10-Q: Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
Published on May 9, 2007
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
DC 20549
FORM
10-Q
x
QUARTERLY
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF
THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the
quarterly period ended April
1, 2007
Commission
file number 1-7349
BALL
CORPORATION
State
of Indiana
|
35-0160610
|
10
Longs
Peak Drive, P.O. Box 5000
Broomfield,
CO 80021-2510
303/469-3131
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to
be
filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes
x
|
No
o
|
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer or a non-accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of
the Exchange Act).
Large
accelerated filer x
|
Accelerated
filer o
|
Non-accelerated
filer o
|
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in
Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o
No
x
Indicate
the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common
stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Class
|
Outstanding
at April 29, 2007
|
|||
Common
Stock,
without
par value
|
102,095,333
shares
|
Ball
Corporation and Subsidiaries
QUARTERLY
REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
For
the
period ended April 1, 2007
INDEX
Page
Number
|
||
PART
I.
|
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
|
|
Item
1.
|
Financial
Statements
|
|
Unaudited
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the Three Months
Ended
April 1, 2007, and April 2, 2006
|
1
|
|
Unaudited
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at April 1, 2007, and
December 31, 2006
|
2
|
|
Unaudited
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months
Ended
April 1, 2007, and April 2, 2006
|
3
|
|
Notes
to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
|
4
|
|
Item
2.
|
Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
|
17 |
Item
3.
|
Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
|
22
|
Item
4.
|
Controls
and Procedures
|
23
|
PART
II.
|
OTHER
INFORMATION
|
25
|
PART
I. FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
Item
1. FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
UNAUDITED
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
Ball
Corporation and Subsidiaries
Three
Months Ended
|
|||||||
($
in millions, except per share amounts)
|
April 1,
2007 |
April 2,
2006
|
|||||
Net
sales
|
$
|
1,694.2
|
$
|
1,364.9
|
|||
Costs
and expenses
|
|||||||
Cost
of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization) (a)
|
1,394.3
|
1,156.7
|
|||||
Depreciation
and amortization (Notes 8 and 10)
|
65.0
|
54.6
|
|||||
Business
consolidation costs (Note 5)
|
−
|
2.1
|
|||||
Selling,
general and administrative (Note 1)
|
82.2
|
70.3
|
|||||
1,541.5
|
1,283.7
|
||||||
Earnings
before interest and taxes (a)
|
152.7
|
81.2
|
|||||
Interest
expense
|
37.9
|
23.3
|
|||||
Earnings
before taxes (a)
|
114.8
|
57.9
|
|||||
Tax
provision (Note 12) (a)
|
(36.7
|
)
|
(16.5
|
)
|
|||
Minority
interests
|
(0.1
|
)
|
(0.2
|
)
|
|||
Equity
in results of affiliates
|
3.2
|
3.2
|
|||||
Net
earnings (a)
|
$
|
81.2
|
$
|
44.4
|
|||
Earnings
per share (Note 15) (a):
|
|||||||
Basic
|
$
|
0.79
|
$
|
0.43
|
|||
Diluted
|
$
|
0.78
|
$
|
0.42
|
|||
Weighted
average shares outstanding (000s)
(Note 15):
|
|||||||
Basic
|
102,110
|
103,245
|
|||||
Diluted
|
103,815
|
105,053
|
|||||
Cash
dividends declared and paid, per common
share
|
$
|
0.10
|
$
|
0.10
|
(a) The
first quarter of 2006 has been retrospectively adjusted for the company’s change
in the fourth quarter of 2006 from the last-in, first-out method of inventory
accounting to the first-in, first-out method. Additional details are available
in Note 7.
See
accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial
statements.
Page
1
UNAUDITED
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
Ball
Corporation and Subsidiaries
($
in millions)
|
April 1,
2007
|
December
31,
2006
|
|||||
ASSETS
|
|||||||
Current
assets
|
|||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$
|
51.2
|
$
|
151.5
|
|||
Receivables,
net (Note 6)
|
698.6
|
579.5
|
|||||
Inventories,
net (Note 7)
|
1,018.7
|
935.4
|
|||||
Deferred
taxes and prepaid expenses
|
90.7
|
94.9
|
|||||
Total
current assets
|
1,859.2
|
1,761.3
|
|||||
Property,
plant and equipment, net (Note 8)
|
1,889.2
|
1,876.0
|
|||||
Goodwill
(Notes 4 and 9)
|
1,770.4
|
1,773.7
|
|||||
Intangibles
and other assets, net (Note 10)
|
399.2
|
429.9
|
|||||
Total
Assets
|
$
|
5,918.0
|
$
|
5,840.9
|
|||
LIABILITIES
AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
|||||||
Current
liabilities
|
|||||||
Short-term
debt and current portion of long-term debt (Note 11)
|
$
|
238.2
|
$
|
181.3
|
|||
Accounts
payable
|
668.4
|
732.4
|
|||||
Accrued
employee costs
|
175.8
|
201.1
|
|||||
Income
taxes payable (Note 12)
|
31.5
|
71.8
|
|||||
Other
current liabilities
|
220.1
|
267.7
|
|||||
Total
current liabilities
|
1,334.0
|
1,454.3
|
|||||
Long-term
debt (Note 11)
|
2,360.7
|
2,270.4
|
|||||
Employee
benefit obligations (Note 13)
|
846.8
|
847.7
|
|||||
Deferred
taxes and other liabilities (Note 12)
|
160.0
|
102.1
|
|||||
Total
liabilities
|
4,701.5
|
4,674.5
|
|||||
Contingencies
(Note 16)
|
|||||||
Minority
interests
|
1.1
|
1.0
|
|||||
Shareholders’
equity (Note 14)
|
|||||||
Common
stock (160,364,288 shares issued - 2007;
160,026,936 shares issued - 2006)
|
724.8
|
703.4
|
|||||
Retained
earnings
|
1,594.7
|
1,535.3
|
|||||
Accumulated
other comprehensive loss
|
(14.9
|
)
|
(29.5
|
)
|
|||
Treasury
stock, at cost (58,121,088 shares - 2007;
55,889,948 shares - 2006)
|
(1,089.2
|
)
|
(1,043.8
|
)
|
|||
Total
shareholders’ equity
|
1,215.4
|
1,165.4
|
|||||
Total
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
|
$
|
5,918.0
|
$
|
5,840.9
|
See
accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial
statements.
Page
2
UNAUDITED
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Ball
Corporation and Subsidiaries
Three
Months Ended
|
|||||||
($ in millions) |
April
1, 2007
|
April
2, 2006
|
|||||
Cash
Flows from Operating Activities
|
|||||||
Net
earnings (a)
|
$
|
81.2
|
$
|
44.4
|
|||
Adjustments
to reconcile net earnings to net cash used in
operating activities:
|
|||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
65.0
|
54.6
|
|||||
Business
consolidation costs
|
−
|
2.1
|
|||||
Deferred
taxes (a)
|
(7.5
|
)
|
(5.5
|
)
|
|||
Other,
net
|
14.0
|
(14.6
|
)
|
||||
Changes
in working capital components, excluding effects of acquisitions
(a)
|
(260.4
|
)
|
(252.8
|
)
|
|||
Cash
used in operating activities
|
(107.7
|
)
|
(171.8
|
)
|
|||
Cash
Flows from Investing Activities
|
|||||||
Additions
to property, plant and equipment
|
(88.1
|
)
|
(64.4
|
)
|
|||
Business
acquisitions, net of cash acquired (Note 4)
|
−
|
(767.9
|
)
|
||||
Property
insurance proceeds (Note 8)
|
48.6
|
−
|
|||||
Other,
net
|
2.4
|
1.5
|
|||||
Cash
used in investing activities
|
(37.1
|
)
|
(830.8
|
)
|
|||
Cash
Flows from Financing Activities
|
|||||||
Long-term
borrowings
|
120.6
|
1,051.1
|
|||||
Repayments
of long-term borrowings
|
(8.7
|
)
|
(20.0
|
)
|
|||
Change
in short-term borrowings
|
27.3
|
(1.5
|
)
|
||||
Debt
issuance costs
|
−
|
(7.4
|
)
|
||||
Proceeds
from issuance of common stock
|
11.0
|
9.3
|
|||||
Acquisitions
of treasury stock
|
(98.5
|
)
|
(36.1
|
)
|
|||
Common
dividends
|
(10.2
|
)
|
(10.2
|
)
|
|||
Other,
net
|
3.0
|
3.0
|
|||||
Cash
provided by financing activities
|
44.5
|
988.2
|
|||||
Effect
of exchange rate changes on cash
|
−
|
0.3
|
|||||
Change
in cash and cash equivalents
|
(100.3
|
)
|
(14.1
|
)
|
|||
Cash
and cash equivalents - beginning of period
|
151.5
|
61.0
|
|||||
Cash
and cash equivalents - end of period
|
$
|
51.2
|
$
|
46.9
|
(a) The
first quarter of 2006 has been retrospectively adjusted for the company’s change
in the fourth quarter of 2006 from the last-in, first-out method of inventory
accounting to the first-in, first-out method. Additional details are available
in Note 7.
See
accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
Page
3
Notes
to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Ball
Corporation and Subsidiaries
1.
|
Principles
of Consolidation and Basis of
Presentation
|
The
accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include
the
accounts of Ball Corporation and its controlled affiliates (collectively Ball,
the company, we or our) and have been prepared by the company without audit.
Certain information and footnote disclosures, including critical and significant
accounting policies, normally included in financial statements prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, have been condensed
or
omitted.
Results
of operations for the periods shown are not necessarily indicative of results
for the year, particularly in view of the seasonality in the packaging segments.
These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying
notes should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements
and the notes thereto included in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 (annual report).
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions
that
affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of
contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and reported
amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. These estimates
are based on historical experience and various assumptions believed to be
reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from these
estimates under different assumptions and conditions. However, we believe that
the financial statements reflect all adjustments which are of a normal recurring
nature and are necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim
period.
