Basis of Presentation

6 Months Ended

Jul. 01, 2012

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

1.Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Ball Corporation and its controlled affiliates, including its consolidated variable interest entities (collectively Ball, the company, we or our), and have been prepared by the company. Certain information and footnote disclosures, including critical and significant accounting policies normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, have been condensed or omitted for this presentation.

Results of operations for the periods shown are not necessarily indicative of results for the year, particularly in view of the seasonality in the packaging segments and the irregularity of contract revenues in the aerospace and technologies segment. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 22, 2012, pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 (annual report).

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. These estimates are based on historical experience and various assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from these estimates under different assumptions and conditions. However, we believe that the financial statements reflect all adjustments which are of a normal and recurring nature and are necessary to fairly state the results of the interim periods.

The company utilized a third party appraiser to assist in the evaluation of the estimated useful lives of its drawn and ironed can and related end production equipment used to make beverage cans and ends and two-piece food cans. This evaluation was performed as a result of the global alignment of the company’s use and maintenance practices for this equipment and the company’s experience with the duration over which this equipment can be utilized. As a result, the company has revised the estimated useful lives of this type of equipment utilized throughout the company, which resulted in a net reduction in depreciation expense and cost of sales of $8.9 million ($5.6 million after tax, or $0.04 per diluted share) and $17.8 million ($11.2 million after tax, or $0.07 per diluted share) in the second quarter and first six months of 2012, respectively, and is expected to result in a net decrease in 2012 full year depreciation expense and cost of sales of approximately $34.9 million ($22.3 million after tax, or $0.14 per diluted share) as compared to the amount of depreciation expense and cost of sales that would have been recognized by utilizing the prior depreciable lives. The company has also evaluated its estimates of the accounting for tooling, spare parts and dunnage, as well as the related obsolescence, and aligned its practices for all operations, resulting in a one-time increase in cost of sales and depreciation expense of $2.9 million ($1.7 million after tax, or $0.01 per diluted share) and $5.2 million ($3.0 million after tax, or $0.02 per diluted share) in the second quarter and first six months of 2012, respectively, and is expected to result in an increase in cost of sales and depreciation expense of $11.0 million ($6.7 million after tax, or $0.04 per diluted share) for the full year, primarily attributable to the immediate recognition of expense as items are placed in service.

Effective January 1, 2012, the company changed the presentation of capitalized software in its unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements to classify such assets as intangible assets rather than property, plant and equipment. As a result, the amounts included in the balance sheet in intangible assets were $48.0 million and $45.2 million as of July 1, 2012, and December 31, 2011, respectively. Capitalized software amounts that were previously reported as depreciation have been reclassified to amortization for all periods presented in the statements of earnings and cash flows, as well as in the notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified in order to conform to the current period presentation.