associated with Serco have teamed up to create a new enterprise, BAS-Serco Ltd., which has been formed under the Companies Act 1981.

BAS president and CEO, Eugene Bean, said yesterday that the new business will carry out a variety of services including maintaining commercial and private buildings as well as providing the staff and administration for businesses.

With plans expected to be finalised this summer, he said it will be providing services to businesses, including those being developed on the former base lands.

The partner to BAS is Serco Facilities Inc., a Canadian company that comes under the same umbrella group as Serco Aviation Services, which in 1995 signed a $13 million contract with Government to run services including air traffic control, weather and flight information at the airport.

Other services it controls at the airport include maintaining buildings, sewage and lighting systems. The company won the contract after the US military moved out.

The new company will comply with Bermuda's 60/40 rule, requiring that 60 percent of ownership is controlled by Bermudian interests.

"The company will do more than maintain the structural or engineering components of a building,'' said Mr. Bean. "It involves setting up systems, staffing and administration of the building.'' He could not say yesterday how many staff would be employed, but he said that the new operation will be unique to Bermuda and will increase employment on the Island.

Eugene Bean