Bermuda International Business Association (BIBA) chief executive Cheryl Packwood will be leading an Island delegation to Alternative Investment Summit Brasil 2008 next week.

Ms Packwood will be accompanied by Peter Hughes of Apex Fund Services, Elizabeth Denman of Mello Jones & Martin, Shaun Morris and Eduardo Fox of Appleby Bermuda and Anthony Whaley, Ross Webber and Alan Dickson of Conyers Dill & Pearman.

BIBA members and a delegation of international business executives will participate in panel discussions and provide insight to investment managers and their advisors who are looking to establish an offshore presence and gain access to international investors.

The summit, which runs from April 28-30, will spotlight Brazil's booming alternative investment space and the opportunities and advantages that exist in Brazil for fund managers and the broader alternative investment industry while highlighting Brazil's new regulations governing international investments.

"Brazil is clearly an emerging hub of alternative investment activity and we are eager to cultivate relationships with investors and fund mangers and discuss current opportunities that exist in Bermuda," said Ms Packwood.

"In particular we intend to educate participants on the distinctions between our jurisdiction and others.

"Our participation on the international roundtable discussion on establishing an offshore investment presence will afford us an opportunity to meet with potential investors and fund managers seeking new opportunities in Latin America."

The Bermuda International Business Association will also be partnering with Credit Suisse as a co-sponsor of the event. There will be a full exhibition booth for delegates to obtain information in English, Spanish and Portuguese on Bermuda as a financial centre.

BIBA also led a delegation of Bermuda international business executives to two other conferences — the MarHedge San Francisco Conference and the GAIM Cayman Conference — focused on the global investment management and fund markets this week.

The group was led by Shawnta Simmons, marketing manager for BIBA who was accompanied in San Francisco by Sabrina Greenway and in the Cayman Islands by Craig Bridgewater, a partner at KPMG, and Graham Pierson from Ignition.

"These conferences provide a critical opportunity for Bermuda to grow its business by establishing relationships with key sources of business, to educate and draw distinctions between our jurisdiction and others," said Cheryl Packwood, chief executive officer of BIBA.

"We have found that one of the real key opportunities for growth is driving home the message that Bermuda does not require local auditor sign-off.

"This continues to be an issue as fund managers and administrators are finding that other jurisdictions charge significant fees, but that there are significant ongoing delays in getting local auditor sign-off."