Item 1. Business
Item 1. Business.
Organization
Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (the "Company"), a Delaware corporation, commenced operations on November 1, 1995 and became an independent publicly traded company on December 31, 2008.
Our Business
We provide investment management and related services to institutions and individuals. We use a multi-manager, multi-style approach, offering investment strategies from affiliated managers, each having its own distinct investment style, autonomous investment process, individual brand, as well as from select unaffiliated managers for certain of our retail funds. By offering a broad array of products, we believe we can appeal to a greater number of investors and have offerings across market cycles and through changes in investor preferences. Through our multi-manager model, we provide our affiliated managers with retail and institutional distribution capabilities and business and operational support.
We offer investment strategies for institutional and individual investors in different investment products and through multiple distribution channels. Our investment strategies are available in a diverse range of styles and disciplines, managed by differentiated investment managers. We have offerings in various asset classes (equity, fixed income, multi-asset and alternatives), geographies (domestic, global, international and emerging), market capitalizations (large, mid and small), styles (growth, core and value) and investment approaches (fundamental and quantitative). Our products include mutual funds registered pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended ("U.S. retail funds"); Undertaking for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities and Qualifying Investor Funds (collectively, "global funds") and collectively with U.S. retail funds, variable insurance funds, exchange-traded funds ("ETFs"), the "open-end funds"); closed-end funds (collectively, with open-end funds, the "funds"); and retail separate accounts that include intermediary-sold and private client accounts; and institutional separate and commingled accounts, including structured products. We also provide subadvisory services to other investment advisers and serve as the collateral manager for structured products.
Our Investment Managers
We provide investment management services through our affiliated investment managers who are registered directly and indirectly as investment advisers under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Advisers Act"). The investment managers are responsible for portfolio management activities for our retail and institutional products operating under advisory, subadvisory or collateral management agreements. We also use the investment management services of select unaffiliated managers to sub-advise certain of our open- and closed-end funds. We monitor our managers' services by assessing their performance, style and consistency and the discipline with which they apply their investment process.
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Our affiliated investment managers, their respective investment styles and assets under management as of December 31, 2023 were as follows:
Affiliated Manager Headquarters Investment Style Assets
(in billions)
AlphaSimplex
Founded 1999
Boston, MA Systematic Alternatives $ 7.4
Ceredex Value Advisors
Founded 1995
Orlando, FL Value Equity $ 6.2
Duff & Phelps Investment Management
Founded 1932
Chicago, IL Listed Real Assets $ 12.3
Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management
Founded 1984
Los Angeles, CA Quality-Focused Equity $ 59.6
Newfleet Asset Management (1)
Founded 2011
Hartford, CT Multi-Sector Fixed Income $ 14.7
NFJ Investment Group
Founded 1989
Dallas, TX Global Value Equity $ 6.6
Seix Investment Advisors (1)
Founded 1992
Park Ridge, NJ Specialty Fixed Income $ 13.1
Silvant Capital Management
Founded 2008
Atlanta, GA Growth Equity $ 2.2
Stone Harbor Investment Partners (1)
Founded 2006
New York, NY Emerging Markets Debt $ 5.6
Sustainable Growth Advisers
Founded 2003
Stamford, CT Global Growth Equity $ 26.4
Virtus Multi-Asset (2)
Founded 2022
Hartford, CT Global Multi-Asset $ 0.2
Virtus Systematic (2)
Founded 2022
San Diego, CA Systematic Global Equity $ 0.4
Westchester Capital Management
Founded 1989
Valhalla, NY Event-Driven Alternatives $ 3.7
Zevenbergen Capital Investments (3)
Founded 1987
Seattle, WA Disruptive Growth Equity $ 1.9
(1) Operates as a division of Virtus Fixed Income Advisors LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.
(2) Operates as a division of Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.
(3) Affiliated through ownership of a minority interest.
