UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the month of October 2006

Commission File Number 001-16429

ABB Ltd

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

P.O. Box 1831, Affolternstrasse 44, CH-8050, Zurich, Switzerland

(Address of principal executive office)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F  x

Form 40-F  o

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):   o

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security holders.

Indication by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):   o

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organized (the registrant’s “home country”), or under the rules of the home country exchange on which the registrant’s securities are traded, as long as the report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has not been distributed to the registrant’s security holders, and, if discussing a material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes  o

No  x

 

If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
82-          .

 




This Form 6-K consists of the following:

1.               Press release issued by ABB Ltd dated October 26, 2006.

2.               Announcements regarding transactions in ABB’s registered shares, par value CHF 2.50, made by the directors or members of the Executive Committee.

The information provided by Item 1 above and on pages 3 through 17, inclusive, is deemed filed for all purposes under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-129271).

2




Press Release

ABB Group Q3 results 2006

ABB net income doubles in third quarter

·                  Orders increase 19 percent on global growth and drive for energy efficiency

·                  EBIT margin rises to 11.4 percent on higher volumes and strong execution

·                  Net income doubles to $397 million, lifting net margin to 6.6 percent

Zurich, Switzerland, Oct. 26, 2006 – ABB’s third-quarter net income more than doubled to $397 million from $188 million in the same period of 2005, helped by higher volumes and strong project execution.

Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) increased 48 percent to $686 million from $463 million a year earlier and the EBIT margin, or EBIT as a percentage of revenues, increased to 11.4 percent from 8.3 percent.

Orders rose 19 percent (16 percent in local currencies), spurred by a number of factors, such as continued strong global industrial demand, the need for reliable power supplies to sustain growth in emerging markets, and efforts to offset higher oil prices by improving energy efficiency and productivity.

“We are benefiting from our leading market positions in power technology and industrial automation,” said Fred Kindle, ABB President and Chief Executive Officer. “The strong order development reflects investments by our customers to raise productivity and build modern energy-efficient power networks. Improvements in operational performance and project management are clearly showing up in our earnings.”

2006 Q3 key figures

 

Q3 06

 

Q3 05(1)

 

Change

 

$ millions unless otherwise indicated

 

 

 

 

 

US$

 

Local

 

Orders

 

6,768

 

5,684

 

19

%

16

%

Revenues

 

6,025

 

5,606

 

7

%

5

%

EBIT

 

686

 

463

 

48

%

 

 

EBIT margin (%)

 

11.4

%

8.3

%

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

397

 

188

 

 

 

 

 

Net margin (%)

 

6.6

%

3.4

%

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted net income per share ($)

 

0.18

 

0.09

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flow from operating activities

 

523

 

359

 

 

 

 

 


(1) Adjusted to reflect the reclassification of activities to Discontinued operations

Summary of results

Order growth in the third quarter was driven by the two product divisions and by demand for automation solutions, particularly in the oil and gas industry.

Orders increased by at least 10 percent in all regions. The Middle East and Africa recorded the strongest growth, with several large contracts secured in Algeria and South Africa. Order growth remained high in Europe at 25 percent (19 percent in local currencies), with significant increases from Sweden, the U.K., Spain, Germany and Russia. Increased demand from South America supported the order intake in the Americas and business in Asia continued to benefit from the rapid pace of development in China and India.

Demand was strong for core products such as transformers and energy-saving motors and drives. The company also experienced an increase in orders for automation systems and equipment to increase factory productivity, and for services where ABB performs maintenance operations for customers.

3




Large orders (more than $15 million) rose 31 percent (30 percent in local currencies) and base orders (less than $15 million) were up 17 percent (14 percent in local currencies). Large orders now represent 15 percent of total orders compared with 13 percent in the third quarter of 2005. The order backlog at the end of September rose to $16,346 million from $15,671 million three months earlier and $12,915 million a year ago.

Revenues rose 7 percent (5 percent in local currencies) to $6,025 million, with the strongest performance coming from the two product divisions. Revenues increased in all regions, led by Asia and the Middle East and Africa.

Orders continued to increase faster than revenues, reflecting the high proportion of large projects in the order backlog, particularly in the Power Systems and Process Automation divisions, for which revenues will materialize over several quarters including periods beyond the end of 2007.

The higher EBIT and EBIT margin was achieved through higher volumes, better execution in large projects and other operational improvements. All divisions except for Robotics were able to improve their EBIT margins, and corporate costs were further reduced.

Finance net(1) decreased to minus $29 million in the third quarter from minus $59 million a year earlier, reflecting the reduction in overall debt levels. The effective tax rate in the quarter was 29 percent, down from 33 percent a year earlier, primarily due to increased earnings derived from lower-tax jurisdictions.

A loss of $28 million was recorded in the third quarter of 2006 in discontinued operations, primarily related to the planned disposal of a business in the Power Products division.

Cash flow from operations was influenced by two main factors. Higher earnings and customer advances were offset by an increase in working capital due to higher business volumes, primarily in the Power Products division. The increased cash flow in the third quarter of 2006, relative to the comparable period of 2005, was mainly due to the cessation of our previous securitization program, which predominantly affected the Automation Products and Process Automation divisions.

