1st Quarter Results

ABB Ltd
28 April 2005


ABB Q1 net income $199 million

   • Core division orders up 16 percent, revenues 15 percent higher
   • Group EBIT up 58 percent to $391 million, EBIT margin up to 7.7 percent
   • Automation Technologies EBIT margin increases to 10.9 percent, Power
    Technologies EBIT margin slips to 7.6 percent
   • Corporate cost development shows encouraging progress

2005 Q1 key figures (unaudited)
--------------------------
(US$ in millions)                               Q1 05       Q1 041    Change3
                                               --------    ---------   --------
----------
Orders         Group                            6,261        5,777          8%
----------     ------------------              --------    ---------   --------
               Power Technologies               2,698        2,349         15%
               ------------------              --------    ---------   --------
               Automation Technologies          3,524        2,995         18%
               ------------------              --------    ---------   --------
Revenues       Group                            5,088        4,528         12%
----------     ------------------              --------    ---------   --------
               Power Technologies               2,148        1,831         17%
               ------------------              --------    ---------   --------
               Automation Technologies          2,817        2,498         13%
               ------------------              --------    ---------   --------
EBIT2          Group                              391          247         58%
----------     ------------------              --------    ---------   --------
               Power Technologies                 163          146         12%
               ------------------              --------    ---------   --------
               Automation Technologies            307          216         42%
               ------------------              --------    ---------   --------
               Non-core activities                  9            0         na
               ------------------              --------    ---------   --------
               Corporate                          (88)        (115)
               ------------------              --------    ---------   --------
EBIT margin    Group                              7.7%         5.5%
----------     ------------------              --------    ---------   --------
               Power Technologies                 7.6%         8.0%
               ------------------              --------    ---------   --------
               Automation Technologies           10.9%         8.6%
    ---------- ------------------              --------    ---------   --------
Loss from discontinued
operations                                        (16)         (88)
                                               --------    ---------   --------
-----------                                                            --------
Net income                                        199            1
-----------                -----------------   --------    ---------   --------
Basic net income per share                       0.10         0.00
--------------------------                     --------    ---------   --------
1 Adjusted to reflect the reclassification of the oil, gas and petrochemicals
business to continuing operations, and of other activities to Discontinued
operations in 2004. 2 Earnings before interest and taxes. 3 In U.S. dollars.

Zurich, Switzerland, April 28, 2005 - ABB today reported a strong performance in
the first quarter of 2005, with higher orders and revenues and a 58-percent
increase in group earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) compared to the same
period last year.

The group EBIT margin rose to 7.7 percent from 5.5 percent in the year-earlier
period. As a result of the higher EBIT and smaller losses from discontinued
operations, net income increased to $199 million from a break-even result in the
first quarter of 2004.

'We have made a strong start into 2005,' said Fred Kindle, ABB's President and
CEO. 'Favorable market developments along with our ongoing focus on execution,
improving operating efficiency and cutting corporate costs, have boosted our
overall profitability.'

'We remain committed to achieving our group EBIT margin target of 7.7 percent
this year, despite the margin slippage in Power Technologies and the increased
costs we expect later in the year for productivity improvements and our
preparations for the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.'

The EBIT gain was led by a strong performance in the Automation Technologies
division, and was further supported by lower Corporate costs and improved
performance from ABB's oil and gas operations in Non-core activities. While the
Power Technologies division also reported higher EBIT, continuing increases in
raw material costs, along with other operational challenges, weakened the
division's EBIT margin compared to the same quarter in 2004. As a result of the
ongoing volatility in the business, the 10-percent EBIT margin target for the
Power Technologies division for 2005 can no longer be reaffirmed.

Cash flow from operations declined in the first quarter, partly the result of
the traditional seasonal pattern of higher working capital needs in the two
divisions early in the year, as well as cash outflows from Non-core activities.
As a result, net debt increased in the first quarter by approximately $180
million, although gross debt and gearing showed improvements compared to the end
of the previous quarter.

