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Edge Asset Management Announces International Equity Portfolio Manager

Rybakov's hiring marks the initial product entry for Edge in the international space, with this offering serving as an extension of its strong "Value Equity" franchise.

"International equity is one of the fastest growing areas of the traditional asset management industry," said Jill Cuniff, president of Edge Asset Management. "We are pleased to be able to add Mr. Rybakov's valuable international equities experience and insight."

Rybakov has 11 years of international equity portfolio experience, most recently with ENR Investments & Pacific Income Advisers, where he was portfolio manager for international equities. Prior to that, he was with equity shops NWQ, Tradewinds and Thornburg, where he compiled a strong track record as an analyst and portfolio manager. He is a chartered financial analyst and holds degrees in economics and management from Moscow State University and an MBA from the University of Illinois, Chicago.

About Edge Asset Management:

Edge Asset Management (formerly WM advisors) has been a pioneer in the field of actively managed asset allocation funds and is a leading fundamental manager delivering equity and fixed income products focused on total return and income. Edge has $18.3 billion in equity and fixed income assets, including $10.2 billion in asset allocation products/accounts. In 2007, Edge Asset Management was acquired by Principal Global Investors, the asset management arm of the Principal Financial Group.

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 $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 $305.7 billion in assets under management² 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. 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.

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, 2010.

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