BUSINESS BRIEFS
Maui Pine names Webber as COO
Advertiser Staff & News Services
Maui Land & Pineapple Co. announced the appointment of Robert Webber as chief operating officer and executive vice president.
Webber will assume direct operational responsibility for ML&P's two principal operating units: Maui Pineapple Co. and Kapalua Land Co. He will continue to serve as chief financial officer for the company.
"Rob has been an exceptional CFO for Maui Land & Pineapple Company," said David C. Cole, ML&P's chairman, president and chief executive officer.
In his new role, Webber will continue to supervise resort operations, finance, marketing and other corporate services, as well as the company's agriculture and business development initiatives.
Previously, Webber served as the president and CEO of two publicly held technology firms in Southern California and worked in the agriculture and resort industries as a consultant for McKinsey & Company Inc. He received a law degree from Columbia Law School and a master's in business administration from Harvard Business School.
GO! TRAFFIC UP IN FEBRUARY FROM '07
Interisland carrier go! said its planes were 65.9 percent full in February.
The discount airline said last month's load factor increased from 60.5 percent in the year-earlier month.
go! said its preliminary figures also show that it flew 50,090 passengers in February.
Shares of Mesa Air Group Inc., the Arizona-based parent of go!, rose 7 cents to close at $2.64 yesterday on the Nasdaq Stock Market.
HOKU WINS 2-MONTH FINANCING DELAY
Hoku Scientific Inc., which makes solar-power products, said it has amended its supply contract with a unit of German solar power company Solar-Fabrik AG, extending the date by which Hoku must secure funding for its planned polysilicon plant.
Under terms of the amendment, either party may terminate the supply agreement if Hoku has not secured financing for the plant by May 31, 2008, a two-month extension from the previous deadline.
Hoku signed a nonbinding financing agreement with Merrill Lynch in December for up to $185 million for the construction and startup of its planned polysilicon plant. However, the company needs to secure $35 million in cash before receiving the Merrill funds.
Hoku raised additional capital when it completed a private placement of $25 million of its common stock to institutional investors and a subsidiary of Suntech Power Holdings Co. in February.
Hoku shares fell 2 cents to close at $9.38 on the Nasdaq Stock Market.
SMALL-BUSINESS NETWORK OFFERS HELP
The Hawai'i Small Business Development Center Network will offer free consultation sessions to small business owners and people looking to start a business from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Central Pacific Bank's Pearl Highlands branch.
SBDC Honolulu director Caroline Kim will be available to discuss business planning, loans and other funding opportunities, buying or selling a business, marketing, and other subjects crucial to running a business. Appointments for a two-hour confidential session are recommended.
For information and to schedule an appointment, call Mary Dale at 541-2990, ext. 211, or e-mail her at mary.dale@sba.gov.