Ball
adopted Financial Interpretation (FIN) 48 as of January 1, 2007, and has
identified accounting for uncertain tax positions under this guidance as
a
critical accounting policy. Considering tax laws of the multiple jurisdictions
in which we operate, both domestic and foreign, we assess whether it is more
likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination and
through any litigation and measure the largest amount of the benefit that
is
likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement. Consistent with our practice
prior to adoption of FIN 48, we record related interest expense and penalties,
if any, as a tax provision expense. Actual results may differ substantially
from
our estimates.
During
the fourth quarter of 2006, Ball’s management changed the company’s method of
inventory accounting from last-in, first-out (LIFO) to first-in, first-out
(FIFO) in the metal beverage, Americas, and the metal food and household
products packaging, Americas, segments. Results for the quarter ended
April 2, 2006, have been retrospectively adjusted on a FIFO basis in
accordance with SFAS No. 154 (see Note 7).
Subsequent
to the issuance of its financial statements for the year ended December 31,
2005, the company determined that certain foreign currency exchange losses
had
been inadvertently deferred for the years 2005, 2004 and 2003. As a result,
selling, general and administrative expenses were understated by
$2.5 million, $2.3 million and $1 million in 2005, 2004 and 2003,
respectively. Management assessed the impact of these adjustments and did not
believe these amounts are material, individually or in the aggregate, to any
previously issued financial statements or to our full year results of operations
for 2006. A cumulative $5.8 million pretax out-of-period adjustment was
included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the first quarter
of
2006.
Certain
prior-year amounts have been reclassified in order to conform to the
current-year presentation.
Page
4
Notes
to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Ball
Corporation and Subsidiaries
2.
|
New
Accounting Standards
|
In
February 2007 the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 159, “The Fair Value
Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Including an Amendment
of
FASB Statement No. 115,” which permits companies to choose, at specified
election dates, to measure certain financial instruments and other eligible
items at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair
value option has been elected are subsequently reported in earnings. The
decision to elect the fair value option is generally irrevocable, is applied
instrument by instrument and can only be applied to an entire instrument.
The
standard, which will be effective for Ball as of January 1, 2008, is
currently under evaluation by Ball’s management. At this time, we do not expect
to elect the fair value option for any eligible items and did not early adopt
the standard in the first quarter of 2007 as permitted.
In
September 2006 the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value
Measurements,” which establishes a framework for measuring value and expands
disclosures about fair value measurements. Although it does not require any
new
fair value measurements, the statement emphasizes that fair value is a
market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement, and should
be
determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in
pricing the asset or liability. The standard will be effective for Ball as
of
January 1, 2008.
In
June 2006 the FASB issued FIN 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in
Income Taxes - an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109,” which
prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial
statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to
be
taken in a tax return. FIN 48 became effective for Ball beginning on
January 1, 2007. The adoption of FIN 48 included a net increase in
uncertain tax liabilities of $2.1 million to a total of $45.8 million,
excluding $1.2 million accrued in the opening balance sheet of the
acquisition of U.S. Can Corporation (see Note 4). Additional details about
the adoption of FIN 48 are provided in Note 12.
3.
|
Business
Segment Information
|
Ball’s
operations are organized and reviewed by management along its product lines
in
five reportable segments:
Metal
beverage packaging, Americas:
Consists
of operations in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, which manufacture and sell
metal containers, primarily for use in beverage packaging.
Metal
beverage packaging, Europe/Asia:
Consists
of operations in several countries in Europe and the People’s Republic of China
(PRC), which manufacture and sell metal beverage containers in Europe and Asia,
as well as plastic containers in Asia.
Metal
food & household products packaging, Americas:
Consists
of operations in the U.S., Canada and Argentina, which manufacture and sell
metal food cans, aerosol cans, paint cans and custom and specialty
cans.
Plastic
packaging, Americas:
Consists
of operations in the U.S. and Canada, which manufacture and sell polyethylene
terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene containers, primarily for use in beverage
and food packaging. Effective January 1, 2007, this segment also includes
the manufacture and sale of plastic containers used for industrial and household
products, which were previously reported within the metal food and household
products packaging, Americas, segment.
Aerospace
and technologies:
Consists
of the manufacture and sale of aerospace and other related products and the
providing of services used primarily in the defense, civil space and commercial
space industries.
In
the
third quarter of 2006, the company changed its expense allocation method by
allocating to each of the packaging segments stock-based compensation expense
previously included in corporate undistributed expenses. The change did not
have
a significant impact on any segment for the current or prior years. In the
fourth quarter of 2006, the company changed its method of inventory accounting
in the metal beverage, Americas, and the metal food and household products
packaging, Americas, segments from LIFO to FIFO (see Note 1). The
quarter ended April 2, 2006, has been conformed to the current presentation
for the changes in expense allocation and inventory accounting
method.
Page
5
Notes
to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Ball
Corporation and Subsidiaries
3.
|
Business
Segment Information (continued)
|
The
accounting policies of the segments are the same as those in the unaudited
condensed consolidated financial statements. A discussion of the company’s
critical and significant accounting policies can be found in Ball’s annual
report. We also have investments in companies in the U.S., PRC and Brazil,
which
are accounted for under the equity method of accounting and, accordingly,
those
results are not included in segment sales or earnings.
Summary
of Business by Segment
|
Three
Months Ended
|
||||||
($
in millions)
|
April
1, 2007
|
April
2, 2006
|
|||||
Net
Sales
|
|||||||
Metal
beverage packaging, Americas
|
$
|
637.5
|
$
|
592.4
|
|||
Metal
beverage packaging, Europe/Asia
|
385.0
|
300.9
|
|||||
Metal
food & household products packaging, Americas
|
278.8
|
189.3
|
|||||
Plastic
packaging, Americas
|
186.6
|
122.4
|
|||||
Aerospace
and technologies
|
206.3
|
159.9
|
|||||
Net
sales
|
$
|
1,694.2
|
$
|
1,364.9
|
|||
Net
Earnings
|
|||||||
Metal
beverage packaging, Americas
|
$
|
93.8
|
$
|
53.5
|
|||
Metal
beverage packaging, Europe/Asia
|
44.9
|
28.1
|
|||||
Metal
food & household products packaging, Americas (a)
|
(0.2
|
)
|
1.0
|
||||
Plastic
packaging, Americas
|
2.3
|
1.6
|
|||||
Aerospace
and technologies
|
19.6
|
9.5
|
|||||
Segment
earnings before interest and taxes
|
160.4
|
93.7
|
|||||
Corporate
undistributed expenses, net
|
(7.7
|
)
|
(12.5
|
)
|
|||
Earnings
before interest and taxes
|
152.7
|
81.2
|
|||||
Interest
expense
|
(37.9
|
)
|
(23.3
|
)
|
|||
Tax
provision
|
(36.7
|
)
|
(16.5
|
)
|
|||
Minority
interests
|
(0.1
|
)
|
(0.2
|
)
|
|||
Equity
in results of affiliates
|
3.2
|
3.2
|
|||||
Net
earnings
|
$
|
81.2
|
$
|
44.4
|
($
in millions)
|
As
of
April
1, 2007
|
As
of
December
31, 2006
|
|||||
Total
Assets
|
|||||||
Metal
beverage packaging, Americas
|
$
|
1,291.4
|
$
|
1,147.2
|
|||
Metal
beverage packaging, Europe/Asia
|
2,429.0
|
2,412.7
|
|||||
Metal
food & household products packaging, Americas
(b)
|
1,109.6
|
1,094.9
|
|||||
Plastic
packaging, Americas (b)
|
599.8
|
609.0
|
|||||
Aerospace
and technologies
|
276.6
|
268.2
|
|||||
Segment
assets
|
5,706.4
|
5,532.0
|
|||||
Corporate
assets, net of eliminations
|
211.6
|
308.8
|
|||||
Total
assets
|
$
|
5,918.0
|
$
|
5,840.9
|
(a)
Includes
in 2006 a $2.1 million business consolidation charge discussed in
Note 5.
(b)
Amounts at December 31, 2006, have been
retrospectively adjusted for the transfer of U.S. Can’s plastic
pail
business from the metal food and household products packaging, Americas, segment
to the plastic packaging, Americas, segment, which occurred as of January 1,
2007.
Page
6
Notes
to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Ball
Corporation and Subsidiaries
4.
|
Acquisitions
|
U.S.
Can Corporation
On
March 27, 2006, Ball acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of
U.S. Can Corporation (U.S. Can) for 444,756 common shares of Ball
Corporation (valued at $44.28 per share for a total of $19.7 million).
Contemporaneously
with the acquisition, Ball refinanced $598.2 million of U.S. Can debt,
including $26.8 million of bond redemption premiums and fees, and over the
next several years, we expect to realize approximately $42 million for
acquired net operating tax loss carryforwards. The acquired operations form
part
of Ball’s metal
food and household products packaging, Americas, segment. Responsibility
for a small plastic pail business acquired with the U.S. Can transaction
was transferred to the company’s plastic packaging, Americas, segment effective
January 1, 2007.
The
acquisition has been accounted for as a purchase and, accordingly, its results
have been included in the consolidated financial statements since March 27,
2006.
Alcan
Packaging
On
March 28, 2006, Ball acquired North American plastic bottle container
assets from Alcan Packaging (Alcan) for $184.7 million cash. The acquired
business primarily manufactures and sells barrier polypropylene plastic bottles
used in food packaging and, to a lesser extent, barrier PET plastic bottles
used
for beverages and food. The operations acquired form part of Ball’s plastic
packaging, Americas, segment. The acquisition has been accounted for as a
purchase and, accordingly, its results have been included in the consolidated
financial statements since March 28, 2006.
Following
is a summary of the net assets acquired in the U.S. Can and Alcan transactions.
