form20vf
Table of Contents

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 20-F

(Mark One)

o   REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
    OR
x   ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
    For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002
    OR
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file number 1-14642

ING GROEP N.V.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

The Netherlands
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

ING Groep N.V.
Amstelveenseweg 500
1081 KL Amsterdam
P.O. Box 810, 1000 AV Amsterdam
The Netherlands
(Address of principal executive offices)

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

     
Title of each class   Name of each exchange on
    which registered
American Depositary Shares, each representing one ordinary share
  New York Stock Exchange
Ordinary shares, nominal value EUR 0.24 per Ordinary share and Bearer Depositary receipts in respect of Ordinary shares*
  New York Stock Exchange
7.70% Noncumulative Guaranteed Trust Preferred Securities   New York Stock Exchange
9.20% Noncumulative Guaranteed Trust Preferred Securities   New York Stock Exchange
8.439% Noncumulative Guaranteed Trust Preferred Securities   New York Stock Exchange
7.05% ING Perpetual Debt Securities   New York Stock Exchange
7.20% ING Perpetual Debt Securities   New York Stock Exchange

*   Listed, not for trading or quotation purposes, but only in connection with the registration of American Depositary Shares pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:
None

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.
         
Ordinary shares, nominal value EUR 0.24 per Ordinary share     1,992,677,440  
Bearer Depositary receipts in respect of Ordinary shares     1,991,847,194  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

     
Yes  ü   No

Indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow:

     
Item 17   Item 18  ü

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I
Item 1. Identity Of Directors, Senior Management And Advisors
Item 2. Offer Statistics And Expected Timetable
Item 3. Key Information
Item 4. Information on the Company
Item 5. Operating and financial review and prospects
Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees
Item 7. Major shareholders and related party transactions
Item 8. Financial information
Item 9. The offer and listing
Item 10. Additional information
Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure of Market Risk
Item 12. Description of Securities Other Than Equity Securities
PART II
Item 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies
Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds
Item 15. Controls and Procedures
PART III
Item 18. Financial Statements
Item 19. Exhibits
SIGNATURES
CERTIFICATION
Articles of Association of ING Groep N.V.
Amended and Restated Trust Agreement (Eng.Trans)
Subordinated Indenture dated July 18, 2002
Form of Employment Contract (Eng Trans)
Employment contract for Michel Tilmant (Eng.Trans)
Employment contract for Fred Hubbell
Statement Regarding Computation Ratio of Earnings
List of Subsidiaries of ING Groep N.V.
Consent of Ernst & Young Accountants
Consent of KPMG Accountants
Consent of Ernst & Young Reviseurs d'Enterprises


Table of Contents

         
    TABLE OF CONTENTS   PAGE
Item   PART I    
1.   IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISORS   5
2.   OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE   5
3.   KEY INFORMATION   5
4.   INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY   13
5.   OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS   65
6.   DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES   121
7.   MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS   133
8.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION   137
9.   THE OFFER AND LISTING   139
10.   ADDITIONAL INFORMATION   140
11.   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE OF MARKET RISK   145
12.   DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES   160
PART II
13.   DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES   160
14.   MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS   160
15.   CONTROL AND PROCEDURES   160
PART III
18.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS   160
19.   EXHIBITS   160

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PRESENTATION OF INFORMATION

In this Annual Report, references to “ING Groep N.V.”, “we” and “us” refer to the ING holding company, incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands, and references to “ING”, “ING Group”, the “Company” and the “Group”, refer to ING Groep N.V. and its consolidated subsidiaries. ING Groep N.V.’s primary insurance and banking subsidiaries are ING Verzekeringen N.V. (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, “ING Insurance”) and ING Bank N.V. (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, “ING Bank”), respectively.

ING presents its consolidated financial statements in euros, the currency of the Economic and Monetary Union. Unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires, references to “$”, “US$”, “Dollars” and “U.S. Dollars” are to United States dollars and references to “EUR” and “” are to euros.

Prior to January 1, 1999, ING prepared its financial statements in Dutch guilders (NLG). Subsequent to that date, ING’s Financial Statements have been prepared in euros. All Dutch guilder amounts appearing in or derived from ING’s Consolidated Financial Statements have been translated into euros at the official fixed conversion rate of EUR 1.00 = NLG 2.20371.

Solely for the convenience of the reader, this Annual Report contains translations of certain euro amounts into U.S. dollars at specified rates. These translations should not be construed as representations that the translated amounts actually represent such dollar or euro amounts, as the case may be, or could be converted into U.S. dollars or euros, as the case may be, at the rates indicated or at any other rate. Therefore, unless otherwise stated, the translations of euros into U.S. dollars have been made at the rate of euro 1.00 = $ 1.0967 the noon buying rate in New York City for cable transfers in euros as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (the “Noon Buying Rate”) on March 5, 2003. Except as otherwise noted, financial statement amounts set forth in this Annual Report are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the Netherlands (“Dutch GAAP”), which differ in certain significant respects from U.S. GAAP. Reference is made to Note 6 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of the significant differences between Dutch GAAP and U.S. GAAP and a reconciliation of certain income statement and balance sheet items to U.S. GAAP. Certain amounts set forth herein may not sum due to rounding.

Unless otherwise indicated, gross premiums, gross premiums written and gross written premiums as referred to in this Annual Report include premiums (whether or not earned) for insurance policies written during a specified period, without deduction for premiums ceded, and net premiums, net premiums written and net written premiums include premiums (whether or not earned) for insurance policies written during a specified period, after deduction for premiums ceded.

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT WITH RESPECT TO FORWARD-
LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain of the statements contained in this Annual Report that are not historical facts, including, without limitation, certain statements made in the sections hereof entitled “Information on the Company,” “Dividends,” “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects,” “Selected Statistical Information on Banking Operations” and “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure of Market Risk” are statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those in such statements due to, without limitation,

     
  changes in general economic conditions, including in particular economic conditions in ING’s core markets,
 
  changes in performance of financial markets, including emerging markets,
 
  the frequency and severity of insured loss events,
 
  changes affecting mortality and morbidity levels and trends,
 
  changes affecting persistency levels,
 
  changes affecting interest rate levels,
 
  changes affecting currency exchange rates, including the euro-U.S. dollar exchange rate,
 
  increasing levels of competition in the Netherlands and emerging markets,
 
  changes in laws and regulations
 
  regulatory changes relating to the banking or insurance industries,
 
  changes in the policies of central banks and/or foreign governments,
 
  general competitive factors, in each case on a global, regional and/or national basis.

ING is under no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or for any other reason. See “Item 3. Key Information-Risk factors” and “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects – Factors affecting results of operations.”

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PART I

Item 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisors

Not Applicable.

Item 2. Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable

Not Applicable.

Item 3. Key Information

In the table below, we provide you with summary historical data of ING Group. We have prepared this information using the consolidated financial statements of ING Group for the five years ended December 31, 2002. The financial statements for the five fiscal years ended December 31, 2002 have been audited by Ernst & Young Accountants, independent auditors, except for the financial statements of ING Bank N.V., a direct wholly-owned subsidiary, which were audited by KPMG Accountants N.V. and whose report, only insofar as it relates to the 2002, 2001 and 2000 Consolidated Financial Statements, is based in part upon the reports of other auditors.

The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with Dutch GAAP, which differ in certain significant respects from U.S. GAAP. You can find a description of the significant differences between Dutch GAAP and U.S. GAAP and a reconciliation of certain income statement and balance sheet items to U.S. GAAP in Note 6 of notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

In 2002, a significant difference existed between the net profit pursuant to Dutch GAAP accounting principles, which amounted to EUR 4,500 million, and the net profit pursuant to US GAAP accounting principles which amounted to EUR (9,627) million. This difference was primarily the result of the new goodwill requirements (SFAS 142) under US GAAP. As of January 2001, goodwill is no longer amortized, but tested for impairment annually. This change resulted in a non-cash transitional impairment loss in 2002, related to the carrying value of goodwill as at December 31, 2001, of EUR 13,103 million, which was required to be recognised under US GAAP net profit 2002 as the cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles. Excluding the effects of changes in accounting principles US GAAP net profit 2002 was EUR 3,476 million compared with EUR 1,770 million in 2001. Other than the transitional impairment loss in 2002 no additional goodwill impairments were recognized. Under ING Group accounting principles goodwill paid on acquisitions including related intangible assets are charged directly to Shareholders’ equity.

To provide more insight into the results of ING Group, a distinction is made between operational results and non-operational results. The non-operational results are disclosed separately.

The following information should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified by reference to the Group’s Consolidated Financial Statements, related Notes, and other financial information included elsewhere herein.

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                      Year ended December 31,                
      2002   2002   2001(2)   2000(2)(3)   1999   1998(3)
      USD(1)   EUR   EUR   EUR   EUR   EUR
      (in millions, except amounts per share and ratios)
Dutch GAAP Consolidated Income Statement Data
                                               
Operational income from insurance operations:
                                               
Gross premiums written:
                                               
 
Life
    48,657       44,367       44,557       25,019       18,902       16,863  
 
Non-life
    8,683       7,917       5,903       4,095       3,510       3,585  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    57,340       52,284       50,460       29,114       22,412       20,448  
Investment income(4)(5)
    11,983       10,926       10,336       8,067       6,760       6,003  
Commission and other income
    2,333       2,127       2,281       1,126       548       457  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total income from insurance operations
    71,656       65,337       63,077       38,307       29,720       26,908  
Operational income from banking operations:
                                               
 
Interest income
    26,417       24,088       24,318       24,285       18,558       18,649  
 
Interest expense
    18,032       16,442       18,246       18,499       12,906       13,448  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Net interest result
    8,385       7,646       6,072       5,786       5,652       5,201  
Commission
    2,868       2,615       2,765       3,630       2,856       2,323  
Other income
    1,031       940       2,274       1,886       1,368       891  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total income from banking operations
    12,284       11,201       11,111       11,302       9,876       8,415  
Total operational income(6)
    83,921       76,521       74,163       49,568       39,584       35,307  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Non-operational items
    307       280       325       8,597       1,693       937  
Total income
    84,228       76,801       74,488       58,165       41,277       36,244  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Operational expenses from insurance operations:
                                               
 
Life
    58,147       53,020       53,449       30,882       23,584       21,030  
 
Non-life
    8,932       8,144       6,057       4,263       3,736       3,813  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total operational expenses from insurance operations
    67,079       61,164       59,506       35,145       27,320       24,843  
Total operational expenses from banking operations(7)
    10,674       9,733       8,941       8,697       7,895       7,610  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total operational expenses(6)
    77,734       70,880       68,422       43,801       35,203       32,438  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Non-operational items
                            395               302  
Total expenses
    77,734       70,880       68,422       44,196       35,203       32,740  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

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                      Year ended December 31,                
      2002   2002   2001(2)   2000(2)(3)   1999   1998(3)
      USD(1)   EUR   EUR   EUR   EUR   EUR
      (in millions, except amounts per share and ratios)
Operational result before taxation from insurance operations:
                                               
 
Life
    3,859       3,519       2,941       2,723       2,062       1,725  
 
Non-life
    717       654       630       439       338       340  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    4,576       4,173       3,571       3,162       2,400       2,065  
Operational result before taxation from banking operations
    1,610       1,468       2,170       2,605       1,981       804  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Operational result before taxation
    6,186       5,641       5,741       5,767       4,381       2,869  
Taxation
    1,158       1,056       1,165       1,612       1,059       719  
Third-party interests
    364       332       324       147       93       47  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Operational net profit
    4,664       4,253       4,252       4,008       3,229       2,103  
Non-operational items after taxation
    271       247       325       7,976       1,693       566  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Net profit
    4,935       4,500       4,577       11,984       4,922       2,669  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Dividend on Preference shares of ING Groep N.V.
    23       21       21       21       21       21  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Net profit after deducting dividend on Preference shares of ING Groep N.V.
    4,912       4,479       4,556       11,963       4,901       2,648  
Dividend on Ordinary shares
    2,117       1,930       1,914       2,173       1,573       1,178  
Addition to shareholders’ equity
    2,795       2,549       2,642       9,790       3,328       1,470  
Operational net profit per Ordinary share(8)
    2.41       2.20       2.20       2.09       1.68       1.12  
Net profit per Ordinary share(8)
    2.54       2.32       2.37       6.27       2.56       1.42  
Net profit per Ordinary share and Ordinary share equivalent (fully diluted)(8)
    2.54       2.32       2.35       6.18       2.52       1.40  
Dividend per Ordinary share(8)
    1.06       0.97       0.97       1.13       0.82       0.63  
Interim Dividend
    0.53       0.48       0.47       0.41       0.32       0.30  
Final Dividend
    0.54       0.49       0.50       0.72       0.50       0.33  
Number of Ordinary shares outstanding (in millions)(8)
    1,992.7       1,992.7       1,992.7       1,970.6       1,934.0       1,892.4  
Dividend pay-out ratio(9)
    44.1 %     44.1 %     44.1 %     43.9 %     44.4 %     43.9 %
U.S. GAAP Consolidated Income Statement Data
                                               
Total income (operational)
    54,266       49,481       48,988       42,039       34,022       27,852  
Net profit US GAAP, excluding cumulative effects in accounting principles
    3,812       3,476       1,770       10,925       3,790       2,347  
Cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles
    (14,370 )     (13,103 )                                
 
   
     
                                 
Net profit US GAAP, including cumulative effects in accounting principles
    (10,558 )     (9,627 )     1,770       10,925       3,790       2,347  
Net profit per Ordinary share and Ordinary share equivalent(8)
    (5.48 )     (5.00 )     0.90       5.64       1.94       1.23  

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                      Year ended December 31,                
      2002   2002   2001(2)   2000(2)(3)   1999   1998(3)
      USD(1)   EUR   EUR   EUR   EUR   EUR
      (in billions, except amounts per share and ratios)
Dutch GAAP Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
                                               
Total assets
    785.7       716.4       705.1       650.2       492.8       394.9  
 
Investments:
                                               
 
Insurance
    235.6       214.8       241.0       219.2       137.5       109.7  
 
Banking
    92.6       84.4       70.2       59.1       59.5       41.2  
 
Eliminations(10)
    (1.8 )     (1.6 )     (3.8 )     (1.1 )     (1.2 )     (1.1 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total investments
    326.4       297.6       307.4       277.2       195.8       149.8  
Lending
    311.9       284.4       254.2       246.8       201.8       153.7  
Insurance provisions:
                                               
 
Life
    204.0       186.0       204.6       193.3       101.0       79.4  
 
Non-life
    10.7       9.8       9.4       6.9       6.5       5.2  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    214.7       195.8       214.0       200.2       107.5       84.6  
Funds entrusted to and debt securities of the banking operations:
                                               
Savings accounts of the banking operations
    126.2       115.1       69.6       52.4       47.0       42.5  
Other deposits and bank funds
    141.7       129.2       132.4       134.1       111.9       86.6  
Debt securities of the banking operations
    82.8       75.5       74.4       66.3       65.9       35.7  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    350.7       319.8       276.4       252.8       224.8       164.8  
Due to banks
    105.6       96.3       107.8       94.7       75.3       76.0  
Capital Stock (in millions)(11)
    2,079.8       2,079.8       2,079.8       2,057.7       2,021.1       1,979.5  
Shareholders’ equity
    20.1       18.3       21.5       25.3       34.6       29.1  
Shareholders’ equity per Ordinary share(8)
    10.02       9.14       11.03       13.04       17.90       15.21  
Shareholders’ equity per Ordinary share and Ordinary share equivalent(8)
    10.02       9.14       10.92       12.86       17.65       14.93  
U.S. GAAP Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
                                               
Total assets
    836.3       762.5       752.3       693.4       509.7       417.4  
Shareholders’ equity
    27.5       25.1       38.8       41.6       40.4       37.2  
Shareholders’ equity per Ordinary share and Ordinary share equivalent(8)
    13.83       12.61       19.83       21.27       20.64       19.15  

(1)   Euro amounts have been translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate of $ 1.0967 to EUR 1.00, the noon buying rate in New York City on March 5, 2003 for cable transfers in euros as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
 
(2)   In 2001 acquisitions of ReliaStar and Aetna influenced the figures compared to earlier years. See Note 1.3 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
(3)   Discontinued business: in 1998, we sold The Netherlands Insurance Companies in the US (net profit EUR 19 million), and we sold in 2000 Tiel Utrecht Group in the Netherlands (net profit EUR 63 million).
 
(4)   As of 2001 “Insurance operations-General” is no longer reported separately . The item previously accounted for under this heading are now included in either the life result or the non-life result. The years prior to 2001 are restated accordingly.
 
(5)   As from 2001, investment income for risk of policyholders has been netted with the related underwriting expenditure. This results in a presentation of investment income of the insurance operations for own risk, which is in line with international practice. The comparative figures have been adjusted accordingly.
 
(6)   After elimination of certain intercompany transactions between the insurance operations and the banking operations. See Note 1.1. of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
(7)   Includes all non-interest expenses, including additions to the provision for loan losses. See “Item 5, Operating and Financial Review and prospects — Liquidity and capital resources”.
 
(8)   Net profit per share amounts have been calculated based on the weighted average number of Ordinary shares outstanding and shareholders’ equity per share amounts have been calculated based on the number of Ordinary shares outstanding at the end of the respective periods. For purposes of this calculation, for the years 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999 and 1998, ING Groep N.V. shares held by Group companies were deducted from the applicable number of outstanding Ordinary shares. All amounts and numbers are presented after giving effect to all stock dividends and retroactive application of the Company’s 2 for 1 stock split, which became effective July 2, 2001. See Note 5.2.3 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
(9)   The dividend pay-out ratio is based on operational net profit.
 
(10)   Consisting of investments in banking operations held by Group insurance companies, investments in insurance operations held by Group banking companies, and ING Groep N.V. shares held by Group insurance companies.
 
(11)   Reflects 2:1 stock split effected July 2, 2001.

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EXCHANGE RATES

Fluctuations in the exchange rate between the euro and the U.S. dollar will affect the U.S. dollar amounts received by owners of shares or ADSs on conversion of dividends, if any, paid in euros on the shares and will affect the U.S. dollar price of the ADSs on the New York Stock Exchange.

The following table sets forth, for the periods and dates indicated, certain information concerning the exchange rate for U.S. dollars into euros based on the Noon Buying Rate. Effective January 1, 1999, the Dutch guilder became a component of the euro. As such, the Noon Buying Rates for 1998 are the Noon Buying Rates for the Dutch guilder, converted into euros at a rate of NLG 2.20371 to EUR 1.00.

                                 
            U.S. dollars per euro        
    Period   Average                
Calendar Period   End(1)   Rate(2)   High   Low
1998
    1.1741       1.1113       1.2147       1.0549  
1999
    1.0070       1.0666       1.1812       1.0016  
2000
    0.9388       0.9207       1.0335       0.8270  
2001
    0.8901       0.8909       0.9535       0.8370  
2002
    1.0485       0.9495       1.0485       0.8594  
2003(through March 5 2003)(2)
    1.0967       1.0828       1.0967       1.0361  

(1)   The Noon Buying Rate at such dates differ from the rates used in the preparation of ING’s Consolidated Financial Statements as of such date. See Note 1.5.1.4. of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
(2)   The average of the Noon Buying Rates on the last business day of each full calendar month during the period.

Recent Exchange Rates of US dollars per Euro

The table below shows the high and low exchange rate of U.S. dollars per euro for the last six months

                 
      High         Low  
July 2002
    1.0156       0.9730  
August 2002
    0.9882       0.9640  
September 2002
    0.9959       0.9685  
October 2002
    0.9881       0.9708  
November 2002
    1.0139       0.9895  
December 2002
    1.0485       0.9927  
January 2003
    1.0861       1.0361  
February 2003
    1.0875       1.0708  

The Noon Buying Rate for euro on December 31, 2002 was EUR 1.00 = $ 1.0485 and the Noon Buying Rate for euro on March 5, 2003 was EUR 1.00 = $ 1.0967.

RISK FACTORS

Risks Related to the Financial Services Industry

We operate in highly competitive industries, including in our home market.

There is substantial competition in the Netherlands and the other countries in which we do business for the types of insurance, commercial banking, investment banking and other products and services we provide. Such competition is most pronounced in our more mature markets of the Netherlands, Belgium, the Rest of Europe, the United States, Canada and Australia. In recent years, however, competition in emerging markets has also increased as large insurance and banking industry participants from more developed countries have sought to establish themselves in markets which are

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perceived to offer higher growth potential, and as local institutions have become more sophisticated and competitive and have sought alliances, mergers or strategic relationships with our competitors.

In the Netherlands, which is the largest market for our banking operations and the second largest for our insurance operations, a national policy historically favoring open markets and the presence of large domestic competitors in both the insurance and banking sectors has resulted in intense competition for virtually all of our products and services. In addition, the Dutch market is a mature market and one in which we already have significant market shares in most lines of business. We are currently the second largest bank in The Netherlands, with a 25% market share based upon total assets and a 26% market share based on total deposits. Our main competitors are ABN Amro, with a 34% market share based upon total assets and a 38% market share based on total deposits, and Rabo with a 20% market share based upon total deposits and a 21% market share based on total assets. In The Netherlands, we are also currently the largest insurance company, with a market share of 22% in the life insurance market and 11% in the non-life insurance market, each based on premium income. Our main competitors are Aegon with a 14% and 4% market share in the life and non-life markets respectively and Fortis with a 12% market share in both life and non-life. We also face significant competition in our other major markets. The level of competition in the Netherlands and our significant markets could adversely impact our ability to further increase or even maintain our market share.

In the United States, which is the largest market for our insurance operations, we focus on retail and worksite customers and corporate customers through two core operating units and own the second- largest broker-dealer network in the US with over 10,000 registered representatives. In general, ING Group enjoys top-five positions in most of its US business lines. Lower market shares are found in life insurance, where ING Group is the number seven player, and in mutual funds, where ING is in the top 25 based on assets under management. Our main competitors in the United States are large financial institutions, such as Citigroup, AIG, The Hartford and Aegon N.V..

In Belgium, our market share in the insurance market is 8% and our main competitors are Fortis Utrecht N.V. and Axa. We have a market share of 12% in the banking market and our main competitors are Fortis Utrecht N.V., Dexia S.A. and KBC Bank N.V. Increasing competition in these markets may significantly impact our results if we are unable to match the products and services with our competitors.

Changes in interest rates and other market factors may adversely affect our insurance, banking and asset management businesses.

Fluctuations in interest rates affect the returns we earn on fixed interest investments. Interest rate changes also affect the market values of, and the amounts of capital gains or losses we take on, the fixed interest securities we hold.

Our management of interest rate sensitivity affects the results of our banking operations. Interest rate sensitivity refers to the relationship between changes in market interest rates and changes in net interest income. The composition of our banking assets and liabilities, and any gap position resulting from that composition, causes the banking operations’ net interest income to vary with changes in interest rates. In addition, variations in interest rate sensitivity may exist within the repricing periods or between the different currencies in which we hold interest rate positions. A mismatch of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities in any given period may, in the event of changes in interest rates, have a material effect on the financial condition or result from operations of our banking businesses. The insurance operations are exposed to interest rate movements with respect to guaranteed interest rates and policyholders reasonable expectations with respect to crediting rates. Asset portfolios backing these liabilities are managed accordingly. The current product portfolio also includes products where interest rate risks are entirely passed on to the policyholder, thereby reducing ING’s exposure to interest movements. Changes in interest rates can impact present and future earnings of the insurance operations and can affect the levels of new sales, surrenders or withdrawals.

In addition to interest rates, activity in the securities markets generally also significantly affects our banking, securities trading and brokerage activities, which tends to make those activities more volatile than other parts of our businesses. We also offer a number of insurance and financial products that expose us to risks associated with fluctuations in interest rates, securities prices or the value of real

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estate assets. The insurance operations are exposed to movements in equity markets on two levels: 1) those business units which have direct equity holdings in the general accounts; and 2) those products where the revenues to the insurance operations are linked to the value of the equity funds, since this has an impact on the level of charges deducted for unit-linked and variable business. For a more detailed discussion of these products and the risks associated therewith, see “Item 11. Quantitative and qualitative disclosures of market risk”.

RISKS RELATED TO THE COMPANY

Our results may be affected by regional and emerging market exposures.

In 2002, we derived approximately 52% of our operational income from the North American market, and as a result, changes in the economy or financial markets of the United States and Canada may have a material adverse effect on our results.

Similarly, we derived approximately 22% of our 2002 operational income from our operations in the Netherlands. Accordingly, changes in the Dutch economy and levels of Dutch consumer spending and downturns in the Dutch real estate, securities and other markets may have a material adverse effect on our operations.

We derived approximately 12% of our operational income from commercial banking, investment banking and insurance operations in the emerging markets of South America, Asia and Central and Eastern Europe and are an active trader of emerging market loans and debt securities. Historically, our capital markets and securities trading activities in emerging markets have been more volatile than those in developed countries and are subject to certain risks, such as political and currency volatility risks, which we do not face in our more mature markets. In the past, we have experienced significant fluctuations in the results of our emerging markets trading operations and no assurance can be given that such fluctuations will not occur in future periods.

Fluctuations in exchange rates could adversely affect results of our operations outside the European Union.

We publish our Consolidated Financial Statements in euros. In 2002, we derived approximately 65% of our operational income from operations outside the European Union. Because of this exposure to non-Euro currencies, fluctuations in the exchange rates used to translate foreign currencies, particularly the U.S. dollar, the Australian dollar, the Canadian dollar and the Japanese yen, into euros will impact our reported result from operations and cash flows from year to year. Exchange rate fluctuations will also affect the value (denominated in euros) of our investments in our non-European subsidiaries. Our obligations are primarily denominated in euros and we pay dividends on our Ordinary Shares in euros. The euro value of those dividends in other currencies is also subject to exchange rate fluctuations.

The contribution of North American operations to our results has grown substantially as a consequence of the acquisitions of ReliaStar and Aetna in 2000. As a result, our sensitivity to changes in the U.S. dollar has increased. Based on our expectation that the euro would strengthen with regard to the U.S. dollar in the future, we decided to hedge (at a spot rate of 0.868) the expected contribution of our North American operations to profit before taxation 2002. This means in practice that the impact of a change of the euro against the US dollar in 2002 has had a very limited effect on the net profit of ING Group.

Our insurance business is subject to losses from catastrophic events.

In our life and non-life insurance and reinsurance businesses, we are subject to losses from natural and man-made catastrophic events. Such events include weather and other natural catastrophes such as hurricanes, floods and earthquakes, as well as events such as the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the US. The frequency and severity of such events, and the losses associated with them, are inherently unpredictable and may materially impact our results of operations.

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Restrictions on shareholder rights could reduce the accountability of the directors and management to shareholders.

While holders of bearer receipts are entitled to attend and speak at general meetings of shareholders, they currently have no voting rights, and the Stichting Administratiekantoor ING Groep, the trust which holds our Ordinary shares, exercises the voting rights attached to the ordinary shares for which bearer receipts have been issued. In certain limited circumstances, an individual holder of bearer receipts who is a person may obtain voting rights by proxy from the trust. See “Item 7. Major shareholders and Related Party Transactions — Voting of the Ordinary Shares by holders of Bearer receipts as proxy for the Trust”. The Trust is required to make use of the voting rights attached to the ordinary shares in such a manner that (i) our interests and the interests of our affiliates are served; (ii) our interests and the interests of our affiliates and all parties concerned are safeguarded as well as possible; and (iii) influences which could violate our independence, continuity or identity or which are contrary to our interests or those of our affiliates are barred to the greatest extent possible. The Trust may, but has no obligation to, consult with the holders of bearer receipts or ADSs in exercising its voting rights in respect of ordinary shares.

Under our Articles of Association, approval of our annual accounts by the General Meeting of Shareholders acting as a corporate body discharges the members of the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board from liability in respect of the exercise of their duties during the financial year concerned, unless an explicit reservation is made by the General Meeting, subject to certain provisions of Netherlands law (including provisions relating to liability of members of Supervisory Boards and Executive Boards upon bankruptcy of a company).

These arrangements differ substantially from U.S. practice and significantly affect the power of shareholders to affect the company’s business and operations and the accountability of the company’s directors and management.

See “Item 4. Information on the Company-Corporate Organization.”

Judgments Against Us May Be Difficult To Enforce.

Most of the members of ING Group’s Supervisory Board, its Executive Board and some of the experts named in this Annual Report are persons who are not residents of the United States. Most of the assets of the Group and those non-resident persons are located outside the United States. As a result, you may not be able to serve process on those persons within the United States or to enforce judgments against them in United States courts.

You also may not be able to enforce judgments of United States courts under the U.S. federal securities laws in courts outside the United States, including The Netherlands. The United States and The Netherlands do not currently have a treaty providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments (other than arbitration awards) in civil and commercial matters. Therefore, you would not be able to enforce in The Netherlands a final judgment for the payment of money rendered by any U.S. federal or state court based on civil liability, even if the judgment is not based only on the U.S. federal securities laws, unless and to the extent a competent court in The Netherlands gives binding effect to the judgment.

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Item 4. Information on the Company

GENERAL

ING was established as a limited company on March 4, 1991 through the merger of Nationale-Nederlanden, the largest insurer in the Netherlands, and NMB Postbank Group, one of the largest banks. ING Groep N.V. is incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands.

The official address of ING Group is:

ING Groep N.V.
Amstelveenseweg 500
1081 KL Amsterdam
P.O. Box 810, 1000 AV Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Telephone +31 20 541 5411

Mission

ING’s mission is to be a leading, global, client-focused, innovative and low-cost provider of financial services through the distribution channels of the client’s preference in markets where ING can create value.

Satisfying the needs of our clients and delivering on the financial promises we make to our shareholders are our primary goals. In view of the increased stakeholder attention, the further internationalisation of ING and the rapid developments in the field of sustainability and corporate social responsibility, we continue to aim for a good balance between the interests of all stakeholders: clients, shareholders, employees and society as a whole.

After several years of rapid expansion through acquisition, the emphasis in the next few years is expected to be on consolidating ING’s strengths and achieving synergies, operational excellence and cost control.

Profile

ING Group is a global financial institution of Dutch origin with approximately 115,000 employees worldwide. ING offers banking, insurance and asset management to approximately 60 million clients in 60 countries. The clients are individuals, families, small businesses, large corporations, institutions and governments. ING comprises a broad spectrum of prominent businesses that increasingly serve their clients under the ING brand.

Key to ING’s retail business is its distribution philosophy: “click-call-face”. This is a flexible mix of internet, call centers, intermediaries and branches that enables ING to deliver what today’s clients expect: unlimited access, maximum convenience, immediate and accurate execution, personal advice, tailor-made solutions and competitive rates. ING’s wholesale product offering focuses strongly on its strengths in employee benefits/pensions, financial markets, corporate banking and asset management.

ING’s strategy is to achieve sustainable growth while maintaining healthy profitability. The Group’s financial strength, its broad range of products and services, the wide diversity of its profit sources and the good spread of risks form the basis for ING’s continuity and growth potential.

ING seeks a careful balance between the interests of its stakeholders, customers, employees and society at large. It expects all its employees to act in accordance with the Group’s Business Principles. These principles are based on ING’s core values: responsiveness to the needs of its customers, entrepreneurship, professionalism, teamwork and integrity.

In 2002, ING had total gross written premiums of EUR 52,284 million, making it the largest insurer in the Netherlands. For the year ended December 31, 2002, ING Group’s total operational income was EUR 76,521 million, and its net operational profit was EUR 4,253 million (both Dutch GAAP).

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The following table sets forth ING Group’s operational income by geographical area for the years indicated:

                         
    Year ended December 31,
   
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
    (EUR millions)
The Netherlands
    16,939       16,971       16,599  
Belgium
    4,689       4,136       3,568  
Rest of Europe
    4,800       5,129       4,571  
North America
    39,982       38,475       19,435  
South America
    1,161       1,734       599  
Asia
    7,063       5,840       2,603  
Australia
    2,277       2,234       2,450  
Other
    446       294       171  
 
    77,357       74,813       49,996  
 
   
     
     
 
Revenue between geographic areas
    (836 )     (650 )     (428 )
 
   
     
     
 
Total income
    76,521       74,163       49,568  
 
   
     
     
 

CHANGES IN PRESENTATION

Until December 31, 2001 amortization of deferred acquisition costs (DAC) on insurance policies was accounted for as part of operating expenses of the insurance operations. In order to have a better view on the development of manageable operating expenses, we decided to transfer the amortisation of DAC to Underwriting expenditure. The comparable figures have accordingly been adjusted for all prior periods.

CHANGES IN THE COMPOSITION OF THE GROUP

On December 16, 2002, ING reached an agreement with Guardian Holdings of Trinidad and Tobago to sell its Fatum operations subject to regulatory approval. Fatum is active in life, non-life and health insurance in the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba.

On December 4, 2002, ING announced that it had reached agreement with Kookmin Bank (Korea) to extend the strategic alliance relationship with Kookmin. Under the terms of the agreement, ING Life Korea and Kookmin Bank will engage in bancassurance and asset management activities through their joint ventures.

On September 9, 2002, ING announced it completed the purchase of an additional 24% stake in ING Vysya Bank (India). The total purchase price was EUR 73 million. ING’s shareholding is now 44%.

On July 18, 2002, ING Group and Capital Group agreed to establish a joint venture life insurance company in Dalian, China. The new joint venture will be known as ING Capital Life Insurance Company Ltd. Both companies will own 50% of the joint venture. On December 17, 2002 the Chinese authorities gave approval to start the operations.

On May 13, 2002, ING completed its acquisition of a 49% stake in Sul América, a leading insurance company in Brazil, thus strengthening the existing partnership. As a result of the transaction ING’s total investment in Sul America consists of approximately EUR 188 million in cash, plus its 49% stake in SulAet, as well as its asset management operations in Brazil (ING Investment Management Brazil).

On April 12, 2002 ING Group acquired car lease company TOP Lease in the Netherlands. The total purchase price of the acquisition amounted to EUR 111 million. The goodwill amounted to EUR 70 million which was charged to Shareholders equity.

On April 10, 2002, ING and ANZ, one of Australia’s major banks, formed a funds management and life insurance joint venture in Australia. The joint venture, ING Australia Ltd. is owned 51% by ING and 49% by ANZ. ING Group contributed net assets to the new joint venture, which resulted in a net book profit

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of EUR 469 million accounted for in 2002, of which EUR 247 million was accounted for as nonoperational net profit and EUR 222 million was accounted for as operational net profit.

On February 26, 2002, ING Group increased its 49% stake in DiBa (Allgemeine Deutsche Direktbank) to a 70% interest by acquiring a further share participation in DiBa from BGAG, the investment company of a number of German trade unions. ING Group has an option to acquire the remaining 30% from BGAG. The figures of DiBa are fully consolidated, without a third-party interest. The total purchase price of the additional acquisition amounted to EUR 573 million, including goodwill amounting to EUR532 million which was charged to Shareholders’ equity.

On December 21, 2001, ING announced that it signed an agreement with Piraeus Bank in Greece, which sets out the final terms of a strategic alliance between the two financial groups.

The strategic alliance combines the distribution power of the retail banking network of Piraeus Bank and the agency network of ING’s insurance subsidiary Nationale-Nederlanden Greece (which comprises 300 branches and 2,500 agents in total).

In June 2001, ING Group announced that it had signed an agreement with Savia S.A. to acquire an additional stake of 45% in Seguros Comercial América (SCA), the largest insurance company in Mexico, for approximately USD 791 million. This transaction increased ING’s stake to a total of 87%. The acquisition was partly financed by the sale of shares. In September 2001 ING made a tender offer for the remaining 13% of SCA. In November 2001, ING announced that it had successfully closed the tender offer to purchase the remaining outstanding shares of SCA. The total acquisition price was approximately USD 180 million, and ING now owns 99.91% of the shares of SCA.

In March 2001, ING Group increased its shareholding in Bank Slaski to 82.8% for an amount of EUR 187 million. Bank Slaski merged with ING Bank Warsaw effective September 1, 2001. The combined bank, in which ING holds 88%, operates under the brand name ING Bank Slaski. Goodwill amounted to EUR 118 million and was charged to Shareholders’ equity.

ING Group has integrated its corporate and investment banking activities into EC ING Europe. The business units of the former Executive Centre Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB) have been fully integrated and the wholesale activities of former CIB, ING Bank, Bank Brussels Lambert (BBL) and BHF-Bank AG (BHF) are aligned along three business lines, Investment Banking, Corporate Financial Services and Financial Markets. The US domestic investment banking business of ING Barings was sold to ABN Amro for EUR 296 million in January 2001.

In 2000, ING Group reached agreement on the sale of its 100% interest in each of Tiel Utrecht Schadeverzekering N.V., Tiel Utrecht Levensverzekering N.V. and Tiel Utrecht Verzekerd Sparen N.V., insurance companies based in Utrecht, The Netherlands to De Goudse, a Dutch based insurance company. The proceeds comprised a cash consideration and a 20% interest in De Goudse. The result on disposal was recognised in the profit and loss account in the financial year 2000, as part of Income from investments of the insurance operations. The results of Tiel Utrecht have been included in the consolidated financial statements of ING Group up to and including December 31, 2000. As of December 31, 2000, Tiel Utrecht has been excluded from in the consolidated balance sheet of ING Group.

In December 2000, ING Group acquired the Financial Services and International businesses of the U.S. insurance company Aetna Inc. The total purchase price of the acquisition was EUR 8.3 billion, including EUR 3.0 billion of assumed debt, and was paid in cash (except for the assumed debt). The goodwill amounted to EUR 6.1 billion and has been charged to Shareholders’ equity. As of January 1, 2001, the results of Aetna Financial Services and Aetna International have been included in the consolidated financial statements of ING Group.

In September 2000, ING Group acquired a 100% interest in ReliaStar Financial Corp., a U.S. life insurance company. The total purchase price of the acquisition was EUR 6.7 billion, including EUR 1.1 billion of assumed debt, and was paid primarily in cash (except for the assumed debt). As of September 30, 2000, the results of ReliaStar have been included in the consolidated financial statements of ING Group.

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RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

As of December 31, 2002, the revaluation reserve of ING Group for equity securities was EUR 0.6 billion (after tax). Due to a further decline of the stock markets, which was partly offset by hedging transactions with respect to the equities securities portfolio up to an amount of approximately EUR 4 billion (as of March 10, 2003), the revaluation reserve is EUR 0.7 billion negative (after tax) as of March 10, 2003 based upon the opening values on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange.

The ratio of available capital versus required capital of ING Verzekeringen N.V. decreased from 169% at December 31, 2002 to approximately 157% at March 10, 2003; still well above the regulatory required capital.

On February 25, 2003, ING announced the intention to appoint Dr. Claus Dieter Hoffmann (60), German nationality, as a member of the Supervisory Board as from April 15, 2003. Dr. Hoffmann was a member of the Board of Management of Robert Bosch GmbH until his retirement on June 30, 2002. From 1996 until his retirement he was the Chief Financial Officer of the Bosch Group. On February 6, 2003 ING announced the intention to appoint Mr. Wim Kok (64), Dutch nationality,as a member of the Supervisory Board as from April 15, 2003. From August 22, 1994 through July 22, 2002, Mr. Kok was Prime Minister and Minister for General Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. These appointment proposals will be an agenda item at the General Meeting of Shareholders of ING Group in April 2003.

At the General Meeting of Shareholders of ING Group in April 2003 Mrs. Lutgart van den Berghe and Mr. Mijndert Ververs will step down as members of the Supervisory Board of ING Group effective April 15, 2003. They are not eglible for reappointment because they have reached the maximum term of 12 years on the Supervisory Board. Mr. Hans Tietmeyer will also step down as a Supervisory Board member, having reached the statutory age limit of 72. In the same General Meeting of Shareholders of ING Group the reappointments of Messrs. Paul van der Heijden, Aad Jacobs and Jan Timmer will be proposed.

On February 5, 2003, ING announced that it signed a letter of intent with Fineco/Capitalia of Italy to acquire Entrium, Germany’s second largest direct bank. ING will acquire Entrium through its 70% owned subsidiary DiBa, the largest direct bank in Germany. The total value of the transaction is EUR 300 million. The transaction is expected to close in the spring of 2003.

On January 16, 2003, ING announced its intention to implement a number of changes in its corporate governance. The new proposals aim at a balanced corporate governance structure with more influence for the shareholders and holders of Bearer depositary receipts. See “Item 7 – Major shareholders and related party transactions” and – “Corporate Organization – Corporate Governance”.

GROUP STRATEGY

The first ten years following ING’s foundation in 1991 were characterised by high growth and favourable market conditions. At the beginning of the 21st century the economic tide started to turn and the world has now entered the third consecutive year of low or no economic growth. The challenge for ING will be to respond to this new reality and secure stable long-term development for the Group for the benefit of all of its stakeholders. The Executive Board has decided on the following Group strategic objectives for the years 2003-2005.

Group objectives

1.   Strengthen capital base and improve other key ratios to regain and maintain a solid financial foundation

ING is giving the highest priority to strengthening its capital base and to improving its ratings. The measures announced at the publication of our results for the first nine months of 2002, such as the issue of perpetual bonds, the sale of own shares held to hedge employee stock options and the reintroduction of optional stock/cash dividend, are the basis for achieving this objective. The Executive Board has also taken a series of other measures to reinforce the capital base and reduce the dependency of ING’s business on stock-market developments. Furthermore, ING will continue its

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efforts to improve its efficiency, return on equity, return on required capital (insurance), risk-adjusted return on capital (banking) and debt/equity ratios.

2.   Optimise the existing portfolio

Focus and execution are the key words in the plans to respond to the new economic environment. ING will focus more in terms of activities it wishes to expand or scale down and in terms of markets it wants to be in or withdraw from. No large acquisitions will be made in the near future. In markets where reinforcement of the distribution capacity is an immediate priority, ING will seek to enter into joint ventures with local partners.

ING is very selective about investment choices and deployment of resources. In this connection, the Executive Board is reviewing the countries in which ING is active, the business lines and the client base. Risk management in both the insurance and banking operations will be intensified to enable more pro-active decisions. In the field of operations/information technology, ING will complete the many integration and restructuring projects as well as the shared services centers (centers created to regroup business processes in order to better capitalize upon economies of scale).

3.   Create value for our clients with a multi-product/multi-channel approach

From the start in 1991, ING has chosen integrated financial services as the heart of its strategy. The power of the integrated financial services concept is in the multi-channel/multi-product approach. Clients appreciate a full range of products and they expect to be served via the distribution channel of their choice. That choice may depend on the type of product: the internet for simple products such as savings deposits, a call centre for applying for an insurance policy or a credit card and a professional intermediary for advice on a tailor-made retirement plan. In mature markets, ING Direct has proven to be an effective, cost-efficient and profitable entry strategy for retail markets, responding to current demands. In developing markets, the greenfields (countries in which ING starts life insurance business from scratch) that ING started have matured. They are making a significant contribution to profit. ING aims to gradually extend both the product range (insurance, banking, asset management) and distribution channels (click, call, face). In some markets, such as Australia, Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, our insurance operations have broadened their operating base through bancassurance joint ventures with local banks. In India and China, we have started insurance and asset management operations in co-operation with local partners.

4.   Develop our special skills

With five million clients and EUR 55 billion in funds entrusted at the end of 2002, ING Direct proves to be a significant value creator. The ING Direct operations in seven large countries have thus created substantial value for ING in only a few years’ time. The results of ING Direct for the fourth quarter of 2002 showed a profit for the first time, with an attractive risk-adjusted return on capital. Furthermore, the ING Direct client base offers attractive opportunities for cross-selling.

The same is true for the insurance operations in developing markets, which are contributing approximately 20% to the total insurance result. In the past few years, the total revenue and the result of these businesses have shown double-digit growth. Most of the embedded value from new insurance business is generated by these operations.

The pension funds in a number of developing economies are also rapidly increasing their client base and assets under management. As a pension specialist, ING currently offers pension products in 30 countries around the globe and assists many governments that are struggling with the necessary reform of their pension systems. The pension business also offers attractive opportunities for cross-selling.

5.   Further lower the cost base

In 2002, ING made much progress with lowering its cost base. We intend to maintain the strict cost discipline in the years ahead. Substantial future cost savings are expected from the rationalisation of the operations/IT activities. ING expects to continue to invest approximately EUR 1.1 billion in the

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shared service centers until 2005, while the total cost savings of integrating these back-office activities will amount to about EUR 2.7 billion over the next three years. This is equal to 5% of total operating expenses. Extension of global procurement initiatives will also generate significant cost savings. Outsourcing of IT-projects to India will be continued.

CORPORATE ORGANIZATION

ING Groep N.V. has a Supervisory Board and an Executive Board. The Executive Board is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Group,its three major divisions (Executive Centers Europe, Americas, Asia/Pacific) and the Asset Management platform. The function of the Supervisory Board is to supervise the policy of the Executive Board and the general course of events in the Company’s business, as well as to provide advice to the Executive Board.

Corporate Governance

We believe that good corporate governance always entails a careful balance of the short-term and long-term interests of the Group and its stakeholders as a whole, and that this balance must be reflected in a fair, adequate and efficient corporate governance system, which is disclosed in a transparent manner. Having previously adopted virtually all the material recommendations made by the Peters Committee, a Dutch advisory committee on corporate governance, ING is now moving to comply with some of the other recommendations by the Peters Committee and other international corporate governance bodies.

Recent developments

In 2002, we made a number of decisions to modernise ING’s corporate governance, which include several proposals to the 2003 Shareholders’ Meeting.

Appointment of Members of the Supervisory and Executive Boards.

In December 2002, the Executive Board decided (with the approval from the Supervisory Board) to propose to the General Meeting of Shareholders to abandon the current structure whereby the Supervisory Board appoints its own members and the members of the Executive Board, and to amend the articles of association of ING Group to provide for the appointment of the members of the Supervisory Board and the Executive Board by the General Meeting of the Shareholders. As a result, ING’s shareholders will have the right to determine the annual accounts and to appoint the most senior management of the Group. Because of the current regulatory requirement that proposed members of these boards must be vetted by the Dutch Central Bank and the Dutch Pensions and Insurance Supervisory Authority prior to their appointment, such appointments will be made on the basis of binding recommendations made by the Supervisory Board. The shareholders can reject such proposals with 2/3 of the votes in a shareholders’ meeting in which at least 1/3 of the issued capital is present or represented. The proposals imply that the Dutch “structure regime’ will be established at the management level of ING Netherlands. In December 2002, the Executive Board, the management of ING Netherlands and the Central Workers Council of ING signed a covenant to give further effect to this proposal.

Corporate Governance Committee.

Furthermore, in November 2002, the Supervisory Board decided to establish a Corporate Governance Committee as of 2003. As required by Dutch law, the Corporate Governance Committee, as well as each of the other committees of the Supervisory Board (the Audit Committee and the Remuneration and Nomination Committee, consist solely of outside members as a result of the requirement that no employee is eligible for the Supervisory Board. Each of these committees has its own charter, which sets forth its rights, duties and obligations. The primary tasks of the Corporate Governance Committee will be to perform an annual evaluation of ING’s corporate governance by the Executive Board in order to advice the Supervisory Board, on improvements and to ensure that the corporate governance of ING as a whole, and the policy on which its is based, is fully transparent and communicated in the Annual Report and to the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders.

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Voting Rights of Holders of Bearer Receipts

A proposal will be made at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of ING Group to be held on April 15, 2003 to amend the Articles of Association of ING Groep N.V., in such a way that all Bearer receipt holders (natural and legal persons) are treated as if they were shareholders and permitted to exercise voting rights. Each holder of Bearer receipts will be able to exchange their Bearer receipts for ordinary shares, and vote on these shares, without the limitations or restrictions on maximum holdings as currently exist. If this proposal is adopted, the Conditions of Administration governing the Bearer receipts will be amended to provide that holders of Bearer receipts may obtain a voting proxy from the Stichting Administratiekantoor ING Groep, which we refer to as the Trust, for the full number of their Bearer receipts, without any limitation, whether they attend the Shareholders’ meeting in person or are represented by or give instructions to someone else. In addition, the current requirement that a voting proxy is only available in circumstances not involving contested control will be eliminated. These changes will provide more rights to shareholders of ING than current and pending Dutch legislation.

These changes will allow all shareholders and Bearer receipt holders to exercise their voting rights during the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders either

  in person,
  by means of a proxy to another person, or
  by means of a binding voting instruction to the Trust.

In addition, as a result of these changes, the Trust will only vote in its own discretion with respect to those Bearer receipts the holders of which:

  are not present at the Annual General Meeting,
  have not given a voting proxy to another person, and
  have not given a voting instruction to the Trust itself.

Changes in Stichting Administratiekantoor ING Groep

In addition, the Board of the Trust decided to change the name of the Trust from Stichting Administratiekantoor ING Groep to Stichting ING Aandelen (Trust Office ING Shares) and to amend its Articles of Association to reflect that its objectives will be

  to promote the interests of the shareholders and the Bearer receipt holders, but with a view to the interests of all others concerned with ING, and
  to promote proxy solicitation and communication between ING and its shareholders and the Bearer receipt holders.

In agreement with the recommendations by the Dutch Peters Committee, the Board of the Trust resolved that

  in the future the Trust will publicly explain its voting behavior at the Annual General Meeting, and
  following the adoption of the amendments to the Articles of Association in the Shareholders’ Meeting of April 15, 2003, members of the Supervisory or Executive Board of ING will longer be permitted to hold a seat on the Board of the Trust.

In addition, the Board of the Trust, in anticipation of the proposed changes, resolved that it will consider voting instructions given by holders of depositary receipts for the 2003 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders as binding.

Cumulative Preference Shares

The authorized capital of ING Group is made up of ordinary shares and preference shares, which vote together as a class, and cumulative preference shares. There are currently no cumulative preference shares issued. However, we have granted the Stichting Cumulatief Preferente Aandelen ING Groep a call option on cumulative preference shares.

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In December 2002, the Board of the Stichting Cumulatief Preferente Aandelen ING Groep, the Trust that issues the bearer receipts for cumulative preference shares, decided to change its name to Stichting Continuïteit ING (‘Trust Office ING Continuity’) and resolved that members of the Supervisory or Executive Board of ING are no longer permitted to hold a seat on the Board of this Stichting.

Agenda for the Meeting of Shareholders

The Executive Board and the Supervisory Board draws up the agenda for the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. Pursuant to the Articles of Association, providers of capital (shareholders and holders of Bearer receipts for shares) who alone or together represent at least 0.1% of the issued share capital are entitled to have items included on the agenda, provided the request is submitted at least 50 days prior to the meeting. The deadline for items to be included in the agenda for this years annual meeting was February 25, 2003.

Executive Centers

The Executive Board (supported by various corporate staff departments) determines the Group’s corporate strategy, prescribes capital base ratios and reserving levels, allocates resources, sets financial performance targets and risk profiles for the Executive Centers, appoints senior management, manages the Group’s corporate image, establishes information technology strategy, and monitors the realization of the objectives established for the Group. Certain actions of the Executive Board are subject to the approval of the Supervisory Board, including the issuance or cancellation of shares, significant acquisitions, the declaration of interim dividends, material capital expenditures and matters concerning substantial changes in employee relations. The Executive Committees formulate the strategic, commercial and financial policy for the Executive Centers in conformity with the group strategy and performance targets set by the Executive Board. Each Executive Committee is responsible for the preparation of the annual budget of its Executive Center. This budget is approved and monitored by the Executive Board. Each Executive Committee also approves the strategy, commercial policy and the annual budgets of the business units in its Executive Center and monitors the realization of the policies and budgets of that Executive Center and its business units.

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The following sets forth the Group’s three Executive Centers, the ING Asset Management Platform, and the principal organizational structure of each as of January 2003:

             
            ING ASSET
ING EUROPE   ING AMERICAS   ING ASIA/PACIFIC   MANAGEMENT Platform

 
 
 
(Integrated   (Integrated   (Integrated   (Proprietary and
Financial Services)   Financial Services,   Financial Services,   third-party
    mainly insurance   mainly insurance   funds management
    and asset management)   and asset management)   worldwide)
             
Three functional   USA   Australia   ING Investment Management
areas:   Canada   Taiwan   (functional steering)
    Mexico   Hong Kong   Baring Asset Management
Retail   Argentina   China   ING Real Estate
Wholesale   Chile   South Korea   ING Trust
     (including   Brazil   Japan   Parcom Ventures
     Financial   Peru   Malaysia   Baring Private Equity Partners
     Markets)   Neth. Antilles   India    
Ops/IT   Aruba   Thailand    
        Indonesia    

ING Direct (global unit)

Seven geographical
     regions:
Netherlands
South West Europe
     (Belgium, France, Spain,
     Switzerland, Portugal,
     Luxembourg)
Central Europe
     (Central, Eastern and
     Northern Europe, Italy
     and Greece)
Germany
UK
Americas (Wholesale Banking)
Asia (Wholesale Banking)

ING EUROPE

2002 HIGHLIGHTS

The profitability of ING’s operations in Europe – especially those in the Benelux – remained key to the results of the Group. The retail businesses performed exceptionally well. ING Direct had another strong year and was profitable for the fourth quarter of 2002. The operations in Central Europe reported strong profit growth. In the wholesale business, Financial Markets delivered excellent results as did wholesale banking in the Benelux. International Corporate Financial Services, however, had to cope with high loan loss provisions. Additional restructuring measures were announced in order to restore the profitability of international wholesale banking. Throughout ING Europe, good progress was made during the year in increasing efficiency and improving service levels.

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Income and result before taxation per segment:

                 
    Year ended December 31,
   
    2002   2001
   
 
Income
     Retail
    8,433       7,874  
     Wholesale
    6,174       6,224  
     Corporate line
    531       858  
 
   
     
 
     Total
    15,138       14,956  
 
   
     
 
Result before taxation
     Retail
    1,967       1,646  
     Wholesale
    1,338       1,687  
     Corporate line
    411       934  
 
   
     
 
     Total
    3,715       4,267  
 
   
     
 

FUNCTIONAL AREAS

Retail

On the retail side, the strategy focuses on retail wealth accumulation and financial protection (i.e. retail banking, asset management, asset gathering, life insurance and pensions) and private banking, supported by the “click-call-face” (multi-product, multi-channel) distribution approach.

We serve three types of retail markets in Europe, each reflecting our different market positions and thus requiring a slightly different approach to the retail strategy. In the home markets of the Netherlands, Belgium and Poland, its goal is wealth accumulation supported by an efficient mix of channels appropriate to the client segments and products and focused on cost reduction. In other large mature markets, we are developing our retail position around ING Direct, selectively and carefully adding new activities and face channels as appropriate. In the developing markets, particularly Central Europe, we are striving to become a market leader in pensions, life and wholesale banking by leveraging its market value, including via distribution alliances, to grow our position over the long-term.

With the European organisation in place, the management of Retail Europe works together with the regions to set the priorities for future growth. In particular, this includes developing a common set of retail value drivers to get a better understanding of the quality and sustainability of profits. The value drivers are: scale, cost, cross-selling, value of new business and customer satisfaction.

In Private Banking, we will continue the integration of the various units under one functional responsibility. This will result in the elimination of some redundancies, reduce the risks and the costs and simplify the organisation.

ING Wholesale

In wholesale financial services, ING is positioned as a European wholesale financial institution with a presence in the world’s major financial centres of developed and emerging markets. It currently enjoys a strong position in the mid-corporate market in the Benelux countries. ING Wholesale’s strategy is threefold. First, it will maintain its predominantly European focus. Secondly, it is targeting only a select group of European and international clients. Thirdly, it is focusing on a defined range of wholesale products and services.

ING wholesale includes three functional areas (Corporate Financial Services, Investment Banking and Financial Markets), Five European regions (The Netherlands, Southwest Europe, Germany, Central Europe and the UK), as well as the wholesale banking operations of the Americas and Asia.

Financial markets, mergers and acquisition (M&A) advisory, structured finance and payments and cash management are our core banking products. Employee benefits/pensions and asset management, also key strengths of ING, are increasingly being offered in the core wholesale product

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range. In the home markets, ING Wholesale is working on improving the breadth and depth of products and services that are being offered while, at the same time, improving the efficiency of such offering in order to lift profitability and client retention.

Within Corporate Financial Services, the structured finance business had a very successful year. Employee Benefits/ Pensions retained its leading position in the Netherlands and improved its position across Europe, including Central Europe. International Payments & Cash Management Services achieved an important strategic milestone by reaching a top five position in Europe. The integration of all international branches of ING, BBL and BHF into one global network was completed. ING’s position as a top tier wholesale bank in Central Europe was further strengthened.

Despite the achievements noted above the adverse market circumstances had a severe impact on ING Wholesale. The positive factors were insufficient to compensate for the effect of lower revenues in the business line Investment Banking and sharply higher risk costs in Corporate Financial Services. These negative developments were most strongly felt in the German and American wholesale banking activities.

Operations and IT

Since 2001, ING Europe has undertaken a major programme to create a world-class, cost-efficient operations/IT environment. The programme is aimed at reducing the cost base, growing income, preventing future inefficiencies, improving quality of service and reducing operational risk. We believe the programme is key to improving the efficiency ratio of the banking operations.

An important element of the operations/IT programme is the establishment of shared service centres. Four new shared service centres have been established in 2002, bringing the total number to eight. The new shared service centres are for each of mortgages administration and insurance claims handling in the Netherlands, international payments processing and securities processing. More service centres are under development. ING Europe will ultimately have a series of service centres with attractive scale and capable of delivering high-speed and high-quality back-office services to the business units.
In addition to creating shared service centres, the operations/IT programme calls for aligning the IT application architecture. This is necessary in order to enhance connectivity between applications and enable business units to share customers, products and services. In 2002, the aligned IT application architecture became operational and the first applications were connected. The operations/IT investment programme also involves moving toward common standard software solutions.

     New partnerships in operations

As part of its effort to improve efficiency, ING entered into several new alliances with outside parties. The most important one is the alliance with Bank of New York for sales, marketing and servicing of global custody and related services to institutional clients in Germany, the Benelux and Central Europe. The partnership will provide global services to ING Investment Management’s Benelux operations, encompassing approximately EUR 90 billion in assets. ING Bank will provide sub-custody services to Bank of New York in the Netherlands, Belgium (already in force), Germany and Central Europe. Another promising development is the closing of partnership agreements with leading software companies in India. The agreements cover the fields of IT application maintenance and software development.

ING DIRECT

Financial results

The strategy of ING Direct is to be a low-cost provider of financial services by achieving scale in large mature markets by offering the clients best value for their money and excellent service via call centres, direct mail and the internet. ING Direct uses a high-rate, no-fee, no-minimum savings account as the entry product. Upon reaching the necessary minimum scale, ING Direct complements the savings account by cross-selling a focused range of other wealth accumulation products such as mortgages, mutual funds, e-brokerage, pensions and life insurance. After the savings products, mortgages are the

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most important product. ING Direct’s primary distribution channels are the call center and the internet. The call center is the pulse of the business for ING Direct. The internet and the Intelligent Voice Response (IVR) are two other main channels and they process an increasing number of transactions. On average, 40% of the account openings are activated via the internet and more than 60% of the incoming contacts with existing clients are fully automated (IVR or the internet). ING Direct cafés and co-operation with intermediaries and tied agents from sister companies and third parties form a third supplementary channel. ING Direct makes use of intermediary networks to sell more complex products. In the course of 2002, five of the seven business units (Canada, Australia, Spain, Germany and the United States) contributed to the Group’s profit. The mature business units Australia and Canada have already exceeded ING Group’s RAROC hurdle rate of 18.5%.

Growth and other developments

Due to overall commercial success in the business units, ING Direct more than doubled its size in 2002, based on total Funds entrusted. In each of its markets, ING Direct has achieved a leading position in the direct banking segment. In addition, it has achieved a top-ten position based on savings balances in four of its markets.
Due in part, to the ongoing momentum and heavy usage of the internet and the shift to favourable savings market conditions, approximately 2.5 million new clients joined ING Direct in 2002 to bring the total to more than five million clients. The total of funds entrusted increased by EUR 31 billion to EUR 55 billion. Brand awareness developed strongly in all countries and acquisition costs declined from an average of EUR 140 per new account in 2001 to an average of EUR 92 per new account in 2002, due in part to cost-effective marketing. In total, ING Direct reached profitability in the fourth quarter of 2002, a year earlier than expected.

                                 
    Total clients   Total funds entrusted
   
 
    Year-end   Year-end   Year-end   Year-end
    2002   2001   2002   2001
   
 
 
 
    (in thousands)   (in billions of EUR)
Canada
    684       480       5.1       3.4  
Germany
    1,894       827       20.3       6.2  
Spain
    610       397       6.0       3.8  
Australia
    475       278       4.1       2.9  
France
    270       181       6.3       3.2  
USA
    864       338       8.9       3.3  
Italy
    244       75       4.5       1.2  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Total
    5,041       2,576       55.2       24.0  

Expanding market positions

In 2002, ING Direct Canada acquired First Marathon Mortgage Corporation (FMMC) and started advertising in the Quebec market with a bi-lingual call centre in Ottawa. In February 2002, ING Direct acquired an additional 21% stake in DiBa (Germany), increasing its participation to 70% with an option to purchase the remaining 30%. In July 2002, DiBa bought the Degussa Bank (an employee benefits and mortgage bank in Germany), with 60,000 clients and EUR 2.4 billion in retail balances. In the beginning of 2003, ING announced that it signed a letter of intent with Fineco/Capitalia of Italy to acquire Entrium, Germany’s second largest direct bank. During 2002, ING Direct USA extended its market to include Boston and in January 2003, expansion started in California.

Risk management

Very strict risk management controls the strong growth of ING Direct. In 2002, high priority was given to market, credit, operational and reputation risk management. Several scenarios were developed to test the interest rate risk and liquidity risk. The tests concluded that ING Direct is flexible and resilient and able to cope with strong interest changes. The savings deposits are invested in the following broad, fixed-income, investment categories: retail mortgage and mortgage-backed securities (54%),

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government and government-related bonds (19%), internal deposits within ING Group and ING bonds (14%), financial institutions (6%), corporate bonds (5%) and other investments (2%). The average credit rating of the fixed-income investment securities is AA-.

Outlook

ING Direct will focus on growing all of its business units to reach the necessary scale in savings, and bringing all of the business units to profitability. Although competition in all markets remains fierce, ING Direct expects to achieve a profit in 2003, including start-up losses of newer business units.

ING AMERICAS

The Executive Center (EC) ING Americas is comprised of business units operating in three broad geographic-based units in the United States, Canada, and Latin America (including Mexico). The primary products and services provided in ING Americas’ business units are various types of insurance, mutual funds, brokerage services and institutional products, including reinsurance and principal protection products, as well as retail and institutional asset management. In addition, we offer retail banking products and limited corporate and investment banking products and services in certain countries in the Americas through EC ING Europe.

ING Americas’ combined insurance operations place it among the top five life insurers in the United States in terms of life and annuity premiums. ING Americas’ total assets under management at the end of 2002 amounted to EUR 146 billion.
During 2002, ING Americas strengthened its position in Brazil by expanding its joint-venture partnership with Sul América, one of the country’s major insurance companies with seven million customers. ING now owns 49% of Sul América and is working to establish a wealth management platform leveraging Sul América’s local presence and ING’s global expertise. ING Comercial América (“ING CA”) is the market leader in the rapidly growing Mexican insurance market. ING Americas ranks as the number one international insurer in Latin America.

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The following sets forth premium income for the operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico and South America by product for the years indicated:

                           
      Year ended December 31, 2002
     
      2002   2001   2000
     
 
 
              (EUR millions)        
UNITED STATES
                       
 
Life
    2,635       2,593       1,978  
 
Fixed Annuities
    4,909       3,272       2,295  
 
Variable Annuities
    4,284       4,841       4,866  
 
Rollover Payout
    227       317          
 
Empolyee Benefits
    787       804       518  
 
Defined Contribution
    8,367       8,254          
 
   
     
     
   
 
US Financial Services (Total)
    21,209       20,081       9,657  
 
Reinsurance
    935       1,447       760  
 
Institutional Markets (GICs)
    5,468       7,190       2,931  
 
   
     
     
 
 
US Institutional Markets (Total)
    6,403       8,637       3,691  
 
Other
    18              
Non-Life premiums (1)
    720       407       93  
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    28,350       29,125       13,441  
 
   
     
     
 
CANADA
                       
Non-Life premiums
    2,094       1,583       1,502  
MEXICO
                       
Life premiums
    454       246        
Non-Life premiums
    2,244       944        
 
 
   
     
     
 
 
Total
    2,698       1,190        
SOUTH AMERICA
                       
Life premiums
    292       493       194  
Non-Life premiums
    303       618       46  
 
 
   
     
     
 
 
Total
    595       1,111       240  

(1)   excluding EUR 254 million premium income ceded from the Canadian to the US operations

UNITED STATES

Through its US business operations, EC ING Americas offers a wide range of products which include traditional life, variable universal life, interest sensitive life, universal life, group life, stop loss, guaranteed investment products, variable annuities, mutual funds, fixed annuities and defined contribution products that meet the requirements of 401(k), 403(b) and 457 plans. Distribution channels include independent producers, career agents, broker dealers and financial institutions. Subsidiaries doing business under ING America Insurance Holdings, Inc., the U.S. insurance holding company, include the following insurance companies: Security Life of Denver Insurance Company, Life Insurance Company of Georgia, Southland Life Insurance Company, Equitable of Iowa Life Insurance Company, Golden American Life Insurance Company, USG Annuity and Life Company, ReliaStar Life Insurance Company, United Life & Annuity Insurance Company and ING Life Insurance and Annuity Company. Other non-insurance entities include ING Investment Management LLC, Investors Financial Group LLC, Lion Connecticut Holdings, Inc., ING International, Inc., and Multi-Financial Securities Corporation. The ING U.S. organization is currently rationalizing this structure and is reducing the numbers of legal entities to better integrate core operations. These legal entity consolidation efforts are expected to continue through the end of 2004.

ING has a long history in the United States, and is committed to further strengthening its existing US operations and optimizing their performance. The US life and non-life markets, though consolidating, remain highly fragmented and subject to intense competition as clients move towards investment,

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savings, and pure risk products. Increasing bank participation in the insurance market will also intensify competition. Retail business units in the US are organized with either a manufacturing or distribution focus to support integrated financial services where the entire breadth of ING products can be offered to ING’s target markets, through the distribution channel of their choice.

By the end of 2002, the integration activities related to the ReliaStar and Aetna Financial Services acquisitions that closed in the later part of 2000, were substantially completed. Integration was designed to build a more streamlined, market-focused US operation and create one integrated financial services platform. Twenty stand-alone businesses were integrated into one organization, back office locations were reduced from fourteen to eight, the legal entity structure was simplified by eliminating ten separate legal entities and IT systems were consolidated.

Revenue synergies remained on track despite the difficult market conditions. Expense savings in 2002 were more than EUR 400 million in excess of planned cost savings at the time of the acquisitions. The reorganization in the US resulted in a workforce reduction of more than 1,800 or (16%), since the end of 2000.

ING Americas operates in the United States in three business segments: US Financial Services, which focuses on retail sales, US Institutional Businesses, and ING Investment Management. Each unit is described below.

United States Financial Services

ING US Financial Services (“USFS”) comprises seven primary business units (Life Insurance, Annuities, Rollover/Payout, Defined Contribution Pensions, Employee Benefits, the ING Advisors Network and Mutual Funds), which provide a wide variety of financial services to individuals both on a retail basis and through their employers. An extensive distribution network, as well as the Internet, Voice Response Unit (VRU), and customer service representatives support products and services.

USFS markets a complete range of life insurance and annuity products, including variable universal life, universal life and term insurance for consumers, as well as products focused on the corporate-owned insurance markets, and fixed and variable annuities. In addition, a broad range of employee benefit related products and services including retirement plans, group life and disability insurance and tax-sheltered annuities are offered. Financial services offered also include investment advisory services, financial planning, pension plan administrative services and trust services.

USFS’s strategy is to offer retirement savings products appealing to many consumers while utilizing broad-based distribution channels of independent and career insurance agents, banks and broker/dealers. Products are marketed through more than 200,000 financial and investment advisors throughout the United States and the ING Advisors Network, a network of wholly owned broker/dealers. In addition, marketing efforts are also directed to third party-distributors such as independent broker/dealers and financial institutions through the coordinated efforts of a 273-person wholesaling force. The primary customer target market is the mass affluent segment.

Employee benefits products are marketed through major brokerage operations and through direct sales to employers by marketing professionals employed full-time and located in regional offices throughout the United States.

ING US Institutional Businesses

ING US Institutional Businesses (USIB) focuses on providing products to institutional customers in two areas, reinsurance, through ING Re, and principal protection products, through ING Institutional Markets.

ING Re is the professional life reinsurance arm of ING Americas and is one of the top five life reinsurers in the United States. Its primary focus is assisting its clients by providing knowledge based individual and group life, as well as accident and health, reinsurance solutions. ING Re’s clients are primarily United States domestic life and health insurance companies. Business lines in worker’s compensation

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and personal accident catastrophic coverage were dropped during 2002 and in addition reinsurance offices in London and Copenhagen were disconitinued. Risks are managed using per risk, per incident and per location exposure limits.

ING Institutional Markets offers principal protection products such as funding agreements, guaranteed investment contracts (GICs) and other stable value alternatives to defined contribution plans, fixed income money managers, financial intermediaries and other institutional buyers. The products offered by ING Institutional Markets can be traditional products, which guarantee a fixed or floating rate of interest and a return of principal to the contract holder, or alternative funding products such as synthetic and separate account GICs and GIC-backed medium term notes. The risks of the business unit are managed within very tight tolerances using sophisticated financial techniques and processes.

ING Investment Management

As of 2003, ING Investment Management Americas will become part of EC ING Americas in order to better align investment manufacturing and distribution on a regional level. ING Investment Management Americas will comprise of a combination of ING’s investment management operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Chile with those of ING Aeltus Investment Management in Hartford, Connecticut, ING Furman Selz Asset Management based primarily in New York, and ING Funds investment operations in New York and Scottsdale, Arizona. For a more extensive disclosure of the IIM operations, see “ING Asset Management.”

CANADA

ING Americas’ business strategy for Canada is centered around the development of a core integrated financial services platform characterized by strong manufacturing and distribution capabilities.

Following the commencement of the strategic alliance with Zurich Canada, ING Canada added to its portfolio a significant amount of personal lines insurance business and became the No. 1 insurer in the Canadian property and casualty market with a market share in excess of 10%. The total volume of direct written premium in 2002 was EUR 2.1 billion, representing a 32% increase over the prior year (24% organically).

In Canada, property and casualty insurance products are marketed through multiple distribution channels, including brokers, affinity programs as well as direct to the customer. This multiple-channel strategy reaches a broad cross-section of personal lines customers. In the commercial market, business is conducted through brokers, and customers are primarily small and medium sized businesses. Commercial specialty lines products, such as marine, surety and other niche products are also offered.

To reinforce ING’s global brand positioning and to capitalize on the brand strength in Canada, three broker insurance brands were consolidated into one – ING Insurance Company of Canada – in 2002. This company serves brokers and their customers in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and the Maritimes. ING also operates in Alberta and British Columbia through ING Western Union. ING Novex will continue to offer personal lines insurance to groups throughout Canada.

ING Canada markets P&C insurance directly to customers through Belair Insurance. Belair recruits customers through radio and direct mail campaigns. Products are marketed and sold mainly through the Internet and by phone through call-centers in Quebec and Ontario.

In 2002, ING Canada created a new division called ING Advisor Network with a mandate to further strengthen the financial services network across the country. This division is dedicated to support broker partners in building financial services capabilities within their brokerages. The new division assists these broker partners in the recruitment and training of financial advisors, as well as providing support in the areas of customer relationship management, Internet delivery capabilities and integrated technology.

In addition to insurance operations, ING Canada also has a mutual fund operation, ING Funds, and a registered mutual fund dealer, ING Wealth Management. In 2002, ING Funds and ING Wealth

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Management were integrated under one management team to bring renewed focus and a single strategic orientation to wealth management in Canada. The team’s focus is to develop and deliver products and packaged financial solutions to ING Advisor Network and ING Direct.

ING Direct, a direct bank, first began operations in Canada in May 1997 with the Investment Savings Account. Today, it offers consumer loans, residential and commercial mortgages, as well as mutual funds. ING Direct is a well-recognized brand in Canada, known for its refreshing approach to financial services. By the end of the year, ING Direct Canada had a total of 685,000 customers and had more than EUR 5 billion of funds entrusted. For a more detailed discussion of the ING Direct operations, see “ING Europe”.

ING Direct Canada and ING Canada have a combined customer base of over 4 million.

LATIN AMERICA

ING Americas seeks to be a leading player in emerging and other selected markets outside North America that have the potential for attractive long-term returns. Therefore, ING Americas, through subsidiaries and joint venture affiliates, sells life insurance, health insurance, pensions, property and casualty insurance, and financial services products in selected markets in strategic South American countries. South American activities are focused on the core countries of Argentina, Brazil and Chile. ING also has a presence in the AFP (privatized pension) and annuities market in Peru. The acquisition of Aetna International resulted in enhanced positions in Chile, Brazil and Peru. Non-strategic activities acquired with Aetna International in Argentina and Colombia were divested.

ING Americas operations are conducted through wholly owned and majority-owned subsidiaries in Argentina, Chile and Peru and an equity affiliate in Brazil (49% ownership). The products and services sold by these businesses include individual and group life and health insurance, annuities, personal and commercial property-casualty insurance, and pension fund administration services.

Mexico

ING Americas’ current presence in Mexico consists of the largest insurance company, one of the largest pension companies (Afores # 5 in Assets under Management (AUM)) and a 49% participation in a bancassurance joint venture. ING completed its acquisition of Seguros Comercial America in 2001 which was successfully rebranded to ING Comercial America (“ING CA”). ING CA is the market leader in the Mexican insurance industry with premium income of approximately EUR 2.7 billion on an annual basis. ING CA has its strongest market positions in autos (#1), commercial property & casualty business (#1) and health insurance (#2). The growth focus will be on personal lines with the emphasis on life and wealth accumulation products (currently #3).

Combining rebranding efforts to reinforce the ING brand as a strong and credible supplier of financial services in Mexico, Afore Bital was also rebranded to ING Comercial America Afore. This privatized pension savings fund business started in 1997 is substantially profitable with more than 2.7 million clients and AUM exceeding EUR 2.5 billion.

Argentina

Since 1996, ING has had a life insurance operation in Argentina that sells primarily unit-linked individual life insurance products through a sales force of tied agents. ING Argentina is experiencing an economic environment that was not envisaged when the Board approved the business plan justifying the original Argentinean investment.

ING will continue to monitor the situation closely, although the financial risks of the insurance operations are limited.

Chile

ING Americas has gained scale to become a leading financial services group in Chile. All acquired companies have been fully integrated and rebranded as ING companies and ING has achieved a

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leading brand recognition in Chile. A second advertising phase will launch in 2003. In 2002 total revenues (premium income and asset management fees) in Chile were EUR 542.4 million and assets under management were EUR 5.9 billion.

Brazil

ING obtained a 49% share in the health insurance subsidiary of Sul America, SulAet, with the acquisition in 2000 of Aetna International. In 2002, ING expanded this relationship and acquired 49% in Sul America, Brazil’s number two insurer with an 18.6% market share across all lines, providing a strong platform in Brazil’s high-growth asset accumulation market and positioning ING at the forefront in the largest South American insurance market. As well as health, products now include life, pension, auto, other P&C, and fund management activities. A co-branding project is planned for 2003.

Peru

ING has a 60% stake in Integra, the leading pension fund manager in Peru with a 32% market share and EUR 1.4 billion in assets under management. ING also has a minority position in Wiese-Aetna, an insurance company that offers both life products and annuities. Non-life interests were divested in 2002.

Netherlands Antilles and Aruba

In December 2002, ING reached agreement to sell its life, non-life and health operations in the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba (ING Fatum), subject to approval of the Central bank of the Netherlands Antilles. The completion of the sale of ING Fatum is scheduled for early 2003.

ING ASIA/PACIFIC

The Executive Centre (EC) ING Asia/Pacific is responsible for primarily retail strategies in delivering insurance and wealth management product lines in the key markets of Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia/New Zealand, Japan, Korea and Malaysia, while further developing greenfields in China, India, Thailand and Indonesia.

A regional office in Hong Kong supports all business units in the region, ensures implementation of strategy and standards, encourages synergy both regionally and globally, and produces regional management reports to headquarters in Amsterdam.

EC Asia/Pacific focuses on expanding its existing businesses to strive for long-term leadership positions. Special emphasis is placed on sustainable profit growth, achieving scale and market share, sound management and development, and cost efficiency with effective IT systems.

With the exception of Japan and Australia, ING distribution in the region has been dominated by tied or career agents, but this is changing with the growth of independent agents, financial planners, and bancassurance, together with e-business which is making inroads in terms of both direct customer access and supporting intermediary channels.

Market positioning has been strengthened in several countries through joint ventures. In Australia and New Zealand, the life insurance and funds management joint venture with ANZ is tracking according to plan. We have also increased our share ownership in strategic partner Vysya Bank to 44% to provide an integrated business platform in India, while the joint venture with Beijing Capital in Dalian, China commenced insurance sales in December 2002. Further we have signed an extended strategic investment agreement with Kookmin Bank in Korea to jointly develop the bancassurance business, and a new fund management joint venture with China Communication Securities was approved in December 2002, the first of its kind in China.

As of 2003, ING Investment Management Asia/Pacific will be restructured to become part of EC Asia/Pacific in order to more closely align to the retail distribution channels and better serve customers.

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Australia

In May 2002, ING entered into a life insurance and funds management joint venture with ANZ, with ING taking 51% ownership. The business continues to focus on leveraging its reach and scale to generate profitable growth by lowering operational cost ratios, enhancing product platforms, and growing ANZ distribution capacity and production via aligned distribution. We expect our non-life joint venture, QBE Mercantile Mutual, to continue to strengthen its leading position in the distribution of personal lines business through intermediaries.

Taiwan

ING’s businesses in Taiwan include one of the leading life insurers, together with a mutual fund joint venture with Chang Hwa Bank and an interest in a credit card business. Career life agents are the main distribution channel, and they also sell the other business lines. Priorities for the life business include the introduction of innovative products with appropriate pricing, and the management of health products in order to reduce risk and improve profitability. Managing the low interest rate environment and improving investment performance within the investment mandate are also critical.

Hong Kong

ING’s Hong Kong strategies focus on developing alternative channels like bancassurance and financial planning to accelerate growth for the life business. The non-life business aims to maximize synergy and cross sell opportunities with other ING businesses operating in Hong Kong. The pension business will continue to reduce costs by outsourcing the back office.

China

The life insurance joint venture (PALIC) in Shanghai with China Pacific Insurance Company now ranks No. 4 in new premium, with 8.6% market share. It continues to focus on improving agency productivity and developing alternative distribution channels. The Dalian life insurance joint venture (ICLIC) started operations in December 2002 with an initial focus on agency recruitment. The new fund management joint venture with China Communication Securities, which received an operational license in December 2002, will be a pioneer in the China mutual fund market.

South Korea

Life premium grew rapidly through the traditional tied agency distribution channel during 2002. To further strengthen this position, ING’s priorities in 2003 include broadening distribution and improving operations, with the business continuing to invest in customer and agent service. The extended strategic investment agreement with Kookmin Bank provides expanded distribution for life insurance and asset management products, and a possible pension alliance in the future.

Japan

ING plans to maintain its leadership position in the Corporate Owned Life Insurance (COLI) segment, while developing its presence in the Single Premium Variable Annuity (SPVA) segment, as the basis for expanding its distribution in Japan. The pension joint venture with Principal Financial Group, which focuses on small and medium-sized companies, markets a comprehensive range of products related to defined contribution pensions. Results in 2002 were however lackluster due to the slower than expected development of the market. ING will support pensions and SPVA business by continuing to build its asset management proprietary funds capability.

Malaysia

ING ranks No. 4 in terms of life new business with a 10% market share. In 2002, we strengthened our position in traditional individual life and maintained its leadership in employee benefits. In 2003, we expect to improve operational efficiency and expense performance to drive profitability. Opportunities in the retiree market are being developed to capitalize on the company’s strengths in employee benefits.

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India

ING Vysya Life Insurance, a joint venture between ING Insurance, Vysya Bank and GMR Group, is focusing on developing a large, professional tied agency force, and on completing its product portfolio. Bancassurance sales models for life and mutual fund products are also being developed following ING’s increased ownership and re-branding of the (now) ING Vysya Bank.

Thailand

Focus will remain on growing the traditional tied agency force, and meeting the sales targets of the accelerated greenfield business plan. Bancassurance opportunities are also being pursued to diversify distribution.

Indonesia

The non-life business was divested in 2002. The life business will focus on optimizing organization structure, improving expense performance and achieving both individual and group sales growth.

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ASSET MANAGEMENT

With approximately EUR 450 billion in assets under management at December 31, 2002, ING is a leading asset management organization that offers a complete range of investment products to meet the needs of institutional and retail investors. In order to enhance the professional support ING provides for its clients. ING intends to step up its efforts to further improve its Asset Management investment engine, which includes the following lines of business: institutional asset management, mutual funds, real estate, alternative assets and fund administration & trust services.

Prior to January, 2003, ING Asset Management was comprised of the following six business units:

  ING Investment Management
 
  Baring Asset Management
 
  ING Real Estate
 
  ING Trust
 
  Parcom Ventures
 
  Baring Private Equity Partners

In 2002, ING Asset Management had an average of 5,152 employees, based on full-time equivalents.

Organizational change

In 2002, ING Asset Management continued to rationalize its asset management business structure by integrating ING Investment Management and ING Aeltus, which was formed in 2001 by combining Aeltus Investments and ING Furman Selz Asset Management. Additionally, in order to improve alignment with the distribution channels, ING Investment Management was regionalized and integrated into the regional Executive Centers.

On August 28, 2002, ING announced that in order to better organise ING Investment Management along regional lines beginning January 1, 2003, the activities of ING Investment Management would be integrated into each of the regional Executive Centers in the Americas, Asia/Pacific and Europe. As a consequence, the financial results of ING Investment Management activities will be reported within these Executive Centers, and the Executive Center Asset Management will no longer function as a separate global profit center.

The following sets forth information with respect to the assets under management of ING Group for the periods indicated.

                         
    Year ended December 31,
   
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
    (EUR billions)
Own funds
    159       166       145  
Third party funds
    290       347       358  
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    449       513       503  
 
   
     
     
 
Of which:
                       
ING Asset Management
    379       380       331  
Other ING subsidiaries*
    70       133       172  
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    449       513       503  
 
   
     
     
 

*   During the years 2001 and 2002, the management of ING US Insurance assets has been transferred to ING Asset Management

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ING Investment Management

ING Investment Management which we refer to as IIM, is responsible for managing the investments of the insurance companies of ING, as well as managing equity and fixed income investments for institutional investors and the private label investment funds sold by various ING companies, including ING Bank, Bank Brussel Lambert, Postbank and Nationale-Nederlanden. IIM is also responsible for managing the treasury activities of ING Insurance. With ING Investment Management integrated into the regional Executive Centers as of January 1, 2003, it was decided to set up a functional Global ING Investment Management Board to preserve the efficiency of a global manufacturing platform and to ensure global consistency of the investment strategies adopted in each region.

The investment portfolios of ING Group companies managed by IIM decreased by 6.5% to EUR 124.4 billion at December 31, 2002. In 2002, ING Investment Management was able to expand its business in Australia, where — as part of the joint venture with ANZ — ING Investment Management acquired ANZ’s fund management business. Just before year-end, China Merchants Fund Management Company, a joint venture of ING Investment Management and China Merchants Securities, became the first Sino-foreign joint venture to receive an operational license.

Assets under management of IIM on behalf of institutional clients decreased by 17.8% to EUR 80.0 billion in 2002. The portfolio managed on behalf of institutional clients consisted of fixed income securities (approximately 58%) and equities (approximately 42%). Assets in investment funds managed by IIM were at EUR 93.3 billion at the end of 2002, compared to EUR 97.8 billion as of December 31, 2001. Despite a sound inflow of new funds, assets under management fell due to weakening stock markets and a stronger euro compared to the US dollar.

Baring Asset Management

Baring Asset Management provides a diversified spectrum of investment management services to a variety of institutional and private clients, directly and through the management of its private label investment funds. It manages equity, fixed-interest and balanced portfolios for pension funds, government agencies, charitable bodies, companies and private individuals. Baring Asset Managements’ business is structured into two business lines: Investment Management Group and Financial Services Group, which accounted for 52% and 48%, respectively, of Baring Asset Managements’ revenues in 2002. The main client regions are the United Kingdom, North America, Japan and Continental Europe. It has offices in Boston, Dublin, Frankfurt, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Isle of Man, London, Paris, Vienna, San Francisco, Sydney, Taipei, Tokyo and Toronto.

As a result of market and exchange rate declines and a net outflow of funds, assets under management decreased by EUR 9.0 billion to EUR 30.6 billion at December 31, 2002.

ING Real Estate

ING Real Estate operates as an investment manager, developer and financier. ING Real Estate aims to increase the amount of third party investment in existing and new funds worldwide. ING Real Estate maintains a strong position as developer in Europe and is expanding its activities globally. The total portfolio of assets under management amounted to EUR 37.3 billion at the end of 2002, an increase of EUR 6.8 billion from December 31, 2001.

In 2002, ING Real Estate Investment Management launched several new funds: the ING Retail Property Fund Australia, the ING Logistics Property Fund Europe and the ING Residential Fund UK. At the end of the year, Investment Management acquired the industrial portfolio Crow Holding Industrial Trust, which will become the Lion Industrial Trust Fund USA. In 2002, the Investment Management portfolio decreased by 2% to EUR 24.0 billion.

ING Real Estate Development obtained the remaining shares of Promodeico in 2002. Promodeico is one of the largest Spanish development companies specializing in shopping centers. In the UK, ING Real Estate acquired the remaining 50% of the shares of London Amsterdam Development. ING Real Estate also started a joint venture with Grontmij called Quendis specializing in logistic real estate and parking facilities in Europe. In Australia, it acquired the 19.3 bunder Waterfont City project of

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Melbourne. In the Netherlands, some new projects have been started and in Spain a shopping centre was sold. As of the end of 2002, the global real estate development portfolio amounted to EUR 1.8 billion.

In 2002 ING Real Estate successfully integrated the real estate wholesale activities of the Westland Utrecht Hypotheekbank and of IBN into ING Real Estate Finance. With the transfer of ING Barings’ deal team in the United States, Finance will add another office to its international organization in 2003.

ING Trust

ING Trust specialises in trustee services and the formation and management of offshore companies used for, among other things, tax planning, estate planning and asset protection. ING Trust is a leading player in the Dutch market for offshore trust services, serving both corporate and private clients.

Parcom Ventures and Baring Private Equity Partners

Parcom Ventures and UK-based Baring Private Equity Partners both specialize in private equity investments, with Parcom Ventures investing on behalf of ING Insurance and Baring Private Equity Partners investing on behalf of primarily third-party clients.

At December 31, 2002, assets under management of Parcom Ventures were EUR 437 million. Parcom Ventures has benefited from the trend of realistic entry valuations of private equity markets and healthy deal flow as companies are divesting non-core assets and invested into a number of new portfolio companies.

Baring Private Equity Partners covers six regional markets (Western Europe, Central Europe, former Soviet Union, India, Asia and Latin America) with a team of investment professionals operating in 17 different countries worldwide. It ended the year 2002 with three new fund closings. Next to Central Europe Fund, Baring Private Equity Partners successfully closed its second fund focused on Asia with EUR 245 million. Baring Private Equity Partners also raised the first direct investment fund in Russia since 1998, which closed at EUR 195 million, bringing total funds under management to EUR 2.0 billion. Baring Private Equity Partners is able to provide institutional investors with access to private equity opportunities in all major markets outside the United States.

THE FOLLOWING TABLE SETS FORTH OUR PRINCIPAL GROUP COMPANIES:
Unless otherwise stated our participating interest is 100%, or almost 100%

COMPANIES TREATED AS PART OF THE INSURANCE OPERATIONS

     
The Netherlands    
ING Verzekeringen N.V.   The Hague
ING Vastgoed Belegging B.V.   The Hague
N.V. Nationale Borg-Maatschappij   Amsterdam
Nationale-Nederlanden Levensverzekering Maatschappij N.V.   Rotterdam
Nationale-Nederlanden Schadeverzekering Maatschappij N.V.   The Hague
Nationale-Nederlanden Zorgverzekering N.V.   The Hague
Parcom Ventures B.V.   Utrecht
Postbank Levensverzekering N.V.   The Hague
Postbank Schadeverzekering N.V.   The Hague
RVS Levensverzekering N.V.   Rotterdam
RVS Schadeverzekering N.V.   Ede
Movir N.V.   Nieuwegein

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Belgium    
ING Insurance N.V.   Antwerp
Rest of Europe    
ING Sviluppo Finanziaria S.P.A.   Milan, Italy
Nationale-Nederlanden Poist’ovna A.S.   Bratislava, Slovakia
Nationale-Nederlanden Life Insurance Company Poland   Warsaw, Poland
NN Pension Fund Poland   Warsaw, Poland
ING Nederlanden Asigurari de Viata S.A.   Bucharest, Romania
NN Life Insurance Company S.A.   Athens, Greece
NN Greek General Insurance Company S.A.   Athens, Greece
ING Magyarországi Biztosító Rt.   Budapest, Hungary
NN Vida, Compañia de Seguros y Reasuguros S.A.   Madrid, Spain
NN Generales Compañia de Seguros y Reasuguros S.A.   Madrid, Spain
North America    
Belair Insurance Company Inc.   Montreal, Quebec, Canada
ING Insurance Company of Canada   Toronto, Ontario, Canada
ING Novex Insurance Company of Canada   Toronto, Ontario, Canada
ING Western Union Insurance Company   Calgary, Alberta, Canada
The Nordic Insurance Company of Canada   Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Equitable of Iowa Life Insurance Company   Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.A.
Golden American Life Insurance Company   Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.
ING America Insurance Holdings, Inc.   Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.
ING International Insurance Holdings, Inc.   Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.
ING Life Insurance and Annuity Company   Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.
ING North America Insurance Corporation   Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.
Life Insurance Company of Georgia   Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.
Lion Connecticut Holdings Inc.   Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.
ReliaStar Life Insurance Company   Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A.
Security Life of Denver Insurance Company   Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.
Southland Life Insurance Company   Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.
United Life & Annuity Insurance Company   Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.A.
USG Annuity and Life Company   Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
GBM Atlantico   Mexico City, Mexico
ING Seguros, S.A. de C.V.   Mexico City, Mexico
Pensiones Bital, S.A.   Mexico City, Mexico
Seguros Bital, S.A. de C.V.   Mexico City, Mexico
South America    
FATUM/De Nederlanden van 1845 Schadeverzekering N.V.   Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles
ING Seguros de Vida S.A.   Santiago, Chile
Asia    
ING Indonesia Insurance P.T.   Jakarta, Indonesia
ING Life Insurance Company Ltd.   Tokyo, Japan
ING Life Insurance Company, Korea, Ltd. (80%)   Seoul, South Korea
Australia    
ING Australia Limited*   Sydney, Australia
ING Australia Pty. Ltd.   Sydney, Australia
Reinsurance companies    
ING Re (Netherlands) N.V.   The Hague, the Netherlands

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Branches

In addition, ING Insurance and its subsidiaries have offices in Argentina, Brazil, China, Czech Republic, India, Luxembourg

*   including ANZ (51%)

COMPANIES TREATED AS PART OF THE BANKING OPERATIONS

     
The Netherlands    
ING Bank N.V.   Amsterdam
Bank Mendes Gans N.V. (97.79%)   Amsterdam
CenE Bankiers N.V.   Utrecht
ING Car Lease Nederland B.V.   ‘s-Hertogenbosch
ING Bank Corporate Investments B.V.   Amsterdam
ING Trust (Nederland) B.V.   Amsterdam
ING Vastgoed B B.V.   The Hague
ING Vastgoed Ontwikkeling B.V.   The Hague
InterAdvies N.V.   Amsterdam
Nationale-Nederlanden Financiële Diensten B.V.   Amsterdam
N.V. Nationale Volksbank (NVB)   Amsterdam
NMB-Heller Holding N.V. (50%)*   Amsterdam
Postbank N.V.   Amsterdam
Postbank Groen N.V.   Amsterdam
Postkantoren B.V. (50%)   Groningen
Stichting Regio Bank   Amsterdam
Wijkertunnel Beheer II B.V.   Amsterdam
Belgium    
Bank Brussel Lambert N.V.   Brussels
Vermeulen Raemdonck N.V.   Brussels
Rest of Europe    
Bank Slaski S.A. (87.8%)   Katowice, Poland
Baring Asset Management Holdings Ltd.   London, United Kingdom
BHF-BANK A.G.   Frankfurt, Germany
Allgemeine Deutsche Direktbank (70%)   Frankfurt, Germany
North America    
Furman Selz Holding LLC   New York, NY, U.S.A.
ING Financial Holdings Corporation   New York, NY, U.S.A.
ING Bank of Canada   Toronto, Ontario, Canada
South America    
ING Empreendimentos e Participações Ltda.   São Paulo, Brazil
ING Inversiones Ltda.   Bogota, Colombia
ING Servicios C.A.   Caracas, Venezuela
ING Sociedad De Bolsa (Argentina) S.A.   Buenos Aires, Argentina
ING Trust (Antilles) N.V.   Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles
Middenbank Curaçao N.V.   Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles
Australia    
ING Bank (Australia) Ltd.   Sydney, Australia
Asia    
ING Baring Securities (Japan) Ltd.   Tokyo, Japan
ING Capital Markets (Hong Kong) Ltd.   Hong Kong, China
ING Futures & Options (Hong Kong) Ltd.   Hong Kong, China
ING Merchant Bank (Singapore) Ltd.   Singapore, Singapore
P.T. ING Indonesia Bank (85%)   Jakarta, Indonesia

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ING Vysya Bank Ltd. (44%)   Bangalore, India
Other    
ING Direct N.V.   Canada, Germany, Spain,
Australia, France, USA, Italy

Branches

ING Bank N.V. has offices in most of the major financial centres, including London, Frankfurt, Hong Kong and Tokyo. In addition, ING Bank and/or BBL have offices in Asunción, Athens, Bangkok, Bratislava, Bucharest, Buenos Aires, Cairo, Curaçao, Dubai, Dublin, Havana, Istanbul, Kigali, Kinshasa, Lima, Madrid, Manila, Mexico, New Delhi, Paris, Prague, São Paulo, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sofia, Taipei, Vienna and Warsaw among others.

