American Commercial Lines Announces Results for Quarter and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010


JEFFERSONVILLE, IN--(Marketwire - October 28, 2010) - American Commercial Lines Inc. (NASDAQ: ACLI) ("ACL" or the "Company") today announced results for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2010.

Third Quarter 2010 Results

Revenues for the quarter were $207.3 million, a 0.3% decrease compared with $207.9 million for the third quarter of 2009. Transportation revenues increased by $21.6 million or 15.2% on higher grain pricing and improved sales mix, while manufacturing revenue fell $22.7 million or 35.3% primarily due to lower volumes. The Company's current quarter income from continuing operations of $5.1 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, compared to a loss from continuing operations of $8.8 million or $0.69 per share for the third quarter of 2009. The improved year-over-year quarterly income from continuing operations was driven by stronger transportation segment results and lower interest costs on lower outstanding debt balances, partially offset by lower gains from asset management actions and manufacturing segment results. Results for the third quarter of 2009 included after-tax debt retirement expenses of $11.3 million or $0.89 per share and after-tax manufacturing segment customer contract dispute charges of $1.5 million or $0.12 per share.

Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) from continuing operations for the quarter was $31.7 million with an EBITDA margin of 15.3%, compared to $27.5 million for the third quarter of 2009 with an EBITDA margin of 13.2%. The attachment to this press release reconciles net income to EBITDA.

Commenting on third quarter results, Michael P. Ryan, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "The third quarter's 23.5% comparative improvement in grain pricing, and a modest return of our volumes in bulk commodities and in liquid shipments, helped drive a $10.8 million improvement in our transportation operating income. This improvement also includes $10.1 million in lower net asset management gains than in the prior year quarter. For the last two and a half years we have executed our strategic initiatives, focused on improving our products and services while reducing costs. We have made significant operating improvements resulting in higher efficiency and better products for our customers. In the first three quarters of 2010 we invested in our business while continuing to reduce our debt levels. We continue to be committed to building and maintaining a transportation and manufacturing program which satisfies our customers' needs. We recently announced a merger agreement with an affiliate of Platinum Equity. While this transaction is pending and into the future, we expect to continue to implement our strategic initiatives and remain in a position to provide our shippers with competitive freight transportation options far into the future."

The increase in transportation segment revenues was driven by affreightment revenue which increased $18.3 million or 18.4%. This increase was attributable to 16.7% higher per ton-mile average fuel neutral pricing as a result of an improved mix of commodities shipped and 23.5% higher grain pricing or $7.2 million in incremental grain affreightment revenue, partially offset by an 1.5% overall decline in overall affreightment ton-mile volume. Total affreightment volume measured in ton-miles declined slightly in the third quarter of 2010 to 7.8 billion compared to 7.9 billion in the same period of the prior year. Non-affreightment revenues increased by $3.3 million, or 7.7%, primarily due to higher demurrage, scrapping and charter/day rate revenue. The improved mix of commodities shipped resulted from volume increases in higher revenue per ton-mile liquid affreightment of 16.1% and dry bulk affreightment of 7.4%. This improved mix was partially offset by volume decreases in lower rate coal, which declined 16.1%.

The transportation segment's operating income of $20.7 million in the third quarter of 2010 was an improvement of $10.8 million from the segment's operating income in the third quarter of 2009. The improved results were driven by the higher revenue level and improvement in the operating ratio, the ratio of all expenses to revenue. The operating ratio improved by 5.7 points to 87.3%. The improved ratio was driven by the higher affreightment revenues, consistent operating costs and lower selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") partially offset by lower asset management gains from the scrapping and sale of surplus assets. Asset management gains were $10.1 million lower primarily due to the significant gain on three boats sold in the prior year third quarter. SG&A expenses decreased $4.2 million due primarily to lower salaries and fringe benefits, reductions in new and developed insurance claims, lower bad debts and lower consulting and professional fees, partially offset by higher incentive compensation and medical claims. Despite an increase of 8.6% in per gallon fuel costs and the lower asset management gains in the 2010 quarter, total non-SG&A operating costs as a percent of sales declined by 1.8 points.

Manufacturing revenues were $41.5 million in the third quarter of 2010 compared to $64.2 million in the third quarter of 2009. Seven fewer liquid tank barges and one fewer ocean-going liquid tank barge were sold in the third quarter of 2010 than in the same period of 2009. The revenue impact of the lower number of liquid barges was partially offset by an increase of seven dry hopper barges and 15 deck barges sold in the current year quarter. In the third quarter of 2010 the manufacturing segment sold 60 dry hopper barges, 15 deck barges and two liquid tank barges. There was no delivery of barges for internal use in the current year quarter. The manufacturing segment had an operating loss of $0.6 million in the third quarter of 2010 due to projected contract losses on a forty deck barge contract, driven primarily by labor hours which exceed bid specifications. A $3.3 million loss representing the sum of projected losses on the remaining deck barges and the incurred losses on deck barges completed in the quarter drove the segment's loss, more than offsetting the margin attributable to remaining sales in the quarter.

Results for the Nine Months ended September 30, 2010

Revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 were $519.9 million, a 16.0% decrease compared with $619.1 million for the first nine months of 2009. Manufacturing revenues declined $105.5 million or 61.9%. Transportation revenue increased by $5.6 million or 1.3%. The income from continuing operations of $0.2 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, represented an improvement of $16.4 million compared to a loss from continuing operations of $16.2 million or $1.27 per diluted share for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. The improved results for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to the same period of the prior year were driven by stronger transportation segment results, reduced interest costs on lower outstanding debt balances and the impact of the prior year non-comparable charges discussed below, largely offset by lower manufacturing segment results and lower gains from asset management actions. Asset management gains were $6.5 million lower primarily due to the relative gain on boats sold and differences in barge scrapping activity in each period.

Results for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, included after-tax debt retirement costs of $11.3 million or $0.89 per share, after-tax severance and Houston sales office closure expenses of $3.1 million or $0.24 per share, an after-tax charge of $1.5 million or $0.12 per share for a manufacturing segment customer dispute and an after tax charge of $0.4 million or $0.04 per share related to a customer's bankruptcy filing. EBITDA from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was $65.9 million with an EBITDA margin of 12.7%, compared to $62.6 million with an EBITDA margin of 10.1% for the comparable nine month period in 2009.

The $21.6 million increase in transportation segment revenues in the three months ended September 30, 2010, drove transportation segment revenues $5.6 million higher than the nine months ended September 30, 2009. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, affreightment revenues increased $12.0 million or 3.9% and non-affreightment revenues decreased $6.4 million or 4.7%. The decrease in non-affreightment was primarily due to lower towing and demurrage revenue. The increase in affreightment revenue was due to an 11.7% improvement in fuel neutral rate per ton mile due to improved sales mix and 6.8% higher grain pricing, partially offset by a 10.2% decline in ton-mile volumes. The improved sales mix resulted from volume increases in the higher rate per ton mile liquids and dry bulk markets of 17.2% and 3.1%, respectively, while volumes decreased in our lower rate grain and coal markets by 15.0% and 23.3%, respectively. Total affreightment ton-miles declined to 22.5 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared to 25.0 billion in the prior year period, due to the 3.0 billion ton-mile decline in grain and coal.

The transportation segment's operating income of $30.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2010, was an improvement of $27.4 million from the segment's operating income in the nine months ended September 30, 2009. The improved results were driven by an improvement in the operating ratio, of 6.0 points to 93.2%, primarily due to higher affreightment revenues, cost controls related to SG&A and other operating costs, as well as the impact of the non-comparable 2009 charges. SG&A expenses decreased primarily due to reasons enumerated in the quarterly discussion above. Despite increases in per gallon fuel costs and the lower asset management gains, total non-SG&A operating costs as a percent of sales declined by 1.7 points.

Manufacturing revenues were $64.8 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared to $170.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2009 due primarily to three fewer dry hoppers and 32 fewer liquid tank barges, one fewer ocean-going tank barge sold in the current year period, partially offset by 15 more deck barges sold in the current year. The manufacturing segment had an operating loss of $0.6 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2010, primarily driven by the projected and incurred losses on a forty deck barge contract discussed in the quarterly discussion above. These costs and the costs related to the month-long labor stoppage in April 2010 more than offset the margin attributable to remaining sales in the nine months ended September 30, 2010. In the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the manufacturing segment's operating margin was 11.1% with $18.8 million of operating income driven by the higher level of external sales in that period.

