f11k.htm



UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC  20549


Annual Report Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934


FORM 11-K


þ
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014
 
OR
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   

Commission file number  001-07349

A.
Full title of the Plan and the address of the Plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:
 
BALL CORPORATION
401(K) AND EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
 
B.
Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the Plan and the address of its principal executive office:
 
BALL CORPORATION
10 LONGS PEAK DRIVE
BROOMFIELD, COLORADO 80021-2510



 
 
 
BALL CORPORATION
401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Index to Financial Statements
 

   
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
  
1
     
Financial Statements:
    
     
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits
    
at December 31, 2014 and 2013
  
2
     
Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
    
for the Years Ended December 31, 2014 and 2013
  
3
     
Notes to Financial Statements
  
4
     
Supplemental Schedule:
    
     
Schedule H, Line 4i–Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
    
at December 31, 2014
  
15
     


 

 
 
 
BALL CORPORATION
401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
To the Plan Administrator
Ball Corporation 401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Broomfield, Colorado
 
We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Ball Corporation 401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the Plan) as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Plan is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Ball Corporation 401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 
The supplemental schedule of assets (held at end of year) (supplemental information) has been subjected to audit procedures performed in conjunction with the audit of the Plan's financial statements. The supplemental information is the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our audit procedures included determining whether the supplemental information reconciles to the financial statements or the underlying accounting and other records, as applicable, and performing procedures to test the completeness and accuracy of the information presented in the supplemental information. In forming our opinion on the supplemental information, we evaluated whether the supplemental information, including its form and content, is presented in conformity with the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In our opinion, the supplemental information is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the financial statements as a whole.
 

/s/ CliftonLarsonAllen LLP
CliftonLarsonAllen LLP
Greenwood Village, Colorado
June 26, 2015

 
1
 
BALL CORPORATION
401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan


Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits
 
   
December 31,
  
   
2014
    
2013
  
Assets:
            
Investments at fair value (See notes 3, 4 and 5)
            
Mutual funds
   $ 1,269,001,340     $ 1,203,093,154  
Ball Corporation common stock
     558,472,567       453,832,118  
Investment contracts
     -       149,471,567  
Collective investment trust
     140,053,575       -  
Total investments
     1,967,527,482       1,806,396,839  
                 
Receivables:
                
Employer contributions
     5,580,206       667,063  
Notes receivable from participants
     26,411,972       26,661,965  
Total receivables
     31,992,178       27,329,028  
                 
Net assets available for benefits, at fair value
     1,999,519,660       1,833,725,867  
                 
Adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts
     (4,171,206 )     (3,597,368 )
                 
Net assets available for benefits
   $ 1,995,348,454     $ 1,830,128,499  
                 
 

 
 


 
 
 

 
 
See accompanying notes to the financial statements.
 

 
2
 
BALL CORPORATION
401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan
 
 
Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
 
   
For the years ended December 31,
  
   
2014
    
2013
  
Additions:
            
Additions to net assets attributed to:
            
             
Investment income:
            
Dividends and interest
   $ 57,028,926     $ 43,103,287  
Net appreciation in fair value of investments (See Note 4)
     178,726,287       239,380,225  
Total investment income
     235,755,213       282,483,512  
                 
Interest Income on notes receivable from participants
     1,124,690       1,140,442  
                 
Contributions:
                
Participant
     56,966,384       56,656,915  
Employer, net of forfeitures
     28,470,625       23,558,630  
Rollovers, transfers in and other additions
     4,968,157       3,207,009  
Total contributions
     90,405,166       83,422,554  
                 
Total additions
     327,285,069       367,046,508  
                 
Deductions:
                
Deductions to net assets attributed to:
                
                 
Distributions to participants
     161,952,744       152,952,532  
Administrative expenses and other (See note 8)
     112,370       216,200  
Total deductions
     162,065,114       153,168,732  
                 
Net Increase in net assets
     165,219,955       213,877,776  
                 
Net assets available for benefits:
                
Beginning of year
     1,830,128,499       1,616,250,723  
End of year
   $ 1,995,348,454     $ 1,830,128,499  
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
See accompanying notes to the financial statements.
 

