Virtus Investment Partners Unveils Five Open-End Funds

Eliane Chavagnon

15 June 2012

Nasdaq-listed Virtus Investment Partners, an asset management firm, is rolling out five open-end mutual funds to diversify its investment strategies.

The firm said the funds have been submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission and are expected to be introduced later this year. They are:

- The Herzfeld Fund is sub-advised by Thomas Herzfeld Advisors, an investment advisory firm which specializes in closed-end fund research and investments. The Herzfeld strategy employs quantitative, qualitative and fundamental analysis.

- The Virtus Wealth Masters Fund will be sub-advised by Horizon Asset Management, a subsidiary of Horizon Kinetics and an employee-owned investment boutique. The fund seeks to track the Horizon Kinetics ISE Wealth Index and invest in publicly-held companies managed by some of the wealthiest individuals in the US.

- The Virtus Emerging Markets Equity Fund will be sub-advised by a portfolio management team at Kleinwort Benson Investors International. The managers will identify a "diverse group of companies" in terms of industry and presence within emerging markets. It is focused on high-dividend and strong balance sheet firms.

- The Virtus Emerging Markets Debt Fund will be managed by the multi-sector fixed income strategies team at Newfleet Asset Management. It will invest in a diversified portfolio of emerging market debt, including sovereign, quasi-sovereign and corporate bonds.

- The Virtus International Small-Cap Fund will be managed by Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management and will apply Kayne's domestic equity investment philosophy which seeks to identify high-quality companies which can grow consistently.

Virtus’ affiliated managers include Duff & Phelps Investment Management, Euclid Advisors, Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management and Zweig Advisers.