The valuations were performed by management, including identification and
valuation of acquired intangible assets, and of liabilities, including
development and assessment of associated costs of consolidation and integration
plans. The company also engaged third party experts to assist management in
valuing certain assets and liabilities including inventory; property, plant
and
equipment; intangible assets and pension and other post-retirement
obligations. During the first quarter of 2007, the company completed its
valuation of the acquired assets and liabilities and revised the purchase price
allocations accordingly. The final purchase price allocations resulted
primarily in an increase in identifiable intangible assets for both
acquisitions.
($
in millions)
|
U.S.
Can
(Metal
Food & Household Products Packaging, Americas)
|
Alcan
(Plastic Packaging, Americas)
|
Total
|
|||||||
Cash
|
$
|
0.2
|
$
|
–
|
$
|
0.2
|
||||
Property,
plant and equipment
|
164.6
|
73.6
|
238.2
|
|||||||
Goodwill
|
353.2
|
48.7
|
401.9
|
|||||||
Intangibles
|
63.9
|
33.6
|
97.5
|
|||||||
Other
assets, primarily inventories and receivables
|
220.1
|
40.1
|
260.2
|
|||||||
Liabilities
assumed (excluding refinanced debt), primarily current
|
(184.1
|
)
|
(11.3
|
)
|
(195.4
|
)
|
||||
Net
assets acquired
|
$
|
617.9
|
$
|
184.7
|
$
|
802.6
|
With
the
assistance of an independent valuation firm, the customer relationships and
acquired technologies of both acquisitions were identified as valuable
intangible assets, and the company assigned them an estimated life of
20 years based on the valuation firm’s estimates. Because the acquisition
of U.S. Can was a stock purchase, neither the goodwill nor the intangible assets
are tax deductible for U.S. income tax purposes only if, and until such time
as,
the stock is sold. However, because the Alcan acquisition was an asset purchase,
the amortization of goodwill and intangible assets is deductible for U.S. tax
purposes.
Page
7
Notes
to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Ball
Corporation and Subsidiaries
5.
|
Business
Consolidation Activities
|
2006
Metal
Food & Household Products Packaging, Americas
In
the
first quarter of 2006, a pretax charge of $2.1 million ($1.4 million
after tax) was recorded to shut down a metal food can production line in the
Whitby, Ontario, plant. The shut down activities were completed during 2006.
The
charge was subsequently reduced by $0.7 million in the fourth quarter of
2006 to reflect a gain on the disposition of the plant’s fixed
assets.
In
October 2006 the company announced plans to close two manufacturing
facilities in North America as part of the realignment of the metal food and
household products packaging, Americas, segment following the acquisition
earlier in the year of U.S. Can. A pretax charge of $33.6 million
($27.4 million after tax) was recorded in the fourth quarter related to the
Burlington, Ontario, plant closure, including $7.8 million of severance
costs, $16.8 million of pension costs and $9 million of other costs.
The closure of the Alliance, Ohio, plant, estimated to cost approximately
$1 million for employee and other costs, was treated as an opening balance
sheet item related to the acquisition. Operations have ceased at both plants
and
payments of $5.2 million were made in the first quarter of 2007 against the
reserves.
Summary
The
following table summarizes the first quarter 2007 activity related to the
amounts provided for business consolidation activities:
($
in millions)
|
Fixed
Assets/
Spare
Parts
|
Employee
Costs
|
Other
|
Total
|
|||||||||
Balance
at December 31, 2006
|
$
|
6.7
|
$
|
14.1
|
$
|
4.3
|
$
|
25.1
|
|||||
Payments
|
–
|
(5.9
|
)
|
(1.0
|
)
|
(6.9
|
)
|
||||||
Disposal
of spare parts
|
(1.4
|
)
|
–
|
–
|
(1.4
|
)
|
|||||||
Balance
at April 1, 2007
|
$
|
5.3
|
$
|
8.2
|
$
|
3.3
|
$
|
16.8
|
The
remaining reserves are expected to be utilized during 2007 and 2008. The
carrying value of fixed assets remaining for sale in connection with business
consolidation activities was $13.1 million at April 1, 2007.
6.
|
Receivables
|
A
receivables sales agreement provides for the ongoing, revolving sale of a
designated pool of trade accounts receivable of Ball’s North American packaging
operations, up to $225 million. The agreement qualifies as off-balance
sheet financing under the provisions of SFAS No. 140, as amended by
SFAS No. 156. Net funds received from the sale of the accounts
receivable totaled $181.4 million at April 1, 2007, and $201.3 million
at December 31, 2006, and are reflected as a reduction of accounts
receivable in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Page
8
Notes
to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Ball
Corporation and Subsidiaries
7.
|
Inventories
|
($
in millions)
|
April 1,
2007
|
December 31,
2006
|
|||||
Raw
materials and supplies
|
$
|
428.9
|
$
|
445.6
|
|||
Work
in process and finished goods
|
589.8
|
489.8
|
|||||
$
|
1,018.7
|
$
|
935.4
|
Historically
the cost of the majority of metal beverage packaging, Americas, and metal food
and household products packaging, Americas, inventories were determined using
the LIFO method of accounting. During the fourth quarter of 2006, the company
determined that the FIFO method of inventory accounting better matches revenues
and expenses in accordance with sales contract terms. Therefore, in the fourth
quarter of 2006, the accounting policy was changed to record all inventories
using the FIFO method of accounting. The adjustments to the first quarter 2006
statements of earnings and cash flows were not significant.
8.
|
Property,
Plant and Equipment
|
($
in millions)
|
April
1,
2007
|
December
31,
2006
|
|||||
Land
|
$
|
88.1
|
$
|
88.5
|
|||
Buildings
|
771.3
|
764.1
|
|||||
Machinery
and equipment
|
2,635.6
|
2,618.6
|
|||||
Construction
in progress
|
253.5
|
215.1
|
|||||
3,748.5
|
3,686.3
|
||||||
Accumulated
depreciation
|
(1,859.3
|
)
|
(1,810.3
|
)
|
|||
$
|
1,889.2
|
$
|
1,876.0
|
Property,
plant and equipment are stated at historical cost. Depreciation expense amounted
to $61.2 million and $51.8 million for the three months
ended
April
1,
2007, and April 2, 2006, respectively.
On
April 1, 2006, a fire in the metal beverage can plant in Hassloch, Germany,
damaged a significant portion of the building and machinery and equipment.
A
$34.7 million fixed asset write down was recorded in the first quarter of
2006, which represented the estimated impairment of the assets damaged as a
result of the fire. No gain was recorded in the first quarter of 2006 as a
result of the fire, although a pretax gain of $75.5 million was recorded
during the remainder of 2006. In accordance with the final agreement reached
with the insurance company in November 2006, the final property insurance
proceeds of €37.6 million ($48.6 million) were received in
January 2007. Additionally, €8.3 million ($10.9 million) was
recognized during the first quarter of 2007 for insurance recoveries related
to
business interruption costs. Approximately €19 million of additional
business interruption recoveries has been agreed upon with the insurance carrier
and will be recognized primarily during the second and third quarters of
2007.
Page
9
Notes
to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Ball
Corporation and Subsidiaries
9.
|
Goodwill
|
($
in millions)
|
Metal
Beverage
Packaging,
Americas
|
Metal
Beverage
Packaging,
Europe/Asia
|
Metal
Food & Household Products Packaging,
Americas
|
Plastic
Packaging,
Americas
|
Total
|
|||||||||||
Balance
at December 31, 2006
|
$
|
279.4
|
$
|
1,020.6
|
$
|
389.0
|
$
|
84.7
|
$
|
1,773.7
|
||||||
Purchase
accounting adjustments (a)
|
–
|
–
|
(4.7
|
)
|
(0.9
|
)
|
(5.6
|
)
|
||||||||
Transfer
of plastic pail business acquired from U.S. Can
|
–
|
–
|
(30.0
|
)
|
30.0
|
–
|
||||||||||
FIN
48 adoption adjustments (Notes 2 and 12)
|
–
|
(9.3
|
)
|
–
|
–
|
(9.3
|
)
|
|||||||||
Effects
of foreign currency exchange rates
|
–
|
11.7
|
–
|
(0.1
|
)
|
11.6
|
||||||||||
Balance
at April 1, 2007
|
$
|
279.4
|
$
|
1,023.0
|
$
|
354.3
|
$
|
113.7
|
$
|
1,770.4
|
(a) Related
to the U.S. Can and Alcan acquisitions discussed in
Note 4.
10.
|
Intangibles
and Other Assets
|
($
in millions)
|
April
1,
2007
|
December
31,
2006
|
|||||
Investments
in affiliates
|
$
|
80.1
|
$
|
76.5
|
|||
Intangibles
(net of accumulated amortization of $75.2 at April 1,
2007, and $70.7 at December 31, 2006)
|
130.5
|
116.2
|
|||||
Company-owned
life insurance
|
85.2
|
77.5
|
|||||
Deferred
tax asset
|
33.5
|
34.9
|
|||||
Property
insurance receivable
|
–
|
49.7
|
|||||
Other
|
69.9
|
75.1
|
|||||
$
|
399.2
|
$
|
429.9
|
Total
amortization expense of intangible assets amounted to $3.8 million and
$2.8 million for the first three months of 2007 and 2006,
respectively.