ABB continued to strengthen its financial position during the quarter. Cash and marketable securities increased to $3,888 million at the end of September from $3,569 million three months earlier. The net cash position improved to about $700 million from about $300 million at the end of the previous quarter. Gearing was 34 percent at the end of September 2006, compared with 36 percent at the end of the second quarter of 2006.

Divisional performance Q3 2006

Power Products division

2006 Q3 key figures

 

Q3 06

 

Q3 05

 

Change

 

$ millions unless otherwise indicated

 

 

 

 

 

US$

 

Local

 

Orders

 

1,984

 

1,606

 

24

%

21

%

Revenues

 

1,852

 

1,516

 

22

%

19

%

EBIT

 

253

 

180

 

41

%

 

 

EBIT margin (%)

 

13.7

%

11.9

%

 

 

 

 

Cash flow from operating activities

 

130

 

191

 

 

 

 

 


(1) Finance net is the difference between interest and dividend income and interest and other finance expense.

4




Order growth remained strong in the third quarter, primarily on higher base orders. Investments continued by utility customers in western Europe to refurbish existing power infrastructure and in Asia to expand their networks. Demand in the Middle East and Africa remained strong with many projects sourced through European and Asian partners.

Revenues increased in all businesses, with particularly strong growth in the transformer and high-voltage products businesses. Price increases to compensate for higher raw material costs also contributed to the growth. Expenses related to the transformer consolidation program announced last year were $4 million in the third quarter of 2006 (third-quarter 2005: $14 million), bringing costs for the first nine months of the year to $24 million (January-September 2005: $80 million). EBIT and EBIT margin rose significantly for the division as the strength of demand enabled plants to operate at higher capacity, as well as from operational improvements.

Power Systems division

2006 Q3 key figures

 

Q3 06

 

Q3 05

 

Change

 

$ millions unless otherwise indicated

 

 

 

 

 

US$

 

Local

 

Orders

 

1,050

 

1,209

 

-13

%

-13

%

Revenues

 

1,072

 

1,031

 

4

%

2

%

EBIT

 

76

 

38

 

100

%

 

 

EBIT margin (%)

 

7.1

%

3.7

%

 

 

 

 

Cash flow from operating activities

 

73

 

35

 

 

 

 

 

Orders declined in the third quarter due to both the timing of project awards this year and the high level of large orders in the same period of 2005, particularly in the Middle East. Base orders, which on average account for about three-quarters of total division orders, rose 14 percent (12 percent in local currencies). A drop in orders in the Americas and Europe was partially offset by an increase in Asia, where India and China are investing to expand and strengthen their power networks to meet demand spurred by the rapid pace of economic growth.

Revenues grew moderately versus the same quarter in 2005, reflecting the scheduled project progress from the existing order backlog. EBIT and EBIT margin increased significantly, primarily due to improved project selection and execution, and higher capacity utilization.

Automation Products division

2006 Q3 key figures

 

Q3 06

 

Q3 05

 

Change

 

$ millions unless otherwise indicated

 

 

 

 

 

US$

 

Local

 

Orders

 

1,857

 

1,535

 

21

%

17

%

Revenues

 

1,700

 

1,440

 

18

%

14

%

EBIT

 

270

 

211

 

28

%

 

 

EBIT margin (%)

 

15.9

%

14.7

%

 

 

 

 

Cash flow from operating activities

 

289

 

71

 

 

 

 

 

Industrial markets continued to develop favorably in the third quarter, leading to a further increase in demand. Orders were higher in all business units, with the strongest growth in the low-voltage drives, motors, breakers and switches businesses. Orders rose in all regions, led by Asia on demand from China and India. There was also a strong increase in the Americas, driven by the U.S., as well as in eastern Europe and the Middle East.

5




Revenues increased in the period due to continued strong market demand, yielding higher volumes and prices. Revenue growth and high capacity utilization contributed to a further increase in EBIT and EBIT margin.

Process Automation division

2006 Q3 key figures

 

Q3 06

 

Q3 05

 

Change

 

$ millions unless otherwise indicated

 

 

 

 

 

US$

 

Local

 

Orders

 

1,828

 

1,227

 

49

%

44

%

Revenues

 

1,322

 

1,183

 

12

%

9

%

EBIT

 

139

 

88

 

58

%

 

 

EBIT margin (%)

 

10.5

%

7.4

%

 

 

 

 

Cash flow from operating activities

 

171

 

45

 

 

 

 

 

Demand for automation solutions grew in all sectors and regions. This was primarily driven by the continued efforts of customers to expand capacity and to increase the efficiency and productivity of their facilities. The trend resulted in an exceptional increase in large orders. The businesses with the strongest growth were oil and gas and minerals, supported by marine, pulp and paper and performance services.

Regionally, orders were higher in the Middle East and Africa, driven mainly by large orders from the oil and gas industry. Orders in Europe increased as customers expanded in the emerging markets of the east, and the Americas benefited from demand in the pulp and paper sector and for performance services. Orders declined in Asia, mainly reflecting a reduction in the scope of work on a previously booked project in Thailand.

