AmberGlen, LLC, one the Pacific Northwest's premier corporate campuses, was awarded the grand prize in the Carbon4Square challenge by the Building Owners and Managers Association of Oregon. Principal Real Estate Investors, one of the largest institutional real estate managers in the United States, owns AmberGlen.

The award recognizes real estate firms for success in reducing carbon emissions generated through the four W's - watts, water, waste and wheels. AmberGlen took home the "Carbon Samurai" award for achieving superior accomplishments in managing carbon emissions across all four categories.

"Our goal is to create and implement industry-leading green initiatives for each property we own," said Monica Christensen, senior asset manager at Principal Real Estate Investors. "AmberGlen is one of our best examples of this initiative. We're proud to see the work we've done to reduce carbon emissions recognized by the Carbon4Square challenge."

AmberGlen has been owned by Principal Real Estate Investors' since 2004. The property consists of three Class A office buildings, with an average ENERGY STAR® score of 85. The buildings have achieved a 28 percent reduction in water use in the 12 months following installation of water wise irrigation controllers, a 35 percent reduction in carbon emissions, and enrolled 80 percent of tenants in a recycling program. Additionally, two electric car charging stations are available, goats are used for vegetation maintenance (instead of gasoline-powered lawn equipment), and covered bicycle parking is available for tenants.

Earlier this year, Principal Real Estate Investors was named the second greenest commercial real estate company by Commercial Property Executive. The rankings recognize the ongoing commitment of "time, staff and corporate culture in a way that will help (commercial real estate companies) gain a leadership position in the commercial real estate sector," according to the publication.

About Principal Real Estate Investors:
Principal Real Estate Investors manages or subadvises $40.4 billion in commercial real estate assets. The firm's real estate capabilities include both public and private equity and debt investment alternatives. Principal Real Estate Investors is the dedicated real estate group of Principal Global Investors, a diversified asset management organization and a member 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 $258.2 billion in assets1 primarily for retirement plans and other institutional clients2.

About the Principal Financial Group
The Principal Financial Group® (The Principal ®)3 is a global investment management leader including 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 $364.1 billion in assets under management4 and serves some 17.3 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 As of March 31, 2012.

2 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.; Finisterre Capital, LLP; Origin Asset Management, LLP; 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.; CIMB-Principal Islamic Asset Management Sdn. Bhd.; and the majority owned affiliates of Principal International, Inc. Assets under management includes assets managed by investment professionals of Principal Global Investors under dual employee arrangements with other subsidiaries of The Principal. ¹"The Principal Financial Group" and "The Principal" are registered trademarks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., a member of the Principal Financial Group.

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

4 As of March 31, 2012.

Principal Financial Group
Adam Lackey, 515-362-0482
lackey.adam@principal.com