"Guardian is pleased to have in such a key leadership role an executive with the tremendous industry track record that Deanna has," said Mr. Baldwin. "Her experience over the past 20 years in product management and development, strategic planning and operations will be valuable as she crafts the vision and business mission for this important business."

Added Dennis J. Manning, Guardian's Chief Executive Officer: "Deanna is a highly regarded insurance industry professional with a notable record of successes. We look forward to her contributions to Guardian's continued growth."

Ms. Mulligan joins Guardian after having run her own consulting firm, advising insurance companies of strategic and operational issues. Before that she was Senior Vice President in charge of the Life and Annuity business for New York Life, a company at which she previously held professional roles earlier in her 23 year career. Ms. Mulligan also spent several years with AXA Financial, Inc., where she held a number of senior positions including Executive Vice president of the company's Market and Product Development group. Additionally, she was Principal and Co-Head of McKinsey & Company's North American Life Insurance practice.

Ms. Mulligan has an MBA from Stanford University and a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska.

About Guardian

Founded in 1860, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, NY (Guardian) is one of the largest mutual life insurance companies in the United States. As of December 31, 2007, Guardian and its subsidiaries had $41.3 billion in assets (on a consolidated statutory basis). With close to 3,000 financial representatives and 80 agencies nationwide, Guardian and its subsidiaries protect individuals, small business owners, and their employees with life, disability, health, long-term care, and dental insurance products, and offer 401(k), annuities, and other financial products and trust services. Specializing in the small to mid-size business market, Guardian's Group business unit serves more than 120,000 employers, 6 million employees, and their families. More information about Guardian can be obtained at: www.GuardianLife.com.

SOURCE The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America

http://www.GuardianLife.com

Mr. Jenrette is also a former Chairman of the Securities Industry Association and has served as a director or trustee of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Advanced Micro Devices Inc., the American Stock Exchange, The Rockefeller Foundation, The Duke Endowment, the University of North Carolina, New York University and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Stephen A. Schwarzman, Blackstone's Chairman and CEO, said; "I have known Dick for almost 40 years, so I am absolutely delighted to have him join our Board of Directors. Dick is a leading figure in the world of finance and I'm confident that Blackstone will greatly benefit from his expertise, his record of innovation and his many leadership roles in the financial services sector."

Mr. Jenrette commented; "I have watched Blackstone evolve over the years into one of the world's great alternative asset managers. I am very pleased to become associated with the firm in this new role."

Blackstone said that Lord Jacob Rothschild is stepping down from its Board of Directors. Mr. Schwarzman said; "It has been a distinct honor and privilege for us to have Jacob on our Board of Directors and we have benefited from his wide range of banking knowledge and many years of experience. We owe him a great deal of thanks for his valuable contribution. We regret his decision to step down from our Board of Directors, but we are delighted to have the continued benefit of his counsel as he has accepted our invitation to serve on our International Advisory Board."

About The Blackstone Group

Blackstone (NYSE: BX) is one of the world's leading investment and advisory firms. Blackstone seeks to create positive economic impact and long-term value for its investors, the companies it invests in, the companies it advises and the broader global economy. The Firm accomplishes this through the commitment of its extraordinary people and flexible capital. Blackstone's alternative asset management businesses include the management of corporate private equity funds, real estate funds, hedge funds, funds of funds, debt funds, collateralized loan obligation vehicles (CLOs) and closed-end mutual funds. The Blackstone Group also provides various financial advisory services, including mergers and acquisitions advisory, restructuring and reorganization advisory and fund placement service. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com.

SOURCE: The Blackstone Group

The Blackstone Group
Peter Rose, +1 212-583-5871
rose@blackstone.com
or
John Ford, +1 212-583-5559
ford@blackstone.com

Gerald Harlin, 52, joined the AXA Group in 1990 as corporate treasurer. In 1991, he became head of corporate finance, a position he held until 1994. He was subsequently appointed CFO of AXA Asset Management Europe and managing director of AXA Banque in 1994. In 1997, he became chief investment officer of AXA France and then in 2000 market program manager of AXA France in charge of CRM and product marketing. In 2001, he was named CFO of AXA France, a position he held until March 2003. Before joining the AXA Group, Gerald Harlin occupied various responsibilities in Total's corporate finance department.

Mark Pearson . short biography:

Mark Pearson, 49, joined the AXA Group in 1995 when AXA acquired a controlling interest in National Mutual (today AXA Asia Pacific Holdings). He was then CEO of National Mutual Asia, and thanks to this operation became CEO of AXA China Region, AXA's Hong Kong-based subsidiary. In 2001, he was appointed CEO of AXA Asia Life, the platform for AXA life activities in Asia. Mark Pearson had previously spent more than 15 years in the insurance sector, assuming many senior manager positions at National Mutual and Friends Provident.

