Robert W. Alspaugh Elected to Board; Company Authorizes Repurchase of Common Stock, Declares Dividend

BROOMFIELD, Colo., Jan. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Robert W. Alspaugh, former chief executive officer of KPMG International, was elected today to the Ball Corporation (NYSE: BLL) board of directors during the board's regular meeting. Alspaugh worked at KPMG International for 36 years and was responsible for implementing the company's global strategy in 150 countries.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080123/LAW106)

"Bob Alspaugh 's background working with a diverse array of clients across many industries, including manufacturing, and his global expertise will benefit Ball as we continue to expand our business in new and developing markets," said R. David Hoover, chairman, president and chief executive officer. "We are pleased to welcome Bob to Ball, and look forward to gaining from his extensive experience."

Alspaugh, 60, is on the boards of Autoliv Inc., a worldwide leader in automotive safety systems based in Stockholm, and Fritz Institute, non-profit organization based in San Francisco that works in partnership with governments, non-profit organizations and corporations to facilitate rapid and effective disaster response and recovery.

Ball's board of directors also authorized the repurchase by the company of up to a total of 12 million shares of its common stock. This repurchase authorization replaces all previous authorizations.

Additionally, Ball's board of directors declared a dividend on the company's common stock of 10 cents per share, payable March 17, 2008, to shareholders of record on March 3, 2008.

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 15,500 people worldwide and reported 2006 sales of $6.6 billion.

Earnings Conference Call Details

Ball will announce its fourth quarter and full-year 2007 earnings tomorrow before trading begins on the New York Stock Exchange. The company will hold its regular quarterly conference call on the company's results and performance tomorrow at 8 a.m. Mountain Time (10 a.m. Eastern). The North American toll-free number for the call is 800-909-4795. International callers should dial 212-231-2901. Please use the following URL for a Web cast of the live call:

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?p=irol-

eventDetails&c=115234&eventID=1729222

For those unable to listen to the live call, a taped replay will be available after its conclusion until midnight Eastern Time on Jan. 31, 2008. To access the replay, call 800-633-8284 (North American callers) or 402-977-9140 (international callers) and use reservation number 21363683. A written transcript of the call will be posted within 48 hours of the call's conclusion to Ball's Web site at http://www.ball.com in the investors section under "presentations."

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 http://www.sec.gov. Factors that might affect our packaging segments include fluctuation in product demand and preferences; availability and cost of raw materials, including recent significant increases in resin, steel, aluminum and energy costs, and the ability to pass such increases on to customers; 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; successful or unsuccessful acquisitions, joint ventures or divestitures; integration of recently acquired businesses; regulatory action or laws including tax, environmental and workplace safety; 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 January 23, 2008