may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein. Rules of state and local taxation of ordinary income, qualified dividend income and capital gain dividends may differ from the rules for U.S. federal income taxation described above. Distributions may also be subject to additional state, local and foreign taxes depending on each shareholder’s particular situation. Non-U.S. shareholders may be subject to U.S. tax rules that differ significantly from those summarized above. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors as to the consequences of these and other state and local tax rules affecting investment in the Portfolio.

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

The Board of Directors of the Fund has delegated the authority to vote proxies for the portfolio securities held by the Portfolios to the Advisor in accordance with the Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (the “Voting Policies”) and Proxy Voting Guidelines (“Voting Guidelines”) adopted by the Advisor. The Voting Guidelines are largely based on those developed by Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third party, except with respect to certain matters for which the Advisor has modified the standard voting guidelines. A concise summary of the Voting Guidelines is provided in an Appendix to this SAI.

The Investment Committee at the Advisor is generally responsible for overseeing the Advisor’s proxy voting process. The Investment Committee has formed a Corporate Governance Committee composed of certain

 

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officers, directors and other personnel of the Advisor and has delegated to its members authority to (i) oversee the voting of proxies, (ii) make determinations as to how to vote certain specific proxies, (iii) verify the on-going compliance with the Voting Policies, and (iv) review the Voting Policies from time to time and recommend changes to the Investment Committee. The Corporate Governance Committee may designate one or more of its members to oversee specific, ongoing compliance with respect to the Voting Policies and may designate other personnel of the Advisor to vote proxies on behalf of the Portfolios, including all authorized traders of the Advisor.

The Advisor seeks to vote (or refrains from voting) proxies in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Portfolios as understood by the Advisor at the time of the vote. Generally, the Advisor analyzes proxy statements on behalf of the Portfolios and instructs the vote (or refrains from voting) in accordance with the Voting Policies and the Voting Guidelines. Since most proxies the Advisor receives are instructed to be voted in accordance with the Voting Guidelines, it normally will not be necessary for the Advisor to make an actual determination of how to vote a particular proxy, thereby largely eliminating conflicts of interest for the Advisor during the proxy voting process. However, the Voting Policies do address the procedures to be followed if a conflict of interest arises between the interests of the Portfolios, and the interests of the Advisor or its affiliates. If a Corporate Governance Committee (“Committee”) member has actual knowledge of a conflict of interest and recommends a vote contrary to the Voting Guidelines (or in the case where the Voting Guidelines do not prescribe a particular vote and the proposed vote is contrary to the recommendation of ISS), the Committee member will bring the vote to the Committee which will (a) determine how the vote should be cast keeping in mind the principle of preserving shareholder value, or (b) determine to abstain from voting, unless abstaining would be materially adverse to the interest of the Portfolios. To the extent the Committee makes a determination regarding how to vote or to abstain for a proxy on behalf of a Portfolio in the circumstances described in this paragraph, the Advisor will report annually on such determinations to the Board of Directors of the Fund.

The Advisor will usually instruct voting of proxies in accordance with the Voting Guidelines. The Voting Guidelines provide a framework for analysis and decision making, however, the Voting Guidelines do not address all potential issues. In order to be able to address all the relevant facts and circumstances related to a proxy vote, the Advisor reserves the right to instruct votes counter to the Voting Guidelines if, after a review of the matter, the Advisor believes that the best interests of a Portfolio would be served by such a vote. In such a circumstance, the analysis will be documented in writing and periodically presented to the Corporate Governance Committee. To the extent that the Voting Guidelines do not cover potential voting issues, the Advisor will vote on such issues in a manner that is consistent with the spirit of the Voting Guidelines and that the Advisor believes would be in the best interests of a Portfolio.

The Advisor seeks to vote (or refrains from voting) proxies in a manner that the Advisor determines is in the best interests of a Portfolio and which seeks to maximize the value of the Portfolio’s investments. In some cases, the Advisor may determine that it is in the best interests of a Portfolio to refrain from exercising proxy voting rights. The Advisor may determine that voting is not in the best interest of a Portfolio and refrain from voting if the costs, including the opportunity costs, of voting would, in the view of the Advisor, exceed the expected benefits of voting. For securities on loan, the Advisor will balance the revenue-producing value of loans against the difficult-to-assess value of casting votes. It is the Advisor’s belief that the expected value of casting a vote generally will be less than the securities lending income, either because the votes will not have significant economic consequences or because the outcome of the vote would not be affected by the Advisor recalling loaned securities in order to ensure they are voted. The Advisor does intend to recall securities on loan if it determines that voting the securities is likely to materially affect the value of a Portfolio’s investment and that it is in the Portfolio’s best interests to do so. In cases where the Advisor does not receive a solicitation or enough information within a sufficient time (as reasonably determined by the Advisor) prior to the proxy-voting deadline, the Advisor or its service providers may be unable to vote.

With respect to non-U.S. securities, it is typically both difficult and costly to vote proxies due to local regulations, customs, and other requirements or restrictions. The Advisor does not intend to vote proxies of non-U.S. companies if the Advisor determines that the expected economic costs from voting outweigh the anticipated economic benefit to a Portfolio associated with voting. The Advisor intends to make its determination on whether to vote proxies of non-U.S. companies on a portfolio-by-portfolio basis, and generally seeks to implement uniform voting procedures for all proxies of companies in a country. The Advisor periodically reviews voting logistics, including costs and other voting difficulties, on a portfolio by portfolio and country by country basis, in order to

 

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determine if there have been any material changes that would affect the Advisor’s decision of whether or not to vote. In the event the Advisor is made aware of and believes an issue to be voted is likely to materially affect the economic value of a Portfolio, that its vote is reasonably likely to influence the ultimate outcome of the contest, and the expected benefits of voting the proxies exceed the costs, the Advisor will make every reasonable effort to vote such proxies.

The Advisor and the Fund have retained ISS to provide certain services with respect to proxy voting. ISS will provide information on shareholder meeting dates and proxy materials; translate proxy materials printed in a foreign language; provide research on proxy proposals and voting recommendations in accordance with the Voting Guidelines; effect votes on behalf of a Portfolio; and provide reports concerning the proxies voted (the “Proxy Voting Services”). In addition, the Advisor may retain the services of supplemental third-party proxy service providers to provide, among other things, research on proxy proposals and voting recommendations for certain shareholder meetings, as identified in the Voting Guidelines. Although the Advisor retains third-party service providers for proxy issues, the Advisor remains responsible for proxy voting decisions. In this regard, the Advisor uses commercially reasonable efforts to oversee the directed delegation to third-party proxy voting service providers, upon which the Advisor relies to carry out the Proxy Voting Services. In the event that the Voting Guidelines are not implemented precisely as the Advisor intends because of the actions or omissions of any third party service providers, custodians or sub-custodians or other agents or any such persons experience any irregularities (e.g. misvotes or missed votes), then such instances will not necessarily be deemed by the Advisor as a breach of the Voting Policies.

Information regarding how a Portfolio voted proxies related to its portfolio securities during the 12 month period ended June 30 of each year is available, no later than August 31 of each year, without charge, (i) upon request, by calling collect: (512) 306-7400 or (ii) on the Advisor’s website at http://www.dimensional.com and (iii) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

The Advisor and the Board of Directors of the Fund have adopted a policy (the “Policy”) to govern disclosure of the portfolio holdings of each Portfolio (“Holdings Information”), and to prevent the misuse of material non-public Holdings Information. The Advisor has determined that the Policy and its procedures: (1) are reasonably designed to ensure that disclosure of Holdings Information is in the best interests of the shareholders of a Portfolio, and (2) appropriately address the potential for material conflicts of interest.

Disclosure of Holdings Information as Required by Applicable Law. Holdings Information (whether a partial listing of portfolio holdings or a complete listing of portfolio holdings) shall be disclosed to any person as required by applicable law, rules, and regulations.

Online Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings Information. Each Portfolio generally discloses up to its twenty-five largest portfolio holdings and the percentages that each of these largest portfolio holdings represent of the Portfolio’s total assets (“largest holdings”), as of the most recent month-end, online at the Advisor’s public website, http://www.dimensional.com, within twenty days after the end of each month. This online disclosure may also include information regarding a Portfolio’s industry allocations. Each Portfolio generally discloses its complete Holdings Information (other than cash and cash equivalents), as of month-end, online at the Advisor’s public website, http://www.dimensional.com, two months following the month-end or more frequently and at different periods when authorized by a Designated Person (as defined below).

Disclosure of Holdings Information to Recipients. Each of the Advisor’s Chairman, Director of Institutional Services, Head of Portfolio Management and Trading and General Counsel (together, the “Designated Persons”) may authorize disclosing non-public Holdings Information more frequently or at different periods than as described above solely to those financial advisors, registered accountholders, authorized consultants, authorized custodians, or third-party data service providers (each a “Recipient”) who: (i) specifically request the more current non-public Holdings Information, and (ii) execute a Use and Nondisclosure Agreement (each a “Nondisclosure Agreement”). Each Nondisclosure Agreement subjects the Recipient to a duty of confidentiality with respect to the non-public Holdings Information, and prohibits the Recipient from trading based on the non-public Holdings

 

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Information. Any non-public Holdings Information that is disclosed shall not include any material information about a Portfolio’s trading strategies or pending portfolio transactions. The non-public Holdings Information provided to a Recipient under a Nondisclosure Agreement, unless indicated otherwise, is not subject to a time delay before dissemination. Designated Persons may also approve the distribution Holdings Information for a Portfolio more frequently or at a period other than as described above.

As of January 31, 2011, the Advisor and the Portfolios had ongoing arrangements with the following Recipients to make available non-public Holdings Information:

 

Recipient

   Portfolios    Business Purpose    Frequency

Ascension Health

  

Emerging Markets Social Core Equity

Portfolio

   Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Monthly

BNY Mellon Investment

Servicing (US) Inc.

   All Portfolios    Fund Administrator, Accounting Agent and Transfer Agent    Daily

Citibank, N.A.

   International Portfolios    Fund Custodian    Daily

Citibank N.A.

   All Portfolios    Middle Office Operational Support Service Provider to the Advisor    Daily

Environmental Impact Vendor

   U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio and International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio    Environmental Impact Analysis    Quarterly

Fund Evaluation Group LLC

   All Portfolios    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Upon Request

KLD Research & Analytics

  

U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio, DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio

and Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio

   Social Screen Provider    Quarterly

PFPC Trust Company

(to be renamed BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company effective July 1, 2011)

  

U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio and

U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio

   Fund Custodian    Daily

Pricing Service Vendor

   International Portfolios    Fair Value Information Services    Daily

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

   All Portfolios    Independent registered public accounting firm    Upon request

Regence Group

   DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Monthly/ Annually

RogersCasey (MAIN)

   Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Quarterly

Summit Strategies Group

   Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Quarterly

State Street Bank

   Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Monthly

Wurts & Associates

   Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio    Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Monthly

In addition, certain employees of the Advisor and its subsidiaries receive Holdings Information on a quarterly, monthly, or daily basis, or upon request, in order to perform their business functions. None of the Portfolios, the Advisor, or any other party receives any compensation in connection with these arrangements.

The Policy includes the following procedures to ensure that disclosure of Holdings Information is in the best interests of shareholders, and to address any conflicts between the interests of shareholders, on the one hand, and the interests of the Advisor, DFAS, or any affiliated person of the Fund, the Advisor, or DFAS, on the other. In order to protect the interests of shareholders and each Portfolio, and to ensure no adverse effect on shareholders in the limited circumstances where a Designated Person is considering making non-public Holdings Information

 

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available to a Recipient, the Advisor’s Director of Institutional Services and the Chief Compliance Officer will consider any conflicts of interest. If the Chief Compliance Officer, following appropriate due diligence, determines in his or her reasonable judgment that: (1) a Portfolio has a legitimate business purpose for providing the non-public Holdings Information to a Recipient, and (2) disclosure of non-public Holdings Information to the Recipient would be in the interests of the shareholders and outweighs the possible reasonably anticipated adverse effects, then the Chief Compliance Officer may approve the proposed disclosure.

The Chief Compliance Officer documents all disclosures of non-public Holdings Information (including the legitimate business purpose for the disclosure), and periodically reports to the Board on such arrangements. The Chief Compliance Officer also is responsible for ongoing monitoring of the distribution and use of non-public Holdings Information. Such arrangements are reviewed by the Chief Compliance Officer on an annual basis. Specifically, the Chief Compliance Officer requests an annual certification from each Recipient that the Recipient has complied with all terms contained in the Nondisclosure Agreement. Recipients who fail to provide the requested certifications are prohibited from receiving non-public Holdings Information.

The Board exercises continuing oversight of the disclosure of Holdings Information by: (1) overseeing the implementation and enforcement of the Policy by the Chief Compliance Officer of the Advisor and of the Fund; (2) considering reports and recommendations by the Chief Compliance Officer concerning the implementation of the Policy and any material compliance matters that may arise in connection with the Policy; and (3) considering whether to approve or ratify any amendments to the Policy. The Advisor and the Board reserve the right to amend the Policy at any time, and from time to time without prior notice, in their sole discretion.

Prohibitions on Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings and Receipt of Compensation. No person is authorized to disclose Holdings Information or other investment positions (whether online at http://www.dimensional.com, in writing, by fax, by e-mail, orally, or by other means) except in accordance with the Policy. In addition, no person is authorized to make disclosure pursuant to the Policy if such disclosure is otherwise in violation of the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws.

The Policy prohibits the Portfolios, the Advisor, or an affiliate thereof from receiving any compensation or other consideration of any type for the purpose of obtaining disclosure of non-public Holdings Information or other investment positions. “Consideration” includes any agreement to maintain assets in a Portfolio or in other investment companies or accounts managed by the Advisor or by any affiliated person of the Advisor.

The Policy and its procedures are intended to provide useful information concerning the Portfolios to existing and prospective shareholders, while at the same time preventing the improper use of Holdings Information. However, there can be no assurance that the furnishing of any Holdings Information is not susceptible to inappropriate uses, particularly in the hands of sophisticated investors, or that the Holdings Information will not in fact be misused in other ways, beyond the control of the Advisor.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Two Commerce Square, Suite 1700, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042, is the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. It audits the Fund’s annual financial statements. The audited financial statements and financial highlights of each Portfolio for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, as set forth in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders, including the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, are incorporated by reference into this SAI.

An investor may obtain a copy of the annual reports, upon request and without charge, by contacting the Fund at the address or telephone number appearing on the cover of this SAI.

PERFORMANCE DATA

Each Portfolio may compare its investment performance to appropriate market and mutual fund indices and investments for which reliable performance data is available. Such indices are generally unmanaged and are

 

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prepared by entities and organizations that track the performance of investment companies or investment advisors. Unmanaged indices often do not reflect deductions for administrative and management costs and expenses. The performance of a Portfolio may also be compared in publications to averages, performance rankings, or other information prepared by recognized mutual fund statistical services. Any performance information, whether related to a Portfolio or to the Advisor, should be considered in light of the Portfolio’s investment objectives and policies, characteristics and the quality of the portfolio and market conditions during the time period indicated and should not be considered to be representative of what may be achieved in the future.

 

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APPENDIX

Concise Summary of 2011 U.S. Proxy Voting Guidelines

Effective for Meetings on or after January 3, 2011

In order to provide greater analysis on certain shareholder meetings, the Advisor has elected to receive research reports for certain meetings, as indicated below, from Glass Lewis in addition to Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”).

Specifically, if available, the Advisor may obtain research from Glass Lewis in addition to ISS for shareholder meetings in the following circumstances: (1) where the Advisor’s clients have a significant aggregate holding in the issuer and the meeting agenda contains proxies concerning: Anti-takeover Defenses or Voting Related Issues, Mergers and Acquisitions or Reorganizations or Restructurings, Capital Structure Issues, Compensation Issues or a proxy contest; or (2) where the Advisor in its discretion, has deemed that additional research is warranted.

Where research is obtained from Glass Lewis in accordance with these Guidelines, the Advisor will first review the research reports obtained from ISS and Glass Lewis. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are the same, the Advisor will vote accordingly. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are inconsistent, the Advisor will vote in accordance with the ISS recommendation unless the Corporate Governance Committee determines that voting in accordance with the Glass Lewis recommendation is more consistent with the principle of preserving shareholder value.

 

Routine/Miscellaneous

Auditor Ratification

Vote FOR proposals to ratify auditors, unless any of the following apply:

 

   

An auditor has a financial interest in or association with the company, and is therefore not independent;

   

There is reason to believe that the independent auditor has rendered an opinion which is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position;

   

Poor accounting practices are identified that rise to a serious level of concern, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP; and material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures; or

   

Fees for non-audit services (“Other” fees) are excessive.

Non-audit fees are excessive if:

 

   

Non-audit (“other”) fees >audit fees + audit-related fees + tax compliance/preparation fees

Board of Directors

Voting on Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections

Votes on director nominees should be determined CASE-BY-CASE.

Four fundamental principles apply when determining votes on director nominees:

 

  1.

Board Accountability

  2.

Board Responsiveness

  3.

Director Independence

  4.

Director Competence

 

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1.

Board Accountability

VOTE WITHHOLD/AGAINST1 the entire board of directors (except new nominees2 , who should be considered CASE-BY-CASE), for the following:

Problematic Takeover Defenses:

 

  1.1. The board is classified, and a continuing director responsible for a problematic governance issue at the board/committee level that would warrant a withhold/against vote recommendation is not up for election — any or all appropriate nominees (except new) may be held accountable;

 

  1.2. The board lacks accountability and oversight, coupled with sustained poor performance relative to peers. Sustained poor performance is measured by one- and three-year total shareholder returns in the bottom half of a company’s four-digit GICS industry group (Russell 3000 companies only). Take into consideration the company’s five-year total shareholder return and five-year operational metrics. Problematic provisions include but are not limited to:

 

   

A classified board structure;

 

   

A supermajority vote requirement;

 

   

Majority vote standard for director elections with no carve out for contested elections;

 

   

The inability for shareholders to call special meetings;

 

   

The inability for shareholders to act by written consent;

 

   

A dual-class structure; and/or

 

   

A non-shareholder approved poison pill.

 

  1.3. The company’s poison pill has a “dead-hand” or “modified dead-hand” feature. Vote withhold/against every year until this feature is removed;
  1.4.

The board adopts a poison pill with a term of more than 12 months (“long-term pill”), or renews any existing pill, including any “short-term” pill (12 months or less), without shareholder approval. A commitment or policy that puts a newly-adopted pill to a binding shareholder vote may potentially offset an adverse vote recommendation. Review such companies with classified boards every year, and such companies with annually-elected boards at least once every three years, and vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD votes from all nominees if the company still maintains a non-shareholder-approved poison pill. This

 

 

1 In general, companies with a plurality vote standard use “Withhold” as the valid contrary vote option in director elections; companies with a majority vote standard use “Against”. However, it will vary by company and the proxy must be checked to determine the valid contrary vote option for the particular company.

2 A “new nominee” is any current nominee who has not already been elected by shareholders and who joined the board after the problematic action in question transpired. If ISS cannot determine whether the nominee joined the board before or after the problematic action transpired, the nominee will be considered a “new nominee” if he or she joined the board within the 12 months prior to the upcoming shareholder meeting.

 

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policy applies to all companies adopting or renewing pills after the announcement of this policy (Nov 19, 2009);

  1.5. The board makes a material adverse change to an existing poison pill without shareholder approval.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on all nominees if:

 

  1.6. the board adopts a poison pill with a term of 12 months or less (“short-term pill”) without shareholder approval, taking into account the following factors:
   

The date of the pill’s adoption relative to the date of the next meeting of shareholders- i.e. whether the company had time to put the pill on ballot for shareholder ratification given the circumstances;

   

The issuer’s rationale;

   

The issuer’s governance structure and practices; and

   

The issuer’s track record of accountability to shareholders.

Problematic Audit-Related Practices

Generally, vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from the members of the Audit Committee if:

 

  1.7. The non-audit fees paid to the auditor are excessive (see discussion under “Auditor Ratification”);
  1.8. The company receives an adverse opinion on the company’s financial statements from its auditor; or
  1.9. There is persuasive evidence that the audit committee entered into an inappropriate indemnification agreement with its auditor that limits the ability of the company, or its shareholders, to pursue legitimate legal recourse against the audit firm.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on members of the Audit Committee and/or the full board if:

 

  1.10. Poor accounting practices are identified that rise to a level of serious concern, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP; and material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures. Examine the severity, breadth, chronological sequence and duration, as well as the company’s efforts at remediation or corrective actions, in determining whether WITHHOLD/AGAINST votes are warranted.

Problematic Compensation Practices

Vote WITHHOLD/AGAINST the members of the Compensation Committee and potentially the full board if:

  1.11. There is a negative correlation between chief executive pay and company performance (see Pay for Performance Policy);
  1.12. The company reprices underwater options for stock, cash, or other consideration without prior shareholder approval, even if allowed in the company’s equity plan;
  1.13. The company fails to submit one-time transfers of stock options to a shareholder vote;
  1.14. The company fails to fulfill the terms of a burn rate commitment made to shareholders;
  1.15. The company has problematic pay practices. Problematic pay practices may warrant withholding votes from the CEO and potentially the entire board as well.

Governance Failures

 

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Under extraordinary circumstances, vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from directors individually, committee members, or the entire board, due to:

 

  1.16. Material failures of governance, stewardship, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company;
  1.17. Failure to replace management as appropriate; or
  1.18. Egregious actions related to the director(s)’ service on other boards that raise substantial doubt about his or her ability to effectively oversee management and serve the best interests of shareholders at any company.

 

2. Board Responsiveness

Vote WITHHOLD/AGAINST the entire board of directors (except new nominees, who should be considered CASE-BY-CASE), if:

 

  2.1. The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received approval by a majority of the shares outstanding the previous year; or
  2.2. The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received approval of the majority of shares cast in the last year and one of the two previous years.
  2.3. The board failed to act on takeover offers where the majority of the shareholders tendered their shares; or
  2.4. At the previous board election, any director received more than 50 percent withhold/against votes of the shares cast and the company has failed to address the issue(s) that caused the high withhold/against vote.

 

3. Director Independence

Vote WITHHOLD/AGAINST Inside Directors and Affiliated Outside Directors (per the Categorization of Directors) when:

 

  3.1. The inside or affiliated outside director serves on any of the three key committees: audit, compensation, or nominating;

 

  3.2. The company lacks an audit, compensation, or nominating committee so that the full board functions as that committee;

 

  3.3. The company lacks a formal nominating committee, even if the board attests that the independent directors fulfill the functions of such a committee; or

 

  3.4. The full board is less than majority independent.

 

4. Director Competence

VOTE WITHHOLD/AGAINST the entire board of directors (except new nominees, who should be considered CASE-BY-CASE), if:

 

  4.1. The company’s proxy indicates that not all directors attended 75 percent of the aggregate board and committee meetings, but fails to provide the required disclosure of the names of the director(s) involved.

Generally vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from individual directors who:

 

  4.2. Attend less than 75 percent of the board and committee meetings (with the exception of new nominees). Acceptable reasons for director(s) absences are generally limited to the following:
   

Medical issues/illness;

 

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Family emergencies; and

   

If the director's total service was three meetings or fewer and the director missed only one meeting.

These reasons for directors’ absences will only be considered by ISS if disclosed in the proxy or another SEC filing. If the disclosure is insufficient to determine whether a director attended at least 75 percent of board and committee meetings in aggregate, vote AGAINST/WITHHOLD from the director.

Vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from individual directors who:

 

  4.3.

Sit on more than six public company boards3; or

 

  4.4. Are CEOs of public companies who sit on the boards of more than two public companies besides their own— withhold only at their outside boards.

Voting for Director Nominees in Contested Elections*

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on the election of directors in contested elections, considering the following factors:

 

   

Long-term financial performance of the target company relative to its industry;

   

Management’s track record;

   

Background to the proxy contest;

   

Qualifications of director nominees (both slates);

   

Strategic plan of dissident slate and quality of critique against management;

   

Likelihood that the proposed goals and objectives can be achieved (both slates);

   

Stock ownership positions.

Independent Chair (Separate Chair/CEO)

Generally vote FOR shareholder proposals requiring that the chairman’s position be filled by an independent director, unless the company satisfies all of the following criteria:

The company maintains the following counterbalancing governance structure:

 

   

Designated lead director, elected by and from the independent board members with clearly delineated and comprehensive duties. (The role may alternatively reside with a presiding director, vice chairman, or rotating lead director; however the director must serve a minimum of one year in order to qualify as a lead director.) The duties should include, but are not limited to, the following:

  -  

presides at all meetings of the board at which the chairman is not present, including executive sessions of the independent directors;

 

  -  

serves as liaison between the chairman and the independent directors;

 

  -  

approves information sent to the board;

 

  -  

approves meeting agendas for the board;

 

 

3

Dimensional will screen votes otherwise subject to this policy based on the qualifications and circumstances of the directors involved.

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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  -  

approves meeting schedules to assure that there is sufficient time for discussion of all agenda items;

 

  -  

has the authority to call meetings of the independent directors;

 

  -  

if requested by major shareholders, ensures that he is available for consultation and direct communication;

 

   

Two-thirds independent board;

   

All independent key committees;

   

Established governance guidelines;

   

A company in the Russell 3000 universe must not have exhibited sustained poor total shareholder return (TSR) performance, defined as one- and three-year TSR in the bottom half of the company’s four-digit GICS industry group (using Russell 3000 companies only), unless there has been a change in the Chairman/CEO position within that time. For companies not in the Russell 3000 universe, the company must not have underperformed both its peers and index on the basis of both one-year and three-year total shareholder returns, unless there has been a change in the Chairman/CEO position within that time;

   

The company does not have any problematic governance or management issues, examples of which include, but are not limited to:

 

  -  

Egregious compensation practices;

 

  -  

Multiple related-party transactions or other issues putting director independence at risk;

 

  -  

Corporate and/or management scandals;

 

  -  

Excessive problematic corporate governance provisions; or

 

  -  

Flagrant actions by management or the board with potential or realized negative impacts on shareholders.

Shareholder Rights & Defenses*

Net Operating Loss (NOL) Protective Amendments

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt a protective amendment for the stated purpose of protecting a company’s net operating losses (“NOLs”) if the effective term of the protective amendment would exceed the shorter of three years and the exhaustion of the NOL.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE, considering the following factors, for management proposals to adopt an NOL protective amendment that would remain in effect for the shorter of three years (or less) and the exhaustion of the NOL:

 

   

The ownership threshold (NOL protective amendments generally prohibit stock ownership transfers that would result in a new 5-percent holder or increase the stock ownership percentage of an existing 5-percent holder);

   

The value of the NOLs;

   

Shareholder protection mechanisms (sunset provision or commitment to cause expiration of the protective amendment upon exhaustion or expiration of the NOL);

   

The company’s existing governance structure including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, track record of responsiveness to shareholders, and any other problematic governance concerns; and

   

Any other factors that may be applicable.

Poison Pills- Management Proposals to Ratify Poison Pill

 

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Vote CASE-BY-CASE on management proposals on poison pill ratification, focusing on the features of the shareholder rights plan. Rights plans should contain the following attributes:

 

   

No lower than a 20% trigger, flip-in or flip-over;

   

A term of no more than three years;

   

No dead-hand, slow-hand, no-hand or similar feature that limits the ability of a future board to redeem the pill;

   

Shareholder redemption feature (qualifying offer clause); if the board refuses to redeem the pill 90 days after a qualifying offer is announced, 10 percent of the shares may call a special meeting or seek a written consent to vote on rescinding the pill.

In addition, the rationale for adopting the pill should be thoroughly explained by the company. In examining the request for the pill, take into consideration the company’s existing governance structure, including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, and any problematic governance concerns.

Poison Pills- Management Proposals toRatify a Pill to Preserve Net Operating Losses (NOLs)

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt a poison pill for the stated purpose of protecting a company’s net operating losses (“NOLs”) if the term of the pill would exceed the shorter of three years and the exhaustion of the NOL.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on management proposals for poison pill ratification, considering the following factors, if the term of the pill would be the shorter of three years (or less) and the exhaustion of the NOL:

 

   

The ownership threshold to transfer (NOL pills generally have a trigger slightly below 5 percent );

   

The value of the NOLs;

   

Shareholder protection mechanisms (sunset provision, or commitment to cause expiration of the pill upon exhaustion or expiration of NOLs);

   

The company’s existing governance structure including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, track record of responsiveness to shareholders, and any other problematic governance concerns; and

   

Any other factors that may be applicable.

Shareholder Ability to Act by Written Consent

Generally vote AGAINST management and shareholder proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholders' ability to act by written consent.

Generally vote FOR management and shareholder proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to act by written consent, taking into account the following factors:

 

   

Shareholders’ current right to act by written consent;

   

The consent threshold;

   

The inclusion of exclusionary or prohibitive language;

   

Investor ownership structure; and

   

Shareholder support of, and management's response to, previous shareholder proposals.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals if, in addition to the considerations above, the company has the following governance and antitakeover provisions:

   

An unfettered4 right for shareholders to call special meetings at a 10 percent threshold;

   

A majority vote standard in uncontested director elections;

   

No non-shareholder-approved pill; and

   

An annually elected board.

 

 

4

“Unfettered” means no restrictions on agenda items, no restrictions on the number of shareholders who can group together to reach the 10 percent threshold, and only reasonable limits on when a meeting can be called: no greater than 30 days after the last annual meeting and no greater than 90 prior to the next annual meeting.

 

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Shareholder Ability to Call Special Meetings

Vote AGAINST management or shareholder proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholders’ ability to call special meetings.

Generally vote FOR management or shareholder proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to call special meetings taking into account the following factors:

 

   

Shareholders’ current right to call special meetings;

   

Minimum ownership threshold necessary to call special meetings (10% preferred);

   

The inclusion of exclusionary or prohibitive language;

   

Investor ownership structure; and

   

Shareholder support of , and management’s response to , previous shareholder proposals.

CAPITAL/RESTRUCTURING

Common Stock Authorization

Vote FOR proposals to increase the number of authorized common shares where the primary purpose of the increase is to issue shares in connection with a transaction on the same ballot that warrants support.

Vote AGAINST proposals at companies with more than one class of common stock to increase the number of authorized shares of the class of common stock that has superior voting rights.

Vote AGAINST proposals to increase the number of authorized common shares if a vote for a reverse stock split on the same ballot is warranted despite the fact that the authorized shares would not be reduced proportionally.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on all other proposals to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance. Take into account company-specific factors that include, at a minimum, the following:

 

   

Past Board Performance:

  ¡

The company ’ s use of authorized shares during the last three years

   

The Current Request:

  ¡

Disclosure in the proxy statement of the specific purposes of the proposed increase;

  ¡

Disclosure in the proxy statement of specific and severe risks to shareholders of not approving the request ; and

  ¡

The dilutive impact of the request as determined by an allowable increase calculated by ISS (typically 100 percent of existing authorized shares) that reflects the company’ s need for shares and total shareholder returns.

Preferred Stock Authorization

Vote FOR proposals to increase the number of authorized preferred shares where the primary purpose of the increase is to issue shares in connection with a transaction on the same ballot that warrants support.

Vote AGAINST proposals at companies with more than one class or series of preferred stock to increase the number of authorized shares of the class or series of preferred stock that has superior voting rights.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on all other proposals to increase the number of shares of preferred stock authorized for issuance. Take into account company-specific factors that include, at a minimum, the following:

 

   

Past Board Performance:

 

 

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take .

 

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  ¡

The company’s use of authorized preferred shares during the last three years;

   

The Current Request:

  ¡

Disclosure in the proxy statement of the specific purposes for the proposed increase;

  ¡

Disclosure in the proxy statement of specific and severe risks to shareholders of not approving the request;

  ¡

In cases where the company has existing authorized preferred stock, the dilutive impact of the request as determined by an allowable increase calculated by ISS (typically 100 percent of existing authorized shares) that reflects the company’ s need for shares and total shareholder returns; and

  ¡

Whether the shares requested are blank check preferred shares that can be used for antitakeover purposes.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Vote CASE –BY- CASE on mergers and acquisitions. Review and evaluate the merits and drawbacks of the proposed transaction, balancing various and sometimes countervailing factors including:

 

   

Valuation - Is the value to be received by the target shareholders (or paid by the acquirer) reasonable? While the fairness opinion may provide an initial starting point for assessing valuation reasonableness, emphasis is placed on the offer premium, market reaction and strategic rationale.

   

Market reaction - How has the market responded to the proposed deal? A negative market reaction should cause closer scrutiny of a deal.

   

Strategic rationale - Does the deal make sense strategically? From where is the value derived? Cost and revenue synergies should not be overly aggressive or optimistic, but reasonably achievable. Management should also have a favorable track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions.

   

Negotiations and process - Were the terms of the transaction negotiated at arm’s-length? Was the process fair and equitable? A fair process helps to ensure the best price for shareholders. Significant negotiation "wins" can also signify the deal makers’ competency. The comprehensiveness of the sales process (e.g., full auction, partial auction, no auction) can also affect shareholder value.

   

Conflicts of interest - Are insiders benefiting from the transaction disproportionately and inappropriately as compared to non-insider shareholders? As the result of potential conflicts, the directors and officers of the company may be more likely to vote to approve a merger than if they did not hold these interests. Consider whether these interests may have influenced these directors and officers to support or recommend the merger. The CIC figure presented in the " ISS Transaction Summary" section of this report is an aggregate figure that can in certain cases be a misleading indicator of the true value transfer from shareholders to insiders. Where such figure appears to be excessive, analyze the underlying assumptions to determine whether a potential conflict exists.

   

Governance - Will the combined company have a better or worse governance profile than the current governance profiles of the respective parties to the transaction? If the governance profile is to change for the worse, the burden is on the company to prove that other issues (such as valuation) outweigh any deterioration in governance.

COMPENSATION

 

 

 

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take .

 

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Executive Pay Evaluation

Underlying all evaluations are five global principles that most investors expect corporations to adhere to in designing and administering executive and director compensation programs:

 

  1. Maintain appropriate pay-for-performance alignment, with emphasis on long-term shareholder value: This principle encompasses overall executive pay practices, which must be designed to attract, retain, and appropriately motivate the key employees who drive shareholder value creation over the long term. It will take into consideration, among other factors, the link between pay and performance; the mix between fixed and variable pay; performance goals; and equity-based plan costs;
  2. Avoid arrangements that risk “pay for failure”: This principle addresses the appropriateness of long or indefinite contracts, excessive severance packages, and guaranteed compensation;
  3. Maintain an independent and effective compensation committee: This principle promotes oversight of executive pay programs by directors with appropriate skills, knowledge, experience, and a sound process for compensation decision-making (e.g., including access to independent expertise and advice when needed);
  4. Provide shareholders with clear, comprehensive compensation disclosures: This principle underscores the importance of informative and timely disclosures that enable shareholders to evaluate executive pay practices fully and fairly;
  5. Avoid inappropriate pay to non-executive directors: This principle recognizes the interests of shareholders in ensuring that compensation to outside directors does not compromise their independence and ability to make appropriate judgments in overseeing managers’ pay and performance. At the market level, it may incorporate a variety of generally accepted best practices.

Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation- Management Proposals (Management Say-on-Pay)

Evaluate executive pay and practices, as well as certain aspects of outside director compensation CASE-BY-CASE.

Vote AGAINST management say on pay (MSOP) proposals, AGAINST/WITHHOLD on compensation committee members (or, in rare cases where the full board is deemed responsible, all directors including the CEO), and/or AGAINST an equity-based incentive plan proposal if:

 

   

There is a misalignment between CEO pay and company performance (pay for performance);

   

The company maintains problematic pay practices;

   

The board exhibits poor communication and responsiveness to shareholders.

Voting Alternatives

In general, the management say on pay (MSOP) ballot item is the primary focus of voting on executive pay practices- - dissatisfaction with compensation practices can be expressed by voting against MSOP rather than withholding or voting against the compensation committee. However, if there is no MSOP on the ballot, then the negative vote will apply to members of the compensation committee. In addition, in egregious cases, or if the board fails to respond to concerns raised by a prior MSOP proposal, then vote withhold or against compensation committee members (or, if the full board is deemed accountable, all directors). If the negative factors involve equity-based compensation, then vote AGAINST an equity-based plan proposal presented for shareholder approval.

Additional CASE-BY-CASE considerations for the management say on pay (MSOP) proposals:

 

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Evaluation of performance metrics in short-term and long-term plans, as discussed and explained in the Compensation Discussion & Analysis (CD&A). Consider the measures, goals, and target awards reported by the company for executives’ short- and long-term incentive awards: disclosure, explanation of their alignment with the company’s business strategy, and whether goals appear to be sufficiently challenging in relation to resulting payouts;

   

Evaluation of peer group benchmarking used to set target pay or award opportunities. Consider the rationale stated by the company for constituents in its pay benchmarking peer group, as well as the benchmark targets it uses to set or validate executives’ pay (e.g., median, 75th percentile, etc.,) to ascertain whether the benchmarking process is sound or may result in pay “ratcheting” due to inappropriate peer group constituents (e.g., much larger companies) or targeting (e.g., above median); and

   

Balance of performance-based versus non-performance-based pay. Consider the ratio of performance-based (not including plain vanilla stock options) vs. non-performance-based pay elements reported for the CEO’s latest reported fiscal year compensation, especially in conjunction with concerns about other factors such as performance metrics/goals, benchmarking practices, and pay-for-performance disconnects.

Primary Evaluation Factors for Executive Pay

Pay for Performance

Evaluate the alignment of the CEO’s pay with performance over time, focusing particularly on companies that have underperformed their peers over a sustained period. From a shareholders’ perspective, performance is predominantly gauged by the company’s stock performance over time. Even when financial or operational measures are utilized in incentive awards, the achievement related to these measures should ultimately translate into superior shareholder returns in the long-term.

Focus on companies with sustained underperformance relative to peers, considering the following key factors:

 

   

Whether a company’s one-year and three-year total shareholder returns (“TSR”) are in the bottom half of its industry group (i.e., four-digit GICS – Global Industry Classification Group); and

   

Whether the total compensation of a CEO who has served at least two consecutive fiscal years is aligned with the company’s total shareholder return over time, including both recent and long-term periods.

If a company falls in the bottom half of its four-digit GICS, further analysis of the CD&A is required to better understand the various pay elements and whether they create or reinforce shareholder alignment. Also assess the CEO’s pay relative to the company’s TSR over a time horizon of at least five years. The most recent year-over-year increase or decrease in pay remains a key consideration, but there will be additional emphasis on the long term trend of CEO total compensation relative to shareholder return. Also consider the mix of performance-based compensation relative to total compensation. In general, standard stock options or time-vested restricted stock are not considered to be performance-based. If a company provides performance-based incentives to its executives, the company is highly encouraged to provide the complete disclosure of the performance measure and goals (hurdle rate) so that shareholders can assess the rigor of the performance program. The use of non-GAAP financial metrics also makes it very challenging for shareholders to ascertain the rigor of the program as shareholders often cannot tell the type of adjustments being made and if the adjustments were made consistently. Complete and transparent disclosure helps shareholders to better understand the company’s pay for performance linkage.

Problematic Pay Practices

If the company maintains problematic pay practices, generally vote:

 

   

AGAINST management “say on pay” (MSOP) proposals;

 

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AGAINST/WITHHOLD on compensation committee members (or in rare cases where the full board is deemed responsible, all directors including the CEO):

  ¡

In egregious situations;

  ¡

When no MSOP item is on the ballot; or

  ¡

When the board has failed to respond to concerns raised in prior MSOP evaluations; and/or

   

AGAINST an equity incentive plan proposal if excessive non-performance-based equity awards are the major contributors to a pay-for-performance misalignment.

The focus is on executive compensation practices that contravene the global pay principles, including:

 

   

Problematic practices related to non-performance-based compensation elements;

   

Incentives that may motivate excessive risk-taking; and

   

Options Backdating.

Problematic Pay Practices related to Non-Performance -Based Compensation Elements

Pay elements that are not directly based on performance are generally evaluated CASE-BY-CASE considering the context of a company’s overall pay program and demonstrated pay-for-performance philosophy. Please refer to ISS’ Compensation FAQ document for detail on specific pay practices that have been identified as potentially problematic and may lead to negative recommendations if they are deemed to be inappropriate or unjustified relative to executive pay best practices. The list below highlights the problematic practices that carry significant weight in this overall consideration and may result in adverse vote recommendations:

 

   

Repricing or replacing of underwater stock options/SARS without prior shareholder approval (including cash buyouts and voluntary surrender of underwater options) ;

   

Excessive perquisites or tax gross-ups, including any gross-up related to a secular trust or restricted stock vesting;

   

New or extended agreements that provide for:

  ¡

CIC payments exceeding 3 times base salary and average/target/most recent bonus;

  ¡

CIC severance payments without involuntary job loss or substantial diminution of duties (“single” or “modified single” triggers);

  ¡

CIC payments with excise tax gross-ups (including "modified" gross-ups).

Incentives that may Motivate Excessive Risk-Taking

Assess company policies and disclosure related to compensation that could incentivize excessive risk-taking, for example:

 

   

Multi-year guaranteed bonuses;

   

A single performance metric used for short- and long-term plans;

   

Lucrative severance packages;

   

High pay opportunities relative to industry peers;

   

Disproportionate supplemental pensions; or

   

Mega annual equity grants that provide unlimited upside with no downside risk.

Factors that potentially mitigate the impact of risky incentives include rigorous claw-back provisions and robust stock ownership/holding guidelines.

Options Backdating

 

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Vote CASE- BY -CASE on options backdating issues. Generally, when a company has recently practiced options backdating, WITHHOLD from or vote AGAINST the compensation committee, depending on the severity of the practices and the subsequent corrective actions on the part of the board. When deciding on votes on compensation committee members who oversaw questionable options grant practices or current compensation committee members who fail to respond to the issue proactively, consider several factors, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

   

Reason and motive for the options backdating issue, such as inadvertent vs. deliberate grant date changes;

   

Duration of options backdating;

   

Size of restatement due to options backdating;

   

Corrective actions taken by the board or compensation committee, such as canceling or re-pricing backdated options, the recouping of option gains on backdated grants; and

   

Adoption of a grant policy that prohibits backdating, and creates a fixed grant schedule or window period for equity grants in the future.

A CASE- BY -CASE analysis approach allows distinctions to be made between companies that had “sloppy” plan administration versus those that acted deliberately and/or committed fraud, as well as those companies that subsequently took corrective action. Cases where companies have committed fraud are considered most egregious.

Board Communications and Responsiveness

Consider the following factors CASE-BY-CASE when evaluating ballot items related to executive pay:

 

   

Poor disclosure practices, including:

  -

Unclear explanation of how the CEO is involved in the pay setting process;

  -

Retrospective performance targets and methodology not discussed;

  -

Methodology for benchmarking practices and/or peer group not disclosed and explained.

   

Board’s responsiveness to investor input and engagement on compensation issues, for example:

  -

Failure to respond to majority-supported shareholder proposals on executive pay topics; or

  -

Failure to respond to concerns raised in connection with significant opposition to MSOP proposals.

Frequency of Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation (Management “Say on Pay”)

Vote FOR annual advisory votes on compensation, which provide the most consistent and clear communication channel for shareholder concerns about companies’ executive pay programs.

Voting on Golden Parachutes in an Acquisition, Merger, Consolidation, or Proposed Sale

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to approve the company’s golden parachute compensation, consistent with ISS’ policies on problematic pay practices related to severance packages. Features that may lead to a vote AGAINST include:

 

   

Recently adopted or materially amended agreements that include excise tax gross-up provisions (since prior annual meeting);

   

Recently adopted or materially amended agreements that include modified single triggers (since prior annual meeting);

   

Single trigger payments that will happen immediately upon a change in control, including cash payment and such items as the acceleration of performance-based equity despite the failure to achieve performance measures;

 

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Single-trigger vesting of equity based on a definition of change in control that requires only shareholder approval of the transaction (rather than consummation);

   

Potentially excessive severance payments;

   

Recent amendments or other changes that may make packages so attractive as to influence merger agreements that may not be in the best interests of shareholders;

   

In the case of a substantial gross-up from pre-existing/grandfathered contract: the element that triggered the gross-up (i.e., option mega-grants at low point in stock price, unusual or outsized payments in cash or equity made or negotiated prior to the merger); or

   

The company’s assertion that a proposed transaction is conditioned on shareholder approval of the golden parachute advisory vote. ISS would view this as problematic from a corporate governance perspective.

In cases where the golden parachute vote is incorporated into a company’s separate advisory vote on compensation ("management "say on pay"), ISS will evaluate the "say on pay" proposal in accordance with these guidelines, which may give higher weight to that component of the overall evaluation.

Equity-Based and Other Incentive Plans

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on equity-based compensation plans. Vote AGAINST the equity plan if any of the following factors apply:

 

   

The total cost of the company’s equity plans is unreasonable;

   

The plan expressly permits the repricing of stock options/stock appreciate rights (SARs) without prior shareholder approval;

   

The CEO is a participant in the proposed equity-based compensation plan and there is a disconnect between CEO pay and the company’s performance where over 50 percent of the year-over-year increase is attributed to equity awards (see Pay-for-Performance);

   

The company’s three year burn rate exceeds the greater of 2% or the mean plus one standard deviation of its industry group but no more than two percentage points (+/-) from the prior-year industry group cap;

   

Liberal Change of Control Definition: The plan provides for the acceleration of vesting of equity awards even though an actual change in control may not occur (e.g., upon shareholder approval of a transaction or the announcement of a tender offer); or

   

The plan is a vehicle for problematic pay practices.

Shareholder Proposals on Compensation

Golden Coffins/Executive Death Benefits

Generally vote FOR proposals calling companies to adopt a policy of obtaining shareholder approval for any future agreements and corporate policies that could oblige the company to make payments or awards following the death of a senior executive in the form of unearned salary or bonuses, accelerated vesting or the continuation in force of unvested equity grants, perquisites and other payments or awards made in lieu of compensation. This would not apply to any benefit programs or equity plan proposals that the broad-based employee population is eligible.

Hold Equity Past Retirement or for a Significant Period of Time

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals asking companies to adopt policies requiring senior executive officers to retain all or a significant portion of the shares acquired through compensation plans, either:

 

   

while employed and/or for two years following the termination of their employment ; or

 

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for a substantial period following the lapse of all other vesting requirements for the award (“lock-up period”), with ratable release of a portion of the shares annually during the lock-up period.

The following factors will be taken into account:

 

   

Whether the company has any holding period, retention ratio, or officer ownership requirements in place. These should consist of:

  - Rigorous stock ownership guidelines;
  - A holding period requirement coupled with a significant long-term ownership requirement; or
  - A meaningful retention ratio;
   

Actual officer stock ownership and the degree to which it meets or exceeds the proponent’s suggested holding period/retention ratio or the company’s own stock ownership or retention requirements;

   

Post-termination holding requirement policies or any policies aimed at mitigating risk taking by senior executives;

   

Problematic pay practices, current and past, which may promote a short-term versus a long-term focus.

A rigorous stock ownership guideline should be at least 10x base salary for the CEO, with the multiple declining for other executives. A meaningful retention ratio should constitute at least 50 percent of the stock received from equity awards (on a net proceeds basis) held on a long-term basis, such as the executive’s tenure with the company or even a few years past the executive’s termination with the company.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals asking companies to adopt policies requiring Named Executive Officers to retain 75% of the shares acquired through compensation plans while employed and/or for two years following the termination of their employment, and to report to shareholders regarding this policy. The following factors will be taken into account:

 

   

Whether the company has any holding period, retention ratio, or officer ownership requirements in place. These should consist of:

  - Rigorous stock ownership guidelines, or

 

  - A holding period requirement coupled with a significant long-term ownership requirement, or

 

  - A meaningful retention ratio,

 

   

Actual officer stock ownership and the degree to which it meets or exceeds the proponent’s suggested holding period/retention ratio or the company’s own stock ownership or retention requirements.

   

Problematic pay practices, current and past, which may promote a short-term versus a long-term focus.

A rigorous stock ownership guideline should be at least 10x base salary for the CEO, with the multiple declining for other executives. A meaningful retention ratio should constitute at least 50 percent of the stock received from equity awards (on a net proceeds basis) held on a long-term basis, such as the executive’s tenure with the company or even a few years past the executive’s termination with the company.

Generally vote AGAINST shareholder proposals that mandate a minimum amount of stock that directors must own in order to qualify as a director or to remain on the board. While ISS favors stock ownership on the part of directors, the company should determine the appropriate ownership requirement.

 

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Social/Environmental Issues

Overall Approach

Generally vote FOR the management’s recommendation on shareholder proposals involving social/environmental issues. When evaluating social and environmental shareholder proposals, Dimensional considers the most important factor to be whether adoption of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value.

 

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2011 International Proxy Voting Guidelines Summary

Effective for Meetings on or after January 3, 2011

In order to provide greater analysis on certain shareholder meetings, the Advisor has elected to receive research reports for certain meetings, as indicated below, from Glass Lewis in addition to Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”).

Specifically, if available, the Advisor may obtain research from Glass Lewis in addition to ISS for shareholder meetings in the following circumstances: (1) where the Advisor’s clients have a significant aggregate holding in the issuer and the meeting agenda contains proxies concerning: Anti-takeover Defenses or Voting Related Issues, Mergers and Acquisitions or Reorganizations or Restructurings, Capital Structure Issues, Compensation Issues or a proxy contest; or (2) where the Advisor in its discretion, has deemed that additional research is warranted.

Where research is obtained from Glass Lewis in accordance with these Guidelines, the Advisor will first review the research reports obtained from ISS and Glass Lewis. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are the same, the Advisor will vote accordingly. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are inconsistent, the Advisor will vote in accordance with the ISS recommendation unless the Corporate Governance Committee determines that voting in accordance with the Glass Lewis recommendation is more consistent with the principle of preserving shareholder value.

 

1.

Operational Items

Financial Results/Director and Auditor Reports

Vote FOR approval of financial statements and director and auditor reports, unless:

 

   

There are concerns about the accounts presented or audit procedures used; or

   

The company is not responsive to shareholder questions about specific items that should be publicly disclosed.

Appointment of Auditors and Auditor Fees

Vote FOR the (re)election of auditors and/or proposals authorizing the board to fix auditor fees, unless:

 

   

There are serious concerns about the procedures used by the auditor;

   

There is reason to believe that the auditor has rendered an opinion which is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position;

   

External auditors have previously served the company in an executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company;

   

Name of the proposed auditors has not been published;

   

The auditors are being changed without explanation; or

   

Fees for non-audit services exceed standard annual audit-related fees (only applies to companies on the MSCI EAFE index and/or listed on any country main index).

In circumstances where fees for non-audit services include fees related to significant one-time capital structure events (initial public offerings, bankruptcy emergencies, and spin-offs) and the company makes public disclosure of the amount and nature of those fees, which are an exception to the standard “non-audit fee” category, then such fees may be excluded from the non-audit fees considered in determining the ratio of non-audit to audit fees.

For concerns related to the audit procedures, independence of auditors, and/or name of auditors, ISS may recommend AGAINST the auditor (re)election. For concerns related to fees paid to the auditors, ISS may recommend AGAINST remuneration of auditors if this is a separate voting item; otherwise ISS may recommend AGAINST the auditor election.

 

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Appointment of Internal Statutory Auditors

Vote FOR the appointment or (re)election of statutory auditors, unless:

 

   

There are serious concerns about the statutory reports presented or the audit procedures used;

   

Questions exist concerning any of the statutory auditors being appointed; or

   

The auditors have previously served the company in an executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company.

Allocation of Income

Vote FOR approval of the allocation of income, unless:

 

   

The dividend payout ratio has been consistently below 30 percent without adequate explanation; or

   

The payout is excessive given the company's financial position.

Amendments to Articles of Association

Vote amendments to the articles of association on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Change in Company Fiscal Term

Vote FOR resolutions to change a company's fiscal term unless a company's motivation for the change is to postpone its AGM.

Lower Disclosure Threshold for Stock Ownership

Vote AGAINST resolutions to lower the stock ownership disclosure threshold below 5 percent unless specific reasons exist to implement a lower threshold.

Amend Quorum Requirements

Vote proposals to amend quorum requirements for shareholder meetings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Transact Other Business

Vote AGAINST other business when it appears as a voting item.

 

2.

Board of Directors

Director Elections

Vote FOR management nominees in the election of directors, unless:

 

   

Adequate disclosure has not been provided in a timely manner;

   

There are clear concerns over questionable finances or restatements;

   

There have been questionable transactions with conflicts of interest;

   

There are any records of abuses against minority shareholder interests; or

   

The board fails to meet minimum corporate governance standards.

Vote FOR individual nominees unless there are specific concerns about the individual, such as criminal wrongdoing or breach of fiduciary responsibilities.

 

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Vote AGAINST individual directors if repeated absences at board meetings have not been explained (in countries where this information is disclosed).

Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis for contested elections of directors, e.g. the election of shareholder nominees or the dismissal of incumbent directors, determining which directors are best suited to add value for shareholders. *

Vote FOR employee and/or labor representatives if they sit on either the audit or compensation committee and are required by law to be on those committees. * Vote AGAINST employee and/or labor representatives if they sit on either the audit or compensation committee, if they are not required to be on those committees. *

Under extraordinary circumstances, vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from directors individually, on a committee, or the entire board, due to:

 

   

Material failures of governance, stewardship, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company; or

 

   

Failure to replace management as appropriate; or

 

   

Egregious actions related to the director(s)’ service on other boards that raise substantial doubt about his or her ability to effectively oversee management and serve the best interests of shareholders at any company.

[Please see the ISS International Classification of Directors.]

 

 

 

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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ISS Classification of Directors - International Policy 2011

Executive Director

   

Employee or executive of the company;

   

Any director who is classified as a non-executive, but receives salary, fees, bonus, and/or other benefits that are in line with the highest-paid executives of the company.

Non-Independent Non-Executive Director (NED)

   

Any director who is attested by the board to be a non-independent NED;

   

Any director specifically designated as a representative of a significant shareholder of the company;

   

Any director who is also an employee or executive of a significant shareholder of the company;

   

Any director who is nominated by a dissenting significant shareholder, unless there is a clear lack of material[5] connection with the dissident, either currently or historically;

   

Beneficial owner (direct or indirect) of at least 10% of the company’s stock, either in economic terms or in voting rights (this may be aggregated if voting power is distributed among more than one member of a defined group, e.g., family members who beneficially own less than 10% individually, but collectively own more than 10%), unless market best practice dictates a lower ownership and/or disclosure threshold (and in other special market-specific circumstances);

   

Government representative;

   

Currently provides (or a relative[1] provides) professional services[2] to the company, to an affiliate of the company, or to an individual officer of the company or of one of its affiliates in excess of $10,000 per year;

   

Represents customer, supplier, creditor, banker, or other entity with which company maintains transactional/commercial relationship (unless company discloses information to apply a materiality test[3] );

   

Any director who has conflicting or cross-directorships with executive directors or the chairman of the company;

   

Relative[1] of a current employee of the company or its affiliates;

   

Relative[1] of a former executive of the company or its affiliates;

   

A new appointee elected other than by a formal process through the General Meeting (such as a contractual appointment by a substantial shareholder);

   

Founder/co-founder/member of founding family but not currently an employee;

   

Former executive (5 year cooling off period);

   

Years of service is generally not a determining factor unless it is recommended best practice in a market and/or in extreme circumstances, in which case it may be considered.[4]

   

Any additional relationship or principle considered to compromise independence under local corporate governance best practice guidance.

Independent NED

   

No material[5] connection, either directly or indirectly, to the company (other than a board seat) or the dissenting significant shareholder.

Employee Representative

   

Represents employees or employee shareholders of the company (classified as “employee representative” but considered a non-independent NED).

Footnotes:

[1] “Relative” follows the definition of “immediate family members” which covers spouses, parents, children, stepparents, step-children, siblings, in-laws, and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of any director, nominee for director, executive officer, or significant shareholder of the company.

[2] Professional services can be characterized as advisory in nature and generally include the following: investment banking/financial advisory services; commercial banking (beyond deposit services); investment services; insurance services; accounting/audit services; consulting services; marketing services; and legal services. The case of participation in a banking syndicate by a non-lead bank should be considered a transaction (and hence subject to the associated materiality test) rather than a professional relationship.

[3] A business relationship may be material if the transaction value (of all outstanding transactions) entered into between the company and the company or organization with which the director is associated is equivalent to either 1 percent of the company’s turnover or 1 percent of the turnover of the company or organization with which the director is associated. OR, A business relationship may be material if the transaction value (of all outstanding financing operations) entered into between the company and the company or organization with which the director is associated is more than 10 percent of the company’s shareholder equity or the transaction value, (of all outstanding financing operations), compared to the company’s total assets, is more than 5 percent.

[4] For example, in continental Europe, directors with a tenure exceeding 12 years will be considered non-independent. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, directors with a tenure exceeding nine years will be considered non-independent, unless the company provides sufficient and clear justification that the director is independent despite his long tenure.

[5] For purposes of ISS’ director independence classification, “material” will be defined as a standard of relationship financial, personal or otherwise that a reasonable person might conclude could potentially influence one’s objectivity in the boardroom in a manner that would have a meaningful impact on an individual’s ability to satisfy requisite fiduciary standards on behalf of shareholders.

 

 

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Contested Director Elections*

For contested elections of directors, e.g. the election of shareholder nominees or the dismissal of incumbent directors, ISS will make its recommendation on a case-by-case basis, determining which directors are best suited to add value for shareholders.

The analysis will generally be based on, but not limited to, the following major decision factors:

 

   

Company performance relative to its peers;

   

Strategy of the incumbents versus the dissidents;

   

Independence of directors/nominees;

   

Experience and skills of board candidates;

   

Governance profile of the company;

   

Evidence of management entrenchment;

   

Responsiveness to shareholders;

   

Whether a takeover offer has been rebuffed;

   

Whether minority or majority representation is being sought.

When analyzing a contested election of directors, ISS will generally focus on two central questions: (1) Have the dissidents proved that board change is warranted? And (2) if so, are the dissident board nominees likely to effect positive change (i.e., maximize long-term shareholder value).

Discharge of Directors

Generally vote FOR the discharge of directors, including members of the management board and/or supervisory board, unless there is reliable information about significant and compelling controversies that the board is not fulfilling its fiduciary duties warranted by:

 

   

A lack of oversight or actions by board members which invoke shareholder distrust related to malfeasance or poor supervision, such as operating in private or company interest rather than in shareholder interest; or

 

   

Any legal issues (e.g. civil/criminal) aiming to hold the board responsible for breach of trust in the past or related to currently alleged actions yet to be confirmed (and not only the fiscal year in question), such as price fixing, insider trading, bribery, fraud, and other illegal actions; or

 

   

Other egregious governance issues where shareholders will bring legal action against the company or its directors.

For markets which do not routinely request discharge resolutions (e.g. common law countries or markets where discharge is not mandatory), analysts may voice concern in other appropriate agenda items, such as approval of the annual accounts or other relevant resolutions, to enable shareholders to express discontent with the board.

Director, Officer, and Auditor Indemnification and Liability Provisions

Vote proposals seeking indemnification and liability protection for directors and officers on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote AGAINST proposals to indemnify external auditors.

Board Structure

 

 

 

* See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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Vote FOR proposals to fix board size.

Vote AGAINST the introduction of classified boards and mandatory retirement ages for directors.

Vote AGAINST proposals to alter board structure or size in the context of a fight for control of the company or the board.

3. Capital Structure*

Share Issuance Requests

General Issuances

Vote FOR issuance requests with preemptive rights to a maximum of 100 percent over currently issued capital.

Vote FOR issuance requests without preemptive rights to a maximum of 20 percent of currently issued capital.

Specific Issuances

Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on all requests, with or without preemptive rights.

Increases in Authorized Capital

Vote FOR non-specific proposals to increase authorized capital up to 100 percent over the current authorization unless the increase would leave the company with less than 30 percent of its new authorization outstanding.

Vote FOR specific proposals to increase authorized capital to any amount, unless:

   

The specific purpose of the increase (such as a share-based acquisition or merger) does not meet ISS guidelines for the purpose being proposed; or

   

The increase would leave the company with less than 30 percent of its new authorization outstanding after adjusting for all proposed issuances.

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt unlimited capital authorizations.

Reduction of Capital

Vote FOR proposals to reduce capital for routine accounting purposes unless the terms are unfavorable to shareholders.

Vote proposals to reduce capital in connection with corporate restructuring on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Capital Structures

Vote FOR resolutions that seek to maintain or convert to a one-share, one-vote capital structure.

Vote AGAINST requests for the creation or continuation of dual-class capital structures or the creation of new or additional super voting shares.

Preferred Stock

 

 

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take .

 

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Vote FOR the creation of a new class of preferred stock or for issuances of preferred stock up to 50 percent of issued capital unless the terms of the preferred stock would adversely affect the rights of existing shareholders.

Vote FOR the creation/issuance of convertible preferred stock as long as the maximum number of common shares that could be issued upon conversion meets ISS guidelines on equity issuance requests.

Vote AGAINST the creation of a new class of preference shares that would carry superior voting rights to the common shares.

Vote AGAINST the creation of blank check preferred stock unless the board clearly states that the authorization will not be used to thwart a takeover bid.

Vote proposals to increase blank check preferred authorizations on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Debt Issuance Requests

Vote non-convertible debt issuance requests on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, with or without preemptive rights.

Vote FOR the creation/issuance of convertible debt instruments as long as the maximum number of common shares that could be issued upon conversion meets ISS guidelines on equity issuance requests.

Vote FOR proposals to restructure existing debt arrangements unless the terms of the restructuring would adversely affect the rights of shareholders.

Pledging of Assets for Debt

Vote proposals to approve the pledging of assets for debt on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Increase in Borrowing Powers

Vote proposals to approve increases in a company’s borrowing powers on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Share Repurchase Plans

Generally vote FOR market repurchase authorities (share repurchase programs) if the terms comply with the following criteria:

 

   

A repurchase limit of up to 10 percent of outstanding issued share capital (15 percent in UK/Ireland);

   

A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company’s issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and

   

A duration of no more than 5 years, or such lower threshold as may be set by applicable law, regulation or code of governance best practice.

Authorities to repurchase shares in excess of the 10 percent repurchase limit will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. ISS may support such share repurchase authorities under special circumstances, which are required to be publicly disclosed by the company, provided that, on balance, the proposal is in shareholders’ interests. In such cases, the authority must comply with the following criteria:

 

   

A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company’s issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and

   

A duration of no more than 18 months.

In markets where it is normal practice not to provide a repurchase limit, ISS will evaluate the proposal based on the company’s historical practice. However, ISS expects companies to disclose such limits and, in the future, may recommend a vote against companies that fail to do so. In such cases, the authority must comply with the following criteria:

 

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A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company’s issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and

   

A duration of no more than 18 months.

In addition, ISS will recommend AGAINST any proposal where:

 

   

The repurchase can be used for takeover defenses;

   

There is clear evidence of abuse;

   

There is no safeguard against selective buybacks; and/or

   

Pricing provisions and safeguards are deemed to be unreasonable in light of market practice.

Reissuance of Repurchased Shares

Vote FOR requests to reissue any repurchased shares unless there is clear evidence of abuse of this authority in the past.

Capitalization of Reserves for Bonus Issues/Increase in Par Value

Vote FOR requests to capitalize reserves for bonus issues of shares or to increase par value.

4. Other Items

Reorganizations/Restructurings*

Vote reorganizations and restructurings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Mergers and Acquisitions*

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on mergers and acquisitions taking into account the following:

For every M&A analysis, ISS reviews publicly available information as of the date of the report and evaluates the merits and drawbacks of the proposed transaction, balancing various and sometimes countervailing factors including:

 

   

Valuation - Is the value to be received by the target shareholders (or paid by the acquirer) reasonable? While the fairness opinion may provide an initial starting point for assessing valuation reasonableness, ISS places emphasis on the offer premium, market reaction, and strategic rationale.

 

   

Market reaction - How has the market responded to the proposed deal? A negative market reaction will cause ISS to scrutinize a deal more closely.

 

   

Strategic rationale - Does the deal make sense strategically? From where is the value derived? Cost and revenue synergies should not be overly aggressive or optimistic, but reasonably achievable. Management should also have a favourable track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions.

   

Conflicts of interest - Are insiders benefiting from the transaction disproportionately and inappropriately as compared to non-insider shareholders? ISS will consider whether any special interests may have influenced these directors and officers to support or recommend the merger.

 

   

Governance - Will the combined company have a better or worse governance profile than the current governance profiles of the respective parties to the transaction? If the governance profile is to change for the worse, the burden is on the company to prove that other issues (such as valuation) outweigh any deterioration in governance.

Vote AGAINST if the companies do not provide sufficient information upon request to make an informed voting decision.

 

 

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take .

 

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Mandatory Takeover Bid Waivers*

Vote proposals to waive mandatory takeover bid requirements on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Reincorporation Proposals

Vote reincorporation proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Expansion of Business Activities

Vote FOR resolutions to expand business activities unless the new business takes the company into risky areas.

Related-Party Transactions

In evaluating resolutions that seek shareholder approval on related party transactions (RPTs), vote on a case-by-case basis, considering factors including, but not limited to, the following:

 

   

the parties on either side of the transaction;

   

the nature of the asset to be transferred/service to be provided;

   

the pricing of the transaction (and any associated professional valuation);

   

the views of independent directors (where provided);

   

the views of an independent financial adviser (where appointed);

   

whether any entities party to the transaction (including advisers) is conflicted; and

   

the stated rationale for the transaction, including discussions of timing.

If there is a transaction that ISS deemed problematic and that was not put to a shareholder vote, ISS may recommend against the election of the director involved in the related-party transaction or the full board.

Antitakeover Mechanisms

Generally vote AGAINST all antitakeover proposals, unless they are structured in such a way that they give shareholders the ultimate decision on any proposal or offer.

Shareholder Proposals

Vote all shareholder proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote FOR proposals that would improve the company’s corporate governance or business profile at a reasonable cost.

Vote AGAINST proposals that limit the company’s business activities or capabilities or result in significant costs being incurred with little or no benefit.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Issues

Generally vote FOR the management’s recommendation on shareholder proposals involving CSR Issues. When evaluating social and environmental shareholder proposals, Dimensional considers the most important factor to be whether adoption of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value.

 

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DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, Texas 78746

Telephone: (512) 306-7400

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

February 28, 2011

 

CSTG&E U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio

Ticker: DFCUX

 

CSTG&E International Social Core Equity Portfolio

Ticker: DFCCX

This statement of additional information (“SAI”) relates to the shares of CSTG&E U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio and CSTG&E International Social Core Equity Portfolio (individually, a “Portfolio” and, collectively, the “Portfolios”) of DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. (the “Fund”).

This SAI is not a prospectus but should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus of the Portfolios, dated February 28, 2011, as amended from time to time. The audited financial statements and financial highlights of the Portfolios are incorporated by reference from the Fund’s annual report to shareholders. The prospectus and annual report can be obtained by writing to the above address or by calling the above telephone number.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS AND POLICIES

     2   

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

     2   

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

     3   

FUTURES CONTRACTS

     4   

FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

     5   

CASH MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

     5   

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

     6   

CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES

     6   

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

     6   

SERVICES TO THE PORTFOLIOS

     16   

ADVISORY FEES

     17   

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

     18   

GENERAL INFORMATION

     20   

CODE OF ETHICS

     20   

SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS

     21   

PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

     21   

PURCHASE OF SHARES

     22   

REDEMPTION AND TRANSFER OF SHARES

     22   

TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIO AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS

     23   

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

     35   

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

     36   

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     39   

PERFORMANCE DATA

     39   

 

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PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS AND POLICIES

The following information supplements the information set forth in the Prospectus of the Portfolios. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this SAI have the meaning assigned to them in the Prospectus.

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor”) serves as investment advisor to each Portfolio. The Advisor is organized as a Delaware limited partnership and is controlled and operated by its general partner, Dimensional Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation. Each Portfolio is diversified under the federal securities laws and regulations.

Because the structure of the Portfolios is based on the relative market capitalizations of eligible holdings, it is possible that the Portfolios might include at least 5% of the outstanding voting securities of one or more issuers. In such circumstances, a Portfolio and the issuer would be deemed affiliated persons and certain requirements under the federal securities laws and regulations regulating dealings between mutual funds and their affiliates might become applicable.

Each of the Portfolios has adopted a non-fundamental policy as required by Rule 35d-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) that, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the value of each Portfolio’s net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, will be invested in a specific type of investment. Additionally, if a Portfolio changes its 80% investment policy, the Portfolio will notify shareholders at least 60 days before the change, and will change the name of the Portfolio. For more information on each Portfolio's specific 80% policy, see each Portfolio's “PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES” section in the Prospectus.

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

The following table reports brokerage commissions paid by the designated Portfolios during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009 and the fiscal period from December 1, 2007 to October 31, 2008.

 

Portfolio

  

FISCAL
YEAR
ENDED

2010

  

FISCAL
YEAR

ENDED

2009

  

FISCAL
PERIOD
ENDED

2008

CSTG&E U.S. Social Core Equity 2

Portfolio

       $9,667          $11,351          $9,229  

CSTG&E International Social Core

Equity Portfolio

       $4,309          $6,771          $7,803  

Portfolio transactions of each Portfolio will be placed with a view to receiving the best price and execution. In addition, the Advisor will seek to acquire and dispose of securities in a manner that would cause as little fluctuation in the market prices of stocks being purchased or sold as possible in light of the size of the transactions being effected, and brokers will be selected with these goals in view. The Advisor monitors the performance of brokers that effect transactions for the Portfolios to determine the effect that the brokers’ trading has on the market prices of the securities in which the Portfolios invest. The Advisor also checks the rate of commission being paid by the Portfolios to their brokers to ascertain that the rates are competitive with those charged by other brokers for similar services.

Subject to obtaining best price and execution, transactions may be placed with brokers that have assisted in the sale of Fund shares. The Advisor, however, pursuant to policies and procedures approved by the Board of Directors of the Fund, is prohibited from selecting brokers and dealers to effect a Portfolio’s portfolio securities

 

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transactions based (in whole or in part) on a broker’s or dealer’s promotion or sale of shares issued by a Portfolio or any other registered investment companies.

Companies eligible for purchase by a Portfolio may be thinly traded securities. The Advisor believes that it needs maximum flexibility to effect trades on a best execution basis. As deemed appropriate, the Advisor places buy and sell orders for the Portfolios with various brokerage firms that may act as principal or agent. The Advisor may also make use of direct market access and algorithmic, program or electronic trading methods. The Advisor may extensively use electronic trading systems as such systems can provide the ability to customize the orders placed and can assist in the Advisor’s execution strategies.

Transactions also may be placed with brokers who provide the Advisor with investment research, such as reports concerning individual issuers, industries, and general economic and financial trends, and other research services. The Investment Advisory Agreement for each Portfolio permits the Advisor knowingly to pay commissions on these transactions that are greater than another broker, dealer, or exchange member might charge if the Advisor, in good faith, determines that the commissions paid are reasonable in relation to the research or brokerage services provided by the broker or dealer when viewed in terms of either a particular transaction or the Advisor’s overall responsibilities to the accounts under its management. Research services furnished by brokers through whom securities transactions are effected may be used by the Advisor in servicing all of its accounts and not all such services may be used by the Advisor with respect to the Portfolios.

During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the Portfolios paid commissions for securities transactions to brokers which provided market price monitoring services, market studies, brokerage services and research services to the Portfolios as follows:

 

     Value of Securities
Transactions
     Brokerage Commissions

CSTG&E U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio

   $14,235,381      $971

CSTG&E International Social Core Equity Portfolio

   $5,908,031      $381

The Portfolios may purchase securities of their regular brokers or dealers (as defined in Rule 10b-1 of the 1940 Act). The table below lists the regular brokers or dealers of each Portfolio whose securities (or securities of the broker’s or dealer’s parent company) were acquired by the Portfolio during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, as well as the value of such securities held by the Portfolio as of October 31, 2010.

 

Portfolio

   Broker or Dealer    Value of Securities

CSTG&E U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio

   Jefferies    $57,432

CSTG&E International Social Core Equity Portfolio

   UBS AG    $206,460

CSTG&E International Social Core Equity Portfolio

   Macquarie Group    $138,497

CSTG&E International Social Core Equity Portfolio

   Instinet, LLC    $113,873

CSTG&E International Social Core Equity Portfolio

   Societe Generale    $284,520

CSTG&E International Social Core Equity Portfolio

   Credit Suisse Group    $261,450

CSTG&E International Social Core Equity Portfolio

   TD Securities    $366,800

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

Each of the Portfolios has adopted certain limitations which may not be changed with respect to any Portfolio without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio. A “majority” is defined as the lesser of: (1) at least 67% of the voting securities of the Portfolio (to be affected by the proposed change) present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio are present or represented by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of such Portfolio.

 

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The Portfolios will not:

 

  (1)

borrow money, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or any rules, exemptions or interpretations thereunder that may be adopted, granted or issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”);

 

  (2)

make loans, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or any rules, exemptions or interpretations thereunder that may be adopted, granted or issued by the SEC; provided that in no event shall a Portfolio be permitted to make a loan to a natural person;

 

  (3)

purchase or sell real estate, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, and provided that this restriction does not prevent a Portfolio from: (i) purchasing or selling securities or instruments secured by real estate or interests therein, securities or instruments representing interests in real estate or securities or instruments of issuers that invest, deal or otherwise engage in transactions in real estate or interests therein; and (ii) purchasing or selling real estate mortgage loans;

 

  (4)

purchase or sell physical commodities, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, and provided that this restriction does not prevent a Portfolio from: (i) engaging in transactions involving currencies and futures contracts and options thereon; or (ii) investing in securities or other instruments that are secured by physical commodities;

 

  (5)

purchase the securities of any one issuer, if immediately after such investment, a Portfolio would not qualify as a “diversified company” as that term is defined by the 1940 Act, as amended, and as modified or interpreted by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time;

 

  (6)

engage in the business of underwriting securities issued by others;

 

  (7)

concentrate (invest more than 25% of its net assets) in securities of issuers in a particular industry (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or securities of other investment companies); or

 

  (8)

issue senior securities (as such term is defined in Section 18(f) of the 1940 Act), except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act.

With respect to the investment limitation described in (1) above, each Portfolio will maintain asset coverage of at least 300% (as described in the 1940 Act), inclusive of any amounts borrowed, with respect to any borrowings made by such Portfolio. The Portfolios currently do not intend to borrow money for investment purposes.

Each Portfolio is required to operate in accordance with the SEC staff’s current position on illiquid securities, which limits investments in illiquid securities to 15% of a Portfolio’s net assets.

Unless otherwise indicated, all limitations applicable to a Portfolio’s investments apply only at the time that a transaction is undertaken.

FUTURES CONTRACTS

Each Portfolio may use futures contracts and options of futures contracts for non-hedging purposes as a substitute for direct investment or to allow the Portfolio to remain fully invested while maintaining the liquidity required to pay redemptions.

Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of defined securities at a specified future time and at a specified price. Futures contracts that are standardized as to maturity date and underlying financial instrument are traded on national futures exchanges. Each Portfolio will be required to make a margin deposit in cash or government securities with a futures commission merchant (an “FCM”) to initiate and maintain positions in futures contracts. Minimal initial margin requirements are established by the futures exchanges, and FCMs may establish margin requirements that are higher than the exchange requirements. After a futures contract position is opened, the value of the contract is marked to market daily. If the futures contract price changes, to the extent that the margin on deposit does not satisfy margin requirements, payment of additional “variation” margin to be held by the FCM will be required. Conversely, a reduction in the required margin would result in a repayment of excess margin to the custodial account of the

 

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Portfolio. Variation margin payments may be made to and from the futures broker for as long as the contract remains open. Each Portfolio expects to earn income on its margin deposits. Each Portfolio intends to limit its futures-related investment activity so that other than with respect to bona fide hedging activity (as defined in Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) General Regulations Section 1.3(z)): (i) the aggregate initial margin and premiums paid to establish commodity futures and commodity option contract positions (determined at the time the most recent position was established) do not exceed 5% of the liquidation value of the Portfolio’s portfolio, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such contracts the Portfolio has entered into (provided that, in the case of an option that is in-the-money at the time of purchase, the in-the-money amount may be excluded in calculating such 5% limitation), or (ii) the aggregate net “notional value” (i.e., the size of a commodity futures or commodity option contract in contract units (taking into account any multiplier specified in the contract), multiplied by the current market price (for a futures contract) or strike price (for an option contract) of each such unit) of all non-hedge commodity futures and commodity option contracts that the Portfolio has entered into (determined at the time the most recent position was established) does not exceed the liquidation value of the Portfolio’s portfolio, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such contracts that the Portfolio has entered into.

