Standard & Poor's Ratings

ABB Ltd
10 May 2000

ABB Corporate Communications, Zurich          ABB Investor Relations, Zurich
John Fox                                      Manfred Ebling
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             Standard & Poor's upgrades ABB insurance unit

    Agency cites ABB's shift to service, knowledge-based businesses

Zurich, Switzerland, May 10, 2000 - ABB, the global technology company,
confirmed today that Standard & Poor's has upgraded its insurer financial and
counterparty credit strength ratings on ABB's insurance subsidiary Sirius
International Corp. to AA- (double-A-minus) from A+ (A-plus).

Standard & Poor's credited ABB's increased focus on service and the recent
acquisition of Kemper Reassurances - which more than doubles ABB's traditional
reinsurance business - with improving Sirius' business position. The rating
agency said Sirius International showed 'very strong operating performance,
particularly compared to its peers, and continued extremely strong
capitalization.'

The agency said Sirius International demonstrated strong underwriting skills
combined with well-integrated information systems. 'Sirius will continue to
increase its importance to ABB, whose growing focus on non-asset-based, service
orientated businesses will provide additional opportunities for Sirius,'
Standard & Poor's said.

The ABB Group serves customers in power transmission and distribution;
automation; oil, gas, and petrochemicals; building technologies; and in
financial services. With novel IT applications, tailored software solutions,
growing eBusiness and a fast-expanding knowledge and service base, ABB is
building links to the new economy. The ABB Group employs about 165,000 people in
more than 100 countries.