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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000898432-97-000251.txt : 19970429
<SEC-HEADER>0000898432-97-000251.hdr.sgml : 19970429
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000898432-97-000251
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	N-30D
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	19970228
FILED AS OF DATE:		19970428
SROS:			NONE

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NEUBERGER & BERMAN EQUITY TRUST
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000906926
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0831

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		N-30D
		SEC ACT:		1940 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-07784
		FILM NUMBER:		97588325

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		605 THIRD AVE
		STREET 2:		2ND FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10158-0006
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2124768800
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>N-30D
<SEQUENCE>1
<TEXT>




<PAGE>


                                                              SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT
                                                        ------------------------
                                                               February 28, 1997


     NEUBERGER&BERMAN
     EQUITY TRUST-Registered Trademark-

Neuberger&Berman
     FOCUS TRUST

Neuberger&Berman
     GENESIS TRUST

Neuberger&Berman
     GUARDIAN TRUST

Neuberger&Berman
     MANHATTAN TRUST

Neuberger&Berman
     PARTNERS TRUST

<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
    THE FUNDS
<S>                       <C>
 
    CHAIRMAN'S LETTER             4
 
    PERFORMANCE
    HIGHLIGHTS                    5
 
    PORTFOLIO COMMENTARY
Focus Trust                       6
Genesis Trust                     8
Guardian Trust                   11
Manhattan Trust                  14
Partners Trust                   17
 
    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS         20
 
    FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
      PER SHARE DATA
Focus Trust                      30
Genesis Trust                    31
Guardian Trust                   32
Manhattan Trust                  33
Partners Trust                   34
 
    THE PORTFOLIOS
 
    SCHEDULE OF
    INVESTMENTS
      TOP TEN EQUITY
      HOLDINGS
Focus Portfolio                  37
Genesis Portfolio                39
Guardian Portfolio               42
Manhattan Portfolio              46
Partners Portfolio               48
 
    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS         52
 
    FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS         63
 
    DIRECTORY                    66
 
    OFFICERS AND
    TRUSTEES                     67
</TABLE>
 
                                                                               3
<PAGE>
CHAIRMAN'S LETTER                                                 April 11, 1997
 
Dear Fellow Shareholder:
  During  the six months ended  February 28, 1997, we  witnessed one of the most
explosive rallies in stock market history with the Dow Jones Industrial  Average
and  Standard & Poor's  500 Index gaining 23.82%  and 22.60%, respectively. High
multiple blue  chip  stocks  (particularly branded  consumer  goods  companies),
continued  to lead the market parade. Not left out of the rally were technology,
financial services, and health care stocks, which rebounded as well, helping our
funds achieve solid gains.
  With the Dow  and S&P "500"  near record levels  and equities valuations  well
above historic norms, we are comforted by our conviction that our portfolios are
comprised of high quality companies trading at reasonable fundamental valuations
relative  to the market and their long term growth prospects. We have a talented
and experienced group of  analysts and portfolio managers  who, in keeping  with
our firm's heritage, focus primarily on value.
  If  the economy  continues to provide  low inflation,  relatively low interest
rates and reasonable  corporate earnings,  stocks can continue  to progress.  We
believe  well managed,  financially sound  companies in  out-of-favor industries
will participate more fully  in a market advance.  We have faith investors  will
ultimately  see  the folly  in chasing  a relative  handful of  blue-chip growth
stocks simply because they are  going up in price.  Sooner or later, money  will
gravitate  to  equally high-quality  companies selling  at much  more reasonable
fundamental valuations.
  Whatever the market holds in store for us over the next six months and beyond,
we will  continue to  do  what we  have  always done  --  focus on  quality  and
value  --  the  two most  important  ingredients  in the  recipe  for  long term
investment success.
 
Sincerely,
/s/ Stanley Egener
 
Stanley Egener
Chairman of the Board
Neuberger&Berman Equity Trusts
 
4
<PAGE>
PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            FOR PERIODS
                                           ENDED 3/31/97
                      SIX MONTH   --------------------------------
                       PERIOD           AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL
NEUBERGER&BERMAN        ENDED                RETURNS(1)
EQUITY TRUST         2/28/97(1)     1 YR       5 YR       10 YR
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                  <C>          <C>        <C>        <C>
FOCUS TRUST(2)         +22.01%     +13.22%    +17.82%    +13.34%
GUARDIAN TRUST         +20.21%     +14.20%    +15.85%    +13.29%
MANHATTAN TRUST        +20.61%     +6.82%     +13.74%    +10.86%
PARTNERS TRUST         +23.55%     +18.88%    +17.51%    +13.21%
S&P "500"(3)           +22.60%     +19.79%    +16.39%    +13.33%
GENESIS TRUST          +11.88%     +18.42%    +13.98%   +13.93%(4)
RUSSELL 2000(3)        +8.79%      +5.08%     +12.78%      N/A
</TABLE>
 
   Each Fund commenced operations in August 1993.
   The Funds have identical investment objectives and policies, and invest in
the same Portfolio as other funds ("Sister Funds") of similar names, which are
also administered by Neuberger&Berman Management Inc.-Registered Trademark- The
performance information for the Funds prior to their commencement of operations
are for the Sister Funds. Neuberger&Berman Management Inc. voluntarily bears
certain operating expenses of each Fund so that its expense ratio per annum will
not exceed the expense ratio of its Sister Fund by more than 0.10% of the Fund's
average daily net assets. These arrangements can be terminated upon 60 days'
notice. Neuberger&Berman Management Inc. has voluntarily agreed to waive a
portion of the management fee borne directly by Neuberger&Berman Genesis
Portfolio and indirectly by Neuberger& Berman Genesis Trust to reduce that fee
by 0.10% of the Portfolio's average daily net assets per annum. Absent such
arrangements, the average annual total returns would have been less. The total
returns for periods prior to the Funds' commencement of operations would have
been lower had they reflected the higher expense ratios of the Funds as compared
to those of the Sister Funds.
1) Includes reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions.
   Results represent past performance and do not guarantee future results.
   Investment returns and principal may fluctuate and shares when redeemed may
   be worth more or less than original cost.
2) Prior to November 1, 1991, the investment policies of its Sister Fund
   required that it invest a substantial portion of its assets in the energy
   field.
3) The S&P "500" Index is an unmanaged index generally considered to be
   representative of stock market activity. The Russell 2000 Index is an
   unmanaged index consisting of the securities of the 2,000 issuers having the
   smallest capitalization in the Russell 3000 Index, representing approximately
   11% of the Russell 3000 total market capitalization. The smallest company's
   market capitalization is roughly $13 million. The risks involved in seeking
   capital appreciation from investments primarily in companies with small
   market capitalization are set forth in the prospectus. Please note that
   indices do not take into account any fees and expenses of investing in the
   individual securities that they track, and that individuals cannot invest
   directly in any index. Data about the performance of these indices are
   prepared or obtained by Neuberger&Berman Management Inc. and include
   reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions. The Portfolios
   invest in many securities not included in either of the above-described
   indices.
4) From inception of Sister Fund (9/27/88).
 
                                                                               5
<PAGE>
PORTFOLIO COMMENTARY
Neuberger&Berman
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Focus Trust
 
   PORTFOLIO CO-MANAGERS KENT SIMONS AND KEVIN RISEN EMPLOY A SECTOR-SPECIFIC
   APPROACH  TO  MANAGING THE  PORTFOLIO. FIRST,  THEY IDENTIFY  SIX ECONOMIC
   SECTORS (OUT OF A POSSIBLE 13)  THEY BELIEVE TO BE MOST UNDERVALUED.  THEY
   THEN  FOCUS ON  WELL MANAGED, FINANCIALLY  SOUND INDUSTRY  LEADERS IN EACH
   CHOSEN ECONOMIC  SECTOR. THE  PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT  TEAM FAVORS  COMPANIES
   WITH  ABOVE  MARKET AVERAGE  EARNINGS  GROWTH POTENTIAL  TRADING  AT BELOW
   MARKET AVERAGE PRICE/ EARNINGS MULTIPLES.
  For the six months ended February 28, 1997, the fund returned 22.01%, in  line
with  the Standard & Poor's 500 Index's 22.60%  gain (see page 5 for the average
annual total returns, as of March 31, 1997).
  Over the  last six  months,  our substantial  commitment to  financial  stocks
(37.6%  of the  portfolio at  the close of  the first  half of  fiscal 1997) was
particularly productive,  with  bank,  insurance,  credit  and  finance  company
holdings  returning  39%  on average.  Technology  investments,  subdivided into
electronics companies and computer and office equipment companies (13.8% of  the
portfolio  at the close  of the first half  of fiscal 1997)  gained 28% and 37%,
respectively. Media and  entertainment were among  our worst performing  groups,
with our holdings down 6.2% over the period.
  Despite  the group's stellar performance, we believe selected financial stocks
remain fundamentally  undervalued. Travelers  Group  and Capital  One  Financial
still trade at well below market average price/earnings multiples. Why are these
stocks  still cheap? Conventional wisdom seems  to be that rising interest rates
will hurt earnings.  We believe  that concern has  been overblown  and that  top
quality  financial companies can continue to  increase earnings even if interest
rates trend modestly higher. The managements of many financial companies seem to
agree that their stocks are still under-valued, as is evidenced by ongoing share
repurchase activity.
  We continue to favor  selected technology companies  like Compaq Computer  and
Seagate Technology. Compaq's product line is selling
 
6
<PAGE>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Focus Trust (Cont'd)
well,  manufacturing costs are lower, and its product mix is more profitable. In
our view,  Seagate is  well positioned  in  the highest  growth segment  of  the
computer  disk drive  market. Prices  have firmed,  costs have  been reduced and
sales volume has risen. Disciplined value investors like ourselves  periodically
get  the opportunity  to buy high-quality  technology companies  at below market
average multiples. When we do, we add these securities to our portfolio.
  Value investing demands patience. For  example, take Exide Corp., the  world's
largest  manufacturer of  automotive, marine  and specialty  batteries. Exide is
focused on  improving profitability  in Europe  where it  is one  of the  market
leaders.  Weather patterns can  cause sharp swings in  the demand for batteries.
Severely cold weather provokes high levels of battery failures, while  unusually
mild winters or cool summers depress demand.
  Exide's  sales and  earnings have  been weak  in recent  periods, due  to mild
weather  conditions  in  Europe  and  restructuring  charges.  However,  we  are
encouraged by the improved gross margins seen in the first nine months of fiscal
year 1997 (started March 1996), and we will carefully monitor whether this trend
continues in the future.
  In  the first half  of fiscal 1997,  our value discipline  once again rewarded
shareholders. We remain  committed to  the investment strategy  -- buying  great
companies  when they are  opportunistically priced --  that has been responsible
for the fund's superior long-term performance record.
 
The composition, industries and holdings of the portfolio are subject to change.
Focus Trust's portfolio is  invested in a  wide array of  stocks, and no  single
holding makes up more than a small fraction of the portfolio's total assets.
 
While   the   value-oriented  approach   is   intended  to   limit   risks,  the
portfolio -- with its concentration in  sectors -- may be more greatly  affected
by  any  single  economic,  political  or  regulatory  development  than  a more
diversified mutual fund.
 
Please remember that past performance is not indicative of future results.
 
                                                                               7
<PAGE>
PORTFOLIO COMMENTARY
Neuberger&Berman
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Genesis Trust
 
   PORTFOLIO MANAGER JUDITH VALE FOCUSES ON "EASY-TO-UNDERSTAND" COMPANIES IN
   THE  LESS GLAMOROUS SECTORS OF THE SMALL-CAPITALIZATION STOCK UNIVERSE. BY
   AVOIDING THE  CUTTING  EDGE  TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES  THAT  ATTRACT  SO  MUCH
   SPECULATIVE  ATTENTION  IN THE  SMALL-CAP MARKET,  SHE  IS BETTER  ABLE TO
   IDENTIFY FUNDAMENTALLY UNDERVALUED STOCKS WITH PROMISING GROWTH POTENTIAL.
   WE HAVE FOUND THAT THIS VALUE-ORIENTED APPROACH TO SMALL-CAP INVESTING CAN
   TRANSLATE INTO A PORTFOLIO WITH FAVORABLE RISK/REWARD CHARACTERISTICS.
  For the six months  ended February 28, 1997,  the fund returned 11.88%  versus
the  Russell 2000 Index's 8.79% advance (see page 5 for the average annual total
returns, as of March 31, 1997).
  A big part  of our strategy  over the last  six months has  been to limit  the
portfolio's  exposure to cyclical companies, which generally depend on a rapidly
expanding economy  to  grow  sales  and earnings.  Although  the  cyclicals  are
fundamentally  attractive, they  can perform  poorly during  periods of economic
uncertainty. Instead, we focused on contra-cyclical industries (industries  that
have  their own cycles largely independent  of the main business cycle); "Steady
Eddie" companies that  do not depend  on broad-based economic  momentum to  grow
earnings;  and  special situations  we believe  can  buck economic  and industry
trends.
  Our best  performing  contra-cyclical  investments  were  aerospace  component
manufacturers and oil and gas exploration and service companies. Both industries
are  recovering from deep and  lengthy down-cycles, which eliminated competition
and reduced capacity.  Demand is  now strong,  and there  is tremendous  pricing
flexibility, which has the potential to expand margins and accelerate earnings.
  After  a lengthy recession in the aerospace industry, some signs indicate that
we are currently in the relatively early  stages of what, in our view, could  be
an  enormous commercial aerospace boom fueled  by the rapid expansion of airline
fleets here and abroad. As small-cap investors, we can't own Boeing, but we  can
buy  small  component manufacturers  that  supply parts  to  this giant  and its
arch-rival Airbus. One of our
 
8
<PAGE>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Genesis Trust (Cont'd)
current favorites is Thiokol, which is best known for supplying rocket  boosters
for  the  space  shuttle,  but,  through its  Huck  fasteners  business  and 49%
ownership of Howmet Casting,  is also a major  supplier to commercial  aerospace
companies. In our opinion, Thiokol's market position is not adequately reflected
in its stock price.
  Due  to higher energy prices (as we write,  West Texas Crude Oil was priced at
around $20.50 per barrel, up from $17.50 from the summer of 1995 and well  above
the $13.00 per barrel low reached in the 1980's) and new technology that reduces
costs,  the  economics  of  drilling  for  oil  and  natural  gas  have improved
dramatically in the  last eighteen  months. We  expect the  economics to  remain
favorable  even if energy  prices decline modestly over  the next several years.
This could  result in  rising earnings  for exploration  companies and  drilling
equipment  and service suppliers. We hit a few gushers over the last six months,
with Offshore Logistics, Dreco  Energy, and Pride Petroleum  all making our  top
performing stock list.
  We hit some dry holes as well. For example, DH Technology, a specialty printer
company, ran into inventory problems at the customer level that hurt earnings.
  AptarGroup,  a  company  that  makes  specialty  packaging  for  the  food and
pharmaceutical industries, is a  good example of  our "Steady Eddie"  investment
strategy.  Aptar  has had  an above  market average  earnings growth  rate. More
importantly, because it serves the food  and drug industries, earnings have  not
been  dependent  on  broad-based  economic  momentum.  The  market  is rewarding
large-cap brand-name  consumer  goods  and drug  companies  with  price/earnings
multiples  well above annual earnings growth rates. We believe little AptarGroup
is much more reasonably priced.
  We are proud to have delivered good absolute and relative returns in what  has
been    a    challenging    small-cap   stock    market.    By    avoiding   the
 
                                                                               9
<PAGE>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Genesis Trust (Cont'd)
high priced  glamour stocks  and  focusing on  real  fundamental values  in  the
small-cap  stock universe, we are confident that we have served our shareholders
well.
 
The risks involved in seeking capital appreciation from investments  principally
in companies with small market capitalization are set forth in the prospectus.
 
The composition, industries and holdings of the portfolio are subject to change.
Genesis  Trust's portfolio is invested in a  wide array of stocks, and no single
holding makes up more than a small fraction of the portfolio's total assets.
 
Please remember that past performance is not indicative of future results.
 
