EXHIBIT 99.1 PRESS RELEASE FOR ACQUISITION
Published on February 15, 2006
Exhibit
99.1
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News
Release
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For
Immediate Release
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http://www.ball.com
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Investor
Contact:
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Ann
T. Scott
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303-460-3537,
ascott@ball.com
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Media
Contact:
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Scott
McCarty
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303-460-2103,
smccarty@ball.com
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Ball
Corporation Announces Acquisition of U.S. and
Argentinean
Operations of U.S. Can Corporation
BROOMFIELD,
Colo., Feb. 14, 2006—Ball Corporation [NYSE:BLL] announced today that it has
entered into a definitive agreement to acquire U.S. Can Corporation’s United
States and Argentinean operations for approximately 1.1 million shares of Ball
common stock and the repayment of $550 million of U.S. Can’s debt. The
transaction is expected to close by the end of the first quarter, subject to
customary closing conditions. The shareholders of U.S. Can will retain its
European business.
U.S.
Can
is the largest manufacturer of aerosol cans in the United States. In addition
to
aerosol cans, the company manufactures paint cans, plastic containers and custom
and specialty cans in 10 plants in the U.S. Aerosol cans are also produced
in
the two manufacturing plants in Argentina. U.S. Can’s Argentina and U.S.
operations employ 2,300 people and have sales of approximately $600
million.
“U.S.
Can
will add to our portfolio of rigid packaging products and provide us a
meaningful position in a sizable market,” said R. David Hoover, chairman,
president and chief executive officer of Ball Corporation. “This is a company in
an industry we know well. 2006 looks to be a better year for Ball and this
acquisition should add to our performance as we expect it will be accretive
to
our earnings during the first year of our ownership.
“Further,
we expect to realize certain cost reductions as a result of synergies between
U.S. Can’s operations and those of our existing packaging business, particularly
our metal food container operations,” Hoover
said.“Both
utilize tinplate steel and both share similar manufacturing
processes.”
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more
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Ball
Corporation
10
Longs
Peak Drive ·
P.O. Box
5000 ·
Broomfield, CO 80021
Ball
Corp. - 2
“The
$550
million of existing U.S. Can debt will be refinanced at closing at significantly
lower interest rates,” said Raymond J. Seabrook, senior vice president and chief
financial officer of Ball Corporation. “The refinancing will consist of the
issue by Ball of a new series of senior notes and an increase in bank debt
under
the new facilities that were put in place in the fourth quarter of
2005.”
Ball
Corporation is a supplier of high-quality metal and plastic packaging products
and owns Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., which develops sensors,
spacecraft, systems and components for government and commercial customers.
Ball
reported 2005 sales of $5.7 billion and the company employs 13,100 people
worldwide.
Conference
Call Details
At
8:30
a.m. Mountain Time tomorrow (10:30 a.m. Eastern), Ball will hold a conference
call to discuss this news release. The
North
American toll-free number for the call is 800-728-2167.
International callers should dial +1-415-537-1985.
For
those unable to listen to the live call, a taped rebroadcast will be available
until 10:30 a.m. Mountain Time on Feb. 22, 2006. To access the rebroadcast,
dial
800-633-8284
(domestic
callers) or +1-402-977-9140
(international
callers) and enter 21284040 as
the
reservation number.
Please
use the following URL for a Web cast of the live call and for the
replay:
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?p=irol-eventDetails&c=115234&eventID=1215080
A
written
transcript of the call will be posted within 48 hours of the call’s conclusion
to Ball's Web site at www.ball.com in the investor relations section under
“presentations.”
Forward-Looking
Statements
This
news
release contains "forward-looking" statements concerning future events and
financial performance. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” and
variations of same 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 in Exhibit 99.2
in our Form 10-K. These filings are available at our Web site and at
www.sec.gov. Factors that might affect our packaging segments include
fluctuation in consumer and customer 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; fruit, vegetable and fishing yields; industry productive
capacity and competitive activity; failure to achieve anticipated productivity
improvements or production cost reductions, including those associated with
our
beverage can end project; the German mandatory deposit or other restrictive
packaging laws; changes in major customer or supplier contracts or loss of
a
major customer or supplier; changes in foreign exchange rates, tax rates and
activities of foreign subsidiaries; and the effect of LIFO accounting. Factors
that might affect our aerospace segment include: funding, authorization,
availability and returns of government contracts; and delays, extensions and
technical uncertainties affecting segment contracts. Factors that might affect
the company as a whole include those listed plus: acquisitions, joint ventures
or divestitures; 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; reduced cash flow; interest
rates affecting our debt; and changes to unaudited results due to statutory
audits or other effects.
5/06 #
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Ball
Corporation
10
Longs
Peak Drive ·
P.O. Box
5000 ·
Broomfield, CO 80021