Summary of first quarter results
Group orders received in the first quarter of 2005 grew 8 percent to
$6,261 million (up 3 percent in local currencies). For the two divisions
combined, orders received increased 16 percent (local currencies: 11 percent) to
$6,222 million.

Orders grew in most customer segments, including the power utilities, oil and
gas, minerals and mining, and chemicals sectors. Regionally(1), growth was
strongest in the Americas, with orders up 35 percent to $1,159 million, and in
the Middle East and Africa, where orders rose 65 percent to $584 million.
Double-digit order growth in North America in the first quarter reflected the
continuing improvement in demand for power transmission equipment, as well as
ongoing growth in most of ABB's industrial customer segments. In South America,
orders increased from low levels. In the Middle East, increased demand for power
infrastructure and overall strong industrial development helped lift orders
during the quarter.

Asian orders grew 12 percent (local currencies: 8 percent) in the quarter to
$1,411 million. A doubling of orders in India to approximately $300 million more
than offset an order reduction in China of about 20 percent to approximately
$500 million. Growth in India took place across most customer segments. In
particular, the Power Technologies division won two large transformer orders
during the first quarter. Orders in China were lower than in the first quarter
of 2004, when orders were up more than 50 percent. Higher base orders in China
in the quarter were more than offset by fewer large orders.

Orders in Europe were 6 percent lower at $3,107 million (local currencies: down
12 percent) in the first quarter compared to the same quarter in 2004, as
decreased orders from Power Technologies offset an increase in Automation
Technologies.

Base orders (less than $15 million) for the group increased by 11 percent (local
currencies: 5 percent) in the first quarter and accounted for 88 percent of
total orders received, compared to 87 percent of total orders in the first
quarter of 2004. Large orders (more than $15 million) were higher in the
divisions than the same quarter in 2004, but decreased by 6 percent (local
currencies: 11 percent) for the group, reflecting the lower large order intake
in the first quarter of 2005 from the oil, gas and petrochemicals business,
which is part of Non-core activities.

The order backlog for the group, including Non-core activities, at the end of
the first quarter of 2005 was $13,006 million, up 6 percent compared to the end
of the fourth quarter of 2004 (local currencies: up 10 percent). The combined
order backlog for the two divisions amounted to $11,990 million at the end of
March 2005, up 7 percent (local currencies: 11 percent) compared to the end of
December, 2004.

Group revenues in the first quarter amounted to $5,088 million, an increase of
12 percent (local currencies: 6 percent). For the two divisions combined,
revenues were up 15 percent (local currencies: 9 percent).

Revenues were higher in all regions in the first quarter, with the largest
increases in Asia - up 21 percent to $1,080 million - and the Middle East and
Africa - 22 percent higher at $527 million. Within Asia, both China and India
reported double-digit revenue growth in U.S. dollars and local currencies.
Revenues were 9 percent higher in Europe (local currencies: 2 percent) at
$2,593 million, led by eastern Europe. Revenues increased 6 percent in the
Americas (local currencies: 3 percent) to $888 million, with growth in both
North and South America.

Group EBIT was $391 million in the first quarter of 2005, up 58 percent compared
to the same period in 2004. The biggest contributor to the improvement was a
$91-million increase in EBIT from the Automation Technologies division.

Group EBIT includes Other income (expense), net, of $52 million, compared to a
loss of $2 million in the year-earlier period. Of the $52 million in this year's
first quarter, $20 million was capital gains, of which approximately $17 million
was on the sale of real estate. Income from equity accounted companies,
licensing income and miscellaneous amounted to $39 million compared to $21
million in the year-earlier period. Most of the remaining difference in Other
income (expense), net, reflects higher restructuring costs in the first quarter
of 2004 associated with the Step Change productivity improvement program that
was essentially completed at the end of the second quarter of 2004.

The group EBIT margin in the quarter rose to 7.7 percent compared to 5.5 percent
in the same quarter of 2004. The EBIT margin in Automation Technologies
increased to 10.9 percent from 8.6 percent, while the EBIT margin in the Power
Technologies division decreased to 7.6 percent from 8.0 percent in the
year-earlier period.