Positions in futures contracts may be closed out only on an exchange that provides a secondary market. However, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular futures contract at any specific time. Therefore, it might not be possible to close a futures position and, in the event of adverse price movements, a Portfolio would continue to be required to make variation margin deposits. In such circumstances, if a Portfolio has insufficient cash, it might have to sell portfolio securities to meet daily margin requirements at a time when it might be disadvantageous to do so. Management intends to minimize the possibility that it will be unable to close out a futures contract by only entering into futures that are traded on national futures exchanges and for which there appears to be a liquid secondary market. Pursuant to published positions of the SEC and interpretations of the staff of the SEC, a Portfolio (or its custodian) is required to maintain segregated accounts or to segregate assets through notations on the books of the custodian, consisting of liquid assets (or, as permitted under applicable regulations, enter into offsetting positions) in connection with its futures contract transactions in order to cover its obligations with respect to such contracts. These requirements are designed to limit the amount of leverage that a Portfolio may use by entering into future transactions.

FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

The CSTG&E International Social Core Equity Portfolio (the “International Social Core Portfolio”) may acquire and sell forward foreign currency exchange contracts in order to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency exchange rates. The Portfolio will conduct its foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies. A forward foreign currency exchange contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days (usually less than one year) from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts are traded in the interbank market conducted directly between traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. A forward contract generally has no deposit requirement, and no commissions are charged at any stage for trades. Although foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference (the spread) between the price at which they are buying and selling various currencies.

The Portfolio may enter into a forward contract in connection with the purchase or sale of foreign equity securities, typically to “lock in” the value of the transaction with respect to a different currency. In addition, the Portfolio may, from time to time, enter into a forward contract to transfer balances from one currency to another currency.

CASH MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

Each Portfolio engages in cash management practices in order to earn income on uncommitted cash balances. Generally, cash is uncommitted pending investment in other securities, payment of redemptions, or in other circumstances where the Advisor believes liquidity is necessary or desirable. For example, a Portfolio may

 

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make cash investments for temporary defensive purposes during periods in which market, economic, or political conditions warrant.

Each Portfolio may invest cash in short-term repurchase agreements. In addition, each Portfolio may invest a portion of its assets, ordinarily not more than 20%, in money market instruments, debt securities that at the time of purchase have an investment grade rating by a rating agency or are deemed to be investment grade by the Advisor, freely convertible currencies, shares of affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market mutual funds, index futures contracts, and options thereon. Investments in money market mutual funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses. The 20% guideline is not an absolute limitation but each Portfolio does not expect to exceed this guideline under normal circumstances.

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

Each Portfolio may also invest in Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the equity markets while maintaining liquidity. An ETF is an investment company whose goal is to track or replicate a desired index, such as a sector, market, or global segment. ETFs are passively managed, and traded similarly to a publicly traded company. The risks and costs of investing in ETFs are similar to those of investing in a publicly traded company. The goal of an ETF is to correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of its underlying index. The risk of not correlating to the index is an additional risk to the investors of ETFs. When a Portfolio invests in an ETF, shareholders of the Portfolio bear their proportionate share of the underlying ETF’s fees and expenses. ETFs in which the Portfolios invest are not subject to, although they may incorporate, the Portfolios’ Social Criteria. (See the Portfolios’ prospectus for information regarding the Portfolios’ Social Criteria.)

CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES

The International Social Core Portfolio may invest up to 5% of its assets in convertible debentures issued by non-U.S. companies located in the countries in which it is permitted to invest. Convertible debentures include corporate bonds and notes that may be converted into or exchanged for common stock. These securities are generally convertible either at a stated price or a stated rate (that is, for a specific number of shares of common stock or other security). As with other fixed income securities, the price of a convertible debenture, to some extent, varies inversely with interest rates. While providing a fixed income stream (generally higher in yield than the income derived from a common stock, but lower than that afforded by a nonconvertible debenture), a convertible debenture also affords the investor an opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation of the common stock into which the debenture is convertible. As the market price of the underlying common stock declines, convertible debentures tend to trade increasingly on a yield basis and so may not experience market value declines to the same extent as the underlying common stock. When the market price of the underlying common stock increases, the price of a convertible debenture tends to rise as a reflection of the value of the underlying common stock. To obtain such a higher yield, the International Social Core Portfolio may be required to pay for a convertible debenture an amount in excess of the value of the underlying common stock. Common stock acquired by the International Social Core Portfolio upon conversion of a convertible debenture will generally be held for as long as the Advisor anticipates such stock will provide the Portfolio with opportunities that are consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objective and policies.

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Directors

Organization of the Board

The Board of Directors of the Fund (the “Board”) is responsible for establishing the Fund’s policies and for overseeing the management of the Fund. The Board of Directors elects the officers of the Fund, who, along with third party service providers, are responsible for administering the day-to-day operations of the Fund. The Board of Directors of the Fund is comprised of two interested Directors and six disinterested Directors. David G. Booth, an interested Director, is Chairman of the Board. The Board has not found it necessary to appoint a lead disinterested

 

6


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Director because it believes that the existing structure of the Board allows for effective communication among the disinterested Directors, between the disinterested Directors and interested Directors, as well as between the disinterested Directors and management. The existing Board structure for the Fund also provides the disinterested Directors with adequate influence over the governance of the Board and the Fund, while also providing the Board with the invaluable insight of the two interested Directors, who, as both officers of the Fund and the Advisor, participate in the day-to-day management of the Fund’s affairs, including risk management.

The agenda for each quarterly meeting of the Board is provided at least two weeks prior to the meeting to the disinterested Directors in order to provide the Directors with the opportunity to contact Fund management and/or the disinterested Directors’ independent counsel regarding agenda items. In addition, the disinterested Directors regularly communicate with Mr. Booth regarding items of interest to them in between regularly scheduled meetings of the Board. The Board of the Fund meets in person at least four times each year and by telephone at other times. At each in-person meeting, the disinterested Directors meet in executive session with their independent counsel to discuss matters outside the presence of management.

The Board has three standing committees, an Audit Committee, a Nominating Committee and a Portfolio Performance and Service Review Committee (“Performance Committee”) that are composed entirely of disinterested Directors. As described below, through these Committees, the disinterested Directors have direct oversight of the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies, the selection and nomination of candidates to the Fund’s Board and the review of the investment performance of the series of the Fund and the performance of the Fund’s service providers.

The Board’s Audit Committee is comprised of George M. Constantinides, Roger G. Ibbotson and Abbie J. Smith. The Audit Committee for the Board oversees the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies and practices, the Fund’s internal controls, the Fund’s financial statements and the independent audits thereof and performs other oversight functions as requested by the Board. The Audit Committee for the Board recommends the appointment of the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and also acts as a liaison between the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and the full Board. There were two Audit Committee meetings held for the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

The Board’s Nominating Committee is comprised of George M. Constantinides, John P. Gould, Roger G. Ibbotson, Edward P. Lazear, Myron S. Scholes and Abbie J. Smith. The Nominating Committee for the Board makes recommendations for nominations of disinterested and interested members on the Board to the disinterested Board members and to the full board. The Nominating Committee evaluates a candidate’s qualification for Board membership and the independence of such candidate from the Advisor and other principal service providers. There were three Nominating Committee meetings held for the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

The Board’s Performance Committee is comprised of George M. Constantinides, Roger G. Ibbotson, Abbie J. Smith, John P. Gould, Edward P. Lazear and Myron S. Scholes. The Performance Committee regularly reviews and monitors the investment performance of the Fund’s series, including the Portfolios, and reviews the performance of the Fund’s service providers. There were seven Performance Committee meetings held for the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

In addition to the Audit Committee, Nominating Committee and Performance Committee, the Board has an Investment Review Committee that assists the Board in carrying out its fiduciary duties with respect to the oversight of the Fund and its performance (the “Review Committee”). The Review Committee consists of both interested and disinterested Directors. The Review Committee is comprised of John P. Gould, Edward P. Lazear, Myron S. Scholes and Eduardo A. Repetto. At the request of the Board or the Advisor, the Review Committee (i) reviews the design of possible new series of the Fund, (ii) reviews performance of existing Portfolios of the Fund, and discusses and recommends possible enhancements to the Portfolios’ investment strategies, (iii) reviews proposals by the Advisor to modify or enhance the investment strategies or policies of each Portfolio, and (iv) considers issues relating to investment services for each Portfolio of the Fund. The Review Committee was formed on December 17, 2010. Consequently, there were no Review Committee meetings held for the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

The Board of the Fund, including all of the disinterested Directors, oversees and approves the contracts of the third party service providers that provide advisory, administrative, custodial and other services to the Fund.

 

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Board Oversight of Risk Management

The Board, as a whole, considers risk management issues as part of its general oversight responsibilities throughout the year at regular board meetings, through regular reports that have been developed by Fund management and the Advisor. These reports address certain investment, valuation and compliance matters. The Board also may receive special written reports or presentations on a variety of risk issues, either upon the Board’s request or upon the initiative of the Advisor. In addition, the Audit Committee of the Board meets regularly with management of the Advisor to review reports on the Advisor’s examinations of functions and processes that affect the Fund.

With respect to investment risk, the Board receives regular written reports describing and analyzing the investment performance of the Fund’s portfolios. The Board discusses these reports and the portfolios’ performance and investment risks with management of the Advisor at the Board’s regular meetings. The Investment Committee of the Advisor meets regularly to discuss a variety of issues, including the impact that the investment in particular securities or instruments, such as derivatives, may have on the portfolios. To the extent that the Investment Committee of the Advisor decides to materially change an investment strategy or policy of a portfolio and such change could have a significant impact on the portfolio’s risk profile, the Advisor will present such change to the Board for their approval.

With respect to valuation, the Advisor and the Fund’s Administrative and Accounting Agent provide regular written reports to the Board that enables the Board to review fair valued securities in a particular portfolio. Such reports also include information concerning illiquid and any worthless securities held by each portfolio. In addition, the Fund’s Audit Committee reviews valuation procedures and pricing results with the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm in connection with such Committee’s review of the results of the audit of each portfolio’s year-end financial statements.

With respect to compliance risks, the Board receives regular compliance reports prepared by the Advisor’s compliance group and meets regularly with the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) to discuss compliance issues, including compliance risks. As required under SEC rules, the disinterested Directors meet at least quarterly in executive session with the CCO, and the Fund’s CCO prepares and presents an annual written compliance report to the Board. The Fund’s Board adopts compliance policies and procedures for the Fund and receives information about the compliance procedures in place for the Fund’s service providers. The compliance policies and procedures are specifically designed to detect and prevent violations of the federal securities laws.

The Advisor periodically provides information to the Board relevant to enterprise risk management describing the way in which certain risks are managed at the complex-wide level by the Advisor. Such presentations include areas such as counter-party risk, material fund vendor or service provider risk, investment risk, reputational risk, personnel risk and business continuity risk.

Director Qualifications

When a vacancy occurs on the Board, the Nominating Committee of the Board evaluates a candidate’s qualification for Board membership and the independence of such candidate from the Advisor and other principal service providers. The Nominating Committee will consider nominees recommended by Qualifying Fund Shareholders if a vacancy occurs among Board members. A Qualifying Fund Shareholder is a shareholder, or group of shareholders, that: (i) owns of record, or beneficially through a financial intermediary, 5% or more of the Fund’s outstanding shares, and (ii) has owned such shares for 12 months or more prior to submitting the recommendation to the Committee. Such recommendations shall be directed to the Secretary of the Fund at 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, Texas 78746. The Qualifying Fund Shareholder’s letter should include: (i) the name and address of the Qualifying Fund Shareholder making the recommendation; (ii) the number of shares of each Portfolio of the Fund that are owned of record and beneficially by such Qualifying Fund Shareholder, and the length of time that such shares have been so owned by the Qualifying Fund Shareholder; (iii) a description of all arrangements and understandings between such Qualifying Fund Shareholder and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the recommendation is being made; (iv) the name and address of the nominee; and (v) the nominee’s resume or curriculum vitae. The Qualifying Fund Shareholder’s letter must be accompanied by a written consent of the individual to stand for election if nominated for the Board and to serve if elected by shareholders. The Committee also may seek such additional information about the nominee as the Committee

 

8


Table of Contents

considers appropriate, including information relating to such nominee that is required to be disclosed in solicitations or proxies for the election of Board members.

The Nominating Committee of the Board believes that it is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders to obtain highly-qualified individuals to serve as members of the Board. The Fund’s Board believes that each Director currently serving on the Board has the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills to allow the Board to effectively oversee the management of the Fund and protect the interests of shareholders. The Board noted that each Director had professional experience in areas of importance for investment companies. The Board considered that each disinterested Director held an academic position in the areas of finance, economics or accounting. The Board also noted that John P. Gould, Myron S. Scholes and Abbie J. Smith each had experience serving as a director on the boards of operating companies and/or other investment companies. In addition, the Board considered that David G. Booth and Eduardo A. Repetto contributed valuable experience due to their positions with the Advisor. Certain biographical information for each disinterested Director and each interested Director of the Fund is set forth in the tables below, including a description of each Director’s experience as a Director of the Fund and as a director or trustee of other funds, as well as other recent professional experience.

Disinterested Directors

 

Name, Address and

Age

  Position  

Term of

Office1

and

Length of
Service

  Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years  

Portfolios

within the

DFA Fund
Complex2

Overseen

 

Other

Directorships of
Public

Companies Held
During Past 5

Years

George M. Constantinides University of Chicago Booth School of Business

5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

Age: 63

  Director   Since 1983   Leo Melamed Professor of Finance, University of Chicago Booth School of Business.   89 portfolios in 4 investment companies   None

John P. Gould

University of Chicago Booth School of Business

5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

Age: 72

  Director   Since 1986   Steven G. Rothmeier Distinguished Service Professor of Economics, University of Chicago Booth School of Business (since 1965). Member Competitive Markets Advisory Committee, Chicago Mercantile Exchange (futures trading exchange) (since 2004). Formerly, Director of UNext Inc. (1999-2006). Formerly, Member of the Board of Milwaukee Insurance Company (1997-2010).   89 portfolios in 4 investment companies   Trustee, Harbor Funds (registered investment company) (28 Portfolios) (since 1994).

Roger G. Ibbotson

Yale School of Management

P.O. Box 208200

New Haven, CT 06520-8200

Age: 67

  Director   Since 1981   Professor in Practice of Finance, Yale School of Management (since 1984). Consultant to Morningstar, Inc. (since 2006). Chairman, CIO and Partner, Zebra Capital Management, LLC (hedge fund and asset manager) (since 2001). Formerly, Chairman, Ibbotson Associates, Inc., Chicago, IL (software, data, publishing and consulting) (1977-2006). Formerly, Director, BIRR Portfolio Analysis, Inc. (software products) (1990-2010).   89 portfolios in 4 investment companies   None

Edward P. Lazear Stanford University Graduate School of Business

518 Memorial Way Stanford, CA 94305-5015

Age: 62

  Director   Since 2010   Morris Arnold Cox Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution (since 2002). Jack Steele Parker Professor of Human Resources Management and Economics, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University (since 1995). Cornerstone Research (expert testimony and economic and financial analysis) (since 2009). Formerly, Chairman of the President George W. Bush’s Council of Economic Advisers (2006- 2009). Council of Economic Advisors, State of California (2005-2006). Commissioner, White House Panel on Tax Reform (2005).   89 portfolios in 4 investment companies   None

 

9


Table of Contents

Name, Address and

Age

    Position    

Term of

Office1

and

Length of
Service

  Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years  

Portfolios

within the

DFA Fund
Complex2

Overseen

 

Other

Directorships of
Public

Companies Held
During Past 5

Years

Myron S. Scholes

c/o Dimensional

Fund Advisors LP

6300 Bee Cave

Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

Age: 69

  Director   Since 1981   Frank E. Buck Professor Emeritus of Finance, Stanford University (since 1981). Formerly, Chairman, Platinum Grove Asset Management L.P. (hedge fund) (formerly, Oak Hill Platinum Partners) (1999-2009). Formerly, Managing Partner, Oak Hill Capital Management (private equity firm) (until 2004).   89 portfolios in 4 investment companies   Director, American Century Fund Complex (registered investment companies) (40 Portfolios) (since 1980). Formerly, Director, Chicago Mercantile Exchange (2001-2008).

Abbie J. Smith

University of

Chicago Booth

School of Business

5807 S. Woodlawn

Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

Age: 57

  Director   Since 2000   Boris and Irene Stern Distinguished Service Professor of Accounting, University of Chicago Booth School of Business (since 1980); Co-Director Investment Research, Fundamental Investment Advisors (hedge fund) (since 2008).   89 portfolios in 4 investment companies   Director, HNI Corporation (formerly known as HON Industries Inc.) (office furniture) (since 2000); Director, Ryder System Inc. (transportation, logistics and supply-chain management) (since 2003); and Trustee, UBS Funds (3 investment companies within the fund complex) (52 portfolios) (since 2009).

Interested Directors

The following Interested Directors are described as such because they are deemed to be “interested persons,” as that term is defined under the 1940 Act, due to their positions with the Advisor.

 

10


Table of Contents

Name, Address

and Age

      Position      

Term of

Office1

and

Length of
Service

  Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years  

Portfolios

within the

DFA Fund
Complex2

Overseen

 

Other Directorships

of Public Companies

Held During Past 5

Years

David G. Booth

6300 Bee Cave

Road, Building

One

Austin, TX

78746

Age: 64

  Chairman, Director, President and Co-Chief Executive Officer   Since 1981   Chairman, Director/Trustee, President, Co-Chief Executive Officer and, formerly, Chief Executive Officer (until 1/1/2010) and Chief Investment Officer (2003 to 3/30/2007) of the following companies: Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, DFA Securities LLC, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund (“DEM”), DFAIDG, DIG and The DFA Investment Trust Company (the “Trust”). Chairman, Director, President and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Dimensional Holdings Inc. and formerly Chief Executive Officer (until 1/1/2010) and Chief Investment Officer (until 3/30/2007). Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. and formerly, Chief Investment Officer. Director of DFA Australia Limited and formerly, President and Chief Investment Officer. Director of Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC. Chairman and President of Dimensional SmartNest LLC and Dimensional SmartNest (US) LLC. Limited Partner, Oak Hill Partners and VSC Investors, LLC. Trustee, University of Chicago. Trustee, University of Kansas Endowment Association. Formerly, Director, SA Funds (registered investment company). Chairman, Director and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director, Dimensional Cayman Commodity Fund I Ltd.   89 portfolios in 4 investment companies   None

Eduardo A.

Repetto

6300 Bee Cave

Road, Building One Austin, TX

78746

Age: 44

  Director, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer   Since 2009   Co-Chief Executive Officer (beginning January 2010), Chief Investment Officer (beginning March 2007) and formerly Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, Dimensional Holdings Inc., DFA Securities LLC, DEM, DFAIDG, DIG, The DFA Investment Trust Company, and Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC; Director of all such entities except Dimensional Fund Advisors LP and DFA Securities LLC. Chief Investment Officer, Vice President and Director of DFA Australia Limited. Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC and Dimensional Cayman Commodity Fund I Ltd.   89 portfolios in 4 investment companies   None
     1

Each Director holds office for an indefinite term until his or her successor is elected.

 

     2

Each Director is a director or trustee of each of the four registered investment companies within the DFA Fund Complex, which include: the Fund; Dimensional Investment Group Inc. (“DIG”), the Trust and DEM. Each Disinterested Director also serves on the Independent Review Committee of the Dimensional Funds, mutual funds registered in the provinces of Canada and managed by the Advisor’s affiliate, Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

Information relating to each Director’s ownership (including the ownership of his or her immediate family) in each Portfolio of the Fund in this SAI and in all registered investment companies in the DFA Fund Complex as of December 31, 2010 is set forth in the chart below.

 

Name    Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned   

Aggregate Dollar Range of Shares Owned

in All Funds Overseen by Director in

Family of Investment Companies

Disinterested Directors:

         

George M. Constantinides

   None   

None Directly; Over $100,000 in Simulated

Funds**

John P. Gould

   None   

None Directly; Over $100,000 in Simulated

Funds **

Roger G. Ibbotson

   None   

Over $100,000; Over $100,000 in Simulated

Funds**

 

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Table of Contents
Name    Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned   

Aggregate Dollar Range of Shares Owned

in All Funds Overseen by Director in

Family of Investment Companies

Edward P. Lazear

 

  

None

 

  

None Directly.

 

Myron S. Scholes

   None   

$50,001-$100,000; Over $100,000 in

Simulated Funds**

Abbie J. Smith

   None   

None Directly; Over $100,000 in Simulated

Funds **

Interested Directors:

         

David G. Booth

 

  

None

 

  

Over $100,000

 

Eduardo A. Repetto

   None    Over $100,000

**            As discussed below, the compensation to certain of the disinterested Directors may be in amounts that correspond to a hypothetical investment in a cross-section of the DFA Funds. Thus, the disinterested Directors who are so compensated experience the same investment returns that are experienced by shareholders of the DFA Funds although the disinterested Directors do not directly own shares of the DFA Funds.

Set forth below is a table listing, for each Director entitled to receive compensation, the compensation received from the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010 and the total compensation received from all four registered investment companies for which the Advisor served as investment advisor during that same fiscal year. The table also provides the compensation paid by the Fund to the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

 

   Name and Position    Aggregate
Compensation
from the
Fund*
     Pension or
Retirement
Benefits as
Part of
Fund
 Expenses 
     Estimated
Annual
Benefits
upon
 Retirement 
    

Total
Compensation
from the Fund

and DFA Fund

Complex Paid to

  Directors†  

 

George M. Constantinides

     $108,410         N/A         N/A         $175,000   

   Director

           

John P. Gould

     $108,410         N/A         N/A         $175,000   

   Director

           

Roger G. Ibbotson

     $114,889         N/A         N/A         $185,000   

   Director

           

Edward P. Lazear**

     $0         N/A         N/A         $0   

   Director

           

Myron S. Scholes

     $108,410         N/A         N/A         $175,000   

   Director

           

Abbie J. Smith

     $108,410         N/A         N/A         $175,000   

   Director

           

Christopher S. Crossan

     $210,470         N/A         N/A         N/A   

   Chief Compliance Officer

           

 

The term DFA Fund Complex refers to the four registered investment companies for which the Advisor performs advisory or administrative services and for which the individuals listed above serve as directors/trustees on the Boards of Directors/Trustees of such companies.

 

*

Under a deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) adopted effective January 1, 2002, the disinterested Directors of the Fund may defer receipt of all or a portion of the compensation for serving as members of the four Boards of Directors/Trustees of the investment companies in the DFA Fund Complex (the “DFA Funds”). Amounts deferred under the Plan are treated as though equivalent dollar amounts had been invested in shares of a cross-section of the DFA Funds (the “Reference Funds” or “Simulated Funds”). The amounts ultimately received by the disinterested Directors under the Plan will be directly linked to the investment performance of the Reference Funds. Deferral of fees in accordance with the Plan will have a negligible effect on a fund’s assets, liabilities, and net income per share, and will not obligate a fund to retain the services of any disinterested Director or to pay any particular level of compensation to the disinterested Director. The total amount of deferred compensation accrued by the disinterested Directors from the DFA Fund Complex who participated in the Plan during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010 is as follows: $185,000 (Mr. Ibbotson). A disinterested Director’s deferred compensation will be distributed at the earlier of: (a) January in the year after the disinterested Director’s resignation from the Boards of Directors/Trustees of the DFA Funds, or death or disability; or (b) five years following the first deferral, in such amounts as the disinterested Director has specified. The obligations of the DFA Funds to make payments under the Plan will be unsecured general obligations of the DFA Funds, payable out of the general assets and property of the DFA Funds.

 

12


Table of Contents
**

Mr. Lazear did not serve as a Director until December 17, 2010; therefore, he did not receive any compensation from the Fund or the DFA Fund Complex as of October 31, 2010.

Officers

Below is the name, age, information regarding positions with the Fund and the principal occupation for each officer of the Fund. The address of each officer is 6300 Bee Cave Road. Building One, Austin, TX 78746. Each of the officers listed below holds the same office (except as otherwise noted) in the following entities: Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, Dimensional Holdings Inc., DFA Securities LLC, the Fund, DIG, the Trust and DEM (collectively, the “DFA Entities”).

 

Name and Age    Position   

Term of

Office1

and

Length of

Service

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

April A. Aandal

Age: 48

   Vice President and Chief Learning Officer    Since 2008    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Chief Learning Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2008). Formerly Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2004-2008).

Darryl D. Avery

Age: 44

   Vice President    Since 2005    Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Arthur H. Barlow

Age: 55

   Vice President    Since 1993    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Scott A. Bosworth

Age: 42

   Vice President    Since 2007    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since November 1997).

Valerie A. Brown

Age: 44

   Vice President and Assistant Secretary    Since 2001    Vice President and Assistant Secretary of all the DFA Entities, DFA Australia Limited, Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., and Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

David P. Butler

Age: 45

   Vice President    Since 2007    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Director of Global Financial Advisor Services of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since 2008). Formerly, Director US Financial Advisor Services of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2005).

Joseph H. Chi

Age: 44

   Vice President    Since 2009    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since October 2005).

Stephen A. Clark

Age: 38

   Vice President    Since 2004    Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Robert P. Cornell

Age: 61

   Vice President    Since 2007    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Financial Services Group of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since August 1993).

Christopher S. Crossan

Age: 45

   Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer    Since 2004    Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of all the DFA Entities.

James L. Davis

Age: 54

   Vice President    Since 1999    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Robert T. Deere

Age: 53

   Vice President    Since 1994    Vice President of all the DFA Entities and DFA Australia Limited.

Peter F. Dillard

Age: 39

   Vice President    Since 2010    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Research Associate for Dimensional Fund Advisors, LP (since August 2008). Formerly, Research Assistant for DFA from April 2006 – August 2008. Prior to April 2006, Manager at Hilton Hotels Corp. (September 2004 – April 2006).

Robert W. Dintzner

Age: 40

   Vice President    Since 2001    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Chief Communications Officer (since 2010).

Beth Ann Dranguet

Age: 40

   Vice President    Since 2010    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Counsel for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since July 2007). Formerly, Associate at Vinson & Elkins LLP (September 1999 – July 2007).

 

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Table of Contents
Name and Age   Position  

Term of

Office1

and

Length of

Service

  Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

Kenneth Elmgren

Age: 56

  Vice President   Since 2007   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Managing Principal of Beverly Capital (May 2004 to September 2006).

Richard A. Eustice

Age: 45

  Vice President and Assistant Secretary   Since 1998   Vice President and Assistant Secretary of all the DFA Entities and DFA Australia Limited. Chief Operating Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (since July 2008). Formerly, Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Eugene F. Fama, Jr.

Age: 50

  Vice President   Since 1993   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Gretchen A. Flicker

Age: 39

  Vice President   Since 2004   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Jed S. Fogdall

Age: 36

  Vice President   Since 2008   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2004).

Jeremy P. Freeman

Age: 40

  Vice President   Since 2009   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Technology Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since June 2006). Formerly, Principal at AIM Investments/Amvescap PLC (now Invesco) (June 1998 – June 2006).

Mark R. Gochnour

Age: 43

  Vice President   Since 2007   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

Henry F. Gray

Age: 43

  Vice President   Since 2000   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited.

John T. Gray

Age: 36

  Vice President   Since 2007   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (January 2005 to February 2007).

Joel H. Hefner

Age: 43

  Vice President   Since 2007   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since June 1998).

Julie C. Henderson

Age: 36

  Vice President and Fund Controller   Since 2005   Vice President and Fund Controller of all the DFA Entities.

Kevin B. Hight

Age: 43

  Vice President   Since 2005   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Christine W. Ho

Age: 43

  Vice President   Since 2004   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Jeff J. Jeon

Age: 37

  Vice President   Since 2004   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Patrick M. Keating

Age: 56

  Vice President   Since 2003   Vice President of all the DFA Entities and Chief Operating Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Director, Vice President, and Chief Privacy Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director of DFA Australia Limited.

David M. Kershner

Age: 39

  Vice President   Since 2010   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since June 2004).

Joseph F. Kolerich

Age: 39

  Vice President   Since 2004   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since April 2001).

Michael F. Lane

Age: 43

  Vice President   Since 2004   Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Kristina M. LaRusso

Age: 35

  Vice President   Since 2006   Vice President of all DFA Entities. Formerly, Operations Supervisor of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (March 2003 to December 2006).

Juliet H. Lee

Age: 40

  Vice President   Since 2005   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Human Resources Manager of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2004).

Apollo D. Lupescu

Age: 41

  Vice President   Since 2009   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since February 2004).

Kenneth M. Manell

Age: 38

  Vice President   Since 2010   Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Counsel for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2006). Formerly, Assistant General Counsel at Castle & Cooke (January 2004 – September 2006).

 

14


Table of Contents
Name and Age    Position   

Term of

Office1

and

Length of

Service

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

Aaron M. Marcus

Age: 40

   Vice President and Head of Global Human Resources    Since 2008    Vice President of all DFA Entities and Head of Global Human Resources of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Formerly, Global Head of Recruiting and Vice President of Goldman Sachs & Co. (June 2006 to January 2008); Global Co-Head of HR of the Equities & FICC Division, and Vice President of Goldman Sachs & Co. (May 2005 to May 2006);

David R. Martin

Age: 54

   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    Since 2007    Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of all the DFA Entities. Director, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. and DFA Australia Limited. Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director of Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC. Formerly, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Janus Capital Group Inc. (June 2005 to March 2007).

Catherine L. Newell

Age: 46

   Vice President and Secretary    Vice President since 1997 and Secretary since 2000    Vice President and Secretary of all the DFA Entities. Director, Vice President and Secretary of DFA Australia Limited. Director, Vice President and Secretary of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (since February 2002, April 1997, and May 2002, respectively). Vice President and Secretary of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director of Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC (since 2002 and 2006, respectively).

Christian Newton

Age: 35

   Vice President    Since 2009    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Web Services Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2008). Formerly, Design Manager (2005 – 2008) of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

Carolyn L. O

Age: 36

   Vice President    Since 2010    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Counsel for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2007). Prior to September 2007, Associate at K&L Gates LLP (January 2004 – September 2007).

Gerard K. O’Reilly

Age: 34

   Vice President    Since 2007    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Research Associate of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2004 to 2006).

Daniel C. Ong

Age: 37

   Vice President    Since 2009    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since July 2005).

Kyle K. Ozaki

Age: 32

   Vice President    Since 2010    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Compliance Officer for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2008). Formerly, Compliance Officer (February 2006 – December 2007) and Compliance Analyst (August 2004 – January 2006).

Carmen Palafox

Age: 36

   Vice President    Since 2006    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Operations Manager of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since May 1996).

Sonya K. Park

Age: 38

   Vice President    Since 2005    Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

David A. Plecha

Age: 49

   Vice President    Since 1993    Vice President of all the DFA Entities, DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Theodore W. Randall

Age: 37

   Vice President    Since 2008    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Research Associate of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2006 to 2008); Systems Developer of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2001 to 2006).

L. Jacobo Rodríguez

Age: 39

   Vice President    Since 2005    Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Julie A. Saft

Age: 51

   Vice President    Since 2010    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Client Systems Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since July 2008). Formerly, Senior Manager at Vanguard (November 1997 – July 2008).

David E. Schneider

Age: 65

   Vice President    Since 2001    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Director of Institutional Services of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

 

15


Table of Contents
Name and Age    Position   

Term of

Office1

and

Length of

Service

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

Walid A. Shinnawi

Age: 49

   Vice President    Since 2010    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since March 2006). Formerly, Senior Director at Moody’s KMV (1999-March 2006).

Bruce A. Simmons

Age: 46

   Vice President    Since 2009    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Investment Operations Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since May 2007). Formerly, Vice President Client and Fund Reporting at Mellon Financial (September 2005 – May 2007).

Ted R. Simpson

Age: 42

   Vice President    Since 2007    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since December 2002).

Bryce D. Skaff

Age: 36

   Vice President    Since 2007    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (December 1999 to January 2007).

Grady M. Smith

Age: 54

   Vice President    Since 2004    Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Carl G. Snyder

Age: 47

   Vice President    Since 2000    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited.

Lawrence R. Spieth

Age: 63

   Vice President    Since 2004    Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Bradley G. Steiman

Age: 37

   Vice President    Since 2004    Vice President of all the DFA Entities and Director and Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

Robert C. Trotter

Age: 52

   Vice President    Since 2009    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Manager Technology for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since March 2007). Formerly, Director of Technology at AMVESCAP (2002 – 2007).

Karen E. Umland

Age: 44

   Vice President    Since 1997    Vice President of all the DFA Entities, DFA Australia Limited, Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., and Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

Brian J. Walsh

Age: 41

   Vice President    Since 2009    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since 2004).

Weston J. Wellington

Age: 59

   Vice President    Since 1997    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited.

Ryan J. Wiley

Age: 34

   Vice President    Since 2007    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Trader of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Formerly, Portfolio Manager (2006 to 2007) and Trader (2001 to 2006).

Paul E. Wise

Age: 55

   Vice President    Since 2005    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Chief Technology Officer for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since 2004).

 

1

Each officer holds office for an indefinite term at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

As of January 31, 2011, Directors and officers as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding stock of each Portfolio described in this SAI.

SERVICES TO THE PORTFOLIOS

Administrative Services

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (formerly, PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc. (“BNY Mellon”), 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809, serves as the accounting services, dividend disbursing, and transfer agent for the Portfolios. The services provided by BNY Mellon are subject to supervision by the executive officers and the Board of Directors of the Fund and include day-to-day keeping and maintenance of certain records, calculation of the offering price of the shares, preparation of reports, liaison with its custodian, and transfer and dividend disbursing agency services. For the administrative and accounting services provided by BNY Mellon, the Portfolios pay BNY Mellon annual fees that are calculated daily and paid monthly according to a fee

 

16


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schedule based on the aggregate average net assets of the Fund Complex, which includes four registered investment companies and a group trust. The fee schedule is set forth in the table below:

.0110% of the Fund Complex’s first $50 billion of average net assets;

.0085% of the Fund Complex’s next $25 billion of average net assets; and

.0075% of the Fund Complex’s average net assets in excess of $75 billion.

The fees charged to each Portfolio under the fee schedule are allocated to a Portfolio based on the Portfolio’s pro-rata portion of the aggregate average net assets of the Fund Complex.

Each Portfolio also is subject to a monthly base fee. The CSTG&E U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio (the “U.S. Social Core Portfolio”) is subject to a monthly base fee of $1,666. The International Social Core Portfolio is subject to a monthly base fee of $2,083.

Each Portfolio also pays separate fees to BNY Mellon with respect to the services BNY Mellon provides as transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent.

Custodians

Citibank, N.A., 111 Wall Street, New York, New York, 10005, is the global custodian for the International Social Core Portfolio. PFPC Trust Company (to be renamed BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company effective July 1, 2011), 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809, serves as the custodian for the U.S. Social Core Portfolio.

A Portfolio’s custodian maintains a separate account or accounts for the Portfolio; receives, holds, and releases portfolio securities on account of the Portfolio; makes receipts and disbursements of money on behalf of the Portfolio; and collects and receives income and other payments and distributions on account of the Portfolio’s portfolio securities.

Distributor

The Fund’s shares are distributed by DFA Securities LLC (formerly, DFA Securities Inc.) (“DFAS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Advisor. DFAS is registered as a limited purpose broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. The principal business address of DFAS is 1299 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, California 90401.

DFAS acts as an agent of the Fund by serving as the principal underwriter of the Fund’s shares. Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement with the Fund, DFAS uses its best efforts to seek or arrange for the sale of shares of the Fund, which are continuously offered. No sales charges are paid by investors or the Fund. No compensation is paid by the Fund to DFAS under the Distribution Agreement.

Legal Counsel

Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP serves as legal counsel to the Fund. Its address is 2600 One Commerce Square, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7098.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) is the independent registered public accounting firm to the Fund and audits the annual financial statements of the Fund. PwC’s address is Two Commerce Square, Suite 1700, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042.

ADVISORY FEES

David G. Booth and Rex A. Sinquefield, as directors and/or officers of the Advisor and shareholders of the outstanding stock of the Advisor’s general partner, may be deemed controlling persons of the Advisor. Mr. Booth

 

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also serves as Director and officer of the Funds. For the services it provides as investment advisor to each Portfolio, the Advisor is paid a monthly fee calculated as a percentage of average net assets of the Portfolio.

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009 and the fiscal period from December 1, 2007 to October 31, 2008, the Portfolios paid management fees (to the Advisor and any sub-advisor) as set forth in the following table:

 

    

FISCAL
YEAR
ENDED

2010

(000)

  

FISCAL
YEAR
ENDED

2009

(000)

  

FISCAL
PERIOD
ENDED

2008

(000)

CSTG&E U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio

       $210          $175          $220  

CSTG&E International Social Core Equity Portfolio

       $329          $265          $321  

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

In accordance with the team approach used to manage the Portfolios, the portfolio managers and portfolio traders implement the policies and procedures established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers and portfolio traders also make daily investment decisions regarding the Portfolios including running buy and sell programs based on the parameters established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers named below are the portfolio managers that coordinate the efforts of all other portfolio managers with respect to the day-to-day management of the Portfolios indicated.

 

 

U.S. Social Core Portfolio

    

Stephen A. Clark

  
 

International Social Core Portfolio

    

Stephen A. Clark,

  
      

Karen E. Umland,

  
      

Joseph H. Chi and

  
      

Jed S. Fogdall

  

Investments in Each Portfolio

The portfolio managers and their immediate families did not own any shares of the Portfolios contained in this SAI that they manage as of October 31, 2010.

Description of Compensation Structure

Portfolio managers receive a base salary and bonus. Compensation of a portfolio manager is determined at the discretion of the Advisor and is based on a portfolio manager’s experience, responsibilities, the perception of the quality of his or her work efforts, and other subjective factors. The compensation of portfolio managers is not directly based upon the performance of the Portfolios or other accounts that the portfolio managers manage. The Advisor reviews the compensation of each portfolio manager annually and may make modifications in compensation as its Compensation Committee deems necessary to reflect changes in the market. Each portfolio manager’s compensation consists of the following:

 

   

Base salary. Each portfolio manager is paid a base salary. The Advisor considers the factors described above to determine each portfolio manager’s base salary.

 

   

Semi-Annual Bonus. Each portfolio manager may receive a semi-annual bonus. The amount of the bonus paid to each portfolio manager is based upon the factors described above.

Portfolio managers may be awarded the right to purchase restricted shares of the stock of the Advisor, as determined from time to time, by the Board of Directors of the Advisor or its delegates. Portfolio managers also participate in benefit and retirement plans and other programs available generally to all employees.

 

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In addition, portfolio managers may be given the option of participating in the Advisor’s Long Term Incentive Plan. The level of participation for eligible employees may be dependent on overall level of compensation, among other considerations. Participation in this program is not based on or related to the performance of any individual strategies or any particular client accounts.

Other Managed Accounts

In addition to the Portfolios, the portfolio managers manage: (i) other U.S. registered investment companies advised or sub-advised by the Advisor; (ii) other pooled investment vehicles that are not U.S. registered mutual funds; and (iii) other accounts managed for organizations and individuals. The following table sets forth information regarding the total accounts for which each portfolio manager has the primary responsibility for coordinating the day-to-day management responsibilities:

 

Name of Portfolio Manager   

Number of Accounts Managed and Total

Assets by Category As of October 31, 2010

    

Stephen A. Clark

  

•  92 U.S. registered mutual funds with $133,626 million in total assets under management.

 

•  20 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $25,316 million in total assets under management. Out of these unregistered pooled investment vehicles, one client with an investment of $220 million in an unregistered pooled investment vehicle pays a performance-based advisory fee.

 

•  73 other accounts with $11,603 million in total assets under management, of which one account with $731 million in assets may be subject to a performance fee.

  

Karen E. Umland

  

•  37 U.S. registered mutual funds with $58,973 million in total assets under management.

 

•  4 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $1,303 million in total assets under management.

 

•  26 other accounts with $7,671 million in total assets under management, of which one account with $731 million in assets may be subject to a performance fee.

  

Joseph H. Chi

  

•  37 U.S. registered mutual funds with $58,973 million in total assets under management.

 

•  4 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $1,303 million in total assets under management.

 

•  26 other accounts with $7,671 million in total assets under management, of which one account with $731 million in assets may be subject to a performance fee.

  

Jed S. Fogdall

  

•  37 U.S. registered mutual funds with $58,973 million in total assets under management.

 

•  4 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $1,303 million in total assets under management.

 

•  26 other accounts with $7,671 million in total assets under management, of which one account with $731 million in assets may be subject to a performance fee.

  

Potential Conflicts of Interest

Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has the primary day-to-day responsibilities with respect to more than one portfolio and other accounts. Other accounts include registered mutual funds (other than the Portfolios), other unregistered pooled investment vehicles, and other accounts managed

 

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for organizations and individuals (“Accounts”). An Account may have similar investment objectives to a Portfolio, or may purchase, sell, or hold securities that are eligible to be purchased, sold, or held by a Portfolio. Actual or apparent conflicts of interest include:

 

   

Time Management. The management of multiple portfolios and/or Accounts may result in a portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of each portfolio and/or Account. The Advisor seeks to manage such competing interests for the time and attention of portfolio managers by having portfolio managers focus on a particular investment discipline. Most Accounts managed by a portfolio manager are managed using the same investment models that are used in connection with the management of the Portfolios.

 

   

Investment Opportunities. It is possible that at times identical securities will be held by more than one portfolio and/or Account. However, positions in the same security may vary and the length of time that any portfolio or Account may choose to hold its investment in the same security may likewise vary. If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity that may be suitable for more than one portfolio or Account, a Portfolio may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to an allocation of filled purchase or sale orders across all eligible portfolios and Accounts. To deal with these situations, the Advisor has adopted procedures for allocating portfolio transactions across multiple portfolios and Accounts.

 

   

Broker Selection. With respect to securities transactions for the Portfolios the Advisor determines which broker to use to execute each order, consistent with the Advisor’s duty to seek best execution of the transaction. However, with respect to certain Accounts (such as separate accounts), the Advisor may be limited by the client with respect to the selection of brokers or may be instructed to direct trades through a particular broker. In these cases, the Advisor or its affiliates may place separate, non-simultaneous, transactions for a Portfolio and another Account that may temporarily affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment of the Portfolio or the Account.

 

   

Performance-Based Fees. For some Accounts, the Advisor may be compensated based on the profitability of the Account, such as by a performance-based management fee. These incentive compensation structures may create a conflict of interest for the Advisor with regard to Accounts where the Advisor is paid based on a percentage of assets because the portfolio manager may have an incentive to allocate securities preferentially to the Accounts where the Advisor might share in investment gains.

 

   

Investment in an Account. A portfolio manager or his/her relatives may invest in an Account that he or she manages and a conflict may arise where he or she may therefore have an incentive to treat the Account in which the portfolio manager or his/her relatives invest preferentially as compared to other Accounts for which he or she has portfolio management responsibilities.

The Advisor and the Fund have adopted certain compliance procedures that are reasonably designed to address these types of conflicts. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Fund was incorporated under Maryland law on June  15, 1981. Until June 1983, the Fund was named DFA Small Company Fund Inc.

CODE OF ETHICS

The Fund, the Advisor, and DFAS have adopted a revised Code of Ethics, under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act, for certain access persons of the Portfolios. The Code of Ethics is designed to ensure that access persons act in

 

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the interest of a Portfolio, and its shareholders, with respect to any personal trading of securities. Under the Code of Ethics, access persons are generally prohibited from knowingly buying or selling securities (except for mutual funds, U.S. government securities, and money market instruments) which are being purchased, sold, or considered for purchase or sale by a Portfolio unless the access persons’ proposed purchases are approved in advance. The Code of Ethics also contains certain reporting requirements and securities trading clearance procedures.

SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS

The shares of each Portfolio, when issued and paid for in accordance with the Portfolio’s Prospectus, will be fully paid and non-assessable shares. Each share of common stock of a Portfolio represents an equal proportional interest in the assets and liabilities of the Portfolio and has identical, non-cumulative voting, dividend, redemption liquidation, and other rights and preferences.

With respect to matters that require shareholder approval, shareholders are entitled to vote only with respect to matters that affect the interest of the portfolio of shares that they hold, except as otherwise required by applicable law. If liquidation of the Fund should occur, shareholders would be entitled to receive, on a per class basis, the assets of the particular portfolio whose shares they own, as well as a proportionate share of Fund assets not attributable to any particular portfolio. Ordinarily, the Fund does not intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders, except as required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law. The Fund’s bylaws provide that special meetings of shareholders shall be called at the written request of shareholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of the votes entitled to be case at such meeting. Such meeting may be called to consider any matter, including the removal of one or more directors. Shareholders will receive shareholder communications with respect to such matters as required by the 1940 Act, including semi-annual and annual financial statements of the Fund.

Shareholder inquiries may be made by writing or calling the Fund at the address or telephone number appearing on the cover of this SAI. Only those individuals whose signatures are on file for the account in question may receive specific account information or make changes in the account registration.

PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

As of January 31, 2011, the following persons beneficially owned 5% or more of the outstanding stock of the Portfolios as set forth below:

CSTG&E U.S. SOCIAL CORE EQUITY 2 PORTFOLIO

 

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.*

101 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, CA 94104

     71.52

The First Church of Christ, Scientist

210 Massachusetts Avenue P05-10

Boston, MA 02115

     22.33

CSTG&E INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL CORE EQUITY PORTFOLIO

 

Charles Schwab & Company, Inc.* 1

  

57.10%

The First Church of Christ, Scientist1

  

35.65%

The Mother Church Pension and Benefits Trust

210 Massachusetts Ave PO5-10

Boston, MA 02115

  

5.99%

 

 

 

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*

Owner of record only (omnibus).

1

See address for shareholder previously noted above in list.

PURCHASE OF SHARES

The following information supplements the information set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “PURCHASE OF SHARES.”

The Fund will accept purchase and redemption orders on each day that the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for business, regardless of whether the Federal Reserve System is closed. However, no purchases by wire may be made on any day that the Federal Reserve System is closed. The Fund generally will be closed on days that the NYSE is closed. The NYSE is scheduled to be open Monday through Friday throughout the year except for days closed to recognize New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. The Federal Reserve System is closed on the same days as the NYSE, except that it is open on Good Friday and closed on Columbus Day and Veterans’ Day. Orders for redemptions and purchases will not be processed if the Fund is closed.

The Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend the offering of shares of a Portfolio or reject purchase orders when, in the judgment of management, such suspension or rejection is in the best interest of the Fund or the Portfolio. Securities accepted in exchange for shares of a Portfolio will be acquired for investment purposes and will be considered for sale under the same circumstances as other securities in the Portfolio.

The Fund or its transfer agent may, from time to time, appoint a sub-transfer agent, such as a broker, for the receipt of purchase and redemption orders and funds from certain investors. With respect to purchases and redemptions through a sub-transfer agent, the Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when the sub-transfer agent receives the order. Shares of a Portfolio will be priced at the public offering price next calculated after receipt of the purchase or redemption order by the sub-transfer agent.

Management believes that any dilutive effect of the cost of investing the proceeds of the sale of the shares of the Portfolios is minimal and, therefore, the shares of the Portfolios are currently sold at net asset value, without imposition of a reimbursement fee. Reimbursement fees may be charged prospectively from time to time based upon the future experience of a Portfolio, which is currently sold at net asset value. Any such charges will be described in the Prospectus.

REDEMPTION AND TRANSFER OF SHARES

The following information supplements the information set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “REDEMPTION OF SHARES.”

The Fund may suspend redemption privileges or postpone the date of payment: (1) during any period when the NYSE is closed, or trading on the NYSE is restricted as determined by the SEC; (2) during any period when an emergency exists as defined by the rules of the SEC as a result of which it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund to dispose of securities owned by it, or fairly to determine the value of its assets; and (3) for such other periods as the SEC may permit.

Shareholders may transfer shares of a Portfolio to another person by making a written request to the Advisor, who will transmit the request to the transfer agent. The request should clearly identify the account and number of shares to be transferred, and include the signature of all registered owners and all stock certificates, if any, which are subject to the transfer. The signature on the letter of request, the stock certificate, or any stock power must be guaranteed in the same manner as described in the Prospectus under “REDEMPTION OF SHARES.” As with redemptions, the written request must be received in good order before any transfer can be made.

 

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TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIO AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS

The following is a summary of some of the federal income tax consequences of investing in a Portfolio (sometimes referred to as “the Portfolio”). Unless you are invested in the Portfolio through a qualified retirement plan, you should consider the tax implications of investing and consult your own tax advisor. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Portfolio or its shareholders, and the discussion here and in the Prospectus is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning.

This “TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIO AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS” section is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and applicable regulations in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative, regulatory or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly change the tax rules applicable to the Portfolio and its shareholders. Any of these changes or court decisions may have a retroactive effect.

This is for general information only and not tax advice and does not purport to deal with all federal tax consequences applicable to all categories of investors, some of which may be subject to special rules. You should consult your own tax advisor regarding your particular circumstances before making an investment in the Portfolio.

Taxation of the Portfolio

The Portfolio has elected and intends to qualify (or, if newly organized, intends to elect and qualify) each year as a regulated investment company (sometimes referred to as a “regulated investment company,” “RIC” or “portfolio”)under Subchapter M of the Code. If the Portfolio qualifies, the Portfolio will not be subject to federal income tax on the portion of its investment company taxable income (that is, generally, taxable interest, dividends, net short-term capital gains, and other taxable ordinary income, net of expenses, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and net capital gain (that is, the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) that it distributes to shareholders.

Qualification as a regulated investment company. In order to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, the Portfolio must satisfy the following requirements:

 

   

Distribution Requirement —the Portfolio must distribute at least 90% of its investment company taxable income and 90% of its net tax-exempt income, if any, for the tax year (certain distributions made by the Portfolio after the close of its tax year are considered distributions attributable to the previous tax year for purposes of satisfying this requirement).

 

   

Income Requirement —the Portfolio must derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived from its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies and net income derived from qualified publicly traded partnerships (“QPTPs”).

 

   

Asset Diversification Test —the Portfolio must satisfy the following asset diversification test at the close of each quarter of the Portfolio’s tax year: (1) at least 50% of the value of the Portfolio’s assets must consist of cash and cash items, U.S. Government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and securities of other issuers (as to which the Portfolio has not invested more than 5% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets in securities of an issuer and as to which the Portfolio does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer); and (2) no more than 25% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets may be invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies) or of two or more issuers which the Portfolio controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses, or, collectively, in the securities of QPTPs.

In some circumstances, the character and timing of income realized by the Portfolio for purposes of the Income Requirement or the identification of the issuer for purposes of the Asset Diversification Test is uncertain under current law with respect to a particular investment, and an adverse determination or future guidance by the

 

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Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) with respect to such type of investment may adversely affect the Portfolio’s ability to satisfy these requirements. See “Tax Treatment of Portfolio Transactions” below with respect to the application of these requirements to certain types of investments. In other circumstances, the Portfolio may be required to sell portfolio holdings in order to meet the Income Requirement, Distribution Requirement, or Asset Diversification Test which may have a negative impact on the Portfolio’s income and performance.

The Portfolio may use “equalization accounting” (in lieu of making some cash distributions) in determining the portion of its income and gains that has been distributed. If the Portfolio uses equalization accounting, it will allocate a portion of its undistributed investment company taxable income and net capital gain to redemptions of Portfolio shares and will correspondingly reduce the amount of such income and gains that it distributes in cash. If the IRS determines that the Portfolio’s allocation is improper and that the Portfolio has under-distributed its income and gain for any taxable year, the Portfolio may be liable for federal income and/or excise tax. In addition, any such under-distribution of income might cause the Portfolio to fail to satisfy the Income Requirement and thereby not qualify as a regulated investment company for such taxable year.

If for any taxable year the Portfolio does not qualify as a regulated investment company, all of its taxable income (including its net capital gain) would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders, and the dividends would be taxable to the shareholders as ordinary income (or possibly as qualified dividend income) to the extent of the Portfolio’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Failure to qualify as a regulated investment company would thus have a negative impact on the Portfolio’s income and performance. Subject to savings provisions for certain inadvertent failures to satisfy the Income Requirement or Asset Diversification Test which, in general, are limited to those due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, it is possible that the Portfolio will not qualify as a regulated investment company in any given tax year. Even if such savings provisions apply, the Portfolio may be subject to a monetary sanction of $50,000 or more. Moreover, the Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of the Portfolio as a regulated investment company if it determines such a course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.

Portfolio turnover. For investors that hold their Portfolio shares in a taxable account, a high portfolio turnover rate (except in a money market fund that maintains a stable net asset value) may result in higher taxes. This is because a portfolio with a high turnover rate is likely to generate more short-term and less long-term capital gain or loss than a comparable portfolio with a low turnover rate. Any such higher taxes would reduce the Portfolio’s after-tax performance.

Capital loss carryovers. The capital losses of the Portfolio, if any, do not flow through to shareholders. Rather, the Portfolio may use its capital losses, subject to applicable limitations, to offset its capital gains without being required to pay taxes on or distribute to shareholders such gains that are offset by the losses. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (“RIC Mod Act”), if the Portfolio has a “net capital loss” (that is, capital losses in excess of capital gains) for a taxable year beginning after December 22, 2010 (the date of enactment of the RIC Mod Act), the excess (if any) of the Portfolio’s net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gains is treated as a short-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Portfolio’s next taxable year, and the excess (if any) of the Portfolio’s net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gains is treated as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Portfolio’s next taxable year. Any such net capital losses of the Portfolio that are not used to offset capital gains may be carried forward indefinitely to reduce any future capital gains realized by the Portfolio in succeeding taxable years. However, for any net capital losses realized in taxable years of the Portfolio beginning on or before December 22, 2010, the Portfolio is only permitted to carry forward such capital losses for eight years as a short-term capital loss. Under a transition rule, capital losses arising in a taxable year beginning after December 22, 2010 must be used before capital losses realized in a prior taxable year. The amount of capital losses that can be carried forward and used in any single year is subject to an annual limitation if there is a more than 50% “change in ownership” of the Portfolio. An ownership change generally results when shareholders owning 5% or more of the Portfolio increase their aggregate holdings by more than 50% over a three-year look-back period. An ownership change could result in capital loss carryovers being used at a slower rate (or, in the case of those realized in taxable years of the Portfolio beginning on or before December 22, 2010, to expire unutilized), thereby reducing the Portfolio’s ability to offset capital gains with those losses. An increase in the amount of taxable gains distributed to the Portfolio’s shareholders could result from an ownership change. The Portfolio undertakes no obligation to avoid or prevent an ownership change, which can occur in the normal course of shareholder purchases and redemptions or as a result of engaging in a tax-free

 

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reorganization with another portfolio. Moreover, because of circumstances beyond the Portfolio’s control, there can be no assurance that the Portfolio will not experience, or has not already experienced, an ownership change.

Deferral of late year losses. For taxable years of the Portfolio beginning after December 22, 2010, the Portfolio may elect to treat part or all of any “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in determining the Portfolio’s taxable income, net capital gain, net short-term capital gain, and earnings and profits. The effect of this election is to treat any such “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in characterizing Portfolio distributions for any calendar year (see “Distributions of Capital Gains” below). A “qualified late year loss” includes:

 

   

any net capital loss, net long-term capital loss, or net short-term capital loss incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year (“post-October losses”), and

 

   

the excess, if any, of (1) the sum of (a) specified losses incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year, and (b) other ordinary losses incurred after December 31 of the current taxable year, over (2) the sum of (a) specified gains incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year, and (b) other ordinary gains incurred after December 31 of the current taxable year.

The terms “specified losses” and “specified gains” mean ordinary losses and gains from the sale, exchange, or other disposition of property (including the termination of a position with respect to such property), foreign currency losses, and losses resulting from holding stock in a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) for which a mark-to-market election is in effect. The terms “ordinary losses” and “ordinary gains” mean other ordinary losses and gains that are not described in the preceding sentence. Since the Portfolio has a fiscal year ending in October, the amount of qualified late-year losses (if any) is computed without regard to any items of income, gain, or loss that are (a) post-October losses, (b) specified losses, and (c) specified gains.

Undistributed capital gains. The Portfolio may retain or distribute to shareholders its net capital gain for each taxable year. The Portfolio currently intends to distribute net capital gains. If the Portfolio elects to retain its net capital gain, the Portfolio will be taxed thereon (except to the extent of any available capital loss carryovers) at the highest corporate tax rate (currently 35%). If the Portfolio elects to retain its net capital gain, it is expected that the Portfolio also will elect to have shareholders treated as if each received a distribution of its pro rata share of such gain, with the result that each shareholder will be required to report its pro rata share of such gain on its tax return as long-term capital gain, will receive a refundable tax credit for its pro rata share of tax paid by the Portfolio on the gain, and will increase the tax basis for its shares by an amount equal to the deemed distribution less the tax credit.

Excise tax distribution requirements. To avoid a 4% federal excise tax, the Code requires the Portfolio to distribute to you by December 31 of each year, at a minimum, the following amounts: 98% of its taxable ordinary income earned during the calendar year; 98% (or 98.2% beginning January 1, 2011) of its capital gain net income earned during the twelve-month period ending October 31; and 100% of any undistributed amounts from the prior year. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay these distributions in December (or to pay them in January, in which case you must treat them as received in December) but can give no assurances that its distributions will be sufficient to eliminate all taxes.

Foreign income tax. Investment income received by the Portfolio from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign income tax withheld at the source and the amount of tax withheld generally will be treated as an expense of the Portfolio. The United States has entered into tax treaties with many foreign countries which entitle the Portfolio to a reduced rate of, or exemption from, tax on such income. It is impossible to determine the effective rate of foreign tax in advance since the amount of the Portfolio’s assets to be invested in various countries is not known. Under certain circumstances, the Portfolio may elect to pass-through foreign tax credits to shareholders, although it reserves the right not to do so. See “Investment in Foreign SecuritiesPass-through of foreign tax credits” below.

Distributions of Net Investment Income

The Portfolio receives ordinary income generally in the form of dividends and/or interest on its investments. The Portfolio may also recognize ordinary income from other sources, including, but not limited to, certain gains on foreign currency-related transactions. This income, less expenses incurred in the operation of the Portfolio, constitutes the Portfolio’s net investment income from which dividends may be paid to you. If you are a

 

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taxable investor, distributions of net investment income generally are taxable as ordinary income to the extent of the Portfolio’s earnings and profits. In the case of a Portfolio whose strategy includes investing in stocks of corporations, a portion of the income dividends paid to shareholders by a Portfolio may be qualified dividends eligible to be taxed at reduced rates.

Distributions of Capital Gains

The Portfolio may realize a capital gain or loss in connection with sales or other dispositions of its portfolio securities. Distributions derived from the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss will be taxable to you as ordinary income. Distributions from the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long you have held your shares in the Portfolio. Any net capital gain of the Portfolio generally will be distributed once each year, and may be distributed more frequently, if necessary, to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the Portfolio.

Returns of Capital

Distributions by the Portfolio that are not paid from earnings and profits will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of (and in reduction of) the shareholder's tax basis in his shares; any excess will be treated as gain from the sale of his shares. Thus, the portion of a distribution that constitutes a return of capital will decrease the shareholder’s tax basis in his Portfolio shares (but not below zero), and will result in an increase in the amount of gain (or decrease in the amount of loss) that will be recognized by the shareholder for tax purposes on the later sale of such Portfolio shares. Return of capital distributions can occur for a number of reasons including, among others, the Portfolio over-estimates the income to be received from certain investments such as those classified as partnerships or equity real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) (see “Tax Treatment of Portfolio TransactionsInvestments in U.S. REITs” below).

Investment in Foreign Securities

The Portfolio may be subject to foreign withholding taxes on income from certain foreign securities. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes on the Portfolio and/or its shareholders. Any foreign withholding taxes could reduce the Portfolio’s distributions paid to you.

Pass-through of foreign tax credits. If at the end of the fiscal year more than 50% in value of the total assets of the Portfolio are invested in securities of foreign corporations, the Portfolio may elect to pass through to its shareholders their pro rata share of foreign income taxes paid by the Portfolio. If this election is made, the Portfolio may report more taxable income to you than it actually distributes. You will then be entitled either to deduct your share of these taxes in computing your taxable income or to claim a foreign tax credit for these taxes against your U.S. federal income tax (subject to limitations for certain shareholders). The Portfolio will provide you with the information necessary to claim this deduction or credit on your personal income tax return if it makes this election. The Portfolio reserves the right not to pass through to its shareholders the amount of foreign income taxes paid by the Portfolio.

The amount of any foreign tax credits available to you (as a result of the pass-through to you of your pro rata share of foreign taxes paid by the Portfolio) will be reduced if you receive from the Portfolio qualifying dividends from qualifying foreign corporations that are subject to tax at reduced rates. Shareholders in these circumstances should talk with their personal tax advisors about their foreign tax credits and the procedures that they should follow to claim these credits on their personal income tax returns.

Effect of foreign debt investments on distributions. Most foreign exchange gains realized on the sale of debt securities are treated by the Portfolio as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes. Similarly, foreign exchange losses realized on the sale of debt securities generally are treated as ordinary losses. These gains when distributed are taxable to you as ordinary income, and any losses reduce the Portfolio’s ordinary income otherwise available for distribution to you. This treatment could increase or decrease the Portfolio’s ordinary income distributions to you, and may cause some or all of the Portfolio’s previously distributed income to be classified as a return of capital.

 

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PFIC securities. The Portfolio may invest in securities of foreign entities that could be deemed for tax purposes to be PFICs. In general, a PFIC is any foreign corporation if 75% or more of its gross income for its taxable year is passive income, or 50% or more of its average assets (by value) are held for the production of passive income. When investing in PFIC securities, the Portfolio intends to mark-to-market these securities and recognize any unrealized gains as ordinary income at the end of its fiscal year. Deductions for losses are allowable only to the extent of any current or previously recognized gains. These gains (reduced by allowable losses) are treated as ordinary income that the Portfolio is required to distribute, even though it has not sold or received dividends from these securities. You should also be aware that the designation of a foreign security as a PFIC security will cause its income dividends to fall outside of the definition of qualified foreign corporation dividends. These dividends generally will not qualify for the reduced rate of taxation on qualified dividends when distributed to you by the Portfolio. In addition, if the Portfolio is unable to identify an investment as a PFIC and thus does not make a mark-to-market election, the Portfolio may be subject to U.S. federal income tax (the effect of which might be mitigated by making a mark-to-market election in a year prior to the sale) on a portion of any “excess distribution” or gain from the disposition of such shares even if such income is distributed as a taxable dividend by the Portfolio to its shareholders. Additional charges in the nature of interest may be imposed on the Portfolio in respect of deferred taxes arising from such distributions or gains. Any such taxes or interest charges could in turn reduce the Portfolio’s distributions paid to you.

Information on the Amount and Tax Character of Distributions

The Portfolio will inform you of the amount and character of your distributions at the time they are paid, and will advise you of the tax status of such distributions for federal income tax purposes shortly after the close of each calendar year. If you have not held Portfolio shares for a full year, the Portfolio may report to shareholders and distribute to you, as ordinary income, qualified dividends, or capital gains, and in the case of non-U.S. shareholders the Portfolio may further report and distribute as interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends, a percentage of income that is not equal to the actual amount of such income earned during the period of your investment in the Portfolio. Taxable distributions declared by the Portfolio in December to shareholders of record in such month, but paid in January, are taxable to you as if they were paid in December.

Sales, Exchanges and Redemptions of Portfolio Shares

In general. If you are a taxable investor, sales, exchanges and redemptions (including redemptions in kind) are taxable transactions for federal and state income tax purposes. If you redeem your Portfolio shares, the IRS requires you to report any gain or loss on your redemption. If you held your shares as a capital asset, the gain or loss that you realize will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term or short-term, generally depending on how long you have held your shares.

Redemptions at a loss within six months of purchase. Any loss incurred on a redemption of shares of the Portfolio held for six months or less will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributed to you by the Portfolio on those shares.

Wash sales. All or a portion of any loss that you realize on a redemption of your Portfolio shares will be disallowed to the extent that you buy other shares in the Portfolio (through reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) within 30 days before or after your share redemption. Any loss disallowed under these rules will be added to your tax basis in the new shares.

Cost basis reporting. Under the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008, the Portfolio’s administrative agent will be required to provide you with cost basis information on the sale of any of your shares in the Portfolio, subject to certain exceptions. This cost basis reporting requirement is effective for shares purchased in the Portfolio on or after January 1, 2012.

Tax shelter reporting. Under Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to the Portfolio’s shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886.

U.S. Government Securities

 

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To the extent the Portfolio invests in certain U.S. government obligations, dividends paid by the Portfolio to shareholders that are derived from interest on these obligations should be exempt from state and local personal income taxes, subject in some states to minimum investment or reporting requirements that must be met by the Portfolio. The income on portfolio investments in certain securities, such as repurchase agreements, commercial paper and federal agency-backed obligations (e.g., Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) or Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) securities), generally does not qualify for tax-free treatment. The rules on exclusion of this income are different for corporate shareholders.

Qualified Dividend Income for Individuals

With respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2013 (unless such provision is extended or made permanent), ordinary income dividends reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as derived from qualified dividend income will be taxed in the hands of individuals and other noncorporate shareholders at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain. “Qualified dividend income” means dividends paid to the Portfolio (a) by domestic corporations, (b) by foreign corporations that are either (i) incorporated in a possession of the United States, or (ii) are eligible for benefits under certain income tax treaties with the United States that include an exchange of information program, or (c) with respect to stock of a foreign corporation that is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. Both the Portfolio and the investor must meet certain holding period requirements to qualify Portfolio dividends for this treatment. Specifically, the Portfolio must hold the stock for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the stock becomes ex-dividend. Similarly, investors must hold their Portfolio shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the Portfolio distribution goes ex-dividend. Income derived from investments in derivatives, fixed-income securities, U.S. REITs, PFICs, and income received “in lieu of” dividends in a securities lending transaction generally is not eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income. If the qualifying dividend income received by the Portfolio is equal to or greater than 95% of the Portfolio's gross income (exclusive of net capital gain) in any taxable year, all of the ordinary income dividends paid by the Portfolio will be qualifying dividend income.

Dividends-Received Deduction for Corporations

For corporate shareholders, a portion of the dividends paid by the Portfolio may qualify for the 70% corporate dividends-received deduction. The portion of dividends paid by the Portfolio that so qualifies will be reported by the Portfolio to shareholders each year and cannot exceed the gross amount of dividends received by the Portfolio from domestic (U.S.) corporations. The availability of the dividends-received deduction is subject to certain holding period and debt financing restrictions that apply to both the Portfolio and the investor. Specifically, the amount that the Portfolio may report as eligible for the dividends-received deduction will be reduced or eliminated if the shares on which the dividends earned by the Portfolio were debt-financed or held by the Portfolio for less than a minimum period of time, generally 46 days during a 91-day period beginning 45 days before the stock becomes ex-dividend. Similarly, if your Portfolio shares are debt-financed or held by you for less than a 46-day period then the dividends-received deduction for Portfolio dividends on your shares may also be reduced or eliminated. Even if reported as dividends eligible for the dividends-received deduction, all dividends (including any deducted portion) must be included in your alternative minimum taxable income calculation. Income derived by the Portfolio from investments in derivatives, fixed-income and foreign securities generally is not eligible for this treatment.

Limitation on Deductibility of Losses

Losses incurred on the sale of securities by the Portfolio to another Portfolio will be disallowed if, as of the date of sale, the selling and purchasing portfolios are considered related parties. If the selling and purchasing portfolios are both corporations, they are treated as related parties if five or fewer persons, who are individuals, estates or trusts, own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the outstanding shares in both the selling and purchasing portfolios. Other attribution rules may apply.

Tax Treatment of Portfolio Transactions

Set forth below is a general description of the tax treatment of certain types of securities, investment techniques and transactions that may apply to a portfolio and, in turn, effect the amount, character and timing of dividends and distributions payable by the portfolio to its shareholders. This section should be read in conjunction

 

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with the discussion in the Prospectus under “Principal Investment Strategies” and “Principal Risks” for a detailed description of the various types of securities and investment techniques that apply to the Portfolio.

In general. In general, gain or loss recognized by a portfolio on the sale or other disposition of portfolio investments will be a capital gain or loss. Such capital gain and loss may be long-term or short-term depending, in general, upon the length of time a particular investment position is maintained and, in some cases, upon the nature of the transaction. Property held for more than one year generally will be eligible for long-term capital gain or loss treatment. The application of certain rules described below may serve to alter the manner in which the holding period for a security is determined or may otherwise affect the characterization as long-term or short-term, and also the timing of the realization and/or character, of certain gains or losses.

Certain fixed-income investments. Gain recognized on the disposition of a debt obligation purchased by a portfolio at a market discount (generally, at a price less than its principal amount) will be treated as ordinary income to the extent of the portion of the market discount that accrued during the period of time the portfolio held the debt obligation unless the portfolio made a current inclusion election to accrue market discount into income as it accrues. If a portfolio purchases a debt obligation (such as a zero coupon security or pay-in-kind security) that was originally issued at a discount, the portfolio generally is required to include in gross income each year the portion of the original issue discount that accrues during such year. Therefore, a portfolio’s investment in such securities may cause the portfolio to recognize income and make distributions to shareholders before it receives any cash payments on the securities. To generate cash to satisfy those distribution requirements, a portfolio may have to sell portfolio securities that it otherwise might have continued to hold or to use cash flows from other sources such as the sale of portfolio shares.

Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of or in default present tax issues for a portfolio. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as whether and to what extent a portfolio should recognize market discount on a debt obligation, when a portfolio may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount or market discount, when and to what extent a portfolio may take deductions for bad debts or worthless securities and how a portfolio should allocate payments received on obligations in default between principal and income. These and other related issues will be addressed by a portfolio in order to ensure that it distributes sufficient income to preserve its status as a regulated investment company.

Options, futures, forward contracts, swap agreements and hedging transactions. In general, option premiums received by a portfolio are not immediately included in the income of the portfolio. Instead, the premiums are recognized when the option contract expires, the option is exercised by the holder, or the portfolio transfers or otherwise terminates the option (e.g., through a closing transaction). If an option written by a portfolio is exercised and the portfolio sells or delivers the underlying stock, the portfolio generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to (a) sum of the strike price and the option premium received by the portfolio minus (b) the portfolio’s basis in the stock. Such gain or loss generally will be short-term or long-term depending upon the holding period of the underlying stock. If securities are purchased by a portfolio pursuant to the exercise of a put option written by it, the portfolio generally will subtract the premium received from its cost basis in the securities purchased. The gain or loss with respect to any termination of a portfolio’s obligation under an option other than through the exercise of the option and related sale or delivery of the underlying stock generally will be short-term gain or loss depending on whether the premium income received by the portfolio is greater or less than the amount paid by the portfolio (if any) in terminating the transaction. Thus, for example, if an option written by a portfolio expires unexercised, the portfolio generally will recognize short-term gain equal to the premium received.

The tax treatment of certain futures contracts entered into by a portfolio as well as listed non-equity options written or purchased by the portfolio on U.S. exchanges (including options on futures contracts, broad-based equity indices and debt securities) may be governed by section 1256 of the Code (“section 1256 contracts”). Gains or losses on section 1256 contracts generally are considered 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gains or losses (“60/40”), although certain foreign currency gains and losses from such contracts may be treated as ordinary in character. Also, any section 1256 contracts held by a portfolio at the end of each taxable year (and, for purposes of the 4% excise tax, on certain other dates as prescribed under the Code) are “marked to market” with the result that unrealized gains or losses are treated as though they were realized and the resulting gain or loss is treated as ordinary or 60/40 gain or loss, as applicable. Section 1256 contracts do not include any interest rate swap, currency swap, basis swap, interest rate cap, interest rate floor, commodity swap, equity swap, equity index swap, credit default swap, or similar agreement.

 

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In addition to the special rules described above in respect of options and futures transactions, a portfolio’s transactions in other derivative instruments (including options, forward contracts and swap agreements) as well as its other hedging, short sale, or similar transactions, may be subject to one or more special tax rules (including the constructive sale, notional principal contract, straddle, wash sale and short sale rules). These rules may affect whether gains and losses recognized by a portfolio are treated as ordinary or capital or as short-term or long-term, accelerate the recognition of income or gains to the portfolio, defer losses to the portfolio, and cause adjustments in the holding periods of the portfolio’s securities. These rules, therefore, could affect the amount, timing and/or character of distributions to shareholders. Moreover, because the tax rules applicable to derivative financial instruments are in some cases uncertain under current law, an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to these rules (which determination or guidance could be retroactive) may affect whether a portfolio has made sufficient distributions and otherwise satisfied the relevant requirements to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company and avoid a portfolio-level tax.

Certain of a portfolio’s investments in derivatives and foreign currency-denominated instruments, and the portfolio’s transactions in foreign currencies and hedging activities, may produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. If a portfolio’s book income is less than the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any), the portfolio could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regulated investment company. If a portfolio’s book income exceeds the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any), the distribution of any such excess will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of the portfolio’s remaining earnings and profits (including current earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income, reduced, for taxable years of the Portfolio beginning after December 22, 2010, by related deductions), (ii) thereafter, as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient’s basis in the shares, and (iii) thereafter, as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset.

Foreign currency transactions. A portfolio’s transactions in foreign currencies, foreign currency-denominated debt obligations and certain foreign currency options, futures contracts and forward contracts (and similar instruments) may give rise to ordinary income or loss to the extent such income or loss results from fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency concerned. This treatment could increase or decrease a portfolio's ordinary income distributions to you, and may cause some or all of the portfolio's previously distributed income to be classified as a return of capital. In certain cases, a portfolio may make an election to treat such gain or loss as capital.

Investments in non-U.S. REITs. While non-U.S. REITs often use complex acquisition structures that seek to minimize taxation in the source country, an investment by a portfolio in a non-U.S. REIT may subject the portfolio, directly or indirectly, to corporate taxes, withholding taxes, transfer taxes and other indirect taxes in the country in which the real estate acquired by the non-U.S. REIT is located. The portfolio’s pro rata share of any such taxes will reduce the portfolio’s return on its investment. A portfolio’s investment in a non-U.S. REIT may be considered an investment in a PFIC, as discussed above in “Investment in Foreign Securities — PFIC securities.” Additionally, foreign withholding taxes on distributions from the non-U.S. REIT may be reduced or eliminated under certain tax treaties, as discussed above in “Taxation of the Portfolio Foreign income tax.” Also, the portfolio in certain limited circumstances may be required to file an income tax return in the source country and pay tax on any gain realized from its investment in the non-U.S. REIT under rules similar to those in the United States which tax foreign persons on gain realized from dispositions of interests in U.S. real estate.

Investments in U.S. REITs. A U.S. REIT is not subject to federal income tax on the income and gains it distributes to shareholders. Dividends paid by a U.S. REIT, other than capital gain distributions, will be taxable as ordinary income up to the amount of the U.S. REIT’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Capital gain dividends paid by a U.S. REIT to a portfolio will be treated as long term capital gains by the portfolio and, in turn, may be distributed by the portfolio to its shareholders as a capital gain distribution. Because of certain noncash expenses, such as property depreciation, an equity U.S. REIT’s cash flow may exceed its taxable income. The equity U.S. REIT, and in turn a portfolio, may distribute this excess cash to shareholders in the form of a return of capital distribution. However, if a U.S. REIT is operated in a manner that fails to qualify as a REIT, an investment in the U.S. REIT would become subject to double taxation, meaning the taxable income of the U.S. REIT would be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders and the dividends would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income (or possibly as qualified dividend income) to the extent of the U.S. REIT’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Also, see “Tax Treatment of Portfolio

 

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Transactions Investment in taxable mortgage pools (excess inclusion income)” and “Non-U.S. Investors Investment in U.S. real property” with respect to certain other tax aspects of investing in U.S. REITs.

Investment in taxable mortgage pools (excess inclusion income). Under a Notice issued by the IRS, the Code and Treasury regulations to be issued, a portion of a portfolio’s income from a U.S. REIT that is attributable to the REIT’s residual interest in a real estate mortgage investment conduits (“REMICs”) or equity interests in a “taxable mortgage pool” (referred to in the Code as an excess inclusion) will be subject to federal income tax in all events. The excess inclusion income of a regulated investment company, such as a portfolio, will be allocated to shareholders of the regulated investment company in proportion to the dividends received by such shareholders, with the same consequences as if the shareholders held the related REMIC residual interest or, if applicable, taxable mortgage pool directly. In general, excess inclusion income allocated to shareholders (i) cannot be offset by net operating losses (subject to a limited exception for certain thrift institutions), (ii) will constitute unrelated business taxable income to entities (including qualified pension plans, individual retirement accounts, 401(k) plans, Keogh plans or other tax-exempt entities) subject to tax on unrelated business income (“UBTI”), thereby potentially requiring such an entity that is allocated excess inclusion income, and otherwise might not be required to file a tax return, to file a tax return and pay tax on such income, and (iii) in the case of a foreign stockholder, will not qualify for any reduction in U.S. federal withholding tax. In addition, if at any time during any taxable year a “disqualified organization” (which generally includes certain cooperatives, governmental entities, and tax-exempt organizations not subject to UBTI) is a record holder of a share in a regulated investment company, then the regulated investment company will be subject to a tax equal to that portion of its excess inclusion income for the taxable year that is allocable to the disqualified organization, multiplied by the highest federal income tax rate imposed on corporations. The Notice imposes certain reporting requirements upon regulated investment companies that have excess inclusion income. There can be no assurance that a portfolio will not allocate to shareholders excess inclusion income.

