Ardagh Glass Finance plc - Irish Stock Exchange

Intellectual Property
Glass Containers
Ardagh Glass in the United Kingdom has a technology licensing agreement with O-I that expires
in April 2014. Outside the United Kingdom, Ardagh has no such agreements in place and is equally
free to deploy any available technology that best fits its needs.
Ardagh Glass Engineering
Heye International has an extensive portfolio of patents covering the design of equipment for the
manufacture of glass containers. It also has substantial proprietary knowledge of the technology and
processes involved in operating a glass container manufacturing facility. It has entered into a large
number of agreements to provide technical assistance and technology support to glass container
manufacturers for which it receives annual fees.
Research and Development
Research and development constitutes an important part of Ardagh’s activities. Ardagh supports a
significant research and development effort, particularly at Heye International, which it believes is
important to its ability to compete effectively. Ardagh is a member of glass research associations and
other organizations which are engaged in research and development activities aimed at improving the
manufacturing processes and the quality and design of products while continuing to meet Ardagh’s
environmental responsibilities. Ardagh’s research, development and engineering activities include
developing new products to meet customers’ needs, improving product quality and reducing raw
material and energy consumption and increasing capacity, and thereby reducing emissions into the
environment.
Ardagh’s research and development efforts allow its businesses to remain at the forefront of glass
manufacturing technology and its partnership approach with customers allows for the effective
development of product and process innovations.
Environmental, Health and Safety and Product Safety Regulation
The principal environmental issues facing Ardagh include the impact on air quality through gas
and particle emissions from its glass furnaces, including the generation of greenhouse gases; the
environmental impact of the disposal of water used in the glass production process; and the potential
contamination and subsequent remediation of land, surface water and groundwater arising from
Ardagh’s operations.
Ardagh’s activities are regulated under a wide range of international, European Union, national,
provincial, regional and local laws, ordinances and regulations and other legal requirements concerning
the environment, health and safety and product safety in each jurisdiction in which it operates.
Ardagh’s’ substantial industrial operations are subject to the requirements of the EU Directive
96/61/EC on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (‘‘IPPC Directive’’). The IPPC Directive
requires that operators of industrial installations, including glass manufacturing installations, take into
account the whole environmental performance of the installation, covering emissions to air, water and
land, the generation of waste, the use of raw materials, energy efficiency, noise, prevention of accidents,
and restoration of the site upon closure. Installations are required to hold a permit, which sets emission
limit values which are based on Best Available Techniques (‘‘BAT’’), set out in BAT Reference
Documents. All of Ardagh’s glass manufacturing plants hold the required permits under the relevant
IPPC legislation.
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