the first case in my career

It was about 15.00 o’clock in the afternoon. Mr Bill [aka William O'Brien, The President Director of AXA Indonesia) was in a hurry. He’s coming out of the office, talked to someone, I waited. Afterwards, he moved to a room, I got close to him fast and asked. I thought I’ve pushed the tiny button of my MP3 player recorder but I actually haven’t.

(I missed this part in my recorder)
Me : Mr William, I’m a reporter of Bisnis Indonesia... I’m following up
the news about AXA’s acquistion on Winterthur...
Mr B : No comment. AXA group has’t given any official instruction ‘bout that.

(I realized and started to push the recording-button)
Me : Rrr...
Mr B : We shoud have sent the press release. Did you get the copy of the
press release?
Me : I haven’t been in my office yet.
Mr B. : Okay, let me tell you that we’re not making any comment.
Me : Because we have Credit Life in Indonesia that...
Mr. B : I understand that... But we’re not making any comment at this point. That exactly what we’re instructed to do. But we will happy to give you the press release. I can do that.

He walked fast to the receptionist girl to ask the press release for me, I
walked a meter behind him. (still recording)
Me : “It’s a big deal, isn't it?”
Mr. B : “It is. That’s all I can say,”

He talked to the girl, and left me. The girl promised me to get Mr. Sibarani. I thought there would be a man with a press release and no statement, so I put my recorder in my bag. And then, Mr Sibarani met me. I thought he had the press release for me, but he didn’t. He just told me to download it in AXA’s official website.

He gave me his card name, and wrote the website address. While he’s writing, I asked more about the progress of the acquisition. He replied, and I was just writing it in my notes, not recording, for I didn’t want to miss his statement.

Me : Akuisisi AXA SA terhadap Winterthur nanti follow upnya di Indonesia seperti apa? [How does AXA Indonesia follows up the acquisition on Winterthur?]

Mr. Sibarani : “Kami belum tahu. Jangankan di Indonesia, AXA di Hongkong
dan Australia saja di seluruh Asia Pasifik belum menerima perintah resmi
mengenai itu.” [We don’t know yet. Not only in Indonesia, even AXA in
Hongkong and Australia, briefly in Pacific Asia, haven’t got any official instruction following that].

Me : “Jadi masih menunggu dari pusat?” [So, (AXA Indonesia) is still
waiting the instruction from AXA SA?”]

Mr Sibarani : “Ya, tentu menunggu dari pusat tak bisa asal,” [“Yes, of
course we do, we can’t just make a move.”]

Then, I decided to write the story that AXA Indonesia is waiting for the next instruction from AXA SA in the context of AXA’s acquisition on Winterthur. For me, that’s the fact, for they can do nothing without having the official instruction from AXA SA.

I got Mr. Sibarani’s statement only in my notes which could be easily denied. But I’m 100% sure that the point I wrote similar to Mr. Sibarani’s point, that AXA (not only in Indonesia) is waiting for the next instruction on the acquisition process and can’t do nor react loosely.

Right on that very day the news was reported, Mr Sibarani wrote me en email, saying that AXA supposed to be written in capital, not 'Axa'. He complained nothing about his statement I quoted, instead of saying “Thanks for the article.”

About ALL technical information on the acquisition, I took it from the Bloomberg, not from Mr Bill nor Mr Sibarani. And I took the background information about Winterthur Indonesia from The Indonesian Insurance Directory 2005.

On the other hand, I got AXA group’s operation from AXA’s official site. It’s http://www.AXA.com/en/group/world/asia-pacific


Thank you,
Arif

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I found this file in a folder of my computer. Yes, it was my first dispute against a corporation whom I cover on June 2006. They thought my article was not based on a proper reporting. But after fulfilling the AXA SA (the headquarter of AXA in Paris)'s request about the chronology of my reporting, I heard that they decided closing the case and firing Mr Sibarani. I'm sorry to hear that, for I think his comment is not a problematic nor dilematic one.