ABB
Annual Report 2011

Plain-text annual report

Innovative, responsive, entrepreneurial The ABB Group Annual Report 2011 Contents 02 This is ABB 04 Chairman and CEO letter 08 Highlights 10 ABB Group Executive Committee 13 Corporate governance report 29 Remuneration report 41 Financial review This is ABB ABB is one of the world’s leading power and automation technology companies. Our portfolio ranges from light switches to robots, and from huge electrical transformers to control systems that manage entire power networks and factories. We provide solutions for secure, energy- efficient generation, transmission and distribution of electricity, and for increa- sing productivity in industrial, commercial and utility operations. We help our customers meet their challenges with minimal environmental impact. That’s why ABB stands for “Power and productivity for a better world.” 02 This is ABB | ABB Annual Report 2011 ABB Annual Report 2011 | This is ABB 03 Chairman and CEO letter Dear shareholders, 2011 was another very successful year for ABB. We achieved strong revenue growth, and our order intake rose to a record $40 billion. We managed this growth while keeping costs firmly under control, so that we were also able to strengthen our profitability. Operational EBITDA(1) – the measure of profitability that we track – rose by $1.2 billion last year, and our profit margin on this basis also increased. Our financial results are an indication of the underlying successful direction of ABB and, in order to further advance ABB’s growth and performance, we unveiled a new strategy last year for the 2011–15 period. We’d like to take the opportunity in this letter to put the financial results into the broader context of where ABB is heading. “Our financial results are an indication of the underlying successful direction of ABB” Externally focused The world is going through a period of unprecedented change. Growing populations and rising living standards are increasing demand for resources, the trading of goods and trans- portation. About 60 million people are migrating into cities every year, increasing demand for urban transport solutions and for clean forms of energy such as electricity. Our world is also going digital, requiring huge capacity for data storage: the amount of data created from the origins of history until 2003 is now generated every 48 hours, and by 2020 this volume of information will likely be produced every 60 minutes. Related to these changes are efforts to reduce society’s environmental impact by using resources more efficiently. These trends all add up to a tremendous need for technology and innovation, which has (1) For an explanation of Operational EBITDA, see “Note 22 Operating segment and geographic data” to the Consolidated Financial Statements always been one of ABB’s strengths. In 2011, we were particularly proud to win an order for an innovative power transmission link in northern India that will deliver enough electricity for 90 million people. On a smaller 04 Chairman and CEO letter | ABB Annual Report 2011 scale, in Estonia, we are developing the world’s first nationwide network of fast-charging stations for electric vehicles. ABB also launched some highly innovative products in 2011, including offerings for energy efficient data centers and ships using DC technology, and a new high-efficiency motor design that won a prestigious automation award in Germany last December. To ensure that we continue to meet our customers’ technology requirements in today’s rapidly changing environment, we are committed to increasing our investment in R&D over the next few years. R&D spending rose by more than 20 percent in 2011 to reach 3.6 percent of revenue, and we are targeting 4 percent by 2015. In this world of unprecedented change, however, our customers need more than tech- nology. One of our most effective tools for keeping abreast of their needs is a straightforward survey that asks customers whether they would recommend ABB to a colleague and why. We know from the feedback that we are receiving that responsiveness is just as important to customers as the quality of our technology. “We are committed to increasing our investment in R&D over the next few years” As technology cycles shorten and competition intensifies, our customers need to move fast and need us to keep up. We have therefore combined the survey, known as Net Promoter Score (NPS), with a process to identify causes of dissatisfaction and to address complaints rapidly. However, this is only partly about executing a process and more about developing the right culture and attitude. The same is true of our approach to service. One of the benefits of service is that it gives us a unique opportunity to become more proactive in our response to customers: by being closer to their day-to-day activities we can develop a better understanding of the way our solutions can meet their needs. We still see a very significant opportunity to develop our service business, which had 15 percent order growth and accounted for 16 percent of ABB’s revenue in 2011. Driving entrepreneurship in ABB At the same time as we improve our responsiveness to customers, we are also making a bigger effort to expand into markets in which we are underrepresented. We are the technology leaders in many of our businesses, and are convinced that we can apply best practices from our established markets to succeed in new ones. This also requires a change of mindset. It means learning to be a challenger, to be nimbler and more experimental in order to discover the best inroads into new markets. “It is time to focus more management attention on our presence in significant mature markets” Over the last decade, much of ABB’s growth has come from emerging economies, and particularly from China. While we expect China to continue to be a growth engine for ABB, it is time to focus more management attention on our presence in significant mature markets. In recent years we have substantially improved our position in North America. In this strategic planning period, Europe will become increasingly important. Despite its current economic challenges, the European Union’s economy is one of the world’s largest and we still have room to grow in most of the region’s big economies, especially France, Germany and the UK. We also see tremendous potential for ABB in the emerging markets of South-East Asia, Latin America and Africa. Of the $1.1 billion in cost savings achieved in 2011, a part was ABB Annual Report 2011 | Chairman and CEO letter 05 reinvested in sales to help us grow in new markets. Since organic growth provides the best return on investment, this is always our preferred way to grow the business. Where we think that organic growth would take too long, however, we are looking for acquisitions to close strategic gaps in our portfolio. We analyze acquisitions along three vectors: whether they fill geographic gaps, like our North American acquisitions; end market gaps, like the acquisition of Newave Energy in Switzerland, which boosts our exposure to the growing data center market; or product gaps, such as the acquisition of Epyon to increase our offering for the electric vehicle fast-charging market, and Trasfor in the specialty trans- formers space. Baldor, the US maker of motors and mechanical power transmission products acquired in January 2011, was our biggest acquisition for many years and has already made a significant contribution to ABB’s results. Its unique business model has made Baldor a market leader in North America and an asset we are keen to preserve and learn from. Mincom, based in Australia, was also acquired in 2011 and is now being combined with Ventyx to give us a leading position in enterprise asset management software. Ventyx and Mincom bring experience in running a software business that ABB had little prospect of obtaining on its own, and which will help develop our network management business and provide ABB with a stronger offering to address the development of smart grid opportunities. And in January 2012, we announced an offer to acquire Thomas & Betts, a US manu- facturer of low-voltage equipment. This would significantly expand our access to the world’s largest automation market and T&B’s access to the rest of the world. “Our aim is to look for technology or business model disruptions to position ABB for leadership” So, whether organically or through acquisitions, our aim is to look for technology or business model disruptions to position ABB for leadership. The keys to sustainable success, however, will be to meet local product requirements, to be competitive locally from a cost and performance standpoint, and to be quick to bring our products to the market. To achieve this, we need strong local product managers and a product development organization that is highly responsive to the needs of different markets. An important outcome of this effort is that it will diversify our global presence and ensure that none of our global businesses is too dependent on any one region. Aiming to be best in class in all we do Both of the goals we have highlighted in this letter – becoming more externally focused and more entrepreneurial in addressing new market opportunities – have in common the need to be fast, efficient and innovative. This is why one of our chief priorities is to continue developing world class operations. Our supply chain management has delivered tremendous savings over the past three years, which has made a significant contribution to keeping ABB in remarkable financial health. This is reflected in the confirmation of ABB’s investment grade rating by ratings agencies after the announcement of the T&B transaction. Our profit margins are among the highest and our balance sheet is among the strongest in our sector, which gives us the flexibility to pursue growth opportunities as they arise. We are proud of the further improvement in our health and safety performance in 2011, since running a safe business is one critical aspect of running an excellent business. The progress in this area is a great example of what can be achieved in a culture of continuous improvement. 06 Chairman and CEO letter | ABB Annual Report 2011 Some areas of our operations require more attention. The way in which we hire, retain and develop people is one of these. Another is the way in which we gather and process customer requirements, which needs to become more local, and meet customer expectations in terms of delivery times and quality. However, the goal of excellence applies across the company to all we do, and we are already achieving or approaching world class at several other levels. Over the years, for example, we have put in place one of the most comprehensive and rigorous programs worldwide to embed integrity into our culture. We believe that honesty and fairness on our part are essential to developing the relationships we strive for with our customers, based on trust and respect. Our employees know that they must walk away from business that cannot be done with integrity and that we will support them. We do not tolerate deviations from this integrity standard. “One of our chief priorities is to continue developing world class operations” The value of our global crisis management training was highlighted in 2011. It helped us to react in a timely manner to the Fukushima disaster in Japan and ensure the safety of employees, as well as business continuity. Crisis training and expertise also contributed to the safety of employees and contractors during the revolutions in North Africa. Further work was also undertaken to embed core sustainability criteria in key business decision-making processes, including the review of proposed projects, supply chain, and mergers and acquisitions. Ready for the future Behind the headline figures of our financial results, ABB therefore made significant progress in 2011 toward becoming an even more responsive and entrepreneurial business with a strong track record of technical innovation and of driving growth while controlling costs. Confidence in the strength of the business and the balance sheet are behind the Board’s proposal to raise the dividend by 8 percent this year. The short-term economic outlook remains unclear, but the longer term perspective is positive given the big trends that play to our strengths in the fields of power and automation. Although electricity has been in use for more than a century – and ABB has been in the business since 1883 – it is still transforming lives. In fact, it is becoming increasingly relevant, as a way to use renewable energy, to power the exchange and storage of information, to automate our factories, and to provide a cleaner alternative in transportation. For us, one of the greatest thrills of working at ABB is to experience such a variety of projects that push technology to new heights to help make the world a better place. March 15, 2012 Hubertus von Grünberg Chairman, ABB Ltd Joe Hogan CEO, ABB Ltd ABB Annual Report 2011 | Chairman and CEO letter 07 Highlights Record orders – above $40 billion for the first time ever – and revenues at $38 billion Baldor acquisition contributed almost $400 million to operational EBITDA Net income up 24 percent to more than $3 billion; Board proposes 8 percent increase in dividend to 0.65 Swiss francs per share Costs reduced by a further $1.1 billion more than offset weaker markets while funding additional investment in sales as well as research and development ABB’s balance sheet remains one of the strongest in the sector New strategy and financial targets for 2011–2015 unveiled in November to tap profitable growth from major trends such as urbanization, population growth, digitization and electrification Total ABB Group ($ millions unless otherwise indicated) Orders Revenues Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) as % of revenues Operational EBITDA 1) as % of operational revenues Net income (attributable to ABB) Basic earnings per share ($) Dividend per share in CHF (proposed for 2011) Cash flow from operating activities Free cash flow 1) as % of net income Cash return on invested capital 1) Number of employees 1) Please refer to page 148 for a definition of operational EBITDA, free cash flow and cash return on invested capital. 08 Highlights | ABB Annual Report 2011 2011 40,210 37,990 4,667 12.3% 6,014 15.8% 3,168 1.38 0.65 3,612 2,593 82% 14% 2010 32,681 31,589 3,818 12.1% 4,824 15.3% 2,561 1.12 0.60 4,197 3,397 133% 21% 133,600 116,500 Share of divisional revenue 2011 Share of divisional operational EBITDA 2011 Power Products, 26% Power Systems, 20% Discrete Automation and Motion, 21% Low Voltage Products, 13% Process Automation, 20% Power Products, 28% Power Systems, 12% Discrete Automation and Motion, 27% Low Voltage Products, 17% Process Automation, 16% Employees 2011 Orders 2011 by region Power Products, 26% Power Systems, 15% Discrete Automation and Motion, 21% Low Voltage Products, 16% Process Automation, 21% Corporate and other, 1% Europe, 38% Americas, 23% Asia, 30% Middle East and Africa, 9% Emerging vs mature market orders 2011 Dividend payout in respect of 2005 –2011 (CHF per share) Emerging markets, 47% Mature markets, 53% 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 05 06 07 08 09 10 11* (*proposed) ABB Annual Report 2011 | Overview of Group results 09 As of December 31, 2011 ABB Group Executive Committee From left to right Frank Duggan Head of Global Markets Tarak Mehta Head of Low Voltage Products division Diane de Saint Victor General Counsel and Head of Legal and Integrity Bernhard Jucker Head of Power Products division Michel Demaré CFO Veli-Matti Reinikkala Head of Process Automation division Joe Hogan CEO Gary Steel Head of Human Resources Peter Leupp Head of Power Systems division Brice Koch Head of Marketing and Customer Solutions Ulrich Spiesshofer Head of Discrete Automation and Motion division Brice Koch was appointed Head of Power Systems with effect from March 1, 2012, to replace Peter Leupp, who is retiring from the Executive Committee. Greg Scheu, manager of the Discrete Automation and Motion division in North America and Integration Manager for the Baldor acquisition, was appointed to the Executive Committee as Head of Marketing and Customer Solutions as of May 1, 2012. 10 Group Executive Committee | ABB Annual Report 2011 As of March 1, 2012 Regional and country managers North America Enrique Santacana Canada Daniel Assandri Mexico Daniel Galicia United States (including US Virgin Islands) Enrique Santacana Northern Europe Trevor Gregory Denmark Claus Madsen Estonia Bo Henriksson Finland Tauno Heinola Ireland Damien Petticrew Kazakhstan Altay Toyganbaev Latvia Bo Henriksson Lithuania Bo Henriksson Norway Steffen Waal Russian Federation Anatoliy Popov Sweden Johan Soderstrom United Kingdom Trevor Gregory North Asia Claudio Facchin China Claudio Facchin Japan Tony Zeitoun Korea Yun-Sok Han Taiwan Kayee Ding South America Sergio Gomes Argentina Christian Newton Aruba Ramon Monras Barbados Guillermo Rodriguez Bolivia Christian Newton Brazil Sergio Gomes Chile Jose Paiva Colombia Ramon Monras Ecuador Ramon Monras El Salvador Guillermo Rodriguez Guatemala Guillermo Rodriguez Panama Guillermo Rodriguez Peru Enrique D. Rohde Uruguay Christian Newton Venezuela Ramon Monras Central Europe Peter Terwiesch Austria Franz Chalupecky Belgium Alfons Goos Bulgaria Peter Simon Czech Republic Hannu Kasi Germany Peter Terwiesch Hungary Tanja Vainio Luxembourg Alfons Goos Netherlands Alfons Goos Poland Miroslaw Gryszka Romania Peter Simon Slovakia Marcel van der Hoek Slovenia Franz Chalupecky Switzerland Jasmin Staiblin Ukraine Dmytro Zhdanov South Asia Haider Rashid Australia Axel Kuhr Indonesia Hendrik Weiler Malaysia Cumhur Girgin 1) New Caledonia Axel Kuhr New Zealand Grant Gillard Papua New Guinea Axel Kuhr Philippines Nitin Desai Singapore Haider Rashid Thailand Chaiyot Piyawannarat Vietnam Jian Peng Fu 1) Interim – until March 31, 2012 Mediterranean Barbara Frei Algeria Khaled Torbey Croatia Darko Eisenhuth France Pierre St-Arnaud Greece Apostolos Petropoulos Israel Ronen Aharon Italy Barbara Frei Morocco Rejean Appleby Portugal Miguel Pernes Serbia Aleksandar Cosic Spain Carlos Marcos Tunisia Rejean Appleby Turkey Burhan Gundem India, Middle East and Africa Frank Duggan Angola José Coelho Bahrain Mahmoud Shaban Bangladesh Joy-Rajarshi Banerjee Botswana Gift Nkwe Congo Thryphon Mungono Côte d’Ivoire Magloire Elogne Cameroon Pierre Njigui Egypt Naji Jreijiri Ethiopia Nikola Stojanovic Gambia Pierre Njigui Ghana Magloire Elogne India Bazmi Husain Jordan Maroun Zakhour Kenya Jose daMatta Kuwait Richard Ledgard Lebanon Maroun Zakhour Mauritius Ajay Vij Namibia Hagen Seiler Nigeria Adedayo Olowoniyi Oman Saeed Fahim Pakistan Arfeen Khalid Qatar Juha Alopaeus Saudi Arabia Mahmoud Shaban Senegal Issa Guisse South Africa Carlos Pone Tanzania Michael Otonya Uganda Norah Kipwola United Arab Emirates Giuseppe di Marco Zambia Russell Harawa Zimbabwe Charles Shamu ABB Annual Report 2011 | Group Executive Committee 11 12 Corporate governance report | ABB Annual Report 2011 Corporate governance report Contents 14 Principles 15 Group structure and shareholders 17 Capital structure 19 Shareholders’ participation 23 Group Executive Committee 20 Board of Directors 25 Employee participation programs 26 Duty to make a public tender offer 26 Auditors 27 Information policy 27 Further information on corporate governance ABB Annual Report 2011 | Corporate governance report 13 1. Principles 1.1 General principles ABB is committed to the highest international standards of corporate governance, and supports the general principles as set forth in the Swiss Code of Best Practice for Corporate Governance, as well as those of the capital markets where its shares are listed and traded. In addition to the provisions of the Swiss Code of Obliga- tions, ABB’s key principles and rules on corporate gover- nance are laid down in ABB’s Articles of Incorporation, the ABB Ltd Board Regulations and Corporate Governance Guidelines (which include the regulations of ABB’s board com- mittees and the ABB Ltd Related Party Transaction Policy), and the ABB Code of Conduct and the Addendum to the ABB Code of Conduct for members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee. It is the duty of ABB’s Board of Directors (the Board) to review and amend or propose amendments to those documents from time to time to reflect the most recent developments and practices, as well as to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. This section of the Annual Report is based on the Directive on Information Relating to Corporate Governance published by the SIX Swiss Exchange. Where an item listed in the directive is not addressed in this report, it is either inapplicable to or immaterial for ABB. According to the New York Stock Exchange’s corporate governance standards (the Standards), ABB is required to disclose significant ways in which its corporate governance practices differ from the Standards. ABB has reviewed the Standards and concluded that its corporate governance practices are generally consistent with the Standards, with the following significant exceptions: – Swiss law requires that the external auditors be elected by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting rather than by the Finance and Audit Committee or the Board of Directors. – The Standards require that all equity compensation plans and material revisions thereto be approved by the shareholders. Consistent with Swiss law such matters are decided by our Board. However, the shareholders decide about the creation of new share capital that can be used in connection with equity compensation plans. 1.2 Duties of directors and officers The directors and officers of a Swiss corporation are bound, as specified in the Swiss Code of Obligations, to perform their duties with all due care, to safeguard the interests of the corporation in good faith and to extend equal treatment to shareholders in like circumstances. The Swiss Code of Obligations does not specify what standard of due care is required of the directors of a corpo- rate board. However, it is generally held by Swiss legal scholars and jurisprudence that the directors must have the requisite capability and skill to fulfill their function, and must devote the necessary time to the discharge of their duties. Moreover, the directors must exercise all due care that a pru- dent and diligent director would have taken in like circum- stances. Finally, the directors are required to take actions in the best interests of the corporation and may not take any actions that may be harmful to the corporation. Exercise of powers Directors, as well as other persons authorized to act on behalf of a Swiss corporation, may perform all legal acts on behalf of the corporation which the business purpose, as set forth in the articles of incorporation of the corporation, may entail. Pursuant to court practice, such directors and officers can take any action that is not explicitly excluded by the business purpose of the corporation. In so doing, how- ever, the directors and officers must still pursue the duty of due care and the duty of loyalty described above and must extend equal treatment to the corporation’s shareholders in like circumstances. ABB’s Articles of Incorporation do not contain provisions concerning a director’s power, in the absence of an independent quorum, to vote on the compen- sation to themselves or any members of their body. Conflicts of interest Swiss law does not have a general provision on conflicts of interest and our Articles of Incorporation do not limit our directors’ power to vote on a proposal, arrangement or con- tract in which the director or officer is materially interested. However, the Swiss Code of Obligations requires directors and officers to safeguard the interests of the corporation and, in this connection, imposes a duty of care and loyalty on directors and officers. This rule is generally understood and so recommended by the Swiss Code of Best Practice for Corporate Governance as disqualifying directors and officers from participating in decisions, other than in the shareholders’ meeting, that directly affect them. 14 Corporate governance report | ABB Annual Report 2011 Confidentiality Confidential information obtained by directors and officers of a Swiss corporation acting in such capacity must be kept confidential during and after their term of office. 2. Group structure and shareholders 2.1 Group structure ABB Ltd, Switzerland, is the ultimate parent company of the ABB Group, which principally comprises 332 consolidated operating and holding subsidiaries worldwide. ABB Ltd’s shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, the NASDAQ OMX Stockholm Exchange and the New York Stock Ex- change (where its shares are traded in the form of American depositary shares (ADS) – each ADS representing one registered ABB share). On December 31, 2011, ABB Ltd had a market capitalization of CHF 40.5 billion. The only consolidated subsidiary in the ABB Group with listed shares is ABB Limited, Bangalore, India, which is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India. On December 31, 2011, ABB Ltd, Switzerland, directly or indirectly owned 75 percent of ABB Limited, Bangalore, India, which at that time had a market capitalization of INR 124 billion. Sanctions If directors and officers transact business on behalf of the corporation with bona fide third parties in violation of their statutory duties, the transaction is nevertheless valid, as long as it is not explicitly excluded by the corporation’s business purpose as set forth in its articles of incorporation. Directors and officers acting in violation of their statutory duties – whether transacting business with bona fide third parties or performing any other acts on behalf of the company – may, however, become liable to the corporation, its shareholders and its creditors for damages. The liability is joint and several, but the courts may apportion the liability among the directors and officers in accordance with their degree of culpability. In addition, Swiss law contains a provision under which payments made to a shareholder or a director or any person(s) associated therewith, other than at arm’s length, must be repaid to the company if the shareholder or director or any person associated therewith was acting in bad faith. If the board of directors has lawfully delegated the power to carry out day-to-day management to a different corporate body, eg, the executive committee, it is not liable for the acts of the members of that different corporate body. Instead, the directors can be held liable only for their failure to prop- erly select, instruct and supervise the members of that differ- ent corporate body. Stock exchange listings Stock exchange SIX Swiss Exchange NASDAQ OMX Stockholm Exchange New York Stock Exchange Bombay Stock Exchange Security ABB Ltd, Zurich, share ABB Ltd, Zurich, share ABB Ltd, Zurich, ADS ABB Limited, Bangalore, share ABBN ABB ABB ABB National Stock Exchange of India ABB Limited, Bangalore, share ABBEQ All data as of December 31, 2011. Ticker symbol Security number ISIN code 1222171 – CH0012221716 CH0012221716 000375204 US0003752047 500002 – INE117A01022 INE117A01022 ABB Annual Report 2011 | Corporate governance report 15 The following table sets forth, as of December 31, 2011, the name, country of incorporation, ownership interest and share capital of the significant direct and indirect subsidiaries of ABB Ltd, Switzerland: ABB Ltd’s significant subsidiaries Company name/location ABB S.A., Buenos Aires ABB Australia Pty Limited, Sydney ABB AG, Vienna ABB N.V., Zaventem ABB Ltda., Osasco ABB Bulgaria EOOD, Sofia ABB Inc., St. Laurent, Quebec ABB (China) Ltd., Beijing Asea Brown Boveri Ltda., Bogotá ABB Ltd., Zagreb ABB s.r.o., Prague ABB A/S, Skovlunde ABB Ecuador S.A., Quito Asea Brown Boveri S.A.E., Cairo ABB AS, Jüri ABB Oy, Helsinki ABB S.A., Les Ulis ABB AG, Mannheim ABB Automation GmbH, Mannheim ABB Automation Products GmbH, Ladenburg ABB Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungsges. mbH, Mannheim ABB Stolz-Kontakt GmbH, Heidelberg Busch-Jaeger Elektro GmbH, Mannheim/Lüdenscheid Asea Brown Boveri S.A., Metamorphossis Attica ABB (Hong Kong) Ltd., Hong Kong ABB Engineering Trading and Service Ltd., Budapest ABB Limited, Bangalore ABB Ltd., Dublin ABB Technologies Ltd., Tirat Carmel ABB S.p.A., Milan ABB K.K., Tokyo ABB Ltd., Seoul ABB Holdings Sdn. Bhd., Subang Jaya Asea Brown Boveri S.A. de C.V., San Luis Potosi S.L.P. ABB BV, Rotterdam ABB Finance B.V., Amsterdam ABB Holdings BV, Amsterdam ABB Investments B.V, Amsterdam ABB Limited, Auckland ABB Holding AS, Billingstad ABB S.A., Lima ABB Inc., Paranaque, Metro Manila ABB Sp. z o.o., Warsaw ABB (Asea Brown Boveri) S.A., Paco de Arcos Country Argentina Australia Austria Belgium Brazil Bulgaria Canada China Colombia Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Ecuador Egypt Estonia Finland France Germany Germany Germany Germany Germany Germany Greece Hong Kong Hungary India Ireland Israel Italy Japan Korea, Republic of Malaysia Mexico Netherlands Netherlands Netherlands Netherlands New Zealand Norway Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Asea Brown Boveri Ltd., Moscow Russian Federation 16 Corporate governance report | ABB Annual Report 2011 ABB Share capital interest % in thousands Currency 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 99.99 100.00 100.00 100.00 96.87 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 75.00 100.00 99.99 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 97.18 100.00 99.89 100.00 100.00 56,772 122,436 15,000 13,290 94,396 3,010 317,706 269,000 486,440 2,730 400,000 100,000 325 16,000 1,663 10,003 38,921 167,500 15,000 10,620 120,000 7,500 1,535 1,721 20,000 444,090 423,817 635 420 107,000 1,000,000 18,670,000 4,490 667,686 9,200 20 119 100 34,000 240,000 29,416 123,180 260,644 4,117 941 ARS AUD EUR EUR BRL BGN CAD USD COP HRK CZK DKK USD USD EUR EUR EUR EUR EUR EUR DEM EUR EUR EUR HKD HUF INR EUR ILS EUR JPY KRW MYR MXN EUR EUR EUR EUR NZD NOK PEN PHP PLN EUR RUB ABB Ltd’s significant subsidiaries, continued Company name/location ABB Contracting Company Ltd., Riyadh ABB Holdings Pte. Ltd., Singapore ABB Holdings (Pty) Ltd., Longmeadow Asea Brown Boveri S.A., Madrid ABB AB, Västerås ABB Norden Holding AB, Västerås ABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd, Zurich ABB Schweiz AG, Baden ABB Technology AG, Zurich ABB LIMITED, Bangkok ABB Elektrik Sanayi A.S., Istanbul ABB Ltd., Kiev ABB Industries (L.L.C.), Dubai ABB Holdings Limited, Warrington ABB Limited, Warrington ABB Holdings Inc., Cary, NC ABB Inc., Cary, NC Baldor Electric Company, Fort Smith, AR Kuhlman Electric Corporation, Crystal Springs, MS ABB’s operational group structure is described in the “Finan- cial review” section of this Annual Report under “Operating and financial review and prospects – Organizational structure”. 2.2 Significant shareholders Investor AB, Sweden, held 179,030,142 ABB shares as of December 31, 2011. This holding represented approximately 7.7 percent of ABB’s total share capital and voting rights as registered in the Commercial Register on that date. The number of shares held by Investor AB does not include shares held by Mr. Jacob Wallenberg, the chairman of Inves- tor AB, in his individual capacity. BlackRock Inc., New York, US, announced that as per July 25, 2011, it held together with its direct and indirect sub- sidiaries 69,702,100 ABB shares. This amount corresponded to 3.0 percent of ABB’s total share capital and voting rights as registered in the Commercial Register on December 31, 2011. For a full review of the disclosure report pursuant to which BlackRock reported its ABB shareholdings, please refer to the search facility of the SIX Swiss Exchange Disclosure Office at www.six-swiss-exchange.com/shares/ companies/major_shareholders_en.html?fromDate=19980101 &issuer=10881 Country interest % in thousands Currency ABB Share capital Saudi Arabia Singapore South Africa Spain Sweden Sweden Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland Thailand Turkey Ukraine UAE United Kingdom United Kingdom United States United States United States United States 65.00 100.00 80.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 99.95 100.00 49.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 40,000 32,797 4,050 33,318 400,000 2,344,783 2,768,000 55,000 100 1,034,000 13,410 85,400 5,000 203,014 60,000 2 1 5,651 0 SAR SGD ZAR EUR SEK SEK CHF CHF CHF THB TRY UAH AED GBP GBP USD USD USD USD To the best of ABB’s knowledge, no other shareholder held 3 percent or more of ABB’s total share capital and voting rights as registered in the Commercial Register on Decem- ber 31, 2011. Under ABB’s Articles of Incorporation, each registered share represents one vote. Significant shareholders do not have different voting rights. To our knowledge, we are not directly or indirectly owned or controlled by any government or by any other corporation or person. 3. Capital structure 3.1 Ordinary share capital On December 31, 2011, ABB’s ordinary share capital (including treasury shares) as registered with the Commercial Register amounted to CHF 2,384,185,561.92, divided into 2,314,743,264 fully paid registered shares with a par value of CHF 1.03 per share. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Corporate governance report 17 3.2 Changes to the share capital 3.3 Contingent share capital In 2011, ABB issued shares out of its contingent capital in connection with ABB’s Management Incentive Plan (MIP). For further details about the MIP see section 7.3 of this Corporate governance report. The resulting share capital of CHF 2,384,185,561.92, divided into 2,314,743,264 fully paid registered shares, was reflected in ABB’s Articles of Incorpo- ration dated December 5, 2011. In 2010, ABB issued shares out of its contingent capital in connection with the MIP. The resulting share capital of CHF 2,378,045,525.92, divided into 2,308,782,064 fully paid registered shares, was reflected in ABB’s Articles of Incor- poration dated December 20, 2010. In 2010, ABB paid its dividend relating to the year 2009 by way of nominal value reduction in the par value of its shares from CHF 1.54 to CHF 1.03. Corresponding adjustments were made to the par value of ABB’s contingent and autho- rized shares. Furthermore, ABB cancelled 22,675,000 shares that had been repurchased under its share buy back pro- gram. The resulting share capital of CHF 2,375,849,290.91, divided into 2,306,649,797 fully paid registered shares, was reflected in ABB’s Articles of Incorporation dated April 26, 2010. As at December 31, 2011, ABB’s share capital may be in- creased by an amount not to exceed CHF 206,000,000 through the issuance of up to 200,000,000 fully paid regis- tered shares with a par value of CHF 1.03 per share through the exercise of conversion rights and/or warrants granted in connection with the issuance on national or international capital markets of newly or already issued bonds or other financial market instruments. As at December 31, 2011, ABB’s share capital may be increased by an amount not to exceed CHF 10,300,000 through the issuance of up to 10,000,000 fully paid regis- tered shares with a par value of CHF 1.03 per share through the exercise of warrant rights granted to its shareholders. The Board may grant warrant rights not taken up by share- holders for other purposes in the interest of ABB. The pre-emptive rights of the shareholders are excluded in connection with the issuance of convertible or warrant- bearing bonds or other financial market instruments or the grant of warrant rights. The then current owners of conver- sion rights and/or warrants shall be entitled to subscribe for new shares. The conditions of the conversion rights and/ or warrants will be determined by the Board. In 2009, ABB issued shares out of its contingent capital The acquisition of shares through the exercise of war- in connection with ABB’s Employee Share Acquisition Plan (ESAP) and the MIP. For further details about the ESAP see section 7.2 in this Corporate governance report. The resulting share capital of CHF 3,587,160,187.38, divided into 2,329,324,797 fully paid registered shares, was reflec ted in ABB’s Articles of Incorporation dated December 14, 2009. In 2009, ABB paid its dividend relating to the year 2008 by way of nominal value reduction in the par value of its shares from CHF 2.02 to CHF 1.54. Corresponding adjust- ments were made to the par value of ABB’s contingent and authorized shares. The resulting share capital of CHF 3,577,100,965.90, divided into 2,322,792,835 fully paid registered shares, was reflected in ABB’s Articles of Incorpo- ration dated May 5, 2009. Except as described in this section, there were no changes to ABB’s share capital during 2011, 2010, and 2009. rants and each subsequent transfer of the shares will be subject to the restrictions of ABB’s Articles of Incorporation (see section 4.2 in this Corporate governance report). In connection with the issuance of convertible or warrant bearing bonds or other financial market instruments, the Board is authorized to restrict or deny the advance subscrip- tion rights of shareholders if such bonds or other financial market instruments are for the purpose of financing or refi- nancing the acquisition of an enterprise, parts of an enterprise, participations, or new investments, or an issuance on na- tional or international capital markets. If the Board denies ad- vance subscription rights, the convertible or warrant-bearing bonds or other financial market instruments will be issued at the relevant market conditions and the new shares will be issued pursuant to the relevant market conditions taking into account the share price and/or other comparable instru- ments having a market price. Conversion rights may be exercised during a maximum ten-year period, and warrants may be exercised during a maximum seven-year period, in each case from the date of the respective issuance. The advance subscription rights of the shareholders may be granted indirectly. In addition as at December 31, 2011, ABB’s share capital may be increased by an amount not to exceed CHF 96,859,964 through the issuance of up to 94,038,800 fully paid shares with a par value of CHF 1.03 per share to em- ployees. The pre-emptive and advance subscription rights of 18 Corporate governance report | ABB Annual Report 2011 ABB’s shareholders are excluded. The shares or rights to subscribe for shares will be issued to employees pursuant to one or more regulations to be issued by the Board, taking into account performance, functions, level of responsibility and profitability criteria. ABB may issue shares or subscription rights to employees at a price lower than that quoted on a stock exchange. The acquisition of shares within the context of employee share ownership and each subsequent transfer of the shares will be subject to the restrictions of ABB’s Articles of Incorporation (see section 4.2 of this Corporate governance report). 3.4 Authorized share capital As at December 31, 2011, ABB’s share capital may be in- creased by an amount not to exceed CHF 206,000,000 through the issuance of up to 200,000,000 fully paid shares with a par value of CHF 1.03 per share out of authorized share capital. The authorized share capital is valid until April 29, 2013. The Board is authorized to determine the date of issue of new shares, the issue price, the type of payment, the condi- tions for the exercise of pre-emptive rights and the beginning date for dividend entitlement. In this regard, the Board may issue new shares by means of a firm underwriting through a banking institution, a syndicate or another third party with a subsequent offer of these shares to the shareholders. The Board may permit pre-emptive rights that have not been ex- ercised by shareholders to expire or it may place these rights and/or shares as to which pre-emptive rights have been granted but not exercised at market conditions or use them for other purposes in the interest of the company. Further- more, the Board is authorized to restrict or deny the pre-emp- tive rights of shareholders and allocate such rights to third parties if the shares are used (1) for the acquisition of an enter- prise, parts of an enterprise, or participations, or for new in- vestments, or in case of a share placement, for the financing or refinancing of such transactions; or (2) for the purpose of broadening the shareholder constituency in connection with a listing of shares on domestic or foreign stock exchanges. 3.5 Convertible bonds and warrants ABB does not have any bonds outstanding that are convert- ible into ABB shares. For information about warrants on shares issued by ABB, please refer to Note 19 to ABB’s con- solidated financial statements contained in the “Financial review” part of this Annual Report. 4. Shareholders’ participation 4.1 Shareholders’ voting rights ABB has one class of shares and each registered share car- ries one vote at the General Meeting. Voting rights may be exercised only after a shareholder has been registered in the share register of ABB as a shareholder with the right to vote, or with Euroclear Sweden AB (formerly VPC), which main- tains a subregister of the share register of ABB. A shareholder may be represented at the Annual General Meeting by another shareholder with the right to vote, its legal representative, a corporate body (Organvertreter), an independent proxy (unabhängiger Stimmrechtsvertreter) or a depositary (Depotvertreter). All shares held by one share- holder may be represented by one representative only. For practical reasons, shareholders must be registered in the share register no later than six business days before the General Meeting in order to be entitled to vote. Except for the cases described under section 4.2 of this Corporate governance report, there are no voting rights restrictions limiting ABB’s shareholders’ rights. 4.2 Limitations on transferability of shares and nominee registration ABB may decline a registration with voting rights if a share- holder does not declare that it has acquired the shares in its own name and for its own account. If the shareholder refuses to make such declaration, it will be registered as a shareholder without voting rights. A person failing to expressly declare in its registration application that it holds the shares for its own account (a nominee), will be entered in the share register with voting rights, provided that such nominee has entered into an agreement with the Board concerning its status, and further provided that the nominee is subject to recognized bank or financial market supervision. In special cases, the Board may grant exemptions. There were no exemptions granted in 2011. The limitation on the transferability of shares may be removed by an amendment of ABB’s Articles of Incorporation by a shareholders’ resolution requiring two-thirds of the votes represented at the meeting. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Corporate governance report 19 4.3 Shareholders’ dividend rights 5. Board of Directors ABB Ltd may pay out a dividend only if it has been proposed by a shareholder or the Board and approved at a general meeting of shareholders, and the auditors confirm that the dividend conforms to statutory law and ABB’s Articles of In- corporation. Dividends are usually due and payable in Swiss francs and the ex-date for dividends is usually two trading days after the approving shareholders’ resolution. ABB has established, for tax purposes, a dividend ac- cess facility for its shareholders who are residents of Sweden. If such shareholders have registered their shares with Euroclear Sweden AB (formerly VPC), then they may elect to receive the dividend in Swedish kronor from ABB Norden Holding AB without deduction of Swiss withholding tax. For further information on the dividend access facility, please refer to ABB’s Articles of Incorporation, a copy of which can be found in the section “Corporate governance – Further information on corporate governance” at www.abb.com/ investorcenter 4.4 General meeting Shareholders’ resolutions at general meetings are approved with an absolute majority of the votes represented at the meeting, except for those matters described in article 704 of the Swiss Code of Obligations and for resolutions with re- spect to restrictions on the exercise of the right to vote and the removal of such restrictions, which all require the ap- proval of two-thirds of the votes represented at the meeting. As at December 31, 2011, shareholders representing shares of a par value totalling at least CHF 412,000 may re- quest items to be included in the agenda of a general meeting. Any such request must be made in writing at least 40 days prior to the date of the general meeting and specify the items and the motions of such shareholder(s). ABB’s Articles of Incorporation do not contain provisions on the convocation of the general meeting of shareholders that differ from the applicable legal provisions. 20 Corporate governance report | ABB Annual Report 2011 5.1 Responsibilities and organization The Board defines the ultimate direction of the business of ABB and issues the necessary instructions. It determines the organization of the ABB Group and appoints, removes and supervises the persons entrusted with the management and representation of ABB. The internal organizational structure and the definition of the areas of responsibility of the Board, as well as the infor- mation and control instruments vis-à-vis the Group Executive Committee, are set forth in the ABB Ltd Board Regulations and Corporate Governance Guidelines, a copy of which can be found in the section “Corporate governance – Further information on corporate governance” at www.abb.com/ investorcenter The Board meets as frequently as needed but at least four times per annual Board term. Board meetings are con- vened by the chairman or upon request by a director or the chief executive officer (CEO). Written documentation covering the various items of the agenda for each Board meeting is sent out in advance to each Board member in order to allow each member time to study the covered matters prior to the meetings. Decisions made at the Board meetings are recorded in written minutes of the meetings. The CEO shall regularly, and whenever extraordinary circumstances so require, report to the Board about ABB’s overall business and affairs. Fur- ther, Board members are entitled to information concerning ABB’s business and affairs. Additional details are set forth in the ABB Ltd Board Regulations & Corporate Governance Guidelines, which can be found in the section “Corporate governance – Further information on corporate governance” at www.abb.com/ investorcenter 5.2 Term and members The members of the Board are elected individually at the annual general meeting of the shareholders for a term of one year; re-election is possible. Our Articles of Incorporation, a copy of which can be found in the section “Corporate gover- nance – Further information on corporate governance” at www.abb.com/investorcenter, do not provide for the retire- ment of directors based on their age. However, an age limit for members of the Board is set forth in the ABB Ltd Board Regulations and Corporate Governance Guidelines (although waivers are possible and subject to Board discretion), a copy of which can be found in the section “Corporate gover- nance – Further information on corporate governance” at www.abb.com/investorcenter As at December 31, 2011, the members of the Board (Board term April 2011 to April 2012) were: Hubertus von Grünberg has been a member and chair- man of ABB’s Board of Directors since May 3, 2007. He is a member of the supervisory boards of Allianz Versicherungs AG and Deutsche Telekom AG (both Germany). He is a member of the board of directors of Schindler Holding AG (Switzerland). Von Grünberg was born in 1942 and is a German citizen. Roger Agnelli has been a member of ABB’s Board of Directors since March 12, 2002. He was previously the president and chief executive officer of Vale S.A. (Brazil). Agnelli was born in 1959 and is a Brazilian citizen. Louis R. Hughes has been a member of ABB’s Board of Directors since May 16, 2003. He is the chairman of In Zero Systems (formerly GBS Laboratories LLC) (US). He is also a member of the boards of directors of Akzo Nobel (The Netherlands) and Alcatel Lucent (France). Hughes was born in 1949 and is a US citizen. Hans Ulrich Märki has been a member of ABB’s Board of Directors since March 12, 2002. He is the retired chairman of IBM Europe, Middle East and Africa (France), and a member of the board of directors of Mettler-Toledo In- ternational (U.S.) and Swiss Re and Menuhin Festival Gstaad AG (both Switzerland). He is also a member of the foundation board of Schulthess Klinik, Zurich (Switzerland), and the board of trustees of the Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg (Russia). Märki was born in 1946 and is a Swiss citizen. Michel de Rosen has been a member of ABB’s Board of Directors since March 12, 2002. He is the chief executive officer and member of the board of directors of Eutelsat Com- munications (France). De Rosen was born in 1951 and is a French citizen. Michael Treschow has been a member of ABB’s Board of Directors since May 16, 2003. He is the chairman of the boards of directors of Unilever NV (The Netherlands), and Uni lever PLC (UK). He is also a member of the board of direc- tors of the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (Sweden). Treschow was born in 1943 and is a Swedish citizen. Jacob Wallenberg has been a member of ABB’s Board of Directors since June 26, 1999. From March 1999 to June 1999, he served as a member of the board of directors of ABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd, the former parent company of the ABB Group. He is the chairman of the board of directors of Investor AB (Sweden). He is vice chairman of Telefonak- tiebolaget LM Ericsson AB, SEB Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken, Atlas Copco AB and SAS AB (all Sweden). He is also a member of the boards of directors of the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation and the Stockholm School of Eco- nomics (both Sweden), and The Coca-Cola Company (US). Wallenberg was born in 1956 and is a Swedish citizen. Ying Yeh has been a member of ABB’s Board of Direc- tors since April 29, 2011. She is a member of the board of directors of Intercontinental Hotels Group (UK), AB Volvo AB (Sweden) and Samsonite International S.A. (Luxembourg). Yeh was born in 1948 and is a Chinese citizen. As of December 31, 2011, all Board members were non- executive and independent directors (see also section 5.3 of this Corporate governance report), and none of ABB’s Board members held any official functions or political posts. Further information on ABB’s Board members can be found by clicking on the ABB Board of Directors CV link, which can be found in the section “Corporate governance – Further information on corporate governance” at www.abb.com/investorcenter 5.3 Business relationships This section describes important business relationships between ABB and its Board members, or companies and organizations represented by them. This determination has been made based on ABB Ltd’s Related Party Transaction Policy. This policy is contained in the ABB Ltd Board Regula- tions and Corporate Governance Guidelines, a copy of which can be found in the section “Corporate governance – Further information on corporate governance” at www.abb.com/investorcenter Vale S.A. and its subsidiaries (Vale) and ABB have en- tered into a framework agreement establishing general terms and conditions for the supply of products, systems and services among their respective group subsidiaries. ABB supplies Vale primarily with process automation products for mineral systems. The total revenues recorded by ABB in 2011 relating to its contracts with Vale were approximately $200 million. Roger Agnelli was previously president and CEO of Vale. Atlas Copco AB (Atlas Copco) is an important customer of ABB. ABB supplies Atlas Copco primarily with drives and motors through its Discrete Automation and Motion division. The total revenues recorded by ABB relating to business with Atlas Copco were approximately $50 million in 2011. Jacob Wallenberg is vice chairman of Atlas Copco. ABB has an unsecured syndicated $2-billion, revolving credit facility. As of December 31, 2011, SEB Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) (SEB) has committed to $71 million out of the $2-billion total. Jacob Wallenberg is vice chairman of SEB. After comparing the share of revenues generated from ABB’s business with Vale and Atlas Copco, and after reviewing the banking commitments of SEB, the Board has determined that ABB’s business relationships with those ABB Annual Report 2011 | Corporate governance report 21 companies do not constitute material business relationships and that all members of the Board are considered to be independent directors. This determination was made in accordance with ABB Ltd’s Related Party Transaction Policy which was prepared based on the Swiss Code of Best Practice for Corporate Governance and the independence criteria set forth in the corporate governance rules of the New York Stock Exchange. In addition, ABB maintains important banking relation- ships with UBS AG (UBS), including one UBS affiliate that as of December 31, 2011, committed to lend $71 million out of the $2-billion total commitment under the above-referenced revolving credit facility. Michel Demaré, the CFO of ABB, is also vice chairman of the board of directors of UBS. ABB has also retained Ortec Finance B.V. (Ortec) to provide pension modelling services. Michel Demaré’s spouse is an employee and the chairman of the board of directors of Ortec’s Swiss subsidiary. The Board has determined that ABB’s business relationships with UBS and Ortec are not material to ABB or UBS or Ortec or unusual in their nature or conditions. Finally, in February 2012, ABB entered into a $4 billion term credit agreement to provide bridge financing for the planned acquisition of Thomas & Betts Corporation (see “Note 12 Debt” to our Consolidated Financial Statements). In March 2012, the credit agreement was syndicated so that 16 banks, including SEB and UBS, had each committed to lend ABB $250 million as of the completion of the primary syndication. The Board has determined that these additional commitments of SEB and UBS when considered together with ABB’s other relationships to those banks are not mate- rial to ABB, SEB or UBS and that Jacob Wallenberg remains an independent director of ABB. 5.4 Board committees From among its members, the Board has appointed two Board committees: the Governance, Nomination and Com- pensation Committee (GNCC) and the Finance, Audit and Compliance Committee (FACC). The duties and objectives of the Board committees are set forth in the ABB Ltd Board Regulations and Corporate Governance Guidelines, a copy of which can be found in the section “Corporate governance – Further information on corporate governance” at www.abb. com/investorcenter. These committees assist the Board in its tasks and report regularly to the Board. The members of the Board committees are required to be independent. 22 Corporate governance report | ABB Annual Report 2011 5.4.1 Governance, Nomination and Compensation Committee The GNCC is responsible for (1) overseeing corporate governance practices within ABB, (2) nominating candidates for the Board, the role of CEO and other positions on the Group Executive Committee, and (3) succession planning, employment and compensation matters relating to the Board and the Group Executive Committee. The GNCC is also responsible for maintaining an orientation program for new Board members and an ongoing education program for existing Board members. The GNCC must comprise three or more independent directors. The chairman of the Board and, upon invitation by the committee’s chairman, the CEO or other members of the Group Executive Committee may participate in the commit- tee meetings, provided that any potential conflict of interest is avoided and confidentiality of the discussions is maintained. As at December 31, 2011, the members of the GNCC were: Hans Ulrich Märki (chairman) Michel de Rosen Michael Treschow Ying Yeh Roger Agnelli was a member of the GNCC up to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in April 2011. Michael Treschow and Ying Yeh were elected to the GNCC subsequent to the AGM in April 2011. 5.4.2 Finance, Audit and Compliance Committee The FACC is responsible for overseeing (1) the integrity of ABB’s financial statements, (2) ABB’s compliance with legal, tax and regulatory requirements, (3) the independent audi- tors’ qualifications and independence, (4) the performance of ABB’s internal audit function and external auditors, and (5) ABB’s capital structure, funding requirements, and finan- cial risk policies. The FACC must comprise three or more independent directors who have a thorough understanding of finance and accounting. The chairman of the Board and, upon invita- tion by the committee’s chairman, the CEO or other members of the Group Executive Committee may participate in the committee meetings, provided that any potential conflict of interest is avoided and confidentiality of the discussions is maintained. In addition, the Chief Integrity Officer, the Head of Internal Audit and the external auditors participate in the meetings as appropriate. As required by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), at least one member of the FACC has to be an audit committee financial expert. The Board has determined that each member of the FACC is an audit committee financial expert. 5.6 Board Compensation and Shareholdings As at December 31, 2011, the members of the FACC were: Louis R. Hughes (chairman) Roger Agnelli Jacob Wallenberg Bernd W. Voss was a member and the chairman of the FACC up to the AGM in April 2011. Roger Agnelli was elected to the FACC subsequent to the AGM in April 2011. 5.5 Meetings and attendance Information about Board compensation and shareholdings can be found in sections titled “Components of compensa- tion to Board of Directors,” “Board of Directors compensation in 2011,” and “ABB shareholdings of members of the Board and the Executive Committee” of the Remuneration report contained in this Annual Report. 5.7 Secretary to the Board Diane de Saint Victor is the secretary to the Board. The Board and its committees have regularly scheduled meetings throughout the year. These meetings are supple- mented by additional meetings (either in person or by conference call), as necessary. 6. Group Executive Committee The table below shows the number of meetings held during 2011 by the Board and its committees, their average duration, as well as the attendance of the individual Board members. In addition, members of the Board and the Group Executive Committee participated in a two-day strategic retreat. Meetings and attendance Board GNCC FACC Regular Additional Average duration (hours) 6.6 Number of meetings Meetings attended: Hubertus von Grünberg Roger Agnelli(1) Louis R. Hughes Hans Ulrich Märki Michel de Rosen Michael Treschow(2) Bernd W. Voss(3) Jacob Wallenberg Ying Yeh(4) 6 5 6 6 6 6 6 2 6 4 1 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 2 3 5 – 2 – 5 5 3 – – 3 3.2 6 – 3 6 – – – 3 6 – (1) (2) (3) (4) Roger Agnelli was a member of the GNCC until the 2011 AGM. He subsequently joined the FACC. Michael Treschow joined the GNCC following the 2011 AGM. Bernd W. Voss retired from the Board and the FACC at the 2011 AGM. Ying Yeh joined the GNCC following her election to the Board at the 2011 AGM. 6.1 Responsibilities and organization The Board has delegated the executive management of ABB to the CEO and the other members of the Group Execu- tive Committee. The CEO and under his direction the other members of the Group Executive Committee are responsible for ABB’s overall business and affairs and day-to-day man- agement. The CEO reports to the Board regularly, and whenever extraordinary circumstances so require, on the course of ABB’s business and financial performance and on all organi- zational and personnel matters, transactions and other is- sues relevant to the Group. Each member of the Group Executive Committee is ap- pointed and discharged by the Board. 6.2 Members of the Group Executive Committee As at December 31, 2011, the members of the Group Execu- tive Committee were: Joe Hogan joined ABB’s Group Executive Committee as Chief Executive Officer in September 2008. Before joining ABB, Hogan was the CEO and President of General Electric’s GE Healthcare unit from 2000 to 2008. From 1985 to 2000, Hogan held various positions at General Electric. Hogan was born in 1957 and is a US citizen. Michel Demaré joined ABB’s Group Executive Commit- tee as Chief Financial Officer in January 2005. From October 2008 to March 2011 he was also Head of Global Markets. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Corporate governance report 23 From February 2008 to August 2008 he was appointed interim CEO in addition to his duties as CFO. He is also vice chairman of the board of directors of UBS AG and a board member of IMD Foundation (all Switzerland). From 2002 until 2004 Demaré was vice president and chief financial officer of Baxter Europe. From 1984 until 2002, he held various posi- tions within Dow Chemical (US). Demaré was born in 1956 and is a Belgian citizen. Gary Steel joined ABB’s Group Executive Committee as Head of Human Resources in January 2003. Steel is a member of the board of directors of Harman International Industries Inc. (US) and a director of Aquamarine Power (UK). In 2002, he was the human resources director, group finance at Royal Dutch Shell (Netherlands). Between 1976 and 2002, he held several human resources and employee relations positions at Royal Dutch Shell. Steel was born in 1952 and is a British citizen. Diane de Saint Victor joined ABB’s Group Executive Committee as General Counsel in January 2007. From 2004 to 2006, she was general counsel of European Aeronautic Defence and Space, EADS (France/Germany). From 2003 to 2004, she was general counsel of SCA Hygiene Products (Germany). From 1993 to 2003, she held various legal posi- tions with Honeywell International (France/Belgium). From 1988 to 1993, she held various legal positions with General Electric (US). De Saint Victor was born in 1955 and is a French citizen. Brice Koch was appointed Executive Committee mem- ber responsible for Marketing and Customer Solutions in January 2010. From 2007 to 2009, he was the Manager of ABB in China and of ABB’s North Asia Region. Between 1994 and 2006, he held several management positions with ABB. He is also member of the board of directors of Rector S.A. (France). Koch was born in 1964 and is a French citizen. Frank Duggan was appointed Executive Committee member responsible for Global Markets in March 2011. Since 2008, he is also ABB’s region manager for India, Middle East and Africa. From 2008 to 2011 he was ABB’s country man- ager for the United Arab Emirates. From 2004 to 2007 he was head of ABB’s Group Account Management and ABB’s country manager for Ireland. Between 1986 and 2004 he held several management positions with ABB. Duggan was born in 1959 and is an Irish citizen. Bernhard Jucker was appointed Executive Committee member responsible for the Power Products division in January 2006. From 2003 to 2005, he was ABB’s country manager for Germany. From 1980 to 2003 he held various positions in ABB. Jucker was born in 1954 and is a Swiss citizen. Peter Leupp was appointed Executive Committee mem- ber responsible for the Power Systems division in January 2007. From 2005 to 2006, he was ABB’s regional manager for North Asia and from 2001 to 2006, he was ABB’s country manager for China. From 1989 to 2001, he held various positions in ABB. He is also a member of the board of direc- tors of Gurit Holding AG (Switzerland). Leupp was born in 1951 and is a Swiss citizen. Ulrich Spiesshofer was appointed Executive Commit- tee member responsible for the Discrete Automation and Motion division in January 2010. He joined ABB in November 2005 as Executive Committee member responsible for Cor- porate Development. From 2002 until he joined ABB, he was senior partner, global head of operations practice at Roland Berger AG (Switzerland). Prior to 2002, he held various positions with A.T. Kearney Ltd. and its affiliates. Spiesshofer was born in 1964 and is a German citizen. Tarak Mehta was appointed Executive Committee mem- ber responsible for the Low Voltage Products division in October 2010. From 2007 to 2010, he was head of the Trans- formers business. Between 1998 and 2006, he held several management positions with ABB. Mehta was born in 1966 and is a US citizen. Veli-Matti Reinikkala was was appointed Executive Committee member responsible for the Process Automation division in January 2006. He is a member of the board of directors of UPM-Kymmene (Finland). In 2005, he was the head of the Process Automation business area. From 1993 to 2005, he held several positions with ABB. Reinikkala was born in 1957 and is a Finnish citizen. In addition, as of March 1, 2012, Peter Leupp has decided to retire from the Executive Committee of ABB and Brice Koch will succeed him as head of the Power Systems division. During March and April 2012, the Marketing and Customer Solutions team will report to CEO Joe Hogan. As of May 1, 2012, Greg Scheu, head of ABB’s Discrete Auto- mation and Motion division in North America, has been appointed Executive Committee Member responsible for Mar- keting and Customer Solutions. Scheu, a former executive at Rockwell International, joined ABB in 2001 and is also cur- rently responsible for the integration of Baldor Electric Co., which ABB acquired in January 2011. Scheu was born in 1961 and is a US citizen. Further information about the members of the Group Executive Committee can be found by clicking on the Group Executive Committee CV link in the section “Corporate governance – Further information on corporate governance” at www.abb.com/investorcenter 24 Corporate governance report | ABB Annual Report 2011 6.3 Executive Committee Compensation and Shareholdings Information about Executive Committee compensation and shareholdings can be found in sections titled “Components of executive compensation,” “Executive Committee com- pensation in 2011,” “Compensation to former members of the Board and the Executive Committee,” and “ABB share- holdings of members of the Board and the Executive Committee” of the Remuneration report contained in this Annual Report. 6.4 Management contracts There are no management contracts between ABB and com- panies or natural persons not belonging to the ABB Group. 7. Employee participation programs 7.1 Incentive plans linked to ABB shares In order to align its employees’ interests with the business goals and financial results of the company, ABB operates a number of incentive plans, linked to ABB’s shares, which are summarized below (for a more detailed description of each incentive plan, please refer to Note 18 to ABB’s consoli- dated financial statements contained in the Financial review section of this Annual Report). 7.2 Employee Share Acquisition Plan The ESAP is an employee stock option plan with a savings feature. Employees save over a 12-month period, by way of monthly salary deductions. The maximum monthly savings amount is the lower of 10 percent of gross monthly salary or the local currency equivalent of CHF 750. At the end of the savings period, employees choose whether to exercise their stock options to buy ABB shares (ADS in the case of employ- ees in the US) at the exercise price set at the grant date, or have their savings returned with interest. The savings are accu- mulated in a bank account held by a third-party trustee on behalf of the participants and earn interest. The maximum number of shares that each employee can purchase has been determined based on the exercise price and the aggregate savings for the 12-month period, increased by 10 percent to allow for currency fluctuations. If, at the ex- ercise date, the balance of savings plus interest exceeds the maximum amount of cash employees must pay to fully exercise their stock options, the excess funds will be returned to the employees. If the balance of savings and interest is insuffi- cient to permit employees to fully exercise their stock options, the employees have the choice, but not the obligation, to make an additional payment so that they may fully exercise their stock options. If employees cease to be employed by ABB, the accumu- lated savings as of the date of cessation of employment will be returned to the employees and their right to exercise their stock options will be forfeited. Employees can withdraw from the ESAP at any time during the savings period and will be entitled to a refund of their accumulated savings. The exercise price per share and ADS of CHF 15.98 and USD 18.10, respectively, for the 2011 grant, was determined using the closing price of the ABB share on the SIX Swiss Exchange and ADS on the New York Stock Exchange on the grant date. 7.3 Management Incentive Plan ABB maintains a MIP under which it offers stock options and cash-settled warrant appreciation rights (WARs) (and through the launch in 2009 also offered stock warrants) to key em- ployees for no consideration. The warrants and options granted under the MIP allow participants to purchase shares of ABB at predetermined prices. Participants may sell the warrants and options rather than exercise the right to purchase shares. Equivalent war- rants are listed by a third-party bank on the SIX Swiss Ex- change, which facilitates pricing and transferability of warrants granted under the MIP. The options entitle the holder to re- quest that a third-party bank purchase such options at the market price of equivalent warrants listed by the third-party bank in connection with that MIP launch. If the participant elects to sell the warrants or options, the instruments will then be held by a third party and, consequently, ABB’s obligation to deliver shares will be to this third party. Each WAR gives the participant the right to receive, in cash, the market price of the equivalent listed warrant on the date of exercise of the WAR. The WARs are non-transferable. Participants may exercise or sell warrants and options and exercise WARs after the vesting period, which is three years from the date of grant. Vesting restrictions can be waived in certain circumstances, such as death or disability. All warrants, options and WARs expire six years from the date of grant. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Corporate governance report 25 7.4 Long-Term Incentive Plan ABB has an LTIP for members of its Group Executive Committee and certain other executives. In 2011, the LTIP involved cash-settled conditional grants of ABB’s stock and contained a retention component. The plan is described in the long-term variable compensation section of the Remuneration report contained in this Annual Report. 