Annual Statements Open main menu

KAANAPALI LAND LLC - Annual Report: 2011 (Form 10-K)

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-K

 

S   Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
     
£   Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the transition period from _____ to _____

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 Commission file #0-50273

 

 

Kaanapali Land, LLC

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction

of organization or organization)

01-0731997

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

   

900 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Illinois

(Address of principal executive office)

60611

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code 312-915-1987

 

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

Name of each exchange on

which registered

N/A N/A

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

 

Limited Liability Company Interests (Class A Shares)

(Title of Class)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes £ No S

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes £ No S

1
Table of Contents

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes S No £

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T) '232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes £ No £

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K ('229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K S

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of "large accelerated filer", "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

 

  Large accelerated filer £ Accelerated filer £  
 

Non-accelerated filer

(Do not check if a smaller

reporting company)

£ Smaller reporting company S  

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes £ No S

 

State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter. Not applicable.

 

As of March 1, 2012, the registrant had approximately 1,792,613 Common Shares and 52,000 Class C Shares outstanding.

 

Documents incorporated by reference: None

2
Table of Contents

Table of Contents

 

Part I     Page  
         
Item 1   Business 4  
         
Item 1A   Risk Factors 12  
         
Item 1B   Unresolved Staff Comments 16  
         
Item 2   Properties 16  
         
Item 3   Legal Proceedings 16  
         
Item 4   [ Reserved ] 20  
         
Part II        
         
Item 5  

Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Security Holder Matters and

    Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

20  
         
Item 6   Selected Financial Data 21  
         
Item 7  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

22  
         
Item 7A   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 26  
         
Item 8   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 27  
         
Item 9  

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

56  
         
Item 9A   Controls and Procedures 56  
         
Item 9B   Other Information 56  
         
Part III        
         
Item 10   Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant 57  
         
Item 11   Executive Compensation 59  
         
Item 12  

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and

    Related Security Holder Matters

60  
         
Item 13   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions 61  
         
Item 14   Principal Accountant Fees and Services 61  
         
Part IV        
         
Item 15   Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K 62  
       
Signatures 63  

 

3
Table of Contents

Part I

 

Item 1. Business

 

Kaanapali Land, LLC ("Kaanapali Land"), a Delaware limited liability company, is the reorganized entity resulting from the Joint Plan of Reorganization of Amfac Hawaii, LLC (now known as KLC Land Company, LLC ("KLC Land")), certain of its subsidiaries (together with KLC Land, the "KLC Debtors") and FHT Corporation ("FHTC" and, together with the KLC Debtors, the "Debtors") under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, dated June 11, 2002 (as amended, the "Plan"). As indicated in the Plan, Kaanapali Land has elected to be taxable as a corporation.

 

The Plan was confirmed by the Bankruptcy Court by orders dated July 29, 2002 and October 30, 2002 (collectively, the "Order") and became effective November 13, 2002 (the "Plan Effective Date"). During August 2005, pursuant to a motion for entry of final decree, the bankruptcy cases were closed. References in this Form 10-K to Kaanapali Land or the Company for dates on or after the Plan Effective Date are to the entity surviving the Plan Effective Date under the Plan and for dates before the Plan Effective Date are to predecessor entities, unless otherwise specified.

 

KLC Land (formerly known as Amfac Hawaii, LLC and, previously, Amfac/JMB Hawaii, LLC) is a Hawaii limited liability company that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kaanapali Land. KLC Land and Kaanapali Land have continued the businesses formerly conducted by KLC Land and Northbrook Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Northbrook") and their subsidiaries prior to the bankruptcy, although some of such businesses have been discontinued or reduced in scope as described herein.

 

Northbrook was formed in 1978 as a holding company to facilitate the purchase of a number of businesses, generally relating to short line railroads, rail car leasing and light manufacturing. Over 90% of the stock of Northbrook was purchased by persons and entities affiliated with JMB Realty Corporation, through a series of stock purchases in 1987 and 1988. One of Northbrook's subsidiaries (later merged into Northbrook) purchased the stock of Amfac, Inc. ("Amfac"), in 1988, pursuant to a public tender offer, and thus Amfac became an indirect subsidiary of Northbrook at such time. As a consequence of the merger of Amfac into Northbrook in 1995, KLC Land, FHTC and Amfac's other direct subsidiaries became direct subsidiaries of Northbrook. All existing shareholders of Northbrook contributed their shares to Pacific Trail Holdings, LLC ("Pacific Trail") in 2000. Pursuant to the Plan, Northbrook was merged into FHTC and FHTC was thereafter merged into Kaanapali Land in November 2002.

 

Kaanapali Land's subsidiaries include the Debtors as reorganized under the Plan, certain subsidiaries of KLC Land that were not debtors (the "Non-Debtor KLC Subsidiaries") and other former subsidiaries of Northbrook (collectively with Kaanapali Land, all the Reorganized Debtors, the Non-Debtor KLC Subsidiaries and such other subsidiaries are referred to herein as the "Company").

 

The Company operates in two primary business segments: (i) Property and (ii) Agriculture. The Company operates through a number of subsidiaries, each of which is owned directly or indirectly by Kaanapali Land, LLC.

 

Material aspects of the history and business of the Company, the Plan, the procedures for consummating the Plan and the risks attendant thereto were set forth in a Second Amended Disclosure Statement With Respect to Joint Plan of Reorganization of Amfac Hawaii, LLC, Certain of Its Subsidiaries and FHT Corporation Under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, dated June 11, 2002 (the "Disclosure Statement"). The Disclosure Statement and the Plan are each filed as Exhibits to Kaanapali Land's Form 10 filed on May 1, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference.

4
Table of Contents

 

All claims against the Debtors were deemed discharged as of the Plan Effective Date.

 

The Limited Liability Company Agreement of Kaanapali Land (the "LLC Agreement") provided for two classes of membership interests, "Class A Shares" and "Class B Shares", which had substantially identical rights and economic value under the LLC Agreement; except that holders of Class A Shares were represented by a "Class A Representative" who was required to approve certain transactions proposed by Kaanapali Land before they could be undertaken. The Class A Representative was further entitled to receive certain reports from the Company and meet with Company officials on a periodic basis. Reference is made to the LLC Agreement for a more detailed discussion of these provisions. Class B Shares were held by Pacific Trail and various entities and individuals that are affiliated or otherwise associated with Pacific Trail. Class A Shares were issued under the Plan to claimants who had no such affiliation. Reference is made to Item 10 below for a further explanation of the LLC Agreement.

 

Kaanapali Land distributed in the aggregate, approximately $1.8 million in cash and approximately 161,100 Class A Shares on account of the claims that were made under the Plan and has no further obligations to make any further distributions under the Plan.

 

Kaanapali Land issued all Class B Shares required to be issued under the Plan to Pacific Trail and those entities and individuals that were entitled to Class B Shares. As a consequence, Kaanapali Land had approximately 1,631,513 Class B Shares outstanding.

 

Pursuant to the LLC Agreement, the Class A Shares and Class B Shares were automatically redesignated as Common Shares on November 15, 2007. Accordingly, the Company's Class A Shares and Class B Shares ceased to exist separately on November 15, 2007. On April 15, 2008, the Company entered into an agreement with Stephen Lovelette ("Lovelette"), an executive vice president of the Company in charge of the Company's development activities, whereby the Company agreed to issue up to 52,000 shares of a new class of common shares (the "Class C Shares") in consideration for his services to the Company. The Class C Shares have the same rights as the Shares except that the Class C Shares will not participate in any distributions until the holders of the Shares have received aggregate distributions equal to $19 per Share, subject to customary antidilution adjustments. The Class C Shares became 50% vested on April 15, 2008, an additional 25% vested on December 31, 2008 and the remaining 25% became vested on December 31, 2009. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had approximately 1,792,613 Common shares and 52,000 Class C Shares Outstanding.

 

Effective June 2010, the subsidiary of KLC Land discontinued providing retiree health and life insurance benefits to retired employees. The subsidiary paid a onetime lump sum cash payment to the participants totaling approximately $85 thousand.

 

KLC Land is the direct subsidiary of Kaanapali Land through which the Company conducts substantially all of its remaining operations. KLC Land conducts substantially all of its business through various subsidiaries. Those with remaining assets of significant net value include KLC Holding Corp. ("KLC"), Pioneer Mill Company, LLC ("PMCo"), Kaanapali Land Management Corp. ("KLM" fka Kaanapali Development Corp.), PM Land Company, LLC. and KCF-1, LLC.

5
Table of Contents

 

Property

 

Project Planning and Development. The Company's real estate development approach, for land that it holds for development rather than investment, is designed to enhance the value of its properties in phases. In most instances, the process begins with the preparation of market and feasibility studies that consider potential uses for the property, as well as costs associated with those uses. The studies consider factors such as location, physical characteristics, demographic patterns, anticipated absorption rates, transportation, infrastructure costs, both on site and offsite, and regulatory and environmental requirements.

 

For any property targeted for development, the Company will generally prepare a land plan that is consistent with the findings of the studies and then commence the process of applying for the entitlements necessary to permit the use of the property in accordance with the land plan. The length and difficulty of obtaining the requisite entitlements by government agencies, as well as the cost of complying with any conditions attached to the entitlements, are significant factors in determining the viability of the Company's projects. Applications for entitlements may include, among other things, applications for state land use reclassification, county community plan amendments and changes in zoning.

 

Kaanapali 2020. The Company's developable lands are located on the west side of the Island of Maui in the State of Hawaii. The majority of the developable lands are located in the Kaanapali resort area. The Kaanapali development lands have been the subject of a community-based planning process that commenced in 1999 for the Kaanapali 2020 Development Plan. The Kaanapali 2020 Development Plan includes a mix of resort recreation, residential units and some commercial and recreational development sites, as well as affordable housing. While the oceanfront resort properties have been sold, most of the other Kaanapali 2020 lands continue to be owned by the Company. Any development plan for any of the Company's land, including the Kaanapali 2020 Development Plan and the Wainee development, will be subject to approval and regulation by various state and county agencies and governing entities, especially insofar as the nature and extent of zoning, and improvements necessary for site infrastructure, building, transportation, water management, environmental and health are concerned. In Hawaii, the governmental entities have the right to impose limits or controls on growth in their communities through restrictive zoning, density reduction, impact fees and development requirements, which may materially affect utilization of the land and the costs associated with developing the land. In addition, Maui County requires, among other things, that up to fifty percent of new residential units qualify as affordable housing and therefore be sold at below market prices which could adversely affect the profitability of future projects and render them unfeasible. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in obtaining the necessary zoning and related entitlements for development of any currently unentitled Maui lands. At this time, the only Kaanapali 2020 lands that have sufficient entitlements to commence development are those in Phase I of the Kaanapali Coffee Farms development and the Puukolii Village development, as described below.

6
Table of Contents

 

The current regulatory approval process for a development project takes a number of years or more and involves substantial expense. The applications generally require the submission of comprehensive plans that involve the use of consultants and other professionals. A substantial portion of the Company's Kaanapali 2020 land will require state district boundary amendments and county general plan and community plan amendments, as well as rezoning approvals. There is no assurance that all necessary approvals and permits will be obtained with respect to the current projects or future projects of the Company. Generally, entitlements are extremely difficult to obtain in Hawaii. There is often significant opposition to proposed developments from numerous groups including native Hawaiians, environmental organizations, various community and civic groups, condominium associations and politicians advocating no-growth policies, among others. Any such group with standing can challenge submitted applications, which may substantially delay the process. Generally, once the applications are deemed acceptable, the various governing agencies involved in the entitlement process commence consideration of the requested entitlements. The applicable agencies often impose conditions, which may be costly and time consuming, on any approvals of the entitlements. The substantial time and expense of obtaining entitlements and the uncertainty of success in obtaining the entitlements could have a material adverse effect on the Company's success.

 

At the state level, all land in Hawaii is divided into four land use classifications: urban, rural, agricultural and conservation. The majority of the Kaanapali 2020 Development Plan land is currently classified as either agricultural or conservation.

 

A relatively small portion (approximately 300 acres) of the Kaanapali 2020 Development Planning area owned by the Company, known as Puukolii Village, comprised of two parcels known as the Puukolii Triangle and Puukolii Mauka, received entitlements in 1993 under the terms of a superseded law that fast tracked entitlements for planned mixed use developments that contained the requisite percentage of affordable housing units. The requirements imposed on the Company relative to these entitlements proved uneconomic and thus the developments were not pursued. The Company proposed revisions to the development agreement with the applicable state agencies and is beginning to plan for the development of the Puukolii Mauka area, which will, if ultimately developed, include certain affordable and market housing units, a small commercial area, a school, a park and associated improvements. In January 2009 the Company received approval of its proposed revisions to the development agreement.

 

Despite the hurdles mentioned above, the Company remains hopeful that it will generally be able to develop that portion of its land for which it can obtain classification as an urban district from the State Land Use Commission. However, it is uncertain whether the Company will be able to obtain all necessary entitlements or, if so, how long it will take, and it cannot be predicted what the market will be for such land (or the associated development costs) at such time. Conservation land is land that has been considered by the state as necessary for preserving natural conditions as well as to protect water resources and cannot be developed. Agricultural and rural districts are not permitted to have concentrated development. Pursuant to the Kaanapali 2020 Development Plan, the Company intends to apply to the State Land Use Commission for reclassification of a portion of the agricultural lands to urban, but does not intend to apply for reclassification of the conservation lands.

 

Development of the Kaanapali 2020 lands in accordance with the Kaanapali 2020 Development Plan will require, in addition to reclassification to urban, appropriate designation under the County of Maui general, community and/or development plans and the appropriate County zoning designation. Obtaining any and all of these approvals can involve a substantial amount of time and expense, and approvals may need to be resubmitted if there is any subsequent, material deviation in current approved plans or significant objections by the responsible government agencies.

7
Table of Contents

 

In connection with seeking approvals from regulatory authorities of the Kaanapali 2020 Development Plan, the Company may be required to make significant improvements in public facilities (such as roads), to dedicate property for public use, to provide employee/affordable housing units and to make other concessions, monetary or otherwise. The ability of the Company to perform its development activities may also be adversely affected by restrictions that may be imposed by government agencies and the surrounding communities because of inadequate public facilities, such as roads, water management areas and sewer facilities, and by local opposition to continued growth. However, as part of the Kaanapali 2020 Development Plan, the Company has included a large number of community members and local government officials in the development planning process and has earned significant community support for its preliminary Kaanapali 2020 and Wainee development plans. It also believes that it enjoys general local community support for its new Puukolii Mauka concept. The Company hopes that carrying on with this process will continue to generate substantial support from local government and the community for the Company's development plans.

 

There can be no assurance that all necessary approvals will be obtained, that modifications to those plans will not require additional approvals, or that such additional approvals will be obtained, nor can there be any assurance as to the timing of such events.

 

During the first quarter of 2006, the Company received final subdivision approval on an approximate 336 acre parcel in the region "mauka" (toward the mountains) from the main highway serving the area. This project, called Kaanapali Coffee Farms, consists of agricultural lots, which are currently being offered to individual buyers. The land improvements were completed during 2008. As of December 31, 2011, the Company has closed on the sale of eight lots at Kaanapali Coffee Farms. In conjunction with two of the lots that closed in 2007, in addition to cash proceeds, the Company received promissory notes aggregating approximately $1.4 million. Due to non-performance by the buyers, reserves were established for a substantial majority of the original balances. The Company closed on the sale of two lots in 2011, one each in January and March. In conjunction with the sale of the lot that closed in March 2011, in addition to cash proceeds, the Company received a promissory note for $285 thousand. The promissory note was paid in full the first week of May 2011.

 

Other Maui Property. Apart from the Kaanapali 2020 lands, the Company owns approximately 390 acres of land on Maui, and has co-tenancy interest in a number of other small lots in residential neighborhoods in Lahaina.

 

The Company owns approximately 19 acres in Lahaina, known as the Pioneer Mill Site, which is zoned for industrial development. This is the former site of Pioneer Mill's sugar mill on Maui and continues to be the site of the coffee mill operation. In addition, portions of this parcel are subject to various short-term license agreements with third parties that generate minor amounts of income for the Company. Pioneer Mill is currently evaluating strategic options relating to this site.

