<div id="readability-page-1"><article>HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Virtus Equity &amp; Convertible Income Fund (NYSE: NIE) today announced the following special year-end distribution to holders of its common shares.:<table><tbody><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Ticker</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Amount of Distribution</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Ex-Date/Record Date</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Payable Date</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">NIE</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">$0.526</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">December 29, 2025</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">January 9, 2026</td></tr></tbody></table>This special year-end distribution, which is in addition to the regular quarterly distribution paid to holders of its common shares, is being paid by the Fund to manage certain federal tax requirements.The Fund previously announced the following quarterly distribution on November 19, 2025:<table><tbody><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Ticker</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Amount of Distribution</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Ex-Date/Record Date</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Payable Date</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">NIE</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">$0.50</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">December 11, 2025</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">December 30, 2025</td></tr></tbody></table>The Fund provides this estimate of the sources of the special distribution and the December 2025 and fiscal year-to-date distributions made pursuant to the Fund’s Managed Distribution Plan:<table><tbody><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Distribution Estimates</td><td colspan="2" rowspan="1">December 2025 (QTD)</td><td colspan="2" rowspan="1">Special Year-End Distribution Sources</td><td colspan="2" rowspan="1">Fiscal Year-to-Date (YTD) (1)</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">(Sources)</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Per Share Amount</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Percentage of Current Distribution</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Per Share Amount</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Percentage of Current Distribution</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Per Share Amount</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Percentage of Current Distribution</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Net Investment Income</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">$ 0.030</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">6.0%</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">$ 0.000</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.0%</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">$ 0.123</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">4.9%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Net Realized Short-Term Capital Gains</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.470</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">94.0%</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.000</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.0%</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">1.150</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">45.5%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Net Realized Long-Term Capital Gains</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.000</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.0%</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.526</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">100.0%</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">1.253</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">49.6%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Return of Capital (or other Capital Source)</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.000</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.0%</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.000</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.0%</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.000</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">0.0%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Total Distribution</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">$ 0.500</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">100.0%</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">$ 0.526</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">100.0%</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">$ 2.526</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">100.0%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">(1) Fiscal year started February 1, 2025.</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td></tr></tbody></table>Under the terms of its Managed Distribution Plan, the Fund seeks 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 the shareholder's 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.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.<table><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" rowspan="1">November 28, 2025</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" rowspan="1">Average Annual Total Return on NAV for the 5-year period (2)</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">9.51%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" rowspan="1">Annualized Current Distribution Rate (3)</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">7.00%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" rowspan="1">Fiscal YTD Cumulative Total Return on NAV (4)</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">14.28%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" rowspan="1">Fiscal YTD Cumulative Distribution Rate (5)</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">8.84%</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">(2)</td><td colspan="2" rowspan="1">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.</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">(3)</td><td colspan="2" rowspan="1">Annualized Current Distribution Rate is the current distribution rate ($0.50 per share) annualized as a percentage of the Fund's NAV at month end.</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">(4)</td><td colspan="2" rowspan="1">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.</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1">(5)</td><td colspan="2" rowspan="1">Fiscal YTD Cumulative Distribution Rate is the dollar value of distributions from the first day of the fiscal year through the next calendar quarter end (inclusive of the special year-end distribution) as a percentage of the Fund's NAV at month end. The Fiscal YTD Cumulative Distribution Rate would be 7.00% if the special year-end distribution of $0.526 per share was excluded.</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"></td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> </td></tr></tbody></table>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 FundVirtus Equity &amp; Convertible Income Fund is a diversified closed-end fund that seeks total return comprised of capital appreciation, current income, and gains. Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in a combination of equity securities and income-producing convertible securities. Virtus Investment Advisers, LLC, a registered investment adviser affiliated with Virtus Investment Partners, Inc., is the investment adviser to the Fund and Voya Investment Management is its subadviser.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 RisksAn 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 (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.<img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT/query-ZGlzdHJvPW54JmlkPWJ3bmV3cyZsYW5nPWVuJnNpZD1hY3FyOCZzdHk9MjAyNTEyMTk0NTY1NzNyMQ?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT/query-ZGlzdHJvPW54JmlkPWJ3bmV3cyZsYW5nPWVuJnNpZD1hY3FyOCZzdHk9MjAyNTEyMTk0NTY1NzNyMQ"/>View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251219456573/en/For Further Information: Shareholder Services (866) 270-7788 closedendfunds@virtus.comSource: Virtus Equity &amp; Convertible Income Fund</article></div>

VRTS

Virtus Equity & Convertible Income Fund (NYSE: NIE) announced a special year-end distribution of $0.526 per share, payable on January 9, 2026, in addition to its regular quarterly distribution. The fund aims to manage federal tax requirements and maintain consistent distribution levels. The sources of the special distribution include 100% net realized long-term capital gains. The fund's performance and distribution rates are based on NAV, not market price. For more information, contact shareholder services or visit virtus.com.

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Virtus Equity & Convertible Income Fund Announces Special Year-End Distribution and Discloses Sources of Distribution – Section 19(a) Notice | NIE Stock News