ING U.S. Inc. has improved its earnings stability and profitability around its core businesses. We are affirming our counterparty credit and financial strength ratings on ING and its core subsidiaries. At the same time, we are revising the outlook to positive from stable. The positive outlook reflects our expectation of continued improvement in earnings stability and profitability as the company manages down the residual risk associated with its legacy closed-block variable annuity businesses. On March 14, 2014, Standard&Poor's Ratings Services affirmed its ratings on ING U.S. Inc. and its core subsidiaries (collectively, ING U.S.). At the same time, we revised the outlook to positive from stable. The ratings on ING U.S. are based on the company's strong business
