14.11.2007

Daily dose: Nova refreshes in Sleek format

Triumphal advance of the Sleek Can for premium beverages continues

 Nuremberg, 14th November 2007. With the new essential drink, Nova, it is possible to achieve one's personal best form and at the same boost one's health despite a stressful lifestyle. The innovative, non alcoholic beverage has already been on the market for a few weeks - filled in the Sleek Can from Ball Packaging Europe.

Nova contains a holistic combination of active substances obtained from the new type of sugar isomaltulose, extracts from guarana and green coffee as well as the amino acids L-arginine and L-lysine. Contrary to many sweet-tasting drinks, this beverage suppresses the feeling of hunger for longer periods because the isomaltulose is broken down much more slowly than normal sugar. At the same time, Nova stimulates the fat metabolism. Dr. Stephan Schimpf, a medical doctor from Salzburg, spent three years developing the drink before it was "ready for the can".

Nova refreshes both body and mind by stimulating perception and enhancing circulation.  Consumers can apparently concentrate more easily and achieve their best form even under occupational stress. The drink tastes fresh but not sweet.

The effect of Nova is underlined by it being filled in the Sleek Can from Ball Packaging Europe. "Nova demonstrates once again that in particular premium, diet, fitness and wellness drinks are ideally suited to the modern design of the Sleek Can", says Rob Miles, Vice President Sales & Marketing at Ball Packaging Europe.

Consumers associate the slim shape primarily with low calorie drinks, but even beer in the Sleek format is becoming increasingly accepted: For example, the French brand Kronenbourg has already been filled in 330 ml and 250 ml Sleek Cans for the past two years. A few weeks ago, Gaffel Kölsch also included such a slim-line Ball Packaging Europe can in its assortment because the shape and the particular design resemble a glass of Kölsch.

Trend towards Sleek Can continues

Since Ball Packaging Europe's market launch of the Sleek Can in the year 2004 sales of this format have risen continuously - from initially 30 million units to around 600 million units in the current year. What is more, the can maker has not only established the 330 ml Sleek Can on the market but since 2005 also the 250 ml can. The company's production capacities for this format in Weißenthurm, Rhineland-Palatinate, are virtually fully utilised.  Ball Packaging Europe is expecting continued sales volume growth for the Sleek Can in 2008. In order to meet this demand, the company is currently re-equipping a further production line at the Weißenthurm plant. This will probably start producing both 330 ml standard cans and also Sleek Cans as a so-called 'swing-line' from April 2008 onwards.  

Printable photo material relating to this press release can be found in our photo data bank (www.ball-europe.com) under "Press/Image database“. Please input the photo number 1-00165 in the full text search.

You can visit Ball Packaging Europe at the Brau Beviale from 14^th to 16th November 2007 in Nuremberg, Hall 4, Stand 109.

Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains "forward-looking" statements concerning future events and financial performance. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Key risks and uncertainties are summarized in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Exhibit 99.2 in our Form 10-K, which are available at our Web site and at www.sec.gov. Factors that might affect our packaging segments include fluctuation in product demand and preferences; availability and cost of raw materials, including recent significant increases in resin, steel, aluminium and energy costs, and the ability to pass such increases on to customers; competitive packaging availability, pricing and substitution; changes in climate and weather; crop yields; competitive activity; failure to achieve anticipated productivity improvements or production cost reductions, including our beverage can end project; mandatory deposit or other restrictive packaging laws; changes in major customer or supplier contracts or loss of a major customer or supplier; and changes in foreign exchange rates, tax rates and activities of foreign subsidiaries. Factors that might affect our aerospace segment include: funding, authorization, availability and returns of government and commercial contracts; and delays, extensions and technical uncertainties affecting segment contracts. Factors that might affect the company as a whole include those listed plus: accounting changes; successful or unsuccessful acquisitions, joint ventures or divestitures; integration of recently acquired businesses; regulatory action or laws including tax, environmental and workplace safety; governmental investigations; technological developments and innovations; goodwill impairment; antitrust, patent and other litigation; strikes; labor cost changes; rates of return projected and earned on assets of the company's defined benefit retirement plans; pension changes; reduced cash flow; interest rates affecting our debt; and changes to unaudited results due to statutory audits or other effects.

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