*   Proportionally consolidated

REGULATION AND SUPERVISION

The insurance, banking and asset management business of ING are subject to detailed comprehensive regulation in all the jurisdictions in which ING does business. In addition, certain European Union (“EU”) directives discussed more fully below have a significant impact on the regulation of the insurance, banking, asset management and broker dealer businesses in the EU.

A group of companies in the Netherlands may be engaged in both insurance and banking, although direct mergers between banking and insurance companies are not permitted. The Dutch Central Bank and the Pension and Insurance Supervisory Authority of the Netherlands (“Insurance Supervisory Board”), in consultation with the Ministry of Finance and with representatives of the banking and insurance industries, have entered into a protocol for the purpose of jointly regulating entities with interests in both banks and insurance companies (the “Protocol”). The first Protocol became effective on January 1, 1990. The Dutch Central Bank and the Insurance Supervisory Board adopted the presently effective Protocol on October 12, 1999. In a group of companies consisting of at least one bank and one insurance company (a “Mixed Group”), the banks continue to be regulated by the Dutch Central Bank and the insurers continue to be regulated by the Insurance Supervisory Board. ING Groep N.V., as the holding company of a Mixed Group in which banking and insurance operations account for a considerable proportion of total operations (a “Mixed Financial Group”), must furnish financial information to the Insurance Supervisory Board and the Dutch Central Bank twice per year, including information as to:

  equity of the banks;
 
  the capital base margins of the insurance companies;
 
  capital, reserves, and subordinated loans of the other subsidiary companies;
 
  information as to the capital base of the Group on a consolidated basis;

and must state the investments, loans, and comparable undertakings (except for insurance agreements) by each bank or insurance company within the Group, in respect of other companies in the Group. See “ – Insurance – The Netherlands” and “ – Banking – Netherlands Regulation”. The Dutch Central Bank and the Insurance Supervisory Board meet periodically to monitor holding companies of a Mixed Financial Group and will contact one another when a reporting institution encounters difficulties.

In 2001, a major supervisory reform was started up in the Netherlands. The sector-oriented supervision (by The Dutch Central Bank on banks, the Insurance Supervisory Board on insurance institutions and the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets on securities institutions) has been replaced by a more functional approach. Effective September 2002, supervision has been divided in prudential supervision, carried out by The Dutch Central Bank and the Insurance Supervisory Board together, and conduct of business supervision, carried out by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets. As yet, the content of supervisory regulation will remain the same.

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On December 16, 2002, the European Union adopted a directive on the supplementary supervision of credit institutions, insurance undertakings and investment firms in a financial conglomerate. This directive aims to address the supervisory issues that arise from the blurring of distinctions between the activities of firms in each of the banking, securities, investment services and insurance sectors. The main objectives of the directive are to:

•     ensure that a financial conglomerate has adequate capital;

•     introduce methods for calculating a conglomerate’s overall solvency position;

•     deal with the issues of intra-group transactions, exposure to risk and the suitability and professionalism of management at financial conglomerate level; and

•     prevent situations in which the same capital is used simultaneously as a buffer against risk in two or more entities which are members of the same financial conglomerate (“double gearing”) and where a parent issues debt and downstreams the proceeds as equity to its regulated subsidiaries (“excessive leveraging”).

Member States have to provide that the provisions of this directive shall first apply to the supervision of accounts for the financial year beginning on January 1, 2005.
Because ING is already complying with the Protocol, ING does not expect this directive to have a material impact on its business or on its capital requirements or solvency position.

ING Groep N.V. and its subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with the applicable banking and insurance regulations and capitalization and capital base requirements of each applicable jurisdiction.

INSURANCE

The Netherlands

Insurance companies in the Netherlands are supervised by the Pension and Insurance Supervisory Authority of the Netherlands (“Insurance Supervisory Board”) carrying out prudential supervision, and the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets, carrying out conduct of business supervision, under the mandate of the Insurance Companies Supervision Act of 1993 (the “Act”) (Wet toezicht verzekeringsbedrijf 1993). Under this Act, ING Insurance’s life and non-life subsidiaries in the Netherlands are required to file detailed annual reports. These reports are audited by ING Insurance’s independent auditors and include balance sheets, profit and loss statements, actuarial statements and other financial information. Dutch insurance companies are initially licensed by the Insurance Supervisory Board and then monitored closely through annual filings. The authorization granted by the Insurance Supervisory Board stipulates the class or classes of business that an insurer may write, and is required for every proposed new class of business. In addition, the Insurance Supervisory Board may require an insurer to submit any other information the Insurance Supervisory Board requests and may conduct an audit at any time. Generally, the Insurance Supervisory Board performs an audit every five years. The Insurance Supervisory Board is not empowered to intervene in the operations of an insurance company, but can make recommendations with regard to its management. If these recommendations are not followed, the Insurance Supervisory Board can publish them and, under certain circumstances, can ultimately withdraw the license of the insurer.

By law, Dutch life insurance companies are required to maintain a shareholders’ equity level of generally 4% of insurance reserves (1% of separate account reserves) plus 0.3% of the amount at risk under insurance policies. The required shareholders’ equity level for Dutch non-life insurers is the greater of two calculations: one based on premiums and the other on claims. The former is based on 16% of gross premiums written for the year, the latter is based on 23% of a three-year average of gross claims. As of December 31, 2002, the capital base, being EUR 5.9 billion of ING Group’s Dutch insurance subsidiaries substantially exceeded the minimum standards amounting to EUR 2.4 billion, resulting in a surplus of EUR 3.5 billion.

The 1992 EU Insurance Directives were incorporated into Dutch legislation in July 1994. These Directives are founded on the “home country control” principle, according to which the ongoing

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regulation of insurance companies, including their foreign insurance operations, is the responsibility of the home country insurance regulatory authority. The home country insurance regulatory authority monitors compliance with applicable regulations, the capital base of the insurer and its actuarial reserves, as well as the assets of the insurer, which support such reserves. As a result of the implementation of these directives, an insurance company that has been licensed to conduct insurance business in one jurisdiction of the EU may do business directly or through foreign branches in all other jurisdictions of the EU without being subject to licensing requirements under the laws of the other EU member-states.

In 1998, the directive of the European Parliament and Council on the supplementary supervision of the insurance undertakings in an insurance group was adopted. The directive enables the supervisors involved to form a more sound judgement on the financial situation of insurance undertakings that are part of a group, in order to provide additional safety to policyholders. Furthermore, the directive aims to prevent distortion of competition and contribute to the safety of the financial markets. 2002 has been the first financial year in which was reported according to this directive.

United States

ING Group’s United States insurance subsidiaries are subject to regulation and supervision in the individual states in which they operate. Supervisory agencies in various states have broad powers to grant or revoke licenses to transact business, regulate trade practices, license agents, approve policy forms and certain premium rates, set standards of capital base and reserve requirements, determine the form and content of required financial reports, examine insurance companies and prescribe the type and amount of investments permitted. Insurance companies are subject to a mandatory audit.

Insurers, including the companies comprising ING Insurance’s U.S. operations are subject to Risk Based Capital (“RBC”) guidelines. These guidelines provide a method to measure the adjusted capital (statutory capital and surplus plus other adjustments) that insurance companies should have for regulatory purposes, taking into account the risk characteristics of the company’s investments and products. The RBC ratio of an insurance company will vary over time depending upon many factors, including its earnings, the mix of assets in its investment portfolio, the nature of the products it sells and its rate of sales growth, as well as changes in the RBC formulas required by regulators. The RBC guidelines are intended to be a regulatory tool only, and are not intended as a means to rank insurers generally. Each of the companies comprising ING Insurance’s U.S. operations was above its target and statutory minimum RBC ratios at year-end 2002.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) has revised the Accounting Practices and procedures Manual in a process referred to as Codification, effective January 1, 2001. The revised manual changed accounting, including accounting practices that ING’s US insurance companies use to prepare their statutory-basis financial statements. The impact of these changes did not result in a significant reduction in ING’s US insurance companies statutory-basis capital and surplus.

Insurance holding company statutes and regulations of each insurer’s state of domicile require periodic disclosure concerning the ultimate controlling person (i.e., the corporation or individual that controls the domiciled insurer in each state). Such statutes also impose various limitations on investments in affiliates and may require prior approval of the payment of certain dividends by the registered insurer to ING or several of its affiliates. ING is subject, by virtue of its ownership of insurance companies, to certain of these statutes and regulations.

Belgium

The Insurance Control Office (Controledienst der Verzekeringen) conducts insurance supervision in Belgium under the supervision of the Minister of Economic Affairs. The control of insurance companies is regulated by the Royal Decree of February 22, 1991, superseded by the Royal Decree of November 26, 1999. This decree mainly focuses on the following topics: granted authorizations, capital base, reserve levels and assets to cover the technical and actuarial provisions.

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Belgium insurance companies are required to file detailed annual reports, including balance sheets, profit and loss statements, actuarial statements and other financial information with the Insurance Control Office. The external auditors should certify this information.

The new Royal Decree regulates the capital base supervision on a consolidated basis for insurance groups. This new regulation was effective for the first time for the accounting year ending December 31, 2001.

Furthermore, the Insurance Control Office has issued new guidance on assets covering technical provisions that will strengthen its financial supervision by demanding quarterly reports detailing the assets covering technical provisions and the level of the technical provisions. This communication is applicable from January 1, 2002 onwards.

Canada

ING Canada Holdings Inc. and ING Canada Inc. are federal companies incorporated pursuant to the Canada Business Corporations Act.

The various provincial statutes are almost identical. The law of Quebec, which is based on a Civil Code (modeled on the Napoleonic Code of France), varies in form from that of the other provinces. There are few significant differences between provinces in the administration of the insurance statutes, other than in the area of agent regulation. Ontario has case law that makes insurers absolutely liable for the actions of their agents, even if that agent is acting outside the scope of his or her appointment. The only defense available to the insurer is one of fraud. Due diligence may be pleaded; however, unless the insurer can prove that its standards of education, monitoring and auditing of agents are of the highest level, the insurer will be held responsible for the agents’ action. Quebec also has a statute that similarly makes the insurer responsible for the acts of its agents. As for mutual funds and other investment products, the various provincial statutes are almost identical and the rules are almost identical to the U.S. rules in this regard.

Japan

Significant changes have taken place in the Japanese financial sector prompted by deregulation and the turmoil caused by the prolonged economic recession. The Financial Services Agency (“FSA”) was established on July 1, 2000, by the integration of the Financial Supervisory Agency and the Financial System Planning Bureau of the Ministry of Finance.

The Financial Products Sales Law (“FPSL”) was passed on May 23, 2000 and came into force on April 1, 2001. The FPSL provides protection to consumers of financial services and calls for:

•     a substantial explanation on principal loss, market risk and credit risk,

•     provision of documented explanation for customer, and

•     drawing up/publishing the Soliciting Policy, which requires the insurer to demonstrate that it conducts its canvassing activities so as to
      comply with a customer’s needs and situation.

New products, revision of existing products and changes in policy provisions require approval by the FSA. Premiums are, in most cases, not very different, and vary between participating, semi-participating, and non-participating products. Cabinet Office and FSA ordinances stipulate the types of assets in which an insurance company can invest. In addition, ordinances limit the proportion of assets that an insurance company may invest in certain categories of investments. The Insurance Business Law further requires that an insurance company set aside a liability reserve for each policyholder every business period to provide for the fulfillment of the level of expected mortality and other assumptions that are applied in calculating liability reserves for long-term contracts. An insurance company shall appoint a corporate actuary at a meeting of the board of directors and have such a corporate actuary be involved in the method of calculating premiums and other actuarial matters. An external audit is required for all insurers. The auditors must report on whether the balance sheet and income statements show fairly the status of the insurer’s assets and liabilities in conformity with relevant laws, Cabinet Office or FSA ordinances and the insurer’s articles of incorporation. In addition to the external audit, the statutory corporate auditors must be elected to examine whether there have been any serious violations of the law, relevant FSA ordinances or the insurer’s articles of incorporation by the insurer’s directors. The statutory corporate auditors are also responsible for accounting matters, depending on the results

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produced from the external audit and are required to draw up a report covering financial and nonfinancial issues, which is included in the annual report to shareholders.

Korea

All financial institutions, including ING Group’s Korean insurance subsidiaries, are subject to regulation and supervision of the Financial Supervisory Commission (“FSC”) and its executive arm, the Financial Supervisory Service (“FSS”). A second body, the Korean Life Insurance Association advises the Ministry of Finance and Economy on policies and systems related to life insurance such as the Insurance Business Act. In August 2002, the Insurance Business Act was revised to deregulate the insurance industry and to increase competition. The FSC announced a plan also aimed at increased competition in the domestic financial sector, to be implemented in three phases from 2003 onwards.

Australia

The financial services activities of life insurance, investments, superannuation, general insurance and banking are currently governed by separate legislation under Australian law. The two main financial services regulators are the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (“ASIC”) and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (“APRA”). APRA is responsible for the prudential regulation of banks and other deposit taking institutions, life and general insurance companies, superannuation funds and Retirement Savings Account Providers APRA’s responsibilities include regulating capital and liquidity requirements and monitoring the management functions of product providers. ASIC is responsible for consumer protection and market integrity across the financial systems, including the areas of insurance banking and superannuation.

BANKING

Basel Standards

The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) develops international capital adequacy guidelines based on the relationship between a bank’s capital and its credit risks. In this context, on July 15, 1988, the Basel Committee adopted risk-based capital guidelines (the “Basel guidelines”), which have been implemented by banking regulators in the countries that have endorsed them. The Basel guidelines are intended to strengthen the soundness and stability of the international banking system. The Basel guidelines are also intended to reduce an existing source of competitive inequality among international banks by harmonizing the definition of capital and the rules for the evaluation of asset risks and by establishing a uniform target capital base ratio (capital to risk-weighted assets). Supervisory authorities in each jurisdiction have, however, some discretion in determining whether to include particular instruments as capital under the Basel guidelines and to assign different weights, within a prescribed range, to various categories of assets. The Basel guidelines were adopted by the European Community and on January 1, 1991 the Dutch Central Bank implemented them and they were made part of Netherlands law. In June 1999, the Basel Committee proposed a review of the Basel guidelines of 1988.
Since then the proposals of the consultative paper of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision were further discussed by several international working parties. Once finalized, the implementation of the New Basel Capital Accord is expected in 2007.

European Union Standards

The European Community has adopted a capital adequacy regulation for credit institutions in all its member states based on the Basel guidelines. In 1989, the EC adopted the Council Directive of April 17, 1989 on the “own funds” of credit institutions (the “Own Funds Directive”), defining qualifying capital (“own funds”), and the Council Directive of December 18, 1989 on a capital base ratio for credit institutions (the “Capital base Ratio Directive” and, together with the Own Funds Directive, the “EC Directives”), setting forth the required ratio of own funds to risk-adjusted assets and off-balance sheet items. The EC Directives required the EU member states to transform the provisions of the Capital base Ratio Directive and the provisions of the Own Funds Directive into national law directly binding on banks operating in the member states. The EC Directives permit EU member states, when

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transforming the EC Directives into national law, to establish more stringent requirements, but do not permit more lenient requirements.

The EC Directives are aimed at harmonizing banking regulations and supervision throughout the EU by laying down certain minimum standards in key areas, and requiring member states to give “mutual recognition” to each other’s standards of regulation. The concept of “mutual recognition” has also been extended to create the “passport” concept: the freedom to establish branches in, and to provide cross-border services into, other EU member states once a bank has been licensed in its “home” state. The single market program for banking was completed when the Capital Adequacy Directive, or CAD, was implemented in the Netherlands with effect from January 1, 1996. In particular, CAD introduces a new requirement for banks to provide capital for market risk.

A Dutch credit institution is not permitted to start operations through a branch in another EU member state until it has received confirmation from the Dutch Central Bank that the information required by the Second Directive on the Coordination of Legislation to the Taking Up and Pursuit of the Business of Credit Institutions (the “Second Banking Coordination EC Directive”) has been submitted to the Dutch Central Bank and until, following this confirmation, a period of two months has elapsed or until, before the expiry of this period, it has received confirming information by the Dutch Central Bank.

The EC Directives require a bank, commencing with the end of the 1992 financial year, to have a capital base ratio of own funds to risk-adjusted assets and certain off-balance sheet items of at least 8%. At least one-half of the own funds in the numerator of the ratio must be “original own funds”, or “Tier 1” capital. The rest may be “additional own funds”, or “Tier 2” capital. As of January 1, 1997, Tier 1 capital consists solely of paid-up capital plus share premium accounts, other reserves and the fund for general banking risks less a deduction for goodwill. Tier 2 capital includes revaluation reserves, value adjustments and certain other funds and securities (such as fixed-term cumulative preferential shares and subordinated debt). The aggregate of a bank’s subordinated loans and fixed-term cumulative preferential shares may not exceed 50% of the bank’s Tier 1 capital.

To compute the denominator of the capital base ratio, the assets of a bank are assigned to five broad categories of relative credit risk (0%, 10%, 20%, 50% and 100%) and the balance sheet value of each asset is multiplied by the percentage weight applicable to its risk category to arrive at the risk-adjusted value. With respect to off-balance sheet items, such as financial guarantees and letters of credit, first, their face value is adjusted according to their risk classification depending on the type of instrument (0%, 20%, 50% and 100%), then they are assigned, like on-balance sheet assets, to the credit risk categories depending on the type of debtor and multiplied by the applicable percentage weights. With respect to derivatives contracts, first, their fair value is adjusted with a product specific potential future credit exposure (0% to 15% over the notional amounts), then they are assigned, like on-balance sheet assets, to the credit risk categories depending on the type of debtor and multiplied by the applicable percentage weights.

The Dutch Central Bank implemented the EC Directives in 1992.

In 2000, the EC Directives were brought together in the EC Directive 2000/12.

Netherlands regulation

The Group’s banking activities in the Netherlands are supervised and extensively regulated by the Dutch Central Bank (prudential supervision) on behalf of the Netherlands Minister of Finance under the mandate of the Act on the Supervision of the Credit System 1992 (Wet Toezicht Kredietwezen 1992). Furthermore, the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets carries out conduct of business supervision.

Credit Institutions Supervision Act

The principal aspects of the Credit Institutions Supervision Act are as follows:

     Scope of the Act A credit institution is any enterprise whose business it is to receive funds repayable on demand or subject to notice and to grant credits or make investments for its own account. ING Bank

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is a credit institution and, because it is engaged in the securities business as well as the commercial banking business, a “universal bank” under the terms of the Credit Institutions Supervision Act. ING Bank may accordingly be restricted from making capital contributions or loans to its subsidiaries.

     Authorization system An institution is prohibited from pursuing the business of a credit institution in the Netherlands unless it has obtained authorization from the Dutch Central Bank. In the event of the provision of cross-border services, involving the acceptance of repayable funds, to be provided by an institution established in another member EU state, the Dutch Central Bank must be informed of the contemplated operations, and the institution must have obtained authorization to pursue the business of a credit institution in the other EU member state.

     Regular supervision The Dutch Central Bank determines whether a credit institution meets the authorization requirements, prudential requirements, and the requirements as to the structure of its administrative organization and the requirements relating to its structural policy and monetary supervision. A credit institution must inform the Dutch Central Bank of any change in the number, the identity or the history of the persons determining its day-to-day policy. Furthermore, a credit institution must inform the Dutch Central Bank if it fails to comply, or to comply fully, with the Dutch Central Bank’s standards regarding capital base, liquidity or administrative organization.

     Prudential supervision The Dutch Central Bank exercises prudential supervision to safeguard the cital base and liquidity of credit institutions in order to protect creditors’ interests, with due observance of the relevant EC directives.

     Capital base directives Capital base directives are aimed at measuring the ratio of risk-bearing operations to available capital. Depending on the degree of risk involved in the various operations, the related assets are assigned a weighting coefficient. The total risk-weighted value of both on- and off-balance sheet items is divided by actual funds to obtain a ratio. Internationally, it has been agreed that this ratio should be at least 8%.

     Liquidity directives The basic principle of the liquidity directives is that liquid assets must be held against “net” liabilities of credit institutions (after netting out claims and liabilities in a maturity schedule) so that the liabilities can be met on the due dates or on demand, as the case may be.

     Structural supervision A declaration of no objection must be obtained from the Dutch Central Bank for a credit institution to acquire a “qualified participation” of 10% or more in another enterprise. A declaration of no objection must also be obtained for the acquisition by any person of a “qualified participation” in a credit institution greater than 5%. A “qualified participation” as referred to herein is an interest greater than 5% directly or indirectly owned in the share capital of a business enterprise or institution, or the direct or indirect voting power, or comparable voting interest, greater than 5% within the business enterprise or institution. Stipulations will be attached to declarations of no objection granted to holding companies of both credit institutions and insurance companies, as has been agreed in the protocol.

The Dutch Central Bank also supervises the administrative organization of the individual credit institutions, including ING Bank, their financial accounting system and internal controls. The administrative organization must be such as to ensure that a credit institution has at all times a reliable and up-to-date overview of its rights and obligations. Furthermore, the electronic data processing systems, which form the core of the accounting system, must be secured in such a way as to ensure optimum continuity, reliability and security against fraud. As part of the supervision of administrative organizations, the Dutch Central Bank has also stipulated that this system must be able to prevent conflicts of interests, including the abuse of insider information.

ING Bank files consolidated monthly and annual reports that provide a true and fair view of its financial position and results with the Dutch Central Bank. ING Bank’s independent auditors audit these reports.

Belgium

The Belgian Banking and Finance Commission (the “Commission”) in accordance with the law of March 22, 1993 supervises Belgian banks on the legal status and supervision of credit institutions. One

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of the major objectives of the Commission is the implementation of the Second Banking Coordination EC Directive. The Commission requires the fulfillment of specific requirements regarding, among others, the amount of the initial capital, the level of own funds, the transparency of shareholdings, the experience of the managers and the existence of an adequate structure to obtain an authorization to operate as a credit institution.

The Commission has the right to take exceptional measures or can ultimately withdraw the banking license if the institution violates the law or fails to perform based on the norms laid down by the Commission relating to capital base, liquidity or profitability. Reporting to the Commission by accredited statutory auditors is required twice a year. The Commission also has the right to request any document from a credit institution and performs inspection on specific issues inside the banks.

Germany

The legal basis for the supervision of banking business and financial services (banking supervision) is the Banking Act. Banking supervision that is carried out by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, working in cooperation with the Deutsche Bundesbank, orBundesbank. The Act assigns the central role in banking supervision to the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority that is also responsible for insurance regulation. The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority reports directly to the Federal Ministry of Finance.

Capital requirements and liquidity adequacy are in line with EU directives and are comparable to the Basel Standards. Exposures to a single borrower which, in the aggregate amount, exceed 10% of the institution’s liable capital, and loans to certain related parties are deemed to be particularly risk-prone, are therefore subject to special provisions.

An important source of information, both for the banking supervisory authorities and for lenders, is the requirement to report loans in the credit register, under section 14 of the Banking Act. This provision stipulates that credit institutions, insurance enterprises, financial services enterprises taking on proprietary positions as a service for third parties must report their loans over a specified amount to the Bundesbank. The Bundesbank adds together the loans to individual borrowers and subsequently notifies the lenders of the total indebtedness of their borrowers.

To enable the banking supervisory authorities to conduct an ongoing analysis of institutions’ business, the institutions have to submit monthly returns to the Bundesbank. The Bundesbank forwards these returns, together with its comments thereon, to the Federal Banking Supervisory Office. Institutions are audited by independent certified auditors who, in their audits, have to comply with detailed auditing guidelines laid down by the Federal Banking Supervisory Office. Section 29 of the Banking Act spells out the special duties of the auditors.

United Kingdom

In 2000, the framework for supervision and regulation of banking and financial services in the United Kingdom was reorganized. This reorganization resulted in all supervisory authorities merging into The Financial Services Authority, which we refer to as the FSA. The principal legislation concerning the regulation of banks in the United Kingdom is the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the“FSMA”). Based on the FSMA, the FSA acts as the principal supervisory authority and has wide discretionary powers over banks authorized by it. The FSA acts in conjunction with the Bank of England, which has a responsibility for promoting and maintaining a stable and efficient monetary and financial framework. Each bank has to report on a regular basis to the FSA and/or the Bank of England. Capital base requirements are in line with those prevailing in the Netherlands.

United States

ING Bank does have a limited direct presence in the United States through the facility of the ING Bank Representative Office in New York. Although that office’s activities are strictly limited, essentially to that of a marketing agent of bank products and services and a facilitator (i.e., the office may not take deposits or execute any transactions), that office is subject to the jurisdiction of the State of New York Banking Department and the Federal Reserve. ING Direct in the United States, being a federal savings

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bank, is subject to supervision by the Office of Thrift Supervision of the Department of the Treasury and to the rules and regulations applicable to thrifts, a.o. the Community Reinvestment Act and the Home Owners Loan Act.

Other countries

Elsewhere, the Group’s banking operations are subject to regulation and control by local central banks and monetary authorities.

BROKER-DEALER AND INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

ING’s broker-dealer entities in the United States are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the self-regulatory organizations (e.g., the NASD and the NYSE) of which they individually are members. The primary governing statutes for such entities are the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Those laws, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, impose requirements (among others) regarding minimum net capital requirements, safeguarding of customer assets, protection and use of material, non-public (inside) information, record-keeping requirements, supervision of employee activities, credit to customers, suitability determinations in the context of recommending transactions to customers and clearance and settlement procedures. The rules of the self-regulatory organizations in some respects duplicate the aforementioned legal requirements, but also impose requirements specific to the marketplaces that those organizations oversee. As examples, the NASD imposes requirements relating to activities by market-makers in the over-the-counter market in equity securities and the NYSE imposes requirements regarding transactions effected in its listed securities market. In addition, in December 2001, the Department of Treasury proposed new anti-money laundering standards applicable to broker-dealers.

Certain ING entities in the United States (including certain of its broker-dealers) also act in the capacity of an investment advisor (i.e. providing transactional advice to customers for a fee), and are governed in such activities by the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. Moreover, certain ING entities manage investment funds (such as mutual funds); the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, regulates the governance and activities of those funds. These laws impose record-keeping and disclosure requirements on ING in the context of such activities. Moreover, the laws impose restrictions on transactions or require disclosure of transactions involving advisory clients and the advisor or the advisors’ affiliates, as well as transactions between advisory clients. In addition, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, imposes certain obligations on investment advisors managing employee plan assets as defined in this act.

The failure of ING to comply with these various requirements could result in civil and criminal sanctions and administrative penalties imposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission or self-regulatory organizations upon those entities that have committed the violations. Moreover, employees who are found to have participated in the violative activity, and managers of such employees, also are subject to penalties by governmental and self-regulatory agencies.

SELECTED STATISTICAL INFORMATION ON BANKING OPERATIONS

The tables below set forth selected statistical information regarding the Group’s banking operations. Unless otherwise indicated, average balances, when used, are calculated from monthly data and the distinction between domestic and foreign is based on the location of the office where the assets and liabilities are booked, as opposed to the domicile of the customer. However, the Company believes that the presentation of these amounts based upon the domicile of the customer would not result in material differences in the amounts presented below.

AVERAGE BALANCES AND INTEREST RATES

The following tables show the banking operations, average interest-earning assets and average interest-bearing liabilities, together with average rates, for the periods indicated. The interest income, interest expense and average yield figures include interest on non-accruing loans and do not reflect:

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  income on amortized results investments;
 
  lending commissions;
 
  interest income on off-balance sheet instruments;
 
  other income not considered to be directly related to interest-earning assets;
 
  interest expense on off-balance sheet instruments, or
 
  other expense not considered to be directly related to interest-bearing liabilities,

all of which are reflected in the corresponding interest income, interest expense and net interest result figures in the Consolidated Financial Statements. A reconciliation of the interest income, interest expense and net interest result figures to the corresponding line items in the Consolidated Financial Statements is provided below.

ASSETS

                                                                           
      Interest-earning assets
     
      2002   2001   2000
     
 
 
      Average   Interest   Average   Average   Interest   Average   Average   Interest   Average
      balance   income   yield   balance   income   yield   balance   income   yield
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      (EUR millions)   %   (EUR millions)   %   (EUR millions)   %
Time deposits with banks
                                                                       
 
domestic
    3,625       128       3.5       5,522       364       6.6       3,019       209       6.9  
 
foreign
    21,965       935       4.3       24,488       1,261       5.2       24,364       1,406       5.8  
Loans and advances
                                                                       
 
domestic
    146,277       7,885       5.4       132,714       7,805       5.9       117,112       7,606       6.5  
 
foreign
    148,979       7,149       4.8       137,098       8,843       6.5       137,878       9,561       6.9  
Interest-earning securities(1)
                                                                       
 
domestic
    20,472       692       3.4       21,165       589       2.8       17,014       460       2.7  
 
foreign
    92,616       4,182       4.5       78,615       3,375       4.3       66,752       3,109       4.7  
Other interest-earning assets
                                                                       
 
domestic
    4,588       167       3.6       4,313       293       6.8       4,141       196       4.7  
 
foreign
    11,040       465       4.2       12,110       759       6.3       13,400       765       5.7  
 
   
     
             
     
             
     
         
Total
    449,562       21,603       4.8       416,025       23,289       5.6       383,680       23,312       6.1  
Non-interest earning assets
    27,216                       30,134                       24,476                  
Total assets(1)
    476,778                       446,159                       408,156                  
 
   
                     
                     
                 
Percentage of assets applicable to foreign operations
            62.1 %                     61.6 %                     64.1 %        
Other interest income (reconciliation to Consolidated Financial Statements):
                                                                       
– amortized results investments(2)
            348                       152                       173          
– lending commission
            102                       167                       222          
– adjustment for interest on non-performing loans(3)
            (105 )                     (122 )                     (95 )        
– interest on off-balance instruments(4)
            1,758                       1,325                       1,230          
other
            382                       (493 )                     (557 )        
 
           
                     
                     
         
Total interest income
            24,088                       24,318                       24,285          

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LIABILITIES

                                                                           
      Interest-earning liabilities
     
      2002   2001   2000
     
 
 
      Average   Interest   Average   Average   Interest   Average   Average   Interest   Average
      balance   expense   yield   balance   expense   yield   balance   expense   yield
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      (EUR millions)   %   (EUR millions)   %   (EUR millions)   %
Time deposits from banks
                                                                       
 
domestic
    23,789       832       3.5       25,986       1,117       4.3       21,384       1,395       6.5  
 
foreign
    43,435       1,238       2.9       45,995       2,255       4.9       45,132       2,572       5.7  
Demand deposits(5)
                                                                       
 
domestic
    31,291       332       1.1       28,195       384       1.4       27,216       386       1.4  
 
foreign
    20,994       528       2.5       17,760       589       3.3       18,038       605       3.4  
Time deposits(5)
                                                                       
 
domestic
    17,675       746       4.2       19,923       1,165       5.9       18,769       920       4.9  
 
foreign
    34,432       1,242       3.6       37,631       1,715       4.6       35,660       1,692       4.8  
Savings deposits(5)
                                                                       
 
domestic
    43,463       1,300       3.0       38,194       1,329       3.5       36,783       1,199       3.3  
 
foreign
    57,781       2,050       3.6       25,361       1,048       4.1       16,659       627       3.8  
Short term debt
                                                                       
 
domestic
    5,082       193       3.8       5,090       253       5.0       5,889       250       4.3  
 
foreign
    48,836       1,309       2.7       46,961       1,958       4.2       41,332       2,118       5.1  
Long term debt
                                                                       
 
domestic
    19,278       865       4.5       19,029       1,008       5.3       18,028       1,014       5.6  
 
foreign
    30,439       1,634       5.4       26,135       1,965       7.5       24,118       1,740       7.2  
Subordinated liabilities
                                                                       
 
domestic
    9,109       589       6.5       7,266       467       6.4       5,355       307       5.7  
 
foreign
    3,184       190       6.0       3,215       232       7.2       3,094       213       6.9  
Other interest-bearing liabilities
                                                                       
 
domestic
    10,972       359       3.3       14,088       590       4.2       8,193       837       10.2  
 
foreign
    22,890       1,103       4.8       35,598       1,435       4.0       32,160       1,818       5.7  
 
   
                     
                     
                 
Total
    422,650       14,510       3.4       396,427       17,510       4.4       357,810       17,693       5.0  
Non-interest bearing liabilities
    36,726                       33,490                       35,337                  
 
   
                     
                     
                 
Total Liabilities
    459,376                       429,917                       393,147                  
Group Capital
    17,402                       16,242                       15,009                  
 
   
                     
                     
                 
Total liabilities and capital
    476,778                       446,159                       408,156                  
 
   
                     
                     
                 
Percentage of liabilities applicable to foreign operations
                    63.2 %                     60.9 %                     61.9 %
Other interest expense (reconciliation to Consolidated Financial Statements):
                                                                       
– interest on off-balance instruments(6)
            1,718                       1,364                       1,305          
other
            214                       (628 )                     (499 )        
 
           
                     
                     
         
Total interest expense
            16,442                       18,248                       18,499          
 
           
                     
                     
         
Total net interest result
            7,646                       6,072                       5,786          
 
           
                     
                     
         

(1)   Substantially all interest-earning securities held by the banking operations of the Company are taxable securities.
 
(2)   Includes amortization of premiums and discounts and deferred realized gains and losses on sales of investments in debt securities on a straight-line basis over the estimated average remaining life of the portfolio.
 
(3)   Interest on non-performing loans is included when calculating the average yield in this table but excluded from interest income reported in the consolidated profit and loss account.
 
(4)   Includes amortization of deferred realized gains and losses on off-balance sheet hedging instruments on a straight line basis over the estimated average remaining life of the portfolio and interest accrued on hedging instruments, primarily on interest rate swaps.
 
(5)   These captions do not include deposits from banks.
 
(6)   Includes accrued interest expense on hedging instruments, primarily on interest rate swaps.

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ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET INTEREST INCOME

The following table allocates changes in the Group’s interest income and expense and net interest result between changes in average balances and rates for the periods indicated. Changes due to a combination of volume and rate have been allocated to changes in average volume. The net changes in interest income, interest expense and net interest result, as calculated in this table, have been reconciled to the changes in interest income, interest expense and net interest result in the Consolidated Financial Statements. See introduction to “Average Balances and Interest Rates” for a discussion of the differences between interest income, interest expense and net interest result as calculated in the following table and as set forth in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

                                                   
      2002 over 2001   2001 over 2000
     
 
              Increase (decrease)                   Increase (decrease)        
              due to changes in                   due to changes in        
      average   average   net   average   average   net
      volume   rate   change   volume   rate   change
     
 
 
 
 
 
              (EUR millions)                   (EUR millions)        
IInterest-earning assets
                                               
Time deposits to banks
                                               
domestic
    (67 )     (169 )     (236 )     165       (10 )     155  
foreign
    (107 )     (219 )     (326 )     6       (151 )     (145 )
Loans and advances domestic
    731       (650 )     81       918       (719 )     199  
 
foreign
    570       (2,265 )     (1,695 )     (50 )     (668 )     (718 )
Interest-earning securities
                                               
 
domestic
    (23 )     127       104       115       14       129  
 
foreign
    632       175       807       509       (243 )     266  
Other interest-earning assets domestic
    10       (136 )     (126 )     12       85       97  
 
foreign
    (45 )     (250 )     (295 )     (81 )     75       (6 )
Interest income domestic
    651       828       177       1,210       (630 )     580  
 
foreign
    1,050       (2,559 )     (1,509 )     384       (987 )     (603 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    1,701       (3,392 )     (1,686 )     1,594       (1,617 )     (23 )
 
   
     
             
     
         
Other interest income
                                               
 
(reconciliation to Consolidated
Financial Statements)
                    1,456                       56  
 
                   
                     
 
Total interest income
                    (230 )                     33  
 
                   
                     
 

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      2002 over 2001   2001 over 2000
     
 
              Increase (decrease)                   Increase (decrease)        
              due to changes in                   due to changes in        
      average   average   net   average   average   net
      volume   rate   change   volume   rate   change
     
 
 
 
 
 
              (EUR millions)                   (EUR millions)        
Interest-bearing liabilities
                                               
Time deposits from banks
                                               
domestic
    (77 )     (208 )     (285 )     198       (476 )     (278 )
foreign
    (73 )     (943 )     (1,016 )     42       (359 )     (317 )
Demand deposits domestic
    33       (84 )     (51 )     13       (15 )     (2 )
foreign
    81       (142 )     (61 )     (9 )     (8 )     (17 )
Time deposits domestic
    (95 )     (325 )     (420 )     67       178       245  
foreign
    (115 )     (359 )     (474 )     90       (67 )     23  
Savings deposits domestic
    158       (186 )     (28 )     49       81       130  
foreign
    1,150       (148 )     1,002       360       62       422  
Short term debt domestic
    (0 )     (59 )     (59 )     (40 )     42       2  
foreign
    50       (701 )     (651 )     235       (393 )     (158 )
Long term debt domestic
    11       (154 )     (143 )     53       (59 )     (6 )
foreign
    231       (562 )     (331 )     152       73       225  
Subordinated liabilities domestic
    119       3       122       123       37       160  
foreign
    (2 )     (40 )     (42 )     9       10       19  
Other interest-bearing liabilities domestic
    (102 )     (129 )     (231 )     247       (494 )     (247 )
foreign
    (612 )     279       (333 )     139       (521 )     (382 )
Interest expense domestic
    47       (1,142 )     (1,095 )     710       (708 )     2  
foreign
    710       (2,616 )     (1,906 )     1,017       (1,203 )     (186 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    757       (3,758 )     (3,001 )     1,727       (1,911 )     (184 )
Other interest expense
                                               
 
(reconciliation to Consolidated
Financial Statements)
                    1,197                       (69 )
Total interest expense
                    (1,804 )                     (253 )
Net interest
                                               
domestic
    604       314       918       499       77       577  
foreign
    340       57       397       (632 )     216       (416 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Net interest
    944       371       1,315       (133 )     294       161  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Other net interest result
                                               
 
(reconciliation to Consolidated
Financial Statements)
                    259                       125  
 
                   
                     
 
Net interest result
                    1,574                       286  

LOAN PORTFOLIO

Loans and advances to banks and customers

Loans and advances to banks include all receivables from credit institutions, except for cash, current accounts and deposits with other banks (including central banks). Lending facilities to corporate and personal customers encompass among others, loans, overdrafts and finance lease receivables.

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The following table sets forth the gross loans and advances to banks and customers for the last five years.

                                         
    Year ended December 31,
   
    2002   2001   2000   1999   1998
   
 
 
 
 
    (EUR millions)
By domestic offices:
                                       
Loans guaranteed by public authorities
    8,013       8,949       8,306       9,357       9,189  
Loans secured by mortgages
    86,932       78,789       65,585       58,196       52,237  
Loans to or guaranteed by credit institutions
    7,103       8,356       3,643       3,076       3,498  
Other personal lending
    8,201       3,775       3,532       3,281       2,991  
Other corporate lending
    42,083       35,060       33,715       30,755       22,738  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Total domestic offices
    152,332       134,929       114,781       104,665       90,653  
By foreign offices:
                                       
Loans guaranteed by public authorities
    15,750       13,398       13,019       12,880       2,846  
Loans secured by mortgages
    31,260       19,502       14,048       14,794       6,815  
Loans to or guaranteed by credit institutions
    23,562       21,861       19,635       13,353       10,272  
Other personal lending
    6,810       3,259       2,790       2,086       1,821  
Other corporate lending
    82,256       88,687       102,484       70,806       54,150  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Total foreign offices
    159,638       146,707       151,976       113,919       75,904  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Total gross loans and advances to banks and customers
    311,970       281,636       266,757       218,584       166,557  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 

The total net loans and advances to banks and customers amounted to EUR 307,100 million at December 31, 2002 and to EUR 277,162 million at December 31, 2001. The difference between total net loans and advances to banks and customers on the one hand and total gross loans and advances to banks and customers on the other, amounting to EUR 4.870 million, EUR 4,474 million and EUR 4,272 million at December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively, represents the provisions for loan losses.

Maturities and sensitivity of loans to changes in interest rates

The following table analyzes loans and advances to banks and customers by time remaining until maturity as at December 31, 2002.

                                 
    1 year   1 year   After        
    or less   to 5 years   5 years   Total
   
 
 
 
    (EUR millions)
By domestic offices:
                               
Loans guaranteed by public authorities
    1,694       538       5,781       8,013  
Loans secured by mortgages
    8,790       10,159       67,983       86,932  
Loans guaranteed by credit institutions
    5,156       907       1,040       7,103  
Other personal lending
    6,105       751       1,345       8,201  
Other corporate lending
    28,279       7,576       6,228       42,083  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Total domestic offices
    50,024       19,931       82,377       152,332  
By foreign offices:
                               
Loans guaranteed by public authorities
    5,945       6,878       2,927       15,750  
Loans secured by mortgages
    3,677       7,598       19,985       31,260  
Loans guaranteed by credit institutions
    17,715       4,048       1,799       23,652  
Other personal lending
    4,182       2,315       313       6,810  
Other corporate lending
    61,135       13,150       7,971       82,256  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Total foreign offices
    92,654       33,989       32,995       159,638  
Total gross loans and advances to banks and customers
    142,678       53,920       115,372       311,970  
 
   
     
     
     
 

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The following table analyzes loans and advances to banks and customers by interest rate sensitivity by maturity as at December 31, 2002.

                         
    1 year or                
    less   Over 1 year   Total
   
 
 
    (EUR millions)
Non-interest earning
    2,524       359       2,883  
Fixed interest rate
    77,848       55,806       133,654  
Semi-fixed interest rate(1)
    3,107       76,165       79,272  
Variable interest rate
    59,199       36,962       96,161  
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    142,678       169,292       311,970  
 
   
     
     
 

(1)   Loans that have an interest rate that remains fixed for more than one year and which can then be changed are classified as “semi-fixed”.

Risk elements

     Non-accrual and past due loans

Each of the business units within the banking operations of ING Group maintains its own system for servicing and monitoring past due loans. ING Group’s international banking offices and subsidiaries generally account for delinquent loans in accordance with U.S. GAAP. When a loan is in default as to payment of principal and interest for 90 days or when, in the judgment of management, the accrual of interest should cease before 90 days, such a loan is placed on non-accrual status. Any accrued but unpaid interest is reversed against current period interest revenue. Interest payments received on a cash basis during the period are recorded as interest income. Domestic banking offices follow the same policy for consumer mortgage and personal loans. All of the foregoing loans are included in the table below under “Non-accrual”.

Under “Accruing but past due 90 days”, all loans are reported which are still accruing but on which principal or interest payments are contractually past due 90 days or more. Domestic commercial loans combined with an overdraft facility, which make up approximately 50% of the reported amount in the domestic “Accruing but past due 90 days” category, were included in the 2002, 2001 and 2000 table below if the overdraft facility exceeded a specified limit for 90 days or more at December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively. The amount of loans meeting these criteria in prior years was estimated by management based on the size of the underlying portfolio and specific risk factors.

Based on the foregoing, the following table sets forth management’s estimate, without giving effect to available security or related specific provisions, of the amounts of its loan portfolio in each of the two categories indicated.

                                           
      Year ended December 31,
     
      2002   2001   2000   1999   1998
     
 
 
 
 
      (EUR millions)
Non-accrual
                                       
 
domestic
    1,093       1,425       711       1,072       912  
 
foreign
    3,044       2,613       2,745       2,313       1,863  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Sub-total
    4,137       4,038       3,456       3,385       2,775  
Accruing but past due 90 days
                                       
 
domestic
    986       1,083       1,112       573       575  
 
foreign
    1,048       957       756       952       555  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Sub-total
    2,034       2,040       1,868       1,525       1,130  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    6,171       6,078       5,324       4,910       3,905  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
 

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These loans are under constant review of the credit risk department.

     Restructured loans

The following table sets forth the troubled debt restructuring loans consisting of loans that are accruing interest but at rates different from the original terms of such loans as a result of the terms of any such restructuring.

                                           
      Year ended December 31,
     
      2002   2001   2000   1999   1998
     
 
 
 
 
      (EUR millions)
Troubled debt restructuring
                                       
 
domestic
    439       57       154       202       98  
 
foreign
    461       1,054       569       583       342  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Total troubled debt restructuring
    900       1,111       723       785       440  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
 

On receipt of cash, suspended interest is recovered prior to the principal outstanding, except that, where amounts are outstanding for costs and other late payment charges, the cash received is first used to recover these costs and charges. When it becomes apparent that recovery of interest is unlikely, interest ceases to be accrued and is suspended.

Interest income that would have been recognized in 2002 under the original terms of the non-accrual and restructured loans amounted to an estimated EUR 81 million from loans granted by domestic offices and an estimated EUR 234 million from loans granted by foreign offices. Interest income of approximately EUR 45 million from such domestic loans and approximately EUR 104 million from such foreign loans was recognized in the profit and loss account for 2002.

At December 31, 2002, ING Group had loans amounting to EUR 4,327 million that were not included in the risk elements schedule above. These loans are considered potential problem loans as the credit review officers obtained information that caused doubts as to the repayment of the loan by the borrower. Of this total, EUR 1,640 million relates to domestic loans and EUR 2,687 million relates to foreign loans. Appropriate provisions, following ING Group’s credit risk rating system, have been established for these loans.

     Cross-border outstandings

Cross-border outstandings are defined as loans (including accrued interest), acceptances, interest-earning deposits with other banks, other interest-earning investments and any other monetary assets that are denominated in euro or other non-local currency. To the extent that material local currency outstandings are not hedged or are not funded by local currency borrowings, such amounts are included in cross-border outstandings.
The following tables analyze cross-border outstandings as of the end of each of the last three years, stating the name of the country and the aggregate amount of cross-border outstandings to borrowers in each foreign country where such outstandings exceed 1% of total assets, by the following categories.

Guaranteed or secured loans are deducted from gross outstandings to arrive at net outstandings provided that political and transfer risks are also covered explicitly by the agreement. Commitments such as irrevocable letters of credit are not considered as cross border outstanding. Total outstandings are in line with Dutch Central Bank requirements. At December 31, 2002, there were no outstandings exceeding 1% of total assets in any country where current conditions give rise to liquidity problems which are expected to have a material impact on the timely repayment of interest or principal.

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    Year ended December 31, 2002
   
            Banks                        
    Government   & other                        
    & official   financial   Commercial                
    institutions   institutions   & industrial   Other   Total
   
 
 
 
 
    (EUR millions)
United Kingdom
    5       17,782       20,032       1,280       39,099  
United States
    2,013       2,491       19,578       912       24,994  
Germany
    4,660       8,899       2,165       2,070       17,794  
France
    515       3,941       2,876       784       8,116  
Belgium
    2,039       1,940       2,248       1,256       7,483  
                                         
    Year ended December 31, 2001
   
            Banks                        
    Government   & other                        
    & official   financial   Commercial                
    institutions   institutions   & industrial   Other   Total
   
 
 
 
 
                    (EUR millions)                
United Kingdom
            15,101       13,547       785       29,433  
United States
    1,461       5,194       15,534       1,406       23,595  
Germany
    3,911       11,380       3,832       2,796       21,919  
Belgium
    1,135       3,560       2,188       2,154       9,037  
France
    1,155       3,234       2,262       562       7,213  
Italy
    2,456       3,894       455       363       7,168  
                                         
    Year ended December 31, 2000
 
            Banks                        
    Government   & other                        
    & official   financial   Commercial                
    institutions   institutions   & industrial   Other   TotaL
   
 
 
 
 
                    (EUR millions)                
United Kingdom
    5       10,910       19,849       1,824       32,588  
United States
    95       3,205       17,376       8,480       29,156  
Germany
    4,494       5,037       5,357       9,992       24,880  
Belgium
    500       2,547       2,350       6,533       11,930  
France
    1,133       3,463       2,785       1,413       8,794  

At December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, the following countries had cross-border outstandings between 0.75% and 1% of total assets:

         
    Cross-border outstandings
    Year ended December 31
   
2002
       
Italy
    7,101  
Spain
    5,828  
2001
       
Japan
    5,571  
2000
       
Italy
    6,284  

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Loan concentration

The following industry concentrations were in excess of 10% of total loans as at December 31, 2002:

         
    Total outstandings
   
    (EUR millions)
Financial institutions(1)
    63,679  
Service industry
    58,303  
Manufacturing
    34,999  

(1)   Excluding bank deposits given of approximately EUR 46 billion.

Bad and doubtful debts

A provision for loan losses is maintained for the banking operations that is considered adequate to absorb losses arising from the existing portfolios of loans. The provision for loan losses is made in accordance with the overall supervisory direction of the Dutch Central Bank. Each operating company makes provisions for bad and doubtful debts, based on centrally given instructions. The provisions are reviewed on a quarterly basis by management. On the face of the balance sheet, the provisions are deducted from ‘Lending’ and ‘Banks’. The net additions to or subtractions from such balance sheet provisions are reflected in the Group’s profit and loss account, principally under ‘Value adjustments to receivables’ of the Banking operations.

In determining the amount of the provisions, corporate loans are assessed on a case-by-case basis, and the following factors are considered:

  the financial standing of the customer, including a realistic assessment of the likelihood of repayment of the loan within an acceptable period and the extent of ING Group’s other commitments to the same customer;
  the realizable value of any security for the loan; and
  the costs associated with obtaining repayment and realization of any such security.

For certain homogeneous groups of small personal and corporate loans, provisions are also assessed using statistical techniques.

On certain foreign outstandings, a country provision is calculated for regulatory purposes based on detailed instructions given by the Dutch Central Bank. The amount is a function of the risk of the country as well as the risk of the transaction itself. For accounting purposes, adequate provisions are calculated for countries that are near default or have recently defaulted.

ING Group also maintains an unallocated provision for loan losses that is required to adequately capture various subjective and judgmental aspects of credit risk assessment that is not considered on an individual basis. Considerable judgement is exercised in determining the extent of the provision and is based on the management’s evaluation of the risk in the portfolio, current economic conditions, recent years’ loss experience, credit and geographical concentration trends. When there is no prospect of recovering principal or interest, the outstanding debt and any suspense balances are written off.

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Summary of loan loss experience

The following table shows the movements in allocation of the provision for loan losses on loans accounted for as loans and advances to banks and customers for the past five years.

                                         
    Calendar period
   
    2002   2001   2000   1999   1998
   
 
 
 
 
    (EUR millions)
Balance at January 1
    4,474       4,272       4,522       3,417       1,928  
Change in the composition of the Group
    93       (171 )             834       874  
Charge-offs:
                                       
Domestic:
                                       
Loans guaranteed by public authorities
    (1 )                                
Loans secured by mortgages
    (4 )     (4 )     (3 )     (4 )     (12 )
Loans to or guaranteed by credit institutions
    (18 )                     (10 )        
Other personal lending
    (31 )     (31 )     (77 )     (26 )     (24 )
Other corporate lending
    (211 )     (166 )     (198 )     (170 )     (163 )
Foreign:
                                       
Loans guaranteed by public authorities
                                       
Loans secured by mortgages
    (8 )     (1 )     (1 )     (1 )     (6 )
Loans to or guaranteed by credit institutions
    (3 )     (9 )     (91 )     (138 )     (4 )
Other personal lending
    (32 )     (1 )     (1 )     (1 )        
Other corporate lending
    (530 )     (391 )     (458 )     (224 )     (119 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Total charge-offs
    (838 )     (603 )     (829 )     (574 )     (328 )
Recoveries:
                                       
Domestic:
                                       
Loans guaranteed by public authorities
                                       
Loans secured by mortgages
            3       5                  
Loans to or guaranteed by credit institutions
    4                                  
Other personal lending
    2       4       5       5       4  
Other corporate lending
    3       8       4       8       6  
Foreign:
                                       
Loans guaranteed by public authorities
                                       
Loans secured by mortgages
    2               2                  
Loans to or guaranteed by credit institutions
            1       5       7          
Other personal lending
    7                                  
Other corporate lending
    15       23       34       1       1  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Total recoveries
    33       38       51       19       18  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Net charge-offs
    (805 )     (565 )     (778 )     (555 )     (310 )
Additions (included in value Adjustments to receivables of the Banking operations), exchange and other adjustments
    1,108       938       528       826       925  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Balance at December 31
    4,870       4,474       4,272       4,522       3,417  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Ratio of net charge-offs to average loans and advances to banks and customers
    0.27 %     0.22 %     0.31 %     0.32 %     0.18 %
 
   
     
     
     
     
 

Additions to the provision for loan losses are based on management’s judgment, taking into account all available evidence, on borrower creditworthiness, contractual loan terms, available judicial and other remedies, historical patterns of losses and current economic developments.

Management regularly assesses the adequacy of the provision for loan losses by performing ongoing evaluations of the loan portfolio. A formal analysis of specifically identified loans takes place every quarter, including evaluation of economic risks associated with each loan, the current financial condition of the borrower, the economic environment in which the borrower operates, the level of

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delinquent loans and the value of collateral. Credit ratings are assigned to the borrowers by allocating all outstanding loans into various Risk Rating categories on a regular basis.

The policy for determining the provision for loan losses is set out in more detail on page 55 and in Note 1.5.2.5. to the Financial Statements.

Additions to the provision for loan losses presented in the table above were influenced by developments in general economic conditions as well as certain individual exposures. Significant movements in the addition to the provision for loan losses are explained in the paragraph “Addition to the provision for loan losses” on page 112.

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The following table shows the allocation of the provision for loan losses on loans accounted for as loans and advances to banks and customers for the past five years:

                                                                                   
                                      Year ended December 31,                        
     
      2002   2001   2000   1999   1998
     
 
 
 
 
      EUR   %(1)   EUR   %(1)   EUR   %(1)   EUR   %(1)   EUR   %(1)
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                      (EUR millions)                                
Domestic:
                                                                               
 
Loans guaranteed by public authorities
    31       2.56               3.18               3.11               4.28               5.52  
 
Loans secured by mortgages
    120       27.87       112       29.01       105       18.21       104       26.62       94       31.36  
 
Loans to or guaranteed by credit institutions
            2.28               2.96               1.37               1.41               2.10  
 
Other personal lending
    199       2.63       107       1.34       88       1.31       76       1.50       70       1.80  
 
Other corporate lending
    649       13.49       742       11.42       766       19.03       828       14.07       794       13.64  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total domestic
    999       48.83       961       47.91       959       43.03       1,008       47.88       958       54.42  
Foreign:
                                                                               
 
Loans guaranteed by public authorities
    47       5.05       68       4.76       7       4.88       46       5.89       18       1.71  
 
Loans secured by mortgages
    73       10.02       41       6.92       103       5.27       27       6.78       91       4.09  
 
Loans to or guaranteed by credit institutions
    90       7.55       43       7.76       70       7.36       322       6.11       362       6.18  
 
Other personal lending
    145       2.18       181       1.16       82       1.05       72       0.95       66       1.09  
 
Other corporate lending
    3,516       26.37       3,180       31.49       3,051       38.41       3,042       32.39       1,922       32.51  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total foreign
    3,871       51.17       3,513       52.09       3,313       56.97       2,514       52.12       3,459       45.58  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    4,870       100.00       4,474       100.00       4,272       100.00       4,522       100.00       3,417       100.00  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

(1)   The percentages represent the loans in each category as a percentage of the total loan portfolio for loans and advances to banks and customers.

The following table shows the provision for loan losses on loans accounted for as loans and advances to banks and customers as a percentage of the related loan portfolio for the past five years:

                                           
      Year ended December 31,
     
      2002   2001   2000   1999   1998
     
 
 
 
 
                      (in %)                
Domestic:
                                       
 
Loans guaranteed by public authorities
    0.39                                  
 
Loans secured by mortgages
    0.14       0.14       0.16       0.18       0.18  
 
Other personal lending
    2.43       2.83       2.53       2.32       2.35  
 
Other corporate lending
    1.54       2.31       2.27       2.69       3.49  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Total domestic
    0.66       0.71       0.84       0.96       1.06  
Foreign:
                                       
 
Loans guaranteed by public authorities
    0.30       0.51       0.06       0.36       0.63  
 
Loans secured by mortgages
    0.23       0.21       0.73       0.18       1.33  
 
Loans to or guaranteed by credit institutions
    0.37       0.20       0.35       2.41       3.52  
 
Other personal lending
    2.13       5.55       2.94       3.47       3.62  
 
Other corporate lending
    4.27       3.59       2.98       4.30       3.55  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Total foreign
    2.42       2.39       2.18       3.08       3.24  
Total
    1.56       1.59       1.60       2.07       2.05  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 

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\

DEPOSITS

The aggregate average balance of all the Group’s interest-bearing deposits (from banks and customer accounts) increased by 6.11% to EUR 315,209 million. Interest rates paid reflect market conditions. The effect on net interest income depends upon competitive pricing and the level of interest income that can be generated through the use of funds.

Deposits by banks are primarily time deposits, the majority of which are raised by the Group’s Amsterdam-based money market operations in the world’s major financial markets.

Certificates of deposit represent 47% of the category ‘Debt securities’ (52% at the end of 2001). These instruments are issued as part of liquidity management with maturities generally of less than three months.

                                                   
      2002   2001   2000
     
 
 
      Average   Average   Average   Average   Average   Average
      deposit   rate   deposit   rate   deposit   rate
     
 
 
 
 
 
      (EUR millions)   %   (EUR millions)   %   (EUR millions)   %
Deposits by banks
                                               
In domestic offices:
                                               
Demand – non-interest bearing
    899               1,452               9          
 
              – interest bearing
    1,091       5.0       1,422       3.4       1,783       3.8  
Time
    30,504       3.5       36,707       3.9       24,764       6.0  
 
   
             
             
         
Total domestic offices
    32,494               39,581               26,556          
In foreign offices:
                                               
Demand – non-interest bearing
    3,011               1,551               1,570          
 
              – interest bearing
    12,728       2.6       12,936       3.1       12,330       4.8  
Time
    59,562       3.4       64,082       4.7       59,102       5.6  
 
   
             
             
         
Total foreign offices
    75,301               78,569               73,002          
 
   
             
             
         
Total deposits by banks
    107,795               118,150               99,558          
 
   
             
             
         
Customer accounts
                                               
In domestic offices:
                                               
Demand – non-interest bearing
    15,572               10,071               10,501          
 
              – interest bearing
    17,543       2.8       36,550       2.5       35,243       2.4  
Savings
    43,389       3.0       18,866       3.8       18,207       3.6  
Time
    23,252       4.2       23,759       4.9       22,950       5.2  
 
   
             
             
         
Total domestic offices
    99,756               89,246               86,901          
In foreign offices:
                                               
Demand – non-interest bearing
    3,407               4,282               9,242          
 
              – interest bearing
    25,973       2.0       27,717       2.4       25,382       2.8  
Savings
    55,553       3.6       26,018       3.9       17,431       3.6  
Time
    45,614       3.2       49,014       4.1       48,430       4.2  
Total foreign offices
    130,547               107,031               100,485          
 
   
             
             
         
Total customers accounts
    230,303               196,277               187,386          
Debt securities
                                               
In domestic offices:
                                               
Debentures
    14,636       3.9       8,269       5.1       8,860       5.9  
Certificates of deposit
    2,967       4.5       10,532       4.3       9,397       5.0  
Other
    2,806       4.0       1,614       4.6       1,687       5.8  
 
   
             
             
         
Total domestic offices
    20,409               20,415               19,944          
In foreign offices:
                                               
Debentures
    13,267       8.5       14,414       6.5       16,855       7.1  
Certificates of deposit
    33,821       3.1       26,663       4.8       20,066       6.4  
Other
    10,781       8.7       10,410       5.5       8,023       5.2  
 
   
             
             
         
Total foreign offices
    57,869               51,487               44,944          
 
   
             
             
         
Total debt securities
    78,278               71,902               64,888          
 
   
             
             
         

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For the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, the aggregate amount of deposits by foreign depositors in domestic offices was EUR 30,551 million, EUR 34,848 million and EUR 27,538 million, respectively.

At December 31, 2002, the maturity of domestic time certificates of deposit and other time deposits, exceeding EUR 25,000, was:

                                 
    Time certificates of deposit   Other time deposits
   
 
    (EUR millions)   %   (EUR millions)   %
3 months or less
    35,633       73.2       34,115       74.5  
6 months or less but over 3 months
    8,405       17.3       3,075       6.7  
12 months or less but over 6 months
    1,633       3.3       1,919       4.2  
Over 12 months
    3,021       6.2       6,692       14.6  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Total
    48,692       100.0       45,801       100.0  
 
   
     
     
     
 

The following table shows the amount outstanding for time certificates of deposit and other time deposits exceeding EUR 25,000 issued by foreign offices at December 31, 2002.

         
    Year ended
    December 31, 2002
   
    (EUR millions)
Time certificates of deposit
    59,385  
Other time deposits
    31,244  
 
   
 
Total
    90,629  
 
   
 

INVESTMENTS OF THE GROUP’S BANKING OPERATIONS

The following table shows the balance sheet value under Dutch GAAP of the investments of the Group’s banking operations:

                         
    Year ended December 31,
   
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
            (EUR millions)        
Dutch government
    3,429       2,913       2,919  
German government
    2,783       2,892       4,460  
Central banks
    668       894       794  
Belgian government
    13,165       12,266       13,870  
Other governments
    15,200       10,517       7,356  
Corporate debt securities Banks and financial institutions
    18,527       14,819       12,507  
Other corporate debt securities
    6,210       9,354       6,424  
U.S. Treasury and other U.S government agencies
    5,180       3,818       1,675  
Other debt securities
    13,917       5,796       2,509  
 
   
     
     
 
Total debt securities
    79,079       63,269       52,514  
Shares and convertible debentures
    1,254       2,877       3,495  
Land and buildings(1)
    3,709       2,302       3,124  
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    84,042       68,448       59,133  
 
   
     
     
 

(1)   Including commuted ground rents

Banking investment strategy

ING’s investment strategy for its investment portfolio related to the banking activities is formulated by the Asset and Liability Committee (“ALCO”). The exposures of the investments to market rate movements are managed by modifying the asset and liability mix, either directly or through the use of

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derivative financial products including interest rate swaps, futures, forwards and purchased option positions such as interest rate caps, floors and collars. See “Item 11. Quantative and Qualitative Disclosure of Market Risk”.

The investment portfolio related to the banking activities primarily consists of fixed-interest securities. Approximately 49% of the land and buildings owned by ING Bank are wholly or partially in use by Group companies.

Portfolio maturity description

                                                 
                    Between   Between
    1 year or less   1 year and 5 years   5 and 10 years
   
 
 
    Book value   Yield(1)   Book value   Yield(1)   Book value   Yield(1)
   
 
 
 
 
 
    (EUR millions)   %   (EUR millions)   %   (EUR millions)   %
Dutch government
    131       6.3       351       4.8       2,983       4.8  
German government
    118       6.0       843       4.6       1,653       5.0  
Belgian government
    1,420       7.8       4,518       6.1       6,816       5.2  
Central banks
    363       2.5       55       7.1       246       7.5  
Other governments
    1,926       5.0       4,301       5.0       7,390       5.0  
Banks and financial institutions
    2,478       3.0       10,441       3.7       4,728       5.0  
Corporate debt securities
    371       4.8       3,673       4.3       1,578       4.6  
U.S. Treasury and other U.S. government agencies
    884       4.1       1,870       4.3       2,472       4.3  
Other debt securities
    1,162       4.4       3,790       4.0       2,801       4.4  
 
   
             
             
         
Total
    8,853               29,842               30,667          
 
   
             
             
         

                                                         
    Over 10 years   Without maturity           Total   Balance
   
 
          premium/   sheet
    Book value   Yield(1)   Book value   Yield(1)   Book value   (discount)   value
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    (EUR millions)   %   (EUR millions)   %   (EUR millions)   (EUR millions)   (EUR millions)
Dutch government
    10       5.8       3       0.0       3,478       49       3,429  
German government
    175       5.8       0       0.0       2,789       6       2,783  
Belgian government
    401       5.3       0       0.0       13,155       (10 )     13,165  
Central banks
    2       2.3       0       0.0       665       (2 )     667  
Other governments
    1,587       5.2       137       0.0       15,341       141       15,200  
Banks and financial institutions
    853       5.1       95       2.8       18,595       68       18,527  
Corporate debt securities
    550       3.7       46       0.0       6,218       7       6,210  
U.S. Treasury and other U.S. government agencies
    2       8.6       0       0.0       5,228       48       5,180  
Other debt securities
    6,045       4.4       180       2.3       13,978       62       13,917  
 
   
             
             
     
     
 
Total
    9,625               461               79,448       369       79,079  
 
   
             
             
     
     
 
(1)   Since substantially all investment securities held by the banking operations of the Company are taxable securities, the yields are on a tax-equivalent basis.

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At December 31, 2002, ING Group also held the following securities for the banking operations that exceeded 10% of shareholders’ equity:

                                 
    2002   2001
   
 
    Book   Market   Book   Market
    value   value   value   value
   
 
 
 
    (EUR millions)   (EUR millions)
Dutch government
    3,478       3,634       2,968       2,935  
Belgian government
    13,155       14,170       12,261       12,828  
German government
    2,789       2,934       2,898       2,906  

COMPETITION

There is substantial competition in the Netherlands and the other countries in which the Group does business for the types of insurance, commercial and investment banking and other products and services provided by the Group. Such competition is more pronounced in the Group’s more mature markets of the Netherlands, the Rest of Europe, the United States, Canada and Australia than in the ‘emerging markets.’ In recent years, however, competition in emerging markets has increased as insurance and banking industry participants from more developed countries have sought to establish themselves in markets that are perceived to offer higher growth potential and, as local institutions have become more sophisticated and competitive, they have sought alliances, mergers or strategic relationships with certain of the Group’s competitors.

In the Netherlands, which is the largest national market for our banking operations and the second largest for our insurance operations, a national policy historically favoring open markets and the presence of large domestic competitors in both the insurance and banking sectors has resulted in intense competition for virtually all of the Group’s products and services. In addition, the Dutch market is a mature market and one in which the Group already maintains significant market shares in most lines of business. Although certain parts of the Dutch financial services sector are growing, in recent years ING Bank has been facing increasing competition from other principal Dutch banks for its traditional client base of small and medium-size enterprises, as well as in other parts of ING’s Dutch business. Management believes, however, that notwithstanding these factors, there is the potential in the future for increased growth in the Dutch markets in which the Group currently is active as the government withdraws from social security and various other programs and the coverage and services provided thereunder are shifted to the private sector. In this regard, the distribution channels maintained in the Netherlands (direct marketing, Internet, intermediaries, branches and tied agents) allow the Group to allocate resources to different sectors of the Dutch market as growth opportunities arise and, in management’s view, provide the Group with significant competitive advantages. In the Netherlands, the insurance industry has been affected by many changes in legislation (i.e. new tax law). Savings for pensions continue to be tax-favored to some extent, but professional advice is needed in the labyrinth of rules and regulations. The Dutch insurance industry will be further shaped by the need to adapt to new technologies, bring down costs and increase efficiency. With our large market share, we expect that we will be able to benefit from these trends, especially by creating shared service centers. In the United States, due to the detoriating economic climate, a shift from unit-linked products to guaranteed life products, from variable to fixed annuities and from stock market products to savings products is evident. In the United States, the share of equity products is currently 49% of total wealth, far below the normally high percentage of 75%. The inflow of money into mutual funds has also slowed down.

Despite the fact that customers in the United States are shying away from equity products, there is nevertheless an overall increase in wealth. Baby boomers are now moving into retirement. In the US, as an example, overall retirement income is expected to grow from 16 trillion dollars at the end of 2001 to 39 trillion dollars in 2012. In short, we believe long-term opportunities remain good, for instance for rollover/payout business. Three further trends in the US market are significant to our business. First, distribution is shifting from career agents to independent advisers and wholesalers, as more insurers come under pressure to turn fixed costs into variable costs. Second, there is a clear shift in power from manufacturers to distributors when it comes to the distribution of financial products. Finally, insurers are making greater use of strategic relationships for ‘shelf swapping’. With our recent acquisitions and

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their subsequent integration, we believe our US operations are well positioned to benefit from all of these trends.

Competition with respect to the products and services provided by the Group in both developed and emerging markets is based on many factors, including name recognition, scope of distribution systems, customer service, products offered, financial strength, price and, in the case of investment-linked insurance products and asset management services, investment performance. Management believes its major competitors are the larger Dutch, other European, U.S. and Japanese commercial and investment banks, insurance companies and asset management and other financial services companies.

RATINGS

ING Groep N.V’s long term senior debt rating is rated “Aa2” by Moody’s Investors Service, Moody’s, with a stable outlook (under review). ING Groep N.V’s long-term senior debt rating is rated “A+” by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service, a division of the McGraw Hill companies, Inc., or Standard & Poor’s, with a stable outlook.

ING Verzekeringen N.V.’s long term senior debt is rated “A+” by Standard & Poor’s (with a stable outlook) and ‘Aa2’ by Moody’s (under review). ING Bank N.V.’s long term senior debt is rated “AA-” (with a stable outlook) by Standard & Poor’s and “Aa2” (with a stable outlook) by Moody’s. The “AA” rating is the second highest of the seven ratings assigned by Standard & Poor’s, which range from “AAA” to “C”. Ratings from AA to B may be modified by the use of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing of the issuer within those rating categories. The “Aa” rating is the second highest of the nine ratings assigned by Moody’s, which range from “Aaa” to “C”. Ratings from “Aaa” to “C” may be modified by the use of numerical modifiers 1, 2 and 3, to show the relative standing of the issuer within those rating categories.

ING Verzekeringen N.V.’s short-term term senior debt is rated “A1” by Standard & Poor’s and Prime 1 by Moody’s (under review). ING Bank’s N.V’s short-term debt is rated “A1+” by Standard & Poor’s and Prime 1 by Moody’s. The “A1+” rating is the highest possible of the seven ratings assigned by Standard & Poor’s, which range from “A1+” to “D”. The ‘Prime 1’ rating is the highest possible of the three ratings assigned by Moody’s, which range from ‘Prime 1’ to ‘Not Prime’.

The following insurance subsidiaries all hold “AA” insurer financial strength ratings by Standard & Poor’s: ING Security Life of Denver, ING Southland Life, ING USG Annuity and Life Company, First Columbine Insurance Company, ING Golden American Life Insurance Company, First Golden American Life Insurance Company of New York, ING Midwestern United Life Insurance Company, ING Equitable Life Insurance Company of Iowa, ING ReliaStar Life Insurance Company, ING Northern Life Insurance Company, ING Aetna Life Insurance & Annuity Company, ING Aetna Insurance Company of America, ING ReliaStar Life Insurance Company of New York and ING Security-Connecticut Life Insurance Company. Standard & Poor’s states that an insurer rated “AA” has a “very strong” capacity to meet its financial commitments. It differs from the highest rated insurers only in small degree. The “AA” rating is the second highest of the eight claims-paying ratings assigned by Standard & Poor’s, which range from “AAA” (Superior) to “R” (Regulatory action). ING Life Insurance Company of Georgia has a “A-” insurer financial strength rating by Standard and Poor’s. Standard and Poor’s states that an insurer rated “A” has a “strong” capacity to meet its financial commitments but is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than insurers in higher-rated categories.

The following insurance subsidiaries all hold “Aa2” financial strength ratings by Moody’s: ING Aetna Life Insurance & Annuity Company, ING Aetna Insurance Company of America, ING Security Life of Denver, ING Life of Georgia, ING Southland Life, ING USG Annuity and Life Company, ING Equitable Life Insurance Company of Iowa, ING ReliaStar Life Insurance Company, ING Northern Life Insurance Company, ING ReliaStar Life Insurance Company of NY and ING Security-Connecticut Life Insurance Company (all these ratings are under review). Moody’s states that the “Aa2” rating is assigned to those companies that, in its opinion, offer financial security. The “Aa2” rating is the second highest of the nine Financial strength ratings assigned by Moody’s, which range from “Aaa” (Exceptional) to “C” (Lowest).

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ING Bank N.V.’s long-term debt is rated AA- by Fitch Ratings Ltd., or Fitch Ratings. The “AA” rating is the second highest of the nine ratings assigned by Fitch Ratings, Ltd. which range from “AAA” to “C”. Ratings from “AA” to “B” may be modified by the use of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing of the issuer within those rating categories.

The following insurance subsidiaries, hold an “A+” rating by A.M. Best: ING Security Life of Denver, ING Life of Georgia, ING Southland Life, ING USG Annuity and Life Company, ING Aetna Insurance Company of America, ING Aetna Life Insurance and Annuity Company, ING Golden American Life Insurance Company, ING First Golden American Life Insurance Company of New York, First ING Life Insurance of New York, ING Equitable Life Insurance Company of Iowa, ING ReliaStar Life Insurance Company, ING Northern Life Insurance Company and ING ReliaStar Life Insurance Company of NY. In addition, ING Midwestern United Life Insurance Company, ING United Life and Annuity Insurance Company, ING Security-Connecticut Life Insurance Company and ING Ameribest Life Insurance Company hold an “A” rating by A.M. Best. A.M. Best states that the “A+” rating is assigned to companies which have, on balance, superior balance sheet strength, operating performance and business profile when compared to the standards established by A.M. Best. These companies, in their opinion, have a very strong ability to meet their ongoing obligations to policyholders.

The “A+” rating is the second highest of 15 ratings assigned by A.M. Best, which range from “A++” (Superior) to “F” (In Liquidation).

None of the foregoing ratings is an indication of the historic or potential performance of the Company’s stock or other securities and should not be relied upon with respect to making an investment in ING Groep N.V.’s Ordinary shares, Bearer receipts, ADSs or other securities.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Since 2000, ING Group has made good progress in improving the capabilities of the Information Technology, or IT function. The initial focus addressed quick wins and has evolved from there to structural changes that have lowered cost on a sustained basis. In a collaborative approach with the ECs and businesses, ING has been working to identify and realize opportunities for IT-enabled improvements and value enhancing initiatives.

After two years of identifying benefits, setting up a governance organization and signing Global contracts, ING is now starting to see the results of these activities. Medium Term Plan (MTP) results are showing lower IT costs as a percentage of business in the coming three years. Rationalizing the ING infrastructure and applications portfolio and leveraging services across business and partners have yielded substantial cost savings. Standardizing and leveraging best-in-class architectures has resulted in improved flexibility and services. The established Global Infrastructure Services organization has enabled more seamless and cost effective connectivity of ING’s 144 locations across the globe.

Maintaining the appropriate balance between group and local ownership (responsibility, accountability) is essential to ensure an accelerated rate of more common application deployment as well as infrastructure rationalization. Shared services and data centres have emerged through consolidation at Management Committee (MC) and Executive Committee (EC) levels. A regional service provider concept has been established to provide support services across ECs within each region. Security of the global network has been raised to reduce cross-vulnerability risks. Information and operational risk management have become a key part of managing ING’s global infrastructure.

In order to continue to improve the speed of decision making and ensure tighter alignment of business and IT focus, everything that’s being done in IT is working through the established IT governance mechanisms. ING continuously seeks to eliminate redundancy, reduce costs and ensure optimum usage of the Group’s IT assets. While keeping an eye on our customers, shareholders and employees, ING will continue to offer efficient and effective IT enabled solutions to help drive customer satisfaction.

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DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY

In the Netherlands, ING Group owns substantially all of the land and buildings used in the normal course of its business. Outside the Netherlands, ING Group predominantly leases all of the land and buildings used in the normal course of its business. At December 31, 2002, ING Group had more than 1,500 branch, representative and similar offices worldwide of which approximately 500, principally branch offices, were located in the Netherlands. In addition, ING Group has part of its investment portfolio invested in land and buildings. Management believes that the Group’s facilities are adequate for its present needs in all material respects.

Item 5.     Operating and financial review and prospects

The following review and prospects should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the related Notes thereto included elsewhere herein. The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with Dutch GAAP, which differs in certain significant respects from U.S. GAAP. Reference is made to Note 6 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of the significant differences between Dutch GAAP and U.S. GAAP and a reconciliation of shareholders’ equity and net profit to U.S. GAAP. Unless otherwise indicated, financial information for ING Group included herein is presented on a consolidated basis under Dutch GAAP.

FACTORS AFFECTING RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

ING Group’s results of operations are affected by demographics (particularly with respect to life insurance) and by a variety of market conditions, including economic cycles, insurance industry cycles (particularly with respect to non-life insurance), banking industry cycles and fluctuations in stock markets, interest and foreign exchange rates. In 2002, 22% of ING’s total operational income and 66% of its consolidated operational results before taxation were derived from its Dutch operations. Accordingly, changes in the Dutch economy and levels of Dutch consumer spending and downturns in the Dutch real estate, securities and other markets may have a material effect on the Company’s operations. Although management expects the foregoing factors will continue to affect ING Group’s results of operations, management believes that the impact of any one of these factors, other than fluctuations in exchange rates, has been and continues to be reduced by ING Group’s expansion into different geographic markets. However, management realizes that because of spin-off effects, a crisis in a major financial market can have a material negative impact on the Group’s consolidated results. Developments on the stock markets worldwide had an increasing effect on the generation of commissions and fee income related to the value of the assets under management and as a result on the results of ING Group.

General Market Conditions

Demographic studies suggest that over the next decade there will be growth in ING’s principal life insurance markets of the Netherlands, the rest of Europe, the United States, Asia and Australia, in the number of individuals who enter the age group that management believes is most likely to purchase retirement-oriented life insurance products. In addition, in a number of its European markets, including the Netherlands, retirement, medical and other social benefits previously provided by the government have been or are expected to be curtailed in the coming years, which management believes will increase opportunities for private sector providers of life insurance, health, pension and other social benefits-related insurance products. Management believes that ING Insurance’s distribution networks, the quality and diversity of its products and its investment management expertise in each of these markets positions ING Insurance to benefit from such developments. In addition, the emerging markets in Central and Eastern Europe, Asia and South America, in which ING Insurance has insurance operations, generally have lower gross domestic products per capita and gross insurance premiums per capita than the countries in Western Europe and North America in which ING Insurance also has insurance operations. Management believes that insurance greenfield operations in such emerging markets provide ING Insurance with the market presence that will allow it to take advantage of anticipated growth in such regions. Conditions in the non-life insurance markets in which ING Insurance operates are also cyclical, and characterized by periods of price competition, fluctuations in underwriting results and the occurrence of unpredictable weather-related and other losses.

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ING has significant commercial banking, investment banking and insurance operations in the emerging markets of South America, Asia and Central and Eastern Europe and is an active trader of emerging market loans and debt securities. Historically, the Group’s capital markets and securities trading activities in emerging markets have been more volatile than those in developed countries and are subject to certain risks, such as political and currency volatility risks, which ING does not have in its more mature markets. During the last three years, the Company has experienced significant fluctuations in the results of its emerging markets trading operations and no assurance can be given that such fluctuations will not occur in future periods. In addition, ING’s investment banking, securities trading and brokerage activities and the results therefrom tend to be more volatile than other parts of ING’s businesses as they are significantly affected by the levels of activity in the securities markets, which in turn may be affected by, among other factors, the level and trend of interest rates. ING also offers a number of insurance and financial products which expose it to certain risks associated with fluctuations in interest rates, securities prices or the value of real estate assets.

Interest rates

Changes in prevailing interest rates (including changes in the difference between the levels of prevailing short-term and long-term rates) can affect ING Group’s banking, insurance and financial services results. However, the future profitability of ING Group may also be affected by a variety of other factors, and, as a result, management believes that recurring cyclical changes in prevailing interest rates, and other interest rate changes in general, are not likely to have a significant impact on the long-term profitability of ING Group.

Over the past several years, movements in both short- and long-term interest rates have affected the level and timing of recognition of gains and losses on securities held in ING Group’s various investment portfolios. Generally, a sustained period of lower interest rates will reduce the investment income yield of the investment portfolios of ING Group’s insurance and banking companies over time as higher-yielding investments are called or mature and proceeds are reinvested at lower rates. However, declining interest rates will increase realized and unrealized gains on significant portions of pre-existing insurance investment portfolios and can lead to higher returns from the Company’s banking operations if interest-earning assets re-price more slowly than interest-bearing liabilities or the volume of average interest-earning assets grows, as a result of higher amounts of credit demand, assuming a positive interest rate spread. Conversely, rising interest rates should, over time, increase investment income but may, at the same time, reduce the market value of pre-existing investments held by ING Group’s portfolios. This can also lead to higher returns from the Company’s banking operations if interest-earning assets re-price faster than interest-bearing liabilities or the interest-rate spread widens, assuming these effects are not offset by lower volumes of average interest-earning assets or a deterioration in the quality of the Group’s loan portfolio or an increase in provisions for possible credit risks. Management believes that the diversity of ING Group’s investment portfolio and the geographic spread of its businesses tend to moderate the effect of movements in interest rates in any one market.

The impact of interest rate fluctuations on the Group’s life insurance business is reduced in part by product design, which partly or entirely transfers the exposure to interest rate movements from the Company to the policyholder. Examples of such products include unit-linked individual policies and segregated fund pension plans in group business. At December 31, 2002, approximately 30% (2001: 34%) of ING Insurance’s investment portfolio consisted of investments relating to insurance policies where gains or losses arising from interest rate fluctuations are largely for the risk of policyholders. In addition, ING Insurance sells profit sharing life insurance policies, where profit sharing may be based either on total profits or on excess interest margins. In both cases, profit sharing may serve to moderate the impact of interest rate fluctuations on the Company’s profit by transferring a portion of total profits or excess interest margins to policyholders. While product design reduces the interest rate sensitivity of ING Insurance, changes in interest rates may result in changes to interest income or affect the levels of new product sales or surrenders and withdrawals of business in force.

ING Group’s investment banking, securities trading and brokerage activities are significantly affected by the levels of activity in the securities markets, which in turn may be affected by, among other factors, the level and trend of interest rates. Results of ING Group’s asset management activities may also be affected by interest rates, since management fees are generally based on the value of assets under management, which fluctuates with changes in the level of interest rates.

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Exchange rate fluctuations

ING Group publishes its Consolidated Financial Statements in euros. Because a substantial portion of ING Group’s income and expenses are denominated in currencies other than euros, ING Group has a financial reporting translation exposure attributable to fluctuations in the values of these currencies against the euro. Fluctuations in the exchange rates used to translate these currencies may have a significant impact on ING Group’s reported results of operations from year to year. The impact of these fluctuations in exchange rates is mitigated to some extent by the fact that the revenues and related expenses, as well as assets and liabilities, of each of ING Group’s non-euro reporting subsidiaries are generally denominated in the same currencies. ING Group partially hedges against fluctuations in the values of these foreign currencies against the euro as a means to reduce this impact.

ING Group policy is to hedge the excess capital of foreign operations in order to minimize the impact on capital base ratios, as required capital base amounts are not hedged. See Note 7.11 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

The euro value of the results of ING’s life insurance operations in the US and Canada is protected from depreciation of the US and Canadian dollar. For the year 2001 and 2002, these results were fully hedged at a EUR/USD exchange rate of 0.879. The hedge contributed EUR 55 million to operational net profit 2002, and EUR 14 million in 2001. In anticipation of a further strengthening of the euro versus the US dollar, ING has also hedged the expected profits of the US insurance operations for the years 2003 and 2004 at a EUR/USD exchange rate of 0.920 and 0.922, respectively.

Net profit for 2002 as compared with 2001 was negatively affected by EUR 13 million due to the appreciation of the US dollar compared with the euro. For the year 2001 as compared with 2000, net profit was favorably affected by EUR 9 million due to the appreciation of the US dollar compared with the euro.

For each of the years 2002, 2001 and 2000, the year-end exchange rates (which are the rates ING uses in the preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements for balance sheet items not denominated in euros) and the average annual exchange rates (which are the rates ING uses in the preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements for income statement items not denominated in euros) were as follows:

                         
       Average
    2002   2001   2000
U.S. dollar
    0.9458       0.8950       0.9263  
Australian dollar
    1.7404       1.7366       1.5968  
Canadian dollar
    1.4838       1.3850       1.3738  
Dutch guilder
    2.2037       2.2037       2.2037  
Pound sterling
    0.6279       0.6196       0.6085  
Japanese yen
    117.9310       108.6980       99.6408  
                         
    Year-end
    2002   2001   2000
U.S. dollar
    1.0487       0.8853       0.9300  
Australian dollar
    1.8594       1.7338       1.6748  
Canadian dollar
    1.6548       1.4072       1.3927  
Dutch guilder
    2.2037       2.2037       2.2037  
Pound sterling
    0.6505       0.6110       0.6228  
Japanese yen
    124.4000       116.2500       106.8000  

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Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements

Contingent liabilities

In the normal course of business ING Group is a party in activities the risks of which are not reflected, in whole or part, in the consolidated financial statements. In response to the needs of its customers, ING Group offers financial products related to loans. These products include traditional off-balance sheet credit-related financial instruments.

Contingent liabilities :

                   
      2002   2001
      (EUR millions)
Insurance operations
               
Commitments concerning investments in land and buildings
    667       619  
Commitments concerning fixed-interest securities
    1,383       941  
Guarantees
    8,876       10,257  
Other
    686       1,363  
Banking operations
               
Contingent liabilities in respect of:
               
– discounted bills
    6       6  
– guarantees
    16,807       20,037  
– irrevocable letters of credit
    6,030       5,776  
– other
    464       189  
 
   
     
 
 
Total contingent liabilities
    34,919       39,188  
Irrevocable facilities
    63,867       63,269  
 
   
     
 
 
    98,786       102,457  
 
   
     
 

Guarantees relate both to credit and non-credit substitute guarantees. Credit-substitute guarantees are guarantees given by ING Group in respect of credit granted to customers by a third party. Many of them are expected to expire without being drawn on and therefore do not necessarily represent future cash outflows.

Irrevocable letters of credit mainly secure payments to a third party for a customer’s foreign and domestic trade transactions in order to finance a shipment of goods. ING Group’s credit risk in these transactions is limited since these transactions are collateralized by the commodity shipped and are of a short duration. Other contingent liabilities mainly relate to acceptances of bills and are of a short-term nature. Irrevocable facilities mainly constitute unused portions of irrevocable credit facilities granted to corporate clients. Many of these facilities are for a fixed duration and bear interest at a floating rate. ING Group’s credit risk in these transactions is limited. Most of the unused portion of irrevocable credit facilities is secured by customers’ assets or counter-guarantees by the central government and exempted bodies under the regulatory requirements. Irrevocable facilities also include commitments made to purchase securities to be issued by governments and private issuers.

Special Purpose Entities (SPE)

ING Group has established a number of SPEs and engages in activities with SPEs, for example as investor, administrator or provider of other financial services. A number of SPEs which are controlled by ING Group are included in the consolidated financial statements.

The non-consolidated SPEs include asset-backed vehicles primarily related to commercial paper programmes. In the normal course of business, ING Group structures financing transactions for its clients assisting them in obtaining sources of liquidity by selling the clients’ receivables or other financial assets to an SPE. The SPE issues asset-backed commercial paper to the market to fund the purchases. ING Group, in its role as administrative agent, facilitates these transactions by providing structuring, accounting, funding and operations services. As ING Group has no ownership and controlling interest in these SPEs, nor does it service the transferred assets, the SPEs are not included in the consolidated financial statements.

ING Group supports the commercial paper programs by providing the SPE with short term stand by liquidity facilities. Primarily these liquidity facilities are meant to cover temporary disruptions in the

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commercial paper market. Once drawn these facilities bear normal credit risk. A number of programs are supported by granting structured liquidity facilities to the SPE, in which ING Group, in addition to normal liquidity facilities, covers to a certain extent the credit risk incorporated in these programs itself, and, as a consequence, might suffer credit losses from it. Furthermore, under Program Wide Credit Enhancements ING Group guarantees, to a limited amount, all remaining losses incorporated in the SPEs to the commercial paper investors. All facilities, which vary in risk profile, are granted to the SPEs subject to normal ING Group analysis procedures regarding credit risk and liquidity risk. The fees received for services provided and for facilities are charged on market conditions. The normal non-structured stand by liquidity facilities and the structured facilities are reported under irrevocable facilities.

Critical Accounting Policies

ING Group has identified the accounting policies that are most critical to its business operations and the understanding of its results. These critical accounting policies are those which involve the most complex or subjective decisions or assessments, and relate to insurance provisions and deferred acquisition costs, provisions for loan losses, the determination of the fair values of financial assets and liabilities, and the determination of impairments. In each case, the determination of these items is fundamental to the financial condition and results of operations, and requires management to make complex judgements based on information and financial data that may change in future periods. As a result, determinations regarding these items necessarily involve the use of assumptions and subjective judgements as to future events and are subject to change, as the use of different assumptions or data could produce materially different results. For a further discussion of the application of these accounting policies, reference is made to the applicable notes to the consolidated financial statements and the information below.

Insurance provisions, DAC and VOBA

Insurance provisions represent estimates of future payouts that will be required in respect of life and non-life insurance claims, including expenses relating to such claims Insurance provisions on traditional life policies are calculated using various assumptions, including assumptions on mortality, morbidity, expenses, investment returns and surrenders. Assumptions for insurance provisions on traditional life insurance contracts, including traditional whole life and term life insurance contracts, are based on best estimate assumptions including margins for adverse deviations. The assumptions are set initially at the policy issue date and remain constant throughout the life of the policy, except in case of loss recognition. Insurance provisions for universal life, variable life and annuity contracts, unit linked contracts, etc. are generally set equal to the balance that accrues to the benefit of the policyholders. Certain variable annuity products contain minimum guarantees on the amounts payable upon death and/or maturity. The insurance provisions include the impact of these minimum guarantees, taking into account the difference between the potential minimum benefit payable and the total account balance, expected mortality and surrender.

Claims reserves on non-life insurance are determined on a case-by-case basis, based on the facts known at the time provisions are established, and are periodically adjusted to recognize the estimated ultimate cost of a claim. In addition, so-called “IBNR” reserves are set to recognize the estimated cost of losses that have occurred but which have not yet been notified.

Deferred acquisition costs (DAC) are an asset and represent costs of acquiring insurance business that are deferred and amortized. The deferred costs, all of which vary with and are primarily related to the production of new and renewal business, consist principally of commissions, certain underwriting and contract issuance expenses, and certain agency expenses. DAC is amortized over the life of the underlying contracts. Included in DAC is also Value of Business Acquired (VOBA), which is in nature similar to DAC. VOBA is an asset that represents the present value of estimated net cash flows embedded in the contracts of an acquired company, which existed at the time the company was acquired by ING Group.For traditional life insurance contracts, DAC is amortized over the premium payment period in proportion to the premium revenue recognition.

For flexible life insurance contracts, DAC is amortized over the lives of the policies in relation to the emergence of estimated gross profits. Amortization is adjusted retrospectively when estimates of

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current or future gross profits to be realized from a group of products are revised. The estimates and the assumptions are reassessed at the end of each reporting period.

DAC and VOBA are evaluated for recoverability at issue/acquisition and subsequently at the end of each reporting period. The value of these assets is reduced to the extent that the evaluation of recoverability indicates that these are not fully recoverable in future years. For DAC on flexible insurance contracts the approach is that in determining the estimate of future gross profits ING assumes the short-term and long-term separate account growth rate assumption to be the same. The growth rate assumption is currently 9% gross (8% net). Lower expected profits – e.g. reflecting stock market weakness and a lower level of assets under management – may cause a higher amortization of DAC due to the catch-up of amortization in old and future years. This process is known as DAC unlocking. The impact of the DAC unlocking is recorded in the profit and loss account of the period in which the unlocking occurs.

In each case, the establishment of insurance provisions and DAC is an inherently uncertain process, involving assumptions about factors such as court decisions, changes in laws, social, economic and demographic trends, inflation, investment returns and other factors, and, in the life insurance business, assumptions concerning mortality and morbidity trends. Changes in such assumptions or variations in the impact of such factors may materially affect our results.

Provisions for loan losses

Management regularly assesses the adequacy of the provisions for loan losses by performing ongoing evaluations of the loan portfolio. A formal analysis of specifically identified loans takes place every quarter, including evaluation of economic risks associated with each loan, the current financial condition of the borrower, the economic environment in which the borrower operates, the level of delinquent loans and the value of collateral. Credit ratings are assigned to the borrowers by allocating all outstanding loans into various Risk Rating categories on a regular basis.

In determining the amount of the provisions, corporate loans are assessed on a case-by-case basis and the following factors are considered:

  the financial standing of the customer, including a realistic assessment of the likelihood of repayment of the loan within an acceptable period and the extent of ING Group’s commitments to the customer;
 
  the realizable value of any security for the loan; and
 
  the costs associated with obtaining repayment and realization of any such security.

For certain homogeneous groups of small personal and corporate loans, provisions are assessed using statistical techniques.

ING Group also maintains an unallocated provision for loan losses that is required to adequately capture various subjective and judgmental aspects of credit risk assessment that are not considered on an individual basis. Considerable judgement is exercised in determining the extent of the provision and is based on the management’s evaluation of the risk in the portfolio, current economic conditions, loss experience in recent years and credit and geographical concentration trends. Changes in such judgements and analyses may lead to changes in provisions over time.

Fair value of financial assets and liabilities

Fair value determinations for financial assets and liabilities are based generally on listed market prices or broker or dealer price quotations. If prices are not readily determinable or if liquidating the positions is reasonably expected to affect market prices, fair value is based on either internal valuation models or management’s estimate of amounts that could be realized under current market conditions, assuming an orderly liquidation over a reasonable period of time. Certain financial instruments, including OTC derivative instruments, are valued using pricing models that consider, among other factors, contractual and market prices, correlations, time value, credit, yield curve volatility factors and/or prepayment rates of the underlying positions. The use of different pricing models and assumptions could produce materially different estimates of fair value.

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Impairments

The carrying value of all assets is reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The identification of impairment and the determination of the recoverable amount are an inherently uncertain process involving various assumptions and factors, including the financial condition of the counterparty, expected future cash flows, observable market prices and expected net selling prices. The determination of impairment is specifically relevant to the investments in equity securities and fixed interest securities.In order to determine whether negative revaluations on equity securities represent impairment, all equity securities for which the market value has been significantly below cost price for a considerable period of time are individually reviewed. A distinction is made between negative revaluations due to general market fluctuations and due to issuer-specific developments. The impairment review focuses on issuer specific developments regarding financial condition and future prospects, taking into account the intent and ability to hold the securities under the Group’s long term investment strategy.

