PR Newswire | Nov 5, 2020 06:01AM EST

11/05 05:00 CST

Ball Reports Strong Third Quarter ResultsHighlights- Third quarter U.S. GAAP earnings per diluted share of 72 cents vs. 27 cents in 2019- Third quarter comparable earnings per diluted share of 89 cents vs. 70 cents in 2019- Global beverage can volumes up 9% in the quarter- Aerospace contracted backlog of $2.4 billion; won-not-booked backlog of $4.9 billion- Announced new, multi-line Pittston, Pennsylvania, and Frutal, Brazil, beverage can manufacturing facilities- Ball aluminum cup manufacturing plant production begins in fourth quarter- Strong balance sheet, liquidity and cash from operations enables additional multi-year growth capital investments- Positioned to grow diluted earnings per share and return value to shareholders in 2020 and beyond WESTMINSTER, Colo., Nov. 5, 2020

WESTMINSTER, Colo., Nov. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ball Corporation (NYSE: BLL) today reported, on a U.S. GAAP basis, third quarter 2020 net earnings attributable to the corporation of $241 million (including net after-tax charges of $56 million, or 17 cents per diluted share for business consolidation and other non-comparable items), or 72 cents per diluted share, on sales of $3.1 billion, compared to $92 million net earnings attributable to the corporation, or 27 cents per diluted share (including net after-tax charges of $145 million, or 43 cents per diluted share for business consolidation and other non-comparable items), on sales of $3.0 billion in 2019. Results for the first nine months of 2020 were net earnings attributable to the corporation of $358 million, or $1.08 per diluted share, on sales of $8.7 billion, compared to $406 million net earnings attributable to the corporation, or $1.19 per diluted share on sales of $8.8 billion for the first nine months of 2019.

Ball's third quarter and year-to-date 2020 comparable earnings per diluted share were 89 cents and $2.15, respectively, versus third quarter and year-to-date 2019 comparable earnings per diluted share of 70 cents and $1.82, respectively.

Third quarter and year-to-date results reflect the 2019 sale of the company's Argentine steel aerosol business and Chinese beverage can assets, and new segment reporting for the company's beverage packaging, EMEA business and other non-reportable results. References to volume data represent units shipped, and year-over-year global beverage volumes referenced exclude the impact of the 2019 sale of the Chinese beverage can assets. Details of comparable segment earnings, business consolidation activities, business segment descriptions and other non-comparable items can be found in the notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements that accompany this news release.

"Our team continues to operate safely while responding to significant growth across our businesses. Capital investments are being executed to support sustained growth for our global aluminum packaging portfolio and aerospace technologies. Our company is well-positioned in the current environment, and our focus remains on our employees' safety and our customers' success, as well as the efficient and effective startup of our various capital projects in order to deliver significant value to our shareholders," said John A. Hayes, chairman, president and chief executive officer.

"During the quarter, our company posted 27 percent comparable earnings per diluted share growth on 9 percent global beverage volume growth and 14 percent aerospace contracted backlog growth. In addition, we recently completed our aluminum aerosol acquisition in Brazil, announced new beverage can manufacturing plants in Pittston, Pennsylvania, as well as Frutal, Brazil, and commenced production at our new aluminum cup manufacturing facility in Rome, Georgia. With demand continuing to increase for our sustainable aluminum packaging solutions and critical aerospace technologies, Ball remains well positioned to invest in EVA-enhancing capital projects, grow diluted earnings per share, increase cash from operations, and deliver shareholder returns now and into the future," Hayes said.

Beverage Packaging, North and Central America

Beverage packaging, North and Central America, comparable segment operating earnings for third quarter 2020 were $209 million on sales of $1.3 billion compared to $157 million on sales of $1.2 billion during the same period in 2019. For the first nine months, comparable segment operating earnings were $544 million on sales of $3.8 billion compared to $416 million on sales of $3.6 billion during the same period in 2019.

Quarterly segment earnings increased supported by mid-single-digit volume growth, benefits from new contractual terms and improved operational performance. Higher at-home consumption and tight supply/demand conditions are expected to outpace domestically produced volume through 2021. In advance of the start-up of multi-line can manufacturing facilities in Glendale, Arizona, and Pittston, Pennsylvania in mid-2021, SKU rationalization with certain customers, production from recently commissioned can manufacturing lines in Rome, Georgia, and Fort Worth, Texas, and the short-term benefit of imported cans from our global network will continue to address consumers' significant demand for soft drinks, sparkling water, spiked seltzers and beer throughout the remainder of 2020 and into 2021.