8. Duty to make a public tender offer ABB’s Articles of Incorporation do not contain any provisions raising the threshold (opting up) or waiving the duty (opting out) to make a public tender offer pursuant to article 32 of the Swiss Stock Exchange and Securities Trading Act. 9. Auditors 9.1 Auditors Ernst & Young are the auditors of ABB’s statutory and con- solidated accounts. 9.2 Duration of the mandate and term of office of the auditor Ernst & Young assumed the auditing mandate of the ABB Group in 1994. The head auditor responsible for the mandate, Nigel Jones, began serving in this function in respect of the financial year ended December 31, 2008. Pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation, the term of office of ABB’s auditors is one year. 9.3 Auditing and additional fees paid to the auditor The audit fees charged by Ernst & Young for the legally pre- scribed audit amounted to approximately $27 million in 2011. Audit services are defined as the standard audit work performed each fiscal year necessary to allow the auditors to issue an opinion on the consolidated financial statements of ABB and to issue an opinion on the local statutory finan- cial statements. This classification may also include services that can be provided only by the auditors, such as assistance with the application of new accounting policies, pre-issuance reviews of quarterly financial results and comfort letters delivered to underwriters in connection with debt and equity offerings. In addition, Ernst & Young charged approximately $8 mil- lion for non-audit services performed during 2011. Non-audit services include primarily accounting consultations and audits in connection with divestments, audits of pension and benefit plans, accounting advisory services, tax compliance and other tax services. In accordance with the requirements of the US Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and rules issued by the SEC, ABB has, on a global basis, a process for the review and pre-approval of audit and non-audit services to be per- formed by Ernst & Young. 9.4 Supervisory and control instruments vis-à-vis the auditors The FACC prepares proposals to the Board for the appoint- ment and removal of the auditors. The FACC is also respon- sible for supervising the auditors to ensure their qualifica- tions, independence and performance. It meets regularly with the auditors to obtain reports about the results of their audit procedures. The FACC reports the material elements of its supervision of the auditors to the Board. 26 Corporate governance report | ABB Annual Report 2011 11. Further information on corporate governance The list below contains references to additional information concerning the corporate governance of ABB, which can be accessed in the section “Corporate governance – Further information on corporate governance” at www.abb.com/ investorcenter – Articles of Incorporation – ABB Ltd Board Regulations and Corporate Governance Guidelines – Regulations of the Governance, Nomination and Compensation Committee – Regulations of the Finance, Audit and Compliance Committee – Related Party Transaction Policy – ABB Code of Conduct – Addendum to the ABB Code of Conduct for Members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee – ABB Integrity Program – Comparison of ABB’s corporate governance practices with the New York Stock Exchange rules – CVs of the Board members – CVs of the Group Executive Committee members 10. Information policy ABB, as a publicly traded company, is committed to commu- nicating in a timely and consistent way to shareholders, potential investors, financial analysts, customers, suppliers, the media and other interested parties. ABB is required to disseminate material information pertaining to its businesses in a manner that complies with its obligations under the rules of the stock exchanges where its shares are listed and traded. ABB publishes an annual report that provides audited financial statements and information about business results, strategy, corporate governance, human resources, sustain- ability (including health and safety) and technology. In addi- tion, ABB also submits an annual report on Form 20-F to the SEC. In addition, ABB publishes its results on a quarterly basis as press releases, distributed pursuant to the rules and regulations of the stock exchanges on which its shares are listed and traded. Press releases relating to financial results and material events are also filed with the SEC on Form 6-K. An archive containing Annual Reports, Form 20-F reports, quarterly results releases and related presentations can be found at www.abb.com/investorcenter. The quarterly results press releases contain unaudited financial information prepared in accordance with US GAAP. To subscribe to important press releases, please click on the “Subscribe to mailing lists” link at www.abb.com/investorcenter. Ad hoc notices can also be found in the press releases section at www.abb.com/news ABB’s official means of communication is the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce (www.shab.ch). The invitation to the company’s Annual General Meeting is sent to regis- tered shareholders by mail. Inquiries may also be made to ABB Investor Relations: Affolternstrasse 44 CH-8050 Zurich, Switzerland Telephone: +41 (0)43 317 7111 Fax: +41 (0)44 311 9817 E-mail: investorrelations@ch.abb.com ABB’s Web site is: www.abb.com ABB Annual Report 2011 | Corporate governance report 27 28 Remuneration report | ABB Annual Report 2011 Remuneration report Contents 30 Remuneration principles and governance 30 Components of compensation to Board of Directors 32 Board of Directors compensation in 2011 32 Components of compensation to Executive Committee 35 Executive Committee compensation in 2011 37 Additional fees and remuneration 37 Compensation to former members of the Board and the Executive Committee 37 Change of control provisions 37 ABB shareholdings of members of the Board and the Executive Committee ABB Annual Report 2011 | Remuneration report 29 ABB’s success depends on its ability to attract and retain people who will drive the business to outperform competitors over the long term. This is an important consideration in the development of its remuneration policy, which is presented in this Remuneration report together with details of compensa- tion in 2011 for members of the Board of Directors (Board) and the Executive Committee (EC). Remuneration to members of the Board and EC in 2010 can be found in Notes 10 and 11 to the ABB Ltd statutory financial statements. 1. Remuneration principles and governance Board oversight The Board and its Governance, Nomination and Compensa- tion Committee (GNCC) have direct oversight of compensa- tion policy at ABB. The GNCC is responsible for developing the general remuneration principles and practices of the ABB Group and for recommending them to the full Board, which takes the final decisions. The GNCC also plays a role in setting compensation for members of the Board through recommendations that it makes to the full Board. The GNCC’s recommendations are based on regular comparisons with compensation at other major Swiss companies, as outlined under the section “Com- ponents of compensation to Board of Directors” below. The full Board takes the final decisions on Board compensation. Remuneration principles The Board and GNCC are actively involved in the continuous development of ABB’s executive remuneration system to reflect a remuneration philosophy that is based on the principles of market orientation, performance, shareholder value and reten- tion. The “Components of compensation to Executive Commit- tee” section of this remuneration report explains the principles and how they apply to remuneration for EC members. Compensation for most other managers in the company reflects primarily the principles of market orientation and performance, although some managers also participate in plans that support the creation of shareholder value and encourage retention. The GNCC acts on behalf of the Board in regularly re- viewing the remuneration philosophy and structure, and in reviewing and approving specific proposals on executive compensation to ensure that they are consistent with the Group’s compensation principles. Information on the number of meetings held by the GNCC in 2011 and on the attendees can be found in section 5.5 “Meetings and attendance” of the Corporate governance report. 30 Remuneration report | ABB Annual Report 2011 Annual reviews Every year, the Board reviews the CEO’s performance and decides on any change in compensation. The CEO reviews the performance of other members of the EC and makes rec- ommendations to the GNCC on their individual remuneration. The full Board takes the final decisions on compensation for all EC members, none of whom participates in the delibera- tions on their remuneration. The CEO also recommends the Group performance tar- gets that determine the short-term variable compensation paid to members of the EC and most other senior managers throughout the company. Short-term variable compensation for some managers with regional or country-level responsi- bilities is based on related targets adapted to ABB’s goals in these markets. The GNCC reviews the CEO’s recommenda- tions and may make or request amendments before it sub- mits a proposal to the Board, which is responsible for taking the final decision. 2. Components of compensation to Board of Directors ABB sets and periodically reviews compensation for Board members based on a comparison of the compensation of non-executive board members of publicly traded companies in Switzerland that are part of the Swiss Market Index. Members of the Board of Directors are paid for their ser- vice over a 12-month period that starts with their election at the annual general meeting. Payment to members of the Board is made in two installments, one following the first six months of their term and one at the end. Board members do not receive pension benefits and are not eligible to partici- pate in any of ABB’s employee incentive programs. To align the interests of Board members with those of ABB’s shareholders, half of their compensation is paid in the form of ABB shares, though Board members can alternatively choose to receive all their compensation in shares, and the shares are kept in a blocked account for three years. Depart- ing Board members are entitled to the shares when they leave the company unless agreed otherwise. The number of shares awarded is calculated prior to each semi-annual payment by dividing the sum to which they are entitled by the average closing price of the ABB share over a predefined 30-day period. The compensation amounts per individual are listed in the table below: November May Board term 2011/2012 Board term 2010/2011 Paid in 2011 Settled in shares – Settled in shares – Total Settled number of Settled number of compen sation Name/Function in cash(1) shares received(2) in cash(1) shares received(2) paid 2011(3) (4) (5) Hubertus von Grünberg Chairman of the Board Roger Agnelli(6) Member of the Board Louis R. Hughes(6) Member of the Board and beginning with the 2011/2012 board term Chairman of the Finance, (CHF) – (CHF) (CHF) 25,917 – 19,303 1,200,000 75,000 3,196 75,000 2,388 300,000 Audit and Compliance Committee 100,000 4,272 75,000 2,388 350,000 Hans Ulrich Märki Member of the Board and Chairman of the Gover- nance, Nomination and Compensation Committee Michel de Rosen(7) Member of the Board Michael Treschow(7) Member of the Board Bernd W. Voss(8) Member of the Board and Chairman of the Finance, Audit and Compliance Committee – – 11,746 – 8,757 400,000 6,392 75,000 2,388 300,000 75,000 3,251 75,000 2,419 300,000 until the 2011/2012 board term – – 100,000 3,222 200,000 Jacob Wallenberg(6) Member of the Board Ying Yeh(7) (9) Member of the Board Total 75,000 3,196 75,000 2,388 300,000 75,000 400,000 3,197 61,167 – 475,000 – 150,000 43,253 3,500,000 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) Represents gross amounts paid, prior to deductions for social security, withholding tax, etc. Number of shares per Board member is calculated based on net amount due after deductions for social security, withholding tax etc. For the 2011–2012 Board term, all members elected to receive 50% of their gross compensation in the form of ABB shares, except for Hubertus von Grünberg, Hans Ulrich Märki and Michel de Rosen who elected to receive 100%. For the 2010–2011 Board term, all members elected to receive 50% of their gross compensation in the form of ABB shares, except for Hubertus von Grünberg and Hans Ulrich Märki who elected to receive 100%. In addition to the Board remuneration stated in the above table, the Company paid CHF 213,122 in 2011 in employee social security payments. Member of the Finance, Audit and Compliance Committee. Member of the Governance, Nomination and Compensation Committee. Bernd W. Voss did not stand for election to the Company’s Board at the AGM in April 2011. Ying Yeh was elected to the Company’s Board at the AGM in April 2011. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Remuneration report 31 3. Board of Directors compensation in 2011 Compensation for Board members is outlined in the table below and has been unchanged since the 2007/2008 term of office. Consistent with past practice, no loans or guarantees were granted to Board members in 2011. Board term provides a meaningful, transparent and consistent basis for comparing remuneration levels at ABB with those of equiva- lent jobs at other companies that have been evaluated using the same criteria. The Board of Directors primarily uses Hay’s data from the European market to set EC compensa- tion, which is around or slightly above the median values for the market. In addition to being aligned with the market in this way, the compensation of EC members is designed to support three principles: – performance against specific and measurable Group 2011/2012 2010/2011 targets; CHF CHF – shareholder value, measured as the performance of ABB’s 1,200,000 1,200,000 shares against those of the company’s peers; Function Chairman of the Board Member of the Board and Committee chairman Member of the Board 400,000 300,000 400,000 300,000 4. Components of com- pensation to Executive Committee All senior positions in ABB have been evaluated using a con- sistent methodology developed by the Hay Group, whose job evaluation system is used by more than 10,000 companies around the world. The Hay methodology goes beyond job titles and company size in assessing positions. It considers the know-how required to do the job, the problem solving complexities involved, as well as the accountability for results and the freedom to act to achieve results. This approach – retention of executives and their expertise. The compensation of EC members currently consists of the following elements which, taken together, reflect these principles: a base salary and benefits, a short-term variable component dependent on Group performance targets, and a long-term variable component designed to reward the cre- ation of shareholder value and an executive’s commitment to the company. These are described in detail in the remainder of this section. The base salary and benefits are fixed elements of the annual compensation packages, while the other components are variable. In 2011, fixed compensation represented 30 per- cent of the CEO’s remuneration and approximately 35 percent for the other EC members. The ratio of fixed to variable com- ponents in any given year will depend on the performance of the individuals and of the company against predefined Group performance targets. The main components of executive compensation in 2011 are summarized in the following chart and explained in more detail below: Base salary Cash Paid monthly Competitive in respect to labor markets Annual revisions, if any, partly based on performance Short-term variable compensation Long-term variable compensation (Long-Term Incentive Plan) Cash Conditional annual payment Payout depends on performance in previous year against predefined Group targets Cash and shares Performance component: Retention component: Conditional grant made annually Conditional grant made annually Payout is in cash and depends on perfor- mance of ABB shares against those of peers over a three-year period Payout is in cash (30%) and shares (70%) and requires the executive to remain at ABB for full three-year period (Executives can elect to receive 100% in shares) 32 Remuneration report | ABB Annual Report 2011 In addition, members of the EC are required to build up a holding of ABB shares that is equivalent to a multiple of their base salary, to ensure that their interests are aligned with those of shareholders. Since 2010, the requirement has been five times base salary for the CEO and four times base salary for the other members of the EC. New members of the EC should aim to reach these multiples within four years of their appointment. These required shareholding amounts are reviewed annually, based on salary and share price develop- ments. 4.1 Annual base salary The base salary for members of the EC is set with reference to positions with equivalent responsibilities outside ABB as determined using the Hay methodology described above. It is reviewed annually principally on the basis of Hay’s annual Top Executive Compensation in Europe survey. In addition, the executive’s performance during the preceding year against individual targets is taken into account when considering increases. Under its mandate with ABB, Hay also conducts job evaluations. 4.2 Benefits Members of the EC receive pension benefits, payable into the Swiss ABB Pension Fund and ABB Supplementary Insurance Plan (the regulations are available at www.abbvorsorge.ch). Veli-Matti Reinikkala was insured under comparable plans in the US until his relocation to Zurich in July 2011. The current level of pension benefits was set in 2006 on the basis of results from a survey of pension conditions for Swiss-based executives at Adecco, Ciba, Dow, Nestlé, Novartis, Roche, Serono, Syngenta and Sulzer that ABB commissioned from Towers Watson, a consultant. The benchmarking exercise was repeated in 2010 and showed that ABB’s pension ben- efits for executives are above the median for this group. Towers Watson also provides actuarial services to ABB, and pension advisory services in connection with mergers and acquisitions transactions. EC members also receive social security contributions and other benefits, as outlined in the compensation table in the “Executive Committee compensation in 2011” section of this remuneration report. The Board has decided to provide tax equalization for EC members resident outside Switzerland to the extent that they are not able to claim a tax credit in their country of residence for income taxes they have paid in Switzerland. 4.3 Short-term variable compensation Payment of the short-term variable component is conditional on the fulfillment of predefined annual targets that are specific, quantifiable and challenging. In any given year, this element of an EC member’s compensation therefore reflects the company’s performance against targets for the preceding year. In 2011, the targets were Group-wide objectives that were aligned with financial measures communicated to share holders: orders received; revenues; operational earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (see definitions on page 148); operating cash flow1; Net Promoter Score (NPS) detractor follow-up2; and cost savings. The first two measures had a weighting of 12.5 percent each, the next two each accounted for 25 percent, the NPS measure was rated 10 percent, and cost savings accounted for the remaining 15 percent. The payment for fully achieving the targets is equivalent to 150 percent of the base salary for the CEO and 100 per- cent of the base salary for other members of the EC. Under- achieving the targets results in a lower payout, or none at all if performance is below a certain threshold. The Board has the discretion to approve a higher payout if the targets are exceeded. For 2011, the Board exercised its discretion and awarded a 12 percent higher payout, reflecting the company’s performance against the targets. 4.4 Long-term variable compensation An important principle of executive compensation at ABB is that it should encourage the creation of value for the com- pany’s shareholders and enable EC members to participate in the company’s success. Value creation is measured in terms of total shareholder return (TSR), which is the percent- age change in the value of the ABB share plus dividends over a three-year period. The company’s Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) is the principal mechanism through which members of the EC and certain other executives are encouraged to create value for shareholders. Awarded annually, LTIPs comprise a perfor- mance component and a retention component whose pro- portions in relation to the base salary are explained below. (1) (2) Operating cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities, reversing the impact of interest and taxes. NPS is a metric based on dividing customers into three categories: Promoters, Passives, and Detractors. This is achieved by asking customers in a one-question survey whether they would recommend ABB to a colleague. In 2011, ABB had a target to determine and follow-up on every detractor’s complaint. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Remuneration report 33 Performance component The first element is designed to reward participants for achieving a TSR that is superior to that of a group of refer- ence companies in related businesses. The peer group is selected by the GNCC on recommendations from an inde- pendent third party (a global investment bank), and is reviewed annually. As of December 31, 2011, the group con- sisted of Alfa Laval, Alstom, Aspen, Atlas Copco, Cooper, Emerson, GE, Honeywell, Invensys, Legrand, MAN, Rockwell, Sandvik, Schneider, SKF, Siemens, Smiths Group, Yaskawa and Yokogawa. Under each three-year plan, members of the EC are conditionally granted a number of shares whose value at the launch of the plan is equal to a certain percentage of their base salary. In 2011, the percentages were 67 percent for the CEO, 50 percent for the CFO, and 42 percent for the other members of the EC. The award will be made after three years if ABB’s total shareholder return meets certain criteria. For example, no payout will be made if ABB’s performance is weaker than half of its peers. The payout is 33 percent if ABB’s performance over the evaluation period is positive and equal to the median of the peer group, and rises on a proportional scale to 100 percent if ABB’s performance is positive and exceeds three-quarters of its peers. If ABB’s performance is negative but better than half of its peers, the number of shares awarded under the Long- Term Incentive Plan launched in 2011 will be reduced. In addition, there is no payout if ABB is unprofitable in the calendar year preceding the end of a three-year LTIP. The measure of profitability used for this purpose is operating net income, which is ABB’s net income adjusted for the financial impact of items considered by the Board to be ex- ceptional (such as divestments, acquisitions, etc.). The assessment of ABB’s performance against its peers for each three-year period is carried out by an independent third party. As of the 2010 LTIP, the payout will be made in cash. Retention component The second component of the Long-Term Incentive Plan is designed to retain executives at ABB and forms a larger part of the plans launched in 2011 and 2010 than of those launched in previous years. Starting with the 2010 LTIP, members of the EC have been conditionally granted shares which, at the start of each three-year plan, are equal to a reference percentage of their base salary, which the Board may adjust up or down de- pending on an executive’s performance against personal targets for the previous calendar year. In 2011, the reference percentages were 100 percent for the CEO, 75 percent for the CFO and 65 percent for the other members of the Execu- tive Committee. The shares are awarded after three years to executives who are still working for the company. Executives receive 30 percent of the payout in cash and the remainder in shares, unless they elect to receive 100 percent of the award in shares. Under the terms and conditions of the plan, execu- tives forfeit the award if they leave ABB voluntarily, while those who retire or are asked to leave the company are awarded shares on a pro rata basis. Plans launched prior to 2010 include a co-investment component under which each participant, at the start of the three-year cycle, could set aside shares from their personal holding equivalent in value to 33 percent of the short-term variable compensation received that year. If the shares are held for the entire three-year period, ABB will award the participant the same number of shares. 4.5 Severance provisions Employment contracts for EC members contain notice peri- ods of up to 12 months, during which they are entitled to compensation comprising their base salary, benefits and short-term variable compensation. In addition, if the company terminates the employment of a member of the EC and that member does not find alternative employment within the no- tice period that pays at least 70 percent of the member’s compensation as defined in this section, then the company will continue to pay compensation for up to 12 additional months. 34 Remuneration report | ABB Annual Report 2011 In addition, the base salaries of the Executive Committee members increased by an average of 3 percent in 2011 after remaining unchanged since 2009. The annual compen- sation of the CEO in 2011 includes the social security pay- ments that were paid in respect of the shares which were conditionally granted to him when he joined in 2008 and which he received in 2011. Details of the share-based compensation granted to members of the EC during 2011 are provided in a table of their shareholdings in the section “Group Executive Com- mittee ownership of ABB shares and options” of this remu- neration report. Consistent with past practice, no loans or guarantees were granted to members of the EC in 2011. Members of the EC are eligible to participate in the Employee Share Acquisition Plan (ESAP), an employee stock- option plan with annual launches, which is open to employ- ees around the world. In addition to the above awards, seven members of the EC participated in the eighth launch of the plan. One EC member is entitled to acquire up to a maximum of 700 ABB shares while the other EC members who partici- pated in ESAP are each entitled to acquire up to 620 ABB shares at an exercise price of CHF 15.98 per share. ESAP is described in the section “Employee participation programs” of the Corporate governance report. Members of the EC cannot participate in the Manage- ment Incentive Plan (MIP), also described in the section “Em- ployee participation programs” of the Corporate governance report. Any MIP instruments held by EC members (and dis- closed in the section “Group Executive Committee ownership of ABB shares and options” of this remuneration report) were awarded to them as part of the compensation they received in earlier roles that they held in ABB. 5. Executive Committee compensation in 2011 ABB discloses the compensation elements for each member of the EC, going beyond the requirements of the Swiss Code of Obligations. The shares conditionally granted under the performance component of the Long-Term Incentive Plans are valued using Monte Carlo modeling, an accepted simulation method under US GAAP (the accounting standard used by ABB). By as- sessing the probability of various levels of payout, it provides a realistic estimate of their value. The following table provides an overview of the total compensation of members of the Executive Committee in 2011, comprising cash compensation and the estimated value of the conditional grants awarded under the LTIP launched in 2011 that runs until 2014. Cash compensation includes the base salary, the short-term variable compensa- tion for 2011, and pension benefits as well as the amounts paid by the company to cover other benefits comprising mainly social security contributions. The compensation is shown gross (ie, before deduction of employee’s social security and pension contributions). Short-term variable compensation for any given year is dependent on ABB’s performance in that year, and is there- fore only paid out once the full-year results are known. As a result, EC members received their short-term variable compensation for 2010 in 2011. However, to reflect wide- spread market practice, the compensation table below shows the short-term variable compensation expected to be paid in 2012 for ABB’s performance in 2011 instead of the amount actually paid in 2011 for ABB’s 2010 performance. Compara- tive numbers in the notes to the financial statements have been adjusted to reflect the current year’s presentation. Total compensation for current members of the EC was 37.8 million Swiss francs in 2011 compared with 31.4 million Swiss francs in 2010, reflecting mainly the larger size of the EC in 2011 and the higher value of share-based awards under the Long Term Incentive Plan. The grant conditions of the Plan did not change between 2010 and 2011. The significantly higher valuation of the 2011 Plan is due to the fact that the performance of ABB’s share price relative to its peers was higher than in 2010 during the assessment period preceding the valuation using the Monte Carlo modeling method de- scribed above. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Remuneration report 35 Total compensation of members of the Executive Committee in 2011 Short-term Base variable salary compensation(1) (CHF) 1,991,676 1,200,006 799,168 812,502 748,258 945,002 770,005 701,230 741,676 660,835 (CHF) 3,376,800 1,344,000 901,600 917,280 842,128 1,064,000 862,400 551,861 840,000 742,560 Pension benefits (CHF) 280,384 267,014 282,501 229,895 267,566 275,936 285,712 267,987 227,416 215,716 Estimated value Other of share-based awards benefits(2) granted in 2011(3) (CHF) 849,768 323,361 173,691 171,064 300,585 220,816 164,442 320,362 244,330 244,075 (CHF) 2,871,650 1,189,349 687,243 868,307 745,419 811,031 – 541,126 769,347 680,105 Total 2011 (CHF) 9,370,278 4,323,730 2,844,203 2,999,048 2,903,956 3,316,785 2,082,559 2,382,566 2,802,769 2,543,291 597,598 595,962 256,020 140,636 623,213 2,213,429 Name Joe Hogan Michel Demaré Gary Steel Ulrich Spiesshofer Diane de Saint Victor Bernhard Jucker Peter Leupp Veli-Matti Reinikkala (4) Brice Koch Tarak Mehta Frank Duggan (joined on March 1, 2011) (5) Total current executive committee members 9,967,956 12,038,591 2,856,147 3,133,130 9,786,790 37,782,614 Tom Sjökvist (retired from the EC on September 30, 2010) (6) 188,851 Anders Jonsson (retired from the EC on July 31, 2010) (6) Total former executive com mittee members – 188,851 – – – 47,971 617,040 – 857,284 47,971 1,474,324 – – – 853,862 857,284 1,711,146 Total 10,156,807 12,038,591 2,904,118 4,607,454 9,786,790 39,493,760 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) To reflect widespread market practice, the basis of presentation of the short-term variable compensation has changed from a cash basis to an accruals basis. Payment is made in the following year, after publication of the financial results. Comparative figures for 2010 in the Notes to ABB Ltd’s statutory financial statements have been adjusted to reflect the current year’s presentation. On July 1, 2011, Veli-Matti Reinikkala relocated from the U.S. to Switzerland. According to the Group’s policy, he received in 2011 a pro-rata short-term variable compensation payout of CHF 244,581 for his service in the U.S. for the period January 1, 2011, to June 30, 2011. The final payout amount for Veli-Matti Reinikkala, which is based on the 2011 results, has been reduced by this pro-rata short-term variable compensation payment already received. In March 2011, the current and former executive committee members received the 2010 short-term variable compensation payments in the amount of CHF 11,951,967. This number does not include any short-term variable compensation amount for Frank Duggan, who joined the executive committee on March 1, 2011. Short-term variable compensation is linked to the targets defined in the ABB Group’s scorecard. Upon full achievement of these targets, the short-term variable compensation of the CEO corresponds to 150 percent of his base salary, while for all other executive committee members it represents 100 percent of their respective base salary. The Board has the discretion to approve a higher payout than 100 percent, if the targets are exceeded. For 2011, the Board exercised its discretion and awarded a 12 percent higher payout, reflecting the company’s performance against the targets. Other benefits comprise payments related to social security, health insurance, children’s education, transportation, tax advice and certain other items. The estimated value of the share-based awards is subject to performance and other parameters (e.g. the share price development) and may therefore vary in value from the above num- bers at the date of vesting, March 15, 2014. The above amounts have been calculated using the market value of the ABB share on the day of grant adjusted, in the case of the performance component, according to the parameters considered in the Monte Carlo simulation model. Veli-Matti Reinikkala received 50 percent of his base salary in USD and 50 percent in EUR at a fixed USD/EUR exchange rate for the period January to June 2011. All USD payments were converted into Swiss francs using a rate of 0.94115 per USD. As of July 2011, Veli-Matti Reinikkala relocated to Switzerland and since then receives his compensation in Swiss francs. Frank Duggan received 20 percent of his base salary in Arab Emirates Dirhams (AED) and 80 percent in EUR at a fixed AED/EUR exchange rate for the period March to December 2011. All AED payments were converted into Swiss francs at a rate of 0.2562417 per AED. The above compensation figures related to Tom Sjökvist and Anders Jonsson represent contractual payments for the period January to December 2011. 36 Remuneration report | ABB Annual Report 2011 6. Additional fees and remuneration In 2011, ABB did not pay any fees or remuneration to the members of the Board or the EC for services rendered to ABB other than those disclosed above. Also, in 2011 ABB did not pay any additional fees or remuneration, other than on market terms, to persons closely linked to a member of the Board or the EC for services rendered to ABB. Peter Leupp retired from the EC as of March 1, 2012. In order to benefit from his expertise, ABB will continue to employ Leupp as a director on the boards of ABB in China and of ABB Limited, India, the company’s listed Indian sub- sidiary, and to compensate him for these roles. 7. Compensation to former members of the Board and the Executive Committee 9. ABB shareholdings of members of the Board and the Executive Committee 9.1 Board ownership of ABB shares and options The table below shows the number of ABB shares held by each Board member: Name Hubertus von Grünberg Roger Agnelli Louis R. Hughes Hans Ulrich Märki Michel de Rosen Michael Treschow Bernd W. Voss Jacob Wallenberg(1) Ying Yeh Total Total number of shares held Dec. 31, 2011 Dec. 31, 2010 127,387 154,992 56,337 389,179 120,108 91,741 n/a 169,202 3,197 82,167 149,408 49,677 368,676 111,328 86,071 157,890 163,618 n/a 1,112,143 1,168,835 Except as disclosed in this Remuneration report, ABB did not make any payments to a former member of the Board or the EC in 2011. (1) Share amounts provided in this section do not include the shares beneficially owned by Investor AB, of which Wallenberg is chairman. 8. Change of control provisions Following the spirit of ABB’s remuneration philosophy, none of ABB’s Board members, EC members or members of senior management receives “golden parachutes” or other special benefits in the event of a change of control. Except as described in this section, no member of the Board and no person closely linked to a member of the Board held any shares of ABB or options in ABB shares. 9.2 Group Executive Committee ownership of ABB shares and options As of December 31, 2011, EC members held ABB shares (or ADSs representing such shares), the conditional rights to receive shares under the LTIP, options (either vested or unvested as indicated) under the MIP and unvested shares in respect of other incentive arrangements, as shown in the table “Group Executive Committee ownership of ABB shares and options.” ABB Annual Report 2011 | Remuneration report 37 Furthermore, at December 31, 2011, the following members of the EC held conditionally granted ABB shares under the performance component of the LTI Plan 2011 and 2010, which at the time of vesting will be settled in cash. In addition, certain members of the EC held warrant appreciation rights (WARs) that entitle the holder to exercise such WARs and receive in cash the market value of the equivalent listed war- rant at the time of exercise. No unvested WARs were held under the MIP by any EC member. 9.3 Total shareholdings of ABB shares and options As of December 31, 2011, the members of our Board and EC owned less than 1 percent of ABB’s total shares outstanding. Maximum number of Maximum number of conditionally granted shares conditionally granted shares under the performance under the performance Number of fully component of the 2010 launch component of the 2011 launch vested WARs held of LTI Plan (vesting 2013) of LTI Plan under the MIP (vesting 2014) 58,854 27,740 14,952 15,146 14,175 17,865 14,952 12,965 13,593 8,392 9,444 60,526 26,967 15,196 15,460 14,194 17,933 – 11,965 14,158 12,516 13,780 – – – – – – 375,000 – – – 375,000 Name Joe Hogan Michel Demaré Gary Steel Ulrich Spiesshofer Diane de Saint Victor Bernhard Jucker Peter Leupp Veli-Matti Reinikkala Brice Koch Tarak Mehta Frank Duggan Total current Executive Committee members 208,078 202,695 750,000 Except as described in this section, at December 31, 2011, no member of the EC and no person closely linked to a member of the EC held any shares of ABB or options in ABB shares. For comparative information about share and option ownership of EC members in 2010, see Note 12 to the ABB Ltd statutory financial statements. 38 Remuneration report | ABB Annual Report 2011 Group Executive Committee ownership of ABB shares and options ) 1 ( d l e h s e r a h s f o r e b m u n l a t o T 223,546 373,935 206,902 152,889 167,186 120,485 125,113 106,522 30,424 d l e h s n o i t p o f o r e b m u N ) 2 ( I P M e h t r e d n u – – – – – – – – – 11,868 190,850 Unvested at December 31, 2011 s n o i t p o d e t s e v n u f o r e b m u N ) 2 ( I P M e h t r e d n u d l e h s e r a h s d e t n a r g y l l a n o i t i d n o c f o h c n u a l 9 0 0 2 e h t r e d n u f o r e b m u n m u m x a M i ) 3 ( n a P l I T L e h t s e r a h s g n i h c t a m f o r e b m u N 9 0 0 2 e h t r e d n u e l b a r e v i l e d f o n o i t r o p t n e m t s e v n i - o c ) 3 ( n a P l I T L e h t e l b a r e v i l e d s e r a h s n o i t n e t e R ) 3 ( n a P l I T L e h t f o t n e n o p m o c n o i t n e t e r 0 1 0 2 e h t r e d n u e l b a r e v i l e d s e r a h s n o i t n e t e R ) 3 ( n a P l I T L e h t f o t n e n o p m o c n o i t n e t e r 1 1 0 2 e h t r e d n u n o - n g i s f o t c e p s e r n i d e t n a r g s e r a h s f o r e b m u N ) 3 ( s u n o b (vesting 2012) (vesting 2012) (vesting 2012) (vesting 2013) (vesting 2014) (vesting 2013) – – – – – – – – – – 268,362 127,119 67,974 64,443 64,443 81,215 67,974 63,320 42,408 37,467 – 45,000 34,054 16,919 16,147 16,262 18,590 13,917 16,174 – 5,576 – 87,841 41,609 23,140 23,440 21,938 27,647 23,140 20,065 21,036 12,714 14,309 99,371 40,450 23,517 31,104 26,359 27,753 – 18,517 27,388 24,211 21,326 189,682 – – – – – – – – – – 15,130 419,430 212,500 Name Joe Hogan Michel Demaré(4) Gary Steel Ulrich Spiesshofer Diane de Saint Victor Bernhard Jucker Peter Leupp Veli-Matti Reinikkala Brice Koch Tarak Mehta Frank Duggan Total current Executive Committee members 1,534,000 610,280 212,500 884,725 182,639 316,879 339,996 189,682 (1) (2) (3) (4) Includes shares deposited as match for the co-investment portion of the 2009 LTI Plan. These shares may be sold/transferred but then the corresponding number of co-investment shares would be forfeited. Options may be sold or exercised/converted into shares at the ratio of 5 options for 1 share. The LTI Plan foresees to deliver 30 percent of the value of the vested retention shares in cash, but participants have the possibility to elect to receive 100 percent of the vested award in shares. Total number of shares held includes 4,500 shares held jointly with spouse. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Remuneration report 39 40 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Financial review Contents 42 Operating and financial review and prospects 42 About ABB 42 History of the ABB Group 42 Organizational structure 42 Business divisions 44 Management overview 45 Application of critical accounting policies 50 New accounting pronouncements 50 Acquisitions, investments and divestitures 51 Exchange rates 52 Orders 52 Performance measures 53 Analysis of results of operations 59 Divisional analysis 67 Restructuring programs 67 Capital expenditures 68 Liquidity and capital resources 70 Financial position 71 Cash flows 73 Disclosures about contractual obligations and commitments 73 Off balance sheet arrangements 74 Related party transactions 74 Environmental liabilities 75 Consolidated Financial Statements 80 Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 80 Note 1 The Company 80 Note 2 Significant accounting policies 87 Note 3 Acquisitions, increases in controlling interests and divestments 90 Note 4 Cash and equivalents and marketable securities 91 Note 5 Financial instruments 95 Note 6 Fair values 96 Note 7 Receivables, net 98 Note 8 Inventories, net 98 Note 9 Other non-current assets 99 Note 10 Property, plant and equipment, net 99 Note 11 Goodwill and other intangible assets 101 Note 12 Debt 103 Note 13 Provisions and other current 103 Note 14 Leases 104 Note 15 Commitments and contingencies 108 Note 16 Taxes 111 Note 17 Employee benefits 116 Note 18 Share-based payment arrangements 121 Note 19 Stockholders’ equity 122 Note 20 Earnings per share 122 Note 21 Restructuring and related expenses 123 Note 22 Operating segment and geographic data 128 Note 23 Compensation 129 Report of management on internal control over financial reporting 130 Report of the Statutory Auditor on the Consolidated Financial Statements 131 Report of the Group Auditor on internal control liabilities and other non-current liabilities over financial reporting 132 Financial Statements of ABB Ltd, Zurich 133 Notes to the Financial Statements 133 Note 1 General 133 Note 2 Receivables 133 Note 3 Loans – Group 133 Note 4 Participation 133 Note 5 Current liabilities 134 Note 6 Stockholders’ equity 135 Note 7 Contingent liabilities 135 Note 8 Bonds 135 Note 9 Significant shareholders 135 Note 10 Board of Directors compensation 137 Note 11 Executive Committee compensation 140 Note 12 Share ownership of ABB by Board members and members of the Executive Committee 142 Note 13 Risk assessment 142 Note 14 Other information 143 Proposed appropriation of available earnings 144 Report of the Statutory Auditor 145 Audit report in connection with capital increase 146 Investor information ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 41 Operating and financial review and prospects About ABB Organizational structure We are a global leader in power and automation technologies aimed at improving performance and lowering the environ- mental impact for our utility and industrial customers. We provide a broad range of products, systems, solutions and services that are designed to improve power grid reliability, increase industrial productivity and enhance energy effi- ciency. Our power businesses focus on power transmission, distribution and power-plant automation and serve electric, gas and water utilities, as well as industrial and commercial customers. Our automation businesses serve a full range of industries with measurement, control, protection and pro- cess optimization applications. Our business is international in scope and we generate rev- enues in numerous currencies. We operate in approximately 100 countries across four regions: Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). We are headquar- tered in Zurich, Switzerland. We manage our business based on a divisional structure, with five divisions: Power Products, Power Systems, Discrete Automation and Motion, Low Voltage Products and Process Automation. For a breakdown of our consolidated revenues (i) by operating division and (ii) derived from each geographic region in which we operate, see “Analysis of results of opera- tions – Revenues.” History of the ABB Group Business divisions The ABB Group was formed in 1988 through a merger be- tween Asea AB and BBC Brown Boveri AG. Initially founded in 1883, Asea AB was a major participant in the introduction of electricity into Swedish homes and businesses and in the development of Sweden’s railway network. In the 1940s and 1950s, Asea AB expanded into the power, mining and steel industries. Brown Boveri and Cie. (later renamed BBC Brown Boveri AG) was formed in Switzerland in 1891 and initially specialized in power generation and turbines. In the early to mid-1900s, it expanded its operations throughout Europe and broadened its business operations to include a wide range of electrical engineering activities. In January 1988, Asea AB and BBC Brown Boveri AG each contributed almost all of their businesses to the newly formed ABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd, of which they each owned 50 percent. In 1996, Asea AB was renamed ABB AB and BBC Brown Boveri AG was renamed ABB AG. In Febru- ary 1999, the ABB Group announced a group reconfiguration designed to establish a single parent holding company and a single class of shares. ABB Ltd was incorporated on March 5, 1999, under the laws of Switzerland. In June 1999, ABB Ltd became the holding company for the entire ABB Group. This was accomplished by having ABB Ltd issue shares to the shareholders of ABB AG and ABB AB, the two companies that formerly owned the ABB Group. The ABB Ltd shares were exchanged for the shares of those two com- panies, which, as a result of the share exchange and certain related transactions, became wholly-owned subsidiaries of ABB Ltd. ABB Ltd shares are currently listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, the NASDAQ OMX Stockholm Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (in the form of American Depositary Shares). 42 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Industry background Our five divisions operate across two key markets: the power market and the automation market. Our divisions serve these markets through a global production, engineering and service base. The markets and our divisions are discussed in more detail below. Revenue figures presented in this Busi- ness Divisions section are before interdivisional eliminations. Power market The power market uses products, systems and services designed primarily to deliver electricity. Electricity is gener- ated in power stations of various types, including thermal, wind, solar and hydro plants and is then fed into an electricity grid, transmitted and distributed to consumers. Transmission systems link power generation sources to distribution systems, often over long distances. Distribution systems then branch out over shorter distances to carry electricity to end users. These electricity networks incorporate sophisticated devices to efficiently and reliably transmit electricity and control and monitor operations. The primary demand drivers in the power market are the growing need for reliable electricity supplies to support economic growth and the global climate change challenge which has created increased demand for renewable energy and high-efficiency power systems and equipment. Addi- tional drivers vary by region. Capacity addition across the power value chain is the key market driver in emerging mar- kets such as Asia, Middle East and South America. In North America the focus is on replacing aged infrastructure, im- proving grid reliability and enabling smarter power networks. In Europe the focus is on upgrading the power infrastructure, integrating renewable energy sources such as wind power, and building interconnections to allow energy trading and more efficient use of power. Improving energy efficiency is another key focus area for power investment. Furthermore, as new power sources and loads are added to networks, there is a need for grids and power networks to become more flexible, reliable and smarter. Power quality, stability and security of supply become key priorities. These requirements stimulate the need for power products and systems solutions from generation and transmission to distri- bution. These demands are met by our two power divisions that together offer customers a most comprehensive portfolio to help them become more competitive while lowering envi- ronmental impact. Automation market The automation market uses products, systems and services designed primarily to improve product quality, energy effi- ciency and productivity in industrial and manufacturing appli- cations. The automation market can be divided into three sectors: – Process automation refers to control systems, plant electri- fication and other applications used in processes where the main objective is continuous production, such as in the oil and gas, power, chemicals, minerals, metals and pulp and paper industries. Product lines for this market include plant electrification, instrumentation, analytical measure- ment and control products and systems, as well as motors and drives. – Factory automation refers to discrete operations that man- ufacture individual items in applications such as foundry, metal fabrication, packaging, welding and painting. Typical industries where factory automation is used include auto- motive, consumer electronics and food and beverage. Product lines for this market include robots and application equipment, product and system services, and modular manufacturing solutions, as well as motors, drives, and low- voltage products for control and power applications. – Building automation comprises product lines and applica- tions aimed at improving the energy efficiency of buildings through automated control of indoor climate, lighting and security. Product lines for this market include a wide range of low-voltage products. Power Products division Our Power Products division primarily serves electric utili- ties, as well as gas and water utilities and industrial and commercial customers, with a vast portfolio of products and services across a wide voltage range to facilitate power generation, transmission and distribution. Direct sales account for a majority of the division’s total product sales, and sales through external channel partners, such as wholesalers, distributors and original equipment manufactur- ers (OEMs), account for the remainder. Key technologies include high- and medium-voltage switchgear, circuit break- ers for a range of current ratings and voltage levels, power, distribution, traction and other special transformers, as well as products to help control and protect electrical net- works. The division had approximately 35,100 employees as of December 31, 2011, and generated $10.9 billion of revenues in 2011. Power Systems division Our Power Systems division serves utilities, as well as industrial and commercial customers with system solutions and services for the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. Turnkey solutions include power plant electrification and automation, bulk power transmission, substations and network management. The division had approximately 19,400 employ- ees as of December 31, 2011, and generated $8.1 billion of revenues in 2011. Discrete Automation and Motion division The Discrete Automation and Motion division offers a wide range of products and services including drives, motors, gen- erators, power electronics systems, rectifiers, power quality products, photovoltaic inverters, programmable logic control- lers (PLCs), and robots. These products help customers to improve productivity, save energy, improve quality, and gener- ate energy. Key applications include energy conversion, data processing, actuation, automation, standardized manufactur- ing cells for applications such as machine tending, welding, cutting, painting, finishing, palletizing and packing, and engi- neered systems for the automotive industry. The majority of these applications are for industrial applications, with others provided for buildings, transportation and utilities. The division also provides a full range of life-cycle services, from product and system maintenance to system design, including energy appraisals and preventive maintenance services. Revenues are generated both from direct sales to end us- ers as well as from indirect sales through distributors, machine builders and OEMs, system integrators, and panel builders. In January 2011, the Discrete Automation and Motion division expanded its product offering and geographic scope through our acquisition of Baldor Electric Corporation, a U.S.-based manufacturer of high-efficiency industrial motors. The acquisition supported ABB’s strategy to build its position in the North American industrial automation market. The Discrete Automation and Motion division had approx- imately 27,600 employees worldwide as of December 31, 2011, and generated $8.8 billion of revenues in 2011 through activities in more than 100 countries. Low Voltage Products division The Low Voltage Products division helps customers to im- prove productivity, save energy and increase safety. The divi- sion offers a wide range of products and systems, with related services, that provide protection, control and measurement for electrical installations, enclosures, switchboards, electron- ics and electromechanical devices for industrial machines and plants. The main applications are in industry, building, in- frastructures, rail and sustainable transportation, renewable energies and e-mobility applications. The Low Voltage Products division had approximately 21,100 employees worldwide as of December 31, 2011, and ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 43 generated $5.3 billion of revenues in 2011 through activities in more than 100 countries. Management overview A majority of the division’s revenues comes from sales through distributors, wholesalers, OEMs, system integrators, and panel builders, although a portion of the division’s revenues comes from direct sales to end users and utilities. Process Automation division The Process Automation division provides products, systems and services for the automation and electrification of indus- trial processes. Our core industries are paper, metals, mining, oil, gas, petrochemicals and marine. Each industry has unique business drivers, yet share common requirements for operational productivity, safety, energy efficiency, mini- mized project risk and environment compliance. The division’s core competence is the application of automation and elec- trification technologies to solve these generic requirements, but tailored to the characteristics of each of its core in- dustries. The division is organized around industry and prod- uct business along with a specialized business focusing on performance-based outsourced maintenance contracts. The division had approximately 28,400 employees as of December 31, 2011, and generated revenues of $8.3 billion in 2011. The Process Automation division offering is made avail- able as separately sold products or as part of a total automa- tion system. The division technologies are sold both through direct sales forces and third-party channels. Corporate and Other Corporate and Other comprises corporate headquarters and stewardship, corporate research and development, corporate real estate, equity investments, as well as other activities. Corporate headquarters and stewardship activities in- clude the operations of our corporate headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, as well as corresponding subsidiary operations in various countries. These activities cover staff functions with group-wide responsibilities, such as accounting and financial reporting, corporate finance and taxes, planning and controlling, internal audit, legal affairs and compliance, risk management and insurance, corporate communications, information systems, investor relations and human resources. Corporate research and development primarily covers our research activities, as our development activities are or- ganized under the five business divisions. We have two global research laboratories, one focused on power technol- ogies and the other focused on automation technologies, which both work on technologies relevant to the future of our five business divisions. Each laboratory works on new and emerging technologies and collaborates with universities and other external partners to support our divisions in advancing relevant technologies and in developing cross-divisional technology platforms. We have research operations in eight countries, which consist of the United States of America, Sweden, Switzerland, Poland, China, Germany, Norway and India. Corporate and Other had approximately 2,000 employ- ees at December 31, 2011. 44 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 During 2011, we continued to deliver power and automation solutions that help our customers meet the challenges of a rapidly-changing world. Foremost among these are climate change and the need to use electrical energy more efficiently and with less impact on the environment. We achieved this in several ways. One is a long-term commitment to technology leadership in areas such as high-efficiency power transmission; automa- tion and control systems to manage complex industrial pro- cesses using less energy; and technologies to capture the full potential of renewable energies, such as wind and solar power. In 2011, for example, we were awarded orders to connect offshore wind farms to Germany’s mainland power grids, to improve production capacity and reduce green- house gas emissions from the world’s largest offshore oil platform in the North Sea, and to build high power substa- tions in the Middle East to make better use of electricity resources. Another is our presence in more than 100 countries around the world. This allows us to meet the needs of our customers faster and with solutions that are best suited to their local requirements. It positions us to benefit from the rapid growth expected in the emerging markets in the coming years while also supporting our large and important markets in the world’s mature economies. Furthermore, our geographic scope provides us with access to a large pool of talented and highly qualified people from very diverse cultural and business backgrounds – a key competitive advantage. In 2011, we gen- erated approximately half of our revenues from emerging markets while also recording order increases of more than 10 percent in local currencies in large markets such as Ger- many, Brazil, the United States, China and India. A third way is our ability to combine both power and automation technologies into packaged solutions that meet the needs of new growth sectors, such as integrating renew- able energy into existing power grids, delivering high-quality “mission-critical” power to data centers and hospitals, and providing the infrastructure needed to rapidly charge electric vehicles. For example, in 2011 we embarked on a project to build a smart grid in Helsinki, Finland; delivered fast direct- current charging stations for an e-mobility project in Hong Kong; and initiated a project to apply direct-current power solutions to a new data center in Switzerland. We view this convergence of power and automation technologies as a long-term trend for which ABB is well positioned. Economic uncertainties continued in 2011, especially in the second half of the year on increasing concerns sur- rounding sovereign debt levels in Europe, rising inflation in some emerging economies and signs of economic slowdown in most regions. However, the broad scope of our business portfolio helped us mitigate some of these developments. For example, demand remained steady in several of our later- cycle businesses, such as parts of our Power Products, Power Systems and Process Automation divisions. These businesses depend more on large capital expenditures by our utility and industrial customers that generally come later in the economic cycle. This helped offset the slowdown in demand we saw in the second half of 2011 in some of our early-cycle businesses, such as Low Voltage Products, which are more exposed to consumer demand and construction, and which respond early to decreased economic activity. Our strong positions in fast-growing emerging markets, our flexible global production base and technological leadership, as well as the operational improvements we continue to make in our businesses, also supported our business in 2011. Foremost among these improvements was the success- ful reduction of costs to adapt to changing demand. Savings in 2011 amounted to more than $1 billion and were principally achieved in three areas: making better use of global sourcing opportunities; eliminating operational and process inefficien- cies; and optimizing our global footprint to match the geo- graphic scope of our business with changing demand pat- terns, such as rapid growth in emerging markets. Our cost reduction program was key to maintaining profitability in a challenging environment. Strategy 2011–2015 In November of 2011, we announced an updated strategy for the period 2011–2015, along with financial targets to measure our success in achieving them. The strategy is based on five priorities: – Drive competitiveness and stay relevant in our current mar- kets by developing, producing, sourcing and selling to better match market needs, thereby profitably growing the business while increasing productivity and quality. – Capitalize on megatrends, such as the growing need for resource and energy efficiency, increasing urbanization, electrification, digitization and growth in emerging eco- nomies. – Aggressively expand our core businesses to secure the next level of growth, for example, growing the service busi- ness by tapping opportunities in our installed base and by building the software business for our core power and automation customers. – Execute a disciplined approach to value-creating acquisi- tions that close key gaps across product, end market and geographic lines. – Find and exploit disruptive opportunities, such as the application of direct current electricity solutions to improve power efficiency and performance compared to conven- tional alternating current technologies. In addition, we provided updated financial targets at the Group and divisional levels to measure our performance. We modified our previous Group operational profitability target to Operational EBITDA as a percentage of operational revenues (Operational EBITDA margin) versus the previous measure of earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) as a percentage of revenues (EBIT margin) – for a full definition see “Performance Measures” below. We believe this more accurately reflects the operational performance of the company during a phase of growth through acquisitions by eliminating some of the non-cash effects on earnings from acquisitions. In addition, we introduced a new target measure of cash return on invested capital (CROI) that we believe provides a more accurate reflection of our operational performance by focusing on cash returns, which are less prone to non- operational accounting adjustments that may be applied to EBIT from time to time. CROI is defined as the total of net cash provided by operating activities and interest paid, as a percentage of capital invested. Capital invested is defined as the total of fixed assets, net working capital, and accu- mulated depreciation and amortization. At the divisional level, we continued our previous practice of providing organic revenue growth targets on a compound annual growth rate basis as well as profitability targets in the form of Operational EBITDA margins. Outlook The long-term outlook for ABB remains positive, with utilities continuing to invest in grid upgrades and industries spending more on automation solutions to increase energy efficiency and productivity. Macroeconomic volatility makes short-term forecasts more challenging. There are signs of recovery in the North American economy and China appears to be returning to a focus on growth, while uncertainty around government budget deficits in Europe remains high. From the perspective of ABB’s short-term business development, management expects low single-digit growth in most of its early-cycle businesses until confidence in the mac- roeconomic outlook improves. Price pressure is expected to continue in parts of the power business, in line with the company’s previous guidance. The unfavorable business mix seen in most divisions in the fourth quarter of 2011 is ex- pected to continue into the first quarter of 2012, weighing on margins. This trend is not expected to continue over the rest of the year. Management will continue to drive further improvements in cost and productivity going forward. At the same time, our strong order backlog and continued customer investments in areas such as power distribution and oil and gas, as well as our exposure to fast-growing emerging markets, are expected to provide ample opportuni- ties for profitable growth in 2012, and we will continue to expand sales forces and accelerate product development in order to capture these opportunities. Application of critical accounting policies General We prepare our Consolidated Financial Statements in ac- cordance with U.S. GAAP and present the same in United States dollars unless otherwise stated. The preparation of our financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We evaluate our estimates on an ongoing basis, including, but not limited to, those related to: costs expected to be incurred to complete projects; costs of product guarantees and war- ranties; provisions for bad debts; recoverability of inventories, investments, fixed assets, goodwill and other intangible assets; the fair values of assets and liabilities assumed in ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 45 upon which we originally developed estimates will change, resulting in increased costs that we may not recover. Factors that could cause costs to increase include: – unanticipated technical problems with equipment supplied or developed by us which may require us to incur additional costs to remedy, – changes in the cost of components, materials or labor, – difficulties in obtaining required governmental permits or approvals, – project modifications creating unanticipated costs, – suppliers’ or subcontractors’ failure to perform, – penalties incurred as a result of not completing portions of the project in accordance with agreed-upon time limits, and – delays caused by unexpected conditions or events. Changes in our initial assumptions, which we review on a regular basis between balance sheet dates, may result in re- visions to estimated costs, current earnings and anticipated earnings. We recognize these changes in the period in which the changes in estimates are determined. By recognizing changes in estimates cumulatively, recorded revenue and costs to date reflect the current estimates of the stage of completion of each project. Additionally, losses on long-term contracts are recognized in the period when they are identi- fied and are based upon the anticipated excess of contract costs over the related contract revenues. Short-term construction-type contracts, or long-term construction-type contracts for which reasonably dependable estimates cannot be made or for which inherent hazards make estimates difficult, are accounted for under the completed- contract method. Revenues under the completed-contract method are recognized upon substantial completion – that is: acceptance by the customer, compliance with performance specifications demonstrated in a factory acceptance test or similar event. For non construction-type contracts that contain cus- tomer acceptance provisions, revenue is deferred until customer acceptance occurs or we have demonstrated the customer-specified objective criteria have been met or the contractual acceptance period has lapsed. Revenues from service transactions are recognized as services are performed. For long-term service contracts, revenues are recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the contract or, if the performance pattern is other than straight-line, as the services are provided. Service rev- enues reflect revenues earned from our activities in providing services to customers primarily subsequent to the sale and delivery of a product or complete system. Such revenues consist of maintenance-type contracts, field service activities that include personnel and accompanying spare parts, and installation and commissioning of products as a stand-alone service or as part of a service contract. business combinations; income tax related expenses and accruals; provisions for restructuring; gross profit margins on long-term construction-type contracts; pensions and other postretirement benefit assumptions, and contingencies and litigation. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reason- able under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of as- sets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from our estimates and as- sumptions. We deem an accounting policy to be critical if it requires an accounting estimate to be made based on assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain at the time the estimate is made and if different estimates that reasonably could have been used, or if changes in the accounting estimates that are reasonably likely to occur periodically, could materially impact our Consolidated Financial Statements. We also deem an accounting policy to be critical when the application of such policy is essential to our ongoing operations. We be- lieve the following critical accounting policies require us to make difficult and subjective judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates regarding matters that are inherently uncertain. These policies should be considered when reading our Consolidated Financial Statements. Revenue recognition We generally recognize revenues for the sale of goods when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the price is fixed or determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured. With regards to the sale of products, delivery is not considered to have occurred, and therefore no revenues are recognized, until the customer has taken title to the products and assumed the risks and rewards of own- ership of the products specified in the purchase order or sales agreement. Generally, the transfer of title and risks and rewards of ownership are governed by the contractually-de- fined shipping terms. We use various International Commer- cial shipping terms (as promulgated by the International Chamber of Commerce) such as Ex Works (EXW), Free Carrier (FCA) and Delivered Duty Paid (DDP). Subsequent to delivery of the products, we generally have no further contractual performance obligations that would preclude revenue rec- ognition. Revenues under long-term construction-type contracts are generally recognized using the percentage-of-completion method of accounting. We principally use the cost-to-cost method to measure progress towards completion on contracts. Under this method, progress of contracts is measured by actual costs incurred in relation to management’s best esti- mate of total estimated costs, which are reviewed and up- dated routinely for contracts in progress. The cumulative ef- fects of such adjustments are reported in the current period. The percentage-of-completion method of accounting involves the use of assumptions and projections, principally relating to future material, labor and overhead costs. As a conse- quence, there is a risk that total contract costs will exceed those we originally estimated and the margin will decrease. This risk increases if the duration of a contract increases because there is a higher probability that the circumstances 46 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Revenues for software license fees are recognized when persuasive evidence of a non-cancelable license agreement exists, delivery has occurred, the license fee is fixed or deter- minable, and collection is probable. In software arrange- ments that include rights to multiple software products and/ or services, the total arrangement fee is allocated using the residual method, under which revenue is allocated to the undelivered elements based on vendor-specific objective evidence (VSOE) of fair value of such undelivered elements and the residual amounts of revenue are allocated to the delivered elements. Elements included in multiple element arrangements may consist of software products, mainte- nance (which includes customer support services and un- specified upgrades), hosting, and consulting services. VSOE is based on the price generally charged when an element is sold separately or, in the case of an element not yet sold separately, the price established by authorized management, if it is probable that the price, once established, will not change once the element is sold separately. If VSOE does not exist for an undelivered element, the total arrangement fee will be taken to revenue over the life of the contract or upon delivery of the undelivered element. We offer multiple element arrangements to meet our cus- tomers’ needs. These arrangements may involve the delivery of multiple products and/or performance of services (such as installation and training) and the delivery and/or performance may occur at different points in time or over different periods of time. If certain criteria are met, we allocate revenues to each delivery of product or performance of service based on the individual elements’ relative fair value. A hierarchy of selling prices is used to determine the selling price of each specific deliverable that includes vendor-specific objective evidence (if available), third-party evidence (if vendor-specific evidence is not available), or estimated selling price if neither of the first two are available. The estimated selling prices reflect our best estimate of what the selling prices of elements would be if the elements were sold on a stand-alone basis. Revenue is allocated between the elements of an arrangement consideration at the inception of the arrangement. Such ar- rangements generally include industry-specific performance and termination provisions, such as in the event of substan- tial delays or non-delivery. Revenues are reported net of customer rebates and simi- lar incentives. Taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are directly imposed on revenue-producing transactions between us and our customers, such as sales, use, value- added and some excise taxes are presented on a net basis (excluded from revenues). These revenue recognition methods require the collect- ability of the revenues recognized to be reasonably assured. When recording the respective accounts receivable, allow- ances are calculated to estimate those receivables that will not be collected. These reserves assume a level of default based on historical information, as well as knowledge about specific invoices and customers. The risk remains that a dif- ferent number of defaults will occur than originally estimated. As such, the amount of revenues recognized might exceed or fall below that which will be collected, resulting in a change in earnings in the future. The risk of deterioration is likely to increase during periods of significant negative industry, eco- nomic or political trends. As a result of the above policies, judgment in the selec- tion and application of revenue recognition methods must be made. Contingencies As more fully described in the section below entitled “Envi- ronmental liabilities” and in “Note 15 Commitments and con- tingencies” to our Consolidated Financial Statements, we are subject to proceedings, litigation or threatened litigation and other claims and inquiries related to taxes other than income tax, environmental, labor, product, regulatory and other matters. We are required to assess the likelihood of any adverse judgments or outcomes to these matters, as well as potential ranges of probable losses. A determination of the provision required, if any, for these contingencies is made after analysis of each individual issue, often with assis- tance from both internal and external legal counsel and tech- nical experts. The required amount of a provision for a con- tingency of any type may change in the future due to new developments in the particular matter, including changes in the approach to its resolution. We record provisions for our contingent obligations when it is probable that a loss will be incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Any such provision is generally recognized on an undiscounted basis using our best estimate of the amount of loss incurred or at the lower end of an esti- mated range when a single best estimate is not determinable. In some cases, we may be able to recover a portion of the costs relating to these obligations from insurers or other third parties; however, we record such amounts only when it is probable that they will be collected. We provide for anticipated costs for warranties when we recognize revenues on the related products or contracts. Warranty costs include calculated costs arising from imper- fections in design, material and workmanship in our prod- ucts. We generally make individual assessments on contracts with risks resulting from order-specific conditions or guaran- tees and assessments on an overall, statistical basis for similar products sold in larger quantities. There is a risk that actual warranty costs may exceed the amounts provided for, which would result in a deterioration of earnings in the future when these actual costs are determined. We may have a legal obligation to perform environmental clean-up activities as a result of the normal operation of our business or have other asset retirement obligations. In some cases, the timing or the method of settlement, or both are conditional upon a future event that may or may not be within our control, but the underlying obligation itself is uncondi- tional and certain. We recognize a provision for these and other asset retirement obligations when a liability for the retirement or clean-up activity has been incurred and a reasonable estimate of its fair value can be made. These provisions are initially recognized at fair value, and subsequently adjusted for accrued interest and changes in estimates. Provisions for environmental obligations are not discounted to their present value when the timing of payments cannot be reasonably estimated. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 47 Pension and postretirement benefits 2012, gradually declining to 5 percent per annum by 2028 and to remain at that level thereafter. As more fully described in “Note 17 Employee benefits” to our Consolidated Financial Statements, we have a number of defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans and recognize an asset for a plan’s overfunded status or a liability for a plan’s underfunded status in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. We measure such a plan’s assets and obligations that determine its funded status as of the end of the year. We recognize actuarial gains and losses gradually over time. Any cumulative unrecognized actuarial gain or loss that exceeds 10 percent of the greater of the present value of the projected benefit obligation (PBO) and the fair value of plan assets is recognized in income over the expected average remaining working lives of the employees participating in the plan. Otherwise, the actuarial gain or loss is not recognized. We use actuarial valuations to determine our pension and postretirement benefit costs and credits. The amounts calcu- lated depend on a variety of key assumptions, including discount rates, mortality rates and expected return on plan assets. Under U.S. GAAP, we are required to consider current market conditions in making these assumptions. In particular, the discount rates are reviewed annually based on changes in long-term, highly-rated corporate bond yields. Decreases in the discount rates result in an increase in the PBO and in pension costs. Conversely, an increase in the discount rates results in a decrease in the PBO and in pension costs. The mortality assumptions are reviewed annually by man- agement. Decreases in mortality rates result in an increase in the PBO and in pension costs. Conversely, an increase in mortality rates results in a decrease in the PBO and in pen- sion costs. Holding all other assumptions constant, a 0.25 percent- age point decrease in the discount rate would have increased the PBO related to our pension plans by approximately $307 million, while a 0.25 percentage point increase in the discount rate would have decreased the PBO related to our pension plans by approximately $290 million. The expected return on plan assets is reviewed regularly and considered for adjustment annually based on current and expected asset allocations and represents the long-term return expected to be achieved. Decreases in the expected return on plan assets result in an increase to pension costs. An increase or decrease of 0.25 percent in the expected long-term rate of asset return would have decreased or in- creased, respectively, the net periodic benefit cost in 2011 by approximately $22 million. The funded status, which can increase or decrease based on the performance of the financial markets or changes in our assumptions, does not represent a mandatory short-term cash obligation. Instead, the funded status of a pension plan is the difference between the PBO and the fair value of the plan assets. At December 31, 2011, our pension plans were $950 million underfunded compared to an underfunding of $327 million at December 31, 2010. Our other postretirement plans were underfunded by $260 million and $214 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. We have multiple non-pension postretirement benefit plans. Our health care plans are generally contributory with participants’ contributions adjusted annually. For purposes of estimating our health-care costs, we have assumed health-care cost increases to be 9 percent per annum for 48 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Income taxes In preparing our Consolidated Financial Statements, we are required to estimate income taxes in each of the jurisdic- tions in which we operate. Tax expense from continuing operations is reconciled to the weighted-average global tax rate, rather than to the Swiss domestic statutory tax rate, as i) the parent company of the ABB Group, ABB Ltd, is do- miciled in Switzerland. Income which has been generated in jurisdictions outside of Switzerland (hereafter “foreign juris- dictions”) and has already been subject to corporate income tax in those foreign jurisdictions is, to a large extent, tax exempt in Switzerland. Therefore, generally no or only limited Swiss income tax has to be provided for on the repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries. There is no requirement in Switzerland for a parent company of a group to file a tax return of the group determining domestic and foreign pre-tax income, and ii) our consolidated income from continuing operations is predominantly earned outside of Switzerland, and therefore corporate income tax in foreign jurisdictions largely determines our global tax rate. We account for deferred taxes by using the asset and liability method. Under this method, we determine deferred tax assets and liabilities based on temporary differences between the financial reporting and the tax bases of assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are mea- sured using the enacted tax rates and laws that are expected to be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. We recognize a deferred tax asset when it is more likely than not that the asset will be realized. We regularly review our deferred tax assets for recoverability and establish a valua- tion allowance based upon historical losses, projected future taxable income and the expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary differences. To the extent we increase or decrease this allowance in a period, we recognize the change in the allowance within “Provision for taxes” in the Consoli- dated Income Statements unless the change relates to dis- continued operations, in which case the change is recorded in “Income from discontinued operations, net of tax.” Un- foreseen changes in tax rates and tax laws, as well as differ- ences in the projected taxable income as compared to the actual taxable income, may affect these estimates. Certain countries levy withholding taxes, dividend distri- bution taxes or additional corporate income taxes (hereafter “withholding taxes”) on dividend distributions. Such taxes cannot always be fully reclaimed by the shareholder, although they have to be declared and withheld by the subsidiary. Switzerland has concluded double taxation treaties with many countries in which we operate. These treaties either eliminate or reduce such withholding taxes on dividend distributions. It is our policy to distribute retained earnings of subsidiaries, in so far as such earnings are not permanently reinvested or no other reasons exist that would prevent the subsidiary from distributing them. No deferred tax liability is set up, if retained earnings are considered as permanently reinvested, and used for financing current operations as well as business growth through working capital and capital expenditure in those countries. We operate in numerous tax jurisdictions and, as a result, are regularly subject to audit by tax authorities. We provide for tax contingencies, including potential tax audits, on the basis of the technical merits of the contingency, including applicable tax law, OECD guidelines, as well as on items relat- ing to potential audits by tax authorities based on our evalu- ations of facts and circumstances. Changes in the facts and circumstances could result in a material change to the tax accruals. We provide for tax contingencies whenever it is deemed more likely than not that a tax asset has been impaired or a tax liability has been incurred for events such as tax claims or changes in tax laws. Although we believe that our tax estimates are reasonable and that appropriate tax reserves have been made, the final determination of tax audits and any related litigation could be different than that which is reflected in our income tax provisions and accruals. An estimated loss from a tax contingency must be accrued as a charge to income if it is more likely than not that a tax asset has been impaired or a tax liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. We apply a two-step approach to recognize and measure un- certainty in income taxes. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of avail- able evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of re- lated appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount which is more than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The required amount of provisions for contingen- cies of any type may change in the future due to new developments. Business combinations The amount of goodwill initially recognized in a business combination is based on the excess of the purchase price of the acquired company over the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The determination of these fair values requires us to make significant estimates and assumptions. For instance, when assumptions with respect to the timing and amount of future revenues and expenses associated with an asset are used to determine its fair value, but the actual timing and amount differ materially, the asset could become impaired. In some cases, particularly for large acquisitions, we engage independent third-party appraisal firms to assist in determining the fair values. Critical estimates in valuing certain intangible assets in- clude but are not limited to: future expected cash flows of the acquired business, brand awareness and market position, and discount rates. The fair values assigned to the intangible assets acquired are described in “Note 3 Acquisitions, increases in controlling interests and divestments” as well as “Note 11 Goodwill and other intangible assets,” to our Consolidated Financial Statements. Goodwill and other intangible assets We review goodwill for impairment annually as of October 1, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. We perform a two- step impairment test on a reporting unit level. Our reporting units are the same as our divisions for Power Systems, Discrete Automation and Motion, and Low Voltage Products. For Power Products and Process Automation, we determined the reporting units to be one level below the divi- sion, as the different products produced or services provided by these divisions do not share sufficiently similar economic characteristics to permit testing of goodwill on a total operating segment level. In the case of Power Products, there are sepa- rate reporting units based on the category of product pro- duced – High-Voltage Products, Medium-Voltage Products and Transformers. In the case of Process Auto mation, we have determined that there are two reporting units, the Turbocharger product business and the remainder of Process Automation. In the first step of the impairment test, we compare the fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying value. The fair value of each reporting unit is calculated using an income approach, whereby the fair value is calculated based on the present value of future cash flows, applying a discount rate that represents our weighted-average cost of capital. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying value of the net assets assigned to that unit, goodwill is not impaired and no further testing is performed. If the carrying value of a reporting unit is zero or negative, we additionally assess the likelihood that goodwill is impaired. On October 1, 2011, none of our goodwill reporting units had a carrying value that was zero or negative. The future cash flows are based on approved business plans for the reporting units which currently cover a period of four years plus a terminal value. The future cash flows re- quire significant estimates and judgments involving variables such as future sales volumes, sales prices, production and other operating costs, capital expenditures, and other eco- nomic factors. The post-tax weighted-average cost of capital, of currently 9 percent, is based on variables such as the risk- free rate derived from the yield of 10-year U.S. treasury bonds as well as an ABB specific risk premium. The terminal value growth rate is assumed to be 1 percent. The mid-term tax rate used in the test is currently 27 percent. We assess the reasonableness of the fair value calcula- tions of our reporting units by reconciling the sum of the fair values for all our reporting units to our total market capitali- zation. On October 1, 2011, the calculated fair values for each of our reporting units exceeded their respective carry- ing values by at least 250 percent and we concluded that none was “at risk” of failing the goodwill impairment test. Consequently, the second step of the impairment test was not performed. The assumptions used in the fair value calcu- lation are challenged each year (through the use of sensitivity analysis) to determine the impact on the resulting fair value of the reporting units. Our sensitivity analysis in 2011 showed no significant change in fair values if the assumptions change. A 1 percentage-point increase in the discount rate would reduce the calculated fair values by approximately 12 percent. A 1 percentage-point decrease in the terminal value growth rate would reduce the calculated fair values by approximately 9 percent. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 49 However, if the carrying value of the net assets assigned to the reporting unit were to exceed its fair value, then we would perform the second step of the impairment test to de- termine the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill and compare it to the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill. If the carrying value of a reporting unit’s goodwill were to exceed its implied fair value, then we would record an impairment loss equal to the difference. Any goodwill impair- ment losses would be recorded as a separate line item in the income statement in continuing operations, unless related to a discontinued operation, in which case the losses would be recorded in “Income from discontinued operations, net of tax.” There were no goodwill impairment charges in 2011, 2010 and 2009. We review intangible assets for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable upon the occurrence of cer- tain triggering events, such as a decision to divest a business or projected losses of an entity. We record impairment charges in “Other income (expense), net,” in our Consolidated Income Statements, unless they relate to a discontinued operation, in which case the charges are recorded in “Income from dis- continued operations, net of tax.” Cash flow models used in evaluating impairments are de- pendent on a number of factors including estimates of future cash flows and other variables and require that we make sig- nificant estimates and judgments, involving variables such as sales volumes, sales prices, sales growth, production and operating costs, capital expenditures, market conditions, and other economic factors. Further, discount rates used in dis- counted cash flow models to calculate fair values require the determination of variables such as the risk-free rates and equity market risk premiums. We base our fair value estimates on assumptions we believe to be reasonable, but which are inherently uncertain. Actual future results may differ from those estimates. New accounting pronouncements For a description of accounting changes and recent account- ing pronouncements, including the expected dates of adop- tion and estimated effects, if any, on our Consolidated Finan- cial Statements, see “Note 2 Significant accounting policies” to our Consolidated Financial Statements. Acquisitions, investments and divestitures Acquisitions During 2011, 2010 and 2009, ABB invested $3,805 million, $1,275 million and $159 million in 10, 9 and 8 new businesses and joint ventures, respectively. The amounts exclude changes in cost and equity investments. The principal acquisition in 2011 was Baldor Electric Com- pany (Baldor). On January 26, 2011, we acquired 83.25 per- cent of the outstanding shares of Baldor for $63.50 per share in cash. On January 27, 2011, we exercised our top-up option contained in the merger agreement, bringing our sharehold- ing in Baldor to 91.6 percent, allowing us to complete a short-form merger under Missouri, United States, law. On the same date, we completed the purchase of the remaining 8.4 percent of outstanding shares. Baldor markets, designs and manufactures industrial electric motors, mechanical power transmission products, drives and generators. The acquisition broadens the product offering of our Discrete Automation and Motion division, closing the gap in our auto- mation portfolio in North America by adding Baldor’s NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) motors prod- uct line, as well as adding Baldor’s growing mechanical power transmission business. The principal acquisition in 2010 was Ventyx group. On June 1, 2010, we acquired all of the shares of Ventyx Inc., Ventyx Software Inc. and Ventyx Dutch Holding B.V., repre- senting substantially all of the revenues, assets and liabilities of the Ventyx group. Ventyx provides software solutions to global energy, utility, communications and other asset inten- sive businesses and was integrated into the network man- agement business within the Power Systems division to form a single unit for energy management software solutions. During 2009, acquisitions were not significant either individually or in aggregate. For more information on our acquisitions, see “Note 3 Acquisitions, increases in controlling interests and divest- ments” to our Consolidated Financial Statements. Increase in controlling interests in India In 2010, we increased our ownership interest in ABB Limited, India (our publicly-listed subsidiary in India) from approxi- mately 52 percent to 75 percent. Cash paid in 2010, includ- ing transaction costs, amounted to $956 million. The offer of 900 rupees per share resulted in a charge to “Capital stock and additional paid-in capital” of $838 million, including expenses related to the transaction. 50 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 ABB to acquire Thomas & Betts Corporation On January 30, 2012, we announced that we had reached an agreement to acquire the Thomas & Betts Corporation. Thomas & Betts designs, manufactures and markets essen- tial components used to manage the connection, distribution, transmission and reliability of electrical power in industrial, construction and utility applications. We anticipate cash out- flows upon closing the transaction amounting to approximately $3.9 billion, based on a purchase price of $72 per share for the acquisition of the outstanding shares. The transaction is subject to approval by Thomas & Betts shareholders as well as to customary regulatory approvals, and is expected to close by the middle of 2012. Divestitures In 2011, 2010 and 2009, we received cash, net of cash disposed, from sales of businesses and equity-accounted companies of $8 million, $83 million and $16 million, respectively. Gains and losses on these transactions were not significant. For more information on our divestments, see “Note 3 Acquisitions, increases in controlling interests and divest- ments” to our Consolidated Financial Statements. Exchange rates We report our financial results in U.S. dollars. Due to our global operations, a significant amount of our revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities are denominated in other currencies. As a consequence, movements in exchange rates between currencies may affect: – our profitability, – the comparability of our results between periods, and – the carrying value of our assets and liabilities. We translate non-USD denominated results of operations, assets and liabilities to USD in our Consolidated Financial Statements. Balance sheet items are translated to USD using year-end currency exchange rates. Income statement and cash flow items are translated to USD using the average cur- rency exchange rate over the relevant period. Increases and decreases in the value of the USD against other currencies will affect the reported results of operations in our Consolidated Income Statements and the value of certain of our assets and liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheets, even if our results of operations or the value of those assets and liabilities have not changed in their original cur- rency. Because of the impact foreign exchange rates have on our reported results of operations and the reported value of our assets and liabilities, changes in foreign exchange rates could significantly affect the comparability of our reported results of operations between periods and result in significant changes to the reported value of our assets, liabilities and shareholders’ equity, as has been the case during the period from 2009 through 2011. While we operate globally and report our financial results in USD, exchange rate movements between the USD and both the euro and the Swiss franc are of particular importance to us due to (i) the location of our significant operations and (ii) our corporate headquarters being in Switzerland. The exchange rates between the USD and the EUR and the USD and the CHF at December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, were as follows: Exchange rates into $ EUR 1.00 CHF 1.00 2011 1.29 1.06 2010 1.34 1.07 2009 1.44 0.97 The average exchange rates between the USD and the EUR and the USD and the CHF for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, were as follows: Exchange rates into $ EUR 1.00 CHF 1.00 2011 1.39 1.13 2010 1.33 0.97 2009 1.40 0.93 When we incur expenses that are not denominated in the same currency as the related revenues, foreign exchange rate fluctuations could affect our profitability. To mitigate the impact of exchange rate movements on our profitability, it is our policy to enter into forward foreign exchange contracts to manage the foreign exchange transaction risk of our operations. In 2011, approximately 85 percent of our consolidated revenues were reported in currencies other than USD. Of that amount, the following percentages were reported in the following currencies: – Euro, approximately 24 percent, – Chinese renminbi, approximately 10 percent, – Swiss franc, approximately 6 percent, – Swedish krona, approximately 6 percent, and – Indian rupee, approximately 4 percent. In 2011, approximately 82 percent of our cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expenses were reported in currencies other than USD. Of that amount, the following per- centages were reported in the following currencies: – Euro, approximately 22 percent, – Chinese renminbi, approximately 10 percent, – Swedish krona, approximately 4 percent, – Swiss franc, approximately 4 percent, and – Indian rupee, approximately 5 percent. We also incur expenses other than cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expenses in various currencies. The results of operations and financial position of many of our subsidiaries outside of the United States are reported in the currencies of the countries in which those subsidiaries are located. We refer to these currencies as “local curren- cies.” Local currency financial information is then translated into USD at applicable exchange rates for inclusion in our Consolidated Financial Statements. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 51 The level of orders fluctuates from year to year. Arrange- ments included in any particular order can be complex and unique to that order. Portions of our business involve orders for long-term projects that can take months or years to complete and many large orders result in revenues in periods after the order is booked. However, the level of large orders and orders generally cannot be used to accurately predict future revenues or operating performance. Orders that have been placed can be cancelled, delayed or modified by the customer. These actions can reduce or delay any future revenues from the order or may result in the elimination of the order. Performance measures During 2011, we changed our primary measures of segment performance from earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) to Operational EBITDA and Operational EBITDA margin. As a result, we evaluate the performance of our divisions primarily based on orders received, revenues, Operational EBITDA and Operational EBITDA as a percentage of Operational rev- enues (Operational EBITDA margin). Operational EBITDA represents EBIT excluding deprecia- tion and amortization, restructuring and restructuring-related expenses, adjusted for the following: (i) unrealized gains and losses on derivatives (foreign exchange, commodities, embedded derivatives), (ii) realized gains and losses on deriva- tives where the underlying hedged transaction has not yet been realized, (iii) unrealized foreign exchange movements on receivables/payables (and related assets/liabilities), (iv) acqui- sition-related expenses and (v) certain non-recurring items. Operational revenues are total revenues adjusted for the following: (i) unrealized gains and losses on derivatives, (ii) realized gains and losses on derivatives where the underlying hedged transaction has not yet been realized, and (iii) unreal- ized foreign exchange movements on receivables (and re- lated assets). See “Note 22 Operating segment and geographic data” to our Consolidated Financial Statements for a reconciliation of Operational EBITDA to EBIT. The discussion of our results of operations below pro- vides certain information with respect to orders, revenues, earnings before interest and taxes, and other measures as reported in USD (as well as in local currencies). We measure period-to-period variations in local currency results by using a constant foreign exchange rate for all periods under com- parison. Differences in our results of operations in local currencies as compared to our results of operations in USD are caused exclusively by changes in currency exchange rates. While we consider our results of operations as measured in local currencies to be a significant indicator of business performance, local currency information should not be relied upon to the exclusion of U.S. GAAP financial measures. In- stead, local currencies reflect an additional measure of com- parability and provide a means of viewing aspects of our operations that, when viewed together with the U.S. GAAP results and our reconciliations, provide a more complete un- derstanding of factors and trends affecting the business. Because local currency information is not standardized, it may not be possible to compare our local currency information to other companies’ financial measures that have the same or a similar title. We encourage investors to review our financial statements and publicly-filed reports in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure. Orders We book and report an order when a binding contractual agreement has been concluded with a customer covering, at a minimum, the price and scope of products or services to be supplied, the delivery schedule and the payment terms. The reported value of an order corresponds to the undis- counted value of revenues that we expect to recognize follow- ing delivery of the goods or services subject to the order, less any trade discounts and excluding any value added or sales tax. The value of orders received during a given period of time represents the sum of the value of all orders received during the period, adjusted to reflect the aggregate value of any changes to the value of orders received during the period and orders existing at the beginning of the period. These adjustments, which may in the aggregate increase or decrease the orders reported during the period, may include changes in the estimated order price up to the date of contractual performance, changes in the scope of products or services ordered and cancellations of orders. The undiscounted value of revenues we expect to gener- ate from our orders at any point in time is represented by our order backlog. Approximately 18 percent of the value of total orders we recorded in 2011 were “large orders,” which we define as orders from third parties involving a value of at least $15 million for products or services. Approximately 62 percent of the large orders in 2011 were recorded by our Power Systems division and approximately 24 percent in our Process Automation division. The Power Products, Discrete Automation and Motion, as well as the Low Voltage Products divisions accounted for the remainder of the total large orders recorded during 2011. The remaining portion of total orders recorded in 2011 was “base orders,” which we define as orders from third parties with a value of less than $15 million for products or services. 52 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Analysis of results of operations Our consolidated results from operations were as follows: ($ in millions, except per share data in $) Orders Order backlog at December 31, 2011 40,210 27,508 2010 32,681 26,193 2009 30,969 24,771 Orders ($ in millions) Power Products Power Systems Discrete Automation and Motion Low Voltage Products Process Automation 2011 2010 2009 2011 2010 % Change 11,068 9,778 10,940 9,278 7,896 7,830 9,566 5,364 8,726 5,862 4,702 4,686 4,079 7,383 6,684 13 18 63 14 18 24 n.a. 23 (11) 1 25 15 10 4 n.a. 6 Operating divisions 44,002 35,605 34,235 Corporate and Other (1) (3,792) (2,924) (3,266) Revenues Cost of sales Gross profit 37,990 31,589 31,795 Total 40,210 32,681 30,969 (26,556) (22,060) (22,470) 11,434 9,529 9,325 (1) Includes interdivisional eliminations Selling, general and administrative expenses (5,373) (4,615) (4,491) Non-order related research and development expenses (1,371) (1,082) (1,037) Other income (expense), net (23) (14) 329 Earnings before interest and taxes 4,667 3,818 4,126 Net interest and other finance expense Provision for taxes Income from continuing (117) (1,244) (78) (6) (1,018) (1,001) operations, net of tax 3,306 2,722 3,119 Income from discontinued operations, net of tax Net income Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests Net income attributable to ABB Amounts attributable to ABB shareholders: Income from continuing operations, net of tax Net income Basic earnings per share attribut- able to ABB shareholders: Income from continuing operations, net of tax Net income Diluted earnings per share attrib- utable to ABB shareholders: Income from continuing operations, net of tax Net income 9 10 17 3,315 2,732 3,136 (147) 3,168 (171) 2,561 (235) 2,901 3,159 3,168 2,551 2,561 2,884 2,901 1.38 1.38 1.12 1.12 1.26 1.27 1.38 1.38 1.11 1.12 1.26 1.27 A more detailed discussion of the orders, revenues and Operational EBITDA for our divisions follows in the sections of “Divisional analysis” below entitled “Power Products,” “Power Systems,” “Discrete Automation and Motion,” “Low Voltage Products,” “Process Automation” and “Corporate and Other.” Orders and revenues of our divisions include interdivisional trans actions which are eliminated in the “Cor- porate and Other” line in the tables below. In 2011, total order volume increased by 23 percent (18 per- cent in local currencies, 11 percent excluding the Baldor acquisition). Customer investments to increase operational efficiency and services translated into higher orders for the automation divisions, where the pace of order growth in the second half of 2011 slowed versus the growth rates of the first half of the year. The need to strengthen power distribution networks, driven in part by industrial growth in emerging markets, as well as the integration of renewable energy sup- plies into power grids, lifted orders in the power businesses. In 2011, orders in the Power Products division grew by 13 percent (8 percent in local currencies) and were higher in all businesses. The order increase was driven primarily by continued strength in the industrial and power distribution sectors as well as large orders in the transmission sector. Continuing investments in grid upgrades and the integration of renewable energy sources fuelled an 18 percent (12 per- cent in local currencies) orders increase in the Power Systems division. In August, ABB won its largest-ever power trans- mission order, worth around $1 billion, to supply a power link connecting offshore North Sea wind farms to the German mainland grid. The strong growth in the Discrete Automation and Motion division reflected continued demand for energy- efficient automation solutions leading to an increase in orders of 63 percent (57 percent in local currencies, 21 percent excluding the Baldor acquisition). While all businesses contrib- uted to the increase in orders in that division, Robotics and Power Electronics posted the highest growth rates. Orders were 14 percent higher in Low Voltage Products (9 percent in local currencies), mainly on increased demand for low- voltage systems to improve electrical efficiency in industry. Order growth slowed in that division in the second half of the year on a combination of more difficult comparisons with the strong growth recorded in 2010, slowing demand in most early-cycle industries and cutback in renewable investments compared to the previous year. The Process Automation division saw orders up 18 percent (12 percent in local curren- cies), mainly on continuing demand from the oil and gas and related marine industry. Service orders in Process Automation grew at a double-digit pace as well. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 53 Base orders grew significantly in the first half of 2011, as the global economic upturn continued. Although the develop- ment slowed in the second half of the year amid increased uncertainties about the global macroeconomic outlook, growth rates remained double digit. For ABB as a whole, base orders grew by 21 percent (16 percent in local currencies), as all divi- sions reported an increase in base orders in 2011. Addition- ally, a number of sizeable projects in the tender backlog mate- rialized into large orders, which led to significant growth in the year. After a decline in 2010, large orders rebounded and grew 32 percent (25 percent in local currencies). Total orders in 2010 increased 6 percent (4 percent in local currencies) compared to 2009 as the global economy began to recover, as reflected in increased spending by in- dustrial customers in energy-efficient automation and power solutions to increase productivity and quality. Investments by utilities in large power transmission projects, however, remained cautious. In 2010, orders in our Power Products division decreased 11 percent (13 percent in local currencies) as transmission spending remained low, resulting in lower order volumes, es- pecially in large power transformers and high-voltage equip- ment. The economic recovery however did lead to an in- crease in the power distribution segments with higher orders in the medium-voltage product lines. Orders in our Power Systems division were up 1 percent (down 1 percent in local currencies). Large orders were down, while the division saw a large increase in base orders in substations and power generation due to an ongoing focus on renewable energy and grid reliability. Orders in our automation divisions, which are typically earlier in the business cycle, have benefited from increased investments by industrial customers on the back of an upturn in the global economy. Discrete Automation and Motion orders grew 25 percent (23 percent in local currencies) as industrial customers increased investments in automation solutions to improve productivity and energy efficiency. Within the Discrete Automation and Motion division, order growth was especially strong in the Robotics business, which experi- enced a turnaround, and in the low-voltage drives business. Towards the end of 2010, mid- to late-cycle businesses also began seeing order growth. Orders in the Low Voltage Products division increased 15 percent (15 percent in local currencies) as demand from general industry and construc- tion improved in most regions. In our Process Automation division, orders grew 10 percent (7 percent in local currencies) as investments in the energy and commodity-based sectors recovered and activity in the marine business also improved, however from low levels. As base orders began recovering on the upturn in the global economy, we continued to see for the first half of 2010 that large scale investments in both industry and utilities were delayed as customers assessed the stability of the recovery. Later in 2010 customers became more optimistic, which materialized into a number of large order awards in the fourth quarter of 2010. However, this attitude shift was not enough to compensate the low levels of large orders in the first half of 2010. Consequently, large orders were down 17 percent (20 percent in local currencies). 54 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 We determine the geographic distribution of our orders based on the location of the customer, which may be differ- ent from the ultimate destination of the products’ end use. The geographic distribution of our consolidated orders was as follows: ($ in millions) Europe The Americas Asia 2011 2010 2009 2011 2010 % Change 15,202 13,781 11,983 9,466 6,223 5,996 12,103 8,720 8,197 10 52 39 (13) 23 15 4 6 (17) 6 Middle East and Africa 3,439 3,957 4,793 Total 40,210 32,681 30,969 Orders in 2011 grew in the Americas 52 percent (50 percent in local currencies) driven by the Baldor acquisition as well as by organic growth. The U.S., Canada and Brazil were the main growth drivers in this region, as Brazil recorded large orders in the Power Systems division, as well as in the Power Automation division from the oil & gas and minerals sectors. In Asia, orders were up 39 percent (32 percent in local cur- rencies) on double-digit growth in all divisions. In China, large orders for Power Systems and for Power Products as well as base order growth in the Discrete Automation and Motion and Low Voltage Products divisions drove significant order growth. India returned to double-digit order growth after a contraction in 2010 and South Korea recorded large orders from the marine sector. Europe grew 10 percent (4 percent in local currencies), on growth in the industrial sectors. Addi- tionally, a large order for offshore wind farm connection in Germany was repeated in 2011 (at a higher amount than in the previous year) and Norway won large orders in the oil and gas sector. Order volumes decreased in the MEA by 13 per- cent (15 percent in local currencies) as large orders from the power sector in Saudi Arabia and from the oil and gas sector in Congo were offset by a lower orders level in the Power Systems division in Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emir- ates. In 2010, order volumes grew in all markets except in the MEA, which was down 17 percent (19 percent in local curren- cies), where we were unable to repeat the large order intake of 2009 from utility and oil and gas customers in Algeria, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Orders from Europe grew 15 percent (16 percent in local currencies) as a result of large order awards to the Power Systems division from Belgium, Germany, Norway and Sweden as well as a turnaround in the Robotics business of the Discrete Automation and Motion division. In the Americas, orders increased 4 percent (down 1 percent in local currencies) on strong growth in the automation divi- sions, while Power Systems’ orders were down as the level of large orders in Brazil in 2009 could not be matched in 2010. Orders received in the Power Products division in the Americas remained at the same level as 2009 as lower volumes in the transformer business were offset by growth in high- and medium-voltage equipment. Orders in Asia increased 6 per- cent (2 percent in local currencies) as growth in the automation divisions offset lower volumes in the transformer business in China. (4) 13 10 14 – 5 Order backlog ($ in millions) Power Products Power Systems Discrete Automation December 31, % Change 2010 2009 2011 2010 2011 8,029 7,930 8,226 11,570 10,929 9,675 1 6 and Motion 4,120 3,350 3,046 23 Low Voltage Products 887 838 734 Process Automation 5,771 5,530 5,523 Operating divisions 30,377 28,577 27,204 6 4 6 Corporate and Other (1) (2,869) (2,384) (2,433) n.a. n.a. Total 27,508 26,193 24,771 5 6 (1) Includes interdivisional eliminations In 2011, orders grew at a higher rate than revenues leading to an increase in group order backlog by 5 percent (9 percent in local currencies) compared to 2010. The increase in order backlog in the Power Systems division is largely based on large orders for grid upgrades and the integration of renew- able energy sources. The order backlog in the Power Prod- ucts division grew slightly in 2011 after a decline in 2010. Despite slowing growth in global industrial demand in the second half of 2011, order backlog in the Discrete Automation and Motion division, only partly driven by the Baldor acqui- sition, and in the Low Voltage Product division continued to grow in 2011. The Process Automation division benefited from large orders in the oil and gas related marine sectors, which increased order backlog. In 2010, order backlog increased 6 percent (4 percent in local currencies) compared to 2009, following the growth in orders received. Growth of order backlog in the Power Systems division continued to be driven by large orders which typically have longer execution times. Order backlog also increased in the Discrete Automation and Motion and Low Voltage Products divisions as orders received grew faster than revenues reflecting market recovery in the industrial sec- tor. Order backlog in the Process Automation division was flat and in the Power Products division backlog declined, pri- marily due to weak orders in the transmission sector. Revenues ($ in millions) Power Products Power Systems Discrete Automation and Motion Low Voltage Products Process Automation 10,869 10,199 11,239 8,101 6,786 6,549 8,806 5,304 8,300 5,617 5,405 4,554 4,071 7,432 7,839 % Change 7 19 57 16 12 20 (9) 4 4 12 (5) (1) n.a. 20 n.a. (1) Revenues in the Power Products division increased 7 percent (2 percent in local currencies) following two years of revenue declines, mainly on growth in medium-voltage products but also on higher revenues in transformers and high- voltage products. In the Power Systems division, revenues increased 19 percent (14 percent in local currencies) on the successful execution of large orders placed in the previous year in the grid systems and power generation businesses. Revenues rose 57 percent (51 percent in local currencies) in the Discrete Automation and Motion division and 22 percent (16 percent in local currencies) excluding the Baldor acqui- sition. The Robotics business confirmed the turnaround seen in 2010 and grew at a double-digit pace in 2011. Revenues growth softened in the second half of the year in Low Volt- age Products resulting in 16 percent higher revenues in 2011 (11 percent in local currencies) compared to the previous year. Revenues in the Process Automation division, which is later in the economic cycle, were 12 percent (6 percent in local currencies) higher, supported by solid orders received in minerals, pulp and paper, turbo chargers and oil and gas businesses. Revenues in 2010 declined 1 percent (2 percent in local currencies) due primarily to the impact of lower orders received in the prior year. The short-cycle business improvement in the second half of the year and the good large order execu- tion in 2010 could not compensate for the impact of weak revenues generated at the beginning of the year. Revenues in the Power Products division decreased 9 percent (11 percent in local currencies) due to lower open- ing backlog and continued weak orders in high-voltage and transformers products. The Power Systems division’s revenues increased 4 percent (2 percent in local currencies) on order execution especially in substations and power generation projects. Revenues in the Discrete Automation and Motion division increased 4 percent (3 percent in local currencies) driven by a turnaround in the Robotics business, as well as growth in industrial and commercial sectors in many countries around the world. Revenues rose 12 percent (13 percent in local currencies) in the Low Voltage Products division reflecting a strong recovery of our short-cycle busi- ness. In the Process Automation division, revenues decreased 5 percent (6 percent in local currencies) mainly due to a decline of orders in the metal and marine businesses and in our performance-based outsourced maintenance contracts business. based on the location of the customer, which may be different from the ultimate destination of the products’ end use. The geographic distribution of our consolidated revenues was as follows: Operating divisions 41,380 34,588 35,103 Corporate and Other (1) (3,390) (2,999) (3,308) Total 37,990 31,589 31,795 (1) Includes interdivisional eliminations ($ in millions) Europe The Americas Asia Revenues in 2011 increased 20 percent (15 percent in local cur- rencies) on the back of strong orders recorded in the previous year as well as on improving revenues from early-cycle business in the first half of the year. Excluding the Baldor acquisition, revenues increased 14 percent (9 percent in local currencies). Middle East and Africa 4,154 4,126 3,969 Total 37,990 31,589 31,795 2011 2010 2009 2011 2010 % Change 14,657 12,378 13,093 9,043 6,213 6,049 10,136 8,872 8,684 18 46 14 1 20 (5) 3 2 4 (1) ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 55 2011 2010 2009 2011 2010 We determine the geographic distribution of our revenues In 2011, revenues in Europe grew 18 percent (11 percent in local currencies) on the execution of large Power Systems orders, as well as on demand for automation products across the region. Revenues from the Americas increased 46 per- cent (43 percent in local currencies and 14 percent excluding the Baldor acquisition). In the U.S., industrial demand grew significantly and the transmission and distribution markets recovered from a low level, while Brazil revenues grew on the execution of large orders. Revenues from Asia increased 14 percent (9 percent in local currencies) on growth from the industrial automation sector in China and India. Revenues in MEA increased 1 percent, however declined 2 percent in local currencies. Weaker large orders in the previous year lead to a decline in revenues in the utilities and oil and gas sector, which offset higher revenues from the other industrial automation sectors. In 2010, revenues in Europe decreased 5 percent (4 per- cent in local currencies) driven mainly by weak revenue gen- eration from the utilities sector in Germany and Spain as well as from the industrial sector in Finland, Denmark and Nor- way. Revenues in other major countries in the region were slightly lower or nearly flat compared to 2009 except in Italy and Netherlands where revenues increased in all divisions. Revenues from the Americas increased 3 percent (decreased 1 percent in local currencies) as a result of higher invoicing from the execution of large orders in Brazil which more than offset lower revenues in the U.S. transmission and distribu- tion market. Revenues from Asia increased 2 percent (de- creased 2 percent in local currencies) as revenues increased in China, triggered by growth in the industrial sector and decreased in India (in local currencies) on account of weak orders in both utilities and industrial sectors. Revenues in MEA increased 4 percent (4 percent in local currencies) driven by the execution of large orders in system businesses in Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Algeria which were partly offset by lower revenues in Congo and Qatar. Cost of sales Cost of sales consists primarily of labor, raw materials and components but also includes expenses for warranty, contract losses and project penalties, as well as order-related development expenses incurred in connection with projects for which corresponding revenues were recognized. In 2011, cost of sales increased 20 percent (16 percent in local currencies) to $26,556 million. The increase in the cost of sales reflects the growth in revenues from organic busi- nesses and new acquisitions. Cost of sales was negatively affected by higher prices in certain commodities and an unfavorable change in business mix. The increase in the cost of sales in 2011 was partly offset by savings realized from the cost saving initiatives, mainly in the areas of supply man- agement and operational excellence. As a percentage of revenues, cost of sales remained stable at 69.9 percent, as the cost saving initiatives helped to offset continued pricing pressure on revenues. In 2010, cost of sales decreased 2 percent (3 percent in local currencies) to $22,060 million in line with the decline in revenues volume. Cost of sales, as a percentage of rev- enues, decreased to 69.8 percent from 70.7 percent in 2009. The reduction in cost of sales reflected measures mainly 56 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 taken in the areas of supply management, global footprint and operational excellence as part of the cost take-out program. Restructuring programs implemented in many coun- tries also helped to reduce costs as our operations benefited from higher production utilization. Savings from these pro- grams were however partly offset by cost overruns in our cables business in our Power Systems division (see “Divi- sional analysis – Power Systems”). Improvement in the cost of sales as a percentage of revenues in 2010 was also limited by the continued impact of price erosion. Selling, general and administrative expenses The components of selling, general and administrative expenses were as follows: ($ in millions) Selling expenses 2011 2010 2009 (3,533) (2,947) (2,868) Selling expenses as a percentage of orders received 8.8% 9.0% 9.3% General and administrative expenses (1,840) (1,668) (1,623) General and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenues Total selling, general 4.8% 5.3% 5.1% and administrative expenses (5,373) (4,615) (4,491) Total selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenues 14.1% 14.6% 14.1% Total selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of the average of orders received and revenues 13.7% 14.4% 14.3% In 2011, selling expenses increased 20 percent (14 percent in local currencies). Excluding the expenses from Baldor, sell- ing expenses were 14 percent (8 percent in local currencies) higher as compared to 2010. Increase in selling expenses in 2011 continued to be driven by a larger sales force employed by all divisions to strengthen their market presence particu- larly in the emerging countries. Selling expenses further increased following the growth in orders as certain elements of such expenses, in particular expenses related to order pursuing activities and sales commissions, are variable ex- penses. In 2010, selling expenses increased 3 percent (2 percent in local currencies) due to (i) expenses from newly acquired companies, (ii) more sales resources employed, especially in emerging markets to support order growth and (iii) an increase in variable selling expenses, such as commissions and the costs associated with pursuing orders. Due to the higher or- ders volume, selling expenses as a percentage of orders received decreased to 9.0 percent from 9.3 percent in 2009. In 2011, general and administrative expenses increased 10 percent (6 percent in local currencies). Excluding expenses from Baldor, general and administrative expenses increased 5 percent (1 percent in local currencies). The increase in gen- eral and administrative expenses in 2011 was driven primarily by initiatives to strengthen functional support areas especially in the emerging markets such as China, India and the Middle East countries. As a percentage of revenues, general and administrative expenses decreased to 4.8 percent from 5.3 percent in 2010 reflecting a strong increase in revenues on relatively stable expenses achieved through higher efficiency derived from continuous process improvement and improved cost management. In 2010, general and administrative expenses increased 3 percent (2 percent in local currencies) compared to 2009. Excluding expenses from newly acquired companies, general and administrative expenses were flat (decreased 1 percent in local currencies). While selling, general and administrative expenses in- creased, the expenses as a percentage of average orders and revenues decreased 0.7 percentage points to 13.7 per- cent in 2011. Non-order related research and development expenses In 2011, non-order related research and development ex- penses increased 27 percent (18 percent in local currencies), as we accelerated efforts to keep ahead with technology advancements in order to maintain industry leadership. The increase was also due to incremental costs of the newly- acquired companies. In 2010, compared to 2009, non-order related research and development expenses increased 4 per- cent (4 percent in local currencies) to $1,082 million in line with our commitment to maintain a high level of research and development activity. Non-order related research and development expenses as a percentage of revenues increased to 3.6 percent in 2011 after increasing to 3.4 percent in 2010 from 3.3 percent in 2009. Other income (expense), net ($ in millions) Restructuring expenses (1) Capital gains, net Asset write-downs Income from equity-accounted companies and other income (expense) Total (1) Excluding asset write-downs 2011 (26) 40 (29) (8) (23) 2010 (54) 51 (57) 46 (14) 2009 (111) 14 (50) 476 329 “Other income (expense), net,” typically consists of restruc- turing expenses, net capital gains (which include gains or losses from the sale of businesses and gains or losses from the sale or disposal of property, plant and equipment), asset write-downs, as well as our share of income or loss from equity-accounted companies and license income. Restructuring and related expenses are recorded in v arious lines within the Consolidated Income Statements, de- pending on the nature of the charges. In 2011, restructuring expenses reported in “Other income (expense), net” amounted to $26 million. The expenses were primarily related to Low Voltage Products restructuring initiatives in Germany, France and the U.S., a Power Products restructuring project in Spain and Discrete Automation and Motion restructuring initiatives in the U.S. In 2010, restructuring expenses reported in “Other income (expense), net” were incurred for restructuring projects across all our divisions, principally in the Process Automation, Discrete Automation and Motion, as well as the Power Products divisions. In 2009, restructuring expenses reported in “Other income (expense), net” were incurred for restructuring projects in all of our divisions but mainly in the Discrete Automation and Motion and Process Auto- mation divisions. In 2011, “Capital gains, net” amounted to $40 million and included a $45 million net gain from the sales of land and buildings mainly in Venezuela, Nigeria, Sweden, Brazil and Switzerland. “Capital gains, net,” in 2010, consisted mainly of $35 million in gains on the sale of land and buildings, mainly in Sweden, Norway and Austria, as well as a $13 million gain on the sale of an equity-accounted company in Colombia. In 2009, “Capital gains, net” consisted primarily of gains from the sale of real estate, mainly in Norway, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands. In 2011, “Asset write-downs” amounted to $29 million, reflecting a total of $20 million write-downs and impairment of tangible and intangible assets related mainly to restruc- turing projects in various countries, and a $9 million impair- ment on the investment in the shares of a listed company. “Asset write-downs” in 2010 included $23 million for the im- pairment, prior to sale, of two equity-accounted companies in the Ivory Coast, and other impairments and write-downs of tangible and intangible assets primarily related to Russia, Thailand, Czech Republic and the United States. “Asset write-downs” in 2009 included a $10 million impairment of certain fixed assets in the United States and other impair- ments and write-downs of tangible and intangible assets pri- marily relating to ongoing restructuring programs in various countries. “Income from equity-accounted companies and other income (expense)” in 2011 amounted to a net loss of $8 mil- lion mainly due to charges related to the deconsolidation of a Russian subsidiary, partly offset by income from equity- accounted companies and income from license fees. In 2010, “Income from equity-accounted companies and other income (expense)” primarily consisted of a $22 million release of pro- visions and income of $13 million from a break-fee related to the withdrawn bid to acquire Chloride Group PLC. In 2009, “Income from equity-accounted companies and other income (expense)” primarily consisted of the partial release of provi- sions related to the investigations in the power transformers business after the European Commission imposed a fine of 33.75 million euro (equivalent to $49 million on date of pay- ment) in October 2009. Additionally, license income of ap- proximately $5 million, mainly from Switzerland and Germany, was included in this line item. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 57 Earnings before interest and taxes ($ in millions) Power Products Power Systems Discrete Automation and Motion Low Voltage Products Process Automation Operating divisions Corporate and Other Intersegment elimination % Change 2010 2009 2011 2010 1,636 1,959 114 394 (10) 381 (16) (71) 911 788 759 574 518 626 4,208 4,071 (402) 12 50 5 42 15 27 23 59 52 21 3 (12) n.a. 2011 1,476 548 1,294 904 963 5,185 (450) (68) Total 4,667 3,818 4,126 22 (7) In 2011, EBIT increased 22 percent (14 percent in local cur- rencies) while in 2010, EBIT decreased 7 percent (8 percent in local currencies) as a result of the factors discussed above. For further details of Operational EBITDA and Operational EBITDA margin see “Divisional analysis” below and see “Note 22 Operating segment and geographic data” to our Consolidated Financial Statements for a reconciliation of Operational EBITDA to EBIT. Net interest and other finance expense Net interest and other finance expense consists of “Interest and dividend income” offset by “Interest and other finance expense.” “Interest and other finance expense” includes interest expense on our debt, the amortization of upfront costs asso- ciated with our credit facility and our debt securities, com- mitment fees on our bank facility and exchange losses on financial items, offset by gains on marketable securities and exchange gains on financial items. ($ in millions) Interest and dividend income Interest and other finance expense 2011 90 (207) 2010 95 (173) 2009 121 (127) 2009 Net interest and other finance expense (117) (78) (6) In 2011, “Interest and dividend income” declined compared to 2010, primarily due to the lower average aggregate level of “Cash and equivalents” and “Marketable securities and short-term investments” in 2011 compared to 2010, as the funds were used to finance the acquisition of businesses such as Baldor (a cash outflow of $4,276 million in January 2011 – see “Note 3 Acquisitions, increases in controlling interests and divestments” to our Consolidated Financial Statements). “Interest and dividend income” decreased in 2010 com- pared to 2009. This decrease was primarily due to the lower level of interest rates during 2010 as a whole, compared to 2009. During the first six months of 2009, interest rates on EUR-denominated balances, which constituted a significant portion of our total “Cash and equivalents” and “Marketable securities and short-term investments” balances, were higher than during the rest of 2009 and 2010. In 2011, “Interest and other finance expense” increased compared to 2010, primarily reflecting i) the increase in long- term debt (from $1,139 million at December 31, 2010, to $3,231 million at December 31, 2011) as a result of the bonds issued in 2011 – see “Liquidity and Capital Resources” for a further discussion, ii) the increase in EUR-denominated inter- est rates (our EUR-denominated bonds have been swapped into floating rate obligations – see “Note 12 Debt” to our Consolidated Financial Statements) and iii) movements in foreign exchange rates that have resulted in higher foreign exchange losses on financial items in 2011 than in 2010. EBIT margins were as follows: (in %) Power Products Power Systems Discrete Automation and Motion Low Voltage Products Process Automation Operating divisions Total 2011 13.6 6.8 14.7 17.0 11.6 12.5 12.3 2010 16.0 1.7 16.2 17.3 10.2 12.2 12.1 17.4 6.0 10.6 12.7 8.0 11.6 13.0 In 2011, EBIT margin increased 0.2 percentage points to 12.3 percent. The increase in EBIT and EBIT margin reflects the contribution from higher volumes including the $1,950 million of revenues from Baldor. Costs savings generated in 2011 further improved the EBIT and EBIT margin as the amount of those savings more than offset the impact from price pressure that continued particularly in the power sector. Profitability was affected by an unfavorable business mix, higher amortization from the intangibles from the Baldor acquisition and continued investments in sales and research and development offset by the non-recurrence of project- related charges in 2010 in the Power Systems division. In 2010, EBIT margin in the operating divisions increased, driven by a strong recovery in the short-cycle business, particularly in our automation divisions. Price pressures con- tinued in 2010; however the impact on earnings was more than offset by savings generated from the cost take-out pro- gram. EBIT margin in 2010 was lower in the Power Products division compared to 2009, mainly due to lower revenues (see “Divisional analysis – Power Products”), while in the Power Systems division EBIT margin declined as a result of losses in the cables business (see “Divisional analysis – Power Systems”). 58 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 “Interest and other finance expense” increased in 2010 compared to 2009. However, the 2009 figure of $127 million is a net figure that includes the realization of foreign exchange gains on certain government bonds that were recorded in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” at December 31, 2008. If these gains are excluded from the 2009 figure, “Interest and other finance expense” decreased in 2010 com- pared to 2009, reflecting the continued low level of interest rates throughout 2010. Provision for taxes ($ in millions) 2011 2010 2009 Income from continuing opera- tions, before taxes Provision for taxes Effective tax rate for the year (%) 4,550 (1,244) 27.3 3,740 (1,018) 27.2 4,120 (1,001) 24.3 The provision for taxes in 2011 represented an effective tax rate of 27.3 percent and included: – tax credits, arising in foreign jurisdictions, for which the technical merits did not allow a benefit to be taken, and – the net reduction in valuation allowance on deferred taxes of approximately $22 million, as we determined it was more likely than not that such deferred tax assets would be realized. The provision for taxes in 2010 represented an effective tax rate of 27.2 percent and included: – a net increase in valuation allowance on deferred taxes by $60 million, as we determined it was no longer more likely than not that such deferred tax assets would be realized. This amount included $44 million related to certain of our operations in Central Europe. The provision for taxes in 2009 represented an effective tax rate of 24.3 percent and included: – the net reduction in valuation allowance of approximately $46 million on deferred taxes, as we determined it was more likely than not that such deferred tax assets would be realized. This net reduction in valuation allowance in- cluded a benefit of $60 million related to our operations in Central Europe. Net income attributable to ABB As a result of the factors discussed above, net income attributable to ABB increased $607 million to $3,168 million in 2011 compared to 2010 and decreased $340 million to $2,561 million in 2010 compared to 2009. Earnings per share attributable to ABB shareholders (in $) Income from continuing operations, net of tax: Basic Diluted Net income attributable to ABB: Basic Diluted 2011 2010 2009 1.38 1.38 1.38 1.38 1.12 1.11 1.12 1.12 1.26 1.26 1.27 1.27 Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing income by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing income by the weighted-average number of shares outstand- ing during the year, assuming that all potentially dilutive secu- rities were exercised, if dilutive. Potentially dilutive securities comprise: outstanding written call options; outstanding op- tions and shares granted subject to certain conditions under our share-based payment arrangements. See “Note 20 Earn- ings per share” to our Consolidated Financial Statements. Divisional analysis Power Products The financial results of our Power Products division were as follows: ($ in millions, except Operational % Change – a benefit of approximately $74 million related to the release EBITDA margin %) 2011 2010 2009 2011 2010 of provisions for previously disclosed investigations by European authorities into suspect payments and alleged anti-competitive practices that were recognized as income for financial accounting purposes, but were not taxable. Orders 11,068 9,778 10,940 Order backlog at Dec. 31, 8,029 7,930 8,226 Revenues 10,869 10,199 11,239 Operational EBITDA 1,782 1,861 2,136 13 1 7 (4) Income from continuing operations, net of tax As a result of the factors discussed above, income from con- tinuing operations, net of tax, increased by $584 million to $3,306 million in 2011 compared to 2010, and decreased by $397 million to $2,722 million in 2010 compared to 2009. (11) (4) (9) (13) n.a. (16) Operational EBITDA margin % (1) EBIT 16.3 1,476 18.2 19.0 1,636 1,959 n.a. (10) (1) Operational EBITDA margin % is calculated as Operational EBITDA divided by Operational revenues. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 59 Reconciliation to Financial Statements ($ in millions, except Operational EBITDA margin %) 2011 2010 2009 Operational revenues 10,901 10,202 11,229 FX/commodity timing differences on revenues(1) (32) (3) 10 Revenues (as per Financial Statements) Operational EBITDA FX/commodity timing differences on EBIT(1) Restructuring-related costs Reversal of depreciation and amortization EBIT (as per Financial Statements) Operational EBITDA margin % 10,869 1,782 10,199 11,239 1,861 2,136 (36) (70) (4) (44) 85 (77) (200) (177) (185) 1,476 16.3 1,636 18.2 1,959 19.0 (1) For further details of FX/commodity timing differences, see “Note 22 Operating segment and geographic data.” Orders In 2011, orders were up 13 percent (8 percent in local currencies) driven by investments in the power distribution and industry sectors. Both large and base orders grew during the year. In 2010, orders were down 11 percent (13 percent in local currencies) primarily due to lower large orders in the transmission sector, which could not be compensated by an improvement in the distribution and industrial sectors. Order intake was further impacted by lower price levels due to weaker market conditions and increased competition. The geographic distribution of orders for our Power Products division was as follows: (in %) Europe The Americas Asia Middle East and Africa Total 2011 2010 2009 32 26 33 9 35 26 29 10 34 23 33 10 100 100 100 In 2011, the contribution of orders from the Americas re- mained at the same level, but volumes were higher than in 2010, mainly driven by demand for distribution and trans- mission-related products. Europe’s share declined due to slowdown in investments as a result of the macroeconomic situation. We saw a growth in Asia’s contribution with sig nificant large order wins in China as well as higher base orders. The share of MEA remained around the same level as in 2010. In 2010, the share of orders from Europe and the Americas improved despite declining order intake due to lower volumes in emerging markets. We saw a significant slowdown in China, resulting from local buying preference, and also in India. MEA remained flat as a percentage of total orders but declined in volume terms due to less large orders. 60 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Order backlog In 2011, order backlog increased 1 percent (4 percent in local currencies) after decreasing 4 percent (5 percent in local currencies) in 2010 compared to 2009. The increase in order backlog in 2011 reflects the higher order intake from the power distribution and industry sectors as well as some signifi- cant large orders in the transmission sector. Revenues In 2011, revenues grew 7 percent (2 percent in local curren- cies) due to higher volumes in the short- and mid-cycle busi- ness such as medium-voltage equipment and distribution transformers. Revenues from late-cycle businesses such as large power transformers were flat partly as a result of the lower transmission-related order backlog. Service revenues saw a double-digit growth. In 2010, revenues decreased 9 percent (11 percent in local currencies) due to the slower conversion cycle of large projects in the order backlog. However, the short- and mid- cycle businesses (for example, medium-voltage equipment and distribution transformers), increased their contribution as a result of the revival in the distribution and industrial sectors. The geographic distribution of revenues for our Power Products division was as follows: (in %) Europe The Americas Asia Middle East and Africa Total 2011 2010 2009 34 27 30 9 34 26 31 9 35 25 31 9 100 100 100 In 2011, the regions maintained their share of total revenues. The Americas showed a small increase due to growth in the U.S. Asia’s share was slightly lower due to a lower trans- mission-related backlog. In 2010, the geographic distribution of revenues followed similar trends as orders but revenues were down in all the regions. Europe’s share declined marginally due to slower or- der backlog conversion of large projects and the Americas’ share improved due to increased book and bill revenues from the distribution-related businesses. In Asia and MEA the share of revenues remained at similar levels as the previous year. Operational EBITDA In 2011, Operational EBITDA and Operational EBITDA margin were lower primarily due to the execution of lower margin orders from the backlog, reflecting the continued pricing pres- sure in an extremely competitive market across all businesses. However, cost savings partly mitigated this price impact. Lower Operational EBITDA and Operational EBITDA mar- gin in 2010 were mainly the result of lower cost absorption on the basis of lower revenues as well as the impact of price declines in certain emerging markets. Fiscal year 2012 outlook Market uncertainty persists as a result of continued macro- economic challenges. Debt burden in mature economies combined with inflation and interest rate challenges in large emerging markets is affecting industrial investment and util- ity spending in the power sector. This uncertainty is likely to continue in the short term and we expect to see focused investments in specific sectors until overall economic stability returns. While demand in the power distribution and industry sectors continues to be stable, transmission sector recovery depends on an overall improvement in economic conditions and utilities becoming more proactive on capital investment. The medium- and long-term growth drivers for the busi- ness remain intact. These include the buildup of capacity in emerging markets, increasing focus on renewables, energy efficiency, development of smarter, more reliable and flex- ible grids, as well as economic stimulus packages targeted at strengthening power infrastructure. Power Systems The financial results of our Power Systems division were as follows: ($ in millions, except Operational EBITDA margin %) Orders 2011 9,278 % Change 2010 2009 2011 2010 7,896 7,830 Order backlog at Dec. 31, 11,570 10,929 9,675 Revenues 8,101 6,786 6,549 18 6 19 1 13 4 Operational EBITDA 743 304 532 144 (43) Operational EBITDA margin % (1) EBIT 9.1 548 4.5 114 8.2 394 n.a. 381 n.a. (71) (1) Operational EBITDA margin % is calculated as Operational EBITDA divided by Operational revenues. Reconciliation to Financial Statements ($ in millions, except Operational EBITDA margin %) Operational revenues FX/commodity timing differences 2011 8,128 2010 6,783 2009 6,508 on revenues(1) (27) 3 41 Revenues (as per Financial Statements) Operational EBITDA FX/commodity timing differences on EBIT(1) Restructuring-related costs Reversal of depreciation and amortization EBIT (as per Financial Statements) Operational EBITDA margin % 8,101 743 3 (54) 6,786 304 6,549 532 (58) (48) (2) (90) (144) (84) (46) 548 9.1 114 4.5 394 8.2 (1) For further details of FX/commodity timing differences, see “Note 22 Operating segment and geographic data.” Orders Order intake in 2011 increased 18 percent (12 percent in local currencies) with growth in both large and base order busi- ness. Customers in emerging countries continued to invest in infrastructure development and new capacity, while mature markets focused on grid upgrades and the integration of re- newable energy sources. Demand for power solutions to support industrial growth and distribution networks also con- tributed to the growth. Large orders secured in 2011 included a HVDC Light® transmission link to connect offshore North Sea wind farms to the German mainland grid with a value of approximately $1 billion, and another HVDC Light® power transmission link between Norway and Denmark, with a value of approximately $180 million. Large orders in 2011 also in- cluded an Ultra High Voltage Direct Current (UHVDC) transmission order from India to supply hydropower across 1,700 kilometers, with a value of around $900 million. Continuous price pressure in some of our key geographi- cal markets negatively impacted orders in 2011 as in 2010. Orders in 2011 included a $47 million contribution from Mincom, an Australia-based software company specializing in solutions for mining and other asset-intensive industries, that was acquired in the third quarter of 2011. Order intake in 2010 increased 1 percent (decreased 1 percent in local currencies). Strong growth in base orders, seen in industrial and distribution markets, more than com- pensated for a decrease in large orders resulting from the timing of large scale transmission infrastructure investments. The demand drivers for power systems business were favor- able, led by the focus on renewable energy, interconnections and grid reliability. Large orders secured in 2010 included HVDC Light® transmission links connecting three North Sea wind farms to the German power grid, with a value of approx- imately $700 million, and another between the Nordic and Baltic regions, with a value of approximately $580 million. Orders in 2010 included $97 million from Ventyx, a software provider and key player in the field of energy management that was acquired in the second quarter of 2010. The geographic distribution of orders for our Power Systems division was as follows: (in %) Europe The Americas Asia Middle East and Africa Total 2011 2010 2009 40 17 27 16 47 14 15 24 33 22 16 29 100 100 100 In 2011, Europe remained the largest region in terms of order intake. As in 2010, the strong political commitment in Europe to increase the share of renewables in the energy mix con- tributed to order growth. We saw a substantial growth in orders from Asia in 2011, mainly on the timing of large order awards from India. The share of orders from the Americas increased in 2011, driven by the United States, Canada and Brazil. The 2011 order share from the MEA region decreased in 2011, due to the timing of large order awards, combined with increased competitiveness and pricing pressure. In 2010, MEA was our second largest region in terms of orders, following Europe, despite a lower order intake than in 2009. The order share from the Americas decreased as a drop in large orders offset a growth in base orders. Lower orders from Asia mainly reflected an order decline in India from a high level the year before, relating to the timing of large order awards. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 61 Order backlog Order backlog at December 31, 2011, reached a record level of $11,570 million, corresponding to an increase of 6 percent (11 percent in local currencies). Whereas the share of large orders in our order backlog remained fairly consistent, we have an increased proportion of large projects with more than 2 years execution time in the mix. Order backlog at December 31, 2010, increased 13 per- cent (12 percent in local currencies), resulting mainly from a further increase in the share of large orders as a proportion of total orders. Large projects stay longer in the order back- log than base orders, as the project execution time is considerably longer. Revenues Revenues in 2011 increased 19 percent (14 percent in local currencies). Among our businesses, the revenue growth was led by Grid Systems, reflecting the strong order backlog at the beginning of the year. Revenue growth in Power Generation resulted from a strong order backlog and a higher book and bill ratio in 2011 than in 2010 (orders that can be converted to revenues within the same calendar year). A rev- enue increase in Network Management was helped by the software businesses acquired in 2011 and 2010. Revenues in 2011 included $47 million from Mincom since the date of acquisition. In 2010, revenues increased 4 percent (2 percent in local currencies). The revenue growth was led by Power Genera- tion, reflecting a strong order backlog at the beginning of the year and higher base orders in 2010 than in 2009. Revenues in 2010 included $97 million from Ventyx since the date of acquisition. The geographic distribution of revenues for the Power Systems division was as follows: (in %) Europe The Americas Asia Middle East and Africa Total 2011 2010 2009 40 20 18 22 34 21 17 28 39 15 18 28 Operational EBITDA In 2011, Operational EBITDA increased 144 percent (132 per- cent in local currencies). The higher Operational EBITDA and Operational EBITDA margin in 2011 was mainly the result of higher revenues, the non-recurrence of project-related charges in the cables business, as well as successful claims management. Sales expenses, as well as general and admin- istrative expenses increased mainly following the acquisition of Ventyx and Mincom. The increase in sales expenses also reflected higher bad debt provisions than in 2010. Higher research and development spending, as well as the impact from lower prices on past orders now flowing through to revenues, were largely offset by cost savings. The decrease in Operational EBITDA and Operational EBITDA margin in 2010 was primarily attributable to cost overruns exceeding $200 million in a small number of subsea cable projects. The cost overruns mainly related to cable laying and trenching activities. Lower prices on past orders negatively impacted the gross margin and the Operational EBITDA margin. Operational EBITDA was also impacted by increased sales expenses, as well as increased spending for research and development. These negative Operational EBITDA impacts were partly offset by savings from the cost take-out program and the release of provisions related to the business in Russia and settlements with the U.S. Securi- ties and Exchange Commission and Department of Justice. Fiscal year 2012 outlook The Power Systems market continues to be dynamic with a degree of uncertainty resulting from the macroeconomic chal- lenges such as the debt burden in many mature economies as well as inflation and interest rate challenges in large emerg- ing markets. However, the fundamental market drivers for the Power Systems division remain intact. This includes power in- frastructure investments in new capacities in emerging markets, and aging infrastructure upgrades in mature markets as well as the increasing global focus on renewables, energy efficiency, and the development of more reliable, flexible and smarter grids. 100 100 100 Discrete Automation and Motion In 2011, the share of revenues from Europe, the largest region for the division, increased further. Revenues from MEA, the second largest region, were lower, reflecting scheduled proj- ect execution. Revenues grew in the Americas, mainly driven by Brazil, while the revenue growth from Asia was led by Australia and India. Europe was the largest region in terms of revenues in 2010, even though revenues from the region were lower than in 2009. The share of revenues from the MEA region remained largely unchanged, while revenues from the Americas in- creased, led by growth in Brazil. Revenues were flat in Asia, as an increase in India helped offset lower revenues from other parts of the region. The financial results of our Discrete Automation and Motion division were as follows: ($ in millions, except Operational EBITDA margin %) Orders Order backlog at Dec. 31, Revenues Operational EBITDA Operational EBITDA margin % (1) EBIT % Change 2011 9,566 4,120 8,806 1,664 18.9 1,294 2010 2009 2011 2010 5,862 4,702 3,350 3,046 5,617 5,405 1,026 773 63 23 57 62 25 10 4 33 18.3 911 14.4 574 n.a. 42 n.a. 59 (1) Operational EBITDA margin % is calculated as Operational EBITDA divided by Operational revenues. 62 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Reconciliation to Financial Statements ($ in millions, except Operational EBITDA margin %) Operational revenues 2011 8,817 2010 5,613 2009 5,374 FX/commodity timing differences on revenues(1) (11) 4 31 Revenues (as per Financial Statements) Operational EBITDA FX/commodity timing differences on EBIT(1) Restructuring-related costs Acquisition-related expenses and certain non-recurring items Reversal of depreciation and amortization EBIT (as per Financial Statements) Operational EBITDA margin % 8,806 1,664 5,617 1,026 5,405 773 (19) (10) (90) (2) (35) 29 (154) – – (251) (78) (74) 1,294 18.9 911 18.3 574 14.4 (1) For further details of FX/commodity timing differences, see “Note 22 Operating segment and geographic data.” Orders In 2011, orders increased 63 percent (57 percent in local cur- rencies) reflecting both increased demand for energy- efficient automation solutions, as well as the contribution from the U.S.-based industrial motor manufacturer Baldor, acquired in January 2011 (approximately half of the division’s order growth related to the Baldor acquisition). Highest order growth was achieved in Motors and Generators due to the Baldor integration while Robotics orders increased due to improving demand in automotive and general industry sectors. Orders grew strongly in 2010, due to increased market demand compared to the low level of 2009. Orders in low- voltage (LV) drives and LV motors increased in 2010, as a result of increased demand in process industries segment and investments in renewable energy sectors such as wind and solar. The automotive industry recovered from the low level of 2009, and increased investments made by car manufac- turers, as well as general industry customers, led to strong order growth for our Robotics business. The geographic distribution of orders for our Discrete Automation and Motion division was as follows: (in %) Europe The Americas Asia Middle East and Africa Total 2011 2010 2009 37 32 28 3 46 16 34 4 49 13 33 5 100 100 100 in the United States contributed to the high increase in the Americas. Orders in China grew 44 percent, mainly driven by the Robotics and LV drives businesses. In Europe orders increased 18 percent due to improved market demand but Europe’s share of total orders decreased as other regions grew more. Order backlog Order backlog in 2011 increased as orders were higher than revenues during the year. The highest increase came from Robotics, due to the high level of orders which will be deliv- ered in 2012 or later. Order backlog in 2010 increased 10 percent as orders were higher than revenues for most businesses, especially in the LV drives, Robotics and LV motors businesses. Order backlog in the large motors and generators business decreased as large orders were delivered during the year. Revenues Revenues in 2011 increased at a similar pace to orders, on the solid execution of the strong order backlog and due to the Baldor acquisition (which accounted for approximately 60 percent of the division’s revenue growth). Highest growth was achieved in motors and generators, due to the acqui- sition of Baldor, and Robotics as a result of the strong order growth. Revenues in 2010 increased 4 percent as a result of the high order growth for products such as LV drives, Robotics and LV motors. Longer-cycle businesses such as power elec- tronics and large motors and generators reported lower revenues due to a weak backlog at the beginning of the year. The geographic distribution of revenues for our Discrete Automation and Motion division was as follows: (in %) Europe The Americas Asia Middle East and Africa Total 2011 2010 2009 38 32 27 3 48 14 34 4 54 14 29 3 100 100 100 The geographic distribution of revenues changed substan- tially in 2011 with the integration of Baldor causing the share of the Americas to more than double compared to 2010. All regions increased revenues on higher orders as demand increased in most markets. A favorable market development and a focused build-up of local activities have contributed to the increased share from Asia. Europe’s share declined in 2010, due to low order backlog at the beginning of the year, caused by the weak order intake in 2009. All regions increased orders in 2011, with the highest growth in the Americas due to the Baldor acquisition. With Baldor’s substantial presence in the U.S., the Americas’ share of the total division’s orders doubled in 2011, compared to 2010, and therefore all other regions’ shares declined. The division has now a more balanced global presence with three equally strong regions – Europe, the Americas and Asia. Orders grew in most of the regions in 2010, with the most significant increases being in Asia and the Americas. A strong recovery in the automotive and process industry markets Operational EBITDA In 2011, Operational EBITDA increased 62 percent (54 per- cent in local currencies) while Operational EBITDA margin of 18.9 percent increased compared to 18.3 percent in 2010. The increase is based on a combination of higher revenues and the positive contribution from Baldor (approximately 23 percent of the division’s Operational EBITDA). All busi- nesses, except power electronics and medium-voltage drives improved, with the largest increase in Robotics due to the continued turnaround from the low level of 2009. Motors and ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 63 generators benefited from the Baldor integration, while higher revenues in LV drives further increased Operational EBITDA. In 2010, Operational EBITDA improved substantially as a result of cost savings and a turnaround in the Robotics busi- ness. The Robotics business returned to profitability in 2010, on the basis of higher revenues, supported by executed restructuring initiatives and cost saving measures. Fiscal year 2012 outlook Due to the financial turbulence in the eurozone there is increasing uncertainty about global market development in 2012. We expect most markets will have lower growth rates in 2012 compared to 2011 and some countries might even fall into a recession. Despite this we expect continued growth in orders and revenues, especially in emerging markets such as Asia and South America. Furthermore, the need for im- proved energy efficiency and productivity in a wide range of industries will support the demand for automation solutions and energy-efficient products provided by the Discrete Automation and Motion division. Orders Orders increased 14 percent (9 percent in local currencies) in 2011 and increased 15 percent (15 percent in local curren- cies) in 2010. The order growth in 2011 was driven by demand from both the industrial and construction markets. Order growth was recorded across most product businesses, with a strong recovery in the systems business as market conditions im- proved. The renewables sector (mainly solar and wind) weak- ened as governmental subsidies expired in several countries reducing the demand for such investments. In 2010, orders grew on higher demand from industrial customers, the solar energy market and construction-related sectors. Strong order growth was recorded across all prod- uct businesses, whereas the system business was affected by weaker market conditions in the beginning of 2010 which gradually recovered during the second half of 2010. The geographic distribution of orders for our Low Voltage Products division was as follows: Low Voltage Products (in %) Europe The Americas Asia The financial results of our Low Voltage Products division were as follows: Middle East and Africa Total 2011 2010 2009 55 9 28 8 56 9 26 9 60 8 23 9 100 100 100 In 2011, orders continued to grow across all regions in abso- lute terms. The share of orders from Asia continued to grow, driven by product demand in China and strong growth in the systems business in South Asia. The Americas’ share of orders remained fairly stable, with growth in South America, and despite difficult market conditions in the United States. Although its share of orders decreased, Europe remains the largest region in absolute terms. In 2010, orders grew across all regions as market con- ditions improved. The share of orders from Europe, the larg- est region, continued to decrease as the share from Asia increased, led by strong growth in China. Orders from the Americas increased as South America continued to grow strongly, particularly from the key market of Brazil. The share of orders from MEA remained stable, although orders grew in absolute terms. Order backlog In 2011, order backlog, compared to 2010, increased by 6 percent (9 percent in local currencies). The higher backlog was mainly driven by a strong market recovery in the systems business. Order backlog in 2010 increased 14 percent (14 percent in local currencies) as orders were higher than revenues across all businesses, especially in the LV systems business, which typically has longer delivery schedules than the product business. ($ in millions, except Operational EBITDA margin %) Orders Order backlog at Dec. 31, Revenues Operational EBITDA Operational EBITDA margin % (1) EBIT % Change 2011 2010 2009 2011 2010 5,364 4,686 4,079 887 5,304 1,059 838 734 4,554 4,071 926 679 14 6 16 14 15 14 12 36 19.9 904 20.3 788 16.7 518 n.a. 15 n.a. 52 (1) Operational EBITDA margin % is calculated as Operational EBITDA divided by Operational revenues. Reconciliation to Financial Statements ($ in millions, except Operational EBITDA margin %) Operational revenues 2011 5,315 2010 4,554 2009 4,059 FX/commodity timing differences on revenues(1) (11) - 12 Revenues (as per Financial Statements) Operational EBITDA FX/commodity timing differences on EBIT(1) Restructuring-related costs Reversal of depreciation and amortization EBIT (as per Financial Statements) Operational EBITDA margin % 5,304 1,059 (19) (20) 4,554 926 4,071 679 3 (36) 6 (67) (116) (105) (100) 904 19.9 788 20.3 518 16.7 (1) For further details of FX/commodity timing differences, see “Note 22 Operating segment and geographic data.” 64 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Revenues In 2011, revenues increased 16 percent (11 percent in local currencies) due to the fast conversion cycle of the high orders received in the product business and due to the con- version of the stronger opening backlog in the LV systems business. Revenues in 2010 increased 12 percent (13 percent in local currencies), as the strong order growth and the short execution cycle in the product business was converted to revenues. Revenues grew across all product businesses, whereas revenues in the LV systems business decreased due to a weak opening backlog. The geographic distribution of revenues for our Low Voltage Products division was as follows: Process Automation The financial results of our Process Automation division were as follows: ($ in millions, except Operational EBITDA margin %) Orders Order backlog at Dec. 31, Revenues Operational EBITDA Operational EBITDA margin % (1) EBIT % Change 2011 8,726 5,771 8,300 1,028 2010 2009 2011 2010 7,383 6,684 5,530 5,523 7,432 7,839 925 861 18 4 12 11 10 – (5) 7 12.4 963 12.5 759 11.1 626 n.a. 27 n.a. 21 Operational EBITDA margin % is calculated as Operational EBITDA divided by Operational revenues. Reconciliation to Financial Statements (in %) Europe The Americas Asia Middle East and Africa Total 2011 2010 2009 (1) 56 9 28 7 57 9 26 8 60 8 24 8 100 100 100 ($ in millions, except In 2011, the geographic distribution of revenues followed a similar trend to orders. The share of revenues from Asia continued to increase as a result of our global footprint shift to sourcing and producing locally in the emerging markets, thereby maintaining our competitiveness and ensuring shorter delivery times. Revenues in all regions grew compared to the previous year. Europe remained the largest region, despite economic downturn in several European countries. to the previous year, as the demand from the construction market started to recover from low levels. Despite positive growth, the share of revenues from Europe continued to decrease as growth rates were higher in Asia and the Ameri- cas. The increased share of revenues from Asia was the result of order growth and the build-up of local resources in sales, service and production in this region. Operational EBITDA margin %) Operational revenues 2011 8,318 2010 7,427 2009 7,785 FX/commodity timing differences on revenues(1) (18) 5 54 Revenues (as per Financial Statements) Operational EBITDA FX/commodity timing differences on EBIT(1) Reversal of depreciation and amortization EBIT (as per Financial Statements) Operational EBITDA margin % 8,300 1,028 7,432 7,839 925 861 26 (8) (46) (44) (41) (114) (83) (76) (80) 963 12.4 759 12.5 626 11.1 (1) For further details of FX/commodity timing differences, see “Note 22 Operating segment and geographic data.” In 2010, all regions recorded growth in revenues compared Restructuring-related costs Operational EBITDA In 2011, Operational EBITDA increased by 14 percent (8 per- cent in local currencies). Higher revenues and price increases offset negative impact from commodity price increases, the change in product mix and additional R&D investments. The higher share of systems revenues (which have lower margins) during the year resulted in a declining Operational EBITDA margin. Orders Orders in 2011 grew 18 percent, led by oil and gas, marine, metals and pulp and paper sectors. Large orders were strong, mainly in marine, and oil and gas, where major auto- mation and offshore projects were noted, while base orders also recorded growth. Product orders were also strong, led by measurement products. Life-cycle services grew strongly driven by several small and medium size upgrade projects. In 2010, Operational EBITDA increased 36 percent Orders grew in 2010 despite continued uncertainty in the (39 percent in local currencies) as a result of higher revenues, a favorable product mix and the positive effects of cost reduction initiatives including restructuring measures. Fiscal year 2012 outlook We have experienced a slowdown of order growth in many markets during the second half of 2011. However, we expect continued growth in Asia and South America in 2012. We believe that key market drivers for the Low Voltage Products division will be renewable energy, energy efficiency applica- tions and data centers. market regarding the strength of the industrial recovery. Base orders grew significantly recording double-digit growth compared to 2009. Order growth was led by marine, miner- als, and pulp and paper reflecting ongoing investments in the energy- and commodity-based sectors. Orders in oil and gas were down as large orders booked in 2009 were not repeated, while the base order business remained at a similar level. Life-cycle services orders also increased as customers brought existing capacity back online following the busi- ness downturn of 2009. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 65 The geographic distribution of orders for our Process Automation division was as follows: (in %) Europe The Americas Asia Middle East and Africa Total 2011 2010 2009 39 23 30 8 39 22 29 10 40 19 22 19 100 100 100 From a regional demand perspective, Asia and the Americas recorded strong growth. In Asia, the growth was led by large projects in South Korea in the shipbuilding sector, and investments in the metals industry in China. In the Americas, several large projects in oil and gas, minerals, and pulp and paper sectors were recorded in South America, while growth in the U.S. was driven by our products and services busi- ness. Orders in Europe were also at a high level, driven by oil and gas investment in an offshore gas platform for Statoil in Norway. In MEA, orders were lower as fewer large projects were recorded. In 2010, order growth was led by the emerging markets in Asia and the Americas. In South America, order growth was led by investments in the minerals sector in Chile and Peru, whereas in Asia, demand increased from the minerals sector in China and the marine sector in South Korea. Orders also in- creased in mature markets in Europe and North America. Order backlog Order backlog at December 31, 2011, increased 4 percent (8 percent in local currencies) compared to 2010. Order backlog growth was primarily driven by our marine, and pulp and paper business. Order backlog at December 31, 2010, remained at the same level as the previous year. Revenues Revenues increased driven by our products and services businesses. Life cycle services recorded strong growth in 2011. Systems revenues were also higher, driven by our oil and gas, pulp and paper, and metals and minerals busi- nesses, while revenues in our marine business were lower as a result of lower backlog to execute. In 2011, revenues increased across all regions, with the excep- tion of MEA. Revenue growth was strongest in the Americas driven by the U.S., Canada and Brazil. Europe remained at a high level, while in Asia high growth in several economies was partly offset by lower revenues in South Korea due to the lower opening order backlog to execute. MEA declined as revenues in Congo and Algeria were lower than in the prior year. In 2010, revenues were lower in most parts of Europe with the exception of Italy. In the Americas, the United States recorded revenue growth, although the region overall recorded a decline. In Asia, South Korea recorded double-digit growth, while India and China recorded a decrease. MEA recorded growth in revenues primarily reflecting ongoing execution of the El Merk project in Algeria. Operational EBITDA In 2011, Operational EBITDA was higher compared to 2010, as a result of higher revenues. Operational EBITDA margin remained flat compared to 2010. The margin was stronger in products, led by measurement products, and life cycle services, while it was slightly lower in our systems business. Despite lower revenues, Operational EBITDA and Opera- tional EBITDA margin increased in 2010, partly reflecting the successful implementation of cost reduction measures and a higher share of revenues from products and services businesses, which usually carry higher margins than the systems business. Improved project execution and project cost control also contributed to the strong result. Fiscal year 2012 outlook The global economy continues to be highly uncertain. Although the underlying demand is still robust in most of our end markets, we expect a continued challenging market in 2012, with customer decision-making being slow and price pressure high. Corporate and Other EBIT for Corporate and Other was as follows: ($ in millions) 2011 2010 2009 Revenues in 2010 were down significantly in the systems Corporate headquarters business as a result of a lower backlog, whereas revenues in products and life cycle services grew. In the systems busi- ness, revenues were down in the metals, marine and miner- als sectors, whereas the pulp and paper sector recorded an increase, reflecting the ongoing execution of projects from order backlog. and stewardship Corporate research and development Corporate real estate Equity investments Other The geographic distribution of revenues for our Process Total Corporate and Other Automation division was as follows: (331) (284) (291) (202) 56 – (41) (518) (120) 48 (11) (23) (390) (115) 30 (8) 439 55 (in %) Europe The Americas Asia Middle East and Africa Total 2011 2010 2009 39 22 27 12 39 19 27 15 42 19 27 12 100 100 100 In 2011, Corporate headquarters and stewardship costs in- creased driven by charges related to the deconsolidation of a Russian subsidiary and the sale of another subsidiary in Russia, certain expenses in the countries and higher spend- ing to strengthen corporate functional areas as business volumes increased. Corporate headquarters and stewardship costs, in 2010, remained flat as a result of continued focus on cost control. Corporate costs in countries decreased and the savings generated were used to finance global cor- porate initiatives to support growth. 66 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Corporate real estate consists primarily of rental income Discrete Automation and Motion Corporate research and development costs in 2011 in- creased by $82 million mainly due to the establishment of a special growth fund which was set up to finance the accelera- tion of the research and development programs. In 2010, Corporate research and development costs increased slightly, in line with the strategy to maintain a high focus in this area. and gain from the sale of real estate properties. In 2011, the Corporate real estate result included $37 million gains from the sale of real estate properties mainly in Venezuela, Sweden, Brazil and Switzerland. In 2010, Corporate real estate reported gains of $33 million from the sale of land and build- ings, mainly in Sweden, Norway, Austria and Venezuela. In 2009, gains of $12 million from the sale of facilities mainly in Switzerland, the Netherlands and Norway were offset by a $10 million asset impairment charge in the United States. In 2011, EBIT from Equity investments was nil. In 2010, EBIT from Equity investments resulted in a loss of $11 million, primarily due to an impairment of $23 million of two equity- accounted companies in the Ivory Coast that were subse- quently sold, and a net gain of $13 million on the sale of an equity-accounted company in Colombia. In 2009, EBIT from Equity investments was an $8 million loss, primarily rep- resenting an operating loss of our equity investment in a power plant in Colombia. In 2011, EBIT from “Other” consists mainly of $11 million operational costs of our Global Treasury Operations, $17 mil- lion losses from the non-core distributed energy business in Great Britain and $9 million impairment on the investment in the shares of a listed company. EBIT from “Other,” in 2010, included $9 million operational costs of our Global Treasury Operations and $5 million losses from our distributed energy business in Great Britain. In 2009, EBIT from “Other” of $439 million included primarily the partial release of provisions (related to the investigations into our Power Transformers business) following the European Commission’s decision to impose a fine in October 2009. It also included the costs of our Group Treasury Operations. Restructuring programs Cost savings initiative In February 2011, we announced a $1 billion cost savings initiative for 2011 to be achieved mainly through supply management, footprint optimization and operational excel- lence measures. Cost reductions for 2011 were in line with the plan and amounted to $1.1 billion. Approximately 50 percent of these savings were achieved by optimizing global sourcing (ex- cluding changes in commodity prices). The remainder was achieved through reductions to general and administrative expenses, as well as adjustments to our global manufac- turing and engineering footprint. The total costs associated with the program were sub- stantially below the expected level of 0.8 percent of 2011 revenues, and amounted to $164 million. The following table outlines the total costs associated with the program incurred in 2011: ($ in millions) Power Products Power Systems Low Voltage Products Process Automation Corporate and Other Total Costs incurred in 2011 70 54 10 20 8 2 164 We intend to continue the cost saving measures in 2012 to sustainably reduce ABB’s costs and protect our profitability. For details of the nature of the costs incurred and their impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements, see “Note 21 Restructuring and related expenses” to our Consolidated Financial Statements. Capital expenditures Total capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment and intangible assets (excluding intangibles acquired through business combinations) amounted to $1,021 million, $840 mil- lion and $967 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Compared to total depreciation and amortization expense of the respective year, capital expenditures were 3 percent higher in 2011, 20 percent higher in 2010 and 48 percent higher in 2009. Capital expenditures in 2011 remained at a significant level in mature markets, reflecting the geographic distribution of our existing production facilities. Capital expenditures in Europe and North America in 2011 were driven primarily by upgrades and maintenance of existing production facilities, mainly in Sweden, the United States, Switzerland and Germany, as well as by new facilities, principally in Sweden, the United States and Switzerland. Capital expenditures in emerging markets increased in 2011 from 2010 with expenditures highest in China, Brazil, India and Poland, mainly for new facilities. Capital expenditures in emerging markets were mostly made to expand or build new facilities to increase the production capacity. The share of emerging markets capital expenditures as a percentage of total capital expenditures was 34 percent in 2011. In 2010, capital expenditures in Europe were primarily driven by maintenance and upgrades of existing production facilities to improve productivity, mainly in Switzerland, Sweden and Germany. Capital expenditures in emerging markets decreased in 2010 compared to 2009 with expenditures highest in China, India and Poland. The carrying value of property, plant and equipment sold amounted to $9 million, $8 million and $22 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Of the sales of property, plant and equipment in 2011, a significant portion was related to real estate properties in Venezuela, Nigeria, Germany and Switzerland. The sales of property, plant and equipment in 2010 related to real estate properties in various locations. Of the total sales of property, plant and equipment in 2009, a significant portion was related to real estate properties, mainly in Norway, France, Brazil and Switzerland. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 67 Construction in progress for property, plant and equip- In January 2011, we sold the $1,789 million money mar- ment at December 31, 2011, was $548 million, mainly in Sweden, Switzerland, the United States, Brazil and China. Construction in progress for property, plant and equipment at December 31, 2010, was $447 million, mainly in Switzer- land, Sweden, Germany, the United States, China and Poland. Construction in progress for property, plant and equipment at December 31, 2009, was $564 million, mainly in Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, China, India and Poland. In 2012, we plan to increase our capital expenditures and estimate the amount will be higher than our annual depre- ciation and amortization charge. We anticipate investments will be higher in the Americas and Asia but will remain at approximately the same level in Europe. Liquidity and capital resources Principal sources of funding In 2011, 2010 and 2009, we met our liquidity needs princi- pally using cash from operations, bank borrowings, the proceeds from sales of marketable securities and proceeds from the issuance of debt instruments (bonds and commer- cial papers). During 2011, 2010 and 2009, our financial position was strengthened by the positive cash flow from operating activities of $3,612 million, $4,197 million and $4,027 million, respectively. Our net cash is shown in the table below: December 31, ($ in millions) Cash and equivalents Marketable securities and short-term investments Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt Long-term debt Net cash (defined as the sum of the above lines) 2011 4,819 2010 5,897 948 2,713 (765) (3,231) (1,043) (1,139) 1,771 6,428 Despite the cash generated by operations during 2011 of $3,612 million, net cash at December 31, 2011, decreased compared to December 31, 2010, primarily due to the cash outflow for the acquisition of businesses ($4,020 million), and the payment of dividends ($1,569 million). See “Financial Position,” “Net cash used in investing activities” and “Net cash used in financing activities” for further details. Our Group Treasury Operations is responsible for provid- ing a range of treasury management services to our group companies, including investing cash in excess of current business requirements. At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the proportion of our aggregate “Cash and equivalents” and “Marketable securities and short-term investments” managed by our Group Treasury Operations amounted to approxi- mately 60 percent and 70 percent, respectively. ket funds acquired in 2010, and used $4.3 billion of our cash in connection with the purchase of Baldor and the repayment of debt assumed upon acquisition. Up until mid-2011, we continued a strategy of investing our cash (in excess of cur- rent business requirements) predominantly in short-term time deposits with maturities of less than 3 months. However, in late summer of 2011, as credit risk concerns in the euro- zone economic area increased, we diversified out of eurozone bank exposures. As the crisis deepened and uncertainty grew, we restricted the counterparties with whom we were prepared to place cash, such that we reduced our deposits with banks in the eurozone. Furthermore, Group Treasury Operations let any investments in approved eurozone government securities (Germany, France, the Netherlands) mature to be replaced by liquid U.S. treasuries. In 2010, the overall investment strategy was to maintain diversification and flexibility in our investment portfolio through a mix of government securities, highly-rated corpo- rate short-dated paper and time deposits of short duration with banks. During the second quarter of 2010, we began to invest in AAA-rated liquidity (money market) funds in order to diversify our investment base and increase the yield on our investments. At December 31, 2010, such investment re p- resented $1,789 million of the total marketable securities and short-term investments balance of $2,713 million in the table above. We actively monitor credit risk in our investment portfolio and hedging activities. Credit risk exposures are controlled in accordance with policies approved by our senior manage- ment to identify, measure, monitor and control credit risks. We closely monitor developments in the credit markets and make appropriate changes to our investment policy as deemed necessary. The rating criteria we require for our counterparts have remained unchanged during 2011 as follows: a mini- mum rating of A/A2 for our banking counterparts, while the minimum required rating for investments in short-term corpo- rate paper is A-1/P-1. In addition to rating criteria, we have specific investment parameters and approved instruments as well as restricting the types of investments we make. These parameters are closely monitored on an ongoing basis and amended as we consider necessary. We believe the cash flows generated from our business, supplemented, when necessary, through access to the capi- tal markets (including short-term commercial paper) and our credit facilities and term loan agreement, are sufficient to support business operations, capital expenditures, business acquisitions, the payment of dividends to shareholders and contributions to pension plans. Due to the nature of our op- erations, our cash flow from operations generally tends to be weaker in the first half of the year than in the second half of the year. Consequently, we believe that our ability to obtain funding from these sources will continue to provide the cash flows necessary to satisfy our working capital and capital expenditure requirements, as well as meet our debt repay- ments and other financial commitments for the next 12 months. See “Disclosures about contractual obligations and commitments.” 68 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Debt and interest rates Commercial paper Total outstanding debt was as follows: December 31, ($ in millions) 2011 2010 Short-term debt including current maturities of long-term debt (including bonds) 765 1,043 Long-term debt: – bonds (excluding portion due within one year) – other long-term debt Total debt 3,059 172 3,996 946 193 2,182 The decrease in short-term debt in 2011 was due to the ma- turity of our EUR 650 million 6.5% Instruments ($865 million at date of repayment) offset by the issuance of commercial paper ($435 million outstanding at December 31, 2011) while the increase in long-term debt in 2011 was primarily due to the new bonds issued (see “Note 12 Debt” to our Consoli- dated Financial Statements). Our debt has been obtained in a range of currencies and maturities and on various interest rate terms. We use deriva- tives to reduce the interest rate exposures arising on certain of our debt. For example, we use interest rate swaps to effectively convert fixed rate debt into floating rate liabilities. After considering the effects of interest rate swaps, the effective average interest rate on our floating rate long- term debt (including current maturities) of $1,875 million and our fixed rate long-term debt (including current maturi- ties) of $1,432 million was 1.6 percent and 3.7 percent, respectively. This compares with an effective rate of 3.2 per- cent for floating rate long-term debt of $1,919 million and 5.6 percent for fixed-rate long-term debt of $139 million at December 31, 2010. For a discussion of our use of derivatives to modify the characteristics of our individual bond issuances, see “Note 12 Debt” to our Consolidated Financial Statements. Credit facilities We have a $2 billion multicurrency revolving credit facility, maturing 2015. No amount was drawn under the credit facil- ity at December 31, 2011 and 2010. The facility is for general corporate purposes and serves as a back-stop facility to our commercial paper programs to the extent that we is- sue commercial paper under the programs described below. The facility contains cross-default clauses whereby an event of default would occur if we were to default on indebt- edness, as defined in the facility, at or above a specified threshold. In February 2012, we entered a $4 billion credit agree- ment for an initial term of 364 days to provide bridge financing for our planned acquisition of Thomas & Betts Corporation. Neither the credit facility or the term credit agreement contain significant covenants that would restrict our ability to pay dividends or raise additional funds in the capital markets. For further details of the credit facility and the new term credit agreement, see “Note 12 Debt” to our Consoli- dated Financial Statements. We have in place three commercial paper programs: – a $1 billion commercial paper program for the private placement of USD-denominated commercial paper in the United States, – a $1 billion Euro-commercial paper program for the issu- ance of commercial paper in a variety of currencies, and – a 5 billion Swedish krona program (equivalent to approxi- mately $722 million, using December 31, 2011, exchange rates), allowing us to issue short-term commercial paper in either Swedish krona or euro. At December 31, 2011, $435 million was outstanding under the $1 billion program in the United States. No amounts were out- standing under any of these programs at December 31, 2010. European program for the issuance of debt At December 31, 2011 and 2010, $910 million and $1,828 million, respectively, of our total debt outstanding, were debt issuances under this program. During 2011, the program was updated and increased to allow the issuance of up to (the equivalent of) $8 billion (previously $5.25 billion) in certain debt instruments. The terms of the program do not obligate any third party to extend credit to us and the terms and possibility of issuing any debt under the program are deter- mined with respect to, and as of the date of issuance of, each debt instrument. Credit ratings Credit ratings are assessments by the rating agencies of the credit risk associated with ABB and are based on information provided by us or other sources that the rating agencies con- sider reliable. Higher ratings generally result in lower borrow- ing costs and increased access to capital markets. Our ratings are of “investment grade” which is defined as Baa3 (or above) from Moody’s and BBB- (or above) from Standard & Poor’s. At December 31, 2011, our long-term company ratings were A2 and A from Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s, respec- tively, compared to A3 and A at December 31, 2010. Limitations on transfers of funds Currency and other local regulatory limitations related to the transfer of funds exist in a number of countries where we operate, including Algeria, China, Egypt, India, Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thai- land, Turkey and Venezuela. Funds, other than regular dividends, fees or loan repayments, cannot be readily trans- ferred offshore from these countries and are therefore de- posited and used for working capital needs locally. In addi- tion, there are certain countries where, for tax reasons, it is not considered optimal to transfer the cash offshore. As a consequence, these funds are not available within our Group Treasury Operations to meet short-term cash obligations outside the relevant country. The above described funds are ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 69 reported as cash in our Consolidated Balance Sheets, but we do not consider these funds immediately available for the repayment of debt outside the respective countries where the cash is situated, including those described above. At De- cember 31, 2011 and 2010, the balance of “Cash and equi- valents” and “Marketable securities and other short-term in- vestments” under such limitations (either regulatory or sub-optimal from a tax perspective) totaled approximately $1,530 million and $1,745 million, respectively. During 2011, we continued to direct our subsidiaries in countries with restrictions to place such cash with our core banks or investment grade banks, in order to minimize credit risk on such cash positions. Consequently, cash placed with non-rated or sub-investment grade banks has remained at less than 5 percent of cash outside of our Group Treasury Operations. We continue to closely monitor the situation to ensure bank counterparty risks are minimized. Financial position Balance sheets Current assets December 31, ($ in millions) Cash and equivalents Marketable securities and short-term investments Receivables, net Inventories, net Prepaid expenses Deferred taxes Other current assets Total current assets 2011 4,819 948 10,773 5,737 227 932 351 2010 5,897 2,713 9,970 4,878 193 896 801 23,787 25,348 Other intangible assets, net Current liabilities December 31, ($ in millions) Accounts payable, trade Billings in excess of sales Employee and other payables Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt Advances from customers Deferred taxes Provisions for warranties Provisions and other current liabilities Accrued expenses Total current liabilities 2011 4,789 1,819 1,361 765 1,757 305 1,324 2,619 1,822 2010 4,555 1,730 1,526 1,043 1,764 357 1,393 2,726 1,644 16,561 16,738 Total current liabilities at December 31, 2011, decreased primarily due to a reduction in current maturities of long-term debt due to bond repayments of $865 million, partially offset by the net issuance of short-term commercial paper in the amount of $435 million. Partially offsetting the reduction in total current liabilities are increases in accounts payable and accruals arising from acquisitions. Accounts payable in- creased 5.1 percent (8.3 percent in local currencies) com- pared to the prior year mostly due to increased business vol- ume. Likewise, the increase in Billings in excess of sales of 5.1 percent (8.4 percent in local currencies) was also driven by increased business volumes. Employee and other payables decreased from the prior year by 10.8 percent (7.9 percent in local currencies) mostly due to lower value-added tax pay- ables compared to the prior year. Non-current assets December 31, ($ in millions) Property, plant and equipment, net Goodwill Prepaid pension and other employee benefits Investments in equity-accounted companies Deferred taxes Other non-current assets Total non-current assets 2011 4,922 7,269 2,253 139 156 318 804 2010 4,356 4,085 701 173 19 846 767 15,861 10,947 Property, plant and equipment, net, increased 13.0 percent (16.5 percent in local currencies) between December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2011, primarily due to the acquisition of Baldor ($413 million), with the remaining increase due to investments across most divisions, including investments in manufacturing plants in Sweden, China, Switzerland and Brazil. The increase in goodwill and other intangible assets, net, was mainly due to the Baldor and Mincom acquisitions (see “Note 3 Acquisitions, increases in controlling interests and divestments” and “Note 11 Goodwill and other intangible assets” to our Consolidated Financial Statements). The decrease in prepaid pension and other employee benefits reflects the change in the funded status of our overfunded pension plans. See “Note 17 Employee benefits” to our Consolidated Financial Statements. For an explanation of the reduction in Deferred taxes, refer to “Note 16 Taxes” to our Consolidated Financial State- ments. For a discussion on cash and equivalents and marketable securities and short-term investments, see “Liquidity and capital resources – Principal sources of funding” for further details. Receivables, net, at the end of 2011, increased from the end of 2010 by approximately 8.0 percent (11.6 percent in local currencies). The increase was primarily driven by the acquisitions of Baldor and Mincom. Higher revenues further drove the increase, however this was partially offset by im- proved collections of receivables, thus reducing the overall days of sales outstanding ratio for receivables from 115 days at the end of 2010 to 104 days at the end of 2011. Inventories, net, increased 17.6 percent compared to the level at the end of 2010 (21.6 percent in local currencies). This increase was across almost all divisions, driven by the increasing order volumes as well as the acquisitions of Baldor and Mincom. For a discussion on deferred taxes see “Note 16 Taxes” to our Consolidated Financial Statements. Other current assets include derivative assets and in- come tax receivables. The decrease primarily reflects lower derivative market values. 70 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Other non-current assets mainly include restricted cash, In 2010, operating activities provided net cash of $4,197 derivative assets, including embedded derivatives, and shares and participations. Non-current liabilities December 31, ($ in millions) Long-term debt Pension and other employee benefits Deferred taxes Other non-current liabilities Total non-current liabilities 2011 3,231 1,487 537 1,496 6,751 2010 1,139 831 411 1,718 4,099 The increase in our long-term debt was largely due to new bond issuances which represented $2,149 million of the December 31, 2011, balance. See “Liquidity and Capital Re- sources – Debt and interest rates.” The increase in pension and other employee benefits substantially reflects the remeasurement (relating to our de- fined benefit pension plans) of benefit obligations for updated assumptions and of plan assets to fair value, partly offset by employer contributions. See “Note 17 Employee benefits” to our Consolidated Financial Statements. million, an increase of 4 percent on the prior year, reflecting our working capital management. Stable levels of working capital were achieved despite increasing order volumes, as cash out- lays for higher inventories and trade receivables could be off- set through increased levels of trade payables. Operating activities in 2009 provided net cash of $4,027 million. Net cash provided by operating activities included a $135 million cash outflow related to our ongoing restructuring- related activities. Net cash provided by operating activities was particularly high in our Power Products division (with the Discrete Automation and Motion and Low Voltage Products divisions also showing an increase) mainly due to lower inventories and improved cash collection. This was partially offset by lower advance payments from customers in the wake of decreasing orders. Net cash used in investing activities ($ in millions) 2011 2010 2009 Purchases of marketable securities Other non-current liabilities decreased primarily due (available-for-sale) (2,809) (3,391) (243) to a reduction in uncertain tax positions, refer to “Note 16 Taxes” to our Consolidated Financial Statements. Cash flows In the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, the effects of discontinued operations are not segregated. Purchases of marketable securities (held-to-maturity) Purchases of short-term investments Purchases of property, plant and – (65) (918) (142) (2,165) (3,824) equipment and intangible assets (1,021) (840) (967) Acquisitions of businesses (net of cash acquired) and changes in cost and equity investments (4,020) (1,313) (161) The Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows can be Proceeds from sales of marketable summarized as follows: ($ in millions) Net cash provided by operating activities Net cash used in investing activities Net cash used in financing activities securities (available-for-sale) 3,717 Proceeds from maturity of market- 2011 2010 2009 able securities (available-for-sale) 483 Proceeds from maturity of market- 807 531 3,612 4,197 4,027 able securities (held-to-maturity) – 290 Proceeds from short-term 79 855 730 (3,253) (2,747) (2,172) investments 529 3,276 2,253 (1,208) (2,530) (1,349) plant and equipment Proceeds from sales of property, Effects of exchange rate changes Proceeds from sales of businesses on cash and equivalents (229) (142) 214 and equity-accounted companies Net change in cash and equiva- (net of cash disposed) lents – continuing operations (1,078) (1,222) 720 Changes in financing and other 57 8 (55) 47 83 (7) 36 16 (28) Net cash provided by operating activities Net cash provided by operating activities in 2011 of $3,612 million declined by 13.9 percent from the prior year. This decline was driven by higher trade receivables and in- ventories in line with the 20 percent increase in revenues. The decrease can be further attributed to a lower increase in trade payables than in the prior year. Provisions, net, were also lower due to payments related to environmental re mediation liabilities in the United States and restructuring- related payments. non-current receivables, net Net cash used in investing activities (3,253) (2,747) (2,172) The net cash inflow from marketable securities and short- term investments in 2011 reflected the use of our excess liquidity in funding primarily the acquisition of businesses. Total cash disbursements for the purchase of property, plant and equipment and intangibles in 2011, included $268 million for the purchase of machinery and equipment, $128 million for the purchase of land and buildings, $57 mil- lion for the purchase of intangible assets and $568 million for construction in progress. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 71 Acquisition of businesses (net of cash acquired) and changes in cost and equity investments in 2011, primarily re- lated to the acquisition of Baldor, Mincom, Trasfor and Lorentzen & Wettre Group and other smaller acquisitions. Net cash used in investing activities during 2010 was $2,747 million. Aggregate purchases of marketable securities and short-term investments amounted to $5,621 million in 2010. Compared to 2009, there was an increase in the pur- chases of marketable securities (available-for-sale), while at the same time a reduction in the purchases of marketable securities (held-to-maturity) and short-term investments. Aggregate proceeds from the sales and maturities of market- able securities and short-term investments during 2010 amounted to $4,904 million. Total cash disbursements for the purchase of property, plant and equipment, and intangibles in 2010 amounted to $840 million, including $164 million for the purchase of ma- chinery and equipment, $175 million for the purchase of land and buildings, $54 million for the purchase of intangible assets and $447 million capital expenditures for construction in progress. Acquisitions of businesses (net of cash acquired), in 2010, primarily related to the acquisition of Ventyx and certain smaller acquisitions such as K-TEK in the United States and the Jokab Safety in Sweden. Net cash used in investing activities during 2009 was $2,172 million. Aggregate purchases of marketable securities and short-term investments amounted to $4,985 million in 2009. Total cash disbursements for the purchase of property, plant and equipment and intangibles in 2009 amounted to $967 million reflecting capital expenditures to expand our manufacturing footprint in emerging markets and selective expenditures to refocus our facilities in mature markets. Capital expenditures in 2009 included $258 million for the purchase of machinery and equipment, $48 million for the purchase of land and buildings, $77 million for the pur- chase of intangible assets and $584 million capital ex- penditures for construction in progress. Acquisitions of businesses (net of cash acquired), in 2009, mainly included the acquisition of Comem and the pur- chase of the remaining shares in Ensto Busch-Jaeger in Finland, a company in which ABB previously had a noncon- trolling ownership stake. Aggregate proceeds from the sales of marketable securi- ties and short-term investments during 2009 amounted to $3,917 million. Cash received from the sale of property, plant and equip- ment during 2009 included $23 million of proceeds from the sale of real estate properties, mainly in Norway, France, Brazil and Switzerland, and $13 million from the sale of machinery and equipment in various locations. In 2009, net cash inflows from the sale of businesses and equity-accounted companies amounted to $16 million, which included approximately $8 million net proceeds from the sale of the mechanical marine thruster business in Poland. 72 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Net cash used in financing activities ($ in millions) Net changes in debt with maturities of 90 days or less Increase in debt Repayment of debt Issuance of shares Transactions in treasury shares Dividends paid Dividends paid in the form of nominal value reduction Acquisition of noncontrolling interests Dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders Other Net cash used in financing 2011 2010 2009 450 2,580 (2,576) 105 5 (1,569) 52 277 (497) 16 (166) – (59) 586 (705) 89 – – – (1,112) (1,027) (13) (956) (48) (157) (33) (193) 49 (193) 8 activities (1,208) (2,530) (1,349) Our financing activities primarily include debt transactions (both from the issuance of debt securities and borrowings directly from banks), capital and treasury stock transactions, and dividends paid. The 2011 net cash inflow from changes in debt with maturities of 90 days or less, primarily reflects the net issuance of commercial paper under our $1 billion commer- cial paper program in the United States. In 2011, the cash inflows from increases in debt princi- pally related to the issuance of the following bonds: $600 mil- lion aggregate principal, 2.5%, due 2016; $650 million aggre- gate principal, 4.0%, due 2021; CHF 500 million aggregate principal, 1.25%, due 2016; and CHF 350 million aggregate principal, 2.25%, due 2021. In 2010 and 2009, increases in debt primarily related to short-term borrowings. During 2011, $2,576 million of bonds and other debt was repaid, primarily reflecting the repayment of $1.2 billion in debt assumed upon the acquisition of Baldor in January 2011 and the repayment at maturity of 650 million euro of 6.5% EUR Instruments, due 2011, (equivalent to $865 million at date of repayment). During 2010, $497 million of debt was repaid at maturity. During 2009, $705 million of bonds and other debt was repaid at maturity, including the 108 million Swiss francs of 3.75% CHF bonds, due 2009, (equivalent to $105 million at date of repayment) and 20 million pounds sterling 10% GBP Instruments, due 2009, (equivalent to $33 million at date of repayment, excluding the effect of cross- currency swaps). In the second quarter of 2011, a bank (to which we had sold call options in connection with our management in centive plan (MIP)) exercised a portion of the call options it held. As a result of the exercise, we received $105 million from the bank and issued to them 6.0 million shares from contingent capital. During 2010, we purchased, on the open market, 12.1 mil- lion of our own shares for use in connection with our em- ployee share-based programs, resulting in a cash outflow of $228 million. This cash outflow was offset by cash inflow of $62 million from the issuance of 3.2 million shares out of treasury stock to employees in connection with our employee share acquisition plan (ESAP). During 2011 and 2009, there were no purchases or sales of treasury stock on the open market.  