AXA Art Insurance Launches Ad Campaign Targeting Collectors

Following the launch of its new Web site, www.axa-art.com, AXA Art Insurance Corporation, the leading art and collectibles insurance specialist in the United States, is now reaching out to the art community with a new advertising campaign. "We are a recognized expert in what is a highly specialized market segment," states Dr. Dietrich von Frank, the company's President and CEO. "Our growth over the last ten years can be attributed primarily to our excellent relationship with and high reputation within the community of insurance brokers. But in today's competitive and brand-conscious world, it is equally important to establish a solid rapport with our ultimate customer, the collector," claims von Frank.

This is why AXA Art is utilizing its new web site to connect with the rapidly growing number of art enthusiasts and private collectors, who are turning to the Internet for information and advice. As a specialist insurer the company has extensive experience in the full range of issues that affect art ownership and insurance, including valuation, protection, conservation, shipping and handling, as well as legal and fiscal aspects of owning art.

The new advertising campaign highlights a number of those issues depicting useful, but often disregarded facts on art management with tongue-in-cheek punch-lines. Scheduled for appearance throughout the first half of 2001, the ads will be featured in major U.S. art magazines, thus raising brand awareness and generating interest in the AXA Art Web site.

Aside from offering a platform for dialogue with brokers and clients, the Web site is a source of useful information, both for established and emerging collectors. Its "Collector's World" section offers sound advice on how to protect and care for a collection; it presents information on art conservation practices, offers insight into various "Aspects of Collecting," and updates on legal and fiscal aspects of owning art. It also features the Art Dealers Association of America (ADAA) Collector's Guide to Working with Art Dealers.

AXA Art Insurance was founded in the United States in 1987 by insurance and art professionals to address an urgent need for providing expert, affordable insurance coverage to the owners of fine art and collectibles. To this day, the company is the only insurance provider in the US to focus exclusively on fine art and collectibles, underwriting many of the country's most prestigious collections. In addition to providing flexible, tailor-made short or long term coverage, the company assists its insureds—individuals, corporations, museums, galleries, trusts and traveling exhibitions—with the overall protection and preservation of their collections.

AXA Art Insurance Corporation is part of the global AXA Group, one of the world's largest international insurance and related financial services companies. AXA's operations are diverse geographically, with activities in approximately 60 countries, principally Western Europe, North America and the Asia/Pacific area. In the United States, members of the AXA Group include AXA Financial (formerly The Equitable Group) and its companies AXA Advisors, Equitable Life, and Alliance Capital.

Contact:

Christiane Fischer
Director Communications
AXA Art Insurance Corp.
Tel: 212.415.8427
Fax: 212.415.8420
cfischer@axa-art-usa.com