To further support our customers' can-filling investments, additional can manufacturing investments in excess of the previously announced 6 billion units of capacity are anticipated to deliver contracted volumes beyond 2021.

Beverage Packaging, EMEA

Beverage packaging, EMEA, comparable segment operating earnings for the third quarter 2020 were $117 million on sales of $809 million compared to $105 million on sales of $763 million during the same period in 2019. For the first nine months, comparable segment operating earnings were $248 million on sales of $2.2 billion compared to $277 million on sales of $2.2 billion during the same period in 2019. Beginning in 2020, current and historical quarterly results for the company's existing facilities in Cairo, Egypt, and Manisa, Turkey, have been consolidated into the segment.

Strong at-home consumption trends in the U.K., Nordics and Russia resulted in mid-single-digit volume growth for the segment during the quarter. Early in the quarter, seasonal demand patterns improved across Southern Europe, and, exiting the quarter, strength remained in this region as well as the U.K. and Russia. Packaging mix shift to sustainable aluminum cans for traditional and non-traditional beverages continues to accelerate.

Multiple beverage can line additions in the U.K. and Eastern Europe began production mid-year and, due to the strong recovery in regional demand, the European plant network provided minimal support for increased North American beverage can demand during the quarter.

Beverage Packaging, South America

Beverage packaging, South America, comparable segment operating earnings for the third quarter 2020, were $64 million on sales of $432 million compared to $60 million on sales of $392 million during the same period in 2019. For the first nine months, comparable segment operating earnings were $173 million on sales of $1.2 billion compared to $193 million on sales of $1.2 billion for the same period in 2019.

Segment volume ended the quarter up strong double digits. Throughout the seasonally slow third quarter, Brazilian demand remained strong as small grocery stores and gas stations continued to emphasize recyclable aluminum beverage packaging over returnable glass and customers prepared for the busy summer season.

As we look forward, with customer packaging mix continuing to favor aluminum beverage packaging and supply/demand tightening dramatically, the new multi-line facility in Frutal, Brazil, will begin production in mid-2021, and additional projects in Brazil and surrounding countries are forthcoming to support contracted volume.

Aerospace

Aerospace comparable segment operating earnings for third quarter 2020 were $44 million on sales of $451 million compared to $35 million on sales of $374 million during the same period in 2019. For the first nine months, comparable segment operating earnings were $114 million on sales of $1.3 billion compared to $103 million on sales of $1.1 billion. Contracted backlog increased 14 percent to $2.4 billion and contracts already won, but not yet booked into current contracted backlog, remains strong at $4.9 billion.

Segment results were very strong in the quarter despite inefficiencies created from tighter safety protocols due to COVID-19, and the business is on track to hire 1,000 employees in 2020. The company continues to win and provide mission-critical programs and technologies to U.S. government, defense, intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance customers. Multiple projects to expand manufacturing capacity, test capabilities engineering and support workspace remain on track.

During the quarter, Ball was chosen by NASA for three studies to explore next-generation technologies for the Landsat Program, a series of Earth-observing satellite missions jointly managed by NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey that is entering its fifth decade of existence. In addition, Ball recently shipped the OMPS instrument for integration onto NOAA's next polar-orbiting operational weather satellite, the Joint Polar Satellite System-2 (JPSS-2). The OMPS instrument provides critical ozone measurements used by forecasters at the National Weather Service to produce ultraviolet (UV) radiation forecasts, by researchers to track the health of the ozone layer and by policy makers to help improve life on Earth. Ball has successfully built and delivered the two prior OMPS instruments currently in orbit providing critical ozone data.

Non-reportable

Third quarter results in non-reportable reflect higher year-over-year undistributed corporate expenses, the impact of the 2019 sale of the Chinese beverage can assets and Argentine steel aerosol business, lower operating results in the remaining non-reportable beverage and aluminum aerosol businesses, and start-up costs in the recently launched aluminum cup business. The current and historical results from the existing facilities in Cairo, Egypt, and Manisa, Turkey, have been consolidated into the beverage packaging, EMEA segment beginning in 2020.

