|
|
|
Frequently
Asked Questions |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
About ING Group
|

|
Where is ING’s Group head office?
|

|
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Who is the CEO of ING?
|

|
Jan Hommen has been CEO of ING since 27 April
2009 when the annual General Meeting approved his appointment to
the Executive Board.
When was ING formed?
|

|
ING Group was created in 1991 through the
merger of the Dutch insurer Nationale-Nederlanden and the Dutch
bank NMB Postbank Groep.
What is the management structure of ING?
|

|
Since June 2009, ING has two Management Boards;
one for Banking and one for Insurance. Both report to the Executive
Board.
What is ING’s business structure?
|

|
The banking and insurance activities are each
organised around three business lines: Retail Banking, ING Direct,
Commercial Banking and Insurance Europe, Insurance Americas and
Insurance Asia/Pacific respectively. The investment management
activities are part of the insurance activities.
How many people work at ING?
|

|
ING has about 110,000 employees worldwide.
About 72,000 of them work in the banking business and about 39,000
in the insurance business.
What’s the difference between ING Bank and ING Group?
|

|
ING Group is a listed company and holds all
shares of ING Bank and ING Verzekeringen (ING Insurance), which are
non-listed 100% subsidiaries of ING Group. ING Bank is the parent
company of various Dutch and foreign banks. ‘ING Bank’ is at times
also used as a commercial name.
|
Global financial turmoil
|

|
ING’s capital strengthening transaction with the Dutch
government
|

|
Why has ING made this capital strengthening transaction with
the Dutch government?
|

|
Before the transaction our capital position was
in line with previously targeted levels and regulatory
requirements. However, market conditions have changed dramatically
and have led to an internationally recognised belief that going
forward, in this market environment, capital requirements for
financial institutions should be higher. ING feels that it is
prudent to raise our core capital to reinforce our strong
competitive position in this changing landscape. This transaction
does not dilute our existing shareholders.
The strengthening of ING’s capital follows the plans the Dutch
government announced on 9 October to make capital available to
financial enterprises that are fundamentally sound and viable.
What does ING’s agreement with the Dutch government
entail?
|

|
In ING’s press release of 19 October
ING to strengthen
core capital by EUR 10 billion the company announced:
ING to issue EUR 10 billion of core Tier-1 securities to Dutch
State
- Transaction boosts Bank core Tier-1 ratio to 8%,
strengthens Insurance balance sheet and reduces Group Debt/Equity
ratio to 10%
- Core capital issue is non-dilutive to
outstanding share capital
- ING to pass over final dividend for 2008
ING reached an agreement with the Dutch
government to strengthen its capital position, creating a strong
buffer to navigate the current market and economic environment. ING
will issue non-voting core Tier-1 securities for a total
consideration of EUR 10 billion to the Dutch State. The transaction
will bring ING Bank’s core Tier-1 ratio to around 8%, will
strengthen the insurance balance sheet and will reduce ING Group’s
Debt/Equity ratio to around 10%.
The capital strengthening transaction is expected to be settled by
12 November 2008.
What are the financial details of this agreement?
|

|
- ING will issue 1 billion non-voting core Tier-1
securities to the Dutch State at a price of EUR 10 per security.
The Dutch Central Bank classifies the securities as core tier-1
capital. The securities are pari passu with ordinary common equity
meaning the Dutch State will rank exactly the same as common
shareholders. The structure of the transaction is designed to avoid
dilution of existing shareholders. The security is only
transferable with the permission of ING and the Dutch Central
Bank.
- ING has the right to buy back all or some of the
securities at any time at 150% of the issue price. Further, ING has
the right to convert all or some of the securities into (depositary
receipts for) ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis, from three
years after the issuance onwards. If ING chooses to do so, the
Dutch State can opt for repayment of the securities at EUR 10 in
cash.
- The coupon on the core Tier-1 securities is only
payable if a dividend - either interim or final - is paid on common
shares over the financial year preceding the coupon date. The
annual coupon per security will be the higher of EUR 0.85 or an
amount equal to 110% of the dividend paid on ordinary shares for
the year 2008, 120% for 2009 and 125% from 2010 and onwards.
- Given the exceptional circumstances, ING has
decided to pass over the final dividend for 2008, leaving the total
2008 dividend at the EUR 0.74 per share that was already paid as
interim dividend.
What will the proceeds of this transaction be used for?
|

|
ING Group will use the proceeds of the
transaction to increase shareholders’ equity in ING Bank by EUR 5
billion and to strengthen the balance sheet of ING Insurance by EUR
2 billion. The remaining EUR 3 billion will be used to reduce the
Debt/Equity ratio at ING Group from 15% to around 10%. After this
transaction, ING Bank’s core Tier-1 ratio will be around 8%, with
ING Bank’s Tier-1 ratio above 10%.
What are the Corporate Governance implications as a result of
the capital agreement?
|

