Form: 10-Q

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

May 14, 1997

EXHIBIT 99.1

Published on May 14, 1997


Exhibit 99.1

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995


In connection with the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the Reform Act), Ball (the "Company") is hereby
filing cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause the
Company's actual results to differ materially from those projected in
forward-looking statements of the Company. Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains forward-looking
statements, and many of these statements are contained in Item 2, "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." The
Reform Act defines forward-looking statements as statements that express an
expectation or belief and contain a projection, plan or assumption with regard
to, among other things, future revenues, income, earnings per share or capital
structure. Such statements of future events or performance involve estimates,
assumptions, and uncertainties and are qualified in their entirety by reference
to, and are accompanied by, the following important factors that could cause the
Company's actual results to differ materially from those contained in
forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company.

Some important 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 growth and demand,
weather, fuel costs and availability, regulatory action, Federal and State
legislation, interest rates, labor strikes, maintenance and capital expenditures
and local economic conditions. In addition, the Company's ability to have
available an appropriate amount of production capacity in a timely manner can
significantly impact the Company's financial performance. The timing of
deregulation and competition, product development and introductions and
technology changes are also important potential factors. Other important factors
include the following:

The competitive industries in which the Company participates.

Difficulties in obtaining raw materials, supplies, power and natural resources
needed for the production of metal and plastic containers, as well as
telecommunications and aerospace products, could affect the Company's ability to
ship containers and telecommunications and aerospace products.

The pricing of raw materials, supplies, power and natural resources needed for
the production of metal and plastic containers as well as telecommunications and
aerospace products, pricing and ability to sell scrap associated with the
production of metal containers and the effect of changes in the cost of
warehousing the Company's products could adversely affect the Company's
financial performance.

The failure of EarthWatch Incorporated to launch successfully satellites planned
for 1997 and subsequent years, technological or market acceptance issues,
performance failures and related contracts or subcontracts, including any
failure of EarthWatch to receive additional financing needed for EarthWatch to
continue to make payments, or any events which would require the Company to
provide additional financial support for EarthWatch Incorporated.

Cancellation or termination of government contracts for the U.S. Government,
other customers or other government contractors.

The effects of, and changes in, laws, regulations, other activities of
governments (including political situations and inflationary economies),
agencies and similar organizations, including, but not limited to, those
effecting frequency, use and availability of metal and plastic containers, the
authorization and control over the availability of government contracts and the
nature and continuation of those contracts and the related services provided
thereunder, the use of remote sensing data and changes in domestic and
international tax laws could negatively impact the Company's financial
performance.

The Company intends to grow through acquisitions of complementary products,
technologies and businesses. The successful implementation of this strategy will
be dependent upon the Company's ability to identify and acquire suitable
acquisition candidates and manage and integrate the operations of such
acquisitions. There can be no assurance the Company will be able to identify and
acquire suitable additional candidates. There can be no assurance that the
Company will be successful in managing and integrating such acquisitions. Growth
through acquisitions will place additional demands on the Company's management
and resources.

As a result of conducting business internationally, the Company is subject to
various risks, which include: a greater difficulty of administering its business
globally; compliance with multiple and potentially conflicting regulatory
requirements such as export requirements, tariffs and other barriers;
differences in intellectual property protections; health and safety
requirements; difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations; longer
accounts receivable cycles; currency fluctuations; restrictions against the
repatriation of earnings; export control restrictions; overlapping or differing
tax structures; political and economic instability and general trade
restrictions. There can be no assurance that any of the foregoing factors will
not have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of
operations and financial condition. There also can be no assurance that foreign
markets for the Company's products will not develop more slowly than currently
anticipated. Any action, by foreign countries could reduce the market for the
Company's products, which could materially, adversely affect the Company's
business, results of operations and financial conditions.

The effects of changes in the Company's organization or in the compensation
and/or benefit plans; any changes in agreements regarding investments or joint
ventures in which the Company has an investment; the amount, type or cost of the
Company's financing and changes to that financing, could adversely impact Ball's
financial performance.

Risks involved in purchasing and selling products and services and receiving
payments in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.