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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND CHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF
REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number: 811-21553
ING Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
     
7337 E. Doubletree Ranch Rd., Scottsdale, AZ   85258
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)
The Corporation Trust Company, 1209 Orange
Street, Wilmington, DE 19801

(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 1-800-992-0180
     
Date of fiscal year end:
  February 29
 
   
Date of reporting period:
  February 29, 2008
 
 

 


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(ARCH PHOTO)
  

 
 
Funds
Annual Report
February 29, 2008
 
 
ING Global Equity Dividend and
Premium Opportunity Fund
 
 
(E-DELIVERY LOGO) E-Delivery Sign-up – details inside
 
This report is submitted for general information to shareholders of the ING Funds. It is not authorized for distribution to prospective shareholders unless accompanied or preceded by a prospectus which includes details regarding the funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses and other information. This information should be read carefully.
 
(ING FUNDS LOGO)   


 

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(E-DELIVERY LOGO)          Go Paperless with E-Delivery!          (E-DELIVERY LOGO)
 
Sign up now for on-line prospectuses, fund reports, and proxy statements. In less than five minutes, you can help reduce paper mail and lower fund costs.
 
Just go to www.ingfunds.com, click on the E-Delivery icon from the home page, follow the directions and complete the quick 5 Steps to Enroll.
 
You will be notified by e-mail when these communications become available on the internet. Documents that are not available on the internet will continue to be sent by mail.
 
 
PROXY VOTING INFORMATION
 
A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies related to portfolio securities is available: (1) without charge, upon request, by calling Shareholder Services toll-free at (800) 992-0180; (2) on the ING Funds’ website at www.ingfunds.com; and (3) on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies related to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge on the ING Funds’ website at www.ingfunds.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
 
QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
 
The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Forms N-Q are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Fund’s Forms N-Q may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC, and information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling (800) SEC-0330; and is available upon request from the Fund by calling Shareholder Services toll-free at (800) 992-0180.


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PRESIDENT’S LETTER
 

(PHOTO OF SHAUN P. MATHEWS)

 
Dear Shareholder,
 
ING Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund (the “Fund”) is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “IGD.” The primary objective of the Fund is to provide a high level of income, with a secondary objective of capital appreciation.
 
The Fund seeks to achieve its objectives by investing in a portfolio of global common stocks that have a history of attractive dividend yields and employing an option strategy of writing individual equity call options on a portion of the equity portfolio. The Fund buys out of the money put options on selected indices to partially protect portfolio value from significant market declines and also partially hedges currency exposure to reduce volatility of total return.
 
I am pleased to report that for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008, the Fund made total monthly distributions of $2.07 per share including a return of capital of $0.12 per share.
 
Based on net asset value (“NAV”), the Fund had a total return of (2.74)% for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008.(1) This NAV return reflects a decrease in net asset value from $19.98 on February 28, 2007 to $17.39 on February 29, 2008, plus the reinvestment of $2.07 per share in distributions.
 
Based on its share price, the Fund provided a total return of (5.71)% for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008.(2) This share price return reflects a decrease in its share price from $20.55 on February 28, 2007 to $17.34 on February 29, 2008, plus the reinvestment of $2.07 per share in distributions.
 
For more information on the Fund’s performance, please read the Market Perspective and Portfolio Managers’ Report.
 
At ING Funds our mission is to set the standard in helping our clients manage their financial future. We seek to assist you and your financial advisor by offering a range of global investment solutions. We invite you to visit our website at www.ingfunds.com. Here you will find information on our products and services, including current market data and fund statistics on our open- and closed-end funds. You will see that we offer a broad variety of equity, fixed income and multi-asset funds that aim to fulfill a variety of investor needs. We thank you for trusting ING Funds with your investment assets, and we look forward to serving you in the months and years ahead.
 
Sincerely,
 
(-s- Shaun P. Mathews)
Shaun P. Mathews
President
ING Funds
April 11, 2008
 
The views expressed in the President’s Letter reflect those of the President as of the date of the letter. Any such views are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and ING Funds disclaims any responsibility to update such views. These views may not be relied on as investment advice and because investment decisions for an ING Fund are based on numerous factors, may not be relied on as an indication of investment intent on behalf of any ING Fund. Reference to specific company securities should not be construed as recommendations or investment advice. International investing does pose special risks including currency fluctuation, economic and political risks not found in investments that are solely domestic.
 
For more complete information, or to obtain a prospectus for 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, 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.
 
1   Total investment return at net asset value has been calculated assuming a purchase at net asset value at the beginning of each period and a sale at net asset value at the end of each period and assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, in accordance with the provisions of the dividend reinvestment plan.
 
2   Total investment return at market value measures the change in the market value of your investment assuming reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, in accordance with the provisions of the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan.


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Market Perspective:  Year Ended February 29, 2008
 
 
In our semi-annual report, we described a tumultuous six months for markets as a serious credit squeeze closed in. Sentiment had improved near the end, but after October 2007 reality set in and as the fiscal year drew to a close, with oil at $100 per barrel, global equities were near to pricing in a recession that many felt was already under way. The MSCI World IndexSM(1) measured in local currencies, including net reinvested dividends (“MSCI” for regions discussed below) lost 10.1% between August and February and 6.3% for the whole fiscal year. In currencies, the dollar’s first half slide against the euro and yen accelerated in the second half due to the European Central Bank’s implacable refusal to reduce euro interest rates in response to deep cuts in the federal funds rate, while the flight from risk strengthened the yen as “carry trades” were unwound. But the pound gave back some of its gains as the UK housing market retrenched. In the six months ended February 29, 2008, the dollar fell 9.8% against the euro (12.7% for the fiscal year), 8.3% against the yen (11.4% for the fiscal year), but rose 1.5% against the pound (down 1.0% for the fiscal year).
 
The development of the credit crisis is now well documented. Financial institutions with large holdings of sub-prime (and not so sub-prime) mortgage backed derivative securities, often opaque and carrying dubiously high credit ratings, faced huge write-downs. Where the purchases had been financed by commercial paper, solvency was even at risk as that market all but seized up.
 
The U.S. Federal Reserve Board’s (the “Fed”) first response to the crisis and resulting economic threats was to reduce the discount rate, (the interest rate at which it will lend to banks), by 0.50% (50 basis points) in August and September and by half that amount in October and December, while pumping liquidity into the overnight money market. Cuts in the federal funds rate matched discount rate reductions after August 2007.
 
But the discount window had a stigma attached to it and as 2007 ended liquidity was still not getting to where it was needed most. Financial institutions were cutting dividends and in a development of historical significance, tapping billions of dollars from sovereign wealth funds based in the Middle-East and Asia.
 
Nervousness lifted somewhat after the Fed announced that it would use a “term auction facility” to add liquidity, where loans would be auctioned and broader forms of collateral accepted. By now, however, the contagion had spread to the monoline insurers, which had added, to their traditional business of guaranteeing municipal bonds, guarantees to asset backed derivative securities. The shares of monolines Ambac and MBIA lost 80% of their value between August 31, 2007 and February 29, 2008.
 
Back in the real economy the housing market was still deteriorating and in January new home sales fell to the lowest level since 1995, with prices dropping at a rate not seen in 35 years. Gross domestic product (“GDP”) growth was reported at a wafer-thin 0.6% annualized, while January payrolls showed the first contraction in four years.
 
Despite inflation stubbornly above 2% there was now no doubt as to where policy needed to be directed. The Federal Open Market Committee (“FOMC”) slashed both the federal funds and discount rates by 0.75% (75 basis points) on January 22, 2008 (albeit looking suspiciously like a reaction to plunging foreign stock markets the day before) and by a further (0.50%) 50 basis points the following week. Congress agreed in February 2008 to spend $117 billion in tax rebates as part of a $168 billion plan to stimulate the economy.
 
The pattern of returns to fixed-income investors reflected the flight to safety. The Lehman Brothers® Aggregate Bond Index(2) (“LBAB Index”) of investment grade bonds returned 5.7% in the second half of our fiscal year (7.3% for the fiscal year), while the Lehman Brothers® High Yield Bond Index(3) returned –1.4% in the second half of our fiscal year (–3.1% for the fiscal year). Treasury Bill yields plunged, while 10-year Note yields fell by less as inflationary concerns persisted.
 
U.S. equities, represented by the Standard & Poor’s 500® Composite Stock Price Index(4) (“S&P 500® Index”) including dividends, returned –8.8% in the six months through February 2008 and –3.6% for the fiscal year. September started brightly enough with investors believing that the Fed had the will and the tools to fix the dislocation in the credit markets and limit the downside. The index actually made a new high on October 9, 2007. But the magnitude of the crisis described above, the sense that this was only the beginning and a parade of earnings disappointments especially among financials, soon weighed on sentiment. S&P 500 companies reported a decline in operating profits for the third quarter, the first fall in more than five years, and would report even worse figures for the fourth. U.S. equities fell 3% on the last


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Market Perspective:  Year Ended February 29, 2008
 
day of February 2008 as insurance giant AIG declared its biggest ever quarterly loss.
 
Internationally, the MSCI Japan® Index(5) slumped 17.1% in the six months through February 29, 2008 (and fell 22.9% for the fiscal year), on fears about global growth and the rising yen. The MSCI Europe ex UK® Index(6) lost 13.9% in the six months through February 29, 2008 (and fell 8.5% for the fiscal year). The European Central Bank confined its response to the credit crisis by making vast amounts of liquidity available to the banking system. But there were no interest rate cuts as headline inflation reached 3.2%, the highest in 14 years. In the UK similar inflation worries limited the Bank of England to just two 1/4% rate reductions despite the decline of the formerly exuberant housing market. The relatively large weighting in resilient energy, materials and consumer staples companies moderated losses, however and the MSCI UK® Index(7) fell 6.2% in the six months through February 29, 2008 (and fell 2.1% for the fiscal year).
(1) The MSCI World IndexSM is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of over 1,400 securities listed on exchanges in the U.S., Europe, Canada Australia, New Zealand and the Far East.
 
(2) The LBAB Index is a widely recognized, unmanaged index of publicly issued investment grade U.S. Government, mortgage-backed, asset-backed and corporate debt securities.
 
(3) The Lehman Brothers® High Yield Bond Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of fixed-income securities generally representative of corporate bonds rated below investment grade.
 
(4) The S&P 500® Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of securities of approximately 500 of the largest companies in the United States.
 
(5) The MSCI Japan® Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure developed market equity performance in Japan.
 
(6) The MSCI Europe ex UK® Index is a free float rising adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure developed market equity performance in Europe, excluding the UK.
 
(7) The MSCI UK® Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure developed market equity performance in the UK.
 
All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly in an index.
 
Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance quoted represents past performance. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate, and shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The Fund’s performance is subject to change since the period’s end and may be lower or higher than the performance data shown. Please call (800) 992-0180 or log on to www.ingfunds.com to obtain performance data current to the most recent month end.
 
Market Perspective reflects the views of ING’s Chief Investment Risk Officer only through the end of the period, and is subject to change based on market and other conditions.


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ING Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund
Portfolio Managers’ Report
 

 
Country Allocation
as of February 29, 2008
(as a percent of net assets)
 
Portfolio holdings are subject to change daily.

 
ING Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investors with a high level of income from a portfolio of global common stocks with historically attractive dividend yields and premiums from covered call option writing. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its managed assets in a portfolio of common stocks of dividend paying companies located throughout the world, including the U.S. The Fund is managed by Moudy El Khodr, Nicolas Simar, Kris Hermie, Frank van Etten, Willem van Dommelen, Bas Peeters and Alexander van Eekelen, Portfolio Managers, ING Investment Management Advisors B.V. — the Sub-Adviser.
 
Equity Portfolio Construction: The stock selection process begins with constructing an eligible universe of global common stocks with market capitalizations typically over $1 billion that have a history of paying dividend yields in excess of 3% annually. Through a multi-step screening process of various fundamental factors and fundamental analysis the portfolio managers construct a portfolio generally consisting of 65 to 90 common stocks with a history of attractive dividend yields, and stable or growing dividends that are supported by business fundamentals.
 
The Fund’s Integrated Option Strategy: The Fund’s option strategy is designed to seek gains and stability of returns over a market cycle by selling covered calls on individual securities and by buying puts on both local and regional indices. To generate premiums, the Fund writes covered call options on a substantial portion of the common stocks held in the Fund’s portfolio, a strategy known as covered call option writing.
 
Writing covered call options involves granting the buyer the right to purchase certain common stock at a particular price (the “strike price”) either at a particular time or during a particular span of time. If the purchaser exercises a covered call option sold by the Fund, either the common stock will be called away from the Fund and the Fund will receive payment equal to the strike price in addition to the original premium received, or the Fund will pay the purchaser the difference between the cash value of the common stock and the strike price of the option. The payment received for the common stock may be lower than the market value of the common stock at that time.
 
Once the underlying portfolio is constructed, the specific securities and percentage of each underlying security to be used for covered call option writing is determined based on stock outlook, market opportunities and option price volatility.
 
The Fund seeks to sell covered call options that are generally short-term (between 10 days and three months until expiration) and at- or near-the-money. The Fund typically maintains its covered call positions until expiration, but it retains the option to buy back the covered call options and sell new covered call options.

 
Top Ten Holdings
as of February 29, 2008
(as a percent of net assets)
 
         
ENI S.p.A.
    2.0 %
Total SA
    2.0 %
Aviva PLC
    2.0 %
Enel S.p.A.
    2.0 %
Fortis
    2.0 %
Royal Dutch Shell PLC
    2.0 %
Telecom Italia S.p.A. RNC
    2.0 %
British American Tobacco PLC
    1.6 %
United Utilities PLC
    1.6 %
AT&T, Inc.
    1.6 %
 
Portfolio holdings are subject to change daily.
 


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ING Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund
Portfolio Managers’ Report
 
The Fund may seek, and during the reporting period sought, to partially hedge against significant market declines by buying out-of-the-money put options on related indices, such as the Standard and Poor’s 500® Composite Stock Price Index (“S&P 500® Index”), the Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index (“FTSE 100”), the Nikkei All Stock Index (“Nikkei”), the Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 (Price) Index (“EuroStoxx50”) or any other broad-based global or regional securities index with an active derivatives market. The Fund generally invests in out-of-the-money puts that expire in 20 to 125 trading days. A portion of the premiums generated from the covered call strategy is used to buy put protection. Also, the Fund may seek to, and during the reporting period sought to, partially hedge the foreign currency risk inherent in its international equity holdings. Such currency hedges are implemented either by selling the international currencies forward or by buying out-of-the-money puts on international currencies versus the U.S. Dollar.
 
Performance: Based on its share price as of February 29, 2008, the Fund provided a total return of (5.71)% for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008. This return reflects a decrease in its share price from $20.55 on February 28, 2007 to $17.34 on February 29, 2008, plus the reinvestment of $2.07 per share in distributions. Based on net asset value (“NAV”), the Fund had a total return of (2.74)% for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008. The Morgan Stanley Capital International (“MSCI”) Worldsm Index and the Chicago Board Options Exchange (“CBOE”) BuyWrite Monthly Index (“BXM Index”) returned (0.53)% and 0.60%, respectively, for the same period. During the period, the Fund made total monthly distributions of $2.07 per share including a return of capital of $0.12 per share. As of February 29, 2008, the Fund had 97,252,472 shares outstanding.
 
Market review: The equity portfolio of the Fund uses the MSCI WorldSM Index as its reference index to reflect the strategic emphasis of the Fund. The reference index returned (0.53%) over the reporting period. The first six months were positive but earlier gains were lost as the credit crisis intensified and global growth prospects deteriorated in the latter half of the period.
 
Equity Portfolio: For the fiscal year, the Fund’s underlying equity portfolio underperformed its reference index; the value orientation of the Fund’s high-dividend strategy was out of favor in a market focusing on stocks with stable growth characteristics. From March to May the equity portfolio tracked a rising market fairly closely. In June and July however, the U.S.-induced sub-prime mortgage crisis hurt results due to the Fund’s overweight in financials. The equity portfolio captured most of the market’s rebound of August and September, but underperformed in the final months of 2007 as the global credit crisis escalated. The portfolio fared relatively well in the broad global equity market sell-off in the opening months of 2008.
 
The bulk of the shortfall was attributable to sector allocation. The largest detractor was an overweight position in the weak financial sector. Underweighting the strong materials and industrial sectors also detracted. Overweighting utilities and telecommunication services — and at times energy — added value. Security selection yielded a modestly negative result, with adverse outcomes in utilities, healthcare, industrials and materials sectors being substantially compensated by positive selection results in consumer staples, telecommunication services and real estate.
 
Option Portfolio: The option strategy of the Fund is designed to dampen NAV return volatility and seeks to enhance potential capital gains. The Fund sells covered calls on a portion of the securities and uses some of the proceeds to purchase out-of-the-money puts on local and regional indices, for protection against significant market declines. All options were implemented in the over-the-counter market to enable the Fund to profit from the greater flexibility and liquidity available there compared to the listed options markets. Option activities in aggregate contributed to results for the period.
 
At or near-the-money calls were written on 65-70% of the individual equity holdings. The coverage ratio expressed was generally 30-35% of the market value of the Fund. The Fund differentiated coverage ratios among individual stocks to benefit from the wide dispersion of stock volatility. The substantial increase in equity market volatility during the year resulted in higher premiums. As the Fund did not reduce the coverage ratio, the total amount of option premium collected rose. In the first few months of the fiscal year, the majority of written calls expired in-the-money. During down-markets, as in August and November 2007 and January 2008, most calls written expired out-of-the-money. Over the year, the total call premium received exceeded the total settlements at expiry, thereby contributing to performance.


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ING Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund
Portfolio Managers’ Report
 
The Fund’s equity index put options provided protection during sharp market declines. The put strategy proved especially valuable when markets contracted sharply in August 2007 and January 2008. The Fund actively rolled parts of the equity index put option portfolio in those months to realize gains.
 
A significant part of the Fund’s international investments is directly exposed to currency risk. The Fund purchases foreign currency options to provide partial insurance against a sharp rise of the U.S. dollar. Although implied volatility in the foreign exchange markets increased during the year, the Fund was able to hedge a significant part of the risk at low cost. Periods in which the U.S. dollar strengthened resulted in an increase in the value of the forex put options. Part of this profit was locked in during the first half of January.
 
Current Strategy and Outlook: High-dividend strategies are designed to dampen volatility versus the broader market across an investment cycle. As the reporting year drew to a close, the weakness first seen in the financial sector spread to other cyclically-sensitive sectors. We believe this more broadly-based weakness may benefit the Fund’s relative performance in coming months, as a higher dividend yield could provide a defense against a drop in share price. Continued elevated market volatility is expected to benefit the level of call premiums the Fund should receive, while allowing significant upside potential when markets do recover, given the Fund’s relatively low coverage ratio.


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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
The Shareholders and Board of Trustees
ING Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund
 
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of ING Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund, as of February 29, 2008, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years in the two-year period then ended and the period from March 30, 2005 (commencement of operations) to February 28, 2006. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of February 29, 2008, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers or by other appropriate auditing procedures where replies from brokers were not received. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the ING Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund as of February 29, 2008, and the results of its operations, the changes in its net assets, and the financial highlights for the periods specified in the first paragraph above, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
 
(KPMG LLP)
 
Boston, Massachusetts
April 29, 2008


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STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES as of February 29, 2008
 
         
ASSETS:
       
Investments in securities at value*
  $ 1,599,719,053  
Cash
    22,919,125  
Foreign currencies at value**
    19,197,134  
Receivables:
       
Investment securities sold
    214,207,286  
Dividends and interest
    5,757,580  
Prepaid expenses
    2,742  
         
Total assets
    1,861,802,920  
         
         
LIABILITIES:
       
Payable for investment securities purchased
    150,449,331  
Payable to affiliates
    1,204,993  
Payable for trustee fees
    18,068  
Other accrued expenses and liabilities
    559,164  
Options written***
    18,113,417  
         
Total liabilities
    170,344,973  
         
NET ASSETS (equivalent to $17.39 per share on 97,252,472 shares outstanding)
  $ 1,691,457,947  
         
         
NET ASSETS WERE COMPRISED OF:
       
Paid-in capital — shares of beneficial interest at $0.01 par value (unlimited shares authorized)
  $ 1,806,161,063  
Distributions in excess of net investment income
    (9,864,433 )
Accumulated net realized gain on investments, foreign currency related transactions and written options
    16,575,106  
Net unrealized depreciation on investments, foreign currency related transactions and written options
    (121,413,789 )
         
NET ASSETS
  $ 1,691,457,947  
         
         
       
* Cost of investments in securities
  $ 1,727,954,572  
** Cost of foreign currencies
  $ 18,635,253  
*** Premiums received from options written
  $ 24,201,090  
 
 
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements


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STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS for the year ended February 29, 2008
 
         
INVESTMENT INCOME:
       
Dividends, net of foreign taxes withheld*
  $ 83,939,825  
Interest
    81,602  
         
Total investment income
    84,021,427  
         
         
EXPENSES:
       
Investment management fees
    19,936,298  
Transfer agent fees
    36,042  
Administrative service fees
    1,898,675  
Shareholder reporting expense
    314,655  
Registration fees
    1,115  
Professional fees
    187,781  
Custody and accounting expense
    639,335  
Trustee fees
    60,580  
Miscellaneous expense
    230,849  
         
Total expenses
    23,305,330  
Net waived and reimbursed fees
    (3,797,392 )
         
Net expenses
    19,507,938  
         
Net investment income
    64,513,489  
         
         
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS,
FOREIGN CURRENCY RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND WRITTEN OPTIONS:
       
Net realized gain (loss) on:
       
Investments
    104,656,170  
Foreign currency related transactions
    (2,448,176 )
Written options
    44,617,430  
         
Net realized gain on investments, foreign currency related transactions and written options
    146,825,424  
         
Net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation on:
       
Investments
    (260,472,466 )
Foreign currency related transactions
    670,218  
Written options
    (2,742,926 )
         
Net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments, foreign currency related transactions and written options
    (262,545,174 )
Net realized and unrealized loss on investments, foreign currency related transactions and written options
    (115,719,750 )
         
Decrease in net assets resulting from operations
  $ (51,206,261 )
         
         
       
* Foreign taxes withheld
  $ 5,148,669  
 
 
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements


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STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
 
                 
    Year Ended
  Year Ended
    February 29,
  February 28,
   
2008
 
2007
 
FROM OPERATIONS:
               
Net investment income
  $ 64,513,489     $ 64,137,823  
Net realized gain on investments, foreign currency related transactions and written options
    146,825,424       119,896,515  
Net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investments,
foreign currency related transactions and written options
    (262,545,174 )     80,969,886  
                 
Increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations
    (51,206,261 )     265,004,224  
                 
                 
FROM DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS:
               
Net investment income
    (59,969,996 )     (54,413,854 )
Net realized gains
    (131,048,424 )     (119,437,967 )
Tax Return of capital
    (9,976,217 )     (5,936,401 )
                 
Total distributions
    (200,994,637 )     (179,788,222 )
                 
                 
FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS:
               
Adjustment to paid-in capital for offering cost (Note 8)
          1,289,618  
Reinvestment of distributions
    10,261,863       21,047,122  
                 
Net increase in net assets resulting from capital share transactions
    10,261,863       22,336,740  
                 
Net increase (decrease) in net assets
    (241,939,035 )     107,552,742  
                 
                 
NET ASSETS:
               
Beginning of year
    1,933,396,982       1,825,844,240  
                 
End of year
  $ 1,691,457,947     $ 1,933,396,982  
                 
Distributions in excess of net investment income at end of year
  $ (9,864,433 )   $ (8,562,137 )
                 
 
 
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements


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ING Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund
Financial Highlights
 
Selected data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout each period.
 
                             
        Year
      March 30,
        Ended
  Year Ended
  2005(1) to
        February 29,
  February 28,
  February 28,
        2008   2007   2006
 
Per Share Operating Performance:
                           
Net asset value, beginning of period
  $     19.98       19.08       19.06 (2)
Income (loss) from investment operations:
                           
Net investment income
  $     0.66 *     0.67 *     0.63  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments, foreign currency related transactions and written options
  $     (1.18 )     2.09       0.79  
Total from investment operations
  $     (0.52 )     2.76       1.42  
Less distributions from:
                           
Net investment income
  $     0.61       0.57       0.66  
Net realized gains on investments, foreign currency related transactions and written options
  $     1.35       1.24       0.43  
Return of capital
  $     0.11       0.06       0.31  
Total distributions
  $     2.07       1.87       1.40  
Adjustment to paid-in capital for offering costs
  $           0.01        
Net asset value, end of period
  $     17.39       19.98       19.08  
Market value, end of period
  $     17.34       20.55       18.96  
Total investment return at net asset value(3)
  %     (2.74 )     15.32       7.84  
Total investment return at market value(4)
  %     (5.71 )     19.35       2.13  
                             
                             
Ratios and Supplemental Data:
                           
Net assets, end of period (millions)
  $     1,691       1,933       1,826  
Ratios to average net assets:
                           
Gross expenses prior to expense waiver(5)
  %     1.23       1.21       1.23  
Net expenses after expense waiver(5)
  %     1.03       1.01       1.03  
Net investment income after expense waiver(5)
  %     3.40       3.43       3.75  
Portfolio turnover rate
  %     79       119       112  
 
 
(1) Commencement of operations.
 
(2) Net asset value at beginning of period reflects the deduction of the sales load of $0.90 per share and offering costs of $0.04 per share paid by the shareholder from the $20.00 offering price.
 
(3) Total investment return at net asset value has been calculated assuming a purchase at net asset value at the beginning of each period and a sale at net asset value at the end of each period and assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, in accordance with the provisions of the dividend reinvestment plan. Total investment return at net asset value is not annualized for periods less than one year.
 
(4) Total investment return at market value measures the change in the market value of your investment assuming reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions, if any, in accordance with the provisions of the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan. Total investment return at market value is not annualized for periods less than one year.
 
(5) Annualized for periods less than one year.
 
* Calculated using average number of shares outstanding throughout the period.
 
 
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements


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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS as of February 29, 2008
 
 
NOTE 1 — ORGANIZATION
 
ING Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund (the “Fund”) is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Fund is organized as a Delaware statutory trust. The primary investment objective for the Fund is to provide a high level of income. Capital appreciation is a secondary investment objective. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objectives by investing in a portfolio of global common stocks that have a history of attractive dividend yields and utilizing an integrated options strategy.
 
NOTE 2 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
The following significant accounting policies are consistently followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements, and such policies are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for investment companies.
 
A.  Security Valuation. Investments in equity securities traded on a national securities exchange are valued at the last reported sale price. Securities reported by NASDAQ are valued at the NASDAQ official closing prices. Securities traded on an exchange or NASDAQ for which there has been no sale and equity securities traded in the over-the-counter-market are valued at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. All investments quoted in foreign currencies will be valued daily in U.S. dollars on the basis of the foreign currency exchange rates prevailing at that time. Debt securities are valued at prices obtained from independent services or from one or more dealers making markets in the securities and may be adjusted based on the Fund’s valuation procedures. U.S. government obligations are valued by using market quotations or independent pricing services which use prices provided by market-makers or estimates of market values obtained from yield data relating to instruments or securities with similar characteristics.
 
Securities and assets for which market quotations are not readily available (which may include certain restricted securities that are subject to limitations as to their sale) are valued at their fair values as determined in good faith by or under the supervision of the Fund’s Board of Trustees (“Board”), in accordance with methods that are specifically authorized by the Board. Securities traded on exchanges, including foreign exchanges, which close earlier than the time that the Fund calculates its net asset value (“NAV”) may also be valued at their fair values as determined in good faith by or under the supervision of the Fund’s Board, in accordance with methods that are specifically authorized by the Board. The value of a foreign security traded on an exchange outside the United States is generally based on its price on the principal foreign exchange where it trades as of the time the Fund determines its NAV or if the foreign exchange closes prior to the time the Fund determines its NAV, the most recent closing price of the foreign security on its principal exchange. Trading in certain non-U.S. securities may not take place on all days on which the NYSE Euronext (“NYSE”) is open. Further, trading takes place in various foreign markets on days on which the NYSE is not open. Consequently, the calculations of the Fund’s NAV may not take place contemporaneously with the determination of the prices of securities held by the Fund in foreign securities markets. Further, the value of the Fund’s assets may be significantly affected by foreign trading on days when a shareholder cannot purchase or redeem shares of the Fund. In calculating the Fund’s NAV, foreign securities denominated in foreign currency are converted to U.S. dollar equivalents. If an event occurs after the time at which the market for foreign securities held by the Fund closes but before the time that the Fund’s NAV is calculated, such event may cause the closing price on the foreign exchange to not represent a readily available reliable market value quotation for such securities at the time the Fund determines its NAV. In such a case, the Fund will use the fair value of such securities as determined under the Fund’s valuation procedures. Events after the close of trading on a foreign market that could require the Fund to fair value some or all of its foreign securities include, among others, securities trading in the U.S. and other markets, corporate announcements, natural and other disasters, and political and other events. Among other elements of analysis in the determination of a security’s fair value, the Board has authorized the use of one or more independent research services to assist with such determinations. An independent research service may use statistical analyses and


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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS as of February 29, 2008 (continued)
 
NOTE 2 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
 
quantitative models to help determine fair value as of the time the Fund calculates its NAV. There can be no assurance that such models accurately reflect the behavior of the applicable markets or the effect of the behavior of such markets on the fair value of securities, or that such markets will continue to behave in a fashion that is consistent with such models. Unlike the closing price of a security on an exchange, fair value determinations employ elements of judgment. Consequently, the fair value assigned to a security may not represent the actual value that the Fund could obtain if it were to sell the security at the time of the close of the NYSE. Pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board, the Fund is not obligated to use the fair valuations suggested by any research service, and valuation recommendations provided by such research services may be overridden if other events have occurred or if other fair valuations are determined in good faith to be more accurate. Unless an event is such that it causes the Fund to determine that the closing prices for one or more securities do not represent readily available reliable market value quotations at the time the Fund determines its NAV, events that occur between the time of the close of the foreign market on which they are traded and the close of regular trading on the NYSE will not be reflected in the Fund’s NAV. Investments in securities maturing in 60 days or less from date of acquisition are valued at amortized cost which approximates market value.
 
