Summary Prospectus January 29, 2024 | |||||
Virtus KAR Emerging Markets Small-Cap Fund |
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A: VAESX | C: VCESX | I: VIESX | R6: VRESX | ||
Before you invest, you may want to review the fund’s prospectus, which contains more information about the fund and its risks. You can find the fund’s prospectus, shareholder reports, statement of additional information (“SAI”), and other information about the fund online at www.virtus.com/investor-resources/mutual-fund-documents. You can also get this information at no cost by calling 800-243-1574 or by sending an e-mail to: virtus.investment.partners@virtus.com. If you purchase shares of the fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary such as a bank, the prospectus and other information will also be available from your financial intermediary. The fund’s prospectus and SAI both dated January 29, 2024, are incorporated by reference into this Summary Prospectus. |
Investment Objective
The fund has an investment objective of capital appreciation.
Fees and Expenses
The tables below illustrate the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. You may qualify for sales charge discounts in Class A Shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Virtus Funds. More information on these and other discounts is available: (i) from your financial professional or other financial intermediary; (ii) under “Sales Charges” on page 122 of the fund’s prospectus; (iii) with respect to purchase of shares through specific intermediaries, in Appendix A to the fund’s prospectus, entitled “Intermediary Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers;” and (iv) under “Alternative Purchase Arrangements” on page 112 of the fund’s SAI.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) | Class A | Class C | Class I | Class R6 | |
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | 5.50% | None | None | None | |
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds) | None | 1.00%(a) | None | None | |
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Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses
that you pay each year as | Class A | Class C | Class I | Class R6 | |
Management Fees | 1.20% | 1.20% | 1.20% | 1.20% | |
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) Fees | 0.25% | 1.00% | None | None | |
Other Expenses | 0.34% | 0.31% | 0.32% | 0.23% | |
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | 1.79% | 2.51% | 1.52% | 1.43% | |
Recapture of expenses previously reimbursed and/or waived(b) | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.00% | 0.00% | |
Less: Fee Waiver and/or Expense Reimbursement(c) | (0.00)% | (0.00)% | (0.02)% | (0.03)% | |
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Recapture(c) | 1.79% | 2.53% | 1.50% | 1.40% | |
(a) | The deferred sales charge is imposed on Class C Shares redeemed during the first year only. |
(b) | Under certain conditions, the adviser may recapture operating expenses reimbursed and/or fees waived under an expense reimbursement arrangement for a period of three years following the date such waiver or reimbursement occurred, provided that the recapture does not cause the fund to exceed its expense limit in effect at the time of the waiver or reimbursement, and any in effect at the time of recapture, after repayment is taken into account. |
(c) | The fund’s investment adviser has contractually agreed to limit the fund’s total operating expenses (excluding certain expenses, such as front-end or contingent deferred sales charges, taxes, leverage and borrowing expenses (such as commitment, amendment and renewal expenses on credit or redemption facilities), interest, brokerage commissions, expenses incurred in connection with any merger or reorganization, unusual or infrequently occurring expenses (such as litigation), acquired fund fees and expenses, and dividend expenses, if any) so that such expenses do not exceed 1.50% for Class I Shares and 1.40% for Class R6 Shares through January 31, 2025. Prior to January 31, 2025, only the fund’s Board may modify or terminate the expense limitation agreement. Following the contractual period, the adviser may discontinue these expense reimbursement arrangements at any time. Under certain conditions, the adviser may recapture operating expenses reimbursed and/or fees waived under these arrangements for a period of three years following the date such waiver or reimbursement occurred, provided that the recapture does not cause the fund to exceed its expense limit in effect at the time of the waiver or reimbursement, and any in effect at the time of recapture, after repayment is taken into account. |
Example
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods or continued to hold them. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year, that the fund’s operating expenses remain the same and that the expense reimbursement agreement remains in place for the contractual period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
| Share Status | 1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years | ||||
Class A | Sold or Held | $722 |
| $1,082 |
| $1,466 |
| $2,539 |
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Class C | Sold | $356 |
| $783 |
| $1,337 |
| $2,847 |
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| Held | $256 |
| $783 |
| $1,337 |
| $2,847 |
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Class I | Sold or Held | $153 |
| $478 |
| $827 |
| $1,811 |
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Class R6 | Sold or Held | $143 |
| $449 |
| $779 |
| $1,710 |
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Portfolio Turnover
The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 17% of the average value of its portfolio.
