Share Classes & Expenses

Class A | Class B | Class C | Class I | Class Q | Class R | Class W | Fund Feature Table

Class A Shares

Minimum Investment Amount: $1,000 [5]

Maximum Investment Amount: None [4]

Key Features:

  • Lower ongoing fund expense
  • Quantity discounts (breakpoints)
  • Traditional up-front sales charge at time of purchase
  • Load waivers available for certain groups of investors
  • NAV breakpoint at $1 million

Investor Profile

  • Long term investors who are comfortable with traditional front-end loads
  • Large-volume purchasers who want to take advantage of quantity discounts
  • Investors concerned with higher ongoing fees

Class B Shares*

Minimum Investment Amount: $1,000 [5]

Maximum Investment Amount: $100,000 [4]

Key Features:

  • No front-end sales charge
  • Full investment begins working immediately
  • Six-year declining contingent deferred sales charge [1]
  • Automatic conversion to Class A Shares after year eight [2]
  • Systematic withdrawal plan available [3]

Investor Profile

  • Clients opposed to front-end sales loads
  • Investors who want to spread the sales charge payment over time
  • Investors who are not planning to redeem shares in the short-term

*Class B shares are not available for ING Russia Fund and ING Global Natural Resources Fund

Class C Shares*

Minimum Investment Amount: $1,000 [5]

Maximum Investment Amount: $1,000,000 [4]

Key Features:

  • No front-end sales charge
  • Full investment begins working immediately
  • One-year contingent deferred sales charge
  • Systematic withdrawal plan available [3]

Investor Profile

  • Clients opposed to front-end sales loads
  • Investors who want to spread the sales charge payment over time
  • Investors in a managed account wrap program
  • Investors who have a shorter or uncertain time horizon

*Class C shares are not available for ING Russia Fund and ING Global Natural Resources Fund

Class I Shares (Institutional)

No loads. Available through certain eligible intermediaries (defined benefit plans, insurance companies, wrap programs, retirement programs).

Minimum Investment: $250,000

Class Q Shares (Institutional)

No loads. Available through qualified retirement plans.

Minimum Investment: $100,000

Class R Shares (Retirement)

No loads. Available through qualified retirement plans.

The ING Diversified International Fund, ING Intermediate Bond Fund, ING Index Plus LargeCap Fund, ING Index Plus MidCap Fund, and ING Index Plus SmallCap Fund offer R shares.

Minimum Investment: $250,000

Class W Shares (Institutional)

The “W” share is an institutional share class designed specifically for wrap programs and retirement programs. “W” shares are available for a low minimum investment of $1,000. On some platforms, they are available with no minimum requirements.

Fund Features Across Share Classes Table

Fund FeaturesClass AClass BClass C
Maximum Investment Amount [4]None$100,000$1,000,000
Minimum Initial Investment Amount [5]$1,000$1,000$1,000
Pre-Authorized Investment Plan [6]YesYesYes
Directed Dividend Reinvestments within
Fund Family		YesYesYes
Free Exchanges within Class [7]YesYesYes
Systematic Withdrawal Program (SWP) [3]YesYesYes
Letter of Intent [8]Yes——
Rights of Accumulation [8]Yes——
Combination Privilege [9]YesYesYes
Reinstatement Privileges [10]—YesYes
CDSC Waiver for Death—YesYes
CDSC Waiver for Retirement Plan Required Distributions [11]—YesYes
CDSC Waiver for reinvestment of dividends & capital gains distributionsYesYes—
Automatic Conversion to Class A—Yes [2]—

Download: Share Classes & Expenses Guide [PDF]

  • [1] The ING Principal Protection Funds has a five year declining contingent deferred sales charge.
  • [2] Automatic conversion to Class A at the end of eight years. However, funds that were part of the Nicholas-Applegate or Northstar mutual fund families at the time, will convert after seven years from the date of original purchase.
  • [3] Minimum account balance for the Systematic Withdrawal Program (SWP) is $10,000. Class B and Class C SWP's are processed free of CDSC if 12% or less of account value is redeemed on an annual basis provided all distributions and dividends are reinvested. The ING Principal Protection Funds only offer a SWP during the Index Plus Large Cap period. The ING Senior Income Fund and the ING Prime Rate Trust do not offer a SWP.
  • [4] Orders for Class B shares and Class C shares in excess of $100,000 and $1,000,000, respectively, will be declined.
  • [5] $250 for IRA Accounts.
  • [6] For Pre-Authorized Investment Plans, minimum initial investment is $1,000 with a $100 subsequent investment minimum.
  • [7] When exchanging from a Money Market Class A into Class A of another ING Fund (except a Money Market Fund) there will be a front-end load. No exchanges into ING Corporate Leaders Trust.
  • [8] ING Money Market and ING Classic Money Market do not offer Rights of Accumulation or Letter of Intent.
  • [9] Shares held by investors in ING Funds that impose a CDSC may be combined with Class A or Class M shares for a reduced sales charge.
  • [10] Allowed within 90 days. For Class B and Class C the CDSC charge will be reinstated. The Class B and Class C shares will retain their original cost and purchase date for the CDSC. This privilege can only be used once per calendar year. This privilege is not available during ING Principal Protection Funds Offering Phase or Guarantee Period.
  • [11] If you purchased shares that were part of the Nicholas-Applegate Mutual Funds, you may be eligible for a CDSC waiver prior to the mandatory distribution age.

An investment in a Money Market Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although a Money Market Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in a Money Market Fund.