American Commercial Lines Inc. (ACLI)

American Commercial Lines, Inc. (ACL) operates as a marine transportation and service company in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Transportation and Manufacturing. The Transportation segment provides dry cargo barge transportation and liquid cargo barge transportation on the United States Inland Waterways consisting of the Mississippi River System, its connecting waterways, and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. This segment primarily serves industrial and agricultural companies transporting a range of bulk and non-bulk commodities, such as grain, steel, coal, salt, alumina, fertilizers, cement, ferro alloys, ore, gypsum, chemicals, petroleum, ethanol, edible oils, and other liquid commodities. As of December 31, 2007, ACL’s transportation fleet comprised 2,828 barges, including 2,074 covered dry cargo barges, 366 open dry cargo barges, and 388 tank barges, as well as 137 company-owned towboats and 25 additional towboats operated by third parties. The Manufacturing segment designs and manufactures barges and other vessels for inland river service for third-party customers. It also manufactures equipment for coastal and offshore markets. In addition, this segment provides dry-docking capabilities and machine shop facilities for repair and storage of towboat propellers, rudders, and shafts. ACL also offers marine design and manufacturing capabilities for both inland and ocean service vessels. Further, the company provides architecture, engineering, and production support services to customers in the commercial marine industry, as well as provides fleeting, shifting, cleaning, and repair services for barges and towboats of third-party customers. American Commercial Lines was founded in 1915 and is based in Jeffersonville, Indiana.

For the thirty nine weeks ended 30 September 2006, American Commercial Lines Inc.'s revenues increased 38% to $676.7M. Net income from continuing operations totaled $54.6M, up from $2.7M. Revenues reflect increased sales from Transportation segment driven in part by fuel neutral rate increase on the dry freight business and on the liquid freight business. Net income also reflects improved gross margins and lower interest expense.