O-I REPORTS THIRD QUARTER 2012 RESULTS Strong free cash flow generation drives deleveraging and share repurchases; European asset optimization continues

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

               
O-I REPORTS THIRD QUARTER 2012 RESULTS
Strong free cash flow generation drives deleveraging and share repurchases;
European asset optimization continues

PERRYSBURG, Ohio (October 24, 2012) - Owens-Illinois, Inc. (NYSE: OI) today reported financial results for the third quarter ending September 30, 2012.

Highlights

• Earnings: O-I reported third quarter 2012 earnings from continuing operations attributable to the Company of $0.55 per share (diluted), compared to $0.72 per share (diluted) in the same period last year. Adjusted net earnings (non-GAAP) were $0.69 per share, compared to $0.84 per share in the third quarter of 2011. 

• Operating profit mixed in regions: As expected, lower demand in Europe - and the Company's corresponding actions to balance production - led to lower operating profit in the third quarter, yet improved working capital. These results were partially offset by higher operating profit in all of the Company's other regions.  

• Price and product mix up: Year-over-year price and product mix were up more than four percent, which allowed for continued recovery of some of the margin erosion experienced in the prior year.  

• Free cash flow outlook remains solid: The Company remains confident that it will generate at least $250 million of free cash flow in 2012. In the third quarter, the Company generated $171 million of free cash flow, repaid $189 million of gross debt and repurchased $14 million of the Company's outstanding shares. 

• European asset optimization: To improve asset efficiency and capabilities, the Company continues to better align its European footprint with market and customer needs. 

Net earnings from continuing operations attributable to the Company in the third quarter of 2012 were $92 million, or $0.55 per share (diluted), compared with $119 million, or $0.72 per share (diluted), in the same period of the prior year. Exclusive of the items not representative of ongoing operations listed in Note 1, third quarter 2012 adjusted net earnings (non-GAAP) were $115 million, or $0.69 per share (diluted), compared with $139 million, or $0.84 per share (diluted), in the same period of the prior year.

Commenting on the Company's third quarter results, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Al Stroucken said, "On balance, our operations performed well this quarter, boosted by higher demand in the Americas and cost reductions across the company. As planned, our actions to balance European production with lower demand resulted in a decline in operating profit. More importantly, our focused efforts generated more cash this quarter, enabling further deleveraging and share repurchases."

Operational Highlights
Third quarter net sales were $1.747 billion in 2012, down from $1.862 billion in the prior year third quarter, primarily due to unfavorable foreign currency translation. The Company achieved more than a four percent gain in price and product mix, which was mostly offset by a five percent (in tonnes) decline in sales volume. Higher shipments in the Americas were more than offset by lower demand in Europe due to slower macroeconomic conditions in that region.

Segment operating profit was $245 million in the quarter, down from $268 million in the third quarter of 2011. Higher sales prices offset the impact of cost inflation and lower global shipments. This was more than offset by higher manufacturing and delivery costs, primarily due to the Company's actions to curtail production in Europe.

Financial highlights
The Company reported total debt of $3.893 billion and cash of $336 million at September 30, 2012. Net debt was $3.557 billion, a decrease of $126 million from the second quarter of 2012 and $275 million lower than the third quarter of 2011. The sequential decrease in net debt was primarily due to $171 million of free cash flow, partially offset by $50 million of unfavorable foreign currency translation. In the third quarter, the Company repaid $189 million in gross debt and repurchased $14 million of the Company's outstanding shares. At the end of the third quarter, O-I's leverage ratio (net debt to EBITDA) was 2.8 times, down from 3.0 times at the end of the prior year third quarter.

Asbestos-related cash payments during the third quarter and first nine months of 2012 were $28 million and $86 million, respectively, compared to $34 million and $102 million in the same periods last year.

Business outlook
Commenting on the Company's business outlook for the fourth quarter of 2012, Stroucken said, "We are expecting higher year-over-year profit in South America due to stronger demand and efficiencies driven by our newly constructed furnace in southern Brazil. However, we will continue to balance production with lower demand in Europe, and this will likely lead to lower fourth quarter 2012 adjusted earnings for O-I. We are confident in our ability to generate at least $250 million of free cash flow this year and to maintain our focus on debt reduction."

Stroucken continued, "During the next several years, we will be increasing the efficiency and capability of our European operations to better align our footprint with market and customer needs through investments and by addressing assets with higher cost structures. We will execute in such a way to ensure that the phasing of these actions does not impede our ability to grow O-I's free cash flow."  

Note 1:
The table below describes the items that management considers not representative of ongoing operations.

