BALL CORP
8-K, 1997-01-17
METAL CANS
Previous: BABSON D L BOND TRUST, 24F-2NT, 1997-01-17
Next: BANKAMERICA CORP, 424B5, 1997-01-17



                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT




                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) January 2, 1997


                                BALL CORPORATION
           -----------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                     Indiana
           -----------------------------------------------------------
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)


             1-7349                                35-0160610
  --------------------------------    ---------------------------------------
     (Commission File Number)            (IRS Employer Identification No.)



                345 South High Street, Muncie, Indiana 47305-2326
                -------------------------------------------------
               (Address of principal executive office) (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (317) 747-6100



<PAGE>


                                Ball Corporation
                           Current Report on Form 8-K
                             Dated January 17, 1997



Item 5.  Other Events.

On January 3, 1997, Ball  Corporation  announced that its Hong Kong  subsidiary,
FTB  Packaging  Limited,  had  completed  the  purchase  of Lam Soon (Hong Kong)
Limited's  controlling interest in M.C. Packaging (Hong Kong) Limited on January
2, 1997. FTB paid  approximately  $73 million for Lam Soon's direct and indirect
economic  interest  of  approximately  30  percent  and  controls  directly  and
indirectly  approximately 51.2 percent of the voting rights of M.C. Packaging, a
Hong Kong-based manufacturer of packaging products.

Ball,  through FTB, has  made an offer for the outstanding public shares of M.C.
Packaging,  also at HK$2.80 per share.  If all public shares are tendered,  FTB,
for a total consideration of approximately  US$190 million will own, directly or
indirectly  approximately 74 percent of the economic interest of M.C.  Packaging
and will control all of the voting rights. The offer is expected to be completed
in February 1997.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

The following is filed as an Exhibit to this Report.

Exhibit Number 99

Description

Ball Announces Purchase of Lam Soon's Interest in M.C. Packaging.



<PAGE>


                                Ball Corporation
                           Current Report on Form 8-K
                             Dated January 17, 1997


                                    SIGNATURE



Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



                                BALL CORPORATION
                                  (Registrant)



Date:  January 17, 1997                     By:  /s/ A. R. Schlesinger
                                                 -----------------------------
                                                 A. R. Schlesinger
                                                 Vice President and Controller




<PAGE>


                                Ball Corporation
                           Current Report on Form 8-K
                             Dated January 17, 1997

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit           Description

EX-99 Text of a press release disseminated by the registrant on January 3, 1997.

<PAGE>


                                Ball Corporation
                           Current Report on Form 8-K
                             Dated January 17, 1997



                                                                   Exhibit EX-99

Following  is the text of a press  release  disseminated  by the  registrant  on
January 3, 1997:



  BALL COMPLETES PURCHASE OF CONTROLLING INTEREST OF M.C. PACKAGING LTD.


          MUNCIE,  Ind., Jan. 3, 1997--Ball  Corporation  [NYSE: BLL] said today
  that its Hong  Kong  subsidiary,  FTB Packaging  Limited,  had  completed  the
  previously  announced purchase  of  Lam Soon (Hong Kong) Limited's controlling
  interest in M.C. Packaging (Hong Kong) Limited.
         FTB paid HK$2.80 per share,  or  approximately  US$73 million,  for Lam
  Soon's direct and indirect  economic  interest of approximately 30 percent and
  controls  directly  and  indirectly  approximately  51.2 percent of the voting
  rights  of  M.C.  Packaging,  a  Hong  Kong-based  manufacturer  of  packaging
  products.
         Ball,  through FTB, soon will make an offer for the outstanding  public
  shares of M.C. Packaging,  also at HK$2.80 per share. If all public shares are
  tendered, FTB, for a total consideration of approximately US$190 million, will
  own,  directly  and  indirectly,  approximately  74  percent  of the  economic
  interest of M.C.  Packaging  and will  control all of the voting  rights.  The
  offer is expected to be completed in February.
         M.C. Packaging has 14 manufacturing operations, one in Hong Kong and 13
  through  affiliates  in the People's  Republic of China.  It produces  various
  forms of packaging,  including aluminum beverage cans, steel food and beverage
  cans, and plastic bottles.  M.C. Packaging has approximately 19 percent of the
  market  for  two-piece  beverage  cans in China,  and 50  percent  of both the
  beverage  can and food can  markets  in Hong Kong.  Sales in 1995 were  US$195
  million.
         Through its FTB  subsidiary,  Ball  currently  operates seven plants in
  China,  primarily  producing  beverage cans and ends, with a 30-percent market
  share.
         Ball Corporation  produces rigid metal and plastic  packaging  products
  for foods and beverages and provides  aerospace and other technology  products
  and services to government and commercial customers.
                                                   * * *

  Note: This news release may contain  forward-looking  statements as encouraged
  by the  Private  Securities  Litigation  Reform  Act of 1995.  Forward-looking
  statements are  necessarily  projections  which are subject to change upon the
  occurrence of certain events which may affect the business,  many of which are
  set forth in the company's 8-K report filed with the  Securities  and Exchange
  Commission on July 16, 1996.

  1/97
  Media Contact:  Scott McCarty, 317/747-6175, [email protected]
  Investor Contact:  Doug Poling, 317/747-6465, [email protected]

  Ball Home Page:  http://www.ball.com




© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission