ING Returns as Title Sponsor of ING Par-3 Shootout at the Treetops Resort

ING, a global financial services company, announced today it has returned as the title sponsor of the ING Par-3 Shootout with ESPN, which is televised on ESPN2 from the Treetops Course at the Treetops Resort. The event will feature defending champion Andy North, as well as Fred Couples, Phil Mickelson and Craig Stadler. This is the second year of ING's sponsorship of the golf event, which will take place on June 26 and 27, in Gaylord, Mich. The event allows ING to showcase the company -- and its brand promise of "Your future. Made easier." -- in an environment among some of the world's greatest golf professionals.

"As title sponsor of this esteemed golfing event for two years running, ING is pleased and proud to be affiliated with this sponsorship, the Treetops Resort, and ESPN," said Toby Hoden, chief marketing officer for ING US Financial Services. "After a successful event last year, ING is thrilled to be back again to host the ING Par-3 Shootout, one of the most prestigious events in golf."

The ING Par-3 Shootout will air same-day tape-delayed on ESPN2, Monday, June 26 (10 p.m.-midnight ET) and Tuesday, June 27 (8 p.m.-10 p.m. ET). For the second consecutive year, the ING Par-3 Shootout will be televised in HD- TV. Last year, it was ESPN2's first high definition golf telecast.

  The ING Par-3 Shootout features
   * Defending champion Andy North, who, like ING made his ING Par-3
     Shootout debut last year.  The ABC Sports and ESPN on-course
     commentator won last year's event by pocketing $350,000, and amount
     that exceeds the combined earnings of his two U.S. Open victories in
     1978 at Cherry Hills and 1985 at Oakland Hills.
   * Fred Couples, the only player to win multiple ING Par-3 Shootout titles
     (in 2002 and 2004).  He is third on the event's all-time money list
     behind Trevino and Mickelson.
   * Phil Mickelson, the reigning PGA champion and short game wizard still
     searching for his first ING Par-3 Shootout title -- yet the only player
     to participate in all seven previous Shootouts -- remains one of the
     event's most popular players.  He has five runner-up finishes and
     nearly $1 million in event earnings.
   * Finally, an ING Par-3 Shootout rookie, Craig Stadler is hoping to
     emulate Andy North's 2005 debut.  It's a sure bet his colorful and
     charismatic personality will make him a fan favorite.

Shootout Format: The purse for the 18-hole tournament is $540,000 and an additional $1 million bonus is available for every hole-in-one. Each hole is worth $20,000, with a $10,000 bonus for the player hitting his shot closest to the pin. If the hole is not won, the money carries over to the next hole. If the hole is won, the player doesn't get the money unless he validates it on the next hole by either winning or tying the low score. No validation is necessary on playoff holes.

About ING

ING Groep N.V. is a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, insurance and asset management to more than 60 million private, corporate and institutional clients in more than 50 countries. With a diverse workforce of more than 113,000 people, ING comprises a broad spectrum of prominent companies that increasingly serve their clients under the ING brand.

In the U.S., the ING family of companies offers a comprehensive array of financial services to retail and institutional clients, which include life insurance, retirement plans, mutual funds, managed accounts, alternative investments, direct banking, institutional investment management, annuities, employee benefits, financial planning and reinsurance. ING holds top-tier rankings in key U.S. markets and serves more than 14 million customers across the nation. For more information, visit http://www.ing.com/.

SOURCE: ING

CONTACT: Press inquiries, Christina Divigard of ING, +1-860-723-2293, or
Christina.Divigard@us.ing.com

Web site: http://www.ing.com/