Finance net (2) was a net expense of $41 million in the first quarter compared
to a net expense of $79 million in the first quarter of 2004. Finance net
benefited from lower net interest expense in the quarter compared to the same
period last year, from financial profits and from the non-recurrence of an
expense related to dollar-denominated convertible bonds ('bifurcation')
following a change to the terms of the bonds in 2004 that eliminated the need
for any further bifurcation. The bifurcation in the first quarter of 2004
resulted in an expense of $35 million, comprising $23 million on the
mark-to-market of the equity option embedded in the bonds and $12 million in
amortization expense for the discount on the bonds. In the first quarter of
2005, there was no bifurcation expense but an amortization expense of
$7 million.

Tax expense amounted to $115 million (effective tax rate of approximately 33
percent) in the first quarter of 2005 compared to $65 million (effective tax
rate of approximately 39 percent) in the first quarter of 2004. The reduction in
the tax rate is mainly due to higher earnings in countries with lower tax rates
or usage of accumulated tax losses.

The net loss in Discontinued operations amounted to $16 million, compared to a
net loss of $88 million in the first quarter of 2004. The loss in the first
quarter of 2005 included an $18-million expense on the mark-to-market treatment
of the approximately 30 million ABB shares reserved to cover part of the
company's asbestos liabilities. The loss in the first quarter of 2004 included
$30 million related to the sale of the reinsurance business. (For more details
on Discontinued operations, please refer to page 9 of this press release).

ABB's net income for the first quarter amounted to $199 million, compared to net
income of $1 million for the same period in 2004.

Balance sheet
Cash and marketable securities at the end of March 2005 amounted to $3.7 billion
(excluding Discontinued operations), down from $4.2 billion at the end of
December 2004. The reduction reflects primarily cash used in operating
activities in the first quarter ($235 million), purchases of property, plant and
equipment ($79 million) and cash outflows relating to the repayment of maturing
debt ($179 million).

At the end of March 2005, total debt (defined as total short and long-term
borrowings) amounted to $5.2 billion, compared to $5.5 billion at December 31,
2004. Included in ABB's total debt is approximately $200 million in bonds due
for repayment in the third quarter of 2005.

Gearing, defined as total debt divided by total debt plus stockholders' equity
(including minority interest), was 61 percent at the end of March 2005, compared
to 64 percent at the end of the previous quarter.

Net debt (cash and marketable securities less total debt) was $1.5 billion, up
from $1.3 billion at the end of the fourth quarter of 2004. The increase in net
debt in the first quarter of 2005 reflects cash used in operating activities.

Stockholders' equity at March 31, 2005, was $2,994 million compared to
$2,824 million at the end of December 2004.

Cash flow from operating activities*
(unaudited)
$ in millions                            Q1 2005         Q1 2004        Change
-----------------------                  ---------     -----------     ---------
Power Technologies                           (73)            (57)          (16)
-----------------------                  ---------     -----------     ---------
Automation Technologies                       67              97           (30)
-----------------------                  ---------     -----------     ---------
Non-core activities                         (124)              7          (131)
-----------------------                  ---------     -----------     ---------
Corporate                                   (105)           (175)           70
-----------------------                  ---------     -----------     ---------
Net cash used in operating activities       (235)           (128)         (107)
-----------------------                  ---------     -----------     ---------
* Includes cash flows from items classified as Discontinued operations.
Net cash used in operations for the group in the first quarter of 2005 was
$235 million, an increase of $107 million compared to the first quarter of 2004.

The two divisions reported cash used in the quarter of $6 million, compared to
cash generated of $40 million for the same period in 2004. The biggest factor in
the cash reduction was the faster increase in net working capital in the first
quarter of 2005 resulting from strong growth in orders and revenues, compared to
the same quarter in 2004. In particular, inventories were higher and advance
payments from customers decreased. However, net working capital as a percentage
of revenues decreased in the two divisions in the first quarter of 2005 compared
to the same quarter in 2004.

