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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001193125-09-152871.txt : 20090722
<SEC-HEADER>0001193125-09-152871.hdr.sgml : 20090722
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090722114304
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001193125-09-152871
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	DEFA14A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090722
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090722
EFFECTIVENESS DATE:		20090722

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ZWEIG TOTAL RETURN FUND INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000836412
		IRS NUMBER:				133474242
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		DEFA14A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-05620
		FILM NUMBER:		09956574

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		900 THIRD AVE., 31ST FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022-4728
		BUSINESS PHONE:		800-272-2700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		900 THIRD AVE., 31ST FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022-4728
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>DEFA14A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>ddefa14a.htm
<DESCRIPTION>ZWEIG TOTAL RETURN FUND INC.
<TEXT>
<HTML><HEAD>
<TITLE>Zweig Total Return Fund Inc.</TITLE>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>UNITED STATES </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT
FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 </B></FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>SCHEDULE 14A </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>(Rule 14A-101) </B>
</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT
FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section&nbsp;14(a) of the Securities </B>
</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;) </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Filed by the Registrant&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT FACE="WINGDINGS">&#120;</FONT> </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Filed by a Party other than the
Registrant&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT FACE="WINGDINGS">&#168;</FONT> </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Check the appropriate box: </FONT></P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><FONT FACE="WINGDINGS">&#168;</FONT></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Preliminary Proxy Statement </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><FONT FACE="WINGDINGS">&#168;</FONT></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Confidential, For Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))</B> </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><FONT FACE="WINGDINGS">&#168;</FONT></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Definitive Proxy Statement </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><FONT FACE="WINGDINGS">&#168;</FONT></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Definitive Additional Materials </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><FONT FACE="WINGDINGS">&#120;</FONT></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Soliciting Material Pursuant to &#167; 240.14a-12 </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">THE
ZWEIG TOTAL RETURN FUND, INC. </FONT></P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:1px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:2px;border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;width:91%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT
FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) </FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:18px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P><center> <P
STYLE="line-height:1px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:2px;border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;width:91%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy
Statement, if Other Than the Registrant) </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:2%; text-indent:2%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): </FONT></P> <P
STYLE="font-size:6px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><FONT FACE="WINGDINGS">&#120;</FONT></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">No fee required. </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><FONT FACE="WINGDINGS">&#168;</FONT></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules&nbsp;14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: </FONT></P> <P
STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:1px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:2px;border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;width:84%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: </FONT></P> <P
STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:1px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:2px;border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;width:84%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is
calculated and state how it was determined): </FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P><center> <P
STYLE="line-height:1px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:2px;border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;width:84%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">(4) Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction: </FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P><center> <P
STYLE="line-height:1px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:2px;border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;width:84%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">(5) Total fee paid: </FONT></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:1px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:2px;border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;width:84%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><FONT FACE="WINGDINGS">&#168;</FONT></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Fee paid previously with preliminary materials: </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P><center> <P
STYLE="line-height:1px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:2px;border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;width:84%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><FONT FACE="WINGDINGS">&#168;</FONT></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule&nbsp;0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the
previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">(1)
Amount Previously Paid: </FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:1px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:2px;border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;width:84%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: </FONT></P> <P
STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:1px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:2px;border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;width:84%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">(3) Filing Party: </FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P><center> <P
STYLE="line-height:1px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:2px;border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;width:84%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4%; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">(4) Date Filed:
</FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:1px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:2px;border-bottom:1pt solid #000000;width:84%">&nbsp;</P></center>

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<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>Press Release</B></FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="right"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>Source: The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc.</B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="font-size:3px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:1px"
align="left">&nbsp;</P></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:18px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc. Announces Special Meeting of Shareholders and Shareholder Proxy </B></FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">July&nbsp;22, 2009: </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">NEW YORK, NY &#150; July&nbsp;22, 2009 &#150; The
Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc. (the &#147;Fund&#148;) announced today that, as required by its Articles of Incorporation, it will submit to a shareholder vote to the Fund&#146;s shareholders of record at the close of business on August&nbsp;13, 2009,
a proposal that the Fund convert from a closed-end fund to an open-end fund because its shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange during the quarter ended June&nbsp;30, 2009 at an average discount from their net asset value of 10% or more,
determined on the basis of the discount as of the end of the last trading day in each week during such quarter. The conversion proposal, which would require the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares to carry for approval, will be
voted on at a special meeting of shareholders to be held on October&nbsp;27, 2009. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">The Board of Directors, including its independent directors, has voted
unanimously to recommend against conversion to an open-end fund. The reason for the Board&#146;s view will be set forth in detail in the proxy statement to be furnished to shareholders in connection with the special meeting of shareholders.
</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc. is a closed-end fund with an investment objective to seek the highest total return, consisting of capital appreciation
and current income, consistent with the preservation of capital. 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 or visit us on the web at
www.virtus.com. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">THE FUND WILL FILE A PROXY STATEMENT WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (THE &#147;SEC&#148;), WHICH, WHEN FILED, WILL BE
AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE AT THE SEC&#146;S WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO READ THE FUND&#146;S PROXY STATEMENT, WHEN AVAILABLE, AND ANY OTHER MATERIALS TO BE FILED BY THE FUND RELATED TO THE PROXY
SOLICITATION, WHEN AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. IN ADDITION, DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC BY THE FUND ARE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE BY CONTACTING SHAREHOLDER SERVICES AT 800.272.2700 AND ON THE WEB AT
<U>WWW.VIRTUS.COM</U>. THE IDENTITY OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION AND A DESCRIPTION OF THEIR INTERESTS WILL BE CONTAINED IN THE PROXY STATEMENT. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"
SIZE="2">For Further Information: </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Zweig Funds Shareholder Services </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"
SIZE="2">(800) 272-2700 </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Patricia Baronowski </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">The Altman Group
</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">(212) 400-2604 </FONT></P>
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