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ABB

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FY2013 Annual Report · ABB
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Driving profitable growth
The ABB Group Annual Report 2013

Contents

02  This is ABB                       .    
04  Chairman and CEO letter                            .    
08  Highlights                .    
10  What ABB does                        .   
14  Our three focus areas                                           .
20  Key achievements of 2013         .         
24  Faces of ABB                                         .         
28  Executive Committee           .      
29  Regional and country managers                   .    
31  Corporate governance report 
47  Remuneration report                       .    
61  Financial review of ABB Group                               .
157  ABB Ltd Statutory Financial Statements    
177  Investor information                                    .        

This is ABB

ABB is one of the world’s leading  
power and automation technology 
 companies. 

Our portfolio ranges from switches  
and sockets to robots, and from large 
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 minimum environmental 
impact. That’s why ABB stands for 
“Power and productivity for a better 
world.”

We are present throughout the entire 
 renewables value chain, from power 
generation to transmission, distribution 
and electric mobility. 

02 This is ABB | ABB Annual Report 2013

 
 
 
 
 
$

42
billion
revenues  
in 2013

$

61
billion
market capitalization
at December 31, 2013

Operations in around

 100
countries

More than

300
manufacturing sites

 150,000 
employees

 150
nationalities

1

company delivering 
power and productivity 
for a better world

$

 1.5
billion
invested in 
R&D in 2013

8,000 
technologists in R&D

More than

 1.5 million
products shipped per day

30,000
distributors

 115 million
page views  
to abb.com in 2013

 1 million
followers  
on social networks

$
$

8 million
spent on community  
projects in 2013

500,000
raised for Philippines  
typhoon relief

ABB Annual Report 2013 | This is ABB 03

 Chairman and CEO letter

Dear shareholders,

We are pleased to present ABB’s Annual Report 2013, which has been expanded to help  
our shareholders, other stakeholders and potential investors to better understand what ABB 
does and what makes us successful. We’ve also included new sections to highlight ABB’s 
achievements and to introduce you to some ABB people from our businesses around the world, 
including our acquired companies. We hope you enjoy reading the new Annual Report.

Record revenues, higher operating profits
ABB turned in a solid performance in a challenging market in 2013. We achieved record 
 revenues, higher operating profits and met our cost-reduction targets. We accomplished this 
during a year of mixed markets and continued economic uncertainty, as well as internal 
 management transitions, demonstrating the company’s underlying strength and ability to 
 exe cute. For the fifth year in a row, we will be proposing a dividend increase at our annual 
 general meeting.

Four of our five divisions performed well, with Power Products continuing to lead the 
sector in profitability. Our expanded product and geographic scope enabled us to increase 
profitability in automation across our Low Voltage Products, Discrete Automation and  
Motion and our Process Automation divisions. We are confident that our Power Systems 
division will deliver higher, more consistent returns under new leadership once certain  
legacy projects have been executed and actions to improve risk and project management  
are complete.

On the order side, demand from early-cycle industry customers was higher in the second 

half of 2013, reflecting some improvement in business confidence, which gives us reason  
to be cautiously optimistic for the year ahead. Large orders, however, were significantly lower, 
primarily because utilities and industrial customers were still hesitant to make big invest-
ments given the continuing economic and regulatory uncertainty, and this weighed on our 
order book. We were also more selective about accepting orders in Power Systems in line  
with the reset of this division.

Video: Ulrich Spiesshofer  
comments on the 2013 results.  
To view the clip, install QR code 
reader on your mobile device,  
scan the code and see more.

04 Chairman and CEO letter | ABB Annual Report 2013

Among our best-performing businesses were low-voltage circuit breakers and switches 

as well as drives. The robotics business had an extremely successful year and continued  
its successful penetration of the general industry sector. All divisions posted revenue increases, 
which meant we ended the year with record revenues of nearly $42 billion overall, 7 percent 
higher than the previous year, in local currencies. Operational EBITDA for the Group was up a 
healthy 9 percent at $6 billion, even after the $260-million charge related to project delays  
and operational issues in Power Systems.

Well-positioned for the future
As in previous years, we did not let the economic uncertainty distract us from strengthening 
our competitive position and preparing our company for the future. We stayed focused on 
tech nology innovation with an investment of $1.5 billion in R&D, and we continued to see the 
fruits of our previous investments in products such as the Emax 2, the world’s first circuit 
breaker that not only protects electrical circuits but also adapts energy consumption to actual 
needs. In 2013, we made significant inroads into new markets and segments, such as 
electric- vehicle charging and renewable energy generation, and we continued our disciplined 
actions on savings, taking out $1.2 billion in costs for the year, and cash conversion. More 
 customers than ever tell us that they are satisfied working with us; the number saying they 
would be highly likely to recommend ABB to a colleague rose to 35 percent in 2013 com-
pared with 29 percent in 2012.

We made substantial progress on the integration of our two biggest acquisitions, Baldor 

and Thomas & Betts, and we are pleased to report that both are well on target in terms of  
cost synergies and overall returns on our investments. Business integration will be an important 
focus in 2014 and in the future, and to strengthen our institutional capability in this area we 
have appointed one of our Executive Committee members, Greg Scheu, to steer the integration 
of our acquired companies across all businesses and regions. He will also drive forward our 
service business, which had another successful year, accounting for an increasing share of 
overall orders, and he will be based in and in charge of North America, our largest single 
geographical market.

“We continue to see the fruits of our investments in technology.”

Last year, we continued to expand our portfolio through strategic acquisitions, the most 
significant of which was solar inverter maker, Power-One, which makes ABB the number 2  
global player in the most intelligent part of the solar photovoltaic value chain. Through other 
acquisitions, we expanded our presence in building automation (Newron), low-voltage 
products in Turkey and eastern Europe (ELBI Elektrik), measurement products (Los Gatos) 
and service offering for drives and motors (Dynamotive).

Finally, 2013 was a year of internal transition and we are pleased to share with you that 
this was achieved smoothly and without any impact on the business, another indication of the 
underlying strength and robustness of our organization. The CEO transition from Joe Hogan  
to Ulrich Spiesshofer was seamless, as was the CFO handover from Michel Demaré to Eric Elzvik 
and the changes in leadership in the Discrete Automation and Motion division, from Ulrich 
Spiesshofer to Pekka Tiitinen, and in the Power Systems division from Brice Koch to Claudio 
Facchin. We were also very pleased to welcome on board a highly experienced human 
resources leader, Jean-Christophe Deslarzes, to succeed Gary Steel, who retired after a long 
and successful career.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Chairman and CEO letter 05

“Our markets offer tremendous growth opportunities  
through penetration, innovation and expansion.”

We look back on a solid year in 2013 and say with confidence that, despite weaker than 

expected economic growth and lower industrial capital spending, ABB is well-positioned  
to drive future growth. We also are humble enough to realize that there is still tremendous 
potential to improve and do better in serving our customers around the world.

Taking ABB to the next level
In 2014, a key focus will be to set and implement the direction for the next phase of growth  
and improvement on returns. We have already started this process by conducting a rigorous 
navigation check on our position in key markets. We now have “heat maps” of customer 
 sectors and geographies ready, so we know where our growth opportunities are and where 
our investments should be prioritized.

At the same time, we defined three focus areas to provide us with a systematic and  
robust approach for value creation, enhanced earnings per share (EPS) and cash return on 
invested capital (CROI):

1. The first is profitable growth, which we are targeting through a formula known as  

PIE: penetration, innovation and expansion:

Penetration is focused on selling more of our existing offering to accessible customers  
by strengthening customer intimacy and adapting our offerings to local requirements. As an 
example, we are investing in factories in emerging markets, such as India and Brazil, to 
ensure our products are available with high service levels and well-suited to specific market 
segments while keeping global scale and cost competitiveness.

Innovation refers to the creation of new offerings and value propositions with focused 
resource allocation, especially on the technology and business model side. A good example 
is ABB’s collaboration with the Norwegian oil and gas company, Statoil, to develop subsea 
solutions for exploration and transmission of electrical power up to 100 megawatts (MW) over 
a distance of 600 kilometers and to depths of as much as 3,000 meters. This investment will 
make possible the development of remote oil and gas fields located far from other 
infrastructure.

The third part of our growth formula is the expansion of our business into new markets 

and segments. One priority is infrastructure in Africa, which as a continent is growing fast.  
At its current stage of development, the big economic drivers are mining, oil and gas and 
power – all key markets for ABB.

2. Our second focus area is business-led collaboration, which refers to the creation of 

value across our businesses to better serve our customers. We are achieving this by working 
together across divisions and with our acquired companies to create integrated product 
offerings, and by collaborating with external suppliers and channel partners as well as along 
our own supply chain.

“The global ABB team is motivated and committed to take ABB  
to the next level of profitable growth.”

3. Our third focus is relentless execution, which is already a hallmark of ABB, as 
evidenced by our strong performance on cost and cash flow. We are expanding the focus  
on white-collar productivity by improving efficiencies and streamlining processes so we  
can spend more time on value-adding activities and less on administration.

You can read more about our three focus areas starting on page 14 of this report.

06 Chairman and CEO letter | ABB Annual Report 2013

Outlook
While we remain cautiously optimistic for the short term, ABB’s growth prospects in the   
mid and longer term are excellent. We see an increasing need for efficient, reliable electricity 
transmission and distribution as well as growing demand for automation solutions. With  
ABB’s customer-oriented offering portfolio, we are well-positioned to tap these opportunities. 
Thanks to our acquisitions, we also have plenty of potential to increase sales of existing 
 product lines through, for instance, the distribution networks of Thomas & Betts, which has  
a particularly strong presence in the North American low-voltage market.

“ABB has developed a strong position in some  
of the most important and promising markets of the future.”

ABB has also developed a strong position in some of the most important and promising 

markets and segments of the future. We are now present throughout the entire renewables 
value chain, from renewable power generation to efficient power transport and electric mobility, 
where we are a world leader in direct current (DC) fast-charging technology. Last year, we  
won a landmark contract to supply a nationwide fast-charging network for electric vehicles in 
the Netherlands, having already constructed a similar network in Estonia. This year, we will 
launch high-power DC chargers in China, initially for a new long-range electric car known as the 
DENZA, which is being manufactured jointly by Daimler and BYD Auto, one of China’s leading 
electric-vehicle (EV) firms.

We are also further strengthening our global leadership position in high-voltage power 

transmission. Last year, we delivered the highest-capacity HVDC Light undersea power 
connection, linking the grids of Ireland and Wales and enabling wind power integration. We 
also integrated wind power from one of the largest offshore wind farms in Europe into the 
Belgian grid.

And we continue to go from strength to strength in robotics. In 2013, we expanded our 

market share yet again and brought twelve significant new products, solutions and systems  
to market, one of which allows multiple automobile models to be built on the same production 
line with world-class flexibility.

You can see more of our successful technologies from page 20 of this report.
ABB is a strong player with a strong team in many markets and sectors. However, when we 

consider the size of our total potential market, it is clear that we have tremendous growth 
opportunities ahead. ABB has grown faster than the market throughout the past period charac - 
terized by the global crisis. In the next years, we look forward to continuing and accelerating 
that proud tradition.

We would like to sincerely thank our employees for their commitment, dedication and hard 

work, and to thank you, our shareholders, for your trust and continuing support. Together,  
we are making ABB a stronger, more successful company and, in doing so, driving forward 
our vision of power and productivity for a better world.

Hubertus von Grünberg 
Chairman

March 7, 2014

Ulrich Spiesshofer 
CEO

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Chairman and CEO letter 07

Highlights

Solid performance in a challenging 
 market Record revenues, higher operat-
ing profits and earnings per share 
 despite continued economic uncertainty  

Acquisition integration on track 
 Integration of two biggest acquisitions, 
Baldor and Thomas & Betts, is well  
on target in terms of cost synergies 

Power Products division continues  
to lead the sector in profitability 

Attractive returns to shareholders  
via 5th consecutive dividend increase* 
 * proposed by Board of Directors 

Good execution on costs Strong 
 performance again on cost savings  
and cash conversion 

Improved customer satisfaction 
 Proportion of customers saying they 
would recommend ABB to others rises 
to 35% compared with 29% in 2012 

Service orders continue to outperform 
the rest of the business 

Innovation Steady flow of product 
 innovations across the divisions; 
 recognized as one of the world’s top 
50 innovators by MIT 

Electric mobility Position in electric- 
vehicle charging market strengthened 
by important new orders in China, the 
Netherlands, and Denmark 

Expansion  Strategic acquisitions, such 
as Power-One, strengthen offering in key 
segments and markets; new factories 
expand export base in emerging markets

Total ABB Group ($ millions unless otherwise indicated)

Orders

Revenues

Income from operations

  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)

Cash flow from operating activities

Free cash flow(1)

  as % of net income

Cash return on invested capital(1)

Number of employees

2013

38,896

41,848

4,387

10.5%

6,075

14.5%

2,787

1.21

0.70

3,653

2,632

94%

11.6%

2012

40,232

39,336

4,058

10.3%

5,555

14.2%

2,704

1.18

0.68 

3,779

2,555

94%

12.1%

147,700

146,100

(1)

Please refer to pages 180–181 and to the “Supplemental Financial Information” under “Reports and Presentations” – “Quarterly Financial Releases” on our website  
at www.abb.com/investorrelations for a definition of Operational EBITDA, free cash flow and cash return on invested capital.

08 Highlights | ABB Annual Report 2013

 
 
 
 
Revenues 2013 by division (unconsolidated)

 Operational EBITDA 2013 by division

   Discrete Automation  

and Motion, 22%

  Low Voltage Products, 17%

  Process Automation, 19%

  Power Products, 24%

  Power Systems, 18%

   Discrete Automation  

and Motion, 28%

  Low Voltage Products, 23%

  Process Automation, 17%

  Power Products, 26%

  Power Systems, 6%

Employees 2013

Orders 2013 by region

   Discrete Automation  

and Motion, 20%

  Low Voltage Products, 21%

  Process Automation, 18%

  Power Products, 24%

  Power Systems, 14%

  Corporate and Other, 3%

  Europe, 34%

  Americas, 29%

   Asia, 27%

  Middle East and Africa, 10%

Emerging vs mature market orders 2013

Dividend payout 2005 – 2013 (CHF per share)

  Emerging markets, 46%

  Mature markets, 54%

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0

2006
2005
(*proposed)

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013*

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Highlights 09

What ABB does

ABB technology improves control over electricity, enabling  
power networks to be more reliable, efficient, and accessible  
to renewable energy

Energizing and controlling power plants

Power transmission

Substations

Power plant operators aim to run their installa-
tions at the highest possible level of efficiency, 
regardless of the energy source. With more  
than 130 years of experience and a vast installed 
base, ABB offers technologies for complete 
electrical and automation solutions as well  
as controls and instrumentation products for 
 conventional and renewable-based power 
 generation plants.

ABB is a pioneer and market leader in technol-
ogies for the efficient and reliable transmission  
of power over long distances with minimal 
losses. Our ultrahigh and high-voltage solutions 
up to 1,200 kilovolt (kV), including technolo-
gies like HVDC, HVDC Light, FACTS and cable 
systems, help transport power and connect 
transmission grids over land, underground and 
even underwater.

Transmission and distribution substations  
enable power transfers with a range of high- 
and medium-voltage products that ensure  
reliability and efficiency, such as surge arres-
tors, protection equipment, switchgear and  
circuit breakers. Transformers adjust voltage 
levels higher or lower for a vast range of  
purposes, while special automation systems 
protect and optimize the flow of power within  
a substation.

10 What ABB does | ABB Annual Report 2013

Managing the distribution network

Products across the power value chain

Services

ABB’s advanced energy management, automa-
tion and communications solutions improve the 
reliability and efficiency of utility and industrial 
operations. Our products, systems and services 
boost capacity, enhance security and improve 
productivity. Coupled with enterprise software 
for asset management and business applica-
tions, we bridge the gap between operations 
technology and IT, providing complete solu-
tions for asset-intensive industries.

ABB’s product offering across voltage levels 
includes circuit breakers, switchgear, capacitors, 
instrument transformers, power, distribution 
and traction transformers as well as a complete 
range of high- and medium-voltage products – 
enhancing reliability, improving energy efficiency 
and lowering environmental impact.

With a global installed base and unparalleled 
domain expertise, ABB’s service offering  
encompasses the entire energy value chain, 
from consulting, repair, refurbishment and 
maintenance-related services to complete asset 
management solutions. ABB’s knowledge of 
installed electrical systems and equipment is 
unsurpassed, enabling us to design and build 
new power products and systems, or repair and 
modernize older ones.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | What ABB does 11

Our solutions integrate power and automation technologies to 
improve the efficiency, productivity and quality of our customers’ 
operations while minimizing their environmental impact.

Plant electrification and energy management

Process automation

Material handling and robotics

ABB electrification solutions deliver and distrib-
ute electricity safely and efficiently through-
out manufacturing and processing plants. ABB  
energy management systems help customers 
reduce energy bills and carbon emissions by up 
to 20 percent by lowering energy consumption, 
minimizing distribution losses and improving 
generation efficiency.

ABB automation systems increase productivity, 
improve energy efficiency, and keep workplaces 
safe. PLC and control systems reduce produc-
tion costs with better scheduling, execution and 
management of industrial processes, improving 
customer service and product quality. Measure-
ment products read essential parameters in  
real time, including pressure, temperature and 
flow. Online analyzers monitor critical pro-
cesses to help manage production quality and 
emissions.

ABB motors drive key equipment, and frequency 
converters deliver precise and dependable motor 
control while helping to reduce energy con-
sumption. Together, motors and drives increase 
energy efficiency in fans, pumps, compressors, 
conveyors, kilns, centrifuges, mixers, extruders, 
hoists and cranes. Fast, cost-effective crane 
systems control lifting and handling for shipping 
and industrial applications. Since 1974, ABB 
has delivered 250,000 robots for a wide variety 
of industries.

12 What ABB does | ABB Annual Report 2013

Building automation and control

Services

Transportation and shipping

Low-voltage circuit breakers, switches and  
control products protect people, buildings and 
equipment from electrical overloads. Line pro-
tection products, wiring accessories, enclosures 
and cable systems control and protect building 
installations. When integrated with ABB intel-
ligent building automation systems, energy con-
sumption is optimized and controlled through 
automated adjustment of blinds, lighting, heat-
ing, and ventilation.

ABB services help customers improve the 
 performance of automated systems and equip-
ment. Life-cycle services provide preventive, 
predictive, and corrective maintenance and con-
tinual evolution of installed automation equip-
ment. Consulting services help customers use 
less energy, ensuring process efficiency and 
reliability. Full service contracts put ABB in 
charge of engineering, planning, and managing 
plant maintenance activities.

ABB enables fast and efficient electric mobility 
while minimizing environmental impact. It pro-
vides reliable, energy efficient electrical systems 
for high-speed trains and powerful DC charging 
technology that can charge electric vehicles 
and buses at roadside stops. It supplies flexible 
marine power and propulsion systems for ships 
and its turbocharging solutions improve gas  
and diesel engine performance while lowering 
fuel consumption and NOx emissions.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | What ABB does 13

Our three focus areas

ABB is building on its past  
successful development  
by placing a stronger focus  
on three areas: profitable 
growth, business-led  
collabo ration and relentless 
 execution. 

Profitable growth

Driving a robust growth agenda in an aligned way is a high 
priority in today’s volatile and uncertain economic environ-
ment. We have therefore developed a growth formula called 
PIE, which stands for: 
– Penetration: Selling more of our existing offering to acces-

sible customers

– Innovation: Creating new offerings and value propositions
– Expansion: Moving into new segments where we are not  

yet present or that do not yet exist 

In the future, all of ABB’s existing and new growth efforts will 
be driven in line with this formula. 

14 Our three focus areas | ABB Annual Report 2013

Expansion
The third part of our growth formula is the expansion of our 
business into new segments. We will continue to make 
 acquisitions in areas where there are white spots to be filled 
and where there is value to be realized, but we will increase 
the focus on growing organically into new segments. This will 
require the right allocation of capital and resources, and 
 decisions will be based on the attractiveness of the opportu-
nity and our ability to succeed in the new segments.

Penetration
ABB has many strengths, thus a key focus is to build on 
these for further profitable market penetration. This requires 
even stronger relationships with customers and the continu-
ous adaptation of our offering to local requirements. In recent 
months we have analyzed our position in every market and 
created “penetration heat maps” from which we have defined 
actions to improve market penetration and accelerate growth.

Innovation
Technology is one of ABB’s key differentiators, therefore our 
future depends on having groundbreaking solutions that open 
up new opportunities for our company. The recent develop-
ment of the high voltage DC breaker is a good example of an 
ABB innovation that has created a new growth opportunity. 
Beyond product innovations, we will also look into innovation 
of services and processes that create incremental value for 
customers.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Our three focus areas 15

Business-led collaboration

As a global organization, we are continually improving the way 
we bring teams in ABB together to make sure that whatever 
we do for our customers is optimally aligned and that we deliver 
significantly greater value by offering a more integrated set  
of solutions.

Collaboration must be led by the business because it 
depends on an intimate understanding of the needs of our 
customers and then creating an ABB solution based on 
multiple business offerings across our portfolio. To encour-
age business to drive the opportunities for collaboration, 
specific targets will be set and incentives aligned accordingly.

16 Our three focus areas | ABB Annual Report 2013

On projects where we have collaborated successfully 
across divisions and business units (BUs), we have been able to 
deliver greater value, operational efficiency and productivity  
to our customers, for example thanks to our in-depth process 
knowledge in different industry segments. The result has been 
long-term mutually beneficial customer relationships.

One example of successful collaboration involving all five 

of our divisions, as well as our service business, is with an 
Australian gas company. Since 2011, we have been supplying 
equipment, solutions and now maintenance services for a 
project in Queensland to convert coal-seam gas into liquefied 
natural gas. So far, these contracts have generated revenues 
of over $110 million and we recently won additional service 
business under a framework agreement.

Another collaboration success story, involving three 
divisions, culminated in a new order to supply Russian ice- 
breaker vessels with 3.5 MW Azipod units as well as main 
switchboards, drives, bow thrusters, and generators. Thanks  
to our Azipod technology and on-board power solutions, 
combined with our marine service teams, two out of three high 
ice-class vessels built today are fitted with ABB systems.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Our three focus areas 17

Relentless execution

Relentless execution is a hallmark of ABB that has enabled 
the company to emerge from the market turbulence of recent 
years in a stronger position. We have a particular focus on  
the execution of activities that are critical to achieving faster 
profitable growth.

One of the first actions taken under this new focus was  
to initiate a program to improve the management of our net 
working capital (NWC). The goal is to free up cash from our 
operations to make it available for investments in growth, and 
to steadily raise CROI.

18 Our three focus areas | ABB Annual Report 2013

We will continue to drive cost and productivity improve-
ments to reduce our cost of sales by between 3 and 5 percent 
every year. At the same time, we are complementing existing 
productivity improvement efforts with a strong focus on white- 
collar productivity, for example by creating better tools for  
our sales staff so that they can spend less time on adminis-
trative work and more time with customers.  

Customer service and quality in everything we do will 
become ever more important sources of competitiveness. 
Regular customer satisfaction surveys have shown us where 
we are doing well and where we have room for improvement, 
and we have put in place programs to find and eliminate the 
root causes of the weaknesses. The score from these surveys 

and other operational performance indicators demonstrates  
that we have created good improvement momentum, which 
we are now looking to accelerate and drive even harder.

Another important aspect of relentless execution is the 

successful integration of the companies we have acquired  
in recent years. In November, we created a new position on 
the Executive Committee with a special focus on managing 
these integration efforts, to ensure that we are getting the best 
value for investors from the $10 billion we have invested in 
acquisitions since 2010.

The goal of relentless execution is ensuring that ABB 
becomes or remains among the best in the world in all dimen- 
sions of business excellence.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Our three focus areas 19

Key achievements of 2013

ABB stands for “Power and productivity for a better world.” Here, we highlight  
some of our technologies and achievements that are contributing  
to the economic success of our customers, the development of society,  
and the minimization of environmental impact.

ABB remains leader for 

distributed control systems

ABB retained a leading global market 
position in Distributed Control Sys-
tems, a core automation technology, 
according to researcher and 
 consultant ARC Advisory Group.

Smart substation enabled  

in China

ABB’s innovative high-voltage  
disconnecting circuit breakers are 
being installed in China for the first 
time as part of a “smart substation” 
demonstration project.

Offshore wind park  

connected

ABB successfully commissioned the 
subsea transmission link connecting 
Thornton Bank, one of the largest 
offshore wind farms in Europe, to the 
Belgian grid.

Education  

foundation expands

An ABB foundation which supports 
talented engineering students  
from economically disadvantaged 
backgrounds has expanded  
into Indonesia.

Harnessing solar power  

in Africa

ABB will supply electrical and  
control systems for one of Africa’s 
largest solar photovoltaic power 
plants, a new 75 MW facility in  
South Africa.

Oil and gas looks  

to subsea future

ABB is working with Statoil to develop 
electrification solutions for subsea  
oil and gas production, including com-
ponents that can operate at depths 
of 3,000 meters.

Courtesy of Photo Øyvind Hagen – Statoil

20 Key achievements of 2013 | ABB Annual Report 2013

A world first  

in low voltage

Low-voltage circuit breakers are 
ubiquitous, but the new Emax 2 is 
the only device that can both protect 
electrical circuits and adapt energy 
consumption to actual needs.

New electric bus tested  

in Geneva

With no overhead lines and ultrafast 
charging times, the bus enables  
new opportunities for silent, flexible, 
zero-emission urban mass trans-
portation.

Providing access to power  

in India

In partnership with WWF India,  
ABB has set up a solar-powered, 
multi-purpose battery charging  
station which is providing electricity 
to a community in West Bengal.

The next robot generation  

is born

The new IRB 6700 is robust and easy 
to maintain, making it the highest-
performing robot for the lowest total 
cost of ownership in the 150–300 kg 
class.

Turbocharging makes  

a quantum leap

Changes to the A200-L’s compressor 
stage enable up to 30 percent addi-
tional volume flow, allowing customers 
to use smaller turbochargers and to 
save space and costs.

ABB among leading global 

 innovators

ABB was named one of the world’s 
leading innovators by the MIT  
Technology Review, following several 
innovation milestones, including the 
recent hybrid HVDC breaker.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Key achievements of 2013 21

Marine technology  

wins award

A flexible marine power and propul-
sion system known as Onboard  
DC Grid won an innovation award at 
the Offshore Technology Conference, 
a leading industry event.

ABB buys leader  

in solar inverters

ABB acquired Power-One, becoming 
a leading supplier of inverters – the 
“intelligence” behind a solar photo-
voltaic system – to a market growing 
faster than 10 percent/year.

Smart home solutions  

get own home

abb-livingspace.com was launched 
as the new platform for ABB’s  
products and solutions to make 
homes more energy efficient, secure 
and comfortable.

Ultrahigh-voltage  

success in India

ABB developed, tested and delivered 
a 1,200 kV power transformer and 
circuit breaker in India, deploying the 
highest alternating current (AC) volt-
age level in the world.

Best year for cruiser  

Azipod orders

Six contracts make 2013 the best-
ever year for cruise-liner orders  
of Azipod propulsion equipment, and 
confirm the system as the preferred 
option for cruise ships. 

Irish and Welsh grids  

connected

ABB connected the power grids of 
Ireland and Wales with an under sea 
HVDC transmission link that facili-
tates power trading and the integra-
tion of renewable energy.

22 Key achievements of 2013 | ABB Annual Report 2013

Switchgear  

for smarter grids

A new disconnecting circuit breaker 
with a fiber optic current sensor 
 simplifies substation design while 
adding to the intelligence of the 
 device.

New simplified  

AF contactor range 

Delivers energy efficiency and logis-
tics benefits, thanks to its simpli-
fied design, fewer product variants 
and reduced number of coils.

A boost for electric  

vehicles

Estonia’s network of 165 web- 
connected fast chargers for electric 
vehicles was opened, and 200 fast 
chargers are being installed nation-
wide in The Netherlands.

Courtesy of Fastned

Our experts’  

knowledge in a box

ServicePort links customer systems 
and ABB service experts, enabling 
equipment and process services  
to be delivered quickly, efficiently, 
securely, and cost-effectively.

An intelligent  

solution for utilities

The new Asset Health Center helps 
utilities establish enterprise-wide 
asset management processes to cut 
costs, minimize risks, improve  
reliability, and optimize operations.

The latest gas-insulated  

switchgear

A new line of 145 kV gas-insulated 
switchgear has a compact modular 
design, making it easier to install, and 
lowering life cycle costs and environ-
mental impact.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Key achievements of 2013 23

Faces of ABB

It’s great to be part of a company with 
such a global reach and at the same 
time a local business focus. I very much 
like the diversity of people and back-
grounds; I learn new things every day.

Sjoerd

Marketing Director, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Thomas & Betts, Belgium

ABB offers tremendous opportunities  
to women wanting to build a career. The 
company helped to fund my education 
after I joined in the 1970s, and I have al-
ways felt able to pursue new challenges.

Denise

Operations Manager, USA

ABB provides different types of training 
to help you develop. Employees are 
given the tools and flexibility to take charge 
of their own career development and 
 expand their job scopes.

Irwan

Sales Manager, Singapore

Since Power-One became part of ABB, 
our employees have more opportunities 
to develop their careers, and ABB’s  
global presence is allowing us to bring 
our products to a much wider market.

Engineer, Power-One, Italy

David

24 Faces of ABB | ABB Annual Report 2013

There is a lot of support and oppor-
tunity built into career planning at ABB.  
Combined with the support of my 
 managers and my colleagues, that has 
helped me get on very fast.

Angela-Xia

Country Security Manager, China

As a project manager at ABB, you are 
encouraged to switch between managing 
projects and being a general manager  
so you get on-the-ground expertise as 
well as the international perspective.

Project Director, Sweden

Bo

Since Ventyx became a part of ABB,  
the focus has shifted to longer-term  
solutions for sustainable growth. It’s an 
environment that enables us to address 
the needs of customers and employees.

Bobby

Ventyx corporate development team, USA

The trainee program I started with was  
a huge help. And, thanks to the breadth 
of our offering, our world-class technol-
ogy and the demands of our customers,  
I have been learning ever since.

Divisional Head Sales for Service, Switzerland

René

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Faces of ABB 25

I feel part of a much bigger world, which 
helps to expand my thinking and,  
ultimately, to achieve more. ABB always 
tries to strike a balance between  
being too centralized or too decentralized.

SweeSeng

Regional HR Manager, North Asia, China

In ABB, Supply Chain Management is 
recognized as much more than a support 
function. It’s a major role, and I’ve been 
surprised about the range of opportunities 
to expand my circle of influence.

Supply Chain Manager, Germany

Bernhard

The way you get to expand your network 
and your thinking at ABB is unique.  
In my six years with the company, I have 
not once felt marginalized – that is an 
important achievement in South Africa.

Phindokuhle

Country HR manager, South Africa

The personal development programs are 
excellent, and my managers have always 
encouraged me to take on new chal-
lenges. I have also had job rotations in 
Europe and the United States.

Research and Development Manager, China

Chengyan

26 Faces of ABB | ABB Annual Report 2013

T&B brings much more to the table since 
we were acquired by ABB – a broader 
portfolio of products and solutions, more 
opportunities in markets overseas and 
many more possibilities for advancement.

Liz

National Account Sales Manager, Thomas & Betts, USA

As a Baldor employee with experience of 
past integrations, I believe ABB has re-
spected and valued Baldor’s culture and 
its brands while bringing in the benefits 
of the global ABB organization.

Director of Packaging, Baldor, USA

Mike

I am lucky to have had great managers  
in my 30 years here. They have  
always believed in me and helped me 
when I needed a new challenge.

Fatma

Regional Assurance and Control Manager, Egypt

ABB is a global company that has a  
great vision both in terms of business and 
technology as well as excellent develop-
ment programs for employees. I’m looking 
forward to making a career here.

Syukriansyah

Project Manager, Indonesia

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Faces of ABB 27

As of March 1, 2014

Executive Committee

From left to right
Jean-Christophe Deslarzes Human Resources
Tarak Mehta Low Voltage Products division
Frank Duggan Global Markets
Bernhard Jucker Power Products division
Veli-Matti Reinikkala Process Automation division
Ulrich Spiesshofer Chief Executive Officer

Eric Elzvik Chief Financial Officer
Greg Scheu Business Integration, Group Service, and North America
Diane de Saint Victor General Counsel
Pekka Tiitinen Discrete Automation and Motion division
Claudio Facchin Power Systems division

28 Executive Committee | ABB Annual Report 2013

As of March 1, 2014

Regional and country managers

North America Greg Scheu
Canada Daniel Assandri
Mexico Pierre Comptdaer
United States (including  
US Virgin Islands) Greg Scheu

Northern Europe Trevor Gregory
Denmark Claus Madsen
Estonia Bo Henriksson
Finland Tauno Heinola
Ireland Tom O’Reilly
Kazakhstan Yerlan Doskeyev
Latvia Bo Henriksson
Lithuania Bo Henriksson
Norway Steffen Waal
Russian Federation Anatoliy Popov
Sweden Johan Soderstrom
United Kingdom Trevor Gregory

North Asia Chunyuan Gu
China Chunyuan Gu
Japan Tony Zeitoun
Korea Yun-Sok Han
Taiwan Kayee Ding

(1) New country manager as of March 1, 2014

South America Enrique Santacana
Argentina Christian Newton
Bolívia Christian Newton
Brazil Rafael Paniagua 
Central America & Caribbean Blas Gonzalez
Chile José Paiva
Colombia Ramon Monras
Ecuador Ramon Monras
Peru Vicente Magana
Uruguay Christian Newton
Venezuela Ramon Monras

Mediterranean Matteo Marini
Algeria Khaled Torbey
Croatia Steffen Drausnigg
France Pierre St-Arnaud
Greece Apostolos Petropoulos
Israel Ronen Aharon
Italy Matteo Marini
Morocco Christian Bogers
Portugal Miguel Pernes
Serbia Aleksandar Cosic
Spain Carlos Marcos
Tunisia Christian Bogers
Turkey Sami Sevinc

Central Europe Peter Terwiesch
Austria Franz Chalupecky
Belgium Alfons Goos
Bulgaria Ekkehard Neureither
Czech Republic Hannu Kasi
Germany Peter Terwiesch
Hungary Tanja Vainio 
Luxembourg Alfons Goos
Moldova Tomasz Wolanowski
Netherlands Alfons Goos
Poland Pawel Lojszczyk
Romania Tomasz Wolanowski
Slovakia Marcel van der Hoek
Slovenia Franz Chalupecky
Switzerland Remo Luetolf
Ukraine Dmytro Zhdanov

South Asia Haider Rashid
Australia Axel Kuhr
Indonesia Richard Ledgard
Malaysia Stephen Pearce
Myanmar Chaiyot Piyawannarat
New Caledonia Axel Kuhr
New Zealand Ewan Morris(1)
Papua New Guinea Axel Kuhr
Philippines Min-Kyu Choi
Singapore Haider Rashid
Thailand Chaiyot Piyawannarat
Vietnam Axel Kalt

India, Middle East and Africa Frank Duggan
Angola Antonio D’Oliveira
Bahrain Mohammed Masri
Bangladesh Joy-Rajarshi Banerjee
Botswana Gift Nkwe
Cameroon Pierre Njigui
Central Africa Naji Jreijiri
Congo Thryphon Mungono
Côte d’Ivoire Magloire Elogne
Eastern Africa Jose da Matta
Egypt Naji Jreijiri
Ethiopia Naji Jreijiri
Gambia Issa Guisse
Ghana Hesham Tehemer
India Bazmi Husain
Jordan Naji Jreijiri
Kenya Samuel Chiira
Kuwait Maroun Zakhour
Lebanon Naji Jreijiri
Mauritius Ajay Vij
Mozambique Paulo David
Namibia Hagen Seiler
Nigeria Nitin Desai 
Oman Brian Hull
Pakistan Najeeb Ahmad
Qatar Mostafa Al Guezeri
Saudi Arabia Mohammed Masri
Senegal Issa Guisse
Southern Africa Leon Viljoen
Tanzania Michael Otonya
Uganda Norah Kipwola
United Arab Emirates Carlos Pone
Zambia Russell Harawa
Zimbabwe Charles Shamu

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Regional and country managers 29

30 Corporate governance report | ABB Annual Report 2013

Corporate governance report

Contents

32  Principles      . 
33  Group structure and shareholders         .   .
36  Capital structure . .  
37  Shareholders’ participation .     .
38  Board of Directors  . 
41  Executive Committee                 .  
43  Business relationships . 
43  Employee participation programs             .    
43  Duty to make a public tender offer . .
43  Auditors               . 
44  Information policy           . .
45  Further information on corporate governance      .

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Corporate governance report 31

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 & Corporate Governance Guide­
lines (which includes 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 Direc­

tive on Information Relating to Corporate Governance pub­
lished by the SIX Swiss Exchange. Where an item listed in the 
directive is not addressed in this report, it is either inappli­
cable 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 prac­
tices 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 sharehold­
ers. 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 connec­
tion 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 corporate 
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 prudent and 
diligent director would have taken in like circumstances. 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 be­
half 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, however, 
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 cir­
cumstances. 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 compensation 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 di­
rectors and officers. This rule is generally understood and  
so recommended by the Swiss Code of Best Practice for Cor­
porate Governance as disqualifying directors and officers 
from participating in decisions, other than in the shareholders’ 
meeting, that directly affect them.

32 Corporate governance report | ABB Annual Report 2013

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 at December 31, 2013, principally com­
prised 395 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 Exchange (where its shares are traded  
in the form of American depositary shares (ADS) – each ADS 
representing one registered ABB share). On December 31, 
2013, ABB Ltd had a market capitalization of CHF 54 billion.
The only consolidated subsidiary in the ABB Group with 
listed shares is ABB India Limited, Bangalore, India, which  
is listed on the BSE Ltd. (Bombay Stock Exchange) and the 
National Stock Exchange of India. On December 31, 2013, 
ABB Ltd, Switzerland, directly or indirectly owned 75 percent 
of ABB India Limited, Bangalore, India, which at that time  
had a  market capitalization of INR 147 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 day­to­day management to a different corporate 
body, e.g., 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

Security

ABB Ltd, Zurich, share

NASDAQ OMX Stockholm Exchange

ABB Ltd, Zurich, share

New York Stock Exchange

ABB Ltd, Zurich, ADS

BSE Ltd. (Bombay Stock Exchange)

ABB India Limited, Bangalore, share

National Stock Exchange of India

ABB India Limited, Bangalore, share

Ticker symbol 

ISIN code

ABBN

ABB

ABB

ABB*

ABB

CH0012221716

CH0012221716

US0003752047

INE117A01022

INE117A01022

* also called Scrip ID

All data as of December 31, 2013.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Corporate governance report 33

The following table sets forth, as of December 31, 2013, 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

Thomas & Betts Limited, Montreal, 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 Stotz­Kontakt GmbH, Heidelberg

Busch­Jaeger 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 India Limited, Bangalore

ABB Ltd, Dublin

ABB Technologies Ltd., Haifa

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 B.V., Rotterdam

ABB Finance B.V., Amsterdam

ABB Holdings B.V., 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

34 Corporate governance report | ABB Annual Report 2013

Country

Argentina

Australia

Austria

Belgium

Brazil

Bulgaria

Canada

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

ABB  

Share capital  

interest %

in thousands 

Currency

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

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

98.18

100.00

99.92

100.00

56,772

122,436

15,000

13,290

 267,748 

 20,110 

– (1) 

– (1) 

310,000

486,440

2,730

400,000

100,000

325

116,000

1,663

10,003

 45,921 

167,500

15,000

10,620

61,355

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

29,119

123,180

350,656

4,117

ARS

AUD

EUR

EUR

BRL

BGN

 CAD

 CAD

USD

COP

HRK

CZK

DKK

USD

USD

EUR

EUR

EUR

EUR

EUR

EUR

EUR

EUR

EUR

EUR

HKD

HUF

INR

EUR

ILS

EUR

JPY

KRW

MYR

MXN

EUR

EUR

EUR

EUR

NZD

NOK

PEN

PHP

PLN

EUR

ABB Ltd’s significant subsidiaries, continued 

Company name/location

ABB Ltd., Moscow

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 Ltd., 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

Power-One, Inc., Camarillo, CA

Thomas & Betts Corporation, Knoxville, TN

(1)

Shares without par value.

