American Commercial Lines Inc. (ACL) announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2007. Revenues for the quarter were $228.2 million, a 15.6 percent increase compared with $197.5m for the first quarter of 2006. Net loss for the quarter was $1.1 million or $0.02 per diluted share, compared to net income of $11.1m or $0.18 per diluted share for the first quarter of 2006. Results for the first quarter of 2007 included debt retirement expenses of $21.7 million on the retirement of the Company’s 9.5 percent
senior notes which reduced earnings per share by $0.22.
The transportation segment’s revenues increased 2.6% over the prior year to $176.1 million in the first quarter, driven by average fuel neutral rate increases of 1.8% on our dry freight business and 16.2% on our liquid freight business compared to the first quarter of 2006. The fuel neutral rate on our dry freight business was impacted by 12% lower spot grain rates. Volume measured in ton-miles declined in the first quarter to 10.2 billion from 10.8 billion in the same period of the prior year, a decrease of 5.3%. On average, 7.0% fewer barges operated in the first quarter of this year compared to the first quarter of last year. Last year’s first quarter volumes were benefited both by favorable weather conditions and carryover grain demand as a result of the 2005 hurricanes.
The manufacturing segment’s revenues, inclusive of barges manufactured for internal use by ACL, were $52.7m in the first quarter compared to $50.5m during the same period last year. No barges were built for internal use in the first quarter of 2007, driving external revenue of $52.1m compared to $25.7m during the first quarter last year.
Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) for the first quarter of 2007 were $35.3 million with an EBITDA margin of 15.5% compared to $34.7 million for the first quarter of 2006 with an EBITDA margin of 17.5%. The attachment to this press release reconciles net income to EBITDA.