 
3
 
BALL CORPORATION
401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2014 and 2013
 
 
Note 1–Description of the Plan
 
The Ball Corporation 401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the “Plan”) is a defined contribution plan established on September 1, 1983. The Plan was amended and restated on July 1, 1989, under the rules of Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“IRC”), Section 401(k), to add an employee stock ownership (the “ESOP”) feature which was qualified under IRC Sections 401(a) and 4975(e)(7).  Participants should refer to the Summary Plan Description for more complete information. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”).
 
Participation
 
Essentially all U.S. salaried and U.S. hourly employees of Ball Corporation and participating subsidiaries (the “Company”) are eligible to participate in the Plan. Eligibility to participate in the Plan begins with the first day of employment. An eligible employee who does not make an election about his or her participation in the Plan is automatically enrolled 30 days after his or her hire date.
 
Employee Contributions
 
The Plan allows eligible participants to contribute a portion of their salaries or wages to the Plan on a before-tax basis within limits defined by the Plan. Such limits vary among certain employee classifications. In all cases, the maximum contribution for a participant may not exceed the annual maximum limits established under IRC Section 402(g). All income earned from invested contributions accumulates tax deferred until withdrawal.
 
The Plan provides for the automatic enrollment of a 3 percent pretax deferral of eligible pay for newly hired employees, unless the employee affirmatively elects to make no pretax contributions or elects to make pretax contributions of a different amount.
 
The Plan provides an automatic one-step increase whereby the automatic deferral percentage of 3 percent is automatically increased 1 percent each year, beginning in the calendar year following the calendar year of automatic enrollment until the deferral percentage equals 6 percent. Employees may opt-out of the automatic increases at any time.
 
Participants may change the level of their contribution or suspend contributions entirely at any time. The Plan also permits rollovers, which represent funds that participants transfer into the Plan from previous eligible Plans.
 
Company Matching Contributions
 
The Company generally makes a matching contribution each pay period that is based on the percentage of eligible pay that the participant contributes. The Company matching contribution
 

 
4
 
BALL CORPORATION
401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Notes to Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2014 and 2013
 
 
 
and the ratio of the Company matching contribution to the participant contribution differs depending on the employee group in which the participant belongs. The maximum percentage of eligible pay which the Company will match is 6 percent. The Plan includes matching provisions in accordance with the provisions of the applicable union contracts.
 
For certain employee groups, Company matching contributions are invested automatically in units of the Ball Corporation Common Stock Fund. The Ball Corporation Common Stock Fund included $1,544,213 and $351,740 in the Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund as of December 31, 2014, and 2013, respectively. These amounts are included in the mutual funds line in the Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits. For remaining employee groups, Company matching contributions are invested according to participant elections. Participants whose Company matching contributions are automatically invested in the Ball Corporation Common Stock Fund may immediately diversify this investment.
 
Effective November 1, 2005, contributions cannot be invested in the Ball Corporation Common Stock Fund if a participant has 35 percent or more of their account value invested in the Ball Corporation Common Stock Fund.  In the event a participant’s investment in the Ball Common Stock Fund exceeds 35 percent, future contributions and loan payments to the Plan will be directed to the default investment fund until such time that the participant’s investment level in the Ball Common Stock Fund drops below 35 percent of their account value.  The default investment fund is the date-specific Target Retirement fund that most closely matches the participants expected retirement year (based on an assumed retirement age of 65).
 
Employees in the Company’s Aerospace and Technologies division who are not participants in the Ball Corporation Economic Value Added Incentive Compensation Plan may receive an additional match under the Plan. This provision allows up to a maximum of 4 percent of the employee’s pay if the Economic Value Added performance factor of Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp. (“BATC”) achieved is between 1.0 percent and 2.0 percent (inclusive) in accordance with conditions of the BATC Performance Sharing Match Program. The additional match is invested in accordance with participant elections. An additional match in the amount of $4,813,510 was required for 2014, and was funded in 2015.  An additional match was not required for 2013.
 
The Company makes additional contributions for some employee groups. Generally, this contribution is made each pay period and is based on the eligible hours worked by the employee during the pay period. Additional contributions are invested in accordance with participant elections.
 
Vesting
 
Participants are always fully vested in their own contributions and related earnings. Participants are also always fully vested in Company matching contributions and any additional Company contributions, including related earnings. Participants should refer to the summary Plan documents for further information. As of and for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, there was no significant forfeiture activity.
 