Country

interest %

in thousands 

Currency

ABB  

Share capital  

Russian Federation

Saudi Arabia

Singapore

South Africa

Spain

Sweden

Sweden

Switzerland

Switzerland

Switzerland

Thailand

Turkey

Ukraine

United Arab Emirates

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United States

United States

United States

United States

United States

United States

100.00

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

 100.00 

100.00

5,686

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

213,014

120,000

2

1

–

–

–

1

RUB

SAR

SGD

ZAR

EUR

SEK

SEK

CHF

CHF

CHF

THB

TRY

UAH

AED

GBP

GBP

USD

USD

USD

USD

 USD 

USD

ABB’s operational group structure is described in the “Finan-
cial review of ABB Group” section of this Annual Report  
under “Operating and financial review and prospects – 
 Organizational structure”.

2.2 Significant shareholders

Investor AB, Sweden, held 186,580,142 ABB shares as of 
 December 31, 2013. This holding represents approximately 
8.1 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 (a director of ABB), the 
chairman of Investor AB, in his individual capacity.

BlackRock Inc., New York, U.S., disclosed that as per 
July 25, 2011, it, together with its direct and indirect subsidiar-
ies, held 69,702,100 ABB shares corresponding to 3.0 per-
cent of ABB’s total share capital and voting rights as registered 
in the Commercial Register on December 31, 2013. For a 
full review of the disclosure report pursuant to which Black-
Rock reported its ABB shareholdings, please refer to the 
search facility of the SIX Swiss Exchange Disclosure Office 
at www.six-swissexchange.com/shares/companies/major_
shareholders_en.html?fromDate=19980101&issuer=10881

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 
 December 31, 2013. 

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.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Corporate governance report 35

The acquisition of shares through the exercise of war­

rants and each subsequent transfer of the shares will be 
 subject to the restrictions of ABB’s Articles of Incorporation 
(see “Limitations on transferability of shares and nominee 
registration” in section 4.2 below).

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 refinanc­
ing the acquisition of an enterprise, parts of an enterprise, 
participations or new investments, or an issuance on national 
or international capital markets. If the Board denies advance 
subscription rights, the convertible or warrant­bearing 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 ac­
count the share price and/or other comparable instruments 
having a market price. Conversion rights may be exercised 
during a maximum ten­year period, and warrants may be exer­
cised during a maximum seven­year period, in each case 
from the date of the respective issuance. The advance sub­
scription rights of the shareholders may be granted indirectly.
At December 31, 2013, ABB’s share capital may be in­
creased 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 employees. In addition, the 
Board has decided to propose to the shareholders at the 
2014 Annual General Meeting that the contingent share capi­
tal be increased to permit the issuance to employees of up  
to 150,000,000 shares with a par value of CHF 1.03 per share. 
The pre­emptive and advance subscription rights of 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 ac­
count 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 trans­
fer of the shares will be subject to the restrictions of ABB’s 
Articles of Incorporation (see “Limitations on transferability  
of shares and nominee registration” in section 4.2 below).

3. Capital structure

3.1 Ordinary share capital

On December 31, 2013, 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.

3.2 Changes to the 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 “Note 18 Share­based 
 payment arrangements” to ABB’s Consolidated Financial 
Statements contained in the “Financial review of ABB Group” 
section of this Annual Report. The resulting share capital  
of CHF 2,384,185,561.92, divided into 2,314,743,264 fully 
paid registered shares, was first reflected in ABB’s  Articles  
of Incorporation dated December 5, 2011.

Except as described in this section, there were no 
changes to ABB’s share capital during 2013, 2012 and 2011.

3.3 Contingent share capital

At December 31, 2013, ABB’s share capital may be increased 
by an amount not to exceed CHF 206,000,000 through the 
issuance of up to 200,000,000 fully paid registered 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.

At December 31, 2013, ABB’s share capital may be in­
creased by an amount not to exceed CHF 10,300,000 through 
the issuance of up to 10,000,000 fully paid registered 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 shareholders for 
other purposes in the interest of ABB.

The pre­emptive 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 will be entitled to subscribe for new 
shares. The conditions of the conversion rights and/or war­
rants will be determined by the Board.

36 Corporate governance report | ABB Annual Report 2013

3.4 Authorized share capital

At December 31, 2013, ABB had an authorized share capital 
in the amount of up to CHF 206,000,000 through the issu­
ance of up to 200,000,000 fully paid registered shares with a 
par value of CHF 1.03 each, which is valid until April 29, 2015. 
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 pre­emptive 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 pre­emptive rights that have not been ex­
ercised by shareholders to expire or it may place these rights 
and/or shares as to which pre­emptive 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 pre­emp­
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. 
The subscription and the acquisition of the new shares, as well 
as each subsequent transfer of the shares, will be subject  
to the restrictions of ABB’s Articles of Incorporation.

3.5 Convertible bonds and options

ABB does not have any bonds outstanding that are convert­
ible into ABB shares. For information about options on 
shares issued by ABB, please refer to “Note 19 Stockholders’ 
Equity” to ABB’s Consolidated Financial Statements con­
tained in the “Financial  review of ABB Group” part of this 
Annual Report.

4. Shareholders’  
participation

4.1 Shareholders’ voting rights

ABB has one class of shares and each registered share 
 carries 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 (Euroclear), which maintains a 
subregister of the share register of ABB.

A shareholder may be represented at the Annual General 

Meeting by its legal representative, by another shareholder 
with the right to vote or an independent proxy designated by 
ABB (unabhängiger Stimmrechtsvertreter). All shares held  
by one shareholder may be represented by one representa­
tive only.

For practical reasons shareholders must be registered in 

the share register no later than 6 business days before the 
general meeting in order to be entitled to vote. Except for the 
cases described under section 4.2 below, 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 ABB concerning its status, and further pro­
vided 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 
2013.

The limitation on the transferability of shares may be 
 removed by an amendment of ABB’s Articles of Incorporation 
by a shareholders’ resolution requiring two­thirds of the votes 
represented at the meeting.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Corporate governance report 37

4.3 Shareholders’ dividend rights

4.4 General meeting

The unconsolidated statutory financial statements of ABB Ltd 
are prepared in accordance with Swiss law. Based on these 
financial statements, dividends may be paid only if ABB Ltd 
has sufficient distributable profits from previous years or 
 sufficient free reserves to allow the distribution of a dividend. 
Swiss law requires that ABB Ltd retain at least 5 percent of  
its annual net profits as legal reserves (which are comprised 
of ordinary reserves, capital contribution reserve and reserve 
for own shares), unless these reserves already amount to 
20 percent of ABB Ltd’s share capital. Any net profits remain­
ing in excess of those reserves are at the disposal of the 
shareholders’ meeting.

Under Swiss law, ABB Ltd may only pay out a dividend  

if it has been proposed by a shareholder or the Board of 
 Directors of ABB Ltd and approved at a general meeting of 
shareholders, and the auditors confirm that the dividend 
 conforms to statutory law and ABB Ltd’s Articles of Incorpo­
ration. In practice, the shareholders’ meeting usually ap­
proves dividends as proposed by the Board of Directors, if 
the Board of Directors’ proposal is confirmed by the statutory 
auditors.

Dividends are usually due and payable no earlier than 
three trading days after the shareholders’ resolution and the 
ex­date for dividends is normally two trading days after the 
shareholders’ resolution approving the dividend. Dividends 
are paid out to the holders that are registered on the record 
date. Euroclear administers the payment of dividends on 
those shares registered with it. Under Swiss law, dividends 
not collected within five years after the due date accrue to 
ABB Ltd and are allocated to its other reserves. As ABB Ltd 
pays cash dividends, if any, in Swiss francs (subject to the 
exception for certain shareholders in Sweden described 
 below), exchange rate fluctuations will affect the U.S. dollar 
amounts received by holders of ADSs upon conversion  
of those cash dividends by Citibank, N.A., the depositary,  
in accordance with the Amended and Restated Deposit 
Agreement dated May 7, 2001.

For shareholders who are residents of Sweden, ABB has 

established a dividend access facility (for up to 600,004,716 
shares). If these shareholders register with Euroclear, they 
may elect to receive the dividend from ABB Norden Holding 
AB in Swedish krona (in an amount equivalent to the dividend 
paid in Swiss francs) without deduction of Swiss withholding 
tax. For further information on the dividend access facility, see 
ABB Ltd’s Articles of Incorporation, a copy of which can be 
found at www.abb.com/about/corporate­governance

38 Corporate governance report | ABB Annual Report 2013

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 two­thirds of the votes represented at the meeting.

At December 31, 2013, shareholders representing shares 

of a par value totaling at least CHF 412,000 may request 
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.

5. Board of Directors

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 
 information and control instruments vis­à­vis the Executive 
Committee, are set forth in the ABB Ltd Board Regulations  
& Corporate Governance Guidelines, a copy of which can be 
found at www.abb.com/about/corporate­governance

The Board meets as frequently as needed but at least four 

times per annual Board term. Board meetings are convened 
by the chairman or upon request by a director or the chief 
executive officer (CEO). 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 mem­
ber 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. Further, Board members are 
 entitled to information concerning ABB’s business and affairs. 
Additional details are set forth in the ABB Ltd Board Regu­
lations & Corporate Governance Guidelines which can be 
found at www.abb.com/about/corporate­governance

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; re­election is possible. Our Articles of Incorporation,  
a copy of which can be found at www.abb.com/about/ 
corporate­governance, do not provide for the retirement of 
directors based on their age. However, an age limit for mem­
bers of the Board is set forth in the ABB Ltd Board Regula­
tions & Corporate Governance Guidelines (although waivers 
are possible and subject to Board discretion), a copy  
of which can be found at www.abb.com/about/corporate­
governance

As of December 31, 2013, the members of the Board (Board 
term April 2013 to April 2014) were:

Hubertus von Grünberg has been a member and 
 chairman of ABB’s Board of Directors since May 3, 2007. He 
is a member of the supervisory board Deutsche Telekom AG 
(Germany) and a member of the board of directors of Schindler 
Holding AG (Switzerland). Mr. 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 is a member of the board 
of directors of WPP plc (U.K.). He was previously president 
and chief executive officer of Vale S.A. (Brazil). Mr. 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 InZero 
Systems (formerly GBS Laboratories LLC) (U.S.) and also a 
member of the boards of directors of Akzo Nobel (the Nether­
lands) and Alcatel Lucent (France). Mr. Hughes was born in 
1949 and is a U.S. 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 mem­
ber of the board of directors of Mettler Toledo International 
(U.S.), and Swiss Re Ltd and the Menuhin Festival Gstaad AG 
(both Switzerland). He is also a member of the foundation 
boards of the Schulthess Klinik, Zurich and Les Arts Gstaad 
(both Switzerland) and the board of trustees of the Hermitage 
Museum, St. Petersburg (Russia). Mr. 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 chairman of the board of directors of Eutelsat 
Communications (France). Mr. 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 chairman of the boards  
of directors of Unilever NV (the Netherlands), and Unilever PLC 
(U.K.). He is also a member of the board of directors of the 
Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (Sweden). Mr. 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 chairman of the board of directors of Inves­
tor AB (Sweden) and vice chairman of Telefonaktie­ bolaget 
LM Ericsson AB, SEB Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken and SAS 
AB (all Sweden). He is also a member of the boards of di­
rectors of the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation and the 
Stockholm School of Economics (both Sweden), and The 
Coca­Cola Company (U.S.). Mr. Wallenberg was born in 1956 
and is a Swedish citizen.

Ying Yeh has been a member of ABB’s Board of Directors 

since April 29, 2011. She is a member of the boards of direc­
tors of InterContinental Hotels Group (U.K.), Volvo AB (Sweden) 
and Samsonite International S.A. (Luxembourg). Ms. Yeh was 
born in 1948 and is a Chinese citizen.

As of December 31, 2013, all Board members were non­exec­
utive and independent directors (see also section 7 below), 
and none of ABB’s Board members held any official functions 
or political posts. Further information on ABB’s Board mem­
bers can be found by clicking on the ABB Board of Directors 
CV link which can be found at www.abb.com/about/ 
corporate­governance

5.3 Board committees

From among its members, the Board has appointed two Board 
committees: the Governance, Nomination and Compensation 
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  
& Corporate Governance Guidelines, a copy of which can be 
found at www.abb.com/about/corporate­governance. 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.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Corporate governance report 39

5.3.1 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 
 Executive Committee, and (3) succession planning, employ­
ment and compensation matters relating to the Board and  
the Executive Committee. The GNCC is also responsible for 
maintaining an orientation program for new Board mem­ 
bers 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 Executive Committee may participate in the committee 
meetings, provided that any potential conflict of interest is 
avoided and confidentiality of the discussions is maintained.

As of December 31, 2013, the members of the GNCC were:
Hans Ulrich Märki (chairman)
Michel de Rosen
Michael Treschow
Ying Yeh

5.3.2 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 financial 
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 invitation  
by the committee’s chairman, the CEO or other members of 
the 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 U.S. Securities and Ex­
change 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.

40 Corporate governance report | ABB Annual Report 2013

As of December 31, 2013, the members of the FACC were:
Louis R. Hughes (chairman)
Roger Agnelli
Jacob Wallenberg

5.4 Meetings and attendance

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.

The table below shows the number of meetings held 
 during 2013 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 Execu­
tive Committee participated in a two­day strategic retreat.

Meetings and attendance

Board

GNCC

FACC

Average duration (hours)

6.5

1.8

Regular

Additional

Number of meetings

Meetings attended:

  Hubertus von Grünberg 

  Roger Agnelli

  Louis R. Hughes

  Hans Ulrich Märki

  Michel de Rosen

  Michael Treschow

  Jacob Wallenberg

  Ying Yeh

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

8

–

–

–

8

7

8

–

8

2.8

6

–

6

6

–

–

–

6

–

5.5 Board Compensation  
and Shareholdings

Information about Board compensation and shareholdings  
can be found in sections titled “Components of compensation”, 
“Board compensation in 2013” and “ABB shareholding of 
members of the Board and EC” of the Remuneration report 
contained in this Annual Report.

5.6 Secretary to the Board

Diane de Saint Victor is the secretary to the Board.

6. Executive Committee

6.1 Responsibilities and organization

The Board has delegated the executive management of ABB 
to the CEO and the other members of the Executive Com­
mittee. The CEO and under his direction the other members 
of the Executive Committee are responsible for ABB’s overall 
business and affairs and day­to­day management.

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  
issues relevant to the Group.

Each member of the Executive Committee is appointed 

and discharged by the Board.

6.2 Members of the Executive Committee

As of December 31, 2013, the members of the Executive 
Committee were:

Ulrich Spiesshofer was appointed Chief Executive 
 Officer in September 2013. From January 2010 to September 
2013, Mr. Spiesshofer was Executive Committee member 
 responsible for the Discrete Automation and Motion division. 
He joined ABB in November 2005 as Executive Committee 
member responsible for Corporate 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 management positions with A.T. 
 Kearney Ltd. and its affiliates. Mr. Spiesshofer was born in 
1964 and is a German citizen.

Eric Elzvik was appointed Chief Financial Officer and 

member of the Executive Committee in February 2013.  
He is a member of the Foundation Board of IMD. From 2010 
to 2013, Mr. Elzvik was the Chief Financial Officer of ABB’s 
Discrete Automation and Motion division. He joined ABB in 
1984 and has held a variety of other leadership roles in 
 Sweden, Singapore and Switzerland, including head of Cor­
porate Development, and head of Mergers & Acquisitions  
and New Ventures. Mr. Elzvik was born in 1960 and is a Swiss 
and Swedish citizen.

Jean-Christophe Deslarzes was appointed Head  
of Human Resources and Executive Committee member in 
 November 2013. From 2010 through 2013 he was the Chief 
Human Resources and Organization Officer of the Carrefour 
Group (France). From 2008 to 2010 he was President and 
CEO of the Downstream Aluminum Businesses of Rio Tinto 
(Canada). From 2006 to 2008, he was Senior Vice President 
Human Resources and a member of the executive committee 
of Alcan Inc. (Canada), including co­leader of the Rio Tinto– 
Alcan integration from 2007 to 2008. Between 1994 and 
2008, he held various roles with Alcan (Switzerland and France).  
Mr. Deslarzes was born in 1963 and is a Swiss citizen. 

Diane de Saint Victor joined ABB’s Executive Committee 

as General Counsel in January 2007. She is a non­executive 
director of Barclays Bank PLC (U.K.). 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 positions with Honey­
well International (France/Belgium). From 1988 to 1993, she 
held various legal positions with General Electric (U.S.).  
Ms. de Saint Victor was born in 1955 and is a French citizen.
Frank Duggan was appointed Executive Committee 
member responsible for Global Markets in March 2011. Since 
2008, he has also been ABB’s region manager for India, 
 Middle East and Africa. From 2008 to 2011, he was ABB’s 
country manager 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. 
Mr. Duggan was born in 1959 and is an Irish citizen.

Greg Scheu was appointed Executive Committee  mem­ 

ber responsible for business integration, group service and 
North America in November 2013. He has been nominated to 
be a board member of the National Electrical Manufacturers 
Association (U.S.). Mr. Scheu joined the Executive Committee 
as the member responsible for Marketing and Customer So­
lutions in May 2012. Mr. Scheu, a  former executive of Rockwell 
International, joined ABB in 2001 and was responsible for  
the integration of Baldor Electric Co., which ABB acquired in 
January 2011, and for the Integration of Thomas & Betts, 
which ABB acquired in 2012. Mr. Scheu was born in 1961 and 
is a U.S. citizen.

Pekka Tiitinen was appointed Executive Committee 
member responsible for the Discrete Automation and Motion 
division in September 2013. Prior to joining the Executive 
Committee, Mr. Tiitinen was the head of ABB’s drives and 
controls business in 2013. From 2003 to 2012, Mr. Tiitinen 
was the head of ABB’s low voltage drives business and from 
1990 to 2003, he held various management roles with ABB. 
Mr. Tiitinen was born in 1967 and is a Finnish citizen.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Corporate governance report 41

6.3 Executive Committee Compensation 
and Shareholdings

Information about Executive Committee compensation  
and shareholdings can be found in sections titled 
 “Components of EC compensation”, “EC compensation in 
2013”,  “Additional information on remuneration” and “ABB 
shareholdings of members of the Board and the EC” of the 
 Remuneration report contained in this Annual Report.

6.4 Management contracts

There are no management contracts between ABB and 
 companies or natural persons not belonging to the ABB Group.

Tarak Mehta was appointed Executive Committee 
 member responsible for the Low Voltage Products division in 
October 2010. From 2007 to 2010, he was head of ABB’s 
transformers business. Between 1998 and 2006, he held 
several management positions with ABB. Mr. Mehta was 
born in 1966 and is a U.S. citizen.

Veli-Matti Reinikkala was appointed Executive Commit­
tee member responsible for the Process Automation division  
in January 2006. He is a member of the board of directors of 
UPM­Kymmene (Finland). In 2005, he was head of ABB’s 
 process automation business. From 1993 to 2005, he held 
several positions with ABB. Mr. Reinikkala was born in 1957 
and is a Finnish 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. Mr. Jucker was born in 1954 and is a Swiss 
citizen.

Claudio Facchin was appointed Executive Committee 

member responsible for the Power Systems division in 
 December 2013. From 2010 to 2013, Mr. Facchin was head of 
ABB’s North Asia region. From 2004 to 2009, Mr. Facchin was 
the head of ABB’s substations business and from 1995 to 2004, 
he held various management roles with ABB. Mr. Facchin 
was born in 1965 and is an Italian citizen.

Further information about the members of the Executive 
Committee can be found by clicking on the Executive  
Committee CV link at www.abb.com/about/corporate­ 
governance

42 Corporate governance report | ABB Annual Report 2013

7. Business relationships

This section describes important business relationships be­
tween ABB and its Board and Executive Committee 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 Regulations & Corporate Governance Guide­
lines, a copy of which can be found at www.abb.com/ 
about/corporate­governance

Vale S.A. and its subsidiaries (Vale) and ABB have entered 

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 2013 
 relating to its contracts with Vale were approximately $80 mil­
lion. Roger Agnelli was president and CEO of Vale until  
May 2011.

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 divi­
sion. The total revenues recorded by ABB relating to busi­
ness with Atlas Copco were approximately $70 million in 2013. 
Jacob Wallenberg was vice chairman of Atlas Copco until 
April 2012.

ABB has an unsecured syndicated $2­billion, revolving 
credit facility. As of December 31, 2013, SEB Skandinaviska 
Enskilda Banken AB (publ) (SEB) and Barclays Bank PLC 
 (Barclays) had committed to $71 million out of the $2­billion 
total. In addition, ABB has regular banking business with  
SEB and Barclays. Jacob Wallenberg is the vice chairman of 
SEB and Diane de Saint Victor is a non­executive director  
of Barclays.

After comparing the share of revenues generated from 

ABB’s business with Vale and Atlas Copco, and after re­
viewing the banking commitments of SEB and Barclays, the 
Board has determined that ABB’s business relationships  
with those companies are not unusual in their nature or con­
ditions and do not constitute material business relationships. 
As a result, the Board concluded that all members of the 
Board are considered to be independent directors. This deter­
mination 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 inde pendence criteria set forth in the corporate gov­
ernance rules of the New York Stock Exchange.

8. Employee participation 
programs

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, such as 
the Employee Share Acquisition Plan, the Management 
 Incentive Plan and the Long­Term Incentive Plan. For a more 
detailed description of these incentive plans, please refer  
to “Note 18 Share­based payment arrangements” to ABB’s 
Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the “Financial 
review of ABB Group” section of this Annual Report.

9. Duty to make a public 
tender offer

ABB’s Articles of Incorporation do not contain any provisions 
raising the threshold (opting­up) 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.

10. Auditors

10.1 Auditors

Ernst & Young are the auditors of ABB’s statutory and con­
solidated accounts.

10.2 Duration of the mandate and term 
of office of the auditor

Ernst & Young assumed the sole auditing mandate of the 
consolidated financial statements of the ABB Group in  
the beginning of the year ended December 31, 2001 (having 
previously been joint auditors since 1994). The auditor  
in charge and responsible for the  mandate, Leslie Clifford, 
began serving in this function in  respect of the financial  
year ended December 31, 2013.

Pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation, the term of 

 office of ABB’s auditors is one year.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Corporate governance report 43

10.3 Auditing and additional fees  
paid to the auditor

11. Information policy

The audit fees charged by Ernst & Young for the legally pre­
scribed audit amounted to approximately $29.9 million in 
2013. 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, pre­issuance reviews 
of quarterly financial results and comfort letters delivered  
to underwriters in connection with debt and equity offerings.
In addition, Ernst & Young charged approximately  
$4.6 million for non­audit services performed during 2013. 
Non­audit services include primarily accounting consulta­ 
tions 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 U.S. Sarbanes­Oxley Act of 2002  
and rules issued by the SEC, ABB has, on a global basis, a 
process for the review and pre­approval of audit and non­
audit services to be performed by Ernst & Young.

10.4 Supervisory and control instruments 
vis­à­vis 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 qualifications, 
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.

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 ABB including our 
business results, strategy, products and services, corporate 
governance and executive remuneration. In addition, ABB 
submits an annual report on Form 20­F to the SEC. ABB also 
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 6­K. An archive containing 
Annual Reports, Form 20­F reports,  quarterly results  releases 
and related presentations can be found in the “Financial 
 results and presentations” section at www.abb.com/investor­
relations. The quarterly results press releases contain 
 unaudited financial information prepared in accordance with, 
or reconciled to U.S., GAAP. To subscribe to important press 
releases, please click on the “Contacts and Services” and 
choose “Subscribe to updates” at www.abb.com/investor­
relations. 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
CH­8050 Zurich, Switzerland
Telephone: +41 (0)43 317 7111
Fax: +41 (0)44 311 9817
E­mail: investorrelations@ch.abb.com
ABB’s website is: www.abb.com

44 Corporate governance report | ABB Annual Report 2013

12. Further information on 
corporate governance 

The list below contains references to additional informa­
tion concerning the corporate governance of ABB, which  
can be accessed at www.abb.com/about/corporate­ 
governance

–  Articles of Incorporation
–  ABB Ltd Board Regulations & 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
– Comparison of ABB’s corporate governance practices  

to the New York Stock Exchange rules

– CVs of the Board members
– CVs of the Executive Committee members

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Corporate governance report 45

46 Remuneration report | ABB Annual Report 2013

Remuneration report

Contents

48  Board remuneration                                        .    
49  Executive Committee remuneration          
57  Additional information                             .       

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Remuneration report 47

ABB’s success depends on its ability to attract and retain 
people who will drive the business to outperform competitors 
and create value for shareholders over the long term. These 
are important considerations behind ABB’s remuneration pol-
icy. The Remuneration report presents the principles of this 
policy, the mechanisms for managing remuneration, and the 
compensation in 2013 for members of the Board of Directors 
(Board) and the Executive Committee (EC). 

1. Board remuneration

1.1 Governance and principles

The Board sets and periodically reviews compensation for its 
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.  
The Governance, Nomination and Compensation Committee 
(GNCC) is responsible for making recommendations to the 
Board.

1.2 Components of compensation

Members of the Board are paid for their service over a 
12-month period that starts with their election at the Annual 
General Meeting. Payment is made in two installments:  
one following the first six months of the term and one at the 
end. Board members do not receive pension benefits and  
are not eligible to participate in any of ABB’s employee incen-
tive programs.

To align the interests of Board members with those  
of ABB’s shareholders, half of each member’s compensation 
is paid in the form of ABB shares, though Board members  
can alternatively choose to receive all of their compensation in 
shares. The shares are kept in a blocked account for three 
years. Departing 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 the Board 
members are entitled by the average closing price of the ABB 
share over a predefined 30-day period. Compensation for 
Board members is outlined in the table below and has been 
unchanged since the 2007/2008 term of office.

Function

Chairman of the Board

Member of the Board  

and Committee chairman

Member of the Board

Board term

2013–2014

2012–2013

(CHF)

(CHF)

1,200,000

1,200,000

400,000

300,000

400,000

300,000

48 Remuneration report | ABB Annual Report 2013

1.3 Board compensation in 2013

The compensation amounts per individual are listed in the table below:

November

May

Board term 2013–2014

Board term 2012–2013

Paid in 2013

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 2013(3)(4)

Hubertus von Grünberg

Chairman of the Board

Roger Agnelli(5)

Member of the Board

Louis R. Hughes

Member of the Board and 

Chairman of the  Finance, Audit 

(CHF)

–

75,000

19,616

2,419

(CHF)

–

75,000

19,739

2,442

(CHF)

1,200,000

300,000

and Compliance Committee

100,000

3,233

100,000

3,264

400,000

Hans Ulrich Märki

Member of the Board and 

Chairman of the Governance, 

Nomination and Compensation 

Committee

Michel de Rosen(6)

Member of the Board

Michael Treschow(6)

Member of the Board

Jacob Wallenberg(5)

Member of the Board

Ying Yeh(6)

Total 

Member of the Board

–

75,000

75,000

75,000

75,000

475,000

8,966

2,629

2,629

2,629

2,460

–

75,000

75,000

75,000

75,000

9,018

2,646

2,647

2,647

2,474

400,000

300,000

300,000

300,000

300,000

44,581

475,000

44,877

3,500,000

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

Represents gross amounts paid, prior to deductions for social security, withholding tax etc.
Number of shares per Board member is calculated based on the net amount due after deductions for social security, withholding tax etc.
For the Board terms 2013–2014 and 2012–2013, 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 shares. 
In addition to the Board remuneration stated in the above table, in 2013, the Company paid CHF 147,290 in employee social security payments.
Member of the Finance, Audit and Compliance Committee.
Member of the Governance, Nomination and Compensation Committee.

Consistent with past practice, no loans or guarantees  
were granted to Board members in 2013.

2. Executive Committee 
remuneration

2.1 Governance and principles

The Board and GNCC have direct oversight of compensation 
policy at ABB. The GNCC is responsible for developing the 
general remuneration principles and practices of ABB and for 
recommending them to the full Board, which takes the final 
decisions. 

The Board and GNCC are actively involved in the con-
tinuous development of ABB’s executive remuneration system 
to reflect an equitable remuneration philosophy that is based 
on the following principles:
–  Market orientation – ABB conducts regular benchmarking 

reviews to ensure compensation is at a level that will attract 
and retain top talent. 

–  Performance – ABB ensures that performance drives all 
compensation elements. Performance metrics include 
 financial objectives, individual performance and behavior, 
as well as the share price performance.

–  Shareholder value – ABB’s compensation elements focus 
on rewarding the delivery of outstanding and sustainable 
results without inappropriate risk taking.

–  Retention – ABB grants a portion of its compensation 

through long-term oriented elements to attract and retain 
the key talent that ABB needs to drive its success globally.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Remuneration report 49

The GNCC acts on behalf of the Board in regularly reviewing 
the remuneration philosophy and structure, and in reviewing 
and approving specific proposals on executive compensation 
to ensure that they are consistent with ABB’s compensation 
principles. Hostettler, Kramarsch & Partner AG (hkp), an inde-
pendent consultant specializing in performance management 
and compensation, provides advice to the GNCC in the area 
of remuneration. hkp has no other mandate with ABB.

All senior positions in ABB have been evaluated using a 

consistent methodology developed by the Hay Group, whose 
job evaluation system is used by more than 10,000 compa-
nies 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 
 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 primarily uses Hay’s data from 
the European market to set EC compensation, which is tar-
geted to be above the median values for the market.

Every year, the Board reviews the CEO’s performance 
while the CEO reviews the performance of other members of 
the EC and makes recommendations to the GNCC on their 
individual remuneration. The full Board takes the final decisions 
on compensation for all EC members, none of whom partici-
pates in the deliberations on their remuneration.

Information on the meetings held by the GNCC in 2013 

can be found in section 5.4 of the Corporate governance 
 report.

2.2 Components of EC compensation

Compensation elements and performance 
 considerations
The compensation of EC members currently consists of  
the following elements: a base salary and benefits, a short-
term variable component dependent on annual ABB per-
formance objectives, and a long-term variable component 
designed to reward the creation of shareholder value and  
the executive’s commitment to the company.

The main components of executive compensation in 2013 are summarized in the following chart and described  
in detail below:

Base salary

Cash

Paid monthly

Competitive in relevant 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 ABB objectives,  
with a cap on the payout for over performance

Cash and shares 

Performance component:

Retention component:

Conditional grant made annually

Conditional grant made annually

Payout is in cash and depends  
on ABB’s weighted cumulative earnings  
per share over a three-year period

Payout is in shares (70%) and cash (30%) 
and requires the executive to remain  
at ABB until the end of the vesting period

(Executives can elect to receive 100% in shares)

50 Remuneration report | ABB Annual Report 2013

Performance considerations in each component of remuneration

Performance period

Year of award  
or review

Performance period

Year –3

Year –2

Year –1

Year

Year +1

Year +2

Year +3

Individual
performance  
and behavior

Group
performance

Group and individual performance over  
previous three and one year(s) respectively

Level of annual
base pay

Level of short- 
term variable 
compensation 
payout

Retention  
component  
of LTIP grant

Performance 
component 
of LTIP grant

Weighted cumulative earnings per share over 
next three years

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 expected share price 
developments.

The chart above illustrates how performance consider-

ations are reflected in each component of executive remu-
neration.

Annual base salary
The base salary for members of the EC is set taking into 
 account positions of comparable responsibility 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. When con-
sidering changes in base salary, the executive’s performance 
during the preceding year against individual objectives is 
taken into account. Under its mandate with ABB, Hay also 
conducts job evaluations.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Remuneration report 51

Benefits
Members of the EC receive pension benefits, payable  
into the Swiss ABB Pension Fund and the ABB Supplemen-
tary Insurance Plans (the regulations are available at  
www.abbvorsorge.ch). The compensation of EC members 
also includes social security contributions and other benefits, 
as outlined in the table in section 2.3 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.

Short-term variable compensation
Payment of the short-term variable component is conditional 
on the fulfillment of predefined annual objectives that are 
specific, quantifiable and challenging. Short-term variable 
compensation for members of the EC and most other senior 
managers throughout the company is based on ABB per-
formance objectives. For some managers with regional or 
country-level responsibilities, short-term variable compensa-
tion is based on related objectives adapted to ABB’s goals  
in these markets. The Board determines the short-term ABB 
performance objectives taking into account the recommen-
dation of the GNCC.

The 2013 ABB metrics, shown in the table below, were 

aligned with ABB’s 2015 strategic targets that have been 
communicated to shareholders.

Objective(1)

Orders received

Revenues

Operational EBITDA(2)

Ratio of operating cash flow to operational EBIT(3)

Net Promoter Score (NPS)(4)

Cost savings

Weighting

12.5%

12.5%

25%

25%

10%

15%

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

The financial objectives exclude the impact of currency fluctuations and major 
 acquisitions.
See definition in “Note 23 Operating segment and geographic data” to ABB’s Consolidated 
Financial Statements.
Operating cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities, reversing 
the impact of interest, taxes and restructuring-related activities. Operational EBIT is  defined 
as Operational EBITDA  before excluding depreciation and amortization.
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 2013, ABB had a target to increase the pro-
portion of countries that have improved their NPS compared to the previous year.

The payout for fully achieving the predefined annual objec-
tives is equivalent to 150 percent of the base salary for the 
CEO and 100 percent of the base salary for other members 
of the EC. Underperformance results in a lower payout, or 
none at all if performance is below a certain threshold. If the 
objectives are exceeded, the Board has the discretion to 
 approve a payout that is up to 50 percent higher (represent-
ing up to 225 percent of the base salary for the CEO and 
150 percent of the base salary for other members of the EC). 
For 2013, the payout was 100 percent of the target short-
term variable compensation, reflecting the company’s per-
formance.

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. The company’s Long-Term Incentive 
Plan (LTIP) is the principal mechanism through which mem-
bers of the EC and certain other executives are encouraged 
to create value for shareholders. Awarded annually, LTIPs 
comprise a performance component and a retention compo-
nent whose proportions in relation to the base salary are 
 explained below.

Under the terms and conditions of the plan, the Board 
decides whether EC members who leave the company before 
the end of the three-year period forfeit the unvested award, or 
receive all or a portion of such awards. The Board also de-
cides whether to award LTIPs to new participants or change 
the size of an LTIP award to an existing participant for up to 
six months after the launch of a plan. These Board decisions 
are made taking into account the recommendation of the 
GNCC.

Performance component
The performance component of the plan is designed to reward 
participants for increasing earnings per share(1) (EPS) over  
a three-year period. EPS was adopted as the performance 
measure in the performance component of the LTIP in 2012, 
replacing relative total shareholder return used in previous 
launches of LTIP.

(1)

Earnings per share is defined in the terms of the LTIP as diluted earnings per share 
 attributable to ABB shareholders calculated using Income from continuing operations, net 
of tax, unless the Board decides to calculate using Net income for a particular year.

52 Remuneration report | ABB Annual Report 2013

The payout is based on ABB’s weighted cumulative  

EPS performance against predefined objectives. The 
weighted cumulative EPS is calculated as 33 percent of EPS 
in the first year plus 67 percent of EPS in the second year 
plus 100 percent of EPS in the third year. There is no payout 
if the lower threshold is not reached and payout is capped  
if performance exceeds the upper threshold. The payout fac-
tors are shown in the chart on the right.

At each launch, participants are allocated a reference 
number of shares that is linked to a percentage of their base 
salary. In 2013, the percentages were 67 percent for the 
 current CEO and 42 percent for the other members of the EC. 
As shown in the chart on the right, the payout can range 
from zero to 200 percent of the reference number of shares 
granted under the performance component. The payout  
at the end of the three-year period, if any, will be made in 
cash.

Historical payout of performance component
Of the LTIPs launched since 2006 that have also vested,  
the only one whose performance component has paid  
out is the 2007 launch, under which participants, upon 
 vesting, were entitled to receive 92 percent of the per-
formance shares that they had been conditionally granted 
(see chart below).

Payout % of reference number of shares 
under the performance component

200%

100%

0%

Lower 
threshold 
(no payout)

On target

Upper  
threshold 
(maximum 
payout)

Weighted 
cumulative 
earnings 
per share

Historical payout of performance component

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

LTIP 2006

No payout

LTIP 2007

92% of 
shares granted

LTIP 2008

No payout

LTIP 2009

No payout

LTIP 2010

No payout

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Remuneration report 53

2.3 EC compensation in 2013

The tables in this section provide an overview of the total 
compensation of members of the EC in 2013, comprising cash 
compensation and share-based compensation. Cash com-
pensation included the base salary, accrued short-term vari-
able compensation for 2013, pension benefits, as well as 
other benefits comprising mainly social security and health 
insurance contributions. Share-based compensation includes 
grants under the LTIP and other share-based awards. The 
performance component of LTIPs is valued at grant using the 
ABB share price and Monte Carlo modeling, a mathematical 
technique that calculates a range of outcomes and the prob-
ability that they will occur. The model is an accepted simula-
tion method under U.S. GAAP (the accounting standard used 
by ABB). The compensation is shown gross (before deduc-
tion of employee’s social security and pension contributions).

The base salary and benefits are fixed elements of 
the annual compensation packages, while the other compo-
nents are variable. In 2013, fixed compensation represented 
27 percent of the CEO’s remuneration and an average of 
32 percent for the other EC members. The ratio of fixed to 
variable components in any given year will depend on the 
performance of the individuals and of the company against 
predefined ABB performance objectives.

For the EC, the total cash-based compensation was 
29.0 million Swiss francs in 2013 compared with 30.3 million 
Swiss francs in 2012, while the value at grant of the condi-
tional LTIP award compensation was 13.1 million Swiss francs 
in 2013 compared with 13.4 million Swiss francs in 2012. The 
difference in compensation is mainly attributable to changes 
in the composition of the EC during 2013.

Retention component
The second component of the LTIP is designed to retain 
 executives at ABB. Members of the EC are conditionally 
granted shares, which are awarded at the end of the vesting 
period, generally three years from grant date, subject to 
 fulfillment of the vesting conditions. 

The reference grant size for the CEO is equivalent to 
100 percent of base salary. The other EC members receive  
a grant from a pool whose reference size is equivalent to 
65 percent of their combined base salaries. The Board allo-
cates shares from this pool to each individual EC member, 
based on an assessment of their individual performance in 
the previous calendar year.

The reference grant size for the CEO and the pool for  
the other EC members for any particular launch can each be 
increased or decreased by the Board by up to 25 percent, 
based on an assessment of ABB’s performance over the three 
years preceding the launch of the plan. The assessment 
 considers ABB’s performance against its peers according to 
financial metrics (related to revenue growth, Operational 
EBITDA, P/E ratio, free cash flow, conversion ratio and share-
price development) and non-financial measures (related to 
customer satisfaction, integrity, and health and safety).

Based on its assessment of ABB’s performance in the 

period 2010–2012 (particularly its NPS development and 
cash flow generation), the Board increased the size of the 
retention component in the 2013 LTIP by 5 percent in 
 aggregate for all EC participants.

EC members receive 70 percent of the payout in shares 

and the remainder in cash, unless they elect to receive 
100 percent in shares.

Severance provisions
Employment contracts for EC members contain notice 
 periods of 12 months, during which they are entitled to com-
pensation comprising their base salary, benefits and short-
term variable compensation. Since January 1, 2013, contracts 
for new members of the EC no longer include a provision 
 extending compensation for up to 12 additional months if their 
employment is terminated by ABB and if they do not find 
 alternative employment within the notice period that pays at 
least 70 percent of their compensation.