The acquisition of noncontrolling interests in 2010 of $956 million represented the cost of increasing our owner- ship interest in ABB Limited, India (our publicly listed subsid- iary in India) from approximately 52 percent to 75 percent. In 2009, the $48 million represents an increase in ownership interests, primarily in China. Of the total of $800 million unrecognized tax benefits (net of deferred tax assets) at December 31, 2011, it is expected that $153 million will be paid within less than a year. However, we cannot make a reasonably reliable estimate as to the related future payments for the remaining amount. Disclosures about contractual obligations and commitments The contractual obligations presented in the table below represent our estimates of future payments under fixed con- tractual obligations and commitments. The amounts in the table may differ from those reported in our Consolidated Bal- ance Sheet at December 31, 2011. Changes in our business needs, cancellation provisions and changes in interest rates, as well as actions by third parties and other factors, may cause these estimates to change. Therefore, our actual pay- ments in future periods may vary from those presented in the table. The following table summarizes certain of our con- tractual obligations and principal and interest payments un- der our debt instruments, leases and purchase obligations at December 31, 2011: Less than 1–3 3–5 More than Off balance sheet arrangements Commercial commitments We disclose the maximum potential exposure of certain guar- antees, as well as possible recourse provisions that may allow us to recover from third parties amounts paid out under such guarantees. The maximum potential exposure does not allow any discounting of our assessment of actual exposure under the guarantees. The information below reflects our maximum potential exposure under the guarantees, which is higher than our assessment of the expected exposure. Guarantees The following table provides quantitative data regarding our third-party guarantees. The maximum potential payments represent a worst-case scenario, and do not reflect our ex- pected results. Payments due by period Total 1 year years years 5 years ($ in millions) Long-term debt obligations 3,305 76 977 1,166 1,086 December 31, ($ in millions) Interest payments related to long-term debt obligations 595 Operating lease obligations 2,086 Capital lease obligations(1) 183 113 477 27 Purchase obligations 5,756 4,622 171 741 44 936 118 528 28 151 193 340 84 47 Total 11,925 5,315 2,869 1,991 1,750 (1) Capital lease obligations represent the total cash payments to be made in the future and include interest expense of $85 million and executory cost of $2 million. In the table above, the long-term debt obligations reflect the cash amounts to be repaid upon maturity of those debt obligations. As we have designated interest rate swaps as fair value hedges of certain debt obligations, the cash obligations above will differ from the long-term debt balance reflected in “Note 12 Debt” to our Consolidated Financial Statements. We have determined the interest payments related to long-term debt obligations by reference to the payments due under the terms of our debt obligations at the time such obligations were incurred. However, we use interest rate swaps to modify the characteristics of certain of our debt ob- ligations. The net effect of these swaps may be to increase or decrease the actual amount of our cash interest payment obligations, which may differ from those stated in the above table. For further details on our debt obligations and the re- lated hedges, see “Note 12 Debt” to our Consolidated Finan- cial Statements. Performance guarantees Financial guarantees Indemnification guarantees Total Maximum potential payments 2011 2010 148 85 194 427 125 84 203 412 The carrying amounts of liabilities recorded in the Consoli- dated Balance Sheets in respect of the above guarantees were not significant at December 31, 2011 and 2010, and re- flect our best estimate of future payments, which we may incur as part of fulfilling our guarantee obligations. For additional descriptions of our performance, financial and indemnification guarantees see “Note 15 Commitments and contingencies” to our Consolidated Financial State- ments. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 73 Related party transactions Contingencies related to former Nuclear Technology business Affiliates and associates In the normal course of our business, we purchase products from, sell products to and engage in other transactions with entities in which we hold an equity interest. The amounts involved in these transactions are not material to ABB Ltd. Also, in the normal course of our business, we engage in transactions with businesses that we have divested. We be- lieve that the terms of the transactions we conduct with these companies are negotiated on an arm’s length basis. Key management personnel Details of important business relationships with between ABB and its Board members, or companies and organiza- tions represented by them, are described in the section “5.3 Business relationships” of the Corporate governance report contained in this Annual Report. We retained liabilities for certain specific environmental reme- diation costs at two sites in the United States that were operated by our former subsidiary, ABB CE-Nuclear Power Inc., which we sold to British Nuclear Fuels PLC (BNFL) in 2000. We established a provision of $300 million in “Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax” in 2000 for our estimated share of the remediation costs for these sites. At December 31, 2011 and 2010, we have recorded in current and non-current other liabilities provisions of $24 million and $181 million, respectively, net of payments from incep- tion of $230 million and $85 million, respectively, as well as certain adjustments. Expenditures charged against the provision were $145 million, $20 million and $11 million during 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. We have estimated that during 2012 we will charge expenditures of approximately $6 million against the provision. For a detailed description of these and other contingen- cies see “Note 15 Commitments and contingencies” to our Consolidated Financial Statements. Environmental liabilities We are engaged in environmental clean-up activities at cer- tain sites principally in the United States, arising under various United States and other environmental protection laws and under certain agreements with third parties. In some cases, these environmental remediation actions are subject to legal proceedings, investigations or claims, and it is uncertain to which extent we are actually obligated to perform. Provisions for these unresolved matters have been set up if it is probable that we have incurred a liability and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. If a provision has been recognized for any of these matters we record an asset when it is probable that we will recover a portion of the costs expected to be incurred to settle them. We are of the opinion, based upon information presently available, that the resolution of any such obligations and non-collection of recoverable costs would not have a further material adverse effect on our Consolidated Financial Statements. 74 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Consolidated Financial Statements Consolidated Income Statements Year ended December 31 ($ in millions, except per share data in $) Sales of products Sales of services Total revenues Cost of products Cost of services Total cost of sales Gross profit Selling, general and administrative expenses Non-order related research and development expenses Other income (expense), net Earnings before interest and taxes Interest and dividend income Interest and other finance expense Income from continuing operations before taxes Provision for taxes Income from continuing operations, net of tax Income from discontinued operations, net of tax Net income Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests Net income attributable to ABB Amounts attributable to ABB shareholders: Income from continuing operations, net of tax Net income Basic earnings per share attributable to ABB shareholders: Income from continuing operations, net of tax Net income Diluted earnings per share attributable to ABB shareholders: Income from continuing operations, net of tax Net income Weighted-average number of shares outstanding (in millions) used to compute: Basic earnings per share attributable to ABB shareholders Diluted earnings per share attributable to ABB shareholders See accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 2011 2010 31,875 26,291 6,115 5,298 37,990 31,589 2009 26,820 4,975 31,795 (22,649) (18,607) (19,057) (3,907) (3,453) (3,413) (26,556) (22,060) (22,470) 11,434 (5,373) (1,371) (23) 4,667 90 (207) 4,550 (1,244) 3,306 9 3,315 (147) 3,168 9,529 (4,615) (1,082) (14) 3,818 95 (173) 3,740 (1,018) 2,722 10 2,732 (171) 2,561 9,325 (4,491) (1,037) 329 4,126 121 (127) 4,120 (1,001) 3,119 17 3,136 (235) 2,901 3,159 3,168 2,551 2,561 2,884 2,901 1.38 1.38 1.38 1.38 1.12 1.12 1.11 1.12 1.26 1.27 1.26 1.27 2,288 2,291 2,287 2,291 2,284 2,288 ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 75 Consolidated Balance Sheets December 31 ($ in millions, except share data) Cash and equivalents Marketable securities and short-term investments Receivables, net Inventories, net Prepaid expenses Deferred taxes Other current assets Total current assets Property, plant and equipment, net Goodwill Other intangible assets, net Prepaid pension and other employee benefits Investments in equity-accounted companies Deferred taxes Other non-current assets Total assets Accounts payable, trade Billings in excess of sales Employee and other payables Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt Advances from customers Deferred taxes Provisions for warranties Provisions and other current liabilities Accrued expenses Total current liabilities Long-term debt Pension and other employee benefits Deferred taxes Other non-current liabilities Total liabilities Commitments and contingencies Stockholders’ equity: Capital stock and additional paid-in capital (2,314,743,264 and 2,308,782,064 issued shares at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively) Retained earnings Accumulated other comprehensive loss Treasury stock, at cost (24,332,144 and 25,317,453 shares at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively) Total ABB stockholders’ equity Noncontrolling interests Total stockholders’ equity Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity See accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 76 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 2011 4,819 948 10,773 5,737 227 932 351 2010 5,897 2,713 9,970 4,878 193 896 801 23,787 25,348 4,922 7,269 2,253 139 156 318 804 4,356 4,085 701 173 19 846 767 39,648 36,295 4,789 1,819 1,361 765 1,757 305 1,324 2,619 1,822 4,555 1,730 1,526 1,043 1,764 357 1,393 2,726 1,644 16,561 16,738 3,231 1,487 537 1,496 1,139 831 411 1,718 23,312 20,837 1,621 16,988 (2,408) (424) 1,454 15,389 (1,517) (441) 15,777 14,885 559 16,336 39,648 573 15,458 36,295 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Year ended December 31 ($ in millions) Operating activities: Net income Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization Pension and other employee benefits Deferred taxes Net gain from sale of property, plant and equipment Loss (income) from equity-accounted companies Other Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Trade receivables, net Inventories, net Trade payables Billings in excess of sales Provisions, net Advances from customers Other assets and liabilities, net Net cash provided by operating activities Investing activities: Purchases of marketable securities (available-for-sale) Purchases of marketable securities (held-to-maturity) Purchases of short-term investments Purchases of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets Acquisition of businesses (net of cash acquired) and changes in cost and equity investments Proceeds from sales of marketable securities (available-for-sale) Proceeds from maturity of marketable securities (available-for-sale) Proceeds from maturity of marketable securities (held-to-maturity) Proceeds from short-term investments Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment Proceeds from sales of businesses and equity-accounted companies (net of cash disposed) Changes in financing and other non-current receivables, net Net cash used in investing activities Financing activities: Net changes in debt with maturities of 90 days or less Increase in debt Repayment of debt Issuance of shares Transactions in treasury shares Dividends paid Dividends paid in the form of nominal value reduction Acquisition of noncontrolling interests Dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders Other Net cash used in financing activities Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents Net change in cash and equivalents – continuing operations Cash and equivalents, beginning of period Cash and equivalents, end of period Supplementary disclosure of cash flow information: Interest paid Taxes paid See accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 2011 2010 2009 3,315 2,732 3,136 995 (49) (34) (47) (4) 111 (731) (600) 213 150 (391) 47 637 702 (51) 151 (39) (3) 106 (407) (264) 678 89 (69) (25) 597 655 (28) (56) (15) 2 (6) 256 1,130 (718) 295 (241) (316) (67) 3,612 4,197 4,027 (2,809) (3,391) – (142) (1,021) (4,020) 3,717 483 – 529 57 8 (55) (65) (2,165) (840) (1,313) 807 531 290 (243) (918) (3,824) (967) (161) 79 855 730 3,276 2,253 47 83 (7) 36 16 (28) (3,253) (2,747) (2,172) 450 2,580 (2,576) 105 5 (1,569) – (13) (157) (33) 52 277 (497) 16 (166) – (59) 586 (705) 89 – – (1,112) (1,027) (956) (193) 49 (48) (193) 8 (1,208) (2,530) (1,349) (229) (1,078) 5,897 4,819 (142) (1,222) 7,119 5,897 214 720 6,399 7,119 165 1,305 94 884 156 1,090 ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 77 Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity Years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 ($ in millions) Balance at January 1, 2009 Comprehensive income: Net income Foreign currency translation adjustments Effect of change in fair value of available-for-sale securities (net of tax of $26) Unrecognized income (expense) related to pensions and other postretirement plans (net of tax of $3) Change in derivatives qualifying as cash flow hedges (net of tax of $(54)) Capital stock and additional paid-in capital 4,841 Retained earnings 9,927 2,901 Total comprehensive income Changes in noncontrolling interests Dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders Dividends paid in the form of nominal value reduction Treasury stock transactions Share-based payment arrangements Issuance of shares Call options Balance at December 31, 2009 Comprehensive income: Net income Foreign currency translation adjustments Effect of change in fair value of available-for-sale securities (net of tax of $(2)) Unrecognized income (expense) related to pensions and other postretirement plans (net of tax of $(25)) Change in derivatives qualifying as cash flow hedges (net of tax of $(19)) Total comprehensive income Changes in noncontrolling interests Dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders Dividends paid in the form of nominal value reduction Cancellation of shares repurchased under buyback program Treasury stock transactions Share-based payment arrangements Issuance of shares Call options Balance at December 31, 2010 Comprehensive income: Net income Foreign currency translation adjustments Effect of change in fair value of available-for-sale securities (net of tax of $1) Unrecognized income (expense) related to pensions and other postretirement plans (net of tax of $154) Change in derivatives qualifying as cash flow hedges (net of tax of $29) Total comprehensive income Changes in noncontrolling interests Dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders Dividends paid Treasury stock transactions Share-based payment arrangements Issuance of shares Call options Replacement options issued in connection with acquisition Balance at December 31, 2011 See accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 78 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 (49) (1,024) (3) 66 90 22 3,943 12,828 2,561 (836) (1,112) (619) 66 13 (1) 1,454 15,389 3,168 (1,569) (3) (12) 67 105 (9) 19 1,621 16,988 Accumulated other comprehensive loss Foreign Unrealized Pension and Unrealized Total currency gain (loss) on other post- gain (loss) on accumulated Total ABB Non- Total translation available-for-sale retirement plan cash flow hedge other compre- Treasury stockholders’ controlling stockholders’ adjustment securities adjustments derivatives hensive loss (1,654) 83 (978) (161) (2,710) stock (900) 598 (63) (90) 598 (63) (90) 181 181 3 interests 612 235 12 (2) 245 20 (194) equity 11,158 2,901 598 (63) (90) 181 3,527 (49) – (1,024) – 66 90 22 equity 11,770 3,136 610 (63) (92) 181 3,772 (29) (194) (1,024) – 66 90 22 (1,056) 20 (1,068) 20 (2,084) (897) 13,790 683 14,473 349 (2) 148 349 (2) 148 72 72 2,561 349 (2) 148 72 3,128 (836) – (1,112) – (228) 66 78 (1) 619 (228) 65 (707) 18 (920) 92 (1,517) (441) 14,885 (261) 2 (552) (261) 2 (552) (80) (80) 3,168 (261) 2 (552) (80) 2,277 (3) – (1,569) 5 67 105 (9) 19 17 171 21 (3) 189 (110) (189) 573 147 (14) 3 136 7 (157) 2,732 370 (2) 145 72 3,317 (946) (189) (1,112) – (228) 66 78 (1) 15,458 3,315 (275) 2 (549) (80) 2,413 4 (157) (1,569) 5 67 105 (9) 19 (968) 20 (1,472) 12 (2,408) (424) 15,777 559 16,336 ABB Annual Report 2010 | Financial review 79 Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Note 1 The Company ABB Ltd and its subsidiaries (collectively, the Company) together form a leading global company in power and automa- tion technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The Company works with customers to engineer and install networks, facilities and plants with particular emphasis on enhancing efficiency, reliability and productivity for customers who generate, convert, transmit, distribute and consume energy. The Company has a global integrated risk management process. Once a year, the Board of Directors of ABB Ltd performs a risk assessment in accordance with the Company’s risk management processes and discusses appropriate actions, if necessary. Note 2 Significant accounting policies The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed in the preparation of these Consolidated Financial Statements. Basis of presentation Scope of consolidation Reclassifications Operating cycle Use of estimates The Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in accordance with United States of America (United States or U.S.) generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP) and are presented in United States dollars ($ or USD) unless otherwise stated. The par value of capital stock is denominated in Swiss francs. The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of ABB Ltd and companies which are directly or indirectly controlled by ABB Ltd. Additionally, the Company consolidates variable interest entities if it has determined that it is the primary beneficiary. Intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated. Investments in joint ventures and affili- ated companies in which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies (generally through direct or indirect ownership of 20 percent to 50 percent of the voting rights), are recorded in the Consolidated Financial Statements using the equity method of accounting. Certain amounts reported for prior years in the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation. These changes primarily relate to non-current assets, where the line “Financing receivables, net” has been included in “Other non-current assets” and the basis of presentation of segment results (see Note 22). A portion of the Company’s activities (primarily long-term construction activities) has an operating cycle that exceeds one year. For classification of current assets and liabilities related to such activities, the Company elected to use the duration of the individual contracts as its operating cycle. Accordingly, there are accounts receivable, inventories and provisions related to these contracts which will not be realized within one year that have been classified as current. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make assumptions and estimates that directly affect the amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying Notes. The most significant, difficult and subjective of such accounting assumptions and estimates include: – assumptions and projections, principally related to future material, labor and project-related overhead costs, used in determining the percentage-of-completion on projects, – estimates of loss contingencies associated with litigation or threatened litigation and other claims and inquiries, environmental damages, product warranties, regulatory and other proceedings, – assumptions used in the calculation of pension and postretirement benefits and the fair value of pension plan assets, – recognition and measurement of current and deferred income tax assets and liabilities (including the measurement of uncertain tax positions), – growth rates, discount rates and other assumptions used in testing goodwill for impairment, – assumptions used in determining inventory obsolescence and net realizable value, – estimates and assumptions used in determining the fair values of assets and liabilities assumed in business combinations, – growth rates, discount rates and other assumptions used to determine impairments of long-lived assets, and – assessment of the allowance for doubtful accounts. The actual results and outcomes may differ from the Company’s estimates and assumptions. Cash and equivalents Cash and equivalents include highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the date of acquisition. Currency and other local regulatory limitations related to the transfer of funds exist in a number of countries where the Company operates. Funds, other than regular dividends, fees or loan repayments, cannot be readily transferred abroad from these countries and are therefore deposited and used for working capital needs locally. These funds are included in cash and equivalents as they are not considered restricted. 80 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Note 2 Significant accounting policies, continued Marketable securities and short-term investments Management determines the appropriate classification of held-to-maturity and available-for-sale securities at the time of purchase. Debt securities are classified as held-to-maturity when the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold the securities to maturity. Held-to-maturity securities are stated at amortized cost, adjusted for accretion of discounts or amortization of premiums to maturity computed under the effective interest method. Such accretion or amortization is included in “Interest and dividend income”. Marketable debt and equity securities not classified as held-to-maturity are classified as available-for-sale. Marketable debt and equity securities classified as available-for-sale at the time of purchase are reported at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are excluded from the determination of earnings and are instead recognized in the “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” component of stockholders’ equity, net of tax, until realized. Realized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are computed based upon the historical cost of these securities, using the specific identification method. The Company performs a periodic review of its debt and equity securities to determine whether an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred. Generally, when an individual security has been in an unrealized loss position for an extended period of time, the Company evaluates whether an impairment has occurred. The evaluation is based on specific facts and circumstances at the time of assessment, which include general market conditions, and the duration and extent to which the fair value is below cost. If the fair value of a debt security is less than its amortized cost, then an other-than-temporary impairment for the differ- ence is recognized if (i) the Company has the intent to sell the security, (ii) it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost base or (iii) a credit loss exists in so far as the Company does not expect to recover the entire recognized amortized cost of the security. Impairment charges relating to such credit losses are recognized in “Interest and other finance expense” while impairments related to all other factors are recognized in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss”. In addition, for equity securities, the Company assesses whether the cost value will recover within the near-term and whether the Company has the intent and ability to hold that equity security until such recovery occurs. If an other-than- temporary impairment is identified, the security is written down to its fair value through earnings. Marketable debt and equity securities are generally classified as either “Cash and equivalents” or “Marketable securities and short-term investments” according to their maturity at the time of acquisition. Any marketable securities held as a long-term investment rather than as an investment of excess liquidity, are classified as “Other non-current assets”. Other-than-temporary impairments relating to these investments are reported in either “Other income (expense), net” for equity securities or “Interest and other finance expense” for debt securities. Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in existing accounts receivable. The Company determines the allow- ance based on historical write-off experience and customer specific data. If an amount has not been settled within its contractual payment term then it is considered past due. The Company reviews the allowance for doubtful accounts regularly and past due balances are reviewed for collectability. Information on the credit quality of trade receivables with an original maturity greater than one year and financing receivables is presented in Notes 7 and 9. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when the Company believes that the amount will not be recovered. The Company sells a broad range of products, systems and services to a wide range of industrial, commercial and utility customers as well as various government agencies and quasi-governmental agencies throughout the world. Concen- trations of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable are limited, as the Company’s customer base is comprised of a large number of individual customers. Ongoing credit evaluations of customers’ financial positions are performed to determine whether the use of credit support instruments such as guarantees, letters of credit or credit insurance are necessary; collateral is not generally required. The Company maintains reserves for potential credit losses as discussed above in Accounts receivable and allowance for doubtful accounts. Such losses, in the aggregate, are in line with the Company’s expectations. It is the Company’s policy to invest cash in deposits with banks throughout the world with certain minimum credit ratings and in high quality, low risk, liquid investments. The Company actively manages its credit risk by routinely reviewing the creditworthiness of the banks and the investments held, as well as maintaining such investments in time deposits or other liquid investments. The Company has not incurred significant credit losses related to such investments. The Company’s exposure to credit risk on derivative financial instruments is the risk that the counterparty will fail to meet its obligations. To reduce this risk, the Company has credit policies that require the establishment and periodic review of credit limits for individual counterparties. In addition, the Company has entered into close-out netting agreements with most derivative counterparties. Close-out netting agreements provide for the termination, valuation and net settlement of some or all outstanding transactions between two counterparties on the occurrence of one or more pre-defined trigger events. In the Consolidated Financial Statements, derivative transactions are presented on a gross basis. The Company generally recognizes revenues for the sale of goods when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. With regards to the sale of products, delivery is not considered to have occurred, and therefore no revenues are recognized, until the customer has taken title to the products and assumed the risks and rewards of ownership of the products specified in the purchase order or sales agreement. Generally, the transfer of title and risks and rewards of ownership are governed by the contractually-defined shipping terms. The Company uses various International Commercial shipping terms (as promulgated by the International Chamber of Commerce) in its sales of products to third-party customers, such as Ex Works (EXW), Free Carrier (FCA) and Delivered Duty Paid (DDP). Subsequent to delivery of the products, the Com- pany generally has no further contractual performance obligations that would preclude revenue recognition. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 81 Accounts receivable and allowance for doubtful accounts Concentrations of credit risk Revenue recognition Note 2 Significant accounting policies, continued Revenues under long-term construction-type contracts are generally recognized using the percentage-of-completion method of accounting. The Company principally uses the cost-to-cost method to measure progress towards completion on contracts. Under this method, progress of contracts is measured by actual costs incurred in relation to the Com- pany’s best estimate of total estimated costs, which are reviewed and updated routinely for contracts in progress. The cumulative effects of such adjustments are reported in the current period. Short-term construction-type contracts, or long-term construction-type contracts for which reasonably dependable estimates cannot be made or for which inherent hazards make estimates difficult, are accounted for under the completed-contract method. Revenues under the completed-contract method are recognized upon substantial comple- tion – that is: acceptance by the customer, compliance with performance specifications demonstrated in a factory acceptance test or similar event. For non construction-type contracts that contain customer acceptance provisions, revenue is deferred until customer acceptance occurs or the Company has demonstrated the customer-specified objective criteria have been met, or the contractual acceptance period has lapsed. Revenues from service transactions are recognized as services are performed. For long-term service contracts, revenues are recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the contract or, if the performance pattern is other than straight- line, as the services are provided. Service revenues reflect revenues earned from the Company’s activities in providing services to customers primarily subsequent to the sale and delivery of a product or complete system. Such revenues consist of maintenance-type contracts, field service activities that include personnel and accompanying spare parts, and installation and commissioning of products as a stand-alone service or as part of a service contract. Revenues for software license fees are recognized when persuasive evidence of a non-cancelable license agreement exists, delivery has occurred, the license fee is fixed or determinable, and collection is probable. In software arrangements that include rights to multiple software products and/or services, the total arrangement fee is allocated using the resid- ual method. Under this method revenue is allocated to the undelivered elements based on vendor-specific objective evidence (VSOE) of the fair value of such undelivered elements and the residual amounts of revenue are allocated to the delivered elements. Elements included in multiple element arrangements may consist of software products, maintenance (which includes customer support services and unspecified upgrades), hosting, and consulting services. VSOE is based on the price generally charged when an element is sold separately or, in the case of an element not yet sold separately, the price established by management, if it is probable that the price, once established, will not change once the element is sold separately. If VSOE does not exist for an undelivered element, the total arrangement fee will be recognized as revenue over the life of the contract or upon delivery of the undelivered element. The Company offers multiple element arrangements to meet its customers’ needs. These arrangements may involve the delivery of multiple products and/or performance of services (such as installation and training) and the delivery and/or performance may occur at different points in time or over different periods of time. If certain criteria are met, the Company allocates revenues to each delivery of product or performance of service based on the individual elements’ relative fair value. A hierarchy of selling prices is used to determine the selling price of each specific deliverable that includes VSOE (if available), third-party evidence (if VSOE is not available), or estimated selling price if neither of the first two is avail- able. The estimated selling price reflects the Company’s best estimate of what the selling prices of elements would be if the elements were sold on a stand-alone basis. Revenue is allocated between the elements of an arrangement consid- eration at the inception of the arrangement. Such arrangements generally include industry-specific performance and termination provisions, such as in the event of substantial delays or non-delivery. Revenues are reported net of customer rebates and similar incentives. Taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are directly imposed on revenue-producing transactions between the Company and its customers, such as sales, use, value-added and some excise taxes, are presented on a net basis (excluded from revenues). Contract loss provisions Losses on contracts are recognized in the period when they are identified and are based upon the anticipated excess of contract costs over the related contract revenues. Shipping and handling costs Shipping and handling costs are recorded as a component of cost of sales. Inventories Impairment of long-lived assets Property, plant and equipment Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method, the weighted- average cost method, or in certain circumstances (for example, where the completed-contract method of revenue rec- ognition is used) the specific identification method. Inventoried costs are stated at acquisition cost or actual production cost, including direct material and labor and applicable manufacturing overheads. Adjustments to reduce the cost of inventory to its net market value are made, if required, for decreases in sales prices, obsolescence or similar reductions in the estimated net realizable value. Long-lived assets that are held and used are assessed for impairment when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. If the asset’s net carrying value exceeds the asset’s net undis- counted cash flows expected to be generated over its remaining useful life including net proceeds expected from dispo- sition of the asset, if any, the carrying amount of the asset is reduced to its estimated fair value. The estimated fair value is determined using a market, income and/or cost approach. Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and is depreciated using the straight- line method. The estimated useful lives of the assets are generally as follows: – factories and office buildings: 30 to 40 years, – other facilities: 15 years, – machinery and equipment: 3 to 15 years, – furniture and office equipment: 3 to 8 years, – leasehold improvements are depreciated over their estimated useful life or, for operating leases, over the lease term, if shorter. 82 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Note 2 Significant accounting policies, continued Goodwill and other intangible assets Goodwill is tested for impairment annually as of October 1 or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. The Company performs a two-step impairment test. In the first step, the Company compares the fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying value. A reporting unit is an operating segment or one level below an operating segment. For the annual impairment review, the reporting units were the same as the oper- ating segments for Power Systems, Discrete Automation and Motion, and Low Voltage Products, while for the Power Products and Process Automation operating segments, the reporting units were determined to be one level below the operating segment. The Company determines the fair value of its reporting units based on the income approach whereby the fair value of each reporting unit is calculated based on the present value of future cash flows. If the carrying value of the net assets of a reporting unit exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit or its carrying amount is zero or negative and it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists then the Company performs the second step of the impairment test to determine the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill. If the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, the Company records an impairment charge equal to the difference. The cost of acquired intangible assets with a finite life is amortized using a method of amortization that reflects the pattern of intangible assets’ expected contributions to future cash flows. If that pattern cannot be reliably determined, the straight-line method is used. The amortization periods range from 3 to 5 years for software and from 5 to 20 years for customer-, technology- and marketing-related intangibles. Intangible assets with a finite life are tested for impairment upon the occurrence of certain triggering events. Capitalized software costs Software for internal use Costs incurred in the application development stage until the software is substantially complete are capitalized and are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the software, typically ranging from 3 to 5 years. Software to be sold Costs incurred after the software has demonstrated its technological feasibility until the product is available for general release to the customers are capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated life of the product. The Company periodically performs an evaluation to determine that the unamortized cost of software to be sold does not exceed the net realizable value. If the unamortized cost of software to be sold exceeds its net realizable value, the Company records an impairment charge equal to the difference. Derivative financial instruments and hedging activities The Company uses derivative financial instruments to manage currency, commodity, interest rate and equity exposures, arising from its global operating, financing and investing activities (see Note 5). The Company recognizes all derivatives, other than certain derivatives indexed to the Company’s own stock, at fair value in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Derivatives that are not designated as hedging instruments are reported at fair value with derivative gains and losses reported through earnings and classified consistent with the nature of the under- lying transaction. If the derivatives are designated as a hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivatives will either be offset against the change in fair value of the hedged item attributable to the risk being hedged through earnings (in the case of a fair value hedge) or recognized in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” until the hedged item is recognized in earnings (in the case of a cash flow hedge). The ineffective portion of a derivative’s change in fair value is immediately recognized in earnings consistent with the classification of the hedged item. Gains or losses from derivatives designated as hedging instruments in a fair value hedge are reported through earnings and classified consistent with the nature of the underlying hedged transaction. Where derivative financial instruments have been designated as cash flow hedges of forecasted transactions and such forecasted transactions are no longer probable of occurring, hedge accounting is discontinued and any derivative gain or loss previously included in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” is reclassified into earnings consistent with the nature of the original fore- casted transaction. Certain commercial contracts may grant rights to the Company or the counterparties, or contain other provisions that are considered to be derivatives. Such embedded derivatives are assessed at inception of the contract and depending on their characteristics, accounted for as separate derivative instruments and shown at their fair value in the balance sheet with changes in their fair value reported in earnings consistent with the nature of the commercial contract to which they relate. Derivatives are classified in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows in the same section as the underlying item, primarily within “Net cash provided by operating activities”. The Company leases primarily real estate and office equipment. Rental expense for operating leases is recorded on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease term. Lease transactions where substantially all risks and rewards incident to ownership are transferred from the lessor to the lessee are accounted for as capital leases. All other leases are accounted for as operating leases. Amounts due under capital leases are recorded as a liability. The interest in assets acquired under capital leases is recorded as property, plant and equipment. Depreciation and amortization of assets recorded under capital leases is included in depreciation and amortization expense. The Company occasionally enters into transactions accounted for as sale-leasebacks, in which fixed assets, generally real estate and/or equipment, are sold to a third party and then leased for use by the Company. Under certain circum- stances, the necessary criteria to recognize a sale of these assets may not occur and then the transaction is reflected as a financing transaction, with the proceeds received from the transaction reflected as a borrowing or deposit liability. When the necessary criteria have been met to recognize a sale, gains or losses on the sale of the assets are generally deferred and amortized over the term of the transaction, except in certain limited instances when a portion of the gain or loss may be recognized upon inception. The lease of the asset is accounted for as either an operating lease or a cap- ital lease, depending upon its specific terms. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 83 Leases Sale-leasebacks Note 2 Significant accounting policies, continued Translation of foreign currencies and foreign exchange transactions The functional currency for most of the Company’s subsidiaries is the applicable local currency. The translation from the applicable functional currencies into the Company’s reporting currency is performed for balance sheet accounts using exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date and for income statement accounts using average exchange rates prevailing during the year. The resulting translation adjustments are excluded from the determination of earnings and are recognized in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” until the subsidiary is sold, substantially liquidated or evaluated for impairment in anticipation of disposal. Income taxes Foreign currency exchange gains and losses, such as those resulting from foreign currency denominated receivables or payables, are included in the determination of earnings, except as they relate to intercompany loans that are equity-like in nature with no reasonable expectation of repayment, which are recognized in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss”. Exchange gains and losses recognized in earnings are included in “Total revenues”, “Total cost of sales”, “Selling, general and administrative expenses” or “Interest and other finance expense” consistent with the nature of the under- lying item. The Company uses the asset and liability method to account for deferred taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on temporary differences between the financial reporting and the tax bases of assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates and laws that are expected to be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. For financial statement purposes, the Company records a deferred tax asset when it determines that it is more likely than not that the deduction will be sustained based upon the deduction’s technical merit. A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. Deferred taxes are provided on unredeemed retained earnings of the Company’s subsidiaries. However, deferred taxes are not provided on such unredeemed retained earnings to the extent it is expected that the earnings are permanently reinvested. Such earnings may become taxable upon the sale or liquidation of these subsidiaries or upon the remittance of dividends. The Company operates in numerous tax jurisdictions and, as a result, is regularly subject to audit by tax authorities. The Company provides for tax contingencies on the basis of their technical merits, including relative tax law and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines, as well as on items relating to potential audits by tax authorities based upon its evaluations of the facts and circumstances as of each reporting period. Changes in the facts and circumstances could result in a material change to the tax accruals. The Company provides for tax contin gencies whenever it is deemed more likely than not that a tax asset has been impaired or a tax liability has been incurred for events such as tax claims or changes in tax laws. The Company applies a two-step approach to recognize and measure uncertainty in income taxes. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount which is more than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Expense related to tax penalties is classified in the Consolidated Income Statements as “Provision for taxes”, while interest thereon is classified as “Interest and other finance expense”. Research and development Research and development costs not related to specific customer orders are generally expensed as incurred. Earnings per share Share-based payment arrangements Fair value measures Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing income by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding dur- ing the year. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing income by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the year, assuming that all potentially dilutive securities were exercised, if dilutive. Potentially dilutive securities comprise: outstanding written call options, outstanding options and shares granted subject to certain conditions under the Company’s share-based payment arrangements. See further discussion related to earnings per share in Note 20 and further discussion of the potentially dilutive securities in Note 18. The Company has various share-based payment arrangements for its employees, which are described more fully in Note 18. Such arrangements are accounted for under the fair value method. For awards that are equity-settled, total compensation is measured at grant date, based on the fair value of the award at that date, and recorded in income over the period the employees are required to render service. For awards that are cash-settled, compensation is initially measured at grant date and subsequently remeasured at each reporting period, based on the fair value and vesting percentage of the award at each of those dates, with changes in the liability recorded in earnings. The Company uses fair value measurement principles to record certain financial assets and liabilities on a recurring basis and, when necessary, to record certain non-financial assets at fair value on a non-recurring basis, as well as to determine fair value disclosures for certain financial instruments carried at amortized cost in the financial statements. Financial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring basis include foreign currency, commodity, equity and interest rate derivatives, as well as available-for-sale securities. Non-financial assets recorded at fair value on a non-recurring basis include long-lived assets that are reduced to their estimated fair value due to impairments. Fair value is the price that would be received when selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In determining fair value, the Company uses various valuation techniques including the market approach (using observable market data for identical or similar assets and liabilities), the income approach (discounted cash flow models) and the cost approach (using costs a market participant would incur to develop a comparable asset). Inputs used to determine the fair value of assets and liabilities are defined by a three-level hierarchy, depending on the reliability of those inputs. The Company has categorized its financial assets and liabilities and non-financial assets measured at fair value within this hierarchy based on whether the inputs to the valuation technique are observable or unobservable. An observable input is based on market data obtained from inde- pendent sources, while an unobservable input reflects the Company’s assumptions about market data. 84 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Note 2 Significant accounting policies, continued The levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows: Level 1: Valuation inputs consist of quoted prices in an active market for identical assets or liabilities (observable quoted prices). Assets and liabilities valued using Level 1 inputs include exchange-traded equity securities, listed derivatives which are actively traded such as commodity futures, and certain government securities. Level 2: Valuation inputs consist of observable inputs (other than Level 1 inputs) such as actively quoted prices for similar assets, quoted prices in inactive markets and inputs other than quoted prices such as interest rate yield curves, credit spreads, or inputs derived from other observable data by interpolation, correlation, regression or other means. The adjustments applied to quoted prices or the inputs used in valuation models may be both observable and unobservable. In these cases, the fair value measurement is classified as Level 2 unless the unobservable portion of the adjustment or the unobservable input to the valuation model is significant, in which case the fair value measurement would be classified as Level 3. Assets and liabilities valued using Level 2 inputs include investments in certain funds, certain government securities, corporate debt securities, interest rate swaps, commodity swaps, cash-settled call options, as well as foreign exchange forward contracts and foreign exchange swaps. Level 3: Valuation inputs are based on the Company’s assumptions of relevant market data (unobservable input). Whenever quoted prices involve bid-ask spreads, the Company ordinarily determines fair values based on mid-market quotes. However, for the purposes of determining the fair value of cash-settled call options serving as hedges of the Company’s management incentive plan (MIP), bid prices are used. When determining fair values based on quoted prices in an active market, the Company considers if the level of transac- tion activity for the financial instrument has significantly decreased, or would not be considered orderly. In such cases, the resulting changes in valuation techniques would be disclosed. If the market is considered disorderly or if quoted prices are not available, the Company is required to use another valuation technique, such as an income approach. Disclosures about the Company’s fair value measurements of assets and liabilities are included in Note 6. The Company is subject to proceedings, litigation or threatened litigation and other claims and inquiries, related to taxes other than income tax, environmental, labor, product, regulatory and other matters, and is required to assess the likelihood of any adverse judgments or outcomes to these matters, as well as potential ranges of probable losses. A determination of the provision required, if any, for these contingencies is made after analysis of each individual issue, often with assistance from both internal and external legal counsel and technical experts. The required amount of a provision for a contingency of any type may change in the future due to new developments in the particular matter, including changes in the approach to its resolution. The Company records a provision for its contingent obligations when it is probable that a loss will be incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Any such provision is generally recognized on an undiscounted basis using the Company’s best estimate of the amount of loss incurred or at the lower end of an estimated range when a single best estimate is not determinable. In some cases, the Company may be able to recover a portion of the costs relating to these obligations from insurers or other third parties; however, the Company records such amounts only when it is probable that they will be collected. The Company provides for anticipated costs for warranties when it recognizes revenues on the related products or con- tracts. Warranty costs include calculated costs arising from imperfections in design, material and workmanship in the Company’s products. The Company makes individual assessments on contracts with risks resulting from order-specific conditions or guarantees and assessments on an overall, statistical basis for similar products sold in larger quantities. The Company may have a legal obligation to perform environmental clean-up activities as a result of the normal opera- tion of its business or have other asset retirement obligations. In some cases, the timing or the method of settlement, or both, are conditional upon a future event that may or may not be within the control of the Company, but the underlying obligation itself is unconditional and certain. The Company recognizes a provision for these and other asset retirement obligations when a liability for the retirement or clean-up activity has been incurred and a reasonable estimate of its fair value can be made. Asset retirement provisions are initially recognized at fair value, and subsequently adjusted for accrued interest and changes in estimates. Provisions for environmental obligations are not discounted to their present value when the timing of payments cannot be reasonably estimated. The Company has a number of defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans. The Company recognizes an asset for such a plan’s overfunded status or a liability for such a plan’s underfunded status in its Consolidated Balance Sheets. Additionally, the Company measures such a plan’s assets and obligations that determine its funded status as of the end of the year and recognizes the changes in the funded status in the year in which the changes occur. Those changes are reported in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” and as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. The Company uses actuarial valuations to determine its pension and postretirement benefit costs and credits. The amounts calculated depend on a variety of key assumptions, including discount rates and expected return on plan assets. Current market conditions are considered in selecting these assumptions. The Company’s various pension plan assets are assigned to their respective levels in the fair value hierarchy in accor- dance with the valuation principles described in the “Fair value measures” section above. See Note 17 for further discussion of the Company’s employee benefit plans. Contingencies and asset retirement obligations Pensions and other postretirement benefits Business combinations Assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method and recorded at their respective fair values. Contingent consideration is recorded at fair value as an element of purchase price with subsequent adjustments recognized in income. Identifiable intangibles consist of intellectual property such as patents and trademarks, customer relationships, in-process research and development and capitalized software; these are amortized over their estimated useful lives. Such intangibles are subsequently subject to evaluation for potential ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 85 Note 2 Significant accounting policies, continued New accounting pronouncements impairment if events or circumstances indicate the carrying amount may not be recoverable. See the “Goodwill and other intangible assets” section above. Acquisition-related costs are recognized separately from the acquisition and expensed as incurred. Restructuring costs are generally expensed in periods subsequent to the acquisition date. Changes in valuation allowances on acquired deferred tax assets that occur after the measurement period (a period of up to 12 months after the acquisition date during which the acquirer may adjust the provisional acquisition amounts) are recognized in income. Upon gaining control of an entity in which an equity method or cost basis investment was held by the Company, the carrying value of that investment is adjusted to fair value with the related gain or loss recorded in income. Applicable in current period Fair value measurements As of January 1, 2011, the Company adopted an accounting standard update that requires additional disclosure for fair value measurements. The update requires disclosure, on a gross basis, about purchases, sales, issuances and settle- ments of Level 3 (significant unobservable inputs) instruments when reconciling the fair value measurements. The adop- tion of this update did not result in additional disclosures for 2011, as there were no significant financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value using Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy within the scope of this update. Disclosures about the credit quality of financing receivables and the allowance for credit losses As of January 1, 2011, the Company adopted an accounting standard update that requires additional disclosures regarding the changes and reasons for those changes in the allowance for credit losses. See Note 7 for these disclo- sures. Revenue recognition for multiple deliverable arrangements The Company adopted an accounting standard update on revenue recognition for multiple deliverable arrangements, for such arrangements entered into or materially modified by the Company on or after January 1, 2011. This update amends the criteria for allocating consideration in multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements. It establishes a hierarchy of selling prices to determine the selling price of each specific deliverable that includes VSOE (if available), third-party evidence (if VSOE is not available), or estimated selling price if neither of the first two is available. This update also: – eliminates the residual method for allocating revenue between the elements of an arrangement and requires that arrangement consideration be allocated at the inception of the arrangement, and – expands the disclosure requirements regarding a vendor’s multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements. The adoption of this update did not have a significant impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements. Revenue arrangements that include software elements The Company adopted an accounting standard update for certain revenue arrangements that include software elements, entered into or materially modified by the Company on or after January 1, 2011. This update amends the existing guid- ance on revenue arrangements that contain both hardware and software elements. This update modifies the existing rules to exclude from the software revenue guidance (i) non-software components of tangible products and (ii) software components of tangible products that are sold, licensed, or leased with tangible products when the software compo- nents and non-software components of the tangible product function together to deliver the tangible product’s essential functionality. Undelivered elements in the arrangement related to the non-software components also are excluded from this guidance. The adoption of this update did not have a significant impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements. Goodwill impairment test for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts As of January 1, 2011, the Company adopted an accounting standard update which clarifies that the Company is required to perform the second step of the goodwill impairment test (determining whether goodwill has been impaired and calculating the amount of the impairment) also for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts, if it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists. In determining whether a goodwill impairment exists, the Com- pany considers whether there are any adverse qualitative factors indicating such an impairment. A reporting unit is an operating segment or one level below an operating segment. The adoption of this update did not have a significant impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements. Disclosure of supplementary pro forma information for business combinations For business combinations entered into on or after January 1, 2011, that are material on an individual or aggregate basis, the Company has adopted an accounting standard update that clarifies the requirement regarding the disclosure of pro forma information for business combinations. Under the update, the Company is required to disclose pro forma revenues and earnings of the combined entity as though the business combination(s) had occurred as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period only. This update also expands the disclosures to include a description of the nature and amount of material, nonrecurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to the business combination included in the reported pro forma revenue and earnings. See Note 3 for pro forma disclosures related to the acquisi- tion of Baldor Electric Company (Baldor). A creditor’s determination of whether a restructuring is a troubled debt restructuring As of July 1, 2011, the Company adopted an accounting standard update that provides clarifying guidance regarding whether a restructuring of receivables constitutes a troubled debt restructuring and requires additional disclosures. The adoption of this update did not have a significant impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements. Disclosures about an employer’s participation in a multiemployer plan As of December 31, 2011, the Company adopted an accounting standard update that requires additional quantitative and qualitative disclosures for multiemployer pension plans and other multiemployer postretirement benefit plans. The adoption of this update did not result in additional disclosures for 2011, as the Company’s participation in multi- employer plans was not significant. 86 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Note 2 Significant accounting policies, continued Applicable for future periods Amendments to achieve common fair value measurement and disclosure requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs In May 2011, an accounting standard update was issued that provides guidance that results in common fair value mea- surement and disclosure requirements in U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. These amend- ments change the wording used to describe many of the requirements in U.S. GAAP for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements. For many of the requirements, the amendments in this update are not intended to result in a change in the application of the requirements of U.S. GAAP. Some of the amendments clarify the application of existing fair value measurement requirements, while other amendments change a particular principle or requirement for measuring fair value or for disclosing information about fair value measurements. This update is effective for the Company for periods beginning January 1, 2012. The Company does not believe that this update will have a significant impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements. Presentation of comprehensive income In June 2011, an accounting standard update was issued regarding the presentation of comprehensive income. This was revised in a further update in December 2011. Under the updates, the Company is required to present each compo- nent of net income along with total net income, each component of other comprehensive income along with a total for other comprehensive income and a total amount for comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. These updates are effective for the Company for periods beginning January 1, 2012, and are applicable retrospectively. Upon adoption, the Company will present two separate but consecutive statements. Testing goodwill for impairment In September 2011, an accounting standard update was issued regarding the testing of goodwill for impairment. Under the update, the Company has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. The Company would not be required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless it determines, based on the qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that the reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount. The update includes examples of events and circumstances to be considered in conducting the qualitative assessment. This update is effective for the Company for periods beginning January 1, 2012. The Company does not believe that this update will have a significant impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements. Disclosures about offsetting assets and liabilities In December 2011, an accounting standard update was issued regarding disclosures about amounts of financial and derivative instruments recognized in the statement of financial position that are either (i) offset or (ii) subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement, irrespective of whether they are offset. The scope of the update includes derivatives, sale and repurchase agreements and reverse sale and repurchase agreements, and securities borrowing and securities lending arrangements. This update is effective for the Company for annual and interim periods beginning January 1, 2013, and is applicable retrospectively. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this additional disclosure requirement. Note 3 Acquisitions, increases in control- ling interests and divestments Acquisitions Acquisitions were as follows: ($ in millions, except number of acquired businesses) Acquisitions (net of cash acquired) (1) Aggregate excess of purchase price over fair value of net assets acquired (2) Number of acquired businesses 2011 3,805 3,261 2010 1,275 1,091 2009 159 147 10 9 8 (1) (2) Excluding changes in cost and equity investments but including, in 2011, $19 million representing the fair value of replacement vested stock options issued to Baldor employees at the acquisition date. Recorded as goodwill (see Note 11). In the table above, the “Acquisitions” and “Aggregate excess of purchase price over fair value of net assets acquired” amounts for 2011 relate primarily to the acquisitions of Baldor and Mincom, while for 2010, these amounts relate primar- ily to the acquisition of Ventyx. Acquisitions of controlling interests have been accounted for under the acquisition method and have been included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements since the date of acquisition. On January 26, 2011, the Company acquired 83.25 percent of the outstanding shares of Baldor for $63.50 per share in cash. On January 27, 2011, the Company exercised its top-up option contained in the merger agreement, bringing its shareholding in Baldor to 91.6 percent, allowing the Company to complete a short-form merger under Missouri, United States, law. On the same date, the Company completed the purchase of the remaining 8.4 percent of outstand- ing shares. The resulting cash outflows for the Company amounted to $4,276 million, representing $2,966 million for the purchase of the shares, net of cash acquired, $70 million related to cash settlement of Baldor options held at acquisition date and $1,240 million for the repayment of debt assumed upon acquisition. Baldor markets, designs and manufactures industrial electric motors, mechanical power transmission products, drives and generators. The acquisition broadens the product offering of the Company’s Discrete Automation and Motion operating segment, closing the gap in the Company’s automation portfolio in North America by adding Baldor’s NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) motors product line, as well as adding Baldor’s growing mechanical power transmission business. