Virtus Investment Partners Announces Financial Results for the Fourth Quarter 2015

HARTFORD, Conn., Jan. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. VRTS, which operates a multi-manager asset management business, today reported financial results for the three months ended December 31, 2015.

Management Commentary

"The market environment continued to present challenges for asset managers as concerns about global growth as well as other factors negatively impacted investor confidence and behavior," said George R. Aylward, president and chief executive officer.

"Despite the challenging markets, total sales improved 24 percent sequentially, led by a 36 percent increase in mutual fund sales as well as higher sales in separately managed accounts and institutional. Net flows improved to ($1.1) billion from ($1.6) billion, representing our best quarter since third quarter 2014. Flows for the full year, excluding the former AlphaSector products, were positive $0.4 billion.

"Operating income, as adjusted, and the related margin were impacted by lower average assets and higher operating expenses that included discrete items, as well as a negative $4.6 million variable incentive fee. Excluding the negative variable incentive fee, our operating margin, as adjusted, remained strong at 34 percent.

"Our share repurchases were at the highest quarterly level at $35.0 million, which continued our commitment of returning capital to shareholders and contributed to a 6.4 percent reduction in our ending shares outstanding from December 31, 2014. Going forward we will evaluate capital return opportunities while continuing to invest in the business, which remains a priority.

"We believe that our strong balance sheet, multi-manager approach and differentiated product offerings, including our risk managed and quality-oriented strategies, present opportunities during current market conditions."

Asset Flows and Assets Under Management

Assets under management were $47.4 billion at December 31, 2015 compared with $56.7 billion at December 31, 2014 and $47.9 billion at September 30, 2015. The change from the prior year is attributable to net flows of ($6.3) billion and market depreciation of ($2.2) billion. The sequential change reflects ($1.1) billion of net flows, which more than offset $0.9 billion of market appreciation.

Total sales were $3.2 billion in the fourth quarter compared with $3.4 billion in the prior-year quarter and $2.5 billion in the sequential quarter. Net flows improved to ($1.1) billion in the fourth quarter from ($2.2) billion in the prior-year quarter and ($1.6) billion in the sequential quarter. Net outflows in the quarter were primarily attributable to open-end mutual funds, which offset positive flows in institutional and ETFs.

Open-end mutual fund sales were $2.5 billion in the fourth quarter compared with $2.9 billion in the prior-year quarter and $1.9 billion in the sequential quarter. The increase from the prior quarter was primarily due to higher sales of international equity and fixed income strategies. Mutual fund net flows improved to ($1.2) billion in the fourth quarter from ($2.2) billion in the prior-year quarter and ($1.9) billion in the sequential quarter, reflecting an improvement in flows in the former AlphaSector funds. Excluding the former AlphaSector funds, mutual fund net flows improved to ($0.5) billion from ($0.9) billion in the sequential quarter.

ETF sales were $57.7 million in the fourth quarter compared with $217.7 million in the sequential quarter that included the introduction of an affiliate managed fund. For the respective periods, ETF net flows were $34.7 million compared with $203.9 million.

Institutional sales were $226.6 million in the fourth quarter compared with $309.9 million in the prior-year quarter and $199.5 million in the sequential quarter. Net flows were positive for the fifth consecutive quarter at $45.3 million compared with $177.8 million in the prior-year quarter and $89.2 million in the sequential quarter.

Earnings Summary

Non-GAAP Results

Management believes that a series of non-GAAP financial measures most accurately reflect the company's operating results from providing investment management and related services to individuals and institutions, and uses these measures to evaluate financial performance. Quarterly and annual reconciliations of the most comparable U.S. GAAP measure to each non-GAAP measure can be found on pages 11 through 15 of this earnings release.

Revenues, as Adjusted

Total revenues, as adjusted, were $66.7 million in the fourth quarter compared with $85.2 million in the prior-year quarter and $71.1 million in the sequential quarter. The decline from the prior periods reflects lower investment management and administration and transfer agent fees.

Investment management fees, as adjusted, were $60.9 million in the fourth quarter compared with $75.9 million in the prior-year quarter and $65.2 million in the sequential quarter. Average assets under management were $48.5 billion in the fourth quarter compared with $58.3 billion in the prior-year quarter and $50.6 billion in the sequential quarter. The average fee rate in the quarter decreased to 48.4 basis points from 51.5 basis points in the prior-year quarter and 49.4 basis points in the sequential quarter. The average fee rate in the fourth and third quarters each included the impact of a negative $4.6 million variable incentive fee; excluding that fee the open-end fund fee rate for the fourth and third quarters would have been 52.1 basis points and 53.1 basis points, respectively.

