Mr. McBrayer continued, “The plant downtime we took for planned maintenance during the quarter positions us well for the expected higher production rates evident with our backlog growth. The extended outages of some of our key equipment further emphasize the importance of the plant modernization capital projects we have underway to further reduce our cost structure. As we look to the future, our recently announced pricing actions should help improve our margins and the increase in the backlog for the Forged and Cast Engineered Products segment points to top-line growth in 2022.”
Investment-related income for the three months ended September 30, 2021, declined compared to the prior year due to the timing of dividend income recorded one quarter earlier this year, but is approximately comparable year-to-date. Interest expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, declined in comparison to the prior year based on reduced debt. Other – net improved for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, due to higher pension income and gains on foreign exchange transactions in the current quarter and fewer losses year-to-date.
The income tax provision for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, includes an unusual expense of $0.4 million, or $0.02 per common share, for the revaluation of certain deferred income tax liabilities for a future tax rate change enacted in the U.K. during the second. The income tax benefit for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, includes a benefit of $3.5 million due to expanded tax loss carryback provisions made possible by the CARES Act.
Basic loss per share was $0.08 and $0.02 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively. This compares to earnings of $0.07 and $0.45 per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively. Basic earnings per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, included a $0.34 per share combined benefit for the CARES Act tax loss carryback and the insurance recovery.
Segment Results
Forged and Cast Engineered Products
Sales for the Forged and Cast Engineered Products segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, improved from the prior year period primarily due to higher sales of forged engineered products to the oil and gas and steel distribution markets and higher sales of cast rolls for hot strip mills.
Operating results for the three months ended September 30, 2021, declined compared to the prior year primarily due to under-recovery of the inflationary effects of production costs as well as higher maintenance spending associated with extended machine outages, which more than offset the effect of higher sales and improved absorption from higher production levels. For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the decline additionally reflects an insurance recovery of $0.8 million received in the prior year.
Air and Liquid Processing
Sales for the Air and Liquid Processing segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, declined slightly compared to the prior year due to delays in availability of trucking and certain parts due to supply chain issues, but operating results were comparable due to higher pricing and productivity improvements.