Ball Corporation
                           Current Report on Form 8-K
                               Dated July 29, 1998



                                                                   Exhibit EX-99


Note to editors: The following is a joint news release from Ball Corporation and
Reynolds Metals Company. Please feel free to contact either company.

For Reynolds Metals Company                           For Ball Corporation
Contact Lou Anne J. Nabhan                            Contact S. Scott McCarty
Telephone:  (804) 281-2171                            Telephone:  (303) 460-2103
Home:  (804) 359-2986                                 Home:  (303) 635-0454
http://www.rmc.com                                    http://www.ball.com


REYNOLDS METALS AND BALL CORPORATION  ANNOUNCE  EXPIRATION OF  HART-SCOTT-RODINO
WAITING PERIOD


     July 23,  1998--Ball  Corporation  [NYSE:  BLL] and Reynolds Metals Company
(NYSE:RLM) today announced that the  Hart-Scott-Rodino  waiting period regarding
Ball's purchase of Reynolds' North American aluminum beverage can and end assets
expired on Tuesday, July 21, 1998.
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