Distribution of Benefits
 
Distributions to employees are normally made upon termination of employment and upon submission of a request. A request for distribution may be directed to the recordkeeper via
 

 
5
 
BALL CORPORATION
401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Notes to Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2014 and 2013
 

 
written request, voice response system, internet site, or directly with the recordkeeper in accordance with Plan provisions.
 
At any time, a participant with an approved immediate and critical financial need may request a hardship withdrawal in an amount no greater than is necessary to satisfy such financial hardship.
 
Notes Receivable from Participants
 
Loans are interest bearing at 1 percent above the published prime rate or the going rate for similar loans and are limited to the lesser of $50,000, reduced by the highest outstanding loan balance in the prior 12-month period, or 50 percent of a participant’s eligible account balance. Participant loans at December 31, 2014, had interest rates ranging from 4.25 percent to 9.5 percent and maturity dates ranging from 2015 to 2033.
 
Participant Accounts
 
Each participant’s account is credited with the participant’s contribution, the Company’s matching contribution and discretionary contribution, if applicable, and an allocation of Plan earnings and losses. Plan earnings and losses are allocated to individuals’ accounts based on each participant’s account balance in their respective investment options selected.
 
Voting Rights
 
Each participant receives voting rights on his/her shares of Ball Corporation common stock.
 
Company Stock Dividends
 
Participants have the option to either reinvest dividends paid on the Ball Corporation common stock or to receive the dividends in cash.
 
Note 2–Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
Basis of Accounting
 
The Plan financial statements are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting.
 
Valuation of Investments
 
The Plan’s investments are stated at fair value. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. See Note 3 for discussion of fair value measurements.
 
The accounting guidance prescribes that investment contracts held by a defined contribution plan are required to be reported at fair value. However, contract value is the relevant measurement attribute for that portion of the net assets available for benefits of a defined contribution plan attributable to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts and collective investment trusts that hold fully benefit-responsive investment contracts because contract value is the amount participants would receive if they were to initiate permitted transactions under the terms of the Plan. As required by the accounting guidance, the Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits presents the fair value of the investment contracts as well as the adjustment of the fully benefit-
 
6
 
BALL CORPORATION
401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Notes to Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2014 and 2013
 
responsive investment contracts from fair value to contract value. The Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits is prepared on a contract value basis.
 
Income Recognition
 
The net appreciation (depreciation) in the fair value of investments (net realized and unrealized gains and losses) is reflected in the accompanying Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Investment transactions are recorded on the date of purchase or sale (trade date).
 
Distributions
 
Distributions to participants are recorded when paid.
 
Expenses of the Plan
 
Certain costs and expenses incurred in establishing, amending and administering the Plan, including the fees and expenses of the trustees, are paid by the Company. The Plan pays for certain loan transaction fees that are charged to the related participants’ accounts.
 
Estimates
 
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the Plan’s management to use estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and changes therein, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
Notes Receivable from Participants
 
Notes receivable from participants are measured at their unpaid principal balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest. Delinquent loans are treated as distributions based upon the terms of the plan document.
 
Note 3–Fair Value Measurements
 
Generally accepted accounting principles establish a framework for measuring value. That framework provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value using the following definitions (from highest to lowest priority):
 
●
Level 1–Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.
 
●
Level 2–Observable inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.
 
●
Level 3–Prices or valuation techniques requiring inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.
 
 
 
7
 
BALL CORPORATION
401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Notes to Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2014 and 2013
 
Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value.
 
Mutual funds: Valued at the net asset value (NAV) of shares held by the Plan at year end.
 
Ball Common Stock: Valued at the closing price reported on the active market on which the individual security is traded.
 
Investment contracts: The fair value of the traditional investment contracts is calculated by discounting the related cash flows based on current yields of similar instruments with comparable durations. The individual assets of the synthetic investment contracts are valued at the net asset value of the underlying assets; which are interests in common/collective trusts.   The fair value of the wrapper contract for the synthetic investment contracts is determined using the market approach discounting methodology, which incorporates the difference between current market level rates for contract level wrapper fees and the wrapper fee being charged. The difference is calculated as a dollar value as discounted by the prevailing interpolated swap rate as of period end.
 
