ING Extends Hartford Marathon Sponsorship Thru 2013

Event To Bring
Thousands of People to Hartford in October

March 26, 2012, Glastonbury, Conn. ‰ÛÒ The Hartford Marathon Foundation is pleased to
announce the continued partnership with ING U.S. for Connecticut‰Ûªs premier
running event, the ING Hartford Marathon and Half Marathon. ING, title sponsor
of the Marathon since 2008, has extended its commitment through 2013. Together,
the Foundation and ING have catapulted the Marathon to become nationally
recognized. The Foundation is thankful to ING for its ongoing support and
dedication; the 2012 event will take place on Saturday, Oct. 13 in Bushnell
Park.  For information, visit http://www.inghartfordmarathon.com.

Since joining forces, race participation for the event has grown
113%, and 14,000 individuals are expected to compete this year. Each October,
Hartford and the surrounding communities are bustling with more than 45,000
runners, spectators and volunteers. Since the Marathon‰Ûªs inception in 1994, the
event has pumped an estimated $55 million into the local economy.

‰ÛÏOur continued partnership with ING is truly an honor for
the Hartford Marathon Foundation. With ING‰Ûªs support, we‰Ûªve added new programs
to ING Hartford Marathon events and have gained national exposure in the sports
world,‰Û said Beth Shluger, Executive Director of the Hartford Marathon
Foundation. ‰ÛÏWe are dedicated to helping athletes meet their fitness goals by
creating a race atmosphere and resources that are inspiring and promote safety
and wellness.‰Û

‰ÛÏThe ING Hartford Marathon and Half Marathon has become one
of the best running events in the Northeast, and we‰Ûªre thrilled to extend our
role as title sponsor,‰Û said Ann Glover, Chief Marketing Officer of ING U.S.
‰ÛÏWith a major presence in the region, the Marathon represents a wonderful
opportunity to support Greater Hartford while enabling our employees to get
involved in the community.‰Û

In 2011, the Hartford Marathon Foundation established the
inaugural ING Elite Inspiration Team to recognize the many inspiring personal
journeys that compel participants to run ING Hartford Marathon events. With the
shared commitment to health and well being, ING was named presenting sponsor of
the Team and helped to honor and recognize the 11-member group during race
weekend festivities. The program was a huge success and will continue going
forward.

Both ING and the Foundation are dedicated to children‰Ûªs
fitness. New for 2012, the Foundation will provide additional events for 2-17
year olds, specialized youth training guides and resources and information for
parents in a dedicated new website, HartfordMarathon.com/FitKids. The ING
Hartford Marathon events feature a Kids K on race morning, and the ING Run For
Something Better program, which engages thousands of Hartford-area middle
school students in running their own half marathon leading up to marathon
weekend. The program culminates with a race event at Bushnell Park on the
Friday before Marathon weekend.

About the Hartford Marathon Foundation

Founded in 1994, the Hartford Marathon Foundation was
created to bring large-scale athletic events to the city of Hartford and state
of Connecticut. Now in its 19th year, the Foundation organizes over
50 runs, triathlons and training programs for adults and children.  Annually, over 43,000 athletes and
60,000 spectators participate in Foundation events.  HMF has been awarded numerous accolades for their
eco-friendly initiatives and commitment to organizing programs that promote
health, fitness and enjoyment for all participants. For more information,
please visit HartfordMarathon.com

About ING U.S.

ING U.S. constitutes the U.S.-based retirement, insurance
and investment management operations of Dutch-based ING Groep N.V. (NYSE: ING).
In the U.S., the ING family of companies offers a comprehensive array of
financial services to retail and institutional clients, which includes life
insurance, retirement plans, mutual funds, managed accounts, alternative
investments, institutional investment management, annuities, employee benefits
and financial planning.  ING holds
top-tier rankings in key U.S. markets and serves approximately 15 million
customers across the nation.  For
more information, visit http://ing.us.