In order to determine whether investments in fixed interest securities are impaired, all fixed interest securities for which the market value has been significantly below cost price for a considerable period of time are individually reviewed. Distinction is made between negative revaluations due to general interest rate and other market fluctuations and due to issuer-specific developments. The impairment review focuses on issuer specific developments regarding financial condition and prospects of the issuer identifying whether repayment of interest and principal is expected, taking into account the intent and ability to hold the securities under the Group’s long term investment strategy.

Although all individual securities are reviewed to ensure that no material impairments are required to be charged to the profit and loss account, the identification of impairment and the determination of the recoverable amount are an inherently uncertain process involving various assumptions and factors, including the financial condition of the counterparty, expected future cash flows, observable market prices and expected net selling prices. Further developments after the balance sheet date may indicate that certain unrealized losses that existed as of the balance sheet date will result in impairment in future periods, resulting in a negative impact on the profit and loss account for future periods.

As of December 31, 2002, the revaluation reserve of ING Group for equity securities was EUR 0.6 billion (after tax). Due to a further decline of the stock markets, which was partly offset by hedging transactions with respect to the equities securities portfolio up to an amount of approximately EUR 4 billion (as of March 10, 2003), the revaluation reserve is EUR 0.7 billion negative (after tax) as of March 10, 2003 based upon the opening values on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange. The ratio of available capital versus required capital of ING Verzekeringen N.V. decreased from 169% at December 31, 2002 to approximately 157% at March 10, 2003; still well above the regulatory required capital.

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CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following table sets forth the consolidated results of operations of ING Group for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000:

                           
      Year ended December 31,
      2002   2001   2000
      (EUR millions)
Operational result before taxation:
                       
 
Insurance operations
    4,173       3,571       3,162  
Banking operations
    1,468       2,170       2,605  
 
 
   
     
     
 
Operational result before taxation
    5,641       5,741       5,767  
 
Taxation
    1,056       1,165       1,612  
 
Third-party interests
    332       324       147  
 
 
   
     
     
 
Operational net profit
    4,253       4,252       4,008  
Non-operational results after taxation
    247       325       7,976  
 
 
   
     
     
 
Net profit
    4,500       4,577       11,984  
 
 
   
     
     
 

The following table sets forth the breakdown of our non-operational results by insurance and banking operations:

                                                                           
      Year ended December 31,
      2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000
      Insurance operations   Banking operations   Total
      (EUR millions)
Operational result before taxation
    4,173       3,571       3,162       1,468       2,170       2,605       5,641       5,741       5,767  
Non-operational results:
                                                                       
 
Result on sale of Libertel
                                            376                       376  
 
Result on sale of CCF
                                            853                       853  
 
Result on joint venture ANZ
    280                                               280                  
 
Provision for reorganization and relocation
                                            (486 )                     (486 )
 
Result on sale of investments for financing of acquisitions
            325       7,368                               325               7,368  
 
Provision for the calamity fund for the year 2000
                    91                                               91  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total non-operational results
    280       325       7,459                       743       280       325       8,202  
Taxation on non-operational results
    33               247                       (21 )     33               226  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Non-operational results after taxation
    247       325       7,212                       764       247       325       7,976  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

The following discussion is based on our consolidated financial statements (see “Item 18. Financial Statements”) and should be read in conjunction with those statements. In order to facilitate a better understanding of the underlying business performance of our segments, we have analyzed results with a discussion of non operational items. These include items such as reorganisation and relocation charges and gains and losses on the disposal of businesses or participations. This is consistent with how business performance is evaluated by management. However, the reader should note that operational and non operational results is not a measure of financial performance as defined by US GAAP or Dutch GAAP.

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The following table sets forth the operational result before taxation of the Group’s consolidated operations by geographic region for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000:

                         
    Year ended December 31,
    2002   2001   2000
    (EUR millions)
The Netherlands
    3,742       3,597       3,458  
Belgium
    692       615       630  
Rest of Europe
    (150 )     542       783  
North America
    561       316       344  
South America
    100       103       165  
Asia
    293       423       210  
Australia
    385       78       141  
Other
    18       67       36  
 
   
     
     
 
Operational result before taxation
    5,641       5,741       5,767  
 
   
     
     
 

The contribution of the insurance operations to the operational results of ING Group, before taxation and including dividends on its own shares, was 74.0%, 62.2% and 54.8% in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively. The contribution of the insurance operations to the operational net profit of ING Group was 79.0%, 66.1% and 58.6% in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively.

Year ended December 31, 2002 compared to year ended December 31, 2001

Total operational income of ING Group increased by EUR 2,358 million, or 3.2% to EUR 76,521 million, from EUR 74,163 million in 2001, reflecting an increase in income of the Group’s insurance operations of 3.6% and an increase in the banking operations of 0.8%. Total operational expenditure increased EUR 2,458 million, or 3.6%, from EUR 68,422 million in 2001 to EUR 70,880 million in 2002, reflecting increases of 2.8% and 8.9% respectively, in total expenditure for the Group’s insurance and banking operations. The Group’s operational results before taxation increased in The Netherlands, Belgium, North America and Australia, but declined in Rest of Europe, South America and Asia.

Consolidated operational results before taxation decreased EUR 100 million, or 1.7%, to EUR 5,641 million in 2002 compared to EUR 5,741 million in 2001, reflecting an increase of 16.9% for the insurance operations and a decrease of 32.4% for the banking operations. Including non-operational results, results before taxation decreased EUR 145 million, or 2.4%, to EUR 5,921 million in 2002 compared to EUR 6,066 million in 2001. The Group’s consolidated taxes (operational) of EUR 1,056 million in 2002 and EUR 1,165 million in 2001 represented overall effective tax rates of 18.7% and 20.3%, respectively, compared to the statutory rates for the Group’s primary Dutch and other non-domestic operating subsidiaries that ranged from 16.5% to 47%, and averaged 35%. The difference between statutory and effective rates was due primarily to a reduction in the taxes paid by the Group’s Dutch subsidiaries, for which the statutory rate was 34.5% and the effective rate was 13.0% in 2002.

Operational net profit increased EUR 1 million, or 0.0%, to EUR 4,253 million in 2002 compared to EUR 4,252 million in 2001, reflecting the decreased pre-tax results and lower overall tax rates described above, as well as the effect of exchange rate movements between the euro and certain of the Group’s primary operating currencies, which decreased operational net profit in 2002 by EUR 13 million, compared to an increase of EUR 9 million in 2001. Including non-operational results, net profits decreased EUR 77 million, or 1.7%, to EUR 4,500 million in 2002 compared to EUR 4,577 million in 2001.

Year ended December 31, 2001 compared to year ended December 31, 2000

Total operational income of ING Group increased EUR 24,595 million, or 49.6% to EUR 74,163 million, from EUR 49,568 million in 2000, reflecting an increase in income of the Group’s insurance operations of 64.7% and a decrease in the banking operations of 1.7%. The results of our insurance operations in 2001 were significantly influenced by the acquisitions of Aetna and ReliaStar in late 2000. Total operational expenditure increased EUR 24,621 million, or 56.2%, from EUR 43,801 million in 2000 to

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EUR 68,422 million in 2001, reflecting increases of 69.3% and 2.8% respectively, in total expenditure for the Group’s insurance and banking operations. The Group’s operational results before taxation increased in The Netherlands and Asia, but declined in Belgium, Rest of Europe, North America, South America, and Australia.

Consolidated operational results before taxation decreased EUR 26 million, or 0.5%, to EUR 5,741 million in 2001 compared to EUR 5,767 million in 2000, reflecting an increase of 12.9% for the insurance operations and a decrease of 16.7% for the banking operations. Including non-recurring results, results before taxation decreased EUR 7,903 million, or 56.6%, to EUR 6,066 million in 2001 compared to EUR 13,969 million in 2000. The Group’s consolidated taxes (operational) of EUR 1,165 million in 2001 and EUR 1,612 million in 2000 represented overall effective tax rates of 20.3% and 28.0%, respectively, compared to the statutory rates for the Group’s primary Dutch and other non- domestic operating subsidiaries that ranged from 16.5% to 47%, and averaged 35%. The difference between statutory and effective rates was due primarily to a reduction in the taxes paid by the Group’s Dutch subsidiaries, for which the statutory rate was 35% and the effective rate was 19.7% in 2001.

Operational net profit increased EUR 244 million, or 6.1%, to EUR 4,252 million in 2001 compared to EUR 4,008 million in 2000, reflecting the decreased pre-tax results and lower overall tax rates described above, as well as the effect of exchange rate movements between the euro and certain of the Group’s primary operating currencies, which increased operational net profit in 2001 by EUR 9 million, compared to EUR 61 million in 2000. Including non-operational results, net profits decreased EUR 7,407 million, or 61.8%, to EUR 4,577 million in 2001 compared to EUR 11,984 million in 2000.

The effect of the ReliaStar and Aetna acquisition on profits was EUR 644 million before taxation (after taxation, EUR 496 million). The contribution to operational net profit (net of funding and integration expenses) was EUR 135 million.

SEGMENT REPORTING

ING Group’s segments are based on the management structure of the Group, which is different from its legal structure. Each Executive Center formulates its strategic, commercial and financial policy in conformity with the strategy and performance targets set by the Executive Board. Each Executive Center is also responsible for the preparation of its annual budget and each Executive Center monitors the realization of its policies and budgets and its business units. The following table sets forth the contribution of our Executive Centers to our Total Operational Income and Operational Result Before Taxation for each of the years 2000-2002:

                                                 
    Year ended December 31,
    Total operational income   Operational result before taxation
    2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000
    (EUR millions)
Europe
    27,009       26,563       25,761       3,715       4,267       4,544  
Americas
    39,933       39,403       18,780       1,079       899       612  
Asia/Pacific
    8,783       7,510       4,430       618       313       225  
Asset Management
    1,201       1,243       1,198       175       185       324  
Other (1)
    (112 )     (556 )     (601 )     54       77       62  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total Group
    76,521       74,163       49,568       5,641       5,741       5,767  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

(1)   Reflects intersegment eliminations.

See Note 3.7.5 Segment Reporting of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Year ended December 31, 2002 compared to year ended December 31, 2001

ING Europe

Gross premiums written in the life operations decreased by EUR 41 million, or 0.5%, to EUR 8,560 million. Gross premiums written in the non-life operations increased EUR 81 million, or 3.9%, to EUR 2,179 million. Total income from the banking operations increased by EUR 38 million, or 0.4%, from EUR 10,390 million in 2001 to EUR 10,620 million in 2002, on balance due to an increase in the interest result, which was almost fully offset by a strong decrease in commission income, reflecting overall market declines.

The operational result before taxation decreased by 12.9% to EUR 3,715 million from EUR 4,267 million in 2001. The operational result before taxation of the insurance operations grew by 7.1% due to higher realised capital gains on equities and real property and lower operating expenses, while the operational result before taxation of the banking operations decreased by 35.3%, due to lower commissions and other income in the Belgian operations as well as substantial higher additions to the provision for loan losses, mainly in the German and American wholesale operations, partly offset by lower operating expenses. According to US GAAP operational result before taxation would have been EUR 1,745 million lower in 2002 and EUR 1,121 million lower in 2001. This difference is mainly caused by the following reconciling items for 2002: goodwill of EUR (1,168) million (2001: EUR (452)million) and mainly impairment/valuation of equity securities EUR (1,043) million (2001: EUR (685) million) . For an explanation of differences between Dutch GAAP and US GAAP please refer to Notes 6.1 and 6.2 on pages F-95 to F-101.

ING Americas

Gross premiums written in the life business decreased by EUR 664 million, or 2.3%, from EUR 29,044 million in 2001 to EUR 28,380 million in 2002, mainly caused by increased fixed annuities sales, which were more than offset by a decrease in premium income from variable annuities, short term Guaranteed Investment Contracts and reinsurance premiums. Gross non-life premiums increased EUR 1,480 million, or 37.2%, to EUR 5,463 million in 2002, and mainly caused by the acquisition of the retail insurance portfolio from Zurich in Canada, as well as the integration of the additional 58.5% ownership of ING Commercial America acquired in the second half of 2001 in Mexico.

The operational result before taxation increased by EUR 180 million from EUR 899 million to EUR 1,079 million, caused by lower operating expenses, decreased interest expenses and higher investment income partly offset by substantial higher investment losses and increased charges due to DAC unlocking. According to US GAAP operational result before taxation would have been EUR 11,567 million lower in 2002 and EUR 1,603 million lower in 2001. This difference is mainly caused by the following reconciling items for 2002: impairment of goodwill of EUR (10,913) million (2001: EUR (899) million), valuation of debt securities EUR (375) million (2001: EUR (269) million), realized results on sales and amortisation of premiums and discount of debt securities EUR 546 million (2001: EUR 230 million), accounting for derivative financial instruments held for risk management EUR (538) million (2001: EUR (321) million) and provision for future catastrophes and other accidental losses EUR (181) million (2001: EUR (329) million). For an explanation of differences between Dutch GAAP and US GAAP please refer to Notes 6.1 and 6.2 on pages F-95 to F-101.

ING Asia / Pacific

Gross premiums written in the life business increased by EUR 939 million, or 14.5%, from EUR 6,497 million in 2001 to EUR 7,436 million in 2002. Gross premiums of the life business in Australia decreased by 17.5% primarily due to the ING-ANZ joint venture formation, reducing ING’s share of premium Gross premiums of the ex-Greenfield operations (mainly Korea and Taiwan) increased 7.4% (14.6 in local currency). In Japan, premium income grew by 102% in local currency due to the strong sales of a newly introduced single premium variable annuity product. Gross premiums of the non-life operations increased by 15.3% from EUR 314 million in 2001 to EUR 362 million in 2002.

The operational result before taxation of the insurance operations increased by EUR 268 million, or 86.7%, to EUR 577 million in 2002. The result includes EUR 222 million profit relating to the formation of

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the joint venture life and mutual fund operations in Australia with ANZ (ING 51% ownership). The operations in Australia, Japan, Taiwan and Korea all showed improved results.

The operational result before taxation of the banking operations increased strongly by EUR 37 million from EUR 4 million in 2001 to EUR 41 million in 2002, mainly caused by higher results of the Australian operations and the first time consolidation of ING Vysya Bank in India.

ING Asset Management

The assets under management of ING Group decreased by 12.5%, from EUR 513.2 billion at the end of 2001 to EUR 449.0 billion at the end of 2002. Revaluation losses from lower equity prices of EUR 37 billion and negative exchange rate differences of EUR 39 billion were partly compensated by first time inclusions EUR 4 billion (relating to the joint venture with ANZ) and the inflow of new assets of EUR 7 billion. Assets managed on behalf of Group companies decreased by 4.2% from EUR 165.9 billion to EUR 159.0 billion.

Assets managed by ING Group on behalf of third parties decreased from 67.7% to 64.6% of total assets under management in 2002. The total amount of investment funds under management decreased by 12.4%, from EUR 183.9 billion to EUR 161.1 billion. Total assets under management for institutional clients worldwide decreased by 21.1%, from EUR 163.4 billion to EUR 128.9 billion.

The result before taxation decreased by EUR 10 million, or 5.4%, from EUR 185 million in 2001 to EUR 175 million in 2002.

Year ended December 31, 2001 compared to year ended December 31, 2000

ING Europe

Gross premiums written in the life operations increased by EUR 787 million, or 10.1%, to EUR 8,601 million. Gross premiums written in the non-life operations increased EUR 20 million, or 1.0%, to EUR2,098 million. Total income from the banking operations decreased by EUR 368 million, or 3.4%, from EUR 10,758 million in 2000 to EUR 10,390 million in 2001, mainly due to a strong decrease in commission income, reflecting overall market declines.

The operational result before taxation decreased by 6.1% to EUR 4,267 million from EUR 4,544 million in 2000. The result before taxation of the insurance operations grew by 2.4%, while the result before taxation of the banking operations decreased by 14.0%, due to lower income and higher additions to the provision for loan losses in the Netherlands and Belgium. According to US GAAP operational result before taxation would have been EUR 1.121 million lower in 2001 and EUR 615 million lower in 2000. This difference is mainly caused by the following reconciling items for 2001: goodwill of EUR (452) million (2000: EUR 59 million), general provisions EUR 0 million (2000: EUR (221) million) valuation of equity securities EUR (685) million (2000: EUR 0 million) and valuation and profit recognition of equity participations EUR 180 million (2000: EUR (229) million). For an explanation of differences between Dutch GAAP and US GAAP please refer to Notes 6.1 and 6.2 on pages F-95 to F-101.

ING Americas

Gross premiums written in the life business increased by EUR 15,914 million, or 114.4%, from EUR 13,546 million in 2000 to EUR 29,044 million in 2001, mainly caused by a strong growth in traditional life, short term Guaranteed Investment Contracts, fixed annuities and the acquisitions of Aetna and ReliaStar. Gross non-life premiums increased EUR 2,342 million, or 142.7%, to EUR 3,983 million in 2001. Aetna and ReliaStar contributed EUR 9,015 million and EUR 4,652 million to total premium income, respectively.

The operational result before taxation increased by EUR 287 million from EUR 612 million to EUR 899 million, with Aetna and ReliaStar contributing EUR 290 million and EUR 354 million to the operational result before taxation in 2001, respectively. According to US GAAP operational result before taxation would have been EUR 1,603 million lower in 2001 and EUR589 million lower in 2000. This difference is mainly caused by the following reconciling items for 2001: goodwill of EUR (899) million (2000: EUR

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(262)  million), valuation of debt securities EUR (269) million (2000: EUR 0 million), realized results on sales of debt securities EUR 230 million (2000: EUR (510) million), accounting for derivative financial instruments held for risk management EUR (321) million (2000: EUR 14 million) and provision for future catastrophes and other accidental losses EUR (329) million (2000: EUR 0 million). For an explanation of differences between Dutch GAAP and US GAAP please refer to Notes 6.1 and 6.2 on pages F-95 to F-101.

ING Asia / Pacific

Gross premiums written in the life business increased by EUR 2,837 million, or 77.5%, from EUR 3,660 million in 2000 to EUR 6,497 million in 2001, mainly due to the contribution of Aetna. Gross premiums of the life business in Australia decreased by 6.1% due to a shift from life products to fund management products and lower sales of capital guaranteed products, while gross premiums of the (ex-)Greenfield operations (mainly Korea and Taiwan) increased 83.8%, including the contribution of Aetna Life in Taiwan. Gross premiums of the non-life operations decreased by 16.5% from EUR 376 million in 2000 to EUR 314 million in 2001.

The operational result before taxation of the insurance operations increased by EUR 88 million, or 39.1%, to EUR 313 million in 2001, mainly due the (ex-)Greenfields (Korea and Taiwan), which more than offset a decrease in life insurance results in Australia due to changes in tax legislation.

The operational result before taxation of the banking operations remained at the same level as 2000.

ING Asset Management

The assets under management of ING Group increased by 2.0%, from EUR 503.1 billion at the end of 2000 to EUR 513.2 billion at the end of 2001. Revaluation losses from lower equity prices of EUR 47 billion were compensated by exchange rate differences EUR 5 billion, first time inclusions EUR 11 billion (relating to the joint venture with Korean Bank (H&CB) and Seguros Comercial in Mexico) and the inflow of new assets of EUR 41 billion. Assets managed on behalf of Group companies increased by 14.2% from EUR 145.3 billion to EUR 165.9 billion. Assets managed by ING Group on behalf of third parties decreased from 71.1% to 67.7% of total assets under management in 2001. The total amount of investment funds under management decreased by 9.5%, from EUR 203.1 billion to EUR 183.9 billion. Total assets under management for institutional clients worldwide rose by 5.6%, from EUR 154.7 billion to EUR 163.4 billion.

The result before taxation decreased by EUR 139 million, or 42.9%, from EUR 324 million in 2000 to EUR 185 million in 2001.

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CONSOLIDATED ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

The following table sets forth ING Group’s consolidated assets and liabilities for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000:

                         
    Year ended December 31,
      2002       2001       2000  
    (EUR billions, except amounts per share )
Investments
    297.6       307.4       277.2  
Bank lending
    284.4       254.2       246.8  
Total assets
    716.4       705.1       650.2  
Insurance provisions
                       
Life
    186.0       204.6       193.1  
Non-life
    9.8       9.4       7.1  
Total insurance provisions
    195.8       214.0       200.2  
Funds entrusted to and debt securities of the banking operations(1)
    319.8       276.4       252.8  
Due to banks
    96.3       107.8       94.7  
Total liabilities
    698.1       683.6       624.9  
Shareholders’ equity
    18.3       21.5       25.3  
Shareholders’ equity per Ordinary share
    9.14       11.03       13.04  

(1)   Funds entrusted to and debt securities of the banking operations consists of savings accounts, deposits, other bank funds and debt securities privately issued by the banking operations of ING.

Year ended December 31, 2002 compared to year ended December 31, 2001

Total assets increased by 1.6% in 2002 to EUR 716.4 billion, on balance due to decreased fixed income investments and an increase in bank lending volume. Investments declined by EUR 9.9 billion, or 3.2%, to EUR 297.6 billion in 2002 from EUR 307.4 billion in 2001, representing a reduction of EUR (25.7) billion in insurance investments, which was offset in part, by an increase of EUR 15.8 billion in banking investments.

Bank lending grew EUR 30.2 billion, or 11.9%, rising to EUR 284.4 billion at the end of 2002 from EUR 254.2 billion at the end of 2001. Of this amount, EUR 145.4 billion related to lending in the Netherlands and EUR 139.0 billion to international lending. The consolidation of DiBa, Toplease and ING Vysya Bank added EUR 7.3 billion to bank lending. The total increase of EUR 30.2 billion was mainly due to increased loans secured by mortgages, including Dutch residential mortgages of EUR 19.9 billion, and higher other personal lending of EUR 8.0 billion partly caused by a reclassification from other corporate loans.

Group shareholders’ equity decreased by 15.2% or EUR 3,260 million to EUR 18,254 million at December 31, 2002 compared to EUR 21,514 million at December 31, 2001. Net profit of EUR 4,500 million and the changes in the value of ING Group N.V. shares held by group companies of EUR 822 million caused shareholders’ equity to increase. Write-offs of goodwill totalled EUR (1,176) million, which write-offs are directly charged in full to shareholders’ equity. Realized revaluations released to the profit and loss account of EUR (1,051) million and unrealized revaluations after taxation amounted to EUR (3,343) million, mainly due to the revaluation of the equity portfolio due to the economic downturn. Exchange rate difference lowered shareholder’s equity by EUR (1,041) million. In addition, the portion of the 2001 final dividend and 2002 interim dividend paid caused shareholders’ equity to decrease by EUR 1,969 million.

Year ended December 31, 2001 compared to year ended December 31, 2000

Total assets increased by 8.5% in 2001 to EUR 705.1 billion, due to increased fixed income investments, as well as an increase in bank lending volume. Investments grew by EUR 30.2 billion, or 10.9%, to EUR 307.4 billion in 2001 from EUR 277.2 billion in 2000, of which amount EUR 21.6 billion related to growth in insurance investments and EUR 8.6 billion related to growth in banking investments.

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Bank lending grew EUR 7.4 billion, or 3.0%, rising to EUR 254.2 billion at the end of 2001 from EUR 246.8 billion at the end of 2000. Of this amount, EUR 125.5 billion related to lending in the Netherlands and EUR 128.7 billion to international lending. The total increase of EUR 7.4 billion was mainly due to increased loans secured by mortgages, primarily Dutch residential mortgages, of EUR 18.7 billion, offset by a decrease in corporate loans of EUR 12.4 billion.

Group shareholders’ equity decreased by 14.9% or EUR 3,760 million to EUR 21,514 million at December 31, 2001 compared to EUR 25,274 million at December 31, 2000. Net profit of EUR 4,577 million and the exercise of warrants and options of EUR 163 million caused shareholders’ equity to increase. Write-offs of goodwill, primarily relating to the ReliaStar and Aetna acquisitions, totaled EUR 1,908 million, which write-offs are directly charged in full to shareholders’ equity. Realized revaluations released to the profit and loss account and unrealized revaluations after taxation amounted to EUR (3,978) million mainly due to the revaluation of the equity portfolio due to the economic downturn. Changes in ING Groep N.V. shares held by group companies amounted to EUR (526) million. In addition, the portion of the 2000 final dividend and 2001 interim dividend paid caused shareholders’ equity to decrease by EUR 2,300 million.

Investment portfolio impairments and unrealized losses in 2002

All investments in our investment portfolio are evaluated regularly on an individual basis for other than temporary unrealized losses. For all investments for which, based on such evaluation, the unrealized losses are expected to be other than temporary, the amount of unrealized loss is charged to the profit and loss account. The evaluation includes, amongst other factors, the level and trends of interest rates, trends and level of volatility in stock markets, financial condition of the issuer or counterparty, economic developments and expectations in the business segment in which the issuer or counterparty operates, the extent to which the fair value is below the cost price and the period of time for which unrealized losses have existed.

     Impairments

The carrying value of our investments is reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Impairments are measured as the difference between the carrying value of a particular investment and the expected recoverable amount.

     Debt securities

Unrealized losses on debt securities must be split into two components: interest related unrealized losses and credit related unrealized losses. Interest related unrealized losses, which fully relate to fluctuations in risk free market interest rates do not result to any impairments. Credit related unrealized losses may relate to impairment if it is uncertain whether future interest and principal payments will be collected. Impairments on debt securities are accounted for as a reduction of the carrying value of the debt security which is recorded at redemption value under Dutch GAAP. This reduction is reversed in a subsequent period if the recoverable amount increases and the increase can be objectively related to an event occurring after the impairment was recognized in income. Under US GAAP impairments are determined similar to Dutch GAAP. In the case of impairment, the related unrealized loss (included in the revaluation reserve) is recorded through the profit and loss account. Under US GAAP impairments may not be reversed in future periods. Impairments are treated as a reduction of cost price and are reversed upon sale of the asset.

     Equity securities

Under Dutch GAAP, unrealized losses due to temporary fluctuations in equity markets do not lead to impairment. Unrealized losses due to long term financial difficulties of the issuer may result in an impairment if there is objective evidence, including significant financial difficulty of the issuer, a high probability of bankruptcy or other financial reorganization of the issuer and the disappearance of an active market for that financial asset due to financial difficulties. If, in a subsequent period, the recoverable amount increases and the increase can be objectively related to an event occurring after the impairment was recognized in income, the loss should be reversed, with the reversal included in

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net result for the period. Under US GAAP, other than temporary losses are also recognized in the profit and loss account. Other than temporary losses are all unrealized losses that have existed for over 6 months and exceed 25% of historical cost and have existed for over 6 months and are less than 25% of historical cost but for which the unrealized loss is more than EUR 5 million individually. Under US GAAP, impairments may not be reversed in future periods. Impairments are treated as a reduction of cost price and are only reversed upon sale of the asset.

     Developments in 2002

In 2002, we recorded impairments of EUR 2,248 million on a US GAAP basis (2001: EUR 1,136 million). Of such amount, EUR 716 million is related to our portfolio of debt securities (2001: EUR 451 million), mainly our portfolio in the United States, of which the most significant items were the following:

  EUR 459 million on asset-backed securities, collateralized debt obligations, mortgage-backed and mortgage-backed derivative securities was recorded based on EITF 99-20 requirements related to market values being below carrying value and adverse changes in cash flows.
 
  EUR 91 million on debt securities of issuers in the energy industry. During 2002, the energy sector continued to feel the fallout of Enron, accounting irregularities and over-capacity due to a slowdown in the economy. Our assessment indicated that the debt securities of several issuers were impaired. The most significant holdings that were impaired related to NRG Energy (EUR 29 million).
 
  EUR 74 million on debt securities of issuers in the cable and telecommunications industry. During 2002, the telecommunications industry was under considerable pressure due to questions about industry accounting practices and over-capacity and due to a slowdown in the economy and over-building of the industry’s infrastructure. The most significant holdings that were impaired related to Worldcom (EUR 63 million).

EUR 1,532 million related to other than temporary losses on a US GAAP basis in our portfolio of equity securities, of which the main items are presented below under “Unrealized losses – Equity securities”. (2001: EUR 685 million)

     Unrealized losses

On a Dutch GAAP basis, our consolidated investment portfolio included unrealized gains of EUR 12,191 million as of December 31, 2002 (December 31, 2001: EUR 12,127 million, December 31, 2000: EUR 13,470 million), and unrealized losses of EUR 3,006 million (December 31, 2001: EUR 2,707 million, December 31, 2000: EUR 2,215 million).

The gross unrealized losses under US GAAP were EUR 1,236 million as of December 31, 2002 (2001: EUR 2,022 million) and are broken down by type of security and by the period for which the fair value was below cost price:

                         
    Less than   More than        
    6 months   6 months        
    below cost   below cost   Total
    (EUR millions)
Debt securities
    449       454       903  
Equity securities
    286       47       333  
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    735       501       1,236  
 
   
     
     
 

     Debt securities

Of the unrealized losses on debt securities under Dutch GAAP that have been in an unrealized position for more than 6 months, the main part (EUR 241 million) relates to the debt securities portfolio of our insurance operations in the United States. Included in the US portfolio were EUR 116 million in unrealized losses that are primarily related to the interest rate movement or spread widening for other than credit-related reasons. For the majority of the issuers of these securities, business and operating fundamentals are performing as expected. This category also includes US government-backed

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securities, principal protected securities and structured securities which did not have an adverse change in cash flows. The remaining unrealized losses in the United States of EUR 125 million as of December 31, 2002 mainly included the following items:

  EUR 51 million of unrealized losses relating to the airline industry, for which the carrying amount was EUR 100 million. During 2002, the airline industry continued to suffer from decreased passenger volumes and a slowdown of the economy. The majority of our airline investments are comprised of Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (“EETC”). The specific collateral backing our EETC investments is predominantly represented by newer aircraft models that are expected to be retained as individual airlines reduce their fleets.
 
  EUR 26 million of unrealized losses relating to the energy/utility industry, for which the carrying amount was EUR 149 million. During 2002, the energy sector continued to feel the fallout of Enron, accounting irregularities and over-capacity due to a slowdown in the economy. Our assessment indicates that we can expect the debt services to be in accordance with the contractual terms.

     Equity securities

Of the EUR 2,103 million of unrealized losses on equity securities under Dutch GAAP that were in an unrealized loss position for more than six months as of December 31, 2002, EUR 1,478 million related to the equity security portfolio of our insurance operations in the Netherlands. The most significant categories of unrealized losses relate to the nutrition industry (EUR 424 million), retail-wholesale (EUR 310 million), chemical companies (EUR 204 million), IT services (EUR 143 million) and temporary labor industry (EUR 108 million)

Under US GAAP, unrealized losses on equity securities are EUR 1,770 million (2001: EUR 685 million) lower as set out in Note 6.1.e. on page F-97.

Although all individual securities were reviewed to ensure that no material impairments or other than temporary losses were required to be charged to the profit and loss account in 2002, the identification of impairment and other then temporary losses and the determination of the recoverable amount are an inherently uncertain process involving various assumptions and factors, including the financial condition of the counterparty, expected future cash flows, observable market prices and expected net selling prices. Further developments after December 31, 2002 may indicate that certain unrealized losses that existed as of December 31, 2002 will need to be considered other than temporary, resulting in a negative impact on our profit and loss account.

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INSURANCE OPERATIONS

The following table sets forth selected financial information for the Group’s consolidated insurance operations for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000:

                           
      Year ended December 31,
      2002   2001   2000
      (EUR millions)
Income from insurance operations:
                       
Gross premiums written:
                       
 
Life
    44,367       44,557       25,019  
 
Non-life
    7,917       5,903       4,095  
 
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    52,284       50,460       29,114  
Income from investments
    10,926       10,336       8,067  
Commissions and other income
    2,127       2,281       1,126  
 
 
   
     
     
 
Total income(1)
    65,337       63,077       38,307  
 
 
   
     
     
 
Net premiums written:
                       
 
Life
    43,274       43,157       24,006  
 
Non-life
    6,642       5,288       3,908  
 
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    49,916       48,445       27,914  
Result before taxation from insurance activities:
                       
 
Life(2)
    3,519       2,941       2,723  
 
Non-life(2)
    654       630       439  
 
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    4,173       3,571       3,162  
Taxation
    723       688       775  
Third party interests
    92       73       39  
 
 
   
     
     
 
Operational net profit
    3,358       2,810       2,348  
 
 
   
     
     
 

(1)   Under US GAAP total income in 2002 was EUR 38,390 million (2001 EUR 39,913 million, 2000: EUR 29,992 million). The difference with Dutch GAAP mainly relates to contracts that do not expose the Company to significant mortality or morbidity risks. (See note 6.4.k of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements).
 
(2)   In the 2001 figures, an amount of EUR 52 million has been reclassified from Non-life underwriting account to Life underwriting account.

The following table sets forth the breakdown of gross premiums written and results before taxation by geographic area for the Group’s consolidated insurance operations for each of the years indicated. The relationship between gross premiums written and results before taxation varies significantly between geographic areas and from year to year, based upon a variety of factors, including differences in regulatory requirements, product mixes and levels of competition in different countries, as well as our capital allocation and internal funding policies.

                                                 
    Gross premiums written   Result before taxation
    2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000
    (EUR millions)   (EUR millions)
The Netherlands
    6,786       7,164       7,368       2,232       2,074       2,017  
Belgium
    2,335       1,878       1,194       79       94       113  
Rest of Europe
    1,618       1,657       1,330       161       178       190  
North America
    33,397       31,896       14,943       1,037       762       579  
South America
    595       1,111       240       59       79       (6 )
Asia
    6,035       4,782       1,814       255       230       82  
Australia
    1,763       2,029       2,222       330       85       150  
Other
    388       216       110       20       69       37  
Premiums between geographic areas(1)
    (633 )     (273 )     (107 )                  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    52,284       50,460       29,114       4,173       3,571       3,162  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

(1)   Represents reinsurance premiums ceded between Group companies in different geographic areas.

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     Year ended December 31, 2002 compared to year ended December 31, 2001.

On a consolidated basis, the Group’s insurance operations contributed EUR 4,173 million and EUR 3,571 million to the Group’s results before taxation in 2002 and 2001, respectively, and EUR 3,358 million and EUR 2,810 million to the Group’s net profits in such years. Changes in income and result were affected by the increased shareholding in Seguros Comercial América (SCA) in Mexico from 41.5% in June 2001 to almost 100% at the end of 2001, the joint venture with ANZ (one of Australia’s major banks) and by a few smaller acquisitions and divestments. The result of SCA for the first six months of 2001 has been consolidated on equity accounting basis; since July 1, 2001 SCA has been fully consolidated. In 2002 the name of SCA was changed to ING Comercial América (ICA). The operational part of the profit relating to the formation of the joint venture life and mutual fund operations in Australia with ANZ amounted to EUR 222 million and is included in investment income. The remaining EUR 247 million has been reported as non-operational net profit

     Total income

Total income from insurance operations in 2002 increased by EUR 2,260 million, or 3.6%, to EUR 65,337 million, from EUR 63,077 million in 2001, mainly reflecting the increased shareholding in ICA. Gross premiums increased by EUR 1,824 million of which EUR 1,509 million was due to the increased shareholding in ICA in Mexico. Asia and Belgium were also higher but the Netherlands, Rest of Europe, South America and Australia showed a decrease in gross premiums written. Investment income increased by 5.7% over 2001 levels (higher realized capital gains on equities and real estate and the operational part of the ANZ gain were partly offset by higher default losses) and commissions and other income decreased by EUR 154 million, or 6.8%, amongst others due to depressed stock markets and lower assets under management.

The total impact of exchange rate movements amounted to EUR (2,524) million. Acquisitions and divestitures and the impact of ANZ Australia increased total income by EUR 1,522 million. The organic growth of total income, disregarding the influence of acquisitions, divestitures, ANZ Australia and exchange rate movements, was EUR 3,262 million or 5.7%, reflecting increases in gross premiums (Life and Non-life) of 6.1% and increases in investment income, commissions and other income of 4.4%.

     Result before taxation

The result before taxation from the Group’s insurance activities increased in 2002 by EUR 602 million, or 16.9%, to EUR 4,173 million, from EUR 3,571 million in 2001, reflecting growth in life operations of 19.7% and non-life operations of 3.8%. The influence of exchange rate movements decreased the result before taxation by EUR 62 million, mainly due to the depreciation of the US dollar versus the euro. However, this effect was fully offset by a EUR 63 million higher (USD and CAD) hedge result. Higher results were generated especially in the Netherlands, North America, Asia and Australia but Belgium, rest of Europe, South America and Other region showed lower results compared with 2001.

Operating expenses for 2002 decreased by 10.0% over 2001. As of 2002, operating expenses consist of personnel expenses, which grew by 1.2%, and other operating expenses, which decreased by 21.2%; acquisition costs are no longer included in operating expenses. Excluding exchange rate differences and acquisitions/divestments, total operating expenses decreased organically by 8.8%, due to aggressive expense management in all regions. The overall decline in organic operating expenses was mainly driven by the significant expenses reductions in the United States in 2002 and the restructuring charge relating to the integration of the Aetna/ReliaStar acquisitions in 2001.

The positive difference between the (adjusted) premium and (adjusted) expense growth of the life and non-life operations, excluding Australia (due to the influence of the ANZ joint venture), was 16.1 percentage points compared to 2.8% in 2001. The improvement primarily reflects increased fixed annuity sales in the United States and successful expense reduction.

     Taxation

The overall effective tax rate in 2002 for the Group’s insurance operations was 17.3%, compared to a 19.3% rate in 2001. Apart from the release of a tax provision, the decrease stems from the tax-exempt

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gain on the formation of the joint venture with ANZ and from the tax-exempt release of contingent provisions in the United States. Taxes on realized gains on shares were higher and tax free dividends on 5% interests decreased.

     Net profit

Net profit for the Group’s insurance operations in 2002 amounted to EUR 3,358 million, an increase of EUR 548 million, or 19.5% compared with 2001.

     Embedded value of life operations

At the end of 2002, the total embedded value of ING’s life insurance operations was EUR 23.3 billion compared to EUR 25.8 billion at year-end 2001. The primary reasons for the decline in embedded value relate to the poor economic environment, e.g. negative equity returns and low investment yields. The value of new business written in 2002 was EUR 519 million, a substantial increase over the 2001 level of EUR 336 million. During 2002 ING invested EUR 1,841 million to write new life insurance business. The overall rate of return expected on this investment is 11.5%. This compares to an overall return of 11.2% in 2001. The expected rate of return in developing markets is 15.4%.

     Year ended December 31, 2001 compared to year ended December 31, 2000 (restated).

On a consolidated basis, the Group’s insurance operations contributed EUR 3,571 million and EUR 3,162 million to the Group’s results before taxation in 2001 and 2000, respectively, and EUR 2,810 million and EUR 2,348 million to the Group’s net profits in such years. Changes in income and result were affected by the acquisition of Aetna Financial Services (USA) and Aetna International (South America and Asia) closed in December 2000 (the results of Aetna are taken into account as from the first of January 2001), the increased shareholding in Seguros Comercial America in Mexico to almost 100%, the acquisition of ReliaStar in the USA in September 2000, the sale in April 2000 of NN Life & Insurance Company of Canada (NN Financial) and by a few smaller acquisitions and divestments. NN Financial’s results are not included in the 2000 figures, except the sale result. In 2000 the 100% interest in Tiel Utrecht insurance company in the Netherlands was sold; the results of Tiel Utrecht have been included in the financial statements up to and including 31 December 2000. In order to align the financial year of our Australian operations with the financial year of ING Group, five quarters of Australian operations have been included in the 2000 results of ING Group which we refer to as the “5 quarter effect Australia”.

     Total Income

Total income from insurance operations in 2001 increased by EUR 24,770 million, or 64.7%, to EUR 63,077 million, from EUR 38,307 million in 2000, mainly reflecting the acquisitions of ReliaStar and Aetna in the Americas and Asia. Gross premiums written in the Group’s life operations increased by 78.1% over 2000 levels, mainly due to ING’s insurance operations in Belgium, Rest of Europe, North America, South America and Asia. Gross premiums in the Netherlands and Australia decreased. Non-life gross premiums written were 44.2% higher than in 2000, primarily as a result of an increase in all business lines in North and South America. Investment income increased by 28.1% over 2000 levels and commissions and other income increased by EUR 1,155 million, or 102.6%, in each case mainly due to the acquisitions ReliaStar and Aetna. These were offset somewhat by lower income from asset management activities, especially in Italy, due to depressed stock markets.

The total impact of exchange rate movements amounted to EUR 215 million. Acquisitions, divestitures and the effect of the fifth quarter of the Australian operations increased total income by EUR 18,302 million. The organic growth of total income, disregarding the influence of acquisitions, divestitures and the effect of the fifth quarter of Australia in operations and of exchange rate movements, was EUR 6,253 million or 17.6%, reflecting increases in gross premiums (Life and Non-life) of 19.5% and increases in investment income, commissions and other income of 11.7%.

Insurance income and result were strongly affected by the acquisitions of ReliaStar and Aetna. The impact on the 2001 result is shown as follows:

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      Year ended
      December 31, 2001
      (EUR millions)
Gross premiums written:
       
 
Life
    15,572  
 
Non life
    892  
 
 
   
 
 
Total
    16,464  
Result before taxation
    210  
Net profit after funding costs
    135 (1)

(1)   Also includes losses of EUR 100 million, after reinsurance cover and after taxation, related to the September 11th events.

     Result before taxation

The result before taxation from the Group’s insurance activities increased in 2001 by EUR 409 million, or 12.9%, to EUR 3,571 million, from EUR 3,162 million in 2000, reflecting growth in life operations of 9.9% and non-life operations of 31.7%. The influence of exchange rate movements increased the result before taxation by EUR 24 million, mainly due to the appreciation of the US dollar versus the euro. Results before taxation in 2001 also reflect losses associated with the events of September 11th, which were EUR 100 million, after reinsurance cover and after taxation,

Operating expenses for 2001 increased by 59.3% over 2000. Operating expenses consist of personnel expenses, commissions/deferred acquisition expenses and other operating expenses. Excluding exchange rate differences and acquisitions/divestments, total operating expenses increased organically by approximately 5%. This moderate increase reflects the success of ongoing expense control. The organic increase of expenses was caused by salary increases, higher pension expenses, the expenses of newly established employee benefits activities outside the Netherlands and the start-up expenses of life operations in India and China.

The positive difference between the (adjusted) premium and (adjusted) expense growth of the life and non-life operations, excluding North-America, was 2.8 percentage points compared to 2.3 in 2000.

     Taxation

The overall effective tax rate in 2001 for the Group’s insurance operations was 19.3%, compared to a 24.5% rate in 2000. The decrease in the effective tax rate for the year 2001 was largely due to higher non-taxable capital gains in the Netherlands, non-taxable profits from the (partial) sale of some business units and participations and a change in accounting method for taxation in life operations in Australia.

     Net profit

Net profit for the Group’s insurance operations in 2001 amounted to EUR 2,810 million, an increase of EUR 462 million, or 19.7% compared with 2000.

Life insurance operations

The following table sets forth certain summarized financial information for the Group’s life insurance operations for the years indicated.

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    Year ended December 31,
    2002   2001   2000
    (EUR millions)
Gross premiums
    44,367       44,557       25,019  
Net premiums(1)
    43,274       43,157       24,006  
Income from investments
    9,204       8,984       6,817  
Other income
    223       155       63  
Total income
    52,701       52,296       30,886  
Life policy benefits paid or provided for
    44,804       44,513       25,355  
Operating expenses
    2,587       3,226       1,821  
Acquisition costs and other expenses
    1,791       1,616       987  
 
   
     
     
 
Total expenses
    49,182       49,355       28,163  
 
   
     
     
 
Result before taxation(2), (3)
    3,519       2,941       2,723  
 
   
     
     
 

(1)   Net of reinsurance premiums ceded of EUR 1,093 million, EUR 1,400 million and EUR 1,013 million, in 2002, 2001 and 2000 respectively.
 
(2)   Until 2001 the (deferred) acquisition costs were accounted for as part of the operating expenses. In order to have a better view on the development of the manageable operating expenses we have decided to report acquisition costs separately from operating expenses as of 2002; previous years have been adjusted accordingly. In the 2001 figures, other expenses life account and allocated income from investments (from General account) have each been decreased by EUR 85 million with a net impact of nil.
 
(3)   In the 2001 figures, an amount of EUR 52 million has been reclassified from Non-life underwriting account to Life underwriting account.

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The following table sets forth the Group’s gross life premiums by geographic area and type of product for the years indicated.

                           
      Year ended December 31,
      2002   2001   2000
      (EUR millions)
The Netherlands
                       
Individual
                       
 
Single premium
    1,517       1,678       1,739  
 
Periodic premium
    1,584       1,598       1,709  
 
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    3,101       3,276       3,448  
Group
                       
 
Single premium
    675       989       978  
 
Periodic premium
    1,125       1,057       1,086  
Total
    1,800       2,046       2,064  
Reinsurance assumed
    26       31       39  
 
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    4,927       5,353       5,551  
Belgium
                       
Individual
                       
 
Single premium
    1,696       1,293       655  
 
Periodic premium
    190       174       160  
 
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    1,886       1,467       815  
Group
                       
 
Single premium
    49       55       55  
 
Periodic premium
    117       103       94  
Total
    166       158       149  
Reinsurance assumed
    1                
 
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    2,053       1,625       964  
Rest of Europe
                       
Individual
                       
 
Single premium
    240       164       259  
 
Periodic premium
    1,108       1,024       911  
Total
    1,348       1,188       1,170  
Group
                       
 
Single premium
    177       311       111  
 
Periodic premium
    54       37       18  
Total
    231       348       129  
Reinsurance assumed
    1       87        
 
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    1,580       1,623       1,299  
North America
                       
Individual
                       
 
Single premium
    4,153       4,526       6,542  
 
Periodic premium
    8,817       7,951       3,308  
 
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    12,970       12,477       9,850  
Group
                       
 
Single premium
    5,570       7,878       2,932  
 
Periodic premium
    8,277       7,217       16  
 
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    13,847       15,095       2,948  
Reinsurance assumed
    1,268       1,391       550  
 
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    28,085       28,963       13,348  

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      Year ended December 31,
      2002   2001   2000
      (EUR millions)
South America
                       
Individual
                       
 
Single premium
    105       210       76  
 
Periodic premium
    75       166       93  
 
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    180       376       169  
Group
                       
 
Single premium
    71       68       3  
 
Periodic premium
    41       49       22  
 
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    112       117       25  
Reinsurance assumed
                     
 
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    292       493       194  
Asia
                       
Individual
                       
 
Single premium
    1,180       90       168  
 
Periodic premium
    4,679       4,499       1,582  
 
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    5,859       4,589       1,750  
Group
                       
 
Single premium
    1       3          
 
Periodic premium
    109       125       14  
 
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    110       128       14  
Reinsurance assumed
            1       2  
 
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    5,969       4,718       1,766  
Australia
                       
Individual
                       
 
Single premium
    901       1,080       990  
 
Periodic premium
    298       265       327  
 
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    1,199       1,345       1,317  
Group
                       
 
Single premium
    140       261       390  
 
Periodic premium
    128       173       187  
 
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    268       434       577  
Reinsurance assumed
                   
 
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    1,467       1,779       1,894  
Other
                       
Reinsurance assumed
    3       5       4  
Premiums between geographic areas(1)
    (9 )     (2 )     (1 )
 
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    44,367       44,557       25,019  

(1)   Represents reinsurance premiums ceded between Group companies in different geographic areas.

     Year ended December 31, 2002 compared to year ended December 31, 2001

     Premium income

Gross premium income of the Group’s life operations in 2002 decreased by EUR 190 million, or 0.4%, compared to 2001 levels. Disregarding the negative effect of acquisitions/ divestitures (EUR 118 million, especially ICA and ANZ) and the effect of exchange rate movements (EUR (1,943) million), gross premium income for the Group increased organically by EUR 1,871 million or 4.6%.

The decrease mainly reflects lower premiums in the Netherlands (due to changed tax treatment, fierce competition and the surrender of a large life contract), North America (mainly caused by lower sales of Guaranteed Investment Contracts and lower sales of variable annuities) and Australia (caused by the ANZ joint venture), which was partly offset by higher premiums in Belgium (due to continued strong

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unit-linked sales) and Asia (mainly due to the strong sales of a newly introduced single premium variable annuity product in Japan and continued sales growth and high persistency in Korea).

     Life policy benefits paid or provided for

Life policy benefits paid or provided for consist of life benefits paid to policy owners and beneficiaries, increases in life insurance provisions and profit sharing and rebates for policyholders. Total life policy benefits increased by EUR 291 million, or 0.7%, to EUR 44,804 million from EUR 44,513 million in 2001, in each case net of reinsurance. Life policy benefits paid and insurance provisions increased by EUR 452 million, or 1.0%, to EUR 44,245 million. The modest growth reflects the growth of business. Profit sharing and rebates, which consist of distributions (in the form of a reduction of premiums or credits) to policyholders with respect to portfolio yield or the results of the policy issuing company, decreased from EUR 254 million in 2001 to EUR 60 million in 2002; bonuses added to policies increased from EUR 466 million in 2001 to EUR 499 million in 2002.

     Operating expenses

Life operating expenses decreased by EUR 639 million, or 19.8%, from EUR 3,226 million in 2001 to EUR 2,587 million in 2002. The strong decrease was mainly caused by aggressive expense management in all regions (especially in the US) resulting in a decrease which was substantially higher than the decrease in premiums written (0.4%).

     Result before taxation

The result before taxation from life insurance operations in 2002 increased by 19.7% or EUR 578 million compared with 2001 (of which EUR 253 million resulted from realized capital gains on shares and EUR 116 million from realized capital gains on real estate) to EUR 3,519 million. This increase can be attributed primarily to the operational part of the ANZ gain (EUR 222 million) in Australia and higher results in the Netherlands, North America, South America and Asia.

The following table sets forth a geographic breakdown of the results before taxation of the Group’s life operations:

                 
    Year ended December 31,
    2002   2001
    (EUR millions)
Result before taxation
               
The Netherlands
    2,007       1,836  
Belgium
    76       85  
Rest of Europe
    155       176  
North America
    667       520  
South America
    60       29  
Asia
    261       228  
Australia
    291       64  
Other
    2       3  
 
   
     
 
Total
    3,519       2,941  
 
   
     
 

In the Netherlands, results before taxation increased by EUR 171 million, or 9.3%, over 2001 levels due to higher realized capital gains, and a profit on the surrender of a group life contract partly offset by a lower result on interest and mortality. In 2001, the Dutch life result was supported by a partial release of a catastrophe provision and a gain from old reinsurance business. Interest received on an intercompany loan to the US operations was lower than last year. Results on venture capital activities were also lower compared to 2001. Investment losses were higher than last year.

In Belgium, results before taxation decreased by EUR 9 million or 10.6% from 2001 levels, mainly due to lower capital gains. Excluding capital gains the life result improved by EUR 10 million mainly as a

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result of a strong growth in the Individual Life results due to a sharp increase in the sale of unit-linked products.

In the Rest of Europe, the results before taxation decreased by EUR 21 million, or 11.9%, to EUR 155 million. Substantially lower results in Spain (investment losses) and Greece (in 2001 EUR 50 million profit from the strategic alliance with Piraeus Bank) were partly compensated by higher results in Italy, Poland, Romania, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

In North America, results before taxation increased by EUR 147 million, or 28.3%, to EUR 667 million. This increase can be almost fully attributed to the Life operations in the United States. Excluding the release in 2002 of contingent provisions associated with prior acquisitions, the result in North America increased by EUR 41 million.

The increase reflects significant expense reductions, higher investment income and lower financing costs. Accelerated amortization of deferred acquisition costs (EUR 263 million), higher credit related investment losses (net of DAC EUR 318 million) and lower revenues on assets under management negatively impacted the result. The World Trade Centre losses (EUR 150 million) and a restructuring charge relating to the US reorganization adversely impacted the 2001 result. The hedge program of the US and Canadian dollar contributed EUR 85 million before tax compared to EUR 22 million in 2001

In South America, results before taxation amounted to EUR 60 million, compared with EUR 29 million in 2001. The increase was mainly due to higher results in Argentina (currency exchange gains from working capital denominated in USD) and Chile, and lower allocated head office expenses.

In Asia, results before taxation were EUR 261 million, EUR 33 million higher than the 2001 result before taxation. Higher results in Taiwan (growth of business in combination with tight cost control), Korea (ongoing strong production, better persistency and improved claims) and Japan (lower claims and surrenders as well as reduced costs due to changes in distribution), were partly offset by the start-up loss of the joint venture Vysya Life India.

In Australia, results before taxation increased by EUR 227 million to EUR 291 million in 2002. EUR 222 million of the increase reflects the operational part of the ANZ gain.

     Year ended December 31, 2001 compared to year ended December 31, 2000 (restated)

     Premium income

Gross premium income of the Group’s life operations in 2001 increased by EUR 19,538 million, or 78.1%, over 2000 levels. Disregarding the net positive effect of acquisitions/ divestitures (EUR 14,290 million, especially the acquisitions of ReliaStar, Aetna and SCA) and the effect of exchange rate movements (EUR 170 million), gross premium income for the Group increased organically by EUR 5,078 million or 22.0%.

The strong increase mainly reflects an increase in premium income in North America (caused by the acquisitions ReliaStar, Aetna and SCA and a strong increase in sales of Guaranteed Investment Contracts), Belgium (especially due to high individual life unit-linked sales) and South America and Asia (both mainly caused by the Aetna acquisition), which was partly offset by lower premium income in the Netherlands and Australia.

     Life policy benefits paid or provided for

Life policy benefits paid or provided for consist of life benefits paid to policy owners and beneficiaries, increases in life insurance provisions and profit sharing and rebates for policyholders. Total life policy benefits increased by EUR 19,106 million, or 75.4%, to EUR 44,461 million from EUR 25,355 million in 2000, in each case net of reinsurance. Life policy benefits paid and insurance provisions increased by EUR 19,144 million, or 77.8%, to EUR 43,741 million. The strong growth was mainly caused by the acquisitions of ReliaStar, Aetna and SCA, and, in addition, reflects the growth of business. Profit sharing and rebates, which consist of distributions (in the form of a reduction of premiums or credits) to policyholders with respect to portfolio yield or the results of the policy issuing company, decreased from EUR 317 million in 2000 to EUR 254 million in 2001; bonuses added to policies increased from EUR 441 million in 2000 to EUR 466 million in 2001.

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     Operating expenses

Life operating expenses, which consist primarily of salaries and commissions, increased by EUR 2,182 million, or 80.3%, from EUR 2,718 million in 2000 to EUR 4,900 million in 2001. The strong growth was mainly caused by the acquisitions of ReliaStar, Aetna and SCA and is in accordance with the increase in premiums written (78.1%).

     Result before taxation

The result before taxation from life insurance operations in 2001 increased by 9.9% or EUR 270 million compared with 2000 (of which EUR 106 million resulted from realized capital gains) to EUR 2,993 million. This increase can be attributed primarily to growth in North America (EUR 134 million, or 30.6%) and Asia (EUR 150 million or 192.3%). With the exception of Belgium, Rest of Europe and Australia, all regions improved over 2000. The impact of exchange rate movements increased the result before taxation by EUR 24 million.

The following table sets forth a geographic breakdown of the results before taxation of the Group’s life operations:

                 
    Year ended December 31,
    2001   2000
    (EUR millions)
Result before taxation
               
The Netherlands
    1,836       1,793  
Belgium
    85       89  
Rest of Europe
    176       188  
North America
    572       438  
South America
    29       (8 )
Asia
    228       78  
Australia
    64       145  
Other
    3          
 
   
     
 
Total
    2,993       2,723  
 
   
     
 

     In the Netherlands, results before taxation increased by EUR 43 million, or 2.4%, over 2000 levels. Excluding one-time items in 2001 (among others from old reinsurance operations and the partial release of the catastrophe provision) and in 2000, the impact of funding costs of acquisitions and higher realised capital gains, the increase was approximately 20%, reflecting higher interest result, lower profit participation and improved IT result (E-business).

     In Belgium, results before taxation decreased by EUR 4 million or 4.5% over 2000 levels, mainly due to lower capital gains. Excluding capital gains the life result improved by EUR 22 million mainly due to unit-linked business.

     In the Rest of Europe, the results before taxation decreased by EUR 12 million, or 6.4%, to EUR 176 million. Substantially lower results in Italy and Greece due to stock market weakness were partly compensated by higher results in Poland and the strategic alliance with the Greek Piraeus Bank (impact EUR 50 million).

     In North America, results before taxation increased by EUR 134 million, or 30.6%, to EUR 572 million. EUR 68 million of the increase reflects the acquisition of SCA and the increase of our participation in Afore Bitalin, Mexico. Realised capital gains were EUR 14 million lower than in 2000. GICs contributed EUR 94 million to the result compared to EUR 58 million in 2000. The North American life result was negatively affected by several setbacks in the United States. Economic growth fell sharply, stock markets performed disappointingly and the WTC disaster on September 11 led to very high claims. With our increased share of equity-linked products as a result of the acquisition of ReliaStar and Aetna, stock market weakness directly impacts results as fee income on these products fluctuates with the value of managed assets. Sales in the United States picked up strongly in the fourth quarter of 2001 as nearly all product lines recorded their highest quarterly sales of the year. Results in the United States in 2001 were affected by the September 11 events (EUR 155 million) and, notably in the fourth quarter, by several sizable items, such as the expenses related to the restructuring

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announced in December 2001 and impairments in the bond portfolio, which together reduced results before taxation by EUR 70 million and EUR 136 million, respectively.

     In South America, results before taxation amounted to EUR 29 million, compared with a loss of EUR 8 million in 2000. The increase is mainly attributed to the contribution of Aetna (EUR 31 million).

In Asia, results before taxation were EUR 228 million, EUR 150 million higher than the 2000 result before taxation. EUR 155 million of the increase was contributed by Aetna. The result of the ex-greenfield Korea rose by EUR 30 million thanks to better performance in new production and higher results on mortality. The results before taxation of the life company in Japan decreased on balance by EUR 10 million; unfavourable mortality experience, a negative result on surrender losses (due to a high volume of policies that were reduced or paid up as a result of a tax law change), lower actuarial interest rate on new business and start-up losses of Pension activities were partly compensated by a one-off result in 2001.

     In Australia, results before taxation decreased by EUR 81 million, to EUR 64 million in 2001. The decrease was partly due to a change in taxation that lowered both the life result and the amount of tax due. Furthermore, the 2000 results included five quarters of the Australian operations following the decision to synchronise the financial year of the Australian operations with that of ING Group. The synchronisation had a one-time impact of EUR 26 million in 2000.

Non-life insurance operations

The following table sets forth certain summarized financial information for the Group’s non-life operations for the years indicated:

                         
    Year ended December 31,
    2002   2001   2000
    (EUR millions)
Gross premiums written
    7,917       5,903       4,095  
Net premiums earned(1)
    6,297       5,283       3,867  
Income from investments
    819       770       601  
Other income
    62       13       6  
Total income
    7,178       6,066       4,474  
Claims and claims expenses
    4,722       3,895       2,886  
Operating expenses
    866       803       576  
Acquisition costs and other expenses
    936       738       573  
 
   
     
     
 
Total expenses
    6,524       5,436       4,035  
 
   
     
     
 
Result before taxation(2), (3)
    654       630       439  
 
   
     
     
 

(1)   Net of reinsurance ceded of EUR 1,275 million, EUR 614 million and EUR 187 million in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively and changes in provision for unearned premiums and unexpired insurance risks.
 
(2)   Until 2001 the (deferred) acquisition costs were accounted for as part of the operating expenses. In order to have a better view of the development of the manageable operating expenses it has been decided to report acquisition costs as of 2002 separately from operating expenses; previous years have been adjusted accordingly.
 
(3)   In the 2001 figures, an amount of EUR 52 million has been reclassified from Non-life underwriting account to Life underwriting account.

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The following table sets forth the Group’s non-life gross written premiums by geographic area:

                         
    Year ended December 31,
    2002   2001   2000
    (EUR millions)
The Netherlands
    1,859       1,811       1,817  
Belgium
    282       253       230  
Rest of Europe
    38       34       31  
North America
    5,312       2,933       1,595  
South America
    303       618       46  
Asia
    66       64       48  
Australia
    296       250       328  
Other
    385       211       106  
Premiums between geographic areas(1)
    (624 )     (271 )     (106 )
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    7,917       5,903       4.095  
 
   
     
     
 

(1)   Represents reinsurance premiums ceded between Group companies in different geographic areas.

     Year ended December 31, 2002 compared to year ended December 31, 2001

     Premium income

Gross premium income of the Group’s non-life operations in 2002 increased by EUR 2,014 million, or 34.1%, over 2001 levels. Disregarding the positive effect of acquisitions/divestitures (EUR 1,327 million, mainly the impact of the increased shareholding in ICA) and the effect of exchange rate movements (EUR (178) million), gross premium income for the Group increased organically by EUR 865 million or 19.0%.

The increase mainly reflects higher premium income in the Netherlands (largely reflecting higher premiums in Health and Loss of income/Accident and Fire), Belgium (all lines of business contributed to the growth), North America (in Mexico ING Comercial América (ICA) contributed EUR 1,300 million to the growth, due to the increased shareholding and in Canada the increase was partly due to the acquisition of the Zurich business at the end of 2001). These increases were partially offset by decreased premium income in South America, mainly due to the sale of Columbia Aetna and the non-life business in Argentina.

The increase of the non-life premium income in Other areas is fully due to reinsurance premiums re the acquired Zurich business, ceded by the Canadian operations to the Group’s in house reinsurance company, which in turn part of the business ceded to the operations in the United States.

Net non-life premiums written in 2002 and 2001 reflected premiums ceded to reinsurers of EUR 1,275 million (increase due to reinsurance construction re the acquisition Zurich business) and EUR 614 million, respectively, resulting in overall retention levels of 83.9% in 2002 and 89.6% in 2001. Net non-life premiums written amounted to EUR 6,642 million in 2002 compared to EUR 5,289 million in 2001.

     Claims and claims expenses

Claims and claims expenses for the Group’s non-life business increased by EUR 827 million, from EUR 3,895 million in 2001 to EUR 4,722 million in 2002 for the greater part due to the increased shareholding in ICA. Claims and claims expenses in the business line Automobile were EUR 300 million higher than in 2001 and in Health EUR 186 million higher. Claims and claims expenses in the reinsurance business were EUR 241 million higher than in 2001. For a more detailed discussion of unpaid claims and claims adjustment expenses and developments between years, see Note 7.7 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this Annual Report.

The growth of net premiums earned (19.2%) was below the increase of claims and claims expenses (21.2%), resulting in a higher overall non-life loss ratio (75.0% versus 74.8%). This deterioration was a

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result of an increase in the Netherlands, North America, South America, Asia and Other regions, partly offset by a decrease in the loss ratio in Belgium and Australia. The deterioration of the loss ratio in Other areas (2002: 94.4%, 2001: 64.0%) was primarily due to in house reinsurance activities (ING Reinsurance). By business line, the loss ratio of Fire decreased by 2.2 percentage points to 59.4% in 2002. The loss ratio of Health and Loss of Income/Accident increased by 2.5 percentage points to 81.6% in 2002, the loss ratio of Automobile decreased by 0.8 percentage points to 77.4% and the loss ratio of Other increased by 3.7 percentage points to 66.1%.

     Operating expenses

Operating expenses rose by EUR 63 million or 7.8% from EUR 803 million in 2001 to EUR 866 million in 2002. The EUR 64 million increase was due to the impact of increased shareholding in ICA in Mexico.

     Result before taxation

The result from non-life insurance operations in 2002 increased by EUR 24 million, or 3.8%, compared with 2001, to EUR 654 million. This increase was due to Rest of Europe, North America and Australia, partly offset by the Netherlands, Belgium, South America, Asia and Other. The following table sets forth the results before taxation of the Group’s non-life operations by geographic area:

                 
    Year ended December 31,
    2002   2001
    (EUR millions)
The Netherlands
    225       238  
Belgium
    3       9  
Rest of Europe
    6       2  
North America
    370       242  
South America
    (1 )     50  
Asia
    (6 )     2  
Australia
    39       21  
Other
    18       66  
 
   
     
 
 
    654       630  
 
   
     
 

The following table sets forth loss, expense and combined ratio information for the Group’s non-life operations by geographic area for the years 2001 and 2000.

                                                 
    Year ended December 31,
    2002   2001   2002   2001   2002   2001
    Loss ratio   Expense ratio   Combined ratio
    (all figures %)
The Netherlands
    77.5       77.1       28.9       30.4       106.4       107.5  
Belgium
    76.7       76.9       34.7       35.0       111.4       111.9  
Rest of Europe
    49.8       50.1       41.6       51.4       91.4       101.5  
North America
    73.9       71.2       25.6       29.1       99.4       100.2  
South America
    79.5       77.2       26.6       21.6       106.1       98.8  
Asia
    66.6       58.6       51.5       44.6       118.1       103.2  
Australia
    67.0       70.7       29.4       32.5       96.4       103.2  
Other
    94.4       64.0       7.8       11.3       102.2       75.3  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total Non-life
    75.0       73.8       27.1       29.1       102.1       102.9  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

     In the Netherlands, non-life results before taxation decreased by EUR 13 million from EUR 238 million in 2001 to EUR 225 million in 2002. Miscellaneous reported lower results due to lower realized capital gains. Results from Fire were lower as the number of claims increased, among others following the storm in October. Motor was lower due to higher additions to the technical provision.

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     In Belgium, non-life results before taxation decreased from EUR 9 million in 2001 to EUR 3 million in 2002, due to EUR 3 million lower capital gains; in addition, adverse claims experience in Health, Loss of Income/Accident and Miscellaneous was partly offset by lower losses in Motor.

     In the Rest of Europe, non-life results before taxation rose in 2002 by EUR 4 million to EUR 6 million due to higher results in Motor and Loss of Income/Accident.

     In North America, non-life results increased by EUR 128 million, or 52.9%, to EUR 370 million in 2002. The increase of the results was caused by a higher result in Mexico (EUR 159 million, due, in part, to increased shareholding in ICA, favourable loss ratios in car insurance and effective cost management, which was partially offset by hurricane losses in 2002). The Canadian operations reported a pre-tax result of EUR 134 million, an increase of EUR 10 million compared to 2001, due to favourable loss ratios and higher realized capital gains. The result in the United States decreased by EUR 39 million mainly due to lower Health results.

     In South America, non-life results decreased from EUR 50 million in 2001 to a loss of EUR 1 million in 2002. The decrease is due to losses from a business acquired in Brazil in 2002 and lower results in Chile and the Netherlands Antilles. The 2001 results included a one-time gain on sale of operations in Colombia (EUR 6 million).

     In Asia, non-life results decreased from EUR 2 million in 2001 to a loss of EUR 6 million in 2002. The decrease was mainly a result of run-off expenses in Indonesia and Singapore (disposal of non-life operations in the second quarter of 2002 and the second quarter of 2001, respectively).

     In Australia, non-life results increased by EUR 18 million to EUR 39 million in 2002. The result improved due to better claims ratios (particularly in Fire) and cost control initiatives.

     The non-life results of Other areas, mainly regarding the in-house reinsurance activities (ING Reinsurance), decreased by EUR 48 million, to EUR 18 million in 2002, primarily due to a one-time gain from old reinsurance operations in 2001 (EUR 27 million), as well as lower results Fire due to hurricanes Isidore and Kenna (both in Mexico) and the October storms in the Netherlands.

     Year ended December 31, 2001 compared to year ended December 31, 2000 (restated)

     Premium income

In 2001, gross premiums written from non-life operations increased by EUR 1,808 million, or 44.2%, to EUR 5,903 million from EUR 4,095 million in 2000. Disregarding the aggregate effect of acquisitions and divestitures (EUR 1,717 million), the effect of the fifth quarter of the Australian operations (EUR 68 million) and of exchange rate movements (EUR (29) million), gross premium income for the Group increased organically by EUR 188 million, or 4.9%.

The increase mainly reflects North America (Mexico Seguros Comercial America SCA contributed EUR 944 million and in the USA ReliaStar EUR 290 million) and South America (Aetna operations, primarily in Chile, Argentina and Columbia, added EUR 574 million), but in Australia, non-life premium decreased primarily due to the additional quarter in 2000 and the decrease in the exchange rate of the Australian dollar with respect to the euro.

     Claims and claims expenses

Claims and claims expenses for the Group’s non-life business increased by EUR 1,061 million, from EUR 2,886 million in 2000 to EUR 3,947 million in 2001. Claims and claims expenses in the business line Automobile were EUR 246 million higher than in 2000 and in Accident & Health EUR 789 million higher, especially in North and South America due to the acquisitions of ReliaStar (particularly the WTC claim of EUR 155 million) and Aetna. For a more detailed discussion of unpaid claims and claims adjustment expenses and developments between years, see Note 7.7 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this Annual Report.

The growth of net premiums earned (36.6%) was slightly below the increase of claims and claims expenses (36.8%), resulting in a slightly higher overall non-life loss ratio (74.8% versus 74.6%). This deterioration was a result of an increase in the Netherlands, Belgium, South America and Asia partly

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offset by a decrease in the loss ratio in Rest of Europe, North America and Australia. The improvement of the loss ratio in Other areas (2001: 63.9%, 2000: 80.2%) was primarily due to in house reinsurance activities (ING Reinsurance). By business line, the loss ratio of Fire increased by 1.2 percentage points to 61.6% in 2001. The loss ratio of Accident and Health decreased by 0.9 percentage points to 81.6% in 2001, the loss ratio of Automobile decreased by 1.4 percentage points to 78.2% and the loss ratio of Other decreased by 10.1 percentage points to 62.4%.

     Operating expenses

Operating expenses, consisting primarily of salaries and commissions, rose by EUR 390 million or 33.9% from EUR 1,149 million in 2000 to EUR 1,539 million in 2001. The increase was mainly due to the acquisitions of ReliaStar, Aetna and SCA.

     Result before taxation

The result from non-life insurance operations in 2001 increased by EUR 139 million, or 31.7%, compared with 2000, to EUR 578 million. This increase was due to the Netherlands, North and South America, Australia and Other, partly offset by a decrease in Belgium. The following table sets forth the results before taxation of the Group’s non-life operations by geographic area:

                 
    Year ended December 31,
    2000   1999
    (EUR millions)
The Netherlands
    238       224  
Belgium
    9       24  
Rest of Europe
    2       2  
North America
    190       140  
South America
    50       3  
Asia
    2       3  
Australia
    21       6  
Other
    66       37  
 
   
     
 
 
    578       439  
 
   
     
 

The following table sets forth loss, expense and combined ratio information for the Group’s non-life operations by geographic area for the years 2001 and 2000.

                                                 
    Year ended December 31,
    2001   2000   2001   2000   2001   2000
    Loss ratio   Expense ratio   Combined ratio
    (all figures %)
The Netherlands
    77.1       75.6       30.4       29.9       107.5       105.5  
Belgium
    76.9       72.0       35.0       36.1       111.9       108.1  
Rest of Europe
    50.1       55.3       51.4       50.0       101.5       105.3  
North America
    73.3       74.0       29.1       26.0       102.4       100.0  
South America
    77.2       51.4       21.6       50.2       98.8       101.6  
Asia
    58.6       51.5       44.6       49.1       103.2       100.6  
Australia
    70.7       80.2       32.5       32.9       103.2       113.1  
Other
    63.9       80.2       11.4       22.5       75.3       102.7  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total Non-life
    74.8       74.6       29.1       29.4       103.9       104.0  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

     In the Netherlands, non-life results before taxation increased by EUR 14 million from EUR 224 million in 2000 to EUR 238 million in 2001. The increase of the combined ratio was more than compensated by the higher investment income as a result of higher capital gains and a one-off gain of EUR 8 million from reinsurance operations. The results of Automobile, Accident and Other (mainly Marine and

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Aviation) improved, but Fire deteriorated due to a sharp increase of average claims, despite a reduced number of large losses.

     In Belgium, non-life results before taxation decreased from EUR 24 million in 2000 to EUR 9 million in 2001, due to EUR 11 million lower capital gains and large claims and reserve strengthening in Automobile.

     In the Rest of Europe, non-life results before taxation equaled in 2001 the 2000 result of EUR 2 million.

     In North America, non-life results increased by EUR 50 million, or 35.7%, to EUR 190 million in 2001. The increase of the results was caused by a higher result in Mexico (mainly due to the Automobile operations of SCA), as well as in the United States as a consequence of the Health operations of ReliaStar. In Canada the results were lower; in 2000 the Canadian result was positively impacted by the sale of NN Financial by EUR 29 million and by higher realized capital gains on shares.

     In South America, non-life results increased by EUR 47 million, to EUR 50 million in 2001. The Aetna companies in South America contributed EUR 39 million to the result (mainly Accident and Health), while the gain on the sale of Aetna Colombia amounted to EUR 6 million (also in business line Accident and Health).

     In Asia, non-life results decreased by EUR 1 million to EUR 2 million in 2001, mainly due to lower results Accident and Health, especially caused by a loss of Aetna Philippines in 2001. The gain on the sale of ING Non-Life Singapore in January 2001 was equal to the operational result of this company in 2000.

     In Australia, non-life results increased by EUR 15 million to EUR 21 million in 2001. The improvement follows from higher results from Fire, Automobile and Other (general liability) thanks to better underwriting due to the decreased exposure in some business lines combined with premium rate increases and expense containment. Accident and Health results decreased, due in part to strengthening of the provisions.

     The non-life results of Other areas, mainly regarding the in-house reinsurance activities (ING Reinsurance), increased by EUR 29 million, to EUR 66 million in 2001, primarily due to a one-off gain from old reinsurance operations (EUR 27 million). In addition higher results in the business lines Fire and Automobile.

Allocation of income from investments and commission and other income

As of 2001 results of Insurance Operation-General is no longer reported separately. The results previously accounted for under this heading are now more in line with international practice and depending on their activities included in either the result life or the result non-life. The results of the non-insurance companies, mainly asset management and mutual fund companies, are allocated to life. The following table sets forth the result of the allocation for the years indicated:

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      Year ended December 31,
      2002   2001(1)   2000
      (EUR millions)
Income from investments
    10,926       10,336       8,067  
Commission and other income
    2,127       2,281       1,126  
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    13,053       12,617       9,193  
Operating expenses
    1,440       1,405       841  
Interest incurred
    1,305       1,290       865  
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    10,308       9,922       7,487  
Allocated to income from investments:
                       
 
Life operations
    9,204       8,984       6,817  
 
Non-life operations
    819       770       601  
 
   
     
     
 
 
    10,023       9,754       7,418  
Allocated to other income:
                       
 
Life operations
    223       155       63  
 
Non-life operations
    62       13       6  
 
   
     
     
 
 
    285       168       69  
 
   
     
     
 

(1)   In the 2001 figures, operating expenses (General account) have been increased by EUR 85 million and other expenses (Life account) have been decreased by EUR 85 million.

Insurance investments

The following table sets forth the components of the investment portfolio of the Group’s insurance operations at the end of the years indicated:

                         
    Year ended December 31,
    2002   2001   2000
    (EUR millions)
Land and buildings(1)
    7,242       8,239       7,766  
Fixed-interest securities(2)
    132,059       133,185       110,873  
Shares and convertible debentures
    11,024       16,625       18,657  
Interests in investment pools of the insurance operations(3)
    99       86       95  
Deposits with insurers
    94       31       30  
Investments for the risk of policyholders and investments of annual life funds
    64,281       82,743       81,947  
 
   
     
     
 
 
    214,799       240,909       219,368  
 
   
     
     
 

(1)   Including commuted ground rents.
 
(2)   Includes EUR 1,260 million, EUR 1,910 million and EUR 1,325 million at December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively, representing intercompany balances between Group insurance and banking companies.
 
(3)   Consists of assets relating to certain large Dutch group life policies under which coverage is provided by ING and other insurers.

The decrease in Land and buildings mainly reflects the transfer of EUR 1.0 billion non-EU real estate in December 2002 from ING Insurance to ING Bank. The component of the investment portfolio Fixed interest securities consists of 68.4% Debentures and fixed-interest securities (67.7% maturing in 2001), 20.4% mortgage loans (20.1% maturing in 2001), 5.8% private loans (6.9% maturing in 2001) and 5.4% other fixed interest securities (5.2% maturing in 2001). The change in the Fixed interest securities portfolio was negatively affected by exchange rate movements (approximately EUR 15 billion).

The Shares and convertible debentures portfolio decreased mainly due to revaluations. The decrease in investments for the risk of policyholders EUR (18,461 million) primarily relates to the component Shares and convertible debentures which increased by EUR 20,477 million to EUR 53,099 million at year-end 2002; the component Fixed interest securities increased from EUR 7,898 million to EUR 9,948 million at year-end 2002

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    2002   2001   2000 restated
            Pre-tax           Pre-tax           Pre-tax
    Income   yield(1)   Income   yield(1)   Income   yield(1)
    (EUR millions)
Income from disposal of group companies
    238               17               61          
Land and buildings
    872       10.4 %     665       8.3 %     505       7.5 %
Fixed-interest securities(2)(3)
    8,205       6.2 %     8,224       6.7 %     6,004       7.9 %
Shares and convertible debentures
    1,611       11.6 %     1,430       8.1 %     1,497       6.6 %
 
   
             
             
         
Total(4)
    10,926               10,336               8,067          
Commission and other income(5)
    2,127               2,281               1,126          
 
   
             
             
         
Total
    13,053               12,617               9,193          
 
   
             
             
         

(1)   Pre-tax yield is calculated using interest, rental, dividend, realized gains on equities and convertible debentures and land and buildings in 2002, 2001 and 2000, divided by the average of beginning and year-end balances on related assets (excepting the calculation of the yield in 2002 of land and buildings: in December 2002 EUR 1.0 billion non-EU real estate was transferred from ING Insurance to ING Bank).
 
(2)   Includes income from interests in investment pools that consists of investment income from assets relating to certain large Dutch group life policies under which coverage is provided by ING and other insurers.
 
(3)   Includes mortgages and other loans.
 
(4)   Includes EUR 73 million, EUR 74 million and EUR 86 million in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively, representing intercompany interest between Group insurance and banking companies.
 
(5)   ‘Commission and other income’ consists primarily of fees on asset management and insurance brokerage, results of minority interests and results from financial transactions.

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     Year ended December 31, 2002 compared to year ended December 31, 2001

In 2002, income from investments, commission and other income of the Group’s insurance operations increased in total by EUR 436 million, or 3.5%, to EUR 13,053 million, from EUR 12,617 million in 2001. This increase was due to the income from investments (EUR 590 million), partly offset by lower commission and other income (EUR 154 million). Disregarding the effect of acquisitions and divestitures and the effect of exchange rate movements, the increase amounted to EUR 516 million, or 4.3%.

Income from investments increased by EUR 590 million from EUR 10,336 million in 2001 to EUR 10,926 million in 2002. Income from disposal of group companies increased by EUR 221 million reflecting gain on the ANZ joint venture. Income from land and buildings in 2002 was EUR 207 million higher than in 2001, mainly thanks to higher realised capital gains real estate (from EUR 226 million in 2001 to EUR 353 million in 2002) explaining the improved yield on land and buildings (10.4% in 2002 and 8.3% in 2001). Income from fixed interest securities decreased by EUR 19 million or 0.2% to EUR 8,206 million, due to substantial higher default losses (mainly in the United States) and lower interest levels. The increase from the income in investments in shares and convertible debentures of EUR 181 million was due to higher realized capital gains (from EUR 779 million in 2001 to EUR 1,003 million in 2002). This increase, in combination with the decreased value of the portfolio, explains the higher yield on this component of the investment portfolio (11.6% in 2002, 8.1% in 2001).

Income from commissions decreased by EUR 86 million, or 6.0%, to EUR 1,345 million. Except the region Australia (EUR 13 million) all regions showed a decrease in income from commissions, especially North America (EUR 59 million), South America (EUR 21 million) and the Netherlands (EUR 9 million). These decreases mainly reflect depressed stock markets and lower assets under management.

Other income, including results on sale of equity participations and financial transactions, decreased by EUR 68 million, from EUR 850 million to EUR 782 million, due to lower results from old reinsurance activities and joint venture activities (Netherlands), which was, in part, offset by the profit on the surrender of a group life contract.

Operating expenses increased in 2002 by EUR 35 million, or 2.5%, to EUR 1,440 million, mainly due to increased operating expenses in the Netherlands (EUR 41 million).

     Year ended December 31, 2001 compared to year ended December 31, 2000 (restated)

In 2001, income from investments, commission and other income of the Group’s insurance operations increased in total by EUR 3,424 million, or 37.2%, to EUR 12,617 million, from EUR 9,193 million in 2000. This increase was mainly due to ReliaStar and Aetna, especially with regard to fixed interest securities. Disregarding the effect of acquisitions and divestitures, the effect of the additional quarter from the Australian operations and the effect of exchange rate movements, the increase amounted to EUR 987 million, or 11.7%.

Investment income increased by EUR 2,269 million from EUR 8,067 million in 2000 to EUR 10,336 million in 2001. Income from land and buildings in 2001 was EUR 160 million higher than in 2000, mainly due to higher realised gains, following a decision to manage the real estate portfolio more actively from 2001 onwards. The decrease from the income in investments in shares and convertible debentures of EUR 67 million was due to both lower realized capital gains (before taxation) and lower dividends as a consequence of the sale of a part of the share investment portfolio in 2000 for the funding of the acquisitions. The remaining investment income, consisting of income from fixed interest securities and income from the disposal of group companies, increased by EUR 2,176 million from EUR 6,065 million to EUR 8,241 million, reflecting growth of the portfolio and changes arising from acquisitions as well as the lower interest environment.

Income from commissions increased by EUR 564 million, or 65.1%, to EUR 1,431 million, mainly due to North America (EUR 455 million, primarily ReliaStar and Aetna), South America (EUR 136 million, of which SCA accounted for EUR 82 million) and the Netherlands (EUR 47 million). Depressed stock markets and lower assets under management, reduced commission income in the Rest of Europe by EUR 80 million from 2000 levels.

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Other income, including results on sale of equity participations, increased by EUR 591 million, from EUR 259 million to EUR 850 million, mainly due to increases in North America (340 million, due to, ReliaStar and Aetna) and the Netherlands (EUR 202 million, of which EUR 105 million regarding old reinsurance activities). Expenses increased in 2001 by EUR 904 million, or 53.0%, to EUR 2,610 million. Part of the increase was due to interest expenses which rose by EUR 495 million due to the funding and assumed debt of the ReliaStar, Aetna and SCA acquisitions.

BANKING OPERATIONS

The following table sets forth certain summary financial data for the Group’s banking operations for the years indicated:

                         
    Year ended December 31,
    2002   2001   2000
    (EUR millions)
Interest income
    24,088       24,318       24,285  
Interest expense
    16,442       18,246       18,499  
 
   
     
     
 
Net interest result
    7,646       6,072       5,786  
Commissions
    2,615       2,765       3,630  
Other income
                       
Income from securities and participating interests
    201       530       322  
Result from financial transactions
    454       1,080       1,154  
Other revenue
    285       664       410  
 
   
     
     
 
Total other income
    940       2,274       1,886  
 
   
     
     
 
Total income
    11,201       11,111       11,302  
Staff costs
    4,787       5,064       4,945  
Other administrative expenses
    3,173       2,762       2,876  
Depreciation
    338       365       476  
 
   
     
     
 
Operating expenses
    8,298       8,191       8,297  
Operational result before addition to the provision for loan losses
    2,903       2,920       3,005  
Addition to the provision for loan losses
    1,435       750       400  
 
   
     
     
 
Result before taxation
    1,468       2,170       2,605  
Taxation
    333       477       837  
Third party interests
    240       251       108  
 
   
     
     
 
Operational net profit
    895       1,442       1,660  
Non-operational items
                764  
 
   
     
     
 
Total net profit
    895       1,442       2,424  

Overview

     Year ended December 31, 2002 compared to year ended December 31, 2001

     Results before taxation

The operational result before taxation from ING’s banking operations for 2002 decreased by EUR 702 million, or 32.4%, to EUR 1,468 million from EUR 2,170 million for 2001. This decrease was entirely a result of substantially higher risk costs, resulting in an increase of the addition to the provision for loan losses by EUR 685 million to EUR 1,435 million. In the fourth quarter 2002, a significant provision was created with respect to a potential loss on National Century Financial Enterprises in the United States. Included in the full year 2002 result are the exceptional profit of EUR 94 million on the sale of Cedel shares and the creation of a EUR 128 million provision for the restructuring of the international wholesale banking activities outside the Benelux. In spite of the restructuring provision, the operational result before addition to the provision for loan losses decreased only marginally by EUR 17 million, or 0.6%, to EUR 2,903 million. Total income rose by EUR 90 million, or 0.8%, thanks to strongly increased interest results, while the other income components suffered severely from the disappointing market circumstances. Operating expenses increased by EUR 107 million, or 1.3%, due to the further expansion of ING Direct (including the consolidation of DiBa), the restructuring provision and the increased investments in synergy projects. Although most banking units were hit by the deterioration of

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economic conditions, both Postbank and ING Direct reported a strongly improved result before taxation.

For the first time and ahead of plan, ING Direct (including DiBa as from 2002) reported a positive pre-tax result of EUR 13 million over the fourth quarter 2002. For the full year 2002, the loss before taxation amounted to EUR 67 million, which was much better than expected and a strong improvement compared to the loss of EUR 199 million in 2001. The strong growth in funds entrusted and client base combined with the current steep yield curve led to a substantial increase in income, exceeding the rise in expenses. The operations in Canada, Australia and the United States reported profits for the full year (after cost of capital).

Exchange rate movements increased the result before taxation by EUR 44 million.

     Total income

Total income from the banking operations increased by EUR 90 million, or 0.8%, to EUR 11,201 million from EUR 11,111 million for 2001. Adjusted for currency translation and excluding the consolidation effect of DiBa, Toplease and ING Vysya Bank, total income decreased by EUR 87 million, or 0.8%.

     Operating expenses

Operating expenses increased by EUR 107 million, or 1.3%, to EUR 8,298 million, from EUR 8,191 million for 2001. Adjusted for currency translation and excluding the consolidation effect of DiBa, Toplease and ING Vysya Bank, operating expenses increased by EUR 4 million. Excluding the EUR 128 million restructuring provision for international wholesale banking, operating expenses decreased by EUR 124 million or 1.5%.

     Efficiency ratio

Excluding the continued rapidly expanding ING Direct operations and the EUR 128 million restructuring provision for international wholesale banking, the operational efficiency ratio (operating expenses as a percentage of total income) was 71.0% for 2002, a slight improvement compared to 71.7% for 2001. Including ING Direct and the restructuring provision, the operational efficiency ratio was 74.1% for 2002, compared to 73.7% for 2001.

     Net interest result

Within the banking operations, the net interest result for 2002 increased by EUR 1,574 million, or 25.9%, to EUR 7,646 million from EUR 6,072 million for 2001, reflecting a higher average balance sheet total and an improvement of the interest margin. The widening of the interest margin can be attributed to improved product margins, a steepening of the average yield curve and strong growth in retail savings.

     Commissions

Commissions for 2002 decreased by EUR 150 million, or 5.4%, to EUR 2,615 million, from EUR 2,765 million for 2001. In particular, securities commissions and management fees were lower, reflecting the sharp fall of the stock markets and the reluctance of (private) clients to invest in securities.

     Other income

Other income for 2002 decreased by EUR 1,334 million, or 58.7%, to EUR 940 million, from EUR 2,274 million for 2001. The decrease occurred in all components. Income from securities and participating interests was EUR 329 million lower, while the results from financial transactions and other revenue dropped by EUR 626 million and EUR 379 million respectively.

     Addition to the provision for loan losses

The addition to the provision for loan losses increased by EUR 685 million, or 91.3%, to EUR 1,435 million, from EUR 750 million for 2001. The deterioration of economic conditions and the significant provision with respect to a potential loss on National Century Financial Enterprises in the US caused the strong increase in 2002 compared to 2001.

Effect of acquisitions/consolidations

The consolidation of DiBa (as of January 1, 2002), Toplease (as of May 1, 2002) and ING Vysya Bank

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(as from October 1, 2002) contributed to the Group’s 2002 total income, total operating expenses and result before taxation as follows:

                           
      Year ended   Consoli-
      December 31   dation
      2002   2001   effect
      (EUR millions)
Net interest result
    201               201  
Commissions
    34               34  
Other income
    67       2       65  
 
   
     
     
 
 
Total income
    302       2       300  
Staff costs
    74               74  
Other expenses
    165               165  
 
   
     
     
 
 
Operating expenses
    239               239  
Gross result
    63       2       61  
Addition to the provision for loan losses
    10               10  
 
   
     
     
 
Result before taxation
    53       2       51  

     Year ended December 31, 2001 compared to year ended December 31, 2000

     Result Before Taxation

The operational result before taxation from ING’s banking operations for 2001 decreased by EUR 435 million, or 16.7%, to EUR 2,170 million from EUR 2,605 million for 2000. This decrease was largely due to lower income and a substantially higher addition to the provision for loan losses in the second half of 2001, as a consequence of the deterioration in global market circumstances. In the second half of 2001, the result before taxation (EUR 788 million) was 43.0% lower than in the first half of 2001 and 31.6% lower than the operational result before taxation in the second half of 2000. Compared with full year 2000 most banking units showed a decrease in the result before taxation. Postbank however, showed a marked increase in operational results.

Furthermore, the expanding ING Direct activities also had a negative impact on the overall banking result. The loss increased from EUR 143 million in 2000 to a loss of EUR 199 million in 2001. Meanwhile the oldest ING Direct operation in Canada delivered a positive operational result for the full year 2001 and ING Direct Australia turned into profit in the fourth quarter (after cost of capital).

The result before taxation of the former Executive Centre Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB) decreased from EUR 280 million in 2000 to EUR 169 million in 2001, mainly attributable to low income levels from equity market activities and substantially higher additions to the provision for loan losses. The severe deterioration in revenues was partly offset by substantially lower operating expenses as a result of the restructuring and integration of activities. In 2001, all wholesale activities, including CIB, were combined under the Executive Centre ING Europe. A substantial downscaling in investment banking, especially in equities reduced former full-time CIB staff from 9,600 to 7,300 and lowered operating expenses by 23%.

     Income

Total income from the banking operations decreased by EUR 191 million, or 1.7%, to EUR 11,111 million from EUR 11,302 million for 2000. The decrease can be attributed to substantial lower commission revenue partly offset by higher other income and a higher net interest result.

     Operating expenses

Operating expenses decreased by EUR 106 million, or 1.3% to EUR 8,191 million, from EUR 8,297 million for 2000 reflecting tight cost control, lower bonuses and the sale of the US investment banking activities.

     Efficiency ratio

Excluding the expanding ING Direct activities, the operational efficiency ratio (operating expenses as

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a percentage of total income) was 71.7% for 2001, compared to 72.1% for 2000. Including ING Direct, the operational efficiency ratio was 73.7% for 2001, compared to 73.4% for 2000.

Exchange rate movements increased the result before taxation marginally by EUR 2 million.

     Net interest result

Within the banking operations, the net interest result for 2001 increased by EUR 286 million, or 4.9%, to EUR 6,072 million from EUR 5,786 million for 2000. The increase can be attributed to the growth of the average balance sheet total, partly offset by a slight narrowing of the total interest margin. In the course of 2001, the yield curve steepened resulting in an improvement of the interest margin in the third and fourth quarter.

     Commissions

Commissions for 2001 decreased by EUR 865 million, or 23.8%, to EUR 2,765 million, from EUR 3,630 million for 2000. In particular, securities commissions and management fees were lower, reflecting the downturn across the equity markets.

     Other income

Other income for 2001, which includes results from financial transactions, increased by EUR 388 million, or 20.6%, to EUR 2,274 million, from EUR 1,886 million for 2000. The increase was primarily due to higher results from participating interests and higher other revenue. The results from financial transactions showed a limited decrease compared with 2000.

     Addition to the provision for loan losses

The addition to the provision for loan losses increased by EUR 350 million, or 87.5%, to EUR 750 million, from EUR 400 million for 2000. The deterioration of economic conditions necessitated the strong increase in 2001, compared to the very low level in 2000.

Net Interest Result

The following table sets forth certain information concerning the total net interest result of the Group’s banking operations. The interest income and net interest result figures in the following table (other than Other net interest result and Total net interest result) include interest on non-accruing loans and do not reflect (i) interest income on amortized results investments; (ii) lending commissions; (iii) interest income on off-balance sheet instruments; (iv) other interest income not considered to be directly related to interest-earning assets; (v) interest expense on off-balance sheet instruments; or (vi) other interest expense not considered to be directly related to interest-bearing liabilities, all of which are reflected in the Other net interest result and Total net interest result below, which corresponds to the net interest result line item in the Consolidated Financial Statements. A reconciliation of the interest income, interest expense and net interest result figures below to the corresponding line items in the Consolidated Financial Statements is contained in the table under “Item 4. Information on the Company – Selected Statistical Information on Banking Operations – Average Balances and Interest Rates”.

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      Year ended December 31,
      2002   2001   2000
      (EUR millions)
Total
                       
Interest income(1)
    21,603       23,289       23,312  
 
   
     
     
 
Net interest result(1)
    7,093       5,779       5,618  
Other net interest result(2)
    553       293       168  
 
   
     
     
 
 
Total net interest result
    7,646       6,072       5,786  
Average interest-earning assets
    449,562       416,025       383,680  
Average interest-bearing liabilities
    422,650       396,427       357,810  
Domestic
                       
Interest income(1)
    8,873       9,051       8,471  
Net interest result(1)
    3,656       2,739       2,162  
Average interest-earning assets
    174,962       163,714       141,286  
Average interest-bearing liabilities
    160,660       157,770       141,618  
Foreign
                       
Interest income(1)
    12,730       14,238       14,841  
Net interest result(1)
    3,437       3,040       3,456  
Average interest-earning assets
    274,600       252,311       242,394  
Average interest-bearing liabilities
    261,990       238,657       216,192  
Gross yield(3)
                       
 
Domestic
    5.07 %     5.53 %     6.00 %
 
Foreign
    4.64 %     5.64 %     6.12 %
 
Total
    4.81 %     5.60 %     6.08 %
Interest spread(4)
                       
 
Domestic
    1.82 %     1.53 %     1.55 %
 
Foreign
    1.09 %     0.95 %     0.85 %
 
Total
    1.37 %     1.18 %     1.13 %
Interest margin(5)
                       
 
Domestic
    2.09 %     1.67 %     1.53 %
 
Foreign
    1.25 %     1.20 %     1.43 %
 
Total
    1.58 %     1.39 %     1.46 %

(1)   See “Item 4. Information on the Company – Selected statistical information on banking operations – Average balances and Interest rates"
 
(2)   Additional net interest result required to reconcile Total net interest result to Consolidated Financial Statements. See “Item 4. Information on the Company – Selected statistical information on banking operations – Average balances and interest rates"
 
(3)   Gross yield is the average interest rate earned on Average interest-earning assets. See “Item 4. Information on the Company – Selected statistical information on banking operations – Average balances and interest rates”.
 