These rules are potentially applicable to a portfolio with respect to any income it receives from the equity interests of certain mortgage pooling vehicles, either directly or, as is more likely, through an investment in a U.S. REIT. It is unlikely that these rules will apply to a portfolio that has a non-REIT strategy.

Investments in partnerships and qualified publicly traded partnerships (“QPTP”). For purposes of the Income Requirement, income derived by a portfolio from a partnership that is not a QPTP will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership that would be qualifying income if realized directly by the portfolio. For purposes of testing whether a portfolio satisfies the Asset Diversification Test, the portfolio generally is treated as owning a pro rata share of the underlying assets of a partnership. See “Taxation of the PortfolioQualification as a regulated investment company.” In contrast, different rules apply to a partnership that is a QPTP. A QPTP is a partnership (a) the interests in which are traded on an established securities market, (b) that is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, and (c) that derives less than 90% of its income from sources that satisfy the Income Requirement (e.g., because it invests in commodities). All of the net income derived by a portfolio from an interest in a QPTP will be treated as qualifying income but the portfolio may not invest more than 25% of its total assets in one or more QPTPs. However, there can be no assurance that a partnership classified as a QPTP in one year will qualify as a QPTP in the next year. Any such failure to annually qualify as a QPTP might, in turn, cause a portfolio to fail to qualify as a regulated investment company.

Investments in commodities — structured notes, corporate subsidiary and certain ETFs. Gains from the disposition of commodities, including precious metals, will neither be considered qualifying income for purposes of satisfying the Income Requirement nor qualifying assets for purposes of satisfying the Asset Diversification Test. See “Taxation of the PortfolioQualification as a regulated investment company.” Also, the IRS has issued a Revenue Ruling which holds that income derived from commodity-linked swaps is not qualifying income for purposes of the Income Requirement. However, in a subsequent Revenue Ruling, the IRS provides that income from certain alternative investments which create commodity exposure, such as certain commodity index-linked or structured notes or a corporate subsidiary that invests in commodities, may be considered qualifying income under the Code. In addition, a portfolio may gain exposure to commodities through investment in QPTPs such as an exchange traded portfolio or ETF that is classified as a partnership and which invests in commodities. Accordingly, the extent to which a portfolio invests in commodities or commodity-linked derivatives may be limited by the Income Requirement and the Asset Diversification Test, which the portfolio must continue to satisfy to maintain its status as a regulated investment company. A portfolio also may be limited in its ability to sell its investments in

 

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commodities, commodity-linked derivatives, and certain ETFs or be forced to sell other investments to generate income due to the Income Requirement.

Securities lending. While securities are loaned out by a portfolio, the portfolio generally will receive from the borrower amounts equal to any dividends or interest paid on the borrowed securities. For federal income tax purposes, payments made “in lieu of” dividends are not considered dividend income. These distributions will neither qualify for the reduced rate of taxation for individuals on qualified dividends nor the 70% dividends received deduction for corporations. Also, any foreign tax withheld on payments made “in lieu of” dividends or interest will not qualify for the pass-through of foreign tax credits to shareholders.

Investments in convertible securities. Convertible debt is ordinarily treated as a “single property” consisting of a pure debt interest until conversion, after which the investment becomes an equity interest. If the security is issued at a premium (i.e., for cash in excess of the face amount payable on retirement), the creditor-holder may amortize the premium over the life of the bond. If the security is issued for cash at a price below its face amount, the creditor-holder must accrue original issue discount in income over the life of the debt. The creditor-holder's exercise of the conversion privilege is treated as a nontaxable event. Mandatorily convertible debt (e.g., an exchange traded note or ETN issued in the form of an unsecured obligation that pays a return based on the performance of a specified market index, exchange currency, or commodity) is often, but not always, treated as a contract to buy or sell the reference property rather than debt. Similarly, convertible preferred stock with a mandatory conversion feature is ordinarily, but not always, treated as equity rather than debt. Dividends received generally are qualified dividend income and eligible for the corporate dividends received deduction. In general, conversion of preferred stock for common stock of the same corporation is tax-free. Conversion of preferred stock for cash is a taxable redemption. Any redemption premium for preferred stock that is redeemable by the issuing company might be required to be amortized under original issue discount (“OID”) principles.

Backup Withholding

By law, the Portfolio may be required to withhold a portion of your taxable dividends and sales proceeds unless you:

 

   

provide your correct social security or taxpayer identification number,

   

certify that this number is correct,

   

certify that you are not subject to backup withholding, and

   

certify that you are a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien).

The Portfolio also must withhold if the IRS instructs it to do so. When withholding is required, the amount will be 28% of any distributions or proceeds paid. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS. Certain payees and payments are exempt from backup withholding and information reporting. The special U.S. tax certification requirements applicable to non-U.S. investors are described under the “Non-U.S. Investors” heading below.

Non-U.S. Investors

Non-U.S. investors (shareholders who, as to the United States, are nonresident alien individuals, foreign trusts or estates, foreign corporations, or foreign partnerships) may be subject to U.S. withholding and estate tax and are subject to special U.S. tax certification requirements. Non-U.S. investors should consult their tax advisors about the applicability of U.S. tax withholding and the use of the appropriate forms to certify their status.

In general. The United States imposes a flat 30% withholding tax (or a withholding tax at a lower treaty rate) on U.S. source dividends, including on income dividends paid to you by the Portfolio. Exemptions from this U.S. withholding tax are provided for dividends reported by the Portfolio as exempt-interest dividends, capital gain dividends and paid by the Portfolio from its net long-term capital gains, and with respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended, or made permanent), interest-related dividends paid by the Portfolio from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources and short-term capital gain dividends. However, notwithstanding such exemptions from U.S. withholding at the source, any

 

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dividends and distributions of income and capital gains, including the proceeds from the sale of your Portfolio shares, will be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 28% if you fail to properly certify that you are not a U.S. person.

Capital gain dividends and short-term capital gain dividends. In general, (i) a capital gain dividend reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as paid from its net long-term capital gains or (ii) with respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended or made permanent), a short-term capital gain dividend reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as paid from its net short-term capital gains, other than long- or short-term capital gains realized on disposition of U.S. real property interests (see the discussion below) are not subject to U.S. withholding tax unless you are a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the calendar year.

Interest-related dividends. With respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended or made permanent), dividends reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as interest-related dividends and paid from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources are not subject to U.S. withholding tax. “Qualified interest income” includes, in general, U.S. source (1) bank deposit interest, (2) short-term original discount, (3) interest (including original issue discount, market discount, or acquisition discount) on an obligation which is in registered form, unless it is earned on an obligation issued by a corporation or partnership in which the Portfolio is a 10-percent shareholder or is contingent interest, and (4) any interest-related dividend from another regulated investment company. On any payment date, the amount of an income dividend that is reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as an interest-related dividend may be more or less than the amount that is so qualified. This is because the reporting of interest related dividends is based on an estimate of the Portfolio’s qualified net interest income for its entire fiscal year, which can only be determined with exactness at fiscal year end. As a consequence, the Portfolio may over withhold a small amount of U.S. tax from a dividend payment. In this case, the non-U.S. investor’s only recourse may be to either forgo recovery of the excess withholding, or to file a United States nonresident income tax return to recover the excess withholding.

Further limitations on tax reporting for interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends for non-U.S. investors. It may not be practical in every case for the Portfolio to report to shareholders, and the Portfolio reserves the right in these cases to not report, small amounts of interest-related or short-term capital gain dividends. Additionally, the Portfolio’s reporting of interest-related or short-term capital gain dividends may not be passed through to shareholders by intermediaries who have assumed tax reporting responsibilities for this income in managed or omnibus accounts due to systems limitations or operational constraints.

Net investment income from dividends on stock and foreign source interest income continue to be subject to withholding tax; effectively connected income. Ordinary dividends paid by the Portfolio to non-U.S. investors on the income earned on portfolio investments in (i) the stock of domestic and foreign corporations, and (ii) the debt of foreign issuers continue to be subject to U.S. withholding tax. If you hold your Portfolio shares in connection with a U.S. trade or business, your income and gains will be considered effectively connected income and taxed in the U.S. on a net basis, in which case you may be required to file a nonresident U.S. income tax return.

Investment in U.S. real property. The Portfolio may invest in equity securities of corporations that invest in U.S. real property, including U.S. REITs. The sale of a U.S. real property interest (“USRPI”) by the Portfolio or by a U.S. REIT or U.S. real property holding corporation in which the Portfolio invests may trigger special tax consequences to the Portfolio’s non-U.S. shareholders.

The Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 (“FIRPTA”) makes non-U.S. persons subject to U.S. tax on disposition of a USRPI as if he or she were a U.S. person. Such gain is sometimes referred to as FIRPTA gain. The Code provides a look-through rule for distributions of FIRPTA gain by a RIC received from a U.S. REIT or another RIC classified as a U.S. real property holding corporation or realized by the RIC on a sale of a USRPI (other than a domestically controlled U.S. REIT or RIC that is classified as a qualified investment entity) if all of the following requirements are met:

 

   

The RIC is classified as a qualified investment entity. A RIC is classified as a “qualified investment entity” with respect to a distribution to a non-U.S. person which is attributable directly or indirectly to a distribution from a U.S. REIT if, in general, 50% or more of the RIC’s assets consists of interests in U.S. REITs and U.S. real property holding corporations, and

 

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You are a non-U.S. shareholder that owns more than 5% of a class of Portfolio shares at any time during the one-year period ending on the date of the distribution.

 

   

If these conditions are met, such Portfolio distributions to you are treated as gain from the disposition of a USRPI, causing the distributions to be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a rate of 35% (unless reduced by future regulations), and requiring that you file a nonresident U.S. income tax return.

 

   

In addition, even if you do not own more than 5% of a class of Portfolio shares, but the Portfolio is a qualified investment entity, such Portfolio distributions to you will be taxable as ordinary dividends rather than as a capital gain dividend (a distribution of long-term capital gains) or a short-term capital gain dividend subject to withholding at the 30% or lower treaty withholding rate.

        These rules apply to dividends paid by the Portfolio before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended or made permanent), except that after this date, the Portfolio’s distributions from a U.S. REIT (whether or not domestically controlled) attributable to FIRPTA gain will continue to be subject to the withholding rules described above provided the Portfolio would otherwise be classified as a qualified investment entity.

Because the Portfolio expects to invest less than 50% of its assets at all times, directly or indirectly, in U.S. real property interests, the Portfolio expects that neither gain on the sale or redemption of Portfolio shares nor Portfolio dividends and distributions would be subject to FIRPTA reporting and tax withholding.

U.S. estate tax. Transfers by gift of shares of the Portfolio by a foreign shareholder who is a nonresident alien individual will not be subject to U.S. federal gift tax. For decedents dying during 2010, the U.S. federal estate tax was reinstated retroactively, except where the executor of the estate of a decedent makes an election to opt out of the estate tax and instead be subject to modified carryover basis rules. For decedents dying after 2010, an individual who, at the time of death, is a non-U.S. shareholder will nevertheless be subject to U.S. federal estate tax with respect to Portfolio shares at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. citizens and residents, unless a treaty exemption applies. If a treaty exemption is available, a decedent’s estate may nonetheless need to file a U.S. estate tax return to claim the exemption in order to obtain a U.S. federal transfer certificate. The transfer certificate will identify the property (i.e., Portfolio shares) as to which the U.S. federal estate tax lien has been released. In the absence of a treaty, there is a $13,000 statutory estate tax credit (equivalent to U.S. situs assets with a value of $60,000). For estates with U.S. situs assets of not more than $60,000, the Portfolio may accept, in lieu of a transfer certificate, an affidavit from an appropriate individual evidencing that decedent’s U.S. situs assets are below this threshold amount. In addition, a partial exemption from U.S estate tax may apply to Portfolio shares held by the estate of a nonresident decedent. The amount treated as exempt is based upon the proportion of the assets held by the Portfolio at the end of the quarter immediately preceding the decedent's death that are debt obligations, deposits, or other property that generally would be treated as situated outside the United States if held directly by the estate. This provision applies to decedents dying after December 31, 2004 and before January 1, 2012, unless such provision is extended or made permanent.

U.S. tax certification rules. Special U.S. tax certification requirements apply to non-U.S. shareholders both to avoid U.S. back up withholding imposed at a rate of 28% and to obtain the benefits of any treaty between the United States and the shareholder’s country of residence. In general, a non-U.S. shareholder must provide a Form W-8 BEN (or other applicable Form W-8) to establish that you are not a U.S. person, to claim that you are the beneficial owner of the income and, if applicable, to claim a reduced rate of, or exemption from, withholding as a resident of a country with which the United States has an income tax treaty. A Form W-8BEN provided without a U.S. taxpayer identification number will remain in effect for a period beginning on the date signed and ending on the last day of the third succeeding calendar year unless an earlier change of circumstances makes the information on the form incorrect.

The tax consequences to a non-U.S. shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of an applicable tax treaty may be different from those described herein. Non-U.S. shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in the Portfolio, including the applicability of foreign tax.

Effect of Future Legislation; Local Tax Considerations

 

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The foregoing general discussion of U.S. federal income tax consequences is based on the Code and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and any such changes or decisions may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein. Rules of state and local taxation of ordinary income, qualified dividend income and capital gain dividends may differ from the rules for U.S. federal income taxation described above. Distributions may also be subject to additional state, local and foreign taxes depending on each shareholder’s particular situation. Non-U.S. shareholders may be subject to U.S. tax rules that differ significantly from those summarized above. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors as to the consequences of these and other state and local tax rules affecting investment in the Portfolio.

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

The Board of Directors of the Fund has delegated the authority to vote proxies for the portfolio securities held by the Portfolios to the Advisor in accordance with the Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (the “Voting Policies”) and Proxy Voting Guidelines (“Voting Guidelines”) adopted by the Advisor. The Voting Guidelines are largely based on those developed by Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third party, except with respect to certain matters for which the Advisor has modified the standard voting guidelines. A concise summary of the Voting Guidelines is provided in an Appendix to this SAI.

The Investment Committee at the Advisor is generally responsible for overseeing the Advisor’s proxy voting process. The Investment Committee has formed a Corporate Governance Committee composed of certain officers, directors and other personnel of the Advisor and has delegated to its members authority to (i) oversee the voting of proxies, (ii) make determinations as to how to vote certain specific proxies, (iii) verify the on-going compliance with the Voting Policies, and (iv) review the Voting Policies from time to time and recommend changes to the Investment Committee. The Corporate Governance Committee may designate one or more of its members to oversee specific, ongoing compliance with respect to the Voting Policies and may designate other personnel of the Advisor to vote proxies on behalf of the Portfolios, including all authorized traders of the Advisor.

The Advisor seeks to vote (or refrains from voting) proxies in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Portfolios as understood by the Advisor at the time of the vote. Generally, the Advisor analyzes proxy statements on behalf of the Portfolios and instructs to vote (or refrains from voting) in accordance with the Voting Policies and the Voting Guidelines. Since most proxies the Advisor receives are instructed to be voted in accordance with the Voting Guidelines, it normally will not be necessary for the Advisor to make an actual determination of how to vote a particular proxy, thereby largely eliminating conflicts of interest for the Advisor during the proxy voting process. However, the Voting Policies do address the procedures to be followed if a conflict of interest arises between the interests of the Portfolios and the interests of the Advisor or its affiliates. If a Corporate Governance Committee (“Committee”) member has actual knowledge of a conflict of interest and recommends a vote contrary to the Voting Guidelines (or in the case where the Voting Guidelines do not prescribe a particular vote and the proposed vote is contrary to the recommendation of ISS), the Committee member will bring the vote to the Committee which will (a) determine how the vote should be cast keeping in mind the principle of preserving shareholder value, or (b) determine to abstain from voting, unless abstaining would be materially adverse to the interest of the Portfolios. To the extent the Committee makes a determination regarding how to vote or to abstain for a proxy on behalf of a Portfolio in the circumstances described in this paragraph, the Advisor will report annually on such determinations to the Board of Directors of the Fund.

The Advisor will usually instruct voting of proxies in accordance with the Voting Guidelines. The Voting Guidelines provide a framework for analysis and decision making, however, the Voting Guidelines do not address all potential issues. In order to be able to address all the relevant facts and circumstances related to a proxy vote, the Advisor reserves the right to instruct votes counter to the Voting Guidelines if, after a review of the matter, the Advisor believes that the best interests of a Portfolio would be served by such a vote. In such a circumstance, the analysis will be documented in writing and periodically presented to the Corporate Governance Committee. To the extent that the Voting Guidelines do not cover potential voting issues, the Advisor will vote on such issues in a manner that is consistent with the spirit of the Voting Guidelines and that the Advisor believes would be in the best interests of a Portfolio.

 

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The Advisor seeks to vote (or refrains from voting) proxies in a manner that the Advisor determines is in the best interests of a Portfolio and which seeks to maximize the value of that Portfolio’s investments. In some cases, the Advisor may determine that it is in the best interests of a Portfolio to refrain from exercising proxy voting rights. The Advisor may determine that voting is not in the best interest of a Portfolio and refrain from voting if the costs, including the opportunity costs, of voting would, in the view of the Advisor, exceed the expected benefits of voting. For securities on loan, the Advisor will balance the revenue-producing value of loans against the difficult-to-assess value of casting votes. It is the Advisor’s belief that the expected value of casting a vote generally will be less than the securities lending income, either because the votes will not have significant economic consequences or because the outcome of the vote would not be affected by the Advisor recalling loaned securities in order to ensure they are voted. The Advisor does intend to recall securities on loan if it determines that voting the securities is likely to materially affect the value of a Portfolio’s investment and that it is in the Portfolio’s best interests to do so. In cases where the Advisor does not receive a solicitation or enough information within a sufficient time (as reasonably determined by the Advisor) prior to the proxy-voting deadline, the Advisor or its services provider may be unable to vote.

With respect to non-U.S. securities, it is typically both difficult and costly to vote proxies due to local regulations, customs, and other requirements or restrictions. The Advisor does not intend to vote proxies of non-U.S. companies if the Advisor determines that the expected economic costs from voting outweigh the anticipated economic benefit to a Portfolio associated with voting. The Advisor intends to make its determination on whether to vote proxies of non-U.S. companies on a portfolio-by-portfolio basis, and generally seeks to implement uniform voting procedures for all proxies of companies in a country. The Advisor periodically reviews voting logistics, including costs and other voting difficulties, on a portfolio by portfolio and country by country basis, in order to determine if there have been any material changes that would affect the Advisor’s decision of whether or not to vote. In the event the Advisor is made aware of and believes an issue to be voted is likely to materially affect the economic value of a portfolio, that its vote is reasonably likely to influence the ultimate outcome of the contest, and the expected benefits of voting the proxies exceed the costs, the Advisor will make every reasonable effort to vote such proxies.

The Advisor and the Funds have retained ISS to provide certain services with respect to proxy voting. ISS provides information on shareholder meeting dates and proxy materials; translates proxy materials printed in a foreign language; provides research on proxy proposals and voting recommendations in accordance with the Voting Guidelines; effects votes on behalf of the Portfolios; and provides reports concerning the proxies voted (the “Proxy Voting Services”). In addition, the Advisor may retain the services of supplemental third-party proxy service providers to provide, among other things, research on proxy proposals and voting recommendations for certain shareholder meetings, as identified in the Voting Guidelines. Although the Advisor retains third-party service providers for proxy issues, the Advisor remains responsible for proxy voting decisions. In this regard, the Advisor uses commercially reasonable efforts to oversee the directed delegation to third-party proxy voting service providers, upon which the Advisor relies to carry out the Proxy Voting Services. In the event that the Voting Guidelines are not implemented precisely as the Advisor intends because of the actions or omissions of any third party service providers, custodians or sub-custodians or other agents or any such persons experience any irregularities (e.g. misvotes or missed votes), then such instances will not necessarily be deemed by the Advisor as a breach of the Voting Policies.

Information regarding how a Portfolio voted proxies related to its portfolio securities during the 12 month period ended June 30 of each year is available, no later than August 31 of each year, without charge, (i) upon request, by calling collect: (512) 306-7400 or (ii) on the Advisor’s website at http://www.dimensional.com and (iii) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

The Advisor and the Board of Directors of the Fund have adopted a policy (the “Policy”) to govern disclosure of the portfolio holdings of each Portfolio (“Holdings Information”), and to prevent the misuse of material non-public Holdings Information. The Advisor has determined that the Policy and its procedures: (1) are reasonably designed to ensure that disclosure of Holdings Information is in the best interests of the shareholders of a Portfolio, and (2) appropriately address the potential for material conflicts of interest.

 

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Disclosure of Holdings Information as Required by Applicable Law. Holdings Information (whether a partial listing of portfolio holdings or a complete listing of portfolio holdings) shall be disclosed to any person as required by applicable law, rules, and regulations.

Online Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings Information. Each Portfolio generally discloses up to its twenty-five largest portfolio holdings and the percentages that each of these largest portfolio holdings represent of the Portfolio’s total assets (“largest holdings”), as of the most recent month-end, online at the Advisor’s public website, http://www.dimensional.com, within twenty days after the end of each month. This online disclosure may also include information regarding a Portfolio’s industry allocations. Each Portfolio generally discloses its complete Holdings Information (other than cash and cash equivalents), as of month-end, online at the Advisor’s public website, http://www.dimensional.com, two months following the month-end, or more frequently and at different periods when authorized by a Designated Person (as defined below).

Disclosure of Holdings Information to Recipients. Each of the Advisor’s Chairman, Director of Institutional Services, Head of Portfolio Management and Trading and General Counsel (together, the “Designated Persons”) may authorize disclosing non-public Holdings Information more frequently or at different periods than as described above solely to those financial advisors, registered accountholders, authorized consultants, authorized custodians, or third-party data service providers (each a “Recipient”) who: (i) specifically request the more current non-public Holdings Information, and (ii) execute a Use and Nondisclosure Agreement (each a “Nondisclosure Agreement”). Each Nondisclosure Agreement subjects the Recipient to a duty of confidentiality with respect to the non-public Holdings Information, and prohibits the Recipient from trading based on the non-public Holdings Information. Any non-public Holdings Information that is disclosed shall not include any material information about the Portfolio’s trading strategies or pending portfolio transactions. The non-public Holdings Information provided to a Recipient under a Nondisclosure Agreement, unless indicated otherwise, is not subject to a time delay before dissemination. Designated Persons may also approve the distribution Holdings Information for a Portfolio more frequently or at a period other than as described above.

As of the January 31, 2011 the Advisor and the Portfolios had ongoing arrangements with the following Recipients to make available non-public Holdings Information:

 

Recipient   Portfolios   Business Purpose    Frequency
                  

BNY Mellon Investment

Servicing (US) Inc.

  Both Portfolios  

Fund Administrator, Accounting Agent and Transfer Agent

 

   Daily
Cambridge Associates   Both Portfolios  

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Monthly
Citibank, N.A.   International Social Core Portfolio  

Fund Custodian

 

   Daily
Citibank, N.A.   Both Portfolios  

Middle office operational support service provider to the Advisor

 

   Daily
Fund Evaluation Group LLC   All Portfolios  

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Upon Request
Kaspick & Co.   Both Portfolios  

Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy

 

   Upon request
KLD Research and Analytics   Both Portfolios   Social Screen Vendor    Quarterly

 

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Recipient   Portfolios   Business Purpose    Frequency
                  

PFPC Trust Company

(to be renamed BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company effective July 1, 2011)

 

  U.S. Social Core Portfolio   Fund Custodian    Daily
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP   Both Portfolios  

Independent registered public accounting firm

 

   Upon request
Pricing Service Vendor   International Social Core Portfolio   Fair value information services    Daily

In addition, certain employees of the Advisor and its subsidiaries receive Holdings Information on a quarterly, monthly, or daily basis, or upon request, in order to perform their business functions. None of the Portfolios, the Advisor, or any other party receives any compensation in connection with these arrangements.

The Policy includes the following procedures to ensure that disclosure of Holdings Information is in the best interests of shareholders, and to address any conflicts between the interests of shareholders, on the one hand, and the interests of the Advisor, DFAS, or any affiliated person of the Fund, the Advisor, or DFAS, on the other. In order to protect the interests of shareholders and each Portfolio, and to ensure no adverse effect on shareholders in the limited circumstances where a Designated Person is considering making non-public Holdings Information available to a Recipient, the Advisor’s Director of Institutional Services and the Chief Compliance Officer will consider any conflicts of interest. If the Chief Compliance Officer, following appropriate due diligence, determines in his or her reasonable judgment that: (1) a Portfolio has a legitimate business purpose for providing the non-public Holdings Information to a Recipient, and (2) disclosure of non-public Holdings Information to the Recipient would be in the interests of the shareholders and outweighs the possible reasonably anticipated adverse effects, then the Chief Compliance Officer may approve the proposed disclosure.

The Chief Compliance Officer documents all disclosures of non-public Holdings Information (including the legitimate business purpose for the disclosure), and periodically reports to the Board on such arrangements. The Chief Compliance Officer also is responsible for ongoing monitoring of the distribution and use of non-public Holdings Information. Such arrangements are reviewed by the Chief Compliance Officer on an annual basis. Specifically, the Chief Compliance Officer requests an annual certification from each Recipient that the Recipient has complied with all terms contained in the Nondisclosure Agreement. Recipients who fail to provide the requested certifications are prohibited from receiving non-public Holdings Information.

The Board exercises continuing oversight of the disclosure of Holdings Information by: (1) overseeing the implementation and enforcement of the Policy by the Chief Compliance Officer of the Advisor and of the Fund; (2) considering reports and recommendations by the Chief Compliance Officer concerning the implementation of the Policy and any material compliance matters that may arise in connection with the Policy; and (3) considering whether to approve or ratify any amendments to the Policy. The Advisor and the Board reserve the right to amend the Policy at any time, and from time to time without prior notice, in their sole discretion.

Prohibitions on Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings and Receipt of Compensation. No person is authorized to disclose Holdings Information or other investment positions (whether online at http://www.dimensional.com, in writing, by fax, by e-mail, orally, or by other means) except in accordance with the Policy. In addition, no person is authorized to make disclosure pursuant to the Policy if such disclosure is otherwise in violation of the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws.

The Policy prohibits the Portfolios, the Advisor, or an affiliate thereof from receiving any compensation or other consideration of any type for the purpose of obtaining disclosure of non-public Holdings Information or other investment positions. “Consideration” includes any agreement to maintain assets in a Portfolio or in other investment companies or accounts managed by the Advisor or by any affiliated person of the Advisor.

The Policy and its procedures are intended to provide useful information concerning the Portfolios to existing and prospective shareholders, while at the same time preventing the improper use of Holdings Information. However, there can be no assurance that the furnishing of any Holdings Information is not susceptible to

 

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inappropriate uses, particularly in the hands of sophisticated investors, or that the Holdings Information will not in fact be misused in other ways, beyond the control of the Advisor.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Two Commerce Square, Suite 1700, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042, is the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm. It audits the Fund’s annual financial statements. The audited financial statements and financial highlights of the Portfolios for their fiscal year ended October 31, 2010, as set forth in the Funds’ annual reports to shareholders, including the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, are incorporated by reference into this SAI.

A shareholder may obtain a copy of the annual reports, upon request and without charge, by contacting the Funds at the address or telephone number appearing on the cover of this SAI.

PERFORMANCE DATA

Each Portfolio may compare its investment performance to appropriate market and mutual fund indices and investments for which reliable performance data is available. Such indices are generally unmanaged and are prepared by entities and organizations that track the performance of investment companies or investment advisors. Unmanaged indices often do not reflect deductions for administrative and management costs and expenses. The performance of a Portfolio may also be compared in publications to averages, performance rankings, or other information prepared by recognized mutual fund statistical services. Any performance information, whether related to a Portfolio or to the Advisor, should be considered in light of the Portfolio’s investment objectives and policies, characteristics and the quality of the portfolio and market conditions during the time period indicated and should not be considered to be representative of what may be achieved in the future.

 

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APPENDIX

Concise Summary of 2011 U.S. Proxy Voting Guidelines

Effective for Meetings on or after January 3, 2011

In order to provide greater analysis on certain shareholder meetings, the Advisor has elected to receive research reports for certain meetings, as indicated below, from Glass Lewis in addition to Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”).

Specifically, if available, the Advisor may obtain research from Glass Lewis in addition to ISS for shareholder meetings in the following circumstances: (1) where the Advisor’s clients have a significant aggregate holding in the issuer and the meeting agenda contains proxies concerning: Anti-takeover Defenses or Voting Related Issues, Mergers and Acquisitions or Reorganizations or Restructurings, Capital Structure Issues, Compensation Issues or a proxy contest; or (2) where the Advisor in its discretion, has deemed that additional research is warranted.

Where research is obtained from Glass Lewis in accordance with these Guidelines, the Advisor will first review the research reports obtained from ISS and Glass Lewis. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are the same, the Advisor will vote accordingly. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are inconsistent, the Advisor will vote in accordance with the ISS recommendation unless the Corporate Governance Committee determines that voting in accordance with the Glass Lewis recommendation is more consistent with the principle of preserving shareholder value.

Routine/Miscellaneous

Auditor Ratification

Vote FOR proposals to ratify auditors, unless any of the following apply:

   

An auditor has a financial interest in or association with the company, and is therefore not independent;

   

There is reason to believe that the independent auditor has rendered an opinion which is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position;

   

Poor accounting practices are identified that rise to a serious level of concern, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP; and material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures; or

   

Fees for non-audit services (“Other” fees) are excessive.

Non-audit fees are excessive if:

   

Non-audit (“other”) fees >audit fees + audit-related fees + tax compliance/preparation fees

Board of Directors

Voting on Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections

Votes on director nominees should be determined CASE-BY-CASE.

Four fundamental principles apply when determining votes on director nominees:

  1.

Board Accountability

  2.

Board Responsiveness

  3.

Director Independence

  4.

Director Competence

 

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1.  Board Accountability

VOTE WITHHOLD/AGAINST1 the entire board of directors (except new nominees2 , who should be considered CASE-BY-CASE), for the following:

Problematic Takeover Defenses:

  1.1.  The board is classified, and a continuing director responsible for a problematic governance issue at the board/committee level that would warrant a withhold/against vote recommendation is not up for election — any or all appropriate nominees (except new) may be held accountable;

 

  1.2.  The board lacks accountability and oversight, coupled with sustained poor performance relative to peers. Sustained poor performance is measured by one- and three-year total shareholder returns in the bottom half of a company’s four-digit GICS industry group (Russell 3000 companies only). Take into consideration the company’s five-year total shareholder return and five-year operational metrics. Problematic provisions include but are not limited to:
   

A classified board structure;

 

   

A supermajority vote requirement;

 

   

Majority vote standard for director elections with no carve out for contested elections;

 

   

The inability for shareholders to call special meetings;

 

   

The inability for shareholders to act by written consent;

 

   

A dual-class structure; and/or

 

   

A non-shareholder approved poison pill.

 

  1.3.  The company’s poison pill has a “dead-hand” or “modified dead-hand” feature. Vote withhold/against every year until this feature is removed;
  1.4.  The board adopts a poison pill with a term of more than 12 months (“long-term pill”), or renews any existing pill, including any “short-term” pill (12 months or less), without shareholder approval. A commitment or policy that puts a newly-adopted pill to a binding shareholder vote may potentially offset an adverse vote recommendation. Review such companies with classified boards every year, and such companies with annually-elected boards at least once every three years, and vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD votes from all nominees if the company still maintains a non-shareholder-approved poison pill. This policy applies to all companies adopting or renewing pills after the announcement of this policy (Nov 19, 2009);

 

 

1

In general, companies with a plurality vote standard use “Withhold” as the valid contrary vote option in director elections; companies with a majority vote standard use “Against”. However, it will vary by company and the proxy must be checked to determine the valid contrary vote option for the particular company.

 

2

A “new nominee” is any current nominee who has not already been elected by shareholders and who joined the board after the problematic action in question transpired. If ISS cannot determine whether the nominee joined the board before or after the problematic action transpired, the nominee will be considered a “new nominee” if he or she joined the board within the 12 months prior to the upcoming shareholder meeting.

 

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      1.5.  The board makes a material adverse change to an existing poison pill without shareholder approval.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on all nominees if:

      1.6.  the board adopts a poison pill with a term of 12 months or less (“short-term pill”) without shareholder approval, taking into account the following factors:
   

The date of the pill’s adoption relative to the date of the next meeting of shareholders- i.e. whether the company had time to put the pill on ballot for shareholder ratification given the circumstances;

   

The issuer’s rationale;

   

The issuer’s governance structure and practices; and

   

The issuer’s track record of accountability to shareholders.

Problematic Audit-Related Practices

Generally, vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from the members of the Audit Committee if:

      1.7.  The non-audit fees paid to the auditor are excessive (see discussion under “Auditor Ratification”);
      1.8.  The company receives an adverse opinion on the company’s financial statements from its auditor; or
      1.9.  There is persuasive evidence that the audit committee entered into an inappropriate indemnification agreement with its auditor that limits the ability of the company, or its shareholders, to pursue legitimate legal recourse against the audit firm.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on members of the Audit Committee and/or the full board if:

      1.10.  Poor accounting practices are identified that rise to a level of serious concern, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP; and material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures. Examine the severity, breadth, chronological sequence and duration, as well as the company’s efforts at remediation or corrective actions, in determining whether WITHHOLD/AGAINST votes are warranted.

Problematic Compensation Practices

Vote WITHHOLD/AGAINST the members of the Compensation Committee and potentially the full board if:

      1.11.  There is a negative correlation between chief executive pay and company performance (see Pay for Performance Policy);
      1.12.  The company reprices underwater options for stock, cash, or other consideration without prior shareholder approval, even if allowed in the company's equity plan;
      1.13.  The company fails to submit one-time transfers of stock options to a shareholder vote;
      1.14.  The company fails to fulfill the terms of a burn rate commitment made to shareholders;
      1.15.  The company has problematic pay practices. Problematic pay practices may warrant withholding votes from the CEO and potentially the entire board as well.

Governance Failures

Under extraordinary circumstances, vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from directors individually, committee members, or the entire board, due to:

 

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      1.16.  Material failures of governance, stewardship, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company;
      1.17.  Failure to replace management as appropriate; or
      1.18.  Egregious actions related to the director(s)’ service on other boards that raise substantial doubt about his or her ability to effectively oversee management and serve the best interests of shareholders at any company.

2.   Board Responsiveness

Vote WITHHOLD/AGAINST the entire board of directors (except new nominees, who should be considered CASE-BY-CASE), if:

      2.1.  The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received approval by a majority of the shares outstanding the previous year; or

 

      2.2.  The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received approval of the majority of shares cast in the last year and one of the two previous years.

 

      2.3.  The board failed to act on takeover offers where the majority of the shareholders tendered their shares; or

 

      2.4.  At the previous board election, any director received more than 50 percent withhold/against votes of the shares cast and the company has failed to address the issue(s) that caused the high withhold/against vote.

3.   Director Independence

Vote WITHHOLD/AGAINST Inside Directors and Affiliated Outside Directors (per the Categorization of Directors) when:

      3.1.  The inside or affiliated outside director serves on any of the three key committees: audit, compensation, or nominating;

 

      3.2.  The company lacks an audit, compensation, or nominating committee so that the full board functions as that committee;

 

      3.3.  The company lacks a formal nominating committee, even if the board attests that the independent directors fulfill the functions of such a committee; or

 

      3.4.  The full board is less than majority independent.

4.   Director Competence

VOTE WITHHOLD/AGAINST the entire board of directors (except new nominees, who should be considered CASE-BY-CASE), if:

 

      4.1.  The company’s proxy indicates that not all directors attended 75 percent of the aggregate board and committee meetings, but fails to provide the required disclosure of the names of the director(s) involved.

Generally vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from individual directors who:

      4.2.  Attend less than 75 percent of the board and committee meetings (with the exception of new nominees). Acceptable reasons for director(s) absences are generally limited to the following:
   

Medical issues/illness;

   

Family emergencies; and

 

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If the director’s total service was three meetings or fewer and the director missed only one meeting.

These reasons for directors' absences will only be considered by ISS if disclosed in the proxy or another SEC filing. If the disclosure is insufficient to determine whether a director attended at least 75 percent of board and committee meetings in aggregate, vote AGAINST/WITHHOLD from the director.

Vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from individual directors who:

      4.3.  Sit on more than six public company boards3; or

 

      4.4.  Are CEOs of public companies who sit on the boards of more than two public companies besides their own— withhold only at their outside boards.

Voting for Director Nominees in Contested Elections*

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on the election of directors in contested elections, considering the following factors:

   

Long-term financial performance of the target company relative to its industry;

   

Management’s track record;

   

Background to the proxy contest;

   

Qualifications of director nominees (both slates);

   

Strategic plan of dissident slate and quality of critique against management;

   

Likelihood that the proposed goals and objectives can be achieved (both slates);

   

Stock ownership positions.

Independent Chair (Separate Chair/CEO)

Generally vote FOR shareholder proposals requiring that the chairman’s position be filled by an independent director, unless the company satisfies all of the following criteria:

The company maintains the following counterbalancing governance structure:

 

   

Designated lead director, elected by and from the independent board members with clearly delineated and comprehensive duties. (The role may alternatively reside with a presiding director, vice chairman, or rotating lead director; however the director must serve a minimum of one year in order to qualify as a lead director.) The duties should include, but are not limited to, the following:

  -  

presides at all meetings of the board at which the chairman is not present, including executive sessions of the independent directors;

 

  -  

serves as liaison between the chairman and the independent directors;

 

  -  

approves information sent to the board;

 

  -  

approves meeting agendas for the board;

 

  -  

approves meeting schedules to assure that there is sufficient time for discussion of all agenda items;

 

  -  

has the authority to call meetings of the independent directors;

 

  -  

if requested by major shareholders, ensures that he is available for consultation and direct communication;

 

 

3 Dimensional will screen votes otherwise subject to this policy based on the qualifications and circumstances of the directors involved.

* See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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Two-thirds independent board;

   

All independent key committees;

   

Established governance guidelines;

   

A company in the Russell 3000 universe must not have exhibited sustained poor total shareholder return (TSR) performance, defined as one- and three-year TSR in the bottom half of the company’s four-digit GICS industry group (using Russell 3000 companies only), unless there has been a change in the Chairman/CEO position within that time. For companies not in the Russell 3000 universe, the company must not have underperformed both its peers and index on the basis of both one-year and three-year total shareholder returns, unless there has been a change in the Chairman/CEO position within that time;

   

The company does not have any problematic governance or management issues, examples of which include, but are not limited to:

  -  

Egregious compensation practices;

 

  -  

Multiple related-party transactions or other issues putting director independence at risk;

 

  -  

Corporate and/or management scandals;

 

  -  

Excessive problematic corporate governance provisions; or

 

  -  

Flagrant actions by management or the board with potential or realized negative impacts on shareholders.

Shareholder Rights & Defenses*

Net Operating Loss (NOL) Protective Amendments

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt a protective amendment for the stated purpose of protecting a company’s net operating losses (“NOLs”) if the effective term of the protective amendment would exceed the shorter of three years and the exhaustion of the NOL.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE, considering the following factors, for management proposals to adopt an NOL protective amendment that would remain in effect for the shorter of three years (or less) and the exhaustion of the NOL:

   

The ownership threshold (NOL protective amendments generally prohibit stock ownership transfers that would result in a new 5-percent holder or increase the stock ownership percentage of an existing 5-percent holder);

   

The value of the NOLs;

   

Shareholder protection mechanisms (sunset provision or commitment to cause expiration of the protective amendment upon exhaustion or expiration of the NOL);

   

The company’s existing governance structure including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, track record of responsiveness to shareholders, and any other problematic governance concerns; and

   

Any other factors that may be applicable.

Poison Pills- Management Proposals to Ratify Poison Pill

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on management proposals on poison pill ratification, focusing on the features of the shareholder rights plan. Rights plans should contain the following attributes:

   

No lower than a 20% trigger, flip-in or flip-over;

   

A term of no more than three years;

   

No dead-hand, slow-hand, no-hand or similar feature that limits the ability of a future board to redeem the pill;

 

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Shareholder redemption feature (qualifying offer clause); if the board refuses to redeem the pill 90 days after a qualifying offer is announced, 10 percent of the shares may call a special meeting or seek a written consent to vote on rescinding the pill.

In addition, the rationale for adopting the pill should be thoroughly explained by the company. In examining the request for the pill, take into consideration the company’s existing governance structure, including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, and any problematic governance concerns.

Poison Pills- Management Proposals toRatify a Pill to Preserve Net Operating Losses (NOLs)

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt a poison pill for the stated purpose of protecting a company’s net operating losses (“NOLs”) if the term of the pill would exceed the shorter of three years and the exhaustion of the NOL.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on management proposals for poison pill ratification, considering the following factors, if the term of the pill would be the shorter of three years (or less) and the exhaustion of the NOL:

   

The ownership threshold to transfer (NOL pills generally have a trigger slightly below 5 percent);

   

The value of the NOLs;

   

Shareholder protection mechanisms (sunset provision, or commitment to cause expiration of the pill upon exhaustion or expiration of NOLs);

   

The company’s existing governance structure including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, track record of responsiveness to shareholders, and any other problematic governance concerns; and

   

Any other factors that may be applicable.

Shareholder Ability to Act by Written Consent

Generally vote AGAINST management and shareholder proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholders’ ability to act by written consent.

Generally vote FOR management and shareholder proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to act by written consent, taking into account the following factors:

   

Shareholders’ current right to act by written consent;

   

The consent threshold;

   

The inclusion of exclusionary or prohibitive language;

   

Investor ownership structure; and

   

Shareholder support of, and management's response to, previous shareholder proposals.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals if, in addition to the considerations above, the company has the following governance and antitakeover provisions:

   

An unfettered4 right for shareholders to call special meetings at a 10 percent threshold;

   

A majority vote standard in uncontested director elections;

   

No non-shareholder-approved pill; and

   

An annually elected board.

Shareholder Ability to Call Special Meetings

Vote AGAINST management or shareholder proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholders’ ability to call special meetings.

Generally vote FOR management or shareholder proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to call special meetings taking into account the following factors:

   

Shareholders’ current right to call special meetings;

   

Minimum ownership threshold necessary to call special meetings (10% preferred);

   

The inclusion of exclusionary or prohibitive language;

 

4

"Unfettered" means no restrictions on agenda items, no restrictions on the number of shareholders who can group together to reach the 10 percent threshold, and only reasonable limits on when a meeting can be called: no greater than 30 days after the last annual meeting and no greater than 90 prior to the next annual meeting.

 

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Investor ownership structure; and

   

Shareholder support of, and management’s response to, previous shareholder proposals.

 

CAPITAL/RESTRUCTURING*

Common Stock Authorization

Vote FOR proposals to increase the number of authorized common shares where the primary purpose of the increase is to issue shares in connection with a transaction on the same ballot that warrants support.

Vote AGAINST proposals at companies with more than one class of common stock to increase the number of authorized shares of the class of common stock that has superior voting rights.

Vote AGAINST proposals to increase the number of authorized common shares if a vote for a reverse stock split on the same ballot is warranted despite the fact that the authorized shares would not be reduced proportionally.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on all other proposals to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance. Take into account company-specific factors that include, at a minimum, the following:

   

Past Board Performance:

  ¡

The company’s use of authorized shares during the last three years

   

The Current Request:

 

  ¡

Disclosure in the proxy statement of the specific purposes of the proposed increase;

  ¡

Disclosure in the proxy statement of specific and severe risks to shareholders of not approving the request; and

  ¡

The dilutive impact of the request as determined by an allowable increase calculated by ISS (typically 100 percent of existing authorized shares) that reflects the company's need for shares and total shareholder returns.

Preferred Stock Authorization

Vote FOR proposals to increase the number of authorized preferred shares where the primary purpose of the increase is to issue shares in connection with a transaction on the same ballot that warrants support.

Vote AGAINST proposals at companies with more than one class or series of preferred stock to increase the number of authorized shares of the class or series of preferred stock that has superior voting rights.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on all other proposals to increase the number of shares of preferred stock authorized for issuance. Take into account company-specific factors that include, at a minimum, the following:

   

Past Board Performance:

  ¡

The company’s use of authorized preferred shares during the last three years;

   

The Current Request:

  ¡

Disclosure in the proxy statement of the specific purposes for the proposed increase;

  ¡

Disclosure in the proxy statement of specific and severe risks to shareholders of not approving the request;

  ¡

In cases where the company has existing authorized preferred stock, the dilutive impact of the request as determined by an allowable increase calculated by ISS (typically 100 percent of existing authorized shares) that reflects the company's need for shares and total shareholder returns; and

 

 

* See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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  ¡

Whether the shares requested are blank check preferred shares that can be used for antitakeover purposes.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Vote CASE –BY- CASE on mergers and acquisitions. Review and evaluate the merits and drawbacks of the proposed transaction, balancing various and sometimes countervailing factors including:

   

Valuation - Is the value to be received by the target shareholders (or paid by the acquirer) reasonable? While the fairness opinion may provide an initial starting point for assessing valuation reasonableness, emphasis is placed on the offer premium, market reaction and strategic rationale.

   

Market reaction - How has the market responded to the proposed deal? A negative market reaction should cause closer scrutiny of a deal.

   

Strategic rationale - Does the deal make sense strategically? From where is the value derived? Cost and revenue synergies should not be overly aggressive or optimistic, but reasonably achievable. Management should also have a favorable track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions.

   

Negotiations and process - Were the terms of the transaction negotiated at arm’s-length? Was the process fair and equitable? A fair process helps to ensure the best price for shareholders. Significant negotiation “wins” can also signify the deal makers' competency. The comprehensiveness of the sales process (e.g., full auction, partial auction, no auction) can also affect shareholder value.

   

Conflicts of interest - Are insiders benefiting from the transaction disproportionately and inappropriately as compared to non-insider shareholders? As the result of potential conflicts, the directors and officers of the company may be more likely to vote to approve a merger than if they did not hold these interests. Consider whether these interests may have influenced these directors and officers to support or recommend the merger. The CIC figure presented in the “ISS Transaction Summary” section of this report is an aggregate figure that can in certain cases be a misleading indicator of the true value transfer from shareholders to insiders. Where such figure appears to be excessive, analyze the underlying assumptions to determine whether a potential conflict exists.

   

Governance - Will the combined company have a better or worse governance profile than the current governance profiles of the respective parties to the transaction? If the governance profile is to change for the worse, the burden is on the company to prove that other issues (such as valuation) outweigh any deterioration in governance.

 

COMPENSATION*

Executive Pay Evaluation

Underlying all evaluations are five global principles that most investors expect corporations to adhere to in designing and administering executive and director compensation programs:

 

 

* See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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  1. Maintain appropriate pay-for-performance alignment, with emphasis on long-term shareholder value: This principle encompasses overall executive pay practices, which must be designed to attract, retain, and appropriately motivate the key employees who drive shareholder value creation over the long term. It will take into consideration, among other factors, the link between pay and performance; the mix between fixed and variable pay; performance goals; and equity-based plan costs;
  2. Avoid arrangements that risk “pay for failure”: This principle addresses the appropriateness of long or indefinite contracts, excessive severance packages, and guaranteed compensation;
  3. Maintain an independent and effective compensation committee: This principle promotes oversight of executive pay programs by directors with appropriate skills, knowledge, experience, and a sound process for compensation decision-making (e.g., including access to independent expertise and advice when needed);
  4. Provide shareholders with clear, comprehensive compensation disclosures: This principle underscores the importance of informative and timely disclosures that enable shareholders to evaluate executive pay practices fully and fairly;
  5. Avoid inappropriate pay to non-executive directors: This principle recognizes the interests of shareholders in ensuring that compensation to outside directors does not compromise their independence and ability to make appropriate judgments in overseeing managers’ pay and performance. At the market level, it may incorporate a variety of generally accepted best practices.

Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation- Management Proposals (Management Say-on-Pay)

Evaluate executive pay and practices, as well as certain aspects of outside director compensation CASE-BY-CASE.

Vote AGAINST management say on pay (MSOP) proposals, AGAINST/WITHHOLD on compensation committee members (or, in rare cases where the full board is deemed responsible, all directors including the CEO), and/or AGAINST an equity-based incentive plan proposal if:

 

   

There is a misalignment between CEO pay and company performance (pay for performance);

   

The company maintains problematic pay practices;

   

The board exhibits poor communication and responsiveness to shareholders.

Voting Alternatives

In general, the management say on pay (MSOP) ballot item is the primary focus of voting on executive pay practices– dissatisfaction with compensation practices can be expressed by voting against MSOP rather than withholding or voting against the compensation committee. However, if there is no MSOP on the ballot, then the negative vote will apply to members of the compensation committee. In addition, in egregious cases, or if the board fails to respond to concerns raised by a prior MSOP proposal, then vote withhold or against compensation committee members (or, if the full board is deemed accountable, all directors). If the negative factors involve equity-based compensation, then vote AGAINST an equity-based plan proposal presented for shareholder approval.

Additional CASE-BY-CASE considerations for the management say on pay (MSOP) proposals:

   

Evaluation of performance metrics in short-term and long-term plans, as discussed and explained in the Compensation Discussion & Analysis (CD&A). Consider the measures, goals, and target awards reported by the company for executives’ short- and long-term incentive awards: disclosure, explanation of their alignment with the company’s business strategy, and whether goals appear to be sufficiently challenging in relation to resulting payouts;

 

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Evaluation of peer group benchmarking used to set target pay or award opportunities. Consider the rationale stated by the company for constituents in its pay benchmarking peer group, as well as the benchmark targets it uses to set or validate executives’ pay (e.g., median, 75th percentile, etc.,) to ascertain whether the benchmarking process is sound or may result in pay “ratcheting” due to inappropriate peer group constituents (e.g., much larger companies) or targeting (e.g., above median); and

   

Balance of performance-based versus non-performance-based pay. Consider the ratio of performance-based (not including plain vanilla stock options) vs. non-performance-based pay elements reported for the CEO’s latest reported fiscal year compensation, especially in conjunction with concerns about other factors such as performance metrics/goals, benchmarking practices, and pay-for-performance disconnects.

Primary Evaluation Factors for Executive Pay

Pay for Performance

Evaluate the alignment of the CEO’s pay with performance over time, focusing particularly on companies that have underperformed their peers over a sustained period. From a shareholders’ perspective, performance is predominantly gauged by the company’s stock performance over time. Even when financial or operational measures are utilized in incentive awards, the achievement related to these measures should ultimately translate into superior shareholder returns in the long-term.

Focus on companies with sustained underperformance relative to peers, considering the following key factors:

   

Whether a company’s one-year and three-year total shareholder returns (“TSR”) are in the bottom half of its industry group (i.e., four-digit GICS – Global Industry Classification Group); and

   

Whether the total compensation of a CEO who has served at least two consecutive fiscal years is aligned with the company’s total shareholder return over time, including both recent and long-term periods.

If a company falls in the bottom half of its four-digit GICS, further analysis of the CD&A is required to better understand the various pay elements and whether they create or reinforce shareholder alignment. Also assess the CEO’s pay relative to the company’s TSR over a time horizon of at least five years. The most recent year-over-year increase or decrease in pay remains a key consideration, but there will be additional emphasis on the long term trend of CEO total compensation relative to shareholder return. Also consider the mix of performance-based compensation relative to total compensation. In general, standard stock options or time-vested restricted stock are not considered to be performance-based. If a company provides performance-based incentives to its executives, the company is highly encouraged to provide the complete disclosure of the performance measure and goals (hurdle rate) so that shareholders can assess the rigor of the performance program. The use of non-GAAP financial metrics also makes it very challenging for shareholders to ascertain the rigor of the program as shareholders often cannot tell the type of adjustments being made and if the adjustments were made consistently. Complete and transparent disclosure helps shareholders to better understand the company’s pay for performance linkage.

Problematic Pay Practices

If the company maintains problematic pay practices, generally vote:

   

AGAINST management “say on pay” (MSOP) proposals;

   

AGAINST/WITHHOLD on compensation committee members (or in rare cases where the full board is deemed responsible, all directors including the CEO):

  ¡

In egregious situations;

  ¡

When no MSOP item is on the ballot; or

 

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  o When the board has failed to respond to concerns raised in prior MSOP evaluations; and/or
   

AGAINST an equity incentive plan proposal if excessive non-performance-based equity awards are the major contributors to a pay-for-performance misalignment.

The focus is on executive compensation practices that contravene the global pay principles, including:

 

   

Problematic practices related to non-performance-based compensation elements;

   

Incentives that may motivate excessive risk-taking; and

   

Options Backdating.

Problematic Pay Practices related to Non-Performance-Based Compensation Elements

Pay elements that are not directly based on performance are generally evaluated CASE-BY-CASE considering the context of a company’s overall pay program and demonstrated pay-for-performance philosophy. Please refer to ISS’ Compensation FAQ document for detail on specific pay practices that have been identified as potentially problematic and may lead to negative recommendations if they are deemed to be inappropriate or unjustified relative to executive pay best practices. The list below highlights the problematic practices that carry significant weight in this overall consideration and may result in adverse vote recommendations:

   

Repricing or replacing of underwater stock options/SARS without prior shareholder approval (including cash buyouts and voluntary surrender of underwater options);

   

Excessive perquisites or tax gross-ups, including any gross-up related to a secular trust or restricted stock vesting;

   

New or extended agreements that provide for:

  o CIC payments exceeding 3 times base salary and average/target/most recent bonus;
  o CIC severance payments without involuntary job loss or substantial diminution of duties (“single” or “modified single” triggers);
  o CIC payments with excise tax gross-ups (including “modified” gross-ups).

Incentives that may Motivate Excessive Risk-Taking

Assess company policies and disclosure related to compensation that could incentivize excessive risk-taking, for example:

   

Multi-year guaranteed bonuses;

   

A single performance metric used for short- and long-term plans;

   

Lucrative severance packages;

   

High pay opportunities relative to industry peers;

   

Disproportionate supplemental pensions; or

   

Mega annual equity grants that provide unlimited upside with no downside risk.

Factors that potentially mitigate the impact of risky incentives include rigorous claw-back provisions and robust stock ownership/holding guidelines.

Options Backdating

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on options backdating issues. Generally, when a company has recently practiced options backdating, WITHHOLD from or vote AGAINST the compensation committee, depending on the severity of the practices and the subsequent corrective actions on the part of the board. When deciding on votes on compensation committee members who oversaw questionable options grant practices or current compensation committee members who fail to respond to the issue proactively, consider several factors, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

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Reason and motive for the options backdating issue, such as inadvertent vs. deliberate grant date changes;

   

Duration of options backdating;

   

Size of restatement due to options backdating;

   

Corrective actions taken by the board or compensation committee, such as canceling or re-pricing backdated options, the recouping of option gains on backdated grants; and

   

Adoption of a grant policy that prohibits backdating, and creates a fixed grant schedule or window period for equity grants in the future.

A CASE-BY-CASE analysis approach allows distinctions to be made between companies that had “sloppy” plan administration versus those that acted deliberately and/or committed fraud, as well as those companies that subsequently took corrective action. Cases where companies have committed fraud are considered most egregious.

Board Communications and Responsiveness

Consider the following factors CASE-BY-CASE when evaluating ballot items related to executive pay:

   

Poor disclosure practices, including:

  -  

Unclear explanation of how the CEO is involved in the pay setting process;

  -  

Retrospective performance targets and methodology not discussed;

  -  

Methodology for benchmarking practices and/or peer group not disclosed and explained.

   

Board’s responsiveness to investor input and engagement on compensation issues, for example:

  -  

Failure to respond to majority-supported shareholder proposals on executive pay topics; or

  -  

Failure to respond to concerns raised in connection with significant opposition to MSOP proposals.

Frequency of Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation (Management “Say on Pay”)

Vote FOR annual advisory votes on compensation, which provide the most consistent and clear communication channel for shareholder concerns about companies’ executive pay programs.

Voting on Golden Parachutes in an Acquisition, Merger, Consolidation, or Proposed Sale

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to approve the company's golden parachute compensation, consistent with ISS' policies on problematic pay practices related to severance packages. Features that may lead to a vote AGAINST include:

   

Recently adopted or materially amended agreements that include excise tax gross-up provisions (since prior annual meeting);

   

Recently adopted or materially amended agreements that include modified single triggers (since prior annual meeting);

   

Single trigger payments that will happen immediately upon a change in control, including cash payment and such items as the acceleration of performance-based equity despite the failure to achieve performance measures;

   

Single-trigger vesting of equity based on a definition of change in control that requires only shareholder approval of the transaction (rather than consummation);

   

Potentially excessive severance payments;

   

Recent amendments or other changes that may make packages so attractive as to influence merger agreements that may not be in the best interests of shareholders;

 

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In the case of a substantial gross-up from pre-existing/grandfathered contract: the element that triggered the gross-up (i.e., option mega-grants at low point in stock price, unusual or outsized payments in cash or equity made or negotiated prior to the merger); or

   

The company’s assertion that a proposed transaction is conditioned on shareholder approval of the golden parachute advisory vote. ISS would view this as problematic from a corporate governance perspective.

In cases where the golden parachute vote is incorporated into a company's separate advisory vote on compensation (“management “say on pay”), ISS will evaluate the “say on pay” proposal in accordance with these guidelines, which may give higher weight to that component of the overall evaluation.

Equity-Based and Other Incentive Plans

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on equity-based compensation plans. Vote AGAINST the equity plan if any of the following factors apply:

   

The total cost of the company’s equity plans is unreasonable;

   

The plan expressly permits the repricing of stock options/stock appreciate rights (SARs) without prior shareholder approval;

   

The CEO is a participant in the proposed equity-based compensation plan and there is a disconnect between CEO pay and the company’s performance where over 50 percent of the year-over-year increase is attributed to equity awards (see Pay-for-Performance);

   

The company’s three year burn rate exceeds the greater of 2% or the mean plus one standard deviation of its industry group but no more than two percentage points (+/-) from the prior-year industry group cap;

   

Liberal Change of Control Definition: The plan provides for the acceleration of vesting of equity awards even though an actual change in control may not occur (e.g., upon shareholder approval of a transaction or the announcement of a tender offer); or

   

The plan is a vehicle for problematic pay practices.

Shareholder Proposals on Compensation

Golden Coffins/Executive Death Benefits

Generally vote FOR proposals calling companies to adopt a policy of obtaining shareholder approval for any future agreements and corporate policies that could oblige the company to make payments or awards following the death of a senior executive in the form of unearned salary or bonuses, accelerated vesting or the continuation in force of unvested equity grants, perquisites and other payments or awards made in lieu of compensation. This would not apply to any benefit programs or equity plan proposals that the broad-based employee population is eligible.

Hold Equity Past Retirement or for a Significant Period of Time

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals asking companies to adopt policies requiring senior executive officers to retain all or a significant portion of the shares acquired through compensation plans, either:

   

while employed and/or for two years following the termination of their employment ; or

   

for a substantial period following the lapse of all other vesting requirements for the award (“lock-up period”), with ratable release of a portion of the shares annually during the lock-up period.

 

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The following factors will be taken into account:

   

Whether the company has any holding period, retention ratio, or officer ownership requirements in place. These should consist of:

  -  

Rigorous stock ownership guidelines;

  -  

A holding period requirement coupled with a significant long-term ownership requirement; or

  -  

A meaningful retention ratio;

   

Actual officer stock ownership and the degree to which it meets or exceeds the proponent’s suggested holding period/retention ratio or the company’s own stock ownership or retention requirements;

   

Post-termination holding requirement policies or any policies aimed at mitigating risk taking by senior executives;

   

Problematic pay practices, current and past, which may promote a short-term versus a long-term focus.

A rigorous stock ownership guideline should be at least 10x base salary for the CEO, with the multiple declining for other executives. A meaningful retention ratio should constitute at least 50 percent of the stock received from equity awards (on a net proceeds basis) held on a long-term basis, such as the executive’s tenure with the company or even a few years past the executive’s termination with the company.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals asking companies to adopt policies requiring Named Executive Officers to retain 75% of the shares acquired through compensation plans while employed and/or for two years following the termination of their employment, and to report to shareholders regarding this policy. The following factors will be taken into account:

   

Whether the company has any holding period, retention ratio, or officer ownership requirements in place. These should consist of:

  -  

Rigorous stock ownership guidelines, or

 

  -  

A holding period requirement coupled with a significant long-term ownership requirement, or

 

  -  

A meaningful retention ratio,

 

   

Actual officer stock ownership and the degree to which it meets or exceeds the proponent’s suggested holding period/retention ratio or the company’s own stock ownership or retention requirements.

   

Problematic pay practices, current and past, which may promote a short-term versus a long-term focus.

A rigorous stock ownership guideline should be at least 10x base salary for the CEO, with the multiple declining for other executives. A meaningful retention ratio should constitute at least 50 percent of the stock received from equity awards (on a net proceeds basis) held on a long-term basis, such as the executive’s tenure with the company or even a few years past the executive’s termination with the company.

Generally vote AGAINST shareholder proposals that mandate a minimum amount of stock that directors must own in order to qualify as a director or to remain on the board. While ISS favors stock ownership on the part of directors, the company should determine the appropriate ownership requirement.

 

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Social/Environmental Issues

Overall Approach

Generally vote FOR the management’s recommendation on shareholder proposals involving social/environmental issues. When evaluating social and environmental shareholder proposals, Dimensional considers the most important factor to be whether adoption of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value.

 

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2011 International Proxy Voting Guidelines Summary

Effective for Meetings on or after January 3, 2011

In order to provide greater analysis on certain shareholder meetings, the Advisor has elected to receive research reports for certain meetings, as indicated below, from Glass Lewis in addition to Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”).

Specifically, if available, the Advisor may obtain research from Glass Lewis in addition to ISS for shareholder meetings in the following circumstances: (1) where the Advisor’s clients have a significant aggregate holding in the issuer and the meeting agenda contains proxies concerning: Anti-takeover Defenses or Voting Related Issues, Mergers and Acquisitions or Reorganizations or Restructurings, Capital Structure Issues, Compensation Issues or a proxy contest; or (2) where the Advisor in its discretion, has deemed that additional research is warranted.

Where research is obtained from Glass Lewis in accordance with these Guidelines, the Advisor will first review the research reports obtained from ISS and Glass Lewis. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are the same, the Advisor will vote accordingly. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are inconsistent, the Advisor will vote in accordance with the ISS recommendation unless the Corporate Governance Committee determines that voting in accordance with the Glass Lewis recommendation is more consistent with the principle of preserving shareholder value.

1. Operational Items

Financial Results/Director and Auditor Reports

Vote FOR approval of financial statements and director and auditor reports, unless:

 

   

There are concerns about the accounts presented or audit procedures used; or

   

The company is not responsive to shareholder questions about specific items that should be publicly disclosed.

Appointment of Auditors and Auditor Fees

Vote FOR the (re)election of auditors and/or proposals authorizing the board to fix auditor fees, unless:

 

   

There are serious concerns about the procedures used by the auditor;

   

There is reason to believe that the auditor has rendered an opinion which is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position;

   

External auditors have previously served the company in an executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company;

   

Name of the proposed auditors has not been published;

   

The auditors are being changed without explanation; or

   

Fees for non-audit services exceed standard annual audit-related fees (only applies to companies on the MSCI EAFE index and/or listed on any country main index).

In circumstances where fees for non-audit services include fees related to significant one-time capital structure events (initial public offerings, bankruptcy emergencies, and spin-offs) and the company makes public disclosure of the amount and nature of those fees, which are an exception to the standard “non-audit fee” category, then such fees may be excluded from the non-audit fees considered in determining the ratio of non-audit to audit fees.

For concerns related to the audit procedures, independence of auditors, and/or name of auditors, ISS may recommend AGAINST the auditor (re)election. For concerns related to fees paid to the auditors, ISS may recommend AGAINST remuneration of auditors if this is a separate voting item; otherwise ISS may recommend AGAINST the auditor election.

 

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Appointment of Internal Statutory Auditors

Vote FOR the appointment or (re)election of statutory auditors, unless:

 

   

There are serious concerns about the statutory reports presented or the audit procedures used;

   

Questions exist concerning any of the statutory auditors being appointed; or

   

The auditors have previously served the company in an executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company.

Allocation of Income

Vote FOR approval of the allocation of income, unless:

   

The dividend payout ratio has been consistently below 30 percent without adequate explanation; or

   

The payout is excessive given the company's financial position.

Amendments to Articles of Association

Vote amendments to the articles of association on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Change in Company Fiscal Term

Vote FOR resolutions to change a company's fiscal term unless a company's motivation for the change is to postpone its AGM.

Lower Disclosure Threshold for Stock Ownership

Vote AGAINST resolutions to lower the stock ownership disclosure threshold below 5 percent unless specific reasons exist to implement a lower threshold.

Amend Quorum Requirements

Vote proposals to amend quorum requirements for shareholder meetings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Transact Other Business

Vote AGAINST other business when it appears as a voting item.

2. Board of Directors

Director Elections

Vote FOR management nominees in the election of directors, unless:

 

   

Adequate disclosure has not been provided in a timely manner;

 

   

There are clear concerns over questionable finances or restatements;

 

   

There have been questionable transactions with conflicts of interest;

 

   

There are any records of abuses against minority shareholder interests; or

 

   

The board fails to meet minimum corporate governance standards.

Vote FOR individual nominees unless there are specific concerns about the individual, such as criminal wrongdoing or breach of fiduciary responsibilities.

Vote AGAINST individual directors if repeated absences at board meetings have not been explained (in countries where this information is disclosed).

 

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Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis for contested elections of directors, e.g. the election of shareholder nominees or the dismissal of incumbent directors, determining which directors are best suited to add value for shareholders.*

Vote FOR employee and/or labor representatives if they sit on either the audit or compensation committee and are required by law to be on those committees.* Vote AGAINST employee and/or labor representatives if they sit on either the audit or compensation committee, if they are not required to be on those committees.*

Under extraordinary circumstances, vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from directors individually, on a committee, or the entire board, due to:

 

   

Material failures of governance, stewardship, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company; or

 

   

Failure to replace management as appropriate; or

 

   

Egregious actions related to the director(s)’ service on other boards that raise substantial doubt about his or her ability to effectively oversee management and serve the best interests of shareholders at any company.

[Please see the ISS International Classification of Directors.]

 

 

 

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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ISS Classification of Directors - International Policy 2011

 

Executive Director

 

   

Employee or executive of the company;

 
   

Any director who is classified as a non-executive, but receives salary, fees, bonus, and/or other benefits that are in line with the highest-paid executives of the company.

 

Non-Independent Non-Executive Director (NED)

 

   

Any director who is attested by the board to be a non-independent NED;

 
   

Any director specifically designated as a representative of a significant shareholder of the company;

 
   

Any director who is also an employee or executive of a significant shareholder of the company;

 
   

Any director who is nominated by a dissenting significant shareholder, unless there is a clear lack of material[5] connection with the dissident, either currently or historically;

 
   

Beneficial owner (direct or indirect) of at least 10% of the company’s stock, either in economic terms or in voting rights (this may be aggregated if voting power is distributed among more than one member of a defined group, e.g., family members who beneficially own less than 10% individually, but collectively own more than 10%), unless market best practice dictates a lower ownership and/or disclosure threshold (and in other special market-specific circumstances);

 
   

Government representative;

 
   

Currently provides (or a relative[1] provides) professional services[2] to the company, to an affiliate of the company, or to an individual officer of the company or of one of its affiliates in excess of $10,000 per year;

 
   

Represents customer, supplier, creditor, banker, or other entity with which company maintains transactional/commercial relationship (unless company discloses information to apply a materiality test[3]);

 
   

Any director who has conflicting or cross-directorships with executive directors or the chairman of the company;

 
   

Relative[1] of a current employee of the company or its affiliates;

 
   

Relative[1] of a former executive of the company or its affiliates;

 
   

A new appointee elected other than by a formal process through the General Meeting (such as a contractual appointment by a substantial shareholder);

 
   

Founder/co-founder/member of founding family but not currently an employee;

 
   

Former executive (5 year cooling off period);

 
   

Years of service is generally not a determining factor unless it is recommended best practice in a market and/or in extreme circumstances, in which case it may be considered.[4]

 
   

Any additional relationship or principle considered to compromise independence under local corporate governance best practice guidance.

 

Independent NED

 

   

No material[5] connection, either directly or indirectly, to the company (other than a board seat) or the dissenting significant shareholder.

 

Employee Representative

 

   

Represents employees or employee shareholders of the company (classified as “employee representative” but considered a non-independent NED).

 

Footnotes:

[1] “Relative” follows the definition of “immediate family members” which covers spouses, parents, children, stepparents, step-children, siblings, in-laws, and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of any director, nominee for director, executive officer, or significant shareholder of the company.

[2] Professional services can be characterized as advisory in nature and generally include the following: investment banking/financial advisory services; commercial banking (beyond deposit services); investment services; insurance services; accounting/audit services; consulting services; marketing services; and legal services. The case of participation in a banking syndicate by a non-lead bank should be considered a transaction (and hence subject to the associated materiality test) rather than a professional relationship.

[3] A business relationship may be material if the transaction value (of all outstanding transactions) entered into between the company and the company or organization with which the director is associated is equivalent to either 1 percent of the company's turnover or 1 percent of the turnover of the company or organization with which the director is associated. OR, A business relationship may be material if the transaction value (of all outstanding financing operations) entered into between the company and the company or organization with which the director is associated is more than 10 percent of the company’s shareholder equity or the transaction value, (of all outstanding financing operations), compared to the company's total assets, is more than 5 percent.

 

 

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[4] For example, in continental Europe, directors with a tenure exceeding 12 years will be considered non-independent. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, directors with a tenure exceeding nine years will be considered non-independent, unless the company provides sufficient and clear justification that the director is independent despite his long tenure.

[5] For purposes of ISS’ director independence classification, “material” will be defined as a standard of relationship financial, personal or otherwise that a reasonable person might conclude could potentially influence one’s objectivity in the boardroom in a manner that would have a meaningful impact on an individual's ability to satisfy requisite fiduciary standards on behalf of shareholders.

Contested Director Elections*

For contested elections of directors, e.g. the election of shareholder nominees or the dismissal of incumbent directors, ISS will make its recommendation on a case-by-case basis, determining which directors are best suited to add value for shareholders.

The analysis will generally be based on, but not limited to, the following major decision factors:

   

Company performance relative to its peers;

   

Strategy of the incumbents versus the dissidents;

   

Independence of directors/nominees;

   

Experience and skills of board candidates;

   

Governance profile of the company;

   

Evidence of management entrenchment;

   

Responsiveness to shareholders;

   

Whether a takeover offer has been rebuffed;

   

Whether minority or majority representation is being sought.

When analyzing a contested election of directors, ISS will generally focus on two central questions: (1) Have the dissidents proved that board change is warranted? And (2) if so, are the dissident board nominees likely to effect positive change (i.e., maximize long-term shareholder value).

Discharge of Directors

Generally vote FOR the discharge of directors, including members of the management board and/or supervisory board, unless there is reliable information about significant and compelling controversies that the board is not fulfilling its fiduciary duties warranted by:

 

   

A lack of oversight or actions by board members which invoke shareholder distrust related to malfeasance or poor supervision, such as operating in private or company interest rather than in shareholder interest; or

   

Any legal issues (e.g. civil/criminal) aiming to hold the board responsible for breach of trust in the past or related to currently alleged actions yet to be confirmed (and not only the fiscal year in question), such as price fixing, insider trading, bribery, fraud, and other illegal actions; or

   

Other egregious governance issues where shareholders will bring legal action against the company or its directors.

For markets which do not routinely request discharge resolutions (e.g. common law countries or markets where discharge is not mandatory), analysts may voice concern in other appropriate agenda items, such as approval of the annual accounts or other relevant resolutions, to enable shareholders to express discontent with the board.

Director, Officer, and Auditor Indemnification and Liability Provisions

Vote proposals seeking indemnification and liability protection for directors and officers on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

 

 

* See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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Vote AGAINST proposals to indemnify external auditors.

Board Structure

Vote FOR proposals to fix board size.

Vote AGAINST the introduction of classified boards and mandatory retirement ages for directors.

Vote AGAINST proposals to alter board structure or size in the context of a fight for control of the company or the board.

3. Capital Structure*

Share Issuance Requests

General Issuances

Vote FOR issuance requests with preemptive rights to a maximum of 100 percent over currently issued capital.

Vote FOR issuance requests without preemptive rights to a maximum of 20 percent of currently issued capital.

Specific Issuances

Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on all requests, with or without preemptive rights.

Increases in Authorized Capital

Vote FOR non-specific proposals to increase authorized capital up to 100 percent over the current authorization unless the increase would leave the company with less than 30 percent of its new authorization outstanding.

Vote FOR specific proposals to increase authorized capital to any amount, unless:

   

The specific purpose of the increase (such as a share-based acquisition or merger) does not meet ISS guidelines for the purpose being proposed; or

   

The increase would leave the company with less than 30 percent of its new authorization outstanding after adjusting for all proposed issuances.

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt unlimited capital authorizations.

Reduction of Capital

Vote FOR proposals to reduce capital for routine accounting purposes unless the terms are unfavorable to shareholders.

Vote proposals to reduce capital in connection with corporate restructuring on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Capital Structures

Vote FOR resolutions that seek to maintain or convert to a one-share, one-vote capital structure.

 

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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Vote AGAINST requests for the creation or continuation of dual-class capital structures or the creation of new or additional super voting shares.

Preferred Stock

Vote FOR the creation of a new class of preferred stock or for issuances of preferred stock up to 50 percent of issued capital unless the terms of the preferred stock would adversely affect the rights of existing shareholders.

Vote FOR the creation/issuance of convertible preferred stock as long as the maximum number of common shares that could be issued upon conversion meets ISS guidelines on equity issuance requests.

Vote AGAINST the creation of a new class of preference shares that would carry superior voting rights to the common shares.

Vote AGAINST the creation of blank check preferred stock unless the board clearly states that the authorization will not be used to thwart a takeover bid.

Vote proposals to increase blank check preferred authorizations on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Debt Issuance Requests

Vote non-convertible debt issuance requests on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, with or without preemptive rights.

Vote FOR the creation/issuance of convertible debt instruments as long as the maximum number of common shares that could be issued upon conversion meets ISS guidelines on equity issuance requests.

Vote FOR proposals to restructure existing debt arrangements unless the terms of the restructuring would adversely affect the rights of shareholders.

Pledging of Assets for Debt

Vote proposals to approve the pledging of assets for debt on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Increase in Borrowing Powers

Vote proposals to approve increases in a company's borrowing powers on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Share Repurchase Plans

Generally vote FOR market repurchase authorities (share repurchase programs) if the terms comply with the following criteria:

 

   

A repurchase limit of up to 10 percent of outstanding issued share capital (15 percent in UK/Ireland);

   

A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company's issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and

   

A duration of no more than 5 years, or such lower threshold as may be set by applicable law, regulation or code of governance best practice.

Authorities to repurchase shares in excess of the 10 percent repurchase limit will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. ISS may support such share repurchase authorities under special circumstances, which are required to be publicly disclosed by the company, provided that, on balance, the proposal is in shareholders' interests. In such cases, the authority must comply with the following criteria:

 

   

A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company's issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and

 

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A duration of no more than 18 months.

In markets where it is normal practice not to provide a repurchase limit, ISS will evaluate the proposal based on the company's historical practice. However, ISS expects companies to disclose such limits and, in the future, may recommend a vote against companies that fail to do so. In such cases, the authority must comply with the following criteria:

 

 

   

A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company's issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and

 

   

A duration of no more than 18 months.

In addition, ISS will recommend AGAINST any proposal where:

 

   

The repurchase can be used for takeover defenses;

 

   

There is clear evidence of abuse;

 

   

There is no safeguard against selective buybacks; and/or

 

   

Pricing provisions and safeguards are deemed to be unreasonable in light of market practice.