Summary information regarding our select unaffiliated subadvisers, their respective investment styles and assets under management as of December 31, 2023 were as follows:
Unaffiliated Subadviser Investment Style Assets
(in billions)
Voya Investment Management Income & Growth and Convertible $ 9.7
Other International Growth Equity, Income-Focused Equity, Risk Managed and Quantitative $ 2.3
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Our Investment Products
Our assets under management are in open-end funds, closed-end funds, retail separate accounts and institutional accounts. Our earnings are primarily from asset-based fees charged for services relating to these various products, including investment management, fund administration, distribution and shareholder services.
Assets Under Management by Product as of December 31, 2023
Products (in billions)
Open-end funds (1) $ 56.1
Closed-end funds 10.0
Retail separate accounts 43.2
Institutional accounts (2) 63.0
Total Assets Under Management $ 172.3
(1) Represents assets under management of U.S. retail funds, global funds, ETFs and variable insurance funds.
(2) Represents assets under management of institutional separate and commingled accounts, including structured products.
Open-End Funds
Our U.S. retail funds are offered in a variety of asset classes (domestic, global and international equity, taxable and non-taxable fixed income, multi-asset and alternatives), market capitalizations (large, mid and small), styles (growth, core and value) and investment approaches (fundamental and quantitative). Our global funds are offered in select investment strategies to non-U.S. investors. Our ETFs are offered in a range of actively managed and index-based investment capabilities across multiple asset classes. Summary information about our open-end funds as of December 31, 2023 was as follows:
Asset Class Number of Funds Total Assets
(in millions)
Advisory Fee
Range % (1)
Domestic Equity 28 $ 20,159 2.15 - 0.29
Fixed Income 43 14,454 1.85 - 0.17
International Equity 13 3,364 1.85 - 0.21
Multi-Asset 4 5,777 0.75 - 0.45
Alternatives 17 7,456 1.65 - 0.45
Specialty Equity 10 2,937 1.80 - 0.59
Global Equity 7 1,915 1.85 - 0.55
Total Open-End Funds 122 $ 56,062
(1) Percentage of average daily net assets. The percentages listed represent the range of management advisory fees paid by the funds, from the highest to the lowest. The range indicated includes the impact of breakpoints at which management advisory fees for certain of the funds in each fund type decrease as assets in such funds increase. Subadvisory fees paid on funds managed by unaffiliated subadvisers are not reflected in the percentages listed.
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Closed-End Funds
Our closed-end funds are offered in a variety of asset classes such as equity, fixed income, multi-asset and alternatives, each of which is traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Summary information about our closed-end funds as of December 31, 2023 was as follows:
Asset Class Number of Funds Total Assets
(in millions)
Advisory Fee
Range % (1)
Multi-Asset 5 $ 7,058 1.00 - 0.50
Fixed Income 6 1,572 1.00 - 0.50
Equity 1 826 1.25
Alternatives 1 570 1.00
Total Closed-End Funds 13 $ 10,026
(1) Percentage of average weekly or daily net assets. The percentages listed represent the range of management advisory fees paid by the funds, from the highest to the lowest. The range indicated includes the impact of breakpoints at which management advisory fees for certain of the funds in each fund type decrease as assets in such funds increase. Subadvisory fees paid on funds managed by unaffiliated subadvisers are not reflected in the percentages listed.
Retail Separate Accounts
Intermediary-Sold Managed Accounts
Intermediary-sold managed accounts are individual investment accounts that are contracted through intermediaries as part of investment programs offered to retail investors.
Private Client Accounts
Private client accounts are investment accounts offered by certain affiliates directly to individual investors. Services provided include wealth advisory and investment services that include third-party investment services.
The following table summarizes our retail separate accounts by asset class as of December 31, 2023:
Total Assets
(in millions) Intermediary-Sold
Managed Accounts Private Client Accounts
Equity
Domestic $ 33,105 $ 29
International equity 81 —
Global equity 366 —
Specialty equity 70 —
Fixed Income
Leveraged finance 1,444 2
Investment grade 196 298
Multi-Asset (1) 175 7,435
Alternatives 1 —
Total Retail Separate Accounts $ 35,438 $ 7,764
(1) For private client accounts, consists of individual client accounts with substantial holdings in at least two of the following asset classes: equity, fixed income, and alternatives.
