The World Insurance Forum yesterday confirmed the attendance of Maurice (Hank) Greenberg, chairman and chief executive officer of AIG, as the keynote speaker for the event's opening presentation on Wednesday, February 20.

Mr. Greenberg's address will help set the tone for the event's forums and panels, which will include insurers, reinsurers, buyers and brokers.

The '2002 World Insurance Forum' will be one of the first broad-based gatherings of senior executives involved in the international insurance and reinsurance industries following the tragic events of September 11, 2001.

Steering Committee chairman Robin Spencer Arscott stated, "Our audience will be very interested to hear what Mr. Greenberg has to say especially in light of the recent developments in the world insurance market.

"AIG has had a very long and distinguished presence in the Bermuda market and has recently provided substantial equity investment, support and management services towards the establishment of Allied World Assurance Company Ltd., one of the newest Bermuda based insurance companies with $1.5 billion in capital. Additionally, in 1993, following the dramatic shortage of Property catastrophe capacity in the wake of Hurricane Andrew, AIG was involved in the establishment of IPC Re Ltd.

"They were also involved in the formation of STARR Excess Insurance Company Ltd. to provide capacity for casualty and D&O insurance."

The Bermuda Insurance Symposium is the host of the World Insurance Forum. First held in 1993, the event is sponsored by the industry for the industry on a "not-for-profit" basis. It is a biennial event and a forum for world insurers, reinsurers, risk managers, financiers, and intermediaries to discuss issues of critical importance facing the industry. The complete schedule of events is posted on www.bis.bm.