AXA’s investment arm was picketed by animal rights protesters this week as part of a campaign against investment in animal testing firm Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS).
AXA Investment, which manages surplus funds from the insurer’s UK business, is a major investor in the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), where shares in HLS are traded.
Protest group Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) claims: “For every share traded an animal dies at Huntingdon Life Sciences.”
AXA Investment’s London office in Newgate Street was picketed on Tue-sday lunchtime by about 20 protest-ors with leaflets and loudhailers.
Meanwhile, brokers have forced AXA to make a swift apology this week after the insurer claimed brokers caused delays to business customers buying insurance.
The Institute of Insurance Brokers (IIB) highlighted a mailshot from AXA’s direct arm that said: “Choosing the right level of cover isn’t always easy and going through a broker can take time. So we have a team of insurance experts, to advise you on the best package for your business.”
IIB director Barry Fehler said: “Going through a broker can be slow because we are held up by insurers like AXA with poor service standards, I wish we could talk to one of their ‘experts’ from 8am to 6pm.”
AXA said: “We apologise unreservedly. It was not our intention to upset brokers. It will not be repeated.” It was a mistake.” AXA was unable to say how much of its commercial business came through brokers or how many mailshots had been sent out.
Hosted by comedian and actor Tom Allen, 34 Gold, 23 Silver and 22 Bronze awards were handed out across an amazing 34 categories recognising brilliance and innovation right across the breadth of UK general insurance.