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 87 Note 3 Acquisitions, increases in control- ling interests and divestments, continued While the Company uses its best estimates and assumptions as part of the purchase price allocation process to value assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date, the purchase price allocation for acquisitions is preliminary for up to 12 months after the acquisition date and is subject to refinement as more detailed analyses are completed and additional information about the fair values of the assets and liabilities becomes available. The aggregate preliminary purchase consideration for business acquisitions in 2011 has been allocated as follows: ($ in millions) Customer relationships Technology Trade name Order backlog Other intangible assets Intangible assets Fixed assets Debt acquired Deferred tax liabilities Inventories Other assets and liabilities, net(3) Goodwill(4) Total consideration (net of cash acquired)(5) Weighted-average useful life Baldor 19 years 7 years 10 years 2 months 5 years 16 years Allocated amounts Baldor(1) Other(2) 996 259 121 15 15 1,406 382 (1,241) (693) 422 51 2,728 3,055 220 156 32 36 3 447 40 (202) (99) 35 (4) 533 750 Total 1,216 415 153 51 18 1,853 422 (1,443) (792) 457 47 3,261 3,805 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) The allocation of the purchase consideration for the Baldor acquisition was finalized in February 2012. The allocated amounts in Other primarily relate to the acquisitions of Mincom, Trasfor and Lorentzen & Wettre. Gross receivables from the Baldor acquisition totaled $266 million; the fair value of which was $263 million after allowance for estimated uncollectable receivables. The goodwill related to Baldor is not deductible for income tax purposes. The Company does not expect the majority of the remaining goodwill recognized to be deductible for income tax purposes. Cash acquired in the Baldor acquisition totaled $48 million. Additional consideration for the Baldor acquisition included $70 million related to the cash settlement of stock options held by Baldor employees at the acquisition date and $19 million representing the fair value of replacement vested stock options issued to Baldor employees at the acquisition date. The fair value of these stock options was estimated using a Black-Scholes model. The Company’s Consolidated Income Statement for 2011 includes total revenues of $1,950 million and net income (including acquisition-related charges) of $155 million in respect of Baldor since the date of acquisition. The unaudited pro forma financial information in the table below summarizes the combined pro forma results of the Company and Baldor for 2011 and 2010, as if Baldor had been acquired on January 1, 2010. ($ in millions) Total revenues Income from continuing operations, net of tax 2011 38,100 3,391 2010 33,310 2,726 The pro forma results are for information purposes only and do not include any anticipated cost synergies or other effects of the integration of Baldor. Accordingly, such pro forma amounts are not necessarily indicative of the results that would have occurred had the acquisition been completed on the date indicated, nor are they indicative of the future operating results of the combined company. The unaudited pro forma results above include certain adjustments related to the Baldor acquisition. The table below summarizes the adjustments necessary to present the pro forma financial information of the combined entity as if Baldor had been acquired on January 1, 2010. ($ in millions) Impact on cost of sales from additional amortization of intangible assets (excluding order backlog capitalized upon acquisition) Impact on cost of sales from amortization of order backlog capitalized upon acquisition Impact on cost of sales from fair valuing acquired inventory Interest expense on Baldor’s debt Baldor stock-option plans adjustments Impact on selling, general and administrative expenses from acquisition-related costs Taxation adjustments Other Total pro forma adjustments Adjustments 2011 2010 (7) 15 57 11 66 64 (65) – 141 (91) (15) (57) 106 – (24) 26 (23) (78) 88 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Note 3 Acquisitions, increases in control- ling interests and divestments, continued On June 1, 2010, the Company acquired all of the shares of Ventyx Inc., Ventyx Software Inc. and Ventyx Dutch Holding B.V., representing substantially all of the revenues, assets and liabilities of the Ventyx group. Ventyx provides software solutions to global energy, utility, communications and other asset-intensive businesses and was integrated into the Power Systems segment. The aggregate purchase price of business acquisitions in 2010, settled in cash, has been allocated as follows: ($ in millions) Intangible assets(1) Deferred tax liabilities Other assets and liabilities, net(2) Goodwill(3) Total(4) (1) (2) (3) (4) Includes mainly capitalized software for sale and customer relationships. Including debt assumed upon acquisition. Goodwill recognized is not deductible for income tax purposes. Primarily relates to the acquisition of Ventyx. Weighted-average useful life 8 years Allocated amounts 356 (147) (25) 1,091 1,275 Increase in controlling interests in India In 2010, the Company increased its ownership interest in ABB Limited, India (its publicly-listed subsidiary in India) from approximately 52 percent to 75 percent. Cash paid in 2010, including transaction costs, amounted to $956 million. The offer of 900 rupees per share resulted in a charge to “Capital stock and additional paid-in capital” of $838 million, including expenses related to the transaction. ABB to acquire Thomas & Betts Corporation Divestments On January 30, 2012, the Company announced that it had reached an agreement to acquire the Thomas & Betts Corpo- ration. Thomas & Betts designs, manufactures and markets essential components used to manage the connection, distribution, transmission and reliability of electrical power in industrial, construction and utility applications. The antici- pated cash outflows for the Company upon closing the transaction amount to approximately $3.9 billion, based on a purchase price of $72 per share for the acquisition of the outstanding shares. The transaction is subject to approval by Thomas & Betts shareholders as well as to customary regulatory approvals, and is expected to close by the middle of 2012. The Company has divested businesses and investments not considered by management to be aligned with its focus on power and automation technologies, as described in Note 1. Since these divestments did not meet the requirements for classification as discontinued operations, the results of operations of these divested businesses are included in the Company’s Consolidated Income Statements in the respective line items of income from continuing operations, through the date of divestment. The proceeds from sale and the corresponding net gains (losses) from such divestments were as follows: ($ in millions) Proceeds from divestments Net gains (losses) recognized on divestments, included in “Other income (expense), net” 2011 2010 2009 8 1 83 12 16 (1) Revenues and income from these businesses and investments were not significant in 2011, 2010 and 2009. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 89 Note 4 Cash and equivalents and marketable securities Current Assets Cash and equivalents and marketable securities and short-term investments consisted of the following: December 31, 2011 ($ in millions) Cost basis gains losses Fair value equivalents investments Gross Gross Marketable securities unrealized unrealized Cash and and short-term Cash Time deposits Debt securities available-for-sale: U.S. government obligations Other government obligations Corporate Equity securities available-for-sale Total 1,655 2,986 753 3 298 50 5,745 1,655 2,986 761 3 305 57 5,767 1,655 2,984 – – 180 – 4,819 8 – 8 10 26 – – (1) (3) (4) – 2 761 3 125 57 948 December 31, 2010 ($ in millions) Cost basis gains losses Fair value equivalents investments Gross Gross Marketable securities unrealized unrealized Cash and and short-term Cash Time deposits Debt securities available-for-sale: U.S. government obligations Other government obligations Corporate Equity securities available-for-sale Total Non-current assets Gains, losses and contractual maturities December 31, 2011 ($ in millions) Less than one year One to five years Six to ten years Total 1,851 4,044 147 4 708 1,836 8,590 1,851 4,044 151 3 716 1,845 8,610 1,851 3,665 – – 381 – 5,897 5 – 8 11 24 (1) (1) – (2) (4) – 379 151 3 335 1,845 2,713 In 2011, the Company purchased shares in a listed company and, as such, classified these as available-for-sale equity securities. The investment is recorded in “Other non-current assets”. At December 31, 2011, an other-than-temporary impairment was recognized on these securities but was not significant. In addition, certain held-to-maturity marketable securities (pledged in respect of a certain non-current deposit liability) are recorded in “Other non-current assets”. At December 31, 2011, the amortized cost, gross unrecognized gain and fair value (based on quoted market prices) of these securities were $92 million, $28 million and $120 million, respectively. At December 31, 2010, the amortized cost, gross unrecognized gain and fair value (based on quoted market prices) of these securities were $84 million, $19 million and $103 million, respectively. The maturity dates of these securities range from 2014 to 2021. The net unrealized holding gains on available-for-sale securities were $22 million, $20 million and $20 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Gross realized gains (reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to income) on available-for-sale securities were $8 million, $16 million and $8 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Gross realized losses (reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to income) on available-for-sale securities were not significant in 2011 and 2010 and $35 million in 2009. Such gains and losses were included in “Interest and other finance expense”. In 2011, an insignificant other-than-temporary impairment was recognized on available-for-sale equity securities. There were no other-than-temporary impairments in 2010 and 2009. At December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, gross unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position were not significant and the Company does not intend and does not expect to be required to sell these securities before the recovery of their amortized cost. There were no sales of held-to-maturity securities in 2011, 2010 and 2009. Contractual maturities of available-for-sale debt securities consisted of the following: Available-for-sale Cost basis Fair value 180 799 75 180 808 81 1,054 1,069 At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company pledged $90 million and $68 million, respectively, of available-for-sale marketable securities as collateral for issued letters of credit and other security arrangements. 90 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Note 5 Financial instruments Currency risk Commodity risk Interest rate risk Equity risk The Company is exposed to certain currency, commodity, interest rate and equity risks arising from its global operating, financing and investing activities. The Company uses derivative instruments to reduce and manage the economic impact of these exposures. Due to the global nature of the Company’s operations, many of its subsidiaries are exposed to currency risk in their operating activities from entering into transactions in currencies other than their functional currency. To manage such currency risks, the Company’s policies require the subsidiaries to hedge their foreign currency exposures from binding sales and purchase contracts denominated in foreign currencies. For forecasted foreign currency denominated sales of standard products and the related foreign currency denominated purchases, the Company’s policy is to hedge up to a maximum of 100 percent of the forecasted foreign currency denominated exposure, depending on the length of the forecasted exposures. Forecasted exposures greater than 12 months are not hedged. Forward foreign exchange contracts are the main instrument used to protect the Company against the volatility of future cash flows (caused by changes in exchange rates) of contracted and forecasted sales and purchases denominated in foreign currencies. In addition, within its treasury operations, the Company primarily uses foreign exchange swaps and forward foreign exchange contracts to manage the currency and timing mismatches arising in its liquidity management activities. Various commodity products are used in the Company’s manufacturing activities. Consequently, it is exposed to volatil- ity in future cash flows arising from changes in commodity prices. To manage the price risk of commodities other than electricity, the Company’s policies require that the subsidiaries hedge the commodity price risk exposures from binding contracts, as well as at least 50 percent (up to a maximum of 100 percent) of the forecasted commodity exposure over the next 12 months or longer (up to a maximum of 18 months). In certain locations where the price of electricity is hedged, up to a maximum of 90 percent of the forecasted electricity needs, depending on the length of the forecasted exposures, are hedged. Swap and futures contracts are used to manage the associated price risks of commodities. The Company has issued bonds at fixed rates. Interest rate swaps are used to manage the interest rate risk associated with such debt. In addition, from time to time, the Company uses instruments such as interest rate swaps, bond futures or forward rate agreements to manage interest rate risk arising from the Company’s balance sheet structure but does not designate such instruments as hedges. The Company is exposed to fluctuations in the fair value of its warrant appreciation rights (WARs) issued under its MIP. A WAR gives its holder the right to receive cash equal to the market price of an equivalent listed warrant on the date of exercise. To eliminate such risk, the Company has purchased cash-settled call options which entitle the Company to receive amounts equivalent to its obligations under the outstanding WARs. In general, while the Company’s primary objective in its use of derivatives is to minimize exposures arising from its business, certain derivatives are designated and qualify for hedge accounting treatment while others either are not des- ignated or do not qualify for hedge accounting. Volume of derivative activity Foreign exchange and interest rate derivatives The gross notional amounts of outstanding foreign exchange and interest rate derivatives (whether designated as hedges or not) were as follows: Type of derivative December 31, ($ in millions) Foreign exchange contracts Embedded foreign exchange derivatives Interest rate contracts Total notional amount 2011 16,503 3,439 5,535 2010 2009 16,971 14,446 2,891 2,357 3,951 2,860 Derivative commodity contracts The following table shows the notional amounts of outstanding commodity derivatives (whether designated as hedges or not), on a net basis, to reflect the Company’s requirements in the various commodities: Type of derivative December 31, Copper swaps Aluminum swaps Nickel swaps Lead swaps Zinc swaps Silver swaps Electricity futures Crude oil swaps Unit Total notional amount metric tonnes metric tonnes metric tonnes metric tonnes metric tonnes ounces 2011 38,414 5,068 18 13,325 125 1,981,646 2010 2009 20,977 22,002 3,050 36 9,525 – – 2,193 24 – – – megawatt hours 326,960 363,340 367,748 barrels 113,397 121,979 154,632 Equity derivatives At December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Company held 61 million, 58 million and 64 million cash-settled call options on ABB Ltd shares with a total fair value of $21 million, $45 million and $64 million, respectively. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 91 Note 5 Financial instruments, continued Cash flow hedges As noted above, the Company mainly uses forward foreign exchange contracts to manage the foreign exchange risk of its operations, commodity swaps to manage its commodity risks and cash-settled call options to hedge its WAR liabilities. Where such instruments are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the changes in their fair value is recorded in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” and subsequently reclassified into earnings in the same line item and in the same period as the underlying hedged transaction affects earnings. Any ineffectiveness in the hedge relationship, or hedge component excluded from the assessment of effectiveness, is recognized in earnings during the current period. At December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” included net unrealized gains of $12 million, $92 million and $20 million, respectively, net of tax, on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges. Of the amount at December 31, 2011, net gains of $8 million are expected to be reclassified to earnings in 2012. At December 31, 2011, the longest maturity of a derivative classified as a cash flow hedge was 74 months. In 2011, 2010 and 2009, the amounts of gains or losses, net of tax, reclassified into earnings due to the discontinuance of cash flow hedge accounting and recognized in earnings due to ineffectiveness in cash flow hedge relationships were not significant. The pre-tax effects of derivative instruments, designated and qualifying as cash flow hedges, on “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” and the Consolidated Income Statements were as follows: Type of derivative designated as a cash flow hedge Foreign exchange contracts Commodity contracts Cash-settled call options Total Gains (losses) recognized in OCI(1) 2011 Gains (losses) recognized in income on derivatives Gains (losses) reclassified from OCI(1) (ineffective portion and amount (effective portion) into income (effective portion) excluded from effectiveness testing) ($ in millions) Location ($ in millions) Location ($ in millions) 11 Total revenues Total cost of sales (17) Total cost of sales (21) SG&A expenses(2) (27) 113 Total revenues (9) Total cost of sales 2 Total cost of sales (18) SG&A expenses(2) 88 – – – – – Gains (losses) recognized in OCI(1) 2010 Gains (losses) recognized in income Type of derivative designated as a cash flow hedge on derivatives Gains (losses) reclassified from OCI(1) (ineffective portion and amount (effective portion) into income (effective portion) excluded from effectiveness testing) ($ in millions) Location ($ in millions) Location ($ in millions) Foreign exchange contracts 107 Total revenues Commodity contracts Cash-settled call options Total Total cost of sales 9 Total cost of sales (4) SG&A expenses(2) 112 36 (4) Total revenues Total cost of sales 8 Total cost of sales (11) SG&A expenses(2) 29 2 – 1 – 3 Type of derivative designated as a cash flow hedge Foreign exchange contracts Commodity contracts Cash-settled call options Total Gains (losses) recognized in OCI(1) 2009 Gains (losses) recognized in income on derivatives Gains (losses) reclassified from OCI(1) (ineffective portion and amount (effective portion) into income (effective portion) excluded from effectiveness testing) ($ in millions) Location ($ in millions) Location ($ in millions) 84 Total revenues Total cost of sales 31 Total cost of sales 8 SG&A expenses(2) (91) Total revenues 4 Total cost of sales (40) Total cost of sales (16) SG&A expenses(2) 123 (143) 4 – 2 – 6 (1) (2) OCI represents “Accumulated other comprehensive loss”. SG&A expenses represent “Selling, general and administrative expenses”. Derivative gains of $61 million and $19 million, both net of tax, were reclassified from “Accumulated other comprehen- sive loss” to earnings during 2011 and 2010, respectively. During 2009, derivative losses of $105 million, net of tax, were reclassified to earnings. 92 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Note 5 Financial instruments, continued Fair value hedges To reduce its interest rate exposure arising primarily from its debt issuance activities, the Company uses interest rate swaps. Where such instruments are designated as fair value hedges, the changes in fair value of these instruments, as well as the changes in fair value of the risk component of the underlying debt being hedged, are recorded as offsetting gains and losses in “Interest and other finance expense”. Hedge ineffectiveness of instruments designated as fair value hedges in 2011, 2010 and 2009, was not significant. The effect of derivative instruments, designated and qualifying as fair value hedges, on the Consolidated Income State- ments was as follows: Type of derivative designated designated as fair value hedges on hedged item as a fair value hedge Location ($ in millions) Location ($ in millions) Gains (losses) recognized in income on derivatives Gains (losses) recognized in income 2011 Interest rate contracts Interest and other finance expense (24) Interest and other finance expense Cross-currency swaps Interest and other finance expense – Interest and other finance expense Total (24) 2010 24 – 24 Type of derivative designated designated as fair value hedges on hedged item as a fair value hedge Location ($ in millions) Location ($ in millions) Gains (losses) recognized in income on derivatives Gains (losses) recognized in income Interest rate contracts Interest and other finance expense (12) Interest and other finance expense Cross-currency swaps Interest and other finance expense – Interest and other finance expense Total (12) 2009 12 – 12 Gains (losses) recognized in income on derivatives Gains (losses) recognized in income Type of derivative designated designated as fair value hedges on hedged item as a fair value hedge Location ($ in millions) Location ($ in millions) Interest rate contracts Interest and other finance expense 41 Interest and other finance expense Cross-currency swaps Interest and other finance expense 3 Interest and other finance expense Total 44 (41) (3) (44) Derivatives not designated in hedge relationships Derivative instruments that are not designated as hedges or do not qualify as either cash flow or fair value hedges are economic hedges used for risk management purposes. Gains and losses from changes in the fair values of such deriva- tives are recognized in the same line in the income statement as the economically hedged transaction. Furthermore, under certain circumstances, the Company is required to split and account separately for foreign currency derivatives that are embedded within certain binding sales or purchase contracts denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the subsidiary and the counterparty. The gains (losses) recognized in the Consolidated Income Statements on derivatives not designated in hedging relation- ships are included in the table below: Type of derivative not designated as a hedge Gains (losses) recognized in income ($ in millions) Foreign exchange contracts Embedded foreign exchange contracts Commodity contracts Cross-currency swaps Interest rate contracts Cash-settled call options Total Location Total revenues Total cost of sales Interest and other finance expense Total revenues Total cost of sales Total cost of sales Interest and other finance expense Interest and other finance expense Interest and other finance expense Interest and other finance expense 2011 (93) (25) 265 (31) 11 (59) 1 – – (1) 68 2010 436 (263) 563 (279) 17 38 – – – (1) 511 2009 389 (264) 70 (234) 51 96 – 2 2 1 113 ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 93 Note 5 Financial instruments, continued The fair values of derivatives included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets were as follows: December 31, 2011 ($ in millions) assets” assets” current liabilities” liabilities” Derivative assets Derivative liabilities Current in Non-current in Current in Non-current in “Other current “Other non-current “Provisions and other “Other non-current Derivatives designated as hedging instruments: Foreign exchange contracts Commodity contracts Interest rate contracts Cash-settled call options Total Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments: Foreign exchange contracts Commodity contracts Interest rate contracts Cash-settled call options Embedded foreign exchange derivatives Total Total fair value 37 1 – 13 51 142 9 – 1 51 203 254 6 – 40 6 52 38 1 – 1 13 53 105 26 6 – – 32 289 33 – – 77 399 431 10 – – – 10 28 3 1 – 19 51 61 December 31, 2010 ($ in millions) assets” assets” current liabilities” liabilities” Derivative assets Derivative liabilities Current in Non-current in Current in Non-current in “Other current “Other non-current “Provisions and other “Other non-current Derivatives designated as hedging instruments: Foreign exchange contracts Commodity contracts Interest rate contracts Cash-settled call options Total Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments: Foreign exchange contracts Commodity contracts Interest rate contracts Cash-settled call options Embedded foreign exchange derivatives Total Total fair value 106 8 14 18 146 435 42 – – 23 500 646 39 – 50 25 114 62 2 – 2 4 70 184 23 – – – 23 140 7 – – 134 281 304 12 – – – 12 14 – 1 – 50 65 77 Although the Company is party to close-out netting agreements with most derivative counterparties, the fair values in the tables above and in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2011 and 2010, have been presented on a gross basis. 94 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Note 6 Fair values Recurring fair value measures December 31, 2011 ($ in millions) Assets The following tables show the fair value of financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis: Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total fair value Available-for-sale securities in “Cash and equivalents” Debt securities – Corporate Available-for-sale securities in “Marketable securities and short-term investments” Equity securities Debt securities – U.S. government obligations Debt securities – Other government obligations Debt securities – Corporate Available-for-sale securities in “Other non-current assets” Equity securities Derivative assets – current in “Other current assets” Derivative assets – non-current in “Other non-current assets” Total Liabilities Derivative liabilities – current in “Provisions and other current liabilities” Derivative liabilities – non-current in “Other non-current liabilities” Total December 31, 2010 ($ in millions) Assets Available-for-sale securities in “Cash and equivalents” Debt securities – Corporate Available-for-sale securities in “Marketable securities and short-term investments” Equity securities Debt securities – U.S. government obligations Debt securities – Other government obligations Debt securities – Corporate Available-for-sale securities in “Other non-current assets” Equity securities Derivative assets – current in “Other current assets” Derivative assets – non-current in “Other non-current assets” Total Liabilities Derivative liabilities – current in “Provisions and other current liabilities” Derivative liabilities – non-current in “Other non-current liabilities” Total – 3 761 – – 5 2 – 771 4 – 4 180 54 – 3 125 – 252 105 719 427 61 488 – – – – – – – – – – – – 180 57 761 3 125 5 254 105 1,490 431 61 492 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total fair value – 3 151 3 – – 12 – 169 7 – 7 381 1,842 – – 335 – 634 184 3,376 297 77 374 – – – – – – – – – – – – 381 1,845 151 3 335 – 646 184 3,545 304 77 381 The Company uses the following methods and assumptions in estimating fair values of financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis: – Available-for-sale securities in “Cash and equivalents”, “Marketable securities and short-term investments” and “Other non-current assets”: If quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets are available, these are con- sidered Level 1 inputs. If such quoted market prices are not available, fair value is determined using market prices for similar assets or present value techniques, applying an appropriate risk-free interest rate adjusted for non-perfor- mance risk. The inputs used in present value techniques are observable and fall into the Level 2 category. Where the Company has invested in shares of funds, which do not have readily determinable fair values, Net Asset Value (NAV) is used as a practical expedient of fair value (without any adjustment) as these funds invest in high-quality, short-term fixed income securities which are accounted for at fair value. As the Company has the ability to redeem its shares in such funds at NAV without any restrictions, notice period or further funding commitments, NAV is considered Level 2. – Derivatives: The fair values of derivative instruments are determined using quoted prices of identical instruments from an active market, if available (Level 1). If quoted prices are not available, price quotes for similar instruments, appropriately adjusted, or present value techniques, based on available market data, or option pricing models are used. Cash-settled call options hedging the Company’s WAR liability are valued based on bid prices of the equivalent listed warrant. The fair values obtained using price quotes for similar instruments or valuation techniques represent a Level 2 input unless significant unobservable inputs are used. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 95 Note 6 Fair values, continued Non-recurring fair value measures There were no significant non-recurring fair value measurements during 2011 and 2010. Disclosure about financial instruments carried on a cost basis Cash and equivalents, receivables, accounts payable, and short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt The carrying amounts approximate the fair values as the items are short-term in nature. Marketable securities and short-term investments Includes short-term time deposits whose carrying amounts approximate their fair values. Other non-current assets Includes financing receivables (including loans granted) carried at amortized cost, less an allowance for credit losses, if required. Fair values are determined using a discounted cash flow methodology based upon loan rates of similar instruments and reflecting appropriate adjustments for non-performance risk. The carrying values and estimated fair values of long-term loans granted and outstanding at December 31, 2011, were $52 million and $54 million, respectively, and at December 31, 2010, were $56 million and $58 million, respectively. Includes held-to-maturity marketable securities (described in Note 4) whose carrying values and estimated fair values at December 31, 2011, were $92 million and $120 million, respectively, and at December 31, 2010, were $84 million and $103 million, respectively. Long-term debt excluding finance lease liabilities Fair values of bond issues are determined using quoted market prices. The fair values of other debt are determined using a discounted cash flow methodology based upon borrowing rates of similar debt instruments and reflecting appropriate adjustments for non-performance risk. The carrying value and estimated fair value of long-term debt, excluding finance lease liabilities, at December 31, 2011, were $3,151 million and $3,218 million, respectively, and at December 31, 2010, were $1,036 million and $1,098 million, respectively. “Receivables, net” consisted of the following: Note 7 Receivables, net December 31, ($ in millions) Trade receivables Other receivables Allowance Unbilled receivables, net: Costs and estimated profits in excess of billings Advance payments consumed Total 2011 7,750 764 (227) 8,287 3,503 (1,017) 2,486 10,773 2010 7,155 776 (215) 7,716 3,151 (897) 2,254 9,970 “Trade receivables” in the table above includes contractual retention amounts billed to customers of $381 million and $411 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Management expects that the substantial majority of related contracts will be completed and the substantial majority of the billed amounts retained by the customer will be collected. Of the retention amounts outstanding at December 31, 2011, 73 percent and 23 percent are expected to be collected in 2012 and 2013, respectively. “Other receivables” in the table above consists of value added tax, claims, rental deposits and other non-trade receivables. “Costs and estimated profits in excess of billings” in the table above represents revenues earned and recognized for contracts under the percentage-of-completion or completed-contract method of accounting. Management expects that the majority of the amounts will be collected within one year of the respective balance sheet date. The reconciliation of changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts is as follows: ($ in millions) Balance at January 1, Additions Deductions Exchange rate differences Balance at December 31, 2011 215 157 (131) (14) 227 2010 312 119 (216) – 215 2009 232 195 (119) 4 312 96 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Note 7 Receivables, net, continued At December 31, 2011, the gross amounts of, and doubtful debt allowance for, trade receivables (excluding those with a contractual maturity of one year or less) and other receivables (excluding tax and other receivables which are not con- sidered to be of a financing nature) were as follows: ($ in millions) Recorded gross amount: Individually evaluated for impairment Collectively evaluated for impairment Total Doubtful debt allowance: From individual impairment evaluation From collective impairment evaluation Total Recorded net amount December 31, 2011 December 31, 2010 Trade receivables (excluding those with a Trade receivables (excluding those with a contractual maturity of Other contractual maturity of Other one year or less) receivables Total one year or less) receivables Total 252 282 534 (41) (9) (50) 484 108 129 237 (5) – (5) 232 360 411 771 (46) (9) (55) 716 154 391 545 (27) (10) (37) 508 82 71 153 – – – 153 236 462 698 (27) (10) (37) 661 Changes in the doubtful debt allowance for trade receivables (excluding those with a contractual maturity of one year or less) in 2011 were as follows: Trade receivables (excluding those with a contractual maturity of one year or less) ($ in millions) Balance at January 1, Reversal of allowance Additions to allowance Amounts written off Exchange rate differences Balance at December 31, 2011 37 (13) 36 (3) (7) 50 Changes in the doubtful debt allowance for “Other receivables” in 2011 were not significant. The Company has a group-wide policy on the management of credit risk. The policy includes a credit assessment methodology to assess the creditworthiness of customers and assign to those customers a risk category on a scale from “A” (lowest likelihood of loss) to “E” (highest likelihood of loss), as shown in the following table: Risk category Equivalent Standard & Poor’s rating A B C D E AAA to AA– A+ to BBB– BB+ to BB– B+ to CCC– CC+ to D Third-party agencies’ ratings are considered, if available. For customers where agency ratings are not available, the customer’s most recent financial statements, payment history and other relevant information are considered in the assignment to a risk category. Customers are assessed at least annually or more frequently when information on signifi- cant changes in the customers’ financial position becomes known. In addition to the assignment to a risk category, a credit limit per customer is set. The following table shows the credit risk profile, on a gross basis, of trade receivables (excluding those with a contrac- tual maturity of one year or less) and other receivables (excluding tax and other receivables which are not considered to be of a financing nature) based on the internal credit risk categories which are used as a credit quality indicator: Risk category December 31, 2011 December 31, 2010 Trade receivables (excluding Trade receivables (excluding those with a contractual Other those with a contractual Other ($ in millions) maturity of one year or less) receivables Total maturity of one year or less) receivables Total A B C D E Total gross amount 251 134 122 22 5 534 196 18 20 1 2 237 447 152 142 23 7 771 219 199 87 37 3 545 125 5 12 2 9 344 204 99 39 12 153 698 ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 97 Note 7 Receivables, net, continued The following table shows an aging analysis, on a gross basis, of trade receivables (excluding those with a contractual maturity of one year or less) and other receivables (excluding tax and other receivables which are not considered to be of a financing nature): December 31, 2011 ($ in millions) 0–30 days 30–60 days 60–90 days interest interest 2011(1) Total Past due > 90 days and > 90 days Not due at not accruing and accruing December 31, Trade receivables (excluding those with a contractual maturity of one year or less) Other receivables Total gross amount 73 4 77 6 1 7 5 1 6 Past due 49 15 64 6 3 9 395 213 608 534 237 771 > 90 days and > 90 days Not due at not accruing and accruing December 31, December 31, 2010 ($ in millions) 0–30 days 30–60 days 60–90 days interest interest 2010(1) Total Trade receivables (excluding those with a contractual maturity of one year or less) Other receivables Total gross amount 49 1 50 7 – 7 6 – 6 40 18 58 9 – 9 434 134 568 545 153 698 (1) Trade receivables (excluding those with a contractual maturity of one year or less) principally represent contractual retention amounts that will become due subsequent to the completion of the long-term contract. “Inventories, net” consisted of the following: 2011 2,345 1,796 1,628 253 6,022 (285) 5,737 2010 1,988 1,744 1,226 219 5,177 (299) 4,878 “Work in process” in the table above contains inventoried costs relating to long-term contracts of $267 million and $290 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. “Advance payments consumed” in the table above relates to contractual advances received from customers on work in process. “Other non-current assets” consisted of the following: Note 8 Inventories, net December 31, ($ in millions) Raw materials Work in process Finished goods Advances to suppliers Advance payments consumed Total Note 9 Other non-current assets December 31, ($ in millions) Pledged financial assets Shares and participations Derivatives (including embedded derivatives) (see Note 5) Restricted cash Loans granted (see Note 6) Other Total 2011 2010 286 143 105 103 52 115 804 293 58 184 54 56 122 767 The Company entered into tax-advantaged leasing transactions with U.S. investors prior to 1999. Cash deposits and held-to-maturity marketable securities (representing prepaid rents relating to these transactions) are reflected as “Pledged financial assets” in the table above, with an offsetting non-current deposit liability, which is included in “Other non-current liabilities” (see Note 13). Net gains on these transactions are being recognized over the lease terms, which expire by 2021. “Shares and participations” represents mainly non equity-accounted investments in companies. Such shares and par- ticipations are principally carried at cost or, where the investee is listed on a stock exchange, at fair value (see Note 4). 98 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Note 9 Other non-current assets, continued “Restricted cash” in 2011 included cash set aside in a restricted bank account in connection with a capital reduction in two of the Company’s subsidiaries in order to meet certain future obligations in existence as of the date of the capital reduction. As such obligations are met, the amount of the restricted cash will be correspondingly reduced. The remain- ing balance at December 31, 2011, as well as the balance at December 31, 2010, contained individually insignificant amounts of restricted cash. “Loans granted” in the table above primarily represents financing arrangements provided to customers (relating to prod- ucts manufactured by the Company) and is reported in the balance sheet as outstanding principal amount less any write-offs or allowance for uncollectible loans. The Company determines the loan losses based on historical experience and ongoing credit evaluation of the borrower’s financial position. At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the doubtful debt allowance on loans granted was not significant. The change in such allowance during 2011 was also not significant. Note 10 Property, plant and equipment, net “Property, plant and equipment, net” consisted of the following: December 31, ($ in millions) Land and buildings Machinery and equipment Construction in progress Accumulated depreciation Total December 31, ($ in millions) Land and buildings Machinery and equipment Accumulated depreciation Total Assets under capital leases included in “Property, plant and equipment, net” were as follows: 2011 3,648 6,847 548 11,043 (6,121) 4,922 2010 3,440 6,371 447 10,258 (5,902) 4,356 2011 2010 80 75 155 (83) 72 105 76 181 (92) 89 In 2011, 2010 and 2009, depreciation expense, including depreciation of assets under capital leases, was $660 million, $545 million and $501 million, respectively. Note 11 Goodwill and other intangible assets Changes in “Goodwill” were as follows: ($ in millions) Cost at January 1, 2010 Accumulated impairment charges Balance at January 1, 2010 Goodwill acquired during the year Exchange rate differences Other Balance at December 31, 2010 Goodwill acquired during the year Exchange rate differences Other Balance at December 31, 2011 Discrete Low Power Power Automation Voltage Process Corporate Products Systems and Motion Products Automation and Other 619 – 619 6 (3) (8) 614 109 (11) – 712 429 – 429 973 8 1 1,411 321 (24) (3) 564 – 564 – (17) – 547 2,765 (19) – 1,705 3,293 379 – 379 37 (17) – 399 16 (8) – 407 1,011 – 1,011 75 5 (1) 1,090 50 (10) – 1,130 42 (18) 24 – – – 24 – (2) – 22 Total 3,044 (18) 3,026 1,091 (24) (8) 4,085 3,261 (74) (3) 7,269 In 2011, goodwill acquired primarily included $2,728 million in respect of Baldor (allocated to the Discrete Automation and Motion segment) with the remainder representing goodwill in respect of Mincom (allocated to the Power Systems seg- ment), Trasfor (allocated to the Power Products segment) and Lorentzen & Wettre (allocated to the Process Automation segment) as well as a number of smaller acquisitions and purchase accounting adjustments. In 2010, the goodwill acquired primarily related to Ventyx (allocated to the Power Systems segment), K-TEK Corp. (allocated to the Process Automation segment) and a number of smaller acquisitions and purchase accounting adjust- ments. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 99 Note 11 Goodwill and other intangible assets, continued Intangible assets other than goodwill consisted of the following: December 31, ($ in millions) Capitalized software for internal use Capitalized software for sale Intangibles other than software: Customer-related Technology-related Marketing-related Other Total ($ in millions) Capitalized software for internal use Capitalized software for sale Intangibles other than software Total ($ in millions) Capitalized software for internal use Capitalized software for sale Intangibles other than software Total ($ in millions) Capitalized software for internal use Capitalized software for sale Intangibles other than software Total ($ in millions) 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Thereafter Total 2011 2010 Gross carrying Accumulated Net carrying Gross carrying Accumulated Net carrying amount amortization amount amount amortization amount 640 393 1,499 564 213 70 (483) (295) (163) (123) (32) (30) 157 98 1,336 441 181 40 613 419 315 140 68 52 (441) (285) (73) (52) (15) (40) 3,379 (1,126) 2,253 1,607 (906) 172 134 242 88 53 12 701 Additions to intangible assets other than goodwill consisted of the following: 2011 2010 74 – 1,843 1,917 41 128 249 418 Included in the additions of $1,917 million and $418 million were the following intangible assets other than goodwill related to business combinations: 2011 2010 Amount Weighted-average Amount Weighted-average acquired useful life acquired useful life 15 – 1,838 1,853 5 years 14 years 14 years – 128 228 356 5 years 9 years 8 years Amortization expense of intangible assets other than goodwill consisted of the following: 2011 2010 2009 87 48 200 335 75 32 50 157 76 25 53 154 In 2011, 2010 and 2009, impairment charges on intangible assets other than goodwill were not significant. At December 31, 2011, future amortization expense of intangible assets other than goodwill is estimated to be: 322 286 242 195 174 1,034 2,253 100 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Note 12 Debt The Company’s total debt at December 31, 2011 and 2010, amounted to $3,996 million and $2,182 million, respectively. The Company’s “Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt” consisted of the following: Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt December 31, ($ in millions) Short-term debt (weighted-average interest rate of 3.4% and 6.2%) Current maturities of long-term debt (weighted-average nominal interest rate of 4.6% and 6.4%) Total 2011 689 76 765 2010 124 919 1,043 Short-term debt primarily represented short-term loans from various banks, and at December 31, 2011, included commercial paper debt. At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company had in place three commercial paper programs: a $1 billion commercial paper program for the private placement of U.S. dollar-denominated commercial paper in the United States; a $1 billion Euro-commercial paper program for the issuance of commercial paper in a variety of currencies and a 5 billion Swedish krona commercial paper program for the issuance of Swedish krona- and euro-denominated commercial paper. At December 31, 2011, $435 million were outstanding under the $1 billion program in the United States. No amounts were outstanding under any of these programs at December 31, 2010. In addition, the Company has a $2 billion multicurrency revolving credit facility, maturing in 2015. The facility is for general corporate purposes, including as a back-stop for the above-mentioned commercial paper programs. Interest costs on drawings under the facility are LIBOR, STIBOR or EURIBOR (depending on the currency of the drawings) plus a margin of between 0.425 percent and 0.625 percent (depending on the Company’s credit rating), while commitment fees (payable on the unused portion of the facility) amount to 35 percent of the margin, which, given the Company’s credit ratings at December 31, 2011, represents commitment fees of 0.166 percent per annum. Utilization fees, payable on drawings, amount to 0.15 percent per annum on drawings over one-third but less than or equal to two-thirds of the total facility, or 0.3 percent per annum on drawings over two-thirds of the total facility. No utilization fees are payable on drawings representing less than one-third of the total facility. No amount was drawn at December 31, 2011 and 2010. The facility contains cross default clauses whereby an event of default would occur if the Company were to default on indebtedness as defined in the facility, at or above a specified threshold. In February 2012, the Company entered into a $4 billion credit agreement for an initial term of 364 days to provide bridge financing for the planned acquisition of Thomas & Betts Corporation (see Note 3). The Company may, under certain circumstances, twice extend amounts outstanding under the credit agreement, each time for a period of 180 days, in an amount of up to $1.5 billion. Interest costs on drawings under this credit agreement are LIBOR plus a margin of 0.75 percent per annum, increasing to a margin of 1.0 percent per annum six months from the date of acquiring Thomas & Betts, and further increasing by 0.25 percentage points every three months thereafter. Commitment fees (payable on the unused and uncanceled portion of the credit agreement) amount to 35 percent of the margin and shall accrue beginning April 1, 2012. In addition, if on December 31, 2012, the aggregate outstanding commitments available to the Company exceed $1.5 billion, the Company will pay a fee of 0.25 percent on those commitments. The credit agree- ment contains cross-default clauses whereby an event of default would occur if the Company were to default on indebt- edness as defined in the credit agreement, at or above a specified threshold. Long-term debt The Company utilizes derivative instruments to modify the characteristics of its long-term debt. In particular, the Company uses interest rate swaps to effectively convert certain fixed-rate long-term debt into floating rate obligations. The carrying value of debt, designated as being hedged by fair value hedges, is adjusted for changes in the fair value of the risk component of the debt being hedged. The following table summarizes the Company’s long-term debt considering the effect of interest rate swaps. Conse- quently, a fixed-rate debt subject to a fixed-to-floating interest rate swap is included as a floating rate debt in the table below: December 31, ($ in millions, except % data) Balance Nominal rate Effective rate Balance Nominal rate Effective rate 2011 2010 Floating rate Fixed rate Current portion of long-term debt Total 1,875 1,432 3,307 (76) 3,231 3.3% 3.7% 4.6% 1.6% 3.7% 4.6% 1,919 139 2,058 (919) 1,139 5.7% 5.6% 6.4% 3.2% 5.6% 4.3% ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 101 Note 12 Debt, continued ($ in millions) Due in 2012 Due in 2013 Due in 2014 Due in 2015 Due in 2016 Thereafter Total December 31, (in millions) Bonds: 6.5% EUR Instruments, due 2011 4.625% EUR Instruments, due 2013 2.5% USD Notes, due 2016 1.25% CHF Bonds, due 2016 4.0% USD Notes, due 2021 2.25% CHF Bonds, due 2021 Total outstanding bonds At December 31, 2011, maturities of long-term debt were as follows: Details of the Company’s outstanding bonds were as follows: 76 968 14 18 1,149 1,082 3,307 2011 2010 Nominal Carrying Nominal outstanding value(1) outstanding Carrying value(1) EUR USD CHF USD CHF 700 600 500 650 350 – 910 596 535 640 378 3,059 $ $ $ $ $ $ EUR EUR 650 700 $ $ 882 946 – – – – $ 1,828 (1) USD carrying value is net of bond discounts and includes adjustments for fair value hedge accounting, where appropriate. The 4.625% EUR Instruments, due 2013, pay interest annually in arrear at a fixed annual rate of 4.625 percent. The Company has the option to redeem the bonds early at any time from June 6, 2010, in accordance with the terms of the bonds. In the event of a change of control, a bondholder can require the Company to repurchase or redeem the bonds, in accordance with the terms of the bonds. The Company entered into interest rate swaps to hedge its interest obliga- tions on these bonds. After considering the impact of such swaps, these bonds effectively became a floating rate euro obligation and consequently have been shown as floating rate debt in the table of long-term debt above. The 2.5% USD Notes, due 2016, and the 4.0% USD Notes, due 2021, pay interest semi-annually in arrear, at fixed annual rates of 2.5 percent and 4.0 percent, respectively. The Company may redeem these bonds prior to maturity, at the greater of i) 100 percent of the principal amount of the bonds to be redeemed and ii) the sum of the present values of remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest (excluding interest accrued to the redemption date) discounted to the redemption date at a rate defined in the bond terms, plus interest accrued at the redemption date. The 1.25% CHF Bonds, due 2016, and the 2.25% Bonds, due 2021, pay interest annually in arrear, at fixed annual rates of 1.25 percent and 2.25 percent, respectively. The Company has the option to redeem the bonds prior to maturity, in whole, at par plus accrued interest, if 85 percent of the aggregate principal amount of the bonds has been redeemed or purchased and cancelled. The Company entered into interest rate swaps to hedge its interest obligations on these bonds. After considering the impact of such swaps, these bonds effectively became floating rate Swiss franc obligations and consequently have been shown as floating rate debt in the table of long-term debt above. In January 2012, the Company issued bonds with an aggregate principal of CHF 350 million, due 2018, that pay interest annually in arrear at a fixed rate of 1.5 percent per annum. The Company recorded net proceeds of CHF 346 million (equivalent to approximately $370 million on date of settlement). The Company’s bonds contain cross-default clauses which would allow the bondholders to demand repayment if the Company were to default on any borrowing at or above a specified threshold. Furthermore, all such bonds constitute unsecured obligations of the Company and rank pari passu with other debt obligations. In addition to the bonds described above, included in long-term debt at December 31, 2011 and 2010, are lease obliga- tions, bank borrowings of subsidiaries and other long-term debt, none of which is individually significant. 102 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Note 13 Provisions and other current liabilities and other non-current liabilities “Provisions and other current liabilities” consisted of the following: December 31, ($ in millions) Contract-related provisions Current derivative liabilities (see Note 5) Taxes payable Restructuring and other related provisions Provisions for contractual penalties and compliance and litigation matters Provision for insurance-related reserves Income tax related liabilities Pension and other employee benefits (see Note 17) Environmental provisions (see Note 15) Other Total “Other non-current liabilities” consisted of the following: December 31, ($ in millions) Income tax related liabilities Non-current deposit liabilities (see Note 9) Environmental provisions (see Note 15) Non-current derivative liabilities (see Note 5) Deferred income The Company’s lease obligations primarily relate to real estate and office equipment. Rent expense was $601 million, $510 million and $509 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Sublease income received by the Company on leased assets was $41 million, $44 million and $52 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. At December 31, 2011, future net minimum lease payments for operating leases, having initial or remaining non- cancelable lease terms in excess of one year, consisted of the following: At December 31, 2011, the future net minimum lease payments for capital leases and the present value of the net minimum lease payments consisted of the following: Thereafter Total minimum lease payments Less amount representing estimated executory costs included in total minimum lease payments Net minimum lease payments Less amount representing interest Present value of minimum lease payments ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 103 2011 2010 588 431 377 242 225 208 153 76 22 297 655 304 430 344 251 187 72 68 161 254 2,619 2,726 2011 647 286 70 61 56 376 1,496 2010 798 293 85 77 59 406 1,718 477 401 340 284 244 340 2,086 (96) 1,990 27 24 20 15 13 84 183 (2) 181 (85) 96 Other Total Note 14 Leases ($ in millions) 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Thereafter Sublease income Total ($ in millions) 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Note 14 Leases, continued Minimum lease payments have not been reduced by minimum sublease rentals due in the future under non-cancelable subleases. Such minimum sublease rentals were not significant. The present value of minimum lease payments is presented in “Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt” or “Long-term debt” in the Consolidated Bal- ance Sheets. Note 15 Commitments and contingencies Contingencies – Environmental The Company is engaged in environmental clean-up activities at certain sites arising under various United States and other environmental protection laws and under certain agreements with third parties. In some cases, these environmen- tal remediation actions are subject to legal proceedings, investigations or claims, and it is uncertain to what extent the Company is actually obligated to perform. Provisions for these unresolved matters have been set up if it is probable that the Company has incurred a liability and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. If a provision has been recog- nized for any of these matters, the Company records an asset when it is probable that it will recover a portion of the costs expected to be incurred to settle them. Management is of the opinion, based upon information presently available, that the resolution of any such obligation and non-collection of recoverable costs would not have a further material adverse effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. Contingencies related to former Nuclear Technology business The Company retained liabilities for certain specific environmental remediation costs at two sites in the United States that were operated by its former subsidiary, ABB CE-Nuclear Power Inc., which the Company sold to British Nuclear Fuels PLC (BNFL) in 2000. Pursuant to the sale agreement with BNFL, the Company has retained the environmental liabilities associated with its Combustion Engineering Inc. subsidiary’s Windsor, Connecticut, facility and agreed to reimburse BNFL for a share of the costs that BNFL incurs for environmental liabilities associated with its former Hematite, Missouri, facility. The primary environmental liabilities associated with these sites relate to the costs of remediating radiological and chemical contamination. Such costs are not incurred until a facility is taken out of use and generally are then incurred over a number of years. Although it is difficult to predict with accuracy the amount of time it may take to reme- diate this contamination, based on available information, the Company believes that it may take at least until late 2012 at the Windsor site. In February 2011, the Company and Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (BNFL’s former subsid- iary) agreed to settle and release the Company from its continuing environmental obligations under the sale agreement in respect of the Hematite site. Consequently, these obligations were reclassified in the December 31, 2010, Consoli- dated Balance Sheet to current liabilities and reduced to reflect the amount of the agreed settlement; the amount was paid by the Company in February 2011. During 2007, the Company reached an agreement with U.S. government agencies to transfer oversight of the remedia- tion of the portion of the Windsor site under the U.S. Government’s Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission which has oversight responsibility for the remaining radiological areas of that site and the Company’s radiological license for the site. Contingencies related to other present and former facilities primarily in North America The Company is involved in the remediation of environmental contamination at present or former facilities, primarily in the United States. The clean-up of these sites involves primarily soil and groundwater contamination. A significant por- tion of the provisions in respect of these contingencies reflects the provisions of acquired companies. A substantial portion of one of the acquired entities remediation liability is indemnified by a prior owner. Accordingly, an asset equal to that portion of the remediation liability is included in “Other non-current assets”. The impact of the above Nuclear Technology and other environmental obligations on “Income from continuing opera- tions, net of tax” was not significant in 2011, 2010 and 2009. The impact on “Income from discontinued operations, net of tax” was not significant in 2011 and 2009, and was an income of $29 million in 2010. The effect of the above Nuclear Technology and other environmental obligations on the Company’s Consolidated State- ments of Cash Flows was as follows: ($ in millions) Cash expenditures: Nuclear Technology business Various businesses 2011 2010 2009 145 4 149 20 6 26 11 18 29 The Company has estimated cash expenditures of $16 million for 2012. These expenditures are covered by provisions included in “Provisions and other current liabilities”. The total effect of the above Nuclear Technology and other environmental obligations on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets was as follows: December 31, ($ in millions) Provision balance relating to: Nuclear Technology business Various businesses Environmental provisions included in: Provisions and other current liabilities Other non-current liabilities 104 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 2011 2010 24 68 92 22 70 92 181 65 246 161 85 246 Note 15 Commitments and contingencies, continued Asbestos obligations Contingencies – Regulatory, Compliance and Legal Provisions for the above estimated losses have not been discounted as the timing of payments cannot be reasonably estimated. The Company’s Combustion Engineering Inc. subsidiary (CE) was a co-defendant in a large number of lawsuits claiming damage for personal injury resulting from exposure to asbestos. A smaller number of claims were also brought against the Company’s former Lummus subsidiary as well as against other entities of the Company. Separate plans of reorgani- zation for CE and Lummus, as amended, were filed under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The CE plan of reorganization and the Lummus plan of reorganization (collectively, the Plans) became effective on April 21, 2006, and August 31, 2006, respectively. Under the Plans, separate personal injury trusts were created and funded to settle future asbestos-related claims against CE and Lummus and on the respective Plan effective dates, channeling injunctions were issued pursuant to Section 524(g) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code under which all present and future asbestos-related personal injury claims filed against the Company and its affiliates and certain other entities that relate to the operations of CE and Lummus are channeled to the CE Asbestos PI Trust or the Lummus Asbestos PI Trust, respectively. In December 2010, the Company made a payment of $25 million to the CE Asbestos PI Trust and thereby discharged its remaining payment obligations to the CE Asbestos PI Trust. The effect of asbestos obligations on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2011 and 2010, and on the Company’s Consolidated Income Statements in 2011, 2010 and 2009, was not significant. The effect of asbestos obligations on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows was not significant in 2011 and 2009, and amounted to a cash outflow of $51 million in 2010. Gas Insulated Switchgear business In May 2004, the Company announced that it had undertaken an internal investigation which uncovered that certain of its employees together with employees of other companies active in the Gas Insulated Switchgear business were involved in anti-competitive practices. The Company has reported such practices upon identification to the appropriate antitrust authorities, including the European Commission. The European Commission announced its decision in January 2007 and granted the Company full immunity from fines assessed to the Company of euro 215 million under the European Commission’s leniency program. The Company continues to cooperate with other antitrust authorities in several locations globally, including Brazil, which are investigating anti-competitive practices related to Gas Insulated Switchgear. At this stage of the proceedings, no reliable estimate of the amount or range of loss from potential fines, if any, can be made. Power Transformers business In October 2009, the European Commission announced its decision regarding its investigation into alleged anti- competitive practices of certain manufacturers of power transformers. The European Commission fined the Company euro 33.75 million (equivalent to $49 million on date of payment). The German Antitrust Authority (Bundeskartellamt) and other antitrust authorities are also reviewing those alleged practices which relate to the German market and other markets. Management is cooperating fully with the authorities in their investigations. The Company anticipates that the German Antitrust Authority’s review will result in an unfavorable outcome with respect to the alleged anti-competitive practices and expects that a fine will be imposed. At this stage of the proceedings with the other antitrust authorities, no reliable estimate of the amount or range of loss from potential fines, if any, can be made. Cables business The Company’s cables business is under investigation for alleged anti-competitive practices. Management is cooperating fully with the antitrust authorities, including the European Commission, in their investigations. In July 2011, the European Commission announced that it had issued its Statement of Objections in its investigation into alleged anti-competitive practices in the cables business. An informed judgment about the outcome of these investigations or the amount of potential loss or range of loss for the Company, if any, relating to these investigations cannot be made at this stage. FACTS business In January 2010, the European Commission conducted raids at the premises of the Company’s flexible alternating cur- rent transmission systems (FACTS) business in Sweden as part of its investigation into alleged anti-competitive prac- tices of certain FACTS manufacturers. In the United States, the Department of Justice (DoJ) also conducted an investi- gation into this business. The Company has been informed that the European Commission and the DoJ have closed their investigations. No fines have been imposed on the Company. The Company’s FACTS business remains under investigation in one other jurisdiction for anti-competitive practices. Management is cooperating fully with the antitrust authority in its investigation. An informed judgment about the outcome of that investigation or the amount of potential loss or range of loss for the Company, if any, relating to that investigation cannot be made at this stage. Suspect payments In April 2005, the Company voluntarily disclosed to the DoJ and the United States Securities and Exchange Commis- sion (SEC) certain suspect payments in its network management unit in the United States. Subsequently, the Company made additional voluntary disclosures to the DoJ and the SEC regarding suspect payments made by other Company subsidiaries in a number of countries in the Middle East, Asia, South America and Europe (including to an employee of an Italian power generation company) as well as by its former Lummus business. These payments were discovered by the Company as a result of the Company’s internal audit program and compliance reviews. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 105 Note 15 Commitments and contingencies, continued Guarantees December 31, ($ in millions) Performance guarantees Financial guarantees Indemnification guarantees Total In September 2010, the Company reached settlements with the DoJ and the SEC regarding their investigations into these matters and into suspect payments involving certain of the Company’s subsidiaries in the United Nations Oil-for- Food Program. In connection with these settlements, the Company agreed to make payments to the DoJ and SEC totaling $58 million, which were settled in the fourth quarter of 2010. One subsidiary of the Company pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and one count of violating those provisions. The Company entered into a deferred prosecution agreement and settled civil charges brought by the SEC. These settlements resolved the foregoing investigations. In lieu of an external compliance monitor, the DoJ and SEC have agreed to allow the Company to report on its continuing compliance efforts and the results of the review of its internal processes through September 2013. General In addition, the Company is aware of proceedings, or the threat of proceedings, against it and others in respect of private claims by customers and other third parties alleging harm with regard to various actual or alleged cartel cases. Also, the Company is subject to other various legal proceedings, investigations, and claims that have not yet been resolved. With respect to the abovementioned regulatory matters and commercial litigation contingencies, the Company will bear the costs of the continuing investigations and any related legal proceedings. Liabilities recognized At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company had aggregate liabilities of $208 million and $220 million, respectively, included in “Provisions and other current liabilities” and in “Other non-current liabilities”, for the above regulatory, compliance and legal contingencies. As it is not possible to make an informed judgment on the outcome of certain matters and as it is not possible, based on information currently available to management, to estimate the maximum potential liability on other matters, there could be material adverse outcomes beyond the amounts accrued. General The following table provides quantitative data regarding the Company’s third-party guarantees. The maximum potential payments represent a “worst-case scenario”, and do not reflect management’s expected results. The carrying amount of liabilities recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets reflects the Company’s best estimate of future payments, which it may incur as part of fulfilling its guarantee obligations. Maximum potential payments 2011 148 85 194 427 2010 125 84 203 412 In respect of the above guarantees, the carrying amounts of liabilities at December 31, 2011 and 2010, were not significant. Performance guarantees Performance guarantees represent obligations where the Company guarantees the performance of a third party’s product or service according to the terms of a contract. Such guarantees may include guarantees that a project will be completed within a specified time. If the third party does not fulfill the obligation, the Company will compensate the guaranteed party in cash or in kind. Performance guarantees include surety bonds, advance payment guarantees and standby letters of credit. The significant performance guarantees are described below. The Company retained obligations for guarantees related to the Power Generation business contributed in mid-1999 to the former ABB Alstom Power NV joint venture (Alstom Power NV). The guarantees primarily consist of performance guarantees and other miscellaneous guarantees under certain contracts such as indemnification for personal injuries and property damages, taxes and compliance with labor laws, environmental laws and patents. The guarantees are related to projects which are expected to be completed by 2013 but in some cases have no definite expiration date. In May 2000, the Company sold its interest in Alstom Power NV to Alstom SA (Alstom). As a result, Alstom and its subsidiaries have primary responsibility for performing the obligations that are the subject of the guarantees. Further, Alstom, the parent company, and Alstom Power NV, have undertaken jointly and severally to fully indemnify and hold harmless the Com- pany against any claims arising under such guarantees. Management’s best estimate of the total maximum potential amount payable of quantifiable guarantees issued by the Company on behalf of its former Power Generation business was $87 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010, and is subject to foreign exchange fluctuations. The Company has not experienced any losses related to guarantees issued on behalf of the former Power Generation business. The Company retained obligations for guarantees related to the Upstream Oil and Gas business sold in 2004. The guarantees primarily consist of performance guarantees and although these have original maturity dates ranging from one to seven years, the Company has not yet been formally released from all of these guarantees. The maximum potential amount payable under the guarantees was approximately $8 million and $13 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The Company has the ability to recover potential payments under these guarantees through certain backstop guarantees. The maximum potential recovery under these backstop guarantees was not significant at December 31, 2011 and 2010. 