Investments, Risks and Performance
Principal Investment Strategies
The fund pursues capital appreciation in emerging markets small-cap equities. The fund invests in a select group of small-cap companies believed by the subadviser to be undervalued relative to their future market growth potential. The investment strategy emphasizes companies that the subadviser believes to have a sustainable competitive advantage, strong management and low financial risk and to be able to grow over market cycles.
Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 80% of its assets in equity or equity-linked securities of small capitalization companies located in emerging markets countries. The fund’s subadviser considers small-capitalization companies to be those companies that, at the time of initial purchase, have market capitalizations of less than $8 billion. Emerging markets countries generally include every nation in the world except the U.S., Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and most nations located in Western Europe. The fund intends to diversify its investments among countries and normally to have represented in the portfolio business activities of a number of different countries. In determining “location” of an issuer, the subadviser primarily relies on the country where the issuer is incorporated. However, the country of risk is ultimately determined based on analysis of the following criteria: actual building address (domicile), primary exchange on which the security is traded and country in which the greatest percentage of company revenue or profit is generated. This evaluation is conducted so as to determine that the issuer’s assets are exposed to the economic fortunes and risks of the designated country. Equity securities in which the fund invests include common stocks, preferred stocks and American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). The subadviser does not use allocation models to restrict the fund’s investments to certain regions, countries or industries. Generally, the fund invests in approximately 30-60 securities at any given time.
Principal Risks
The fund may not achieve its objective(s), and it is not intended to be a complete investment program. The value of the fund’s investments that supports your share value may decrease. If between the time you purchase shares and the time you sell shares the value of the fund’s investments decreases, you will lose money. Investment values can decrease for a number of reasons. Conditions affecting the overall economy, specific industries or companies in which the fund invests can be worse than expected, and investments may fail to perform as the subadviser expects. As a result, the value of your shares may decrease. Purchase and redemption activities by fund shareholders may impact the management of the fund and its ability to achieve its investment objective(s). The principal risks of investing in the fund are identified below.
> Equity Securities Risk: The value of the stocks held by the fund may be negatively affected by the financial market, industries in which the fund invests, or issuer-specific events. Focus on a particular style or in small or medium-sized companies may enhance that risk.
> Foreign Investing Risk: Investing in foreign securities subjects the fund to additional risks such as increased volatility; currency fluctuations; less liquidity; less publicly available information about the foreign investment; and political, regulatory, economic, and market risk.
> Emerging Market Risk: Emerging markets securities may be more volatile, or more greatly affected by negative conditions, than those of their counterparts in more established foreign markets.
> Sector Focused Investing Risk: Events negatively affecting a particular market sector in which the fund focuses its investments may cause the value of the fund’s shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
> Focused Investment Risk (Industrial-Related Risk): To the extent the fund focuses its investments in a limited number of issuers, sectors, industries or geographic regions, it may be subject to increased risk and volatility. Industrial companies are affected by supply and demand both for their specific product or service and for industrial sector products in general. Government regulation, world events, exchange rates and economic conditions, technological developments and liabilities for environmental damage and general civil liabilities will likewise affect the performance of these companies.
> Market Volatility Risk: The value of the securities in the fund may go up or down in response to the prospects of individual companies and/or general economic conditions. Price changes may be short- or long-term. Local, regional or global events such as war or military conflict (e.g., Russia’s invasion of Ukraine), acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issue, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the fund and its investments, including hampering the ability of the fund’s portfolio manager(s) to invest the fund’s assets as intended.
> Depositary Receipts Risk: Investments in foreign companies through depositary receipts may expose the fund to the same risks as direct investments in securities of foreign issuers.
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> Developing Market Risk: Developing markets securities may be more volatile, or more greatly affected by negative conditions, than those of their counterparts in more established foreign markets.
> Investing in Brazil Risk: Investment in Brazilian issuers involves risks that are specific to Brazil, including legal, regulatory, political, currency and economic risks. The Brazilian economy has historically been exposed to high rates of inflation and a high level of debt, each of which may reduce and/or prevent economic growth.
> Investing in China Risk: The government of China maintains strict currency controls in order to achieve economic, trade and political objectives and regularly intervenes in the currency market. The Chinese government also plays a major role in the country’s economic policies regarding foreign investments. Foreign investors are subject to the risk of loss from expropriation or nationalization of their investment assets and property, governmental restrictions on foreign investments and the repatriation of capital invested. In addition, the rapid growth rate of the Chinese economy over the past several years may not continue, and the trend toward economic liberalization and disparities in wealth may result in social disorder, including violence and labor unrest. These and other factors could have a negative impact on the fund’s performance and increase the volatility of an investment in the fund. Certain securities issued by companies located or operating in China, such as China A-shares, are also subject to trading restrictions, quota limitations and less market liquidity, which could pose risks to the fund.
