SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrant  ☒

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ☐

Check the appropriate box:

         
  Preliminary Proxy Statement
   
  Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
   
  Definitive Proxy Statement
   
  Definitive Additional Materials
   
  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12

 

NEUBERGER BERMAN EQUITY FUNDS

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

        

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
   
  No fee required
   
  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
     
    (1)  

Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

         
    (2)  

Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

         
    (3)  

Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

         
    (4)  

Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

         
    (5)   Total fee paid:
   
  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
   
  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
     
    (1)  

Amount Previously Paid:

         
    (2)  

Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

         
    (3)  

Filing Party:

         
    (4)  

Date Filed:

         
 
   

 

 

 

 

We Need Your Vote:

 

NB Sustainable Equity Fund Proposed Change to Non-Diversified

 

Re: Your investment in the Neuberger Berman Sustainable Equity Fund

 

Dear Shareholder:

 

Neuberger Berman Sustainable Equity Fund (the “Fund”) continues to solicit proxy votes in connection with a special meeting of shareholders scheduled for Wednesday, May 15th. As you may recall from proxy materials previously sent by the Fund, the initial meeting that was scheduled for March 26th needed to be adjourned for a second time due to the Fund not having the necessary votes to meet its vote requirement.

 

As explained in prior communications, the Fund is seeking shareholder approval for a change in status from “diversified” to a “non-diversified” Fund, as defined by the Investment Company Act of 1940. Additional information about the proposal is provided below.

 

If you own shares of the Fund, we encourage you to vote. Below are the next steps on how to vote your shares:

 

-Shareholders should respond to the proxy by mail, telephone, mobile device or at www.proxyvote.com. Detailed instructions are on the proxy cards that were sent to you. You will need the control number that is unique to your account and provided on the proxy materials.

 

-If you misplaced your proxy card and/or your control number, you should contact Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., the Fund’s proxy solicitor, at 833-757-0738 to vote directly over the phone.

 

-You can also vote at the special shareholder meeting. As noted above, the reconvened meeting will be held at the office of Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC, 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104 on May 15th. You are welcome to attend and cast your vote in person.

 

 

Additional Information about the Proposal

 

In recent years, the Fund’s benchmark, the S&P 500, has become increasingly concentrated in a more limited number of issuers. This trend has presented challenges for the Fund’s portfolio manager to effectively manage the portfolio and continue to meet the investment requirements of a diversified fund. Currently, the Fund’s portfolio has reached the maximum investment limitations of a diversified fund, which the portfolio manager believes limits the ability of the Fund to take advantage of certain investment opportunities.

 

As a non-diversified fund, the Fund could invest a greater portion of its assets in any one issuer and could invest overall in a smaller number of issuers than a diversified fund. NB believes that this added flexibility is in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders since it will enable the portfolio manager to increase investments in securities that the portfolio manager believes to be most attractive. In addition, NB believes the proposed change would allow the Fund’s portfolio to better reflect the current composition of the U.S. large cap equity universe.

 

 

Sincerely,  
   
   
Brian Kerrane  
COO & VP - Funds