Non-core activities reported cash used of $124 million in the quarter compared
to positive cash flow of $7 million in the first quarter of 2004. Non-core cash
flow in the first quarter of 2005 was affected by cash payouts of $16 million
related to provisions taken in the fourth quarter of 2004, a cash payment of $21
million related to the settlement of the sale of the upstream oil and gas
business, and cash used of $45 million in the oil, gas and petrochemicals
business. Last year's cash flow from operating activities was positively
impacted by a special dividend of approximately $60 million from the Jorf Lasfar
power plant investment in Morocco and $40 million in positive cash flow from the
reinsurance business that has since been divested.

Cash used by Corporate decreased by $70 million in the quarter compared to the
same period in 2004. The improvement is mainly due to a $20-million reduction in
asbestos payments compared to the year-earlier period and approximately $30
million of positive cash flow related to the settlement of derivatives
transactions in the group treasury operations.

Employees
As of March 31, 2005, ABB employed approximately 102,000 people, about the same
as at the end of the fourth quarter of 2004. Compared to the year-earlier
period, ABB employed 11,000 fewer people, mainly the result of divestitures.

Asbestos
On March 21, 2005, ABB announced that it had reached agreement on certain
'settlement points' that would form the basis for an amended plan of
reorganization for its U.S. subsidiaries, Combustion Engineering (CE) and ABB
Lummus Global Inc., to resolve the asbestos claims of both companies. The
agreement for modifying the CE Plan is intended to bring it into conformity with
the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals decision of December 2, 2004.

The agreement requires ABB to contribute an additional amount of approximately
$232 million to pay present and future asbestos claimants of CE and ABB Lummus
Global Inc. This additional amount, as well as some related adjustments, was
accounted for in the full-year 2004 results published on April 22 of this year
in the company's annual report.

In a status conference on April 5, 2005, a U.S. bankruptcy court instructed ABB
to submit the documentation relating to the modified CE plan and the ABB Lummus
Global plan to the court within approximately 60 days. ABB and various other
interested parties are now working to prepare these submissions to the court.

Group outlook
When reporting its fourth-quarter and full-year 2004 results on February 17,
2005, ABB adjusted its 2005 group EBIT margin target to 7.7 percent from 8.0
percent to reflect the reclassification of the oil, gas and petrochemicals
business to continuing operations. The company maintained its other growth and
profitability targets.

From 2002 through to the end of 2005, ABB expects compound average annual
revenue growth of 4 percent in local currencies. The Power Technologies division
expects compound average annual revenue growth of 5.3 percent in local
currencies. The Automation Technologies division expects compound average annual
revenue growth of 3.3 percent in local currencies.

The 2005 EBIT margin target for the Automation Technologies division remains
unchanged at 10.7 percent. While the Power Technologies division has made
substantial operational improvements in recent months, ongoing volatility in the
business has made the achievement of its 10-percent EBIT margin target for 2005
unlikely. Therefore, the 10-percent EBIT margin target can no longer be
reaffirmed.

The company reaffirms the group EBIT margin target of 7.7 percent for 2005.

The company continues to reduce its financial obligations, including its
securitization programs. The focus will be on taking actions that create the
most economic value for the company rather than achieving particular ratios.

Revenue and margin targets exclude major acquisitions, divestitures and business
closures.

Release of new targets
ABB plans to publish in early September, 2005, new financial performance targets
covering the period from 2006 to 2009.

Divisional performance Q1 2005

Power Technologies
(unaudited)
$ in millions (except where indicated)     Q1 2005       Q1 20041       Change
-----------------------                    ---------    -----------    ---------
Orders                                       2,698          2,349           15%
-----------------------                    ---------    -----------    ---------
Revenues                                     2,148          1,831           17%
-----------------------                    ---------    -----------    ---------
EBIT                                           163            146           12%
-----------------------                    ---------    -----------    ---------
EBIT margin                                    7.6%           8.0%
-----------------------                    ---------    -----------    ---------
1 Adjusted to reflect the move of activities to Discontinued operations in 2004.

As of January 1, 2005, the Power Technologies division comprises two business
areas. The Power Technology Products business area incorporates ABB's
manufacturing network for power technologies, such as switchgear, breakers,
transformers and cables. The Power Technology Systems business area offers
systems for power transmission and distribution grids, and for power plants.

