AllianzGI and Virtus Investment Partners announce strategic partnership in U.S. retail market

Allianz Global Investors (AllianzGI), a leading global active asset manager, and Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRTS), which operates a multi-boutique asset management business, today announced they have agreed to a strategic partnership that will focus on enhancing both firms’ growth opportunities with Virtus representing AllianzGI’s compelling investment strategies in the U.S. retail market to existing and potentially new clients.

Central to the partnership, Virtus will become the investment adviser, distributor and/or administrator of AllianzGI’s approximately $23 billion in open-end, closed-end and retail separate account assets 1. AllianzGI teams will continue to manage the strategies in a subadvisory capacity, providing continuity for AllianzGI’s U.S. retail clients. AllianzGI’s Dallas-based Value Equity team, formerly known as NFJ Investment Group, which manages approximately $7 billion of the assets, will join Virtus as an affiliated manager. The partnership also provides for future joint product development of investment solutions for retail clients in the U.S.

As of May 31, 2020

The partnership will enhance Virtus’ offerings, giving it access to AllianzGI’s deep, global investment expertise while expanding AllianzGI’s access and presence in the U.S retail markets. AllianzGI will concentrate its U.S. distribution efforts on building its institutional, insurance-related and non-resident businesses while continuing to serve U.S. retail clients as a subadviser.

“This new partnership with AllianzGI is strategically meaningful for us in terms of scale, fit and growth potential,” said George R. Aylward, president and chief executive officer of Virtus. “We look forward to bringing AllianzGI’s multi-asset, thematic equity, and alternative strategies to our fund and separate account offerings, and the opportunity to partner on joint product development underscores the growth-oriented nature of the alliance.”

“This partnership is truly complementary,” said Tobias C. Pross, chief executive officer of AllianzGI. “Combining AllianzGI’s ongoing portfolio management expertise with Virtus’ strong, focused retail distribution and administrative capabilities is a recipe for mutually beneficial growth in U.S. funds and separate accounts. It will allow us to focus our U.S. distribution efforts on the Institutional, Insurance, Sub-Advisory and Non-Resident markets, which are more closely aligned with our strengths in other markets.”

Based on current asset levels, the partnership would increase Virtus’ mutual fund assets under management by approximately 40 percent to $54 billion and its total AUM to $128 billion 1.

The companies did not disclose specific terms of the agreement other than there are no payments at closing. The partnership was structured with an alignment of economic interests over time. The fund-related aspects of the relationship are subject to the approval of the AllianzGI U.S. Funds Board and fund shareholders and are expected to be completed near year-end.

AllianzGI was advised by Warren Enskat Group and Paul Hastings LLP. Virtus was advised by Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP.

Pro forma, using AUM as of May 31, 2020

Allianz Global Investors is a leading active asset manager with over 690 investment professionals in 24 offices worldwide and managing EUR 633 billion in assets. 

Data as of June 30, 2021

The Allianz Group is one of the world's leading insurers and asset managers with around 125 million* private and corporate customers in nearly 70 countries. Allianz customers benefit from a broad range of personal and corporate insurance services, ranging from property, life and health insurance to assistance services to credit insurance and global business insurance. Allianz is one of the world’s largest investors, managing around 737 billion euros** on behalf of its insurance customers. Furthermore, our asset managers PIMCO and Allianz Global Investors manage about 1.7 trillion euros** of third-party assets. Thanks to our systematic integration of ecological and social criteria in our business processes and investment decisions, we are among the leaders in the insurance industry in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. In 2023, over 157,000 employees achieved total business volume of 161.7 billion euros and an operating profit of 14.7 billion euros for the group.
* Including non-consolidated entities with Allianz customers.
** As of December 31, 2023.

About Virtus Investment Partners Inc

Virtus Investment Partners (NASDAQ: VRTS) is a distinctive partnership of boutique investment managers singularly committed to the long-term success of individual and institutional investors. The company provides investment management products and services through its affiliated managers and select subadvisers, each with a distinct investment style, autonomous investment process, and individual brand.

Virtus Investment Partners offers access to a variety of investment styles across multiple disciplines to meet a wide array of investor needs. Its affiliates include Ceredex Value Advisors, Duff & Phelps Investment Management, Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management, Newfleet Asset Management, Rampart Investment Management, Seix Investment Advisors, Silvant Capital Management, Sustainable Growth Advisers, and Virtus ETF Solutions. 

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Robin Pertusi
Allianz Global Investors
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