54 Remuneration report | ABB Annual Report 2013

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(CHF)

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(CHF)

(CHF)

(CHF)

(CHF)

(CHF)

(CHF)

Name

Ulrich Spiesshofer  (appointed  

CEO as of  September 15, 2013)(4)

1,097,346

1,336,375

247,293

232,225

2,913,239

2,859,135

 – 

5,772,374

Eric Elzvik  

(joined the EC on February 1, 2013)

779,173

779,167

238,437

228,478

2,025,255

981,672

 – 

3,006,927

Jean-Christophe Deslarzes  

(joined ABB on November 15, 2013)(5)

107,938

108,611

20,557

26,576

263,682

991,307

3,381,127

4,636,116

Diane de Saint Victor(6)

1,000,001

1,000,000

283,181

196,137

2,479,319

1,154,907

3,142,500

6,776,726

Frank Duggan(7)

Greg Scheu(8)

Pekka Tiitinen (joined the EC  

on September 15, 2013)

Tarak Mehta 

Veli-Matti Reinikkala

Bernhard Jucker

Claudio Facchin (joined the EC  

666,322

731,259

676,257

742,500

322,308

634,447

2,299,334

251,428

341,149

2,066,336

206,508

760,424

770,006

206,111

766,500

770,000

965,842

969,000

55,892

230,159

270,799

287,455

49,545

518,056

363,814

2,120,897

204,648

2,015,453

239,366

2,461,663

1,246,516

910,437

881,952

801,222

910,437

585,598

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

3,209,771

2,948,288

1,319,278

3,031,334

2,601,051

3,708,179

on December 1, 2013)

58,334

58,334

19,373

3,790

139,831

816,396

 – 

956,227

Total current  

Executive  Committee members

7,143,153

7,412,855

2,226,882

2,520,175 19,303,065

12,139,579

6,523,627 37,966,271

Joe Hogan  
(CEO until  September 15, 2013)

Michel Demaré  
(CFO until  January 31, 2013) 

Gary Steel (EC member  
until November 15, 2013)

Prith Banerjee  
(EC member until May 31, 2013)

Brice Koch (EC member  

1,423,758

2,135,625

207,007

948,293

4,714,683

100,001

100,000

23,154

9,618

232,773

704,376

704,375

255,253

202,724

1,866,728

291,667

218,750

101,173

233,192

844,782

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

4,714,683

 – 

232,773

 – 

1,866,728

 – 

844,782

until November 30, 2013)

773,285

776,050

221,812

249,888

2,021,035

1,005,590

 – 

3,026,625

Total former  

Executive  Committee members

3,293,087

3,934,800

808,399

1,643,715

9,680,001

1,005,590

 –  10,685,591

Total

10,436,240

11,347,655

3,035,281

4,163,890 28,983,066

13,145,169

6,523,627 48,651,862

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

The table above shows accruals related to the short-term variable compensation for the year 2013 for all EC members, except for Prith Banerjee, who received, in May 2013, a pro-rata 
short-term variable compensation payment covering his period of service as an EC member in 2013. For all other EC members, the short-term variable compensation will be paid in 2014, 
after the publication of the financial results. In March 2013, the current and former EC members received the 2012 short-term variable compensation payments totaling CHF 12,641,252. 
Short-term variable compensation is linked to the objectives defined in the ABB Group’s scorecard. Upon full achievement of these objectives, the short-term variable compensation of the 
CEO corresponds to 150 percent of his base salary, while for all other EC members it represents 100 percent of their respective base salary. The Board has the discretion to approve a 
payout that is up to 50 percent higher (representing up to 225 percent of the base salary for the CEO and 150 percent of the base salary for other members of the EC), if the objectives are 
exceeded. 
Other benefits comprise payments related to social security, health insurance, children’s education, transportation, tax advice and certain other items. 
At the day of vesting (June 5, 2016) the value of the share-based awards granted under the LTIP may vary from the above numbers due to changes in ABB’s share price and the outcome 
of the performance (earnings per share) parameter. The LTIP is also subject to service conditions, while the other share-based awards are subject to service and/or other conditions.  
The above amounts have been calculated using the market value of the ABB share on the day of grant and in the case of the performance component of the LTIP, the Monte Carlo simula-
tion model. 
The above compensation figures for Ulrich Spiesshofer represent compensation for the period January 1 to September 14, 2013, in his capacity as Head of the Discrete Automation and 
Motion division and thereafter for his role as Chief Executive Officer. His annual base salary as CEO is CHF 1,600,000.
Jean-Christophe Deslarzes received a replacement share grant of 144,802 shares for foregone benefits with his previous employer, representing a grant date fair value of CHF 3,381,127. 
Of the total, 78,983 shares vest on November 15, 2016, while 65,819 shares vest on November 15, 2018.
Diane de Saint Victor received a special retention share grant of 150,000 shares representing a grant date fair value of CHF 3,142,500. The shares vest on December 31, 2015.
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 January to December 2013. All AED amounts were 
converted into Swiss francs at a rate of CHF 0.2422914 per AED. 
On May 16, 2013, Greg Scheu received a special bonus of CHF 168,750, which was settled in shares (7,942 shares).

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Remuneration report 55

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Furthermore, in 2013, certain former EC members received 
contractual compensation for the period after leaving the  
EC, as shown in the table below. The compensation included 
the base salary, accrued short-term variable compensation 
for 2013, pension benefits, as well as other benefits compris-
ing 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  

Base salary

(CHF)

Short-term   
variable
compensation(1)

Pension  benefits

Other benefits(2)

2013
Total cash-based 
 compensation

(CHF)

(CHF)

(CHF)

(CHF)

(CEO until September 15, 2013)(3)

586,253

879,375

85,239

323,314

1,874,181

Michel Demaré  

(CFO until January 31, 2013)(4)

1,100,006

1,100,000

255,549

428,053

2,883,608

Gary Steel  

(EC member until November 15, 2013)(4)

100,626

100,625

36,465

14,276

251,992

Brice Koch  

(EC member until November 30, 2013)(4)

Total

70,551

1,857,436

70,550

2,150,550

20,174

397,427

34,447

800,090

195,722

5,205,503

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

The short-term variable compensation will be paid in 2014, after the publication of the financial results.
Other benefits comprise payments related to social security, health insurance, children’s education, transportation, tax advice and certain other items. 
The above compensation figures of Joe Hogan represent compensation for the period September 16 to December 31, 2013, during which he was acting as a Senior Adviser  
to the ABB Board.
The above compensation figures of Michel Demaré, Gary Steel and Brice Koch represent contractual compensation for the period following their departure from the EC  
to December 31, 2013.

Details of the share-based compensation granted to members 
of the EC during 2013 are provided in a table of their share-
holdings in section 3.2 on page 58. Consistent with past prac-
tice, no loans or guarantees were granted to members of  
the EC in 2013.

Members of the EC are eligible to participate in the 
 Employee Share Acquisition Plan (ESAP), a savings plan based 
on stock options, which is open to employees around the 
world. Nine members of the EC participated in the 10th annual 
launch of the plan. EC members who participated in that 
launch are each entitled to acquire up to 440 ABB shares at 
22.90 Swiss francs per share, the market share price at the 
start of that launch. In addition, to mark the 10-year anniver-
sary of ESAP, for every 10 shares purchased at the end of 
the 10th ESAP, each participant will receive one ABB share 
for free.

Members of the EC cannot participate in the Management 

Incentive Plan (MIP). Any MIP instruments – warrants, options 
and warrant appreciation rights (WARs) – held by EC members 
at December 31, 2013 (and disclosed in section 3.2 of this 
Remuneration report), were awarded to them as part of the 
compensation they received in earlier roles that they held  
in ABB.

For a more detailed description of ESAP and MIP, please 

refer to “Note 18 Share-based payment arrangements”  
to ABB’s Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the 
Financial review of ABB Group section of this Annual Report.

56 Remuneration report | ABB Annual Report 2013

3. Additional information

3.1 Additional information  
on remuneration

Additional fees and remuneration
In 2013, 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. Except as disclosed in 
section 7 of the Corporate governance report, ABB did not 
pay any additional fees or remuneration in 2013 to persons 
closely linked to a member of the Board or the EC for services 
rendered to ABB. 

Compensation to former members of the Board and EC
Except as disclosed in this Remuneration report, ABB did  
not make any payments in 2013 to a former member of the 
Board or the EC in connection with such role.

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.

3.2 ABB shareholdings of members  
of the Board and EC

The members of the Board and EC owned less than 1 per-
cent of ABB’s total shares outstanding at December 31, 2013.

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

Jacob Wallenberg(1)

Ying Yeh

Total

Total number of shares held

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

212,725

165,533

70,425

428,176

133,870

102,782

180,158

13,843

173,370

160,672

63,928

410,192

128,595

97,506

174,882

8,909

1,307,512

1,218,054

(1)

Share amounts provided in this section do not include the shares beneficially owned  
by Investor AB, of which Mr. Wallenberg is chairman.

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.

EC ownership of ABB shares and options
As of December 31, 2013, EC members held the following 
number of ABB shares (or ADSs representing such shares), 
the conditional rights to receive shares under the LTIP, op-
tions and/or warrants (either vested or unvested as indicated) 
under the MIP, and unvested shares in respect of other 
 compensation arrangements, as shown in the table opposite:

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Remuneration report 57

Vested  

at Dec. 31, 

2013

e
h
t

r
e
d
n
u

d

l

e
h

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t
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a
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e
b
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1
(

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e
h

s
e
r
a
h
s

f
o

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e
b
m
u
n

l

a
t
o
T

Unvested at December 31, 2013

s
n
o

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(

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2

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t

f
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c

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a
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i
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e
r
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h
s

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t

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(

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I

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L

e
h
t

f
o

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n
e
n
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p
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o
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r
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d
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u

e

l

b
a
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e
v

i
l

e
d

s
e
r
a
h
S

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2
(

P
E

I

A

2
1
0
2

e
m

i
t
-
e
n
o

e
h
t

m
o
r
f

s
t
i
f
e
n
e
b

e
n
o
g
e
r
o
f

r
o
f

t
n
a
r
g

e
r
a
h
s

t
n
e
m
e
c
a

l

p
e
R

)
3
(

r
e
y
o

l

p
m
e

r
e
m

r
o
f

(vesting  

e
r
a
h
s

n
o

i
t
n
e
t
e
r

l

a

i

c
e
p
S

)
3
(

t
n
a
r
g

(vesting  

(vesting  

(vesting  

(vesting  

(vesting  

(vesting  

2016 and 

(vesting  

2014)

2015)

2014)

2015)

2016)

2014)

2018)

2015)

Name

Ulrich Spiesshofer 

 (appointed CEO as of 

September 15, 2013)

148,179

 – 

 – 

 – 

31,104

67,293

78,395

72,603

Eric Elzvik (joined the EC 

on February 1, 2013)

23,284

201,250

221,375

287,500

 – 

27,071

 – 

 – 

 – 

Jean-Christophe 

 Deslarzes (joined ABB on 

November 15, 2013)

 – 

Diane de Saint Victor

201,707

 – 

 – 

Frank Duggan

Greg Scheu(4)

Pekka Tiitinen  

(joined the EC on 

 September 15, 2013)

Tarak Mehta

Veli-Matti Reinikkala

Bernhard Jucker

Claudio Facchin  

(joined the EC on 

26,389

422,215

7,974

201,250

221,375

603,750

221,375

5,500

24,670

137,388

154,050

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 December 1, 2013)

1,883

Total Executive 

 Committee members  

 – 

 – 

26,359

21,326

 – 

 – 

24,211

18,517

27,753

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

27,071

 – 

144,802

38,673

35,289

29,664

31,848

66,380

25,632

62,232

24,830

56,008

12,041

35,289

37,223

45,924

22,294

 – 

25,632

60,572

9,810

63,891

37,033

78,827

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

150,000

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

11,458

17,598

22,294

 – 

 – 

 – 

as of December 31, 2013

731,024

1,428,465

664,125

287,500

160,728

318,994

331,910

460,513

144,802

150,000

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

Warrants and options may be sold or exercised/converted into shares at the ratio of 5 warrants/options for 1 share.
The LTIP foresees delivering 30 percent of the value of the vested retention shares in cash and the Acquisition Integration Execution Plan (AIEP) foresees delivering 30 percent of the value 
of the vested shares in cash. However, under both plans participants have the possibility to elect to receive 100 percent of the vested award in shares.
The Replacement share grant and the Special retention share grant foresee delivering 30 percent of the value of the vested shares in cash. However, under both plans participants have 
the possibility to elect to receive 100 percent of the vested award in shares.
Total number of shares held includes 32 shares held by children. 

58 Remuneration report | ABB Annual Report 2013

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Furthermore, at December 31, 2013, the following members 
of the EC held vested WARs and conditionally granted  
ABB shares under the performance component of the LTIP 
2013, 2012 and 2011, which at the time of vesting will be 
 settled in cash.

Except as described in this section, no member of the EC 
and no person closely linked to a member of the EC held any 
shares of ABB or options on ABB shares at December 31, 
2013.

Vested  

at Dec. 31, 2013

Unvested at December 31, 2013

s
R
A
W
d
e
t
s
e
v

y

l
l

u
f

f
o

r
e
b
m
u
N

I

P
M
e
h
t

r
e
d
n
u

d

l

e
h

 – 

434,380

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

Name

Ulrich Spiesshofer  

(appointed CEO as of September 15, 2013)

Eric Elzvik  

(joined the EC on February 1, 2013)

Jean-Christophe Deslarzes  

(joined ABB on November 15, 2013)

Diane de Saint Victor

Frank Duggan

Greg Scheu

Pekka Tiitinen  

(joined the EC on September 15, 2013)

Tarak Mehta

Veli-Matti Reinikkala

Bernhard Jucker

Claudio Facchin  

(joined the EC on December 1, 2013)

Total Executive Committee members  

675,000

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

r
e
b
m
u
n
m
u
m
x
a
M

i

e
c
n
a
m

r
o
f
r
e
p

e
h
t

r
e
d
n
u

1
1
0
2

e
h
t

f
o

t
n
e
n
o
p
m
o
 c

P

I

T
L

e
h
t

f
o

h
c
n
u
a

l

(vesting  

2014)

t
n
e
n
o
p
m
o
c

e
c
n
a
m

r
o
f
r
e
p

f
o

r
e
b
m
u
n

e
c
n
e
r
e
f
e
R

e
h
t

r
e
d
n
u

s
e
r
a
h
s

h
c
n
u
a

l

2
1
0
2

e
h
t

f
o

P

I

T
L

e
h
t

f
o

(vesting  

2015)

t
n
e
n
o
p
m
o
c

e
c
n
a
m

r
o
f
r
e
p

f
o

r
e
b
m
u
n

e
c
n
e
r
e
f
e
R

e
h
t

r
e
d
n
u

s
e
r
a
h
s

h
c
n
u
a

l

3
1
0
2

e
h
t

f
o

P

I

T
L

e
h
t

f
o

(vesting  

2016)

15,460

22,588

 – 

 – 

14,194

13,780

 – 

 – 

12,516

11,965

17,933

7,639

 – 

 – 

20,652

18,845

17,425

6,950

18,845

19,878

24,524

10,665

50,024

16,659

16,659

19,599

15,023

14,553

13,720

15,023

15,091

18,992

13,720

as of December 31, 2013

1,109,380

93,487

160,372

209,063

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Remuneration report 59

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
60 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

Financial review of ABB Group

Contents

62 Operating and financial review and prospects 

  62  About ABB
  62  History of the ABB Group
  62  Organizational structure
  62  Business divisions
  69  Capital expenditures 
  69  Supplies and raw materials
  70  Management overview
  72  Application of critical accounting policies
  77  New accounting pronouncements
  77  Research and development
  77  Acquisitions
  78  Exchange rates 

  79  Transactions with affiliates and associates
  79  Orders
  79  Performance measures 
  80  Analysis of results of operations
  85  Divisional analysis
  93  Restructuring
  93  Liquidity and capital resources
  96  Financial position
  97  Cash flows
  99  Disclosures about contractual obligations

  and commitments

  99  Off balance sheet arrangements

  100 Consolidated Financial Statements

106 Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 106  Note 1 The Company
 106  Note 2 Significant accounting policies
 113   Note 3 Acquisitions
 116   Note 4 Cash and equivalents and marketable 

securities

 117  Note 5 Financial instruments
 121  Note 6 Fair values
 123  Note 7 Receivables, net
 124  Note 8 Inventories, net
 124  Note 9 Other non-current assets
 124  Note 10 Property, plant and equipment, net
 125  Note 11 Goodwill and other intangible assets
 126  Note 12 Debt
 129   Note 13 Other provisions, other current liabilities 

 130  Note 15 Commitments and contingencies
 133  Note 16 Taxes
 136  Note 17 Employee benefits
 141  Note 18 Share-based payment arrangements
 146  Note 19 Stockholders’ equity
 147  Note 20 Earnings per share
148  Note 21 Other comprehensive income
 149  Note 22 Restructuring and related expenses
 149  Note 23 Operating segment and geographic data
 152  Note 24 Compensation
 153  Report of management on internal control  

  over financial reporting

 154  Report of the Statutory Auditor on the  
  Consolidated Financial Statements

and other non-current liabilities

 155  Report of the Group Auditor on internal control  

 129  Note 14 Leases

  over financial reporting

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 61

 
 
 
 
 
  
 
Operating and financial review 
and prospects

About ABB

Organizational structure

We are a global leader in power and automation technologies. 
We are committed to improving the performance and lowering 
the environmental impact for our industry and utility custom-
ers. We provide a broad range of products, systems, solutions 
and services that are designed to boost industrial produc-
tivity, increase power grid reliability, and enhance energy effi-
ciency. Our automation businesses serve a full range of 
industries with process optimization, control, measurement 
and protection applications. Our power businesses focus  
on power transmission, distribution and power-plant automa-
tion, and support electric, gas and water utilities, as well as 
industrial and commercial customers.

History of the ABB Group

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 compa-
nies that formerly owned the ABB Group. The ABB Ltd shares 
were exchanged for the shares of those two companies, 
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).

Our business is international in scope and we generate rev-
enues in numerous currencies.

We manage our business based on a divisional structure, 

with five divisions: Discrete Automation and Motion, Low 
Voltage Products, Process Automation, Power Products, and 
Power Systems. For a breakdown of our consolidated rev-
enues (i) by operating division and (ii) derived from each geo-
graphic region in which we operate, see “Analysis of results 
of operations – Revenues.”

We operate in approximately 100 countries across four 
regions: Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East and 
Africa (MEA). We are headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland.

A breakdown of our employees by geographic region is 

as follows:

Europe

The Americas

Asia

Middle East and Africa

Total 

December 31,

2013

65,000

34,400

39,400

8,900

2012

64,000

34,400

38,300

9,400

2011

60,300

25,900

37,400

10,000

147,700

146,100

133,600

The proportion of our employees that are represented by 
 labor unions or are the subject of collective bargaining agree-
ments varies based on the labor practices of each country 
in which we operate.

Business divisions

Industry background

Our five divisions operate across two key markets: automa-
tion and power. Our divisions serve these markets through  
a global production, engineering and service base. The mar-
kets and our divisions are discussed in more detail below. 
Revenue figures presented in this Business Divisions section 
are before interdivisional eliminations.

Automation market
We serve the automation market with a wide variety of prod-
ucts, systems and services designed primarily to improve 
industrial productivity, energy efficiency and product quality 
in industrial and manufacturing applications. These also 
reflect the main demand drivers in the automation market, 
such as the need by our customers to reduce energy and 

62 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

raw material costs, improve product and process quality, 
increase process and manufacturing safety, lower their envi-
ronmental impacts and improve the management of large 
assets such as manufacturing plants. The automation market 
can be divided into three sectors:
–  Process automation refers to measurement, control, electri-
fication and other applications used in processes where 
the main objective is continuous production, such as in the 
oil and gas, power, chemicals, mining, metals, and pulp 
and paper industries. Product lines for this market include 
distributed control systems, plant electrification, instru-
mentation, analytical measurement, control products and 
motors and drives.

–  Factory automation refers to discrete operations that man-
ufacture individual items in applications such as material 
handling, picking and packing, metal fabrication, welding, 
painting and foundry. Typical industries where factory auto-
mation is used include automotive, consumer electronics 
and food and beverage. Product lines for this market include 
robotic products, systems and services, modular manu-
facturing solutions, control products and systems, 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 market
We serve the power market with products, systems and ser-
vices designed primarily to deliver electricity. Electricity is 
generated in power stations of various types, including ther-
mal, wind, solar and hydro plants and is then fed into an 
electricity grid through which it is 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 transmit electricity, con-
trol and monitor the power flow and ensure efficiency, reli-
ability, quality and safety.

Discrete Automation and Motion division

Overview
The Discrete Automation and Motion division offers a wide 
range of products and services including drives, motors, 
generators, power electronics systems, rectifiers, power qual-
ity and power protection products, mechanical power trans-
mission of rotating equipment, traction converters, solar 
inverters, wind turbine converters, electric vehicle charging 
infrastructure, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), and 
industrial robots. These products help customers to improve 
productivity, quality, and energy efficiency, and generate 
energy. Key applications include energy conversion, data pro-
cessing, actuation, automation, standardized manufacturing 
cells for applications such as machine tending, welding, cut-
ting, painting, finishing, picking, packing and palletizing, and 
engineered systems for the automotive industry. The majority 
of these applications are for industrial applications including 
discrete manufacturing, process automation and hybrid or 
batch manufacturing, with others provided for infrastructure 
and 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 
 efficiency appraisals and preventive maintenance services.
Revenues are generated both from direct sales to end 

users as well as from indirect sales through distributors, 
machine builders and OEMs (original equipment manufactur-
ers), system integrators, and panel builders.

The Discrete Automation and Motion division had approx-

imately 30,200 employees as of December 31, 2013, and 
generated $9.9 billion of revenues in 2013.

Products and services
The Discrete Automation and Motion division provides low-
voltage and medium-voltage drive products and systems for 
industrial, commercial and residential applications. Drives 
provide speed, motion and torque control for equipment such 
as fans, pumps, compressors, conveyors, kilns, centrifuges, 
mixers, hoists, cranes, extruders, printing machinery and textile 
machines. The drives are used in the building automation, 
marine, power, transportation and manufacturing industries, 
among others.

The primary demand driver in the power market is the 

The division also produces a range of power conversion 

growing need for reliable electricity supplies to support eco-
nomic growth and address the global environmental chal-
lenge. This is also driving increased demand for renewable 
energy and high-efficiency power systems and equipment. 
As new power sources and loads are added, there is a need 
for grids and power networks to become more flexible, reli-
able and smarter. Power quality, stability and security of sup-
ply become key priorities. Additional drivers vary by region. 
Capacity addition across the power value chain is the key 
market driver in emerging markets, mainly in Asia, the Middle 
East, South America and Africa. In North America, the focus  
is on upgrading and replacing aging infrastructure, improving 
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 more efficient use of 
power.

products. These include static excitation and synchronizing 
systems that provide stability for power stations, uninterrupt-
ible power supply modular systems, as well as high power 
rectifiers that convert alternating current (AC) power to direct 
current (DC) power for very high-amperage applications 
such as furnaces in aluminum smelters. The division also man-
ufactures solar inverters, wind turbine converters and con-
verters for power protection, grid interconnections, and energy 
storage and grid stabilization. Rail traction converters and a 
range of solutions for the charging of electric vehicles are also 
part of the division’s portfolio. 

Discrete Automation and Motion supplies a comprehen-
sive range of electrical motors and generators, including high-
efficiency motors that conform to leading environmental and 
Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS). Efficiency 
is an important selection criterion for customers, because 
electric motors account for nearly two-thirds of the electricity 
consumed by industrial plants. The Discrete Automation  

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 63

and Motion division manufactures synchronous motors for 
the most demanding applications and a full range of low- and 
high-voltage induction motors, for both IEC (International 
Electrotechnical Commission) and NEMA (National Electrical 
Manufacturers Association) standards.

The Discrete Automation and Motion division offers 
robots, controllers and software systems and services for the 
automotive manufacturers and their sub-suppliers as well  
as for general manufacturing industries, to improve product 
quality, productivity and consistency in manufacturing pro-
cesses. Robots are also used in activities or environments 
which may be hazardous to employee health and safety, 
such as repetitive lifting, dusty, hot or cold rooms, or painting 
booths. In the automotive industry, the robot products and 
systems are used in such areas as press shop, body shop, 
paint shop, power train assembly, trim and final assembly. 
General industry segments in which robotics solutions are 
used range from metal fabrication, foundry, plastics, food 
and beverage, chemicals and pharmaceuticals to consumer 
electronics, solar and wood. Typical general industry appli-
cations include welding, material handling, painting, picking, 
packing and palletizing.

The division also offers services that complement its 
products, including design and project management, engineer-
ing, installation, training and life-cycle care, energy efficiency 
appraisals and preventive maintenance.

Customers
The Discrete Automation and Motion division serves a wide 
range of customers. Customers include machinery manu-
facturers, process industries such as pulp and paper, oil and 
gas, and metals and mining companies, hybrid and batch 
manufacturers such as food and beverage companies, rail 
equipment manufacturers, discrete manufacturing compa-
nies, utilities and renewable energy suppliers, particularly in 
the wind and solar sectors, as well as customers in the 
 automotive industry.

Sales and marketing
Sales are made both through direct sales forces as well as 
through third-party channel partners, such as distributors, 
wholesalers, installers, machine builders and OEMs, system 
integrators, and panel builders. The proportion of direct sales 
compared to channel partner sales varies among the differ-
ent industries, product technologies and geographic markets.

Competition
The Discrete Automation and Motion division’s principal 
 competitors vary by product line but include Alstom, Fanuc 
Robotics, Kuka Robot Group, Rockwell Automation, 
 Schneider, Siemens, Yaskawa, SMA and WEG Industries.

Capital expenditures
The Discrete Automation and Motion division’s capital expen-
ditures for property, plant and equipment totaled $214 million 
in 2013, compared to $197 million and $202 million in 2012 
and in 2011, respectively. Principal investments in 2013 were 
primarily related to equipment replacement and upgrades. 
Geographically, in 2013, the Americas represented 51 percent 
of the capital expenditures, followed by Europe (34 percent), 
Asia (13 percent) and MEA (2 percent).

64 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

Low Voltage Products division

Overview
The Low Voltage Products division helps customers to 
improve productivity, save energy and increase safety. The 
division offers a wide range of products and systems, with 
related services, that provide protection, control and mea-
surement for electrical installations, enclosures, switch-
boards, electronics and electromechanical devices for indus-
trial machines and plants. The main applications are in 
industry, building, infrastructure, rail and sustainable trans-
portation, renewable energies and e-mobility applications.
The Low Voltage Products division had approximately 
31,700 employees as of December 31, 2013, and generated 
$7.7 billion of revenues in 2013.

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.

Products and services
The Low Voltage Products division offering covers a wide 
range of products and services including low-voltage switch-
gears, breakers, switches, control products, DIN-rail com-
ponents, automation and distribution enclosures, wiring acces-
sories and installation material for any kind of application.

The division offers solutions for restoring service rapidly 

in case of a fault and providing optimum protection of the 
electrical installation and people using such installation. The 
product offering ranges from miniature circuit breakers to 
high-capacity molded-case and air circuit breakers, and 
includes safety switches used for power distribution in facto-
ries and buildings, fuse gear systems for short circuit and 
overload protection as well as cabling and connection com-
ponents.

The Low Voltage Products division also offers terminal 
blocks and printed circuit board connectors used by panel 
builders and OEMs to produce standard distribution and 
control panels as well as specialized applications in industries 
such as traction, energy, maritime, explosive atmospheres 
and electronics. In addition, the division offers a range of con-
tactors, soft starters, starters, proximity sensors, safety prod-
ucts for industrial protection, limit switches and manual motor 
starters, along with electronic relays and overload relays.

The division provides smart home and intelligent building 

control systems, also known as KNX protocol, a complete 
system for all energy-reducing building application areas such 
as lighting and shutters, heating, ventilation, cooling and 
security. In addition, the division’s IEC and NEMA compliant 
switchgear technology integrates intelligent motor and feeder 
control solutions to enhance protection, digital control, 
 condition monitoring and plant-wide data access by process 
control systems, electrical control systems and other plant 
computers.

The Low Voltage Products division has also developed  

a range of products for new markets, such as those used  
by electric vehicles (e-mobility) and in photovoltaic, solar and 
wind applications. These include circuit breakers, energy 
meters, switch-disconnectors, residual current-operated cir-
cuit breakers, interface relays and other products designed 
for outdoor installation.

The division also supplies a wide range of electrical com-
ponents including conduits, boxes, covers, fittings, connectors, 
fasteners, wiring ducts, terminals, cable trays, struts, ground-
ing, insulation, switchgear, metal framing, earthing & lightning 
protection and industrial lighting products for various types  
of application.

Customers
The Low Voltage Products division serves a wide range  
of customers, including residential and commercial building 
contractors, process industries, rail equipment manufactur-
ers, manufacturing companies, utilities and renewable energy 
suppliers, particularly in the wind and solar sectors.

Sales and marketing
Sales are made both through direct sales forces as well as 
through third-party channel partners, such as distributors, 
wholesalers, installers, machine builders and OEMs, system 
integrators, and panel builders. The proportion of direct sales 
compared to channel partner sales varies among the differ-
ent industries, product technologies and geographic markets.

Competition
The Low Voltage Products division’s principal competitors 
vary by product line but include Eaton Corporation, Legrand, 
Mitsubishi, Schneider, Siemens, Leviton and Rittal.

Capital expenditures
The Low Voltage Products division’s capital expenditures for 
property, plant and equipment totaled $204 million in 2013, 
compared to $208 million and $149 million in 2012 and 2011, 
respectively. Investments in 2013 related to investments in 
production capacity and productivity improvements through-
out the division’s global footprint. Geographically, in 2013, 
Europe represented 43 percent of the capital expenditures, 
followed by the Americas (34 percent), Asia (22 percent)  
and MEA (1 percent).

Process Automation division

Overview
The Process Automation division provides products, systems, 
and services for the automation and electrification of indus-
trial processes. Our core industries are pulp and paper, met-
als, minerals and mining, chemical, oil and gas, and marine. 
Each industry has unique business drivers, yet shares common 
requirements for operational productivity, safety, energy effi-
ciency, minimal project risk and environment compliance. The 
division’s core competence is the application of automation 
and electrification technologies to solve these generic require-
ments, but tailored to the characteristics of each of its core 
industries. The division is organized around industry and prod-
uct businesses along with a specialized business focusing  
on performance-based outsourced maintenance contracts. 
The division had approximately 25,900 employees as of 
December 31, 2013, and generated revenues of $8.5 billion  
in 2013.

The Process Automation division offering is made 
 available as separately sold products or as part of a total 
automation system. The division’s technologies are sold  
both through direct sales forces and third-party channels.

Products and services
The Process Automation division offers standalone prod-
ucts, engineered systems and services for process control 
and measurement, safety, plant electrification, information 
management, asset management and industry-specific appli-
cations for a variety of industries, primarily pulp and paper, 
metals, minerals and mining, chemical, oil and gas, marine, 
pharmaceuticals and the power industry. Some of the 
 Discrete Automation and Motion, Power Products and Low 
Voltage Products divisions’ products are integrated into  
the process control and electrification systems offered by  
the Process Automation division.

Our automation systems are used in applications such  

as continuous and batch control, asset optimization, energy 
management and safety. They are the hubs that link instru-
mentation, measurement devices and systems for control and 
supervision of industrial processes and enable customers  
to integrate their production systems with their enterprise, 
resource and planning systems, thereby providing a link to 
their ordering, billing and shipping processes. This link allows 
customers to manage their entire manufacturing and busi-
ness process based on real-time access to plant information. 
Additionally, it allows customers to increase production effi-
ciency, optimize their assets and reduce environmental waste.
A key element of this division’s product offering is its 
System 800xA process automation platform. This product ex- 
tends the capability of traditional process control systems, 
introducing advanced functions such as batch management, 
asset optimization and field device integration which “plug  
in” to a common user environment. The same user interface 
may also be used to manage components of existing mul-
tiple ABB control systems that have been installed in the mar-
ket over approximately the past 25 years. In this way, System 
800xA gives customers a way to migrate to new functions 
one step at a time, rather than having to make a large-scale 
capital investment to replace their entire control system.  
By creating a common user interface that can be used to man-
age multiple systems, the System 800xA also reduces the 
research and development investment needed to achieve a 
“one size fits all” solution across our large installed systems 
base. The division also offers a full line of instrumentation and 
analytical products to actuate, measure, record and control 
industrial and power processes.

The division’s product offerings for the pulp and paper 
industries include quality control systems for pulp and paper 
mills, control systems, drive systems, on-line sensors, actua-
tors and field instruments. On-line sensors measure product 
properties, such as weight, thickness, color, brightness, 
moisture content and additive content. Actuators allow the 
customer to make automatic adjustments during the pro-
duction process to improve the quality and consistency of the 
product. Field instruments measure properties of the pro-
cess, such as flow rate, chemical content and temperature.

We offer our customers in the metals, cement and mining 

industries specialized products and services, as well as total 
production systems. We design, plan, engineer, supply, erect 

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 65

and commission electric equipment, drives, motors and 
equipment for automation and supervisory control within  
a variety of areas including mining, mineral handling, 
 aluminum smelting, hot and cold steel applications and 
cement production.

In the oil and gas sector, we provide solutions for onshore 

and offshore production and exploration, refining, and petro-
chemical processes, and oil and gas transportation and dis-
tribution. In the pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals areas, 
we offer applications to support manufacturing, packaging, 
quality control and compliance with regulatory agencies.

In the marine industry, we provide global shipbuilders with 

power and automation technologies for luxury cruise liners, 
ferries, tankers, offshore oil rigs and special purpose vessels. 
We design, engineer, build, supply and commission electrical 
and automation systems for marine power generation, power 
distribution and diesel electric propulsion, as well as turbo-
chargers to improve efficiency for diesel and gasoline engines.
We also offer a complete range of lifecycle services 
across all of our customer segments to help customers opti-
mize their assets. Demand for our process automation ser-
vices is increasing as our customers seek to increase produc-
tivity by improving the performance of existing equipment.

Customers
The Process Automation division’s end customers are pri-
marily companies in the oil and gas, minerals and mining, 
metals, pulp and paper, chemicals and pharmaceuticals and 
the marine industries. Customers for this division are look-
ing for complete automation and electrification solutions 
which demonstrate value mainly in the areas of lower capital 
costs, increased plant availability, lower lifecycle costs and 
reduced project costs.

Sales and marketing
The Process Automation division uses a direct sales force  
as well as third-party channel partners, such as distributors, 
system integrators and OEMs. For the division as a whole, 
the majority of revenues are derived through the division’s 
own direct sales channels.

Competition
The Process Automation division’s principal competitors vary 
by industry or product line. Competitors include Emerson, 
Honeywell, Invensys, Metso Automation, Rockwell Automa-
tion, Schneider, Siemens, Voith, and Yokogawa Electric 
 Corporation.

Capital expenditures
The Process Automation division’s capital expenditures  
for property, plant and equipment totaled $68 million in 2013, 
compared to $91 million and $72 million in 2012 and 2011, 
respectively. Principal investments in 2013 were in factory 
equipment, and training and service facilities. Geographically, 
in 2013, Europe represented 65 percent of the capital 
 expenditures, followed by Asia (20 percent), the Americas 
(12 percent) and MEA (3 percent).

Power Products division

Overview
Our Power Products division primarily serves electric, gas 
and water utilities as well as industrial and commercial cus-
tomers, with a vast portfolio of products and services across 
a wide voltage range to facilitate power generation, trans-
mission and distribution. Direct sales account for a significant 
part of the division’s total revenues, and external channel 
partners, such as wholesalers, distributors and OEMs, account 
for the rest. Key technologies include high- and medium- 
voltage switchgear, circuit breakers for a range of current rat-
ings and voltage levels, power, distribution, traction and other 
special transformers, as well as products to help control and 
protect electrical networks. The division had approximately 
35,600 employees as of December 31, 2013, and generated 
$11.0 billion of revenues in 2013.

Products and services
Our Power Products division manufactures products that can 
be placed in three broad categories: high-voltage products, 
medium-voltage products and transformers. The division sells 
primarily to utilities and also through channels such as dis-
tributors, wholesalers, installers and OEMs. Some of the divi-
sion’s products are also integrated into the turnkey offerings 
of systems divisions such as Power Systems and Process 
Automation or sold through engineering, procurement and 
construction (EPC) firms.

The high-voltage products business supplies high-voltage 
equipment, ranging from 50 to 1,200 kilovolts, mainly to power 
transmission utilities and also serves industrial customers. 
This equipment primarily enables the transmission grid to 
operate more reliably and efficiently with minimum environ-
mental impact. As part of its portfolio, this business designs 
and manufactures a range of air-, gas-insulated and hybrid 
switchgear, generator circuit breakers, capacitors, high-voltage 
circuit breakers, surge arresters, instrument transformers, 
cable accessories and a variety of high-voltage components. 
This is supported by a range of service solutions to support 
the products throughout their life cycle.

The medium-voltage business offers products and ser-
vices that largely serve the power distribution sector, often 
serving as the link between high-voltage transmission systems 
and lower voltage users. Medium-voltage products help utility 
and industrial customers to improve power quality and con-
trol, reduce outage time and enhance operational reliability 
and efficiency. This business reaches customers directly and 
through channels such as distributors and OEMs. Its com-
prehensive offering includes medium-voltage equipment (1 to 
50 kilovolts), indoor and outdoor circuit breakers, reclosers, 
fuses, contactors, relays, instrument transformers, sensors, 
motor control centers, ring main units for primary and sec-
ondary distribution, as well as a range of air- and gas-insulated 
switchgear. It also produces indoor and outdoor modular 
systems and other solutions to facilitate efficient and reliable 
power distribution.

The transformers business of the division designs and 
manufactures power transformers (72.5 to 1,200 kilovolts) for 
utility and industrial customers that help to step up or step 
down voltage levels and include special applications such as 
high voltage direct current (HVDC) transformers or phase 

66 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

shifters. This business also supplies transformer components 
and insulation material, such as bushings and tap changers. 
It also manufactures a wide range of distribution transformers 
(up to 72.5 kilovolts) for use in the power distribution sector, 
industrial facilities and commercial buildings. These transform-
ers are designed to step down electrical voltage bringing  
it to consumption levels. They can be oil- or dry-type and, 
although oil-type transformers are more commonly used, 
demand for dry-type transformers is growing because they 
minimize fire hazards and are well-suited for applications 
such as office buildings, windmills, offshore drilling platforms, 
marine vessels and large industrial plants. Another part of  
the offering includes traction transformers for use in electric 
locomotives, special application transformers, as well as  
a wide range of service and retrofit solutions for utilities and 
industry customers.

Customers
The Power Products division serves electric utilities, owners 
and operators of power generating plants and power trans-
mission and distribution networks. It also serves industries 
across the spectrum. Customers include electric, gas, water 
and other utilities, as well as industrial and commercial 
 customers.

Sales and marketing
The Power Products division sells its products individually 
and as part of wider solutions through our systems divisions. 
Direct sales account for a significant part of the division’s 
business and the rest are sold through external channel part-
ners, such as wholesalers, distributors, system integrators, 
EPCs and OEMs. As the Power Products and Power Systems 
divisions share many of the same customers and technolo-
gies and are influenced by similar market drivers, they also 
have a common front-end sales organization to maximize 
market synergies and coverage across countries, regions, 
and sectors for the entire power portfolio.

Competition
On a global basis, the main competitors for the Power Prod-
ucts division are Siemens, Alstom and Schneider Electric. 
The division also faces global competition in some product 
categories from competitors in emerging markets. It also 
competes in specific geographies with companies such as 
Eaton Corporation, Hyundai, Hyosung, Crompton Greaves, 
Larsen & Toubro and Bharat Heavy Electricals.

Capital expenditure
The Power Products division’s capital expenditures for 
 property, plant and equipment totaled $252 million in 2013, 
compared to $259 million and $192 million in 2012 and  
2011, respectively. Principal investments in 2013 related to 
upgrades and expansion of existing facilities in Sweden, 
China, United States, Germany, and India as well as new fac-
tories in China, India, Bulgaria and Poland. Geographically,  
in 2013, Europe represented 54 percent of the division’s cap-
ital expenditures, followed by Asia (23 percent), the Americas 
(20 percent), and MEA (3 percent).

Power Systems division

Overview
Our Power Systems division serves utilities, as well as indus-
trial and commercial customers with system solutions and 
services for the generation, transmission and distribution of 
electricity. Turnkey solutions include power plant electrifi-
cation and automation, bulk power transmission, substations 
and network management. The division had approximately 
20,300 employees as of December 31, 2013, and generated 
$8.4 billion of revenues in 2013.

