AXA Private Equity denies involvement in Moulinex-Brandt Paris, Friday September 21, 2001

In response to certain information published in the media, AXA Private Equity, a capital investment company belonging to the AXA group and active in all segments of the private equity business (LBO, Venture, Expansion, Recovery and Fund of Funds) denies any involvement in or contact with Moulinex-Brandt.

None of the directors or employees of AXA Private Equity attended the meeting held at the Finance Ministry on Thursday 20 September, nor has any member or representative of AXA Private Equity met with the directors of the group or its legal administrators. Both administrators responsible for the Moulinex-Brandt dossier can confirm this information.

Moreover, the "IDEA" group is completely unknown to AXA Private Equity.