Virtus Investment Partners

Corporate brand

An American multi-manager asset-management company offering affiliated and external investment strategies across equities, fixed income, alternatives, and other specialist categories.

Last updated October 17, 2026

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Overview

Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. is a U.S. asset-management company organized around a multi-manager model. Rather than relying on one centralized investment process, the company operates through a collection of affiliated investment managers, each with its own portfolio-management approach, specialist capabilities, and brand identity. Virtus also uses selected unaffiliated sub-advisers when an outside manager can add a strategy that is not otherwise available through its affiliated platform. The business traces its corporate formation to November 1, 1995, when Phoenix Investment Partners was created through a reverse merger involving Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co., then an investment-management affiliate of Duff & Phelps Corporation. During its first years, the company was connected to Phoenix Life Insurance Co. and expanded by acquiring or taking stakes in boutique managers. These included Duff & Phelps Investment Management, Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management, Seneca Capital Management, and Zweig Advisers. This early development established the specialist-manager structure that remains central to the Virtus model. Phoenix Investment Partners became independent from Phoenix through a shareholder spin-off completed at the end of 2008. Its shares began trading in January 2009, and the company subsequently operated under the Virtus Investment Partners name. The separation gave the asset manager an independent public-company structure while preserving its strategy of combining multiple investment boutiques under one distribution and operating platform. During the 2010s, Virtus expanded its capabilities through new affiliates, acquisitions, and platform investments. It established Newfleet Asset Management as a fixed-income affiliate in 2011, acquired options-strategy specialist Rampart Investment Management in 2012, created a Dublin-based UCITS vehicle in 2013, and invested in ETF Issuer Solutions in 2015, later renaming that business Virtus ETF Solutions. The largest expansion of the period was the 2017 completion of the RidgeWorth Investments acquisition. That transaction added approximately $40 billion in assets managed by RidgeWorth's affiliates, including Ceredex Value Advisors, Seix Investment Advisors, and Silvant Capital Management. Virtus also made a majority equity investment in Sustainable Growth Advisers in 2018, adding a specialist provider focused on concentrated U.S. and global growth-equity strategies. In 2023, Virtus completed the acquisition of AlphaSimplex Group from Natixis Investment Managers. AlphaSimplex brought systematic and alternative investment capabilities to the platform, further broadening Virtus's multi-manager offering. Virtus serves retail and institutional clients. Its retail platform includes open-end mutual funds, closed-end funds, exchange-traded funds, and retail separately managed accounts. Mutual funds are distributed primarily through broker-dealers, independent broker-dealers, and financial-advisory firms. Its closed-end funds are managed by affiliated managers and trade on the New York Stock Exchange. Separately managed accounts include intermediary-sponsored programs and private-client accounts for high-net-worth investors. On the institutional side, Virtus manages assets for corporations, multi-employer retirement plans, foundations, endowments, and special-purpose funds. The company is headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut, and its common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker VRTS. Its positioning is based on the breadth of specialist investment expertise, manager autonomy, and access to a diversified set of strategies through a single public asset-management platform.

History

Virtus Investment Partners originated as Phoenix Investment Partners, which was formed on November 1, 1995 through a reverse merger involving Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. At the time, Duff & Phelps Investment Management was associated with Duff & Phelps Corporation. The new company developed a multi-manager structure in which specialist investment firms retained distinct processes and identities while benefiting from a broader parent platform. From 1995 through 2001, Phoenix Investment Partners was majority-owned indirectly by Phoenix Life Insurance Co. During that period it built its initial group of boutique managers, including Duff & Phelps Investment Management, Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management, Seneca Capital Management, and Zweig Advisers. Phoenix acquired the remaining shares of Phoenix Investment Partners in January 2001, making the business an indirect wholly owned subsidiary. In 2005, Phoenix Investment Partners acquired the remaining minority interests in Seneca Capital Management and Kayne Anderson Rudnick. In 2006, it adopted the Harris Insight Funds from Harris Investment Management. Phoenix announced in February 2008 that it intended to separate Phoenix Investment Partners through a pro rata distribution of the investment business's shares to Phoenix shareholders. Harris Bankcorp, a U.S. subsidiary of Bank of Montreal, separately announced in October 2008 that it would acquire $45 million of convertible preferred stock, representing a 23 percent equity position in the independent company. The spin-off was completed on December 31, 2008. The company's shares first traded under the VRTS symbol on January 2, 2009, and company officials marked the public-market launch with an opening-bell ceremony several days later. The period from 2011 to 2018 was characterized by expansion into additional specialist capabilities. Virtus established Newfleet Asset Management in 2011 as a fixed-income affiliate. It acquired options-strategy specialist Rampart Investment Management in 2012 and established a Dublin-based UCITS structure in 2013. In 2015, it acquired a majority interest in ETF Issuer Solutions, a platform involved in the listing, operation, and distribution of exchange-traded funds; the business was subsequently renamed Virtus ETF Solutions. Virtus announced its agreement to purchase RidgeWorth Investments in December 2016 and completed the transaction in June 2017. The acquisition expanded the platform substantially, adding about $40 billion in assets managed by RidgeWorth's three wholly owned affiliates: Ceredex Value Advisors, Seix Investment Advisors, and Silvant Capital Management. In July 2018, Virtus completed a majority investment in Sustainable Growth Advisers, a Connecticut-based firm known for concentrated U.S. and global growth-equity portfolios. The company's expansion continued with the acquisition of AlphaSimplex Group from Natixis Investment Managers. The transaction was agreed in 2022 and completed in April 2023. AlphaSimplex added systematic and alternative investment expertise to Virtus's existing collection of equity, fixed-income, options, and other specialist strategies. Today, Virtus operates as a multi-manager asset-management business. It provides retail mutual funds, closed-end funds, exchange-traded funds, and separately managed accounts, while also managing institutional assets for corporations, retirement plans, foundations, endowments, and special-purpose funds. Its affiliated managers are supplemented by selected unaffiliated sub-advisers. The company is headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut, and its common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker VRTS.

