Ball Upholds Global Leadership Position on Dow Jones Sustainability Index

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Sep 12, 2016, 04:15 ET

BROOMFIELD, Colo., Sept. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- For the fourth consecutive year, Ball Corporation (NYSE: BLL) has been listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI World) and Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America (DJSI NA), and confirmed as the industry leader in sustainability among container and packaging companies.

"Sustainability has been important at Ball since our humble beginnings in 1880 and now, as a larger, more global company operating in a competitive and ever-changing market, it is a business imperative," said John A. Hayes, chairman, president and CEO. "The Dow Jones Sustainability Indices are considered the gold standard for corporate sustainability, and we are thrilled to be recognized among the top companies in the world for our ongoing commitment to sustainability. The industry leader designation is particularly important this year, as it marks the first time we've been ranked as a combined organization since our acquisition of Rexam."

Launched in 1999, the DJSI World is the first global index to track the leading sustainability-driven companies based on RobecoSAM's analysis of financially relevant Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors and S&P DJI's robust index methodology. RobecoSAM invited the world's largest 3,400 companies from developed and emerging markets to take part in its annual Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA), which consists of more than 100 financially relevant questions, and identified the top scoring company in each of the 24 industry groups (according to GICS®).

Ball received industry-leading scores on Codes of Business Conduct, Product Stewardship, and Occupational Health and Safety. When compared to industry peers, Ball also scored high on Stakeholder Engagement, Customer Relationship Management, Materiality, Supply Chain Management, Labor Practice Indicators and Human Rights. When compared with last year's RobecoSAM assessment, Ball improved most in the areas of Corporate Citizenship/Philanthropy, Climate Strategy, Codes of Business Conduct, Customer Relationship Management and Environmental Reporting.

"The areas where we achieved industry-leading and most improved scores align very closely with those we've identified as part of Drive for 10, our long-term vision for success, as well as with our updated sustainability priorities," Hayes added. "These achievements and the progress we've made over the years to make Ball a more successful, sustainable company are a testament to our 18,700 employees around the world and their continued dedication to this common vision."

Ball recently published its fifth biennial sustainability report, which details the company's achievements in its priority areas – product stewardship, operational excellence, talent management and community ambassadors – and set 10 new ambitious goals to be achieved by 2020. To download the 2016 sustainability report, visit www.ball.com/sustainability-reports. For more information on Ball's sustainability efforts and an overview of all external sustainability assessments, including the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices, please visit www.ball.com/sustainability.

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 18,700 people worldwide and pro forma 2015 net sales were $11 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; competitive activity; failure to achieve synergies, 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; currency controls; 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 and synergies; interest rates affecting our debt; and successful or unsuccessful acquisitions and divestitures, including with respect to the Rexam PLC acquisition or the associated divestiture; the effect of the acquisition or the divestiture on our business relationships, operating results and business generally; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against us related to the acquisition or the divestiture.

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