Contract Awarded

ABB Ltd
4 July 2000


ABB Corporate Communications, Zurich      ABB Investor Relations, Zurich
John Fox                                  Manfred Ebling
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        ABB wins US$ 250-million order for Argentina-Brazil power link

        Growing demand for cross-border links in deregulating markets

Zurich, Switzerland, July 04, 2000 - ABB, the global technology company, has won
a US$ 250-million order to build the second phase of a power transmission system
connecting power networks in Argentina and Brazil.

The contract, which follows an order for the first phase of the project in 1998,
was awarded by Companhia de Interligacao Eletricia (CIEN), Brazil. CIEN is a
company of Spanish ENDESA Group. The link is scheduled to be in commercial
operation at the beginning of 2002. The first phase installation was
successfully taken into operation last week.

Under the terms of the contract, ABB will build a 1000-megawatt power
transmission link to interconnect two substations in northern Argentina and
southern Brazil. The link comprises 490 kilometers of alternating current lines
and a HVDC converter station to connect the different power frequencies of the
two systems.

The project reflects the growing demand for regional power interconnections in
the deregulated markets of Latin America. The cross-border link permits
Argentina and Brazil to use their electricity resources more efficiently and
cost-effectively. As part of the order announced today, ABB will expand three
500-kilovolt substations associated with the first phase and integrate the two
projects.

The ABB Group (www.abb.com) 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.