Virtus Investment Partners

Last updated
Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.
Company type Public company
Industry Asset Management
FoundedNovember 1, 1995
Headquarters Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
Key people
George R. Aylward, President and CEO
Timothy A. Holt, Chairman of the Board
ProductsVirtus mutual funds; closed-end funds; retail separate accounts; exchange-traded funds; institutional investment management services
AUM $168.9 billion (March 31, 2021)
Number of employees
581 (December 31, 2020)
Website virtus.com

Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. operates a multi-manager asset management business, comprising a number of individual affiliated managers, each having its own investment process and brand, and the services of unaffiliated sub advisers.

Contents

History

Virtus Investment Partners, formerly known as Phoenix Investment Partners, Ltd., was formed on November 1, 1995, through a reverse merger with Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co., at the time the investment management affiliate of Duff & Phelps Corporation.[ citation needed ]

1995–2006

From 1995 to 2001, Virtus was a majority-owned indirect subsidiary of Phoenix Life Insurance Co. During this period, the company purchased a majority interest in several boutique investment management companies to establish its multi-manager business model. In addition to Duff & Phelps Investment Management, Virtus’ affiliates during this time included Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management, LLC, Seneca Capital Management, and Zweig Advisers LLC, which was founded by legendary Wall Street investor Martin Zweig.

On January 11, 2001, a subsidiary of Phoenix acquired the outstanding shares of Phoenix Investment Partners not already owned, and the company became an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Phoenix.

In May 2005, Phoenix Investment Partners acquired the remaining minority interest in Seneca Capital Management and in September of that year acquired the remaining minority interest in Kayne Anderson Rudnick, thereby increasing ownership of both companies to 100%. In May 2006, Phoenix Investment Partners adopted the Harris Insight Funds from Harris Investment Management, Inc.

2006–2009

In February 2008, Phoenix announced it would spin off Phoenix Investment Partners as an independent asset management company through a pro rata dividend of Phoenix Investment Partners' common stock to Phoenix's shareholders. [1] On October 30, 2008, Harris Bankcorp Inc., a U.S. subsidiary of Bank of Montreal, announced it would acquire $45 million in convertible preferred stock, representing a 23 percent equity position in Virtus. [2]

Virtus became an independent publicly traded company on December 31, 2008, upon completion of its spin-off from Phoenix. The first day of trading of VRTS was January 2, 2009, and company officials rang the opening bell at NASDAQ Market Site on January 5, 2009. [3]

2010–present

The years 2011 through 2018 were a period of expansion for Virtus as it established or acquired several affiliated managers, beginning in June 2011, when it established Newfleet Asset Management as a fixed income affiliate with approximately $5.2 billion of assets under management. David L. Albrycht, formerly executive managing director of Goodwin Capital Advisors, an investment management company that previously was a subsidiary of Virtus, became chief investment officer of Newfleet. [4]

In October 2012, Virtus completed the acquisition of Rampart Investment Management, a registered investment adviser specializing in options strategies. In 2013, the company established a Dublin-based UCITS, and in 2015 acquired a majority interest in ETF Issuer Solutions (ETFis), a New York City-based company that operates a platform for listing, operating, and distributing exchange-traded funds. It was renamed Virtus ETF Solutions.

In December 2016, Virtus agreed to acquire multi-boutique asset manager RidgeWorth Investments from private equity firm Lightyear Capital and Ridgeworth's employees for $472 million. That transaction, which was completed in June 2017, added approximately $40 billion in assets managed by Ridgeworth's three wholly owned affiliates, Ceredex Value Advisors, Seix Investment Advisors, and Silvant Capital Management. [5]

Virtus completed a majority investment in Sustainable Growth Advisers (SGA), an investment manager headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut that specializes in high-conviction U.S. and global growth equity portfolios, in July 2018. [6]

Natixis Investment Managers agreed to sell AlphaSimplex Group to Virtus in October 2022. [7] [8] The acquisition completed in April 2023. [9]

Business overview

Retail products (available to individual investors) include open-end mutual funds, closed-end funds, exchange-traded funds, and retail separate accounts. The Virtus Mutual Funds family consists of 58 open-end mutual funds that are distributed primarily through intermediaries, including national and regional broker-dealers, independent broker-dealers, and independent financial advisory firms. Virtus' closed-end funds are managed by four affiliated managers. The closed-end funds trade on the New York Stock Exchange.

Retail separately managed accounts comprise intermediary programs, sponsored and distributed by unaffiliated brokerage firms, and private client accounts, which are offered to the high-net-worth clients of the affiliated managers.

Virtus also manages institutional accounts for corporations, multi-employer retirement funds, foundations, endowments, and special purpose funds. [10]

Unaffiliated sub advisers

Virtus supplements the investment capabilities of its affiliated managers with select unaffiliated sub advisers whose strategies are not available to retail mutual fund customers. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franklin Templeton Investments</span> Global investment firm founded in New York City in 1947

Franklin Resources, Inc. is an American multinational holding company that, together with its subsidiaries, is referred to as Franklin Templeton; it is a global investment firm founded in New York City in 1947 as Franklin Distributors, Inc. It is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BEN, in honor of Benjamin Franklin, for whom the company is named, and who was admired by founder Rupert Johnson Sr. In 1973, the company's headquarters moved from New York to San Mateo, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York Life Insurance Company</span> American life insurance company

New York Life Insurance Company (NYLIC) is the third-largest life insurance company and the largest mutual life insurance company in the United States, and is ranked #71 on the 2023 Fortune 500 list of the largest U.S. corporations by total revenue. In 2023, NYLIC achieved the best possible ratings by the four independent rating companies. Other New York Life affiliates provide an array of securities products and services, as well as institutional and retail mutual funds.

