ING results demonstrate resilience in challenging environment

7 november 2007 * Underlying net profit up 19.2% to EUR 1,946 million supported by investment gains * Underlying profit includes a EUR 455 million net gain on the sale of part of ING's stake in ABN Amro * Profit declines 8.6%, excluding ABN Amro gain, on lower revaluations of real estate & private equity investments * Strong life sales push value of new business up 47.5% to EUR 298 million; solid volume growth in banking * Net profit up 46.8% to EUR 2,306 million (EUR 1.08 per share) after divestment gains and restructuring expenses * Risk management and strong balance sheet protected ING from the direct impact of market turmoil * Negligible impact from liquidity crisis on long-term funding costs of the banking business * No material impairments on EUR 3.1 billion portfolio of investments backed by subprime assets * No material revaluations on debt securities held in the third quarter as credit spreads increased * Investments continue to support growth, optimise the competitive position and sharpen focus * Acquisitions of Oyak Bank in Turkey and Latin American pension business of Santander progressing on track * Investments planned to optimise Belgian retail network to boost pre-tax profit by over EUR 100 million * Initiatives at Wholesale to generate EUR 30 million in cost savings and EUR 100 million in revenue by 2009 Chairman's Statement"The third quarter was marked by turmoil in financial markets as concerns about US subprime lending triggered a liquidity crisis and a repricing of risk. Risk management protected us against the direct impact of this turmoil, demonstrating ING's resilience in a challenging environment," said Michel Tilmant, Chairman of ING Group. "Our strong balance sheet and large customer deposit base enabled ING to manage the liquidity crisis with only a negligible increase in funding costs. We incurred no material impairments or revaluations on our subprime residential mortgage-backed securities or leveraged finance transactions. Revaluations of debt securities held were essentially flat as lower interest rates offset credit-spread widening in the third quarter." "The commercial performance of the business remained robust. ING achieved strong sales of life insurance in Central Europe and Asia as well as variable annuities in the US. That drove a 47.5% increase in the value of new business to EUR 298 million. The banking businesses continued to show solid volume growth in mortgages, term deposits and current accounts. That was partially offset by outflows from high-balance customers at ING Direct UK, where management actions are being taken to stop the outflow." "The market turbulence has made the business environment more challenging. Strategic trading results in Wholesale Banking were impacted by the market turmoil and deal flow slowed in leveraged finance. Revaluations on real estate and private equity investments were less favourable than in recent quarters. Equity market volatility has increased. The yield curve has remained flat, and competition for deposits is intensifying for Retail Banking and ING Direct." "The fundamentals underpinning our businesses remain strong and will support growth over the long term. We continue to invest to support ING's wealth management strategy, including the acquisitions of Oyak Bank in Turkey and the Latin American pension business of Santander. Our stake in the Bank of Beijing increased its market value more than ten-fold to EUR 2.1 billion following that bank's IPO in the third quarter. We also continue to invest in existing businesses to optimise our competitive position. The integration of Postbank and ING Bank in the Netherlands is on track. Investments are also planned to optimise the retail distribution model in Belgium to boost profit there by more than EUR 100 million by 2012. At Wholesale Banking we are introducing new initiatives to improve efficiency and stimulate growth, which are expected to generate EUR 30 million in cost savings and EUR 100 million in revenue benefits by 2009." The full report including tables can be downloaded from the following link: 2007 Third Quarter Results ING Group The following documents can be downloaded from around 08.00 am CET from the following link: Presentations on Quarterly Results Contacts Media relations +31 20 541 6522 Press Conference 7 November, 11.00 a.m. CET Listen only via: NL: +31 20 794 8500 UK: +44 20 7190 1537 Investor relations +31 20 541 5571 Analyst Conference Call 7 November 2007, 9.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. CET Listen only via: NL: +31 20 796 5332 UK: +44 20 8515 2303 US: +1 303 262 2140