ING Group is a global financial services company of Dutch origin with 150 years of experience, providing a wide array of Banking, Investment, Life Insurance and Retirement Services in over 50 countries. About 130,000 employees work daily to satisfy a broad customer base: Capabilities, families, small businesses, large corporations, institutions and governments. Based on market capitalization, ING is one of the 20 largest financial institutions worldwide.

ING is the number one financial services company in the Benelux home market. ING services its retail clients in these markets with a wide range of retail-banking, insurance and asset management services. Our wholesale banking activities operate worldwide but with a primary focus on the Benelux countries. In the United States, ING is a top-five provider of retirement services and life insurance.

In Canada, we are the leading property and casualty insurer, based on gross premiums. We operate direct retail banking activities for customers in Australia, Canada, France, Germany and Austria, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. In the growth markets of Asia, Central Europe and South America we, for example, provide life insurance. We are also a large asset manager with assets under management of around EUR 637 billion (as at 31 December 2007) [ING Annual Report 2007].