106 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Note 15 Commitments and contingencies, continued The Company retained obligations for guarantees related to the Building Systems business in Germany sold in 2007. The guarantees primarily consist of performance guarantees and have original maturity dates ranging from one to thir- teen years. The maximum potential amount payable under the guarantees was approximately $8 million and $10 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The Company is engaged in executing a number of projects as a member of a consortium that includes third parties. In certain of these cases, the Company guarantees not only its own performance but also the work of third parties. The original maturity dates of these guarantees range from one to four years. At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the maximum potential amount payable under these guarantees as a result of third party non-performance was $45 million and $15 million, respectively. Financial guarantees Financial guarantees represent irrevocable assurances that the Company will make payment to a beneficiary in the event that a third party fails to fulfill its financial obligations and the beneficiary under the guarantee incurs a loss due to that failure. At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company had a maximum potential amount payable of $85 million and $84 million, respectively, under financial guarantees outstanding. Of each of those amounts, $19 million and $16 million, respec- tively, was in respect of guarantees issued on behalf of companies in which the Company formerly had or has an equity interest. The guarantees outstanding have various maturity dates up to 2020. Indemnification guarantees The Company has indemnified certain purchasers of divested businesses for potential claims arising from the operations of the divested businesses. To the extent the maximum potential loss related to such indemnifications could not be calculated, no amounts have been included under maximum potential payments in the table above. Indemnifications for which maximum potential losses could not be calculated include indemnifications for legal claims. The significant indem- nification guarantees for which maximum potential losses could be calculated are described below. The Company delivered to the purchasers of Lummus guarantees related to assets and liabilities divested in 2007. The maximum potential amount payable relating to this business, pursuant to the sales agreement, at each of December 31, 2011 and 2010, was $50 million. The Company delivered to the purchasers of its interest in Jorf Lasfar guarantees related to assets and liabilities divested in 2007. The maximum potential amount payable at December 31, 2011 and 2010, of $141 million and $147 million, respectively, relating to this business, is subject to foreign exchange fluctuations. Product and order-related contingencies The Company calculates its provision for product warranties based on historical claims experience and specific review of certain contracts. The reconciliation of “Provisions for warranties”, including guarantees of product performance, was as follows: ($ in millions) Balance at January 1, Warranties assumed through acquisitions Claims paid in cash or in kind Net increase in provision for changes in estimates, warranties issued and warranties expired Exchange rate differences Balance at December 31, Related party transactions 2011 1,393 10 (177) 124 (26) 2010 1,280 – (183) 280 16 1,324 1,393 The Company conducts business with certain companies where members of the Company’s Board of Directors or Executive Committee act as directors or senior executives. The Company’s Board of Directors has determined that the Company’s business relationships with those companies do not constitute material business relationships. This deter- mination was made in accordance with the Company’s related party transaction policy which was prepared based on the Swiss Code of Best Practice and the independence criteria set forth in the corporate governance rules of the New York Stock Exchange. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 107 Note 16 Taxes ($ in millions) Current taxes on income Deferred taxes “Provision for taxes” consisted of the following: Tax expense from continuing operations Tax benefit from discontinued operations 2011 1,278 (34) 1,244 (1) 2010 867 151 1,018 (3) 2009 1,057 (56) 1,001 (7) Tax expense from continuing operations is reconciled below to the Company’s weighted-average global tax rate, rather than to the Swiss domestic statutory tax rate, as the parent company of the ABB Group, ABB Ltd, is domiciled in Switzerland. Income generated in jurisdictions outside of Switzerland (hereafter “foreign jurisdictions”) which has already been subject to corporate income tax in those foreign jurisdictions is, to a large extent, tax exempt in Switzer- land. There is no requirement in Switzerland for a parent company of a group to file a tax return of the consolidated group determining domestic and foreign pre-tax income, and as the Company’s consolidated income from continuing operations is predominantly earned outside of Switzerland, corporate income tax in foreign jurisdictions largely deter- mines the global tax rate of the Company. ($ in millions, except % data) Reconciliation of taxes: Income from continuing operations before taxes Weighted-average tax rate Taxes at weighted-average tax rate Items taxed at rates other than the weighted-average tax rate Changes in valuation allowance, net Changes in tax laws and enacted tax rates Other, net Tax expense from continuing operations Effective tax rate for the year 2011 2010 2009 4,550 24.9% 1,134 103 (22) (17) 46 3,740 25.3% 4,120 23.9% 945 (21) 60 6 28 983 (13) (46) 5 72 1,244 27.3% 1,018 27.2% 1,001 24.3% In 2011, the “Items taxed at rates other than the weighted-average tax rate” predominantly related to tax credits arising in foreign jurisdictions for which the technical merits did not allow a benefit to be taken. In 2011, 2010 and 2009, “Changes in the valuation allowance, net” included reductions in valuation allowances recorded in certain jurisdictions where the Company determined that it was more likely than not that such deferred tax assets (recognized for net operating losses and timing differences in those jurisdictions) would be realized, as well as increases in the valuation allowance in certain other jurisdictions. In 2011, the “Changes in valuation allowance, net” included a benefit of $47 million, related to certain of the Company’s operations in Northern Europe. In 2010, the “Changes in valuation allowance, net” included an expense of $44 million and in 2009, a benefit of approximately $60 million, both related to certain of the Company’s operations in Central Europe. In 2011, 2010 and 2009, “Other, net” of $46 million, $28 million and $72 million, in the table above, included expenses of $60 million, $45 million and $40 million, respectively, in relation to items that were deducted for financial accounting purposes, but were not tax deductible, such as interest expense, state and local taxes on productive activities, disal- lowed meals and entertainment expenses and other similar items. In addition, in 2009, “Other, net” of $72 million also included: – a benefit of approximately $74 million relating to the release of provision for costs of previously disclosed investi- gations by European authorities into suspect payments and alleged anti-competitive practices that were credited for financial accounting purposes, but were not taxable, and – an expense of approximately $100 million relating to a net increase in tax accruals. 108 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Deferred income tax assets and liabilities consisted of the following: Note 16 Taxes, continued December 31, ($ in millions) Deferred tax assets: Unused tax losses and credits Pension and other accrued liabilities Inventories Property, plant and equipment Other Total gross deferred tax asset Valuation allowance Total gross deferred tax asset, net of valuation allowance Deferred tax liabilities: Property, plant and equipment, and intangible assets Pension and other accrued liabilities Inventories Other current assets Unremitted earnings Other Total gross deferred tax liability Net deferred tax asset Included in: “Deferred taxes” – current assets “Deferred taxes” – non-current assets “Deferred taxes” – current liabilities “Deferred taxes” – non-current liabilities Net deferred tax asset 2011 2010 963 1,064 276 192 134 2,629 (375) 2,254 (1,037) (164) (152) (220) (213) (60) 1,102 1,005 241 90 134 2,572 (450) 2,122 (441) (191) (159) (137) (171) (49) (1,846) (1,148) 408 974 932 318 (305) (537) 408 896 846 (357) (411) 974 At December 31, 2011, “Net deferred tax asset” included an increase of deferred tax liabilities of approximately $790 million, arising upon business combinations. Certain entities have deferred tax assets related to net operating loss carry-forwards and other items. As recognition of these assets did not meet the more likely than not criterion, valuation allowances were established, amounting to $375 million and $450 million, at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. “Unused tax losses and credits” at December 31, 2011 and 2010, in the table above, included $166 million and $226 million, respectively, for which the Company has established a full valuation allowance as, due to limitations imposed by the relevant tax law, the Company determined that, more likely than not, such deferred tax assets would not be realized. At December 31, 2011 and 2010, deferred tax liabilities totaling $213 million and $171 million have been provided for in respect of withholding taxes, dividend distribution taxes or additional corporate income taxes (hereafter “withholding taxes”) on unremitted earnings, as well as for limited Swiss income taxes on any such repatriated earnings. Income which has been generated outside of Switzerland and has already been subject to corporate income tax in such foreign jurisdictions is, to a large extent, tax exempt in Switzerland. Therefore, generally no or only limited Swiss income tax has to be provided for on the repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries. Certain countries levy withholding taxes on dividend distributions. Such taxes cannot always be fully reclaimed by the shareholder, although they have to be declared and withheld by the subsidiary. In 2011, certain taxes arose in certain foreign jurisdictions for which the technical merits do not allow utilization of benefits. At each of December 31, 2011 and 2010, approximately $400 million of foreign subsidiary retained earnings subject to withholding taxes upon distribution were considered as permanently reinvested, as these funds are used for financing current operations as well as business growth through working capital and capital expenditure in those countries, and consequently, no deferred tax liability was set up. At December 31, 2011, net operating loss carry-forwards of $2,576 million and tax credits of $144 million were available to reduce future taxes of certain subsidiaries. Of these amounts, $1,740 million of loss carry-forwards and $126 million of tax credits will expire in varying amounts through 2031. These carry-forwards were predominantly related to the Com- pany’s U.S. operations. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 109 Note 16 Taxes, continued Unrecognized tax benefits consisted of the following: ($ in millions) Classification as unrecognized tax items on January 1, 2009 Net change due to acquisitions and divestments Increase relating to prior year tax positions Decrease relating to prior year tax positions Increase relating to current year tax positions Decrease due to settlements with tax authorities Decrease as a result of the applicable statute of limitations Exchange rate differences Balance at December 31, 2009, which would, if recognized, affect the effective tax rate Net change due to acquisitions and divestments Increase relating to prior year tax positions Decrease relating to prior year tax positions Increase relating to current year tax positions Decrease relating to current year tax positions Decrease due to settlements with tax authorities Decrease as a result of the applicable statute of limitations Exchange rate differences Balance at December 31, 2010, which would, if recognized, affect the effective tax rate Net change due to acquisitions and divestments Increase relating to prior year tax positions Decrease relating to prior year tax positions Increase relating to current year tax positions Decrease relating to current year tax positions Decrease due to settlements with tax authorities Decrease as a result of the applicable statute of limitations Exchange rate differences Balance at December 31, 2011, which would, if recognized, affect the effective tax rate Penalties and interest related Unrecognized to unrecognized tax benefits tax benefits Total 598 (2) 133 (9) 93 (41) (69) 9 712 5 56 (32) 114 (15) (40) (72) (14) 714 9 52 (31) 128 (2) (78) (135) (4) 653 139 – 62 (8) 6 (3) (22) 2 176 – 38 (6) 5 (4) (9) (21) (1) 178 2 61 (11) 2 – (27) (35) (1) 169 737 (2) 195 (17) 99 (44) (91) 11 888 5 94 (38) 119 (19) (49) (93) (15) 892 11 113 (42) 130 (2) (105) (170) (5) 822 In 2011, the “Increase relating to prior year tax positions”, in unrecognized tax benefits above, related primarily to a tax dispute in Asia. The “Increase relating to prior year tax positions”, in penalties and interest-related to unrecognized tax benefits above, mainly reflected the interest accrual on prior years’ tax positions. Also in 2011, the “Increase relating to current year tax positions” included a total of $97 million in taxes related to the interpretation of tax law and double tax treaty agreements by competent tax authorities. In 2011, the “Decrease due to settlements with tax authorities included $49 million in tax, penalty and interest relating to a tax dispute in Northern Europe, while the “Decrease as a result of the applicable statute of limitations” included both the effect of the statute of limitations in certain jurisdictions, as well as instances where tax audits had been concluded by taxing authorities and the corresponding tax years were consequently considered closed. In 2010, the “Increase relating to current year tax positions” in the table above included an expense of $88 million related to the interpretation of tax law and double tax treaty agreements by competent tax authorities. In 2009, the “Increase relating to prior year tax positions” included an expense of approximately $27 million in taxes and approximately $27 million in penalties and interest relating to a pending tax dispute in Northern Europe. Further, it included an increase of provision of approximately $34 million in taxes relating to a pending assessment by competent tax authorities in Central Europe. At December 31, 2011, the Company expected the resolution, within the next twelve months, of uncertain tax positions related to pending court cases amounting to $153 million for taxes, penalties and interest. Otherwise, the Company had not identified any other significant changes which were considered reasonably possible to occur within the next twelve months. At December 31, 2011, the earliest significant open tax years that remained subject to examination were the following: Region Europe The Americas Asia Middle East & Africa 110 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Year 2007 2008 2002 2004 Note 17 Note 17 Employee benefits Employee benefits The Company operates defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans and termination indemnity plans, in accordance with local regulations and practices. These plans cover a large portion of the Company’s employees and provide benefits to employees in the event of death, disability, retirement, or termination of employment. Certain of these plans are multiemployer plans. The Company also operates other postretirement benefit plans in certain countries. A number of these plans require employees to make contributions and enable employees to earn matching or other contributions from the Company. The funding policies of the Company’s plans are consistent with the local government and tax requirements. The Company has several pension plans that are not required to be funded pursuant to local government and tax requirements. The Company uses a December 31 measurement date for its plans. The Company recognizes in its Consolidated Balance Sheets the funded status of its defined benefit pension and post- retirement plans, measured as the difference between the fair value of the plan assets and the benefit obligation. Obligations and funded status of the plans The following tables set forth the changes in benefit obligations, the changes in plan assets and the funded status recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for the Company’s benefit plans: Defined pension Other postretirement benefits benefits ($ in millions) Benefit obligation at January 1, Service cost Interest cost Contributions by plan participants Benefit payments Benefit obligations of businesses disposed and acquired Actuarial (gain) loss Plan amendments and other Exchange rate differences Benefit obligation at December 31, Fair value of plan assets at January 1, Actual return on plan assets Contributions by employer Contributions by plan participants Benefit payments Plan assets of businesses disposed and acquired Plan amendments and other Exchange rate differences Fair value of plan assets at December 31, Funded status – underfunded 2011 9,337 242 402 76 (549) 20 472 5 (188) 9,817 2010 8,914 210 389 58 (571) – 168 16 153 2011 214 2 12 – (16) 39 9 – – 9,337 260 9,010 8,149 155 305 76 (549) 18 (6) (142) 8,867 950 636 567 58 (571) – (12) 183 9,010 327 – – 16 – (16) – – – – 2010 219 2 12 – (13) – (6) (1) 1 214 – – 13 – (13) – – – – 260 214 The amounts recognized in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” and “Noncontrolling interests” were: December 31, ($ in millions) Transition liability Net actuarial loss Prior service cost Amount recognized in OCI(1) and NCI(2) Taxes associated with amount recognized in OCI(1) and NCI(2) Total amount recognized in OCI(1) and NCI(2), net of tax(3) Defined pension benefits Other postretirement benefits 2011 – 2010 – 2009 – (1,826) (1,135) (1,313) (34) (43) (40) (1,860) (1,178) (1,353) 415 (1,445) 270 (908) 301 (1,052) 2011 2010 2009 – (71) 42 (29) – (29) (1) (65) 51 (15) – (15) (2) (77) 61 (18) – (18) (1) (2) (3) OCI represents “Accumulated other comprehensive loss”. NCI represents “Noncontrolling interests”. NCI, net of tax, amounted to $(2) million, $(5) million and $(2) million at December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 111 Note 17 Employee benefits, continued In addition, the following amounts were recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets: Defined pension Other postretirement benefits benefits December 31, ($ in millions) Overfunded plans Underfunded plans – current Underfunded plans – non-current Funded status December 31, ($ in millions) Non-current assets Overfunded pension plans Other employee-related benefits Prepaid pension and other employee benefits December 31, ($ in millions) Current liabilities Underfunded pension plans Underfunded other benefit plans Other employee-related benefits Pension and other employee benefits (Note 13) December 31, ($ in millions) Non-current liabilities Underfunded pension plans Underfunded other benefit plans Other employee-related benefits Pension and other employee benefits 2011 (138) 25 1,063 950 2010 (172) 26 473 327 2011 2010 – 18 242 260 – 16 198 214 2011 2010 (138) (1) (139) (172) (1) (173) 2011 2010 25 18 33 76 26 16 26 68 2011 2010 1,063 242 182 1,487 473 198 160 831 December 31, ($ in millions) PBO exceeds assets Assets exceed PBO Total December 31, ($ in millions) ABO exceeds assets Assets exceed ABO Total The funded status, calculated by the projected benefit obligation (PBO) and fair value of plan assets, for pension plans with a PBO in excess of fair value of plan assets (underfunded) or fair value of plan assets in excess of PBO (over- funded), respectively, was: 2011 PBO 7,353 2,464 9,817 Assets Difference 6,265 2,602 8,867 1,088 (138) 950 2010 Assets Difference 3,402 5,608 9,010 499 (172) 327 PBO 3,901 5,436 9,337 The accumulated benefit obligation (ABO) for all defined benefit pension plans was $9,512 million and $9,024 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The funded status, calculated by the ABO and fair value of plan assets for pension plans with ABO in excess of fair value of plan assets (underfunded) or fair value of plan assets in excess of ABO (overfunded), respectively, was: 2011 Assets Difference 4,839 4,028 8,867 908 (263) 645 ABO 5,747 3,765 9,512 2010 Assets Difference 1,725 7,285 9,010 355 (341) 14 ABO 2,080 6,944 9,024 All of the Company’s other postretirement benefit plans are unfunded. 112 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Note 17 Employee benefits, continued Components of net periodic benefit cost ($ in millions) Service cost Interest cost Expected return on plan assets Amortization of transition liability Amortization of prior service cost Amortization of net actuarial loss Net periodic benefit cost consisted of the following: Defined pension benefits Other postretirement benefits 2011 242 402 (507) – 44 52 3 2010 210 389 (422) – 26 71 8 2009 154 432 (384) – 13 71 2 2011 2010 2009 2 12 – 1 (9) 3 – 9 2 12 – 1 (9) 5 – 11 2 13 – 1 (11) 6 (8) 3 Curtailments, settlements and special termination benefits Net periodic benefit cost 236 282 288 The net actuarial loss and prior service cost for defined pension benefits estimated to be amortized from “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” into net periodic benefit cost in 2012 is $82 million and $40 million, respectively. The net actuarial loss and prior service cost for other postretirement benefits estimated to be amortized from “Accumu- lated other comprehensive loss” into net periodic benefit cost in 2012 is $5 million and $(9) million, respectively. Assumptions The following weighted-average assumptions were used to determine benefit obligations: December 31, (in %) Discount rate Rate of compensation increase Pension increase assumption Defined pension Other postretirement benefits benefits 2011 3.91 1.62 0.97 2010 4.29 2.05 1.06 2011 4.07 – – 2010 5.03 – – The discount rate assumptions reflect the rates at which the benefit obligations could effectively be settled. The princi- pal assumption was that the relevant fixed income securities are AA rated corporate bonds. In those countries with sufficient liquidity in corporate bonds, the Company used the current market long-term corporate bond rates and matched the bond duration with the average duration of the pension liabilities. In those countries where the liquidity of the AA corporate bonds was deemed to be insufficient, the Company determined the discount rate by adding the credit spread derived from an AA corporate bond index in another relevant liquid market, as adjusted for interest rate differentials, to the domestic government bond curve or interest rate swap curve. The following weighted-average assumptions were used to determine the “Net periodic benefit cost”: (in %) Discount rate Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets Rate of compensation increase Defined pension benefits Other postretirement benefits 2011 4.29 5.45 2.05 2010 4.66 5.44 2.13 2009 5.63 5.47 2.22 2011 5.03 – – 2010 5.54 – – 2009 6.30 – – The “Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets” is derived from the current and projected asset allocation, the current and projected types of investments in each asset category and the long-term historical returns for each investment type. The Company maintains other postretirement benefit plans, which are generally contributory with participants’ contribu- tions adjusted annually. The assumptions used were: December 31, Health care cost trend rate assumed for next year Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (the ultimate trend rate) Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate 2011 8.84% 5.00% 2028 2010 7.93% 5.00% 2017 A one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects at December 31, 2011: ($ in millions) Effect on total of service and interest cost Effect on postretirement benefit obligation 1-percentage-point increase decrease 1 22 (1) (19) ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 113 Note 17 Employee benefits, continued Plan assets The Company has pension plans in various countries with the majority of the Company’s pension liabilities deriving from a limited number of these countries. The pension plans’ structures reflect local regulatory environments and market practices. The pension plans are typically funded by regular contributions from employees and the Company. These plans are typi- cally administered by boards of trustees (which include Company representatives) whose primary responsibility is to ensure that the plans meet their liabilities through contributions and investment returns. The boards of trustees have the responsibility for key investment strategy decisions. The accumulated contributions are invested in a diversified range of assets that are managed by third-party asset managers, in accordance with local statutory regulations, pension plan rules and the respective plans’ investment guide- lines, as approved by the boards of trustees. Plan assets are generally segregated from those of the Company and invested with the aim of meeting the respective plans’ projected future pension liabilities. Plan assets are measured at fair value at the balance sheet date. The boards of trustees manage the assets of the pension plans in a risk-controlled manner and assess the risks embed- ded in the pension plans through asset/liability modeling. The projected future development of pension liabilities is assessed relative to various alternative asset allocations in order to determine a strategic asset allocation for each plan, based on a given risk budget. Asset/liability management studies typically take place every three years. However, the risks of the plans are monitored on an ongoing basis. The assets of the major plans are reviewed at least quarterly, while the plans’ liabilities are reviewed in detail at least annually. The board of trustees’ investment goal is to maximize the long-term returns of plan assets within the risk budget, while considering the future liabilities and liquidity needs of the individual plans. Risk parameters taken into account include: – the funding ratio of the plan, – the likelihood of extraordinary cash contributions being required, and – the risk embedded in each individual asset class, and the plan asset portfolio as a whole. The Company’s investment policy is to achieve an optimal balance between risk and return on the plans’ investments through the diversification of asset classes, the use of various external asset managers and the use of differing invest- ment styles. This has resulted in a diversified portfolio with a mix of actively and passively managed investments. The plans are mainly invested in equity securities and bonds, with smaller allocations to real estate, private equity and hedge funds. The Company’s global pension asset allocation is the result of the asset allocations of the individual plans. The target asset allocation of the Company’s plans on a weighted-average basis is as follows: Asset Class Cash and equivalents Global equities Emerging markets equities Global fixed income Emerging markets fixed income Insurance contracts Private equity Hedge funds Real estate Commodities Target percentage 5 20 3 54 4 1 2 1 9 1 100 The actual asset allocations of the plans are in line with the target asset allocations, which are set on an individual plan basis by the boards of trustees. They are the result of individual plans’ risk assessments. Global and emerging markets fixed income securities include corporate bonds of companies from diversified industries and government bonds mainly from mature market issuers. Global and emerging markets equity securities primarily include investments in large-cap and mid-cap listed companies. Global equity securities represent equities listed in mature markets (mainly in the United States, Europe and Japan). Real estate investments consist largely of domestic real estate in Switzerland held in the Swiss plans. The investments in private equity, hedge funds, and commodities reflect a variety of investment strategies. Based on the above global asset allocation, the expected long-term return on assets is 5.45 percent. The Company and the local boards of trustees regularly review the investment performance of the asset classes and individual asset managers. Due to the diversified nature of the investments, the Company is of the opinion that no significant concentra- tion of risks exists in its pension fund assets. The Company does not expect any plan assets to be returned to the employer during 2012. At December 31, 2011, plan assets include ABB Ltd’s shares (as well as an insignificant amount of the Company’s debt instruments) with a total value of $14 million. At December 31, 2010, plan assets include ABB Ltd’s shares with a total value of $17 million. 114 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Note 17 Employee benefits, continued The fair values of the Company’s pension plan assets by asset class are presented below. For further information on the fair value hierarchy and an overview of the Company’s valuation techniques applied see the “Fair value measures” section of Note 2. December 31, 2011 ($ in millions) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total fair value Asset Class Cash and equivalents Global equities Emerging markets equities Global fixed income Emerging markets fixed income Insurance contracts Private equity Hedge funds Real estate Commodities Total 56 1,717 311 1,921 – – – – 73 44 365 76 – 2,838 398 37 – – – – – – – – – – 177 113 741 – 421 1,793 311 4,759 398 37 177 113 814 44 4,122 3,714 1,031 8,867 December 31, 2010 ($ in millions) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total fair value Asset Class Cash and equivalents Global equities Emerging markets equities Global fixed income Emerging markets fixed income Insurance contracts Private equity Hedge funds Real estate Commodities Total 39 2,301 350 1,790 – – 1 2 79 29 372 77 – 2,643 290 23 26 – – – 4,591 3,431 – – – – – – 156 136 696 – 988 411 2,378 350 4,433 290 23 183 138 775 29 9,010 The following table represents the movements of those asset categories whose fair values use significant unobservable inputs (Level 3): ($ in millions) Balance at January 1, 2010 Return on plan assets: Assets still held at December 31, 2010 Assets sold during the year Purchases (sales) Transfers into Level 3 Exchange rate differences Balance at December 31, 2010 Return on plan assets: Assets still held at December 31, 2011 Assets sold during the year Purchases (sales) Transfers into Level 3 Exchange rate differences Balance at December 31, 2011 Private equity Hedge funds Real estate Total Level 3 149 21 (5) (12) – 3 156 (3) 22 (27) 29 – 177 127 621 897 4 (4) – – 9 136 (4) (6) (14) – 1 113 9 – 5 – 61 696 12 7 32 2 (8) 741 34 (9) (7) – 73 988 5 23 (9) 31 (7) 1,031 Real estate properties are valued under the income approach using the discounted cash flow method, by which the market value of a property is determined as the total of all projected future earnings discounted to the valuation date. The discount rates are determined for each property individually according to the property’s location and specific use, and by considering initial yields of comparable market transactions. Private equity investments include investments in partnerships and related funds. Such investments consist of both publicly-traded and privately-held securities. Publicly-traded securities that are not quoted in active markets are valued using available quotes and adjusted for liquidity restrictions. Privately-held securities are valued taking into account various factors, such as the most recent financing involving unrelated new investors, earnings multiple analyses using comparable companies and discounted cash flow analyses. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 115 Note 17 Employee benefits, continued Hedge funds are normally not exchange-traded and the shares of the funds are not redeemed daily. Depending on the fund structure, the fair values are derived through modeling techniques based on the values of the underlying assets adjusted to reflect liquidity and transferability restrictions. Contributions Employer contributions were as follows: ($ in millions) Total contributions to defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans Of which, discretionary contributions to defined benefit pension plans Defined pension benefits Other postretirement benefits 2011 305 36 2010 567 331 2011 16 – 2010 13 – In 2010, the discretionary contributions included a non-cash contribution of $213 million of available-for-sale securities to one of the Company’s pension plans in Germany. The Company expects to contribute approximately $297 million to its defined benefit pension plans and $18 million to its other postretirement benefit plans in 2012. The Company also maintains a number of defined contribution plans. The expense for these plans was $144 million, $97 million and $91 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The acquisition of Baldor resulted in a $32 million increase in expense in 2011 compared to 2010. The Company also contributed $5 million, $30 million and $18 million to multiemployer plans in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. In Japan, a withdrawal from a multiemployer plan scheduled for 2012 resulted in a $5 million provision in 2011. Estimated future benefit payments The expected future cash flows to be paid by the Company’s plans in respect of pension and other postretirement benefit plans at December 31, 2011, are as follows: ($ in millions) 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Years 2017–2021 Note 18 Share-based payment arrangements Pension benefits Other postretirement benefits Benefit payments Medicare subsidies 609 614 594 586 593 2,892 19 20 20 20 20 100 (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (7) Medicare subsidies represent payments estimated to be received from the United States government as part of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. The United States government began mak- ing the subsidy payments for employers in 2006. The Company has three share-based payment plans, as more fully described in the respective sections below. Com- pensation cost for equity-settled awards is recorded in “Total cost of sales” and in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” and totaled $67 million, $66 million and $66 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Compensation cost for cash-settled awards is recorded in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” and is disclosed in the WAR, LTIP and Other share-based payments sections of this note. The total tax benefit recognized in 2011, 2010 and 2009, was not significant. At December 31, 2011, the Company had the ability to issue up to 94 million new shares out of contingent capital in connection with share-based payment arrangements. In addition, 24 million shares held by the Company in treasury stock at December 31, 2011, could be used to settle share-based payment arrangements. As the primary trading market for the shares of ABB Ltd is the SIX Swiss Exchange, on which the shares are traded in Swiss francs, certain data disclosed below related to the instruments granted under share-based payment arrange- ments are presented in Swiss francs. MIP Under the MIP, the Company offers cash-settled WARs and options (and prior to the 2010 launch offered also physically- settled warrants) to key employees for no consideration. The warrants and options granted under the MIP allow participants to purchase shares of ABB Ltd at predetermined prices. Participants may sell the warrants and options rather than exercise the right to purchase shares. Equivalent warrants are listed by a third-party bank on the SIX Swiss Exchange, which facilitates pricing and transferability of war- rants granted under this plan. The options entitle the holder to request that a third-party bank purchase such options at the market price of equivalent listed warrants related to that MIP launch. If the participant elects to sell the warrants or options, the instruments will thereafter be held by a third party and, consequently, the Company’s obligation to deliver shares will be toward this third party. Each WAR gives the participant the right to receive, in cash, the market price of an equivalent listed warrant on the date of exercise of the WAR. The WARs are non-transferable. Participants may exercise or sell warrants and options and exercise WARs after the vesting period, which is three years from the date of grant. Vesting restrictions can be waived in certain circumstances such as death or disability. All war- rants, options and WARs expire six years from the date of grant. 116 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Note 18 Share-based payment arrangements, continued Expected volatility Dividend yield Expected term Risk-free interest rate Warrants and options The fair value of each warrant and option is estimated on the date of grant using a lattice model that uses the assump- tions noted in the table below. Expected volatilities are based on implied volatilities from equivalent listed warrants on ABB Ltd shares. The expected term of the warrants and options granted has been assumed to be the contractual six-year life of each warrant and option, based on the fact that after the vesting period, a participant can elect to sell the warrant or option rather than exercise the right to purchase shares, thereby realizing the time value of the warrants and options. The risk-free rate is based on a six-year Swiss franc interest rate, reflecting the six-year contractual life of the warrants and options. In estimating forfeitures, the Company has used the data from previous comparable MIP launches. 2011 grant 2010 grant 2009 grant 26% 2.44% 6 years 1.59% 30% 2.35% 6 years 1.20% 41% 2.34% 6 years 1.93% Presented below is a summary of the activity related to warrants and options: Weighted- Weighted-aver- Aggregate average exer- age remaining intrinsic value Number Number cise price (in contractual (in millions of of instruments of shares(1) Swiss francs)(2) term (in years) Swiss francs)(3) Outstanding at January 1, 2011 Granted Exercised (4) Forfeited Outstanding at December 31, 2011 128,114,150 25,622,830 46,316,078 9,263,216 (7,282,500) (1,456,500) (1,539,374) (307,875) 165,608,354 33,121,671 Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2011 154,455,269 30,891,054 Exercisable at December 31, 2011 65,225,668 13,045,134 25.00 25.50 15.30 25.33 25.56 25.74 29.23 (1) (2) (3) (4) Information presented reflects the number of shares of ABB Ltd that can be received upon exercise, as warrants and options have a conversion ratio of 5:1. Information presented reflects the exercise price per share of ABB Ltd. Computed using the closing price, in Swiss francs, of ABB Ltd shares on the SIX Swiss Exchange and the exercise price per share of ABB Ltd. The cash received upon exercise amounted to $26 million. The shares were issued out of contingent capital. 3.6 3.5 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.9 Of the outstanding instruments at December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, 22.9 million, 17.6 million and 8.8 million, respectively, have been sold to a third party by participants, representing 4.6 million, 3.5 million and 1.8 million shares, respectively. At December 31, 2011, there was $46 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested warrants and options granted under the MIP. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.0 years. The weighted-average grant-date fair value of warrants and options granted during 2011, 2010 and 2009 was 0.83 Swiss francs, 0.81 Swiss francs and 1.15 Swiss francs, respectively. In 2011, 2010 and 2009, the aggregate intrinsic value (on the dates of exercise) of instruments exercised was 11 million Swiss francs, 9 million Swiss francs and 5 million Swiss francs, respectively. Presented below is a summary, by launch, related to instruments outstanding at December 31, 2011: Exercise price (in Swiss francs) (1) 15.30 26.00 36.40 19.00 22.50 25.50 Total number of instruments and shares (1) (2) Information presented reflects the exercise price per share of ABB Ltd. Information presented reflects the number of shares of ABB Ltd that can be received upon exercise. Number of Number remaining contractual instruments of shares(2) term (in years) Weighted-average 4,085,000 817,000 26,475,740 5,295,148 27,806,410 5,561,282 23,045,500 4,609,100 38,283,500 7,656,700 45,912,204 9,182,441 165,608,354 33,121,671 0.1 1.4 2.4 3.4 4.4 5.4 3.6 WARs As each WAR gives the holder the right to receive cash equal to the market price of an equivalent listed warrant on date of exercise, the Company records a liability based upon the fair value of outstanding WARs at each period end, accreted on a straight-line basis over the three-year vesting period. In “Selling, general and administrative expenses”, the Com- pany recorded income of $8 million, and expense of $8 million and $17 million for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, as a result of changes in both the fair value and vested portion of the outstanding WARs. To hedge its exposure to fluctua- tions in the fair value of outstanding WARs, the Company purchased cash-settled call options, which entitle the Company ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 117 Note 18 Share-based payment arrangements, continued to receive amounts equivalent to its obligations under the outstanding WARs. The cash-settled call options are recorded as derivatives measured at fair value (see Note 5), with subsequent changes in fair value recorded through earnings to the extent that they offset the change in fair value of the liability for the WARs. In 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Company recorded expense of $24 million, $10 million and $1 million, respectively, in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” related to the cash-settled call options. The aggregate fair value of outstanding WARs was $17 million and $45 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The fair value of WARs was determined based upon the trading price of equivalent warrants listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. Presented below is a summary of the activity related to WARs: Outstanding at January 1, 2011 Granted Exercised Forfeited Outstanding at December 31, 2011 Exercisable at December 31, 2011 ESAP Number of WARs 58,401,395 10,453,300 (6,781,355) (735,000) 61,338,340 22,405,040 The aggregate fair value at date of grant of WARs granted in 2011, 2010 and 2009 was $10 million, $7 million and $22 million, respectively. In 2011, 2010 and 2009, share-based liabilities of $7 million, $25 million and $20 million, respectively, were paid upon exercise of WARs by participants. The employee share acquisition plan (ESAP) is an employee stock-option plan with a savings feature. Employees save over a twelve-month period, by way of monthly salary deductions. At the end of the savings period, employees choose whether to exercise their stock options using their savings plus interest to buy ABB Ltd shares (American Depositary Shares (ADS) in the case of employees in the United States and Canada – each ADS representing one registered share of the Company) at the exercise price set at the grant date, or have their savings returned with interest. The savings are accumulated in a bank account held by a third-party trustee on behalf of the participants and earn interest. Employ- ees can withdraw from the ESAP at any time during the savings period and will be entitled to a refund of their accumu- lated savings. The fair value of each option is estimated on the date of grant using the same option valuation model as described under the MIP, using the assumptions noted in the table below. The expected term of the option granted has been determined to be the contractual one-year life of each option, at the end of which the options vest and the participants are required to decide whether to exercise their options or have their savings returned with interest. The risk-free rate is based on one-year Swiss franc interest rates, reflecting the one-year contractual life of the options. In estimating for- feitures, the Company has used the data from previous ESAP launches. Expected volatility Dividend yield Expected term Risk-free interest rate 2011 grant 2010 grant 2009 grant 33% 3.13% 1 year 0% 27% 2.49% 1 year 0.26% 35% 2.07% 1 year 0.37% Presented below is a summary of activity under the ESAP: Weighted- Weighted- Aggregate average exercise average remaining intrinsic value Number price (in Swiss contractual (in millions of Outstanding at January 1, 2011 Granted Forfeited Exercised(4) Not exercised (savings returned plus interest) Outstanding at December 31, 2011 Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2011 Exercisable at December 31, 2011 of shares(1) 4,140,440 4,904,690 (205,600) (20,366) (3,919,624) 4,899,540 4,693,788 – francs)(2) term (in years) Swiss francs)(2)(3) 20.46 15.98 20.35 20.46 20.46 15.98 15.98 – 0.8 0.8 – 8.3 8.0 – (1) (2) (3) (4) Includes shares represented by ADS. Information presented for ADS is based on equivalent Swiss franc denominated awards. Computed using the closing price, in Swiss francs, of ABB Ltd shares on the SIX Swiss Exchange and the exercise price of each option in Swiss francs. The cash received upon exercise and the corresponding tax benefit were not significant. The shares were issued out of treasury shares. 118 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Note 18 Share-based payment arrangements, continued The exercise prices per ABB Ltd share and per ADS of 15.98 Swiss francs and $18.10, respectively, for the 2011 grant, 20.46 Swiss francs and $20.55, respectively, for the 2010 grant and 19.36 Swiss francs and $18.75, respectively, for the 2009 grant were determined using the closing price of the ABB Ltd share on SIX Swiss Exchange and ADS on the New York Stock Exchange on the respective grant dates. LTIP At December 31, 2011, there was $8 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested options granted under the ESAP. That cost is expected to be recognized over the first ten months of 2012 in “Total cost of sales” and in “Selling, general and administrative expenses”. The weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted during 2011, 2010 and 2009, was 1.89 Swiss francs, 1.96 Swiss francs and 2.55 Swiss francs, respectively. The total intrinsic value (on the dates of exercise) of options exercised in 2010 and 2009 was 3.5 million Swiss francs and 22 mil- lion Swiss francs, respectively. In 2011, the amount of options exercised and the related intrinsic value (on date of exercise) were insignificant. The Company has a long-term incentive plan (LTIP) for members of its Executive Committee and selected other execu- tives (Eligible Participants), as defined in the terms of the LTIP and determined by the Company’s Governance, Nomina- tion and Compensation Committee. The LTIP involves annual conditional grants of the Company’s stock to such Eligible Participants that are subject to certain conditions. The 2011 and 2010 launches under the LTIP are each composed of two components – a share-price performance component and a retention component. The 2009 LTIP launch is com- posed of two components – a share-price performance component and a co-investment component. Under the share-price performance component, the number of shares granted is dependent upon the base salary of the Eligible Participant. The actual number of shares that will vest at a future date is dependent on (i) the performance of ABB Ltd shares during a defined period (Evaluation Period) compared to those of a selected peer group of publicly- listed multinational companies and (ii) the term of service of the respective Eligible Participant in their capacity as an Eligible Participant during the Evaluation Period. The actual number of shares that vest after the Evaluation Period cannot exceed 100 percent of the conditional grant. The performance of the Company compared to its peers over the Evaluation Period will be measured as the sum, in percentage terms, of the average percentage price development of the ABB Ltd share price over the Evaluation Period and an average annual dividend yield percentage (the Company’s Performance). In order for shares to vest, the Com- pany’s Performance over the Evaluation Period must be equal to or better than half of the defined peers. The actual number of shares to be delivered by the Company, after the end of the Evaluation Period, will be dependent on the Company’s ranking in comparison with the defined peers. The full amount of the grant will vest if the Company’s Perfor- mance is positive and better than three-quarters of the defined peers. If the Company’s Performance is negative but other conditions are met, a reduced number of shares will vest. In addition, if the Company’s net income (adjusted for the financial impact of items that are, in the opinion of the Company’s Board, non-operating, non-recurring or unfore- seen – such as divestments and acquisitions) is negative for the year preceding the year in which the Evaluation Period ends, no shares will vest, irrespective of the outcome of the Company’s Performance. Under the co-investment component of the 2009 LTIP launch, each Eligible Participant was invited to invest in the Company’s shares, up to an individually defined maximum number of shares. If the Eligible Participant remains the owner of such shares until the end of the Evaluation Period, the Company will deliver free-of-charge to the Eligible Participant a matching number of shares. Under the retention component of the 2011 and 2010 LTIP launches, each Eligible Participant was conditionally granted an individually defined maximum number of shares which fully vest at the end of the Evaluation Period (if the participant remains an Eligible Participant till the end of such period). The method of settlement of vested shares varies for each LTIP launch. For the 2011 and 2010 LTIP launches, under the share-price performance component, an Eligible Participant receives, in cash, 100 percent of the value of the shares that have vested. Under the retention component, an Eligible Participant receives 70 percent of the shares that have vested in the form of shares (Equity-Settled Awards) and 30 percent of the value of the shares that have vested in cash (Cash-Settled Awards), with the possibility to elect to receive the 30 percent portion also in shares rather than cash. For the 2009 LTIP launch, the same settlement conditions apply as for the retention component of the 2011 and 2010 LTIP launches. Presented below is a summary of launches of the LTIP outstanding at December 31, 2011: Launch year Evaluation Period Reference price (Swiss francs)(1) 2009 2010 2011 March 15, 2009, to March 15, 2012 March 15, 2010, to March 15, 2013 March 15, 2011, to March 15, 2014 14.16 21.63 22.25 (1) For the purpose of comparison with the peers, the reference price is calculated as the average of the closing prices of the ABB Ltd share on the SIX Swiss Exchange over the 20 trading days preceding March 15 of the respective launch year. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 119 Note 18 Share-based payment arrangements, continued Presented below is a summary of activity under the LTIP: Nonvested at January 1, 2011 Granted Vested Expired(3) Forfeited Nonvested at December 31, 2011 Number of shares Equity & Cash or choice of 100% Only Cash Weighted-average grant-date fair value per share Equity Settlement(1) Settlement(2) Total (Swiss francs) 2,337,021 487,814 (169,260) (698,392) (103,362) 1,853,821 228,913 300,986 – (13,714) (19,157) 497,028 2,565,934 788,800 (169,260) (712,106) (122,519) 2,350,849 16.17 17.91 28.34 25.51 12.37 13.25 (1) (2) (3) Shares that, subject to vesting, the Eligible Participant can elect to receive 100 percent in the form of shares. Shares that, subject to vesting, the Eligible Participant can only receive in cash. Expired as the criteria for the Company’s Performance condition were not satisfied. Equity-Settled Awards are recorded in the “Capital stock and additional paid-in capital” component of stockholders’ equity, with compensation cost recorded in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” over the vesting period (which is from grant date to the end of the Evaluation Period) based on the grant-date fair value of the shares. The Cash-Settled Awards are recorded as a liability remeasured at fair value at each reporting date for the percentage vested, with changes in the liability recorded in “Selling, general and administrative expenses”. At December 31, 2011, there was $9 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to Equity-Settled Awards under the LTIP. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.8 years. The compensation cost recorded in 2011, 2010 and 2009 for Cash-Settled Awards was not significant. The aggregate fair value, at the dates of grant, of shares granted in 2011, 2010 and 2009, was approximately $16 million, $7 million and $13 million, respectively. The total grant-date fair value of shares that vested during 2011, 2010 and 2009 was $5 million, $10 million and $2 million, respectively. The weighted-average grant-date fair value of shares granted during 2011, 2010 and 2009, was 17.91 Swiss francs, 13.79 Swiss francs and 9.83 Swiss francs, respectively. For the share-price performance component of the 2011, 2010 and 2009 LTIP launches, the fair value of the shares relating to the Equity-Settled Awards is based on the market price of the ABB Ltd share on grant date, adjusted for the probability of vesting as computed using a Monte Carlo simulation model at grant date. The main inputs to the Monte Carlo simulation model for the grant-date fair value of the Equity-Settled Awards for the Company and each peer company are as follows: Equity-Settled Awards at grant dates of LTIP 2011 Launch LTIP 2010 Launch LTIP 2009 Launch From To From To From Input ranges for: Option implied volatilities (%) Risk-free rates (%) Equity betas Equity risk premiums (%) 10.4 2.1 0.83 5.0 41.8 4.4 1.30 7.0 19.5 1.9 0.83 6.0 53.5 4.3 1.31 8.0 5.6 2.2 0.81 6.0 To 51.5 4.1 1.29 8.0 The fair value of the shares relating to the Cash-Settled Awards is based on the market price of the ABB Ltd share at each reporting date adjusted for the probability of vesting as computed using a Monte Carlo simulation model at each reporting date. The main inputs to the Monte Carlo simulation model for the December 31, 2011 and 2010, fair values of the Cash-Settled Awards for the Company and each peer company are as follows: Cash-Settled Awards at December 31, Input ranges for: Option implied volatilities (%) Risk-free rates (%) Equity betas Equity risk premiums (%) 2011 From 2010 To From 16.6 1.0 0.86 5.0 49.8 3.7 1.26 7.0 12.5 1.8 0.84 6.0 To 46.4 4.4 1.30 8.0 Other share-based payments For the retention component under the 2011 and 2010 LTIP launch and the co-investment component under the 2009 LTIP launch, the fair value of the shares is the market price of the ABB Ltd share on grant date for the Equity-Settled Awards and on each reporting date for the Cash-Settled Awards. The Company has other minor share-based payment arrangements with certain individual employees. In December 2009, such arrangements then outstanding were modified to give the participants the right to receive, upon vesting, 30 percent of the value of the vested shares in cash. The additional compensation cost as a result of such modification was not significant. The compensation cost recorded in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in 2011, 2010 and 2009, for the cash-settled arrangements was not significant. 120 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Note 19 Stockholders’ equity At December 31, 2011, the Company had 2,818,782,064 authorized shares, of which 2,314,743,264 were registered and issued. At December 31, 2010, the Company had 2,747,639,755 authorized shares, of which 2,308,782,064 were regis- tered and issued. At the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (AGM) in April 2011, shareholders approved the payment of a dividend of 0.60 Swiss francs per share, out of the capital contribution reserve in stockholders’ equity of the unconsolidated statu- tory financial statements of ABB Ltd, prepared in accordance with Swiss law. The dividend was paid in May 2011 and amounted to $1,569 million. In April 2010, at the AGM, shareholders approved the payment of a dividend in the form of a nominal value reduction of 0.51 Swiss francs per share, reducing the nominal value of ABB Ltd’s shares from 1.54 Swiss francs per share to 1.03 Swiss francs per share. The distribution, paid in July 2010 and equivalent to $1,112 million, resulted in a reduction in capital stock and additional paid-in capital. At the AGM in May 2009, shareholders approved a proposal to reduce the nominal value of ABB Ltd’s shares from 2.02 Swiss francs per share to 1.54 Swiss francs per share and to distribute the 0.48 Swiss francs per share to shareholders. The distribution, equivalent to $1,024 million, resulted in a reduction in capital stock and additional paid-in capital. During 2010, the Company purchased on the open market an aggregate of 12.1 million of its own shares for use in con- nection with its employee incentive plans. These transactions resulted in an increase in “Treasury stock” of $228 million. During 2011 and 2009, there were no purchases or sales of treasury stock on the open market. Upon and in connection with each launch of the Company’s MIP, the Company sold call options to a bank at fair value, giving the bank the right to acquire shares equivalent to the number of shares represented by the MIP warrant and WAR awards to participants. Under the terms of the agreement with the bank, the call options can only be exercised by the bank to the extent that MIP participants have either sold or exercised their warrants or exercised their WARs. In 2011, 2010 and 2009, the bank exercised a portion of the call options held that had been issued at fair value. As a result, in 2011, 2010 and 2009, approximately 6.0 million, 2.1 million and 1.0 million shares, respectively, were issued by the Company resulting in an increase in capital stock and additional paid-in capital of $105 million, $16 million and $7 million, respectively. In February 2012, the bank exercised another portion of the call options and the Company issued 2.7 million shares out of treasury stock. At December 31, 2011, such call options representing 7.9 million shares and with strike prices ranging from 15.30 to 36.40 Swiss francs were held by the bank. Of these, call options with a strike price of 15.30 Swiss francs and represent- ing 2.7 million shares were exercised in February 2012. The remaining call options expire in periods ranging from May 2013 to May 2015. However, only 1.7 million of these instruments, with strike prices ranging from 19.00 to 36.40 Swiss francs, could be exercised at February 29, 2012, under the terms of the agreement with the bank. In addition to the above, at December 31, 2011, the Company had further outstanding obligations to deliver: – up to 2.8 million shares, at a strike price of 26.00 Swiss francs, relating to the options granted under the 2007 launch of the MIP, vesting in May 2010 and expiring in May 2013, – up to 3.0 million shares, at a strike price of 36.40 Swiss francs, relating to the options granted under the 2008 launch of the MIP, vesting in May 2011 and expiring in May 2014, – up to 4.5 million shares, at a strike price of 19.00 Swiss francs, relating to the options granted under the 2009 launch of the MIP, vesting in May 2012 and expiring in May 2015, – up to 7.7 million shares, at a strike price of 22.50 Swiss francs, relating to the options granted under the 2010 launch of the MIP, vesting in May 2013 and expiring in May 2016, – up to 9.2 million shares, at a strike price of 25.50 Swiss francs, relating to the options granted under the 2011 launch of the MIP, vesting in May 2014 and expiring in May 2017, – up to 4.9 million shares, at a strike price of $18.10 (to employees in the U.S. and Canada) and at a strike price of 15.98 Swiss francs (to employees in other countries) under the ESAP, vesting and expiring in November 2012, – up to 2.0 million shares free-of-charge to Eligible Participants under the 2011, 2010 and 2009 launches of the LTIP, vesting and expiring in March 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and – less than a million shares in connection with certain other share-based payment arrangements with employees. See Note 18 for a description of the above share-based payment arrangements. In November 2010, the Company delivered 3.2 million shares, from treasury stock, under the ESAP. This resulted in a net increase in capital stock and additional paid-in capital of $10 million and a reduction in treasury stock of $52 million. In November 2009, the Company issued 5.5 million shares, from contingent capital stock, under the ESAP. This share issuance resulted in an increase in capital stock and additional paid-in capital of $83 million. In 2011, the number of shares delivered under the ESAP was not significant. Dividends are payable to the Company’s stockholders based on the requirements of Swiss law, ABB Ltd’s Articles of Incorporation and stockholders’ equity as reflected in the unconsolidated financial statements of ABB Ltd, Zurich, prepared in compliance with Swiss law. At December 31, 2011, of the 12,483 million Swiss francs total stockholders’ equity reflected in such unconsolidated financial statements, 2,384 million Swiss francs represent share capital and 10,099 million Swiss francs represent reserves. Of these reserves, 512 million Swiss francs (representing legal reserves for own shares) and 1,000 million Swiss francs (representing ordinary legal reserves) are restricted. In February 2012, the Company announced that a proposal will be put to the 2012 Annual General Meeting to distribute 0.65 Swiss francs per share to shareholders. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 121 Note 20 Earnings per share Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing income by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding dur- ing the year. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing income by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the year, assuming that all potentially dilutive securities were exercised, if dilutive. Potentially dilutive securities comprise outstanding written call options and outstanding options and shares granted subject to certain conditions under the Company’s share-based payment arrangements. In 2011, 2010 and 2009, outstanding securities representing a maximum of 39 million, 26 million and 41 million shares, respectively, were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share as their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive. Basic earnings per share ($ in millions, except per share data in $) Amounts attributable to ABB shareholders: Income from continuing operations, net of tax Income from discontinued operations, net of tax Net income 2011 2010 2009 3,159 9 3,168 2,551 10 2,561 2,884 17 2,901 Weighted-average number of shares outstanding (in millions) 2,288 2,287 2,284 Basic earnings per share attributable to ABB shareholders: Income from continuing operations, net of tax Income from discontinued operations, net of tax Net income Diluted earnings per share ($ in millions, except per share data in $) Amounts attributable to ABB shareholders: Income from continuing operations, net of tax Income from discontinued operations, net of tax Net income 1.38 – 1.38 1.12 – 1.12 1.26 0.01 1.27 2011 2010 2009 3,159 9 3,168 2,551 10 2,561 2,884 17 2,901 Weighted-average number of shares outstanding (in millions) 2,288 2,287 2,284 Effect of dilutive securities: Call options and shares Dilutive weighted-average number of shares outstanding Diluted earnings per share attributable to ABB shareholders: Income from continuing operations, net of tax Income from discontinued operations, net of tax Net income 3 4 4 2,291 2,291 2,288 1.38 – 1.38 1.11 0.01 1.12 1.26 0.01 1.27 Note 21 Restructuring and related expenses Restructuring-related activities Cost take-out program In 2011, the Company executed minor restructuring-related activities and incurred costs of $164 million which were mainly recorded in total cost of sales. These costs related to employee severance ($83 million), estimated contract settlement, loss order and other costs ($53 million) as well as inventory and long-lived asset impairments ($28 million). At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the balance of restructuring and related liabilities is primarily included in “Provisions and other current liabilities”. In December 2008, the Company announced a two-year cost take-out program that aimed to sustainably reduce the Company’s cost of sales and general and administrative expenses. The savings have been derived from initiatives such as internal process improvements, low-cost sourcing, and further measures to adjust the Company’s global manufac- turing and engineering footprint to shifts in customer demand. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had substantially completed the cost take-out program. The Company recorded the following expenses under this program: ($ in millions) Employee severance costs Estimated contract settlement, loss order and other costs Inventory and long-lived asset impairments Total Cumulative costs 2008 to 2010 2010 2009 536 230 70 836 95 98 20 213 342 129 45 516 122 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Note 21 Restructuring and related expenses, continued These expenses were recorded as follows: ($ in millions) Total cost of sales Selling, general and administrative expenses Other income (expense), net Total Cumulative costs 2008 to 2010 475 143 218 836 2010 110 36 67 213 2009 293 75 148 516 Costs incurred under the program, per operating segment, were as follows: ($ in millions) Power Products Power Systems Discrete Automation and Motion Low Voltage Products Process Automation Corporate and Other Total Cumulative costs incurred up to December 31, 2010 122 139 256 114 183 22 836 The most significant individual exit plans within this program related to the Robotics reorganization, the downsizing of the former Automation Products business in France and Germany, as well as the Power Systems business in Germany. Note 22 Operating segment and geographic data The Chief Operating Decision Maker (CODM) is the Company’s Executive Committee. The CODM allocates resources to and assesses the performance of each operating segment using the information outlined below. The Company’s operat- ing segments consist of Power Products, Power Systems, Discrete Automation and Motion, Low Voltage Products and Process Automation. The remaining operations of the Company are included in Corporate and Other. A description of the types of products and services provided by each reportable segment is as follows: – Power Products: manufactures and sells high- and medium-voltage switchgear and apparatus, circuit breakers for all current and voltage levels, power and distribution transformers and sensors for electric, gas and water utilities and for industrial and commercial customers. – Power Systems: designs, installs and upgrades high-efficiency transmission and distribution systems and power plant automation and electrification solutions, including monitoring and control products, software and services and incor- porating components manufactured by both the Company and by third parties. – Discrete Automation and Motion: manufactures and sells motors, generators, variable speed drives, rectifiers, excita- tion systems, robotics, programmable logic controllers, and related services for a wide range of applications in factory automation, process industries, and utilities. – Low Voltage Products: manufactures products and systems that provide protection, control and measurement for electrical installations, as well as enclosures, switchboards, electronics and electromechanical devices for industrial machines, plants and related service. The segment also makes intelligent building control systems for home and building automation to improve comfort, energy efficiency and security. – Process Automation: develops and sells control and plant optimization systems, automation products and solutions, including instrumentation, as well as industry-specific application knowledge and services for the oil, gas and petrochemicals, metals and minerals, marine and turbocharging, pulp and paper, chemical and pharmaceuticals and power industries. – Corporate and Other: includes headquarters, central research and development, the Company’s real estate activities, Group treasury operations and other minor activities. In 2011, the Company changed its primary measures of segment performance from earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) and corresponding margin to operational earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Opera- tional EBITDA) and Operational EBITDA margin (being Operational EBITDA as a percentage of Operational revenues). Operational EBITDA represents EBIT excluding depreciation and amortization, restructuring and restructuring-related expenses, adjusted for the following: (i) unrealized gains and losses on derivatives (foreign exchange, commodities, embedded derivatives), (ii) realized gains and losses on derivatives where the underlying hedged transaction has not yet been realized, (iii) unrealized foreign exchange movements on receivables/payables (and related assets/liabilities), (iv) acquisition-related expenses and (v) certain non-recurring items. Operational revenues are total revenues adjusted for the following: (i) unrealized gains and losses on derivatives, (ii) real- ized gains and losses on derivatives where the underlying hedged transaction has not yet been realized, and (iii) unreal- ized foreign exchange movements on receivables (and related assets). The CODM primarily reviews the results of each segment on a basis that is before the elimination of profits made on inventory sales between segments. Consequently, as of 2011, segment results below have been presented before these eliminations, with a total deduction for intersegment profits to arrive at the Company’s consolidated Operational EBITDA. Furthermore, the Company refined its methodology to eliminate profit on inventory resulting from intersegment revenues. These changes in presentation resulted in no significant reclassifications between segments and no change to the Company’s consolidated Operational EBITDA. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 123 Note 22 Operating segment and geographic data, continued In the following tables, the Company presents segment revenues, depreciation and amortization, Operational EBITDA, Operational EBITDA margin, as well as reconciliations of Operational EBITDA to EBIT and Operational revenues to total revenues, capital expenditure and total assets. Intersegment sales and transfers for 2011, 2010 and 2009, are accounted for as if the sales and transfers were to third parties, at current market prices. 