Orders received in the Power Technologies division rose 15 percent to
$2,698 million in the first quarter of 2005 (local currencies: up 10 percent).

Orders increased in the Power Technology Products business area in both U.S.
dollars and local currencies, as demand from power utilities continued to
improve in all regions. The strongest growth was in the Middle East and Africa,
and Asia. The biggest increase in Asia was in India, where orders more than
doubled compared to the year-earlier period. The increase in India more than
offset a decrease in China. Orders increased in the Americas - both North and
South - led by the U.S. Orders were higher in Europe in both U.S. dollars and
local currencies as demand continued to improve in most customer segments.

Orders received in the Power Technology Systems business area were flat in U.S.
dollars and lower in local currencies compared to the first quarter of 2004, as
higher large system orders offset lower base orders. Orders grew strongly in the
Middle East and Africa in the first quarter, but were lower in most other
regions. Orders in Asia were lower as a decrease in China more than offset
strong growth in India that included about $80 million in orders for large
transformers. In the Americas, orders were down, as a small increase (flat in
local currencies) in system orders in South America could not make up for a
decrease in North America. Orders in Europe were down as the result of lower
large orders in eastern Europe.

The order backlog at the end of the first quarter of 2005 amounted to
$7,066 million, an increase of 4 percent (local currencies: 7 percent) compared
to the end of the previous quarter.

Revenues in the quarter were $2,148 million, 17 percent higher than the
year-earlier period (local currencies: up 12 percent). The increase reflects
continued growth in product sales and revenues from a number of large orders won
in 2004. Revenues grew at a double-digit pace in the products business in both
U.S. dollars and local currencies. Revenues were also higher in both U.S.
dollars and local currencies in the systems business.

Regionally, revenue growth was strongest in Asia (driven by China) and the
Middle East and Africa. Revenues were unchanged in North America as increased
product sales, especially in the medium-voltage area, were offset by lower
system revenues. In South America, revenues grew at a double-digit pace in both
U.S. dollars and local currencies from a low base. Revenues were higher in
Europe in U.S. dollars but flat in local currencies.

First-quarter earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) increased by 12 percent
to $163 million compared to the year-earlier period, reflecting both the strong
revenue improvement and lower restructuring costs. EBIT was higher in Power
Technology Systems and flat in Power Technology Products, as lower EBIT in the
transformers business offset improvements in the medium-voltage and high-voltage
businesses. Despite ongoing price increases, hedging activities and low-cost
sourcing initiatives, the continuing increases in raw material costs, especially
for oil and electrical steel, reduced EBIT in the transformer business by
approximately $15 million in the quarter compared to the first quarter in 2004.

The EBIT margin in the quarter was 7.6 percent compared to 8.0 percent in the
first quarter of 2004. The negative impact of higher raw material costs, along
with some other operational challenges, more than offset the reduction in
restructuring costs in the division compared to the year-earlier period and the
improved EBIT margin in the systems business that resulted from improved
capacity utilization and lower costs.

Cash used by operations for the division amounted to $73 million, compared to
cash used of $57 million in the same quarter in 2004. Higher working capital
requirements resulting from growing revenues were the main contributors to the
reduction in cash flow.

Automation Technologies
(unaudited)
$ in millions (except where indicated)     Q1 2005       Q1 20041       Change
-----------------------                    ---------    -----------    ---------
Orders                                       3,524          2,995           18%
-----------------------                    ---------    -----------    ---------
Revenues                                     2,817          2,498           13%
-----------------------                    ---------    -----------    ---------
EBIT                                           307            216           42%
-----------------------                    ---------    -----------    ---------
EBIT margin                                   10.9%           8.6%
-----------------------                    ---------    -----------    ---------
1 Adjusted to reflect the move of activities to Discontinued operations in 2004.

The Automation Technologies division reported an 18-percent increase in orders
in the first quarter of 2005 to $3,524 million compared to the same quarter last
year (local currencies: up 11 percent). Orders were higher in all business areas
in both U.S. dollars and local currencies. Base orders grew and large orders
increased substantially.