The results for the company's global aluminum aerosol business and beverage can manufacturing facilities in India, Saudi Arabia and Myanmar and investments in the company's new aluminum cup business continue to be reported as non-reportable segments. During the quarter, the company's global aluminum aerosol volumes declined low-teens with growth in India for sanitizing sprays offset by double-digit volume declines for personal care products in North America and Europe. In the third quarter, the company completed the acquisition of an aluminum aerosol manufacturing facility in Brazil and completed construction of its first dedicated aluminum cup manufacturing facility in Rome, Georgia. Multi-channel, retail shipments of aluminum cups are expected to commence in the first half of 2021.

Outlook

"Our company generates significant cash from operations, and we have the flexibility and opportunity to allocate significant capital to organic growth investments while continuing to return value to shareholders. We continue to foresee 2020 capital expenditures exceeding $900 million, and given additional EVA-enhancing opportunities supported by contracted volumes and backlog, growth investments are expected to be in excess of $1 billion in 2021 and beyond," said Scott C. Morrison, senior vice president and chief financial officer.

"The resiliency of our team and the strength in our businesses has never been more evident. We continue to be on-track to execute multiple growth projects as efficiently and safely as possible with our employees, customers and supply chains. The momentum in our businesses is accelerating and we are well positioned to further broaden our scale to serve future growth with an even higher level of customer service. In 2020 and beyond, we look forward to continuing to grow our cash from operations and EVA dollars on an even larger capital base while returning capital to our shareholders and achieving our long-term diluted earnings per share growth goal of at least 10 to 15 percent," Hayes said.

About Ball CorporationBall Corporation supplies innovative, sustainable aluminum packaging solutions for beverage, personal care 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 18,300 people worldwide and reported 2019 net sales of $11.5 billion. For more information, visit www.ball.com, or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.

Conference Call DetailsBall Corporation (NYSE: BLL) will hold its third quarter 2020 earnings call today at 9 a.m. Mountain time (11 a.m. Eastern). The North American toll-free number for the call is 800-584-0405. International callers should dial 212-231-2902. Please use the following URL for a webcast of the live call:

https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/4od33iit

For those unable to listen to the live call, a taped replay will be available from 11 a.m. Mountain time on November 5, 2020, until 11 a.m. Mountain time on November 12, 2020. To access the replay, call 800-633-8284 (North American callers) or 402-977-9140 (international callers) and use reservation number 21970523. 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 StatementsThis release contains "forward-looking" statements concerning future events and financial performance. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "believes," "targets," "likely," "positions" and similar expressions typically identify forward-looking statements, which are generally any statements other than statements of historical fact. Such statements are based on current expectations or views of the future and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied. You should therefore not place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements and any such statements should be read in conjunction with, and, qualified in their entirety by, the cautionary statements referenced below. 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 factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to be different 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. Additional factors that might affect: a) our packaging segments include product capacity, supply, and demand constraints and fluctuations, including due to virus and disease outbreaks and responses thereto; availability/cost of raw materials, equipment, and logistics; competitive packaging, pricing and substitution; changes in climate and weather; footprint adjustments and other manufacturing changes, including the startup of new facilities and lines; failure to achieve synergies, productivity improvements or cost reductions; mandatory deposit or other restrictive packaging laws; customer and supplier consolidation; power and supply chain interruptions; potential delays and tariffs related to the U.K's departure from the EU; changes in major customer or supplier contracts or a loss of a major customer or supplier; political instability and sanctions; currency controls; changes in foreign exchange or tax rates; and tariffs, trade actions, or other governmental actions, including business restrictions and shelter-in-place orders in any country or jurisdiction affecting goods produced by us or in our supply chain, including imported raw materials, such as those related to COVID-19 and those pursuant to Section 232 of the U.S. Trade Expansion Act of 1962 or Section 301 of Trade Act of 1974; 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 above plus: the extent to which sustainability-related opportunities arise and can be capitalized upon; changes in senior management, succession, and the ability to attract and retain skilled labor; 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; the ability to manage cyber threats and the success of information technology initiatives; litigation; strikes; disease; pandemic; labor cost changes; rates of return on assets of the Company's defined benefit retirement plans; pension changes; uncertainties surrounding geopolitical events and governmental policies both in the U.S. and in other countries, including policies, orders and actions related to COVID-19, the U.S. government elections, stimulus package(s), budget, sequestration and debt limit; reduced cash flow; interest rates affecting our debt; and successful or unsuccessful joint ventures, acquisitions and divestitures, and their effects on our operating results and business generally.

