Forbes puts Virtus Investment Partners in the limelight, saying it is a new hot mutual fund provider you probably haven't heard of.

CEO George Aylward said:

"We’re the oldest startup around. These days it’s much easier to run an independent asset management shop than an insurance company, which is all about its balance sheet."

Virtus spun off from parent company Phoenix Insurance in December of 2008, when the money market funds struggled with the financial crisis.

Out of the 40 funds offered by the firm, 21 are rated four- or five-star by Morningstar, with its $4.6 billion Virtus Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund being the most popular by the end of July. Virtus uses a simple scheme - buy companies which are doing good or those that are promising. Then, they offer liquidity and broader distribution access to these small managers under one brand.

Duff & Phelps Investment Management in Chicago, Euclid Advisors LLC in New York, Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management in Los Angeles, Newfleet Asset Management in Hartford and Zweig Advisers LLC in New York are wholly owned by Virtus.

They also partner with these subadvisors: BMO Asset Management, Pyrford International, Sasco Capital, Vontobel Asset Management, F-Squared Investments, Monegy and Aberdeen Asset Management.

Sandler O’Neill’s Michael Kim said: “Virtus is well diversified for a firm its size, but it’s also ahead of the curve as it relates to demand and asset allocation trends." 

Edited by: HFD


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