(4)   Interest spread is the difference between the average interest rate earned on Average interest-earning assets and the average interest rate paid on Average interest-bearing liabilities. See “Item 4. Information on the Company – Selected statistical information on banking operations – Average balances and interest rates.”
 
(5)   Interest margin is ‘Net interest result’ before reconciliation to Consolidated Financial Statements as a percentage of Average interest-earning assets.

     Year ended December 31, 2002 compared to year ended December 31, 2001

The Group’s total net interest result in 2002 increased by EUR 1,574 million, from EUR 6,072 million in 2001 to EUR 7,646 million in 2002, representing a EUR 33.5 billion, or 8.1%, increase in volume, combined with an increase of the interest margin by 19 basis points. Both domestic and international operations recorded volume growth, of 6.9% and 8.8%, respectively. The increase in the interest margin was especially attributable to the domestic operations (42 basis points); in the international operations there was a slight increase of 4 basis points. The EUR 11.2 billion increase in volume of average interest-earning assets in the domestic operations was mainly caused by an increase of EUR 13.6 billion in average loans and advances, partly offset by a decrease of EUR 1.9 million in average time deposits to banks. The increase in volume of the average interest-earning assets in the international operations of EUR 22.3 billion, attributable primarily to the consolidation of DiBa, was mainly caused by an increase of EUR 14.0 billion in average interest-earning securities and an

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increase of EUR 11.9 billion in average loans and advances. The change in total net interest result in 2002 can be allocated by average rate and volume effects as follows:

         
    (EUR millions)(1)
Increase due to changes in average balances
    944  
Increase due to changes in average rates
    371  
Increase due to changes in average rates and balances
    1,315  
Increase due to changes in other net interest (from reconciliation)
    259  
 
   
 
Total changes in total net interest result
    1,574  
 
   
 

(1)   See “Item 4. Information on the Company – Selected statistical information on banking operations – Analysis of changes in net interest income”.

     Year ended December 31, 2001 compared to year ended December 31, 2000

The Group’s total net interest result in 2001 increased by EUR 286 million, from EUR 5,786 million in 2000 to EUR 6,072 million in 2001, representing a EUR 32.3 billion, or 8.4%, increase in volume, combined with a decrease of the interest margin of 7 basis points. Both domestic and international operations recorded volume growth, of 15.9% and 4.1%, respectively. The interest margin in the international operations decreased by 23 basis points, while the interest margin of the domestic operations rose by 14 basis points. The EUR 22.4 billion increase in volume of average interest-earning assets in the domestic operations was mainly caused by an increase of EUR 15.6 billion in average loans and advances and EUR 4.2 billion in average interest-earning securities. The increase in volume of the average interest-earning assets in the international operations of EUR 9.9 billion was caused by an increase of EUR 11.9 billion in average interest-earning securities.

The change in total net interest result in 2001 can be allocated by average rate and volume effects as follows:

         
    (EUR millions)(1)
Increase due to changes in average rates
    294  
Decrease due to changes in average balances
    (133 )
Increase due to changes in average rates and balances
    161  
Increase due to changes in other net interest (from reconciliation)
    125  
 
   
 
Total changes in total net interest result
    286  

(1)   See Item 4. “Information on the Company – Selected statistical information on banking operations – Analysis of changes in net interest income.”

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Commissions

The following table sets forth the components of commission income for the years indicated:

                         
    Year ended December 31,
    2002   2001   2000
    (EUR millions)
Funds transfer
    592       526       503  
Securities business
    731       884       1,571  
Insurance brokerage
    117       88       94  
Management fees
    688       751       853  
Brokerage and advisory fees
    197       203       266  
Other
    290       313       343  
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    2,615       2,765       3,630  
 
   
     
     
 

     Year ended December 31, 2002 compared to year ended December 31, 2001

Total commissions for 2002 decreased by EUR 150 million, or 5.4%, to EUR 2,615 million, from EUR 2,765 million for 2001.

     Funds transfer

Commission from funds transfer increased by EUR 66 million, or 12.5%, to EUR 592 million from EUR 526 million for 2001. ING Bank’s commission from domestic funds transfer, primarily at Postbank, increased by EUR 30 million, or 8.4%. Commission from international funds transfer increased by EUR 36 million, or 21.7%, notably DiBa and BBL.

     Securities business

Commission from the securities business decreased by EUR 153 million, or 17.3%, to EUR 731 million from EUR 884 million for 2001. The decrease occurred both in the Netherlands (decrease of EUR 34 million or 21.4%) and outside the Netherlands (decrease of EUR 119 million or 16.3%), following the sharp fall of the stock markets and the continuing reluctance of private clients to invest in securities.

     Insurance brokerage

The commission from insurance brokerage increased by EUR 29 million, or 33.0%, to EUR 117 million from EUR 88 million for 2001. The increase can be attributed to BBL, reflecting increased sales in Belgium.

     Management fees

Management fees decreased by EUR 63 million, or 8.4%, to EUR 688 million from EUR 751 million for 2001, also caused by the sharp fall of the stock markets and the reluctance of private clients to invest in securities. In particular, Baring Asset Management and ING Furman Selz Asset Management reported lower management fees.

     Brokerage and advisory fees

In 2002, brokerage and advisory fees of EUR 197 million were EUR 6 million, or 3.0%, lower compared to EUR 203 million for 2001.

     Other

Other commission income decreased by EUR 23 million, or 7.3%, to EUR 290 million from EUR 313 million for 2001.

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     Year ended December 31, 2001 compared to year ended December 31, 2000

Commissions for 2001 decreased by EUR 865 million, or 23.8%, to EUR 2,765 million, from EUR 3,630 million for 2000.

     Funds transfer

Commission from funds transfer increased by EUR 23 million, or 4.6%, to EUR 526 million from EUR 503 million for 2000. ING Bank’s commissions from domestic funds transfer, primarily at Postbank, increased by EUR 14 million, or 4.0%. Commissions from international funds transfer increased by EUR 9 million, or 5.8%.

     Securities business

Commissions from the securities business decreased by EUR 687 million, or 43.7%, to EUR 884 million from EUR 1,571 million for 2000. The decrease occurred both in the Netherlands (decrease of EUR 116 million or 43.1%) and outside the Netherlands (decrease of EUR 571 million or 44.0%), due to the downturn across the stock markets. The deterioration was mainly attributable to former CIB, BBL, BHF-Bank, ING Bank Netherlands and Postbank.

     Insurance brokerage

The commission from insurance brokerage decreased by EUR 6 million, or 6.4%, to EUR 88 million from EUR 94 million for 2000.

     Management fees

Management fees decreased by EUR 102 million, or 12.0%, to EUR 751 million from EUR 853 million for 2000. This decrease was also caused by adverse market conditions which mainly affected Baring Asset Management, ING Furman Selz Asset Management and former CIB.

     Brokerage and advisory fees

Brokerage and advisory fees decreased by EUR 63 million, or 23.7%, to EUR 203 million from EUR 266 million for 2000. The decrease can be attributed to former CIB, and reflects the sale in 2001 of CIB’s US investment banking operations.

     Other

Other commission income decreased by EUR 30 million, or 8.7%, to EUR 313 million from EUR 343 million for 2000.

Other Income

The following table sets forth the components of other income for the years indicated:

                         
    Year ended December 31,
    2002   2001   2000
    (EUR millions)
Income from securities and participating interests
    201       530       322  
Result from financial transactions
    454       1,080       1,154  
Other revenue
    285       664       410  
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    940       2,274       1,886  
 
   
     
     
 

     Year ended December 31, 2002 compared to year ended December 31, 2001

Other income decreased by EUR 1,334 million, or 58.7%, to EUR 940 million from EUR 2,274 million.

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Income from securities and participating interests
Income from securities and participating interests consists of dividends, other income from shares held in the investment portfolio and the results from participating equity interests. Income from securities and participating interests decreased by EUR 329 million, or 62.1%, to EUR 201 million from EUR 530 million. This strong decrease is mainly attributable to ING BHF Bank and the international wholesale banking units.

Result from financial transactions

The result from financial transactions includes exchange rate differences and capital gains and losses on securities held in the trading portfolio, as well as valuation differences on equity participations. Also included in this item are exchange rate differences in connection with holding assets and liabilities in foreign currencies, the results of the associated forward contracts and the results from financial instruments other than those serving to hedge interest rate risks. Asset trading results are also included in this item. The accounting principles for recognition of result from financial transactions under Dutch and US GAAP are different. See Note 6.1.d of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

The result from financial transactions can be analyzed as follows:

                 
    Year ended December 31,
    2002   2001
    (EUR millions)
Result from securities trading portfolio
    201       617  
Result from currency trading portfolio
    242       465  
Other results
    11       (2 )
 
   
     
 
Total
    454       1,080  
 
   
     
 

     Result from securities trading portfolio. The result from the securities trading portfolio for 2002 decreased by EUR 416 million, or 67.4%, to EUR 201 million from EUR 617 million for 2001. The ongoing fall in equity prices impacted the result from securities trading negatively. The decrease mainly reflects lower trading results at BBL, international wholesale banking and the former ING Furman Selz Asset Management (revaluation of seed capital investments).

     Result from currency trading portfolio. The result from the currency trading portfolio for 2002 decreased by EUR 223 million, or 48.0%, to EUR 242 million from EUR 465 million for 2001. The decrease occurred mainly in the Americas, (reflecting in part the impact of the devaluation of the Brazilian Real) and Central Europe.

     Other results. Other results, (hich include asset trading, equity participations, interest derivatives and the effects of revaluations in hyperinflationary countries, for 2002 improved by EUR 13 million to EUR 11 million from EUR (2) million for 2001. The improvement can be attributed to a smaller downward revaluation of equity participations in 2002 compared to the downward revaluation in 2001.

     Other revenue. Income from Other revenue for 2002 decreased by EUR 379 million, or 57.1%, to EUR 285 million from EUR 664 million for 2001. The decrease is due, among others, to losses relating to operational problems in car leasing and securities brokerage at ING Bank. Furthermore, notably BBL, international wholesale banking and Postbank reported lower Other revenue compared to the high level in 2001.

     Year ended December 31, 2001 compared to year ended December 31, 2000

Other income increased by EUR 388 million, or 20.6%, to EUR 2,274 million from EUR 1,886 million.

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     Income from securities and participating interests

Income from securities and participating interests consists of dividends, other income from shares held in the investment portfolio and the results from participating equity interests. Income from securities and participating interests increased by EUR 208 million, or 64.6%, to EUR 530 million from EUR 322 million. The increase includes EUR 40 million profit on the sale of the United States investment banking activities of former CIB and substantially higher results on participating interests, especially at BHF-Bank.

     Result from financial transactions

The result from financial transactions includes exchange rate differences and capital gains and losses on securities held in the trading portfolio, as well as valuation differences on equity participations. Also included in this item are exchange rate differences in connection with holding assets and liabilities in foreign currencies, the results of the associated forward contracts and the results from financial instruments other than those serving to hedge interest rate risks. Asset trading results are also included in this item. The accounting principles for recognition of result from financial transactions under Dutch and US GAAP are different. (See Note 6.1.d of Notes to the Financial Statements).

The result from financial transactions can be analyzed as follows:

                 
    Year ended December 31,
    2002   2001
    (EUR millions)
Result from securities trading portfolio
    617       674  
Result from currency trading portfolio
    465       379  
Other results
    (2 )     101  
 
   
     
 
Total
    1,080       1,154  
 
   
     
 

     Result from securities trading portfolio. The result from the securities trading portfolio for 2001 decreased by EUR 57 million, or 8.5%, to EUR 617 million from EUR 674 million for 2000. The decrease was mainly due to the relatively low result in the fourth quarter of 2001 (EUR 25 million) in comparison to the corresponding quarter of the previous year (EUR 117 million).

     Result from currency trading portfolio. The result from the currency trading portfolio for 2001 increased by EUR 86 million, or 22.7%, to EUR 465 million from EUR 379 million for 2000. The increase was mainly attributable to former CIB and Bank Slaski.

     Other results. Other results, which include asset trading, equity participations, interest derivatives and the effects of revaluations in hyperinflationary countries, for 2001 decreased by EUR 103 million to EUR(2) million from EUR 101 million for 2000. This deterioration was due to lower results on derivatives (mainly related to securities trading) and a downward revaluation of equity participations.

     Other revenue. Income from Other revenue for 2001 increased by EUR 254 million, or 62.0%, to EUR664 million from EUR 410 million for 2000. The increase was partly caused by higher results on real estate (EUR 60 million) and leasing (EUR 41 million). The remaining increase can be attributed to BBL, ING Bank Netherlands and Baring Asset Management.

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Operating Expenses

The following table sets forth the components of Operating expenses:

                         
    Year ended December 31,
    2002   2001   2000
    (EUR millions)
Staff costs
    4,787       5,064       4,945  
Other administrative expenses
    3,173       2,762       2,876  
Depreciation
    338       365       476  
 
   
     
     
 
Operating expenses
    8,298       8,191       8,297  
 
   
     
     
 

     Year ended December 31, 2002 compared to year ended December 31, 2001

Total operating expenses of ING’s banking operations increased by EUR 107 million, or 1.3%, to EUR 8,298 million, from EUR 8,191 million for 2001. Expenses were increased by the EUR 128 million restructuring provision for international wholesale banking created in the third quarter 2002. Adjusted for currency translation and excluding the effect of the consolidation of DiBa, Toplease and ING Vysya Bank and excluding the restructuring provision, operating expenses decreased by EUR 124 million, or 1.5%. If the further expansion of ING Direct (which saw operating expenses excluding DiBa rise by EUR 106 million) and the increased investments in a number of synergy projects (EUR 138 million) are also excluded, the decrease was 4.7%. This decrease reflects the sale of the US investment banking activities in April 2001 on the one hand and stringent cost control and lower bonus accruals in 2002 on the other.

     Staff costs

Despite the impact of the collective labour agreement and higher pension costs mainly in the Netherlands, total staff costs decreased by EUR 277 million, or 5.5%, to EUR 4,787 million in 2002, reflecting lower bonus accruals and a change in the staff composition (fewer staff in investment banking, more in ING Direct and newly acquired ING Vysya Bank). In the Netherlands, the average number of staff (full time equivalents) decreased by 3.6% from 23,473 in 2001 to 22,639 in 2002. Outside the Netherlands, the average number of staff employed increased by 1,252, or 3.4%, from 37,298 in 2001 to 38,550 in 2002. Excluding the consolidation of DiBa and ING Vysya Bank average foreign headcount decreased in 2002 by approximately 1,200.

     Other administrative expenses

Other administrative expenses increased by EUR 411 million, or 14.9%, to EUR 3,173 million from EUR 2,762 million in 2001. This increase was mainly due to ING Direct, the consolidation of DiBa, Toplease and ING Vysya Bank and the restructuring provision for international wholesale banking.

     Depreciation

Total depreciation decreased by EUR 27 million, or 7.4%, from EUR 365 million in 2001 to EUR 338 million in 2002.

     Year ended December 31, 2001 compared to year ended December 31, 2000

Operating expenses for 2001 decreased by EUR 106 million, or 1.3%, to EUR 8,191 million, from EUR 8,297 million for 2000. Adjusted for currency translation and excluding the effect of the reclassification of Locabel at BBL, operating expenses decreased by EUR 42 million, or 0.5%. As from September 2000, interest income and depreciation expenses in our Locabel leasing operations in Belgium have been netted under Other Income.

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     Staff costs

Staff costs increased by 2.4%, to EUR 5,064 million in 2001. Adjusted for currency translation, staff costs rose by EUR 90 million, or 1.8%. This was mainly due to an increased average number of staff and higher salaries, which were offset to some extent by lower bonuses. In the Netherlands, the average number of staff (full time equivalents) rose by 0.7% from 23,311 in 2000 to 23,473 in 2001. Outside the Netherlands, the average number of staff employed increased by 849, or 2.3%, from 36,449 in 2000 to 37,298 in 2001. The growth in foreign headcount (notably ING Direct, Bank Slaski and ING Asset Management) was mitigated by the sale of the US investment banking activities.

     Other administrative expenses

Other administrative expenses decreased by EUR 114 million, or 4.0%, to EUR 2,762 million in 2001. Adjusted for currency translation, other administrative expenses were EUR 117 million or 4.1% lower, reflecting tight cost controls and the sale of the United States investment banking activities.

     Depreciation

Total depreciation decreased by EUR 111 million, or 23.3%, from EUR 476 million in 2000 to EUR 365 million in 2001. EUR 96 million of the decrease was attributable to the reclassification of Locabel.

Addition to the Provision for Loan Losses

The continued weak economic conditions combined with the bankruptcy of National Century Financial Enterprises (NCFE) in the United States required an addition to the provision for loan losses of EUR 510 million in the fourth quarter 2002. This is a strong increase compared to the third quarter 2002 (EUR 300 million). The total addition to the provision for loan losses in 2002 rose by EUR 685 million, or 91.3%, to EUR 1,435 million from EUR 750 million for 2001, corresponding with 59 basis points of average credit risk weighted assets against 33 basis points for the full year 2001.

In 2001, the addition to the provision for loan losses rose by EUR 350 million, or 87.5%, to EUR 750 million, primarily due to the deterioration of economic conditions generally, as well as provisions for a number of large individual exposures, including Argentina and Enron. Of such increase EUR 110 million and EUR 138 million was incurred in our operations in North and South America, respectively. The addition in 2001 corresponds with 32 basis points of the credit risk weighted assets against a very low 19 basis points in 2000.

Taxation

The effective taxation rate for the operational net profit of the banking operations was 22.7% (EUR 333 million), 22.0% (EUR 477 million) and 32.1% (EUR 837 million) in 2002, 2001 and 2000 respectively, compared to a statutory rate of 34.5% in 2002 and 35% in 2001 and 2000 in the Netherlands. The difference between the effective and statutory rates reflected the effect of foreign tax rates and other items. The relatively low taxation rate in both 2002 (22.7%) and 2001 (22.0%) was mainly caused by non-taxable gains on the sale of investments and to a substantially lower tax ratio of the Belgian banking operations.

Operational Net Profit from Banking Operations

Operational net profit for 2002 decreased by EUR 547 million, or 37.9%, to EUR 895 million, from EUR 1,442 million for 2001. Operational net profit for 2001 decreased by EUR 218 million, or 13.1%, to EUR 1,442 million, from EUR 1,660 million for 2000.

Total Net Profit from Banking Operations

Total net profit for 2002 decreased by EUR 547 million, or 37.9%, to EUR 895 million, from EUR 1,442 million for 2001. Due to the absence of non-operational items in both 2002 and 2001 operational net profit from banking operations equaled total net profit.

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Total net profit for 2001 decreased by EUR 982 million, or 40.5%, to EUR 1,442 million, from EUR 2,424 million for 2000. EUR 764 million of the decrease was caused by non-operational items in 2000, while in 2001 there were no non-operational items. The non-operational items in 2000 included realized gains on CCF shares (EUR 834 million), the sale of the remaining Libertel shares (EUR 376 million) and the addition to a special provision for restructuring CIB (EUR 446 million).

Risk Adjusted Return on Capital

The Risk-Adjusted Return on Capital, or RAROC, measures performance on a risk-adjusted basis. RAROC is calculated as the economic return divided by economic capital. The economic returns of RAROC are based on the principles of valuation and calculation of results applied in the annual accounts. The credit risk provisioning is replaced by statistically expected losses reflecting average credit losses over the entire economic cycle. ING Group continues to develop and refine the models supporting the RAROC calculations. ING Direct is excluded.

The following table sets forth the RAROC (pre-tax) and the economic capital of the banking operations:

                                 
    RAROC (pre-tax)   Economic capital
    Full year,   Full year,
    2002   2001   2002   2001
    (in %)   (EUR billions)
ING Europe
    13.8       13.7       13.6       13.7  
ING Asset Management
    5.2       9.5       0.7       0.6  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Total banking operations
    13.3       13.5       14.3       14.3  
Wholesale
    10.2       9.7       11.6       11.4  
Retail
    26.7       28.6       2.7       2.9  

The overall (pre-tax) RAROC figure of ING’s banking operations was 13.3%, a slight deterioration of 0.2% compared to 2001. Excluding the restructuring provision for international wholesale banking created in the third quarter 2002, the overall RAROC was 14.2%. Compared to 2001, RAROC of the wholesale activities improved by 0.5% to 10.2%. The RAROC performance of the retail activities was a satisfactory 26.7% against 28.6% in 2001. Total economic capital remained unchanged compared to full year 2001.

Geographical Breakdown

The following table sets forth the geographic distribution of operational income and operational result before taxation of the banking operations:

                                                 
    Year ended December 31,
    Operational income   Operational result before taxation
    2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000
    (EUR millions)   (EUR millions)
The Netherlands
    4,982       4,821       4,541       1,510       1,523       1,441  
Belgium
    2,044       1,957       2,069       613       521       517  
Rest of Europe
    2,773       3,018       2,791       (311 )     364       593  
North America
    600       537       1,039       (476 )     (446 )     (235 )
South America
    251       238       271       41       24       171  
Asia
    436       476       538       38       193       128  
Australia
    107       55       37       55       (7 )     (9 )
Other
    8       9       16       (2 )     (2 )     (1 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    11,201       11,111       11,302       1,468       2,170       2,605  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

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Year ended December 31, 2002 compared to year ended December 31, 2001

     The Netherlands Operational income for 2002 increased by EUR 161 million, or 3.3%, to EUR 4,982 million, from EUR 4,821 million for 2001. The net interest result rose by EUR 661 million, or 20.7%, due to increased interest margins and growth of the average balance sheet total. Commissions rose by EUR 7 million, or 0.9%. Higher funds transfer commission (mainly Postbank) was largely offset by lower securities commission. Other income decreased by EUR 507 million, or 60.0%, among others due to substantial lower results from financial transactions and a one-off loss relating to operational problems in securities brokerage at ING Bank. Operating expenses increased by EUR 80 million, or 2.5%. The addition to the provision for loan losses increased by EUR 94 million, as result of the deteriorated economic climate. The operational result before taxation decreased by EUR 13 million, or 0.9%, to EUR 1,510 million, from EUR 1,523 million for 2001.

     Belgium Operational income for 2002 rose by EUR 87 million, or 4.4%, to EUR 2,044 million, from EUR 1,957 million for 2001. This increase was mainly due to higher interest results and the exceptional profit on the sale of Cedel shares (EUR 64 million booked in Belgium). Result from financial transactions and commission income was lower. Operating expenses decreased by EUR 77 million, or 5.3%, mainly due to lower staff numbers and tight cost control. Compared to a release in 2001, loan loss provisioning increased by EUR 72 million, but is still relatively low. The operational result before taxation increased by EUR 92 million, or 17.7%, to EUR 613 million, from EUR 521 million for 2001.

     Rest of Europe In spite of the consolidation of DiBa, operational income for 2002 decreased by EUR 245 million, or 8.1%, to EUR 2,773 million, from EUR 3,018 million for 2001. In addition to lower results from financial transactions and lower commissions, income from securities and participating interests also dropped sharply (mainly at ING BHF Bank). The interest result, however, increased by EUR 347 million, of which EUR 182 million can be attributed to DiBa. Operating expenses increased by EUR 251 million, or 10.7%, mainly due to the consolidation of DiBa (EUR 211 million) and the restructuring provision for the international wholesale banking activities, partly charged to this geographical region. The addition to the provision for loan losses increased by EUR 179 million, mainly due to higher risk costs of ING BHF Bank and the international wholesale banking activities. As a result, the operational result before taxation decreased by EUR 675 million to EUR (311) million, from EUR 364 million for 2001.

     North America Operational income in North America for 2002 increased by EUR 63 million, or 11.7%, to EUR 600 million, from EUR 537 million for 2001. This increase was caused by higher interest results (mainly ING Direct USA and Canada), which was largely offset by lower results from financial transactions and lower income from securities and participating interests (in 2001 EUR 40 million gain on the sale of the US investment banking activities). Operating expenses decreased by EUR 143 million, or 19.8%, to EUR 579 million. This decrease was due to the sale of the US investment banking activities in April 2001, which was partly offset by higher expenses of ING Direct USA and the regional part of the restructuring provision. The addition to the provision for loan losses increased sharply by EUR 236 million, in part due to the provisioning for National Century Financial Enterprises. The operational result before taxation decreased by EUR 30 million to EUR (476) million, from EUR (446) million for 2001. In 2002 the ING Direct operations in the United States and Canada reported positive results for the full year.

     South America Operational income in South America for 2002 increased by EUR 13 million, or 5.5%, to EUR 251 million, from EUR 238 million for 2001. Higher interest results were largely offset by lower results from financial transactions . Despite the restructuring provision for international wholesale banking, operating expenses decreased by EUR 31 million due to cost containment actions. The addition to the provision for loan losses increased by EUR 27 million compared to the already high level in 2001, due to ongoing high Argentina provisioning. The operational result before taxation increased by EUR 17 million to EUR 41 million, from EUR 24 million for 2001.

     Asia In spite of the consolidation of ING Vysya Bank, operational income in Asia for 2002 decreased by EUR 40 million, or 8.4%, to EUR 436 million, from EUR 476 million for 2001. The decrease was mainly due to lower commission income. Operating expenses increased by EUR 24 million, or 6.6%, to EUR 389 million, entirely due to the Asian share of the restructuring provision for international wholesale banking and ING Vysya Bank. Compared to the release of country risk provisions in 2001,

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the addition to the provision for loan losses increased by EUR 91 million, but is still relatively low. As a result, the operational result before taxation decreased by EUR 155 million, or 80.3%, to EUR 38 million, from EUR 193 million for 2001.

     Australia Operational income in Australia for 2002 increased by EUR 52 million, or 94.5%, to EUR 107 million, due to an increase of EUR 54 million in net interest result (mainly ING Direct Australia). Operating expenses increased by EUR 4 million, or 7.8%, while the addition to the provision for loan losses decreased by EUR 14 million. The operational result before taxation improved by EUR 62 million to EUR 55 million, from EUR (7) million for 2001.

     Year ended December 31, 2001 compared to year ended December 31, 2000

     The Netherlands Operational income for 2001 increased by EUR 280 million, or 6.2%, to EUR 4,821 million, from EUR 4,541 million for 2000. The net interest result rose by EUR 266 million, or 9.1%, mainly due to a strong growth of the average balance sheet total. Commissions decreased by EUR 89 million, or 10.3%, mainly due to lower securities commissions. Other income increased by EUR 103 million, or 13.9%, compared to 2000. Operating expenses increased by EUR 119 million, or 3.9%. The addition to the provision for loan losses increased by EUR 79 million, as result of the worsened economic climate. The operational result before taxation increased by EUR 82 million, or 5.7%, to EUR 1,523 million, from EUR 1,441 million for 2000.

     Belgium Operational income for 2001 decreased by EUR 112 million, or 5.4%, to EUR 1,957 million, from EUR 2,069 million for 2000. This decrease was mainly due to the reclasification of Locabel and lower commissions (mainly securities commission). Operating expenses decreased by EUR 67 million, or 4.5%, mainly due to the effect of the reclassification of Locabel. The operational result before taxation increased by EUR 4 million, or 0.8%, to EUR 521 million, from EUR 517 million for 2000. This increase was mainly due to releases of the provision for loan losses in 2001.

     Rest of Europe Operational income for 2001 increased by EUR 227 million, or 8.1%, to EUR 3,018 million, from EUR 2,791 million for 2000. This increase is due to higher other income (EUR 315 million, mainly BHF-Bank and ING Baring Private Bank), higher interest (EUR 184 million, mainly BBL, ING Lease and BHF-Bank), which was partly offset by EUR 272 million lower commissions mainly caused by the downturn across the stock markets. Operating expenses increased by EUR 359 million to EUR 2,351 million, due to start-up costs at ING Direct in France, Spain and Italy, higher expenses at former CIB, BHF-Bank and in Central Europe, which was partly offset by lower expenses at BBL. The addition to the provision for loan losses increased by EUR 96 million, mainly due to higher risk costs of BHF- Bank and Bank Slaski. As a result, the operational result before taxation decreased by EUR 229 million, or 38.6%, to EUR 364 million, from EUR 593 million for 2000.

     North America Operational income in North America for 2001 decreased by EUR 502 million, or 48.3%, to EUR 537 million, from EUR 1,039 million for 2000. This decrease was, after the sale of the United States investment banking activities, mainly due to the downturn across the equity markets, resulting in substantially lower commissions and lower results on securities trading. Operating expenses decreased by EUR 400 million, or 35.7%, to EUR 721 million. This decrease was due, in part, to the sale of the United States investment banking activities, partly offset by start-up costs at ING Direct USA. The addition to the provision for loan losses increased by EUR 110 million, among others due, in part, to Enron provisioning. The operational result before taxation decreased by EUR 211 million to EUR (446) million, from EUR (235) million for 2000. Based on the measures taken already, ING expects an improvement of the result before taxation in 2002. In following years results should further improve as soon as ING Direct (USA) has reached its anticipated break-even point in 2003.

     South America Operational income in South America for 2001 decreased by EUR 33 million, or 12.2%, to EUR 238 million, from EUR 271 million for 2000, mainly due to lower interest results at former CIB (mainly Sao Paulo and Curaçao). The addition to the provision for loan losses increased by EUR 138 million, in part, due to Argentina provisioning, compared to a release of country risk provisions in 2000. The operational result before taxation decreased by EUR 147 million, or 86.0%, to EUR 24 million, from EUR 171 million for 2000.

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     Asia Operational income in Asia for 2001 decreased by EUR 62 million, or 11.5%, to EUR 476 million, from EUR 538 million for 2000. The decrease was mainly due to lower securities commission (mainly at former CIB) reflecting the downturn across the stock markets. Operating expenses decreased by EUR 94 million, or 20.4%, to EUR 365 million, mainly due to former CIB operations. The addition to the provision for loan losses decreased by EUR 33 million mainly due to releases of country risk provisions (both in 2000 and 2001). As a result, the operational result before taxation increased by EUR 65 million, or 50.8%, to EUR 193 million, from EUR 128 million for 2000.

     Australia Operational income in Australia for 2001 increased by EUR 18 million, or 48.6%, to EUR 55 million, mainly due to an increase of EUR 22 million in net interest result (mainly ING Direct Australia). Operating expenses increased by EUR 7 million, or 15.0%, mainly due to expanding activities of ING Direct Australia. The operational result before taxation improved by EUR 2 million to EUR (7) million, from EUR (9) million for 2000.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

ING Groep N.V. is a holding company whose principal assets are its investments in the capital stock of its primary insurance and banking subsidiaries. The liquidity and capital resource considerations for ING Groep N.V., ING Insurance and ING Bank vary in light of the business conducted by each, as well as the insurance and bank regulatory requirements applicable to the Group in the Netherlands and the other countries in which it does business. ING Groep N.V. has no employees and substantially all of ING Groep N.V.’s operating expenses are allocated to and paid by its operating companies.

As a holding company, ING Groep N.V.’s principal sources of funds are funds that may be raised from time to time from the issuance of debt or equity securities and bank or other borrowings, as well as cash dividends received from its subsidiaries. ING Groep N.V.’s total debt outstanding to third parties at December 31, 2002 was EUR 8,116 million, and at December 31, 2001 and 2000 was EUR 6,304 million and EUR 5,189 million, respectively. The EUR 8,116 million of debt outstanding at December 31, 2002 consisted of EUR 600 million principal amount of 6.5% perpetual subordinated debt securities issued in September 2001, US$ 800 million principal amount of 7.05% perpetual debt securities issued in July 2002, which have a balance sheet value of EUR 763 million, US$ 1,100 million principal amount of 7.20% perpetual debt securities issued in December 2002, which have a balance sheet value of EUR 1,049 million and EUR 5,704 million debentures . The detail with respect to the debentures is as follows:

                           
Interest Rate (%) Year of issue   Due date   Principal amount
(EUR millions)
 
5.0
    2001     May 3, 2006     1,000  
 
6.125
    2000     January 4, 2011     1,000  
 
6.0
    2000     August 1, 2007     750  
 
5.5
    2000     May 11, 2005     1,500  
 
5.5
    1999     September 14, 2009     1,000  
 
7.125
    1999     June 28, 2004     454  
 
 
                   
 
 
 
                    5,704  

At December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, ING Groep N.V. also owed EUR 367 million, EUR 837 million, EUR 443 million, respectively, to ING Group companies pursuant to intercompany lending arrangements. Of the EUR 367 million owed by ING Groep N.V. to ING Group companies at December 31, 2002, approximately EUR 77 million was owed to ING Insurance companies, EUR 299 million was owed to ING Bank companies and EUR 0 million was owed to direct subsidiaries of ING Group companies, as a result of normal intercompany transactions.

At December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, ING Groep N.V. had EUR 0 million, EUR 0 million and EUR 0 million, respectively, of available cash. Dividends paid to the Company by its subsidiaries amounted to EUR 1,604 million, EUR 1,499 million and EUR 1,319 million in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively, in each case representing dividends declared and paid with respect to the reporting calendar year and the prior calendar year. Of the amounts paid to the Company, EUR 1,262 million, EUR 560 million and EUR 673 million were received from ING Insurance in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively; EUR 258

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million, EUR 939 million and EUR 646 million were received from ING Bank in 2002, 2001 and 2000 respectively, and for 2002 EUR 84 million was received from other ING Group companies. Repayments to ING by its subsidiaries amounted to EUR 1,453 million, EUR 50 million and EUR 1,500 million in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively, of the amounts paid to the Company, EUR 1,453 million was received from ING Insurance in 2002, EUR 50 million and EUR 1,500 million were received from ING Bank in 2001 and 2000, respectively. ING and its Dutch subsidiaries are subject to legal restrictions on the amount of dividends they can pay to their shareholders. The Dutch Civil Code provides that dividends can only be paid by Dutch companies up to an amount equal to the excess of a company’s shareholders’ equity over the sum of (i) paid-up capital and (ii) shareholders’ reserves required by law. Further, certain of the Group companies are subject to restrictions on the amount of funds they may transfer in the form of cash dividends or otherwise to ING Groep N.V.

In addition to the restrictions in respect of minimum capital and capital base requirements that are imposed by insurance, banking and other regulators in the countries in which the Group’s subsidiaries operate, other limitations exist in certain countries. For example, the operations of the Group’s insurance company subsidiaries located in the United States are subject to limitations on the payment of dividends to their parent company under applicable state insurance laws. Dividends paid in excess of these limitations generally require prior approval of the Insurance Commissioner of the state of domicile.

ING Groep N.V. made dividend payments of EUR 21 million, EUR 21 million and EUR 21 million on its Preference shares and declared dividends of EUR 1,930 million, EUR 1,914 million and EUR 2,173 million on its Ordinary shares, in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively. Of the amounts paid as dividends on ING Groep N.V.’s Ordinary shares in 2001 and 2000 EUR 1,914 million and EUR 874 million, respectively, were paid in the form of cash dividends and the remainder was paid in the form of stock dividends. For the optional dividend 2002, payable in May 2003, the cash component is not yet known.

ING Group Consolidated Cash Flows

     Year ended December 31, 2002 compared to year ended December 31, 2001

Net cash provided by operating activities amounted to EUR 39,222 million for the year ended December 31, 2002, compared to EUR 23,424 million for the year ended December 31, 2001. The increase in cash flow generated through the funds entrusted to and debt securities of the banking operations of EUR 44,248 million was partly used for the lending portfolio. The cash flow employed in lending increased from a cash outflow of EUR 8,154 million in 2001 to a cash outflow of EUR 30,277 million in 2002. The cash outflow in respect of Lending in the year 2001 was impacted by the sale of the United States investment banking activities (effect approximately EUR 20 billion). The year 2002 reflects mainly a high level of advances regarding corporate lending and mortgages in the Netherlands as well as the growth in international (wholesale) banking.

Net cash used in investment activities in 2002 was EUR 26,556 million, compared to EUR 27,152 million in 2001, reflecting on balance higher investments in fixed-interest securities and lower investments in shares and property to diminish the sensitivity for market circumstances of the investment portfolio.

Net cash flow from financing activities was EUR 3,184 million in 2002, compared to EUR 5,283 million in 2001. The decrease of EUR 2,099 million in net cash flow from financing activities mainly reflects a decrease in the cash flow regarding bonds, loans contracted and deposits by reinsurers in 2002.

The operating, investing and financing activities described above resulted in net cash and cash equivalents at year-end 2002 of EUR 21,030 million, compared to EUR 4,681 million at year-end 2001, an increase of EUR 16,349 million from 2001 levels.

     Year ended December 31, 2001 compared to year ended December 31, 2000

Net cash provided by operating activities amounted to EUR 23,424 million for the year ended December 31, 2001, compared to EUR (2,278) million for the year ended December 31, 2000. The increase in cash flow generated through the funds entrusted to and debt securities of the banking

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operations of EUR 23,356 million was partly used for the lending portfolio. The cash flow employed in lending decreased from a cash outflow of EUR 45,404 million in 2000 to a cash outflow of EUR 8,154 million in 2001. The large cash outflow in respect of lending in the year 2000 reflects to a high level of advances regarding corporate lending and mortgages in the Netherlands, as well as a large increase in securities borrowing and lending outside the Netherlands, mainly caused by the favourable economic conditions. In the year 2001, the cash outflow employed in lending compared with the year 2000 decreased mainly because of the impact of the sale of the US investment banking activities (effect approximately EUR 20 billion) and a lower organic growth in securities borrowing.

Net cash used in investment activities in 2001 was EUR 27,152 million, compared to EUR 14,213 million in 2000, an increase of EUR 12,939 million, or approximately 91%. The decrease in cash used in investment activities was primarily due to higher disposals and redemptions of fixed-interest securities, while investments and advances in fixed-interest securities were higher.

Net cash flow from financing activities was EUR 5,283 million in 2001, compared to EUR 6,547 million in 2000. The EUR 1,264 million increase in net cash flow from financing activities mainly reflects the placements of preference shares of Group companies in 2000.

The operating, investing and financing activities described above resulted in net cash and cash equivalents at year-end 2001 of EUR 4,681 million, compared to EUR 3,486 million at year-end 2000, an increase of EUR 1,195 million from 2000 levels.

ING Insurance Cash Flows

The principal sources of funds for ING Insurance are premiums, net investment income and proceeds from sales or maturity of investments, while the major uses of these funds are to provide life policy benefits, pay surrenders and profit sharing for life policyholders, pay non-life claims and related claims expenses, and pay other operating costs. ING Insurance generates a substantial cash flow from operations as a result of most premiums being received in advance of the time when claim payments or policy benefits are required. These positive operating cash flows, along with that portion of the investment portfolio that is held in cash and highly liquid securities, have historically met the liquidity requirements of ING Insurance’s operations, as evidenced by the growth in investments.

In the insurance industry, liquidity generally refers to the ability of an enterprise to generate adequate amounts of cash from its normal operations, including its investment portfolio, in order to meet its financial commitments, which are principally obligations under its insurance or reinsurance contracts. The liquidity needs of the life operations of ING Insurance are generally affected by trends in actual mortality experience relative to the assumptions with respect thereto included in the pricing of its life insurance policies, by the extent to which minimum returns or crediting rates are provided in connection with its life insurance products, as well as by the level of surrenders and withdrawals. The liquidity of ING Insurance’s non-life operations is affected by the frequency and severity of losses under its policies, as well as by the persistency of its products. Future catastrophic events, the timing and effect of that are inherently unpredictable, may also create increased liquidity requirements for the non-life operations of ING Insurance.

Premium income and income from investments totaled EUR 52,284 million and EUR 919 million in 2002, EUR 49,800 million and EUR 3,079 million in 2001 and EUR 28,715 million and EUR 15,869 million in 2000, respectively. Uses of funds by ING Insurance include underwriting expenditures (reinsurance premiums, benefits, surrenders, claims (including claims handling expenses) and profit sharing by life policyholders) and employee and other operating expenses, as well as interest expense on outstanding borrowings. Underwriting expenditures, employee and other operating expenses and interest expense for ING Insurance totaled EUR 41,597 million, EUR 7,576 million and EUR 1,304 million in 2002, EUR 42,065 million, EUR 7,694 million and EUR 1,286 million in 2001 and EUR 29,523 million, EUR 4,711 million and EUR 768 million in 2000, respectively.

ING Insurance’s liquidity requirements are met on both a short- and long-term basis by funds provided from insurance premiums collected, investment income and collected reinsurance receivables, and from the sale and maturity of investments. ING Insurance also has access to the commercial paper, medium-term note and other credit facilities described below as additional sources of liquidity. ING

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Insurance’s balance of cash and cash equivalents was EUR 3,221 million at December 31, 2002, EUR 1,534 million at December 31, 2001 and EUR 1,632 million at December 31, 2000, respectively.

Net cash provided by operating activities was EUR 10,567 million, EUR 12,232 million and EUR 11,168 million in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively.

Net cash used by ING Insurance in investment activities was EUR 8,583 million, EUR 17,706 million and EUR 14,616 million in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively.

Cash provided by ING Insurance’s financing activities amounted to EUR 61 million, EUR 5,495 million and EUR 3,806 million in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively.

     Capital Base Margins and Capital Requirements

The insurance operations of the insurance subsidiaries of ING Insurance are subject to detailed, comprehensive regulation in all the jurisdictions in which ING Insurance does business. In addition, EC directives have had and will have a significant impact on the regulation of the insurance industry in the EU, as such directives are implemented through legislation adopted within each member state, including the Netherlands.

Insurance companies in the Netherlands are supervised by the Dutch Insurance Supervisory Board. The Netherlands has adopted the EC Directives of 1973 and 1979, setting forth certain capital base requirements for non-life and life insurance companies, respectively. Such capital base requirements apply to all of the Group’s insurance subsidiaries in the EU. As a group of companies in the Netherlands may be engaged in both insurance and banking, the Dutch Central Bank and the Insurance Supervisory Board, in consultation with the Ministry of Finance, have entered into a protocol for the purpose of jointly regulating groups with interests in both banks and insurance companies. See “Item 4. Information on the Company - Regulation and Supervision.”

In the United States, since 1993, insurers, including the companies comprising ING Insurance’s U.S. operations, have been subject to risk based capital (‘RBC’) guidelines. See “Item 4. Information on the Company – Regulation and Supervision – Insurance – United States.”

As at December 31, 2002, the required capital base margin of the insurance companies of ING Group computed in accordance with these protocol directives amounted to EUR 8,718 million compared to EUR 9,845 million for 2001. The total capital and surplus of these companies was EUR 17,848 million as at December 31, 2002 compared to EUR 20,650 million for 2001.

ING Bank Cash Flows

The principal sources of funds for ING Bank’s operations are growth of the deposit base, private loans, repayments of loans, disposals and redemptions of investments, sales of trading portfolio securities, interest income and commission income. The major uses of funds are advances of loans and other credits, investments, purchases of trading portfolio securities, interest expense and administrative expenses. At December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, ING Bank had EUR 18,391 million, EUR 3,467 million and EUR 597 million, respectively, of cash and cash equivalents.

ING Bank’s operating activities had a EUR 30,100 million cash inflow for the year ended December 31, 2002, compared with an cash inflow of EUR 10,307 million for the year ended December 31, 2001, and a cash ouflow of EUR 12,128 million for the year ended December 31, 2000. The EUR 19,793 million increase in cash provided from operations from 2001 to 2002 was largely attributable to the increase of loans and advances and the decrease of trading portfolio which was partially offset by an increase in growth of funds entrusted. In the year 2002, the cash outflow employed in loans and advances compared with the year 2001 increased partly due to the consolidation of DiBa and Vysya Bank and a strong increase of reverse repurchases and corporate and residential mortgages.

On the other hand, the depreciation of most currencies against the euro had a negative effect on bank lending.

Savings accounts, as part of the funds entrusted, grew strongly in the year 2002 mainly because of increased thrift as a result of the uncertain economic climate.

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The EUR 22,435 million increase in cash provided from operations from 2000 to 2001 was largely attributable to the decrease of loans and advances and the trading portfolio partly off set by an increase in growth of funds entrusted. In the year 2001 the cash outflow employed in loans and advances, compared with the year 2000, decreased mainly because of the impact of the sale of the United States investment banking activities with the effect of approximately EUR 20 billion and a lower organical growth in securities borrowing due to deteriorated economic conditions worldwide. Savings accounts, as part of the funds entrusted, grew strongly in the year 2001 mainly because of increased thrift as a result of the uncertain economic climate.

Net cash generated from investment activities was EUR 17,759 million cash outflow, EUR 8,657 million cash outflow and EUR 1,723 million cash outflow in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively, mainly reflecting the investment in interest-earning securities exceeding the dispositions and redemptions of interest-earning securities. Investment in interest-earning securities was EUR 70,273 million, EUR 68.522 million and EUR 32,380 million in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively. Dispositions and redemptions of interest-earning securities was EUR 52,537 million, EUR 59,921 million and EUR 31,335 million in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively.

Net cash flow from financing activities amounted to EUR 1,750 million, EUR 1,571 million and EUR 1,926 million in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively.

The operating, investment and financing activities described above resulted in a positive net cash flow of EUR 14,091 million in 2002 and a net cash flow of EUR 3,221 million and a negative net cash flow EUR 11,925 million in 2001 and 2000, respectively.

     Capital Adequacy

Capital adequacy and the use of capital are monitored by ING Bank and its subsidiaries, employing techniques based on the guidelines developed by the Basel Committee on Banking Regulations and Supervisory Practices (the ‘Basel Committee’) and implemented by the EU and the Dutch Central Bank for supervisory purposes.

The Dutch Central Bank, in conjunction with other bank supervisors, regards the risk asset ratio developed by the Basel Committee as a key supervisory tool and sets individual ratio requirements for banks in the Netherlands. This ratio was designed to meet the dual objectives of strengthening the soundness and stability of the international banking system and of creating a fair and consistent supervisory framework for international banks by means of an international convergence of capital measurement and capital standards. The technique involves the application of risk weightings to assets (which for this purpose includes both balance sheet assets and off-balance sheet items) to reflect the credit and other risks associated with broad categories of transactions and counterparties.

The Basel Committee guidelines set a minimum total risk asset ratio for all international banks of 8%. Bank capital adequacy requirements have also been established pursuant to EU directives. These directives, as implemented in the Netherlands, set forth capital standards similar to those of the Basel Committee guidelines.

In addition, the EC Capital Adequacy Directive (the “CAD”) became effective January 1, 1996. This directive establishes minimum capital requirements for banks and investment firms for market risks. The CAD is based on a proposal by the Basel Committee.

The risk asset approach to capital adequacy emphasizes the importance of Tier 1 (core) capital, comprising primarily Group equity, including Fund for general banking risks. In determining a bank’s risk asset ratio, the rules limit qualifying Tier 2 supplementary capital to an amount equal to Tier 1 capital. Tier 2 capital includes subordinated debt and fixed asset revaluation reserves.

The concept of risk weighting assumes that banking activities generally involve some risk of loss. For risk weighting purposes, commercial lendings are taken as a bench-mark to which a risk weighting of 100% is ascribed. Other transactions, which are considered to present lower levels of risk than commercial lending, may qualify for reduced weightings. Off-balance sheet items are generally converted to credit risk equivalents by applying credit conversion factors laid down by the Basel

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Committee. The resulting amounts are then risk-weighted according to the nature of the counterparty. As a result, credit substitutes, such as standby letters of credit and acceptances, are allocated the same risk weightings as similar on-balance sheet lending, while transaction-related off-balance sheet items, such as performance bonds, are allocated a lower weighting in recognition of the smaller likelihood of loss from these instruments.

In the case of interest and exchange rate related contracts, the risks involved relate to the potential loss of cash flows rather than notional principal amounts. These risks are represented by the replacement cost (as defined by the Dutch Central Bank) of the contracts plus an add-on to reflect potential future volatility in replacement cost arising from movements in market rates.

The following table sets forth the risk-weighted capital ratios of ING Bank N.V. as of each of December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, in each case calculated under the Netherlands’ implementation of the relevant EC directives.

                         
    Year ended December 31,
    2002   2001   2000
    (EUR million, other than percentages)
Risk-Weighted Assets
    247,287       243,174       219,868  
Consolidated group equity:
                       
Tier 1 Capital
    18,080       17,083       15,882  
Tier 2 Capital
    9,116       8,588       7,709  
Tier 3 Capital
    257       290       283  
Supervisory deductions
    (302 )     (250 )     (237 )
 
   
     
     
 
Total qualifying capital
    27,151       25,711       23,637  
Tier 1 Capital Ratio
    7.31 %     7.03 %     7.22 %
Total Capital Ratio (Tier 1, 2 and 3)
    10.98 %     10.57 %     10.75 %

ING Group’s management believes that working capital is sufficient to meet the current and reasonably foreseeable needs of the Company.

Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees

ING Groep N.V. has a Supervisory Board and an Executive Board. The Executive Board is responsible for the day-to-day management. The function of the Supervisory Board is to supervise the policy of the Executive Board and the general course of events in the company, as well as to provide advice to the Executive Board. In the performance of their duties, the members of the Supervisory Board must serve the interests of ING Group and should not serve specific interests to the exclusion of other interests involved. Certain decisions of the Executive Board affecting ING Group as a whole – such as issuance or acquisition of shares, profit appropriation, major investments and capital expenditures and major changes in the working conditions of a substantial numbers of employees – require the approval of the Supervisory Board.

The members of the Executive Board are employees of ING Groep N.V. or one of its subsidiary companies, and are appointed by the Supervisory Board. Members of the Executive Board are appointed for an indefinite period. They retire by the end of the month in which they reach the age of 60. By mutual agreement the retirement date can be extended to the end of the month in which they reach the age of 61 or 62.

The Supervisory Board appoints its own members. The Central Workers Council and the General Meeting of Shareholders have the right of objection and may recommend candidates. No employee of ING Group is eligible for appointment to the Supervisory Board. Members of the Supervisory Board are appointed for a term of four years and may be re-appointed for two terms. Members retire at the end of the annual General Meeting of Shareholders in the year in which they reach the age of 70, unless an exemption is granted by the Supervisory Board, in which case the Supervisory Board member concerned resigns no later than at the end of the annual General Meeting of Shareholders in the year in which he or she reaches the age of 72. For discussion of the proposed changes to the appointment

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process for members of the Supervisory and Executive Board, See “Item 4 – Information on the Company – Corporate Organization.”

Set forth below is certain information concerning the members of the Supervisory and the Executive Board of ING Groep N.V.

SUPERVISORY BOARD OF ING GROEP N.V.

                             
            Year   Term    
Name   Born   Appointed   Expires   Other Business Activities
Cor Herkströter, chairman     1937       1998       2006     Former President and Chairman of the Committee of Managing Directors of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group. Member of the Board of Directors of BHP Billiton. Trustee of the International Accounting Standards Committee Foundation. Member of the Supervisory Board of DSM N.V. Member of the Supervisory Board of Hollandsche Beton Groep NV. Member of the Advisory Committee of Robert Bosch GmbH. Chairman of the Listing and Issuing Rules Advisory Committee of Euronext Amsterdam. Member of Advisory Committee KPMG Holding N.V. Chairman of the Public Advisory Council of the Tinbergen Institute. Professor of International Management, University of Amsterdam. Chairman of the Supervisory Council of the Erasmus University Rotterdam.
                             
Mijndert Ververs, vice-chairman     1933       1994       2003     Former Chairman of the Executive Board of Wolters Kluwer N.V. (publishing). Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Getronics N.V. Vice-Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Océ N.V. Member of the Supervisory Board CSM N.V. Member of the Supervisory Board of Laurus N.V.
                             
Lutgart van den Berghe     1951       1994       2003     Executive Director of the Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School. Professor of Corporate Governance at the University of Gent, Belgium. Member Supervisory Board of SHV-Holding. Member of the Board of CAPCO N.V. Member of the Supervisory Board of CSM N.V. Member of the Supervisory Board of KLM N.V. Member of the Board of the International Insurance Society.

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            Year   Term    
Name   Born   Appointed   Expires   Other Business Activities
Luella Gross Goldberg     1937       2001       2005     Former member of the Board of Directors of ReliaStar Financial Corp. Former Acting President of the Wellesley College. Member of the Board of Directors of each of NRG Energy, Hormel Foods Corporation, TCF Financial Corporation and Communication Systems. Life Director of the Minnesota Orchestral Association.
                             
Paul van der Heijden     1949       1995       2003     Rector-Magnificus and Professor of labor law and industrial relations at the University of Amsterdam. Member of the Supervisory Board of Nuon N.V. Member of the Supervisory Board of Pink Roccade N.V. Member of the Supervisory Board of Smit International N.V.
                             
Aad Jacobs     1936       1998       2003     Former chairman of the Executive Board of ING Groep N.V. (retired in May 1998). Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Royal Dutch/Shell Group N.V. Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Johan Enschedé N.V. Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Imtech N.V. Vice-chairman of the Supervisory Board of VNU N.V. Member of the Supervisory Boards of each of IHC-Caland N.V., Bührmann N.V. and Euronext N.V.
                             
Godfried van der Lugt     1940       2001       2005     Former chairman of the Executive Board of ING Groep N.V.(retired in May 2000) Member of the Supervisory Board of Grontmij N.V. Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Siemens Nederland N.V. Member of the Supervisory Board of Amsterdamse Maatschappij tot Stadsherstel N.V. Vice-chairman of the Advisory Board of Academisch Ziekenhuis Groningen (hospital).

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            Year   Term    
Name   Born   Appointed   Expires   Other Business Activities
Paul Baron de Meester     1935       1998       2005     Former Member of the Board of Directors of BBL. Honorary chairman of Belgische Beton-maatschappij Besix-Betonimmo N.V. and Professor-Emeritus at the Leuven University, Belgium. Member of the Supervisory Boards of each of ETEX N.V. and Tessenderlo Group N.V. Member of the Board of I.C.C.
                             
Johan Stekelenburg     1941       1997       2006     Former Chairman of The Confederation of The Netherlands Trade Union FNV. Mayor of Tilburg. Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Weekbladpers Groep (publishers). Member of the Supervisory Boards of each of Tennet N.V. (electricity transmission system operator), De Sluis Groep, N.V. KLM N.V. and DSM N.V.
                             
Hans Tietmeyer     1931       2000       2003     Former President of the Deutsche Bundesbank. Member of the Board of Bank for International Settlements (Basel). Member of the Supervisory Boards of each of Depfa Bank ple, DWS (Deutsche Bank) BDO Auditing Company and Hauck & Aufhaüser.
                             
Jan Timmer     1933       1996       2003     Former President and Chairman of the Executive Board and Group Council of Philips Electronics N.V. Member of the Supervisory Board of Royal Dutch/Shell Group N.V. Chairman of the Supervisory Board of PSV Eindhoven N.V.
                             
Karel Vuursteen     1941       2002       2006     Former chairman of the Executive Board of Heineken N.V. Member of the Supervisory Boards of each of Gucci Group N.V. (Netherlands), AB Electrolux (Sweden), Randstad Holding N.V (Netherlands)and De Nederlandse Staatsloterij (Dutch Lottery).

Ms. Van den Berghe and Mr. Baron De Meester are of Belgian nationality. Ms. Goldberg is of American nationality, while Mr. Tietmeyer is of German nationality. The other members have the Dutch nationality.

After the Shareholders’ Meeting of April 15, 2003, Ms. Van den Berghe, as well as Mr. Ververs will retire as members of the Supervisory Board after having reached the maximum term. Mr. Tietmeyer will retire as a member of the Supervisory Board having reached the maximum statutory age of 72 years. Messrs. Dr. C.D. Hoffmann and W. Kok are proposed for appointment to the Supervisory Board. Mr.

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Hoffmann, who was born in 1942 and is of German nationality was Chief Financial Officer of Robert Bosch GmbH. Mr. Kok who was born in 1938 and is of Dutch nationality, was Minister of Finance and Prime Minister of the Netherlands. Messrs. Van der Heijden, Jacobs and Timmer will be proposed for reappointment.

EXECUTIVE BOARD OF ING GROEP N.V.

Ewald Kist, Chairman
(Born 1944, Dutch nationality)

Ewald Kist joined Nationale-Nederlanden in 1969. From 1977 to 1986 he held positions in the general management of NN General, NN Life and NN International. In 1986 he was appointed President of NN-US Corporation in the United States. In 1989 he became a member of the general management of Nationale-Nederlanden for the Netherlands, of which he was appointed Chairman in 1991. Since 1993 he has been a member of the Executive Board of ING Group, of which he was appointed Vice-Chairman as of April 1, 1999. Ewald Kist was appointed Chairman of the Executive Board as of May 2, 2000.

Michel Tilmant, Vice-Chairman
(Born 1952, Belgian nationality)

Michel Tilmant started his career with Morgan Guaranty Trust Company in New York after completing his studies at the Catholic University of Louvain. In 1992 he joined Bank Brussels Lambert, where he was appointed Chairman of the Executive Board in 1997. After the acquisition of BBL by ING in 1998, he was appointed Chairman of the former Executive Committee ING Belgium. As of May 8, 1998, he was appointed a member of the Executive Board of ING Group and was appointed Vice-Chairman as of May 2, 2000. Since January 1, 2000, Michel Tilmant also holds the position of Chairman of the Executive Committee ING Europe.

Fred Hubbell
(Born 1951, American nationality)

Fred Hubbell was Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President of the US life insurance company Equitable of Iowa, which was acquired by ING in mid-1997. He was general manager of ING Financial Services International North America and President and CEO of ING’s Retail Financial Services in the US from 1997 until the spring of 1999. In October 1999 he was appointed Chairman of the former Executive Committee ING Financial Services International. Since January 2000, Fred Hubbell has held the positions of Chairman of the Executive Committees of ING Americas and ING Asia/Pacific. He was appointed member of the Executive Board of ING Group on May 2, 2000.

Hessel Lindenbergh
(Born 1943, Dutch nationality)

In 1983, Hessel Lindenbergh joined NMB Bank. Until 1987, he was general manager of the domestic wholesale division. In 1987, he became Chairman of the general management of the international division. In 1992, he was appointed a member of the Executive Board of ING Bank. Since 1995 he has been a member of the Executive Board of ING Group. Together with Michel Tilmant, he held the position of Chairman of the Executive Committee of ING Europe until September 1, 2002. He will retire as of 1 July 2003, in which month he will reach the age of 60.

Cees Maas, Chief Financial Officer
(Born 1947, Dutch nationality)

After completing his degree in engineering physics and economics at the Erasmus University of Rotterdam in 1976, Cees Maas joined the Ministry of Finance. From 1986 to 1992 he was Treasurer-General. In July 1992, he joined ING Group and became a member of the Executive Board. In July 1996, Cees Maas was appointed Chief Financial Officer of the Executive Board.

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Alexander Rinnooy Kan
(Born 1949, Dutch nationality)

Since 1977, Alexander Rinnooy Kan has held various positions with the Erasmus University of Rotterdam, of which he was appointed Rector-Magnificus in 1986. In 1991, he became President of the Federation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (VNO). After the merger in 1995 with the Netherlands Christian Employers’ Federation (NCW) to form the VNO-NCW Federation, until 1996 he remained President. In September 1996, Alexander Rinnooy Kan became a member of the Executive Board of ING Group. He is Chairman of the ING Asset Management Platform.

COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Remuneration of the members of the Executive Board

ING’s remuneration policy for the members of the Executive Board is consistent with that for other senior executives within the Group. Its objectives are to attract and retain high-quality people and motivate them towards excellent performance, in accordance with ING’s strategic and financial goals. The remuneration of the Executive Board is determined by the Supervisory Board on the basis of a proposal of its Remuneration and Nomination Committee. The remuneration package consists of a base salary, a short-term performance-related cash bonus and a long-term incentive currently in the form of stock options. In order to maintain a competitive remuneration package, benchmarking against comparable companies is carried out regularly.

Currently, the Supervisory Board is reviewing the compensation structure and level for the Executive Board, because it believes that the current compensation package is no longer adequate and competitive. It has commissioned a report from an external consultant to advise on the future Executive Board reward strategy. Key recommendations in this report include that variable (performance-driven) rewards should be more strongly emphasized over fixed pay and benefits. Short-term incentives should be linked to a combination of targeted financial and non-financial drivers and not solely to growth in earnings per share (EPS) while long-term incentives should be linked to long-term drivers and sustained shareholder value creation. The long-term incentives should be realised through a combination of stock options and shares in ING Group. In the near future, the Supervisory Board expects to complete its review and to put a compensation philosophy in place that will guide Executive Board rewards from 2003 onwards and be applied, as appropriate, to the reward structure of other senior executives in the Group.

     Base salary

The base salaries are currently reviewed every two years against developments in the market. It was decided not to change the base salaries for 2002 compared with 2001. The base salaries of the non-Dutch Executive Board members are related to their respective home-country practices.

     Short-term and long-term incentive

The variable remuneration of the Executive Board is currently linked to the growth in earnings per share (EPS) of ING Group as an objective measurable criterion and to the collective and individual performance of the members of the Executive Board. The EPS part of the formula currently in place would result in zero variable payment with respect to 2002.

The Supervisory Board used its discretionary power to set the variable component over 2002 as follows: No (short-term) cash bonus will be granted, and the Executive Board members will receive – as a long-term incentive – 35,000 stock options (same level for 2001). In addition, the Supervisory Board adopted a conditional share-award policy pursuant to which the Executive Board members may be granted a number of conditional share awards in ING Group in 2003 out of a total pool of 50,000 ING shares made available for this purpose, by way of a long-term incentive remuneration in respect of 2002. The Supervisory Board has the intention to award on or about May 16, 2003, 7,000 Conditional Share Awards per Member of the Executive Board out of this pool. If granted, the Executive Board members must hold the conditional shares for a minimum period of two years from the grant date, and

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they will lapse in case the member concerned will leave the employ of the company (other than through a scheduled retirement) within this period. The terms of this arrangement and the grant date are subject to regulatory and compliance restrictions. See “- Share options” for a discussion of all options that have been granted in 2003.

     Pensions

The pensions of the Dutch members of the Executive Board are based on defined benefit plans, which are insured through a contract with Nationale-Nederlanden Levensverzekering Maatschappij N.V. Members of the Executive Board retire by the end of the month in which they reach the age of 60. By mutual agreement, the retirement date can be extended to the end of the month in which they reach the age of 61 or 62. Their prospective pensions amounts to a maximum of 60% of their base salaries. Just as for the other ING employees in the Netherlands, the pension rights of the members of the Executive Board are free of premium. The non-Dutch members of the Executive Board have a pension plan related to their home-country practices.

Remuneration of the Executive Board.

                 
    2002   2001
    Amounts in thousands of euros
Periodic remuneration
               
Base salary
    4,942       5,021  
Profit sharing and bonus
               
Short-term performance-related bonus
    0       697  
Remuneration payable in the future
               
Pension costs (premiums paid)
    1,098       1,107  
 
   
     
 
 
    6,040       6,825  
                 
    number of options
    2002   2001
Profit sharing and bonus
               
Long-term incentives
    210,000       210,000  

Remuneration of the individual members of the Executive Board.

                                         
    Long-term incentives(1)
            Short-                        
            term                        
            perfor-                        
            mance   Market                
    Base   related   value   Number of   Pension
2002   salary   bonus   options   options   costs
    amounts in thousands of euros
Members of the Executive Board
                                       
Ewald Kist
    708       0       139       35,000       180  
Michel Tilmant
    1,090       0       139       35,000       262  
Fred Hubbell
    1,374       0       139       35,000       0  
Hessel Lindenbergh
    590       0       139       35,000       203  
Cees Maas
    590       0       139       35,000       224  
Alexander Rinnooy Kan
    590       0       139       35,000       229  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
 
    4,942       0       834       210,000       1,098  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 

(1)   As part of the long-term incentives the members of the Executive Board may also be granted a number of conditional share awards in ING Group in 2003 out of a total pool of 50,000 ING shares made available for this purpose.

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    Long-term incentives
            Short-                        
            term                        
            perfor-                        
            mance   Market                
    Base   related   value   Number of   Pension
2001   salary   bonus   options   options   costs
    thousands of euros
Members of the Executive Board
                                       
Ewald Kist
    708       94       238       35,000       182  
Michel Tilmant
    1,090       177       237       35,000       264  
Fred Hubbell
    1,453       192       238       35,000       0  
Hessel Lindenbergh
    590       78       238       35,000       208  
Cees Maas
    590       78       238       35,000       225  
Alexander Rinnooy Kan
    590       78       238       35,000       228  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
 
    5,021       697       1,427       210,000       1,107  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 

Loans and advances to the members of the Executive Board.

                                                 
    Amount                   Amount                
    outstan-   Average           outstan-   Average        
    ding   interest           ding   interest        
    Decem-   rate   repay-   Decem-   rate   repay-
    ber 31   2002   ments   ber 31   2001   ments
    thousands of euros
Members of the Executive Board
                                               
Ewald Kist
    862       5.6 %             862       5.6 %        
Hessel Lindenbergh
    358       5.1 %             358       5.1 %        
Cees Maas
    461       5.6 %     17       478       5.6 %     16  
Alexander Rinnooy Kan
    889       3.5 %             889       3.8 %        
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    2,570       4.8 %     17       2,587       4.9 %     16  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

No loans and advances have been granted to other members of the Executive Board. All of the foregoing loans and advances were granted prior to June 30, 2002 and have not been materially modified during 2002.

     Share options

Information on the options outstanding and the movements during the financial year of options granted to the members of the Executive Board as at December 31, 2002 is set forth in the table below.

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    Number of options
    Outstan-                   Outstan-           Share        
    ding as at                   ding as at           price at        
    December   Granted   Exercised   December   Exercise   exercise        
    31, 2001   in 2002   in 2002(1)   31, 2002   price   date   Expiry date
                                    Amounts in euros        
                                             
Ewald Kist
    100,000               100,000               17.72       28.60     May 1, 2002
 
    50,000                       50,000       31.85             May 26, 2003
 
    50,000                       50,000       25.87             May 28, 2004
 
    50,000                       50,000       28.68             Apr 3, 2005
 
    50,000                       50,000       35.26             Mar 15, 2006
 
            35,000               35,000       29.39             Mar 11, 2012
Michel Tilmant
    50,000                       50,000       26.10             May 28, 2004
 
    20,000                       20,000       28.30             Apr 3, 2005
 
    30,000                       30,000       28.68             Apr 3, 2005
 
    30,000                       30,000       35.26             Mar 15, 2006
 
    20,000                       20,000       35.80             Mar 15, 2006
 
            21,000               21,000       29.39             Mar 11, 2012
 
            14,000               14,000       29.50             Mar 11, 2012
Fred Hubbell
    50,800                       50,800       31.85             May 26, 2003
 
    40,000                       40,000       25.87             May 28, 2004
 
    50,000                       50,000       28.68             Apr 3, 2005
 
    50,000                       50,000       35.26             Mar 15, 2006
 
            35,000               35,000       29.39             Mar 11, 2012
Hessel Lindenbergh
    100,000               100,000               17.72       28.60     May 1, 2002
 
    50,000                       50,000       31.85             May 26, 2003
 
    50,000                       50,000       25.87             May 28, 2004
 
    50,000                       50,000       28.68             Apr 3, 2005
 
    50,000                       50,000       35.26             Mar 15, 2006
 
            35,000               35,000       29.39             Mar 11, 2012
Cees Maas
    100,000               100,000               17.72       28.60     May 1, 2002
 
    50,000                       50,000       31.85             May 26, 2003
 
    50,000                       50,000       25.87             May 28, 2004
 
    50,000                       50,000       28.68             Apr 3, 2005
 
    50,000                       50,000       35.26             Mar 15, 2006
 
            35,000               35,000       29.39             Mar 11, 2012
Alexander Rinnooy Kan
    34,000               34,000               17.72       28.60     May 1, 2002
 
    50,000                       50,000       31.85             May 26, 2003
 
    50,000                       50,000       25.87             May 28, 2004
 
    50,000                       50,000       28.68             Apr 3, 2005
 
    50,000                       50,000       35.26             Mar 15, 2006
 
            35,000               35,000       29.39             Mar 11, 2012

(1)   Exercised at expiry date.

In 2003, 35,000 options with a term of ten years and vesting after three years were granted to each member of the Executive Board relating to the financial year 2002 (2001: 35,000). The exercise price of these options is EUR 12.65 which was the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Market opening price of the ING Group share on March 3, 2003.

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ING Group shares held by members of the Executive Board

As of December 31, 2002, Fred Hubbell (including his immediate family members) held 1,050,000 ING Group ADR’s (2001: 1,053,000) of which 405,000 (2001: 405,000) are held in a trust. No other members of the Executive Board (including their immediate family members) held ING Group shares.

Remuneration Supervisory Board

In 2002, the remuneration of the members and former members of the Supervisory Board amounted to EUR 0.6 million (2001: EUR 0.6 million). The remuneration of each of the chairman and vice-chairman amounted to EUR 68,100. The other members received a remuneration of EUR 38,600. As well as a remuneration of EUR 1,800 for each Committee of the Supervisory Board of which they are a member.

Remuneration of the members and former members of the Supervisory Board.

                 
    2002   2001
    amounts in thousands of euros
Members of the Supervisory Board
               
Cor Herkströter
    68       68  
Mijndert Ververs
    68       68  
Lutgart van den Berghe
    41       40  
Luella Gross Goldberg(1)
    39       29  
Paul van der Heijden
    40       40  
Aad Jacobs
    41       40  
Godfried van der Lugt(1)
    39       29  
Paul Baron de Meester(2)
    48       48  
Johan Stekelenburg
    39       39  
Hans Tietmeyer
    39       39  
Jan Timmer
    40       40  
Karel Vuursteen(3)
    29          
 
   
     
 
 
    531       480  
Former Members of the Supervisory Board
               
Jan Berghuis
    55       40  
Jan Kamminga
    51       39  
 
   
     
 
 
    637       559  

(1)   Member as of 18 April 2001.
 
(2)   Including a compensation to match his former remuneration as a member of the BBL Supervisory Board.
 
(3)   Member as of 17 April 2002.

As of December 31, 2002, the amount of loans and advances outstanding to the Supervisory Board was EUR 1.6 million at an average interest rate of 4.7%. This amount concerns a loan to Aad Jacobs. No loans and advances were outstanding to other members of the Supervisory Board. As of 2001, the total amount of outstanding loans and advances to members and former members of the Supervisory Board was EUR 4.6 million at an average interest rate of 5.4%.

As at December 31, 2002, two members of the Supervisory Board held option rights that were granted in earlier years when they were members of the Executive Board, specified in the table on the next page.

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Information with respect to the options outstanding and the movements during the financial year of option rights held by members of the Supervisory Board as at December 31, 2002.

                                                 
            Number of options                                
      Outstan-           Outstan-           Share        
    ding as at           ding as at           price at        
    December   Exercised   December   Exercise   exercise        
    31, 2001   in 2002(1)   31, 2002   price   date   Expiry date
                            Amounts in euros        
Aad Jacobs
    118,000       118,000               17.72       28.60     May 1, 2002
 
    50,000               50,000       31.85             May 26, 2003
 
    20,840               20,840       25.87             May 28, 2004
Godfried van der Lugt
    108,000       108,000               17.72       28.60     May 1, 2002
 
    50,000               50,000       31.85             May 26, 2003
 
    50,000               50,000       25.87             May 28, 2004
 
    50,000               50,000       28.68             Apr 3, 2005

(1)   Exercised at expiry date.

     Share ownership

ING Group shares(1) held by members of the Supervisory Board.

                 
    2002   2001
Members of the Supervisory Board(2)
               
Cor Herkströter
    1,616       1,616  
Lutgart van den Berghe
    886       886  
Luella Gross Goldberg
    6,000       6,000  
Paul van der Heijden
    1,716          
Aad Jacobs
            1,890  
Paul Baron de Meester
    4,970       4,970  
Karel Vuursteen
    1,510          
 
   
     
 
 
    16,698       15,362  

(1)   ING Group shares of immediate family members included. No other members of the Supervisory Board (including their immediate family members) hold ING Group shares.
 
(2)   Other than Luella Gross Goldberg, all members of the Supervisory Board hold Bearer Receipts. Luella Gross Goldberg holds ADRs.

Stock Option Plan

ING Group has granted option rights on ING group shares to a number of senior executives (members of the Executive Board and the Executive Committees, general managers and other officers nominated by the Executive Board), to all ING Group staff in the Netherlands and to a considerable number of employees outside the Netherlands. The purpose of the option scheme, apart from promoting the lasting growth of ING Group, is to attract, retain and motivate senior executives and staff.

ING Group purchases, directly or indirectly, its own shares at the time options are granted in order to fulfill the obligations with regard to the existing stock option plan and to hedge the position risk of the options concerned. The purpose of this policy is to avoid an increase in the number of shares, causing a dilution of the net profit per share. As at December 31, 2002, 28.4 million ING shares were held in connection with the option plan, and as a result, all granted option rights were hedged, taking into account the following parameters: strike price, opening price, zero coupon interest rate, dividend yield, expected volatility and employee behaviour.

The option rights are valid for a period of five or ten years. Option rights which are not exercised within this period lapse. Each year, the ING Group Executive Board will make a decision as to whether the

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option scheme is to be continued and, if so, to what extent. Option rights granted will remain valid (until expiry date) even if the option scheme is discontinued. The option rights are subject to certain conditions, including a certain continuous period of service. The exercise prices of the options are the same as the quoted prices of ING Group shares at the date on which the options are granted.

BOARD PRACTICES

Payments on Termination

Upon retirement, a member of the Supervisory Board will not become eligible to receive any employee benefits, other than those they are entitled to as a result of their employment on the Executive Board.

Committees

In 2002, the Supervisory Board decided to create a Corporate Governance Committee in addition to its present Committees: the Audit Committee and the Remuneration and Nomination Committee. All Committees will – by nature – be totally independent of ING. Each of these committees will have its own charter (drafted to comply with applicable regulation, like the US Sarbanes-Oxley Act), which includes its rights and obligations.

     Audit Committee

The Audit Committee consists of four members and meets at least four times a year. The Committee consists of Mijndert Ververs (chairman), Lutgart van den Berghe, Aad Jacobs and Paul Baron de Meester. After the Shareholders’ Meeting of 15 April 2003 Mr. Ververs and Ms. Van den Berghe will retire. It is expected that Messrs. Hoffmann and Timmer will be appointed as new members. Mr. Jacobs will become the new chairman. The Audit Committee advises the Supervisory Board in observing its responsibility for ensuring that the Group’s financial systems provide accurate and up-to- date information on its financial position and that the Group’s published financial statements represent a true and fair reflection of this position. It also advises the Supervisory Board in ensuring that appropriate accounting policies, internal controls, and compliance procedures are in place. The auditors normally attend its meetings, as does the head of Corporate Control & Finance and the internal auditor.

     Remuneration and Nomination Committee

The Remuneration and Nomination Committee meets at least two times a year. It consists of three members – Cor Herkströter (chairman), Paul van der Heijden and Jan Timmer. The Committee advises the Supervisory Board on compensation policies and the composition of the Supervisory Board and Executive Board. The committee advises the Supervisory Board, with the benefit of advice from external consultants, on the compensation packages of the members of the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board.

     Corporate Governance Committee

The newly established Corporate Governance Committee will meet at least once a year and consists of three members. The current members are Cor Herkströter (chairman), Luella Gross Goldberg, Paul van der Heijden and Jan Timmer. The primary tasks of the Corporate Governance Committee will be to perform an annual evaluation of ING’s corporate governance as a whole and the governance of the Executive Board, to make proposals to the Supervisory Board and to the Annual General Meeting for improvements and to ensure that the corporate governance of ING as a whole and the policy on which its is based is fully transparent and communicated in the Annual Report and to the Annual General Meeting.

EMPLOYEES

The number of staff employed on a full time equivalent basis of ING Group averaged 113,056 in 2002, of which approximately 34,000, or 30%, were employed in the Netherlands. The geographical

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distribution of employees with respect to the Group’s insurance operations and banking operations over the past three years was as follows (average full time equivalents):

                                                                         
    Insurance operations   Banking operations   Totals
    2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000
The Netherlands
    11,706       11,096       11,492       22,639       23,473       23,311       34,345       34,569       34,803  
Belgium
    1,440       1,455       1,418       12,072       12,584       12,075       13,512       14,039       13,493  
Rest of Europe
    3,821       3,853       3,492       20,155       19,203       18,332       23,976       23,056       21,824  
North America
    21,441       19,545       10,281       2,096       2,082       2,828       23,537       21,627       13,109  
South America
    5,867       7,261       2,201       438       610       658       6,305       7,871       2,859  
Asia
    5,829       5,665       1,644       3,287       2,376       2,211       9,116       8,041       3,855  
Australia
    1,763       2,352       2,362       427       363       256       2,190       2,715       2,618  
Other
                      75       80       89       75       80       89  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    51,867       51,227       32,890       61,189       60,771       59,760       113,056       111,998       92,650  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

In addition, the number of staff employed by joint ventures included in the Group’s consolidated accounts averaged 2,147 in 2002, 1,019 in 2001 and 973 in 2000. The Group does not employ significant numbers of temporary workers. The percentage of the Group’s employees allocated to the four Executive Centers was as follows for each of the years 2002, 2001 and 2000:

                         
    2002   2001   2000
ING Europe
    63 %     65 %     77 %
ING Americas
    23       23       13  
ING Asia / Pacific
    8       7       4  
ING Asset Management
    5       4       5  
Other(1)
    1       1       1  
 
   
     
     
 
 
    100 %     100 %     100 %
 
   
     
     
 

(1) Mainly central staff departments

Substantially all of the Group’s Dutch employees are subject to collective labor agreements covering the banking and insurance industries. The Group believes that its employee relations are generally good.

Item 7. Major shareholders and related party transactions

As of December 31, 2002, Stichting Administratiekantoor ING Groep (the “Trust”) held 1,991,847,194 Ordinary shares of ING Groep N.V., which represents 99.9% of the Ordinary shares outstanding. These holdings give the Trust voting control of ING Groep N.V. The following is a description of the material provisions of the Articles of Association (Statuten) and the related Conditions of Administration (Administratievoorwaarden) (together the “Trust Agreement”), which governs the Trust, and the applicable provisions of Netherlands law. This description does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Trust Agreement and the applicable provisions of Netherlands law referred to in such description. On January 16, 2003, ING Groep N.V. announced a proposal to change its corporate governance structure. The consequences of this proposal (the “Proposal”), are discussed in connection with the existing situation. This Annual Report is only a summary, and the Proposal is subject to approval by the General Meeting of Shareholders. The description of the Proposal does not purport to be complete. For discussion of the key portions of the Proposal, See “Item 4 – Information on the Company – Corporate Organization.”

As of December 31, 2002, there were 84,483,903 ADSs outstanding, representing an equal number of Bearer receipts. The ADSs were held by 824 record holders. Because certain of the ADSs were held by brokers or other nominees and the Bearer Depositary receipts are held in bearer form and due to the impracticability of obtaining accurate residence information for all such shareholders, the number

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of holders of record or registered holders in the United States is not representative of the number of beneficial holders or of the residence of the beneficial holders.

Bearer receipts, which are negotiable instruments under Netherlands law, are issuable by the Trust pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement. Each Bearer receipt represents financial interests in one Ordinary share held by the Trust, as described herein. Holders of Bearer receipts (including those Bearer receipts for which ADSs have been issued) do not have any voting rights with respect to the Ordinary shares underlying the Bearer receipts owned by the Trust. Such rights belong only to the Trust and will be exercised by the Trust pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement. Bearer depositary receipts are also issued by the Trust for Preference shares.

The Bearer receipts are in the form of bearer ‘Centrum voor Fondsenadministratie’ certificates (“CF Certificates”), with a dividend sheet without coupons or talons. The Centrum voor Fondsen-administratie provides central administration for the dividend sheets of the CF Certificates. The dividend sheets of CF Certificates, which do not trade separately from the CF Certificates, must be held by an eligible custodian. Transfer of title in the Bearer receipts in the form of CF Certificates together with the dividend sheet is effected by book-entry through the facilities of the Netherlands Central Institute for Securities Book-Entry Transactions (“NECIGEF”) and its participants pursuant to the Netherlands Act on book-entry transactions (“Wet giraal effectenverkeer”). Owners of Bearer receipts participate in the NECIGEF system by maintaining accounts with NECIGEF participants. There is no limitation under Netherlands law on the ability of non-Dutch citizens or residents to maintain such accounts that are obtainable through Dutch banks.

Voting of the Ordinary shares by holders of Bearer receipts as proxy of the Trust

Holders of Bearer receipts are entitled to attend and speak at general meetings of shareholders of ING Groep N.V. but do not have any voting rights.

However, the Trust will, except for extra-ordinary circumstances and subject to certain restrictions, grant a proxy to a holder of Bearer receipts to the effect that such holder may, in the name of the Trust, exercise the voting rights attached to the number of its Ordinary shares that corresponds to the number of Bearer receipts held by such holder of Bearer receipts. According to the Proposal, the exception for extra-ordinary circumstances will be deleted.

On the basis of such a proxy, the holder of Bearer receipts may vote according to his own discretion. The requirements with respect to the use of the voting rights on the Ordinary shares that apply for the Trust (set out in the paragraph below) do not apply for the holder of Bearer receipts voting on the basis of such a proxy.

The restrictions under which the Trust will grant a voting proxy to holders of Bearer receipts are:

  the relevant holder of Bearer receipts must have deposited his Bearer receipts no later than on the 2nd stock exchange day before the day of the general meeting of shareholders observing the provisions laid down in the articles of association of ING Groep N.V.; according to the Proposal, the relevant holder of Bearer receipts must have announced his intention to attend the general meeting of shareholders observing the provisions laid down in the articles of association of ING Groep N.V.;
 
  the number of Ordinary shares to which the voting proxy relates will not exceed one percent of the total issued ordinary share capital of ING Groep N.V. This percentage will be reduced by the percentage of the ordinary share capital of ING Groep N.V. that is held by the relevant holder of Bearer receipts himself in form of (registered) Ordinary shares; according to the Proposal, this restriction will be deleted;
 
  the relevant holder of Bearer receipts may not delegate the powers conferred upon him by means of the voting proxy; according to the Proposal, delegation will be permitted, provided that the relevant holder of Bearer receipts has announced his intention to do so to the Trust observing a term before the commencement of the general meeting of shareholders, which term will be determined by the Trust.

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The extra-ordinary circumstances under which the Trust may refrain from issuing a voting proxy or may withdraw voting proxies already issued (to be deleted according to the Proposal) are:

  anyone has made, has announced or is preparing, without the consent of ING Groep N.V., a public offer for all or a part of the shares or the bearer depositary receipts of ING Groep N.V.;
 
  anyone has deliberately violated, insofar as applicable, his legal obligation to report his voting power in ING Groep N.V.;
 
  anyone intends to effect a merger, as referred to in article 6 of the SER Merger Regulation 2000, by means of an acquisition of bearer depositary receipts of ING Groep N.V. in stages via any stock exchange; and
 
  anyone (exclusive of the Trust) has acquired a number of ordinary shares or preference shares or bearer depositary receipts of such shares, respectively, which exceeds one third of the share capital issued in the form of ordinary shares or preference shares, respectively.

Voting instructions of holders of Bearer receipts of Ordinary shares to the Trust

Holders of Bearer receipts are not entitled to give binding instructions to the Trust concerning the Trust’s exercise of the voting rights attached to its Ordinary shares, although, whenever the Trust deems necessary or desirable, the Trust may consult holders of Bearer receipts to the degree and subject to such terms and conditions it considers appropriate.

According to the Proposal, Holders of Bearer receipts are entitled to give binding instructions to the Trust, concerning the Trust’s exercise of the voting rights attached to its Ordinary shares. The Trust will follow such instructions for a number of Ordinary shares equal to the number of Bearer receipts held by the relevant holder of Bearer receipts.

Voting of the Ordinary shares by the Trust

The Trust is required, under the terms of the Trust Agreement to make use of the voting rights associated with the Ordinary shares of ING Groep N.V. in such a manner that the interests of ING Groep N.V., the enterprises sustained by ING Groep N.V. and the companies affiliated as a group with ING Groep N.V. are served in such a way that:

  the interests of ING Groep N.V. and of those enterprises and all parties concerned are safeguarded as well as possible; and
 
  influences which could violate the independence, the continuity or the identity of ING Groep N.V. and those enterprises, contrary to the aforementioned interests, are barred to the greatest extent possible.

According to the Proposal, the Trust will only determine its vote with respect to the Ordinary shares of ING Groep N.V., held by the Trust, that correspond with Bearer receipts:

  the holder of which does not, either in person or by proxy, attend the general meeting of shareholders;
 
  the holder of which, did not give a voting instruction to the Trust.

For the Ordinary shares for which the Trust may determine its vote, the Trust is required, under the terms of the Trust Agreement, to make use of the voting rights associated with these Ordinary shares, in such a manner that the interest of holders of Bearer receipts and the interests of holders of shares of ING Groep N.V. be served, taking into account the interests of (i) ING Groep N.V., (ii) the enterprises sustained by ING Groep N.V. and the companies affiliated as a group with ING Groep N.V, and (iii) all other parties connected with ING Groep N.V., in such a way that all these interests be balanced and safeguarded.

Administration of the Trust

Pursuant to the terms of its Articles of Association, the Trust is administered by a Management Board (the “Management Board”), that consists of seven members. Two members of the Management Board (each a “Managing Director-A”) are appointed by the ING Groep N.V.’s Supervisory Board from among its members. The other five members of the Management Board (each a “Managing Director-B”, and

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together with Managing Directors-A, the “Managing Directors”) are appointed by the Management Board itself, subject to the approval of the Executive Board of ING Groep N.V. According to the Proposal, the Management Board will determine the number of its members itself, subject to the restriction that there may be no more members than seven and no less than three. Managing Directors will be appointed by the Management Board itself without any approval from ING Groep N.V. or any of its corporate bodies being required. Members of any corporate body of ING Groep N.V. are no longer eligible for appointment as a Managing Director.

Managing Directors are appointed for terms of three years and may be reappointed.

Valid resolutions may be passed only if at least one Managing Director-B is present or represented and all Managing Directors have been duly notified, except that in a case where there is no such notification valid resolutions may nevertheless be passed by unanimous consent at a meeting at which all Managing Directors are present or represented. A Managing Director may be represented only by a fellow Managing Director who is authorized in writing. All resolutions of the Management Board shall be passed by an absolute majority of the votes.

The legal relationship between holders of Bearer receipts and the Trust is governed entirely by Netherlands law.

Termination of the Trust

Should the Trust be dissolved or wish to terminate its function under the Trust Agreement, or should ING Groep N.V. wish to have such function terminated, ING Groep N.V. shall, in consultation with the Trustee and with the approval of the meeting of holders of Bearer receipts, appoint a successor to whom the administration can be transferred. The successor shall have to take over all commitments under the Trust Agreement. Within two months of the decision to dissolve or terminate the Trust, the Trust shall have the shares which it holds for administration transferred into its successor’s name. Upon surrender of the Bearer receipts, the successor shall issue to holders of Bearer receipts new or altered Bearer receipts which shall be signed by the successor. In no case shall the administration be terminated without ING Groep N.V.’s approval.

Holders of depositary receipts with a stake of 5% or more

According to filings under the Dutch Act on the Disclosure of Significant Interests, only three shareholders held more than 5% of the Bearer receipts of ING Groep N.V. as of December 31, 2002. They were ABN AMRO, Aegon and Fortis. To the best of our knowledge, there are no other shareholders who own a more than 5% interest in Bearer receipts of ING Groep N.V. Because shareholders are permitted to report their cumulative holdings of Bearer Receipts and are not required to separately identify which are with respect to preferred shares and which are with respect to ordinary shares, we are not able to accurately identify holders who own more than a 5% interest in Bearer Receipts for ordinary shares.

The following table sets forth the share ownership of each 5% holder of ING shares.

                 
    Number of Bearer Receipts   % of Outstanding Bearer
Shareholder   in millions(1)   Receipts(1)
ABN AMRO Holding N.V.
    102       5.12  
AEGON N.V.
    125       6.25  
Fortis Utrecht N.V.
    123       6.15  

(1)   This information is based upon filings made under the Dutch Act on the Disclosure of Significant Interests and may not be accurate as of the date hereof.

Under the Dutch Act on the Disclosure of Significant Interests, shareholders are not required to provide updated information or make regular additional filings. As a result, we are not, nor would we be likely to be, aware of any significant changes in the ownership of ING Groep N.V. Bearer receipts.

None of these major shareholders possesses voting rights different from those possessed by other

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shareholders. Except as provided below with respect to shareholders who are not natural persons, the voting rights of the majority of ING ordinary shares are held by the Trust. As of December 31, 2002, shareholders in the Netherlands held approximately 381 million Bearer receipts, or 22% of the total number of Bearer receipts then outstanding. As of December 31, 2002, shareholders in the United States held approximately 383 million Bearer Receipts (including ADSs), or 22% of the total number of Bearer receipts then outstanding.

As of December 31, 2002, other than the Trust, no other person is known to the Company to be the owner of more than 10% of the Ordinary shares or Bearer receipts. As at December 31, 2002, members of the Supervisory Board held 16,698 ING Group Bearer receipts and 457 ING Group warrants. If Supervisory Board members hold ING options that were granted in their former capacity as member of the ING Executive Board, these options are part of the ING Stock option plan described in Note 3.2.3. of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Related Party Transactions

As of December 31, 2002, the amount outstanding in respect of loans and advances made to members of the Supervisory Board was EUR 1.6 million, at an average interest rate of 4.7%. The amount outstanding in respect of loans and advances, mostly mortgages, to members of the Executive Board was EUR 2.6 million, at an average interest rate of 4.8%. The largest aggregate amount of such loans and advances outstanding during 2002 was EUR 1.8 million.

The loans and advances mentioned in the preceding paragraph (i) were made in the ordinary course of business, (ii) were granted on conditions that are comparable to those of loans and advances granted to people in peer groups and (iii) did not involve more than the normal risk of collectibility or present other unfavorable features. For the members of the Supervisory Board this means that the conditions have been set according to prevailing commercial conditions. For members of the Executive Board this means that the conditions have been set according to the prevailing conditions for ING personnel.

As described under “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees,” some members of the Supervisory Board are current or former senior executives of leading multi-national corporations based primarily in The Netherlands. ING Group may at any time have lending, investment banking or other financial relationships with one or more of these corporations in the ordinary course of business on terms which we believe are no less favorable to ING than those reached with unaffiliated parties of comparable creditworthiness.

Item 8. Financial information

Legal Proceedings, Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information

See item 18, “Financial Statements” on pages F-1 through F-131.

ING Group companies are involved in litigation and arbitration proceedings in the Netherlands and in a number of foreign jurisdictions, including the United States, involving claims by and against them which arise in the ordinary course of their businesses, including in connection with their activities as insurers, lenders, employers, investors and taxpayers. In certain of such proceedings, very large or indeterminate amounts are sought, including punitive and other damages. While it is not feasible to predict or determine the ultimate outcome of all pending or threatened legal and regulatory proceedings, management does not believe that their outcome will have a material adverse effect on the Group’s financial position or results of operations.

As of December 31, 2002, the revaluation reserve of ING Group for equity securities was EUR 0.6 billion (after tax). Due to a further decline of the stock markets, which was partly offset by hedging transactions with respect to the equities securities portfolio up to an amount of approximately EUR 4 billion (as of March 10, 2003), the revaluation reserve is EUR 0.7 billion negative (after tax) as of March 10, 2003 based upon the opening values on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange.

The ratio of available capital versus required capital of ING Verzekeringen N.V. decreased from 169%

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at December 31, 2002 to approximately 157% at March 10, 2003; still well above the regulatory required capital.

Over the past few years in Europe and, increasingly in the United States, considerable public attention has been directed to the full restoration of property rights to victims of the Holocaust. In August, 1998 an association of European insurers and U.S. insurance regulators, the International Commission on Holocaust Era Related Insurance Claims (the ‘Eagleburger Commission’), was established to assist in addressing Holocaust era insurance claims. The Dutch Association of Insurers (of which ING is a member) is a member of this Commission.

Meanwhile in 2002 an agreement was concluded between Belgian financial institutions and the Jewish community concerning Holocaust-related matters. ING subsidiaries in Belgium participated in this agreement.

DIVIDENDS

ING Groep N.V. has declared and paid dividends each year since its formation in 1991. Each year, a final dividend in respect of the prior year is generally declared at and paid after the annual General Meeting of Shareholders generally held in April or May of each year. An interim dividend is generally declared and paid in September, based upon the results for the first six months. The declaration of interim dividends is subject to the discretion of the Executive Board of ING Groep N.V., whose decision to that effect is subject to the approval of the Supervisory Board of the Company. The Executive Board decides, subject to the approval of the Supervisory Board of ING Groep N.V., which part of the annual profits (after payment of dividends on Preference shares and Cumulative Preference shares) will be added to the reserves of ING Groep N.V. The part of the annual profits that remains after this addition to the reserves and after payment of dividends on Preference shares and Cumulative Preference shares is at the disposal of the General Meeting of Shareholders, which may declare dividends therefrom and/or add additional amounts to the reserves of ING Groep N.V. A proposal of the Executive Board with respect thereto is submitted to the General Meeting of Shareholders. The declaration and payment of dividends and the amount thereof is dependent upon the Company’s results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements, future prospects and other factors deemed relevant by the Executive Board in determining the appropriate amount of reserves and there can be no assurance that the Company will declare and pay any dividends in the future.

ING Groep N.V. has historically provided shareholders with the option of receiving dividends either in cash or in the form of additional Ordinary shares. Until the final dividend for the year 1998 (paid in May 1999), if a shareholder opted to receive the dividend in cash, Ordinary shares were consequently not issued to such shareholder but were sold by ING Groep N.V. on the open market in the form of Bearer receipts. Beginning with the interim dividend for 1999, ING changed its dividend policy, and will only issue new shares for its shareholders that have opted to receive a stock dividend.

At the end of 2000 ING announced that starting with the final 2000 dividend, dividends will be paid in cash only. This decision was based on two reasons: First, it will prevent dilution, and second, the tax benefit for individual shareholders in the Netherlands resulting from the stock dividend choice no longer applied as a result of the Income Tax Act that was effective from January 1, 2001.

