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                                  SCHEDULE 14A
                                   (RULE 14A)
                    INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
          PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES
                              EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                             (AMENDMENT NO.      )
 
Filed by the Registrant  /X/
 
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  / /
 
Check the appropriate box:
 

                                             
/ /  Preliminary Proxy Statement                / /  CONFIDENTIAL, FOR USE OF THE COMMISSION
                                                ONLY (AS PERMITTED BY RULE 14A-6(E)(2))
/X/  Definitive Proxy Statement
/ /  Definitive Additional Materials
/ /  Soliciting Material Pursuant to sec.240.14a-11(c) or sec.240.14a-12

 
                              MAXUS EQUITY FUND
                (NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
 
                                XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
    (NAME OF PERSON(S) FILING PROXY STATEMENT, IF OTHER THAN THE REGISTRANT)
 
Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):
/X/  $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), 14a-6(i)(2) or
     Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.
/ /  $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule
14a-6(i)(3).
/ /  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
     (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
     (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
 
     (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
         pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the
         filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
     (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
     (5) Total fee paid:
 
/ /  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
 
/ /  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or
the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
     (1) Amount Previously Paid:
     (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
     (3) Filing Party:
     (4) Date Filed:
 
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                               MAXUS INCOME FUND
                               MAXUS EQUITY FUND
                              MAXUS LAUREATE FUND
 
                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                           To Be Held April 17, 1996
 
     The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of each Fund as noted above will be held
at Executive Caterers, 6111 Landerhaven Drive, Mayfield Heights, Ohio at 6:30
p.m., local time, on Wednesday, April 17, 1996 for the following purposes:
 
     1. To elect seven Trustees to hold office until the next Annual Meeting and
        until their respective successors have been duly elected and qualified.
 
     2. To ratify or reject the action taken by the Trustees in selecting
        McCurdy & Associates C.P.A.'s, Inc. as Auditors for the fiscal year
        ending December 31, 1996.
 
     3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting
        or any adjournment thereof.
 
     Shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 1, 1996 are
entitled to vote at the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
 
                                          Robert W. Curtin,
                                          Secretary
 
Cleveland, Ohio
March 22, 1996
 
WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO BE PRESENT AT THE MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE AND
RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD (OR CARDS IF YOU OWN SHARES IN MORE THAN ONE
FUND). YOU MAY STILL VOTE IN PERSON IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING.
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                                PROXY STATEMENT
 
     The accompanying proxy (or proxies if you own shares in more than one fund)
is solicited by the Trustees of Maxus Income Fund, Maxus Equity Fund and Maxus
Laureate Fund (each a "Fund" and collectively the "Funds") for use at an Annual
Meeting of Shareholders of the Funds, to be held jointly at Executive Caterers,
6111 Landerhaven Drive, Mayfield Heights, Ohio at 6:30 p.m., local time, on
Wednesday, April 17, 1996.
 
     Shareholders may vote only on matters which concern the Fund or Funds in
which they hold shares. Shareholders of record as of the close of business on
the record date, March 1, 1996, are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting or
any adjournment thereof. As of that date, there were issued and outstanding
shares of beneficial interest of each Fund in the following amounts, each of
which is entitled to one vote at the Annual Meeting: Maxus Income Fund,
3,526,121; Maxus Equity Fund, 2,326,946; and Maxus Laureate Fund, 148,540.
 
     This proxy statement and the accompanying proxy card(s) are being mailed to
shareholders on or about March 22, 1996.
 
     THE FUNDS WILL FURNISH, WITHOUT CHARGE, A COPY OF THEIR 1995 ANNUAL REPORT
TO ANY SHAREHOLDER WHO REQUESTS IT BY CONTACTING MS. LYNN SARALLI, MAXUS
INVESTMENT GROUP, 28601 CHAGRIN BOULEVARD, CLEVELAND, OHIO 44124 (CALL TOLL-FREE
1-800-44-MAXUS).
 
1.   ELECTION OF TRUSTEES
 
     It is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy card (or
cards) to vote at the Annual Meeting for the election of the nominees named
below as Trustees of each Fund to serve until the next Annual Meeting and until
their successors are elected and qualified. Each such nominee has consented to
being named herein and to serve if elected. If any such nominee should be unable
to serve, an event not now anticipated, the persons named as proxies may vote
for other persons in their discretion. A shareholder may instruct the persons
named as proxies not to vote the shares represented by his proxy for any or all
of the nominees for election.
 
INFORMATION CONCERNING NOMINEES
 
     The information concerning the nominees set forth in the following table is
based in part on information received from the respective nominees and in part
on the records of the Funds:
 


                                                                                 NUMBER AND
                                       PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION                 PERCENTAGE OF SHARES
      NAME AND POSITION               DURING PAST FIVE YEARS              BENEFICIALLY OWNED (1);
     WITH THE FUNDS (1)                      AND AGE                           DIRECTOR SINCE
- -----------------------------  ------------------------------------  ----------------------------------
                                                               
Richard A. Barone*             President of Maxus Securities Corp    Income: 40,379 (1.1%); 1985
Chairman                       (broker-dealer), Maxus Asset          Equity: 20,018 (2); 1989
                               Management Inc. (investment adviser)  Laureate: 10,090 (6.8%); 1993
                               and Resource Management Inc.
                               (financial services); Age 54.
N. Lee Dietrich                Retired; formerly Vice President,     Income: 86,852 (2.5%); 1989
Trustee                        Ohio Convenient Food Mart, Inc.; Age  Equity: 78,477 (3.4%); 1989
                               69.                                   Laureate: 12,313 (8.3%); 1993
Sanford A. Fox, D.D.S.         Endodontist; Age 58.                  Income: 297 (2); 1985
Trustee                                                              Equity: 16,051 (2); 1989
                                                                     Laureate: 92 (2); 1993

 
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                                                                                 NUMBER AND
                                       PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION                 PERCENTAGE OF SHARES
      NAME AND POSITION               DURING PAST FIVE YEARS              BENEFICIALLY OWNED (1);
     WITH THE FUNDS (1)                      AND AGE                           DIRECTOR SINCE
- -----------------------------  ------------------------------------  ----------------------------------
                                                               
Burton D. Morgan               Chairman, Morgan Bank (Hudson,        Income: 8,997 (2); 1987
Trustee                        Ohio); President, Basic Search Inc.   Equity: 0; 1991
                               (venture capital); Chairman,          Laureate: 0; 1993
                               Multi-Color Corporation (printing);
                               Director, Morgan Adhesives Company
                               (manufacturer of adhesive paper foil
                               and film); Age 79.
Michael A. Rossi               Certified Public Accountant; Age 41.  Income: 0; 1989
Trustee                                                              Equity: 1,055 (2); 1990
                                                                     Laureate: 0; 1993
Robert A. Schenkelberg, Jr.*   President, Entrust Inc. (financial    Income: 0; 1986
Trustee                        planning); Age 51.                    Equity: 0; 1989
                                                                     Laureate: 0; 1993
F. Carl Walter                 President, Chess Financial Corp.      Income: 6,385 (2); 1989
Trustee                        (financial services); Age 44.         Equity: 4,238 (2); 1989
                                                                     Laureate: 3,648 (2.5%); 1993

 
*Mr. Barone is an "interested person" as defined by the Investment Company Act
 of 1940 (the "Act") of each Fund by reason of his relationship with Maxus Asset
 Management Inc., Maxus Securities Corp and Resource Management Inc. Mr.
 Schenkelberg may be deemed to be an "interested person" of each Fund by reason
 of the fact that his license as a securities salesman is held by Maxus
 Securities Corp.
 
(1) Shares beneficially owned as of March 1, 1996.
 
(2) Constitutes less than 1% of outstanding shares.
 
     Messrs. Barone, Dietrich, Morgan, Rossi and Walter also are Directors of
Morgan Funshares, Inc.
 
     As of March 1, 1996, all nine officers and Trustees as a group held the
following numbers of shares (and percentages of outstanding shares) of each
Fund: Maxus Income Fund, 143,028 (4.1%); Maxus Equity Fund, 122,935 (5.3%) and
Maxus Laureate Fund, 26,255 (17.7%).
 
