14.11.2007

Market launch in France: Embossed Desperados Cans

Premiere in Europe: At the Brau, Ball Packaging Europe will for the first time be presenting the aluminium beverage bottle Alumi-Tek™

Nuremberg, 14th November 2007. New on the French market:

Since September 2007, Heineken has been selling its "Desperados“ brand and since October 2007 also its "Desperados MAS“ brand in the embossed 500 ml can from Ball Packaging Europe. "Desperados“ is beer with a tequila flavour, whereas "Desperados MAS" is the light version with a tequila-lime flavour and a lower alcohol content. The embossing technology enables consumers to experience haptically that special something about the Desperados brands.  The embossed design turns picking up a can into an exceptional sensual experience and underlines brand differentiation. In the embossing process, the details of the design are raised three-dimensionally as a result of the surrounding areas being pressed inwards.  The technology therefore enables the design of beverage cans to be perceptibly enhanced. Large brand producers use embossing to draw attention to the premium quality of their beers.

Embossing technology requires exceptionally precise control of the production processes to guarantee that the embossing and the printed design match perfectly, even at high output rates. Ball Packaging Europe is continuously enhancing this technology. The company is the leading supplier of embossed cans in Europe with a current sales volume of around 650 million embossed cans.  

Premiere for Alumi-Tek™ in Europe

 At the Brau Beviale Ball Packaging Europe is for the first time presenting the aluminium beverage bottle, Alumi-Tek™.  The container is produced by Ball Corporation, the American parent company, under licence. An appropriate agreement was concluded with the licensor, the Japanese Universal Can Company (UCC), in the spring of last year. The re-sealable aluminium beverage bottle is made in sizes 325 ml and 355 ml. The light-weight and recyclable Alumi-Tek™ can be used for a wide range of beverages, for example carbonated soft drinks, juices, energy drinks and coffee-based drinks.

Printable photo material relating to this press release can be found in our photo data bank (www.ball-europe.com) under "Press/Image database“. Please input the photo numbers 1-00182, 1-00183 and 1-00184 in the full text search.

You can visit Ball Packaging Europe at the Brau Beviale from 14^th to 16th November 2007 in Nuremberg, Hall 4, Stand 109.

Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains "forward-looking" statements concerning future events and financial performance. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates” and similar expressions are intended to 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 99.2 in our Form 10-K, which are available at our Web site and at www.sec.gov. Factors that might affect our packaging segments include fluctuation in product demand and preferences; availability and cost of raw materials, including recent significant increases in resin, steel, aluminum and energy costs, and the ability to pass such increases on to customers; competitive packaging availability, pricing and substitution; changes in climate and weather; crop yields; competitive activity; failure to achieve anticipated productivity improvements or production cost reductions, including our beverage can end project; mandatory deposit or other restrictive packaging laws; changes in major customer or supplier contracts or loss of a major customer or supplier; and changes in foreign exchange rates, tax rates and activities of foreign subsidiaries. Factors that might affect our aerospace segment include: funding, authorization, availability and returns of government and commercial contracts; and delays, extensions and technical uncertainties affecting segment contracts. Factors that might affect the company as a whole include those listed plus: accounting changes; successful or unsuccessful acquisitions, joint ventures or divestitures; integration of recently acquired businesses; regulatory action or laws including tax, environmental and workplace safety; governmental investigations; technological developments and innovations; goodwill impairment; antitrust, patent and other litigation; strikes; labor cost changes; rates of return projected and earned on assets of the company's defined benefit retirement plans; pension changes; reduced cash flow; interest rates affecting our debt; and changes to unaudited results due to statutory audits or other effects.

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