8
Table of Contents

 

The Company also owns several parcels, known collectively as the "Wainee Lands", which are located in Lahaina south of the mill site. The Wainee Lands include approximately 235 acres and are classified and zoned for agricultural use and will need to obtain land use and zoning reclassification in order to proceed with any development. The Company is conducting various meetings with the West Maui community, public officials and consultants to determine a plan for a portion of their lands. While it is likely that this development, if pursued, will contain a significant affordable housing component as required by county ordinance, the Company believes that these lands may be available for a number of uses compatible with the close proximity of them to the center of Lahaina, including both affordable and market housing and certain recreational and service uses. Therefore, the Company is considering several options for this land. The Company has been engaged in numerous legal actions to quiet title to its Wainee lands as a necessary predicate to such development. Such cases have generally been contested and, while the Company has been successful in the cases completed so far, a small number of them have survived summary judgment motions by the Company. In the future, any cases that survive summary judgment may ultimately require trials at uncertain additional cost and time to completion. As of the date hereof, one case has been tried and was decided in favor of the Company. This case and one other that was decided in the Company's favor on summary judgment have been appealed by certain defendants, but those appeals were either dismissed or decided in the Company's favor. At this time, no such cases are in a posture beyond summary judgment or on appeal. There can be no assurance that any of these actions, whether now decided, still pending or yet to be filed, will regardless of their outcome permit the Wainee development to go forward on an economic basis.

 

The Company also owns approximately 60 acres of miscellaneous land parcels located on the Islands of Kauai, Maui and Oahu. These miscellaneous parcels include remnant parcels abutting infrastructure improvements from previously sold lands, such as strips along roadways, and other water-related assets. It is not expected that upon sale these miscellaneous parcels will yield any significant cash proceeds to the Company. In addition, there are certain additional small parcels of land that are owned by the Company in common with third parties or in which the Company may be able to assert ownership through various legal theories. One of those parcels was the subject of quiet title action that was brought by a third party that resulted in a settlement between PMCo and such third party and, in March 2009 of the award of title thereto 50% to PMCo, with the remaining 50% divided between such third party and another third party that was not a party to the original action. This will ultimately permit PMCo, after satisfaction of certain title and entitlement requirements, to receive 50% of the net proceeds of the sale of such parcel. However, it is not expected that the ultimate net proceeds to the Company from such sale will be material to the Company. The Company continues to assess its option with respect to certain other co-tenancy parcels in the Lahaina area to determine whether the institution of proceedings to gain title thereto will be to the Company's benefit.

 

Agriculture

 

Historic Operations. A significant portion of the Company's revenues were formerly derived from agricultural operations primarily consisting of the cultivation, milling and sale of raw sugar. The last remaining operating sugar plantation of the Company, owned by a subsidiary of Kaanapali Land, was shut down at the end of 2000. In September 2001, the Company also ceased its coffee operations, which were owned by a subsidiary of Kaanapali Land. The Company leased, or granted limited licenses to operate, to a third party, certain portions of the Kaanapali 2020 land on which the coffee trees are located for the purpose of continuing agricultural coffee operations on such land. The lessee purchased the Company's coffee mill equipment during the first quarter of 2004. During late 2008 the Company purchased back the coffee mill equipment and terminated the third party leases and license agreements and assumed greater responsibility for farming and milling operations relating to the coffee orchards on behalf of the applicable land owners. In connection with such transactions, affiliates of such third party entered into certain consulting and marketing arrangements with the Company relative to the farming, milling and sale of the coffee produced.

9
Table of Contents

 

Seed Crop Operations. The Company's seed crop operations (primarily corn but also other crops such as soy beans) are located on former Maui sugar lands that are now part of the Kaanapali 2020 area. The Company earns modest income, under a contract with Monsanto Seed Company to grow seed corn according to Monsanto's specifications. In addition to generating such revenue, this operation is otherwise advantageous, because the cultivated land helps control dust and soil erosion and keeps the fields green, to the benefit of the local community. The Company may seek to expand this operation if it believes it can provide suitable arable acreage with available irrigation water, find ready markets for its products and it can operate at a level of profitability that the Company deems sufficient. There can be no assurance that any expansion will occur or that current operations will remain profitable. The current contract expires in mid 2012 and a new contract is currently being negotiated. There can be no assurance that the negotiations will be successful.

 

Other Property

 

In October 2011, the Company sold an approximate 68 acre gulch property located adjacent to the Waikele Golf course to an unaffiliated third party for $0.8 million, resulting in an approximate gain of $0.2 million. This was the Company’s last remaining property on Oahu other than several remnant parcels.

 

For a description of financial information by segment, please read Note 9 to the attached consolidated financial statements, which information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Significant Asset Sales

 

The Company has in the past consummated various strategic sales of bulk land. These transactions were generally pursued in order to raise additional cash that would enhance the Company's ability to fund the Kaanapali 2020 developments including, but not limited to Kaanapali Coffee Farms, and other Company overhead costs. The Company currently has no outstanding agreements for the sale of land in bulk, but while this is not the current focus of the Company, it does from time to time in the ordinary course of business engage in discussions with third parties who may be interested in certain parcels.

 

Employees

 

At March 1, 2012, Kaanapali Land and its subsidiaries had employed approximately 33 full time employees. Certain corporate services are provided by Pacific Trail and its affiliates. Kaanapali Land reimburses for these services and related overhead at cost.

 

Trademarks and Service Marks

 

The Company maintains a variety of trademarks and service marks that support each of its business segments. These marks are filed in various jurisdictions, including the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the State of Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and foreign trademark offices. The trademarks and service marks protect, among other things, the use of the term "Kaanapali" and related names in connection with the developments in the vicinity of the Kaanapali Resort area on Maui and the various trade names and service marks obtained in connection with the Company's coffee operations. Certain trademarks, trade names and service marks have also been registered in connection with the Kaanapali Coffee Farms development. Also protected are certain designs and logos associated with the names protected. Certain marks owned by the Company have been licensed to third parties, however, the income therefrom is not material to the Company's financial results. To the extent deemed advantageous in connection with the Company's ongoing businesses, to satisfy contractual commitments with respect to certain marks or where the Company believes that there

10
Table of Contents

 

are future licensing opportunities with respect to specific marks, the Company intends to maintain such marks to the extent necessary to protect their use relative thereto. The Company also intends to develop and protect appropriate marks in connection with its future land development and agricultural activities.

 

Market Conditions and Competition

 

There are a number of factors that historically have negatively impacted Kaanapali Land's property activities, including market conditions, the difficulty in obtaining regulatory approvals, the high cost of required infrastructure and the Company's operating deficits in its other business segments. As a result, the planned use of many of the Company's land holdings and the ability to generate cash flow from these land holdings have become long-term in nature, and the Company has found it necessary to sell certain parcels in order to raise cash rather than realize their full economic potential through the entitlement process.

 

Maui's residential real estate market has experienced a dramatic slow down since the latter part of 2005. The international credit crisis, which has resulted in both national and global economic downturns, has had a significant adverse impact on the Hawaiian economy since the second half of 2008 and through all of 2011. The result is substantial market uncertainty in the housing market and declining home values. A continuation or further weakening of the Maui real estate market may negatively impact the Company.

 

There are several developers, operators, real estate companies and other owners of real estate that compete with the Company in its property business on Maui, many of which have greater resources. The number of competitive properties in a particular market could have a material adverse effect on the Company's success. In addition, many properties previously purchased by retail buyers are listed for resale and provide additional competition to the Company.

 

Government Regulations and Approvals

 

The current regulatory approval process for a project can take three to five years or more and involves substantial expense. There is no assurance that all necessary approvals and permits will be obtained with respect to the Company's current and future projects. Generally, entitlements are extremely difficult to obtain in Hawaii. Many different agencies at the state and county level are involved in the entitlement process. There is often significant opposition from numerous groups - including native Hawaiians, environmental organizations, various community and civic groups, condominium associations and politicians advocating no-growth policies, among others. Certain ordinances adopted by the County of Maui have placed additional requirements on developers, some of which may be difficult or expensive to satisfy. Other proposed ordinances that have not yet passed may place moratoria on new development while the County of Maui works toward the adoption of a new General Plan. It is currently unknown to what extent these new legislative initiatives will impact the cost or timing of the Company's planned developments.

 

Currently, Kaanapali Land is preparing applications for the necessary entitlements to carry out the Kaanapali 2020 plan. While some of these lands have some form of entitlements, it is anticipated that at least a substantial portion of the land will require state district boundary amendments and county general plan amendments, as well as rezoning approvals. In January 2009 the Company received approval of revisions to its development plans for the Puukolii Village Mauka parcel. Entitlements for an agricultural subdivision were received during the first quarter of 2006. Approximately 1,500 acres of the Company's Maui land which is contiguous to Kaanapali 2020 land is located toward the top of mountain ridges and in gulches is classified as conservation, which precludes most other use. This conservation land, and other land that will be designated as open space, is an important component of the overall project and its existence is expected to influence obtaining the entitlements for the remaining land.

11
Table of Contents

 

Environmental Matters

 

The Company is subject to environmental and health safety laws and regulations related to the ownership, operation, development and acquisition of real estate, or the operation of former business units. Under those laws and regulations, the Company may be liable for, among other things, the costs of removal or remediation of certain hazardous substances. In addition, the Company may find itself having to defend against personal injury lawsuits based on exposure to such substances including asbestos related liabilities. Those laws and regulations often impose liability without regard to fault. The Company is now engaged in work at a site on the Waipio Peninsula consisting of, among other things, performing testing at the site pursuant to an order discussed in Item 3. Legal Proceedings. The Company believes that the cost of this work pursuant to the order will not be material to the Company as a whole; however, in the event that the EPA were to issue an order requiring remediation of the site, there can be no assurance that the cost of remediation of the site would not ultimately have a material adverse effect on the Company. In addition, if there is litigation regarding the site, there can be no assurance that the cost of such litigation will not be material or that such litigation will result in a judgment in favor of the Company. With regard to other environmental matters as generally described in the risk factors set forth below, the Company does not currently believe that it is likely that those matters will have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position or results of operations; however, no assurance can be given that any such condition does not exist or may not arise in the future. Reference is made to Item 1A. Risk Factors and Item 3. Legal Proceedings for a description of certain legal proceedings related to environmental conditions.

 

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

Kaanapali Land faces numerous risks, including those set forth below. The risks described below are not the only risks that the Company faces, nor are they listed in order of significance. Risk factors include a number of factors that could negatively impact Kaanapali Land's property activities. Any of the risks may have a material adverse effect on the Company's success, consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

Reference is made to Item 1. Business and Item 3. Legal Proceedings for an item specific detailed discussion of some of the risk factors facing Kaanapali Land, LLC.

 

Risks Related to Hawaiian Real Estate and Development Markets

 

The Kaanapali 2020 Development Plan (including, without limitation, Kaanapali Coffee Farms and Puukolii Mauka) and the development of the Wainee land, as well as the Company's other development activities, are, apart from the risks associated with the entitlement process described above, subject to the risks generally incident to the ownership and development of real property. These include the possibility that cash generated from sales will not be sufficient to meet the Company's continuing obligations. This could result from inadequate pricing or pace of sales of properties or changes in costs of construction or development; increased government mandates; adverse changes in Hawaiian economic conditions, such as increased costs of labor, marketing and production, restricted availability of financing; adverse changes in local, national and/or international economic conditions (including adverse changes in exchange rates of foreign currencies for U.S. dollars); adverse effects of international political events, such as additional terrorist activity in the U.S. or abroad that lessen travel, tourism and investment in Hawaii; the need for unanticipated improvements or unanticipated expenditures in connection with environmental matters; changes in real estate tax rates and other expenses; delays in obtaining permits or approvals for construction or development and adverse changes in laws, governmental rules and fiscal policies; acts of God, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, droughts, fires, tsunamis, unusually heavy or prolonged rains, and hurricanes; and other factors which are beyond the control of the Company. Because of these risks and others, real estate ownership and development is subject to unexpected increases in costs.

12
Table of Contents

 

The Company may, from time to time and to the extent economically advantageous, sell rezoned, undeveloped or partially developed parcels, such as portions of the Kaanapali 2020 Development Plan lands, the former Pioneer Mill site and/or the Wainee land. It intends to develop the balance of its lands for residential, resort, affordable housing, limited commercial and recreational purposes.

 

Any increase in interest rates or downturn in the international, national or Hawaiian economy could affect the Company's profitability and sales. The downturn in the Asian economy, particularly the Japanese economy, has had a profound effect on the Hawaiian real estate market. However, the Kaanapali resort area has historically enjoyed a significant mainland tourist market in the United States and Canada, which had resulted, beginning in the late 1990's, in a strong market for resort housing in the area. The September 11 attacks had a material adverse effect on tourism in the Kaanapali area immediately following the attacks, but the market rebounded during the period from 2002 into 2005 and the areas of primary and secondary residential homes, condominiums and time share units were relatively strong during this period. Markets have turned down significantly since late 2005, which has negatively impacted the volume of transactions completed in West Maui. The severe national and global recession of 2008 and 2009 together with the anemic recovery to date has had an adverse impact on the Hawaiian economy and has adversely impacted the Company's pricing for its residential properties. The soft Maui real estate market and restricted availability of financing continues to negatively impact the number of lot sales to date and could continue to negatively impact the lot sales in the foreseeable future. No assurance can be given as to when the current market conditions will improve.

 

The Company's real estate activities may be adversely affected by possible changes in the tax laws, including changes which may have an adverse effect on resort and residential real estate development. High rates of inflation adversely affect real estate development generally because of their impact on interest rates. High interest rates not only increase the cost of borrowed funds to developers, but also have a significant effect on the affordability of permanent mortgage financing to prospective purchasers. High rates of inflation may permit the Company to increase the prices that it charges in connection with land sales, subject to economic conditions in the real estate industry generally and local market factors. There can be no assurance that Hawaiian real estate values will rise, or that, if such values do rise, the Company's properties will benefit.

 

Risks Relating to Natural Events

 

The Company's development lands are located in an area that is susceptible to hurricanes and seismic activity. In addition, during certain times of year, heavy rainfall is not uncommon. These events may adversely impact the Company's development activities and infrastructure assets, such as roadways, reservoirs, water courses and drainage ways. Significant events may cause the Company to incur substantial expenditures for investigation and restoration of damaged structures and facilities. Flooding, drought, fires, wind, prolonged heavy rains, and other natural perils can adversely impact agricultural production and water transmission and storage resources on lands owned or used by the Company. In addition, similar events elsewhere in Hawaii may cause regulatory responses that impact all landowners. For example, the Company received notice from the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources ("DLNR") that it would inspect all significant dams and reservoirs in Hawaii, including those maintained by the Company on Maui in connection with its agricultural operations. Inspections were performed in April and October 2006 and again in March 2008 and July 2009. To date, the DLNR has cited certain maintenance deficiencies concerning two of the Company's reservoirs, consisting primarily of overgrowth of vegetation that make inspection difficult, and could degrade the integrity of reservoir slopes and impact drainage. The DLNR has required the vegetation clean-up as well as the Company's plan for future maintenance, inspections and emergency response. Revised versions of the required plans were submitted to DLNR in December 2006. In October 2009, DLNR delivered an inspection report for one of these reservoirs to the Company which acknowledged the work

13
Table of Contents

 

done to date but required still more remediated action, and DLNR issued an amended report in March 2010. A final report on one such reservoir was received in August 2010 which essentially restated the March 2010 report for such reservoir. The Company has completed the work required by such report and continues its analysis with respect to the remaining items. In addition, the Company has submitted revisions to its emergency action plans for both reservoirs in accordance with revised DLNR requirements. Such reservoirs were again inspected in March 2011 and a report was received in late April 2011. The reports acknowledged work done to date and also included certain corrective actions to be done on the reservoirs.

 

The DLNR categorizes the reservoirs as "high hazard" under State of Hawaii Administrative Rules and State Statutes concerning dam and reservoir safety. This classification, which bears upon government oversight and reporting requirements, may increase the cost of managing and maintaining these reservoirs in a material manner. The Company does not believe that this classification is warranted for either of these reservoirs and has initiated a dialogue with DLNR in that regard. In April 2008 the Company received further correspondence from DLNR that included the assessment by their consultants of the potential losses that result from the failure of these reservoirs. In April 2009, the Company filed a written response to DLNR to correct certain factual errors in its report and to request further analysis on whether such "high hazard" classifications are warranted. The Company and DLNR continue to engage in dialogue concerning these matters (which have included further site visits by DLNR personnel).

 

Risks Relating to Agriculture

 

While agricultural revenues are relatively insignificant to the Company's financial success, competition in the agriculture business segment affects the prices the Company may obtain for the land and other assets it may lease to third parties for the production of agricultural products. The Company currently earns a modest profit on its contract with Monsanto for the production of seed corn on a portion of its Kaanapali 2020 Development Plan land. Regulatory, political, economic and scientific issues, in addition to the normal risks attendant to the growing cycle for any crop, may all weigh in to make such contract uneconomic for Monsanto, with the result that ongoing revenues to the Company could be impaired in the future. The current contract expires in mid 2012 and a new contract is currently being negotiated. There can be no assurance that the negotiations will be successful. Such is also the case with the Company's coffee crop, in particular because the Company incurs substantially all the risks relating to the cost of growing and maintaining the trees and producing the crop, as well as the market risk attendant to the sale of the crop.

