Principal Global Investors Becomes a Signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment

DES MOINES, Iowa--()--Principal Global Investors announces it has become a signatory for the United Nations-backed Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). Principal Global Investors is a diversified asset management organization with world class investment expertise in fixed income, equities and real estate, and is a member of the Principal Financial Group®.

“As a continuation of our organization’s long-standing commitment to corporate stewardship, we are pleased to sign on to the UN investment initiative,” said Barb McKenzie, chief operations officer of Principal Global Investors. “It is intrinsic to who we are as an asset manager and aligns with our investment strategy and culture.”

Signatories commit to considering the six Principles of Responsible Investment related to environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) issues in the course of doing business. Although the Principles are voluntary and aspirational, reporting on an annual basis is required. Governance is provided by a 13-person board made up of 11 elected signatory representatives and two representatives from the UN Environment Program and the UN Global Compact.

“As a leader in the global asset management industry, we believe appropriate consideration of these issues is part of delivering superior risk adjusted returns,” McKenzie said. “We are committed to acting in the best long-term interests of our clients and will apply the Principles where consistent with our fiduciary responsibilities and in alignment with our investors’ expectations.”

Principal Global Investors manages assets for 10 of the 25 largest pension plans# in the world and has US$227.4 billion in total assets under management.* For more information go to www.principalglobal.com.

For more about PRI or to view a complete list of signatories, go to www.unpri.org.

About Principal Global Investors
Principal Global Investors is a diversified asset management organization and a member of the Principal Financial Group®, with expertise in equities, fixed income and real estate investments, as well as specialized overlay and advisory services. Principal Global Investors manages US$227.4 billion* in assets primarily for retirement plans and other institutional clients.

About the Principal Financial Group
The Principal Financial Group® (The Principal®)1 is a leader in offering businesses, individuals and institutional clients a wide range of financial products and services, including retirement and investment services, life and health insurance, and banking through its diverse family of financial services companies. A member of the Fortune 500, the Principal Financial Group has US$305.7 billion* in assets under management and serves some 18.9 million customers worldwide from offices in Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America and the United States. Principal Financial Group, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol PFG. For more information, visit www.principal.com.

* As of September 30, 2010.
1 “The Principal Financial Group” and “The Principal” are registered service marks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., a member of the Principal Financial Group.

Principal Global Investors is the asset management arm of the Principal Financial Group® (The Principal®)1 and includes the asset management operations of the following subsidiaries of The Principal: Principal Global Investors, LLC; Principal Real Estate Investors, LLC; Spectrum Asset Management, Inc.; Post Advisory Group, LLC; Columbus Circle Investors; Edge Asset Management, Inc.; Morley Financial Services Inc.; Principal Global Investors (Europe) Limited; Principal Global Investors (Singapore) Ltd.; Principal Global Investors (Australia) Ltd.; Principal Global Investors (Japan) Ltd.; Principal Global Investors (Hong Kong) Ltd.; and the majority owned affiliates of Principal International, Inc.

# “P&I/Watson Wyatt World 300: The Largest Retirement Funds” report on the largest pension plans. September 6, 2010.

Contacts

Principal Financial Group
Paula Chizek, 515-235-6016
Chizek.Paula@principal.com
or
Adam Lackey, 515-362-0482
Lackey.Adam@principal.com

Contacts

Principal Financial Group
Paula Chizek, 515-235-6016
Chizek.Paula@principal.com
or
Adam Lackey, 515-362-0482
Lackey.Adam@principal.com