PRESS RELEASE

Americans: "On New Year's Eve, There's No Place Like Home!"

New York, NY – While nearly a million people plan to crowd New York City’s Times Square for the ceremonial farewell to 2004, where does the average American choose to ring in the New Year?   According to a recent survey by AXA, an international leader in financial protection and wealth management, 62 percent of respondents plan to welcome 2005 in the comfort of their own homes.  Another 17 percent will celebrate the event at a friend’s home.

Further, approximately 90 percent of Americans will spend the evening surrounded by relatives, friends or a combination of both.

However, not all Americans are interested in the year-end countdown, as seven percent of Americans simply choose not to celebrate with the world on New Year’s Eve.

AXA’s Retirement Scope survey, conducted in the United States by AC Nielsen, interviewed more than 800 American adults of all ages about perspectives ranging from holiday plans to financial and retirement planning.  Around the world, AXA conducted more than 9,200 interviews in 15 different countries.  Full results of the AXA survey will be released in early 2005.