 

Risks Relating to Hawaiian, U.S. and World Economies Generally

 

The Company's businesses will be subject to risks generally confronting the Hawaiian, U.S. and world economies. All of the Company's tangible property is located in Hawaii. As a result, the Company's revenues will be exposed to the risks of investment in Hawaii and to the economic conditions prevalent in the Hawaiian real estate market. While the Hawaiian real estate market is subject to economic cycles that impact tourism and investment (particularly in the United States, Japan and other Pacific Rim countries), it is also influenced by the level of economic development in Hawaii generally and by external and internal political forces.

14
Table of Contents

 

The attacks of September 11, 2001 on the World Trade Center and Pentagon had an adverse impact on the U.S., world and Hawaiian economies, which in turn reduced discretionary income available for travel or the purchase of retirement or vacation homes. These events have also negatively impacted the desire of people to travel, particularly by air; the number of international visitors to the United States, particularly from Japan upon which Hawaii relies most-heavily, decreased as the United States became perceived to be a higher risk destination. In addition, a perception developed that because the United States was now at war, it no longer sought leisure travelers from abroad. Though these attitudes have abated somewhat in the years after the attacks and the Hawaiian economy has rebounded, there is no assurance that future events will not occur that would again dampen the inflow of money to Hawaii. Also, the current credit and market crises have created severe recession conditions that likewise have reduced discretionary income and increased unemployment throughout the world, which again have negatively impacted travel to Hawaii and the market for real estate. Thus, it is clear that Hawaii is subject to higher risks than other portions of the United States due to its disproportionate reliance on air travel and tourism. The visitor industry is Hawaii's most important source of economic activity, accounting for more than a quarter of Gross State Product.

 

Because of the foregoing considerations, it is clear that the risks associated with the large reliance by Hawaii on a visitor base, both from foreign countries and the United States mainland, will disproportionately impact the Company in future years, both positively and negatively, as market and visitation cycles play out. It is unknown how long the current downturn will continue or whether the current adverse impact on the Company's business may ultimately impair the Company's financial position.

 

Environmental Risks and Environmental Regulations

 

The Company is subject to environmental and health safety laws and regulations related to the ownership, operation, development and acquisition of real estate, or the operation of former business units. Under various federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations, a current or previous owner, developer or operator of real estate may be liable for the costs of removal or remediation of certain hazardous toxic substances at, on, under or in its property. The costs of such removal or remediation of such substances could be substantial. Such laws often impose liability without regard to whether the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the actual release or presence of such hazardous or toxic substances. The presence of such substances may adversely affect the owner's ability to sell or rent such real estate or to borrow using such real estate as collateral. Persons who arrange for the disposal or treatment of hazardous or toxic substances also may be liable for the costs of removal or remediation of such substances at the disposal or treatment facility, whether or not such facility is owned or operated by such person. Certain environmental laws impose liability for the release of asbestos containing material into the air, pursuant to which third parties may seek recovery from owners or operators of real properties for personal injuries associated with such materials, and prescribe specific methods for the removal and disposal of such materials. The cost of legal counsel and consultants to investigate and defend against these claims is often high and can significantly impact the Company's operating results, even if no liability is ultimately shown. No assurance can be given that the Company will not incur liability in the future for known or unknown conditions and any significant claims may have a material adverse impact on the Company.

 

15
Table of Contents

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

 

Not Applicable.

 

 

Item 2. Properties

 

Land Holdings

 

The major real properties owned by the Company are described under Item 1. Business.

 

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

 

Material legal proceedings of the Company are described below. Unless otherwise noted, the parties adverse to the Company in the legal proceedings described below have not made a claim for damages in a liquidated amount and/or the Company believes that it would be speculative to attempt to determine the Company's exposure relative thereto, and as a consequence believes that an estimate of the range of potential loss cannot be made. Any claims that were not filed on a timely basis under the Plan have been discharged by the Bankruptcy Court and thus the underlying legal proceedings should not result in any liability to the Debtors. All other claims have been satisfied. Proceedings against subsidiaries or affiliates of Kaanapali Land that are not Debtors were not stayed by the Plan and may proceed. However, two such subsidiaries, Oahu Sugar and DC Distribution, filed subsequent petitions for liquidation under Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy code in April 2005 and July 2007, respectively), as described below.

 

As a result of an administrative order issued to Oahu Sugar by the HDOH, Order No. CH 98-001, dated January 27, 1998, Oahu Sugar was engaged in environmental site assessment of lands it leased from the U.S. Navy and located on the Waipio Peninsula. Oahu Sugar submitted a Remedial Investigation Report to the HDOH. The HDOH provided comments that indicated that additional testing might be required. Oahu Sugar responded to these comments with additional information. On January 9, 2004, EPA issued a request to Oahu Sugar seeking information related to the actual or threatened release of hazardous substances, pollutants and contaminants at the Waipio Peninsula portion of the Pearl Harbor Naval Complex National Priorities List Superfund Site. The request sought, among other things, information relating to the ability of Oahu Sugar to pay for or perform a clean up of the land formerly occupied by Oahu Sugar. Oahu Sugar responded to the information requests and notified both the Navy and the EPA that while it had some modest remaining cash that it could contribute to further investigation and remediation efforts in connection with an overall settlement of the outstanding claims, Oahu Sugar was substantially without assets and would be unable to make a significant contribution to such an effort. Attempts at negotiating such a settlement were fruitless and Oahu Sugar received an order from EPA in March 2005 that would purport to require certain testing and remediation of the site. As Oahu Sugar was substantially without assets, the pursuit of any action, informational, enforcement, or otherwise, would have had a material adverse effect on the financial condition of Oahu Sugar.

 

Therefore, as a result of the pursuit of further action by the HDOH and EPA as described above and the immediate material adverse effect that the actions had on the financial condition of Oahu Sugar, Oahu Sugar filed with the United States Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division its voluntary petition for liquidation under Chapter 7 of Title 11, United States Bankruptcy Code. Such filing is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company as Oahu Sugar was substantially without assets at the time of the filing. While it is not believed that any other affiliates have any responsibility for the debts of Oahu Sugar, the EPA has indicated that it intends to make a claim against Kaanapali Land as further described below, and therefore, there can be no assurance that the Company will not incur significant costs in connection with such claim.

16
Table of Contents

 

The deadline for filing proofs of claim with the bankruptcy court passed in April 2006. Prior to the deadline, Kaanapali Land, on behalf of itself and certain subsidiaries, filed claims that aggregated approximately $224 million, primarily relating to unpaid guarantee obligations made by Oahu Sugar that were assigned to Kaanapali Land pursuant to the Plan on the Plan Effective Date. In addition, the EPA and the U.S. Navy filed a joint proof of claim that seeks to recover certain environmental response costs relative to the Waipio Peninsula site discussed above. The proof of claim contained a demand for previously spent costs in the amount of approximately $.3 million, and additional anticipated response costs of between approximately $2.8 million and $11.5 million. No specific justification of these costs, or what they are purported to represent, was included in the EPA/Navy proof of claim. Due to the insignificant amount of assets remaining in the debtor's estate, it is unclear whether the United States Trustee who has taken control of Oahu Sugar will take any action to contest the EPA/Navy claim, or how it will reconcile such claim for the purpose of distributing any remaining assets of Oahu Sugar.

 

EPA has sent three requests for information to Kaanapali Land regarding, among other things, Kaanapali Land's organization and relationship, if any, to entities that may have, historically, operated on the site and with respect to operations conducted on the site. Kaanapali Land responded to these requests for information. By letter dated February 7, 2007, pursuant to an allegation that Kaanapali Land is a successor to Oahu Sugar Company, Limited, a company that operated at the site prior to 1961 ("Old Oahu"), EPA advised Kaanapali that it believes it is authorized by CERCLA to amend the existing Unilateral Administrative Order against Oahu Sugar Company, LLC, for the clean up of the site to include Kaanapali Land as an additional respondent. The purported basis for the EPA's position is that Kaanapali Land, by virtue of certain corporate actions, is jointly and severally responsible for the performance of the response actions, including, without limitation, clean-up at the site. No such amendment has taken place as of the date hereof. Instead, after a series of discussions between Kaanapali and the EPA, on or about September 30, 2009, the EPA issued a Unilateral Administrative Order to Kaanapali Land for the performance of work in support of a removal action at the former Oahu Sugar pesticide mixing site located on Waipio peninsula. The work consists of the performance of soil and groundwater sampling and analysis, a topographic survey, and the preparation of an engineering evaluation and cost analysis of potential removal actions to abate an alleged "imminent and substantial endangerment" to public health, welfare or the environment. The order appears to be further predicated primarily on the alleged connection of Kaanapali Land to Old Oahu and its activities on the site. Kaanapali Land is currently performing work, including the conduct of sampling at the site, required by the order while reserving its rights to contest liability regarding the site. With regard to liability for the site, Kaanapali Land believes that its liability, if any, should relate solely to a portion of the period of operation of Old Oahu at the site, although in some circumstances CERCLA apparently permits imposition of joint and several liability, which can exceed a responsible party's equitable share. Kaanapali Land believes that the U.S. Navy bears substantial liability for the site by virtue of its ownership of the site throughout the entire relevant period, both as landlord under its various leases with Oahu Sugar and Old Oahu and by operating and intensively utilizing the site directly during a period when no lease was in force. The Company believes that the cost of the work as set forth in the order will not be material to the Company as a whole; however, in the event that the EPA were to issue an order requiring remediation of the site, there can be no assurances that the cost of said remediation would not ultimately have a material adverse effect on the Company. In addition, if there is litigation regarding the site, there can be no assurance that the cost of such litigation will not be material or that such litigation will result in a judgment in favor of the Company.

 

17
Table of Contents

 

Kaanapali Land, as successor by merger to other entities, and D/C Distribution Corporation ("D/C"), a subsidiary of Kaanapali Land, have been named as defendants in personal injury actions allegedly based on exposure to asbestos. While there are only a few such cases that name Kaanapali Land, there are a substantial number of cases that are pending against D/C on the U.S. mainland (primarily in California). Cases against Kaanapali Land are allegedly based on its prior business operations in Hawaii and cases against D/C are allegedly based on the sale of asbestos-containing products by D/C's prior distribution business operations primarily in California. Each entity defending these cases believes that it has meritorious defenses against these actions, but can give no assurances as to the ultimate outcome of these cases. The defense of these cases has had a material adverse effect on the financial condition of D/C as it has been forced to file a voluntary petition for liquidation as discussed below. Kaanapali Land does not believe that it has liability, directly or indirectly, for D/C's obligations in those cases. Kaanapali Land does not presently believe that the cases in which it is named will result in any material liability to Kaanapali Land; however, there can be no assurance in this regard.

 

On February 15, 2005, D/C was served with a lawsuit entitled American & Foreign Insurance Company v. D/C Distribution and Amfac Corporation, Case No. 04433669 filed in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of San Francisco, Central Justice Center. No other purported party was served. In the eight-count complaint for declaratory relief, reimbursement and recoupment of unspecified amounts, costs and for such other relief as the court might grant, plaintiff alleged that it is an insurance company to whom D/C tendered for defense and indemnity various personal injury lawsuits allegedly based on exposure to asbestos containing products. Plaintiff alleged that because none of the parties have been able to produce a copy of the policy or policies in question, a judicial determination of the material terms of the missing policy or policies is needed. Plaintiff sought, among other things, a declaration: of the material terms, rights, and obligations of the parties under the terms of the policy or policies; that the policies were exhausted; that plaintiff is not obligated to reimburse D/C for its attorneys' fees in that the amounts of attorneys' fees incurred by D/C have been incurred unreasonably; that plaintiff was entitled to recoupment and reimbursement of some or all of the amounts it has paid for defense and/or indemnity; and that D/C breached its obligation of cooperation with plaintiff. D/C filed an answer and an amended cross-claim. D/C believed that it had meritorious defenses and positions, and intended to vigorously defend. In addition, D/C believed that it was entitled to amounts from plaintiffs for reimbursement and recoupment of amounts expended by D/C on the lawsuits previously tendered. In order to fund such action and its other ongoing obligations while such lawsuit continued, D/C entered into a Loan Agreement and Security Agreement with Kaanapali Land, in August 2006, whereby Kaanapali Land provided certain advances against a promissory note delivered by D/C in return for a security interest in any D/C insurance policy at issue in this lawsuit. In June 2007, the parties settled this lawsuit with payment by plaintiffs in the amount of $1.6 million. Such settlement amount was paid to Kaanapali Land in partial satisfaction of the secured indebtedness noted above.

 

Because D/C was substantially without assets and was unable to obtain additional sources of capital to satisfy its liabilities, D/C filed with the United States Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Illinois, its voluntary petition for liquidation under Chapter 7 of Title 11, United States Bankruptcy Code during July 2007, Case No. 07-12776. Such filing is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company as D/C was substantially without assets at the time of the filing. The deadline for filing proofs of claim against D/C with the bankruptcy court passed in October 2008. Prior to the deadline, Kaanapali Land filed claims that aggregated approximately $26.8 million, relating to both secured and unsecured intercompany debts owed by D/C to Kaanapali Land. In addition, a personal injury law firm based in San Francisco that represents clients with asbestos-related claims, filed proofs of claim on behalf of approximately 700 claimants. While it is not likely that a significant number of these claimants have a claim against D/C that could withstand a vigorous defense, it is unknown how the trustee will deal with these claims. It is not expected, however, that the Company will receive any material additional amounts in the liquidation of D/C.

18
Table of Contents

 

The Company received notice from the DLNR that it would inspect all significant dams and reservoirs in Hawaii, including those maintained by the Company on Maui in connection with its agricultural operations. Inspections were performed in April and October 2006 and again in March 2008 and July 2009. To date, the DLNR has cited certain maintenance deficiencies concerning two of the Company's reservoirs, consisting primarily of overgrowth of vegetation that make inspection difficult and could degrade the integrity of reservoir slopes and impact drainage. The DLNR has required the vegetation clean-up as well as the Company's plan for future maintenance, inspections and emergency response. Revised versions of the required plans were submitted to DLNR in December 2006. In October 2009, DLNR delivered an inspection report for one of these reservoirs to the Company which acknowledged the work done to date but required still more remediated action, and DLNR issued an amended report in March 2010. A final report on one such reservoir was received in August 2010 which essentially restated the March 2010 report for such reservoir. The Company has completed the work required by such report and continues its analysis with respect to the remaining items. In addition, the Company has submitted revisions to its emergency action plans for both reservoirs in accordance with revised DLNR requirements. Such reservoirs were again inspected in March 2011 and a report was received in late April 2011. The reports acknowledged work done to date and also included certain corrective actions to be done on the reservoirs.

 

The DLNR categorizes the reservoirs as "high hazard" under State of Hawaii Administrative Rules and State Statutes concerning dam and reservoir safety. This classification, which bears upon government oversight and reporting requirements, may increase the cost of managing and maintaining these reservoirs in a material manner. The Company does not believe that this classification is warranted for either of these reservoirs and has initiated a dialogue with DLNR in that regard. In April 2008, the Company received further correspondence from DLNR that included the assessment by their consultants of the potential losses that result from the failure of these reservoirs. In April 2009, the Company filed a written response to DLNR to correct certain factual errors in its report and to request further analysis on whether such "high hazard" classifications are warranted. The Company and DLNR continue to engage in dialogue concerning these matters (which have included further site visits by DLNR personnel).

 

In addition to the foregoing, the Company has received notice from DLNR that it intended to decommission a reservoir that is contained partly on DLNR land and partly on land owned by an unaffiliated third party, that was previously sold by the Company to such third party. Upon such sale, the Company reserved the right to use such reservoir and maintain it to the extent the Company determined to do so in its discretion. The Company has disclaimed any responsibility for the costs of rehabilitation and/or decommissioning and has determined not to expend funds there. DLNR has notified the third party owner that it may have liability for a portion of such decommissioning costs and such owner has notified DLNR that although it initially objected to the decommissioning of the reservoir, it has subsequently decided to withdraw its proposal for an alternative plan to maintain the function of the reservoir. There has been no further discussion about the responsibility for sharing of the costs of the closure. While the Company believes that it has defenses to any claims that may be made against it for such costs, there can be no assurance that such defenses will be successful or that the decommissioning of such reservoir will not have an adverse impact on the Company's other water rights and distributions operations. The DLNR and the third party owner have initiated the decommissioning of the reservoir.

