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Blackstone Led Investor Group Announces Launch of Insphere Insurance Solutions^sm

Phillip J. Hildebrand Named as Chief Executive Officer

NEW YORK NY – July 7, 2009 – A group of private equity investors, including affiliates of The Blackstone Group, Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse, has announced plans to launch Insphere Insurance Solutions^sm. (http://www.insphereinsurancesolutions.com)

This new company expects to be the nation’s largest independent career agent distribution group offering life, health, long-term care and retirement products for small businesses and the middle-income market. Long-time insurance industry executive Phillip J. Hildebrand has been named as chief executive officer for the new company.

“Insphere Insurance Solutions will be exclusively focused on the under-served small business and the middle income market,” said Hildebrand. “This market has been largely ignored by major insurance carriers and agents who have migrated to serve more affluent consumers. This has resulted in a scarcity of distribution in this market.”

The small business and middle market is the fastest growing segment in the industry. There are over 30 million middle-income households who are faced with significant financial challenges, including rising unemployment, growing concerns about healthcare inflation, loss of insurance benefits at their workplace, and uncertainty around future of Medicare and Social Security. A study by the Life Insurance and Market Research Association (LIMRA) found 44% of the middle market considered themselves under-insured on life insurance. Insuring this group would add $9.5 trillion in insurance and $17 billion in premiums, according to the report.

Even though the middle market has grown considerably over the past two decades, industry experts cite a dramatic decline in the number of carriers and insurance professionals who serve this market. The number of companies serving the middle market declined by some 37% over the last decade ending in 2006, and the number of overall agents declined by 16%.

The small business market is also a rapidly expanding, yet under-served segment. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, some 89% of all firms have fewer than 20 employees. A report by the national association of America’s Health Insurance Plans found that 70% of firms with less than 10 employees do not provide health insurance. As economic pressures have intensified, even those small businesses that currently offer health insurance to their employees are faced with the difficult decision to reduce or eliminate insurance coverage.

“We are currently in discussions with a number of leading life, health, long-term care and retirement carriers about our capabilities in reaching small business and the middle market,” said Hildebrand.

As one of its initial solutions, Insphere Insurance Solutions announced its intention to enter into a marketing agreement with ING, a leading global banking and insurance company, to distribute the company’s term life and universal life insurance products. The company expects to begin marketing ING insurance policies on a pilot basis in 90 days.

Insphere Insurance Solutions expects to be the largest independent career agent insurance distribution group in America, with a force of 3,500 agents and offices in over 40 states expected when the company commences services in 2010. Hildebrand noted that the company plans to grow geographically and into communities across the country, and will be actively recruiting experienced and new insurance field managers and agents, with an objective to double the number of dedicated independent Insphere Insurance Solutions agents over the next few years.

“Because of our size and scale, we expect to be able to offer significant infrastructure and support for field managers and agents including lead generation, training, compliance, marketing and technology capabilities. We also believe our compensation will be unique, with an equity compensation component expected to be offered to both field managers and agents” added Hildebrand.

Prior to being named CEO of Insphere Insurance Solutions, Hildebrand had over a 30-year career with New York Life, serving in several executive management positions with the company including Head of Distribution. He was named Vice Chairman in 2006. Hildebrand retired from New York Life in 2007 and has since served in other advisory and executive positions in the insurance industry.

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About the ING Family of Companies

Life insurance products are issued by ReliaStar Life Insurance Company (Minneapolis, MN), ReliaStar Life Insurance Company of New York (Woodbury, NY) and Security Life of Denver Insurance Company (Denver, CO). Within the state of New York, only ReliaStar Life Insurance Company of New York is admitted, and its products issued. All are members of the ING family of companies.

Other than the ING companies identified, no other entities, whether distributing or listed on the material, are affiliated with the ING family of companies.

About Insphere Insurance Solutions

Insphere Insurance Solutions, Inc. is a distribution company that specializes in meeting the life, health, long-term care and retirement insurance needs of small businesses and middle-income individuals and families through its portfolio of highly rated products offered by nationally recognized insurance carriers. Insphere is an authorized agency in all 50 states and the District of Columbia with approximately 2,600 agents nationwide. For more information, please visit www.insphereis.com.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT FOR PURPOSES OF THE "SAFE HARBOR" PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

This news release may include forward-looking statements relating to Insphere Insurance Solutions, Inc. that are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements are intended to be identified in this document by the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," “may,” "objective," "plan," "possible," "potential," “project” and similar expressions. Actual results may vary materially. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update them to reflect changes that occur after that date. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, the effect of recently enacted national health care reform legislation on our business; other legal or regulatory developments which may adversely affect our business including, but not limited to, laws or regulations which impede our ability to obtain effective leads; any failure to comply with applicable law or regulations; our ability to maintain applicable licenses; our ability to enter into and maintain satisfactory relationships with insurance carriers and agents; our ability to implement and maintain various information technology and administrative systems, platforms and processes necessary to successfully run the businesses, or the failure of such systems, platforms and processes to provide timely and accurate information; our reliance on outsourcing arrangements, which may subject us to risks related to business disruption or otherwise adversely affect our operations; termination of agreements with insurance carriers or revisions to contract terms which may adversely affect our business; the failure of insurance carriers to pay us in a timely and accurate manner or to provide us with data required to support product sales and accurately pay our agents; and the failure of an insurance carrier to administer underwritten business in an appropriate manner, which may lead to customer dissatisfactions and the lapse or cancellation of policies for which we and our agents receive commissions. Like any business, the progress and success of the company entails substantial uncertainty. There can be no assurance that other factors not currently anticipated by the company will not materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf.