all the staff it hired when it made Bermuda its worldwide operational headquarters.

The company has submitted plans to the Planning Department to expand the current 19,600 sq.ft of office space by an additional 10,000 sq. ft. The addition will be built underground, below the current site of the fountain in front of the building.

The fountain will be demolished and a new larger fountain with outlying pools will be built on top of the expansion.

Bacardi Ltd. made Bermuda its worldwide operational headquarters when George (Chip) Reid was appointed as head of the liquor empire. Since the former Washington lawyer became president and chief executive officer in March he brought all the senior executives to the Island.

The company now has 90 staff, including 15 senior executives, in Bermuda. Some staff have had to be accommodated at the nearby Belvedere Building as there is no room in the current building.

Bermuda has been the legal domicile for the company's holding company Bacardi Ltd.

The company has had a presence in Bermuda since 1965 when it set up Bacardi International Ltd. as an operating subsidiary to co-ordinate product distribution among the company's 40 factories worldwide. Bacardi manufactures and markets Bacardi Rum. Mr. Reid hopes to expand Bacardi's operations further and increase its sales into emerging markets, all co-ordinated from Bermuda.

PLANNING PLN