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Acquisitions and Dispositions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Acquisitions and Dispositions  
Acquisitions and Dispositions

4. Acquisitions and Dispositions

Aerospace

In the third quarter of 2023, Ball entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (Agreement) with BAE Systems, Inc. (BAE) and, for the limited purposes set forth therein, BAE Systems plc, to sell all outstanding equity interests in Ball’s aerospace business. As of December 31, 2023, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States approved the closing of the transaction, but it was pending the approval, clearance, or waiting period expiration or termination required under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, among other customary closing conditions. As of December 31, 2023, we were in the process of seeking such regulatory approval, clearance, or waiting period expiration or termination, but could not yet assert that it was probable that we would obtain the approval, clearance, or waiting period expiration or termination, or satisfy the other closing conditions. Due to these conditions, as of December 31, 2023, Ball’s aerospace business did not meet the requirements for held for sale presentation in Ball’s consolidated financial statements.

On February 13, 2024, the company received approval under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and completed the divestiture of the aerospace business on February 16, 2024, for a purchase price of $5.6 billion, subject to working capital adjustments and other customary closing adjustments under the terms of the Agreement. The result, using the net assets of the aerospace business as of December 31, 2023, is an estimated pre-tax gain of $4.8 billion and an estimated $4.5 billion in after-tax proceeds. These estimates are subject to customary closing adjustments to the purchase price under the terms of the Agreement. The transaction represents a strategic shift and therefore, beginning with Ball’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2024, the company’s consolidated financial statements will reflect the aerospace business’ historical financial results for periods prior to the divestiture as discontinued operations for all periods presented. Additionally, the completion of the divestiture results in the removal of the aerospace business from the company’s obligor group, as the business will no longer guarantee the

company’s senior notes and senior credit facilities. Also, on February 14, 2024, Ball announced a public tender of the $1.00 billion 5.25% senior notes due July 2025 and the $750 million 4.875% senior notes due March 2026.

Russia

In the first quarter of 2022, the company announced that it was pursuing the sale of its aluminum beverage packaging business located in Russia. In the second quarter of 2022, Ball experienced deteriorating conditions and determined this constituted a triggering event for its Russian long-lived asset group. As a result, Ball performed a Level 3 expected cash flow recoverability analysis, using an income valuation approach with various scenarios, including a near-term sale of the business, to estimate the fair value of the long-lived assets, and recorded an impairment loss of $435 million during the second quarter of 2022.

In the third quarter of 2022, the company completed the sale of its Russian aluminum beverage packaging business for total cash consideration of $530 million and recorded a gain on disposal of $222 million. When considering the impairment loss recorded during the second quarter 2022 of $435 million, the impairment loss net of gain on the sale of the Russian business was $213 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The impairment loss in the second quarter and the gain on sale in the third quarter were recorded in business consolidation and other activities in the consolidated statement of earnings. Cash proceeds from the sale of $455 million, net of the cash on the disposed business, were received in the third quarter of 2022 and were presented in business dispositions, net of cash sold, in the consolidated statement of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2022.

In connection with this sale, Ball entered into a call option agreement that is contingently exercisable between September 2025 and September 2032, and if it becomes exercisable, will provide Ball the right to repurchase the business subject to the status of sanctions and certain other contingencies outside of Ball’s control. The option price, if exercised, would provide a customary compounded annual rate of return to the purchaser based on defined cash flows associated with the purchase and operation of the business from the purchase date through the exercise date of the option. Because the option strike price could limit the residual returns generated by the purchaser, if exercised, the option represents a variable interest retained by Ball in the Russian business. Based on the terms of the option relative to current market conditions in Russia, we determined that the option had an immaterial value at the date of sale. Neither the option nor any other terms in the sales agreement resulted in Ball being the primary beneficiary of the business and, therefore, it was deconsolidated.

Ball Metalpack Investment

During the first quarter of 2022, Ball sold its remaining 49 percent owned equity method investment in Ball Metalpack to Sonoco, a global provider of consumer, industrial, healthcare and protective packaging, for total consideration of $298 million, all of which was received in cash in the first quarter of 2022. Ball’s carrying value of the investment before the sale was zero; therefore, a gain from the sale of $298 million is reported in business consolidation and other activities in the consolidated statement of earnings. Cash proceeds of $298 million related to the sale are presented in business dispositions, net of cash sold, in the consolidated statement of cash flows.

Ball also received proceeds from Ball Metalpack for the repayment of an outstanding promissory note and accrued interest of approximately $16 million, which was recorded as a gain in business consolidation and other activities in the consolidated statement of earnings.

South Korea Investment

In the third quarter of 2021, Ball sold its minority-owned investment in South Korea. Consideration for the transaction was cash of $120 million, of which $110 million was received at closing and is presented in business dispositions, net of cash sold, within cash flows from investing activities in Ball’s 2021 consolidated statement of cash flows. In the fourth quarter of 2022, the remaining $10 million was received and is presented in business dispositions, net of cash sold, within cash flows from investing activities in Ball’s 2022 consolidated statement of cash flows. In the second quarter of 2021, the company recorded a loss of $5 million related to the disposal, which is presented in business consolidation and other activities in the consolidated statement of earnings.