Consumer Discretionary
Packaging & Containers
$16.44B
21K
Ball Corporation is a leading global supplier of sustainable aluminum packaging solutions, primarily for the beverage, personal care, and household products industries. The company leverages its manufacturing footprint and customer relationships to produce aluminum beverage containers, aerosol containers, and recloseable aluminum bottles. Ball operates in key markets across North America, Europe, South America, and Asia.
Key insights and themes extracted from this filing
The 2023 net sales were $14.03 billion, a decrease of $1.32 billion from 2022, due to a $554 million decrease from the sale of the Russian aluminum beverage packaging business, a $514 million decrease from lower volumes, and a $305 million decrease from lower sales prices.
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation in 2023 were $707 million, a decrease of $12 million from 2022, primarily due to an increased interest expense and decreased volumes, partially offset by higher sales prices and cost savings.
Cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization, was $11.359 billion in 2023 compared to $12.766 million in 2022. The decrease year-over-year is primarily due to lower manufacturing costs, including lower aluminum costs of $1.29 billion, and lower freight expenses of $176 million.
On February 16, 2024, the company completed the divestiture of the aerospace business to BAE Systems, Inc. for a purchase price of $5.6 billion, subject to adjustments. The company plans to use $2.00 billion of the proceeds to repay debt and accelerate capital return to shareholders via $2.00 billion of share repurchases.
Ball permanently ceased production at its Phoenix, Arizona, St. Paul, Minnesota and Wallkill, New York aluminum beverage can manufacturing facilities. Additionally, the company announced it will permanently cease production at its Kent, Washington facility in the first half of 2024.
On February 16, 2024, the company completed the divestiture of the aerospace business. We plan to accelerate capital return to shareholders via share repurchases and repay a portion of outstanding debt as a result of the divestiture.
We took actions to normalize inventory levels and reduce fixed and variable costs in 2023 that improved financial results.
We were in compliance with all loan agreements at December 31, 2023, and for all prior years presented, and we have met all debt payment obligations.
Ball Corporation is committed to maintaining a strong cybersecurity posture. We have a dedicated, globally distributed information security team that is responsible for leading information security strategy, standards and processes, which are integrated into our comprehensive enterprise risk management process.
Health epidemics, pandemics and other outbreaks could give rise to circumstances that cause one or more of the following risk factors to occur: loss of key customers, changes in laws and governmental regulations, adverse fluctuations in currency exchange rates, etc.
We purchase aluminum and other raw materials and packaging supplies, including dunnage, from several sources. While all such materials and supplies are available from independent suppliers, they are subject to fluctuations in price and availability attributable to a number of factors, including general economic conditions, commodity price fluctuations.
Our aluminum packaging products are subject to significant competition from substitute products, particularly plastic carbonated soft drink bottles made from PET, single serve and returnable beer bottles and other beverage containers made of glass, cardboard or other materials.
Competition within the packaging and aerospace industries is intense. Increases in productivity, combined with potential surplus capacity in the packaging industry, have maintained competitive pricing pressures. The principal methods of competition in the general packaging industry are price, innovation, sustainability, service and quality.
Our aluminum packaging products are subject to significant competition from substitute products, particularly plastic carbonated soft drink bottles made from PET, single serve and returnable beer bottles and other beverage containers made of glass, cardboard or other materials.
We face competitive risks from many sources that may negatively impact our profitability. Some of our competitors may have greater financial, technical and marketing resources, and some may currently have excess capacity.
Our future revenue and operating results will depend on our ability to effectively manage the anticipated growth of our business. We have experienced fluctuations in the growth in demand for our products and services in recent years and are rebalancing our operations, managing our headcount, and developing new and innovative product offerings to balance our supply positions with our customers’ requirements in each region.
Our innovation and manufacturing teams around the world focus on continuously improving operational efficiency. This focus drives improved processes, including products designed for optimum metal efficiency, real time energy monitoring, and reuse of water, as well as the minimization of waste and spoilage within our manufacturing plants.
We purchase aluminum and other raw materials and packaging supplies, including dunnage, from several sources. While all such materials and supplies are available from independent suppliers, they are subject to fluctuations in price and availability attributable to a number of factors, including general economic conditions, commodity price fluctuations.
Our business faces the potential of increased regulation on some of the raw materials utilized in our packaging operations. To mitigate these risks, the Company is working with its suppliers to require them to remove PFAS-containing coatings from our products.
Increased global IT security threats and more sophisticated and targeted computer crime also pose a risk to the security of our systems and networks and the confidentiality, availability and integrity of our data, as well as to the security and data of our suppliers and customers.
Decreases in our ability to develop or apply new technology and know-how may affect our competitiveness. Our success depends partially on our ability to improve production processes and services.
On February 16, 2024, the company completed the divestiture of the aerospace business. The company plans to use $2.00 billion of the proceeds to repay debt and accelerate capital return to shareholders via $2.00 billion of share repurchases.
Given the on-going growth projects in our businesses being undertaken to support EVA-enhancing contracted volumes, in 2024, we expect capital expenditures to be in the range of $650 million.
We further intend to utilize our operating cash flows to pay down debt and, to the extent available, repurchase Ball common stock or fund acquisitions that meet our rate of return criteria. On February 16, 2024, the company completed the divestiture of the aerospace business.
At Ball Corporation, we deliver circular aluminum packaging solutions. Our business is aligned around cohesive operating priorities focused on constant innovation, product capabilities, sustainability and financial stewardship.
We focus our sustainability efforts on environmental, social and governance (ESG) impacts. This is exhibited through our Climate Transition Plan commitment to achieve a science-based 55 percent reduction in our greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint by 2030 and net zero carbon emissions prior to 2050, in part by reaching 100 percent renewable electricity globally by 2030.
In 2023, we introduced our expanded global diversity and inclusion strategy and goals, which will help to ensure that we have a sustainable workforce, and foster a safe and inclusive work environment where everyone feels they belong and are valued for their differences and contributions.
We derived approximately 44 percent of our consolidated net sales from outside of the U.S. for the year ended December 31, 2023. The sizeable scope of operations inside and outside of the U.S. may lead to more volatile financial results and make it more difficult for us to manage our business.
The company's financial results are exposed to currency exchange rate fluctuations and a significant proportion of assets, liabilities and earnings are denominated in non-U.S. dollar currencies.
We manufacture packaging products primarily for beverages. Unseasonable weather can reduce demand for certain beverages packaged in our containers. Climate change and the increasing frequency of severe weather events could have various effects on the demand for our products, our supply chain and the costs of inputs to our production and delivery of products in different regions around the world.