- Jacques de Chateauvieux appointed Chairman of the Supervisory Board, replacing Claude Bebear PARIS, April 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- During AXA's Annual Shareholders' Meeting today, all resolutions recommended by the Management Board were approved by the shareholders, including: -- The payment of a euro 1.20 dividend per share to be paid on April 29, 2008 (ex-dividend date April 24) -- consequently, AXA will pay to its shareholders an aggregate amount equal to 2,472 million euros, reflecting the Group's excellent performance last year, versus 2,218 million euros in 2006 -- The appointment of Francois Martineau as member of the AXA Supervisory Board, assuming the vacancy left by Claude Bebear's departure from the Supervisory Board -- The appointment of Wendy Cooper as member of the AXA Supervisory Board representing the Group's employee shareholders, replacing Jacques Tabourot whose mandate expired at the end of today's annual Shareholders' Meeting The AXA Supervisory Board met at the end of the Shareholders' Meeting and approved the following appointments: -- Jacques de Chateauvieux as the new Chairman of AXA's Supervisory Board, replacing Claude Bebear who was appointed Honorary Chairman. During the Supervisory Board of February 27, Claude Bebear had announced his decision not to seek the renewal of his mandate as a member of the Supervisory Board upon expiration of his mandate, consistent with the principle that he has long defended of not renewing the mandate of Supervisory Board members older than 70 years of age -- Norbert Dentressangle as Vice-Chairman of the AXA Supervisory Board, replacing Jacques de Chateauvieux Claude Bebear said: "Eight years after having left the operational management of the AXA Group to Henri de Castries, I leave confident in our perspectives despite a difficult environment. I am convinced that Jacques de Chateauvieux, thanks to his large experience and his strong knowledge of our business, will succeed in driving the debates of the Supervisory Board and in working closely with the Management Board in order to lead AXA to new successes." The AXA Supervisory Board is now composed of 14 members: Mr. Jacques de Chateauvieux - 57 - Chairman Mr. Norbert Dentressangle - 53 - Vice-Chairman Mr. Leo Apotheker - 54 Mrs. Wendy Cooper - 57 Mr. Jean-Martin Folz - 61 Mr. Jean-Rene Fourtou - 68 Mr. Anthony Hamilton - 66 Mr. Henri Lachmann - 69 Mr. Francois Martineau - 57 Mr. Gerard Mestrallet - 59 Mr. Giuseppe Mussari - 45 Mr. Michel Pebereau - 66 Mrs. Dominique Reiniche - 52 Mr. Ezra Suleiman - 66 Jacques de Chateauvieux -- short biography: Born in 1951, Jacques de Chateauvieux graduated from the Institut Superieur de Gestion (ISG) in Paris and earned a Masters in Business Administration from Columbia University (USA). At the age of 28, he left the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and became Chief Executive Officer of the Reunion Island-based company Sucreries de Bourbon. From 1989 to 2001, he turned Bourbon into an international conglomerate and then floated it on the Paris Stock Exchange in 1998. From 2001, he set about a refocusing strategy which would make Bourbon a world leader in offshore oil and gas marine services. In 2008, Bourbon employs over 4,300 professionals in more than 25 countries and owns a fleet of around 250 vessels. In addition to a 24% stake in Bourbon, Jacques de Chateauvieux has built up -- through his personal holding company, Jaccar, founded in 1980 -- a diversified portfolio of equity interests notably including the biggest private shipbuilding group in China, a fund management business in Vietnam, property developments in the region, and a real estate business in Reunion Island. Jacques de Chateauvieux has been a member of the Supervisory Board of AXA since 2005. Francois Martineau -- short biography: Born in 1951, Francois Martineau has been a lawyer at the Paris bar since 1976. His main professional focus is business law. He is the author of numerous books, some translated in many languages: L'histoire de la delinquance (or History of Criminality) (Lattes ;1986), Redressement et liquidation judiciaire (Editions du Nouvel Economiste ; 1994), Le discours polemique (Quai Voltaire ; 1994), Petit traite d'argumentation judiciaire (Dalloz ; 2004-2006). Francois Martineau is advisor to the Council of Europe and teaches the theory of argumentation in France at the Bar Training School and abroad. Education: University of Paris, degree in philosophy (1971) and a master in law (1973). He also holds a degree of Institut Politique (1973). Wendy Cooper -- short biography: Born in 1950, Wendy Cooper is Senior Vice President & Associate General Counsel AXA Equitable (US). Graduate of the Fordham Law School of New York, she spent more than 13 years in NYS Government, successively as Assistant Counsel to NY Governors (1981-1987) and as First Deputy Superintendent of Insurance of the NY Insurance Department (1987-1995). She also served as Acting Superintendent of Insurance (from January to June, 1990). Wendy Cooper then joined The Equitable, predecessor of AXA Equitable, as Vice President & Associate General Counsel. This press release is available on the AXA Group web site http://www.axa.com/ 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. Full year 2007 IFRS revenues amounted to Euro 94 billion and adjusted earnings to Euro 6,138 million. The AXA ordinary share is listed on compartment A of Euronext Paris under the ticker symbol CS (ISIN FR0000120628 -- Bloomberg: CS FP -- Reuters: AXAF.PA). The American Depository Share is also listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol AXA. IMPORTANT LEGAL INFORMATION AND CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS CONCERNING FORWARDLOOKING STATEMENTS 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, including the risk that the proposed acquisition may not be consummated. Please refer to AXA's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2006 and AXA's Document de Reference for the year ended December 31, 2007, 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 Group 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, +1-212-314-2893, or AXA Media Relations, Christophe Dufraux, +33-1-40-75-46-74, or Clara Rodrigo, +33-1-40-75-47-22, Armelle Vercken, +33-1-40-75-46-42, or Laurent Secheret, +33-1-40-75-48-17, or Mary Taylor, +1-212-314-5845, or Individual shareholders, +33-1-40-75-48-43 Web site: http://www.axa.com/

Copyright