has decided to retire.

He is selling the business as a going concern, but will not yet reveal to whom.

Mr. Stephens has owned the Reid Street shop, which sells knick-knacks, and leather goods since 1963.

CSS SEALS PARTNERSHIP BUC CCS seals partnership Business communications group, CCS has become a certified partner in a major networking equipment developer.

CCS Group Ltd. has offices in Hamilton, deals in computer cabling, computer networking, computer software development and telecommunications.

The group announced this week that it has become a designated Cisco Premier Certified Partner having completed training in sales and technical support.

CCS is the largest distributor of Cisco products -- which has a range of networking equipment -- on the Island.

ALLIANZ GETS RATING BUC Allianz gets rating German reinsurers Allianz AG, have been given an A (superior) rating by A.M.

Best, the insurance rating and information service.

The company, the second largest reinsurer in the world with paid up capital and surplus of $46.6 billion in 1998, was awarded the rating on Monday.

According to Best, the rating reflects the group's leading global market position, exceptional balance sheet strength, sustained profitable growth and demonstrated success of its management strategies.

Allianz recently formed a Bermuda subsidiary.

TURNER FORMS FIRM BUC Turner forms firm Simon Turner , a former senior manager with Ernst & Young, has recently set up Accounting Solutions to provide short-term and long-term solutions to address the demand for accounting skills and services on the island.

The business will provide three core services that include the provision of temporary accounting staff, an alternative to using recruitment agencies and the provision of accounting services to local businesses.

HARDY GET MCSE BUC Hardy gets MCSE Steve Hardy of Independent Consulting Solutions is now the Island's latest Microsoft Certified System Engineer -- bringing the company's arsenal of MCSEs to five, the largest in Bermuda.

A sixth engineer is in the works and will "come online very soon'', the company yesterday announced.

A Saltus Grammar graduate, Mr. Hardy has won scholarships from the Bermuda Government and Daniel Webster College in the United States. Armed with his ICS scholarship, he now anticipates studying overseas for a Masters of Business Administration.

"I urge all students looking for a career in information technology to follow the same kind of route as me,'' Mr. Hardy said. "Certifications from leading vendors such as Microsoft really count when an employer looks at taking on staff in such a customer-focused area.''