ACL Lowers Earnings Guidance, Approves a $200m Stock Buyback Program

American Commercial Lines Inc. (ACL) announced that it is lowering its earnings guidance for the year ending December 31, 2007 to $1.45 to $1.65 in earnings per share for 2007 versus the current street consensus of $1.84. The Company’s previous guidance for 2007 was $1.75 to $1.95. The lowered guidance is driven primarily by the further weakness in the spot grain markets over first quarter levels and lower than planned productivity levels in the manufacturing segment during the second quarter.

Additionally, the company announced that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase program of up to $200 million.

The company also announced that it will conduct a conference call to review and discuss its second quarter financial results on July 26, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. eastern daylight time. ACL is scheduled to release its financial results for the quarter on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 after the close of the financial markets.