2023
AlphaSimplex Group acquisition was completed
[1]Virtus Investment Partnersen.wikipedia.org
The acquisition added systematic and alternative investment capabilities.
2018
Sustainable Growth Advisers investment was completed
[1]Virtus Investment Partnersen.wikipedia.org
Virtus acquired a majority interest in the specialist growth-equity manager.
2017
RidgeWorth acquisition was completed
[1]Virtus Investment Partnersen.wikipedia.org
The transaction added RidgeWorth's affiliated managers and approximately $40 billion in managed assets.
2015
ETF Issuer Solutions investment was completed
[1]Virtus Investment Partnersen.wikipedia.org
Virtus acquired a majority interest in an exchange-traded-fund platform later renamed Virtus ETF Solutions.
2012
Rampart Investment Management was acquired
[1]Virtus Investment Partnersen.wikipedia.org
The acquisition added specialist options strategies.
2011
Newfleet Asset Management was established
[1]Virtus Investment Partnersen.wikipedia.org
Virtus added a dedicated fixed-income affiliate to its manager platform.
2009
VRTS began public trading
[1]Virtus Investment Partnersen.wikipedia.org
Virtus Investment Partners shares began trading on January 2 on the public market.
2008
Virtus separated from Phoenix
[1]Virtus Investment Partnersen.wikipedia.org
The investment-management business completed its spin-off from Phoenix on December 31, becoming an independent public company.
2005
Ownership of Seneca and Kayne Anderson Rudnick increased to 100 percent
[1]Virtus Investment Partnersen.wikipedia.org
Phoenix Investment Partners acquired the remaining minority interests in Seneca Capital Management and Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management.
2001
Phoenix acquired the remaining Phoenix Investment Partners shares
[1]Virtus Investment Partnersen.wikipedia.org
A Phoenix subsidiary acquired the outstanding shares it did not already own, making Phoenix Investment Partners an indirect wholly owned subsidiary.
1995
Phoenix Investment Partners was formed
[1]Virtus Investment Partnersen.wikipedia.org
Phoenix Investment Partners was formed through a reverse merger involving Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co., establishing the predecessor to Virtus Investment Partners.

Products and positioning

A specialist-oriented, multi-manager asset-management platform combining affiliated boutiques with selected unaffiliated sub-advisers across public and alternative markets.

Open-end mutual funds
Virtus Mutual Funds
The Virtus mutual-fund family provides retail investors with access to multiple affiliated and sub-advised strategies. The range spans equity, fixed-income, alternative, and other specialist mandates and is distributed primarily through intermediaries such as national and regional broker-dealers, independent broker-dealers, and financial-advisory firms.
Closed-end funds
Virtus Closed-End Funds
Virtus's closed-end-fund business consists of exchange-listed vehicles managed by affiliated investment managers. These funds provide access to selected income-oriented and other specialist strategies and trade on the New York Stock Exchange.
Exchange-traded fund platform · 2015
Virtus ETF Solutions
Virtus ETF Solutions originated as ETF Issuer Solutions and supports the listing, operation, and distribution of exchange-traded funds. The platform broadened Virtus's ability to deliver investment strategies through the ETF format.
Separately managed accounts
Retail Separately Managed Accounts
Virtus offers separately managed accounts through intermediary-sponsored programs and private-client arrangements. These accounts allow affiliated managers to deliver customized portfolios to investors served by brokerage firms or to high-net-worth clients.
Institutional asset management
Institutional Investment Accounts
The institutional business manages portfolios for corporations, multi-employer retirement funds, foundations, endowments, and special-purpose funds. Mandates can draw on the capabilities of affiliated managers and selected unaffiliated sub-advisers.
Systematic and alternative investment strategies · 2023
AlphaSimplex Strategies
AlphaSimplex became part of Virtus in 2023 following its acquisition from Natixis Investment Managers. Its capabilities broaden the platform's exposure to systematic and alternative investment approaches.

