As previously disclosed, including most recently in the Form 10-K filed by the Company on February 24, 2026, Ardagh Metal Packaging USA Corp. ("Ardagh") filed an action against the Company in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (the "Court") on December 31, 2022, alleging, among other claims, that the Company had failed or would fail to purchase contractual minimum volumes of certain aluminum beverage can containers from 2021 to 2025.

 

On April 6, 2026, the Court filed a jury verdict in favor of Ardagh, including damages payable by the Company to Ardagh in the amount of approximately $175.5 million, which includes offsetting of the Company's damage counterclaim against Ardagh. The jury verdict form remains sealed by the Court. As of 3:00 EDT on April 10, 2026, the Court has not entered a judgment. Post-trial motions remain to be filed. The amount of the judgment was within the range previously disclosed by the Company of between zero and $300 million, plus interest if assessed.

 

The Company continues to deny that it breached the terms of the parties' contract and intends to pursue all available post-trial motions and appellate remedies.

 

The Company is scheduled to release its first quarter 2026 financial statements on April 30, 2026. The Company is currently assessing the financial impact of this ruling and estimates that it will record a pre-tax one-time litigation expense liability related to this matter in the amount of $175.5 million plus accrued interest, if assessed.

 

The Company expects to fund any potential amounts owed through cash on hand and its line of credit. In the Company's latest Earnings Release dated February 24, 2026, the Company reported that as of December 27, 2025 it had $223.4 million in cash, no debt, and $150.0 million available on its existing line of credit. The payment of this judgment, if required, is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's operating plans.

 

Consistent with past practice, the Company's most recent financial guidance, as disclosed in its latest Earnings Release dated February 24, 2026, excluded the impact of one-time litigation items. The Company expects to maintain the share repurchase plan of up to $25 million in share repurchases from March 30, 2026 to June 26, 2026 disclosed in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company on March 16, 2026.