Media from across the globe will have their eyes and ears glued to the World Insurance Forum to be held in Bermuda early next year in the hope of gleaning some information as to how the insurance industry will protect itself against the threat of international terrorism.

The organising committee for the Bermuda Insurance Symposium - who is hosting the event - has agreed that the World Insurance Forum to be held at the Fairmont Southampton Princess Hotel from February 19 to 22 will focus on industry implications surrounding last week's tragic terrorist attacks on the US.

The Forum will be one of the first broad-based gatherings of senior executives involved in the international insurance and reinsurance industries following the September 11 attacks.

A spokesman for the committee said: "It was felt that it would be especially important for the entire industry including markets, customers, brokers, ratings agencies and the press to hear opinions directly from industry leaders about the implications for all concerned.

"The important opening, which is an Insurance/Reinsurance CEO roundtable discussion, is expected to be expanded to a full day to allow for a full discussion of the state of the world's markets. Customer and broker sessions have also been reconsidered in light of recent devastating losses."

First held in 1993, the World Insurance Forum is a biennial event which is sponsored by the industry for the industry on a not for profit basis.

The event provides a forum for world insurers, reinsurers and risk financiers to discuss issues of critical importance facing the industry and the customers they serve.

The Committee also expressed their deepest sympathies to all the families, friends, associates and companies impacted by last Tuesday's events.