Cash Flow

Total availability under the Company's revolving facility was approximately $235 million at September 30, 2010. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010 ACL had $37.6 million of capital expenditures primarily related to $22.4 million in costs for internal builds of new dry covered barges. The Company generated $7.3 million in proceeds primarily from surplus boat sales and received grant funding of $2.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The grant reimbursement was for a manufacturing segment capital project completed in 2009. The Company generated $42.4 million in cash from operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared to $83.8 million in the prior year with the change driven primarily by the changes in receivables, inventory and accounts payable in the respective periods. The current year increase in working capital uses of cash resulted from differences in the production cycle in our manufacturing segment between years. Higher sales in the current year have also increased accounts receivable, which was a significant source of working capital in the prior year. The Company expects that uses of cash for working capital will be essentially neutral in 2010 full-year.

Tax Rate

Our effective income tax rate for the third quarter of 2010 and 2009, before the impact of certain discrete items, was approximately 39% and 36%, respectively. Our effective tax rate is subject to change based on the mix of income from different state jurisdictions, which tax at different rates, as well as the occurrence of other discrete events during the quarter. We evaluate our effective rate on a quarterly basis and update our estimate of the full-year effective rate as necessary. Including the impact of the third quarter discrete items we expect our full year tax rate to be approximately 43% due to the significance of permanent differences to expected pre-tax book income and to other discrete items.

Other Items

Following the quarter, on October 18, 2010, ACL entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") to be acquired by an affiliate of Platinum Equity, LLC. ("Platinum"). Under the terms of the agreement, ACL stockholders, other than GVI Holdings, Inc. and certain of its affiliates ("GVI"), will receive $33.00 in cash for each share of ACL common stock they hold. GVI will receive $31.25 in cash for each share of ACL common stock it holds if the transaction closes before December 31, 2010 and $33.00 per share thereafter. GVI has entered into a Voting Agreement to support the transaction. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the expiration or earlier termination of the Hart-Scott Rodino waiting period and the approval of ACL's stockholders, but is not subject to any condition with regard to the financing of the transaction. Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, ACL may solicit alternative acquisition proposals from third parties for a period of 40 calendar days continuing through November 27, 2010.

Where to Find Additional Information

In connection with the proposed transaction, American Commercial Lines Inc. will file or furnish relevant documents, including a definitive proxy statement, concerning the proposed transaction with the SEC. Investors and stockholders of American Commercial Lines Inc. are urged to read the proxy statement and other relevant materials when they become available because they will contain important information about American Commercial Lines Inc. and the proposed transaction. The final proxy statement will be mailed to the company's stockholders. Investors and stockholders may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement and any other relevant documents filed or furnished by American Commercial Lines Inc. with the SEC (when available) at the SEC's Web site at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and stockholders may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by American Commercial Lines Inc. by contacting American Commercial Lines Inc. by e-mail at aclinesinvestor@aclines.com or by phone at 800-842-5491 or by going to the investor relations portion of American Commercial Lines Inc.'s website, www.aclines.com.

American Commercial Lines Inc. and its directors and certain executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from American Commercial Lines Inc. stockholders in respect of the proposed transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of American Commercial Lines Inc. and their respective interests in American Commercial Lines Inc. by security holdings or otherwise is set forth in its proxy statement for the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 16, 2010 and its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, which was filed with the SEC on March 10, 2010. Stockholders may obtain additional information regarding the interests of American Commercial Lines Inc. and its directors and executive officers in the merger, which may be different than those of the Company's stockholders generally, by reading the definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents regarding the merger, when filed with the SEC. Each of these documents is, or will be, available as described above.

Third Quarter 2010 Earnings Conference Call

ACL will conduct a conference call to discuss the Company's quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2010 earnings on October 28, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. ACL's live webcast, featuring a slide presentation, may be accessed at www.aclines.com. The telephone numbers to access the conference call are: Domestic (800) 844-5695 International (617) 786-2960 and the Participant Passcode is 46294907. For those unable to participate in the live call or webcast, the ACL Conference Call will be archived at http://www.aclines.com within three hours of the conclusion of the live call and will remain available through December 28, 2010. Following this date, the slide presentation will remain archived at www.aclines.com.

