Form: 10-Q

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

May 16, 2001

EXHIBIT 10.1


                                                 Ball Corporation


                                               Deposit Share Program



                                                 Table of Contents

1.       Purpose.........................................................................................1
2.       Definitions.....................................................................................1
         2.1        Change in Control....................................................................1
         2.2        Cliff Lapse..........................................................................1
         2.3        Committee............................................................................1
         2.4        Deferral.............................................................................1
         2.5        Disability...........................................................................1
         2.6        Effective Date.......................................................................1
         2.7        Grant Date...........................................................................1
         2.8        Holding Period.......................................................................1
         2.9        Newly Acquired Shares................................................................1
         2.10       Participant..........................................................................1
         2.11       Program..............................................................................1
         2.12       Restricted Shares....................................................................2
         2.13       Restricted Units.....................................................................2
         2.14       Retirement...........................................................................2
         2.15       Shareholder of Record................................................................2
3.       Restricted Stock Grant..........................................................................2
         3.1        Minimum Number of Newly Acquired Shares..............................................2
         3.2        Granting of Restricted Shares........................................................2
4.       Holding Period for the Newly Acquired Shares....................................................2
5.       Lapse of Restrictions...........................................................................3
         5.1        Cliff Lapse..........................................................................3
         5.2        Accelerated Lapse Rate...............................................................3
6        Additional Cash Payment.........................................................................3
7.       Retirement, Disability or Death.................................................................3
         7.1        Proration Calculation................................................................3
         7.2        Proration's Effect on Lapse Schedule as a Result of Retirement
                     or Disability.......................................................................3
         7.3        Proration's Effect on Lapse Schedule as a Result of Death............................3
         7.4        Fractional Shares....................................................................3
8.       Forfeiture......................................................................................4
9.       Deferral of Award...............................................................................4
         9.1        Exchange of Restricted Shares........................................................4
         9.2        Election to Defer....................................................................4
         9.3        Exchange of Restricted Shares from Restricted Units..................................4
         9.4        Date of Deferral.....................................................................4
10.      Miscellaneous...................................................................................4
         10.1       Administration of the Program........................................................4
         10.2       Amendment and Termination of Program.................................................4
         10.3       Successors and Mergers, Consolidations, or Change in Control.........................5
         10.4       Employment or Future Eligibility to Participate Not Guaranteed.......................5
         10.5       Gender, Singular or Plural...........................................................5
         10.6       Captions.............................................................................5
         10.7       Applicable Law.......................................................................5
         10.8       Validity.............................................................................5



                                         Deposit Share Program ("Program")

1.       Purpose

         To encourage key executives to acquire a larger equity ownership interest in the Corporation to further
         align the personal interests of the Participants with the interests of the shareholders of the
         Corporation, in order to promote share price growth and enhancement of shareholder value.

2.       Definitions

         2.1      "Change in Control" means "Change in Control" as defined in Section 2.D. of the Ball
                  Corporation 1997 Stock Incentive Plan.

         2.2      Cliff Lapse means restrictions lapse at one time on the fourth anniversary following the date
                  of grant of Restricted Shares under this Program.

         2.3      Committee means the Human Resources Committee of the Board of Directors of Ball Corporation.

         2.4      Deferral means the amount of elective Restricted Units deferred by a Participant into the Ball
                  Corporation 2000 Deferred Compensation Company Stock Plan.

         2.5      Disability means a bodily injury or disease as determined by the Committee that totally and
                  continuously prevents the Participant, for at least six consecutive months, from engaging in
                  the Participant's regular occupation.

         2.6      Effective Date means March 7, 2001, which is the effective date of the Deposit Share Program.

         2.7      Grant Date means the actual date of issuance of the Restricted Shares pursuant to this Program.

         2.8      Holding Period means the time period during which a Participant may not sell Newly Acquired
                  Shares in order to have the restrictions lapse on a Restricted Stock grant.

         2.9      Newly Acquired Shares means Ball Corporation Common Stock acquired within two years after the
                  Effective Date of the Deposit Share Program. It does not include Ball Corporation Common Stock
                  attained by a Participant through the Corporation's other benefit plans, which include but are
                  not limited to the 401(k) plan, the Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the Employee Stock
                  Ownership Plan.

         2.10     Participant means an employee who has been selected for participation in the Program by
                  management and approved by the Committee.

         2.11     Program means the Deposit Share Program as set forth in this document as amended from time to
                  time.

         2.12     Restricted Shares means shares of stock that are issued or transferred to a Participant under
                  this Program pursuant to the Ball Corporation 1997 Stock Incentive Plan.

         2.13     Restricted Units means the Performance Unit Award based on the dollar value of Ball Corporation
                  Common Stock as provided for in the Ball Corporation 1997 Stock Incentive Plan.

         2.14     Retirement means termination of employment by a Participant for whatever reason other than
                  death or disability after attainment of age 55.

         2.15     Shareholder of Record means the person who holds Ball Corporation Common Stock that is held in
                  an account by the transfer agent and for which dividends are paid by the transfer agent.

3.       Restricted Stock Grant

         The grant under this Program shall be a Restricted Stock Grant ("Restricted Share") pursuant to the Ball
         Corporation 1997 Stock Incentive Plan. If, at any time or from time to time, within two years of the
         effective date of the Program, the Participant provides evidence to the Corporate Secretary's Department
         of the Corporation, reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation, of Participant's acquisition of Newly
         Acquired Shares during the two-year period commencing March 7, 2001, together with a written promise by
         the Participant to hold the shares for the prescribed period, then the Corporation will grant the
         Participant a Restricted Share for each Newly Acquired Share so acquired, up to the maximum number of
         Restricted Shares specified in the Participant's Award Letter.

         3.1      Minimum Number of Newly Acquired Shares - The minimum number of Newly Acquired Shares that will
                  be matched by Restricted Shares at one time is 200 shares. The Participant may accumulate
                  purchases of fewer than 200 shares, and when the total number of accumulated shares is equal to
                  or exceeds 200 shares, the Participant may then request that matching Restricted Shares be
                  issued.

         3.2      Granting of Restricted Shares - The Restricted Shares will be granted on the 15th of each month
                  provided the documentation required in Section 3.1 is received on or before the 5th of that
                  month, otherwise it will granted the following month. If the 15th occurs on a holiday or
                  weekend, the Restricted Shares will be issued on the workday immediately prior to that holiday
                  or weekend.

4.       Holding Period for the Newly Acquired Shares

         The Participant must agree that the Newly Acquired Shares will not be sold or transferred prior to the
         lapse of restrictions on the matching Restricted Shares. A pledge of Newly Acquired Shares as collateral
         for any loan during the holding period is not considered to be a sale or transfer of the shares for
         purposes of this Program; however, in the event of default on the loan, the Newly Acquired Shares will
         be considered to be sold and the matching Restricted Shares will be forfeited.

5.       Lapse of Restrictions

         5.1      Cliff Lapse - Except as provided herein, restrictions on all Restricted Shares will cliff lapse
                  on the fourth anniversary following the date of grant of the Restricted Shares.

         5.2      Accelerated Lapse Rate - The restrictions may lapse at an accelerated rate if the Participant
                  meets stock ownership guidelines, which are measured at the end of the month prior to the
                  accelerated lapse date. The accelerated lapse schedule is as follows:

                                                                      Anniversary Following
                                  Percentage                              Date of Grant
                                      30%                                     Second
                                      30%                                     Third
                                      40%                                     Fourth

6.       Additional Cash Payment

         The Participant also will receive a dividend equivalent, if any, payable with respect to the Restricted
         Shares from the date of grant until restrictions lapse.

7.       Retirement, Disability or Death

         Participants who retire before restrictions have lapsed on Restricted Shares granted under this Program
         will receive a prorated portion of their Restricted Shares.

         7.1      Proration Calculation

                  Number of restricted                                                                            Number of
                  shares still outstanding   X   Number of days from grant to retirement,disability or death   =  Restricted Shares
                  on date of retirement,            Number of days from grant to scheduled cliff lapsing          outstanding after
                  disability or death                                                                             proration

         7.2      Proration's Effect on Lapse Schedule as a Result of Retirement or Disability - Restricted
                  Shares outstanding after proration will have restrictions lapse according to Section 5 above.

         7.3      Proration's Effect on Lapse Schedule as a Result of Death - Restricted Shares outstanding after
                  proration will lapse and the unrestricted shares will be issued to the participant or his
                  beneficiary.