Products and services
Our Power Systems division delivers solutions through four 
businesses: Power Generation, Grid Systems, Substations and 
Network Management. The scope of work in a typical turnkey 
contract includes design, system engineering, supply, instal-
lation, commissioning and testing of the system. As part of the 
business model, the Power Systems division integrates prod-
ucts from both the Power Products division and external sup-
pliers, adding value through design, engineering and project 
management to deliver turnkey solutions.

Our Power Generation business is a leading provider of 

integrated power and automation solutions for all types of 
power generation plants, including coal, gas, combined-cycle, 
nuclear, waste-to-energy and a range of renewables includ-
ing hydro, solar, wind and biomass. With an extensive offering 
that includes electrical balance of plant and instrumentation 
and control systems, ABB technologies help optimize perfor-
mance, improve reliability, enhance efficiency and minimize 
environmental impact throughout the plant life cycle. The busi-
ness also serves the water industry, including applications 
such as pumping stations and desalination plants.

As part of the Grid Systems business, ABB provides a 
comprehensive offering of AC and DC transmission systems, 
which help customers to reduce transmission losses, maxi-
mize efficiency and improve grid reliability. ABB pioneered 
HVDC technology nearly 60 years ago. HVDC technology is 
designed to reliably and efficiently transmit electrical power 
over long distances via overhead lines and underground or 
submarine cables with minimum losses. HVDC is also widely 
used for grid interconnections. HVDC Light®, a more com-
pact form of ABB’s classic HVDC technology, is ideal for link-
ing offshore installations, such as wind farms or oil and gas 
platforms, to mainland grids and for interconnections, often 
via subsea links. It is used to transmit electricity. The envi-
ronmental benefits of HVDC Light®, include neutral electromag-
netic fields, oil-free cables and compact converter stations.

ABB also offers a comprehensive range of land and sub-

marine cables through its Grid Systems business, as well  
as accessories and services for a range of applications from 
medium- to high-voltage AC and DC systems. The portfolio 
includes high-performance XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene) 
insulated cables for high efficiency transmission systems at 
voltages up to 320 kilovolts. When it comes to transmission 
grid solutions, ABB manufactures its own power semicon-
ductors, which is a key enabler for HVDC, flexible alternating 
current transmission systems (FACTS) and other technolo-
gies, serving a range of sectors including transportation and 
wind.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 67

the gap between information technologies (IT) and operational 
technologies (OT), enabling clients to make faster, better-
informed decisions in both daily operations and long-term 
planning strategies. Some of the world’s largest private and 
public enterprises rely on Ventyx solutions to minimize risk, 
enhance operational and financial performance, and execute 
the right strategies for the future.

In addition, the Power Systems division offers a range of 
services aimed at optimizing operations and reducing mainte-
nance requirements of customers, across the value chain. 
These services range from support agreements and retrofits 
to spare parts, service and training. The division also under-
takes consulting activities such as energy efficiency studies 
for power plants and grids, analyses and design of new 
transmission and distribution systems as well as asset opti-
mization based on technical, economic and environmental 
considerations.

Customers
The Power Systems division’s principal customers include 
power generation utilities and companies, transmission and 
distribution utilities, owners and operators as well as indus-
trial and commercial customers. Other customers include gas 
and water utilities including multi-utilities, which are involved  
in the transmission or distribution of more than one commodity.

Sales and marketing
The Power Systems division promotes its offering primarily 
through a direct sales force of specialized sales engineering 
teams. Some sales are also handled through third-party 
channels, such as EPC firms, OEMs and system integrators. 
As the Power Products and Power Systems divisions share 
many of the same customers and technologies and are influ-
enced by similar market drivers, they also have a common 
front-end sales organization that helps maximize market syn-
ergies across countries and regions.

Competition
On a global basis, the Power Systems division faces compe-
tition mainly from Siemens and Alstom. Emerson, General 
Electric, Prysmian and Nexans are additional competitors in 
parts of the business. The division also sees emerging 
 competitors in specific regions.

Capital expenditure
The Power Systems division’s capital expenditures for prop-
erty, plant and equipment totaled $101 million in 2013, 
 compared to $194 million and $136 million in 2012 and 2011, 
respectively. Principal investments in 2013 were related  
to capacity expansion as well as the replacement of existing 
equipment, particularly in Sweden and in Switzerland. Geo-
graphically, in 2013, Europe represented 77 percent of the 
capital expenditures, followed by the Americas (14 percent), 
Asia (7 percent) and MEA (2 percent).

Substations are key installations in the power grid that 
facilitate the efficient transmission and distribution of electric-
ity with minimal environmental impact. They perform the vital 
function of monitoring and controlling power flows, feeding 
power from generating stations into the grid and providing the 
link between transmission and distribution networks as well  
as end consumers. ABB has successfully delivered air- and 
gas-insulated substations in all kinds of environments, from 
deserts and mountains to offshore rigs and crowded city 
centers. ABB’s substation automation offering is compliant 
with IEC 61850, the open communication standard, which 
provides a common framework for substation control and pro-
tection and facilitates interoperability across devices and 
 systems. ABB’s substation offering covers a range of voltage 
levels up to 1,100 kilovolts, serving utility, industry and com-
mercial customers as well as sectors such as railways, urban 
transportation and renewables.

FACTS technologies are also part of the Substations busi-

ness offering. FACTS solutions help improve power quality 
and can significantly increase the capacity of existing AC trans-
mission systems – by as much as 50 percent – while main-
taining and improving system reliability. FACTS technologies 
also boost transmission efficiency, relieve bottlenecks and 
can be used for the safe integration of intermittent power 
sources, such as wind and solar, into the grid. By enhancing 
the capacity of existing transmission infrastructure, FACTS 
solutions can alleviate the need for capital investment, reduc-
ing the time, cost and environmental impact associated with 
the construction of new generating facilities and transmission 
lines. By improving efficiency, FACTS technologies help to 
deliver more power to consumers, reducing the need for more 
electricity generation, and improving power supply and qual-
ity. ABB is a global leader in the growing field of FACTS, and 
has delivered more than 800 such installations across the 
world.

ABB’s Network Management business offers solutions to 

help manage power networks. The offering covers network 
management and utility communications solutions to monitor, 
control, operate and protect power systems. These solutions 
are designed to ensure the reliability of electricity supplies 
and enable real-time management of power plants, transmis-
sion grids, distribution networks and energy trading markets. 
The portfolio includes control and protection systems for 
power generation, transmission and distribution, supervisory 
control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, as well as 
software solutions for central electricity markets and mixed 
utilities (electricity, district heating, gas and water). The port-
folio also covers wireless and fixed communication systems 
for power, water and gas utilities. It includes fiber optics, 
microwave radio and power line applications for data network-
ing and broadband network management, as well as tele-
protection and substation communication networks and voice 
switching management systems.

Network management systems are key smart-grid enablers 

by providing automated power systems to incorporate and 
manage centralized and distributed power generation, inter-
mittent sources of renewable energy, real-time pricing and 
load-management data. The Ventyx and Mincom acquisitions 
have made ABB a global leader in enterprise software and 
services for essential industries such as energy, mining, pub-
lic infrastructure and transportation. These solutions bridge 

68 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

At December 31, 2013 and 2012, construction in prog-
ress for property, plant and equipment was $645 million and 
$627 million, respectively, mainly in Sweden, the United 
States, Switzerland, Germany and Brazil, while at December 31, 
2011, it was $548 million, mainly in Sweden, Switzerland,  
the United States, Brazil and China. 

Our capital expenditures relate primarily to property, plant 

and equipment. For 2014, we plan to increase our capital 
expenditures and estimate the expenditures for property, plant 
and equipment will be higher than our annual depreciation 
charge. We anticipate investments will be higher in the Amer-
icas and Asia but will decrease in Europe. 

Supplies and raw materials

We purchase a variety of raw materials and products which 
contain raw materials for use in our production and project 
execution processes. The primary materials used in our 
products, by weight, are copper, aluminum, carbon steel, 
mineral oil and various plastics. We also purchase a wide 
variety of fabricated products and electronic components. 
We operate a worldwide supply chain management network 
with employees dedicated to this function in our businesses 
and key countries. Our supply chain management network 
consists of a number of teams, each focusing on different 
product categories. These category teams, on global, divi-
sional and/or regional level, take advantage of opportunities 
to leverage the scale of ABB and to optimize the efficiency  
of our supply networks, in a sustainable manner.

Our supply chain management organization’s activities 

have continued to expand in recent years, to:
–  pool and leverage procurement of materials and services,
–  provide transparency of ABB’s global spending through  

a comprehensive performance and reporting system linked 
to all of our enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems,
–  strengthen ABB’s supply chain network by implementing an 

effective product category management structure and 
extensive competency-based training, and

–  monitor and develop our supply base to ensure sustainabil-

ity, both in terms of materials and processes used.

We buy many categories of products which contain steel, 
copper, aluminum, crude oil and other commodities. Continu-
ing global economic growth in many emerging economies, 
coupled with the volatility in foreign currency exchange rates, 
has led to significant fluctuations in these raw material costs 
over the last few years. While we expect global commodity 
prices to remain highly volatile, some market volatility will be 
offset through the use of long-term contracts and global 
sourcing.

Corporate and Other

Corporate and Other includes headquarters, central research 
and development, our real estate activities, Group treasury 
operations and other minor business activities. 

Corporate headquarters and stewardship activities include 

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 finan-
cial 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 orga-
nized under the five business divisions. We have two global 
research laboratories, one focused on power technologies 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 tech-
nologies and collaborates with universities and other external 
partners to support our divisions in advancing relevant tech-
nologies and in developing cross-divisional technology 
 platforms. We have corporate research operations in eight 
 countries (United States, Sweden, Switzerland, Poland, 
China, Germany, Norway and India). 

Corporate and Other had approximately 4,000 employ-

ees at December 31, 2013.

Capital expenditures

Total capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment 
and intangible assets (excluding intangibles acquired 
through business combinations) amounted to $1,106 million, 
$1,293 million and $1,021 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, 
respectively. In 2013 capital expenditures were 16 percent 
lower than depreciation and amortization, while in 2012 
and 2011, capital expenditures exceeded total depreciation 
and amortization expenses for the respective year. This 
change is due partly to a reduction in capital expenditures 
but also to an increase in amortization expense from intan-
gible assets acquired in business combinations. 

Capital expenditures in 2013 remained at a significant 

level in mature markets, reflecting the geographic distribu-
tion of our existing production facilities. Capital expenditures 
in Europe and North America in 2013 were driven primarily  
by upgrades and maintenance of existing production facilities, 
mainly in the United States, Sweden, Switzerland and Ger-
many, as well as new facilities in Sweden and the United States. 
Capital expenditures in emerging markets were reduced in 
2013 compared to 2012, with expenditures, mainly for new 
facilities, being highest in China, Poland, Brazil and Bulgaria. 
Capital expenditures in emerging markets were made to 
increase production capacity by investment in new or ex- 
panded facilities. The share of emerging markets capital 
expenditures as a percentage of total capital expenditures  
in 2013, 2012 and 2011 was 33 percent, 31 percent and 
34 percent, respectively. 

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 69

We seek to mitigate the majority of our exposure to com-

modity price risk by entering into hedges. For example, we 
manage copper and aluminum price risk using principally swap 
contracts based on prices for these commodities quoted on 
leading exchanges. ABB’s hedging policy is designed to 
safeguard margins by minimizing price volatility and providing 
a stable cost base during order execution. In addition to 
using hedging to reduce our exposure to fluctuations in raw 
materials prices, in some cases we can reduce this risk by 
incorporating changes in raw materials prices into the prices 
of our products (through price escalation clauses).

Overall, during 2013 supply chain management person-

nel in our businesses, and in the countries in which we 
 operate, along with the global category teams, continued to 
focus on value chain optimization efforts in all areas, while 
maintaining and improving quality and delivery performance.
In August 2012, the United States Securities and Ex- 

change Commission (SEC) issued its final rules regarding 
“Conflict Minerals”, as required by section 1502 of the 
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection 
Act. We have initiated processes, including working with  
our suppliers, to enable us to comply with these rules, and to 
assist our customers regarding their disclosure obligations, 
as required by these “Conflict Minerals” rules. Further 
 information on ABB’s Conflict Minerals policy and supplier 
requirements can be found under “Material Compliance”  
at www.abb.com/about/supplying

Management overview

During 2013, 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 addressed  
the challenges in several ways, as described below.

One is a long-term commitment to technology leadership 

in areas such as high-efficiency power transmission; auto-
mation 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 2013, for example, we launched Emax 2, the first 
low-voltage circuit breaker with integrated energy management 
functions. Replacing existing traditional breakers with the 
Emax 2 breaker has the potential to achieve annual electricity 
savings equivalent to the consumption of 1.4 million Euro-
pean Union households per year, corresponding to a 4-million-
ton reduction in CO2 emissions. We also entered a five-year 
joint industry program with the Norwegian oil and gas com-
pany, Statoil, to develop transmission, distribution and power-
conversion systems for subsea oil and gas installations at 
depths of up to 3,000 meters. Subsea pumping and gas 
compression contribute to improved utilization of oil and gas 
resources through greater recovery rates and reduced pro-
duction costs. We won an order in April 2013 to provide the 
world’s largest-ever mine hoist system, including a new gen-
eration of mine hoist braking technology, for a potash project 
in Canada by Australia-based mining company BHP Billiton. 
We also delivered the 262-kilometer East West Interconnec-

tor to EirGrid, the Irish transmission system operator. The 
500-megawatt transmission connection is the highest capac-
ity link of its kind to go into commercial operation. The inter-
connector enables cross-border power flows, enhances grid 
reliability, and allows Ireland to export surplus wind-generated 
electricity to the United Kingdom. In May 2013, we announced 
the development of a new technology to power the world’s 
first high-capacity flash charging electric bus system in Geneva, 
Switzerland. The ultrafast-charging system, with no overhead 
lines, enables new opportunities for next generation silent, 
flexible, zero-emission urban mass transportation. ABB was 
also recognized in February 2013 by the Massachusetts Insti-
tute of Technology (MIT) Technology Review for the hybrid 
HVDC breaker developed in 2012, placing it among the ten 
most important technology milestones of the past year.

A second way is our development and manufacturing 

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 better 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 support-
ing our large and important markets in the world’s mature 
economies. In 2013, we took further actions to adjust our geo-
graphic and portfolio balance, such as the acquisition in 
September 2013 of Turkey-based ELBI Elektrik to improve 
our position in the Turkish low-voltage products segment and 
to expand our existing business in Eastern Europe. We also 
invested $50 million in new high-voltage switchgear and distri-
bution transformer factories in India and established a joint 
venture in China to design, manufacture and service high-volt-
age instrument transformers. Furthermore, our geographic 
scope provides us with access to a large pool of talented and 
highly qualified people from very diverse cultural and busi-
ness backgrounds – a key competitive advantage. In 2013, we 
generated approximately 46 percent of our revenues from 
emerging markets. 

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 renewable power 
generation and electrically powered automobiles – as well  
as traditional markets, such as marine. For example, in 2013 
we expanded our position in the global solar inverter market 
through the acquisition of U.S.-based Power-One Inc. (Power-
One), aimed at creating the global leader in the most attrac-
tive and “intelligent” part of the photovoltaic (PV) value chain. 
We also announced plans to begin production of solar invert-
ers in South Africa to support the rapidly growing local PV 
market, adding to our existing capacities in Estonia, India and 
China. In addition, we were selected by Fastned to supply 
chargers to more than 200 electric vehicle fast-charging sta-
tions in the Netherlands, bringing an electric vehicle fast 
charger – capable of charging electric vehicles in 15–30 min-
utes – within 50 kilometers of all of the country’s 17 million 
inhabitants. We also launched the world’s first nationwide fast-
charging network for electric vehicles in Estonia, using 165 
web-connected DC fast chargers and in 2014, we announced 
a strategic collaboration with Shenzhen BYD Daimler New 
Technology to supply high-power DC chargers in China over 
the next six years for DENZA. In the marine industry, we 
delivered to a Norwegian ship owner our first Onboard DC Grid 
solution, a highly efficient power distribution, automation  

70 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

and electric propulsion system that reduces fuel consump-
tion and emissions by up to 20 percent and the space needed 
onboard for electrical equipment by up to 30 percent.

Economic uncertainties continued in 2013 in areas such 

as sovereign debt levels in Europe and the United States  
and the pace of economic recovery in various markets. As a 
result, some of our customers postponed the award of large 
infrastructure projects, mainly in the utility, mining and metals 
sectors, which was reflected in lower orders in our power 
divisions as well as our Process Automation division and, as 
a result, lower total orders in 2013. However, the broad 
scope of our business portfolio helped us mitigate some of 
these developments and we were able to take advantage  
of areas of growth. For example, our larger exposure to the 
North American automation market, through the acquisitions 
of Baldor Electric in 2011 and Thomas & Betts in 2012, 
allowed us to increase both orders and sales in our Discrete 
Automation and Motion, and Low Voltage Products divisions. 
The Process Automation division continued to benefit from 
investments in the oil and gas sector but experienced some 
order declines in the mining sector, where our customers 
have been reducing their capital expenditures in response to 
low commodity prices and overcapacity. In 2013, we main-
tained the profitability of our Power Products division despite 
the continued challenging market environment through suc-
cessful cost savings and productivity improvements as well as 
our ability to be more selective in the orders we take, thanks 
to our broad product and geographic scope. Our Power Sys-
tems division experienced weather-related delays in the 
 execution of certain offshore wind projects in December 2013 
and some operational issues that affected profitability.  
Our new management team in the division began to take 
actions in the fourth quarter to address these issues, largely 
based on accelerating the repositioning of the division – first 
announced at the end of 2012 – to focus on higher-margin 
products, systems, services and software activities. Our strong 
positions in fast-growing emerging markets and selected 
mature markets, our flexible global production base and tech-
nological leadership, as well as the operational improvements 
we continue to make in our businesses, also supported our 
business in 2013.

Foremost among these improvements was the successful 

reduction of costs to adapt to changing demand. Savings 
in 2013 amounted to more than $1 billion and were principally 
achieved by making better use of global sourcing opportu-
nities and eliminating operational and process inefficiencies.

Strategy 2011–2015

In November 2011, we announced an updated strategy for 
the period 2011 to 2015, along with financial targets to mea-
sure our success in achieving them. The strategy is based  
on five priorities:
–  Drive competitiveness in our current markets by develop-

ing, 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 re- 
source and energy efficiency, increasing urbanization, elec-
trification, digitization and growth in emerging economies.

–  Expand our core businesses to secure the next level of 

growth, for example, growing the service business by tap-
ping 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.

Furthermore, in 2011, we introduced a new target measure  
of cash return on invested capital (CROI) that we believe pro-
vides a more accurate reflection of our operational perfor-
mance by focusing on cash returns, which are less prone to 
non-operational accounting adjustments that may be applied 
to income from operations 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 (property, 
plant and equipment, goodwill, intangibles, and investments 
in equity-accounted companies) before accumulated 
 depreciation and amortization plus net working capital less 
deferred tax liabilities recognized in certain acquisitions.

In September 2013, Ulrich Spiesshofer assumed the role of 
CEO for the ABB Group and affirmed his intention to maintain 
continuity in the execution of the 2011-15 strategy. At the 
same time, he highlighted opportunities to improve the per-
formance of the company in the areas of:
–  profitable growth through a combination of improved pene-

tration of existing markets, innovation in technology and ways 
of going to market, and expansion into attractive  markets 
through both organic growth and by continuing to fill gaps 
in the business portfolio through bolt-on acquisitions,

–  business-led collaboration across our business segments 

to create more customer value by delivering our combined 
automation and power portfolio, and

–  relentless execution to drive sustainable cost savings, cash 
flow and capital efficiency and to ensure successful integra-
tions of our acquisitions to maximize the return on invest-
ment. 

In February 2014, we announced that we are entering a new 
strategic planning phase and will communicate the out-
come and new long-term targets to drive earnings per share 
and CROI at our Capital Markets Day in September 2014.

Outlook

The long-term demand outlook for our businesses remains 
clearly positive. The need for efficient and reliable electricity 
transmission and distribution will continue to increase, driven 
by factors such as: accelerating urbanization in emerging 
markets; actions to address global warming; the rapidly 
increasing power needs from digitization; and the refurbish-
ment of aging power grids. At the same time, demand for 
industrial automation solutions will grow as customers strive 

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 71

to improve productivity, efficiency, product quality, and 
safety. ABB is well positioned to tap these opportunities for 
long-term profitable growth with its strong market presence, 
broad geographic and business scope, technology leader-
ship and financial strength.

In the short term, there are some positive early-cycle 
macroeconomic signs, such as strengthening growth in the 
U.S. and the more encouraging growth in many parts of 
Europe. However, there are also some uncertainties related 
to the impacts of quantitative easing and the speed and 
strength of economic development in the emerging markets, 
especially China. 

In this market environment, ABB’s management team 
aims to systematically drive profitable organic growth through 
increased market penetration, generating more revenues 
from our pipeline of new product innovations, and expanding 
into new attractive market segments. In addition, manage-
ment intends to accelerate business-led collaboration, such 
as further developing the service business, driving the suc-
cessful integration of acquired businesses and increasing 
ABB’s productivity by focusing internal support activities on 
the needs of customers. A third priority is relentless exe-
cution, especially in the areas of cost savings, cash flow gen-
eration and returning the Power Systems division to higher 
and more consistent returns.

Application of critical  
accounting policies

General

We prepare our Consolidated Financial Statements in accor-
dance with U.S. GAAP and present these in United States 
dollars unless otherwise stated.

The preparation of our financial statements requires us  
to make assumptions and estimates 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 
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 rea-
sonable under the circumstances, the results of which form 
the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of 
assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other 
sources. Actual results may differ from our estimates and 
assumptions.

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 believe 
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 un- 
certain. 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-
defined 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 per-
formance obligations that would preclude revenue recognition.

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 
updated routinely for contracts in progress. The cumulative 
effect of any change in estimate is recorded in the period  
in which the change in estimate is determined.

The percentage-of-completion method of accounting 
involves the use of assumptions and projections, principally 
relating to future material, labor and project-related overhead 
costs. As a consequence, there is a risk that total contract 
costs will exceed those we originally estimated and the margin 
will decrease or the long-term construction-type contract 
may become unprofitable. This risk increases if the duration of 
a contract increases because there is a higher probability 
that the circumstances 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 addi-
tional costs to remedy,

–  changes in the cost of components, materials or labor,
–  difficulties in obtaining required governmental permits or 

We deem an accounting policy to be critical if it requires 

approvals,

an accounting estimate to be made based on assumptions 
about matters that are highly uncertain at the time the estimate 

–  project modifications creating unanticipated costs,
–  suppliers’ or subcontractors’ failure to perform,

72 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

–  penalties incurred as a result of not completing portions of 
the project in accordance with agreed-upon time limits, and

as revenue over the life of the contract or upon delivery of the 
undelivered element.

–  delays caused by unexpected conditions or events.

We offer multiple element arrangements to meet our cus-

Changes in our initial assumptions, which we review on  
a regular basis between balance sheet dates, may result in 
revisions to estimated costs, current earnings and antici-
pated earnings. We recognize these changes in the period in 
which the changes in estimates are determined. By recogniz-
ing 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 iden-
tified 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 customer 

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 revenues 
reflect revenues earned from our activities in providing ser-
vices to customers primarily subsequent to the sale and deliv-
ery of a product or complete system. Such revenues consist 
of maintenance-type contracts, field service activities that 
include personnel and accompanying spare parts, and instal-
lation and commissioning of products as a stand-alone ser-
vice 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 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 licenses, 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 sepa-
rately 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 unde-
livered element, the total arrangement fee will be recognized 

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. Deliverables of such multiple element arrangements 
are evaluated to determine the unit of accounting and if 
 certain criteria are met, we allocate revenues to each unit of 
accounting based on its relative selling price. 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 available. The estimated 
 selling price reflects 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 ele-
ments of an arrangement consideration 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 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 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 actual 
defaults will vary in number and amount from those originally 
estimated. As such, the amount of revenues recognized 
might exceed or fall below the amount 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, economic or political trends.

As a result of the above policies, judgment in the selection 
and application of revenue recognition methods must be made.

Contingencies

As more fully described 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 environmental, 
labor, product, regulatory, tax (other than income tax) 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 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.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 73

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 rec-
ognized on an undiscounted basis using our best estimate  
of the amount of loss or at the lower end of an estimated range 
when a single best estimate is not determinable. In some 
cases, we may be able to recover a portion of the costs relat-
ing 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 products. 
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 legal obligations to perform environmental 

clean-up activities related to land and buildings as a result  
of the normal operations of our business. 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 unconditional and cer-
tain. We recognize a provision for these obligations when it is 
probable that a liability for the clean-up activity has been 
incurred and a reasonable estimate of its fair value can be 
made. The provision is initially recognized at fair value, and 
subsequently adjusted for accrued interest and changes in 
estimates. In some cases, we may be able to recover a por-
tion of the costs expected to be incurred to settle these mat-
ters. An asset is recorded when it is probable that we will 
collect such amounts. Provisions for environmental obligations 
are not discounted to their present value when the timing of 
payments cannot be reasonably estimated. 

Pension and other postretirement  
benefits

plan. Otherwise, the actuarial gain or loss is not recognized 
in the Consolidated Income Statements.

We use actuarial valuations to determine our pension and 

postretirement benefit costs and credits. The amounts 
 calculated 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 management. 
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 pension 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 defined benefit pension plans by 
$413 million, while a 0.25 percentage-point increase in the 
discount rate would have decreased the PBO related to our 
defined benefit pension plans by $372 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 percentage-points in the 
expected long-term rate of asset return would have decreased 
or increased, respectively, the net periodic benefit cost in 
2013 by $25 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 defined ben-
efit pension plan is the difference between the PBO and the fair 
value of the plan assets. At December 31, 2013, our defined 
benefit pension plans were $1,133 million underfunded com-
pared to an underfunding of $1,781 million at December 31, 
2012. Our other postretirement plans were underfunded by 
$236 million and $281 million at December 31, 2013 and 
2012, respectively.

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 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 8.15 percent per annum for 2014, 
gradually declining to 5 percent per annum by 2028 and to 
remain at that level thereafter.

Significant differences in actual experience or significant 

changes in assumptions may materially affect the pension 
obligations. The effects of actual results differing from assump-
tions and the changing of assumptions are included in net 
actuarial loss within “Accumulated other comprehensive loss”. 
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 earnings over the expected average 
remaining working lives of the employees participating in the 

Income taxes

In preparing our Consolidated Financial Statements, we are 
required to estimate income taxes in each of the jurisdictions 
in which we operate. Tax expense from continuing opera-
tions is reconciled from the weighted-average global tax rate 
(rather than from the Swiss domestic statutory tax rate), as 
the parent company of the ABB Group, ABB Ltd, is domiciled 
in Switzerland. Income which has been generated in jurisdic-

74 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

tions outside of Switzerland (hereafter “foreign jurisdictions”) 
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 Switzer-
land for a parent company of a group to file a tax return of the 
group determining domestic and foreign pre-tax income  
and as our consolidated income from continuing operations 
is predominantly earned outside of Switzerland, corporate 
income tax in foreign jurisdictions largely determines our global 
weighted-average 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 valuation 
allowance based upon historical losses, projected future 
 taxable income and the expected timing of the reversals of ex- 
isting 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 discon-
tinued operations, in which case the change is recorded  
in “Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax”. 
Unforeseen changes in tax rates and tax laws, as well as 
 differences in the projected taxable income as compared to 
the actual taxable income, may affect these estimates.

Certain countries levy withholding taxes, dividend dis-
tribution 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, 
insofar 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 coun-
tries.

We operate in numerous tax jurisdictions and, as a result, 

are regularly subject to audit by tax authorities. 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. Contingency provisions are recorded based on the 
technical merits of our filing position, considering the appli-
cable tax laws and Organisation for Economic Co-operation 
and Development (OECD) guidelines and are based on our 
evaluations of the facts and circumstances as of the end of 
each reporting period. Changes in the facts and circum-
stances could result in a material change to the tax accruals. 

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 uncer-
tainty 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 posi-
tion 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 settle-
ment. The required amount of provisions for contingencies 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 may engage independent third-party appraisal 
firms to assist in determining the fair values.

Critical estimates in valuing certain intangible assets 
include but are not limited to: future expected cash flows of the 
acquired business, brand awareness, customer retention, 
technology obsolescence and discount rates.

In addition, uncertain tax positions and tax-related 
 valuation allowances assumed in connection with a business 
 combination are initially estimated at the acquisition date.  
We reevaluate these items quarterly, based upon facts and 
circumstances that existed at the acquisition date with any 
adjustments to our preliminary estimates being recorded to 
goodwill provided that we are within the twelve-month mea-
surement period. Subsequent to the measurement period or 
our final determination of the tax allowance’s or contingen-
cy’s estimated value, whichever comes first, changes to these 
uncertain tax positions and tax-related valuation allowances 
will affect our provision for income taxes in our Consolidated 
Income Statements and could have a material impact on  
our results of operations and financial position. The fair values 
assigned to the intangible assets acquired are described in 
“Note 3 Acquisitions” as well as “Note 11 Goodwill and other 
intangible assets”, to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 75

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 use either a quali-
tative or quantitative assessment method for each reporting 
unit. The qualitative assessment involves determining, based 
on an evaluation of qualitative factors, whether it is more 
likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than 
its carrying amount. If, based on this qualitative assessment,  
it is determined to be more likely than not that the reporting 
unit’s fair value is less than its carrying value, the two-step 
quantitative impairment test is performed. If we elect not to 
perform the qualitative assessment for a reporting unit, then 
we perform the two-step impairment test.

Our reporting units are the same as our business divi-
sions for Discrete Automation and Motion, Low Voltage Prod-
ucts, Power Products and Power Systems. For the Process 
Automation division, we determined the reporting units to be 
one level below the division, as the different products pro-
duced or services provided by this division do not share suf-
ficiently similar economic characteristics to permit testing  
of goodwill on a total division level.

When performing the qualitative assessment, we first 
determine, for a reporting unit, factors which would affect  
the fair value of the reporting unit including: (i) macroeco-
nomic conditions related to the business, (ii) industry and 
market trends, and (iii) the overall future financial perfor-
mance and future opportunities in the markets in which the 
business operates. We then consider how these factors 
would impact the most recent quantitative analysis of the 
reporting unit’s fair value. Key assumptions in determining  
the value of the reporting unit include the projected level of 
business operations, the weighted-average cost of capital, 
the income tax rate and the terminal growth rate.

If, after performing the qualitative assessment, we 

 conclude that events or circumstances have occurred which 
would indicate that it is more likely than not that the fair value 
of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value, or if we 
have elected not to perform a qualitative assessment, the two-
step quantitative impairment test is performed. In the first 
step, we calculate the fair value of the reporting unit (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) 
and compare it to the report unit’s carrying value. Where 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. However, if the carrying 
value of the net assets assigned to the reporting unit is equal 
to or exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, we would per-
form the second step of the impairment test. In the second 
step, we would determine the implied fair value of the report-
ing 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 impairment 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 (loss) from discontin-
ued operations, net of tax”.

76 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

In 2013, we performed a qualitative assessment for all  

of our reporting units except for Power Systems where we 
elected to perform a quantitative test. Based on the qualita-
tive assessments performed in 2013 and 2012 (when the 
qualitative assessment covered all our reporting units), we 
determined that it was not more likely than not that the fair 
value was below the carrying value for these reporting units, 
and as a result, concluded that it was not necessary to 
 perform the two-step quantitative impairment test. In 2011, 
under the previous accounting standard, we performed the 
first step of the two-step impairment test described above on 
all reporting units. As the fair values of all reporting units in 
2011 exceeded their carrying values, we determined that none 
of the reporting units was at “risk” of failing the goodwill im- 
pairment test. Consequently, the second step of the impair-
ment test was not performed and we concluded goodwill 
was not impaired in 2011.

The quantitative test for Power Systems was undertaken 

in response to the low order intake in 2013. The calculated 
fair value of the Power Systems reporting unit on October 1, 
2013, exceeded the reporting unit’s carrying value by more 
than 50 percent and as the carrying value was not zero or 
negative, we concluded that Power Systems was not “at risk” 
of failing the goodwill impairment test. Consequently, the 
second step of the impairment test was not performed.

The projected future cash flows used in the fair value cal-

culation for Power Systems were based on an approved 
business plan for the reporting unit which covered a period of 
four years plus a calculated terminal value. The projected 
future cash flows required significant estimates and judgments 
involving variables such as future sales volumes, sales prices, 
awards of large orders, production and other operating 
costs, capital expenditures, net working capital requirements 
and other economic factors. The after-tax weighted-average 
cost of capital used (9 percent) was 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 was assumed to be 1 percent. The 
mid-term tax rate used in the test was 27 percent. We based 
our fair value estimates on assumptions we believed to be 
reasonable, but which are inherently uncertain. Consequently, 
actual future results may differ from those estimates. 

The assumptions used in the fair value calculation were 

challenged through the use of sensitivity analysis to deter-
mine the impact on the fair value of the reporting unit. Our 
sensitivity analysis for Power Systems in 2013 showed no 
significant change in fair values if the assumptions changed. 
A 1 percentage-point increase in the discount rate would 
have reduced the calculated fair value by approximately 11 per-
cent, while a 1 percentage-point decrease in the terminal 
value growth rate would have reduced the calculated fair value 
by approximately 7.5 percent.

Intangible assets are reviewed for recoverability upon the 

occurrence of certain triggering events (such as a decision  
to divest a business or projected losses of an entity) or when-
ever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the 
carrying amount may not be recoverable. We record impair-
ment charges in “Other income (expense), net”, in our Con-
solidated Income Statements, unless they relate to a discon-
tinued operation, in which case the charges are recorded  
in “Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax”.

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.

Research  
and development

Each year, we invest significantly in research and develop-
ment. Our research and development focuses on developing 
and commercializing the technologies of our businesses  
that are of strategic importance to our future growth. In 2013, 
2012 and 2011, we invested $1,470 million, $1,464 million  
and $1,371 million, respectively, or approximately 3.5 percent, 
3.7 percent and 3.6 percent, respectively, of our annual con-
solidated revenues on research and development activities. 
We also had expenditures of $274 million, $282 million and 
$338 million, respectively, or approximately 0.7 percent, 
0.7 percent and 0.9 percent, respectively, of our annual con-
solidated revenues in 2013, 2012 and 2011, on order-related 
development activities. These are customer- and project-
specific development efforts that we undertake to develop 
or adapt equipment and systems to the unique needs of  
our customers in connection with specific orders or projects. 
Order-related development amounts are initially recorded in 
inventories as part of the work in process of a contract and 
then are reflected in cost of sales at the time revenue is rec-
ognized in accordance with our accounting policies.

In addition to continuous product development, and order-

related engineering work, we develop platforms for technol-
ogy applications in our automation and power businesses in 
our research and development laboratories, which operate 
on a global basis. Through active management of our invest-
ment in research and development, we seek to maintain  
a balance between short-term and long-term research and 
development programs and optimize our return on invest-
ment.

Our research and development strategy focuses on three 

objectives: (i) to monitor and develop emerging technologies 
and create an innovative, sustainable technology base for ABB, 
(ii) to develop technology platforms that enable efficient 
 product design for our power and automation customers, and 
(iii) to create the next generation of power and automation 
products and systems that we believe will be the engines of 
profitable growth.

Universities are incubators of future technology, and a 

central task of our research and development team is to 
transform university research into industry-ready technology 
platforms. We collaborate with a number of universities  
and research institutions to build research networks and 
 foster new technologies. We believe these collaborations 
shorten the amount of time required to turn basic ideas into 
viable products, and they additionally help us recruit and 
train new personnel. We have built numerous university part-
nerships in the U.S., Europe and Asia, including long-term, 
strategic relationships with the Carnegie Mellon University, 
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich, EPFL 
Lausanne, Chalmers Gothenburg, KTH Stockholm, Cambridge 
University and Imperial College London. Our collaborative 
projects include research on materials, sensors, micro-engi-
neered mechanical systems, robotics, controls, manufactur-
ing, distributed power and communication. Common platforms 
for power and automation technologies are developed around 
advanced materials, efficient manufacturing, information 
technology and data communication, as well as sensor and 
actuator technology.

Common applications of basic power and automation 
technologies can also be found in power electronics, electrical 
insulation, and control and optimization. Our power technolo-
gies, including our insulation technologies, current interruption 
and limitation devices, power electronics, flow control and 
power protection processes, apply as much to large, reliable, 
blackout-free transmission systems as they do to everyday 
household needs. Our automation technologies, including our 
control and optimization processes, power electronics, sen-
sors and microelectronics, mechatronics and wireless com-
munication processes, are designed to improve efficiency in 
plants and factories around the world, including our own.

Acquisitions

During 2013, 2012 and 2011, ABB paid $897 million, $3,643 mil-
lion and $3,805 million to purchase 7, 9 and 10 new busi-
nesses, respectively. The amounts exclude changes in cost 
and equity investments.

There were no significant acquisitions in 2013; the largest 

being Power-One, acquired in July 2013.

The principal acquisition in 2012 was Thomas & Betts, 
which was acquired in May 2012. Thomas & Betts designs, 
manufactures and markets components used to manage the 
connection, distribution, transmission and reliability of elec-
trical power in industrial, construction and utility applications. 
The complementary combination of Thomas & Betts’ elec-
trical components and ABB’s low-voltage protection, control 
and measurement products creates a broader low-voltage 
portfolio (in our Low Voltage Products division) that can be 
distributed through Thomas & Betts’ network of more than 
6,000 distributor locations and wholesalers in North America, 
and through ABB’s well-established distribution channels  
in Europe and Asia.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 77

The principal acquisition in 2011 was Baldor Electric 
Company (Baldor), acquired in January 2011. Baldor markets, 
designs and manufactures industrial electric motors, mechan- 
ical 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 
motors product line, as well as adding Baldor’s growing 
mechanical power transmission business.

For more information on our acquisitions, see “Note 3 

Acquisitions” 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 cur-
rencies may affect: (i) our profitability, (ii) the comparability of 
our results between periods, and (iii) the reported 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 relevant 
monthly average currency exchange rate.

Increases and decreases in the value of the USD against 

other currencies will affect the reported results of opera-
tions 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 orig-
inal currency. As foreign exchange rates impact our reported 
results of operations and the reported value of our assets 
and liabilities, changes in foreign exchange rates could signif-
icantly 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 stockhold-
ers’ equity.

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, 2013, 2012 and 2011, 
were as follows:

Exchange rates into $

EUR 1.00

CHF 1.00

2013

1.38

1.12

2012

1.32

1.09

2011

1.29

1.06

The average exchange rates between the USD and the EUR 
and the USD and the CHF for the years ended December 31, 
2013, 2012 and 2011, were as follows:

Exchange rates into $

EUR 1.00

CHF 1.00

2013

1.33

1.08

2012

1.29

1.07

2011

1.39

1.13

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 im-
pact 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 opera-
tions.

In 2013, approximately 81 percent of our consolidated reve-
nues were reported in currencies other than USD. The follow-
ing percentages of consolidated revenues were reported in 
the following currencies:
–  Euro, approximately 19 percent,
–  Chinese renminbi, approximately 10 percent,
–  Swedish krona, approximately 6 percent, and 
–  Canadian dollar, approximately 5 percent.

In 2013, approximately 79 percent of our cost of sales and 
selling, general and administrative expenses were reported in 
currencies other than USD. The following percentages of 
consolidated cost of sales and selling, general and adminis-
trative expenses were reported in the following currencies:
–  Euro, approximately 18 percent,
–  Chinese renminbi, approximately 9 percent,
–  Swedish krona, approximately 5 percent, and
–  Canadian dollar, 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.

The discussion of our results of operations below pro-
vides certain information with respect to orders, revenues, 
income from operations 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 comparison. 
 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.

78 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

While we consider our results of operations as measured 

The undiscounted value of revenues we expect to gener-

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, provide a more complete understanding of factors 
and trends affecting the business. As local currency informa-
tion 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 encour-
age investors to review our financial statements and publicly-
filed reports in their entirety and not to rely on any single 
financial measure.

Transactions with 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 
believe that the terms of the transactions we conduct with 
these companies are negotiated on an arm’s length basis.