19
Table of Contents

 

Other than as described above, the Company is not involved in any material pending legal proceedings, other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to its business. The Company and/or certain of its affiliates have been named as defendants in several pending lawsuits. While it is impossible to predict the outcome of such routine litigation that is now pending (or threatened) and for which the potential liability is not covered by insurance, the Company is of the opinion that the ultimate liability from any of this litigation will not materially adversely affect the Company's consolidated results of operations or its financial condition.

 

 

Item 4. [ Reserved ]

 

 

Part II

 

Item 5.  Market Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters

               and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

As of December 31, 2011 there were approximately 700 holders of record of the Company's 1,792,613 Common Shares and 52,000 Class C Shares. The Company has no outstanding options, warrants to purchase or securities convertible into, common equity of the Company. There is no established public trading market for the Company's membership interests. The Company has elected to be treated as a corporation for federal and state income tax purposes. As a consequence, under current law, holders of membership interests in the Company will not receive annual K-1 reports or direct allocations of profits or losses relating to the financial results of the Company as they would for the typical limited liability company that elects to be treated as a partnership for tax purposes. In addition, any distributions that may be made by the Company will be treated as dividends. However, no dividends have been paid by the Company in 2011 and 2010 and the Company does not anticipate making any distributions for the foreseeable future.

 

20
Table of Contents

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

 

Kaanapali Land, LLC (a)(b)

For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007

(Dollars in Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

 

 

 

  2011   2010   2009   2008   2007
                     
Total revenues $ 5,493    4,137    4,695    3,170    8,814 
                     

Net income (loss) from

    continuing operations

$ (6,803)   (4,092)   (5,278)   (1,340)   1,757
                     

Income (loss) from

  continuing operations

  per share –

  basic and diluted

$ (3.69)   (2.22)   (2.88)   (0.73)   0.98 
                     
Total assets $ 132,782   144,697    155,595    150,506    186,289 

 

(a) The above selected financial data should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the related notes appearing elsewhere in this report. The amounts reflected are those business segments of the Company's predecessor that are continuing in nature.

 

(b) Year ended December 31, 2007 restated for amounts treated as discontinued operations.

 

21
Table of Contents

Item 7.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and

              Results of Operations

 

All references to "Notes" herein are to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this report. Information is not presented on a reportable segment basis in this section because in the Company's judgment such discussion is not material to an understanding of the Company's business.

 

In addition to historical information, this Report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations about its businesses and the markets in which the Company operates. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties or other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Actual operating results may be affected by various factors including, without limitation, changes in international, national and Hawaiian economic conditions, competitive market conditions, uncertainties and costs related to the imposition of conditions on receipt of governmental approvals and costs of material and labor, and actual versus projected timing of events all of which may cause such actual results to differ materially from what is expressed or forecast in this report.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

A description of the reorganization of Kaanapali Land and its subsidiaries pursuant to the Plan and a description of certain elements of the Plan are set forth in Item 1 above.

 

Unless wound up by the Company or merged, the Debtors continued to exist after the Plan Effective Date as separate legal entities. Except as otherwise provided in the Order or the Plan, the Debtors have been discharged from all claims and liabilities existing through the Plan Effective Date. As such, all persons and entities who had receivables, claims or contracts with the Debtors that first arose prior to the Petition Date and have not previously filed timely claims under the Plan or have not previously reserved their right to do so in the Reorganization Case are precluded from asserting any claims against the Debtors or their assets for any acts, omissions, liabilities, transactions or activities that occurred before the Plan Effective Date. During August 2005, pursuant to a motion for entry of final decree, the bankruptcy cases were closed.

 

Certain subsidiaries of Kaanapali Land are jointly indebted to Kaanapali Land pursuant to a certain Secured Promissory Note in the principal amount of $70 million dated November 14, 2002. Such note was scheduled to mature on October 31, 2011, had an outstanding balance of principal and accrued interest as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 of approximately $86 million and $84 million, respectively, and carried an interest rate of 3.04% compounded semi-annually. The agreement extended the maturity date of the note to September 30, 2020 and modified the interest rate to 1.19% per annum. The note, which is prepayable, is secured by substantially all of the remaining real property owned by such subsidiaries, pursuant to a certain Mortgage, Security Agreement and Financing Statement, dated as of November 14, 2002 and placed on record in December 2002. The note has been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements because the obligors are consolidated subsidiaries of Kaanapali Land.

22
Table of Contents

 

In addition to such Secured Promissory Note, certain other subsidiaries of Kaanapali Land continue to be liable to Kaanapali Land under certain guarantees (the "Guarantees") that they had previously provided to support certain Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Plan) and the Certificate of Land Appreciation Notes ("COLA Notes") formerly issued by Amfac/JMB Hawaii, Inc. (as predecessor to KLC Land). Although such Senior Indebtedness and COLA Notes were discharged under the Plan, the Guarantees of the Non-Debtor KLC Subsidiaries were not. Thus, to the extent that the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and COLA Notes did not receive payment on the outstanding balance thereof from distributions made under the Plan, the remaining amounts due thereunder remain obligations of the Non-Debtor KLC Subsidiaries under the Guarantees. Under the Plan, the obligations of the Non-Debtor KLC Subsidiaries under such Guarantees were assigned by the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and COLA Notes to Kaanapali Land on the Plan Effective Date. Kaanapali Land has notified each of the Non-Debtor KLC Subsidiaries that are liable under such Guarantees that their respective guarantee obligations are due and owing and that Kaanapali Land reserves all of its rights and remedies in such regard. Given the financial condition of such Non-Debtor Subsidiaries, however, it is unlikely that Kaanapali Land will realize payments on such Guarantees that are more than a small percentage of the total amounts outstanding thereunder or that in the aggregate will generate any material proceeds to the Company. Nevertheless, Kaanapali Land has submitted a claim in the Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding of Oahu Sugar in order that it may recover substantially all of the assets remaining in the bankruptcy estate, if any, that become available for creditors of Oahu Sugar. Any amounts so received would not be material to the Company. These Guarantee obligations have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements because the obligors are consolidated subsidiaries of Kaanapali Land, which is now the sole obligee thereunder.

 

Those persons and entities that were not affiliated with Northbrook and were holders of COLAs (Certificate of Land Appreciation Notes) on the date that the Plan was confirmed by the Bankruptcy Court, and their successors in interest, represent approximately 9.0% of the ownership of the Company.

 

At December 31, 2011, the Company had cash and cash equivalents and short term securities of approximately $19 million which is available for, among other things, working capital requirements, including future operating expenses, and the Company's obligations for engineering, planning, regulatory and development costs, drainage and utilities, environmental remediation costs on existing and former properties, potential liabilities resulting from tax audits, and existing and possible future litigation.

 

The primary business of Kaanapali Land is the investment in and development of the Company's assets on the Island of Maui. The various development plans will take many years at significant expense to fully implement. Reference is made to Item 1 - Business, Item 3 - Legal Proceedings and the footnotes to the financial statements. Proceeds from land sales are the Company's only source of significant cash proceeds and the Company's ability to meet its liquidity needs is dependent on the timing and amount of such proceeds.

 

Effective June 2010, the subsidiary of KLC Land discontinued providing retiree health and life insurance benefits to retired employees. The subsidiary paid a onetime lump sum cash payment to the participants totaling approximately $85 thousand. The Company recognized a settlement gain of approximately $1.9 million, recorded in selling, general and administrative, which included recognition of approximately $192 thousand remaining in accumulated other comprehensive income relating to the post retirement benefit plan and approximately $1.7 million from the reversal of the accrued benefit obligation.

23
Table of Contents

 

 

In October 2011, the Company sold an approximate 68 acre gulch property located adjacent to the Waikele Golf course to an unaffiliated third party for $800 thousand, resulting in an approximate gain of $200 thousand. This was the Company’s last remaining property on Oahu other than several remnant parcels.

 

The Company's operations have in recent periods been primarily reliant upon the net proceeds of sales of developed and undeveloped land parcels and the sale of the golf course.

 

During the first quarter of 2006, the Company received final subdivision approval on an approximate 336 acre parcel in the region "mauka" (toward the mountains) from the main highway serving the area. This project, called Kaanapali Coffee Farms, consists of agricultural lots, which are currently being offered to individual buyers. The land improvements were completed during 2008. As of December 31, 2011, the Company has closed on the sale of eight lots at Kaanapali Coffee Farms. In conjunction with two of the lots that closed in 2007, in addition to cash proceeds, the Company received promissory notes aggregating approximately $1.4 million. Due to non-performance by the buyers, reserves were established for a substantial majority of the original balances. The Company closed on the sale of two lots in 2011, one each in January and March. In conjunction with the sale of the lot that closed in March 2011, in addition to cash proceeds, the Company received a promissory note for $285 thousand. The promissory note was paid in full the first week of May 2011.

 

Although the Company does not currently believe that it has significant liquidity problems over the near term, should the Company be unable to satisfy its liquidity requirements from its existing resources and future property sales, it will likely pursue alternate financing arrangements. However it cannot be determined at this time what, if any, financing alternatives may be available and at what cost.

 

Results of Operations

 

Reference is made to the footnotes to the financial statements for additional discussion of items addressing comparability between years.

 

2011 Compared to 2010

 

The increase in cash and cash equivalents and the related decrease in short-term investments at December 31, 2011 as compared to December 31, 2010 is primarily the result of the proceeds from U.S. Government obligations that matured during 2011.

 

The decrease in property, net and the related increase in sales as of December 31, 2011 is primarily due to the sale of two lots during the first quarter of 2011.

 

Pension plan assets decreased as a result of benefits paid from plan assets and a decrease in the market values of the Company’s pension plan assets, as well as a decrease in the discount rate used to determine the plan’s benefit obligation.

 

The increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses at December 31, 2011 as compared to December 31, 2010 is due to the timing of submission for payment of recurring services.

 

Cost of sales decreased as of December 31, 2011 primarily due to the reduction of the carrying value of inventory of land held for sale to approximate the lower of carrying value or fair value less cost to sell that was recorded in 2010, which was reflected in cost of sales in 2010.

24
Table of Contents

 

2010 Compared to 2009

 

Cost of sales increased as of December 31, 2010 primarily due to the reduction of the carrying value of inventory of land held for sale to approximate the lower of carrying value or fair value less cost to sell.

 

The decrease in interest and other income is due to the sale of the promissory note on the Waikele Golf Course during the second quarter of 2010.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased primarily due to the discontinuance of the retiree health and life insurance benefits to retired employees.

 

Inflation

 

Due to the lack of significant fluctuations in the level of inflation in recent years, inflation generally has not had a material effect on real estate development.

 

In the future, high rates of inflation may adversely affect real estate development generally because of their impact on interest rates. High interest rates not only increase the cost of borrowed funds to the Company, but can also have a significant effect on the affordability of permanent mortgage financing to prospective purchasers. However, high rates of inflation may permit the Company to increase the prices that it charges in connection with real property sales, subject to general economic conditions affecting the real estate industry and local market factors, and therefore may be advantageous where property investments are not highly leveraged with debt or where the cost of such debt has been previously fixed.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

The discussion and analysis of the Company's financial condition and results of operations are based upon the Company's consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. These estimates are based on historical experience and on various other assumptions that management believes are reasonable under the circumstances; additionally management evaluates these results on an on-going basis. Management's estimates form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Different estimates could be made under different assumptions or conditions, and in any event, actual results may differ from the estimates.

 

The Company reviews its property for impairment of value. This includes considering certain indications of impairment such as significant changes in asset usage, significant deterioration in the surrounding economy or environmental problems. If such indications are present and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the assets' carrying value, the Company will adjust the carrying value down to its estimated fair value. Fair value is based on management's estimate of the property's fair value based on discounted projected cash flows.

 

There are various judgments and uncertainties affecting the application of these and other accounting policies, including the liabilities related to asserted and unasserted claims and the utilization of net operating losses. Materially different amounts may be reported under different circumstances or if different assumptions were used.

25
Table of Contents

 

Pension assumptions are significant inputs to the actuarial models that measure pension benefit obligations and related effects on operations. Two assumptions - discount rate and expected return on assets - are important elements of plan expense and asset/liability measurement. The Company evaluates these critical assumptions at least annually. The Company periodically evaluates other assumptions involving demographic factors such as mortality, and updates the assumptions to reflect experience and expectations for the future. Actual results in any given year will often differ from actuarial assumptions because of economic and other factors.

 

Accumulated and projected benefit obligations are measured as the present value of future cash payments. The Company discounts those cash payments using the weighted average of market-observed yields for high quality fixed income securities with maturities that correspond to the payment of benefits. Lower discount rates increase present values and subsequent-year pension expense; higher discount rates decrease present values and subsequent-year pension expense.

 

The Company’s discount rates for projected benefit obligations of the pension plan at December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 were 4.37%, 5.24%, and 5.77%, respectively, reflecting market interest rates.

 

To determine the expected long-term rate of return on pension plan assets, the Company considers current and expected asset allocations, as well as historical and expected returns on various categories of plan assets. Based on our analysis of future expectations of asset performance, past return results, and our current and expected asset allocations, we have assumed a 7% long-term expected return on those assets.

 

 

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

The Company's future earnings, cash flows and fair values relevant to financial instruments are dependent upon prevalent market rates. Market risk is the risk of loss from adverse changes in market prices and interest rates. The Company manages its market risk by matching projected cash inflows from operating properties, financing activities, and investing activities with projected cash outflows to fund capital expenditures and other cash requirements. The Company does not enter into financial instruments for trading purposes.

 

26
Table of Contents

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 

 

Kaanapali Land, LLC

 

Index

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets, December 31, 2011 and 2010

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

 

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the years ended December 31, 2011,

    2010 and 2009

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Schedules not filed:

 

All schedules have been omitted as the required information is inapplicable or the information is presented in the financial statements or related notes.

 

 

27
Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

 

The Managing Member and Stockholders

Kaanapali Land, LLC

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Kaanapali Land, LLC (the "Company") as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2011. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Kaanapali Land, LLC at December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2011, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

 

 

 

 

Chicago, Illinois

March 29, 2012

 

 

 

28
Table of Contents

Kaanapali Land, LLC

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

December 31, 2011 and 2010

(Dollars in Thousands, except share data)

 

 

 

  2011   2010
Assets
           
           
Cash and cash equivalents $ 14,419      11,729 
Short-term investments   4,996      10,004 
Receivables, Net   63      112 
Property, Net   96,442      98,029 
Pension plan assets   15,485      22,964 
Other assets   1,377      1,859 
  $ 132,782      144,697 
           
Liabilities
           
Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 1,406      913 
Deferred income taxes   18,275      19,383 
Other liabilities   22,564      22,288 
           
          Total liabilities   42,245      42,584 
           
Commitments and contingencies          
           
Stockholders’ Equity
           

Common stock, at 12/31/11 and 12/31/10

  Shares authorized – 4,500,000, Class C shares

      52,000; shares issued and outstanding 1,792,613

      in 2011 and 2010, Class C shares issued and

      outstanding 52,000 in 2011 and 2010

  --      -- 
Additional paid-in capital   5,471      5,471 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss),

   net of tax

  (11,147)     (6,374)
Accumulated earnings   96,213      103,016 
           
          Total stockholders’ equity   90,537      102,113 
           
  $ 132,782      144,697

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

29
Table of Contents

Kaanapali Land, LLC

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

Years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

(Dollars in Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

 

 

 

  2011   2010   2009
Revenues:                
    Sales $ 5,318      3,395      3,315 
    Interest and other income   175      742      1,380 
    5,493      4,137      4,695 
                 
Cost and expenses:                
    Cost of sales   4,543      6,110      3,028 
    Selling, general and administrative   5,544      5,412      7,344 
    Depreciation and amortization   276      302      284 
    10,363      11,824      10,656 
                 
Operating income (loss) before income taxes   (4,870)     (7,687)     (5,961)
      Income tax benefit (expenses)   (1,933)     3,595     683 
      Income (loss)   (6,803)     (4,092)     (5,278)
                 
          Net income (loss) $ (6,803)     (4,092)     (5,278)
                 
          Net income (loss) per share – basic and diluted $ (3.69)     (2.22)     (2.88)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

30
Table of Contents

Kaanapali Land, LLC

 

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity

 

Years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

 

   

Common

Stock

 

Additional

Paid-In

Capital

 

Accumu-

lated

(Deficit)

Earnings

 

Accumu-

lated

Other

Comprehensive

Income/

(Loss)

 

Total

Stockholders’