     Four meetings of the Board of Trustees of each Fund were held during the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1995. Each Trustee except Mr. Walter attended at
least 75% of the meetings of the Board of Trustees during the fiscal year.
 
     None of the Funds has a standing audit committee or nominating committee of
the Board of Trustees.
 
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
 
     In addition to the Chairman of the Board (Mr. Barone), each Fund has the
following executive officers:
 


NAME AND POSITION                            PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING
WITH THE FUNDS (1)                             PAST FIVE YEARS AND AGE
- ------------------      ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                     
James Onorato,          Vice President, Resource Management Inc.; Age 39.
Vice President
Robert W. Curtin,       Senior Vice President and Secretary, Maxus Securities Corp.; formerly
Secretary               Executive Vice President, Roulston & Company, Inc.; Age 51.

 
(1) Mr. Onorato has served since 1989 and Mr. Curtin has served since 1994.
 
COMPENSATION OF TRUSTEES
 
     During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, each Fund paid fees
aggregating $1,300 to those of its Trustees who are not interested persons of
Maxus Asset Management Inc. Each such Trustee receives a fee of $100 for each
Board or shareholders' meeting he attends.
 
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   5
 
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT
 
     The investments of each Fund are managed by Maxus Asset Management Inc.
(the "Adviser") pursuant to an Investment Advisory and Administration Agreement
(the "Agreement"). The Agreement provides that as compensation for its services
to each Fund, the Adviser is entitled to receive from the Fund an annual fee of
1% of the first $150,000,000 of such Fund's average daily net asset value and
0.75% of average daily net asset value in excess of $150,000,000, payable
monthly. The Adviser received management fees from each Fund for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1995, in the following amounts: Maxus Income Fund, $358,378;
Maxus Equity Fund, $250,329; and Maxus Laureate Fund, $16,939.
 
     The Adviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Resource Management Inc.
("RMI"). Richard A. Barone, Chairman of each Fund, is the president and majority
shareholder of RMI. Mr. Barone is the principal executive officer (president)
and sole Director of the Adviser.
 
DISTRIBUTION PLAN AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
 
     Each Fund has a Plan of Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (the "Plan"),
pursuant to which each Fund may bear the expenses of certain activities
primarily intended to result in the sale of Fund shares to the public. Each Fund
is also a party to a Distribution Agreement with MSC, pursuant to which MSC acts
as the distributor for the shares of the Fund. MSC is a wholly-owned subsidiary
of RMI, a corporation controlled by Richard A. Barone, Chairman of the Fund.
 
     Under the Plan, each Fund may expend as much as, but not more than, .50% of
its average net assets annually pursuant to the Plan. Included in such amount
are fees paid to certain persons for advising their clients regarding the
purchase, sale or retention of Fund shares, sometimes referred to as "service
fees", which can range up to .25% (on an annual basis) of the average total net
asset value of Fund shares owned by the clients of such persons.
 
     Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement between each Fund and MSC, MSC has
agreed to hold itself available to receive orders, satisfactory to MSC, for the
purchase of the Fund's shares, to accept such orders on behalf of the Fund as of
the time of receipt of such orders and to transmit such orders to the Fund's
transfer agent as promptly as practicable. The Distribution Agreement (i)
provides for the payment by the Fund to MSC of a distribution fee (the
"Distribution Fee") of .25% of average net assets (payable without regard to the
amount of expenses incurred by MSC) and (ii) authorizes MSC to make payments for
activities and expenses permitted by the Plan, including the payment of service
fees (subject to the .25% limit on service fees described above) and provides
that the Fund shall reimburse MSC for such expenditures, in addition to payment
of the Distribution Fee.
 