Condensed Financial Statements (Third Quarter 2020)



Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings



Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended

September 30, September 30,

($ in millions, except per share 2020 2019 2020 2019 amounts)



Net sales $3,093 $2,953 $8,679 $8,755



Costs and expenses

Cost of sales (excluding (2,430) (2,363) (6,875) (7,044)depreciation and amortization)

Depreciation and amortization (160) (169) (499) (510)

Selling, general and (121) (90) (363) (328) administrative

Business consolidation and other (8) (133) (235) (147) activities

(2,719) (2,755) (7,972) (8,029)



Earnings before interest and 374 198 707 726 taxes



Interest expense (68) (79) (206) (237)

Debt refinancing and other costs (1) - (41) (4)

Total interest expense (69) (79) (247) (241)

Earnings before taxes 305 119 460 485

Tax (provision) benefit (73) (32) (92) (73)

Equity in results of affiliates, 8 5 (13) (6) net of tax



Net earnings 240 92 355 406



Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of 1 - 3 - tax



Net earnings attributable to Ball$241 $92 $358 $406 Corporation



Earnings per share:

Basic $0.74 $0.28 $1.10 $1.22

Diluted $0.72 $0.27 $1.08 $1.19



Weighted average shares outstanding (000s):

Basic 326,549 331,148 325,965 332,726

Diluted 332,654 340,632 332,152 341,702

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows



Nine Months Ended

September 30,

($ in millions) 2020 2019



Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

Net earnings $355 $406

Depreciation and amortization 499 510

Business consolidation and other activities 235 147

Deferred tax provision (benefit) (23) (16)

Other, net 7 32

Changes in working capital (728) (423)

Cash provided by (used in) operating activities 345 656

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

Capital expenditures (683) (425)

Business acquisitions (69) -

Business dispositions (17) (50)

Other, net 18 26

Cash provided by (used in) investing activities (751) (449)

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

Changes in borrowings, net (243) 323

Net issuances (purchases) of common stock (69) (598)

Dividends (149) (133)

Other, net (60) (10)

Cash provided by (used in) financing activities (521) (418)

Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash, cash (96) (20) equivalents and restricted cash

Change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (1,023) (231)

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash - beginning of 1,806 728 period

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash - end of period$783 $497

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets



September 30,

($ in millions) 2020 2019



Assets

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents $771 $483

Receivables, net 1,772 1,957

Inventories, net 1,309 1,180

Other current assets 173 209

Total current assets 4,025 3,829

Property, plant and equipment, net 4,895 4,320

Goodwill 4,401 4,371

Intangible assets, net 1,897 2,027

Other assets 1,754 1,690



Total assets $16,972$16,237



Liabilities and Equity

Current liabilities

Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt$31 $361

Payables and other accrued liabilities 3,733 3,412

Total current liabilities 3,764 3,773

Long-term debt 7,679 6,623

Other long-term liabilities 2,576 2,376

Equity 2,953 3,465



Total liabilities and equity $16,972$16,237

Notes to the Condensed Financial Statements (Third Quarter 2020)

1. Business Segment Information

Ball's operations are organized and reviewed by management along its productlines and geographical areas and presented in the four reportable segmentsoutlined below. Effective January 1, 2020, the company implemented changes toits management and internal reporting structure for cost reduction andoperational efficiency purposes. As a result of these changes, the company'splants in Cairo, Egypt, and Manisa, Turkey, are now included in the beveragepackaging, Europe, Middle East and Africa (beverage packaging, EMEA), segment.The company's operations in India and Saudi Arabia are now combined with theformer non-reportable beverage packaging, Asia Pacific, operating segment as anew non-reportable beverage packaging, other, operating segment. The company'ssegment results and disclosures for the three and nine months ended September30, 2019, have been retrospectively adjusted to conform to the current yearpresentation.