In order to further strengthen the capital base, ING will propose to the Annual General Meering of Shareholders on April 15, 2003 to approve the reintroduction of the option of receiving dividends either in cash or in the form of additional Ordinary shares. If a shareholder opts to receive the dividend in cash, Ordinary shares will be issued but not to such shareholders. These will be sold by or on behalf of ING Groep N.V. on the open market in the form of Bearer receipts. Shareholders will have five AEX stock-exchange days, beginning with the ex-dividend date, to indicate their preference for dividend payment in cash or in (bearer receipts for) Ordinary shares. The exact value of the (interim) dividend in (bearer receipts for) Ordinary shares will be established based on the weighted average price of ING shares on the AEX during this five-day period. Based on this price, ING will determine the value difference between the payment in shares and the payment in cash. The payment in shares can be slightly higher than the payment in cash. ING has deliberately chosen this five-day period for the value determination in order to avoid being dependent on chance price fluctuations of ING shares on one particular day.

Cash distributions on ING Groep N.V.’s Ordinary shares and Bearer receipts are generally paid in euros. However, the Executive Board may decide, with the approval of the Supervisory Board, to

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declare dividends in the currency of a country other than the Netherlands in which the Bearer receipts are trading. Amounts payable to holders of ADSs that are paid to the Depositary in a currency other than dollars will be converted to dollars and subjected to a charge by the Depositary for any expenses incurred by it in such conversion. The right to cash dividends and distributions in respect of the Ordinary shares will lapse if such dividends or distributions are not claimed within five years following the day after the date on which they were made available.

If a distribution by ING Groep N.V. consists of a dividend in Ordinary shares, such Ordinary shares will be held by the Trust, and the Trust will distribute to the holders of the outstanding Bearer receipts, in proportion to their holdings, additional Bearer receipts issued for the Ordinary shares received by the Trust as such dividend. In the event the Trust receives any distribution with respect to Ordinary shares held by the Trust other than in the form of cash or additional shares, the Trust will adopt such method as it may deem legal, equitable and practicable to effect such distribution.

If ING Groep N.V. offers or causes to be offered to the holders of Ordinary shares the right to subscribe for additional shares, the Trust, subject to applicable law, will offer to each holder of Bearer receipts the right to subscribe for additional Bearer receipts of such shares on the same basis.

If the Trust has the option to receive such distribution either in cash or shares, the Trust will give notice of such option by advertisement and give holders of Bearer receipts the opportunity to choose between cash and shares until the fourth day before the day on which the Trust must have made such choice. Holders of Bearer receipts may receive an equal nominal amount in Ordinary shares, provided that they are natural persons, they do not hold more than 1% of issued share capital of ING Groep N.V., in the form of Ordinary shares, and they meet any other criteria set forth in the Articles of Association. These transfer and holding restrictions will be abolished under the Proposal.

There are no legislative or other legal provisions currently in force in the Netherlands or arising under ING Groep N.V.’s Articles of Association restricting the remittance of dividends to holders of Ordinary shares, Bearer receipts or ADSs not resident in the Netherlands. Insofar as the laws of the Netherlands are concerned, cash dividends paid in Euro may be transferred from the Netherlands and converted into any other currency, except that for statistical purposes such payments and transactions must be reported by ING Groep N.V. to the Dutch Central Bank (De Nederlandsche Bank N.V.) and, further, no payments, including dividend payments, may be made to jurisdictions or persons, that are subject to certain sanctions, adopted by the Government of the Netherlands, implementing resolutions of the Security Council of the United Nations, or adopted by the European Union. Dividends are subject to withholding taxes in the Netherlands as described under “Item 10. Additional Information – Taxation – Netherlands Taxation”.

Item 9. The offer and listing

Bearer receipts representing Ordinary shares (nominal value EUR 0.24 per share) are traded on the Official Market of Euronext Amsterdam N.V.’s Stock Exchange, the principal trading market for the Bearer receipts. The Bearer receipts are also listed on the stock exchanges of Euronext Brussels, Euronext Paris, Deutsche Börse as well as on the Swiss Exchange. As of December 31, 2002, ING Group was the third largest company quoted on the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange, based on market capitalization. ING Bank is one of the principal market-makers for the Bearer receipts on the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange.

Since June 13, 1997, American Depositary Shares (‘ADS’), each representing one Bearer receipt in respect of one Ordinary share, have traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ING”, and are the principal form in which the Bearer receipts are traded in the United States. Prior to June 13, 1997, there was no active trading market for the ADSs. The ADSs are issued by Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as Depositary, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement dated June 2, 1997, among the Company, such Depositary and the holders of ADSs from time to time. As of December 31, 2002, there were 84,483,903 ADSs outstanding, representing an equal number of Bearer receipts. The ADSs were held by 824 record holders. Because certain of the ADSs were held by brokers or other nominees and the Bearer Depositary receipts are held in bearer form and due to the impracticability of obtaining accurate residence information for all such shareholders, the number of holders of record or registered holders in the United States is not representative of the number of

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beneficial holders or of the residence of the beneficial holders. As of December 31, 2002, approximately 22% of the Bearer receipts were held by Dutch investors, approximately 25% by investors in the U.K. and approximately 22% by investors in the United States and Canada (including as represented by ADSs).

The following are the high and low sales prices of the Bearer receipts on the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange, and the ADSs on the New York Stock Exchange, for the period 1998 – March 5, 2003:

                                                 
                    Trading                        
                    volume,                   Trading
                    in millions                   volume,
    Euronext Amsterdam   of Bearer   New York   in millions
    Stock Exchange (EUR)(1)   receipts(2)   Stock Exchange (USD)   of ADSs(2)
Calendar period   High   Low           High   Low        
1998
    155.30       116.70       1,628.6       76½       58 7/16       25.7  
1999(3)
    61.85       50.19       1,602.4       69 7/16       471 3/16       16.0  
2000
    86.10       48.21       1,666.3       80 1/8       47 1/16       28.7  
2001
                                               
First quarter
    87.94       64.45       572.3       83½       75½       11.1  
Second quarter
    78.41       72.00       420.1       69.41       62.08       7.6  
Third quarter(4)
    39.95       22.80       845.9       33.66       21.30       10.8  
Fourth quarter
    31.65       26.60       849.2       28.30       23.75       14.0  
2002
                                               
First quarter
    31.20       25.70       349.7       27.10       22.62       13.7  
Second quarter
    30.98       23.13       357.2       27.32       22.75       13.9  
Third quarter(4)
    26.30       13.29       686.3       25.95       13.07       24.5  
Fourth quarter
    19.55       14.31       640.1       19.31       14.05       25.9  
2002 and 2003
                                               
August 2002
    24.00       18.51       201.9       23.16       19.60       5.5  
September 2002
    21.90       13.29       243.6       21.15       13.07       9.7  
October 2002
    18.01       14.31       273.5       17.90       14.05       10.9  
November 2002
    19.55       15.00       224.8       19.31       15.10       7.3  
December 2002
    19.35       15.67       142.4       19.13       16.08       7.7  
January 2003
    17.30       13.24       230.8       18.22       14.75       8.4  
February 2003
    14.80       11.58       224.2       15.75       12.54       10.6  
March 2003 (through March 5, 2003)
    12.60       11.37       41.0       13.59       12.65       1.8  

(1)   Sales prices for 1998 are in Netherlands Guilders.
 
(2)   Aggregate of purchases and sales
 
(3)   Prior to January 4, 1999, the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange listings were quoted in Dutch guilders.
 
(4)   With effect from July 2, 2001 the stock of ING Group was split in a 2:1 ratio.

Item 10. Additional information

Memorandum and Articles of Association

ING Groep N.V. is a holding company organized under the laws of The Netherlands. Our object and purpose, as set forth in Article 3 of our Articles of Association, is to participate in, manage, finance, provide personal or real security for the obligations of, and provide services to other business enterprises and institutions of any kind whatsoever, but in particular business enterprises and institutions which are active in the field of insurance, banking, investment and/or financial services, and to do anything which is related to the foregoing or may be conducive thereto. ING Groep N.V. is registered under the number 33231073 in the Company Registry of Amsterdam and our Articles of Association are available there.

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Certain Powers of Directors

The Supervisory Board determines the compensation of the members of the Executive Board and the compensation of members of the Supervisory Board is determined by the General Meeting of Shareholders. Neither members of the Executive Board nor members of the Supervisory Board will vote on compensation for themselves or any other member of their body.

During their office, members of the Supervisory Board are not allowed to borrow on behalf of ING Group or any of its subsidiaries. Members of the Executive Board are empowered to exercise all the powers of ING Group to borrow money, subject to regulatory restrictions (if any) and, in the case of the issuance of debt securities, to the approval of the Supervisory Board.

Our Articles of Association do not contain any age limits for retirement of the members of the Executive Board. Nevertheless, it has become standard practice for members to retire at the age of 60. Pursuant to the Articles of Association, members of the Supervisory Board must retire at the age of 70, provided, however, under certain limited circumstances it is possible to postpone retirement until such member reaches the age of 72. This restriction will be lifted as part of the Proposal.

Members of the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board are not required to hold any shares of ING Groep N.V. to qualify as such.

Description of Shares

A description of our securities, and other information with respect to shareholders, annual meetings, changes in capital and limitations on changes in control can be found in our registration statements filed with the Commission on Form F-1 on June 12, 1997 and in this Annual Report under the heading “Item 7 – Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions”.

Material contracts

There have been no material contracts (outside the ordinary course of business) to which ING is a party in the last two years.

Documents on Display

We are is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In accordance with these requirements, we file reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These materials, including this annual report and its exhibits, may be inspected and copied at the SEC’s public reference room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information about the public reference room and the copy charges. You may also inspect our SEC reports and other information at the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005, or on our website at http://www.ing.com.

Exchange controls

Cash distributions, if any, payable in euros on Ordinary shares, Bearer receipts and ADSs may be officially transferred from the Netherlands and converted into any other currency without violating Dutch law, except that for statistical purposes such payments and transactions must be reported by ING Groep N.V. to the Dutch Central Bank and, further, no payments, including dividend payments, may be made to jurisdictions subject to certain sanctions, adopted by the government of the Netherlands, implementing resolutions of the Security Council of the United Nations.

Restrictions on voting

The ADSs represent interests in the Bearer receipts of the Trust, which holds the Ordinary shares for which such Bearer receipts are issued. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions”. The Trust is the holder of all Ordinary shares underlying the Bearer receipts. Only holders of shares (including the Trust) may vote at General Meetings of Shareholders.

Holders of Bearer receipts are entitled to attend and speak at General Meetings of Shareholders of the

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Company; however holders of Bearer receipts (including the Depositary on behalf of the holders of ADSs) as such are not entitled to vote at such meetings. At the request of a person holding Bearer receipts (of Ordinary shares), subject to the restrictions set out in “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions”, the Trust will grant a proxy to the effect that such holder of Bearer receipts may, in the name of the Trust, exercise the voting rights attached to a number of its Ordinary shares that corresponds to the number of Bearer receipts held by him. On the basis of such a proxy the holder of Bearer receipts may vote according to its own discretion.

Holders of Bearer receipts may surrender the Bearer receipts in exchange for Ordinary shares, subject to certain restrictions on transfer set forth in ING Groep N.V.’s Articles of Association and the Trust Agreement. Under ING Groep N.V.’s Articles of Association, only natural persons may hold Ordinary shares and the issuance or transfer of Ordinary shares is not permitted if the acquirer or transferee holds or would hold more than 1% of the issued share capital in the form of Ordinary shares. According to the Proposal , referred to in “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions”, these restrictions will be removed. The Trust also charges a fee for exchanging Bearer receipts for Ordinary shares. Such fee, in each case, is a minimum of EUR 25.00, but varies based on the number of Bearer receipts so exchanged.

Obligations of shareholders to disclose holdings

The Netherlands’ Act on Disclosure of Holdings in Listed Companies (the “Major Holdings Act”) applies to any person who, directly or indirectly, acquires or disposes of an interest in the voting rights and/or the capital of a public limited company incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands with an official listing on a stock exchange within the European Economic Area, as a result of which acquisition or disposal the percentage of voting rights or capital interest acquired or disposed of reaches, exceeds or falls below 5%, 10%, 25%, 50% or 66 2/3%. With respect to ING Groep N.V., the Major Holdings Act would require any person whose interest in the voting rights and/or capital of ING Groep N.V. reached, exceeded or fell below those percentage interests, whether through ownership of Bearer receipts, Ordinary shares, ADSs, Preference shares, Options or Warrants, to notify in writing both ING Groep N.V. and the Securities Board of the Netherlands (Stichting Toezicht Effectenverkeer) immediately after the acquisition or disposal of the triggering interest in ING Groep N.V.’s share capital.

Upon ING Groep N.V.’s receipt of the notification, the information will be disclosed, as notified, forthwith to the public by means of an advertisement in a newspaper distributed throughout the Netherlands. Noncompliance with the obligations of the Major Holdings Act can lead to criminal prosecution. In addition, a civil court can issue orders against any person who fails to notify or incorrectly notifies the Securities Board or ING Groep N.V., in accordance with the Major Holdings Act, including suspension of the voting right in respect of such person’s Ordinary shares.

TAXATION

The following is a summary of the Netherlands tax consequences, and the United States Federal income tax consequences, of the ownership of Bearer receipts or American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”) by U.S. Shareholders (as defined below). For purposes of this summary a “U.S. Shareholder” is a beneficial owner of Bearer receipts or ADSs that is:

  an individual citizen or resident of the United States,
 
  a corporation organized under the laws of the United States or of any state of the United States,
 
  an estate, the income of which is subject to United States Federal income tax without regard to its source; or
 
  a trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust.

The summary is a general description of the present Netherlands and United States Federal income tax laws and practices as well as the relevant provisions of the present double taxation treaty between the Netherlands and the United States (the “Treaty”). It should not be read as extending to matters not specifically discussed, and investors should consult their own advisors as to the tax consequences of their ownership and disposal of Bearer receipts or ADSs. In particular, the summary does not take into

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account the specific circumstances of any particular investors (such as banks, insurance companies, dealers in securities, traders in securities that elect to mark-to-market their securities holdings, investors liable for alternative minimum tax, investors whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, investors that actually or constructively own 10% or more of the voting stock of ING Groep N.V. or investors that hold Bearer receipts or ADSs as part of a straddle or a hedging or conversion transaction), some of which may be subject to special rules. The Netherlands rules applying to holders of a “substantial interest” – in broad terms, individuals who hold or have held directly or indirectly either independently or jointly with certain close relatives at least 5% of the nominal paid-up capital or of any class of shares in ING Groep N.V. – are not addressed in this summary. With respect to U.S. Shareholders, this summary generally applies only to holders who hold Bearer receipts or ADSs as capital assets. The summary is based in part upon the representations of the Depositary and the assumption that each obligation in the Deposit Agreement and any related agreement will be performed in accordance with its terms.

In general, for United States Federal income and Netherlands tax purposes, holders of Bearer receipts will be treated as the owners of the Ordinary shares underlying the Bearer receipts, holders of American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) evidencing ADSs will be treated as the owners of the Ordinary shares evidenced by Bearer receipts, and exchanges of Ordinary shares for Bearer receipts and then for ADSs, and exchanges of ADSs for Bearer receipts and then for Ordinary shares, will not be subject to United States Federal or Netherlands income tax.

It is assumed, for purposes of this summary, that a U.S. shareholder is eligible for the benefits of the Treaty and that a U.S. Shareholder’s eligibility is not limited by the limitations on benefits provisions of article 26 of the Treaty.

NETHERLANDS TAXATION

Withholding tax on dividends

The Netherlands imposes a withholding tax on a distribution of a dividend at the rate of 25%. Stock dividends paid out of ING Groep N.V.’s paid-in share premium recognized for Netherlands tax purposes as such are not subject to the above withholding tax.

Under the Treaty, dividends paid by ING Groep N.V. to a resident of the United States (other than an exempt organization or exempt pension trust, as defined in the Treaty) who is the beneficial owner of the dividends are generally eligible for a reduction of Netherlands withholding tax to 15%, provided that such resident does not have an enterprise which carries on a business in the Netherlands through a permanent establishment or a permanent representative to which or to whom the Bearer receipts or ADSs are attributable. Such reduced dividend withholding rate can be applied for at source upon payment of the dividend by submitting a Form IB 92 USA prior to the dividend payment date, which form includes a banker’s affidavit stating that the Bearer receipts or ADSs are in the bank’s custody in the name of the applicant, or that the Bearer receipts or ADSs have been exhibited to the bank as being the property of the applicant. A U.S. Shareholder who is unable to claim withholding tax relief in this manner can obtain a refund of excess tax withheld by filing a Form IB 92 USA and describing the circumstances that prevented a claim for withholding tax relief at source.

The Treaty provides for a complete exemption from withholding for dividends received by exempt pension trusts and other exempt organizations, as defined in the Treaty. Qualifying exempt pension trusts may claim the benefits of a reduced withholding tax rate pursuant to article 35 of the Treaty. Qualifying exempt pension trusts normally remain subject to withholding at the rate of 25% and are required to file for a refund of the tax withheld. Only if certain conditions are fulfilled, such pension trusts may be eligible for relief at source upon payment of the dividend. Qualifying exempt organizations (other than qualifying exempt pension trusts) are subject to withholding at the rate of 25% and can only file for a refund of the tax withheld.

There is currently an arrangement with the Netherlands Ministry of Finance under which U.S. Shareholders of outstanding ADSs (but not holders of Bearer receipts) of ING Groep N.V. may obtain the lower 15% withholding rate under the Treaty without filing the forms described above. The arrangement also applies to qualifying exempt pension trusts but not to other exempt organizations.

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On July 13, 2002, dividend-stripping rules have been introduced in Netherlands tax law. These rules have retroactive effect per April 27, 2001. The rules provide that in the case of dividend-stripping, the 25% dividend withholding tax cannot be reduced or refunded. Dividend-stripping is deemed to be present if the recipient of a dividend is, different from what has been assumed above, not the beneficial owner thereof and is entitled to a larger credit, reduction or refund of dividend withholding tax than the beneficial owner of the dividends. Under these rules, a recipient of dividends will not be considered the beneficial owner thereof if as a consequence of a combination of transactions a person other than the recipient wholly or partly benefits from the dividends, whereby such person retains, whether directly or indirectly, an interest in the shares on which the dividends were paid.

Taxes on income and capital gains

A U.S. Shareholder will not be subject to Netherlands income tax or corporation tax, other than the withholding tax described above, or capital gains tax, provided that:

  such shareholder is not a resident or deemed resident and, in the case of an individual, has not elected to be treated as a resident of the Netherlands; and
 
  such shareholder does not have an enterprise or an interest in an enterprise, which in its entirety or in part carries on business in the Netherlands through a permanent establishment or a permanent representative to which or to whom the Bearer receipts or ADSs are attributable; and
 
  such shareholder does not have a substantial interest, as defined in Dutch tax law, in the share capital of ING Groep N.V.

Gift, estate or inheritance tax

No Netherlands gift, estate or inheritance tax will be imposed on the acquisition of Bearer receipts or ADSs by gift or inheritance from a holder of Bearer receipts or ADSs who is neither resident nor deemed resident in the Netherlands, provided that the ADSs or Bearer receipts are not attributable to an enterprise which in its entirety or in part is carried on through a permanent establishment or a permanent representative in the Netherlands and in which enterprise the donor or the deceased owned an interest. A non-resident Netherlands citizen, however, is still treated as a resident of the Netherlands for gift tax purposes for ten years and any other non-resident person for one year after leaving the Netherlands.

UNITED STATES TAXATION

Taxes on income

For United States Federal income tax purposes, a U.S. Shareholder will be required to include in gross income the full amount of a cash dividend (including any Netherlands withholding tax withheld) as ordinary income when the dividend is actually or constructively received by the U.S. Shareholder, in the case of Ordinary shares, the Trust in the case of Bearer receipts, or the Depositary in the case of ADSs. For this purpose, a “dividend” will include any distribution paid by ING Groep N.V. with respect to the Bearer receipts or ADSs, but only to the extent such distribution is not in excess of ING Groep N.V.’s current and accumulated earnings and profits as defined for United States Federal income tax purposes. Such a dividend will constitute income from sources outside the United States. A dividend will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction generally allowed to United States corporations in respect of dividends received from other United States corporations.

Subject to the limitations provided in the United States Internal Revenue Code, a U.S. Shareholder may generally deduct from income, or credit against its United States Federal income tax liability, the amount of any Netherlands withholding taxes under the Treaty. The Netherlands withholding tax will likely not be creditable against the U.S. Shareholder’s United States tax liability, however, to the extent that ING Groep N.V. is allowed to reduce the amount of dividend withholding tax paid over to the Netherlands Tax Administration by crediting withholding tax imposed on certain dividends paid to ING Groep N.V. Currently ING Groep N.V. may, with respect to certain dividends received from qualifying non-Netherlands subsidiaries, credit taxes withheld from those dividends against the Netherlands withholding tax imposed on certain qualifying dividends that are redistributed by ING Groep N.V., up to a maximum of the lesser of

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  3% of the amount of qualifying dividends redistributed by ING Groep N.V. and
 
  3% of the gross amount of certain qualifying dividends received by ING Groep N.V.

The reduction is applied to the Dutch dividend withholding tax that ING Groep N.V. must pay to the Dutch tax authorities and not to the Dutch dividend withholding tax that ING Groep N.V. must withhold. ING Groep N.V. will endeavor to provide to U.S. Shareholders information concerning the extent to which it has applied the reduction described above with respect to dividends paid to U.S. Shareholders.

Because payments of dividends with respect to Bearer receipts and ADSs will be made in Dutch guilders, a U.S. Shareholder will generally be required to determine the amount of dividend income by translating the guilders into United States dollars at the “spot rate” on the date the dividend distribution is includable in the income of the U.S. Shareholder. Generally, any gain or loss resulting from currency exchange fluctuations during the period from the date the dividend distribution is includable in the income of the U.S. Shareholder to the date such payment is converted into United States dollars will be treated as ordinary income or loss. Such gain or loss will generally be income or loss from sources within the United States for foreign tax credit limitation purposes.

Taxes on capital gains

Gain or loss on a sale or exchange of Bearer receipts or ADSs by a U.S. Shareholder will generally be a capital gain or loss for United States Federal income tax purposes. If such U.S. Shareholder has held the Bearer receipts or ADSs for more than one year, such gain or loss will generally be long term capital gain or loss. Long term capital gain of a non-corporate U.S. Shareholder is generally subject to a maximum tax rate of 20%. In general, gain or loss from a sale or exchange of Bearer receipts or ADSs by a U.S. Shareholder will be treated as United States source income or loss for United States foreign tax credit limitation purposes.

Passive foreign investment company

ING Groep N.V. believes that it is not a passive foreign investment company (a “PFIC”) for United States Federal income tax purposes. This is a factual determination that must be made annually and thus may change.

If ING Groep N.V. were to be treated as a PFIC, unless a U.S. Shareholder makes an effective election to be taxed annually on a mark-to-market basis with respect to the Bearer receipts or ADSs, any gain from the sale or disposition of Bearer receipts or ADSs by a U.S. Shareholder would be allocated ratably to each year in the holder’s holding period and would be treated as ordinary income. Tax would be imposed on the amount allocated to each year prior to the year of disposition at the highest rate in effect for that year, and interest would be charged at the rate applicable to underpayments on the tax payable in respect of the amount so allocated. The same rules would apply to “excess distributions”, defined generally as distributions exceeding 125% of the average annual distribution made by ING Groep N.V. over the shorter of the holder’s holding period or the three preceding years.

A U.S. Shareholder who owns Bearer receipts or ADSs during any year that ING Groep N.V. is a PFIC must file Internal Revenue Service Form 8621.

Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure of Market Risk

Introduction

The Executive Board places a high priority on risk management and risk control. By virtue of the Group’s size and its wide diversity of activities, types of clients and geographic regions, ING seeks to maintain the highest quality of risk management and control and to apply the most up-to- date and reliable methods available, not only to protect the Group itself but also its clients and shareholders. ING has comprehensive risk management and control procedures on all levels within the Group, which enable the Group to control and monitor risks and the accumulation of risks. The risk governance and systems of controls in use should guarantee management that the risks are being measured, monitored and reported adequately and effectively. The principal risks are credit risk, market risk, liquidity risk, actuarial and underwriting risk and operational risk. ING’s risk governance has three

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components: the risk profile is set by specific risk committees; specialised departments at Group level and at local or regional level are responsible for the measurement, monitoring and reporting of the risks; and day to day management of the risks takes place in the business units.

Risk Policy Committee (RPC)

RPC evaluates and sets ING Group’s overall risk profile, aiming for a balance between risk, return and capital. The Committee advises the Executive Board on RAROC and the RAROC methodology as well as the allocation of economic capital to the business units and to the risk categories. The Committee advises the Executive Board on the risk measurement methodology and ensures that the risk management organisation adequately supports the risks ING incurs, that the risk management process is properly audited and that improvements in this process are effectuated to meet regulatory and internal requirements. The Committee advises the Executive Board on the consolidated Group limits for the principal risk categories. The Committee also advises the Executive Board on ING’s capital position, focussing on capital investment methodology and policy taking into account internal standards and regulatory requirements. RPC meets quarterly to assess ING’s risk profile, risk management processes and systems of internal controls in relation to market developments. Members of the Executive Board, the Head of Corporate Audit Services, the Head of Corporate Control & Finance, the Head of Corporate Market Risk Management, the Head of Corporate Credit Risk Management and the Head of Corporate Insurance Risk Management are seated in the Committee.

The following risk committees act within the overall risk policy guidelines and delegated authorities granted by RPC. These committees also ensure a close link with the business through representation of Business Heads in the committees.

Central Credit Committee (CKC)

CKC is the highest credit approval body within ING. CKC sets country limits and country ratings, credit limits, counterparty limits and advises the Executive Board on provisions. CKC oversees other credit committees covering the entire business of ING Group. The Head of Corporate Credit Risk Management chairs CKC; other members include the Executive Board and the Heads of Credit Risk Management of the major business units. The Committee meets weekly. The Committee is advised by the Corporate Credit Risk Management Department (responsible for measurement, monitoring and reporting of credit risks of ING Group) and by the Credit Risk Committee (CRC) dedicated to the harmonisation of credit risk management practises through credit risk definitions and standards, policies, procedures, models and methodology.

ING Group Risk Concentration Committee (IRCC)

IRCC advises the Executive Board about ING Group’s largest credit risk concentrations across portfolios of corporate customers, industries, financial institutions and sovereign customers. The CFO chairs IRCC; additional members include senior credit risk managers from ING Bank, ING Insurance and ING Investment Management as well as the Head of Corporate Credit Risk Management, ING Group Compliance and senior commercial managers. Strict conformance to compliance and disclosure rules are maintained. IRCC provides recommendations on the direction of the exposure, but not specific limits. The Committee meets monthly.

ING Group Provisioning Committee (IPC)

IPC advises CKC and the Executive Board on ING Bank’s specific debtor and country provisioning levels. IPC’s recommendations are carried out by the various business units and the final approval each quarter is given by the Executive Board. The CFO chairs IPC; additional members include senior Credit Risk Management staff and Controller’s staff in each of the major ING Bank units, as well as the Head of Corporate Credit Risk Management. The Committee meets quarterly.

ING Group Market Risk Committee (IMRC)

IMRC sets the overall trading risk profile of ING Bank. The IMRC decides about the market risk limit structure and sets trading limits for normal market conditions (Value at Risk) and for events (Event

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Value at Risk) for all trading risk categories (Foreign Exchange, Interest Rate, Emerging Markets Debt and Equity) as well as trading issuer limits and underwriting limits. IMRC also decides on new trading products and associated limits and on risk factors. The Committee has delegated approval authority for individual trading limits and product mandates to market risk committees (including underwriting committees) within ING Bank at regional level and at local business unit level. The CFO chairs IMRC; other members include the Executive Board, the Head of Financial Markets, the Head of Corporate Credit Risk Management and the Head of Corporate Market Risk Management. The Committee meets monthly. The Committee is advised by the Corporate Market Risk Management Department (responsible for the measurement, monitoring and reporting of ING Bank market risks) and by the Market Risk Policy Committee (MRPC), dedicated to the harmonisation of market risk management practises throughout the organisation focussing on definitions, policies, procedures, models and methodology and event risk factors.

ALCO ING Group

ALCO ING Group sets the overall risk profile of ING Groep N.V., the holding company of ING Bank N.V. and ING Verzekeringen N.V. ALCO ING Group defines the policy regarding funding, liquidity, interest rate mismatch and foreign exchange risk of ING Groep N.V. The CFO chairs ALCO ING Group. Members include the members of the Executive Board, the Head of Corporate Control & Finance, the Head of Corporate Market Risk Management and the Head of Financial Markets. The Committee meets monthly.

Asset & Liability Committee ING Bank (ALCO Bank)

ALCO Bank sets the overall risk profile of all non-trading market risk of ING Bank that occurs in all banking activities which are valued on accrual basis. ALCO Bank defines the policy regarding funding, liquidity, interest rate mismatch and capital of ING Bank. ALCO Bank sets standards for long-term balance sheet developments, the funding structure, the liquidity position, contingency funding, the interest rate sensitivity of interest margin as well as the hedging of translation risk of investments. The Committee has delegated approval authority to ALCO committees of ING Bank at regional level or at local business unit level. The CFO chairs ALCO Bank, Members include members of the Executive Board, the Head of Corporate Control & Finance, the Head of Corporate Market Risk Management and the Head of Financial Markets. The Committee meets monthly. The Committee is advised by the Corporate Market Risk Management Department and by the Market Risk Policy Committee (MRPC), dedicated to the harmonisation of market risk management practises throughout the organisation focussing on definitions, policies, procedures, models and methodology and event risk factors.

Asset & Liability Committee Insurance (ALCO Insurance)

ALCO Insurance is responsible for monitoring market risks (with relevant links to actuarial risks) for all ING insurance activities. This includes volatility (affecting earnings and value), exposure (required capital and market failure) and translation risk (hedging). Consistent methods and measurement techniques provide tools for determining regional and group-wide risk appetite. Targets for policy are defined, including limit setting and related capital allocation, if needed. ALCO Insurance is responsible for the ALCO structure within ING Insurance, including ALCO committees on regional level and on local business unit level. ALCO Insurance monitors and set mandates for the management of interest sensitivity of products sold (such as interest guarantees, profit-sharing to policyholders, lapse/surrender or increased exposure) and its influence on P&L. The committee signs off on the investment mandates and reviews the actual asset allocation against the mandate and against the benchmark asset allocation and monitor their performance respectively. It aggregates and monitors group positions by asset classes and portfolio quality, develops group limits as appropriate and superimposes hedge strategies, if necessary. The CFO chairs ALCO Insurance; other members include the Executive Board, the Head of Corporate Insurance Risk Management, the Head of Corporate Market Risk Management, the Head of Corporate Credit Risk Management, the Head of Corporate Control & Finance and members of ING Investment Management. The Committee meets quarterly. The Committee is advised by the Corporate Insurance Risk Management Department.

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Operational Risks

Currently ING is putting an Operational Risk Management infrastructure in place, following a bottom- up approach throughout the entire organisation. Operational Risk Committees already exist within Executive Centre Europe, both on Management Centre level and on Executive Centre level. In several Management Centres of the other Executive Centres, Operational Risk Committees are in place as well. The operational risk management responsibility is allocated to line management which has its Operational Risk Committee to identify, measure, monitor and report the operational risks of its business activities and to ensure that appropriate management action is taken by their responsible line managers. Corporate Operational Risk Management (being part of Corporate Market Risk Management) is dedicated to the harmonisation of operational risk management practises throughout the organisation focussing on operational risk definitions, policies, procedures, models and methodology.

ING Group Audit Committee

ING Group Audit Committee revised its charter in light of international developments in financial reporting. The revised charter is applicable as from 1 January 2003. ING Group Audit Committee has been composed of at least four independent members in such a way so as to make sure that specific business economics, (financial) accounting and related financial management expertise relating to the business of ING is available. The chairman, vice-chairman and the members of the Audit Committee are appointed by the Supervisory Board after consultation with the Executive Board. At least one member of the Audit Committee will be a financial expert and preferably one member has a legal background. Only one member can be a former member of the Executive Board, taking into account a waiting period of five years following his/her retirement from the Executive Board. The term of office of the members of the Audit Committee will not extend beyond the term of their appointment as member of the Supervisory Board. (Re)appointment to the Supervisory Board and (re)appointment to the Audit Committee require separate decisions. The principal task of the Audit Committee is to assist the Supervisory Board in monitoring (a) the integrity of the financial statements of ING Groep N.V., ING Verzekeringen N.V. and ING Bank N.V., (b) the compliance by ING with legal and regulatory requirements and (c) the independence and performance of ING’s internal and external auditors. The Audit Committee shall meet as often as it determines, but not less frequently than quarterly, before the publication of quarterly, semi-annual and annual results.

Risk Management Departments

Risk management (measurement, monitoring and reporting) within ING is embedded in three departments at Group level: Corporate Credit Risk Management (CCRM), Corporate Market Risk Management (CMRM) -including Corporate Operational Risk Management (CORM); and Corporate Insurance Risk Management (CIRM). The Heads of these departments (Corporate Risk Managers) report to the CFO. The local and regional risk managers in the business entities have a functional reporting line to the Corporate Risk Managers; the regional risk managers/local risk managers ensure day to day risk analysis, proper measurement and controls, aggregation of risks, policy development and standards within the overall risk governance framework.

Credit Risk

ING’s policy is to maintain an internationally diversified loan and bond portfolio, while avoiding large risk concentrations. The emphasis is on managing business development within the regions by means of top-down concentration limits for countries, individual borrowers and industries. The aim is expanding relationship banking activities, while maintaining stringent internal risk/return guidelines. For the investment portfolios backing the insurance liabilities, ING’s policy is to maintain a fixed- income investment portfolio with a diversified credit portfolio within acceptable internally and externally driven parameters.

Credit risk – ING Bank

Credit risk is the risk of loss from the default by a debtor or counterparty. Credit risks arise in ING’s lending and investment activities, as well as in its trading activities. Risk management is supported by

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general information systems and debtor and counterparty internal rating methodologies. The internal risk rating models were converted from a ten risk class scale to a twenty-two risk class scale to provide better granularity and to meet the future requirements of the new Basel II capital accord.

Rating classes ING Bank in % of total outstandings(1)

                 
    2002   2001
Investment Grade: 1-10
    46.5 %     49.6 %
Speculative Grade: 11-17
    51.7 %     48.1 %
Problem Grade:18-22
    1.8 %     2.3 %
 
   
     
 
Total
    100.0 %     100.0 %
 
   
     
 

(1)   Based on the retail and wholesale lending activities.

Delegated authorities Within globally established procedures all banking units of ING Group have their own bodies for the approval of credits within a system of delegated authorities. The RPC determines which authorities are delegated to various credit committees and approval bodies. The credit approval hierarchy is separate from line functions, but has balanced participation from both senior credit risk and senior commercial personal.

Risk concentration monitoring CCRM is responsible for developing and maintaining common credit and country risk policies and procedures throughout the Group. Additionally, CCRM is responsible for evaluating country, borrower and counterparty concentration risk issues by applying senior risk management level oversight to the credit review and monitoring activities of all business units. Lastly, CCRM is responsible for consolidated credit risk reporting and improving risk measurement techniques.

Risk Standardisation and integration Following the efforts over the last several years of harmonising credit risk practices among the major business units, CCRM continues to actively integrate the credit risk management practices and procedures across all of the ING units in order to create greater synergies, streamline activities, standardise credit risk systems and lower costs. Credit analysis is risk/reward-oriented whereby the level of credit analysis is a function of the risk amount, tenor, structure (e.g. covers received) of the facility, and the risks entered into. Analysts make use of publicly available information in combination with in-house analysis based on information provided by the customer, peer group comparisons, industry comparisons and other quantitative tools.

Debtor provisioning The credit portfolio is under constant review. A formal analysis takes place on a quarterly basis to determine the provisions for possible bad debts, using a bottom-up approach. ING Group identifies as impaired loans those loans for which it is probable that the principal and interest amounts contractually due will not be collected in a timely manner.

ING is of the opinion that its loan loss provisions as of December 31, 2002 are adequate to absorb losses from ING Bank’s lending and counterparty activities.

Additions to the provision for loan losses ING Bank(1)

                 
    2002   2001
    (EUR millions)
Netherlands
    236       160  
Belgium
    53       10  
Rest of Western Europe
    352       189  
Central and Eastern Europe
    80       111  
North America
    497       237  
South America
    167       149  
Asia
    3       (84 )
Other
    47       (22 )
 
   
     
 
 
    1,435       750  
 
   
     
 

(1)   Provisions by country are based on the location of the borrower.

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The weak economic conditions in the United States and Germany, combined with the financial crisis in Argentina and the bankruptcy of National Century Financial Enterprises (NCFE) in the United States are the primary causes of the significant increase in the additions to the provisions for loan losses in 2002.

Settlement risks – ING Bank

Settlement risk arises when there is an exchange of value (funds, instruments, or commodities) for the same or different value dates and receipt is not verified or expected until ING has paid or delivered its side of the trade. The risk is that ING delivers, but does not receive delivery from the counterparty. Settlement risk can most commonly be contained and reduced by entering into transactions with delivery versus payment (DVP) settlement methods, as is common with most clearing houses, or settlement netting agreements.

For those transactions where DVP settlement is not possible, ING establishes settlement limits through the credit approval process. Settlement risk is then monitored and managed through the credit risk management units. The risk is further mitigated by operational procedures requiring trade confirmations to the counterparties with all transaction details, and entering into internationally accepted documentation, such as International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) Master Agreements, for derivative transactions. Additionally, ING regularly participates in projects with other banks to improve and develop new clearing systems and clearing mechanisms to further reduce the level of settlement risk.

Country risks – ING Bank

Country risk is the risk that ING faces which is specifically attributable to events in a specific country (or group of countries). Country risk is identified in lending (corporate and counterparty), trading and investment activities. All transactions and trading positions generated by ING have country risk. Country risk is further divided into economic and transfer risk. Economic risk is the concentration risk relating to any event in the risk country which may affect transactions and other exposure in that country, regardless of the currency. Transfer risk is the risk incurred through the inability of ING or its counterparties to meet their respective foreign currency obligations due to a specific country event.

Limit setting and monitoring In countries where ING is active, the risk profile is regularly evaluated, resulting in a country rating. Based on this rating and ING’s risk appetite, country limits are defined. Exposures derived from lending and investment activities are then measured and reported against these country limits on a daily basis. Country risk limits are assigned for transfer risk, generally only in emerging markets. The amounts of emerging markets transfer risk as a percentage of total retail and wholesale activities remained 6%. Exposure is closely monitored for economic country risk, although no formal limits are established. The table below shows the largest economic country risks, as of December 31, 2002 broken down by customer type.

Largest economic exposures by country(1)

                                                 
                    Financial   Govern-                
    Corporate   Banks   institutions   ments   Others   Total
    (EUR billions)
Netherlands
    63.1       2.2       6.3       2.1       71.7       145.4  
United States
    15.5       17.8       25.1       6.2       2.8       67.4  
Germany
    13.4       20.6       2.1       3.3       3.7       43.1  
United Kingdom
    12.3       12.1       11.5               0.1       36.0  
Belgium
    12.1       4.4       1.0       1.3       6.5       25.3  
France
    13.4       7.6       2.8       0.2               24.0  
Poland
    4.2       12.0       0.3       0.2       0.2       16.9  
Spain
    4.7       3.6       1.1       0.7               10.1  

(1)   Only covers exposures in excess of EUR 10 billion

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Economic country risk is the concentration risk relating to any event in the risk country that may affect transactions and other exposure in that country, regardless of the currency.

Country risk provisioning The country provision methodology is more closely linked to the risk definitions with respect to determining where the country risk occurs. Some countries with perceptually high risk, but which have not yet defaulted, require no mandatory provisions for transfer risk. Instead of provisions, additional capital is allocated to transactions that incur country risk, the amount of which is a function of the risk of the country as well as the risk of the transaction itself. For countries that are near default or have recently defaulted, adequate provisioning remains a requirement. The Dutch Central Bank continually monitors ING’s policies with respect to capital allocation and provisioning for country risk. The table below shows the largest cross-border lending exposures in excess of EUR 750 million.

Largest cross border lending exposures ING Bank in emerging markets(1)

                                                 
                    Provisions                
    Gross transfer   on foreign   Country capital
    exposure   currency loans   add-on
    2002   2001   2002   2001   2002   2001
    (EUR millions)
South Korea
    1,942       1,537       5       14                  
Hong Kong
    1,917       1,912       33       37                  
Poland
    1,832       2,658       65       46                  
Brazil
    1,024       1,371       10               64       79  
China
    784       644       23       38                  
Mexico
    759       1,202       2       5                  

(1)   Figures exclude local currency-denominated loans.

For Poland an additional provision for local and foreign currency loans of EUR 99 million was taken in 2002. The total provisions for local and foreign currency loans in Poland at December 31, 2002 was EUR 458 million. The total exposure on local and foreign currency-denominated loans in Poland at December 31, 2002 was EUR 16.9 billion.

Legal risks – ING Bank

In contrast to credit risks, which are caused by a borrower’s insolvency, and country transfer risks, which are caused by currency inconvertibility events, legal risks are the risks that the customer is not legally obligated to make payment due (e.g., the non-enforceability or insufficiency of documentation, or ultra vires status of a given transaction). ING uses both internal and external counsel to minimise these risks. Where practical, standard documentation has been developed, including dealing room confirmations, standardised loan agreements, general terms and conditions and master documentation.

Credit risk – ING Insurance

Within the insurance companies the investment mandates specify credit risk appetite by type, quality and duration of security. ING Insurance’s policy is to maintain a fixed-income investment portfolio with a diversified credit portfolio within acceptable internally and externally driven parameters.

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The average credit rating of the general account portfolios, as of December 31, 2002, is shown in the table below.

ING Insurance Fixed income securities by rating class(1)

                                 
                    Asia/        
Rating class   Europe   Americas   Pacific   Total
AAA
    40 %     40 %     9 %     37 %
AA
    27 %     8 %     41 %     17 %
A
    25 %     22 %     27 %     23 %
BBB
    6 %     25 %     20 %     19 %
BB
    2 %     4 %     3 %     3 %
Other
    0 %     2 %     0 %     1 %

(1)   Total amount of the general account portfolio was EUR 96.5 billion, which excludes mortgages, policy loans and other fixed income investments.

The fixed income portfolios were adversely affected by higher than anticipated credit losses during 2002. This impact was especially pronounced in the US. The main contributors were the public investment grade and high yield bond portfolios as well as the asset backed securities portfolio. The total credit loss for 2002 in the insurance portfolios was EUR 630 million.

Debtor provisioning

For credit risks, a provision for losses is maintained that is considered adequate to absorb losses arising from the existing insurance investment portfolios. The provisions are reviewed on a quarterly basis. They amounted to EUR 155 million at the end of 2002 compared with EUR 165 million at the end of 2001.

Market risk

Market risk – ING Bank

Market risk is the risk of loss due to adverse changes in the level of volatility or prices in financial markets. These risks are inherent to positions in foreign exchange, equity and interest rate markets. These risks can be a result of positions in the trading as well as the banking books of ING Bank.

Trading risk

Financial products that expose ING Bank to market risk include loans, deposits, foreign exchange, securities, derivatives and debt instruments. ING Bank has no material commodity portfolios. The derivative trading positions include swaps, forward rate agreements, futures, options and combinations thereof. ING Bank’s policy is to maintain an internationally diversified and mainly client- related trading portfolio, while avoiding large risk concentrations.

ING Bank uses, in line with the latest BIS guidelines on internal models, the Value-at-Risk (VaR) methodology as primary risk measure. An Event Value at Risk policy is implemented to estimate market risk exposures in case of extreme market movements.

Daily Value at Risk (VaR)

VaR measures the maximum overnight loss that could occur due to changes in risk factors (e.g. interest rates, foreign exchange rates, equity prices) if positions remain unchanged for a time interval of one day. These calculations are, in accordance with the BIS guidelines, based on market movements in the previous twelve months within 99% one-sided confidence interval, taking diversification and correlation into account. The VaR also serves as a basis for the calculation of the regulatory capital which ING Bank has to hold as a result of market risk.The VaR model takes into account all material market risk factors under normal market circumstances. The VaR calculations are performed using a variance/co-variance approach or a full revaluation approach. The overall VaR includes the linear and non-linear market risks

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of the ING Bank trading portfolios. The VaR for the interest and equity markets are split into two components: general market risk and specific market risk. The general market risk estimates the value at risk resulting from general market value movements. The specific market risk estimates the value at risk resulting from market value movements that relate to the issuer.

The market risk of all the important option portfolios within ING Bank is measured and monitored by full revaluation methods like Monte Carlo.

At the end of 2001 and the beginning of 2002 the positions of the ING Bank trading portfolio in the interest rate markets were above average (as stated in the table below, the highest interest rate-value- at-risk for 2001, EUR 25.5 million, and 2002, EUR 26.5 million, were recorded in this period). The exposure during the remainder of 2002 was stable but slightly higher than 2001 (average VaR 2001: EUR 24.7 million and average VaR 2002: EUR 26.5 million). The consolidated VaR remained well within the Group consolidated limit. More details on the VaR of the ING Bank trading portfolio for 2001 and 2002 are provided in the table below.

Consolidated Trading VaR ING Bank

                                                                 
    Low   High   Average   Year end   Low   High   Average   Year end
         2002        2001
    (EUR millions)
Foreign exchange
    2.0       9.2       4.1       2.5       1.8       5.1       3.1       3.1  
Equities
    4.5       13.6       8.5       10.7       5.6       15.0       9.7       7.7  
Interest
    7.1       26.5       12.9       9.3       4.5       25.5       12.3       24.9  
Emerging markets/ high yield
    7.7       13.5       9.9       7.7       6.1       11.0       8.7       9.2  
Diversification(1)
                    (8.9 )     (9.5 )                     (9.1 )     (12.1 )
 
                   
     
                     
     
 
Total VaR
                    26.5       20.7                       24.7       32.8  
 
                   
     
                     
     
 

(1)   Diversification is not calculated for the columns Low and High since the observations for both the individual markets, as well as total VaR may come from different dates.

Backtesting

ING continuously monitors the plausibility and effectiveness of the VaR model currently used. The technique used for this purpose is generally known as backtesting and consists of comparing actual daily P&L with the daily VaR. Based on ING Bank’s confidence interval – 99% – the absolute value of the daily losses may be higher than the measured VaR, on average, once in every 100 days. For ING Bank as a whole there was no instance in 2002 where a daily trading loss exceeded the daily consolidated VaR.

Event Value at Risk

Since VaR generally does not produce any estimate of the potential losses that can occur as a result of extreme market movements, ING uses highly structured stress testing for monitoring the market risk under these extreme conditions. Stress scenarios are based on historical and hypothetical extreme events. The result of the stress testing is an Event Value at Risk (EVaR) number, which is an estimate of the P&L caused by a potential event and its world-wide impact for ING. The event risk analysis is performed on different levels within ING Bank. The Event Risk policy (and its technical implementation) is specific for ING as there is no calculation method that is generally accepted by other banks and regulators like the Value at Risk module. The ING EVaR module is accepted by the Dutch Central Bank to calculate event risk. The ING Event Risk policy basically consists of stress parameters per country and per market (foreign exchange, interest rate, equity, credit spread). Parameters indicate possible market movements within the time frame of one month. Different scenarios are defined to estimate the accumulated event risk of ING Bank over the markets or countries or both, hereby quantifying the relations between the countries/regions and markets. Event risk parameters and scenarios are backtested against extreme market movements that actually occur in the markets (e.g. Argentina, Turkey). Parameters and scenarios can be adjusted after approval from MRPC.

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BANKING RISK

Interest risk

For the non-trading books of ING Bank the focus is mainly on interest rate risk. The structural interest mismatch of ING Bank and the changes in the maturity profile of ING Bank’s assets and liabilities are reviewed every month by the regional or local business unit ALCOs. ALCO Bank sets the overall interest mismatch of ING Bank.

The management of interest mismatch positions is, within limits set by the respective ALCO, performed within the Treasury function. Commercial units are not allowed to run mismatch positions. Therefore all interest rate risk must be transferred by way of maturity-matched funding to the Treasury servicing the respective commercial unit. The Treasury uses interest rate swaps and other derivatives for managing the mismatch position.

Local market risk management measures and monitors interest rate risk and reports positions nd limit usage to the appropriate ALCO. For consolidation purposes, local market risk management also produces a gap report. Corporate Market Risk Management consolidates all gap reports and reports to both the ALCO Bank and the Dutch Central Bank. Maturity gaps are based upon the contractual maturity or interest rate re-pricing dates. The maturity gap analysis for mortgages takes into account historical prepayment rates. For the gap analysis of the current accounts and savings accounts, the “behavioural” re-pricing characteristics of these products are taken into account. The funds are invested in such a way that the interest rate margin is stable for a long historic period.

ING uses several measures to control interest rate risk. The most important ones are earnings at risk, which measures the sensitivity of ING Bank earnings to interest rate movements and Value at Risk, which measures the maximum overnight loss that could occur due to changes in interest rates if positions remain unchanged for a time interval of one day. As at December 31, 2002, ING Bank non- trading books expected earnings in 2003 would be EUR 14 million lower if interest rates were to rise instantaneously by 1%. At December 31, 2001, the expected decrease in earnings was EUR 105 million. The one-day 99% VaR for all banking books at year-end 2002 was EUR 65 million, compared with EUR 104 million at year-end 2001.

The consolidated interest rate position of the ING Bank is presented below in gap format as of 31 December 2002. This condensed format outlines the net of repricing and maturing notional amounts from both the end-of-year asset and liability portfolios. The report comprises on and off balance sheet items and only covers ING’s banking operations. This consolidated gap report is similar to the regulatory report on interest rate positions.

Overview of GAP profile with distinction for the main currencies within ING Bank non-trading books (December 31, 2002)

                                                                         
    On-balance   Off-balance(1)                
            US                           US                   Grand
    Euro   Dollar   Other   Total   Euro   Dollar   Other   Total   Total
Up to 3 months
    25,996       (17,157 )     (3,964 )     4,875       (332 )     1,264       (2,801 )     (1,869 )     3,006  
3 to 6 months
    2,648       (4,882 )     (908 )     (3,142 )     865       (635 )     (478 )     (248 )     (3,390 )
6 to 12 months
    (5,179 )     (2,575 )     (725 )     (8,479 )     (20 )     724       549       1,253       (7,226 )
1 to 2 years
    (1,911 )     1,906       (383 )     (388 )     (610 )     (100 )     57       (653 )     (1,041 )
2 to 3 years
    1,476       1,741       247       3,464       (1,092 )     (505 )     147       (1,450 )     2,014  
3 to 4 years
    2,016       269       (385 )     1,900       (1,511 )     (47 )     543       (1,015 )     885  
4 to 5 years
    (1,377 )     755       (314 )     (936 )     1,042       (138 )     419       1,323       387  
5 to 7 years
    (5,140 )     437       (381 )     (5,084 )     (2,119 )     (162 )     255       (2,026 )     (7,110 )
7 to 10 years
    178       2,540       (1,079 )     1,639       6,115       299       1,050       7,464       9,103  
10 to 15 years
    4,106       32       (84 )     4,054       (1,961 )     280       (136 )     (1,817 )     2,237  
Over 15 years
    2,015       93       (11 )     2,097       (967 )     9       (4 )     (962 )     1,135  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    24,828       (16,841 )     (7,9879 )     0       -590       989       (399 )     0       0  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

(1)   Mainly plain vanilla derivatives like interest rate swaps.

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The figures above show a large currency mismatch. Please note that in line with existing policies the currency and interest exposures in the non-trading books are largely transferred to Financial Markets Treasury (trading books), where they might be hedged.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE RISK

Foreign exchange risk

Foreign exchange risk in the non-trading books relates to translation risk due to foreign investments and USD denominated Tier 1 capital. For ING’s main currencies, US Dollar, Pound Sterling and Polish Zloty, the translation risk is managed by ALCO Bank, taking into account the effect of translation results on the Tier1 ratio. For all other currencies the translation risk is managed by Financial Markets Treasury Amsterdam. The day to day management of all foreign currency positions is delegated to Financial Markets Treasury.

Overnight translation exposure at year-end 2002 for the main currencies and the overall exposure

                                         
    Foreign           Gross                
Currency   Investments   Tier 1   Exposure   Hedges   Net Position
    (EUR million)
US Dollar
    1,064       (3,481 )     (2,417 )     1,099       (1,318 )
Pound Sterling
    (558 )             (558 )     486       (72 )
Polish Zloty
    520               520       (250 )     270  
South Korean Won
    509               509       (476 )     33  
Other currency
    1,082               1,082       (904 )     178  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    2,617       (3,481 )     (864 )     (45 )     (909 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
 

As of December 31, 2002 ING’s USD denominated Tier 1 securities amounted to EUR 3,481 million and had an impact on the open FX exposure of EUR 984 million.

To quantify the Foreign Exchange risks the same Value at Risk (VaR) approach is used as for the trading activities. At December 31, 2002, the VaR equalled EUR 14.0 million. During 2002 the average VaR was EUR 8.9 million; the highest VaR was EUR 16.2 million and the lowest VaR was EUR 4.0 million. At December 31, 2001, the VaR was EUR 12.1 million.

Market risk – ING Insurance

Insurance market risks are monitored through asset and liability management (ALM) policies and procedures with an ALCO Insurance structure established at business unit, executive centre / management centre and corporate levels. At ING Group level, Corporate Insurance Risk Management is responsible for implementing and monitoring ALM practices and for consistency in such techniques world-wide.

The risk of loss occurring through adverse changes of prices in the financial markets is quantified in extensive ALM analyses, using stochastic analyses for both assets and liabilities and the interaction between these portfolios. These ALM analyses are used to determine the adequacy of reserves, to find the optimal asset mix complementing the liability profiles and to determine appropriate risk based capital levels to quantify effects on the P&L.

Interest rate risk

The insurance operations are exposed to interest rate movements with respect to guaranteed interest rates and policyholders reasonable expectations with respect to crediting rates. Asset portfolios backing these liabilities are managed accordingly. The current product portfolio also comprises products where interest rate risks are entirely passed on to the policyholder, thereby reducing ING’s exposure to interest movements. Changes in interest rates can impact present and future earnings of the insurance operations and can affect the levels of new sales, surrenders or withdrawals. Through scenario-analysis the sensitivity of a 1% upward movement in interest rates and a 1% downward

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movement in interest rates on the forecasted 2003 pre-tax profit for the insurance operations has been estimated. A simultaneous decrease of interest rates of 1% from current levels would have a negative effect on budgeted pre-tax results for the insurance operations for 2003 of 4% (2002: 2%). A simultaneous increase of interest rates of 1% from current levels would have a positive effect on budgeted pre-tax results for the insurance operations for 2003 of 3% (2002: 2%).

Equity risk

The insurance operations are exposed to movements in equity markets on two levels: 1) those business units which have direct equity holdings in the general accounts; and 2) those products where the revenues to the insurance operations are linked to the value of the equity funds, since this has an impact on the level of charges deducted for unit-linked and variable business. A 10% decrease in stock market prices would lower the pre-tax budgeted result for the insurance operations in 2003 by 9% (2002: 3%). Once the revaluation reserve is nil, any further decrease in stock market prices will increase the 9%. The impact of a 10% change in equities increases over 2002, generally because of a change in growth assumptions used in the amortization of the DAC for the US variable business.

The continued weak equity markets have resulted in close monitoring with respect to the capital of the insurance business units, particularly those that have a significant exposure in equity investments, i.e. business units in the Benelux.

The actual capital versus required capital of ING Insurance stands at 169% of EU target surplus as of 31 December 2002. The nature of ING’s current insurance investments (which include EUR 11 billion equity and EUR 7.2 billion in real estate) means that this ratio has been subject to significant fluctuations in the recent months. ALM studies currently underway will provide more guidance with respect to the most desirable mix of assets to support reserves and target surplus not only from a profit and loss account perspective but also from a balance sheet and cost and use of capital perspective. However, as a result of a decline in capital ratios during 2002, the Executive Board took several actions:

  Termination of 15% automatic year-on-year increase in realised capital gains;
 
  Proposal to reintroduce optional cash/stock dividend as from final dividend 2002;
 
  Reduction volatility in balance sheet from exposure to equity and real-estate markets.

Foreign exchange risk

Foreign exchange risk in the investments backing the insurance liabilities is dealt with in the investment management processes. Locally required capital levels are invested in local currencies in order to satisfy regulatory requirements and to support local insurance business regardless of currency movements. These capital levels may affect the consolidated balance sheet when translated to euros. Depending on hedging costs and the capital exposure, up to 85% of the capital over locally required margins is currency-hedged. With respect to net income, the effects of movements of currency exchange rates can be considered immaterial, primarily due to a complete hedge (for P&L purposes) of the US dollar against the Euro. With respect to other currencies, the impact is also immaterial.

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk – ING Bank

Liquidity risk is the risk that ING Bank or one of its entities cannot meet its financial liabilities when due.

The ALCO Bank bears overall responsibility for the liquidity strategy. ALCO Bank has delegated day to day management to the Treasury function. Treasury Amsterdam is responsible for managing the overall liquidity risk position, while regional and local Treasuries are responsible for managing liquidity in the respective regions. ING Bank’s policy is to maintain an adequate cushion to meet its financial liabilities when due.

Liquidity management within ING Bank has two primary aspects. The first is day to day funding. The Treasury monitors all maturing cash flows along with expected changes in core business funding requirements. This includes replenishment of existing funds as they mature, expected withdrawals

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from retail current accounts, savings and additional borrowings. The second is maintaining an adequate mix of funding sources and liquid assets. ING Bank aims for a well diversified funding mix in terms of instrument types, fund providers and geographic markets. ING Bank also maintains a broad portfolio of highly marketable assets that can be easily used to support disruptions in the cash flow profile. ING Bank has positions in multiple currencies. Positions maintained in G-7 currencies may, within VaR and country risk limits, be funded in other currencies. Positions maintained in non- G-7 currencies should as much as possible be funded in the same currency.

Sources of liquidity are widely distributed over the entire ING Bank. ING Bank has a broad base of core retail funding, which mainly consists of current accounts, savings and retail deposits. Although these accounts are repayable on demand or at short notice, the accounts are considered to form a stable resource of funding because of the broad customer base. The retail funding is, from a geographical point of view, widely spread, with most of the funding located in the Euro zone. Especially the business units Postbank, ING Direct, BBL and ING Bank Netherlands provide significant amounts of retail funding. The marketable assets form another important source of liquidity. ING Bank has relative large portfolios of marketable assets, again the majority of which are located in the Euro zone. Especially the ING Direct European Investment Co-ordination Centre, BBL, ING-BHF and Financial Markets Treasury Amsterdam maintain large portfolios of marketable assets.

Marketable assets (December 31, 2002)

                                                           
      ING                   FM   EURO   Total   Total
      Direct           ING-   Treasury   Zone   EURO   ING
      EICC   BBL   BHF   Amsterdam   Other   zone   Bank
      (EUR millions)
Government Zone A
    7,344       19,630       4,541       15,727       2,372       49,614       65,770  
Government Zone B
            70       1               2       73       312  
Financial institutions
    6,385       7,646       4,254       1,371       559       20,215       24,430  
Corporates
            2,096       253       511       102       2,962       4,059  
Other
    6,450       1,575       3,217       406       9       11,657       13,718  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
Total
    20,179       31,017       12,266       18,015       3,044       84,521       108,289  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
                                                           
      ING                           EURO   Total   Total
      Direct                           Zone   EURO   ING
      EU   BBL   Postbank   IBN   Other   zone   Bank
      (EUR millions)
Savings
    31,640       12,013       21,921       9,663       2,306       77,543       97,493  
Current accounts
    763       2,105       11,560       16,918       1,023       32,369       32,684  
Retail deposits
    4,268       1,752       2,964       9,941       233       19,158       21,322  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
Total
    36,671       15,870       36,445       36,522       3,562       129,070       151,499  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

The risk figures may deviate from the figures included in the notes to the consolidated balance sheet. Table 1 includes marketable assets from both trading and non-trading portfolios. Table 2 only includes retail funding

Recently ING Bank implemented new guidelines for the measurement of liquidity risk. These guidelines are fully aligned with the requirements set by the Dutch Central Bank. The key focus is on the week and the month period. Positions are split by type of product and counterpart. All positions with a known maturity date are included in the maturity calendar based on their contractual maturity date. Positions with an unknown maturity date and marketable assets are included on a stock basis. Standby facilities, undrawn irrevocable credit facilities, guarantees and other contingent liabilities are also included. The positions in the week and the month bucket are weighted under several scenarios. The total available liquidity values are corrected for liquidity surpluses in intransferable locations and in inconvertible currencies, most of these positions are located outside the Euro zone.

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Liquidity risk – ING Insurance

For the insurance businesses, liquidity risk is generated by the differences between the size and maturity of assets and liabilities. If short-term liabilities can not be met by short-term assets at reasonable costs, or a position of a certain size cannot be sold or taken in the market against the prevailing market rate due to insufficient available trading volume, liquidity problems arise. Unexpected demands for liquidity may be triggered by a credit rating downgrade, negative publicity, deterioration of the economy, or reports of problems of other companies in the same or similar lines of business. Expected liquidity demands within ING Insurance are managed through a combination of treasury, investment and asset-liability management guidelines which are monitored on an ongoing basis. Unexpected liquidity demands are managed through a combination of product design, diversification limits on liabilities, investment strategy, systematic monitoring and advance contingency planning.

Actuarial and underwriting risks

ING is exposed to life and non-life insurance risks. Life risks include a broad range of participating and non-participating traditional life products, unit-linked, fixed and variable annuities, universal life, group life and pension products and guaranteed investment products. Non-life risks include all lines of non-life business – fire, automobile, accident and health, third-party liability and disability.

Actuarial risks arise with respect to the adequacy of insurance premium rate levels and provisions with respect to insurance liabilities and capital position, taking into consideration the supporting assets (fair and book value, currency and interest sensitivity), changes in interest rates and exchange rates and developments in mortality, morbidity, non-life claims frequency and amounts, lapses and expenses as well as general market conditions. Specific attention is given to the adequacy of provisions for the life business, considering the low interest rate levels in a number of countries in which ING operates. For those insurance contracts that contain high interest rate guarantees, stochastic modelling is used to assess the risk of these guarantees. Consequently pricing reflects the cost of the guarantees and appropriate reserves are established accordingly. ING believes that its insurance provisions are adequate.

Underwriting risks are inherent in the process whereby applications submitted for insurance coverage are reviewed. The maximum underwriting exposure is limited through exclusions, cover limits and reinsurance.

ING Insurance’s actuarial and underwriting risks are controlled at ING Group level, with the Corporate Insurance Risk Management Department being responsible for monitoring the actuarial and underwriting risk as defined above. Corporate Insurance Risk Management provides guidelines for product design, reserving, underwriting, pricing criteria and reinsurance strategy. Its responsibilities also include the monitoring of risk profiles and the review of insurance-related risk control and asset and liability management. Consistent with other businesses in ING Group, the current embedded value methodology is being extended to a risk-adjusted capital allocation and performance measurement tool.

The events of 11 September 2001 have prompted ING Group to reassess its risk profile in certain specific areas of its insurance operations. For our material non-life units (in The Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Mexico and Australia), the risk tolerance is set at 2.5% of the Group’s after-tax earnings. For 2002 this amounts to EUR 105 million after tax. The assessment of potential losses in this business is done on the basis of events that occur once in 250 years. Regarding the fire line of business this assessment is based upon models that are widely accepted in the industry. For our smaller non-life units, the risk tolerance level is set at EUR 2.3 million after-tax per event per business unit.

With respect to life business the risk tolerance for events effecting multiple lives is not limited. While life insurance risks are considered to be naturally diversifiable by virtue of each life being a separate risk, group contracts may result in significant exposures. For new group contracts underwriting guidelines have been revised, particularly for concentrations of risk by city and/or building. As there are no industry models available to assess this concentration risk, ING made its own assessment and believes that the potential loss from a mortality event occurring in the normal course of our business will not exceed an amount higher than 12% of the Group’s after tax earnings. ING Group’s per life risk retention is set at USD 20 million.

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In case of the existence of exposures higher than the risk tolerance as defined above, appropriate risk management programs are in place. Particularly for the property and casualty portfolio, ING purchases catastrophe reinsurance protection through which the exposure due to natural catastrophes is substantially mitigated. ING believes that the credit risks to which it is exposed under reinsurance contracts are minor.

Regarding catastrophic losses arising from man-made events, ING takes the view that it is not possible to develop a business model that takes into account the possibility of very high losses resulting from man-made events. For our non-life business, losses that result from man-made events are generally not covered unless required by law. In various countries industry pools are established to mitigate the risk of the individual insurers. In such cases ING participates in the pool.

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Item 12. Description of Securities Other Than Equity Securities

Not applicable.

PART II.

Item 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies

None.

Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds

None.

Item 15. Controls and Procedures

On February 10, 2003, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the CEO and CFO, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s management, including the CEO and CFO, concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective. There have been no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to February 10, 2003.

PART III.

Item 18. Financial Statements

See pages F-1 to F-131.

Item 19. Exhibits

The following exhibits are filed as part of this Annual Report:

     
Exhibit 1.1   Articles of Association of ING Groep N.V.
     
Exhibit 1.2   Amended and Restated Trust Agreement (English Translation)
     
Exhibit 2.1   Subordinated Indenture between the Company and The Bank of New York, dated July 18, 2002
     
Exhibit 4.1   Form of Employment Contract for Members of the Executive Board (English Translation)
     
Exhibit 4.2   Employment Contract for Michel Tilmant (English translation)
     
Exhibit 4.3   Employment Contract for Fred Hubbell
     
Exhibit 7   Statement regarding Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
     
Exhibit 8   List of Subsidiaries of ING Groep N.V.
     
Exhibit 10.1   Consent of Ernst & Young Accountants
     
Exhibit 10.2   Consent of KPMG Accountants
     
Exhibit 10.3   Consent of Ernst & Young Reviseurs d’Enterprises S.C.C.

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SIGNATURES

The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.

         
      ING GROEP N.V.
      (Registrant)
         
         
      By:   /s/  C. Maas
       
        Name:  C. Maas
        Title:    Chief Financial Officer

Date: March 24, 2003

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CERTIFICATION

I, Cees Maas, certify that:

1.   I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of ING Groep N.V.;
 
2.   Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;
 
3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;
 
4.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and have:

  a)   designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared;
 
  b)   evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this annual report (the “Evaluation Date”); and
 
  c)   presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

  a)   all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and
 
  b)   any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

6.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this annual report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Date: March 24, 2003

/s/ C. Maas


Cees Maas
Chief Financial Officer

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CERTIFICATION

I, Ewald Kist, certify that:

1.   I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of ING Groep N.V.;
 
2.   Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;
 
3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;
 
4.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and have:

  a)   designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared;
 
  b)   evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this annual report (the “Evaluation Date”); and
 
  c)   presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

  a)   all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and
 
  b)   any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

6.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this annual report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Date: March 24, 2003

/s/ E. Kist


Ewald Kist
Chairman of the Executive Board

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INDEX TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

         
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
    F – 2  
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS AT DECEMBER 31
    F – 3  
CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
    F – 4  
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE NET PROFIT
    F – 5  
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
    F – 6  
ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES FOR THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
    F – 7  
ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES FOR THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
    F – 19  
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
    F – 20  
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELATING TO THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
    F – 38  
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
    F – 52  
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELATING TO THE CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
    F – 71  
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS OF ING GROUP
    F – 84  
PARENT COMPANY BALANCE SHEET
    F – 85  
PARENT COMPANY PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
    F – 85  
ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES FOR THE PARENT COMPANY BALANCE SHEET AND PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
    F – 85  
NOTES TO THE PARENT COMPANY BALANCE SHEET
    F – 86  
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DUTCH AND US ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES
    F – 95  
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REQUIRED UNDER US GAAP
    F – 109  
REPORT OF KPMG ACCOUNTANTS N.V.
    F – 132  
AUDITOR’S REPORT ON THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF BBL
    F – 133  
GLOSSARY
    F – 134  
SCHEDULES
    F – 140  

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

The Supervisory Board and the Executive Board of ING Groep N.V.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of ING Groep N.V. and subsidiaries (the “ING Group”) as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the related consolidated profit and loss accounts, consolidated statements of comprehensive net profit and consolidated statements of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2002. Our audits also included the financial statement schedules listed in the Index at Item 18. These financial statements and schedules are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedules based on our audits. We did not serve as principal auditor of the consolidated financial statements of ING Bank N.V. a wholly owned subsidiary. In our position we did not audit capital base, as defined in note 2.18.7 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements, constituting 42% in 2002 and 37% in 2001 and net profit constituting 9% in 2002, 18% in 2001 and 8% in 2000 of the related consolidated totals of ING Groep N.V. These data were reported on by other auditors whose report has been furnished to us, and our opinion, insofar as it relates to data included for ING Bank N.V. which we did not audit, is based solely on the report of the other auditors.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. Our audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts (including the conversion of the financial statements of ING Group to US generally accepted accounting principles and the conversion of the financial statements of Bank Brussels Lambert N.V./S.A. to accounting principles generally accepted in the Netherlands) and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits and the report of the other auditors provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, based on our audits and the report of the other auditors, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the ING Group as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the consolidated results of its operations, its comprehensive net profits and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2002, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the Netherlands. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

Accounting principles generally accepted in the Netherlands vary in certain significant respects from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Application of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America would have affected shareholders’ equity as of December 31, 2002 and 2001 and the results of operations for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2002 to the extent summarized in Note 6 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Amsterdam, the Netherlands
March 24, 2003

Ernst & Young

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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF ING GROUP AS AT DECEMBER 31,
Before profit appropriation

                 
    Amounts in thousands of euros
    2002   2001
ASSETS
               
Tangible fixed assets (2.1)
    1,415       2,032  
Participating interests (2.2)
    2,883       2,628  
Investments (2.3)
    297,581       307,446  
Lending (2.4)
    284,448       254,214  
Banks (2.5)
    45,682       54,083  
Cash (2.6)
    11,421       9,264  
Other assets (2.7)
    51,186       49,775  
Accrued assets (2.8)
    21,754       25,677  
 
   
     
 
Total
    716,370       705,119  
 
   
     
 
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
               
Shareholders’ equity (2.9)
    18,254       21,514  
Preference shares of group companies (2.10)
    2,146       2,542  
Third-party interests
    1,959       1,461  
 
   
     
 
Group equity
    22,359       25,517  
Subordinated loans (2.11)
    2,412       600  
 
   
     
 
Group capital base
    24,771       26,117  
General provisions (2.12)
    3,489       4,587  
Insurance provisions (2.13)
    195,831       213,986  
Funds entrusted to and debt securities of the banking operations (2.14)
    319,824       276,367  
Banks (2.15)
    96,267       107,810  
Other liabilities (2.16)
    65,397       63,349  
Accrued liabilities (2.17)
    10,791       12,903  
 
   
     
 
Total
    716,370       705,119  
 
   
     
 

The numbers against the items refer to the notes starting on page F-20.

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CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT OF ING GROUP
For the years ended December 31,

                         
    Amounts in millions of euros
    2002   2001   2000
Premium income (3.1.1)
    52,284       50,460       29,114  
Income from investments of the insurance operations (3.1.2)
    11,133       10,587       14,998  
Interest result from the banking operations (3.1.3)
    7,702       6,121       5,831  
Commission (3.1.4)
    3,960       4,196       4,497  
Other income (3.1.5)
    1,722       3,124       3,725  
 
   
     
     
 
Total income
    76,801       74,488       58,165  
Underwriting expenditure (3.2.1)
    54,966       52,782       31,042  
Other interest expenses (3.2.2)
    1,288       1,270       757  
Salaries, pension and social security costs (3.2.3)
    7,552       7,796       6,729  
Additions to the provision for loan losses
    1,435       750       400  
Other expenses (3.2.4)
    5,639       5,824       5,268  
 
   
     
     
 
Total expenditure
    70,880       68,422       44,196  
Result before taxation
    5,921       6,066       13,969  
Taxation (3.3)
    1,089       1,165       1,838  
 
   
     
     
 
Result after taxation
    4,832       4,901       12,131  
Third-party interests
    332       324       147  
 
   
     
     
 
Net profit for the period
    4,500       4,577       11,984  
Operational net profit
    4,253       4,252       4,008  
Non-operational net profit (3.4)
    247       325       7,976  
 
   
     
     
 
Net profit for the period
    4,500       4,577       11,984  
 
   
     
     
 
                         
    Amounts in euros
Net profit per share (3.5)
Operational profit per share
    2.20       2.20       2.09  
Basic profit per share
    2.32       2.37       6.27  
Diluted profit per share
    2.32       2.35       6.18  
Dividend per ordinary share (3.6)
    0.97       0.97       1.13  

The numbers against the items refer to the notes starting on page F-52.

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF
COMPREHENSIVE NET PROFIT OF ING GROUP
For the years ended December 31,

                         
    Amounts in millions of euros
    2002   2001   2000
Net profit for the period
    4,500       4,577       11,984  
Other components of comprehensive net profit:
                       
– unrealized revaluations(1)
    (3,343 )     (2,745 )     651  
– exchange differences(2)
    (1,041 )     212       (355 )
 
   
     
     
 
Net profit not recognized in the consolidated profit and loss account
    (4,384 )     (2,533 )     296  
Realized revaluations released to the profit and loss account(3)
    (1,051 )     (1,233 )     (7,816 )
 
   
     
     
 
Comprehensive net profit for the period
    (935 )     811       4,464  
 
   
     
     
 

(1)   In 2002, deferred taxes with regard to unrealized revaluations amounted to EUR (62) million (2001: EUR 19 million ; 2000: EUR 356 million).
 
(2)   In 2002, deferred taxes with regard to exchange differences amounted to EUR (32) million (2001: EUR 99 million; 2000: EUR (129) million).
 
(3)   In 2002, no realized revaluations have been released to the profit and loss account in respect of the sale of investments in shares regarding the financing of acquisitions (2001: EUR 0.3 billion; 2000: EUR 6.7 billion).

Comprehensive net profit for the period includes all movements in shareholders’ equity during the year, except for the cumulative effect of changes in the principles of valuation and determination of results and those resulting from the write-off of goodwill, the enlargement of share capital and distributions to shareholders.

Realized revaluations previously recognized in shareholders’ equity are released from shareholders’ equity to the profit and loss account. As these revaluations have already been included in comprehensive net profit of the year under report and previous years, under the caption unrealized revaluations, and are also included in net profit for the period in the year of realization, these realized results are adjusted in the comprehensive net profit for the period.

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS OF ING GROUP
For the years ended December 31,

                         
    Amounts in millions of euros
    2002   2001   2000
Result before taxation
    5,921       6,066       13,969  
Adjusted for:
                       
– depreciation
    993       591       608  
– movements in deferred acquisition costs of insurance business
    (914 )     (510 )     (693 )
– increase in insurance provisions
    7,444       6,637       10,130  
– additions to the provision for loan losses
    1,435       750       400  
– other
    (3,299 )     (1,438 )     (8,338 )
Loans and advances granted/repaid
    (30,277 )     (8,154 )     (45,404 )
Trading portfolio purchases/sales (incl. securities and property)
    2,715       (2,631 )     (13,651 )
Net investment in tangible fixed assets
    (321 )     (600 )     (593 )
Taxation
    (381 )     (1,129 )     (973 )
Movements in:
                       
– funds entrusted to and debt securities of the banking operations
    45,580       23,356       28,028  
– banks, not available on demand
    7,305       (121 )     9,097  
– other receivables, prepayments and accrued assets
    4,534       849       (4,198 )
– other liabilities and accruals
    (1,513 )     (242 )     9,340  
 
   
     
     
 
Net cash flow from operating activities (4.1)
    39,222       23,424       (2,278 )
Investments and advances:
                       
– participating interests
    (1,584 )     (2,473 )     (13,969 )
– investments in shares and property
    (8,805 )     (9,136 )     (11,406 )
– investments in fixed-interest securities
    (295,121 )     (266,951 )     (113,786 )
– other investments
    (262 )     (18 )     (780 )
Disposals and redemptions:
                       
– participating interests
    276       527       1,957  
– investments in shares and property
    11,361       7,566       9,285  
– investments in shares regarding financing of acquisitions
            583       9,618  
– investments in fixed-interest securities
    260,725       240,039       109,319  
– other investments
    41       48       393  
Net investment for risk of policyholders
    6,813       2,663       (4,844 )
 
   
     
     
 
Net cash flow from investing activities (4.2)
    (26,556 )     (27,152 )     (14,213 )
Subordinated loans of group companies
    3,651       3,257       1,590  
Bonds, loans contracted and deposits by reinsurers
    419       4,266       4,992  
Private placements of ordinary shares
    438       623       203  
Private placements of preference shares of group companies
                    1,889  
Movements in shares ING Groep N.V.
    653       (563 )     (1,227 )
Cash dividends
    (1,977 )     (2,300 )     (900 )
 
   
     
     
 
Net cash flow from financing activities
    3,184       5,283       6,547  
Net cash flow
    15,850       1,555       (9,944 )
Cash at beginning of year
    4,681       3,486       14,827  
Exchange differences
    499       (360 )     (1,397 )
 
   
     
     
 
Cash at year-end
    21,030       4,681       3,486  
Cash comprises the following items:
                       
Short-dated government paper
    8,398       4,653       3,055  
Bank deposits available on demand
    1,211       (9,236 )     (5,906 )
Cash and bank balances and call money of the insurance operations
    11,421       9,264       6,337  
 
   
     
     
 
Cash at year-end
    21,030       4,681       3,486  
 
   
     
     
 

The numbers against the items refer to the notes starting on page F-84.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless stated otherwise

1.   ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES FOR THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT OF ING GROUP

1.1. Consolidation principles

ING Group comprises ING Groep N.V., ING Verzekeringen N.V., ING Bank N.V. and their group companies. The consolidated financial statements of ING Group include the financial statements of all companies that form an organizational and economic entity and which are controlled by ING Group. Control is presumed to exist when ING Group has, directly or indirectly through group companies, more than one half of the voting power or otherwise exercises effective control. The financial statements of these group companies are consolidated in full on a line-by-line basis, using uniform accounting principles. Third-party interests are presented separately in the consolidated balance sheet and profit and loss account.

     The financial data of joint ventures are included in proportion to the group’s interest where it is relevant to the understanding of ING Group’s shareholders’ equity and results. Intercompany financial relationships between the insurance and the banking operations ensuing from financing commitments are eliminated.

The parent company profit and loss account has been drawn up in accordance with Section 402, Book 2, of the Dutch Civil Code. A list containing the information referred to in Section 379 (1) and Section 414, Book 2, of the Dutch Civil Code has been filed with the office of the Commercial Register of Amsterdam, in accordance with Section 379 (5), Book 2, of the Dutch Civil Code.

1.2. Changes in presentation

Deferred acquisition costs

Until 2001 the amortization of the deferred acquisition costs (DAC) on insurance policies was counted for as part of the operating expenses of the insurance operations. In order to have a better view on the development of the manageable operating expenses it has been decided to transfer the amortization of the DAC to Underwriting expenditure. The comparable figures have been adjusted accordingly.

1.3. Changes in the composition of the group

Impact most significant changes in composition of the group :

                                                 
    Before   After       Before   After    
    acquisition/   acquisition/   2002   acquisition/   acquisition/   2001
Amounts in million of euros   disposal   disposal   Impact   disposal   disposal   Impact
Assets
    711,818       716,370       4,552       703,733       705,119       1,386  
Liabilities
    692,777       698,116       5,339       681,115       683,605       2,490  
Shareholders’ equity
    19,041       18,254       (787 )     22,618       21,514       (1,104 )
Net profit for the period
    4,033       4,500       467       4,587       4,577       (10 )

The impact of a change in the composition of the group is defined as the change in assets, liabilities, shareholders’ equity or net profit resulting from the acquisition or disposal of a group company, compared to the situation where no acquisition or disposal took place. The impact is included in the financial year in which the acquisition or disposal took place.

In 2002, ING Group acquired a 49% stake in Sul América, a leading insurance company in Brazil thus strengthening the existing partnership. As a result of the transaction ING’s total investment in Sul América consists of EUR 188 million in cash, plus its 49% stake in SulAet (a joint venture formed in 1997) as well as the combined asset management operations (ING Investment Management Brazil). The goodwill amounted to EUR 245 million and is charged to Shareholders’ equity. The interest in Sul América is included as a participating interest.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

In 2002, ING Group increased its 49% stake in DiBa to a 70% interest by acquiring a further share participation in DiBa from BGAG, the investment company of a number of German trade unions. ING Group has an option to acquire the remaining 30%. The figures of DiBa are fully consolidated, without deduction of a third-party interest.

The total purchase price of the additional acquisition amounted to EUR 573 million. The goodwill amounted to EUR 532 million and is charged to Shareholders’ equity.

In 2002, ING Group and ANZ, one of Australia’s major banks, have formed a funds management and life insurance joint venture called ING Australia. The company is 51%-owned by ING and 49%-owned by ANZ.

As part of the transaction, the new joint venture acquired net assets from ANZ. This resulted in goodwill of EUR 169 million that is charged to Shareholders’ equity. Furthermore, ING Group contributed net assets to the new joint venture, which resulted in a net result of EUR 469 million. From this amount, EUR 247 million has been used for financing acquisitions and has therefore been accounted for as non- operational profit. The remainder of EUR 222 million has been recorded as operational profit.

In 2002, ING Group closed the purchase of an additional 24% stake in ING Vysya Bank in India increasing its interest to 44%. The total purchase price of the additional acquisition amounted to EUR 73 million. The goodwill amounted to EUR 55 million and is charged to Shareholders’ equity. As ING Group currently enjoys management control, ING Vysya Bank has been consolidated.

In 2002, ING Group acquired car lease company Toplease. The total purchase price of the acquisition amounted to EUR 111 million. The goodwill amounted to EUR 70 million and is charged to Shareholders’ equity.

In 2001, ING Group increased its shareholding in Seguros Comercial América, an insurance company based in Mexico, from 42% to 100%. SCA was de-listed from the Mexican stock exchange effective November 9, 2001. The total purchase price of the additional acquisition amounted to EUR 1,134 million, including EUR 584 million assumed debt. The acquisition was partly financed by the sale of shares. The goodwill amounted to EUR 1,015 million and is charged to Shareholders’ equity. As from July 1, 2001, the results of Seguros Comercial América have been fully consolidated in the financial statements of ING Group. All retail operations of ING in Mexico now operate under the name ING Comercial América.

In 2001, ING Group increased its shareholding in Bank Slaski, based in Poland, from 55.0% to 82.8% for an amount of EUR 187 million. Bank Slaski has been merged with ING Bank Warsaw as from September 1, 2001. The combined bank, in which ING holds 88%, operates under the brand name ING Bank Slaski. Goodwill amounted to EUR 118 million and is charged to Shareholders’ equity.

1.4. Critical accounting policies

ING Group has identified the accounting policies that are most critical to its business operations and the understanding of its results. These critical accounting policies are those which involve the most complex or subjective decisions or assessments, and relate to insurance provisions and deferred acquisition costs, provisions for loan losses, the determination of the fair values of financial assets and liabilities, and the determination of impairments. In each case, the determination of these items is fundamental to the financial condition and results of operations, and requires management to make complex judgements based on information and financial data that may change in future periods. As a result, determinations regarding these items necessarily involve the use of assumptions and subjective judgements as to future events and are subject to change, as the use of different assumptions or data could produce materially different results. For a further discussion of the application of these accounting policies, reference is made to the applicable notes to the consolidated financial statements and the information below.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Insurance provisions and DAC

Insurance provisions represent estimates of future payouts that will be required in respect of life and non-life insurance claims, including expenses relating to such claims.

Insurance provisions on traditional life policies are calculated using various assumptions, including assumptions on mortality, morbidity, expenses, investment returns and surrenders. Assumptions for insurance provisions on traditional life insurance contracts, including traditional whole life and term life insurance contracts, are based on best estimate assumptions including margins for adverse deviations. The assumptions are set initially at the policy issue date and remain constant throughout the life of the policy, except in case of loss recognition.

Insurance provisions for universal life, variable life and annuity contracts, unit linked contracts, etc. are generally set equal to the balance that accrues to the benefit of the policyholders. Certain variable annuity products contain minimum guarantees on the amounts payable upon death and/or maturity. The insurance provisions include the impact of these minimum guarantees, taking into account the difference between the potential minimum benefit payable and the total account balance, expected mortality and surrender.

Claims reserves on non-life insurance are determined on a case-by-case basis, based on the facts known at the time provisions are established, and are periodically adjusted to recognize the estimated ultimate cost of a claim. In addition, so-called “IBNR” reserves are set to recognize the estimated cost of losses that have occurred but which have not yet been notified.

Deferred acquisition costs (DAC) are an asset and represent costs of acquiring insurance business that are deferred and amortized. The deferred costs, all of which vary with and are primarily related to the production of new and renewal business, consist principally of commissions, certain underwriting and contract issuance expenses, and certain agency expenses. DAC is amortized over the life of the underlying contracts. Included in DAC is also Value of Business Acquired (VOBA), which is in nature similar to DAC. VOBA is an asset that represents the present value of estimated net cash flows embedded in the contracts of an acquired company, which existed at the time the company was acquired by ING Group.

For traditional life insurance contracts DAC is amortized over the premium payment period in proportion to the premium revenue recognition.

For flexible life insurance contracts DAC is amortized over the lives of the policies in relation to the emergence of estimated gross profits. Amortization is adjusted retrospectively when estimates of current or future gross profits to be realized from a group of products are revised. The estimates and the assumptions are reassessed at the end of each reporting period.

DAC and VOBA are evaluated for recoverability at issue/acquisition and subsequently at the end of each reporting period. The value of these assets is reduced to the extent that the evaluation of recoverability indicates that these are not fully recoverable in future years. For DAC on flexible insurance contracts the approach is that in determining the estimate of future gross profits ING assumes the short-term and long-term separate account growth rate assumption to be the same. The growth rate assumption is currently 9% gross (8% net). Lower expected profits – e.g. reflecting stock market weakness and a lower level of assets under management – may cause a higher amortization of DAC due to the catch-up of amortization in old and future years. This process is known as DAC unlocking. The impact of the DAC unlocking is recorded in the profit and loss account of the period in which the unlocking occurs.

In each case, the establishment of insurance provisions and DAC is an inherently uncertain process, involving assumptions about factors such as court decisions, changes in laws, social, economic and demographic trends, inflation, investment returns and other factors, and, in the life insurance business, assumptions concerning mortality and morbidity trends.

Provisions for loan losses

Management regularly assesses the adequacy of the provisions for loan losses by performing ongoing evaluations of the loan portfolio. A formal analysis of specifically identified loans takes place every quarter, including evaluation of economic risks associated with each loan, the current financial condition of the borrower, the economic environment in which the borrower operates, the level of

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

delinquent loans and the value of collateral. Credit ratings are assigned to the borrowers by allocating all outstanding loans into various Risk Rating categories on a regular basis.

In determining the amount of the provisions, corporate loans are assessed on a case-by-case basis and the following factors are considered:

  the financial standing of the customer, including a realistic assessment of the likelihood of repayment of the loan within an acceptable period and the extent of ING Group’s commitments to the customer;
 
  the realizable value of any security for the loan; and
 
  the costs associated with obtaining repayment and realization of any such security.

For certain homogeneous groups of small personal and corporate loans, provisions are assessed using statistical techniques.

ING Group also maintains an unallocated provision for loan losses that is required to adequately capture various subjective and judgmental aspects of credit risk assessment that are not considered on an individual basis. Considerable judgement is exercised in determining the extent of the provision and is based on the management’s evaluation of the risk in the portfolio, current economic conditions, loss experience in recent years and credit and geographical concentration trends. Changes in such judgements and analyses may lead to changes in provisions over time.

Fair value of financial assets and liabilities

Fair value determinations for financial assets and liabilities are based generally on listed market prices or broker or dealer price quotations. If prices are not readily determinable or if liquidating the positions is reasonably expected to affect market prices, fair value is based on either internal valuation models or management’s estimate of amounts that could be realized under current market conditions, assuming an orderly liquidation over a reasonable period of time. Certain financial instruments, including OTC derivative instruments, are valued using pricing models that consider, among other factors, contractual and market prices, correlations, time value, credit, yield curve volatility factors and/or prepayment rates of the underlying positions. The use of different pricing models and assumptions could produce materially different estimates of fair value.

Impairments

The carrying value of all assets is reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The identification of impairment and the determination of the recoverable amount are an inherently uncertain process involving various assumptions and factors, including the financial condition of the counterparty, expected future cash flows, observable market prices and expected net selling prices. The determination of impairment is specifically relevant to the investments in equity securities and fixed interest securities.

In order to determine whether negative revaluations on equity securities represent impairment, all equity securities for which the market value has been significantly below cost price for a considerable period of time are individually reviewed. A distinction is made between negative revaluations due to general market fluctuations and due to issuer-specific developments. The impairment review focuses on issuer specific developments regarding financial condition and future prospects, taking into account the intent and ability to hold the securities under the Group’s long term investment strategy. In order to determine whether investments in fixed interest securities are impaired, all fixed interest securities for which the market value has been significantly below cost price for a considerable period of time are individually reviewed. Distinction is made between negative revaluations due to general interest rate and other market fluctuations and due to issuer-specific developments. The impairment review focuses on issuer specific developments regarding financial condition and prospects of the issuer identifying whether repayment of interest and principal is expected, taking into account the intent and ability to hold the securities under the Group’s long term investment strategy.

Although all individual securities are reviewed to ensure that no material impairments are required to be charged to the profit and loss account, the identification of impairment and the determination of the recoverable amount are an inherently uncertain process involving various assumptions and factors, including the financial condition of the counterparty, expected future cash flows, observable market prices and expected net selling prices. Further developments after the balance sheet date may indicate that certain unrealized losses that existed as of the balance sheet date will result in

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

impairment in future periods, resulting in a negative impact on the profit and loss account for future periods.

1.5. Principles of valuation and determination of results

1.5.1. General principles

1.5.1.1. Recognition

An asset is recognized in the balance sheet when it is probable that the future economic benefits will flow to the enterprise and the asset can be measured reliably. A liability is recognized in the balance sheet when it is probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will result from the settlement of a present obligation and the amount at which the settlement will take place can be measured reliably. If the criteria for recognition are no longer met, the assets and liabilities are derecognized.

Income is recognized in the profit and loss account when an increase in future economic benefits related to an increase in an asset or a decrease of a liability has arisen that can be measured reliably. Expenses are recognized in the profit and loss account when a decrease in future economic benefits related to a decrease in an asset or an increase of a liability has arisen that can be measured reliably.

1.5.1.2. Valuation

Assets and liabilities are shown at face value except where a different valuation principle is stated below.

1.5.1.3. Use of estimates

The preparation of the annual accounts necessitates the use of estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of the assets and liabilities and the amounts of the contingent liabilities as at balance sheet date as well as reported income and expenses for the year. The actual outcome may differ from these estimates.

1.5.1.4. Foreign currencies

General

The euro is the reporting currency of ING Group. Assets and liabilities in foreign currencies are translated at the spot mid-rates (Amsterdam exchange rates) prevailing on the balance sheet date. Non-monetary items which are expressed in terms of historical cost denominated in a foreign currency are reported using the exchange rate at the date of the transaction. Income and expenses arising from foreign currency transactions are translated at the rates prevailing on the transaction date.

The following exchange differences are credited or debited, net of any related taxes, to Shareholders’ equity:

  exchange differences on participating interests, investments and liabilities assumed in connection with their financing;
 
  exchange differences on insurance provisions and on investments serving to cover these liabilities;
 
  exchange differences on loans serving to hedge exchange rate risks on foreign interests and investments.

All other exchange differences are taken to the profit and loss account.

Forward foreign exchange contracts

Forward foreign exchange contracts connected to borrowing and lending positions are translated at the spot mid-rates prevailing on the balance sheet date. Differences between the spot rates prevailing on the balance sheet date and on the contract date are taken to the profit and loss account.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Differences between the valuations at the forward rate and the spot rate at the contract date are amortized and charged to the profit and loss account in proportion to the expired part of the terms of the contracts concerned.

The other forward foreign exchange contracts are valued at the market quotations for their remaining terms at the balance sheet date. In general, differences resulting from revaluations are taken to the profit and loss account.

Exchange differences on forward foreign exchange contracts serving to hedge exchange rate risks on participating interests and investments are taken to Shareholders’ equity.

Business units outside the euro zone

Assets and liabilities of business units outside the euro zone are translated at the closing rate prevailing on the balance sheet date. Income and expenses of business units outside the euro zone (excluding business units in countries with hyperinflation) are translated at average exchange rates for the year. The financial statements of a business unit that reports in the currency of a hyperinflationary economy, are restated for the influences of inflation before translation into euros. Income and expenses of business entities in countries with hyperinflation are translated at the closing rate prevailing on the balance sheet date.

Exchange differences on assets and liabilities of business units outside the euro zone are credited or debited, net of any related taxes, to Shareholders’ equity, except for exchange differences on monetary assets and liabilities of business units in countries with hyperinflation. These differences are taken to the profit and loss account.

Exchange differences on results arising from differences between the spot rates on the balance sheet date and the average rates for the year are taken to Shareholders’ equity.

1.5.1.5 Geographical analyses

The geographical analyses of assets, liabilities, income and expenses in the notes to the consolidated balance sheet and profit and loss account are based on the location of the office from which the transactions are originated.

1.5.1.6 Analysis of insurance business

Where amounts in respect of insurance business are analyzed into “life” and “non-life”, health and disability insurance business is included in “non-life”.

1.5.1.7. Derivatives

Derivatives are stated at fair value. Changes in the fair value are included in the profit and loss account. However, derivatives serving to hedge the risks on own positions are recognized in accordance with the accounting principles of the hedged items.

1.5.1.8. Hedge accounting

Transactions qualify as hedges if these transactions are identified as such and there is a negative correlation between the hedging results and the results of the positions being hedged. Hedging instruments are accounted for in accordance with the accounting principles of the hedged item.

1.5.1.9. Impairments

The carrying value of Tangible fixed assets, Participating interests and Investments is reviewed to ascertain whether there has been a permanent diminution in value. These impairments are assessed on an individual basis and are taken to the profit and loss account immediately. However, impairments of assets carried at revalued amounts are first charged directly to any revaluation reserve for these assets.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

1.5.1.10. Receivables

Receivables are carried at the face value less any diminution in value deemed necessary to cover the risk of uncollectibility.