10
<PAGE>
PORTFOLIO COMMENTARY
Neuberger&Berman
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Guardian Trust
 
   PORTFOLIO  CO-MANAGERS KENT SIMONS  AND KEVIN RISEN  FOCUS ON "FIRST RATE"
   COMPANIES IN INDUSTRIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY OUT-OF-FAVOR. RECOGNIZING  THAT
   "CHEAP"  STOCKS ARE NOT  NECESSARILY UNDERVALUED, THEY  SEEK WELL MANAGED,
   FINANCIALLY  SOUND   COMPANIES   TRADING   AT   FUNDAMENTALLY   ATTRACTIVE
   PRICE/EARNINGS  MULTIPLES  RELATIVE  TO  THE  MARKET  AND  THEIR LONG-TERM
   EARNINGS GROWTH POTENTIAL.  BY CONCENTRATING  THE PORTFOLIO  IN WHAT  THEY
   BELIEVE  ARE HIGH-QUALITY WALL STREET  "ORPHANS," THE PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
   TEAM ATTEMPTS TO  TAKE CONSISTENT  ADVANTAGE OF  OPPORTUNITIES CREATED  BY
   INVESTORS' OVERREACTION TO REAL OR PERCEIVED PROBLEMS.
  For  the six months ended February 28,  1997, the fund advanced 20.21%; versus
the Standard &  Poor's 500 Index's  22.60% return  (see page 5  for the  average
annual total returns, as of March 31, 1997).
  Over   this  six-month  period,  the  portfolio's  concentration  in  banking,
insurance, credit and finance stocks,  including real estate investment  trusts,
(collectively,  31.5% at the close  of the first half  of fiscal 1997) generated
average returns  of  approximately  37.0%. Technology  investments  (our  second
largest   group  weighting  at  16.8%)  also  contributed  to  performance  with
electronics company holdings  gaining 48.9%  and computer  and office  equipment
stocks  returning  31.6%.  Our  automotive  and  auto  parts  holdings  modestly
under-performed the market. Returns from our health care investments were mixed.
  As is evidenced by their heavy weighting in the portfolio, we continue to like
selected financial stocks. Wall  Street seems to  believe rising interest  rates
will  disrupt financial companies' earnings progress.  That may not be the case.
We think  financial  stocks like  CITICORP,  Travelers Group,  Fannie  Mae,  and
Merrill  Lynch, to name  just a few of  our holdings, have  the capacity to grow
earnings at an above market average  pace, even if interest rates move  modestly
higher.  The stocks still trade at well  below market average multiples. That is
our definition of value.
  One doesn't  generally  associate  technology  stocks  with  value  investing.
However,  the  technology  group's  volatility  actually  lends  itself  to  our
discipline  of  buying  first  rate   companies  at  discounted  multiples.   In
 
                                                                              11
<PAGE>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Guardian Trust (Cont'd)
mid-summer  1996, tech  stocks got hit  hard. The market's  overreaction to some
modest earnings disappointments gave  us the opportunity  to buy some  seemingly
great  companies quite cheaply. Seagate Technology,  an example of this, was one
of our best performing stocks over the past six months. In our view, Seagate  is
well positioned in the highest growth segment of the computer disk drive market.
Prices  have firmed, costs have been reduced  and sales volume has risen. We had
the opportunity  to purchase  shares at  what we  viewed as  bargain prices.  We
continually  monitor the  valuations of all  the industry  groups and individual
stocks in our  research universe.  When technology stocks  are out-of-favor,  we
consider adding them to the portfolio.
  The media and entertainment and energy groups (collectively, about 8.6% of our
portfolio)  under-performed over  the reporting  period. Most  of our  media and
entertainment holdings reported  relatively good  free cash flow  growth --  the
best  barometer of progress in these businesses -- but it was largely overlooked
by investors fixated  on net earnings  growth. In addition,  we think  investors
have  overreacted  to  energy prices  retreating  from their  1996  highs. Going
forward, we  believe energy  prices will  stabilize around  current levels,  and
energy company earnings could then trend higher.
  Fertilizer company IMC Global and specialty chemical producer Cabot Corp. were
among  our poorer performing  stocks over the  last six months  as both recorded
major earnings disappointments.  A weather-induced  late start  to the  planting
season  hurt IMC's sales  and earnings. However, in  our judgment, low worldwide
grain inventories may indicate better  times ahead for the fertilizer  industry.
Cabot  was burdened by  weak demand for  its core carbon  black product and high
expenses associated with new specialty chemical product development.  Short-term
earnings  may continue to  disappoint. In the long  term, however, the company's
recently expanded share repurchase program will leverage returns.
  With the  sale of  its  property-casualty unit  and  its acquisition  of  U.S.
Healthcare,  we  believe  Aetna  (currently  our  fourth  largest  holding)  has
 
12
<PAGE>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Guardian Trust (Cont'd)
transformed itself from a relatively slow-growth insurance company to a dominant
player in the faster-growing managed health  care business. Aetna's goal is  now
to  extend  U.S.  Healthcare's  base from  small  companies  to  large corporate
customers. The stock has done well, but  still trades at a multiple discount  to
the market.
  In  the first half of  fiscal 1997, value stocks  performed much better than a
year ago. However, the market is  still favoring high multiple blue-chip  growth
companies.  We  don't know  how  long this  will  last or  when  the speculative
excesses will be wrung out of the market. We are confident that our portfolio is
comprised  of  quality   companies  trading  at   very  reasonable   fundamental
valuations.
 
The composition, industries and holdings of the portfolio are subject to change.
Guardian  Trust's portfolio is invested in a wide array of stocks, and no single
holding makes up more than a small fraction of the portfolio's total assets.
 
Please remember that past performance is not indicative of future results.
 
                                                                              13
<PAGE>
PORTFOLIO COMMENTARY
Neuberger&Berman
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Manhattan Trust
 
   PORTFOLIO  MANAGER MARK GOLDSTEIN EMPLOYS A "GROWTH AT A REASONABLE PRICE"
   (GARP) APPROACH TO  THE EQUITIES MARKET.  HE SEEKS WELL  MANAGED-COMPANIES
   WITH   STRONG   BALANCE  SHEETS,   CONSISTENT  EARNINGS   GROWTH  RECORDS,
   ABOVE-AVERAGE  RETURNS  ON   EQUITY,  HIGH  FREE   CASH  FLOW,  AND   MOST
   IMPORTANTLY,  REASONABLE FUNDAMENTAL VALUATIONS. BY SHUNNING "HIGH FLYING"
   WALL STREET FAVORITES,  HE ATTEMPTS TO  AVOID ONE OF  THE MOST COMMON  AND
   COSTLY INVESTMENT ERRORS -- PAYING TOO MUCH FOR GOOD COMPANIES.
  For the six months ended February 28, 1997, the fund returned 20.61%; compared
to  the Standard &  Poor's 500 Index's 22.60%  gain (see page  5 for the average
annual total returns, as of March 31, 1997).
  During  the  first  half  of  fiscal  1997,  value  re-asserted  itself.   Our
portfolio's  over-weighting in the financial  services and technology industries
paid  off   handsomely.  Returns   from  our   investments  in   retailers   and
communications companies were less productive.
  Our positions in bank stocks like CITICORP and Wells Fargo had a very positive
impact on performance, but the real stars of our show were credit card companies
like MBNA and Capital One Financial. We took the opportunity to sell some shares
of these stocks to take advantage of their price appreciation. We still believe,
however,  some of these stocks offer a good value. Why are credit card companies
so under-loved?  Rising consumer  debt and  credit card  delinquency rates  have
spooked  investors. This is a problem, but, in  our opinion, not nearly as big a
one as  most investors  perceive. Revenues  have been  growing rapidly.  Despite
heated competition, there has been enough pricing flexibility in the industry to
maintain  attractive profit  margins. Capital One  Financial and  MBNA are still
trading at  below  market  average price/earnings  multiples.  Ironically,  even
though  most credit card companies were originally sold by or spun-off from bank
holding companies, strong  free cash flows  could make some  of them  attractive
acquisition candidates for banks looking to add cash-generating subsidiaries, as
is  apparently the  case in Banc  One's pending  acquisition of First  USA at 20
times earnings.
 
14
<PAGE>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Manhattan Trust (Cont'd)
 
  We have had some  disappointments. Poor performance  from stocks like  Nu-Kote
Holding,  Coventry, and a handful of others was a direct result of unanticipated
earnings  shortfalls.  Other  underperformers  like  cellular  telephone   giant
Airtouch  Communications actually posted  relatively good results,  but sold off
due  to   concern  over   prospects  for   future  competition   from   Personal
Communications   Services  (PCS)  operators.  We  think  the  market  is  vastly
underestimating  the  value  of  Airtouch's  extensive  foreign  operations  via
partnerships  with cellular operators in Germany, Italy, Spain and elsewhere. We
believe Airtouch's international  operations alone are  worth two-thirds of  its
current  stock price  and the whole  company is  trading at about  half its true
value.
  Recently, we've taken a  bite of Lone Star  Steakhouse & Saloon, a  restaurant
chain  that has been growing  rapidly. We like what's  been on the menu, notably
25% profit margins,  among the highest  in the  industry, and about  a 40%  cash
return  on investment. Lone Star  currently has 205 outlets  and plans to expand
this number by 20% annually over the next  few years. The stock is trading at  a
price/earnings multiple well below its annual earnings growth rate.
  We  have also bought  Merrill Lynch, one  of the great  names in the financial
services industry. In our view, Merrill already has what the Morgan Stanley/Dean
Witter combination is  hoping to create  -- a dominant  global franchise in  the
brokerage  and asset  management businesses.  The demographics  are in Merrill's
favor  with   the  baby   boomers   in  the   early   stages  of   their   prime
earnings/savings/investment  years. Over 50%  of Merrill's compensation expense,
always the largest cost  component in this business,  is incentive oriented.  We
believe  this is simply a terrific organization in a historically good long-term
growth industry, yet it trades at a significant multiple discount to the market.
 
                                                                              15
<PAGE>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Manhattan Trust (Cont'd)
 
  We are  pleased  with  the  fund's  performance  over  the  last  six  months,
particularly  in view of  the fact that  it was achieved  without stretching our
guiding philosophy of growth  at a reasonable price.  We believe by sticking  to
our  fundamental discipline, we can continue  to deliver favorable risk adjusted
returns.
 
The composition, industries and holdings of the portfolio are subject to change.
Manhattan Trust's portfolio is invested in a wide array of stocks, and no single
holding makes up more than a small fraction of the portfolio's total assets.
 
Please remember that past performance is not indicative of future results.
 
16
<PAGE>
PORTFOLIO COMMENTARY
Neuberger&Berman
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Partners Trust
 
   PORTFOLIO  CO-MANAGERS  MICHAEL  KASSEN  AND  ROBERT  GENDELMAN  FOCUS  ON
   OUT-OF-FAVOR LARGE-CAP STOCKS AND MID-SIZED COMPANIES LESS WIDELY FOLLOWED
   BY  WALL  STREET  ANALYSTS.  THEY  ARE  PARTICULARLY  PARTIAL  TO  "FALLEN
   ANGELS"  -- STOCKS  OF GROWING  COMPANIES THAT  HAVE EXPERIENCED TEMPORARY
   SETBACKS, BUT WHOSE  LONGER-TERM FUNDAMENTAL OUTLOOK  REMAINS STRONG.  THE
   PORTFOLIO  MANAGEMENT TEAM VIEWS STOCKS AS PIECES OF BUSINESSES THEY WOULD
   LIKE TO OWN,  RATHER THAN  PIECES OF PAPER  TO TRADE  BASED ON  SHORT-TERM
   PRICE  FLUCTUATIONS. THEIR GOAL IS TO  FIND QUALITY COMPANIES TRADING AT A
   DISCOUNT TO THEIR INTRINSIC ECONOMIC VALUE.
  For the six months ended February 28, 1997, the fund returned 23.55%  compared
to  the Standard &  Poor's 500 Index's 22.60%  gain (see page  5 for the average
annual total returns, as of March 31, 1997).
  We build the portfolio from the ground  up, stock by stock, but generally  end
up  over-weighting  several industry  groups  that we  believe  offer attractive
fundamental values.  Over  the  last  six months,  our  focus  on  the  banking,
insurance,  and technology industries has helped  us achieve strong absolute and
relative returns. We have been penalized by our limited exposure to drug stocks,
a group  we like,  but  one in  which we  couldn't  find many  true  fundamental
bargains.
  Going  forward, we continue  to favor selected  bank stocks. Wells  Fargo is a
good example.  Management  has  extended  the franchise  through  what,  in  our
opinion,  are  economically  sensible strategic  acquisitions.  They  have found
creative low cost methods, including the Internet, to attract new customers. The
company has moved  to penetrate  the small business  market in  a very  targeted
fashion.  Free cash flow has  grown, and management has  been using this cash to
buy back stock.  Despite the  stock's excellent performance,  Wells Fargo  still
trades at a significant discount to our appraisal of its economic value.
  We  also would like to highlight Capital  One Financial. Capital One is one of
the largest  issuers of  Visa and  Mastercard credit  cards. Despite  its  solid
earnings  performance and  a history of  consistently high return  on equity, we
believe   Capital    One    still    trades    below    the    market    average
 
                                                                              17
<PAGE>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Partners Trust (Cont'd)
price/earnings  multiple.  Credit  cards  have  continued  to  gain  share  as a
percentage of personal consumption expenditures, leading to what we perceive  as
favorable industry growth trends. Furthermore, the company's conservative credit
line  policy, which includes low average  credit lines and balances, should keep
charge-offs below industry averages.
  On the other side of the ledger, our investments in deep cyclical  industries,
such  as steel and  non-ferrous metals underperfomed the  rest of the portfolio.
The industries were hurt as investors had anticipated a slowing economy.
  In order  to buy  quality companies  at bargain  prices, value  managers  like
ourselves often have to buy during periods of real or perceived crisis. Our goal
is  to analyze a company's problems  to see if there is  light at the end of the
tunnel. For instance, we recently  bought McDonald's. McDonald's stock has  been
under  a  lot  of pressure  due  to  slower growth  in  its  domestic restaurant
business. However, internationally McDonald's has boomed. It is one of the  most
recognized  brand names  in the world  and international expansion  has been the
real growth engine for the company -- a factor overlooked by the market.
  The fund's strong performance in the  first half of fiscal 1997 reaffirms  our
faith in the value discipline. We are confident that buying great companies when
they are cheap will continue to reward our shareholders.
 
The composition, industries and holdings of the portfolio are subject to change.
Partners  Trust's portfolio is invested in a wide array of stocks, and no single
holding makes up more than a small fraction of the portfolio's total assets.
 
Please remember that past performance is not indicative of future results.
 
18
<PAGE>
                 (This page has been left blank intentionally.)
 
                                                                              19
<PAGE>
STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
Neuberger&Berman
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Equity Trust
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        FOCUS           GENESIS
(000'S OMITTED EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)                TRUST            TRUST
                                                    -------------------------------
<S>                                                 <C>              <C>
ASSETS
      Investment in corresponding Portfolio, at
        value (Note A)                              $      107,555   $     135,866
      Deferred organization costs (Note A)                      15              15
      Receivable for Trust shares sold                         243             506
                                                    -------------------------------
                                                           107,813         136,387
                                                    -------------------------------
LIABILITIES
      Payable for Trust shares redeemed                        342             209
      Payable to administrator -- net (Note B)                  24              48
      Accrued expenses                                          35              28
                                                    -------------------------------
                                                               401             285
                                                    -------------------------------
NET ASSETS at value                                 $      107,412   $     136,102
                                                    -------------------------------
 
NET ASSETS consist of:
      Par value                                     $            6   $           8
      Paid-in capital in excess of par value                89,813         115,669
      Accumulated undistributed net investment
        income (loss)                                          (21)           (117)
      Accumulated net realized gains on investment             938             295
      Net unrealized appreciation in value of
        investment                                          16,676          20,247
                                                    -------------------------------
NET ASSETS at value                                 $      107,412   $     136,102
                                                    -------------------------------
 
SHARES OUTSTANDING
      ($.001 par value; unlimited shares
        authorized)                                          5,956           8,182
                                                    -------------------------------
 
NET ASSET VALUE, offering and redemption price per
  share                                                     $18.03          $16.63
                                                    -------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
20
<PAGE>
                                                   February 28, 1997 (Unaudited)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Equity Trust
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       GUARDIAN        MANHATTAN         PARTNERS
                                                        TRUST            TRUST            TRUST
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                 <C>              <C>              <C>
ASSETS
      Investment in corresponding Portfolio, at
        value (Note A)                              $   1,767,445    $      42,550    $     267,185
      Deferred organization costs (Note A)                     14               15               15
      Receivable for Trust shares sold                      2,195               73            1,268
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
                                                        1,769,654           42,638          268,468
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
LIABILITIES
      Payable for Trust shares redeemed                     2,545              132              152
      Payable to administrator -- net (Note B)                557                5               70
      Accrued expenses                                        125               34               34
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
                                                            3,227              171              256
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
NET ASSETS at value                                 $   1,766,427    $      42,467    $     268,212
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
 
NET ASSETS consist of:
      Par value                                     $         105    $           3    $          17
      Paid-in capital in excess of par value            1,393,139           32,905          227,285
      Accumulated undistributed net investment
        income (loss)                                        (163)            (107)             148
      Accumulated net realized gains on investment         24,677            2,173            7,182
      Net unrealized appreciation in value of
        investment                                        348,669            7,493           33,580
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
NET ASSETS at value                                 $   1,766,427    $      42,467    $     268,212
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
 
SHARES OUTSTANDING
      ($.001 par value; unlimited shares
        authorized)                                       105,192            3,099           16,991
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
 
NET ASSET VALUE, offering and redemption price per
share                                                      $16.79           $13.70           $15.79
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                                                                              21
<PAGE>
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Neuberger&Berman
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Equity Trust
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       FOCUS         GENESIS
(000'S OMITTED)                                        TRUST          TRUST
                                                    ---------------------------
<S>                                                 <C>            <C>
INVESTMENT INCOME
    Investment income from corresponding Portfolio
      (Note A)                                      $        464   $       513
                                                    ---------------------------
    Expenses:
      Administration fee (Note B)                            165           193
      Amortization of deferred organization and
        initial offering expenses (Note A)                     4             4
      Auditing fees                                            3             3
      Custodian fees                                           5             5
      Legal fees                                              11            11
      Registration and filing fees                            21            18
      Shareholder reports                                     22            17
      Shareholder servicing agent fees                        12             9
      Trustees' fees and expenses                             --             1
      Miscellaneous                                            1             1
      Expenses from corresponding Portfolio (Notes
        A & B)                                               222           384
                                                    ---------------------------
        Total expenses                                       466           646
      Deduct -- expenses reimbursed by
        administrator (Note B)                               (67)          (16)
                                                    ---------------------------
        Total net expenses                                   399           630
                                                    ---------------------------
        Net investment income (loss)                          65          (117)
                                                    ---------------------------
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS
  FROM CORRESPONDING PORTFOLIO (NOTE A)
    Net realized gain on investment securities             1,187           377
    Net realized loss on option contracts written            (36)           --
    Change in net unrealized appreciation of
      investment securities and option contracts
      written                                             14,575         8,701
                                                    ---------------------------
        Net gain on investments from corresponding
          Portfolio (Note A)                              15,726         9,078
                                                    ---------------------------
        Net increase in net assets resulting from
          operations                                $     15,791   $     8,961
                                                    ---------------------------
</TABLE>
 
