Principal Financial Group Earns Top Marks in 2016 Corporate Equality Index

The Principal Earns 100 percent on Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s
Fourteenth Annual Scorecard on LGBT Workplace Equality

DES MOINES, Iowa–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The
Human Rights Campaign today announced that Principal
Financial Group^® received a perfect score of 100 percent
on the 2016 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a national benchmarking
survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to LGBT
workplace equality. The Principal^® joins the ranks of 391
major U.S. businesses that also earned top marks this year.

“We are honored to be included again in this list of companies that
demonstrate a commitment to equality and inclusion in the workplace.
We’re especially proud to be one of just two companies headquartered in
Iowa to appear toward the top of the list,” said Beth Raymond, senior
vice president and chief human resources officer at The Principal. “This
recognition is a reflection on the people who are so committed to
creating an inclusive workplace at The Principal. Even with a perfect
score on the Index, we will not stop focusing on finding more ways to
nurture an ever-increasingly inclusive environment where all employees
of The Principal can do their best work.”

The 2016 CEI rated 1,024 businesses in the report, which evaluates
LGBT-related policies and practices including non-discrimination
workplace protections, domestic partner benefits, transgender-inclusive
health care benefits, competency programs, and public engagement with
the LGBT community. The Principal’s efforts in satisfying all of the
CEI’s criteria results in a 100 percent ranking and the designation as a
Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality.

For more information on the 2016 Corporate Equality Index, or to
download a free copy of the report, visit www.hrc.org/cei.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights
organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end
discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves
fundamental fairness and equality for all.

About the Principal Financial Group
The Principal Financial
Group^® (The Principal^®)¹ is a global
investment management leader offering retirement services, insurance
solutions and asset management. The Principal offers businesses,
individuals and institutional clients a wide range of financial products
and services, including retirement, asset management and insurance
through its diverse family of financial services companies. Founded in
1879 and a member of the FORTUNE 500^®, the Principal
Financial Group has $516.2 billion in assets under management² and
serves some 20.6 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 Sept. 30, 2015

Contacts

Principal Financial Group
Hillary Gebert, 515-246-4942
gebert.hillary@principal.com