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Institutional Accounts
Our institutional clients include corporations, multi-employer retirement funds, public employee retirement systems, foundations and endowments. We also act as collateral manager for nine collateralized loan obligations ("CLOs"). In addition, we provide subadvisory services to unaffiliated mutual funds. Summary information about our institutional accounts as of December 31, 2023 was as follows:
Asset Class Total Assets
(in millions)
Equity
Domestic $ 23,970
International 1,610
Global 8,271
Fixed Income
Leveraged finance 10,303
Investment grade 8,923
Alternatives 8,926
Multi-Asset 966
Total Institutional Accounts $ 62,969
Other Fee Earning Assets
Other fee earning assets include assets for which we provide services for an asset-based fee but do not serve as the investment adviser. Other fee earning assets are not included in our assets under management. At December 31, 2023, we had $2.6 billion of other fee earning assets.
Our Investment Management, Administration and Shareholder Services
Our investment management, administration and shareholder service fees earned in each of the last three years were as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands) 2023 2022 2021
Open-end funds $ 305,238 $ 335,585 $ 395,152
Closed-end funds 58,136 63,841 63,301
Retail separate accounts 171,357 171,509 174,919
Institutional accounts 176,744 157,404 148,213
Total investment management fees 711,475 728,339 781,585
Administration fees 52,858 61,344 73,113
Shareholder service fees 20,999 24,518 29,418
Total $ 785,332 $ 814,201 $ 884,116
Investment Management Fees
We provide investment management services through our affiliated investment managers (each an "Adviser") pursuant to investment management agreements. For our sponsored funds, we earn fees based on each fund's average daily or weekly net assets with most fee schedules providing for rate declines or "breakpoints" as asset levels increase to certain thresholds. For funds managed by subadvisers, the day-to-day investment management of the fund's portfolio is performed by the subadviser, which receives a fee based on a percentage of the management fee. Each fund bears all expenses associated with its operations. In some cases, to the extent total fund expenses exceed a specified percentage of a fund's average net assets, the Adviser has agreed to reimburse the fund's expenses in excess of that level.
For retail separate accounts and institutional accounts, investment management fees are negotiated and based primarily on portfolio size and complexity, individual client requests and investment strategy capacity, as appropriate. In certain instances, institutional fees may include performance-related fees, generally earned if the returns on the portfolios exceed agreed upon periodic or cumulative return targets, primarily benchmark indices. Fees for CLOs are generally
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calculated at a contractual fee rate applied against the end of the preceding quarter par value of the total collateral being managed.
Administration Fees
We provide various administrative services to our U.S. retail funds, ETFs and the majority of our closed-end funds. We earn fees based on each fund's average daily or weekly net assets. These services include: record keeping, preparing and filing documents required to comply with securities laws, legal administration and compliance services, customer service, supervision of the activities of the funds' service providers, tax services and treasury services as well as providing office space, equipment and personnel that may be necessary for managing and administering the business affairs of the funds.
Shareholder Service Fees
We provide shareholder services to our U.S. retail funds. We earn fees based on each fund's average daily net assets. Shareholder services include maintaining shareholder accounts, processing shareholder transactions, preparing filings and performing necessary reporting, among other things.
Our Distribution Services
Our products are offered through various retail and institutional distribution channels.
Retail
Our retail distribution resources in the U.S. consist of regional sales professionals, a national account relationship group and specialized teams for retirement and ETFs. Our U.S. retail funds and retail separate accounts are distributed through financial intermediaries. We have broad distribution access in the U.S. retail market, with distribution partners that include national and regional broker-dealers, independent broker-dealers and registered investment advisers, banks and insurance companies. In many of these firms, we have a number of products that are on preferred or "recommended" lists and on fee-based advisory programs. Our private client business is marketed directly to individual clients by financial advisory teams at our affiliated investment managers.