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
22
<PAGE>
                          For the Six Months Ended February 28, 1997 (Unaudited)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Equity Trust
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      GUARDIAN         MANHATTAN         PARTNERS
                                                       TRUST             TRUST             TRUST
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                 <C>            <C>                 <C>
INVESTMENT INCOME
    Investment income from corresponding Portfolio
      (Note A)                                      $    10,599      $         130     $      1,329
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
    Expenses:
      Administration fee (Note B)                         3,098                 86              359
      Amortization of deferred organization and
        initial offering expenses (Note A)                    5                  4                4
      Auditing fees                                           2                  4                2
      Custodian fees                                          5                  5                5
      Legal fees                                             14                 11               11
      Registration and filing fees                          109                 13               33
      Shareholder reports                                   125                 19               26
      Shareholder servicing agent fees                       13                 10                9
      Trustees' fees and expenses                             9                  1                1
      Miscellaneous                                           7                 --                1
      Expenses from corresponding Portfolio (Notes
        A & B)                                            3,555                128              443
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
        Total expenses                                    6,942                281              894
      Deduct -- expenses reimbursed by
        administrator (Note B)                               --                (44)             (72)
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
        Total net expenses                                6,942                237              822
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
        Net investment income (loss)                      3,657               (107)             507
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS
  FROM CORRESPONDING PORTFOLIO (NOTE A)
    Net realized gain on investment securities           26,193              3,412            8,593
    Net realized loss on option contracts written          (662)                --               --
    Change in net unrealized appreciation of
      investment securities and option contracts
      written                                           250,381              4,943           25,854
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
        Net gain on investments from corresponding
          Portfolio (Note A)                            275,912              8,355           34,447
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
        Net increase in net assets resulting from
          operations                                $   279,569      $       8,248     $     34,954
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                                                                              23
<PAGE>
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
Neuberger&Berman
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Equity Trust
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   FOCUS TRUST                    GENESIS TRUST
                                           Six Months                      Six Months
                                              Ended           Year            Ended           Year
                                          February 28,        Ended       February 28,        Ended
                                              1997         August 31,         1997         August 31,
(000'S OMITTED)                            (UNAUDITED)        1996         (UNAUDITED)        1996
                                          -------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                       <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS:
 
FROM OPERATIONS:
    Net investment income (loss)          $         65    $        230    $       (117)   $       (104)
    Net realized gain (loss) on
      investments from corresponding
      Portfolio (Note A)                         1,151            (313)            377           1,183
    Change in net unrealized
      appreciation of investments from
      corresponding Portfolio (Note A)          14,575             488           8,701           6,518
                                          -------------------------------------------------------------
    Net increase (decrease) in net
      assets resulting from operations          15,791             405           8,961           7,597
                                          -------------------------------------------------------------
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM:
    Net investment income                         (289)            (33)             --              --
    Net realized gain on investments                --            (133)           (846)           (822)
                                          -------------------------------------------------------------
    Total distributions to shareholders           (289)           (166)           (846)           (822)
                                          -------------------------------------------------------------
FROM TRUST SHARE TRANSACTIONS:
    Proceeds from shares sold                   58,758          59,911          75,527          30,213
    Proceeds from reinvestment of
      dividends and distributions                  289             161             846             822
    Payments for shares redeemed               (22,750)        (19,169)        (13,622)         (3,211)
                                          -------------------------------------------------------------
    Net increase (decrease) from Trust
      share transactions                        36,297          40,903          62,751          27,824
                                          -------------------------------------------------------------
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS           51,799          41,142          70,866          34,599
NET ASSETS:
    Beginning of period                         55,613          14,471          65,236          30,637
                                          -------------------------------------------------------------
    End of period                         $    107,412    $     55,613    $    136,102    $     65,236
                                          -------------------------------------------------------------
    Accumulated undistributed net
      investment income (loss) at end of
      period                              $        (21)   $        203    $       (117)   $         --
                                          -------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF TRUST SHARES:
    Sold                                         3,521           4,038           4,597           2,095
    Issued on reinvestment of dividends
      and distributions                             17              11              51              64
    Redeemed                                    (1,332)         (1,303)           (819)           (227)
                                          -------------------------------------------------------------
    Net increase (decrease) in shares
      outstanding                                2,206           2,746           3,829           1,932
                                          -------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
24
<PAGE>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Equity Trust
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                            PARTNERS
                                                 GUARDIAN TRUST                  MANHATTAN TRUST              TRUST
                                           Six Months                      Six Months                      Six Months
                                              Ended           Year            Ended           Year            Ended
                                          February 28,        Ended       February 28,        Ended       February 28,
                                              1997         August 31,         1997         August 31,         1997
                                           (UNAUDITED)        1996         (UNAUDITED)        1996         (UNAUDITED)
                                          -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                       <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS:
 
FROM OPERATIONS:
    Net investment income (loss)          $      3,657    $      13,233   $       (107)   $       (172)   $        507
    Net realized gain (loss) on
      investments from corresponding
      Portfolio (Note A)                        25,531           24,032          3,412           1,705           8,593
    Change in net unrealized
      appreciation of investments from
      corresponding Portfolio (Note A)         250,381            8,398          4,943          (3,356)         25,854
                                          -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Net increase (decrease) in net
      assets resulting from operations         279,569           45,663          8,248          (1,823)         34,954
                                          -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM:
    Net investment income                       (7,800)          (9,999)            --              --            (962)
    Net realized gain on investments           (22,820)         (10,557)        (2,874)         (1,370)         (7,693)
                                          -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total distributions to shareholders        (30,620)         (20,556)        (2,874)         (1,370)         (8,655)
                                          -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
FROM TRUST SHARE TRANSACTIONS:
    Proceeds from shares sold                  321,151          854,807          7,284          24,466         123,321
    Proceeds from reinvestment of
      dividends and distributions               30,615           20,520          2,874           1,370           8,113
    Payments for shares redeemed              (174,376)        (243,412)       (21,263)        (10,026)        (17,972)
                                          -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Net increase (decrease) from Trust
      share transactions                       177,390          631,915        (11,105)         15,810         113,462
                                          -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS          426,339          657,022         (5,731)         12,617         139,761
NET ASSETS:
    Beginning of period                      1,340,088          683,066         48,198          35,581         128,451
                                          -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    End of period                         $  1,766,427    $   1,340,088   $     42,467    $     48,198    $    268,212
                                          -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Accumulated undistributed net
      investment income (loss) at end of
      period                              $       (163)   $       3,980   $       (107)   $         --    $        148
                                          -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF TRUST SHARES:
    Sold                                        20,162           60,492            544           1,900           8,048
    Issued on reinvestment of dividends
      and distributions                          1,928            1,469            226             110             538
    Redeemed                                   (11,028)         (17,232)        (1,627)           (792)         (1,187)
                                          -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Net increase (decrease) in shares
      outstanding                               11,062           44,729           (857)          1,218           7,399
                                          -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                              Year
                                              Ended
                                           August 31,
                                              1996
 
<S>                                       <C>
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS:
FROM OPERATIONS:
    Net investment income (loss)          $        726
    Net realized gain (loss) on
      investments from corresponding
      Portfolio (Note A)                         7,827
    Change in net unrealized
      appreciation of investments from
      corresponding Portfolio (Note A)             212
 
    Net increase (decrease) in net
      assets resulting from operations           8,765
 
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM:
    Net investment income                         (364)
    Net realized gain on investments            (4,629)
 
    Total distributions to shareholders         (4,993)
 
FROM TRUST SHARE TRANSACTIONS:
    Proceeds from shares sold                   75,478
    Proceeds from reinvestment of
      dividends and distributions                4,893
    Payments for shares redeemed               (17,026)
 
    Net increase (decrease) from Trust
      share transactions                        63,345
 
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS           67,117
NET ASSETS:
    Beginning of period                         61,334
 
    End of period                         $    128,451
 
    Accumulated undistributed net
      investment income (loss) at end of
      period                              $        603
 
NUMBER OF TRUST SHARES:
    Sold                                         5,647
    Issued on reinvestment of dividends
      and distributions                            394
    Redeemed                                    (1,287)
 
    Net increase (decrease) in shares
      outstanding                                4,754
 
</TABLE>
 
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                                                                              25
<PAGE>
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Neuberger&Berman                                   February 28, 1997 (Unaudited)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Equity Trust
 
NOTE A -- SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
1) GENERAL: Neuberger&Berman Focus Trust ("Focus"), Neuberger&Berman Genesis
   Trust ("Genesis"), Neuberger&Berman Guardian Trust ("Guardian"),
   Neuberger&Berman Manhattan Trust ("Manhattan"), and Neuberger&Berman Partners
   Trust ("Partners") (collectively, the "Funds") are separate operating series
   of Neuberger&Berman Equity Trust (the "Trust"), a Delaware business trust
   organized pursuant to a Trust Instrument dated May 6, 1993. The Trust is
   registered as a diversified, open-end management investment company under the
   Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and its shares are registered
   under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The trustees of the Trust may
   establish additional series or classes of shares without the approval of
   shareholders.
      The assets of each series belong only to that series, and the liabilities
   of each series are borne solely by that series and no other.
      Each Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing all of
   its net investable assets in its corresponding Portfolio of Equity Managers
   Trust (each a "Portfolio") having the same investment objective and policies
   as the Fund. The value of each Fund's investment in its corresponding
   Portfolio reflects that Fund's proportionate interest in the net assets of
   that Portfolio (8.03%, 26.59%, 23.42%, 7.32%, and 9.97%, for Focus, Genesis,
   Guardian, Manhattan, and Partners, respectively, at February 28, 1997). The
   performance of each Fund is directly affected by the performance of its
   corresponding Portfolio. The financial statements of each Portfolio,
   including the Schedule of Investments, are included elsewhere in this report
   and should be read in conjunction with the corresponding Fund's financial
   statements.
2) PORTFOLIO VALUATION: Each Fund records its investment in its corresponding
   Portfolio at value. Investment securities held by each Portfolio are valued
   by Equity Managers Trust as indicated in the notes following the Portfolios'
   Schedule of Investments.
3) FEDERAL INCOME TAXES: Each series of the Trust is treated as a separate
   entity for Federal income tax purposes. It is the policy of each Fund to
   continue to qualify as a regulated investment company by complying with the
   provisions available to certain investment companies, as defined in
   applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code, and to make distributions
   of investment company taxable income and net capital gains (after reduction
   for any amounts available for Federal income
 
26
<PAGE>
   tax purposes as capital loss carryforwards) sufficient to relieve it from
   all, or substantially all, Federal income taxes. Accordingly, each Fund paid
   no Federal income taxes and no provision for Federal income taxes was
   required.
4) DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS: Each Fund earns income, net of
   Portfolio expenses, daily on its investment in its corresponding Portfolio.
   Dividends and distributions from net realized capital gains, if any, are
   normally distributed in December. Guardian generally distributes
   substantially all of its net investment income, if any, at the end of each
   calendar quarter. Income dividends and capital gain distributions to
   shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. To the extent each Fund's
   net realized capital gains, if any, can be offset by capital loss
   carryforwards ($169,636 expiring in 2004, for Focus, determined as of August
   31, 1996), it is the policy of each Fund not to distribute such gains.
      Each Fund distinguishes between dividends on a tax basis and a financial
   reporting basis and only distributions in excess of tax basis earnings and
   profits are reported in the financial statements as a return of capital.
   Differences in the recognition or classification of income between the
   financial statements and tax earnings and profits which result in temporary
   over-distributions for financial statement purposes are classified as
   distributions in excess of net investment income or accumulated net realized
   gains.
5) ORGANIZATION EXPENSES: Expenses incurred by each Fund in connection with its
   organization are being amortized by that Fund on a straight-line basis over a
   five-year period. At February 28, 1997, the unamortized balance of such
   expenses amounted to $14,625, $14,517, $13,879, $14,624, and $14,626, for
   Focus, Genesis, Guardian, Manhattan, and Partners, respectively.
6) EXPENSE ALLOCATION: Each Fund bears all costs of its operations. Expenses
   incurred by the Trust with respect to any two or more Funds are allocated in
   proportion to the net assets of such Funds, except where a more appropriate
   allocation of expenses to each Fund can otherwise be made fairly. Expenses
   directly attributable to a Fund are charged to that Fund.
7) OTHER: All net investment income and realized and unrealized capital gains
   and losses of each Portfolio are allocated pro rata among its respective
   Funds and any other investors in the Portfolio.
 
NOTE B -- ADMINISTRATION FEES, DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS, AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS
          WITH AFFILIATES:
   Each Fund retains Neuberger&Berman Management Incorporated ("Management") as
its administrator under an Administration Agreement ("Agreement") dated as of
August 3, 1993. Pursuant to this Agreement each Fund pays Management an
administration fee at the annual rate of .40% of that Fund's average daily net
assets. Each Fund indirectly pays for investment management services through its
investment in its corresponding Portfolio (see Note B of Notes to Financial
Statements of the Portfolios). The Agreement provides that, if with respect to
any fiscal year of each
 
                                                                              27
<PAGE>
Fund, its total operating expenses plus its pro rata portion of its
corresponding Portfolio's operating expenses (including the fees payable to
Management but excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, and
extraordinary expenses) ("Operating Expenses") exceed the most restrictive of
the expense limitations imposed by securities laws of the states in which such
Fund's shares are qualified for sale, the administration fees for that fiscal
year will be reduced by the amount of such excess, provided that Management has
no obligation to reimburse the Fund for any such expenses that exceed the
administration fee. The most restrictive expense limitation applicable during
the six months ended February 28, 1997, to which each Fund was subject, was
2 1/2% of the first $30 million of average daily net assets, 2% of the next $70
million of average daily net assets, and 1 1/2% of any additional average daily
net assets. No reduction in the administration fee as a result of any state
expense limitation was required for the six months ended February 28, 1997.
Currently, there are no state expense limitations applicable to any Fund.
   Management has voluntarily undertaken (subject to termination upon 60 days'
prior written notice), to reimburse each Fund for its Operating Expenses which,
in the aggregate, exceed by more than .10% the expense ratio per annum of a
certain other mutual fund ("Sister Fund") which also invests in the same
Portfolio. For the six months ended February 28, 1997, expenses (net of
reimbursement) incurred by each Fund amounted to .97%, 1.31%, .90%, 1.10%, and
 .92%, of average daily net assets on an annualized basis for Focus, Genesis,
Guardian, Manhattan, and Partners, respectively.
   All of the capital stock of Management is owned by individuals who are also
principals of Neuberger&Berman, LLC ("Neuberger"), a member firm of The New York
Stock Exchange and sub-adviser to each Portfolio. Several individuals who are
officers and/or trustees of the Trust are also principals of Neuberger and/or
officers and/or directors of Management.
   Each Fund also has a distribution agreement with Management. Management
receives no compensation therefor and no commissions for sales or redemptions of
shares of beneficial interest of each Fund.
   Each Portfolio has an expense offset arrangement in connection with its
custodian contract. The impact of this arrangement, reflected in the Statements
of Operations under the caption Expenses from corresponding Portfolio, was a
reduction of $63, $1,086, $357, and $69 for Focus, Genesis, Guardian, and
Partners, respectively, which is less than .01% of each Fund's average daily net
assets.
 
28
<PAGE>
NOTE C -- INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS:
   During the six months ended February 28, 1997, additions and reductions in
each Fund's investment in its corresponding Portfolio were as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   ADDITIONS        REDUCTIONS
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>               <C>
FOCUS                                            $  51,628,802     $14,207,132
GENESIS                                             65,591,319       4,118,290
GUARDIAN                                           193,705,836      43,829,954
MANHATTAN                                            4,257,365      20,278,005
PARTNERS                                           107,467,786       4,128,001
</TABLE>
 
NOTE D -- UNAUDITED FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
   The financial information included in this interim report is taken from the
records of each Fund without audit by independent accountants/auditors. Annual
reports contain audited financial statements.
 
