HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--September 23, 2026--
Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund $(AIO)$ today announced it will increase its monthly distribution from $0.18 per share to $0.21 per share, an increase of 17% or $0.03 per share, effective with the October distribution:
Ticker Amount of Distribution Ex-Date/Record Date Payable Date ------ ---------------------- ------------------- ----------------- AIO $0.21 October 13, 2026 October 29, 2026 ------ ---------------------- ------------------- ----------------- AIO $0.21 November 12, 2026 November 27, 2026 ------ ---------------------- ------------------- -----------------
This increase is part of the Fund's ongoing efforts to enhance shareholder value by seeking to provide a more attractive distribution rate and to address the current discount to net asset value (NAV) at which its shares currently trade. This new distribution rate represents a per annum rate of approximately 9.9% based on the market price of the Fund's shares of $25.37 as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, and approximately 9.0% based on the Fund's NAV of $27.99 as of the same date.
Under the terms of its Managed Distribution Plan, the Fund will seek to maintain a consistent distribution level that may be paid, in part or in full, from net investment income and realized capital gains, or a combination thereof. Shareholders should note, however, that if the Fund's aggregate net investment income and net realized capital gains are less than the amount of the distribution level, the difference will be distributed from the Fund's assets and will constitute a return of shareholders' capital. You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's Managed Distribution Plan.
The Fund previously announced its September 2026 distribution and is providing this estimate of the sources of the distributions:
Distribution Fiscal Year-to-Date (YTD)
Estimates September 2026 $(MTD)$ (1)
------------------ ---------------------------- ----------------------------
Percentage of Percentage of
Per Share Current Per Share Current
(Sources) Amount Distribution Amount Distribution
------------------ ----------- --------------- ------------ --------------
Net Investment
Income $ 0.002 1.1% $ 0.018 1.4%
------------------ --- ------ ----- ------- ---- ------ ------ -----
Net Realized
Short-Term
Capital Gains 0.178 98.9% 1.302 98.6%
------------------ --- ------ ----- ------- ---- ------ ------ -----
Net Realized
Long-Term Capital
Gains 0.000 0.0% 0.000 0.0%
------------------ --- ------ ----- ------- ---- ------ ------ -----
Return of Capital
(or other Capital
Source) 0.000 0.0% 0.000 0.0%
------------------ --- ------ ----- ------- ---- ------ ------ -----
Total Distribution $ 0.180 100.0% $ 1.320 100.0%
------------------ --- ------ ----- ------- ---- ------ ------ -----
(1) Fiscal year started February 1, 2026.
Information regarding the Fund's performance and distribution rates is set forth below. Please note that all performance figures are based on the Fund's net asset value (NAV) and not the market price of the Fund's shares. Performance figures are not meant to represent individual shareholder performance.
August 31, 2026
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average Annual Total Return on NAV for
the 5-year period (2) 10.35%
-------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
Annualized Current Distribution Rate
(3) 7.80%
-------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
Fiscal YTD Cumulative Total Return on
NAV (4) 16.05%
-------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
Fiscal YTD Cumulative Distribution
Rate (5) 4.12%
-------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
(2) Average Annual Total Return on NAV
is the annual compound return for
the five-year period. It reflects
the change in the Fund's NAV and
reinvestment of all
distributions.
(3) Annualized Current Distribution
Rate is the current distribution
rate ($0.18 per share) annualized
as a percentage of the Fund's NAV
at month end.
(4) Fiscal YTD Cumulative Total Return
on NAV is the percentage change
in the Fund's NAV from the first
day of the fiscal year to this
month end, including
distributions paid and assuming
reinvestment of those
distributions.
(5) Fiscal YTD Cumulative Distribution
Rate is the dollar value of
distributions from the first day
of the fiscal year to this month
end as a percentage of the Fund's
NAV at month end.
The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are estimates only and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the distributions for tax purposes will depend on the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund or your broker will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you what distributions to report for federal income tax purposes.
About the Fund
Virtus Artificial Intelligence & Technology Opportunities Fund is a diversified closed-end fund that seeks to provide total return through a combination of current income, current gains, and long-term capital appreciation. A multi-asset approach based on fundamental research is employed, dynamically allocating to attractive segments of a company's debt and equity in order to offer an attractive risk/reward profile. The Fund has a limited term and will terminate on or around October 29, 2031, absent approval by the Fund's Board of Trustees to extend the Fund's term by up to 18 months. Virtus Investment Advisers, LLC, a registered investment adviser affiliated with Virtus Investment Partners, Inc., and Voya Investment Management provide investment advisory services to the Fund pursuant to an advisory agreement and a sub-advisory agreement, respectively.
For more information on the Fund, contact shareholder services at (866) 270-7788, by email at closedendfunds@virtus.com, 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 NAV. 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 $(VRTS)$ is a distinctive partnership of boutique investment managers singularly committed to the long-term success of individual and institutional investors. The Company provides investment products and services from its 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 the Company, investment partners, and strategies is available at virtus.com.
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CONTACT: For Further Information:
Shareholder Services
(866) 270-7788
closedendfunds@virtus.com
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