European Commission

ABB Ltd
13 May 2004


European Commission investigates pricing activities in gas insulated switchgear
business

ABB premises not among those being investigated


Zurich, Switzerland, May 13, 2004 - ABB said today the European Commission has
launched an investigation into suspected anti-competitive practices of companies
active in the high-voltage gas insulated switchgear (GIS) business.

ABB said the European Commission's Directorate-General for Competition was
carrying out investigations at premises of companies involved in the GIS
business. ABB said it was cooperating fully with the investigation, and added
that none of its premises were being inspected.

The company said that during an internal compliance audit, it was discovered
that certain ABB employees - together with employees of other companies active
in the GIS business - were involved in anti-competitive practices. ABB contacted
the authorities to expose these practices and is now supporting authorities to
help restore effective competition.

ABB is committed to fair and open competition in markets around the world, and
ABB companies and employees are not permitted under any circumstances to engage
in any anti-competitive practices.

ABB enforces zero tolerance of illegal or unethical behavior, and the company
said measures are taken against any employees involved in anti-competitive
practices.

'The company's customers, employees and other stakeholders have the right to
expect that ABB and its employees uphold and respect the highest standards of
business ethics,' said Jurgen Dormann, ABB's chairman and chief executive
officer.

ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable
utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering their
environmental impact.  The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100
countries and employs about 113,000 people.
 

For more information please contact:

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





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