Reissuance of Repurchased Shares

Vote FOR requests to reissue any repurchased shares unless there is clear evidence of abuse of this authority in the past.

Capitalization of Reserves for Bonus Issues/Increase in Par Value

Vote FOR requests to capitalize reserves for bonus issues of shares or to increase par value.

4. Other Items

Reorganizations/Restructurings*

Vote reorganizations and restructurings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Mergers and Acquisitions*

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on mergers and acquisitions taking into account the following:

For every M&A analysis, ISS reviews publicly available information as of the date of the report and evaluates the merits and drawbacks of the proposed transaction, balancing various and sometimes countervailing factors including:

 

   

Valuation - Is the value to be received by the target shareholders (or paid by the acquirer) reasonable? While the fairness opinion may provide an initial starting point for assessing valuation reasonableness, ISS places emphasis on the offer premium, market reaction, and strategic rationale.

   

Market reaction - How has the market responded to the proposed deal? A negative market reaction will cause ISS to scrutinize a deal more closely.

   

Strategic rationale - Does the deal make sense strategically? From where is the value derived? Cost and revenue synergies should not be overly aggressive or optimistic, but reasonably achievable. Management should also have a favourable track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions.

 

 

* See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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Conflicts of interest - Are insiders benefiting from the transaction disproportionately and inappropriately as compared to non-insider shareholders? ISS will consider whether any special interests may have influenced these directors and officers to support or recommend the merger.

 

   

Governance - Will the combined company have a better or worse governance profile than the current governance profiles of the respective parties to the transaction? If the governance profile is to change for the worse, the burden is on the company to prove that other issues (such as valuation) outweigh any deterioration in governance.

Vote AGAINST if the companies do not provide sufficient information upon request to make an informed voting decision.

Mandatory Takeover Bid Waivers*

Vote proposals to waive mandatory takeover bid requirements on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Reincorporation Proposals

Vote reincorporation proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Expansion of Business Activities

Vote FOR resolutions to expand business activities unless the new business takes the company into risky areas.

Related-Party Transactions

In evaluating resolutions that seek shareholder approval on related party transactions (RPTs), vote on a case-by-case basis, considering factors including, but not limited to, the following:

 

   

the parties on either side of the transaction;

 

   

the nature of the asset to be transferred/service to be provided;

 

   

the pricing of the transaction (and any associated professional valuation);

 

   

the views of independent directors (where provided);

 

   

the views of an independent financial adviser (where appointed);

 

   

whether any entities party to the transaction (including advisers) is conflicted; and

 

   

the stated rationale for the transaction, including discussions of timing.

If there is a transaction that ISS deemed problematic and that was not put to a shareholder vote, ISS may recommend against the election of the director involved in the related-party transaction or the full board.

Antitakeover Mechanisms

Generally vote AGAINST all antitakeover proposals, unless they are structured in such a way that they give shareholders the ultimate decision on any proposal or offer.

Shareholder Proposals

Vote all shareholder proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote FOR proposals that would improve the company's corporate governance or business profile at a reasonable cost.

Vote AGAINST proposals that limit the company's business activities or capabilities or result in significant costs being incurred with little or no benefit.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Issues

 

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Generally vote FOR the management’s recommendation on shareholder proposals involving CSR Issues. When evaluating social and environmental shareholder proposals, Dimensional considers the most important factor to be whether adoption of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value.

 

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DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, Texas 78746

Telephone: (512) 306-7400

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

February 28, 2011

DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio

This statement of additional information (“SAI”) relates to the shares of DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) of DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. (the “Fund,” or “DFAIDG”), an open-end management investment company. The shares of the Portfolio are sold only to separate accounts of insurance companies in conjunction with variable life and variable annuity contracts.

This SAI is not a prospectus but should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus of the Portfolio, dated February 28, 2010, as amended from time to time. As of February 28, 2011, the Portfolio had not yet commenced operations. No financial information is shown for the Portfolio in the Fund’s annual report for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009. The Prospectus can be obtained by writing to the Fund at the above address or by calling the above telephone number.

 


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS AND POLICIES

   1

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

   1

ADDITIONAL POLICIES OF THE UNDERLYING FUNDS

   2

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

   8

FUTURES CONTRACTS

   9

FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

   9

CASH MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

   10

CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES

   11

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

   11

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

   12

SERVICES TO THE FUND

   21

ADVISORY FEES

   22

PORTFOLIO MANAGER

   23

GENERAL INFORMATION

   25

CODE OF ETHICS

   25

SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS

   25

PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

   26

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

   26

TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIO AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS

   26

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

   32

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

   34

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   35

PERFORMANCE DATA

   35

 

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PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS AND POLICIES

The Portfolio described in this SAI is a “fund of funds” that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing its assets in funds managed by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor” or “Dimensional”). As of today these funds include the U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio, U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio, VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio, DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio, International Core Equity Portfolio, VA International Value Portfolio, Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio, DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio, VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio, VA Global Bond Portfolio and DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio, each a series of the Fund (collectively, the “Underlying Funds”). Dimensional serves as investment advisor to the Portfolio and the Underlying Funds. Dimensional is organized as a Delaware limited partnership and is controlled and operated by its general partner, Dimensional Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this SAI have the meaning assigned to them in the Prospectus.

The following information supplements the information set forth in the Prospectus. Unless otherwise indicated, the following information applies to the Portfolio and all of the Underlying Funds.

The Portfolio and each of the Underlying Funds is diversified under the federal securities laws and regulations.

INVE STMENT LIMITATIONS

The Portfolio has adopted certain limitations which may not be changed without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio. A “majority” is defined as the lesser of: (1) at least 67% of the voting securities of the Portfolio (to be affected by the proposed change) present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio are present or represented by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio.

The Portfolio will not:

 

  (1)

borrow money, except to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), or any rules, exemptions or interpretations thereunder that may be adopted, granted or issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”);

 

  (2)

make loans, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or any rules, exemptions or interpretations thereunder that may be adopted, granted or issued by the SEC; provided that in no event shall the Portfolio be permitted to make a loan to a natural person;

 

  (3)

purchase or sell real estate, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, and provided that this restriction does not prevent the Portfolio from: (i) purchasing or selling securities or instruments secured by real estate or interests therein, securities or instruments representing interests in real estate or securities or instruments of issuers that invest, deal or otherwise engage in transactions in real estate or interests therein; and (ii) purchasing or selling real estate mortgage loans;

 

  (4)

purchase or sell physical commodities, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, and provided that this restriction does not prevent the Portfolio from: (i) engaging in transactions involving currencies and futures contracts and options thereon; or (ii) investing in securities or other instruments that are secured by physical commodities;

 

  (5)

purchase the securities of any one issuer, if immediately after such investment, the Portfolio would not qualify as a “diversified company” as that term is defined by the 1940 Act, as amended, and as modified or interpreted by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time;

 

  (6)

engage in the business of underwriting securities issued by others;

 

  (7)

concentrate (invest more than 25% of its net assets) in securities of issuers in a particular industry (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or securities of other investment companies); or

 


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  (8)

issue senior securities (as such term is defined in Section 18(f) of the 1940 Act), except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act.

The investment limitations set forth above only relate to the Portfolio. The Underlying Funds may have investment limitations that are more or less restrictive than those of the Portfolio. The investment limitations of the Underlying Funds are set forth in their respective statements of additional information.

With respect to the investment limitation described in (1) above, the Portfolio will maintain asset coverage of at least 300% (as described in the 1940 Act), inclusive of any amounts borrowed, with respect to any borrowings made by the Portfolio. The Portfolio does not currently intend to borrow money for investment purposes.

The investment limitations described in (5) and (7) above do not prohibit the Portfolio from investing all or substantially all of its assets in the shares of other registered, open-end investment companies, such as the Underlying Funds. In applying the investment limitations described in (5) and (7) above, the Portfolio will look through to the security holdings of the Underlying Funds in which it invests.

The Portfolio is required to operate in accordance with the SEC staff’s current position on illiquid securities, which limits investments in illiquid securities to 15% of the Portfolio’s net assets.

Unless otherwise indicated, all limitations applicable to the Portfolio’s investments apply only at the time that a transaction is undertaken.

ADDITIONAL POLICIES OF THE UNDERLYING FUNDS

Domestic Equity Underlying Funds

DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio – The DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio, using a free float adjusted market capitalization weighted approach, purchases readily marketable equity securities of companies whose principal activities include development, ownership, construction, management, or sale of residential, commercial or industrial real estate. The Portfolio will principally invest in equity securities of companies in certain real estate investment trusts and companies engaged in residential construction and firms, except partnerships, whose principal business is to develop commercial property. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of the U.S. real estate company, the greater its representation in the Portfolio. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions. The DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio will purchase shares of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).

U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio – The U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio purchases a broad and diverse group of common stocks of U.S. companies with a greater emphasis on small capitalization and value companies as compared to their representation in the U.S. Universe. The Advisor generally defines the U.S. Universe as a free float adjusted market capitalization weighted portfolio of U.S. operating companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), NYSE Alternext US LLC or Nasdaq Global Market® and such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor. The Portfolio’s increased exposure to small and value companies may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to the largest U.S. growth companies relative to their weight in the U.S. Universe, which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization.

U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio – The U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio purchases a broad and diverse group of common stocks of U.S. companies with a greater emphasis on small capitalization and value companies as compared to their representation in the U.S. Universe. The Advisor generally defines the U.S. Universe as a free float adjusted market capitalization weighted portfolio of U.S. operating companies listed on the NYSE, NYSE Alternext US LLC or Nasdaq Global Market® and such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor. The Portfolio’s increased exposure to small and value companies may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the Portfolio’s assets to the largest U.S. growth companies relative to their weight in the U.S. Universe,

 

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which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization.

VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio – The VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio, using a market capitalization weighted approach, purchases a broad and diverse group of readily marketable common stocks of large U.S. companies that the Advisor determines to be value stocks. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of the U.S. large cap company, the greater its representation in the Portfolio. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value (a “book to market ratio”).

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of large cap U.S. companies. As of the date of this SAI, for purposes of the Portfolio, the Advisor considers large cap companies to be companies whose market capitalizations are generally in the highest 90% of total market capitalization or companies whose market capitalizations are larger than the 1,000th largest U.S. company, whichever results in the higher market capitalization break. Total market capitalization is based on the market capitalization of U.S. operating companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), NYSE Alternext US LLC, Nasdaq Global Market® or such other securities exchanges deemed appropriate by the Advisor. Under the Advisor’s market capitalization guidelines described above, as of December 31, 2010, the market capitalization of a large cap company was $2,357 million, or above. This dollar amount will change due to market conditions.

International Equity Underlying Funds

International Core Equity Portfolio – The International Core Equity Portfolio purchases a broad and diverse group of stocks of non-U.S. companies in developed markets with a greater emphasis on small capitalization and value companies as compared to their representation in the International Universe. For purposes of this Portfolio, the Advisor defines the International Universe as a market capitalization weighted portfolio of non-U.S. companies in developed markets that have been authorized as approved markets for investment by the Advisor’s Investment Committee. The Portfolio’s increased exposure to small capitalization and value companies may be achieved by decreasing the allocation of the International Core Equity Portfolio’s assets to the largest growth companies relative to their weight in the International Universe, which would result in a greater weight allocation to small capitalization and value companies. An equity issuer is considered a growth company primarily because it has a low, non-negative book value in relation to its market capitalization. An equity issuer is considered a value company primarily because it has a high book value in relation to its market capitalization.

The International Core Equity Portfolio intends to purchase stocks of companies associated with developed market countries that the Advisor has designated as approved markets. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the International Core Equity Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities. The Advisor determines company size on a country or region specific basis and based primarily on market capitalization. The percentage allocation of the assets of the International Core Equity Portfolio to securities of the largest growth companies as defined above will generally be reduced from between 5% and 35% of their percentage weight in the International Universe. As of December 31, 2010, securities of the largest growth companies in the International Universe comprised approximately 16% of the International Universe and the Advisor allocated approximately 4% of the International Core Equity Portfolio to securities of the largest growth companies in the International Universe. The percentage by which the Portfolio’s allocation to securities of the largest growth companies is reduced will fluctuate with market movements and other factors. Additionally, the range by which the International Core Equity Portfolio’s percentage allocation to the securities of the largest growth companies is reduced as compared to the International Universe will change from time to time. The Advisor determines company size on a country or region specific basis and based primarily on market capitalization.

Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio – The Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio purchases a broad and diverse group of securities associated with emerging markets, including frontier markets (emerging markets countries in an earlier stage of development), authorized for investment by the Advisor’s Investment Committee

 

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(“Approved Markets”), with an increased exposure to securities of small cap issuers and securities that it considers to be value securities. In assessing value, the Advisor may consider factors such as the issuer’s securities having a high book value in relation to their market value, as well as price to cash flow or price to earnings ratios. The criteria the Advisor uses for assessing value are subject to change from time to time.

VA International Value Portfolio –The VA International Value Portfolio, using a market capitalization weighted approach, purchases stocks of large non-U.S. companies in countries with developed markets that the Advisor determines to be value stocks. A company’s market capitalization is the number of its shares outstanding times its price per share. In general, the higher the relative market capitalization of a large company within an eligible country, the greater its representation in the Portfolio. The Advisor may modify market capitalization weights after considering such factors as free float, momentum, trading strategies, liquidity management and other factors that the Advisor determines appropriate, given market conditions. Securities are considered value stocks primarily because a company’s shares have a high book value in relation to their market value (a “book to market ratio”).

The VA International Value Portfolio intends to purchase stocks of large companies associated with developed market countries that the Advisor has designated as approved markets. The Advisor determines the minimum market capitalization of a large company with respect to each country or region in which the Portfolio invests. As of December 31, 2010, for the Portfolio, the lowest minimum market capitalization of a large company in any country or region in which the Portfolio invests was $1,438 million. This threshold will change due to market conditions.

Fixed Income Underlying Funds

DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio – The DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio (the “Two-Year Global Portfolio”) seeks to maximize risk-adjusted total returns from a universe of U.S. and foreign debt securities maturing in two years or less. The Two-Year Global Portfolio invests in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, corporate debt obligations, bank obligations, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, obligations of other domestic and foreign issuers, securities of domestic or foreign issuers denominated in U.S. dollars but not trading in the United States, and obligations of supranational organizations. At the present time, the Advisor expects that most investments will be made in the obligations of issuers that are in developed countries, such as those countries that are members of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (“OECD”). However, in the future, the Advisor anticipates investing in issuers located in other countries as well. The fixed income securities in which the Two-Year Global Portfolio invests are considered investment grade at the time of purchase. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio intends to invest its assets in issuers organized or having a majority of their assets in, or deriving a majority of their operating income in, at least three different countries, one of which may be the United States. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities that mature within two years from the date of settlement.

It is the policy of the Two-Year Global Portfolio that the weighted average length of maturity of investments will not exceed two years. However, investments may be made in obligations maturing in a shorter time period (from overnight, to up to two years from the date of settlement). Because many of the Portfolio’s investments will be denominated in foreign currencies, the Portfolio will also enter into forward foreign currency contracts to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency rates, to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or to transfer balances from one currency to another. The Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

The Two-Year Global Portfolio may concentrate its investments in obligations of U.S. and foreign banks and bank holding companies. The Portfolio will concentrate its assets (invest more than 25% of its total assets) in obligations of U.S. and/or foreign banks and bank holding companies (“banking industry securities”) when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking industry securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group generally for a period of five consecutive days when the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. See the section entitled “Investments in the Banking Industry by certain Fixed Income Underlying Funds” below for additional information.

 

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DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio – The DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio (the “Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio”) seeks to maximize total returns from a universe of U.S. and foreign debt securities maturing in two years or less. The Portfolio may selectively hedge its foreign currency risks depending on market conditions. The debt securities in which the Portfolio may invest include obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, corporate debt obligations, bank obligations, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, obligations of other domestic and foreign issuers, securities of domestic or foreign issuers denominated in U.S. dollars but not trading in the United States, and obligations of supranational organizations. At the present time, the Advisor expects that most investments will be made in the obligations of issuers that are located in developed countries, such as those countries that are members of the OECD. However, in the future, the Advisor anticipates investing in issuers located in other countries as well. The fixed income securities in which the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio invests are considered investment grade at the time of purchase. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio intends to invest its assets in issuers organized or having a majority of their assets in, or deriving a majority of their operating income in, at least three different countries, one of which may be the United States.

As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities. It is the policy of the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio that the weighted average length of maturity of its investments will not exceed two years. However, investments may be made in obligations maturing in a shorter time period (from overnight, to up to two years from the date of settlement).

Because many of the Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio’s investments may be denominated in foreign currencies, the Portfolio may hedge the currency exposure of the foreign securities by entering into foreign forward currency contracts, or leave some or all of the currency exposure unhedged, to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency rates, to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or to transfer balances from one currency to another. The decision to hedge the Portfolio’s currency exposure with respect to a foreign market will be based on, among other things, a comparison of the respective foreign and U.S. short-term interest rates and the Portfolio’s existing exposure to a given foreign currency. The Portfolio may use derivatives, such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts, to gain market exposure on its uninvested cash pending investment in securities or to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

The Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio may concentrate its investments in obligations of U.S. and foreign banks and bank holding companies. The Portfolio will concentrate its assets (invest more than 25% of its total assets) in obligations of U.S. and/or foreign banks and bank holding companies (“banking industry securities”) when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking industry securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group generally for a period of five consecutive days when the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. See the section entitled “Investments in the Banking Industry by certain Fixed Income Underlying Funds” below for additional information.

VA Global Bond Portfolio – The VA Global Bond Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective by generally investing in a universe of U.S. and foreign debt securities maturing in five years or less. The Portfolio primarily purchases obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, obligations of other foreign issuers rated AA or better, corporate debt obligations, bank obligations, commercial paper and supranational organizations. At the present time, the Advisor expects that most investments will be made in the obligations of issuers that are developed countries, such as those countries that are members of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The fixed income securities in which the VA Global bond Portfolio invests are considered investment grade at the time of purchase. However, in the future, the Advisor anticipates investing in issuers located in other countries as well. Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio intends to invest its assets in issuers organized or having a majority of their assets in, or deriving a majority of their operating income in, at least three different countries, one of which may be the United States. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities. The Portfolio will generally invest its assets in obligations that mature within five years from the date of settlement. Because many of the Portfolio’s investments will be denominated in foreign currencies, the Portfolio will also enter into forward foreign currency contracts solely for the purpose of hedging against fluctuations in currency exchange rates.

VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio – The VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective by generally investing in a universe of high quality fixed income securities that typically mature in one year or less. The Portfolio may, however, take a large position in securities maturing within two years from the date

 

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of settlement when higher yields are available. The Portfolio purchases U.S. government obligations, U.S. government agency obligations, dollar-denominated obligations of foreign issuers issued in the U.S., foreign government and agency obligations, bank obligations, including U.S. subsidiaries and branches of foreign banks, corporate obligations, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, obligations of supranational organizations and affiliated and unaffiliated unregistered money market funds. As a non-fundamental policy, under normal circumstances, the Portfolio will invest at least 80% of its net assets in fixed income securities and maintain a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity that will not exceed one year. The Portfolio principally invests in certificates of deposit, commercial paper, bankers’ acceptances, notes and bonds.

The VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio may concentrate its investments in obligations of U.S. and foreign banks and bank holding companies. The Portfolio will invest more than 25% of its total assets in obligations of U.S. and/or foreign banks and bank holding companies (“banking industry securities”) when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking industry securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group for a period of five consecutive days when the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. See the section entitled “Investments in the Banking Industry by certain Fixed Income Underlying Funds” below for additional information.

Description of Investments of the Fixed Income Underlying Funds

The following is a description of the categories of investments, which may be acquired by the Fixed Income Underlying Funds.

 

     Permissible Categories:  

Two-Year Global Portfolio

     1-11   

Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio

     1-11   

VA Global Bond Fund Portfolio

     1-11   

VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio

     1-8, 10-11   

1.     U.S. Government Obligations—Debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury which are direct obligations of the U.S. government, including bills, notes and bonds.

2.     U.S. Government Agency Obligations—Issued or guaranteed by U.S. government-sponsored instrumentalities and federal agencies, which have different levels of credit support. The U.S. government agency obligations include, but are not limited to, securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government that are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States, such as the Federal Housing Administration and Ginnie Mae, including Ginnie Mae pass-through certificates. Other securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities sponsored by the U.S. government may be supported only by the issuer’s right to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, subject to certain limits, such as securities issued by Federal Home Loan Banks, or are supported only by the credit of such agencies, such as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

3.     Corporate Debt Obligations—Non-convertible corporate debt securities (e.g., bonds and debentures), which are issued by companies whose commercial paper is rated Prime1 by Moody’s Investor’s Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or A1 or better by Standard & Poor’s Rating Group (“S&P”) or F1 or better by Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”) and dollar-denominated obligations of foreign issuers issued in the U.S. If the issuer’s commercial paper is unrated, then the debt security would have to be rated at least AA by S&P or Aa2 by Moody’s or AA by Fitch. If there is neither a commercial paper rating nor a rating of the debt security, then the Advisor must determine that the debt security is of comparable quality to equivalent issues of the same issuer rated at least AA or Aa2.

 

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4.     Bank Obligations—Obligations of U.S. banks and savings and loan associations and dollar-denominated obligations of U.S. subsidiaries and branches of foreign banks, such as certificates of deposit (including marketable variable rate certificates of deposit), time deposits and bankers’ acceptances. Bank certificates of deposit will only be acquired from banks having assets in excess of $1,000,000,000.

5.     Commercial Paper—Rated, at the time of purchase, A1 or better by S&P or Prime1 by Moody’s, or F1 or better by Fitch or, if unrated, issued by a corporation having an outstanding unsecured debt issue rated Aaa by Moody’s or AAA by S&P or AAA by Fitch.

6.     Repurchase Agreements—Instruments through which the Fixed Income Underlying Funds purchase securities (“underlying securities”) from a bank or a registered U.S. government securities dealer, with an agreement by the seller to repurchase the securities at an agreed price, plus interest at a specified rate. The underlying securities will be limited to U.S. government and agency obligations described in (1) and (2) above. The Fixed Income Underlying Funds will not enter into a repurchase agreement with a duration of more than seven days if, as a result, more than 10% of the value of the Fixed Income Underlying Fund’s total assets would be so invested. In addition, a repurchase agreement with a duration of more than seven days will be subject to a Fixed Income Underlying Fund’s illiquid securities policy. The Fixed Income Underlying Funds also will only invest in repurchase agreements with a bank if the bank has at least $1,000,000,000 in assets and is approved by the Investment Committee of the Advisor. The Advisor will monitor the market value of the securities plus any accrued interest thereon so that they will at least equal the repurchase price.

7.     Foreign Government and Agency Obligations—Bills, notes, bonds and other debt securities issued or guaranteed by foreign governments, or their agencies and instrumentalities.

8.     Supranational Organization Obligations—Debt securities of supranational organizations such as the European Coal and Steel Community, the European Economic Community and the World Bank, which are chartered to promote economic development.

9.     Foreign Issuer Obligations—Debt securities of non-U.S. issuers rated AA or better by S&P or Aa2 or better by Moody’s or AA or better by Fitch.

10.     Eurodollar Obligations—Debt securities of domestic or foreign issuers denominated in U.S. dollars but not trading in the United States.

11.     Money Market Funds—The Fixed Income Underlying Funds may invest in affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds. Investments in money market funds may involve a duplication of certain fees and expenses.

The categories of investments that may be acquired by each of the Fixed Income Underlying may include both fixed and floating rate securities. Floating rate securities bear interest at rates that vary with prevailing market rates. Interest rate adjustments are made periodically (e.g., every six months), usually based on a money market index such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) or the Treasury bill rate.

Investments in the Banking Industry by certain Fixed Income Underlying Funds

The Two-Year Global Portfolio, Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio and VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio will invest more than 25% of their total respective assets in obligations of U.S. and/or foreign banks and bank holding companies (“banking industry securities”) when the yield to maturity on eligible portfolio investments in banking industry securities as a group generally exceeds the yield to maturity on all other eligible portfolio investments as a group generally for a period of five consecutive days when the NYSE is open for trading. For purposes of this policy, the Advisor considers eligible portfolio investments to be those securities that are on the Advisor’s then current buy list that are available for purchase. This policy can only be changed by a vote of shareholders. When investment in such obligations exceeds 25% of the total net assets of any of these Portfolios, such Portfolio will be considered to be concentrating its investments in the banking industry. Once a Portfolio concentrates its investments

 

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in the banking industry, the Portfolio may remain concentrated in the banking industry until the purchase of new investments in the normal course of executing the Portfolio’s investment strategy result in less than 25% of the Portfolio’s total assets consisting of banking industry securities.

The types of bank and bank holding company obligations in which the Two-Year Global Portfolio, Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio and VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio may invest include: dollar-denominated certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances, commercial paper and other debt obligations issued in the United States provided such obligations meet the Portfolio’s established credit rating criteria as stated under “Description of Investments of the Fixed Income Underlying Funds.” In addition, the Portfolios are authorized to invest more than 25% of their total assets in Treasury bonds, bills and notes and obligations of federal agencies and instrumentalities. The Selectively Hedged Global Portfolio may also invest in non-dollar denominated certificates.

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

The following discussion relates to the policies of the Underlying Funds with respect to brokerage commissions. The Portfolios will not incur any brokerage costs in connection with their purchase or redemption of shares of the Underlying Funds.

The Fixed Income Underlying Funds acquire and sell securities on a net basis with dealers that are major market makers in such securities. The Investment Committee of the Advisor selects dealers on the basis of their size and market making ability. When executing portfolio transactions, the Advisor seeks to obtain the most favorable price for the securities being traded among the dealers with whom the Fixed Income Underlying Funds effect transactions.

Portfolio transactions will be placed with a view to seeking the best price and execution. The Underlying Funds will seek to acquire and dispose of securities in a manner that would cause as little fluctuation in the market prices of stocks being purchased or sold as possible in light of the size of the transactions being effected, and brokers will be selected with this goal in view. The Advisor monitors the performance of brokers that effect transactions for the Underlying Funds to determine the effect that their trading has on the market prices of the securities in which the Underlying Funds invest. The Advisor also checks the rate of commission being paid by the Underlying Funds to their brokers to ascertain that the rates are competitive with those charged by other brokers for similar services.

Transactions also may be placed with brokers who provide the Advisor or the sub-advisors with investment research, such as reports concerning individual issuers, industries and general economic and financial trends and other research services. The investment advisory agreements of the Underlying Funds permit the Advisor knowingly to pay commissions on these transactions that are greater than another broker, dealer or exchange member might charge if the Advisor, in good faith, determines that the commissions paid are reasonable in relation to the research or brokerage services provided by the broker or dealer when viewed in terms of either a particular transaction or the Advisor’s overall responsibilities to the accounts under its management. Research services furnished by brokers through whom securities transactions are effected may be used by the Advisor in servicing all of its accounts and not all such services may be used by the Advisor with respect to the Underlying Funds.

Subject to seeking best price and execution, transactions may be placed with brokers that have assisted in the sale of Portfolio shares. The Advisor, however, pursuant to policies and procedures approved by the Board of Directors of the Fund, is prohibited from selecting brokers and dealers to effect a Portfolio’s portfolio securities transactions based (in whole or in part) on a broker’s or dealer’s promotion or sale of shares issued by a Portfolio or any other registered investment companies.

Companies eligible for purchase by the U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio, the U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio, DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio, VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio, International Core Equity Portfolio, Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio, VA International Value Portfolio may be thinly traded securities. The Advisor believes that it needs maximum flexibility to effect trades on a best execution basis. As deemed appropriate, the Advisor places buy and sell orders for the Underlying Funds with various brokerage firms that may act as principal or agent. The Advisor may also make use of direct market access and algorithmic, program or electronic trading methods. The Advisor may extensively use electronic trading systems as such systems can provide the ability to customize the orders placed and can assist in the Advisor’s execution strategies.

 

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FUTURES CONTRACTS

All Underlying Funds may enter into futures contracts and options on futures contracts. Such Underlying Funds may enter into futures contracts and options on future contracts to gain market exposure on the Underlying Fund’s uninvested cash pending investments in securities and to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of defined securities at a specified future time and at a specified price. Futures contracts that are standardized as to maturity date and underlying financial instrument are traded on national futures exchanges. The Underlying Funds will be required to make a margin deposit in cash or government securities with a futures commission merchant (an “FCM”) to initiate and maintain positions in futures contracts. Minimal initial margin requirements are established by the futures exchange and FCMs may establish margin requirements that are higher than the exchange requirements. After a futures contract position is opened, the value of the contract is marked to market daily. If the futures contract price changes to the extent that the margin on deposit does not satisfy margin requirements, payment of additional “variation” margin to be held by the FCM will be required. Conversely, a reduction in the required margin would result in a repayment of excess margin to the custodial accounts of the Underlying Fund. Variation margin payments are made to and from the futures broker for as long as the contract remains open. The Underlying Funds expect to earn income on their margin deposits. Each Underlying Fund intends to limit its futures-related investment activity so that other than with respect to bona fide hedging activity (as defined in Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) General Regulations Section 1.3 (z)): (i) the aggregate initial margin and premiums paid to establish commodity futures and commodity option contract positions (determined at the time the most recent position was established) do not exceed 5% of the liquidation value of an Underlying Fund’s portfolio, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such contracts it has entered into (provided that, in the case of an option that is in-the-money at the time of purchase, the in-the-money amount may be excluded in calculating such 5% limitation) or (ii) the aggregate net “notional value” (i.e., the size of a commodity futures or commodity option contract in contract units (taking into account any multiplier specified in the contract), multiplied by the current market price (for a futures contract) or strike price (for an option contract) of each such unit) of all non-hedge commodity futures and commodity option contracts that an Underlying Fund has entered into (determined at the time the most recent position was established) does not exceed the liquidation value of an Underlying Fund’s portfolio, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such contracts that an Underlying Fund has entered into.

Positions in futures contracts may be closed out only on an exchange that provides a secondary market. However, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular futures contract at any specific time. Therefore, it might not be possible to close a futures position and, in the event of adverse price movements, the Underlying Fund would continue to be required to make variation margin deposits. In such circumstances, if the Underlying Fund has insufficient cash, it might have to sell portfolio securities to meet daily margin requirements at a time when it might be disadvantageous to do so. Management intends to minimize the possibility that it will be unable to close out a futures contract by only entering into futures that are traded on national futures exchanges and for which there appears to be a liquid secondary market. Pursuant to published positions of the SEC and interpretations of the staff of the SEC, the Underlying Funds (or their custodians) are required to maintain segregated accounts or to segregate assets through notations on the books of the custodian, consisting of liquid assets (or, as permitted under applicable interpretations, enter into offsetting positions) in connection with their futures contract transactions in order to cover their obligations with respect to such contracts. These requirements are designed to limit the amount of leverage the Underlying Funds may use by entering into futures transactions.

FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

The International Equity Underlying Funds and each Fixed Income Underlying Fund (except VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio) may acquire and sell forward foreign currency exchange contracts in order to protect against uncertainty in the level of future foreign currency exchange rates. The Underlying Funds will conduct their foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies. A forward foreign currency exchange contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days (usually less than one year) from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts are traded in the interbank market conducted

 

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directly between traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers. A forward contract generally has no deposit requirement, and no commissions are charged at any stage for trades. Although foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference (the spread) between the price at which they are buying and selling various currencies.

With respect to an International Equity Underlying Fund, the Underlying Fund may enter into a forward contract in connection with the purchase or sale of foreign equity securities, typically to “lock in” the value of the transaction with respect to a different currency. In addition, an International Equity Underlying Fund may, from time to time, enter into a forward contract to transfer balances from one currency to another currency.

The Fixed Income Underlying Funds (except VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio) may enter into forward foreign currency contracts to hedge against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or to transfer balances from one currency to another currency. A Fixed Income Underlying Fund may enter into a forward contract to buy or sell the amount of foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of the portfolio securities quoted or denominated in such foreign currency. The precise matching of the forward contract amounts and the value of the securities involved will not generally be possible since the future value of such securities in foreign currencies will change as a consequence of market movements in the value of those securities between the date the forward contract is entered into and the date it expires. The DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio and VA Global Bond Portfolio typically hedge their foreign currency exposure. DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio may hedge the currency exposure of its foreign securities or leave some or all of the currency exposure unhedged.

CASH MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

The Portfolio and Underlying Funds engage in cash management practices in order to earn income on uncommitted cash balances. Generally, cash is uncommitted pending investment in other securities, payment of redemptions or in other circumstances where the Advisor believes liquidity is necessary or desirable. For example, in the case of the Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio, cash investments may be made for temporary defensive purposes during periods in which market, economic or political conditions warrant.

All the Underlying Funds may invest cash in short-term repurchase agreements. In addition, the following cash investments are permissible for the Portfolio and Underlying Funds:

 

Portfolio   Permissible Cash Investments*   Percentage
Guidelines**
 

DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio

  U.S. government securities, repurchase agreements and short-term paper; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***     20%   
   
Underlying Funds   Permissible Cash Investments*   Percentage
Guidelines**
 

U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio

U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio

International Core Equity Portfolio

 

High quality, highly liquid fixed income securities, such as money market instruments; index futures contracts and options thereon; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***

 

    20%   

VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio

 

High quality, highly liquid fixed income securities, such as money market instruments; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***

 

    20%   

DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio

 

Fixed income obligations such as money market instruments; index futures contracts and options thereon; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***

 

    20%   

 

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Underlying Funds   Permissible Cash Investments*   Percentage
Guidelines**

VA International Value Portfolio

 

Fixed income obligations as may be acquired by the Fixed Income Underlying Funds; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***

 

  20%

Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio

 

Money market instruments; highly liquid debt securities; freely convertible currencies; index futures contracts and options thereon; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***

  20%

DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio

 

Short-term repurchase agreements; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***

  N.A.

DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio

 

Short-term repurchase agreements; affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***

  N.A.

VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio

VA Global Bond Portfolio

 

Affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds***

  20%

 

*

With respect to fixed income instruments, except in connection with corporate actions, the Portfolio and Underlying Funds will invest in fixed income instruments that at the time of purchase have an investment grade rating by a rating agency or are deemed to be investment grade by the Advisor.

 

**

The percentage guidelines set forth above are not absolute limitations but the Portfolio and Underlying Funds do not expect to exceed these guidelines under normal circumstances.

 

***

Investments in money market mutual funds may involve duplication of certain fees and expenses.

CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES

International Core Equity Portfolio and Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio each may invest up to 5% of their assets in convertible debentures issued by non-U.S. companies located in the countries where the Underlying Fund is permitted to invest. Convertible debentures include corporate bonds and notes that may be converted into or exchanged for common stock. These securities are generally convertible either at a stated price or a stated rate (that is, for a specific number of shares of common stock or other security). As with other fixed income securities, the price of a convertible debenture to some extent varies inversely with interest rates. While providing a fixed income stream (generally higher in yield than the income derived from a common stock but lower than that afforded by a non-convertible debenture), a convertible debenture also affords the investor an opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation of the common stock into which it is convertible. As the market price of the underlying common stock declines, convertible debentures tend to trade increasingly on a yield basis and so may not experience market value declines to the same extent as the underlying common stock. When the market price of the underlying common stock increases, the price of a convertible debenture tends to rise as a reflection of the value of the underlying common stock. To obtain such a higher yield, an Underlying Fund may be required to pay for a convertible debenture an amount in excess of the value of the underlying common stock. Common stock acquired by an Underlying Fund upon conversion of a convertible debenture will generally be held for as long as the Advisor anticipates such stock will provide the Underlying Fund with opportunities that are consistent with the Underlying Fund’s investment objective and policies.

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio, U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio, International Core Equity Portfolio and Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio may also invest in Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the equity markets while maintaining liquidity. An ETF is an investment company whose goal is to track or replicate a desired index, such as a sector, market or global segment. ETFs are passively managed, and traded similar to a publicly traded company. The risks and costs of investing in ETFs are comparable to investing in a publicly traded company. The goal of an ETF is to correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of its underlying index. The risk of not correlating to the index is an additional risk to the investors of ETFs. When an Underlying Fund invests in an ETF,

 

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shareholders of the Underlying Fund (including the Portfolio) bear their proportionate share of the underlying ETF’s fees and expenses.

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Directors

Organization of the Board

The Board of Directors of the Fund (the “Board”) is responsible for establishing the Fund’s policies and for overseeing the management of the Fund. The Board of Directors elects the officers of the Fund, who, along with third party service providers, are responsible for administering the day-to-day operations of the Fund. The Board of Directors of the Fund is comprised of two interested Directors and six disinterested Directors. David G. Booth, an interested Director, is Chairman of the Board. The Board has not found it necessary to appoint a lead disinterested Director because it believes that the existing structure of the Board allows for effective communication among the disinterested Directors, between the disinterested Directors and interested Directors, as well as between the disinterested Directors and management. The existing Board structure for the Fund also provides the disinterested Directors with adequate influence over the governance of the Board and the Fund, while also providing the Board with the invaluable insight of the two interested Directors, who, as both officers of the Fund and the Advisor, participate in the day-to-day management of the Fund’s affairs, including risk management.

The agenda for each quarterly meeting of the Board is provided at least two weeks prior to the meeting to the disinterested Directors in order to provide the Directors with the opportunity to contact Fund management and/or the disinterested Directors’ independent counsel regarding agenda items. In addition, the disinterested Directors regularly communicate with Mr. Booth regarding items of interest to them in between regularly scheduled meetings of the Board. The Board of the Fund meets in person at least four times each year and by telephone at other times. At each in-person meeting, the disinterested Directors meet in executive session with their independent counsel to discuss matters outside the presence of management.

The Board has three standing committees, an Audit Committee, a Nominating Committee and a Portfolio Performance and Service Review Committee (“Performance Committee”) that are composed entirely of disinterested Directors. As described below, through these Committees, the disinterested Directors have direct oversight of the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies, the selection and nomination of candidates to the Fund’s Board and the review of the investment performance of the series of the Fund and the performance of the Fund’s service providers.

The Board’s Audit Committee is comprised of George M. Constantinides, Roger G. Ibbotson and Abbie J. Smith. The Audit Committee for the Board oversees the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies and practices, the Fund’s internal controls, the Fund’s financial statements and the independent audits thereof and performs other oversight functions as requested by the Board. The Audit Committee recommends the appointment of the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and also acts as a liaison between the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and the full Board. There were two Audit Committee meetings held for the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

The Board’s Nominating Committee is comprised of George M. Constantinides, John P. Gould, Roger G. Ibbotson, Edward P. Lazear, Myron S. Scholes and Abbie J. Smith. The Nominating Committee for the Board makes recommendations for nominations of disinterested and interested members on the Board to the disinterested Board members and to the full board. The Nominating Committee evaluates a candidate’s qualification for Board membership and the independence of such candidate from the Advisor and other principal service providers. There were three Nominating Committee meetings held for the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

The Board’s Performance Committee is comprised of George M. Constantinides, John P. Gould, Roger G. Ibbotson, Edward P. Lazear, Myron S. Scholes and Abbie J. Smith. The Performance Committee regularly reviews and monitors the investment performance of the Fund’s series, including the Portfolio, and reviews the performance of the Fund’s service providers. There were seven Performance Committee meetings held for the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

 

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In addition to the Audit Committee, Nominating Committee and Performance Committee, the Board has an Investment Review Committee that assists the Board in carrying out its fiduciary duties with respect to the oversight of the Fund and its performance (the “Review Committee”). The Review Committee consists of both interested and disinterested Directors. The Review Committee is comprised of John P. Gould, Edward P. Lazear, Myron S. Scholes and Eduardo A. Repetto. At the request of the Board or the Advisor, the Review Committee (i) reviews the design of possible new series of the Fund, (ii) reviews performance of existing Portfolios of the Fund, and discusses and recommends possible enhancements to the Portfolios’ investment strategies, (iii) reviews proposals by the Advisor to modify or enhance the investment strategies or policies of each Portfolio, and (iv) considers issues relating to investment services for each Portfolio of the Fund. The Review Committee was formed on December 17, 2010. Consequently, there were no Review Committee meetings held for the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

The Board of the Fund, including all of the disinterested Directors, oversees and approves the contracts of the third party service providers that provide advisory, administrative, custodial and other services to the Fund.

Board Oversight of Risk Management

The Board, as a whole, considers risk management issues as part of its general oversight responsibilities throughout the year at regular board meetings, through regular reports that have been developed by Fund management and the Advisor. These reports address certain investment, valuation and compliance matters. The Board also may receive special written reports or presentations on a variety of risk issues, either upon the Board’s request or upon the initiative of the Advisor. In addition, the Audit Committee of the Board meets regularly with management of the Advisor to review reports on the Advisor’s examinations of functions and processes that affect the Fund.

With respect to investment risk, the Board receives regular written reports describing and analyzing the investment performance of the Fund’s portfolios. The Board discusses these reports and the portfolios’ performance and investment risks with management of the Advisor at the Board’s regular meetings. The Investment Committee of the Advisor meets regularly to discuss a variety of issues, including the impact that the investment in particular securities or instruments, such as derivatives, may have on the portfolios. To the extent that the Investment Committee of the Advisor decides to materially change an investment strategy or policy of a portfolio and such change could have a significant impact on the portfolio’s risk profile, the Advisor will present such change to the Board for their approval.

With respect to valuation, the Advisor and the Fund’s Administrative and Accounting Agent provide regular written reports to the Board that enables the Board to review fair valued securities in a particular portfolio. Such reports also include information concerning illiquid and any worthless securities held by each portfolio. In addition, the Fund’s Audit Committee reviews valuation procedures and pricing results with the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm in connection with such Committee’s review of the results of the audit of each portfolio’s year-end financial statements.

With respect to compliance risks, the Board receives regular compliance reports prepared by the Advisor’s compliance group and meets regularly with the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) to discuss compliance issues, including compliance risks. As required under SEC rules, the disinterested Directors meet at least quarterly in executive session with the CCO, and the Fund’s CCO prepares and presents an annual written compliance report to the Board. The Fund’s Board adopts compliance policies and procedures for the Fund and receives information about the compliance procedures in place for the Fund’s service providers. The compliance policies and procedures are specifically designed to detect and prevent violations of the federal securities laws.

The Advisor periodically provides information to the Board relevant to enterprise risk management describing the way in which certain risks are managed at the complex-wide level by the Advisor. Such presentations include areas such as counter-party risk, material fund vendor or service provider risk, investment risk, reputational risk, personnel risk and business continuity risk.

 

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Director Qualifications

When a vacancy occurs on the Board, the Nominating Committee of the Board evaluates a candidate’s qualification for Board membership and the independence of such candidate from the Advisor and other principal service providers. The Nominating Committee will consider nominees recommended by Qualifying Fund Shareholders if a vacancy occurs among Board members. A Qualifying Fund Shareholder is a shareholder, or group of shareholders, that: (i) owns of record, or beneficially through a financial intermediary, 5% or more of a Fund’s outstanding shares, and (ii) has owned such shares for 12 months or more prior to submitting the recommendation to the Committee. Such recommendations shall be directed to the Secretary of the Funds at 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, Texas 78746. The Qualifying Fund Shareholder’s letter should include: (i) the name and address of the Qualifying Fund Shareholder making the recommendation; (ii) the number of shares of each Portfolio of the Fund that are owned of record and beneficially by such Qualifying Fund Shareholder, and the length of time that such shares have been so owned by the Qualifying Fund Shareholder; (iii) a description of all arrangements and understandings between such Qualifying Fund Shareholder and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the recommendation is being made; (iv) the name and address of the nominee; and (v) the nominee’s resume or curriculum vitae. The Qualifying Fund Shareholder’s letter must be accompanied by a written consent of the individual to stand for election if nominated for the Board and to serve if elected by shareholders. The Committee also may seek such additional information about the nominee as the Committee considers appropriate, including information relating to such nominee that is required to be disclosed in solicitations or proxies for the election of Board members.

The Nominating Committee of the Board believes that it is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders to obtain highly-qualified individuals to serve as members of the Board. The Fund’s Board believes that each Director currently serving on the Board has the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills to allow the Board to effectively oversee the management of the Fund and protect the interests of shareholders. The Board noted that each Director had professional experience in areas of importance for investment companies. The Board considered that each disinterested Director held an academic position in the areas of finance, economics or accounting. The Board also noted that John P. Gould, Myron S. Scholes and Abbie J. Smith each had experience serving as a director on the boards of operating companies and/or other investment companies. In addition, the Board considered that David G. Booth and Eduardo A. Repetto contributed valuable experience due to their positions with the Advisor. Certain biographical information for each disinterested Director and each interested Director of the Fund is set forth in the tables below, including a description of each Director’s experience as a Director of the Fund and as a director or trustee of other funds, as well as other recent professional experience.

Disinterested Directors

 

Name, Address and

Age

   Position  

Term of

Office1

and

Length of

Service

  Principal Occupation During Past  5 Years  

Portfolios

within the

DFA Fund

Complex2

Overseen

 

Other

Directorships of

Public

Companies Held

During Past 5

Years

George M. Constantinides University of Chicago Booth School of Business

5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

Age: 63

   Director   Since 1993   Leo Melamed Professor of Finance, University of Chicago Booth School of Business.   89 portfolios in 4 investment companies   None

John P. Gould

University of Chicago Booth School of Business

5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

Age: 72

   Director   Since 1993   Steven G. Rothmeier Distinguished Service Professor of Economics, University of Chicago Booth School of Business (since 1965). Member and Chair, Competitive Markets Advisory Council, Chicago Mercantile Exchange (futures trading exchange) (since 2004). Formerly, Director of UNext Inc. (1999-2006). Formerly, Member of the Board of Milwaukee Insurance Company (1997- 2010).   89 portfolios in 4 investment companies   Trustee, Harbor Funds (registered investment company) (28 Portfolios) (since 1994).

 

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Table of Contents

  Name, Address and  

Age

     Position     

Term of

Office1

and

Length of

Service

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years   

Portfolios

within the

DFA Fund

Complex2

Overseen

  

Other

Directorships of

Public

Companies Held

During Past 5

Years

Roger G. Ibbotson

Yale School of Management

P.O. Box 208200

New Haven, CT 06520-8200

Age: 67

   Director    Since 1993    Professor in Practice of Finance, Yale School of Management (since 1984). Consultant to Morningstar, Inc. (since 2006). Chairman, CIO and Partner, Zebra Capital Management, LLC (hedge fund and asset manager) (since 2001). Formerly, Chairman, Ibbotson Associates, Inc., Chicago, IL (software, data, publishing and consulting) (1977- 2006). Formerly, Director, BIRR Portfolio Analysis, Inc. (software products) (1990-2010).   

89 portfolios

in 4

investment

companies

   None

Edward P. Lazear Stanford University Graduate School of Business

518 Memorial Way Stanford, CA 94305-5015

Age: 62

   Director    Since 2010    Morris Arnold Cox Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution (since 2002). Jack Steele Parker Professor of Human Resources Management and Economics, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University (since 1995). Cornerstone Research (expert testimony and economic and financial analysis) (since 2009). Formerly, Chairman of the President George W. Bush’s Council of Economic Advisers (2006- 2009). Council of Economic Advisors, State of California (2005-2006). Commissioner, White House Panel on Tax Reform (2005).   

89 portfolios

in 4

investment

companies

   None

Myron S. Scholes

c/o Dimensional Fund Advisors LP

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

Age: 69

   Director    Since 1993    Frank E. Buck Professor Emeritus of Finance, Stanford University (since 1981). Formerly, Chairman, Platinum Grove Asset Management L.P. (hedge fund) (formerly, Oak Hill Platinum Partners) (1999-2009). Formerly, Managing Partner, Oak Hill Capital Management (private equity firm) (until 2004). Formerly, Director, Chicago Mercantile Exchange (2001-2008).   

89 portfolios

in 4

investment

companies

   Director, American Century Fund Complex (registered investment companies) (40 Portfolios) (since 1980).

Abbie J. Smith

University of Chicago Booth School of Business

5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

Age: 57

   Director    Since 2000    Boris and Irene Stern Distinguished Service Professor of Accounting, University of Chicago Booth School of Business (since 1980); Co-Director Investment Research, Fundamental Investment Advisors (hedge fund) (since 2008).   

89 portfolios

in 4

investment

companies

   Director, HNI Corporation (formerly known as HON Industries Inc.) (office furniture) (since 2000); Director, Ryder System Inc. (transportation, logistics and supply-chain management) (since 2003); and Trustee, UBS Funds (3 investment companies within the fund complex) (52 portfolios) (since 2009).

 

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Interested Directors

The following Interested Directors are described as such because they are deemed to be “interested persons,” as that term is defined under the 1940 Act, due to their positions with the Advisor.

 

Name Address and

Age

   Position   

Term of

Office1

and

Length of

Service

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years   

Portfolios

within the

DFA Fund

Complex2

Overseen

  

Other
Directorships of

Public

Companies Held

During Past 5

Years

David G. Booth

6300 Bee Cave

Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

Age: 64

   Chairman, Director, President and Co-Chief Executive Officer    Since 1992    Chairman, Director/Trustee, President, Co-Chief Executive Officer and, formerly, Chief Executive Officer (until 1/1/2010) and Chief Investment Officer (2003 to 3/30/2007) of the following companies: Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, DFA Securities LLC, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund, DFAIDG, Dimensional Investment Group Inc. and The DFA Investment Trust Company. Chairman, Director, President and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Dimensional Holdings Inc. and formerly Chief Executive Officer (until 1/1/2010) and Chief Investment Officer (until 3/30/2007). Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. and formerly, Chief Investment Officer. Director of DFA Australia Limited and formerly, President and Chief Investment Officer. Director of Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC. Chairman and President of Dimensional SmartNest LLC and Dimensional SmartNest (US) LLC. Limited Partner, Oak Hill Partners (since 2001) and VSC Investors, LLC (since 2007). Trustee, University of Chicago. Trustee, University of Kansas Endowment Association. Formerly, Director, SA Funds (registered investment company). Chairman, Director and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director, Dimensional Cayman Commodity Fund I Ltd.    89 portfolios in 4 investment companies    None

Eduardo A. Repetto

6300 Bee Cave

Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746 Age: 44

   Director, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer    Since 2009    Co-Chief Executive Officer (beginning January 2010), Chief Investment Officer (beginning March 2007) and formerly, Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, Dimensional Holdings Inc., DFA Securities LLC, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund, DFAIDG, Dimensional Investment Group Inc., The DFA Investment Trust Company, and Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC; Director of all such entities except Dimensional Fund Advisors LP and DFA Securities LLC. Chief Investment Officer, Vice President and Director of DFA Australia Limited. Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC and Dimensional Cayman Commodity Fund I Ltd.    89 portfolios in 4 investment companies    None

 

1

Each Director holds office for an indefinite term until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

 

2

Each Director is a director or trustee of each of the four registered investment companies within the DFA Fund Complex, which include: the Fund; Dimensional Investment Group Inc. (“DIG”); The DFA Investment Trust Company (the “Trust”); and Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund (“DEM”). Each Disinterested Director also serves on the Independent Review Committee of the Dimensional Funds, mutual funds registered in the provinces of Canada and managed by the Advisor’s affiliate, Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

Information relating to each Director’s ownership (including the ownership of his or her immediate family) in the Portfolio and in all registered investment companies in the DFA Fund Complex as of December 31, 2010, is set forth in the chart below. Because the Portfolio has not yet commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI, the Directors do not own any shares of the Portfolio.

 

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Name

   Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned        

Aggregate Dollar Range of Shares Owned

in All Funds Overseen by Director in

Family of Investment Companies

Disinterested Directors:

              

George M. Constantinides

   None         None Directly; Over $100,000 in Simulated Funds**

John P. Gould

   None         None Directly; Over $100,000 in Simulated Funds **

Roger G. Ibbotson

   None         Over $100,000; Over $100,000 in Simulated Funds**

Edward P. Lazear

   None         None Directly.

Myron S. Scholes

   None         $50,001-$100,000; Over $100,000 in Simulated Funds**

Abbie J. Smith

   None         None Directly; Over $100,000 in Simulated Funds **

Interested Directors:

              

David G. Booth

   None         Over $100,000

Eduardo A. Repetto

   None         Over $100,000

**       As discussed below, the compensation to certain of the disinterested Directors may be in amounts that correspond to a hypothetical investment in a cross-section of the DFA Funds. Thus, the disinterested Directors who are so compensated experience the same investment returns that are experienced by shareholders of the DFA Funds although the disinterested Directors do not directly own shares of the DFA Funds.

Set forth below is a table listing, for each Director entitled to receive compensation, the compensation received from the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010 and the total compensation received from all four registered investment companies for which the Advisor served as investment advisor during that same fiscal period. The table also provides the compensation paid by the Fund to the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

 

Name and Position

  

Aggregate

Compensation

from the Fund*

  

Pension or

Retirement

Benefits as Part

of Fund

Expenses

  

Estimated Annual
Benefits upon

Retirement

  

Total

Compensation

from the Fund

and DFA Fund

Complex Paid

to Directors

George M. Constantinides

      Director

   $108,410    N/A    N/A    $175,000

John P. Gould

      Director

   $108,410    N/A    N/A    $175,000

Roger G. Ibbotson

      Director

   $114,889    N/A    N/A    $185,000

Edward P. Lazear**

      Director

   $0    N/A    N/A    $0

Myron S. Scholes

      Director

   $108,410    N/A    N/A    $175,000

Abbie J. Smith

      Director

   $108,410    N/A    N/A    $175,000

Christopher S. Crossan

      Chief Compliance Officer

   $210,470    N/A    N/A    N/A

 

The term DFA Fund Complex refers to the four registered investment companies for which the Advisor performs advisory or administrative services and for which the individuals listed above serve as directors/trustees on the Boards of Directors/Trustees of such companies.

 

*

Under a deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) adopted effective January 1, 2002, the disinterested Directors of the Fund may defer receipt of all or a portion of the compensation for serving as members of the four Boards of Directors/Trustees of the investment companies in the DFA Fund Complex (the “DFA

 

17


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Funds”). Amounts deferred under the Plan are treated as though equivalent dollar amounts had been invested in shares of a cross-section of the DFA Funds (the “Reference Funds” or “Simulated Funds”). The amounts ultimately received by the disinterested Directors under the Plan will be directly linked to the investment performance of the Reference Funds. Deferral of fees in accordance with the Plan will have a negligible effect on a fund’s assets, liabilities, and net income per share, and will not obligate a fund to retain the services of any disinterested Director or to pay any particular level of compensation to the disinterested Director. The total amount of deferred compensation accrued by the disinterested Directors from the DFA Fund Complex who participated in the Plan during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010 is as follows: $185,000 (Mr. Ibbotson). A disinterested Director’s deferred compensation will be distributed at the earlier of: (a) January in the year after the disinterested Director’s resignation from the Boards of Directors/Trustees of the DFA Funds, or death or disability; or (b) five years following the first deferral, in such amounts as the disinterested Director has specified. The obligations of the DFA Funds to make payments under the Plan will be unsecured general obligations of the DFA Funds, payable out of the general assets and property of the DFA Funds.

 

**

Mr. Lazear did not serve as a Director until December 17, 2010; therefore, he did not receive any compensation from the Fund or the DFA Fund Complex as of October 31, 2010.

Officers

Below is the name, age, and information regarding positions with the Fund and the principal occupation for each officer of the Fund. The address of each officer is 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746. Each of the officers listed below holds the same office (except as otherwise noted) in the following entities: Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, Dimensional Holdings Inc., DFA Securities LLC, the Funds, the Trust, and DEM (collectively, the “DFA Entities”).

 

Name and Age

   Position   

Term of

Office1

and

Length of

Service

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

April A. Aandal

Age: 48

   Vice President and Chief Learning Officer    Since 2008    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Chief Learning Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2008). Formerly Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2004-2008).

Darryl D. Avery

Age: 44

   Vice President    Since 2005    Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Arthur H. Barlow

Age: 55

   Vice President    Since 1993    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Scott A. Bosworth

Age: 42

   Vice President    Since 2007    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since November 1997).

Valerie A. Brown

Age: 44

   Vice President and Assistant Secretary    Since 2001    Vice President and Assistant Secretary of all the DFA Entities, DFA Australia Limited, Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., and Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

David P. Butler

Age: 45

   Vice President    Since 2007    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Director of Global Financial Advisor Services of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since 2008). Formerly, Director US Financial Advisor Services of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2005).

Joseph H. Chi

Age: 44

   Vice President    Since 2009    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since October 2005).

Stephen A. Clark

Age: 38

   Vice President    Since 2004    Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Robert P. Cornell

Age: 61

   Vice President    Since 2007    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Financial Services Group of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since August 1993).

Christopher S. Crossan

Age: 45

  

Vice President and

Chief Compliance Officer

   Since 2004    Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of all the DFA Entities.

James L. Davis

Age: 54

   Vice President    Since 1999    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Robert T. Deere

Age: 53

   Vice President    Since 1994    Vice President of all the DFA Entities and DFA Australia Limited.

 

18


Table of Contents

Name and Age

   Position   

Term of

Office1

and

Length of

Service

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

Peter F. Dillard

Age: 39

   Vice President    Since 2010    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Research Associate for Dimensional Fund Advisors, LP (since August 2008). Formerly, Research Assistant for DFA from April 2006 – August 2008. Prior to April 2006, Manager at Hilton Hotels Corp. (September 2004 – April 2006).

Robert W. Dintzner

Age: 40

   Vice President    Since 2001    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Chief Communications Officer (since 2010).

Beth Ann Dranguet

Age: 40

   Vice President    Since 2010    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Counsel for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since July 2007). Formerly, Associate at Vinson & Elkins LLP (September 1999 – July 2007).

Kenneth Elmgren

Age: 56

   Vice President    Since 2007    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Managing Principal of Beverly Capital (May 2004 to September 2006).

Richard A. Eustice

Age: 45

  

Vice President and

Assistant Secretary

   Since 1998    Vice President and Assistant Secretary of all the DFA Entities and DFA Australia Limited. Chief Operating Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (since July 2008). Formerly, Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Eugene F. Fama, Jr.

Age: 50

   Vice President    Since 1993    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Gretchen A. Flicker

Age: 39

   Vice President    Since 2004    Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Jed S. Fogdall

Age: 36

   Vice President    Since 2008    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2004).

Jeremy P. Freeman

Age: 40

   Vice President    Since 2009    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Technology Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since June 2006). Formerly, Principal at AIM Investments/Amvescap PLC (now Invesco) (June 1998 – June 2006).

Mark R. Gochnour

Age: 43

   Vice President    Since 2007    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

Henry F. Gray

Age: 43

   Vice President    Since 2000    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited.

John T. Gray

Age: 36

   Vice President    Since 2007    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (January 2005 to February 2007).

Joel H. Hefner

Age: 43

   Vice President    Since 2007    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since June 1998).

Julie C. Henderson

Age: 36

  

Vice President and

Fund Controller

   Since 2005    Vice President and Fund Controller of all the DFA Entities.

Kevin B. Hight

Age: 43

   Vice President    Since 2005    Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Christine W. Ho

Age: 43

   Vice President    Since 2004    Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Jeff J. Jeon

Age: 37

   Vice President    Since 2004    Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Patrick M. Keating

Age: 56

   Vice President    Since 2003    Vice President of all the DFA Entities and Chief Operating Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Director, Vice President, and Chief Privacy Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director of DFA Australia Limited.

David M. Kershner

Age: 39

   Vice President    Since 2010    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since June 2004).

Joseph F. Kolerich

Age: 39

   Vice President    Since 2004    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since April 2001).

Michael F. Lane

Age: 43

   Vice President    Since 2004    Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Kristina M. LaRusso

Age: 35

   Vice President    Since 2006    Vice President of all DFA Entities. Formerly, Operations Supervisor of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (March 2003 to December 2006).

Juliet H. Lee

Age: 40

   Vice President    Since 2005    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Human Resources Manager of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2004).

Apollo D. Lupescu

Age: 41

   Vice President    Since 2009    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since February 2004).

 

19


Table of Contents

Name and Age

   Position   

Term of

Office1

and

Length of

Service

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

Kenneth M. Manell

Age: 38

   Vice President    Since 2010    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Counsel for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2006). Formerly, Assistant General Counsel at Castle & Cooke (January 2004 – September 2006).

Aaron M. Marcus

Age: 40

  

Vice President and

Head of Global

Human Resources

   Since 2008    Vice President of all DFA Entities and Head of Global Human Resources of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Formerly, Global Head of Recruiting and Vice President of Goldman Sachs & Co. (June 2006 to January 2008); Global Co-Head of HR of the Equities & FICC Division, and Vice President of Goldman Sachs & Co. (May 2005 to May 2006);

David R. Martin

Age: 54

  

Vice President, Chief

Financial Officer and

Treasurer

   Since 2007    Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of all the DFA Entities. Director, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. and DFA Australia Limited. Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director of Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC. Formerly, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Janus Capital Group Inc. (June 2005 to March 2007).

Catherine L. Newell

Age: 46

  

Vice President and

Secretary

   Vice President since 1997 and Secretary since 2000    Vice President and Secretary of all the DFA Entities. Director, Vice President and Secretary of DFA Australia Limited. Director, Vice President and Secretary of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (since February 2002, April 1997, and May 2002, respectively). Vice President and Secretary of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director of Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC (since 2002 and 2006, respectively).

Christian Newton

Age: 35

   Vice President    Since 2009    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Web Services Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2008). Formerly, Design Manager (2005 – 2008) of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

Carolyn L. O

Age: 36

   Vice President    Since 2010    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Counsel for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2007). Prior to September 2007, Associate at K&L Gates LLP (January 2004 – September 2007).

Gerard K. O’Reilly

Age: 34

   Vice President    Since 2007    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Research Associate of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2004 to 2006).

Daniel C. Ong

Age: 37

   Vice President    Since 2009    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since July 2005).

Kyle K. Ozaki

Age: 32

   Vice President    Since 2010    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Compliance Officer for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2008). Formerly, Compliance Officer (February 2006 – December 2007) and Compliance Analyst (August 2004 – January 2006).

Carmen Palafox

Age: 36

   Vice President    Since 2006    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Operations Manager of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since May 1996).

Sonya K. Park

Age: 38

   Vice President    Since 2005    Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

David A. Plecha

Age: 49

   Vice President    Since 1993    Vice President of all the DFA Entities, DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Theodore W. Randall

Age: 37

   Vice President    Since 2008    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Research Associate of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2006 to 2008); Systems Developer of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2001 to 2006).

L. Jacobo Rodríguez

Age: 39

   Vice President    Since 2005    Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Julie A. Saft

Age: 51

   Vice President    Since 2010    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Client Systems Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since July 2008). Formerly, Senior Manager at Vanguard (November 1997 – July 2008).

David E. Schneider

Age: 65

   Vice President    Since 2001    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Director of Institutional Services of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

Walid A. Shinnawi

Age: 49

   Vice President    Since 2010    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since March 2006). Formerly, Senior Director at Moody’s KMV (1999-March 2006).

 

20


Table of Contents

Name and Age

   Position   

Term of

Office1

and

Length of

Service

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

Bruce A. Simmons

Age: 46

   Vice President    Since 2009    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Investment Operations Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since May 2007). Formerly, Vice President Client and Fund Reporting at Mellon Financial (September 2005 – May 2007).

Ted R. Simpson

Age: 42

   Vice President    Since 2007    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since December 2002).

Bryce D. Skaff

Age: 36

   Vice President    Since 2007    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (December 1999 to January 2007).

Grady M. Smith

Age: 54

   Vice President    Since 2004    Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Carl G. Snyder

Age: 47

   Vice President    Since 2000    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited.

Lawrence R. Spieth

Age: 63

   Vice President    Since 2004    Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Bradley G. Steiman

Age: 37

   Vice President    Since 2004    Vice President of all the DFA Entities and Director and Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

Robert C. Trotter

Age: 52

   Vice President    Since 2009    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Manager Technology for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since March 2007). Formerly, Director of Technology at AMVESCAP (2002 – 2007).

Karen E. Umland

Age: 44

   Vice President    Since 1997    Vice President of all the DFA Entities, DFA Australia Limited, Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., and Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

Brian J. Walsh

Age: 41

   Vice President    Since 2009    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since 2004).

Weston J. Wellington

Age: 59

   Vice President    Since 1997    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited.

Ryan J. Wiley

Age: 34

   Vice President    Since 2007    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Trader of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Formerly, Portfolio Manager (2006 to 2007) and Trader (2001 to 2006).

Paul E. Wise

Age: 55

   Vice President    Since 2005    Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Chief Technology Officer for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since 2004).

 

1

Each officer holds office for an indefinite term at the pleasure of the Boards of Directors and until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

Because this Portfolio has not been offered prior to the date of this SAI, the Directors and officers as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Portfolio.

SERVICES TO THE FUND

Administrative Services

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (formerly, PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.) (“BNY Mellon”), 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809, serves as the accounting services, dividend disbursing, and transfer agent for the Portfolio and the Underlying Funds. The services provided by BNY Mellon are subject to supervision by the executive officers and the Board of Directors of the Fund and include day-to-day keeping and maintenance of certain records, calculation of the offering price of the shares, preparation of reports, liaison with its custodian, and transfer and dividend disbursing agency services. For the administrative and accounting services provided by BNY Mellon, the Underlying Funds pay BNY Mellon annual fees that are calculated daily and paid monthly according to a fee schedule based on the aggregate average net assets of the Fund Complex, which includes four registered investment companies and a group trust. The fee schedule is set forth in the table below:

.0110% of the Fund Complex’s first $50 billion of average net assets;

.0085% of the Fund Complex’s next $25 billion of average net assets; and

.0075% of the Fund Complex’s average net assets in excess of $75 billion.

 

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The fees charged to an Underlying Fund under the fee schedule are allocated to each such Underlying Fund based on the Underlying Fund’s pro-rata portion of the aggregate average net assets of the Fund Complex.

The Portfolio is subject to a monthly fee of $1,000. The Underlying Funds are also subject to certain monthly base fees. Each Domestic Equity Underlying Fund and VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio is subject to a monthly base fee of $1,666 and each International Equity or Fixed Income Underlying Fund (except VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio) is subject to a monthly base fee of $2,083.

The Portfolio and Underlying Funds also pay separate fees to BNY Mellon with respect to the services BNY Mellon provides as transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent.

Shareholder Services

On behalf of the Portfolio, the Fund will enter into agreements with third parties to provide administrative services, shareholder servicing, recordkeeping, account maintenance and other services to investors. For shareholder servicing, the Fund will pay to such third parties an amount calculated at an annual rate of 0.10% of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets.

Custodian

PFPC Trust Company (to be renamed BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company effective July 1, 2011), 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809, serves as the custodian for the Portfolio.

Distributor

The Fund’s shares are distributed by DFA Securities LLC (formerly, DFA Securities Inc.) (“DFAS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Advisor. DFAS is registered as a limited purpose broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. The principal business address of DFAS is 1299 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, California 90401.

DFAS acts as an agent of the Fund by serving as the principal underwriter of the Fund’s shares. Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement with the Fund, DFAS uses its best efforts to seek or arrange for the sale of shares of the Fund, which are continuously offered. No sales charges are paid by investors or the Fund. No compensation is paid by the Fund to DFAS under the Distribution Agreement.

Legal Counsel

Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP serves as legal counsel to the Fund. Its address is 2600 One Commerce Square, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7098.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) is the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund and audits the annual financial statements of the Portfolio and Underlying Funds. PwC’s address is Two Commerce Square, Suite 1700, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042.

ADVISORY FEES

David G. Booth and Rex A. Sinquefield, as directors and/or officers of the Advisor and shareholders of the outstanding stock of the Advisor’s general partner, may be deemed controlling persons of the Advisor. Mr. Booth also serves as Director and officer of the Fund. For the services it provides as investment advisor to the Portfolio, the Advisor is paid a monthly fee calculated as a percentage of average net assets of the Portfolio. As of October 31, 2010, the Portfolio has not commenced operations, so the Portfolio did not pay any management fees for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

 

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Pursuant to a Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement for the Portfolio, the Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and to assume the expenses of the Portfolio (including the Shareholder Services Fees and the expenses that the Portfolio bears as a shareholder the Underlying Funds, but excluding the expenses that the Portfolio incurs indirectly through its investment in unaffiliated investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) to the extent necessary to limit the Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio to 0.45% of the Portfolio’s average net assets on an annualized basis (the “Expense Limitation Amount”). At any time that the Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio are less than the Portfolio’s Expense Limitation Amount, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived and/or expenses previously assumed to the extent that such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s annualized Portfolio Expenses to exceed the Portfolio’s Expense Limitation Amount. The Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived or expenses previously assumed by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement. The Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement will remain in effect for an initial period until February 28, 2012, and then shall continue in effect from year to year for one-year periods thereafter unless terminated by the Advisor.

As a shareholder of the Underlying Funds, the Portfolio pays its proportionate share of the management fees paid to the Advisor by the Underlying Funds.

PORTFOLIO MANAGER

In accordance with the team approach used to manage the Portfolio, the portfolio managers and portfolio traders implement the policies and procedures established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers and portfolio traders also make daily investment decisions regarding the Portfolio, including running buy and sell programs based on the parameters established by the Investment Committee. Stephen A. Clark is the portfolio manager that coordinates the efforts of all other portfolio managers with respect to the day-to-day management of the Portfolio. Because the Portfolio has not commenced operations prior to the date of the SAI, Mr. Clark did not own any shares of the Portfolio.

Description of Compensation Structure

Portfolio managers receive a base salary and bonus. Compensation of a portfolio manager is determined at the discretion of the Advisor and is based on a portfolio manager’s experience, responsibilities, the perception of the quality of his or her work efforts, and other subjective factors. The compensation of portfolio managers is not directly based upon the performance of the Portfolio or other accounts that the portfolio managers manage. The Advisor reviews the compensation of each portfolio manager annually and may make modifications in compensation as its Compensation Committee deems necessary to reflect changes in the market. Each portfolio manager’s compensation consists of the following:

 

   

Base salary. Each portfolio manager is paid a base salary. The Advisor considers the factors described above to determine each portfolio manager’s base salary.

 

   

Semi-Annual Bonus. Each portfolio manager may receive a semi-annual bonus. The amount of the bonus paid to each portfolio manager is based upon the factors described above.

Portfolio managers may be awarded the right to purchase restricted shares of the stock of the Advisor, as determined from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Advisor or its delegates. Portfolio managers also participate in benefit and retirement plans and other programs available generally to all employees.

In addition, portfolio managers may be given the option of participating in the Advisor’s Long Term Incentive Plan. The level of participation for eligible employees may be dependent on overall level of compensation, among other considerations. Participation in this program is not based on or related to the performance of any individual strategies or any particular client accounts.

Other Managed Accounts

In addition to the Portfolio, the portfolio managers manage: (i) other U.S. registered investment companies advised or sub-advised by the Advisor; (ii) other pooled investment vehicles that are not U.S. registered mutual

 

23


Table of Contents

funds; and (iii) other accounts managed for organizations and individuals. The following table sets forth information regarding the total accounts for which the portfolio manager has the primary responsibility for coordinating the day-to-day management responsibilities:

 

Name of Portfolio Manager   

Number of Accounts Managed and Total

Assets by Category As of October 31, 2010

Stephen A. Clark

  

•      92 U.S. registered mutual funds with $133,626 million in total assets under management.

 

•      20 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $25,316 million in total assets under management. Out of these unregistered pooled investment vehicles, one client with an investment of $220 million in an unregistered pooled investment vehicle pays a performance-based advisory fee.

 

•      73 other accounts with $11,603 million in total assets under management, of which one account with $731 million in assets may be subject to a performance fee.

Potential Conflicts of Interest

Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has the primary day-to-day responsibilities with respect to more than one portfolio and other accounts. Other accounts include registered mutual funds (other than the Portfolio), other unregistered pooled investment vehicles, and other accounts managed for organizations and individuals (“Accounts”). An Account may have a similar investment objective to the Portfolio or an Underlying Fund, or may purchase, sell, or hold securities that are eligible to be purchased, sold, or held by the Portfolio or an Underlying Fund. Actual or apparent conflicts of interest include:

 

   

Time Management. The management of multiple portfolios and/or Accounts may result in a portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of each portfolio and/or Account. The Advisor seeks to manage such competing interests for the time and attention of portfolio managers by having portfolio managers focus on a particular investment discipline. Most Accounts managed by a portfolio manager are managed using the same investment models that are used in connection with the management of the portfolios.

 

   

Investment Opportunities. It is possible that at times identical securities will be held by more than one portfolio and/or Account. However, positions in the same security may vary and the length of time that any portfolio or Account may choose to hold its investment in the same security may likewise vary. If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity that may be suitable for more than one portfolio or Account, a portfolio may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to an allocation of filled purchase or sale orders across all eligible portfolios and Accounts. To deal with these situations, the Advisor has adopted procedures for allocating portfolio transactions across multiple portfolios and Accounts.

 

   

Broker Selection. With respect to securities transactions for the portfolios, the Advisor determines which broker to use to execute each order, consistent with the Advisor’s duty to seek best execution of the transaction. However, with respect to certain Accounts (such as separate accounts), the Advisor may be limited by the client with respect to the selection of brokers or may be instructed to direct trades through a particular broker. In these cases, the Advisor or its affiliates may place separate, non-simultaneous, transactions for a portfolio and another Account that may temporarily affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment of the portfolio or the Account.

 

   

Performance-Based Fees. For some Accounts, the Advisor may be compensated based on the profitability of the Account, such as by a performance-based management fee. These incentive compensation structures may create a conflict of interest for the Advisor with regard to Accounts where the Advisor is paid based on a percentage of assets because the portfolio manager may have an incentive to allocate securities preferentially to the Accounts where the Advisor might share in investment gains.

 

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Investment in an Account. A portfolio manager or his/her relatives may invest in an Account that he or she manages and a conflict may arise where he or she may therefore have an incentive to treat the Account in which the portfolio manager or his/her relatives invest preferentially as compared to the Portfolio or other Accounts for which he or she has portfolio management responsibilities.

The Advisor and the Fund have adopted certain compliance procedures that are reasonably designed to address these types of conflicts. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Fund was incorporated under Maryland law on June 15, 1981. Until June 1983, DFAIDG was named DFA Small Company Fund Inc.

Pursuant to an exemptive order from the SEC, shares of the Portfolio may be sold to registered separate accounts of various insurance companies offering variable annuity and variable life products. At present, the Board of Directors of the Fund does not foresee any disadvantage arising from the fact that the Portfolio may offer its shares to separate accounts of various insurance companies to serve as an investment vehicle for their variable separate accounts. However, a material conflict could arise between the interest of the different participating separate accounts. The Fund’s Board of Directors would monitor events in order to identify any material irreconcilable conflicts that may possibly arise and to determine what action, if any, should be taken in response to such conflicts of interest. If such conflicts were to occur, one or more insurance companies’ separate accounts might be required to withdraw its investments in the Portfolio, or shares of another portfolio may be substituted by the Fund. As a result, the Portfolio might be forced to sell a portion of its securities at a disadvantageous price. In the event of such a material conflict, the affected insurance companies agree to take any necessary steps, including removing its separate account from the Portfolio if required by law, to resolve the matter.

CODE OF ETHICS

The Fund, the Advisor and DFAS have adopted a revised Code of Ethics, under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act, for certain access persons of the Portfolio and Underlying Funds. The Code of Ethics is designed to ensure that access persons act in the interest of the Portfolio and Underlying Funds, and their shareholders with respect to any personal trading of securities. Under the Code of Ethics, access persons are generally prohibited from knowingly buying or selling securities (except for mutual funds, U.S. government securities and money market instruments) which are being purchased, sold or considered for purchase or sale by the Portfolio or an Underlying Fund unless their proposed purchases are approved in advance. The Code of Ethics also contains certain reporting requirements and securities trading clearance procedures.

SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS

The shares of the Portfolio, when issued and paid for in accordance with the Prospectus, will be fully paid and non-assessable shares. Each share of common stock represents an equal proportional interest in the assets and liabilities of the Portfolio and has identical, non-cumulative voting, dividend, redemption liquidation, and other rights and preferences.

With respect to matters that require shareholder approval, shareholders are entitled to vote only with respect to matters that affect the interest of the portfolio of shares that they hold, except as otherwise required by applicable law. If liquidation of the Fund should occur, shareholders would be entitled to receive, on a per class basis, the assets of the particular portfolio whose shares they own, as well as a proportionate share of Fund assets not attributable to any particular portfolio. Ordinarily, the Fund does not intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders, except as required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law. The Fund’s bylaws provide that special meetings of shareholders shall be called at the written request of shareholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of the votes entitled to be case at such meeting. Such meeting may be called to consider any matter, including the removal of one or more directors. Shareholders will receive shareholder communications with respect to such matters as required by the 1940 Act, including semi-annual and annual financial statements of the Fund.

