Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 2019
Although the header indicates a discussion of cash flows and capital expenditures, we note no discussion of the changes in cash flows from investing and financing activities. Please revise to include detail of the nature of the cash flows in investing and financing activities including changes from year to year. Financial Statements Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 1.Rest of the question
Critical and Significant Accounting Policies
Our approach in the liquidity sections of our filings has been to highlight activity that is not readily available from the face of the cash flow statement. Within the financial condition, liquidity and capital resources section, we provide additional information on debt borrowings/repayments and share repurchases, which typically comprise the majority of our financing activities. In future filings, we will add additional narrative to help readers better understand trends in our capital expenditure and other investing activities year on year.Read in the reply ↗Rest of the answer
For 2019, this narrative would read as follows:
“Cash outflows from investing activities increased by $216 million from $206 million in 2018 to $422 million in 2019. This predominantly reflected the net effect of lower cash proceeds from business dispositions of $379 million and a $218 million reduction in capital expenditures as large growth projects in our North American and European beverage packaging facilities were completed.
Cash outflows from financing activities decreased by $994 million from $1,040 million in 2018 to $46 million in 2019. The primary reason for the lower outflows was the issuance of an aggregate €1.3 billion of senior notes in November 2019, partially offset by increased net share repurchases of $234 million. Further details of financing activities are provided below.”
Financial Statements
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
1. Critical and Significant Accounting Policies
First report after the company's reply of 2020-04-08: 10-Q filed 2020-05-08 ↗, against the 10-Q filed 2019-11-01 ↗.
Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.
We note your disclosure that inventories are carried at the lower of cost or market. Please tell us how this is consistent with ASC 330-10-35-1B which indicates that inventories should be valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value.
We used the term “market” in relation to the valuation of inventories with the intention of it being synonymous with “net realizable value.” We confirm that our accounting policy is in compliance with ASC 330-10-35-1B and will revise the wording in future filings to the following:
“Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value using either the first-in, first-out (FIFO) cost method of accounting or the average cost method.Read in the reply ↗Rest of the answer
Inventory cost is calculated for each inventory component taking into consideration the appropriate cost factors including fixed and variable overhead, material price volatility and production levels.”
As requested in the Staff’s comment letter, Ball acknowledges the following:
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Ball is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the filing discussed herein;
Staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to Staff comments do not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing; and
Ball may not assert Staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States.
If you have additional questions or require any additional information with respect to the above-referenced filing or this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me at (303) 460-2191.
Also in this review: closing letter, 2020-04-09