Mar., 15/PRBROOMFIELD, Colo.,/ Ball Corporation (NYSE: BLL) and Metal Packaging International, Inc. (MPI) announced today that Ball has acquired MPI, a manufacturer of aluminum ends for beverage cans.

MPI operates a single plant in Northglenn, Colo., producing just over 2 billion beverage can ends a year, primarily for soft drink companies. The company had sales of approximately $42 million in 2002.

Ball produces approximately 32 billion beverage cans and ends a year in North America. Ball said the MPI volumes would be consolidated into existing Ball end manufacturing operations and the Northglenn facility would be closed. Ball produces beverage can ends in Golden, Colo.; Monticello, Ind.; Findlay, Ohio; Reidsville, N.C. and Bristol, Va.

Ball purchased MPI from a private investor. The purchase price was not disclosed. Ball expects after-tax returns from the acquired business to exceed Ball's cost of capital.

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Ball Corporation is one of the world's leading suppliers of metal and plastic packaging to the beverage and food industries. The company also owns Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. Ball, based in Broomfield, Colo., reported 2002 sales of $3.9 billion. Ball’s packaging strategy is to manufacture, market, sell and service products that will meet the metal and plastic packaging needs of the beverage and food markets. In aerospace, Ball capitalizes on the world-class capabilities of its aerospace and technologies subsidiary. Here is our vision, mission and strategy.

Packaging accounts for almost 90 percent of Ball’s total sales. It includes metal beverage and food containers, PET (plastic) containers and international packaging, including Ball Packaging Europe.

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. (BATC) provides aerospace and other high technology products and services to governmental and commercial customers. It is a subsidiary of Ball Corporation and hosts its own web site.