Page
10
Notes
to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Ball
Corporation and Subsidiaries
11.
|
Debt
and Interest Costs
|
Long-term
debt consisted of the following:
April
1, 2007
|
December
31, 2006
|
||||||||||||
(in
millions)
|
In
Local
Currency
|
In
U.S. $
|
In
Local
Currency
|
In
U.S. $
|
|||||||||
Notes
Payable
|
|||||||||||||
6.875%
Senior Notes, due December 2012 (excluding premium of $3.1 in 2007
and
$3.2 in 2006)
|
$
|
550.0
|
$
|
550.0
|
$
|
550.0
|
$
|
550.0
|
|||||
6.625%
Senior Notes, due March 2018 (excluding discount of $0.8 in 2007 and
$0.9 in 2006)
|
$
|
450.0
|
450.0
|
$
|
450.0
|
450.0
|
|||||||
Senior
Credit Facilities, due October 2011 (at variable
rates)
|
|||||||||||||
Term
A Loan, British sterling denominated
|
₤ |
85.0
|
167.3
|
₤ |
85.0
|
166.4
|
|||||||
Term
B Loan, euro denominated
|
€ |
350.0
|
467.5
|
€ |
350.0
|
462.0
|
|||||||
Term
C Loan, Canadian dollar denominated
|
C$ |
129.0
|
111.7
|
C$ |
134.0
|
114.9
|
|||||||
Term
D Loan, U.S. dollar denominated
|
$
|
500.0
|
500.0
|
$
|
500.0
|
500.0
|
|||||||
U.S.
dollar multi-currency revolver borrowings
|
$
|
135.0
|
135.0
|
$
|
15.0
|
15.0
|
|||||||
British
sterling multi-currency revolver borrowings
|
₤ |
4.0
|
7.9
|
₤ |
4.0
|
7.8
|
|||||||
Industrial
Development Revenue Bonds
|
|||||||||||||
Floating
rates due through 2015
|
$
|
20.0
|
20.0
|
$
|
20.0
|
20.0
|
|||||||
Other
|
Various
|
21.4
|
Various
|
25.5
|
|||||||||
2,430.8
|
2,311.6
|
||||||||||||
Less:
Current portion of long-term debt
|
(70.1
|
)
|
(41.2
|
)
|
|||||||||
$
|
2,360.7
|
$
|
2,270.4
|
At
April
1, 2007, approximately $554 million was available under the multi-currency
revolving credit facilities, which provide for up to $750 million in U.S.
dollar equivalents. The company also had short-term uncommitted credit
facilities of up to $337 million at April 1, 2007, of which
$168.1 million was outstanding and due on demand.
The
notes
payable are guaranteed on a full, unconditional and joint and several basis
by
certain of the company’s wholly owned domestic subsidiaries. The notes payable
also contain certain covenants and restrictions including, among other things,
limits on the incurrence of additional indebtedness and limits on the amount
of
restricted payments, such as dividends and share repurchases. Exhibit 20
contains unaudited condensed, consolidating financial information for the
company, segregating the guarantor subsidiaries and non-guarantor subsidiaries.
Separate financial statements for the guarantor subsidiaries and the
non-guarantor subsidiaries are not presented because management has determined
that such financial statements would not be material to investors.
The
company was in compliance with all loan agreements at April 1, 2007, and has
met
all debt payment obligations. The U.S. note agreements, bank credit agreement
and industrial development revenue bond agreements contain certain restrictions
relating to dividend payments, share repurchases, investments, financial ratios,
guarantees and the incurrence of additional indebtedness.
Page
11
Notes
to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Ball
Corporation and Subsidiaries
12.
|
Income
Taxes
|
Effective
January 1, 2007, Ball adopted FIN 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income
Taxes.” As of the date of adoption, the accrual for uncertain tax positions was
$45.8 million and the cumulative effect of the adoption was an increase in
the
reserve for uncertain tax positions of $2.1 million. The accrual includes
an $11.4 million charge to opening retained earnings and a
$9.3 million reduction in goodwill. An additional adjustment was made to
increase goodwill by $1.2 million in the opening balance sheet of the
acquisition of U.S. Can. The company records the related interest expense
and
penalties, if any, as a tax provision expense, consistent with the practice
prior to adoption. Potential interest expense comprises $6 million of the
accrual balance discussed above, while no penalties have been provided. The
amount of unrecognized tax benefits as of the date of adoption that, if
recognized, would affect the effective tax rate is approximately $37.6 million.
At this time there are no positions where the unrecognized tax benefit will
increase or decrease significantly within the next 12 months. U.S. federal
and
state income tax returns for the years 2000 through 2006 are open for audit.
The
income tax returns filed in Europe for the years 2002 through 2006 are also
open
for audit. The company’s significant filings in Europe are in France, Germany,
the Netherlands, Poland, Serbia and the United Kingdom. The other tax
jurisdictions are not significant to the overall tax provision or accrual
for
uncertain tax positions.
13.
|
Employee
Benefit Obligations
|
($
in millions)
|
April
1,
2007
|
December
31,
2006
|
|||||
Total
defined benefit pension liability
|
$
|
521.7
|
$
|
510.6
|
|||
Less
current portion
|
(24.9
|
)
|
(24.1
|
)
|
|||
Long-term
defined benefit pension liability
|
496.8
|
486.5
|
|||||
Retiree
medical and other postemployment benefits
|
201.8
|
191.1
|
|||||
Deferred
compensation plans
|
139.5
|
144.0
|
|||||
Other
|
8.7
|
26.1
|
|||||
$
|
846.8
|
$
|
847.7
|
Components
of net periodic benefit cost associated with the company’s defined benefit
pension plans were:
Three
Months Ended
|
|||||||||||||||||||
April
1, 2007
|
April
2, 2006
|
||||||||||||||||||
($
in millions)
|
U.S.
|
Foreign
|
Total
|
U.S.
|
Foreign
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||
Service
cost
|
$
|
10.1
|
$
|
2.2
|
$
|
12.3
|
$
|
7.1
|
$
|
2.2
|
$
|
9.3
|
|||||||
Interest
cost
|
11.7
|
7.3
|
19.0
|
10.9
|
6.5
|
17.4
|
|||||||||||||
Expected
return on plan assets
|
(13.6
|
)
|
(4.4
|
)
|
(18.0
|
)
|
(12.0
|
)
|
(3.8
|
)
|
(15.8
|
)
|
|||||||
Amortization
of prior service cost
|
0.1
|
(0.1
|
)
|
–
|
1.3
|
(0.1
|
)
|
1.2
|
|||||||||||
Recognized
net actuarial loss
|
3.4
|
1.2
|
4.6
|
4.9
|
0.8
|
5.7
|
|||||||||||||
Net
periodic benefit cost
|
$
|
11.7
|
$
|
6.2
|
$
|
17.9
|
$
|
12.2
|
$
|
5.6
|
$
|
17.8
|
Contributions
to the company’s defined global benefit pension plans, not including the
unfunded German plans, were $8.3 million in the first three months of 2007.
The total required contributions to these funded plans are expected to be
approximately $58 million in 2007. As part of the company’s overall debt
reduction plan, we anticipate contributing an incremental $70 million
($43 million after tax) to our North American pension plans during the
fourth quarter of 2007. Payments
to participants in the unfunded German plans were €4.4 million ($5.8 million) in
the first three months of 2007 and are expected to be approximately
€19 million for the full year (approximately $25 million).
Page
12
Notes
to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Ball
Corporation and Subsidiaries
14. Shareholders’
Equity and Comprehensive Earnings
Accumulated
Other Comprehensive Loss
Accumulated
other comprehensive loss includes the cumulative effect of foreign currency
translation, pension and other postretirement items and realized and unrealized
gains and losses on derivative instruments receiving cash flow hedge accounting
treatment.
($
in millions)
|
Foreign
Currency
Translation
|
Pension
and Other Postretirement Items
(net
of tax)
|
Effective
Financial
Derivatives
(a)
(net
of tax)
|
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
|
|||||||||
December
31, 2006
|
$
|
131.8
|
$
|
(161.9
|
)
|
$
|
0.6
|
$
|
(29.5
|
)
|
|||
Change
|
7.8
|
2.7
|
4.1
|
14.6
|
|||||||||
April
1, 2007
|
$
|
139.6
|
$
|
(159.2
|
)
|
$
|
4.7
|
$
|
(14.9
|
)
|
(a)
|
Refer
to Item 3, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,”
for a discussion of the company’s use of derivative financial
instruments.
|
Comprehensive
Earnings
Three
Months Ended
|
|||||||
($
in millions)
|
April
1, 2007
|
April
2, 2006
|
|||||
Net
earnings
|
$
|
81.2
|
$
|
44.4
|
|||
Foreign
currency translation adjustment
|
7.8
|
9.0
|
|||||
Pension and other postretirement items | 2.7 | – | |||||
Effect
of derivative instruments
|
4.1
|
(1.9
|
)
|
||||
Comprehensive
earnings
|
$
|
95.8
|
$
|
51.5
|
Page
13
Notes
to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Ball
Corporation and Subsidiaries
14. Shareholders’
Equity and Comprehensive Earnings (continued)
Stock-Based
Compensation Programs
The
company has shareholder approved stock option plans under which options to
purchase shares of Ball common stock have been granted to officers and employees
at the market value of the stock at the date of grant. Payment must be made
at
the time of exercise in cash or with shares of stock owned by the option holder,
which are valued at fair market value on the date exercised. In general, options
are exercisable in four equal installments commencing one year from the date
of
grant and terminate 10 years from the date of grant. A summary of stock
option activity for the three months ended April 1, 2007, follows:
Outstanding
Options
|
Nonvested
Options
|
||||||||||||
Number
of
Shares |
Weighted
Average Exercise Price
|
Number
of
Shares |
Weighted
Average Grant Date Fair Value |
||||||||||
Beginning
of year
|
4,852,978
|
$
|
26.69
|
1,286,937
|
$
|
10.27
|
|||||||
Vested
|
(200
|
)
|
9.26
|
||||||||||
Exercised
|
(273,571
|
)
|
16.45
|
||||||||||
Canceled/forfeited
|
(15,800
|
)
|
41.99
|
(15,800
|
)
|
10.39
|
|||||||
End
of period
|
4,563,607
|
27.25
|
1,270,937
|
10.27
|
|||||||||
Vested
and exercisable, end of period
|
3,292,670
|
22.31
|
|||||||||||
Reserved
for future grants
|
5,946,941
|
The
weighted average remaining contractual term for all options outstanding at
April
1, 2007, was 6 years and the aggregate intrinsic value (difference in
exercise price and closing price at that date) was $84.9 million. The
weighted average remaining contractual term for options vested and exercisable
at April 1, 2007, was 5.1 years and the aggregate intrinsic value was
$77.5 million. The company received $4.5 million from options
exercised during the three months ended April 1, 2007. The intrinsic value
associated with these exercises was $8.1 million and the associated tax
benefit of $3 million was reported as other financing activities in the
condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.
