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Fluctuation in customer and consumer growth, demand and preferences, particularly during the months when the demand for metal beverage beer and soft drink cans is heaviest; loss of one or more major customers or suppliers or changes to contracts with one or more customers or suppliers; manufacturing overcapacity or under capacity; 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; interest rates affecting our debt; labor strikes and work stoppages; boycotts;  antitrust, intellectual property, consumer and other litigation; level of maintenance and capital expenditures; capital availability; economic conditions; and acts of war, terrorism or catastrophic events.

 

●	Competition in pricing and the possible decrease in, or loss of, sales resulting therefrom.

 

●	The timing and extent of regulation or deregulation; competition in each line of business; product development and introductions; and technology changes.

 

●	Ball’s ability or inability to have available sufficient production capacity in a timely manner.

 

●	Overcapacity in foreign and domestic metal and plastic container industry production facilities and its impact on pricing and financial results.

 

●	Regulatory action or federal, state, local or foreign laws, including mandatory deposit or restrictive packaging legislation such as recycling laws, and tax, environmental and workplace safety laws and regulations.

 

●	Regulatory action or laws including those related to corporate governance and financial reporting, regulations and standards, including accounting changes and changes in generally accepted accounting principles or their interpretation.

 

●	Loss contingencies related to income and other tax matters, including those arising from audits performed by U.S. and foreign tax authorities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

●	The availability and cost of raw materials, supplies, power and natural resources needed for the production of metal and plastic containers as well as aerospace products.

 

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Increases and trends in various employee benefits and labor costs, including pension, medical and health care costs incurred in the countries in which Ball has operations; rates of return projected and earned on assets and discount rates used to measure future obligations and expenses of the company’s defined retirement plans; and changes in the company’s pension plans.

 

●	The ability or inability to pass on to customers changes in raw material cost, particularly resin, steel and aluminum.

 

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International business and market risks (including foreign exchange rates, tax rates and activities of foreign subsidiaries), particularly in Europe, and in countries such as China, Brazil and Argentina; political and economic instability in foreign markets; restrictive trade practices of the United States or foreign governments;  the imposition of duties, taxes or other government charges by the United States or foreign governments; exchange controls.

 

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Changes in the foreign exchange rate of the United States 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 euro against the British pound, Polish zloty and Serbian dinar.

 

●	Undertaking successful and unsuccessful acquisitions, joint ventures and divestitures and the integration activities associated with acquisitions and joint ventures, including the businesses recently acquired from the shareholders of U.S. Can Corporation and from Alcan Packaging.

 

●	The ability or inability to achieve technological and product extensions or new technological and product advances in the company’s businesses.

 

●	Delays, extensions and technical uncertainties, as well as  schedules of performance associated with contracts for aerospace products and services, and the success or lack of success of satellite launches and the businesses and governments associated with aerospace products, services and launches.

 

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The authorization, funding and availability and returns of government contracts and the nature and continuation of those contracts and related services provided thereunder, as well as the delay, cancellation or termination of contracts for the United States government, other customers or other government contractors.

 

●	Actual versus estimated business consolidation and investment exit costs and the estimated net realizable values of assets associated with such activities; and goodwill impairment.

 

●	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.