American Commercial Lines Inc., headquartered in Jeffersonville, Indiana, is an integrated marine transportation and service company operating in the United States Jones Act trades, with approximately $850 million in revenues and approximately 2,570 employees as of December 31, 2009. For more information about American Commercial Lines Inc. visit www.aclines.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on management's present expectations and beliefs about future events. As with any projection or forecast, these statements are inherently susceptible to risks, uncertainty and changes in circumstance. Important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements and should be considered in evaluating the outlook of American Commercial Lines Inc. Risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in American Commercial Lines Inc.'s filings with the SEC, including our report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and our most recent Form 10-Q. American Commercial Lines Inc. is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of changes, new information, subsequent events or otherwise.

                     AMERICAN COMMERCIAL LINES INC.
            CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
      (Dollars in thousands, except shares and per share amounts)
                              (Unaudited)


                                 Quarter Ended        Nine Months Ended
                                   Sept. 30,               Sept. 30,
                            ----------------------  ----------------------
                               2010        2009        2010        2009
                            ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------

Revenues
   Transportation and
    Services                $  165,762  $  143,690  $  455,038  $  448,768
   Manufacturing                41,524      64,198      64,845     170,348
                            ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
        Revenues               207,286     207,888     519,883     619,116
                            ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------

Cost of Sales
   Transportation and
    Services                   133,529     118,359     391,826     393,744
   Manufacturing                41,486      57,172      63,480     147,497
                            ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
        Cost of Sales          175,015     175,531     455,306     541,241
                            ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------

Gross Profit                    32,271      32,357      64,577      77,875

Selling, General and
 Administrative Expenses        11,989      18,300      34,174      55,592

                            ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Operating Income                20,282      14,057      30,403      22,283
                            ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------

Other Expense (Income)
   Interest Expense              9,815      10,470      29,434      30,803
   Debt Retirement Expenses          -      17,659           -      17,659
   Other, Net                     (181)       (364)       (342)       (851)
                            ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
        Other Expense            9,634      27,765      29,092      47,611
                            ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------

Income (Loss) from
 Continuing Operations
 before Income Taxes            10,648     (13,708)      1,311     (25,328)

Income Taxes (Benefit)           5,583      (4,940)      1,089      (9,149)
                            ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------

Income (Loss) from
 Continuing Operations           5,065      (8,768)        222     (16,179)

Discontinued Operations,
 Net of  Tax                         -      (3,404)         (2)     (5,219)

                            ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Net Income (Loss)           $    5,065  $  (12,172) $      220  $  (21,398)
                            ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========

Basic earnings (loss) per
 common share:
  Earnings (loss) from
   continuing operations    $     0.39  $    (0.69) $     0.02  $    (1.27)
  Loss from discontinued
   operations, net of tax            -       (0.27)          -       (0.41)
                            ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Basic loss per common share $     0.39  $    (0.96) $     0.02  $    (1.68)
                            ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========
Earnings (loss) per common
 share - assuming dilution:
  Earnings (loss) from
   continuing operations    $     0.39  $    (0.69) $     0.02  $    (1.27)
  Loss from discontinued
   operations, net of tax            -       (0.27)          -       (0.41)
                            ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
Earnings (loss) per common
 share - assuming dilution  $     0.39  $    (0.96) $     0.02  $    (1.68)
                            ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========
Weighted Average Shares
 Outstanding:
Basic                       12,836,041  12,715,120  12,802,889  12,705,308
Diluted                     13,155,083  12,715,120  13,011,214  12,705,308





                      AMERICAN COMMERCIAL LINES INC.
                  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
      (Dollars in thousands, except shares and per share amounts)

                                              September 30,  December 31,
                                                  2010          2009 (1)
                                              -------------  -------------

                            ASSETS
Current Assets
   Cash and Cash Equivalents                  $      10,341  $       1,198
   Accounts Receivable, Net                          78,445         93,295
   Inventory                                         47,790         39,070
   Deferred Tax Asset                                 3,360          3,791
   Assets Held for Sale                               1,703          3,531
   Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets         32,893         23,879
                                              -------------  -------------
      Total Current Assets                          174,532        164,764
Properties, Net                                     518,922        521,068
Investment in Equity Investees                        4,641          4,522
Other Assets                                         29,272         33,536
                                              -------------  -------------
      Total Assets                            $     727,367  $     723,890
                                              =============  =============