Institutional
Our institutional distribution resources include affiliate-specific institutional sales teams primarily focused on the U.S. market, supported by shared consultant relations and U.S. and non-U.S. institutional sales distribution. Our institutional products are marketed through relationships with consultants as well as directly to clients. We target key market segments, including foundations and endowments, corporations, public and private pension plans, sovereign wealth funds and subadvisory relationships.
Our Broker-Dealer Services
We operate a broker-dealer that is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA"). Our broker-dealer serves as the principal underwriter and distributor of our funds, provides market advisory services to sponsors of retail separate accounts, and is also a program manager and distributor of a qualified tuition plan under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code ("529 Plan"). Our broker-dealer is subject to, among others, the net capital rule of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which is designed to enforce minimum standards regarding the general financial condition and liquidity of broker-dealers.
Our Competition
We face significant competition from a wide variety of financial institutions, including other investment management companies, as well as from proprietary products offered by our distribution partners such as banks, broker-dealers and financial planning firms. Competition in our businesses is based on several factors, including investment performance, fees charged, access to distribution channels, and service to financial advisors and their clients. Our competitors, many of which are larger than us, often offer similar products and use similar distribution sources, and may also offer less expensive products, have greater access to key distribution channels and have greater resources than we do.
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Our Regulatory Matters
The financial services industry is highly regulated, regulations are complex, and failure to comply with related laws and regulations can result in the revocation of registrations, the imposition of censures or fines and the suspension or expulsion of a firm and/or its employees from the industry. We are subject to regulation by the SEC, other federal and state agencies, certain international regulators, as well as FINRA and other self-regulatory organizations.
Each of our affiliated investment managers is registered directly and indirectly as an investment adviser with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act. The Investment Advisers Act imposes numerous obligations on registered investment advisers, including fiduciary duties, compliance and disclosure obligations, and operational and recordkeeping requirements. Certain investment management affiliates are also members of the National Futures Association and are regulated by the U.S. Commodity Futures trading Commission ("CFTC") with respect to the management of funds and other products that utilize futures, swaps, or other CFTC regulated instruments.
Our affiliated investment managers also advise registered and unregistered funds in the U.S. and other jurisdictions and are subject to the regulatory requirements in the jurisdiction where those funds are sponsored or offered, including with respect to mutual funds and closed end funds in the U.S., the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"). The Investment Company Act governs the operations of mutual funds and imposes obligations on their advisers, including investment restrictions and other governance, compliance, reporting and fiduciary obligations with respect to the management of those funds.
Affiliated investment managers operating outside of the U.S. are also subject to regulation by various regulatory authorities and exchanges in the relevant jurisdiction. Some of our investment affiliates are subject to directives and regulations in the European Union and other jurisdictions related to funds, such as the Undertakings for the Collective Investment of Transferable Securities ("UCITS") Directive and the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive ("AIFMD"), with respect to depository functions, remuneration policies and sanctions and other matters. Our global funds are registered with and subject to regulation by the Central Bank of Ireland. New regulations or interpretations of existing laws may result in enhanced disclosure obligations. Increased regulations generally increase our costs, and we could continue to experience higher costs if new laws require us to spend more time, hire additional personnel, or purchase new technology to comply effectively.
Our broker-dealer is subject to SEC and FINRA rules and regulations, including extensive regulatory requirements related to sales practices, registration of personnel, compliance and supervision and compensation and disclosure. Sales and marketing activities of investment management services are also subject to regulation by non-U.S. authorities in the jurisdictions in which investment management products and services are offered. The ability to transact business in these jurisdictions and to conduct cross-border activities, is subject to the continuing availability of regulatory authorizations and exemptions. We have distribution teams that operate offices in the United Kingdom and Singapore and are subject to regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and Monetary Authority of Singapore, respectively.
Due to the extensive laws and regulations to which we and our investment management affiliates are subject, we and our investment management affiliates must devote substantial time, expense, and effort to remain current on, and to address, legal and regulatory compliance matters. We and our investment management affiliates have established compliance programs to address regulatory compliance and we have experienced legal and compliance professionals in place to address these requirements. We also have established legal and regulatory advisers in each of the countries where we conduct business.
