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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Maui Land & Pine loses $13.2 million

By Rick Daysog
Advertiser Staff Writer

Losses at Maui Land & Pineapple Co. widened during the first quarter as the company's resort and community development arms struggled.

The Kahului-based company had a net loss of $13.2 million, or $1.65 per share, compared with a loss of $414,000, or 5 cents per share, in the year-earlier period.

The results came on revenues of $15.6 million, which were down sharply from $25.4 million a year ago.

"Results in the first quarter of 2009 largely reflect the continuing impact of the national and worldwide economic uncertainty that has resulted in reduced visitor counts to Maui and the state of Hawai'i and slower sales of real estate," the company said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Operating losses at the company's resort unit nearly doubled to $4.2 million while Maui Land's agriculture segment had an operating loss of $3.5 million due to lower pineapple sales.

The company said its community development unit had an operating loss of $3.2 million during the quarter, which compared with an operating profit of $8.1 million in the year-earlier period.

Maui Land said profits from its stake in Kapalua Bay Holdings LLC fell by $10.5 million during the quarter.

In March, the company sold the 263-acre Plantation Golf Course for $50 million but the deal was accounted for as a financing transaction so no gain was recorded during the first quarter.

The sale of the golf course allowed Maui Land to restructure debt and helped prevent a default on credit lines.

Reach Rick Daysog at rdaysog@honoluluadvertiser.com.