AXA — Regulatory Filings 2012

Apr 12, 2012

AXA Research Fund 83 new world-class research teams tackling global risks with AXA support in 2011

In 2011, AXA strongly expanded its support to scientific research on the global risks on the environment, human health and societies. According to its unique global philanthropic scheme, the AXA Research Fund selected 83 new academic teams and gave them a support globally amounting to 22 million euros.

• 3 new AXA Research Chairs have been created. For instance, the AXA-Nanyang Technological University Chair on Natural Hazards1 (Singapour), held by world-known American geologist Pr. Kerry Sieh, will strengthen the application of earth science to create safer and more sustainable societies in a region where millions of people are exposed to earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, changing sea levels and other natural hazards. It has been endowed with 3 million Euros.
• 14 new research projects have been granted such as Pr. Peter Carmeliet's project at the University of Leuven (Belgium), which explores tumor cell growth to unravel mechanisms which could offer new therapeutic avenues for cancer. It has been granted 1 million Euros.
• 66 postdoctoral and doctoral fellowships to contribute to the development of a new generation of scientific excellence (120,000 Euros each). Among them, Dr. Asuka Komiya, from Kobe University (Japan), explores how the practice of apologies maintains the social fabric of society and, therefore, allows for personal risk-taking.

"As a leading insurer, our key expertise lies in understanding and managing risk, our key responsibility in protecting people. This means that we have an essential and active role to play in making sure the ever-evolving risk landscape – the greatest risk coming from where it is least expected – is understood by the society as a whole. I am very proud and delighted that the AXA Research Fund contributes more and more to this noble purpose and thus to the engine of human progress." said Henri de Castries, Chairman and CEO of AXA.

The AXA Research knowledge community now consists of 289 teams and researchers of 47 nationalities. AXA support amounts to 76 million Euros since 2008.

The 2011 supported initiatives have been selected on the basis of excellence through a rigorous process supervised by the AXA Research Fund Scientific Board, which is chaired by Pr. Ezra Suleiman (Princeton University) and on which eminent figures from the scientific world sit.

1 See :http://www.axa-research.org/the-axa-research-fund-launches-its-first-chair-in-asia

About the AXA Research Fund

Created in 2008, the AXA Research Fund provides philanthropic support for research focused on understanding and preventing the risks threatening the environment, human life and our societies. It is a major initiative within AXA's Corporate Responsibility strategy to support risk research and education. As of February 1st, 2012, Euro 76 million have been committed and the AXA Research Fund has given its support to 289 research projects, implemented in 26 countries by researchers of 47 nationalities. The funds are granted based on a decision by the Scientific Board. More details on www.axa-research.org.

About the AXA Group

The AXA Group is a worldwide leader in insurance and asset management, with 163,000 employees serving 101 million clients in 57 countries. In 2011, IFRS revenues amounted to Euro 86.1 billion and IFRS underlying earnings to Euro 3.9 billion. AXA had Euro 1,079 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2011.

The AXA ordinary share is listed on compartment A of Euronext Paris under the ticker symbol CS (ISN FR 0000120628 – Bloomberg: CS FP – Reuters: AXAF.PA). AXA's American Depository Share is also quoted on the OTC QX platform under the ticker symbol AXAHY.

The AXA Group is included in the main international SRI indexes, such as Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) and FTSE4GOOD.

This press release is available on the AXA Group website www.axa.com

AXA Research Fund Media Relations:

Guillaume Saintagne: +33.1.40.75.58.73

AXA Media Relations:

Guillaume Borie:	+33.1.40.75.49.98
Hélène Caillet:	+33.1.40.75.55.51

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