2011 ($ in millions) Power Products Power Systems Discrete Automation and Motion Low Voltage Products Process Automation Corporate and Other Intersegment elimination Consolidated 2010 ($ in millions) Power Products Power Systems Discrete Automation and Motion Low Voltage Products Process Automation Corporate and Other Intersegment elimination Consolidated 2009 ($ in millions) Power Products Power Systems Discrete Automation and Motion Low Voltage Products Process Automation Corporate and Other Intersegment elimination Consolidated Third-party Intersegment Total and Operational Operational EBITDA revenues revenues revenues amortization revenues EBITDA(1) margin (%) Depreciation Operational 9,028 7,833 8,047 4,953 8,078 51 – 37,990 1,841 10,869 268 759 351 222 1,508 (4,949) – 8,101 8,806 5,304 8,300 1,559 (4,949) 37,990 200 144 251 116 83 201 – 995 10,901 8,128 8,817 5,315 8,318 1,558 (4,949) 38,088 1,782 743 1,664 1,059 1,028 (194) (68) 6,014 16.3% 9.1% 18.9% 19.9% 12.4% – – 15.8% Third-party Intersegment Total and Operational Operational EBITDA revenues revenues revenues amortization revenues EBITDA(1) margin (%) Depreciation Operational 8,486 6,590 4,978 4,263 7,209 63 – 31,589 1,713 10,199 196 639 291 223 1,468 (4,530) – 6,786 5,617 4,554 7,432 1,531 (4,530) 31,589 177 84 78 105 76 182 – 702 10,202 6,783 5,613 4,554 7,427 1,532 (4,530) 31,581 1,861 304 1,026 926 925 (230) 12 4,824 18.2% 4.5% 18.3% 20.3% 12.5% – – 15.3% Third-party Intersegment Total and Operational Operational EBITDA revenues revenues revenues amortization revenues EBITDA(1) margin (%) Depreciation Operational 9,370 6,356 4,601 3,799 7,606 63 – 31,795 1,869 11,239 193 804 272 233 1,504 (4,875) – 6,549 5,405 4,071 7,839 1,567 (4,875) 31,795 185 46 74 100 80 170 – 655 11,229 2,136 6,508 5,374 4,059 7,785 1,567 (4,875) 31,647 532 773 679 861 (180) (5) 4,796 19.0% 8.2% 14.4% 16.7% 11.1% – – 15.2% (1) Operational EBITDA by segment is presented before the elimination of intersegment pofits made on inventory sales. 124 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Note 22 Operating segment and geographic data, continued December 31, 2011 Discrete Corporate and Other and ($ in millions, except Operational Power Power Automation Low Voltage Process Intersegment EBITDA margin in %) Operational revenues Unrealized gains and losses Products Systems and Motion Products Automation elimination Consolidated 10,901 8,128 8,817 5,315 8,318 (3,391) 38,088 on derivatives (49) (56) (29) (16) (39) Realized gains and losses on derivatives where the underlying hedged transaction has not yet been realized Unrealized foreign exchange movements on receivables (and related assets) Total revenues Operational EBITDA Depreciation and amortization Acquisition-related expenses (17) (19) 1 34 10,869 1,782 (200) 48 8,101 743 (144) 17 8,806 1,664 (251) – 5 5,304 1,059 (116) and certain non-recurring items – – (90) – Unrealized gains and losses on derivatives (foreign exchange, commodities, embedded derivatives) (58) (16) (29) (21) Realized gains and losses on derivatives where the underlying hedged transaction has not yet been realized (14) (19) Unrealized foreign exchange movements on receivables/ payables (and related assets/ liabilities) Restructuring and restructuring- related expenses EBIT 36 (70) 1,476 38 (54) 548 (2) 12 (10) 1,294 – 2 (20) 904 2 19 8,300 1,028 (83) – 4 2 20 (8) 963 1 – – (3,390) (262) (201) (188) (33) 123 37,990 6,014 (995) (17) (107) (38) (158) 1 1 (2) (518) (32) 109 (164) 4,667 Operational EBITDA margin (%) 16.3% 9.1% 18.9% 19.9% 12.4% – 15.8% ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 125 Note 22 Operating segment and geographic data, continued December 31, 2010 Discrete Corporate and Other and ($ in millions, except Operational Power Power Automation Low Voltage Process Intersegment Products Systems and Motion Products Automation elimination Consolidated 10,202 6,783 5,613 4,554 7,427 (2,998) 31,581 EBITDA margin in %) Operational revenues Unrealized gains and losses on derivatives Realized gains and losses on derivatives where the underlying hedged transaction has not yet been realized Unrealized foreign exchange movements on receivables (and related assets) Total revenues Operational EBITDA Depreciation and amortization Unrealized gains and losses on derivatives (foreign exchange, commodities, embedded 20 30 16 6 9 (1) (29) 10,199 1,861 (177) (36) 6,786 304 (84) 3 1 (4) 4,554 926 (105) 4 – (1) (36) 788 11 12 (18) 7,432 925 (76) (33) 3 (16) (44) 759 – 1 (2) (2,999) (218) (182) 18 (1) (1) (6) (390) 80 28 (100) 31,589 4,824 (702) (3) (9) (79) (213) 3,818 (11) 5,617 1,026 (78) 6 – (8) (35) 911 derivatives) 10 (8) Realized gains and losses on derivatives where the underlying hedged transaction has not yet been realized Unrealized foreign exchange movements on receivables/ payables (and related assets/ liabilities) Restructuring and restructuring- related expenses EBIT 4 (15) (18) (44) 1,636 (35) (48) 114 Operational EBITDA margin (%) 18.2% 4.5% 18.3% 20.3% 12.5% – 15.3% 126 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Note 22 Operating segment and geographic data, continued December 31, 2009 Discrete Corporate and Other and ($ in millions, except Operational Power Power Automation Low Voltage Process Intersegment Products Systems and Motion Products Automation elimination Consolidated 11,229 6,508 5,374 4,059 7,785 (3,308) 31,647 EBITDA margin in %) Operational revenues Unrealized gains and losses on derivatives Realized gains and losses on derivatives where the underlying hedged transaction has not yet been realized Unrealized foreign exchange movements on receivables (and related assets) Total revenues Operational EBITDA Depreciation and amortization Net release of certain provisions Unrealized gains and losses on derivatives (foreign exchange, commodities, embedded 31 36 43 (3) 22 – (18) 11,239 2,136 (185) – (17) 6,549 532 (46) – (12) 5,405 773 (74) – derivatives) 93 (11) 32 Realized gains and losses on derivatives where the underlying hedged transaction has not yet been realized (4) 22 Unrealized foreign exchange movements on receivables/ payables (and related assets/ liabilities) Restructuring and restructuring- related expenses EBIT (4) (77) 1,959 (13) (90) 394 (1) (2) (154) 574 9 (1) 4 4,071 679 (100) – 1 – 5 (67) 518 79 6 (31) 7,839 861 (80) – – – – (3,308) (185) (170) 431 (29) (7) 5 (17) (114) 626 – – (14) 55 198 24 (74) 31,795 4,796 (655) 431 79 22 (31) (516) 4,126 Operational EBITDA margin (%) 19.0% 8.2% 14.4% 16.7% 11.1% – 15.2% ($ in millions) Power Products Power Systems Discrete Automation and Motion Low Voltage Products Process Automation Corporate and Other Consolidated Capital expenditure(1) Total assets(1) 2011 2010 2009 192 136 202 149 72 270 1,021 200 119 98 100 76 247 840 272 131 119 150 99 196 967 2011 7,355 7,469 9,195 3,333 4,777 7,519 39,648 2010 7,205 6,039 3,696 2,899 4,728 2009 6,882 4,602 3,348 2,726 4,551 11,728 36,295 12,619 34,728 (1) Capital expenditure and Total assets are after intersegment eliminations and therefore refer to third-party activities only. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 127 Note 22 Operating segment and geographic data, continued Geographic information ($ in millions) Europe The Americas Asia Middle East and Africa Revenues 2010 2009 12,378 13,093 6,213 8,872 4,126 6,049 8,684 3,969 Long-lived assets at December 31, 2011 3,067 829 862 164 2010 2,995 345 849 167 31,589 31,795 4,922 4,356 2011 14,657 9,043 10,136 4,154 37,990 Revenues by geography reflect the location of the customer. Approximately 14 percent of the Company’s total revenues in 2011, compared to 10 percent in 2010 and 2009, respectively, came from customers in the United States. Approxi- mately 13 percent of the Company’s total revenues in 2011, compared to 14 percent and 13 percent in 2010 and 2009, respectively, were generated from customers in China. Approximately 8 percent, 7 percent, and 8 percent of the Company’s total revenues in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, were generated from customers in Germany. In 2011, 2010 and 2009, more than 98 percent of the Company’s total revenues were generated from customers outside Switzerland. Long-lived assets represent property, plant and equipment, net and are shown by location of the assets. At December 31, 2011, approximately 19 percent and 13 percent of the Company’s long-lived assets were located in Switzerland and Sweden. At December 31, 2010, approximately 21 percent and 12 percent of the Company’s long-lived assets were located in Switzerland and Sweden, respectively. The Company does not segregate revenues derived from transactions with external customers for each type or group of products and services. Accordingly, it is not practicable for the Company to present revenues from external customers by product and service type. At December 31, 2011, approximately 58 percent of the Company’s employees are subject to collective bargaining agreements in various countries. Approximately one-third of these agreements will expire in 2012. Collective bargaining agreements are subject to various regulatory requirements and are renegotiated on a regular basis in the normal course of business. Note 23 Compensation The disclosures required by the Swiss Code of Obligations on compensation to the Board of Directors and Executive Committee are shown in Notes 10, 11 and 12 to the Financial Statements of ABB Ltd, Zurich. 128 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Report of management on internal control over financial reporting The Board of Directors and management of ABB Ltd and its consolidated subsidiaries (“ABB”) are responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. ABB’s internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation and fair presentation of the published Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Management conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on this assessment, manage- ment has concluded that ABB’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2011. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with ABB’s policies and procedures may deteriorate. Ernst & Young AG, an independent registered public accounting firm, has issued an opinion on the effectiveness of ABB’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, which is included on page 131 of this Annual Report. Joe Hogan Chief Executive Officer Michel Demaré Chief Financial Officer Zurich, Switzerland March 15, 2012 129 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2010 ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 129 Report of the Statutory Auditor on the Consolidated Financial Statements To the General Meeting of ABB Ltd, Zurich As statutory auditor, we have audited the accompanying consolidated financial statements of ABB Ltd, which are comprised of the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the related consolidated state- ments of income, cash flows, and changes in stockholders’ equity, and notes thereto, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2011. Board of Directors’ Responsibility The Board of Directors is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and the requirements of Swiss law. This respon- sibility includes designing, implementing and maintaining an internal control system relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of consolidated finan- cial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. The Board of Directors is further responsible for selecting and applying appropriate accounting policies and making accounting estimates that are reasonable in the circumstances. Auditor’s Responsibility Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with Swiss law, Swiss Auditing Standards and the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assess- ment of the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers the internal control system relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of the accounting poli- cies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appro- priate to provide a basis for our audit opinion. Opinion In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above, present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of ABB Ltd as of Decem- ber 31, 2011 and 2010, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2011, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and comply with Swiss law. Report on other legal requirements We confirm that we meet the legal requirements on licensing according to the Auditor Oversight Act (AOA) and independence (article 728 CO and article 11 AOA) and that there are no circumstances incompatible with our independence. In accordance with article 728a paragraph 1 item 3 CO and Swiss Auditing Standard 890, we confirm that an internal control system exists, which has been designed for the preparation of consolidated financial statements according to the instructions of the Board of Directors. We recommend that the consolidated financial statements submitted to you be approved. We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), ABB Ltd’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Spon- soring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated March 15, 2012 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of ABB Ltd’s internal control over financial reporting. Ernst & Young Ltd Nigel Jones Licensed audit expert (Auditor in charge) Zurich, Switzerland March 15, 2012 John Cassidy U.S. Certified Public Accountant 130 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Report of the Group Auditor on internal control over financial reporting Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. In our opinion, ABB Ltd maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, based on the COSO criteria. We also have audited, in accordance with Swiss law, Swiss Auditing Standards and the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the 2011 consolidated financial statements of ABB Ltd and our report dated March 15, 2012, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon. Ernst & Young Ltd Nigel Jones Licensed audit expert (Auditor in charge) Zurich, Switzerland March 15, 2012 John Cassidy U.S. Certified Public Accountant To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of ABB Ltd, Zurich We have audited ABB Ltd’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). ABB Ltd’s Board of Directors and management are responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and management is responsible for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Report of management on internal control over financial report- ing. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accor- dance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the com- pany; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as nec- essary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assur- ance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 131 Financial Statements of ABB Ltd, Zurich Income Statement Year ended December 31 (CHF in thousands) Dividend income Finance income Other income Finance expense Personnel expenses Other expenses Revaluation loss/gain on own shares Net income before taxes Income taxes Net income Balance Sheet December 31 (CHF in thousands) Cash and equivalents Cash deposit with ABB Group Treasury Operations Receivables Short-term loans – Group Total current assets Long-term loans – Group Participation Own shares Other assets Total non-current assets Total assets Current liabilities Short-term loans – Group Bonds Total liabilities Share capital Legal reserves Ordinary reserves Capital contribution reserve Reserve for own shares Free reserves Other reserves Retained earnings Net income Total stockholders’ equity Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity 132 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 2011 2010 1,200,000 1,200,000 16,560 49,532 (9,555) (27,983) (58,463) (76,447) 26,992 93,352 (18,270) (50,999) (84,427) 97,429 1,093,644 1,264,077 363 – 1,094,007 1,264,077 2011 1,505 2,444,487 13,975 – 2,459,967 1,500,000 8,973,229 430,192 9,329 2010 667 79,872 9,935 1,641,736 1,732,210 1,395,000 8,973,229 527,363 – 10,912,750 10,895,592 13,372,717 12,627,802 41,157 – 848,664 889,821 52,753 81,736 – 134,489 2,384,186 2,378,046 1,000,000 5,268,717 511,752 20,723 2,203,511 1,094,007 – 4,424,853 532,475 – 3,893,862 1,264,077 12,482,896 12,493,313 13,372,717 12,627,802 Notes to Financial Statements Note 1 General Note 2 Receivables December 31 (CHF in thousands) Non-trade receivables Non-trade receivables – Group Accrued income – Group Total Note 3 Loans – Group December 31 (CHF in thousands) Short-term loans – Group Long-term loans – Group Note 4 Participation December 31 Company name ABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd Note 5 Current liabilities December 31 (CHF in thousands) Non-trade payables Non-trade payables – Group Accrued expenses Accrued expenses – Group Total ABB Ltd, Zurich (the Company) is the parent company of the ABB Group whose consolidated financial statements include 100 percent of the assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses, income and cash flows of ABB Ltd and group compa- nies in which the Company has a controlling interest, as if the Company and its group companies were a single com- pany. The consolidated financial statements are of overriding importance for the purpose of the economic and financial assessment of the Company. The unconsolidated financial statements of the Company are prepared in accordance with Swiss law and serve as complementary information to the consolidated financial statements. Certain prior-year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation. 2011 167 9,947 3,861 13,975 2010 157 5,453 4,325 9,935 2011 – 1,500,000 2010 1,641,736 1,395,000 The Company maintains interest-bearing credit agreements with ABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd, Zurich, Switzerland. These loans are stated at the lower of cost or fair value. The loan to ABB Inc. matured in April 2011 and was repaid. Purpose Holding Domicile CH-Zurich Share capital CHF 2,768,000,000 Ownership interest 2011 100% 2010 100% The participation is valued at the lower of cost or fair value, using valuation models accepted under Swiss law. 2011 1,874 1,716 35,915 1,652 41,157 2010 4,353 1,137 46,350 913 52,753 ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 133 Note 6 Stockholders’ equity Share capital Legal reserves Capital Free reserves Total 2011 (CHF in thousands) reserves reserve own shares reserves earnings Net income Opening balance as of January 1 2,378,046 – 4,424,853 532,475 – 3,893,862 1,264,077 12,493,313 Ordinary contribution Reserve for Other Retained Allocation to retained earnings 1,264,077 (1,264,077) Allocation from retained earnings 1,000,000 1,954,428 (2.954.428) Release to other reserves Dividend payment (1,195,630) 1,195,630 (1,195,630) Management plan issuance 6,140 85,066 Release to other reserves Net income for the year (20,723) 20,723 – – – (1,195,630) 91,206 – 1,094,007 1,094,007 Closing balance as of December 31 2,384,186 1,000,000 5,268,717 511,752 20,723 2,203,511 1,094,007 12,482,896 Share capital as of December 31, 2011 Issued shares Contingent shares Authorized shares Share capital as of December 31, 2010 Issued shares Contingent shares Authorized shares Number of registered shares 2,314,743,264 304,038,800 Par value CHF 1.03 CHF 1.03 200,000,000 CHF 1.03 Number of registered shares 2,308,782,064 238,857,691 200,000,000 Par value CHF 1.03 CHF 1.03 CHF 1.03 Total (CHF in thousands) 2,384,186 313,160 206,000 Total (CHF in thousands) 2,378,046 246,023 206,000 During 2011, a bank holding call options related to ABB Group’s management incentive plan (MIP) exercised a portion of the options. Such options had been issued by the group company that facilitates the MIP (related to MIP launches during 2006) at fair value and with a strike price of CHF 15.30. At issuance, the group company had entered into an intercompany option agreement with the same terms and conditions to enable it to meet its future obligations. As a result of the exercise by the bank, the Company issued 5,961,200 shares at CHF 15.30 out of contingent capital, thereby increasing the Company’s share capital and capital contribution reserve by CHF 6,140 thousand and CHF 85,066 thousand, respectively. The ABB Group has an employee share acquisition plan (ESAP). To enable the group company that facilitates the ESAP to deliver shares to employees who have exercised their stock options, the group company entered into an agreement with the Company to acquire the required number of shares at their then market value from the Company. Consequently in November 2011, the Company issued, out of own shares, to the group company 20,366 shares at CHF 16.75 (USD 18.28, equivalent to CHF 16.52, for those shares issued to be converted into American depositary shares). In 2011 and 2010, the Company transferred 964,943 and 807,161 own shares at an average price per share of CHF 21.03 and 21.78 to fulfill its obligations under share-based programs. The average acquisition price of the own shares at both December 31, 2011 and 2010, was CHF 21.03. The movement in the number of own shares during the year was as follows: Opening balance as of January 1 Cancellation Purchases Transfers Closing balance as of December 31 2011 2010 25,317,453 39,901,593 – – (22,675,000) 12,100,000 (985,309) (4,009,140) 24,332,144 25,317,453 The own shares are stated at the lower of cost or fair value. As a consequence of the decrease in the fair value, the own shares were revalued to CHF 17.68 from CHF 20.83 per share at December 31, 2011, resulting in a write-down of CHF 76,447 thousand in 2011. As a result of the Swiss corporate tax reform II that became effective on January 1, 2011, qualifying contributions from the shareholders exceeding the nominal share capital can be distributed without deduction of Swiss withholding tax. According to the corresponding guidelines, such contributions have been recorded in a specific account (Capital contri- bution reserve) within the legal reserves in order to benefit from the favorable tax treatment. 134 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Note 7 Contingent liabilities The Company has issued a support letter to a surety institution for the issuance of surety bonds on behalf of group companies. The amount issued under this letter was CHF 282,345 thousand as of December 31, 2011 (CHF 281,145 thousand as of December 31, 2010). Furthermore, the Company has keep-well agreements with certain group companies. A keep-well agreement is a share- holder agreement between the Company and a group company. These agreements provide for maintenance of a mini- mum net worth in the group company and the maintenance of 100 percent direct or indirect ownership by the Company. The keep-well agreements additionally provide that if at any time the group company has insufficient liquid assets to meet any payment obligation on its debt (as defined in the agreements) and has insufficient unused commitments under its credit facilities with its lenders, the Company will make available to the group company sufficient funds to enable it to fulfill such payment obligation as it falls due. A keep-well agreement is not a guarantee by the Company for payment of the indebtedness, or any other obligation, of a group company. No party external to the ABB Group is a party to any of these keep-well agreements. The Company through certain of its direct and indirect subsidiaries is involved in various regulatory and legal matters. The Company’s direct and indirect subsidiaries have made certain related accruals as further described in note 15 of the Consolidated Financial Statements of ABB Ltd. There could be material adverse outcomes beyond the accrued liabilities. The Company is part of a value added tax group and therefore is jointly liable to the Swiss Federal Tax Department for the value added tax liabilities of the other members. Note 8 Bonds December 31 (CHF in thousands) Bond 2011–2016 1.25% coupon Bond 2011–2021 2.25% coupon Total 2011 498,664 350,000 848,664 2010 – – – The 1.25% CHF Bonds, due 2016, and the 2.25% Bonds, due 2021, pay interest annually in arrear, at fixed annual rates of 1.25 percent and 2.25 percent, respectively. The Company recorded net proceeds of CHF 839 million. The bonds are stated at their nominal value less any discount on issuance. Bonds are accreted to par over the period to maturity. The Company has, through Group Treasury Operations, entered into interest rate swaps with banks to effectively convert the above bonds into floating rate obligations. Note 9 Significant shareholders Investor AB, Sweden, held 179,030,142 and 166,330,142 ABB Ltd shares as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respec- tively. These holdings represent 7.7 percent and 7.2 percent of ABB Ltd’s total share capital and voting rights as regis- tered in the Commercial Register on December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Pursuant to its disclosure notice, BlackRock, Inc., USA, announced that, as per July 25, 2011 and April 6, 2010, it, together with its direct and indirect subsidiaries, held 69,702,100 and 70,267,934 ABB Ltd shares. These holdings correspond to 3.0 percent of ABB Ltd’s total share capital and voting rights as registered in the Commercial Register on December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. To the best of the Company’s knowledge, no other shareholder holds 3 percent or more of the total share capital and voting rights on December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Note 10 Board of Directors compensation The compensation levels of members of the Board of Directors were as follows: Function Chairman of the Board Member of the Board and Committee chairman Member of the Board Board term Board term 2011/2012 2010/2011 (CHF) (CHF) 1,200,000 1,200,000 400,000 300,000 400,000 300,000 Board compensation is payable in semi-annual installments in arrears. The first payment is made in November, for the period of Board membership from election at the Annual General Meeting to October of that year. The second payment is made in May of the following year for the period of Board membership from November to the end of that Board term. Board members elect to receive either 50 percent or 100 percent of their compensation in ABB shares. The reference price for the shares to be delivered (and hence the calculation of the number of shares to be delivered) is the average closing price of the ABB share during a defined 30-day period which is different for each installment. The ABB shares are kept in a blocked account for three years after the date of original delivery and may only be disposed of earlier (with limited exception) if the respective person has left the Board of Directors. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 135 Note 10 Board of Directors compensation continued The compensation amounts per individual Board member are listed in the table below: Paid in 2011 Paid in 2010 November May November May Board term 2011/2012 Board term 2010/2011 Board term 2010/2011 Board term 2009/2010 Settled in shares – number Settled in Total shares – compen- number sation Settled in shares – number Settled in Total shares – compen- number sation Settled of shares Settled of shares paid Settled of shares Settled of shares paid Name/Function in cash(1) received(2) in cash(1) received(2) 2011(3),(4),(5) in cash(1) received(2) in cash(1) received(2) 2010(4),(5) (CHF) (CHF) (CHF) (CHF) (CHF) (CHF) Hubertus von Grünberg Chairman of the Board – 25,917 – 19,303 1,200,000 – 20,105 300,000 9,092 1,200,000 Roger Agnelli (6) Member of the Board 75,000 3,196 75,000 2,388 300,000 75,000 2,492 75,000 2,259 300,000 Louis R. Hughes(6) Member of the Board and beginning with the 2011/2012 board term Chairman of the Finance, Audit and Compliance Committee 100,000 4,272 75,000 2,388 350,000 75,000 2,492 75,000 2,259 300,000 Hans Ulrich Märki Member of the Board and Chairman of the Governance, Nomina- tion and Compensation Committee Michel de Rosen(7) Member of the Board Michael Treschow(7) – – 11,746 – 8,757 400,000 – 9,124 6,392 75,000 2,388 300,000 75,000 2,492 – – 8,264 400,000 4,519 300,000 Member of the Board 75,000 3,251 75,000 2,419 300,000 75,000 2,522 75,000 2,278 300,000 Bernd W. Voss(8) Member of the Board and Chairman of the Finance, Audit and Compliance Committee until the 2011/2012 board term Jacob Wallenberg(6) – – 100,000 3,222 200,000 100,000 3,358 100,000 3,035 400,000 Member of the Board 75,000 3,196 75,000 2,388 300,000 75,000 2,492 75,000 2,259 300,000 Ying Yeh(7),(9) Member of the Board 75,000 3,197 – – 150,000 – – – – – Total 400,000 61,167 475,000 43,253 3,500,000 475,000 45,077 700,000 33,965 3,500,000 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) Represents gross amounts paid, prior to deductions for social security, withholding tax, etc. Number of shares per Board member is calculated based on net amount due after deductions for social security, withholding tax, etc. For the 2011–2012 Board term, all members elected to receive 50% of their gross compensation in the form of ABB shares, except for Hubertus von Grünberg, Hans Ulrich Märki and Michel de Rosen who elected to receive 100%. For the 2010–2011 Board term, all members elected to receive 50% of their gross compensation in the form of ABB shares, except for Hubertus von Grünberg and Hans Ulrich Märki who elected to receive 100%. In addition to the Board remuneration stated in the above table, the Company paid in 2011 and 2010 CHF 213,122 and CHF 219,102, respectively, in employee social security payments. Member of the Finance, Audit and Compliance Committee. Member of the Governance, Nomination and Compensation Committee. Bernd W. Voss did not stand for election to the Company’s board at the AGM in April 2011. Ying Yeh was elected to the Company’s board at the AGM in April 2011. Board members do not receive pension benefits and are not eligible to participate in any of ABB’s employee incentive programs. No loans or guarantees were granted to Board members in 2011 and 2010. Except as disclosed herein, no payments were made to former Board members in 2011 and 2010. Other than as disclosed herein, no members of the Board received any additional fees and remunerations for services rendered to ABB. Also, in 2011 ABB did not pay any additional fees or remuneration, other than on an arm’s length basis, to persons closely linked to a member of the Board for services rendered to ABB. A related party includes a spouse, children below the age of eighteen, legal or natural persons acting as a fiduciary and legal entities controlled by a mem- ber of the Board. 136 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Note 11 Executive Committee compensation The table below provides an overview of the total compensation of members of the Executive Committee in 2011, comprising cash compensation and an estimate of the value of shares conditionally awarded under a three-year incentive plan that runs until 2014. Cash compensation includes the base salary, accrued short-term variable compen- sation for 2011, pension benefits, as well as other benefits comprising mainly social security and health insurance contributions. The compensation is shown gross (i.e. before deduction of employee’s social insurance and pension contributions). Name Joe Hogan Michel Demaré Gary Steel Ulrich Spiesshofer Diane de Saint Victor Bernhard Jucker Peter Leupp Veli-Matti Reinikkala(4) Brice Koch Tarak Mehta Frank Duggan (joined on March 1, 2011)(5) Total current Executive Short-term Base variable salary compensation(1) (CHF) 1,991,676 1,200,006 799,168 812,502 748,258 945,002 770,005 701,230 741,676 660,835 (CHF) 3,376,800 1,344,000 901,600 917,280 842,128 1,064,000 862,400 551,861 840,000 742,560 Pension benefits (CHF) 280,384 267,014 282,501 229,895 267,566 275,936 285,712 267,987 227,416 215,716 Estimated value Other of share-based awards benefits(2) granted in 2011(3) (CHF) 849,768 323,361 173,691 171,064 300,585 220,816 164,442 320,362 224,330 244,075 (CHF) 2,871,650 1,189,349 687,243 868,307 745,419 811,031 – 541,126 769,347 680,105 Total 2011 (CHF) 9,370,278 4,323,730 2,844,203 2,999,048 2,903,956 3,316,785 2,082,559 2,382,566 2,802,769 2,543,291 597,598 595,962 256,020 140,636 623,213 2,213,429 Committee members 9,967,956 12,038,591 2,856,147 3,133,130 9,786,790 37,782,614 Tom Sjökvist (retired from the EC on September 30, 2010)(6) 188,851 Anders Jonsson (retired from the EC on July 31, 2010)(6) Total former Executive Com mittee members – 188,851 – – – 47,971 617,040 – 857,284 47,971 1,474,324 – – – 853,862 857,284 1,711,146 Total 10,156,807 12,038,591 2,904,118 4,607,454 9,786,790 39,493,760 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) To reflect widespread market practice, the basis of presentation of the short-term variable compensation has changed from a cash basis to an accruals basis. Payment is made in the following year, after publication of the financial results. Comparative figures for 2010 in the Notes to the financial statements have been adjusted to reflect the current year’s presentation. On July 1, 2011, Veli-Matti Reinikkala relocated from the U.S. to Switzerland. According to the Group’s policy, he received in 2011 a pro-rata short-term variable compensation payout of CHF 244,581 for his service in the U.S. for the period January 1, 2011, to June 30, 2011. The final payout amount for Veli-Matti Reinikkala, which is based on the 2011 results, has been reduced by this pro-rata short-term variable compensation payment already received. In March 2011, the current and former Executive Committee members received the 2010 short-term variable compensation payments in the amount of CHF 11,951,967. This number does not include any short-term variable compensation amount for Frank Duggan, who joined the Executive Committee on March 1, 2011. Short-term variable compensation is linked to the targets defined in the ABB Group’s scorecard. Upon full achievement of these targets, the short-term variable compensation of the CEO corresponds to 150 percent of his base salary, while for all other Executive Committee members it represents 100 percent of their respective base salary. The Board has the discretion to approve a higher payout than 100 percent, if the targets are exceeded. For 2011, the Board exercised its discretion and awarded a 12 percent higher payout, reflecting the company’s performance against the targets. Other benefits comprise payments related to social security, health insurance, children’s education, transportation, tax advice and certain other items. The estimated value of the share-based awards is subject to performance and other parameters (e.g. the share price development) and may therefore vary in value from the above numbers at the date of vesting, March 15, 2014. The above amounts have been calculated using the market value of the ABB share on the day of grant adjusted, in the case of the perfor- mance component, according to the parameters considered in the Monte Carlo simulation model. Veli-Matti Reinikkala received 50 percent of his base salary in USD and 50 percent in EUR at a fixed USD/EUR exchange rate for the period January to June 2011. All USD payments were converted into Swiss francs at a rate of 0.94115 per USD. As of July 2011, Veli-Matti Reinikkala relocated to Switzerland and since then receives his compensation in Swiss francs. Frank Duggan received 20 percent of his base salary in AED and 80 percent in EUR at a fixed AED/EUR exchange rate for the period March to December 2011. All AED payments were converted into Swiss francs at a rate of 0.2562417 per AED. The above compensation figures related to Tom Sjökvist and Anders Jonsson represent contractual payments for the period January to December 2011. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 137 Note 11 Executive Committee compensation, continued The table below provides an overview of the total compensation of members of the Executive Committee in 2010, comprising cash compensation and an estimate of the value of shares conditionally awarded under a three-year incen- tive plan that runs until 2013. Cash compensation includes the base salary, the accrued short-term variable com- pensation for 2010, pension benefits, as well as other benefits comprising mainly social security and health insurance contributions. The compensation is shown gross (i.e., before deduction of employee’s social insurance and pension contributions). Name Joe Hogan Michel Demaré Gary Steel Ulrich Spiesshofer Diane de Saint Victor Bernhard Jucker Peter Leupp Veli-Matti Reinikkala(4) Brice Koch (joined on January 1, 2010) Tarak Mehta(5) (joined on October 1, 2010) Total current Executive Short-term Base variable salary compensation(1) (CHF) 1,900,003 1,200,006 770,005 780,001 730,003 919,999 770,005 647,903 (CHF) 3,135,000 1,320,000 847,000 858,000 803,000 1,012,000 847,000 652,217 Pension benefits (CHF) 270,325 257,251 272,136 220,234 257,634 266,002 276,280 207,512 Estimated value Other of share-based awards benefits(2) granted in 2010(3) (CHF) 407,461 749,790 499,581 339,459 356,857 393,193 333,196 169,151 (CHF) 2,012,883 952,800 527,565 534,405 500,160 630,324 527,565 457,458 Total 2010 (CHF) 7,725,672 4,479,847 2,916,287 2,732,099 2,647,654 3,221,518 2,754,046 2,134,241 700,000 770,000 217,434 204,114 479,598 2,371,146 162,500 178,750 51,758 53,712 – 446,720 Com mittee members 8,580,425 10,422,967 2,296,566 3,506,514 6,622,758 31,429,230 Tom Sjökvist (retired from the EC on September 30, 2010)(6),(7) 770,005 847,000 282,498 397,205 Anders Jonsson (retired from the EC on July 31, 2010)(7) Total former Executive Com mittee members 619,998 682,000 263,559 375,349 1,390,003 1,529,000 546,057 772,554 – – – 2,296,708 1,940,906 4,237,614 Total 9,970,428 11,951,967 2,842,623 4,279,068 6,622,758 35,666,844 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) To reflect wide-spread market practice, the basis of presentation of the short-term variable compensation has changed from a cash basis to an accruals basis. Payment is made in the following year, after publication of the financial results. In March 2010 the Executive Committee members received the 2009 short term variable compensation payments in the amount of CHF 11,942,640. This number does not include any short-term variable compensation amount for Brice Koch and Tarak Mehta, who joined the Executive Committee on January 1, 2010 and October 1, 2010. Short-term variable compensation is linked to the ABB Group’s scorecard and defined targets therein. Upon full achievement of the defined targets, the short-term variable compensation of the CEO corresponds to 150 percent of his base salary while for all other Executive Committee members it represents 100 percent of their respective base salary. The Board has the discretion to approve a higher payout than 100 percent, if the targets are exceeded. Other benefits comprise payments related to social security, health insurance, children’s education, transportation, tax advice and one-off items. The estimated value of the share based awards are subject to performance and other parameters (e.g. the share price development) and may therefore vary in value from the above num- bers at the date of vesting, March 15, 2013. The above amounts have been calculated using the market value of the ABB share on the day of grant adjusted, in the case of the performance component, according to the parameters considered in the Monte Carlo simulation model. Veli-Matti Reinikkala received 50 percent of his base salary in USD and 50 percent in EUR at a fixed USD/EUR exchange rate. All USD payments were converted into Swiss francs using a rate of 0.94 per USD. Prior to joining the Executive Committee, Tarak Mehta participated in the Company’s long-term incentive plan and consequently, in 2010, received a share-based award in the amount of CHF 290,726 which was unrelated to his subsequent appointment to the Executive Committee. Tom Sjoekvist received CHF 85,426 cash compensation for foregone pension benefits as a result of him continuing to work for the Company after the age of 60, included in other benefits above. The above compensation figures related to Tom Sjoekvist and Anders Jonsson represent contractual payments for the period January to December 2010. 138 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Note 11 Executive Committee Compensation, continued Share-based awards granted to members of the Executive Committee during 2011 are summarized in the table below. The vesting date of the respective award, principally granted under the long-term incentive plan (LTI Plan), is listed in the footnotes to the table. Name Joe Hogan Michel Demaré Gary Steel Ulrich Spiesshofer Diane de Saint Victor Bernhard Jucker Peter Leupp Veli-Matti Reinikkala Brice Koch Tarak Mehta Frank Duggan Maximum number of conditionally granted shares under the performance Number of retention Total estimated value component of the 2011 launch shares granted under the of share-based awards of LTI Plan(1),(4) 2011 launch of LTI Plan(1),(3) granted in 2011(2) 60,526 26,967 15,196 15,460 14,194 17,933 – 11,965 14,158 12,516 13,780 99,371 40,450 23,517 31,104 26,359 27,753 – 18,517 27,388 24,211 21,326 (CHF) 2,871,650 1,189,349 687,243 868,307 745,419 811,031 – 541,126 769,347 680,105 623,213 Total current Executive Com mittee members 202,695 339,996 9,786,790 (1) (2) (3) (4) Vesting date March 15, 2014. The estimated value applied to the shares of the retention component, represents the market value of an ABB share on the grant date of the award. The estimated value applied to the shares of the performance component, represents the market value of an ABB share on the grant date, adjusted according to the parameters considered in the Monte Carlo simulation model. The LTI Plan foresees to deliver 30 percent of the value of the vested retention shares in cash, but participants have the possibility to elect upon vesting to receive 100 percent of the vested award in shares. The vested performance shares under the plan will be fully settled in cash. In addition to the above awards, 7 members of the Executive Committee participated in the eighth launch of ESAP which will allow them to save over a twelve-month period and, in November 2012, use their savings to acquire ABB shares under the ESAP. The maximum number of shares the Executive Committee members are entitled to acquire depends on their savings’ amount and currency. One of the Executive Committee members is entitled to acquire up to a maximum of 700 ABB shares and the other Executive Committee members who participated in ESAP are each entitled to acquire up to 620 ABB shares at an exercise price of CHF 15.98 per share. No parties related to any member of the Executive Committee received any fees or remunerations for services rendered to ABB, other than on an arm’s length basis. A related party includes a spouse, children below the age of eighteen, legal or natural persons acting as fiduciary and legal entities controlled by a member of the Executive Committee. No loans or guarantees were granted to members of the Executive Committee in 2011. Share-based awards granted to members of the Executive Committee during 2010 were as follows: Maximum number of conditionally granted shares under the performance component of the Number of retention shares value of share- granted under the based awards Total estimated Name 2010 launch of LTIP(1),(4) 2010 launch of LTI Plan(1),(3) granted in 2010(2) Joe Hogan Michel Demaré Gary Steel Ulrich Spiesshofer Diane de Saint Victor Bernhard Jucker Peter Leupp Veli-Matti Reinikkala Brice Koch Tarak Mehta(5) Total current Executive Com mittee members 58,854 27,740 14,952 15,146 14,175 17,865 14,952 12,965 13,593 – 190,242 87,841 41,609 23,140 23,440 21,938 27,647 23,140 20,065 21,036 – (CHF) 2,012,883 952,800 527,565 534,405 500,160 630,324 527,565 457,458 479,598 – 289,856 6,622,758 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Vesting date March 15, 2013. The estimated value applied to 100 percent of the shares of the retention component, represents the market value of the share at grant date of the respective award. The estimated value applied to 100 percent of the shares of the performance component, represents the market value of the share as per grant date, adjusted according to the parameters considered in the Monte Carlo simulation model. The LTI Plan foresees to deliver 30 percent of the value of the vested retention shares in cash, but participants have the possibility to elect upon vesting to receive 100 percent of the vested award in shares. The vested performance shares under the plan will be fully settled in cash. Prior to joining the Executive Committee, Tarak Mehta participated in the Company’s long-term incentive plan and consequently, in 2010, received a share-based award in the amount of CHF 290,726 which was unrelated to his subsequent appointment to the Executive Committee. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 139 Note 12 Share ownership of ABB by Board members and members of the Executive Committee Name Hubertus von Grünberg Roger Agnelli Louis R. Hughes Hans Ulrich Märki Michel de Rosen Michael Treschow Bernd W. Voss Jacob Wallenberg(1) Ying Yeh Total At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the members of the Board of Directors, as of that date, held the following numbers of shares (or ADSs representing such shares): Total number of shares held(1) December 31, 2011 December 31, 2010 127,387 154,992 56,337 389,179 120,108 91,741 n/a 169,202 3,197 1,112,143 82,167 149,408 49,677 368,676 111,328 86,071 157,890 163,618 n/a 1,168,835 (1) Share amounts provided in this section do not include the shares beneficially owned by Investor AB, of which Mr. Wallenberg is chairman At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the members of the Executive Committee, as of that date, held the following numbers of shares (or ADSs representing such shares), the conditional rights to receive ABB shares under the LTI Plan, warrants or options (either vested or unvested as indicated) under the MIP and unvested shares in respect of bonus arrangements: ) 1 ( d l e h s e r a h s f o r e b m u n l a t o T 223,546 373,935 206,902 152,889 167,186 120,485 125,113 106,522 30,424 11,868 15,130 Unvested at December 31, 2011 - i d n o c f o r e b m u n m u m x a M i f o h c n u a l 9 0 0 2 e h t r e d n u s e r a h s d e t n a r g y l l a n o i t ) 3 ( n a P l I T L e h t s e r a h s g n i h c t a m f o r e b m u N 9 0 0 2 e h t r e d n u e l b a r e v i l e d f o n o i t r o p t n e m t s e v n i - o c ) 3 ( n a P l I T L e h t 0 1 0 2 e h t r e d n u e l b a r e v i l e d f o t n e n o p m o c n o i t n e t e r s e r a h s n o i t n e t e R ) 3 ( n a P l I T L e h t 1 1 0 2 e h t r e d n u e l b a r e v i l e d f o t n e n o p m o c n o i t n e t e r s e r a h s n o i t n e t e R ) 3 ( n a P l I T L e h t d e t s e v n u f o r e b m u N ) 2 ( I P M e h t r e d n u d l e h s n o i t p o n o - n g i s f o t c e p s e r n i d e t n a r g s e r a h s f o r e b m u N ) 3 ( s u n o b (vesting 2012) (vesting 2012) (vesting 2012) (vesting 2013) (vesting 2014) (vesting 2013) – – – – – – – – – – 212,500 268,362 127,119 67,974 64,443 64,443 81,215 67,974 63,320 42,408 37,467 – 45,000 34,054 16,919 16,147 16,262 18,590 13,917 16,174 – 5,576 – 87,841 41,609 23,140 23,440 21,938 27,647 23,140 20,065 21,036 12,714 14,309 99,371 40,450 23,517 31,104 26,359 27,753 – 18,517 27,388 24,211 21,326 189,682 – – – – – – – – – – d l e h s n o i t p o f o r e b m u N ) 2 ( I P M e h t r e d n u – – – – – – – – – 190,850 419,430 Name Joe Hogan Michel Demaré(4) Gary Steel Ulrich Spiesshofer Diane de Saint Victor Bernhard Jucker Peter Leupp Veli-Matti Reinikkala Brice Koch Tarak Mehta Frank Duggan Total current Executive Com mittee members 1,534,000 610,280 212,500 884,725 182,639 316,879 339,996 189,682 1) (2) (3) (4) Includes shares deposited as match for the co-investment portion of the 2009 LTI Plan. These shares may be sold/transferred but then the corresponding number of co-investment shares would be forfeited. Options may be sold or exercised/converted into shares at the ratio of 5 options for 1 share. The LTI Plan foresees to deliver 30 percent of the value of the vested retention shares in cash, but participants have the possibility to elect to receive 100 percent of the vested award in shares. Total number of shares held includes 4,500 shares held jointly with spouse. 140 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Note 12 Share ownership of ABB by Board members and members of the Executive Committee, continued Name Joe Hogan Michel Demaré(5) Gary Steel Ulrich Spiesshofer Diane de Saint Victor Bernhard Jucker Peter Leupp Veli-Matti Reinikkala Brice Koch Tarak Mehta Total current Executive Unvested at December 31, 2010 ) 1 ( d l e h s e r a h s f o r e b m u n l a t o T ) 2 ( I P M e h t r e d n u d l e h s n o i t p o f o r e b m u N - n o i t i d n o c f o r e b m u n m u m x a M i e h t r e d n u s e r a h s d e t n a r g y l l a ) 4 ( n a P l I T L e h t f o h c n u a l 8 0 0 2 s e r a h s g n i h c t a m f o r e b m u N 8 0 0 2 e h t r e d n u e l b a r e v i l e d f o n o i t r o p t n e m t s e v n i - o c ) 4 ( n a P l I T L e h t - n o i t i d n o c f o r e b m u n m u m x a M i e h t r e d n u s e r a h s d e t n a r g y l l a ) 4 ( n a P l I T L e h t f o h c n u a l 9 0 0 2 s e r a h s g n i h c t a m f o r e b m u N 9 0 0 2 e h t r e d n u e l b a r e v i l e d f o n o i t r o p t n e m t s e v n i - o c ) 4 ( n a P l I T L e h t 0 1 0 2 e h t r e d n u e l b a r e v i l e d f o t n e n o p m o c n o i t n e t e r s e r a h s n o i t n e t e R ) 4 ( n a P l I T L e h t n o - n g i s f o t c e p s e r n i d e t n a r g s e r a h s f o r e b m u N ) 4 ( , ) 3 ( s u n o b (vesting (vesting (vesting (vesting (vesting (vesting 2011 71,923 363,445 200,858 144,580 159,008 102,468 116,516 101,716 27,224 9,082 2011) – 145,039 – – – – – – – – 190,850 71,880 29,390 27,863 27,863 35,115 29,390 23,902 22,252 19,853 2011) 26,923 10,490 8,634 8,309 8,178 9,739 8,597 6,866 3,200 2,786 2012) 268,362 127,119 67,974 64,443 64,443 81,215 67,974 63,320 42,408 37,467 2012) 45,000 34,054 16,919 16,147 16,262 18,590 13,917 16,174 – 5,576 2013) 87,841 41,609 23,140 23,440 21,938 27,647 23,140 20,065 21,036 12,714 and 2013) 379,364 – – – – – – – – – Com mittee members 1,296,820 190,850 432,547 93,722 884,725 182,639 302,570 379,364 1) (2) (3) (4) (5) Includes shares deposited as match for the co-investment portion of the LTI Plan. These shares may be sold/transferred but then the corresponding number of co-investment shares would be forfeited. Options may be sold or exercised/converted into shares at the ratio of 5 options for 1 share. 189,682 shares vest in each of 2011 and 2013. The LTI Plan foresees to deliver 30 percent of the value of the vested retention shares in cash, but participants have the possibility to elect to receive 100 percent of the vested award in shares. Total number of shares held includes 4,500 shares held jointly with spouse. Furthermore, at December 31, 2011, the following members of the Executive Committee held conditionally granted ABB shares under the performance component of the LTI Plans 2011 and 2010, which at the time of vesting will be fully settled in cash. In addition certain members of the Executive Committee held warrant appreciation rights (WARs) that entitle the holder to exercise such WARs and receive in cash the market value of the equivalent listed warrant at the time of exercise. Maximum number of conditionally Maximum number of conditionally granted shares under the granted shares under the Name 2010 launch of LTI Plan 2011 launch of LTI Plan WARs held under the MIP performance component of the performance component of the Number of fully vested (vesting 2013) (vesting 2014) Joe Hogan Michel Demaré Gary Steel Ulrich Spiesshofer Diane de Saint Victor Bernhard Jucker Peter Leupp Veli-Matti Reinikkala Brice Koch Tarak Mehta Frank Duggan Total current Executive Committee members 58,854 27,740 14,952 15,146 14,175 17,865 14,952 12,965 13,593 8,392 9,444 60,526 26,967 15,196 15,460 14,194 17,933 – 11,965 14,158 12,516 13,780 208,078 202,695 – – – – – – 375,000 – – – 375,000 750,000 ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 141 Note 12 Share ownership of ABB by Board members and members of the Executive Committee, continued Name Joe Hogan Michel Demaré Gary Steel Ulrich Spiesshofer Diane de Saint Victor Bernhard Jucker Peter Leupp Veli-Matti Reinikkala Brice Koch Tarak Mehta As of December 31, 2010, the following members of the Executive Committee held conditionally granted ABB shares under the performance component of the LTI Plan 2010 and warrant appreciation rights (WARs). Maximum number of conditionally granted shares under the performance component of the Number of fully vested WARs 2010 launch of LTI Plan held under the MIP (vesting 2013) 58,854 27,740 14,952 15,146 14,175 17,865 14,952 12,965 13,593 8,392 198,634 – – – – – 185,000 375,000 – – – 560,000 Total current Executive Com mittee members Note 13 Risk assessment Note 14 Other information The members of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee owned less than 1 percent of the Company’s total shares outstanding at December 31, 2011 and 2010. Other than as disclosed, at December 31, 2011, no party related to any member of the Board of Directors or Executive Committee held any shares of ABB or options in ABB shares. Once a year, the Company’s Board of Directors performs a risk assessment in accordance with the group’s risk management process and discusses appropriate actions if necessary. The Company is the guarantor in the Group’s $2 billion multi-currency revolving credit facility, maturing in 2015. In January 2012, the Company issued bonds with an aggregate principal of CHF 350 million, due 2018, that pay interest annually in arrear at a fixed interest rate of 1.5 percent per annum. The Company recorded net proceeds of CHF 346 million. The Company is guarantor of the Group’s $4 billion credit agreement, entered into in February 2012 for an initial term of 364 days, to provide bridge financing for the planned acquisition of Thomas & Betts Corporation. 142 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Proposed appropriation of available earnings (CHF in thousands) Net income for the year Carried forward from previous year Earnings available to the Annual General Meeting Ordinary reserves Capital contribution reserve Balance to be carried forward 2011 1,094,007 2,203,511 3,297,518 2010 1,264,077 3,893,862 5,157,939 – – (1,000,000) (1,954,428) 3,297,518 2,203,511 The Board of directors proposes to carry forward the available earnings in the amount of CHF 3,297,518 thousand. On February 16, 2012, the Company announced that a proposal will be put to the April 2012 Annual General Meeting to convert capital contribution reserve to other reserves in the amount of CHF 0.65 per share and distribute a dividend for the 2011 fiscal year of CHF 0.65 per share. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 143 Report of the Statutory Auditor To the General Meeting of ABB Ltd, Zurich As statutory auditor, we have audited the accompanying financial statements of ABB Ltd, which comprise the balance sheet, income statement and notes for the year ended December 31, 2011. Board of Directors’ responsibility The Board of Directors is responsible for the preparation of the financial state- ments in accordance with the requirements of Swiss law and the company’s articles of incorporation. This responsibility includes designing, implementing and maintaining an internal control system relevant to the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. The Board of Directors is further responsible for selecting and applying appropriate accounting policies and making accounting estimates that are reasonable in the circumstances. Auditor’s responsibility Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with Swiss law and Swiss Auditing Standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement. An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers the internal control system relevant to the entity’s preparation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control system. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of the accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting esti- mates made, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion. Opinion In our opinion, the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2011 comply with Swiss law and the company’s articles of incorporation. Report on other legal requirements We confirm that we meet the legal requirements on licensing according to the Auditor Oversight Act (AOA) and independence (article 728 CO and article 11 AOA) and that there are no circumstances incompatible with our indepen- dence. In accordance with article 728a paragraph 1 item 3 CO and Swiss Auditing Standard 890, we confirm that an internal control system exists, which has been designed for the preparation of financial statements according to the instructions of the Board of Directors. We further confirm that the proposed appropriation of available earnings complies with Swiss law and the company’s articles of incorporation. We rec- ommend that the financial statements submitted to you be approved. Ernst & Young Ltd Nigel Jones Licensed audit expert (Auditor in charge) Zurich, Switzerland March 15, 2012 Thomas Stenz Licensed audit expert 144 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 Audit report in connection with capital increase ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 145 Investor information ABB Ltd share price trend during 2011 Share price (data based on closing prices) High Low Year-end During 2011, the price of ABB Ltd shares listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange decreased 15 percent, while the Swiss Per- formance Index decreased 8 percent. The price of ABB Ltd shares on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm decreased 15 percent, compared to the OMX 30 Index, which decreased 15 percent. The price of ABB Ltd American Depositary Shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange decreased 16 percent compared to the Dow Jones Industrial Index, which increased by 6 percent. Source: Bloomberg SIX Swiss Exchange Stockholm Stock Exchange NASDAQ OMX New York (CHF) 23.88 15.00 17.68 (SEK) 170.20 112.40 129.50 (US$) 27.49 16.42 18.83 Average daily traded number of shares 8,360,000 2,360,000 3,130,000(1) (1) Figure includes ADS trading volumes on the NYSE and alternative trading platforms. Source: Bloomberg Market capitalization Shareholder structure Major shareholders Dividend proposal On December 31, 2011, ABB Ltd’s market capitalization based on outstanding shares (total number of outstanding shares: 2,290,411,120) was approximately CHF 40.5 billion ($43 billion, SEK 297.9 billion). As of December 31, 2011, the total number of shareholders directly registered with ABB Ltd was approximately 187,000. In addition, another 268,000 shareholders hold shares indirectly through nominees. In total, ABB has approximately 455,000 shareholders. As of December 31, 2011, Investor AB, Stockholm, Sweden, owned 179,030,142 shares of ABB Ltd, corresponding to 7.7 percent of total capital and votes of ABB Ltd as registered in the Commercial Register on December 31, 2011. As of July 25, 2011, BlackRock Inc., New York, U.S.A., owned 69,702,100 shares of ABB Ltd, corresponding to 3.0 percent of total capital and votes of ABB Ltd as registered in the Commercial Register on December 31, 2011. To the best of ABB’s knowledge, no other shareholder held 3 percent or more of the total voting rights as of December 31, 2011. ABB’s Board of Directors has proposed a dividend for 2011 of CHF 0.65 per share, compared to CHF 0.60 per share in the prior year. Translated into U.S. dollars using year-end 2011 exchange rate, the dividend corresponds to approxi- mately 50 percent of ABB’s 2011 net income. The proposal is in line with the Company’s dividend policy to pay a steadily rising but sustainable dividend over time. As it did in 2011, the Board proposes that the dividend be paid from ABB Ltd’s capital contribution reserve, a form of payment that would be exempt from Swiss withholding tax. If approved by shareholders at the company’s Annual General Meeting on April 26, 2012, the ex-dividend date would be April 30, 2012, for shares traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange and NASDAQ OMX Stockholm and May 1, 2012, for American Depositary Shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The respective dividend payout dates would be May 4, 2012 in Switzerland, May 8, 2012 in Sweden, and May 11, 2012 in the United States. Key data Dividend per share (CHF) Par value per share (CHF) Votes per share Earnings per share (USD) (2) Total ABB stockholders’ equity per share (USD) (3) Cash flow from operations per share (USD) (2) Dividend pay out ratio (%) (4) Weighted-average number of shares outstanding (in millions) Dilutive weighted-average number of shares outstanding (in millions) 2011 0.65(1) 1.03 1 1.38 6.89 1.58 50% 2,288 2,291 2010 0.60 1.03 1 1.12 6.52 1.83 57% 2,287 2,291 2009 0.51 1.54 1 1.27 6.02 1.76 39% 2,284 2,288 (1) (2) (3) (4) Proposed by the Board of Directors and subject to approval by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting on April 26, 2012, in Zurich, Switzerland Calculation based on dilutive weighted-average number of shares outstanding Calculation based on the number of shares outstanding as of December 31 Dividend per share (converted to U.S. dollars at year-end exchange rates) divided by basic earnings per share 146 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 ABB Ltd Annual General Meeting The 2012 Annual General Meeting of ABB Ltd will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 26, 2012, at the Messe Zurich hall in Zurich-Oerlikon, Switzerland. The Annual General Meeting will be held principally in German and will be simulta- neously translated into English and French. Shareholders entered in the share register, with the right to vote, by April 18, 2012, are entitled to participate in the Annual General Meeting. Admission cards Holders of registered shares of ABB Ltd will receive their admission cards on request using the reply form enclosed with the invitation. The reply form or a corresponding notification must reach the company no later than April 20, 2012. For technical reasons, notifications arriving after that date can no longer be taken into consideration. The full text of the invitation in accordance with Article 700 of the Swiss Code of Obligations will be published in the Schweizerisches Handelsamtsblatt of April 2, 2012. For shareholders in Sweden an Information Meeting will be held in Västerås, Sweden, on April 27, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. ABB shareholders’ calendar 2012 First quarter 2012 results ABB Ltd Annual General Meeting, Zurich ABB Ltd Information Meeting, Västerås Second quarter 2012 results Third quarter 2012 results April 25 April 26 April 27 July 26 October 25 Stock exchange listings ABB Ltd is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, NASDAQ OMX Stockholm and the New York Stock Exchange. The global ISIN code for the ABB share Ticker symbols for ABB Ltd Ticker symbols for ABB Ltd at Bloomberg Ticker symbols for ABB Ltd at Reuters Credit rating for ABB Ltd as of February 29, 2012 Standard & Poor’s Moody’s CH 001 222 171 6 SIX Swiss Exchange NASDAQ OMX Stockholm New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) SIX Swiss Exchange NASDAQ OMX Stockholm New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) SIX Swiss Exchange NASDAQ OMX Stockholm New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) ABBN ABB ABB ABBN VX ABB SS ABB US ABBN.VX ABB.ST ABB.N Long-term corporate credit rating Long-term senior unsecured debt Short-term corporate credit rating Outlook: Stable A A A–1 Long-term senior unsecured rating Short-term debt rating Outlook: Stable A2 Prime-1* *ABB Ltd’s financing subsidiaries retain a Prime-2 rating. These credit ratings are subject to revision at any time. ABB does not have any other agreements with internationally recognized statistical rating organizations to provide long-term and short-term credit ratings. ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 147 2011–2015 Financial targets and definitions ABB has published financial targets for the period 2011 to 2015, which are available at www.abb.com/investorcenter. These comprise compound annual growth rates for revenues and earnings per share, as well as free cash flow as a percentage of net income, cash return on invested capital and operational EBITDA margin. Free cash flow is calculated as net cash provided by operating activities adjusted for i) changes in financing and other non-current receivables, net, ii) purchases of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, and iii) proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment. Cash return on invested capital is calculated as the sum of i) net cash provided by operating activities and ii) interest paid; divided by the sum of i) fixed assets, ii) net working capital and iii) accumulated amortization and depreciation. Fixed assets is the sum of i) property, plant and equipment, net, ii) goodwill, iii) other intangible assets, net, and iv) investments in equity method companies. Net working capital is the sum of i) receivables, net, ii) inventories, net, and iii) prepaid expenses; less the sum of i) accounts payable, trade, ii) billings in excess of sales, iii) employee and other payables, iv) advances from customers, and v) accrued expenses. Operational EBITDA and operational EBITDA margin is calculated as follows: Year ended Dec. 31 EBIT as per financial statements adjusted for the effects of: Unrealized gains and losses on derivatives (FX, commodities, embedded derivatives) Realized gains and losses on derivatives where the underlying hedged transaction has not yet been realized Unrealized foreign exchange movements on receivables/payables (and related assets/liabilities) Restructuring and restructuring-related expenses Acquisition-related expenses and certain non-recurring items Depreciation and amortization Operational EBITDA Revenues as per financial statements adjusted for the effects of: Unrealized gains and losses on derivatives Realized gains and losses on derivatives where the underlying hedged transaction has not yet been realized Unrealized foreign exchange movements on receivables (and related assets) Operational Revenues Operational EBITDA Margin (= Operational EBITDA as % of Operational Revenues) 2011 4,667 158 32 (109) 164 107 995 6,014 37,990 188 33 (123) 38,088 15.8% Bondholder information Outstanding public bonds, as of February 29, 2012, are listed in the table below. ABB Ltd ABB Ltd ABB Ltd ABB International Finance Ltd ABB Treasury Center (USA), Inc. Original issued principal amount Coupon CHF 350 million CHF 500 million CHF 350 million EUR 700 million USD 600 million 1.50% 1.25% 2.25% 4.625% 2.50% Due 2018 2016 2021 2013 2016 Bloomberg ticker Reuters ticker ABB 1.5 11/23/18 CH0146696528=R ABB 1.25 10/11/16 CH0139264961=R ABB 2.25 10/11/21 CH0139265000=R ABB 4.625 06/06/13 CH025291581=RRPS ABB 2.5 06/15/16 144A: 00038AAA1= RegS: USU00292AA73=R ABB Treasury Center (USA), Inc. USD 650 million 4.00% 2021 ABB 4 06/15/21 144A: 00038AAB9= RegS: USU00292AB56=R 148 Financial review | ABB Annual Report 2011 2011 price trend for ABB Ltd shares Price trend for ABB Ltd shares Swiss Performance Index rebased 1/11 2/11 3/11 4/11 5/11 6/11 7/11 8/11 9/11 10/11 11/11 12/11 Price trend for ABB Ltd shares OMX 30 Index rebased 1/11 2/11 3/11 4/11 5/11 6/11 7/11 8/11 9/11 10/11 11/11 12/11 Price trend for ABB Ltd shares Dow Jones Index rebased Zurich CHF 36 33 30 27 24 21 18 15 12 9 6 Stockholm SEK 210 195 180 165 150 135 120 105 90 75 60 New York USD 36 33 30 27 24 21 18 15 12 9 6 1/11 2/11 3/11 4/11 5/11 6/11 7/11 8/11 9/11 10/11 11/11 12/11 Source: Bloomberg ABB Annual Report 2011 | Financial review 149 For an additional copy of this report, please use the contact information on the back cover or download copies from our website at www.abb.com. An interactive version of the report is also available on our website. Parts of the ABB Annual Report 2011 have been translated into German and/or Swedish. Please note that the English- language version of the ABB Annual Report is the binding version. Caution concerning forward-looking statements The ABB Annual Report 2011 includes “forward- looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on current expectations, estimates and projections about the factors that may affect our future perfor- mance, including global economic conditions as well as the economic conditions of the regions and the industries that are major markets for ABB. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “con- tinue,” “target,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect” and similar words and the express or implied discussion of strategy, plans or intentions are intended to iden- tify forward-looking statements. These forward- looking statements are subject to risks, uncertain- ties and assumptions, including among other things, the following: (i) business risks related to the global volatile economic environment; (ii) costs associated with compliance activities; (iii) difficul- ties encountered in operating in emerging markets; (iv) risks inherent in large, long-term projects served by parts of our business; (v) the timely de- velopment of new products, technologies, and services that are useful for our customers; (vi) our ability to anticipate and react to technological change and evolving industry standards in the mar- kets in which we operate; (vii) changes in interest rates and fluctuations in currency exchange rates; (viii) changes in raw materials prices or limitations of supplies of raw materials; (ix) the weakening or unavailability of our intellectual property rights; (x) industry consolidation resulting in more powerful competitors and fewer customers; (xi) effects of competition and changes in economic and market conditions in the product markets and geographic areas in which we operate; (xii) effects of, and changes in, laws, regulations, governmental poli- cies, taxation, or accounting standards and prac- tices and (xiii) other factors described in docu- ments that we may furnish from time to time with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, in- cluding our Annual Reports on Form 20-F. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in any such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, we can give no assur- ance that they will be achieved. We undertake no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward- looking statements because of new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks and uncertainties, the forward-looking information, events and circumstances might not occur. Our actual results and performance could differ sub- stantially from those anticipated in our forward- looking statements. ABB Ltd Corporate Communications P.O. Box 8131 CH-8050 Zurich Switzerland Tel: +41 (0)43 317 71 11 Fax: +41 (0)43 317 79 58 www.abb.com © C o p y r i g h t 2 0 1 2 A B B . A l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d . 

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