Administration and transfer agent fees, as adjusted, were $11.1 million in the fourth quarter compared with $14.3 million in the prior-year quarter and $11.7 million in the sequential quarter. The decrease from the prior periods reflects the decline in average open-end fund assets under management.

Operating Expenses, as Adjusted

Total operating expenses, as adjusted, were $47.3 million in the fourth quarter compared with $46.0 million in the prior-year quarter and $45.7 million in the sequential quarter. The increase from prior periods reflects higher employment expenses, as adjusted, and other operating expenses, as adjusted.

Employment expenses, as adjusted, were $34.4 million in the fourth quarter compared with $34.1 million in the prior-year quarter and $33.5 million in the sequential quarter. The increase over the sequential quarter includes higher sales-based compensation due to higher sales and incremental costs associated with additional resources to support quantitative strategies.

Other operating expenses, as adjusted, were $12.0 million in the fourth quarter compared with $11.2 million in the prior-year quarter and $11.3 million in the sequential quarter. The current quarter includes $0.8 million of discrete professional fees and fund-related expenses.

Operating Income, as Adjusted, and Related Margin

Operating income, as adjusted, was $19.4 million for the fourth quarter compared with $39.2 million in the prior-year quarter and $25.3 million in the sequential quarter. The related margin was 29 percent compared with 46 percent and 36 percent for the respective prior periods, reflecting lower revenues, as adjusted. Excluding the negative impact of the variable incentive fee, fourth quarter operating income, as adjusted, and related margin would have been $24.0 million and 34 percent, compared with $29.9 million and 40 percent in the sequential quarter.

Net Income Attributable to Common Stockholders, as Adjusted

Net income attributable to common stockholders, as adjusted, was $11.9 million, or $1.37 per diluted share, compared with $24.7 million or $2.68 per share in the prior-year quarter and $15.5 million or $1.74 per share in the sequential quarter. Current and prior quarter adjusted earnings per share included ($0.33) and ($0.32) related to the variable incentive fee. Excluding the impact of that fee, current and prior quarter adjusted earnings per share would have been $1.70 and $2.06, respectively.

Effective Tax Rate, as Adjusted

The effective tax rate, as adjusted, was 39 percent for the fourth quarter compared with 37 percent in the prior-year quarter and 38 percent in the sequential quarter.

GAAP Results

Total revenues were $86.1 million in the fourth quarter compared with $112.1 million in the prior-year quarter and $92.4 million in the sequential quarter due to lower average assets and fee rates.

Operating expenses were $69.6 million in the fourth quarter compared with $75.5 million in the prior-year quarter and $69.3 million in the sequential quarter. Operating expenses decreased from the prior-year quarter due to lower distribution and other asset-based expenses.

In the fourth quarter, the company reported net income attributable to common stockholders of $6.6 million, or $0.76 per fully diluted common share, that includes ($8.5) million, or ($0.97) per share, of unrealized losses on investments. This compares with net income of $18.9 million, or $2.05 per share, in the prior-year quarter that included ($8.4) million, or ($0.91) per share, of unrealized losses. In the sequential quarter, the company reported a net loss of ($0.6) million, or ($0.07) per share, that included ($16.6), million or ($1.89) per share, of unrealized losses.

The effective fourth quarter tax rate was 60 percent compared with 45 percent in the prior-year quarter and 162 percent in the sequential quarter. The tax rates for the respective periods were impacted by valuation allowances of $2.5 million, $2.4 million and $6.2 million related to the unrealized loss position of the company's marketable securities portfolio.

Investment Capabilities and Products

The Virtus DFA Target Date Retirement Income funds¹, managed by Dimensional Fund Advisors, were introduced in January. The funds seek to help individuals invest toward future retirement income and support income needs in retirement with a focus on managing risks, including inflation and changes in interest rates.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

Cash and investments were $421.5 million at December 31, 2015 compared with $469.5 million at December 31, 2014 and $444.7 million at September 30, 2015. The decrease from prior periods was primarily due to return of capital to shareholders that offset cash generated. On a per share basis, cash and investments were $50 at December 31, 2015 compared with $52 at December 31, 2014 and $51 at September 30, 2015. At December 31, 2015, the company had no debt outstanding and $75.0 million of unused capacity on its credit facility.