Beverage packaging, North and Central America: Consists of operations in theU.S., Canada and Mexico that manufacture and sell metal beverage containers.

Beverage packaging, EMEA: Consists of operations in numerous countriesthroughout Europe, including Russia, as well as Egypt and Turkey thatmanufacture and sell metal beverage containers throughout those regions.

Beverage packaging, South America: Consists of operations in Brazil, Argentina,Paraguay and Chile that manufacture and sell metal beverage containersthroughout most of South America.

Aerospace: Consists of operations that manufacture and sell aerospace and otherrelated products and the provision of services used in the defense, civil spaceand commercial space industries.

Other consists of a non-reportable operating segment (beverage packaging,other), discussed above, that manufactures and sells aluminum beveragecontainers; a non-reportable segment that manufactures and sells extrudedaluminum aerosol containers and aluminum slugs (aerosol packaging); anon-reportable operating segment that manufactures and sells aluminum cups(aluminum cups); undistributed corporate expenses; intercompany eliminationsand other business activities.

The company also has investments in operations in Guatemala, Panama, SouthKorea, the U.S. and Vietnam that are accounted for under the equity method ofaccounting and, accordingly, those results are not included in segment sales orearnings.

Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended

September 30, September 30,

($ in millions) 2020 2019 2020 2019



Net sales

Beverage packaging, North and Central$1,327 $1,230 $3,775 $3,647America

Beverage packaging, EMEA 809 763 2,177 2,215

Beverage packaging, South America 432 392 1,166 1,210

Aerospace 451 374 1,321 1,081

Reportable segment sales 3,019 2,759 8,439 8,153

Other 74 194 240 602

Net sales $3,093 $2,953 $8,679 $8,755



Comparable operating earnings

Beverage packaging, North and Central$209 $157 $544 $416 America

Beverage packaging, EMEA 117 105 248 277

Beverage packaging, South America 64 60 173 193

Aerospace 44 35 114 103

Reportable segment comparable 434 357 1,079 989 operating earnings



Other (a) (15) 12 (26) 2

Comparable operating earnings 419 369 1,053 991

Reconciling items

Business consolidation and other (8) (133) (235) (147)activities

Amortization of acquired Rexam (37) (38) (111) (118)intangibles

Earnings before interest and taxes $374 $198 $707 $726

_____________________

Includes undistributed corporate expenses, net, of $13 million and $4(a) million for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and $33 million and $42 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

2. Non-U.S. GAAP Measures

Non-U.S. GAAP Measures - Non-U.S. GAAP measures should not be considered inisolation. They should not be considered superior to, or a substitute for,financial measures calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP and may not becomparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Presentations ofearnings and cash flows presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP are available inthe company's earnings releases and quarterly and annual regulatory filings.Information reconciling forward-looking U.S. GAAP measures to non-U.S. GAAPmeasures is not available without unreasonable effort. We have not providedguidance for the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures, as theyare not available without unreasonable effort due to the high variability,complexity and low visibility with respect to certain special items, includingrestructuring charges, business consolidation and other costs, gains and lossesrelated to acquisition and divestiture of businesses, the ultimate outcome ofcertain legal or tax proceedings and other non-comparable items. These itemsare uncertain, depend on various factors and could be material to our resultscomputed in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Comparable Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization(Comparable EBITDA), Comparable Operating Earnings, Comparable Net Earnings,Comparable Diluted Earnings Per Share and Net Debt - Comparable EBITDA isearnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, businessconsolidation and other non-comparable costs. Comparable Operating Earnings isearnings before interest, taxes, business consolidation and othernon-comparable costs. Comparable Net Earnings is net earnings attributable toBall Corporation before business consolidation and other non-comparable costsafter tax. Comparable Diluted Earnings Per Share is Comparable Net Earningsdivided by diluted weighted average shares outstanding. We use ComparableEBITDA, Comparable Operating Earnings, Comparable Net Earnings, and ComparableDiluted Earnings Per Share internally to evaluate the company's operatingperformance. Net Debt is total debt less cash and cash equivalents, which arederived directly from the company's financial statements. Ball management usesNet Debt to Comparable EBITDA and Comparable EBITDA to interest expense asmetrics to monitor the credit quality of Ball Corporation.