 

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PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

Because the Portfolio has not been offered prior to the date of this SAI, no person beneficially owned 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Portfolio as of the date of this SAI.

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

The following information supplements the information set forth in the prospectus under the caption “PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES.”

The Fund will accept purchase and redemption orders on each day that the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for business, regardless of whether the Federal Reserve System is closed. However, no purchases by wire may be made on any day that the Federal Reserve System is closed. The Fund will generally be closed on days that the NYSE is closed. The NYSE is scheduled to be open Monday through Friday throughout the year except for days closed to recognize New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The Federal Reserve System is closed on the same days as the NYSE, except that it is open on Good Friday and closed on Columbus Day and Veterans’ Day. Orders for redemptions and purchases will not be processed if the Fund is closed.

Management believes that any dilutive effect of the cost of investing the proceeds of the sale of the shares of the Portfolio is minimal and, therefore, the shares of the Portfolio are currently sold at net asset value, without imposition of a reimbursement fee. Reimbursement fees may be charged prospectively from time to time based upon the future experience of the Portfolio. Any such charges will be described in the prospectus.

The Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend the offering of shares of the Portfolio or reject purchase orders when, in the judgment of management, such suspension or rejection is in the best interest of the Fund or the Portfolio.

The Fund may suspend redemption privileges or postpone the date of payment: (1) during any period when the NYSE is closed, or trading on the NYSE is restricted as determined by the SEC, (2) during any period when an emergency exists as defined by the rules of the SEC as a result of which it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund to dispose of securities owned by it, or fairly to determine the value of its assets and (3) for such other periods as the SEC may permit.

The Fund or its transfer agent may from time to time appoint a sub-transfer agent, such as a broker, for the receipt of purchase and redemption orders and funds from certain investors. With respect to purchases and redemptions through a sub-transfer agent, the Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when the sub-transfer agent receives the order. Shares of the Portfolio will be priced at the public offering price next calculated after receipt of the purchase or redemption order by the sub-transfer agent.

TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIO AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS

The following is a summary of some of the federal income tax consequences of investing in the Portfolio. Because shares of the Portfolio are sold only to separate accounts of insurance companies, the tax consequences described below are generally not applicable to an owner of a variable life or variable annuity contract.

This “TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIO AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS” section is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and applicable regulations in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative, regulatory or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly change the tax rules applicable to the Portfolio and its shareholders. Any of these changes or court decisions may have a retroactive effect.

Unless otherwise indicated, the discussion below with respect to the Portfolio includes the Portfolio’s pro rata share of the income and assets of the Underlying Funds.

 

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This discussion of “TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIOS AND THEIR SHAREHOLDERS” is not intended or written to be used as tax advice. The tax status of your investment in the Portfolio depends upon the features of your variable life or variable annuity contract. For further information, please refer to the prospectus of the insurance company separate account that offers your contract.

Taxation of the Portfolio

The Portfolio has elected and intends to qualify (or, if newly organized, intends to elect and qualify) each year as a regulated investment company (sometimes referred to as a “regulated investment company,” “RIC” or “portfolio”) under Subchapter M of the Code. If the Portfolio qualifies, the Portfolio will not be subject to federal income tax on the portion of its investment company taxable income (that is, generally, taxable interest, dividends, net short-term capital gains, and other taxable ordinary income, net of expenses, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and net capital gain (that is, the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) that it distributes to shareholders.

Qualification as a regulated investment company. In order to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, the Portfolio must satisfy the following requirements:

 

   

Distribution Requirement —the Portfolio must distribute at least 90% of its investment company taxable income and 90% of its net tax-exempt income, if any, for the tax year (certain distributions made by the Portfolio after the close of its tax year are considered distributions attributable to the previous tax year for purposes of satisfying this requirement).

 

   

Income Requirement —the Portfolio must derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived from its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies and net income derived from qualified publicly traded partnerships (“QPTPs”).

 

   

Asset Diversification Test —the Portfolio must satisfy the following asset diversification test at the close of each quarter of the Portfolio’s tax year: (1) at least 50% of the value of the Portfolio’s assets must consist of cash and cash items, U.S. Government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and securities of other issuers (as to which the Portfolio has not invested more than 5% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets in securities of an issuer and as to which the Portfolio does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer); and (2) no more than 25% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets may be invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies) or of two or more issuers which the Portfolio controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses, or, collectively, in the securities of QPTPs.

In some circumstances, the character and timing of income realized by the Portfolio for purposes of the Income Requirement or the identification of the issuer for purposes of the Asset Diversification Test is uncertain under current law with respect to a particular investment, and an adverse determination or future guidance by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) with respect to such type of investment may adversely affect the Portfolio’s ability to satisfy these requirements. In other circumstances, the Portfolio may be required to sell portfolio holdings in order to meet the Income Requirement, Distribution Requirement, or Asset Diversification Test which may have a negative impact on the Portfolio’s income and performance.

The Portfolio may use “equalization accounting” (in lieu of making some cash distributions) in determining the portion of its income and gains that has been distributed. If the Portfolio uses equalization accounting, it will allocate a portion of its undistributed investment company taxable income and net capital gain to redemptions of Portfolio shares and will correspondingly reduce the amount of such income and gains that it distributes in cash. If the IRS determines that the Portfolio’s allocation is improper and that the Portfolio has under-distributed its income and gain for any taxable year, the Portfolio may be liable for federal income and/or excise tax. In addition, any such under-distribution of income might cause the Portfolio to fail to satisfy the Income Requirement and thereby not qualify as a regulated investment company for such taxable year.

 

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If for any taxable year the Portfolio does not qualify as a regulated investment company, all of its taxable income (including its net capital gain) would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders, and the dividends would be taxable to the shareholders as ordinary income (or possibly as qualified dividend income) to the extent of the Portfolio’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Failure to qualify as a regulated investment company would thus have a negative impact on the Portfolio’s income and performance. Subject to savings provisions for certain inadvertent failures to satisfy the Income Requirement or Asset Diversification Test which, in general, are limited to those due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, it is possible that the Portfolio will not qualify as a regulated investment company in any given tax year. Even if such savings provisions apply, the Portfolio may be subject to a monetary sanction of $50,000 or more. Moreover, the Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of the Portfolio as a regulated investment company if it determines such a course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.

Capital loss carryovers. The capital losses of the Portfolio, if any, do not flow through to shareholders. Rather, the Portfolio may use its capital losses, subject to applicable limitations, to offset its capital gains without being required to pay taxes on or distribute to shareholders such gains that are offset by the losses. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (“RIC Mod Act”), if the Portfolio has a “net capital loss” (that is, capital losses in excess of capital gains) for a taxable year beginning after December 22, 2010 (the date of enactment of the RIC Mod Act), the excess (if any) of the Portfolio’s net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gains is treated as a short-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Portfolio’s next taxable year, and the excess (if any) of the Portfolio’s net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gains is treated as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Portfolio’s next taxable year. Any such net capital losses of the Portfolio that are not used to offset capital gains may be carried forward indefinitely to reduce any future capital gains realized by the Portfolio in succeeding taxable years. However, for any net capital losses realized in taxable years of the Portfolio beginning on or before December 22, 2010, the Portfolio is only permitted to carry forward such capital losses for eight years as a short-term capital loss. Under a transition rule, capital losses arising in a taxable year beginning after December 22, 2010 must be used before capital losses realized in a prior taxable year. The amount of capital losses that can be carried forward and used in any single year is subject to an annual limitation if there is a more than 50% “change in ownership” of the Portfolio. An ownership change generally results when shareholders owning 5% or more of the Portfolio increase their aggregate holdings by more than 50% over a three-year look-back period. An ownership change could result in capital loss carryovers being used at a slower rate (or, in the case of those realized in taxable years of the Portfolio beginning on or before December 22, 2010, to expire unutilized), thereby reducing the Portfolio’s ability to offset capital gains with those losses. An increase in the amount of taxable gains distributed to the Portfolio’s shareholders could result from an ownership change. The Portfolio undertakes no obligation to avoid or prevent an ownership change, which can occur in the normal course of shareholder purchases and redemptions or as a result of engaging in a tax-free reorganization with another portfolio. Moreover, because of circumstances beyond the Portfolio’s control, there can be no assurance that the Portfolio will not experience, or has not already experienced, an ownership change.

Deferral of late year losses. For taxable years of the Portfolio beginning after December 22, 2010, the Portfolio may elect to treat part or all of any “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in determining the Portfolio’s taxable income, net capital gain, net short-term capital gain, and earnings and profits. The effect of this election is to treat any such “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in characterizing Portfolio distributions for any calendar year (see “Taxation of Portfolio Distributions Distributions of capital gains” below). A “qualified late year loss” includes:

 

   

any net capital loss, net long-term capital loss, or net short-term capital loss incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year (“post-October losses”), and

 

   

the excess, if any, of (1) the sum of (a) specified losses incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year, and (b) other ordinary losses incurred after December 31 of the current taxable year, over (2) the sum of (a) specified gains incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year, and (b) other ordinary gains incurred after December 31 of the current taxable year.

The terms “specified losses” and “specified gains” mean ordinary losses and gains from the sale, exchange, or other disposition of property (including the termination of a position with respect to such property), foreign currency losses, and losses resulting from holding stock in a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) for which a mark-to-market election is in effect. The terms “ordinary losses” and “ordinary gains” mean other ordinary

 

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losses and gains that are not described in the preceding sentence. Since the Portfolio has a fiscal year ending in October, the amount of qualified late-year losses (if any) is computed without regard to any items of income, gain, or loss that are (a) post-October losses, (b) specified losses, and (c) specified gains.

Undistributed capital gains. The Portfolio may retain or distribute to shareholders its net capital gain for each taxable year. The Portfolio currently intends to distribute net capital gains. If the Portfolio elects to retain its net capital gain, the Portfolio will be taxed thereon (except to the extent of any available capital loss carryovers) at the highest corporate tax rate (currently 35%). If the Portfolio elects to retain its net capital gain, it is expected that the Portfolio also will elect to have shareholders treated as if each received a distribution of its pro rata share of such gain, with the result that each shareholder will be required to report its pro rata share of such gain on its tax return as long-term capital gain, will receive a refundable tax credit for its pro rata share of tax paid by the Portfolio on the gain, and will increase the tax basis for its shares by an amount equal to the deemed distribution less the tax credit.

Excise tax distribution requirements. To avoid a 4% federal excise tax, the Code requires the Portfolio to distribute to its shareholders by December 31 of each year, at a minimum, the following amounts: 98% of its taxable ordinary income earned during the calendar year; 98% (or 98.2% beginning January 1, 2011) of its capital gain net income earned during the twelve-month period ending October 31; and 100% of any undistributed amounts from the prior year. Federal excise taxes will not apply to the Portfolio in a given calendar year, however, if all of its shareholders (other than certain “permitted shareholders”) at all times during the calendar year are segregated asset accounts of life insurance companies where the shares are held in connection with variable products. For purposes of determining whether the Portfolio qualifies for this exemption, any shares attributable to an investment in the Portfolio made in connection with organization of the Portfolio is disregarded as long as the investment doesn’t exceed $250,000. Under the RIC Mod Act, permitted shareholders now include other RICs eligible for the exemption (e.g. insurance dedicated funds-of-funds). If the Portfolio fails to qualify for the exemption, the Portfolio intends to declare and pay these distributions in December (or to pay them in January, in which case shareholders must treat them as received in December) but can give no assurances that its distributions will be sufficient to eliminate all taxes.

Foreign income tax. Investment income received by the Portfolio from sources within foreign countries may be subject to foreign income tax withheld at the source and the amount of tax withheld generally will be treated as an expense of the Portfolio. The United States has entered into tax treaties with many foreign countries which entitle the Portfolio to a reduced rate of, or exemption from, tax on such income. It is impossible to determine the effective rate of foreign tax in advance since the amount of the Portfolio’s assets to be invested in various countries is not known. Under certain circumstances, the Portfolio may elect to pass-through foreign tax credits to shareholders, although it reserves the right not to do so.

Special Rules Applicable to Variable Contracts

The Portfolio intends to comply with the diversification requirements imposed by Section 817(h) of the Code and the regulations thereunder. These requirements, which are in addition to the diversification requirements imposed on the Portfolio by the 1940 Act and Subchapter M of the Code, place certain limitations on (i) the assets of the insurance company separate accounts that may be invested in securities of a single issuer and (ii) eligible investors. Because Section 817(h) and those regulations treat the assets of the Portfolio as assets of the corresponding division of the insurance company separate accounts, the Portfolio intends to comply with these diversification requirements. Specifically, the regulations provide that, except as permitted by the “safe harbor” described below, as of the end of each calendar quarter or within 30 days thereafter no more than 55% of the Portfolio’s total assets may be represented by any one investment, no more than 70% by any two investments, no more than 80% by any three investments and no more than 90% by any four investments. For this purpose, all securities of the same issuer are considered a single investment, and while each U.S. Government agency and instrumentality is considered a separate issuer, a particular foreign government and its agencies, instrumentalities and political subdivisions all will be considered the same issuer. Section 817(h) provides, as a safe harbor, that a separate account will be treated as being adequately diversified if the Asset Diversification is satisfied and no more than 55% of the value of the account’s total assets are cash and cash items (including receivables), government securities and securities of other RICs. The regulations also provide that the Portfolio’s shareholders are limited, generally, to life insurance company separate accounts, general accounts of the same life insurance company, an investment adviser or affiliate in connection with the creation or management of the Portfolio or the trustee of a qualified pension plan. Failure of the Portfolio to satisfy the Section 817(h) requirements would result in taxation of

 

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and treatment of the contract holders investing in a corresponding insurance company division other than as described in the applicable prospectuses of the various insurance company separate accounts.

Also, a contract holder should not be able to direct the Portfolio’s investment in any particular asset so as to avoid the prohibition on investor control. In light of the unique structure of the Portfolio, the Portfolio sought and received a private letter ruling from the IRS holding that the owner of the variable life or variable annuity contract will not be treated as the owner of the Portfolio’s shares based on the structure and intended operation of the Portfolio. However, it is possible that the Treasury Department may issue future pronouncements addressing the circumstances in which a variable contract owner’s control of the investments of a separate account may cause the contract owner, rather than the insurance company, to be treated as the owner of the assets held by the separate account. If the contract owner is considered the owner of the separate account, income and gains produced by those securities would be included currently in the contract owner’s gross income. It is not known what standards will be set forth in any such pronouncements or when, if at all, these pronouncements may be issued. If such pronouncements are issued, the Portfolio would seek to modify the structure of the Portfolio.

Reference should be made to the prospectus for the applicable contract for more information regarding the federal income tax consequences to an owner of a contract.

Taxation of Portfolio Distributions

The Portfolio anticipates distributing substantially all of its investment company taxable income and net capital gain for each taxable year.

Distributions of net investment income. The Portfolio receives ordinary income generally in the form of dividends and/or interest on its investments. The Portfolio may also recognize ordinary income from other sources, including, but not limited to, certain gains on foreign currency-related transactions. This income, less expenses incurred in the operation of the Portfolio, constitutes its net investment income from which dividends may be paid to shareholders.

Distributions of capital gains. The Portfolio may realize a capital gain or loss in connection with sales or other dispositions of its portfolio securities. Distributions derived from the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Distributions from the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss will be taxable to shareholders as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long the shareholder has held their shares in the Portfolio.

Returns of capital. Distributions by the Portfolio that are not paid from earnings and profits will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of (and in reduction of) the shareholder’s tax basis in his shares; any excess will be treated as gain from the sale of his shares. Thus, the portion of a distribution that constitutes a return of capital will decrease the shareholder’s tax basis in his Portfolio shares (but not below zero), and will result in an increase in the amount of gain (or decrease in the amount of loss) that will be recognized by the shareholder for tax purposes on the later sale of such Portfolio shares. Return of capital distributions can occur for a number of reasons including, among others, the Portfolio over-estimates the income to be received from certain investments such as those classified as partnerships or equity real estate investment trusts.

Dividends-received deduction for corporations. Ordinary income dividends designated by the Portfolio as derived from qualified dividends from domestic corporations will qualify for the 70% dividends received deduction generally available to corporations. The availability of the dividends-received deduction is subject to certain holding period and debt financing restrictions imposed under the Code on the corporation claiming the deduction. Income derived by the Portfolio from investments in derivatives, fixed-income and foreign securities generally is not eligible for this treatment.

Tax shelter reporting. Under Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to the Portfolio’s shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the Internal Revenue Service a disclosure statement on Form 8886.

Consent dividends. The Portfolio may utilize consent dividend provisions of Section 565 of the Code to make distributions. Provided that all shareholders agree in a consent filed with the income tax return of the Portfolio

 

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to treat as a dividend the amount specified in the consent, the amount will be considered a distribution just as any other distribution paid in money and reinvested back into the Portfolio.

Investment in Foreign Securities

The Portfolio may be subject to foreign withholding taxes on income from certain foreign securities. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes on the Portfolio and/or its shareholders. Any foreign withholding taxes could reduce the Portfolio’s distributions paid to its shareholders.

Pass-through of foreign tax credits. If at the end of the fiscal year more than 50% in value of the total assets of the Portfolio are invested in securities of foreign corporations, the Portfolio may elect to pass through to its shareholders their pro rata share of foreign income taxes paid by the Portfolio. If this election is made, the Portfolio may report more taxable income to a shareholder than it actually distributes. The shareholder will then be entitled either to deduct their share of these taxes in computing their taxable income or to claim a foreign tax credit for these taxes against their U.S. federal income tax (subject to limitations for certain shareholders). The Portfolio will provide shareholders with the information necessary to claim this deduction or credit on their personal income tax return if it makes this election. The Portfolio reserves the right not to pass through to its shareholders the amount of foreign income taxes paid by the Portfolio.

Effect of foreign debt investments on distributions. Most foreign exchange gains realized on the sale of debt securities are treated by the Portfolio as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes. Similarly, foreign exchange losses realized on the sale of debt securities generally are treated as ordinary losses. These gains when distributed are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income, and any losses reduce the Portfolio’s ordinary income otherwise available for distribution. This treatment could increase or decrease the Portfolio’s ordinary income distributions, and may cause some or all of the Portfolio’s previously distributed income to be classified as a return of capital.

PFIC securities. The Portfolio may invest in securities of foreign entities that could be deemed for tax purposes to be PFICs. In general, a PFIC is any foreign corporation if 75% or more of its gross income for its taxable year is passive income, or 50% or more of its average assets (by value) are held for the production of passive income. When investing in PFIC securities, the Portfolio intends to mark-to-market these securities and recognize any unrealized gains as ordinary income at the end of its fiscal year. Deductions for losses are allowable only to the extent of any current or previously recognized gains. These gains (reduced by allowable losses) are treated as ordinary income that the Portfolio is required to distribute, even though it has not sold or received dividends from these securities. Shareholders should also be aware that the designation of a foreign security as a PFIC security will cause its income dividends to fall outside of the definition of qualified foreign corporation dividends. These dividends generally will not qualify for the reduced rate of taxation on qualified dividends when distributed to shareholders by the Portfolio. In addition, if the Portfolio (or an Underlying Fund organized as a corporation) is unable to identify an investment as a PFIC and thus does not make a mark-to-market election, the Portfolio (or Underlying Fund) may be subject to U.S. federal income tax (the effect of which might be mitigated by making a mark-to-market election in a year prior to the sale) on a portion of any “excess distribution” or gain from the disposition of such shares even if such income is distributed as a taxable dividend by the Portfolio to its shareholders. Additional charges in the nature of interest may be imposed on the Portfolio (or Underlying Fund) in respect of deferred taxes arising from such distributions or gains. Any such taxes or interest charges could in turn reduce the Portfolio’s distributions paid to its shareholders.

Investment in Complex Securities

The Portfolio may invest in complex securities and such investments may be subject to numerous special and complicated tax rules. These rules could affect whether gains or losses recognized by the Portfolio are treated as ordinary income or capital gain, accelerate the recognition of income to the Portfolio, defer the Portfolio’s ability to recognize losses, and subject the Portfolio to U.S. federal income tax on income from certain of the Portfolio’s foreign investments. In turn, these rules may affect the amount, timing and/or tax character of the Portfolio’s income and, in turn, of the income distributed to its shareholders.

 

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Effect of Future Legislation; Local Tax Considerations

The foregoing general discussion of U.S. federal income tax consequences is based on the Code and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and any such changes or decisions may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein. Rules of state and local taxation of ordinary income, qualified dividend income and capital gain dividends may differ from the rules for U.S. federal income taxation described above. Distributions may also be subject to additional state, local and foreign taxes depending on each shareholder’s particular situation. Non-U.S. shareholders may be subject to U.S. tax rules that differ significantly from those summarized above. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors as to the consequences of these and other state and local tax rules affecting investment in the Portfolio.

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

The Board of Directors of the Fund has delegated the authority to vote proxies for the portfolio securities held by the Portfolio to the Advisor in accordance with the Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (the “Voting Policies”) and Proxy Voting Guidelines (“Voting Guidelines”) adopted by the Advisor. The Voting Guidelines are largely based on those developed by Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third party, except with respect to certain matters for which the Advisor has modified the standard voting guidelines. A concise summary of the Voting Guidelines is provided in an Appendix to this SAI.

The Investment Committee at the Advisor is generally responsible for overseeing the Advisor’s proxy voting process. The Investment Committee has formed a Corporate Governance Committee composed of certain officers, directors and other personnel of the Advisor and has delegated to its members authority to (i) oversee the voting of proxies, (ii) make determinations as to how to vote certain specific proxies, (iii) verify the on-going compliance with the Voting Policies, and (iv) review the Voting Policies from time to time and recommend changes to the Investment Committee. The Corporate Governance Committee may designate one or more of its members to oversee specific, ongoing compliance with respect to the Voting Policies and may designate other personnel of the Advisor to vote proxies on behalf of the Portfolio, including all authorized traders of the Advisor.

The Advisor seeks to vote (or refrains from voting) proxies in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Portfolio as understood by the Advisor at the time of the vote. Generally, the Advisor analyzes proxy statements on behalf of the Portfolio and instructs the vote (or refrains from voting) in accordance with the Voting Policies and the Voting Guidelines. Since most proxies the Advisor receives are instructed to be voted in accordance with the Voting Guidelines, it normally will not be necessary for the Advisor to make an actual determination of how to vote a particular proxy, thereby largely eliminating conflicts of interest for the Advisor during the proxy voting process. However, the Voting Policies do address the procedures to be followed if a conflict of interest arises between the interests of the Portfolio or Underlying Funds, and the interests of the Advisor or its affiliates. If a Corporate Governance Committee (“Committee”) member has actual knowledge of a conflict of interest and recommends a vote contrary to the Voting Guidelines (or in the case where the Voting Guidelines do not prescribe a particular vote and the proposed vote is contrary to the recommendation of ISS), the Committee member will bring the vote to the Committee which will (a) determine how the vote should be cast keeping in mind the principle of preserving shareholder value, or (b) determine to abstain from voting, unless abstaining would be materially adverse to the interest of the Portfolio or Underlying Funds. To the extent the Committee makes a determination regarding how to vote or to abstain for a proxy on behalf of a Portfolio or Underlying Fund in the circumstances described in this paragraph, the Advisor will report annually on such determinations to the Board of Directors of the Fund.

The Advisor will usually instruct the voting of proxies in accordance with the Voting Guidelines. The Voting Guidelines provide a framework for analysis and decision-making; however, the Voting Guidelines do not address all potential issues. In order to be able to address all the relevant facts and circumstances related to a proxy vote, the Advisor reserves the right to instruct votes counter to the Voting Guidelines if, after a review of the matter, the Advisor believes that the best interests of the Portfolio would be served by such a vote. In such a circumstance, the analysis will be documented in writing and periodically presented to the Corporate Governance Committee. To the extent that the Voting Guidelines do not cover potential voting issues, the Advisor will instruct the vote on such issues in a manner that is consistent with the spirit of the Voting Guidelines and that the Advisor believes would be in the best interests of the Portfolio.

 

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The Advisor seeks to vote (or refrain from voting) proxies in a manner that the Advisor determines is in the best interests of the Portfolio and which seeks to maximize the value of the Portfolio’s investments. In some cases, the Advisor may determine that it is in the best interests of the Portfolio to refrain from exercising proxy voting rights. The Advisor may determine that voting is not in the best interest of the Portfolio and refrain from voting if the costs, including the opportunity costs, of voting would, in the view of the Advisor, exceed the expected benefits of voting. For securities on loan, the Advisor will balance the revenue-producing value of loans against the difficult-to-assess value of casting votes. It is the Advisor’s belief that the expected value of casting a vote generally will be less than the securities lending income, either because the votes will not have significant economic consequences or because the outcome of the vote would not be affected by the Advisor recalling loaned securities in order to ensure they are voted. The Advisor does intend to recall securities on loan if it determines that voting the securities is likely to materially affect the value of the Portfolio’s investment and that it is in the Portfolio’s best interests to do so. In cases where the Advisor does not receive a solicitation or enough information within a sufficient time (as reasonably determined by the Advisor) prior to the proxy-voting deadline, the Advisor or its service provider may be unable to vote.

With respect to non-U.S. securities, it is typically both difficult and costly to vote proxies due to local regulations, customs, and other requirements or restrictions. The Advisor does not intend to vote proxies of non-U.S. companies if the Advisor determines that the expected economic costs from voting outweigh the anticipated economic benefit to the Portfolio associated with voting. The Advisor intends to make its determination whether to vote proxies of non-U.S. companies on a portfolio-by-portfolio basis, and generally seeks to implement uniform voting procedures for all proxies of companies in a country. The Advisor periodically reviews voting logistics, including costs and other voting difficulties, on a portfolio-by-portfolio and country-by-country basis, in order to determine if there have been any material changes that would affect the Advisor’s decision of whether or not to vote. In the event the Advisor is made aware of and believes an issue to be voted is likely to materially affect the economic value of the Portfolio, that its vote is reasonably likely to influence the ultimate outcome of the contest, and the expected benefits of voting the proxies exceed the costs, the Advisor will seek to make every reasonable effort to vote such proxies.

The Advisor and the Fund have retained ISS to provide certain services with respect to proxy voting. ISS provides information on shareholder meeting dates and proxy materials; translates proxy materials printed in a foreign language; provides research on proxy proposals and voting recommendations in accordance with the Voting Guidelines; effects votes on behalf of the Portfolio; and provides reports concerning the proxies voted (“Proxy Voting Services”). In addition, the Advisor may retain the services of supplemental third-party proxy service providers to provide, among other things, research on proxy proposals and voting recommendations for certain shareholder meetings, as identified in the Voting Guidelines. Although the Advisor retains third-party service providers for proxy issues, the Advisor remains responsible for proxy voting decisions. In this regard, the Advisor uses commercially reasonably efforts to oversee the directed delegation to third-party proxy voting service providers, upon which the Advisor relies to carry out the Proxy Voting Services. In the event that the Voting Guidelines are not implemented precisely as the Advisor intends because of the actions or omissions of any third party service providers, custodians or sub-custodians or other agents or any such persons experience any irregularities (e.g. misvotes or missed votes), then such instances will not necessarily be deemed by the Advisor as a breach of the Voting Policies.

Information regarding how the Portfolio voted proxies related to its portfolio securities during the 12 month period ended June 30 of each year is available, no later than August 31 of each year, without charge, (i) upon request, by calling collect: (512) 306-7400 or (ii) on the Advisor’s website at http://www.dimensional.com and (iii) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

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DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

The Advisor and the Board of Directors of the Fund have adopted a policy (the “Policy”) to govern disclosure of the portfolio holdings of the Portfolio (“Holdings Information”), and to prevent the misuse of material non-public Holdings Information. The Advisor has determined that the Policy and its procedures: (1) are reasonably designed to ensure that disclosure of Holdings Information is in the best interests of the shareholders of the Portfolio, and (2) appropriately address the potential for material conflicts of interest.

Disclosure of Holdings Information as Required by Applicable Law. Holdings Information (whether a partial listing of portfolio holdings or a complete listing of portfolio holdings) shall be disclosed to any person as required by applicable law, rules, and regulations.

Disclosure of Holdings Information to Recipients. Each of the Advisor’s Chairman, Director of Institutional Services, Head of Portfolio Management and Trading and General Counsel (together, the “Designated Persons”) may authorize disclosing non-public Holdings Information more frequently or at different periods than as described above solely to those financial advisors, registered accountholders, authorized consultants, authorized custodians, or third-party data service providers (each a “Recipient”) who: (i) specifically request the more current non-public Holdings Information, and (ii) execute a Use and Nondisclosure Agreement (each a “Nondisclosure Agreement”). Each Nondisclosure Agreement subjects the Recipient to a duty of confidentiality with respect to the non-public Holdings Information, and prohibits the Recipient from trading based on the non-public Holdings Information. Any non-public Holdings Information that is disclosed shall not include any material information about the Portfolio’s trading strategies or pending portfolio transactions. The non-public Holdings Information provided to a Recipient under a Nondisclosure Agreement, unless indicated otherwise, is not subject to a time delay before dissemination. Designated Persons may also approve the distribution of Holdings Information for the Portfolio more frequently or at a period other than as described above.

As of January 31, 2011, the Advisor and the Portfolio had ongoing arrangements with the following Recipients to make available non-public Holdings Information:

 

Recipient

 

  

Business Purpose

 

  

Frequency

 

PFPC Trust Company (to be renamed BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company effective July 1, 2011)

  

 

Fund Custodian

 

  

 

Daily

 

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

  

 

Fund Administrator, Accounting Agent, and Transfer Agent

 

  

 

Daily

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

  

 

Independent registered public accounting firm

 

  

 

Upon Request

 

Pricing Service Vendor

  

 

Fair value information services

 

  

 

Daily

 

Citibank, N.A.

  

 

Middle office operational support service provider to the Advisor

 

  

 

Daily

 

In addition, certain employees of the Advisor and its subsidiaries receive Holdings Information on a quarterly, monthly, or daily basis, or upon request, in order to perform their business functions. None of the Portfolio, the Advisor, or any other party receives any compensation in connection with these arrangements.

The Policy includes the following procedures to ensure that disclosure of Holdings Information is in the best interests of shareholders, and to address any conflicts between the interests of shareholders, on the one hand, and the interests of the Advisor, DFAS, or any affiliated person of the Fund, the Advisor, or DFAS, on the other. In order to protect the interests of shareholders and the Portfolio, and to ensure no adverse effect on shareholders in the limited circumstances where a Designated Person is considering making non-public Holdings Information available to a Recipient, the Advisor’s Director of Institutional Services and the Chief Compliance Officer will consider any conflicts of interest. If the Chief Compliance Officer, following appropriate due diligence, determines in his or her reasonable business judgment that: (1) the Portfolio has a legitimate business purpose for providing the non-public Holdings Information to a Recipient, and (2) disclosure of non-public Holdings Information to the Recipient would be in the interests of the shareholders and outweighs possible reasonably anticipated adverse effects, then the Chief Compliance Officer may approve the proposed disclosure.

 

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The Chief Compliance Officer documents all disclosures of non-public Holdings Information (including the legitimate business purpose for the disclosure), and periodically reports to the Board on such arrangements. The Chief Compliance Officer also is responsible for ongoing monitoring of the distribution and use of non-public Holdings Information. Such arrangements are reviewed by the Chief Compliance Officer on an annual basis. Specifically, the Chief Compliance Officer requests an annual certification from each Recipient that the Recipient has complied with all terms contained in the Nondisclosure Agreement. Recipients who fail to provide the requested certifications are prohibited from receiving non-public Holdings Information.

The Board exercises continuing oversight of the disclosure of Holdings Information by: (1) overseeing the implementation and enforcement of the Policy by the Chief Compliance Officer of the Advisor and of the Fund; (2) considering reports and recommendations by the Chief Compliance Officer concerning the implementation of the Policy and any material compliance matters that may arise in connection with the Policy; and (3) considering whether to approve or ratify any amendments to the Policy. The Advisor and the Board reserve the right to amend the Policy at any time, and from time to time without prior notice, in their sole discretion.

Prohibitions on Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings and Receipt of Compensation. No person is authorized to disclose Holdings Information or other investment positions (whether online at http://www.dimensional.com, in writing, by fax, by e-mail, orally, or by other means) except in accordance with the Policy. In addition, no person is authorized to make disclosure pursuant to the Policy if such disclosure is otherwise in violation of the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws.

The Policy prohibits the Portfolio, the Advisor, or an affiliate thereof from receiving any compensation or other consideration of any type for the purpose of obtaining disclosure of non-public Holdings Information or other investment positions. “Consideration” includes any agreement to maintain assets in the Portfolio or in other investment companies or accounts managed by the Advisor or by any affiliated person of the Advisor.

The Policy and its procedures are intended to provide useful information concerning the Portfolio to existing and prospective shareholders, while at the same time preventing the improper use of Holdings Information. However, there can be no assurance that the furnishing of any Holdings Information is not susceptible to inappropriate uses, particularly in the hands of sophisticated investors, or that the Holdings Information will not in fact be misused in other ways, beyond the control of the Advisor.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Because the Portfolio had not commenced operations as of October 31, 2010, the annual reports of the Fund for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010 do not contain any data regarding the Portfolio.

PERFORMANCE DATA

The Portfolio may compare its investment performance to appropriate market and mutual fund indices and investments for which reliable performance data is available. Such indices are generally unmanaged and are prepared by entities and organizations that track the performance of investment companies or investment advisors. Unmanaged indices often do not reflect deductions for administrative and management costs and expenses. The performance of the Portfolio may also be compared in publications to averages, performance rankings, or other information prepared by recognized mutual fund statistical services. Any performance information, whether related to the Portfolio or to the Advisor, should be considered in light of the Portfolio’s investment objective and policies, characteristics and the quality of the portfolio and market conditions during the time period indicated, and should not be considered to be representative of what may be achieved in the future.

 

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APPENDIX

Concise Summary of 2011 U.S. Proxy Voting Guidelines

Effective for Meetings on or after January 3, 2011

In order to provide greater analysis on certain shareholder meetings, the Advisor has elected to receive research reports for certain meetings, as indicated below, from Glass Lewis in addition to Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”).

Specifically, if available, the Advisor may obtain research from Glass Lewis in addition to ISS for shareholder meetings in the following circumstances: (1) where the Advisor’s clients have a significant aggregate holding in the issuer and the meeting agenda contains proxies concerning: Anti-takeover Defenses or Voting Related Issues, Mergers and Acquisitions or Reorganizations or Restructurings, Capital Structure Issues, Compensation Issues or a proxy contest; or (2) where the Advisor in its discretion, has deemed that additional research is warranted.

Where research is obtained from Glass Lewis in accordance with these Guidelines, the Advisor will first review the research reports obtained from ISS and Glass Lewis. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are the same, the Advisor will vote accordingly. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are inconsistent, the Advisor will vote in accordance with the ISS recommendation unless the Corporate Governance Committee determines that voting in accordance with the Glass Lewis recommendation is more consistent with the principle of preserving shareholder value.

Routine/Miscellaneous

Auditor Ratification

Vote FOR proposals to ratify auditors, unless any of the following apply:

 

   

An auditor has a financial interest in or association with the company, and is therefore not independent;

   

There is reason to believe that the independent auditor has rendered an opinion which is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position;

   

Poor accounting practices are identified that rise to a serious level of concern, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP; and material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures; or

   

Fees for non-audit services (“Other” fees) are excessive.

Non-audit fees are excessive if:

 

   

Non-audit (“other”) fees >audit fees + audit-related fees + tax compliance/preparation fees

Board of Directors

Voting on Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections

Votes on director nominees should be determined CASE-BY-CASE.

Four fundamental principles apply when determining votes on director nominees:

 

  1.

Board Accountability

  2.

Board Responsiveness

  3.

Director Independence

 

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  4. Director Competence

1.   Board Accountability

VOTE WITHHOLD/AGAINST1 the entire board of directors (except new nominees2 , who should be considered CASE-BY-CASE), for the following:

Problematic Takeover Defenses:

 

  1.1. The board is classified, and a continuing director responsible for a problematic governance issue at the board/committee level that would warrant a withhold/against vote recommendation is not up for election — any or all appropriate nominees (except new) may be held accountable;

 

  1.2. The board lacks accountability and oversight, coupled with sustained poor performance relative to peers. Sustained poor performance is measured by one- and three-year total shareholder returns in the bottom half of a company’s four-digit GICS industry group (Russell 3000 companies only). Take into consideration the company’s five-year total shareholder return and five-year operational metrics. Problematic provisions include but are not limited to:
   

A classified board structure;

 

   

A supermajority vote requirement;

 

   

Majority vote standard for director elections with no carve out for contested elections;

 

   

The inability for shareholders to call special meetings;

 

   

The inability for shareholders to act by written consent;

 

   

A dual-class structure; and/or

 

   

A non-shareholder approved poison pill.

 

  1.3. The company’s poison pill has a “dead-hand” or “modified dead-hand” feature. Vote withhold/against every year until this feature is removed;
  1.4.

The board adopts a poison pill with a term of more than 12 months (“long-term pill”), or renews any existing pill, including any “short-term” pill (12 months or less), without shareholder approval. A commitment or policy that puts a newly-adopted pill to a binding shareholder vote may potentially offset an adverse vote recommendation. Review such companies with classified boards every year, and such companies with annually-elected boards at least once every three years, and vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD votes from all nominees if the company still maintains a non-shareholder-approved poison pill. This

 

 

1 In general, companies with a plurality vote standard use “Withhold” as the valid contrary vote option in director elections; companies with a majority vote standard use “Against”. However, it will vary by company and the proxy must be checked to determine the valid contrary vote option for the particular company.

2 A “new nominee” is any current nominee who has not already been elected by shareholders and who joined the board after the problematic action in question transpired. If ISS cannot determine whether the nominee joined the board before or after the problematic action transpired, the nominee will be considered a “new nominee” if he or she joined the board within the 12 months prior to the upcoming shareholder meeting.

 

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policy applies to all companies adopting or renewing pills after the announcement of this policy (Nov 19, 2009);

  1.5. The board makes a material adverse change to an existing poison pill without shareholder approval.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on all nominees if:

 

  1.6. the board adopts a poison pill with a term of 12 months or less (“short-term pill”) without shareholder approval, taking into account the following factors:
   

The date of the pill‘s adoption relative to the date of the next meeting of shareholders- i.e. whether the company had time to put the pill on ballot for shareholder ratification given the circumstances;

   

The issuer‘s rationale;

   

The issuer’s governance structure and practices; and

   

The issuer’s track record of accountability to shareholders.

Problematic Audit-Related Practices

Generally, vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from the members of the Audit Committee if:

 

  1.7. The non-audit fees paid to the auditor are excessive (see discussion under “Auditor Ratification”);
  1.8. The company receives an adverse opinion on the company’s financial statements from its auditor; or
  1.9. There is persuasive evidence that the audit committee entered into an inappropriate indemnification agreement with its auditor that limits the ability of the company, or its shareholders, to pursue legitimate legal recourse against the audit firm.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on members of the Audit Committee and/or the full board if:

 

  1.10.       Poor accounting practices are identified that rise to a level of serious concern, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP; and material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures. Examine the severity, breadth, chronological sequence and duration, as well as the company’s efforts at remediation or corrective actions, in determining whether WITHHOLD/AGAINST votes are warranted.

Problematic Compensation Practices

Vote WITHHOLD/AGAINST the members of the Compensation Committee and potentially the full board if:

 

  1.11.       There is a negative correlation between chief executive pay and company performance (see Pay for Performance Policy);
  1.12.       The company reprices underwater options for stock, cash, or other consideration without prior shareholder approval, even if allowed in the company’s equity plan;
  1.13.       The company fails to submit one-time transfers of stock options to a shareholder vote;
  1.14.       The company fails to fulfill the terms of a burn rate commitment made to shareholders;
  1.15.       The company has problematic pay practices. Problematic pay practices may warrant withholding votes from the CEO and potentially the entire board as well.

Governance Failures

 

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Under extraordinary circumstances, vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from directors individually, committee members, or the entire board, due to:

 

  1.16.       Material failures of governance, stewardship, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company;
  1.17.       Failure to replace management as appropriate; or
  1.18.       Egregious actions related to the director(s)’ service on other boards that raise substantial doubt about his or her ability to effectively oversee management and serve the best interests of shareholders at any company.

2.   Board Responsiveness

Vote WITHHOLD/AGAINST the entire board of directors (except new nominees, who should be considered CASE-BY-CASE), if:

 

  2.1. The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received approval by a majority of the shares outstanding the previous year; or

 

  2.2. The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received approval of the majority of shares cast in the last year and one of the two previous years.

 

  2.3. The board failed to act on takeover offers where the majority of the shareholders tendered their shares; or

 

  2.4. At the previous board election, any director received more than 50 percent withhold/against votes of the shares cast and the company has failed to address the issue(s) that caused the high withhold/against vote.

3.   Director Independence

Vote WITHHOLD/AGAINST Inside Directors and Affiliated Outside Directors (per the Categorization of Directors) when:

 

  3.1. The inside or affiliated outside director serves on any of the three key committees: audit, compensation, or nominating;

 

  3.2. The company lacks an audit, compensation, or nominating committee so that the full board functions as that committee;

 

  3.3. The company lacks a formal nominating committee, even if the board attests that the independent directors fulfill the functions of such a committee; or

 

  3.4. The full board is less than majority independent.

4.   Director Competence

VOTE WITHHOLD/AGAINST the entire board of directors (except new nominees, who should be considered CASE-BY-CASE), if:

 

  4.1. The company’s proxy indicates that not all directors attended 75 percent of the aggregate board and committee meetings, but fails to provide the required disclosure of the names of the director(s) involved.

Generally vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from individual directors who:

 

  4.2. Attend less than 75 percent of the board and committee meetings (with the exception of new nominees). Acceptable reasons for director(s) absences are generally limited to the following:

 

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Medical issues/illness;

   

Family emergencies; and

   

If the director’s total service was three meetings or fewer and the director missed only one meeting.

These reasons for directors’ absences will only be considered by ISS if disclosed in the proxy or another SEC filing. If the disclosure is insufficient to determine whether a director attended at least 75 percent of board and committee meetings in aggregate, vote AGAINST/WITHHOLD from the director.

Vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from individual directors who:

 

  4.3. Sit on more than six public company boards3; or

 

  4.4. Are CEOs of public companies who sit on the boards of more than two public companies besides their own— withhold only at their outside boards.

Voting for Director Nominees in Contested Elections*

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on the election of directors in contested elections, considering the following factors:

 

   

Long-term financial performance of the target company relative to its industry;

   

Management’s track record;

   

Background to the proxy contest;

   

Qualifications of director nominees (both slates);

   

Strategic plan of dissident slate and quality of critique against management;

   

Likelihood that the proposed goals and objectives can be achieved (both slates);

   

Stock ownership positions.

Independent Chair (Separate Chair/CEO)

Generally vote FOR shareholder proposals requiring that the chairman’s position be filled by an independent director, unless the company satisfies all of the following criteria:

The company maintains the following counterbalancing governance structure:

 

   

Designated lead director, elected by and from the independent board members with clearly delineated and comprehensive duties. (The role may alternatively reside with a presiding director, vice chairman, or rotating lead director; however the director must serve a minimum of one year in order to qualify as a lead director.) The duties should include, but are not limited to, the following:

  -  

presides at all meetings of the board at which the chairman is not present, including executive sessions of the independent directors;

 

  -  

serves as liaison between the chairman and the independent directors;

 

  -  

approves information sent to the board;

 

  -  

approves meeting agendas for the board;

 

 

3

Dimensional will screen votes otherwise subject to this policy based on the qualifications and circumstances of the directors involved.

 

  *

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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  -  

approves meeting schedules to assure that there is sufficient time for discussion of all agenda items;

 

  -  

has the authority to call meetings of the independent directors;

 

  -  

if requested by major shareholders, ensures that he is available for consultation and direct communication;

 

   

Two-thirds independent board;

   

All independent key committees;

   

Established governance guidelines;

   

A company in the Russell 3000 universe must not have exhibited sustained poor total shareholder return (TSR) performance, defined as one- and three-year TSR in the bottom half of the company’s four-digit GICS industry group (using Russell 3000 companies only), unless there has been a change in the Chairman/CEO position within that time. For companies not in the Russell 3000 universe, the company must not have underperformed both its peers and index on the basis of both one-year and three-year total shareholder returns, unless there has been a change in the Chairman/CEO position within that time;

   

The company does not have any problematic governance or management issues, examples of which include, but are not limited to:

  -  

Egregious compensation practices;

 

  -  

Multiple related-party transactions or other issues putting director independence at risk;

 

  -  

Corporate and/or management scandals;

 

  -  

Excessive problematic corporate governance provisions; or

 

  -  

Flagrant actions by management or the board with potential or realized negative impacts on shareholders.

Shareholder Rights & Defenses*

Net Operating Loss (NOL) Protective Amendments

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt a protective amendment for the stated purpose of protecting a company’s net operating losses (“NOLs”) if the effective term of the protective amendment would exceed the shorter of three years and the exhaustion of the NOL.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE, considering the following factors, for management proposals to adopt an NOL protective amendment that would remain in effect for the shorter of three years (or less) and the exhaustion of the NOL:

 

   

The ownership threshold (NOL protective amendments generally prohibit stock ownership transfers that would result in a new 5-percent holder or increase the stock ownership percentage of an existing 5-percent holder);

   

The value of the NOLs;

   

Shareholder protection mechanisms (sunset provision or commitment to cause expiration of the protective amendment upon exhaustion or expiration of the NOL);

   

The company’s existing governance structure including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, track record of responsiveness to shareholders, and any other problematic governance concerns; and

   

Any other factors that may be applicable.

Poison Pills- Management Proposals to Ratify Poison Pill

 

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Vote CASE-BY-CASE on management proposals on poison pill ratification, focusing on the features of the shareholder rights plan. Rights plans should contain the following attributes:

 

   

No lower than a 20% trigger, flip-in or flip-over;

   

A term of no more than three years;

   

No dead-hand, slow-hand, no-hand or similar feature that limits the ability of a future board to redeem the pill;

   

Shareholder redemption feature (qualifying offer clause); if the board refuses to redeem the pill 90 days after a qualifying offer is announced, 10 percent of the shares may call a special meeting or seek a written consent to vote on rescinding the pill.

In addition, the rationale for adopting the pill should be thoroughly explained by the company. In examining the request for the pill, take into consideration the company’s existing governance structure, including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, and any problematic governance concerns.

Poison Pills- Management Proposals toRatify a Pill to Preserve Net Operating Losses (NOLs)

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt a poison pill for the stated purpose of protecting a company’s net operating losses (“NOLs”) if the term of the pill would exceed the shorter of three years and the exhaustion of the NOL.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on management proposals for poison pill ratification, considering the following factors, if the term of the pill would be the shorter of three years (or less) and the exhaustion of the NOL:

 

   

The ownership threshold to transfer (NOL pills generally have a trigger slightly below 5 percent);

   

The value of the NOLs;

   

Shareholder protection mechanisms (sunset provision, or commitment to cause expiration of the pill upon exhaustion or expiration of NOLs);

   

The company’s existing governance structure including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, track record of responsiveness to shareholders, and any other problematic governance concerns; and

   

Any other factors that may be applicable.

Shareholder Ability to Act by Written Consent

Generally vote AGAINST management and shareholder proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholders’ ability to act by written consent.

Generally vote FOR management and shareholder proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to act by written consent, taking into account the following factors:

 

   

Shareholders’ current right to act by written consent;

   

The consent threshold;

   

The inclusion of exclusionary or prohibitive language;

   

Investor ownership structure; and

   

Shareholder support of, and management’s response to, previous shareholder proposals.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals if, in addition to the considerations above, the company has the following governance and antitakeover provisions:

   

An unfettered4 right for shareholders to call special meetings at a 10 percent threshold;

   

A majority vote standard in uncontested director elections;

   

No non-shareholder-approved pill; and

   

An annually elected board.

 

 

4 “Unfettered” means no restrictions on agenda items, no restrictions on the number of shareholders who can group together to reach the 10 percent threshold, and only reasonable limits on when a meeting can be called: no greater than 30 days after the last annual meeting and no greater than 90 prior to the next annual meeting.

 

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Shareholder Ability to Call Special Meetings

Vote AGAINST management or shareholder proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholders’ ability to call special meetings.

Generally vote FOR management or shareholder proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to call special meetings taking into account the following factors:

 

   

Shareholders’ current right to call special meetings;

   

Minimum ownership threshold necessary to call special meetings (10% preferred);

   

The inclusion of exclusionary or prohibitive language;

   

Investor ownership structure; and

   

Shareholder support of, and management’s response to, previous shareholder proposals.

 

CAPITAL/RESTRUCTURING *

Common Stock Authorization

Vote FOR proposals to increase the number of authorized common shares where the primary purpose of the increase is to issue shares in connection with a transaction on the same ballot that warrants support.

Vote AGAINST proposals at companies with more than one class of common stock to increase the number of authorized shares of the class of common stock that has superior voting rights.

Vote AGAINST proposals to increase the number of authorized common shares if a vote for a reverse stock split on the same ballot is warranted despite the fact that the authorized shares would not be reduced proportionally.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on all other proposals to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance. Take into account company-specific factors that include, at a minimum, the following:

 

   

Past Board Performance:

  ¡  

The company’s use of authorized shares during the last three years

   

The Current Request:

  ¡  

Disclosure in the proxy statement of the specific purposes of the proposed increase;

  ¡  

Disclosure in the proxy statement of specific and severe risks to shareholders of not approving the request; and

  ¡  

The dilutive impact of the request as determined by an allowable increase calculated by ISS (typically 100 percent of existing authorized shares) that reflects the company’s need for shares and total shareholder returns.

Preferred Stock Authorization

Vote FOR proposals to increase the number of authorized preferred shares where the primary purpose of the increase is to issue shares in connection with a transaction on the same ballot that warrants support.

Vote AGAINST proposals at companies with more than one class or series of preferred stock to increase the number of authorized shares of the class or series of preferred stock that has superior voting rights.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on all other proposals to increase the number of shares of preferred stock authorized for issuance. Take into account company-specific factors that include, at a minimum, the following:

 

   

Past Board Performance:

 

 

       *

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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  ¡  

The company’s use of authorized preferred shares during the last three years;

   

The Current Request:

  ¡  

Disclosure in the proxy statement of the specific purposes for the proposed increase;

  ¡  

Disclosure in the proxy statement of specific and severe risks to shareholders of not approving the request;

  ¡  

In cases where the company has existing authorized preferred stock, the dilutive impact of the request as determined by an allowable increase calculated by ISS (typically 100 percent of existing authorized shares) that reflects the company’s need for shares and total shareholder returns; and

  ¡  

Whether the shares requested are blank check preferred shares that can be used for antitakeover purposes.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Vote CASE –BY- CASE on mergers and acquisitions. Review and evaluate the merits and drawbacks of the proposed transaction, balancing various and sometimes countervailing factors including:

 

   

Valuation - Is the value to be received by the target shareholders (or paid by the acquirer) reasonable? While the fairness opinion may provide an initial starting point for assessing valuation reasonableness, emphasis is placed on the offer premium, market reaction and strategic rationale.

   

Market reaction - How has the market responded to the proposed deal? A negative market reaction should cause closer scrutiny of a deal.

   

Strategic rationale - Does the deal make sense strategically? From where is the value derived? Cost and revenue synergies should not be overly aggressive or optimistic, but reasonably achievable. Management should also have a favorable track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions.

   

Negotiations and process - Were the terms of the transaction negotiated at arm’s-length? Was the process fair and equitable? A fair process helps to ensure the best price for shareholders. Significant negotiation “wins” can also signify the deal makers’ competency. The comprehensiveness of the sales process (e.g., full auction, partial auction, no auction) can also affect shareholder value.

   

Conflicts of interest - Are insiders benefiting from the transaction disproportionately and inappropriately as compared to non-insider shareholders? As the result of potential conflicts, the directors and officers of the company may be more likely to vote to approve a merger than if they did not hold these interests. Consider whether these interests may have influenced these directors and officers to support or recommend the merger. The CIC figure presented in the “ISS Transaction Summary” section of this report is an aggregate figure that can in certain cases be a misleading indicator of the true value transfer from shareholders to insiders. Where such figure appears to be excessive, analyze the underlying assumptions to determine whether a potential conflict exists.

   

Governance - Will the combined company have a better or worse governance profile than the current governance profiles of the respective parties to the transaction? If the governance profile is to change for the worse, the burden is on the company to prove that other issues (such as valuation) outweigh any deterioration in governance.

COMPENSATION*

 

 

    *

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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Executive Pay Evaluation

Underlying all evaluations are five global principles that most investors expect corporations to adhere to in designing and administering executive and director compensation programs:

 

  1.

Maintain appropriate pay-for-performance alignment, with emphasis on long-term shareholder value: This principle encompasses overall executive pay practices, which must be designed to attract, retain, and appropriately motivate the key employees who drive shareholder value creation over the long term. It will take into consideration, among other factors, the link between pay and performance; the mix between fixed and variable pay; performance goals; and equity-based plan costs;

  2.

Avoid arrangements that risk “pay for failure”: This principle addresses the appropriateness of long or indefinite contracts, excessive severance packages, and guaranteed compensation;

  3.

Maintain an independent and effective compensation committee: This principle promotes oversight of executive pay programs by directors with appropriate skills, knowledge, experience, and a sound process for compensation decision-making (e.g., including access to independent expertise and advice when needed);

  4.

Provide shareholders with clear, comprehensive compensation disclosures: This principle underscores the importance of informative and timely disclosures that enable shareholders to evaluate executive pay practices fully and fairly;

  5.

Avoid inappropriate pay to non-executive directors: This principle recognizes the interests of shareholders in ensuring that compensation to outside directors does not compromise their independence and ability to make appropriate judgments in overseeing managers’ pay and performance. At the market level, it may incorporate a variety of generally accepted best practices.

Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation- Management Proposals (Management Say-on-Pay)

Evaluate executive pay and practices, as well as certain aspects of outside director compensation CASE-BY-CASE.

Vote AGAINST management say on pay (MSOP) proposals, AGAINST/WITHHOLD on compensation committee members (or, in rare cases where the full board is deemed responsible, all directors including the CEO), and/or AGAINST an equity-based incentive plan proposal if:

 

   

There is a misalignment between CEO pay and company performance (pay for performance);

   

The company maintains problematic pay practices;

   

The board exhibits poor communication and responsiveness to shareholders.

Voting Alternatives

In general, the management say on pay (MSOP) ballot item is the primary focus of voting on executive pay practices—dissatisfaction with compensation practices can be expressed by voting against MSOP rather than withholding or voting against the compensation committee. However, if there is no MSOP on the ballot, then the negative vote will apply to members of the compensation committee. In addition, in egregious cases, or if the board fails to respond to concerns raised by a prior MSOP proposal, then vote withhold or against compensation committee members (or, if the full board is deemed accountable, all directors). If the negative factors involve equity-based compensation, then vote AGAINST an equity-based plan proposal presented for shareholder approval.

Additional CASE-BY-CASE considerations for the management say on pay (MSOP) proposals:

 

   

Evaluation of performance metrics in short-term and long-term plans, as discussed and explained in the Compensation Discussion & Analysis (CD&A). Consider the measures, goals, and target awards reported by the company for executives’ short- and long-term

 

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incentive awards: disclosure, explanation of their alignment with the company’s business strategy, and whether goals appear to be sufficiently challenging in relation to resulting payouts;

 

   

Evaluation of peer group benchmarking used to set target pay or award opportunities. Consider the rationale stated by the company for constituents in its pay benchmarking peer group, as well as the benchmark targets it uses to set or validate executives’ pay (e.g., median, 75th percentile, etc.,) to ascertain whether the benchmarking process is sound or may result in pay “ratcheting” due to inappropriate peer group constituents (e.g., much larger companies) or targeting (e.g., above median); and

 

   

Balance of performance-based versus non-performance-based pay. Consider the ratio of performance-based (not including plain vanilla stock options) vs. non-performance-based pay elements reported for the CEO’s latest reported fiscal year compensation, especially in conjunction with concerns about other factors such as performance metrics/goals, benchmarking practices, and pay-for-performance disconnects.

Primary Evaluation Factors for Executive Pay

Pay for Performance

Evaluate the alignment of the CEO’s pay with performance over time, focusing particularly on companies that have underperformed their peers over a sustained period. From a shareholders’ perspective, performance is predominantly gauged by the company’s stock performance over time. Even when financial or operational measures are utilized in incentive awards, the achievement related to these measures should ultimately translate into superior shareholder returns in the long-term.

Focus on companies with sustained underperformance relative to peers, considering the following key factors:

 

   

Whether a company’s one-year and three-year total shareholder returns (“TSR”) are in the bottom half of its industry group (i.e., four-digit GICS – Global Industry Classification Group); and

   

Whether the total compensation of a CEO who has served at least two consecutive fiscal years is aligned with the company’s total shareholder return over time, including both recent and long-term periods.

If a company falls in the bottom half of its four-digit GICS, further analysis of the CD&A is required to better understand the various pay elements and whether they create or reinforce shareholder alignment. Also assess the CEO’s pay relative to the company’s TSR over a time horizon of at least five years. The most recent year-over-year increase or decrease in pay remains a key consideration, but there will be additional emphasis on the long term trend of CEO total compensation relative to shareholder return. Also consider the mix of performance-based compensation relative to total compensation. In general, standard stock options or time-vested restricted stock are not considered to be performance-based. If a company provides performance-based incentives to its executives, the company is highly encouraged to provide the complete disclosure of the performance measure and goals (hurdle rate) so that shareholders can assess the rigor of the performance program. The use of non-GAAP financial metrics also makes it very challenging for shareholders to ascertain the rigor of the program as shareholders often cannot tell the type of adjustments being made and if the adjustments were made consistently. Complete and transparent disclosure helps shareholders to better understand the company’s pay for performance linkage.

Problematic Pay Practices

If the company maintains problematic pay practices, generally vote:

 

   

AGAINST management “say on pay” (MSOP) proposals;

   

AGAINST/WITHHOLD on compensation committee members (or in rare cases where the full board is deemed responsible, all directors including the CEO):

  ¡  

In egregious situations;

  ¡  

When no MSOP item is on the ballot; or

 

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  ¡  

When the board has failed to respond to concerns raised in prior MSOP evaluations; and/or

 

   

AGAINST an equity incentive plan proposal if excessive non-performance-based equity awards are the major contributors to a pay-for-performance misalignment.

The focus is on executive compensation practices that contravene the global pay principles, including:

 

   

Problematic practices related to non-performance-based compensation elements;

   

Incentives that may motivate excessive risk-taking; and

   

Options Backdating.

Problematic Pay Practices related to Non-Performance-Based Compensation Elements

Pay elements that are not directly based on performance are generally evaluated CASE-BY-CASE considering the context of a company’s overall pay program and demonstrated pay-for-performance philosophy. Please refer to ISS’ Compensation FAQ document for detail on specific pay practices that have been identified as potentially problematic and may lead to negative recommendations if they are deemed to be inappropriate or unjustified relative to executive pay best practices. The list below highlights the problematic practices that carry significant weight in this overall consideration and may result in adverse vote recommendations:

 

   

Repricing or replacing of underwater stock options/SARS without prior shareholder approval (including cash buyouts and voluntary surrender of underwater options);

   

Excessive perquisites or tax gross-ups, including any gross-up related to a secular trust or restricted stock vesting;

   

New or extended agreements that provide for:

  ¡  

CIC payments exceeding 3 times base salary and average/target/most recent bonus;

  ¡  

CIC severance payments without involuntary job loss or substantial diminution of duties (“single” or “modified single” triggers);

  ¡  

CIC payments with excise tax gross-ups (including “modified” gross-ups).

Incentives that may Motivate Excessive Risk-Taking

Assess company policies and disclosure related to compensation that could incentivize excessive risk-taking, for example:

 

   

Multi-year guaranteed bonuses;

   

A single performance metric used for short- and long-term plans;

   

Lucrative severance packages;

   

High pay opportunities relative to industry peers;

   

Disproportionate supplemental pensions; or

   

Mega annual equity grants that provide unlimited upside with no downside risk.

Factors that potentially mitigate the impact of risky incentives include rigorous claw-back provisions and robust stock ownership/holding guidelines.

Options Backdating

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on options backdating issues. Generally, when a company has recently practiced options backdating, WITHHOLD from or vote AGAINST the compensation committee, depending on the severity of the practices and the subsequent corrective actions on the part of the board. When deciding on votes on compensation committee members

 

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who oversaw questionable options grant practices or current compensation committee members who fail to respond to the issue proactively, consider several factors, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

   

Reason and motive for the options backdating issue, such as inadvertent vs. deliberate grant date changes;

   

Duration of options backdating;

   

Size of restatement due to options backdating;

   

Corrective actions taken by the board or compensation committee, such as canceling or re-pricing backdated options, the recouping of option gains on backdated grants; and

   

Adoption of a grant policy that prohibits backdating, and creates a fixed grant schedule or window period for equity grants in the future.

A CASE-BY-CASE analysis approach allows distinctions to be made between companies that had “sloppy” plan administration versus those that acted deliberately and/or committed fraud, as well as those companies that subsequently took corrective action. Cases where companies have committed fraud are considered most egregious.

Board Communications and Responsiveness

Consider the following factors CASE-BY-CASE when evaluating ballot items related to executive pay:

 

   

Poor disclosure practices, including:

  -  

Unclear explanation of how the CEO is involved in the pay setting process;

  -  

Retrospective performance targets and methodology not discussed;

  -  

Methodology for benchmarking practices and/or peer group not disclosed and explained.

   

Board’s responsiveness to investor input and engagement on compensation issues, for example:

  -  

Failure to respond to majority-supported shareholder proposals on executive pay topics; or

  -  

Failure to respond to concerns raised in connection with significant opposition to MSOP proposals.

Frequency of Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation (Management “Say on Pay”)

Vote FOR annual advisory votes on compensation, which provide the most consistent and clear communication channel for shareholder concerns about companies’ executive pay programs.

Voting on Golden Parachutes in an Acquisition, Merger, Consolidation, or Proposed Sale

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to approve the company’s golden parachute compensation, consistent with ISS’ policies on problematic pay practices related to severance packages. Features that may lead to a vote AGAINST include:

 

   

Recently adopted or materially amended agreements that include excise tax gross-up provisions (since prior annual meeting);

   

Recently adopted or materially amended agreements that include modified single triggers (since prior annual meeting);

   

Single trigger payments that will happen immediately upon a change in control, including cash payment and such items as the acceleration of performance-based equity despite the failure to achieve performance measures;

   

Single-trigger vesting of equity based on a definition of change in control that requires only shareholder approval of the transaction (rather than consummation);

   

Potentially excessive severance payments;

 

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Recent amendments or other changes that may make packages so attractive as to influence merger agreements that may not be in the best interests of shareholders;

   

In the case of a substantial gross-up from pre-existing/grandfathered contract: the element that triggered the gross-up (i.e., option mega-grants at low point in stock price, unusual or outsized payments in cash or equity made or negotiated prior to the merger); or

   

The company’s assertion that a proposed transaction is conditioned on shareholder approval of the golden parachute advisory vote. ISS would view this as problematic from a corporate governance perspective.

In cases where the golden parachute vote is incorporated into a company’s separate advisory vote on compensation (“management “say on pay”), ISS will evaluate the “say on pay” proposal in accordance with these guidelines, which may give higher weight to that component of the overall evaluation.

Equity-Based and Other Incentive Plans

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on equity-based compensation plans. Vote AGAINST the equity plan if any of the following factors apply:

 

   

The total cost of the company’s equity plans is unreasonable;

   

The plan expressly permits the repricing of stock options/stock appreciate rights (SARs) without prior shareholder approval;

   

The CEO is a participant in the proposed equity-based compensation plan and there is a disconnect between CEO pay and the company’s performance where over 50 percent of the year-over-year increase is attributed to equity awards (see Pay-for-Performance);

   

The company’s three year burn rate exceeds the greater of 2% or the mean plus one standard deviation of its industry group but no more than two percentage points (+/-) from the prior-year industry group cap;

   

Liberal Change of Control Definition: The plan provides for the acceleration of vesting of equity awards even though an actual change in control may not occur (e.g., upon shareholder approval of a transaction or the announcement of a tender offer); or

   

The plan is a vehicle for problematic pay practices.

Shareholder Proposals on Compensation

Golden Coffins/Executive Death Benefits

Generally vote FOR proposals calling companies to adopt a policy of obtaining shareholder approval for any future agreements and corporate policies that could oblige the company to make payments or awards following the death of a senior executive in the form of unearned salary or bonuses, accelerated vesting or the continuation in force of unvested equity grants, perquisites and other payments or awards made in lieu of compensation. This would not apply to any benefit programs or equity plan proposals that the broad-based employee population is eligible.

Hold Equity Past Retirement or for a Significant Period of Time

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals asking companies to adopt policies requiring senior executive officers to retain all or a significant portion of the shares acquired through compensation plans, either:

 

   

while employed and/or for two years following the termination of their employment ; or

   

for a substantial period following the lapse of all other vesting requirements for the award (“lock-up period”), with ratable release of a portion of the shares annually during the lock-up period.

The following factors will be taken into account:

 

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Whether the company has any holding period, retention ratio, or officer ownership requirements in place. These should consist of:

  -  

Rigorous stock ownership guidelines;

  -  

A holding period requirement coupled with a significant long-term ownership requirement; or

  -  

A meaningful retention ratio;

   

Actual officer stock ownership and the degree to which it meets or exceeds the proponent’s suggested holding period/retention ratio or the company’s own stock ownership or retention requirements;

   

Post-termination holding requirement policies or any policies aimed at mitigating risk taking by senior executives;

   

Problematic pay practices, current and past, which may promote a short-term versus a long-term focus.

A rigorous stock ownership guideline should be at least 10x base salary for the CEO, with the multiple declining for other executives. A meaningful retention ratio should constitute at least 50 percent of the stock received from equity awards (on a net proceeds basis) held on a long-term basis, such as the executive’s tenure with the company or even a few years past the executive’s termination with the company.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals asking companies to adopt policies requiring Named Executive Officers to retain 75% of the shares acquired through compensation plans while employed and/or for two years following the termination of their employment, and to report to shareholders regarding this policy. The following factors will be taken into account:

 

   

Whether the company has any holding period, retention ratio, or officer ownership requirements in place. These should consist of:

  -  

Rigorous stock ownership guidelines, or

 

  -  

A holding period requirement coupled with a significant long-term ownership requirement, or

 

  -  

A meaningful retention ratio,

 

   

Actual officer stock ownership and the degree to which it meets or exceeds the proponent’s suggested holding period/retention ratio or the company’s own stock ownership or retention requirements.

   

Problematic pay practices, current and past, which may promote a short-term versus a long-term focus.

A rigorous stock ownership guideline should be at least 10x base salary for the CEO, with the multiple declining for other executives. A meaningful retention ratio should constitute at least 50 percent of the stock received from equity awards (on a net proceeds basis) held on a long-term basis, such as the executive’s tenure with the company or even a few years past the executive’s termination with the company.

Generally vote AGAINST shareholder proposals that mandate a minimum amount of stock that directors must own in order to qualify as a director or to remain on the board. While ISS favors stock ownership on the part of directors, the company should determine the appropriate ownership requirement.

Social/Environmental Issues

Overall Approach

 

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Generally vote FOR the management’s recommendation on shareholder proposals involving social/environmental issues. When evaluating social and environmental shareholder proposals, Dimensional considers the most important factor to be whether adoption of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value.

 

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2011 International Proxy Voting Guidelines Summary

Effective for Meetings on or after January 3, 2011

In order to provide greater analysis on certain shareholder meetings, the Advisor has elected to receive research reports for certain meetings, as indicated below, from Glass Lewis in addition to Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”).

Specifically, if available, the Advisor may obtain research from Glass Lewis in addition to ISS for shareholder meetings in the following circumstances: (1) where the Advisor’s clients have a significant aggregate holding in the issuer and the meeting agenda contains proxies concerning: Anti-takeover Defenses or Voting Related Issues, Mergers and Acquisitions or Reorganizations or Restructurings, Capital Structure Issues, Compensation Issues or a proxy contest; or (2) where the Advisor in its discretion, has deemed that additional research is warranted.

Where research is obtained from Glass Lewis in accordance with these Guidelines, the Advisor will first review the research reports obtained from ISS and Glass Lewis. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are the same, the Advisor will vote accordingly. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are inconsistent, the Advisor will vote in accordance with the ISS recommendation unless the Corporate Governance Committee determines that voting in accordance with the Glass Lewis recommendation is more consistent with the principle of preserving shareholder value.

1. Operational Items

Financial Results/Director and Auditor Reports

Vote FOR approval of financial statements and director and auditor reports, unless:

 

   

There are concerns about the accounts presented or audit procedures used; or

 

   

The company is not responsive to shareholder questions about specific items that should be publicly disclosed.

Appointment of Auditors and Auditor Fees

Vote FOR the (re)election of auditors and/or proposals authorizing the board to fix auditor fees, unless:

 

   

There are serious concerns about the procedures used by the auditor;

   

There is reason to believe that the auditor has rendered an opinion which is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position;

   

External auditors have previously served the company in an executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company;

   

Name of the proposed auditors has not been published;

   

The auditors are being changed without explanation; or

   

Fees for non-audit services exceed standard annual audit-related fees (only applies to companies on the MSCI EAFE index and/or listed on any country main index).

In circumstances where fees for non-audit services include fees related to significant one-time capital structure events (initial public offerings, bankruptcy emergencies, and spin-offs) and the company makes public disclosure of the amount and nature of those fees, which are an exception to the standard “non-audit fee” category, then such fees may be excluded from the non-audit fees considered in determining the ratio of non-audit to audit fees.

For concerns related to the audit procedures, independence of auditors, and/or name of auditors, ISS may recommend AGAINST the auditor (re)election. For concerns related to fees paid to the auditors, ISS may recommend AGAINST remuneration of auditors if this is a separate voting item; otherwise ISS may recommend AGAINST the auditor election.

 

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Appointment of Internal Statutory Auditors

Vote FOR the appointment or (re)election of statutory auditors, unless:

 

   

There are serious concerns about the statutory reports presented or the audit procedures used;

 

   

Questions exist concerning any of the statutory auditors being appointed; or

 

   

The auditors have previously served the company in an executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company.

Allocation of Income

Vote FOR approval of the allocation of income, unless:

 

   

The dividend payout ratio has been consistently below 30 percent without adequate explanation; or

   

The payout is excessive given the company’s financial position.

Amendments to Articles of Association

Vote amendments to the articles of association on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Change in Company Fiscal Term

Vote FOR resolutions to change a company’s fiscal term unless a company’s motivation for the change is to postpone its AGM.

Lower Disclosure Threshold for Stock Ownership

Vote AGAINST resolutions to lower the stock ownership disclosure threshold below 5 percent unless specific reasons exist to implement a lower threshold.

Amend Quorum Requirements

Vote proposals to amend quorum requirements for shareholder meetings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Transact Other Business

Vote AGAINST other business when it appears as a voting item.

2. Board of Directors

Director Elections

Vote FOR management nominees in the election of directors, unless:

 

   

Adequate disclosure has not been provided in a timely manner;

 

   

There are clear concerns over questionable finances or restatements;

 

   

There have been questionable transactions with conflicts of interest;

 

   

There are any records of abuses against minority shareholder interests; or

 

   

The board fails to meet minimum corporate governance standards.

Vote FOR individual nominees unless there are specific concerns about the individual, such as criminal wrongdoing or breach of fiduciary responsibilities.

 

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Vote AGAINST individual directors if repeated absences at board meetings have not been explained (in countries where this information is disclosed).

Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis for contested elections of directors, e.g. the election of shareholder nominees or the dismissal of incumbent directors, determining which directors are best suited to add value for shareholders.*

Vote FOR employee and/or labor representatives if they sit on either the audit or compensation committee and are required by law to be on those committees. ? Vote AGAINST employee and/or labor representatives2 if they sit on either the audit or compensation committee, if they are not required to be on those committees. *

Under extraordinary circumstances, vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from directors individually, on a committee, or the entire board, due to:

 

   

Material failures of governance, stewardship, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company; or

 

   

Failure to replace management as appropriate; or

 

   

Egregious actions related to the director(s)’ service on other boards that raise substantial doubt about his or her ability to effectively oversee management and serve the best interests of shareholders at any company.

[Please see the ISS International Classification of Directors.]

 

 

* See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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ISS Classification of Directors - International Policy 2011

 

Executive Director

 

   

Employee or executive of the company;

   

Any director who is classified as a non-executive, but receives salary, fees, bonus, and/or other benefits that are in line with the highest-paid executives of the company.

Non-Independent Non-Executive Director (NED)

   

Any director who is attested by the board to be a non-independent NED;

   

Any director specifically designated as a representative of a significant shareholder of the company;

   

Any director who is also an employee or executive of a significant shareholder of the company;

   

Any director who is nominated by a dissenting significant shareholder, unless there is a clear lack of material[5] connection with the dissident, either currently or historically;

   

Beneficial owner (direct or indirect) of at least 10% of the company’s stock, either in economic terms or in voting rights (this may be aggregated if voting power is distributed among more than one member of a defined group, e.g., family members who beneficially own less than 10% individually, but collectively own more than 10%), unless market best practice dictates a lower ownership and/or disclosure threshold (and in other special market-specific circumstances);

   

Government representative;

   

Currently provides (or a relative[1] provides) professional services[2] to the company, to an affiliate of the company, or to an individual officer of the company or of one of its affiliates in excess of $10,000 per year;

   

Represents customer, supplier, creditor, banker, or other entity with which company maintains transactional/commercial relationship (unless company discloses information to apply a materiality test[3]);

   

Any director who has conflicting or cross-directorships with executive directors or the chairman of the company;

   

Relative[1] of a current employee of the company or its affiliates;

   

Relative[1] of a former executive of the company or its affiliates;

   

A new appointee elected other than by a formal process through the General Meeting (such as a contractual appointment by a substantial shareholder);

   

Founder/co-founder/member of founding family but not currently an employee;

   

Former executive (5 year cooling off period);

   

Years of service is generally not a determining factor unless it is recommended best practice in a market and/or in extreme circumstances, in which case it may be considered.[4]

   

Any additional relationship or principle considered to compromise independence under local corporate governance best practice guidance.

Independent NED

 

   

No material[5] connection, either directly or indirectly, to the company (other than a board seat) or the dissenting significant shareholder.

Employee Representative

 

   

Represents employees or employee shareholders of the company (classified as “employee representative” but considered a non-independent NED).

Footnotes:

[1] “Relative” follows the definition of “immediate family members” which covers spouses, parents, children, stepparents, step-children, siblings, in-laws, and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of any director, nominee for director, executive officer, or significant shareholder of the company.

[2] Professional services can be characterized as advisory in nature and generally include the following: investment banking/financial advisory services; commercial banking (beyond deposit services); investment services; insurance services; accounting/audit services; consulting services; marketing services; and legal services. The case of participation in a banking syndicate by a non-lead bank should be considered a transaction (and hence subject to the associated materiality test) rather than a professional relationship.

[3] A business relationship may be material if the transaction value (of all outstanding transactions) entered into between the company and the company or organization with which the director is associated is equivalent to either 1 percent of the company’s turnover or 1 percent of the turnover of the company or organization with which the director is associated. OR, A business relationship may be material if the transaction value (of all outstanding financing operations) entered into between the company and the company or organization with which the director is associated is more than 10 percent of the company’s shareholder equity or the transaction value, (of all outstanding financing operations), compared to the company’s total assets, is more than 5 percent.

[4] For example, in continental Europe, directors with a tenure exceeding 12 years will be considered non-independent. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, directors with a tenure exceeding nine years will be considered non-independent, unless the company provides sufficient and clear justification that the director is independent despite his long tenure.

[5] For purposes of ISS’ director independence classification, “material” will be defined as a standard of relationship financial, personal or otherwise that a reasonable person might conclude could potentially influence one’s objectivity in the boardroom in a manner that would have a meaningful impact on an individual’s ability to satisfy requisite fiduciary standards on behalf of shareholders.

 

 

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Contested Director Elections*

For contested elections of directors, e.g. the election of shareholder nominees or the dismissal of incumbent directors, ISS will make its recommendation on a case-by-case basis, determining which directors are best suited to add value for shareholders.

The analysis will generally be based on, but not limited to, the following major decision factors:

 

   

Company performance relative to its peers;

   

Strategy of the incumbents versus the dissidents;

   

Independence of directors/nominees;

   

Experience and skills of board candidates;

   

Governance profile of the company;

   

Evidence of management entrenchment;

   

Responsiveness to shareholders;

   

Whether a takeover offer has been rebuffed;

   

Whether minority or majority representation is being sought.