The strongest order growth was seen in the Process Automation and Manufacturing
Automation business areas, mainly reflecting continued overall strong demand
from the oil, gas and petrochemicals, metals and mining, and chemicals sectors,
as well as orders resulting from the frame agreement signed in 2004 to supply
robotics products and systems to DaimlerChrysler in the U.S. The Manufacturing
Automation business area also saw a double-digit increase in orders during the
quarter from non-automotive customers, such as packaging and electronics
manufacturing companies. Demand in the Automation Products business area
continued to improve, with order growth from industrial customers more than
offsetting lower orders in the building and construction sector.

Customer spending in pulp and paper has reached a bottom and ABB's order intake
has stabilized at relatively low levels, while orders from the marine-related
turbocharging market remained strong, driven by new shipbuilding.

Regionally, order growth was strongest in the Americas - both North and South
America - and the Middle East and Africa in the first quarter. Order growth in
Asia was more modest than in the same period in 2004, when orders in both India
and China increased by more than 50 percent. In the first quarter of this year,
orders in India grew strongly in the Automation Products and Process Automation
business areas, with particular growth in the chemicals sector. In China, orders
in Process Automation were lower than the high levels in the same period a year
before, mainly in the minerals sector. This more than offset higher Automation
Products orders in China. Orders in Europe were higher in U.S. dollars and local
currencies, with moderate growth in western Europe and strong growth in eastern
Europe.

The order backlog at the end of the first quarter amounted to $4,924 million, an
increase of 15 percent (local currencies: 19 percent) compared to the end of the
previous quarter.

Revenues rose 13 percent (local currencies: 7 percent) to $2,817 million
compared to the first quarter of 2004. Revenues were higher in all business
areas in both U.S. dollars and local currencies, with the strongest growth in
Automation Products. The Manufacturing Automation business area benefited from
strong product sales during the quarter, in both the U.S. and Europe, and
revenues from a number of large orders taken in late 2004.

Regionally, the strongest revenue growth was seen in Asia, with both China and
India showing improvements in the quarter across all business areas in both U.S.
dollars and local currencies. Revenues were also up strongly in the Americas,
led by North America. In Europe, revenues were higher in U.S. dollars and flat
in local currencies. Revenue growth was strong in eastern Europe but lower in
western Europe in local currencies.

Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) grew 42 percent to $307 million
compared to the same quarter in 2004. All business areas reported higher EBIT
reflecting higher revenues, ongoing productivity improvements, and lower
restructuring costs. As a result, the EBIT margin increased to 10.9 percent from
8.6 percent in the first quarter of last year. It was the tenth consecutive
quarter of higher EBIT and revenues for Automation Technologies.

Cash flow from operations for the division amounted to $67 million, down from
$97 million in the first quarter of 2004, primarily the result of higher working
capital needs across all business areas resulting from strong revenue growth.

Non-core activities
(unaudited)
EBIT ($ in millions)                             Q1 2005              Q1 20041
------------------------                     -------------        --------------
Oil, gas and petrochemicals                            9                     1
------------------------                     -------------        --------------
Building Systems                                     (19)                  (17)
------------------------                     -------------        --------------
Equity Ventures                                       23                    22
------------------------                     -------------        --------------
Other non-core activities2                            (4)                   (6)
------------------------                     -------------        --------------
                              Total                    9                     0
             ------------------------        -------------        --------------
1 Adjusted to reflect the reclassification of the oil, gas and petrochemicals
business to continuing operations, and of other activities to Discontinued
operations in 2004. 2 Comprises mainly remaining Structured Finance and New
Ventures activities.

EBIT from Non-core activities amounted to $9 million in the first quarter,
compared to a zero result in the first quarter of 2004. EBIT in the oil, gas and
petrochemicals business rose in the first quarter compared to the low levels
seen in the same quarter a year ago, reflecting a strong increase in revenues,
operational improvements undertaken in the business over the past two years and
the change in strategy to lower-risk reimbursable contracts rather than large
scope fixed-price contracts.