                                                                              29
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Neuberger&Berman
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Focus Trust(1)
   The following table includes selected data for a share outstanding throughout
each period and other performance information derived from the Financial
Statements. The per share amounts and ratios which are shown reflect income and
expenses, including the Fund's proportionate share of its corresponding
Portfolio's income and expenses. It should be read in conjunction with its
corresponding Portfolio's Financial Statements and notes thereto.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                            Period
                                                                                             from
                                              Six                                           August
                                            Months                                            30,
                                             Ended                                          1993(2)
                                            February                                          to
                                            28,                                             August
                                             1997            Year Ended August 31,            31,
                                            (UNAUDITED)  1996        1995        1994        1993
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period        $14.83      $ 14.41     $ 11.36     $ 10.03     $10.00
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
Income From Investment Operations
    Net Investment Income                      .00          .06         .05         .05         --
    Net Gains or Losses on Securities
     (both realized and unrealized)           3.26          .46        3.05        1.31        .03
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
      Total From Investment Operations        3.26          .52        3.10        1.36        .03
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
Less Distributions
    Dividends (from net investment
     income)                                  (.06)        (.02)       (.05)       (.02)        --
    Distributions (from capital gains)          --         (.08)         --        (.01)        --
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
      Total Distributions                     (.06)        (.10)       (.05)       (.03)        --
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
Net Asset Value, End of Period              $18.03      $ 14.83     $ 14.41     $ 11.36     $10.03
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
Total Return(3)                             +22.01%(4)    +3.62%     +27.44%     +13.58%     +0.30%(4)
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
Ratios/Supplemental Data
    Net Assets, End of Period (in
     millions)                              $107.4      $  55.6     $  14.5     $   1.6     $   --
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
    Ratio of Expenses to Average Net
     Assets(5)                                 .97%(6)      .99%        .96%        .85%       .92%(6)
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
    Ratio of Net Investment Income to
     Average Net Assets(5)                     .16%(6)      .63%        .67%        .92%       .05%(6)
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
 
30
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Neuberger&Berman
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Genesis Trust
   The following table includes selected data for a share outstanding throughout
each period and other performance information derived from the Financial
Statements. The per share amounts and ratios which are shown reflect income and
expenses, including the Fund's proportionate share of its corresponding
Portfolio's income and expenses. It should be read in conjunction with its
corresponding Portfolio's Financial Statements and notes thereto.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                            Period
                                                                                             from
                                              Six                                           August
                                            Months                                            26,
                                             Ended                                          1993(2)
                                            February                                          to
                                            28,                                             August
                                             1997            Year Ended August 31,            31,
                                            (UNAUDITED)  1996        1995        1994        1993
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period        $14.99      $ 12.65     $ 10.59     $ 10.05     $10.00
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
Income From Investment Operations
    Net Investment Income (Loss)              (.01)        (.02)       (.01)       (.01)        --
    Net Gains or Losses on Securities
     (both realized and unrealized)           1.79         2.68        2.08         .56        .05
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
      Total From Investment Operations        1.78         2.66        2.07         .55        .05
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
Less Distributions
    Distributions (from capital gains)        (.14)        (.32)       (.01)       (.01)        --
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
Net Asset Value, End of Period              $16.63      $ 14.99     $ 12.65     $ 10.59     $10.05
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
Total Return(3)                             +11.88%(4)   +21.44%     +19.51%      +5.47%     +0.50%(4)
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
Ratios/Supplemental Data
    Net Assets, End of Period (in
     millions)                              $136.1      $  65.2     $  30.6     $   3.1     $   --
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
    Ratio of Expenses to Average Net
     Assets(5)                                1.31%(6)     1.38%       1.42%       1.36%      1.51%(6)
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
    Ratio of Net Investment Income
     (Loss) to Average Net Assets(5)          (.24%)(6)    (.27%)      (.24%)      (.21%)     (.44%)(6)
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
 
                                                                              31
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Neuberger&Berman
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Guardian Trust
   The following table includes selected data for a share outstanding throughout
each period and other performance information derived from the Financial
Statements. The per share amounts and ratios which are shown reflect income and
expenses, including the Fund's proportionate share of its corresponding
Portfolio's income and expenses. It should be read in conjunction with its
corresponding Portfolio's Financial Statements and notes thereto.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                              Period
                                                                                               from
                                              Six                                             August
                                             Months                                             3,
                                             Ended                                            1993(2)
                                            February                                            to
                                              28,                                             August
                                              1997            Year Ended August 31,             31,
                                            (UNAUDITED)    1996        1995        1994        1993
                                            ---------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>          <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period        $ 14.24      $  13.83     $ 11.27     $ 10.27     $10.00
                                            ---------------------------------------------------------
Income From Investment Operations
    Net Investment Income                       .04           .16         .13         .09         --
    Net Gains or Losses on Securities
     (both realized and unrealized)            2.82           .55        2.55         .99        .27
                                            ---------------------------------------------------------
      Total From Investment Operations         2.86           .71        2.68        1.08        .27
                                            ---------------------------------------------------------
Less Distributions
    Dividends (from net investment
     income)                                   (.08)         (.14)       (.12)       (.07)        --
    Distributions (from capital gains)         (.23)         (.16)         --        (.01)        --
                                            ---------------------------------------------------------
      Total Distributions                      (.31)         (.30)       (.12)       (.08)        --
                                            ---------------------------------------------------------
Net Asset Value, End of Period              $ 16.79      $  14.24     $ 13.83     $ 11.27     $10.27
                                            ---------------------------------------------------------
Total Return(3)                              +20.21%(4)     +5.19%     +24.01%     +10.57%     +2.70%(4)
                                            ---------------------------------------------------------
Ratios/Supplemental Data
    Net Assets, End of Period (in
     millions)                              $1,766.4     $1,340.1     $ 683.1     $  75.8     $   --
                                            ---------------------------------------------------------
    Ratio of Expenses to Average Net
     Assets                                     .90%(6)       .92%(5)     .90%(5)     .80%(5)    .81%(5)(6)
                                            ---------------------------------------------------------
    Ratio of Net Investment Income to
     Average Net Assets                         .47%(6)      1.26%(5)    1.35%(5)    1.50%(5)   1.00%(5)(6)
                                            ---------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
 
32
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Neuberger&Berman
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Manhattan Trust
   The following table includes selected data for a share outstanding throughout
each period and other performance information derived from the Financial
Statements. The per share amounts and ratios which are shown reflect income and
expenses, including the Fund's proportionate share of its corresponding
Portfolio's income and expenses. It should be read in conjunction with its
corresponding Portfolio's Financial Statements and notes thereto.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                            Period
                                                                                             from
                                              Six                                           August
                                            Months                                            30,
                                             Ended                                          1993(2)
                                            February                                          to
                                            28,                                             August
                                             1997            Year Ended August 31,            31,
                                            (UNAUDITED)  1996        1995        1994        1993
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period        $12.18      $ 12.99     $ 10.37     $ 10.01     $10.00
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
Income From Investment Operations
    Net Investment Income (Loss)              (.03)        (.04)         --         .01         --
    Net Gains or Losses on Securities
     (both realized and unrealized)           2.47         (.34)       2.67         .36        .01
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
      Total From Investment Operations        2.44         (.38)       2.67         .37        .01
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
Less Distributions
    Dividends (from net investment
     income)                                    --           --        (.01)       (.01)        --
    Distributions (from capital gains)        (.92)        (.43)       (.04)         --         --
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
      Total Distributions                     (.92)        (.43)       (.05)       (.01)        --
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
Net Asset Value, End of Period              $13.70      $ 12.18     $ 12.99     $ 10.37     $10.01
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
Total Return(3)                             +20.61%(4)    -2.98%     +25.90%      +3.70%     +0.10%(4)
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
Ratios/Supplemental Data
    Net Assets, End of Period (in
     millions)                              $ 42.5      $  48.2     $  35.6     $  12.1     $   --
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
    Ratio of Expenses to Average Net
     Assets(5)                                1.10%(6)     1.08%       1.06%        .96%      1.04%(6)
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
    Ratio of Net Investment Income
     (Loss) to Average Net Assets(5)          (.50%)(6)    (.38%)      (.03%)       .16%      5.48%(6)
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
 
                                                                              33
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Neuberger&Berman
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Partners Trust
   The following table includes selected data for a share outstanding throughout
each period and other performance information derived from the Financial
Statements. The per share amounts and ratios which are shown reflect income and
expenses, including the Fund's proportionate share of its corresponding
Portfolio's income and expenses. It should be read in conjunction with its
corresponding Portfolio's Financial Statements and notes thereto.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                            Period
                                                                                             from
                                              Six                                           August
                                            Months                                            30,
                                             Ended                                          1993(2)
                                            February                                          to
                                            28,                                             August
                                             1997            Year Ended August 31,            31,
                                            (UNAUDITED)  1996        1995        1994        1993
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period        $13.39      $ 12.68     $ 10.54     $ 10.01     $10.00
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
Income From Investment Operations
    Net Investment Income                      .03          .08         .05         .03         --
    Net Gains or Losses on Securities
     (both realized and unrealized)           3.09         1.59        2.19         .53        .01
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
      Total From Investment Operations        3.12         1.67        2.24         .56        .01
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
Less Distributions
    Dividends (from net investment
     income)                                  (.08)        (.07)       (.02)       (.01)        --
    Distributions (from capital gains)        (.64)        (.89)       (.08)       (.02)        --
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
      Total Distributions                     (.72)        (.96)       (.10)       (.03)        --
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
Net Asset Value, End of Period              $15.79      $ 13.39     $ 12.68     $ 10.54     $10.01
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
Total Return(3)                             +23.55%(4)   +13.76%     +21.52%      +5.61%     +0.10%(4)
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
Ratios/Supplemental Data
    Net Assets, End of Period (in
     millions)                              $268.2      $ 128.5     $  61.3     $   4.7     $   --
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
    Ratio of Expenses to Average Net
     Assets(5)                                 .92%(6)      .94%        .92%        .81%       .84%(6)
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
    Ratio of Net Investment Income to
     Average Net Assets(5)                     .56%(6)      .84%        .81%        .47%      2.65%(6)
                                            -------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
 
34
<PAGE>
NOTES TO FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Neuberger&Berman                                   February 28, 1997 (Unaudited)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Equity Trust
1) Prior to January 1, 1995, its name was Neuberger&Berman Selected Sectors
   Trust.
2) The date investment operations commenced.
3) Total return based on per share net asset value reflects the effects of
   changes in net asset value on the performance of each Fund during each fiscal
   period and assumes dividends and other distributions, if any, were
   reinvested. Results represent past performance and do not guarantee future
   results. Investment returns and principal may fluctuate and shares when
   redeemed may be worth more or less than original cost. Total return would
   have been lower if Management had not reimbursed certain expenses. In
   addition, for Genesis, total return would have been lower if Management had
   not waived a portion of the management fee.
4) Not annualized.
5) After reimbursement of expenses by Management as described in Note B of Notes
   to Financial Statements. Had Management not undertaken such action the
   annualized ratios to average daily net assets would have been:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         Period
                                                                                         from
                                                                                         August
                                                  Six                                     30,
                                                 Months                                  1993
                                                 Ended                                    to
                                                 February                                August
                                                 28,         Year Ended August 31,       31,
FOCUS                                            1997      1996      1995      1994      1993
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
Expenses                                         1.13%     1.27%     2.50%     2.50%     2.50%
                                                 ---------------------------------------------
Net Investment Income (Loss)                     .00%       .35%     (.87%)    (.73%)    (1.53%)
                                                 ---------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             Period
                                                                             from
                                                                             August
                                                                              3,
                                                                             1993
                                                                              to
                                                                             August
                                                  Year Ended August 31,      31,
GUARDIAN                                         1996    1995      1994      1993
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>     <C>       <C>       <C>
Expenses                                         .92%     .96%     1.52%     2.50%
                                                 ---------------------------------
Net Investment Income (Loss)                     1.26%   1.29%      .78%     (.69%)
                                                 ---------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         Period
                                                                                         from
                                                                                         August
                                                  Six                                     30,
                                                 Months                                  1993
                                                 Ended                                    to
                                                 February                                August
                                                 28,         Year Ended August 31,       31,
MANHATTAN                                        1997      1996      1995      1994      1993
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
Expenses                                         1.31%     1.25%     1.46%     2.50%     2.50%
                                                 ---------------------------------------------
Net Investment Income (Loss)                     (.71%)    (.55%)    (.43%)    (1.38%)   4.02%
                                                 ---------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
                                                                              35
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         Period
                                                                                         from
                                                                                         August
                                                  Six                                     30,
                                                 Months                                  1993
                                                 Ended                                    to
                                                 February                                August
                                                 28,         Year Ended August 31,       31,
PARTNERS                                         1997      1996      1995      1994      1993
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
Expenses                                         1.00%     1.06%     1.24%     2.50%     2.50%
                                                 ---------------------------------------------
Net Investment Income (Loss)                     .48%       .72%      .49%     (1.22%)   .99%
                                                 ---------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
   After reimbursement of expenses by Management as described in Note B of Notes
to Financial Statements and the waiver of a portion of the management fee as
described in Note B of Notes to Financial Statements of Neuberger&Berman Genesis
Portfolio. Had Management not undertaken such action the annualized ratios to
average daily net assets would have been:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         Period
                                                                                         from
                                                                                         August
                                                  Six                                     26,
                                                 Months                                  1993
                                                 Ended                                    to
                                                 February                                August
                                                 28,         Year Ended August 31,       31,
GENESIS                                          1997      1996      1995      1994      1993
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
Expenses                                         1.44%     1.65%     1.78%     2.50%     2.50%
                                                 ---------------------------------------------
Net Investment Loss                              (.37%)    (.54%)    (.60%)    (1.35%)   (1.43%)
                                                 ---------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
6) Annualized.
 
36
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
Neuberger&Berman                                   February 28, 1997 (Unaudited)
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Focus Portfolio
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                   TOP TEN EQUITY HOLDINGS
     ---------------------------------------------------
     HOLDING                                   PERCENTAGE
<C>  <S>                                       <C>
 1.  CITICORP                                        4.1%
 2.  General Motors                                  3.8%
 3.  Compaq Computer                                 3.6%
 4.  Travelers Group                                 3.3%
 5.  Aetna Inc.                                      3.2%
 6.  Chrysler Corp.                                  3.2%
 7.  Neiman-Marcus Group                             3.1%
 8.  Fannie Mae                                      3.0%
 9.  Wellpoint Health Networks                       2.8%
10.  First USA                                       2.8%
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               Market
                                              Value(1)
  Number                                       (000's
of Shares                                     omitted)
- ----------                                  ------------
<C>         <S>                             <C>
COMMON STOCKS (99.1%)
AUTOMOTIVE (10.5%)
   445,900  Cabot Corp.                     $    10,479
 1,246,000  Chrysler Corp.                       42,208
   723,000  Exide Corp.                          14,189
   880,000  General Motors                       50,930
   675,920  LucasVarity PLC ADR                  22,136
                                            ------------
                                                139,942
                                            ------------
FINANCIAL SERVICES (37.6%)
   472,800  ACE Ltd.                             30,732
   655,000  ADVANTA Corp. Class B                26,282
   365,200  Bank of Boston                       27,527
   735,000  Capital One Financial                29,216
   475,000  CITICORP                             55,456
 1,100,000  Countrywide Credit Industries        32,037
   525,000  Dean Witter, Discover                20,147
   285,000  EXEL Ltd.                            12,576
 1,260,000  Federal Home Loan Mortgage           37,485
 
<CAPTION>
                                               Market
                                              Value(1)
  Number                                       (000's
of Shares                                     omitted)
- ----------                                  ------------
<C>         <S>                             <C>
   992,000  Fannie Mae                       $   39,680
   780,500  First USA                            37,952
   232,200  ITT Hartford Group                   17,415
   285,000  Merrill Lynch                        27,360
   495,000  PartnerRe Ltd.                       16,335
   253,800  St. Paul Cos.                        17,131
   820,000  Travelers Group                      43,973
   105,000  Wells Fargo                          31,946
                                            ------------
                                                503,250
                                            ------------
HEALTH CARE (13.9%)
   517,000  Aetna Inc.                           42,846
   390,000  Coventry Corp.                        2,852
   802,000  Foundation Health                    30,276
   590,000  Health Systems International         17,331
   220,000  Mid Atlantic Medical Services         3,245
    25,200  PacifiCare Health Systems
             Class A                              2,016
   183,700  PacifiCare Health Systems
             Class B                             15,385
   691,000  Sierra Health Services               18,225
   326,300  United Healthcare                    16,274
   888,000  Wellpoint Health Networks            38,073
                                            ------------
                                                186,523
                                            ------------
HEAVY INDUSTRY (10.4%)
 1,030,000  AGCO Corp.                           29,226
   230,700  Cleveland-Cliffs                      9,920
   640,000  DT Industries                        18,880 (2)
   450,100  Harnischfeger Industries             19,748
   367,200  IMC Global                           12,806
 1,013,600  Rollins Truck Leasing                14,191
   804,600  UCAR International                   34,598
                                            ------------
                                                139,369
                                            ------------
</TABLE>
 
                                                                              37
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
Neuberger&Berman                                   February 28, 1997 (Unaudited)
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
          Focus Portfolio (Cont'd)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               Market
                                              Value(1)
  Number                                       (000's
of Shares                                     omitted)
- ----------                                  ------------
<C>         <S>                             <C>
MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT (2.5%)
   620,000  Cabletron Systems               $    18,600
   310,000  Harcourt General                     14,609
    63,900  Scandinavian Broadcasting
             System                                 855
                                            ------------
                                                 34,064
                                            ------------
RETAIL (9.1%)
   300,000  Barnes & Noble                        9,900
   240,000  Dillard Department Stores             7,230
 1,850,000  Furniture Brands International       27,288
   860,000  Intimate Brands                      16,770
 1,565,000  Neiman-Marcus Group                  42,059
   429,800  Payless ShoeSource                   18,481
                                            ------------
                                                121,728
                                            ------------
TECHNOLOGY (13.8%)
   410,000  3Com Corp.                           13,575
   350,000  Applied Materials                    17,719
   338,000  Arrow Electronics                    18,970
   590,000  Atmel Corp.                          22,051
   600,000  Compaq Computer                      47,550 (3)
   293,000  Komag, Inc.                           8,790
   650,000  Seagate Technology                   30,713
   385,000  Silicon Valley Group                  8,229
   222,500  Texas Instruments                    17,160
                                            ------------
                                                184,757
                                            ------------
<CAPTION>
                                               Market
                                              Value(1)
  Number                                       (000's
of Shares                                     omitted)
- ----------                                  ------------
<C>         <S>                             <C>
 
TRANSPORTATION (1.3%)
   629,400  Continental Airlines Class B    $    18,017
                                            ------------
            TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (COST
             $910,278)                        1,327,650
                                            ------------
<CAPTION>
 
Principal
  Amount
- ----------
<C>         <S>                             <C>
U.S. TREASURY SECURITIES (3.4%)
$46,055,000 U.S. Treasury Bills, 4.85% -
             4.935%, due 3/27/97 - 4/24/97
              (COST $45,825)                     45,835
                                            ------------
SHORT-TERM CORPORATE NOTES (0.8%)
10,370,000  General Electric Capital
             Corp., 5.22%, due 3/3/97
             (COST $10,370)                      10,370 (4)
                                            ------------
            TOTAL INVESTMENTS (103.3%)
             (COST $966,473)                  1,383,855 (5)
            Liabilities, less cash,
             receivables and other assets
             [(3.3%)]                           (44,573 )
                                            ------------
            TOTAL NET ASSETS (100.0%)       $ 1,339,282
                                            ------------
</TABLE>
 