When analyzing a contested election of directors, ISS will generally focus on two central questions: (1) Have the dissidents proved that board change is warranted? And (2) if so, are the dissident board nominees likely to effect positive change (i.e., maximize long-term shareholder value).

Discharge of Directors

Generally vote FOR the discharge of directors, including members of the management board and/or supervisory board, unless there is reliable information about significant and compelling controversies that the board is not fulfilling its fiduciary duties warranted by:

 

   

A lack of oversight or actions by board members which invoke shareholder distrust related to malfeasance or poor supervision, such as operating in private or company interest rather than in shareholder interest; or

   

Any legal issues (e.g. civil/criminal) aiming to hold the board responsible for breach of trust in the past or related to currently alleged actions yet to be confirmed (and not only the fiscal year in question), such as price fixing, insider trading, bribery, fraud, and other illegal actions; or

   

Other egregious governance issues where shareholders will bring legal action against the company or its directors.

For markets which do not routinely request discharge resolutions (e.g. common law countries or markets where discharge is not mandatory), analysts may voice concern in other appropriate agenda items, such as approval of the annual accounts or other relevant resolutions, to enable shareholders to express discontent with the board.

Director, Officer, and Auditor Indemnification and Liability Provisions

Vote proposals seeking indemnification and liability protection for directors and officers on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote AGAINST proposals to indemnify external auditors.

Board Structure

Vote FOR proposals to fix board size.

 

 

 

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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Vote AGAINST the introduction of classified boards and mandatory retirement ages for directors.

Vote AGAINST proposals to alter board structure or size in the context of a fight for control of the company or the board.

3. Capital Structure*

Share Issuance Requests

General Issuances

Vote FOR issuance requests with preemptive rights to a maximum of 100 percent over currently issued capital.

Vote FOR issuance requests without preemptive rights to a maximum of 20 percent of currently issued capital.

Specific Issuances

Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on all requests, with or without preemptive rights.

Increases in Authorized Capital

Vote FOR non-specific proposals to increase authorized capital up to 100 percent over the current authorization unless the increase would leave the company with less than 30 percent of its new authorization outstanding.

Vote FOR specific proposals to increase authorized capital to any amount, unless:

   

The specific purpose of the increase (such as a share-based acquisition or merger) does not meet ISS guidelines for the purpose being proposed; or

   

The increase would leave the company with less than 30 percent of its new authorization outstanding after adjusting for all proposed issuances.

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt unlimited capital authorizations.

Reduction of Capital

Vote FOR proposals to reduce capital for routine accounting purposes unless the terms are unfavorable to shareholders.

Vote proposals to reduce capital in connection with corporate restructuring on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Capital Structures

Vote FOR resolutions that seek to maintain or convert to a one-share, one-vote capital structure.

Vote AGAINST requests for the creation or continuation of dual-class capital structures or the creation of new or additional super voting shares.

Preferred Stock

Vote FOR the creation of a new class of preferred stock or for issuances of preferred stock up to 50 percent of issued capital unless the terms of the preferred stock would adversely affect the rights of existing shareholders.

 

 

* See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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Vote FOR the creation/issuance of convertible preferred stock as long as the maximum number of common shares that could be issued upon conversion meets ISS guidelines on equity issuance requests.

Vote AGAINST the creation of a new class of preference shares that would carry superior voting rights to the common shares.

Vote AGAINST the creation of blank check preferred stock unless the board clearly states that the authorization will not be used to thwart a takeover bid.

Vote proposals to increase blank check preferred authorizations on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Debt Issuance Requests

Vote non-convertible debt issuance requests on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, with or without preemptive rights.

Vote FOR the creation/issuance of convertible debt instruments as long as the maximum number of common shares that could be issued upon conversion meets ISS guidelines on equity issuance requests.

Vote FOR proposals to restructure existing debt arrangements unless the terms of the restructuring would adversely affect the rights of shareholders.

Pledging of Assets for Debt

Vote proposals to approve the pledging of assets for debt on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Increase in Borrowing Powers

Vote proposals to approve increases in a company’s borrowing powers on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Share Repurchase Plans

Generally vote FOR market repurchase authorities (share repurchase programs) if the terms comply with the following criteria:

 

   

A repurchase limit of up to 10 percent of outstanding issued share capital (15 percent in UK/Ireland);

 

   

A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company’s issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and

 

   

A duration of no more than 5 years, or such lower threshold as may be set by applicable law, regulation or code of governance best practice.

Authorities to repurchase shares in excess of the 10 percent repurchase limit will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. ISS may support such share repurchase authorities under special circumstances, which are required to be publicly disclosed by the company, provided that, on balance, the proposal is in shareholders’ interests. In such cases, the authority must comply with the following criteria:

 

   

A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company’s issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and

 

   

A duration of no more than 18 months.

In markets where it is normal practice not to provide a repurchase limit, ISS will evaluate the proposal based on the company’s historical practice. However, ISS expects companies to disclose such limits and, in the future, may recommend a vote against companies that fail to do so. In such cases, the authority must comply with the following criteria:

 

   

A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company’s issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and

 

   

A duration of no more than 18 months.

 

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In addition, ISS will recommend AGAINST any proposal where:

 

   

The repurchase can be used for takeover defenses;

 

   

There is clear evidence of abuse;

 

   

There is no safeguard against selective buybacks; and/or

 

   

Pricing provisions and safeguards are deemed to be unreasonable in light of market practice.

Reissuance of Repurchased Shares

Vote FOR requests to reissue any repurchased shares unless there is clear evidence of abuse of this authority in the past.

Capitalization of Reserves for Bonus Issues/Increase in Par Value

Vote FOR requests to capitalize reserves for bonus issues of shares or to increase par value.

4. Other Items

Reorganizations/Restructurings *

Vote reorganizations and restructurings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Mergers and Acquisitions*

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on mergers and acquisitions taking into account the following:

For every M&A analysis, ISS reviews publicly available information as of the date of the report and evaluates the merits and drawbacks of the proposed transaction, balancing various and sometimes countervailing factors including:

 

   

Valuation - Is the value to be received by the target shareholders (or paid by the acquirer) reasonable? While the fairness opinion may provide an initial starting point for assessing valuation reasonableness, ISS places emphasis on the offer premium, market reaction, and strategic rationale.

   

Market reaction - How has the market responded to the proposed deal? A negative market reaction will cause ISS to scrutinize a deal more closely.

   

Strategic rationale - Does the deal make sense strategically? From where is the value derived? Cost and revenue synergies should not be overly aggressive or optimistic, but reasonably achievable. Management should also have a favourable track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions.

   

Conflicts of interest - Are insiders benefiting from the transaction disproportionately and inappropriately as compared to non-insider shareholders? ISS will consider whether any special interests may have influenced these directors and officers to support or recommend the merger.

   

Governance - Will the combined company have a better or worse governance profile than the current governance profiles of the respective parties to the transaction? If the governance profile is to change for the worse, the burden is on the company to prove that other issues (such as valuation) outweigh any deterioration in governance.

Vote AGAINST if the companies do not provide sufficient information upon request to make an informed voting decision.

 

 

* See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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Mandatory Takeover Bid Waivers*

Vote proposals to waive mandatory takeover bid requirements on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Reincorporation Proposals

Vote reincorporation proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Expansion of Business Activities

Vote FOR resolutions to expand business activities unless the new business takes the company into risky areas.

Related-Party Transactions

In evaluating resolutions that seek shareholder approval on related party transactions (RPTs), vote on a case-by-case basis, considering factors including, but not limited to, the following:

 

   

the parties on either side of the transaction;

 

   

the nature of the asset to be transferred/service to be provided;

 

   

the pricing of the transaction (and any associated professional valuation);

 

   

the views of independent directors (where provided);

 

   

the views of an independent financial adviser (where appointed);

 

   

whether any entities party to the transaction (including advisers) is conflicted; and

 

   

the stated rationale for the transaction, including discussions of timing.

If there is a transaction that ISS deemed problematic and that was not put to a shareholder vote, ISS may recommend against the election of the director involved in the related-party transaction or the full board.

Antitakeover Mechanisms

Generally vote AGAINST all antitakeover proposals, unless they are structured in such a way that they give shareholders the ultimate decision on any proposal or offer.

Shareholder Proposals

Vote all shareholder proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote FOR proposals that would improve the company’s corporate governance or business profile at a reasonable cost.

Vote AGAINST proposals that limit the company’s business activities or capabilities or result in significant costs being incurred with little or no benefit.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Issues

Generally vote FOR the management’s recommendation on shareholder proposals involving CSR Issues. When evaluating social and environmental shareholder proposals, Dimensional considers the most important factor to be whether adoption of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value.

 

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DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, Texas 78746

Telephone: (512) 306-7400

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

February 28, 2011

DFA California Intermediate-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio

Ticker: N/A

This statement of additional information (“SAI”) relates to shares of the DFA California Intermediate-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) of DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. (“DFAIDG” or the “Fund”), an open-end management investment company.

This SAI is not a prospectus but should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus of the Portfolio dated February 28, 2011, as amended from time to time. No financial information is shown for the Portfolio in the Fund’s annual report for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010. The Prospectus can be obtained by writing to the Fund at the above address or by calling the above telephone number.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS AND POLICIES

     2   

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

     2   

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

     3   

FUTURES CONTRACTS

     4   

CASH MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

     5   

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

     5   

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES FOR THE DFA CALIFORNIA INTERMEDIATE-TERM MUNICIPAL BOND PORTFOLIO

     5   

CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL SECURITIES RISKS

     9   

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

     11   

SERVICES TO THE FUND

     22   

ADVISORY FEES

     23   

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

     23   

GENERAL INFORMATION

     25   

CODE OF ETHICS

     25   

SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS

     26   

PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

     26   

PURCHASE OF SHARES

     26   

REDEMPTION AND TRANSFER OF SHARES

     27   

TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIO AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS

     27   

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

     37   

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

     39   

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     41   

PERFORMANCE DATA

     41   

 

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PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS AND POLICIES

The following information supplements the information set forth in the Prospectus of the Portfolio. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this SAI have the meaning assigned to them in the Prospectus.

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (the “Advisor” or “Dimensional”) serves as investment advisor to the Portfolio. The Advisor is organized as a Delaware limited partnership and is controlled and operated by its general partner, Dimensional Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation.

The Portfolio is diversified under the federal securities laws and regulations.

The Portfolio has adopted a non-fundamental policy as required by Rule 35d-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) that, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the value of the Portfolio’s net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, will be invested in a specific type of investment. Additionally, if the Portfolio changes its 80% investment policy, the Portfolio will notify shareholders at least 60 days before the change, and will change the name of the Portfolio. For more information on the Portfolio’s specific 80% policy, see the “PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES” section in the Prospectus.

BROKERAGE TRANSACTIONS

The Portfolio acquires and sells securities on a net basis with dealers which are major market makers in such securities. The Investment Committee of the Advisor selects dealers on the basis of their size, market making, and credit analysis ability. When executing portfolio transactions, the Advisor seeks to obtain the most favorable price for the securities being traded among the dealers with whom the Portfolio effects transactions.

Portfolio transactions will be placed with a view to receiving the best price and execution. The Portfolio will seek to acquire and dispose of securities in a manner which would cause as little fluctuation in the market prices of securities being purchased or sold as possible in light of the size of the transactions being effected, and brokers will be selected with this goal in view. The Advisor monitors the performance of brokers which effect transactions for the Portfolio to determine the effect that the brokers’ trading has on the market prices of the securities in which the Portfolio invests. The Advisor also checks the rate of commission being paid by the Portfolio to its brokers to ascertain that the rates are competitive with those charged by other brokers for similar services.

Subject to the Portfolio’s duty to seek to obtain best price and execution, transactions may be placed with brokers that have assisted in the sale of Portfolio shares. The Advisor, however, pursuant to policies and procedures approved by the Board of Directors of DFAIDG, is prohibited from selecting brokers and dealers to effect the Portfolio’s portfolio securities transactions based (in whole or in part) on a broker’s or dealer’s promotion or sale of shares issued by the Portfolio or any other registered investment companies.

The Advisor believes that it needs maximum flexibility to effect trades on a best execution basis. As deemed appropriate, the Advisor places buy and sell orders for the Portfolio with various brokerage firms that may act as principal or agent. The Advisor may also make use of direct market access and algorithmic, program or electronic trading methods. The Advisor may extensively use electronic trading systems as such systems can provide the ability to customize the orders placed and can assist in the Advisor’s execution strategies.

Transactions also may be placed with brokers who provide the Advisor or the sub-advisors with investment research, such as reports concerning individual issuers, industries and general economic and financial trends and other research services. The investment advisory agreement permits the Advisor knowingly to pay commissions on these transactions that are greater than another broker, dealer or exchange member might charge if the Advisor, in good faith, determines that the commissions paid are reasonable in relation to the research or brokerage services provided by the broker or dealer when viewed in terms of either a particular transaction or the Advisor’s overall responsibilities to the accounts under its management. Research services furnished by brokers through whom

 

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securities transactions are effected may be used by the Advisor in servicing all of its accounts and not all such services may be used by the Advisor with respect to the Portfolio.

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

The Portfolio has adopted certain limitations which may not be changed without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio. A “majority” is defined as the lesser of: (1) at least 67% of the voting securities of the Portfolio (to be affected by the proposed change) present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio are present or represented by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio.

The Portfolio will not:

 

  (1)

borrow money, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or any rules, exemptions or interpretations thereunder that may be adopted, granted or issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”);

 

  (2)

make loans, except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, or any rules, exemptions or interpretations thereunder that may be adopted, granted or issued by the SEC; provided that in no event shall the Portfolio be permitted to make a loan to a natural person;

 

  (3)

purchase or sell real estate, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, and provided that this restriction does not prevent the Portfolio from: (i) purchasing or selling securities or instruments secured by real estate or interests therein, securities or instruments representing interests in real estate or securities or instruments of issuers that invest, deal or otherwise engage in transactions in real estate or interests therein; and (ii) purchasing or selling real estate mortgage loans;

 

  (4)

purchase or sell physical commodities, unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments, and provided that this restriction does not prevent the Portfolio from: (i) engaging in transactions involving currencies and futures contracts and options thereon; or (ii) investing in securities or other instruments that are secured by physical commodities;

 

  (5)

purchase the securities of any one issuer, if immediately after such investment, the Portfolio would not qualify as a “diversified company” as that term is defined by the 1940 Act, as amended, and as modified or interpreted by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time;

 

  (6)

engage in the business of underwriting securities issued by others;

 

  (7)

issue senior securities (as such term is defined in Section 18(f) of the 1940 Act), except to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act; or

 

  (8)

concentrate (invest more than 25% of its net assets) in securities of issuers in a particular industry (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its agencies or securities of other investment companies).

With respect to the investment limitation described in (1) above, the Portfolio will maintain asset coverage of at least 300% (as described in the 1940 Act), inclusive of any amounts borrowed, with respect to any borrowings made by the Portfolio. The Portfolio does not currently intend to borrow money for investment purposes.

Although the investment limitation described in (2) above prohibits loans, the Portfolio is authorized to lend portfolio securities.

The Portfolio is required to operate in accordance with the SEC staff’s current position on illiquid securities, which limits investments in illiquid securities to 15% of the Portfolio’s net assets. Further, pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, the Portfolio may purchase certain unregistered (i.e. restricted) securities upon a determination that a liquid institutional market exists for the securities. If it is determined that a liquid market does exist, the securities will not be subject to the 15% limitation on holdings of illiquid securities. While maintaining

 

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oversight, the Board of Directors has delegated the day-to-day function of making liquidity determinations to the Advisor. For Rule 144A securities to be considered liquid, there must be at least two dealers making a market in such securities. After purchase, the Board of Directors of DFAIDG, and the Advisor will continue to monitor the liquidity of Rule 144A securities.

For purposes of the investment limitation described in (7) above, management does not consider securities that are issued by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities to be investments in an “industry.” However, management currently considers securities issued by a foreign government (but not the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities) to be subject to the 25% limitation. Thus, not more than 25% of the Portfolio’s total assets will be invested in securities issued by any one foreign government or supranational organization. The Portfolio might invest in certain securities issued by companies in a particular industry whose obligations are guaranteed by a foreign government. Management could consider such a company to be within the particular industry and, therefore, the Portfolio will invest in the securities of such a company only if the Portfolio can do so under the Portfolio’s policy of not being concentrated in any single industry.

Additionally, for purposes of the investment limitations above, tax-exempt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S., state or local governments or political subdivisions of governments are not considered to be a part of any industry.

Unless otherwise indicated, all limitations applicable to the Portfolio’s investments apply only at the time that a transaction is undertaken.

FUTURES CONTRACTS

The Portfolio may enter into futures contracts and options on futures contracts to gain market exposure on the Portfolio’s uninvested cash pending investments in securities and to maintain liquidity to pay redemptions.

Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of defined securities at a specified future time and at a specified price. Futures contracts that are standardized as to maturity date and underlying financial instrument are traded on national futures exchanges. The Portfolio will be required to make a margin deposit in cash or government securities with a futures commission merchant (an “FCM”) to initiate and maintain positions in futures contracts. Minimal initial margin requirements are established by the futures exchanges and FCMs may establish margin requirements which are higher than the exchange requirements. After a futures contract position is opened, the value of the contract is marked to market daily. If the futures contract price changes to the extent that the margin on deposit does not satisfy margin requirements, payment of additional “variation” margin to be held by the FCM will be required. Conversely, a reduction in the required margin would result in a repayment of excess margin to the custodial accounts of the Portfolio. Variation margin payments may be made to and from the futures broker for as long as the contract remains open. The Portfolio expects to earn income on its margin deposits. The Portfolio intends to limit its futures-related investment activity so that other than with respect to bona fide hedging activity (as defined in Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) General Regulations Section 1.3(z)): (i) the aggregate initial margin and premiums paid to establish commodity futures and commodity option contract positions (determined at the time the most recent position was established) does not exceed 5% of the liquidation value of the portfolio of the Portfolio, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such contracts it has entered into (provided that, in the case of an option that is in-the-money at the time of purchase, the in-the-money amount may be excluded in calculating such 5% limitation); or (ii) the aggregate net “notional value” (i.e., the size of a commodity futures or commodity option contract in contract units (taking into account any multiplier specified in the contract), multiplied by the current market price (for a futures contract) or strike price (for an option contract) of each such unit) of all non-hedge commodity futures and commodity option contracts that the Portfolio has entered into (determined at the time the most recent position was established) does not exceed the liquidation value of the portfolio of the Portfolio, after taking into account unrealized profits and unrealized losses on any such contracts that the Portfolio has entered into.

Positions in futures contracts may be closed out only on an exchange that provides a secondary market. However, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular futures contract at

 

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any specific time. Therefore, it might not be possible to close a futures position and, in the event of adverse price movements, the Portfolio would continue to be required to make variation margin deposits. In such circumstances, if the Portfolio has insufficient cash, it might have to sell portfolio securities to meet daily margin requirements at a time when it might be disadvantageous to do so. Management intends to minimize the possibility that it will be unable to close out a futures contract by only entering into futures which are traded on national futures exchanges and for which there appears to be a liquid secondary market. Pursuant to published positions of the SEC and interpretations of the staff of the SEC, the Portfolio (or its custodian) is required to maintain segregated accounts or to segregate assets through notations on the books of the custodian, consisting of liquid assets (or, as permitted under applicable interpretations, enter into offsetting positions) in connection with its futures contract transactions in order to cover its obligations with respect to such contracts. These requirements are designed to limit the amount of leverage that the Portfolio may use by entering into futures transactions.

CASH MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

The Portfolio may engage in cash management practices in order to earn income on uncommitted cash balances. Generally, cash is uncommitted pending investment in other securities, payment of redemptions or in other circumstances where the Advisor believes liquidity is necessary or desirable. For example, cash investments may be made for temporary defensive purposes during periods in which market, economic or political conditions warrant.

The Portfolio may invest cash in short-term repurchase agreements. In addition, the Portfolio may invest up to 20% of its assets in short-term fixed income obligations and affiliated and unaffiliated registered and unregistered money market funds. With respect to cash investments, except in connection with corporate actions, the Portfolio will invest in instruments that at the time of purchase have an investment grade rating by a rating agency or are deemed to be investment grade by the Advisor. Investments in money market mutual funds may involve duplication of certain financial expenses. The percentage guideline set forth above is not an absolute limitation, but the Portfolio does not exceed this guideline under normal circumstances.

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS

The Portfolio may invest in Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”) and similarly structured pooled investments for the purpose of gaining exposure to the municipal bond market pending investment in municipal bonds.

An ETF is an investment company whose goal is to track or replicate a desired index, such as a sector, market or global segment. ETFs are passively managed, and traded similar to a publicly traded company. The risks and costs of investing in ETFs are comparable to investing in a publicly traded company. The goal of an ETF is to correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of its underlying index. The risk of not correlating to the index is an additional risk to the investors of ETFs. When the Portfolio invests in an ETF, shareholders of the Portfolio bear their proportionate share of the underlying ETF’s fees and expenses.

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES FOR THE DFA CALIFORNIA INTERMEDIATE-TERM MUNICIPAL

BOND PORTFOLIO

In addition to the securities and investment practices described in the prospectus, set forth below is a description of certain types of securities that the Portfolio may purchase and certain investment techniques that the Portfolio may use to attempt to achieve its investment objective.

 

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Variable Rate Obligations and Demand Notes

The Portfolio may invest in variable rate obligations. Variable rate obligations have a yield that is adjusted periodically based on changes in the level of prevailing interest rates. Floating rate obligations have an interest rate fixed to a known lending rate, such as the prime rate, and are automatically adjusted when the known rate changes. Variable rate obligations lessen the capital fluctuations usually inherent in fixed income investments. This diminishes the risk of capital depreciation of investment securities in the Portfolio and, consequently, of Portfolio shares. However, if interest rates decline, the yield of the Portfolio will decline, causing the Portfolio and its shareholders to forego the opportunity for capital appreciation of that Portfolio’s investments and of their shares.

The Portfolio may invest in floating rate and variable rate demand notes. Demand notes provide that the holder may demand payment of the note at its par value plus accrued interest by giving notice to the issuer. To ensure the ability of the issuer to make payment on demand, a bank letter of credit or other liquidity facility may support the note.

Pre-refunded Municipal Securities

The Portfolio may invest in pre-refunded municipal securities. Pre-refunded municipal securities are tax-exempt bonds that have been refunded to a call date prior to the final maturity of principal, or “escrowed-to-maturity bonds,” that have been refunded prior to the final maturity of principal and remain outstanding in the municipal market. The payment of principal and interest of the pre-refunded municipal securities held by the Portfolio is funded from securities in a designated escrow account that holds U.S. Treasury securities or other obligations of the U.S. Government (including its agencies and instrumentalities (“Agency Securities”). While still tax-exempt, pre-refunded municipal securities usually will bear a Aaa rating (if a re-rating has been requested and paid for) because they are backed by U.S. Treasury or Agency Securities held in an escrow account established by the municipality and an independent escrow agent. While a secondary market exists for pre-funded municipal securities, if the Portfolio sells pre-refunded municipal bonds prior to maturity, the price received may be more or less than the original cost, depending on market conditions at the time of sale. Investment in pre-refunded municipal securities held by the Portfolio may subject the Portfolio to interest rate risk and market risk. To the extent permitted by the SEC and the Internal Revenue Service, the Portfolio’s investment in pre-refunded municipal bonds backed by U.S. Treasury and Agency Securities in the manner described above, will, for purposes of diversification tests applicable to the Portfolio, be considered an investment in the respective U.S. Treasury and Agency Securities.

Standby Commitments

These instruments, which are similar to a put, give the Portfolio the option to obligate a broker, dealer or bank to repurchase a security held by the Portfolio at a specified price.

Tender Option Bonds

Tender option bonds are relatively long-term bonds that are coupled with the option to tender the securities to a bank, broker-dealer or other financial institution at periodic intervals and receive the face value of the bond. This investment structure is commonly used as a means of enhancing a security’s liquidity.

Structured or Indexed Securities

The Portfolio may invest in structured or indexed securities. The value of the principal of and/or interest on such securities is determined by reference to changes in the value of specific currencies, interest rates, commodities, indices or other financial indicators (the “Reference”) or the relative change in the two or more References. The interest rate or the principal amount payable upon maturity or redemption may be increased or decreased depending upon changes in the applicable Reference. The terms of the structured or indexed securities may provide that, in certain circumstances, no principal is due at maturity and, therefore, may result in a loss of the Portfolio’s investment. Structured or indexed securities may be positively or negatively indexed, so that appreciation of the Reference may produce an increase or a decrease in the interest rate or value of the security at maturity. In addition, changes in interest rates or the value of the security at maturity may be some multiple of the change in the value of

 

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the Reference. Consequently, structured or indexed securities may entail a greater degree of market risk than other types of debt securities because the Portfolio bears the risk of the Reference. Structured or indexed securities may also be more volatile, less liquid and more difficult to accurately price than less complex securities.

Zero Coupon Bonds

The Portfolio may invest in zero coupon bonds. Zero coupon bonds generally pay no cash interest (or dividends, in the case of preferred stock) to their holders prior to maturity. Accordingly, such securities usually are issued and traded at a deep discount from their face or par value and generally are subject to greater fluctuations of market value in response to changing interest rates than securities of comparable maturities and credit quality that pay cash interest (or dividends, in the case of preferred stock) on a current basis. Although the Portfolio will receive no payments on its zero coupon bonds prior to their maturity or disposition, the Portfolio would be required, for federal income tax purposes, generally to include in its dividends each year an amount equal to the annual income that accrues on its zero coupon securities. Such dividends will be paid from the cash assets of the Portfolio, from borrowings or by liquidation of portfolio securities, if necessary, at a time that the Portfolio otherwise would not have done so. To the extent the Portfolio is required to liquidate thinly traded securities, it may be able to sell such securities only at prices lower than if such securities were more widely traded. The risks associated with holding securities that are not readily marketable may be accentuated at such time. To the extent the proceeds from any such dispositions are used by the Portfolio to pay distributions that Portfolio will not be able to purchase additional income-producing securities with such proceeds, and as a result, its current income ultimately may be reduced.

Municipal Lease Obligations

The Portfolio may invest in municipal lease obligations. These securities are sometimes considered illiquid because of the thinness of the market in which they are traded. Under the supervision of the Board of Directors, the Advisor may determine to treat certain municipal lease obligations as liquid, and therefore not subject to the Portfolio’s 15% limit on illiquid securities. The factors that the Advisor may consider in making these liquidity determinations include: (1) the frequency of trades and quotations for the security; (2) the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential buyers; (3) the willingness of dealers to underwrite and make a market in the security; (4) the nature of the marketplace trades, including the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers, and the mechanics of transfer; and (5) factors unique to a particular security, including general creditworthiness of the issuer, the importance to the issuer of the property covered by the lease and the likelihood that the marketability of the securities will be maintained throughout the time the security is held by the Portfolio.

When-Issued Securities

The Portfolio may purchase tax-exempt securities on a “when-issued” basis. In buying “when-issued” securities, the Portfolio commits to buy securities at a certain price even though the securities may not normally be delivered for up to 45 days. The Portfolio pays for the securities and begins earning interest when the securities are actually delivered. As a consequence, it is possible that the market price of the securities at the time of delivery may be higher or lower than the purchase price. It is also possible that the securities will never be issued and the commitment cancelled.

Municipal Bond Insurance

The Advisor anticipates that a portion of the Portfolio’s investment portfolio will be invested in municipal securities whose principal and interest payments are guaranteed by a private insurance company at the time of purchase. The Portfolio’s insurance coverage may take one of several forms. A primary insurance policy is purchased by a municipal securities issuer at the time the securities are issued. This insurance is likely to increase the credit rating of the securities, as well as their purchase price and resale value. A mutual fund insurance policy is purchased by the Portfolio and used to guarantee specific securities only while the securities are held by the Portfolio. Finally, a secondary market insurance policy is purchased by a bond investor (such as the Portfolio) or a broker after the bond has been issued and insures the bond until its maturity date. Both primary insurance and secondary market insurance are non-cancelable and continue in force so long as the insured security is outstanding

 

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and the respective insurer remains in business. Premiums for portfolio insurance, if any, would be paid from the Portfolio’s assets and would reduce the current yield on its investment portfolio by the amount of such premiums.

Portfolio insurance coverage that terminates upon the sale of an insured security by the Portfolio, may not improve the resale value of the security. Therefore, unless the Portfolio elects to purchase secondary market insurance with respect to such securities or such securities are already covered by primary insurance, the Portfolio generally will retain any such securities insured by portfolio insurance that are in default or in significant risk of default, and will place a value on the insurance equal to the difference between the market value of the defaulted security and the market value of similar securities that are not in default.

The Portfolio is authorized to obtain portfolio insurance from insurers that have obtained a claims-paying ability rating of AAA from S&P or Aaa (or a short-term rating of MIG-1) from Moody’s.

A Moody’s insurance claims-paying ability rating is an opinion of the ability of an insurance company to repay punctually senior policyholder obligations and claims. An insurer with an insurance claims-paying ability rating of Aaa is adjudged by Moody’s to be of the best quality. In the opinion of Moody’s, the policy obligations of an insurance company with an insurance claims-paying ability rating of Aaa carry the smallest degree of credit risk and, while the financial strength of these companies is likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the company’s fundamentally strong position. An S&P insurance claims-paying ability rating is an assessment of an operating insurance company’s financial capacity to meet obligations under an insurance policy in accordance with its terms. An insurer with an insurance claims-paying ability rating of AAA has the highest rating assigned by S&P. The capacity of an insurer so rated to honor insurance contracts is adjudged by S&P to be extremely strong and highly likely to remain so over a long period of time.

An insurance claims-paying ability rating by Moody’s or S&P does not constitute an opinion on any specific insurance contract in that such an opinion can only be rendered upon the review of the specific insurance contract. Furthermore, an insurance claims-paying ability rating does not take into account deductibles, surrender or cancellation penalties or the timeliness of payment; nor does it address the ability of a company to meet non-policy obligations (i.e., debt contracts).

The assignment of ratings by Moody’s or S&P to debt issues that are fully or partially supported by insurance policies, contracts or guarantees is a separate process from the determination of insurance claims-paying ability ratings. The likelihood of a timely flow of funds from the insurer to the trustee for the bondholders is a likely element in the rating determination for such debt issues.

Participation Interests

A participation interest in a municipal security gives the purchaser an undivided interest in the municipal obligation in the proportion that the Portfolio’s participation interest bears to the total principal amount of the municipal obligation. These instruments may have fixed, floating or variable rates of interest. If the participation interest is unrated, or has been given a rating below one that is otherwise permissible for purchase by the Portfolio, the participation interest will be backed by an irrevocable letter of credit or guarantee of a bank that the Board of Directors has determined meets certain quality standards, or the payment obligation otherwise will be collateralized by government securities. The Portfolio will have the right, with respect to certain participation interests, to demand payment, on a specified number of days’ notice, for all or any part of the Portfolio’s participation interest in the municipal obligation, plus accrued interest. The Portfolio intends to exercise its right to demand payment only upon a default under the terms of the municipal obligation, or to maintain or improve the quality of its investment portfolio.

Municipal Custody Receipts

The Portfolio also may acquire custodial receipts or certificates underwritten by securities dealers or banks that evidence ownership of future interest payments, principal payments, or both, on certain municipal securities. The underwriter of these certificates or receipts typically purchases municipal securities and deposits the securities in an irrevocable trust or custody account with a custodian bank, which then issues receipts or certificates that

 

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evidence ownership of the periodic unmatured coupon payments and the final principal payment on the securities. Custody receipts evidencing specific coupon or principal payments have the same general attributes as zero coupon municipal securities described above. Although under the terms of a custody receipt the Portfolio would be typically authorized to assert its rights directly against the issuer of the underlying obligation, the Portfolio could be required to assert through the custodian bank those rights as may exist against the underlying issuers. Thus, in the event the underlying issuer fails to pay principal and/or interest when due, the Portfolio may be subject to delays, expenses and risks that are greater than those that would have been involved if the Portfolio had purchased a direct obligation of the issuer. In addition, in the event that the trust or custody account in which the underlying security has been deposited is determined to be an association taxable as a corporation, instead of a non-taxable entity, the yield on the underlying security would be reduced in recognition of any taxes paid.

CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL SECURITIES RISKS

The Portfolio invests primarily in California municipal securities and, therefore, its performance is closely tied to the ability of California municipal issuers to continue to make principal and interest payments. Below is a brief discussion of certain factors that may affect California municipal issuers and does not purport to be a complete description of such factors. The financial condition of California, its public authorities and local governments could affect the market values of, and therefore the net asset value per share and the interest income of the Portfolio, or result in the default of existing obligations, including obligations that may be held by the Portfolio.

The information contained below is based primarily upon information derived from state official statements, Certified Annual Financial Reports, state and industry trade publications, newspaper articles, other public documents relating to securities offerings of California municipal issuers, and other historically reliable sources. It is only a brief summary of the complex factors affecting the financial situation in California. It has not been independently verified by the Portfolio. The Portfolio makes no representation or warranty regarding the completeness or accuracy of such information.

Economic Outlook

The California economy is the largest among the states and one of the largest in the world. Major components of the State’s economy are high technology, trade, entertainment, agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, construction, and services. In 2009, California, along with the rest of the United States, confronted the worst recession in recent history. The recession resulted in a sharp increase in California’s unemployment and a drop in baseline revenues of more than 20 percent from their peak. The key factors involved in the California economic downturn are the same as that for the nation; that is, declining real estate markets, decreasing availability of credit, shrinking equity values and growing unemployment.

California personal income rose by an estimated 2.8% in 2010, and is projected to grow 3.5% in 2011. Statewide taxable sales in California appear to have hit bottom in the second half of 2009, and are bouncing back. After 2011-12, taxable sales are expected to grow by 4% to 7% annually. California’s unemployment rate was 11.4% in 2009, increased to an estimated 12.5% in 2010 and is projected to decrease to 11.9% in 2011. The consensus is that the state’s economy will continue to recover slowly and sluggishly in the coming years.

Revenues and Expenditures

The California Legislative Analyst’s Office, in its November 2010 California’s Fiscal Outlook, estimated that the state will end the 2010-11 budget year with a deficit of $6 billion if no corrective actions are taken. In 2011-12, expenditures would exceed revenues by $19 billion and leave the state with a year-end deficit of over $25 billion. The assumption that the state will be unable to secure around $3.5 billion of budgeted funding, is a major contributor to the $6 billion year-end deficit projected for 2010-11.

Limitation on Taxes

Certain California municipal obligations may be obligations of issuers that rely in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, on ad valorem property taxes as a source of revenue. The taxing powers of California local governments and districts are limited by Article XIII A of the California Constitution, enacted by the voters in 1978

 

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and commonly known as “Proposition 13.” Proposition 13 reduced and limited the future growth of property taxes and limited the ability of local governments to impose special taxes devoted to a specific purpose without two-thirds voter approval. Proposition 218, another constitutional amendment initiative enacted in 1996 further limited the ability of local governments to raise taxes and fees. Counties, in particular have had fewer revenue raising options than many other local government entities, while having to maintain many services.

Appropriations Limits

California and its local governments are subject to an annual “appropriations limit” imposed by Article XIII B of the California Constitution, enacted by the voters in 1979 and significantly amended by Propositions 98 and 111 in 1988 and 1990, respectively. Proposition 98, as modified by Proposition 111, changed State funding of public education below the university level and the operation of the appropriations limit, primarily by guaranteeing K–14 schools a minimum amount of funding. The Proposition 98 guarantee is funded by local property taxes and the General Fund. Article XIII B prohibits the State or any covered local government from spending “appropriations subject to limitation” in excess of the appropriations limit imposed. “Appropriations subject to limitation” are authorizations to spend “proceeds of taxes,” which consist of tax revenues, and certain other funds, including proceeds from regulatory licenses, user charges or other fees, to the extent that such proceeds exceed the cost of providing the product or service, but “proceeds of taxes” exclude most State subventions to local governments. No limit is imposed on appropriations of funds that are not “proceeds of taxes,” such as reasonable user charges or fees, and certain other non-tax funds.

Among the expenditures not included in the Article XIII B appropriations limit are (1) the debt service cost of bonds issued or authorized prior to January 1, 1979 or subsequently authorized by the voters, (2) appropriations required to comply with mandates of courts or the federal government, (3) appropriations for certain capital outlay projects, (4) appropriations for tax refunds, (4) appropriations of revenues derived from any increase in gasoline taxes and vehicle weight fees above January 1, 1990 levels, (5) appropriations of certain taxes imposed by initiative, and 6) appropriations made in certain cases of emergency. The appropriations limit for each year is based on the appropriations limit for the prior year, adjusted annually to reflect changes in per capita income and population, and any transfers of service responsibilities between government units.

Obligations of the State of California

Under the California Constitution, debt service on outstanding general obligation bonds is the second charge to the General Fund after support of the public school system and public institutions of higher education. The State had approximately $71 billion aggregate principal amount of non-self liquidating general obligation bonds outstanding and approximately $8.6 billion of self liquidating general obligation bonds outstanding as of December 1, 2010.

On March 2, 2004, California voters approved two measures designed to address the cumulative budget deficit and to implement structural reform. Under the California Economic Recovery Bond Act (Proposition 57), the State is authorized to issue up to $15 billion of economic recovery bonds (“ERBs”), of which approximately $7.3 billion remain outstanding as of December 1, 2010 after California issued $10.9 billion in ERBs in fiscal year 2004 and $3.2 billion in fiscal year 2008 to finance the negative General Fund reserve as of June 30, 2004, and other General Fund obligations undertaken prior to June 30, 2004. The Balanced Budget Amendment (Proposition 58) restricts future long-term deficit financing and requires the State to adopt and maintain a balanced budget and to establish a reserve fund.

Other Issuers of California Municipal Obligations

There are a number of State agencies, instrumentalities and political subdivisions of the State that issue municipal obligations, some of which may be conduit revenue obligations payable from payments from private borrowers. These entities are subject to various economic risks and uncertainties, and the credit quality of the securities issued may vary considerably from the credit quality of the obligations backed by the full faith and credit of the State. The State of California has no obligation with respect to any obligations or securities of a county or any of the other participating entities, although under existing legal precedents, the State may be obligated to ensure that school districts have sufficient funds to operate.

Bond Ratings

 

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In January 2010, Standard and Poor’s lowered its rating on California’s general obligation bonds from “A” to “A-”. In doing so, it cited California’s severe fiscal imbalance and impending recurrence of a cash deficiency as factors in reaching its decision. In April of 2010, Moody’s raised the state’s general obligation credit rating to A1 from Baa1. The rating reflects a recalibration of certain public finance ratings by Moody’s. Moody’s is recalibrating its US municipal ratings from the municipal scale to the global scale. The recalibration does not reflect a chance in credit quality or a change in credit opinion or an issue or issuer. The recalibration is simply a change in scale. In April 2010 Fitch raised the state’s general obligation credit rating to A- from BBB. The rating reflects a recalibration of certain public finance ratings by Fitch. Fitch made the following statement regarding the recalibration “The recalibration of certain public finance ratings should not be interpreted as an improvement in the credit quality of those securities. Rather, they are adjustments to denote a comparable level of credit risk as ratings in other sectors”. There can be no assurance that such ratings will be maintained in the future. It should be noted that the creditworthiness of obligations issued by local California issuers may be unrelated to the creditworthiness of obligations issued by the State of California, and that there is no obligation on the part of the State to make payment on such local obligations in the event of default.

Legal Proceedings

There are numerous civil actions pending against the State, which could, if decided against the State, require the State to make significant future expenditures and may substantially impair revenues and cash flow. It is not possible to predict what impact, if any, such proceedings may have on the Portfolio.

Other Considerations

Substantially all of California is within an active geologic region subject to major seismic activity. Northern California, in 1989, and southern California, in 1994, experienced major earthquakes causing billions of dollars in damages. Any California municipal obligation in the Portfolio could be affected by an interruption of revenues because of damaged facilities, or, consequently, income tax deductions for casualty losses or property tax assessment reductions. Compensatory financial assistance could be constrained by the inability of (i) an issuer to have obtained earthquake insurance coverage at reasonable rates; (ii) an insurer to perform on its contracts of insurance in the event of widespread losses; or (iii) the Federal or State government to appropriate sufficient funds within their respective budget limitations.

The Portfolio is susceptible to political, economic, or regulatory factors affecting issuers of California municipal obligations. These include the possible adverse effects of certain California constitutional amendments, legislative measures, voter initiatives and other matters. The information provided is only a brief summary of the complex factors affecting the financial situation in California and is derived from sources that are generally available to investors and are believed to be accurate. It is based in part on information obtained from various State and local agencies in California or contained in Official Statements for various California municipal obligations. No independent verification has been made of the accuracy or completeness of any of the preceding information.

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Directors

Organization of the Board

The Board of Directors of the Fund (the “Board”) is responsible for establishing the Fund’s policies and for overseeing the management of the Fund. The Board of Directors elects the officers of the Fund, who, along with third party service providers, are responsible for administering the day-to-day operations of the Fund. The Board of Directors of the Fund is comprised of two interested Directors and six disinterested Directors. David G. Booth, an interested Director, is Chairman of the Board. The Board has not found it necessary to appoint a lead disinterested Director because it believes that the existing structure of the Board allows for effective communication among the disinterested Directors, between the disinterested Directors and interested Directors, as well as between the disinterested Directors and management. The existing Board structure for the Fund also provides the disinterested Directors with adequate influence over the governance of the Board and the Fund, while also providing the Board

 

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with the invaluable insight of the two interested Directors, who, as both officers of the Fund and the Advisor, participate in the day-to-day management of the Fund’s affairs, including risk management.

The agenda for each quarterly meeting of the Board is provided at least two weeks prior to the meeting to the disinterested Directors in order to provide the Directors with the opportunity to contact Fund management and/or the disinterested Directors’ independent counsel regarding agenda items. In addition, the disinterested Directors regularly communicate with Mr. Booth regarding items of interest to them in between regularly scheduled meetings of the Board. The Board of the Fund meets in person at least four times each year and by telephone at other times. At each in-person meeting, the disinterested Directors meet in executive session with their independent counsel to discuss matters outside the presence of management.

The Board has three standing committees, an Audit Committee, a Nominating Committee and a Portfolio Performance and Service Review Committee (“Performance Committee”) that are composed entirely of disinterested Directors. As described below, through these Committees, the disinterested Directors have direct oversight of the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies, the selection and nomination of candidates to the Fund’s Board and the review of the investment performance of the series of the Fund and the performance of the Fund’s service providers.

The Board’s Audit Committee is comprised of George M. Constantinides, Roger G. Ibbotson and Abbie J. Smith. The Audit Committee for the Board oversees the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies and practices, the Fund’s internal controls, the Fund’s financial statements and the independent audits thereof and performs other oversight functions as requested by the Board. The Audit Committee for the Board recommends the appointment of the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and also acts as a liaison between the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and the full Board. There were two Audit Committee meetings held for the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

The Board’s Nominating Committee is comprised of George M. Constantinides, John P. Gould, Roger G. Ibbotson, Edward P. Lazear, Myron S. Scholes and Abbie J. Smith. The Nominating Committee for the Board makes recommendations for nominations of disinterested and interested members on the Board to the disinterested Board members and to the full board. The Nominating Committee of the Board evaluates a candidate’s qualification for Board membership and the independence of such candidate from the Advisor and other principal service providers. There were three Nominating Committee meetings held for the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

The Board’s Performance Committee is comprised of George M. Constantinides, Roger G. Ibbotson, Abbie J. Smith, John P. Gould, Edward P. Lazear and Myron S. Scholes. The Performance Committee regularly reviews and monitors the investment performance of the Fund’s series, including the Portfolio, and reviews the performance of the Fund’s service providers. There were seven Performance Committee meetings held for the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

In addition to the Audit Committee, Nominating Committee and Performance Committee, the Board has an Investment Review Committee that assists the Board in carrying out its fiduciary duties with respect to the oversight of the Fund and its performance (the “Review Committee”). The Review Committee consists of both interested and disinterested Directors. The Review Committee is comprised of John P. Gould, Edward P. Lazear, Myron S. Scholes and Eduardo A. Repetto. At the request of the Board or the Advisor, the Review Committee (i) reviews the design of possible new series of the Fund, (ii) reviews performance of existing Portfolios of the Fund, and discusses and recommends possible enhancements to the Portfolios’ investment strategies, (iii) reviews proposals by the Advisor to modify or enhance the investment strategies or policies of each Portfolio, and (iv) considers issues relating to investment services for each Portfolio of the Fund. The Review Committee was formed on December 17, 2010. Consequently, there were no Review Committee meetings held for the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

The Board of the Fund, including all of the disinterested Directors, oversees and approves the contracts of the third party service providers that provide advisory, administrative, custodial and other services to the Fund.

Board Oversight of Risk Management

 

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The Board, as a whole, considers risk management issues as part of its general oversight responsibilities throughout the year at regular board meetings, through regular reports that have been developed by Fund management and the Advisor. These reports address certain investment, valuation and compliance matters. The Board also may receive special written reports or presentations on a variety of risk issues, either upon the Board’s request or upon the initiative of the Advisor. In addition, the Audit Committee of the Board meets regularly with management of the Advisor to review reports on the Advisor’s examinations of functions and processes that affect the Fund.

With respect to investment risk, the Board receives regular written reports describing and analyzing the investment performance of the Fund’s portfolios. The Board discusses these reports and the portfolios’ performance and investment risks with management of the Advisor at the Board’s regular meetings. The Investment Committee of the Advisor meets regularly to discuss a variety of issues, including the impact that the investment in particular securities or instruments, such as derivatives, may have on the portfolios. To the extent that the Investment Committee of the Advisor decides to materially change an investment strategy or policy of a portfolio and such change could have a significant impact on the portfolio’s risk profile, the Advisor will present such change to the Board for their approval.

With respect to valuation, the Advisor and the Fund’s Administrative and Accounting Agent provide regular written reports to the Board that enables the Board to review fair valued securities in a particular portfolio. Such reports also include information concerning illiquid and any worthless securities held by each portfolio. In addition, the Fund’s Audit Committee reviews valuation procedures and pricing results with the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm in connection with such Committee’s review of the results of the audit of each portfolio’s year-end financial statements.

With respect to compliance risks, the Board receives regular compliance reports prepared by the Advisor’s compliance group and meets regularly with the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) to discuss compliance issues, including compliance risks. As required under SEC rules, the disinterested Directors meet at least quarterly in executive session with the CCO, and the Fund’s CCO prepares and presents an annual written compliance report to the Board. The Fund’s Board adopts compliance policies and procedures for the Fund and receives information about the compliance procedures in place for the Fund’s service providers. The compliance policies and procedures are specifically designed to detect and prevent violations of the federal securities laws.

The Advisor periodically provides information to the Board relevant to enterprise risk management describing the way in which certain risks are managed at the complex-wide level by the Advisor. Such presentations include areas such as counter-party risk, material fund vendor or service provider risk, investment risk, reputational risk, personnel risk and business continuity risk.

Director Qualifications

When a vacancy occurs on the Board, the Nominating Committee of the Board evaluates a candidate’s qualification for Board membership and the independence of such candidate from the Advisor and other principal service providers. The Nominating Committee will consider nominees recommended by Qualifying Fund Shareholders if a vacancy occurs among Board members. A Qualifying Fund Shareholder is a shareholder, or group of shareholders, that: (i) owns of record, or beneficially through a financial intermediary, 5% or more of a Fund’s outstanding shares, and (ii) has owned such shares for 12 months or more prior to submitting the recommendation to the Committee. Such recommendations shall be directed to the Secretary of the Fund at 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, Texas 78746. The Qualifying Fund Shareholder’s letter should include: (i) the name and address of the Qualifying Fund Shareholder making the recommendation; (ii) the number of shares of each portfolio of the Fund that are owned of record and beneficially by such Qualifying Fund Shareholder, and the length of time that such shares have been so owned by the Qualifying Fund Shareholder; (iii) a description of all arrangements and understandings between such Qualifying Fund Shareholder and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the recommendation is being made; (iv) the name and address of the nominee; and (v) the nominee’s resume or curriculum vitae. The Qualifying Fund Shareholder’s letter must be accompanied by a written consent of the individual to stand for election if nominated for the Board and to serve if elected by shareholders. The Committee also may seek such additional information about the nominee as the Committee considers appropriate, including information relating to such nominee that is required to be disclosed in solicitations or proxies for the election of Board members.

 

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The Nominating Committee of the Board believes that it is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders to obtain highly-qualified individuals to serve as members of the Board. The Fund’s Board believes that each Director currently serving on the Board has the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills to allow the Board to effectively oversee the management of the Fund and protect the interests of shareholders. The Board noted that each Director had professional experience in areas of importance for investment companies. The Board considered that each disinterested Director held an academic position in the areas of finance, economics or accounting. The Board also noted that John P. Gould, Myron S. Scholes and Abbie J. Smith each had experience serving as a director on the boards of operating companies and/or other investment companies. In addition, the Board considered that David G. Booth and Eduardo A. Repetto contributed valuable experience due to their positions with the Advisor. Certain biographical information for each disinterested Director and each interested Director of the Fund is set forth in the tables below, including a description of each Director’s experience as a Director of the Fund and as a director or trustee of other funds, as well as other recent professional experience.

Disinterested Directors

 

Name, Address and    
Age    
   Position     

Term of  
Office1

and  
Length of  
Service  

  Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years    Portfolios  
within the  
DFA Fund  
Complex2  
Overseen  
  Other
Directorships of
Public
Companies  Held
During Past 5
Years

George M.

Constantinides

University of

Chicago Booth

School of Business    

5807 S. Woodlawn

Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

Age: 63

   Director      Since 1983       Leo Melamed Professor of Finance, University of Chicago Booth School of Business.   

89 portfolios    

in 4

investment

companies

  None

John P. Gould

University of Chicago Booth School of Business

5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

Age: 72

   Director      Since 1986       Steven G. Rothmeier Distinguished Service Professor of Economics, University of Chicago Booth School of Business (since 1965). Member and Chair, Competitive Markets Advisory Council, Chicago Mercantile Exchange (futures trading exchange) (since 2004). Formerly, Director of UNext Inc. (1999-2006). Formerly, Member of the Board of Milwaukee Insurance Company (1997-2010).   

89 portfolios

in 4 investment companies

  Trustee, Harbor Funds (registered investment company) (28 Portfolios) (since 1994).

Roger G. Ibbotson

Yale School of Management

P.O. Box 208200

New Haven, CT 06520-8200

Age: 67

   Director      Since 1981       Professor in Practice of Finance, Yale School of Management (since 1984). Consultant to Morningstar, Inc. (since 2006). Chairman, CIO and Partner, Zebra Capital Management, LLC (hedge fund and asset manager) (since 2001). Formerly, Chairman, Ibbotson Associates, Inc., Chicago, IL (software, data, publishing and consulting) (1977-2006). Formerly, Director, BIRR Portfolio Analysis, Inc. (software products) (1990-2010).   

89 portfolios

in 4 investment companies

  None

Edward P. Lazear Stanford University Graduate School of Business

518 Memorial Way Stanford, CA 94305-5015

Age: 62

   Director      Since 2010      

Morris Arnold Cox Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution (since 2002). Jack Steele Parker Professor of Human Resources Management and Economics, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University (since 1995). Cornerstone Research (expert testimony and economic and financial analysis) (since 2009). Formerly, Chairman of the President George W. Bush’s Council of Economic Advisers (2006- 2009). Council of Economic Advisors, State of California (2005-2006). Commissioner, White House Panel on Tax Reform (2005).

 

  

89 portfolios

in 4 investment companies

  None

 

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Table of Contents
Name, Address and  
Age  
   Position    Term of    
Office1    
and    
Length of    
Service    
  Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years    Portfolios  
within the  
DFA Fund  
Complex2  
Overseen  
 

Other
Directorships of
Public
Companies Held

During Past 5
Years

Myron S. Scholes

c/o Dimensional

Fund Advisors LP

6300 Bee Cave Road,    

Building One

Austin, TX 78746

Age: 69

   Director      Since 1981       Frank E. Buck Professor Emeritus of Finance, Stanford University (since 1981). Formerly, Chairman, Platinum Grove Asset Management L.P. (hedge fund) (formerly, Oak Hill Platinum Partners) (1999-2009). Formerly, Managing Partner, Oak Hill Capital Management (private equity firm) (until 2004).   

89 portfolios    

in 4

investment

companies

  Director, American Century Fund Complex (registered investment companies) (40 Portfolios) (since 1980). Formerly, Director, Chicago Mercantile Exchange (2001-2008).

Abbie J. Smith

University of

Chicago Booth

School of Business    

5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

Age: 57

   Director      Since 2000       Boris and Irene Stern Distinguished Service Professor of Accounting, University of Chicago Booth School of Business (since 1980); Co-Director Investment Research, Fundamental Investment Advisors (hedge fund) (since 2008).   

89 portfolios    

in 4

investment

companies

  Director, HNI Corporation (formerly known as HON Industries Inc.) (office furniture) (since 2000); Director, Ryder System Inc. (transportation, logistics and supply-chain management) (since 2003); and Trustee, UBS Funds (3 investment companies within the fund complex) (52 portfolios) (since 2009).

 

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Table of Contents

Interested Directors

The following Interested Directors are described as such because they are deemed to be “interested persons,” as that term is defined under the 1940 Act, due to their positions with the Advisor.

 

Name Address and  
Age  
   Position      Term of  
Office1  
and  
Length of  
Service  
  Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years    Portfolios  
within the  
DFA Fund  
Complex2  
Overseen  
 

Other
Directorships of
Public
Companies Held

During Past 5

Years

David G. Booth

6300 Bee Cave

Road, Building One  

Austin, TX 78746

Age: 64

  

Chairman,  

Director,  

President  

and Co-  

Chief  

Executive  

Officer  

   Since 1981     Chairman, Director/Trustee, President, Co-Chief Executive Officer and, formerly, Chief Executive Officer (until 1/1/2010) and Chief Investment Officer (2003 to 3/30/2007) of the following companies: Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, DFA Securities LLC, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund, DFAIDG, Dimensional Investment Group Inc. and The DFA Investment Trust Company. Chairman, Director, President and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Dimensional Holdings Inc. and formerly Chief Executive Officer (until 1/1/2010) and Chief Investment Officer (until 3/30/2007). Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. and formerly, Chief Investment Officer. Director of DFA Australia Limited and formerly, President and Chief Investment Officer. Director of Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC. Chairman and President of Dimensional SmartNest LLC and Dimensional SmartNest (US) LLC. Limited Partner, Oak Hill Partners (since 2001) and VSC Investors, LLC (since 2007). Trustee, University of Chicago. Trustee, University of Kansas Endowment Association. Formerly, Director, SA Funds (registered investment company). Chairman, Director and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director, Dimensional Cayman Commodity Fund I Ltd.   

89 portfolios  

in 4

investment

companies

  None

Eduardo A. Repetto

6300 Bee Cave

Road, Building One

Austin, TX 78746

Age: 44

  

Director,  

Co-Chief  

Executive  

Officer  

and Chief

Investment  

Officer  

   Since 2009     Co-Chief Executive Officer (beginning January 2010), Chief Investment Officer (beginning March 2007) and formerly, Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, Dimensional Holdings Inc., DFA Securities LLC, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund, DFAIDG, Dimensional Investment Group Inc., The DFA Investment Trust Company, and Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC; Director of all such entities except Dimensional Fund Advisors LP and DFA Securities LLC. Chief Investment Officer, Vice President and Director of DFA Australia Limited. Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC and Dimensional Cayman Commodity Fund I Ltd.   

89 portfolios

in 4

investment

companies

  None

 

1

Each Director holds office for an indefinite term until his or her successor is elected.

 

2

Each Director is a director or trustee of each of the four registered investment companies within the DFA Fund Complex, which include: the Fund; Dimensional Investment Group Inc. (“DIG”); The DFA Investment Trust Company (the “Trust”); and Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund (“DEM”). Each Disinterested Director also serves on the Independent Review Committee of the Dimensional Funds, mutual funds registered in the provinces of Canada and managed by the Advisor’s affiliate, Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

Information relating to each Director’s ownership (including the ownership of his or her immediate family) in the Portfolio and in all registered investment companies in the DFA Fund Complex as of December 31, 2010, is

 

16


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set forth in the chart below. Because the Portfolio has not yet commenced operations prior to the date of this SAI, the Directors do not own any shares of the Portfolio.

 

Name    Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned   

Aggregate Dollar Range of Shares Owned

in All Funds Overseen by Director in

Family of Investment Companies

Disinterested Directors:

         
George M. Constantinides    None   

None Directly; Over $100,000 in Simulated

Funds**

John P. Gould    None   

None Directly; Over $100,000 in Simulated

Funds **

Roger G. Ibbotson    None   

Over $100,000; Over $100,000 in Simulated

Funds**

Edward P. Lazear

 

   None    None Directly.
Myron S. Scholes    None   

$50,001-$100,000; Over $100,000 in

Simulated Funds**

Abbie J. Smith    None   

None Directly; Over $100,000 in Simulated

Funds **

Interested Directors:

         

David G. Booth

 

   None    Over $100,000
Eduardo A. Repetto    None    Over $100,000

**        As discussed below, the compensation to certain of the disinterested Directors may be in amounts that correspond to a hypothetical investment in a cross-section of the DFA Funds. Thus, the disinterested Directors who are so compensated experience the same investment returns that are experienced by shareholders of the DFA Funds although the disinterested Directors do not directly own shares of the DFA Funds.

Set forth below is a table listing, for each Director entitled to receive compensation, the compensation received from the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010 and the total compensation received from all four registered investment companies for which the Advisor served as investment advisor during that same fiscal period. The table also provides the compensation paid by the Fund to the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

 

Name and Position

   Aggregate
Compensation
from the
Fund*
   Pension or
Retirement
Benefits as
Part of
Fund
Expenses
   Estimated
Annual
Benefits upon
Retirement
   Total
Compensation
From the Fund
and DFA Fund Complex
Paid to Directors†

George M. Constantinides
Director

   $108,410    N/A    N/A    $175,000

John P. Gould
Director

   $108,410    N/A    N/A    $175,000

Roger G. Ibbotson
Director

   $114,889    N/A    N/A    $185,000

Edward P. Lazear**
Director

   $ 0    N/A    N/A    $ 0

Myron S. Scholes
Director

   $108,410    N/A    N/A    $175,000

Abbie J. Smith
Director

   $108,410    N/A    N/A    $175,000

Christopher S. Crossan
Chief Compliance Officer

   $210,470    N/A    N/A    N/A

 

The term DFA Fund Complex refers to the four registered investment companies for which the Advisor performs advisory or administrative services and for which the individuals listed above serve as directors/trustees on the Boards of Directors/Trustees of such companies.

 

17


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*

Under a deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) adopted effective January 1, 2002, the disinterested Directors of the Fund may defer receipt of all or a portion of the compensation for serving as members of the four Boards of Directors/Trustees of the investment companies in the DFA Fund Complex (the “DFA Funds”). Amounts deferred under the Plan are treated as though equivalent dollar amounts had been invested in shares of a cross-section of the DFA Funds (the “Reference Funds” or “Simulated Funds”). The amounts ultimately received by the disinterested Directors under the Plan will be directly linked to the investment performance of the Reference Funds. Deferral of fees in accordance with the Plan will have a negligible effect on a fund’s assets, liabilities, and net income per share, and will not obligate a fund to retain the services of any disinterested Director or to pay any particular level of compensation to the disinterested Director. The total amount of deferred compensation accrued by the disinterested Directors from the DFA Fund Complex who participated in the Plan during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010 is as follows: $185,000 (Mr. Ibbotson). A disinterested Director’s deferred compensation will be distributed at the earlier of: (a) January in the year after the disinterested Director’s resignation from the Boards of Directors/Trustees of the DFA Funds, or death or disability; or (b) five years following the first deferral, in such amounts as the disinterested Director has specified. The obligations of the DFA Funds to make payments under the Plan will be unsecured general obligations of the DFA Funds, payable out of the general assets and property of the DFA Funds.

 

**

Mr. Lazear did not serve as a Director until December 17, 2010; therefore, he did not receive any compensation from the Fund or the DFA Fund Complex as of October 31, 2010.

Officers

Below is the name, age, and information regarding positions with the Fund and the principal occupation for each officer of the Fund. The address of each officer is 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746. Each of the officers listed below holds the same office (except as otherwise noted) in the following entities: Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, Dimensional Holdings Inc., DFA Securities LLC, the Fund, DIG, the Trust, and DEM (collectively, the “DFA Entities”).

 

Name and Age    Position   

Term of  

Office1  

and  

Length of  

Service

   Principal Occupation  During Past 5 Years

April A. Aandal

Age: 48

   Vice President and Chief Learning Officer    Since 2008      Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Chief Learning Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2008). Formerly Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2004-2008).

Darryl D. Avery

Age: 44

   Vice President    Since 2005      Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Arthur H. Barlow

Age: 55

   Vice President    Since 1993      Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Scott A. Bosworth

Age: 42

   Vice President    Since 2007      Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since November 1997).

Valerie A. Brown

Age: 44

   Vice President and Assistant Secretary    Since 2001      Vice President and Assistant Secretary of all the DFA Entities, DFA Australia Limited, Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., and Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

David P. Butler

Age: 45

   Vice President    Since 2007      Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Director of Global Financial Advisor Services of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since 2008). Formerly, Director US Financial Advisor Services of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2005).

Joseph H. Chi

Age: 44

   Vice President    Since 2009      Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since October 2005).

Stephen A. Clark

Age: 38

   Vice President    Since 2004      Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Robert P. Cornell

Age: 61

   Vice President    Since 2007      Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Financial Services Group of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since August 1993).

 

18


Table of Contents
Name and Age    Position   

Term of  

Office1  

and  

Length of  

Service  

   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

Christopher S. Crossan

Age: 45

   Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer    Since 2004      Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of all the DFA Entities.

James L. Davis

Age: 54

   Vice President    Since 1999      Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Robert T. Deere

Age: 53

   Vice President    Since 1994      Vice President of all the DFA Entities and DFA Australia Limited.

Peter F. Dillard

Age: 39

   Vice President    Since 2010      Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Research Associate for Dimensional Fund Advisors, LP (since August 2008). Formerly, Research Assistant for DFA from April 2006 – August 2008. Prior to April 2006, Manager at Hilton Hotels Corp. (September 2004 – April 2006).

Robert W. Dintzner

Age: 40

   Vice President    Since 2001      Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Chief Communications Officer (since 2010).

Beth Ann Dranguet

Age: 40

   Vice President    Since 2010      Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Counsel for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since July 2007). Formerly, Associate at Vinson & Elkins LLP (September 1999 – July 2007).

Kenneth Elmgren

Age: 56

   Vice President    Since 2007      Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Managing Principal of Beverly Capital (May 2004 to September 2006).

Richard A. Eustice

Age: 45

   Vice President and Assistant Secretary    Since 1998      Vice President and Assistant Secretary of all the DFA Entities and DFA Australia Limited. Chief Operating Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (since July 2008). Formerly, Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Eugene F. Fama, Jr.

Age: 50

   Vice President    Since 1993      Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Gretchen A. Flicker

Age: 39

   Vice President    Since 2004      Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Jed S. Fogdall

Age: 36

   Vice President    Since 2008      Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2004).

Jeremy P. Freeman

Age: 40

   Vice President    Since 2009      Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Technology Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since June 2006). Formerly, Principal at AIM Investments/Amvescap PLC (now Invesco) (June 1998 – June 2006).

Mark R. Gochnour

Age: 43

   Vice President    Since 2007      Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

Henry F. Gray

Age: 43

   Vice President    Since 2000      Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited.

John T. Gray

Age: 36

   Vice President    Since 2007      Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (January 2005 to February 2007).

Joel H. Hefner

Age: 43

   Vice President    Since 2007      Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since June 1998).

Julie C. Henderson

Age: 36

   Vice President and Fund Controller    Since 2005      Vice President and Fund Controller of all the DFA Entities.

Kevin B. Hight

Age: 43

   Vice President    Since 2005      Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Christine W. Ho

Age: 43

   Vice President    Since 2004      Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Jeff J. Jeon

Age: 37

   Vice President    Since 2004      Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Patrick M. Keating

Age: 56

   Vice President    Since 2003      Vice President of all the DFA Entities and Chief Operating Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Director, Vice President, and Chief Privacy Officer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director of DFA Australia Limited.

 

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Table of Contents
Name and Age    Position    Term of  
Office1
and  
Length of  
Service  
   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

David M. Kershner

Age: 39

   Vice President    Since 2010      Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since June 2004).

Joseph F. Kolerich

Age: 39

   Vice President    Since 2004      Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since April 2001).

Michael F. Lane

Age: 43

   Vice President    Since 2004      Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Kristina M. LaRusso

Age: 35

   Vice President    Since 2006      Vice President of all DFA Entities. Formerly, Operations Supervisor of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (March 2003 to December 2006).

Juliet H. Lee

Age: 40

   Vice President    Since 2005      Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Human Resources Manager of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2004).

Apollo D. Lupescu

Age: 41

   Vice President    Since 2009      Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since February 2004).

Kenneth M. Manell

Age: 38

   Vice President    Since 2010      Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Counsel for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2006). Formerly, Assistant General Counsel at Castle & Cooke (January 2004 – September 2006).

Aaron M. Marcus

Age: 40

   Vice President and Head of Global Human Resources    Since 2008      Vice President of all DFA Entities and Head of Global Human Resources of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Formerly, Global Head of Recruiting and Vice President of Goldman Sachs & Co. (June 2006 to January 2008); Global Co-Head of HR of the Equities & FICC Division, and Vice President of Goldman Sachs & Co. (May 2005 to May 2006);

David R. Martin

Age: 54

   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    Since 2007      Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of all the DFA Entities. Director, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. and DFA Australia Limited. Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director of Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC. Formerly, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Janus Capital Group Inc. (June 2005 to March 2007).

Catherine L. Newell

Age: 46

   Vice President and Secretary    Vice   President   since 1997   and   Secretary   since 2000      Vice President and Secretary of all the DFA Entities. Director, Vice President and Secretary of DFA Australia Limited. Director, Vice President and Secretary of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (since February 2002, April 1997, and May 2002, respectively). Vice President and Secretary of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC. Director of Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC (since 2002 and 2006, respectively).

Christian Newton

Age: 35

   Vice President    Since 2009      Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Web Services Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2008). Formerly, Design Manager (2005 – 2008) of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

Carolyn L. O

Age: 36

   Vice President    Since 2010      Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Counsel for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since September 2007). Prior to September 2007, Associate at K&L Gates LLP (January 2004 – September 2007).

Gerard K. O’Reilly

Age: 34

   Vice President    Since 2007      Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Research Associate of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2004 to 2006).

Daniel C. Ong

Age: 37

   Vice President    Since 2009      Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since July 2005).

Kyle K. Ozaki

Age: 32

   Vice President    Since 2010      Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Compliance Officer for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since January 2008). Formerly, Compliance Officer (February 2006 – December 2007) and Compliance Analyst (August 2004 – January 2006).

 

20


Table of Contents
Name and Age    Position    Term of
Office1 and
Length of
Service
   Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years

Carmen Palafox

Age: 36

  

Vice President

  

Since

2006

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Operations Manager of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since May 1996).

Sonya K. Park

Age: 38

  

Vice President

  

Since

2005

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

David A. Plecha

Age: 49

  

Vice President

  

Since

1993

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities, DFA Australia Limited and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.

Theodore W. Randall

Age: 37

  

Vice President

  

Since

2008

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Research Associate of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2006 to 2008); Systems Developer of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (2001 to 2006).

L. Jacobo Rodríguez

Age: 39

  

Vice President

  

Since

2005

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Julie A. Saft

Age: 51

  

Vice President

  

Since

2010

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Client Systems Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since July 2008). Formerly, Senior Manager at Vanguard (November 1997 – July 2008).

David E. Schneider

Age: 65

  

Vice President

  

Since

2001

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Director of Institutional Services of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP.

Walid A. Shinnawi

Age: 49

  

Vice President

  

Since

2010

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since March 2006). Formerly, Senior Director at Moody’s KMV (1999-March 2006).

Bruce A. Simmons

Age: 46

  

Vice President

  

Since

2009

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Investment Operations Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since May 2007). Formerly, Vice President Client and Fund Reporting at Mellon Financial (September 2005 – May 2007).

Ted R. Simpson

Age: 42

  

Vice President

  

Since

2007

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since December 2002).

Bryce D. Skaff

Age: 36

  

Vice President

  

Since

2007

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Regional Director of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (December 1999 to January 2007).

Grady M. Smith

Age: 54

  

Vice President

  

Since

2004

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Carl G. Snyder

Age: 47

  

Vice President

  

Since

2000

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited.

Lawrence R. Spieth

Age: 63

  

Vice President

  

Since

2004

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities.

Bradley G. Steiman

Age: 37

  

Vice President

  

Since

2004

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities and Director and Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

Robert C. Trotter

Age: 52

  

Vice President

  

Since

2009

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Manager Technology for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since March 2007). Formerly, Director of Technology at AMVESCAP (2002 – 2007).

Karen E. Umland

Age: 44

  

Vice President

  

Since

1997

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities, DFA Australia Limited, Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd., and Dimensional Fund Advisors Canada ULC.

Brian J. Walsh

Age: 41

  

Vice President

  

Since

2009

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Portfolio Manager for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since 2004).

Weston J. Wellington

Age: 59

  

Vice President

  

Since

1997

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Formerly, Vice President of DFA Australia Limited.

Ryan J. Wiley

Age: 34

  

Vice President

  

Since

2007

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Senior Trader of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP. Formerly, Portfolio Manager (2006 to 2007) and Trader (2001 to 2006).

Paul E. Wise

Age: 55

  

Vice President

  

Since

2005

  

Vice President of all the DFA Entities. Chief Technology Officer for Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (since 2004).

  1

Each officer holds office for an indefinite term at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

 

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As of January 31, 2011, the Directors and officers as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Portfolio.

SERVICES TO THE FUND

Administrative Services

BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. (formerly, PNC Global Investment Servicing (U.S.) Inc.) (“BNY Mellon”), 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809, serves as the accounting services, dividend disbursing, and transfer agent for the Portfolio. The services provided by BNY Mellon are subject to supervision by the executive officers and the Board of Directors of the Fund and include day-to-day keeping and maintenance of certain records, calculation of the offering price of the shares, preparation of reports, liaison with its custodian, and transfer and dividend disbursing agency services. For the administrative and accounting services provided by BNY Mellon, the Portfolio pays BNY Mellon annual fees that are calculated daily and paid monthly according to a fee schedule based on the aggregate average net assets in the Fund Complex, which includes four registered investment companies and a group trust. The fee schedule is set forth in the table below:

.0110% of the Fund Complex’s first $50 billion of average net assets;

.0085% of the Fund Complex’s next $25 billion of average net assets; and

.0075% of the Fund Complex’s average net assets in excess of $75 billion.

The fees charged to the Portfolio under the fee schedule are allocated to the Portfolio based on its pro-rata portion of the aggregate average net assets of the Fund Complex.

The Portfolio is also subject to a monthly fee of $1,666.

The Portfolio also pays separate fees to BNY Mellon with respect to the services BNY Mellon provides as transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent.

Custodian

PFPC Trust Company (to be renamed BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company effective July 1, 2011), 301 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809, serves as the custodian for the Portfolio. The custodian maintains a separate account or accounts for the Portfolio; receives, holds, and releases portfolio securities on account of the Portfolio; makes receipts and disbursements of money on behalf of the Portfolio; and collects and receives income and other payments and distributions on account of the Portfolio’s portfolio securities.

Distributor

The Fund’s shares are distributed by DFA Securities LLC (formerly, DFA Securities Inc.) (“DFAS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Advisor. DFAS is registered as a limited purpose broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. The principal business address of DFAS is 1299 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, California 90401.

DFAS acts as an agent of the Fund by serving as the principal underwriter of the Fund’s shares. Pursuant to the Fund’s Distribution Agreement, DFAS uses its best efforts to seek or arrange for the sale of shares of the Fund, which are continuously offered. No sales charges are paid by investors or the Fund. No compensation is paid by the Fund to DFAS under the Distribution Agreement.

Legal Counsel

Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP serves as legal counsel to the Fund. Its address is 2600 One Commerce Square, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7098.

 

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Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) is the independent registered public accounting firm to the Fund and audits the annual financial statements of the Fund. PwC’s address is Two Commerce Square, Suite 1700, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042.

ADVISORY FEES

David G. Booth and Rex A. Sinquefield, as directors and/or officers of the Advisor and shareholders of the outstanding stock of the Advisor’s general partner, may be deemed controlling persons of the Advisor. Mr. Booth also serves as Director and officer of the Fund. For the services it provides as investment advisor to the Portfolio, the Advisor is paid a monthly fee calculated as a percentage of average net assets of the Portfolio. As of October 31, 2010, the Portfolio had not commenced operations, so the Portfolio did not paid any management fees for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010.

Pursuant to a Fee Waiver Agreement for the Portfolio, the Advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee to the extent necessary to reduce the Portfolio’s ordinary operating expenses (not including the expenses that the Portfolio incurs through its investment in other investment companies) (“Portfolio Expenses”) when its Portfolio Expenses exceed 0.30% of its average net assets on an annualized basis. At any time that the Portfolio Expenses of the Portfolio are less than 0.30% of its average net assets on an annualized basis, the Advisor retains the right to seek reimbursement for any fees previously waived to the extent that such reimbursement will not cause the Portfolio’s annualized Portfolio Expenses to exceed 0.30% of its average net assets. The Portfolio is not obligated to reimburse the Advisor for fees previously waived by the Advisor more than thirty-six months before the date of such reimbursement. The Fee Waiver Agreement for the Portfolio will remain in effect through February 28, 2012, and may not be terminated by the Advisor prior to that date.

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

In accordance with the team approach used to manage the Portfolio, the portfolio managers and portfolio traders implement the policies and procedures established by the Investment Committee. The portfolio managers and portfolio traders also make daily investment decisions regarding the Portfolio including running buy and sell programs based on the parameters established by the Investment Committee. Stephen A. Clark and David A. Plecha are the portfolio managers that coordinate the efforts of all other portfolio managers with respect to the day-to-day management of the Portfolio.

Investments in the Portfolio

Because the Portfolio had not commenced operations prior to the end of the most recently completed fiscal year, the portfolio managers and their immediate families did not own any shares of the Portfolio contained in this SAI as of October 31, 2010.

Description of Compensation Structure

Portfolio managers receive a base salary and bonus. Compensation of a portfolio manager is determined at the discretion of the Advisor and is based on a portfolio manager’s experience, responsibilities, the perception of the quality of his or her work efforts and other subjective factors. The compensation of portfolio managers is not directly based upon the performance of the Portfolio or other accounts that the portfolio managers manage. The Advisor reviews the compensation of each portfolio manager annually and may make modifications in compensation as its Compensation Committee deems necessary to reflect changes in the market. Each portfolio manager’s compensation consists of the following:

 

   

Base salary. Each portfolio manager is paid a base salary. The Advisor considers the factors described above to determine each portfolio manager’s base salary.

 

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Semi-Annual Bonus. Each portfolio manager may receive a semi-annual bonus. The amount of the bonus paid to each portfolio manager is based upon the factors described above.

Portfolio managers may be awarded the right to purchase restricted shares of the stock of the Advisor, as determined from time to time, by the Board of Directors of the Advisor or its delegates. Portfolio managers also participate in benefit and retirement plans and other programs available generally to all employees.

In addition, portfolio managers may be given the option of participating in the Advisor’s Long Term Incentive Plan. The level of participation for eligible employees may be dependent on overall level of compensation, among other considerations. Participation in this program is not based on or related to the performance of any individual strategies or any particular client accounts.

Other Managed Accounts

In addition to the Portfolio, the portfolio managers manage (i) other U.S. registered investment companies advised or sub-advised by the Advisor, (ii) other pooled investment vehicles that are not U.S. registered mutual funds and (iii) other accounts managed for organizations and individuals. The following table sets forth information regarding the total accounts for which the portfolio manager has the primary responsibility for coordinating the day-to-day management responsibilities.

 

Name of Portfolio Manager  

Number of Accounts Managed and Total

Assets by Category As of October 31, 2010

    
               

  Stephen A. Clark

 

• 

   92 U.S. registered mutual funds with $133,626 million in total assets under management.   
 

• 

   20 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $25,316 million in total assets under management. Out of these unregistered pooled investment vehicles, one client with an investment of $220 million in an unregistered pooled investment vehicle pays a performance-based advisory fee.   
   

• 

   73 other accounts with $11,603 million in total assets under management, of which one account with $731 million in assets may be subject to a performance fee.     

