PARIS, Oct. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AXA and BMPS announced today that they have successfully finalized their long-term partnership agreement in life and non-life bancassurance as well as in pension business in Italy. As part of this partnership, AXA acquired 50% of MPS Vita (life and savings) and MPS Danni (P&C), 50% of BMPS open pension funds business and will take on the management of the insurance companies' assets (Euro 13 billion as of year-end 2006) and open pension funds' assets (Euro 0.3 billion as of year-end 2006). The transaction, which was announced on March, 23, 2007, received all necessary regulatory approvals, and closed on October 19, 2007. About AXA AXA Group is a worldwide leader in Financial Protection. AXA's operations are diverse geographically, with major operations in Europe, North America and the Asia Pacific area. For full year 2006, IFRS revenues amounted to Euro 79 billion and IFRS adjusted earnings amounted to Euro 5,140 million. The AXA ordinary share is listed and traded under the symbol AXA on the Paris Stock Exchange. The AXA American Depository Share is also listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol AXA. About BMPS The Monte dei Paschi di Siena Bank, founded in 1472 as a Monte di Pieta (Pawn agency) to lend aid to the underprivileged classes of Siena, is considered the oldest bank in the world. Today it is the leader of one of the top five banking groups in Italy, with significant market shares in all the sectors in which it operates. The MPS Group is active all over Italy and in the major international financial centres, with operations ranging from traditional banking activity to asset management and private banking (mutual funds, wealth management, pension funds, and life insurance policies), from investment banking to innovative business financing (project finance, merchant banking, and financial counseling), with a special vocation for "family" accounts and small and medium businesses. With more than 24,000 employees, more than 1,900 branches, and a well-organized structure of channels of distribution, including a sizable network of financial promoters, the Monte dei Paschi di Siena Group offers its services to some four million customers. This press release is available on the AXA Group web site: http://www.axa.com/ and on the MPS Group web site: http://www.mps.it/ AXA INVESTOR RELATIONS: Etienne Bouas-Laurent: +33.1.40.75.46.85 Paul-Antoine Cristofari: +33.1.40.75.73.60 Emmanuel Touzeau: +33.1.40.75.49.05 George Guerrero: +1.212.314.28.93 AXA MEDIA RELATIONS: Christophe Dufraux: +33.1.40.75.46.74 Clara Rodrigo: +33.1.40.75.47.22 Laurent Secheret: +33.1.40.75.48.17 Armelle Vercken: +33.1.40.75.46.42 Mary Taylor: +1.212.314.58.45 BMPS INVESTOR RELATIONS: Alessandro Santoni Tel: + 39 0577 296477 BMPS MEDIA RELATIONS: David Rossi Tel: +39 0577 299927 AXA DISCLAIMER Certain statements contained herein are forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements that are predications of or indicate future events, trends, plans or objectives. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements because, by their nature, they are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Please refer to AXA's Annual Report on Form 20-F and AXA's Document de Reference for the year ended December 31, 2006, for a description of certain important factors, risks and uncertainties that may affect AXA's business. In particular, please refer to the section "Special Note Regarding Forward- Looking Statements" in AXA's Annual Report on Form 20-F. AXA undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise. BMPS DISCLAIMER Please refer to BMPS's Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2006, for a description of certain important factors, risks and uncertainties that may affect BMPS business. BMPS undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise. This document does not constitute an offer or invitation to purchase or subscribe for any shares and no part of it shall form the basis of or be relied upon in connection with any contract or commitment whatsoever. DATASOURCE: AXA Group CONTACT: AXA Investor Relations, Etienne Bouas-Laurent, +33.1.40.75.46.85, Paul-Antoine Cristofari, +33.1.40.75.73.60, Emmanuel Touzeau, +33.1.40.75.49.05, George Guerrero, +1.212.314.28.93; or AXA Media Relations, Christophe Dufraux, +33.1.40.75.46.74, Clara Rodrigo, +33.1.40.75.47.22, Laurent Secheret, +33.1.40.75.48.17, Armelle Vercken, +33.1.40.75.46.42, Mary Taylor, +1.212.314.58.45; or BMPS Investor Relations, Alessandro Santoni, + 39 0577 296477, ; or BMPS Media Relations, David Rossi, +39 0577 299927, Web site: http://www.axa-equitable.com/ http://www.mps.it/

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