PARIS, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In the context of its strategic partnership with BMPS, AXA announces that it now holds a strategic interest equal to 2.052% of BMPS's total outstanding share capital. The acquisition of this interest is designed to reinforce the long-term relationship between the two companies and to demonstrate AXA's full support for BMPS's proposed acquisition of Banca Antonveneta. AXA will subscribe to its full allocation of BMPS shares as part of the rights issue contemplated by BMPS in connection with this acquisition. In line with the agreement between AXA and BMPS announced in March 2007, the bancassurance agreement between BMPS and the AXA-MPS joint venture should be extended to Banca Antonveneta, significantly reinforcing AXA-MPS's competitive position on the Italian insurance market. The legal and financial conditions for this extension of the bancassurance agreement will be defined over the coming weeks and will be subject to the closing of the acquisition of Banca Antonveneta by BMPS. 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. This press release is available on the AXA Group web site: http://www.axa.com/ 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. DATASOURCE: AXA CONTACT: AXA Investor Relations, Etienne Bouas-Laurent, +33-1-40-75-46-85, or Paul-Antoine Cristofari, +33-1-40-75-73-60, or Emmanuel Touzeau, +33-1-40-75-49-05, or George Guerrero, +1-212-314-2868; or AXA Media Relations, Christophe Dufraux, +33-1-40-75-46-74, or Clara Rodrigo, +33-1-40-75-47-22, or Laurent Secheret, +33-1-40-75-48-17, or Armelle Vercken, +33-1-40-75-46-42, or Mary Taylor, +1-212-314-5845 Web site: http://www.axa.com/

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