NEW YORK, Jan. 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Zweig Fund, Inc. (NYSE: ZF) and The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc. (NYSE: ZTR) announced the dividend distributions on each fund's common stock as follows:


    ZF
    ---
     Cents
     Per
     Share                Record Date                  Ex Date            Payable Date
     -----                -----------                  -------            ------------
                $0.208 *  December 31, 2012            January 3, 2013    January 9, 2013
    * Distribution represents a cash yield of 6 percent on an annualized
     basis.

    ZTR
    ---
     Cents
     Per
     Share                Record Date                  Ex Date            Payable Date
     -----                -----------                  -------            ------------
               $0.082 **  December 31, 2012            January 3, 2013    January 9, 2013
    ** Distribution represents a cash yield of 7 percent on an annualized
     basis.

The distributions may represent earnings from net investment income, capital gains, excess gains taxable as ordinary income or, if necessary, return of 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 Funds estimate that they have distributed more than its income and net realized capital gains in the fiscal year to date; therefore, a portion of the distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income."

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in Section 19(a) notices of the 1940 Act are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Funds will send shareholders a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

Section 19(a) notices are posted on the website at:
http://www.virtus.com/products/closed/details.aspx?type=financial&fundid=ZF
http://www.virtus.com/products/closed/details.aspx?type=individual&fundid=ZTR

The Zweig closed-end funds are advised by Zweig Advisers LLC. For more information on the Fund, please contact shareholder services at 800.272.2700, by email at zweig@virtus.com, or visit us on the web at www.virtus.com.

SOURCE The Zweig Fund, Inc.