ING announced today that it has completed the sale of ING Direct USA to Capital One as announced on 16 June 2011.

"Today's announcement marks a further important step in the restructuring of ING Group. Yet at the same time we are saying goodbye to a very successful business and a dedicated team that has set the standard in direct banking in the US. The combination of ING Direct USA and Capital One will build on this success in the interests of both our customers and our employees. I am confident that ING, through its stake in Capital One, will benefit from the success of the combined company", said Jan Hommen, CEO of ING Group.

Total proceeds of the transaction are approximately USD 9.0 billion (or approximately EUR 6.9 billion), including USD 6.3 billion in cash and USD 2.7 billion in the form of 54.0 million shares in Capital One, based on the share price of USD 49.29 at closing on 16 February 2012. These shares represent a 9.7% stake in Capital One at closing.

The transaction has resulted in a positive result after tax of approximately EUR 0.5 billion. The sale has a positive impact on ING Bank's core Tier 1 ratio of approximately 80 basis points, leading to a pro-forma core Tier 1 ratio of 10.4% at closing, based on core Tier 1 of 9.6% per 31 December 2011.

In connection with the divestment of ING Direct USA, ING also completed the adjustment of the agreement with the Dutch State concerning the structure of the Illiquid Assets Back-up Facility (IABF) which was also announced on 16 June 2011. The amendment serves to delink the IABF from ING Direct USA by putting ING Bank in its place as counterparty for the Dutch State. The IABF is further amended to ensure a continued alignment between ING and the State regarding exposure to the Alt-A portfolio. Only the part of the IABF covering ING Direct USA, currently approximately 85% of the total IABF-portfolio, is adjusted in the amendment. The ING Insurance part of the IABF remains unaltered.

After the divestment of ING Direct USA, ING will remain active in the Unites States with its operations in insurance, retirement services and investment management and through its subsidiary ING Financial Holdings, offering commercial lending, corporate finance and financial markets products and services. ING Direct's operations in Canada, Spain, Australia, France, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom and Austria are also not impacted by today's announcement.