Please see the company's website for further details of the company's non-U.S.GAAP financial measures at www.ball.com/investors under the "FINANCIALS" tab.

A summary of the effects of the above transactions on after tax earnings is as follows:



Three Months EndedNine Months Ended

September 30, September 30,

($ in millions, except per share amounts) 2020 2019 2020 2019



Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation $ 241 $ 92 $ 358 $ 406

Add: Business consolidation and other activities 8 133 235 147

Add: Amortization of acquired Rexam intangibles 37 38 111 118

Add: Share of equity method affiliate 1 - 31 16 non-comparable costs

Add: Debt refinancing and other costs 1 - 41 4

Less: Noncontrolling interest share of - - 1 - non-comparable costs

Less: Non-comparable tax items 9 (26) (62) (68)

Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation before above transactions (Comparable Net $ 297 $ 237 $ 715 $ 623 Earnings)

Comparable diluted earnings per share $ 0.89$ 0.70 $ 2.15$ 1.82

A summary of the effects of the above transactions on earnings before interest and taxes is as follows:



Three Months EndedNine Months Ended

September 30, September 30,

($ in millions) 2020 2019 2020 2019



Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation $241 $92 $358 $406

Add: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests (1) - (3) -

Net earnings 240 92 355 406

Less: Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax (8) (5) 13 6

Add: Tax provision (benefit) 73 32 92 73

Earnings before taxes 305 119 460 485

Add: Total interest expense 69 79 247 241

Earnings before interest and taxes 374 198 707 726

Add: Business consolidation and other activities 8 133 235 147

Add: Amortization of acquired Rexam intangibles 37 38 111 118

Comparable Operating Earnings $419 $369 $1,053 $991

A summary of Comparable EBITDA and Net Debt is as follows:



Twelve Less: Nine Add: Nine Twelve

Months EndedMonths Ended Months Ended Months Ended

December 31,September 30,September 30,September 30,

($ in millions, 2019 2019 2020 2020 except ratios)



Net earnings attributable to $566 $ 406 $ 358 $ 518 Ball Corporation

Add: Net loss attributable to (30) - (3) (33) noncontrolling interests

Net earnings 536 406 355 485

Less: Equity in results of 1 6 13 8 affiliates, net of tax

Add: Tax provision 71 73 92 90 (benefit)

Earnings before 608 485 460 583 taxes

Add: Total 324 241 247 330 interest expense

Earnings before interest and 932 726 707 913 taxes (EBIT)

Add: Business consolidation 244 147 235 332 and other activities (a)

Add: Amortization of 155 118 111 148 acquired Rexam intangibles (a)

Comparable Operating 1,331 991 1,053 1,393 Earnings

Add: Depreciation and 678 510 499 667 amortization

Less: Amortization of (155) (118) (111) (148) acquired Rexam intangibles (a)

Comparable $1,854 $ 1,383 $ 1,441 $ 1,912 EBITDA



Total interest $(324) $ (241) $ (247) $ (330) expense

Less: Debt refinancing and 7 4 41 44 other costs

Interest expense$(317) $ (237) $ (206) $ (286)



Total debt at $ 7,710 period end

Less: Cash and (771) cash equivalents

Net Debt $ 6,939



Comparable EBITDA/Interest Expense 6.7 x(Interest Coverage)

Net Debt/ Comparable 3.6 xEBITDA

_____________________

For detailed information on these items, please see the respective(a) quarterly filings and/or earnings releases, which can be found on our website at www.ball.com.

3. Non-Comparable Items



Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,

($ in 2020 2019 2020 2019 millions)



Non-comparable items - income (expense)

Beverage packaging, North and Central America

Business consolidation and other activities

Facility closure costs $- $ (1) $ (2) $ (7) (1)

Individually insignificant - (1) (2) (1) items

Other non-comparable items

Amortization of acquired (7) (7) (20) (22) Rexam intangibles

Total beverage packaging, North and (7) (9) (24) (30) Central America



Beverage packaging, EMEA

Business consolidation and other activities

Facility closure and (2) (6) (7) (17) restructuring costs (2)

