Dividend AccessFacilityLaunch

ABB Ltd
17 February 2000


Launch of ABB's Dividend Access Facility for 2000

ABB Ltd's Dividend Access Facility for shareholders tax resident in Sweden, an
integral part of the implementation of the ABB single class share structure
during 1999, is implemented for the 2000 dividend payment.


Zurich, Switzerland, February 17, 2000 - The Dividend Access Facility (DAF)
provides to shareholders tax resident in Sweden holding VPC registered ABB Ltd
shares the possibility to receive dividends being subject to taxation in Sweden
without deduction of Swiss withholding tax.

Shareholders participating in the DAF will temporarily be registered as 
shareholders without rights to ABB Ltd dividends.  Those shareholders will
instead receive their dividends from ABB Ltd's Swedish subsidiary ABB  
Participation AB (former ABB AB).  The participating shareholders will for each
ABB Ltd share receive one ABB Ltd share excluding dividend rights (ABB Ltd U) 
and one dividend right separated from the share (SR1). After payment of
dividends ordinary ABB Ltd shares will be re-registered on the shareholders'
VP-accounts.

The ABB Ltd U share will be traded on the OM Stockholm Exchange during the
period March 13, 2000 to March 23, 2000. Trading in dividend rights, SR1, will
not be possible.

The DAF dividend payment, corresponding to the ABB Ltd dividend payment, will be
administered by VPC and paid in SEK after conversion from CHF, however without
deduction of Swiss withholding tax of 35 percent.  The dividend will be taxed
according to Swedish tax legislation; i.e. a preliminary tax of 30 percent will
be withheld for private individuals.


Timetable

February 16          The DAF application period commences.
                                
March 6              The DAF application period ends. Last day of trading in
                     ABB Ltd shares including rights to DAF participation.

March 7-10           Shareholders that have applied for DAF participation
                     should not divest their ABB Ltd shares during the period   
                   March 7-10, 2000 due to the ongoing de-registration of       
                 ABB Ltd shares and registration of ABB Ltd U shares and        
               SR1.

March 13-27          Dividend rights, SR1, registered on shareholders'
                     VP-accounts. (Trading in SR1 prohibited.)

March 13-28          ABB Ltd U shares registered on shareholders' VP-accounts.
                     Transfer of ABB Ltd U shares between VPC and SIS           
                   prohibited.

March 13-23          Trading in ABB Ltd U shares on the 0M Stockholm
                     Exchange.

March 23-27          Transfer of ABB Ltd shares between VPC and SIS
                     prohibited.

March 30             Dividend payment date.
          
March 30             ABB Ltd shares re-registered on shareholders'
                     VP-accounts.


Shareholders not participating in the DAF

Also for ABB Ltd shareholders holding VPC registered shares which are not
participating in the DAF, the dividend payment will be administered by VPC and
paid in SEK, however with deduction of Swiss withholding tax of 35 per cent.

March 22            Last day of trading in ABB Ltd shares including rights
                    to dividend.

March 23            First day of trading in ABB Ltd shares excluding rights to
                    dividend.

March 27            Dividend record date.

March 30            Dividend payment date.


End

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