Equity

Balance at December 31, 2008

  $ --    5,438    112,386    (14,259)   103,565 
                       
Share based compensation     --    33    --    --    33 
                       

Other comprehensive

    income, net of tax

    --    --    --    8,366    8,366 
                       
Net loss     --    --    (5,278)   --    (5,278)
                       

Balance at December 31, 2009

    --    5,471    107,108    (5,893)   106,686 
                       

Other comprehensive loss,

    net of tax

    --    --    --    (481)   (481)
                       
Net loss     --    --    (4,092)   --    (4,092)
                       

Balance at December 31, 2010

    --    5,471    103,016    (6,374)   102,113 
                       

Other comprehensive

    income, net of tax

    --    --    --    (4,773)   (4,773)
                       
Net loss     --    --    (6,803)   --    (6,803)
                       

Balance at December 31, 2011

  $ --    5,471    96,213    (11,147)   90,537 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

31
Table of Contents

Kaanapali Land, LLC

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

Years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

 

 

  2011   2010   2009
Cash flows from operating activities:                
  Net loss $ (6,803)     (4,092)     (5,278)

  Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash

   used in operations:

               
    Share based compensation   --      --      33 
    Property sales, disposals and retirements, net   1,674      --      -- 
    Impairment loss   415      2,500      -- 
    Pension plan assets   (346)     (546)     (279)
    Depreciation and amortization   276      302      284 
    Deferred income taxes   1,944      (3,570)     (679)
  Changes in operating assets and liabilities:                
    Receivables, net   49          (74)
    Other assets   482      864      1,290 
    Accrued benefit obligation   --      (1,910)     (174)
    Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other   769      (734)     (2,483)
Net cash used in operating activities   (1,540)     (7,178)     (7,360)
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:                
  Property additions   (778)     (818)     (1,941)
  Proceeds from short-term investments   15,000      --      -- 
  Purchase of short-term investments   (9,992)     (10,004)     -- 
  Proceeds from note receivable   --      12,793      457 
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities   4,230      1,971      (1,484)
                 
          Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   2,690      (5,207)     (8,844)
                 
          Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year   11,729      16,936      25,780 
                 
          Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $ 14,419      11,729      16,936 
                 
Cash received (paid) for income taxes $ --      --      -- 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

32
Table of Contents

Kaanapali Land, LLC

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

 

(1) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Organization and Basis of Accounting

 

Kaanapali Land, LLC ("Kaanapali Land"), a Delaware limited liability company is the reorganized entity resulting from the Joint Plan of Reorganization of Amfac Hawaii, LLC (now known as KLC Land Company, LLC ("KLC Land")), certain of its subsidiaries (together with KLC Land, the "KLC Debtors") and FHT Corporation ("FHTC" and, together with the KLC Debtors, the "Debtors") under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, dated June 11, 2002 (as amended, the "Plan"). The Plan was filed jointly by all Debtors to consolidate each case for joint administration in the Bankruptcy Court in order to (a) permit the petitioners to present a joint reorganization plan that recognized, among other things, the common indebtedness of the debtors (i.e. the Certificate of Land Appreciation Notes ("COLAs") and Senior Indebtedness) and (b) facilitate the overall administration of the bankruptcy proceedings. As indicated in the Plan, Kaanapali Land has elected to be taxable as a corporation.

 

The Plan was confirmed by the Bankruptcy Court by orders dated July 29, 2002 and October 30, 2002 (collectively, the "Order") and became effective November 13, 2002 (the "Plan Effective Date"). During August 2005, pursuant to a motion for entry of final decree, the bankruptcy cases were closed.

 

In accordance with the Plan, approximately 1,793,000 Common Shares were issued all of which remained outstanding at December 31, 2011.

 

Kaanapali Land's membership interests are denominated as non par value "Shares" and were originally divided into two classes: the Class A Shares, which were widely held primarily by non-affiliated persons who had previously held Company indebtedness prior to the Plan Effective Date and "Class B Shares" which were generally held by affiliates of Kaanapali Land. Pursuant to the LLC Agreement, the Class A Shares and Class B Shares were automatically redesignated Company Common Shares on November 15, 2007. Accordingly, the Company's Class A Shares and Class B Shares ceased to exist separately on November 15, 2007.

 

During 2008, the Company issued up to 52,000 Class C Shares (the "Class C Shares") pursuant to a stock-based compensation agreement with an executive vice president of the Company. The Class C shares have the same rights as the Shares except that the Class C Shares will not participate in any distributions until the holders of the shares have aggregate distributions of $19 per Share, subject to customary antidilution adjustments. For further information on the Class C Shares see Note 5.

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Kaanapali Land and all of its subsidiaries and its predecessor (collectively, the "Company"), which include KLC Land and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. All references to acres/acreage are unaudited.

33
Table of Contents

The Company's continuing operations are in two business segments - Agriculture and Property. The Agriculture segment grows seed corn and soybeans under contract and is engaged in farming and milling operations relating to the coffee orchards on behalf of the applicable land owners. The Property segment primarily develops land for sale and negotiates bulk sales of undeveloped land. The Property and Agriculture segments operate exclusively in the State of Hawaii. For further information on the Company's business segments see Note 9.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

The Company considers as cash equivalents all investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased.

 

Subsequent Events

 

The Company has performed an evaluation of subsequent events from the date of the financial statements included in this annual report through the date of its filing with the SEC.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

 

Effective January 1, 2010, the process of identifying the primary beneficiary of a Variable Interest Entity ("VIE") was changed, replacing the previous quantitative-based analysis with a framework based more on qualitative considerations and judgments. This new analysis requires the primary beneficiary of a VIE to be identified as the party that both (a) has the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact its economic performance and (b) has an obligation to absorb losses or a right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE. As the Company's consolidated subsidiaries are wholly owned the Company has the power to direct those activities that are material to its subsidiaries, the adoption of these new rules had no impact on the Company's consolidated results of operations or financial position.

 

In January 2010, the FASB issued guidance to improve disclosures about fair value measurements. The Company must provide additional disclosures regarding transfers in and out of levels 1 and 2, and activity in level 3 fair value measurements. The guidance also provides clarification regarding levels of disaggregation and disclosures about inputs and valuation techniques for both recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements that fall in either level 2 or level 3. The additional disclosure requirements were effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2010, except for the additional disclosures regarding the roll forward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements, which were effective January 1, 2011. The adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2011-05”), which amends current guidance found in ASC Topic 2020, Comprehensive Income (“ASC 220”). ASU 2011-05 requires entities to present comprehensive income in either (i) one continuous financial statement or (ii) two separate but consecutive statements that display net income and the components of other comprehensive income. Totals and individual components of both net income and other comprehensive income must be included in either presentation. The provisions of ASU 2011-05 will be effective for the Company beginning with the first quarter of 2012.

34
Table of Contents

 

Land Development

 

During the first quarter of 2006, the Company received final subdivision approval on an approximate 336 acre parcel in the region "mauka" (toward the mountains) from the main highway serving the area. This project, called Kaanapali Coffee Farms, consists of agricultural lots, which are currently being offered to individual buyers. The land improvements were completed during 2008. As of December 31, 2011, the Company has closed on the sale of eight lots at Kaanapali Coffee Farms. In conjunction with two of the lots that closed in 2007, in addition to cash proceeds, the Company received promissory notes aggregating approximately $1,400. Due to non-performance by the buyers, reserves were established for a substantial majority of the original balances. The Company closed on the sale of two lots in 2011, one each in January and March. In conjunction with the sale of the lot that closed in March 2011, in addition to cash proceeds, the Company received a promissory note for $285. The promissory note was paid in full the first week of May 2011.

 

Project costs associated with the development and construction of real estate projects are capitalized and classified as Property, net. Such capitalized costs are not in excess of the projects' estimated fair value as reviewed periodically or as considered necessary. In addition, interest, insurance and property tax are capitalized to qualifying assets during the period that such assets are undergoing activities necessary to prepare them for their intended use.

 

For development projects, capitalized costs are allocated using the direct method for expenditures that are specifically associated with the lot being sold and the relative-sales-value method for expenditures that benefit the entire project.

 

Recognition of Profit From Real Property Sales

 

For real property sales, profit is recognized in full when the collectability of the sales price is reasonably assured and the earnings process is virtually complete. When the sale does not meet the requirements for full profit recognition, all or a portion of the profit is deferred until such requirements are met.

 

Property

 

Property is stated at cost. Depreciation is based on the straight-line method over the estimated economic lives of 15-40 years for the Company's depreciable land improvements, 3-18 years for machinery and equipment. Maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred. Significant betterments and improvements are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful lives.

35
Table of Contents

 

Provisions for impairment losses related to long-lived assets, if any, are recognized when expected future cash flows are less than the carrying values of the assets. If indicators of impairment are present, the Company evaluates the carrying value of the related long-lived assets in relationship to the future undiscounted cash flows of the underlying operations or anticipated sales proceeds. The Company adjusts the net book value of property to fair value if the sum of the expected undiscounted future cash flow or sales proceeds is less than book value. Assets held for sale are recorded at the lower of the carrying value of the asset or fair value less costs to sell.

 

  2011   2010
Property, net:          
    Land $ 93,317      94,408 
    Buildings   3,663      4,078 
    Machinery and equipment   3,935      3,740 
    100,915      102,226 
    Accumulated depreciation   (4,473)     (4,197)
           
    Property, net $ 96,442      98,029 

 

Inventory of land held for sale of approximately $26,000, $27,100 and $29,600, representing primarily Kaanapali Coffee Farms, was included in Property, net in the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and is carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Based on current and foreseeable market conditions, discussions with real estate brokers and review of historical land sale activity (level 2 and 3), the value of the inventory of land held for sale was reduced by $2,500 during the third quarter of 2010 to reflect the land held for sale at the lower of carrying value or fair value less costs to sell, primarily using a market approach to estimate fair value. The value adjustment is reflected in cost of sales in the consolidated statements of operations at December 31, 2010. No land is currently in use except for certain Kaanapali 2020 land that has been set aside for the Company's seed corn operations and certain acreage of coffee trees which are being maintained to support the Company's land development program.

 

The Company's significant property holdings are on the island of Maui (including approximately 4,000 acres known as Kaanapali 2020, of which approximately 1,500 acres is classified as conservation land which precludes development). The Company has determined, based on its current projections for the development and/or disposition of its property holdings, that the property holdings are not currently recorded in an amount in excess of proceeds that the Company expects that it will ultimately obtain from the operation and disposition thereof.

 

Property Sales and Mortgages Receivable

 

On April 8, 2008, the Company executed a contract (as subsequently amended) to sell its Waikele Golf Course for a purchase price of $23.3 million (less commissions and closing costs). The sale closed on November 12, 2008 with total cash received, including previous non-refundable deposits, aggregating $10,000. The balance of the purchase price was represented by a promissory note in the original amount of $13,300 and was secured by the property along with corporate and personal guarantees from the principal of the purchaser and an affiliate. The note originally required monthly interest only payments of 7% per annum and was due May 12, 2009. Certain seller representations and warranties exist for one year after the date of sale. The Company entered into a note modification agreement with the purchaser on May 12, 2009 and subsequent note modification agreements on May 19, 2009, June 16, 2009 and November 12, 2009. The note modifications allowed the purchaser to defer payment of such promissory note until May 12, 2010; provided, however, that the purchaser was required by such agreement to make certain principal and interest payments in advance of maturity (before certain deductions for commissions and other costs).

36
Table of Contents

 

Pursuant to the note modification agreement dated November 12, 2009 ("Effective Date"), the purchaser owed the Company a payment of approximately $1,300 of principal and interest on the Effective Date. The purchaser paid $253 on the Effective Date and the remaining amount due was not paid. Pursuant to two letters dated November 30, 2009 and December 16, 2009 the guarantors of the promissory note were notified that the promissory note was in default. On January 13, 2010, the Company made a forbearance offer that was accepted by the purchaser. On May 5, 2010, the Company entered into an agreement with an unaffiliated third party whereby the Company agreed to sell the promissory note and assign the first mortgage and recourse guarantees (and other security documents) to such third party, on a non-recourse basis, for an aggregate purchase price of $12,500. The purchase price, which includes all principal and accrued and unpaid interest on such promissory note (including, but not limited to, the amounts previously deferred by the Company), approximated the Company's net carrying value of the note. On May 6, 2010, such transaction closed and the Company received the purchase price. The Company recognized a gain of $138, included in interest and other income, from the sale of the note.

 

Other Liabilities

 

Other liabilities are primarily comprised of reserves for losses, commitments and contingencies related to various divested assets or operations. These reserves include the estimated effects of certain asbestos related claims, certain lease and other real estate related guarantees and obligations, obligations related to former officers and employees such as pension, post-retirement benefits and workmen's compensation, investigation and potential remedial efforts in connection with environmental matters in the state of Hawaii, and reserves for potential income tax exposure generally associated with real estate operations. Management's estimates are based, as applicable, on taking into consideration claim amounts filed by third parties, life expectancy of beneficiaries, advice of consultants, negotiations with claimants, historical settlement experience, the number of new cases expected to be filed and the likelihood of liability in specific situations. Management periodically reviews the adequacy of each of its reserve amounts and adjusts such as it determines appropriate to reflect current information. Reference is made to Note 8, Commitments and Contingencies.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Short-Term Investments

 

It is the Company's policy to classify all of its investments in U.S. Government obligations with original maturities greater than three months as held-to maturity, as the Company has the ability and intent to hold these investments until their maturity, and are recorded at amortized cost, which approximates fair value. At December 31, 2011, short-term investments consist of $4,996 of such securities purchased in June 2011 maturing in May 2012. Additionally, the amortized discount of $5 at December 31, 2011 is reflected in interest and other income.

 

Income Taxes

 

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability approach which requires recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities. A valuation allowance reduces deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, there were no uncertain tax positions that had a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

37
Table of Contents

 

(2) Mortgage Note Payable

 

A subsidiary of Kaanapali Land held a mortgage loan that was previously secured by the Waikele Golf Course. Interest on the principal balance accrued at an adjustable rate of prime plus 1%. The principal and accrued interest, which were prepayable, were due March 1, 2015. As a result of the sale of the Waikele Golf Course, the outstanding principal and accrued interest was reduced pursuant to a payment of $9,300 towards the note and accrued interest and the mortgage security was released. The note was satisfied in the third quarter of 2010, by the payment of $684 to such subsidiary from a portion of the proceeds from the Company’s sale of the promissory note provided by the purchaser of the Waikele Golf Course, as described above. The note had been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements because the obligor and maker are consolidated subsidiaries of Kaanapali Land.

 

Certain subsidiaries of Kaanapali Land are jointly indebted to Kaanapali Land pursuant to a certain Secured Promissory Note in the principal amount of $70,000, dated November 14, 2002. Such note was scheduled to mature on October 31, 2011, had an outstanding balance of principal and accrued interest as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 of approximately $86,100 and $84,100, respectively, and carries an interest rate of 3.04% compounded semi-annually. The agreement extended the maturity date of the note to September 30, 2020 and modified the interest rate to 1.19% per annum. The note, which is prepayable, is secured by substantially all of the remaining real property owned by such subsidiaries, pursuant to a certain Mortgage, Security Agreement and Financing Statement, dated as of November 14, 2002 and placed on record in December 2002. The note has been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements because the obligors are consolidated subsidiaries of Kaanapali Land.

 

 

(3) Rental Arrangements

 

During 2011 and 2010, the Company leased various office spaces with average annual rental of approximately $27 and $47 per year, respectively. Although the Company was a party to certain other leasing arrangements, none of them were material.

 

 

(4) Employee Benefit Plans

 

(a) Pension Plan

 

As of December 31, 2011, the Company participates in a defined benefit pension plan that covers substantially all its eligible employees. The Pension Plan is sponsored and maintained by Kaanapali Land in conjunction with other plans providing benefits to employees of Kaanapali Land and its affiliates. The Pension Plan for Bargaining Unit Employees of Amfac Plantations (the "Pension Plan") provides benefits based primarily on length of service and career-average compensation levels. Kaanapali Land's policy is to fund pension costs in accordance with the minimum funding requirements under provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act ("ERISA"). Under such guidelines, amounts funded may be more or less than the pension expense or credit recognized for financial reporting purposes.

 

The Company does not consider the excess assets of the Pension Plan to be a source of liquidity. While under certain circumstances the Company could seek to use the excess assets to provide such funds, there are substantial costs, including Federal income tax consequences, in doing so.

