Virtus Investment Partners Announces Financial Results for the First Quarter 2016

HARTFORD, Conn., April 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 March 31, 2016.

Management Commentary

"Our first quarter net flows were impacted by elevated redemptions in one of our funds following an organizational change at a subadviser, which offset modest growth in separately managed accounts, further traction in ETFs, and positive market performance," said George Aylward, president and chief executive officer.

"Operating income, as adjusted, decreased in the quarter due to lower revenues from a decline in average assets under management and the partial-quarter impact of a negative variable incentive fee. Excluding that fee, as well as incremental payroll taxes associated with annual incentive payments, operating margin, as adjusted, would have been 30 percent.

"Relative investment performance across our product offerings remains strong and we continue to believe that we offer products that can be attractive across market cycles. Our ability to offer differentiated investment solutions from a variety of distinctive managers is a fundamental element of our business model.

"In the quarter we returned $19.9 million of capital to shareholders and reduced ending shares outstanding by 1.7 percent from December 31, 2015, contributing to a 7.3 percent reduction from March 31, 2015. While the core elements of our capital strategy remain the same, the current products in our pipeline require lower levels of seed, and therefore we expect to use the majority of the proceeds from pending fund liquidations to support return of capital to shareholders."

 

Asset Flows and Assets Under Management

Assets under management were $45.7 billion at March 31, 2016 compared with $54.8 billion at March 31, 2015 and $47.4 billion at December 31, 2015. The change from the prior year is attributable to net flows of ($6.8) billion and market depreciation of ($1.5) billion. The sequential change reflects ($2.6) billion of net flows, which more than offset $1.1 billion of market appreciation.

Total sales were $2.8 billion in the first quarter compared with $3.7 billion in the prior-year quarter and $3.2 billion in the sequential quarter. Net flows were ($2.6) billion in the first quarter compared with ($2.2) billion in the prior-year quarter and ($1.1) billion in the sequential quarter. Net outflows in the quarter were primarily attributable to open-end mutual funds, while separately managed accounts and ETFs contributed positive flows.

Open-end mutual fund sales were $2.2 billion in the first quarter compared with $3.0 billion in the prior-year quarter and $2.5 billion in the sequential quarter. The decrease from the prior-year quarter reflects lower sales across asset classes; the sequential-quarter decrease reflects lower sales in the Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund. Mutual fund net flows were ($2.6) billion in the first quarter compared with ($2.4) billion in the prior-year quarter and ($1.2) billion in the sequential quarter. Current-quarter net outflows reflect elevated redemptions in the Emerging Markets Opportunities Fund following an organizational change at the fund's subadviser.

ETF sales were $62.3 million in the first quarter compared with $57.7 million in the sequential quarter. For the respective periods, ETF net flows were $28.5 million compared with $34.7 million.

Institutional sales were $186.2 million in the first quarter compared with $368.1 million in the prior-year quarter and $226.6 million in the sequential quarter. Net flows were ($90.4) million compared with $220.9 million in the prior-year quarter and $45.3 million in the sequential quarter. Current-quarter net flows included a $115.0 million partial redemption of the low-fee portion of a client account.

Earnings Summary

Non-GAAP Results

Management believes that a series of non-GAAP financial measures most accurately reflects 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 reconciliations of the most comparable U.S. GAAP measure to each non-GAAP measure can be found on pages 11 through 13 of this earnings release.

Revenues, as Adjusted

Total revenues, as adjusted, were $62.4 million in the first quarter compared with $79.7 million in the prior-year quarter and $66.7 million in the sequential quarter. The declines from the prior periods reflect lower investment management and administration and transfer agent fees.

Investment management fees, as adjusted, were $57.7 million in the first quarter compared with $70.8 million in the prior-year quarter and $60.9 million in the sequential quarter. Average assets under management were $45.7 billion in the first quarter compared with $55.7 billion in the prior-year quarter and $48.5 billion in the sequential quarter. The average fee rate in the quarter was 49.7 basis points compared with 51.5 basis points in the prior-year quarter and 48.4 basis points in the sequential quarter. The average fee rate in the current and sequential quarter each included the impact of a negative variable incentive fee; excluding that fee, the open-end fund fee rate would have been 49.9 and 52.1 basis points, respectively. The decline in the fee rate from the sequential quarter reflects higher fund expense reimbursements and the effect of outflows in higher-fee products.

Administration and transfer agent fees, as adjusted, were $10.1 million in the first quarter compared with $13.1 million in the prior-year quarter and $11.1 million in the sequential quarter. The decrease from the prior periods reflects lower average open-end fund assets under management.

Operating Expenses, as Adjusted

Total operating expenses, as adjusted, were $47.2 million in the first quarter compared with $47.6 million in the prior-year quarter and $47.3 million in the sequential quarter. The decrease from prior periods reflects lower other operating expenses, as adjusted, that offset higher employment expenses, as adjusted.

Employment expenses, as adjusted, were $36.0 million in the first quarter compared with $35.6 million in the prior-year quarter and $34.4 million in the sequential quarter. The increase over the sequential quarter reflects $2.3 million of higher payroll taxes related to the timing of the payment of annual incentive compensation, partially offset by lower variable compensation. The increase over the prior-year quarter is primarily attributable to the addition of Virtus ETF Solutions and resources to support quantitative strategies that were previously managed by a subadviser.