About the AXA Group Executive Committee

The Executive Committee of the AXA group is now composed of 16 members:

-- Jean-Raymond Abat, chief executive officer of the Mediterranean Region,

-- Alfred Bouckaert, member of the management board, chief executive officer for Northern, Central and Eastern Europe,

-- Claude Brunet, member of the management board, in charge of transversal operations, human resources, marketing and communications,

-- Henri de Castries, chairman of the management board,

-- Christopher Condron, member of the management board, president and chief executive officer of AXA Financial, Inc. (United States),

-- John R. Dacey, chief executive officer for Japan, Asia-Pacific Region,

-- Denis Duverne, member of the management board, Group chief financial officer,

-- Philippe Egger, chief executive officer of insurance activities in Switzerland,

-- Gerald Harlin, deputy chief financial officer, executive vice-president finance and control,

-- Frank Keuper, chief executive officer of AXA Konzern AG (Germany),

-- Gerald Lieberman, president and chief operating officer of AllianceBernstein (United States),

-- Nicolas Moreau, chief executive officer of AXA UK & Ireland and chairman of the board of directors of AXA Investment Managers,

-- Mark Pearson, chief executive officer of AXA Life Japan and AXA Japan Holdings,

-- Andrew Penn, chief executive officer of AXA Asia-Pacific Holdings (Australia),

-- Francois Pierson, member of the management board, chairman and chief executive officer of AXA France, responsible for large risks, assistance and AXA Canada,

-- Eugene Teysen, chief executive officer of insurance and bank activities in Belgium.

The executive committee's principal mission is to review Group strategy. It is mainly composed of members of AXA's management board and CEOs of the Group's principal subsidiaries and/or business units. The 16 members of the Group's executive committee meet quarterly to conduct quarterly business reviews (QBRs), introduced in 2000 to provide a clear and consistent framework for:

-- reviewing operational performance and monitoring the progress of key projects using quantifiable standards of measurement defined in collaboration with the management board;

    -- assessing the status of transversal projects; and
    -- exchanging ideas and information on key strategic orientations.

As an internal management committee, the executive committee has no formal decision making authority. Its principal role is to assist the management board in effectively managing the Group's operating businesses, considering strategic initiatives and such other areas as the management board deems appropriate.

About AXA

AXA Group is a worldwide leader in Financial Protection. AXA's operations are diverse geographically, with major operations in Europe, North America and the Asia/Pacific area. AXA had Euro 1,281 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2007. For full year 2007, IFRS revenues amounted to Euro 93.6 billion and IFRS adjusted earnings to Euro 6.1 billion.

The AXA ordinary share is listed on compartment A of Euronext Paris under the ticker symbol CS (ISIN FR0000120628 - Bloomberg: CS FP - Reuters: AXAF.PA). The American Depository Share is also listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol AXA.

This press release is available on the AXA Group website: www.axa.com

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFORMATION AND CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained herein are forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements that are predications of or indicate future events, trends, plans or objectives. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements because, by their nature, they are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Please refer to AXA's Annual Report on Form 20-F and AXA's Document de Reference for the year ended December 31, 2007, for a description of certain important factors, risks and uncertainties that may affect AXA's business. In particular, please refer to the section "Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in AXA's Annual Report on Form 20-F. AXA undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.

SOURCE AXA Group

http://www.axa-equitable.com/

2) AXA Life and Annuity Company (formerly The Equitable of Colorado, Inc.)

3) MONY Life Insurance Company

4) MONY Life Insurance Company of America

5) U.S. Financial Life Insurance Company

The companies listed above will extend, by 60 days, the grace period for payment of life premiums and policy loan interest when the normal expiration of the grace period occurs from September 7, 2008 through November 6, 2008. During this period, policyholders may delay their payments by as many as 60 days without penalty.

In addition, the five insurers have also made special arrangements during this emergency period to process policy loan requests within a 24 to 48-hour period to support policy owners who may have emergency needs as a result of the storms.

All claims that occur from the hurricanes and floods will be given prompt attention. On an individual claim basis, every effort will be made to limit the needed requirements to expedite the disbursement of funds.

All policyholders of the five companies listed above are advised to contact their financial professional or call the following toll-free number for expedited customer service:

1-866-254-0149, prompt 2 (Hours of Service are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET); or policyholders can send email messages to DisasterAssistance@axa-equitable.com.

About AXA Financial

AXA Financial, Inc. is one of the premier U.S. organizations providing financial protection and wealth management through its strong brands: AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company, AXA Advisors, LLC, AXA Distributors, LLC, AXA Life and Annuity Company, AllianceBernstein, L.P., and the MONY family of companies, including MONY Life Insurance Company, MONY Life Insurance Company of America and U.S. Financial Life Insurance Company. AXA Financial is a member of the global AXA Group.

SOURCE AXA Equitable