The loss in Building Systems in the first quarter of 2005 is the result of weak
market conditions and further restructuring costs in Germany, as well as costs
related to winding down the business in other countries.

Corporate
(unaudited)
EBIT ($ in millions)                            Q1 2005               Q1 20041
------------------------                    -------------         --------------
Headquarters/stewardship                            (79)                   (99)
------------------------                    -------------         --------------
Research and development                            (23)                   (21)
------------------------                    -------------         --------------
Other2                                               14                      5
------------------------                    -------------         --------------
                            Total                   (88)                  (115)
           ------------------------         -------------         --------------
1 Adjusted to reflect the reclassification of the oil, gas and petrochemicals
business to continuing operations, and of other activities to Discontinued
operations in 2004. 2 Includes consolidation effects, real estate and treasury
services.

Lower corporate costs in the first quarter of 2005 reflect the ongoing efforts
to cut headquarters spending as well as capital gains of $17 million realized on
the sale of real estate, reported in the line 'Other,' above. In addition, the
program to prepare ABB for the Sarbanes-Oxley Act will have an increased impact
on Corporate costs in the coming quarters.

Discontinued operations (not included in EBIT)
(unaudited)
$ in millions                                     Q1 2005             Q1 20041
-----------------------                     ---------------         ------------
Asbestos                                              (19)                 (27)
-----------------------                     ---------------         ------------
Power lines                                            (3)                  (9)
-----------------------                     ---------------         ------------
Other2                                                  6                  (52)
-----------------------                     ---------------         ------------
Net loss                                              (16)                 (88)
-----------------------                     ---------------         ------------

1 Adjusted to reflect the reclassification of the oil, gas and petrochemicals
business to continuing operations, and of other activities to Discontinued
operations in 2004. 2 Comprises the divested reinsurance, upstream oil and gas,
metering and wind energy businesses.

The net loss from Discontinued operations amounted to $16 million in the first
quarter compared to $88 million in the same quarter last year. The asbestos
result is primarily due to an $18-million expense on the mark-to-market
treatment of the approximately 30 million ABB shares reserved to cover part of
the company's asbestos liabilities, compared to an expense of $24 million
reported in the first quarter of 2004. Also contributing to the improvement were
the non-recurrence of the $30-million loss in the reinsurance business and lower
expenses associated with the upstream oil and gas business, both of which were
divested during 2004.

                                    Appendix

ABB key figures Q1 2005
$ in millions                              Q1 2005    Q1 20041     % change
-----------------------                     --------    --------  ------------
                                                                     
                                                                   US$   Local
                                                                 ------- -------
--------       ----------------             --------                     -------
Orders         Group                         6,261       5,777       8%      3%
--------       ----------------             --------    -------- ------- -------

               Power Technologies            2,698       2,349      15%     10%
               ----------------             --------    -------- ------- -------
               Automation Technologies       3,524       2,995      18%     11%
               ----------------             --------    -------- ------- -------
               Non-core activities             267         619     (57%)   (60%)
               ----------------             --------    -------- ------- -------
               Corporate                      (228)       (186)     --      --
               ----------------             --------    -------- ------- -------
--------
Revenues       Group                         5,088       4,528      12%      6%
--------       ----------------             --------    -------- ------- -------
               Power Technologies            2,148       1,831      17%     12%
               ----------------             --------    -------- ------- -------
               Automation Technologies       2,817       2,498      13%      7%
               ----------------             --------    -------- ------- -------
               Non-core activities             337         387     (13%)   (21%)
               ----------------             --------    -------- ------- -------
               Corporate                      (214)       (188)     --      --
               ----------------             --------    -------- ------- -------
--------
EBIT2          Group                           391         247      58%
--------       ----------------             --------    -------- ------- -------