Our officers, directors and employees may, from time to time, own securities that are also held by one or more of our funds or strategies offered to clients. We have adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant to the provisions of the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act that require the disclosure of personal securities holdings and trading activity by all employees on a quarterly and annual basis. Employees with investment discretion or access to investment decisions are subject to additional restrictions with respect to the pre-clearance of the purchase or sale of securities over which they have investment discretion or beneficial interest. Our Code of Ethics also imposes restrictions with respect to personal transactions in securities that are held, recently sold, or contemplated for purchase by our mutual funds, and certain transactions are restricted so as to avoid the possibility of improper use of information relating to the management of client accounts.
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Human Capital
As of December 31, 2023, we employed 824 employees and operated offices throughout the U.S., and in the U.K. and Singapore. We strive to attract and retain talented individuals by creating an environment of excellence and opportunity that serves as a foundation for all employees to reach their potential and make meaningful contributions to the organization.
We offer competitive salaries and a comprehensive suite of benefits, including programs that support wellness, financial security, and professional development. As part of our offerings, we:
▪ Regularly assess and benchmark our compensation and benefit practices and conduct internal and external pay comparisons to assist us in ensuring that employees are compensated fairly, equitably and competitively.
▪ Offer career enhancement opportunities to maximize each employee's potential and develop leaders throughout the organization.
▪ Provide an education assistance program with tuition reimbursement for employees who wish to continue their education to secure increased responsibility and growth within the organization and in their careers.
▪ Offer benefits that promote financial and personal security including comprehensive medical, dental, prescription, disability and life insurance coverages as well as an employee assistance program; company match to employees' 401(k) contributions; and an employee stock purchase plan.
▪ Provide wellness programs that include health screenings and wellness earned premium rebates, as well as paid time off for vacation, illness, bereavement, parental and family care leave, and volunteer activities.
We rely upon key personnel to manage our business, including senior executives, portfolio managers, securities analysts, investment advisers, sales personnel and other professionals. The retention of senior executives and key investment personnel is material to the management of our business.
Our value as a company derives from the talents and diversity of all employees, and we are committed to creating and maintaining an environment where every employee is treated with dignity and respect. The collective sum of employees' backgrounds, unique skills, and life experiences creates an environment where they and the company can achieve the highest levels of performance. Programs and practices - including those supporting workforce diversity, an inclusive culture, employee involvement in community activities and corporate philanthropy - are designed to help us deliver on our commitment to maintaining an organization that is diverse and inclusive for all employees.
▪ As an employer, we prohibit any form of discrimination and have no tolerance for harassment in any form or any behavior that may contribute to a hostile, intimidating, unwelcoming, and/or inaccessible work environment.
▪ Collaborative efforts with organizations, institutions, and referral sources support us in identifying diverse talent pools, increasing the diversity of potential candidates, and engaging with employees across the organization to raise the awareness of and advance our inclusion efforts.
▪ Community engagement is ingrained into our culture. The Company and employees have supported a wide range of philanthropic activities that help to enrich and sustain the communities in which we have a business presence.
Available Information
Our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to these reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as well as proxy statements, are available free of charge on our website located at www.virtus.com as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Reports, proxy statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including our filings, are also available to the public on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.
A copy of our Corporate Governance Guidelines, our Code of Conduct and the charters of our Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Governance Committee are posted on our website at http://ir.virtus.com under "Corporate Governance" and are available in print without charge to any person who requests copies by contacting Investor Relations by email to: investor.relations@virtus.com or by mail to Virtus Investment Partners, Inc., c/o Investor Relations, One Financial Plaza, Hartford, CT 06103. The Company may use its website as a distribution channel of material company information. Financial and other important information regarding the Company is routinely posted on and accessible through the Company’s website at http://ir.virtus.com. In addition, you may automatically receive email alerts and other information about the Company when you enroll your email address by visiting http://ir.virtus.com. Information contained on the website is not incorporated by reference or otherwise considered part of this document.
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