Virtus Introduces a Dynamic Approach to Equity Investing
October 05 2009 - 5:42PM
PR Newswire (US)
AlphaSector(TM) Rotation Strategy Available in Two Funds HARTFORD,
Conn., Oct. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Virtus Investment Partners
(NASDAQ:VRTS), which operates a multi-manager asset management
business with $22.4 billion under management as of June 30, 2009,
has selected F-Squared Investments Inc., a quantitatively-based,
boutique investment firm, as subadviser to the Virtus
AlphaSector(TM) Rotation Fund (Class A: PWBAX) and the Virtus
AlphaSector(TM) Allocation Fund (Class A: PSWAX). Virtus also
offers F-Squared's AlphaSector Rotation Strategy in separate
account form. (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090105/NEM020LOGO ) "The
recent market turmoil has reminded investors that controlling the
risk in their portfolios is more important than ever," said Frank
Waltman, executive vice president, product management at Virtus.
"AlphaSector Index-based funds offer an uncomplicated approach to
equity investing that is designed to control risk in down markets,
while participating or outperforming in up markets." The Virtus
AlphaSector Rotation Fund will track F-Squared Investments'
AlphaSector(TM) Rotation Index (ASRX), while 75 percent of the
Virtus AlphaSector Allocation Fund will track that same index, with
the remaining 25 percent allocated to a Virtus enhanced core fixed
income strategy. AlphaSector is an "active index" that is
constructed exclusively from the nine Select Sector SPDR
exchange-traded funds, which represent the sectors of the S&P
500, plus an ETF that tracks short-term Treasuries. The strategy is
designed to make longer-term allocations among the S&P 500
sectors but, in periods of market weakness, to dynamically allocate
to the short-term Treasury ETF. "Data shows that avoiding the
market's worst down days is meaningfully more beneficial than the
penalty that comes from missing the best days," explained
F-Squared's President and Chief Executive Officer, Howard Present.
"This is market participation without the drama." The Index is
based on the monthly signals generated by F-Squared's proprietary
quantitative model that identifies which sector(s) may be a drag on
future performance. Those sectors are then omitted from the Index
and the assets are allocated equally to the remaining sectors. If
three or fewer sectors remain in the Index, the short-term Treasury
ETF is used as the default asset class. "We believe that the
AlphaSector strategy is a powerful investment solution for the
times," said Dan Santanello, senior vice president of Boston-based
wealth management firm Winslow, Evans & Crocker. "We have
adopted it as a separately managed account and are very pleased it
is available as a mutual fund." About F-Squared Investments, Inc.
F-Squared Investments is an SEC-registered investment advisor. The
firm creates investment solutions with the goal of generating
repeatable, consistently high investment value-add. For more
information, visit http://www.f-squaredinvestments.com/. 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.
Additional information can be found at http://www.virtus.com/.
Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives,
risks, charges and expenses of any Virtus Mutual Fund before
investing. The prospectus contains this and other information about
a fund. Please contact your financial representative, call
1-800-243-4361, or visit http://www.virtus.com/ to obtain a current
prospectus. You should read the prospectus carefully before you
invest or send money. Lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in
its value being more volatile than the underlying portfolio of
securities. There is no guarantee that a diversified portfolio will
outperform a non-diversified portfolio, or that diversification
among different asset classes reduces risk. Because the funds hold
a limited number of securities, they will be impacted by each
security's performance more than funds with a larger number of
holdings. The guarantee on U.S. government securities applies only
to the underlying securities of the fund's portfolio, and not to
the value of the fund's shares. Active Index Solutions, LLC is the
source and owner of the trademarks, service marks and copyrights
related to the AlphaSector Index. AlphaSector is a trademark of
Active Index Solutions, LLC. Mutual Funds distributed by VP
Distributors, Inc.
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090105/NEM020LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Virtus Investment Partners
CONTACT: Matthew Kirdahy, , or Andrew Healy, , both of Middleberg
Communications (http://www.middlebergcommunications.com/),
+1-212-812-5665, or Joe Fazzino, Virtus Investment Partners,
+1-860-263-4725, Web Site: http://www.virtus.com/
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