Orders

Our policy is to 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 undiscounted value of revenues that we expect to 
 recognize following 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 begin-
ning 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.

ate from our orders at any point in time is represented by our 
order backlog. Approximately 11 percent of the value of total 
orders we recorded in 2013 were “large orders,” which we 
define as orders from third parties involving a value of at least 
$15 million for products or services. Approximately 43 per-
cent of the total value of large orders in 2013 were recorded 
by our Power Systems division and approximately 29 per-
cent in our Process Automation division. The Power Products 
division and the Discrete Automation and Motion division 
accounted for the remainder of the total large orders recorded 
during 2013. The remaining portion of total orders recorded 
in 2013 was “base orders,” which we define as orders from 
third parties with a value of less than $15 million for products 
or services.

The level of orders fluctuates from year to year. 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. Conse-
quently, 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

We evaluate the performance of our divisions primarily based 
on orders received, revenues and Operational EBITDA.

Operational EBITDA represents income from operations 

excluding depreciation and amortization, restructuring and 
restructuring-related expenses, and acquisition-related 
expenses and certain non-operational items, as well as for-
eign exchange/commodity timing differences in income  
from operations consisting of: (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, 
and (iii) unrealized foreign exchange movements on receiv-
ables/payables (and related assets/liabilities).

See “Note 23 Operating segment and geographic data” 

to our Consolidated Financial Statements for a reconcilia-
tion of the total consolidated Operational EBITDA to income 
from continuing operations before taxes.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 79

Analysis of results  
of operations

Orders

($ in millions)

2013

2012

2011

2013

2012

% Change

Our consolidated results from operations were as follows:

($ in millions,

except per share data in $)

Orders

Order backlog at December 31,

2013

38,896

26,046

2012

40,232

29,298

2011

40,210

27,508

Discrete Automation  

and Motion

Low Voltage Products

9,771

7,696

9,625

9,566

6,720

5,364

Process Automation

8,000

8,704

8,726

2%

15%

(8)%

(5)%

1%

25%

–

–

Power Products

Power Systems

10,459

11,040 11,068

5,949

7,973

9,278

(25)% (14)%

Operating divisions

41,875

44,062 44,002

(5)%

–

Corporate and Other(1)

(2,979)

(3,830)

(3,792)

n.a.

n.a.

Revenues

Cost of sales

Gross profit

41,848

39,336

37,990

Total 

38,896

40,232 40,210

(3)%

–

(29,856)

(27,958)

(26,556)

11,992

11,378

11,434

(1)

Includes interdivisional eliminations

Selling, general and administrative 

expenses

(6,094)

(5,756)

(5,373)

Non-order related research and 

development expenses

Other income (expense), net

Income from operations 

Net interest and other finance 

 expense

Provision for taxes

Income from continuing 

(1,470)

(41)

4,387

(321)

(1,122)

(1,464)

(100)

4,058

(1,371)

(23)

4,667

(220)

(117)

(1,030)

(1,244)

 operations, net of tax

2,944

2,808

3,306

Income (loss) 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 attrib­

utable 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 

(37)

2,907

(120)

2,787

4

9

2,812

3,315

(108)

2,704

(147)

3,168

2,824

2,787

2,700

2,704

3,159

3,168

1.23

1.21

1.18

1.18

1.38

1.38

1.23

1.21

1.18

1.18

1.38

1.38

A more detailed discussion of the orders, revenues, Oper-
ational EBITDA and income from operations for our divi-
sions follows in the sections of “Divisional analysis” below 
entitled “Discrete Automation and Motion,” “Low Voltage 
Products,” “Process Automation,” “Power Products,” “Power 
Systems” and “Corporate and Other.” Orders and revenues  
of our divisions include interdivisional transactions which are 
eliminated in the “Corporate and Other” line in the tables 
 below.

In 2013, total order volume declined 3 percent (3 percent in 
local currencies) as lower large orders were not offset by base 
order growth. Orders were supported by our automation 
 divisions where customer investments to improve operational 
efficiency and the demand for services increased during the 
year. The key demand drivers for the power divisions, such as 
capacity expansion in emerging markets, upgrading of aging 
infrastructure in mature markets and the integration of renew-
able energy supplies into power grids, remain intact. Despite 
strong project tendering activity, some customers have delayed 
order awards due to macroeconomic uncertainties and this 
has resulted in order declines in the power divisions compared 
to 2012.

Supported by growth in the second half of the year, 
orders in the Discrete Automation and Motion division grew 
2 percent (2 percent in local currencies) in 2013, as higher 
orders in the Robotics business and the positive impact of 
acquiring Power-One more than compensated the decreases 
in the Motors and Generators business. Orders increased 
15 percent (14 percent in local currencies) in the Low Voltage 
Products division, due primarily to the impact of including 
Thomas & Betts for the full year in 2013 (compared to approx-
imately seven months in 2012). In addition, orders in all busi-
nesses in this division grew except the Low Voltage Systems 
business. Orders in the Process Automation division de- 
creased 8 percent (8 percent in local currencies) as stable 
orders in the product businesses were more than offset by 
the impact of lower large orders. Orders decreased 5 percent 
(5 percent in local currencies) in the Power Products division, 
mainly driven by lower transformer orders. Significantly lower 
large orders led to a decline of 25 percent (25 percent in 
local currencies) in orders in the Power Systems division as 
customers postponed large investments and as a result of 
our order selectivity and focus on higher-margin business that 
is part of the division’s strategic repositioning (announced 
in December 2012). 

During 2013, base orders grew 2 percent (2 percent in 

local currencies) as the economic environment improved in 
the second half of 2013. As fewer large orders from projects 
in the Power Systems and Process Automation divisions 
were received, large orders declined 31 percent (31 percent 
in local currencies).

In 2012, total order volume remained on the same level 

as 2011 (increased 4 percent in local currencies and was 
steady, in local currencies, excluding Thomas & Betts) despite 
challenging markets.

80 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

 
 
 
 
 
 
In 2012, order growth was 1 percent (4 percent in local 
currencies) in the Discrete Automation and Motion division, 
reflecting the generally low growth in industrial production in 
most markets and weakness in the renewable energy sector  
in 2012. Orders were 25 percent higher in the Low Voltage 
Products division (29 percent in local currencies) mainly due to 
Thomas & Betts (flat in local currencies excluding Thomas & 
Betts). The Process Automation division’s orders reached the 
prior year’s level (increase of 4 percent in local currencies) 
supported by demand from the oil and gas and the mining 
sectors. Orders in the Power Products division were flat 
compared to the previous year (increased 3 percent in local 
currencies) as the distribution sector remained stable and 
industrial demand was supported by demand from the oil and 
gas sector. In the Power Systems division, orders declined 
14 percent (10 percent in local currencies) as capital expendi-
tures in power infrastructure continued to be restrained due 
to ongoing economic uncertainties, especially in certain 
mature economies. Transmission utilities invested selectively, 
with emerging markets focusing on capacity addition and 
mature markets focusing mainly on existing grid upgrades.
Base orders growth slowed in the first half of 2012  
as economic growth remained under pressure, however base 
orders remained on the same level as 2011, primarily driven 
by demand for industrial automation and energy-saving equip-
ment. In the second half of 2012, base orders increased 
moderately due to Thomas & Betts. During 2012, base orders 
grew 3 percent (6 percent in local currencies or 1 percent,  
in local currencies, excluding Thomas & Betts). Following the 
double-digit growth in 2011, large orders in 2012 decreased 
11 percent (7 percent in local currencies) as fewer large proj-
ects were recorded in the power divisions.

We determine the geographic distribution of our orders 
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 orders was as fol-
lows:

compensated declines in Italy, the United Kingdom, Russia 
as well as in most Nordic countries. Orders decreased  
in MEA by 8 percent (7 percent in local currencies) as large 
orders received in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates 
could not offset lower large orders from the power sector in 
Saudi Arabia and Iraq, as well as from the oil and gas sector 
in Oman. 

In 2012, orders grew 28 percent (32 percent in local 
 currencies) in the Americas due to Thomas & Betts (which 
operates primarily in the U.S. and Canada), as well as on 
organic growth in existing businesses. The U.S. recorded 
higher orders in every division. Additionally, Canada and Bra-
zil remained significant growth areas in this region. In Asia, 
orders were down 15 percent (13 percent in local currencies) 
primarily on lower large orders from the power sector in 
China and India, as well as from the marine sector in South 
Korea. Europe declined 11 percent (6 percent in local curren-
cies) despite increases in Finland and the United Kingdom, 
as a $1 billion offshore wind order in Germany received in 
2011 was not repeated in 2012, as well as on lower orders in 
Sweden, Norway and Italy. Orders grew in MEA by 23 per-
cent (28 percent in local currencies) on large orders from the 
power sector in Saudi Arabia, solar power orders in South 
Africa as well as orders from the oil and gas sector in Oman.

Order backlog

($ in millions)

2013

2012

2011

2013

2012

December 31,

% Change

Discrete Automation  

and Motion

Low Voltage Products

Process Automation

Power Products

Power Systems

4,351

1,057

5,772

7,946

4,426

4,120

1,117

887

(2)%

(5)%

6,416

5,771

(10)%

8,493

8,029

(6)%

9,435

12,107 11,570

(22)%

Operating divisions

28,561

32,559 30,377 (12)%

Corporate and Other(1)

(2,515)

(3,261)

(2,869)

n.a.

7%

26%

11%

6%

5%

7%

n.a.

7%

% Change

Total 

26,046

29,298 27,508

(11)%

($ in millions)

Europe 

The Americas 

Asia 

2013

2012

2011

2013

2012

13,334

13,512 15,202

(1)% (11)%

11,365

12,152

9,466

(6)%

28%

10,331

10,346 12,103

–

(15)%

Middle East and Africa

3,866

4,222

3,439

(8)%

23%

Total

38,896

40,232 40,210

(3)%

–

Orders in 2013 declined 6 percent (5 percent in local curren-
cies) in the Americas, driven by lower orders in Brazil and 
lower large orders in the power sector in the U.S. and Canada. 
However, orders in the U.S. remained stable as base order 
growth (due to the impact of including Thomas & Betts for the 
full year in 2013) compensated lower large power orders.  
In Asia, orders remained unchanged (increased 1 percent in 
local currencies) as growth in the automation divisions was 
offset by lower orders in the power businesses, primarily in 
India and Australia. China returned to growth as most divi-
sions received higher orders than in the previous year from 
that country. Europe declined 1 percent (decrease of 3 per-
cent in local currencies), as a moderate increase in the indus-
trial sectors was offset by lower orders in the power divi-
sions. Order growth in Germany, France and Spain mostly 

(1)

Includes interdivisional eliminations

In 2013, consolidated order backlog declined 11 percent 
(10 percent in local currencies) with decreases in all divisions 
but primarily decreases in the Power Systems and Process 
Automation divisions. The decrease in the Power Systems 
division was due mainly to customers postponing investments, 
resulting in delays in the award of large orders, as well as 
 reduced order intake resulting from the division’s increased 
project selectivity, as part of the division’s repositioning 
 announced in December 2012. Order backlog in the Process 
Automation division decreased primarily due to a reduction  
in large orders received in the industrial sector. Despite an im-
provement of the macroeconomic environment in the second 
half of the year, order backlog in the Low Voltage Products 
division as well as in the Discrete Automation and Motion di-
vision was below the respective levels at the end of 2012. 

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 81

In 2012, order backlog increased 7 percent (5 percent in local 
currencies) compared to 2011. Although global economic 
conditions remained challenging, order backlog increased in 
2012 in the Discrete Automation and Motion division. While 
the Low Voltage Products division grew, a substantial portion 
of the increase in the order backlog was due to Thomas & 
Betts. The order backlog in the Process Automation division 
grew on orders from the mining as well as the oil and gas 
sectors. The order backlog in the Power Products division 
grew in all businesses in 2012 while the Power Systems 
 division also increased its order backlog despite a lower level 
of large orders.

Revenues

($ in millions)

2013

2012

2011

2013

2012

% Change

Thomas & Betts, revenues decreased 4 percent (stable in 
local currencies) following double-digit growth in 2011. Rev-
enues in the Process Automation division were 2 percent 
lower but increased 2 percent in local currencies supported 
by demand from oil and gas related sectors, while revenues 
declined in other businesses such as Turbochargers and Full 
Service. Revenues in the Power Products division declined 
1 percent (increased 2 percent in local currencies) impacted 
by lower revenues from the Transformers business. In the 
Power Systems division, revenues were 3 percent lower but 
increased 2 percent in local currencies, as orders recorded 
in the previous year were executed and translated into 
 revenues.

We determine the geographic distribution of our revenues 

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 revenues was  
as follows:

Discrete Automation  

and Motion

Low Voltage Products

Process Automation

Power Products

Power Systems

9,915

7,729

8,497

9,405

8,806

5%

6,638

5,304

16%

8,156

8,300

11,032

10,717 10,869

8,375

7,852

8,101

($ in millions)

Europe 

The Americas 

Asia 

7%

25%

(2)%

(1)%

(3)%

3%

n.a.

4%

4%

3%

7%

7%

n.a.

6%

2013

2012

2011

2013

2012

% Change

14,385

14,073 14,657

2%

12,115

10,699

9,043

13%

11,230

10,750 10,136

(4)%

18%

6%

(8)%

4%

4%

8%

6%

Middle East and Africa

4,118

3,814

4,154

Total

41,848

39,336 37,990

Operating divisions

45,548

42,768 41,380

Corporate and Other(1)

(3,700)

(3,432)

(3,390)

Total 

41,848

39,336 37,990

(1)

Includes interdivisional eliminations

Revenues in 2013 increased 6 percent (7 percent in local 
currencies) due primarily to execution from prior year’s high 
order backlog and due to the impact of including Thomas  
& Betts for the full year in 2013. 

Revenues rose 5 percent (5 percent in local currencies) 
in the Discrete Automation and Motion division as the Robot-
ics business grew for the fourth consecutive year. In the 
Low Voltage Products division, revenues grew 16 percent 
(16 percent in local currencies) as most businesses recorded 
higher revenues, and due to the impact of including Thomas 
& Betts for the full year in 2013. Revenues in the Process 
Automation division, were 4 percent (5 percent in local cur-
rencies) higher in 2013, supported by the execution of orders 
from the 2012 order backlog, especially in the marine, min-
ing, and oil and gas sectors. Revenues in the Power Products 
division increased 3 percent (3 percent in local currencies), 
as all businesses reported higher revenues, assisted by strong 
order execution from the 2012 order backlog. In the Power 
Systems division, revenues increased 7 percent (8 percent in 
local currencies) on execution from the 2012 order backlog, 
led by the Power Generation and Grid Systems businesses.
In 2012, revenues increased 4 percent (7 percent in  
local currencies) based on a solid order level recorded in the 
previous year, as well as on the impact of Thomas & Betts. 
Excluding Thomas & Betts, revenues were steady, decreasing 
1 percent despite a difficult economic environment (increase 
of 3 percent in local currencies).

In 2012, revenues rose 7 percent (10 percent in local 
 currencies) in the Discrete Automation and Motion division, 
as the Robotics business continued to grow at a double- 
digit rate. In the Low Voltage Products division, revenues 
grew 25 percent (29 percent in local currencies); excluding 

82 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

In 2013, revenues in Europe increased 2 percent (flat in local 
currencies) with higher revenues in all divisions except Power 
Systems. Revenue increases in Sweden, Norway, United 
Kingdom, Finland, France and the Netherlands more than 
offset revenue declines in Germany, Italy, Switzerland and 
Spain. Revenues from the Americas increased 13 percent 
(15 percent in local currencies) with higher revenues in all 
five divisions, and from the impact of including Thomas & 
Betts for the full year in 2013. Revenues increased at a 
 double-digit rate in the U.S., Canada and Brazil, the main 
markets in this region. Revenues from Asia increased 4 per-
cent (6 percent in local currencies) with stable or higher 
 revenues in all divisions except Power Products. The revenue 
increase in Asia was due to higher revenues from the Low 
Voltage Products division, as well as the successful execution, 
in the Process Automation division, of marine orders for the 
oil and gas sector in China and South Korea. In India revenues 
grew moderately. Revenues in MEA grew by 8 percent 
(11 percent in local currencies) primarily from increases in the 
Power Products division, while revenues from the oil and  
gas sector declined. Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Iraq 
recorded significant revenue increases.

In 2012, revenues in Europe decreased 4 percent (in- 
creased 2 percent in local currencies), despite growth in the 
Discrete Automation and Motion division, as the other divi-
sions recorded lower revenues. Growth in Germany, Sweden, 
Norway and the United Kingdom was offset by declines in 
Italy, France and Spain. Revenues from the Americas increased 
18 percent (20 percent in local currencies and 4 percent, in 
local currencies, excluding Thomas & Betts) on higher indus-
trial demand for the automation divisions. The U.S. grew 
25 percent (8 percent excluding Thomas & Betts), while Brazil 
recorded lower revenues than in the previous year. Revenues 
from Asia increased 6 percent (8 percent in local currencies) 

on growth in all divisions. Within this region, revenues in 
South Korea grew on the execution of large marine orders, 
while China recorded stable revenues and India recorded 
lower revenues. Revenues in MEA declined 8 percent (5 per-
cent in local currencies) on lower revenues generated in the 
power and the oil and gas sectors in the region.

Selling, general and administrative 
 expenses

The components of selling, general and administrative 
 expenses were as follows:

Cost of sales

Cost of sales consists primarily of labor, raw materials and 
component costs but also includes indirect production costs, 
expenses for warranties, contract and project charges, as 
well as order-related development expenses incurred in con-
nection with projects for which corresponding revenues 
have been recognized.

($ in millions)

Selling expenses

2013

4,071

2012

3,862

2011

3,533

Selling expenses as a percentage 

of orders received

10.5%

9.6%

8.8%

General and administrative 

 expenses

2,023

1,894

1,840

General and administrative 

 expenses as a percentage  

of  revenues

Total selling, general  

4.8%

4.8%

4.8%

In 2013, cost of sales increased 7 percent (8 percent in 

and administrative expenses

6,094

5,756

5,373

local currencies) to $29,856 million. As a percentage of 
 revenues, cost of sales increased from 71.1 percent in 2012 
to 71.3 percent in 2013. Despite margin improvements in 
the Low Voltage Products division, cost of sales as a percent-
age of revenues increased due to a negative business mix 
and margin reductions on the execution of lower margin 
orders from the backlog in the Power Products division. Fur-
thermore, additional negative impacts from project-related 
charges in the Power Systems division were recorded. Cost 
of sales as a percentage of service revenues decreased  
due to productivity gains and a positive business mix.

Total selling, general and  

administrative expenses  

as a  percentage of revenues

14.6%

14.6%

14.1%

Total selling, general and 

 administrative expenses  

as a  percentage of the average  

of orders received and revenues

15.1%

14.5%

13.7%

In 2013, selling expenses increased 5 percent (5 percent  
in local currencies) mainly due to the increase in the number 
of sales-related employees added in certain key markets.

In 2012, cost of sales increased 5 percent (9 percent  

In 2012, selling expenses increased 9 percent (14 percent 

in local currencies) to $27,958 million. Excluding the impact 
from Thomas & Betts, cost of sales increased 1 percent 
(5 percent in local currencies). As a percentage of revenues, 
cost of sales increased to 71.1 percent from 69.9 percent  
in 2011. Higher cost of sales as a percentage of revenues is 
the result of price erosion on the execution of order backlog, 
an unfavorable business mix arising from a higher propor-
tion of revenues generated from lower margin types of busi-
ness, margin erosion in certain projects and charges asso-
ciated with repositioning the Power Systems division. Such 
cost increases were partly compensated by cost saving 
 initiatives.

in local currencies); excluding Thomas & Betts, selling ex- 
penses increased 4 percent (9 percent in local currencies) 
compared to 2011. The increase in selling expenses in 2012 
was mainly driven by additional sales force employees to 
develop new markets and implement sales and marketing pro-
grams in order to secure market positions in a competitive 
environment.

In 2013, general and administrative expenses increased  
7 percent (7 percent in local currencies) driven partly by the 
incremental costs of newly-acquired companies and invest-
ment in information technology infrastructure. However, gen-
eral and administrative expenses as a percentage of reve-
nues, remained unchanged.

In 2012, general and administrative expenses increased 

3 percent (6 percent in local currencies). Excluding Thomas & 
Betts, general and administrative expenses declined 5 per-
cent (2 percent in local currencies), reflecting tighter cost con-
trol throughout the organization. As a percentage of revenues, 
general and administrative expenses remained unchanged.

In 2013, selling, general and administrative expenses in- 
creased 6 percent (6 percent in local currencies). As a percent-
age of the average of orders and revenues, selling, general 
and administrative expenses increased 0.6 percentage-points 
to 15.1 percent, primarily due to the decrease in orders 
received and increased selling expenses (explained above). 
In 2012, selling, general and administrative expenses 
increased 7 percent (11 percent in local currencies). Excluding 
Thomas & Betts, selling, general and administrative ex- 
penses increased 1 percent (5 percent in local currencies). As 
a percentage of the average of orders and revenues, selling, 
general and administrative expenses increased 0.8 percent-
age-points to 14.5 percent as orders intake was flat. 

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 83

Non-order related research and  
development expenses

In 2013 and 2012, changes in income from operations were  
a result of the factors discussed above and in the divisional 
analysis below.

In 2013, non-order related research and development 
expenses remained flat (declined 1 percent in local curren-
cies).

In 2012, non-order related research and development 
expenses increased 7 percent (11 percent in local curren-
cies), mainly due to increased research and development 
activities, as well as to the incremental costs of newly-
acquired companies.

Non-order related research and development expenses 

as a percentage of revenues decreased to 3.5 percent in 
2013, after increasing slightly to 3.7 percent in 2012 from 
3.6 percent in 2011.

Other income (expense), net

($ in millions)

2013

2012

2011

Restructuring and restructuring-

related expenses(1)

Net gains on sale of assets

Asset impairments 

Income from equity-accounted 

companies and other income 

 (expense)

Total 

(1)

Excluding asset impairments

(45)

15

(29)

18

(41)

(54)

28

(111)

37

(100)

(26)

40

(29)

(8)

(23)

“Other income (expense), net” primarily includes certain 
 restructuring and restructuring-related expenses, gains or 
losses from the sale of businesses and sale of property, 
plant and equipment, recognized asset impairments, as well 
as license income and our share of income or loss from 
 equity-accounted companies. “Other income (expense), net” 
decreased to an expense of $41 million from $100 million in 
2012, mostly due to the impact in 2012 of $87 million of impair-
ments recognized for certain equity-method investments. 
“Other income (expense), net” increased to an expense of 
$100 million in 2012 from $23 million in 2011, due primarily  
to the $87 million impairments recorded in 2012.

Income from operations

($ in millions)

2013

2012

2011

2013

2012

% Change

Discrete Automation  

and Motion

Low Voltage Products

Process Automation

Power Products

Power Systems

1,458

1,092

990

1,469

1,294

856

912

904

963

(1)%

28%

9%

14%

(5)%

(5)%

1,331

1,328

1,476

–

(10)%

171

7

548

n.a.

n.a.

Operating divisions

5,042

4,572

5,185

10% (12)%

Corporate and Other

(650)

(524)

(542)

24%

(3)%

Intersegment elimination

(5)

10

24

Total

4,387

4,058

4,667

8% (13)%

84 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

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 credit 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

2013

69

(390)

2012

73

(293)

2011

90

(207)

Net interest and other  

finance expense

(321)

(220)

(117)

In 2013, “Interest and dividend income” declined compared 
to 2012, mainly resulting from lower cash and equivalents, 
and marketable securities and short-term investments bal-
ances during 2013.

In 2012, “Interest and dividend income” declined com-

pared to 2011, due primarily to the impact of lower market 
interest rates for certain currencies, mainly the euro.

In 2013, “Interest and other finance expense” increased 

compared to 2012, mainly resulting from (i) the increase in 
interest expense, as bonds issued in 2012 were outstanding 
for a full year in 2013, and (ii) interest expense in 2012 
included a release of provisions for expected interest due on 
certain income tax obligations, primarily due to the favor-
able resolution of a tax dispute – see “Note 16 Taxes” to our 
Consolidated Financial Statements.

In 2012, “Interest and other finance expense” increased 

compared to 2011, primarily reflecting (i) higher interest 
expense due to higher debt (resulting from the issuance of 
bonds in 2012), partially offset by (ii) the impact of a net 
release of provisions for expected interest due on tax penal-
ties, as described above.

Provision for taxes

($ in millions)

Income from continuing 

 operations, before taxes 

Provision for taxes

Effective tax rate for the year

2013

2012

2011

4,066

(1,122)

27.6%

3,838

(1,030)

26.8%

4,550

(1,244)

27.3%

The provision for taxes in 2013 included a net increase in val-
uation allowance on deferred taxes of $31 million, as we deter-
mined it was not more likely than not that such deferred tax 
assets would be realized. This amount included an expense of 
$104 million related to certain of our operations in Central Eu-
rope and South America. It also included a benefit of $42 mil-
lion related to certain of our operations in Central Europe.

 
The provision for taxes in 2012 included a net increase in 

valuation allowance on deferred taxes of $44 million, as we 
determined it was not more likely than not that such deferred 
tax assets would be realized. This amount included $36 mil-
lion related to certain of our operations in Central Europe.

The provision for taxes in 2011 included 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 2013, 2012 and 2011, also 
included tax credits, arising in foreign jurisdictions, for which 
the technical merits did not allow a benefit to be taken.

conditions under our share-based payment arrangements. 
See “Note 20 Earnings per share” to our Consolidated Finan-
cial Statements.

Divisional analysis

Discrete Automation and Motion

The financial results of our Discrete Automation and Motion 
division were as follows:

Income from continuing operations,  
net of tax

($ in millions) 

Orders 

As a result of the factors discussed above, income from 
 continuing operations, net of tax, increased $136 million  
to $2,944 million in 2013 compared to 2012, and decreased 
$498 million to $2,808 million in 2012 compared to 2011.

Order backlog at Dec. 31,

Revenues 

Income from operations

Operational EBITDA

% Change

2013

9,771

4,351

9,915

1,458

1,783

2012

2011

2013

2012

9,625

9,566

4,426

4,120

9,405

8,806

1,469

1,294

1,735

1,664

2%

(2)%

5%

(1)%

3%

1%

7%

7%

14%

4%

Income (loss) from discontinued 
 operations, net of tax

The loss (net of tax) from discontinued operations for 2013 
related primarily to provisions for certain environmental 
 obligations. The income from discontinued operations, net  
of tax, for 2012 and 2011 was not significant.

Net income attributable to ABB

As a result of the factors discussed above, net income 
 attributable to ABB increased $83 million to $2,787 million  
in 2013 compared to 2012, and decreased $464 million to 
$2,704 million in 2012 compared to 2011.

Earnings per share attributable  
to ABB shareholders

(in $)

Income from continuing 

 operations, net of tax:

  Basic

  Diluted

Net income attributable to ABB:

  Basic

  Diluted

2013

2012

2011

1.23

1.23

1.21

1.21

1.18

1.18

1.18

1.18

1.38

1.38

1.38

1.38

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 dilu-
tive securities comprise: outstanding written call options; 
outstanding options and shares granted subject to certain 

Orders
Orders in 2013 were up 2 percent (2 percent in local curren-
cies) as both the growth in orders in our Robotics business 
and the impact of including Power-One (acquired July 2013) 
were partly offset by decreases in orders in our Motors 
and Generators business. Orders were negatively impacted 
by weak industrial demand in mature markets and reduced 
growth rates in emerging markets compared to 2012. In the 
Robotics business, strong demand from the automotive 
 sector generated high levels of orders, while orders in the 
Motors and Generators business were lower due to weak 
market demand for industrial motors. In addition, orders in- 
creased due to large orders received from rail customers  
in our Power Conversion business. Orders in the Drives and 
Controls business were steady compared to 2012.

In 2012, orders were flat (up 4 percent in local currencies) 

due to slower industrial growth globally in a more challeng-
ing macroeconomic environment. Lower demand from the re- 
newable energy sector was offset by increased volumes  
from large orders in other sectors. The highest growth was 
achieved in the Robotics business due to several larger 
 automotive orders. Growth was also recorded in our Motors 
and Generators 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

2013

2012

2011

38

32

27

3

37

34

26

3

37

32

28

3

100

100

100

In 2013, the geographic distribution of our orders remained 
similar to 2012. Large orders in the Robotics business 
 contributed to the increase in the share of orders from Asia, 
while fewer large orders were received in the Americas, 
 reducing its share. In addition, the weak demand for motors 

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 85

in the U.S. also reduced the share of orders from the Ameri-
cas. The share of orders from Europe increased slightly due 
to several larger traction orders in our Power Conversion 
business. 

In 2012, the share of orders in the Americas increased 

due to double-digit growth in South America, as well as 
 single-digit growth in North America. The share of orders in 
Europe was unchanged compared to 2011, as double-digit 
growth in the United Kingdom and Finland was offset by  
a decline in Germany and Spain. The share in Asia declined 
due to slower industrial growth and the weakening of the 
renewable energy business. Orders from MEA showed dou-
ble-digit growth while its share of total orders remained at 
the same level, compared to 2011, as orders in other regions 
also increased.

Order backlog
Order backlog in 2013 was 2 percent lower (1 percent in local 
currencies) compared to 2012, as both an increase in order 
backlog in Robotics and the increase in order backlog from 
acquiring Power-One were offset by a decrease in order 
backlog in the Drives and Controls, and Motors and Genera-
tors businesses.

Order backlog in 2012 grew 7 percent (6 percent in local 
currencies) as the order intake from large orders increased in 
our Robotics and Motors and Generators businesses, which 
have a longer execution time.

Revenues
In 2013, revenues increased 5 percent (5 percent in local 
 currencies) due to the impact of including Power-One as  
well as growth in the Robotics and Drives and Controls busi-
nesses. However, revenue decreases in the Motors and Gen-
erator business lowered the overall growth rate of the division. 
In 2012, revenues grew 7 percent (6 in local currencies) 
due to higher execution from the backlog in the Robotics busi-
ness as well as in the Drives and Controls business. The 
Motors and Generators business reported single-digit growth 
in revenues compared to 2011.

Asia achieved single-digit revenue growth but its share 
remained at the same level as 2011, as the revenues in other 
regions grew faster.

Income from operations
In 2013, income from operations was stable compared to 
2012. The benefit of higher revenues was offset by a reduction 
in operating margins, primarily due to changes in product 
mix. In addition, higher depreciation expense, the costs of 
acquiring Power-One and higher restructuring-related costs 
compared with 2012, negatively impacted income from oper-
ations in 2013. Depreciation and amortization increased to 
$285 million in 2013, mainly due to the acquisition of Power-
One.

In 2012, income from operations grew 14 percent com-

pared to 2011, mainly due to higher revenues. The increase 
was primarily due to increases in the Robotics and Motors 
and Generators businesses. Acquisition-related expenses and 
certain non-operational items in 2012, of $8 million, were 
mainly transaction costs relating to the acquisition of Newave 
in Switzerland. Such acquisition-related expenses were sub-
stantially lower than the $90 million recorded in 2011, which 
included expenses related to the acquisition of Baldor. Depre-
ciation and amortization increased to $263 million in 2012, 
mainly due to the acquisition of Newave.

Operational EBITDA
The reconciliation of income from operations to Operational 
EBITDA for the Discrete Automation and Motion division was 
as follows:

($ in millions)

Income from operations

Depreciation and amortization

Restructuring and restructuring-related  

expenses

Acquisition-related expenses and certain 

non-operational items

FX/commodity timing differences  

2013

2012

2011

1,458

1,469

1,294

285

263

251

19

33

(12)

(4)

8

(1)

10

90

19

The geographic distribution of revenues for our Discrete 

in income from operations

Automation and Motion division was as follows:

Operational EBITDA

1,783

1,735

1,664

(in %)

Europe

The Americas

Asia

Middle East and Africa

Total

2013

2012

2011

39

32

26

3

37

33

27

3

38

32

27

3

100

100

100

In 2013, Europe’s share of total revenues increased as several 
large projects were executed from the 2012 order backlog. 
Revenue growth was achieved in Sweden, Norway, Italy, Fin-
land and Switzerland. The share of the Americas decreased as 
revenue growth in Brazil and Canada was offset by a revenue 
decrease in the U.S. Asia’s share of revenues declined as 
revenues in India, Australia and South Korea were lower than 
2012, while China recorded moderate growth.

In 2012, the share of revenues from the Americas in- 
creased due to higher orders. Revenues in Europe grew due 
to the solid execution of the order backlog but Europe’s 
share was lower as revenues in the other regions grew faster. 

In 2013, Operational EBITDA increased 3 percent compared 
to 2012, primarily due to the reasons described under “Income 
from operations”, and excluding the explanations related to 
the reconciling items in the table above. 

In 2012, Operational EBITDA increased 4 percent com-
pared to 2011, primarily due to the reasons described under 
“Income from operations”, and excluding the explanations 
related to the reconciling items in the table above. 

Fiscal year 2014 outlook
The uncertainty around the growth prospects in Europe and 
North America affects our business forecast. Orders and 
 revenues are expected to grow in 2014, especially in emerg-
ing markets. We expect that the need for improved energy 
efficiency and productivity in a wide range of industries will 
continue to support the demand for automation solutions and 
energy-efficient products provided by the Discrete Automa-
tion and Motion division. 

86 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

Low Voltage Products

The financial results of our Low Voltage Products division 
were as follows:

% Change

Revenues
In 2013, revenues increased 16 percent (16 percent in local 
currencies), primarily due to the impact of including Thomas 
& Betts for the full year in 2013. In addition, revenues grew  
in our product businesses, while revenues were lower in the 
systems business. 

($ in millions)

Orders 

Order backlog at Dec. 31,

Revenues 

Income from operations

Operational EBITDA

2013

7,696

1,057

7,729

1,092

1,468

2012

2011

2013

2012

In 2012, revenues increased 25 percent (29 percent in local 

6,720

5,364

1,117

887

6,638

5,304

856

904

1,219

1,059

15%

(5)%

16%

28%

20%

25%

26%

25%

(5)%

15%

currencies). Excluding Thomas & Betts, revenues decreased 
4 percent (flat in local currencies), as lower revenues from the 
product businesses were not fully offset by increased sys-
tems business revenues.

The geographic distribution of revenues for our Low Volt-

age Products division was as follows:

Orders
Orders increased 15 percent (14 percent in local currencies) 
in 2013, driven primarily by the impact of including Thomas  
& Betts for the full year in 2013. In addition, orders grew mod-
erately in most product businesses, while in the systems 
business orders decreased.

Order growth in 2012 of 25 percent (29 percent in local 

currencies) was driven by the contribution from Thomas & 
Betts, which was acquired in May 2012. Excluding Thomas & 
Betts, orders decreased 4 percent (flat in local currencies). 
There was moderate growth in the systems business, while 
the product businesses decreased.

The geographic distribution of orders for our Low Voltage 

Products division was as follows:

(in %)

Europe

The Americas

Asia

Middle East and Africa 

Total

2013

2012

2011

39

32

22

7

43

26

24

7

55

9

28

8

100

100

100

In 2013, the share of orders from the Americas increased  
and the share of orders from both Europe and Asia decreased, 
due primarily to the impact of including Thomas & Betts for 
the full year in 2013, which operates primarily in the U.S. and 
Canada.

In 2012, orders in North America increased significantly 

due to Thomas & Betts, resulting in a more balanced geo-
graphic distribution of orders worldwide. Excluding Thomas & 
Betts, orders increased in Northern Europe and South Asia, 
but at the same time the division faced weaker demand in 
industrial and construction sectors in several of ABB’s largest 
markets, such as Central and Southern Europe.

Order backlog
In 2013, order backlog decreased 5 percent (4 percent  
in local currencies), driven mainly by certain product busi-
nesses.

Excluding Thomas & Betts, order backlog increased 
5 percent (4 percent in local currencies) in 2012. The higher 
backlog was driven by both product and systems busi-
nesses.

(in %)

Europe

The Americas

Asia

Middle East and Africa

Total

2013

2012

2011

39

33

22

6

43

26

24

7

56

9

28

7

100

100

100

In 2013, the share of revenues from the Americas increased 
and the share of revenues from both Europe and Asia de-
creased, due primarily to the impact of including Thomas & 
Betts for the full year in 2013.

In 2012, the share of revenues from the Americas 
increased significantly due to Thomas & Betts. Excluding 
Thomas & Betts, the geographical distribution of revenue 
reflects the weaker demand in certain key markets, such as 
Central and Southern Europe.

Income from operations
In 2013, income from operations increased 28 percent,  
due mainly to the impact of including Thomas & Betts for the 
full year in 2013 and also due to the inclusion in 2012 of 
$106 million of acquisition-related expenses and certain non-
operational items (which mainly included certain employee-
related expenses and transaction costs for Thomas & Betts). 
Depreciation and amortization of $323 million was higher 
than in 2012, due primarily to including Thomas & Betts for a 
full year. In addition, the change in geographic distribution of 
revenues in 2013, as well as a different revenue mix between 
products and systems, increased profitability. 

In 2012, income from operations decreased 5 percent 
due to an increased proportion of revenues from the lower 
margin systems business, and lower volumes in certain key 
markets partly offset by the benefits from including Thomas  
& Betts. Excluding Thomas & Betts, income from operations 
decreased 10 percent. Acquisition-related expenses and 
 certain non-operational items of $106 million negatively im- 
pacted income from operations. Depreciation and amorti-
zation of $250 million was substantially higher in 2012, com-
pared to 2011 ($116 million), due to Thomas & Betts.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 87

Operational EBITDA
The reconciliation of income from operations to Operational 
EBITDA for the Low Voltage Products division was as follows:

($ in millions)

Income from operations

Depreciation and amortization

2013

1,092

323

2012

2011

856

250

904

116

Despite economic uncertainty across many parts of the world, 
orders in 2012 reached the same level as 2011 (increased 
4 percent in local currencies) driven by key markets in marine, 
mining, and oil and gas. Orders from pulp and paper, and 
metals sectors were weaker however, especially in Europe, 
China and India. Certain short-cycle product businesses, 
such as Measurement Products, also recorded lower volumes 
in the second half of the year.

23

20

The geographic distribution of orders for our Process 

Automation division was as follows:

Restructuring and restructuring-related  

expenses

Acquisition-related expenses and certain 

non-operational items

FX/commodity timing differences  

in income from operations

Operational EBITDA

31

16

6

106

–

(in %)

(16)

19

Europe

1,468

1,219

1,059

The Americas

Asia

Middle East and Africa

Total

2013

2012

2011

37

23

31

9

37

25

27

11

39

23

30

8

100

100

100

In 2013, Operational EBITDA increased 20 percent compared 
to 2012, primarily due to the reasons described under “In-
come from operations”, excluding the explanations related to 
the reconciling items in the table above.

In 2012, Operational EBITDA increased 15 percent com-

pared to 2011, primarily due to the reasons described under 
“Income from operations”, excluding the explanations related 
to the reconciling items in the table above. Excluding Thomas 
& Betts, Operational EBITDA declined 11 percent. 

Fiscal year 2014 outlook
The outlook for 2014 continues to be uncertain, despite some 
positive early cycle macroeconomic signs. In emerging 
 markets trends are improving but the level of growth depends 
on the strength of the economic development. Some key 
markets in Europe remain challenging, including the Mediter-
ranean countries.

Process Automation

The financial results of our Process Automation division were 
as follows:

($ in millions)

Orders 

Order backlog at Dec. 31,

Revenues 

Income from operations

2013

8,000

5,772

8,497

990

% Change

2012

2011

2013

2012

8,704

8,726

(8)%

6,416

5,771

(10)%

8,156

8,300

912

963

4%

9%

9%

–

11%

(2)%

(5)%

(2)%

Operational EBITDA

1,096

1,003

1,028

Orders
Orders in 2013 declined 8 percent (8 percent in local curren-
cies), reflecting the response of our customers to ongoing 
economic uncertainty. Order declines were primarily due to 
reductions in large orders as tender activity for major expan-
sion projects decreased across most sectors. Orders during 
the year largely reflected customer investment in productivity 
improvements for existing assets rather than investment in 
capacity expansion. Orders from the oil and gas and marine 
sectors remained strong but were lower than in 2012, while 
orders from metals and pulp and paper customers decreased. 