  David A. Plecha

 

• 

   18 U.S. registered mutual funds with $23,044 million in total assets under management.   
 

• 

   9 unregistered pooled investment vehicles with $18,146 million in total assets under management.   
   

• 

   4 other accounts with $19 million in total assets under management.     

Potential Conflicts of Interest

Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has the primary day-to-day responsibilities with respect to more than one portfolio and other accounts. Other accounts include registered mutual funds (other than the Portfolio), other unregistered pooled investment vehicles, and other accounts managed for organizations and individuals (“Accounts”). An Account may have a similar investment objective to the Portfolio, or may purchase, sell or hold securities that are eligible to be purchased, sold or held by the Portfolio. Actual or apparent conflicts of interest include:

 

   

Time Management. The management of multiple portfolios and/or Accounts may result in a portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of each portfolio and/or Account. The Advisor seeks to manage such competing interests for the time and attention of portfolio managers by having portfolio managers focus on a particular investment discipline. Most Accounts managed by a portfolio manager are managed using the same investment models that are used in connection with the management of the portfolios.

 

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Investment Opportunities. It is possible that at times identical securities will be held by more than one portfolio and/or Account. However, positions in the same security may vary and the length of time that any portfolio or Account may choose to hold its investment in the same security may likewise vary. If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity that may be suitable for more than one portfolio or Account, a portfolio may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to an allocation of filled purchase or sale orders across all eligible portfolios and Accounts. To deal with these situations, the Advisor has adopted procedures for allocating portfolio transactions across multiple portfolios and Accounts.

 

   

Broker Selection. With respect to securities transactions for the portfolios, the Advisor determines which broker to use to execute each order, consistent with the Advisor’s duty to seek best execution of the transaction. However, with respect to certain Accounts (such as separate accounts), the Advisor may be limited by the client with respect to the selection of brokers or may be instructed to direct trades through a particular broker. In these cases, the Advisor or its affiliates may place separate, non-simultaneous, transactions for a portfolio and another Account that may temporarily affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment of the portfolio or the Account.

 

   

Performance-Based Fees. For some Accounts, the Advisor may be compensated based on the profitability of the Account, such as by a performance-based management fee. These incentive compensation structures may create a conflict of interest for the Advisor with regard to Accounts where the Advisor is paid based on a percentage of assets because the portfolio manager may have an incentive to allocate securities preferentially to the Accounts where the Advisor might share in investment gains.

 

   

Investment in an Account. A portfolio manager or his/her relatives may invest in an Account that he or she manages and a conflict may arise where he or she may therefore have an incentive to treat the Account in which the portfolio manager or his/her relatives invest preferentially as compared to the Portfolio or other Accounts for which he or she has portfolio management responsibilities.

The Advisor and the Fund have adopted certain compliance procedures that are reasonably designed to address these types of conflicts. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises.

GENERAL INFORMATION

DFAIDG was incorporated under Maryland law on June 15, 1981. Until June 1983, DFAIDG was named DFA Small Company Fund Inc. The Fund generally offers shares of the Portfolio only to institutional investors and clients of registered investment advisers.

CODE OF ETHICS

The Fund, the Advisor, DFA Australia Limited, DFA Fund Advisors Ltd. and DFAS have adopted a revised Code of Ethics, under Rule 17j-1 of the 1940 Act, for certain access persons of the Portfolio. The Code of Ethics is designed to ensure that access persons act in the interest of the Portfolio and its shareholders with respect to any personal trading of securities. Under the Code of Ethics, access persons are generally prohibited from knowingly buying or selling securities (except for mutual funds, U.S. government securities and money market instruments) which are being purchased, sold or considered for purchase or sale by the Portfolio unless their proposed purchases are approved in advance. The Code of Ethics also contains certain reporting requirements and securities trading clearance procedures.

 

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SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS

The shares of the Portfolio, when issued and paid for in accordance with the Prospectus, will be fully paid and non-assessable shares. Each share of common stock of the Portfolio represents an equal proportional interest in the assets and liabilities of the Portfolio and has identical, non-cumulative voting, dividend, redemption liquidation, and other rights and preferences.

With respect to matters which require shareholder approval, shareholders are entitled to vote only with respect to matters which affect the interest of the portfolio which they hold, except as otherwise required by applicable law. If liquidation of the Fund should occur, the Fund’s shareholders would be entitled to receive on a per class basis the assets of the particular portfolio whose shares they own, as well as a proportionate share of Fund assets not attributable to any particular portfolio. Ordinarily, the Fund does not intend to hold annual meetings of shareholders, except as required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law. The Fund’s bylaws provide that special meetings of shareholders shall be called at the written request of shareholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting. Such meeting may be called to consider any matter, including the removal of one or more directors. Shareholders will receive shareholder communications with respect to such matters as required by the 1940 Act, including semi-annual and annual financial statements of the Fund, the latter being audited.

Shareholder inquiries may be made by writing or calling the Fund at the address or telephone number appearing on the cover of this SAI. Only those individuals whose signatures are on file for the account in question may receive specific account information or make changes in the account registration.

PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

As of January 31, 2011, no person beneficially owned 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Portfolio.

PURCHASE OF SHARES

The following information supplements the information set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “PURCHASE OF SHARES.”

The Fund will accept purchase and redemption orders on each day that the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for business, regardless of whether the Federal Reserve System is closed. However, no purchases by wire may be made on any day that the Federal Reserve System is closed. The Fund will generally be closed on days that the NYSE is closed. The NYSE is scheduled to be open Monday through Friday throughout the year except for days closed to recognize New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The Federal Reserve System is closed on the same days as the NYSE, except that it is open on Good Friday and closed on Columbus Day and Veterans’ Day. Orders for redemptions and purchases will not be processed if the Fund is closed.

The Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend the offering of shares of the Portfolio or reject purchase orders when, in the judgment of management, such suspension or rejection is in the best interest of the Fund or the Portfolio. Securities accepted in exchange for shares of the Portfolio will be acquired for investment purposes and will be considered for sale under the same circumstances as other securities in the Portfolio.

The Fund or its transfer agent may, from time to time, appoint a sub-transfer agent, such as a broker, for the receipt of purchase and redemption orders and funds from certain investors. With respect to purchases and redemptions through a sub-transfer agent, the Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when the sub-transfer agent receives the order. Shares of the Portfolio will be priced at the public offering price next calculated after receipt of the purchase or redemption order by the sub-transfer agent.

 

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Management believes that any dilutive effect of the cost of investing the proceeds of the sale of the shares of the Portfolio is minimal and, therefore, the shares of the Portfolio are currently sold at net asset value, without imposition of a reimbursement fee. Reimbursement fees may be charged prospectively from time to time based upon the future experience of the Portfolio, which are currently sold at net asset value. Any such charges will be described in the prospectus.

REDEMPTION AND TRANSFER OF SHARES

The following information supplements the information set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “REDEMPTION OF SHARES.”

The Fund may suspend redemption privileges or postpone the date of payment: (1) during any period when the NYSE is closed, or trading on the NYSE is restricted as determined by the SEC, (2) during any period when an emergency exists as defined by the rules of the SEC as a result of which it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund to dispose of securities owned by it, or fairly to determine the value of its assets and (3) for such other periods as the SEC may permit.

Shareholders may transfer shares of the Portfolio to another person by making a written request to the Advisor who will transmit the request to the Transfer Agent. The request should clearly identify the account and number of shares to be transferred, and include the signature of all registered owners and all stock certificates, if any, which are subject to the transfer. The signature on the letter of request, the stock certificate or any stock power must be guaranteed in the same manner as described in the Prospectus under “REDEMPTION OF SHARES.” As with redemptions, the written request must be received in good order before any transfer can be made.

TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIO AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS

The following is a summary of some of the federal income tax consequences of investing in a Portfolio. Unless you are invested in the Portfolio through a qualified retirement plan, you should consider the tax implications of investing and consult your own tax advisor. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Portfolio or its shareholders, and the discussion here and in the Prospectus is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning.

This “TAXATION OF THE PORTFOLIO AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS” section is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and applicable regulations in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative, regulatory or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly change the tax rules applicable to the Portfolio and its shareholders. Any of these changes or court decisions may have a retroactive effect.

This is for general information only and not tax advice and does not purport to deal with all federal tax consequences applicable to all categories of investors, some of which may be subject to special rules. You should consult your own tax advisor regarding your particular circumstances before making an investment in the Portfolio.

Taxation of the Portfolio

The Portfolio has elected and intends to qualify (or, if newly organized, intends to elect and qualify) each year as a regulated investment company (sometimes referred to as a “regulated investment company,” “RIC” or “portfolio”) under Subchapter M of the Code. If the Portfolio qualifies, the Portfolio will not be subject to federal income tax on the portion of its investment company taxable income (that is, generally, taxable interest, dividends, net short-term capital gains, and other taxable ordinary income, net of expenses, without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and net capital gain (that is, the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) that it distributes to shareholders.

 

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Qualification as a regulated investment company. In order to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company, the Portfolio must satisfy the following requirements:

 

   

Distribution Requirement —the Portfolio must distribute at least 90% of its investment company taxable income and 90% of its net tax-exempt income, if any, for the tax year (certain distributions made by the Portfolio after the close of its tax year are considered distributions attributable to the previous tax year for purposes of satisfying this requirement).

 

   

Income Requirement —the Portfolio must derive at least 90% of its gross income from dividends, interest, certain payments with respect to securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including, but not limited to, gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived from its business of investing in such stock, securities or currencies and net income derived from qualified publicly traded partnerships (“QPTPs”).

 

   

Asset Diversification Test —the Portfolio must satisfy the following asset diversification test at the close of each quarter of the Portfolio’s tax year: (1) at least 50% of the value of the Portfolio’s assets must consist of cash and cash items, U.S. Government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and securities of other issuers (as to which the Portfolio has not invested more than 5% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets in securities of an issuer and as to which the Portfolio does not hold more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer); and (2) no more than 25% of the value of the Portfolio’s total assets may be invested in the securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government securities and securities of other regulated investment companies) or of two or more issuers which the Portfolio controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses, or, collectively, in the securities of QPTPs.

In some circumstances, the character and timing of income realized by the Portfolio for purposes of the Income Requirement or the identification of the issuer for purposes of the Asset Diversification Test is uncertain under current law with respect to a particular investment, and an adverse determination or future guidance by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) with respect to such type of investment may adversely affect the Portfolio’s ability to satisfy these requirements. SeeTax Treatment of Portfolio Transactions” below with respect to the application of these requirements to certain types of investments. In other circumstances, the Portfolio may be required to sell portfolio holdings in order to meet the Income Requirement, Distribution Requirement, or Asset Diversification Test which may have a negative impact on the Portfolio’s income and performance.

The Portfolio may use “equalization accounting” (in lieu of making some cash distributions) in determining the portion of its income and gains that has been distributed. If the Portfolio uses equalization accounting, it will allocate a portion of its undistributed investment company taxable income and net capital gain to redemptions of Portfolio shares and will correspondingly reduce the amount of such income and gains that it distributes in cash. If the IRS determines that the Portfolio’s allocation is improper and that the Portfolio has under-distributed its income and gain for any taxable year, the Portfolio may be liable for federal income and/or excise tax. In addition, any such under-distribution of income might cause the Portfolio to fail to satisfy the Income Requirement and thereby not qualify as a regulated investment company for such taxable year.

If for any taxable year the Portfolio does not qualify as a regulated investment company, all of its taxable income (including its net capital gain) would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders, and the dividends would be taxable to the shareholders as ordinary income (or possibly as qualified dividend income) to the extent of the Portfolio’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Failure to qualify as a regulated investment company would thus have a negative impact on the Portfolio’s income and performance. Subject to savings provisions for certain inadvertent failures to satisfy the Income Requirement or Asset Diversification Test which, in general, are limited to those due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, it is possible that the Portfolio will not qualify as a regulated investment company in any given tax year. Even if such savings provisions apply, the Portfolio may be subject to a monetary sanction of $50,000 or more. Moreover, the Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of the Portfolio as a regulated investment company if it determines such a course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.

 

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Portfolio turnover. For investors that hold their Portfolio shares in a taxable account, a high portfolio turnover rate (except in a money market fund that maintains a stable net asset value) may result in higher taxes. This is because a portfolio with a high turnover rate is likely to generate more short-term and less long-term capital gain or loss than a comparable portfolio with a low turnover rate. Any such higher taxes would reduce the Portfolio’s after-tax performance.

Capital loss carryovers. The capital losses of the Portfolio, if any, do not flow through to shareholders. Rather, the Portfolio may use its capital losses, subject to applicable limitations, to offset its capital gains without being required to pay taxes on or distribute to shareholders such gains that are offset by the losses. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (“RIC Mod Act”), if the Portfolio has a “net capital loss” (that is, capital losses in excess of capital gains) for a taxable year beginning after December 22, 2010 (the date of enactment of the RIC Mod Act), the excess (if any) of the Portfolio’s net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gains is treated as a short-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Portfolio’s next taxable year, and the excess (if any) of the Portfolio’s net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gains is treated as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Portfolio’s next taxable year. Any such net capital losses of the Portfolio that are not used to offset capital gains may be carried forward indefinitely to reduce any future capital gains realized by the Portfolio in succeeding taxable years. However, for any net capital losses realized in taxable years of the Portfolio beginning on or before December 22, 2010, the Portfolio is only permitted to carry forward such capital losses for eight years as a short-term capital loss. Under a transition rule, capital losses arising in a taxable year beginning after December 22, 2010 must be used before capital losses realized in a prior taxable year. The amount of capital losses that can be carried forward and used in any single year is subject to an annual limitation if there is a more than 50% “change in ownership” of the Portfolio. An ownership change generally results when shareholders owning 5% or more of the Portfolio increase their aggregate holdings by more than 50% over a three-year look-back period. An ownership change could result in capital loss carryovers being used at a slower rate (or, in the case of those realized in taxable years of the Portfolio beginning on or before December 22, 2010, to expire unutilized), thereby reducing the Portfolio’s ability to offset capital gains with those losses. An increase in the amount of taxable gains distributed to the Portfolio’s shareholders could result from an ownership change. The Portfolio undertakes no obligation to avoid or prevent an ownership change, which can occur in the normal course of shareholder purchases and redemptions or as a result of engaging in a tax-free reorganization with another portfolio. Moreover, because of circumstances beyond the Portfolio’s control, there can be no assurance that the Portfolio will not experience, or has not already experienced, an ownership change.

Deferral of late year losses. For taxable years of the Portfolio beginning after December 22, 2010, the Portfolio may elect to treat part or all of any “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in determining the Portfolio’s taxable income, net capital gain, net short-term capital gain, and earnings and profits. The effect of this election is to treat any such “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in characterizing Portfolio distributions for any calendar year (see “Distributions of Capital Gains” below). A “qualified late year loss” includes:

 

   

any net capital loss, net long-term capital loss, or net short-term capital loss incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year (“post-October losses”), and

 

   

the excess, if any, of (1) the sum of (a) specified losses incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year, and (b) other ordinary losses incurred after December 31 of the current taxable year, over (2) the sum of (a) specified gains incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year, and (b) other ordinary gains incurred after December 31 of the current taxable year.

The terms “specified losses” and “specified gains” mean ordinary losses and gains from the sale, exchange, or other disposition of property (including the termination of a position with respect to such property), foreign currency losses, and losses resulting from holding stock in a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) for which a mark-to-market election is in effect. The terms “ordinary losses” and “ordinary gains” mean other ordinary losses and gains that are not described in the preceding sentence. Since the Portfolio has a fiscal year ending in October, the amount of qualified late-year losses (if any) is computed without regard to any items of income, gain, or loss that are (a) post-October losses, (b) specified losses, and (c) specified gains.

 

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Undistributed capital gains. The Portfolio may retain or distribute to shareholders its net capital gain for each taxable year. The Portfolio currently intends to distribute net capital gains. If the Portfolio elects to retain its net capital gain, the Portfolio will be taxed thereon (except to the extent of any available capital loss carryovers) at the highest corporate tax rate (currently 35%). If the Portfolio elects to retain its net capital gain, it is expected that the Portfolio also will elect to have shareholders treated as if each received a distribution of its pro rata share of such gain, with the result that each shareholder will be required to report its pro rata share of such gain on its tax return as long-term capital gain, will receive a refundable tax credit for its pro rata share of tax paid by the Portfolio on the gain, and will increase the tax basis for its shares by an amount equal to the deemed distribution less the tax credit.

Excise tax distribution requirements. To avoid a 4% federal excise tax, the Code requires the Portfolio to distribute to you by December 31 of each year, at a minimum, the following amounts: 98% of its taxable ordinary income earned during the calendar year; 98% (or 98.2% beginning January 1, 2011) of its capital gain net income earned during the twelve-month period ending October 31; and 100% of any undistributed amounts from the prior year. The Portfolio intends to declare and pay these distributions in December (or to pay them in January, in which case you must treat them as received in December) but can give no assurances that its distributions will be sufficient to eliminate all taxes.

Distributions of Net Investment Income

The Portfolio receives ordinary income generally in the form of dividends and/or interest on its investments. The Portfolio may also recognize ordinary income from other sources, including, but not limited to, temporary investments, discount from stripped obligations or their coupons, income from securities loans or other taxable transactions, and ordinary income from the sale of market discount bonds. This income, less expenses incurred in the operation of the Portfolio, constitutes the Portfolio’s net investment income from which dividends may be paid to you. If you are a taxable investor, distributions of net investment income generally are taxable as ordinary income to the extent of the Portfolio’s earnings and profits.

Distributions of Capital Gains

The Portfolio may realize a capital gain or loss in connection with sales or other dispositions of its portfolio securities. Distributions derived from the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss will be taxable to you as ordinary income. Distributions from the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss will be taxable to you as long-term capital gain, regardless of how long you have held your shares in the Portfolio. Any net capital gain of the Portfolio generally will be distributed once each year, and may be distributed more frequently, if necessary, to reduce or eliminate federal excise or income taxes on the Portfolio.

Returns of Capital

Distributions by the Portfolio that are not paid from earnings and profits will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of (and in reduction of) the shareholder’s tax basis in his shares; any excess will be treated as gain from the sale of his shares. Thus, the portion of a distribution that constitutes a return of capital will decrease the shareholder’s tax basis in his Portfolio shares (but not below zero), and will result in an increase in the amount of gain (or decrease in the amount of loss) that will be recognized by the shareholder for tax purposes on the later sale of such Portfolio shares. Return of capital distributions can occur for a number of reasons including, among others, the Portfolio over-estimates the income to be received from certain investments such as those classified as partnerships or equity real estate investment trusts (“REITs”).

Exempt-Interest Dividends

By meeting certain requirements of the Code, the Portfolio qualifies to pay exempt-interest dividends to its shareholders. These dividends are derived from interest income exempt from regular federal income tax and are not subject to regular federal income tax when they are paid to shareholders. However, shareholders required to file a federal income tax return will be required to report the receipt of exempt-interest dividends on their returns. Exempt-interest dividends that are excluded from federal taxable income may still be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax. See the discussion below under the heading, “Alternative Minimum Tax.”

 

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In addition, to the extent that exempt-interest dividends are derived from interest on obligations of a state or its political subdivisions, or from interest on qualifying U.S. territorial obligations (including qualifying obligations of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam), they also may be exempt from that state’s personal income taxes. Most states, however, do not grant tax-free treatment to interest on state and municipal securities of other states.

Information on the Amount and Tax Character of Distributions

The Portfolio will inform you of the amount of your exempt-interest dividends, taxable ordinary income and capital gain dividends at the time they are paid, and will advise you of their tax status for federal income tax purposes shortly after the end of each calendar year, including the portion, if any, of the distributions that on average are comprised of taxable income or interest income that is a tax preference item when determining your alternative minimum tax. If you have not held Portfolio shares for a full year, the Portfolio may report to shareholders and distribute to you, as ordinary income, qualified dividends, capital gains, tax-exempt or tax preference income, and in the case of non-U.S. shareholders the Portfolio may further report and distribute interest-related dividends and short-term capital gains dividends, a percentage of income that is not equal to the actual amount of such income earned during the period of your investment in the Portfolio. Taxable distributions declared by the Portfolio in December to shareholders of record in such month, but paid in January, are taxed to you as if made in December.

Sales, Exchanges and Redemptions of Portfolio Shares

In general. If you are a taxable investor, sales, exchanges and redemptions (including redemptions in kind) are taxable transactions for federal and state income tax purposes. If you redeem your Portfolio shares, the IRS requires you to report any gain or loss on your redemption. If you held your shares as a capital asset, the gain or loss that you realize will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term or short-term, generally depending on how long you have held your shares.

Redemptions at a loss within six months of purchase. Any loss incurred on a redemption of shares of the Portfolio held for six months or less will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributed to you by the Portfolio on those shares. Any loss incurred on the redemption or exchange of shares held for six months or less will be disallowed to the extent of any exempt-interest dividends paid to you with respect to your Portfolio shares, and any remaining loss will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributed to you by the Portfolio on those shares. However, under the RIC Mod Act, this rule will not apply to any loss incurred on a redemption or exchange of shares of a fund that declares exempt-interest dividends daily and distributes them at least monthly for which your holding period begins after December 22, 2010.

Wash sales. All or a portion of any loss that you realize on a redemption of your Portfolio shares will be disallowed to the extent that you buy other shares in the Portfolio (through reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) within 30 days before or after your share redemption. Any loss disallowed under these rules will be added to your tax basis in the new shares.

Cost basis reporting. Under the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008, the Portfolio’s administrative agent will be required to provide you with cost basis information on the sale of any of your shares in the Portfolio, subject to certain exceptions. This cost basis reporting requirement is effective for shares purchased in the Portfolio on or after January 1, 2012.

Tax shelter reporting. Under Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to the Portfolio’s shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886.

U.S. Government Securities

To the extent the Portfolio invests in certain U.S. government obligations, dividends paid by the Portfolio to shareholders that are derived from interest on these obligations should be exempt from state and local personal income taxes, subject in some states to minimum investment or reporting requirements that must be met by the Portfolio. The income on portfolio investments in certain securities, such as repurchase agreements, commercial

 

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paper and federal agency-backed obligations (e.g., Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) or Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) securities), generally does not qualify for tax-free treatment. The rules on exclusion of this income are different for corporate shareholders.

Alternative Minimum Tax

Interest on certain private activity bonds, while exempt from regular federal income tax, is a preference item for you when determining your alternative minimum tax under the Code and under the income tax provisions of several states. Private activity bond interest could subject you to or increase your liability under federal and state alternative minimum taxes, depending on your personal or corporate tax position. However, under recently enacted provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, tax-exempt interest on private activity bonds issued in 2009 and 2010 is not an item of tax preference for purposes of the alternative minimum tax. If you are a person defined in the Code as a “substantial user” (or persons related to such users) of a facility financed by private activity bonds, you should consult with your tax advisor before buying shares of the Portfolio. The Portfolio does not currently intend to invest its assets in securities whose interest is subject to the federal alternative minimum tax.

Effect on Taxation of Social Security Benefits; Denial of Interest Deduction; “Substantial Users”

Exempt-interest dividends must be taken into account in computing the portion, if any, of social security or railroad retirement benefits that must be included in an individual shareholder’s gross income subject to federal income tax. Interest on debt you incur to buy or hold shares of the Portfolio may not be deductible for federal income tax purposes. Indebtedness may be allocated to shares of the Portfolio even though not directly traceable to the purchase of such shares. Moreover, a shareholder who is (or is related to) a “substantial user” of a facility financed by industrial development bonds held by the Portfolio will likely be subject to tax on dividends paid by the Portfolio that are derived from interest on such bonds. Receipt of exempt-interest dividends may result in other collateral federal income tax consequences to certain taxpayers, including financial institutions, property and casualty insurance companies and foreign corporations engaged in a trade or business in the United States.

Loss of Status of Securities as Tax-Exempt

Failure of the issuer of a tax-exempt security to comply with certain legal or contractual requirements relating to the security could cause interest on the security, as well as Portfolio distributions derived from this interest, to become taxable, perhaps retroactively to the date the security was issued. In such a case, the Portfolio may be required to report to the IRS and send to you amended Forms 1099 for a prior taxable year in order to report additional taxable income. This, in turn, could require shareholders to file amended federal and state income tax returns for such prior year to report and pay tax and interest on their pro rata share of the additional amount of taxable income.

Qualified Dividend Income for Individuals

With respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2013 (unless such provision is extended or made permanent), ordinary income dividends reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as derived from qualified dividend income will be taxed in the hands of individuals and other noncorporate shareholders at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain. “Qualified dividend income” means dividends paid to the Portfolio (a) by domestic corporations, (b) by foreign corporations that are either (i) incorporated in a possession of the United States, or (ii) are eligible for benefits under certain income tax treaties with the United States that include an exchange of information program, or (c) with respect to stock of a foreign corporation that is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. Both the Portfolio and the investor must meet certain holding period requirements to qualify Portfolio dividends for this treatment. Specifically, the Portfolio must hold the stock for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the stock becomes ex-dividend. Similarly, investors must hold their Portfolio shares for at least 61 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the Portfolio distribution goes ex-dividend. Income derived from investments in derivatives, fixed-income securities, U.S. REITs, PFICs, and income received “in lieu of” dividends in a securities lending transaction generally is not eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income. If the qualifying dividend income received by the Portfolio is equal to or greater than 95% of the Portfolio’s gross income (exclusive of net capital gain) in any taxable year, all of the ordinary income dividends paid by the Portfolio will be qualifying dividend income. Because the income of the

 

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Portfolio is derived primarily from interest on debt securities, none or only a small amount of the Portfolio’s dividends will be qualified dividend income. Income dividends from interest earned by the Portfolio on debt securities will continue to be taxed at the higher ordinary income tax rate.

Dividends-Received Deduction for Corporations

For corporate shareholders, a portion of the dividends paid by the Portfolio may qualify for the 70% corporate dividends-received deduction. The portion of dividends paid by the Portfolio that so qualifies will be reported by the Portfolio to shareholders each year and cannot exceed the gross amount of dividends received by the Portfolio from domestic (U.S.) corporations. The availability of the dividends-received deduction is subject to certain holding period and debt financing restrictions that apply to both the Portfolio and the investor. Specifically, the amount that the Portfolio may report as eligible for the dividends-received deduction will be reduced or eliminated if the shares on which the dividends earned by the Portfolio were debt-financed or held by the Portfolio for less than a minimum period of time, generally 46 days during a 91-day period beginning 45 days before the stock becomes ex-dividend. Similarly, if your Portfolio shares are debt-financed or held by you for less than a 46-day period then the dividends-received deduction for Portfolio dividends on your shares may also be reduced or eliminated. Even if reported as dividends eligible for the dividends-received deduction, all dividends (including any deducted portion) must be included in your alternative minimum taxable income calculation. Income derived by the Portfolio from investments in derivatives, fixed-income and foreign securities generally is not eligible for this treatment. Because the income of the Portfolio is derived primarily from interest on debt securities, none or only a small amount of their distributions are expected to qualify for the corporate dividends-received deduction.

Limitation on Deductibility of Losses

Losses incurred on the sale of securities by the Portfolio to another Portfolio will be disallowed if, as of the date of sale, the selling and purchasing portfolios are considered related parties. If the selling and purchasing portfolios are both corporations, they are treated as related parties if five or fewer persons, who are individuals, estates or trusts, own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the outstanding shares in both the selling and purchasing portfolios. Other attribution rules may apply.

Tax Treatment of Portfolio Transactions

Set forth below is a general description of the tax treatment of certain types of securities, investment techniques and transactions that may apply to a portfolio and, in turn, effect the amount, character and timing of dividends and distributions payable by the portfolio to its shareholders. This section should be read in conjunction with the discussion in the Prospectus under “Principal Investment Strategies” and “Principal Risks” for a detailed description of the various types of securities and investment techniques that apply to the Portfolio.

In general. In general, gain or loss recognized by a portfolio on the sale or other disposition of portfolio investments will be a capital gain or loss. Such capital gain and loss may be long-term or short-term depending, in general, upon the length of time a particular investment position is maintained and, in some cases, upon the nature of the transaction. Property held for more than one year generally will be eligible for long-term capital gain or loss treatment. The application of certain rules described below may serve to alter the manner in which the holding period for a security is determined or may otherwise affect the characterization as long-term or short-term, and also the timing of the realization and/or character, of certain gains or losses.

Certain fixed-income investments. Gain recognized on the disposition of a debt obligation purchased by a portfolio at a market discount (generally, at a price less than its principal amount) will be treated as ordinary income to the extent of the portion of the market discount that accrued during the period of time the portfolio held the debt obligation unless the portfolio made a current inclusion election to accrue market discount into income as it accrues. If a portfolio purchases a debt obligation (such as a zero coupon security or pay-in-kind security) that was originally issued at a discount, the portfolio generally is required to include in gross income each year the portion of the original issue discount that accrues during such year. Therefore, a portfolio’s investment in such securities may cause the portfolio to recognize income and make distributions to shareholders before it receives any cash payments on the securities. To generate cash to satisfy those distribution requirements, a portfolio may have to sell portfolio

 

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securities that it otherwise might have continued to hold or to use cash flows from other sources such as the sale of portfolio shares.

Investments in debt obligations that are at risk of or in default present tax issues for a portfolio. Tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as whether and to what extent a portfolio should recognize market discount on a debt obligation, when a portfolio may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount or market discount, when and to what extent a portfolio may take deductions for bad debts or worthless securities and how a portfolio should allocate payments received on obligations in default between principal and income. These and other related issues will be addressed by a portfolio in order to ensure that it distributes sufficient income to preserve its status as a regulated investment company.

Options, futures, forward contracts, swap agreements and hedging transactions. In general, option premiums received by a portfolio are not immediately included in the income of the portfolio. Instead, the premiums are recognized when the option contract expires, the option is exercised by the holder, or the portfolio transfers or otherwise terminates the option (e.g., through a closing transaction). If an option written by a portfolio is exercised and the portfolio sells or delivers the underlying stock, the portfolio generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to (a) sum of the strike price and the option premium received by the portfolio minus (b) the portfolio’s basis in the stock. Such gain or loss generally will be short-term or long-term depending upon the holding period of the underlying stock. If securities are purchased by a portfolio pursuant to the exercise of a put option written by it, the portfolio generally will subtract the premium received from its cost basis in the securities purchased. The gain or loss with respect to any termination of a portfolio’s obligation under an option other than through the exercise of the option and related sale or delivery of the underlying stock generally will be short-term gain or loss depending on whether the premium income received by the portfolio is greater or less than the amount paid by the portfolio (if any) in terminating the transaction. Thus, for example, if an option written by a portfolio expires unexercised, the portfolio generally will recognize short-term gain equal to the premium received.

The tax treatment of certain futures contracts entered into by a portfolio as well as listed non-equity options written or purchased by the portfolio on U.S. exchanges (including options on futures contracts, broad-based equity indices and debt securities) may be governed by section 1256 of the Code (“section 1256 contracts”). Gains or losses on section 1256 contracts generally are considered 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gains or losses (“60/40”), although certain foreign currency gains and losses from such contracts may be treated as ordinary in character. Also, any section 1256 contracts held by a portfolio at the end of each taxable year (and, for purposes of the 4% excise tax, on certain other dates as prescribed under the Code) are “marked to market” with the result that unrealized gains or losses are treated as though they were realized and the resulting gain or loss is treated as ordinary or 60/40 gain or loss, as applicable. Section 1256 contracts do not include any interest rate swap, currency swap, basis swap, interest rate cap, interest rate floor, commodity swap, equity swap, equity index swap, credit default swap, or similar agreement.

In addition to the special rules described above in respect of options and futures transactions, a portfolio’s transactions in other derivative instruments (including options, forward contracts and swap agreements) as well as its other hedging, short sale, or similar transactions, may be subject to one or more special tax rules (including the constructive sale, notional principal contract, straddle, wash sale and short sale rules). These rules may affect whether gains and losses recognized by a portfolio are treated as ordinary or capital or as short-term or long-term, accelerate the recognition of income or gains to the portfolio, defer losses to the portfolio, and cause adjustments in the holding periods of the portfolio’s securities. These rules, therefore, could affect the amount, timing and/or character of distributions to shareholders. Moreover, because the tax rules applicable to derivative financial instruments are in some cases uncertain under current law, an adverse determination or future guidance by the IRS with respect to these rules (which determination or guidance could be retroactive) may affect whether a portfolio has made sufficient distributions and otherwise satisfied the relevant requirements to maintain its qualification as a regulated investment company and avoid a portfolio-level tax.

Certain of a portfolio’s investments in derivatives and foreign currency-denominated instruments, and the portfolio’s transactions in foreign currencies and hedging activities, may produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. If a portfolio’s book income is less than the sum of its taxable income and net tax-

 

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exempt income (if any), the portfolio could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regulated investment company. If a portfolio’s book income exceeds the sum of its taxable income and net tax-exempt income (if any), the distribution of any such excess will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of the portfolio’s remaining earnings and profits (including current earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income, reduced, for taxable years of the Portfolio beginning after December 22, 2010, by related deductions), (ii) thereafter, as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient’s basis in the shares, and (iii) thereafter, as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset.

Securities lending. While securities are loaned out by a portfolio, the portfolio generally will receive from the borrower amounts equal to any dividends or interest paid on the borrowed securities. For federal income tax purposes, payments made “in lieu of” dividends are not considered dividend income. These distributions will neither qualify for the reduced rate of taxation for individuals on qualified dividends nor the 70% dividends received deduction for corporations. Also, any foreign tax withheld on payments made “in lieu of” dividends or interest will not qualify for the pass-through of foreign tax credits to shareholders. Additionally, in the case of a portfolio with a strategy of investing in tax-exempt securities, any payments made “in lieu of” tax-exempt interest will be considered taxable income to the portfolio, and thus, to the investors, even though such interest may be tax-exempt when paid to the borrower.

Investments in convertible securities. Convertible debt is ordinarily treated as a “single property” consisting of a pure debt interest until conversion, after which the investment becomes an equity interest. If the security is issued at a premium (i.e., for cash in excess of the face amount payable on retirement), the creditor-holder may amortize the premium over the life of the bond. If the security is issued for cash at a price below its face amount, the creditor-holder must accrue original issue discount in income over the life of the debt. The creditor-holder’s exercise of the conversion privilege is treated as a nontaxable event. Mandatorily convertible debt (e.g., an exchange traded note or ETN issued in the form of an unsecured obligation that pays a return based on the performance of a specified market index, exchange currency, or commodity) is often, but not always, treated as a contract to buy or sell the reference property rather than debt. Similarly, convertible preferred stock with a mandatory conversion feature is ordinarily, but not always, treated as equity rather than debt. Dividends received generally are qualified dividend income and eligible for the corporate dividends received deduction. In general, conversion of preferred stock for common stock of the same corporation is tax-free. Conversion of preferred stock for cash is a taxable redemption. Any redemption premium for preferred stock that is redeemable by the issuing company might be required to be amortized under original issue discount (“OID”) principles.

Pre-refunded municipal securities. The portfolio may invest in pre-refunded municipal securities. For purposes of the Asset Diversification Test, the portfolio’s investment in pre-refunded municipal securities backed by U.S. Treasury and Agency Securities will be considered an investment in the respective U.S. Treasury and Agency Securities that were deposited in the escrow account for the securities.

Backup Withholding

By law, the Portfolio may be required to withhold a portion of your taxable dividends and sales proceeds unless you:

 

   

provide your correct social security or taxpayer identification number,

   

certify that this number is correct,

   

certify that you are not subject to backup withholding, and

   

certify that you are a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien).

The Portfolio also must withhold if the IRS instructs it to do so. When withholding is required, the amount will be 28% of any distributions or proceeds paid. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS. Certain payees and payments are exempt from backup withholding and information reporting. The special U.S. tax certification requirements applicable to non-U.S. investors are described under the “Non-U.S. Investors” heading below.

Non-U.S. Investors

 

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Non-U.S. investors (shareholders who, as to the United States, are nonresident alien individuals, foreign trusts or estates, foreign corporations, or foreign partnerships) may be subject to U.S. withholding and estate tax and are subject to special U.S. tax certification requirements. Non-U.S. investors should consult their tax advisors about the applicability of U.S. tax withholding and the use of the appropriate forms to certify their status.

In general. The United States imposes a flat 30% withholding tax (or a withholding tax at a lower treaty rate) on U.S. source dividends, including on income dividends paid to you by the Portfolio. Exemptions from this U.S. withholding tax are provided for dividends reported by the Portfolio as exempt-interest dividends, capital gain dividends and paid by the Portfolio from its net long-term capital gains, and with respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended, or made permanent), interest-related dividends paid by the Portfolio from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources and short-term capital gain dividends. However, notwithstanding such exemptions from U.S. withholding at the source, any dividends and distributions of income and capital gains, including the proceeds from the sale of your Portfolio shares, will be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 28% if you fail to properly certify that you are not a U.S. person.

Capital gain dividends and short-term capital gain dividends. In general, (i) a capital gain dividend reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as paid from its net long-term capital gains or (ii) with respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended or made permanent), a short-term capital gain dividend reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as paid from its net short-term capital gains, other than long- or short-term capital gains realized on disposition of U.S. real property interests (see the discussion below) are not subject to U.S. withholding tax unless you are a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the calendar year.

Interest-related dividends. With respect to taxable years of the Portfolio beginning before January 1, 2012 (unless such sunset date is extended or made permanent), dividends reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as interest-related dividends and paid from its qualified net interest income from U.S. sources are not subject to U.S. withholding tax. “Qualified interest income” includes, in general, U.S. source (1) bank deposit interest, (2) short-term original discount, (3) interest (including original issue discount, market discount, or acquisition discount) on an obligation which is in registered form, unless it is earned on an obligation issued by a corporation or partnership in which the Portfolio is a 10-percent shareholder or is contingent interest, and (4) any interest-related dividend from another regulated investment company. On any payment date, the amount of an income dividend that is reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as an interest-related dividend may be more or less than the amount that is so qualified. This is because the reporting of interest related dividends is based on an estimate of the Portfolio’s qualified net interest income for its entire fiscal year, which can only be determined with exactness at fiscal year end. As a consequence, the Portfolio may over withhold a small amount of U.S. tax from a dividend payment. In this case, the non-U.S. investor’s only recourse may be to either forgo recovery of the excess withholding, or to file a United States nonresident income tax return to recover the excess withholding.

Further limitations on tax reporting for interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends for non-U.S. investors. It may not be practical in every case for the Portfolio to report to shareholders, and the Portfolio reserves the right in these cases to not report, small amounts of interest-related or short-term capital gain dividends. Additionally, the Portfolio’s reporting of interest-related or short-term capital gain dividends may not be passed through to shareholders by intermediaries who have assumed tax reporting responsibilities for this income in managed or omnibus accounts due to systems limitations or operational constraints.

Exempt-interest dividends. Exempt-interest dividends reported by the Portfolio to shareholders as paid from interest earned on municipal securities are not subject to U.S. withholding tax.

Net investment income from dividends on stock and foreign source interest income continue to be subject to withholding tax; effectively connected income. Ordinary dividends paid by the Portfolio to non-U.S. investors on the income earned on portfolio investments in (i) the stock of domestic and foreign corporations, and (ii) the debt of foreign issuers continue to be subject to U.S. withholding tax. If you hold your Portfolio shares in connection with a U.S. trade or business, your income and gains will be considered effectively connected income and taxed in the U.S. on a net basis, in which case you may be required to file a nonresident U.S. income tax return.

 

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U.S. estate tax. Transfers by gift of shares of the Portfolio by a foreign shareholder who is a nonresident alien individual will not be subject to U.S. federal gift tax. For decedents dying during 2010, the U.S. federal estate tax was reinstated retroactively, except where the executor of the estate of a decedent makes an election to opt out of the estate tax and instead be subject to modified carryover basis rules. For decedents dying after 2010, an individual who, at the time of death, is a non-U.S. shareholder will nevertheless be subject to U.S. federal estate tax with respect to Portfolio shares at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. citizens and residents, unless a treaty exemption applies. If a treaty exemption is available, a decedent’s estate may nonetheless need to file a U.S. estate tax return to claim the exemption in order to obtain a U.S. federal transfer certificate. The transfer certificate will identify the property (i.e., Portfolio shares) as to which the U.S. federal estate tax lien has been released. In the absence of a treaty, there is a $13,000 statutory estate tax credit (equivalent to U.S. situs assets with a value of $60,000). For estates with U.S. situs assets of not more than $60,000, the Portfolio may accept, in lieu of a transfer certificate, an affidavit from an appropriate individual evidencing that decedent’s U.S. situs assets are below this threshold amount. In addition, a partial exemption from U.S estate tax may apply to Portfolio shares held by the estate of a nonresident decedent. The amount treated as exempt is based upon the proportion of the assets held by the Portfolio at the end of the quarter immediately preceding the decedent’s death that are debt obligations, deposits, or other property that generally would be treated as situated outside the United States if held directly by the estate. This provision applies to decedents dying after December 31, 2004 and before January 1, 2012, unless such provision is extended or made permanent.

U.S. tax certification rules. Special U.S. tax certification requirements apply to non-U.S. shareholders both to avoid U.S. back up withholding imposed at a rate of 28% and to obtain the benefits of any treaty between the United States and the shareholder’s country of residence. In general, a non-U.S. shareholder must provide a Form W-8 BEN (or other applicable Form W-8) to establish that you are not a U.S. person, to claim that you are the beneficial owner of the income and, if applicable, to claim a reduced rate of, or exemption from, withholding as a resident of a country with which the United States has an income tax treaty. A Form W-8BEN provided without a U.S. taxpayer identification number will remain in effect for a period beginning on the date signed and ending on the last day of the third succeeding calendar year unless an earlier change of circumstances makes the information on the form incorrect.

The tax consequences to a non-U.S. shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of an applicable tax treaty may be different from those described herein. Non-U.S. shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in the Portfolio, including the applicability of foreign tax.

Effect of Future Legislation; Local Tax Considerations

The foregoing general discussion of U.S. federal income tax consequences is based on the Code and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this SAI. Future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and any such changes or decisions may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein. Rules of state and local taxation of ordinary income, qualified dividend income and capital gain dividends may differ from the rules for U.S. federal income taxation described above. Distributions may also be subject to additional state, local and foreign taxes depending on each shareholder’s particular situation. Non-U.S. shareholders may be subject to U.S. tax rules that differ significantly from those summarized above. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors as to the consequences of these and other state and local tax rules affecting investment in the Portfolio.

PROXY VOTING POLICIES

The Board of Directors of the Fund has delegated the authority to vote proxies for the portfolio securities held by the Portfolio to the Advisor in accordance with the Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (the “Voting Policies”) and Proxy Voting Guidelines (“Voting Guidelines”) adopted by the Advisor. The Voting Guidelines are largely based on those developed by Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”), an independent third party, except with respect to certain matters for which the Advisor has modified the standard voting guidelines. A concise summary of the Voting Guidelines is provided in an Appendix to this SAI.

 

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The Investment Committee at the Advisor is generally responsible for overseeing the Advisor’s proxy voting process. The Investment Committee has formed a Corporate Governance Committee composed of certain officers, directors and other personnel of the Advisor and has delegated to its members authority to (i) oversee the voting of proxies, (ii) make determinations as to how to vote certain specific proxies, (iii) verify the on-going compliance with the Voting Policies, and (iv) review the Voting Policies from time to time and recommend changes to the Investment Committee. The Corporate Governance Committee may designate one or more of its members to oversee specific, ongoing compliance with respect to the Voting Policies and may designate other personnel of the Advisor to vote proxies on behalf of the Portfolio, including all authorized traders of the Advisor.

The Advisor seeks to vote (or refrains from voting) proxies in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Portfolio as understood by the Advisor at the time of the vote. Generally, the Advisor analyzes proxy statements on behalf of the Portfolio and instructs the vote (or refrains from voting) in accordance with the Voting Policies and the Voting Guidelines. Since most proxies the Advisor receives are instructed to be voted in accordance with the Voting Guidelines, it normally will not be necessary for the Advisor to make an actual determination of how to vote a particular proxy, thereby largely eliminating conflicts of interest for the Advisor during the proxy voting process. However, the Voting Policies do address the procedures to be followed if a conflict of interest arises between the interests of the Portfolio, and the interests of the Advisor or its affiliates. If a Corporate Governance Committee (“Committee”) member has actual knowledge of a conflict of interest and recommends a vote contrary to the Voting Guidelines (or in the case where the Voting Guidelines do not prescribe a particular vote and the proposed vote is contrary to the recommendation of ISS), the Committee member will bring the vote to the Committee which will (a) determine how the vote should be cast keeping in mind the principle of preserving shareholder value, or (b) determine to abstain from voting, unless abstaining would be materially adverse to the interest of the Portfolio. To the extent the Committee makes a determination regarding how to vote or to abstain for a proxy on behalf of the Portfolio in the circumstances described in this paragraph, the Advisor will report annually on such determinations to the Board of Directors of the Fund.

The Advisor will usually instruct voting of proxies in accordance with the Voting Guidelines. The Voting Guidelines provide a framework for analysis and decision-making; however, the Voting Guidelines do not address all potential issues. In order to be able to address all the relevant facts and circumstances related to a proxy vote, the Advisor reserves the right to instruct votes counter to the Voting Guidelines if, after a review of the matter, the Advisor believes that the best interests of the Portfolio would be served by such a vote. In such a circumstance, the analysis will be documented in writing and periodically presented to the Corporate Governance Committee. To the extent that the Voting Guidelines do not cover potential voting issues, the Advisor will instruct the vote on such issues in a manner that is consistent with the spirit of the Voting Guidelines and that the Advisor believes would be in the best interests of the Portfolio.

The Advisor seeks to vote (or refrain from voting) proxies in a manner that the Advisor determines is in the best interests of the Portfolio and which seeks to maximize the value of the Portfolio’s investments. In some cases, the Advisor may determine that it is in the best interests of the Portfolio to refrain from exercising proxy voting rights. The Advisor may determine that voting is not in the best interest of the Portfolio and refrain from voting if the costs, including the opportunity costs, of voting would, in the view of the Advisor, exceed the expected benefits of voting. For securities on loan, the Advisor will balance the revenue-producing value of loans against the difficult-to-assess value of casting votes. It is the Advisor’s belief that the expected value of casting a vote generally will be less than the securities lending income, either because the votes will not have significant economic consequences or because the outcome of the vote would not be affected by the Advisor recalling loaned securities in order to ensure they are voted. The Advisor does intend to recall securities on loan if it determines that voting the securities is likely to materially affect the value of the Portfolio’s investment and that it is in the Portfolio’s best interests to do so. In cases where the Advisor does not receive a solicitation or enough information within a sufficient time (as reasonably determined by the Advisor) prior to the proxy-voting deadline, the Advisor or its service provider may be unable to vote.

With respect to non-U.S. securities, it is typically both difficult and costly to vote proxies due to local regulations, customs, and other requirements or restrictions. The Advisor does not intend to vote proxies of non-U.S. companies if the Advisor determines that the expected economic costs from voting outweigh the anticipated economic benefit to the Portfolio associated with voting. The Advisor intends to make its determination on whether to vote proxies of non-U.S. companies on a portfolio-by-portfolio basis, and generally seeks to implement uniform

 

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voting procedures for all proxies of companies in a country. The Advisor periodically reviews voting logistics, including costs and other voting difficulties, on a portfolio-by-portfolio and country-by-country basis, in order to determine if there have been any material changes that would affect the Advisor’s decision of whether or not to vote. In the event the Advisor is made aware of and believes an issue to be voted is likely to materially affect the economic value of the Portfolio, that its vote is reasonably likely to influence the ultimate outcome of the contest, and the expected benefits of voting the proxies exceed the costs, the Advisor will seek to make every reasonable effort to vote such proxies.

The Advisor and the Fund have retained ISS to provide certain services with respect to proxy voting. ISS provides information on shareholder meeting dates and proxy materials; translates proxy materials printed in a foreign language; provides research on proxy proposals and voting recommendations in accordance with the Voting Guidelines; effects votes on behalf of the Portfolio; and provides reports concerning the proxies voted (the “Proxy Voting Services”). In addition, the Advisor may retain the services of supplemental third-party proxy service providers to provide, among other things, research on proxy proposals and voting recommendations for certain shareholder meetings, as identified in the Voting Guidelines. Although the Advisor retains third-party service providers for proxy issues, the Advisor remains responsible for proxy voting decisions. In this regard, the Advisor uses commercially reasonable efforts to oversee the directed delegation to third-party proxy voting service providers, upon which the Advisor relies to carry out the Proxy Voting Services. In the event that the Voting Guidelines are not implemented precisely as the Advisor intends because of the actions or omissions of any third party service providers, custodians or sub-custodians or other agents or any such persons experience any irregularities (e.g. misvotes or missed votes), then such instances will not necessarily be deemed by the Advisor as a breach of the Voting Policies.

Information regarding how the Portfolio voted proxies related to its portfolio securities during the 12 month period ended June 30 of each year is available, no later than August 31 of each year, without charge, (i) upon request, by calling collect: (512) 306-7400 or (ii) on the Advisor’s website at http://www.dimensional.com and (iii) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

The Advisor and the Board of Directors of DFAIDG have adopted a policy (the “Policy”) to govern disclosure of the portfolio holdings of the Portfolio (“Holdings Information”), and to prevent the misuse of material non-public Holdings Information. The Advisor has determined that the Policy and its procedures (1) are reasonably designed to ensure that disclosure of Holdings Information is in the best interests of the shareholders of the Portfolio, and (2) appropriately address the potential for material conflicts of interest.

Disclosure of Holdings Information as Required by Applicable Law. Holdings Information (whether a partial listing of portfolio holdings or a complete listing of portfolio holdings) shall be disclosed to any person as required by applicable law, rules and regulations.

Online Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings Information. The Portfolio generally discloses up to its twenty-five largest portfolio holdings and the percentages that each of these largest portfolio holdings represent of the total assets of the Portfolio (“largest holdings”), as of the most recent month-end, online at the Advisor’s public website, http://www.dimensional.com, within twenty days after the end of each month. This online disclosure may also include information regarding the industry allocations of the Portfolio. The Portfolio generally discloses its complete Holdings Information (other than cash and cash equivalents), as of month-end, online at the Advisor’s public website, http://www.dimensional.com, two months following the month-end, or more frequently and at different periods when authorized by a Designated Person (as defined below).

Disclosure of Holdings Information to Recipients. Each of the Advisor’s Chairman, Director of Institutional Services, Head of Portfolio Management and Trading and General Counsel (together, the “Designated Persons”) may authorize disclosing non-public Holdings Information more frequently or at different periods than as described above solely to those financial advisors, registered accountholders, authorized consultants, authorized custodians, or third-party data service providers (each a “Recipient”) who: (i) specifically request the more current non-public Holdings Information and (ii) execute a Use and Nondisclosure Agreement (each a “Nondisclosure Agreement”).

 

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Each Nondisclosure Agreement subjects the Recipient to a duty of confidentiality with respect to the non-public Holdings Information, and prohibits the Recipient from trading based on the non-public Holdings Information. Any non-public Holdings Information that is disclosed shall not include any material information about the Portfolio’s trading strategies or pending portfolio transactions. The non-public Holdings Information provided to a Recipient under a Nondisclosure Agreement, unless indicated otherwise, is not subject to a time delay before dissemination. Designated Persons may also approve the distribution of Holdings Information for the Portfolio more frequently or at a period other than as described above.

As of January 31, 2011, the Advisor and the Portfolio had ongoing arrangements with the following Recipients to make available non-public Holdings Information:

 

Recipient

 

  

Business Purpose

 

  

Frequency

 

BNY Mellon Investment

Servicing (US) Inc.

 

   Fund Administrator, Accounting Agent and Transfer Agent    Daily

Bank of New York

 

   Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Upon request

CTC Consulting, Inc.

 

   Monitoring investor exposure and investment strategy    Quarterly

Citibank, N.A.

 

   Middle office operational support service provider to the Advisor    Daily

PFPC Trust Company

(to be renamed BNY Mellon Investment Servicing Trust Company effective July 1, 2011)

 

   Fund Custodian    Daily

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

 

   Independent registered public accounting firm    Upon request

In addition, certain employees of the Advisor and its subsidiaries receive Holdings Information on a quarterly, monthly or daily basis, or upon request, in order to perform their business functions. None of the Portfolio, the Advisor or any other party receives any compensation in connection with these arrangements.

The Policy includes the following procedures to ensure that disclosure of Holdings Information is in the best interests of shareholders, and to address any conflicts between the interests of shareholders, on the one hand, and the interests of the Advisor, DFAS or any affiliated person of the Fund, the Advisor or DFAS, on the other. In order to protect the interests of shareholders and the Portfolio, and to ensure no adverse effect on shareholders, in the limited circumstances where a Designated Person is considering making non-public Holdings Information available to a Recipient, the Advisor’s Director of Institutional Services and the Chief Compliance Officer will consider any conflicts of interest. If the Chief Compliance Officer, following appropriate due diligence, determines in his or her reasonable judgment that (1) the Portfolio has a legitimate business purpose for providing the non-public Holdings Information to a Recipient, and (2) disclosure of non-public Holdings Information to the Recipient would be in the interests of the shareholders and outweighs possible reasonably anticipated adverse effects, then the Chief Compliance Officer may approve the proposed disclosure.

The Chief Compliance Officer documents all disclosures of non-public Holdings Information (including the legitimate business purpose for the disclosure), and periodically reports to the Board on such arrangements. The Chief Compliance Officer is also responsible for ongoing monitoring of the distribution and use of non-public Holdings Information. Such arrangements are reviewed by the Chief Compliance Officer on an annual basis. Specifically, the Chief Compliance Officer requests an annual certification from each Recipient that the Recipient has complied with all terms contained in the Nondisclosure Agreement. Recipients who fail to provide the requested certifications are prohibited from receiving non-public Holdings Information.

 

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The Board exercises continuing oversight of the disclosure of Holdings Information by: (1) overseeing the implementation and enforcement of the Policy by the Chief Compliance Officer of the Advisor and of the Fund; (2) considering reports and recommendations by the Chief Compliance Officer concerning the implementation of the Policy and any material compliance matters that may arise in connection with the Policy; and (3) considering whether to approve or ratify any amendments to the Policy. The Advisor and the Board reserve the right to amend the Policy at any time, and from time to time without prior notice, in their sole discretion.

Prohibitions on Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings and Receipt of Compensation. No person is authorized to disclose Holdings Information or other investment positions (whether online at http://www.dimensional.com, in writing, by fax, by e-mail, orally or by other means) except in accordance with the Policy. In addition, no person is authorized to make disclosure pursuant to the Policy if such disclosure is otherwise in violation of the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws.

The Policy prohibits the Portfolio, the Advisor or an affiliate thereof from receiving any compensation or other consideration of any type for the purpose of obtaining disclosure of non-public Holdings Information or other investment positions. “Consideration” includes any agreement to maintain assets in the Portfolio or in other investment companies or accounts managed by the Advisor or by any affiliated person of the Advisor.

The Policy and its procedures are intended to provide useful information concerning the Portfolio to existing and prospective shareholders, while at the same time preventing the improper use of Holdings Information. However, there can be no assurance that the furnishing of any Holdings Information is not susceptible to inappropriate uses, particularly in the hands of sophisticated investors, or that the Holdings Information will not in fact be misused in other ways, beyond the control of the Advisor.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Because the Portfolio had not commenced operations as of October 31, 2010, the annual reports for the Fund for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2010 do not contain any data regarding the Portfolio.

PERFORMANCE DATA

The Portfolio may compare its investment performance to appropriate market and mutual fund indices and investments for which reliable performance data is available. Such indices are generally unmanaged and are prepared by entities and organizations which track the performance of investment companies or investment advisors. Unmanaged indices often do not reflect deductions for administrative and management costs and expenses. The performance of the Portfolio may also be compared in publications to averages, performance rankings, or other information prepared by recognized mutual fund statistical services. Any performance information, whether related to the Portfolio or to the Advisor, should be considered in light of the Portfolio’s investment objective and policies, characteristics and the quality of the portfolio and market conditions during the time period indicated and should not be considered to be representative of what may be achieved in the future.

 

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APPENDIX

Concise Summary of 2011 U.S. Proxy Voting Guidelines

Effective for Meetings on or after January 3, 2011

In order to provide greater analysis on certain shareholder meetings, the Advisor has elected to receive research reports for certain meetings, as indicated below, from Glass Lewis in addition to Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”).

Specifically, if available, the Advisor may obtain research from Glass Lewis in addition to ISS for shareholder meetings in the following circumstances: (1) where the Advisor’s clients have a significant aggregate holding in the issuer and the meeting agenda contains proxies concerning: Anti-takeover Defenses or Voting Related Issues, Mergers and Acquisitions or Reorganizations or Restructurings, Capital Structure Issues, Compensation Issues or a proxy contest; or (2) where the Advisor in its discretion, has deemed that additional research is warranted.

Where research is obtained from Glass Lewis in accordance with these Guidelines, the Advisor will first review the research reports obtained from ISS and Glass Lewis. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are the same, the Advisor will vote accordingly. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are inconsistent, the Advisor will vote in accordance with the ISS recommendation unless the Corporate Governance Committee determines that voting in accordance with the Glass Lewis recommendation is more consistent with the principle of preserving shareholder value.

Routine/Miscellaneous

Auditor Ratification

Vote FOR proposals to ratify auditors, unless any of the following apply:

   

An auditor has a financial interest in or association with the company, and is therefore not independent;

   

There is reason to believe that the independent auditor has rendered an opinion which is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position;

   

Poor accounting practices are identified that rise to a serious level of concern, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP; and material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures; or

   

Fees for non-audit services (“Other” fees) are excessive.

Non-audit fees are excessive if:

   

Non-audit (“other”) fees >audit fees + audit-related fees + tax compliance/preparation fees

Board of Directors

Voting on Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections

Votes on director nominees should be determined CASE-BY-CASE.

Four fundamental principles apply when determining votes on director nominees:

  1. Board Accountability
  2. Board Responsiveness
  3. Director Independence
  4.

Director Competence

 

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1. Board Accountability

VOTE WITHHOLD/AGAINST1 the entire board of directors (except new nominees2 , who should be considered CASE-BY-CASE), for the following:

Problematic Takeover Defenses:

  1.1. The board is classified, and a continuing director responsible for a problematic governance issue at the board/committee level that would warrant a withhold/against vote recommendation is not up for election — any or all appropriate nominees (except new) may be held accountable;

 

  1.2. The board lacks accountability and oversight, coupled with sustained poor performance relative to peers. Sustained poor performance is measured by one- and three-year total shareholder returns in the bottom half of a company’s four-digit GICS industry group (Russell 3000 companies only). Take into consideration the company’s five-year total shareholder return and five-year operational metrics. Problematic provisions include but are not limited to:
   

A classified board structure;

 

   

A supermajority vote requirement;

 

   

Majority vote standard for director elections with no carve out for contested elections;

 

   

The inability for shareholders to call special meetings;

 

   

The inability for shareholders to act by written consent;

 

   

A dual-class structure; and/or

 

   

A non-shareholder approved poison pill.

 

  1.3.

The company’s poison pill has a “dead-hand” or “modified dead-hand” feature. Vote withhold/against every year until this feature is removed;

  1.4.

The board adopts a poison pill with a term of more than 12 months (“long-term pill”), or renews any existing pill, including any “short-term” pill (12 months or less), without shareholder approval. A commitment or policy that puts a newly-adopted pill to a binding shareholder vote may potentially offset an adverse vote

 

 

1

In general, companies with a plurality vote standard use “Withhold” as the valid contrary vote option in director elections; companies with a majority vote standard use “Against”. However, it will vary by company and the proxy must be checked to determine the valid contrary vote option for the particular company.

 

2

A “new nominee” is any current nominee who has not already been elected by shareholders and who joined the board after the problematic action in question transpired. If ISS cannot determine whether the nominee joined the board before or after the problematic action transpired, the nominee will be considered a “new nominee” if he or she joined the board within the 12 months prior to the upcoming shareholder meeting.

 

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recommendation. Review such companies with classified boards every year, and such companies with annually-elected boards at least once every three years, and vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD votes from all nominees if the company still maintains a non-shareholder-approved poison pill. This policy applies to all companies adopting or renewing pills after the announcement of this policy (Nov 19, 2009);

  1.5. The board makes a material adverse change to an existing poison pill without shareholder approval.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on all nominees if:

  1.6. the board adopts a poison pill with a term of 12 months or less (“short-term pill”) without shareholder approval, taking into account the following factors:
   

The date of the pill‘s adoption relative to the date of the next meeting of shareholders- i.e. whether the company had time to put the pill on ballot for shareholder ratification given the circumstances;

   

The issuer‘s rationale;

   

The issuer’s governance structure and practices; and

   

The issuer’s track record of accountability to shareholders.

Problematic Audit-Related Practices

Generally, vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from the members of the Audit Committee if:

  1.7. The non-audit fees paid to the auditor are excessive (see discussion under “Auditor Ratification”);
  1.8. The company receives an adverse opinion on the company’s financial statements from its auditor; or
  1.9. There is persuasive evidence that the audit committee entered into an inappropriate indemnification agreement with its auditor that limits the ability of the company, or its shareholders, to pursue legitimate legal recourse against the audit firm.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on members of the Audit Committee and/or the full board if:

  1.10.         Poor accounting practices are identified that rise to a level of serious concern, such as: fraud; misapplication of GAAP; and material weaknesses identified in Section 404 disclosures. Examine the severity, breadth, chronological sequence and duration, as well as the company’s efforts at remediation or corrective actions, in determining whether WITHHOLD/AGAINST votes are warranted.

Problematic Compensation Practices

Vote WITHHOLD/AGAINST the members of the Compensation Committee and potentially the full board if:

  1.11.         There is a negative correlation between chief executive pay and company performance (see Pay for Performance Policy);
  1.12.         The company reprices underwater options for stock, cash, or other consideration without prior shareholder approval, even if allowed in the company’s equity plan;
  1.13.         The company fails to submit one-time transfers of stock options to a shareholder vote;

 

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  1.14.         The company fails to fulfill the terms of a burn rate commitment made to shareholders;
  1.15.         The company has problematic pay practices. Problematic pay practices may warrant withholding votes from the CEO and potentially the entire board as well.

Governance Failures

Under extraordinary circumstances, vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from directors individually, committee members, or the entire board, due to:

  1.16.         Material failures of governance, stewardship, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company;
  1.17.         Failure to replace management as appropriate; or
  1.18.         Egregious actions related to the director(s)’ service on other boards that raise substantial doubt about his or her ability to effectively oversee management and serve the best interests of shareholders at any company.

 

2. Board Responsiveness

Vote WITHHOLD/AGAINST the entire board of directors (except new nominees, who should be considered CASE-BY-CASE), if:

  2.1. The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received approval by a majority of the shares outstanding the previous year; or

 

  2.2. The board failed to act on a shareholder proposal that received approval of the majority of shares cast in the last year and one of the two previous years.

 

  2.3. The board failed to act on takeover offers where the majority of the shareholders tendered their shares; or

 

  2.4. At the previous board election, any director received more than 50 percent withhold/against votes of the shares cast and the company has failed to address the issue(s) that caused the high withhold/against vote.

 

3. Director Independence

Vote WITHHOLD/AGAINST Inside Directors and Affiliated Outside Directors (per the Categorization of Directors) when:

 

  3.1. The inside or affiliated outside director serves on any of the three key committees: audit, compensation, or nominating;

 

  3.2. The company lacks an audit, compensation, or nominating committee so that the full board functions as that committee;

 

  3.3. The company lacks a formal nominating committee, even if the board attests that the independent directors fulfill the functions of such a committee; or

 

  3.4. The full board is less than majority independent.

 

4. Director Competence

VOTE WITHHOLD/AGAINST the entire board of directors (except new nominees, who should be considered CASE-BY-CASE), if:

 

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  4.1. The company’s proxy indicates that not all directors attended 75 percent of the aggregate board and committee meetings, but fails to provide the required disclosure of the names of the director(s) involved.

Generally vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from individual directors who:

  4.2. Attend less than 75 percent of the board and committee meetings (with the exception of new nominees). Acceptable reasons for director(s) absences are generally limited to the following:
   

Medical issues/illness;

   

Family emergencies; and

   

If the director’s total service was three meetings or fewer and the director missed only one meeting.

These reasons for directors’ absences will only be considered by ISS if disclosed in the proxy or another SEC filing. If the disclosure is insufficient to determine whether a director attended at least 75 percent of board and committee meetings in aggregate, vote AGAINST/WITHHOLD from the director.

Vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from individual directors who:

  4.3. Sit on more than six public company boards3; or

 

  4.4. Are CEOs of public companies who sit on the boards of more than two public companies besides their own—withhold only at their outside boards.

Voting for Director Nominees in Contested Elections*

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on the election of directors in contested elections, considering the following factors:

   

Long-term financial performance of the target company relative to its industry;

   

Management’s track record;

   

Background to the proxy contest;

   

Qualifications of director nominees (both slates);

   

Strategic plan of dissident slate and quality of critique against management;

   

Likelihood that the proposed goals and objectives can be achieved (both slates);

   

Stock ownership positions.

Independent Chair (Separate Chair/CEO)

Generally vote FOR shareholder proposals requiring that the chairman’s position be filled by an independent director, unless the company satisfies all of the following criteria:

The company maintains the following counterbalancing governance structure:

   

Designated lead director, elected by and from the independent board members with clearly delineated and comprehensive duties. (The role may alternatively reside with a presiding director, vice chairman, or rotating lead director; however the director

 

 

 

3

Dimensional will screen votes otherwise subject to this policy based on the qualifications and circumstances of the directors involved.

* See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

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must serve a minimum of one year in order to qualify as a lead director.) The duties should include, but are not limited to, the following:

  - presides at all meetings of the board at which the chairman is not present, including executive sessions of the independent directors;

 

  - serves as liaison between the chairman and the independent directors;

 

  - approves information sent to the board;

 

  - approves meeting agendas for the board;

 

  - approves meeting schedules to assure that there is sufficient time for discussion of all agenda items;

 

  - has the authority to call meetings of the independent directors;

 

  - if requested by major shareholders, ensures that he is available for consultation and direct communication;

 

   

Two-thirds independent board;

   

All independent key committees;

   

Established governance guidelines;

   

A company in the Russell 3000 universe must not have exhibited sustained poor total shareholder return (TSR) performance, defined as one- and three-year TSR in the bottom half of the company’s four-digit GICS industry group (using Russell 3000 companies only), unless there has been a change in the Chairman/CEO position within that time. For companies not in the Russell 3000 universe, the company must not have underperformed both its peers and index on the basis of both one-year and three-year total shareholder returns, unless there has been a change in the Chairman/CEO position within that time;

   

The company does not have any problematic governance or management issues, examples of which include, but are not limited to:

  - Egregious compensation practices;

 

  - Multiple related-party transactions or other issues putting director independence at risk;

 

  - Corporate and/or management scandals;

 

  - Excessive problematic corporate governance provisions; or

 

  - Flagrant actions by management or the board with potential or realized negative impacts on shareholders.

Shareholder Rights & Defenses*

Net Operating Loss (NOL) Protective Amendments

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt a protective amendment for the stated purpose of protecting a company’s net operating losses (“NOLs”) if the effective term of the protective amendment would exceed the shorter of three years and the exhaustion of the NOL.

 

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Vote CASE-BY-CASE, considering the following factors, for management proposals to adopt an NOL protective amendment that would remain in effect for the shorter of three years (or less) and the exhaustion of the NOL:

   

The ownership threshold (NOL protective amendments generally prohibit stock ownership transfers that would result in a new 5-percent holder or increase the stock ownership percentage of an existing 5-percent holder);

   

The value of the NOLs;

   

Shareholder protection mechanisms (sunset provision or commitment to cause expiration of the protective amendment upon exhaustion or expiration of the NOL);

   

The company’s existing governance structure including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, track record of responsiveness to shareholders, and any other problematic governance concerns; and

   

Any other factors that may be applicable.

Poison Pills- Management Proposals to Ratify Poison Pill

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on management proposals on poison pill ratification, focusing on the features of the shareholder rights plan. Rights plans should contain the following attributes:

   

No lower than a 20% trigger, flip-in or flip-over;

   

A term of no more than three years;

   

No dead-hand, slow-hand, no-hand or similar feature that limits the ability of a future board to redeem the pill;

   

Shareholder redemption feature (qualifying offer clause); if the board refuses to redeem the pill 90 days after a qualifying offer is announced, 10 percent of the shares may call a special meeting or seek a written consent to vote on rescinding the pill.

In addition, the rationale for adopting the pill should be thoroughly explained by the company. In examining the request for the pill, take into consideration the company’s existing governance structure, including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, and any problematic governance concerns.

Poison Pills- Management Proposals toRatify a Pill to Preserve Net Operating Losses (NOLs)

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt a poison pill for the stated purpose of protecting a company’s net operating losses (“NOLs”) if the term of the pill would exceed the shorter of three years and the exhaustion of the NOL.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on management proposals for poison pill ratification, considering the following factors, if the term of the pill would be the shorter of three years (or less) and the exhaustion of the NOL:

   

The ownership threshold to transfer (NOL pills generally have a trigger slightly below 5 percent);

   

The value of the NOLs;

   

Shareholder protection mechanisms (sunset provision, or commitment to cause expiration of the pill upon exhaustion or expiration of NOLs);

   

The company’s existing governance structure including: board independence, existing takeover defenses, track record of responsiveness to shareholders, and any other problematic governance concerns; and

   

Any other factors that may be applicable.

 

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Shareholder Ability to Act by Written Consent

Generally vote AGAINST management and shareholder proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholders’ ability to act by written consent.

Generally vote FOR management and shareholder proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to act by written consent, taking into account the following factors:

   

Shareholders’ current right to act by written consent;

   

The consent threshold;

   

The inclusion of exclusionary or prohibitive language;

   

Investor ownership structure; and

   

Shareholder support of, and management’s response to, previous shareholder proposals.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals if, in addition to the considerations above, the company has the following governance and antitakeover provisions:

   

An unfettered4 right for shareholders to call special meetings at a 10 percent threshold;

   

A majority vote standard in uncontested director elections;

   

No non-shareholder-approved pill; and

   

An annually elected board.

Shareholder Ability to Call Special Meetings

Vote AGAINST management or shareholder proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholders’ ability to call special meetings.

Generally vote FOR management or shareholder proposals that provide shareholders with the ability to call special meetings taking into account the following factors:

   

Shareholders’ current right to call special meetings;

   

Minimum ownership threshold necessary to call special meetings (10% preferred);

   

The inclusion of exclusionary or prohibitive language;

   

Investor ownership structure; and

   

Shareholder support of, and management’s response to, previous shareholder proposals.

CAPITAL/RESTRUCTURING*

Common Stock Authorization

Vote FOR proposals to increase the number of authorized common shares where the primary purpose of the increase is to issue shares in connection with a transaction on the same ballot that warrants support.

 

 

4

“Unfettered” means no restrictions on agenda items, no restrictions on the number of shareholders who can group together to reach the 10 percent threshold, and only reasonable limits on when a meeting can be called: no greater than 30 days after the last annual meeting and no greater than 90 prior to the next annual meeting.

 

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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Vote AGAINST proposals at companies with more than one class of common stock to increase the number of authorized shares of the class of common stock that has superior voting rights.

Vote AGAINST proposals to increase the number of authorized common shares if a vote for a reverse stock split on the same ballot is warranted despite the fact that the authorized shares would not be reduced proportionally.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on all other proposals to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance. Take into account company-specific factors that include, at a minimum, the following:

   

Past Board Performance:

  o The company’s use of authorized shares during the last three years
   

The Current Request:

  o Disclosure in the proxy statement of the specific purposes of the proposed increase;
  o Disclosure in the proxy statement of specific and severe risks to shareholders of not approving the request; and
  o The dilutive impact of the request as determined by an allowable increase calculated by ISS (typically 100 percent of existing authorized shares) that reflects the company’s need for shares and total shareholder returns.

Preferred Stock Authorization

Vote FOR proposals to increase the number of authorized preferred shares where the primary purpose of the increase is to issue shares in connection with a transaction on the same ballot that warrants support.

Vote AGAINST proposals at companies with more than one class or series of preferred stock to increase the number of authorized shares of the class or series of preferred stock that has superior voting rights.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on all other proposals to increase the number of shares of preferred stock authorized for issuance. Take into account company-specific factors that include, at a minimum, the following:

   

Past Board Performance:

  o The company’s use of authorized preferred shares during the last three years;
   

The Current Request:

  o Disclosure in the proxy statement of the specific purposes for the proposed increase;
  o Disclosure in the proxy statement of specific and severe risks to shareholders of not approving the request;
  o In cases where the company has existing authorized preferred stock, the dilutive impact of the request as determined by an allowable increase calculated by ISS (typically 100 percent of existing authorized shares) that reflects the company’s need for shares and total shareholder returns; and
  o Whether the shares requested are blank check preferred shares that can be used for antitakeover purposes.

Mergers and Acquisitions

 

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Vote CASE –BY- CASE on mergers and acquisitions. Review and evaluate the merits and drawbacks of the proposed transaction, balancing various and sometimes countervailing factors including:

   

Valuation - Is the value to be received by the target shareholders (or paid by the acquirer) reasonable? While the fairness opinion may provide an initial starting point for assessing valuation reasonableness, emphasis is placed on the offer premium, market reaction and strategic rationale.

   

Market reaction - How has the market responded to the proposed deal? A negative market reaction should cause closer scrutiny of a deal.

   

Strategic rationale - Does the deal make sense strategically? From where is the value derived? Cost and revenue synergies should not be overly aggressive or optimistic, but reasonably achievable. Management should also have a favorable track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions.

   

Negotiations and process - Were the terms of the transaction negotiated at arm’s-length? Was the process fair and equitable? A fair process helps to ensure the best price for shareholders. Significant negotiation “wins” can also signify the deal makers’ competency. The comprehensiveness of the sales process (e.g., full auction, partial auction, no auction) can also affect shareholder value.

   

Conflicts of interest - Are insiders benefiting from the transaction disproportionately and inappropriately as compared to non-insider shareholders? As the result of potential conflicts, the directors and officers of the company may be more likely to vote to approve a merger than if they did not hold these interests. Consider whether these interests may have influenced these directors and officers to support or recommend the merger. The CIC figure presented in the “ISS Transaction Summary” section of this report is an aggregate figure that can in certain cases be a misleading indicator of the true value transfer from shareholders to insiders. Where such figure appears to be excessive, analyze the underlying assumptions to determine whether a potential conflict exists.

   

Governance - Will the combined company have a better or worse governance profile than the current governance profiles of the respective parties to the transaction? If the governance profile is to change for the worse, the burden is on the company to prove that other issues (such as valuation) outweigh any deterioration in governance.

COMPENSATION*

Executive Pay Evaluation

Underlying all evaluations are five global principles that most investors expect corporations to adhere to in designing and administering executive and director compensation programs:

 

  1. Maintain appropriate pay-for-performance alignment, with emphasis on long-term shareholder value: This principle encompasses overall executive pay practices,

 

 

 

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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which must be designed to attract, retain, and appropriately motivate the key employees who drive shareholder value creation over the long term. It will take into consideration, among other factors, the link between pay and performance; the mix between fixed and variable pay; performance goals; and equity-based plan costs;

  2. Avoid arrangements that risk “pay for failure”: This principle addresses the appropriateness of long or indefinite contracts, excessive severance packages, and guaranteed compensation;
  3. Maintain an independent and effective compensation committee: This principle promotes oversight of executive pay programs by directors with appropriate skills, knowledge, experience, and a sound process for compensation decision-making (e.g., including access to independent expertise and advice when needed);
  4. Provide shareholders with clear, comprehensive compensation disclosures: This principle underscores the importance of informative and timely disclosures that enable shareholders to evaluate executive pay practices fully and fairly;
  5. Avoid inappropriate pay to non-executive directors: This principle recognizes the interests of shareholders in ensuring that compensation to outside directors does not compromise their independence and ability to make appropriate judgments in overseeing managers’ pay and performance. At the market level, it may incorporate a variety of generally accepted best practices.

Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation- Management Proposals (Management Say-on-Pay)

Evaluate executive pay and practices, as well as certain aspects of outside director compensation CASE-BY-CASE.

Vote AGAINST management say on pay (MSOP) proposals, AGAINST/WITHHOLD on compensation committee members (or, in rare cases where the full board is deemed responsible, all directors including the CEO), and/or AGAINST an equity-based incentive plan proposal if:

 

   

There is a misalignment between CEO pay and company performance (pay for performance);

   

The company maintains problematic pay practices;

   

The board exhibits poor communication and responsiveness to shareholders.

