BROOMFIELD, Colo., July 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Ball Corporation (NYSE:BLL) today reported second quarter 2015 net earnings attributable to the corporation of $160.4 million, or $1.13 per diluted share (including net after tax income of $35.0 million, or 24 cents per diluted share for debt refinancing, economic hedging gains, business consolidation and other costs) on sales of $2.2 billion, compared to $153.1 million, or $1.07 per diluted share, on sales of $2.3 billion in the second quarter of 2014. Results for the first six months of 2015 were net earnings attributable to the corporation of $181.1 million, or $1.28 per diluted share, on sales of $4.1 billion, compared to $246.6 million, or $1.72 per diluted share, on sales of $4.3 billion in the first six months of 2014.

Comparable earnings per diluted share for the second quarter and year-to-date 2015 were 89 cents and $1.57, respectively, versus second quarter and year-to-date 2014 comparable earnings per diluted share of $1.13 and $1.94, respectively.

Details of comparable segment earnings, business consolidation activities, historical segment reporting, Rexam-transaction related hedging and costs can be found in the notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements that accompany this news release.

"As we have been discussing throughout this year, headwinds related to foreign currency translation, higher metal premiums in Europe, deferred compensation costs associated with director retirements and project start-up costs related to growth capital investments persisted and totaled 23 cents and 39 cents, respectively, in the second quarter and first half of 2015. Numerous capital projects are underway in North America, Europe and Southeast Asia and will fully ramp up in late 2015 and the first half of 2016," said John A. Hayes, chairman, president and chief executive officer. "On July 28, 2015, at a special shareholder meeting, Ball shareholders approved the Share Issuance Proposal related to the one-third equity portion of the purchase price for our proposed offer for Rexam PLC. Our work continues on securing necessary regulatory approvals to complete the acquisition."

Metal Beverage Packaging, Americas & Asia

Metal beverage packaging, Americas and Asia, comparable segment operating earnings in the second quarter 2015 were $126.5 million on sales of $1.1 billion, compared to $142.0 million on sales of $1.1 billion in second quarter 2014. For the first six months, comparable segment operating earnings were $251.5 million on sales of $2.2 billion, compared to $267.1 million on sales of $2.1 billion during the same period in 2014.  

Mid-single digit growth for specialty beverage packaging in North America was unable to offset continued weakness in standard 12-ounce carbonated soft drink containers and anticipated softer can demand in Brazil due to challenging year-over-year comparisons following the 2014 World Cup. In China, cost-out initiatives are progressing in order to address the difficult pricing environment and volumes were flat in the quarter. To better align beverage can end capacity across our North American plant network, the Bristol, Va., beverage end-making plant will cease production during the second quarter of 2016. The plant's existing customers will be supplied by other Ball facilities.

Metal Beverage Packaging, Europe

Metal beverage packaging, Europe, comparable segment earnings in the second quarter 2015 were operating earnings of $59.6 million on sales of $481.0 million, compared to $73.7 million on sales of $558.4 million in the second quarter 2014. Results for the first six months were comparable segment operating earnings of $88.5 million on sales of $860.2 million, compared to $129.2 million on sales of $1.0 billion in 2014.

Low-single-digit volume growth for beverage cans across Europe was not enough to offset unfavorable currency translation and higher aluminum premiums. On a euro basis, comparable segment earnings were flat in the quarter. Supply relative to higher seasonal demand remains tight across our European plant footprint while the third line in Oss, Netherlands continues to ramp up its production.

Metal Food & Household Products Packaging

Metal food and household products packaging comparable segment results in the second quarter 2015 were operating earnings of $28.7 million on sales of $332.0 million, compared to $39.8 million on sales of $367.7 million in the second quarter 2014. Year-to-date results were comparable segment operating earnings of $58.9 million on sales of $640.3 million, compared to $76.1 million on sales of $708.8 million in 2014.

Aligning with the first quarter trend, second quarter segment results and volumes were influenced by the previously disclosed U.S. food container customer shift, project start-up costs, unfavorable currency effects partially offset by excellent plant performance across the global can manufacturing facilities. Progress continues on capital investments in Europe, India and the United States which will all start-up in the second half of 2015.

Aerospace and Technologies

Aerospace and technologies comparable segment earnings in the second quarter 2015 were operating earnings of $19.5 million on sales of $230.2 million, compared to $24.8 million on sales of $241.1 million in the second quarter 2014. For the first six months, comparable segment operating earnings were $39.5 million on sales of $445.0 million compared to $48.9 million on sales of $461.8 million during the same period last year. Backlog at the end of the quarter was $641.3 million.

During the quarter, the segment successfully integrated four of the five complex instruments that will fly onboard the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS-1), the nation's next polar-orbiting weather satellite, and is moving toward environmental testing by early 2016 with on-time delivery scheduled for late 2016 and launch scheduled in 2017. Earlier this month and after traveling for nearly a decade through space, Ball's Ralph instrument, one of three cameras aboard the New Horizons mission, began to return images of Pluto's surface and geological structures.

Year-to-date 2015 segment earnings continue to reflect the greater number of program completions that occurred in the first half of 2014. Ongoing excellent program execution and effective cost management are providing stability across the business while the segment continues to pursue various programs that are expected to be awarded in late-2015 and early-2016.

Outlook

"We continue to expect 2015 free cash flow to be in the range of $600 million, excluding cash costs for the proposed Rexam acquisition, and we have executed additional currency and interest rate hedges to mitigate risk related to the proposed acquisition and to lock in the transaction's purchase price economics," said Scott C. Morrison, senior vice president and chief financial officer.

"Our second quarter was largely in line with our expectations given lower than expected volumes and anticipated headwinds from currency translation, metal premiums and start-up costs. We still expect that second half 2015, as compared to first half 2015, should improve as we cycle off difficult year-over-year comparisons and aluminum premiums become a tailwind that continues into 2016," Hayes said.

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.

Conference Call Details

Ball Corporation will announce its second quarter 2015 earnings on Thursday, July 30, 2015, before trading begins on the New York Stock Exchange. At 9 a.m. Mountain Time on that day (11 a.m. Eastern), Ball will hold its regular quarterly conference call on the company's results and performance. The North American toll-free number for the call is 800-354-6885. International callers should dial 303-223-2685. Please use the following URL for a webcast of the live call:

http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/fv8rouxe/lan/en

For those unable to listen to the live call, a taped replay will be available from 11 a.m. Mountain Time on July 30, 2015, until 11 a.m. Mountain Time on August 6, 2015. To access the replay, call 800-633-8284 (North American callers) or 402-977-9140 (international callers) and use reservation number 21771157. A written transcript of the call will be posted within 48 hours of the call's conclusion to Ball's website at www.ball.com/investors under "news and presentations."

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.

No profit forecast

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to be a forecast, projection or estimate of the future financial performance of Ball, Rexam or the combined business of Ball and Rexam following completion of the combination, unless otherwise stated.

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