In
addition to stock options, the company issues to certain employees restricted
shares which vest over various periods but generally in equal installments
over
five years. Compensation cost is recorded based upon the fair value of the
shares at the grant date.
To
encourage certain senior management employees and outside directors to invest
in
Ball stock, Ball adopted a deposit share program in March 2001 (subsequently
amended and restated in April 2004) that matches purchased shares with
restricted shares. In general, restrictions on the matching shares lapse at
the
end of four years from date of grant, or earlier in stages if established share
ownership guidelines are met, assuming the relevant qualifying purchased shares
are not sold or transferred prior to that time. Grants under the plan are
accounted for as equity awards and compensation expense is recorded based upon
the fair value of the shares at the grant date.
For
the
three months ended April 1, 2007, the company recognized pretax expense of
$4.8 million ($2.9 million after tax) for share-based compensation
arrangements, which represented $0.03 per basic and diluted share. For the
three months ended April 2, 2006, the company recognized pretax expense of
$3.1 million ($1.9 million after tax) for such arrangements, which
represented $0.02 per basic and diluted share. At April 1, 2007, there was
$22.1 million of total unrecognized compensation costs related to nonvested
share-based compensation arrangements. This cost is expected to be recognized
in
earnings over a weighted-average period of 2.5 years.
Page
14
Notes
to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Ball
Corporation and Subsidiaries
15. Earnings
Per Share
Three
Months Ended
|
|||||||
($
in millions, except per share amounts; shares in
thousands)
|
April
1,
2007
|
April
2,
2006
|
|||||
Diluted
Earnings per Share:
|
|||||||
Net
earnings
|
$
|
81.2
|
$
|
44.4
|
|||
Weighted
average common shares
|
102,110
|
103,245
|
|||||
Effect
of dilutive stock options
|
1,705
|
1,808
|
|||||
Weighted
average shares applicable to diluted earnings per
share
|
103,815
|
105,053
|
|||||
Diluted
earnings per share
|
$
|
0.78
|
$
|
0.42
|
Information
needed to compute basic earnings per share is provided in the condensed
consolidated statements of earnings.
16.
|
Contingencies
|
The
company is subject to various risks and uncertainties in the ordinary course
of
business due, in part, to the competitive nature of the industries in which
the
company participates. We do business in countries outside the U.S., have
changing commodity prices for the materials used in the manufacture of our
packaging products and participate in changing capital markets. Where management
considers it warranted, we reduce these risks and uncertainties through the
establishment of risk management policies and procedures, including, at times,
the use of certain derivative financial instruments.
From
time
to time, the company is subject to routine litigation incident to its
businesses. Additionally, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has
designated Ball as a potentially responsible party, along with numerous other
companies, for the cleanup of several hazardous waste sites. Our information
at
this time does not indicate that these matters will have a material adverse
effect upon the liquidity, results of operations or financial condition of
the
company.
The
IRS
has proposed to disallow Ball’s deductions of interest expense for the tax years
2000 through 2004 incurred on loans under a company-owned life insurance
plan
that was established in 1986. Ball has disputed the IRS’s claims, and the
company believes the interest deductions will be sustained as
filed.
Page
15
17.
|
Indemnifications
and Guarantees
|
During
the normal course of business, the company or its appropriate consolidated
direct or indirect subsidiaries have made certain indemnities, commitments
and
guarantees under which the specified entity may be required to make payments
in
relation to certain transactions. These indemnities, commitments and guarantees
include indemnities to the customers of the subsidiaries in connection
with the
sales of their packaging and aerospace products and services; guarantees
to
suppliers of direct or indirect subsidiaries of the company guaranteeing
the
performance of the respective entity under a purchase agreement; guarantees
in
respect of certain foreign subsidiaries’ pension plans; indemnities for
liabilities associated with the infringement of third party patents, trademarks
or copyrights under various types of agreements; indemnities to various
lessors
in connection with facility, equipment, furniture and other personal property
leases for certain claims arising from such leases; indemnities to governmental
agencies in connection with the issuance of a permit or license to the
company
or a subsidiary; indemnities pursuant to agreements relating to certain
joint
ventures; indemnities in connection with the sale of businesses or substantially
all of the assets and specified liabilities of businesses; and indemnities
to
directors, officers and employees of the company to the extent permitted
under
the laws of the State of Indiana and the United States of America. The
duration
of these indemnities, commitments and guarantees varies, and in certain
cases,
is indefinite. In addition, the majority of these indemnities, commitments
and
guarantees do not provide for any limitation on the maximum potential future
payments the company could be obligated to make. As such, the company is
unable
to reasonably estimate its potential exposure under these items.
The
company has not recorded any liability for these indemnities, commitments and
guarantees in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. The
company does, however, accrue for payments under promissory notes and other
evidences of incurred indebtedness and for losses for any known contingent
liability, including those that may arise from indemnifications, commitments
and
guarantees, when future payment is both reasonably determinable and probable.
Finally, the company carries specific and general liability insurance policies
and has obtained indemnities, commitments and guarantees from third party
purchasers, sellers and other contracting parties, which the company believes
would, in certain circumstances, provide recourse to any claims arising from
these indemnifications, commitments and guarantees.
The
company’s senior notes and senior credit facilities are guaranteed on a full,
unconditional and joint and several basis by certain of the company’s wholly
owned domestic subsidiaries. Foreign tranches of the senior credit facilities
are similarly guaranteed by certain of the company’s wholly owned foreign
subsidiaries. These guarantees are required in support of the notes and credit
facilities referred to above, are co-terminous with the terms of the respective
note indentures and credit agreement and would require performance upon certain
events of default referred to in the respective guarantees. The maximum
potential amounts which could be required to be paid under the guarantees are
essentially equal to the then outstanding principal and interest under the
respective notes and credit agreement, or under the applicable tranche. The
company is not in default under the above notes or credit facilities.
Ball
Capital Corp. II is a separate, wholly owned corporate entity created for the
purchase of receivables from certain of the company’s wholly owned subsidiaries.
Ball Capital Corp. II’s assets will be available first to satisfy the claims of
its creditors. The company has provided an undertaking to Ball Capital Corp.
II
in support of the sale of receivables to a commercial lender or lenders which
would require performance upon certain events of default referred to in the
undertaking. The maximum potential amount which could be paid is equal to the
outstanding amounts due under the accounts receivable financing (see
Note 6). The company, the relevant subsidiaries and Ball Capital Corp. II
are not in default under the above credit arrangement.
From
time
to time, the company is subject to claims arising in the ordinary course of
business. In the opinion of management, no such matter, individually or in
the
aggregate, exists which is expected to have a material adverse effect on the
company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash
flows.
Page
16
Item
2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
Management’s
discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the unaudited
condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. Ball
Corporation and its subsidiaries are referred to collectively as “Ball” or the
“company” or “we” or “our” in the following discussion and
analysis.
BUSINESS
OVERVIEW
Ball
Corporation is one of the world’s leading suppliers of metal and plastic
packaging to the beverage, food and household products industries. Our packaging
products are produced for a variety of end uses and are manufactured
in plants around the world. We also supply aerospace and other technologies
and services to governmental and commercial customers.
We
sell
our packaging products primarily to major beverage and food producers and
producers of household products with which we have developed long-term customer
relationships. This is evidenced by our high customer retention and our large
number of long-term supply contracts. While we have diversified our customer
base, we do sell a majority of our packaging products to relatively few major
companies in North America, Europe, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and
Argentina, as do our equity joint ventures in Brazil, the U.S. and the PRC.
We
also purchase raw materials from relatively few suppliers. Because of our
customer and supplier concentration, our business, financial condition and
results of operations could be adversely affected by the loss of a major
customer or supplier or a change in a supply agreement with a major customer
or
supplier, although our long-term relationships and contracts mitigate these
risks.
In
the
rigid packaging industry, sales and earnings can be improved by reducing
costs,
developing new products, expanding volume and increasing pricing. In 2008
we
expect to complete a project to upgrade and streamline our North American
beverage can end manufacturing capabilities, a project that is expected to
result in productivity gains and cost reductions beginning this year. While
the
U.S. and Canadian beverage container manufacturing industry is relatively
mature, the European, PRC and Brazilian beverage can markets are growing
and are
expected to continue to grow. We are capitalizing on this growth by continuing
to reconfigure some of our European can manufacturing lines. To better position
the company in the European market, the capacity from the fire-damaged Hassloch,
Germany, plant is being replaced with a mix of steel beverage can manufacturing
capacity in the Hassloch plant and aluminum beverage can manufacturing capacity
in the company’s Hermsdorf, Germany, plant. Two of the new German lines are
currently producing at limited capacity, and all three lines are expected
to be
in commercial production by the end of the second quarter of
2007.
As part of our packaging strategy, we are focused on developing and marketing new and existing products that meet the needs of our customers. These innovations include new shapes, sizes, opening features and other functional benefits of both metal and plastic packaging. This packaging development activity helps us maintain and expand our supply positions with major beverage, food and household products customers.
Ball’s
consolidated earnings are exposed to foreign exchange rate fluctuations. We
attempt to mitigate this exposure through the use of derivative financial
instruments, as discussed in “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About
Market Risk” within Item 3 of this report.
The
primary customers for the products and services provided by our aerospace and
technologies segment are U.S. government agencies or their prime contractors.
It
is possible that federal budget reductions and priorities, or changes in agency
budgets, could limit future funding and new contract awards or delay or prolong
contract performance.
We
recognize sales under long-term contracts in the aerospace and technologies
segment using the cost-to-cost, percentage of completion method of accounting.
