regulatory red tape for certain international companies, by removing some of the restrictions.

The initiatives, agreed to by the legislature this year, are expected to bring more international companies to the Island.

Chairman of the Bermuda International Business Association, Mr. Cummings Zuill, president of the Bank of Bermuda's Bermuda Trust Company Ltd. and head of Bermuda Trust International, said, "By eliminating a few bureaucratic hurdles in passing these measures, the Bermuda government has unanimously voiced its support for Bermuda as a premier international business centre.'' Parliamentary Secretary for Finance, Senator Lynda Milligan-Whyte, senior partner in the law firm of Milligan-Whyte & Smith, emphasised: "These new laws make Bermuda a more attractive place to do business, for international and local companies alike.

"With the advent of these Acts, Bermuda has further increased its capacity to better service its existing business community, and offer greater advantages to international companies thinking about doing business in Bermuda.'' The Overseas Partnerships Act now allows overseas partnerships to operate in Bermuda under the discretion of the Minister of Finance.

The Exempted Partnerships Amendment Act removed the requirements for the Finance Minister's consent prior to any changes in limited partnerships.

The Companies Amendment Act protects the privacy of mutual fund investors by waiving the requirement of mutual fund companies to make open to public inspection a list of its members.

And the Mutual Companies (Non-Application of Companies Act) Regulations 1995 allows for the closure of the public register of mutual insurance companies, putting them on the same footing as mutual fund companies.