Ball Reports Strong 2Q 2016 Results

Ball Corporation reported second quarter 2016 net earnings attributable to the corporation of $369 million, or $2.54 per diluted share (including the net effect of after-tax income of $217 million, or $1.49 per diluted share for business consolidation, debt refinancing and other costs and the estimated gain on the sale of divested assets) on sales of $2.0 billion, compared to $160 million of net earnings attributable to the corporation, or $1.13 per diluted share (including after-tax income of $35 million, or 24 cents per diluted share for debt refinancing costs, economic hedging gains, business consolidation and other costs), on sales of $2.2 billion in the second quarter of 2015.
 
Results for the first six months of 2016 were net earnings attributable to the corporation of $242 million, or $1.67 per diluted share, on sales of $3.8 billion compared to $181 million, or $1.28 per diluted share, on sales of $4.1 billion for the first six months of 2015.
 
Comparable earnings per diluted share for the second quarter and year-to-date 2016 were $1.05 and $1.63, respectively, versus second quarter and year-to-date 2015 comparable earnings per diluted share of 89 cents and $1.57, respectively.
 
“Our strong second quarter results, the completion of legacy metal packaging growth projects, a robust aerospace backlog and the recent Rexam acquisition provide a very solid foundation for a multi-year, value-compounding growth period for our company and our shareholders,” said John A. Hayes, chairman, president and CEO. “One month into the acquisition integration, business-related services and manufacturing operations are running smoothly. The past 17 months of planning have evolved into action, and the synergy execution process is well underway in all value-capture work streams.”
 
Metal beverage packaging, Americas and Asia, comparable segment earnings in the second quarter 2016 were $137 million on sales of $1.1 billion, compared to $126 million on sales of $1.1 billion in the second quarter 2015. For the first six months, comparable segment operating earnings were $239 million on sales of $2.0 billion, compared to $252 million on sales of $2.2 billion during the same period in 2015.
 
In the Americas, second quarter volumes improved with continued strength in specialty can demand in North America and Brazil. Successful cost-out initiatives in China were unable to fully offset the second quarter impact of high single-digit volume declines and lower pricing in the region. Year-to-date Americas and Asia revenues were impacted by the pass through of lower year-over-year aluminum prices and price compression in China.
 
In June, the company started up the second beverage can line at its Monterrey, Mexico, facility, as well as production at its new facility in Myanmar. These projects represent the remaining legacy capital projects that Ball began prior to the initiation of the company’s offer for Rexam.
 
Metal beverage packaging, Europe, comparable segment earnings in the second quarter 2016 were $74 million on sales of $479 million, compared to $59 million on sales of $481 million in the second quarter 2015. For the first six months, comparable segment operating earnings were $113 million on sales of $835 million, compared to $88 million on sales of $860 million during the same period in 2015.
 
Comparable segment earnings were higher in the second quarter and year-to-date due to lower year-over-year aluminum premiums and solid demand for specialty containers.
 
Food and aerosol packaging comparable segment earnings in the second quarter 2016 were $33 million on sales of $298 million, compared to $29 million on sales of $332 million in the second quarter 2015. For the first six months, comparable segment operating earnings were $53 million on sales of $583 million, compared to $59 million on sales of $640 million during the same period in 2015.
 
During the second quarter, strong global demand for aerosol containers outpaced single-digit declines for food cans in North America.
 
Operational performance across the segment was strong in the quarter and the previously announced actions to reposition steel cutting and coating equipment across Ball’s existing U.S. manufacturing locations is on schedule.
 
Aerospace comparable quarterly segment earnings in the second quarter 2016 were $19 million on sales of $193 million, compared to $20 million on sales of $230 million in the second quarter 2015. For the first six months, comparable segment operating earnings were $37 million on sales of $373 million, compared to $39 million on sales of $445 million during the same period in 2015.
 
Contracted backlog grew to more than $1 billion at the end of second quarter, with more of the new business awards being oriented to cost-plus contracts. A diverse portfolio of new contracts will leverage Ball’s existing technologies and value-added approach to deliver solutions to our customers. The aerospace team is staffing up to further support this backlog and the added labor base will bolster revenue growth in the second half of the year.
 
“While we are still in the midst of our 90-day business review, our early estimate is for full-year 2017 free cash flow to be in the range of $750 million to $850 million, excluding one-time items related to the Rexam acquisition. Though not precluded from repurchasing our shares in the near term, our current plan is to reduce our leverage as quickly as possible, continue our dividend and then return value to shareholders via notable share repurchases as soon as our targeted capital structure is in the range of 3.0 to 3.5 times net debt to comparable EBITDA,” said Scott C. Morrison, SVP and CFO.
 
“This acquisition is truly a step change for our company, and we take this responsibility seriously, both operationally and strategically. We have hit the ground running with respect to our synergy realization around the Rexam transaction. The second half of 2016 will be a time to implement many of these efforts, with the benefits beginning to be realized in 2017,” Hayes said. “We look forward to the many opportunities that lie ahead to grow EVA, earnings and cash flow. Given the strength of our underlying businesses and the value potential of the Rexam acquisition, we see a path to doubling Ball’s long-term goal of 10% to 15% comparable diluted earnings per share growth over each of the next three years.”