Call for Entries to Showcase Outstanding Companies.

The Search is on for The Principal 10 Best Companies for Employee Financial Security--2007

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Providing a benefit program that helps employees achieve financial security and helps boost the company's bottom line isn't easy. It requires commitment, creativity and hard work. Companies that achieve that balance deserve to be celebrated. Once again they have that opportunity, as the sixth annual search for The Principal([R]) 10 Best Companies for Employee Financial Security begins February 1, 2007.

The program, sponsored by the Principal Financial Group([R]), recognizes 10 companies (with five to 1,000 employees) that excel in employee benefits. Winners are held up as role models for other growing businesses and receive national recognition and acclaim. Companies may enter on The Principal([R]) web site at www.principal.com/theprincipal10best/entry.htm. Additionally, other companies, financial professionals or peer organizations can nominate a company that deserves recognition as one of The Principal 10 Best Companies by filling out a nomination form at http://www.principal.com/theprincipal10best/nomination.htm.

Companies are not required to be clients of The Principal to enter. Deadline for entries is May 1, 2007, and winners will be announced in the fall of 2007. All entrants will receive a free analysis of how their benefits compare to other entrants and the winners. They will also receive a copy of the annual best practices guide highlighting the winners' strategies.

"Our company has received a lot of recognition over the years. In all sincerity, this is one in which we'll take the greatest pride, because it's about how we work with our people," said Steve Chapman, chairman and CEO, ITAGroup, Inc. --2006 winner of The Principal 10 Best Companies. "The recognition is beyond anything we expected."

The Principal 10 Best Companies for Employee Financial Security honors winning companies for the investments they make in their employees while also sharing their successes - such as reduced turnover, increased productivity and impressive employee loyalty - with other growing businesses. Winners are showcased in a nationally distributed best practices guide for employee financial security. The newest guide featuring 2006 winners is currently available on The Principal Web site, http://www.principal.com/theprincipal10best/bestpractices.htm . The winning companies also receive a free national and local recognition through advertisements and media coverage. In addition, the Principal Financial Group Foundation, Inc., will make a donation in the name of each winning company to a local charity of their choice.

"Companies that have received this prestigious recognition tell us it not only reinforces to their existing employees that they have a superb benefits package, but the recognition also gives them an edge as they compete for talent in an ever-shrinking workforce," says Renee Schaaf, vice president at the Principal Financial Group. "Even companies that are not selected for the top 10 tell us they find great value in going through the process because it is an opportunity to review the benefits they are providing

Winners are selected by an independent panel of judges who have expertise in employee benefits. The judges' analysis focuses on several criteria, including breadth and depth of financial benefits offered, level of commitment by the company to its employees' financial security and communication and educational efforts on benefit programs and financial security issues.

About The Principal 10 Best Companies Program

The Principal 10 Best Companies for Employee Financial Security is a nationwide program that searches for and recognizes small and medium-size companies that excel in providing for employee financial security. Entries for the 2007 search will be accepted from February 1, 2007, through May 1, 2007. The program is open to any company with between five to 1,000 employees. To qualify, all entrants must have been based in the United States and have provided a broad range of employee benefits for at least five years. Qualifying companies must have, at a minimum, offered "traditional" employee benefits, such as those relating to retirement, health, life or disability. No entry fee is required, and companies owned by employees of The Principal are not eligible to enter. For more information, visit http://www.principal.com/theprincipal10best/index.htm

About the Principal Financial Group

The Principal Financial Group([R]) (The Principal ([R]))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 and national network of financial professionals. A member of the Fortune 500, the Principal Financial Group has $215.0 billion in assets under management2 and serves some 16.4 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.

1 "The Principal Financial Group" and "The Principal" are registered service marks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., a member of the Principal Financial Group.

2 As of September 30, 2006.