Virtus Closed-End Funds Announce Results of Joint Annual Meeting of Shareholders

HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund (NYSE: AIO), Virtus Convertible & Income Fund (NYSE: NCV), Virtus Convertible & Income Fund II (NYSE: NCZ), Virtus Diversified Income & Convertible Fund (NYSE: ACV), Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund (NYSE: NFJ), Virtus Equity & Convertible Income Fund (NYSE: NIE), Virtus Global Multi-Sector Income Fund (NYSE: VGI), Virtus Stone Harbor Emerging Markets Income Fund (NYSE: EDF), and Virtus Total Return Fund Inc. (NYSE: ZTR) announced the results of the joint annual meeting of shareholders that was held on June 1, 2026.

The voting results are as follows:

	Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund (AIO)
	For		Withheld		Abstain
	# of Shares	% of Shares Voted	# of Shares	% of Shares Voted	# of Shares	% of Shares Voted
Donald C. Burke	26,068,695.000	95%	1,450,588.000	5%	n/a	n/a
R. Keith Walton	26,096,007.000	95%	1,423,276.000	5%	n/a	n/a
Brian T. Zino	26,041,455.000	95%	1,477,828.000	5%	n/a	n/a
Ratification of PwC	26,761,031.00	97%	210,101.000	1%	548,151.000	2%

	Virtus Convertible & Income Fund (NCV)
	For		Withheld		Abstain
	# of Shares	% of Shares Voted	# of Shares	% of Shares Voted	# of Shares	% of Shares Voted
George R. Aylward	20,365,070.239	92%	1,769,310.000	8%	n/a	n/a
Sarah E. Cogan	20,363,580.239	92%	1,770,800.000	8%	n/a	n/a
R. Keith Walton	20,330,880.239	92%	1,803,500.000	8%	n/a	n/a
Ratification of PwC	20,604,462.239	93%	1,153,278.000	5%	376,640.000	2%

	Virtus Convertible & Income Fund II (NCZ)
	For		Withheld		Abstain
	# of Shares	% of Shares Voted	# of Shares	% of Shares Voted	# of Shares	% of Shares Voted
George R. Aylward	17,499,402.789	92%	1,457,877.796	8%	n/a	n/a
R. Keith Walton	17,464,053.789	92%	1,493,226.796	8%	n/a	n/a
Ratification of PwC	17,070,094.789	90%	1,539,762.013	8%	347,423.783	2%

	Virtus Diversified Income & Convertible Fund (ACV)
	For		Withheld		Abstain
	# of Shares	% of Shares Voted	# of Shares	% of Shares Voted	# of Shares	% of Shares Voted
F. Ford Drummond	6,619,528.490	77%	1,947,918.000	23%	n/a	n/a
George R. Aylward	8,301,679.490	97%	265,767.000	3%	n/a	n/a
R. Keith Walton	8,229,472.490	96%	337,974.000	4%	n/a	n/a
Ratification of PwC	8,407,226.490	98%	89,390.000	1%	70,830.000	1%

	Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund (NFJ)
	For		Withheld		Abstain
	# of Shares	% of Shares Voted	# of Shares	% of Shares Voted	# of Shares	% of Shares Voted
F. Ford Drummond	77,165,229.296	91%	7,562,128.000	9%	n/a	n/a
Sarah E. Cogan	80,559,006.296	95%	4,168,351.000	5%	n/a	n/a
R. Keith Walton	80,525,620.296	95%	4,201,737.000	5%	n/a	n/a
Ratification of PwC	77,292,274.296	91%	6,820,705.000	8%	614,378.000	1%

	Virtus Equity & Convertible Income Fund (NIE)
	For		Withheld		Abstain
	# of Shares	% of Shares Voted	# of Shares	% of Shares Voted	# of Shares	% of Shares Voted
F. Ford Drummond	17,715,204.474	78%	5,042,176.000	22%	n/a	n/a
R. Keith Walton	21,840,688.474	96%	916,692.000	4%	n/a	n/a
Brian T. Zino	21,765,105.474	96%	992,275.000	4%	n/a	n/a
Ratification of PwC	22,259,419.474	98%	268,337.000	1%	229,624.000	1%

	Virtus Global Multi-Sector Income Fund (VGI)
	For		Withheld		Abstain
	# of Shares	% of Shares Voted	# of Shares	% of Shares Voted	# of Shares	% of Shares Voted
Donald C. Burke	8,447,864.000	95%	389,676.000	4%	89,537.000	1%
Sarah E. Cogan	8,519,449.000	95%	328,802.000	4%	78,826.000	1%
Ratification of PwC	8,488,180.000	95%	301,570.000	3%	137,327.000	2%

	Virtus Stone Harbor Emerging Markets Income Fund (EDF)
	For		Withheld		Abstain
	# of Shares	% of Shares Voted	# of Shares	% of Shares Voted	# of Shares	% of Shares Voted
F. Ford Drummond	21,523,769.000	94%	1,378,891.000	6%	n/a	n/a
Connie D. McDaniel	21,358,527.000	93%	1,544,133.000	7%	n/a	n/a
Ratification of PwC	22,028,589.000	96%	294,840.000	1%	579,231.000	3%

	Virtus Total Return Fund Inc. (ZTR)
	For		Withheld		Abstain
	# of Shares	% of Shares Voted	# of Shares	% of Shares Voted	# of Shares	% of Shares Voted
Connie D. McDaniel	31,107,906.541	89%	3,773,971.384	11%	n/a	n/a
R. Keith Walton	30,833,413.272	88%	4,048,464.653	12%	n/a	n/a
Brian T. Zino	30,887,508.790	89%	3,994,369.135	11%	n/a	n/a
Ratification of PwC	31,614,048.612	91%	2,517,168.384	7%	750,660.929	2%

About the Funds

Virtus Investment Advisers, LLC, a registered investment adviser affiliated with Virtus Investment Partners, Inc., is the investment adviser to each fund. The funds are closed-end funds that seek to generate income, with diversified strategies focused on a variety of asset classes including multi-sector, high-yield and emerging markets fixed income, municipal bonds, utility and infrastructure equities, and convertible securities.

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 NAV. For more information about each fund’s investment objective and risks, please see the fund’s annual report. A copy of each fund’s most recent annual report may be obtained free of charge by contacting Shareholder Services as set forth at the end of this press release or through the Closed-End Funds section of virtus.com.

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.