Collective Investment Trust: Valued at the net asset value (NAV) of units of a collective trust. The NAV, as provided by the trustee, is used as a practical expedient to estimate fair value. The NAV is based on the fair value of the underlying investments held by the fund less its liabilities. This practical expedient is not used when it is determined to be probable that the fund will sell the investment for an amount different than the reported NAV. Participant transactions (purchased and sales) may occur daily. Were the Plan to initiate a full redemption of the collective trust, the investment advisor reserves the right to temporarily delay withdrawal from the trust in order to ensure that securities liquidations will be carried out in an orderly business manner.
 
The preceding methods described may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, although the Plan believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement at the reporting date.
 
The Plan’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the valuation of the fair value of assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels.
 
Transfers between levels:  Transfers between levels may occur due to changes in valuation sources, or changes in the availability of market observable inputs, which generally are caused by changes in market conditions such as liquidity, trading volume, or bid-ask spreads.  The Plan’s policy is to assume the transfer occurs at the beginning of the period.  During years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, there were no transfers between levels.
 
During the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, there were no liabilities accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis and no Level 3 assets or liabilities.
 
The Plan does not include any Level 3 investments. The levels assigned to the Plan’s investments as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 are summarized in the table below.
 

 
8
 
BALL CORPORATION
401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Notes to Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2014 and 2013
 


   
Investments at Fair Value as of December 31, 2014
  
   
Level 1
    
Level 2
    
Total
  
Mutual Funds:
                  
Index funds
   $ 404,805,257     $ –     $ 404,805,257  
Balanced funds
     197,735,009       –       197,735,009  
Money Market
     69,991,530       –       69,991,530  
Growth funds
     182,827,569       –       182,827,569  
Value funds
     104,954,231       –       104,954,231  
Target-dated retirement funds
     308,687,744       –       308,687,744  
Total Mutual Funds
     1,269,001,340       –       1,269,001,340  
                         
Ball Corporation Common Stock
     558,472,567       –       558,472,567  
Collective investment trust
     –       140,053,575       140,053,575  
                         
Total investments at fair value
   $ 1,827,473,907     $ 140,053,575     $ 1,967,527,482  
                         
 
 
   
Investments at Fair Value as of December 31, 2013
  
   
Level 1
    
Level 2
    
Total
  
Mutual Funds:
                  
Index funds
   $ 366,445,701     $ –     $ 366,445,701  
Balanced funds
     194,251,122       –       194,251,122  
Money Market
     77,960,991       –       77,960,991  
Growth funds
     191,269,633       –       191,269,633  
Value funds
     102,429,307       –       102,429,307  
Target-dated retirement funds
     270,736,400       –       270,736,400  
Total Mutual Funds
     1,203,093,154       –       1,203,093,154  
                         
Ball Corporation Common Stock
     453,832,118       –       453,832,118  
                         
Investment Contracts:
                        
Synthetic contracts
     –       146,563,697       146,563,697  
Traditional contracts
     –       2,907,870       2,907,870  
Total Investments contracts
     –       149,471,567       149,471,567  
                         
Total investments at fair value
   $ 1,656,925,272     $ 149,471,567     $ 1,806,396,839  

 
9
 
BALL CORPORATION
401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Notes to Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2014 and 2013
 


The following tables set forth additional disclosures for the fair value measurement of investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value per share (or its equivalent).

   
Fair Value
    
Unfunded
  
Redemption
Redemption
Investment Type
  
2014
    
2013
    
Commitments
  
Frequency
Notice Period
Collective Trust:
                      
Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust II
   $ 140,053,575     $ -     $ -  
Daily
None
 
The collective trust’s objective is to protect principal while providing a higher rate of return than shorter maturity investments, such as money market funds or certificates of deposit.  To achieve this, the Fund invests in instruments which are not expected to experience significant price fluctuation in most economic or interest rate environments.  However, there is no assurance that this objective can be achieved.
 
Note 4–Investments
 
Except for its investment contract with an insurance company (Note 5), the funds are managed by the trustee of the Plan. The investments are maintained under the ERISA guidelines and guidelines provided by the Company.
 
The following investments individually represent 5 percent or more of the Plan’s net assets available for benefits.
 