Our present contract mix consists of approximately two-thirds cost-type
contracts, which are billed at our costs plus an agreed upon and/or earned
profit component, and approximately one-third fixed price contracts. We
include time and material contracts in the fixed price category because such
contracts typically provide for the sale of engineering labor at fixed hourly
rates.
Page
17
Throughout
the period of contract performance, we regularly reevaluate and, if necessary,
revise our estimates of total contract revenue, total contract cost and progress
toward completion. Because of contract payment schedules, limitations on funding
and other contract terms, our sales and accounts receivable for this segment
include amounts that have been earned but not yet billed.
Management
uses various measures to evaluate company performance. The primary financial
metric we use is economic value added (operating earnings, as defined by the
company, less a charge for net operating assets employed). Our goal is to
increase economic value added on an annual basis. Other financial metrics we
use
are earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT); earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation and amortization (EBITDA); diluted earnings per share; operating
cash flow and free cash flow (generally defined by the company as cash flow
from
operating activities less capital expenditures). These financial measures may
be
adjusted at times for items that affect comparability between periods.
Nonfinancial measures in the packaging segments include production spoilage
rates, quality control figures, safety statistics and production and shipment
volumes. Additional measures used to evaluate performance in the aerospace
and
technologies segment include contract revenue realization, award and incentive
fees realized, proposal win rates and backlog (including awarded, contracted
and
funded backlog).
We
recognize that attracting and retaining quality employees is essential to the
success of Ball and, because of this, we strive to pay employees competitively
and encourage their ownership of the company’s common stock as part of a
diversified portfolio. For most management employees, a meaningful portion
of
compensation is at risk as an incentive, dependent upon economic value added
operating performance. For more senior positions, more compensation is at risk.
Through our employee stock purchase plan and 401(k) plan, which matches employee
contributions with Ball common stock, employees, regardless of organizational
level, have opportunities to own Ball stock.
CONSOLIDATED
SALES AND EARNINGS
The
company has five reportable segments organized along a combination of product
lines and geographic areas: (1) metal beverage packaging, Americas;
(2) metal beverage packaging, Europe/Asia; (3) metal food and
household products packaging, Americas; (4) plastic packaging, Americas; and
(5) aerospace and technologies. We also have investments in companies in
the U.S., the PRC and Brazil, which are accounted for using the equity method
of
accounting and, accordingly, those results are not included in segment sales
or
earnings.
During
the fourth quarter of 2006, Ball’s management changed the
company’s method of inventory accounting for certain inventories from the
last-in, first-out (LIFO) method to the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method in
the
metal beverage, Americas, and the metal food and household products packaging,
Americas, segments. The period ended April 2, 2006, has been
retrospectively adjusted on a FIFO basis. In the third quarter of 2006, the
company changed its expense allocation method by allocating to each of the
packaging segments stock-based compensation expense previously included in
corporate undistributed expenses. These changes did not have a significant
impact on any segment for the current or prior years. The quarter ended
April 2, 2006, has been conformed to the current presentation of this
expense allocation.
Metal
Beverage Packaging, Americas
The
metal
beverage packaging, Americas, segment consists of operations located in the
U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, which manufacture metal container products used
in
beverage packaging. This segment accounted for 38 percent of consolidated
net sales in the first three months of 2007 (43 percent in 2006). Sales
were 8 percent higher in 2007 than in 2006 as a result of higher sales
prices, which were primarily due to rising aluminum prices.
Segment
earnings of $93.8 million in the first quarter of 2007 were higher than
those of the first quarter of 2006, which were $53.5 million. Contributing
to the higher earnings were the impact of high raw material inventories carried
through from 2006, cost recovery mechanisms in certain customer contracts,
positive cost impacts from new end technology projects and improved production
efficiencies in our manufacturing facilities. Reductions in energy costs
also
contributed to the improved earnings performance. The higher levels of raw
material inventories carried over from 2006 were the result of purchasing
more
than normal supplies of raw material to address concerns about potential
work
stoppages and concerns of delivery from certain suppliers. The comparatively
high earnings in the first quarter of 2007 are not expected to continue as
the
inventories carried over from 2006 were used during the first quarter.
Page
18
We
continue to focus efforts on the growing custom beverage can business, which
includes cans of different shapes, diameters and fill volumes, and cans with
added functional attributes for new products and product line
extensions.
Metal
Beverage Packaging, Europe/Asia
The
metal
beverage packaging, Europe/Asia, segment includes metal beverage packaging
products manufactured and sold in Europe and Asia, as well as plastic containers
manufactured and sold in Asia. This segment accounted for 23 percent of
consolidated net sales in the first three months of 2007 (22 percent in
2006). Segment sales in the first quarter of 2007 were 28 percent higher
compared to the same period of the prior year due largely to strong demand,
market growth, higher volumes, price recovery initiatives and the strength
of
the euro. Higher segment volumes were aided by favorable European weather
and
growth in Europe of custom can volumes. The slow return of the metal beverage
can to the German market, following the mandatory deposit legislation previously
reported on, is being more than offset by stronger demand in southern and
eastern Europe, which experienced double-digit percentage growth in the first
quarter of 2007. Higher
segment volumes in the PRC were aided by continued growth of beverage
consumption and a shift mix from other packaging
types.
Segment
earnings were $44.9 million in the first three months of 2007 compared to
$28.1 million for the same period in 2006. Earnings in 2007 were higher due
to increased sales volumes; price recovery initiatives; a stronger euro; and
manufacturing and selling, general and administrative cost control programs.
These improvements were partially offset by higher raw material, freight and
energy costs.
On
April 1, 2006, a fire in the metal beverage can plant in Hassloch, Germany,
damaged a significant portion of the building and machinery and equipment.
A
$34.7 million fixed asset write down was recorded in the first quarter of
2006, which represented the estimated impairment of the assets damaged as a
result of the fire. No gain or loss was recorded in the first quarter of 2006
as
a result of the fire, although a pretax gain of $75.5 million was recorded
during the remainder of 2006. In accordance with the final agreement reached
with the insurance company in November 2006, the final property insurance
proceeds of €37.6 million ($48.6 million) were received in
January 2007. Additionally, €8.3 million ($10.9 million) was
recognized in the first quarter of 2007 for insurance recoveries related to
business interruption costs. Approximately €19 million of additional
business interruption recoveries has been agreed upon with the insurance carrier
and will be recognized during the second and third quarters of
2007.
Metal
Food & Household Products Packaging, Americas
The
metal
food and household products packaging, Americas, segment consists of operations
located in the U.S., Canada and Argentina. The company acquired U.S. Can
Corporation (U.S. Can) on March 27, 2006, and with that acquisition, added
to its metal food can manufacturing the production of aerosol cans, paint cans
and custom and specialty cans. Effective January 1, 2007, responsibility
for a small plastic pail business acquired with the U.S. Can transaction was
transferred to the plastic packaging, Americas, segment.
Segment
sales in the first quarter of 2007 comprised 16 percent of consolidated net
sales (14 percent in 2006). First quarter 2007 sales were 47 percent
higher than in the first quarter of 2006 due to the inclusion of sales from
the
acquisition of U.S. Can and the pass through of higher raw material costs.
These
increases were partially offset by lower metal food can sales volumes compared
to the first quarter of 2006, which were attributable to higher pre-buys by
our
customers in the first quarter of 2006 compared to the first quarter of 2007,
as
a result of announced steel price increases, and lost business in 2006 that
impacted first quarter 2007 food can sales volumes.
Segment
losses were $0.2 million in the first quarter of 2007 compared to earnings
of $1 million in the same period last year. Earnings in the first quarter
of 2007 were negatively impacted by higher costs as a result of poor
manufacturing performance in late 2006 carried into 2007, higher manufacturing
costs and inefficiencies in the first quarter of 2007 attributable to ongoing
integration efforts related to the closure of Ball’s Burlington, Ontario,
manufacturing facility in the fourth quarter of 2006, higher material costs
and
lower metal food can sales volumes. The first quarter of 2006 also included
a
pretax charge of $2.1 million ($1.4 million after tax) for employee
benefit and decommissioning costs related to the shut down of a metal food
can
manufacturing line in Ball’s Whitby, Ontario, plant.
Page
19
Additional
details regarding business consolidation activities are available in Note 5
accompanying the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included
within Item 1 of this report.
Plastic
Packaging, Americas
The
plastic packaging, Americas, segment consists of operations located in the
U.S.
and Canada, which manufacture polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene
plastic container products used mainly in beverage and food packaging, as
well
as high density polyethylene and polypropylene containers for industrial
and
household product applications. On March 28, 2006, Ball acquired North
American plastic bottle container assets from Alcan Packaging (Alcan), including
two plastic container manufacturing plants in the U.S. and one in Canada,
as
well as certain manufacturing equipment and other assets from other Alcan
facilities. Effective January 1, 2007, responsibility
for a U.S. Can plastic pail business was also transferred to the plastic
packaging, Americas, segment.
Segment
sales, which accounted for 11 percent of consolidated net sales in the
first quarter of 2007 (9 percent in 2006), were 52 percent higher than
in the same period in 2006. The segment sales increase in the first quarter
was
related to the Alcan acquisition and the sales from the transferred plastic
pail
business from the U.S. Can acquisition, as well as higher PET bottle volumes
in
2007. We continue to focus PET development efforts in the custom hot-fill,
beer,
wine, flavored alcoholic beverage and specialty container markets, and we
have
added specialty container production capacity in these areas to accommodate
anticipated new demand. In the food and specialty area, development efforts
are
focused on custom markets as well.
Segment
earnings of $2.3 million in the first three months of 2007 were higher than
first quarter 2006 earnings of $1.6 million largely due to the incremental
sales from the Alcan and U.S. Can acquisitions, partially offset by lower
than
anticipated PET sales volumes and the temporary idling of some production
capacity, which negatively impacted segment earnings in the first quarter
of
2007.
