BROOMFIELD, Colo., July 1, 2009 – Ball Corporation [NYSE: BLL] announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement with Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) to acquire certain of AB InBev’s beverage can manufacturing assets.
Ball will acquire four of AB InBev’s plants in the U.S. for $577 million. The facilities being acquired are beverage can manufacturing plants in Rome, Ga.; Columbus, Ohio; and Ft. Atkinson, Wis., and a beverage can end manufacturing plant in Gainesville, Fla.
In the first full year of operation, Ball expects the plants to generate revenue and EBITDA of approximately $680 million and $94 million, respectively. The plants produce annually about 10 billion aluminum cans and 10 billion easy-open can ends. More than two-thirds of the cans are produced for leading soft drink companies and the rest for AB InBev. The facilities employ approximately 635 people.
The transaction is expected to close at the end of the year or early in the first quarter of 2010, subject to regulatory approval, and to be accretive to Ball’s earnings and cash flow in 2010.
“This acquisition fits well with our strategy to grow our worldwide beverage can business,” said R. David Hoover, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Ball Corporation. “These are well-maintained, high-volume manufacturing assets that are run by very skilled, experienced can and end makers. We will vigorously pursue what we see as significant opportunities to share best practices, realize synergies and improve overall performance.”
Goldman, Sachs & Co. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. are acting as financial advisors to Ball on this transaction. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP are acting as legal counsel.
Ball Corporation is a supplier of high-quality metal and plastic packaging for beverage, food and household products customers, and of aerospace and other technologies and services, primarily for the U.S. government. Ball Corporation and its subsidiaries employ more than 14,000 people worldwide and reported 2008 sales of approximately $7.6 billion. For the latest Ball news and for other company information, please visit www.ball.com.
Earnings Conference Call Details
Ball Corporation will report the company’s second quarter 2009 earnings on Thursday, July 23, 2009, 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 about the company’s results and performance and this transaction.
The North American toll-free number for the call is 800-732-5617. International callers should dial 212-231-2900. Please use the following URL for a Web cast of the live call:
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?p=irol-eventDetails&c=115234&eventID=2286370.
For those unable to listen to the live call, a taped replay will be available after the call’s conclusion until 1 p.m. Eastern Time on July 30, 2009. To access the replay, call 800-633-8284 (North American callers) or 402-977-9140 (international callers) and use reservation number 21429825.
A written transcript of the call will be posted within 48 hours of the call’s conclusion to Ball’s Web site at www.ball.com in the investors section under “presentations.”