Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund Announces Renewal of Share Repurchase Program

HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund (NYSE: NFJ) (the “Fund”), a closed-end fund, announced today that the Board of Trustees approved the renewal of its open market share repurchase program (the “Program”) that was initially approved in February 2025.

Pursuant to the Fund’s repurchase program, the Fund may repurchase up to 5%¹ of its outstanding common shares (based on common shares outstanding on March 4, 2026) on the open market at a discount to NAV.

The Program is intended to enhance shareholder value, as repurchases made at a discount may have the effect of increasing the NAV per share of the Fund's remaining shares. In addition, repurchases of Fund shares may, at times, represent attractive investment opportunities for the Fund. The Fund has previously repurchased 1,834,337 shares for a total cost of $23.4 million under the Program.

Pursuant to the Program, the Fund may, from time to time and at the discretion of management personnel and depending on price and prevailing market and business conditions, purchase shares of the Fund in the open market when the Fund is trading at a discount to its NAV. The Fund’s repurchase activity will be disclosed in the annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders.

There is no assurance that the Fund will repurchase shares at any particular discount levels or in any particular amounts or that the market price of the Fund’s shares, either absolutely or relative to NAV, will increase as a result of share repurchases. Any repurchases made under the Program will be subject to exchange requirements and volume, timing, and other limitations under federal securities laws.

About the Fund

Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund is a diversified closed-end fund that seeks current income and gains, with long-term capital appreciation as a secondary objective. The Fund generally invests approximately 75% of its total assets in equity securities and approximately 25% in convertible securities. The Fund employs an option strategy of writing (selling) covered call options on equity securities held in the Fund. Virtus Investment Advisers, LLC, a registered investment adviser affiliated with Virtus Investment Partners, Inc., is the investment adviser to the Fund, and NFJ Investment Group and Voya Investment Management are its subadvisers.

For more information on the Fund, contact shareholder services at [phone], by email at [e-mail], or through the Closed-End Funds section of virtus.com.

Fund Risks

An investment in a fund is subject to risk, including the risk of possible loss of principal. A fund’s shares may be worth less upon their sale than what an investor paid for them. Shares of closed-end funds may trade at a premium or discount to their net asset value. For more information about the Fund’s investment objective and risks, please see the Fund’s annual report. A copy of the Fund’s most recent annual report can be accessed through the Closed-End Funds section of virtus.com and may be obtained free of charge by contacting “Shareholder Services” as set forth at the end of this press release.

About Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.

Virtus Investment Partners (NYSE: VRTS) is a distinctive partnership of boutique investment managers singularly committed to the long-term success of individual and institutional investors. We provide investment products and services from our investment managers, each with a distinct investment style and autonomous investment process, as well as select subadvisers. Investment solutions are available across multiple disciplines and product types to meet a wide array of investor needs. Additional information about our firm, investment partners, and strategies is available at virtus.com.

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Fund assumes no duty to and does not undertake to update forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements, and future results could differ materially from historical performance.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy, nor shall there be any sale of shares in the Fund in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the laws of such state or jurisdiction.

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^14,648,362 shares