1.5.1.11. Investment and trading portfolios

The investment portfolio comprises those assets which are intended for use on a continuing basis and have been identified as such. These investments are held in order to cover the insurance provisions and to manage interest rate, capital and liquidity risks.

Positions held with trading intent are those held intentionally for short-term resale and/or with the intent of benefiting from actual or expected short-term price movements or to lock in arbitrage profits, and positions held through matched principal broking and market making.

If, due to a change in management’s intent, transfers are made between investment and trading portfolios, these assets are remeasured to fair value and gains and losses are accounted for in accordance with the accounting principles applicable to the portfolio in which the assets were originally held.

1.5.1.12. Leases

Assets held under a lease for which substantially all the risks and rewards are transferred to the lessee (finance lease) are reported in the balance sheet at net present value. Income from a finance lease is recognized in the profit and loss account over the lease term in proportion to the funds invested. Income from an operating lease is recognized over the lease term in the profit and loss account. Lease payments under an operating lease are recognized as an expense in the profit and loss account over the lease term.

1.5.1.13. Reinsurance

Reinsurance premiums, commissions and claim settlements, as well as provisions relating to reinsurance, are accounted for in the same way as the original contracts for which the reinsurance was concluded. Receivables as a consequence of reinsurance are deducted from the liabilities relating to the original insurance contracts.

1.5.2. Specific principles

1.5.2.1. Acquisition and disposal of group companies and goodwill

ING Group’s acquisitions are accounted for under the purchase method of accounting, whereby the cost of the acquisitions is allocated to the fair value of the assets and liabilities acquired. Goodwill, being the difference between the cost of the acquisition (including assumed debt) and ING Group’s interest in the fair value of the acquired assets and liabilities as at the date of acquisition, is debited to Shareholders’ equity. The results of the operations of the acquired companies are included in the profit and loss account from their respective dates of acquisition.

Adjustments to the fair value as of the date of acquisition of acquired assets and liabilities that are identified before the end of the first annual accounting period commencing after acquisition are recorded as an adjustment to goodwill; any subsequent adjustment is recognized as income or expense.

On disposal of group companies, the difference between the sale proceeds and cost is included in the profit and loss account; for disposals within five years of acquisition, goodwill is adjusted on a pro-rata basis.

1.5.2.2. Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. The cost of these assets is depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, which are as follows: data

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

processing equipment 2 to 5 years and other movable fixed assets 4 to 10 years. Expenditures for maintenance and repair are charged to the profit and loss account as incurred. Expenditure incurred on major improvements is capitalized and depreciated.

On disposal of these assets, the difference between the proceeds on disposal and net book value is recognized in the profit and loss account.

1.5.2.3. Participating interests

Investments in associates

Participating interests in which a significant influence is exercised over the financial and operating policy are stated at net asset value. ING Group’s share in the results of these investments in associates is recognized in the profit and loss account.

Investments in other participating interests

Investments in other participating interests are stated at fair value. Each year, the net asset value of the investment is determined, which approximates the fair value. Dividends received are credited to the profit and loss account. Changes due to revaluation are credited or debited to Shareholders’ equity.

1.5.2.4. Investments

Realized gains and losses on investments

Realized gains and losses on investments are determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the cost based on a weighted average basis.

Land and buildings and shares and convertible debentures

Investments in land and buildings as well as shares and convertible debentures held for the group’s own risk, are stated at fair value as at balance sheet date. Changes in the carrying amount resulting from revaluations of these investments are credited or debited to Shareholders’ equity, allowing for taxation where necessary. On disposal of these investments, the difference between the sale proceeds and cost is recognized in the profit and loss account.

Valuations of investments in land and buildings are made by rotation in such a way as to ensure that all properties are appraised at least once every five years. Value-enhancing investments in existing properties made since the last valuation are capitalized at the cost of the investment until the next valuation. Land and buildings are not depreciated.

Land and buildings under construction are stated at the direct purchase and construction cost incurred up to the balance sheet date plus interest during construction and the group’s own development and supervision expenses, where necessary less any expected diminution in value on completion.

Fixed-interest securities

Fixed-interest securities are stated at redemption value. The difference between redemption value and purchase price is amortized over the weighted average remaining term of the investments concerned, either credited or debited to the profit and loss account.

Fixed-interest securities on which interest is not received annually and on which the redemption value is paid out as a lump sum on maturity (such as ‘climbing’ loans, zero-coupon bonds and savings certificates) are included at purchase price plus the proportion of the difference between purchase price and redemption value related to the period elapsed since the date of purchase.

Investments in interest-only securities are initially included at purchase price. Each year, the interest income decreases in proportion to the decline in the net book value of the interest-only security over its remaining term.

Investments in principal-only securities are stated at purchase price plus the proportion of the difference between purchase price and redemption value related to the period elapsed since the date

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

of purchase, calculated on the basis of compound interest. The increase in value is included in the profit and loss account as interest income.

Yield differences

The results on disposal of fixed-interest securities, i.e. the differences between the proceeds on disposal and the carrying amount of the investments sold, are shown as yield differences. Results on disposal of derivatives related to the investments concerned are likewise shown as yield differences. Allowing for the weighted average remaining term of the investment portfolio, these yield differences are included in the profit and loss account as interest income. Results on disposal due to a structural reduction of investments are included directly in the profit and loss account, including the results on disposal of the related derivatives.

Interests in investment pools

Interests in investment pools are stated in accordance with the valuation principles of the pools concerned.

Investments for risk of policyholders and investments of annual life funds

In the valuation of these investments, the same principles are generally applied as those pertaining to the valuation of investments held for the group’s own risk. However, fixed-interest securities directly linked to life policy liabilities and the annual funds of the annual life fund operations are stated at fair value plus accrued interest where relevant.

Life insurance products

In the case of life insurance products, where there is a relationship between the value of the investments and the level of the insurance provisions, differences resulting from revaluations, realized or unrealized, are initially taken to the profit and loss account. Subsequently, these revaluations are included either in Provision for life policy liabilities or Insurance provisions for policies for which the policyholders bear the investment risk and for annual life funds.

Repurchase transactions and reverse repurchase transactions

Fixed-interest securities, shares and convertible debentures, which have been sold with an agreement to repurchase (repurchase transactions), are included as assets in the balance sheet.

Fixed-interest securities, shares and convertible debentures, which have been acquired in reverse sale and repurchase transactions, are not recognized in the balance sheet.

Securities borrowing and lending

Fixed-interest securities, shares and convertible debentures, which are lent out, are included in the balance sheet. Fixed-interest securities, shares and convertible debentures, which are borrowed, are not recognized in the balance sheet.

1.5.2.5. Lending and Banks

Lending and Banks refer to receivables from non-banks and banks that are carried at face value less any diminution in value (impairment) deemed necessary to cover the risk of uncollectibility. Receivables are impaired if it is probable that the principal and interest contractually due will not be collected. In general, to determine the amount of this impairment (provision for loan losses), the degree of risk of uncollectibility is assessed:

  per individual loan, taking into account among other things amounts outstanding at year-end, the financial position, results and cash-flow information of the debtor, the payment history and the value of the collateral;
 
  per group of loans subdivided by country, taking into account country-specific risk percentages;
 
  per group of loans subdivided by the degree of risk of uncollectibility (risk classification), determined on the basis of a wide range of aspects with regard to creditworthiness and taking into account empirically determined risk percentages for each risk category.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

The net amounts added to or withdrawn from these provisions are included in the profit and loss account.

When a borrower is in default as regards repayment of principal or payment of interest for 90 days or when, in the judgement of management, the accrual of interest should cease before 90 days, such a loan is given non-accrual status. Any accrued but unpaid interest is reversed and charged to current period interest revenue. Interest payments received during the period are recorded as interest income on a cash basis.

Receivables are written off and charged against the provision for loan losses when all the necessary legal procedures have been completed and the amount of the loss is finally determined.

1.5.2.6. Other assets

Assets that are part of the trading portfolio are stated at fair value, which generally means quoted prices. Changes in the fair value, both realized and unrealized, on these assets are included in the profit and loss account.

Fixed-interest securities in the trading portfolio repurchased after issue by group companies and equity participations are stated at the lower of cost and fair value. Unrealized losses and results on disposal of equity participations are included in the profit and loss account.

Computer software that has been purchased or generated internally for internal use is capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over its useful life. This period will generally not exceed three years.

Property under development is held with the intention to sell to third parties and is valued at direct construction cost incurred up to the balance sheet date, including interest during construction and the group’s own development and supervision expenses. Rented property and infrastructure works are valued at the estimated proceeds on private sale or the contractually agreed selling price. The difference between the net proceeds on disposal and cost of property under development, rented property and infrastructure works and any downward value adjustments are reflected in the profit and loss account.

1.5.2.7. Accrued assets

Direct variable costs for the acquisition of life insurance policies, for which periodic premiums will be receivable, are deferred and amortized over the average period for which these premiums will be received, with allocation to such periods being made on an annuity basis. Costs of acquiring non-life insurance business which vary with and are primarily related to the production of such business are deferred and amortized equally over the period of the insurance.

1.5.2.8. General provisions

General

A general provision involves a present obligation arising from past events, the settlement of which is expected to result in an outflow from the company of resources embodying economic benefits, whereas the timing or the amount is uncertain. Unless stated otherwise below, general provisions are discounted using a pre-tax discount rate to reflect the time value of money.

Deferred tax liabilities

Deferred corporate tax is stated at face value and is calculated for temporary valuation differences between carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the balance sheet and tax base based on tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the assets are realized or the liabilities are settled. Deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which the deductible temporary differences can be utilized. A deferred tax asset is recognized for the carryforward of unused tax losses to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available for compensation.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

The effect of dividend withholding tax is not taken into account in respect of the valuation of retained earnings of participating interests.

Pension liabilities and other staff-related liabilities

Provisions for pension liabilities and other staff-related liabilities are calculated using the projected unit credit method of actuarial cost allocation. In accordance with this method, the discounted value of the pension liabilities and other staff-related liabilities is determined on the basis of the active period of service up to the balance sheet date, the projected salary at the expected retirement date and the market yields at the balance sheet date on high quality corporate bonds.

In order to distribute expenses for pensions and other staff-related expenses evenly over the years, these expenses are calculated using the expected rate of return on plan assets. Differences between this expected return and the actual return on these plan assets and actuarial changes are not recognized in the profit and loss account, unless the accumulated differences and changes exceed 10% of the greater of the defined benefit obligation and the fair value of the plan assets. The excess is amortized and charged to the profit and loss account over employees remaining working lives. The rates used for salary developments, interest discount factors and other adjustments reflect specific country conditions.

Weighted averages of basic actuarial assumptions in annual % as at December 31 :

                         
    2002   2001   2000
Discount rates
    6.00       6.25       6.25  
Expected rates of salary increases (excluding promotional increase)
    2.75       3.00       3.00  
Medical cost trend rates
    3.75       3.75       2.50  
Consumer price inflation
    2.25       2.25       2.25  

The expected rate of return for 2002 on plan assets was 7.50% (2001: 7.75%; 2000: 7.75%).

The expected rate of return on plan assets was weighted by the fair value of these assets. All other assumptions were weighted by defined benefit obligations.

1.5.2.9. Insurance provisions

Provision for life policy liabilities

The Provision for life policy liabilities is calculated on the basis of a prudent prospective actuarial method, taking into account the conditions for current insurance contracts.

The as yet unamortized interest-rate rebates on periodic and single premium contracts are deducted from the Provision for life policy liabilities. Interest-rate rebates granted during the year are capitalized and amortized in conformity with the anticipated recovery pattern and are debited to the profit and loss account.

The adequacy of the Provision for life policy liabilities is evaluated each year and adjusted if necessary with a provision for any shortfall due to the applied principles. The adequacy test takes into account future developments and allows for remaining unamortized interest-rate rebates and deferred acquisition costs.

Provision for unearned premiums and unexpired insurance risks

The provision is calculated in proportion to the unexpired periods of risk. For insurance policies covering a risk increasing during the term of the policy at premium rates independent of age, this risk is taken into account in determining the provision. Further provisions are made to cover claims under unexpired insurance contracts which may exceed the unearned premiums and the premiums due in respect of these contracts.

Claims provision

The Claims provision is calculated either on a case-by-case basis or by approximation on the basis of experience. Provisions have also been made for claims incurred but not reported and for future claims

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

handling expenses. The adequacy of the Claims provision is evaluated each year using standard actuarial techniques.

Other insurance provisions

These include the provision to cover the risk of possible catastrophes.

Insurance provisions for policies for which the policyholders bear the investment risk and for annual life funds

The Insurance provisions for policies for which the Policyholders bear the investment risk and for annual life funds are for the segregated investment deposits calculated on the same basis as the provision for life policy liabilities.

For insurances for which policyholders bear the investment risk and for annual life funds, the insurance provisions are generally shown at the balance sheet value of the associated investments.

1.5.2.10. Other liabilities

Liabilities that are part of the trading portfolio are stated at fair value, which generally means quoted prices. Changes in the fair value, both realized and unrealized, on these liabilities are included in the profit and loss account.

1.5.2.11. Contingent liabilities

Contingent liabilities are commitments or risks of which it is more likely than not that no outflow from ING Group of resources embodying economic benefits will occur. The underlying value of these commitments or risks is not recorded as a liability in the balance sheet.

1.5.2.12. Revenue recognition

Premium income

Premiums from life insurance policies are recognized as revenue when due from the policyholder. For non-life insurance policies, premium income is recognized on a pro-rata basis over the term of the related policy coverage.

Interest income

Interest income is recognized in the profit and loss account for all interest-bearing instruments on an accrued basis. Interest income includes coupons earned on fixed-income investment and trading securities and amortization of accrued discounts and premiums and yield differences.

Commission

Fees and commissions from banking and asset management services are recognized in the profit and loss account over the period in which the related services are performed. Fees and commissions with the nature of interest are deferred and amortized on a time-proportionate basis that takes into account the effective yield on the related asset, and are recognized under interest income.

1.5.2.13. Taxation

Taxation is calculated on the result before taxation shown in the annual accounts, taking into account tax-allowable deductions, charges and exemptions.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

1.6. Accounting principles for the consolidated statement of cash flows of ING Group

The cash flow statement has been drawn up in accordance with the indirect method, distinguishing between cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities.

Cash flows in foreign currencies are translated at the average exchange rates for the year. Where the balance of items in the cash flow statement does not correspond to the movements in the relevant balance sheet items, this is mainly due to differences on translation.

In the net cash flow from operating activities, the result before taxation is adjusted for those items in the profit and loss account and movements in balance sheet items which do not result in actual cash flows during the year.

The net cash flow shown in respect of Lending only relates to transactions involving actual payments or receipts. The Additions to the provision for loan losses which is deducted from the item Lending in the balance sheet has been adjusted accordingly for the result before taxation and is shown separately in the cash flow statement.

The investments in and disposals of participating interests have been included in the cash flow from investing activities at cost/sales price, insofar as payment was made in cash. The cash assets of the consolidated participating interests concerned have been eliminated from the cost/sales price.

Cash dividends are included in the cash flow from financing activities.

Included in Cash are those assets which can be converted into cash without restriction and without material risk of diminution in value as a result of the transaction.

The difference between the net cash flow in accordance with the cash flow statement and the movement in Cash in the balance sheet is due to exchange differences and is separately accounted for as part of the reconciliation of the net cash flow and the balance sheet movement in cash.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

2.     NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF ING GROUP

ASSETS

2.1. Tangible fixed assets

                 
    2002   2001
Data-processing equipment
    435       396  
Other movable fixed assets
    980       1,636  
 
   
     
 
 
    1,415       2,032  
 
   
     
 
Opening balance
    2,032       2,129  
Additions
    919       897  
Changes in the composition of the group
    3       8  
Disposals
    (963 )     (504 )
Depreciation
    (502 )     (527 )
Exchange differences
    (74 )     29  
 
   
     
 
Closing balance
    1,415       2,032  
 
   
     
 
Gross carrying amount as at December 31
    3,549       4,593  
Accumulated depreciation as at December 31
    2,134       2,561  
 
   
     
 
 
    1,415       2,032  
 
   
     
 

2.2. Participating interests

                                                 
  2002   2001
    Ownership   Balance   Estimated   Ownership   Balance   Estimated
    (%)   sheet value   fair value   (%)   sheet value   fair value
Name of investee
                                               
Investments in associates:
                                               
Allgemeine Deutsche Direktbank A.G
                            49       69       69  
Atlas Investeringsgroep N.V
    33       22       22       33       27       27  
Postkantoren B.V
    50       49       49       50       48       48  
De Goudse Verzekeringen N.V
    20       34       34       20       34       34  
Q-Park N.V
    20       63       63       22       52       52  
Seguros Bital, S.A. de C.V.
                                               
(Grupo Financiero Bital)
    49       22       120                          
Vesteda
    25       722       722                          
Other investments in associates
            839       844               1,028       1,012  
 
           
     
             
     
 
 
            1,751       1,854               1,258       1,242  
Investments in other participating interests
            952       952               1,202       1,202  
 
           
     
             
     
 
Total investments in participating interests
            2,703       2,806               2,460       2,444  
Receivables from participating interests
            180       180               168       168  
 
           
     
             
     
 
 
            2,883       2,986               2,628       2,612  
 
           
     
             
     
 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

The balance sheet value of Participating interests as at December 31, 2002 included revaluations of EUR 177 million (2001: EUR 288 million). The cost of these Participating interests amounted to EUR 2,963 million (2001: EUR 2,172 million).

Movements in participating interests:

                                                 
    2002   2001   2002   2001   2002   2001
    Associates   Other   Receivables
                participating   from
                    interests   participating
                                interests
Opening balance
    1,258       1,017       1,202       1,249       168       106  
Additions and advances
    1,082       1,568       319       217       50       64  
Changes in the composition of the group
            51               13       (9 )     5  
Transition to group companies and investments
    (198 )     95       (390 )     (80 )                
Revaluations
    (268 )     (1,313 )     (85 )     358                  
Movements in provision for credit risk exposure
                                    (1 )     (1 )
Results from participating interests
    134       54                                  
Dividends received
    (161 )     (46 )                                
Disposals and redemptions
    (101 )     (192 )     (85 )     (586 )     (27 )     (6 )
Exchange differences
    5       24       (9 )     31       (1 )        
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Closing balance
    1,751       1,258       952       1,202       180       168  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

2.3. Investments

Investments per type:

                 
    2002   2001
Land and buildings, including commuted ground rents
    10,951       10,541  
Shares and convertible debentures
    12,278       19,502  
Fixed-interest securities
    209,878       194,543  
Investments for risk of policyholders and investments of annual life funds
    64,281       82,743  
Other investments
    193       117  
 
   
     
 
 
    297,581       307,446  
 
   
     
 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Movements in investments (except for Other investments):

                                                                 
    2002   2001   2002   2001   2002   2001   2002   2001
    Land and buildings   Shares and   Fixed-   Investments
                    convertible   interest   for risk of
                    debentures   securities   policyholders
                    and investments
                of annual life funds
Opening balance
    10,541       10,890       19,502       22,152       194,543       162,062       82,743       81,947  
Additions and advances
    1,073       729       7,721       8,485       295,055       259,450       40,691       71,054  
Changes in the composition of the group
            91       (67 )     317       1,299       5,205               3  
Transfer from other assets
    313                               278                          
Yield differences
                                    (2,112 )     52                  
Revaluations
    302       438       (3,625 )     (3,463 )                                
Impairments
    (1 )     (33 )     (292 )     (3 )                                
Disposals and redemptions
    (966 )     (1,647 )     (10,474 )     (8,118 )     (261,384 )     (235,537 )     (41,778 )     (67,857 )
Exchange differences
    (321 )     63       (487 )     132       (17,801 )     3,311       (8,598 )     2,682  
Other movements
    10       10                                       (8,777 )     (5,086 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Closing balance
    10,951       10,541       12,278       19,502       209,878       194,543       64,281       82,743  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

Non-income-producing investments

Investments in connection with the insurance operations with a combined carrying value of EUR 340 million (2001: EUR 24 million) were non-income-producing for the year ended December 31, 2002.

Concentrations

As at December 31, 2002, ING Group had investments in shares and fixed-interest securities of ABNAMRO Holding N.V. with a carrying value that exceeded 10% of Shareholders’ equity. The total investment amounted to EUR 2,887 million (2001: EUR 3,378 million) and comprised EUR 2,719 million in shares (2001: EUR 3,187 million) and EUR 168 million (2001: EUR 191 million) in fixed-interest securities.

Land and buildings by insurance and banking operations:

                                                 
    2002   2001   2002   2001   2002   2001
    Insurance   Banking   Total
    operations   operations    
Land and buildings wholly or partially in use by group companies
    1,061       1,092       1,820       2,302       2,881       3,394  
Other land and buildings
    6,181       7,147       1,889               8,070       7,147  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    7,242       8,239       3,709       2,302       10,951       10,541  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

The balance sheet value as at December 31, 2002 included revaluations of EUR 1,806 million (2001: EUR 1,950 million). The cost or purchase price amounted to EUR 9,145 million (2001: EUR 8,591 million).

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Table of Contents

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Appraisal of land and buildings during the last five years (in Percentages):

         
Years of appraisal
       
2002
    47  
2001
    11  
2000
    13  
1999
    10  
1998
    19  
 
   
 
 
    100  
 
   
 

Shares and convertible debentures by insurance and banking operation:

                                                 
    2002   2001   2002   2001   2002   2001
    Insurance   Banking   Total
    operations   operations    
Listed
    9,999       15,046       1,244       2,877       11,243       17,923  
Unlisted
    1,025       1,579       10               1,035       1,579  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    11,024       16,625       1,254       2,877       12,278       19,502  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

Revaluation of shares and convertible debentures:

                   
      2002   2001
Purchase price
    11,596       14,167  
Revaluation: – Gross unrealized gains
    2,785       6,501  
 
       – Gross unrealized losses
    2,103       1,166  
 
   
     
 
 
    12,278       19,502  
 
   
     
 

As at December 31, 2002, the balance sheet value included shares and convertible debentures which were lent or sold in repurchase transactions amounted nil (2001: EUR 76 million) and EUR 1 million (2001: EUR 17 million), respectively.

Borrowed shares and convertible debentures are not recognized in the balance sheet and amounted EUR 9 million as at December 31, 2002 (2001: EUR 319 million).

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS OF ING GROUP
For the years ended December 31,

Fixed-interest securities by insurance and banking operations:

                                 
    2002   2001   2002   2001
    Balance sheet value   Estimated fair value
Insurance operations
                               
Debentures and fixed-interest securities
    90,334       90,204       95,770       92,360  
Private loans
    7,662       9,233       8,285       9,715  
Mortgage loans
    26,993       26,812       28,408       27,156  
Other fixed-interest securities
    7,070       6,936       7,091       6,923  
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
    132,059       133,185       139,554       136,154  
Banking operations
                               
Debentures and options
    74,835       63,110       78,063       64,322  
Other fixed-interest securities
    4,244       158       4,244       158  
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
    79,079       63,268       82,307       64,480  
Eliminations
    1,260       1,910       1,309       1,900  
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
    209,878       194,543       220,552       198,734  
 
   
     
     
     
 

The cost of investments in Fixed-interest securities amounted to EUR 210,123 million as at December 31, 2002 (2001: EUR 194,044 million).

As at December 31, 2002, an amount of EUR 192,722 million (2001: EUR 176,937 million) was expected to be recovered or settled after more than one year from the balance sheet date.

The balance sheet value of Debentures and options in connection with the banking operations as at December 31, 2002 included EUR 2,674 million (2001: EUR 2,544 million) in respect of short-dated government paper.

The balance sheet value as at December 31, 2002 included EUR 528 million (2001: EUR 572 million) in respect of listed securities issued by the group.

As at December 31, 2002, the balance sheet value included fixed-interest securities which were lent or sold in repurchase transactions amounting to EUR 1,077 million (2001: EUR 528 million) and EUR 4,424 million (2001: EUR 1,410 million), respectively.

Borrowed fixed-interest securities are not recognized in the balance sheet and amounted to EUR 114 million as at December 31, 2002 (2001: EUR 56 million).

Investments for risk of policyholders and investments of annual life funds:

                 
    2002   2001
Land and buildings
    21       85  
Shares and convertible debentures
    53,099       73,576  
Fixed-interest securities
    9,948       7,898  
Other investments
    1,213       1,184  
 
   
     
 
 
    64,281       82,743  
 
   
     
 

The cost of Investments for risk of policyholders and investments of annual life funds as at December 31, 2002 was EUR 64,646 million (2001: EUR 84,781 million).

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

2.4. Lending    

Lending is subject to credit risk, which means the risk of suffering losses following default by a debtor or counterparty. Concentrations of credit risk exist when changes in economic, industry or geographical factors similarly affect groups of counterparties whose aggregate exposure is material in relation to ING Group’s total exposure. Although ING Group’s portfolio of financial instruments is broadly diversified along industry and product lines, material transactions are completed with other financial institutions. Additionally, mortgages and loans in the Netherlands represent areas of significant credit exposure.

Lending analyzed by security:

                                                 
    Nether-   Inter-   2002   Nether-   Inter-   2001
    lands   national   Total   lands   national   Total
Loans guaranteed by public authorities
    8,013       15,750       23,763       8,949       13,398       22,347  
Loans secured by mortgages
    86,932       31,260       118,192       78,789       19,502       98,291  
Loans guaranteed by credit institutions
    1,184       6,782       7,966       940       6,286       7,226  
Other personal lending
    8,201       6,810       15,011       3,738       3,259       6,997  
Other corporate loans
    42,083       82,256       124,339       33,997       89,787       123,784  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    146,413       142,858       289,271       126,413       132,232       258,645  
Provision for loan losses
    (999 )     (3,824 )     (4,823 )     (909 )     (3,522 )     (4,431 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    145,414       139,034       284,448       125,504       128,710       254,214  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

Lending analyzed by non-subordinated and subordinated receivables:

                 
    2002   2001
Non-subordinated
    283,914       253,714  
Subordinated
    534       500  
 
   
     
 
 
    284,448       254,214  
 
   
     
 

Lending analyzed by industry:

                 
    2002   2001
Private sector:
               
– agriculture, horticulture, forestry and fisheries
    1,552       1,967  
– manufacturing
    34,999       25,975  
– service industry
    58,303       54,768  
– financial institutions
    63,679       55,298  
– other
    111,861       106,726  
 
   
     
 
 
    270,394       244,734  
Public authorities
    14,054       9,480  
 
   
     
 
 
    284,448       254,214  
 
   
     
 

As at December 31, 2002, assets held under finance lease contracts amounted to EUR 6,864 million (2001: EUR 6,094 million) and assets held under operating lease contracts amounted to EUR 4,248 million (2001: EUR 2,661 million).

As at December 31, 2002, the balance sheet value of receivables included in Lending, of which interest income was not recognized in the profit and loss account because realization of the interest income is almost certainly not to be expected, amounted to EUR 315 million (2001: EUR 317 million).

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

As at December 31, 2002, Lending included receivables with regard to securities which have been acquired in reverse sale and repurchase transactions related to the banking operations amounting to EUR 38,282 million (2001: EUR 26,377 million).

Provision for loan losses

The provision for loan losses is allocated to Lending, Banks and other assets.

Allocation of the provision for loan losses to the various lending categories:

                                                 
            Inter-   2002           Inter-   2001
    Netherlands   national   Total   Netherlands   national   Total
Loans secured by public authorities
    31       47       78               68       68  
Loans secured by mortgages
    121       73       194       113       41       154  
Loans guaranteed by credit institutions
            43       43                          
Other personal lending
    198       145       343       107       170       277  
Other corporate loans
    649       3,516       4,165       689       3,243       3,932  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Allocated to Lending
    999       3,824       4,823       909       3,522       4,431  
Allocated to Banks
            47       47               43       43  
Allocated to other assets
    18       248       266       39       250       289  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    1,017       4,119       5,136       948       3,815       4,763  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

Movements in provision for loan losses included in Lending, Banks and other assets:

                 
    2002   2001
Opening balance
    4,763       4,501  
Changes in the composition of the group
    98          
Write-offs
    (882 )     (669 )
Recoveries
    33       39  
Additions from:
               
– value adjustments to receivables
    1,435       750  
– interest income
    105       122  
Other movements
    (416 )     20  
 
   
     
 
Closing balance
    5,136       4,763  
 
   
     
 

2.5. Banks    
                                                 
            Inter-   2002           Inter-   2001
    Netherlands   national   Total   Netherlands   national   Total
Loans and advances to banks
    5,919       16,780       22,699       7,416       15,575       22,991  
Cash advances, overdrafts and other balances due on demand
    1,668       21,362       23,030       2,566       28,569       31,135  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    7,587       38,142       45,729       9,982       44,144       54,126  
Provision for loan losses
                    (47 )                     (43 )
 
                   
                     
 
 
                    45,682                       54,083  
 
                   
                     
 

As at December 31, 2002, Banks included receivables with regard to securities, which have been acquired in reverse sale and repurchase transactions amounting to EUR 13,942 million (2001: EUR 13,265 million).

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

As at December 31, 2002, the non-subordinated receivables amounted to EUR 45,041 million (2001:EUR 53,972 million) and the subordinated receivables amounted to EUR 641 million (2001: EUR 111 million).

As at December 31, 2002, assets held under finance lease contracts amounted to EUR 101 million (2001: EUR 137 million) and assets held under operating lease contracts amounted to EUR 60 million (2001: EUR 12 million).

2.6. Cash  
                 
    2002   2001
Cash and bank balances
    11,224       9,141  
Call money of the insurance operations
    197       123  
 
   
     
 
 
    11,421       9,264  
 
   
     
 

As at December 31, 2002, Cash and bank balances included cash and balances with central banks EUR 7,591 million (2001: EUR 6,846 million).

2.7. Other assets  
                 
    2002   2001
Trading portfolio
    34,576       32,672  
Equity participations
    1,598       1,229  
Property
    1,684       1,901  
Deferred tax assets
    1,130       1,475  
Receivables on account of direct insurance from:
               
– policyholders
    2,790       2,924  
– intermediaries
    485       514  
Reinsurance receivables
    797       669  
Pension assets and other staff-related assets
    170          
Other receivables
    7,956       8,391  
 
   
     
 
 
    51,186       49,775  
 
   
     
 

As at December 31, 2002, an amount of EUR 18,912 million (2001: EUR 28,316 million) was expected to be recovered or settled after more than one year from the balance sheet date.

An analysis of pension assets/liabilities and other staff-related assets/liabilities is included under General provisions.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Deferred tax assets as at December 31 by origin:

                 
    2002   2001
Deferred tax assets relating to:
               
– insurance provisions
    1,295       1,618  
– other provisions
    709       369  
– unused tax losses carried forward
    824       748  
– other
    1,027       452  
 
   
     
 
 
    3,855       3,187  
Deferred tax liabilities (offset by deferred tax assets) relating to:
               
– investments
    257       19  
– deferred acquisition costs
    1,128       580  
– general provisions
    1,099       994  
– other
    241       119  
 
   
     
 
 
    2,725       1,712  
 
    1,130       1,475  
 
   
     
 

Deferred tax assets in connection with unused tax losses carried forward:

                 
    2002   2001
Total unused tax losses carried forward
    6,314       4,139  
Unused tax losses carried forward not recognized as a deferred tax asset
    3,484       2,024  
 
   
     
 
Unused tax losses carried forward recognized as a deferred tax asset
    2,830       2,115  
Average tax rate
    29.1 %     35.4 %
Deferred tax asset
    824       748  

Total unused tax losses carried forward as at December 31, analyzed by expiration terms:

                 
    2002   2001
– up to five years
    1,167       663  
– five to ten years
    412       567  
– ten to twenty years
    2,359       963  
– unlimited
    2,376       1,946  
 
   
     
 
 
    6,314       4,139  
 
   
     
 

2.8. Accrued assets  
                 
    2002   2001
Accrued interest and rents
    8,059       8,508  
Deferred acquisition costs of insurance business
    10,636       11,355  
Other accrued assets
    3,059       5,814  
 
   
     
 
 
    21,754       25,677  
 
   
     
 

As at December 31, 2002, Other accrued assets included options held by the group for the account and risk of customers amounting to EUR 68 million (2001: EUR 134 million). These are customers’ options, which are not segregated from the assets and liabilities of the group and, therefore, included in the balance sheet. The associated liability is included in Other liabilities.

As at December 31, 2002, an amount of EUR 10,915 million (2001: EUR 12,047 million) was expected to be recovered or settled after more than one year from balance sheet date.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Deferred acquisition costs of insurance business by geographical area:

                                                 
    2002   2001   2002   2001   2002   2001
    Life insurance   Non-life insurance   Total
   
 
 
Netherlands
    540       608       60       61       600       669  
Belgium
    57       61       13       12       70       73  
Rest of Europe
    217       235       3       3       220       238  
North America
    6,675       7,434       233       219       6,908       7,653  
South America
    23       29       3       2       26       31  
Asia
    2,788       2,669       2       2       2,790       2,671  
Australia
                    23       21       23       21  
Other
    (1 )     (1 )                     (1 )     (1 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    10,299       11,035       337       320       10,636       11,355  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

Movements in Deferred acquisition costs of insurance business:

                                                 
    2002   2001   2002   2001   2002   2001
    Life insurance   Non-life insurance   Total
   
 
 
Opening balance
    11,035       10,393       320       260       11,355       10,653  
Capitalized
    2,272       2,478       162       83       2,434       2,561  
Amortization
    (1,454 )     (1,444 )     (94 )     (82 )     (1,548 )     (1,526 )
Changes in the composition of the group
    (2 )     (182 )             55       (2 )     (127 )
Exchange differences
    (1,616 )     344       (49 )     1       (1,665 )     345  
Transfer of portfolios
    64       (554 )     (2 )     3       62       (551 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Closing balance
    10,299       11,035       337       320       10,636       11,355  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

Included in Amortization for the year 2002 is an amount of EUR 281 million due to deferred acquisition costs unlocking.

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

2.9. Shareholders’ equity  
                 
    2002   2001
Opening balance
    21,514       25,274  
Unrealized revaluations after taxation
    (3,343 )     (2,745 )
Exchange differences
    (1,041 )     212  
 
   
     
 
Net profit not recognized in the profit and loss account
    (4,384 )     (2,533 )
Realized revaluations released to the profit and loss account
    (1,051 )     (1,233 )
Write-off of goodwill
    (1,176 )     (1,908 )
Net profit for the period
    4,500       4,577  
Dividend paid
    (1,969 )     (2,300 )
Exercise of warrants and options
    (2 )     163  
 
   
     
 
 
    17,432       22,040  
Changes in ING Groep N.V. shares held by group companies
    822       (526 )
 
   
     
 
Closing balance
    18,254       21,514  
 
   
     
 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

2.10.   Preference shares of group companies

Preference shares of group companies consists of noncumulative guaranteed trust preference shares which are issued by wholly owned companies of ING Groep N.V. These shares have a liquidation preference of a certain amount plus any accrued interest and unpaid dividend. Dividends with regard to these preference shares are accounted for, after taxation, in Third-party interests in the profit and loss account. These trust preference shares generally have no voting rights.

Preference shares of group companies:

                                         
                    Liquidation        
Number of                   preference                
Shares   Interest   Year of   per share   2002   2001  
(in millions)   rate   issue   (in USD)   Balance sheet value
1.5
    8.439       2000       1,000       1,431       1,695  
10
    9.2       2000       25       238       282  
20
    7.7       1999       25       477       565  
 
                           
     
 
 
                            2,146       2,542  
 
                           
     
 

2.11.   Subordinated loans

In September 2001 ING Groep N.V. issued ING Perpetuals. This is a perpetual subordinated loan, amounting to EUR 600 million, with a fixed interest rate of 6.5%.
In 2002 ING Groep N.V. issued two subordinated loans: In July 2002 a 7.05% perpetual subordinated loan of USD 800 million with a balance sheet value of EUR 763 million, and in December 2002 a 7.20% perpetual subordinated loan of USD 1,100 million with a balance sheet value of EUR 1,049 million.

2.12.   General provisions
                 
    2002   2001
Deferred tax liabilities
    2,439       2,443  
Pension liabilities and other staff-related liabilities
            1,045  
Reorganizations and relocations
    255       259  
Other
    795       840  
 
   
     
 
 
    3,489       4,587  
 
   
     
 

As at December 31, 2002, an amount of EUR 2,764 million (2001: EUR 4,342 million) was expected to be settled after more than one year from balance sheet date.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Movements in General provisions, other than Pension liabilities and other staff-related liabilities:

                                                 
    2002   2001   2002   2001   2002   2001
    Deferred tax   Reorganizations   Other
    liabilities   and relocations            
Opening balance
    2,443       2,983       259       450       840       1,095  
Changes in the composition of the group
    4       (216 )             43       45       (85 )
Additions
    1,114       439       160       74       209       83  
Releases
    (328 )     (206 )             (296 )             (64 )
Charges
    (765 )     (536 )     (147 )     (14 )     (220 )     (214 )
Exchange differences
    (29 )     (21 )     (17 )     2       (79 )     25  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Closing balance
    2,439       2,443       255       259       795       840  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

2.12.1.   Deferred tax liabilities

Provision for deferred tax liabilities by origin:

                 
        2002       2001
Deferred tax assets (offset by deferred tax liabilities) relating to:
               
– insurance provisions
    415       125  
– other provisions
    6       15  
– unused tax losses carried forward
    116       98  
– equalization reserve
    698       921  
– other
    133       273  
 
   
     
 
 
    1,368       1,432  
Deferred tax liabilities relating to:
               
– investments
    1,477       1,819  
– deferred acquisition costs
    1,075       1,100  
– equalization reserve
    205       191  
– depreciation
    32       64  
– general provisions
    505       202  
– receivables
    77       14  
– loans
    239          
– other
    197       485  
 
   
     
 
 
    3,807       3,875  
 
    2,439       2,443  
 
   
     
 

Deferred tax asset (offset by deferred tax liabilities) in connection with unused tax losses carried forward:

                 
    2002   2001
Total unused tax losses carried forward
    663       2,139  
Unused tax losses carried forward not recognized as a deferred tax asset
    289       1,800  
 
   
     
 
Unused tax losses carried forward recognized as a deferred tax asset
    374       339  
Average tax rate
    31.0 %     28.9 %
Deferred tax asset
    116       98  

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Table of Contents

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Total unused tax losses carried forward as at December 31, by expiration terms:

                 
    2002   2001
– up to five years
    405       289  
– five to ten years
            41  
– ten to twenty years
            1,520  
– unlimited
    258       289  
 
   
     
 
 
    663       2,139  
 
   
     
 

2.12.2.   Pension liabilities and other staff-related liabilities

ING Group maintains defined benefit retirement plans in the major countries in which it operates. These plans generally cover all employees and provide benefits that are related to the remuneration and service of employees upon retirement.
Annual contributions are paid to the funds at a rate necessary to adequately finance the accrued liabilities of the plans calculated in accordance with local legal requirements.
Plans in other countries comply with applicable local regulations concerning investments and funding levels.

ING Group provides other post-employment and post-retirement employee benefits to certain employees. These are primarily post-retirement healthcare benefits and post-employment defined benefit early-retirement plans provided to employees and former employees.

Certain group companies sponsor defined contribution pension plans. These do not give rise to balance sheet provisions, other than relating to short-term timing differences included in current liabilities.

Summary of Pension liabilities and other staff-related liabilities:

                                                                 
    2002   2001   2002   2001   2002   2001   2002   2001
    Pension liabilities   Healthcare           Other           Total
Defined benefit obligation
    11,054       9,233       515       576       450       1,467       12,019       11,276  
Fair value of plan assets
    8,841       8,859                       227       243       9,068       9,102  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Funded status
    2,213       374       515       576       223       1,224       2,951       2,174  
Unrecognized past service costs
    (4 )     3       10       (6 )                     6       (3 )
Unrecognized gains/(losses)
    (3,120 )     (1,028 )     (24 )     39       17       (137 )     (3,127 )     (1,126 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    (911 )     (651 )     501       609       240       1,087       (170 )     1,045  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

Movements in Pension liabilities and other staff-related liabilities:

                                                                 
    2002   2001   2002   2001   2002   2001   2002   2001
    Pension liabilities   Healthcare           Other           Total
Opening balance
    (651 )     (606 )     609       554       1,087       964       1,045       912  
Plan adjustments
    662                               (662 )                        
Benefit costs
    454       193       50       50       26       108       530       351  
Employer’s contribution
    (1,375 )     (429 )     (19 )     5       (46 )     (51 )     (1,440 )     (475 )
Changes in the composition of the group
    (44 )     208       (110 )     1       (36 )     66       (190 )     275  
Effect of curtailment or settlement
    (9 )     (7 )     (2 )     (8 )     (128 )             (139 )     (15 )
Exchange differences
    52       (10 )     (27 )     7       (1 )             24       (3 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Closing balance
    (911 )     (651 )     501       609       240       1,087       (170 )     1,045  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

As at December 31, 2002, the defined benefit obligation consisted of funded plans amounting to EUR 10,636 million (2001: EUR 8,975 million) and unfunded plans amounting to EUR 1,383 million (2001: EUR 2,301 million).

The assets of funded plans primarily consist of debt securities, equity and real estate funds, of which as at December 31, 2002 to EUR 55 million (2001: EUR 98 million) was invested in securities issued by the employer and related parties, including shares of ING Groep N.V.

In 2002 the employer’s contributions amounted EUR 1,440 million. This includes a payment of EUR 662 million in connection with the transfer of liabilities related to the early retirement scheme in the Netherlands. This resulted in a decrease of the Pension liabilities and other staff related liabilities. Because the balance of Pension liabilities and other staff related liabilities at 31 December 2002 is an asset, the amount is included in the balance sheet under Other assets.

2.12.3.   Reorganizations and relocations

The provision for reorganizations and relocations at December 31, 2002 includes an amount of EUR 123 million for the restructuring of the wholesale banking operations. The provision at December 31, 2001 includes an amount of EUR 136 million for the restructuring of the US operations.

2.13.   Insurance provisions
                                                 
    2002   2001   2002   2001   2002   2001
            Gross   Reinsurance   Own account
                element    
Provision for life policy liabilities
    125,945       129,420       5,085       8,511       120,860       120,909  
Provision for profit sharing and rebates
    778       745               2       778       743  
Provision for unearned premiums and unexpired insurance risks
    4,186       4,351       845       969       3,341       3,382  
Claims provision
    7,197       7,016       807       1,124       6,390       5,892  
Other insurance provisions
    186       292                       186       292  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    138,292       141,824       6,737       10,606       131,555       131,218  
Insurance provisions for policies for which the policyholders bear the investment risk and for annual life funds
    65,372       83,739       1,096       971       64,276       82,768  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    203,664       225,563       7,833       11,577       195,831       213,986  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

The insurance provisions are generally of a long-term nature.

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Table of Contents

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Insurance provisions own account by geographical area:

                                                                                 
    2002   2001   2002   2001   2002   2001   2002   2001   2002   2001
    Provision   Insurance   Claims provision   Other   Total
    for life   provisions for                                                
    policy liabilities   policies for which                                                
                    the policyholders                                                
        bear the investment                                                
        risk and for annual                                                
        life funds                            
Netherlands
    35,175       33,773       13,365       15,425       3,321       3,116       1,076       1,175       52,937       53,489  
Belgium
    4,290       3,667       2,406       1,886       462       428       191       159       7,349       6,140  
Rest of Europe
    4,055       3,550       1,383       1,269       20       18       82       89       5,540       4,926  
North America
    62,964       66,357       41,313       56,377       2,010       1,696       2,609       2,686       108,896       127,116  
South America
    1,577       1,837       33       122       40       48       36       40       1,686       2,047  
Asia
    12,621       11,573       1,064       20       23       24       156       125       13,864       11,742  
Australia
    182       155       4,712       7,669       207       205       122       113       5,223       8,142  
Other
    (4 )     (3 )                     307       357       33       30       336       384  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    120,860       120,909       64,276       82,768       6,390       5,892       4,305       4,417       195,831       213,986  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

Movements in the Claims provision for own account:

                 
    2002   2001
Opening balance
    5,892       5,086  
Changes in the composition of the group
            194  
 
   
     
 
 
    5,892       5,280  
Additions:
               
– for the current year
    3,970       3,669  
– for prior years
    310       (24 )
– interest accrual of provision for disability losses
    45       36  
 
   
     
 
 
    4,325       3,681  
Claim settlements and claim settlement costs:
               
– for the current year
    2,397       2,041  
– for prior years
    1,326       1,369  
 
   
     
 
 
    3,723       3,410  
Exchange differences
    (393 )     (8 )
Other movements
    289       349  
 
   
     
 
Closing balance
    6,390       5,892  
 
   
     
 

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Table of Contents

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

2.14   Funds entrusted to and debt securities of the banking operations

Funds entrusted to and debt securities of the banking operations:

                 
    2002   2001
Savings accounts
    115,156       69,562  
Other funds entrusted
    129,175       132,397  
Funds entrusted to the banking operations
    244,331       201,959  
Debt securities
    75,493       74,408  
 
   
     
 
 
    319,824       276,367  
 
   
     
 

Funds entrusted to the banking operations by type:

                                                 
    2002   2001
            Inter-           Inter-    
    Netherlands   national   Total   Netherlands   national   Total
Non-interest bearing
    12,083       3,252       15,335       9,069       1,856       10,925  
Interest-bearing
    82,885       146,111       228,996       85,483       105,551       191,034  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    94,968       149,363       244,331       94,552       107,407       201,959  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

No funds have been entrusted to ING Group by customers on terms other than those prevailing in the normal course of business. As at December 31, 2002, Funds entrusted to and debt securities of the banking operations included liabilities with regard to securities sold in repurchase transactions amounting to EUR 11,481 million (2001: EUR 7,250 million).

2.14.1. Savings accounts

Savings accounts relates to the balances on savings accounts, savings books, savings deposits and time deposits of personal customers. The interest payable on Savings accounts, which is contractually added to the accounts, is also included.

2.14.2. Other funds entrusted

                 
    2002   2001
Private loans
    928       1,322  
Mortgage loan
    43       189  
Corporate time deposits
    45,035       60,098  
Credit balances on customer accounts
    83,169       70,788  
 
   
     
 
 
    129,175       132,397  
 
   
     
 

2.14.3. Funds entrusted to the banking operations

Funds entrusted to the banking operations relates to non-subordinated debts to non-banks, other than in the form of debt securities.

2.14.4. Debt securities

Debt securities includes debentures and other issued debt securities with either fixed-interest rates or interest rates dependent on prevailing interest-rate levels, such as certificates of deposit and accepted bills issued by the group, where not subordinated.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

2.15.  Banks

Banks includes non-subordinated debt to banks, other than in the form of debt securities. As at December 31, 2002, liabilities with regard to securities sold in repurchase transactions amounted to EUR 22,316 million (2001: EUR 17,493 million).

Banks by type:

                                                 
    2002   2001
    Netherlands   Inter-   Total   Netherlands   Inter-   Total
        national           national    
Non-interest bearing
    142       2,171       2,313       175       942       1,117  
Interest-bearing
    28,207       65,747       93,954       33,233       73,460       106,693  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    28,349       67,918       96,267       33,408       74,402       107,810  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

2.16.  Other liabilities

Other liabilities by type:

                 
    2002   2001
Subordinated loans of group companies
    15,425       12,378  
Debenture loans
    11,360       11,470  
Loans contracted
    6,615       8,425  
Loans from credit institutions
    3,755       3,490  
Deposits from reinsurers
    197       269  
Income tax
    1,091       1,611  
Other taxation and social security contributions
    553       214  
Trading portfolio
    9,381       9,675  
Other
    17,020       15,817  
 
   
     
 
 
    65,397       63,349  
 
   
     
 

Other liabilities by remaining term:

                                                 
    2002   2001
    up to 1 year   1 to 5 years   over 5 years   up to 1 year   1 to 5 years   over 5 years
Subordinated loans of group companies
    739       3,970       10,716       967       3,622       7,789  
Debenture loans
    797       7,261       3,302       114       7,295       4,061  
Loans contracted
    5,402       684       529       5,297       1,018       2,110  
Loans from credit institutions
    2,885       454       416       2,849       355       286  
Deposits from reinsurers
    32       109       56       184       14       71  
Income tax
    779       291       21       1,467       116       28  
Other taxation and social security contributions
    523       22       8       216               (2 )
Trading portfolio
    9,153       132       96       9,675                  
Other
    15,944       583       493       9,580       3,744       2,493  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    36,254       13,506       15,637       30,349       16,164       16,836  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

Other liabilities includes:

                 
    2001   2000
Liabilities relating to direct insurance
    1,847       2,905  
Liabilities relating to reinsurance
    342       371  

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Non-subordinated debenture loans, loans contracted and deposits of the banking operations are included in Funds entrusted to and debt securities of the banking operations and in Banks.

Subordinated loans of group companies relates to capital debentures and private loans, which are subordinated to all current and future liabilities of ING Bank N.V., Postbank N.V. or Westland/Utrecht Hypotheekbank N.V. The average interest rate on the subordinated loans is 6.1% (2001: 6.1%).

Debenture loans have been issued with an average interest rate of 5.6% (2001: 5.8%) and are repayable in the years 2003 to 2036. The loans are denominated in various currencies. Some of the loans have been converted into U.S. dollars by means of currency swaps. Others have been converted into loans with a variable-interest rate by means of interest-rate swaps. As at December 31,2002, loans amounting to EUR 9,621 million (2001: EUR 9,983 million) bore an average fixed-interest rate of 5.9% (2001: 6.0%). The remaining EUR 1,739 million (2001: EUR 1,487 million) bore an average variable-interest rate of 4.5% (2001: 4.7%).

The average interest rate of Loans contracted with fixed-interest rates, with a remaining principal amount of EUR 1,591 million (2001: EUR 2,931 million), was 6.9% (2001: 7.0%). The remaining EUR 5,024 million (2001: EUR 5,494 million) bore an average variable-interest rate of 1.2% (2001: 2.2%). These loans are repayable in the years 2003 to 2032.

The average interest rate of Loans from credit institutions with fixed-interest rates, with a remaining principal amount of EUR 2,896 million (2001: EUR 3,297 million), was 3.2% (2001: 4.1%). The remaining EUR 859 million (2001: EUR 193 million) bore an average variable-interest rate of 2.8% (2001: 4.9%). As at December 31, 2002, loans totaling EUR 7 million (2001: EUR 64 million) were secured by mortgages.

2.17.  Accrued liabilities

                 
    2002   2001
Accrued interest
    7,311       10,313  
Costs payable
    2,605       902  
Yield differences on fixed-interest investments
    875       1,688  
 
   
     
 
 
    10,791       12,903  
 
   
     
 

As at December 31, 2002, an amount of EUR 1,697 million (2001: EUR 2,030 million) was expected to be settled after more than one year from the balance sheet date.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

2.18.  Additional information relating to the consolidated balance sheet of ING Group

Analysis of certain assets and liabilities by maturity:

                                                 
                    Three                        
            Up to three   months   One year to   Over five        
2002   On demand   months   to one year   five years   years   Total
Assets
                                               
Lending
    19,486       77,538       22,817       50,908       113,699       284,448  
Banks
    5,396       26,280       7,354       4,806       1,846       45,682  
Liabilities
                                               
Funds entrusted to and debt securities of the banking operations:
                                               
– Savings accounts
    98,943       9,243       1,277       2,517       3,176       115,156  
– Other funds entrusted
    28,459       79,434       10,607       7,566       3,109       129,175  
– Debt securities
    1,483       27,490       15,253       23,684       7,583       75,493  
Banks
    6,622       74,805       11,402       1,678       1,760       96,267  
                                                 
                    Three                        
            Up to three   months   One year to   Over five        
2001   On demand   months   to one year   five years   years   Total
Assets
                                               
Lending
    23,879       69,122       19,571       40,904       100,738       254,214  
Banks
    11,365       29,401       7,295       3,087       2,935       54,083  
Liabilities
                                               
Funds entrusted to and debt securities of the banking operations:
                                               
– Savings accounts
    61,971       3,500       1,388       2,291       412       69,562  
– Other funds entrusted
    67,223       46,404       5,179       6,707       6,884       132,397  
– Debt securities
            25,560       14,261       23,070       11,517       74,408  
Banks
    20,601       72,025       11,527       1,513       2,144       107,810  

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Table of Contents

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

2.18.1. Assets not freely disposable

The assets not freely disposable primarily consist of interest-bearing securities pledged to secure deposits from the Dutch Central Bank and other banks, serve to secure margin accounts and are used for other purposes required by law. Of these assets EUR 3,586 million (2001: EUR 2,229 million) relates to guarantees provided for certain liabilities included in the balance sheet as well as off-balance sheet contingent liabilities.

Assets not freely disposable:

                                                                                 
    2002   2001   2002   2001   2002   2001   2002   2001   2002   2001
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Funds                                   Guarantees                
    entrusted and                   Contingent   for off-balance                
    debt securities   Banks   liabilities   sheet items   Total
   
 
 
 
 
Investments
            272       196       947                       1,660       367       1,856       1,586  
Lending
    761       618                                                       761       618  
Banks
    8                               4       11                       12       11  
Other assets
    55       60       1       307       2,561       14                       2,617       381  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    824       950       197       1,254       2,565       25       1,660       367       5,246       2,596  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

2.18.2. Off-Balance sheet arrangements

Contingent liabilities
In the normal course of business ING Group is a party in activities whose risks are not reflected in whole or part in the consolidated financial statements. In response to the needs of its customers, ING Group offers financial products related to loans. These products include traditional off-balance sheet credit-related financial instruments.

Contingent liabilities:

                 
    2002   2001
   
 
Insurance operations
               
Commitments concerning investments in land and buildings
    667       619  
Commitments concerning fixed-interest securities
    1,383       941  
Guarantees
    8,876       10,257  
Other
    686       1,363  
Banking operations
               
Contingent liabilities in respect of:
               
- discounted bills
    6       6  
- guarantees
    16,807       20,037  
- irrevocable letters of credit
    6,030       5,776  
- other
    464       189  
 
   
     
 
 
    34,919       39,188  
Irrevocable facilities
    63,867       63,269  
 
   
     
 
 
    98,786       102,457  
 
   
     
 

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Table of Contents

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Guarantees relate both to credit and non-credit substitute guarantees. Credit-substitute guarantees are guarantees given by ING Group in respect of credit granted to customers by a third party. Many of them are expected to expire without being drawn on and therefore do not necessarily represent future cash outflows. The guaranties are generally of a short-term nature.

Irrevocable letters of credit mainly secure payments to a third party for a customer’s foreign and domestic trade transactions in order to finance a shipment of goods. ING Group’s credit risk in these transactions is limited since these transactions are collateralized by the commodity shipped and are of a short duration.

Other contingent liabilities mainly relate to acceptances of bills and are of a short-term nature.

Irrevocable facilities mainly constitute unused portions of irrevocable credit facilities granted to corporate clients. Many of these facilities are for a fixed duration and bear interest at a floating rate. ING Group’s credit risk in these transactions is limited. Most of the unused portion of irrevocable credit facilities is secured by customers’ assets or counter-guarantees by the central government and exempted bodies under the regulatory requirements. Irrevocable facilities also include commitments made to purchase securities to be issued by governments and private issuers.

Special Purpose Entities (SPE)
ING Group has established a number of SPEs and engages in activities with SPEs, for example as investor, administrator or provider of other financial services. A number of SPEs which are controlled by ING Group are included in the consolidated financial statements.

The non-consolidated SPEs include asset-backed primarily relate to commercial paper programmes. In the normal course of business, ING Group structures financing transactions for its clients assisting them in obtaining sources of liquidity by selling the clients’ receivables or other financial assets to an SPE. The SPE issues asset-backed commercial paper to the market to fund the purchases. ING Group, in its role as administrative agent, facilitates these transactions by providing structuring, accounting, funding and operations services. As ING Group has no ownership and controlling interest in the SPE nor does it service the transferred assets, the SPE is not included in the consolidated financial statements.

ING Group supports the commercial paper programs by providing the SPE with short term stand by liquidity facilities. Primarily these liquidity facilities are meant to cover temporarily disruptions in the commercial paper market. Once drawn these facilities bear normal credit risk. A number of programs are supported by granting structured liquidity facilities to the SPE, in which ING Group in addition to normal liquidity facilities to a certain extent covers the credit risk incorporated in these programs itself, and as a consequence might suffer credit losses from it. Furthermore, under a Program Wide Credit Enhancement ING Group guarantees to a limited amount all remaining losses incorporated in the SPE to the commercial paper investors. All facilities, which vary in risk profile, are granted to the SPE subject to normal ING Group analysis procedures regarding credit risk and liquidity risk. The fees received for services provided and for facilities are charged on market conditions.

The normal non-structured stand by liquidity facilities and the structured facilities are reported under irrevocable facilities.

2.18.3. Future rental commitments

Future rental commitments for lease contracts as at December 31, 2002:

         
2003
    2,828  
2004
    2,833  
2005
    1,694  
2006
    1,137  
2007
    655  
years after 2007
    1,690  

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

2.18.4. Legal proceedings
ING Group companies are involved in lawsuits and arbitration cases in the Netherlands and in a number of other countries, relating to claims by or against these companies arising in the course of ordinary activities, and also from acquisitions, including the activities as insurer, lender, employer, investor and taxpayer. Several of these cases involve claims of either large or indefinite amounts. Although it is not feasible to predict or to determine the outcome of current or impending legal proceedings, the Executive Board is of the opinion that the outcome is unlikely to have any material adverse effects on the financial position or results of ING Group.

2.18.5. Derivatives

Use of derivatives
ING Group uses derivative financial instruments in the normal course of business for non-trading and trading purposes. Derivatives are financial instruments, which include forwards, futures, options and swaps, whose value is based on an underlying asset, index or reference rate.

Non-trading activities
ING Group’s principal objective in holding or issuing derivatives for non-trading purposes is risk management. To achieve its risk management objective, ING Group uses a combination of interest-rate instruments, primarily interest-rate swaps. Net positions in foreign currencies are subject to changes in value as exchange rates change. These fluctuations are managed by entering into currency swaps, forwards and options.

Notional amounts and the positive and negative fair values of derivative financial instruments used for non-trading purposes:

                                                 
    2002   2001   2002   2001   2002   2001
   
 
 
 
 
 
                    Positive year-end   Negative year-end
    Notional amount   fair value   fair value
   
 
 
Interest-rate contracts
    337,940       257,961       5,505       3,877       6,348       3,795  
Currency contracts
    32,430       28,608       533       289       474       480  
Equity contracts
    2,052       3,092       104       77       20       121  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    372,422       289,661       6,142       4,243       6,842       4,396  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

ING Group’s use of these instruments is changed from time to time in response to changing market conditions as well as changes in the mix of the related assets and liabilities.

Trading activities
ING Group trades derivative financial instruments on behalf of clients and for its own account. Derivative financial instruments used for risk management purposes to control risks of trading portfolios are reported as being held for trading purposes.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Notional amounts, the average fair values and year-end fair values of trading derivative financial instruments:

                                                                                 
    2002   2001   2002   2001   2002   2001   2002   2001   2002   2001
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                    Average positive   Average negative   Positive year-end   Negative year-end
    Notional amount   fair value   fair value   fair value   fair value
   
 
 
 
 
Interest-rate contracts
    868,991       675,037       10,468       5,486       10,501       4,970       14,927       8,762       15,247       8,481  
Currency contracts
    320,069       368,717       6,451       6,255       6,376       5,911       6,138       7,126       7,422       7,205  
Equity contracts
    29,369       28,401       1,835       1,292       1,080       833       2,570       1,231       1,332       862  
Other contracts
    19                                                                          
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    1,218,448       1,072,155       18,754       13,033       17,957       11,714       23,635       17,119       24,001       16,548  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

Numerical information about derivatives activities
The following tables give numerical information about the derivatives activities, detailing types of derivatives, credit risks, counterparties and use of the derivatives transactions.

The first table illustrates the relative importance of the various types of derivative products, showing the notional amounts at year-end 2002 and year-end 2001. Notional amounts represent units of account which, in respect of derivatives, reflect the relationship with the underlying assets (bonds, for example, in the case of interest-rate futures). What they do not reflect, however, is the credit risk assumed by entering into derivatives transactions.

Listed derivatives are standardized and include futures and certain option contracts. Over-the-counter derivatives contracts are individually negotiated between contracting parties and include forward contracts, options and swaps.

Forward contracts are commitments to exchange currencies or to buy or sell other financial instruments at specified future dates. Futures contracts are similar to forwards. However, major exchanges act as intermediaries and require daily cash settlement and collateral deposits.

Option contracts give the purchaser, for a premium, the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell within a limited period of time a financial instrument or currency at a contracted price that may also be settled in cash. Written options give the issuer the obligation to buy or sell within a limited period of time a financial instrument or currency at a contracted price that may also be settled in cash. This subjects ING Group to market risk, but not to credit risk, since the counterparties have already performed in accordance with the terms of the contract by paying a cash premium up front.

Swap contracts are commitments to settle in cash at a specified future date, based on differentials between specified financial indices as applied to a notional amount. Generally, no cash is exchanged at the outset of the contract and no principal payments are made by either party.

The year-end positive fair value represents the maximum loss that ING Group would incur on its derivatives transactions if all its counterparties at year-end defaulted. This fair value can and will fluctuate from day to day due to changes in the value of the underlying assets. In order to arrive at an estimate of credit risk at any given time, a margin is added to the fair value figures to arrive, in accordance with internationally accepted criteria, at what is called the unweighted credit equivalents.

The weighted credit equivalents are the unweighted credit equivalents multiplied by the weighting factors determined in accordance with standards of the international supervisory authorities. Under certain conditions, the credit risk can be reduced by entering into bilateral netting agreements. In the case of non-observance of the obligation by the counterparty, this kind of agreement gives the right to net off receivables and payables in respect of open derivatives contracts. The effect of reducing the risk by means of bilateral netting agreements is shown at the bottom of the table.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Open contracts as at year-end:

                                                                 
    2002   2001
   
 
                    Un-                       Un-    
                    weighted   Weighted                   weighted   Weighted
            Positive   credit   credit           Positive   credit   credit
    Notional   fair   equi-   equi-   Notional   fair   equi-   equi-
    amount   value   valent   valent   amount   value   valent   valent
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-rate contracts
                                                               
Over-the-counter:
                                                               
- swaps
    915,654       19,199       23,475       5,780       758,585       12,003       15,578       3,847  
- forwards
    80,652       106       137       29       52,001       98       141       31  
- options purchased
    69,054       1,125       1,478       413       46,190       532       773       206  
- options written
    48,533                               36,276       5                  
Listed:
                                                               
- options purchased
    2,130       2                       3,020       1                  
- options written
    1,111                               1,756                          
- futures
    89,797                               35,170                          
Currency contracts
                                                               
Over-the-counter:
                                                               
- swaps
    37,578       1,137       2,702       792       36,943       1,384       2,989       903  
- forwards
    260,685       5,091       8,111       1,999       315,642       5,758       9,335       2,486  
- options purchased
    25,383       443       705       171       19,884       273       502       130  
- options written
    28,562                               21,582                          
Listed:
                                                               
- options purchased
    6                                                          
- options written
    155                                                          
- futures
    130                               3,274                          
Equity contracts
                                                               
Over-the-counter:
                                                               
- swaps
    6,555       963       1,360       603       3,091       331       525       248  
- forwards
    64       23       27       13       67       9       13       2  
- options purchased
    6,588       1,069       1,529       353       8,786       536       1,127       286  
- options written
    5,775                               8,620       1                  
Listed:
                                                               
- options purchased
    5,564       619                       5,233       431                  
- options written
    6,380                               5,552                          
- futures
    495                               144                          
Other contracts
                                                               
Over-the-counter
    19                                                          
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    1,590,870       29,777       39,524       10,153       1,361,816       21,362       30,983       8,139  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Effect of contractual netting
            (14,452 )     (17,191 )     (4,020 )             (9,759 )     (12,499 )     (2,951 )
 
           
     
     
             
     
     
 
 
            15,325       22,333       6,133               11,603       18,484       5,188  
 
           
     
     
             
     
     
 

Collateral held, which does not meet the criteria for contractual netting, would additionally reduce the total weighted credit equivalent as at December 31, 2002 with an amount of EUR 498 million (2001: EUR 112 million).

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Open contracts by remaining term, based on the notional amounts, as at December 31:

                                                         
    up to 1   1 to 2   2 to 3   3 to 4   4 to 5   over 5        
2001   year   years   years   years   years   years   Total

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-rate contracts
                                                       
Over-the-counter:
                                                       
- swaps
    397,347       140,934       77,347       61,238       63,050       175,738       915,654  
- forwards
    74,520       6,132                                       80,652  
- options purchased
    21,653       16,023       8,621       3,141       7,513       12,103       69,054  
- options written
    15,526       10,981       6,764       2,672       5,390       7,200       48,533  
Listed:
                                                       
- options purchased
    2,105                                       25       2,130  
- options written
    972                               30       109       1,111  
- futures
    80,449       5,115       1,115       114       496       2,508       89,797  
Currency contracts
                                                       
Over-the-counter:
                                                       
- swaps
    11,889       6,040       4,313       3,627       4,733       6,976       37,578  
- forwards
    245,751       8,750       3,362       1,238       1,258       326       260,685  
- options purchased
    24,843       328       182       22       2       6       25,383  
- options written
    28,103       353       76       22       2       6       28,562  
Listed:
                                                       
- options purchased
    6                                               6  
- options written
    155                                               155  
- futures
    72       9       36       13                       130  
Equity contracts
                                                       
Over-the-counter:
                                                       
- swaps
    6,447                               50       58       6,555  
- forwards
    64                                               64  
- options purchased
    3,874       747       1,062       180       143       582       6,588  
- options written
    3,357       871       978       193       140       236       5,775  
Listed:
                                                       
- options purchased
    4,363       470       471       260                       5,564  
- options written
    4,888       778       290       424                       6,380  
- futures
    495                                               495  
Other contracts
                                                       
Over-the-counter:
    19                                               19  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    926,898       197,531       104,617       73,144       82,807       205,873       1,590,870  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Open contracts by remaining term, based on the notional amounts, as at December 31:

                                                         
    up to 1   1 to 2   2 to 3   3 to 4   4 to 5   over 5        
2001   year   years   years   years   year   years   Total

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-rate contracts
                                                       
Over-the-counter:
                                                       
- swaps
    315,927       119,175       77,816       54,091       52,743       138,833       758,585  
- forwards
    45,901       4,575                       276       1,249       52,001  
- options purchased
    13,795       8,928       8,142       4,953       2,404       7,968       46,190  
- options written
    11,660       7,071       5,428       4,302       2,503       5,312       36,276  
Listed:
                                                       
- options purchased
    2,955               5                       60       3,020  
- options written
    1,708                                       48       1,756  
- futures
    23,285       9,652       675               498       1,060       35,170  
Currency contracts
                                                       
Over-the-counter:
                                                       
- swaps
    11,133       5,984       5,076       3,509       2,724       8,517       36,943  
- forwards
    302,687       5,737       973       1,859       4,020       366       315,642  
- options purchased
    18,942       810       79       30       23               19,884  
- options written
    20,945       572       22       20       23               21,582  
Listed:
                                                       
- futures
    3,185       38       5       31       15               3,274  
Equity contracts
                                                       
Over-the-counter:
                                                       
- swaps
    2,778       105       100                       108       3,091  
- forwards
                                            67       67  
- options purchased
    5,653       1,925       560       534       7       107       8,786  
- options written
    5,785       1,457       562       573       99       144       8,620  
Listed:
                                                       
- options purchased
    4,138       697       280       110       8               5,233  
- options written
    4,319       770       338       116       9               5,552  
- futures
    144                                               144  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    795,007       167,496       100,061       70,128       65,352       163,772       1,361,816  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

Open contracts by counterparty:

                                                 
    2002   2001
   
 
            Unweighted   Weighted     Unweighted   Weighted
    Notional   credit   credit   Notional   credit   credit
    amount   equivalent   equivalent   amount   equivalent   equivalent
   
 
 
 
 
 
Public sector
    119,945       306               61,192       172          
Banks
    1,249,967       31,522       6,304       1,078,238       24,223       4,845  
Other
    220,958       7,696       3,849       222,386       6,588       3,294  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    1,590,870       39,524       10,153       1,361,816       30,983       8,139  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

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Table of Contents

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

2.18.6. Fair value of financial assets and liabilities

The following table presents the estimated fair values of ING Group’s financial assets and liabilities. Certain balance sheet items are not included in the table as they do not comply with the definition of a financial asset or liability. The aggregation of the fair values presented hereunder does not represent, and should not be construed as representing, the underlying value of ING Group.

Fair value of financial assets and liabilities:

                                 
    2002   2001
   
 
    Estimated   Balance   Estimated   Balance
    fair value   sheet value   fair value   sheet value
   
 
 
 
Financial assets
                               
Participating interests
    2,986       2,883       2,612       2,628  
Investments
                               
- shares and convertible debentures
    12,278       12,278       19,502       19,502  
- fixed-interest securities
    220,552       209,878       198,734       194,543  
Lending(1)
    275,593       273,336       249,524       245,459  
Banks(1)
    46,472       45,521       53,934       53,934  
Cash
    11,421       11,421       9,264       9,264  
Other assets
                               
- trading portfolio
    34,576       34,576       32,672       32,672  
- equity participations
    1,699       1,598       1,373       1,229  
- other receivables
    13,158       13,158       13,973       13,973  
Accrued assets (2)
    11,118       11,118       14,322       14,322  
Derivatives held for non-trading purposes
    6,142       2,338       4,243       2,096  
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
    635,995       618,105       600,153       589,622  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Financial liabilities
                               
Subordinated loans
    2,454       2,412       615       600  
Insurance provisions related to investment-type contracts
    87,830       89,165       84,701       85,722  
Funds entrusted to and debt securities of the banking operations
    323,211       319,824       276,555       276,367  
Banks
    96,346       96,267       108,901       107,810  
Other liabilities
    66,318       65,397       63,841       63,349  
Accrued liabilities
    10,791       10,791       12,903       12,903  
Derivatives held for non-trading purposes
    6,842       1,991       4,396       1,846  
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
    593,792       585,847       551,912       548,597  
 
   
     
     
     
 


(1)   Lending and Banks do not include receivables from leases.
 
(2)   Accrued assets does not include deferred acquisition costs of insurance business.

The estimated fair values correspond with the amounts at which the financial instruments could have been traded on a fair basis at the balance sheet date between knowledgeable, willing parties in arm’s-length transactions. The fair value of financial assets and liabilities is based on quoted market prices, where available. Because substantial trading markets do not exist for most of these financial instruments various techniques have been developed to estimate their approximate fair values. These techniques are subjective in nature and involve various assumptions about the discount rate and the estimates of the amount and timing of the anticipated future cash flows. Changes in these assumptions could significantly affect the estimated fair values. Consequently, the fair values presented may not be indicative of the net realizable value. In addition, the calculation of the estimated fair value is based on market conditions at a specific point in time and may not be indicative of future fair values.

F-46


Table of Contents

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

The following methods and assumptions were used by ING Group to estimate the fair value of the financial instruments.

Financial assets

Participating interests

The fair values of the shares of participating interests are based on quoted market prices or, if unquoted, on estimated market values based on quoted prices for similar securities. Fair values of the receivables from participating interests are determined using the same methods as described below for Fixed-interest securities.

Investments
The fair values of Shares and convertible debentures are based on quoted market prices or, if unquoted, on estimated market values generally based on quoted prices for similar securities. Fair values for Fixed-interest securities other than mortgage and policy loans are based on quoted market prices, where available. For those securities not actively traded, fair values are estimated using values obtained from private pricing services or by discounting expected future cash flows using a current market rate applicable to the yield, credit quality and maturity of the investment. The fair values of mortgage loans are estimated by discounting future cash flows using interest rates currently being offered for similar loans to borrowers with similar credit ratings. The fair values of fixed-rate policy loans are estimated by discounting cash flows at the interest rates charged on policy loans of similar policies currently being issued. Loans with similar characteristics are aggregated for purposes of the calculations. The fair values of variable-rate policy loans approximate their carrying values.

Lending
For loans that are reprised frequently and have had no significant changes in credit risk, carrying amounts represent a reasonable estimate of fair values. The fair values of other loans are estimated by discounting expected future cash flows using interest rates offered for similar loans to borrowers with similar credit ratings. The fair values of nonperforming loans are estimated by discounting the expected cash flows of recoveries.

Banks
The fair values of receivables from banks are estimated based on discounting future cash flows using available market interest rates offered for receivables with similar characteristics.

Cash
The carrying amount of cash approximates its fair value.

Other assets
The fair values of securities in the trading portfolio and equity participations are based on quoted market prices, where available. For those securities not actively traded, fair values are estimated based on internal discounted cash flow pricing models taking into account current cash flow assumptions and the counterparties’ credit standings. The carrying amount of Other receivables approximates its fair value.

Accrued assets
The carrying amount of accrued assets approximates its fair value.

Financial liabilities

Subordinated loans

The fair value of the Subordinated loans is estimated using discounted cash flows based on interest rates that apply to similar instruments.

F-47


Table of Contents

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Insurance provisions related to investment-type contracts (included in insurance provisions)
For guaranteed investment contracts the fair values have been estimated using a discounted cash flow approach based on interest rates currently being offered for similar contracts with maturities consistent with those remaining for the contracts being valued. For other investment-type contracts, fair values are estimated based on the cash surrender values.

Funds entrusted to and debt securities of the banking operations
The carrying values of demand deposits and other deposits with no stated maturity approximate their fair values. The fair values of other deposits with stated maturities have been estimated based on discounting future cash flows using the interest rates currently applicable to deposits of similar maturities.

Banks
The fair values of payables to banks are estimated based on discounting future cash flows using available market interest rates for payables to banks with similar characteristics.

Other liabilities
For publicly traded debt, the fair values are based on quoted market prices. For non-traded, variable-rate debt, the carrying amounts approximate their fair values. For non-traded, fixed-rate debt, the fair values have been estimated using discounted cash flow calculations based on interest rates charged on similar instruments currently being issued.

Accrued liabilities
The carrying amount of accrued liabilities approximates its fair value.

Derivatives
The fair values of derivatives held for non-trading purposes are based on broker/dealer valuations or on internal discounted cash flow pricing models taking into account current cash flow assumptions and the counterparties’ credit standings. The fair values of derivatives held for non-trading purposes generally reflect the estimated amounts that ING Group would receive or pay to terminate the contracts at the balance sheet date.

Fair value of other off-balance sheet financial instruments:

                                 
    2002   2001
   
 
    Estimated   Contract   Estimated   Contract
    fair value   amount   fair value   amount
   
 
 
 
Insurance operations
                               
Commitments concerning investments in land and buildings
    667       667       619       619  
Commitments concerning investments in fixed-interest securities
    1,383       1,383       941       941  
Guarantees
            8,876               10,257  
Others
            686               1,363  
 
           
             
 
 
            11,612               13,180  
 
           
             
 
                                 
    2002   2001
   
 
    Risk-           Risk-        
    weighted   Contract   weighted   Contract
    value   amount   value   amount
   
 
 
 
Banking operations
                               
Guarantees
    8,220       16,807       9,938       20,037  
Irrevocable letters of credit
    1,483       6,030       1,327       5,776  
Irrevocable facilities
    11,103       63,867       9,723       63,269  
Other
    395       470       146       195  
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
    21,201       87,174       21,134       89,277  
 
   
     
     
     
 

F-48


Table of Contents

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

For the other off-balance sheet financial instruments the following methods are used in order to determine the fair value.

Insurance operations
The fair values of the commitments for investments in land and buildings and commitments concerning investments in fixed-interest securities are the same as their contract amounts on account of their short-term nature.

Banking operations
Risk-weighted amounts of the banking operations have been calculated in accordance with the Dutch central bank guidelines which are based on the solvency ratio directives of the European Commission. In view of the lack of an established market and difficulties involved in segregating the value of these instruments from their underlying degree of uncertainty, it is not considered to be meaningful to provide an estimate of the fair value for these instruments.

Capital base

                                                 
    2002   2001
   
 
    Group   Insurance   Banking   Group   Insurance   Banking
   
 
 
 
 
 
Shareholders’ equity
    18,254                       21,514                  
Preference shares of group companies
    2,146                       2,542                  
Subordinated loans
    2,412                       600                  
 
   
                     
                 
Capital base ING Group
    22,812                       24,656                  
Core debt (debt raised to finance subsidiaries)
    5,681                       6,202                  
 
   
                     
                 
 
    28,493       11,279       17,214       30,858       15,396       15,462  
Third party interests
            1,163       744               975       492  
Subordinated loans ING Verzekeringen N.V
            2,250                       1,250          
Equity components not included in Tier 1(1)
                    (325 )                     (592 )
ING Group shares held and consolidation adjustments
            25       447               54       1,721  
 
           
     
             
     
 
Capital base:
                                               
- ING Verzekeringen N.V
            14,717                       17,675          
- ING Bank N.V. (Tier 1 qualifying capital)
                    18,080                       17,083  


(1)   Includes revaluation reserve and proposed profit appropriation.

Regulatory requirements

Banking Operations
The required capital for the banking operations in accordance with the BIS requirements amounts to 8% of all risk-weighted assets, off-balance sheet items and market risk associated with trading portfolios (known as the ‘BIS ratio’).

F-49


Table of Contents

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

     Capital position of the banking operations:

                 
    2002   2001
   
 
Core capital (Tier 1)
    18,080       17,083  
Supplementary capital (Tier 2)
    9,116       8,588  
Available Tier 3 funds
    257       290  
Deductible
    (302 )     (250 )
 
   
     
 
Qualifying capital
    27,151       25,711  
 
   
     
 
Required capital
    19,783       19,454  
Tier 1 ratio
    7.31 %     7.03 %
BIS ratio
    10.98 %     10.57 %

Insurance operations
European Union directives require insurance companies established in member states of the European Union to maintain minimum capital positions.

Capital position of the insurance operations:

                                                 
    2002   2001
   
 
            Non-                   Non-        
            insurance                   insurance        
            companies,                   companies,        
    Total ING   core debt &           Total ING   core debt &        
    Verzekeringen   other elimi-   Insurance   Verzeke-   other elimi-   Insurance
    N.V   nations   companies   ringen N.V.   nations   companies
   
 
 
 
 
 
Available capital
    14,717       3,131       17,848       17,675       2,975       20,650  
Required capital
    8,718               8,718       9,845               9,845  
 
   
             
     
             
 
Surplus capital
    5,999               9,130       7,830               10,805  
 
   
             
     
             
 
Ratio of available versus required capital
    169 %             205 %     180 %             210 %

ING Group
According to an agreement (‘Protocol’) between the Dutch Central Bank and the Pension & Insurance Board regarding the supervision of financial conglomerates, ING Group is required to have an amount of capital, reserves and subordinated loans which are at least equal to the sum of:
- the required capital for the banking activities and
- the required capital for the insurance activities.
For regulatory purposes certain (external) subordinated loans of ING Bank N.V. and ING Verzekeringen N.V. are included.

F-50


Table of Contents

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Regulatory required capital ING Group:

                 
    2002   2001
   
 
ING Groep N.V.:
               
- Shareholders’ equity
    18,254       21,514  
- Preference shares of group companies
    2,146       2,542  
- Subordinated loans
    2,412       600  
 
   
     
 
Capital base ING Group
    22,812       24,656  
Subordinated loans ING Bank (included in Tier 2)
    9,054       8,344  
Subordinated loans ING Verzekeringen
    2,250       1,250  
 
   
     
 
Capital base including subordinated loans
    34,116       34,250  
Required capital banking operations
    (19,783 )     (19,454 )
Required capital insurance operations
    (8,718 )     (9,845 )
 
   
     
 
Surplus capital
    5,615       4,951  
 
   
     
 

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Table of Contents

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

3. NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT OF ING GROUP

To provide more insight in the results of ING Group, a distinction is made between operational results and non-operational results. The non-operational results are disclosed separately.

Profit and loss account by operational and non-operational results:

                                                                         
    2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                            Non-operational                        
    Operational results   results (3.4)   Total
   
 
 
Premium income (3.1.1)
    52,284       50,460       29,114                               52,284       50,460       29,114  
Income from investments of the insurance operations (3.1.2)
    10,853       10,262       7,981       280       325       7,017       11,133       10,587       14,998  
Interest result from the banking operations (3.1.3)
    7,702       6,121       5,831                               7,702       6,121       5,831  
Commission (3.1.4)
    3,960       4,196       4,497                               3,960       4,196       4,497  
Other income (3.1.5)
    1,722       3,124       2,145                       1,580       1,722       3,124       3,725  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total income
    76,521       74,163       49,568       280       325       8,597       76,801       74,488       58,165  
Underwriting expenditure (3.2.1)
    54,966       52,782       31,042                               54,966       52,782       31,042  
Other interest expenses (3.2.2)
    1,288       1,270       757                               1,288       1,270       757  
Salaries, pension and social security costs (3.2.3)
    7,552       7,796       6,729                               7,552       7,796       6,729  
Additions to the provision for loan losses
    1,435       750       400                               1,435       750       400  
Other expenses (3.2.4)
    5,639       5,824       4,873                       395       5,639       5,824       5,268  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total expenditure
    70,880       68,422       43,801                       395       70,880       68,422       44,196  
Result before taxation
    5,641       5,741       5,767       280       325       8,202       5,921       6,066       13,969  
Taxation (3.3)
    1,056       1,165       1,612       33               226       1,089       1,165       1,838  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Result after taxation
    4,585       4,576       4,155       247       325       7,976       4,832       4,901       12,131  
Third-party interests
    332       324       147                               332       324       147  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Net profit for the period
    4,253       4,252       4,008       247       325       7,976       4,500       4,577       11,984  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

The numbers against the items refer to the notes starting on page F-53.

F-52


Table of Contents

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Operational results by insurance operations and banking operations:

                                                                         
    2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
      Insurance operations       Banking operations       Total(1)  
 
   
     
     
 
Premium income (3.1.1)
    52,284       50,460       29,114                               52,284       50,460       29,114  
Income from investments of the insurance operations (3.1.2)
    10,926       10,336       8,067                               10,853       10,262       7,981  
Interest result from the banking operations (3.1.3)
                            7,646       6,072       5,786       7,702       6,121       5,831  
Commission (3.1.4)
    1,345       1,431       867       2,615       2,765       3,630       3,960       4,196       4,497  
Other income (3.1.5)
    782       850       259       940       2,274       1,886       1,722       3,124       2,145  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total income
    65,337       63,077       38,307       11,201       11,111       11,302       76,521       74,163       49,568  
Underwriting expenditure (3.2.1)
    54,966       52,782       31,042                               54,966       52,782       31,042  
Other interest expenses (3.2.2)
    1,305       1,290       774               5       24       1,288       1,270       757  
Salaries, pension and social security costs (3.2.3)
    2,765       2,732       1,784       4,787       5,064       4,945       7,552       7,796       6,729  
Additions to the provision for loan losses
                            1,435       750       400       1,435       750       400  
Other expenses (3.2.4)
    2,128       2,702       1,545       3,511       3,122       3,328       5,639       5,824       4,873  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total expenditure
    61,164       59,506       35,145       9,733       8,941       8,697       70,880       68,422       43,801  
Operational result before taxation
    4,173       3,571       3,162       1,468       2,170       2,605       5,641       5,741       5,767  
Taxation (3.3)
    723       688       775       333       477       837       1,056       1,165       1,612  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Operational result after taxation
    3,450       2,883       2,387       1,135       1,693       1,768       4,585       4,576       4,155  
Third-party interests
    92       73       39       240       251       108       332       324       147  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Operational net profit for the period
    3,358       2,810       2,348       895       1,442       1,660       4,253       4,252       4,008  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

(1)   The column Total includes eliminations with regard to Income from investments of the insurance operations of EUR 73 million (2001: EUR 74 million; 2000: EUR 86 million), Interest result from the banking operations of EUR (56) million (2001: EUR(49) million; 2000: EUR (45) million) and Other interest expenses of EUR 17 million (2001: EUR 25 million; 2000: EUR 41 million).

3.1. Income

3.1.1. Premium income

                         
    2001   2000   1999
   
 
 
Premium income from life insurance policies
    44,367       44,557       25,019  
Premium income from non-life insurance policies
    7,917       5,903       4,095  
 
   
     
     
 
 
    52,284       50,460       29,114  
 
   
     
     
 

Premium income has been included before deduction of reinsurance and retrocession premiums granted.

F-53


Table of Contents

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Premium income includes EUR 26,928 million (2001: EUR 23,738 million; 2000: EUR 12,483 million) relating to investment type policies of the US, Latin America and Asia-Pacific operations. These policies mainly consist of individual and group fixed and variable annuities, universal life contracts and guaranteed investment contracts.

3.1.2. Income from investments of the insurance operations

                         
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
Income from disposal of group companies
    238       17       61  
Income from land and buildings
    872       665       505  
Income from investments in shares and convertible debentures
    1,611       1,430       1,497  
Income from investments in fixed-interest securities:
                       
- debentures
    5,829       5,610       3,429  
- private loans
    127       158       346  
- mortgage loans
    1,781       1,800       1,339  
- policy loans
    208       218       106  
- deposits with credit institutions
    49       104       53  
- professional loans
    17       16       16  
- other
    180       318       715  
Deposits with insurers
    14                  
 
   
     
     
 
Operational result
    10,926       10,336       8,067  
Non-operational results (3.4)
    280       325       7,017  
 
   
     
     
 
 
    11,206       10,661       15,084  
 
   
     
     
 

Income from land and buildings includes an amount in respect of rental income allocated to business units of ING Group (the same amount is included in Other expenses) of EUR 50 million (2001: EUR 51 million; 2000: EUR 45 million).

Income from investments in land and buildings and shares and convertibles includes realized results on disposal of EUR 1,357 million (2001: EUR 1,005 million; 2000: EUR 892 million).

Income from investments by counterparty:

                         
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
ING Group
    3       1       1  
Group companies
    70       73       85  
Third parties
    11,133       10,587       14,998  
 
   
     
     
 
 
    11,206       10,661       15,084  
 
   
     
     
 

Income from investments for risk of policyholders of EUR (10,642) million (2001: EUR (7,864) million; 2000: EUR 419 million) is not included in Income from investments of the insurance operations.

3.1.3. Interest result from the banking operations

In 2002, interest income includes an amount of EUR 5,075 million (2001: EUR 4,116 million; 2000: EUR 3,742 million) in respect of interest-bearing securities. Interest expense includes an amount of EUR 3,964 million (2001: EUR 3,458 million; 2000: EUR 3,410 million) in respect of interest-bearing securities.

Despite the existence of a legal claim, interest income of EUR 105 million (2001: EUR 122 million; 2000: EUR 95 million) is not recognized in the profit and loss account because the realization of the interest income is almost certainly not to be expected.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Interest income and expenses:

                         
    2002   2001   2000
 
   
     
     
 
Interest income on loans
    16,097       18,273       18,783  
Interest income suspended
    (105 )     (122 )     (95 )
 
   
     
     
 
Net interest income on loans
    15,992       18,151       18,688  
Origination fees and loan-servicing fees
    102       167       222  
Interest income on investment securities
    3,994       3,478       3,328  
Interest income on trading portfolio
    1,081       638       414  
Other interest income
    2,919       1,884       1,633  
 
   
     
     
 
Total interest income
    24,088       24,318       24,285  
Interest on deposits by banks
    2,071       3,372       3,967  
Interest on funds entrusted
    6,273       6,230       5,429  
Interest on debt securities
    4,105       4,152       4,247  
Interest on subordinated loans
    779       699       565  
Other interest expense
    3,214       3,793       4,291  
 
   
     
     
 
Total interest expense
    16,442       18,246       18,499  
 
   
     
     
 
Net interest result
    7,646       6,072       5,786  
 
   
     
     
 

Interest margin, analyzed on a percentage basis of the Netherlands and international operations :

                         
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
Netherlands
    1.87       1.71       1.89  
International
    1.01       0.75       0.79  
 
    1.62       1.39       1.44  

The change in the interest result compared with 2001 is due to an increase of the interest margin EUR 1,033 million (2001 compared with 2000: EUR 220 million decrease; 2000 compared with 1999: EUR 1,140 million decrease) and a growth in the average total assets of EUR 541 million (2001 compared with 2000: EUR 506 million; 2000 compared with 1999: EUR 1,239 million).

3.1.4. Commission

                                                                         
    2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
      Insurance operations       Banking operations       Total  
 
   
     
     
 
Funds transfer
                            592       526       503       592       526       503  
Securities business
                            731       884       1,571       731       884       1,571  
Insurance broking
    159       131       100       117       88       94       276       219       194  
Management fees
    628       662       251       688       751       853       1,316       1,413       1,104  
Brokerage and advisory fees
                            197       203       266       197       203       266  
Other
    558       638       516       290       313       343       848       951       859  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    1,345       1,431       867       2,615       2,765       3,630       3,960       4,196       4,497  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

In 2002, the banking operations received EUR 3,231 million (2001: EUR 3,308 million; 2000: EUR 4,167 million) and paid EUR 616 million (2001: EUR 543 million; 2000: EUR 537 million) in respect of commission.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

3.1.5. Other income

                                                                         
    2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Insurance operations   Banking operations   Total
   
 
 
Income from participating interests
and equity participations
    156       346       65       201       530       322       357       876       387  
Results from financial transactions
    112       16       33       454       1,080       1,154       566       1,096       1,187  
Other results
    514       488       161       285       664       410       799       1,152       571  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Operational result
    782       850       259       940       2,274       1,886       1,722       3,124       2,145  
Non-operational results(3.4)
                    351                       1,229                       1,580  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    782       850       610       940       2,274       3,115       1,722       3,124       3,725  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

Income from participating interests and equity participations:

                                                                         
    2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Insurance operations   Banking operations   Total
   
 
 
Shares
                            182       324               182       324          
Investments in associates
    137       62       49       (11 )     47       2       126       109       51  
Other participating interests
    20       117       5       30       155       331       50       272       336  
Equity participations
    (1 )     167       11               4       (11 )     (1 )     171          
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    156       346       65       201       530       322       357       876       387  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

Results from financial transactions:

                                                                         
    2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Insurance operations   Banking operations   Total
   
 
 
Results from securities trading portfolio
    (6 )     (11 )     (9 )     201       617       674       195       606       665  
Results from currency trading portfolio
                            242       465       379       242       465       379  
Other
    118       27       42       11       (2 )     101       129       25       143  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    112       16       33       454       1,080       1,154       566       1,096       1,187  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

Other results
Other results includes income which cannot be classified with any of the above items, including rental income, results on the sale of property and leasing income which is not classified as interest.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

3.2. Expenditure

3.2.1. Underwriting expenditure

                         
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
Expenditure from life underwriting
                       
Reinsurance and retrocession premiums
    1,093       1,400       1,013  
Benefits for own account
    28,327       25,290       15,197  
Movements in other insurance provisions for own account(1)
    15,918       18,503       9,400  
Costs of acquiring insurance business
    1,522       1,305       635  
Other underwriting expenditure
    269       311       352  
Profit sharing and rebates
    559       720       758  
Expenditure from non-life underwriting
                       
Reinsurance and retrocession premiums
    1,275       614       187  
Claims for own account
    4,097       3,669       2,574  
Movements in the provision for unearned premiums
    345       6       41  
Movements in the claims provision(1)
    625       226       312  
Costs of acquiring insurance business
    1,042       802       595  
Other underwriting expenditure
    (106 )     (64 )     (22 )
 
   
     
     
 
 
    54,966       52,782       31,042  
 
   
     
     
 

(1)   In the 2001 figures an amount of EUR 52 million has been reclassified from Expenditure from non-life underwriting to Expenditure from life underwriting.

Profit sharing and rebates:

                         
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
Distributions on account of interest or underwriting results
    60       254       317  
Bonuses added to policies
    499       466       441  
 
   
     
     
 
 
    559       720       758  
 
   
     
     
 

Underwriting expenditure includes an amount of EUR 3,974 million in 2002 (2001: EUR 3,705 million; 2000: EUR 2,472 million) in respect of commission paid and payable with regard to the insurance operations. Amortization of deferred costs of acquiring new business amounted to EUR 1,548 million in 2002 (2001: EUR 1,526 million; 2000: EUR 917 million).

Underwriting expenditure regarding investment income for risk of policyholders of EUR (10,642) million (2001: EUR (7,864) million; 2000: EUR 419 million) is not included in Underwriting expenditure.

Until 2001 the amortization of the deferred acquisition costs (DAC) on insurance policies was counted for as part of the operating expenses of the insurance operations. In order to have a better view on the development of the manageable operating expenses it has been decided to transfer the amortization of the DAC from Other expenses. The comparable figures have been adjusted accordingly.

3.2.2. Other interest expenses

Other interest expenses mainly consist of interest in connection with the insurance operations, including interest on the subordinated debenture issued by ING Groep N.V. in 1991, which has been fully redeemed on March 15, 2001 and interest on the perpetual subordinated loans issued by ING Groep N.V. in September 2001, July 2002 and December 2002.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -
(Continued) Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

3.2.3. Salaries, pension and social security costs

                                                                         
    2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Insurance operations   Banking operations   Total
   
 
 
Salaries
    2,032       2,114       1,324       3,228       3,345       3,399       5,260       5,459       4,723  
Pension, healthcare and early-retirement costs
    201       123       69       298       323       211       499       446       280  
Social security costs
    232       188       143       453       438       509       685       626       652  
Other staff costs
    300       307       248       808       958       826       1,108       1,265       1,074  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    2,765       2,732       1,784       4,787       5,064       4,945       7,552       7,796       6,729  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

Pension, healthcare and early-retirement costs:

                                                                                                 
    2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Pension   Healthcare   Other   Total
   
 
 
 
Current service cost
    467       343       284       21       17       16       9       42       43       497       402       343  
Past service cost
    12       10       (18 )                     43       (1 )                     11       10       25  
Interest expenses
    599       530       427       31       34       23       32       78       64       662       642       514  
Expected return on assets
    (647 )     (693 )     (612 )                             (14 )     (15 )     (11 )     (661 )     (708 )     (623 )
Amortization of unrecognized past service costs
                                                                                               
Amortization of unrecognized net (gains)/losses
    23       3       (12 )     (2 )     (1 )     (2 )             3       1       21       5       (13 )
Effect of curtailment or settlement
    (9 )     (7 )     (2 )     (2 )     (8 )             (128 )                     (139 )     (15 )     (2 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Defined benefit post-employment plans
    445       186       67       48       42       80       (102 )     108       97       391       336       244  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
                         
Defined contribution plans
                                                                            108       110       36  
 
                                                                           
     
     
 
 
                                                                            499       446       280  
 
                                                                           
     
     
 

Contributions to defined contribution plans are generally determined as a percentage of pay.

