BROOMFIELD, Colo., July 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Ball Corporation (NYSE:BLL) confirmed today that the European Commission has initiated a Phase II review in connection with Ball's recommended offer to acquire Rexam PLC.  This is a standard step when the European Commission is conducting an in-depth review under the EU Merger Regulation.  The transaction is also still being reviewed by other antitrust agencies, including the U.S. FTC and Brazilian CADE.  Ball expects that all necessary regulatory clearances will be obtained during the first half of 2016.  Following closing of the transaction, Ball will remain a New York Stock Exchange listed company domiciled in the U.S.

About Ball Corporation
Ball Corporation supplies innovative, sustainable packaging solutions for beverage, food and household products customers, as well as aerospace and other technologies and services primarily for the U.S. government. Ball Corporation and its subsidiaries employ 14,500 people worldwide and reported 2014 sales of $8.6 billion. For more information, visit www.ball.com, or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.

Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains "forward-looking" statements concerning future events and financial performance. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "estimates" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Key risks and uncertainties are summarized in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Exhibit 99 in our Form 10-K, which are available on our website and at www.sec.gov. Factors that might affect: a) our packaging segments include product demand fluctuations; availability/cost of raw materials; competitive packaging, pricing and substitution; changes in climate and weather; crop yields; competitive activity; failure to achieve productivity improvements or cost  reductions; mandatory deposit or other restrictive packaging laws; customer and supplier consolidation, power and supply chain influence; changes in major customer or supplier contracts or loss of a major customer or supplier; political instability and sanctions; and changes in foreign exchange or tax rates; b) our aerospace segment include funding, authorization, availability and returns of government and commercial contracts; and delays, extensions and technical uncertainties affecting segment contracts; c) the company as a whole include those listed plus: changes in senior management; regulatory action or issues including tax, environmental, health and workplace safety, including U.S. FDA and other actions or public concerns affecting products filled in our containers, or chemicals or substances used in raw materials or in the manufacturing process; technological developments and innovations; litigation; strikes; labor cost changes; rates of return on assets of the company's defined benefit retirement plans; pension changes; uncertainties surrounding the U.S. government budget, sequestration and debt limit; reduced cash flow; ability to achieve cost-out initiatives; interest rates affecting our debt; and successful or unsuccessful acquisitions and divestitures, including, with respect to the proposed Rexam PLC acquisition, the effect of the announcement of the acquisition on our business relationships, operating results and business generally; the occurrence of any event or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of our definitive agreement with Rexam PLC in respect of the acquisition; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against us related to the definitive agreement with Rexam PLC; and the failure to satisfy conditions to completion of the acquisition of Rexam PLC, including the receipt of all required regulatory approvals.

Additional Information and Where to Find It
This Announcement may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of the proposed acquisition of Rexam PLC ("Rexam") by Ball Corporation ("Ball"), including the issuance of shares of Ball common stock in respect of the proposed acquisition.  On June 23, 2015, in connection with the foregoing proposed issuance of Ball common stock, Ball filed a definitive proxy statement with the SEC thereafter mailed the definitive proxy statement and a proxy card to each shareholder entitled to vote at the special meeting relating to the proposed acquisition. To the extent Ball effects the acquisition of Rexam as a Scheme under English law, the issuance of Ball common stock in the acquisition would not be expected to require registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), pursuant to an exemption provided by Section 3(a)(10) under the Act. In the event that Ball determines to conduct the acquisition pursuant to an offer or otherwise in a manner that is not exempt from the registration requirements of the Act, it will file a registration statement with the SEC containing a prospectus with respect to the Ball common stock that would be issued in the acquisition. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF BALL ARE URGED TO READ THESE MATERIALS (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE ACQUISITION THAT BALL MAY FILE WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN, AND WILL CONTAIN, IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BALL, THE PROPOSED ISSUANCE OF BALL COMMON STOCK, AND THE PROPOSED ACQUISITION. The definitive proxy statement and, if applicable, the registration statement/prospectus and other relevant materials in connection with the proposed issuance of Ball common stock and the acquisition, and any other documents filed by Ball with the SEC, may be obtained free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC at Ball's website, www.ball.com, or by contacting our Investor Relations department in writing at 10 Longs Peak Drive, P.O. Box 5000, Broomfield, CO 80021.

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SOURCE Ball Corporation