Bermuda was at the forefront of a captive insurance meeting held in Atlanta last week.

Almost 40 risk managers met with a delegation of business leaders from the Island at the event to discuss captives and Bermuda's importance as a top jurisdiction for corporate self-insurance.

The decision to present the forum in Atlanta followed the success of the annual Bermuda Captive Conference, held at the Fairmont Southampton hotel in June.

The breakfast meetings at the renowned Atlanta restaurant, Villa Christina, were so well-received that chairman of the Bermuda Insurance Development Council Roger Gillett said it was important for Bermuda to plan further meetings with other US risk managers in the future.

Mr. Gillett said of the meetings: "There were 40 attendees. Almost all were risk managers. Some with Bermuda based captives, some with captives domiciled elsewhere and some considering forming a captive.

"The presentations were well received and the question sessions that followed the presentations were lively. We were commended on the detail of the information provided.

"We were sufficiently encouraged by the level of interest to begin the planning of further presentations in other US cities and beyond.

"We see these 'road shows' as a process of planting seeds and we recognise that in today's competitive environment we must remain visible."

Joining Mr. Gillett in Atlanta was Aon Bermuda's Phil Barnes, PwC Bermuda's US tax expert Rick Irvine, Attride-Stirling and Woloniecki lawyer Neil Horner and Marsh Bermuda's Scott Gemmell.

The seminar was aimed at companies owning or considering forming a captive insurer in Bermuda and service providers were also invited to attend. Topics included: why companies form captives; a captive tax update; the latest ideas on captive use; how to form a captive; and, Bermuda's captive regulation.