                        LIABILITIES
Current Liabilities
   Accounts Payable                           $      33,659  $      34,163
   Accrued Payroll and Fringe Benefits               19,722         18,283
   Deferred Revenue                                  16,845         13,928
   Accrued Claims and Insurance Premiums             12,175         16,947
   Accrued Interest                                   5,929         13,098
   Current Portion of Long Term Debt                      -            114
   Customer Deposits                                    250          1,309
   Other Liabilities                                 24,529         31,825
                                              -------------  -------------
      Total Current Liabilities                     113,109        129,667
Long Term Debt                                      344,788        345,419
Pension and Post Retirement Liabilities              32,490         31,514
Deferred Tax Liability                               59,259         40,133
Other Long Term Liabilities                           6,270          6,567
                                              -------------  -------------
      Total Liabilities                             555,916        553,300
                                              -------------  -------------


                     STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock; authorized 50,000,000 shares at
 $.01 par value; 16,052,025 and 15,898,596
 shares issued and outstanding as of
 September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009,
 respectively                                           160            159
Treasury Stock; 3,210,897 and 3,179,274
 shares at September 30, 2010 and
 December 31, 2009, respectively                   (314,049)      (313,328)
Other Capital                                       301,882        299,486
Retained Earnings                                   184,082        183,862
Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income          (624)           411
                                              -------------  -------------
           Total Stockholders' Equity               171,451        170,590
                                              -------------  -------------
           Total Liabilities and Stockholders'
            Equity                            $     727,367  $     723,890
                                              =============  =============

(1) The Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2009 has been derived
from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date, but does
not included all the information and footnotes required by generally
accepted accounting principles.




                         AMERICAN COMMERCIAL LINES INC.
                      NET INCOME TO EBITDA RECONCILIATION
                            (Dollars in thousands)
                                  (Unaudited)

                                   Quarter Ended       Nine Months Ended
                                      Sept. 30,             Sept. 30,
                                --------------------  --------------------
                                   2010       2009       2010       2009
                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------

Net Income (Loss) from
 Continuing Operations          $   5,065  $  (8,768) $     222  $ (16,179)
Discontinued Operations,
 Net of Income Taxes                    -     (3,404)        (2)    (5,219)
                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Consolidated Net Income (Loss)  $   5,065  $ (12,172) $     220  $ (21,398)
                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Adjustments from Continuing
 Operations:
   Interest Income                      -         (1)        (1)       (12)
   Interest Expense                 9,815     10,470     29,434     30,803
   Debt Retirement Expenses             -     17,659          -     17,659
   Depreciation and
    Amortization                   11,207     13,042     35,118     39,515
   Taxes                            5,583     (4,940)     1,089     (9,149)
Adjustments from Discontinued
 Operations:
   Interest Income                      -          -          -         (1)
   Interest Expense                     -         10          -         30
   Depreciation and
    Amortization                        -        348          -      1,149
   Taxes                                -     (2,051)         -     (2,883)

EBITDA from Continuing
 Operations                        31,670     27,462     65,862     62,637
EBITDA from Discontinued
 Operations                             -     (5,097)        (2)    (6,924)
                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Consolidated EBITDA             $  31,670  $  22,365  $  65,860  $  55,713
                                =========  =========  =========  =========

EBITDA from Continuing
 Operations by Segment:
Transportation Net Income
 (Loss)                         $   5,527  $ (12,960) $     553  $ (35,229)
   Interest Income                      -         (1)        (1)       (12)
   Interest Expense                 9,815     10,470     29,434     30,803
   Debt Retirement Expenses             -     17,659          -     17,659
   Depreciation and Amortization   10,294     12,068     32,368     36,622
   Taxes                            5,583     (4,940)     1,089     (9,170)
                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Transportation EBITDA           $  31,219  $  22,296  $  63,443  $  40,673
                                =========  =========  =========  =========

Manufacturing Net (Loss) Income $    (596) $   4,224  $    (582) $  18,972
   Depreciation and Amortization      829        891      2,498      2,642
                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Total Manufacturing EBITDA            233      5,115      1,916     21,614
   Intersegment Profit                  -          -          -          -
                                ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
External Manufacturing EBITDA   $     233  $   5,115  $   1,916  $  21,614
                                =========  =========  =========  =========