Options that are traded over-the-counter will be valued using one of three methods: (1) dealer quotes; (2) industry models with objective inputs; or (3) by using a benchmark arrived at by comparing prior-day dealer quotes with the corresponding change in the underlying security. Exchange traded options will be valued using the last reported sale. If no last sale is reported, exchange traded options will be valued using an industry accepted model such as “Black Scholes.” Options on currencies purchased by the Fund are valued using industry models with objective inputs.
 
B.  Security Transactions and Revenue Recognition. Security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Realized gains or losses on sales of investments are calculated on the identified cost basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Premium amortization and discount accretion are determined using the effective yield method. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or in the case of certain foreign dividends, when the information becomes available to the Fund.
 
C.  Foreign Currency Translation. The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Any foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars on the following basis:
 
  (1)  Market value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities — at the exchange rates prevailing at the end of the day.
 
  (2)  Purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses — at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions.
 
Although the net assets and the market values are presented at the foreign exchange rates at the end of the day, the Fund does not isolate the portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized and unrealized gains or losses from investments. For securities, which are subject to foreign withholding tax upon disposition, liabilities are recorded on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities for the estimated tax withholding based on the securities current market value. Upon disposition, realized gains or losses on such securities are recorded net of foreign withholding tax. Reported net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from sales of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities other than investments in securities at period end, resulting from changes in the exchange rate. Foreign security and currency transactions may involve certain considerations and risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. companies and U.S. government securities. These risks include, but

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS as of February 29, 2008 (continued)
 
NOTE 2 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
 
are not limited to, revaluation of currencies and future adverse political and economic developments which could cause securities and their markets to be less liquid and prices more volatile than those of comparable U.S. companies and U.S. government securities.
 
D.  Forward Foreign Currency Contracts. The Fund may enter into forward foreign currency contracts primarily to hedge against foreign currency exchange rate risks on their non-U.S. dollar denominated investment securities. When entering into a currency forward contract, the Fund agrees to receive or deliver a fixed quantity of foreign currency for an agreed-upon price on an agreed future date. These contracts are valued daily and the Fund’s net equity therein, representing unrealized gain or loss on the contracts as measured by the difference between the forward foreign exchange rates at the dates of entry into the contracts and the forward rates at the reporting date, is included in the statement of assets and liabilities. Realized and unrealized gains and losses on forward foreign currency contracts are included on the Statement of Operations. These instruments involve market and/or credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the statement of assets and liabilities. Risks arise from the possible inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts and from movement in currency and securities values and interest rates.
 
E.  Distributions to Shareholders. Dividends from net investment income and net realized gains, if any are declared and paid monthly by the Fund. Distributions are determined annually in accordance with federal tax principles, which may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for investment companies. The Fund may make distributions on a more frequent basis to comply with the distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. Distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date.
 
The tax treatment and characterization of the Fund’s distributions may vary significantly from time to time depending on whether the Fund has gains or losses on the call options written on its portfolio versus gains or losses on the equity securities in the portfolio. The Fund’s distributions will normally reflect past and projected net investment income, and may include income from dividends and interest, capital gains and/or a return of capital. The final composition of the tax characteristics of the distributions cannot be determined with certainty until after the end of the year, and will be reported to shareholders at that time. The amount of monthly distributions will vary, depending on a number of factors. As portfolio and market conditions change, the rate of dividends on the common shares will change. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to declare a dividend in each period.
 
F.  Federal Income Taxes. It is the policy of the Fund to comply with subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code and related excise tax provisions applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and any net realized capital gains to its shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. No capital gain distributions shall be made until any capital loss carryforwards have been fully utilized or expired.
 
G.  Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
H.  Securities Lending. Under an agreement with The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (“BNY”), the Fund has the option to temporarily loan up to 30% of its managed assets to brokers, dealers or other financial institutions in exchange for a negotiated lender’s fee. The borrower is required to fully collateralize the loans with cash or U.S. government securities. Generally, in the event of counterparty default, the Fund has the right to use collateral to offset losses incurred. There would be potential loss to the Fund in the event the Fund is delayed or prevented from exercising its right to dispose of the collateral. The Fund bears the risk of loss with respect to the investment of collateral. Engaging in securities lending could have a leveraging effect, which may intensify the credit, market and other risks associated with investing in the Fund.


14


Table of Contents

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS as of February 29, 2008 (continued)
 
NOTE 2 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
 
I.  Options Contracts. The Fund may purchase put options and may write (sell) covered call options. The premium received by the Fund upon the writing of a put or call option is included in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as a liability which is subsequently marked-to-market until it is exercised, or closed, or it expires. The Fund will realize a gain or loss upon the expiration or closing of the option contract. When an option is exercised, the proceeds on sales of the underlying security for a written call option or purchased put option and the purchase cost of the security for a written put option, or purchased call option is adjusted by the amount of premium received or paid. Realized and unrealized gains or losses on option contracts are reflected in the accompanying financial statements. The risk in writing a call option is that the Fund gives up the opportunity for profit if the market price of the security increases and the option is exercised. The risk in writing a put option is that the Fund may incur a loss if the market price of the security decreases and the option is exercised. The risk in buying an option is that the Fund pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. Risks may also arise from an illiquid secondary market or from the inability of counterparties to meet the terms of the contract.
 
J.  Indemnifications. In the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts that provide certain indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on future claims that may be made against the Fund and, therefore, cannot be estimated; however, based on experience, the risk of loss from such claims is considered remote.
 
NOTE 3 — INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE FEES
 
ING Investments, LLC (“ING Investments” or the “Investment Adviser”), an Arizona limited liability company, is the Investment Adviser of the Fund. The Fund pays the Investment Adviser for its services under an investment management agreement (“Management Agreement”), a fee, payable monthly, based on an annual rate of 1.05% of the Fund’s average daily managed assets. For the first five years of the Fund’s existence, the Investment Adviser will contractually waive a portion of its fee equivalent to 0.20% of the Fund’s managed assets. Beginning in the sixth year, the fee waiver will decline each year by 0.05% until it is eliminated in the ninth year. For purposes of the Management Agreement, managed assets are defined as the Fund’s average daily gross asset value, minus the sum of the Fund’s accrued and unpaid dividends on any outstanding preferred shares and accrued liabilities (other than liabilities for the principal amount of any borrowings incurred, commercial paper or notes issued by the Fund and the liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred shares). As of February 29, 2008, there were no preferred shares outstanding.
 
The Investment Adviser entered into a sub-advisory agreement (“Sub-Advisory Agreement”) with ING Investment Management Advisors B.V. (“IIMA”), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of ING Groep N.V. (“ING Groep”), domiciled in The Hague, The Netherlands. Subject to policies as the Board or the Investment Adviser might determine, IIMA manages the Fund’s assets in accordance with the Fund’s investment objectives, policies and limitations.
 
The Investment Adviser has also retained ING Investment Management Co. (“ING IM” or “Consultant”), a Connecticut corporation, to provide certain consulting services for the Investment Adviser. These services include, among other things, furnishing statistical and other factual information; providing advice with respect to potential investment strategies that may be employed for the Fund, including, but not limited to, potential options strategies; developing economic models of the anticipated investment performance and yield for the Fund; and providing advice to the Investment Adviser and/or Sub-Adviser with respect to the Fund’s level and/or managed distribution policy. For its services, the Consultant will receive a consultancy fee from the Investment Adviser. No fee will be paid by the Fund directly to the Consultant.
 
ING Funds Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, (the “Administrator”) serves as Administrator to the Fund. The Fund pays the Administrator for its services a fee based on an annual rate of 0.10% of the Fund’s average daily managed assets. The Investment Adviser, IIMA, ING IM and the Administrator are indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of ING Groep. ING Groep is one of the largest financial services organizations in the world, and offers an array of banking, insurance and asset management services to both individuals and institutional investors.


15


Table of Contents

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS as of February 29, 2008 (continued)
 
NOTE 4 — OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATED AND RELATED PARTIES
 
As of February 29, 2008, the Fund had the following amounts recorded in payable to affiliates on the accompanying Statement of Assets and Liabilities:
 
         
Accrued
       
Investment
  Accrued
   
Management
  Administrative
   
Fees   Fees   Total
 
$1,070,234
  $134,759   $1,204,993
 
The Fund has adopted a Retirement Policy (“Policy”) covering all Independent Trustees of the Fund. Benefits under this Policy are based on an annual rate as defined in the Policy agreement and are recorded as trustee fees in the financial statements.
 
The Fund places a portion of its transactions with brokerage firms which are affiliates of the investment adviser. The commissions paid to these affiliated firms were:
 
         
Affiliated Brokers
  Commissions Received
 
ING Baring LLC
  $ 842  
ING Financial
    2,865  
 
NOTE 5 — PURCHASES AND SALES OF INVESTMENT SECURITIES
 
The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investments for the year ended February 29, 2008, excluding short-term securities, were $1,443,850,671 and $1,530,536,500, respectively.
 
NOTE 6 — TRANSACTIONS IN WRITTEN OPTIONS
 
Written option activity for the Fund for the year ended February 29, 2008 was as follows:
 
                 
    Number of
   
    Contracts   Premium
 
Balance at 02/28/07
    44,785,000     $ 18,464,465  
Options Written
    344,639,000       199,714,500  
Options Expired
    (206,762,715 )     (104,644,021 )
Options Exercised
    (65,894,565 )     (19,156,574 )
Options Terminated in Closing Purchase Transactions
    (85,108,720 )     (70,177,280 )
                 
Balance at 02/29/08
    31,658,000     $ 24,201,090  
                 
 
NOTE 7 — CONCENTRATION OF INVESTMENT RISKS
 
Foreign Securities and Emerging Markets. The Fund makes significant investments in foreign securities and may invest up to 20% of its managed assets in securities issued by companies located in countries with emerging markets. Investments in foreign securities may entail risks not present in domestic investments. Since investments in securities are denominated in foreign currencies, changes in the relationship of these foreign currencies to the U.S. dollar can significantly affect the value of the investments and earnings of the Fund. Foreign investments may also subject the Fund to foreign government exchange restrictions, expropriation, taxation or other political, social or economic developments, as well as from movements in currency, security value and interest rate, all of which could affect the market and/or credit risk of the investments. The risks of investing in foreign securities can be intensified in the case of investments in issuers located in countries with emerging markets.
 
Non-Diversified. The Fund is classified as a “non-diversified” investment company under the 1940 Act, which means that the Fund may invest a greater proportion of its assets in the securities of a smaller number of issuers. If the Fund invests a relatively high percentage of its assets in obligations of a limited number of issuers, the Fund will be more at risk to any single corporate, economic, political or regulatory event that impacts one or more of those issuers. Conversely, even though classified as non-diversified, the Fund may actually maintain a portfolio that is highly diversified with a large number of issuers. In such an event, the Fund would benefit less from appreciation in a single corporate issuer than if it had greater exposure to that issuer.
 
Leverage. Although the Fund has no current intention to do so, the Fund is authorized to utilize leverage through the issuance of preferred shares and/or borrowings, including the issuance of debt securities. In the event that the Fund determines in the future to utilize investment leverage, there can be no assurance that such a leveraging strategy will be successful during any period in which it is employed.
 
NOTE 8 — PAID-IN CAPITAL ADJUSTMENT
 
In conjunction with the issuance of initial shares, the Fund, based on best estimates, accrued approximately $3,400,000 associated with offering cost. As of the year ended February 28, 2007, the Fund actually incurred a total of $2,110,382 related to offering costs. Therefore, the difference between the amount accrued and the amount actually incurred for offering costs was $1,289,618 for the Fund. This amount represents an over-accrual of estimated offering costs and the reversal of such accrual has been recognized as an adjustment to paid-in capital on the accompanying


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Table of Contents

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS as of February 29, 2008 (continued)
 
NOTE 8 — PAID-IN CAPITAL ADJUSTMENT (continued)
 
Statements of Changes in Net Assets for the year ended February 28, 2007.
 
NOTE 9 — CAPITAL SHARES
 
Transactions in capital shares and dollars were as follows:
 
                 
    Year
  Year
    Ended
  Ended
    February 29,
  February 28,
   
2008
 
2007
 
Number of Shares
               
Reinvestment of distributions
    502,453       1,078,515  
                 
Net increase in shares outstanding
    502,453       1,078,515  
                 
$
               
Reinvestment of distributions
  $ 10,261,863     $ 22,336,740 (1)
                 
Net increase
  $ 10,261,863     $ 22,336,740  
                 
 
(1)  Includes adjustment to paid-in capital of $1,289,618 for offering costs (Note 8).
 
NOTE 10 — SECURITIES LENDING
 
Under an agreement with BNY, the Fund can lend its securities to approved brokers, dealers and other financial institutions. Loans are collateralized by cash and U.S. government securities. The collateral must be in an amount equal to at least 105% of the market value of non-U.S. securities loaned and 102% of the market value of U.S. securities loaned. The cash collateral received is invested in approved investments as defined in the Securities Lending Agreement with BNY (the “Agreement”). The securities purchased with cash collateral received are reflected in the Portfolio of Investments. Generally, in the event of counterparty default, the Fund has the right to use the collateral to offset losses incurred. The Agreement contains certain guarantees by BNY in the event of counterparty default and/or a borrower’s failure to return a loaned security; however there would be a potential loss to the Fund in the event the Fund is delayed or prevented from exercising their right to dispose of the collateral. The Fund bears the risk of loss with respect to the investment of collateral. Engaging in securities lending could have a leveraging effect, which may intensify the credit, market and other risks associated with investing in the Fund. As of February 29, 2008, the Fund did not have any securities on loan.
 
NOTE 11 — FEDERAL INCOME TAXES
 
The amount of distributions from net investment income and net realized capital gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for investment companies. These book/tax differences may be either temporary or permanent. Permanent differences are reclassified within the capital accounts based on their federal tax-basis treatment; temporary differences are not reclassified. Key differences include the treatment of short-term capital gains, foreign currency transactions, and wash sale deferrals. Distributions in excess of net investment income and/or net realized capital gains for tax purposes are reported as return of capital.
 
The following permanent tax differences have been reclassified as of the Fund’s tax year ended December 31, 2007:
 
             
Distributions
   
in excess of
  Accumulated
Net Investment
  Net Realized
Income   Gains / (Losses)
 
$ (7,056,378 )   $ 7,056,378  
 
Dividends paid by the Fund from net investment income and distributions of net realized short-term capital gains are, for federal income tax purposes, taxable as ordinary income to shareholders.
 
The tax composition of dividends and distributions in the current period will not be determined until after the Fund’s tax year-end of December 31, 2008. The tax composition of dividends and distributions as of the Fund’s most recent tax year-ends were as follows:
 
                     
Tax Year Ended December 31, 2007
Ordinary
  Long-Term
  Return
Income   Capital Gains   of Capital
 
$ 172,652,006     $ 18,270,019     $ 9,976,217  
 
                     
Tax Year Ended December 31, 2006
Ordinary
  Long-Term
  Return
Income   Capital Gains   of Capital
 
$ 172,974,208     $ 702,924     $ 5,936,401  
 
The tax-basis components of distributable earnings as of the tax year ended December 31, 2007 were:
 
     
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
$ 3,967,356  
 
The Fund’s major tax jurisdictions are federal and Arizona. The earliest tax year that remains subject to examination by these jurisdictions is the Fund’s initial tax year of 2005.
 
NOTE 12 — OTHER ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
 
In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48


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Table of Contents

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS as of February 29, 2008 (continued)
 
NOTE 12 — OTHER ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS (continued)
 
(“FIN 48”), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.” This standard defines the threshold for recognizing the benefits of tax-return positions in the financial statements as “more-likely-than-not” to be sustained upon challenge by the taxing authority and requires measurement of a tax position meeting the more-likely-than-not criterion, based on the largest benefit that is more than 50 percent likely to be realized. FIN 48 was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006, with early application permitted if no interim financial statements have been issued. Acknowledging the unique issues that FIN 48 presents for investment companies that calculate NAVs, the SEC indicated that they would not object if a fund implemented FIN 48 in its NAV calculation as late as its last NAV calculation in the first required financial statement reporting period for its fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2006. At adoption, companies must adjust their financial statements to reflect only those tax positions that are more likely-than-not to be sustained as of the adoption date. Management of the Fund has analyzed the tax positions of the Fund. Upon adoption of FIN 48, we identified no uncertain tax positions that have not met the more likely-than-not standard.
 
On September 15, 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157 (“SFAS No. 157”), “Fair Value Measurements.” The new accounting statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (an exit price). SFAS No. 157 also stipulates that, as a market-based measurement, fair value should be determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, and establishes a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between (a) market participant assumptions developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs) and (b) the reporting entity’s own assumptions about market participant assumptions developed based on the best information available in the circumstances (unobservable inputs). SFAS No. 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. As of February 29, 2008, management of the Fund is currently assessing the potential impact, in addition to expanded financial statement disclosure, that may result from adopting SFAS No. 157.
 
On March 19, 2008, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161 (“SFAS No. 161”), “Disclosure about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” This new accounting statement requires enhanced disclosures about an entity’s derivative and hedging activities. Entities are required to provide enhanced disclosures about (a) how and why an entity invests in derivatives, (b) how derivatives are accounted for under Statement 133, and (c) how derivatives affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. SFAS No. 161 also requires enhanced disclosures regarding credit-risk-related contingent features of derivative instruments.
 
SFAS No. 161 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008. As of February 29, 2008, management of the Fund is currently assessing the impact of the expanded financial statement disclosures that will result from adopting SFAS No. 161.
 
NOTE 13 — INFORMATION REGARDING TRADING OF ING’S U.S. MUTUAL FUNDS
 
As discussed in earlier supplements that were previously filed with the SEC, ING Investments, the adviser to the ING Funds, has reported to the Boards of Directors/Trustees (the “Boards”) of the ING Funds that, like many U.S. financial services companies, ING Investments and certain of its U.S. affiliates have received informal and formal requests for information since September 2003 from various governmental and self-regulatory agencies in connection with investigations related to mutual funds and variable insurance products. ING Investments has advised the Boards that it and its affiliates have cooperated fully with each request.
 
In addition to responding to regulatory and governmental requests, Investments reported that management of U.S. affiliates of ING Groep N.V., including ING Investments (collectively, “ING”), on their own initiative, have conducted, through independent special counsel and a national accounting firm, an extensive internal review of


18


Table of Contents

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS as of February 29, 2008 (continued)
 
NOTE 13 — INFORMATION REGARDING TRADING OF ING’S U.S. MUTUAL FUNDS (continued)
 
trading in ING insurance, retirement, and mutual fund products. The goal of this review was to identify any instances of inappropriate trading in those products by third parties or by ING investment professionals and other ING personnel. ING’s internal review related to mutual fund trading is now substantially completed. ING has reported that, of the millions of customer relationships that ING maintains, the internal review identified several isolated arrangements allowing third parties to engage in frequent trading of mutual funds within ING’s variable insurance and mutual fund products, and identified other circumstances where frequent trading occurred, despite measures taken by ING intended to combat market timing. ING further reported that each of these arrangements has been terminated and fully disclosed to regulators. The results of the internal review were also reported to the independent members of the Boards.
 
ING Investments has advised the Boards that most of the identified arrangements were initiated prior to ING’s acquisition of the businesses in question in the U.S. ING Investments further reported that the companies in question did not receive special benefits in return for any of these arrangements, which have all been terminated.
 
Based on the internal review, ING Investments has advised the Boards that the identified arrangements do not represent a systemic problem in any of the companies that were involved.
 
Despite the extensive internal review conducted through independent special counsel and a national accounting firm, there can be no assurance that the instances of inappropriate trading reported to the Boards are the only instances of such trading respecting the ING Funds.
 
ING Investments reported to the Boards that ING is committed to conducting its business with the highest standards of ethical conduct with zero tolerance for noncompliance. Accordingly, ING Investments advised the Boards that ING management was disappointed that its voluntary internal review identified these situations. Viewed in the context of the breadth and magnitude of its U.S. business as a whole, ING management does not believe that ING’s acquired companies had systemic ethical or compliance issues in these areas. Nonetheless, ING Investments reported that given ING’s refusal to tolerate any lapses, it has taken the steps noted below, and will continue to seek opportunities to further strengthen the internal controls of its affiliates.
 
•  ING has agreed with the ING Funds to indemnify and hold harmless the ING Funds from all damages resulting from wrongful conduct by ING or its employees or from ING’s internal investigation, any investigations conducted by any governmental or self-regulatory agencies, litigation or other formal proceedings, including any proceedings by the SEC. ING Investments reported to the Boards that ING management believes that the total amount of any indemnification obligations will not be material to ING or its U.S. business.
 
•  ING updated its Code of Conduct for employees reinforcing its employees’ obligation to conduct personal trading activity consistent with the law, disclosed limits, and other requirements.
 
Other Regulatory Matters
 
The New York Attorney General (the “NYAG”) and other federal and state regulators are also conducting broad inquiries and investigations involving the insurance industry. These initiatives currently focus on, among other things, compensation and other sales incentives; potential conflicts of interest; potential anti-competitive activity; reinsurance; marketing practices (including suitability); specific product types (including group annuities and indexed annuities); fund selection for investment products and brokerage sales; and disclosure. It is likely that the scope of these industry investigations will further broaden before they conclude. ING has received formal and informal requests in connection with such investigations, and is cooperating fully with each request.
 
Other federal and state regulators could initiate similar actions in this or other areas of ING’s businesses. These regulatory initiatives may result in new legislation and regulation that could significantly affect the financial services industry, including businesses in which ING is engaged. In light of these and other developments, ING continuously reviews whether modifications to its business practices are appropriate. At this time, in light of the current regulatory factors, ING U.S. is actively engaged in reviewing whether any modifications in our practices are appropriate for the future.
 
There can be no assurance that these matters, or the adverse publicity associated with them, will not result


19


Table of Contents

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS as of February 29, 2008 (continued)
 
NOTE 13 — INFORMATION REGARDING TRADING OF ING’S U.S. MUTUAL FUNDS (continued)
 
in increased fund redemptions, reduced sale of fund shares, or other adverse consequences to ING Funds.
 
NOTE 14 — SUBSEQUENT EVENT
 
Dividends: Subsequent to February 29, 2008, the Fund paid dividends of:
 
                         
Per Share
      Declaration
   
Amount   Payable Date   Date   Record Date
 
$0.156
    3/17/2008       2/15/2008       3/5/2008  
$0.156
    4/15/2008       3/17/2008       4/3/2008  


20


Table of Contents

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
ING Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund
as of February 29, 2008
 
                             
Shares               Value
 
 
 
COMMON STOCK: 92.1%
             
           
Australia: 5.9%
  1,203,359        
Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd.
  $ 24,283,034  
  625,118     @  
Crown Ltd.
    6,755,015  
  2,034,932        
Foster’s Group Ltd.
    10,682,338  
  7,038,572        
Insurance Australia Group
    24,435,820  
  1,156,337        
Lion Nathan Ltd.
    10,187,343  
  1,165,033        
Suncorp-Metway Ltd.
    14,945,307  
  224,013        
Wesfarmers Ltd.
    7,761,472  
                     
                          99,050,329  
                             
             
           
Austria: 0.6%
  460,832        
Telekom Austria AG
    10,423,760  
                     
                          10,423,760  
                             
             
           
Belgium: 2.0%
  1,528,940        
Fortis
    33,777,701  
                     
                          33,777,701  
                             
             
           
Bermuda: 0.6%
  1,854,255     @  
Hiscox Ltd.
    10,070,960  
                     
                          10,070,960  
                             
             
           
Brazil: 0.6%
  388,541     @  
Tele Norte Leste Participacoes SA ADR
    9,725,181  
                     
                          9,725,181  
                             
             
           
Canada: 1.8%
  236,573     @  
Enerplus Resources Fund
    10,186,833  
  79,000        
Fording Canadian Coal Trust
    3,937,360  
  413,632     @  
TransCanada Corp
    16,611,589  
                     
                          30,735,782  
                             
             
           
Denmark: 1.6%
  701,283        
Danske Bank A/S
    26,787,741  
                     
                          26,787,741  
                             
             
           
France: 7.4%
  277,618        
BNP Paribas
    24,818,899  
  493,281        
France Telecom SA
    16,558,899  
  337,629        
Sanofi-Aventis
    24,954,904  
  454,763     @  
Total SA
    34,245,292  
  638,031        
Vivendi
    25,215,168  
                     
                          125,793,162  
                             
             
           
Germany: 1.0%
  872,930        
Deutsche Telekom AG
    16,592,736  
                     
                          16,592,736  
                             
             
           
Greece: 1.5%
  785,188        
OPAP SA
    25,686,664  
                     
                          25,686,664  
                             
             
           
Hong Kong: 1.6%
  1,288,042        
CLP Holdings Ltd.
    10,068,794  
  911,397        
Hang Seng Bank Ltd.
    17,251,076  
                     
                          27,319,870  
                             
             
           
Hungary: 0.7%
  513,243        
Magyar Telekom Telecommunications PLC ADR
    12,322,964  
                     
                          12,322,964  
                             
             
           
Ireland: 1.2%
  1,444,964        
Bank of Ireland — London Exchange
    20,208,588  
                     
                          20,208,588  
                             
             
           
Israel: 1.0%
  3,811,868        
Bank Hapoalim BM
    16,287,060  
                     
                          16,287,060  
                             
             
           
Italy: 11.5%
  3,148,313        
Enel S.p.A.
    33,971,244  
  997,309        
ENI S.p.A.
    34,438,059  
  3,997,945        
Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A.
    26,852,006  
  562,088        
Italcementi S.p.A. RNC
    8,548,380  
  2,345,106        
Mediaset S.p.A.
    21,178,226  
  238,942        
Pirelli & C Real Estate S.p.A.
    9,243,972  
  17,276,793        
Telecom Italia S.p.A. RNC
    33,334,480  
  3,627,655        
UniCredito Italiano S.p.A.
    26,687,915  
                     
                          194,254,282  
                             
             
           
Netherlands: 2.0%
  943,845     @  
Royal Dutch Shell PLC
    33,751,290  
                     
                          33,751,290  
                             
             
           
New Zealand: 1.0%
  5,435,221        
Telecom Corp. of New Zealand Ltd.
    16,677,163  
                     
                          16,677,163  
                             
             
           
Singapore: 0.5%
  669,000        
DBS Group Holdings Ltd.
    8,144,852  
                     
                          8,144,852  
                             
             
           
South Korea: 0.6%
  146,318        
S-Oil Corp.
    10,338,408  
                     
                          10,338,408  
                             
             
           
Sweden: 2.0%
  497,320        
Holmen AB
    17,092,137  
  2,199,489        
TeliaSonera AB
    17,522,715  
                     
                          34,614,852  
                             
             
           
Taiwan: 2.8%
  5,940,000     @  
Acer, Inc. (Taiwan Participation Certificate, Issuer: Citigroup Global Markets Hold)
    11,082,878  
  12,099,000     @  
Mega Financial Holding Co. Ltd. (Low Exercise Price Warrant, Issuer: Morgan Stanley Asia Products)
    8,746,972  
  3,097,053     @  
Novatek Microelectronics Corp., Ltd. (Low Exercise Price Warrant, Issuer: Merrill Lynch Intl & Co.)
    11,169,410  
  1,727,712        
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. ADR
    16,827,915  
                     
                          47,827,175  
                             
             
           
Thailand: 0.6%
  1,427,900        
Siam Cement PCL
    9,638,448  
                     
                          9,638,448  
                             
             
           
United Kingdom: 17.4%
  664,023        
AstraZeneca PLC
    24,819,380  
  2,822,571        
Aviva PLC
    34,021,560  
  4,353,094     @  
BBA Aviation PLC
    15,838,841  
  2,312,065        
BP PLC
    24,934,936  
  2,173,350     @  
Brit Insurance Holdings PLC
    9,986,242  
  728,296        
British American Tobacco PLC
    27,308,682  
  12,691,191        
DSG International PLC
    15,864,518  
  1,153,176        
GlaxoSmithKline PLC
    25,172,174  
  653,789        
HSBC Holdings PLC
    9,883,541  
  2,997,157        
Lloyds TSB Group PLC
    26,789,364  
  3,518,992        
Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC
    26,605,358  
 
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements


21


Table of Contents

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
ING Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund
as of February 29, 2008 (continued)
 
                             
Shares               Value
 
 
           
United Kingdom (continued)
  2,487,034        
Tate & Lyle PLC
  $ 25,752,227  
  1,988,195        
United Utilities PLC
    27,224,717  
                     
                          294,201,540  
                             
             
           
United States: 26.2%
  367,026     @  
Altria Group, Inc.
    26,844,282  
  389,598        
Ameren Corp.
    16,635,835  
  774,983        
AT&T, Inc.
    26,992,658  
  595,687        
Bank of America Corp.
    23,672,601  
  1,109,871        
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.
    25,094,183  
  1,036,871        
Citigroup, Inc.
    24,584,211  
  909,532     @  
Citizens Communications Co.
    9,768,374  
  427,991        
Consolidated Edison, Inc.
    17,500,552  
  699,591        
Dow Chemical Co.
    26,367,585  
  931,878        
Duke Energy Corp.
    16,345,140  
  660,549        
Foot Locker, Inc.
    8,124,753  
  498,466        
General Electric Co.
    16,519,163  
  540,835     @  
Kraft Foods, Inc.
    16,857,827  
  981,928     @  
Leggett & Platt, Inc.
    16,398,198  
  865,386        
Masco Corp.
    16,174,064  
  377,923        
MeadWestvaco Corp.
    9,697,504  
  506,257     @  
OGE Energy Corp.
    16,438,165  
  1,195,274        
Pfizer, Inc.
    26,630,705  
  196,093     @  
Rayonier, Inc.
    8,343,757  
  476,502        
Southern Co.
    16,453,614  
  422,817        
Spectra Energy Corp.
    9,771,301  
  773,708        
US Bancorp.
    24,774,130  
  308,788     @  
UST, Inc.
    16,764,101  
  613,930        
Wachovia Corp.
    18,798,537  
  499,488        
Washington Mutual, Inc.
    7,392,422  
                     