Individually insignificant - (3) (1) (7) items

Other non-comparable items

Amortization of acquired (16) (16) (47) (51) Rexam intangibles

Total beverage packaging, (18) (25) (55) (75) EMEA



Beverage packaging, South America

Business consolidation and other activities

Brazilian indirect taxes 4 - 4 56 (3)

Facility - (13) - (29) closure costs

Individually insignificant (1) (1) (5) (5) items

Other non-comparable items

Amortization of acquired (14) (14) (42) (42) Rexam intangibles

Total beverage packaging, (11) (28) (43) (20) South America



Other

Business consolidation and other activities

Pension settlements (5) (8) (102) (8) (4)

Rexam acquisition related - 2 (6) (5) compensation arrangements

Goodwill impairment charges in beverage - - (62) - packaging, other segment (5)

Reversal of certain provisions in beverage - - 11 - packaging, other segment (6)

Loss from sale of and subsequent adjustment to selling price - (52) (15) (52) of steel food and steel aerosol business (7)

Loss on sale of China business and - (45) (23) (61) related costs (8)

Individually insignificant (4) (5) (25) (11) items

Other non-comparable items

Share of equity method affiliate (1) - (31) (16) non-comparable costs (9)

Noncontrolling interest's share of - - (1) - non-comparable costs, net of tax

Amortization of acquired - (1) (2) (3) Rexam intangibles

Debt extinguishment (1) - (41) (4) and refinance costs (10)

Total other (11) (109) (297) (160)



Total business consolidation (8) (133) (235) (147) and other activities

Total other non-comparable (39) (38) (184) (138) items

Total non-comparable (47) (171) (419) (285) items



Discrete non-comparable (21) 2 (30) 12 tax items (11)

Tax effect on business consolidation 1 14 45 19 and other activities

Tax effect on other 11 10 47 37 non-comparable items

Total non-comparable (9) 26 62 68 tax items

Total non-comparable$(56) $ (145)$ (357) $ (217) items, net of tax

In 2018, the company closed its beverage packaging facilities in(1) Chatsworth, California, Longview, Texas, and Birmingham, Alabama. Charges were the result of updated estimates for the costs of employee severance and benefits and facility shutdown costs.

The company recorded charges for asset impairments, accelerated(2) depreciation and inventory impairments related to plant closures and restructuring activities.

The company recorded gains related to indirect tax contingencies in Brazil. Our Brazilian subsidiaries filed lawsuits to challenge the(3) Brazilian tax authorities regarding the computation of certain indirect taxes, claiming amounts were overpaid to the tax authorities. The amounts recorded in business consolidation and other activities related to prior periods.

The company completed the purchase of non-participating group annuity contracts for benefit obligations related to certain of the company's(4) pension plans. These purchases of annuity contracts triggered settlement accounting in both years. Charges in the third quarter of 2020 relate to regular lump sums paid subsequent to the triggering of settlement accounting.

In the first quarter of 2020, the company recorded a non-cash impairment(5) charge for the goodwill of the new beverage packaging, other, reporting unit as the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeded its fair value.

In the first quarter of 2020, the company reversed provisions recorded in(6) the fourth quarter of 2019 against working capital in the new beverage packaging, other, segment as balances due have been collected.

In the first quarter of 2020, the company recorded charges related to the(7) sale of its U.S. steel food and aerosol business resulting from the adjustment to the selling price.

The company, noting a deterioration in the real estate market in China,(8) reduced the expected value of the contingent consideration due as part of the sale in 2019 of the company's China beverage packaging business.

In 2020, the company recorded its share of equity method non-comparable costs, principally related to the provision of additional equity(9) contributions and loans to Ball Metalpack by its shareholders. Ball's share was $30 million, resulting in the recognition of previously unrecorded equity method losses associated with prior periods.

The company recorded debt extinguishment costs, principally related to the(10) redemption of outstanding euro-denominated 3.50% senior notes due in 2020 in the amount of (eu)400 million and the outstanding 4.375% senior notes due in 2020 in the amount of $1 billion.

In the third quarter of 2020, the company revalued its U.K. deferred tax balances as a result of an increase in the U.K. tax rate. In the first(11) nine months of 2020, the company also incurred foreign exchange losses on its deferred tax balances in Brazil following depreciation of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar and recorded excess tax benefits from the vesting of Rexam acquisition related compensation arrangements.

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SOURCE Ball Corporation