M&A - VIRTUS EQUITY TRUST

Form Type: 497

Filing Date: 2025-06-20

Corporate Action: Merger

Type: New

Accession Number: 000093041325002005

Filing Summary: On June 20, 2025, Virtus Equity Trust announced the merger of Virtus KAR Global Quality Dividend Fund (the Acquired Fund) with and into Virtus KAR Equity Income Fund (the Acquiring Fund), approved by the Board of Trustees. The merger is scheduled for approximately September 12, 2025. Both funds share the same Board of Trustees and subadviser, as well as identical investment advisory fee rates. The investment objectives and strategies of the funds are fundamentally similar, with both funds expected to continue investing heavily in dividend-paying equity securities. Post-merger, the Acquired Fund will transfer its assets to the Acquiring Fund in exchange for shares of the latter and all liabilities will be assumed by the Acquiring Fund, leading to a pro-rata distribution of shares to the shareholders of the Acquired Fund. This transaction will be executed under Rule 17a-8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, requiring no shareholder approval for the merger.