   
December 31,
    
December 31,
  
   
2014
    
2013
  
             
Ball Corporation Common Stock (a)
   $ 558,472,567     $ 453,832,118  
Vanguard Wellington Fund Admiral Shares (a)
     197,735,009          
Vanguard Wellington Investment Fund (a)
     -       194,251,122  
Vanguard Institutional Index Fund (a)
     214,828,665       192,077,179  
Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust II *(a)
     135,882,369       -  
 
* at contract value
(a) party-in interest
 
For the years ended below, the Plan’s investments (including gains and losses on investments bought and sold, as well as held during the year) appreciated in value as follows:
 
   
December 31,
    
December 31,
  
   
2014
    
2013
  
             
Mutual Funds
   $ 39,387,783     $ 178,282,860  
Ball Corporation Common Stock
     139,338,504       61,097,365  
    $ 178,726,287     $ 239,380,225  
 
 
 
10
 
BALL CORPORATION
401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Notes to Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2014 and 2013
 
Note 5–Investment Contracts
 
Through June 2014, Participants invested in units of the Ball Corporation Investment Contract Fund which contained various benefit-responsive investment contracts with various banks and insurance companies (“Issuers”) in the form of Group Annuity Contracts (“GACs”) and Synthetic Guaranteed Investment Contracts (“SICs”). The Ball Corporation Investment Contract Fund was replaced by the Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust II on June 30, 2014.  Participants were notified in May 2014 and allowed to move their balances. The Ball Corporation Investment Contract Fund also included $0 and $5,395,953 in the Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund as of December 31, 2014, and 2013, respectively. These amounts are included in the mutual funds line in the Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits. The Issuers of the GACs maintain the contributions in a general account. The account is credited with earnings on the underlying investments and charged for participant withdrawals and administrative expenses. The Issuers are contractually obligated to repay the principal and a specified interest rate that is guaranteed to the Plan.
 
The SICs are wrapper contracts paired with underlying investments of high quality, intermediate term, fixed income securities. The Plan purchases wrapper contracts from financial services institutions. The SICs credit stated interest rates for specified periods of time. Investment gains and losses are amortized over the expected duration through the calculation of the interest rate applicable to the Plan on a prospective basis. SICs provide for a variable crediting rate, which typically resets at least quarterly, and the issuer of the wrapper contract provides assurance that future adjustments to the crediting rate cannot result in a crediting rate less than zero percent. The fair value of the wrapper contracts was not significant in 2014 or 2013. The crediting rate is primarily based on the current yield to maturity of the covered investments, plus or minus amortization of the difference between the market value and contract value of the covered investments over the duration of the covered investments at the time of computation. The crediting rate is most impacted by the change in the annual effective yield to maturity of the underlying securities, but is also affected by the differential between the contract value and the market value of the covered investments. This difference is amortized over the duration of the covered investments.
 
Certain events limit the ability of the Plan to transact at contract value with the Issuer. Such events include the following: (1) amendments to the Plan documents (including complete or partial Plan termination or merger with another Plan), (2) changes to the Plan’s prohibition on competing investment options or deletion of equity wash provisions, (3) bankruptcy of the Plan sponsor or other Plan sponsor events (for example, divestitures or spin-offs of a subsidiary) that cause a significant withdrawal from the Plan, or (4) the failure of the trust to qualify for exemption from federal income taxes or any required prohibited transaction exemption under ERISA. The Plan administrator does not believe that the occurrence of any such value event, which would limit the Plan’s ability to transact at contract value with participants, is probable.
 
The GACs do not permit the insurance companies to terminate the agreements prior to the scheduled maturity dates without additional termination charges. However, the SICs generally impose conditions on both the Plan and the Issuer. If an event of default occurs and is not cured, the non-defaulting party may terminate the contract. The Plan may be in default if a breach of a material obligation under the contract or a material misrepresentation or a material amendment to the Plan agreement occurs. The Issuer may be in default if:  it breaches a material obligation under the investment contract; makes a material misrepresentation; has a decline in its long term credit rating below a threshold set forth in the contract; is acquired or
 
 
11
 
BALL CORPORATION
401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Notes to Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2014 and 2013
 
reorganized and the successor Issuer does not satisfy the investment or credit guidelines applicable to issuers.
 
