Basis of Presentation (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Basis of Presentation

Schedule of Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments [Table Text Block]

($ in millions, except per share amounts)	Three Months Ended June 30, 2016						Six Months Ended June 30, 2016
2016	As Previously Reported		Adjustments (a)		As Revised		As Previously Reported		Adjustments (a)		As Revised
Business consolidation and other activities	$	27	$	1	$	28	$	(240)	$	1	$	(239)
Earnings before interest and taxes		278		1		279		167		1		168
Earnings (loss) before taxes		191		1		192		(18)		1		(17)
Tax (provision) benefit		146		(32)		114		229		(32)		197
Net earnings		338		(31)		307		211		(31)		180
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation		338		(31)		307		211		(31)		180
Basic earnings per share (b)		1.19		(0.11)		1.08		0.74		(0.11)		0.63
Diluted earnings per share (b)		1.17		(0.11)		1.06		0.73		(0.11)		0.62

(a) The company revised the amounts originally reported for the second quarter of 2016 for the following items:

· Recorded $13 million of expense in business consolidation and other activities for payroll tax obligations associated with compensation arrangements for the Rexam acquisition that should have been accrued upon the change of control in the second quarter of 2016. The company identified this error during the third quarter of 2016, and recorded and disclosed the correction in the third quarter of 2016 as an out-of-period adjustment.

· Recorded $14 million of additional net gain on the sale of the Divestment Business in business consolidation and other activities for assets received by the buyer that should have been included in the amount owed to the company and liabilities that should have been derecognized by the company at the date of sale, as well as other insignificant items.

· Recorded $30 million of tax expense associated with using an incorrect tax basis for the gain on the sale of the Divestment Business and an additional $2 million of tax expense associated with the tax effects of the adjustments noted above. 

(b) Amounts in 2016 have been retrospectively adjusted for the two-for-one stock split that was effective on May 16, 2017.