TRANSFER AGENCY, PORTFOLIO PRICING AND RELATED SERVICES
 
     Each Fund has entered into an Administration Agreement with Maxus
Information Systems, Inc. ("MIS"), 28601 Chagrin Boulevard, Cleveland, Ohio
44122, pursuant to which MIS has agreed to act as each Fund's Transfer,
Redemption and Dividend Disbursing Agent and as Administrator of Plans of the
Fund. In addition, each Fund has entered into an Accounting Services Agreement
with MIS, pursuant to which MIS has agreed to provide portfolio pricing and
related services. MIS is a subsidiary of Resource Management Inc., the parent
company of the Adviser. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, the
Funds paid MIS the following amounts under the Administration Agreement and the
Accounting Services Agreement, respectively: Maxus Income Fund, $12,288 and
$25,896; Maxus Equity Fund, $12,498 and $20,940; and Maxus Laureate Fund, $3,526
and $5,518.
 
2.   APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
 
     The Trustees of each Fund, including a majority of the Trustees who are not
"interested persons" of each Fund, have selected McCurdy & Associates C.P.A.'s,
Inc. to act as auditors for each Fund for the fiscal year ending December 31,
1996. McCurdy & Associates C.P.A.'s, Inc. has advised the Funds that it has no
direct or indirect financial interest in any of the Funds. This selection is
subject to the approval of the shareholders of
 
                                        3
   6
 
each Fund at the Annual Meeting. The enclosed proxy card(s) provide space for
instructions directing the proxies named therein to vote for or against
ratification of the selection. A representative of McCurdy & Associates
C.P.A.'s, Inc. is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and will be
available to respond to appropriate questions relating to the examination of
each Fund's financial statements and will have an opportunity to make a
statement if so desired.
 
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
 
     As of March 1, 1996, the only person known by Maxus Income Fund to be the
beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of such Fund was
Select Restaurant Acquisitions Corp., 30050 Chagrin Boulevard, Pepper Pike, Ohio
44124, which owned 266,389 shares (7.6% of the outstanding shares) as of that
date.
 
     As of March 1, 1996, no person was known by Maxus Equity Fund to be the
beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of such Fund.
 
     As of March 1, 1996, the following persons were known by Maxus Laureate
Fund to be the beneficial owners of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of
such Fund:
 


                                                                     NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF
                                                                       SHARES BENEFICIALLY
                            NAME AND ADDRESS                                  OWNED
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  
    Richard A. Barone*                                                         10,090(6.8%)
    Suite 500
    28601 Chagrin Boulevard
    Cleveland, OH 44122
    Donald E. Caravona                                                          7,973(5.4%)
    1900 Terminal Tower
    Cleveland, OH 44113
    N. Lee Dietrich                                                            12,313(8.3%)
    7090 Morley Road
    Painesville, OH 44077
    M.A. Geiger, H.A. Madorsky and A. Gressel,                                  8,303(5.6%)
    Trustees of the Research Environmental
    Industries, Inc. Salaried 401K Plan
    21010 Center Ridge Road
    Cleveland, OH 44116
    Rand Kaiser                                                                 9,276(6.3%)
    10176 Luman Lane
    Twinsburg, OH 44087
    Lawrence Loxterman                                                         12,235(8.2%)
    270 Barrington Ridge Road
    Painesville, OH 44077
    William H. Loxterman                                                       12,210(8.2%)
    10100 Hoose Road
    Mentor, OH 44060
    Evelyn J. Wells                                                             7,449(5.0%)
    6780 Seneca Road
    Mayfield Village, OH 44143

 
- ------------------------
 
*Includes 10,000 shares owned by Resource Management, Inc., a corporation of
 which Mr. Barone is the President.
 
                                        4
   7
 
                                 OTHER MATTERS
 
     The Trustees know of no business to be brought before the meeting except as
set forth above. If, however, any other matters properly come before the
meeting, the persons named in the enclosed proxy card(s) intend to vote on such
matters in accordance with their best judgment.
 
                             REVOCATION OF PROXIES
 
     Any person giving a proxy has power to revoke it at any time prior to its
exercise by executing a superseding proxy or by submitting a notice of
revocation to the Secretary of the Funds. In addition, a shareholder present at
the meeting may withdraw his proxy and vote in person. All properly executed and
unrevoked proxies received in time for the meeting will be voted in accordance
with the instructions contained therein. If no specification is made on a proxy,
it will be voted for the election of Trustees and for ratification of the
selection of the independent accountants.
 