                          442,943,662  
                             
           
Total Common Stock
(Cost $1,678,253,408)
    1,557,174,170  
                     
 
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS: 1.8%
             
           
Australia: 0.6%
  622,995        
Westfield Group
    9,987,010  
                     
                          9,987,010  
                             
             
           
Netherlands: 0.6%
  105,501        
Corio NV
    9,778,376  
                     
                          9,778,376  
                             
             
           
United States 0.6%
  283,217        
Hospitality Properties Trust
    10,289,274  
                     
                          10,289,274  
                             
           
Total Real Estate Investment Trusts
(Cost $29,007,854)
    30,054,660  
                     
                     
No. of
           
Contracts   Counterparty       Value
 
 
 
PURCHASED PUT OPTIONS: 0.7%
             
           
Australia: 0.1%
  5,500     Goldman Sachs  
S&P/ASX
200 Index, Strike Price 5,590.888 AUD, Expires 03/14/08
  $ 772,325  
  3,500     Morgan Stanley  
S&P/ASX 200 Index, Strike Price 4,767.495 AUD, Expires 04/18/08
    137,458  
  5,100     Morgan Stanley  
S&P/ASX 200 Index, Strike Price 5,019.600 AUD, Expires 05/16/08
    510,901  
  25,000,000     Goldman Sachs  
Australian Dollar Currency Option (AUD/USD), Strike Price 0.8051, Expires 03/18/08
     
  20,000,000     Barclays  
Australian Dollar Currency Option (AUD/USD), Strike Price 0.8102, Expires 04/23/08
    1,190  
  22,000,000     Deutsche Bank  
Australian Dollar Currency Option (AUD/USD), Strike Price 0.8558, Expires 05/23/08
    66,788  
                     
                  1,488,662  
                     
             
           
European Union: 0.4%
  12,800     Morgan Stanley  
Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 Index, Strike Price 3,525.000 EUR, Expires 03/14/08
    419,882  
  20,000     Morgan Stanley  
Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 Index, Strike Price 3,697.330 EUR, Expires 04/18/08
    3,811,097  
  17,500     Goldman Sachs  
Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 Index, Strike Price 3,375.040 EUR, Expires 05/16/08
    1,948,800  
  90,000,000     Goldman Sachs  
European Union Currency Option (EUR/USD), Strike Price 1.3827, Expires 03/18/08
    2  
  85,000,000     Goldman Sachs  
European Union Currency Option (EUR/USD), Strike Price 1.3961, Expires 04/23/08
    1,381  
  82,500,000     Goldman Sachs  
European Union Currency Option (EUR/USD), Strike Price 1.4110, Expires 05/23/08
    18,583  
                     
                  6,199,745  
                     
             
           
United Kingdom: 0.1%
  4,900     Morgan Stanley  
FTSE 100 Index, Strike Price 5,445.000 GBP, Expires 03/14/08
    209,402  
  5,200     Morgan Stanley  
FTSE 100 Index, Strike Price 5,323.430 GBP, Expires 04/18/08
    737,476  
  5,750     Deutsche Bank, AG  
FTSE 100 Index, Strike Price 5,240.780 GBP, Expires 05/16/08
    1,051,206  
  65,000,000     Goldman Sachs  
United Kingdom Currency Option (GBP/USD), Strike Price 1.9250, Expires 03/18/08
    12,561  
 
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements


22


Table of Contents

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
ING Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund
as of February 29, 2008 (continued)
 
                     
No. of
           
Contracts   Counterparty       Value
 
 
           
United Kingdom (continued)
  65,000,000     Deutsche Bank, AG  
United Kingdom Currency Option (GBP/USD), Strike Price 1.8642, Expires 04/23/08
  $ 17,220  
  62,500,000     Deutsche Bank, AG  
United Kingdom Currency Option (GBP/USD), Strike Price 1.8700, Expires 05/23/08
    79,150  
                     
                  2,107,015  
                     
             
           
United States: 0.1%
  60,000     Deutsche Bank, AG  
S&P 500 Index, Strike Price 1,230.000 USD, Expires 03/14/08
    229,508  
  72,000     Deutsche Bank, AG  
S&P 500 Index, Strike Price 1,210.950 USD, Expires 04/18/08
    998,553  
                     
  80,000     Goldman Sachs  
S&P 500 Index, Strike Price 1,203.320 USD, Expires 05/16/08
  $ 1,466,740  
                     
                  2,694,801  
                     
           
Total Purchased Put Options
(Cost $20,693,310)
    12,490,223  
                     
                             
       
Total Investments in Securities
          (Cost $1,727,954,572)*     94.6 %   $ 1,599,719,053  
       
Other Assets and
Liabilities - Net
    5.4       91,738,894  
                         
        Net Assets     100.0 %   $ 1,691,457,947  
                         
 
     
@
  Non-income producing security
ADR
  American Depositary Receipt
     
*
  Cost for federal income tax purposes is $1,745,552,281.
     
    Net unrealized depreciation consists of:
 
         
Gross Unrealized Appreciation
  $ 56,639,266  
Gross Unrealized Depreciation
    (202,472,494 )
         
Net Unrealized Depreciation
  $ (145,833,228 )
         
 
         
    Percentage of
Industry   Net Assets
 
Aerospace/Defense
    0.9 %
Agriculture
    4.2  
Banks
    21.9  
Beverages
    1.2  
Building Materials
    2.0  
Chemicals
    1.6  
Coal
    0.2  
Computers
    0.7  
Diversified
    0.6  
Diversified Financial Services
    2.0  
Electric
    7.5  
Entertainment
    1.5  
Food
    2.5  
Forest Products & Paper
    2.1  
Hotels
    0.6  
Insurance
    4.6  
Lodging
    0.4  
Media
    2.7  
Miscellaneous Manufacturing
    2.4  
Oil & Gas
    8.8  
Pharmaceuticals
    7.5  
Pipelines
    1.6  
Purchased Option
    0.7  
Real Estate
    0.6  
Retail
    1.4  
Savings & Loans
    0.4  
Semiconductors
    1.7  
Shopping Centers
    0.6  
Telecommunications
    10.1  
Water
    1.6  
Other Assets and Liabilities — Net
    5.4  
         
Net Assets
    100.0 %
         
 
Written Call Options
 
                                                     
# of
          Expiration
          Premiums
   
Contracts   Counterparty   Description  
Date
  Strike       Received   Value
 
  562,000     Goldman Sachs   Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd.     04/16/08         23.030       AUD     $ 771,002     $ (570,717 )
  907,000     Deutsche Bank, AG   Foster’s Group Ltd.     04/16/08         5.231       AUD       210,224       (240,137 )
  281,000     Goldman Sachs   Suncorp-Metway Ltd.     04/16/08         14.500       AUD       204,881       (156,324 )
  110,000     Deutsche Bank, AG   Wesfarmers Ltd.     04/16/08         39.286       AUD       231,649       (185,841 )
  289,000     Goldman Sachs   Westfield Group     04/16/08         17.660       AUD       271,090       (218,604 )
  97,000     Merrill Lynch   TransCanada Corp.     04/16/08         39.850       CAD       102,220       (72,871 )
  174,000     UBS AG, London   Danske Bank A/S     04/16/08         184.750       DKK       300,681       (212,154 )
  152,000     Societe Generale   Banco Santander S.A.     04/16/08         51.330       EUR       480,780       (313,516 )
  129,000     Deutsche Bank, AG   BNP Paribas     04/16/08         62.751       EUR       688,720       (403,651 )
  27,000     Deutsche Bank, AG   Corio NV     04/16/08         64.250       EUR       126,692       (78,472 )
  413,000     Societe Generale   Deutsche Telekom AG     04/16/08         12.850       EUR       306,836       (310,604 )
  1,442,000     Merrill Lynch   Enel S.p.A.     04/16/08         7.306       EUR       539,722       (360,760 )
  462,000     Merrill Lynch   ENI S.p.A.     04/16/08         23.160       EUR       615,766       (551,370 )
  747,000     Merrill Lynch   Fortis     04/16/08         15.090       EUR       1,085,409       (852,477 )
  231,000     Goldman Sachs   France Telecom S.A.     04/16/08         22.940       EUR       346,720       (12,924 )
  1,910,000     Morgan Stanley   Intesa Sanpaolo     04/16/08         4.565       EUR       498,678       (356,250 )
  433,000     JPMorgan Chase, London   Royal Dutch Shell PLC     04/16/08         23.970       EUR       617,433       (542,127 )
  3,917,000     Societe Generale   Telecom Italia S.p.A.     04/16/08         1.310       EUR       402,278       (348,262 )
  179,000     Deutsche Bank, AG   ThyssenKrupp AG     04/16/08         14.768       EUR       202,708       (238,658 )
  210,000     Societe Generale   Total S.A.     04/16/08         50.380       EUR       611,676       (531,442 )
  1,741,000     Morgan Stanley   UniCredit S.p.A.     04/16/08         5.092       EUR       666,202       (417,279 )
  292,000     Merrill Lynch   Vivendi     04/16/08         26.990       EUR       497,144       (356,468 )
 
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements


23


Table of Contents

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
ING Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund
as of February 29, 2008 (continued)
 
                                                     
# of
          Expiration
          Premiums
   
Contracts   Counterparty   Description  
Date
  Strike       Received   Value
 
  295,000     Morgan Stanley   AstraZeneca PLC     04/16/08         19.589       GBP     $ 523,688     $ (337,879 )
  337,000     Citibank, N.A., London   B.A.T Industries PLC     04/16/08         19.105       GBP       529,650       (287,257 )
  1,079,000     Goldman Sachs   BP PLC     04/16/08         5.519       GBP       476,876       (447,923 )
  533,000     Morgan Stanley   GlaxoSmithKline PLC     04/16/08         11.297       GBP       486,842       (355,785 )
  314,000     Goldman Sachs   HSBC Holdings PLC     04/16/08         7.926       GBP       240,028       (195,144 )
  1,379,000     Goldman Sachs   Lloyds TSB Group PLC     04/16/08         4.453       GBP       693,235       (554,435 )
  1,669,000     Deutsche Bank, AG   Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC     04/16/08         3.894       GBP       837,691       (506,928 )
  599,000     Goldman Sachs   CLP Holdings Ltd.     04/16/08         62.350       HKD       215,964       (207,675 )
  433,000     Morgan Stanley   Hang Seng Bank Ltd.     04/16/08         145.450       HKD       511,466       (625,056 )
  1,196,000     Goldman Sachs   Telecom Corp. of New Zealand     04/16/08         3.890       NZD       136,754       (110,295 )
  1,054,000     JPMorgan Chase, London   TeliaSonera AB     04/16/08         47.730       SEK       347,579       (127,789 )
  304,000     BNP Paribas   DBS Group Hldg. Ltd.     04/16/08         17.281       SGD       209,319       (184,241 )
  169,000     Goldman Sachs   Altria Group, Inc.     04/16/08         72.840       USD       391,759       (330,609 )
  178,000     Citibank, N.A.,London   Ameren Corp.     04/16/08         42.421       USD       203,098       (50,040 )
  355,000     Deutsche Bank, AG   AT&T Inc.     04/16/08         35.745       USD       540,594       (406,499 )
  273,000     ABN AMRO   Bank of America Corp.     04/16/08         40.999       USD       579,852       (346,838 )
  516,000     Merrill Lynch   Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.     04/16/08         22.900       USD       513,936       (426,697 )
  463,000     Goldman Sachs   Citigroup Inc.     04/16/08         25.082       USD       743,208       (453,516 )
  425,000     Morgan Stanley   Citizens Communications Co.     04/16/08         10.900       USD       222,700       (169,932 )
  184,000     JPMorgan Chase, London   Consolidated Edison, Inc.     04/16/08         41.293       USD       214,268       (194,530 )
  426,000     JPMorgan Chase, London   Duke Energy Corp.     04/16/08         17.968       USD       244,933       (183,514 )
  56,000     Merrill Lynch   Enerplus Resources Fund     04/16/08         43.130       USD       71,008       (74,612 )
  152,000     Deutsche Bank, AG   Foot Locker, Inc.     04/16/08         12.510       USD       133,167       (126,933 )
  79,000     Merrill Lynch   Fording Canadian Coal Trust     04/16/08         50.530       USD       267,020       (225,757 )
  231,000     Deutsche Bank, AG   General Electric Co.     04/16/08         33.702       USD       268,584       (195,264 )
  67,000     Deutsche Bank, AG   Hospitality Properties Trust     04/16/08         36.017       USD       89,043       (114,415 )
  247,000     ABN AMRO   Kraft Foods Inc.     04/16/08         31.368       USD       274,170       (224,961 )
  222,000     Deutsche Bank, AG   Leggett & Platt Inc.     04/16/08         17.025       USD       172,183       (147,478 )
  402,000     Deutsche Bank, AG   Masco Corp.     04/16/08         19.600       USD       449,918       (320,626 )
  551,000     ABN AMRO   Pfizer Inc.     04/16/08         22.571       USD       416,556       (367,024 )
  46,000     Merrill Lynch   Rayonier Inc.     04/16/08         42.690       USD       89,010       (79,238 )
  218,000     Deutsche Bank, AG   Southern Co.     04/16/08         35.185       USD       214,774       (162,239 )
  195,000     JPMorgan Chase, London   Spectra Energy Corp.     04/16/08         23.996       USD       144,119       (92,256 )
  801,000     Merrill Lynch   Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd.     04/16/08         10.040       USD       346,833       (275,488 )
  183,000     Merrill Lynch   Tele Norte Leste Participacoes S.A.     04/16/08         26.570       USD       310,734       (204,461 )
  320,000     Morgan Stanley   The Dow Chemical Co.     04/16/08         37.859       USD       487,360       (313,211 )
  353,000     Deutsche Bank, AG   US Bancorp     04/16/08         32.541       USD       447,992       (417,676 )
  138,000     Morgan Stanley   UST Inc.     04/16/08         54.964       USD       339,894       (233,639 )
  282,000     Citibank, N.A.,London   Wachovia Corp.     04/16/08         32.430       USD       651,138       (410,111 )
  229,000     Merrill Lynch   Washington Mutual, Inc.     04/16/08         15.750       USD       385,636       (294,538 )
                                                     
                                        $ 24,201,090     $ (18,113,417 )
                                                     
        Total Premiums Received:   $ 24,201,090                                  
        Total Liabilities for Call Options Written:   $ 18,113,417                                  
 
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements

24


Table of Contents

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS
ING Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund
as of February 29, 2008 (continued)
 
Supplemental Option Information (Unaudited)
 
     
Supplemental Call Option Statistics as of February 29, 2008
   
% of Total Net Assets against which calls written
  31%
Average Days to Expiration
  47 days
Average Call Moneyness* at time written
  ATM
Premium received for calls
  $24,201,090
Value of calls
  $(18,113,417)
     
Supplemental Put Option Statistics as of February 29, 2008
   
% of Total Net Assets against which Currency puts purchased
  30%
Average Days to Expiration
  52 days
% of Total Net Assets against which Index puts purchased
  48%
Average Days to Expiration
  47 days
Average Currency Put Moneyness* at time purchased
  5% OTM
Average Index Put Moneyness* at time purchased
  5% OTM
Premium Paid for puts
  $20,693,310
Value of puts
  $12,490,223
 
*     “Moneyness” is the term used to describe the relationship between the price of the underlying asset and the option’s exercise or strike price. For example, a call (buy) option is considered “in-the-money” when the value of the underlying asset exceeds the strike price. Conversely, a put (sell) option is considered “in-the-money” when its strike price exceeds the value of the underlying asset. Options are characterized for the purpose of Moneyness as, “in-the-money” (“ITM”), “out-of-the-money” (“OTM”) or “at-the-money” (“ATM”), where the underlying asset value equals the strike price.
 
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements


25


Table of Contents

SHAREHOLDER MEETING INFORMATION (Unaudited)
 
A special meeting of shareholders was held June 14, 2007, at the offices of ING Funds, 7337 East Doubletree Ranch Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85258.
 
A brief description of the matter voted upon as well as the result is outlined below:
 
ING Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund, Class II Trustees
 
Matter:
 
To elect three Class II Trustees to represent the interests of the holders of Common Shares of the Fund until the election and qualification of their successors.(1)
 
Results:
 
                                         
            Shares voted
       
        Shares
  against or
  Shares
  Total
    Proposal   voted for   withheld   abstained   Shares Voted
 
Class II Trustees
    John V. Boyer       89,692,287.725       795,257.335             90,487,545.060  
      Patricia W. Chadwick       89,702,595.725       784,949.335             90,487,545.060  
      Sheryl K. Pressler       89,684,219.725       803,325.335             90,487,545.060  
(1)  The proposal passed at this meeting.


26


Table of Contents

TAX INFORMATION (Unaudited)
 
Dividends paid during the year ended February 29, 2008 were as follows:
 
             
Fund Name
 
Type
  Per Share Amount
 
ING Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund
  NII   $ 0.6173  
    STCG   $ 1.1608  
    LTCG   $ 0.1881  
    ROC   $ 0.1028  
NII — Net investment income
STCG — Short-term capital gain
LTCG — Long-term capital gain
ROC — Return of capital
 
Above figures may differ from those cited elsewhere in this report due to differences in the calculation of income and gains under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (book) purposes and Internal Revenue Service (tax) purposes.
 
Shareholders are strongly advised to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the tax consequences of their investments in the Fund. In January, shareholders, excluding corporate shareholders, receive an IRS 1099-DIV regarding the federal tax status of the dividends and distributions they received in the calendar year.


27


Table of Contents

TRUSTEE AND OFFICER INFORMATION (Unaudited)
 
The business and affairs of the Fund are managed under the direction of the Fund’s Board. A Trustee who is not an interested person of the Trust, as defined in the 1940 Act, is an independent trustee (“Independent Trustee”). The Trustees and Officers of the Trust are listed below. The Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about trustees of the Registrant and is available, without charge, upon request at (800) 992-0180.
 
                     
                Number of
   
                Funds
   
                in Fund
   
    Position(s)
  Term of Office
      Complex(2)
   
    held with
  and Length of
  Principal Occupation(s)
  Overseen
  Other Directorships
Name, Address and Age
 
Trust
 
Time Served(1)
 
during the Past Five Years
 
by Trustee
 
held by Trustee
 
Independent Trustees:
                   
                     
Colleen D. Baldwin
7337 E. Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 47
  Trustee   October 2007 —
Present
  Consultant (January 2005 — Present). Formerly, Chief Operating Officer, Ivy Asset Management Group (April 2002 — October 2004).   179   None
                     
John V. Boyer
7337 E. Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 54
  Trustee   February 2005 —
Present
  President, Bechtler Arts Foundation (March 2008 — Present), and Consultant (July 2007 — Present). Formerly, President and Chief Executive Officer, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute (March 2006 — July 2007), and Executive Director, The Mark Twain House & Museum(3) (September 1989 — November 2005).   179   None
                     
Patricia W. Chadwick
7337 E. Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 59
  Trustee   January 2006 —
Present
  Consultant and President of self-owned company, Ravengate Partners LLC (January 2000 — Present).   179   Wisconsin Energy (June 2006 — Present).
                     
Peter S. Drotch
7337 E. Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 66
  Trustee   October 2007 —
Present
  Retired partner.
PricewaterhouseCoopers.
  179   First Marblehead Corporation, (October 2003 — Present); BlackRock Funds/State Street Research Funds, Trustee (February 2004 — January 2007); Tufts Health Plan, Director (June 2006 — Present); and University of Connecticut, Trustee (November 2004 — Present).
                     
J. Michael Earley
7337 E. Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 62
  Trustee   February 2005 —
Present
  President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Bankers Trust Company, N.A., Des Moines (June 1992 — Present).   179   Midamerica Financial Corporation (December 2002 — Present).
                     
Patrick W. Kenny
7337 E. Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 65
  Trustee   February 2005 —
Present
  President and Chief Executive Officer, International Insurance Society (June 2001 — Present).   179   Assured Guaranty Ltd. (April 2004 — Present); and Odyssey Reinsurance Holdings (November 2006 — Present).
                     
Sheryl K. Pressler
7337 E. Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 57
  Trustee   January 2006 —
Present
  Consultant (May 2001 — Present).   179   Stillwater Mining Company (May 2002 — Present); California HealthCare Foundation (June 1999 — Present); Romanian-American Enterprise Fund (February 2004 — Present); and Global Alternative Asset Management, Inc. (October 2007 — Present).


28


Table of Contents

TRUSTEE AND OFFICER INFORMATION (Unaudited) (continued)
 
                     
                Number of
   
                Funds
   
                in Fund
   
    Position(s)
  Term of Office
      Complex(2)
   
    held with
  and Length of
  Principal Occupation(s)
  Overseen
  Other Directorships
Name, Address and Age
 
Trust
 
Time Served(1)
 
during the Past Five Years
 
by Trustee
 
held by Trustee
 
                     
Roger B. Vincent
7337 E. Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 62
  Chairman/Trustee   February 2005 —
Present
  President, Springwell Corporation (March 1989 — Present).   179   UGI Corporation (February 2006 — Present); and UGI Utilities, Inc. (February 2006 — Present).
 
Trustees who are
“Interested Persons:”
                     
Robert W. Crispin(4)
7337 E. Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 61
  Trustee   October 2007 —
Present
  Retired Chairman and Chief Investment Officer, ING Investment Management Co. (June 2001 — December 2007).   179   ING Life Insurance and Annuity Company (May 2006 — Present); ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance Company (May 2006 — Present); Midwestern United Life Insurance Company (May 2006 — Present); ReliaStar Life Insurance Company (May 2006 — Present); Security Life of Denver Insurance Company (May 2006 — Present); Belair Insurance Company Inc. (August 2005 — Present); The Nordic Insurance Company of Canada (February 2005 — Present); Trafalgar Insurance Company of Canada (February 2005 — Present); ING Novex Insurance Company of Canada (February 2005 — Present); Allianz Insurance Company of Canada (February 2005 — Present); ING Canada Inc. (December 2004 — Present); ING Bank, fsb (June 2001 — Present); ING Investment Management, Inc (June 2001 — December 2007); ING Insurance Company of Canada (June 2001 — Present); Sul America S.A. (June 2001 — Present); and ING Foundation (March 2004 — Present).

29


Table of Contents

TRUSTEE AND OFFICER INFORMATION (Unaudited) (continued)
 
                     
                Number of
   
                Funds
   
                in Fund
   
    Position(s)
  Term of Office
      Complex(2)
   
    held with
  and Length of
  Principal Occupation(s)
  Overseen
  Other Directorships
Name, Address and Age
 
Trust
 
Time Served(1)
 
during the Past Five Years
 
by Trustee
 
held by Trustee
 
                     
Shaun P. Mathews(4)
7337 E. Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 52
  Trustee   June 2006 —
Present
  President and Chief Executive Officer, ING Investments, LLC (December 2006 — Present), and Head of ING USFS Mutual Funds and Investment Products (November 2004 — November 2006). Formerly, CMO, ING USFS (April 2002 — October 2004), and Head of Rollover/Payout (October 2001 — December 2003).   179   Mark Twain House & Museum(3) (September 2002 — Present); Connecticut Forum (May 2002 — Present); Capital Community College Foundation (February 2002 — Present); ING Services Holding Company, Inc. (May 2000 — Present); Southland Life Insurance Company (June 2002 — Present); and ING Capital Corporation, LLC, ING Funds Distributor, LLC(5), ING Funds Services, LLC(6), ING Investments, LLC(7) and ING Pilgrim Funding, Inc. (March 2006 — Present).
(1) The Board is divided into three classes, with the term of one class expiring at each annual meeting of the Fund. At each annual meeting, one class of Trustees is elected to a three-year term and serves until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The tenure of each Trustee is subject to the Board’s retirement policy, which states that each duly elected or appointed Trustee who is not an “interested person” of the Fund, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”) (“Independent Trustees”), shall retire from service as a Trustee at the conclusion of the first regularly scheduled meeting of the Board that is held after (a) the Trustee reaches the age of 70, if that Trustee qualifies for a retirement benefit as discussed in the board’s retirement policy; or (b) the Trustee reaches the age of 72 or has served as a Trustee for 15 years, if that Trustee does not qualify for the retirement benefit. A unanimous vote of the Board may extend the retirement date of a Trustee for up to one year. An extension may be permitted if the retirement would trigger a requirement to hold a meeting of shareholders of the Fund under applicable law, whether for purposes of appointing a successor to the Trustee or if otherwise necessary under applicable law, in which case the extension would apply until such time as the shareholder meeting can be held or is no longer needed.
 
(1) Trustees serve until their successors are duly elected and qualified, subject to the Board’s retirement policy which states that each duly elected or appointed Trustee who is not an “interested person” of the Fund, as defined in the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”), shall retire from service as a Trustee at the conclusion of the first regularly scheduled meeting of the Board that is held after the Trustee reaches the age of 70. A unanimous vote of the Board may extend the retirement date of a Trustee for up to one year. An extension may be permitted if the retirement would trigger a requirement to hold a meeting of shareholders of the Fund under applicable law, whether for purposes of appointing a successor to the Trustee or if otherwise necessary under applicable law, in which case the extension would apply until such time as the shareholder meeting can be held or is no longer needed.
 
(2) For the purposes of this table, “Fund Complex” means the following investment companies: ING Asia Pacific High Dividend Equity Income Fund, ING Equity Trust; ING Funds Trust; ING Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund; ING Global Advantage and Premium Opportunity Fund; ING International High Dividend Equity Income Fund; ING Investors Trust; ING Mayflower Trust; ING Mutual Funds; ING Prime Rate Trust; ING Risk Managed Natural Resources Fund; ING Senior Income Fund; ING Variable Insurance Trust; ING Variable Products Trust; and ING Partners, Inc.
 
(3) Shaun Mathews, President, ING USFS Mutual Funds and Investment Products, has held a seat on the Board of Directors of The Mark Twain House & Museum since September 19, 2002. ING Groep N.V. makes non-material, charitable contributions to The Mark Twain House & Museum.
 
(4) Messrs. Mathews and Crispin are deemed to be “interested persons” of the Trust as defined in the 1940 Act because of their relationship with ING Groep, the parent corporation of the Adviser, ING Investments, LLC and the Distributor, ING Funds Distributor, LLC.
 
(5) ING Funds Distributor, LLC is the successor in interest to ING Funds Distributor, Inc., which was previously known as ING Pilgrim Securities, Inc., and before that was known as Pilgrim Securities, Inc., and before that was known as Pilgrim America Securities, Inc.
 
(6) ING Investments, LLC was previously named ING Pilgrim Investments, LLC. ING Pilgrim Investments, LLC is the successor in interest to ING Pilgrim Investments, Inc., which was previously known as Pilgrim Investments, Inc. and before that was known as Pilgrim America Investments, Inc.
 
(7) ING Funds Services, LLC was previously named ING Pilgrim Group, LLC. ING Pilgrim Group, LLC is the successor in interest to ING Pilgrim Group, Inc., which was previously known as Pilgrim Group, Inc. and before that was known as Pilgrim America Group, Inc.


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TRUSTEE AND OFFICER INFORMATION (Unaudited) (continued)
 
             
        Term of Office
   
    Position(s) Held
  and Length of
  Principal Occupation(s)
Name, Address and Age
 
with the Trust
 
Time Served(1)
 
during the Past Five Years
 
Officers:
           
             
Shaun P. Mathews(5)
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 52
  President and Chief Executive Officer   November 2006 — Present   President and Chief Executive Officer, ING Investments, LLC(2) and ING Funds Services, LLC(3) (December 2006 — Present); and Head of ING USFS Mutual Funds and Investment Products (November 2004 — November 2006). Formerly, CMO, ING USFS (April 2002 — October 2004); and Head of Rollover/Payout (October 2001 — December 2003).
             
Michael J. Roland
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 49
  Executive Vice President   January 2005 — Present   Head of Mutual Fund Platform (February 2007 — Present); and Executive Vice President, ING Investments, LLC(2) and ING Funds Services, LLC(3) (December 2001 — Present). Formerly, Head of Product Management (January 2005 — January 2007); Chief Compliance Officer, ING Investments, LLC(2) and Directed Services, LLC(6) (October 2004 — December 2005); and Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, ING Investments, LLC(2) (December 2001 — March 2005).
             
Stanley D. Vyner
230 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10169
Age: 57
  Executive Vice President   January 2005 — Present   Executive Vice President, ING Investments, LLC(2) (July 2000 — Present); and Chief Investment Risk Officer, ING Investments, LLC(2) (January 2003 — Present). Formerly, Chief Investment Officer of International Investments (August 2000 — January 2003).
             
Joseph M. O’Donnell
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 53
  Executive Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer   March 2006 — Present
January 2005 — Present
  Chief Compliance Officer of the ING Funds (November 2004 — Present), ING Investments, LLC(2) and Directed Services, LLC(6) (March 2006 — Present); and Executive Vice President of the ING Funds (March 2006 — Present). Formerly, Chief Compliance Officer of ING Life Insurance and Annuity Company (March 2006 — December 2006); Vice President, Chief Legal Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary of Atlas Securities, Inc., Atlas Advisers, Inc. and Atlas Funds (October 2001 — October 2004).
             
Todd Modic
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 40
  Senior Vice President, Chief/Principal Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary   May 2005 — Present   Senior Vice President, ING Funds Services, LLC(3) (April 2005 - Present). Formerly, Vice President, ING Funds Services, LLC(3) (September 2002 — March 2005); and Director of Financial Reporting, ING Investments, LLC(2) (March 2001 — September 2002).
             
Kimberly A. Anderson
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 43
  Senior Vice President   January 2005 — Present   Senior Vice President, ING Investments, LLC(2) (October 2003 — Present). Formerly, Vice President and Assistant Secretary, ING Investments, LLC(2) (January 2001 — October 2003).


