AXA Private Equity establishes its presence in Asia Paris, 13 February 2006.

AXA Private Equity, one of the leading private equity houses, is establishing a strong presence in Asia and has today announced its opening, of a Singapore office and local subsidiary AXA Private Equity Asia. AXA Private Equity plans a major expansion of its activities in this region with a first allocation of USD 550 million.

Asia is the 3rd largest Private Equity market with rapid growth: more than USD 13 billion raised in 2005 according to the Centre for Asia Private Equity Investment.

Christophe Florin, Managing Director of AXA Private Equity Asia adds: “we need to diversify our exposure in Asia alongside US and Europe for our main clients. The asian private equity market is now mature enough for institutional investors like us. We will concentrate our investments in the largest and most mature countries such as Japan, China, India, Australia and Korea.”

Our ambition for the region is to invest in funds and into companies directly and through Co-Investments based on our network of local partners and european entrepreneurs.

Dominique Senequier, Chief Executive Officer of AXA Private Equity, welcomes this new stage of international development. “After opening our offices in London, New York, Frankfurt, it is essential for us to be in Asia. We opted for Singapore as a major economic and financial place in Asia. We have built in a short time a strong local team with international experience and background.”

With an asian dedicated fund of USD 550 million, AXA Private Equity confirms its position as a world leader in Private Equity and the growing interest from major institutional investors in Asia. AXA Group and The Caisse de depot et placement du Québec are the two main partners of the fund.

AXA Private Equity is solely dedicated to private equity investments and, since 1996, date of its creation, has enjoyed exceptional growth driven by its third-party management business. Its expertise spans all sectors of private equity: LBO, Venture, Expansion, Primary, Early Secondary and Secondary Funds of Funds.

Today AXA Private Equity independently manages or advises over USD 8.5 billion for some of the world’s leading investors. With a constant focus on transparency, performance and sustainable profitability, AXA Private Equity is supported by the expertise of its staff (80 professionals) and its international experience.

AXA Private Equity is managing a portfolio of interests in 400 largely diversified funds and over 80 direct investments in European companies.

Press Contact:

AXA Private Equity:
Tel.: 33 1 44 45 92 20

Weber Shandwick:
Ng Chip Keng
Tel.: 65 6825 8084
Mob.: 65 9623 2166
ckng@webershandwick.com