38
Table of Contents

 

During late 2009 the Company received final approval from the Internal Revenue Service which allowed the Company to transfer the residual assets of the Retirement Plan for Employees of AMFAC Inc. ("Retirement Plan") of $5,800 to the Pension Plan. The Retirement Plan was terminated December 31, 1994. Plan liabilities were settled and plan assets were subsequently distributed in 1995. Residual Retirement Plan assets were transferred to the Pension Plan in 2009. The value of the Retirement Plan transfer has been reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax (based upon recording the funded status of the plan at year end) on the Company's consolidated balance sheets.

 

FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, establishes a framework for measuring fair value. That framework provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described as follows:

 

Level 1 -   Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
     
Level 2 -   Inputs to the valuation methodology include: quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in inactive markets; or other inputs that are observable for the asset or liability.
     
Level 3 -   Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

 

The asset or liability's fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Valuation techniques used need to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize unobservable inputs.

 

Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for Pension Plan assets measured at fair value.

 

--   Common and Preferred Stock: Valued at the closing price reported in the active market in which the individual security is traded.
     
--   Mutual Funds Holding Corporate Notes, Bonds and Debentures: Valued at the closing price reported in the active market in which the mutual fund is traded.
     
--   Private Equity Investments and Investment in Partnerships: Valued at net asset value ("NAV") of shares/ownership units held by the Pension Plan at year-end. NAV represents the Pension Plan's interests in the net assets of these investments which consisted primarily of equity and debt securities, some of which are exchange-traded or valued using independent pricing feeds (i.e. Bloomberg or Reuters) or independent broker quotes.
     
--   Investment Contract with Insurance Company: Valued at fair value by recording a Market Value Adjustment to estimate the current market value of fixed income securities held by the insurance company.

 

39
Table of Contents

 

The following table sets forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the Pension Plan's assets at fair value as of December 31, 2011:

 

    Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total
                   
Common and preferred stocks   $ 14,100    --    --    14,100 
Corporate notes, bonds and debentures     8,200    --    --    8,200 
Investment in partnerships     --    16,400    1,200    17,600 
Investments in insurance companies     --    --    1,900    1,900 
Investments in private equity funds     9,300    2,600    7,200    19,100 
Cash and cash equivalents     200    --    --    200 
                   

          Total Pension Plan assets

            at fair value

  $ 31,800    19,000    10,300    61,100 

 

Changes in Level 3 Investments

 

The following table sets forth a summary of changes in fair value of the plan's level 3 assets for the year ended December 31, 2011:

 

   

Investment

in

Insurance

Companies

 

Investment

in

Partnerships

 

Investment

in Private

Equity

Funds

  Total
                   
Balance, beginning of year   $ 2,000    21,900    9,100    33,000 

Net earned interest and

    realized/unrealized

    gains (losses)

    100    --    100    200 
Transfers in to Level 3     1,100    1,200    --    2,300 
Transfers from Level 3     --    (21,900)   (9,000)   (30,900)

Purchases, sales, issuances and

  settlements (net)

    (1,300)   --    7,000    5,700 
                   
Balance, end of year   $ 1,900    1,200    7,200    10,300 

 

 

The following table sets forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the plan's assets at fair value as of December 31, 2010:

 

    Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total
                   
Common and preferred stocks   $ 16,700   --    --    16,700
Corporate notes, bonds and debentures     16,800   --    --    16,800
Investment in partnerships     --    --    21,900   21,900
Investments in insurance companies     --    --    2,000   2,000
Investments in private equity funds     --    --    9,100   9,100
Cash and cash equivalents     200   --    --    200
                   

          Total Pension Plan assets

            at fair value

  $ 33,700   --    33,000   66,700

 

40
Table of Contents

Changes in Level 3 Investments

 

The following table sets forth a summary of changes in fair value of the plan's level 3 assets for the year ended December 31, 2010:

 

   

Investment

in

Insurance

Companies

 

Investment

in

Partnerships

 

Investment

in Private

Equity

Funds

  Total
                   
Balance, beginning of year   $ 2,200    20,600    --    22,800 

Net earned interest and

    realized/unrealized

    gains (losses)

    200    1,300    300    1,800 
Transfers in to Level 3     1,000    --    8,800    9,800 

Purchases, sales, issuances and

  settlements (net)

    (1,400)   --    --    (1,400)
                   
Balance, end of year   $ 2,000    21,900    9,100    33,000 

 

The following tables summarize the components of the change in pension benefit obligations, plan assets and funded status of the Company's defined benefit pension plan at December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009.

 

    2011   2010   2009
               
Benefit obligation at beginning of year   $ 43,771    42,390    44,971 
Service cost     602    642    756 
Interest cost     2,182    2,378    2,365 
Actuarial (gain) loss     2,850    2,406    (1,782)
Benefits paid     (3,800)   (4,045)   (3,920)
               

Accumulated and projected benefit obligation

  at end of year

    45,605    43,771    42,390 
               
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year     66,735    65,400    54,032 
Transfer     --    --    5,791 
Actual return on plan assets     (1,845)   5,380    9,497 
Benefits paid     (3,800)   (4,045)   (3,920)
               
Fair value of plan assets at end of year     61,090   66,735    65,400 
               
Funded status     15,485    22,964    23,010 
               
Unrecognized net actuarial (gain) loss     18,238    10,447    9,856 
Unrecognized prior service cost     35     
               
Prepaid pension cost   $ 33,758    33,412    32,868 

 

At December 31, 2011, approximately 20% of the plan's assets are invested in equity securities, 30% in fixed income funds and 50% in alternative strategies. The allocations are within Company's target allocations in association with the Company's investment strategy.

41
Table of Contents

The components of the net periodic pension credit for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 (which are reflected as selling, general and administrative in the consolidated statements of operations) are as follows:

 

    2011   2010   2009
               
Service costs   $ 602    642    756 
Interest cost     2,182    2,378    2,365 
Expected return on plan assets     (4,065)   (4,522)   (4,515)
Recognized net actuarial loss     930    957    1,114 
Amortization of prior service cost        
               
Net periodic pension credit   $ (346)   (544)   (279)

 

The principal weighted average assumptions used to determine the net periodic pension benefit (credit) and the actuarial value of the accumulated benefit obligation were as follows:

 

    2011   2010   2009
As of January 1,              
               
Discount rate     5.24%   5.77%   5.50%
               
Rates of compensation increase     3%   3%   3%
               
Expected long-term rate of return on assets     7.0%   7.0%   7.0%
               
As of December 31,              
               
Discount rate – net periodic pension credit     5.24%   5.77%   5.50%
               
Discount rate – accumulated benefit obligation     4.37%   5.24%   5.77%
               
Rates of compensation increase     3%   3%   3%
               
Expected long-term rate of return on assets     7.0%   7.0%   7.0%

 

The above long-term rates of return were selected based on historical asset returns and expectations of future returns.

 

The Company amortizes experience gains and losses as well as effects of changes in actuarial assumptions and plan provisions over a period no longer than the average expected mortality of participants in the pension plan.

 

The measurement date is December 31, the last day of the corporate fiscal year.

 

A comparison of the market value of the Pension Plan's net assets with the present value of the benefit obligations indicates the Company's ability at a point in time to pay future benefits. The fair value of the Pension Plan's assets available for benefits will fluctuate.

 

There was no contribution required in 2011 to the pension plan. Furthermore, due to ERISA full funding limits, no contribution, whether required or discretionary, could be made and deducted on the corporation's tax return for the current fiscal year.

42
Table of Contents

 

The Company's target asset allocations reflect the Company's investment strategy of maximizing the rate of return on plan assets and the resulting funded status, within an appropriate level of risk. Plan assets are reviewed and, if necessary, rebalanced in accordance with target allocation levels once every three months.

 

The estimated future benefit payments under the Company's pension plan are as follows (in thousands):

    Amounts
       
2012   $ 3,726
2013     3,583
2014     3,427
2015     3,279
2016     3,156
2017-2021     14,323

 

Effect of a 1% change in the discount rate and salary increase rate for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010:

   

2011

Discount

Rate

 

2011

Salary

Increase

 

2010

Discount

Rate

 

2010

Salary

Increase

Effect of a 1% increase on:                  
    Net periodic pension cost   $ (35)     (234)  

    Pension benefit obligation

      at year end

  $ (4,190)     (3,857)  
                   
Effect of a 1% decrease on:                  
    Net periodic pension cost   $ 32    (1)   269    (1)

    Pension benefit obligation

      at year end

  $ 5,032    (6)   4,604    (3)

 

 

Effect of a 1% change in the rate of return on assets for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011:

 

    1% Increase   1% Decrease
           
Net periodic pension cost   $ (581)   581 

 

(b) Retiree Health and Life Insurance Benefits

 

In addition to providing pension benefits, a subsidiary of KLC Land had been providing certain healthcare and life insurance benefits to certain eligible retired employees. As described below, the subsidiary of KLC Land discontinued providing such benefits effective June 2010. The postretirement healthcare plan was contributory and contained cost-sharing features such as deductibles and copayments. The postretirement life insurance plan was non-contributory and was unfunded. Kaanapali Land had not assumed any obligation to fund the cost of any ongoing benefits on behalf of any of its affiliates.

43
Table of Contents

Effective June 2010, the subsidiary of KLC Land discontinued providing retiree health and life insurance benefits to retired employees. The subsidiary paid a onetime lump sum cash payment to the participants totaling approximately $85. The Company recognized a settlement gain of approximately $1,928, recorded in selling, general and administrative, which included recognition of approximately $192 remaining in accumulated other comprehensive income relating to the post retirement benefit plan and approximately $1,736 from the reversal of the accrued benefit obligation.

 

For measuring the expected postretirement benefit obligation, a 7% annual rate of increase in the per capita claims cost was assumed through termination of the plan. The healthcare cost trend rate assumption had a minimal effect on the amount of the obligation and periodic cost reported. An increase (decrease) in the assumed healthcare trend rate by 1% in 2009 would increase (decrease) the medical plans' accumulated postretirement benefit obligation as of December 31, 2009 by $3 and $(3), respectively, and the aggregate of the service and interest cost components of net periodic postretirement benefit cost for the year then ended by $1 and $(1), respectively.

 

The costs of post-retirement healthcare benefits for the year ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 were as follows:

 

   

2011

Total

 

2010

Total

 

2009

Total

               
Service cost   $ --    --    -- 
Interest cost     --    46    99 
Amortization of net gain     --    (12)   (19)
Recognized settlement gain     --    --    -- 
               
Net periodic postretirement benefit cost/(income)   $ --    34    80 

 

The following table sets forth the plans' change in accumulated post-retirement benefit obligation and benefit cost as of December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 as follows:

 

    December 31,
   

2011

Total

 

2010

Total

 

2009

Total

               
Benefit obligation at beginning of year   $ --    1,713    1,932 
Interest cost     --    --    99 
Actuarial losses (gain)     --    --    (65)
Net benefits paid     --    --    (253)
Termination of plan     --    (1,713)   -- 
               
Benefit obligation at end of year   $ --    --    1,713 

 

Unrecognized gains and losses were amortized over the remaining life expectancy of all participating retirees.

44
Table of Contents

 

The Company did not fund its postretirement healthcare plan. Accordingly, as of December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, the postretirement healthcare plan held no assets. The following table provides the change in plan assets for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands):

 

    December 31,
    2011   2010   2009
               
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year   $ --    --    -- 
Company contributions     --    --    253 
Plan participants’ contributions     --    --    483 
Benefits paid     --    --    (736)
               
Fair value of plan assets at end of year   $ --    --    -- 

 

A 7% annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered medical benefits was assumed for 2009. The rate was assumed to decrease to 6% thereafter.

 

The weighted-average discount rate used in determining the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation was 5.77% as of December 31, 2009.

 

The calculation of the accumulated postretirement benefit cost or the net periodic postretirement benefit cost did not reflect the effects of the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (the "Act") as the Company was unable to conclude whether the benefits provided by the plan are actually equivalent to Medicare Part D under the 2003 Medicare Act.

 

The Company recognizes the over funded or under funded status of its employee benefit plans as an asset or liability in its consolidated statements of financial position and recognizes changes in its funded status in the year in which the changes occur through comprehensive income. Included in accumulated other comprehensive income at December 31, 2011 and 2010 are the following amounts that have not yet been recognized in net periodic pension/post retirement cost: unrecognized prior service costs of $35 ($21 net of tax), and $1 ($1 net of tax), respectively, and unrecognized actuarial loss of $18,273 ($11,147, net of tax) and $10,447 ($6,373, net of tax), respectively.

 

The Company maintains a nonqualified deferred compensation arrangement (the "Rabbi Trust") which provides certain former directors of Amfac and their spouses with pension benefits. The Rabbi Trust invests in marketable securities and cash equivalents (Level 1). The deferred compensation liability of approximately $1,534 represented in the Rabbi Trust and assets funding such deferred compensation liability of approximately $502 are consolidated in the Company's consolidated balance sheet.

 

(5) Stock Based Compensation

 

On April 15, 2008, the Company entered into an agreement with Stephen Lovelette ("Lovelette"), an executive vice president of the Company in charge of the Company's development activities, whereby the Company agreed to issue up to 52,000 shares of a new class of common shares (the "Class C Shares") in consideration for his services to the Company. The Class C Shares have the same rights as the Shares except that the Class C Shares will not participate in any distributions until the holders of the Shares have received aggregate distributions equal to $19 per Share, subject to customary antidilution adjustments. The Class C Shares became 50% vested on April 15, 2008, and an additional 25% vested on December 31, 2008. The remaining 25% became vested on December 31, 2009. The Company recognized compensation expense of approximately $33 for stock based compensation for the twelve months ended December 31, 2009.

45
Table of Contents

 

(6) Income Taxes

 

The Company's gross unrecognized tax benefits total approximately $1,367 and $1,931 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The Company's continuing practice is to recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. The Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 include $38, $49 and $68, respectively, accrued for the potential payment of interest and penalties.

 

Income tax expense/(benefit) attributable to income from continuing operations for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 consists of:

 

    Current   Deferred   Total
Year ended December 31, 2011:              
    U.S. federal   $ --    1,740    1,740 
    State     --    193    193 
    $ --    1,933    1,933 
               
Year ended December 31, 2010:              
    U.S. federal   $ --    (3,236)   (3,236)
    State     --    (359)   (359)
    $ --   

(3,595)

  (3,595)
               
Year ended December 31, 2009:              
    U.S. federal   $ --    (615)   (615)
    State     --    (68)   (68)
    $ --    (683)   (683)

 

 

Income tax expense/(benefit) attributable to income from continuing operations differs from the amounts computed by applying the U.S. federal income tax rate of 35 percent to pretax income from operations as a result of the following:

 

    2011   2010   2009
Provision at statutory rate   $ (1,701)   (2,680)   (2,085)

Increase (reduction) in income taxes

  resulting from:

             
    Increase (reduction) in valuation allowance     3,506    (565)   1,774 
    Other, net     128    (350)   (372)
               
          Total   $ 1,933    (3,595)   (683)

 

During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company increased its valuation allowance by $3,506 due to the uncertainty regarding future valuation.

46
Table of Contents

 

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. The deferred tax effects of temporary differences at December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:

    December 31,
    2011   2010   2009
Deferred tax assets:              
  Post retirement benefits   $ --    --    (668)

  Reserves related primarily to losses

    on divestitures

    (7,682)   (7,806)   (7,566)
  Loss carryforwards     (8,147)   (6,642)   (7,231)
  Tax credit carryforwards     (2,777)   (2,777)   (2,752)
  Other, net     (1,140)   (1,129)   (1,083)
          Total deferred tax assets     (19,746)   (18,353)   (19,300)
          Less – valuation allowance     12,924    (9,418)   9,983 
          Total deferred tax assets     (6,822)   (8,935)   (9,317)
               
Deferred tax liabilities:              

  Property, plant and equipment, principally

    due to purchase accounting adjustments,

    net of impairment charges

    18,264    18,568    22,810 
  Prepaid pension costs     6,833    9,750    9,768 
          Total deferred tax liabilities     25,097    28,318    32,578 
          Net deferred tax liability   $ 18,275    19,383    23,261 

 

The Company at December 31, 2011 has net operating loss carryforwards ("NOLs") of approximately $45,000 for state income tax purposes which can be used to offset taxable income, if any, in future years. Federal NOLs of approximately $18,000 originated in 2006 through 2010, and the state NOLs began to expire in 2010.

 

Federal tax return examinations have been completed for all years through 2005. In January 2008, the Company received notice from the IRS that their 2005 tax return had been selected for audit. The audit was completed with no changes to reported tax. The statutes of limitations with respect to the Company's taxes for 2008 and subsequent years remain open, subject to possible utilization of loss carryforwards from earlier years. The Company believes adequate provisions for income tax have been recorded for all years, although there can be no assurance that such provisions will be adequate. To the extent that there is a shortfall, any such shortfall for which the Company may be liable could be material.