Revenues rose in the third quarter, reflecting the progress made on the significant backlog of large orders and an increase in the service business. Strong execution of large projects and increased revenues from services contributed to the improvement in EBIT and EBIT margin compared with the third quarter of 2005.

Robotics division

2006 Q3 key figures

 

Q3 06

 

Q3 05

 

Change

 

$ millions unless otherwise indicated

 

 

 

 

 

US$

 

Local

 

Orders

 

295

 

301

 

-2

%

-6

%

Revenues

 

281

 

426

 

-34

%

-36

%

EBIT

 

5

 

25

 

-80

%

 

 

EBIT margin (%)

 

1.8

%

5.9

%

 

 

 

 

Cash flow from operating activities

 

7

 

(13

)

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues declined in the third quarter, reflecting continued weak demand from the automotive market, which accounts for about three-quarters of the division’s business. Orders rose in certain non-automotive general industry sectors, including packaging, consumer electronics and food processing. Orders were lower in all regions although the decline slowed from previous quarters.

The division is continuing to apply operational measures announced in the first quarter of 2006, including higher spending on research and development. These led to additional costs in the period that affected EBIT and EBIT margin, which were lower than in the same quarter of 2005.

6




Non-core activities and Corporate

In the third quarter of 2006, Non-core activities generated EBIT of $24 million compared with $10 million a year earlier.

Lummus, which is part of our oil, gas and petrochemicals business, recorded large orders of about $270 million on the strength of industry demand. Operational improvements were offset primarily by a loss provision for a previous project. In addition, Lummus is in negotiations toward resolving outstanding claims for a large project. Equity Ventures reported stable income and Building Systems had a break-even result in the quarter.

Corporate costs fell to $81 million from $89 million in the same period of 2005 as cost reductions continued at the local and Zurich head offices.

Asbestos

In April 2006, following the resolution of Combustion Engineering’s asbestos liabilities, ABB Lummus Global Inc., another U.S. subsidiary, filed a separate asbestos-related pre-packaged Plan of Reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The Lummus Plan of Reorganization became final and effective on Aug. 31, 2006.

Management

ABB recently announced two new appointments to the Executive Committee with effect from Jan. 1, 2007. Peter Leupp, manager of ABB in China, was named head of the Power Systems division and Diane de Saint Victor, currently general counsel at European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), was appointed general counsel.

ABB also hired Clarissa Haller from Roche as head of Corporate Communications with effect from Oct. 1.

Outlook

ABB’s outlook for the remainder of 2006 and into 2007 remains strong. Demand for power transmission and distribution infrastructure is expected to continue growing in Asia and the Middle East. Equipment replacement and improved network efficiency and reliability are forecast to be the key drivers of higher demand in Europe and North America.

ABB expects the pace of automation-related industrial investments to continue into early 2007 in most sectors, notably metals and minerals, marine, and oil and gas. Overall, automation-related demand growth is expected to be strongest in Asia and the Americas, with more modest growth in Europe.

While ABB’s overall market environment is currently very favorable, business risks include the impact of price volatility for oil and other commodities on the global economy and the potential for further political instability in several regions of the world. The global outlook remains strong. While the current rapid pace of growth in order intake is expected to slow in 2007, we expect ABB to continue to take advantage of the favorable global investment environment.

7




More information

The 2006 Q3 results press release and presentation slides are available from Oct. 26, 2006, on the ABB News Center at www.abb.com/news and on the Investor Relations homepage at www.abb.com/investorrelations.

ABB will host a media call today starting at 10:00 a.m. Central European Time (CET). U.K. callers should dial +44 20 7107 0611; from Sweden, +46 8 5069 2105; from the U.S. and Canada +1 866 291 4166; and from the rest of Europe, +41 91 610 56 00. Lines will be open 15 minutes before the start of the conference. Audio playback of the call will start one hour after the call ends and will be available for 72 hours: Playback numbers: +44 20 7108 6233 (U.K.), +41 91 612 4330 (rest of Europe) or +1 866 416 2558 (U.S./Canada). The code is 577, followed by the # key.

A conference call for analysts and investors is scheduled to begin today at 3:00 p.m. CET (9:00 a.m. EDT). Callers should dial +1 412 858 4600 (from the U.S./Canada) or +41 91 610 56 00 (Europe and the rest of the world). Callers are requested to phone in 15 minutes before the start of the call. The audio playback of the call will start one hour after the end of the call and be available for 96 hours. Playback numbers: +1 866 416 2558 (U.S./Canada) or +41 91 612 4330 (Europe and the rest of the world). The code is 563, followed by the # key.

Investor calendar 2007

 

 

Q4/Full Year 2006 results

 

Feb. 15, 2007

Q1 2007 results

 

April 26, 2007

ABB Ltd Annual General Meeting

 

May 3, 2007

Q2 2007 results

 

July 26, 2007

Q3 2007 results

 

Oct. 25, 2007

ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 107,000 people.

