May 13, 2013 ING Mutual Funds Suite 100 Scottsdale, AZ 85258-2034
(d)(20)(i)
May 13, 2013
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx
Suite 100
Scottsdale, AZ 85258-2034
| Re: | Expense Limitations |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
ING Mutual Funds (“IMF”), ING Investments, LLC (“IIL”) and CBRE Clarion Securities LLC (“Clarion”) are parties to an Expense Limitation Agreement dated May 13, 2013 (the “ELA”) that limits the expenses of ING International Real Estate Fund (“Real Estate Fund”), a series of IMF. Pursuant to the ELA: (1) IIL waives its investment advisory fee in an amount sufficient to achieve Real Estate Fund’s Operating Expense Limits, as set out in the ELA; and (2) for so long as the sub-advisory fees payable to Clarion with respect to Real Estate Fund are equal to 50% of the advisory fee payable to IIL by the Fund, Clarion reduces its sub-advisory fees in an amount sufficient to pay 50% of any Excess Amount, as such term is defined in the ELA, paid by IIL to Real Estate Fund under the ELA. Real Estate Fund’s Operating Expense Limits under the ELA are as follows:
| Name of Fund | Maximum Operating Expense Limit (as a percentage of average net assets) | |||||||||
| Classes | ||||||||||
| A |
B |
C |
I |
W | ||||||
| ING International Real Estate Fund |
1.50% | 2.25% | 2.25% | 1.25% | 1.25% | |||||
By executing this letter, IIL and Xxxxxxx agree to amend the ELA to provide for a second expense limitation arrangement (the “Second ELA”) whereby: (1) Real Estate Fund’s operating expenses will be further limited; and (2) Clarion will pay the incremental costs associated with the Second ELA. The operating expense limits under the Second ELA (the “Lower Operating Expense Limits”) are set out below.
| Name of Fund | Maximum Operating Expense Limit (as a percentage of average net assets) | |||||||||
| Classes | ||||||||||
| A |
B |
C |
I |
W | ||||||
| ING International Real Estate Fund |
1.45% | 2.20% | 2.20% | 1.20% | 1.20% | |||||
May 13, 2013
Page 2 of 3
As noted above, Clarion will pay any and all additional amounts necessary to achieve the Lower Operating Expense Limits. This obligation is separate and apart from Xxxxxxx’s existing obligation to bear, in certain circumstances, a portion of the fees necessary to achieve the current Operating Expense Limits set out in the ELA. The maximum fee that Clarion would pay pursuant to the terms of the Second ELA is five (5) basis points, computed based upon Real Estate Fund’s assets under management.
By way of example, if the ordinary operating expenses incurred by Real Estate Fund’s Class A shares are 160 basis points, Real Estate Fund’s Class A Operating Expense Limits will be lowered: (1) to 150 basis points pursuant to the existing terms of the ELA (i.e., through waivers of advisory and, when applicable, sub-advisory fees); and (2) from 150 basis points to 145 basis points pursuant to the Second ELA (i.e., through Clarion’s waiver and/or reimbursement of sub-advisory fees in an amount equal to an additional five (5) basis points).
The implementation of the Second ELA will not affect the operation of the ELA, and the current arrangements in place for achieving the Operating Expense Limits set out in the ELA will continue. IMF, XXX and Xxxxxxx each agrees to be bound to the terms of the Second ELA for the period from May 13, 2013 through December 31, 2013. The method of computation used to determine the amount of the fee waiver and the definitions as set forth in the ELA shall apply to the Second ELA.
Any fees waived pursuant to the Second ELA shall not be eligible for recoupment. Clarion acknowledges that it shall not be entitled to collect on or make a claim for fees waived or expenses reimbursed pursuant to the Second ELA at any time in the future.
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May 13, 2013
Page 3 of 3
By signing below, each of IIL and Xxxxxxx acknowledges and agrees to the terms of this Agreement, which amends the ELA to include provisions governing the Second ELA, and specifically acknowledges its consent to each such term. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which, together, shall constitute one and the same instrument.
| ING Investments, LLC | CBRE Clarion Securities LLC | |||||||||
| By: | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxx |
By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx |
|||||||
| Xxxx Xxxxx | Name: | |||||||||
| Senior Vice President | Title: | |||||||||
| IMF’s signature below acknowledges IMF’s acceptance of this Agreement | ||
| ING Mutual Funds | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |
| Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | ||
| Senior Vice President | ||