 

(7) Transactions with Affiliates

 

An affiliated insurance agency, JMB Insurance Agency, Inc., earns insurance brokerage commissions in connection with providing the placement of insurance coverage for certain of the properties and operations of the Company. Such commissions are believed by management to be comparable to those that would be paid to such affiliate insurance agency in similar dealings with unaffiliated third parties. The total of such commissions for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 was approximately $21, $29 and $12, respectively, all of which was paid as of December 31, 2011.

 

The Company pays a non-accountable reimbursement of $30 per month to JMB Realty Corporation in respect of general overhead expense, all of which was paid as of December 31, 2011.

47
Table of Contents

 

The Company reimburses their affiliates for direct expenses incurred on its behalf, including salaries and salary-related expenses incurred in connection with the management of the Company's operations. Generally, the entity that employs the person providing the services receives the reimbursement. Substantially all of such reimbursable amounts were incurred by JMB Realty Corporation or its affiliates, 900 Financial Management Services, LLC, and JMB Financial Advisors, LLC, during 2011. The total costs recorded in cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of operations for the years ended 2011, 2010 and 2009 were approximately $2,476, $2,471 and $2,422, respectively, of which approximately $973 was unpaid as of December 31, 2011.

 

 

(8) Commitments and Contingencies

 

At December 31, 2011, the Company has no principal contractual obligations related to the land improvements in conjunction with Phase I of the Kaanapali Coffee Farms project.

 

Material legal proceedings of the Company are described below. Unless otherwise noted, the parties adverse to the Company in the legal proceedings described below have not made a claim for damages in a liquidated amount and/or the Company believes that it would be speculative to attempt to determine the Company's exposure relative thereto, and as a consequence believes that an estimate of the range of potential loss cannot be made. Those proceedings could continue since the Plan Effective Date had occurred so long as the plaintiffs therein filed timely claims under the Plan. However, any judgments rendered therein were subject to the distribution provisions of the Plan, which resulted in the entitlement of such claims to proceeds that were substantially less than the face amount of such judgments. Any claims that were not filed on a timely basis under the Plan have been discharged by the Bankruptcy Court and thus the underlying legal proceedings should not result in any liability to the Debtors. All other claims have been satisfied. Proceedings against subsidiaries or affiliates of Kaanapali Land that are not Debtors were not stayed by the Plan and were permitted to proceed. However, two such subsidiaries, Oahu Sugar and D/C, filed subsequent petitions for liquidation under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code in April 2005 and July 2007, respectively, as described below.

 

As a result of an administrative order issued to Oahu Sugar by the HDOH, Order No. CH 98-001, dated January 27, 1998, Oahu Sugar was engaged in environmental site assessment of lands it leased from the U.S. Navy and located on the Waipio Peninsula. Oahu Sugar submitted a Remedial Investigation Report to the HDOH. The HDOH provided comments that indicated that additional testing may be required. Oahu Sugar responded to these comments with additional information. On January 9, 2004, EPA issued a request to Oahu Sugar seeking information related to the actual or threatened release of hazardous substances, pollutants and contaminants at the Waipio Peninsula portion of the Pearl Harbor Naval Complex National Priorities List Superfund Site. The request sought, among other things, information relating to the ability of Oahu Sugar to pay for or perform a clean up of the land formerly occupied by Oahu Sugar. Oahu Sugar responded to the information requests and had notified both the Navy and the EPA that while it had some modest remaining cash that it could contribute to further investigation and remediation efforts in connection with an overall settlement of the outstanding claims, Oahu Sugar was substantially without assets and would be unable to make a significant contribution to such an effort. Attempts at negotiating such a settlement were fruitless and Oahu Sugar received an order from EPA in March 2005 that would purport to require certain testing and remediation of the site. As Oahu Sugar was substantially without assets, the pursuit of any action, informational, enforcement, or otherwise, would have had a material adverse effect on the financial condition of Oahu Sugar.

48
Table of Contents

 

Therefore, as a result of the pursuit of further action by the HDOH and EPA as described above and the immediate material adverse effect that the actions had on the financial condition of Oahu Sugar, Oahu Sugar filed with the United States Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division its voluntary petition for liquidation under Chapter 7 of Title 11, United States Bankruptcy Code. Such filing is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company as Oahu Sugar was substantially without assets at the time of the filing. While it is not believed that any other affiliates have any responsibility for the debts of Oahu Sugar, the EPA has indicated that it intends to make a claim against Kaanapali Land as further described below, and therefore, there can be no assurance that the Company will not incur significant costs in conjunction with such claim.

 

The deadline for filing proofs of claim with the bankruptcy court passed in April 2006. Prior to the deadline, Kaanapali Land, on behalf of itself and certain subsidiaries, filed claims that aggregated approximately $224,000, primarily relating to unpaid guarantee obligations made by Oahu Sugar that were assigned to Kaanapali Land pursuant to the Plan on the Plan Effective Date. In addition, the EPA and the U.S. Navy filed a joint proof of claim that seeks to recover certain environmental response costs relative to the Waipio Peninsula site discussed above. The proof of claim contained a demand for previously spent costs in the amount of approximately $260, and additional anticipated response costs of between approximately $2,760 and $11,450. No specific justification of these costs, or what they are purported to represent, was included in the EPA/Navy proof of claim. Due to the insignificant amount of assets remaining in the debtor's estate, it is unclear whether the United States Trustee who has taken control of Oahu Sugar will take any action to contest the EPA/Navy claim, or how it will reconcile such claim for the purpose of distributing any remaining assets of Oahu Sugar.

 

EPA has sent three requests for information to Kaanapali Land regarding, among other things, Kaanapali Land's organization and relationship, if any, to entities that may have, historically, operated on the site and with respect to operations conducted on the site. Kaanapali Land responded to these requests for information. By letter dated February 7, 2007, pursuant to an allegation that Kaanapali Land is a successor to Oahu Sugar Company, Limited, a company that operated at the site prior to 1961 ("Old Oahu"), EPA advised Kaanapali that it believes it is authorized by CERCLA to amend the existing Unilateral Administrative Order against Oahu Sugar Company, LLC, for the clean up of the site to include Kaanapali Land as an additional respondent. The purported basis for the EPA's position is that Kaanapali Land, by virtue of certain corporate actions, is jointly and severally responsible for the performance of the response actions, including, without limitation, clean-up at the site. No such amendment has taken place as of the date hereof. Instead, after a series of discussions between Kaanapali and the EPA, on or about September 30, 2009, the EPA issued a Unilateral Administrative Order to Kaanapali Land for the performance of work in support of a removal action at the former Oahu Sugar pesticide mixing site located on Waipio peninsula. The work consists of the performance of soil and groundwater sampling and analysis, a topographic survey, and the preparation of an engineering evaluation and cost analysis of potential removal actions to abate an alleged "imminent and substantial endangerment" to public health, welfare or the environment. The order appears to be further predicated primarily on the alleged connection of Kaanapali Land to Old Oahu and its activities on the site. Kaanapali Land is currently performing work, including the conduct of sampling at the site, required by the order while reserving its rights to contest liability regarding the site. With regard to liability for the site, Kaanapali Land believes that its liability, if any, should relate solely to a portion of the period of operation of Old Oahu at the site, although in some circumstances CERCLA apparently permits imposition of joint and several liability, which can exceed a responsible party's equitable share. Kaanapali Land believes that the U.S. Navy bears substantial liability for the site by virtue of its ownership of the site throughout the entire relevant period, both as landlord under its various leases with Oahu Sugar and Old Oahu and by operating and intensively utilizing the site directly during a period when no lease was in force. The Company believes that the cost of the work as set forth in the order will not be material to the Company as a whole; however, in the event that the EPA were to issue an order requiring remediation of the site, there can be no assurances that the cost of said remediation

49
Table of Contents

 

would not ultimately have a material adverse effect on the Company. In addition, if there is litigation regarding the site, there can be no assurance that the cost of such litigation will not be material or that such litigation will result in a judgment in favor of the Company.

 

Kaanapali Land, as successor by merger to other entities, and D/C have been named as defendants in personal injury actions allegedly based on exposure to asbestos. While there are only a few such cases that name Kaanapali Land, there are a substantial number of cases that are pending against D/C on the U.S. mainland (primarily in California). Cases against Kaanapali Land are allegedly based on its prior business operations in Hawaii and cases against D/C are allegedly based on sale of asbestos-containing products by D/C's prior distribution business operations primarily in California. Each entity defending these cases believes that it has meritorious defenses against these actions, but can give no assurances as to the ultimate outcome of these cases. The defense of these cases has had a material adverse effect on the financial condition of D/C as it has been forced to file a voluntary petition for liquidation as discussed below. Kaanapali Land does not believe that it has liability, directly or indirectly, for D/C's obligations in those cases. Kaanapali Land does not presently believe that the cases in which it is named will result in any material liability to Kaanapali Land; however, there can be no assurance in the regard.

 

On February 15, 2005, D/C was served with a lawsuit entitled American & Foreign Insurance Company v. D/C Distribution and Amfac Corporation, Case No. 04433669 filed in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of San Francisco, Central Justice Center. No other purported party was served. In the eight-count complaint for declaratory relief, reimbursement and recoupment of unspecified amounts, costs and for such other relief as the court might grant, plaintiff alleged that it is an insurance company to whom D/C tendered for defense and indemnity various personal injury lawsuits allegedly based on exposure to asbestos containing products. Plaintiff alleged that because none of the parties have been able to produce a copy of the policy or policies in question, a judicial determination of the material terms of the missing policy or policies is needed. Plaintiff sought, among other things, a declaration: of the material terms, rights, and obligations of the parties under the terms of the policy or policies; that the policies were exhausted; that plaintiff is not obligated to reimburse D/C for its attorneys' fees in that the amounts of attorneys' fees incurred by D/C have been incurred unreasonably; that plaintiff was entitled to recoupment and reimbursement of some or all of the amounts it has paid for defense and/or indemnity; and that D/C breached its obligation of cooperation with plaintiff. D/C filed an answer and an amended cross-claim. D/C believed that it had meritorious defenses and positions, and intended to vigorously defend. In addition, D/C believed that it was entitled to amounts from plaintiffs for reimbursement and recoupment of amounts expended by D/C on the lawsuits previously tendered. In order to fund such action and its other ongoing obligations while such lawsuit continued, D/C entered into a Loan Agreement and Security Agreement with Kaanapali Land, in August 2006, whereby Kaanapali Land provided certain advances against a promissory note delivered by D/C in return for a security interest in any D/C insurance policy at issue in this lawsuit. In June 2007, the parties settled this lawsuit with payment by plaintiffs in the amount of $1,618 which amount is reflected as a reduction of selling, general and administrative expense in the statement of operations for year ended December 31, 2007. Such settlement amount was paid to Kaanapali Land in partial satisfaction of the secured indebtedness noted above.

50
Table of Contents

 

Because D/C was substantially without assets and was unable to obtain additional sources of capital to satisfy its liabilities, D/C filed with the United States Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Illinois, its voluntary petition for liquidation under Chapter 7 of Title 11, United States Bankruptcy Code during July 2007, Case No. 07-12776. Such filing is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company as D/C was substantially without assets at the time of the filing. The deadline for filing proofs of claims against D/C with the bankruptcy court passed in October 2008. Prior to the deadline, Kaanapali Land filed claims that aggregated approximately $26,800, relating to both secured and unsecured intercompany debts owed by D/C to Kaanapali Land. In addition, a personal injury law firm based in San Francisco that represents clients with asbestos-related claims, filed proofs of claim on behalf of approximately 700 claimants. While it is not likely that a significant number of these claimants have a claim against D/C that could withstand a vigorous defense, it is unknown how the trustee will deal with these claims. It is not expected, however, that the Company will receive any material additional amounts in the liquidation of D/C.

 

The Company received notice from the DLNR that it would inspect all significant dams and reservoirs in Hawaii, including those maintained by the Company on Maui in connection with its agricultural operations. Inspections were performed in April and October 2006 and again in March 2008 and July 2009. To date, the DLNR has cited certain maintenance deficiencies concerning two of the Company's reservoirs, consisting primarily of overgrowth of vegetation that make inspection difficult and could degrade the integrity of reservoir slopes and impact drainage. The DLNR has required the vegetation clean-up as well as the Company's plan for future maintenance, inspections and emergency response. Revised versions of the required plans were submitted to DLNR in December 2006. In October 2009, DLNR delivered an inspection report for one of these reservoirs to the Company which acknowledged the work done to date but required still more remediated action, and DLNR issued an amended report in March 2010. A final report on one such reservoir was received in August 2010 which essentially restated the March 2010 report for such reservoir. The Company has completed the work required by such report and continues its analysis with respect to the remaining items. In addition, the Company has submitted revisions to its emergency action plans for both reservoirs in accordance with revised DLNR requirements. Such reservoirs were again inspected in March 2011 and a report was secured in late April 2011. The reports acknowledged work done to date and also indicated certain corrective actions to be done on the reservoirs.

 

The DLNR categorizes each of the reservoirs as "high hazard" under State of Hawaii Administrative Rules and State Statutes concerning dam and reservoir safety. This classification, which bears upon government oversight and reporting requirements, may increase the cost of managing and maintaining these reservoirs in a material manner. The Company does not believe that this classification is warranted for either of these reservoirs and has initiated a dialogue with DLNR in that regard. In April 2008, the Company received further correspondence from DLNR that included the assessment by their consultants of the potential losses that result from the failure of these reservoirs. In April 2009, the Company filed a written response to DLNR to correct certain factual errors in its report and to request further analysis on whether such "high hazard" classifications are warranted. The Company and DLNR continue to engage in dialogue concerning these matters (which have included further site visits by DLNR personnel).

51
Table of Contents

 

In addition to the foregoing, the Company has received notice from DLNR that it intended to decommission a reservoir that is contained partly on DLNR land and partly on land owned by an unaffiliated third party, that was previously sold by the Company to such third party. Upon such sale, the Company reserved the right to use such reservoir and maintain it to the extent the Company determined to do so in its discretion. The Company has disclaimed any responsibility for the costs of rehabilitation and/or decommissioning and has determined not to expend funds there. DLNR has notified the third party owner that it may have liability for a portion of such decommissioning costs and such owner has notified DLNR that although it initially objected to the decommissioning of the reservoir, it has subsequently decided to withdraw its proposal for an alternative plan to maintain the function of the reservoir. There has been no further discussion about the responsibility for sharing of the costs of the closure. While the Company believes that it has defenses to any claims that may be made against it for such costs, there can be no assurance that such defenses will be successful or that the decommissioning of such reservoir will not have an adverse impact on the Company's other water rights and distributions operations. The DLNR and the third party owner have initiated the decommissioning of the reservoir.

 

Other than as described above, the Company is not involved in any material pending legal proceedings, other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to its business. The Company and/or certain of its affiliates have been named as defendants in several pending lawsuits. While it is impossible to predict the outcome of such routine litigation that is now pending (or threatened) and for which the potential liability is not covered by insurance, the Company is of the opinion that the ultimate liability from any of this litigation will not materially adversely affect the Company's consolidated results of operations or its financial condition.

 

 

(9) Business Segment Information

 

As described in Note 1, the Company operates in two business segments. Total revenues, operating profit, identifiable assets, capital expenditures, and depreciation and amortization by business segment are presented in the tables below. The $2,500 impairment charge for 2010 is shown in the Property segment.

 

Total revenues by business segment include primarily (i) sales, all of which are to unaffiliated customers and (ii) interest income that is earned from outside sources on assets which are included in the individual industry segment's identifiable assets.

 

Operating profit is comprised of total revenue less operating expenses. In computing operating profit, none of the following items have been added or deducted: general corporate revenues and expenses, interest expense and income taxes.

 

Identifiable assets by business segment are those assets that are used in the Company's operations in each industry. Corporate assets consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, prepaid pension costs and receivables related to previously divested businesses.

52
Table of Contents

 

 

    2011   2010   2009
Revenues:              
    Property   $ 2,562    1,450    1,037 
    Agriculture     2,877    2,201    2,485 
    Corporate     54    486    1,173 
    $ 5,493    4,137    4,695 
               
Operating income (loss):              
    Property   $ (2,228)   (4,661)   (2,974)
    Agriculture     (204)   926    (332)
               
Operating income (loss)     (2,432)   (3,735)   (3,306)
               
Corporate     (2,438)   (3,952)   (2,655)
               

Operating income (loss) from continuing

  operations before income taxes

  $ (4,870)   (7,687)   (5,961)
               
Identifiable Assets:              
    Property   $ 41,570    43,131    46,309 
    Agriculture     56,811    56,374    56,076 
               
      98,381    99,505    102,385 
               
Corporate     34,401    45,192    53,210 
               
    $ 132,782    144,697    155,595 

 

Agricultural identified assets include land classified as agricultural or conservation for State and County purposes.

