CAMDEN, N.Y. — International Wire Group (ITWG) has announced results for the second quarter and first six months ended June 30. Second quarter results were significantly below second quarter 2008 levels due to continuing recessionary conditions in the U.S. and Europe. As a result, operating income, income from continuing operations and net income/(loss) for the three months ended June 30, decreased from second quarter 2008 levels. Results for the first six months of 2009 also decreased from the comparable period of 2008, driven primarily by lower sales volume and plant utilization.

“In the second quarter, our operating results were again impacted by lower customer demand and reduced production levels despite significant cost-reduction initiatives. Sales demand was lower across all major products, and markets were impacted by weak end-user demand and industry-wide conditions,” said Rodney Kent, chief executive officer of International Wire Group. “We continue to adjust our cost structure and capacity as well as inventory levels in response to the reduced sales demand. Despite the weak operating results, we reduced debt levels and strengthened our balance sheet and have over $73 million of liquidity as of June 30, 2009.”

Second Quarter Results
Net sales for the quarter ended June 30, were $102 million, a $97.9 million, or 49 percent, decrease from net sales of $199.9 million for the same period in 2008. This decrease was primarily due to a lower selling price of copper, decreased volume, lower customer pricing/mix (including silver, nickel and tin prices), and the impact of a stronger U.S. dollar versus the euro. The sales decrease was partially offset by a lower proportion of tolled copper (customer-owned copper, the value of which is excluded from net sales and cost of sales) shipped in the 2009 period compared to the 2008 period. Excluding the effects of lower copper prices and a lower proportion of tolled copper shipped, net sales decreased $64.7 million, or 38.8 percent, versus the prior year. This decrease resulted from $60.6 million of lower volume (despite $2.3 million in the 2009 period contributed by the Global Wire acquisition), $1.4 million of lower customer pricing/mix and $2.7 million of unfavorable currency effect in the Europe segment. Total pounds of product sold in the second quarter of 2009 declined by 33.1 percent compared to the second quarter of 2008.

Operating income for the three months ended June 30, was $1.3 million compared to $10.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2008, a decrease of $9.6 million, or 88.1 percent, primarily due to lower sales volume in all three business segments partially offset by operating cost reductions and lower selling, general and administrative expenses. Operating income for the Bare Wire segment of $2.5 million was $3 million, or 54.5 percent, lower than $5.5 million in the comparable 2008 period, primarily due to decreased sales volume. Operating loss for the High Performance Conductors segment of $0.8 million was $4.6 million lower than operating income of $3.8 million for the 2008 period due to a combination of reduced sales volume, lower customer pricing/mix, higher medical costs, lower plant utilization and higher depreciation. Operating loss for the Europe segment was $0.2 million, a decrease of $2 million from operating income of $1.8 million in the 2008 period as a result of decreased sales volume to all major markets, lower customer pricing/mix and an unfavorable currency exchange impact.

Net loss was $0.9 million, or 9 cents per basic and diluted share for the three months ended June 30, compared to net income of $5.6 million, or 56 cents per basic share and 54 cents per diluted share, for the three months ended June 30, 2008, due primarily to lower operating income.

Six Month Results
Net sales for the six months ended June 30, were $203.3 million, a decrease of $203.1 million, or 50 percent, below comparable 2008 levels. Sales declined due to a decrease in the selling price of copper, reduced volume, lower customer pricing/mix (including silver, nickel and tin prices) and an unfavorable currency exchange rate. These factors were partially offset by a lower proportion of tolled copper shipped in the 2009 period compared to the 2008 period. Excluding the effects of lower copper prices and a lower proportion of tolled copper business, net sales decreased $127.1 million, or 38.5 percent, versus the prior year. This decrease resulted from $117.2 million of reduced volume (despite $6.7 million in the 2009 period contributed by the Global Wire acquisition), $4.6 million of lower customer pricing/mix and $5.3 million of unfavorable currency effect in the Europe segment. Total pounds of product sold in the first six months of 2009 declined by 32.3 percent compared to the first six months of 2008.

Operating income for the six months ended June 30, was $5 million compared to $24.3 million for the 2008 period, or a decrease of $19.3 million, or 79.4 percent, with declines in all three business segments. Operating income for the Bare Wire segment of $4.8 million decreased by $8.1 million, or 62.8 percent, primarily from decreased sales volume, lower plant utilization and higher depreciation which were partially offset by higher customer pricing/mix, operating cost reductions and lower selling, general and administrative expenses. Operating income for the High Performance Conductors segment of $1 million decreased by $7.2 million, or 87.8 percent, due to lower sales volume and plant utilization, reduced customer pricing/mix and higher medical costs in the second quarter. Operating loss for the Europe segment of $0.3 million decreased by $3.9 million from operating income in the 2008 period of $3.6 million due to decreased sales volume, lower customer pricing/mix and an unfavorable currency exchange impact.

Net income of $0.1 million, or 1 cent per basic and diluted share, for the six months ended June 30, was lower than net income in the 2008 period of $12.8 million, or $1.29 per basic share and $1.25 per diluted share, primarily due to lower operating income.

Net debt (total debt less cash) was $73 million as of June 30 representing an $8.2 million decrease in the second quarter and an $8 million decrease from Dec. 31, 2008, levels primarily as the result of lower working capital requirements.