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TRUSTEE AND OFFICER INFORMATION (Unaudited) (continued)
 
             
        Term of Office
   
    Position(s) Held
  and Length of
  Principal Occupation(s)
Name, Address and Age
 
with the Trust
 
Time Served(1)
 
during the Past Five Years
 
             
Robert Terris
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 37
  Senior Vice President   May 2006 — Present   Senior Vice President, Head of Division Operations, ING Funds (May 2006 — Present); and Vice President, Head of Division Operations, ING Funds Services, LLC(3) (March 2006 — Present). Formerly, Vice President of Administration, ING Funds Services, LLC(3) (October 2001 — March 2006).
             
Robyn L. Ichilov
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 40
  Vice President and Treasurer   January 2005 — Present   Vice President and Treasurer, ING Funds Services, LLC(3) (October 2001 — Present) and ING Investments, LLC(2) (August 1997 — Present).
             
Lauren D. Bensinger
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 54
  Vice President   January 2005 — Present   Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, ING Funds Distributor, LLC(4) (July 1995 — Present); and Vice President, ING Investments, LLC(2) (February 1996 — Present); and Director of Compliance, ING Investments, LLC(2) (October 2004 — Present). Formerly, Chief Compliance Officer, ING Investments, LLC(2) (October 2001 — October 2004).
             
William Evans
10 State House Road
Hartford, Connecticut 06103
Age: 35
  Vice President   September 2007 — Present   Vice President, Head of Mutual Fund Advisory Group (April 2007 — Present), Vice President, U.S. Mutual Funds and Investment Products (May 2005 — April 2007), Senior Fund Analyst, U.S. Mutual Funds and Investment Products (May 2002 — May 2005).
             
Maria M. Anderson
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 49
  Vice President   January 2005 — Present   Vice President, ING Funds Services, LLC(3) (September 2004 — Present). Formerly, Assistant Vice President, ING Funds Services, LLC(3) (October 2001 — September 2004); and Manager of Fund Accounting and Fund Compliance, ING Investments, LLC(2) (September 1999 — October 2001).
             
Denise Lewis
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 44
  Vice President   January 2007 — Present   Vice President, ING Funds Services, LLC(3) (December 2006 — Present). Formerly, Senior Vice President, UMB Investment Services Group, LLC (November 2003 — December 2006); and Vice President, Wells Fargo Funds Management, LLC (December 2000 — August 2003).
             
Kimberly K. Palmer
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 50
  Vice President   March 2006 — Present   Vice President, ING Funds Services, LLC(3) (March 2006 — Present). Formerly, Assistant Vice President, ING Funds Services, LLC(3) (August 2004 — March 2006); Manager, Registration Statements, ING Funds Services, LLC(3) (May 2003 — August 2004); Associate Partner, AMVESCAP PLC (October 2000 — May 2003); and Director of Federal Filings and Blue Sky Filings, INVESCO Funds Group, Inc. (March 1994 — May 2003).


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TRUSTEE AND OFFICER INFORMATION (Unaudited) (continued)
 
             
        Term of Office
   
    Position(s) Held
  and Length of
  Principal Occupation(s)
Name, Address and Age
 
with the Trust
 
Time Served(1)
 
during the Past Five Years
 
             
Susan P. Kinens
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 31
  Assistant Vice President   January 2005 — Present   Assistant Vice President, ING Funds Services, LLC(3) (December 2002 — Present); and has held various other positions with ING Funds Services, LLC(3) for more than the last five years.
             
Huey P. Falgout, Jr.
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 44
  Secretary   January 2005 — Present   Chief Counsel, ING Americas, U.S. Legal Services (September 2003 — Present). Formerly, Counsel, ING Americas, U.S. Legal Services (November 2002 — September 2003); and Associate General Counsel of AIG American General (January 1999 — November 2002).
             
Theresa K. Kelety
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Age: 45
  Assistant Secretary   January 2005 — Present   Senior Counsel, ING Americas, U.S. Legal Services (April 2003 — Present). Formerly, Senior Associate with Shearman & Sterling (February 2000 — April 2003).
(1) The officers hold office until the next annual meeting of the Trustees and until their successors shall have been elected and qualified.
 
(2) ING Investments, LLC was previously named ING Pilgrim Investments, LLC. ING Pilgrim Investments, LLC is the successor in interest to ING Pilgrim Investments, Inc., which was previously known as Pilgrim Investments, Inc. and before that was known as Pilgrim America Investments, Inc.
 
(3) ING Funds Services, LLC was previously named ING Pilgrim Group, LLC. ING Pilgrim Group, LLC is the successor in interest to ING Pilgrim Group, Inc., which was previously known as Pilgrim Group, Inc. and before that was known as Pilgrim America Group, Inc.
 
(4) ING Funds Distributor, LLC is the successor in interest to ING Funds Distributor, Inc., which was previously known as ING Pilgrim Securities, Inc., and before that was known as Pilgrim Securities, Inc., and before that was known as Pilgrim America Securities, Inc.
 
(5) Mr. Mathews commenced services as CEO and President of the ING Funds on November 11, 2006.
 
(6) Directed Services, LLC is the successor in interest to Directed Services, Inc.


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ADVISORY CONTRACT APPROVAL DISCUSSION (Unaudited)
 
Board Consideration and Re-Approval of Investment Advisory and Sub-Advisory Contracts
 
Section 15(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) provides that, after an initial period, the existing investment advisory and sub-advisory contracts of ING Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund (the “Fund”) will remain in effect only if the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Fund, including a majority of Board members who have no direct or indirect interest in the advisory and sub-advisory contracts, and who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as such term is defined under the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”), annually review and approve them. Thus, at a meeting held on November 30, 2007, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, considered whether to renew the investment advisory contract (the “Advisory Contract”) between ING Investments, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the Fund and the sub-advisory contract (“Sub-Advisory Contract”) with ING Investment Management Advisors B.V. (the “Sub-Adviser”).
 
The Independent Trustees also held separate meetings on October 10 and November 28, 2007 to consider the renewal of the Advisory Contract and Sub-Advisory Contract. As a result, subsequent references herein to factors considered and determinations made by the Independent Trustees include, as applicable, factors considered and determinations made on those earlier dates by the Independent Trustees.
 
At its November 30, 2007 meeting, the Board voted to renew the Advisory and Sub-Advisory Contracts for the Fund. In reaching these decisions, the Board took into account information furnished to it throughout the year at regular meetings of the Board and the Board’s committees, as well as information prepared specifically in connection with the annual renewal process. Determinations by the Independent Trustees also took into account various factors that they believed, in light of the legal advice furnished to them by Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP (“K&L Gates”), their independent legal counsel, and their own business judgment, to be relevant. Further, while the Advisory Contract and Sub-Advisory Contract for the Fund were considered at the same Board meeting, the Trustees considered the Fund’s advisory and sub-advisory relationships separately.
 
Provided below is an overview of the Board’s contract approval process in general, as well as a discussion of certain specific factors that the Board considered at its renewal meeting. While the Board gave its attention to the information furnished, at its request, that was most relevant to its considerations, discussed below are a number of the primary factors relevant to the Board’s consideration as to whether to renew the Advisory and Sub-Advisory Contracts for the one-year period ending November 30, 2008. Each Board member may have accorded different weight to the various factors in reaching his or her conclusions with respect to the Fund’s advisory and sub-advisory arrangements.
 
Overview of the Contract Renewal and Approval Process
 
Several years ago, the Independent Trustees instituted a revised process by which they seek and consider relevant information when they decide whether to approve new or existing advisory and sub-advisory arrangements for the investment companies in the ING Funds complex under their jurisdiction, including the Fund’s existing Advisory and Sub-Advisory Contracts. Among other actions, the Independent Trustees: retained the services of independent consultants with experience in the mutual fund industry to assist the Independent Trustees in working with the personnel employed by the Adviser or its affiliates who administer the Fund (“Management”) to identify the types of information presented to the Board to inform its deliberations with respect to advisory and sub-advisory relationships and to help evaluate that information; established a specific format in which certain requested information is provided to the Board; and determined the process for reviewing such information in connection with advisory and sub-advisory contract renewals and approvals. The end result was an enhanced process which is currently employed by the Independent Trustees to review and analyze information in connection with their annual renewal of the Fund’s Advisory and Sub-Advisory Contracts, as well as their review and approval of new advisory relationships.
 
Since the current renewal and approval process was first implemented, the Board’s membership has changed substantially through periodic retirements of some Trustees and the appointment and election of new Trustees. In addition, throughout this period the Independent Trustees have reviewed and refined the renewal and approval process at least annually. The Board also established a Contracts Committee and two Investment Review Committees, including the


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ADVISORY CONTRACT APPROVAL DISCUSSION (Unaudited) (continued)
 
International/Balanced/Fixed Income Funds Investment Review Committee (the “I/B/F IRC”). Among other matters, the Contracts Committee provides oversight with respect to the contracts renewal process, and the Fund is assigned to the I/B/F IRC, which provides oversight regarding, among other matters, investment performance.
 
The type and format of the information provided to the Board or to legal counsel for the Independent Trustees in connection with the contract approval and renewal process has been codified in the Fund’s 15(c) Methodology Guide. This Guide was developed under the direction of the Independent Trustees and sets out a blueprint pursuant to which the Independent Trustees request certain information that they deem important to facilitate an informed review in connection with initial and annual approvals of advisory and sub-advisory contracts.
 
Management provides certain of the information requested by the 15(c) Methodology Guide in Fund Analysis and Comparison Tables (“FACT sheets”) prior to the Independent Trustees’ review of advisory and sub-advisory contract arrangements (including the Funds’ Advisory and Sub-Advisory Contracts). The Independent Trustees previously retained an independent firm to verify and test the accuracy of certain FACT sheet data for a representative sample of funds in the ING Funds complex. In 2007, the Contracts Committee employed the services of an independent consultant to assist in its review and analysis of, among other matters, the 15(c) Methodology Guide, the content and format of the FACT sheets, and proposed selected peer group of investment companies (“SPG”) to be used by the Fund for certain comparison purposes during the renewal process.
 
As part of an ongoing process, the Contracts Committee recommends or considers recommendations from Management for refinements to the 15(c) Methodology Guide and other aspects of the review process, and the Board’s Investment Review Committees (including the I/B/F IRC) review benchmarks used to assess the performance of the funds in the ING Funds complex. The Investment Review Committees may apply a heightened level of scrutiny in cases where performance has lagged an ING Fund’s relevant benchmark and/or SPG.
 
The Board employed its process for reviewing contracts when considering the renewals of the Fund’s Advisory and Sub-Advisory Contracts that would be effective through November 30, 2008. Set forth below is a discussion of many of the Board’s primary considerations and conclusions resulting from this process.
 
Nature, Extent and Quality of Service
 
In determining whether to approve the Advisory and Sub-Advisory Contracts for the Fund for the year ending November 30, 2008, the Independent Trustees received and evaluated such information as they deemed necessary regarding the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. This included information regarding the Adviser and Sub-Adviser provided throughout the year at regular meetings of the Board and its committees, as well as information furnished in connection with the contract renewal meetings.
 
The materials requested by and provided to the Board and/or to K&L Gates prior to the November 30, 2007 Board meeting included, among other information, the following items: (1) FACT sheets for the Fund that provided information regarding the performance and expenses of the Fund and other similarly managed funds in its SPG, as well as information regarding the Fund’s investment portfolio, objective and strategies; (2) the 15(c) Methodology Guide, which describes how the FACT sheets were prepared, including the manner in which the Fund’s benchmark and SPG were selected and how profitability was determined; (3) responses from the Adviser and Sub-Adviser to a series of questions posed by K&L Gates on behalf of the Trustees; (4) copies of the forms of Advisory Contract and Sub-Advisory Contract; (5) copies of the Forms ADV for the Adviser and Sub-Adviser; (6) financial statements for the Adviser and Sub-Adviser; (7) a draft of a narrative summary addressing key factors the Board customarily considers in evaluating the renewals of the ING Funds’ (including the Fund’s) advisory contract and sub-advisory contracts, including a written analysis for the Fund of how its performance, fees and expenses compare to its SPG and designated benchmark; (8) independent analyses of Fund performance by the Fund’s Chief Investment Risk Officer; (9) information regarding net asset flows into and out of the Fund; and (10) other information relevant to the Board’s evaluations.
 
The Fund’s common shares were used for purposes of certain comparisons to the funds in its SPG. Common


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ADVISORY CONTRACT APPROVAL DISCUSSION (Unaudited) (continued)
 
shares were selected because they are the only Fund class issued and outstanding. The common shares were compared to the analogous class of shares for each fund in the SPG. The mutual funds chosen for inclusion in the Fund’s SPG were selected based upon criteria designed to mirror the class being compared to the SPG.
 
In arriving at its conclusions with respect to the Advisory Contract, the Board was mindful of the “manager-of-managers” platform of the ING Funds that has been developed by Management. The Board also considered the techniques that the Adviser has developed, at the Board’s direction, to screen and perform due diligence on Sub-Advisers that are recommended to the Board to manage investment portfolios of the Funds in the ING Funds complex. The Board noted the resources that the Adviser has committed to the Board and to the I/B/F IRC to assist the Board and the I/B/F IRC with their assessment of the investment performance of the Fund on an ongoing basis throughout the year. This includes the appointment of a Chief Investment Risk Officer and his staff, who report directly to the Board and who have developed attribution analyses and other metrics used by Board’s Investment Review Committees to analyze the key factors underlying investment performance for the funds in the ING Funds complex.
 
The Board also noted the techniques used by the Adviser to monitor the performance of the Sub-Adviser and the proactive approach that the Adviser, working in cooperation with the I/B/F IRC, has taken to advocate or recommend, when it believed appropriate, changes designed to assist in improving the Fund’s performance. Such changes could include, for example, changes in personnel who are responsible for managing the Fund’s portfolio.
 
In considering the Fund’s Advisory Contract, the Board also considered the extent of benefits provided to the Fund’s shareholders, beyond advisory services, from being part of the ING family of Funds. The Board also took into account the Adviser’s efforts in recent years to reduce the expenses of the ING Funds through renegotiated arrangements with the ING Funds’ service providers.
 
Further, the Board received periodic reports showing that the investment policies and restrictions for the Fund were consistently complied with and other periodic reports covering matters such as compliance by Adviser and Sub-Adviser personnel with codes of ethics. The Board considered reports from the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) evaluating whether the regulatory compliance systems and procedures of the Adviser and Sub-Adviser are reasonably designed to assure compliance with the federal securities laws, including those related to, among others, late trading and market timing, best execution, fair value pricing, proxy voting and trade allocation practices. The Board also took into account the CCO’s annual and periodic reports and recommendations with respect to service provider compliance programs. In this regard, the Board also considered the policies and procedures developed by the CCO in consultation with the Board’s Compliance Committee that guide the CCO’s compliance oversight function.
 
The Board reviewed the level of staffing, quality and experience of the Fund’s portfolio management team. The Board took into account the respective resources and reputations of the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, and evaluated the ability of the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser to attract and retain qualified investment advisory personnel. The Board also considered the adequacy of the resources committed to the Fund (and other relevant funds in the ING Funds complex) by the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser, and whether those resources are commensurate with the needs of the Fund and are sufficient to sustain appropriate levels of performance and compliance needs.
 
Based on their deliberations and the materials presented to them, the Board concluded that the advisory and related services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser are appropriate in light of the Fund’s operations, the competitive landscape of the investment company business, and investor needs, and that the nature and quality of the overall services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser were appropriate.
 
Fund Performance
 
In assessing advisory and sub-advisory relationships, the Board placed emphasis on the net investment returns of the Fund. While the Board considered the performance reports and discussions with portfolio managers at Board and committee meetings during the year, particular attention in assessing performance was given to the FACT sheets furnished in connection with the renewal process. The FACT sheet prepared for the Fund included its investment performance compared to the Fund’s Morningstar category median, Lipper category median, SPG and primary benchmark. The Board’s findings specific to the


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ADVISORY CONTRACT APPROVAL DISCUSSION (Unaudited) (continued)
 
Fund’s performance are discussed under “Specific Factors Considered,” below.
 
Economies of Scale
 
When evaluating the reasonableness of advisory fee rates, the Board also considered whether economies of scale will be realized by the Adviser as the Fund grows larger and the extent to which any such economies are reflected in contractual fee rates. In this regard, the Board considered the compensation under an Advisory Contract with level fees that does not include breakpoints, taking into account that the Fund is a closed-end fund. The Board also considered the extent to which economies of scale could be realized through waivers, reimbursements or expense reductions.
 
In evaluating economies of scale, the Independent Trustees also considered prior periodic management reports and industry information on this topic, and the Independent Trustees who were Board members at that time also considered a November 2006 evaluation and analysis presented to them by an independent consultant regarding fee breakpoint arrangements and economies of scale.
 
Information Regarding Services to Other Clients
 
The Board requested and considered information regarding the nature of services and fee rates offered by the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser to other clients, including other registered investment companies and institutional accounts. When fee rates offered to other clients differed materially from those charged to the Fund, the Board considered any underlying rationale provided by the Adviser or Sub-Adviser for these differences. The Board also noted that the fee rates charged to the Fund and similar institutional clients may differ materially due to the different services and additional regulatory overlay associated with registered investment companies, such as the Fund.
 
Fee Rates and Profitability
 
The Board reviewed and considered the contractual investment advisory fee rate, combined with the administrative fee rate, payable by the Fund to the Adviser. The Board also considered the contractual sub-advisory fee rate payable by the Adviser to the Sub-Adviser for sub-advisory services. In addition, the Board considered any existing and proposed fee waivers and expense limitations applicable to the fees payable by the Fund.
 
The Board considered the fee structure of the Fund as it relates to the services provided under the contracts and the potential fall-out benefits to the Adviser and Sub-Adviser and their respective affiliates from their association with the Fund. For the Fund, the Board determined that the fees payable to the Adviser and Sub-Adviser are reasonable for the services that each performs, which were considered in light of the nature and quality of the services that each has performed and is expected to perform.
 
The Board considered information on revenues, costs and profits realized by the Adviser, which was prepared by Management in accordance with the allocation methodology (including related assumptions) specified in the 15(c) Methodology Guide. In analyzing the profitability of the Adviser in connection with its services to the Fund, the Board took into account the sub-advisory fee rate payable by the Adviser to the Sub-Adviser. The Board also considered information that it requested and was provided by Management with respect to the profitability of service providers affiliated with the Adviser, as well as information provided by the Sub-Adviser with respect to its profitability.
 
The Board determined that it had requested and received sufficient information to gain a reasonable understanding regarding the Adviser’s and Sub-Adviser’s profitability. The Board also recognized that profitability analysis is not an exact science and there is no uniform methodology for determining profitability for this purpose. In this context, the Board realized that Management’s calculations regarding its costs incurred in establishing the infrastructure necessary for the Fund’s operations may not be fully reflected in the expenses allocated to the Fund in determining profitability, and that the information presented may not portray all of the costs borne by Management or capture Management’s entrepreneurial risk associated with offering and managing a mutual fund complex in the current regulatory and market environment.
 
Based on the information on revenues, costs, and profitability considered by the Board, and after considering the factors described in this section, the Board concluded that the profits, if any, realized by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser were not excessive. In making its determinations, the Board based its conclusions on the reasonableness of the advisory and sub-advisory fees of the Adviser and Sub-Adviser primarily on the factors described for the Fund below.


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ADVISORY CONTRACT APPROVAL DISCUSSION (Unaudited) (continued)
 
Specific Factors Considered
 
The following paragraphs outline certain of the specific factors that the Board considered, and the conclusions reached, at its November 30, 2007 meeting in relation to renewing the Fund’s current Advisory Contract and Sub-Advisory Contract for the year ending November 30, 2008. These specific factors are in addition to those considerations discussed above. In each case, the Fund’s performance was compared to its Morningstar category median and its primary benchmark, a broad-based securities market index that appears in the Fund’s prospectus. With respect to Morningstar quintile rankings, the first quintile represents the highest (best) performance and the fifth quintile represents the lowest performance. The Fund’s management fee and expense ratio were compared to the fees and expense ratios of the funds in its SPG.
 
In considering whether to approve the renewal of the Advisory and Sub-Advisory Contracts for the Fund, the Board considered that, based on performance data for the periods ended June 30, 2007: (1) the Fund underperformed its Morningstar category median and primary benchmark for all periods presented; and (2) the Fund is ranked in the fourth quintile of its Morningstar category for the one-year period, and the fifth (lowest) quintile for the most recent calendar quarter and year-to-date periods.
 
In analyzing this performance data, the Board took into account: (1) Management’s representations regarding the effect that the Fund’s options-writing strategy has on its relative performance; (2) Management’s analysis of the negative effect that sector allocation had on the Fund’s performance; (3) the Fund commenced operations on March 29, 2005 and its portfolio management team changed in January 2006; and (4) Management will continue to monitor, and the Board or its I/B/F IRC will periodically review, the Fund’s performance.
 
In considering the fees payable under the Advisory and Sub-Advisory Contracts for the Fund, the Board took into account the factors described above and also considered: (1) the fairness of the compensation under an Advisory Contract with level fees that does not include breakpoints; (2) the pricing structure (including the expense ratio to be borne by shareholders) of the Fund, as compared to its SPG, including that: (a) the management fee (inclusive of the advisory fee and 0.10% administration fee) for the Fund is below the median and the average management fees of the funds in its SPG; and (b) the expense ratio for the Fund is below the median and the average expense ratios of the funds in its SPG.
 
After its deliberation, the Board reached the following conclusions: (1) the Fund’s management fee rate is reasonable in the context of all factors considered by the Board; (2) the Fund’s expense ratio is reasonable in the context of all factors considered by the Board; (3) the Fund commenced operations on March 29, 2005 and its portfolio management team changed in January 2006, and it is reasonable to permit the Sub-Adviser to continue to manage the Fund to appropriately assess performance; and (4) the sub-advisory fee rate payable by the Adviser to the Sub-Adviser is reasonable in the context of all factors considered by the Board. Based on these conclusions and other factors, the Board voted to renew the Advisory and Sub-Advisory Contracts for the Fund for the year ending November 30, 2008. During this renewal process, different Board members may have given different weight to different individual factors and related conclusions.


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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Unaudited)
 
During the period, there were no material changes in the Fund’s investment objective or policies that were not approved by the shareholders or the Fund’s charter or by-laws or in the principal risk factors associated with investment in the Fund. Effective April 1, 2007, Alexander van Eekelen joined portfolio management team who are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio. Effective May 1, 2007, Menno van Boven and Ruud Boeve are no longer responsible for the management of the Fund’s portfolio.
 
Dividend Reinvestment Plan
 
Unless the registered owner of Common Shares elects to receive cash by contacting BNY (the “Plan Agent”), all dividends declared on Common Shares of the Fund will be automatically reinvested by the Plan Agent for shareholders in additional Common Shares of the Fund through the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”). Shareholders who elect not to participate in the Plan will receive all dividends and other distributions in cash paid by check mailed directly to the shareholder of record (or, if the Common Shares are held in street or other nominee name, then to such nominee) by the Plan Agent. Participation in the Plan is completely voluntary and may be terminated or resumed at any time without penalty by notice if received and processed by the Plan Agent prior to the dividend record date; otherwise such termination or resumption will be effective with respect to any subsequently declared dividend or other distribution. Some brokers may automatically elect to receive cash on your behalf and may re-invest that cash in additional Common Shares of the Fund for you. If you wish for all dividends declared on your Common Shares of the Fund to be automatically reinvested pursuant to the Plan, please contact your broker.
 
The Plan Agent will open an account for each Common Shareholder under the Plan in the same name in which such Common Shareholder’s Common Shares are registered. Whenever the Fund declares a dividend or other distribution (together, a “Dividend”) payable in cash, non-participants in the Plan will receive cash and participants in the Plan will receive the equivalent in Common Shares. The Common Shares will be acquired by the Plan Agent for the participants’ accounts, depending upon the circumstances described below, either (i) through receipt of additional unissued but authorized Common Shares from the Fund (“Newly Issued Common Shares”) or (ii) by purchase of outstanding Common Shares on the open market (“Open-Market Purchases”) on the NYSE or elsewhere. Open-market purchases and sales are usually made through a broker affiliated with the Plan Agent.
 
If, on the payment date for any Dividend, the closing market price plus estimated brokerage commissions per Common Share is equal to or greater than the net asset value per Common Share, the Plan Agent will invest the Dividend amount in Newly Issued Common Shares on behalf of the participants. The number of Newly Issued Common Shares to be credited to each participant’s account will be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the Dividend by the net asset value per Common Share on the payment date; provided that, if the net asset value is less than or equal to 95% of the closing market value on the payment date, the dollar amount of the Dividend will be divided by 95% of the closing market price per Common Share on the payment date. If, on the payment date for any Dividend, the net asset value per Common Share is greater than the closing market value plus estimated brokerage commissions, the Plan Agent will invest the Dividend amount in Common Shares acquired on behalf of the participants in Open-Market Purchases. In the event of a market discount on the payment date for any Dividend, the Plan Agent will have until the last business day before the next date on which the Common Shares trade on an “ex-dividend” basis or 30 days after the payment date for such Dividend, whichever is sooner (the “Last Purchase Date”), to invest the Dividend amount in Common Shares acquired in Open-Market Purchases.
 
It is contemplated that the Fund will pay monthly Dividends. Therefore, the period during which Open-Market Purchases can be made will exist only from the payment date of each Dividend through the date before the next “ex-dividend” date, which typically will be approximately ten days.
 
If, before the Plan Agent has completed its Open-Market Purchases, the market price per common share exceeds the net asset value per Common Share, the average per Common Share purchase price paid by the Plan Administrator may exceed the net asset value of the Common Shares, resulting in the acquisition of fewer Common Shares than if the Dividend had been paid in Newly Issued Common Shares on the Dividend payment date. Because of the foregoing difficulty with respect to Open-Market Purchases, the Plan provides that if the Plan Agent is unable to invest the full Dividend amount in Open-Market Purchases during the purchase period or if the market discount shifts to


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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Unaudited) (continued)
 
a market premium during the purchase period, the Plan Agent will cease making Open-Market Purchases and will invest the un-invested portion of the Dividend amount in Newly Issued Common Shares at the net asset value per common share at the close of business on the Last Purchase Date provided that, if the net asset value is less than or equal to 95% of the then current market price per Common Share, the dollar amount of the Dividend will be divided by 95% of the market price on the payment date.
 
The Plan Agent maintains all shareholders’ accounts in the Plan and furnishes written confirmation of all transactions in the accounts, including information needed by shareholders for tax records. Common Shares in the account of each Plan participant will be held by the Plan Agent on behalf of the Plan participant, and each shareholder proxy will include those shares purchased or received pursuant to the Plan. The Plan Agent will forward all proxy solicitation materials to participants and vote proxies for shares held under the Plan in accordance with the instructions of the participants.
 
In the case of shareholders such as banks, brokers or nominees which hold shares for others who are the beneficial owners, the Plan Agent will administer the Plan on the basis of the number of Common Shares certified from time to time by the record shareholder’s name and held for the account of beneficial owners who participate in the Plan.
 
There will be no brokerage charges with respect to Common Shares issued directly by the Fund. However, each participant will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred in connection with Open-Market Purchases. The automatic reinvestment of Dividends will not relieve participants of any federal, state or local income tax that may be payable (or required to be withheld) on such Dividends. Participants that request a partial or full sale of shares through the Plan Agent are subject to a $15.00 sales fee and a $0.10 per share brokerage commission on purchases or sales, and may be subject to certain other service charges.
 
The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan. There is no direct service charge to participants with regard to purchases in the Plan; however, the Fund reserves the right to amend the Plan to include a service charge payable by the participants.
 
All questions concerning the Plan should be directed to the Fund’s Shareholder Service Department at (800) 992-0180.
 
Key Financial Dates — Calendar 2008 Dividends:
 
         
Declaration Date
 
Ex-Dividend Date
 
Payable Date
 
January 15, 2008   February 1, 2008   February 15, 2008
February 15, 2008
  March 3, 2008   March 17, 2008
March 17, 2008
  April 1, 2008   April 15, 2008
April 15, 2008
  May 1, 2008   May 15, 2008
May 15, 2008
  June 2, 2008   June 16, 2008
June 16, 2008
  July 1, 2008   July 15, 2008
July 15, 2008
  August 1, 2008   August 15, 2008
August 15, 2008
  September 2, 2008   September 15, 2008
September 15, 2008
  October 1, 2008   October 15, 2008
October 15, 2008
  November 3, 2008   November 17, 2008
November 17, 2008
  December 1, 2008   December 15, 2008
December 15, 2008
  December 29, 2008   January 15, 2009
 
Record date will be two business days after each Ex-Dividend Date. These dates are subject to change.
 
Stock Data
 
The Fund’s common shares are traded on the NYSE (Symbol: IGD).
 
Repurchase of Securities by Closed-End Companies
 
In accordance with Section 23(c) of the 1940 Act, and Rule 23c-1 under the 1940 Act the Fund may from time to time purchase shares of beneficial interest of the Fund in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions and/or purchase shares to correct erroneous transactions.
 
Number of Shareholders
 
The approximate number of record holders of Common Stock as of February 29, 2008 was 93,541, which does not include beneficial owners of shares held in the name of brokers of other nominees.
 
Certifications
 
In accordance with Section 303A.12 (a) of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual, the Fund’s CEO submitted the Annual CEO Certification on August 3, 2007 certifying that he was not aware, as of that date, of any violation by the Fund of the NYSE’s Corporate governance listing standards. In addition, as required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and related SEC rules, the Fund’s principal executive and financial officers have made quarterly certifications, included in filings with the SEC on Forms N-CSR and N-Q, relating to, among other things, the Fund’s disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting.