Zurich, Oct. 26, 2006

Fred Kindle, CEO

Important notice about forward-looking information

This press release includes forward-looking information and statements including the section entitled “Outlook,” as well as other statements concerning the outlook for our business. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the factors that may affect our future performance, including global economic conditions, the economic conditions of the regions and industries that are major markets for ABB Ltd. These expectations, estimates and projections are generally identifiable by statements containing words such as “expects,” “believes,” “estimates,” “targets,” “plans” or similar expressions. However, there are many risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information and statements made in this press release and which could affect our ability to achieve any or all of our stated targets. The important factors that could cause such differences include, among others, the amount of revenues we are able to generate from backlog and orders received, raw materials prices, market acceptance of new products and services, changes in governmental regulations and costs associated with compliance activities, interest rates, fluctuations in currency exchange rates and such other factors as may be discussed from time to time in ABB Ltd’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Reports on Form 20-F. Although ABB Ltd believes that its expectations reflected in any such forward-looking statement are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that those expectations will be achieved.

For more information please contact:

Media Relations:

Thomas Schmidt, Wolfram Eberhardt

(Zurich, Switzerland)

Tel:  +41 43 317 6568

Fax: +41 43 317 7958

media.relations@ch.abb.com

 

Investor Relations:

Switzerland: Tel. +41 43 317 7111

Sweden: Tel. +46 21 325 719

USA: Tel. +1 203 750 7743

investor.relations@ch.abb.com

 

ABB Ltd

Affolternstrasse 44

CH-8050 Zurich, Switzerland

 

8




ABB third-quarter (Q3) and year-to-date 2006 key figures

$ millions unless otherwise indicated

 

Q3 06

 

Q3 05

 

Change

 

Jan-
Sept
2006

 

Jan-
Sept
2005

 

Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

US$

 

Local

 

 

 

 

 

US$

 

Local

 

Orders

Group

 

6,768

 

5,684

 

19

%

16

%

21,083

 

17,941

 

18

%

18

%

 

Power Products

 

1,984

 

1,606

 

24

%

21

%

6,703

 

5,272

 

27

%

27

%

 

Power Systems

 

1,050

 

1,209

 

-13

%

-13

%

3,744

 

3,350

 

12

%

13

%

 

Automation Products

 

1,857

 

1,535

 

21

%

17

%

5,758

 

4,754

 

21

%

22

%

 

Process Automation

 

1,828

 

1,227

 

49

%

44

%

5,169

 

4,078

 

27

%

28

%

 

Robotics

 

295

 

301

 

-2

%

-6

%

889

 

1,219

 

-27

%

-27

%

 

Non-core activities

 

532

 

344

 

55

%

49

%

1,313

 

1,072

 

22

%

23

%

 

Corporate (consolidation)

 

-778

 

-538

 

 

 

 

 

-2,493

 

-1,804

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

Group

 

6,025

 

5,606

 

7

%

5

%

17,391

 

16,324

 

7

%

7

%

 

Power Products

 

1,852

 

1,516

 

22

%

19

%

5,134

 

4,446

 

15

%

16

%

 

Power Systems

 

1,072

 

1,031

 

4

%

2

%

3,115

 

2,916

 

7

%

8

%

 

Automation Products

 

1,700

 

1,440

 

18

%

14

%

4,914

 

4,344

 

13

%

14

%

 

Process Automation

 

1,322

 

1,183

 

12

%

9

%

3,857

 

3,656

 

5

%

7

%

 

Robotics

 

281

 

426

 

-34

%

-36

%

946

 

1,199

 

-21

%

-20

%

 

Non-core activities

 

401

 

555

 

-28

%

-29

%

1,191

 

1,480

 

-20

%

-19

%

 

Corporate (consolidation)

 

-603

 

-545

 

 

 

 

 

-1,766

 

-1,717

 

 

 

 

 

EBIT

Group

 

686

 

463

 

48

%

 

 

1,838

 

1,235

 

49

%

 

 

 

Power Products

 

253

 

180

 

41

%

 

 

671

 

427

 

57

%

 

 

 

Power Systems

 

76

 

38

 

100

%

 

 

186

 

103

 

81

%

 

 

 

Automation Products

 

270

 

211

 

28

%

 

 

753

 

600

 

26

%

 

 

 

Process Automation

 

139

 

88

 

58

%

 

 

377

 

285

 

32

%

 

 

 

Robotics

 

5

 

25

 

-80

%

 

 

13

 

79

 

-84

%

 

 

 

Non-core activities

 

24

 

10

 

140

%

 

 

72

 

28

 

157

%

 

 

 

Corporate

 

-81

 

-89

 

 

 

 

 

-234

 

-287

 

 

 

 

 

EBIT

margin (%)

Group

 

11.4

%

8.3

%

 

 

 

 

10.6

%

7.6

%

 

 

 

 

 

Power Products

 

13.7

%

11.9

%

 

 

 

 

13.1

%

9.6

%

 

 

 

 

 

Power Systems

 

7.1

%

3.7

%

 

 

 

 

6.0

%

3.5

%

 

 

 

 

 

Automation Products

 

15.9

%

14.7

%

 

 

 

 

15.3

%

13.8

%

 

 

 

 

 

Process Automation

 

10.5

%

7.4

%

 

 

 

 

9.8

%

7.8

%

 

 

 

 

 

Robotics

 

1.8

%

5.9

%

 

 

 

 

1.4

%

6.6

%

 

 

 

 

 

Non-core activities

 

6.0

%

1.8

%

 

 

 

 

6.0

%

1.9

%

 

 

 

 

ABB Q3 2006 orders received and revenues by region

 

 

Orders received

 

Change

 

Revenues

 

Change

 

$ millions unless otherwise indicated

 

Q3 06

 

Q3 05

 

US$

 

Local

 

Q3 06

 

Q3 05

 

US$

 

Local

 

Europe

 

2,836

 

2,264

 

25

%

19

%

2,896

 

2,776

 

4

%

 

Americas

 

1,270

 

1,148

 

11

%

9

%

1,098

 

1,071

 

3

%

 

Asia

 

1,709

 

1,552

 

10

%

10

%

1,514

 

1,283

 

18

%

16

%

Middle East and Africa

 

953

 

720

 

32

%

36

%

517

 

476

 

9

%

11

%

Group total

 

6,768

 

5,684

 

19

%

16

%

6,025

 

5,606

 

7

%

5

%

 

9




Appendix I

Reclassifications

Amounts reported for prior periods in the consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation, primarily as a result of the application of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144 Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets (SFAS 144), in reflecting assets and liabilities held for sale and in discontinued operations.

Revenues of $149 million that were previously classified as product revenues during the first and second quarters of 2006, have been reclassified as service revenue in the consolidated income statement for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006.  ABB made this reclassification from product revenues to service revenues based on the nature of the underlying arrangements with third-party customers. The corresponding amounts for the third quarter have been classified as services revenues for the three-month period ended September 30, 2006.  Corresponding reclassifications of a total of $103 million were made from the related cost of products to cost of services provided in the consolidated income statement for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006. These reclassifications did not change the total amount of 2006 revenues or cost of sales reported in any of the 2006 quarterly periods. The amounts reported as service and product revenues for periods prior to 2006 did not require reclassification.

Modified CE Plan of Reorganization (Asbestos obligations)

During the second quarter of 2006, the Modified CE Plan of Reorganization for Combustion Engineering (CE), a subsidiary of ABB in the U.S., became effective. Certain actions taken in connection with making the Plan effective resulted in changes to our consolidated financial statements for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006. These changes are summarized below. For additional information, regarding the background of the Modified CE Plan of Organization, our asbestos obligations and the Plan effective date, please refer to ABB’s 2005 Annual Report on Form 20-F, as well as our second-quarter press release dated July 27, 2006.

The 30,298,913 ABB shares reserved to cover part of ABB’s asbestos liabilities were contributed to the Combustion Engineering 524(g) Asbestos Personal Injury Trust (PI Trust) on April 20, 2006, and resulted in a reduction in Asbestos obligations, and an increase in the Capital stock and additional paid-in capital of $407 million. In addition, the mark-to-market accounting treatment of the ABB CE Settlement Shares contributed to the PI Trust, resulted in an expense of $114 million in the item Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax in ABB’s consolidated income statement for the nine month period ended September 30, 2006.  Following the effective date of the Plan, ABB discounted the ABB promissory notes and other required asbestos contributions at our incremental borrowing rate. The total discount adjustment on the value of the ABB promissory notes and other required contributions resulted in non-cash income of approximately $45 million, which is reflected in the item Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax in the consolidated income statement for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006.

Debt securities transactions

In the second quarter of 2006, a bond conversion of ABB’s previously outstanding $968-million, 4.625-percent convertible bonds due in May 2007 was completed, resulting in the issuance of approximately 105 million new ABB shares.  Net costs of $43 million associated with the conversion were recorded in the second-quarter 2006 consolidated income statement in Interest and other finance expense, net. As a result of the transaction, ABB’s total debt decreased by approximately $930 million and equity increased by the same amount. For further details regarding this transaction, please refer to ABB’s second-quarter press release dated July 27, 2006.

10




ABB also completed a bond exchange offering in the second quarter of 2006 to extend the maturity profile of its outstanding public debt. The offering related to its 9.5-percent €500-million bonds due 2008, and its 10-percent £200-million bonds due 2009.  Following the completion of the offer, ABB issued a new 4.625-percent €700-million bond due 2013.  As a result, the principal remaining amount outstanding for the 2008 bonds is approximately €77 million, and approximately £20 million for the 2009 bonds.  For further details regarding this transaction, please refer to ABB’s second-quarter press release dated July 27, 2006.

Discontinued operations

During the third quarter of 2006, ABB recorded a loss of $28 million in Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, primarily related to the planned disposal of a business in the Power Products division.

During the third quarter of 2005, ABB recorded a loss of approximately $50 million in Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, including a $26 million loss related to the planned sale of a portfolio of finance leases in Finland and a $23 million expense on the mark-to-market treatment of the approximately 30 million ABB shares reserved to cover part of our asbestos liabilities, described above.

Employee benefits funding

During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, ABB made $350 million of contributions, including discretionary contributions of approximately $200 million, to its pension and other postretirement benefit plans. The majority of the current year contributions have been made in the form of marketable securities. ABB may make additional discretionary pension contributions during the remainder of 2006.

Accounting pronouncements

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans—an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R).” SFAS No. 158 requires an employer to recognize in its statement of financial position an asset for a plan’s overfunded status or a liability for a plan’s underfunded status, measure a plan’s assets and its obligations that determine its funded status as of the end of the employer’s fiscal year, and recognize changes in the funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan in the year in which the changes occur. Those changes will be reported in other comprehensive income and as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. SFAS No. 158 will be effective for ABB in the fourth quarter of 2006, except for the measurement date provisions, which are effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2008. Based on our unfunded obligation as of December 31, 2005, the adoption of SFAS 158 would have resulted in a non-cash charge to equity of approximately $560 million.  However, the effect at December 31, 2006, the adoption date, or any other future date could significantly differ depending on the measurement of pension assets and obligations at such date. The adoption of SFAS 158 will not affect our results of operations.

In June 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48 “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109)” which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006.  This interpretation was issued to clarify the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the financial statements by prescribing a “more likely than not” threshold for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. If there are changes in net assets as a result of application of FIN 48, these will be accounted for as an adjustment to retained earnings. The new guidance will be effective for ABB on January 1, 2007. ABB expects the transition effects to consist of reclassification of certain income-tax related liabilities in our consolidated financial statements and an immaterial adjustment to the balance of Retained Earnings. Prior periods will not be restated as a result of this required accounting change.

11




Local currencies

The results of operations and financial position of many of ABB’s non-U.S. subsidiaries are recorded in the currencies of the countries in which those subsidiaries reside. The company refers to these as “local currencies.” However, ABB reports its operational and financial results in U.S. dollars. Differences in our results in local currencies as compared to U.S. dollars are caused exclusively by changes in currency exchange rates.

Segment reporting

As disclosed in our 2005 Annual Report on Form 20-F, beginning in the first quarter of 2006, ABB modified its reporting from two primary reportable segments to five primary reportable segments due to organizational changes to strengthen the Company’s focus on customer relationships and growth. Therefore the segment disclosures for 2005 have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

12




Appendix II

Reconciliation of financial measures Q3 2006

 

 

 

 

 

$ millions unless otherwise indicated

 

Q3 06

 

Q3 05

 

EBIT margin:

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings before interest and taxes

 

686

 

463

 

Total revenues

 

6,025

 

5,606

 

EBIT margin

 

11.4

%

8.3

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net margin:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

397

 

188

 

Total revenues

 

6,025

 

5,606

 

Net margin

 

6.6

%

3.4

%

 

 

 

At Sept. 30, 2006

 

At June 30, 2006

 

Net cash:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and equivalents

 

3,189

 

3,128

 

Marketable securities and short-term investments

 

699

 

441

 

Cash and marketable securities

 

3,888

 

3,569

 

Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt

 

97

 

175

 

Long-term debt

 

3,087

 

3,091

 

Total debt

 

3,184

 

3,266

 

Net cash

 

704

 

303

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gearing:

 

 

 

 

 

Total debt

 

3,184

 

3,266

 

Total stockholders’ equity

 

5,720

 

5,380

 

Minority interest

 

378

 

336

 

Gearing

 

34

%

36

%

EBIT margin and net margin are calculated by dividing EBIT and net income, respectively, by total revenues. Management believes EBIT margin and net margin are useful measures of profitability and uses them as performance targets.

Net cash is a financial measure that is calculated as the total of our cash and equivalents, marketable securities and short-term investments minus our total debt.

Gearing is a financial measure that is calculated as our total debt divided by the sum of total debt plus total stockholders’ equity, including minority interest. Total debt used to calculate net cash and gearing equals long-term debt plus short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt. Management believes net cash and gearing are helpful in analyzing leverage and it considers both measures in evaluating possible financing transactions.

13




ABB Ltd Consolidated Income Statements

 

 

Nine months ended

 

Three months ended

 

 

 

Sept. 30,

 

Sept. 30,

 

Sept. 30,

 

Sept. 30,

 

$ millions, except per share data (unaudited)

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

Sales of products

 

$

14,617

 

$

13,656

 

$

5,074

 

$

4,569

 

Sales of services

 

2,774

 

2,668

 

951

 

1,037

 

Total revenues

 

17,391

 

16,324

 

6,025

 

5,606

 

Cost of products

 

(10,580

)

(10,492

)

(3,626

)

(3,593

)

Cost of services

 

(1,896

)

(1,744

)

(654

)

(624

)

Total cost of sales

 

(12,476

)

(12,236

)

(4,280

)

(4,217

)

Gross profit

 

4,915

 

4,088

 

1,745

 

1,389

 

Selling, general & administrative expenses

 

(3,186

)

(2,909

)

(1,086

)

(935

)

Other income

 

109

 

56

 

27

 

9

 

Earnings before interest and taxes

 

1,838

 

1,235

 

686

 

463

 

Interest and dividend income

 

110

 

116

 

27

 

36

 

Interest and other finance expense

 

(237

)

(313

)

(56

)

(95

)

Income from continuing operations before taxes and minority interest

 

1,711

 

1,038

 

657

 

404

 

Provision for taxes

 

(513

)

(352

)

(192

)

(132

)

Minority interest

 

(119

)

(84

)

(40

)

(36

)

Income from continuing operations

 

1,079

 

602

 

425

 

236

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

(111

)

(89

)

(28

)

(48

)

Net income

 

$

968

 

$

513

 

$

397

 

$

188

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

0.51

 

$

0.30

 

$

0.20

 

$

0.12

 

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

(0.05

)

(0.05

)

(0.02

)

(0.03

)

Net income

 

$

0.46

 

$

0.25

 

$

0.18

 

$

0.09

 

Average basic shares (in millions)

 

2,111

 

2,028

 

2,173

 

2,028

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

0.49

 

$

0.29

 

$

0.19

 

$

0.11

 

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

(0.05

)

(0.04

)

(0.01

)

(0.02

)

Net income

 

$

0.44

 

$

0.25

 

$

0.18

 

$

0.09

 

Average diluted shares (in millions)

 

2,230

 

2,136

 

2,292

 

2,138

 

 

14




ABB Ltd Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

$ millions, (unaudited)

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and equivalents

 

$

3,189

 

$

3,226

 

Marketable securities & short-term investments

 

699

 

368

 

Receivables, net

 

7,064

 

6,500

 

Inventories, net

 

4,054

 

3,059

 

Prepaid expenses

 

285

 

251

 

Deferred taxes

 

501

 

473

 

Other current assets

 

198

 

189

 

Assets held for sale and in discontinued operations

 

66

 

103

 

Total current assets

 

16,056

 

14,169

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financing receivables

 

574

 

645

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

2,652

 

2,548

 

Goodwill

 

2,535

 

2,479

 

Other intangible assets, net

 

314

 

349

 

Prepaid pension and other employee benefits

 

628

 

601

 

Investments in equity method companies

 

635

 

618

 

Deferred taxes

 

616

 

628

 

Other non-current assets

 

167

 

239

 

Total assets

 

$

24,177

 

$

22,276

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable, trade

 

$

3,763

 

$

3,307

 

Accounts payable, other

 

1,212

 

1,171

 

Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt

 

97

 

169

 

Advances from customers

 

1,405

 

1,005

 

Deferred taxes

 

209

 

187

 

Provision and other

 

2,719

 

2,642

 

Accrued expenses

 

1,975

 

1,909

 

Asbestos obligations

 

184

 

1,128

 

Liabilities held for sale and in discontinued operations

 

53

 

89

 

Total current liabilities

 

11,617

 

11,607

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt

 

3,087

 

3,933

 

Pension and other employee benefits

 

1,131

 

1,233

 

Deferred taxes

 

804

 

692

 

Asbestos obligations

 

348

 

 

Other liabilities

 

1,092

 

987

 

Total liabilities

 

18,079

 

18,452

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minority interest

 

378

 

341

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Capital stock and additional paid-in capital

 

4,453

 

3,121

 

Retained earnings

 

3,225

 

2,460

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(1,854

)

(1,962

)

Less: Treasury stock, at cost (8,830,335 and 11,531,106 shares at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005)

 

(104

)

(136

 

Total stockholders’ equity

 

5,720

 

3,483

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

24,177

 

$

22,276

 

 

15




ABB Ltd Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

 

Nine months ended

 

Three months ended

 

 

 

Sept. 30,

 

Sept. 30,

 

Sept. 30,

 

Sept. 30,

 

$ millions (unaudited)

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

Operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

968

 

$

513

 

$

397

 

$

188

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

414

 

443

 

140

 

156

 

Provisions

 

164

 

185

 

55

 

124

 

Pension and postretirement benefits

 

5

 

54

 

13

 

15

 

Deferred taxes

 

91

 

1

 

18

 

(29

)

Net gain from sale of property, plant and equipment

 

(54

)

(36

)

(8

)

(2

)

Income from equity accounted companies

 

(67

)

(78

)

(23

)

(25

)

Minority interest

 

118

 

83

 

39

 

35

 

Other

 

44

 

162

 

41

 

92

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trade receivables

 

(467

)

(554

)

(215

)

(245

)

Inventories

 

(768

)

(583

)

(292

)

(46

)

Trade payables

 

279

 

60

 

64

 

(25

)

Other assets and liabilities, net

 

172

 

67

 

294

 

121

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

899

 

317

 

523

 

359

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changes in financing receivables

 

37

 

133

 

10

 

24

 

Purchases of marketable securities and short-term investments (other than trading)

 

(3,375

)

(1,568

)

(1,456

)

(740

)

Purchases of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets

 

(318

)

(313

)

(106

)

(133

)

Acquisition of businesses (net of cash acquired)

 

 

(16

)

 

(3

)

Proceeds from sales of marketable securities and short-term investments (other than trading)

 

3,027

 

1,425

 

1,201

 

488

 

Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment

 

70

 

47

 

10

 

15

 

Proceeds from sales of businesses (net of cash disposed)

 

18

 

(63

)

