AXA Art Insurance, the premier art insurance specialist, is marking a significant milestone this month by celebrating two decades of delivering product innovation and world-class service to the United States art market. The company was incorporated in the State of New York on September 1986 to address a critical need of providing expert, affordable insurance coverage to the owners of fine art and collectibles. Today, AXA Art is licensed to conduct business in all 50 States and the District of Columbia and remains the only insurance provider to focus exclusively on fine art and collectibles.

Industry leadership in product innovation, market development and service delivery

AXA Art insures objects in every active area of serious collecting, from paintings, drawings and sculpture to rare stamps and coins, antique furnishings, vintage wine, rare books, vintage vehicles and emerging collectibles. The company's portfolio of products and services carries industry leadership in product innovation, market development and service delivery -- with offerings of flexible, tailor-made, short- and long-term coverage for individual art collectors, corporations, museums, galleries, trusts, artists and traveling exhibitions.

“It is gratifying that the United States art market continues to entrust underwriting protection of their valuable possessions to AXA Art," commented Christiane Fischer, CEO of AXA Art's US operation. “We distinguish ourselves through insurance know-how paired with in-depth international art market expertise", added Fischer. “Clients benefit from AXA Art's unique blend of underwriting capabilities, claims handling proficiency and offerings of specialist policies", she concluded.

Unsurpassed art-market expertise and capabilities

With the expertise of 50 full-time art experts around the world and access to an extensive network of renowned curators, appraisers, conservators, shippers and handlers, and tax consultants, AXA Art's capabilities extends to offerings of information and guidance on display, restoration, loss prevention, security, fire protection, market valuation, proactive planning and instant disaster recovery.

In acknowledging AXA Art's important milestone within the U.S. art market, Vivian Ebersman, the company's director of fine arts expertise commented, “The driving force behind AXA Art's success has been its commitment to delivering tailor-made solutions and personalized service to clients. AXA Art remains faithful to these principles as it continues along its path", Ebersman concluded.

"A" Rating from A.M. Best

The roots of the company as a fine art specialty insurer go back to the 1960s when Nordstern Art Insurance first offered its product to collectors and museums in Europe. In 1997, Nordstern Art was acquired by AXA Group, the world's leader in financial protection and wealth management. Today, AXA Art is the global leader in its field, greatly benefiting from its extensive international presence and expertise. In the US, the company has grown consistently and has maintained the desirable "A" rating from A.M. Best for more than a decade, based on “its expertise and leadership position in its niche specialty market, extensive loss control capabilities and high quality balance sheet." The ranking also acknowledges “AXA's brand name recognition within the fine arts industry, successful branch office network and value-added service it provides its customers".

Cutting-edge research initiatives with the world's most prestigious museums

Over the years, AXA Art has been actively supporting the art community through a variety of initiatives and grants. The company underscores its commitment through initiatives such as "The AXA ART Conservation Research Grant" to advance cutting edge conservation research and procedures. Recipients of the award include the Tate for its Contemporary Art Research: Modern Paints project, an international collaborative research in preventive and practical conservation of acrylic works; the Ad Reinhardt Research Project in conjunction with the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and The Museum of Modern Art and The AXA Art Conservation Research Project in conjunction with the Vitra Design Museum.

In addition, the company's annual AXA ARTist Grant, has supported emerging artists since 2000. Other notable projects include the Louvre Atlanta, a historic three-year partnership between the High Museum of Art in Atlanta and the Musée du Louvre in Paris, to bring artworks to the High Museum in Atlanta over a three-year period --including old masters. Additionally, AXA Art is the lead partner of the TEFAF fair in Maastricht and a host sponsor of Art Basel and Art Basel Miami Beach.

About AXA Art Insurance
AXA Art serves a wide range of clients, from first-time purchasers to the world's most respected collectors, as well as individual artists, museums, galleries, corporations and public exhibitions. AXA Art insures objects in every active area of serious collecting, that includes paintings, drawings and sculpture to rare stamps, antique furnishings and vintage vehicles. In the US, AXA Art maintains offices in New York (headquarters), Atlanta, Beverly Hills, Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia and New England. The company's international presence is manifested by offices in Brussels, Cologne, London, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Hong Kong, Singapore and Zurich. For more information visit www.axa-art.com

For further information, please contact:

Rosalind (Roz) Joseph
Telephone: (718) 710-5181
E-mail: rjoseph@axa-art-usa.com