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Investment Adviser
ING Investments, LLC
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Road
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
 
Administrator
ING Funds Services, LLC
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Road
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
 
Distributor
ING Funds Distributor, LLC
7337 East Doubletree Ranch Road
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
 
Transfer Agent
The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation
101 Barclay Street (11E)
New York, New York 10286
 
 
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
KPMG LLP
99 High Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
 
Custodian
The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation
One Wall Street
New York, New York 10286
 
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
1775 I Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006
 
Toll-Free Shareholder Information
Call us from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern time on any business day for account or other information, at (800) 992-0180
 
(ING FUNDS LOGO) PRAR-UIGD     (0208-042908)


Item 2. Code of Ethics.
As of the end of the period covered by this report, Registrant had adopted a code of ethics, as defined in Item 2 of Form N-CSR, that applies to the Registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer. There were no amendments to the Code during the period covered by the report. The Registrant did not grant any waivers, including implicit waivers, from any provisions of the Code during the period covered by this report. The code of ethics is filed herewith pursuant to Item 10(a)(1), Exhibit 99.CODE ETH.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
The Board of Trustees has determined that J. Michael Earley is an audit committee financial expert, as defined in Item 3 of Form
N-CSR. Mr. Earley is “independent” for purposes of Item 3 of Form N-CSR.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
(a)   Audit Fees: The aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by KPMG LLP (“KPMG”), the principal accountant for the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements, for services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years were $22,000 for the year ended February 29, 2008 and $28,750 for the year ended February 28, 2007.
 
(b)   Audit-Related Fees: The aggregate fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for assurance and related services by KPMG that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the registrant’s financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this item were $0 for the year ended February 29, 2008 and $3,126 for the year ended February 28, 2007.
 
(c)   Tax Fees: The aggregate fees billed in each the last two fiscal years for professional services rendered by KPMG for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning were $2,243 in the year ended February 29, 2008 and $16,370 in the year ended February 28, 2007. Such services included review of excise distribution calculations (if applicable), preparation of the Funds’ federal, state and excise tax returns, tax services related to mergers and routine consulting.
 
(d)   All Other Fees: NONE.
 
(e)(1)   Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

 


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AUDIT AND NON-AUDIT SERVICES
PRE-APPROVAL POLICY
I. Statement of Principles
Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Act”), the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors or Trustees (the “Committee”) of the ING Funds (each a “Fund,” collectively, the “Funds”) set out on Exhibit A to this Audit and Non-Audit Services Pre-Approval Policy (“Policy”) is responsible for the oversight of the work of the Funds’ independent auditors. As part of its responsibilities, the Committee must pre-approve the audit and non-audit services performed by the auditors in order to assure that the provision of these services does not impair the auditors’ independence from the Funds. The Committee has adopted, and the Board has ratified, this Policy, which sets out the procedures and conditions under which the services of the independent auditors may be pre-approved.
Under Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules promulgated in accordance with the Act, the Funds may establish two different approaches to pre-approving audit and non-audit services. The Committee may approve services without consideration of specific case-by-case services (“general pre-approval”) or it may pre-approve specific services (“specific pre-approval”). The Committee believes that the combination of these approaches contemplated in this Policy results in an effective and efficient method for pre-approving audit and non-audit services to be performed by the Funds’ independent auditors. Under this Policy, services that are not of a type that may receive general pre-approval require specific pre-approval by the Committee. Any proposed services that exceed pre-approved cost levels or budgeted amounts will also require the Committee’s specific pre-approval.
For both types of approval, the Committee considers whether the subject services are consistent with the SEC’s rules on auditor independence and that such services are compatible with maintaining the auditors independence. The Committee also considers whether a particular audit firm is in the best position to provide effective and efficient services to the Funds. Reasons that the auditors are in the best position include the auditors’ familiarity with the Funds’ business, personnel, culture, accounting systems, risk profile, and other factors, and whether the services will enhance the Funds’ ability to manage and control risk or improve audit quality. Such factors will be considered as a whole, with no one factor being determinative.
The appendices attached to this Policy describe the audit, audit-related, tax-related, and other services that have the Committee’s general pre-approval. For any service that has been approved through general pre-approval, the general pre-approval will remain in place for a period 12 months from the date of pre-approval, unless the Committee determines that a different period is appropriate. The Committee will annually review and pre-approve the services that may be provided by the independent auditors without specific pre-approval. The Committee will revise the list of services subject to general pre-approval as appropriate. This Policy does not serve as a delegation to Fund management of the Committee’s duty to pre-approve services performed by the Funds’ independent auditors.

 


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II. Audit Services
The annual audit services engagement terms and fees are subject to the Committee’s specific pre-approval. Audit services are those services that are normally provided by auditors in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements or those that generally only independent auditors can reasonably provide. They include the Funds’ annual financial statement audit and procedures that the independent auditors must perform in order to form an opinion on the Funds’ financial statements (e.g., information systems and procedural reviews and testing). The Committee will monitor the audit services engagement and approve any changes in terms, conditions or fees deemed by the Committee to be necessary or appropriate.
The Committee may grant general pre-approval to other audit services, such as statutory audits and services associated with SEC registration statements, periodic reports and other documents filed with the SEC or issued in connection with securities offerings.
The Committee has pre-approved the audit services listed on Appendix A. The Committee must specifically approve all audit services not listed on Appendix A.
III. Audit-related Services
Audit-related services are assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or the review of the Funds’ financial statements or are traditionally performed by the independent auditors. The Committee believes that the provision of audit-related services will not impair the independent auditors’ independence, and therefore may grant pre-approval to audit-related services. Audit-related services include accounting consultations related to accounting, financial reporting or disclosure matters not classified as “audit services;” assistance with understanding and implementing new accounting and financial reporting guidance from rulemaking authorities; agreed-upon or expanded audit procedures relating to accounting and/or billing records required to respond to or comply with financial, accounting or regulatory reporting matters; and assistance with internal control reporting requirements under Form N-SAR or Form N-CSR.
The Committee has pre-approved the audit-related services listed on Appendix B. The Committee must specifically approve all audit-related services not listed on Appendix B.
IV. Tax Services
The Committee believes the independent auditors can provide tax services to the Funds, including tax compliance, tax planning, and tax advice, without compromising the auditors’ independence. Therefore, the Committee may grant general pre-approval with respect to tax services historically provided by the Funds’ independent auditors that do not, in the Committee’s view, impair auditor independence and that are consistent with the SEC’s rules on auditor independence.
The Committee will not grant pre-approval if the independent auditors initially recommends a transaction the sole business purpose of which is tax avoidance and the tax treatment of which may not be supported in the Internal Revenue Code and related regulations. The Committee may consult

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outside counsel to determine that tax planning and reporting positions are consistent with this Policy.
The Committee has pre-approved the tax-related services listed on Appendix C. The Committee must specifically approve all tax-related services not listed on Appendix C.
V. Other Services
The Committee believes it may grant approval of non-audit services that are permissible services for independent auditors to a Fund. The Committee has determined to grant general pre-approval to other services that it believes are routine and recurring, do not impair auditor independence, and are consistent with SEC rules on auditor independence.
The Committee has pre-approved the non-audit services listed on Appendix D. The Committee must specifically approve all non-audit services not listed on Appendix D.
A list of the SEC’s prohibited non-audit services is attached to this Policy as Appendix E. The SEC’s rules and relevant guidance should be consulted to determine the precise definitions of these impermissible services and the applicability of exceptions to certain of the SEC’s prohibitions.
VI. Pre-approval of Fee levels and Budgeted Amounts
The Committee will annually establish pre-approval fee levels or budgeted amounts for audit, audit-related, tax and non-audit services to be provided to the Funds by the independent auditors. Any proposed services exceeding these levels or amounts require the Committee’s specific pre-approval. The Committee considers fees for audit and non-audit services when deciding whether to pre-approve services. The Committee may determine, for a pre-approval period of 12 months, the appropriate ratio between the total amount of fees for the Fund’s audit, audit-related, and tax services (including fees for services provided to Fund affiliates that are subject to pre-approval), and the total amount of fees for certain permissible non-audit services for the Fund classified as other services (including any such services provided to Fund affiliates that are subject to pre-approval).
VII. Procedures
Requests or applications for services to be provided by the independent auditors will be submitted to management. If management determines that the services do not fall within those services generally pre-approved by the Committee and set out in the appendices to these procedures, management will submit the services to the Committee or its delagee. Any such submission will include a detailed description of the services to be rendered. Notwithstanding this paragraph, the Committee will, on a quarterly basis, receive from the independent auditors a list of services provided for the previous calendar quarter on a cumulative basis by the auditors during the Pre-Approval Period.

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VIII. Delegation
The Committee may delegate pre-approval authority to one or more of the Committee’s members. Any member or members to whom such pre-approval authority is delegated must report any pre-approval decisions, including any pre-approved services, to the Committee at its next scheduled meeting. The Committee will identify any member to whom pre-approval authority is delegated in writing. The member will retain such authority for a period of 12 months from the date of pre-approval unless the Committee determines that a different period is appropriate. The period of delegated authority may be terminated by the Committee or at the option of the member.
IX. Additional Requirements
The Committee will take any measures the Committee deems necessary or appropriate to oversee the work of the independent auditors and to assure the auditors’ independence from the Funds. This may include reviewing a formal written statement from the independent auditors delineating all relationships between the auditors and the Funds, consistent with Independence Standards Board No. 1, and discussing with the auditors their methods and procedures for ensuring independence.
Last Approved: November 29, 2007

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Appendix A
 
Pre-Approved Audit Services for the Pre-Approval Period January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008
         
Service   The Fund(s)   Fee Range
Statutory audits or financial audits (including tax services associated with audit services)
  ü   As presented to Audit Committee1
 
       
Services associated with SEC registration statements, periodic reports and other documents filed with the SEC or other documents issued in connection with securities offerings (e.g., consents), and assistance in responding to SEC comment letters.
  ü   Not to exceed $9,750 per filing
 
       
Consultations by Fund management with respect to accounting or disclosure treatment of transactions or events and/or the actual or potential effect of final or proposed rules, standards or interpretations by the SEC, Financial Accounting Standards Board, or other regulatory or standard setting bodies.
  ü   Not to exceed $8,000 during the Pre-Approval Period
 
       
Seed capital audit and related review and issuance of consent on the N-2 registration statement
  ü   Not to exceed $12,600 per audit
 
1   For new Funds launched during the Pre-Approval Period, the fee ranges pre-approved will be the same as those for existing Funds, pro-rated in accordance with inception dates as provided in the auditors’ Proposal or any Engagement Letter covering the period at issue. Fees in the Engagement Letter will be controlling.

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Appendix B
 
Pre-Approved Audit-Related Services for the Pre-Approval Period January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008
             
Service   The Fund(s)   Fund Affiliates   Fee Range
Services related to Fund mergers (Excludes tax services - See Appendix C for tax services associated with Fund mergers)
  ü   ü   Not to exceed $10,000 per merger
 
           
Consultations by Fund management with respect to accounting or disclosure treatment of transactions or events and/or the actual or potential effect of final or proposed rules, standards or interpretations by the SEC, Financial Accounting Standards Board, or other regulatory or standard setting bodies. [Note: Under SEC rules some consultations may be “audit” services and others may be “audit-related” services.]
  ü       Not to exceed $5,000 per occurrence
during the Pre-Approval Period
 
           
Review of the Funds’ semi-annual financial statements
  ü       Not to exceed $2,200 per set of financial statements per fund
 
           
Reports to regulatory or government agencies related to the annual engagement
  ü       Up to $5,000 per occurrence during the Pre-Approval Period
 
           
Regulatory compliance assistance
  ü   ü   Not to exceed $5,000 per quarter
 
           
Training courses
      ü   Not to exceed $2,000 per course
 
           
For Prime Rate Trust, agreed upon procedures for quarterly reports to rating agencies
  ü       Not to exceed $9,450 per quarter
 
           
For Prime Rate Trust and Senior Income Fund, agreed upon procedures for the Revolving Credit and Security Agreement with Citigroup
  ü       Not to exceed $21,000 per fund per year

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Appendix C
 
Pre-Approved Tax Services for the Pre-Approval Period January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008
             
Service   The Fund(s)   Fund Affiliates   Fee Range
Preparation of federal and state income tax returns and federal excise tax returns for the Funds including assistance and review with excise tax distributions
  ü       As presented to Audit Committee 2
 
           
Review of IRC Sections 851(b) and 817(h) diversification testing on a real-time basis
  ü       As presented to Audit Committee 2
 
           
Assistance and advice regarding year-end reporting for 1099’s
  ü       As presented to Audit Committee 2
 
           
Tax assistance and advice regarding statutory, regulatory or administrative developments
  ü   ü   Not to exceed $5,000 for the Funds or for the Funds’ investment adviser during the Pre-Approval Period
 
2   For new Funds launched during the Pre-Approval Period, the fee ranges pre-approved will be the same as those for existing Funds, pro-rated in accordance with inception dates as provided in the auditors’ Proposal or any Engagement Letter covering the period at issue. Fees in the Engagement Letter will be controlling.

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Appendix C, continued
             
Service   The Fund(s)   Fund Affiliates   Fee Range
Tax training courses
      ü   Not to exceed $2,000 per course during the
Pre-Approval Period
 
           
Tax services associated with Fund mergers
  ü   ü   Not to exceed $4,000 per fund per merger during the Pre-Approval Period
 
           
Other tax-related assistance and consultation, including, without limitation, assistance in evaluating derivative financial instruments and international tax issues, qualification and distribution issues, and similar routine tax consultations.
  ü       Not to exceed $120,000 during the Pre-Approval Period

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Appendix D
 
Pre-Approved Other Services for the Pre-Approval Period January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008
             
Service   The Fund(s)   Fund Affiliates   Fee Range
Agreed-upon procedures for Class B share 12b-1 programs
      ü   Not to exceed $50,000 during the Pre-
Approval Period
 
           
Security counts performed pursuant to Rule 17f-2 of the 1940 Act (i.e., counts for Funds holding securities with affiliated sub-custodians)
 
Cost to be borne 50% by the Funds and 50% by ING Investments, LLC.
  ü   ü   Not to exceed $5,000 per Fund during the Pre-Approval Period
 
           
Agreed upon procedures for 15 (c) FACT Books
  ü       Not to exceed $35,000 during the Pre-Approval Period

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Appendix E
Prohibited Non-Audit Services
Dated:     January 1, 2008
    Bookkeeping or other services related to the accounting records or financial statements of the Funds
 
    Financial information systems design and implementation
 
    Appraisal or valuation services, fairness opinions, or contribution-in-kind reports
 
    Actuarial services
 
    Internal audit outsourcing services
 
    Management functions
 
    Human resources
 
    Broker-dealer, investment adviser, or investment banking services
 
    Legal services
 
    Expert services unrelated to the audit
 
    Any other service that the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board determines, by regulation, is impermissible

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EXHIBIT A
ING EQUITY TRUST
ING FUNDS TRUST
ING ASIA PACIFIC HIGH DIVIDEND EQUITY INCOME FUND
ING GLOBAL ADVANTAGE AND PREMIUM OPPORTUNITY FUND
ING GLOBAL EQUITY DIVIDEND AND PREMIUM OPPORTUNITY FUND
ING INTERNATIONAL HIGH DIVIDEND EQUITY INCOME FUND
ING RISK MANAGED NATURAL RESOURCES FUND
ING INVESTMENT FUNDS, INC.
ING INVESTORS TRUST
ING MAYFLOWER TRUST
ING MUTUAL FUNDS
ING PARTNERS, INC.
ING PRIME RATE TRUST
ING SENIOR INCOME FUND
ING SEPARATE PORTFOLIOS TRUST
ING VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
ING VARIABLE PRODUCTS TRUST

 


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(e)(2)   Percentage of services referred to in 4(b) — (4)(d) that were approved by the audit committee
 
    100% of the services were approved by the audit committee.
 
(f)   Percentage of hours expended attributable to work performed by other than full time employees of KPMG if greater than 50%.
 
    Not applicable.
 
(g)   Non-Audit Fees: The non-audit fees billed by the registrant’s accountant for services rendered to the registrant, and rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser, and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant were $ 1,394,538 for the year ended February 29, 2008 and $905,770 for year ended February 28, 2007.
 
(h)   Principal Accountants Independence: The Registrant’s Audit committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were not pre-approved pursuant to Rule 2-01(c)(7)(ii) of Regulation S-X is compatible with maintaining KPMG’s independence.

 


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Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
a.   The registrant has a separately-designated standing audit committee. The members are J. Michael Earley, Patricia W. Chadwick and Peter S. Drotch.
b.   Not applicable.
Item 6. Schedule of Investments
Schedule is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment companies.

 


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ING FUNDS
 
PROXY VOTING PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES
Effective Date: July 10, 2003
Revision Date: March 27, 2008
 
I. INTRODUCTION
The following are the Proxy Voting Procedures and Guidelines (the “Procedures and Guidelines”) of the ING Funds set forth on Exhibit 1 attached hereto and each portfolio or series thereof, except for any “Sub-Adviser-Voted Series” identified on Exhibit 1 and further described in Section III below (each non-Sub-Adviser-Voted Series hereinafter referred to as a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”). The purpose of these Procedures and Guidelines is to set forth the process by which each Fund subject to these Procedures and Guidelines will vote proxies related to the equity assets in its investment portfolio (the “portfolio securities”). The Procedures and Guidelines have been approved by the Funds’ Boards of Trustees/Directors1 (each a “Board” and collectively, the “Boards”), including a majority of the independent Trustees/Directors2 of the Board. These Procedures and Guidelines may be amended only by the Board. The Board shall review these Procedures and Guidelines at its discretion, and make any revisions thereto as deemed appropriate by the Board.
II. COMPLIANCE COMMITTEE
The Boards hereby delegate to the Compliance Committee of each Board (each a “Committee” and collectively, the “Committees”) the authority and responsibility to oversee the implementation of these Procedures and Guidelines, and where applicable, to make determinations on behalf of the Board with respect to the voting of proxies on behalf of each Fund. Furthermore, the Boards hereby delegate to each Committee the authority to review and approve material changes to proxy voting procedures of any Fund’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”). The Proxy Voting Procedures of the Adviser (the “Adviser Procedures”) are attached hereto as Exhibit 2. Any determination regarding the voting of proxies of each Fund that is made by a Committee, or any member thereof, as permitted herein, shall be deemed to be a good faith determination regarding the voting of proxies by the full Board. Each Committee
 
1   Reference in these Procedures to one or more Funds shall, as applicable, mean those Funds that are under the jurisdiction of the particular Board or Compliance Committee at issue. No provision in these Procedures is intended to impose any duty upon the particular Board or Compliance Committee with respect to any other Fund.
 
2   The independent Trustees/Directors are those Board members who are not “interested persons” of the Funds within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 


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may rely on the Adviser through the Agent, Proxy Coordinator and/or Proxy Group (as such terms are defined for purposes of the Adviser Procedures) to deal in the first instance with the application of these Procedures and Guidelines. Each Committee shall conduct itself in accordance with its charter.
III. DELEGATION OF VOTING AUTHORITY
Except as otherwise provided for herein, the Board hereby delegates to the Adviser to each Fund the authority and responsibility to vote all proxies with respect to all portfolio securities of the Fund in accordance with then current proxy voting procedures and guidelines that have been approved by the Board. The Board may revoke such delegation with respect to any proxy or proposal, and assume the responsibility of voting any Fund proxy or proxies as it deems appropriate. Non-material amendments to the Procedures and Guidelines may be approved for immediate implementation by the President or Chief Financial Officer of a Fund, subject to ratification at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Compliance Committee.
A Board may elect to delegate the voting of proxies to the Sub-Adviser of a portfolio or series of the ING Funds. In so doing, the Board shall also approve the Sub-Adviser’s proxy policies for implementation on behalf of such portfolio or series (a “Sub-Adviser-Voted Series”). Sub-Adviser-Voted Series shall not be covered under these Procedures and Guidelines but rather shall be covered by such Sub-Adviser’s proxy policies, provided that the Board, including a majority of the independent Trustees/Directors1, has approved them on behalf of such Sub-Adviser-Voted Series.
When a Fund participates in the lending of its securities and the securities are on loan at record date, proxies related to such securities will not be forwarded to the Adviser by the Fund’s custodian and therefore will not be voted. However, the Adviser shall use best efforts to recall or restrict specific securities from loan for the purpose of facilitating a “material” vote as described in the Adviser Procedures.
Funds that are “funds-of-funds” will “echo” vote their interests in underlying mutual funds, which may include ING Funds (or portfolios or series thereof) other than those set forth on Exhibit 1 attached hereto. This means that, if the fund-of-funds must vote on a proposal with respect to an underlying investment company, the fund-of-funds will vote its interest in that underlying fund in the same proportion all other shareholders in the investment company voted their interests.
A fund that is a “feeder” fund in a master-feeder structure does not echo vote. Rather, it passes votes requested by the underlying master fund to its shareholders. This means that, if the feeder fund is solicited by the master fund, it will request instructions from its own shareholders, either directly or, in the case of an insurance-dedicated Fund, through an insurance product or retirement plan, as to the manner in which to vote its interest in an underlying master fund.
 
1   The independent Trustees/Directors are those Board members who are not “interested persons” of the Funds within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

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When a Fund is a feeder in a master-feeder structure, proxies for the portfolio securities owned by the master fund will be voted pursuant to the master fund’s proxy voting policies and procedures. As such, and except as otherwise noted herein with respect to vote reporting requirements, feeder Funds shall not be subject to these Procedures and Guidelines.
IV. APPROVAL AND REVIEW OF PROCEDURES
Each Fund’s Adviser has adopted proxy voting procedures in connection with the voting of portfolio securities for the Funds as attached hereto in Exhibit 2. The Board hereby approves such procedures. All material changes to the Adviser Procedures must be approved by the Board or the Compliance Committee prior to implementation; however, the President or Chief Financial Officer of a Fund may make such non-material changes as they deem appropriate, subject to ratification by the Board or the Compliance Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting.
V. VOTING PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES
The Guidelines that are set forth in Exhibit 3 hereto specify the manner in which the Funds generally will vote with respect to the proposals discussed therein.
Unless otherwise noted, the defined terms used hereafter shall have the same meaning as defined in the Adviser Procedures
  A. Routine Matters
The Agent shall be instructed to submit a vote in accordance with the Guidelines where such Guidelines provide a clear “For,” “Against,” “Withhold” or “Abstain” on a proposal. However, the Agent shall be directed to refer any proxy proposal to the Proxy Coordinator for instructions as if it were a matter requiring case-by-case consideration under circumstances where the application of the Guidelines is unclear, it appears to involve unusual or controversial issues, or an Investment Professional (as such term is defined for purposes of the Adviser Procedures) recommends a vote contrary to the Guidelines.
  B. Matters Requiring Case-by-Case Consideration
The Agent shall be directed to refer proxy proposals accompanied by its written analysis and voting recommendation to the Proxy Coordinator where the Guidelines have noted “case-by-case” consideration.
Upon receipt of a referral from the Agent, the Proxy Coordinator may solicit additional research from the Agent, Investment Professional(s), as well as from any other source or service.
Except in cases in which the Proxy Group has previously provided the Proxy Coordinator

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with standing instructions to vote in accordance with the Agent’s recommendation, the Proxy Coordinator will forward the Agent’s analysis and recommendation and/or any research obtained from the Investment Professional(s), the Agent or any other source to the Proxy Group. The Proxy Group may consult with the Agent and/or Investment Professional(s), as it deems necessary.
The Proxy Coordinator shall use best efforts to convene the Proxy Group with respect to all matters requiring its consideration. In the event quorum requirements cannot be timely met in connection with a voting deadline, it shall be the policy of the Funds to vote in accordance with the Agent’s recommendation, unless the Agent’s recommendation is deemed to be conflicted as provided for under the Adviser Procedures, in which case no action shall be taken on such matter (i.e., a “Non-Vote”).
  1.   Within-Guidelines Votes: Votes in Accordance with a Fund’s Guidelines and/or, where applicable, Agent Recommendation
In the event the Proxy Group, and where applicable, any Investment Professional participating in the voting process, recommend a vote Within Guidelines, the Proxy Group will instruct the Agent, through the Proxy Coordinator, to vote in this manner. Except as provided for herein, no Conflicts Report (as such term is defined for purposes of the Adviser Procedures) is required in connection with Within-Guidelines Votes.
  2.   Non-Votes: Votes in Which No Action is Taken
The Proxy Group may recommend that a Fund refrain from voting under circumstances including, but not limited to, the following: (1) if the economic effect on shareholders’ interests or the value of the portfolio holding is indeterminable or insignificant, e.g., proxies in connection with fractional shares, securities no longer held in the portfolio of an ING Fund or proxies being considered on behalf of a Fund that is no longer in existence; or (2) if the cost of voting a proxy outweighs the benefits, e.g., certain international proxies, particularly in cases in which share blocking practices may impose trading restrictions on the relevant portfolio security. In such instances, the Proxy Group may instruct the Agent, through the Proxy Coordinator, not to vote such proxy. The Proxy Group may provide the Proxy Coordinator with standing instructions on parameters that would dictate a Non-Vote without the Proxy Group’s review of a specific proxy. It is noted a Non-Vote determination would generally not be made in connection with voting rights received pursuant to class action participation; while a Fund may no longer hold the security, a continuing economic effect on shareholders’ interests is likely.
Reasonable efforts shall be made to secure and vote all other proxies for the Funds, but, particularly in markets in which shareholders’ rights are limited, Non-Votes may also occur in connection with a Fund’s related inability to timely

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access ballots or other proxy information in connection with its portfolio securities.
Non-Votes may also result in certain cases in which the Agent’s recommendation has been deemed to be conflicted, as described in V.B. above and V.B.4. below.
  3.   Out-of-Guidelines Votes: Votes Contrary to Procedures and Guidelines, or Agent Recommendation, where applicable, Where No Recommendation is Provided by Agent, or Where Agent’s Recommendation is Conflicted
If the Proxy Group recommends that a Fund vote contrary to the Procedures and Guidelines, or the recommendation of the Agent, where applicable, if the Agent has made no recommendation on a matter requiring case-by-case consideration and the Procedures and Guidelines are silent, or the Agent’s recommendation on a matter requiring case-by-case consideration is deemed to be conflicted as provided for under the Adviser Procedures, the Proxy Coordinator will then request that all members of the Proxy Group, including any members not in attendance at the meeting at which the relevant proxy is being considered, and each Investment Professional participating in the voting process complete a Conflicts Report (as such term is defined for purposes of the Adviser Procedures). As provided for in the Adviser Procedures, the Proxy Coordinator shall be responsible for identifying to Counsel potential conflicts of interest with respect to the Agent.
If Counsel determines that a conflict of interest appears to exist with respect to the Agent, any member of the Proxy Group or the participating Investment Professional(s), the Proxy Coordinator will then contact the Compliance Committee(s) and forward to such Committee(s) all information relevant to their review, including the following materials or a summary thereof: the applicable Procedures and Guidelines, the recommendation of the Agent, where applicable, the recommendation of the Investment Professional(s), where applicable, any resources used by the Proxy Group in arriving at its recommendation, the Conflicts Report and any other written materials establishing whether a conflict of interest exists, and findings of Counsel (as such term is defined for purposes of the Adviser Procedures). Upon Counsel’s finding that a conflict of interest exists with respect to one or more members of the Proxy Group or the Advisers generally, the remaining members of the Proxy Group shall not be required to complete a Conflicts Report in connection with the proxy.
If Counsel determines that there does not appear to be a conflict of interest with respect to the Agent, any member of the Proxy Group or the participating Investment Professional(s), the Proxy Coordinator will instruct the Agent to vote the proxy as recommended by the Proxy Group.

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  4.   Referrals to a Fund’s Compliance Committee
A Fund’s Compliance Committee may consider all recommendations, analysis, research and Conflicts Reports provided to it by the Agent, Proxy Group and/or Investment Professional(s), and any other written materials used to establish whether a conflict of interest exists, in determining how to vote the proxies referred to the Committee. The Committee will instruct the Agent through the Proxy Coordinator how to vote such referred proposals.
The Proxy Coordinator shall use best efforts to timely refer matters to a Fund’s Committee for its consideration. In the event any such matter cannot be timely referred to or considered by the Committee, it shall be the policy of the Funds to vote in accordance with the Agent’s recommendation, unless the Agent’s recommendation is conflicted on a matter requiring case-by-case consideration, in which case no action shall be taken on such matter (i.e., a “Non-Vote”).
The Proxy Coordinator will maintain a record of all proxy questions that have been referred to a Fund’s Committee, all applicable recommendations, analysis, research and Conflicts Reports.
VI. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
In all cases in which a vote has not been clearly determined in advance by the Procedures and Guidelines or for which the Proxy Group recommends an Out-of-Guidelines Vote, and Counsel has determined that a conflict of interest appears to exist with respect to the Agent, any member of the Proxy Group, or any Investment Professional participating in the voting process, the proposal shall be referred to the Fund’s Committee for determination so that the Adviser shall have no opportunity to vote a Fund’s proxy in a situation in which it or the Agent may be deemed to have a conflict of interest. In the event a member of a Fund’s Committee believes he/she has a conflict of interest that would preclude him/her from making a voting determination in the best interests of the beneficial owners of the applicable Fund, such Committee member shall so advise the Proxy Coordinator and recuse himself/herself with respect to determinations regarding the relevant proxy.
VII. REPORTING AND RECORD RETENTION
Annually in August, each Fund will post its proxy voting record or a link thereto, for the prior one-year period ending on June 30th on the ING Funds website. No proxy voting record will be posted on the ING Funds website for any Fund that is a feeder in a master/feeder structure; however, a cross-reference to that of the master fund’s proxy voting record as filed in the SEC’s EDGAR database will be posted on the ING Funds website. The proxy voting record for each Fund will also be available in the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website.