SEE NOTES TO SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
 
38
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
Neuberger&Berman                                   February 28, 1997 (Unaudited)
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Genesis Portfolio
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                   TOP TEN EQUITY HOLDINGS
     ---------------------------------------------------
     HOLDING                                   PERCENTAGE
<C>  <S>                                       <C>
 1.  Thiokol Corp.                                   3.2%
 2.  BMC Industries                                  2.7%
 3.  Texas Industries                                2.4%
 4.  Bank United                                     2.1%
 5.  Dallas Semiconductor                            2.0%
 6.  Pride Petroleum Services                        1.9%
 7.  AAR Corp.                                       1.8%
 8.  AptarGroup Inc.                                 1.7%
 9.  Glendale Federal Bank                           1.5%
10.  Richfood Holdings                               1.5%
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               Market
                                              Value(1)
  Number                                       (000's
of Shares                                     omitted)
- ----------                                  -------------
<C>         <S>                             <C>
COMMON STOCKS (95.3%)
AEROSPACE (9.7%)
   368,800  AAR Corp.                       $     9,404
   663,800  Aviall Inc.                           7,385
   154,700  BE Aerospace                          3,751
   128,100  DONCASTERS PLC ADR                    2,546
   199,900  Ducommun Inc.                         4,798
    79,300  Moog, Inc. Class A                    1,883
   207,000  Orbital Sciences                      3,571
   290,700  Thiokol Corp.                        16,207
                                            -------------
                                                 49,545
                                            -------------
AGRICULTURE (0.5%)
    68,149  Delta & Pine Land                     2,530
                                            -------------
AUTOMOTIVE (1.9%)
   118,400  Donaldson Co.                         3,981
    67,800  Monaco Coach                          1,356
   115,900  Tower Automotive                      4,448
                                            -------------
                                                  9,785
                                            -------------
BANKING & FINANCIAL (14.4%)
   321,500  Bank United                          10,529
    76,150  Charter One Financial                 3,627
   180,000  Cullen/Frost Bankers                  6,424
 
<CAPTION>
                                               Market
                                              Value(1)
  Number                                       (000's
of Shares                                     omitted)
- ----------                                  -------------
<C>         <S>                             <C>
   174,600  Dime Community Bancorp            $   3,230
   156,700  First Commerce                        6,503
   290,400  Glendale Federal Bank                 7,732
    65,000  Long Island Bancorp                   2,381
   104,700  Ocean Financial                       3,180
    65,377  ONBANCorp, Inc.                       2,917
    95,000  Peoples Heritage Financial
             Group                                2,981
    46,300  Queens County Bancorp                 2,627
   182,600  Reliance Bancorp                      4,063
    55,200  Roslyn Bancorp                          862
   423,450  Sterling Bancshares                   6,352
   105,200  Texas Regional Bancshares             3,432
   170,900  Webster Financial                     6,708
                                            -------------
                                                 73,548
                                            -------------
BUILDING, CONSTRUCTION & FURNISHINGS (4.3%)
   367,200  Apogee Enterprises                    7,298
    73,000  Lincoln Electric Class A              2,391
   208,700  Texas Industries                     12,157
                                            -------------
                                                 21,846
                                            -------------
CHEMICALS (1.7%)
   214,300  Lawter International                  2,491
   232,000  Lilly Industries                      4,495
    78,300  McWhorter Technologies                1,684
                                            -------------
                                                  8,670
                                            -------------
COMMUNICATIONS (1.0%)
   170,300  Black Box                             5,152
                                            -------------
CONSUMER PRODUCTS & SERVICES (6.3%)
    92,000  Alltrista Corp.                       1,955
   120,073  Block Drug                            5,584
   123,800  Bush Boake Allen                      3,111
   133,500  Coachmen Industries                   2,703
   137,000  First Brands                          3,408
    24,000  Marcus Corp.                            522
   392,800  Prime Hospitality                     6,481
</TABLE>
 
                                                                              39
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
Neuberger&Berman
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
          Genesis Portfolio (Cont'd)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               Market
                                              Value(1)
  Number                                       (000's
of Shares                                     omitted)
- ----------                                  -------------
<C>         <S>                             <C>
   351,100  Richfood Holdings                 $   7,417
    75,000  The First Years                       1,256
                                            -------------
                                                 32,437
                                            -------------
DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT (0.7%)
   172,700  ADAC Laboratories                     3,670
                                            -------------
ELECTRONICS (6.1%)
   224,800  Continental Circuits                  3,007
   401,700  Dallas Semiconductor                 10,444
    70,500  Fusion Systems                        1,921
   160,200  Kent Electronics                      4,406
    70,000  Nu Horizons                             647
   326,800  Pioneer Standard Electronics          4,575
   119,000  SCI Systems                           6,367
                                            -------------
                                                 31,367
                                            -------------
ENERGY (4.8%)
   164,700  Apache Corp.                          5,332
   127,300  Aquila Gas Pipeline                   1,671
   182,500  Cairn Energy USA                      1,779
   623,000  Coho Energy                           4,906
    81,200  Cross Timbers Oil                     2,192
    54,200  Flores & Rucks                        2,439
   243,800  Offshore Energy Development           2,987
   409,600  Unit Corp.                            3,226
                                            -------------
                                                 24,532
                                            -------------
ENTERTAINMENT (0.1%)
   115,575  Casino Data Systems                     664
                                            -------------
HEALTH CARE (3.9%)
   123,100  Ballard Medical Products              2,416
   101,600  EmCare Holdings                       2,794
   195,100  Kinetic Concepts                      2,902
    88,100  Patterson Dental                      2,995
    91,900  Sofamor Danek Group                   3,642
   151,200  Universal Health Services
             Class B                              5,160
                                            -------------
                                                 19,909
                                            -------------
<CAPTION>
                                               Market
                                              Value(1)
  Number                                       (000's
of Shares                                     omitted)
- ----------                                  -------------
<C>         <S>                             <C>
INDUSTRIAL & COMMERCIAL
PRODUCTS & SERVICES (11.7%)
   115,000  Alamo Group                     $     1,768
   481,800  BMC Industries                       13,792
    96,500  Dionex Corp.                          4,342
   108,000  Hexcel Corp.                          2,079
   142,850  Holophane Corp.                       3,089
    85,600  Kaydon Corp.                          3,702
   134,100  Libbey Inc.                           4,023
   191,700  NN Ball & Roller                      2,157
   202,400  Peak Technologies Group               2,176
   107,000  Pentair, Inc.                         3,357
    40,000  Roper Industries                      1,610
   139,900  SOS Staffing Services                 1,731
   149,800  W.H. Brady                            3,988
    94,200  Wallace Computer Services             3,191
   168,100  Wolverine Tube                        6,178
   155,750  Woodhead Industries                   2,414
                                            -------------
                                                 59,597
                                            -------------
INSURANCE (1.5%)
    37,900  American Heritage Life                  986
   165,300  FBL Financial Group                   3,843
     2,600  MMI Cos.                                 59
    40,000  Orion Capital                         2,560
                                            -------------
                                                  7,448
                                            -------------
MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT (1.4%)
    59,000  Allied Products                       1,725
   199,800  Stewart & Stevenson Services          5,220
                                            -------------
                                                  6,945
                                            -------------
METALS (0.3%)
    92,800  Commonwealth Aluminum                 1,670
                                            -------------
OFFICE EQUIPMENT (0.8%)
   261,600  DH Technology                         4,382
                                            -------------
OIL SERVICES (13.1%)
    50,300  Cliffs Drilling                       2,333
   138,800  Dawson Production Services            1,613
</TABLE>
 
40
<PAGE>
                                                   February 28, 1997 (Unaudited)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
          Genesis Portfolio (Cont'd)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               Market
                                              Value(1)
  Number                                       (000's
of Shares                                     omitted)
- ----------                                  -------------
<C>         <S>                             <C>
   185,400  Dreco Energy Services             $   6,628
   153,900  Drilex International                  1,751
   161,000  Falcon Drilling                       5,454
   116,700  Global Industries                     2,130
    88,500  Hvide Marine                          1,836
   373,200  Nabors Industries                     5,738
   183,800  National-Oilwell                      5,652
   409,900  Oceaneering International             6,507
   311,400  Offshore Logistics                    5,683
   587,000  Pride Petroleum Services              9,832
   104,700  Production Operators                  5,117
   127,400  Smith International                   5,176
   105,100  Tuboscope VETCO                       1,366
                                            -------------
                                                 66,816
                                            -------------
PACKING & CONTAINERS (1.7%)
   214,200  AptarGroup Inc.                       8,514
                                            -------------
PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING (1.6%)
    86,000  Central Newspapers                    3,956
    87,500  McClatchy Newspapers                  2,089
    45,666  Pulitzer Publishing                   2,198
                                            -------------
                                                  8,243
                                            -------------
RECREATIONAL EQUIPMENT (0.1%)
    23,000  RockShox, Inc.                          385
                                            -------------
RETAILING (0.7%)
    90,000  99 Cents Only Stores                  1,620
   119,000  Schultz Sav-O Stores                  1,889
                                            -------------
                                                  3,509
                                            -------------
TECHNOLOGY (5.9%)
    43,800  Analysts International                1,183
   527,600  Auspex Systems                        6,133
   474,100  Borland International                 3,852
   192,600  CACI International                    3,250
   121,900  Computer Data Systems                 3,627
<CAPTION>
                                               Market
                                              Value(1)
  Number                                       (000's
of Shares                                     omitted)
- ----------                                  -------------
<C>         <S>                             <C>
    84,400  Logicon, Inc.                     $   3,186
   131,300  Methode Electronics Class A           2,084
   250,000  Reynolds & Reynolds                   7,000
                                            -------------
                                                 30,315
                                            -------------
TEXTILES & APPAREL (0.5%)
    66,000  St. John Knits                        2,706
                                            -------------
TRANSPORTATION, SHIPPING & FREIGHT (0.6%)
    52,250  Air Express International             1,620
   213,600  Maritrans Inc.                        1,308
                                            -------------
                                                  2,928
                                            -------------
            TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (COST
             $393,287)                          487,113
                                            -------------
<CAPTION>
Principal
  Amount
- ----------
<C>         <S>                             <C>
U.S. TREASURY SECURITIES (3.6%)
$18,385,000 U.S. Treasury Bills, 4.91% -
             4.975%, due 3/13/97 - 4/3/97
              (COST $18,304)                     18,309
                                            -------------
CORPORATE COMMERCIAL PAPER (0.2%)
 1,150,000  General Electric Capital
             Corp., 5.22%, due 3/3/97
             (COST $1,150)                        1,150  (4)
                                            -------------
            TOTAL INVESTMENTS (99.1%)
             (COST $412,741)                    506,572  (5)
            Cash, receivables and other
             assets, less liabilities
             (0.9%)                               4,348
                                            -------------
            TOTAL NET ASSETS (100.0%)       $   510,920
                                            -------------
</TABLE>
 
SEE NOTES TO SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
 
                                                                              41
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
Neuberger&Berman
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Guardian Portfolio
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                   TOP TEN EQUITY HOLDINGS
     ---------------------------------------------------
     HOLDING                                   PERCENTAGE
<C>  <S>                                       <C>
 1.  General Motors                                  3.2%
 2.  First USA                                       2.8%
 3.  CITICORP                                        2.8%
 4.  Aetna Inc.                                      2.7%
 5.  Chrysler Corp.                                  2.7%
 6.  Compaq Computer                                 2.4%
 7.  Foundation Health                               2.3%
 8.  Fannie Mae                                      2.2%
 9.  Merrill Lynch                                   2.0%
10.  Travelers Group                                 1.9%
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                Market
                                               Value(1)
  Number                                        (000's
 of Shares                                     omitted)
- -----------                                  ------------
<C>          <S>                             <C>
COMMON STOCKS (97.0%)
AGRICULTURE (3.0%)
  3,093,500  AGCO Corp.                      $    87,778
  3,960,000  IMC Global                          138,105
                                             ------------
                                                 225,883
                                             ------------
AUTOMOTIVE (10.7%)
  2,541,400  Cabot Corp.                          59,723
  6,000,000  Chrysler Corp.                      203,250
  4,852,400  Coltec Industries                    88,556 (2)
  4,201,500  General Motors                      243,162
  3,852,486  LucasVarity PLC ADR                 126,169
    883,500  Magna International Class A          46,384
  1,587,697  Mark IV Industries                   36,914
                                             ------------
                                                 804,158
                                             ------------
BANKING (6.9%)
  1,554,600  Bank of Boston                      117,178
  1,820,000  CITICORP                            212,485
    504,000  First Tennessee National             23,562
 
<CAPTION>
                                                Market
                                               Value(1)
  Number                                        (000's
 of Shares                                     omitted)
- -----------                                  ------------
<C>          <S>                             <C>
    720,000  Signet Banking                   $   22,860
    470,000  Wells Fargo                         142,997
                                             ------------
                                                 519,082
                                             ------------
DRUGS (0.6%)
    480,000  Zeneca Group ADR                     42,240
                                             ------------
ELECTRONICS (1.9%)
  2,210,000  Atmel Corp.                          82,599
  2,200,000  Teradyne, Inc.                       59,950
                                             ------------
                                                 142,549
                                             ------------
ENERGY (4.2%)
  3,028,500  Chesapeake Energy                    62,841
  2,062,500  Enron Oil & Gas                      41,766
     61,000  Norsk Hydro ADR                       3,050
  2,297,414  Union Pacific Resources Group        55,999
  1,670,000  Unocal Corp.                         64,504
  1,617,500  Vastar Resources                     46,908
  1,702,000  Zeigler Coal Holding                 43,188 (2)
                                             ------------
                                                 318,256
                                             ------------
FINANCIAL SERVICES (16.9%)
     30,000  ADVANTA Corp. Class A                 1,241
  3,400,000  ADVANTA Corp. Class B               136,425 (2)
    216,485  Alleghany Corp.                      46,192
  2,644,500  Capital One Financial               105,119
  4,800,000  Countrywide Credit Industries       139,800
  2,900,000  Dean Witter, Discover               111,288
  3,100,000  Federal Home Loan Mortgage           92,225
  4,080,000  Fannie Mae                          163,200
  4,388,600  First USA                           213,396
  1,121,475  MBNA Corp.                           35,887
  1,600,000  Merrill Lynch                       153,600
    390,000  MGIC Investment                      30,664
</TABLE>
 
42
<PAGE>
                                                   February 28, 1997 (Unaudited)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
          Guardian Portfolio (Cont'd)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                Market
                                               Value(1)
  Number                                        (000's
 of Shares                                     omitted)
- -----------                                  ------------
<C>          <S>                             <C>
    510,000  Security Capital Industrial
              Trust                           $   11,220
  1,040,000  Spieker Properties                   37,830
                                             ------------
                                               1,278,087
                                             ------------
FOOD PRODUCTS (1.0%)
  3,335,700  IBP, Inc.                            77,555
                                             ------------
FOREST PRODUCTS & PAPER (2.8%)
  1,105,000  Champion International               48,758
  1,200,000  Fort Howard                          35,700
    470,200  Mead Corp.                           27,389
    717,400  Temple-Inland                        39,547
    101,400  Union Camp                            4,892
    907,000  Willamette Industries                58,048
                                             ------------
                                                 214,334
                                             ------------
HEALTH CARE (6.2%)
  4,580,000  Foundation Health                   172,895 (2)
  1,875,000  Health Systems International         55,078
  4,140,400  Humana Inc.                          81,255
  1,901,800  Mid Atlantic Medical Services        28,052
     85,842  PacifiCare Health Systems
              Class A                              6,867
    357,790  PacifiCare Health Systems
              Class B                             29,965
  2,126,396  Wellpoint Health Networks            91,169
                                             ------------
                                                 465,281
                                             ------------
HEAVY INDUSTRY (2.5%)
  1,080,000  Aluminum Co. of America              76,950
  2,671,900  UCAR International                  114,892 (2)
                                             ------------
                                                 191,842
                                             ------------
<CAPTION>
                                                Market
                                               Value(1)
  Number                                        (000's
 of Shares                                     omitted)
- -----------                                  ------------
<C>          <S>                             <C>
INDUSTRIAL GOODS & SERVICES (2.6%)
  1,655,200  American Standard               $    74,484
    763,800  Phelps Dodge                         54,612
  2,002,500  USG Corp.                            70,588
                                             ------------
                                                 199,684
                                             ------------
INSURANCE (7.1%)
  2,500,000  Aetna Inc.                          207,188
    507,500  American International Group         61,407
    508,600  Chubb Corp.                          29,817
    691,600  ITT Hartford Group                   51,870
    300,000  St. Paul Cos.                        20,250
    263,500  Transatlantic Holdings               22,233
  2,726,666  Travelers Group                     146,217
                                             ------------
                                                 538,982
                                             ------------
MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT (4.4%)
  1,100,000  Comcast Corp. Class A                19,181
  2,700,000  Comcast Corp. Class A Special        48,262
  1,550,000  Harcourt General                     73,044
    710,000  Jones Intercable Inc. Class A         6,834
  1,700,000  Time Warner                          69,700
    280,000  United International Holdings         2,870
  1,300,000  Viacom Inc. Class B                  45,825
  1,405,000  Vodafone Group ADR                   66,738
                                             ------------
                                                 332,454
                                             ------------
PACKAGING & CONTAINERS (0.9%)
  2,668,700  Owens-Illinois                       64,382
                                             ------------
</TABLE>
 
