Ball Selected for Key Social Responsibility Index

BROOMFIELD, Colo., May 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ball Corporation (NYSE: BLL) has been selected for inclusion in the FTSE4Good Index Series. The index is designed to facilitate investment in companies that meet globally recognized corporate responsibility standards.

Companies in the FTSE4Good Index Series have met stringent social and environmental criteria, and are positioned to capitalize on the benefits of responsible business practice. To be included to the index, Ball was independently assessed and met the stringent social and environmental criteria of FTSE4Good.

"Social responsibility and sustainability offer opportunities to public companies to prosper while creating economic, social and environmental value," said R. David Hoover, Ball's chairman, president and chief executive officer. "The inclusion of Ball in the FTSE4Good Index Series offers investors a means to evaluate our company as a socially responsible investment."

The index was created by the global index company FTSE Group, based in the United Kingdom. To learn more about the FTSE4Good Index Series, go to http://www.ftse.com/Indices/FTSE4Good_Index_Series.

Ball Corporation is a supplier of high-quality metal and plastic packaging for beverage, food and household products customers, and of aerospace and other technologies and services, primarily for the U.S. government. Ball Corporation and its subsidiaries employ more than 14,000 people worldwide and reported 2008 sales of approximately $7.6 billion. For the latest Ball news and for other company information, please visit www.ball.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains "forward-looking" statements concerning future events and financial performance. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "estimates" and similar expressions are intended to 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 99.2 in our Form 10-K, which are available at our Web site and at www.sec.gov. Factors that might affect our packaging segments include fluctuation in product demand and preferences; availability and cost of raw materials; competitive packaging availability, pricing and substitution; changes in climate and weather; crop yields; competitive activity; failure to achieve anticipated productivity improvements or production cost reductions, including our beverage can end project; mandatory deposit or other restrictive packaging laws; changes in major customer or supplier contracts or loss of a major customer or supplier; and changes in foreign exchange rates, tax rates and activities of foreign subsidiaries. Factors that might affect our aerospace segment include: funding, authorization, availability and returns of government and commercial contracts; and delays, extensions and technical uncertainties affecting segment contracts. Factors that might affect the company as a whole include those listed plus: accounting changes; changes in senior management; the current global credit squeeze and its effects on liquidity, credit risk, asset values and the economy; successful or unsuccessful acquisitions, joint ventures or divestitures; integration of recently acquired businesses; regulatory action or laws including tax, environmental, health and workplace safety, including in respect of chemicals or substances used in raw materials or in the manufacturing process; governmental investigations; technological developments and innovations; goodwill impairment; antitrust, patent and other litigation; strikes; labor cost changes; rates of return projected and earned on assets of the company's defined benefit retirement plans; pension changes; reduced cash flow; interest rates affecting our debt; and changes to unaudited results due to statutory audits or other effects.

SOURCE Ball Corporation

Released May 21, 2009