Management considers EBITDA to be a meaningful indicator of operating performance and uses it as a measure to assess the operating performance of the Company's business segments. EBITDA provides us with an understanding of one aspect of earnings before the impact of investing and financing transactions and income taxes. EBITDA should not be construed as a substitute for net income or as a better measure of liquidity than cash flow from operating activities, which is determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). EBITDA excludes components that are significant in understanding and assessing our results of operations and cash flows. In addition, EBITDA is not a term defined by GAAP and as a result our measure of EBITDA might not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

However, the Company believes that EBITDA is relevant and useful information, which is often reported and widely used by analysts, investors and other interested parties in our industry. Accordingly, the Company is disclosing this information to permit a more comprehensive analysis of its operating performance.

                      AMERICAN COMMERCIAL LINES INC.
          Statement of Operating Income by Reportable Segment
                         (Dollars in thousands)
                               (Unaudited)


                     Reportable Segments               Inter-
                     --------------------              segment
                     Transpor-  Manufact-  All Other   Elimi-
                      tation      uring    Segments    nation      Total
                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Quarter ended
 September 30, 2010
Total revenue        $ 163,868  $  41,617  $   2,076  $    (275) $ 207,286
Intersegment
 revenues                  182         93          -       (275)         -
                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Revenue from
 external customers    163,686     41,524      2,076          -    207,286
Operating expense
   Materials,
    supplies and
    other               57,229          -          -          -     57,229
   Rent                  5,182          -          -          -      5,182
   Labor and fringe
    benefits            31,430          -          -          -     31,430
   Fuel                 29,726          -          -          -     29,726
   Depreciation and
    amortization        10,294          -          -          -     10,294
   Taxes, other than
    income taxes         2,612          -          -          -      2,612
   Loss on
    disposition of
    equipment           (3,764)         -          -          -     (3,764)
   Cost of goods sold        -     41,486        820          -     42,306
                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
      Total cost
       of sales        132,709     41,486        820          -    175,015
   Selling, general &
    administrative      10,232        635      1,122          -     11,989
                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
      Total operating
       expenses        142,941     42,121      1,942          -    187,004
                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Operating income
 (loss)              $  20,745  $    (597) $     134  $       -  $  20,282
                     =========  =========  =========  =========  =========

Quarter ended
 September 30, 2009
Total revenue        $ 142,231  $  68,304  $   1,575  $  (4,222) $ 207,888
Intersegment
 revenues                  106      4,106         10     (4,222)         -
                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Revenue from
 external customers    142,125     64,198      1,565          -    207,888
Operating expense
   Materials,
    supplies and
    other               58,939          -          -          -     58,939
   Rent                  5,379          -          -          -      5,379
   Labor and fringe
    benefits            28,249          -          -          -     28,249
   Fuel                 28,134          -          -          -     28,134
   Depreciation and
    amortization        12,068          -          -          -     12,068
   Taxes, other than
    income taxes         3,329          -          -          -      3,329
   Gain on
    disposition of
    equipment         (18,333)         -          -          -    (18,333)
   Cost of goods sold       -     57,172        594          -     57,766
                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
      Total cost
       of sales        117,765     57,172        594          -    175,531
   Selling, general &
    administrative      14,444      2,853      1,003          -     18,300
                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
      Total operating
       expenses        132,209     60,025      1,597          -    193,831
                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Operating income
 (loss)              $   9,916  $   4,173  $     (32) $       -  $  14,057
                     =========  =========  =========  =========  =========




                            AMERICAN COMMERCIAL LINES INC.
                Statement of Operating Income by Reportable Segment
                               (Dollars in thousands)
                                    (Unaudited)

