consulting practice in China.

Woodrow Milliman has two member companies on the Island -- Abbott Associates, established by consulting actuary John Rayner in 1984, and Milliman & Robertson, established in 1993.

Mr. Rayner, one of 21 partners in the Woodrow Milliman network, said the China office could be a source of business for the Bermuda companies.

The firm will be called Woodrow Milliman China Ltd. and will be based in both Shanghai and Hong Kong. It will be jointly owned by member firms of Woodrow Milliman and Stuart Leckie. Mr. Leckie is the former chairman of Fidelity Investments in Asia-Pacific.

The Woodrow Milliman network operates in 32 countries and employs 3,000 staff.

Actuaries, who mainly work in the insurance sector help companies make financial sense of future trends through analysing statistical data.