AXA among the world's top 100 most powerful brands --------- 30/04/2008

Brands around the world have never been so strong. For 2008, the combined value of brands in the BrandZ Top 100 is 1.94 trillion dollars (versus 1.6 trilion in 2007, up 21%).

The AXA Group made the world-famous Business Week's The method used by Millward Brown Optimor* to determine brand value is to multiply the brand's business earnings by its attractiveness and its expected short-term growth. The value calculated by Millward Brown is not related to market capitalization but to the brand's potential ability to create financial value.

AXA is also described as one of the major insurance For the second year in a row, Google tops the list, with a brand value of 86 billion dollars. The seven billion dollars attributed to the AXA brand in 2008 (up by 50% from 2007) have propelled it into the top 100, just in front of the U.S. brand AIG.

"This year's brand ranking demonstrates the importance of investing in brands, especially in times of market turmoil. Strong brands generate superior returns and protect businesses from risk," said Joanna Seddon, CEO of Millward Brown Optimor.

* U.S. consulting firm dedicated to helping companies maximize returns from brand and marketing investments.