Company profile
Owens-Illinois, Inc. (NYSE: OI) is the world's largest glass container manufacturer and preferred partner for many of the world's leading food and beverage brands. With revenues of $7.4 billion in 2011, the Company is headquartered in Perrysburg, Ohio, USA, and employs more than 24,000 people at 81 plants in 21 countries. O-I delivers safe, effective and sustainable glass packaging solutions to a growing global marketplace. For more information, visit www.o-i.com.

Regulation G
The information presented above regarding adjusted net earnings relates to net earnings attributable to the Company exclusive of items management considers not representative of ongoing operations and does not conform to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). It should not be construed as an alternative to the reported results determined in accordance with GAAP. Management has included this non-GAAP information to assist in understanding the comparability of results of ongoing operations. Management uses this non-GAAP information principally for internal reporting, forecasting, budgeting and calculating bonus payments. Further, the information presented above regarding free cash flow does not conform to GAAP. Management defines free cash flow as cash provided by continuing operating activities less capital spending (both as determined in accordance with GAAP) and has included this non-GAAP information to assist in understanding the comparability of cash flows. Management uses this non-GAAP information principally for internal reporting, forecasting and budgeting. Management believes that the non-GAAP presentation allows the board of directors, management, investors and analysts to better understand the Company's financial performance in relationship to core operating results and the business outlook.

The Company routinely posts important information on its website - www.o-i.com/investors.

Forward looking statements
This news release contains "forward looking" statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933. Forward looking statements reflect the Company's current expectations and projections about future events at the time, and thus involve uncertainty and risk. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "will," "could,", "ensure", "would," "should," "may," "plan," "estimate," "intend," "predict," "potential," "continue," and the negatives of these words and other similar expressions generally identify forward looking statements. It is possible the Company's future financial performance may differ from expectations due to a variety of factors including, but not limited to the following: (1) foreign currency fluctuations relative to the U.S. dollar, specifically the Euro, Brazilian real and Australian dollar, (2) changes in capital availability or cost, including interest rate fluctuations, (3) the general political, economic and competitive conditions in markets and countries where the Company has operations, including uncertainties related to the economic conditions in Europe and Australia, the expropriation of the Company's operations in Venezuela, disruptions in capital markets, disruptions in the supply chain, competitive pricing pressures, inflation or deflation, and changes in tax rates and laws, (4) consumer preferences for alternative forms of packaging, (5) fluctuations in raw material and labor costs, (6) availability of raw materials, (7) costs and availability of energy, including natural gas prices, (8) transportation costs, (9) the ability of the Company to raise selling prices commensurate with energy and other cost increases, (10) consolidation among competitors and customers, (11) the ability of the Company to acquire businesses and expand plants, integrate operations of acquired businesses and achieve expected synergies, (12) unanticipated expenditures with respect to environmental, safety and health laws, (13) the performance by customers of their obligations under purchase agreements, (14) the Company's ability to further develop its sales, marketing and product development capabilities, (15) the Company's success in implementing necessary restructuring plans and the impact of such restructuring plans on the carrying value of recorded goodwill, (16) the Company's ability to successfully navigate the structural changes in Australia, and (17) the timing and occurrence of events which are beyond the control of the Company, including any expropriation of the Company's operations, floods and other natural disasters, and events related to asbestos-related claims. It is not possible to foresee or identify all such factors. Any forward looking statements in this document are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments, and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Forward looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from expectations. While the Company continually reviews trends and uncertainties affecting the Company's results of operations and financial condition, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or supplement any particular forward looking statements contained in this news release.

Conference call scheduled for October 25, 2012
O-I CEO Al Stroucken and CFO Steve Bramlage will conduct a conference call to discuss the Company's latest results on Thursday, October 25, 2012, at 8:30 a.m., Eastern Time. A live webcast of the conference call, including presentation materials, will be available on the O-I website, www.o-i.com/investors, in the Presentations & Webcast section.

The conference call also may be accessed by dialing 888-733-1701 (U.S. and Canada) or 706-634-4943 (international) by 8:20 a.m., Eastern Time, on October 25. Ask for the O-I conference call. A replay of the call will be available on the O-I website, www.o-i.com/investors, for 90 days following the call.

Contacts:        O-I, Erin Crandall, 567-336-2355 - Investor Relations
                O-I, Stephanie Johnston, 567-336-7199 - Corporate Communications

Copies of O-I news releases are available on the O-I website at www.o-i.com.

O-I's fourth quarter 2012 earnings conference call is currently scheduled for Thursday, January 31, 2013, at 8:30 a.m., Eastern Time.
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