                                                                              43
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
Neuberger&Berman
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
          Guardian Portfolio (Cont'd)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                Market
                                               Value(1)
  Number                                        (000's
 of Shares                                     omitted)
- -----------                                  ------------
<C>          <S>                             <C>
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (0.6%)
  1,405,000  CWM Mortgage Holdings           $    32,491
    430,400  Hospitality Properties Trust         13,934 (2)
                                             ------------
                                                  46,425
                                             ------------
RETAIL (1.8%)
    885,000  Barnes & Noble                       29,205
  1,906,500  Fingerhut Cos.                       27,883 (2)
  2,860,000  Wal-Mart Stores                      75,432
                                             ------------
                                                 132,520
                                             ------------
TECHNOLOGY (16.8%)
  2,411,800  3Com Corp.                           79,853
  1,550,000  Applied Materials                    78,469
  1,475,000  Arrow Electronics                    82,784
  1,367,500  Avnet, Inc.                          85,469
  2,864,500  Cabletron Systems                    85,935
  2,270,000  Compaq Computer                     179,898
  2,250,000  Digital Equipment                    73,687
    575,000  Intel Corp.                          81,578
  2,200,000  KLA Instruments                      91,712
  1,752,000  Komag, Inc.                          52,560
  1,208,000  Linear Technology                    54,964
  1,043,300  LSI Logic                            35,994 (3)
    203,717  Lucent Technologies                  10,975
  1,435,200  National Semiconductor               37,495
  2,570,000  Seagate Technology                  121,433
  1,525,000  Texas Instruments                   117,616
                                             ------------
                                               1,270,422
                                             ------------
TELECOMMUNICATIONS (3.1%)
  2,280,000  360 Communications                   49,305
  2,825,000  Airtouch Communications              76,981
<CAPTION>
                                                Market
                                               Value(1)
  Number                                        (000's
 of Shares                                     omitted)
- -----------                                  ------------
<C>          <S>                             <C>
  2,212,000  Tele-Communications
              International                   $   29,862
    450,000  Tele-Communications,
              Inc. Class A                         5,344
  3,975,000  U.S. West Media Group                73,040
                                             ------------
                                                 234,532
                                             ------------
TRANSPORTATION (3.0%)
    816,100  Continental Airlines Class B         23,361
    855,000  Delta Air Lines                      68,828
  2,000,000  Ryder System                         63,000
    650,000  Union Pacific                        39,162
  1,257,000  USFreightways Corp.                  30,325 (2)
                                             ------------
                                                 224,676
                                             ------------
             TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (COST
              $5,289,213)                      7,323,344
                                             ------------
PREFERRED STOCKS (0.6%)
     52,430  Aetna Inc., Ser. C, Cv., 6.25%        4,227
    605,700  Airtouch Communications, Ser.
              B, Cv., 6.00%                       17,792
    388,994  Airtouch Communications, Ser.
              C, Cv., 4.25%                       18,769
    125,000  PacifiCare Health Systems,
              Ser. C, Cv., $1.00                   4,063
                                             ------------
             TOTAL PREFERRED STOCKS (COST
              $35,476)                            44,851
                                             ------------
</TABLE>
 
44
<PAGE>
                                                   February 28, 1997 (Unaudited)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
          Guardian Portfolio (Cont'd)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                Market
                                               Value(1)
 Principal                                      (000's
  Amount                                       omitted)
- -----------                                  ------------
<C>          <S>                             <C>
CONVERTIBLE BONDS (0.2%)
$15,000,000  International CableTel Inc.,
              Cv. Sub. Notes, 7.25%, due
              4/15/05 (COST $14,997)          $   14,156(6)
                                             ------------
U.S. TREASURY SECURITIES (4.7%)
338,545,000  U.S. Treasury Bills, 4.86% -
              5.29%, due 3/6/97 - 4/24/97        337,743
 15,000,000  U.S. Treasury Notes, 8.00%,
              due 5/15/01                         15,905
                                             ------------
             TOTAL U.S. TREASURY SECURITIES
              (COST $352,509)                    353,648
                                             ------------
<CAPTION>
 
                                                Market
                                               Value(1)
 Principal                                      (000's
  Amount                                       omitted)
- -----------                                  ------------
<C>          <S>                             <C>
SHORT-TERM CORPORATE NOTES (1.2%)
$89,240,000  General Electric Capital
              Corp., 5.22% - 5.26%, due
              3/3/97 - 3/13/97  (COST
              $89,240)                        $   89,240(4)
                                             ------------
             TOTAL INVESTMENTS (103.7%)
              (COST $5,781,435)                7,825,239(5)
             Liabilities, less cash,
              receivables and other assets
              [(3.7%)]                          (278,340)
                                             ------------
             TOTAL NET ASSETS (100.0%)        $7,546,899
                                             ------------
</TABLE>
 
SEE NOTES TO SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
 
                                                                              45
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
Neuberger&Berman
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Manhattan Portfolio
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                   TOP TEN EQUITY HOLDINGS
     ---------------------------------------------------
     HOLDING                                   PERCENTAGE
<C>  <S>                                       <C>
 1.  General Nutrition                               3.1%
 2.  CITICORP                                        3.0%
 3.  Wells Fargo                                     2.7%
 4.  GTECH Holdings                                  2.6%
 5.  Harrah's Entertainment                          2.4%
 6.  Capital One Financial                           2.4%
 7.  United Healthcare                               2.4%
 8.  First USA                                       2.2%
 9.  KLA Instruments                                 2.1%
10.  Staples Inc.                                    2.1%
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               Market
                                              Value(1)
  Number                                       (000's
of Shares                                     omitted)
- ----------                                  -------------
<C>         <S>                             <C>
COMMON STOCKS (99.4%)
CHEMICALS (1.7%)
     5,000  SGL Carbon (Ordinary Shares)    $       682
    65,000  SGL Carbon ADR                        2,958
   145,000  UCAR International                    6,235
                                            -------------
                                                  9,875
                                            -------------
COMMUNICATIONS (7.6%)
   395,000  Airtouch Communications              10,764
   585,000  Comcast Corp. Class A Special        10,457
   680,000  Comcast UK Cable Partners
             Limited                              7,990
   290,000  ECI Telecommunications                6,887
   415,000  International CableTel                8,041
                                            -------------
                                                 44,139
                                            -------------
CONSUMER GOODS & SERVICES (8.2%)
   510,000  Authentic Fitness                     7,395
   490,000  CUC International                    11,699
   175,000  Luxottica Group ADR                  10,194
 
<CAPTION>
                                               Market
                                              Value(1)
  Number                                       (000's
of Shares                                     omitted)
- ----------                                  -------------
<C>         <S>                             <C>
   480,000  Nu-Kote Holding                   $   2,700
    80,000  Philip Morris                        10,810
   315,000  Regis Corp.                           5,158
                                            -------------
                                                 47,956
                                            -------------
DRUGS & HEALTH CARE (12.2%)
   510,000  Coventry Corp.                        3,729
   285,000  Healthsource Inc.                     5,949
   260,000  Nellcor Puritan Bennett               4,518
   110,000  Novartis AG ADR                       6,298
   100,000  PacifiCare Health Systems
             Class B                              8,375
    95,000  R.P. Scherer                          5,486
   115,000  Sierra Health Services                3,033
   280,000  United Healthcare                    13,965
    70,300  Warner-Lambert                        5,905
   190,000  Watson Pharmaceuticals                8,289
   120,000  Wellpoint Health Networks             5,145
                                            -------------
                                                 70,692
                                            -------------
ENTERTAINMENT (9.7%)
   150,000  Circus Circus Enterprises             4,687
   475,000  GTECH Holdings                       14,903
   760,000  Harrah's Entertainment               14,060
   750,000  Players International                 4,031
   215,000  Promus Hotel                          7,606
   545,000  Showboat, Inc.                       11,173
                                            -------------
                                                 56,460
                                            -------------
FINANCIAL SERVICES (18.5%)
   210,000  Bear Stearns                          6,300
   352,400  Capital One Financial                14,008
   150,000  CITICORP                             17,512
   140,000  Finova Group                         10,692
   257,000  First USA                            12,497
   360,000  MBNA Corp.                           11,520
    80,000  Merrill Lynch                         7,680
</TABLE>
 
46
<PAGE>
                                                   February 28, 1997 (Unaudited)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
          Manhattan Portfolio (Cont'd)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               Market
                                              Value(1)
  Number                                       (000's
of Shares                                     omitted)
- ----------                                  -------------
<C>         <S>                             <C>
   185,000  Morgan Stanley Group              $  11,678
    51,000  Wells Fargo                          15,517
                                            -------------
                                                107,404
                                            -------------
INSURANCE (8.6%)
   165,000  ACE Ltd.                             10,725
   160,000  EXEL Ltd.                             7,060
   295,000  Highlands Insurance                   6,637
    85,000  Loews Corp.                           8,681
   155,000  PennCorp Financial Group              5,425
   215,333  Travelers Group                      11,547
                                            -------------
                                                 50,075
                                            -------------
OIL & GAS (0.3%)
    35,000  Enron Oil & Gas                         709
    30,000  Noble Affiliates                      1,170
                                            -------------
                                                  1,879
                                            -------------
RESTAURANTS (6.9%)
   659,450  Buffets Inc.                          4,740
   420,000  Cheesecake Factory                    8,925
   610,000  CKE Restaurants                      11,819
   170,000  IHOP Corp.                            4,398
   223,500  Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon         5,923
   230,000  Sonic Corp.                           4,169
                                            -------------
                                                 39,974
                                            -------------
SPECIALTY RETAIL (11.3%)
   168,000  Federated Department Stores           5,838
   985,000  General Nutrition                    17,730
   345,000  Intimate Brands                       6,727
   190,000  Lowe's Cos.                           6,935
   140,000  Office Depot                          2,660
   560,000  Staples Inc.                         12,110
   240,000  Viking Office Products                5,670
   295,000  Wal-Mart Stores                       7,781
                                            -------------
                                                 65,451
                                            -------------
<CAPTION>
                                               Market
                                              Value(1)
  Number                                       (000's
of Shares                                     omitted)
- ----------                                  -------------
<C>         <S>                             <C>
TECHNOLOGY (13.6%)
   335,000  Informix Corp.                  $     5,821
    75,000  Intel Corp.                          10,641
   295,000  KLA Instruments                      12,298
   250,000  LSI Logic                             8,625
   305,000  Micron Technology                    11,437
   110,000  Nokia Corp. ADR                       6,435
    55,000  SAP AG (Ordinary Shares)              8,465
   125,000  Seagate Technology                    5,906
   110,000  Texas Instruments                     8,484
   100,000  Xeikon N.V. ADR                         901
                                            -------------
                                                 79,013
                                            -------------
TRANSPORTATION (0.8%)
   250,000  RailTex Inc.                          4,531
                                            -------------
            TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (COST
             $449,499)                          577,449
                                            -------------
RIGHTS (0.0%)
     3,500  Ciba Specialty Chemicals
             Holding, Expire 3/12/97 (COST
             $0)                                    220
                                            -------------
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Principal
  Amount
- ----------
<C>         <S>                             <C>
U.S. TREASURY SECURITIES (3.9%)
$22,960,000 U.S. Treasury Bills, 4.89% -
             4.935%, due 3/6/97 - 4/17/97
              (COST $22,896)                     22,903
                                            -------------
            TOTAL INVESTMENTS (103.3%)
             (COST $472,395)                    600,572(5)
            Liabilities, less cash,
             receivables and other assets
             [(3.3%)]                           (19,468)
                                            -------------
            TOTAL NET ASSETS (100.0%)         $ 581,104
                                            -------------
</TABLE>
 
SEE NOTES TO SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
 
                                                                              47
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
Neuberger&Berman
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Partners Portfolio
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                   TOP TEN EQUITY HOLDINGS
     ---------------------------------------------------
     HOLDING                                   PERCENTAGE
<C>  <S>                                       <C>
 1.  Columbia/HCA Healthcare                         2.6%
 2.  Costco Cos.                                     2.5%
 3.  Wells Fargo                                     2.5%
 4.  Texas Instruments                               2.1%
 5.  EXEL Ltd.                                       2.1%
 6.  duPont                                          2.0%
 7.  Allstate Corp.                                  1.9%
 8.  Wal-Mart Stores                                 1.9%
 9.  Knight-Ridder                                   1.8%
10.  American Express                                1.8%
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                Market
                                               Value(1)
  Number                                        (000's
 of Shares                                     omitted)
- -----------                                  ------------
<C>          <S>                             <C>
COMMON STOCKS (94.0%)
AIRLINES (0.6%)
    570,300  Continental Airlines Class B    $    16,325
                                             ------------
AUTOMOTIVE (0.4%)
    290,800  Chrysler Corp.                        9,851
                                             ------------
BANKING & FINANCIAL SERVICES (8.6%)
    725,000  American Express                     47,397
    989,500  Capital One Financial                39,333
    331,400  CITICORP                             38,691
  1,303,400  Countrywide Credit Industries        37,961
    217,800  Wells Fargo                          66,266
                                             ------------
                                                 229,648
                                             ------------
BUILDING, CONSTRUCTION & REFURNISHING (1.7%)
  1,300,000  USG Corp.                            45,825
                                             ------------
CHEMICALS (4.7%)
    500,000  duPont                               53,625
    398,500  Great Lakes Chemical                 18,480
 
<CAPTION>
                                                Market
                                               Value(1)
  Number                                        (000's
 of Shares                                     omitted)
- -----------                                  ------------
<C>          <S>                             <C>
    947,700  Morton International             $   39,093
    273,500  W.R. Grace                           14,496
                                             ------------
                                                 125,694
                                             ------------
COMMUNICATIONS (1.5%)
  1,450,500  Airtouch Communications              39,526
                                             ------------
CONSUMER GOODS & SERVICES (3.0%)
  1,535,000  Fort Howard                          45,666
    756,900  Tupperware Corp.                     33,872
                                             ------------
                                                  79,538
                                             ------------
ELECTRONICS (3.5%)
    364,500  Analog Devices                        8,474
    858,500  KLA Instruments                      35,789
  1,443,100  Loral Space & Communications         23,270
    469,700  Varian Associates                    27,125
                                             ------------
                                                  94,658
                                             ------------
ENTERTAINMENT (5.1%)
    965,200  Evergreen Media                      28,956
  1,674,100  Mirage Resorts                       41,643
    760,300  Royal Caribbean Cruises              22,239
  1,100,000  Time Warner                          45,100
                                             ------------
                                                 137,938
                                             ------------
FOOD & DRUG STORES (1.0%)
    632,600  Revco D.S.                           25,858
                                             ------------
FOOD & TOBACCO (3.2%)
  1,350,200  IBP, Inc.                            31,392
    305,100  Philip Morris                        41,227
    350,000  RJR Nabisco Holdings                 12,819
                                             ------------
                                                  85,438
                                             ------------
HEALTH CARE (4.3%)
  1,690,550  Columbia/HCA Healthcare              71,003
    798,642  Novartis AG ADR                      45,722
                                             ------------
                                                 116,725
                                             ------------
</TABLE>
 
48
<PAGE>
                                                   February 28, 1997 (Unaudited)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
          Partners Portfolio (Cont'd)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                Market
                                               Value(1)
  Number                                        (000's
 of Shares                                     omitted)
- -----------                                  ------------
<C>          <S>                             <C>
INDUSTRIAL GOODS & SERVICES (6.0%)
    931,400  AK Steel Holding                $    33,531
    695,400  Goodyear Tire & Rubber               36,682
    875,764  LucasVarity PLC ADR                  28,681
  1,783,300  Owens-Illinois                       43,022
    450,000  XTRA Corp.                           18,253
                                             ------------
                                                 160,169
                                             ------------
INSURANCE (11.3%)
    790,800  Allstate Corp.                       50,117
  1,255,400  Equitable Cos.                       39,388
  1,270,100  EXEL Ltd.                            56,043
    273,500  MBIA, Inc.                           26,700
    641,775  Orion Capital                        41,074
    669,200  Progressive Corp.                    44,251
    852,200  Travelers Group                      45,699
                                             ------------
                                                 303,272
                                             ------------
MEDIA (3.9%)
  2,540,281  Comcast Corp. Class A Special        45,407
    269,500  E.W. Scripps                          9,702
  1,245,000  Knight-Ridder                        49,489
                                             ------------
                                                 104,598
                                             ------------
OIL & GAS (6.1%)
    800,000  Cabot Corp.                          18,800
  2,957,500  Gulf Canada Resources                20,702
    695,500  Noble Affiliates                     27,124
    269,800  Schlumberger, Ltd.                   27,149
    780,950  Tejas Gas                            34,167
  1,495,055  Union Pacific Resources Group        36,442
                                             ------------
                                                 164,384
                                             ------------
OIL SERVICES (1.0%)
    629,900  Tidewater Inc.                       27,086
                                             ------------
PUBLISHING & BROADCASTING (0.4%)
  1,208,800  Hollinger International              12,239
                                             ------------
<CAPTION>
                                                Market
                                               Value(1)
  Number                                        (000's
 of Shares                                     omitted)
- -----------                                  ------------
<C>          <S>                             <C>
RAILROADS (2.6%)
    465,000  Burlington Northern Santa Fe    $    38,711
    500,000  Union Pacific                        30,125
                                             ------------
                                                  68,836
                                             ------------
REAL ESTATE (3.6%)
    200,700  CBL & Associates Properties           4,992
    600,000  Del Webb                              9,675
  1,900,000  Host Marriott                        34,200
    200,000  Macerich Co.                          5,525
    873,500  Security Capital Industrial
              Trust                               19,217
  1,607,700  Security Capital U.S. Realty         22,508 (6)
                                             ------------
                                                  96,117
                                             ------------
RESTAURANTS (1.6%)
    978,600  McDonald's Corp.                     42,324
                                             ------------
RETAILING (4.7%)
    800,000  Harcourt General                     37,700
    699,000  Home Depot                           38,095
  1,881,400  Wal-Mart Stores                      49,622
                                             ------------
                                                 125,417
                                             ------------
RETAILING & APPAREL (3.3%)
  2,600,000  Costco Cos.                          66,625
    600,000  Nordstrom, Inc.                      22,050
                                             ------------
                                                  88,675
                                             ------------
SPECIALTY CHEMICAL (1.3%)
    832,000  Millipore Corp.                      35,880
                                             ------------
TECHNOLOGY (10.6%)
    530,000  Applied Materials                    26,831
    474,700  Autodesk, Inc.                       16,081
    533,100  Cabletron Systems                    15,993
  1,030,000  Komag, Inc.                          30,900
    774,100  NCR Corp.                            25,545
    952,900  Seagate Technology                   45,025
    761,200  Sundstrand Corp.                     33,207
</TABLE>
 
