<PAGE>
Exhibit 21
SUBSIDIARIES OF U.S. CAN CORPORATION
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME OF COMPANY JURISDICTION OF INCORPORATION TRADE NAME
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<S> <C> <C>
United States Can Company (1) State of Delaware, U.S.A. U.S. Can
USC May Verpackungen Holding Inc. (2) State of Delaware, U.S.A. n/a
U.S.C. Europe N.V. (3) Netherland Antilles n/a
U.S.C. Europe Netherlands B.V. (4) Netherlands n/a
May Verpackungen GmbH & Co. KG (5) Germany n/a
</TABLE>
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(1) U.S. Can Corporation owns 100% of the shares of United States Can Company
(2) United States Can Company owns 100% of the shares of USC May Verpackungen
Holding Inc.
(3) United States Can Company owns 100% of the shares of U.S.C. Europe B.V.
(4) U.S.C. Europe N.V. owns 100% of the shares of U.S.C. Europe Netherlands
B.V. U.S.C. Europe Netherlands B.V. has nine foreign subsidiaries engaged
in metal can manufacturing in Europe, and also owns 36.5% of Formametal
S.A., an Argentine metal can manufacturer.
(5) USC May Verpackungen Holding Inc. owns 100% of the shares of May
Verpackungen GmbH & Co. KG. May Verpackungen GmbH & Co. KG has four
foreign subsidiaries engaged in metal can manufacturing in Europe.
SUBSIDIARIES OF UNITED STATES CAN COMPANY
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME OF COMPANY JURISDICTION OF INCORPORATION TRADE NAME
--------------- ----------------------------- ----------
<S> <C> <C>
USC May Verpackungen Holding Inc. State of Delaware, U.S.A. n/a
U.S.C. Europe N.V. Netherland Antilles n/a
U.S.C. Europe Netherlands B.V. (a) Netherlands n/a
May Verpackungen GmbH & Co. KG (b) Germany n/a
</TABLE>
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(a) See footnote (4) above.
(b) See footnote (5) above.
SUBSIDIARIES OF USC MAY VERPACKUNGEN HOLDING INC.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME OF COMPANY JURISDICTION OF INCORPORATION TRADE NAME
--------------- ----------------------------- ----------
<S> <C> <C>
May Verpackungen GmbH & Co. KG (i) Germany n/a
</TABLE>
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(i) See footnote (5) above.