Voting Alternatives

In general, the management say on pay (MSOP) ballot item is the primary focus of voting on executive pay practices—dissatisfaction with compensation practices can be expressed by voting against MSOP rather than withholding or voting against the compensation committee. However, if there is no MSOP on the ballot, then the negative vote will apply to members of the compensation committee. In addition, in egregious cases, or if the board fails to respond to concerns raised by a prior MSOP proposal, then vote withhold or against compensation committee members (or, if the full board is deemed accountable, all directors). If the negative factors involve equity-based compensation, then vote AGAINST an equity-based plan proposal presented for shareholder approval.

Additional CASE-BY-CASE considerations for the management say on pay (MSOP) proposals:

   

Evaluation of performance metrics in short-term and long-term plans, as discussed and explained in the Compensation Discussion & Analysis (CD&A). Consider the measures, goals, and target awards reported by the company for executives’ short- and long-term incentive awards: disclosure, explanation of their alignment with the

 

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company’s business strategy, and whether goals appear to be sufficiently challenging in relation to resulting payouts;

   

Evaluation of peer group benchmarking used to set target pay or award opportunities. Consider the rationale stated by the company for constituents in its pay benchmarking peer group, as well as the benchmark targets it uses to set or validate executives’ pay (e.g., median, 75th percentile, etc.,) to ascertain whether the benchmarking process is sound or may result in pay “ratcheting” due to inappropriate peer group constituents (e.g., much larger companies) or targeting (e.g., above median); and

   

Balance of performance-based versus non-performance-based pay. Consider the ratio of performance-based (not including plain vanilla stock options) vs. non-performance-based pay elements reported for the CEO’s latest reported fiscal year compensation, especially in conjunction with concerns about other factors such as performance metrics/goals, benchmarking practices, and pay-for-performance disconnects.

Primary Evaluation Factors for Executive Pay

Pay for Performance

Evaluate the alignment of the CEO’s pay with performance over time, focusing particularly on companies that have underperformed their peers over a sustained period. From a shareholders’ perspective, performance is predominantly gauged by the company’s stock performance over time. Even when financial or operational measures are utilized in incentive awards, the achievement related to these measures should ultimately translate into superior shareholder returns in the long-term.

Focus on companies with sustained underperformance relative to peers, considering the following key factors:

   

Whether a company’s one-year and three-year total shareholder returns (“TSR”) are in the bottom half of its industry group (i.e., four-digit GICS – Global Industry Classification Group); and

   

Whether the total compensation of a CEO who has served at least two consecutive fiscal years is aligned with the company’s total shareholder return over time, including both recent and long-term periods.

If a company falls in the bottom half of its four-digit GICS, further analysis of the CD&A is required to better understand the various pay elements and whether they create or reinforce shareholder alignment. Also assess the CEO’s pay relative to the company’s TSR over a time horizon of at least five years. The most recent year-over-year increase or decrease in pay remains a key consideration, but there will be additional emphasis on the long term trend of CEO total compensation relative to shareholder return. Also consider the mix of performance-based compensation relative to total compensation. In general, standard stock options or time-vested restricted stock are not considered to be performance-based. If a company provides performance-based incentives to its executives, the company is highly encouraged to provide the complete disclosure of the performance measure and goals (hurdle rate) so that shareholders can assess the rigor of the performance program. The use of non-GAAP financial metrics also makes it very challenging for shareholders to ascertain the rigor of the program as shareholders often

 

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cannot tell the type of adjustments being made and if the adjustments were made consistently. Complete and transparent disclosure helps shareholders to better understand the company’s pay for performance linkage.

Problematic Pay Practices

If the company maintains problematic pay practices, generally vote:

   

AGAINST management “say on pay” (MSOP) proposals;

   

AGAINST/WITHHOLD on compensation committee members (or in rare cases where the full board is deemed responsible, all directors including the CEO):

  o In egregious situations;
  o When no MSOP item is on the ballot; or
  o When the board has failed to respond to concerns raised in prior MSOP evaluations; and/or
   

AGAINST an equity incentive plan proposal if excessive non-performance-based equity awards are the major contributors to a pay-for-performance misalignment.

The focus is on executive compensation practices that contravene the global pay principles, including:

 

   

Problematic practices related to non-performance-based compensation elements;

   

Incentives that may motivate excessive risk-taking; and

   

Options Backdating.

Problematic Pay Practices related to Non-Performance-Based Compensation Elements

Pay elements that are not directly based on performance are generally evaluated CASE-BY-CASE considering the context of a company’s overall pay program and demonstrated pay-for-performance philosophy. Please refer to ISS’ Compensation FAQ document for detail on specific pay practices that have been identified as potentially problematic and may lead to negative recommendations if they are deemed to be inappropriate or unjustified relative to executive pay best practices. The list below highlights the problematic practices that carry significant weight in this overall consideration and may result in adverse vote recommendations:

   

Repricing or replacing of underwater stock options/SARS without prior shareholder approval (including cash buyouts and voluntary surrender of underwater options);

   

Excessive perquisites or tax gross-ups, including any gross-up related to a secular trust or restricted stock vesting;

   

New or extended agreements that provide for:

  o CIC payments exceeding 3 times base salary and average/target/most recent bonus;
  o CIC severance payments without involuntary job loss or substantial diminution of duties (“single” or “modified single” triggers);
  o CIC payments with excise tax gross-ups (including “modified” gross-ups).

Incentives that may Motivate Excessive Risk-Taking

 

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Assess company policies and disclosure related to compensation that could incentivize excessive risk-taking, for example:

   

Multi-year guaranteed bonuses;

   

A single performance metric used for short- and long-term plans;

   

Lucrative severance packages;

   

High pay opportunities relative to industry peers;

   

Disproportionate supplemental pensions; or

   

Mega annual equity grants that provide unlimited upside with no downside risk.

Factors that potentially mitigate the impact of risky incentives include rigorous claw-back provisions and robust stock ownership/holding guidelines.

Options Backdating

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on options backdating issues. Generally, when a company has recently practiced options backdating, WITHHOLD from or vote AGAINST the compensation committee, depending on the severity of the practices and the subsequent corrective actions on the part of the board. When deciding on votes on compensation committee members who oversaw questionable options grant practices or current compensation committee members who fail to respond to the issue proactively, consider several factors, including, but not limited to, the following:

   

Reason and motive for the options backdating issue, such as inadvertent vs. deliberate grant date changes;

   

Duration of options backdating;

   

Size of restatement due to options backdating;

   

Corrective actions taken by the board or compensation committee, such as canceling or re-pricing backdated options, the recouping of option gains on backdated grants; and

   

Adoption of a grant policy that prohibits backdating, and creates a fixed grant schedule or window period for equity grants in the future.

A CASE-BY-CASE analysis approach allows distinctions to be made between companies that had “sloppy” plan administration versus those that acted deliberately and/or committed fraud, as well as those companies that subsequently took corrective action. Cases where companies have committed fraud are considered most egregious.

Board Communications and Responsiveness

Consider the following factors CASE-BY-CASE when evaluating ballot items related to executive pay:

   

Poor disclosure practices, including:

  - Unclear explanation of how the CEO is involved in the pay setting process;
  - Retrospective performance targets and methodology not discussed;
  - Methodology for benchmarking practices and/or peer group not disclosed and explained.
   

Board’s responsiveness to investor input and engagement on compensation issues, for example:

  - Failure to respond to majority-supported shareholder proposals on executive pay topics; or

 

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  -

Failure to respond to concerns raised in connection with significant opposition to MSOP proposals.

Frequency of Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation (Management “Say on Pay”)

Vote FOR annual advisory votes on compensation, which provide the most consistent and clear communication channel for shareholder concerns about companies’ executive pay programs.

Voting on Golden Parachutes in an Acquisition, Merger, Consolidation, or Proposed Sale

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to approve the company’s golden parachute compensation, consistent with ISS’ policies on problematic pay practices related to severance packages. Features that may lead to a vote AGAINST include:

   

Recently adopted or materially amended agreements that include excise tax gross-up provisions (since prior annual meeting);

   

Recently adopted or materially amended agreements that include modified single triggers (since prior annual meeting);

   

Single trigger payments that will happen immediately upon a change in control, including cash payment and such items as the acceleration of performance-based equity despite the failure to achieve performance measures;

   

Single-trigger vesting of equity based on a definition of change in control that requires only shareholder approval of the transaction (rather than consummation);

   

Potentially excessive severance payments;

   

Recent amendments or other changes that may make packages so attractive as to influence merger agreements that may not be in the best interests of shareholders;

   

In the case of a substantial gross-up from pre-existing/grandfathered contract: the element that triggered the gross-up (i.e., option mega-grants at low point in stock price, unusual or outsized payments in cash or equity made or negotiated prior to the merger); or

   

The company’s assertion that a proposed transaction is conditioned on shareholder approval of the golden parachute advisory vote. ISS would view this as problematic from a corporate governance perspective.

In cases where the golden parachute vote is incorporated into a company’s separate advisory vote on compensation (“management “say on pay”), ISS will evaluate the “say on pay” proposal in accordance with these guidelines, which may give higher weight to that component of the overall evaluation.

Equity-Based and Other Incentive Plans

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on equity-based compensation plans. Vote AGAINST the equity plan if any of the following factors apply:

   

The total cost of the company’s equity plans is unreasonable;

   

The plan expressly permits the repricing of stock options/stock appreciate rights (SARs) without prior shareholder approval;

   

The CEO is a participant in the proposed equity-based compensation plan and there is a disconnect between CEO pay and the company’s performance where over 50 percent of the year-over-year increase is attributed to equity awards (see Pay-for-Performance);

 

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The company’s three year burn rate exceeds the greater of 2% or the mean plus one standard deviation of its industry group but no more than two percentage points (+/-) from the prior-year industry group cap;

   

Liberal Change of Control Definition: The plan provides for the acceleration of vesting of equity awards even though an actual change in control may not occur (e.g., upon shareholder approval of a transaction or the announcement of a tender offer); or

   

The plan is a vehicle for problematic pay practices.

Shareholder Proposals on Compensation

Golden Coffins/Executive Death Benefits

Generally vote FOR proposals calling companies to adopt a policy of obtaining shareholder approval for any future agreements and corporate policies that could oblige the company to make payments or awards following the death of a senior executive in the form of unearned salary or bonuses, accelerated vesting or the continuation in force of unvested equity grants, perquisites and other payments or awards made in lieu of compensation. This would not apply to any benefit programs or equity plan proposals that the broad-based employee population is eligible.

Hold Equity Past Retirement or for a Significant Period of Time

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals asking companies to adopt policies requiring senior executive officers to retain all or a significant portion of the shares acquired through compensation plans, either:

   

while employed and/or for two years following the termination of their employment ; or

   

for a substantial period following the lapse of all other vesting requirements for the award (“lock-up period”), with ratable release of a portion of the shares annually during the lock-up period.

The following factors will be taken into account:

   

Whether the company has any holding period, retention ratio, or officer ownership requirements in place. These should consist of:

  - Rigorous stock ownership guidelines;
  - A holding period requirement coupled with a significant long-term ownership requirement; or
  - A meaningful retention ratio;
   

Actual officer stock ownership and the degree to which it meets or exceeds the proponent’s suggested holding period/retention ratio or the company’s own stock ownership or retention requirements;

   

Post-termination holding requirement policies or any policies aimed at mitigating risk taking by senior executives;

   

Problematic pay practices, current and past, which may promote a short-term versus a long-term focus.

A rigorous stock ownership guideline should be at least 10x base salary for the CEO, with the multiple declining for other executives. A meaningful retention ratio should constitute at least 50 percent of the stock received from equity awards (on a net proceeds basis) held on a long-term

 

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basis, such as the executive’s tenure with the company or even a few years past the executive’s termination with the company.

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on shareholder proposals asking companies to adopt policies requiring Named Executive Officers to retain 75% of the shares acquired through compensation plans while employed and/or for two years following the termination of their employment, and to report to shareholders regarding this policy. The following factors will be taken into account:

   

Whether the company has any holding period, retention ratio, or officer ownership requirements in place. These should consist of:

  - Rigorous stock ownership guidelines, or

 

  - A holding period requirement coupled with a significant long-term ownership requirement, or

 

  - A meaningful retention ratio,

 

   

Actual officer stock ownership and the degree to which it meets or exceeds the proponent’s suggested holding period/retention ratio or the company’s own stock ownership or retention requirements.

   

Problematic pay practices, current and past, which may promote a short-term versus a long-term focus.

A rigorous stock ownership guideline should be at least 10x base salary for the CEO, with the multiple declining for other executives. A meaningful retention ratio should constitute at least 50 percent of the stock received from equity awards (on a net proceeds basis) held on a long-term basis, such as the executive’s tenure with the company or even a few years past the executive’s termination with the company.

Generally vote AGAINST shareholder proposals that mandate a minimum amount of stock that directors must own in order to qualify as a director or to remain on the board. While ISS favors stock ownership on the part of directors, the company should determine the appropriate ownership requirement.

Social/Environmental Issues

Overall Approach

Generally vote FOR the management’s recommendation on shareholder proposals involving social/environmental issues. When evaluating social and environmental shareholder proposals, Dimensional considers the most important factor to be whether adoption of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value.

 

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2011 International Proxy Voting Guidelines Summary

Effective for Meetings on or after January 3, 2011

In order to provide greater analysis on certain shareholder meetings, the Advisor has elected to receive research reports for certain meetings, as indicated below, from Glass Lewis in addition to Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc. (“ISS”).

Specifically, if available, the Advisor may obtain research from Glass Lewis in addition to ISS for shareholder meetings in the following circumstances: (1) where the Advisor’s clients have a significant aggregate holding in the issuer and the meeting agenda contains proxies concerning: Anti-takeover Defenses or Voting Related Issues, Mergers and Acquisitions or Reorganizations or Restructurings, Capital Structure Issues, Compensation Issues or a proxy contest; or (2) where the Advisor in its discretion, has deemed that additional research is warranted.

Where research is obtained from Glass Lewis in accordance with these Guidelines, the Advisor will first review the research reports obtained from ISS and Glass Lewis. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are the same, the Advisor will vote accordingly. If the recommendations contained in the research reports from ISS and Glass Lewis are inconsistent, the Advisor will vote in accordance with the ISS recommendation unless the Corporate Governance Committee determines that voting in accordance with the Glass Lewis recommendation is more consistent with the principle of preserving shareholder value.

 

1. Operational Items

Financial Results/Director and Auditor Reports

Vote FOR approval of financial statements and director and auditor reports, unless:

 

   

There are concerns about the accounts presented or audit procedures used; or

   

The company is not responsive to shareholder questions about specific items that should be publicly disclosed.

Appointment of Auditors and Auditor Fees

Vote FOR the (re)election of auditors and/or proposals authorizing the board to fix auditor fees, unless:

 

   

There are serious concerns about the procedures used by the auditor;

   

There is reason to believe that the auditor has rendered an opinion which is neither accurate nor indicative of the company’s financial position;

   

External auditors have previously served the company in an executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company;

   

Name of the proposed auditors has not been published;

   

The auditors are being changed without explanation; or

   

Fees for non-audit services exceed standard annual audit-related fees (only applies to companies on the MSCI EAFE index and/or listed on any country main index).

In circumstances where fees for non-audit services include fees related to significant one-time capital structure events (initial public offerings, bankruptcy emergencies, and spin-offs) and the company makes public disclosure of the amount and nature of those fees, which are an exception to the standard “non-audit fee” category, then such fees may be excluded from the non-audit fees considered in determining the ratio of non-audit to audit fees.

 

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For concerns related to the audit procedures, independence of auditors, and/or name of auditors, ISS may recommend AGAINST the auditor (re)election. For concerns related to fees paid to the auditors, ISS may recommend AGAINST remuneration of auditors if this is a separate voting item; otherwise ISS may recommend AGAINST the auditor election.

Appointment of Internal Statutory Auditors

Vote FOR the appointment or (re)election of statutory auditors, unless:

 

   

There are serious concerns about the statutory reports presented or the audit procedures used;

 

   

Questions exist concerning any of the statutory auditors being appointed; or

 

   

The auditors have previously served the company in an executive capacity or can otherwise be considered affiliated with the company.

Allocation of Income

Vote FOR approval of the allocation of income, unless:

 

   

The dividend payout ratio has been consistently below 30 percent without adequate explanation; or

   

The payout is excessive given the company’s financial position.

Amendments to Articles of Association

Vote amendments to the articles of association on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Change in Company Fiscal Term

Vote FOR resolutions to change a company’s fiscal term unless a company’s motivation for the change is to postpone its AGM.

Lower Disclosure Threshold for Stock Ownership

Vote AGAINST resolutions to lower the stock ownership disclosure threshold below 5 percent unless specific reasons exist to implement a lower threshold.

Amend Quorum Requirements

Vote proposals to amend quorum requirements for shareholder meetings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Transact Other Business

Vote AGAINST other business when it appears as a voting item.

 

2. Board of Directors

Director Elections

Vote FOR management nominees in the election of directors, unless:

 

   

Adequate disclosure has not been provided in a timely manner;

 

   

There are clear concerns over questionable finances or restatements;

 

   

There have been questionable transactions with conflicts of interest;

 

   

There are any records of abuses against minority shareholder interests; or

 

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The board fails to meet minimum corporate governance standards.

Vote FOR individual nominees unless there are specific concerns about the individual, such as criminal wrongdoing or breach of fiduciary responsibilities.

Vote AGAINST individual directors if repeated absences at board meetings have not been explained (in countries where this information is disclosed).

Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis for contested elections of directors, e.g. the election of shareholder nominees or the dismissal of incumbent directors, determining which directors are best suited to add value for shareholders. *

Vote FOR employee and/or labor representatives if they sit on either the audit or compensation committee and are required by law to be on those committees.* Vote AGAINST employee and/or labor representatives if they sit on either the audit or compensation committee, if they are not required to be on those committees. *

Under extraordinary circumstances, vote AGAINST or WITHHOLD from directors individually, on a committee, or the entire board, due to:

 

   

Material failures of governance, stewardship, or fiduciary responsibilities at the company; or

 

   

Failure to replace management as appropriate; or

 

   

Egregious actions related to the director(s)’ service on other boards that raise substantial doubt about his or her ability to effectively oversee management and serve the best interests of shareholders at any company.

[Please see the ISS International Classification of Directors.]

 

 

 

* See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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  ISS Classification of Directors - International Policy 2011

 

  Executive Director

   

Employee or executive of the company;

 

 

   

Any director who is classified as a non-executive, but receives salary, fees, bonus, and/or other benefits that are in line with the highest-paid executives of the company.

 

  Non-Independent Non-Executive Director (NED)

 

   

Any director who is attested by the board to be a non-independent NED;

 

 

   

Any director specifically designated as a representative of a significant shareholder of the company;

 

 

   

Any director who is also an employee or executive of a significant shareholder of the company;

 

 

   

Any director who is nominated by a dissenting significant shareholder, unless there is a clear lack of material[5] connection with the dissident, either currently or historically;

 

 

   

Beneficial owner (direct or indirect) of at least 10% of the company’s stock, either in economic terms or in voting rights (this may be aggregated if voting power is distributed among more than one member of a defined group, e.g., family members who beneficially own less than 10% individually, but collectively own more than 10%), unless market best practice dictates a lower ownership and/or disclosure threshold (and in other special market-specific circumstances);

 

 

   

Government representative;

 

 

   

Currently provides (or a relative[1] provides) professional services[2] to the company, to an affiliate of the company, or to an individual officer of the company or of one of its affiliates in excess of $10,000 per year;

 

 

   

Represents customer, supplier, creditor, banker, or other entity with which company maintains transactional/commercial relationship (unless company discloses information to apply a materiality test[3]);

 

 

   

Any director who has conflicting or cross-directorships with executive directors or the chairman of the company;

 

 

   

Relative[1] of a current employee of the company or its affiliates;

 

 

   

Relative[1] of a former executive of the company or its affiliates;

 

 

   

A new appointee elected other than by a formal process through the General Meeting (such as a contractual appointment by a substantial shareholder);

 

 

   

Founder/co-founder/member of founding family but not currently an employee;

 

 

   

Former executive (5 year cooling off period);

 

 

   

Years of service is generally not a determining factor unless it is recommended best practice in a market and/or in extreme circumstances, in which case it may be considered.[4]

 

 

   

Any additional relationship or principle considered to compromise independence under local corporate governance best practice guidance.

 

  Independent NED

 

   

No material[5] connection, either directly or indirectly, to the company (other than a board seat) or the dissenting significant shareholder.

 

  Employee Representative

 

   

Represents employees or employee shareholders of the company (classified as “employee representative” but considered a non-independent NED).

 

  Footnotes:

[1] “Relative” follows the definition of “immediate family members” which covers spouses, parents, children, stepparents, step-children, siblings, in-laws, and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of any director, nominee for director, executive officer, or significant shareholder of the company.

[2] Professional services can be characterized as advisory in nature and generally include the following: investment banking/financial advisory services; commercial banking (beyond deposit services); investment services; insurance services; accounting/audit services; consulting services; marketing services; and legal services. The case of participation in a banking syndicate by a non-lead bank should be considered a transaction (and hence subject to the associated materiality test) rather than a professional relationship.

[3] A business relationship may be material if the transaction value (of all outstanding transactions) entered into between the company and the company or organization with which the director is associated is equivalent to either 1 percent of the company’s turnover or 1 percent of the turnover of the company or organization with which the director is associated. OR, A business relationship may be material if the transaction value (of all outstanding financing operations) entered into between the company and the company or organization with which the director is associated is more than 10 percent of the company’s shareholder equity or the transaction value, (of all outstanding financing operations), compared to the company’s total assets, is more than 5 percent.

 

 

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[4] For example, in continental Europe, directors with a tenure exceeding 12 years will be considered non-independent. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, directors with a tenure exceeding nine years will be considered non-independent, unless the company provides sufficient and clear justification that the director is independent despite his long tenure.

[5] For purposes of ISS’ director independence classification, “material” will be defined as a standard of relationship financial, personal or otherwise that a reasonable person might conclude could potentially influence one’s objectivity in the boardroom in a manner that would have a meaningful impact on an individual’s ability to satisfy requisite fiduciary standards on behalf of shareholders

Contested Director Elections*

For contested elections of directors, e.g. the election of shareholder nominees or the dismissal of incumbent directors, ISS will make its recommendation on a case-by-case basis, determining which directors are best suited to add value for shareholders.

The analysis will generally be based on, but not limited to, the following major decision factors:

   

Company performance relative to its peers;

 

   

Strategy of the incumbents versus the dissidents;

 

   

Independence of directors/nominees;

 

   

Experience and skills of board candidates;

 

   

Governance profile of the company;

 

   

Evidence of management entrenchment;

 

   

Responsiveness to shareholders;

 

   

Whether a takeover offer has been rebuffed;

 

   

Whether minority or majority representation is being sought.

When analyzing a contested election of directors, ISS will generally focus on two central questions: (1) Have the dissidents proved that board change is warranted? And (2) if so, are the dissident board nominees likely to effect positive change (i.e., maximize long-term shareholder value).

Discharge of Directors

Generally vote FOR the discharge of directors, including members of the management board and/or supervisory board, unless there is reliable information about significant and compelling controversies that the board is not fulfilling its fiduciary duties warranted by:

 

•    A lack of oversight or actions by board members which invoke shareholder distrust related to malfeasance or poor supervision, such as operating in private or company interest rather than in shareholder interest; or

 

•    Any legal issues (e.g. civil/criminal) aiming to hold the board responsible for breach of trust in the past or related to currently alleged actions yet to be confirmed (and not only the fiscal year in question), such as price fixing, insider trading, bribery, fraud, and other illegal actions; or

 

•    Other egregious governance issues where shareholders will bring legal action against the company or its directors.

For markets which do not routinely request discharge resolutions (e.g. common law countries or markets where discharge is not mandatory), analysts may voice concern in other appropriate

 

 

 

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

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agenda items, such as approval of the annual accounts or other relevant resolutions, to enable shareholders to express discontent with the board.

Director, Officer, and Auditor Indemnification and Liability Provisions

Vote proposals seeking indemnification and liability protection for directors and officers on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote AGAINST proposals to indemnify external auditors.

Board Structure

Vote FOR proposals to fix board size.

Vote AGAINST the introduction of classified boards and mandatory retirement ages for directors.

Vote AGAINST proposals to alter board structure or size in the context of a fight for control of the company or the board.

 

3. Capital Structure*

Share Issuance Requests

General Issuances

Vote FOR issuance requests with preemptive rights to a maximum of 100 percent over currently issued capital.

Vote FOR issuance requests without preemptive rights to a maximum of 20 percent of currently issued capital.

Specific Issuances

Vote on a CASE-BY-CASE basis on all requests, with or without preemptive rights.

Increases in Authorized Capital

Vote FOR non-specific proposals to increase authorized capital up to 100 percent over the current authorization unless the increase would leave the company with less than 30 percent of its new authorization outstanding.

Vote FOR specific proposals to increase authorized capital to any amount, unless:

   

The specific purpose of the increase (such as a share-based acquisition or merger) does not meet ISS guidelines for the purpose being proposed; or

 

   

The increase would leave the company with less than 30 percent of its new authorization outstanding after adjusting for all proposed issuances.

Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt unlimited capital authorizations.

Reduction of Capital

Vote FOR proposals to reduce capital for routine accounting purposes unless the terms are unfavorable to shareholders.

 

 

 

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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Vote proposals to reduce capital in connection with corporate restructuring on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Capital Structures

Vote FOR resolutions that seek to maintain or convert to a one-share, one-vote capital structure.

Vote AGAINST requests for the creation or continuation of dual-class capital structures or the creation of new or additional super voting shares.

Preferred Stock

Vote FOR the creation of a new class of preferred stock or for issuances of preferred stock up to 50 percent of issued capital unless the terms of the preferred stock would adversely affect the rights of existing shareholders.

Vote FOR the creation/issuance of convertible preferred stock as long as the maximum number of common shares that could be issued upon conversion meets ISS guidelines on equity issuance requests.

Vote AGAINST the creation of a new class of preference shares that would carry superior voting rights to the common shares.

Vote AGAINST the creation of blank check preferred stock unless the board clearly states that the authorization will not be used to thwart a takeover bid.

Vote proposals to increase blank check preferred authorizations on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Debt Issuance Requests

Vote non-convertible debt issuance requests on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, with or without preemptive rights.

Vote FOR the creation/issuance of convertible debt instruments as long as the maximum number of common shares that could be issued upon conversion meets ISS guidelines on equity issuance requests.

Vote FOR proposals to restructure existing debt arrangements unless the terms of the restructuring would adversely affect the rights of shareholders.

Pledging of Assets for Debt

Vote proposals to approve the pledging of assets for debt on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Increase in Borrowing Powers

Vote proposals to approve increases in a company’s borrowing powers on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Share Repurchase Plans

Generally vote FOR market repurchase authorities (share repurchase programs) if the terms comply with the following criteria:

 

   

A repurchase limit of up to 10 percent of outstanding issued share capital (15 percent in UK/Ireland);

 

   

A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company’s issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and

 

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A duration of no more than 5 years, or such lower threshold as may be set by applicable law, regulation or code of governance best practice.

Authorities to repurchase shares in excess of the 10 percent repurchase limit will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. ISS may support such share repurchase authorities under special circumstances, which are required to be publicly disclosed by the company, provided that, on balance, the proposal is in shareholders’ interests. In such cases, the authority must comply with the following criteria:

 

   

A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company’s issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and

 

   

A duration of no more than 18 months.

In markets where it is normal practice not to provide a repurchase limit, ISS will evaluate the proposal based on the company’s historical practice. However, ISS expects companies to disclose such limits and, in the future, may recommend a vote against companies that fail to do so. In such cases, the authority must comply with the following criteria:

 

   

A holding limit of up to 10 percent of a company’s issued share capital in treasury (“on the shelf”); and

 

   

A duration of no more than 18 months.

In addition, ISS will recommend AGAINST any proposal where:

 

   

The repurchase can be used for takeover defenses;

 

   

There is clear evidence of abuse;

 

   

There is no safeguard against selective buybacks; and/or

 

   

Pricing provisions and safeguards are deemed to be unreasonable in light of market practice.

Reissuance of Repurchased Shares

Vote FOR requests to reissue any repurchased shares unless there is clear evidence of abuse of this authority in the past.

Capitalization of Reserves for Bonus Issues/Increase in Par Value

Vote FOR requests to capitalize reserves for bonus issues of shares or to increase par value.

 

4.Other Items

Reorganizations/Restructurings*

Vote reorganizations and restructurings on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Mergers and Acquisitions*

Vote CASE-BY-CASE on mergers and acquisitions taking into account the following:

 

 

*

See introductory information concerning proxies involving this issue and the supplementary actions the Advisor may take.

 

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For every M&A analysis, ISS reviews publicly available information as of the date of the report and evaluates the merits and drawbacks of the proposed transaction, balancing various and sometimes countervailing factors including:

 

   

Valuation - Is the value to be received by the target shareholders (or paid by the acquirer) reasonable? While the fairness opinion may provide an initial starting point for assessing valuation reasonableness, ISS places emphasis on the offer premium, market reaction, and strategic rationale.

 

   

Market reaction - How has the market responded to the proposed deal? A negative market reaction will cause ISS to scrutinize a deal more closely.

 

   

Strategic rationale - Does the deal make sense strategically? From where is the value derived? Cost and revenue synergies should not be overly aggressive or optimistic, but reasonably achievable. Management should also have a favourable track record of successful integration of historical acquisitions.

 

   

Conflicts of interest - Are insiders benefiting from the transaction disproportionately and inappropriately as compared to non-insider shareholders? ISS will consider whether any special interests may have influenced these directors and officers to support or recommend the merger.

 

   

Governance - Will the combined company have a better or worse governance profile than the current governance profiles of the respective parties to the transaction? If the governance profile is to change for the worse, the burden is on the company to prove that other issues (such as valuation) outweigh any deterioration in governance.

Vote AGAINST if the companies do not provide sufficient information upon request to make an informed voting decision.

Mandatory Takeover Bid Waivers*

Vote proposals to waive mandatory takeover bid requirements on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Reincorporation Proposals

Vote reincorporation proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Expansion of Business Activities

Vote FOR resolutions to expand business activities unless the new business takes the company into risky areas.

Related-Party Transactions

In evaluating resolutions that seek shareholder approval on related party transactions (RPTs), vote on a case-by-case basis, considering factors including, but not limited to, the following:

 

   

the parties on either side of the transaction;

 

   

the nature of the asset to be transferred/service to be provided;

 

   

the pricing of the transaction (and any associated professional valuation);

 

   

the views of independent directors (where provided);

 

   

the views of an independent financial adviser (where appointed);

 

   

whether any entities party to the transaction (including advisers) is conflicted; and

 

   

the stated rationale for the transaction, including discussions of timing.

 

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If there is a transaction that ISS deemed problematic and that was not put to a shareholder vote, ISS may recommend against the election of the director involved in the related-party transaction or the full board.

Antitakeover Mechanisms

Generally vote AGAINST all antitakeover proposals, unless they are structured in such a way that they give shareholders the ultimate decision on any proposal or offer.

Shareholder Proposals

Vote all shareholder proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.

Vote FOR proposals that would improve the company’s corporate governance or business profile at a reasonable cost.

Vote AGAINST proposals that limit the company’s business activities or capabilities or result in significant costs being incurred with little or no benefit.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Issues

Generally vote FOR the management’s recommendation on shareholder proposals involving CSR Issues. When evaluating social and environmental shareholder proposals, Dimensional considers the most important factor to be whether adoption of the proposal is likely to enhance or protect shareholder value.

 

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DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC. (125/126)

PART C

OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 28. EXHIBITS.

 

  (a) Articles of Incorporation.
  (1) Articles of Amendment and Restatement filed with the Maryland State Secretary of State on July 9, 2009 re: the revision of Articles One through Nine of its Charter
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 115/116 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: December 14, 2009.

 

  (2) Articles Supplementary filed with the Maryland State Secretary of State on July 14, 2010 re: the allocation and classification of shares.
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 119/120 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: August 16, 2010.

 

  (b) By-Laws.
       Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.

 

  (c) Instruments Defining the Rights of Security holders.
  (1) See Articles Fifth of the Registrant’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement dated July 9, 2009.

 

  (2) See Article II of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated By-Laws.

 

  (d) Investment Advisory Agreement.
  (1) Investment Management Agreements.
  (a) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc. (“DFA”) dated May 13, 1987, amended and restated February 28, 2010 re: the:
  * DFA Short-Term Government Portfolio (formerly the DFA Five- Year Government Portfolio)
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 124/125 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: December 30, 2010.

 

  (b) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA dated April 26, 1994, amended October 18, 1996 re: the:
  * VA Global Bond Portfolio (formerly the DFA Global Fixed Income Portfolio and the DFA Global Bond Portfolio)
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 48/49 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.


Table of Contents
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: March 20, 1998.

 

  (c) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA dated September 24, 1990 re: the:
  * DFA Intermediate Government Fixed Income Portfolio (formerly the DFA Intermediate Government Bond Portfolio)
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 48/49 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: March 20, 1998.

 

  (d) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA dated April 2, 1991 re: the:
  * Large Cap International Portfolio
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 50/51 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 22, 1999.

 

  (e) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA dated September 21, 1992, amended December 20, 1996
  * DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 70/71 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: March 29, 2004.

 

  (f) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA dated December 20, 1994 re: the:
  * DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 50/51 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 22, 1999.

 

  (g) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA dated September 8, 1995 re: the:
  * VA U.S. Large Value Portfolio (formerly known as the VA Large Value Portfolio and DFA Global Value Portfolio)
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 50/51 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 22, 1999.

 

  (h) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA dated September 8, 1995 re: the:
  * VA U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio (formerly known as the VA Small Value Portfolio)
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 50/51 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.


Table of Contents
  Filing Date: January 22, 1999.

 

  (i) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA dated September 8, 1995 re: the:
  * VA International Value Portfolio
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 50/51 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 22, 1999.

 

  (j) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA dated September 8, 1995 re: the:
  * VA International Small Portfolio
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 50/51 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 22, 1999.

 

  (k) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA dated September 8, 1995 re: the:
  * VA Short-Term Fixed Portfolio
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 50/51 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 22, 1999.

 

  (l) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA dated August 8, 1996 re: the:
  * International Small Company Portfolio
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 50/51 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 22, 1999.

 

  (m) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA dated December 7, 1998 re: the:
  * Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio (formerly Tax-Managed U.S. 5-10 Value Portfolio);
  * Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio (formerly Tax-Managed U.S. 6-10 Small Company Portfolio); and
  * Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 50/51 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 22, 1999.

 

  (1) Addendum Number One re: the reflection of the following name changes:
  * Tax-Managed U.S. 5-10 Value Portfolio to the Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio
  * Tax-Managed U.S. 6-10 Small Company Portfolio to the Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio
  Incorporated herein by reference to:


Table of Contents
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 70/71 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.:                  2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date:                 March 29, 2004.

 

  (2) Addendum Number Two re: the reflection of the following name changes:
  * Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio to the Tax-Managed U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 88/89 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.:                  2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date:                 March 30, 2007.

 

  (n) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA dated July 30, 2002 re: the:
  * DFA Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 66/67 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: July 30, 2002.

 

  (o) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 73/74 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 14, 2005.

 

  (p) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA dated September 13, 2005 re: the:
  * U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 77/78 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: September 13, 2005.

 

  (q) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA dated September 13, 2005 re: the:
  * U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 77/78 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: September 13, 2005.

 

  (r) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA dated September 13, 2005 re: the:
  * International Core Equity Portfolio
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 77/78 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.


Table of Contents
  Filing Date: September 13, 2005.

 

  (s) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA dated September 13, 2005 re: the:
  * U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 77/78 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: September 13, 2005.

 

  (t) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA dated August 7, 2006 re: the:
  * Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 82/83 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: August 4, 2006.

 

  (u) Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA dated September 12, 2006 re: the:
  * DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 83/84 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: September 12, 2006.

 

  (v) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 85/86 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: December 5, 2006.

 

  (w) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 86/87 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 12, 2007.

 

  (x) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 86/87 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 12, 2007.

 

  (y) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:


Table of Contents
  * U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 88/89 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: March 30, 2007.

 

  (z) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 89/90 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: April 24, 2007.

 

  (aa) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * CSTG&E U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 90/91 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: May 8, 2007.

 

  (bb) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * CSTG&E International Social Core Equity Portfolio
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 90/91 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: May 8, 2007.

 

  (cc) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 99/100 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 10, 2008.

 

  (dd) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 99/100 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 10, 2008.

 

  (ee) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio
       Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 96/97 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.


Table of Contents
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date:  October 17, 2007.

 

  (ff) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 97/98 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: December 13, 2007.

 

  (gg) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 100/101 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 8, 2008.

 

  (hh) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * DFA International Value Ex Tobacco Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 105/106 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: April 9, 2008.

 

  (ii) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * International Vector Equity Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 107/108 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: May 9, 2008.

 

  (jj) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.

 

  (kk) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * U.S. Small Cap Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.


Table of Contents
  (ll) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.

 

  (mm) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.

 

  (nn) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.

 

  (oo) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.

 

  (pp) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.

 

  (qq) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.

 

  (rr) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * Continental Small Company Portfolio


Table of Contents
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.

 

  (ss) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * Emerging Markets Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.

 

  (tt) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * Emerging Markets Value Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.

 

  (uu) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * Japanese Small Company Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.

 

  (vv) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * LWAS/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.

 

  (ww) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.

 

  (xx) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portoflio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.


Table of Contents
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.

 

  (yy) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.

 

  (zz) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * U.S. Large Company Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.

 

  (aaa) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.

 

  (bbb) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.

 

  (ccc) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * World ex U.S. Value Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 118/119 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: June 1, 2010.

 

  (ddd) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 120/121 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: August 16, 2010.

 

  (eee) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:


Table of Contents
  * DFA California Intermediate-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 123/124 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: December 15, 2010.

 

  (fff) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re: the:
  * DFA Investment Grade Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 123/124 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: December 15, 2010.

 

  (2) Sub-advisory Agreements.
  (a) Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and DFA Australia Ltd. (formerly DFA Australia Pty Limited) dated September 21, 1995 re: the:
  * VA International Small Portfolio.
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 37/38 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: November 22, 1995.

 

  (1) Amendment No. 1 to Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and DFA Australia Ltd. (formerly DFA Australia Pty Limited) dated July 18, 1997
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 78/79 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: March 30, 2006.

 

  (b) Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. dated September 21, 1995 re: the:
  * VA International Small Portfolio.
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 37/38 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: November 22, 1995.

 

  (c) Form of Consultant Services Agreement between DFA and DFA Australia Ltd. (formerly DFA Australia Pty Limited)
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 55/56 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: September 13, 1999.

 

  (d) Form of Consultant Services Agreement between DFA and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd.
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 55/56 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.


Table of Contents
  Filing Date: September 13, 1999.

 

  (e) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. re: the:
  * International Core Equity Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 77/78 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: September 13, 2005.

 

  (f) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and DFA Australia Ltd. re: the:
  * International Core Equity Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 77/78 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: September 13, 2005.

 

  (g) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. dated August 7, 2006 re: the:
  * Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 82/83 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: August 4, 2006.

 

  (h) Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and DFA Australia Ltd. dated August 7, 2006 re: the:
  * Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 82/83 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: August 4, 2006.

 

  (i) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. re: the:
  * DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 85/86 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: December 5, 2006.

 

  (j) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and DFA Australia Ltd. re: the:
  * DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 85/86 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: December 5, 2006.

 

  (k) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. re: the:


Table of Contents
  * CSTG&E International Social Core Equity Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 90/91 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.:  2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: May 8, 2007.

 

  (l) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and DFA Australia Ltd. re: the:
  * CSTG&E International Social Core Equity Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 90/91 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.:  2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: May 8, 2007.

 

  (m) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. re: the:
  * International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 96/97 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.:  2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: October 17, 2007.

 

  (n) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and DFA Australia Ltd. re: the:
  * International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 96/97 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.:  2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: October 17, 2007.

 

  (o) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. re: the:
  * DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 96/97 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: October 17, 2007.

 

  (p) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and DFA Australia Ltd. re: the:
  * DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 96/97 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: October 17, 2007.

 

  (q) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. re: the:
  * T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 101/102 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.


Table of Contents
  File Nos.:  2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 26, 2008.

 

  (r) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and DFA Australia Ltd. re: the:
  * T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 101/102 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.:  2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 26, 2008.

 

  (s) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. re: the:
  * DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 108/109 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: June 23, 2008.

 

  (t) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and DFA Australia Ltd. re: the:
  * DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 108/109 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: June 23, 2008.

 

  (u) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. re: the:
  * International Vector Equity Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 109/110 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: July 23, 2008.

 

  (v) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and DFA Australia Ltd. re: the:
  * International Vector Equity Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 109/110 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: July 23, 2008.

 

  (w) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. re: the:
  * DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 114/115 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 27, 2009.


Table of Contents
  (x) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and DFA Australia Ltd. re: the:
  * DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 114/115 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 27, 2009.

 

  (y) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and Dimensional Fund Advisors, Ltd. re: the:
  * DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.

 

  (z) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and DFA Australia, Ltd. re: the:
  * DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.

 

  (aa) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and Dimensional Fund Advisors, Ltd. re: the:
  * DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.

 

  (bb) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and DFA Australia, Ltd. re: the:
  * DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.

 

  (cc) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and Dimensional Fund Advisors, Ltd. re: the:
  * DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.

 

  (dd) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and DFA Australia, Ltd. re: the:
  * DFA International Small Cap Value Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:


Table of Contents
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.

 

  (ee) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and Dimensional Fund Advisors, Ltd. re: the:
  * Large Cap International Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.

 

  (ff) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and DFA Australia, Ltd. re: the:
  * Large Cap International Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.

 

  (gg) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and Dimensional Fund Advisors, Ltd. re: the:
  * Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.

 

  (hh) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and DFA Australia, Ltd. re: the:
  * Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.

 

  (ii) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and Dimensional Fund Advisors, Ltd. re: the:
  * Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.

 

  (jj) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and DFA Australia, Ltd. re: the:
  * Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.


Table of Contents
  (kk) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and Dimensional Fund Advisors, Ltd. re: the:
  * World ex U.S. Value Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 118/119 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: June 1, 2010.

 

  (ll) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and DFA Australia, Ltd. re: the:
  * World ex U.S. Value Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 118/119 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: June 1, 2010.

 

  (mm) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and Dimensional Fund Advisors, Ltd. re: the:
  * DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 120/121 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: August 16, 2010.

 

  (nn) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and DFA Australia, Ltd. re: the:
  * DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 120/121 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: August 16, 2010.

 

  (oo) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and Dimensional Fund Advisors, Ltd. re: the:
  * DFA Investment Grade Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 123/124 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: December 15, 2010.

 

  (pp) Form of Sub-Advisory Agreement between the Registrant, DFA and DFA Australia, Ltd. re: the:
  * DFA Investment Grade Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 123/124 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: December 15, 2010.

 

  (e) Underwriting Contracts.
  (1) Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement between the Registrant and DFA Securities Inc. dated December 19, 2003.


Table of Contents
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 70/71 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: March 29, 2004.

 

  (f) Bonus or Profit Sharing Plans.
    Not Applicable.

 

  (g) Custodian Agreements.
  (1) Custodian Agreement between the Registrant and PNC Bank, N.A. (formerly Provident National Bank) dated June 19, 1989 re: the:
  * Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio;
  * DFA Two-Year Corporate Fixed Income Portfolio; and
  * DFA Two-Year Government Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 48/49 to Registration Statement of the Registrant on form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: March 20, 1998.

 

  (2) Custodian Agreement between the Registrant and PNC Bank, N.A. (formerly Provident National Bank) re: the:
  * U.S. 9-10 Small Company Portfolio;
  * U.S. Large Company Portfolio;
  * DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio;
  * DFA Intermediate Government Fixed Income Portfolio (formerly known as the DFA Intermediate Government Bond Portfolio; and
  * DFA Five-Year Government Portfolio

 

    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 114/115 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 27, 2009.

 

  (a) Addendum Number One re: the addition of:
  * Tax-Managed U.S. 5-10 Portfolio
  * Tax-Managed U.S. 6-10 Small Company Portfolio
  * Tax-Managed International Value Portfolio
  * Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 50/51 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 22, 1999.

 

  (b) Addendum Number Two re: the addition of:
  * Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio X;
  * Tax-Managed U.S. 5-10 Value Portfolio X;
  * Tax-Managed U.S. 6-10 Small Company Portfolio X; and
  * Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio X
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 70/71 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: March 29, 2004.

 

  (c) Addendum Number Three re: the addition of:


Table of Contents
  * LD U.S. Large Company Portfolio;
  * HD U.S. Large Company Portfolio;
  * LD U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio; and
  * HD U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 70/71 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: March 29, 2004.

 

  (d) Addendum Number Four re: the reflection of the following name change:
  * RWB/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio to the AAM/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 59/60 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 26, 2001.

 

  (e) Addendum Number Five re: the reflection of the following name changes:
  * U.S. 9-10 Small Company Portfolio to U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio
  * U.S. 6-10 Small Company Portfolio to U.S. Small Cap Portfolio
  * U.S. 4-10 Value Portfolio to U.S. Small XM Value Portfolio
  * U.S. 6-10 Value Portfolio to U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio
  * Tax-Managed U.S. 6-10 Small Company Portfolio to Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio
  * Tax-Managed U.S. 5-10 Value Portfolio to Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 70/71 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: March 29, 2004.

 

  (f) Addendum Number Six re: the addition of the:
  * Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Portfolio; and the reflection of the following name changes:
  * LD U.S. Large Company Portfolio to LD U.S. Marketwide Portfolio
  * HD U.S. Large Company Portfolio to HD U.S. Marketwide Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 63/64 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: September 7, 2001.

 

  (g) Addendum Number Seven re: the reflection of the following name change:
  * Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Portfolio to Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 66/67 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: July 30, 2002.

 

  (h) Addendum Number Eight re: the addition of the:
  * DFA Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:


Table of Contents
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 66/67 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: July 30, 2002.

 

  (i) Form of Addendum Number Nine re: the addition of the:
  * Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 75/76 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: March 30, 2005.

 

  (j) Addendum Number Ten re: the addition of the:
  * U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio;
  * U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio;
  * U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio;
  * International Core Equity Portfolio;
    and the reflection of the following name changes:
  * The Pacific Rim Small Company Portfolio to the Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 77/78 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: September 13, 2005.

 

  (3) Custodial Services Agreement between the Registrant and Citibank, N.A. dated as of January 13, 1998.
    ELECTRONICALLY FILED HEREWITH AS EXHIBIT 28.g.3

 

  (h) Other Material Contracts.
  (1) Transfer Agency Agreement.
    Transfer Agency Agreement between the Registrant and PFPC Inc. (formerly Provident Financial Processing Corporation) dated June 19, 1989.
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 48/49 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: March 20, 1998.

 

  (a) Addendum Number One
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 50/51 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 22, 1999.

 

  (b) Addendum Number Two re: the addition of:
  * Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio X;
  * Tax-Managed U.S. 5-10 Value Portfolio X;
  * Tax-Managed U.S. 6-10 Small Company Portfolio X; and
  * Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio X
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 70/71 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: March 29, 2004.


Table of Contents
  (c) Addendum Number Three re: the addition of:
  * LD U.S. Large Company Portfolio;
  * HD U.S. Large Company Portfolio;
  * LD U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio; and
  * HD U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 70/71 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: March 29, 2004.
 
  (d) Addendum Number Four re: the reflection of the following name change:
  * RWB/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio to the AAM/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 59/60 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 26, 2001.

 

  (e) Addendum Number Five re: the reflection of the following name changes:
  * U.S. 9-10 Small Company Portfolio to U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio
  * U.S. 6-10 Small Company Portfolio to U.S. Small Cap Portfolio
  * U.S. 4-10 Value Portfolio to U.S. Small XM Value Portfolio
  * U.S. 6-10 Value Portfolio to U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio
  * Tax-Managed U.S. 6-10 Small Company Portfolio to Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio
  * Tax-Managed U.S. 5-10 Value Portfolio to Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 70/71 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: March 29, 2004.

 

  (f) Addendum Number Six re: the establishment of procedures for the provision of pricing information to Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations Company, Inc.
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 63/64 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: September 7, 2001.

 

  (g) Addendum Number Seven re: the addition of the:
  * Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Portfolio and the reflection of the following name changes:
  * LD U.S. Large Company Portfolio to LD U.S. Marketwide Portfolio
  * HD U.S. Large Company Portfolio to HD U.S. Marketwide Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 63/64 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: September 7, 2001.

 

  (h) Addendum Number Eight re: the reflection of the following name change:
  * Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Portfolio to Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio


Table of Contents
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 66/67 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: July 30, 2002.

 

  (i) Addendum Number Nine re: the addition of the:
  * DFA Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 66/67 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: July 30, 2002.

 

  (j) Form of Addendum Number Ten re: the addition of the:
  * Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 75/76 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: March 30, 2005.

 

  (k) Addendum Number Eleven re: the addition of the:
  * U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio;
  * U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio;
  * U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio;
  * International Core Equity Portfolio;
    and the reflection of the following name changes:
  * The Pacific Rim Small Company Portfolio to the Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 77/78 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: September 13, 2005.

 

  (l) Form of Addendum Number Fourteen re: the addition of the:
  * Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 82/83 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: August 4, 2006.

 

  (2) Administration and Accounting Agreement
    Administration and Accounting Services Agreement between the Registrant and Provident Financial Processing Corporation (“PFPC”) dated June 19, 1989.
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 48/49 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: March 20, 1998.

 

  (a) Addendum Number One
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 50/51 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.


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  Filing Date: January 22, 1999.

 

  (b) Addendum Number Two re: the addition of:
  * Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio X;
  * Tax-Managed U.S. 5-10 Value Portfolio X;
  * Tax-Managed U.S. 6-10 Small Company Portfolio X; and
  * Tax-Managed DFA International Value Portfolio X
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 70/71 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: March 29, 2004.

 

  (c) Addendum Number Three re: the addition of:
  * LD U.S. Large Company Portfolio;
  * HD U.S. Large Company Portfolio;
  * LD U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio; and
  * HD U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 70/71 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: March 29, 2004.

 

  (d) Addendum Number Four re: the reflection of the following name change:
  * RWB/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio to the AAM/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 59/60 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 26, 2001.

 

  (e) Addendum Number Five re: the reflection of the following name changes:
  * U.S. 9-10 Small Company Portfolio to U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio
  * U.S. 6-10 Small Company Portfolio to U.S. Small Cap Portfolio
  * U.S. 4-10 Value Portfolio to U.S. Small XM Value Portfolio
  * U.S. 6-10 Value Portfolio to U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio
  * Tax-Managed U.S. 6-10 Small Company Portfolio to Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Portfolio
  * Tax-Managed U.S. 5-10 Value Portfolio to Tax-Managed U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 70/71 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: March 29, 2004.

 

  (f) Addendum Number Six re: the establishment of procedures for the provision of pricing information to Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations Company, Inc.
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 63/64 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: September 7, 2001.

 

  (g) Addendum Number Seven re: the addition of the:


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  * Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Portfolio
    and the reflection of the following name changes:
  * LD U.S. Large Company Portfolio to LD U.S. Marketwide Portfolio
  * HD U.S. Large Company Portfolio to HD U.S. Marketwide Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 63/64 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: September 7, 2001.

 

  (h) Addendum Number Eight re: the reflection of the following name change:
  * Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Portfolio to Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 66/67 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: July 30, 2002.

 

  (i) Addendum Number Nine re: the addition of the:
  * DFA Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 66/67 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: July 30, 2002.

 

  (j) Form of Addendum Number Ten re: the addition of the:
  * Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 75/76 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: March 30, 2005.

 

  (k) Addendum Number Eleven re: the addition of the:
  * U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio;
  * U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio;
  * U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio;
  * International Core Equity Portfolio;
    and the reflection of the following name changes:
  * The Pacific Rim Small Company Portfolio to the Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 77/78 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: September 13, 2005.

 

  (l) Form of Addendum Number Seventeen re: the addition of the:
  * Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 82/83 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: August 4, 2006.

 

  (3) Administration Agreements.


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    Administration Agreements between the Registrant and DFA.
  (a) Dated January 6, 1993 re: the
  * DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio (formerly The DFA Fixed Income Shares)
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 50/51 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 22, 1999

 

  (b) Dated August 8, 1996 re: the:
  * Japanese Small Company Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 50/51 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 22, 1999.

 

  (c) Dated August 8, 1996 re: the
  * United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 50/51 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 22, 1999.

 

  (d) Dated August 8, 1996 re: the
  * Continental Small Company Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 50/51 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 22, 1999.

 

  (e) Form of Amended and Restated Administration Agreement dated March 30, 2006 re: the:
  * U.S. Large Company Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 78/79 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: March 30, 2006.

 

  (f) Dated August 8, 1996 re: the
  * Asia Pacific Rim Small Company Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 50/51 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 22, 1999.

 

  (1) Addendum Number One re: the reflection of the following name change:
  * Pacific Rim Small Company Portfolio to Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 78/79 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.


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  Filing Date: March 30, 2006.

 

  (g) Dated January 6, 1993 re: the
  * U.S. Small Cap Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 50/51 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 22, 1999.

 

  (1) Addendum Number One re: the reflection of the following name change:
  * U.S. 6-10 Small Company Portfolio to U.S. Small Cap Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 70/71 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: March 29, 2004.

 

  (h) Dated January 6, 1993 re: the:
  * U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio (formerly the U.S. Large Cap High Book-to-Market Portfolio)
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 50/51 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 22, 1999.

 

  (i) Dated January 6, 1993 re: the:
  * U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 50/51 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 22, 1999.

 

  (1) Addendum Number One re: the reflection of the following name change:
  * U.S. 6-10 Value Portfolio (formerly the U.S. Small Cap High Book to Market Portfolio) to U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 70/71 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: March 29, 2004.

 

  (j) Dated February 8, 1996 re: the
  * RWB/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio (formerly DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio; formerly the Reinhardt Werba Bowen International Large Stock Portfolio)
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 50/51 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 22, 1999.

 

  (1) Addendum Number One re: the reflection of the following name change:
  * RWB/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio to the AAM/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:


Table of Contents
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 59/60 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 26, 2001.

 

  (k) Dated March 30, 1994 re:
  * Emerging Markets Portfolios
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 50/51 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 22, 1999.

 

  (l) Dated February 8, 1996 re: the:
  * Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 50/51 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 22, 1999.

 

  (m) Dated February 8, 1996 re: the
  * DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 50/51 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 22, 1999.

 

  (n) Dated August 8, 1996 re: the:
  * International Small Company Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 70/71 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: March 29, 2004.

 

  (o) Dated December 19, 1996 re: the:
  * Emerging Markets Small Cap Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 50/51 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 22, 1999.

 

  (p) Dated November 30, 1997 re: the:
  * U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 50/51 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 22, 1999.

 

  (1) Form of Addendum Number One re: the reflection of the following name change:
  * U.S. 9-10 Small Company Portfolio to U.S. Micro Cap Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:


Table of Contents
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 60/61 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: March 23, 2001.

 

  (q) Form of Amended and Restated dated October 5, 1999 re: the:
  * U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 88/89 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: March 30, 2007.

 

  (r) Dated November 30, 1997 re: the:
  * Emerging Markets Value Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 50/51 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 22, 1999.

 

  (s) Dated December 8, 1998 re: the:
  * Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Value Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 50/51 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 22, 1999.

 

  (t) Form of Dated August 1, 2001 re: the:
  * Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 61/62 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: May 18, 2001.

 

  (1) Addendum Number One re: the reflection of the following name change:
  * Tax-Managed U.S. Marketwide Portfolio to Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 66/67 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: July 30, 2002.

 

  (4) Other.
  (a) Form of Marketing Agreement dated June 29, 1994 between DFA and National Home Life Assurance Company.
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 33/34 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: June 19, 1995.


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  (b) Participation Agreement between DFA Investment Dimensions Group, Inc., DFA, DFA Securities, Inc. and National Home Life Assurance Company.
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 33/34 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: June 19, 1995.

 

  (c) Form of Client Service Agent Agreement re: the:
  * RWB/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio (formerly the DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio and Reinhardt Werba Bowen International Large Stock Portfolio).
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 37/38 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: November 22, 1995.

 

  (1) Addendum Number One re: the reflection of the following name change:
  * RWB/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio to the AAM/DFA International High Book to Market Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 59/60 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 26, 2001.

 

  (d) Form of Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement dated December 18, 2008 between the Registrant and DFA re:
  * DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio
  * TA U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 114/115 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 27, 2009.

 

  (e) Form of Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement dated December 18, 2008 between the Registrant and DFA re:
  * Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio
  * U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio
  * U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio
  * U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio
  * International Core Equity Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 114/115 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 27, 2009.

 

  (f) Form of Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement dated December 18, 2008 between the Registrant and DFA re:
  * U.S. Large Company Portfolio
  * U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio
  * International Small Company Portfolio
  * Japanese Small Company Portfolio
  * United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio


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  * Continental Small Company Portfolio
  * Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio (formerly, Pacific Rim Small Company Portfolio)
  * Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio
  * DFA Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio
  * DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio
  * Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio
  * DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 114/115 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 27, 2009.

 

  (g) Form of Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement dated December 18, 2008 between the Registrant and DFA re:
  * U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 114/115 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 27, 2009.

 

  (h) Form of Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement dated December 18, 2008 between the Registrant and DFA re:
  * DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 114/115 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 27, 2009.

 

  (i) Form of Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement dated December 18, 2008 between the Registrant and DFA re:
  * International Vector Equity Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 114/115 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 27, 2009.

 

  (j) Form of Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re:
  * DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 117/118 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 25, 2010.

 

  (k) Form of Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement dated December 18, 2008 between the Registrant and DFA re:
  * DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 112/113 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: November 26, 2008.


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  (l) Form of Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement dated December 18, 2008 between the Registrant and DFA re:
  * DFA VA Global Moderate Allocation Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 113/114 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: December 23, 2008.

 

  (m) Form of Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement dated December 18, 2008 between the Registrant and DFA re:
  * Enhanced U.S. Large Company Portfolio
  * U.S. Large Cap Value Portfolio
  * U.S. Small Cap Value Portfolio
  * DFA International Value Portfolio
  * Emerging Markets Portfolio
  * Emerging Markets Value Portfolio
  * DFA One-Year Fixed Income Portfolio
  * DFA Two-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio
  * DFA Real Estate Securities Portfolio
  * Large Cap International Portfolio
  * DFA Five-Year Government Portfolio
  * DFA Five-Year Global Fixed Income Portfolio
  * DFA Intermediate Government Fixed Income
    Portfolio Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 114/115 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 27, 2009.

 

  (n) Form of Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement dated December 18, 2008 between the Registrant and DFA re:
  * U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio
  * International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio
  * DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 114/115 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 27, 2009.

 

  (o) Form of Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement dated December 18, 2008 between the Registrant and DFA re:
  * TA World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 114/115 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 27, 2009.

 

  (p) Form of Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement dated December 18, 2008 between the Registrant and DFA re:
  * DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 114/115 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: February 27, 2009.


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  (q) Form of Fee Waiver Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re:
  * World ex U.S. Value Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 118/119 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: June 1, 2010.

 

  (r) Form of Fee Waiver and Expense Assumption Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re:
  * DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 120/121 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: August 16, 2010.

 

  (s) Form of Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and/or Expense Assumption Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re:
  * DFA California Intermediate-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio
  * DFA Investment Grade Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 123/124 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: December 15, 2010.

 

  (t) Form of Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and/or Expense Assumption Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re:
  * DFA California Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio
  * DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio
  * DFA Inflation-Protected Securities Portfolio
  * DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio
  * DFA Long-Term Real Return Fixed Income Portfolio
  * DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio
  * DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio
  * Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio
  * Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio
  * International Core Equity Portfolio
  * International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio
  * International Vector Equity Portfolio
  * T.A. U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio
  * U.S. Core Equity 1 Portfolio
  * U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio
  * U.S. Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio
  * U.S. Vector Equity Portfolio
  * DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio
  * DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio
  * DFA Investment Grade Portfolio
  * T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio
  * International Small Company Portfolio
  * Japanese Small Company Portfolio
  * United Kingdom Small Company Portfolio
  * Continental Small Company Portfolio
  * Asia Pacific Small Company Portfolio
  * Tax-Managed U.S. Equity Portfolio
  * U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio
  * DFA Commodity Strategy Portfolio


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  * World ex U.S. Value Portfolio
  * DFA California Intermediate-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio
  * DFA Short-Term Government Portfolio (formerly the DFA Five-Year Government Portfolio)
  * DFA Short-Term Municipal Bond Portfolio
  * U.S. Social Core Equity 2 Portfolio
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 124/125 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: December 30, 2010.

 

  (u) Form of Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and/or Expense Assumption Agreement between the Registrant and DFA re:
  * U.S. Targeted Value Portfolio
  * Emerging Markets Value Portfolio
    ELECTRONICALLY FILED HEREWITH AS EXHIBIT 28.h.4.u

 

  (i) Legal Opinion.
  (1) Legal Opinion of Stradley, Ronon, Stevens & Young, LLP.
    ELECTRONICALLY FILED HEREWITH AS EXHIBIT 28.i.1

 

  (j) Other Opinions.
  (1) Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers
    ELECTRONICALLY FILED HEREWITH AS EXHIBIT 28.j.1

 

  (k) Omitted Financial Statements.
    Not applicable.

 

  (l) Initial Capital Agreements.
    Subscription Agreement under Section 14(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940. Previously filed with this registration statement and incorporated herein by reference.

 

  (m) Rule 12b-1 Plans.
    Not Applicable

 

  (n) Plans pursuant to Rule 18f-3.
  (1) Amended and Restated Multiple Class Plan Pursuant to Rule 18f-3
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 122/123 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: October 12, 2010.

 

  (o) Powers-of-Attorney.
  (1) On behalf of the Registrant, Power-of-Attorney dated as of December 17, 2010, appointing David G. Booth, David R. Martin, Catherine L. Newell, Valerie A. Brown, Jeff J. Jeon and Carolyn L. O as attorneys-in-fact to David G. Booth, George M. Constantinides, John P. Gould, Roger G. Ibbotson, Edward P. Lazear, David R. Martin, Eduardo A. Repetto, Myron S. Scholes and Abbie J. Smith.
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 124/125 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: December 30, 2010.

 

  (2)

On behalf of The DFA Investment Trust Company, Power-of-Attorney dated as of December 17, 2010, appointing David G. Booth, David R. Martin, Catherine L.


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Newell, Valerie A. Brown, Jeff J. Jeon and Carolyn L. O as attorneys-in-fact to David G. Booth, George M. Constantinides, John P. Gould, Roger G. Ibbotson, Edward P. Lazear, David R. Martin, Eduardo A. Repetto, Myron S. Scholes and Abbie J. Smith.

    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 124/125 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: December 30, 2010.

 

  (3) On behalf of Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund, Power-of-Attorney dated as of December 17, 2010, appointing David G. Booth, David R. Martin, Catherine L. Newell, Valerie A. Brown, Jeff J. Jeon and Carolyn L. O as attorneys-in-fact to David G. Booth, George M. Constantinides, John P. Gould, Roger G. Ibbotson, Edward P. Lazear, David R. Martin, Eduardo A. Repetto, Myron S. Scholes and Abbie J. Smith.
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 124/125 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: December 30, 2010.

 

  (p) Codes of Ethics.
  (1) Code of Ethics of Registrant, Adviser, Sub-Advisers and Underwriter.
    Incorporated herein by reference to:
  Filing: Post-Effective Amendment No. 69/70 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A.
  File Nos.: 2-73948 and 811-3258.
  Filing Date: January 29, 2004.

 

ITEM 29. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH THE FUND.

None.

 

ITEM 30. INDEMNIFICATION.

Reference is made to Section 1 of Article IX of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated By-Laws, which provide for indemnification, as set forth below.

With respect to the indemnification of the Officers and Directors of the Corporation:

 

  (a) The Corporation shall indemnify each Officer and Director made party to a proceeding, by reason of service in such capacity, to the fullest extent, and in the manner provided, under Section 2-418 of the Maryland General Corporation Law: (i) unless it is proved that the person seeking indemnification did not meet the standard of conduct set forth in subsection (b)(1) of such section; and (ii) provided, that the Corporation shall not indemnify any officer or Director for any liability to the Corporation or its security holders arising from the willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person’s office.

 

  (b) The provisions of clause (i) of paragraph (a) herein notwithstanding, the Corporation shall indemnify each Officer and Director against reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the successful defense of any proceeding to which such Officer or Director is a party by reason of service in such capacity.

 

  (c) The Corporation, in the manner and to the extent provided by applicable law, shall advance to each Officer and Director who is made party to a proceeding by reason of service in such capacity the reasonable expenses incurred by such person in connection therewith.


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ITEM 31. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISOR.

 

  (a) Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, with a principal place of business located at 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin TX 78746, the investment manager for the Registrant, is also the investment manager for three other registered open-end investment companies, The DFA Investment Trust Company, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund and Dimensional Investment Group Inc. The Advisor also serves as sub-advisor for certain other registered investment companies.

 

       The Advisor is engaged in the business of providing investment advice primarily to institutional investors. For additional information, please see “Management of the Fund” in PART A and “Directors and Officers” in PART B of this Registration Statement.

 

       Additional information as to the Advisor and the partners and executive officers of the Advisor is included in the Advisor’s Form ADV filed with the Commission (File No. 801-16283), which is incorporated herein by reference and sets forth the executive officers and partners of the Advisor and information as to any business, profession, vocation or employment or a substantial nature engaged in by those officers and partners during the past two years.

 

  (b) The Sub-Advisor for the VA International Small Portfolio, International Core Equity Portfolio, Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio, DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio, CSTG&E International Social Core Equity Portfolio, International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio, T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio, DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio, International Vector Equity Portfolio, DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio, DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio and DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio, each a series of the Registrant, is Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (“DFAL”). DFAL has its principal place of business is 20 Triton Street, Regent’s Place, London, NW13BF, United Kingdom. Additional information as to the DFAL and the directors and officers of DFAL is included in the DFAL’s Form ADV filed with the Commission (File No. 801-40136), which is incorporated herein by reference and sets forth the officers and directors of DFAL and information as to any business, profession, vocation or employment or a substantial nature engaged in by those officers and directors during the past two years.

 

  (c) The Sub-Advisor for the VA International Small Portfolio, International Core Equity Portfolio, Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Portfolio, DFA International Real Estate Securities Portfolio, CSTG&E International Social Core Equity Portfolio, International Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio, T.A. World ex U.S. Core Equity Portfolio, DFA Selectively Hedged Global Fixed Income Portfolio, DFA Global Real Estate Securities Portfolio, International Vector Equity Portfolio, DFA International Value ex Tobacco Portfolio, DFA Short-Term Extended Quality Portfolio and DFA Intermediate-Term Extended Quality Portfolio, each a series of the Registrant, is DFA Australia Limited (“DFA Australia”). DFA has its principal placed of business is Level 43 Gateway, 1 MacQuarie Place, Sydney, New South Wales 2000, Australia. Additional information as to DFA Australia and the directors and officers of DFA Australia is included in DFA Australia’s Form ADV filed with the Commission (File No. 801-48036), which is incorporated herein by reference and sets forth the officers and directors of DFA Australia and information as to any business, profession, vocation or employment or a substantial nature engaged in by those officers and directors during the past two years.

 

ITEM 32. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITERS.


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  (a) DFA Securities Inc., (“DFAS”) is the principal underwriter for the Registrant. DFAS also serves as principal underwriter for The DFA Investment Trust Company, Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Fund and Dimensional Investment Group Inc.

 

  (b) The following table sets forth information as to the Distributor’s Directors, Officers, Partners and Control Persons. The address of each officer is 1299 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90401:

 

Name and Principal Business

Address

 

Positions and Offices with

Underwriter

 

Positions and Offices with

Fund

April A. Aandal   Vice President   Vice President and Chief Learning Officer
Darryl D. Avery   Vice President   Vice President
Arthur H. Barlow   Vice President   Vice President
Scott A. Bosworth   Vice President   Vice President
Valerie A. Brown  

Vice President and Assistant

Secretary

 

Vice President and Assistant

Secretary

David P. Butler   Vice President   Vice President
Joseph H. Chi   Vice President   Vice President
Stephen A. Clark   Vice President   Vice President
Robert P. Cornell   Vice President   Vice President
Christopher S. Crossan  

Vice President and Chief

Compliance Officer

 

Vice President and Chief

Compliance Officer

James L. Davis   Vice President   Vice President
Robert T. Deere   Vice President   Vice President
Robert W. Dintzner   Vice President   Vice President
Kenneth Elmgren   Vice President   Vice President
Richard A. Eustice  

Vice President and Assistant

Secretary

 

Vice President and Assistant

Secretary

Eugene F. Fama, Jr.   Vice President   Vice President
Gretchen A. Flicker   Vice President   Vice President
Jed S. Fogdall   Vice President   Vice President
Mark R. Gochnour   Vice President   Vice President
Henry F. Gray   Vice President   Vice President
John T. Gray   Vice President   Vice President
Joel H. Hefner   Vice President   Vice President
Julie C. Henderson  

Vice President and Fund

Controller

 

Vice President and Fund

Controller

Kevin B. Hight   Vice President   Vice President
Christine W. Ho   Vice President   Vice President
Jeff J. Jeon   Vice President   Vice President
Patrick M. Keating   Vice President   Vice President
Joseph F. Kolerich   Vice President   Vice President
Michael F. Lane   Vice President   Vice President
Kristina M. LaRusso   Vice President   Vice President
Juliet H. Lee   Vice President   Vice President
Apollo D. Lupesco   Vice President   Vice President
David R. Martin  

Vice President, Chief

Financial Officer and

Treasurer

 

Vice President, Chief

Financial Officer and

Treasurer

Catherine L. Newell   Vice President and Secretary   Vice President and Secretary
Christian Newton   Vice President   Vice President
Gerard K. O’Reilly   Vice President   Vice President
Daniel C. Ong   Vice President   Vice President
Carmen Palafox   Vice President   Vice President
Sonya K. Park   Vice President   Vice President
David A. Plecha   Vice President   Vice President


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Ted Randall    Vice President    Vice President
L. Jacobo Rodríguez    Vice President    Vice President
David E. Schneider    Vice President    Vice President
Bruce A. Simmons    Vice President    Vice President
Ted R. Simpson    Vice President    Vice President
Bryce D. Skaff    Vice President    Vice President
Grady M. Smith    Vice President    Vice President
Carl G. Snyder    Vice President    Vice President
Lawrence R. Spieth    Vice President    Vice President
Bradley G. Steiman    Vice President    Vice President
Robert C. Trotter    Vice President    Vice President
Karen E. Umland    Vice President    Vice President
Brian J. Walsh    Vice President    Vice President
Weston J. Wellington    Vice President    Vice President
Ryan J. Wiley    Vice President    Vice President
Paul E. Wise    Vice President    Vice President
David G. Booth   

Chairman, Director, President

and Chief Executive Officer

  

Chairman, Director, President

and Chief Officer

Kenneth R. French    Director    Not Applicable
John A. McQuown    Director    Not Applicable
Eduardo A. Repetto   

Vice President and Chief

Investment Officer

  

Director, Vice President

and Chief Investment Officer

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP    Shareholder    Not Applicable

 

  (c) Not applicable.

 

ITEM 33.

  LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS.   
  The accounts and records of the Registrant are located at the office of the Registrant and at additional locations, as follows:
 

            Name

       Address
  DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc.   

6300 Bee Cave Road,

Building One

Austin, TX 78746

  BNY Mellon Investment Servicing   

301 Bellevue Parkway,

Wilmington, DE 19809

ITEM 34.   MANAGEMENT SERVICES.   
  None.   
ITEM 35.   UNDERTAKINGS.   
  Not Applicable.   


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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement under rule 485(b) under the Securities Act and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment Nos. 125/126 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Austin, the State of Texas, as of this 28th day of February, 2011.

 

DFA INVESTMENT DIMENSIONS GROUP INC.

                                 (Registrant)

By:       /s/ David G. Booth*
 

David G. Booth, President

(Signature and Title)

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Post-Effective Amendment Nos. 125/126 to this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ David G. Booth*

David G. Booth

   President, Director,
Chairman and Co-Chief
Executive Officer
  February 28, 2011

/s/ Eduardo A. Repetto*

Eduardo A. Repetto

   Director, Co-Chief
Executive Officer and
Chief Investment Officer
  February 28, 2011

/s/ David R. Martin*

David R. Martin

   Chief Financial
Officer, Treasurer
and Vice President
  February 28, 2011

/s/ George M. Constantinides*

George M. Constantinides

   Director   February 28, 2011

/s/ John P. Gould*

John P. Gould

   Director   February 28, 2011

/s/ Roger G. Ibbotson*

Roger G. Ibbotson

   Director   February 28, 2011

/s/ Edward P. Lazear*

Edward P. Lazear

   Director   February 28, 2011

/s/ Myron S. Scholes*

Myron S. Scholes

   Director   February 28, 2011

/s/ Abbie J. Smith*

Abbie J. Smith

   Director   February 28, 2011

 

  *By:      

/s/ Valerie A. Brown

    Valerie A. Brown
    Attorney-in-Fact (Pursuant to a Power-of-Attorney)


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THE DFA INVESTMENT TRUST COMPANY consents to the filing of this Amendment to the Registration Statement of DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. which is signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Austin, the State of Texas, as of the 28th day of February, 2011.

 

THE DFA INVESTMENT TRUST COMPANY
                             (Registrant)
By:      

/s/ David G. Booth*

  David G. Booth, President
  (Signature and Title)

The undersigned Trustees and principal officers of THE DFA INVESTMENT TRUST COMPANY consent to the filing of this Post-Effective Amendment No. 125/126 to the Registration Statement of DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ David G. Booth*

David G. Booth

  

President, Trustee,

Chairman and Co-Chief

Executive Officer

  February 28, 2011
    

/s/ Eduardo A. Repetto*

Eduardo A. Repetto

  

Trustee, Co-Chief

Executive Officer and

Chief Investment Officer

  February 28, 2011
    

/s/ David R. Martin*

David R. Martin

  

Chief Financial

Officer, Treasurer

and Vice President

  February 28, 2011
    

/s/ George M. Constantinides*

George M. Constantinides

   Trustee   February 28, 2011
    

/s/ John P. Gould*

John P. Gould

   Trustee   February 28, 2011
    

/s/ Roger G. Ibbotson*

Roger G. Ibbotson

   Trustee   February 28, 2011
    

/s/ Edward P. Lazear*

Edward P. Lazear

   Trustee   February 28, 2011
    

/s/ Myron S. Scholes*

Myron S. Scholes

   Trustee   February 28, 2011
    

/s/ Abbie J. Smith*

Abbie J. Smith

   Trustee   February 28, 2011
    

 

  *By:      

/s/ Valerie A. Brown

    Valerie A. Brown
    Attorney-in-Fact (Pursuant to a Power-of-Attorney)


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DIMENSIONAL EMERGING MARKETS VALUE FUND consents to the filing of this Amendment to the Registration Statement of DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. which is signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Austin, the State of Texas, as of the 28th day of February, 2011.

 

DIMENSIONAL EMERGING MARKETS VALUE FUND
                                 (Registrant)
By:      

/s/ David G. Booth*

  David G. Booth, President
  (Signature and Title)

The undersigned Trustees and principal officers of DIMENSIONAL EMERGING MARKETS VALUE FUND consent to the filing of this Post-Effective Amendment No. 125/126 to the Registration Statement of DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc. on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ David G. Booth*

David G. Booth

   President, Trustee,
Chairman and Co-Chief
Executive Officer
  February 28, 2011

/s/ Eduardo A. Repetto*

Eduardo A. Repetto

   Trustee, Co-Chief
Executive Officer and
Chief Investment Officer
  February 28, 2011

/s/ David R. Martin*

David R. Martin

   Chief Financial
Officer, Treasurer
and Vice President
  February 28, 2011

/s/ George M. Constantinides*

George M. Constantinides

   Trustee   February 28, 2011

/s/ John P. Gould*

John P. Gould

   Trustee   February 28, 2011

/s/ Roger G. Ibbotson*

Roger G. Ibbotson

   Trustee   February 28, 2011

/s/ Edward P. Lazear*

Edward P. Lazear

   Trustee   February 28, 2011

/s/ Myron S. Scholes*

Myron S. Scholes

   Trustee   February 28, 2011

/s/ Abbie J. Smith*

Abbie J. Smith

   Trustee   February 28, 2011

 

  * By:      

/s/ Valerie A. Brown

    Valerie A. Brown
    Attorney-in-Fact (Pursuant to a Power-of-Attorney)


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EXHIBIT LIST

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

28.g.3    Custodial Services Agreement
28.h.4.u    Form of Amended and Restated Fee Waiver and/or Expense Assumption Agreement
28.i.1    Legal Opinion of Stradley, Ronon, Stevens & Young, LLP.
28.j.1    Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers