Stmnt re Proposed US Offering

ABB Ltd
20 March 2001




ABB Media Relations                 ABB Investor Relations
Thomas Schmidt                      Switzerland: [phone]
Tel: [phone]                 Sweden: [phone]
Fax: [phone]                 USA: [phone]
[e-mail]          [e-mail]


ABB ANNOUNCES PROPOSED U.S. OFFERING

Zurich, Switzerland - ABB Ltd today announced that it intends to make an
offering of six million shares to U.S. investors.  ABB will make the offering
from available treasury shares and expects to complete the offering in early
April 2001.  ABB will offer the shares in the form of American Depositary
Shares or registered shares.  Four American Depositary Shares will initially
represent one registered share.  If ABB's previously announced share split
becomes effective, however, each American Depositary Shares will thereafter
represent one registered share.

The purposes of the offering, together with ABB's proposed listing on the New
York Stock Exchange, are to enhance ABB's presence in the U.S. financial markets
and to create a U.S. exchange-traded equity security that can be used if
appropriate, in connection with equity incentive plans or for strategic
investments or acquisition transactions in the United States.  There is no
assurance that ABB will implement any such plan or consummate any such
transaction.  ABB intends to use the proceeds of the offering for general
corporate purposes.

ABB has applied to list the American Depositary Shares on The New York Stock
Exchange under the symbol 'ABB'.


This announcement does not not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation
of an offer to buy, any securities.