The actual return on the plan assets amounted to EUR (718) million (2001: EUR (372) million; 2000: EUR 346 million).

Remuneration Executive Board

General policy
ING’s remuneration policy for the members of the Executive Board is consistent with that for other senior executives within the Group. Its objectives are to attract and retain high-quality people and motivate them towards excellent performance, in accordance with ING’s strategic and financial goals. The remuneration of the Executive Board is determined by the Supervisory Board on the basis of a proposal of its Remuneration and Nomination Committee. The remuneration package consists of a base salary, a short-term performance-related cash bonus and a long-term incentive currently in the form of stock options. In order to maintain a competitive remuneration package, benchmarking against comparable companies is carried out regularly.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Currently, the Supervisory Board is reviewing the compensation structure and level for the Executive Board, because it believes that the current compensation package is no longer adequate and competitive. It has commissioned a report from an external consultant to advise on the future Executive Board reward strategy. Key recommendations in this report include that variable (performance-driven) rewards should be more strongly emphasized over fixed pay and benefits. Short-term incentives should be linked to a combination of targeted financial and non-financial drivers and not solely to growth in earnings per share, while long-term incentives should be linked to long-term drivers and sustained shareholder value creation. The long-term incentives should be realized through a combination of stock options and shares in ING Group. In the near future, the Supervisory Board expects to complete its review and to put a compensation philosophy in place that will guide Executive Board rewards from 2003 onwards and be applied, as appropriate, to the reward structure of other senior executives in the Group.

Base salary
So far, the base salaries were reviewed every two years against developments in the market. It was decided not to change the base salaries for 2002 compared with 2001. The base salaries of the non-Dutch Executive Board members are related to their respective home-country practices.

Short-term and long-term incentive
The variable remuneration of the Executive Board so far was linked to the growth in earnings per share (EPS) of ING Group as an objectively measurable criterion and to the collective and individual performance of the members of the Executive Board. The EPS part of the formula currently in place would result in zero variable payment over 2002.

The Supervisory Board used its discretionary power to set the variable component over 2002 as follows. No (short-term) cash bonus will be granted, but the Executive Board members will receive — as a long-term incentive — 35,000 stock options (same level as over 2001). In addition the Supervisory Board adopted a conditional share-award policy, pursuant to which the Executive Board members may be granted a number of conditional share awards in ING Group in 2003 out of a total pool of 50,000 ING shares made available for this purpose, by way of a long-term incentive remuneration in respect of 2002. The Supervisory Board has the intention to award on or about May 16, 2003, out of this pool a number of 7,000 Conditional Share Awards per member of the Executive Board. If granted, the Executive Board members must hold the conditional shares for a minimum period of two years from the grant date, and they will lapse in case the member concerned will leave the employ of the company (other than through a scheduled retirement) within this period. The terms of this arrangement and the grant date are subject to regulatory and compliance restrictions.

Pensions
The pensions of the Dutch members of the Executive Board are based on defined benefit plans, who are insured through a contract with Nationale-Nederlanden Levensverzekering Maatschappij N.V.. Members of the Executive Board retire by the end of the month in which they reach the age of 60. By mutual agreement the retirement date can be extended to the end of the month in which they reach the age of 61 or 62. Their prospective pensions amount to a maximum of 60% of their base salaries. Just as for the other ING employees in the Netherlands, the pension rights of the members of the Executive Board are free of premium. The non-Dutch members of the Executive Board have a pension plan related to their home-country practices.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Remuneration of the members of the Executive Board:

                 
    Amounts in thousands of euros
   
    2002   2001
   
 
Periodic remuneration
               
Base salary
    4,942       5,021  
Profit sharing and bonus
               
Short-term performance-related bonus
    0       697  
Remuneration payable in the future
               
Pension costs (premiums paid)
    1,098       1,107  
 
   
     
 
 
    6,040       6,825  
 
   
     
 
                 
    Number of options
   
    2002   2001
   
 
Profit sharing and bonus
Long-term incentives
    210,000       210,000  

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Remuneration of the members of the Executive Board:

                                         
    Amounts in thousands of euros
    Long-term incentives (1)
   
            Short-term                        
            performance   Market value   Number of   Pension
2002   Base salary   related bonus   options   options   costs

 
 
 
 
 
Members of the Executive Board
                                       
Ewald Kist
    708       0       139       35,000       180  
Michel Tilmant
    1,090       0       139       35,000       262  
Fred Hubbell
    1,374       0       139       35,000       0  
Hessel Lindenbergh
    590       0       139       35,000       203  
Cees Maas
    590       0       139       35,000       224  
Alexander Rinnooy Kan
    590       0       139       35,000       229  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
 
    4,942       0       834       210,000       1,098  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 

(1)   As part of the long-term incentives the members of the Executive Board may also be granted a number of conditional share awards in ING Group in 2003 out of a total pool of 50,000 ING shares made available for this purpose.
                                         
   
    Long-term incentives (1)
   
            Short-term                        
            performance   Market value   Number of   Pension
2001   Base salary   related bonus   options   options   costs

 
 
 
 
 
Members of the Executive Board
                                       
Ewald Kist
    708       94       238       35,000       182  
Michel Tilmant
    1,090       177       237       35,000       264  
Fred Hubbell
    1,453       192       238       35,000       0  
Hessel Lindenbergh
    590       78       238       35,000       208  
Cees Maas
    590       78       238       35,000       225  
Alexander Rinnooy Kan
    590       78       238       35,000       228  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
 
    5,021       697       1,427       210,000       1,107  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 

Loans and advances to the members of the Executive Board:

                                                 
    2002   2001
   
 
    Amount   Average           Amount   Average        
    outstanding   interest           outstanding   interest        
    December 31   rate   Repayments   December 31   rate   Repayments
   
 
 
 
 
 
Members of the Executive Board
                                               
Ewald Kist
    862       5.6 %             862       5.6 %        
Hessel Lindenbergh
    358       5.1 %             358       5.1 %        
Cees Maas
    461       5.6 %     17       478       5.6 %     16  
Alexander Rinnooy Kan
    889       3.5 %             889       3.8 %        
 
   
           
     
           
 
 
    2,570       4.8 %     17       2,587       4.9 %     16  
 
   
           
     
           
 

No loans and advances have been granted to other members of the Executive Board.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Information on the options outstanding and the movements during the financial year of options granted to the members of the Executive Board as at December 31, 2002:

                                                         
    Number of options   Amounts in euros      
   
 
   
    Outstan-                   Outstan-           Share        
    ding as at                   ding as at           price at        
    December   Granted   Exercised   December   Exercise   exercise        
    31, 2001   in 2002   in 2002(1)   31, 2002   price   date   Expiry date
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ewald Kist
    100,000               100,000               17.72       28.60     May 1, 2002
 
    50,000                       50,000       31.85             May 26, 2003
 
    50,000                       50,000       25.87             May 28, 2004
 
    50,000                       50,000       28.68             Apr 3, 2005
 
    50,000                       50,000       35.26             Mar 15, 2006
 
            35,000               35,000       29.39             Mar 11, 2012
Michel Tilmant
    50,000                       50,000       26.10             May 28, 2004
 
    20,000                       20,000       28.30             Apr 3, 2005
 
    30,000                       30,000       28.68             Apr 3, 2005
 
    30,000                       30,000       35.26             Mar 15, 2006
 
    20,000                       20,000       35.80             Mar 15, 2006
 
            21,000               21,000       29.39             Mar 11, 2012
 
            14,000               14,000       29.50             Mar 11, 2012
Fred Hubbell
    50,800                       50,800       31.85             May 26, 2003
 
    40,000                       40,000       25.87             May 28, 2004
 
    50,000                       50,000       28.68             Apr 3, 2005
 
    50,000                       50,000       35.26             Mar 15, 2006
 
            35,000               35,000       29.39             Mar 11, 2012
Hessel Lindenbergh
    100,000               100,000               17.72       28.60     May 1, 2002
 
    50,000                       50,000       31.85             May 26, 2003
 
    50,000                       50,000       25.87             May 28, 2004
 
    50,000                       50,000       28.68             Apr 3, 2005
 
    50,000                       50,000       35.26             Mar 15, 2006
 
            35,000               35,000       29.39             Mar 11, 2012
Cees Maas
    100,000               100,000               17.72       28.60     May 1, 2002
 
    50,000                       50,000       31.85             May 26, 2003
 
    50,000                       50,000       25.87             May 28, 2004
 
    50,000                       50,000       28.68             Apr 3, 2005
 
    50,000                       50,000       35.26             Mar 15, 2006
 
            35,000               35,000       29.39             Mar 11, 2012
Alexander Rinnooy Kan
    34,000               34,000               17.72       28.60     May 1, 2002
 
    50,000                       50,000       31.85             May 26, 2003
 
    50,000                       50,000       25.87             May 28, 2004
 
    50,000                       50,000       28.68             Apr 3, 2005
 
    50,000                       50,000       35.26             Mar 15, 2006
 
            35,000               35,000       29.39             Mar 11, 2012

(1)   Exercised at expiry date.

In 2003, to each member of the Executive Board 35,000 options with a term of ten years and vesting after three years were granted relating to the financial year 2002 (2001: 35,000). The exercise price of these options is EUR 12.65, being the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Market opening price of the ING Group share on March 3, 2003.

ING Group shares held by members of the Executive Board
As at December 31, 2002, Fred Hubbell (including direct family) held 1,050,000 ING Group shares

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

(2001: 1,053,000) of which 405,000 (2001: 405,000) are held in a trust. Other members of the Executive Board (including direct family) did not hold ING Group shares.

Remuneration Supervisory Board
In 2002, the remuneration of the members and former members of the Supervisory Board amounted to EUR 0.6 million (2001: EUR 0.6 million). The remuneration of the chairman and vice-chairman amounted to EUR 68,100; other members received a remuneration of EUR 38,600. Members of a Supervisory Board Committee, not being chairman or vice-chairman of the Supervisory Board, received a remuneration of EUR 1,800 for that membership.

Remuneration of the members and former members of the Supervisory Board:

                 
    Amounts in thousands of euros
   
    2001   2000
   
 
Members of the Supervisory Board
               
Cor Herkströter
    68       68  
Mijndert Ververs
    68       68  
Lutgart van den Berghe
    41       40  
Luella Gross Goldberg(1)
    39       29  
Paul van der Heijden
    40       40  
Aad Jacobs
    41       40  
Godfried van der Lugt(1)
    39       29  
Paul Baron de Meester(2)
    48       48  
Johan Stekelenburg
    39       39  
Hans Tietmeyer
    39       39  
Jan Timmer
    40       40  
Karel Vuursteen(3)
    29          
 
   
     
 
 
    531       480  
 
   
     
 
Former Members of the Supervisory Board
               
Jan Berghuis
    55       40  
Jan Kamminga
    51       39  
 
   
     
 
 
    637       559  
 
   
     
 

(1)   Member as of April 18, 2001.
 
(2)   Including a compensation to match his former remuneration as a member of the BBL Supervisory Board.
 
(3)   Member as of April 17, 2002.

As at December 31, 2002, the amount of loans and advances outstanding to the Supervisory Board was EUR 1.6 million at an average rate of 4.7%. This amount concerns a loan to Aad Jacobs. No loans and advances were outstanding to other members of the Supervisory Board. In 2001, the total amount of outstanding loans and advances to members and former members of the Supervisory Board was EUR 4.6 million at an average interest rate of 5.4%.

As at December 31, 2002 two members of the Supervisory Board held option rights that were granted in earlier years when they were members of the Executive Board, specified in the table below.

Information on the options outstanding and the movements during the financial year of option rights held by members of the Supervisory Board as at December 31, 2002:

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

                                                 
    Number of options   Amounts in euros        
   
 
   
    Outstanding           Outstanding           Share        
    as at           as at           price at        
    December   Exercised   December   Exercise   exercise        
    31, 2002   in 2002   31, 2002   price   date   Expiry date
   
 
 
 
 
 
Aad Jacobs
    118,000       118,000               17.72       28.60     May 1, 2002
 
    50,000               50,000       31.85             May 26, 2003
 
    20,840               20,840       25.87             May 28, 2004
Godfried van der Lugt
    108,000       108,000               17.72       28.60     May 1, 2002
 
    50,000               50,000       31.85             May 26, 2003
 
    50,000               50,000       25.87             May 28, 2004
 
    50,000               50,000       28.68             Apr 3, 2005

(1)   Exercised at expiry date.

ING Group shares held by members of the Supervisory Board(1):

                 
    Number of shares
   
    2001   2000
   
 
Members of the Supervisory Board
               
Cor Herkströter
    1,616       1,616  
Lutgart van den Berghe
    886       886  
Luella Gross Goldberg
    6,000       6,000  
Paul van der Heijden
    1,716       0  
Aad Jacobs
    0       1,890  
Paul Baron de Meester
    4,970       4,970  
Karel Vuursteen
    1,510       0  
 
   
     
 
 
    16,698       15,362  
 
   
     
 

(1)   ING Group shares of direct family included; members of the Supervisory Board (including direct family) not mentioned in this table did not hold ING Group shares.

Stock option plan
ING Group has granted option rights on ING Group shares to a number of senior executives (members of the Executive Board and the Executive Committees, general managers and other officers nominated by the Executive Board), to all ING Group staff in the Netherlands and to a considerable number of employees outside the Netherlands. The purpose of the option scheme, apart from promoting a lasting growth of ING Group, is to attract, retain and motivate senior executives and staff.

ING Group purchases direct or indirect its own shares at the time options are granted in order to fulfil the obligations with regard to the existing stock option plan and to hedge the position risk of the options concerned. The purpose of this policy is to avoid an increase in the number of ING group shares, causing a dilution of the net profit per share. As at December 31, 2002, 28,437,105 own shares were held in connection to the option plan (2001: 69,088,290). As a result the granted option rights were hedged, taking into account the following parameters: strike price, opening price, zero coupon interest rate, dividend yield, expected volatility and employee behavior.

The option rights are valid for a period of five or ten years. Option rights, that are not exercised within this period, lapse. Each year, the ING Group Executive Board will take a decision as to whether the option scheme is to be continued and, if so, to what extent. Option rights granted will remain valid until expiry date, even if the option scheme is discontinued. The option rights are subject to certain conditions, including a certain continuous period of service. The exercise prices of the options are the same as the quoted prices of ING Group shares at the date on which the options are granted.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Number of options outstanding and exercisable, analyzed in accordance with year of issue and exercise price:

                                 
            Options   Options        
            outstanding   outstanding        
    Original   as at   as at   Exercise
    number   January 1,   December 31,   price in
Financial year   of options   2002   2002   euros

 
 
 
 
1997
    3,328,700       365,710               17.33  
 
    860,000       610,000               17.72  
 
    11,821,324       1,755,664               19.31  
 
    26,000       3,000               20.08  
 
    7,330       7,330               20.65  
 
    487,200       79,200               20.69  
 
    168,800       37,000               20.90  
1998
    101,400       68,800       65,900       18.15  
 
    57,000       30,000               19.67  
 
    51,200       39,200       29,200       25.41  
 
    5,409,500       1,910,628       1,880,428       26.82  
 
    481,000       242,400       240,300       30.29  
 
    14,740,830       8,860,012       8,720,700       31.85  
1999
    4,962,540       3,255,238       3,028,714       25.25  
 
    48,000       44,000       44,000       25.50  
 
    576,626       504,146       252,244       25.67  
 
    8,733,946       8,025,656       7,560,556       25.87  
 
    1,412,200       1,373,200       1,335,700       26.10  
 
    201,500       176,200       169,800       26.62  
 
    1,408,438       1,009,646       832,200       26.92  
2000
    1,528,300       1,506,300       1,506,300       28.30  
 
    17,853,130       15,669,488       15,250,068       28.68  
 
    210,800       195,404       194,104       30.16  
 
    1,872,376       1,766,912       1,698,178       35.26  
 
    477,900       452,900       445,300       37.55  
 
    865,580       768,320       712,100       37.74  
2001
    4,000       4,000       4,000       28.50  
 
    341,103       341,103       341,103       28.60  
 
    621,312       621,312       600,362       33.26  
 
    900       900       900       33.33  
 
    19,631,082       19,217,882       18,253,388       35.26  
 
    1,555,720       1,553,720       1,553,720       35.80  
 
    561,844       550,644       522,544       36.95  
2002
    62,150               62,150       19.25  
 
    125,479               125,479       23.12  
 
    187,090               185,090       28.55  
 
    88,750               88,750       28.60  
 
    19,515,286               19,212,256       29.39  
 
    1,057,650               1,056,050       29.50  
 
   
     
     
         
 
    121,443,986       71,045,915       85,971,584          
 
   
     
     
         

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Movements in the option rights:

                                                 
    2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
 
 
 
        Weighted average
    Options outstanding   exercise price
   
 
Executive Board
                                               
Opening balance
    1,474,800       1,399,680       1,431,342       27.54       23.34       19.55  
Granted
    210,000       300,000       300,000       29.40       35.30       28.66  
Exercised
    334,000       224,880       121,776       17.72       11.75       5.62  
Transferred to Employees(1)
                    209,886                          
 
   
     
     
                         
Closing balance
    1,350,800       1,474,800       1,399,680       30.26       27.54       23.34  
 
   
     
     
                         
Employees
                                               
Opening balance
    69,571,115       54,944,160       44,739,610       30.45       28.02       26.11  
Granted
    20,826,405       22,415,961       22,508,086       29.32       35.18       29.76  
Exercised
    3,028,910       3,687,126       9,461,758       20.44       25.30       23.20  
Expired
    2,747,826       4,101,880       3,051,664       30.51       28.38       26.53  
Transferred from the Executive Board(1)
                    209,886                          
 
   
     
     
                         
Closing balance
    84,620,784       69,571,115       64,944,160       30.53       30.45       28.02  
 
   
     
     
                         

(1)   The options of former members of the Executive Board are included in the movements in option rights of employees.

The weighted average fair value of options granted in 2002 was EUR 6.78 (2001: EUR 8.71; 2000: EUR 8.67).

Summary of stock options outstanding and exercisable as at December 31, 2002:

                                         
    Options   Weighted           Options        
    outstanding   average           exercisable   Weighted
Range of   as at   remaining   Weighted   as at   average
exercise price   December 31,   contractual   average   December 31,   exercise
in euros   2002   life   exercise price   2002   price

 
 
 
 
 
15.00 - 20.00
    128,050       5.19       18.68       65,900       18.15  
20.00 - 25.00
    125,479       9.65       23.12       1,000       23.12  
25.00 - 30.00
    52,776,459       5.88       28.16       15,793,331       26.28  
30.00 - 35.00
    9,756,366       0.79       31.86       9,062,680       31.82  
35.00 - 40.00
    23,185,230       5.80       35.45       3,469,413       35.57  

Options in the money and options out of the money:

                         
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
In the money
            21,146,021       56,343,840  
Out of the money
    85,971,584       49,899,894          

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

The options granted do not cause costs for ING Group except administrative costs for the stock option plan and funding costs resulting from the purchase of own shares. Due to timing differences in granting option rights and buying shares to hedge them, results can occur if shares are purchased at a different price than the exercise price of the options. These results are recognized in Shareholders’ equity. However, ING Group does not intentionally create a position and occurring positions are closed as soon as possible. If option rights expire, the results on the (sale of) shares which were bought to hedge these option rights are either debited or credited to Shareholders’ equity.

Pro forma result if stock options would have been recognized in the profit and loss account(1):

                                                 
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
    As   Pro   As   Pro   As   Pro
    reported   forma   reported   forma   reported   forma
   
 
 
 
 
 
Net profit (in millions of euros)
    4,500       4,386       4,577       4,427       11,984       11,834  
Basic profit per share (in euros)
    2.32       2.27       2.37       2.30       6.27       6.21  
Diluted profit per share (in euros)
    2.32       2.27       2.35       2.29       6.18       6.12  


(1)   The amounts in the pro forma columns reflect the figures if the fair value of the stock options at the time they were granted would have been recognized in the profit and loss account.

The fair values have been determined by using an option-pricing model. This model takes the risk free interest rate into account, as well as the expected life of the options granted, the expected volatility of the certificates of ING Group shares and the expected dividends.

3.2.4. Other expenses

                                                                         
    2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Insurance operations   Banking operations   Total
   
 
 
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets
    141       136       102       361       392       503       502       528       605  
Computer costs
    217       298       152       584       537       508       801       835       660  
Office equipment and accommodation
    727       644       447       105       104       104       832       748       551  
Travel and accommodation expenses
    115       133       96       130       165       183       245       298       279  
Advertising and public relations
    167       193       155       324       299       273       491       492       428  
External advisory fees
    369       193       197       290       342       306       659       535       503  
Investment expenses
    116       130       24                               116       130       24  
Other
    276       975       372       1,717       1,283       1,451       1,993       2,258       1,823  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Operational result
    2,128       2,702       1,545       3,511       3,122       3,328       5,639       5,824       4,873  
Non-operational additions/ (releases) provisions (3.4)
                    (91 )                     486                       395  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    2,128       2,702       1,454       3,511       3,122       3,814       5,639       5,824       5,268  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

Until 2001 the amortization of the deferred acquisition costs (DAC) on insurance policies was counted for as part of the operating expenses of the insurance operations. In order to have a better view on the development of the manageable operating expenses it has been decided to transfer the amortization of the DAC to Underwriting expenditure. The comparable figures have been adjusted accordingly.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

3.3. Taxation

Taxation by type:

                                                                         
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
    Nether-   Inter-           Nether-   Inter-           Nether-   Inter-        
    lands   national   Total   lands   national   Total   lands   national   Total
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current taxation
    436       262       698       792       143       935       751       560       1,311  
Deferred taxation
    50       341       391       (82 )     312       230       228       299       527  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    486       603       1,089       710       455       1,165       979       859       1,838  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

Reconciliation of the statutory income tax rate to ING Group’s effective income tax rate:

                         
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
Result before taxation
    5,921       6,066       13,969  
Statutory tax rate
    34.5 %     35.0 %     35.0 %
 
   
     
     
 
Statutory tax amount
    2,043       2,123       4,889  
Participating interests exemption
    (905 )     (588 )     (3,337 )
Differences caused by different foreign tax rates
    (99 )     (85 )     56  
Other
    50       (285 )     230  
 
   
     
     
 
Effective tax amount
    1,089       1,165       1,838  
 
   
     
     
 
Effective tax rate
    18.4 %     19.2 %     13.2 %
 
   
     
     
 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

3.4. Non-operational net profit

                                                                         
    2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Insurance operations   Banking operations   Total
   
 
 
Results on sale of:
                                                                       
-  investments in shares regarding financing of acquisitions
            325       7,017                                       325       7,017  
-  part of the gain on joint-venture ANZ
    280                                               280                  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Income from investments of the insurance operations
    280       325       7,017                               280       325       7,017  
Results on (sale of):
                                                                       
-  investments in shares regarding financing of acquisitions
                    351                                               351  
-  Credit Commercial de France
                                            853                       853  
-  Libertel N.V
                                            376                       376  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Other income
                    351                       1,229                       1,580  
Addition/(release) of:
                                                                       
-  provision for reorganization and relocation
                                            486                       486  
-  provision for the calamity fund for the year 2000
                    (91 )                                             (91 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Other expenses
                    (91 )                     486                       395  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Non-operational results before taxation
    280       325       7,459                       743       280       325       8,202  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
                         
Taxation
                                                    33               226  
 
                                                   
     
     
 
Non-operational net profit
                                                    247       325       7,976  
 
                                                   
     
     
 

3.5. Net profit per share

Basic net profit per ordinary share is calculated on the basis of the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue. The following has been taken into consideration in calculating the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue:

  own shares held by group companies are deducted from the total number of ordinary shares in issue;
 
  the computation is based on daily averages;
 
  in case of exercised warrants, the day of exercise is taken into consideration.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Diluted profit per share data are computed as if the stock options and warrants outstanding at year- end were exercised at the beginning of the period. It is also assumed that ING Group uses the cash thus received for stock options and warrants exercised to buy its own shares against the average market price in the financial year. The net increase in the number of shares resulting from the exercise of warrants and stock options is added to the average number of shares used for the calculation of diluted net profit per share.

Net profit per share:

                                                                         
    2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                            Weighted average                        
                            number of ordinary                        
                            shares outstanding                        
    Net profit   during the period   Net profit per share
   
 
 
    (in millions of euros)   (in millions)   (in euros)
Operational net profit
    4,253       4,252       4,008                                                  
Dividend on preference shares
    (21 )     (21 )     (21 )                                                
 
   
     
     
                                                 
Operational profit
    4,232       4,231       3,987       1,928.0       1,923.1       1,907.8       2.20       2.20       2.09  
Non-operational profit
    247       325       7,976                                                  
 
   
     
     
                                                 
Basic profit
    4,479       4,556       11,963       1,928.0       1,923.1       1,907.8       2.32       2.37       6.27  
Effect of dilutive securities:
                                                                       
Warrants
                                    9.8       26.4                          
Stock option plan
                                    9.6                                  
 
                                   
     
                         
 
                                    19.4       26.4                          
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
                         
Diluted profit
    4,479       4,556       11,963       1,928.0       1,942.5       1,934.2       2.32       2.35       6.18  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
                         

3.6. Dividend per ordinary share

Dividends per ordinary share for the years 2001, 2000 and 1999 were as follows:

                 
            Total
            amount
    Per ordinary   of dividend
    share   paid
   
 
    (in euros)   (in millions
of euros)
2002(1)
    0.97       1,930  
2001
    0.97       1,914  
2000
    1.13       2,173  


(1)   The Executive Board, with the approval of the Supervisory Board, has proposed, subject to the ratification by the General Meeting of Shareholders, a dividend of EUR 0.97 per share for the year 2002. Following the decision of the General Meeting of Shareholders with regard to the profit appropriation, the final dividend will become payable from 23 May 2003.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

3.7. Additional information relating to the consolidated profit and loss account of ING Group

3.7.1. Result from investments in shares and convertible debentures and land and buildings

                                                 
        Realized                                
        and   Operating                        
    Direct   unrealized   and                   Investment
    investment   revaluations   management   Before   After   result
    income   and exchange   expenses(1)   taxation   taxation   in %(2)
   
 
 
 
 
 
Shares and convertible debentures
                                               
2002
    646       (4,404 )     (12 )     (3,770 )     (2,341 )     (12.9 )
2001
    707       (3,351 )     (14 )     (2,658 )     (2,241 )     (9.9 )
2000
    717       480       (27 )     1,170       960       3.8  
1999
    698       2,973       (1 )     3,670       3,194       12.9  
1998
    500       3,918       (2 )     4,416       4,305       23.4  
1997
    436       4,405       (1 )     4,840       4,467       35.6  
1996
    406       3,277       (3 )     3,680       3,418       38.5  
1995
    331       1,186       (6 )     1,511       1,383       18.4  
Average
    555       1,061       (8 )     1,608       1,643       9.5  
Land and buildings
                                               
2002
    820       (19 )     (181 )     620       401       3.3  
2001
    770       453       (146 )     1,077       718       7.2  
2000
    782       1,007       (160 )     1,629       1,075       12.2  
1999
    623       314       (107 )     830       545       7.7  
1998
    579       98       (141 )     536       355       6.1  
1997
    520       114       (128 )     506       335       6.4  
1996
    451       74       (106 )     419       289       6.2  
1995
    429       (103 )     (106 )     220       153       3.4  
Average
    622       242       (134 )     730       484       6.6  
Total
                                               
2002
    1,466       (4,423 )     (193 )     (3,150 )     (1,940 )     (6.4 )
2001
    1,477       (2,898 )     (160 )     (1,581 )     (1,523 )     (4.7 )
2000
    1,499       1,487       (187 )     2,799       2,035       6.0  
1999
    1,321       3,287       (108 )     4,500       3,739       11.7  
1998
    1,079       4,016       (143 )     4,952       4,660       19.2  
1997
    956       4,519       (129 )     5,346       4,802       27.0  
1996
    857       3,351       (109 )     4,099       3,707       27.4  
1995
    760       1,083       (112 )     1,731       1,536       12.7  
Average
    1,177       1,303       (142 )     2,338       2,127       8.7  


(1)   In the profit and loss account, operating costs relating to investments in land and buildings are netted off against the income from these investments.
 
(2)   Investment result after taxation as a percentage of the average amount invested.

The result from investments in shares and convertible debentures and land and buildings (excluding investments for risk of policyholders and investments of annual life funds) includes all the income and expenses associated with this category of investments except financing charges. In the annual accounts these income and expenses are partly included in the profit and loss account (dividends, interest, rental income, realized revaluations and exchange differences, operating and management expenses) and partly reflected directly as changes in Shareholders’ equity (unrealized revaluations and exchange differences). Taxation is allocated on the basis of the standard rate, making allowance for tax exemptions.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

3.7.2. Segmented operational net profit of the insurance operations

                         
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
Operational result from life underwriting
                       
Premiums for own account:
                       
- gross premiums
    44,367       44,557       25,019  
- outward reinsurance premiums
    1,093       1,400       1,013  
 
   
     
     
 
 
    43,274       43,157       24,006  
Allocated income and expenses
    9,204       8,984       6,817  
Other underwriting income for own account
    223       155       63  
Benefits for own account:
                       
- gross
    29,322       27,443       15,647  
- reinsurers’ share
    995       2,153       450  
 
   
     
     
 
 
    28,327       25,290       15,197  
Changes in other insurance provisions for own account:
                       
Provision for life policy liabilities:
                       
- gross
    16,169       19,337       10,387  
- reinsurers’ share
    251       834       987  
 
   
     
     
 
 
    15,918       18,503       9,400  
Profit sharing and rebates
    559       720       758  
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenditure
    1,775       1,684       897  
Operating expenses
    2,587       3,226       1,821  
Other insurance expenses for own account
    16       (68 )     90  
 
   
     
     
 
 
    3,519       2,941       2,723  
 
   
     
     
 
Operational result from non-life underwriting
                       
Premiums written for own account:
                       
- gross premiums
    7,917       5,903       4,095  
- outward reinsurance premiums
    1,275       614       187  
 
   
     
     
 
 
    6,642       5,289       3,908  
Changes in provision for unearned premiums and unexpired non-life underwriting risks:
                       
- gross
    (420 )     28       (48 )
- reinsurers’ share
    (75 )     34       (7 )
 
   
     
     
 
 
    (345 )     (6 )     (41 )
 
   
     
     
 
Premiums earned for own account
    6,297       5,283       3,867  
Allocated income and expenses
    819       770       601  
Other underwriting income for own account
    62       13       6  
Claims for own account:
                       
- gross
    4,708       4,080       2,702  
- reinsurers’ share
    611       411       128  
 
   
     
     
 
 
    4,097       3,669       2,574  

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

                         
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
Changes in the claims provision:
                       
- gross
    665       529       305  
- reinsurers’ share
    40       303       (7 )
 
   
     
     
 
 
    625       226       312  
 
   
     
     
 
 
    4,722       3,895       2,886  
Acquisition costs and other underwriting expenditure
    891       735       573  
Operating expenses
    866       803       576  
Other insurance expenses for own account
    45       3          
 
   
     
     
 
 
    654       630       439  
 
   
     
     
 
Total operational result from insurance operations
                       
Operational result from life underwriting
    3,519       2,941       2,723  
Operational result from non-life underwriting
    654       630       439  
 
   
     
     
 
Technical operational result
    4,173       3,571       3,162  
Income from investments
    10,926       10,336       8,067  
Investment expenses
    2,711       2,652       1,732  
Other income
    1,842       2,113       1,057  
Other expenses
    34       43       (26 )
Allocated income and expenses transferred to result from underwriting
    (10,023 )     (9,754 )     (7,418 )
 
   
     
     
 
Operational result before taxation
    4,173       3,571       3,162  
Taxation
    723       688       775  
 
   
     
     
 
Operational result after taxation
    3,450       2,883       2,387  
Third-party interests
    92       73       39  
 
   
     
     
 
Operational net profit for the period
    3,358       2,810       2,348  
 
   
     
     
 

Allocated income and expenses
Income and expenses that are not directly recorded in operational result from insurance operations, are allocated to the Result from life underwriting and Result from non-life underwriting on the basis of life insurance provisions and non-life insurance provisions of the insurance companies.

3.7.3. Geographical analysis of claims ratio, cost ratio and combined ratio for non-life insurance policies

                                                                         
    2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Claims ratio   Cost ratio   Combined ratio
   
 
 
Netherlands
    77.5       77.1       75.6       28.9       30.4       29.9       106.4       107.5       105.5  
Belgium
    76.7       76.9       72.0       34.7       35.0       36.1       111.4       111.9       108.1  
Rest of Europe
    49.8       50.1       55.3       41.6       51.4       50.0       91.4       101.5       105.3  
North America
    73.8       71.1       74.0       25.6       29.1       26.0       99.4       100.2       100.0  
South America
    79.5       77.2       51.4       26.6       21.6       50.2       106.1       98.8       101.6  
Asia
    66.6       58.6       51.5       51.5       44.6       49.1       118.1       103.2       100.6  
Australia
    66.9       70.7       80.2       29.5       32.5       32.9       96.4       103.2       113.1  
Other
    94.4       63.9       80.2       7.8       11.4       22.5       102.2       75.3       102.7  
Total
    75.0       73.8       74.6       27.1       29.1       29.4       102.1       102.9       104.0  

The claims ratio is the claims, including claims handling expenses, expressed as a percentage of net earned premiums. The cost ratio is the costs expressed as a percentage of net premiums written. The claims ratio and the cost ratio together form the combined ratio. A combined ratio of more than 100%

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

does not necessarily mean that there is a loss on non-life insurance policies, because the result also includes the allocated investment income.

3.7.4. Analysis of premium income of the insurance operations

Reinsurance
ING Group is involved in both ceded and assumed reinsurance for the purpose of spreading risk and limiting exposure on large risks. Reinsurance premiums are recognized in Underwriting expenditure.

Effect of reinsurance on premiums written:

                                                                         
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
    Non-life   Life   Total   Non-life   Life   Total   Non-life   Life   Total
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Direct premiums written, gross
    7,869       43,076       50,945       5,858       43,045       48,903       4,066       24,424       28,490  
Reinsurance assumed premiums written, gross
    48       1,291       1,339       45       1,512       1,557       29       595       624  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total gross premiums written
    7,917       44,367       52,284       5,903       44,557       50,460       4,095       25,019       29,114  
Reinsurance ceded
    1,275       1,093       2,368       614       1,400       2,014       187       1,013       1,200  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    6,642       43,274       49,916       5,289       43,157       48,446       3,908       24,006       27,914  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

Effect of reinsurance on Non-life premiums earned:

                         
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
Direct premiums earned, gross
    7,431       5,888       4,014  
Reinsurance assumed premiums earned, gross
    66       43       33  
 
   
     
     
 
Total gross premiums earned
    7,497       5,931       4,047  
Reinsurance ceded
    1,200       648       180  
 
   
     
     
 
 
    6,297       5,283       3,867  
 
   
     
     
 

In 2002 the Group completed a study which has resulted in adjusted reinsurance covers, particularly with respect to catastrophe exposure for the non-life insurance business. The latter have now been designed to cover a large part of exposures resulting from events with a return period up to once in 250 years.

To the extent that the assuming reinsurers are unable to meet their obligations, ING Group remains liable to its policyholders for the portion reinsured. Consequently, provisions are made for receivables on reinsurance contracts which are deemed uncollectible. To minimize its exposure to significant losses from reinsurer insolvencies, ING Group evaluates the financial condition of its reinsurers and monitors concentrations of credit risk arising from similar geographical regions, activities or economic characteristics of the reinsurer.

As at December 31, 2002, the receivables from reinsurers amounted to EUR 797 million (2001: EUR 669 million; 2000: EUR 611 million), against which EUR 20 million (2001: EUR 4 million; 2000: EUR 5 million) was provided for as uncollectible reinsurance.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Premium income on life insurance policies:

                                                                         
            Rein-   2002           Rein-   2001           Rein-   2000
            surers'   Own           surers'   Own           surers'   Own
    Gross   share   account   Gross   share   account   Gross   share   account
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Policies for which the insurer bears the investment risk
    25,915       931       24,984       26,334       911       25,423       13,276       652       12,624  
Policies for which the policyholder bears the investment risk
    17,161       78       17,083       16,711       512       16,199       11,148       345       10,803  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total direct business
    43,076       1,009       42,067       43,045       1,423       41,622       24,424       997       23,427  
Indirect business
    1,299       92       1,207       1,539       4       1,535       582       3       579  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    44,375       1,101       43,274       44,584       1,427       43,157       25,006       1,000       24,006  
Eliminations
    8       8               27       27               (13 )     (13 )        
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    44,367       1,093       43,274       44,557       1,400       43,157       25,019       1,013       24,006  

Premiums written from direct life business:

                                                   
2002   Policies for which the insurer   Policies for which the policyholder
    bears the investment risk   bears the investment risk
     
 
              Rein-                   Rein-        
              surers'   Own           surers'   Own
      Gross   share   account   Gross   share   account
     
 
 
 
 
 
Periodic premiums
                                               
Individual policies:
                                               
 
- without profit sharing
    9,698       858       8,840       2,496       6       2,490  
 
- with profit sharing
    4,556       115       4,441                          
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    14,254       973       13,281       2,496       6       2,490  
Group policies:
                                               
 
- without profit sharing
    1,403       75       1,328       7,646       40       7,606  
 
- with profit sharing
    802       17       785                          
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    2,205       92       2,113       7,646       40       7,606  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total periodic premiums
    16,459       1,065       15,394       10,142       46       10,096  
Single premiums
                                               
Individual policies:
                                               
 
- without profit sharing
    1,553               1,553       6,280               6,280  
 
- with profit sharing
    1,958       2       1,956                          
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    3,511       2       3,509       6,280               6,280  
Group policies:
                                               
 
- without profit sharing
    5,729       (140 )     5,869       739       32       707  
 
- with profit sharing
    216       4       212                          
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    5,945       (136 )     6,081       739       32       707  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total single premiums
    9,456       (134 )     9,590       7,019       32       6,987  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total life business premiums
    25,915       931       24,984       17,161       78       17,083  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

The total single premiums includes EUR 566 million in 2002 from profit sharing.

F-75


Table of Contents

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

                                                   
2001   Policies for which the insurer   Policies for which the policyholder
    bears the investment risk   bears the investment risk
     
 
              Rein-                   Rein-        
              surers'   Own           surers'   Own
      Gross   share   account   Gross   share   account
     
 
 
 
 
 
Periodic premiums
                                               
Individual policies:
                                               
 
- without profit sharing
    8,866       699       8,167       2,329       377       1,952  
 
- with profit sharing
    4,482       117       4,365                          
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    13,348       816       12,532       2,329       377       1,952  
Group policies:
                                               
 
- without profit sharing
    1,019       64       955       7,012       88       6,924  
 
- with profit sharing
    730       19       711                          
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    1,749       83       1,666       7,012       88       6,924  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total periodic premiums
    15,097       899       14,198       9,341       465       8,876  
Single premiums
                                               
Individual policies:
                                               
 
- without profit sharing
    1,837               1,837       5,529               5,529  
 
- with profit sharing
    1,675       9       1,666                          
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    3,512       9       3,503       5,529               5,529  
Group policies:
                                               
 
- without profit sharing
    7,408       (1 )     7,409       1,841       47       1,794  
 
- with profit sharing
    317       4       313                          
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    7,725       3       7,722       1,841       47       1,794  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total single premiums
    11,237       12       11,225       7,370       47       7,323  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total life business premiums
    26,334       911       25,423       16,711       512       16,199  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

The total single premiums includes EUR 567 million in 2001 from profit sharing.

F-76


Table of Contents

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

                                                   
2000   Policies for which the insurer   Policies for which the policyholder
    bears the investment risk   bears the investment risk
     
 
              Rein-                   Rein-        
              surers'   Own           surers'   Own
      Gross   share   account   Gross   share   account
     
 
 
 
 
 
Periodic premiums
                                               
Individual policies:
                                               
 
- without profit sharing
    4,869       570       4,299       942       1       941  
 
- with profit sharing
    2,281       102       2,179                          
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    7,150       672       6,478       942       1       941  
Group policies:
                                               
 
- without profit sharing
    127       (20 )     147       698       29       669  
 
- with profit sharing
    611       11       600                          
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    738       (9 )     747       698       29       669  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total periodic premiums
    7,888       663       7,225       1,640       30       1,610  
Single premiums
                                               
Individual policies:
                                               
 
- without profit sharing
    340       1       339       8,436       294       8,142  
 
- with profit sharing
    1,652       (14 )     1,666                          
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    1,992       (13 )     2,005       8,436       294       8,142  
Group policies:
                                               
 
- without profit sharing
    3,035               3,035       1,072       21       1,051  
 
- with profit sharing
    361       2       359                          
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    3,396       2       3,394       1,072       21       1,051  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total single premiums
    5,388       (11 )     5,399       9,508       315       9,193  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total life business premiums
    13,276       652       12,624       11,148       345       10,803  
 
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

The total single premiums includes EUR 472 million in 2000 from profit sharing.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Premium income on non-life insurance policies by class of business:

                                                         
                                    Acquisition   Net        
    Gross   Gross   Gross           costs/ Other   reinsurance        
    premiums   premiums   claims   Operating   underwriting   income/   Operational
    written   earned(2)   expenses   expenses   expenditure(3)   expenses   result
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
2002
                                                       
Health
    1,596       1,571       1,314       149       164       (6 )     131  
Accident(1)
    869       874       691       99       100       2       170  
Third-party liability motor
    816       781       670       97       81       (9 )     45  
Other motor
    1,682       1,580       1,154       155       213       (19 )     148  
Marine and aviation
    198       192       93       24       30       (36 )     16  
Fire and other property losses
    1,718       1,581       904       204       299       (165 )     100  
General liability
    490       438       336       63       78       4       23  
Credit and suretyship
    49       44       5       12       6       (4 )     20  
Legal assistance
    28       28       25       8       5               (8 )
Miscellaneous financial losses
    423       342       152       51       56       (106 )     (3 )
Indirect business
    48       66       29       4       159       122       12  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    7,917       7,497       5,373       866       1,191       (217 )     654  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
                                                         
                                    Acquisition   Net        
    Gross   Gross   Gross           costs/ Other   reinsurance        
    premiums   premiums   claims   Operating   underwriting   income/   Operational
    written   earned(2)   expenses   expenses   expenditure(3)   expenses   result
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
2001
                                                       
Health
    1,317       1,322       1,015       136       116       (4 )     149  
Accident(1)
    840       852       704       118       98       3       143  
Third-party liability motor
    638       639       530       96       97       10       57  
Other motor
    1,171       1,128       919       141       151       79       80  
Marine and aviation
    128       135       85       21       24       (3 )     10  
Fire and other property losses
    1,214       1,247       865       188       249       35       61  
General liability
    344       334       272       55       62       42       62  
Credit and suretyship
    26       26       10       2       4       (1 )     12  
Legal assistance
    24       24       17       6       4               (1 )
Miscellaneous financial losses
    156       181       167       35       24       33       13  
Indirect business
    45       43       25       5       29       5       44  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    5,903       5,931       4,609       803       858       199       630  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

                                                         
                                    Acquisition   Net        
    Gross   Gross   Gross           costs/ Other   reinsurance        
    premiums   premiums   claims   Operating   underwriting   income/   Operational
    written   earned(2)   expenses   expenses   expenditure(3)   expenses   result
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
2000
                                                       
Health
    350       342       299       33       16       3       16  
Accident(1)
    824       837       676       108       94       (1 )     135  
Third-party liability motor
    674       654       562       95       81       2       71  
Other motor
    679       667       501       95       84       11       41  
Marine and aviation
    62       60       49       9       13       1       (6 )
Fire and other property losses
    1,108       1,093       662       168       235       (23 )     99  
General liability
    301       294       238       48       57       20       97  
Credit and suretyship
    21       19               4       2       (6 )     8  
Legal assistance
    23       23       15       5       4               2  
Miscellaneous financial losses
    24       25       14       6       5       (1 )     (37 )
Indirect business
    29       33       (9 )     5       33       (8 )     13  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    4,095       4,047       3,007       576       624       (2 )     439  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 


(1)   Including disability insurance products.
 
(2)   Excluding reinsurance.
 
(3)   Including other underwriting income.

3.7.5. Segment reporting

Analysis by executive centre
ING Group’s operating segments relate to the internal business segmentation by executive centres. These include the geographical areas ING Europe (including ING Direct activities outside Europe and wholesale banking activities worldwide), ING Americas (including the Group’s reinsurance activities) and ING Asia/Pacific and ING Asset Management. Other mainly includes items not directly attributable to the executive centres.

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which discrete financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker or decision making group in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. ING Group’s chief operating decision making group is the Executive Board. Each executive centre is headed by an Executive Committee, most members of which are either members of the Executive Board or general managers of business units belonging to that executive centre. The chairman of each Executive Committee is a member of the Executive Board. The Executive Board sets the performance targets and approves and monitors the budgets prepared by the Executive Committees. The Executive Committees formulate the strategic, commercial and financial policy of the executive centres in conformity with the strategy and performance targets set by the Executive Board.

The accounting policies of the operating segments are the same as those described under Accounting principles for the consolidated balance sheet and profit and loss account (see page F-7). Transfer prices for inter-segment transactions are set at arm’s length. Geographical distribution of income is based on the origin of sales. The corporate expenses are allocated to the operating segments and geographical areas based on time spent by head office personnel, the relative number of staff or on the basis of income and/or assets of the operating segment. Operating segments have not been aggregated.

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Table of Contents

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Operating segments of ING Group:

                                                                 
2002                           Asset           Total                
                    Asia/   Mana-           seg-   Recon-   Total
    Europe   Americas   Pacific   gement   Other   ments   ciliation   group
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total operational income:(1)
                                                               
Income — external
    25,780       39,796       8,769       1,743       433       76,521               76,521  
Income — inter-segment
    1,229       137       14       (542 )     (545 )     293       (293 )        
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    27,009       39,933       8,783       1,201       (112 )     76,814       (293 )     76,521  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Segment operational results before taxation
    3,715       1,079       618       175       54       5,641               5,641  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Segment assets
    570,319       132,255       24,299       20,187       10,511       757,571       (41,201 )     716,370  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Segment liabilities
    550,859       127,621       22,452       17,870       (3,768 )     715,034       (21,023 )     694,011  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Average number of employees(2)
    71,733       26,543       8,449       5,472       859       113,056               113,056  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
                                                                 
2001                           Asset           Total                
                    Asia/   Mana-           seg-   Recon-   Total
    Europe   Americas   Pacific   gement   Other   ments   ciliation   group
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total operational income:(1)
                                                               
Income — external
    25,852       39,277       7,513       1,452       69       74,163               74,163  
Income — inter-segment
    711       126       (3 )     (209 )     (159 )     466       (466 )        
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    26,563       39,403       7,510       1,243       (90 )     74,629       (466 )     74,163  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Segment operational results before taxation
    4,267       899       313       185       77       5,741               5,741  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Segment assets
    543,583       154,540       24,041       10,601       9,039       741,804       (36,685 )     705,119  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Segment liabilities
    524,464       153,331       22,364       9,543       (5,342 )     704,360       (24,758 )     679,602  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Average number of employees(2)
    72,205       26,139       7,800       4,978       876       111,998               111,998  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

                                                                 
2000                           Asset           Total                
                    Asia/   Mana-           seg-   Recon-   Total
    Europe   Americas   Pacific   gement   Other   ments   ciliation   group
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total operational income:(1)
                                                               
Income — external
    25,259       18,645       4,437       1,364       (137 )     49,568               49,568  
Income — inter-segment
    502       135       (7 )     (166 )     (43 )     421       (421 )        
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    25,761       18,780       4,430       1,198       (180 )     49,989       (421 )     49,568  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Segment operational results before taxation
    4,544       612       225       325       61       5,767               5,767  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Segment assets
    502,698       141,216       21,713       10,031       8,992       684,650       (34,478 )     650,172  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Segment liabilities
    478,180       141,839       20,438       9,030       (4,431 )     645,056       (23,865 )     621,191  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Average number of employees(2)
    71,780       11,988       3,804       4,193       885       92,650               92,650  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 


(1)   For a reconciliation of Total operational income (Total Group) and segment operational results before taxation (Total Group) to the Consolidated Financial Statements reference is made to F-52 and F-53.
 
(2)   The average numbers of employees of joint ventures are included proportionally.

Interest income (external) and interest expense (external) breakdown per EC:

                                                 
                            Asset                
                    Asia/   Mana-           Total
    Europe   Americas   Pacific   gement   Other   group
   
 
 
 
 
 
2002
                                               
Interest income
    21,050       5,018       652       740       4,761       32,221  
Interest expense
    12,730       518       81       87       4,331       17,747  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    8,320       4,500       571       653       430       14,474  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
2001
                                               
Interest income
    26,495       4,971       552       417       107       32,542  
Interest expense
    18,701       604       33       139       64       19,541  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    7,794       4,367       519       278       43       13,001  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
2000
                                               
Interest income
    21,242       2,091       166       270       (163 )     23,606  
Interest expense
    13,102       217       27       73       55       13,474  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    8,140       1,874       139       197       (218 )     10,132  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

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Table of Contents

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

3.7.6. Geographical analysis of the insurance and banking operations

Operational income by geographical area:

                                                                                                 
    2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Insurance operations   Banking operations   Eliminations   Total
   
 
 
 
Netherlands
    11,971       12,173       12,105       4,982       4,821       4,541       14       23       46       16,939       16,971       16,600  
Belgium
    2,645       2,179       1,498       2,044       1,957       2,069                               4,689       4,136       3,567  
Rest of Europe
    2,027       2,111       1,781       2,773       3,018       2,791                               4,800       5,129       4,572  
North America
    39,383       37,938       18,390       600       537       1,039       1               (5 )     39,982       38,475       19,434  
South America
    910       1,496       329       251       238       271                               1,161       1,734       600  
Asia
    6,627       5,364       2,064       436       476       538                               7,063       5,840       2,602  
Australia
    2,170       2,179       2,413       107       55       37                               2,277       2,234       2,450  
Other
    438       285       155       8       9       16                               446       294       171  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    66,171       63,725       38,735       11,201       11,111       11,302       15       23       41       77,357       74,813       49,996  
Income between geographical
areas(1)
    (834 )     (648 )     (428 )                             2       2               (836 )     (650 )     (428 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    65,337       63,077       38,307       11,201       11,111       11,302       17       25       41       76,521       74,163       49,568  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 


(1)   Mainly related to reinsurance premiums ceded between group companies in different geographical areas.

Operational income from the insurance operations by geographical area:

                                                                                                 
    2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Life premiums written   Non-life premiums written   Investment income(1)   Total
   
 
 
 
Netherlands
    4,927       5,353       5,551       1,859       1,811       1,817       5,185       5,009       4,737       11,971       12,173       12,105  
Belgium
    2,053       1,625       964       282       253       230       310       301       304       2,645       2,179       1,498  
Rest of Europe
    1,580       1,623       1,299       38       34       31       409       454       451       2,027       2,111       1,781  
North America
    28,085       28,963       13,348       5,312       2,933       1,595       5,986       6,042       3,447       39,383       37,938       18,390  
South America
    292       493       194       303       618       46       315       385       89       910       1,496       329  
Asia
    5,969       4,718       1,766       66       64       48       592       582       250       6,627       5,364       2,064  
Australia
    1,467       1,779       1,894       296       250       328       407       150       191       2,170       2,179       2,413  
Other
    3       5       4       385       211       106       50       69       45       438       285       155  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    44,376       44,559       25,020       8,541       6,174       4,201       13,254       12,992       9,514       66,171       63,725       38,735  
Income between geographical areas(2)
    (9 )     (2 )     (1 )     (624 )     (271 )     (106 )     (201 )     (375 )     (321 )     (834 )     (648 )     (428 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    44,367       44,557       25,019       7,917       5,903       4,095       13,053       12,617       9,193       65,337       63,077       38,307  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 


(1)   Including commission and other income.
 
(2)   Mainly related to reinsurance premiums ceded between group companies in different geographical areas.

F-82


Table of Contents

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Operational result before taxation by geographical area:

                                                                         
    2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Insurance operations   Banking operations   Total
   
 
 
Netherlands
    2,232       2,074       2,017       1,510       1,523       1,441       3,742       3,597       3,458  
Belgium
    79       94       113       613       521       517       692       615       630  
Rest of Europe
    161       178       190       (311 )     364       593       (150 )     542       783  
North America
    1,037       762       579       (476 )     (446 )     (235 )     561       316       344  
South America
    59       79       (6 )     41       24       171       100       103       165  
Asia
    255       230       82       38       193       128       293       423       210  
Australia
    330       85       150       55       (7 )     (9 )     385       78       141  
Other
    20       69       37       (2 )     (2 )     (1 )     18       67       36  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    4,173       3,571       3,162       1,468       2,170       2,605       5,641       5,741       5,767  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

Operational result before taxation from the insurance operations by geographical area:

                                                                         
    2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Life   Non-life   Total
   
 
 
Netherlands
    2,007       1,836       1,810       225       238       207       2,232       2,074       2,017  
Belgium
    76       85       89       3       9       24       79       94       113  
Rest of Europe
    155       176       188       6       2       2       161       178       190  
North America
    667       520       438       370       242       141       1,037       762       579  
South America
    60       29       (9 )     (1 )     50       3       59       79       (6 )
Asia
    261       228       79       (6 )     2       3       255       230       82  
Australia
    291       64       144       39       21       6       330       85       150  
Other
    2       3       (16 )     18       66       53       20       69       37  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    3,519       2,941       2,723       654       630       439       4,173       3,571       3,162  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

Operational net profit for the period by geographical area:

                         
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
Netherlands
    2,937       2,612       2,668  
Belgium
    492       444       382  
Rest of Europe
    (145 )     496       449  
North America
    339       163       42  
South America
    47       77       153  
Asia
    169       318       178  
Australia
    376       88       114  
Other
    38       54       22  
 
   
     
     
 
 
    4,253       4,252       4,008  
 
   
     
     
 

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Table of Contents

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

4. NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS OF ING GROUP

4.1. Net cash flow from operating activities

The net cash flow shown in respect of Lending only relates to transactions involving actual payments or receipts. The Additions to the provision for loan losses which is deducted from the item Lending in the balance sheet has been adjusted for the result before taxation and is shown separately in the cash flow statement.

4.2. Net cash flow from investing activities

Most significant companies acquired:

                                 
                    Amounts in billions of euros
                   
                            Aetna
                            Financial
            Seguros   ReliaStar   Services and
            Comercial   Financial   Aetna
    DiBa   America   Corporation   International
   
 
 
 
General
            2001       2000       2000  
Year of acquisition
    2002     Non-life   Life   Life
Primary line of business
  Direct banking   insurance   insurance   insurance
Purchase price
                               
Purchase price
    0.6       1.1       6.7       8.3  
Assumed debt in purchase price
            0.6       1.1       3.0  
Assets
                               
Investments
    7.7       1.3       23.8       58.4  
Miscellaneous other assets
    0.1       1.2       4.9       9.3  
Liabilities
                               
Insurance provisions
            1.7       22.3       61.3  
Funds entrusted to and debt securities of the banking operations
    6.4                          
Miscellaneous other liabilities
    1.2       0.6       3.5       6.6  

To finance the acquisitions of ReliaStar Financial Corporation, Aetna Financial Services and Aetna International, investments in shares have been sold in the financial year 2000. The proceeds of the sales amounted to EUR 9.6 billion.

In 2000, ING Group sold its 19.05% interest in Credit Commercial de France, a French-based banking company. The proceeds of the sale amounted to EUR 2,111 million.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

5.     PARENT COMPANY BALANCE SHEET OF ING GROUP AS AT DECEMBER 31

before profit appropriation

                 
    Amounts in millions of euros
   
    2002   2001
   
 
ASSETS
               
Participating interests (5.2.1)
    26,596       30,798  
Other assets (5.2.2)
    2,517       641  
 
   
     
 
Total
    29,113       31,439  
 
   
     
 
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
               
Shareholders’ equity (5.2.3.)
               
Share capital
    583       583  
Share premium
    7,186       7,188  
Revaluation reserve
    1,983       6,287  
Reserve for participating interests
    501       466  
Exchange differences reserve
    243       (155 )
Other reserves
    3,258       2,568  
Net profit for the period
    4,500       4,577  
 
   
     
 
 
    18,254       21,514  
Subordinated loans (5.2.4)
    4,558       3,142  
 
   
     
 
Capital base
    22,812       24,656  
Other liabilities (5.2.5)
    6,301       6,783  
 
   
     
 
Total
    29,113       31,439  
 
   
     
 

PARENT COMPANY PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT OF ING GROUP FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31

                         
    Amounts in millions of euros
   
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
Result of group companies after taxation
    4,521       4,596       12,051  
Other results after taxation
    (21 )     (19 )     (67 )
 
   
     
     
 
Net profit for the period
    4,500       4,577       11,984  
 
   
     
     
 

The numbers against the items refer to the notes starting on page F-86.

5.1. Accounting principles for the parent company balance sheet and profit and loss account of ING Group

The principles of valuation and determination of results stated in connection with the consolidated balance sheet and profit and loss account are also applicable to the valuation of directly held participating interests. Amounts receivable from and owed to group companies in connection with ordinary interbank transactions are included in Other assets and Other liabilities, respectively.

Changes in balance sheet values due to changes in the revaluation reserve of the participating interests are reflected in the Revaluation reserve, which forms part of Shareholders’ equity. Changes in balance sheet values due to the results of these Participating interests, accounted for in accordance

F-85


Table of Contents

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

with ING Group accounting principles, are included in the profit and loss account. Other changes in the balance sheet value of these Participating interests, other than those due to changes in share capital, are included in Other reserves, which forms part of Shareholders’ equity.

A statutory reserve is carried at an amount equal to the share in the results of Participating interests since their first inclusion at net asset value less the amount of profit distributions to which rights have accrued in the interim. Profit distributions which can be repatriated to the Netherlands without restriction are likewise deducted from the Reserve for participating interests, which forms part of Shareholders’ equity.

5.2. Notes to the parent company balance sheet of ING Group

ASSETS

5.2.1. Participating interests

                                 
    2002   2001
   
 
    Ownership   Balance   Ownership   Balance
    (%)   sheet value   (%)   sheet value
   
 
 
 
Name of investee
                               
ING Bank N.V
    100       15,879       100       15,462  
ING Verzekeringen N.V
    100       10,803       100       15,396  
Other
            (86 )             (60 )
 
           
             
 
 
            26,596               30,798  
 
           
             
 

Movements in Participating interests:

                 
    2002   2001
   
 
Opening balance
    30,798       32,782  
Repayments to group companies
    (1,453 )     632  
Desinvestments in group companies
    (9 )        
Write-off of goodwill
    (1,176 )     (1,908 )
Revaluations
    (5,257 )     (3,585 )
Result of group companies
    4,521       4,596  
Dividend
    (1,604 )     (1,499 )
 
   
     
 
 
    25,820       31,018  
Changes in ING Groep N.V. shares held by group companies
    776       (220 )
 
   
     
 
Closing balance
    26,596       30,798  
 
   
     
 

5.2.2. Other assets

                 
    2002   2001
   
 
Receivables from group companies
    2,385       539  
Other receivables, prepayments and accruals
    132       102  
 
   
     
 
 
    2,517       641  
 
   
     
 

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Table of Contents

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

5.2.3. Shareholders’ equity

                                                 
                                    Cumulative
Share capital   Ordinary shares   Preference shares   preference shares
    (par value EUR 0.24)   (par value EUR 1.20)   (par value EUR 1.20)
   
 
 
    number           number           number        
    x 1,000   amount   x 1,000   amount   x 1,000   amount
   
 
 
 
 
 
2002
                                               
Authorized share capital
    3,000,000       720       300,000       360       900,000       1,080  
Unissued share capital
    1,007,323       241       212,920       256       900,000       1,080  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Issued share capital
    1,992,677       479       87,080       104       0       0  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
2001
                                               
Authorized share capital
    3,000,000       720       300,000       360       900,000       1,080  
Unissued share capital
    1,007,328       241       212,920       256       900,000       1,080  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Issued share capital
    1,992,672       479       87,080       104       0       0  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
2000
                                               
Authorized share capital
    3,000,000       720       300,000       360       900,000       1,080  
Unissued share capital
    1,029,488       247       212,920       256       900,000       1,080  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Issued share capital
    1,970,512       473       87,080       104       0       0  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

Movements in issued share capital

                                 
    Ordinary shares   Preference shares
   
 
    number           number        
    x 1,000   amount   x 1,000   amount
   
 
 
 
Issued share capital as at January 1, 2000
    1,933,950       439       87,080       99  
From exchange of ING Groep N.V. A warrants and B warrants
    12,242       3                  
From 1999 final dividend
    14,164       3                  
From 2000 interim dividend
    10,074       2                  
Stock options
    82                          
From premium reserve due to conversion of share capital into euros
            26               5  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Issued share capital as at December 31, 2000
    1,970,512       473       87,080       104  
From exchange of ING Groep N.V. A warrants and B warrants
    22,160       6                  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Issued share capital as at December 31, 2001
    1,992,672       479       87,080       104  
From exchange of ING Groep N.V. B warrants
    5                          
 
   
     
     
     
 
Issued share capital as at December 31, 2002
    1,992,677       479       87,080       104  
 
   
     
     
     
 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Shares
All shares are in registered form. No share certificates will be issued. Shares may be transferred by means of a deed of transfer, subject to the approval of the Executive Board of ING Group.

Ordinary shares
In October 2000, the par value of the ordinary shares was converted from NLG 1.00 into EUR 0.48. As part of the conversion, the issued share capital with regard to ordinary shares was increased. This increase was charged to the share premium reserve. Ordinary shares may only be issued if at least the nominal value is paid up. On July 2, 2001 the (depositary receipts for) ING Group ordinary shares have been split in a 2:1 ratio. Therefore, the par value of the ordinary shares is currently EUR 0.24.

Preference shares
The par value of the preference shares is EUR 1.20. Preference shares are divided into two categories: “A” preference shares and “B” preference shares. The authorized share capital of ING Group consists of 100 million “A” preference shares, of which as at December 31, 2002 87 million have been issued and 200 million “B” preference shares, of which none have not yet been issued. In October 2000, the par value of the preference shares was converted from NLG 2.50 into EUR 1.20. As part of the conversion, the issued share capital with regard to “A” preference shares was increased. This increase was charged to the share premium reserve.

Preference shares may only be issued if at least the nominal value is paid up.

Preference shares rank before ordinary shares in entitlement to dividends and distributions upon liquidation of ING Group, but are subordinated to cumulative preference shares. Holders of “A” and “B” preference shares rank pari passu among themselves. If the profit or amount available for distribution to the holders of preference shares is not sufficient to make such distribution in full, the holders will receive a distribution in proportion to the amount they would have received if the distribution could have been made in full. The “A” preference shares and “B” preference shares are not cumulative and their holders will not be compensated in subsequent years for a shortfall in a prior year.

The ING Group’s Articles of Association make provision for cancellation of preference shares.

“A” preference shares
The dividend on the “A” preference shares is equal to a percentage of the amount (including share premium) for which the “A” preference shares were originally issued.

This percentage is calculated by taking the arithmetic mean of the average effective yield on the five longest-dated Dutch government loans, as prepared by the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics and published in the Official Price List of Euronext Amsterdam N.V. for the last twenty stock exchange days preceding the day on which the first “A” preference shares are issued, or, as the case may be, preceding the day on which the dividend percentage is adjusted. The percentage thus established may be increased or decreased by not more than a half percentage point, depending on the market conditions then prevailing, as the Executive Board may decide with the approval of the Supervisory Board.

The dividend percentage will be readjusted on January 1, 2004 in keeping with the average effective yield at that time on the five longest-dated Dutch government loans and thereafter every ten years. The dividend on the “A” preference shares will be EUR 0.2405 per year until January 1, 2004.

“A” preference shares may only be cancelled if a distribution of the amount (including share premium) for which the “A” preference shares were originally issued reduced by the par value of the shares can be made on each “A” preference share. Upon liquidation of ING Group, a distribution of the amount (including share premium) for which the “A” preference shares were originally issued will, insofar as possible, be made on each “A” preference share.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Depositary receipts for ordinary shares and for preference shares
The issue and transfer of ordinary shares and preference shares is restricted, pursuant to the Articles of Association of ING Group. Each shareholder (natural persons and legal entities) may acquire ordinary shares and/or preference shares up to a limit of 1% of the issued ordinary share capital or the issued preference share capital, respectively.

However, there are some exceptions to this rule, including the Trust especially appointed for that purpose.

The Trust holds more than 99% of the ordinary and preference shares issued by ING Group. In exchange for these shares, the Trust has issued depositary receipts for ordinary shares and preference shares. The depositary receipts are freely transferable.

The holder of a depositary receipt is entitled to receive from the Trust payment of dividends and distributions corresponding with the dividends and distributions received by the Trust on a share of the relevant category. Moreover, the holder of a depositary receipt is entitled to attend and to speak at the General Meeting of Shareholders of ING Group. For the exercise of voting rights in the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, the Trust will, except in special circumstances, grant holders of depositary receipts a voting proxy up to the exchangeability limit of their depositary receipts, i.e. up to a maximum of 1% of the issued share capital per depositary receipt holder (including the voting rights that are attached to shares held by the relevant depositary receipt holder).

Proposed changes in voting rights
On January 16, 2003 a proposed change to ING Group’s corporate governance structure was announced. The proposed changes impact the voting rights of shareholders and depository-receipt holders. Holders of depository receipts will be able to cast a vote at the General Meeting of Shareholders, or give a proxy, under all circumstances — even in the case of a hostile take over — and without restrictions. Until now, there was a 1% general restriction and the Trust Office (Stichting Administratiekantoor), for example, did not have to give a proxy to depository-receipt holders in the case of a hostile take over. Secondly, depository-receipt holders will be able to exchange their certificates for ordinary shares without any restrictions, which is now limited to 5% of the issued share capital. Thirdly, ING will introduce proxy voting and will create the opportunity for depository-receipt holders to transfer the proxy granted to him/her to a third person, who may also collect a number of proxies (‘proxy solicitation’). The proposed changes are to be approved by the General Meeting of Shareholders.

Concentration of holders of depository receipts for ordinary shares
As at December 31, 2002, ABN AMRO Holding N.V., AEGON N.V. and Fortis Utrecht had an interest in depositary receipts of ING Group between 5% and 10%.

Depositary receipts for ordinary shares held by ING Group
With reference to Section 98 (5), Book 2, of the Dutch Civil Code, as at December 31, 2002, a number of 28 million of depository receipts for ordinary shares ING Groep N.V. with a par value of EUR 0.24 was held by ING Group or its subsidiaries. The shares were purchased to hedge option rights granted to the Executive Board and other employees. In 2002, ING Group sold own shares in connection to these option with a sales price of EUR 18.14 per share. The net effect of these transactions is included in Other reserves.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Movements in depositary receipts for ordinary shares held by ING Groep N.V. and its subsidiaries to hedge the option rights granted to the Executive Board and other employees in 2002:

                 
    Number        
    x 1,000   Amount
   
 
Opening balance
    69,088       2,230  
Sales
    (36,000 )     (653 )
Secondary placements
    (4,651 )     (108 )
Differences between purchase and sales prices
            (574 )
 
   
     
 
Depositary receipts as at December 31, 2002
    28,437       895  
 
   
     
 

Cumulative preference shares
The par value of the cumulative preference shares is EUR 1.20. In October 2000, the par value of the preference shares was converted from NLG 2.50 into EUR 1.20. Cumulative preference shares may only be issued if at least one fourth of the nominal value is paid up.

The cumulative preference shares rank before the preference shares and the ordinary shares in entitlement to dividend and to distributions upon liquidation of ING Group.

The dividend on the cumulative preference shares will be equal to a percentage, calculated on the amount compulsorily paid up or yet to be paid up. This percentage shall be equal to the average of the Euro OverNight Index Average (EONIA) as calculated by the European Central Bank. During the financial year for which the distribution is made, this percentage is weighted on the basis of the number of days for which it applies, increased by two and a half percentage points.

If and to the extent that the profit available for distribution is not sufficient to pay the dividend referred to above in full, the shortfall will be made up from the reserves insofar as possible. If and to the extent that the dividend distribution cannot be made from the reserves, the profits achieved in subsequent years shall first be used to make up the shortfall before any distribution may be made on shares of any other category.

ING Group’s Articles of Association make provision for the cancellation of cumulative preference shares. Upon cancellation of cumulative preference shares and upon liquidation of ING Group, the amount paid up on the cumulative preference shares will be repaid together with the dividend shortfall in preceding years, insofar as this shortfall has not yet been made up.

A warrants and B warrants
In 1991, ING Group authorized the issue of 261,070,062 warrants (hereafter A warrants), of which 253,297,808 were issued. A warrant holders have been able to exercise their rights at their own discretion up to March 15, 2001. Therefore, no A warrants are outstanding anymore.

In 1998, ING Group authorized the issue of a maximum of 17,317,132 B warrants, of which 17,186,325 have been issued. As at December 31, 2002, 17,157,005 B warrants were outstanding (2001: 17,159,643). B warrant holders are entitled to obtain from ING Group, for a fixed price, depositary receipts for ordinary shares in the proportion of 1 B warrant to 2 depositary receipts. B warrant holders may exercise their rights at their own discretion but no later than 5 January 2008. As at December 31, 2002, no B warrants (2001: nil) were held by group companies of ING Group.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

The current exercise price of B warrants is EUR 49.92 for 2 depositary receipts. The exercise price of B warrants will be adjusted by ING Group if one or more of the following circumstances occur:

1.   ING Group issues ordinary shares with pre-emptive rights for existing holders thereof at a price lower than the average price over the 20 business days preceding the relevant announcement of the median price between the highest and lowest prices of the depositary receipts of EUR 0.24 par value as stated in the Official Price List of Euronext Amsterdam N.V.;
 
2.   ING Group issues ordinary shares to existing holders thereof, such shares being paid from a reserve of the company at a price lower than the average price over the 20 business days preceding the relevant announcement of the median price between the highest and lowest prices of the depositary receipts of EUR 0.24 par value as stated in the Official Price List of Euronext Amsterdam N.V.;
 
3.   ING Group issues ordinary shares to existing holders thereof by way of paying a dividend at a price lower than the average price over the 20 business days preceding the relevant announcement of the median price between the highest and lowest prices of the depositary receipts of EUR 0.24 par value as stated in the Official Price List of Euronext Amsterdam N.V.;
 
4.   ING Group grants to existing holders of ordinary shares pre-emptive rights to obtain securities other than ordinary shares;
 
5.   Any company grants to existing holders of ordinary shares of ING Group a right of subscription for securities which may be converted into or exchanged for ordinary shares of ING Group, provided that the price for which such ordinary shares of ING Group may (initially) be obtained is lower than the then applicable exercise price;
 
6.   ING Group makes a distribution in cash out of its share premium reserve(s) to holders of ordinary shares.

In case of a split or consolidation of the shares of ING Group, a warrant holder shall remain entitled to a number of shares, the aggregate par value of which shall be equal to the aggregate par value of the number of shares to which he was entitled before the split or consolidation.

In case of a restructuring of the share capital of ING Group or a merger of ING Group with any other company or a transfer of the assets of ING Group (or a substantial part thereof) to any other company, the exercise price of the B warrants will not be adjusted. In that event, a warrant holder will be entitled to obtain the securities of the kind and number a holder of ordinary shares would have been entitled to if the B warrants had been exchanged for ordinary shares immediately before that event.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Reserves

                                                 
                            Reserve                
                            for                
                            partici-   Exchange        
            Share   Revaluation   pating   differences   Other
    Total   premium   reserve   interests   reserve   reserves
   
 
 
 
 
 
Balance as at December 31, 1999
    29,096       6,994       17,275       480       (9 )     4,356  
Unrealized revaluations after taxation
    (7,499 )             (7,398 )     (50 )             (51 )
Exchange differences
    (21 )                             (21 )        
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Net profit not recognized in the profit and loss account
    (7,520 )             (7,398 )     (50 )     (21 )     (51 )
Write-off of goodwill
    (11,774 )                                     (11,774 )
Profit appropriation previous year
    4,922                                       4,922  
1999 final dividend and 2000 interim dividend(1)
    (900 )     (5 )                             (895 )
To share capital due to conversion of par value of shares into euros
    (31 )     (31 )                                
Exercise of warrants and options
    73       73                                  
Changes in ING Groep N.V. shares held by group companies
    (1,153 )                                     (1,153 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Balance as at December 31, 2000
    12,713       7,031       9,877       430       (30 )     (4,595 )
Unrealized revaluations after taxation
    (3,641 )             (3,590 )     36               (87 )
Exchange differences
    (125 )                             (125 )        
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Net profit not recognized in the profit and loss account
    (3,766 )             (3,590 )     36       (125 )     (87 )
Write-off of goodwill
    (1,908 )                                     (1,908 )
Profit appropriation previous year
    11,984                                       11,984  
2000 final dividend and 2001 interim dividend(2)
    (2,300 )                                     (2,300 )
Exercise of warrants and options
    157       157                                  
Changes in ING Groep N.V. shares held by group companies
    (526 )                                     (526 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Balance as at December 31, 2001
    16,354       7,188       6,287       466       (155 )     2,568  
Unrealized revaluations after taxation
    (5,833 )             (4,304 )     35               (1,564 )
Exchange differences
    398                               398          
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Net profit not recognized in the profit and loss account
    (5,435 )             (4,304 )     35       398       (1,564 )
Write-off of goodwill
    (1,176 )                                     (1,176 )
Profit appropriation previous year
    4,577                                       4,577  
2001 final dividend and 2002 interim dividend(3)
    (1,969 )                                     (1,969 )
Exercise of warrants and options
    (2 )     (2 )                                
Changes in ING Groep N.V. shares held by group companies
    822                                       822  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Balance as at December 31, 2002
    13,171       7,186       1,983       501       243       3,258  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 


(1)   1999 final dividend of EUR 0.82 per share and 2000 interim dividend of EUR 0.41 per share.
 
(2)   2000 final dividend of EUR 1.13 per share and 2001 interim dividend of EUR 0.47 per share.
 
(3)   2001 final dividend of EUR 0.50 per share and 2002 interim dividend of EUR 0.48 per share.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

As at December 31, 2002, the capital and reserves of Stichting Regio Bank, included in Other reserves, amounted to EUR 428 million (2001: EUR 384 million) and cannot be freely distributed.

The revaluation reserve and the reserve for participating interests include the statutory reserves.

Dividend restrictions
ING Group and its Dutch group companies are subject to legal restrictions regarding the amount of dividends they can pay to their shareholders. The Dutch Civil Code contains the restriction that dividends can only be paid up to an amount equal to the excess of the company’s own funds over the sum of (i) the paid-up capital, and (ii) reserves required by law. Additionally, certain group companies are subject to restrictions on the amount of funds they may transfer in the form of cash dividends or otherwise to the parent company. Furthermore, in addition to the restrictions in respect of minimum capital requirements that are imposed by industry regulators in the countries in which the subsidiaries operate, other limitations exist in certain countries.

The Executive Board of ING Group believes that these limitations will not affect the ability of ING Group to pay dividends to its shareholders in the future.

5.2.4. Subordinated loans

Subordinated loans includes the 6.5% perpetual subordinated loan issued by ING Groep N.V. in September 2001, with a balance sheet value of EUR 600 million, the 7.05% perpetual subordinated loan of USD 800 million issued by ING Groep N.V. in July 2002 with a balance sheet value of EUR 763 million, and the 7.20% perpetual subordinated loan of USD 1,100 million by ING Groep N.V. in December 2002 with a balance sheet value of EUR 1,049 million.

The number of debentures held by group companies as at December 31, 2002 was 67,656 with a balance sheet value of EUR 7 million (2001: 62,841 with a balance sheet value of EUR 6 million).

Unsecured subordinated loans from group companies to ING Groep N.V., which may be renewable at their due dates at the then prevailing market rates, are included in Subordinated loans.

                             
                2002   2001
               
 
Interest rate   Year of issue   Due date   Balance sheet value

 
 
 
8.439     2000     December 31, 2030(1)     1,431       1,695  
9.2     2000     June 30, 2030     238       282  
7.7     1999     June 29, 2029     477       565  
                 
     
 
                  2,146       2,542  
                 
     
 


(1)   Interest rate is fixed until December 31, 2010, thereafter the interest rate will be reset based on three-month LIBOR plus spread.

5.2.5. Other liabilities

                 
    2002   2001
   
 
Debenture loans
    5,704       5,704  
Amounts owed to group companies
    376       837  
Other amounts owed and accrued liabilities
    221       242  
 
   
     
 
 
    6,301       6,783  
 
   
     
 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Debenture loans:

                             
                2002   2001
           
 
Interest rate   Year of issue   Due date   Balance sheet value

 
 
 
5     2001     May 3, 2006     1,000       1,000  
6.125     2000     January 4, 2011     1,000       1,000  
6     2000     August 1, 2007     750       750  
5.5     2000     May 11, 2005     1,500       1,500  
5.5     1999     September 14, 2009     1,000       1,000  
7.125     1994     June 28, 2004     454       454  
             
     
 
                  5,704       5,704  
             
     
 

The number of debentures held by group companies as at December 31, 2002 was 154,692 with a balance sheet value of EUR 178 million (2001: 118,090 with a balance sheet value of EUR 135 million).

Amounts owed to group companies by remaining term:

                 
    2002   2001
   
 
- up to one year
    293       831  
- over five years
    83       6  
 
   
     
 
 
    376       837  
 
   
     
 
     
Amsterdam, March 10, 2003

The Supervisory Board,

Cor Herkströter, Chairman
 

The Executive Board,

Ewald Kist, Chairman
Mijndert Ververs, Vice-Chairman   Michel Tilmant, Vice-Chairman
Lutgart van den Berghe   Fred Hubbell
Luella Gross Goldberg   Hessel Lindenbergh
Paul van der Heijden   Cees Maas, Chief Financial Officer
Aad Jacobs   Alexander Rinnooy Kan
Godfried van der Lugt    
Paul Baron de Meester    
Johan Stekelenburg    
Hans Tietmeyer    
Jan Timmer    
Karel Vuursteen    

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

6. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DUTCH AND US ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES

6.1. Valuation and income recognition differences between Dutch and US accounting principles

The consolidated financial statements of ING Group are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally applied in the Netherlands (“Dutch GAAP”). Dutch GAAP differs in certain respects from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”). The following is a summary of the significant differences.

a.   Purchase accounting and Goodwill and other intangible assets.
 
    In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Financial Accounting Standard (“FAS”) No. 142, Accounting for Goodwill and Intangible Assets, effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001. Under the new statement, goodwill and intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives will no longer be amortized but will be subject to annual impairment tests based on a fair value approach in accordance with the new statement. Other intangible assets will continue to be amortized over their useful lives. The Company adopted the new statement effective January 1, 2002. Before implementation of FASB Statement 142 goodwill was amortized over its estimated economic life and was evaluated for impairment by comparing the entity level unamortized balance of goodwill to projected undiscounted cash flows, which did not result in an indicated impairment. This item includes intangible assets which under Dutch GAAP are recognized as goodwill.
 
    In accordance with the transition provisions of FASB Statement 142 the Company performed the required transitional impairment tests for goodwill as of January 1, 2002. As a result of that test, under the new fair value-based impairment test, certain goodwill is impaired and ING Group has recognized an impairment loss of EUR 13.103 billion. In addition to the transitional goodwill impairment test, ING Group has performed the required annual impairment test in 2002. The annual goodwill impairment test did not result in an additional impairment charge.
 
    There is no impact to the Company’s net income or financial condition under Dutch GAAP since goodwill has not been capitalized but has been charged to equity immediately at the time of an acquisition.
 
    Subsequent impairment tests will be performed on an annual basis, or more frequently if circumstances indicate a potential impairment.
 
b.   Real estate.
 
    Investments in land and buildings are generally carried at their fair values, based on values prevailing at acquisition or on subsequent, periodic appraisals. These properties are not depreciated. Impairment losses are first charged against the revaluation reserves existing for the individual real estate. Any remaining impairment losses are charged to the profit and loss account. Results on disposal of real estate are charged to the profit and loss account.
 
    US GAAP distinguishes between real estate properties held for own use and real estate held for investments. Properties held for own use are generally carried at historical cost less accumulated depreciation, but the carrying amounts may be adjusted for any impairment in value; depreciation is provided over the estimated economic life of the property. Properties held for investment are generally carried at cost, and are adjusted for any impairment in value; depreciation is provided over the estimated economic life of the property. Results on disposal of real estate are charged to the profit and loss account.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

c.   Valuation of debt securities.
 
    Debt securities held for investment, other than zero-coupon bonds, are carried at redemption value. Premiums or discounts arising at acquisition are recorded separately and amortized over the estimated life of the portfolio on a straight-line basis. Zero-coupon bonds are carried at amortized cost. Additionally, debt securities are recorded net of a provision for credit losses.
 
    Under US GAAP, investments in debt securities must be classified as either:

  (i)   trading, which are valued at fair value with changes in fair value recorded through current period earnings;
 
  (ii)   held-to-maturity, which are carried at amortized cost, or;
 
  (iii)   available-for-sale, which are carried at fair value with changes in fair value recorded as a separate component of shareholders’ equity.

    Premiums and discounts arising from acquisition are amortized to interest income using the effective yield method over the contractual life of the securities.
 
    Allowances for credit losses on debt securities are not permitted. Individual securities classified as either available-for-sale or held-to-maturity are subject to review to determine whether a decline in fair value below amortized cost is other than temporary. If the decline in fair value is judged to be other than temporary, the cost basis of the individual security is written down to fair value as the new cost basis and the amount of the write down is included in the profit and loss account.
 
    Revaluation of debt securities classified as available-for-sale to fair value results in a reconciling item to shareholders’ equity. A portion of this reconciliation relates to assets held in support of policies where the policyholder shares in the profits of the company. Although unrealized gains on these assets are included in shareholders’ equity for US GAAP purposes, as these gains are realized a portion may be passed to policyholders, at the discretion of the company. As at December 31, 2002, this amount is estimated at EUR 1.5 billion.
 
    Effective April 1, 2001, ING Group adopted EITF Issue 99-20, “Recognition of Interest Income and Impairment on Purchased and Retained Beneficial Interests in Securitized Financial Assets”. Under the consensus, changes in their estimated yield of certain collateralized mortgage obligations are to be recorded on a prospective basis. If the fair value of the collateralized mortgage obligations has declined below its carrying amount and the decline is determined to be other than temporary, the security is written down to fair value. Upon adoption of EITF Issue 99-20, ING Group recorded a EUR 40 million charge in the 2001 US GAAP net profit as a net of tax cumulative effect of accounting change.
 
    In accordance with EITF 96-15, unrealised foreign currency translation results related to available for sale debt securities denominated in other currencies than the reporting currency of the entity should be recognized in Shareholders’ equity as a part from the fair value adjustment and not in the profit and loss accounts under US GAAP. Under ING GAAP these unrealised translations results are recognized in the profit and loss account.
 
    ING Group recorded EUR 540 million gain in the 2002 US GAAP net profit to reverse the recorded loss under Dutch GAAP.
 
d.   Realized results on sales of debt securities.
 
    Realized gains and losses on sales of investments in debt securities are deferred as part of the provision for yield differences and amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated average remaining life of the portfolio.
 
    Under US GAAP, realized gains and losses on sales of investments in debt securities are recorded in the earnings of the period in which the sales occurred.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

e.   Valuation of equity securities.
 
    Under Dutch GAAP, unrealized losses on equity securities are recorded in the revaluation reserve, unless the securities are considered to be impaired. Impairments are charged to the profit and loss account. The determination of impairments involves various assumptions and factors, including the period of time and the extend to which the unrealized loss has existed and general market conditions, but is primarily based on the financial condition of the issuer in the long-term; ING has the intention and ability to maintain a long-term investment strategy.
 
    Under US GAAP, unrealized losses that are considered “other than temporary” are charged to the profit and loss. The determination of “other than temporary” is primarily based on the duration and extent to which the market value has been below cost price.
 
f.   Accounting for derivative financial instruments held for risk management purposes.
 
    Under Dutch GAAP, derivative financial instruments, primarily interest rate swap contracts, used to manage interest rate risk are accounted for as off-balance sheet transactions. The related interest income and expense is accounted for on a basis in conformity with the hedged position, primarily on an accrual basis. Transactions qualify as hedges if these transactions are identified as such and there is a negative correlation between the hedging results and the results of the position being hedged.
 
    US GAAP requires that derivatives be carried at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in income unless specified criteria are met to obtain hedge accounting treatment. With effect from January 1, 2001 ING Group has adopted SFAS 133 “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”, as amended by SFAS 138.
 
    SFAS 133 requires that all derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, be recorded on the balance sheet, as either an asset or liability, measured at its fair value. The change in a derivative’s fair value is generally to be recognized in the current period’s profit and loss account. However, if certain conditions are met, a derivative may be specifically designated as a hedge of an exposure to changes in fair value, variability of cash flows, or certain foreign currency exposures. When designated as a hedge, the fair value of the derivative instrument should be recognized currently in the profit and loss account or in equity, depending on whether such designation is considered a fair value hedge, a cash flow hedge, or a hedge of a net investment in foreign operations. With respect to fair value hedges, the fair value of the derivative, as well as changes in the fair value of the hedged item, are reported in the profit and loss account. For cash flow hedges the effective portion of the gains or losses on the derivative instrument are reported in equity and subsequently reclassified into the profit and loss account when the hedged item affects the profit and loss account. The remaining gains and losses in excess of the cumulative change in the present value of future cash flows of the hedged item, if any, is recognized in the profit and loss account during the period of change. For a hedge of a net investment in a foreign currency, the gain or loss is reported in equity to the extent it is effective.
 
    The hedging rules specified under SFAS 133 are more stringent than the hedging rules prior to SFAS 133. Consequently, a significant portion of the derivatives that received hedge accounting treatment prior to the adoption of SFAS 133 are recorded at fair value with changes in fair value included in the profit and loss account. The initial revaluation of these derivatives upon adoption of the new rules in 2001 which did not have a material effect on ING Group’s US GAAP equity and profit and loss account, was reported as part of the 2001 adjustment with respect to this item.
 
    For the purpose of reconciliation of Dutch GAAP shareholders’ equity and net profit to US GAAP, the change in the fair values of the hedged items have been set off against the gains or losses on the derivative instrument for hedges that meet SFAS 133 hedge criteria.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

g.   Deferred acquisition costs of insurance contracts.
 
    Under both Dutch and US GAAP, costs that vary with and are directly related to the acquisition of life insurance contracts are deferred and amortized.
 
    Under Dutch GAAP, deferred acquisition costs are amortized in proportion to future premiums. Under US GAAP, deferred acquisition costs of traditional insurance contracts are likewise amortized in proportion to future premiums.
 
    For universal-life type contracts, investment contracts and for participating individual life insurance contracts in the Netherlands, US GAAP requires that deferred acquisition costs be amortized at a constant rate based on the present value of the estimated gross profit margins expected to be realized over the life of the book of contracts.
 
    In addition, in accordance with SFAS 115, deferred acquisition costs related to universal-life type contracts, investment contracts and participating individual life insurance contracts under Dutch GAAP are adjusted to reflect changes that would have been necessary if unrealized investment gains and losses related to available-for-sale securities had been realized. The SFAS 115 adjustment to deferred acquisition costs is an adjustment to equity that is not taken through net profit. As a result of this adjustment US GAAP equity has been reduced by EUR 898 million up to 2002. (reduced by EUR 400 million up to 2001).
 
    Under US GAAP, the revaluation reserve resulting from the valuation of debt securities at fair value (as explained in item c.) is adjusted for the impact thereof on the DAC.
 
h.   General provisions.
 
    Under Dutch GAAP, as applied prior to 1998, liabilities could be set up under certain conditions, for expenses that will be incurred in the future, such as expenses relating to information technology systems enhancement.
 
    Under US GAAP, the criteria for setting up liabilities are more stringent and include, among others, that a liability is incurred at the date of the financial statements for such costs.
 
    With effect from the 1998 financial year, the ING principles for the determination of provision have been changed. As from year-end 2000, all general provisions are in accordance with US GAAP except that general provisions are discounted using a pre-tax discount rate to reflect the time value of money.
 
i.   Pension liabilities and pension costs.
 
    For most ING Group employees, separate funds have been created for pension entitlements. These funds are separate legal entities outside the control of ING Group.
 
    Under Dutch GAAP, the pension expense is based on International Accounting Standard 19 (revised 2000), with transition taken as January 1, 1997. Under International Accounting Standard 19 the pension expense is based on a specific method of actuarial valuation of projected plan liabilities for accrued service including future salary indexation. Assets are taken at fair value.
 
    Amounts recognized as expense may differ from amounts funded in the same year. The accrual of pension expense is intended to effectively match the full cost of the expected pension benefits to the period of employee service.
 
    A liability (or asset) is recognized for the excess (or deficiency) of plan liabilities over plan assets at transition, subsequently adjusted by the extent that the current year’s expense differs from the current year’s payments to the funds.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

    The pension expense under US GAAP is based on the same method of valuation of liabilities and assets. Differences in the level of expense and liabilities (or assets) occur due to the different transition date under US GAAP.
 
    Furthermore, under US GAAP an additional liability is recognized immediately in a situation where the accumulated benefit obligation exceeds the fair value of the plan assets. This additional liability is charged to shareholders’ equity. The accumulated benefit obligation differs from the projected benefit obligation in that it does not take into account future compensation levels. Under ING Group accounting principles in such situation the normal rules for differences between the projected benefit obligation and the fair value of plan assets continue to apply and, therefore, a liability is not recognized immediately.
 
j.   Post-employment benefits.
 
    Expenses and liabilities are determined under a similar methodology as described under pensions.
 
    The benefit expense under US GAAP is based on the same method of valuation of liabilities. Differences in the level of expense and liabilities occur due to the different transition date under US GAAP.
 
k.   Post-retirement benefits.
 
    Expenses and liabilities are determined under a similar methodology as described under pensions.
 
    The benefit expense under US GAAP is based on the same method of valuation of liabilities. Differences in the level of expense and liabilities occur due to the different transition date under US GAAP.
 
l.   Provision for life policy liabilities.
 
    The provision for life policy liabilities, under both Dutch and US GAAP, is calculated based on the benefits attributable to the policyholders as set out in the insurance contracts.
 
    Under both Dutch and US GAAP, the liability for life policy benefits for traditional life insurance contracts is computed using a net level premium method with assumptions such as expected investment yields, mortality, morbidity, terminations and expenses consistent with the provisions of SFAS 60, ‘Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises’. These assumptions are based on expectations at the time the insurance contracts are made and include a provision for adverse deviation. Additionally, under both Dutch and US GAAP, the adequacy of the provision for life policy benefits is evaluated each year and is augmented if necessary. The principal difference between Dutch and US GAAP relates to applied investment yields for certain Group companies.
 
    Under both Dutch and US GAAP, the liability for life policy benefits for universal life and investment type contracts as described in SFAS 97, ‘Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Long-Duration Contracts and for Realized Gains and Losses from the Sale of Investments’, is equal to the balance that accrues to the benefit of policyholders at the balance sheet date.
 
    These contracts include policies where the policyholder bears the investment risk, annual life funds and unit-linked policies. Investments related to such contracts are segregated and the majority is valued at fair value with changes in fair value recorded through current period earnings for both Dutch and US GAAP.
 
    In the Netherlands, the principal individual life insurance contracts sold by the subsidiaries of ING Group provide for bonuses and distributions on account of interest or underwriting experience to

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

    policyholders based on the overall results of the operations. Such amounts are generally credited in the form of additional paid-up insurance.
 
    Participating insurance contracts with such features are traditionally sold in the United States by mutual insurance companies. Under both Dutch and US GAAP, the liability for these types of contracts is equal to the net level reserve consistent with the provisions of SFAS 120, ‘Accounting and Reporting by Mutual Life Enterprises and by Insurance Enterprises for Certain Long-Duration Participating Contracts’.
 
    Under US GAAP, the revaluation reserve resulting from the valuation of debt securities at fair value (as explained in item c.) is adjusted for the impact thereof on deferred profit sharing to policyholders.
 
m.   Provision for future catastrophe and other insurance provisions.
 
    ING Group carries other insurance provisions for potential exposure to future losses. Amongst these is a non-life provision for future catastrophe and other accidental losses.
 
    Under US GAAP, these provisions are not allowed, since such losses are recorded in the period they are incurred. Amounts that are charged to the catastrophe provision under ING Group accounting principles are recorded in the profit and loss account under US GAAP; the amounts for 2001 relates primarily to the September 11 events in the US.
 
n.   Valuation and profit recognition of equity investments.
 
    This item relates to equity participations and certain equity investments. Equity participations that are held for sale are carried at either the lower of cost or market value or at net asset value. Dividends received and realized gains and losses on the sale of these shareholdings are charged to the profit and loss account.
 
    Under US GAAP, these shareholdings are accounted for at either fair value with changes in fair value recorded in shareholders’ equity, or, in cases where significant influence can be exercised by the shareholders, by the equity method.
 
    The criteria on recognition of gains and losses on the sale of certain equity investments are more stringent under US GAAP. As a result, profit on sale is not always recognized in the same accounting period.
 
o.   Stock compensation.
 