Kroll is a financial and risk advisory firm established in 1932 and based in New York City. In 2018, Kroll was acquired by Duff & Phelps. In 2021, Duff & Phelps decided to rebrand itself as Kroll, a process it completed in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ameriprise Financial</span> Financial services company

Ameriprise Financial, Inc. is a diversified financial services company and bank holding company incorporated in Delaware and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It provides financial planning products and services, including wealth management, asset management, insurance, annuities, and estate planning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evergreen Investments</span> American investment fund

Evergreen Investments was the investment management business of Wachovia. The brand was merged into Wells Fargo Advantage Funds and subsequently phased out following Wells Fargo's acquisition of Wachovia. The brand was officially retired on July 20, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apollo Global Management</span> American private equity company

Apollo Global Management, Inc. is an American asset management firm that primarily invests in alternative assets. As of 2022, the company had $548 billion of assets under management, including $392 billion invested in credit, including mezzanine capital, hedge funds, non-performing loans, and collateralized loan obligations, $99 billion invested in private equity, and $46.2 billion invested in real assets, which includes real estate and infrastructure. The company invests money on behalf of pension funds, financial endowments, and sovereign wealth funds, as well as other institutional and individual investors.

The Phoenix Companies, Inc., is a financial services company that traces its origins to 1851.

Guggenheim Partners, LLC is a global investment and advisory financial services firm that engages in investment banking, asset management, capital markets services, and insurance services.

Needham & Company, LLC is an independent investment bank and asset management firm specializing in advisory services and financings for growth companies. Needham & Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Needham Group, which also operates a private equity investment business and an investment management business.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amundi</span> French asset management firm

Amundi is a French asset management company. With €2 trillion of assets under management (AUM) at the end of 2021, it is the largest asset manager in Europe and one of the 10 biggest investment managers in the world.

Natixis Investment Managers is a global asset management company, part of the French Groupe BPCE financial group. The company has headquarters in Paris and Boston. It is the second-biggest French asset manager by market share.

Conning is a global investment management firm serving the insurance industry. Conning supports institutional investors, including pension plans, with investment and asset management products, risk modeling software, and industry research. Founded in 1912, Conning has offices in Boston, Cologne, Hartford, Hong Kong, London, New York and Tokyo.

Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (AMG) is an American financial services firm founded in 1993 and headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida. The company's stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AMG, and is listed on the S&P 400 for mid-size American firms.

New York Life Investments is a U.S. investment management company based in Jersey City, New Jersey. New York Life Investments is a service mark and trade name of New York Life Investment Management LLC. Founded in 1986, New York Life Investment's parent company is New York Life Insurance Company, the largest mutual life-insurance company in the United States, and one of the largest life insurers in the world, ranking #71 on the 2023 Fortune 500 list.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CI Financial</span> Largest investment management firm by assets under management in Canada

CI Financial is a Canadian investment management company based in Toronto, Ontario. It offers investment management and wealth management services targeted to high net worth retail investors, as well as brokerage and trading services to portfolio managers and institutional investors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AlphaSimplex Group</span> Asset management firm based in Boston

AlphaSimplex Group (AlphaSimplex) is an American investment management firm based in Boston. The firm relies on quantitative analysis for its approach to investing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fiera Capital</span> Canada asset management company

Fiera Capital Corporation (Fiera) is a Canadian asset management company headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. The company has expanded through a series of acquisitions. It invests in multiple asset classes which are in both public and private markets although the majority of its assets are in public markets. North America is its biggest region with the majority of its investments being in Canada and the United States.

Mirova is a global asset management company dedicated to sustainable investment and an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers. As of September 30, 2023, Mirova and its affiliates manage €28.4 billion. The company is a mission-driven company, labeled B Corp.

References

  1. "Phoenix Announces Intention to Spin Off Phoenix Investment Partners", phx.corporate-ir.net, Feb. 7, 2008
  2. "Harris Bankcorp to Take Minority Equity Position In Virtus Investment Partners", bnet.com, Oct. 30, 2008.
  3. "Virtus Gains in Debut Amid Acquisition Speculation", Hartford Courant via pqasb.pqarchiver.com, Jan. 3, 2009.
  4. "Investor Relations".
  5. "Virtus to acquire RidgeWorth Investments, expand institutional offerings". 16 December 2016.
  6. "Virtus Investment Partners to take 70% ownership of Sustainable Growth Advisers". 2 February 2018.
  7. "Virtus to acquire alternatives manager AlphaSimplex from Natixis". Pensions & Investments. 2022-10-20. Retrieved 2022-11-24.
  8. SCHMITT, WILL (21 October 2022). "Natixis to sell $11bn alts boutique to Virtus". citywire.com. Retrieved 2022-11-24.
  9. Larson, Andrew (2023-04-04). "Virtus Investment Partners closes on acquisition of Boston firm". Hartford Business Journal.
  10. Virtus Investment Partners, facebook.com.
  11. "About Us" Archived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine , virtus.com.