                                                                              49
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
Neuberger&Berman                                   February 28, 1997 (Unaudited)
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
          Partners Portfolio (Cont'd)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                Market
                                               Value(1)
  Number                                        (000's
 of Shares                                     omitted)
- -----------                                  ------------
<C>          <S>                             <C>
    734,600  Texas Instruments                $   56,656
    554,300  Xerox Corp.                          34,644
                                             ------------
                                                 284,882
                                             ------------
             TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (COST
              $1,976,161)                      2,520,903
                                             ------------
PREFERRED STOCKS (0.7%)
    566,700  Fresenius National Medical
              Care, Class D                           57
    280,000  Loral Space & Communications,
              Cv., 6.00%                          14,210 (6)
    550,000  RJR Nabisco, Ser. C, Dep.
              Shares                               3,919
                                             ------------
             TOTAL PREFERRED STOCKS (COST
              $17,784)                            18,186
                                             ------------
RIGHTS (0.1%)
     39,932  Ciba Specialty Chemicals
              Holding, Expire 3/12/97 (COST
              $0)                                  2,516
                                             ------------
<CAPTION>
 
                                                Market
                                               Value(1)
 Principal                                      (000's
  Amount                                       omitted)
- -----------                                  ------------
<C>          <S>                             <C>
U.S. TREASURY SECURITIES (5.0%)
$134,580,000 U.S. Treasury Bills, 4.88% -
              5.00%, due 3/6/97 - 4/24/97
               (COST $134,244)                $  134,284
                                             ------------
SHORT-TERM CORPORATE NOTES (1.7%)
 46,500,000  General Electric Capital
              Corp., 5.22%, due 3/3/97
              (COST $46,500)                      46,500 (4)
                                             ------------
             TOTAL INVESTMENTS (101.5%)
              (COST $2,174,689)                2,722,389 (5)
             Liabilities, less cash,
              receivables and other assets
              [(1.5%)]                           (40,996 )
                                             ------------
             TOTAL NET ASSETS (100.0%)       $ 2,681,393
                                             ------------
</TABLE>
 
SEE NOTES TO SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
 
50
<PAGE>
NOTES TO SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
                                                   February 28, 1997 (Unaudited)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Equity Managers Trust
1) Investment securities of each Portfolio are valued at the latest sales price;
   securities for which no sales were reported, unless otherwise noted, are
   valued at the mean between the closing bid and asked prices. The Portfolios
   value all other securities by a method that the trustees of Equity Managers
   Trust believe accurately reflects fair value. Foreign security prices are
   furnished by independent quotation services expressed in local currency
   values. Foreign security prices are translated from the local currency into
   U.S. dollars using current exchange rates. Short-term debt securities with
   less than 60 days until maturity may be valued at cost which, when combined
   with interest earned, approximates market value.
2) Affiliated Issuer (see Note E of Notes to Financial Statements).
3) The following securities were held in escrow at February 28, 1997 to cover
   outstanding call options written:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        SECURITIES AND    MARKET VALUE   PREMIUM ON    MARKET VALUE
NEUBERGER&BERMAN            SHARES         OPTIONS       OF SECURITIES     OPTIONS      OF OPTIONS
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                       <C>          <C>               <C>             <C>          <C>
FOCUS PORTFOLIO               60,000   Compaq Computer    $  4,755,000    $ 125,696     $   22,500
                                       March 1997 @ 90
GUARDIAN PORTFOLIO           500,000      LSI Logic       $ 17,250,000    $1,147,461    $1,281,250
                                       April 1997 @ 35
</TABLE>
 
4) At cost, which approximates market value.
5) At February 28, 1997, selected Portfolio information on a Federal income tax
   basis was as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          GROSS           GROSS
                                                       UNREALIZED      UNREALIZED    NET UNREALIZED
NEUBERGER&BERMAN                          COST        APPRECIATION    DEPRECIATION    APPRECIATION
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>             <C>              <C>            <C>
FOCUS PORTFOLIO                      $  966,867,000  $  438,296,000   $ 21,308,000   $  416,988,000
GENESIS PORTFOLIO                       412,741,000      99,877,000      6,046,000       93,831,000
GUARDIAN PORTFOLIO                    5,782,750,000   2,165,388,000    122,899,000    2,042,489,000
MANHATTAN PORTFOLIO                     472,452,000     158,383,000     30,263,000      128,120,000
PARTNERS PORTFOLIO                    2,179,284,000     561,414,000     18,309,000      543,105,000
</TABLE>
 
6) Security exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933. These
   securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally
   to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A. At February 28, 1997,
   these securities amounted to $14,156,000 or .2% of net assets for
   Neuberger&Berman Guardian Portfolio, and $36,718,000 or 1.4% of net assets
   for Neuberger&Berman Partners Portfolio.
 
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                                                                              51
<PAGE>
STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Equity Managers Trust
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        FOCUS           GENESIS
(000'S OMITTED)                                       PORTFOLIO        PORTFOLIO
                                                    -------------------------------
<S>                                                 <C>              <C>
ASSETS
      Investments in securities, at market value*
        (Notes A & E) -- see Schedule of
        Investments:
          Unaffiliated issuers                      $   1,364,975    $     506,572
          Non-controlled affiliated issuers                18,880               --
                                                    -------------------------------
                                                        1,383,855          506,572
      Cash                                                  3,050                5
      Deferred organization costs (Note A)                     12                3
      Dividends and interest receivable                       807              293
      Prepaid expenses and other assets                        23                7
      Receivable for securities sold                        9,893            4,960
                                                    -------------------------------
                                                        1,397,640          511,840
                                                    -------------------------------
LIABILITIES
      Option contracts written, at market value
        (Note A)                                               23               --
      Payable for collateral on securities loaned
        (Note A)                                           37,879               --
      Payable for securities purchased                     19,736              592
      Payable to investment manager (Note B)                  518              280
      Accrued expenses                                        202               48
                                                    -------------------------------
                                                           58,358              920
                                                    -------------------------------
NET ASSETS Applicable to Investors' Beneficial
  Interests                                         $   1,339,282    $     510,920
                                                    -------------------------------
 
NET ASSETS consist of:
      Paid-in capital                               $     921,797    $     417,089
      Net unrealized appreciation in value of
        investment securities and option contracts
        written                                           417,485           93,831
                                                    -------------------------------
NET ASSETS                                          $   1,339,282    $     510,920
                                                    -------------------------------
*Cost of investments:
Unaffiliated issuers                                $     944,686    $     412,741
Non-controlled affiliated issuers                          21,787               --
                                                    -------------------------------
      Total cost of investments                     $     966,473    $     412,741
                                                    -------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
52
<PAGE>
                                                   February 28, 1997 (Unaudited)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Equity Managers Trust
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       GUARDIAN        MANHATTAN         PARTNERS
                                                      PORTFOLIO        PORTFOLIO        PORTFOLIO
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                 <C>              <C>              <C>
ASSETS
    Investments in securities, at market value*
      (Notes A & E) -- see Schedule of
      Investments:
          Unaffiliated issuers                      $   7,269,283    $     600,572    $   2,722,389
          Non-controlled affiliated issuers               555,956               --               --
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
                                                        7,825,239          600,572        2,722,389
      Cash                                                     42            2,497                1
      Deferred organization costs (Note A)                     36               14               25
      Dividends and interest receivable                     5,786              120            1,797
      Prepaid expenses and other assets                       116               15               51
      Receivable for securities sold                       32,321            3,065           12,676
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
                                                        7,863,540          606,283        2,736,939
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
LIABILITIES
      Option contracts written, at market value
        (Note A)                                            1,281               --               --
      Payable for collateral on securities loaned
        (Note A)                                          200,188           21,345            6,849
      Payable for securities purchased                    111,780            3,485           47,593
      Payable to investment manager (Note B)                2,569              243              945
      Accrued expenses                                        823              106              159
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
                                                          316,641           25,179           55,546
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
NET ASSETS Applicable to Investors' Beneficial
Interests                                           $   7,546,899    $     581,104    $   2,681,393
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
 
NET ASSETS consist of:
      Paid-in capital                               $   5,503,228    $     452,927    $   2,133,693
      Net unrealized appreciation in value of
        investment securities and option contracts
        written                                         2,043,671          128,177          547,700
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
NET ASSETS                                          $   7,546,899    $     581,104    $   2,681,393
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
*Cost of investments:
Unaffiliated issuers                                $   5,289,254    $     472,395    $   2,174,689
Non-controlled affiliated issuers                         492,181               --               --
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
      Total cost of investments                     $   5,781,435    $     472,395    $   2,174,689
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                                                                              53
<PAGE>
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Equity Managers Trust
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       FOCUS         GENESIS
(000'S OMITTED)                                      PORTFOLIO      PORTFOLIO
                                                    ---------------------------
<S>                                                 <C>            <C>
INVESTMENT INCOME
    Income:
      Dividend income -- unaffiliated issuers       $     6,257    $     1,444
      Dividend income -- non-controlled affiliated
        issuers                                              12             --
      Interest income                                       611            517
      Foreign taxes withheld (Note A)                       (28)            --
                                                    ---------------------------
        Total income                                      6,852          1,961
                                                    ---------------------------
    Expenses:
      Investment management fee (Note B)                  3,096          1,538
      Accounting fees                                         5              5
      Amortization of deferred organization and
        initial offering expenses (Note A)                    5              1
      Auditing fees                                          21             11
      Custodian fees (Note B)                               148             64
      Insurance expense                                      12              2
      Legal fees                                              8             19
      Trustees' fees and expenses                             9              5
      Miscellaneous                                          --             10
                                                    ---------------------------
        Total expenses                                    3,304          1,655
      Fee waived by the investment manager (Note
        B)                                                   --           (184)
                                                    ---------------------------
        Total net expenses                                3,304          1,471
                                                    ---------------------------
        Net investment income                             3,548            490
                                                    ---------------------------
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS
    Net realized gain on investment securities
      sold in unaffiliated issuers                      112,150          2,792
    Net realized loss on investment securities
      sold in non-controlled affiliated issuers              --             --
    Net realized loss on option contracts written
      (Note A)                                             (643)            --
    Change in net unrealized appreciation of
      investment securities and option contracts
      written                                           131,395         32,610
                                                    ---------------------------
        Net gain on investments                         242,902         35,402
                                                    ---------------------------
        Net increase in net assets resulting from
          operations                                $   246,450    $    35,892
                                                    ---------------------------
</TABLE>
 
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
54
<PAGE>
                          For the Six Months Ended February 28, 1997 (Unaudited)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Equity Managers Trust
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      GUARDIAN         MANHATTAN         PARTNERS
                                                     PORTFOLIO         PORTFOLIO         PORTFOLIO
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                 <C>            <C>                 <C>
INVESTMENT INCOME
    Income:
      Dividend income -- unaffiliated issuers       $    38,991      $       1,577     $     14,625
      Dividend income -- non-controlled affiliated
        issuers                                             888                 --               --
      Interest income                                     7,768                191            2,544
      Foreign taxes withheld (Note A)                      (239)               (14)             (39)
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
        Total income                                     47,408              1,754           17,130
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
    Expenses:
      Investment management fee (Note B)                 15,220              1,536            5,424
      Accounting fees                                         5                  5                5
      Amortization of deferred organization and
        initial offering expenses (Note A)                   13                  5                9
      Auditing fees                                          25                 17               22
      Custodian fees (Note B)                               512                121              199
      Insurance expense                                      64                  7               22
      Legal fees                                              9                 13                9
      Trustees' fees and expenses                            37                  5               14
      Miscellaneous                                          --                 --               --
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
        Total expenses                                   15,885              1,709            5,704
      Fee waived by the investment manager (Note
        B)                                                   --                 --               --
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
        Total net expenses                               15,885              1,709            5,704
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
        Net investment income                            31,523                 45           11,426
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS
    Net realized gain on investment securities
      sold in unaffiliated issuers                      278,687             64,034          151,459
    Net realized loss on investment securities
      sold in non-controlled affiliated issuers         (48,143)                --               --
    Net realized loss on option contracts written
      (Note A)                                           (2,991)                --               --
    Change in net unrealized appreciation of
      investment securities and option contracts
      written                                         1,018,651             45,541          319,744
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
        Net gain on investments                       1,246,204            109,575          471,203
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
        Net increase in net assets resulting from
          operations                                $ 1,277,727      $     109,620     $    482,629
                                                    ------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                                                                              55
<PAGE>
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Equity Managers Trust
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    FOCUS                      GENESIS
                                                  PORTFOLIO                   PORTFOLIO
                                           Six Months                  Six Months
                                             Ended          Year         Ended          Year
                                          February 28,     Ended      February 28,     Ended
                                              1997       August 31,       1997       August 31,
(000'S OMITTED)                           (UNAUDITED)       1996      (UNAUDITED)       1996
                                          ------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                       <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS:
 
FROM OPERATIONS:
    Net investment income                 $     3,548   $     11,390  $       490   $       471
    Net realized gain on investments          111,507         51,701        2,792         5,660
    Change in net unrealized
      appreciation of investments             131,395        (21,728)      32,610        27,635
                                          ------------------------------------------------------
    Net increase (decrease) in net
      assets resulting from operations        246,450         41,363       35,892        33,766
                                          ------------------------------------------------------
TRANSACTIONS IN INVESTORS' BENEFICIAL
  INTERESTS:
    Additions                                  96,472        231,514      222,919       110,968
    Reductions                               (126,011 )     (119,679)      (7,755 )     (27,030 )
                                          ------------------------------------------------------
    Net increase (decrease) in net
      assets resulting from transactions
      in investors' beneficial interests      (29,539 )      111,835      215,164        83,938
                                          ------------------------------------------------------
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS         216,911        153,198      251,056       117,704
NET ASSETS:
    Beginning of period                     1,122,371        969,173      259,864       142,160
                                          ------------------------------------------------------
    End of period                         $ 1,339,282   $  1,122,371  $   510,920   $   259,864
                                          ------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
56
<PAGE>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Equity Managers Trust
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   GUARDIAN                   MANHATTAN                    PARTNERS
                                                  PORTFOLIO                   PORTFOLIO                   PORTFOLIO
                                           Six Months                  Six Months                  Six Months
                                             Ended          Year         Ended          Year         Ended          Year
                                          February 28,     Ended      February 28,     Ended      February 28,     Ended
                                              1997       August 31,       1997       August 31,       1997       August 31,
                                          (UNAUDITED)       1996      (UNAUDITED)       1996      (UNAUDITED)       1996
                                          ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                       <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS:
 
FROM OPERATIONS:
    Net investment income                 $    31,523   $     97,934  $        45   $       829   $    11,426   $     23,394
    Net realized gain on investments          227,553        307,410       64,034        59,509       151,459        240,765
    Change in net unrealized
      appreciation of investments           1,018,651       (111,192)      45,541       (74,167 )     319,744        (30,217)
                                          ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Net increase (decrease) in net
      assets resulting from operations      1,277,727        294,152      109,620       (13,829 )     482,629        233,942
                                          ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRANSACTIONS IN INVESTORS' BENEFICIAL
  INTERESTS:
    Additions                                 284,106      1,540,028       26,138        70,833       291,119        309,196
    Reductions                               (247,476 )     (214,834)    (122,080 )    (134,984 )     (91,958 )     (167,061)
                                          ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Net increase (decrease) in net
      assets resulting from transactions
      in investors' beneficial interests       36,630      1,325,194      (95,942 )     (64,151 )     199,161        142,135
                                          ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS       1,314,357      1,619,346       13,678       (77,980 )     681,790        376,077
NET ASSETS:
    Beginning of period                     6,232,542      4,613,196      567,426       645,406     1,999,603      1,623,526
                                          ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    End of period                         $ 7,546,899   $  6,232,542  $   581,104   $   567,426   $ 2,681,393   $  1,999,603
                                          ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                                                                              57
<PAGE>
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                                   February 28, 1997 (Unaudited)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
          Equity Managers Trust
 
NOTE A -- SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
1) GENERAL: Neuberger&Berman Focus Portfolio ("Focus"), Neuberger&Berman Genesis
   Portfolio ("Genesis"), Neuberger&Berman Guardian Portfolio ("Guardian"),
   Neuberger&Berman Manhattan Portfolio ("Manhattan"), and Neuberger&Berman
   Partners Portfolio ("Partners") (collectively, the "Portfolios") are separate
   operating series of Equity Managers Trust ("Managers Trust"), a New York
   common law trust organized as of December 1, 1992. Managers Trust is
   registered as a diversified, open-end management investment company under the
   Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). Other regulated
   investment companies sponsored by Neuberger&Berman Management Incorporated
   ("Management"), whose financial statements are not presented herein, also
   invest in Managers Trust.
      The assets of each series belong only to that series, and the liabilities
   of each series are borne solely by that series and no other.
2) PORTFOLIO VALUATION: Investment securities are valued as indicated in the
   notes following the Portfolios' Schedule of Investments.
3) FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION: The accounting records of the Portfolios are
   maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S.
   dollars at the current rate of exchange of such currency against the U.S.
   dollar to determine the value of investments, other assets and liabilities.
   Purchase and sale prices of securities, and income and expenses are
   translated into U.S. dollars at the prevailing rate of exchange on the
   respective dates of such transactions.
4) SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS AND INVESTMENT INCOME: Securities transactions are
   recorded on a trade date basis. Dividend income is recorded on the
   ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign dividends, as soon as the Portfolio
   becomes aware of the dividends. Interest income, accretion of original issue
   discount, where applicable, and accretion of discount on short-term
   investments is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses from
   securities transactions and foreign currency transactions are recorded on the
   basis of identified cost.
5) FEDERAL INCOME TAXES: Managers Trust intends to comply with the requirements
   of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Each Portfolio of Managers
   Trust also intends to conduct its operations so that each of its investors
   will be able to qualify as a regulated investment company. Each Portfolio
   will be treated as a partnership for U.S. Federal income tax purposes and is
   therefore not subject to U.S. Federal income tax.
 
58
<PAGE>
6) FOREIGN TAXES: Foreign taxes withheld represent amounts withheld by foreign
   tax authorities, net of refunds recoverable.
7) ORGANIZATION EXPENSES: Expenses incurred by each Portfolio in connection with
   its organization are being amortized by that Portfolio on a straight-line
   basis over a five-year period. At February 28, 1997, the unamortized balance
   of such expenses amounted to $12,399, $2,733, $36,364, $13,840, and $25,205,
   for Focus, Genesis, Guardian, Manhattan, and Partners, respectively.
8) EXPENSE ALLOCATION: Each Portfolio bears all costs of its operations.
   Expenses incurred by Managers Trust with respect to any two or more
   Portfolios are allocated in proportion to the net assets of such Portfolios,
   except where a more appropriate allocation of expenses to each Portfolio can
   otherwise be made fairly. Expenses directly attributable to a Portfolio are
   charged to that Portfolio.
9) CALL OPTIONS: Premiums received by each Portfolio upon writing a covered call
   option are recorded in the liability section of each Portfolio's Statement of
   Assets and Liabilities and are subsequently adjusted to the current market
   value. When an option is exercised, closed, or expired, the Portfolio
   realizes a gain or loss and the liability is eliminated. A Portfolio bears
   the risk of a decline in the price of the security during the period,
   although any potential loss during the period would be reduced by the amount
   of the option premium received. In general, written covered call options may
   serve as a partial hedge against decreases in value in the underlying
   securities to the extent of the premium received. All securities covering
   outstanding options are held in escrow by the custodian bank.
      Summary of option transactions for the six months ended February 28, 1997:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                VALUE
                                                                WHEN
FOCUS                                            NUMBER        WRITTEN
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>         <C>
CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING 8/31/96                         0      $         0
CONTRACTS WRITTEN                                 4,100        1,346,615
CONTRACTS EXPIRED                                     0                0
CONTRACTS EXERCISED                              (1,000)        (313,679)
CONTRACTS CLOSED                                 (2,500)        (907,240)
                                                 -----------------------
CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING 2/28/97                       600      $   125,696
                                                 -----------------------
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 VALUE
                                                                 WHEN
GUARDIAN                                          NUMBER        WRITTEN
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>          <C>
CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING 8/31/96                          0      $         0
CONTRACTS WRITTEN                                 15,000        4,499,828
CONTRACTS EXPIRED                                      0                0
CONTRACTS EXERCISED                               (5,000)      (1,568,397)
CONTRACTS CLOSED                                  (5,000)      (1,783,970)
                                                 ------------------------
CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING 2/28/97                      5,000      $ 1,147,461
                                                 ------------------------
</TABLE>
 
                                                                              59
<PAGE>
10) SECURITY LENDING: Portfolio securities loans involve certain risks in the
    event a borrower should fail financially, including delays or inability to
    recover the lent securities or foreclose against the collateral. The
    investment manager, under the general supervision of Managers Trust's Board
    of Trustees, monitors the creditworthiness of the parties to whom the
    Portfolios make security loans. The Portfolios will not lend securities on
    which covered call options have been written, or lend securities on terms
    which would prevent each of their investors from qualifying as a regulated
    investment company. Portfolio securities loans to Neuberger&Berman, LLC
    ("Neuberger"), the Portfolios' principal broker and sub-adviser, are made in
    accordance with an exemptive order issued by the Securities and Exchange
    Commission under the 1940 Act. The Portfolios receive cash as collateral
    against the lent securities, which must be maintained at not less than 100%
    of the market value of the lent securities during the period of the loan.
    The Portfolios receive income earned on the lent securities and a portion of
    the income earned on the cash collateral. During the six months ended
    February 28, 1997, Focus, Guardian, Manhattan, and Partners lent securities
    to Neuberger. At February 28, 1997, cash collateral received by Focus,
    Guardian, Manhattan, and Partners was equal to or in excess of 100% of the
    market value of the loaned securities.
11) REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS: Each Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements
    with institutions that each Portfolio's investment manager has determined
    are creditworthy. Each repurchase agreement is recorded at cost. A Portfolio
    requires that the securities purchased in a repurchase transaction be
    transferred to the custodian in a manner sufficient to enable a Portfolio to
    obtain those securities in the event of a default under the repurchase
    agreement. A Portfolio monitors, on a daily basis, the value of the
    securities transferred to ensure that their value, including accrued
    interest, is greater than amounts owed to a Portfolio under each such
    repurchase agreement.
 
NOTE B -- MANAGEMENT FEES AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES:
   Each Portfolio retains Management as its investment manager under a
Management Agreement. For such investment management services, each Portfolio
(except Genesis) pays Management a fee at the annual rate of 0.55% of the first
$250 million of that Portfolio's average daily net assets, 0.525% of the next
$250 million, 0.50% of the next $250 million, 0.475% of the next $250 million,
0.45% of the next $500 million, and 0.425% of average daily net assets in excess
of $1.5 billion. Genesis has contracted to pay Management a fee for investment
management services at the annual rate of 0.85% of the first $250 million of
that Portfolio's average daily net assets, 0.80% of the next $250 million, 0.75%
of the next $250 million, 0.70% of the next $250 million, and 0.65% of average
daily net assets in excess of $1 billion. Management has
 
60
<PAGE>
voluntarily agreed to waive a portion of the management fee borne directly by
Genesis and indirectly by Neuberger&Berman Genesis Trust to reduce the annual
fee by 0.10% per annum of average daily net assets of Genesis, effective May 1,
1995.
   All of the capital stock of Management is owned by individuals who are also
principals of Neuberger, a member firm of The New York Stock Exchange and sub-
adviser to each Portfolio. Neuberger is retained by Management to furnish it
with investment recommendations and research information without added cost to
each Portfolio. Several individuals who are officers and/or trustees of Managers
Trust are also principals of Neuberger and/or officers and/or directors of
Management.
   Each Portfolio has an expense offset arrangement in connection with its
custodian contract. The impact of this arrangement, reflected in the Statements
of Operations under the caption Custodian fees, was a reduction of $939, $4,158,
$1,595, and $895 for Focus, Genesis, Guardian, and Partners, respectively, which
is less than .01% of each Portfolio's average daily net assets.
 
NOTE C -- SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS:
   During the six months ended February 28, 1997, there were purchase and sale
transactions (excluding short-term securities and option contracts written) as
follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    PURCHASES             SALES
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>                 <C>
FOCUS                                            $   530,416,045     $   518,273,318
GENESIS                                              237,149,179          35,908,529
GUARDIAN                                           1,616,370,266       1,397,631,626
MANHATTAN                                            126,828,594         227,455,028
PARTNERS                                           1,006,818,489         742,840,515
</TABLE>
 
   During the six months ended February 28, 1997, there were brokerage
commissions on securities paid to Neuberger and other brokers as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    OTHER
                                                  NEUBERGER        BROKERS          TOTAL
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>             <C>             <C>
FOCUS                                            $  643,449      $   552,787     $ 1,196,236
GENESIS                                             216,560          129,043         345,603
GUARDIAN                                          2,261,803        1,712,015       3,973,818
MANHATTAN                                           274,937          119,821         394,758
PARTNERS                                          1,782,038          612,466       2,394,504
</TABLE>
 
   In addition, Neuberger's share of the total interest income earned for the
six months ended February 28, 1997 from the collateralization of securities
loaned to or through Neuberger was $242,525, $1,338,584, $336,304, and $214,684,
for Focus, Guardian, Manhattan, and Partners, respectively.
 
NOTE D -- LINE OF CREDIT:
   Genesis has an unsecured $20,000,000 bank line of credit with State Street
Bank and Trust Company to be used only as a temporary measure for extraordinary
or emergency purposes. Borrowings under this agreement bear interest at the
overnight
 
                                                                              61
<PAGE>
Federal Funds Rate plus .75% per annum. For this line of credit, Genesis has
been assessed a facility fee of .1% annually of the available line of credit
paid quarterly in arrears. No compensating balances are required. There were no
loans outstanding pursuant to this line of credit at February 28, 1997, nor has
Genesis utilized this line of credit at anytime to date.
 
NOTE E -- INVESTMENTS IN NON-CONTROLLED AFFILIATES*:
 
FOCUS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                          BALANCE OF      GROSS                   BALANCE OF
                          SHARES HELD   PURCHASES   GROSS SALES  SHARES HELD      VALUE
                          AUGUST 31,       AND          AND      FEBRUARY 28,  FEBRUARY 28,
NAME OF ISSUER:              1996       ADDITIONS   REDUCTIONS       1997          1997
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                       <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>           <C>
DT Industries                      0      640,000            0       640,000    $18,880,000
</TABLE>
 
GUARDIAN
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                          BALANCE OF      GROSS                   BALANCE OF
                          SHARES HELD   PURCHASES   GROSS SALES  SHARES HELD      VALUE
                          AUGUST 31,       AND          AND      FEBRUARY 28,  FEBRUARY 28,
NAME OF ISSUER:              1996       ADDITIONS   REDUCTIONS       1997          1997
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                       <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>           <C>
ADVANTA Corp. Class B        857,000    2,543,000            0     3,400,000   $136,425,000
 
Coltec Industries          4,778,900       73,500            0     4,852,400    88,556,300
 
Fingerhut Cos.**           3,241,700            0    1,335,200     1,906,500    27,882,563
 
Foundation Health          3,020,000    1,560,000            0     4,580,000   172,895,000
 
Healthsource Inc.          4,190,000            0    4,190,000             0             0
Hospitality Properties
 Trust**                   1,442,600            0    1,012,200       430,400    13,934,200
 
J & L Specialty Steel      3,278,200       10,000    3,288,200             0             0
 
USFreightways Corp.**      1,257,000            0            0     1,257,000    30,325,125
 
UCAR International                 0    2,671,900            0     2,671,900   114,891,700
 
Zeigler Coal Holding       1,702,000            0            0     1,702,000    43,188,250
</TABLE>
 
 *AFFILIATED ISSUERS, AS DEFINED IN THE 1940 ACT, INCLUDE ISSUERS IN WHICH THE
  PORTFOLIO HELD 5% OR MORE OF THE OUTSTANDING VOTING SECURITIES.
**AT FEBRUARY 28, 1997, THESE SECURITIES WERE NO LONGER AFFILIATED ISSUERS.
 
NOTE F -- UNAUDITED FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
   The financial information included in this interim report is taken from the
records of each Portfolio without audit by independent accountants/auditors.
Annual reports contain audited financial statements.
 
62
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Equity Managers Trust
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    FOCUS                                    GENESIS
                                                                  PORTFOLIO                                 PORTFOLIO
                                                                                            Period
                                                                                            from
                                              Six                                           August      Six
                                             Months                                         2,         Months
                                             Ended                                          1993(1)    Ended         Year
                                            February                                         to       February      Ended
                                              28,                                           August      28,         August
                                              1997           Year Ended August 31,          31,         1997         31,
                                            (UNAUDITED)    1996        1995       1994      1993      (UNAUDITED)    1996
                                            -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>          <C>          <C>         <C>       <C>       <C>          <C>
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:
    Expenses                                    .53%(2)       .54%        .57%      .58%     .58%(2)      .80%(2)(3)      .85%(3)
                                            -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Net Investment Income                       .57%(2)      1.04%       1.05%     1.16%    1.46%(2)      .27%(2)(3)      .27%(3)
                                            -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio Turnover Rate                          42%           39%         36%       52%       4%          10%           21%
                                            -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average Commission Rate Paid                $0.0569       $0.0578          --        --       --      $0.0577       $0.0576
                                            -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Assets, End of Period (in millions)     $1,339.3     $1,122.4      $969.2     $645.0    $574.0     $510.9        $259.9
                                            -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                                                  Period
                                                                   from
                                                                  August
                                                                    2,
                                                                  1993(1)
                                                                    to
                                                                  August
                                                                    31,
                                           1995        1994        1993
 
<S>                                         <C>       <C>         <C>
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:
    Expenses                                  .94%(3)     .98%      1.07%(2)
 
    Net Investment Income                     .25%(3)     .18%       .37%(2)
 
Portfolio Turnover Rate                        37%         63%         3%
 
Average Commission Rate Paid                   --          --         --
 
Net Assets, End of Period (in millions)    $142.2      $138.6     $118.6
 
</TABLE>
 
1) The date investment operations commenced.
 
2) Annualized.
 
3) Had Management not waived a portion of the management fee, the annualized
ratios to average daily net assets would have been:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         Six Months Ended        Year Ended
                           February 28,          August 31,
GENESIS                        1997            1996      1995
- -------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                      <C>                   <C>       <C>
Expenses                       .90%            .95%      .97%
Net Investment Income          .17%            .17%      .22%
</TABLE>
 
                                                                              63
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Equity Managers Trust
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  GUARDIAN                                  MANHATTAN
                                                                  PORTFOLIO                                 PORTFOLIO
                                                                                            Period
                                                                                            from
                                              Six                                           August      Six
                                             Months                                         2,         Months
                                             Ended                                          1993(1)    Ended         Year
                                            February                                         to       February      Ended
                                              28,                                           August      28,         August
                                              1997           Year Ended August 31,          31,         1997         31,
                                            (UNAUDITED)    1996        1995       1994      1993      (UNAUDITED)    1996
                                            -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>          <C>          <C>         <C>       <C>       <C>          <C>
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:
    Expenses                                    .46%(2)       .46%        .48%      .50%     .51%(2)      .59%(2)       .58%
                                            -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Net Investment Income                       .91%(2)      1.72%       1.72%     1.66%    2.45%(2)      .02%(2)       .13%
                                            -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio Turnover Rate                          20%           37%         26%       24%       3%          22%           53%
                                            -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average Commission Rate Paid                $0.0538       $0.0580          --        --       --      $0.0587       $0.0373
                                            -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Assets, End of Period (in millions)     $7,546.9     $6,232.5     $4,613.2    $2,480.3  $1,777.6   $581.1        $567.4
                                            -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                                                  Period
                                                                  from
                                                                  August
                                                                  2,
                                                                  1993(1)
                                                                   to
                                                                  August
                                                                  31,
                                           1995        1994       1993
 
<S>                                         <C>       <C>         <C>
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:
    Expenses                                  .59%        .59%     .59%(2)
 
    Net Investment Income                     .42%        .53%     .55%(2)
 
Portfolio Turnover Rate                        44%         50%       3%
 
Average Commission Rate Paid                   --          --       --
 
Net Assets, End of Period (in millions)    $645.4      $521.7     $536.8
 
</TABLE>
 
1) The date investment operations commenced.
 
2) Annualized.
 
64
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Equity Managers Trust
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      PARTNERS
                                                                     PORTFOLIO
                                                                                                 Period
                                                                                                  from
                                              Six                                                August
                                             Months                                                2,
                                             Ended                                              1993(1)
                                            February                                               to
                                              28,                                                August
                                              1997             Year Ended August 31,              31,
                                            (UNAUDITED)    1996         1995         1994         1993
                                            ------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS:
    Expenses                                    .49%(2)       .51%         .53%         .54%        .54%(2)
                                            ------------------------------------------------------------
    Net Investment Income                       .99%(2)      1.26%        1.13%         .75%       1.19%(2)
                                            ------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio Turnover Rate                          33%           96%          98%          75%          8%
                                            ------------------------------------------------------------
Average Commission Rate Paid                $0.0480       $0.0494           --           --          --
                                            ------------------------------------------------------------
Net Assets, End of Period (in millions)     $2,681.4     $1,999.6     $1,623.5     $1,340.3     $1,182.1
                                            ------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
1) The date investment operations commenced.
 
2) Annualized.
 
                                                                              65
<PAGE>
DIRECTORY
 
INVESTMENT MANAGER, ADMINISTRATOR
AND DISTRIBUTOR
Neuberger&Berman Management Incorporated
605 Third Avenue 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10158-0180
800-877-9700
Institutional Services 800-366-6264
 
SUB-ADVISER
Neuberger&Berman, LLC
605 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10158-3698
 
CUSTODIAN AND SHAREHOLDER
SERVICING AGENT
State Street Bank and Trust Company
225 Franklin Street
Boston, MA 02110
 
ADDRESS CORRESPONDENCE TO:
Neuberger&Berman Funds
Institutional Services
605 Third Avenue 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10158-0180
 
LEGAL COUNSEL
Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP
1800 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20036-1800
 
Neuberger&Berman Management Inc., Neuberger&Berman Focus Trust, Neuberger&Berman
Genesis Trust, Neuberger&Berman Guardian Trust, Neuberger&Berman Manhattan
Trust, and Neuberger&Berman Partners Trust are registered service marks of
Neuberger&Berman Management Inc.
- -C- 1997 Neuberger&Berman Management Inc.
 
66
<PAGE>
OFFICER AND TRUSTEES
 
Stanley Egener
 CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND TRUSTEE
Lawrence Zicklin
 PRESIDENT AND TRUSTEE
Faith Colish
 TRUSTEE
Donald M. Cox
 TRUSTEE
Alan R. Gruber
 TRUSTEE
Howard A. Mileaf
 TRUSTEE
Edward I. O'Brien
 TRUSTEE
John T. Patterson, Jr.
 TRUSTEE
John P. Rosenthal
 TRUSTEE
Cornelius T. Ryan
 TRUSTEE
Gustave H. Shubert
 TRUSTEE
Daniel J. Sullivan
 VICE PRESIDENT
Michael J. Weiner
 VICE PRESIDENT
Richard Russell
 TREASURER
Claudia A. Brandon
 SECRETARY
Barbara DiGiorgio
 ASSISTANT TREASURER
Celeste Wischerth
 ASSISTANT TREASURER
Stacy Cooper-Shugrue
 ASSISTANT SECRETARY
C. Carl Randolph
 ASSISTANT SECRETARY
 
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<PAGE>

NEUBERGER&BERMAN MANAGEMENT INC.-Registered Trademark-
     605 THIRD AVENUE 2ND FLOOR
     NEW YORK, NY 10158-0180
     SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
     800.877.9700
     INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES
     800.366.6264




Statistics and projections in this report are derived from sources deemed to be
reliable but cannot be regarded as a representation of future results of the
Funds. This report is prepared for the general information of shareholders and
is not an offer of shares of the Funds. Shares are sold only through the 
currently effective prospectus, which must precede or accompany this report.

[LOGO] PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

NBESAR030297



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