ING Funds Launches the ING International Real Estate Fund; Another Complement to its Real Estate Fund Offerings

ING Funds, part of ING U.S. Financial Services, today announced that it has launched the ING International Real Estate Fund, the third pillar of its real estate investment offerings that is designed to give investors access to one of the largest, and most attractive investment segments today. The ING International Real Estate Fund complements ING Fund's other real estate investment offerings, which include the ING Real Estate Fund, and the ING Global Real Estate Fund.

"The universe of real estate investments is massive and potentially overwhelming for financial professionals and their clients," said Bob Boulware, president and CEO, ING Funds Distributor, LLC. "ING Fund's objective for its real estate funds is to make it easier to find appropriate investment opportunities within the attractive global real estate investment market."

The ING International Real Estate Fund contains only international holdings, and may be ideal for investors that are seeking to diversify their existing real estate positions. The ING Real Estate Fund contains only U.S. holdings, and the ING Global Real Estate Fund is a blend of U.S. and international holdings.

The ING International Real Estate Fund is sub-advised by ING Clarion Real Estate Securities, L.P., an affiliate of ING's Real Estate Group, which is one of the world's largest real estate companies. ING Clarion has been exclusively managing portfolios of real estate securities on behalf of institutional and individual investors since 1984.

"ING Funds is a recognized leader is global asset management, although, we are concerned that the average investor may be underweighted in the international asset class," Boulware said. "One of ING Funds' core competencies is providing financial professionals and their clients with appropriate investment offerings in market segments that may be difficult for the average investor to assess and access, including the international and real estate markets. We believe that investors may be missing out on a wide range of international investment opportunities - including real estate investments - and the potential advantages of global market dynamics."

ING is a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, insurance and asset management to more than 60 million private, corporate and institutional clients in more than 50 countries. With a diverse workforce of over 113,000 people, ING comprises a broad spectrum of prominent companies that increasingly serve their clients under the ING brand.

In the U.S., the ING family of companies offer a comprehensive array of financial services to retail and institutional clients which include life insurance, retirement plans, mutual funds, managed accounts, alternative investments, direct banking, institutional investment management, annuities, employee benefits, financial planning, and reinsurance. ING holds top-tier rankings in key U.S. markets and serves over 14 million customers across the nation. For more information, visit www.ing.com

Principal Risk(s): Exposure to financial and market risks that accompany investments in equities. While equities may offer the potential for greater long-term growth than most debt securities, they generally have higher volatility. The funds may invest in small- and medium sized companies, which may be more susceptible to price swings and less liquidity than larger companies. The funds are classified as non-diversified investment companies that concentrate its investments in real estate and real estate investment trusts (REITs). Concentration may lead to higher price volatility. Risks of the Fund are similar to those associated with direct ownership of real estate. These companies are sensitive to factors such as changes in real estate values and property taxes, interest rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, supply and demand, and the management skill and credit worthiness of the issuer. REITs may also be affected by tax and regulatory requirements. Because the funds' investments are concentrated in the real estate industry, the value of the funds may be subject to greater volatility than a fund with a portfolio that is less concentrated.

Risk Specific to ING Global Real Estate Fund: The Fund invests in foreign securities, which involve special risks, including currency fluctuations, lower liquidity, political and economic uncertainties, and differences in accounting standards.

Risks Specific to ING Real Estate Fund: From time to time, the stock market may not favor the securities in which the Fund invests. Rather, the market could favor securities or industries to which the Fund is not exposed, or may not favor equities at all. The Fund's performance will be affected if the Sub-Adviser makes an inaccurate assessment of economic conditions and investment opportunities. Initial Public Offerings may increase volatility and impact the Fund's performance. The Fund could lose money if it cannot sell a security at the time and price that would be most beneficial to the Fund. Engaging in securities lending could have a leveraging effect, which may intensify the risks to the Fund.

Risks Specific to ING International Real Estate Fund: This Fund is new and has no performance history. From time to time, the stock market may not favor the securities in which the Fund invests. Rather, the market could favor securities in industries to which the Fund is not exposed, or may not favor equities at all. The Fund invests in foreign securities, which involve special risks, including currency fluctuations, lower liquidity, political and economic uncertainties, and differences in accounting standards. The Fund could lose money if it cannot sell a security at the time and price that would be most beneficial to the Fund. Engaging in securities lending could have a leveraging effect, which may intensify the risks to the Fund. A high portfolio turnover rate involves greater expenses to the Fund, including brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, and is likely to generate more taxable short-term gains for shareholders, which may have an adverse impact on performance.

For More Information

For more complete information, or to obtain a prospectus on any ING fund, please call your Investment Professional or ING Funds Distributor, LLC at (800) 992-0180 or log on to www.ingfunds.com. The prospectus should be read carefully before investing. Consider the fund's investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this information and other information about the fund. Check with your Investment Professional to determine which funds are available for sale within their firm. Not all funds are available for sale at all firms.

  To think global, you've got to think ING Funds.

  Press inquiries:  ING US Financial Services
  Christina Divigard, 860.723.2293 or 860.543.0289 (cell), or
  Christina.divigard@us.ing.com

SOURCE: ING U.S. Financial Services

CONTACT: Christina Divigard of ING U.S. Financial Services,
+1-860-723-2293, or cell, +1-860-543-0289, or Christina.divigard@us.ing.com

Web site: http://www.ingfunds.com/
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