getting more Bermudians to invest in the local stock exchange.

The Bermuda Stock Exchange announced that the Bermuda Women's Investment Club, the first private investment club to be formed on the Island, had won the "Own your own share of Bermuda'' prize draw.

The club will now be able to choose to claim the shares in a BSX listed security of its choice.

The draw was run in conjunction with presenter Fred Hassell's programme "The Investor's Radio Show''.

The prize was just part of an initiative by the BSX to encourage Bermudians to invest in local securities and form and participate in private investment clubs.

The most successful event to date was a private investors club night held earlier this year at the Mariners Club, and other nights are being planned for autumn and winter.

"It is interesting to note that the winners were in fact the first organised private investment club in Bermuda,'' said BSX corporate communications manager Joanne MacPhee. "It was actually as a direct result of publicity they received some time ago that other clubs were formed. We are not sure, but we believe there are now more than a dozen private investment clubs in Bermuda.'' The women's club secretary Sue Shea said: "We are absolutely delighted. It has given us something to focus on and it has renewed our interest in local securities.'' The club have elected to use their prize money to invest in ACE Ltd.

The BSX is a fully-electronic offshore securities market founded in 1971 and lists more than 290 securities, including equities, mutual funds and bonds as well as depository receipts. It is organised by the US SEC as a Designated Offshore Securities Market. ends