Owens-Illinois to appeal denial of motion to dismiss

Owens-Illinois, Inc.

Murray Capital, an investor specializing in the acquisition of distressed debt securities, sued Owens-Illinois and an affiliate of one of its lead lenders under its bank credit facility, Deutsche Bank AG, in March 2001 in connection with Murray Capital's purchase in early 2001 of approximately $4.5 million of Owens-Illinois' 7.85 % Senior Notes due 2004 and 8.10% Senior Notes due 2007. Murray's complaint asserts causes of action for fraud, negligent misrepresentation, declaratory and equitable relief, reformation and intentional fraudulent transfer.

Certain of Owens-Illinois' subsidiaries completed a refinancing of Owens-Illinois' bank credit facility on a secured basis in April 2001. In its complaint, Murray Capital claims, among other things, that Owens-Illinois' subsidiaries cannot grant security interests to the lenders under the restructured credit facility without securing the $1.7 billion of outstanding public debt securities of Owens-Illinois on an equal and ratable basis. Owens believes that the lien covenant in the indentures in question allows it to secure indebtedness of its subsidiaries without equally and ratably securing the Owens-Illinois debt securities. In June 2001, with the permission of its lender syndicate, Owens-Illinois secured the $1.7 billion of its outstanding public debt securities, including the debt securities owned by Murray Capital, on a second priority basis with a portion of the collateral securing the obligations under the secured credit agreement and had two of its principal subsidiaries guarantee those debt securities on a subordinated basis.

Owens-Illinois intends to appeal the decision of the Supreme Court of the State of New York because it believes that the claims are without merit and should be dismissed. Owens-Illinois believes that the terms of the indenture do not prevent O-I's subsidiaries from securing their own debt. In addition, Murray Capital is barred from bringing the action under the terms of the indenture.

Owens-Illinois expects to be successful in its appeal and to have the claims dismissed. If this order is not reversed upon appeal, O-I intends to vigorously defend this lawsuit and believes it should prevail at trial.

Company Profile
Owens-Illinois is the largest manufacturer of glass containers in North America, South America, Australia and New Zealand, and one of the largest in Europe. O-I also is a worldwide manufacturer of plastics packaging, with operations in North America, South America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Plastics packaging products manufactured by O-I include containers, closures, and prescription containers.