ING Direct 2009 Annual Report Download - page 70

these replacements based, among other things, on an annual
evaluation of the provided services. In line with this requirement,
the lead audit partner of Ernst & Young was succeeded after the
year-end audit 2006. The rotation of other partners involved with
the audit of the financial statements of ING is subject to applicable
independence legislation.
The external auditor may be questioned at the annual general
meeting in relation to their audit opinion on the annual accounts.
The external auditor will therefore attend and be entitled to address
this meeting.
The external auditor may only provide audit and non-audit services
to ING Group and its subsidiaries with the permission of the Audit
Committee. The Audit Committee generally pre-approves certain
types of audit, audit-related, tax and non-audit services to be
provided by the external auditor on an annual basis. Services that
have not been generally pre-approved by the Audit Committee
should not be provided by the external auditor unless they are
specifically pre-approved by the Audit Committee at the
recommendation of local management.
The Audit Committee also sets the maximum annual amount that
may be spent for pre-approved services. Throughout the year
the external auditor and ING monitor the amounts paid versus the
pre-approved amounts. The external auditor provides the Audit
Committee with a full overview of all services provided to ING,
including related fees, supported by sufficiently detailed
information. This overview is periodically evaluated by the Audit
Committee during the year.
More information on ING Group’s policy on external auditor
independence is available on the website of ING Group
(www.ing.com).
Corporate governance (continued)
1.3 Our governance
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