SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
Rule 13d-102
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. __)*
Axis Capital Holdings Ltd.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Issuer)
Common
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Title of Class of Securities)
G0692U208
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(CUSIP Number)
12/31/2005
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which
this Schedule is filed:
|X| Rule 13d-1 (b)
|_| Rule 13d-1 (c)
|_| Rule 13d-1 (d)
----------
* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of
securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which
would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of
the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see
the Notes).
Page 1 of 4 Pages
CUSIP No. G0692U208
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Names and I.R.S. Identification Nos.(entities only) of reporting persons.
Neuberger Berman Inc.
061523639
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Check the appropriate box if a member of a group (see instructions) (a)|_|
(b)|_|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) SEC use only.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) Citizenship or place of organization.
Delaware
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of shares beneficially owned by each reporting person with:
(5) Sole voting power:
5203234
(6) Shared voting power:
0
(7) Sole dispositive power:
0
(8) Shared dispositive power:
7302384
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(9) Aggregate amount beneficially owned by each reporting person.
7302384
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(10) Check if the aggregate amount in Row (9) excludes certain shares |X|
(see instructions).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11) Percent of class represented by amount in Row 9.
5.14%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(12) Type of reporting person (see instructions).
BD IA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 2 of 4 Pages
Item 1(a). Name of Issuer:
Axis Capital Holdings Ltd.
Item 1(b). Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
106 Pitts Bay Road Pembroke D0 00000
Item 2(a). Name of Person Filing:
Neuberger Berman Inc.
Item 2(b). Address or Principal Business Office or, If None, Residence:
605 Third Avenue New York NY 10158
Item 2(c). Citizenship:
Delaware
Item 2(d). Title of Class of Securities:
Common
Item 2(e). CUSIP No.:
G0692U208
Item 3. If This Statement is Filed Pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b) or
(c), Check Whether the Person Filing is a:
(a) |X| Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act
(15 U.S.C. 78o).
(b) |_| Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).
(c) |_| Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act
(15 U.S.C. 78c).
(d) |_| Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C 80a-8).
(e) |X| An investment adviser in accordance with
ss. 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);
(f) |_| An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with
ss.240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);
(g) |_| A parent holding company or control person in accordance with
ss.240.13d- 1(b)(1)(ii)(G);
(h) |_| A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);
(i) |_| A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an
investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);
(j) |_| Group, in accordance with ss. 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).
If this statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c),
check this box. |_|
Item 4. Ownership
(a) Amount beneficially owned:
7302384
(b) Percent of class:
5.14%
(c) Number of shares as to which such person has:
(i) Sole power to direct the vote
5203234
(ii) Shared power to direct the vote
0
(iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of
0
(iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of
7302384
Item 5. Ownership of 5 Percent or Less of a Class.
If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date
hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of
more than 5 percent of the class of securities, check the following |_|
Item 6. Ownership of More than 5 Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
Neuberger Berman, LLC is deemed to be a beneficial owner for purpose of
Rule 13(d) since it has shared power to make decisions whether to retain
or dispose, and in some cases the sole power to vote, the securities of
many unrelated clients. Neuberger Berman, LLC does not, however, have
any economic interest in the securities of those clients. The clients
are the actual owners of the securities and have the sole right to
receive and the power to direct the receipt of dividends from or
proceeds from the sale of such securities.
With regard to the shares set forth under item 4. (c) (II), Neuberger
Berman, LLC and Neuberger Berman Management Inc. are deemed to be
beneficial owners for purposes of Rule 13 (d) since they both have
shared power to make decisions whether to retain or dispose and vote the
securities. Neuberger Berman, LLC and Neuberger Berman Inc. serve as a
sub-adviser and investment manager, respectively, of Neuberger Berman's
various Mutual Funds which hold such shares in the ordinary course of
their business and not with the purpose nor with the effect of changing
or influencing the control of the issuer.
No other Neuberger Berman, LLC advisory client has an interest of more
than 5% of the issuer.
It should be further noted that the share calculation under item 4. (c)
(IV) is derived from a total combination of the shares set forth under
Item 4. (c) (I and II). The remaining balance of shares, if any, are for
the individual client accounts over which Neuberger Berman, LLC has
shared power to dispose but not vote shares.
Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the
Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company or Control
Person.
Neuberger Berman Inc. makes this filing pursuant to the Rule 13d-1 (b)
(ii) (G) since it owns 100% of both Neuberger Berman, LLC and Neuberger
Berman Management Inc. and does not own over 1% of the issuer.
Neuberger Berman, LLC, as investment advisor and broker/dealer with
discretion.
Neuberger Berman Management Inc. as investment advisor to a series of
Public Mutual Funds.
Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
N/A
Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group.
N/A
Item 10. Certifications
By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and
belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in
the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held
for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the
control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are
not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction
having that purpose or effect.
Page 3 of 4 Pages
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify
that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
Neuberger Berman Inc.
Date: 02/14/2006 /s/ Kevin Handwerker
Name: Kevin Handwerker
Title: Chief Administrative Officer
and General Counsel
The original statement shall be signed by each person on whose behalf the
statement is filed or his authorized representative. If the statement is signed
on behalf of a person by his authorized representative other than an executive
officer or general partner of the filing person, evidence of the
representative's authority to sign on behalf of such person shall be filed with
the statement, Provided, however, That a power of attorney for this purpose
which is already on file with the Commission may be incor porated by reference.
The name and any title of each person who signs the statement shall be typed or
printed beneath his signature.
ATTENTION: Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute Federal
criminal violations (see 18 U.S.C. 1001). (Secs. 3(b), 13(d)(1), 13(d)(2),
13(d)(5), 13(d)(6), 13(g)(1), 13(g)(2), 13(g)(5), 23, 48 Stat. 882, 894, 901;
sec. 203(a), 49 Stat. 704; sec. 8, 49 Stat. 1379; sec. 10, 78 Stat. 88a; sec.
2, 82 Stat. 454; secs. 1, 2, 84 Stat. 1497; secs. 3, 10, 18, 89 Stat. 97, 119,
155; secs. 202, 203, 91 Stat. 1494, 1498, 1499; (15 U.S.C. 78c(b), 78m(d)(1),
78m(d)(2), 78m(d)(5), 78m(d)(6), 78m(g)(1), 78m(g)(2), 78m(g)(5), 78w)) [43 FR
18499, Apr. 28, 1978, as amended at 43 FR 55756, Nov. 29, 1978; 44 FR 2148,
Jan. 9, 1979; 44 FR 11751, Mar. 2, 1979; 61 FR 49959, Sept. 24, 1996; 62 FR
35340, July 1, 1997; 63 FR 2867, Jan. 16, 1998; 63 FR 15287, Mar. 31, 1998]
Page 4 of 4 Pages