88 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

In 2013, the share of orders from Asia grew while declining  
in the Americas and MEA. In Asia, the increase was primarily 
from China, where higher orders were mainly driven by the 
marine sector while the mining sector remained weak. South 
Korea also remained strong in the marine sector. In Europe, 
the offshore oil and gas market in the North Sea continued to 
see capital investments based on current high oil prices and 
improving reservoir assessment technology. The European 
shipbuilding sector also saw renewed activity, although eco-
nomic constraints such as overcapacity and the lack of financ-
ing have affected this sector. Overall, Europe, with the same 
share of orders as in 2012, had a moderate decrease in orders, 
although still at high levels. Orders in the Americas were 
 impacted by a reduction in investments made by the mining 
sector, while the MEA region decreased primarily due to a 
reduction in large orders received from the oil and gas sector.
Growth in 2012 was driven by the MEA region and the 
Americas, while Europe retained its high share of total orders. 
Growth in MEA was driven by several oil and gas investments 
across the region, as well as harbor cranes investments in 
the United Arab Emirates and a mining investment in Mozam-
bique. In the Americas, South America recorded the stron-
gest growth, driven by several mining investments in Chile and 
Peru, as well as a large marine order in Brazil. North America 
also continued to be strong, largely driven by mining invest-
ments in Canada. Growth in Europe was overall low, as growth 
in Central Europe, driven by the marine and cranes sector, 
was offset by declines in Northern Europe. Asia recorded 
lower orders as the historically high activity level in the South 
Korean marine sector in 2011 was not repeated, while China 
grew moderately.

Order backlog
Order backlog at December 31, 2013, was 10 percent  
lower (8 percent in local currencies) than in 2012, reflecting 
the impact of a reduction in order intake during the year.

Order backlog at December 31, 2012, was 11 percent 

higher (8 percent in local currencies) than in 2011. Order 
backlog growth was largely driven by our Marines and Cranes, 
Mining, and Oil, Gas and Petrochemical businesses.

Revenues
Although orders decreased in 2013, revenues were 4 per-
cent higher than 2012 (5 percent in local currencies) as we 
executed on projects in the order backlog from 2012. Rev-
enue growth resulted primarily from the systems businesses, 
particularly in the marine and mining sectors. The Oil, Gas 
and Petrochemical business also recorded modest growth, 
while revenues declined in the Paper, Metals & Cement 
 business. Revenues in our product businesses grew moder-
ately, particularly in Measurement Products and Control 
Technologies. Life-cycle services also showed modest growth.
In 2012, revenues were down 2 percent (up 2 percent in 

local currencies) compared to 2011. We continued to execute 
from a strong order backlog. Revenue growth was led by  
the systems business, where the marine, and pulp and paper 
sectors recorded strong growth, while the metals and miner-
als sectors were lower. Our Oil, Gas, and Petrochemical busi-
ness was flat. Product businesses grew moderately, where 
growth in our Measurement Products business was offset by 
a decline in our Turbo Products business. Life-cycle services 
continued to be strong and recorded a moderate growth, 
while our Full Service business was down, as we continued 
to refocus our portfolio towards higher value-added activities.

Income from operations
In 2013, income from operations increased primarily due to 
higher revenues, as well as a favorable product mix resulting 
from stronger growth rates in our higher-margin businesses. 
Improved project execution in the systems businesses and 
strict cost control also contributed to the increase.

In 2012, income from operations declined slightly com-
pared to the previous year. The biggest driver for the decline 
was lower profitability in the Turbocharging business which 
was impacted by difficult market conditions, as well as 
$20 million additional restructuring expenses to further align 
our business structure to prevailing market conditions. Most 
of the restructuring expenses were recorded in the Turbo-
charging and Full Service businesses, as well as the Paper 
Metals and Cement businesses. In the systems business,  
the margin was on the same level as in 2011, while in the ser-
vices business, life-cycle services continued to be strong  
and achieved a higher margin.

Operational EBITDA
The reconciliation of income from operations to Operational 
EBITDA for the Process Automation division was as follows:

The geographic distribution of revenues for our Process 

($ in millions)

Automation division was as follows:

Income from operations

Depreciation and amortization

(in %)

Europe

The Americas

Asia

Middle East and Africa

Total

2013

2012

2011

Restructuring and restructuring-related  

36

24

32

8

37

23

30

10

39

22

27

12

expenses

Acquisition-related expenses and certain 

non-operational items

FX/commodity timing differences  

100

100

100

in income from operations

2013

2012

2011

990

87

912

82

963

83

31

(6)

(6)

28

2

8

–

(21)

(26)

In 2013, revenues grew across most regions. The share of 
revenues from Asia increased as revenues grew in South Korea 
and China with high demand from the marine sector, while  
in Australia revenues grew in the oil and gas and mining sec-
tors. The share of revenues from the Americas also increased 
as revenues grew primarily in South America, driven by the 
mining sector in Chile and Peru, while revenue levels in North 
America were maintained. Although the share of revenues 
from Europe decreased, revenues from Europe increased, 
mainly from higher revenues in the oil and gas sector in North-
ern Europe, while the rest of Europe was slightly lower. The 
share of revenues from MEA was lower, primarily due to the 
timing of large projects in Africa.

In 2012, revenue growth was led by Asia and the Ameri-

cas. In Asia, strong growth was recorded in South Korea, 
driven by the Marine business, as well as growth in Singapore 
and Australia. China and India however declined. In the 
Americas, revenue growth was driven by the mining sector in 
Chile, as well as the oil and gas sector in Canada. Europe’s 
share of revenues decreased, although still at high levels, as 
growth in the Oil and Gas, and Marine businesses in Northern 
Europe was offset by lower growth in Central Europe.

Operational EBITDA

1,096

1,003

1,028

In 2013, Operational EBITDA increased 9 percent compared 
to 2012, primarily due to the reasons described under “In-
come from operations”, excluding the explanations related 
to the reconciling items in the table above.

In 2012, Operational EBITDA declined slightly compared 

to 2011, primarily due to the reasons described under 
“Income from operations”, excluding the explanations related 
to the reconciling items in the table above. 

Fiscal year 2014 outlook
The outlook for 2014 is mixed and is industry dependent.  
The oil and gas industry is expected to be one key source of 
growth, not only because demand is expected to remain  
high and continue to grow, but also because new technolo-
gies (such as hydraulic fracturing) and new challenges  
(such as subsea automation) will drive capital expenditure. 
However, the mining and metals industry suffers from both 
overcapacity and increasing exploration cost. The pulp and 
paper industry has invested in fiber production during last 
two years, however future growth in this industry is expected 
to be limited. 

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 89

Revenues
In 2013, revenues increased 3 percent (3 percent in local 
 currencies), mainly reflecting the execution of the 2012 order 
backlog. This included the execution of orders with longer 
lead times, as well as higher revenues from industries typically 
having a shorter lead time, such as the distribution and 
industry sectors. Service revenues continued to grow but 
represented the same share of total division revenues as 
in 2012.

In 2012, revenues decreased 1 percent (increased 2 per-

cent in local currencies), reflecting the timing of order back-
log conversion and market conditions. Revenues from distri-
bution- and industry-related sectors were steady while the 
decrease in transmission-related volumes reflected the order 
backlog conversion. Service revenues grew and represented 
an increased share of total division revenues.

The geographic distribution of revenues for our Power 

Products division was as follows:

(in %)

Europe

The Americas

Asia

Middle East and Africa

Total

2013

2012

2011

32

27

30

11 

32

27

32

9

34

27

30

9

100

100

100

In 2013, the shares of revenues from both the Americas and 
Europe remained unchanged, reflecting the current economic 
environment. The share of revenues from Asia fell as revenues 
in certain key markets decreased slightly compared to 2012. 
The increase in the share of revenues from MEA was primarily 
driven by revenue increases in Saudi Arabia.

In 2012, Asia increased its share of revenues reflecting the 
timing of order execution. The share of Europe declined due 
to continued economic uncertainty and selective capital 
investments by customers. The Americas maintained its share 
of revenues due to higher demand in the U.S.

Income from operations
In 2013, income from operations was at the same level as 
2012, as benefits from higher revenues were mostly offset by 
higher non-operational charges and higher depreciation and 
amortization. Operating margins were maintained as price 
pressure from lower margin orders in the backlog was largely 
offset by cost savings. In 2013, the gains from FX/commodity 
derivative timing differences were lower than in 2012. Restruc- 
turing-related expenses were at the same level as 2012.

In 2012, income from operations was lower than in 2011, 
primarily reflecting the execution of lower-margin order back-
log as a result of pricing pressure. Cost saving initiatives 
helped to partially reduce the impact, as did a positive effect 
from FX/commodity timing differences and slightly lower re- 
structuring and restructuring-related expenses.

Power Products

The financial results of our Power Products division were as 
follows:

($ in millions)

Orders 

2013

2012

2011

2013

2012

% Change

10,459

11,040 11,068

(5)%

(6)%

3%

–

6%

(1)%

Order backlog at Dec. 31,

7,946

8,493

8,029

Revenues 

11,032

10,717 10,869

Income from operations

Operational EBITDA

1,331

1,637

1,328

1,476

–

(10)%

1,585

1,782

3% (11)%

Orders
In 2013, orders decreased 5 percent (5 percent in local cur-
rencies), as a result of a challenging market environment  
and restrained investment by power utilities. Although demand 
in the industrial and distribution sectors continued to offer 
opportunities, order intake was affected by lower demand in 
the power transmission sector. 

In 2012, order intake was maintained at the level of 2011 
(increased 3 percent in local currencies) despite challenging 
economic and market conditions. Order intake was driven  
by steady demand in the industrial and distribution sectors 
and selective investments in the power transmission sector.
The geographic distribution of orders for our Power 

Products division was as follows:

(in %)

Europe

The Americas

Asia

Middle East and Africa

Total

2013

2012

2011

31

28

29

12

33

27

29

11

32

26

33

9

100

100

100

In 2013, the higher share of orders from MEA reflected 
 continued development of power infrastructure in the region.  
The share of the Americas was steady, mainly driven by 
 distribution upgrades. Asia maintained its share of total orders 
with China showing growth while Australia declined, as 
demand from industrial customers was lower, especially the 
mining sector. Europe’s share of orders declined, reflecting 
the current market uncertainty. 

In 2012, the share of orders from MEA increased as a 
result of power transmission infrastructure orders. The share 
of the Americas was driven by grid upgrades in North Amer-
ica and capacity-related investments in South America. Asia’s 
share declined in comparison to 2011 which included a large 
order in China. Europe was steady despite continued economic 
challenges restraining large scale investments.

Order backlog
In 2013, order backlog decreased 6 percent (5 percent in 
local currencies) compared to 2012. This resulted from lower 
order intake (described above) and the higher revenues exe-
cuted from the 2012 backlog.

In 2012, order backlog increased 6 percent (4 percent in 

local currencies) compared to 2011. The increase was mainly 
driven by transmission orders, which have a longer order-to-
revenue conversion cycle, and steady base orders.

90 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

(18)

36

Order intake in 2012 decreased 14 percent (10 percent  

Operational EBITDA
The reconciliation of income from operations to Operational 
EBITDA for the Power Products division was as follows:

($ in millions)

Income from operations

Depreciation and amortization

2013

2012

2011

1,331

1,328

1,476

223

209

200

Restructuring and restructuring-related  

expenses

Acquisition-related expenses and certain 

non-operational items

FX/commodity timing differences  

in income from operations

Operational EBITDA

65

70

1

–

66

19

(2)

1,637

1,585

1,782

In 2013, Operational EBITDA increased 3 percent compared 
to 2012, primarily due to the reasons described under “Income 
from operations”, excluding the explanations related to the 
reconciling items in the table above.

In 2012, Operational EBITDA decreased 11 percent com-
pared to 2011, primarily due to the reasons described under 
“Income from operations”, excluding the explanations related 
to the reconciling items in the table above.

Fiscal year 2014 outlook
Utility transmission and distribution investments continue to 
be restrained, based on the overall macroeconomic environ-
ment, as industrial growth varies across geographies and 
markets. Emerging markets are selectively investing in infra-
structure projects, while mature markets focus on upgrades 
and essentials driven by power reliability, efficiency and envi-
ronmental concerns. Industrial investment remains largely 
focused in sectors such as oil and gas. The power transmis-
sion utility sector is still seeing selective project investments 
while distribution demand seems to be leveling out, driven by 
a deceleration in electricity consumption growth rates. The 
overall market remains competitive.

Power Systems

The financial results of our Power Systems division were as 
follows:

($ in millions)

Orders 

2013

5,949

2012

2011

2013

2012

7,973

9,278

(25)% (14)%

% Change

Order backlog at Dec. 31,

9,435

12,107 11,570

(22)%

Revenues 

Income from operations

Operational EBITDA

8,375

7,852

8,101

171

419

7

290

548

743

5%

(3)%

n.a.

7%

n.a.

44% (61)%

Orders
Order intake in 2013 was 25 percent lower (25 percent lower 
in local currencies), as customers postponed investments and 
delayed the award of large orders. In addition, we increased 
our project selectivity and focused on higher-margin business 
as part of the division’s strategic repositioning (announced in 
December 2012). Power infrastructure spending was restrained 
due to economic uncertainties in most regions, while trans-

mission utilities continued to invest selectively, focusing on 
additional capacity in emerging markets while mature markets 
focused mainly on grid upgrades. Large orders in 2013 
included a $110 million order for a HVDC converter station to 
facilitate the connection of the Lithuanian and Polish power 
grids, an $80 million order to power Canada’s largest solar 
photovoltaic plant, and substation orders of $160 million in 
Kuwait to help strengthen the country’s power grid and sup-
port its growing infrastructure. Continued price pressure, 
resulting from ongoing macroeconomic weakness in certain 
key geographical markets, also negatively impacted our 
order levels in 2013.

in local currencies), mainly due to a lower volume of large 
orders compared with 2011, which had included a $1 billion 
offshore wind farm order in Germany and an Ultrahigh Voltage 
Direct Current (UHVDC) power transmission order in India  
of around $900 million. The level of base orders was slightly 
lower than in 2011, with decreases in all businesses except 
Network Management where software orders increased. Large 
orders secured in 2012 included a $260 million converter 
 station upgrade from the U.S. to improve power reliability in 
Oregon, a $170 million contract for a power link between an 
oil and gas field in the North Sea and the Norwegian grid, 
and multiple power infrastructure-related orders in Saudi Ara-
bia and Iraq with a combined value of around $700 million. 
Mincom (an Australia-based software company specializing 
in solutions for mining and other asset-intensive industries, 
acquired in the third quarter of 2011) contributed $137 million 
to orders in 2012, compared with $47 million in 2011.

The geographic distribution of orders for our Power 

 Systems division was as follows:

(in %)

Europe

The Americas

Asia

Middle East and Africa

Total

2013

2012

2011

35

25

17

23

30

31

18

21

40

17

27

16

100

100

100

In 2013, orders declined across all regions compared to 
2012. The change in the geographical share of orders primar-
ily reflects changes in the geographical locations of large 
 orders received during 2013 compared to 2012. The order 
decrease in the Americas mainly resulted from the strong 
level of large orders in 2012. Regionally, the percentage of 
our orders from Europe was the highest, although both 
large and base orders were lower than in the previous year.
In 2012, the Americas was the largest region in terms  
of order intake, attributable to strong order growth in the U.S., 
Canada and Brazil. The order share of Europe decreased  
in 2012 compared with 2011, reflecting the $1 billion order in 
Germany booked in 2011. Growth in the MEA region was 
mainly driven by large orders in Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Asia’s 
share of orders in 2012 was lower than in the previous year, 
mainly due to a lower level of large orders from India, where 
the $900 million order was booked in 2011.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 91

Order backlog
Order backlog at December 31, 2013, was $9,435 million,  
a decrease of 22 percent (21 percent in local currencies) 
compared with 2012. Order backlog was impacted signifi-
cantly by the lower level of large orders received in 2013, 
particularly the lack of very large project orders which typi-
cally have execution times stretching over several years.

Order backlog at December 31, 2012, reached a record 

level of $12,107 million, corresponding to an increase of 
5 percent (2 percent in local currencies) compared with 2011.

Revenues
Revenues in 2013 increased 7 percent (8 percent in local 
currencies), with growth in all businesses. The increase was 
achieved primarily through the execution of projects from  
the 2012 order backlog. The strong order backlog level at the 
beginning of 2013 provided the division a strong base from 
which to generate revenues in 2013 and more than compen-
sated for the lower level of orders received in 2013.

Revenues in 2012 decreased 3 percent (increased 2 per-

cent in local currencies), mainly reflecting the scheduled 
 execution of our order backlog. Lower revenues in the Power 
Generation business could not be fully offset by revenue 
growth in our Network Management business. Revenues in 
the Grid Systems and Substations businesses were margin-
ally down in U.S. dollar terms, but showed a small increase 
in local currencies. Revenues in 2012 included $138 million 
from Mincom.

The geographic distribution of revenues for the Power 

Systems division was as follows:

(in %)

Europe

The Americas

Asia

Middle East and Africa

Total

2013

2012

2011

36

23

20

21

40

19

19

22

40

20

18

22

100

100

100

The regional distribution of revenues reflects the geographical 
end-user markets of the projects we are executing, and 
 consequently varies over time. In 2013, Europe remained the 
largest region in terms of revenues, despite a decrease in 
share of revenues compared to previous year. The higher share 
of revenues from the Americas was due primarily to exe-
cution in 2013 of projects from the 2012 order backlog in the 
U.S. and Brazil.

In 2012, Europe was the largest region in terms of rev-
enues, partly reflecting the execution of offshore wind projects. 
The share of revenues from MEA was stable, despite a minor 
revenue decline in the region compared to 2011, caused by 
a revenue decrease in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar 
which could only partly be compensated by growth in Saudi 
Arabia and Iraq. Revenues grew in Asia, mainly driven by 
Australia, while the Americas saw a drop due to the timing of 
execution of some projects in Brazil.

tions in 2013 was also negatively impacted by operational 
charges in the fourth quarter of approximately $260 million, a 
significant portion of which related to certain offshore wind 
projects, where severe winter storms in the North Sea caused 
time delays and increased costs. The remaining operational 
charges in the fourth quarter related to project cost increases 
in certain projects in other businesses. Restructuring-related 
expenses in 2013 of $101 million were higher than the $52 mil-
lion in 2012, and included charges to adjust the size of cer-
tain operations in response to lower order intake. However, 
income from operations benefitted from the contribution of 
higher revenues and lower research and development spend-
ing. Additionally, cost savings from supply chain manage-
ment and operational excellence activities helped mitigate the 
impact of price pressures in projects executed from the order 
backlog. 

In 2012, income from operations decreased to $7 million. 

Income from operations was negatively impacted by the 
 execution of lower margin projects from the order backlog, 
as well as charges totaling approximately $350 million 
 relating to a repositioning of the Power Systems division.  
The $350 million included charges totaling approximately 
$100 million related to certain impairments and restructuring-
related activities in connection with the closure of low value-
adding contracting operations in a number of countries. 
However, overall, restructuring-related expenses in 2012 of 
$52 million were marginally lower than the amount recorded 
in 2011. An increase in sales expenses, as well as research 
and development spending, related mainly to the acquisitions 
of Mincom and Tropos Networks Inc. In addition to the 
impact from acquisitions, sales expenses were also affected 
by increased tender activity. The impact from lower prices 
on past orders, now flowing through to revenues, was miti-
gated by cost savings from supply chain management and 
operational excellence activities. Income from operations was 
also impacted by higher depreciation and amortization ex- 
penses of $174 million in 2012, compared to $144 million in 
2011, mainly resulting from additional depreciation from the 
Mincom acquisition.

Operational EBITDA
The reconciliation of income from operations to Operational 
EBITDA for the Power Systems division was as follows:

($ in millions)

2013

2012

2011

Income from operations

Depreciation and amortization

Restructuring and restructuring-related  

expenses

Acquisition-related expenses and certain 

non-operational items

FX/commodity timing differences  

in income from operations

Operational EBITDA

171

183

101

4

(40)

419

7

174

52

70

548

144

54

–

(13)

290

(3)

743

Income from operations
In 2013, income from operations increased to $171 million, 
from $7 million in 2012, due partly to the impacts on 2012 from 
the repositioning of the Power Systems division (announced 
in December 2012 and described below). Income from opera-

In 2013, Operational EBITDA increased 44 percent compared 
to 2012, primarily due to the reasons described under “In-
come from operations”, excluding the explanations related to 
the reconciling items in the table above.

In 2012, Operational EBITDA decreased 61 percent com-
pared to 2011, primarily due to the reasons described under 

92 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

“Income from operations”, excluding the explanations related 
to the reconciling items in the table above.

Restructuring

Fiscal year 2014 outlook
Fundamental market drivers for the Power Systems division 
remain intact; these include power infrastructure investments 
in emerging markets to add capacity, aging infrastructure 
upgrades in mature markets, a focus on renewables, energy 
efficiency, and the development of more reliable, flexible  
and smarter grids. There is, however, uncertainty in terms of 
the timing of investments, stemming from continued macro-
economic challenges in several economies, as well as ongoing 
project execution risks in line with the nature of the systems 
business.

Corporate and Other

Income from operations for Corporate and Other was as 
 follows:

2013

2012

2011

Cost savings initiative

In 2013, 2012 and 2011, we executed cost saving measures 
to sustainably reduce ABB’s costs and protect our profitabil-
ity. Costs associated with these measures amounted to 
$252 million, $180 million and $164 million in 2013, 2012 and 
2011, respectively. Estimated cost savings initiatives 
amounted to around $1.2 billion in 2013, and $1.1 billion in 
each of 2012 and 2011. These savings were achieved by 
 optimizing global sourcing (excluding changes in commodity 
prices), through reductions to general and administrative 
expenses, as well as adjustments to our global manufactur-
ing and engineering footprint.

Liquidity and capital  
resources

($ in millions)

Corporate headquarters  

and stewardship

Corporate research  

and development

Corporate real estate

Other

Total Corporate and Other

(372)

(341)

(342)

Principal sources of funding

(187)

49

(140)

(650)

(192)

50

(41)

(524)

(202)

56

(54)

(542)

In 2013, 2012 and 2011, we met our liquidity needs principally 
using cash from operations, proceeds from the issuance of 
debt instruments (bonds and commercial paper), short-term 
bank borrowings and the proceeds from sales of marketable 
securities.

In 2013, Corporate headquarters and stewardship costs in-
creased by $31 million, primarily due to increases in personnel 
expenses and additional investments in information systems 
infrastructure. In 2012, Corporate headquarters and steward-
ship costs were in line with 2011.

In 2013, Corporate research and development costs 
totaled $187 million, marginally lower than the costs reported 
in 2012. Corporate research and development costs 
decreased $10 million in 2012, as the amount spent on  
the growth fund was lower in 2012 than in 2011.

During 2013, 2012 and 2011, our financial position was 

strengthened by the positive cash flow from operating activi-
ties of $3,653 million, $3,779 million and $3,612 million, 
respectively.

Our net debt is shown in the table below:

December 31, ($ in millions)

Cash and equivalents

Marketable securities  

2013

6,021

2012

6,875

and short-term investments

464

1,606

Corporate real estate primarily includes the income from 

Short-term debt and current maturities  

property rentals and gains from the sale of real estate proper-
ties. In 2013, 2012 and 2011, income from operations in 
 Corporate real estate includes gains of $23 million, $26 mil-
lion, $37 million, respectively, from the sales of real estate 
property in various countries. 

“Other” consists of operational costs of our Global Trea-

sury Operations, operating income or loss in non-core busi-
nesses, and certain other charges. In 2013, “Other” included 
primarily certain legal compliance cases, certain environ-
mental expenses, acquisition-related expenses, the loss on 
sale of a non-core business and the impairment of certain 
investments. In 2012, “Other” primarily included the release of 
a compliance-related provision, partially offset by a provi-
sion for certain pension claims in the U.S. and charges from 
the impairments of our investments in the shares of a public 
company. In 2011, “Other” included losses from the non-core 
distributed energy business in the United Kingdom, an im- 
pairment of our investment in the shares of a public company, 
as well as charges related to the deconsolidation of a 
 Russian subsidiary and a sale of another Russian subsidiary.

of long-term debt

Long-term debt

Net debt 

(453)

(7,570)

(2,537)

(7,534)

(defined as the sum of the above lines)

(1,538)

(1,590)

Net debt at December 31, 2013, decreased $52 million com-
pared to December 31, 2012, as cash flows from operating 
activities during 2013 of $3,653 million were mostly offset by 
cash outflows for the payment of dividends ($1,667 million), 
the acquisition of businesses ($914 million, net of cash ac-
quired), and purchases of property, plant and equipment 
($1,106 million) during 2013. See “Financial position”, “Net cash 
used in investing activities” and “Net cash used in financing 
activities” for further details.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 93

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 busi-
ness requirements. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, the pro-
portion of our aggregate “Cash and equivalents” and “Mar-
ketable securities and short-term investments” managed by 
our Group Treasury Operations amounted to approximately 
55 percent and 65 percent, respectively. 

Throughout 2013 and 2012, the investment strategy for 
cash (in excess of current business requirements) has been 
to predominantly invest in short-term time deposits with 
maturities of less than 3 months, supplemented at times  
by investments in corporate commercial paper, AAA-rated 
money market liquidity funds, and government securities, 
 primarily in the U.S. With ongoing credit risk concerns in the 
eurozone economic area, we restrict bank exposures in the 
eurozone area. We continue to also restrict the counterparties 
with whom we are prepared to place cash and we limit our 
deposits with banks in the eurozone. 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 management to identify, measure, 
monitor and control credit risks. We closely monitor devel-
opments 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 2013 (compared to 2012) as follows – a 
minimum rating of A/A2 for our banking counterparts, while 
the minimum required rating for investments in short-term 
corporate paper is A-1/P-1. In addition to rating criteria, we 
have specific investment parameters and approved instru-
ments 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 
 capital markets (including short-term commercial paper) and 
our credit facilities are sufficient to support business opera-
tions, capital expenditures, business acquisitions, the payment 
of dividends to shareholders and contributions to pension 
plans. Due to the nature of our operations, 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 repayments and other financial com-
mitments for the next 12 months. See “Disclosures about 
contractual obligations and commitments”.

Debt and interest rates

Total outstanding debt was as follows:

December 31, ($ in millions)

2013

2012

Short-term debt including current maturities 

of long-term debt (including bonds)

453

2,537

Long-term debt: 

–  bonds (excluding portion due within  

one year)

– other long-term debt

Total debt

7,414

156

8,023

7,380

154

10,071

The decrease in short-term debt in 2013 was primarily due  
to the repayment at maturity of our EUR 700 million 4.625% 
 instruments due 2013 and the decrease in issued commer-
cial paper ($100 million at December 31, 2013, compared to 
$1,019 million outstanding at December 31, 2012). 

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 obligations. 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 $2,211 million and 
our fixed rate long-term debt (including current maturities)  
of $5,389 million was 1.2 percent and 3.1 percent, respec-
tively. This compares with an effective rate of 1.6 percent 
for floating rate long-term debt of $2,353 million and 3.1 per-
cent for fixed-rate long-term debt of $6,187 million at Decem-
ber 31, 2012.

For a discussion of our use of derivatives to modify the 

interest characteristics of certain of our individual bond 
 issuances, see “Note 12 Debt” to our Consolidated Financial 
Statements.

Credit facility

We have a $2 billion multicurrency revolving credit facility, 
maturing in 2015. No amount was drawn under this committed 
credit facility at December 31, 2013 and 2012. The facility  
is for general corporate purposes and serves as a back-stop 
facility to our commercial paper programs to the extent that 
we issue 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 
indebtedness, as defined in the facility, at or above a speci-
fied threshold.

The credit facility does not 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, see “Note 12 Debt” to our Consolidated 
Financial Statements.

94 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

 
 
Commercial paper

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 borrowing 
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, 2013 and 2012, our long-term company 
ratings were A2 and A from Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s, 
respectively.

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, Argentina, Chile, China, Colombia, 
Egypt, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Peru, Russia, Tai-
wan, Thailand and Turkey. Funds, other than regular dividends, 
fees or loan repayments, cannot be readily transferred off-
shore from these countries and are therefore deposited and 
used for working capital needs in those countries. 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 
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 Decem-
ber 31, 2013 and 2012, the balance of “Cash and equivalents” 
and “Marketable securities and other short-term investments” 
under such limitations (either regulatory or sub-optimal from  
a tax perspective) totaled approximately $1,785 million and 
$1,985 million, respectively.

During 2013, 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. We continue to closely moni-
tor the situation to ensure bank counterparty risks are mini-
mized.

At December 31, 2013, we had in place three commercial 
paper programs:
–  a $2 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 $778 million, using December 31, 2013, exchange 
rates), allowing us to issue short-term commercial paper 
in either Swedish krona or euro.

At December 31, 2013, $100 million was outstanding under 
the $2 billion program in the United States, compared to 
$1,019 million outstanding at December 31, 2012. As described 
in “Note 12 Debt” to our Consolidated Financial Statements, 
the amount outstanding increased subsequent to Decem-
ber 31, 2013. No amounts were outstanding under either the 
$1 billion Euro-commercial paper program or the 5 billion 
Swedish krona program at either December 31, 2013 or 2012.
In February 2014, the $1 billion Euro-commercial paper 

program was terminated and replaced by a $2 billion Euro-
commercial paper program, also for issuance in a variety of 
currencies.

European program for the issuance  
of debt

At December 31, 2013 and 2012, $1,722 million and $2,579 mil-
lion, respectively, of our total debt outstanding, represented 
debt issuances under this program that allows the issuance of 
up to (the equivalent of) approximately $8 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 pos-
sibility of issuing any debt under the program are determined 
with respect to, and as of the date of issuance of, each debt 
instrument. At December 31, 2013, it was more than 12 months 
since the program had been updated. New bonds could be 
issued under the program but could not be listed without us 
formally updating the program.

Australian program for the issuance  
of debt

During 2012, we set up a program for the issuance of up to 
AUD 1 billion (equivalent to approximately $892 million, using 
December 31, 2013 exchange rates) of medium-term notes 
and other 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 
determined with respect to, and as of the date of issuance of, 
each debt instrument. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, debt 
issuance under this program amounted to $353 million and 
$413 million, respectively.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 95

Total current liabilities at December 31, 2013, decreased 
 primarily due to the repayment on maturity of bonds, and a 
reduction in outstanding commercial paper and other short-
term debt (see “Note 12 Debt” to our Consolidated Financial 
Statements).

Accounts payable increased 2.4 percent (3.3 percent  
in local currencies) compared to 2012, mainly due to acquisi-
tions. Billings in excess of sales decreased 15.8 percent 
(13.7 percent in local currencies) compared to 2012 due to 
the timing of billings and collections for contracts under the 
percentage-of-completion or completed-contract method. 
Advances from customers declined 10.9 percent (7.6 percent 
in local currencies) compared to 2012, due to the timing of 
cash receipts for advances on large projects with the largest 
decreases in the Power Systems and Process Automation 
divisions. Provisions for warranties increased 5.5 percent 
(5.4 percent in local currencies) compared to 2012, primarily 
due to acquisitions. Other provisions increased 14.7 percent 
(15.1 percent in local currencies), largely due to increased 
provisions for certain projects and increases in certain litiga-
tion- and compliance-related provisions. Other current lia-
bilities decreased 2.2 percent (1.4 percent in local currencies) 
primarily due to a reduction in non-trade payables and a 
reduction of other tax liabilities. 

Non­current assets

December 31, ($ in millions)

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 non­current assets

2013

6,254

10,670

3,297

93

197

370

758

2012

5,947

10,226

3,501

71

213

334

776

21,639

21,068

Property, plant and equipment increased 5.2 percent (4.9 per-
cent in local currencies), primarily due to acquisitions, and 
high levels of investment across all divisions and most regions. 
The investments in new manufacturing facilities and up-
grades to existing facilities help to secure our technological 
competitiveness in the growth markets we serve and in-
crease our capacity to meet our customers’ requirements.
The increase in goodwill was mainly due to the acqui-
sition of Power-One. Other intangible assets, net decreased 
5.8 percent (5.1 percent in local currencies). See “Note 11 
Goodwill and other intangible assets” to our Consolidated 
Financial Statements. 

2,537

Non­current liabilities

1,937

December 31, ($ in millions)

270

Long-term debt

1,291

1,575

Pension and other employee benefits

Deferred taxes

4,337

Other non-current liabilities

2013

7,570

1,639

1,265

1,707

2012

7,534

2,290

1,260

1,566

16,675

18,974

Total non­current liabilities

12,181

12,650

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

2013

6,021

464

12,146 

6,004

252

832

706

2012

6,875

1,606

11,575

6,182

311

869

584

26,425

28,002

For a discussion on cash and equivalents, see “Liquidity and 
capital resources – Principal sources of funding” for further 
details.

Marketable securities and short-term investments de- 
creased as investments were sold during 2013 to provide cash 
required to fund investing and financing activities (see “Cash 
flows – Net cash used in investing activities”).

Receivables increased 4.9 percent (7.2 percent in local 
currencies) compared to 2012, primarily due to an increase in 
unbilled receivables, net (see “Note 7 Receivables, net”), as 
several large projects experienced execution delays, thus 
delaying the timing of invoicing and collection. Ongoing work-
ing capital improvement projects resulted in a reduction  
of 5 days sales outstanding in trade receivables but this was 
more than offset by the increase resulting from acquisitions 
and higher revenues. Working capital improvement programs 
also resulted in a reduction in inventories of 2.9 percent 
(3.8 percent in local currencies) compared to 2012, despite 
the increases due to acquisitions and higher revenues. 

For a summary of the components of deferred tax assets 

and liabilities, see “Note 16 Taxes” to our Consolidated 
Financial Statements. 

The increase in “Other current assets” primarily reflects 

higher income tax receivables and higher fair values for 
 foreign currency derivatives.

Current liabilities

December 31, ($ in millions)

Accounts payable, trade

Billings in excess of sales

Short-term debt and current maturities  

of long-term debt

Advances from customers

Deferred taxes

Provisions for warranties

Other provisions

Other current liabilities

Total current liabilities

2012

4,992

2,035

2013

5,112

1,714

453

1,726

259

1,362

1,807

4,242

96 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

Pension and other employee benefits decreased 28.4 percent 
(28.9 percent in local currencies) due to decreases in the 
 underfunded status of our defined benefit pension plans, pri-
marily as a result of changes in actuarial assumptions affect-
ing estimated projected benefit obligations (see “Note 17 Em-
ployee benefits” to our Consolidated Financial Statements). 
For a breakdown of other non-current liabilities, see “Note 13 
Other provisions, other current liabilities and other non-cur-
rent liabilities” to our Consolidated Financial Statements. For 
further explanation regarding deferred taxes, 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.

The Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows can be 

summarized as follows:

Operating activities in 2012 provided net cash of 
$3,779 million, an increase from 2011 of 4.6 percent. The 
increase was primarily driven by a lower increase in work-
ing capital requirements offset by the cash impacts of lower 
net income.

Net cash used in investing activities

($ in millions)

2013

2012

2011

Purchases of marketable securities 

(available-for-sale)

Purchases of short-term 

 investments

Purchases of property, plant and 

(526)

(2,288)

(2,809)

(30)

(67)

(142)

equipment and intangible assets

(1,106)

(1,293)

(1,021)

Acquisition of businesses (net  

of cash acquired) and changes in 

cost and equity investments

(914)

(3,694)

(4,020)

Proceeds from sales of marketable 

securities (available-for-sale)

1,367

1,655

3,717

($ in millions)

Net cash provided  

by operating activities

Net cash used 

in investing activities

2013

2012

2011

Proceeds from maturity of market-

able securities (available-for-sale)

118

3,653

3,779

3,612

Proceeds from short-term  

(717)

(5,575)

(3,253)

Proceeds from sales of property, 

investments

Net  cash  provided by (used in)   

financing  activities

(3,856)

3,762

(1,208)

Effects of exchange rate changes 

on cash and equivalents

66

90

(229)

Net change in cash and equiva­

lents – continuing operations

(854)

2,056

(1,078)

plant and equipment

Proceeds from sales of businesses 

and equity-accounted companies 

(net of cash disposed)

Other investing activities

Net cash used in investing 

–

27

40

16

29

483

529

57

8

(55)

47

80

62

185

Net cash provided by operating activities

($ in millions)

Net income

Depreciation and amortization

Total adjustments to reconcile net 

income to net cash provided  

by operating activities (excluding 

2013

2,907

1,318

2012

2,812

1,182

2011

3,315

995

depreciation and amortization)

(54)

196

(23)

Total changes in operating assets 

and liabilities

(518)

(411)

(675)

Net cash provided by operating 

activities

3,653

3,779

3,612

Operating activities in 2013 provided net cash of $3,653 mil-
lion, a decrease from 2012 of 3.3 percent. The decrease  
was partially due to higher net working capital requirements, 
particularly for unbilled receivables for long-term projects, 
but mitigated partly by cash inflows resulting from improved 
inventory management. Although net income increased dur-
ing 2013, non-cash reconciling adjustments, primarily relating 
to deferred income taxes, resulted in a decrease in the cash 
impacts of net income compared to 2012.

 activities

(717)

(5,575)

(3,253)

Net cash used in investing activities in 2013 was an outflow 
of $717 million, compared to a $5,575 million outflow in 2012. 
The decrease in outflows is mainly attributable to lower 
amounts paid for the acquisition of businesses in 2013, lower 
purchases of property, plant and equipment, and the impact 
from net sales of marketable securities in 2013 compared with 
net purchases in 2012. 

Cash paid for acquisitions (net of cash acquired) during 

2013 amounted to $914 million, primarily relating to the acqui-
sition of Power-One for $737 million.

Total cash disbursements for the purchase of property, 
plant and equipment and intangibles in 2013 decreased com-
pared to 2012, as we reduced the amount of investment in 
capacity expansion compared to 2012. The total of $1,106 mil-
lion included $776 million for construction in progress (gener-
ally for buildings and other property facilities), $206 million for 
the purchase of machinery and equipment, $48 million for  
the purchase of land and buildings, and $76 million for the 
purchase of intangible assets. 

To obtain necessary funds to make dividend payments, 
bond repayments, and to fund acquisitions during the year,  
we reduced our amount invested in marketable securities 
and short-term investments, resulting in net proceeds of 
$976 million.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 97

Our financing activities primarily include debt transactions 
(both from the issuance of debt securities and borrowings 
directly from banks), dividends paid and share transactions. 
The 2013 net cash outflow from changes in debt with 
maturities of 90 days or less principally reflects a reduction in 
commercial paper outstanding. The 2012 and 2011 net cash 
inflow primarily reflects the net issuance of commercial paper 
under our commercial paper program in the United States.  
In 2013, the increase in debt primarily related to borrowings 
under borrowing facilities in various countries and issuance 
of commercial paper with maturities above 90 days. In 2012, 
the cash inflows from increases in debt primarily related to 
the issuance of the following bonds: EUR 1,250 million aggre-
gate principal, $1,250 million aggregate principal, $750 mil-
lion aggregate principal, $500 million aggregate principal, 
AUD 400 million aggregate principal and CHF 350 million 
aggregate principal. In 2011, the cash inflows from increases 
in debt principally related to the issuance of the following 
bonds: $600 million aggregate principal, $650 million aggre-
gate principal, CHF 500 million aggregate principal and 
CHF 350 million aggregate principal. 

During 2013, $1,893 million of debt was repaid, primarily 

reflecting the repayment at maturity of the 700 million euro 
bonds (equivalent to $918 million at date of repayment). Other 
repayments during 2013 consisted mainly of repayments of 
commercial paper issuances having maturities above 90 days 
and repayments of other short-term debt. During 2012, 
$1,104 million of debt was repaid, mainly reflecting the repay-
ment of part of the debt assumed from the acquisition  
of Thomas & Betts (approximately $320 million) and of other 
debt (primarily short-term bank 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 (equivalent to $865 million at 
date of repayment). 

Net cash used in investing activities in 2012 increased 

compared to 2011 due to the sustained high level of cash out-
flow for the acquisition of businesses, primarily Thomas & 
Betts. In addition, there were net cash outflows from market-
able securities and short-term investments of $673 million 
compared to net inflows in the prior year of $1,778 million as 
acquisitions in 2012 were primarily financed through new 
 corporate bonds issued, whereas in 2011, acquisitions were 
funded mainly by our excess liquidity. Capital expenditures  
for new plant, property and equipment were also higher in 
2012, to support business growth.