    This item relates to the equity compensation plan of ING America Holding Inc which provided certain key employees with Restricted American Depositary Shares (ADS) Units and Restricted Performance Units to reward individual performance (refer note 7.15) in 2001. Under Dutch GAAP no compensation expense is recognized for these compensation plans. Under US GAAP, compensation expense is recognized based on the APB 25. In 2002 Dutch GAAP is equal to US GAAP.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

6.2. Reconciliation of Dutch GAAP shareholders’ equity and net profit to US GAAP

                                           
      Shareholders' equity   Net profit
     
 
      2002   2001   2002   2001   2000
     
 
 
 
 
Amounts determined in accordance with Dutch GAAP:
    18,254       21,514       4,500       4,577       11,984  
Adjustments in respect of:
                                       
a. Goodwill:
                                       
 
Goodwill and other intangible assets
    4,601       16,645       (29 )     (1,751 )     (429 )(2)
 
Negative goodwill associated with the 1991 merger
                                    32  
b. Real estate:
                                       
 
Valuation
    (3,602 )     (3,678 )     (237 )     (230 )     (216 )
 
Realized gains and losses on sales
                    179       80       31  
c. Valuation of debt securities
    9,259       3,789 (1)     195       (129 )(1)     14  
d. Realized results on sales of debt securities:
                                       
 
Realized gains and losses on sales
                    414       301       16  
 
Reversal of provision for yield differences
    187       1,151       (179 )     (180 )     (228 )
 
Amortization of premiums and discounts
                    248       (150 )     (561 )
e. Valuation of equity securities
                    (1,085 )     (685 )        
f. Accounting for derivative financial instruments held for risk management
    (763 )     57       (472 )     (111 )     98  
g. Deferred acquisition costs of insurance contracts
    (400 )     78       25       25       184  
h. General provisions
                                    (215 )
i. Pension liabilities and pension costs
    (1,252 )     (704 )     24       35       18  
j. Post-employment benefits
            20               (1 )     (2 )
k. Post-retirement benefits
    64       73       (5 )     (8 )     50  
l. Provision for life policy liabilities
    (836 )     (546 )(1)     (51 )     (132 )(1)     (7 )
m. Provision for future catastrophe and other insurance provisions
    129       253       (172 )     (413 )     4  
n. Valuation and profit recognition of equity investments
    42       113       8       175       (221 )
o. Stock compensation
                            (22 )        
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Sub-total
    7,429       17,251       (1,137 )     (3,196 )     (1,432 )
Tax effect of the adjustments
    937       204       (99 )     (375 )     (361 )
Minority interest in adjustment (after tax)
    314       270       14       14       12  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Total adjustments
    6,806       17,317       (1,024 )     (2,807 )     (1,059 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Amounts determined in accordance with US GAAP (excluding effects of changes in accounting principles):
    25,060       38,831       3,476       1,770       10,925  
Cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles
                    (13,103 )                
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Amounts determined in accordance with US GAAP:
    25,060       38,831       (9,627 )     1,770       10,925  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

(1)   The 2001 presentation has been reclassified for the impact on the deferred profit sharing to policyholders from item c. to item l.
 
(2)   The adjustment recorded in 2000 for goodwill associated with acquisitions has been reduced by EUR 608 million as a result of a change in German tax law. Under Dutch GAAP, the release of deferred tax liabilities related to a prior acquisition of a group company is credited to equity as an adjustment to goodwill when the tax law is enacted. Under US GAAP, the adjustment is included in income from continuing operations for the period that included the enactment date.

6.3. Net profit per share

                         
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
Net profit determined in accordance with Dutch GAAP
    4,500       4,577       11,984  
Reconciling adjustments to net profit US GAAP
    (14,127 )     (2,807 )     (1,059 )
 
   
     
     
 
Net profit determined in accordance with US GAAP
    (9,627 )     1,770       10,925  
Dividend on preference shares
    (21 )     (21 )     (21 )
 
   
     
     
 
Net profit available for ordinary shares:
                       
Dutch GAAP
    4,479       4,556       11,963  
US GAAP
    (9,648 )     1,749       10,904  
Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding
    1,928.0       1,923.1       1,907.8  
Effect of dilutive securities:
                       
Warrants
            9.8       26.4  
Stock-plans
            9.6          
 
   
     
     
 
 
            19.4       26.4  
Weighted average ordinary shares adjusted for diluted computation
    1,928.0       1,942.5       1,934.2  
Basic earnings per share:
                       
Dutch GAAP
    2.32       2.37       6.27  
US GAAP (excluding effects of changes in accounting principles)(1)
    1.79       0.91       5.72  
US GAAP (including effects of changes in accounting principles)(1)
    (5.00 )     0.91       5.72  
Diluted earnings per share:
                       
Dutch GAAP
    2.32       2.35       6.18  
US GAAP (excluding effects of changes in accounting principles)(1)
    1.79       0.90       5.64  
US GAAP (including effects of changes in accounting principles)(1)
    (5.00 )     0.90       5.64  


(1)   The cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles is EUR 13,103 million as explained in note 7.12.

Method of computation of basic and diluted earnings per share has been described in note 3.5.

The net profit determined in accordance with US GAAP includes goodwill amortization expenses of EUR 1,338 million in 2001 and EUR 758 million in 2000. The net profit under US GAAP excluding this amortization is EUR 3,108 million in 2001 and EUR 11,683 million in 2000. The basic earnings per share in 2001 excluding this amortization is EUR 1.62 (2000: EUR 6.12)

6.4. Presentation differences between Dutch and US accounting principles

In addition to the differences in valuation and income recognition principles, other differences, essentially related to presentation, exist between Dutch and US GAAP. Although these differences do not cause differences between Dutch and US GAAP reported net profit and/or shareholders’ equity, it may be useful to understand them to better interpret the financial statements presented in accordance with Dutch GAAP. The following is a summary of the classification differences that pertain to the basic financial statements.

a.   Tangible fixed assets, comprised primarily of data processing equipment and other movable assets used in the company’s operations, are presented as a separate item in the balance sheet.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

    Under US GAAP, such assets are presented, together with all other assets used in the company’s operations, under Property and equipment.
 
b.   Joint ventures are accounted for using proportionate consolidation, reflecting the share in ownership (2).
 
    Under US GAAP, such investments are accounted for using the equity methode.

  (2)   Total assets proportional consolidated in the Dutch GAAP financial statements is EUR 5,547 million, total profit before income tax proportional consolidated in the Dutch GAAP financial statements is EUR 41 million.

c.   Real estate properties in use by ING Group’s operating entities are presented as an investment, and the related rental income as investment income and operating expense.
 
    Under US GAAP, real estate owned and occupied by a business unit is presented separately under the caption Property and equipment, and the impact of rental income and expense is eliminated from the profit and loss account.
 
d.   Equity securities of shareholdings in enterprises in the same industries as ING Group and certain receivables from the same enterprises are reported as participating interests, regardless of whether they are accounted for using the equity method.
 
    Under US GAAP, only shareholdings that are accounted for under the equity method are presented separately from other investments in equity securities.
 
e.   Investments for the risk of policyholders, interest in investment pools and deposits with reinsurers are included in Investments.
 
    Under US GAAP, investments for the risk of policyholders are included in Separate accounts and interests in investment pools and deposits with reinsurers are included in Other assets.
 
f.   Assets, other than real estate, under operational lease contracts are classified as Lending.
 
    Under US GAAP, assets under operational lease contracts are included in Other assets.
 
g.   The balance sheet value of derivative contracts is included in Other assets and Other liabilities.
 
    Under US GAAP the gross positive and negative fair values of derivatives that are considered to be held for trading purposes are presented under Trading account assets and Trading account liabilities.
 
h.   Funds received in financing transactions that involve the issuance of preferred shares (whether or not in conjunction with common shares) to banks are presented as a liability under Banks. Although the criteria for classification as shareholders’ equity appear to be met, in substance the amount is more a liability and is presented as such.
 
    Under U.S. GAAP, such funds are presented as minority interest as the legal definition of equity is met.
 
i.   Reinsurance recoverables on claims are recorded as an offset to the insurance provisions. Reinsurance ceded results are included in Underwriting Expenditure.
 
    Under US GAAP, the insurance liabilities are presented on a gross basis and the reinsured portion as an asset under Reinsurance receivables. Reinsurance ceded results are applied to each appropriate caption of the profit and loss account.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

j.   Premium income of the non-life operations is presented on a written basis, with the change in unearned premiums reported as an underwriting expenditure.
 
    Under US GAAP, non-life premium income is presented on an as earned basis.
 
k.   Premiums collected on universal-life type contracts and insurance contracts that do not expose the company to significant mortality or morbidity risks are reported as premium income and the allocation of these premiums to the provision for life policy benefits as an underwriting expense.
 
    Under US GAAP, premiums collected on these types of products are not reported as revenue in the profit and loss accounts; revenues from these products are amounts assessed against policyholders and are reported in the period that the amounts are assessed unless evidence indicates that the amounts are designed to compensate for services provided over more than one period.
 
l.   Death and surrender benefits paid on universal-life type contracts and the corresponding release of the provision for life policy benefits are reported separately as underwriting expenses in the profit and loss accounts.
 
    Under US GAAP, these items are not reported separately; benefits paid from these products are the amounts paid in excess of the related release of the provision for life policy benefits.
 
m.   Interest paid to contract holders of guaranteed investment contracts is reported as an investment expense that is netted against investment income.
 
    Under US GAAP, the interest paid to contract holders of guaranteed investment contracts is reported as an underwriting expense and not netted against investment income.
 
n.   Short-term and long-term borrowings are included in the following captions: funds entrusted to and debt securities of the banking operations and other liabilities.
 
    Under US GAAP, short-term borrowings are presented separately from long term borrowings.
 
o.   If the financial statements had been prepared in accordance with US GAAP, certain items, which are included in interest income and expense, would have been classified differently. Included in these captions are, among others, the amortization of realized gains (losses) on sales of certain financial instruments used in interest rate risk management which have been deferred, results of interest arbitrage transactions and certain loan fees.
 
    Under US GAAP, realized gains (losses) on sales of financial instruments are classified as either trading income or separately as results from sales. Results of interest arbitrage transactions are included in trading income under US GAAP.
 
p.   Investment expenditures include certain amounts for interest charges and value adjustments to investments as well as administrative expenses.
 
    Under US GAAP, investment expenditures would generally only include administrative expenses

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

6.5. Condensed consolidated balance sheet

The following is a condensed consolidated balance sheet of ING Group, for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001, restated to reflect the impacts of the valuation and presentation differences between Dutch and US GAAP.

                                 
    2002   2001
   
 
    U.S. GAAP   Dutch GAAP   U.S. GAAP   Dutch GAAP
   
 
 
 
Assets
                               
Total investments
    236,599       297,581       221,435       307,446  
Separate accounts
    64,282               82,744          
Trading account assets
    65,245       36,174       55,321       33,901  
Loans
    280,568       284,448       250,782       254,214  
Banks
    45,760       45,682       54,110       54,083  
Cash and due from banks
    11,421       11,421       9,264       9,264  
Participating interests
    1,568       2,883       1,258       2,628  
Reinsurance receivables
    7,880       797       11,309       669  
Other receivables
    12,810       12,531       13,558       13,304  
Deferred policy acquisition costs
    10,236       10,636       11,433       11,355  
Goodwill and other intangible assets
    4,601               16,645          
Property and equipment
    3,579       1,415       4,906       2,032  
Other assets
    17,965       12,802       19,521       16,223  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Total assets
    762,514       716,370       752,286       705,119  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Liabilities
                               
Future policy benefits, claims reserves, other policyholder funds and unearned premiums
    203,526       195,831       224,501       213,986  
Deposits
    244,331       319,824       201,960       276,367  
Banks
    96,393       96,267       107,829       107,810  
Trading account liabilities
    30,130               19,959          
Short-term borrowings and current maturities of long-term debt
    50,225               49,049          
Long-term borrowings, excluding current maturities
    64,299               61,818          
Other liabilities
    43,996       82,089       44,606       81,439  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Total liabilities
    732,900       694,011       709,722       679,602  
Minority interests
    4,554       4,105       3,733       4,003  
Shareholders’ equity
    25,060       18,254       38,831       21,514  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Total liabilities, minority interests and shareholders’equity
    762,514       716,370       752,286       705,119  
 
   
     
     
     
 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

6.6. Condensed consolidated profit and loss account

Following is a condensed consolidated profit and loss account of ING Group, for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 to reflect the impacts of the valuation and presentation differences between Dutch and US GAAP.

                                                 
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
    U.S. GAAP   Dutch GAAP   U.S. GAAP   Dutch GAAP   U.S. GAAP   Dutch GAAP
   
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues
    47,842       76,801       49,313       74,488       50,636       58,165  
Expenses
    43,030       70,880       46,401       68,422       38,081       44,196  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Profit before income taxes
    4,812       5,921       2,912       6,066       12,555       13,969  
Income taxes
    990       1,089       804       1,165       1,483       1,838  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Profit after income taxes
    3,822       4,832       2,108       4,901       11,072       12,131  
Minority interests
    346       332       338       324       147       147  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Net profit (excluding effect of changes in accounting principles)
    3,476       4,500       1,770       4,577       10,925       11,984  
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles
    (13,103 )                                        
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Net profit (including effect of changes in accounting principles)
    (9,627 )     4,500       1,770       4,577       10,925       11,984  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

Revenues under Dutch GAAP are reconciled to Revenues under US GAAP as follows:

                         
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
Revenues, Dutch GAAP
    76,801       74,488       58,165  
Presentation differences premium income
    (28,216 )     (25,239 )     (7,227 )
Presentation differences investment income
    (50 )     (51 )     (45 )
Valuation differences investment income
    (693 )     115       (257 )
 
   
     
     
 
Revenues US GAAP
    47,842       49,313       50,636  
 
   
     
     
 

Presentation differences relate to Dutch GAAP revenue that is not included in revenue under US GAAP, but equally impacts expenses under US GAAP; therefore, there is no impact on net income.

6.7. Consolidated Statement of cash flows

The Consolidated Statement of cash flows presented according to International Accounting Standards is included on page F-6.

6.8. Newly issued accounting standards

In April 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 145 (“SFAS 145”) “Rescission of FASB statements no. 4, 44, and 64, amendment of FASB statement no. 13, and technical corrections”. SFAS 145 is effective for financial statements issued on or after May 15, 2002. Adoption of SFAS 145 will have no impact on the ING Group’s financial position or results of operations.

In June 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No 146 “Accounting for costs associated with exit or disposal activities” (“SFAS 146”). SFAS 146 requires that a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity is recognized when the liability is incurred. SFAS 146 eliminates the definition and requirements of a liability for an exit cost in EITF Issue 94-3, which requires recognition at the date of an entity’s commitment to an exit plan. Under

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

SFAS 146 an entity’s commitment to a plan, by itself, does not create a present obligation to others that meets the definition of a liability. In addition, this Statement establishes that fair value is the objective for initial measurement of the liability. SFAS 146 is effective for exit or disposal activities initiated after December 31, 2002. The impact that SFAS 146 will have on ING Group’s financial position and results of operations as from January 1, 2003 will be dependent on exit or disposal activities initiated after this date.

In October 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No 147 “Acquisitions of Certain Financial Institutions — an amendment of FASB Statements No. 72 and 144 and FASB Interpretation No. 9” (“SFAS 147”). SFAS 147 removes all financial institutions acquisitions, except for those between two or more mutual enterprises, from the scope of both SFAS 72 and Interpretation 9 and requires that those transactions be accounted for in accordance with SFAS 141, “Business Combinations” and SFAS 142 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”. In addition, SFAS 147 amends SFAS 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”, to include in its scope long-term customer-relationship intangible assets of financial institutions such as depositor- and borrower-relationship intangible assets and credit cardholder intangible assets. SFAS 147 is effective for acquisitions for which the date of acquisition is on or after 1 October 2002. Adoption of SFAS 147 will have no impact on the ING Group’s financial position or results of operations.

In December 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 148 (“SFAS 148”) “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure—an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123”. This Statement amends FASB Statement No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”, to provide alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. SFAS 148 also amends the disclosure requirements of SFAS 123 to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results. SFAS 148 is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2002. ING Group will not change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and therefore the transition methods are not applicable for ING Group. Current disclosure meets the requirements of SFAS 148.

In November 2002, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 45, “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others”. Guarantors will have to meet new disclosure and liability-recognition requirements for guarantees of debt that fall within the scope of newly issued FASB Interpretation 45. The initial recognition and initial measurement requirements of the Interpretation are effective prospectively for guarantees issued or modified after December 31, 2002. The disclosure requirements are effective for financial statements of interim or annual periods ending 31 December 2002. ING Group adopted the disclosure requirements as from 2002. The impact of the recognition of these liabilities will not have a significant impact on the ING Groups financial position or results of operations.

In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities”. Many variable interest entities have commonly been referred to as special-purpose entities or off-balance sheet structures, but the guidance applies to a larger population of entities. Interpretation 46 requires a variable interest entity to be consolidated by a company if that company is subject to a majority of the risk of loss from the variable interest entity’s activities or entitled to receive a majority of the entity’s residual returns or both. Until now, one company generally has included another entity in its consolidated financial statements only if it controlled the entity through voting interests. The Interpretation’s consolidation provisions will be effective for variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003. ING Group made a preliminary investigation into the existence of variable interest entities that should be consolidated under the newly issued interpretation and has not yet determined or estimated the impact on the ING Group’s financial position or results of operations. The interpretation’s disclosure requirements are effective for financial statements issued after January 31, 2003 regardless of the date on which the variable interest entity was created. ING adopted the disclosure requirements as of 2002.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Under Dutch law, it was expected that goodwill related to acquisition as from January 1, 2003, should be recognized as an asset and amortized over its useful life. However, the amendments to Dutch Law have not been finalized and it is currently uncertain whether the requirements will be amended and what the effective date will be. The impact that this change would have on ING Group’s financial position and results of operations depends on the amount of goodwill related to new acquisitions after the effective date of any change in the law.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

7.     ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REQUIRED UNDER U.S. GAAP

7.1. Investments

Debt securities include fixed-interest securities, with the exception of mortgage loans and policy loans. Following is a summary of investments in marketable securities at December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000. Amounts reported in the column “Balance Sheet Value” correspond to the Dutch GAAP balance sheet value.

                                         
            Gross   Gross   Estimated   Balance
    Amortized   unrealized   unrealized   fair   sheet
    cost   gains   losses   value   value
   
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2002
                                       
Debt securities available-for-sale:
                                       
- Dutch Government
    8,566       678       31       9,213       8,593  
- Foreign Governments
    57,096       3,745       181       60,660       56,520  
- Corporate debt securities
    48,040       2,594       328       50,306       47,647  
- Mortgage-backed securities
    36,503       1,444       283       37,664       36,668  
- Other
    30,185       950       80       31,055       30,219  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Sub-total
    180,390       9,411       903       188,898       179,647  
Shares and convertible debentures
    9,831       2,780       333       12,278       12,278  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    190,221       12,191       1,236       201,176       191,925  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
December 31, 2001
                                       
Debt securities available-for-sale:
                                       
- Dutch Government
    8,434       456       49       8,841       8,492  
- Foreign Governments
    48,231       1,829       389       49,671       47,856  
- Corporate debt securities
    51,764       2,077       567       53,274       51,844  
- Mortgage-backed securities
    31,666       802       427       32,041       32,022  
- Other
    23,605       462       109       23,958       23,726  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Sub-total
    163,700       5,626       1,541       167,785       163,940  
Shares and convertible debentures
    13,482       6,501       481       19,502       19,502  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    177,182       12,127       2,022       187,287       183,442  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
December 31, 2000
                                       
Debt securities available-for-sale:
                                       
- Dutch Government
    8,802       476       99       9,179       8,858  
- Foreign Governments
    41,912       1,158       248       42,822       41,266  
- Corporate debt securities
    49,756       742       799       49,699       49,996  
- Mortgage-backed securities
    15,052       419       273       15,198       15,464  
- Other
    20,164       273       183       20,255       20,567  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Sub-total
    135,686       3,068       1,602       137,153       136,151  
Shares and convertible debentures
    12,363       10,402       613       22,152       22,152  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    148,049       13,470       2,215       159,305       158,303  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 

Maturities of debt securities

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of debt securities by contractual maturity are shown below. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without penalties.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

                 
            2002
    Amortized   Estimated
    cost   fair value
   
 
- Within one year
    14,570       14,658  
- After 1 year through 5 years
    45,394       47,388  
- After 5 years through 10 years
    52,522       55,559  
- After 10 years
    29,807       31,913  
- Without maturity
    1,594       1,716  
- Mortgage-backed securities
    36,503       37,664  
 
   
     
 
Total
    180,390       188,898  
 
   
     
 

Proceeds on sales of investments in debt securities, shares and convertible debentures

During the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 proceeds from sales of debt securities were EUR 169,332 million, EUR 167,621 million and EUR 91,938 million respectively. For the same periods, proceeds from sales of shares and convertible debentures were EUR 10,421 million, EUR 7,702 million and EUR 18,467 million respectively.

Realized gains and losses on sales of debt securities and termination of derivative financial instruments

Under Dutch GAAP, debt securities are stated under Investments at redemption value. The difference between redemption value and the purchase price is included as a provision for yield difference in either Accrued liabilities or Accrued assets. Realized gains and losses on sales of debt securities are calculated as the difference between the proceeds and the redemption values and are also included in the provision for yield difference. The provision for yield differences also includes realized results on the termination of derivative financial instruments. The provision for yield difference is amortized over the estimated average remaining life to maturity of the portfolio.

The changes in the provision for yield difference are as follows:

                         
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
Opening balance
    1,688       1,314       1,530  
Additions and reductions
    (2,034 )     224       195  
Amortization
    1,242       122       (441 )
Foreign currency translation adjustments
    (21 )     28       30  
 
   
     
     
 
Ending balance
    875       1,688       1,314  
 
   
     
     
 

The change in the revaluation reserves to realized and unrealized results on shares and convertible debentures consists of:

                         
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
Realized gains and losses
    (1,003 )     (1,110 )     (7,814 )
Unrealized gains and losses
    (3,977 )     (3,409 )     136  
 
   
     
     
 
Total
    (4,980 )     (4,519 )     (7,678 )
 
   
     
     
 

The portion of trading gains and losses for the year ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 that relates to trading securities still held at December 31, amounts to EUR 8 million, EUR 92 million and EUR (10) million respectively.

7.2. Lending

Loans are stated at their outstanding principal balances. Interest income is accrued on the unpaid principal balance. Each of the business units within the banking operations of ING Group maintains its

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

own system for servicing and monitoring past due loans. ING Group’s international banking offices and subsidiaries generally account for delinquent loans in accordance with US GAAP. Domestic banking offices follow the same policy for consumer mortgage and personal loans. For commercial loans combined with an overdraft facility, interest continues to accrue and is charged to that overdraft facility. The collectibility of the overdraft facility is evaluated with the primary loan on a regular basis, and a provision is established as deemed necessary in the judgment of management.

ING Group identifies loans as impaired as those loans for which it is probable that the principal and interest amounts contractually due will not be collected. ING Group evaluates all loans on non-accrual status for potential impairment as well as other loans of which management may have concerns as to the ultimate collectibility.

The following table summarizes ING Group’s investments in impaired loans as of December 31. In accordance with SFAS 114, small balance homogeneous loans such as consumer mortgages and loans and small business loans are excluded from the definition of impaired loans presented below.

                 
    2002   2001
   
 
Total recorded investment in impaired loans at December 31
    7,895       7,074  
Amount of impaired loans for which a provision exists
    5,923       5,602  
Amount of provision related to impaired loans
    3,087       3,152  
Average recorded investment in impaired loans during the period
    7,277       6,026  
Interest income on impaired loans recognized in the period
    290       311  
Interest income on impaired loans recognized on a cash basis
    148       149  

7.3. Deferred tax assets

The net deferred tax assets amounting to EUR 5,223 million (2001: EUR 4,619 million) includes a provision for doubtful deferred tax assets of EUR 915 million (2001: EUR 1,261 million).

7.4. Pension liabilities

In the main countries in which ING Group operates, employees’ retirement arrangements that cover the majority of employees are provided by defined benefit plans based on average remuneration and length of service. These are generally externally funded, with assets of the plan held separately from those of ING Group in independently administered funds. Some smaller Dutch plans are fully insured with insurance companies of ING Group.

Where a constructive obligation exists by a business to provide benefits as established by a history of such benefits, these have been valued in accordance with International Accounting Standards.

Net periodic pension cost

The aggregate amount of the net periodic pension cost for the defined benefit pension plans computed in accordance with SFAS No. 87 is presented below.

                           
      2002   2001   2000
     
 
 
Service cost
    467       343       284  
Interest cost
    599       530       427  
Expected return on assets
    (647 )     (693 )     (612 )
Amortization of:
                       
 
Transition obligation (asset)
    (17 )     (17 )     (17 )
 
Actuarial (gain) loss
    19       (11 )     (31 )
 
   
     
     
 
Net employer cost
    421       152       51  
 
   
     
     
 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Projected benefit obligation

A detailed reconciliation of the Projected Benefit Obligation for the defined benefit retirement plans over 2002 and 2001 is presented in the following table:

                 
    2002   2001
   
 
Net benefit obligation beginning of year
    9,233       8,206  
Service cost
    467       343  
Interest cost
    599       530  
Plan participants’ contributions
            2  
Effect of prior service cost
    20       7  
Actuarial (gain) loss
    647       153  
Acquisitions and disposals
    (41 )     212  
Curtailments
    (9 )     (5 )
Gross benefits paid
    (293 )     (277 )
Currency (gain) loss
    (231 )     62  
Other (transfer of plan from post employment to pension FAS 112)
    662          
 
   
     
 
Net benefit obligation at end of year
    11,054       9,233  
 
   
     
 

Fair value of plan assets

A detailed reconciliation of the Fair Value of Plan Assets for the defined benefit retirement plans over 2002 and 2001 is presented in the following table:

                 
    2002   2001
   
 
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
    8,859       9,015  
Actual return on plan assets
    (893 )     (386 )
Employer contributions
    1,376       429  
Plan participants’ contributions
            2  
Acquisitions
    3       4  
Gross benefits paid
    (293 )     (277 )
Currency (gain) loss
    (211 )     72  
 
   
     
 
Fair value of plan assets
    8,841       8,859  
 
   
     
 

Funded status reconciliation

A detailed reconciliation of the funded status at December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 including amounts recognized in the ING Group’s financial statements is presented in the following table:

                         
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
Funded status at end of year deficit/(surplus)
    2,213       374       (809 )
Unrecognized net actuarial gain (loss)
    (2,310 )     (364 )     870  
Unrecognized prior service cost
    (7 )     11       19  
Unrecognized net transition (obligation) asset
    15       33       50  
 
   
     
     
 
Net amount recognized at end of year
    (89 )     54       130  
 
   
     
     
 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

These amounts recognized in the statement of financial position consist of the following:

                         
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
Prepaid benefit cost
    (1,128 )     (974 )     (806 )
Accrued benefit cost
    1,039       1,028       936  
Additional minimum liability
    436       3       3  
Intangible asset
    (7 )                
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    (429 )     (3 )     (3 )
 
   
     
     
 
Net amount recognized at end of year
    (89 )     54       130  
 
   
     
     
 

A breakdown of the Projected Benefit Obligation (PBO) and Fair Value of the Plan Assets is given below:

                                                 
    December 31, 2002   December 31, 2001   December 31, 2000
   
 
 
    Assets   PBO   Assets   PBO   Assets   PBO
    exceed   exceeds   exceed   exceeds   exceed   exceeds
    PBO   assets   PBO   assets   PBO   assets
   
 
 
 
 
 
PBO
    2,855       8,199       8,153       1,080       7,408       798  
Fair Value of Plan Assets
    2,974       5,867       8,576       283       8,750       264  

Financial assumptions

The weighted average of principal actuarial assumptions used for valuation purposes, rounded to the nearest 25 basis points, were:

                         
    Dec. 31,   Dec. 31,   Dec. 31,
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
Discount rate
    6.00 %     6.25 %     6.25 %
Salary increase
    2.75 %     3.00 %     3.00 %
Cost of living increase
    2.25 %     2.25 %     2.25 %
                         
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
Expected return on assets
    7.50 %     7.75 %     7.75 %

All assumptions except the expected return on assets were weighted by projected benefit obligations. The expected rate of return on assets assumption was weighted by the fair value of assets.

Defined contribution plans

ING Group also operates a number of defined contribution plans covering employees of certain subsidiaries. The assets of all ING Group’s defined contribution plans are held in independently administered funds. Contributions are generally determined as a percentage of pay. The pension costs charged to the profit and loss account represent contributions payable by ING Group to the funds.

7.5 Post-retirement benefits other than pensions

ING Group provides post-retirement health care benefits to a number of retired employees in certain countries, principally the Netherlands and the United States, which are predominantly unfunded.

Valuation of the major Dutch plans assumes medical cost inflation of 3.0% (2001: 2.75%; 2000: 2.75%). The discount rate assumed at December 31, 2002 was 5.75% (2001: 7.5%; 2000: 6.0%). The valuation of the major US plans assume that medical cost inflation will fall from its current level of 10.0% (2001: 8.0%; 2000: 8.5%) over the next few years and reach a constant level of 5.0% (2001: 5.5%; 2000:

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Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

5.5%) in five years. The weighted average discount rate assumed for the major US plans at December 31, 2002 was 6.75% (2001: 7.5%; 2000: 7.75%).

Net periodic benefit cost

The following are the components of net periodic cost for the post-retirement healthcare plans.

                                                                           
      2002   2001   2000
     
 
 
      Non-   U.S.           Non-   U.S.           Non-   U.S.        
      U.S. plans   plans   Total   U.S. plans   plans   Total   U.S. plans   plans   Total
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost
    17       4       21       13       4       17       13       3       16  
Interest cost
    22       9       31       23       11       34       16       7       23  
Amortization of:
                                                                       
 
Transition obligation
                                                    1               1  
 
Prior service costs
    3               3       2       (3 )     (1 )             (10 )     (10 )
 
Actuarial (gain) loss
            (2 )     (2 )             1       1               1       1  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Net employer cost
    42       11       53       38       13       51       30       1       31  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

An increase of 1% in the assumed health care costs for each future year would have resulted in an additional accumulated projected benefit obligation of EUR 81 million at December 31, 2002 (2001: EUR 62 million; 2000: EUR 60 million) and an increase in the charge for the year of EUR 11 million (2001 and 2000: EUR 8 million). A decrease of 1% in the assumed health care costs for each future year would have resulted in lower accumulated projected benefit obligation of EUR 46 million at December 31, 2002 (2001: EUR 50 million; 2000: EUR 60 million) and a decrease in the charge for the year of EUR 7 million (2001 and 2000: EUR 7 million).

7.6 Post employment benefits

In the Netherlands ING Group provides post employment income benefits to eligible employees based on employee pensionable remuneration.

Net periodic benefit cost

The aggregate amount of net periodic benefit costs for the post employment benefit plans computed in accordance with SFAS No. 112 principles is presented below:

                           
      2002   2001   2000
     
 
 
Service cost
    8       42       43  
Interest cost
    32       78       65  
Expected return on assets
    (14 )     (15 )     (11 )
Amortization of:
                       
 
Actuarial (gain) loss
            4       3  
Curtailments
    (128 )                
 
   
     
     
 
Net employer cost
    (102 )     109       100  
 
   
     
     
 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Projected benefit obligation

A detailed reconciliation of the Projected Benefit Obligation for the post employment benefit plans over 2002, 2001 and 2000 is presented in the following table:

                         
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
Net benefit obligation beginning of year
    1,467       1,231       1,182  
Service cost
    8       42       43  
Interest cost
    32       78       65  
Actuarial (gain) loss
    (152 )     133       12  
Acquisitions and disposals
    (35 )     66          
Curtailments
    (128 )                
Gross benefits paid
    (80 )     (83 )     (71 )
Other (transfer of plan from pension to post employment FAS 112)
    (662 )                
 
   
     
     
 
Net benefit obligation at end of year
    450       1,467       1,231  
 
   
     
     
 

Fair value of plan assets

A detailed reconciliation of the Fair Value of Plan Assets for the defined benefit retirement plans over 2002, 2001 and 2000 is presented in the following table:

                         
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
    243       260       240  
Actual return on plan assets
    18       14       42  
Employer contributions
    46       52       49  
Gross benefits paid
    (80 )     (83 )     (71 )
 
   
     
     
 
Fair value of plan assets
    227       243       260  
 
   
     
     
 

Funded status reconciliation

A detailed reconciliation of the funded status at December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 including amounts recognized in the ING Group’s statement of financial position is presented in the following table:

                         
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
Funded status at end of year deficit/(surplus)
    223       1,224       971  
Unrecognized net actuarial gain (loss)
                    (28 )
Unrecognized net transition (obligation) asset
    17       (157 )        
 
   
     
     
 
Net amount recognized at end of year
    240       1,067       943  
 
   
     
     
 

These amounts recognized in the statement of financial position consist of the following:

                         
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
Accrued benefit cost
    (240 )     (1,067 )     (943 )
 
   
     
     
 
Net amount recognized at end of year
    (240 )     (1,067 )     (943 )
 
   
     
     
 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

A breakdown of the Projected Benefit Obligation (PBO) and Fair Value of the Plan Assets is given below:

                                                 
    December 31, 2002   December 31, 2001   December 31, 2000
   
 
 
    Assets   PBO   Assets   PBO   Assets   PBO
    exceed   exceeds   exceed   exceeds   exceed   exceeds
    PBO   assets   PBO   assets   PBO   assets
   
 
 
 
 
 
PBO
            450               1,467               1,231  
Fair Value of Plan Assets
            227               243               260  

Financial assumptions

The weighted average of principal actuarial assumptions used for valuation purposes, rounded to the nearest 25 basis points, were:

                         
    Dec 31,   Dec 31,   Dec 31,
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
Discount rate
    6.00 %     6.00 %     6.00 %
Salary increase
    2.75 %     2.75 %     2.75 %
Cost of living increase
    2.25 %     2.25 %     2.25 %
                         
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
Expected return on assets
    7.50 %     6.00 %     6.00 %

Expected return on assets is weighted by the fair value of assets. All other assumptions were weighted by projected benefit obligations.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

7.7. Analysis of the non-life liability for unpaid claims and claims adjustment expenses

Activity in the non-life liability for unpaid claims and claims adjustment expenses is as follows:

                         
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
Gross opening balance at January 1
    7,016       5,363       5,021  
Less reinsurance recoverable
    1,124       277       262  
 
   
     
     
 
Net opening balance at January 1
    5,892       5,086       4,759  
Changes in composition of Group companies
            194       86  
 
   
     
     
 
Adjusted net opening balance at January 1
    5,892       5,280       4,845  
Add:
                       
Provision for losses and loss adjustment expenses for claims occurring in the current year, net of reinsurance
    3,970       3,669       2,697  
Change in estimated losses and loss adjustment expenses for claims occurring in prior years, net of reinsurance
    310       (24 )     (50 )
Interest accrual of provision for disability losses
    45       36       22  
 
   
     
     
 
Total incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance
    4,325       3,681       2,669  
Deduct loss and loss adjustment expenses payments for claims, net of reinsurance, occurring during the:
                       
Current year
    2,397       2,041       1,362  
Prior years
    1,326       1,369       991  
 
   
     
     
 
Total paid, net of reinsurance
    3,723       3,410       2,353  
Foreign currency translation adjustments
    (393 )     (8 )     34  
Other changes
    289       349       (109 )
 
   
     
     
 
Net ending balance at December 31
    6,390       5,892       5,086  
Plus reinsurance recoverable(1)
    807       1,124       277  
 
   
     
     
 
Gross ending balance at December 31
    7,197       7,016       5,363  
 
   
     
     
 


(1)   The increase mainly relates to new acquisitions in 2001 (refer ‘Change in the composition of the Group’ Page F-7).

ING Group had an outstanding balance of EUR 112 million at December 31, 2002 (EUR 93 million at December 31, 2001; EUR 86 million at December 31, 2000) relating to environmental and asbestos claims of the insurance operations. In establishing the liability for unpaid claims and claims adjustment expenses related to asbestos -related illness and toxic waste cleanup, the management of ING Group considers facts currently known and the current state of the law and coverage litigation. Liabilities are recognized for IBNR claims and for known claims (including the costs of related litigation) when sufficient information has been developed to indicate the involvement of a specific insurance policy, and management can reasonably estimate its liability. In addition, liabilities are reviewed and updated continually.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

7.8. Funds entrusted to and debt securities of the banking operations

The debt securities relate to debentures and other issued debt securities with either fixed interest rates or interest rates based on interest-rate levels, such as certificates of deposit and accepted bills issued by ING Group, except for subordinated items. ING Group does not have debt securities that are issued on terms other than those available in the normal course of business. The maturities of the debt securities are as follows:

                                                 
    2002   2001
   
 
    Domestic   Foreign   Total   Domestic   Foreign   Total
   
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed rate debt securities
                                               
- 1 year or less
    9,435       13,667       23,102       5,547       31,157       36,704  
- 2 years or less but over 1 year
    1,233       3,509       4,742       699       2,115       2,814  
- 3 years or less but over 2 years
    906       3,106       4,012       1,218       4,939       6,157  
- 4 years or less but over 3 years
    1,222       3,381       4,603       585       2,942       3,527  
- 5 years or less but over 4 years
    1,421       879       2,300       891       1,295       2,186  
- over five years
    4,181       2,595       6,776       5,651       4,094       9,745  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total fixed rate debt securities
    18,398       27,137       45,535       14,591       46,542       61,133  
Floating rate debt securities
                                               
- 1 year or less
    1,995       19,129       21,124       956       2,161       3,117  
- 2 years or less but over 1 year
    958       1,690       2,648       2,553       1,108       3,661  
- 3 years or less but over 2 years
    47       793       840       1,090       431       1,521  
- 4 years or less but over 3 years
    425       2,456       2,881       62       1,624       1,686  
- 5 years or less but over 4 years
    24       1,634       1,658       583       935       1,518  
- over five years
    620       187       807       579       1,193       1,772  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total floating rate debt securities
    4,069       25,889       29,958       5,823       7,452       13,275  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total debt securities
    22,467       53,026       75,493       20,414       53,994       74,408  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

As of December 31, 2002, ING Group had unused lines of credit available for the banking operations, including the payment of commercial paper borrowings presented above as part of the debt securities, totaling EUR 12,469 million (2001: EUR 7,614 million). The commercial paper programs of the insurance operations are presented as part of Other liabilities, in Note 7.9.

Funds entrusted to and debt securities of the banking operations include the short-term borrowings, borrowings with an original maturity of one year or less. The only category of short-term borrowings for which the average balance outstanding during the year was equal to or greater than 30% of consolidated shareholders’ equity at December 31, 2002 consists of commercial paper. None of the categories of short-term borrowings exceeded 30% of consolidated shareholders’ equity in earlier years. An analysis of the balance and interest rates paid on commercial paper is provided below.

         
    2002
   
Year-end balance
    12,156  
Average balance
    6,320  
Maximum month-end balance
    12,156  
Average interest rate during the year
    3.00 %
Average interest rate at year-end
    2.14 %

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

7.9. Borrowings

Maturities of borrowings presented as part of Other liabilities are as follows:

                                                         
    December 31, 2002
   
                                            There        
    2003   2004   2005   2006   2007   after   Total
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Subordinated loans of group companies
    739       523       599       995       1,853       10,716       15,425  
Debenture loans
    797       800       2,825       2,064       1,572       3,302       11,360  
Loans taken up
    5,402       33       108       543               529       6,615  
Loans from credit institutions
    2,885       162       166       1       125       416       3,755  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    9,823       1,518       3,698       3,603       3,550       14,963       37,155  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
                                                         
    December 31, 2001
   
                                            There        
    2002   2003   2004   2005   2006   after   Total
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Subordinated loans of group companies
    967       637       619       894       1,472       7,789       12,378  
Debenture loans
    114       714       651       3,492       2,438       4,061       11,470  
Loans taken up
    5,297       630       25       125       238       2,110       8,425  
Loans from credit institutions
    2,849       188       102       1       64       286       3,490  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    9,227       2,169       1,397       4,512       4,212       14,246       35,763  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

Commercial paper of the insurance operations, with a carrying value of EUR 3,544 million and EUR 4,244 million at December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively, is included in Other liabilities. Lines of credit of EUR 946 million and EUR 1,531 million support various commercial paper programs at December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively. Commercial paper borrowings of the banking operations are presented as part of the Funds entrusted to and debt securities of the banking operations. See Note 7.8.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Debt issues are as follows:

                                 
                    Balance   Balance
                    sheet   sheet
    Interest   Maturity   amount   amount
Type of issue   rate   date   2002   2001

 
 
 
 
Group companies’ subordinated loans
                               
 
    5.13 %     2002               226  
 
    9.13 %     2002               179  
 
    8.63 %     2002               181  
 
    3.61 %     2003       100       100  
 
    5.19 %     2003       95       113  
 
    7.00 %     2003               102  
 
    9.00 %     2003               102  
 
    6.00 %     2004       121       142  
 
    8.00 %     2004       99          
 
    5.00 %     2005       286       339  
 
    7.57 %     2005       91          
 
    7.52 %     2005       62          
 
    7.25 %     2006       143       170  
 
    6.25 %     2006       416       415  
 
    7.00 %     2006               102  
 
    6.00 %     2007       435       678  
 
    6.00 %     2007       267          
 
    8.00 %     2007       54          
 
    5.38 %     2008       310       330  
 
    5.13 %     2008       112       113  
 
    4.63 %     2009       489       493  
 
    6.70 %     2009       112          
 
    6.50 %     2010       728       720  
 
    7.00 %     2010       538       573  
 
    5.88 %     2011       1,221       1,231  
 
    7.25 %     2011       143       159  
 
    5.50 %     2012       1,770       756  
 
    5.25 %     2013       419          
 
    5.00 %     2015       125          
 
    5.00 %     2019       63          
 
    6.25 %     2021               1,250  
 
    7.05 %             762          
 
    7.20 %             572          
Debentures loans
                               
 
    3.50 %     2003               203  
 
    4.75 %     2003               511  
 
    3.51 %     2004       206          
 
    3.75 %     2004               203  
 
    7.13 %     2004               454  
 
    3.00 %     2005       206          
 
    3.75 %     2005       206          
 
    3.75 %     2005       206       203  
 
    5.00 %     2005               1,000  
 
    5.50 %     2005               1,500  
 
    6.25 %     2005       113       113  
 
    7.00 %     2005       113       113  
 
    7.50 %     2005       381       452  
 
    8.50 %     2005               565  

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

                                 
                    Balance   Balance
                    sheet   sheet
    Interest   Maturity   amount   amount
Type of issue   rate   date   2002   2001

 
 
 
 
 
    8.50 %     2005               117  
 
    3.00 %     2006               271  
 
    3.50 %     2006       206       203  
 
    5.50 %     2006       286       339  
 
    5.50 %     2006       191       226  
 
    6.00 %     2006       381          
 
    7.13 %     2006               400  
 
    3.00 %     2007       206          
 
    3.00 %     2007       275          
 
    5.88 %     2007       340       340  
 
    6.00 %     2007               750  
 
    6.00 %     2007               452  
 
    5.50 %     2009               1,000  
 
    6.25 %     2009       113       113  
 
    6.13 %     2011               1,000  
 
    6.75 %     2013       184          
 
    7.25 %     2023       180          
 
    7.63 %     2026       419          
 
    8.42 %     2027               225  
 
    6.97 %     2036       289          
Loans from credit institutions
                               
 
    1.50 %     2004       101          
 
    5.05 %     2004               101  
 
    5.47 %     2026               113  
Loans taken up
                               
 
    7.63 %     2003               136  
 
    8.63 %     2005       107       124  
 
    8.00 %     2006       194       226  
 
    6.50 %     2008       181       226  
 
    6.04 %     2009       235          
 
    6.75 %     2013               217  
 
    8.10 %     2016               141  
 
    8.00 %     2017               127  
 
    7.25 %     2023               212  
 
    7.63 %     2026               496  
 
    6.97 %     2036               342  
Other issues maturing in 2003
                    9,628       8,641  
Issues less than EUR 100 million maturing beyond 2003
                    12,675       5,434  
 
                   
     
 
Total
                    37,155       35,763  
 
                   
     
 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

Variable interest rate debts outstanding have been classified based on interest rates as at December 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001, respectively.

7.10. Preference shares of group companies

In December 2000, ING Capital Funding Trust III (the “trust III”), a wholly owned company of ING Group in the United States issued 1.5 million 8.439% non-cumulative guaranteed trust preference shares (the “8.439% trust preference shares”), with a liquidation preference of USD 1,000 per share, plus any accrued interest and unpaid dividend. The proceeds from the sale of the trust preference shares were invested in preference shares (“company preference shares”) of ING Capital Funding III LLC (“LLC III”), a limited liability company in the United States and a wholly owned company of ING Group. The LLC has used the proceeds from the sale of its company preference shares to purchase subordinated notes of ING Group.

In June 2000, ING Capital Funding Trust II (the “trust II”), a wholly owned company of ING Group in the United States issued 10 million 9.2% non-cumulative guaranteed trust preference shares (the “9.2% trust preference shares”), with a liquidation preference of USD 25 per share, plus any accrued interest and unpaid dividend. The proceeds from the sale of the trust preference shares were invested in preference shares (“company preference shares”) of ING Capital Funding II LLC (“LLC II”), a limited liability company in the United States and a wholly owned company of ING Group. The LLC has used the proceeds from the sale of its company preference shares to purchase subordinated notes of ING Group.

In June 1999, ING Capital Funding Trust I (the “trust I”), a wholly owned company of ING Group in the United States issued 20 million 7.7% non-cumulative guaranteed trust preference shares (the “trust preference shares”), with a liquidation preference of USD 25 per share, plus any accrued interest and unpaid dividend. The proceeds from the sale of the trust preference shares were invested in preference shares (“company preference shares”) of ING Capital Funding I LLC (“LLC I”), a limited liability company in the United States and a wholly owned company of ING Group. The LLC has used the proceeds from the sale of its company preference shares to purchase subordinated notes of ING Group.

Trust I, II and III may redeem the trust preference shares for cash after June 25, 2004, June 25, 2005 and December 31, 2010 respectively or if certain special events occur. The company preference shares have substantially the same terms as the trust preference shares. ING Group has issued subordinated guarantees for the payment of the redemption price and the liquidation distribution on the trust preference shares and the company preference shares.

The presentation differences between Dutch and US accounting principles as disclosed in note 6.4 to the annual accounts include a classification difference for funds received by consolidated subsidiaries in transactions that involve the issuance of preferred shares (whether or not in conjunction with common shares). In 2002, an ING Group company in the United States issued USD 790 million 4.5% preferred shares in combination with ordinary shares in such a transaction presented as minority interest under US GAAP. The proceeds have been used to finance general activities of ING Group. ING Group may force redemption of the shares for cash at any time. In addition, the holder has the option for ING Group to repurchase the shares at fair value at any time.

7.11. Derivative financial instruments

Derivatives are subject to various risks similar to those related to the underlying financial instruments, including market, credit and liquidity risk. The risks of derivatives should not be viewed in isolation but rather should be considered on an aggregate basis along with risks related to ING Group’s nonderivative trading and other activities. ING Group manages derivative and non-derivative risks on an aggregate basis as part of its firm-wide risk management policies.

Market Risk

Market risk is the potential for changes in the value of derivative financial instruments due to market

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

changes, including interest and foreign exchange rate movements and fluctuations in commodity and security prices. The volatility and the liquidity in the markets in which the related underlying assets are traded directly influence market risk.

Credit Risk

Credit risk is the possibility that a loss may occur due to the failure of a counterparty to perform according to the terms of a contract. ING Group’s exposure to the credit risk associated with counterparty non-performance is limited to the net positive replacement cost of OTC contracts. Options written do not give rise to counterparty credit risk since they obligate the Group (not its counterparty) to perform. Exchange traded financial instruments such as futures generally do not give rise to a significant counterparty exposure due to the margin requirements of the individual exchanges. For significant transactions, the Group’s credit review process includes an evaluation of the counterparty’s creditworthiness, periodic credit standing and obtaining collateral in certain circumstances. ING Group does not require collateral from its highly rated institutional counterparties. ING Group may require collateral from private client counterparties under certain circumstances. Under certain conditions, entering into bilateral netting agreements can reduce the credit risk. This kind of agreement gives the right to net off receivables and liabilities in respect of open derivatives contracts. ING Group entered into netting agreements with a significant number of its counterparties.

Liquidity Risk

Liquidity risk is the possibility that ING Group may not be able to rapidly adjust the size of its derivative positions in times of high volatility and financial stress at a reasonable cost. The liquidity of derivative products is correlated to the liquidity of the underlying cash instrument.

Under Dutch GAAP, ING Group accounts for derivatives used for trading activity at market value. Changes in market value are recognized in current period profits through Result from financial transactions.

Derivatives held for purposes other than trading are used generally for two purposes-hedging purposes and to synthetically alter the interest rate characteristics of certain core business assets and liabilities. Interest rate swaps are primarily used to synthetically alter the interest rate characteristics of certain core business assets and liabilities. Interest income and interest expense related to swaps held for purposes other than trading are accrued and the net amount is recognized in current period profits through Interest from banking operations. Unrealized gains and losses are not recognized on the balance sheet. ING Group does not receive or pay fees or commissions related to swap contracts.

ING Group’s use of these instruments is modified from time-to-time in response to changing market conditions as well as changes in the mix of the related assets and liabilities. Realized gains and losses upon termination of these swaps are deferred and amortized over a period, which approximates the average remaining life of the portfolio. Amortization is recorded through Interest from banking operations.

Forward and option interest rate contracts held for other than trading purposes are either carried at historical cost or at market value, depending on the carrying value of the related asset or liability. The exchange rate component of forwards is marked to market with changes in market value charged to current period earnings. Premiums paid for purchased options are deferred and recognized as an expense upon maturity of the related contracts. Initial margin requirements of organized exchanges are accounted for as Other assets.

ING Group also uses swaps and forward currency contracts to hedge its exposure to foreign exchange rate risk related to certain foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities. These swaps and forward contracts are carried at market value and are recorded as Other assets or Other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. Changes in market values of these swaps and forwards, hedging the foreign exchange rate risk, are recorded in current period profits in Results from financial transactions. For swaps and forward contracts which are designated as hedges of net

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

investments in subsidiaries with foreign currency exposure, changes in market values are recorded in the revaluation reserve component of shareholders’ equity.

Trading activity

ING Group trades derivative financial instruments on behalf of clients and for proprietary positions. Derivative financial instruments used for risk management purposes incorporated into composite trading portfolio’s, are also reported as held for trading purposes.

All derivative financial instruments held for trading purposes are reported at fair value and the changes in fair value are recorded as they occur, as part of the Results from financial transactions in Other income.

The Result from securities trading portfolio includes trading results on fixed income and equity securities and the trading results in respect of certain derivative financial instruments such as equity options and futures. The trading results in respect of currency forward contracts, currency options and currency swaps are reported as part of the Result from currency trading portfolio. Other result includes among other, the trading revenue in respect of other derivative financial instruments. Because of their nature, the trading results in respect of interest rate swaps and interest rate futures are reported partially as part of Result from securities trading portfolio and partially as part of Other result.

Hedge of foreign exchange risk of net investments in foreign operations

ING Group policy is to hedge the excess capital of foreign operations in order to minimize the impact of foreign currency movements. The excess capital is defined as the difference between local available capital and local required capital. The local available capital comprises of the net asset value of the foreign operation, intercompany funding and includes adjustments for investments in non-domestic currency denominated assets. As at December 31, 2002 principal excess capital of foreign currency denominated foreign operations comprised of the US Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Korean Wong and the Australian Dollar. Between 75% to 85% of the excess capital in these operations was hedged subject to the foreign operations comprised of the Korean Wong for which 50 to 75% of the excess capital was hedged. The foreign exchange revaluation of the net investment in foreign operations and the hedging instruments are reported in equity. The impact of the unhedged exposure is not material to ING Group equity.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

The following table reflects the notional amounts and gross fair values of trading derivative financial instruments. All significant intercompany contracts have been excluded. The ending net fair value is included on the consolidated balance sheet under Other assets.

                                                                                   
      2002   2001
     
 
              Average   Ending           Average   Ending
             
 
         
 
              Positive   Negative   Positive   Negative           Positive   Negative   Positive   Negative
      Notional   fair   fair   fair   fair   Notional   fair   fair   fair   fair
      amount   value   value   value   value   amount   value   value   value   value
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-rate contracts
                                                                               
OTC
                                                                               
- swaps
    604,320       9,628       9,703       13,750       14,076       513,537       5,239       4,731       8,282       8,025  
- forwards
    57,198       68       70       86       65       45,436       80       98       74       108  
- options
                                                                               
 
- purchased
    68,325       761               1,090               42,097       157               400          
 
- written
    47,484               722               1,105       35,034       10       140       5       348  
Listed
                                                                               
- options
                                                                               
 
- purchased
    2,130       2               1               3,020                       1          
 
- written
    1,111       1       1               1       1,756               1                  
- futures
    88,423       8       5                       34,157                                  
Currency contracts
                                                                               
OTC
                                                                               
- swaps
    25,580       1,072       851       835       966       23,433       1,031       742       1,166       930  
- forwards
    241,610       4,821       5,117       4,874       5,963       300,631       5,044       4,972       5,688       5,374  
- options
                                                                               
 
- purchased
    24,896       558               429               19,842       180               272          
 
- written
    27,693               398               479       21,537               197               901  
Listed
                                                                               
- options
                                                                               
 
- purchased
    6                                                                          
 
- written
    154               10               14                                          
- futures
    130                                       3,274                                  
Equity contracts
                                                                               
OTC
                                                                               
- swaps
    6,352       604       111       963       92       2,780       427       44       326       17  
- forwards
    9                                       67       13       12       9       9  
- options
                                                                               
 
- purchased
    5,612       710               988               7,393       440       6       464       12  
 
- written
    5,350               524               769       7,232               286       1       347  
Listed
                                                                               
- options
                                                                               
 
- purchased
    5,564       519               619               5,233       412               431          
 
- written
    6,381               445               471       5,552               485               477  
- futures
    101       2                               144                                  
Other contracts
                                                                               
OTC
    19                                                                          
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    1,218,448       18,754       17,957       23,635       24,001       1,072,155       13,033       11,714       17,119       16,548  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

End-user activity

ING Group’s principal objective in holding or issuing derivatives for purposes other than trading in risk management. The operations of ING Group are subject to a risk of interest rate fluctuations to the extent that there is a difference between the amount of interest-earning assets and the amount of interest-bearing liabilities that mature or reprice in specified periods. The principal objective of ING Group’s asset/liability management activities is the management of interest rate risk and liquidity within parameters established by various management committees and approved by the Executive Board. To achieve its risk management objective, ING Group uses a combination of interest rate instruments, primarily interest rate swaps. When ING Group purchases foreign currency denominated debt or has foreign net investments, it subjects itself to changes in value as exchange rates move. These fluctuations are managed by entering into currency swaps, forwards and options.

The following table reflects the notional principal amounts and fair value of derivative financial instruments used for non-trading. All significant intercompany contracts have been excluded.

                                                   
      2002   2001
     
 
              Ending fair value           Ending fair value
      Notional  
  Notional  
      amounts   Assets   Liabilities   amounts   Assets   Liabilities
     
 
 
 
 
 
Interest-rate contracts
                                               
OTC swaps
    311,334       5,449       6,235       245,048       3,721       3,687  
- forwards
    23,454       20       37       6,565       24       18  
- options:
                                               
 
- purchased
    729       35               4,093       132          
 
- written
    1,049               76       1,242               90  
Listed options
                                               
- options
                                               
 
- purchased
            1                                  
- futures
    1,374                       1,013                  
Currency contracts
                                               
OTC swaps
    11,998       302       425       13,510       218       417  
- forwards
    19,075       217       38       15,011       70       62  
- options:
                                               
 
- purchased
    487       14               42       1          
 
- written
    869               11       45               1  
Listed options
                                               
- options
                                               
 
- written
    1                                          
Equity contracts
                                               
OTC swaps
    203               20       311       5       20  
- forwards
    55       23                                  
- options:
                                               
 
- purchased
    976       81               1,393       72          
 
- written
    425                       1,388               101  
Listed
                                               
- options written
    (1 )                                        
- futures
    394                                          
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
    372,422       6,142       6,842       289,661       4,243       4,396  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

End-user Contracts:

                                                 
    Notional principal   Percentage of 2001 amount maturing
    amounts  
   
  Within   1 to 5                
    2002   2001   1 year   years   Thereafter   Total
   
 
 
 
 
 
Interest Rate Contracts
    337,940       257,961       47.57 %     27.61 %     15.56 %     90.74 %
Currency contracts
    32,430       28,608       6.48 %     1.50 %     0.73 %     8.71 %
Equity contracts
    2,052       3,092       0.33 %     0.14 %     0.08 %     0.55 %
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    372,422       289,661       54.38 %     29.25 %     16.37 %     100.00 %
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

End-user Interest Rate Swaps:

                                 
    Notional amounts of contracts maturing as of December 31, 2002
   
    Within 1 year   1 to 5 years   Thereafter   Total
   
 
 
 
Received fixed swaps
                               
Notional amounts
    78,386       40,073       28,440       146,899  
Weighted average received rate
    3.57 %     5.18 %     5.09 %     4.30 %
Weighted average paid rate
    3.01 %     2.59 %     2.78 %     2.85 %
Pay fixed swaps
                               
Notional amounts
    73,757       53,277       27,847       154,881  
Weighted average received rate
    3.05 %     3.39 %     3.21 %     3.20 %
Weighted average paid rate
    3.29 %     3.82 %     4.51 %     3.69 %
Other swaps
                               
Notional amounts
    1,159       7,133       1,262       9,554  
Weighted average received rate
    2.79 %     5.29 %     4.76 %     4.92 %
Weighted average paid rate
    1.89 %     4.68 %     2.30 %     4.03 %
 
   
     
     
     
 
Total
    153,302       100,483       57,549       311,334  
 
   
     
     
     
 

All rates were those in effect at December 31, 2002. Variable rates are primarily based on LIBOR and may change significantly, affecting future cash flows.

7.12. Business combinations

For acquisitions in 2002 and 2001 refer to note 1.3. “Changes in the composition of the group”.

Under both Dutch and US GAAP, the business combinations of 2002, 2001, 2000 were accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. Under Dutch GAAP, goodwill arising from acquisitions is directly charged to shareholders’ equity in the respective years when the acquisitions take place. Accordingly, goodwill charged to shareholder’s equity under Dutch GAAP amounted to EUR 1,176 million in 2002, EUR 1,908 million in 2001 and EUR 11,774 million in 2000.

For the purpose of the reconciliation of Dutch GAAP to US GAAP, ING Group’s accounting policy is to capitalize goodwill and test for impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently if circumstances indicate a potential impairment. Prior to the adoption of SFAS 142, goodwill was capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over a period not exceeding 20 years. Pursuant to this policy, goodwill arising from the 2001 and 2000 acquisitions has been amortized over a period of 5 to 20 years. Goodwill arising from acquisitions after July 1, 2001 was no longer amortized but tested for impairment.

Goodwill capitalized net of impairment for US GAAP purposes in 2002, 2001 and 2000 amounted to EUR 4,601 million, EUR 16,645 million and EUR 16,287 million, respectively. Gross amount of goodwill recognized up to 2002 is EUR 21,746 million, EUR 20,570 million and EUR 18,621 million for the years 2002, 2001 and 2000 respectively. Accumulated amortization net of impairment under US GAAP

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

amounted to EUR 4,042 million, EUR 3,925 million and EUR2,334 million for the years 2002, 2001 and 2000 respectively.

Goodwill capitalized net of impairments for US GAAP purposes in 2002 includes intangible assets of EUR 462 million (2001: EUR 579 million) which are recognized apart from goodwill and amortized in twenty years under US GAAP and not separated but included in the amount of goodwill under ING Group accounting principles. Gross amount of intangible assets recognized under US GAAP amounts to USD 550 million, the accumulated amortization is USD 65 million as of December 31, 2002.

In accordance with the transition provisions of SFAS 142, ING Group performed an assessment of whether there was any indication that goodwill is impaired as of the date of adoption, January 1, 2002. This assessment had to be performed in two steps. In Step 1, ING Group had to identify its reporting units and to determine the carrying value of each reporting unit by assigning the assets and liabilities, including existing goodwill and intangible assets, to those reporting units as of January 1, 2002. Furthermore, ING Group was required to determine the fair value of each reporting unit and to compare this fair value the carrying amount of the reporting unit. The fair value of the reporting units was determined using valuation techniques consistent with market appraisals for insurance companies and banks, a price/earnings multiple model and a discounted cash flow model, requiring assumptions as to a discount rate, the value of existing business and expectations with respect to future growth rates. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeded fair value, ING Group was required to perform Step 2 of the transitional goodwill impairment. In Step 2, the implied fair value of goodwill was determined by allocating the fair value of the reporting unit to all of the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit in a manner similar to a purchase price allocation, in accordance with SFAS 141. The residual fair value after this allocation is the implied fair value of the reporting unit goodwill that is compared to the carrying value of goodwill. A goodwill impairment is recorded to the extent that carrying value of goodwill exceeds the calculated implied fair value of goodwill.

In Step 1 an estimate was made of the expected impairment. Step 1 of the transitional goodwill impairment test resulted in an expected goodwill impairment in a range of EUR 6 to 8 billion as disclosed in the June 30, 2002 6-K filing. The assumptions used in the determination of the fair value involve significant judgments and estimates. Minor changes in these assumptions have significant impact on the fair value of the reporting unit and as a consequence, on the implied fair value of goodwill and the amount of goodwill impairment. The discount rates used are believed to be consistent with the nature of the forecast and appropriate based on the reporting units particular circumstances. The assumptions used in Step 1 were refined in Step 2, which was performed in the fourth quarter of 2002, significantly changing the estimate.

As a result of the transitional goodwill impairment test, certain goodwill is impaired and ING Group has included a separate line item of EUR 13,103 billion in the 2002 profit and loss account for the cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles as required by SFAS 142. This non-cash impairment charge relates to the reporting units US, Latin America, Germany, UK and Greater China.

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the year ended December 31, 2002 are as follows:

                                         
                            Asset        
                    Asia/   Manage-        
    Europe   Americas   Pacific   ment   Total
   
 
 
 
 
Balance as of December 31, 2001
    2,468       11,318       1,844       436       16,066  
Transitional impairment charge
    (1,168 )     (10,913 )     (1,022 )             (13,103 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Balance as of January 1, 2002
    1,300       405       822       436       2,963  
Goodwill acquired during year
    713       245       218               1,176  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 
Balance as of December 31, 2002
    2,013       650       1,040       436       4,139  
 
   
     
     
     
     
 

All segments are tested for impairment in the fourth quarter.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

The changes in the carrying amount of intangible assets for the year ended December 31, 2002 are as follows:

         
Balance as of January 1, 2002
    579  
Amortization
    (29 )
Exchange differences
    (88 )
 
   
 
Balance as of December 31, 2002
    462  
 
   
 

7.13. Dividend restrictions

In addition to the restrictions in respect of minimum capital and solvency requirements that are imposed by industry regulators in the countries in which the subsidiaries operate, other limitations exist in certain countries. The most significant restrictions for ING Group are related to the insurance operations located in the United States, which are subject to limitations on the payment of dividends to the parent company imposed by the Insurance Commissioner of the state of domicile. For life, accident and health subsidiaries, dividends are generally limited to the greater of 10% of statutory surplus or the statutory net gain from operations. For the property and casualty subsidiaries, dividends are limited to a specified percentage of the previous year’s shareholders’ equity or previous year’s net investment gains, which varies by state. Dividends paid in excess of these limitations require prior approval of the Insurance Commissioner of the state of domicile.

The management of ING Group does not believe that these limitations will affect the ability of ING Group to pay dividends to its shareholders in the future.

7.14. Minimum capital requirements

In accordance with European Union directives, insurance enterprises organized in European Union member countries are required to maintain minimum solvency margins. Life insurance companies are required to maintain a minimum solvency margin of generally 4% of insurance reserves (1% of separate accounts reserves) plus 0.3% of the amount at risk under insurance policies. The required minimum solvency margin for non-life insurers is the greater of two calculations, one based on premiums and one based on claims. The former is based on at least 16% of gross premiums written for the year, the latter is based on 23% of a three-year average of gross claims. As of December 31, 2002, the solvency margin of the insurance operations of ING Group computed in accordance with these directives amounted to EUR 8,718 million (2001: EUR 9,845 million). These companies held capital and surplus, as of December 31, 2002, of EUR 17,848 million (2001: EUR 20,650 million).

The banking operations of ING Group are regulated by the Dutch Central Bank. The solvency requirements of the banking activities of ING Group depend on the degree of risk involved in the various banking operations. The related assets are assigned a weighting coefficient. The total risk (weighted value of both on- and off-balance sheet items) is divided into actual own funds to obtain a Tier 1 ratio. Internationally, it has been agreed that the “BIS” (Bank for International Settlements) ratio must be at least 8%. As of December 31, 2002, the Tier 1-ratio and BIS-ratio of ING Bank N.V. were 7.31% (2001: 7.03%) and 10.98% (2001: 10.57%), respectively.

7.15. Stock option plan

ING Group has adopted the disclosure-only provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation — Transition and disclosures — an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123”. Accordingly, no compensation cost has been recognized for the stock option plan. Had compensation cost for ING Group’s stock-based compensation been determined based on the fair value at the grant dates in 2002 consistent with the method of SFAS 148, net profit and earnings per share based on US GAAP would have been as follows:

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Amounts are in millions of euros, unless otherwise stated

                         
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
Net profit after deducting profits on preference shares
                       
- as reported
    (9,648 )     1,749       10,904  
- pro forma (1)
    (9,741 )     1,620       10,775  
Basis earnings per share
                       
- as reported
    (5.00 )     0.91       5.72  
- pro forma
    (5.05 )     0.84       5.65  
Diluted earnings per share
                       
- as reported
    (5.00 )     0.90       5.64  
- pro forma
    (5.05 )     0.83       5.57  


(1)   The compensation cost for ING Group’s employee stock-based compensation expenses determined based on the fair value at grant dates consistent with the disclosure requirements of SFAS 148 is EUR 93 million in 2002 (2001: EUR 129 million; 2000: EUR 129 million).

The fair value of options at the date of the grant was estimated for these purposes using the Trinomial Model with the following weighted average assumptions:

                         
    2002   2001   2000
   
 
 
Risk-free interest rate
    4.98 %     4.80 %     5.17 %
Expected life (years)
    5.4       5.0       5.0  
Expected volatility
    27.73 %     26.49 %     30.85 %
Expected dividends
    4.02 %     2.48 %     2.24 %

Beginning in the year 2000, the Equity compensation plan of ING America Holding Inc provides certain key employees with Restricted American Depositary Shares (ADS) Units and Restricted Performance Units to reward individual performance. Restricted American Depositary Shares (ADS) are subject to a vesting period of three to five years from the grant date. Restricted Performance units are contingent grants of ING Group N.V. ADS based upon the achievement of future profit objectives of ING America Holding Inc and are subject to three year vesting period from the date of grant. As of December 31, 2002, a total of l Restricted ADS units (2001: 206,070) and l Restricted Performance Units (2001: 438,768) were granted at weighted average grant price of USD l (2001: USD 33.02) and USD l (2001: USD 39.25) respectively. As at December 31, 2002, l Restricted ADS Units (2001: 746,684) and l Restricted Performance Units (2001: 615,242) remained outstanding.

7.16. Restructuring charges

During the fourth quarter of 2002, ING Group announced the further restructuring of its international wholesale banking operations to improve profitability. The additional restructuring measures primarily address underperforming branches and businesses. The 2002 restructuring charge relates mainly to a restructuring provision of EUR 128 million that was charged to the profit and loss account to cover the expenses of these measures. In the Americas, Asia and Europe, with the exception of the Benelux, a further 1,000 full-time equivalents will be reduced on top of the realized 700 at wholesale banking since the end of 2001.

During the fourth quarter of 2001, ING Americas announced that it aimed to further integrate ING’s US insurance activities with those of Aetna and ReliaStar, in order to build a more customer-focussed organization and recorded a pre-tax charge of EUR 70 million as a result of that restructuring. This charge included mainly employee-related costs that referred, amongst others, to an reduction of approximately 1600 full-time equivalents.

7.17. Impact of the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001

Effective September 2001, the ING Group adopted Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) Issue 01-10,

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“Accounting for the Impact of the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001”. Under the consensus, costs related to the terrorist act should be reported as part of income from continuing operations and not as an extraordinary item.

The majority of claims relate to the reinsurance business of ING’s US subsidiary ReliaStar, which company was acquired in 2000. These claims relate to losses incurred by companies that were based on the upper floors of the World Trade Center, through reinsurance of carriers that write workers’ compensation contracts and personal-accident insurance. Potential estimates of the claims in connection with these reinsurance businesses amount to approximately EUR 600 million before catastrophe cover and before tax, of which approximately EUR 100 million is covered against retrocession contracts. ING Group based the loss estimate upon a review of insured exposures using a variety of assumptions and actuarial techniques, including estimated amounts for unknown and unreported policyholder losses and costs incurred in settling claims. As a result of the uncertainties involved in the estimation process, final claims settlement may vary from present estimates.

Under Dutch GAAP, claims amounting to EUR 350 million have been charged against catastrophe provision. As a result, under Dutch GAAP the net effect on ING Group’s profit and loss account for the year 2001 amounted to EUR 155 million before tax and EUR 100 million after tax.

Under US GAAP, provision for future catastrophe is not allowed. Under US GAAP the effect of the September 11 attack on ING Group’s profit and loss account for the year 2001 amounts to EUR 321 million after tax.

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REPORT OF KPMG ACCOUNTANTS N.V.

The Supervisory Board and Executive Board of ING Bank N.V.

We have audited the consolidated balance sheets of ING Bank N.V. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the related consolidated profit and loss accounts and consolidated statements of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2002. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We serve as principal auditor of ING Bank N.V. In our position we did not audit assets constituting 25% in 2002 and 29% in 2001, and total income constituting 23% in 2002, 26% in 2001 and 27% in 2000 of the consolidated totals of ING Bank N.V. These data were reported on by other auditors whose report has been furnished to us, and our opinion, insofar as it relates to parts not audited by us, is based totally on the report of the other auditors.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An auditor also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits and the reports of the other auditors provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, based on our audits and the report of the other auditors, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of ING Bank N.V. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2002, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the Netherlands.

Amsterdam, the Netherlands
March 10, 2003

KPMG Accountants N.V.

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AUDITOR’S REPORT ON THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002 TO THE
SHAREHOLDERS’ MEETING OF BANQUE BRUXELLES LAMBERT N.V./S.A.

In accordance with legal and regulatory requirements, we are pleased to report to you on the performance of the audit mandate, which you have entrusted to us.

We have audited the consolidated balance sheets of Bank Brussels Lambert N.V./S.A. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the related consolidated profit and loss accounts for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2002. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. We have also examined the Directors’ report.

Unqualified audit opinion on the consolidated financial statements

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the “Institut des Reviseurs d’Entreprises/Instituut der Bedrijfsrevisoren” and auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, taking into account the legal and regulatory requirements applicable to consolidated financial statements in Belgium.

In accordance with those standards, we considered the group’s administrative and accounting organization, as well as its internal control procedures. We have obtained explanations and information required for our audit. We examined, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts in the consolidated financial statements. We have assessed the validity of the accounting principles, the consolidation policies and significant accounting estimates made by the company, as well as the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that those procedures provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

The consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with the in Belgium applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

In our opinion, based on our audits, the consolidated financial statements give a true and fair view of the group’s assets, liabilities and consolidated financial position as of December 31, 2002 and 2001 and the consolidated results of the operations for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2002, in accordance with its legal and regulatory requirements applicable in Belgium and the information given in the notes to the consolidated financial statements is adequate.

Additional certification

The Directors’ report contains the information required by law and is consistent with the consolidated financial statements.

Brussels, March 19, 2003

Ernst & Young Reviseurs d’Entreprises S.C.C. (B 160)

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GLOSSARY

         
Annual life funds
Participants in an annual life fund periodically transfer money to the fund. The sum of the assets of a fund including accrued investment income is divided over the participants who are alive at the end of the duration of the fund.

Associate
An associate is a participating interest in which a significant influence is exercised over the financial and operating policy and which is neither a subsidiary nor a joint venture of the investor.

  defects in, liens on, or challenges to the title to real estate, or the occurrence of a surety loss.

Claims ratio
The claims ratio is the claims, including claims handling expenses, expressed as a percentage of net earned premiums.

Climbing loan
Climbing loans are loans not generating cash flows prior to the predetermined maturity date. Each year, the accrued interest is added to the principal amount.

  outflow from ING Group of resources embodying economic benefits will occur. The underlying value of these liabilities is not recorded as liabilities in the balance sheet. For these products, the underlying value represents the maximum potential credit risk to which ING Group is exposed, i.e. assuming that all counterparties failed completely to perform in accordance with the terms of the contracts and that any existing collateral or security proves to be of no value.

Basic net profit per ordinary share
The net profit per ordinary share is calculated on the basic of the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue. The following has been taken into consideration in calculating the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue:

• own shares held by group companies are deducted from the total number of ordinary shares in issue;
• the computation is based on daily averages;
• in the case of exercised warrants, the day of exercise is taken into consideration.

Certificates of deposit
Short-term negotiable bearer debt instruments issued by banks.

Claim
A demand for payment of a policy benefit because of the occurrence of an insured event, such as the death or disability of the insured or the maturity of an endowment, the incurrence of hospital or medical bills, the destruction or damage of property and related deaths or injuries,

 


Combined ratio
The sum of the claims ratio and the cost ratio for a non-life insurance company or a reinsurance company. A combined ratio of more than 100% does not necessarily mean that there is a loss on non-life insurance policies, because the result also includes the allocated investment income.

Control
Control is presumed to exist when ING Group has, direct or indirect through group companies, more than one half of the voting power or otherwise exercises effective control.

Concentrations
Concentrations of credit risk exist when changes in economic, industry or geographical factors similarly affect groups of counterparties whose aggregate exposure is material in relation to ING Group’s total exposure.

Contingent liabilities
Contingent liabilities are commitments or risks, for which it is more likely than not that no

  Convertible debenture
Convertible debentures are debentures with embedded options issued by corporations. The holder has the right to exchange a convertible debenture for equity in the issuing company at certain times in the future according to a certain exchange ratio. Very often, the conversion is callable. This means that it can be repurchased by the issuer at a certain price at certain times in the future. Once the debentures have been called, the holder can always choose to convert prior to repurchase.

Cost ratio
Underwriting costs expressed as a percentage of premiums written.

Country risk
The risk that a foreign government will not fulfil its obligations or obstructs the remittance of funds by debtors, either for financial reasons (transfer risk) or for other reasons (political risk).

Credit institutions
Credit institutions are all institutions which are subject to banking supervision by public authorities, including mortgage

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GLOSSARY

         
banks, capital market institutions, multilateral development banks and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Deferred tax assets
The amounts of income tax recoverable in future periods in respect of:

• deductible temporary differences;
• the carry forward of unused tax losses; and
• the carry forward of unused tax credits.

Deferred tax liabilities
The amounts of income tax payable in future periods in respect of temporary valuation differences between carrying amounts of assets or liabilities in the balance sheet and tax base, based on tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the assets are realised or the liabilities are settled.

Defined benefit plan
Defined benefit plans are post-employment benefit plans other than defined contribution plans.

Defined contribution plan
Post-employment benefit plans under which an enterprise pays fixed contributions into a separate entity (a fund) and will have no legal or constructive obligation to pay further contributions if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employee benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior periods.

Depositary receipt
Depositary receipt for ordinary and preference shares, issued by the Trust, in exchange for ordinary and preference shares issued by ING Group.

 

Derivatives
Derivatives are financial instruments, which include forwards, futures, options and swaps, whose value is based on an underlying asset, index or reference rate.

Diluted net profit per share
Diluted net profit per share data are computed as if the stock options and warrants outstanding at year-end were exercised at the beginning of the period. It is also assumed that ING Group uses the cash thus received for stock options and warrants exercised to buy its own shares against the average market price in the financial year. The net increase in the number of shares resulting from the exercise of warrants and stock options is added to the average number of shares used for the calculation of diluted net profit per share.

Discounted bills
Bills that are sold under deduction of interest giving the owner the right to receive an amount of money on a given date.

Elimination
Elimination is a process by which intercompany transactions are matched with each other and deducted, so that the assets, liabilities, income and expenses are not inflated.

Employee benefits
All forms of consideration given by a company in exchange for service rendered by (former) employees.

Equity method
A method of accounting whereby a participating interest is recorded at its net asset value according to the

  accounting principles of ING Group.

Equity participation
An investment in the equity of a corporation which is held in order to participate temporarily. The investment does not serve the business of the acquirer and will not be part of the investment portfolio. The acquirer and the equity participation are not organisationally bound.

Fair value
The amount at which an asset or a liability could be traded on a fair basis at the balance sheet date, between knowledgeable, willing parties in arm’s-length transactions.

Finance lease
A lease that transfers substantially all the risks and rewards associated with ownership of an asset to the lessee. Title may or may not eventually be transferred.

Financial asset
Any asset that is:

• a contractual right to receive cash or another financial asset from another company;
• a contractual right to exchange financial instruments with another company under conditions that are potentially favourable; or
• an equity instrument of another company.

Financial instruments
Financial instruments are contracts that give rise to both a financial asset for one company and a financial liability or equity instrument for another company.

Financial liability
Any liability that is a contractual obligation:

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• to deliver cash or another financial asset to another company; or
• to exchange financial instruments with another company under conditions that are potentially unfavourable.

Forward contracts
Forward contracts are commitments to exchange currencies or to buy or sell other financial instruments at specified future dates.

Future contracts
Future contracts are commitments to exchange currencies or to buy or sell other financial instruments at specified future dates. Exchanges act as intermediaries and require daily cash settlement and collateral deposits.

General provision
A general provision is a liability carried in the balance sheet for a present obligation arising from past events, the settlement of which is expected to result in an outflow from the company of resources embodying economic benefits, whereas the timing or amount of the outflow is uncertain. The settlement, which will take place in the future, should be reliably measurable. The settlement can be enforced by law or the event creates valid expectations in other parties that the company will discharge the obligation.

Goodwill
Goodwill is the difference between the cost of the acquisition and the net asset value of a participating interest. The net asset value is calculated according to the fair value of the assets and liabilities of the participating

  interest at the moment of acquisition.

Gross premiums written
Total premiums (whether or not earned) for insurance contracts written or assumed (including deposits for investment contracts with limited or no life contingencies written) during a specific period, without deduction for premiums ceded.

Group company
Corporations, i.e. public limited liability companies, private limited liability companies, general partnerships or limited partnerships, that form an organisational and economic entity and are controlled by ING Group.

Hedge accounting
Transactions qualify as hedges if they are identified as such and there is a negative correlation between the hedging results and the results of the positions being hedged. Hedging instruments are accounted for in accordance with the accounting principles of the hedged item.

Impairment
An impairment is a permanent diminution in value, i.e. the recoverable amount is less than the carrying amount of the asset. In such circumstances a write-down of the asset is necessary.

Interest bearing instrument
An interest bearing instrument is a financial asset or a liability for which a time-proportionate compensation is paid or received, in relation to a notional amount.

Interest-rate arbitrage
Taking advantage of interest-rate differences between separate markets.

 

Interest-rate rebates
Profit sharing for group life insurance business. A rebate granted to policyholders based on the discounted value of the difference between the interest rate used for calculating the premiums and the expected yield on investment. The profit sharing is granted by means of a premium discount related to the yield on government bonds.

In the money
A call option is said to be in the money if the exercise price is lower than the price of the underlying value; a put option is said to be in the money if the exercise price is higher than the price of the underlying value.

Investment portfolio
The investment portfolio comprises those assets which are intended for use on a continuing basis, and have been identified as such. These investments are held in order to cover the insurance provisions and to manage interest rate, capital and liquidity risks.

Irrevocable facility
Irrevocable facilities mainly constitute unused portions of irrevocable credit facilities granted to corporate clients and commitments made to purchase securities to be issued by governments and private issuers.

Irrevocable letters of credit
An irrevocable letter of credit concerns an obligation on behalf of a client to, within certain conditions, pay an amount of money under submission of a specific document or to accept a bill of exchange.
An irrevocable letter of credit cannot be cancelled or adjusted by the bank that has

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GLOSSARY

         
granted it during the duration of the agreement unless all those concerned agree.

Joint venture
A contractual arrangement whereby two or more parties undertake an economic activity which is subject to joint control.

Monetary assets and liabilities
Monetary assets and liabilities are assets and liabilities whose amounts are fixed in terms of units of currency by contract or otherwise. Examples are cash, short or long-term accounts, notes receivable in cash and notes payable in cash.

Net asset value
The net asset value is used in the equity method of accounting. The initial net asset value of the investment is determined by the fair value of the assets and liabilities of the investee. After the initial valuation of assets and liabilities of the investee at fair value, the assets and liabilities of the investee are valued in accordance with the accounting principles of the investor. The income statement reflects the investor’s share in the results of operations of the investee.

Net premiums written
Gross premiums written for a given period less premiums ceded to retrocessionaires during such period.

Notional amounts
Notional amounts represent units of account which, in respect of derivatives, reflect the relationship with the underlying assets. They do not reflect, however, the credit risks assumed by entering into derivative transactions.

  Offsetting of financial assets and financial liabilities Offsetting is done on the basis of a legal right, by contract or otherwise, to settle or otherwise eliminate all or a portion of an amount due to a creditor by applying against that amount an amount due from the creditor. A financial asset and a financial liability should be offset and the net amount reported in the balance sheet when ING:
• intends either to settle on a net basis, or to realise the financial asset and settle the financial liability simultaneously; and
• has a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts; and
• the financial asset and the financial liability are identical in nature.

Operating segments
Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which discrete information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker or decision making group in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance.

Operating lease
A lease other than a finance lease.

Option contracts
Option contracts give the purchaser, for a premium, the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell within a limited period of time a financial instrument or currency at a contracted price that may also be settled in cash. Written options subject ING Group to market risk, but not to credit risk, since the counterparties have already performed in

  accordance with the terms of the contract by paying a cash premium up front.

Ordinary share
An equity instrument that is subordinate to all other classes of equity instruments. Ordinary shares participate in the net profit for the financial year after other types of shares such as preference shares.

Out of the money
A call option is said to be out of the money if the exercise price is higher than the price of the underlying value; a put option is said to be out of the money if the exercise price is lower than the price of the underlying value.

Over-the-counter instrument
Non-standardised financial instrument not traded on a stock exchange but directly between market participants.

Participating interest
A participating interest exists if a corporation or its subsidiary provides capital or causes capital to be provided for the account of either of them to another corporation in order to be durably linked to that corporation in furtherance of its own activities. An interest is deemed to be a participating interest if 20% or more of the share capital is provided.

Plan
Plan assets comprise assets held by a long-term employee benefit fund and qualifying insurance policies. Assets held by a long-term employee benefit fund are assets (other than non-transferable financial instruments issued by the reporting enterprise) that:

• are held by an entity (a fund)

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GLOSSARY

         
   that is legally separate from the reporting enterprise and exists solely to pay or fund employee benefits; and
• are available to be used only to pay or fund employee benefits, are not available to the reporting enterprise’s own creditors (even in bankruptcy), and cannot be returned to the reporting enterprise, unless either the remaining assets of the fund are sufficient to meet all the related employee benefit obligations of the plan or the reporting enterprise or the assets are returned to the reporting enterprise to reimburse it for employee benefits already paid.
A qualifying insurance policy is an insurance policy issued by an insurer that is not a related party of the reporting enterprise, if the proceeds of the policy:
• can be used only to pay or fund employee benefits under a defined benefit plan; and
  termination benefits and equity compensation benefits, which are payable after the completion of employment.

Preference share
A preference (or preferred) share is similar to an ordinary share but carries certain preferential rights. These rights usually concern the guarantee of a fixed (cumulative) return to the shareholder or a guaranteed return on the investment.

Premiums earned
That portion of net premiums written in current and past periods which applies to the expired portion of the policy period, calculated by substracting movements in unearned premium reserves from net premiums.

  promises to pay a certain sum to a specific person or its order on a certain maturity date, at sight or aftersight in a certain time on a certain place.

Proportional consolidation
A method of accounting and reporting whereby a venturer’s share of each of the assets, liabilities and income and expense items of a jointly controlled entity is combined on a line-by-line basis with similar items in the venturer’s financial statements or reported as separate line items in the venturer’s financial statements.

Provision for loan losses
Provision, presented as a deduction from Lending and Banks, meant to absorb losses from debtors’ defaults in the Lending and Banks portfolios.

• are not available to the reporting enterprise’s own creditors (even in bankruptcy) and cannot be paid to the reporting enterprise, unless either the proceeds represent surplus assets that are not needed for the policy to meet all the related employee benefit obligations or the proceeds are returned to the reporting enterprise to reimburse it for employee benefits already paid.

Post-employment benefit plans
Formal or informal arrangements under which a company provides post-employment benefits for one or more employees. Post-employment benefits are employee benefits other than

 

Private loan
Private loans are loans to governments, other public bodies, public utilities, corporations, other institutions or individuals with a loan agreement as the only instrument of title.

Private placement
A placement where newly issued shares or debentures come into possession of a limited group of subscribers who are prepared to buy the new securities.

Projected unit credit method
An actuarial valuation method that considers each period of service as giving rise to an additional unit of benefit entitlement and measures each unit separately to build up the final obligation.

Promissory notes
A promissory note is a signed and dated document in which the signeratory unconditionally

 
Recognition
The process of incorporating in the balance sheet or profit and loss account an item that meets the definition of an element and satisfies the following criteria for recognition:
• it is probable that any future economic benefit associated with the item will flow to or from the enterprise; and
• the item has a cost or value that can be measured reliably.

Redemption value
With respect to investments in fixed-interest securities, the amount payable on the maturity date.

Reinsurance
The practice whereby one party, called the reinsurer, in consideration for a premium paid to him, agrees to indemnify another party, called the reinsured or ceding company, for part or all of the liability assumed by the

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GLOSSARY

         
reinsured under a contract or contracts of insurance which the reinsured has issued. The reinsured may also be referred to as the original or primary insurer, the direct writing company, or the ceding company.

Repurchase transactions
Repurchase transactions are commitments to repurchase securities which have been sold.

 
   of the voting rights in a general meeting can be exercised by the company or one of its subsidiaries;
• of which the company or a subsidiary is a member or shareholder and can appoint or dismiss, by agreement with other holders of voting rights or otherwise, alone or together with others more than half of the executive board or the supervisory board.
  government. Dutch Treasury Certificates are regarded as Dutch Treasury bills.

Unweighted credit equivalent
The unweighted credit equivalent is the maximum loss that ING Group would incur on its derivatives transactions if all its counterparties defaulted with a margin added in accordance with internationally accepted criteria.


Reverse repurchase transactions
Reverse repurchase transactions are commitments to sell securities which have been purchased.

Share premium (reserve)
Paid-in capital in addition to the nominal value and paid-up on issued share capital.

Stock option plan
Option rights granted to a number of senior executives, to all ING Group staff in the Netherlands and to a considerable number of employees outside the Netherlands to purchase ING Group shares.

Subordinated loan
A credit or a liability where, in the event of bankruptcy under the application of the emergency regulations as referred to in the Act on Supervision of the Credit System, or liquidation of the debtor, the outstanding part is not eligible for set-off and is not repayable until all other currently outstanding debts have been repaid.

Subsidiary
A corporation:

• in which, by agreement with other holders of voting rights or otherwise, more than half
 

Surrender
The termination of a life or retirement contract at the request of the policyholder after which the policyholder receives the cash surrender value, if any, on the contract.

Swap contracts
Swap contracts are commitments to settle in cash at a specified future date, based on differentials between specified financial indices as applied to a notional principal amount. Generally, no cash is exchanged at the outset of the contract and no principal payments are made by either party.

Third-party interest
That part of the net results and of net assets of a subsidiary attributable to an interest which is not owned, directly or indirectly, by the parent.

Trading portfolio
The trading portfolio comprises those financial instruments which are held to obtain short-term transaction results, to facilitate transactions on behalf of clients or to hedge other positions in the trading portfolio.

Treasury bills
Generally short-term debt certificates issued by a central

 
Warrant
A financial instrument that gives the holder the right to purchase ordinary shares.

Weighted credit equivalent
The weighted credit equivalent is the unweighted credit equivalent multiplied by the weighting factors determined in accordance with standards of the international supervisory authorities. Under certain conditions, the credit risk can be reduced by entering into bilateral netting agreements.

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SCHEDULE I — SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS OTHER THAN INVESTMENTS IN RELATED PARTIES
As of December 31, 2002 — Amounts are in millions of euros

                         
Column A   Column B   Column C   Column D
                    Amount at
                    which
                    shown
                    in the
                    balance
Type of investment   Cost   Fair Value   sheet

 
 
 
Debt securities
                       
Debentures / available-for-sale:
                       
- Dutch government
    4,440       4,681       4,479  
- Foreign governments
    56,969       60,525       56,395  
- Public utilities
    5,131       5,336       5,081  
- Mortgage-backed securities
    36,503       37,664       36,668  
- Redeemable preference shares/sinking fund
    315       327       312  
- All other corporate bonds
    66,899       69,544       66,488  
Private loans / available-for-sale:
                       
- Dutch government
    4,126       4,532       4,114  
- Foreign governments
    126       135       125  
- Public utilities
    613       646       620  
- Corporate and other loans
    1,564       1,662       1,537  
Deposits with credit institutions
    904       900       897  
Other fixed maturity investments
    2,800       2,946       2,931  
Shares and convertible debentures
                       
Ordinary shares
                       
- Public utilities
    169       155       155  
- Banks, trusts and insurance companies
    3,210       4,306       4,306  
- Industrial and all others
    5,017       6,412       6,412  
Preference shares
    1,403       1,371       1,371  
Convertible debentures
    32       34       34  
Mortgage loans
    27,082       28,408       26,993  
Real estate
    7,344       10,951       10,951  
Policy loans
    3,238       3,246       3,238  
 
   
     
     
 
Total investments
    227,885       243,781       233,107  
 
   
     
     
 

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SCHEDULE III—SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION
Amounts are in millions of euros

                                                                                 
Column   Column   Column   Column   Column   Column   Column   Column   Column   Column   Column
A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K
                                            Net                                
                                            invest-                                
                                            ment                                
                                            income                                
                                            (inclu-                                
                                            ding                                
                                            other                                
            Future                           income           Amorti-                
            policy                           and other           zation                
            benefits,           Other           expenses)           Benefits, of                
            losses,           policy           allocated   Claims,   deferred                
    Deferred   claims,   Un-   and           to   Losses   policy   Other        
    policy   and   earned   claims           under-   and   acqui-   opera-   Pre-
    acquisition   loss   Pre-   benefits   Premium   writing   Settlement   sition   ting   miums
Segment   costs   expenses   miums   payable   revenue   accounts   expenses   costs   expenses   written

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2002
                                                                               
Life
    10,299       185,136               848       43,274       9,204       44,804       1,454       2,700       43,274  
Non-life
    337       6,390       3,341       116       6,297       819       4,722       94       1,646       6,642  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    10,636       191,526       3,341       964       49,571       10,023       49,526       1,548       4,346       49,916  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
2001
                                                                               
Life
    11,035       203,677               910       43,157       8,984       44,513       1,444       3,328       43,157  
Non-life
    320       5,892       3,382       125       5,283       770       3,895       82       1,446       5,289  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    11,355       209,569       3,382       1,035       48,440       9,754       48,408       1,526       4,774       48,446  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
2000
                                                                               
Life
    10,393       192,413               833       24,006       6,817       25,355       914       1,831       24,006  
Non-life
    260       5,086       1,582       239       3,867       601       2,886       4       1,140       3,908  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total
    10,653       197,499       1,582       1,072       27,873       7,418       28,241       918       2,971       27,914  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

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SCHEDULE IV—REINSURANCE
Amounts are in millions of euros

                                         
Column A   Column B   Column C   Column D   Column E   Column F
            Assumed       Percentage
        Ceded to   from       of amount
        other   other       assumed
    Gross Amount   companies   companies   Net amount   to net

 
 
 
 
 
2002 Premiums:
                                       
- Life
    43,076       1,093       1,291       43,274       3.0 %
- Non-Life
    7,869       1,275       48       6,642       0.7 %
 
   
     
     
     
         
Total Premiums
    50,945       2,368       1,339       49,916       2.7 %
 
   
     
     
     
         
2001 Premiums:
                                       
- Life
    43,045       1,400       1,512       43,157       3.5 %
- Non-Life
    5,858       614       45       5,289       0.9 %
 
   
     
     
     
         
Total Premiums
    48,903       2,014       1,557       48,446       3.2 %
 
   
     
     
     
         
2000 Premiums:
                                       
- Life
    24,424       1,013       595       24,006       2.5 %
- Non-Life
    4,066       187       29       3,908       0.7 %
 
   
     
     
     
         
Total Premiums
    28,490       1,200       624       27,914       2.2 %
 
   
     
     
     
         

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SCHEDULE VI — SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION CONCERNING
NON-LIFE INSURANCE OPERATIONS
Amounts are in millions of euros

                                                                                         
Column   Column   Column   Column   Column   Column   Column   Column   Column   Column   Column
A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K
                        Net                
                        Investment                
                        income                
                        (including                
                        other income   Claims and claims            
        Reserves for               and other   adjustment expenses       Paid    
    Deferred   unpaid claims               expenses)   incurred related to       claims &    
    Policy   & claims   Discount, if           allocated to   accident years       claims    
Affiliation   acquisition   adjusted   any, deducted   Unearned   Earned-   non-life  
  Amortization   adjusted   Premiums
with the registrant   costs   expenses   in Column C   premiums   premiums   operations   Current   Prior   of DPAC(1)   expenses   Written

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2002
                                                                                       
Consolidated non-life entities
    337       6,390       559       3,341       6,297       819       3,977       348       94       4,097       6,642  
2001
                                                                                       
Consolidated non-life entities
    320       5,892       349       3,382       5,283       770       3,663       18       82       3,669       5,289  
2000
                                                                                       
Consolidated non-life entities
    260       5,086       239       1,582       3,867       601       2,716       (48 )     4       2,574       3,908  


(1)   DPAC: Deferred policy acquisition costs

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EXHIBIT INDEX

         
Exhibit No. Description


Exhibit 1.1
  Articles of Association of ING Groep N.V.    
Exhibit 1.2
  Amended and Restated Trust Agreement (English Translation)    
Exhibit 2.1
  Subordinated Indenture between the Company and The Bank of New York, dated July 18, 2002    
Exhibit 4.1
  Form of Employment Contract for Members of the Executive Board (English Translation)    
Exhibit 4.2
  Employment Contract for Michel Tilmant (English Translation)    
Exhibit 4.3
  Employment Contract for Fred Hubbell    
Exhibit 7
  Statement regarding Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges    
Exhibit 8
  List of Subsidiaries of ING Groep N.V.    
Exhibit 10.1
  Consent of Ernst & Young Accountants    
Exhibit 10.2
  Consent of KPMG Accountants    
Exhibit 10.3
  Consent of Ernst & Young Reviseurs d’Enterprises S.C.C.