               Power Technologies              163         146      12%
               ----------------             --------    -------- -------
               Automation Technologies         307         216      42%
               ----------------             --------    -------- -------
               Non-core activities               9           0      --
               ----------------             --------    -------- -------
               Corporate                       (88)       (115)     --
               ----------------             --------    -------- -------
--------
EBIT margin    Group                           7.7%        5.5%
--------       ----------------             --------    --------
               Power Technologies              7.6%        8.0%
               ----------------             --------    -------- -------
               Automation Technologies        10.9%        8.6%
               ----------------             --------    -------- -------
               Non-core activities              --          --
               ----------------             --------    -------- -------
               Corporate                        --          --
               ----------------             --------    --------
-----------------------
Net income                                     199           1
-----------------------                     --------    -------- ------- -------
1 Adjusted to reflect the reclassification of the oil, gas and petrochemicals
business to continuing operations, and of other activities to Discontinued
operations in 2004. 2 Earnings before interest and taxes. See Summary Financial
Information for more information.

More information
The 2005 Q1 results press release and presentation slides are available from
April 28, 2005 on the ABB News Center at www.abb.com/news and on the Investor
Relations homepage at www.abb.com/investorrelations.

ABB will host a telephone conference for journalists today starting at 1000
Central European Time (CET). Callers from the UK should dial [phone].
From Sweden, dial [phone], and from the rest of Europe, please dial +41
91 610 56 00. Lines will be open 15 minutes before the start of the conference.
The audio playback of the conference call will start one hour after the end of
the call and be available for 72 hours: Playback numbers: [phone]
(U.K.), [phone] (rest of Europe) or [phone] (U.S.). The code is
950, followed by the # key.

A conference call for analysts and investors is scheduled to begin at 1500 CET.
Callers should dial [phone] (from the U.S.) or [phone] (Europe
and the rest of the world). Callers are requested to phone in ten minutes before
the start of the conference call. The audio playback of the conference call will
start one hour after the end of the call and be available for 96 hours. Playback
numbers: [phone] (U.S.) or [phone] (Europe and the rest of the
world). The code is 533 followed by the # key.

Further reporting dates for quarterly results in 2005 are July 28 and October 28
(changed from October 27, as originally announced).

ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable
utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering
environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100
countries and employs about 102,000 people.

Zurich, April 28, 2005
Fred Kindle, CEO





















Important notice about forward-looking information
This press release includes forward-looking information and statements including
statements concerning the outlook, debt reduction and revenue and margin targets
for our businesses and statements about the future process and expense of
resolving asbestos liability. These statements are based on current
expectations, estimates and projections about the factors that may affect our
future performance, including global economic conditions, the economic
conditions of the regions and industries that are major markets for ABB Ltd and
ABB Ltd's lines of business. These expectations, estimates and projections are
generally identifiable by statements containing words such as 'expects,'
'believes,' 'estimates,' 'targets' or similar expressions. However, there are
many risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, that could
cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking
information and statements made in this press release. The important factors
that could cause such differences include, among others, ABB's ability to
dispose of certain of our non-core businesses on terms and conditions acceptable
to it, ABB's ability to further reduce its indebtedness, the terms and
conditions on which asbestos claims can be resolved, the amount of revenues we
are able to generate from backlog and orders received, trends in raw materials
prices, economic and market conditions in the geographic areas and industries
that are major markets for ABB's businesses, market acceptance of new products
and services, changes in governmental regulations and costs associated with
compliance activities, interest rates, fluctuations in currency exchange rates
and such other factors as may be discussed from time to time in ABB's filings
with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Reports
on Form 20-F. Although ABB Ltd believes that its expectations reflected in any
such forward-looking statement are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can
give no assurance that those expectations will be achieved.







--------------------------
(1) ABB's regional reporting structure comprises four regions: Europe, Asia, the
Middle East and Africa, and the Americas.
(2) Finance net is the difference between interest and dividend income and
interest and other finance expense.

For more information please contact: 

Media Relations:             Investor Relations:             ABB Ltd
ABB Corporate                Switzerland: Tel. [phone]    Affolternstrasse 44
Communications, Zurich       3804                            CH-8050 Zurich,
Thomas Schmidt, Wolfram      Sweden: Tel. [phone]     Switzerland
Eberhardt                    USA: Tel. [phone]
Tel: [phone]         [e-mail]
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]



                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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