Share Classes & Expenses

There are a number of ways to purchase ING Funds. Discuss the following choices with your investment professional to determine which share class option might be right for you.

When choosing between classes, you should carefully consider the ongoing annual expenses along with the initial sales charge or the CDSC. The relative impact of the initial sales charge and ongoing annual expenses will depend on the length of time a share is held. Higher distribution fees mean a higher expense ratio, so Class B and Class C shares pay correspondingly lower dividends and may have a lower net asset value than Class A shares.

Class A | Class B | Class C | Class M | Class I | Class Q | Class R

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 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 M Shares

Minimum Investment Amount: $1,000 [5]

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

Key Features:

  • Moderate ongoing fund expense
  • Quantity discounts (breakpoints)
  • Mid-load, up-front sales charge
  • Load waivers available for certain groups of investors
  • NAV breakpoint at $500,000

Investor Profile

  • Long term investors who are not comfortable with traditional front-end loads
  • Large-volume purchasers who want to take advantage of quantity discounts

Class I Shares (Institutional)

No loads. No 12b-1 Fees. Available through certain eligible intermediaries (defined benefit plans, insurance companies, wrap programs, retirement programs).

Minimum Investment: $250,000


Class Q Shares (Institutional)

No loads. 0.25% 12b-1 Fees. 0.25% trail may be paid on Class Q. Available through qualified retirement plans.

Minimum Investment: $100,000


Class R Shares (Retirement)

No loads. 0.50% 12b-1 Fees. 0.50% trail starting the 13th month. No dealer reallowance. Available through qualified retirement plans.

The 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

Table—Fund Features Across Share Classes

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

Download: ING Funds Share Classes and Expenses [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, Class C shares and Class M shares in excess of $100,000, $1,000,000 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. 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.
  • [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.
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