Virtus Investment Partners Announces Agreement to Acquire Rampart Investment Management

Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.

, which operates a multi-manager asset management business, today announced that Rampart Investment Management, a registered investment advisor that specializes in customized options strategies for institutional and high-net-worth clients, will become a wholly owned boutique asset management affiliate of Virtus.  Since 1983, Rampart has provided systematic and disciplined options solutions to help their clients generate incremental yield, reduce downside risk and mitigate market volatility. Rampart, a Boston-based, employee-owned investment manager with $1.4 billion under management, will continue to be led by co-founders Ronald M. Egalka, president and chief investment officer, and David R. Fraley, executive vice president, director of client services.  The transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter. As an affiliated partner of Virtus, Rampart will retain its brand, independent investment process, and its proprietary Rampart Options Management System (ROMS®) platform while leveraging Virtus' shared retail distribution and business support services.  In addition to focusing on expanding Rampart's current client base, Virtus expects to use Rampart's options overlay capability within existing investment strategies and introduce it in new products. "We have the