|
Under the terms of the agreement, the Dutch
State obtains the right to nominate two members for the ING Group
Supervisory Board, to be elected at the ING General Meeting of
Shareholders in 2009. These nominees will be represented on the
Audit Committee, Corporate Governance Committee and Remuneration
and Nomination Committee of the Supervisory Board and will have
approval rights for decisions concerning equity issuance or buyback
(except in connection with this transaction) and strategic
transactions with a value equalling more than one quarter of ING’s
share capital and reserves.
The ING Supervisory Board will review the remuneration policy for
the Executive Board and senior management to align it with new
international standards. This will include linking incentive
schemes to long-term value creation and risk. All members of the
ING Executive Board have volunteered to forego all bonuses – either
in cash, options or shares – relating to the performance in 2008
and limit exit-arrangements to a maximum of one year’s fixed
salary.
What does this mean for the strategy of ING?
|

|
This transaction does not dilute our existing
shareholders while providing additional security to our 85 million
customers. It reinforces our commitment to our strategy, management
of our business portfolio and disciplined approach towards risk and
capital management. ING will continue to build its franchise in the
long-term interests of all stakeholders.
Deposit guarantees
|

|
Which banks are covered by the Dutch Deposit Guarantee
Scheme?
|

|
- Dutch banks operating under a license from DNB
fall into the scope of the Dutch DGS. ING banks such as ING Bank
N.V. have a license from DNB.
- The following branches of ING Direct N.V. are
also covered by the Dutch Deposit Guarantee scheme: France, Italy,
Spain and the UK.
- The Dutch regulator, De Nederlandsche Bank
(DNB), regulates Dutch banks strictly. Operating under a license
from DNB, these banks are subject to strict rules. DNB actively
monitors if banks abide to these rules. Money in current accounts,
savings accounts or special savings accounts such as fixed-term
deposits fall into the scope of the Dutch Deposit Guarantee Scheme
(DGS).
I’m a customer of an ING branch in another EU Country. Is my
money protected by the Dutch guarantee scheme?
|

|
- If you are a customer of an ING Bank which is
seated in the Netherlands, such as ING Direct N.V. or ING Bank
N.V., and you hold a savings account at one of the branches in a EU
country, your money falls into the scope of the Dutch Deposit
Guarantee Scheme.
- ING Direct has branches in the United Kingdom,
France, Spain and Italy.
- If you are a customer of an ING Bank which is
seated outside of the Netherlands, such as ING-DiBa in Germany,
your money is covered by the local Deposit Guarantee Scheme.
What amount is guaranteed by the Dutch DGS?
|

|
- The Dutch Deposit Guarantee Scheme guarantees an
amount of EUR 100,000 per person or per company (regardless the
number of accounts). If you have a shared account with another
person, the maximum is EUR 100,000 per person.
What products are covered by the DGS?
|

|
- Money held in current accounts, savings accounts
or special savings accounts such as fixed-term deposits is covered
by the DGS. Shares or bearer bonds held there are not covered.
Whether subordinated deposits fall under the DGS will have to be
assessed on a case-by-case basis.
I’m a customer at an ING Bank which is seated outside of the
Netherlands, what Deposit Guarantee Schemes apply to me?
|

|
ING has larger retail banking operations in
Europe, Asia and North America. You can find information on local
deposit guarantee schemes via the following country links:
|
Corporate Governance
|

|
Does ING have a code of conduct?
|

|
Yes. The
ING Business Principles were first introduced in 1999
and set a global standard for the behaviour expected of every
employee. Our Principles express what we hold dear, what we believe
in and what we aim for. Living them helps us to make decisions that
can stand the test of time.
What is ING’s reaction to the revised Dutch Corporate
Governance Code?
|

|
ING Group is now considering the revised Code
and to what extent it can be implemented. As recommended by the
Frijns Committee, the implementation of the revised Code will be
discussed at the 2010 General Meeting as a separate agenda
item.
Who is ING’s independent auditor?
|

|
Ernst & Young is ING Group’s sole audit
firm, performing the external audit of ING Group as of 2008. The
external audit of the 2007 annual accounts was performed jointly by
Ernst & Young and KPMG.
The Supervisory Board’s proposal to assign the external audit of
ING Groep N.V. and its subsidiaries to one single audit firm was
approved by ING Group’s General Meeting on 22 April 2008. The
decision allows ING to improve efficiency of the audit activities
and to reduce audit costs.
|
Customer information
|

|
How can I log into my account?
|

|
To log into your account, you need to go to the
website of the company where you have the account. A listing of all
ING companies can be found under ’
ING Worldwide’.
Where do I find information to open a savings account?
|

|
To open a new savings account, select the
country where you live. You'll find a listing of ING companies in
your country, including the banking operations. ING does not offer
banking services in every country.
Where do I find information about Internet banking?
|