                     Reportable Segments               Inter-
                     --------------------              segment
                     Transpor-  Manufact-  All Other   Elimi-
                      tation      uring    Segments    nation      Total
                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Nine Months ended
 September 30, 2010
Total revenue        $ 449,510  $  86,117  $   6,032  $ (21,776) $ 519,883
Intersegment
 revenues                  504     21,272          -    (21,776)         -
                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Revenue from
 external customers    449,006     64,845      6,032          -    519,883
Operating expense
   Materials,
    supplies and
    other              159,652          -          -          -    159,652
   Rent                 15,571          -          -          -     15,571
   Labor and fringe
    benefits            91,507          -          -          -     91,507
   Fuel                 88,735          -          -          -     88,735
   Depreciation and
    amortization        32,368          -          -          -     32,368
   Taxes, other than
    income taxes         8,946          -          -          -      8,946
   Gain on
    disposition of
    equipment           (7,357)         -          -          -     (7,357)
   Cost of goods sold        -     63,480      2,404          -     65,884
                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
      Total cost
       of sales        389,422     63,480      2,404          -    455,306
   Selling, general &
    administrative      28,873      1,924      3,377          -     34,174
                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
      Total operating
       expenses        418,295     65,404      5,781          -    489,480
                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Operating income
 (loss)              $  30,711  $    (559) $     251  $       -  $  30,403
                     =========  =========  =========  =========  =========

Nine Months ended
 September 30, 2009
Total revenue        $ 443,690  $ 184,159  $   5,462  $ (14,195) $ 619,116
Intersegment
 revenues                  297     13,811         87    (14,195)         -
                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Revenue from
 external customers    443,393    170,348      5,375          -    619,116
Operating expense
   Materials,
    supplies and
    other              170,440          -          -          -    170,440
   Rent                 16,334          -          -          -     16,334
   Labor and fringe
    benefits            86,492          -          -          -     86,492
   Fuel                 92,052          -          -          -     92,052
   Depreciation and
    amortization        36,622          -          -          -     36,622
   Taxes, other than
    income taxes        10,508          -          -          -     10,508
   Gain on
    disposition of
    equipment          (20,630)         -          -          -    (20,630)
   Cost of goods sold        -    147,497      1,926          -    149,423
                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
      Total cost
       of sales        391,818    147,497      1,926          -    541,241
   Selling, general &
    administrative      48,233      4,008      3,351          -     55,592
                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
      Total operating
       expenses        440,051    151,505      5,277          -    596,833
                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Operating income     $   3,342  $  18,843  $      98  $       -  $  22,283
                     =========  =========  =========  =========  =========




                      AMERICAN COMMERCIAL LINES INC.
                SELECTED FINANCIAL AND NONFINANCIAL DATA
                (Dollars in thousands except where noted)
                               (Unaudited)


                                       Quarter Ended     Nine Months Ended
                                         Sept. 30,           Sept. 30,
                                    ------------------- -------------------
                                       2010      2009      2010      2009
                                    --------- --------- --------- ---------

Consolidated EBITDA                 $  31,670 $  22,365 $  65,860 $  55,713


Transportation Revenue and EBITDA
Revenue                             $ 163,686 $ 142,125 $ 449,006 $ 443,393
EBITDA                                 31,219    22,296    63,443    40,673


Manufacturing Revenue and EBITDA
 (External and Internal)
Revenue                             $  41,617 $  68,304 $  86,117 $ 184,159
EBITDA                                    233     5,115     1,916    21,614


Manufacturing External Revenue
 and EBITDA
Revenue                             $  41,524 $  64,198 $  64,845 $ 170,348
EBITDA                                    233     5,115     1,916    21,614




Average Domestic Barges Operated
    Dry                                 2,109     2,173     2,116     2,209
    Liquid                                332       367       344       376
                                    --------- --------- --------- ---------
    Total                               2,441     2,540     2,460     2,585
                                    ========= ========= ========= =========

Fuel Price (Average Dollars per
 gallon)                            $    2.19 $    2.01 $    2.16 $    1.95

Capital Expenditures (including
 software)                          $  15,843 $   6,754 $  38,039 $  20,160

Management considers EBITDA to be a meaningful indicator of operating performance and uses it as a measure to assess the operating performance of the Company's business segments. EBITDA provides us with an understanding of the Company's revenues before the impact of investing and financing transactions and income taxes. EBITDA should not be construed as a substitute for net income or as a better measure of liquidity than cash flow from operating activities, which is determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). EBITDA excludes components that are significant in understanding and assessing our results of operations and cash flows. In addition, EBITDA is not a term defined by GAAP and as a result our measure of EBITDA might not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

However, the Company believes that EBITDA is relevant and useful information, which is often reported and widely used by analysts, investors and other interested parties in our industry. Accordingly, the Company is disclosing this information to permit a more comprehensive analysis of its operating performance.

Contact Information: Contact: David T. Parker Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications (800) 842-5491