Total cash disbursements for the purchase of property, 
plant and equipment and intangibles in 2012 of $1,293 million 
included $885 million for construction in progress, $248 mil-
lion for the purchase of machinery and equipment, $83 million 
for the purchase of land and buildings, and $77 million for 
the purchase of intangible assets.

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 mil-
lion for the purchase of machinery and equipment, $128 mil-
lion for the purchase of land and buildings, $57 million for the 
purchase of intangible assets and $568 million for construc-
tion in progress.

Acquisition of businesses (net of cash acquired) and 
changes in cost and equity investments in 2011, primarily 
related to the acquisition of Baldor, Mincom, Trasfor and 
Lorentzen & Wettre Group and other smaller acquisitions.

Net cash provided by (used in) financing 
activities

($ in millions)

2013

2012

2011

Net changes in debt with 

 maturities of 90 days or less

Increase in debt

Repayment of debt

Delivery of shares

Dividends paid

Acquisition of noncontrolling 

(697)

492

(1,893)

74

570

5,986

(1,104)

90

450

2,580

(2,576)

110

(1,667)

(1,626)

(1,569)

 interests

(13)

(9)

(13)

Dividends paid to noncontrolling 

shareholders

Other financing activities

Net cash provided by (used in) 

(149)

(3)

(121)

(24)

(157)

(33)

financing activities

(3,856)

3,762

(1,208)

98 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

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, 2013. 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 
under our debt instruments, leases and purchase obligations 
at December 31, 2013:

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 expo-
sure 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

7,616

30

1,217

1,281

5,088

Interest payments related to 

long-term debt obligations

Operating lease obligations

Capital lease obligations(1)

2,142

1,985

209

225

510

36

Purchase obligations

5,613

4,724

435

776

61

756

368

451

24

124

December 31, ($ in millions)

1,114

Performance guarantees

248

Financial guarantees

88

9

Indemnification guarantees 

Total

Maximum potential  

payments

2013

149

77

50

276

2012

149

83

190

422

Total

17,565

5,525

3,245

2,248

6,547

(1)

Capital lease obligations represent the total cash payments to be made in the future  
and include interest expense of $83 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. The cash obligations above will differ from  
the long-term debt balance reflected in “Note 12 Debt” to  
our Consolidated Financial Statements due to the impacts  
of fair value hedge accounting adjustments and premiums  
or discounts on certain debt.

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 obli-
gations were incurred. However, we use interest rate swaps to 
modify the interest characteristics of certain of our debt obli-
gations. 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 
related hedges, see “Note 12 Debt” to our Consolidated 
Financial Statements.

Of the total of $864 million unrecognized tax benefits  

(net of deferred tax assets) at December 31, 2013, it is 
expected that $34 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.

The carrying amounts of liabilities recorded in the Consoli-
dated Balance Sheets in respect of the above guarantees 
were not significant at December 31, 2013 and 2012, and re-
flect our best estimate of future payments, which we may 
 incur as part of fulfilling our guarantee obligations.

In addition, in the normal course of bidding for and exe-
cuting certain projects, we have entered into standby letters 
of credit, bid/performance bonds and surety bonds (collec-
tively “performance bonds”) with various financial institutions. 
Customers can draw on such performance bonds in the 
event that the Company does not fulfill its contractual obliga-
tions. ABB would then have an obligation to reimburse the 
financial institution for amounts paid under the performance 
bonds. There have been no significant amounts reimbursed 
to financial institutions under these types of arrangements in 
2013, 2012 and 2011.

For additional descriptions of our performance, financial 

and indemnification guarantees see “Note 15 Commitments 
and contingencies” to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 99

Consolidated Financial Statements

2013

2012

35,282

32,979

6,566

6,357

41,848

39,336

2011

31,875

6,115

37,990

(25,728)

(23,838)

(22,649)

(4,128)

(4,120)

(3,907)

(29,856)

(27,958)

(26,556)

11,992

(6,094)

(1,470)

(41)

4,387

69

(390)

4,066

(1,122)

2,944

(37)

2,907

(120)

2,787

11,378

(5,756)

(1,464)

(100)

4,058

73

(293)

3,838

(1,030)

2,808

4

2,812

(108)

2,704

11,434

(5,373)

(1,371)

(23)

4,667

90

(207)

4,550

(1,244)

3,306

9

3,315

(147)

3,168

2,824

2,787

2,700

2,704

3,159

3,168

1.23

1.21

1.23

1.21

1.18

1.18

1.18

1.18

1.38

1.38

1.38

1.38

2,297

2,305

2,293

2,295

2,288

2,291

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

Income from operations

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 (loss) 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

100 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

 
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

Year ended December 31 ($ in millions)

Net income

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

Foreign currency translation adjustments

Available-for-sale securities:

Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the year

Reclassification adjustments for net (gains) losses included in net income

Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities

Pension and other postretirement plans:

Prior service costs arising during the year

Net actuarial gains (losses) arising during the year

Amortization of prior service cost included in net income

Amortization of net actuarial loss included in net income

Amortization of transition liability included in net income

Pension and other postretirement plan adjustments

Cash flow hedge derivatives:

Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the year

Reclassification adjustments for net gains included in net income

Unrealized gains (losses) of cash flow hedge derivatives

Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

Total comprehensive income, net of tax

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax

Total comprehensive income, net of tax, attributable to ABB

See accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

2013

2,907

2012

2,812

2011

3,315

141

383

(275)

(4)

(13)

(17)

(16)

291

23

99

–

3

1

4

(36)

(601)

30

70

–

(3)

5

2

(23)

(593)

22

44

1

397

(537)

(549)

28

(43)

(15)

506

3,413

(115)

3,298

53

(28)

25

(125)

2,687

(98)

2,589

(19)

(61)

(80)

(902)

2,413

(136)

2,277

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 101

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

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

Advances from customers

Deferred taxes

Provisions for warranties

Other provisions

Other current liabilities

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 issued shares at December 31, 2013 and 2012)

  Retained earnings

  Accumulated other comprehensive loss

Treasury stock, at cost (14,093,960 and 18,793,989 shares at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively)

Total ABB stockholders’ equity

Noncontrolling interests

Total stockholders’ equity

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

See accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

102 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

2013

6,021

464

12,146

6,004

252

832

706

2012

6,875

1,606

11,575

6,182

311

869

584

26,425

28,002

6,254

10,670

3,297

93

197

370

758

5,947

10,226

3,501

71

213

334

776

48,064

49,070

5,112

1,714

453

1,726

259

1,362

1,807

4,242

4,992

2,035

2,537

1,937

270

1,291

1,575

4,337

16,675

18,974

7,570

1,639

1,265

1,707

7,534

2,290

1,260

1,566

28,856

31,624

1,750

19,186

(2,012)

(246)

1,691

18,066

(2,523)

(328)

18,678

16,906

530

19,208

48,064

540

17,446

49,070

 
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:

2013

2012

2011

2,907

2,812

3,315

  Depreciation and amortization

  Pension and other employee benefits

  Deferred taxes

  Net gain from sale of property, plant and equipment

  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 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 short-term investments

Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment

Proceeds from sales of businesses and equity-accounted companies (net of cash disposed)

Other investing activities

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

Delivery of shares

Dividends paid

Acquisition of noncontrolling interests

Dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders

Other financing activities

Net cash provided by (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

1,318

6

(137)

(18)

95

(571)

324

(43)

(168)

199

(145)

(114)

3,653

(526)

(30)

(1,106)

(914)

1,367

118

47

80

62

185

(717)

(697)

492

(1,893)

74

1,182

(13)

64

(26)

171

(310)

61

(57)

152

(109)

181

(329)

3,779

(2,288)

(67)

(1,293)

(3,694)

1,655

–

27

40

16

29

995

(49)

(34)

(47)

107

(731)

(600)

213

150

(391)

47

637

3,612

(2,809)

(142)

(1,021)

(4,020)

3,717

483

529

57

8

(55)

(5,575)

(3,253)

570

5,986

(1,104)

90

450

2,580

(2,576)

110

(1,667)

(1,626)

(1,569)

(13)

(149)

(3)

(9)

(121)

(24)

(13)

(157)

(33)

(3,856)

3,762

(1,208)

66

(854)

6,875

6,021

90

2,056

4,819

6,875

(229)

(1,078)

5,897

4,819

287

1,278

189

1,211

165

1,305

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 103

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

Years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 ($ in millions)

Balance at January 1, 2011

Comprehensive income:

  Net income

Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax

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

  Unrecognized income (expense) related to pensions and other postretirement plans, net of tax

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

Total comprehensive income

Changes in noncontrolling interests 

Dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders

Dividends paid

Share-based payment arrangements

Delivery of shares

Call options

Replacement options issued in connection with acquisition

Balance at December 31, 2011

Comprehensive income:

Net income

Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax

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

  Unrecognized income (expense) related to pensions and other postretirement plans, net of tax

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

Total comprehensive income

Changes in noncontrolling interests

Dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders

Dividends paid

Share-based payment arrangements

Delivery of shares

Call options

Replacement options issued in connection with acquisition

Other

Balance at December 31, 2012

Comprehensive income:

Net income

Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax

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

  Unrecognized income (expense) related to pensions and other postretirement plans, net of tax

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

Total comprehensive income

Changes in noncontrolling interests

Dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders

Dividends paid

Share-based payment arrangements

Delivery of shares

Call options

Replacement options issued in connection with acquisition

Other

Balance at December 31, 2013

See accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

104 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

Retained  

earnings

15,389

3,168

(1,569)

Capital stock and 

additional paid-in 

capital

1,454

(3)

67

93

(9)

19

1,621

16,988

(968)

20

(1,472)

12

(2,408)

(424)

15,777

2,704

(1,626)

60

(6)

10

5

1

1,691

18,066

(580)

24

(2,004)

37

(2,523)

(328)

16,906

2,787

(1,667)

(17)

71

(8)

13

2

(2)

1,750

19,186

(431)

7

(1,610)

22

(2,012)

(246)

18,678

530

19,208

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

Foreign  

Unrealized gains 

Pension and  

Unrealized gains 

Total accu-

currency  

(losses) on  

other post- 

(losses) of  

mulated other 

translation  

available-for-sale  

retirement plan  

cash flow hedge  

compre- 

Treasury  

stockholders’ 

controlling  

holders’  

adjustment

securities

adjustments

derivatives

hensive loss

(707)

18

(920)

92

(1,517)

stock

(441)

Non- 

interests

(261)

388

149

2

4

(552)

(80)

(532)

25

(261)

2

(552)

(80)

388

4

(532)

25

(17)

394

149

(17)

394

(15)

(15)

573

147

(14)

3

7

136

(157)

559

108

(5)

(5)

98

6

(123)

540

120

(8)

3

115

25

(150)

Total  

ABB  

equity

14,885

3,168

(261)

2

(552)

(80)

2,277

(1,569)

(3)

–  

67

110

(9)

19

2,704

388

4

(532)

25

2,589

(1,626)

–

–

60

90

10

5

1

2,787

149

(17)

394

(15)

(17)

–

3,298

(1,667)

71

74

13

2

(2)

Total  

stock- 

equity

15,458

3,315

(275)

(549)

(80)

2,413

2

4

(157)

(1,569)

67

110

(9)

19

16,336

2,812

383

4

(537)

25

2,687

6

(123)

(1,626)

60

90

10

5

1

17,446

2,907

141

(17)

397

(15)

3,413

8

(150)

(1,667)

71

74

13

2

(2)

17

96

82

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 ($ in millions)

Balance at January 1, 2011

Comprehensive income:

  Net income

Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax

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

  Unrecognized income (expense) related to pensions and other postretirement plans, net of tax

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

Capital stock and 

additional paid-in 

capital

1,454

Retained  

earnings

15,389

3,168

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

Foreign  

Unrealized gains 

Pension and  

Unrealized gains 

Total accu-

currency  

(losses) on  

other post- 

(losses) of  

mulated other 

Total  

ABB  

Non- 

Total  

stock- 

translation  

available-for-sale  

retirement plan  

cash flow hedge  

compre- 

Treasury  

stockholders’ 

controlling  

holders’  

adjustment

securities

adjustments

derivatives

hensive loss

(707)

18

(920)

92

(1,517)

stock

(441)

(261)

2

(552)

(261)

2

(552)

(80)

(80)

17

equity

14,885

3,168

(261)

2

(552)

(80)

2,277

(3)

–  

(1,569)

67

110

(9)

19

1,621

16,988

(968)

20

(1,472)

12

(2,408)

(424)

15,777

Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax

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

  Unrecognized income (expense) related to pensions and other postretirement plans, net of tax

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

388

4

(532)

388

4

(532)

25

25

2,704

388

4

(532)

25

2,589

–

–

(1,626)

60

90

10

5

1

96

1,691

18,066

(580)

24

(2,004)

37

(2,523)

(328)

16,906

Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax

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

  Unrecognized income (expense) related to pensions and other postretirement plans, net of tax

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

149

(17)

394

149

(17)

394

(15)

(15)

2,787

149

(17)

394

(15)

3,298

(17)

–

(1,667)

71

74

13

2

(2)

82

(1,569)

2,704

(1,626)

2,787

(1,667)

(3)

67

93

(9)

19

60

(6)

10

5

1

(17)

71

(8)

13

2

(2)

interests

573

147

(14)

3

136

7

(157)

559

108

(5)

(5)

98

6

(123)

540

120

(8)

3

115

25

(150)

equity

15,458

3,315

(275)

2

(549)

(80)

2,413

4

(157)

(1,569)

67

110

(9)

19

16,336

2,812

383

4

(537)

25

2,687

6

(123)

(1,626)

60

90

10

5

1

17,446

2,907

141

(17)

397

(15)

3,413

8

(150)

(1,667)

71

74

13

2

(2)

1,750

19,186

(431)

7

(1,610)

22

(2,012)

(246)

18,678

530

19,208

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 105

Total comprehensive income

Changes in noncontrolling interests 

Dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders

Share-based payment arrangements

Dividends paid

Delivery of shares

Call options

Replacement options issued in connection with acquisition

Balance at December 31, 2011

Comprehensive income:

Net income

Total comprehensive income

Changes in noncontrolling interests

Dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders

Share-based payment arrangements

Dividends paid

Delivery of shares

Call options

Replacement options issued in connection with acquisition

Other

Balance at December 31, 2012

Comprehensive income:

Net income

Total comprehensive income

Changes in noncontrolling interests

Dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders

Share-based payment arrangements

Dividends paid

Delivery of shares

Call options

Replacement options issued in connection with acquisition

Other

Balance at December 31, 2013

See accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 auto­
mation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmen­
tal 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 current liabilities, where amounts previ­
ously reported in “Employee and other payables” and “Accrued expenses” have been reclassified to “Other provisions” 
and “Other current liabilities”.

A portion of the Company’s activities (primarily long­term 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 project­related overhead costs, used in 

determining the percentage­of­completion 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 impairment of long­lived 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.

Marketable securities  
and short­term investments

Management determines the appropriate classification of held­to­maturity and available­for­sale securities at the time of 
purchase. Debt securities are classified as held­to­maturity when the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold 
the securities to maturity. Held­to­maturity 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 

106 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

 
Note 2 
Significant accounting policies, 
continued

included in “Interest and dividend income”. Marketable debt securities not classified as held­to­maturity and equity 
securities that have readily determinable fair values are classified as available­for­sale and reported at fair value.

Unrealized gains and losses on available­for­sale 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 available­for­sale securities are computed based upon the historical cost of  
these securities, using the specific identification method.

Marketable debt securities are generally classified as either “Cash and equivalents” or “Marketable securities and 
 short­term investments” according to their maturity at the time of acquisition.

Marketable equity securities are generally classified as “Marketable securities and short­term investments”, however  
any marketable securities held as a long­term investment rather than as an investment of excess liquidity, are classified 
as “Other non­current assets”.

The Company performs a periodic review of its debt and equity securities to determine whether an other­than­temporary 
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 other­than­temporary impairment for the difference 
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 insofar as the Com­
pany does not expect to recover the entire recognized amortized cost of the security. Such impairment charges are 
generally recognized in “Interest and other finance expense”. If the impairment is due to factors other than credit losses, 
and the Company does not intend to sell the security and it is not more likely than not that it will be required to sell the 
security before recovery of the security’s amortized cost, such impairment charges are recorded in “Accumulated other 
comprehensive loss”.

In addition, for equity securities, the Company assesses whether the cost value will recover within the near­term and 
whether the Company has the intent and ability to hold that equity security until such recovery occurs. If an other­ 
than­temporary impairment is identified, the security is written down to its fair value and the related losses are recog­
nized in “Interest and other finance expense”, unless the impairment relates to equity securities classified as “Other 
non­current assets”, in which case the impairment is reported in “Other income (expense), net”.

Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount. The Company has a group­wide 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. Third­party 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 significant 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 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 allowance based on historical write­off 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. 
Account balances are charged off against the related allowance when the Company believes that the amount will not be 
recovered.

The Company, in its normal course of business, transfers receivables to third parties, generally without recourse. The 
transfer is accounted for as a sale when the Company has surrendered control over the receivables. Control is deemed 
to have been surrendered when (i) the transferred receivables have been put presumptively beyond the reach of the 
Company and its creditors, even in bankruptcy or other receivership, (ii) the third­party transferees have the right to pledge 
or exchange the transferred receivables, and (iii) the Company has relinquished effective control over the transferred 
receivables and does not retain the ability or obligation to repurchase or redeem the transferred receivables. At the time 
of sale, the sold receivables are removed from the Consolidated Balance Sheets and the related cash inflows are class­ 
ified as operating activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Costs associated with the sale of receivables, 
including the related gains and losses from the sales, are included in “Interest and other finance expense”. Transfers  
of receivables that do not meet the requirements for treatment as sales are accounted for as secured borrowings and 
the related cash flows are classified as financing activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

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 quasi­governmental 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 nec­
essary; 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.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 107

Accounts receivable and allowance  
for doubtful accounts

Concentrations of credit risk

 
Note 2 
Significant accounting policies, 
continued

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 close­out netting agreements with 
most derivative counterparties. Close­out 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 pre­defined trigger 
events. In the Consolidated Financial Statements derivative transactions are presented on a gross basis.

Revenue recognition

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 cus­
tomer 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 contractually­defined shipping terms. The Company uses various International Commercial shipping terms (as 
promulgated by the International Chamber of Commerce) in its sales of products to third­party customers, such as Ex 
Works (EXW), Free Carrier (FCA) and Delivered Duty Paid (DDP). Subsequent to delivery of the products, the Company 
generally has no further contractual performance obligations that would preclude revenue recognition.

Revenues under long­term construction­type contracts are generally recognized using the percentage­of­completion 
method of accounting. The Company principally uses the cost­to­cost method to measure progress towards completion 
on contracts. Under this method, progress of contracts is measured by actual costs incurred in relation to the Company’s 
best estimate of total estimated costs, which are reviewed and updated routinely for contracts in progress. The cumulative 
effect of any change in estimate is recorded in the period when the change in estimate is determined.

Short­term construction­type contracts, or long­term construction­type 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 completed­contract 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 construction­type contracts that contain customer acceptance provisions, revenue is deferred until customer 
acceptance occurs or the Company has demonstrated the customer­specified objective criteria have been met or the 
contractual acceptance period has lapsed.

Revenues from service transactions are recognized as services are performed. For long­term service contracts, revenues 
are recognized on a straight­line 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 maintenance­type contracts, field service activities that include personnel and accompanying spare parts, and 
installation and commissioning of products as a stand­alone service or as part of a service contract.

Revenues for software license fees are recognized when persuasive evidence of a non­cancelable 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 
 residual method. Under this method revenue is allocated to the undelivered elements based on vendor­specific 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 licences, 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 sepa­
rately, 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. Deliverables of such multiple element 
arrangements are evaluated to determine the unit of accounting and if certain criteria are met, the Company allocates 
revenues to each unit of accounting based on its relative selling price. A hierarchy of selling prices is used to determine 
the selling price of each specific deliverable that includes VSOE (if available), third­party evidence (if VSOE is not avail­
able), or estimated selling price if neither of the first two is available. 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 stand­alone basis.  
Revenue is allocated between the elements of an arrangement at the inception of the arrangement. Such arrangements 
generally include industry­specific performance and termination provisions, such as in the event of substantial delays  
or non­delivery.

Revenues are reported net of customer rebates and similar incentives. Taxes assessed by a governmental authority that 
are directly imposed on revenue­producing transactions between the Company and its customers, such as sales, use, 
value­added and some excise taxes, are 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. 

108 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

 
Note 2 
Significant accounting policies, 
continued
Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first­in, first­out method, the weighted­
average cost method, or in certain circumstances (for example, where the completed­contract method of revenue 
 recognition 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.

Impairment of long­lived assets

Property, plant and equipment

Long­lived 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 disposi­
tion 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 straight­line 
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.

Goodwill and other intangible assets

Goodwill is reviewed for impairment annually as of October 1, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that 
the carrying value may not be recoverable.

Goodwill is evaluated for impairment at the reporting unit level. A reporting unit is an operating segment or one level 
below an operating segment. For the annual impairment review in 2013, the reporting units were the same as the 
 operating segments for Discrete Automation and Motion, Low Voltage Products, Power Products and Power Systems, 
while for the Process Automation operating segment, the reporting units were determined to be one level below the 
operating segment.

When evaluating goodwill for impairment, the Company uses either a qualitative or quantitative assessment method for 
each reporting unit. The qualitative assessment involves determining, based on an evaluation of qualitative factors, if  
it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value. If, based on this qualitative 
assessment, it is determined to be more likely than not that the reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying value, 
the two­step quantitative impairment test (described below) is performed, otherwise no further analysis is required. If the 
Company elects not to perform the qualitative assessment for a reporting unit, the two­step quantitative impairment  
test is performed.

The two­step quantitative impairment test calculates the fair value of a reporting unit (based on the income approach 
whereby the fair value of a reporting unit is calculated based on the present value of future cash flows) and compares it 
to the reporting unit’s carrying value. If the carrying value of the net assets of a reporting unit exceeds the fair value of  
the reporting unit 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 straight­line method is used. The amortization periods range from 3 to 5 years for software and from 5 to 20 years 
for customer­, technology­ and marketing­related 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 straight­line basis over the estimated useful life of the software, typically ranging from 3 to 5 years.

Software for sale
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 straight­line 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 
underlying 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.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 109

 
 
 
 
Note 2 
Significant accounting policies, 
continued

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 forecasted transaction. 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. 

Leases

Sale­leasebacks

Translation of foreign currencies and 
foreign exchange transactions

Income taxes

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. Cash 
flows from the settlement of undesignated derivatives used to manage the risks of different underlying items on a net 
basis, are classified within “Net cash provided by operating activities”, as the underlying items are primarily operational 
in nature. Other cash flows on the settlement of derivatives are recorded within “Net cash used in investing activities”.

The Company leases primarily real estate and office equipment. Rental expense for operating leases is recorded on  
a straight­line 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 sale­leasebacks, 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 capital lease, depending upon its specific terms.

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.

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 equity­like 
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 underly­ 
ing 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. 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 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. Contingency provisions 
are recorded based on the technical merits of the Company’s filing position, considering the applicable tax laws and 
Orga nisation for Economic Co­operation and Development (OECD) guidelines and are based on its evaluations of the 
facts and circumstances as of the end of each reporting period. Changes in the facts and circumstances could result  
in a material change to the tax accruals.

The Company applies a two­step 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.

110 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

 
Note 2 
Significant accounting policies, 
continued
Research and development

Earnings per share

Share­based payment arrangements

Fair value measures

Contingencies

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 costs not related to specific customer orders are generally expensed as incurred.

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing income by the weighted­average number of shares outstanding during 
the year. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing income by the weighted­average 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 share­based payment arrangements. See further discussion related to earnings per 
share in Note 20 and of potentially dilutive securities in Note 18.

The Company has various share­based 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 equity­settled, total 
compensation is measured at grant date, based on the fair value of the award at that date, and recorded in earnings over 
the period the employees are required to render service. For awards that are cash­settled, 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 non­financial assets at fair value on a non­recurring basis, as well as to deter­
mine 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 and interest rate 
derivatives, as well as cash­settled call options and available­for­sale securities. Non­financial assets recorded at fair 
value on a non­recurring basis include long­lived 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 three­level 
hierarchy, depending on the reliability of those inputs. The Company has categorized its financial assets and liabilities 
and non­financial assets measured at fair value within this hierarchy based on whether the inputs to the valuation tech­
nique are observable or unobservable. An observable input is based on market data obtained from independent 
sources, while an unobservable input reflects the Company’s assumptions about market data.

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 exchange­traded equity securities, listed 
 derivatives which are actively traded such as commodity futures, interest rate futures and certain actively­traded 
debt securities.

Level 2:   Valuation inputs consist of observable inputs (other than Level 1 inputs) such as actively­quoted 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 or disclosed 
using Level 2 inputs include investments in certain funds, certain debt securities that are not actively traded, 
interest rate swaps, commodity swaps, cash­settled call options, forward foreign exchange contracts, foreign 
exchange swaps and forward rate agreements, as well as financing receivables and debt.

Level 3:   Valuation inputs are based on the Company’s assumptions of relevant market data (unobservable input). The 

impairments of certain equity­method investments were calculated using Level 3 inputs. 

Whenever quoted prices involve bid­ask spreads, the Company ordinarily determines fair values based on mid­market 
quotes. However, for the purpose of determining the fair value of cash­settled 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 trans­
action 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 
 environmental, labor, product, regulatory, tax (other than income tax) 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.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 111

 
Note 2 
Significant accounting policies, 
continued

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  
contracts. 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 legal obligations to perform environmental clean­up activities related to land and buildings as  
a result of the normal operations of its business. 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 obligations when it is probable that  
a liability for the clean­up activity has been incurred and a reasonable estimate of its fair value can be made. The provision 
is initially recognized at fair value, and subsequently adjusted for accrued interest and changes in estimates. In some 
cases, a portion of the costs expected to be incurred to settle these matters may be recoverable. An asset is recorded 
when it is probable that such amounts are recoverable. Provisions for environmental obligations are not discounted to 
their present value when the timing of payments cannot be reasonably estimated.

Pensions and other postretirement 
 benefits

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”.

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.

Business combinations

The Company accounts for assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations using the acquisition 
method and records these at their respective fair values. Contingent consideration is recorded at fair value as an 
 element of purchase price with subsequent adjustments recognized in income.

New accounting pronouncements

Identifiable intangibles consist of intellectual property such as trademarks and trade names, customer relationships, 
patented and unpatented technology, in­process research and development, order backlog and capitalized software; 
these are amortized over their estimated useful lives. Such intangibles are subsequently subject to evaluation for 
 potential impairment if events or circumstances indicate the carrying amount may not be recoverable. See “Goodwill 
and other intangible assets” above. Acquisition­related costs are recognized separately from the acquisition and 
expensed as incurred. 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.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities based on temporary differences between the financial reporting and the tax base of 
assets and liabilities as well as uncertain tax positions and valuation allowances on acquired deferred tax assets 
assumed in connection with a business combination are initially estimated as of the acquisition date based on facts and 
circumstances that existed at the acquisition date. These estimates are subject to change within the measurement 
period (a period of up to 12 months after the acquisition date during which the acquirer may adjust the provisional acqui­
sition amounts) with any adjustments to the preliminary estimates being recorded to goodwill. Changes in deferred 
taxes, uncertain tax positions and valuation allowances on acquired deferred tax assets that occur after the measurement 
period are recognized in income.

Applicable in current period
Disclosures about offsetting assets and liabilities
As of January 2013, the Company adopted two accounting standard updates regarding disclosures about amounts  
of certain 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 these updates covers derivatives (including bifurcated embedded derivatives), repurchase agreements and 
reverse repurchase agreements, and securities borrowing and securities lending arrangements. These updates are 
applicable retrospectively and did not have a significant impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Reporting of amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income
As of January 2013, the Company adopted an accounting standard update regarding the presentation of amounts 
reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income. Under the update, the Company is required to present, 
either in a single note or parenthetically on the face of the financial statements, significant amounts reclassified out  
of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective income statement line item (if the amount reclassified is 
required under U.S. GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the reporting period). If a component is not 
required to be reclassified to net income in its entirety, the Company would instead cross­reference to other U.S. GAAP 

112 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

 
Note 2 
Significant accounting policies, 
continued

required disclosures that provide additional information about the amounts. This update is applicable prospectively  
and resulted in the Company presenting, in a single note, significant reclassifications out of accumulated other compre­
hensive income (see Note 21).

Applicable for future periods
Parent’s accounting for the cumulative translation adjustment upon derecognition of certain subsidiaries or groups  
of assets within a foreign entity or of an investment in a foreign entity
In March 2013, an accounting standard update was issued regarding the release of cumulative translation adjustments 
of a parent when it ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets that is a business 
within a foreign entity (for the Company, a foreign entity is an entity having a functional currency other than U.S. dollars). 
Under the update, the Company would release into net income the entire amount of a cumulative translation adjust­ 
ment related to its investment in a foreign entity when a parent no longer has control as a result of selling a part or all of 
its investment in the foreign entity or otherwise no longer holds a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group  
of assets within the foreign entity. For foreign equity­accounted companies, a pro rata portion of the cumulative translation 
adjustment would be recognized in net income upon a partial sale of the equity­accounted company. This update  
is effective for the Company for annual and interim periods beginning January 1, 2014, and is applicable prospectively. 
The Company does not believe that this update will have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

Presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit 
carryforward exists
In July 2013, an accounting standard update was issued regarding the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits when  
a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. Under the update, the Company 
would present an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, as a reduction to a deferred  
tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward, except in certain defined 
circumstances. This update is effective for the Company for annual and interim periods beginning January 1, 2014,  
and is applicable prospectively. The Company does not believe that this update will have a material impact on its Con­
solidated Financial Statements.

Note 3 
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

2013

897

525

7

2012

3,643

2,895

9

2011

3,805

3,261

10

(1)

(2)

Excluding changes in cost and equity investments but including $2 million in 2013, $5 million in 2012 and $19 million in 2011, representing the fair value of replacement vested stock 
options issued to Power­One, Thomas & Betts and Baldor employees, respectively, at the corresponding acquisition dates.
Recorded as goodwill (see Note 11). Includes adjustments of $63 million in 2013 arising during the measurement period of acquisitions, primarily reflecting a reduction in certain  deferred 
tax liabilities related to Thomas & Betts.

In the table above, the “Acquisitions” and “Aggregate excess of purchase price over fair value of net assets acquired” 
amounts for 2013 relate primarily to the acquisition of Power­One Inc. (Power­One). For 2012, these amounts relate 
 primarily to the acquisition of Thomas & Betts Corporation (Thomas & Betts), while for 2011, these amounts relate mainly 
to the acquisitions of Baldor Electric Corporation (Baldor) and EAM Software Holdings Pty Ltd (Mincom).

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.

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.

On July 25, 2013, the Company acquired all outstanding shares of Power­One for $6.35 per share in cash. The resulting 
cash outflows for the Company amounted to $737 million, representing $705 million for the purchase of the shares 
(net of cash acquired) and $32 million related to the cash settlement of Power­One stock options held at the acquisition 
date. Power­One is a designer and manufacturer of photovoltaic inverters, as well as a provider of renewable energy 
and energy­efficient power conversion and power management solutions.

The aggregate preliminary allocation of the purchase consideration for business acquisitions in 2013, was as follows:

($ in millions)

Intangible assets

Fixed assets

Deferred tax liabilities

Other assets and liabilities, net

Goodwill (2)

Total consideration (net of cash acquired)

(1)

(2)

Excludes measurement period adjustments related to prior year acquisitions.
The Company does not expect the majority of goodwill recognized to be deductible for income tax purposes.

Weighted-average  

useful life

7 years

Allocated amounts (1)

206

135

(190)

158

588

897

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 113

 
 
Note 3 
Acquisitions,  continued

($ in millions)

Customer relationships

Technology

Trade names

Order backlog

Intangible assets

Fixed assets

Debt acquired

Deferred tax liabilities

Inventories

On May 16, 2012, the Company acquired all outstanding shares of Thomas & Betts for $72 per share in cash. The 
resulting cash outflows for the Company amounted to $3,700 million, representing $3,282 million for the purchase of the 
shares (net of cash acquired of $521 million), $94 million related to cash settlement of Thomas & Betts stock options 
held at acquisition date and $324 million for the repayment of debt assumed upon acquisition. Thomas & Betts designs, 
manufactures and markets components used to manage the connection, distribution, transmission and reliability of 
electrical power in industrial, construction and utility applications. The acquisition of Thomas & Betts supports the Com­
pany’s strategy of expanding its Low Voltage Products operating segment into new geographies, sectors and products, 
and consequently the goodwill acquired represents the future benefits associated with the expansion of market access 
and product scope.

The final allocation of the purchase consideration for the Thomas & Betts acquisition in 2012 was as follows:

Weighted-average  

useful life

18 years

5 years

10 years

7.5 months

15 years

Allocated amounts

1,169

179

155

12

1,515

458

(619)

(971)

300

49

2,649

3,381

Other assets and liabilities, net (1)

Goodwill (2)

Total consideration (net of cash acquired)(3)

(1)

(2)

(3)

Gross receivables from the acquisition totaled $387 million; the fair value of which was $344 million after rebates and allowance for estimated uncollectable receivables.
Goodwill recognized is not deductible for income tax purposes.
Cash acquired in the acquisition totaled $521 million. Additional consideration for the acquisition included $94 million related to the cash settlement of stock options held by  
Thomas & Betts employees at the acquisition date and $5 million representing the fair value of replacement vested stock options issued to Thomas & Betts employees  
at the acquisition date. The fair value of these stock options was estimated using a Black­Scholes model.

The Company’s Consolidated Income Statement for 2012 includes total revenues of $1,541 million and a net loss 
(including acquisition­related charges) of $10 million in respect of Thomas & Betts 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 Thomas & Betts for 2012 and 2011, as if Thomas & Betts had been acquired on January 1, 2011. 

($ in millions)

Total revenues

Income from continuing operations, net of tax

2012

40,251

2,924

2011

40,288

3,381

The unaudited pro forma results above include certain adjustments related to the Thomas & Betts acquisition. The 
table below summarizes the adjustments necessary to present the pro forma financial information of the Company and 
Thomas & Betts combined, as if Thomas & Betts had been acquired on January 1, 2011.

($ 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

Impact on cost of sales from additional depreciation of fixed assets

Interest expense on Thomas & Betts debt

Impact on selling, general and administrative expenses from Thomas & Betts stock­option plans adjustments

Impact on selling, general and administrative expenses from acquisition­related costs

Impact on interest and other finance expense from bridging facility costs

Other

Income taxes

Total pro forma adjustments

Adjustments

2012

2011

(26)

11

31

(12)

5

16

56

13

(5)

(7)

82

(69)

(12)

(31)

(33)

21

–

(20)

–

(15)

44

(115)

The pro forma results are for information purposes only and do not include any anticipated cost synergies or other 
effects of the planned integration of Thomas & Betts. 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.

114 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

Note 3 
Acquisitions,  continued

The aggregate allocation of the purchase consideration for other business acquisitions in 2012, excluding Thomas & 
Betts, was as follows:

($ in millions)

Intangible assets

Fixed assets

Deferred tax liabilities

Other assets and liabilities, net

Goodwill

Total consideration (net of cash acquired)

Allocated amounts

68

25

(24)

21

172

262

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 top­up option contained in the merger agreement, bringing its 
shareholding in Baldor to 91.6 percent, allowing the Company to complete a short­form merger under Missouri, United 
States, law. On the same date, the Company completed the purchase of the remaining 8.4 percent of outstanding 
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 acqui  ­ 
sition date and $1,240 million for the repayment of debt assumed upon acquisition. Baldor markets, designs and manu­
factures industrial electric motors, mechanical power transmission products, drives and generators.

The final allocation of the purchase consideration for the Baldor acquisition in 2011 was 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 (1)

Goodwill (2)

Total consideration (net of cash acquired)(3)

Weighted-average  

useful life

19 years

7 years

10 years

2 months

5 years

16 years

Allocated amounts

996

259

121

15

15

1,406

382

(1,241)

(693)

422

51

2,728

3,055

(1)

(2)

(3)

Gross receivables from the acquisition totaled $266 million; the fair value of which was $263 million after allowance for estimated uncollectable receivables.
The goodwill recognized is not deductible for income tax purposes.
Cash acquired in the acquisition totaled $48 million. Additional consideration 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 Black­Scholes model.

The Company’s Consolidated Income Statement for 2011 includes total revenues of $1,950 million and net income 
(including acquisition­related charges) of $155 million in respect of Baldor since the date of acquisition. 

The aggregate allocation of the purchase consideration for business acquisitions in 2011, excluding Baldor, was  
as follows:

($ in millions)

Intangible assets

Fixed assets

Deferred tax liabilities

Other assets and liabilities, net (2)

Goodwill

Total consideration (net of cash acquired)

(1)

(2)

The allocated amounts primarily relate to the acquisitions of Mincom, PGC Powergen Consulting SA (Trasfor) and AB Lorentzen & Wettre.
Includes debt acquired of $202 million.

Allocated amounts (1)

447

40

(99)

(171)

533

750

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 115

Note 4 
Cash and equivalents  
and marketable securities
Current Assets 

Cash and equivalents and marketable securities and short­term investments consisted of the following:

December 31, 2013 ($ in millions)

Cost basis

gains

losses

Fair value

equivalents

 investments

Gross 

Gross 

Marketable  securities  

 unrealized 

 unrealized 

Cash and 

and short-term 

Cash

Time deposits

Other short­term investments

Debt securities available-for-sale:

  U.S. government obligations

European government obligations

  Other government obligations

  Corporate

Equity securities available­for­sale

Total

2,414

3,556

9

103

24

3

212

154

6,475

2,414

3,556

9

104

25

3

215

159

2,414

3,538

–

–

–

69

–

6,485

6,021

2

1

–

4

9

16

(1)

–

–

(1)

(4)

(6)

18

9

104

25

3

146

159

464

December 31, 2012 ($ in millions)

Cost basis

gains

losses

Fair value

equivalents

 investments

Gross 

Gross 

Marketable  securities  

 unrealized 

 unrealized 

Cash and 

and short-term 

Cash

Time deposits

Other short­term investments

Debt securities available-for-sale:

  U.S. government obligations

  Other government obligations

  Corporate

Equity securities available­for­sale

Total

Non­current assets

2,784

3,993

15

152

3

236

1,271

8,454

2,784

3,993

15

159

3

245

1,282

8,481

2,784

3,963

–

–

128

–

6,875

8

–

9

12

29

(1)

–

–

(1)

(2)

30

15

159

3

117

1,282

1,606

Included in “Other non­current assets” are certain held­to­maturity marketable securities. At December 31, 2013, the 
amortized cost, gross unrecognized gain and fair value (based on quoted market prices) of these securities were 
$104 million, $17 million and $121 million, respectively. At December 31, 2012, the amortized cost, gross unrecognized 
gain and fair value (based on quoted market prices) of these securities were $97 million, $27 million and $124 million, 
respectively. These securities are pledged as security for certain outstanding deposit liabilities and the funds received 
at the respective maturity dates of the securities will only be available to the Company for repayment of these obligations. 

Gains, losses and  
contractual maturities

Gross realized gains (reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to income) on available­for­sale securities 
totaled $10 million, $3 million and $8 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Gross realized losses (reclassified 
from accumulated other comprehensive loss to income) on available­for­sale securities were not significant in 2013, 2012 
and 2011. Such gains and losses were included in “Interest and other finance expense”.

In 2013, 2012 and 2011, other­than­temporary impairments recognized on available­for­sale equity securities were not 
significant.

At December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, gross unrealized losses on available­for­sale 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 held­to­maturity securities in 2013, 2012 and 2011.

Contractual maturities of debt securities consisted of the following:

December 31, 2013 ($ in millions)

Less than one year

One to five years

Six to ten years

Total

Available-for-sale

Held-to-maturity

Cost basis 

Fair value

Cost basis 

Fair value

162

138

42

342

163

143

41

347

7

40

57

104

7

44

70

121

At December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company pledged $97 million and $96 million, respectively, of available­for­sale 
marketable securities as collateral for issued letters of credit and other security arrangements.