> Investing in India Risk: Investments in Indian issuers involve risks that are specific to India,including legal, regulatory, political and economic risks. Political and legal uncertainty, greater government control over the economy, currency fluctuations or blockage, and the risk of nationalization or expropriation of assets may result in higher potential for losses. The securities markets in India are relatively underdeveloped and may subject the fund to higher transaction costs or greater uncertainty than investments in more developed securities markets.
> Investing in Indonesia Risk: Investments in Indonesian issuers involve risks that are specific to Indonesia, including legal, regulatory, political, economic, currency, security,and natural disaster risks. Political and legal uncertainty, greater government control over the economy, currency fluctuations or blockage, and the risk of disruption to business operations due to national security events and/or natural disasters may result in higher potential for losses. The securities markets in Indonesia are relatively underdeveloped and may subject the fund to higher transaction costs or greater uncertainty than investments in more developed securities markets. In addition, the Indonesian economy is heavily dependent on trading relationships with certain key trading partners, including China, Japan, Singapore and the U.S.
> Investing in South Korea Risk: Investing in South Korean securities has special risks, including political, economic and social instability, and the potential for increasing militarization in North Korea. South Korea’s financial sector has shown certain signs of systemic weakness and illiquidity, which, if exacerbated, could prove to be a material risk for any investments in South Korea. South Korea is dependent on foreign sources for its energy needs. A significant increase in energy prices could have an adverse impact on South Korea’s economy. The South Korean government has historically exercised and continues to exercise substantial influence over many aspects of the private sector.
> Investing in Taiwan Risk: Taiwan’s geographic proximity and history of political contention with China have resulted in ongoing tensions between the two countries. These tensions may materially affect the Taiwanese economy and its securities market. Taiwan’s economy is export-oriented, so it depends on an open world trade regime and remains vulnerable to fluctuations in the world economy. Rising labor costs and increasing environmental consciousness have led some labor-intensive industries to relocate to countries with cheaper work forces, and continued labor outsourcing may adversely affect the Taiwanese economy.
> Currency Rate Risk: Fluctuations in the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies may negatively affect the value of the fund’s shares.
> Equity-Linked Instruments Risk: The performance of equity-linked instruments is subject to similar risks to those of the referenced equity security, in addition to the risk that the equity-linked instruments fail to replicate the performance of the referenced equity security. Equity-linked instruments also expose the fund to counterparty risk, which could result in a loss of all or part of the fund’s investment.
> Frontier Market Risk: Frontier market countries generally have smaller economies and less developed capital markets or legal, regulatory and political systems than traditional emerging market countries. As a result, the risks of investing in emerging market countries are magnified in frontier market countries.
> Geographic Investment Risk: To the extent the fund invests a significant portion of its assets in the securities of companies of a single country or region, it is more likely to be impacted by events or conditions affecting that country or region.
> Geopolitical Risk: Some countries and regions in which the fund invests have experienced security concerns, war or threats of war and aggression, terrorism, economic uncertainty, natural and environmental disasters and/or systemic market dislocations that have led, and in the future may lead, to increased short-term market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on the U.S.and world economies and markets generally, each of which may negatively impact the fund’s investments.
> Limited Number of Investments Risk: Because the fund may have a limited number of securities, it may be more susceptible to factors adversely affecting its securities than a fund with a greater number of securities.
> Liquidity Risk: Certain instruments may be difficult or impossible to sell at a time and price beneficial to the fund.
> Preferred Stocks Risk: Preferred stocks may decline in price, fail to pay dividends when expected, or be illiquid.
> Redemption Risk: One or more large shareholders or groups of shareholders may redeem their holdings in the fund, resulting in an adverse impact on remaining shareholders in the fund by causing the fund to take actions it would not otherwise have taken.
> Small Market Capitalization Companies Risk: The fund’s investments in small market capitalization companies may be less liquid and more vulnerable to adverse business or economic developments, which may increase the volatility and risk of loss to the fund, as compared with investments in larger, more established companies.
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Performance Information
The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the potential risks of investing in the fund. The fund’s past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the fund will perform in the future.
The bar chart shows changes in the fund’s performance from year to year over a 10-year period. The table shows how the fund’s average annual returns compare to those of a broad-based securities market index and a style-specific index that reflects the market sectors in which the fund invests. Updated performance information is available at virtus.com or by calling 800-243-1574.