Aerospace
and Technologies
Aerospace
and technologies segment sales, which represented 12 percent of
consolidated net sales in the first quarter of 2007 (12 percent in 2006),
were 29 percent higher than in the first quarter of 2006 due to new
programs, increased scope on previously awarded contracts and cost overruns,
offset by reductions to ongoing programs due to customer funding constraints
and
program delays. Segment earnings were $19.6 million in the first three
months of 2007 compared to $9.5 million for the same period in 2006.
Earnings improvement in the first quarter of 2007 was due to an improved
contract mix as a consequence of newer, more profitable programs. In addition,
earnings in the first quarter of 2006 were negatively affected by the lower
sales due to program delays and higher unrecoverable pension costs.
Contracted
backlog in the aerospace and technologies segment at April 1, 2007, was
$832 million compared to a backlog of $886 million at December 31,
2006. Comparisons of backlog are not necessarily indicative of the trend of
future operations.
For
additional information on our segment operations, see the Summary of Business
by
Segment in Note 3 accompanying the unaudited condensed consolidated financial
statements included within Item 1 of this report.
Selling,
General and Administrative
Selling,
general and administrative (SG&A) expenses were $82.2 million in the
first quarter of 2007 compared to $70.3 million for the same period in
2006. Contributing to higher expenses in the first quarter of 2007 compared
to
2006 were $4.5 million of additional SG&A from the U.S. Can
acquisition, expense associated with the mark-to-market adjustment of a deferred
stock incentive compensation plan and normal compensation and benefit increases,
including incentive compensation. Also, a $5.8 million out-of-period
adjustment was included in SG&A expenses in the first quarter of
2006.
Interest
and Taxes
Consolidated
interest expense was $37.9 million for the first three months of 2007
compared to $23.3 million in the same period of 2006. The higher expense in
2007 was primarily due to higher average borrowings in connection with the
company’s acquisitions in March 2006.
Page
20
The
consolidated effective income tax rate was 32 percent for the first three months
of 2007 compared to 29 percent for the same period in 2006. The tax rate
was higher in 2007 primarily due to the current impact of Financial
Interpretation No. (FIN) 48, which the company adopted as of
January 1, 2007; slightly lower projected tax credits in 2007; the
expiration, on December 31, 2006, of the extraterritorial income exclusion
for exporters, which was partially offset by an increase in the 2007
manufacturing deduction percentage; and a shift in the pretax income mix to
higher tax jurisdictions. In addition, the 2006 effective tax rate included
a
discrete period $1.4 million tax benefit recorded upon the settlement of
certain tax matters, as well as the tax benefit for some non-recurring
deductions, including a Canadian rationalization charge. Details regarding
the
adoption of FIN 48 are included in Note 12 to the unaudited condensed
consolidated financial statements within Item 1 of this
report.
NEW
ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
For
information regarding recent accounting pronouncements, see Note 2 to the
unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements within Item 1 of this
report.
FINANCIAL
CONDITION, LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Cash
flows used in operations were $107.7 million in the first three months of
2007 compared to $171.8 million in the first three months of 2006.
The
improvement over 2006 was primarily due to higher net earnings.
Based
on
information currently available, we estimate 2007 capital spending to be
approximately $275 million, net of property insurance recoveries, compared
to 2006 net capital spending of $218.3 million.
Interest-bearing
debt increased to $2,598.9 million at April 1, 2007, compared to
$2,451.7 million at December 31, 2006, primarily due to seasonal working
capital needs, common stock repurchases and a higher euro. We intend to allocate
our operating cash flow in 2007 to debt reduction, dividends and common stock
repurchases. Our stock repurchase program, net of issuances, is expected
to be
more than $175 million in 2007 compared to $45.7 million in 2006.
Through the first quarter of 2007, we repurchased $87.5 million of our
common stock, net of issuances, including the $51.9 million settlement in
January 2007 of a forward contract commenced in
December 2006.
Total
required contributions to the company’s defined benefit plans, not including the
unfunded German plans, are expected to be approximately $58 million in
2007. As part of the company’s overall debt reduction plan, we anticipate
contributing an incremental $70 million ($43 million after tax) to our
North American pension plans during the fourth quarter of 2007. We expect
these
incremental contributions to bring the pension plans funding to the 95 percent
level.
This
estimate may change based on plan asset performance, the revaluation of the
plans’ liabilities later in 2007 and revised estimates of 2007 full-year cash
flows. Payments to participants in the unfunded German plans are expected
to be
approximately €19 million for the full year (approximately $25
million).
At
April
1, 2007, approximately $554 million was available under the company’s
multi-currency revolving credit facilities. In addition, the company had
short-term uncommitted credit facilities of $337 million at the end of the
first quarter, of which $168.1 million was outstanding.
The
company has a receivables sales agreement that provides for the ongoing,
revolving sale of a designated pool of trade accounts receivable of Ball’s North
American packaging operations, up to $225 million. The agreement qualifies
as off-balance sheet financing under the provisions of Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 140, as amended by SFAS No. 156.
Net funds received from the sale of the accounts receivable totaled
$181.4 million at April 1, 2007, and $201.3 million at December 31,
2006, and are reflected as a reduction of accounts receivable in the condensed
consolidated balance sheets.
The
company was in compliance with all loan agreements at April 1, 2007, and has
met
all debt payment obligations. Additional details about the company’s debt and
receivables sales agreement are available in Notes 11 and 6, respectively,
accompanying the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included
within Item 1 of this report.
Page
21
CONTINGENCIES,
INDEMNIFICATIONS AND GUARANTEES
Details
about the company’s contingencies, indemnifications and guarantees are available
in Notes 16 and 17 accompanying the unaudited condensed consolidated
financial statements included within Item 1 of this report.
Item
3. QUANTITATIVE
AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
In the ordinary course of business, we employ established risk management policies and procedures to reduce our exposure to fluctuations in commodity prices, interest rates, foreign currencies and prices of the company’s common stock in regard to common share repurchases. Although the instruments utilized involve varying degrees of credit, market and interest risk, the counterparties to the agreements are expected to perform fully under the terms of the agreements.
We
have
estimated our market risk exposure using sensitivity analysis. Market risk
exposure has been defined as the changes in fair value of derivative
instruments, financial instruments and commodity positions. To test the
sensitivity of our market risk exposure, we have estimated the changes in fair
value of market risk sensitive instruments assuming a hypothetical
10 percent adverse change in market prices or rates. The results of the
sensitivity analysis are summarized below.
Commodity
Price Risk
We
manage
our North American commodity price risk in connection with market price
fluctuations of aluminum primarily by entering into can and can end sales
contracts, which generally include aluminum-based pricing terms that consider
price fluctuations under our commercial supply contracts for aluminum purchases.
Such terms may include a fixed price or an upper limit to the aluminum component
pricing. This matched pricing affects substantially all of our metal beverage
packaging, Americas, net sales. We also, at times, use certain derivative
instruments such as option and forward contracts as cash flow hedges to match
commodity price risk with sales contracts.
Most
of
the plastic packaging, Americas, sales contracts negotiated through the end
of
the first quarter include provisions to pass through resin cost changes. As
a
result, we believe we have minimal exposure related to changes in the cost
of
plastic resin. Many of our metal food and household products packaging,
Americas, sales contracts negotiated through the end of the first quarter either
include provisions permitting us to pass through some or all steel cost changes
we incur or incorporate annually negotiated steel costs. We anticipate that
we
will be able to pass through the majority of the steel price increases that
occur through the fourth quarter of 2007.
In
Europe
and Asia, the company manages aluminum and steel raw material commodity price
risks through annual and long-term contracts for the purchase of the materials,
as well as certain sales contracts, that reduce the company’s
exposure to fluctuations in commodity prices within the current year. These
purchase and sales contracts include fixed price, floating and pass-through
pricing arrangements. To minimize Ball’s exposure to significant price changes,
the company also uses forward and option contracts as cash flow hedges to manage
future aluminum price risk and foreign exchange exposures for those sales
contracts where there is not a pass-through arrangement.
Outstanding
derivative contracts at the end of the first quarter of 2007 expire within
five
years. Included in shareholders’ equity at April 1, 2007, within accumulated
other comprehensive loss, is approximately $0.2 million of net gain
associated with these contracts, of which $0.7 million of net gain is
expected to be recognized in the consolidated statement of earnings during
the
next 12 months. Gains and/or losses on these derivative contracts will be
offset by higher and/or lower costs on metal purchases.
Considering
the effects of derivative instruments, the market’s ability to accept price
increases and the company’s commodity price exposures, a hypothetical
10 percent adverse change in the company’s steel, aluminum and resin prices
could result in an estimated $12.3 million after-tax reduction of net
earnings over a one-year period. Additionally, if foreign currency exchange
rates were to change adversely by 10 percent, we estimate there could be a
$13.1 million after-tax reduction of net earnings over a one-year period
for foreign currency exposures on the metal. Actual results may vary based
on
actual changes in market prices and rates.
Page
22
The
company is also exposed to fluctuations in prices for energy such as natural
gas
and electricity, as well as the cost of diesel fuel as a component of freight
cost. A hypothetical 10 percent increase in our utility prices could result
in an estimated $8.9 million after-tax reduction of net earnings over a one-year
period. A hypothetical 10 percent increase in our diesel fuel surcharge
could result in an estimated $2 million after-tax reduction of net earnings
over the same period. Actual results may vary based on actual changes in market
prices and rates.
Interest
Rate Risk
Our
objectives in managing exposure to interest rate changes are to limit the effect
of such changes on earnings and cash flows and to lower our overall borrowing
costs. To achieve these objectives, we use a variety of interest rate swaps
and
options to manage our mix of floating and fixed-rate debt. Interest rate
instruments held by the company at April 1, 2007, included pay-fixed interest
rate swaps. Pay-fixed swaps effectively convert variable rate obligations to
fixed rate instruments. Swap agreements expire at various times within the
next
five years. Included in shareholders’ equity at April 1, 2007, within
accumulated other comprehensive loss, is approximately $4.3 million of net
gain associated with these contracts, of which $0.9 million of net earnings
is expected to be recognized in the consolidated statement of earnings during
the next 12 months. Approximately $1.1 million of net gain related to
the termination or deselection of hedges is included in the above accumulated
other comprehensive loss at April 1, 2007. The amount recognized in 2007
earnings related to terminated hedges is insignificant.