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EXHIBIT 1
to the
ING Funds
Proxy Voting Procedures
ING ASIA PACIFIC HIGH DIVIDEND EQUITY INCOME FUND
ING EQUITY TRUST
ING FUNDS TRUST
ING GLOBAL ADVANTAGE AND PREMIUM OPPORTUNITY FUND
ING GLOBAL EQUITY DIVIDEND AND PREMIUM OPPORTUNITY FUND
ING INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT EQUITY FUND
ING INTERNATIONAL HIGH DIVIDEND EQUITY INCOME FUND
ING INVESTMENT FUNDS, INC.
ING INVESTORS TRUST1
ING MAYFLOWER TRUST
ING MUTUAL FUNDS
ING PARTNERS, INC.
ING PRIME RATE TRUST
ING RISK MANAGED NATURAL RESOURCES FUND
ING SENIOR INCOME FUND
ING SEPARATE PORTFOLIOS TRUST
ING VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
ING VARIABLE PRODUCTS TRUST
ING VP NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST
 
1   Sub-Adviser-Voted Series: ING Franklin Mutual Shares Portfolio

 


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EXHIBIT 2
to the
ING Funds
Proxy Voting Procedures
ING INVESTMENTS, LLC,
ING INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT CO.
AND
DIRECTED SERVICES, LLC
 
PROXY VOTING PROCEDURES
 
I. INTRODUCTION
ING Investments, LLC, ING Investment Management Co. and Directed Services, LLC (each an “Adviser” and collectively, the “Advisers”) are the investment advisers for the registered investment companies and each series or portfolio thereof (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”) comprising the ING family of funds. As such, the Advisers have been delegated the authority to vote proxies with respect to securities for certain Funds over which they have day-to-day portfolio management responsibility.
The Advisers will abide by the proxy voting guidelines adopted by a Fund’s respective Board of Directors or Trustees (each a “Board” and collectively, the “Boards”) with regard to the voting of proxies unless otherwise provided in the proxy voting procedures adopted by a Fund’s Board.
In voting proxies, the Advisers are guided by general fiduciary principles. Each must act prudently, solely in the interest of the beneficial owners of the Funds it manages. The Advisers will not subordinate the interest of beneficial owners to unrelated objectives. Each Adviser will vote proxies in the manner that it believes will do the most to maximize shareholder value.
The following are the Proxy Voting Procedures of ING Investments, LLC, ING Investment Management Co. and Directed Services, LLC (the “Adviser Procedures”) with respect to the voting of proxies on behalf of their client Funds as approved by the respective Board of each Fund.
Unless otherwise noted, best efforts shall be used to vote proxies in all instances.

 


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II. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
  A. Proxy Coordinator
The Proxy Coordinator identified in Appendix 1 will assist in the coordination of the voting of each Fund’s proxies in accordance with the ING Funds Proxy Voting Procedures and Guidelines (the “Procedures” or “Guidelines” and collectively the “Procedures and Guidelines”). The Proxy Coordinator is authorized to direct the Agent to vote a Fund’s proxy in accordance with the Procedures and Guidelines unless the Proxy Coordinator receives a recommendation from an Investment Professional (as described below) to vote contrary to the Procedures and Guidelines. In such event, and in connection with proxy proposals requiring case-by-case consideration (except in cases in which the Proxy Group has previously provided the Proxy Coordinator with standing instructions to vote in accordance with the Agent’s recommendation), the Proxy Coordinator will call a meeting of the Proxy Group (as described below).
Responsibilities assigned herein to the Proxy Coordinator, or activities in support thereof, may be performed by such members of the Proxy Group or employees of the Advisers’ affiliates as are deemed appropriate by the Proxy Group.
Unless specified otherwise, information provided to the Proxy Coordinator in connection with duties of the parties described herein shall be deemed delivered to the Advisers.
  B. Agent
An independent proxy voting service (the “Agent”), as approved by the Board of each Fund, shall be engaged to assist in the voting of Fund proxies for publicly traded securities through the provision of vote analysis, implementation, recordkeeping and disclosure services. The Agent is ISS Governance Services, a unit of RiskMetrics Group, Inc. The Agent is responsible for coordinating with the Funds’ custodians to ensure that all proxy materials received by the custodians relating to the portfolio securities are processed in a timely fashion. To the extent applicable, the Agent is required to vote and/or refer all proxies in accordance with these Adviser Procedures. The Agent will retain a record of all proxy votes handled by the Agent. Such record must reflect all the information required to be disclosed in a Fund’s Form N-PX pursuant to Rule 30b1-4 under the Investment Company Act. In addition, the Agent is responsible for maintaining copies of all proxy statements received by issuers and to promptly provide such materials to the Adviser upon request.
The Agent shall be instructed to vote all proxies in accordance with a Fund’s Guidelines, except as otherwise instructed through the Proxy Coordinator by the Adviser’s Proxy Group or a Fund’s Compliance Committee (“Committee”).

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The Agent shall be instructed to obtain all proxies from the Funds’ custodians and to review each proxy proposal against the Guidelines. The Agent also shall be requested to call the Proxy Coordinator’s attention to specific proxy proposals that although governed by the Guidelines appear to involve unusual or controversial issues.
Subject to the oversight of the Advisers, the Agent shall establish and maintain adequate internal controls and policies in connection with the provision of proxy voting services voting to the Advisers, including methods to reasonably ensure that its analysis and recommendations are not influenced by conflict of interest, and shall disclose such controls and policies to the Advisers when and as provided for herein. Unless otherwise specified, references herein to recommendations of the Agent shall refer to those in which no conflict of interest has been identified.
  C. Proxy Group
The Adviser shall establish a Proxy Group (the “Group” or “Proxy Group”) which shall assist in the review of the Agent’s recommendations when a proxy voting issue is referred to the Group through the Proxy Coordinator. The members of the Proxy Group, which may include employees of the Advisers’ affiliates, are identified in Appendix 1, as may be amended from time at the Advisers’ discretion.
A minimum of four (4) members of the Proxy Group (or three (3) if one member of the quorum is either the Fund’s Chief Investment Risk Officer or Chief Financial Officer) shall constitute a quorum for purposes of taking action at any meeting of the Group. The vote of a simple majority of the members present and voting shall determine any matter submitted to a vote. Tie votes shall be broken by securing the vote of members not present at the meeting; provided, however, that the Proxy Coordinator shall ensure compliance with all applicable voting and conflict of interest procedures and shall use best efforts to secure votes from all or as many absent members as may reasonably be accomplished. The Proxy Group may meet in person or by telephone. The Proxy Group also may take action via electronic mail in lieu of a meeting, provided that each Group member has received a copy of any relevant electronic mail transmissions circulated by each other participating Group member prior to voting and provided that the Proxy Coordinator follows the directions of a majority of a quorum (as defined above) responding via electronic mail. For all votes taken in person or by telephone or teleconference, the vote shall be taken outside the presence of any person other than the members of the Proxy Group and such other persons whose attendance may be deemed appropriate by the Proxy Group from time to time in furtherance of its duties or the day-to-day administration of the Funds. In its discretion, the Proxy Group may provide the Proxy Coordinator with standing instructions to perform responsibilities assigned herein to the Proxy Group, or activities in support thereof, on its behalf, provided that such instructions do not contravene any requirements of these Adviser Procedures or a Fund’s Procedures and Guidelines.

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A meeting of the Proxy Group will be held whenever (1) the Proxy Coordinator receives a recommendation from an Investment Professional to vote a Fund’s proxy contrary to the Procedures and Guidelines, or the recommendation of the Agent, where applicable, (2) the Agent has made no recommendation with respect to a vote on a proposal, or (3) a matter requires case-by-case consideration, including those in which the Agent’s recommendation is deemed to be conflicted as provided for under these Adviser Procedures, provided that, if the Proxy Group has previously provided the Proxy Coordinator with standing instructions to vote in accordance with the Agent’s recommendation and no issue of conflict must be considered, the Proxy Coordinator may implement the instructions without calling a meeting of the Proxy Group.
For each proposal referred to the Proxy Group, it will review (1) the relevant Procedures and Guidelines, (2) the recommendation of the Agent, if any, (3) the recommendation of the Investment Professional(s), if any, and (4) any other resources that any member of the Proxy Group deems appropriate to aid in a determination of a recommendation.
If the Proxy Group recommends that a Fund vote in accordance with the Procedures and Guidelines, or the recommendation of the Agent, where applicable, it shall instruct the Proxy Coordinator to so advise the Agent.
If the Proxy Group recommends that a Fund vote contrary to the Procedures and Guidelines, or the recommendation of the Agent, where applicable, or if the Agent’s recommendation on a matter requiring case-by-case consideration is deemed to be conflicted, it shall follow the procedures for such voting as established by a Fund’s Board.
The Proxy Coordinator shall use best efforts to convene the Proxy Group with respect to all matters requiring its consideration. In the event quorum requirements cannot be timely met in connection with to a voting deadline, the Proxy Coordinator shall follow the procedures for such voting as established by a Fund’s Board.
  D. Investment Professionals
The Funds’ Advisers, sub-advisers and/or portfolio managers (each referred to herein as an “Investment Professional” and collectively, “Investment Professionals”) may submit, or be asked to submit, a recommendation to the Proxy Group regarding the voting of proxies related to the portfolio securities over which they have day-to-day portfolio management responsibility. The Investment Professionals may accompany their recommendation with any other research materials that they deem appropriate or with a request that the vote be deemed “material” in the context of the portfolio(s) they manage, such that lending activity on behalf of such portfolio(s) with respect to the relevant security should be reviewed by the Proxy Group and considered for recall and/or restriction. Input from the relevant sub-advisers and/or portfolio managers shall be given primary consideration in the Proxy Group’s determination of whether a given proxy vote

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is to be deemed material and the associated security accordingly restricted from lending. The determination that a vote is material in the context of a Fund’s portfolio shall not mean that such vote is considered material across all Funds voting that meeting. In order to recall or restrict shares timely for material voting purposes, the Proxy Group shall use best efforts to consider, and when deemed appropriate, to act upon, such requests timely, and requests to review lending activity in connection with a potentially material vote may be initiated by any relevant Investment Professional and submitted for the Proxy Group’s consideration at any time.
III. VOTING PROCEDURES
  A.   In all cases, the Adviser shall follow the voting procedures as set forth in the Procedures and Guidelines of the Fund on whose behalf the Adviser is exercising delegated authority to vote.
 
  B.   Routine Matters
The Agent shall be instructed to submit a vote in accordance with the Guidelines where such Guidelines provide a clear “For”, “Against,” “Withhold” or “Abstain” on a proposal. However, the Agent shall be directed to refer any proxy proposal to the Proxy Coordinator for instructions as if it were a matter requiring case-by-case consideration under circumstances where the application of the Guidelines is unclear, it appears to involve unusual or controversial issues, or an Investment Professional recommends a vote contrary to the Guidelines.
  C.   Matters Requiring Case-by-Case Consideration
The Agent shall be directed to refer proxy proposals accompanied by its written analysis and voting recommendation to the Proxy Coordinator where the Guidelines have noted “case-by-case” consideration.
Upon receipt of a referral from the Agent, the Proxy Coordinator may solicit additional research from the Agent, Investment Professional(s), as well as from any other source or service.
Except in cases in which the Proxy Group has previously provided the Proxy Coordinator with standing instructions to vote in accordance with the Agent’s recommendation, the Proxy Coordinator will forward the Agent’s analysis and recommendation and/or any research obtained from the Investment Professional(s), the Agent or any other source to the Proxy Group. The Proxy Group may consult with the Agent and/or Investment Professional(s), as it deems necessary.
  1.   Within-Guidelines Votes: Votes in Accordance with a Fund’s Guidelines and/or, where applicable, Agent Recommendation

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In the event the Proxy Group, and where applicable, any Investment Professional participating in the voting process, recommend a vote Within Guidelines, the Proxy Group will instruct the Agent, through the Proxy Coordinator, to vote in this manner. Except as provided for herein, no Conflicts Report (as such term is defined herein) is required in connection with Within-Guidelines Votes.
  2.   Non-Votes: Votes in Which No Action is Taken
The Proxy Group may recommend that a Fund refrain from voting under circumstances including, but not limited to, the following: (1) if the economic effect on shareholders’ interests or the value of the portfolio holding is indeterminable or insignificant, e.g., proxies in connection with fractional shares, securities no longer held in the portfolio of an ING Fund or proxies being considered on behalf of a Fund that is no longer in existence; or (2) if the cost of voting a proxy outweighs the benefits, e.g., certain international proxies, particularly in cases in which share blocking practices may impose trading restrictions on the relevant portfolio security. In such instances, the Proxy Group may instruct the Agent, through the Proxy Coordinator, not to vote such proxy. The Proxy Group may provide the Proxy Coordinator with standing instructions on parameters that would dictate a Non-Vote without the Proxy Group’s review of a specific proxy. It is noted a Non-Vote determination would generally not be made in connection with voting rights received pursuant to class action participation; while a Fund may no longer hold the security, a continuing economic effect on shareholders’ interests is likely.
Reasonable efforts shall be made to secure and vote all other proxies for the Funds, but, particularly in markets in which shareholders’ rights are limited, Non-Votes may also occur in connection with a Fund’s related inability to timely access ballots or other proxy information in connection with its portfolio securities.
Non-Votes may also result in certain cases in which the Agent’s recommendation has been deemed to be conflicted, as provided for in the Funds’ Procedures.
  3.   Out-of-Guidelines Votes: Votes Contrary to Procedures and Guidelines, or Agent Recommendation, where applicable, Where No Recommendation is Provided by Agent, or Where Agent’s Recommendation is Conflicted
If the Proxy Group recommends that a Fund vote contrary to the Procedures and Guidelines, or the recommendation of the Agent, where applicable, if the Agent has made no recommendation on a matter requiring case-by-case consideration and the Procedures and Guidelines are silent, or the Agent’s recommendation on a matter requiring case-by-case consideration is deemed to be conflicted as

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provided for under these Adviser Procedures, the Proxy Coordinator will then implement the procedures for handling such votes as adopted by the Fund’s Board.
  4.   The Proxy Coordinator will maintain a record of all proxy questions that have been referred to a Fund’s Compliance Committee, all applicable recommendations, analysis, research and Conflicts Reports.
IV. ASSESSMENT OF THE AGENT AND CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
In furtherance of the Advisers’ fiduciary duty to the Funds and their beneficial owners, the Advisers shall establish the following:
  A.   Assessment of the Agent
 
      The Advisers shall establish that the Agent (1) is independent from the Advisers, (2) has resources that indicate it can competently provide analysis of proxy issues and (3) can make recommendations in an impartial manner and in the best interests of the Funds and their beneficial owners. The Advisers shall utilize, and the Agent shall comply with, such methods for establishing the foregoing as the Advisers may deem reasonably appropriate and shall do not less than annually as well as prior to engaging the services of any new proxy service. The Agent shall also notify the Advisers in writing within fifteen (15) calendar days of any material change to information previously provided to an Adviser in connection with establishing the Agent’s independence, competence or impartiality.
 
      Information provided in connection with assessment of the Agent shall be forwarded to a member of the mutual funds practice group of ING US Legal Services (“Counsel”) for review. Counsel shall review such information and advise the Proxy Coordinator as to whether a material concern exists and if so, determine the most appropriate course of action to eliminate such concern.
 
  B.   Conflicts of Interest
 
      The Advisers shall establish and maintain procedures to identify and address conflicts that may arise from time to time concerning the Agent. Upon the Advisers’ request, which shall be not less than annually, and within fifteen (15) calendar days of any material change to such information previously provided to an Adviser, the Agent shall provide the Advisers with such information as the Advisers deem reasonable and appropriate for use in determining material relationships of the Agent that may pose a conflict of interest with respect to the Agent’s proxy analysis or recommendations. The Proxy Coordinator shall forward all such information to Counsel for review. Counsel shall review such information and provide the Proxy Coordinator with a brief statement regarding whether or not a

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      material conflict of interest is present. Matters as to which a material conflict of interest is deemed to be present shall be handled as provided in the Fund’s Procedures and Guidelines.
 
      In connection with their participation in the voting process for portfolio securities, each member of the Proxy Group, and each Investment Professional participating in the voting process, must act solely in the best interests of the beneficial owners of the applicable Fund. The members of the Proxy Group may not subordinate the interests of the Fund’s beneficial owners to unrelated objectives, including taking steps to reasonably insulate the voting process from any conflict of interest that may exist in connection with the Agent’s services or utilization thereof.
 
      For all matters for which the Proxy Group recommends an Out-of-Guidelines Vote, or for which a recommendation contrary to that of the Agent or the Guidelines has been received from an Investment Professional and is to be utilized, the Proxy Coordinator will implement the procedures for handling such votes as adopted by the Fund’s Board, including completion of such Conflicts Reports as may be required under the Fund’s Procedures. Completed Conflicts Reports shall be provided to the Proxy Coordinator within two (2) business days. Such Conflicts Report should describe any known conflicts of either a business or personal nature, and set forth any contacts with respect to the referral item with non-investment personnel in its organization or with outside parties (except for routine communications from proxy solicitors). The Conflicts Report should also include written confirmation that any recommendation from an Investment Professional provided in connection with an Out-of-Guidelines Vote or under circumstances where a conflict of interest exists was made solely on the investment merits and without regard to any other consideration.
 
      The Proxy Coordinator shall forward all Conflicts Reports to Counsel for review. Counsel shall review each report and provide the Proxy Coordinator with a brief statement regarding whether or not a material conflict of interest is present. Matters as to which a material conflict of interest is deemed to be present shall be handled as provided in the Fund’s Procedures and Guidelines.
V. REPORTING AND RECORD RETENTION
The Adviser shall maintain the records required by Rule 204-2(c)(2), as may be amended from time to time, including the following: (1) A copy of each proxy statement received regarding a Fund’s portfolio securities. Such proxy statements received from issuers are available either in the SEC’s EDGAR database or are kept by the Agent and are available upon request. (2) A record of each vote cast on behalf of a Fund. (3) A copy of any document created by the Adviser that was material to making a decision how to vote a proxy, or that memorializes the basis for that decision. (4) A copy of written requests for Fund proxy voting information and any written

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response thereto or to any oral request for information on how the Adviser voted proxies on behalf of a Fund. All proxy voting materials and supporting documentation will be retained for a minimum of six (6) years.

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APPENDIX 1
to the
Advisers’ Proxy Voting Procedures
Proxy Group for registered investment company clients of ING Investments, LLC, ING Investment Management Co. and Directed Services, LLC:
     
Name   Title or Affiliation
 
Stanley D. Vyner
  Chief Investment Risk Officer and Executive Vice President, ING Investments, LLC
 
   
Todd Modic
  Senior Vice President, ING Funds Services, LLC and ING Investments, LLC; and Chief Financial Officer of the ING Funds
 
   
Maria Anderson
  Vice President of Fund Compliance, ING Funds Services, LLC
 
   
Karla J. Bos
  Proxy Coordinator for the ING Funds and Assistant Vice President – Special Projects, ING Funds Services, LLC
 
   
Julius A. Drelick III, CFA
  Vice President, Platform Product Management and Project Management, ING Funds Services, LLC
 
   
Harley Eisner
  Vice President of Financial Analysis, ING Funds Services, LLC
 
   
Theresa K. Kelety, Esq.
  Counsel, ING Americas US Legal Services
Effective as of January 1, 2008

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EXHIBIT 3
to the
ING Funds
Proxy Voting Procedures
 
PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES OF THE ING FUNDS
 
I. INTRODUCTION  
The following is a statement of the Proxy Voting Guidelines (“Guidelines”) that have been adopted by the respective Boards of Directors or Trustees of each Fund. Unless otherwise provided for herein, any defined term used herein shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Funds’ and Advisers’ Proxy Voting Procedures (the “Procedures”).
Proxies must be voted in the best interest of the Fund(s). The Guidelines summarize the Funds’ positions on various issues of concern to investors, and give a general indication of how Fund portfolio securities will be voted on proposals dealing with particular issues. The Guidelines are not exhaustive and do not include all potential voting issues.
The Advisers, in exercising their delegated authority, will abide by the Guidelines as outlined below with regard to the voting of proxies except as otherwise provided in the Procedures. In voting proxies, the Advisers are guided by general fiduciary principles. Each must act prudently, solely in the interest of the beneficial owners of the Funds it manages. The Advisers will not subordinate the interest of beneficial owners to unrelated objectives. Each Adviser will vote proxies in the manner that it believes will do the most to maximize shareholder value.
II. GUIDELINES
The following Guidelines are grouped according to the types of proposals generally presented to shareholders of U.S. issuers: Board of Directors, Proxy Contests, Auditors, Proxy Contest Defenses, Tender Offer Defenses, Miscellaneous, Capital Structure, Executive and Director Compensation, State of Incorporation, Mergers and Corporate Restructurings, Mutual Fund Proxies, and Social and Environmental Issues. An additional section addresses proposals most frequently found in global proxies.
General Policies
These Guidelines apply to securities of publicly traded companies and to those of privately held companies if publicly available disclosure permits such application. All matters for which such disclosure is not available shall be considered CASE-BY-CASE.

 


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It shall generally be the policy of the Funds to take no action on a proxy for which no Fund holds a position or otherwise maintains an economic interest in the relevant security at the time the vote is to be cast.
In all cases receiving CASE-BY-CASE consideration, including cases not specifically provided for under these Guidelines, unless otherwise provided for under these Guidelines, it shall generally be the policy of the Funds to vote in accordance with the recommendation provided by the Funds’ Agent, Institutional Shareholder Services, Inc.
Unless otherwise provided for herein, it shall generally be the policy of the Funds to vote in accordance with the Agent’s recommendation in cases in which such recommendation aligns with the recommendation of the relevant issuer’s management or management has made no recommendation. However, this policy shall not apply to CASE-BY-CASE proposals for which a contrary recommendation from the Investment Professional for the relevant Fund has been received and is to be utilized, provided that incorporation of any such recommendation shall be subject to the conflict of interest review process required under the Procedures.
Recommendations from the Investment Professionals, while not required under the Procedures, are likely to be considered with respect to proxies for private equity securities and/or proposals related to merger transactions/corporate restructurings, proxy contests, or unusual or controversial issues. Such input shall be given primary consideration with respect to CASE-BY-CASE proposals being considered on behalf of the relevant Fund.
Except as otherwise provided for herein, it shall generally be the policy of the Funds not to support proposals that would impose a negative impact on existing rights of the Funds to the extent that any positive impact would not be deemed sufficient to outweigh removal or diminution of such rights.
The foregoing policies may be overridden in any case as provided for in the Procedures. Similarly, the Procedures provide that proposals whose Guidelines prescribe a firm voting position may instead be considered on a CASE-BY-CASE basis in cases in which unusual or controversial circumstances so dictate.
Interpretation and application of these Guidelines is not intended to supersede any law, regulation, binding agreement or other legal requirement to which an issuer may be or become subject. No proposal shall be supported whose implementation would contravene such requirements.
1. The Board of Directors
Voting on Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections
Unless otherwise provided for herein, the Agent’s standards with respect to determining director independence shall apply. These standards generally provide that, to be considered completely

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independent, a director shall have no material connection to the company other than the board seat.
Agreement with the Agent’s independence standards shall not dictate that a Fund’s vote shall be cast according to the Agent’s corresponding recommendation. Votes on director nominees not subject to specific policies described herein should be made on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Where applicable and except as otherwise provided for herein, it shall be the policy of the Funds to lodge disagreement with an issuer’s policies or practices by withholding support from a proposal for the relevant policy or practice rather than the director nominee(s) to which the Agent assigns a correlation. Support shall be withheld from culpable nominees as appropriate, but if they are not standing for election (e.g., the board is classified), support shall generally not be withheld from others in their stead.
If application of the policies described herein would result in withholding votes from the majority of independent outside directors sitting on a board, or removal of such directors is likely to negatively impact majority board independence, primary consideration shall be given to retention of such independent outside director nominees unless the concerns identified are of such grave nature as to merit removal of the independent directors.
Where applicable and except as otherwise provided for herein, generally DO NOT WITHHOLD support (or DO NOT VOTE AGAINST, pursuant to the applicable election standard) in connection with issues raised by the Agent if the nominee did not serve on the board or relevant committee during the majority of the time period relevant to the concerns cited by the Agent.
WITHHOLD support from a nominee who, during both of the most recent two years, attended less than 75 percent of the board and committee meetings without a valid reason for the absences. DO NOT WITHHOLD support in connection with attendance issues for nominees who have served on the board for less than the two most recent years.
WITHHOLD support from a nominee in connection with poison pill or anti-takeover considerations (e.g., furtherance of measures serving to disenfranchise shareholders or failure to remove restrictive pill features or ensure pill expiration or submission to shareholders for vote) in cases for which culpability for implementation or renewal of the pill in such form can be specifically attributed to the nominee.
Provided that a nominee served on the board during the relevant time period, WITHHOLD support from a nominee who has failed to implement a shareholder proposal that was approved by (1) a majority of the issuer’s shares outstanding (most recent annual meeting) or (2) a majority of the votes cast for two consecutive years. However, in the case of shareholder proposals seeking shareholder ratification of a poison pill, generally DO NOT WITHHOLD support from a nominee in such cases if the company has already implemented a policy that should reasonably prevent abusive use of the pill.

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If a nominee has not acted upon negative votes (WITHHOLD or AGAINST, as applicable based on the issuer’s election standard) representing a majority of the votes cast at the previous annual meeting, consider such nominee on a CASE-BY-CASE basis. Generally, vote FOR nominees when (1) the issue relevant to the majority negative vote has been adequately addressed or cured or (2) the Funds’ Guidelines or voting record do not support the relevant issue.
WITHHOLD support from inside directors or affiliated outside directors who sit on the audit committee.
DO NOT WITHHOLD support from inside directors or affiliated outside directors who sit on the nominating or compensation committee, provided that such committee meets the applicable independence requirements of the relevant listing exchange.
DO NOT WITHHOLD support from inside directors or affiliated outside directors if the full board serves as the compensation or nominating committee OR has not created one or both committees, provided that the issuer is in compliance with all provisions of the listing exchange in connection with performance of relevant functions (e.g., performance of relevant functions by a majority of independent directors in lieu of the formation of a separate committee).
Compensation Practices:
It shall generally be the policy of the Funds that matters of compensation are best determined by an independent board and compensation committee. Generally:
  (1)   Where applicable and except as otherwise provided for herein, DO NOT WITHHOLD support from nominees who did not serve on the compensation committee, or board, as applicable based on the Agent’s analysis, during the majority of the time period relevant to the concerns cited by the Agent.
 
  (2)   In cases in which the Agent has identified a “pay for performance” disconnect, or internal pay disparity, as such issues are defined by the Agent, DO NOT WITHHOLD support from director nominees.
 
  (3)   If the Agent recommends withholding support from nominees in connection with executive compensation or perquisites related to retention or recruitment, including severance or termination arrangements, vote FOR such nominees if the issuer has provided adequate rationale and/or disclosure.
 
  (4)   If the Agent has raised issues of options backdating, consider members of the compensation committee, or board, as applicable, as well as company executives nominated as directors, on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
 
  (5)   If the Agent has raised other considerations regarding poor compensation practices, consider nominees on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Accounting Practices:
  (1)   Generally, vote FOR independent outside director nominees serving on the audit committee.
 
  (2)   Where applicable and except as otherwise provided for herein, generally DO NOT WITHHOLD support from nominees serving on the audit committee who did not serve

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      on that committee during the majority of the time period relevant to the concerns cited by the Agent.
 
  (3)   If the Agent has raised concerns regarding poor accounting practices, consider the company’s CEO and CFO, if nominated as directors, and nominees serving on the audit committee on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
 
  (4)   If total non-audit fees exceed the total of audit fees, audit-related fees and tax compliance and preparation fees, the provisions under Section 3., Auditor Ratification, shall apply.
Board Independence:
It shall generally be the policy of the Funds that a board should be majority independent and therefore to consider inside director or affiliated outside director nominees in cases in which the full board is not majority independent on a CASE-BY-CASE basis. Generally:
  (1)   WITHHOLD support from the fewest directors whose removal would achieve majority independence across the remaining board, except that support may be withheld from additional nominees whose relative level of independence cannot be differentiated.
 
  (2)   WITHHOLD support from all non-independent nominees, including the founder, chairman or CEO, if the number required to achieve majority independence is equal to or greater than the number of non-independent nominees.
 
  (3)   Except as provided above, vote FOR non-independent nominees in the role of CEO, and when appropriate, founder or chairman, and determine support for other non-independent nominees based on the qualifications and contributions of the nominee as well as the Funds’ voting precedent for assessing relative independence to management, e.g., insiders holding senior executive positions are deemed less independent than affiliated outsiders with a transactional or advisory relationship to the company, and affiliated outsiders with a material transactional or advisory relationship are deemed less independent than those with lesser relationships.
 
  (4)   Non-voting directors (e.g., director emeritus or advisory director) shall be excluded from calculations with respect to majority board independence.
 
  (5)   When conditions contributing to a lack of majority independence remain substantially similar to those in the previous year, it shall generally be the policy of the Funds to vote on nominees in a manner consistent with votes cast by the Fund(s) in the previous year.
Generally vote FOR nominees without regard to “over-boarding” issues raised by the Agent unless other concerns requiring CASE-BY-CASE consideration have been raised.
Generally, when the Agent recommends withholding support due to assessment that a nominee acted in bad faith or against shareholder interests in connection with a major transaction, such as a merger or acquisition, consider on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, factoring in the merits of the nominee’s performance and rationale and disclosure provided.
Performance Test for Directors
Consider nominees failing the Agent’s performance test, which includes market-based and operating performance measures, on a CASE-BY-CASE basis. Input from the Investment

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Professional(s) for a given Fund shall be given primary consideration with respect to such proposals.
Proposals Regarding Board Composition or Board Service
Generally, except as otherwise provided for herein, vote AGAINST shareholder proposals to impose new board structures or policies, including those requiring that the positions of chairman and CEO be held separately, except support proposals in connection with a binding agreement or other legal requirement to which an issuer has or reasonably may expect to become subject, and consider such proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis if the board is not majority independent or pervasive corporate governance concerns have been identified. Generally, except as otherwise provided for herein, vote FOR management proposals to adopt or amend board structures or policies, except consider such proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis if the board is not majority independent, pervasive corporate governance concerns have been identified, or the proposal may result in a material reduction in shareholders’ rights.
Generally, vote AGAINST shareholder proposals asking that more than a simple majority of directors be independent.
Generally, vote AGAINST shareholder proposals asking that board compensation and/or nominating committees be composed exclusively of independent directors.
 