Working capital was $71.8 million at December 31, 2015 compared with $190.6 million at December 31, 2014 and $106.6 million at September 30, 2015. The change from December 31, 2014 reflects return of capital, increased seed activity and an equity investment in an entity created for a potential CLO. The change from September 30, 2015 was primarily due to the highest level of capital return to shareholders and an additional investment of $20.0 million in the potential CLO, bringing the total investment in the CLO entity to $40.0 million.

The company's seed capital investments were $273.7 million at December 31, 2015 compared with $238.2 million at December 31, 2014 and $276.8 million at September 30, 2015. The change from the prior-year quarter reflects $49.2 million of net seed activity partially offset by unrealized mark-to-market adjustments.

In the fourth quarter, the company returned $38.9 million to shareholders, including share repurchases of $35.0 million. As a result of share repurchases, ending shares outstanding decreased to 8.4 million at December 31, 2015, a decline of 6.4 percent from December 31, 2014 and 3.1 percent from September 30, 2015.

Conference Call

Virtus Investment Partners management will host an investor conference call on Friday, January 29, at 10 a.m. Eastern to discuss these financial results and related matters. The webcast of the call will be available in the Investor Relations section of www.virtus.com or by telephone at 877-930-7765 if calling from within the U.S. or 253-336-7413 if calling from outside the U.S. (Conference ID: 37387004). A replay of the call will be available through March 1 via webcast or by telephone at 855-859-2056 if calling from within the U.S. or 404-537-3406 if calling from outside the U.S. (Conference ID: 37387004). The presentation that will be reviewed as part of the conference call will be available in the Presentations section of www.virtus.com.

About Virtus Investment Partners

Virtus Investment Partners VRTS is a distinctive partnership of boutique investment managers singularly committed to the long-term success of individual and institutional investors. Virtus offers access to a variety of investment styles across multiple disciplines to meet a wide array of investor needs, and provides products and services through affiliated managers and select subadvisers, each with a distinct investment style, autonomous investment process and individual brand. Its affiliates include Cliffwater Investments, Duff & Phelps Investment Management, Euclid Advisors, Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management, Kleinwort Benson Investors International, Newfleet Asset Management, Rampart Investment Management, Virtus ETF Solutions, and Zweig Advisers. Additional information can be found at www.virtus.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.

Notes

The following are notes to the reconciliations of the most comparable U.S. GAAP measure to each non-GAAP measure for the periods presented on pages 11 through 15.

The non-GAAP financial measures included in this release differ from financial measures determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP as a result of the reclassification of certain income statement items, as well as the adjustment of certain expenses and other items that are not reflective of the earnings generated from providing investment management and related services.  Non-GAAP financial measures have material limitations and should not be viewed in isolation or as a substitute for U.S. GAAP measures.

In particular, the company reclassifies:

1. Distribution and other asset-based expenses - These costs are generally passed directly through to external parties. Management believes that making this adjustment aids in comparing the company's operating results with other asset management firms that do not distribute products through intermediary distribution partners or utilize third party service providers for investment management related services.
2. Consolidated investment products - Management believes that excluding the operating activities of majority-owned funds and CLOs to reflect revenues and expenses of the company prior to the consolidation of these products is consistent with the approach of reflecting its operating results as only revenues generated and expenses incurred related to providing investment management and related services will be included in operating income, as adjusted.

Net income attributable to common stockholders, as adjusted, excludes from net income:

• Closed-end fund launch costs - Expenses related to the launch of closed-end funds, or similar products, including structuring fees and sales-based compensation related to the launch. The timing of closed-end fund issuances can be unpredictable, and related costs can fluctuate considerably. In addition, revenue associated with these costs will not fully impact financial results until future periods. Management believes that making these adjustments aids in comparing the company's operating results with prior periods and with other asset management firms that do not issue closed-end funds, or similar products.
• Amortization of intangible assets - Non-cash amortization expense or impairment expense, if any, attributable to acquisition-related intangible assets. Management believes that making this adjustment aids in comparing the company's operating results with other asset management firms that have not engaged in acquisitions.
• Seed capital and CLO investments - Gains and losses (realized and unrealized), dividends and interest income generated by seed capital and CLO investments. Earnings or losses generated by investments in seed capital products can vary significantly from period-to-period and do not reflect the company's operating results from providing investment management and related services. Management believes that making this adjustment aids in comparing the company's operating results with prior periods and with other asset management firms that do not have meaningful seed capital and CLO investments.
• Other – Certain expenses and losses related to restructuring, severance, regulatory matters, and transition items that are not reflective of the ongoing earnings generation of the business. In addition, income tax expense/(benefit) items, such as adjustments for uncertain tax positions, valuation allowances and other unusual items not related to current operating results to reflect a normalized effective rate. Management believes that making these adjustments aids in comparing the company's operating results with prior periods.
  