 

    2011   2010   2009
Capital Expenditures:              
    Property   $ 505    651    1,743 
    Agriculture     273    167    290 
    Corporate     --    --    -- 
    $ 778    818    2,033 
               
Depreciation and Amortization:              
    Property   $ 75    91    94 
    Agriculture     201    211    190 
Total   $ 276    302    284 

 

53
Table of Contents

 

(10) Calculation of Net Income Per Share

 

The following tables set forth the computation of net income (loss) per share - basic and diluted:

 

   

Year Ended

December 31,

2011

 

Year Ended

December 31,

2010

 

Year Ended

December 31,

2009

    (Amounts in thousands except per share amounts)
Numerator:              
Net income (loss)   $ (6,803)   (4,092)   (5,278)
               
Denominator:              
Number of weighted average shares outstanding     1,845   1,845    1,832 
               
Net income (loss) per share – basic and diluted   $ (3.69)   (2.22)   (2.88)

 

As of December 31, 2011, the Company had issued and outstanding 1,792,613 Shares and 52,000 Class C Shares. The LLC Agreement initially provided for two classes of membership interests, Class A Shares and Class B Shares, which had substantially identical rights and economic value under the LLC Agreement; except that holders of Class A Shares were represented by a "Class A Representative" who was required to approve certain transactions proposed by Kaanapali Land before they could be undertaken. Class B Shares were held by Pacific Trail and various entities and individuals that are affiliated with Pacific Trail. Class A Shares were issued under the Plan to claimants who had no such affiliation. Pursuant to the LLC Agreement, the Class A Shares and Class B Shares were automatically redesignated as Common Shares on November 15, 2007. Accordingly, the Company's Class A Shares and Class B Shares ceased to exist separately on November 15, 2007.

 

54
Table of Contents

 

(11) Supplementary Quarterly Data (Unaudited)

 

    2011
    At 3/31   At 6/30   At 9/30   At 12/31
                   
Total revenues   $ 2,286    1,253   998    956 
                   
Net income (loss)   $ (87)   (872)   (687)   (5,157)
                   

Net income (loss) per Share –

    basic and diluted

  $ (0.05)   (0.47)   (0.37)   (2.80)

 

    2010
    At 3/31   At 6/30   At 9/30   At 12/31
                   
Total revenues   $ 1,058    1,160    1,140    779 
                   
Net income (loss)   $ (1,572)   673    (3,383)   190 
                   

Net income (loss) per Share –

    basic and diluted

  $ (0.85)   0.36    (1.83)   0.10 

 

    2009
    At 3/31   At 6/30   At 9/30   At 12/31
                   
Total revenues   $ 1,087    1,196    968    1,444 
                   
Net income (loss)   $ (733)   (843)   (722)   (2,980)
                   

Net income (loss) per Share –

    basic and diluted

  $ (0.40)   (0.46)   (0.39)   (1.63)

 

55
Table of Contents

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

There were no changes in or disagreements with the accountants during the fiscal years 2011, 2010 and 2009.

 

 

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

The principal executive officer and the principal financial officer of the Company have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the "Exchange Act") as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on such evaluation, the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

 

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

The Company's management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Under the supervision and with the participation of management including the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can only provide reasonable assurances with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.

 

Based on the Company's evaluation under the framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework, management concluded that its internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2011.

 

This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company's independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management's report was not subject to attestation by the Company's independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Security and Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only management's report in this annual report.

 

 

Item 9B. Other Information

 

Not Applicable.

56
Table of Contents

Part III

 

 

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance of the Registrant

 

The sole manager of Kaanapali Land, LLC is Pacific Trail, which is also Kaanapali Land's largest shareholder. Pacific Trail manages the business of Kaanapali Land pursuant to the terms of the LLC Agreement. Although the executive officers of Kaanapali Land are empowered to manage its day-to-day business affairs, under the LLC Agreement, most significant actions of Kaanapali Land outside the ordinary course of business must first be authorized by Pacific Trail, which is responsible and has full power and authority to do all things deemed necessary and desirable by it to conduct the business of Kaanapali Land. Pacific Trail may be removed as manager in certain specified circumstances. As of March 29, 2011, the executive officers and certain other officers of the Company were as follows:

 

Name   Position Held with the Company
     
Gary Nickele   President and Chief Executive Officer
Stephen A. Lovelette   Executive Vice President
Gailen J. Hull   Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

Certain of these officers are also officers and/or directors of JMB Realty Corporation ("JMB") and numerous affiliated companies of JMB (hereinafter collectively referred to as "JMB affiliates"). JMB affiliates outside of the Company have not materially engaged in the agriculture business and have primarily purchased, or made mortgage loans securing, existing commercial, retail, office, industrial and multi-family residential rental buildings or have owned or operated hotels on various other hospitality businesses. However, certain partnerships sponsored by JMB and other affiliates of JMB were previously engaged in land development activities including planned communities, none of which are in Hawaii.

 

There is no family relationship among any of the foregoing officers.

 

The LLC Agreement also provided for the appointment of a "Class A Representative" to monitor the activities of Kaanapali Land on behalf of its Class A Shareholders. The Class A Representative who was independent was entitled to receive certain information from Kaanapali Land and was required to approve certain actions that Kaanapali Land took outside the course of business primarily related to debt that might be obtained from affiliated parties. Pursuant to the LLC Agreement, the Class A Shares and Class B Shares were automatically redesignated as Common Shares on November 15, 2007. Accordingly, the Company's Class A Shares and Class B Shares ceased to exist separately on November 15, 2007. Reference is also made to Item 12 for more information.

 

There are no arrangements or understandings between or among any of said officers and any other person pursuant to which any officer was selected as such.

57
Table of Contents

 

The following table sets forth certain business experience during the past five years of such officers of the Company.

 

Gary Nickele (age 59) has been Manager of KLC Land since August, 2000 and President of KLC Land and certain of its subsidiaries since February 2001. He has been the President of Kaanapali Land since May 2002. Mr. Nickele is also the President and Director of Arvida Company, the administrator of ALP Liquidating Trust, which exists to manage the liquidation of the former business of Arvida/JMB Partners, L.P. ("Arvida Partners"). From October 1987 until September 2005, Arvida Partners conducted land development activities primarily in Florida. Mr. Nickele has been associated with JMB and Arvida Partners since February, 1984 and September, 1987, respectively. He holds a J.D. degree from the University of Michigan Law School and is a member of the Bar of the State of Illinois. Mr. Nickele's experience relative to JMB, the Company and Arvida Partners during the past five years has included overall responsibility for all legal matters, oversight of the operations of the Company and Arvida Partners, including matters relating to property development and sales and general personnel and administrative functions. During the past five years, Mr. Nickele has also been an Executive Vice President of JMB.

 

Stephen Lovelette (age 55) has been an Executive Vice President of KLC Land since 2000 and Kaanapali Land since May 2002. Mr. Lovelette is in charge of implementing the Kaanapali 2020 development plan. Mr. Lovelette has been associated with JMB and its affiliates for over 20 years. Prior to joining an affiliate of JMB, Mr. Lovelette worked for Arvida Corporation, the predecessor to Arvida Partners, under its previous ownership. Mr. Lovelette holds a bachelor's degree from The College of the Holy Cross and an MBA from Seton Hall University. In addition, Mr. Lovelette has extensive experience in corporate finance and has been responsible for obtaining substantial financial commitments from institutional lenders relating to the assets of JMB and Arvida Partners. During the past five years, Mr. Lovelette has also been a Managing Director of JMB.

 

Gailen J. Hull (age 63) is Senior Vice President and, since August 2002, Chief Financial Officer of Kaanapali Land. Mr. Hull has been associated with JMB since March, 1982. He holds a Masters degree in Business Administration from Northern Illinois University and is a Certified Public Accountant. Mr. Hull has substantial experience in the management of the accounting and financial reporting functions of both public and private entities, primarily including those of JMB, Arvida Partners, the Company and their respective affiliates. During the past five years, Mr. Hull has also been a Senior Vice President of JMB.

 

It is currently anticipated that Gary Nickele will devote 25 to 50 percent of his time to the operations of the Company. The percentage is largely dependant upon potential land sale transactions, the entitlement processes relating to various land parcels and other matters (including attention devoted to litigation, overhead, staffing and operations).

 

In light of the fact that the Company's shares are not publicly traded, the Company is a limited liability company and the rights of members are governed by the limited liability company agreement, the Company has determined that it is not necessary to have a separately designated audit committee, compensation committee, an audit committee financial expert or a code of ethics that applies to its principal executive, financial or accounting officers as those terms are defined in the rules and regulations of the SEC.

58
Table of Contents

Item 11. Executive Compensation

 

Certain of the officers of the Company listed in Item 10 above are officers of JMB and are compensated by JMB or an affiliate thereof (other than the Company and its subsidiaries). The Company will reimburse JMB, Pacific Trail and their affiliates for any expenses incurred while providing services to the Company.

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

Annual Compensation (1)(3)

 

Name (2)   Principal Position   Year  

Salary

($)

 

Bonus

($)

 

Other Annual

Compensation

($)

 

Total

($)

                         
Gary Nickele   President and   2011   180,000   100,000   N/A   280,000
    Chief Executive Officer   2010   180,000   100,000   N/A   280,000
        2009   180,000   100,000   N/A   280,000
                         

Stephen A

   Lovelette

  Executive Vice President   2011   255,000   100,000   N/A   355,000
        2010   255,000   100,000   N/A   355,000
        2009   255,000   100,000   N/A   355,000
                         
Gailen J. Hull   Senior Vice President and   2011   175,000   50,000   N/A   225,000
    Chief Financial Officer   2010   175,000   50,000   N/A   225,000
        2009   175,000   50,000   N/A   225,000

 

(1) The Company does not have a compensation committee. Executive officer compensation was determined through deliberations with Pacific Trail representatives.

 

(2) Includes CEO and all other executive officers.

 

(3) Salary and bonus amounts for Messrs. Nickele, Lovelette and Hull represent the portion of total compensation allocated and charged to the Company.

59
Table of Contents

Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and

                Related Stockholder Matters

 

Title of Class  

Name and Address

of Beneficial Owner

 

Amount and Nature

of Beneficial Ownership

         
Common Shares  

Pacific Trail Holdings, LLC

900 North Michigan Avenue

Chicago, IL 60611

 

1,466,573 Shares owned directly (81.8% of the Common Shares)

(1) (2)

 

(1)   The sole managing member of Pacific Trail, Pacific Trail Holdings, Inc. ("PTHI"), may be deemed to beneficially own the Shares owned by Pacific Trail. PTHI disclaims beneficial ownership with respect to any of the shares owned by Pacific Trail. Each of the shareholders of PTHI may be deemed to own the Common Shares owned by Pacific Trail. Each of such shareholders, being Gary Nickele, Gailen Hull and Stephen A. Lovelette, disclaims beneficial ownership with respect to any of the shares owned by Pacific Trail. The addresses of PTHI and Messrs. Nickele, Hull and Lovelette are the same as for Pacific Trail.
     
(2)   As of March 15, 2012, there were approximately 1,792,613 Common Shares and 52,000 Class C Shares issued and outstanding.

 

No other person including any officer of the Company is known by the Company to beneficially own in excess of 5% of the Common Shares issued, outstanding and distributed.

 

60
Table of Contents

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

 

An affiliated insurance agency, JMB Insurance Agency, Inc., earns insurance brokerage commissions in connection with providing the placement of insurance coverage for certain of the properties and operations of the Company. Such commissions are comparable to those that would be paid to such affiliate insurance agency in similar dealings with unaffiliated third parties, and are generally paid by the insurance carriers that the agency represents out of the premiums paid by the Company for such coverage. The total of such commissions for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 was approximately $21 thousand, $29 thousand and $12 thousand, respectively, all of which was paid as of December 31, 2011.

 

The Company pays a non-accountable reimbursement of approximately $30 thousand per month to JMB Realty Corporation in respect of general overhead expense, all of which was paid as of December 31, 2011.

 

The Company reimburses its affiliates for direct expenses incurred on its behalf, including salaries and salary-related expenses incurred in connection with the management of the Company's operations. Generally, the entity that employs the person providing the services receives the reimbursement. Substantially all of such reimbursable amounts were incurred by JMB Realty Corporation or its affiliates, 900 Financial Management Services, LLC, and JMB Financial Advisors, LLC during 2011. The total costs for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 was approximately $2.5 million, $2.5 million and $2.4 million, respectively, of which approximately $973 thousand was unpaid as of December 31, 2011.

 

In light of the fact that the Company's shares are not publicly traded, is a limited liability company, and has no independent outside directors or managers, it has no formal policy or procedure for the review, approval or ratification of related party transactions that are required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K.

 

 

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services

 

The aggregate audit fees incurred for professional services by Ernst and Young LLP ("E&Y") in 2011, 2010 and 2009 were $249 thousand, $249 thousand and $249 thousand, respectively. In accordance with the SEC's definitions and rules, "audit fees" are fees the Company paid E&Y for professional services for the audit of the Company's consolidated financial statements included in Form 10-K and review of financial statements included in Form 10-Qs, and for services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements. There were no non-audit related, tax or other services provided by E&Y.

 

The Company has not adopted any pre-approval policies and procedures. All audit and permitted non-audit services are approved by the managing member of the Company before the service is undertaken.

61
Table of Contents

Part IV

 

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

 

  (a) Exhibits.
    2.1 Order Confirming Second Amendment Joint Plan of Reorganization Dated June 1, 2002, including as an exhibit thereto, the Second Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization of Amfac Hawaii, LLC, Certain of its Subsidiaries and FHT Corporation Under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code incorporated herein by reference the Amfac Hawaii, LLC Current Report on Form 8-K for July 29, 2002 dated August 13, 2002 (File No. 33-24180).
       
    2.2 Second Amended Disclosure Statement with Respect to Joint Plan of Reorganization of Amfac Hawaii, LLC, Certain of its Subsidiaries and FHT Corporation Under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, incorporated herein by reference from the Amfac Hawaii, LLC Current Report on Form 8-K for July 29, 2002 dated August 13, 2002 (File No. 33-24180).
       
    3.1 Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Kaanapali Land, LLC dated November 14, 2002 filed as an exhibit to the Company's Form 10 filed May 1, 2003 and hereby incorporated by reference.
       
    10.1 Service Agreement, dated November 18, 1988, between Amfac/JMB Hawaii, Inc., and Amfac Property Development Corp.; Amfac Property Investment Corp.; Amfac Sugar and Agribusiness, Inc.; Kaanapali Water Corporation; Amfac Agribusiness, Inc.; Kekaha Sugar Company, Limited; The Lihue Plantation Company; Oahu Sugar Company, Limited; Pioneer Mill Company, Limited; Puna Sugar Company, Limited; H. Hackfeld & Co., Ltd.; and Waiahole Irrigation Company, Limited and JMB Realty Corporation, incorporated herein by reference to the Amfac Hawaii, LLC Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 22, 1989 (File No. 33-24180) for the year ended December 31, 1988.
       
    10.2 Waikele Golf Course, LLC - Waikele Country Club, Inc. Property Purchase Agreement, as amended, dated October 29, 2008 filed on an exhibit to the Company's report on Form 10-Q (File No. 0-50273) filed on November 14, 2008 and hereby incorporated by reference.
       
    21. List of Subsidiaries
       
    31.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) is filed herewith.
       
    31.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) is filed herewith.
       
    32. Certifications pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are filed herewith.
       
          (1) Previously filed as exhibits to Amfac Hawaii, LLC's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (as amended) under the Securities Act of 1933 (File No. 33-24180) and hereby incorporated by reference.
       
  (b) No report on Form 8-K was filed since the beginning of the last quarter of the period covered by this report.

 

 

62
Table of Contents

Signatures

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

  Kaanapali Land, LLC
     
  By:

Pacific Trail Holdings, LLC

(Sole Member)

     
    /s/ Gailen J. Hull
  By:

Gailen J. Hull

Senior Vice President

  Date: March 29, 2012

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

     
     
     
    /s/ Gailen J. Hull
  By:

Gailen J. Hull

Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer

and Chief Financial Officer

  Date: March 29, 2012
     
     
     
    /s/ Gary Nickele
  By:

Gary Nickele

President and Chief Executive Officer

  Date: March 29, 2012

 

 

63
Table of Contents