Ball Reaffirms Leadership Position on Dow Jones Sustainability Index

BROOMFIELD, Colo., Sept. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second consecutive year, the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI World) and Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America (DJSI NA) list Ball Corporation (NYSE: BLL) as an industry leader in sustainability. Ball took first place in the Containers and Packaging category once again and remains the only company in its sector to be featured in both indices.

"The Dow Jones recognition is important to us and we're thrilled to be listed again this year," said John A. Hayes, chairman, president and CEO. "Sustainability is a fundamental part of Ball's Drive for 10 vision and we've made great strides toward our ambitious goals over the years. Our exceptionally high scores in customer relationship management and product stewardship, and significant improvements in talent attraction and retention – all which are integral in our business strategies – highlight our efforts to engrain sustainability into everything we do. Congratulations to each of our employees around the world, as their engagement continues to make Ball a more successful, sustainable company."

S&P Dow Jones Indices and RobecoSAM, an investment specialist focused exclusively on sustainability investing, today announced the results of the annual DJSI review. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the DJSI. The assessment is based on an extensive review of financially material economic, environmental, and social factors. The assessment methodology is adapted each year to better reflect recent trends in corporate sustainability management and capture the sustainability performance of companies. Ball's ongoing improvements in corporate sustainability management and reporting, advancement in operational excellence and efficiency, talent management and its sustainable sourcing program all contributed to its positive assessment results.

Various third parties recently have recognized Ball's sustainability successes. In June, Newsweek, in partnership with Corporate Knights Capital and leading sustainability experts, ranked Ball third among the 500 largest U.S. companies on overall environmental performance. Ball also has been listed in the international FTSE4Good index for five consecutive years and is included in the MSCI Global Sustainability Indexes, the STOXX Global ESG Leader Indices and the Euronext Vigeo US 50 index.

For more information on Ball's sustainability efforts and an overview of all external assessments, please visit www.ball.com/sustainability.

About Ball Corporation
Ball Corporation supplies innovative, sustainable packaging solutions for beverage, food and household products customers, as well as aerospace and other technologies and services primarily for the U.S. government. Ball Corporation and its subsidiaries employ 14,500 people worldwide and reported 2013 sales of $8.5 billion. For more information, visit www.ball.com, or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.

Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains "forward-looking" statements concerning future events and financial performance. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "estimates" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Key risks and uncertainties are summarized in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Exhibit 99 in our Form 10-K, which are available on our website and at www.sec.gov. Factors that might affect: a) our packaging segments include product demand fluctuations; availability/cost of raw materials; competitive packaging, pricing and substitution; changes in climate and weather; crop yields; competitive activity; failure to achieve productivity improvements or cost reductions; mandatory deposit or other restrictive packaging laws; changes in major customer or supplier contracts or loss of a major customer or supplier; political instability and sanctions; and changes in foreign exchange or tax rates; b) our aerospace segment include funding, authorization, availability and returns of government and commercial contracts; and delays, extensions and technical uncertainties affecting segment contracts; c) the company as a whole include those listed plus: changes in senior management; successful or unsuccessful acquisitions and divestitures; regulatory action or issues including tax, environmental, health and workplace safety, including U.S. FDA and other actions or public concerns affecting products filled in our containers, or chemicals or substances used in raw materials or in the manufacturing process; technological developments and innovations; litigation; strikes; labor cost changes; rates of return on assets of the company's defined benefit retirement plans; pension changes; uncertainties surrounding the U.S. government budget, sequestration and debt limit; reduced cash flow; ability to achieve cost-out initiatives; interest rates affecting our debt.

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SOURCE Ball Corporation