of their Global Energy business, is serving as a prototype for Zurich's corporate worldwide strategy of providing total risk management solutions for large customers in key industry segments, the company said yesterday.

Detlef Steiner, corporate executive board member responsible for Zurich's recently established corporate customer division, said, "As Zurich's first global business unit to pursue this total solutions strategy, Global Energy has demonstrated that it works.

"What makes the Global Energy operation a success is the industry experience and knowledge of its professionals; the unit's ability to efficiently deliver complete, global risk programmes; and its solid leadership.'' Zurich Global Energy Ltd. opened in 1996 and has recently expanded its local staff to include specialists in all lines of energy business. These include casualty, onshore property, and exploration and production.

Zurich Global Energy is headed worldwide by Robert Golden, a long-time fixture in the energy industry and former CEO of Heddington Insurance Ltd., Texaco's Bermuda-based captive insurer.

Mr. Golden is based in Bermuda, but spends considerable time on site at Global Energy's other underwriting offices in business and energy centres worldwide.

He said, "Global Energy provides energy customers with the very best Zurich has to offer to help protect their balance sheet and advance their business strategies. This includes specialty and financial underwriting and risk structuring capabilities, as well as specialised actuarial, claims and risk engineering expertise.'' Zurich said it is planning to roll out similar industry-focused initiatives to serve large, corporate customers.

Mr. Steiner said, "The experience of Bob and his energy team will provide a valuable example as we structure these specialised operations for optimal results.'' Global Energy specialises in large-scale onshore property, casualty and exploration and production risks. It services clients globally through underwriting offices in Bermuda, Chicago, Houston, London, Moscow, New York, Oslo, Toronto and Zurich, and regional representatives covering Eastern Europe and CIS, Latin America, and the Far and Middle East.

Limits up to $125 million are available for onshore property risks, $125 million for exploration and production risks, and $75 million for casualty exposures.