|
Information about Internet banking in the
Netherlands can be found on the website
www.ing.nl. ING also offers Internet banking
through
ING Direct, which operates in Canada, France,
Spain, United States, Australia, Italy, the UK, Austria and Germany
( ING Diba).
|
Financial information
|

|
Where can I find ING’s results?
|

|
Information on ING’s results can be found in
the investor relations section, under
financial results.
When does ING present its financial results?
|

|
You can find the dates for our results and
other financial events in the financial
calendar in the investor relations section.
How can I automatically receive press releases?
|

|
To receive press releases on a regular basis,
sign up via our
e-mail news service.
How can I receive an ING annual report?
|

|
You can download or order the Annual Report at
Publications.
|
Shareholder information
|

|
Where are ING's shares listed?
|

|
The (depositary receipts for) ordinary shares
ING Group are listed on the exchanges of Amsterdam, Brussels and
New York (NYSE). Options on (depositary receipts for) ordinary
shares ING Group are traded at the NYSE Euronext Amsterdam
Derivative Markets and the Chicago Board Options Exchange.
What is ING’s dividend policy?
|

|
ING has decided not to pay an interim dividend
on ordinary shares over 2009. This decision was taken in view of
ING’s operational results, the current capital ratios, and the
ongoing discussion about required capital and leverage ratios in
the financial services industry.
When is the next general shareholders' meeting?
|

|
The provisional date for the 2010 General
Meeting is Tuesday, 27 April 2010.
What are ING’s ratings?
|

|
You can find ING’s ratings on the
Ratings page of the IR section. ING is rated by
investment rating agencies, Standard and Poor’s, Moody’s and
Fitch.
Who are ING's shareholders with stakes of 5% or more?
|

|
Pursuant to the Dutch Financial Supervision
Act, shareholders and holders of depositary receipts of ING Groep
N.V. are required to provide updated information on their holdings
once they cross threshold levels of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%,
40%, 50%, 60%, 75% and 95%. To the best of our knowledge, as at 18
June 2009, there were no holders of depositary receipts with an
interest, or potential interest, of 5% or more.
|
Corporate Responsibility
|

|
How does ING invest my money?
|

|
At ING, we apply various environmental, ethical
and social principles when investing money on behalf of ourselves
and of our customers. We will, for example, not finance
controversial weapons like cluster bombs, and will not finance
activities in Burma or Sudan. When financing a project, we assess,
address and keep monitoring socio-environmental risks potentially
attached to that project through our adherence to the Equator
Principles. In 2007, we launched a website to give interested
stakeholders an overview of where ING stands on various
sustainability issues, of how we have addressed ethical dilemmas in
the past, and of the principles behind how we invest our customers’
money.
How does ING apply international labour rights standards?
|

|
The ING Business Principles state that we
support the aims of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and socially responsible
investors asked us to explain our position with regards to the
labour rights for our employees. In response, we drafted and
implemented the ING Human Rights Statement. Based on the
International Labour Organisation Core Conventions, this statement
describes labour rights standards regarding non-discrimination,
health and safety, child labour, forced labour and the freedom of
association for our employees worldwide.
What is ING’s approach to climate change?
|

|
Climate change is widely considered to be one
of the greatest challenges facing our planet. To gain a better
understanding of the issue, we are actively participating in the
societal debate regarding climate change, for example through our
memberships of the Global Round Table on Climate Change and the
Carbon Disclosure Project. ING believes it has a role to play by
developing strategies to manage the increasing risk and
opportunities this challenge presents. Our efforts have resulted in
ING being 100% carbon neutral since 2007, by purchasing more green
energy, by focusing on energy efficiency and by compensating for
all remaining CO2 emissions.
Does sponsoring Formula One racing conflict with ING’s
environmental policy?
|

|
We fully understand the concerns some people
have about the potential harm to the environment caused by the CO2
emissions related to F1. Our F1 sponsorship is above all a
marketing decision, designed to expand our brand reach
internationally. Still, we have carefully looked at the corporate
responsibility issues of F1. A fact that we deemed important in
that respect is that the global sanctioning body responsible for
international motor racing (FIA) has been offsetting the emissions
caused by F1 races since 1997. If there are any leftover emissions
not covered by the FIA programme, we will expand our existing
compensation programs.
|
Contact information
|

|
How can I contact Investor Relations?
|

|
Need information that you cannot find on our
website?
Investor Relations are happy to help.
How can I contact Media Relations?
|

|
If you are a journalist and need information
that you cannot find on our website,
Media Relations are happy to help.
How do I apply for a job at ING?
|

|
ING is glad to consider applications from
recent college graduates and professionals. Feel free to send an
application directly to the business unit of your choice. Check the
Careers site for more information, including
the most recent international job openings.
|
|
|
|
|
- Last updated 11/09/2009
|
|