If, in the event of the default of an Issuer and the Plan is unable to obtain a replacement annuity or investment contract, the Plan may experience losses if the value of the Plan’s assets no longer covered by the contract is below contract value. The Plan may seek to add additional Issuers over time to diversify the Plan’s exposure to such risk, but there is no assurance the Plan will be able to do so. The combination of the default of an Issuer and an inability to obtain a replacement agreement could render the Plan unable to achieve its objective of maintaining a stable contract value. The terms of an annuity or investment contract generally provide for settlement of payments only upon termination of the contract or total liquidation of the covered investments. Contract termination may also occur by either party upon election and notice.
 
As described in Note 2, because the SICs and GACs are fully benefit-responsive, contract value is the relevant measurement attribute for that portion of the net assets available for benefits attributable to the investment contracts. Contract value, as reported to the Plan by the Issuers, represents contributions made under the contract, plus earnings, less participant withdrawals and administrative expenses. Participants may ordinarily direct the withdrawal or transfer of all or a portion of their investment at contract value.
 
There are no reserves against contract value for credit risk of the contract Issuer or otherwise. The crediting interest rate is based on a formula agreed upon with the Issuer. Such interest rates are reviewed periodically for resetting.
 
The average yields based on actual earnings and interest rates credited to participants were 2.32 percent for the six months ended, June 30, 2014, and 2.23 percent for the year ended December 31, 2013.
 
Note 6–Plan Termination
 
Although the Company has not expressed any intent to terminate the Plan, it may do so at any time. In the event of termination of the Plan, all participants would become 100 percent vested in their accounts and the assets of the Plan, after payment of any expenses, would be distributed to the participants in proportion to their respective account balances.
 
Note 7–Federal Income Tax Status
 
The Internal Revenue Service informed the Company by a letter dated September 16, 2013, that the Plan and related trust were designed in accordance with the applicable provisions of the IRC. Thus, contributions to the Plan and earnings thereon are not taxable until distributed to the participant.  The Plan has since been amended but the Company believes the Plan is designed and being operated in compliance with the applicable provisions of the IRC.
 
U.S. GAAP requires plan management to evaluate tax positions taken by the Plan and recognize a tax liability if the Plan has taken uncertain tax positions that more likely than not would not be sustained upon examination by the IRS or other applicable taxing authorities.  The Plan administrator has analyzed tax positions taken by the Plan and has concluded that, as of December 31, 2014, there are no uncertain tax positions taken that would require recognition of a liability or that would require disclosure in the financial statements.  The Plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions; however, there are currently no audits in progress for any tax periods.
 
 
12
 
BALL CORPORATION
401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Notes to Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2014 and 2013
 
Note 8–Party-In-Interest Transactions
 
Plan assets include investments in funds managed by Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company (“Vanguard”). Vanguard is the Plan’s trustee/custodian and, as such, transactions with the trustee/custodian qualify as party-in-interest transactions. In addition, the Plan holds shares of Ball Corporation common stock, the Plan sponsor, which also qualifies as a party-in-interest. These transactions are covered by an exemption from the prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA and the IRC.  Fees paid by the plan for the investment management services are included in net appreciation in fair value of investments.
 
Note 9–Concentrations, Risks and Uncertainties
 
The Plan has a significant concentration of Ball Corporation common stock. A change in the value of the Company stock can cause the value of the Plan’s net assets to change significantly due to this concentration.
 
The Plan provides for various investments in common stock, mutual funds, investment contracts, and a collective investment trust, which, in general, are exposed to various risks, such as significant world events, interest rates, credit risk and overall market volatility risk. Through its direct investments, the Plan invests in securities with contractual cash flows, such as asset backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and commercial mortgage backed securities, including securities backed by subprime mortgage loans. The value, liquidity and related income of those securities are sensitive to changes in economic conditions, including real estate value, delinquencies or defaults, or both, and may be adversely affected by shifts in the market’s perception of the Issuers and changes in interest rates. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investments, it is reasonably possible that changes in the values of the investments will occur in the near term.
 