(4

)

(20

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(541

)

(355

)

(345

)

(369

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changes in borrowings with maturities of 90 days or less

 

(12

)

67

 

(52

)

27

 

Increases in borrowings

 

70

 

131

 

4

 

51

 

Repayment of borrowings

 

(101

)

(626

)

(21

)

(296

)

Payments made upon bond conversion

 

(72

)

 

 

 

Payments made upon bond exchange

 

(114

)

 

 

 

Payment of dividends

 

(203

)

 

 

 

Other

 

(94

)

(7

)

(46

)

17

 

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(526

)

(435

)

(115

)

(201

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents

 

131

 

(225

)

(2

)

1

 

Adjustment for the net change in cash and equivalents in assets held for sale and in discontinued operations

 

 

8

 

 

13

 

Net change in cash and equivalents - continuing operations

 

(37

)

(690

)

61

 

(197

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and equivalents beginning of period

 

3,226

 

3,676

 

3,128

 

3,183

 

Cash and equivalents end of period

 

$

3,189

 

$

2,986

 

$

3,189

 

$

2,986

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest paid

 

$

224

 

$

251

 

$

88

 

$

96

 

Taxes paid

 

$

426

 

$

265

 

$

154

 

$

120

 

 

16




ABB Ltd Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

 

 

 

$ millions (unaudited)

 

Capital stock
and
additional
paid-in
capital

 

Retained
earnings

 

Foreign
currency
translation
adjustment

 

Unrealized
gain (loss)
on available-
for-sale
securities

 

Minimum
pension
liability
adjustment

 

Unrealized
gain (loss)
of cash flow
hedge
derivatives

 

Total
accumulated
other
comprehensive
loss

 

Treasury
stock

 

Total
stockholders’
equity

 

Balance at January 1, 2005

 

$

3,083

 

$

1,725

 

$

(1,708

)

$

12

 

$

(206

)

$

56

 

$

(1,846

)

$

(138

)

$

2,824

 

Comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

513

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

513

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

 

 

 

 

(9

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(9

)

 

 

(9

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated foreign currency translation adjustments allocated to divestments of businesses

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

3

 

Effect of change in fair value of available-for-sale securities, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(6

)

 

 

 

 

(6

)

 

 

(6

)

Minimum pension liability adjustments, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

24

 

 

 

24

 

 

 

24

 

Change in derivatives qualifying as cash flow hedges, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(52

)

(52

)

 

 

(52

)

Total comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

473

 

Balance at September 30, 2005

 

$

3,083

 

$

2,238

 

$

(1,714

)

$

6

 

$

(182

)

$

4

 

$

(1,886

)

$

(138

)

$

3,297

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at January 1, 2006

 

$

3,121

 

$

2,460

 

$

(1,756

)

$

1

 

$

(214

)

$

7

 

$

(1,962

)

$

(136

)

$

3,483

 

Comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

968

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

968

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

 

 

 

 

65

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

65

 

 

 

65

 

Effect of change in fair value of available-for-sale securities, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1

)

 

 

 

 

(1

)

 

 

(1

)

Minimum pension liability adjustments, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(14

)

 

 

(14

)

 

 

(14

)

Change in derivatives qualifying as cash flow hedges, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

58

 

58

 

 

 

58

 

Total comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1’076

 

Shares issued to Asbestos PI Trust

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(CE Settlement Shares)

 

407

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

407

 

Payment of dividends

 

 

 

(203

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(203

)

Conversion of convertible bonds

 

903

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25

 

928

 

Employee incentive plans

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7

 

10

 

Call options

 

19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19

 

Balance at September 30, 2006

 

$

4,453

 

$

3,225

 

$

(1,691

)

 

$

(228

)

$

65

 

$

(1,854

)

$

(104

)

$

5,720

 

 

17




ABB Ltd announces that the following members of the Executive Committee of ABB have purchased ABB’s registered shares through the ABB Employee Share Acquisition Plan (Automatic Dividend Reinvestment), in the following amounts:

 

Name and Position

 

Date

 

Number of

shares

purchased

 

Price per share

Anders Jonsson1

 

May 23, 2006

 

14

 

CHF 15.26

Member of the Executive

 

 

 

 

 

 

Committee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bernhard Jucker

 

May 23, 2006

 

7

 

CHF 15.26

Member of the Executive

Committee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tom Sjökvist

 

May 23, 2006

 

7

 

CHF 15.26

Member of the Executive

 

 

 

 

 

 

Committee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gary Steel

 

May 23, 2006

 

7

 

CHF 15.26

Member of the Executive

 

 

 

 

 

 

Committee

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

1  7 shares purchased by Ulla Jonsson, the spouse of Anders Jonsson.

 

18




SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

ABB LTD

 

 

 

 

 

Date: October 27, 2006

By:

 

/s/ FRANCOIS CHAMPAGNE

 

 

Name:

Francois Champagne

 

Title:

Group Vice President and

 

 

 

Senior Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ RICHARD A. BROWN

 

 

Name:

Richard A. Brown

 

Title:

Group Vice President and

 

 

 

Assistant General Counsel

 

 

 

19