Generally, vote AGAINST shareholder proposals to limit the number of public company boards on which a director may serve.
Generally, vote AGAINST shareholder proposals that seek to redefine director independence or directors’ specific roles (e.g., responsibilities of the lead director).
 
Generally, vote AGAINST shareholder proposals requesting creation of additional board committees or offices, except as otherwise provided for herein.
Generally, vote FOR shareholder proposals that seek creation of an audit, compensation or nominating committee of the board, unless the committee in question is already in existence or the issuer has availed itself of an applicable exemption of the listing exchange (e.g., performance of relevant functions by a majority of independent directors in lieu of the formation of a separate committee).
Generally, vote AGAINST shareholder proposals to limit the tenure of outside directors.
Generally, vote AGAINST shareholder proposals to impose a mandatory retirement age for outside directors unless the proposal seeks to relax existing standards, but generally DO NOT VOTE AGAINST management proposals seeking to establish a retirement age for directors.
Stock Ownership Requirements
Generally, vote AGAINST shareholder proposals requiring directors to own a minimum amount of company stock in order to qualify as a director or to remain on the board.
Director and Officer Indemnification and Liability Protection
Proposals on director and officer indemnification and liability protection should be evaluated on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, using Delaware law as the standard. Vote AGAINST proposals to limit or eliminate entirely directors’ and officers’ liability for monetary damages for violating the duty of care. Vote AGAINST indemnification proposals that would expand coverage beyond just legal expenses to acts, such as negligence, that are more serious violations of fiduciary

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obligation than mere carelessness. Vote FOR only those proposals providing such expanded coverage in cases when a director’s or officer’s legal defense was unsuccessful if:
  (1)   The director was found to have acted in good faith and in a manner that he reasonably believed was in the best interests of the company, and
 
  (2)   Only if the director’s legal expenses would be covered.
2. Proxy Contests
These proposals should generally be analyzed on a CASE-BY-CASE basis. Input from the Investment Professional(s) for a given Fund shall be given primary consideration with respect to proposals in connection with proxy contests being considered on behalf of that Fund.
Voting for Director Nominees in Contested Elections
Votes in a contested election of directors must be evaluated on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Reimburse Proxy Solicitation Expenses
Voting to reimburse proxy solicitation expenses should be analyzed on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
3. Auditors
Ratifying Auditors
Generally, except in cases of poor accounting practices or high non-audit fees, vote FOR management proposals to ratify auditors. Consider management proposals to ratify auditors on a CASE-BY-CASE basis if the Agent cites poor accounting practices. If fees for non-audit services exceed 50 percent of total auditor fees as described below, consider on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, voting AGAINST management proposals to ratify auditors only if concerns exist that remuneration for the non-audit work is so lucrative as to taint the auditor’s independence. For purposes of this review, fees deemed to be reasonable, generally non-recurring, exceptions to the non-audit fee category (e.g., those related to an IPO) shall be excluded. If independence concerns exist or an issuer has a history of questionable accounting practices, also vote FOR shareholder proposals asking the issuer to present its auditor annually for ratification, but in other cases generally vote AGAINST.
Auditor Independence
Generally, consider shareholder proposals asking companies to prohibit their auditors from engaging in non-audit services (or capping the level of non-audit services) on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Audit Firm Rotation:
Generally, vote AGAINST shareholder proposals asking for mandatory audit firm rotation.

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4. Proxy Contest Defenses
Board Structure: Staggered vs. Annual Elections
Generally, vote AGAINST proposals to classify the board or otherwise restrict shareholders’ ability to vote upon directors.
Generally, vote FOR proposals to repeal classified boards and to elect all directors annually.
Shareholder Ability to Remove Directors
Generally, vote AGAINST proposals that provide that directors may be removed only for cause.
Generally, vote FOR proposals to restore shareholder ability to remove directors with or without cause.
Generally, vote AGAINST proposals that provide that only continuing directors may elect replacements to fill board vacancies.
Generally, vote FOR proposals that permit shareholders to elect directors to fill board vacancies.
Cumulative Voting
If the company maintains a classified board of directors, generally, vote AGAINST management proposals to eliminate cumulative voting, except that such proposals may be supported irrespective of classification in furtherance of an issuer’s plan to adopt a majority voting standard.
In cases in which the company maintains a classified board of directors, generally vote FOR shareholder proposals to restore or permit cumulative voting.
Time-Phased Voting
Generally, vote AGAINST proposals to implement, and FOR proposals to eliminate, time-phased or other forms of voting that do not promote a one share, one vote standard.
Shareholder Ability to Call Special Meetings
Generally, vote AGAINST proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholder ability to call special meetings.
Generally, vote FOR proposals that remove restrictions on the right of shareholders to act independently of management.
Shareholder Ability to Act by Written Consent
Generally, vote AGAINST proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholder ability to take action by written consent.
Generally, vote FOR proposals to allow or make easier shareholder action by written consent.
Shareholder Ability to Alter the Size of the Board
Generally, vote FOR proposals that seek to fix the size of the board or designate a range for its size.
Generally, vote AGAINST proposals that give management the ability to alter the size of the board outside of a specified range without shareholder approval.

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5. Tender Offer Defenses
Poison Pills
Generally, vote FOR shareholder proposals that ask a company to submit its poison pill for shareholder ratification, or to redeem its pill in lieu thereof, unless (1) shareholders have approved adoption of the plan, (2) a policy has already been implemented by the company that should reasonably prevent abusive use of the pill, or (3) the board had determined that it was in the best interest of shareholders to adopt a pill without delay, provided that such plan would be put to shareholder vote within twelve months of adoption or expire, and if not approved by a majority of the votes cast, would immediately terminate.
Review on a CASE-BY-CASE basis shareholder proposals to redeem a company’s poison pill.
Review on a CASE-BY-CASE basis management proposals to approve or ratify a poison pill or any plan that can reasonably be construed as an anti-takeover measure, with voting decisions generally based on the Agent’s approach to evaluating such proposals, considering factors such as rationale, trigger level and sunset provisions. Votes will generally be cast in a manner that seeks to preserve shareholder value and the right to consider a valid offer, voting AGAINST management proposals in connection with poison pills or anti-takeover activities that do not meet the Agent’s standards.
Fair Price Provisions
Vote proposals to adopt fair price provisions on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
 
Generally, vote AGAINST fair price provisions with shareholder vote requirements greater than a majority of disinterested shares.
Greenmail
Generally, vote FOR proposals to adopt antigreenmail charter or bylaw amendments or otherwise restrict a company’s ability to make greenmail payments.
 
Review on a CASE-BY-CASE basis antigreenmail proposals when they are bundled with other charter or bylaw amendments.
Pale Greenmail
Review on a CASE-BY-CASE basis restructuring plans that involve the payment of pale greenmail.
Unequal Voting Rights
Generally, vote AGAINST dual-class exchange offers.
Generally, vote AGAINST dual-class recapitalizations.
Supermajority Shareholder Vote Requirement to Amend the Charter or Bylaws
Generally, vote AGAINST management proposals to require a supermajority shareholder vote to approve charter and bylaw amendments or other key proposals.
Generally, vote FOR shareholder proposals to lower supermajority shareholder vote requirements for charter and bylaw amendments, unless the proposal also asks the issuer to

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mount a solicitation campaign or similar form of comprehensive commitment to obtain passage of the proposal.
Supermajority Shareholder Vote Requirement to Approve Mergers
Generally, vote AGAINST management proposals to require a supermajority shareholder vote to approve mergers and other significant business combinations.
 
Generally, vote FOR shareholder proposals to lower supermajority shareholder vote requirements for mergers and other significant business combinations.
White Squire Placements
Generally, vote FOR shareholder proposals to require approval of blank check preferred stock issues for other than general corporate purposes.
6. Miscellaneous
Amendments to Corporate Documents
Except to align with legislative or regulatory changes or when support is recommended by the Agent or Investment Professional (including, for example, as a condition to a major transaction such as a merger), generally, vote AGAINST proposals seeking to remove shareholder approval requirements or otherwise remove or diminish shareholder rights, e.g., by (1) adding restrictive provisions, (2) removing provisions or moving them to portions of the charter not requiring shareholder approval, or (3) in corporate structures such as holding companies, removing provisions in an active subsidiary’s charter that provide voting rights to parent company shareholders. This policy would also generally apply to proposals seeking approval of corporate agreements or amendments to such agreements that the Agent recommends AGAINST because a similar reduction in shareholder rights is requested.
Generally, vote AGAINST proposals for charter amendments that may support board entrenchment or may be used as an anti-takeover device, particularly if the proposal is bundled or the board is classified.
Generally, vote FOR proposals seeking charter or bylaw amendments to remove anti-takeover provisions.
Consider proposals seeking charter or bylaw amendments not addressed under these Guidelines on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Confidential Voting
Generally, vote FOR shareholder proposals that request companies to adopt confidential voting, use independent tabulators, and use independent inspectors of election as long as the proposals include clauses for proxy contests as follows:
  §   In the case of a contested election, management should be permitted to request that the dissident group honor its confidential voting policy.
 
  §   If the dissidents agree, the policy remains in place.
 
  §   If the dissidents do not agree, the confidential voting policy is waived.
Generally, vote FOR management proposals to adopt confidential voting.

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Proxy Access
Consider on a CASE-BY-CASE basis shareholder proposals seeking access to management’s proxy material in order to nominate their own candidates to the board.
Majority Voting Standard
Except as otherwise provided for herein, it shall generally be the policy of the Funds to extend discretion to issuers to determine when it may be appropriate to adopt a majority voting standard. Generally, vote FOR management proposals, irrespective of whether the proposal contains a plurality carve-out for contested elections, but AGAINST shareholder proposals unless also supported by management, seeking election of directors by the affirmative vote of the majority of votes cast in connection with a meeting of shareholders, including amendments to corporate documents or other actions in furtherance of such standard, and provided such standard when supported does not conflict with state law in which the company is incorporated. For issuers with a history of board malfeasance or pervasive corporate governance concerns, consider such proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Bundled Proposals
Except as otherwise provided for herein, review on a CASE-BY-CASE basis bundled or “conditioned” proxy proposals, generally voting AGAINST bundled proposals containing one or more items not supported under these Guidelines if the Agent or an Investment Professional deems the negative impact, on balance, to outweigh any positive impact.
Shareholder Advisory Committees
Review on a CASE-BY-CASE basis proposals to establish a shareholder advisory committee.
Reimburse Shareholder for Expenses Incurred
Voting to reimburse expenses incurred in connection with shareholder proposals should be analyzed on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, with voting decisions determined based on the Agent’s criteria, considering whether the related proposal received the requisite support for approval and was adopted for the benefit of the company and its shareholders.
Other Business
In connection with proxies of U.S. issuers, generally vote FOR management proposals for Other Business, except in connection with a proxy contest in which a Fund is not voting in support of management.
Quorum Requirements
Review on a CASE-BY-CASE basis proposals to lower quorum requirements for shareholder meetings below a majority of the shares outstanding.

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Advance Notice for Shareholder Proposals
Generally, vote FOR management proposals related to advance notice period requirements, provided that the period requested is in accordance with applicable law and no material governance concerns have been identified in connection with the issuer.
7. Capital Structure
Analyze on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Common Stock Authorization
Review proposals to increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issue on a CASE-BY-CASE basis. Except where otherwise indicated, the Agent’s proprietary approach, utilizing quantitative criteria (e.g., dilution, peer group comparison, company performance and history) to determine appropriate thresholds and, for requests marginally above such allowable threshold, a qualitative review (e.g., rationale and prudent historical usage), will generally be utilized in evaluating such proposals.
  §   Generally vote FOR proposals to authorize capital increases within the Agent’s allowable thresholds or those in excess but meeting Agent’s qualitative standards, but consider on a CASE-BY-CASE basis those requests failing the Agent’s review for proposals in connection with which a contrary recommendation from the Investment Professional(s) has been received and is to be utilized (e.g., in support of a merger or acquisition proposal).
 
  §   Generally vote FOR proposals to authorize capital increases within the Agent’s allowable thresholds or those in excess but meeting Agent’s qualitative standards, unless the company states that the stock may be used as a takeover defense. In those cases, consider on a CASE-BY-CASE basis if a contrary recommendation from the Investment Professional(s) has been received and is to be utilized.
 
  §   Generally vote FOR proposals to authorize capital increases exceeding the Agent’s thresholds when a company’s shares are in danger of being delisted or if a company’s ability to continue to operate as a going concern is uncertain.
 
  §   Generally, vote AGAINST proposals to increase the number of authorized shares of a class of stock if the issuance which the increase is intended to service is not supported under these Guidelines.
Dual Class Capital Structures
Generally, vote AGAINST proposals to increase the number of authorized shares of the class of stock that has superior voting rights in companies that have dual class capital structures, but consider CASE-BY-CASE if (1) bundled with favorable proposal(s), (2) approval of such proposal(s) is a condition of such favorable proposal(s), or (3) part of a recapitalization for which support is recommended by the Agent or an Investment Professional.
Generally, vote AGAINST management proposals to create or perpetuate dual class capital structures with unequal voting rights, and vote FOR shareholder proposals to eliminate them, in cases in which the relevant Fund owns the class with inferior voting rights, but generally vote FOR management proposals and AGAINST shareholder proposals in cases in which the relevant

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Fund owns the class with superior voting rights. Consider CASE-BY-CASE if bundled with favorable proposal(s), (2) approval of such proposal(s) is a condition of such favorable proposal(s), or (3) part of a recapitalization for which support is recommended by the Agent or an Investment Professional.
Consider management proposals to eliminate dual class capital structures CASE-BY-CASE, generally voting with the Agent’s recommendation unless a contrary recommendation has been received from the Investment Professional for the relevant Fund and is to be utilized.
Stock Distributions: Splits and Dividends
Generally, vote FOR management proposals to increase common share authorization for a stock split, provided that the increase in authorized shares falls within the Agent’s allowable thresholds, but consider on a CASE-BY-CASE basis those proposals exceeding the Agent’s threshold for proposals in connection with which a contrary recommendation from the Investment Professional(s) has been received and is to be utilized.
Reverse Stock Splits
Consider on a CASE-BY-CASE basis management proposals to implement a reverse stock split. In the event the split constitutes a capital increase effectively exceeding the Agent’s allowable threshold because the request does not proportionately reduce the number of shares authorized, vote FOR the split if the Agent otherwise supports management’s rationale.
Preferred Stock
Generally, vote AGAINST proposals authorizing the issuance of preferred stock or creation of new classes of preferred stock with unspecified voting, conversion, dividend distribution, and other rights (“blank check” preferred stock), but vote FOR if the Agent or an Investment Professional so recommends because the issuance is required to effect a merger or acquisition proposal.
Generally, vote FOR proposals to issue or create blank check preferred stock in cases when the company expressly states that the stock will not be used as a takeover defense. Generally vote AGAINST in cases where the company expressly states that, or fails to disclose whether, the stock may be used as a takeover defense, but vote FOR if the Agent or an Investment Professional so recommends because the issuance is required to effect a merger or acquisition proposal.
Generally, vote FOR proposals to authorize or issue preferred stock in cases where the company specifies the voting, dividend, conversion, and other rights of such stock and the terms of the preferred stock appear reasonable.
Vote CASE-BY-CASE on proposals to increase the number of blank check preferred shares after analyzing the number of preferred shares available for issue given a company’s industry and performance in terms of shareholder returns.
Shareholder Proposals Regarding Blank Check Preferred Stock
Generally, vote FOR shareholder proposals to have blank check preferred stock placements, other than those shares issued for the purpose of raising capital or making acquisitions in the normal course of business, submitted for shareholder ratification.

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Adjustments to Par Value of Common Stock
Generally, vote FOR management proposals to reduce the par value of common stock.
Preemptive Rights
Review on a CASE-BY-CASE basis shareholder proposals that seek preemptive rights or management proposals that seek to eliminate them. In evaluating proposals on preemptive rights, consider the size of a company and the characteristics of its shareholder base.
Debt Restructurings
Review on a CASE-BY-CASE basis proposals to increase common and/or preferred shares and to issue shares as part of a debt restructuring plan.
Share Repurchase Programs
Generally, vote FOR management proposals to institute open-market share repurchase plans in which all shareholders may participate on equal terms, but vote AGAINST plans with terms favoring selected, non-Fund parties.
Generally, vote FOR management proposals to cancel repurchased shares.
 
Generally, vote AGAINST proposals for share repurchase methods lacking adequate risk mitigation as assessed by the Agent.
Tracking Stock
Votes on the creation of tracking stock are determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
8. Executive and Director Compensation
Except as otherwise provided for herein, votes with respect to compensation and employee benefit plans should be determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, with voting decisions generally based on the Agent’s approach to evaluating such plans, which includes determination of costs and comparison to an allowable cap.
  §   Generally, vote in accordance with the Agent’s recommendations FOR equity-based plans with costs within such cap and AGAINST those with costs in excess of it, except that plans above the cap may be supported if so recommended by the Agent or Investment Professional as a condition to a major transaction such as a merger.
 
  §   Generally, vote AGAINST plans if the Agent suggests cost or dilution assessment may not be possible due to the method of disclosing shares allocated to the plan(s), except that such concerns arising in connection with evergreen provisions shall be considered CASE-BY-CASE.
 
  §   Generally, vote FOR plans with costs within the cap if the primary considerations raised by the Agent pertain to matters that would not result in a negative vote under these Guidelines on the relevant board or committee member(s), or equity compensation burn rate or pay for performance as defined by Agent.
 
  §   Generally, vote AGAINST plans administered by potential grant recipients.

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  §   Generally, vote AGAINST proposals to eliminate existing shareholder approval requirements for plan changes assessed as material by the Agent, unless the company has provided a reasonable rationale and/or adequate disclosure regarding the requested changes.
 
  §   Consider plans CASE-BY-CASE if the Agent raises other considerations not otherwise provided for herein.
Restricted Stock or Stock Option Plans
Consider proposals for restricted stock or stock option plans, or the issuance of shares in connection with such plans, on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, considering factors such as level of disclosure and adequacy of vesting or performance requirements. Plans that do not meet the Agent’s criteria in this regard may be supported, but vote AGAINST if no disclosure is provided regarding either vesting or performance requirements.
Management Proposals Seeking Approval to Reprice Options
Review on a CASE-BY-CASE basis management proposals seeking approval to reprice, replace or exchange options, considering factors such as rationale, historic trading patterns, value-for-value exchange, vesting periods and replacement option terms. Generally, vote FOR proposals that meet the Agent’s criteria for acceptable repricing, replacement or exchange transactions, except that considerations raised by the Agent regarding burn rate or executive participation shall not be grounds for withholding support.
Vote AGAINST compensation plans that (1) permit or may permit (e.g., history of repricing and no express prohibition against future repricing) repricing of stock options, or any form or alternative to repricing, without shareholder approval, (2) include provisions that permit repricing, replacement or exchange transactions that do not meet the Agent’s criteria (except regarding burn rate or executive participation as noted above), or (3) give the board sole discretion to approve option repricing, replacement or exchange programs.
Director Compensation
Votes on stock-based plans for directors are made on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, with voting decisions generally based on the Agent’s quantitative approach described above as well as a review of qualitative features of the plan in cases in which costs exceed the Agent’s threshold. DO NOT VOTE AGAINST plans for which burn rate is the sole consideration raised by the Agent.
Employee Stock Purchase Plans
Votes on employee stock purchase plans, and capital issuances in support of such plans, should be made on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, with voting decisions generally based on the Agent’s approach to evaluating such plans, except that negative recommendations by the Agent due to evergreen provisions will be reviewed CASE-BY-CASE.
OBRA-Related Compensation Proposals
Votes on plans intended to qualify for favorable tax treatment under the provisions of Section 162(m) of OBRA should be evaluated irrespective of the Agent’s assessment of board

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independence, provided that the board meets the independence requirements of the relevant listing exchange.
Amendments that Place a Cap on Annual Grants or Amend Administrative Features
Generally, vote FOR plans that simply amend shareholder-approved plans to include administrative features or place a cap on the annual grants any one participant may receive to comply with the provisions of Section 162(m) of OBRA.
Amendments to Add Performance-Based Goals
Generally, vote FOR amendments to add performance goals to existing compensation plans to comply with the provisions of Section 162(m) of OBRA.
Amendments to Increase Shares and Retain Tax Deductions Under OBRA
Votes on amendments to existing plans to increase shares reserved and to qualify the plan for favorable tax treatment under the provisions of Section 162(m) should be evaluated on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Approval of Cash or Cash-and-Stock Bonus Plans
Generally, vote FOR cash or cash-and-stock bonus plans to exempt the compensation from taxes under the provisions of Section 162(m) of OBRA, with primary consideration given to management’s assessment that such plan meets the requirements for exemption of performance-based compensation.
Shareholder Proposals Regarding Executive and Director Pay
Regarding the remuneration of individuals other than senior executives and directors, generally, vote AGAINST shareholder proposals that seek to expand or restrict disclosure or require shareholder approval beyond regulatory requirements and market practice. Vote AGAINST shareholder proposals that seek disclosure of executive or director compensation if providing it would be out of step with market practice and potentially disruptive to the business.
Unless evidence exists of abuse in historical compensation practices, and except as otherwise provided for herein, generally vote AGAINST shareholder proposals that seek to impose new compensation structures or policies, such as “claw back” recoupments or advisory votes.
Severance and Termination Payments
Generally, vote FOR shareholder proposals to have parachute arrangements submitted for shareholder ratification (with “parachutes” defined as compensation arrangements related to termination that specify change-in-control events) and provided that the proposal does not include unduly restrictive or arbitrary provisions such as advance approval requirements.
 
Generally vote AGAINST shareholder proposals to submit executive severance agreements for shareholder ratification, unless such proposals specify change-in-control events, Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans or deferred executive compensation plans, or ratification is required by the listing exchange.
Review on a CASE-BY-CASE basis all proposals to approve, ratify or cancel executive severance or termination arrangements, including those related to executive recruitment or

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retention, generally voting FOR such compensation arrangements if the issuer has provided adequate rationale and/or disclosure or support is recommended by the Agent or Investment Professional (e.g., as a condition to a major transaction such as a merger).
Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs)
Generally, vote FOR proposals that request shareholder approval in order to implement an ESOP or to increase authorized shares for existing ESOPs, except in cases when the number of shares allocated to the ESOP is “excessive” (i.e., generally greater than five percent of outstanding shares).
401(k) Employee Benefit Plans
Generally, vote FOR proposals to implement a 401(k) savings plan for employees.
Holding Periods
Generally, vote AGAINST proposals requiring mandatory periods for officers and directors to hold company stock.
Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation
Generally, management proposals seeking ratification of the company’s compensation program will be voted FOR unless the program includes practices or features not supported under these Guidelines and the proposal receives a negative recommendation from the Agent. Unless otherwise provided for herein, reports not receiving the Agent’s support due to concerns regarding severance/termination payments, incentive structures or vesting or performance criteria not otherwise supported by these Guidelines will be considered on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, generally voted FOR if the company has provided a reasonable rationale and/or adequate disclosure regarding the matter(s) under consideration.
9. State of Incorporation
Voting on State Takeover Statutes
Review on a CASE-BY-CASE basis proposals to opt in or out of state takeover statutes (including control share acquisition statutes, control share cash-out statutes, freezeout provisions, fair price provisions, stakeholder laws, poison pill endorsements, severance pay and labor contract provisions, antigreenmail provisions, and disgorgement provisions).
Voting on Reincorporation Proposals
Proposals to change a company’s state of incorporation should be examined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, generally supporting management proposals not assessed by the Agent as a potential takeover defense, but if so assessed, weighing management’s rationale for the change. Generally, vote FOR management reincorporation proposals upon which another key proposal, such as a merger transaction, is contingent if the other key proposal is also supported. Generally, vote AGAINST shareholder reincorporation proposals not also supported by the company.

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10. Mergers and Corporate Restructurings
Input from the Investment Professional(s) for a given Fund shall be given primary consideration with respect to proposals regarding business combinations, particularly those between otherwise unaffiliated parties, or other corporate restructurings being considered on behalf of that Fund.
Generally, vote FOR a proposal not typically supported under these Guidelines if a key proposal, such as a merger transaction, is contingent upon its support and a vote FOR is accordingly recommended by the Agent or an Investment Professional.
Mergers and Acquisitions
Votes on mergers and acquisitions should be considered on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Corporate Restructuring
Votes on corporate restructuring proposals, including demergers, minority squeezeouts, leveraged buyouts, spinoffs, liquidations, dispositions, divestitures and asset sales, should be considered on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, with voting decisions generally based on the Agent’s approach to evaluating such proposals.
Adjournment
Generally, vote FOR proposals to adjourn a meeting to provide additional time for vote solicitation when the primary proposal is also voted FOR.
Appraisal Rights
Generally, vote FOR proposals to restore, or provide shareholders with, rights of appraisal.
Changing Corporate Name
Generally, vote FOR changing the corporate name.
11. Mutual Fund Proxies
Election of Directors
Vote the election of directors on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Converting Closed-end Fund to Open-end Fund
Vote conversion proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Proxy Contests
Vote proxy contests on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Investment Advisory Agreements
Vote the investment advisory agreements on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Approving New Classes or Series of Shares
Generally, vote FOR the establishment of new classes or series of shares.

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Preferred Stock Proposals
Vote the authorization for or increase in preferred shares on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
1940 Act Policies
Vote these proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Changing a Fundamental Restriction to a Nonfundamental Restriction
Vote these proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Change Fundamental Investment Objective to Nonfundamental
Generally, consider proposals to change a fund’s fundamental investment objective to nonfundamental on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Name Rule Proposals
Vote these proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Disposition of Assets/Termination/Liquidation
Vote these proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Changes to the Charter Document
Vote changes to the charter document on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Changing the Domicile of a Fund
Vote reincorporations on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Change in Fund’s Subclassification
Vote these proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Authorizing the Board to Hire and Terminate Subadvisors Without Shareholder Approval
Generally, vote FOR these proposals.
Distribution Agreements
Vote these proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Master-Feeder Structure
Generally, vote FOR the establishment of a master-feeder structure.
Mergers
Vote merger proposals on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Establish Director Ownership Requirement
Generally, vote AGAINST shareholder proposals for the establishment of a director ownership requirement.

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Reimburse Shareholder for Expenses Incurred
Voting to reimburse proxy solicitation expenses should be analyzed on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Terminate the Investment Advisor
Vote to terminate the investment advisor on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
12. Social and Environmental Issues
These issues cover a wide range of topics. In general, unless otherwise specified herein, vote CASE-BY-CASE. While a wide variety of factors may go into each analysis, the overall principle guiding all vote recommendations focuses on how or whether the proposal will enhance the economic value of the company. Because a company’s board is likely to have access to relevant, non-public information regarding a company’s business, such proposals will generally be voted in a manner intended to give the board (rather than shareholders) latitude to set corporate policy and oversee management.
Absent concurring support from the issuer, compelling evidence of abuse, significant public controversy or litigation, the issuer’s significant history of relevant violations; or activities not in step with market practice or regulatory requirements, or unless provided for otherwise herein, generally vote AGAINST shareholder proposals seeking to dictate corporate conduct, apply existing law, duplicate policies already substantially in place and/or addressed by the issuer, or release information that would not help a shareholder evaluate an investment in the corporation as an economic matter. Such proposals would generally include those seeking preparation of reports and/or implementation or additional disclosure of corporate policies related to issues such as consumer and public safety, environment and energy, labor standards and human rights, military business and political concerns, workplace diversity and non-discrimination, sustainability, social issues, vendor activities, economic risk or matters of science and engineering.
13. Global Proxies
The foregoing Guidelines provided in connection with proxies of U.S. issuers shall also be applied to global proxies where applicable and not provided for otherwise herein. The following provide for differing regulatory and legal requirements, market practices and political and economic systems existing in various global markets.
Unless otherwise provided for herein, it shall generally be the policy of the Funds to vote AGAINST global proxy proposals in cases in which the Agent recommends voting AGAINST such proposal because relevant disclosure by the issuer, or the time provided for consideration of such disclosure, is inadequate. For purposes of these global Guidelines, “AGAINST” shall mean withholding of support for a proposal, resulting in submission of a vote of AGAINST or ABSTAIN, as appropriate for the given market and level of concern raised by the Agent regarding the issue or lack of disclosure or time provided.

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In connection with practices described herein that are associated with a firm AGAINST vote, it shall generally be the policy of the Funds to consider them on a CASE-BY-CASE basis if the Agent recommends their support (1) as the issuer or market transitions to better practices (e.g., having committed to new regulations or governance codes) or (2) as the more favorable choice in cases in which shareholders must choose between alternate proposals.
Routine Management Proposals
Generally, vote FOR the following and other similar routine management proposals:
  §   the opening of the shareholder meeting
 
  §   that the meeting has been convened under local regulatory requirements
 
  §   the presence of quorum
 
  §   the agenda for the shareholder meeting
 
  §   the election of the chair of the meeting
 
  §   the appointment of shareholders to co-sign the minutes of the meeting
 
  §   regulatory filings (e.g., to effect approved share issuances)
 
  §   the designation of inspector or shareholder representative(s) of minutes of meeting
 
  §   the designation of two shareholders to approve and sign minutes of meeting
 
  §   the allowance of questions
 
  §   the publication of minutes
 
  §   the closing of the shareholder meeting
Discharge of Management/Supervisory Board Members
Generally, vote FOR management proposals seeking the discharge of management and supervisory board members, unless the Agent recommends AGAINST due to concern about the past actions of the company’s auditors or directors or legal action is being taken against the board by other shareholders, including when the proposal is bundled.
Director Elections
Unless otherwise provided for herein, the Agent’s standards with respect to determining director independence shall apply. These standards generally provide that, to be considered completely independent, a director shall have no material connection to the company other than the board seat.
Agreement with the Agent’s independence standards shall not dictate that a Fund’s vote shall be cast according to the Agent’s corresponding recommendation. Further, unless otherwise provided for herein, the application of Guidelines in connection with such standards shall apply only in cases in which the nominee’s level of independence can be ascertained based on available disclosure. These policies generally apply to director nominees in uncontested elections; votes in contested elections, and votes on director nominees not subject to policies described herein, should be made on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, with primary consideration in contested elections given to input from the Investment Professional(s) for a given Fund.