Calendar year total returns for Class I Shares |
Returns do not reflect sales charges applicable to other share classes and would be lower if they did. |
Best Quarter: | 2020, Q2: | 34.75% | Worst Quarter: | 2020, Q1: | -20.54% |
Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended 12/31/23)
Returns reflect deduction of maximum sales charges and full redemption at end of periods shown.
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| 1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years | (8/1/2019) | |
Class I Shares |
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| Return Before Taxes | 21.83% | 8.69% | 6.24% | — |
| Return After Taxes on Distributions | 21.83% | 8.11% | 5.92% | — |
| Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 12.92% | 6.88% | 5.14% | — |
Class A Shares |
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| Return Before Taxes | 14.79% | 7.18% | 5.37% | — |
Class C Shares |
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| Return Before Taxes | 20.64% | 7.59% | 5.18% | — |
Class R6 Shares |
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| Return Before Taxes | 21.93% | — | — | 7.08% |
MSCI Emerging Markets Index (net) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | 9.83% | 3.69% | 2.66% | 2.40% | |
MSCI Emerging Markets Small Cap Index (net) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | 23.92% | 9.92% | 5.34% | 10.32% | |
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The MSCI Emerging Markets Index (net) is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index designed to measure equity market performance in the global emerging markets. The index is calculated on a total return basis with net dividends reinvested. The index is unmanaged and not available for direct investment.
The MSCI Emerging Markets Small Cap Index (net) is a free float-adjusted market capitalization-weighted index designed to measure small cap equity market performance in the global emerging markets. The index is calculated on a total return basis with net dividends reinvested. The index is unmanaged and not available for direct investment.
After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. After-tax returns are shown only for Class I Shares; after-tax returns for other classes will vary. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold fund shares in tax-deferred accounts or to shares held by non-taxable entities.
Management
The fund’s investment adviser is Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc. (“VIA”).
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The fund’s subadviser is Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management, LLC (“KAR”), an affiliate of VIA.
Portfolio Management
> Hyung Kim, Portfolio Manager and Senior Research Analyst at KAR. Mr. Kim has served as a Portfolio Manager of the fund since 2017.
> Craig Thrasher, CFA, Portfolio Manager and Senior Research Analyst at KAR. Mr. Thrasher has served as a Portfolio Manager of the fund since inception in 2013.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
Minimum initial investments applicable to Class A and Class C Shares:
$2,500, generally
$100 for Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), systematic purchase or exchange accounts
No minimum for defined contribution plans, asset-based fee programs, profit-sharing plans or employee benefit plans.
Minimum additional investments applicable to Class A and Class C Shares:
$100, generally
No minimum for defined contribution plans, asset-based fee programs, profit-sharing plans or employee benefit plans.
For Class I Shares, the minimum initial purchase is $100,000; there is no minimum for additional purchases.
Class R6 Shares are offered without a minimum initial investment to the following investors in plan level or omnibus accounts only (provided that they do not require or receive any compensation, administrative payments, sub-transfer agency payments or service payments with respect to Class R6 Shares): (i) qualified retirement plans, including, but not limited to, 401(k) plans, 457 plans, employer sponsored 403(b) plans, and defined benefit plans; (ii) banks and trust companies; (iii) insurance companies; (iv) financial intermediaries utilizing such shares in fee-based investment advisory programs; (v) registered investment companies; (vi) 529 portfolios that are advised or sub-advised by Virtus affiliates; and (vii) non-qualified deferred compensation plans. Other institutional investors may be permitted to purchase Class R6 Shares subject to the fund’s determination of eligibility and may be subject to a $2,500,000 minimum initial investment requirement.
In general, you may buy or sell shares of the fund by mail or telephone on any business day. You also may buy and sell shares through a financial professional, broker-dealer or other financial intermediary.
Taxes
The fund’s distributions are taxable to you as either ordinary income or capital gains, except when your investment is through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account. Such tax-deferred arrangements may be taxed later upon withdrawal of monies from those arrangements.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase the fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your financial professional to recommend the fund over another investment.
No compensation, administrative payments, sub-transfer agency payments or service payments are paid to brokers or other entities from fund assets or the Distributor’s or an affiliate’s resources on sales of or investments in Class R6 Shares. Class R6 Shares do not carry sales commissions or pay Rule 12b-1 fees, or make payments to brokers or other entities to assist in, or in connection with, the sale of the fund’s shares. Ask your financial professional or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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Virtus Mutual Funds Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4470
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