                            SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
 
     Proxies will be solicited by mail and may also be solicited in person or by
telephone by officers or Trustees of the Funds. The cost of preparing and
mailing this statement and the accompanying proxy card(s) will be borne by the
Funds.
 
     Although neither Ohio law nor the Declaration of Trust or By-laws of the
Funds specifically provide for such matters, the policy and practice of each
Fund is that (i) properly executed proxies that are marked "abstain" or are held
in "street name" by brokers that are not voted on one or more proposals (if
otherwise voted on at least one proposal) will be counted for purposes of
determining whether a quorum has been achieved at the Annual Meeting, and (ii)
abstentions and broker non-votes will not be treated as either a vote for or a
vote against any of the proposals to which such abstention or broker non-vote
applies.
 
                         PROPOSALS OF SECURITY HOLDERS
 
     Proposals of shareholders intended to be presented at the Annual Meeting of
the Funds in 1997 must be received by the Funds no later than November 22, 1996
for inclusion in the Funds' proxy statement and form of proxy relating to that
meeting. The mailing address of the Funds is 28601 Chagrin Boulevard, Cleveland,
Ohio 44122.
 
                                          By order of the Trustees
 
                                          Robert W. Curtin,
                                          Secretary
 
March 22, 1996
 
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       PROXY                       MAXUS EQUITY FUND                       PROXY
 
                   ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS -- APRIL 17, 1996
                   THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE TRUSTEES
           The undersigned hereby appoints Richard A. Barone and James Onorato,
       and each of them, the proxies of the undersigned with power of
       substitution to each of them to vote all shares of Maxus Equity Fund
       which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of
       Shareholders to be held at Executive Caterers, 6111 Landerhaven Drive,
       Mayfield Heights, Ohio on April 17, 1996 at 6:30 p.m. local time, and any
       adjournments thereof.
 
       (1) Election of Trustees: (Instruction: To withhold authority to vote for
           any individual nominee strike a line through the nominee's name in
           the list below.)
 
         RICHARD A. BARONE,  N. LEE DIETRICH,  SANFORD A. FOX, D.D.S.,  BURTON
           D. MORGAN,
         MICHAEL A. ROSSI,  ROBERT A. SCHENKELBERG, JR.,  F. CARL WALTER
 
       (2) Proposal to ratify the selection of McCurdy & Associates C.P.A.'s,
           Inc., as auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1996.
 
       (3) In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such
           other business as may properly come before the meeting including the
           election of any person as a Trustee if any of the nominees named
           above is unable to serve or for good cause unwilling to serve and
           matters incident to the conduct of the Annual Meeting.
 
        THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED
         HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS
                                     PROXY WILL BE
                  VOTED FOR PROPOSALS 1 AND 2. PLEASE VOTE PROMPTLY.
 
                      (CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON OTHER SIDE.)
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       MAXUS EQUITY FUND    (CONTINUED FROM THE OTHER SIDE)
 

                                                                                   
         (1) ELECTION OF TRUSTEES                (2) TO RATIFY THE SELECTION             DO YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL
         (Vote for all nominees except as        OF McCURDY & ASSOCIATES                 MEETING
         indicated on reverse side.)             C.P.A.'S, INC. AS AUDITORS              / / YES        / / NO
                              WITHHOLD
                    FOR       AUTHORITY                   FOR        AGAINST      ABSTAIN
                    / /          / /                      / /          / /          / /
 
                                                                      DATED:                                     , 1996

                                                                      _________________________________________________

                                                                      _________________________________________________
                                                                              (Signature of Shareholder(s))
                                                                      Please sign exactly as name appears in the box on
                                                                      the left. When signing as attorney, executor,
                                                                      administrator, trustee or guardian, please give
                                                                      your title as such. If a corporation, please sign in
                                                                      full corporate name by president or other
                                                                      authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign
                                                                      partnership name by authorized person. If a joint
                                                                      account, please provide both signatures.