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Label Element Value
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Document Type dei_DocumentType 485BPOS
Document Period End Date dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate Sep. 30, 2013
Entity Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName VIRTUS OPPORTUNITIES TRUST
Entity Central Index Key dei_EntityCentralIndexKey 0001005020
Amendment Flag dei_AmendmentFlag false
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol vot
Document Creation Date dei_DocumentCreationDate Jan. 27, 2014
Document Effective Date dei_DocumentEffectiveDate Jan. 28, 2014
Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Jan. 28, 2014
Virtus Emerging Markets Debt Fund
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading
Virtus Emerging Markets Debt Fund
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading
Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock
The fund has an investment objective of total return from current income and capital appreciation.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading
Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock
The tables below illustrate all fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Virtus Mutual Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial advisor and under Sales Charges on page 215 of the funds prospectus and Alternative Purchase Arrangements on page 103 of the funds statement of additional information.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading
Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 60.00%
Expenses Deferred Charges [Text Block] rr_ExpensesDeferredChargesTextBlock
Generally, Class A Shares are not subject to any charges by the Fund when redeemed; however, a contingent deferred sales charge may be imposed on certain redemptions (i) within 18 months on exchanges from a Virtus non-money market fund into a Virtus money market fund; and (ii) on purchases on which a finder’s fee has been paid. The 18-month period begins on the last day of the month preceding the month in which the purchase was made. The deferred sales charge is imposed on Class C Shares redeemed during the first year only.
Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text] rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts
You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Virtus Mutual Funds.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount $ 50,000
Expenses Restated to Reflect Current [Text] rr_ExpensesRestatedToReflectCurrent

Restated to reflect current expenses.

Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading
Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock
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. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the funds operating expenses remain the same and that the expense reimbursement arrangement remains in place only for the period indicated. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading
Investments, Risks and Performance
Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in fixed income (debt) securities issued by governments, government-related entities and corporations located in emerging market countries. The fund may invest without limit in high yield debt securities and related investments rated below investment grade (that is, securities not rated Baa/BBB or above by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO), or, if unrated, determined to be of comparable credit quality by the subadviser). Below investment grade securities are commonly referred to as junk bonds. These investments include, but are not limited to, instruments designed to restructure outstanding emerging market debt such as participations in loans between governments and financial institutions. The fund manages duration utilizing a duration neutral strategy. Under normal circumstances, the average duration of the funds portfolio will vary within 3 years (plus or minus) of the duration of its benchmark, the JP Morgan Emerging Markets Bond Index (EMBI) Global Diversified. As of September 30, 2013, the modified adjusted duration of the JP Morgan EMBI Global Diversified was 6.44 years. The fund is non-diversified under federal securities laws.
The fund intends to invest in at least three emerging market countries, which are countries that, at the time of investment, are represented in the JP Morgan Emerging Markets Bond Index Global Diversified or categorized by the World Bank in its annual categorization as middle- or low-income. 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 is generated. This evaluation is conducted so as to determine that the issuers assets are exposed to the economic fortunes and risks of the designated country.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading
Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock
The fund may not achieve its objective, 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 redemption by one or more large shareholders or groups of shareholders of their holdings in the fund could have an adverse impact on the remaining shareholders in the fund including by accelerating the realization of capital gains and increasing the fund's transaction costs. The principal risks of investing in the fund are:
 
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  • Credit Risk. The risk that the issuer of a security will fail to pay interest or principal in a timely manner, or that negative perceptions of the issuer’s ability to make such payments will cause the price of the security to decline.
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  • Emerging Market Investing Risk. The risk that prices of emerging markets securities will be more volatile, or will be more greatly affected by negative conditions, than those of their counterparts in more established foreign markets.
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  • Foreign Investing Risk. The risk that the prices of foreign securities in the fund’s portfolio will be more volatile than those of domestic securities, or will be negatively affected by currency fluctuations or economic, political or other developments.
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  • Geographic Concentration Risk. The risk that events negatively affecting the geographic location where the fund focuses its investments will cause the value of the fund’s shares to decrease, perhaps significantly.
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  • High-Yield/High-Risk Fixed Income Securities (Junk Bonds) Risk. The risk that the issuers of high-yield/ high-risk securities in the fund’s portfolio will default, that the prices of such securities will be volatile, and that the securities will not be liquid.
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  • Interest Rate Risk. The risk that when interest rates rise, the values of the fund’s debt securities, especially those with longer maturities, will fall.
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  • Liquidity Risk. The risk that certain securities may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and price beneficial to the fund.
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  • Loan Participation Risk. The risk that there may not be a readily available market for loan participation interests and, in some cases, the fund may have to dispose of such securities at a substantial discount from face value. Loan participations also involve the credit risk associated with the underlying corporate borrower.
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  • Market Volatility Risk. The risk that the value of the securities in which the fund invests may go up or down in response to the prospects of individual companies and/or general economic conditions. Price changes may be temporary or may last for extended periods.
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  • Non-Diversification Risk. The risk that the fund will be more susceptible to factors negatively impacting the securities in its portfolio to the extent that each such security represents a significant portion of the fund’s assets.
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  • Unrated Fixed Income Securities Risk. The risk that the subadviser will be unable to accurately assess the quality of an unrated fixed income security, so that the fund invests in a security with greater risk than intended, or that the liquidity of unrated fixed income securities in which the fund invests will be hindered, making it difficult for the fund to sell them.
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  • U.S. Government Securities Risk. The risk that U.S. Government securities in the fund’s portfolio will be subject to price fluctuations, or that an agency or instrumentality will default on an obligation not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney
 If between the time you purchase shares and the time you sell shares the value of the funds investments decreases, you will lose money.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text] rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus

Non-Diversification Risk. The risk that the fund will be more susceptible to factors negatively impacting the securities in its portfolio to the extent that each such security represents a significant portion of the fund’s assets.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading
Performance Information
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock
The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the potential risks of investing in the fund. The funds 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 funds performance for its first full year of operations. The table shows how the funds average annual returns compare to those of a broad-based securities market index and a more narrowly-based benchmark that reflects the market sectors in which the fund invests. Updated performance information is available at virtus.com or by calling 800-243-1574.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns
The bar chart shows changes in the funds performance for its first full year of operations. The table shows how the funds average annual returns compare to those of a broad-based securities market index and a more narrowly-based benchmark that reflects the market sectors in which the fund invests.
Performance One Year or Less [Text] rr_PerformanceOneYearOrLess
The bar chart shows changes in the funds performance for its first full year of operations.
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone 800-243-1574
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress virtus.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture
The funds past performance, before and after taxes, is not necessarily an indication of how the fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading
Calendar year total returns for Class A Shares
Bar Chart Narrative [Text Block] rr_BarChartNarrativeTextBlock
Returns do not reflect sales charges and would be lower if they did.
 
Annual Return (%)
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads
Returns do not reflect sales charges and would be lower if they did.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock
 
Best Quarter:
 
 
Q4/2013:
 
 
1.50%
 
 
Worst Quarter:
 
 
Q2/2013:
 
 
-6.34%
 
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading
Average Annual Total Returns (for the periods ended 12/31/13)
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate
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.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred
Actual after-tax returns depend on the investors 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.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown
After-tax returns are shown only for Class A Shares; after-tax returns for other classes will vary.
Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher rr_PerformanceTableExplanationAfterTaxHigher
In certain cases, the Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares for a period may be higher than other return figures for the same period. This will occur when a capital loss is realized upon the sale of fund shares and provides an assumed tax benefit that increases the return.
Performance Table Narrative rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock
Returns reflect deduction of maximum sales charges and full redemption at end of periods shown.
Performance Table Closing [Text Block] rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock
The Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index measures the U.S. investment grade fixed rate bond market. The J.P. Morgan Emerging Markets Bond Global Diversified Index (EMBI Global Diversified) is a uniquely-weighted version of the J.P. Morgan EMBI Global Index. The index limits the weights of those countries with larger debt stock by only including specified portions of these countries eligible current face amounts of debt outstanding. The countries covered in the EMBI Global Diversified Index are identical to those covered by the EMBI Global Index. The EMBI Global Index tracks total returns for U.S. dollar-denominated debt instruments issued by emerging market sovereign and quasi-sovereign entities: Brady bonds, loans, Eurobonds. The indexes are 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 A Shares; after-tax returns for other classes will vary. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investors 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. In certain cases, the Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares for a period may be higher than other return figures for the same period. This will occur when a capital loss is realized upon the sale of fund shares and provides an assumed tax benefit that increases the return.
Virtus Emerging Markets Debt Fund | Class A
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol VEDAX
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 3.75%
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther 0.50% [1]
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.75%
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.57% [2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.57%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 529
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 852
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,198
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,172
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 529
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 852
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,198
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 2,172
2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 (4.80%)
Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter:
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Dec. 31, 2013
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 1.50%
Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel
Worst Quarter:
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Jun. 30, 2013
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (6.34%)
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return Before Taxes
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (8.37%)
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (2.47%)
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 05, 2012
Virtus Emerging Markets Debt Fund | Class C
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol VEDCX
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther 1.00% [3]
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.75%
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.57% [2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 2.32%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 335
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 724
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,240
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,656
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 235
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 724
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,240
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 2,656
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return Before Taxes
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (5.61%)
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (0.40%)
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 05, 2012
Virtus Emerging Markets Debt Fund | Class I
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Trading Symbol dei_TradingSymbol VIEDX
Maximum Sales Charge (load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (load) (as a percentage of the lesser of purchase price or redemption proceeds) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.75%
Distribution and Shareholder Servicing (12b-1) fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.57% [2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.32%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 134
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 418
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 723
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,590
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 134
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 418
5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 723
10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 1,590
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return Before Taxes
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (4.65%)
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 0.56%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 05, 2012
Virtus Emerging Markets Debt Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions | Class A
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return After Taxes on Distributions
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (10.24%)
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (4.37%)
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 05, 2012
Virtus Emerging Markets Debt Fund | Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | Class A
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (4.72%)
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (2.65%)
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 05, 2012
Virtus Emerging Markets Debt Fund | Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (2.02%)
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (1.23%)
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 05, 2012
Virtus Emerging Markets Debt Fund | JP Morgan EMBI Global Diversified Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
 
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Label rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel JP Morgan EMBI Global Diversified Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (5.25%)
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception (1.13%)
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Sep. 05, 2012
[1] Generally, Class A Shares are not subject to any charges by the Fund when redeemed; however, a contingent deferred sales charge may be imposed on certain redemptions (i) within 18 months on exchanges from a Virtus non-money market fund into a Virtus money market fund; and (ii) on purchases on which a finder's fee has been paid. The 18-month period begins on the last day of the month preceding the month in which the purchase was made.
[2] Restated to reflect current expenses.
[3] The deferred sales charge is imposed on Class C Shares redeemed during the first year only.