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For issuers domiciled in Canada, Finland, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden or tax haven markets, generally vote AGAINST non-independent directors in cases in which the full board serves as the audit committee, or the company does not have an audit committee.
For issuers in all markets, including those in tax haven markets and those in Japan that have adopted the U.S.-style board-with-committees structure, vote AGAINST non-independent nominees to the audit committee, or, if the slate of nominees is bundled, vote AGAINST the slate. If the slate is bundled and audit committee membership is unclear or proposed as a separate agenda item, vote FOR if the Agent otherwise recommends support. For Canadian issuers, the Funds’ U.S. Guidelines with respect to audit committees shall apply.
In tax haven markets, DO NOT VOTE AGAINST non-independent directors in cases in which the full board serves as the compensation committee, or the company does not have a compensation committee.
DO NOT VOTE AGAINST non-independent directors who sit on the compensation or nominating committees, provided that such committees meet the applicable independence requirements of the relevant listing exchange.
In cases in which committee membership is unclear, consider non-independent director nominees on a CASE-BY-CASE basis if no other issues have been raised in connection with his/her nomination.
Generally follow Agent’s recommendations to vote AGAINST individuals nominated as outside/non-executive directors who do not meet the Agent’s standard for independence, unless the slate of nominees is bundled, in which case the proposal(s) to elect board members shall be considered on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
For issuers in tax haven markets, generally withhold support (AGAINST or ABSTAIN, as appropriate) from bundled slates of nominees if the board is non-majority independent. For issuers in Canada and other global markets, generally follow the Agent’s standards for withholding support from bundled slates or non-independent directors (typically excluding the CEO), as applicable, if the board does not meet the Agent’s independence standards or the board’s independence cannot be ascertained due to inadequate disclosure.
Generally, withhold support (AGAINST or ABSTAIN, as appropriate) from nominees or slates of nominees presented in a manner not aligned with market practice and/or legislation, including:
    bundled slates of nominees (e.g., France, Hong Kong or Spain);
 
    simultaneous reappointment of retiring directors (e.g., South Africa);
 
    in markets with term lengths capped by legislation or market practice, nominees whose terms exceed the caps or are not disclosed (except that bundled slates with such lack of disclosure shall be considered on a CASE-BY-CASE basis); or

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    nominees whose names are not disclosed in advance of the meeting (e.g., Austria, Philippines, Hong Kong or South Africa) or far enough in advance relative to voting deadlines (e.g., Italy) to make an informed voting decision.
Such criteria will not generally provide grounds for withholding support in countries in which they may be identified as best practice but such legislation or market practice is not yet applicable, unless specific governance shortfalls identified by the Agent dictate that less latitude should be extended to the issuer.
Generally vote FOR nominees without regard to recommendations that the position of chairman should be separate from that of CEO or otherwise required to be independent, unless other concerns requiring CASE-BY-CASE consideration have been raised.
In cases in which cumulative or net voting applies, generally vote with Agent’s recommendation to support nominees asserted by the issuer to be independent, even if independence disclosure or criteria fall short of Agent’s standards.
Consider nominees for whom the Agent has raised concerns regarding scandals or internal controls on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, generally withholding support (AGAINST or ABSTAIN, as appropriate) from nominees or slates of nominees when:
    the scandal or shortfall in controls took place at the company, or an affiliate, for which the nominee is being considered;
 
    culpability can be attributed to the nominee (e.g., nominee manages or audits relevant function), and
 
    the nominee has been directly implicated, with resulting arrest and criminal charge or regulatory sanction.
For markets such as the tax havens, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and South Africa (and for outside directors in South Korea) in which nominees’ attendance records are adequately disclosed, the Funds’ U.S. Guidelines with respect to director attendance shall apply. The same policy shall be applied regarding attendance by statutory auditors of Japanese companies.
Consider self-nominated director candidates on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, with voting decisions generally based on the Agent’s approach to evaluating such candidates.
Generally vote FOR nominees without regard to “over-boarding” issues raised by the Agent unless other concerns requiring CASE-BY-CASE consideration have been raised.
For companies incorporated in tax haven markets but which trade exclusively in the U.S., the Funds’ U.S. Guidelines with respect to director elections shall apply.
Board Structure
Generally, vote FOR proposals to fix board size, but also support proposals seeking a board range if the range is reasonable in the context of market practice and anti-takeover

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considerations. Proposed article amendments in this regard shall be considered on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, with voting decisions generally based on the Agent’s approach to evaluating such proposals.
Director and Officer Indemnification and Liability Protection
Generally, vote in accordance with the Agent’s standards for indemnification and liability protection for officers and directors, voting AGAINST overly broad provisions.
Independent Statutory Auditors
With respect to Japanese companies that have not adopted the U.S.-style board-with-committees structure, vote AGAINST any nominee to the position of “independent statutory auditor” whom the Agent considers affiliated, e.g., if the nominee has worked a significant portion of his career for the company, its main bank or one of its top shareholders. Where shareholders are forced to vote on multiple nominees in a single resolution, vote AGAINST all nominees. In cases in which multiple slates of statutory auditors are presented, generally vote with the Agent’s recommendation, typically to support nominees deemed to be more independent and/or aligned with interests of minority shareholders.
Generally, vote AGAINST incumbent nominees at companies implicated in scandals or exhibiting poor internal controls.
Key Committees
Generally, vote AGAINST proposals that permit non-board members to serve on the audit, compensation or nominating committee, provided that bundled slates may be supported if no slate nominee serves on the relevant committee(s).
Director and Statutory Auditor Remuneration
Consider director compensation plans on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, with voting decisions generally based on the Agent’s approach to evaluating such proposals, while also factoring in the merits of the rationale and disclosure provided. Generally, vote FOR proposals to approve the remuneration of directors and auditors as long as the amount is not excessive (e.g., significant increases should be supported by adequate rationale and disclosure) and there is no evidence of abuse. For Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) issuers, the Agent’s limits with respect to equity awards to non-employee directors shall apply.
Bonus Payments
With respect to Japanese companies, generally vote FOR retirement bonus proposals if all payments are for directors and auditors who have served as executives of the company. Generally vote AGAINST such proposals if one or more payments are for non-executive, affiliated directors or statutory auditors when one or more of the individuals to whom the grants are being proposed (1) has not served in an executive capacity for the company for at least three years or (2) has been designated by the company as an independent statutory auditor, regardless of the length of time he/she has served. In all markets, if issues have been raised regarding a scandal or internal controls, generally vote AGAINST bonus proposals for retiring directors or continuing directors or auditors when culpability can be attributed to the nominee (e.g., if a Fund

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is also voting AGAINST the nominee under criteria herein regarding issues of scandal or internal controls), unless bundled with bonuses for a majority of directors or auditors a Fund is voting FOR.
Stock Option Plans for Independent Internal Statutory Auditors
With respect to Japanese companies, follow the Agent’s guidelines with respect to proposals regarding option grants to independent internal statutory auditors, generally voting AGAINST such plans.
Compensation Plans
Unless otherwise provided for herein, votes with respect to compensation plans, and awards thereunder or capital issuances in support thereof, should be determined on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, with voting decisions generally based on the Agent’s approach to evaluating such plans, considering quantitative or qualitative factors as appropriate for the market.
Amendment Procedures for Equity Compensation Plans and ESPPs
For TSX issuers, votes with respect to amendment procedures for security-based compensation arrangements and employee share purchase plans shall generally be cast in a manner designed to preserve shareholder approval rights, with voting decisions generally based on the Agent’s recommendation.
Shares Reserved for Equity Compensation Plans
Unless otherwise provided for herein, voting decisions shall generally be based on the Agent’s methodology, including classification of a company’s stage of development as growth or mature and the corresponding determination as to reasonability of the share requests.
Generally, vote AGAINST equity compensation plans (e.g., option, warrant, restricted stock or employee share purchase plans or participation in company offerings such as IPOs or private placements), the issuance of shares in connection with such plans, or related management proposals (e.g., article amendments) that:
    exceed Agent’s recommended dilution limits, including cases in which the Agent suggests dilution cannot be fully assessed (e.g., due to inadequate disclosure);
 
    provide deep or near-term discounts to executives or directors, unless discounts to executives are deemed by the Agent to be adequately mitigated by other requirements such as long-term vesting (e.g., Japan) or broad-based employee participation otherwise meeting Agent’s standards (e.g., France);
 
    are administered with discretion by potential grant recipients;
 
    provide for retirement benefits or equity incentive awards to outside directors if not in line with market practice (e.g., Australia, Belgium, The Netherlands);
 
    permit financial assistance in the form of non-recourse (or essentially non-recourse) loans in connection with executive’s participation;
 
    for matching share plans, do not meet the Agent’s standards, considering holding period, discounts, dilution, participation, purchase price and performance criteria;
 
    provide for vesting upon change in control if deemed by the Agent to evidence a conflict of interest or anti-takeover device;

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    provide no disclosure regarding vesting or performance criteria (provided that proposals providing disclosure in one or both areas, without regard to Agent’s criteria for such disclosure, shall be supported provided they otherwise satisfy these Guidelines);
 
    permit post-employment vesting if deemed inappropriate by the Agent;
 
    allow plan administrators to make material amendments without shareholder approval unless adequate prior disclosure has been provided, with such voting decisions generally based on the Agent’s approach to evaluating such plans; or
 
    provide for retesting in connection with achievement of performance hurdles unless the Agent’s analysis indicates that (1) performance targets are adequately increased in proportion to the additional time available, (2) the retesting is de minimis as a percentage of overall compensation or is acceptable relative to market practice, or (3) the issuer has committed to cease retesting within a reasonable period of time.
Generally, vote FOR such plans/awards or the related issuance of shares that (1) do not suffer from the defects noted above, or (2) otherwise meet the Agent’s tests if the considerations raised by the Agent pertain primarily to performance hurdles, contract or notice periods, discretionary bonuses, recruitment awards, retention incentives, non-compete payments or vesting upon change in control (other than addressed above), if the company has provided adequate disclosure and/or a reasonable rationale regarding the relevant plan/award, practice or participation. Unless otherwise provided for herein, market practice of the primary country in which a company does business, or in which an employee is serving, as applicable, shall supersede that of the issuer’s domicile.
Consider proposals in connection with such plans or the related issuance of shares in other instances on a CASE-BY-CASE basis.
Remuneration Reports
Generally, withhold support (AGAINST or ABSTAIN as appropriate for specific market and level of concerns identified by the Agent) from remuneration reports that include compensation plans permitting:
  (1)   practices or features not supported under these Guidelines, including financial assistance under the conditions described above;
 
  (2)   retesting deemed by the Agent to be excessive relative to market practice (irrespective of the Agent’s support for the report as a whole);
 
  (3)   equity award valuation triggering a negative recommendation from the Agent; or
 
  (4)   provisions for retirement benefits or equity incentive awards to outside directors if not in line with market practice, except that reports will generally be voted FOR if contractual components are reasonably aligned with market practices on a going-forward basis (e.g., existing obligations related to retirement benefits or terms contrary to evolving standards would not preclude support for the report).
Reports receiving the Agent’s support and not triggering the concerns cited above will generally be voted FOR. Unless otherwise provided for herein, reports not receiving the Agent’s support due to concerns regarding severance/termination payments, “leaver” status, incentive structures and vesting or performance criteria not otherwise supported by these Guidelines shall be

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considered on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, generally voted FOR if the company has provided a reasonable rationale and/or adequate disclosure regarding the matter(s) under consideration. Reports with typically unsupported features may be voted FOR in cases in which the Agent recommends their initial support as the issuer or market transitions to better practices (e.g., having committed to new regulations or governance codes).
Shareholder Proposals Regarding Executive and Director Pay
The Funds’ U.S. Guidelines with respect to such shareholder proposals shall apply.
General Share Issuances
Unless otherwise provided for herein, voting decisions shall generally be based on the Agent’s practice to determine support for general issuance requests (with or without preemptive rights), or related requests to repurchase and reissue shares, based on their amount relative to currently issued capital as well as market-specific considerations (e.g., priority right protections in France, reasonable levels of dilution and discount in Hong Kong). Requests to reissue repurchased shares will not be supported unless a related general issuance request is also supported. Consider specific issuance requests on a CASE-BY-CASE basis based on the proposed use and the company’s rationale.
Generally, vote AGAINST proposals to issue shares (with or without preemptive rights), convertible bonds or warrants, to grant rights to acquire shares, or to amend the corporate charter relative to such issuances or grants in cases in which concerns have been identified by the Agent with respect to inadequate disclosure, inadequate restrictions on discounts, failure to meet the Agent’s standards for general issuance requests, or authority to refresh share issuance amounts without prior shareholder approval.
Increases in Authorized Capital
Unless otherwise provided for herein, voting decisions should generally be based on the Agent’s approach, as follows:
    Generally, vote FOR nonspecific proposals, including bundled proposals, to increase authorized capital up to 100 percent over the current authorization unless the increase would leave the company with less than 30 percent of its new authorization outstanding.
 
    Vote FOR specific proposals to increase authorized capital, unless:
    the specific purpose of the increase (such as a share-based acquisition or merger) does not meet these Guidelines for the purpose being proposed; or
 
    the increase would leave the company with less than 30 percent of its new authorization outstanding after adjusting for all proposed issuances.
    Vote AGAINST proposals to adopt unlimited capital authorizations.
 
    The Agent’s market-specific exceptions to the above parameters (e.g., The Netherlands, due to hybrid market controls) shall be applied.
Preferred Stock
Unless otherwise provided for herein, voting decisions should generally be based on the Agent’s approach, including:

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    Vote FOR the creation of a new class of preferred stock or issuances of preferred stock up to 50 percent of issued capital unless the terms of the preferred stock would adversely affect the rights of existing shareholders.
 
    Vote FOR the creation/issuance of convertible preferred stock as long as the maximum number of common shares that could be issued upon conversion meets the Agent’s guidelines on equity issuance requests.
 
    Vote AGAINST the creation of (1) a new class of preference shares that would carry superior voting rights to the common shares or (2) blank check preferred stock unless the board states that the authorization will not be used to thwart a takeover bid.
Poison Pills/Protective Preference Shares
Generally, vote AGAINST management proposals in connection with poison pills or anti-takeover activities (e.g., disclosure requirements or issuances, transfers or repurchases) that do not meet the Agent’s standards. Generally vote in accordance with Agent’s recommendation to withhold support from a nominee in connection with poison pill or anti-takeover considerations when culpability for the actions can be specifically attributed to the nominee. Generally DO NOT VOTE AGAINST director remuneration in connection with poison pill considerations raised by the Agent.
Approval of Financial Statements and Director and Auditor Reports
Generally, vote FOR management proposals seeking approval of financial accounts and reports, unless there is concern about the company’s financial accounts and reporting, which, in the case of related party transactions, would include concerns raised by the Agent regarding consulting agreements with non-executive directors. Unless otherwise provided for herein, reports not receiving the Agent’s support due to concerns regarding severance/termination payments not otherwise supported by these Guidelines shall be considered on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, factoring in the merits of the rationale and disclosure provided. Generally, vote AGAINST board-issued reports receiving a negative recommendation from the Agent due to concerns regarding independence of the board or the presence of non-independent directors on the audit committee. However, generally do not withhold support from such proposals in connection with remuneration practices otherwise supported under these Guidelines or as a means of expressing disapproval of broader practices of the issuer or its board.
Remuneration of Auditors
Generally, vote FOR proposals to authorize the board to determine the remuneration of auditors, unless there is evidence of excessive compensation relative to the size and nature of the company.
Indemnification of Auditors
Generally, vote AGAINST proposals to indemnify auditors.
Ratification of Auditors and Approval of Auditors’ Fees
For Canadian issuers, the Funds’ U.S. Guidelines with respect to auditors and auditor fees shall apply. For other markets, generally, follow the Agent’s standards for proposals seeking auditor

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ratification or approval of auditors’ fees, which indicate a vote FOR such proposals for companies in the MSCI EAFE index, provided the level of audit fee disclosure meets the Agent’s standards. In other cases, generally vote FOR such proposals unless there are material concerns raised by the Agent about the auditor’s practices or independence.
Allocation of Income and Dividends
Generally, vote FOR management proposals concerning allocation of income and the distribution of dividends, including adjustments to reserves to make capital available for such purposes. In the event management offers multiple dividend proposals on the same agenda, primary consideration shall be given to input from the relevant Investment Professional(s).
Stock (Scrip) Dividend Alternatives
Generally, vote FOR most stock (scrip) dividend proposals, but vote AGAINST proposals that do not allow for a cash option unless management demonstrates that the cash option is harmful to shareholder value.
Debt Instruments
Generally, vote AGAINST proposals authorizing excessive discretion, as assessed by the Agent, to a board to issue or set terms for debt instruments (e.g., commercial paper).
Debt Issuance Requests
When evaluating a debt issuance request, the issuing company’s present financial situation is examined. The main factor for analysis is the company’s current debt-to-equity ratio, or gearing level. A high gearing level may incline markets and financial analysts to downgrade the company’s bond rating, increasing its investment risk factor in the process. A gearing level up to 100 percent is considered acceptable.
Generally, vote FOR debt issuances for companies when the gearing level is between zero and 100 percent. Review on a CASE-BY-CASE basis proposals where the issuance of debt will result in the gearing level being greater than 100 percent, or for which inadequate disclosure precludes calculation of the gearing level, comparing any such proposed debt issuance to industry and market standards, and with voting decisions generally based on the Agent’s approach to evaluating such requests.
Financing Plans
Generally, vote FOR the adoption of financing plans if they are in the best economic interests of shareholders.
Related Party Transactions
 
Consider related party transactions on a CASE-BY-CASE basis. Generally, vote FOR approval of such transactions unless the agreement requests a strategic move outside the company’s charter or contains unfavorable or high-risk terms (e.g., deposits without security interest or guaranty).

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Approval of Donations
Generally, vote AGAINST such proposals unless adequate, prior disclosure of amounts is provided; if so, single- or multi-year authorities may be supported.
Capitalization of Reserves
Generally, vote FOR proposals to capitalize the company’s reserves for bonus issues of shares or to increase the par value of shares.
Investment of Company Reserves
These proposals should generally be analyzed on a CASE-BY-CASE basis, with primary consideration given to input from the Investment Professional(s) for a given Fund.
Article Amendments
Review on a CASE-BY-CASE basis all proposals seeking amendments to the articles of association.
Generally, vote FOR an article amendment if:
  §   it is editorial in nature;
 
  §   shareholder rights are protected;
 
  §   there is negligible or positive impact on shareholder value;
 
  §   management provides adequate reasons for the amendments or the Agent otherwise supports management’s position;
 
  §   it seeks to discontinue and/or delist a form of the issuer’s securities in cases in which the relevant Fund does not hold the affected security type; or
 
  §   the company is required to do so by law (if applicable).
Generally, vote AGAINST an article amendment if:
  §   it removes or lowers quorum requirements for board or shareholder meetings below levels recommended by the Agent;
 
  §   it reduces relevant disclosure to shareholders;
 
  §   it seeks to align the articles with provisions of another proposal not supported by these Guidelines;
 
  §   it is not supported under these Guidelines, is presented within a bundled proposal, and the Agent deems the negative impact, on balance, to outweigh any positive impact; or
 
  §   it imposes a negative impact on existing shareholder rights, including rights of the Funds, to the extent that any positive impact would not be deemed by the Agent to be sufficient to outweigh removal or diminution of such rights.
With respect to article amendments for Japanese companies:
  §   Generally vote FOR management proposals to amend a company’s articles to expand its business lines.
 
  §   Generally vote FOR management proposals to amend a company’s articles to provide for an expansion or reduction in the size of the board, unless the expansion/reduction is

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      clearly disproportionate to the growth/decrease in the scale of the business or raises anti-takeover concerns.
 
  §   If anti-takeover concerns exist, generally vote AGAINST management proposals, including bundled proposals, to amend a company’s articles to authorize the Board to vary the annual meeting record date or to otherwise align them with provisions of a takeover defense.
 
  §   Generally follow the Agent’s guidelines with respect to management proposals regarding amendments to authorize share repurchases at the board’s discretion, voting AGAINST proposals unless there is little to no likelihood of a “creeping takeover” (major shareholder owns nearly enough shares to reach a critical control threshold) or constraints on liquidity (free float of shares is low), and where the company is trading at below book value or is facing a real likelihood of substantial share sales; or where this amendment is bundled with other amendments which are clearly in shareholders’ interest.
Other Business
In connection with global proxies, vote in accordance with the Agent’s market-specific recommendations on management proposals for Other Business, generally AGAINST.

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ING Global Equity Dividend
& Premium Opportunity
Fund
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
(a) (1) Portfolio Management. The following individuals share responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio:
Moudy El Khodr, Senior Investment Manager Equities, is responsible for the management of the global and US high dividend strategies. Mr. Khodr has been in charge of the globally investing EUR 3.1 bn large Star fund since he entered ING IM, in March 2001. Prior to this, he was an equity fund manager at Banque Générale du Luxembourg (BGL). Mr. Khodr started his career at the Belgian stock exchange (now Euronext Brussels) in the study & statistical department.He has eight years of investment experience and is a European Certified Financial Analyst.
Nicolas Simar, Head of Value/High Dividend, is responsible for the High Dividend strategies. Mr. Simar started his career at the Banque Bruxelles Lambert in 1996 (now part of ING) as an Investment Manager of Fixed Income and moved three years later to the Equity team to manage the Euro High Dividend strategy. Mr. Simar has ten years of investment experience.
Kris Hermie. Mr. Hermie joined the value team in January 2007 as a senior investment manager. Prior to joining ING Investment Management, he worked at Dexia Asset Management where he managed value inspired portfolios for pension funds and insurance companies. Mr. Hermie started his career in 1998 at Bank Corluy where he worked as an analyst and later on as a fund manager managing regional Belgian funds and the Global technology fund. Mr. Hermie has a Master in Commercial Sciences from Ehsal in Brussels and received his Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 2002.
Frank van Etten. Mr. Van Etten is currently an Investment Manager of Structured Products and joined IIM Europe in 2002. In this capacity he is responsible for managing a range of structured products and the execution of transactions in the derivatives portfolios. Furthermore Mr. Van Etten also carries out research in structured products development and option strategies and markets. Mr. Van Etten obtained his Master’s degree in econometrics from Tilburg University in 2003, specializing in quantitative finance.
Willem van Dommelen. Mr. Van Dommelen is currently an Investment Manager of Structured Products and joined IIM Europe in 2002. In this capacity he is responsible for managing a range of structured products and the execution of transactions in the derivatives portfolios. Mr. Van Dommelen started his career as Portfolio Manager Institutional Clients, where he was responsible for the client servicing of around 80 institutional clients of IIM Europe. Mr. Van Dommelen obtained his Master’s degree in economics from Tilburg University in 2002, specializing in accountancy and investment theory. He also holds a RBA degree (registered investment analyst).
Bas Peters. Mr. Peeters joined IIMA in 1998. Currently, Mr. Peeters is Head of Structured Products and will be responsible for the structure of the Fund’s option strategy. In this capacity he is responsible for the research, marketing and portfolio management activities of this department. Previously he was Head of Research Structured Products, where he worked on product development and implementation of structured products research. Until 2001 he also was jointly responsible for portfolio management and derivatives trading. In addition, since 2002 he has carried out research in financial economics at the Free University of Amsterdam. His previous working experience comprises postdoctoral research positions at universities in London and Belgium. Mr. Peeters obtained a Master’s degree in Theoretical Physics (Cum Laude) from the University of Utrecht, The Netherlands in 1990, where he also studied Mathematics. He obtained his PhD in Theoretical Physics at Stony Brook University, New York in 1995.

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(a) (2) (i-iii) Other Accounts Managed
The following table shows the number of accounts and total assets in the accounts managed by the portfolio managers of the Sub-Adviser as of March 31, 2008 unless otherwise indicated:
                                                 
    Registered Investment Companies     Other Pooled Investment Vehicles     Other Accounts  
    Number of     Total Assets     Number of     Total Assets     Number of     Total Assets  
portfolio manager   Accounts     (in billions)     Accounts     (in billions)     Accounts*     (in millions)  
Moudy El Khodr
    7     $ 3.7       1     $ 1.5       7     $ 470  
Nicolas Simar
    2     $ 1.9       0       N/A       3     $ 137  
Kris Hermie
    7     $ 3.7       1     $ 1.5       7     $ 470  
Frank van Etten**
    17     $ 4.0       3     $ 1.6       0       N/A  
Willem van Dommelen**
    17     $ 4.0       3     $ 1.6       0       N/A  
Bas Peters**
    17     $ 4.0       3     $ 1.6       0       N/A  
 
*   None of the accounts managed are subject to performance fees.
 
**   Account information is as of March 31, 2007.
(a) (2) (iv) Conflicts of Interest
ING Investment Management Advisors B.V.’s (“IIMA”) investment teams are responsible for managing and executing trades on behalf of multiple clients including other registered funds, legal entities, other accounts including proprietary accounts, separate accounts and other pooled investment vehicles. An investment team may manage a portfolio or separate account, which may have materially higher fee arrangements than the Fund and may also have a performance based fee. The management of multiple Funds and/or other accounts may raise potential conflicts of interest relating to the allocation of investment opportunities and the aggregation and allocation of trades. IIMA has adopted compliance procedures which are reasonably designed to address these types of conflicts.
(a) (3) Compensation
Within INGIM Europe, the portfolio managers’ compensation typically consists of a base salary and a bonus which is based on INGIM Europe’s (IIMA is one of the legal entities of INGIM Europe) performance as well as 1 year pre-tax performance of the accounts the portfolio managers are primarily and jointly responsible for relative to account benchmarks performance. In addition, the portfolio managers are offered long-term equity awards, such as stocks and/or stock options, which are tied to the performance of the Sub-Adviser’s parent company, ING Group.
Portfolio managers are eligible to participate in an annual incentive plan. The overall design of the INGIM Europe annual incentive plan was developed to closely tie compensation to performance, structured in such a way as to drive performance and promote retention of top talent. As with base salary compensation, individual target awards are determined and set based on external market data and internal comparators. Investment performance is measured on both relative and absolute performance in all areas. INGIM Europe has defined indices and set performance goals to appropriately reflect requirements for each investment team. The measures for each team are outlined on a “scorecard” that is reviewed on an annual basis. These scorecards reflect a comprehensive approach to measuring investment performance versus benchmark(s) over a one year period. The results for overall INGIM Europese scorecards are calculated on an asset weighted performance basis of the individual team scorecards.

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Investment professionals’ performance measures for bonus determinations are typically weighted by 20% being attributable to the overall INGIM Europe performance and 80% attributable to their specific team results.
The portfolio managers participate in ING’s Pension, Retirement plans, which are available to almost all salaried employees in the firm.
(a) (4) Ownership of Securities
     
portfolio manager   Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned
Moudy El Khodr
  None
Nicolas Simar
  None
Kris Hermie
  None
Frank van Etten
  None
Willem van Dommelen
  None
Bas Peters
  None

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Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers
None
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
The Board has a Nominating Committee for the purpose of considering and presenting to the Board candidates it proposes for nomination to fill Independent Trustee vacancies on the Board. The Committee currently consists of all Independent Trustees of the Board (6 individuals). The Nominating Committee operates pursuant to a Charter approved by the Board. The primary purpose of the Nominating Committee is to consider and present to the Board the candidates it proposes for nomination to fill vacancies on the Board. In evaluating candidates, the Nominating Committee may consider a variety of factors, but it has not at this time set any specific minimum qualifications that must be met. Specific qualifications of candidates for Board membership will be based on the needs of the Board at the time of nomination.
The Nominating Committee is willing to consider nominations received from shareholders and shall assess shareholder nominees in the same manner as it reviews its own nominees. A shareholder nominee for director should be submitted in writing to the Fund’s Secretary. Any such shareholder nomination should include at a minimum the following information as to each individual proposed for nomination as trustee: such individual’s written consent to be named in the proxy statement as a nominee (if nominated) and to serve as a trustee (if elected), and all information relating to such individual that is required to be disclosed in the solicitation of proxies for election of trustees, or is otherwise required, in each case under applicable federal securities laws, rules and regulations.
The Secretary shall submit all nominations received in a timely manner to the Nominating Committee. To be timely, any such submission must be delivered to the Fund’s Secretary not earlier than the 90th day prior to such meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 60th day prior to such meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the meeting is first made, by either disclosure in a press release or in a document publicly filed by the Fund with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures.
(a)   Based on our evaluation conducted within 90 days of the filing date, hereof, the design and operation of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that material information relating to the registrant is made known to the certifying officers by others within the appropriate entities, particularly during the period in which Forms N-CSR are being prepared, and the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures allow timely preparation and review of the information for the registrant’s Form N-CSR and the officer certifications of such Form N-CSR.
 
(b)   There were no significant changes in the registrant’s internal controls that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 12. Exhibits.
(a) (l) Code of Ethics pursuant to Item 2 of Form N-CSR is filed and attached hereto as EX-99.CODE ETH.
 
(a) (2)    A separate certification for each principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2 under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2) is attached hereto as EX-99.CERT.
 
(b)   The officer certifications required by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto as EX-99.906CERT.
 
  (3)   Not applicable.

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
(Registrant): ING Global Equity Dividend and Premium Opportunity Fund
         
By:
  /s/ Shaun P. Mathews
 
Shaun P. Mathews
   
 
  President and Chief Executive Officer    
Date: May 9, 2008
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
         
By:
  /s/ Shaun P. Mathews
 
Shaun P. Mathews
   
 
  President and Chief Executive Officer    
Date: May 9, 2008
         
By
  /s/ Todd Modic
 
Todd Modic
   
 
  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer    
Date: May 9, 2008

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