  Components of Other for the respective periods are shown in the table below:

 

Revenues, as adjusted, comprise the fee revenues paid by clients for investment management and related services. Revenues, as adjusted, for purposes of calculating net income attributable to common stockholders, as adjusted, differ from U.S. GAAP revenues in that they are reduced by distribution and other asset-based expenses that are generally passed through to external parties, and exclude the impact of consolidated sponsored investment products. 

Operating expenses, as adjusted, is calculated to reflect expenses from ongoing continuing operations attributable to stockholders. Operating expenses, as adjusted, for purposes of calculating net income attributable to common stockholders, as adjusted, differ from U.S. GAAP expenses in that they exclude amortization or impairment, if any, of intangible assets, restructuring and severance, the impact of consolidated sponsored investment products, and certain other expenses that do not reflect the ongoing earnings generation of the business.

Operating margin, as adjusted, is a metric used to evaluate efficiency represented by operating income, as adjusted, divided by revenues, as adjusted.

Earnings per share, as adjusted, represent net income attributable to common stockholders, as adjusted, divided by weighted average shares outstanding, on either a basic or diluted basis.

¹ The Virtus DFA Target Date Retirement Income funds are subject to the risks of equity securities, credit and interest, foreign and emerging markets, inflation protected securities, allocation and fund of funds.

Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of any Virtus Mutual Fund before investing. The prospectus and summary prospectus contains this and other information about the fund. Please contact your financial representative, call 1-800- 243-4361 or visit www.virtus.com to obtain a current prospectus and/or summary prospectus. You should read the prospectus and/or summary prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.

Mutual funds distributed by VP Distributors, LLC, member FINRA and subsidiary of Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains statements that are, or may be considered to be, forward-looking statements. All statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs or expectations, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by such forward-looking terminology as "expect," "estimate," "plan," "intend," "believe," "anticipate," "may," "will," "should," "could," "continue," "project," or similar statements or variations of such terms.

Our forward-looking statements are based on a series of expectations, assumptions and projections about our company, are not guarantees of future results or performance, and involve substantial risks and uncertainty, including assumptions and projections concerning our assets under management, cash inflows and outflows, operating cash flows, our ability to expand distribution and product offerings, and future credit facilities, for all forward periods. All of our forward-looking statements are as of the date of this release only. The company can give no assurance that such expectations or forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Actual results may differ materially.

Our business and our forward-looking statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including those discussed under "Risk Factors," and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as the following risks and uncertainties: (a) any reduction in our assets under management, (b) the withdrawal, renegotiation or termination of our investment advisory agreements; (c) damage to our reputation; (d) our inability to attract and retain key personnel; (e) the competition we face in our business; (f) adverse regulatory and legal developments; (g) limitations on our deferred tax assets; (h) adverse developments with respect to, or changes in our relationships with, unaffiliated subadvisers; (i) changes in key distribution relationships; (j) interruptions in service or failure to provide service by third-party service providers; (k) any reduction in value of our marketable securities; (l) our inability to make intended quarterly distributions; (m) lack of availability of required and necessary capital on satisfactory terms; and (n) liabilities and losses not covered by our insurance policies and (o) certain other risks and uncertainties described in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K or in any of our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").

Certain other factors which may impact our continuing operations, prospects, financial results and liquidity or which may cause actual results to differ from such forward-looking statements are discussed or included in the company's periodic reports filed with the SEC and are available on our website at www.virtus.com under "Investor Relations." You are urged to carefully consider all such factors.

The company does not undertake or plan to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in plans, assumptions, estimates or projections, or other circumstances occurring after the date of this release, even if such results, changes or circumstances make it clear that any forward-looking information will not be realized. If there are any future public statements or disclosures by us which modify or impact any of the forward-looking statements contained in or accompanying this release, such statements or disclosures will be deemed to modify or supersede such statements in this release.

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SOURCE Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.