Joseph D. Rupp
Management
Thank you. Good morning, and thank you for joining us today. With me this morning are John Fischer, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; John McIntosh, Vice President and President of our Chlor Alkali Products Business; and Larry Kromidas, our Assistant Treasurer and Director of Investor Relations. Last night we announced that net income in the second quarter of 2009 was $27.8 million or 36 cents per diluted share, compared to $35.5 million or 47 cents per diluted share in the second quarter of 2008. During the second quarter of 2009, the Winchester business achieved the highest level of quarterly sales and earnings in the history of the business. These results reflect the continuation of the stronger-than-normal demand that began in the fourth quarter of 2008. Winchester earnings doubled in the second quarter of 2009 compared to the second quarter of 2008, driven by commercial sales, which increased 33% year over year. Chlor alkali earnings declined 32% in the second quarter of 2009 compared to the second quarter of 2008. This decline reflects lower shipment volumes of both chlorine and caustic soda, which declined 32% year over year. ECU netbacks in the second quarter of 2009 declined slightly compared to the second quarter of 2008. The second quarter 2009 chlor alkali operating rate was 70%, which was slightly improved from the first quarter 2009 rate of 65%, but well below the second quarter of 2008 rate of 89%. Third quarter 2009 earnings per share are forecast to be in the 20 cents per diluted share range. This forecast includes an anticipated $44 million pretax recovery of environmental costs incurred and expensed in prior periods. The combination of the precipitous decline in caustic soda prices and the continuation of weak demand will likely result in a third quarter segment loss in…