Taxes

When will I receive my 1099?
Form 1099s are typically mailed or sent electronically in January according to IRS guidelines. You should receive your 1099 by mid-February.

How can I obtain a copy of my 1099?
You may download and print a copy of a Broadridge issued 1099 by accessing your online account at investor.broadridge.com. If you have not established an online account, you may follow the online instructions or contact us via the 800 number on your account statement or this site.

Virtus Ownership Questions

How do I transfer my stock?

How do I transfer registered shares to beneficial or street shares via my broker?

1. Contact your broker directly
2. Your broker will ask for some basic information about your account, including:
   1. The issuer of the shares
   2. The transfer agent name (Broadridge)
   3. Your account number (obtain from your statement or online account)
   4. The number of shares you wish to transfer
3. The broker will then have the shares transferred from Broadridge to your brokerage account

What is a medallion signature guarantee?

The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) entitles transfer agents and corporate issuers to receive signature guarantees to protect them against fraudulent and unauthorized transfers. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations define the financial institutions that are eligible to provide such signature guarantees, e.g., commercial banks, brokers, credit unions, savings and loan institution. Signature Guarantee Programs have been developed and eligible financial institutions which subscribe to such programs are issued "Medallion Guarantee Stamps". Transfer agents are obligated to ensure that such stamps appear on the transfer documents and are entitled to refuse a transfer of shares if a signature is not guaranteed with a stamp. A notary stamp is not acceptable when transferring the ownership of stock.

Ownership Types

What is a "registered" shareholder?

A registered shareholder is the owner of record on the books of the corporation, generally kept by the transfer agent. The registered shareholder may be an individual, a trust, a broker, etc. Registered shareholders receive dividends, proxies and other communications directly from the corporation via the transfer agent or the corporation directly.

What are "street name shares" or "beneficial shares"?

Securities held in a brokerage account, and registered in the name of the broker or other institution, are referred to as being in "street name" or "beneficial shares." If you keep your stock with your broker in a broker account, you are a "street name" holder and are not directly registered on the company's records as maintained by the transfer agent. Company mailings, including dividends, will reach you through your broker. If you wish to move your shares from registered to beneficial ownership, Broadridge or your broker will help you do so.

What are the more common types of security registrations?

Individual Registration

This registration gives sole ownership to the single individual and requires that the person's legal name be used. The use of a first name is desirable. Example: Mary Smith is preferred instead of M Smith.

Joint Registration

Several types of Joint Registration exist including Joint Tenants with right of survivorship, Tenants by the Entirety and Tenants in common.

Joint Tenants with Rights of Survivorship

This registration is used when two or more individuals have equal claim to the shares. Should one of the parties die, ownership of the shares passes to the surviving tenant(s). Example: Mary Smith & Barbara Smith Jt Ten

Tenants In Common

This registration allows an appropriate portion of the shares to pass to the estate of the holder upon the holder's death rather than to the surviving tenant. Example: Mary Smith & Barbara Smith Ten Com

Custodial Registration

There are several custodial registrations possible. A custodial registration requires the names of the custodian and the beneficial owner. A custodial registration for a minor is a common form of this registration type. For example: Mary Smith Cust Don Smith NY Unif Trans Min Act.

Trust Registration

Registering shares in the name of a Trust requires that specific information be provided: the name of the trust and/or the maker or beneficiary and the date of the trust instrument. For example: Mary Jones Tr U/A dtd 4/15/98 The Mary Jones Trust FBO Mary Jones.

Common Stock

Q: When did I receive Virtus common stock?
 
A: Shareholders of Phoenix’s common stock as of December 22, 2008, which was the record date for the distribution, received shares of Virtus common stock on the distribution dates, December 31, 2008.
 
Q: How many share of Virtus common stock did Phoenix distribute to me?
 
A: As a shareholder of PNX common stock on the record date, you were entitled to receive one share of Virtus common stock for every 20 shares of PNX common stock that you held on the record date. If you owned fewer than 20 shares of PNX common stock as of the record date, you will receive a check for cash in lieu of Virtus stock. Phoenix is not issuing fractional shares of Virtus stock, so you will receive a check for cash in lieu of fractional shares of Virtus stock.

Q: What is the cost basis of my shares of VRTS common stock?

A: If you received shares of VRTS common stock as part of the spin-off from Phoenix, your tax basis is equal to $9.52, which was its fair market value at the time of the spin-off. Your new holding period in our common stock began the day after the spin-off (January 1, 2009).