Based
on
our interest rate exposure at April 1, 2007, assumed floating rate debt levels
through the first quarter of 2008 and the effects of derivative instruments,
a
100 basis point increase in interest rates could result in an estimated
$7.7 million after-tax reduction of net earnings over a one-year period.
Actual results may vary based on actual changes in market prices and rates
and
the timing of these changes.
Foreign
Currency Exchange Rate Risk
Our
objective in managing exposure to foreign currency fluctuations is to protect
foreign cash flows and earnings associated with foreign exchange rate changes
through the use of cash flow hedges. In addition, we manage foreign earnings
translation volatility through the use of foreign currency options. Our foreign
currency translation risk results from the European euro, British pound,
Canadian dollar, Polish zloty, Chinese renminbi, Brazilian real, Argentine
peso
and Serbian dinar. We face currency exposures in our global operations as a
result of purchasing raw materials in U.S. dollars and, to a lesser extent,
in
other currencies. Sales contracts are negotiated with customers to reflect
cost
changes and, where there is not a foreign exchange pass-through arrangement,
the
company uses forward and option contracts to manage foreign currency exposures.
Contracts outstanding at the end of the first quarter 2007 expire within five
years. At April 1, 2007, there were no amounts included in accumulated other
comprehensive loss for these items.
Considering
the company’s derivative financial instruments outstanding at April 1, 2007, and
the currency exposures, a hypothetical 10 percent reduction in foreign
currency exchange rates compared to the U.S. dollar could result in an estimated
$22.2 million after-tax reduction of net earnings over a one-year period.
This amount includes the $13.1 million currency exposure discussed above in
the
“Commodity Price Risk” section. This hypothetical adverse change in foreign
currency exchange rates would also reduce our forecasted average debt balance
by
$85.9 million. Actual changes in market prices or rates may differ from
hypothetical changes.
Item
4. CONTROLS
AND PROCEDURES
Our
chief
executive officer and chief financial officer participated in management’s
evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined by the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as of the end of the period covered
by
this report and concluded that our controls and procedures were effective.
During
the quarter, there were no changes in the company’s internal control over
financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely
to
materially affect, the company’s internal control over financial reporting. The
company acquired certain operations of U.S. Can on March 27, 2006, and certain
assets of Alcan on March 28, 2006. (Additional details are available in
Note 4 to the condensed consolidated financial statements within
Item 1 of this report.) The company is integrating the acquired
U.S. Can and Alcan operations within its system of internal controls over
financial reporting. Pursuant to rules promulgated under Section 404 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the controls for these acquired operations are
required to be evaluated and tested by the end of 2007.
Page
23
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENT
The
company has made or implied certain forward-looking statements in this report
which are made as of the end of the time frame covered by this report. These
forward-looking statements represent the company’s goals, and results could vary
materially from those expressed or implied. From time to time we also provide
oral or written forward-looking statements in other materials we release to
the
public. As time passes, the relevance and accuracy of forward-looking statements
may change. Some factors that could cause the company’s actual results or
outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking
statements include, but are not limited to: fluctuation in customer and consumer
growth, demand and preferences; loss of one or more major customers or changes
to contracts with one or more customers; insufficient production capacity;
overcapacity in foreign and domestic metal and plastic container industry
production facilities and its impact on pricing; failure to achieve anticipated
productivity improvements or production cost reductions, including those
associated with capital expenditures such as our beverage can end project;
changes in climate and weather; fruit, vegetable and fishing yields; power
and
natural resource costs; difficulty in obtaining supplies and energy, such as
gas
and electric power; availability and cost of raw materials, as well as the
recent significant increases in resin, steel, aluminum and energy costs, and
the
ability or inability to include or pass on to customers changes in raw material
costs; changes in the pricing of the company’s products and services;
competition in pricing and the possible decrease in, or loss of, sales resulting
therefrom; insufficient or reduced cash flow; transportation costs; the number
and timing of the purchases of the company’s common shares; regulatory action or
federal and state legislation including mandated corporate governance and
financial reporting laws; the effects of the German mandatory deposit or other
restrictive packaging legislation such as recycling laws; interest rates
affecting our debt; labor strikes; increases and trends in various employee
benefits and labor costs, including pension, medical and health care costs;
rates of return projected and earned on assets and discount rates used to
measure future obligations and expenses of the company’s defined benefit
retirement plans; boycotts; antitrust, intellectual property, consumer and
other
litigation; maintenance and capital expenditures; goodwill impairment; changes
in generally accepted accounting principles or their interpretation; accounting
changes; local economic conditions; the authorization, funding, availability
and
returns of contracts for the aerospace and technologies segment and the nature
and continuation of those contracts and related services provided thereunder;
delays, extensions and technical uncertainties, as well as schedules of
performance associated with such segment contracts; international business
and
market risks such as the devaluation or revaluation of certain currencies and
the activities of foreign subsidiaries; international business risks (including
foreign exchange rates and activities of foreign subsidiaries) in Europe and
particularly in developing countries such as the PRC and Brazil; changes in
the
foreign exchange rates of the U.S. dollar against the European euro, British
pound, Polish zloty, Serbian dinar, Hong Kong dollar, Canadian dollar, Chinese
renminbi, Brazilian real and Argentine peso, and in the foreign exchange rate
of
the European euro against the British pound, Polish zloty and Serbian dinar;
terrorist activity or war that disrupts the company’s
production or supply; regulatory action or laws including tax, environmental
and
workplace safety; technological developments and innovations; successful or
unsuccessful acquisitions, joint ventures or divestitures and the integration
activities associated therewith; changes to unaudited results due to statutory
audits of our financial statements or management’s evaluation of the company’s
internal controls over financial reporting; and loss contingencies related
to
income and other tax matters, including those arising from audits performed
by
U.S. and foreign tax authorities. If the company is unable to achieve its goals,
then the company’s actual performance could vary materially from those goals
expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. The company currently
does not intend to publicly update forward-looking statements except as it
deems
necessary in quarterly or annual earnings reports. You are advised, however,
to
consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our 10-K, 10-Q
and 8-K reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Page
24
PART
II. OTHER
INFORMATION
Item
1.
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
There
were no events required to be reported under Item 1 for the quarter ended April
1, 2007.
Item
1A. Risk
Factors
Risk
factors affecting the company can be found within Item 1A of the company’s
annual report on Form 10-K.
Item
2.
|
Changes
in Securities
|
The
following table summarizes the company’s repurchases of its common stock during
the quarter ended
April 1,
2007.
Purchases
of Securities
|
|||||||||||||
($
in millions)
|
Total
Number
of
Shares
Purchased
|
Average
Price
Paid
per
Share |
Total
Number
of
Shares
Purchased as Part
of Publicly
Announced
Plans
or
Programs
|
Maximum
Number
of
Shares that May
Yet
Be Purchased
Under
the Plans
or Programs(b)
|
|||||||||
January 1
to February 4, 2007
|
1,200,185
|
$
|
43.29
|
1,200,185
|
8,727,990
|
||||||||
February 5
to March 4, 2007
|
418,199
|
$
|
46.02
|
418,199
|
8,309,791
|
||||||||
March 5
to April 1, 2007
|
701,148
|
$
|
45.77
|
701,148
|
7,608,643
|
||||||||
Total
|
2,319,532(a
|
)
|
$
|
44.53
|
2,319,532
|
(a)
|
Includes
open market purchases and/or shares retained by the company to settle
employee withholding tax
liabilities.
|
(b)
|
The
company has an ongoing repurchase program for which shares are authorized
from time to time by Ball’s board of
directors.
|
Item
3.
|
Defaults
Upon Senior Securities
|
There
were no events required to be reported under Item 3 for the quarter ended April
1, 2007.
Item
4.
|
Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Security
Holders
|
There
were no events required to be reported under Item 4 for the quarter ended
April 1, 2007.
Item
5.
|
Other
Information
|
There
were no events required to be reported under Item 5 for the quarter ended April
1, 2007.
Page
25
Item
6. Exhibits
20
|
Subsidiary
Guarantees of Debt
|
31
|
Certifications
pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), by R. David Hoover,
Chairman
of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ball Corporation
and by Raymond J. Seabrook, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of Ball Corporation
|
32
|
Certifications
pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and Section 1350 of
Chapter
63 of Title 18 of the United States Code, by R. David Hoover, Chairman
of
the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ball Corporation
and
by Raymond J. Seabrook, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of Ball Corporation
|
99
|
Safe
Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of
1995, as amended
|
Page
26
SIGNATURE
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant
has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto
duly authorized.
Ball
Corporation
|
||
(Registrant)
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Raymond J. Seabrook
|
|
Raymond
J. Seabrook
|
||
Executive
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
|
||
Date:
|
May 9,
2007
|
Page
27
Ball
Corporation and Subsidiaries
QUARTERLY
REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
April
1,
2007
EXHIBIT
INDEX
Description
|
Exhibit
|
|
Subsidiary
Guarantees of Debt (Filed herewith.)
|
EX-20
|
|
Certifications
pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), by R. David Hoover,
Chairman
of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ball Corporation
and by Raymond J. Seabrook, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of Ball Corporation (Filed herewith.)
|
EX-31
|
|
Certifications
pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and Section 1350 of
Chapter
63 of Title 18 of the United States Code, by R. David Hoover, Chairman
of
the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ball Corporation
and
by Raymond J. Seabrook, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of Ball Corporation (Furnished herewith.)
|
EX-32
|
|
Safe
Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of
1995, as amended (Filed herewith.)
|
EX-99
|
Page
28