Other operating expenses, as adjusted, were $10.4 million in the first quarter compared with $11.2 million in the prior-year quarter and $12.0 million in the sequential quarter. The sequential quarter included $0.8 million of discrete professional fees and fund-related expenses. The decrease from the prior-year quarter reflects lower professional, travel and marketing expenses.

Operating Income, as Adjusted, and Related Margin

Operating income, as adjusted, was $15.2 million for the first quarter compared with $32.2 million in the prior-year quarter and $19.4 million in the sequential quarter. The related margin was 24 percent compared with 40 percent and 29 percent for the respective prior periods, reflecting lower revenues, as adjusted. Excluding the impact of the incremental payroll taxes and variable incentive fee, the first quarter operating margin, as adjusted, would have been 30 percent compared with 34 percent in the sequential quarter.

Net Income Attributable to Common Stockholders, as Adjusted

Net income attributable to common stockholders, as adjusted, was $9.5 million, or $1.12 per diluted common share, compared with $20.3 million or $2.22 per share in the prior-year quarter and $11.9 million or $1.37 per share in the sequential quarter. Current and sequential-quarter adjusted earnings per share included ($0.13) and ($0.33) related to the variable incentive fee, respectively. Excluding the impact of that fee and the incremental payroll taxes, current and sequential-quarter adjusted earnings per share would have been $1.42 and $1.70, respectively.

Effective Tax Rate, as Adjusted

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

GAAP Results

Total revenues were $80.3 million in the first quarter compared with $103.8 million in the prior-year quarter and $86.1 million in the sequential quarter reflecting lower average assets and fee rates.

Operating expenses were $67.5 million in the first quarter compared with $79.3 million in the prior-year quarter and $69.6 million in the sequential quarter. Operating expenses decreased from the sequential quarter due to lower distribution and other asset-based expenses.

Net income attributable to common stockholders in the first quarter was $12.4 million, or $1.45 per diluted common share, which includes $2.4 million, or $0.28 per share, of unrealized gains on investments. This compares with net income of $19.3 million, or $2.11 per share, in the prior-year quarter that included ($2.6) million, or ($0.28) per share, of unrealized losses. In the sequential quarter, the company reported net income of $6.6 million, or $0.76 per share, that included ($8.5) million, or ($0.97) per share, of unrealized losses.

The first quarter effective tax rate was 39 percent compared with 36 percent in the prior-year quarter and 60 percent in the sequential quarter. The tax rates for the current and prior-year quarters were impacted by valuation allowance releases of $0.1 million and $1.0 million, respectively. The sequential quarter tax rate was impacted by a ($2.5) million valuation allowance.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

Cash and investments were $382.5 million at March 31, 2016 compared with $430.2 million at March 31, 2015 and $421.5 million at December 31, 2015. The decrease from prior periods was primarily due to return of capital to shareholders and the timing of annual incentive payments that offset cash generated. On a per share basis, cash and investments were $46 at March 31, 2016 compared with $48 at March 31, 2015 and $50 at December 31, 2015. At March 31, 2016, the company had no debt outstanding and $75.0 million of unused capacity on its credit facility.

Working capital was $59.1 million at March 31, 2016 compared with $189.8 million at March 31, 2015 and $71.8 million at December 31, 2015. The change from March 31, 2015 reflects return of capital, increased seed activity and an equity investment in an entity created for a potential CLO. The change from December 31, 2015 was primarily due to return of capital to shareholders and net seed activity of ($5.5) million, partially offset by cash generated by the business.

The company's seed capital investments were $280.9 million at March 31, 2016 compared with $241.8 million at March 31, 2015 and $273.7 million at December 31, 2015. The change from the prior-year quarter reflects $54.9 million of net seed activity partially offset by unrealized mark-to-market adjustments.

Three of the company's alternative funds are in the process of being liquidated and the return of seed capital is expected to generate proceeds of approximately $114.0 million in the second quarter. The company expects to use the majority of the proceeds to support return of capital to shareholders.

In the first quarter, the company returned $19.9 million to shareholders, including share repurchases of $15.0 million. As a result of share repurchases, ending shares outstanding decreased to 8.3 million at March 31, 2016, a decline of 7.3 percent from March 31, 2015 and 1.7 percent from December 31, 2015.

 

Conference Call

Virtus Investment Partners management will host an investor conference call on Friday, April 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: 2364428). A replay of the call will be available through May 6 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: 2364428). 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 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 13.

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.

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 2015 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 investment advisory agreements; (c) damage to our reputation; (d) failure to comply with investment guidelines or other contractual requirements; (e) the inability to attract and retain key personnel; (f) the competition we face in our business; (g) adverse regulatory and legal developments; (h) unfavorable changes in tax laws or limitations; (i) adverse developments, or changes in our relationships with, unaffiliated subadvisers; (j) changes in key distribution relationships; (k) interruptions in service or failure to provide service by third-party service providers; (l) volatility associated with our common stock; (m) civil litigation and government investigations or proceedings; (n) the risk of capital loss associated with our investments; (o) the inability to make quarterly distributions; (p) the lack of availability of required and necessary capital on satisfactory terms; (q) liabilities and losses not covered by insurance; (r) strategic transactions and other risks and uncertainties described in our 2015 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.