reported marginally increased profits of $608,672 for fiscal 1993 but news that comedian Mr. Jimmy Keys is leaving next March will come as a blow to shareholders.

Mr. Keys, one of Bermuda's most popular performers, is regarded by many as a huge asset to the business.

He is being replaced as Henry VIII's resident entertainer by an all-male comedy band trio called Triple Cream, subject to Immigration approval.

No reason has been given for the change, although it is well-known that Mr.

Keys' lively act places a great strain on his voice.

His departure, plus official confirmation that former long-serving managing director Mr. John Ferris has accepted early retirement, along with executive chef Mr. Gerhard Metschnabel, will not please some investors.

When Long Botham raised $637,500 through a public offering in March this year, no mention was made of any management or other changes in the company's share prospectus.

Rumours that Mr. Ferris and Mr. Keys were going to leave have been circulating in Bermuda since before the offering of 15 percent of Long Botham's shares.

Shortly after the offering, The Royal Gazette revealed Mr. Ferris had not been running the company for several weeks.

At the time, Long Botham's president, Mr. Andy Allan, said: "Mr. Ferris has not left and has no intention of leaving.'' It is not known when Mr. Keys and Mr. Metschnabel decided to leave. Some investors who participated in the offering said they would not have bought the company's stock had they known about the changes and want to know why they were not informed before they bought shares.

Long Botham's annual general meeting is due to be held this morning. In his president's report, Mr. Allan announced that Mrs. Nancy Gosling, president of Gosling's liquor firm, and lawyer Mr. Paul King had replaced Mr. Ferris and Mrs. Philippa Metschnabel as directors.

In addition, Mr. Doug Selley, the manager of the Bermuda Monetary Authority's domestic economy division, is to be proposed as a director.

Long Botham's 1993 profit of $609,000 came from sales of $4.2 million. Mr.

Allan said that Long Botham had shown a net profit of $245,964 for the first nine months of the fiscal year.

"It was only through exceptional trading during the last three months of the year, April to June, that allowed us to complete the year on target,'' he said.

"During April to June, profits increased by 39 percent over the previous year.'' Mr. Allan predicted that profits for the current fiscal year would exceed $800,000.

"Our first quarter has shown a net profit of $204,468 and we are equally confident of obtaining the figures projected for the period October to December due to unusually high group and convention bookings from now until the end of the year, with October revenue already $75,000, or 18 percent, above last year,'' he said.

"Sonesta Beach Hotel, which has been a major source of business over the past year, have intimated their intention to increase their guarantee of MAP (Modified American Plan) guests to 60 nightly, March to October, in addition to the regular A la Carte dinners which they send nightly under the Preferred Restaurant Club, which again number about 50.'' Mr. Allan said that in order to accommodate increased volume from the dinner show package, Long Botham's board had approved plans to raise the easterly portion of its South Shore building by one floor to create some 2,000 square feet of extra floor space.

"In effect, we shall be building above the room known as The Lady Catherine Room, which we shall utilise for dining, allowing us to use The Catherine Room for seating at the show,'' he said.