         7.4      Fractional Shares - All fractional shares will be rounded up at proration.

8.       Forfeiture

         All rights in and to any and all Restricted Shares granted pursuant to this Program which have not had
         restrictions lapse as described above in this Program, shall be forfeited upon the Participant's
         termination from the Corporation, except for prorated Restricted Shares as provided for in Section 7. In
         addition, any Restricted Shares granted pursuant to this Program shall be forfeited if the Newly
         Acquired Shares to which the Restricted Shares relate are sold or transferred by the Participant prior
         to the lapse of restrictions on such Restricted Shares. For each Restricted Share for which the
         restrictions have lapsed, the holding period requirement for an equal number of Newly Acquired Shares
         shall also end.

 9.      Deferral of Award

         9.1      Exchange of Restricted Shares - Participants in the Program will have an opportunity to
                  exchange Restricted Shares granted under this Program for Restricted Units issued under the
                  Ball Corporation 2000 Deferred Compensation Company Stock Plan (the "Deferred Stock Plan").

         9.2      Election to Defer - In order to exchange shares and utilize the Deferred Stock Plan, the
                  Participant must elect to exchange any Restricted Shares granted under this Program at least
                  one year prior to the lapse of restrictions on such Restricted Shares. The Restricted Units
                  will be eligible for a Corporation Matching Contribution under the Deferred Stock Plan.

         9.3      Exchange of Restricted Shares for Restricted Units - In the event a Participant elects to
                  undertake such an exchange, the Restricted Shares granted under this Program will be cancelled
                  and an equivalent number of Restricted Units will be issued to the Participant. Restrictions
                  and the Participant's rights with respect to such Restricted Units will be determined under the
                  terms of the Program.

         9.4      Date of Deferral - The actual deferral of the Restricted Units will not occur until
                  restrictions lapse on the Restricted Units.

10.      Miscellaneous

         10.1     Administration of the Program - The Human Resources Committee of the Board of Directors shall
                  be the sole administrator of the Program. The Committee shall have full power to formulate
                  additional details and regulations for carrying out this Program. The Committee shall also be
                  empowered to make any and all of the determinations not herein specifically authorized which
                  may be necessary or desirable for the effective administration of the Program. Any decision or
                  interpretation of any provision of this Program adopted by the Committee shall be final and
                  conclusive.

         10.2     Amendment and Termination of Program - The Committee may at any time amend the Program in whole
                  or in part; provided, however, that no amendment shall be effective to affect the Participant's
                  vested right therein, and, except as provided below, no amendment shall be effective to
                  decrease the future benefits under the Program payable to any Participant or beneficiary with
                  respect to any amount granted or vested prior to the date of the amendment. Written notice of
                  any amendments shall be given promptly to each Participant. No notice shall be required with
                  respect to amendments that are non-material or administrative in nature.

         10.3     Successors and Mergers, Consolidations, or Change in Control - The terms and conditions of this
                  Program and Election Form shall enure to the benefit of and bind the Corporation, the Participants,
                  their successors, assignees, and personal representatives. If a Change in Control shall occur then
                  the rights and obligations created hereunder shall be the rights and obligations of the
                  acquirer or successor corporation or entity; provided, however, in the event of a Change in
                  Control, all restrictions on Restricted Shares granted pursuant to Section 3 of this Program
                  shall lapse.

         10.4     Employment or Future Eligibility to Participate Not Guaranteed - Nothing contained in this
                  Program nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as a contract of employment or as
                  giving any Participant any right to be retained in the employ of the Corporation. Designation
                  as a Participant may be revoked at any time by the Committee with respect to any Restricted
                  Shares not yet granted.

         10.5     Gender, Singular and Plural - All pronouns and any variations thereof shall be deemed to refer
                  to the masculine and feminine gender as the identity of the person or persons may require. As
                  the context may require, the singular may be read as the plural and the plural as the singular.

         10.6     Captions - The captions to the articles, sections, and paragraphs of this Program are for
                  convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of its
                  provisions.

         10.7     Applicable Law - This Program shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of
                  the State of Indiana.

         10.8     Validity - In the event any provision of this Program is held invalid, void, or unenforceable,
                  the same shall not affect, in any respect whatsoever, the validity of any other provision of
                  this Program.