Brand decisions

2022
Agreement to acquire AlphaSimplex GroupM&A
Background
Virtus sought to add systematic and alternative investment capabilities to its existing range of affiliated strategies.
Action taken
It agreed to acquire AlphaSimplex Group from Natixis Investment Managers.
Aftermath
The acquisition was completed in April 2023, expanding Virtus's multi-manager platform into additional systematic and alternative strategies.
Source
2016
Agreement to acquire RidgeWorth InvestmentsM&A
Background
Virtus pursued a major expansion of its multi-boutique asset-management platform.
Action taken
Virtus agreed to acquire RidgeWorth Investments from Lightyear Capital and RidgeWorth employees for $472 million.
Aftermath
The transaction closed in 2017 and added RidgeWorth's three wholly owned investment affiliates and approximately $40 billion in managed assets.
Purchase price. $472 million (Announced December 2016; completed June 2017)
Source
2011
Build-out of a dedicated fixed-income affiliateStrategy
Background
Virtus sought to expand its multi-manager platform beyond its existing equity and boutique-manager capabilities.
Action taken
It established Newfleet Asset Management as a fixed-income affiliate.
Aftermath
The move added a specialist fixed-income business to Virtus's affiliated-manager network.
Source
2008
Spin-off from Phoenix to create an independent public asset managerStrategy
Background
Phoenix announced a plan to separate Phoenix Investment Partners through a pro rata distribution of shares to Phoenix shareholders.
Action taken
The spin-off was completed on December 31, 2008, and the business began operating independently under the Virtus Investment Partners structure.
Aftermath
Virtus obtained an independent public-company identity and began trading under the VRTS symbol in January 2009.
Source

Recent events

2023
Virtus completed the acquisition of AlphaSimplex Group[1]Virtus Investment Partnersen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Virtus completed its purchase of AlphaSimplex Group from Natixis Investment Managers, adding systematic and alternative investment capabilities to its multi-manager platform.
2018
Virtus made a majority investment in Sustainable Growth Advisers[1]Virtus Investment Partnersen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Virtus invested in Sustainable Growth Advisers, a Stamford-based manager focused on high-conviction U.S. and global growth-equity portfolios.
2017
Virtus completed the RidgeWorth Investments acquisition[1]Virtus Investment Partnersen.wikipedia.org
M&A
The completed transaction added approximately $40 billion in assets managed by RidgeWorth affiliates Ceredex Value Advisors, Seix Investment Advisors, and Silvant Capital Management.
2016
Virtus agreed to acquire RidgeWorth Investments[1]Virtus Investment Partnersen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Virtus announced an agreement to acquire multi-boutique manager RidgeWorth Investments from Lightyear Capital and RidgeWorth employees for $472 million.
2015
Virtus invested in ETF Issuer Solutions[1]Virtus Investment Partnersen.wikipedia.org
M&A · Product launch
Virtus acquired a majority interest in ETF Issuer Solutions, a New York-based platform supporting the listing, operation, and distribution of exchange-traded funds.
2013
Virtus created a Dublin-based UCITS platform[1]Virtus Investment Partnersen.wikipedia.org
Product launch
Virtus established a UCITS vehicle in Dublin, extending the platform's ability to offer regulated investment products for eligible international distribution.
2012
Virtus acquired Rampart Investment Management[1]Virtus Investment Partnersen.wikipedia.org
M&A
The company completed the acquisition of Rampart, a registered investment adviser specializing in options strategies.
2011
Virtus established Newfleet Asset Management[1]Virtus Investment Partnersen.wikipedia.org
Product launch
Virtus created Newfleet as a fixed-income affiliate, expanding its specialist-manager platform in credit and fixed-income investing.
2008
Virtus Investment Partners became an independent publicly traded company after its spin-off from Phoenix[1]Virtus Investment Partnersen.wikipedia.org
M&A
The company completed its separation from Phoenix at the end of 2008, establishing Virtus Investment Partners as an independent asset-management business.

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