Crown Licenses Showa to Produce SuperEnd(R) Beverage Ends in Japan

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Crown Holdings Inc. (Crown) today announced that it has signed an agreement to license Showa Aluminum Can Corporation to produce and sell SuperEnd(R) beverage can ends for the Japanese market. The agreement was reached with the assistance of Marubeni Techno-Systems Corp., a Japanese trading company. Crown's patented SuperEnd(R) beverage end design uses 10% less metal than traditional beverage ends while also improving performance for the filler and for the consumer with enhanced appearance and improved pouring characteristics. The end also has an angled surface around the inside of the perimeter of the end which can be decorated with a tag line or promotional message, further enhancing branding opportunities and/or promotional messages.

More than 60 billion SuperEnd(R) ends have now been sold around the world by Crown and Crown's licensees. Currently used with beer, soft drinks, juice, and other beverages, SuperEnd(R) can ends are fully commercial in 202 and 206 diameters, with a 204-diameter version currently under development. "SuperEnd's proven performance and consumer advantages have resulted in rapid marketplace acceptance as the established lightweight end technology," stated Daniel Abramowicz, President of Crown Packaging Technology. "With their high recycling rates, metal beverage cans are already an environmentally friendly choice for beverage packagers. Source reduction initiatives such as SuperEnd(R) ends further enhance the can's leading position as the best sustainable package for beverages."

Showa is the latest can maker to license SuperEnd(R) beverage ends. Other Crown licensees include Amcor, Nampak, Anheuser-Busch and Metal Container Corporation.

About Crown Holdings, Inc.

Crown Holdings, Inc., through its affiliated companies, is a leading supplier of packaging products to consumer marketing companies around the world. World headquarters are located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

For more information, contact:

In the United States: Neill Mitchell, Marketing Director, Beverage, United States; Tel: (215) 698-5248; Email: nmitchell@crowncork.com.

In Europe: Caroline Archer-Reed, Marketing Director, Beverage, Europe; Tel: +33 1 4918 4043; Email: caroline.archer-reed@eur.crowncork.com.

For editorial inquiries: Michael F. Dunleavy, Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Public Relations; Telephone: (215) 698-5051, Email: mdunleavy@crowncork.com.

For investors: Timothy J. Donahue, Senior Vice President - Finance, (215) 698-5088.