Virtus Investment Partners, a Hartford, CT-based multi-boutique asset manager closed its deal to acquire AlphaSimplex, a systematic/quantitative alternatives firm with $8.3 billion in assets.

Investors in AlphaSimplex funds include the California State Teachers Retirement System, which is tucked under the pension system’s trend-following strategies program with a $4.3 billion mandate as of June 2022.

Closing on April 1, the deal adds quantitative offerings to the Virtus platform, including a trend-following managed futures strategy – the $2.7 billion AlphaSimplex Managed Futures Strategy Fund.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Virtus plans to complete the adoption of the managed futures mutual fund and the AlphaSimplex Global Alternatives Fund in May.

“AlphaSimplex offers innovative capabilities that rely on researching and analyzing market behaviors and employing a proprietary risk management process to help investors succeed in ever-evolving markets,” said George Aylward, president and chief executive officer of Virtus.

Boston-based AlphaSimplex is well known in the industry for its development of systematic investment strategies that rely primarily on liquid futures and forward contracts. The firm offers a niche in researching and analyzing markets and behaviors, including volatility and risk.

Systematic strategies have been in the spotlight following strong fourth quarter 2022 performance figures. The AlphaSimplex Managed Futures Strategy Fund was up over 35% last year.