 
13
 
BALL CORPORATION
401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Notes to Financial Statements (cont.)
December 31, 2014 and 2013
 

Note 10–Reconciliation of Financial Statements to Form 5500
 
The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for benefits per the financial statements to the Form 5500 as of December 31:
 
   
2014
    
2013
  
Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements
   $ 1,995,348,454     $ 1,830,128,499  
Adjustment from contract value to fair value
     4,171,206       3,597,368  
Adjustment from contract value to fair value for Traditional Contract (GAC)
     -       (2,570 )
Deemed Distributions
     (73,646 )     (141,656 )
                 
Net assets available for benefits per the form 5500
   $ 1,999,446,014     $ 1,833,581,641  
 
The following is a reconciliation of the net increase in net assets available for benefits per the financial statements for the year ended December 31, to the Form 5500:
 
   
2014
    
2013
  
Net increase in net assets available for benefits per the financial statements
   $ 165,219,955     $ 213,877,776  
Adjustment from contract value to fair value – current year
     4,171,206       3,597,368  
Adjustment from contract value to fair value – prior year
     (3,597,368 )     (7,891,732 )
Adjustment from contract value to fair value for Traditional Contract (GAC) – current year
     –       (2,570 )
Adjustment from contract value to fair value for Traditional Contract (GAC) – prior year
     2,570       (26,410 )
Deemed distributions – prior year
     141,656       214,859  
Deemed distributions – current year
     (73,646 )     (141,656 )
                 
Net increase in net assets available for benefits per the form 5500
   $ 165,864,373     $ 209,627,635  
 
Note 11–Subsequent Events
 
Management has evaluated subsequent events through the date these financial statements were issued, and determined that there were no events or transactions which require recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.
 

 
 
This information is an integral part of the accompanying financial statements.
 

 
14
 
BALL CORPORATION
401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Schedule H, Line 4i–Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
at December 31, 2014
EIN  35-0160610 Plan #030
 
(a)
  
(b)/(c) Identity of Issue/Description
(d) Cost **
  
(e) Current Value
  
             
   
Mutual Funds:
        
   
Morgan Stanley Institutional–International Equity Portfolio
     $ 21,181,204  
   
TRP Growth Stock Fund
       69,845,711  
  (1 )
Vanguard Explorer Fund Admiral Shares
       59,046,801  
  (1 )
Vanguard Institutional Index Fund
       214,828,665  
  (1 )
Vanguard International Growth Fund Admiral Shares
       53,935,057  
  (1 )
Vanguard Mid-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares
       44,175,603  
  (1 )
Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund
       69,991,530  
  (1 )
Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Institutional Shares
       68,096,825  
  (1 )
Vanguard Target Retirement 2010
       6,774,844  
  (1 )
Vanguard Target Retirement 2015
       37,318,903  
  (1 )
Vanguard Target Retirement 2020
       56,393,094  
  (1 )
Vanguard Target Retirement 2025
       63,341,381  
  (1 )
Vanguard Target Retirement 2030
       43,135,242  
  (1 )
Vanguard Target Retirement 2035
       31,013,020  
  (1 )
Vanguard Target Retirement 2040
       23,635,416  
  (1 )
Vanguard Target Retirement 2045
       20,021,000  
  (1 )
Vanguard Target Retirement 2050
       6,537,348  
  (1 )
Vanguard Target Retirement 2055
       2,386,867  
  (1 )
Vanguard Target Retirement 2060
       1,158,590  
  (1 )
Vanguard Target Retirement Income
       16,972,038  
  (1 )
Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Institutional Shares
       77,704,165  
  (1 )
Vanguard Wellington Fund Admiral Shares
       197,735,009  
  (1 )
Vanguard Windsor II Fund Admiral Shares
       83,773,027  
     
Total Mutual Funds
       1,269,001,340  
                 
  (1 )
Ball Corporation Common Stock
       558,472,567  
                 
  (1 )
Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust II
       140,053,575  
                 
  (1 )
Notes Receivable from Participants (4.25% to 9.5%, maturity dates range from 2014 to 2033)
       26,411,972  
     
Deemed Loans
       (73,646 )
     
Total Participant Loans
       26,338,326  
                 
     
Total assets held (at end of year)
     $ 1,993,865,808  
                 
     
(1) Identified party-in-interest.
          
     
** Cost omitted for participant-directed accounts.
          


 
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