THE GABELLI DIVIDEND & INCOME TRUST
TO FILE A REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR LEVERAGE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rye, NY
December 2, 2003
NYSE - GDV
CUSIP 36242H104
For information:
Carter Austin
(914) 921-5070


The Board of Trustees of The Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust (NYSE:GDV) authorized management to file a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission with a view to issuing preferred stock or debt to raise incremental assets and leverage the Fund's common shares.

The actual amount of capital to be raised, the terms, manner and timing of any offering have not been determined and will be announced at a later date. Any proceeds raised will be used for investment purposes. This announcement does not constitute an offering of any securities, which will be made to the public only by means of a prospectus.

Raising incremental assets through the use of leverage provides an opportunity for the Fund to take advantage of the current, low interest rate environment. The Board of Trustees shares the Investment Adviser's view that the use of leverage can create additional value for the Fund's common shareholders so long as the Fund generates a total return in excess of the cost of maintaining or servicing of such securities.

The Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust is a closed-end, non-diversified management investment company that began investment operations on November 28, 2003 with $1.4 billion in total assets and whose primary investment objective is to provide a high level of total return with an emphasis on dividends and income. The Fund is managed by Gabelli Funds, LLC, a subsidiary of Gabelli Asset Management Inc. (GBL:NYSE), which is a publicly traded NYSE listed company.