116 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

 
 
 
 
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 exposures, 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 volatility 
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 certain debt and generally such swaps are designated as fair value hedges. In addition, from time to time, the 
Company uses instruments such as interest rate swaps, interest rate futures, bond futures or forward rate agreements 
to manage interest rate risk arising from the Company’s balance sheet structure but does not designate such instru­
ments 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 cash­settled call options which entitle the Company to 
receive amounts equivalent to its obligations under the outstanding WARs.

Volume of derivative activity

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  
designated or do not qualify for hedge accounting.

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 amounts

2013

19,351

3,049

4,693

2012

2011

19,724

16,503

3,572

3,983

3,439

5,535

Type of derivative

December 31,

Copper swaps

Aluminum swaps

Nickel swaps

Lead swaps

Zinc swaps

Silver swaps

Electricity futures

Crude oil swaps

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:

Unit

Total notional amounts

metric tonnes

metric tonnes

metric tonnes

metric tonnes

metric tonnes

ounces

megawatt hours

barrels

2013

42,866

3,525

18

7,100

300

2012

45,222

5,495

21

2011

38,414

5,068

18

13,025

13,325

225

125

1,936,581

1,415,322 1,981,646

279,995

334,445

326,960

113,000

135,471

113,397

Equity derivatives
At December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company held 67 million, 67 million and 61 million cash­settled call options 
indexed to ABB Ltd shares (conversion ratio 5:1) with a total fair value of $56 million, $26 million and $21 million, 
 respectively.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 117

 
Note 5 
Financial instruments, continued
Cash flow hedges

Type of derivative   

designated as  

a cash flow hedge

Foreign exchange contracts

Commodity contracts

Cash­settled call options

Total

Type of derivative   

designated as  

a cash flow hedge

Foreign exchange contracts

Commodity contracts

Cash­settled call options

Total

Type of derivative   

designated as  

a cash flow hedge

Foreign exchange contracts

Commodity contracts

Cash­settled call options

Total

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 cash­settled 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, 2013, 2012 and 2011, “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” included net unrealized gains of 
$22 million, $37 million and $12 million, respectively, net of tax, on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges. Of the 
amount at December 31, 2013, net gains of $18 million are expected to be reclassified to earnings in 2014. At Decem­
ber 31, 2013, the longest maturity of a derivative classified as a cash flow hedge was 69 months.

In 2013, 2012 and 2011, 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 pre­tax effects of derivative instruments, designated and qualifying as cash flow hedges, on “Accumulated other 
comprehensive loss” (OCI) and the Consolidated Income Statements were as follows:

Gains (losses) 

 recognized in OCI  

2013 

Gains (losses) recognized in income   

on derivatives

Gains (losses) reclassified from OCI  

(ineffective portion and amount  

(effective portion)

into income (effective portion)

excluded from effectiveness testing)

($ in millions)

Location

($ in millions)

Location

($ in millions)

22

Total revenues

Total cost of sales

(5)

Total cost of sales 

16 SG&A expenses (1)

33

52

(1)

(5)

Total revenues

Total cost of sales

Total cost of sales 

8 SG&A expenses (1)

54

–

–

–

–

–

Gains (losses) 

 recognized in OCI  

2012 

Gains (losses) recognized in income   

on derivatives

Gains (losses) reclassified from OCI  

(ineffective portion and amount  

(effective portion)

into income (effective portion)

excluded from effectiveness testing)

($ in millions)

Location

($ in millions)

Location

($ in millions)

74

Total revenues

Total cost of sales

4

Total cost of sales 

(4) SG&A expenses (1)

74

69

Total revenues

(12)

Total cost of sales

(4)

Total cost of sales 

(11) SG&A expenses (1)

42

–

–

–

–

–

Gains (losses) 

 recognized in OCI  

2011 

Gains (losses) recognized in income   

on derivatives

Gains (losses) reclassified from OCI  

(ineffective portion and amount  

(effective portion)

into income (effective portion)

excluded from effectiveness testing)

($ in millions)

Location

($ in millions)

Location

($ in millions)

9

Total revenues

Total cost of sales

(13)

Total cost of sales 

(17) SG&A expenses (1)

(21)

113

Total revenues

(9)

Total cost of sales

2

Total cost of sales 

(18) SG&A expenses (1)

88

–

–

–

–

–

(1)

SG&A expenses represent “Selling, general and administrative expenses”.

Net derivative gains of $43 million, $28 million and $61 million, net of tax, were reclassified from “Accumulated other 
comprehensive loss” to earnings during 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. 

118 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

 
 
 
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 the 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 
 off setting gains and losses in “Interest and other finance expense”. Hedge ineffectiveness of instruments designated  
as fair value hedges in 2013, 2012 and 2011, was not significant.

The effect of derivative instruments, designated and qualifying as fair value hedges, on the Consolidated Income State­
ments was as follows:

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

Interest rate contracts

Interest and other finance expense

(34)

Interest and other finance expense

($ in millions)

35

2013

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

Interest rate contracts

Interest and other finance expense

6

Interest and other finance expense

($ in millions)

(6)

2012

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

Interest rate contracts

Interest and other finance expense

(24)

Interest and other finance expense

($ in millions)

24

2011

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 were as follows:

Type of derivative  not designated as a hedge

Gains (losses) recognized in income

($ in millions)

Foreign exchange contracts

Embedded foreign exchange contracts

Commodity contracts

Interest rate contracts

Cash­settled call options

Total

Location

Total revenues

Total cost of sales

SG&A expenses (1)

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

(1)

SG&A expenses represent “Selling, general and administrative expenses”.

2013

(95)

80

(1)

223

101

(10)

(50)

1

(3)

–

246

2012

318

(193)

(3)

68

(148)

28

10

1

(1)

–

80

2011

(93)

(25)

–

265

(31)

11

(59)

1

–

(1)

68

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 119

 
Note 5 
Financial instruments, continued

The fair values of derivatives included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets were as follows:

December 31, 2013 ($ in millions)

assets”

assets”

liabilities”

liabilities”

Derivative assets

Derivative liabilities

Current in  

Non-current in  

Current in

Non-current in  

“Other current  

“Other non-current 

“Other current

“Other non-current

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

Foreign exchange contracts

Commodity contracts

Interest rate contracts

Cash­settled call options

Total

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:

Foreign exchange contracts

Commodity contracts

Cash­settled call options

Embedded foreign exchange derivatives

Total

Total fair value

Thereof, subject to close-out netting agreements

21

2

–

14

37

272

6

–

57

335

372

284

8

–

14

40

62

42

1

2

21

66

128

63

10

1

–

–

11

121

15

–

55

191

202

130

3

–

7

–

10

30

1

–

11

42

52

40

December 31, 2012 ($ in millions)

assets”

assets”

liabilities”

liabilities”

Derivative assets

Derivative liabilities

Current in  

Non-current in  

Current in

Non-current in  

“Other current  

“Other non-current 

“Other current

“Other non-current 

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

Foreign exchange contracts

Commodity contracts

Interest rate contracts

Cash­settled call options

Total

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:

Foreign exchange contracts

Commodity contracts

Cash­settled call options

Embedded foreign exchange derivatives

Total

Total fair value

Thereof, subject to close-out netting agreements

34

1

15

9

59

204

7

–

26

237

296

245

20

–

31

16

67

62

1

1

13

77

144

113

14

1

–

–

15

84

11

–

86

181

196

93

6

–

2

–

8

20

1

–

40

61

69

28

Close­out 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 pre­defined trigger events.

Although the Company is party to close­out netting agreements with most derivative counterparties, the fair values  
in the tables above and in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2013 and 2012, have been presented  
on a gross basis.

120 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

 
 
Note 6
Fair values
Recurring fair value measures

December 31, 2013 ($ in millions)

Assets

The fair values of financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows:

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total fair value

Available­for­sale securities in “Cash and equivalents”:

  Debt securities – Corporate

Available­for­sale securities in “Marketable securities and short­term investments”:

Equity securities

  Debt securities – U.S. government obligations

  Debt securities – European government obligations

  Debt securities – Other government obligations

  Debt securities – Corporate

Derivative assets – current in “Other current assets”

Derivative assets – non­current in “Other non­current assets”

Total

Liabilities

Derivative liabilities – current in “Other current liabilities”

Derivative liabilities – non­current in “Other non­current liabilities”

Total

December 31, 2012 ($ in millions)

Assets

Available­for­sale securities in “Cash and equivalents”:

  Debt securities – Corporate

Available­for­sale securities in “Marketable securities and short­term investments”:

Equity securities

  Debt securities – U.S. government obligations

  Debt securities – Other government obligations

  Debt securities – Corporate

Available­for­sale securities in “Other non­current assets”:

Equity securities

Derivative assets – current in “Other current assets”

Derivative assets – non­current in “Other non­current assets”

Total

Liabilities

Derivative liabilities – current in “Other current liabilities”

Derivative liabilities – non­current in “Other non­current liabilities”

Total

–

–

104

25

–

–

–

–

129

3

–

3

69

159

–

–

3

146

372

128

877

199

52

251

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

69

159

104

25

3

146

372

128

1,006

202

52

254

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total fair value

–

3

159

–

–

2

–

–

128

1,279

–

3

117

–

296

144

164

1,967

4

–

4

192

69

261

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

128

1,282

159

3

117

2

296

144

2,131

196

69

265

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 considered 
Level 1 inputs; however, when markets are not active, these inputs are considered Level 2. 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 risk­free interest rate adjusted for nonperformance risk. The inputs used in present value 
techniques are observable and fall into the Level 2 category.

–  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, appro­
priately adjusted, or present value techniques, based on available market data, or option pricing models are used. 
Cash­settled 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.

There were no significant non­recurring fair value measurements during 2013. During 2012, impairment charges of 
$87 million were recorded as an adjustment to the fair value of certain equity­method investments. The non­recurring fair 
value measures were determined using a discounted cash flow model adjusted for industry and market conditions  
using Level 3 inputs and the resulting fair value of those assets remeasured during 2012 and still held at December 31, 2012, 
was not significant. Other non­recurring fair value measurements in 2012 were not significant. 

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 121

Non­recurring fair value measures

 
 
 
Note 6
Fair values, continued
Disclosure about financial instruments 
carried on a cost basis

The fair values of financial instruments carried on a cost basis were as follows:

December 31, 2013 ($ in millions)

Carrying value

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total fair value

Assets

Cash and equivalents (excluding available­for­sale securities  

with original maturities up to 3 months):

  Cash

Time deposits

Marketable securities and short­term investments  

(excluding available­for­sale securities):

Time deposits

  Other short­term investments

Short­term loans in “Receivables, net”

Other non­current assets:

Loans granted

  Held­to­maturity securities

  Restricted cash and cash deposits

Liabilities

Short­term debt and current maturities of long­term debt  

(excluding finance lease liabilities)

Long­term debt (excluding finance lease liabilities)

Non­current deposit liabilities in “Other non­current liabilities”

2,414

3,538

18

9

6

54

104

276

2,414

–

–

9

–

–

–

95

424

7,475

279

107

7,540

–

–

3,538

18

–

6

52

121

219

317

34

338

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2,414

3,538

18

9

6

52

121

314

424

7,574

338

December 31, 2012 ($ in millions)

Carrying value

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total fair value

Assets

Cash and equivalents (excluding available­for­sale securities  

with original maturities up to 3 months):

  Cash

Time deposits

Marketable securities and short­term investments  

(excluding available­for­sale securities):

Time deposits

  Other short­term investments

Short­term loans in “Receivables, net”

Other non­current assets:

Loans granted

  Held­to­maturity securities

  Restricted cash and cash deposits

Liabilities

Short­term debt and current maturities of long­term debt  

(excluding finance lease liabilities)

Long­term debt (excluding finance lease liabilities)

Non­current deposit liabilities in “Other non­current liabilities”

2,784

3,963

2,784

–

–

3,963

30

15

7

58

97

271

–

15

–

–

–

80

30

–

7

59

124

242

2,512

7,449

283

1,328

7,870

–

1,184

39

359

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2,784

3,963

30

15

7

59

124

322

2,512

7,909

359

122 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Company uses the following methods and assumptions in estimating fair values of financial instruments carried  
on a cost basis:
–  Cash and equivalents (excluding available-for-sale debt securities with original maturities up to 3 months), Marketable 
securities and short-term investments (excluding available-for-sale securities), and Short-term loans in “Receivables, 
net”: The carrying amounts approximate the fair values as the items are short­term in nature. 

–  Other non-current assets: Includes (i) loans granted whose fair values are based on the carrying amount adjusted using 

a present value technique to reflect a premium or discount based on current market interest rates (Level 2 inputs), 
(ii) held­to­maturity securities (see Note 4) whose fair values are based on quoted market prices in inactive markets 
(Level 2 inputs), (iii) restricted cash whose fair values approximates the carrying amounts (Level 1) and (iv) cash 
 deposits pledged in respect of certain non­current deposit liabilities whose fair values are determined using a discounted 
cash flow methodology based on current market interest rates (Level 2 inputs).

–  Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt, excluding finance lease liabilities: Includes commercial paper, 

bank borrowings and overdrafts as well as bonds maturing in the next 12 months. The carrying amounts of short­term 
debt and current maturities of long­term debt, excluding finance lease liabilities, approximate their fair values. 
–  Long-term debt excluding finance lease liabilities: Fair values of outstanding bonds are determined using quoted 

 market prices (Level 1 inputs). 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 non­performance 
risk (Level 2 inputs). 

–  Non-current deposit liabilities in “Other non-current liabilities”: The fair values of non­current deposit liabilities are 

determined using a discounted cash flow methodology based on risk­adjusted interest rates (Level 2 inputs).

“Receivables, net” consisted of the following:

Note 6
Fair values, continued

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

2013

8,360

802

(317)

8,845

4,552

(1,251)

3,301

12,146

2012

8,233

801

(271)

8,763

3,955

(1,143)

2,812

11,575

“Trade receivables” in the table above includes contractual retention amounts billed to customers of $552 million and 
$390 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012, 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, 2013, 71 percent and 21 percent are expected to be collected  
in 2014 and 2015, respectively. “Other receivables” in the table above consists of value added tax, claims, rental deposits 
and other non­trade receivables.

“Costs and estimated profits in excess of billings” in the table above represents revenues earned and recognized for 
contracts under the percentage­of­completion or completed­contract 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,

2013

271

147

(92)

(9)

317

2012

227

155

(113)

2

271

2011

215

157

(131)

(14)

227

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 123

 
“Inventories, net” consisted of the following:

2013

2,403

1,893

1,834

246

6,376

(372)

6,004

2012

2,427

2,075

1,741

246

6,489

(307)

6,182

“Work in process” in the table above contains inventoried costs relating to long­term contracts of $358 million and 
$363 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. “Advance payments consumed” in the table above relates  
to contractual advances received from customers on work in process. 

“Other non­current 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

Derivatives (including embedded derivatives) (see Note 5)

Investments

Restricted cash

Loans granted (see Note 6)

Other

Total

2013

285

128

72

95

54

124

758

2012

288

144

57

80

58

149

776

The Company entered into structured leasing transactions with U.S. investors prior to 1999. Certain amounts were 
received at the inception of the transaction and are included above as “Pledged financial assets”. These assets are 
pledged as security for certain outstanding deposit liabilities included in “Other non­current liabilities” (see Note 13)  
and the funds received upon maturity of the respective pledged financial assets will only be available to the Company  
for repayment of these obligations.

“Investments” represents shares and other equity investments carried at cost.

“Loans granted” is reported in the balance sheet at outstanding principal amount less any write­offs or allowance  
for uncollectible loans and primarily represents financing arrangements provided to customers (relating to products 
manufactured by the Company). 

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:

2013

4,478

8,258

645

13,381

(7,127)

6,254

2013

112

98

210

(115)

95

2012

4,316

7,603

627

12,546

(6,599)

5,947

2012

88

95

183

(103)

80

In 2013, 2012 and 2011, depreciation, including depreciation of assets under capital leases, was $842 million, $733 million 
and $660 million, respectively. 

124 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

 
 
 
Note 11
Goodwill and other intangible  
assets

Changes in “Goodwill” were as follows:

($ in millions)

Cost at January 1, 2012

Accumulated impairment charges

Balance at January 1, 2012

  Goodwill acquired during the year (1)

Exchange rate differences

Balance at December 31, 2012

  Goodwill acquired during the year (1)

  Goodwill allocated to disposals

Exchange rate differences

Balance at December 31, 2013

Discrete

Low 

Automation 

Voltage

Process

Power 

Power 

Corporate 

and Motion

Products

Automation

Products

Systems

and Other

3,293

–

3,293

112

15

3,420

485

(9)

18

407

–

407

2,723

17

3,147

(45)

–

(43)

1,130

–

1,130

(1)

11

1,140

85

(2)

6

712

–

712

17

5

734

–

–

2

3,914

3,059

1,229

736

1,705

–

1,705

44

13

1,762

–

–

(53)

1,709

Total

7,287

(18)

7,269

2,895

62

10,226

525

(11)

(70)

40

(18)

22

–

1

23

–

–

–

23

10,670

(1)

Amounts include adjustments arising during the twelve­month measurement period subsequent to the respective acquisition date.

In 2013, goodwill acquired primarily relates to Power­One, acquired in July 2013, which has been allocated to the 
 Discrete Automation and Motion operating segment.

In 2012, goodwill acquired primarily included $2,723 million in respect of Thomas & Betts (allocated to the Low Voltage 
Products operating segment) with the remainder representing goodwill in respect of Newave Energy Holding SA 
 (allocated to the Discrete Automation and Motion operating segment), as well as a number of smaller acquisitions.

Intangible assets other than goodwill consisted of the following:

2013

2012

Gross carrying 

Accumulated 

Net carrying 

Gross carrying 

Accumulated 

Net carrying 

amount

amortization

amount

amount

amortization

amount

767

432

2,773

867

400

63

(618)

(384)

(481)

(374)

(99)

(49)

149

48

2,292

493

301

14

688

401

2,733

768

378

73

(533)

(346)

(319)

(240)

(59)

(43)

5,302

(2,005)

3,297

5,041

(1,540)

155

55

2,414

528

319

30

3,501

Additions to intangible assets other than goodwill consisted of the following:

2013

2012

66

26

82

110

16

300

71

–

1,204

222

161

1,658

December 31, ($ in millions)

Capitalized software for internal use

Capitalized software for sale

Intangibles other than software:

  Customer­related

Technology­related

  Marketing­related

  Other

Total

($ in millions)

Capitalized software for internal use

Capitalized software for sale

Intangibles other than software:

  Customer­related

Technology­related

  Marketing­related

Total

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 125

 
 
 
 
Note 11
Goodwill and other intangible  
assets, continued

Included in the additions of $300 million and $1,658 million in 2013 and 2012, respectively, were the following intangible 
assets other than goodwill related to business combinations:

($ in millions)

Customer­related (1)

Technology­related

Marketing­related

Total

(1)

Includes the fair value of order backlog acquired in business combinations.

2013

2012

Amount

Weighted-average 

Amount

Weighted-average 

acquired

useful life

acquired

useful life

82

108

16

206

11 years

4 years

10 years

7 years

1,200

222

161

1,583

18 years

5 years

10 years

15 years

Amortization expense of intangible assets other than goodwill consisted of the following:

($ in millions)

Capitalized software for internal use

Capitalized software for sale

Intangibles other than software

Total

($ in millions)

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Thereafter

Total

Note 12
Debt

Short­term debt and current  
maturities of long­term debt

December 31, ($ in millions)

2013

2012

2011

81

34

361

476

79

38

332

449

87

48

200

335

In 2013, 2012 and 2011, impairment charges on intangible assets other than goodwill were not significant.

At December 31, 2013, future amortization expense of intangible assets other than goodwill is estimated to be:

466

403

356

266

219

1,587

3,297

The Company’s total debt at December 31, 2013 and 2012, amounted to $8,023 million and $10,071 million, 
 respectively.

The Company’s “Short­term debt and current maturities of long­term debt” consisted of the following:

Short­term debt (weighted­average interest rate of 6.9% and 1.7%, respectively)

Current maturities of long­term debt (weighted­average nominal interest rate of 3.6% and 4.8%, respectively)

Total

2013

423

30

453

2012

1,531

1,006

2,537

Short­term debt primarily represented short­term loans from various banks and issued commercial paper.

At December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company had in place three commercial paper programs: a $1 billion Euro­ 
commercial paper program for the issuance of commercial paper in a variety of currencies (which in February 2014,  
was terminated and replaced with a $2 billion Euro­commercial paper program, also for the issuance of commercial 
paper in a variety of currencies); a 5 billion Swedish krona commercial paper program for the issuance of Swedish krona 
and euro­denominated commercial paper and, a $2 billion commercial paper program for the private placement  
of U.S. dollar denominated commercial paper in the United States. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, $100 million and 
$1,019 million, respectively, was outstanding under the $2 billion program in the United States. At February 28, 2014,  
the amount outstanding under the United States program was $1,275 million, with a corresponding increase in cash and 
equivalents.

126 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

 
 
 
Note 12
Debt, continued

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 back­stop for the above­mentioned 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, 2013, represents commitment fees of 0.166 percent per annum. Utilization fees, payable 
on drawings, amount to 0.15 percent per annum on drawings over one­third but less than or equal to two­thirds of the 
facility, or 0.3 percent per annum on drawings over two­thirds of the facility. No utilization fees are payable on drawings 
representing one­third or less of the total facility. No amount was drawn at December 31, 2013 and 2012. The facility 
contains cross­default 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.

Long­term debt

The Company utilizes derivative instruments to modify the interest characteristics of its long­term debt. In particular, the 
Company uses interest rate swaps to effectively convert certain fixed­rate long­term 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 long­term debt considering the effect of interest rate swaps. Conse­
quently, a fixed­rate debt subject to a fixed­to­floating 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

2013

2012

Floating rate

Fixed rate

Current portion of long­term debt

Total

2,211

5,389

7,600

(30)

7,570

2.7%

3.1%

1.2%

3.1%

3.6%

3.6%

2,353

6,187

8,540

(1,006)

7,534

3.4%

3.1%

4.8%

At December 31, 2013, the principal amounts of long­term debt repayable at maturity were as follows:

($ in millions)

Due in 2014

Due in 2015

Due in 2016

Due in 2017

Due in 2018

Thereafter

Total

1.6%

3.1%

1.3%

30

44

1,173

886

395

5,088

7,616

Details of the Company’s outstanding bonds were as follows:

December 31, (in millions)

Bonds:

4.625% EUR Instruments, due 2013

2.5% USD Notes, due 2016

1.25% CHF Bonds, due 2016

1.625% USD Notes, due 2017

4.25% AUD Notes, due 2017

1.50% CHF Bonds, due 2018

2.625% EUR Instruments, due 2019

4.0% USD Notes, due 2021

2.25% CHF Bonds, due 2021

5.625% USD Notes, due 2021

2.875% USD Notes, due 2022

4.375% USD Notes, due 2042

Total outstanding bonds

2013

2012

Nominal

Carrying

Nominal

outstanding

value (1)

outstanding

Carrying

value (1)

USD

CHF

USD

AUD

CHF

EUR

USD

CHF

USD

USD

USD

600

500

500

400

350

1,250

650

350

250

1,250

750

EUR

USD

CHF

USD

AUD

CHF

EUR

USD

CHF

USD

USD

USD

700

600

500

500

400

350

1,250

650

350

250

1,250

750

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

598

568

498

353

393

1,722

642

396

287

1,230

727

7,414

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

931

597

557

497

413

383

1,648

641

402

291

1,224

727

8,311

(1)

USD carrying values include bond discounts or premiums, as well as adjustments for fair value hedge accounting, where appropriate.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 127

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 12
Debt, continued

During 2013, the Company repaid the 4.625% EUR Instruments, due 2013. The Company had entered into interest rate 
swaps to hedge its interest obligations on these bonds. After considering the impact of such swaps, these bonds effec­
tively became floating rate euro obligations and consequently are shown as floating rate debt at December 31, 2012,  
in the table of long­term debt above.

The 2.5% USD Notes, due 2016, and the 4.0% USD Notes, due 2021, pay interest semi­annually in arrears, at fixed annual 
rates of 2.5 percent and 4.0 percent, respectively. The Company may redeem these notes prior to maturity, in whole  
or in part, at the greater of (i) 100 percent of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed and (ii) the sum of the pres­
ent 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 note 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 arrears, 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 long­term debt above.

The 1.50% CHF Bonds, due 2018, were issued in January 2012, and the Company recorded net proceeds of  
CHF 346 million (equivalent to approximately $370 million on date of issuance). The bonds have an aggregate principal 
of CHF 350 million and pay interest annually in arrears at a fixed annual rate of 1.5 percent. 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 2.625% EUR Instruments, due 2019, were issued in March 2012, and the Company recorded proceeds (net of fees)  
of EUR 1,245 million (equivalent to approximately $1,648 million on date of issuance). The instruments have an aggregate 
principal of EUR 1,250 million and pay interest annually in arrears at a fixed rate of 2.625 percent per annum.

In May 2012, the Company issued the following notes (i) $500 million of 1.625% USD Notes, due 2017, paying interest 
semi­annually in arrears at a fixed annual rate of 1.625 percent, (ii) $1,250 million of 2.875% USD Notes, due 2022, 
 paying interest semi­annually in arrears at a fixed annual rate of 2.875 percent, and (iii) $750 million of 4.375% USD Notes, 
due 2042, paying interest semi­annually in arrears at a fixed annual rate of 4.375 percent. The Company may redeem 
these notes prior to maturity, in whole or in part, at the greater of (i) 100 percent of the principal amount of the notes 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 note terms, plus 
interest accrued at the redemption date. The aggregate net proceeds of these bond issues, after underwriting discount 
and other fees, amounted to $2,431 million. These notes, registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commis­
sion, were issued by ABB Finance (USA) Inc., a 100 percent owned finance subsidiary, and were fully and uncondition­
ally guaranteed by ABB Ltd. There are no significant restrictions on the ability of the parent company to obtain funds 
from its subsidiaries by dividend or loan. In reliance on Rule 3­10 of Regulation S­X, the separate financial statements of 
ABB Finance (USA) Inc. are not provided. During the third quarter of 2013, the Company entered into interest rate  
swaps to hedge obligations on an aggregate principal of $850 million of the 2.875% USD Notes, due 2022. After consid­
ering the impact of such swaps, $850 million of the outstanding principal became floating rate obligations and conse­
quently are shown as floating rate debt at December 31, 2013, in the table of long­term debt above.

The 5.625% USD Notes, due 2021, were assumed in May 2012, upon the acquisition of Thomas & Betts and pay interest 
semi­annually in arrears at a fixed annual rate of 5.625 percent. These notes, with an aggregate principal of $250 million, 
were recorded at their fair value on the date the Company acquired Thomas & Betts and are being amortized to par over 
the period to maturity. The Company has the option to redeem the notes prior to maturity at the greater of (i) 100 percent 
of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, and (ii) the sum of the present values of remaining scheduled pay­
ments of principal and interest (excluding interest accrued to the redemption date) discounted to the redemption date  
at a rate defined in the note terms, plus interest accrued at the redemption date.

The 4.25% AUD Notes, due 2017, were issued in November 2012. Net issuance proceeds (after underwriting fees) 
totaled AUD 398 million (equivalent to approximately $412 million on date of issuance). The notes, with an aggregate 
principal of AUD 400 million, pay fixed interest of 4.25 percent semi­annually in arrears. 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 Australian dollar obligations and consequently have been shown as floating  
rate debt in the table of long­term debt above.

The Company’s bonds contain cross­default 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 long­term debt at December 31, 2013 and 2012, are capital lease 
obligations, bank borrowings of subsidiaries and other long­term debt, none of which is individually significant. 

128 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

Note 13
Other provisions, other  
current  liabilities and  
other non-current liabilities 

December 31, ($ in millions)

Contract­related provisions

“Other Provisions” consisted of the following:

Provisions for contractual penalties and compliance and litigation matters

Restructuring and restructuring­related provisions

Provision for insurance­related reserves

Other

Total

“Other current liabilities” consisted of the following:

December 31, ($ in millions)

Employee­related liabilities

Accrued expenses

Income taxes payable

Non­trade payables

Other tax liabilities

Derivative liabilities (see Note 5)

Accrued customer rebates

Deferred income

Pension and other employee benefits (see Note 17)

Accrued interest

Other

Total

“Other non­current liabilities” consisted of the following:

December 31, ($ in millions)

Income tax related liabilities

Non­current deposit liabilities (see Note 9)

Environmental provisions (see Note 15)

Provisions for contractual penalties and compliance and litigation matters

Employee­related liabilities

Deferred income

Derivative liabilities (see Note 5)

2013

2012

762

327

247

232

239

684

223

227

215

226

1,807

1,575

2013

1,854

2012

1,786

694

357

328

269

202

162

155

82

79

60

652

369

365

312

196

163

164

164

103

63

4,242

4,337

2013

830

279

116

71

68

57

52

234

1,707

2012

732

283

73

94

55

48

69

212

1,566

Other

Total

Note 14
Leases

($ in millions)

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Thereafter

Sublease income

Total

The Company’s lease obligations primarily relate to real estate and office equipment. Rent expense was $602 million, 
$610 million and $601 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Sublease income received by the Company on 
leased assets was $22 million, $25 million and $41 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

At December 31, 2013, future net minimum lease payments for operating leases, having initial or remaining non­cancelable 
lease terms in excess of one year, consisted of the following:

510

429

347

248

203

248

1,985

(55)

1,930

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 129

 
At December 31, 2013, the future net minimum lease payments for capital leases and the present value of the net 
 minimum lease payments consisted of the following:

Note 14
Leases, continued

($ in millions)

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

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

36

35

26

14

10

88

209

(2)

207

(83)

124

Note 15
Commitments and contingencies
Contingencies – Environmental

December 31, ($ in millions)

Other provisions

Other non­current liabilities

Total environmental provisions

Contingencies –  
Regulatory, Compliance and Legal

Minimum lease payments have not been reduced by minimum sublease rentals due in the future under non­cancelable 
subleases. Such minimum sublease rentals were not significant. The present value of minimum lease payments is 
included in “Short­term debt and current maturities of long­term debt” or “Long­term debt” in the Consolidated Balance 
Sheets. 

The Company is engaged in environmental clean­up 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 environmental 
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. The lower end of an esti­
mated range is accrued when a single best estimate is not determinable. The required amounts of the provisions may 
change in the future as developments occur.

If a provision has been recognized 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 non­collection of recoverable costs would 
not have a further material adverse effect on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. 

The Company is involved in the remediation of environmental contamination at present or former facilities, primarily in 
the United States. The clean­up of these sites involves primarily soil and groundwater contamination. A significant 
 portion of the provisions in respect of these contingencies reflects the provisions of acquired companies. A 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 non­current assets”.

The impact of environmental obligations on “Income from continuing operations, net of tax” was not significant in 2013, 
2012 and 2011. The impact on “Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax” was a charge of $41 million in 
2013 and was not significant in 2012 and 2011.

The effect of environmental obligations on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows was not significant in 
2013 and 2012, and amounted to an outflow of $149 million in 2011, primarily related to the Company’s former nuclear 
technology business.

Environmental provisions included in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets were as follows:

2013

37

116

153

2012

33

73

106

Provisions for the above estimated losses have not been discounted as the timing of payments cannot be reasonably 
estimated.

Antitrust
The Company’s cables business is under investigation for alleged anticompetitive practices in a number of jurisdictions, 
including Brazil and the European Union. In December 2013, the Company agreed with the Brazilian Antitrust Authority 
(CADE) to settle its ongoing investigation into the Company’s involvement in these anticompetitive practices and the 
Company agreed to pay a fine of approximately 1.5 million Brazilian reals (equivalent to approximately $1 million on date 
of payment). In the European Union, the Company has received the European Commission’s Statement of Objections 
concerning its investigation into the cables business and in June 2012 participated in the related Oral Hearing. An informed 
judgment about the outcome of this investigation or the amount of potential loss or range of loss for the Company, if 
any, relating to this investigation cannot be made at this stage. 

130 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

Note 15
Commitments and contingencies, 
continued

In Brazil, the Company’s Gas Insulated Switchgear business is under investigation by the CADE for alleged anticompetitive 
practices. In addition, the CADE has opened an investigation into certain other power businesses of the Company, 
including flexible alternating current transmission systems (FACTS) and power transformers. 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.

In Italy, one of the Company’s recently acquired subsidiaries was raided in October 2013 by the Italian Antitrust Agency 
for alleged anticompetitive practices. An informed judgment about the outcome of this investigation or the amount  
of potential loss or range of loss for the Company, if any, relating to this investigation cannot be made at this stage. 

In September 2012, the German Antitrust Authority (Bundeskartellamt) fined one of the Company’s German subsidiaries 
euro 8.7 million (equivalent to approximately $11 million on date of payment) for its involvement in anticompetitive 
 practices in the German power transformers business. 

With respect to those aforementioned matters which are still ongoing, management is cooperating fully with the antitrust 
authorities.

Suspect payments
In April 2005, the Company voluntarily disclosed to the United States Department of Justice (DoJ) and the United States 
Securities and Exchange Commission (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.

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 Oil­for­Food 
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 anti­bribery 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 agreed to allow the Company to report on its continuing compliance efforts and the results of the review of its inter­
nal processes through September 2013. Further to the Fraud Section of the DoJ determining that the Company has  
fully complied with all its obligations under the deferred prosecution agreement, on October 1, 2013, the competent 
court in the U.S. agreed to dismiss all criminal charges against the Company in relation to these matters.

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 with regard to certain actual or alleged anticompetitive practices. 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, 2013 and 2012, the Company had aggregate liabilities of $245 million and $211 million, respectively, 
included in “Other provisions” and “Other non­current liabilities”, for the above regulatory, compliance and legal 
 contingencies, and none of the individual liabilities recognized was significant. 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 third­party guarantees. The maximum potential 
payments represent a “worst­case 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

2013

149

77

50

276

2012

149

83

190

422

In respect of the above guarantees, the carrying amounts of liabilities at December 31, 2013 and 2012, were not 
 significant.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 131

Guarantees

December 31, ($ in millions)

Performance guarantees

Financial guarantees

Indemnification guarantees

Total

Note 15
Commitments and contingencies, 
continued

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 mid­1999  
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. These guarantees have 
no fixed 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 Company against any claims arising under such guarantees. Management’s best esti­
mate of the total maximum potential amount payable of quantifiable guarantees issued by the Company on behalf of  
its former Power Generation business was $65 million and $78 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, 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 is engaged in executing a number of projects as a member of consortia that include 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 six years. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, the maximum potential 
amount payable under these guarantees as a result of third­party non­performance was $70 million and $57 million, 
respectively.

Financial guarantees and commercial commitments
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, 2013 and 2012, the Company had a maximum potential amount payable of $77 million and $83 million, 
respectively, under financial guarantees outstanding. Of these amounts, $15 million and $19 million at December 31, 
2013 and 2012, respectively, 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.

In addition, in the normal course of bidding for and executing certain projects, the Company has entered into standby 
letters of credit, bid/performance bonds and surety bonds (collectively “performance bonds”) with various financial institu­
tions. Customers can draw on such performance bonds in the event that the Company does not fulfill its contractual 
obligations. The Company would then have an obligation to reimburse the financial institution for amounts paid under the 
performance bonds. There have been no significant amounts reimbursed to financial institutions under these types of 
arrangements in 2013, 2012 and 2011.

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 
indemnification guarantees for which maximum potential losses could be calculated are described below.

The Company issued to the purchasers of Lummus Global 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 Decem­
ber 31, 2013 and 2012, was $50 million.

The Company issued to the purchasers of its interest in Jorf Lasfar Energy Company S.C.A. guarantees related to 
assets and liabilities divested in 2007. The maximum potential amount payable under such guarantees was $140 million 
at December 31, 2012. During 2013, a settlement agreement was reached and at December 31, 2013, the Company  
had no further obligations with respect to these guarantees.

Product and order­related contingencies
The Company calculates its provision for product warranties based on historical claims experience and specific review 
of certain contracts.

The reconciliation of the “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,

2013

1,291

111

(294)

245

9

2012

1,324

4

(219)

149

33

1,362

1,291

132 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

Note 15
Commitments and contingencies, 
continued
Related party transactions

The Company conducts business with certain companies where members of the Company’s Board of Directors  
or Executive Committee act, or in recent years have acted, 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 determination 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. 

Note 16
Taxes

($ in millions)

Current taxes

Deferred taxes

“Provision for taxes” consisted of the following:

Tax expense from continuing operations

Tax benefit from discontinued operations

2013

1,258

(136)

1,122

(8)

2012

967

63

1,030

–

2011

1,278

(34)

1,244

(1)

Tax expense from continuing operations is reconciled below from the Company’s weighted­average global tax rate 
(rather than from the Swiss domestic statutory tax rate), as the parent company of the ABB Group, ABB Ltd, is domiciled 
in Switzerland and 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 Switzerland. 
There is no requirement in Switzerland for any parent company of a group to file a tax return of the consolidated group 
determining domestic and foreign pre­tax income. As the Company’s consolidated income from continuing operations is 
predominantly earned outside of Switzerland, corporate income tax in foreign jurisdictions largely determines the global 
weighted­average tax rate of the Company.

The reconciliation of “Tax expense from continuing operations” at the weighted­average tax rate to the effective tax rate 
is as follows:

($ in millions, except % data)

Income from continuing operations before taxes

Weighted-average tax rate

Income taxes at weighted­average tax rate

Items taxed at rates other than the weighted­average tax rate

Changes in valuation allowance, net

Effects of changes in tax laws and enacted tax rates

Other, net

Tax expense from continuing operations

Effective tax rate for the year

2013

4,066

22.7%

922

110

31

1

58

2012

3,838

23.6%

906

60

44

(27)

47

2011

4,550

24.9%

1,134

103

(22)

(17)

46

1,122

27.6%

1,030

26.8%

1,244

27.3%

In 2013, 2012 and 2011, the “Items taxed at rates other than the weighted­average 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 2013, 2012 and 2011, “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 temporary differences in those jurisdictions) would be realized, as well as increases 
in the valuation allowance in certain other jurisdictions. In 2013, the “Changes in valuation allowance, net” included  
an amount of $104 million related to certain of the Company’s operations in Central Europe and South America. It also 
included a benefit of $42 million related to certain of the Company’s operations in Central Europe. In 2012, the  
“Changes in valuation allowance, net” included an expense of $36 million related to certain of the Company’s operations 
in Central Europe and 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 2013, 2012 and 2011, “Other, net” of $58 million, $47 million and $46 million, respectively, included expenses of 
$71 million, $94 million and $60 million, respectively, in relation to items that were deducted for financial accounting 
purposes, but were not tax deductible, such as interest expense, local taxes on productive activities, disallowed  
meals and entertainment expenses and other similar items.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 133

 
 
 
 
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 liability

Included in:

“Deferred taxes” – current assets

“Deferred taxes” – non­current assets

“Deferred taxes” – current liabilities

“Deferred taxes” – non­current liabilities

Net deferred tax liability

2013

2012

1,000

1,335

302

83

140

2,860

(589)

2,271

1,009

1,395

287

125

104

2,920

(550)

2,370

(1,433)

(1,366)

(206)

(135)

(161)

(598)

(60)

(252)

(118)

(169)

(766)

(26)

(2,593)

(2,697)

(322)

(327)

832

370

(259)

(1,265)

(322)

869

334

(270)

(1,260)

(327)

Certain entities have deferred tax assets related to net operating loss carry­forwards and other items. As recognition of 
these assets in certain entities did not meet the more likely than not criterion, valuation allowances have been recorded 
and amount to $589 million and $550 million, at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. “Unused tax losses and 
credits” at December 31, 2013 and 2012, in the table above, included $172 million and $155 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, 2013 and 2012, deferred tax liabilities totaling $598 million and $766 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. The decrease during 2013 was mainly due to 
repatriation of earnings.

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 2013 and 2012, certain taxes arose  
in certain foreign jurisdictions for which the technical merits do not allow utilization of benefits. At December 31, 2013 and 
2012, approximately $200 million and $400 million, respectively, 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 recorded.

At December 31, 2013, net operating loss carry­forwards of $2,685 million and tax credits of $239 million were available 
to reduce future taxes of certain subsidiaries. Of these amounts, $1,779 million of loss carry­forwards and $238 million  
of tax credits will expire in varying amounts through 2033. The largest amount of these carry­forwards related to the 
Company’s Central Europe operations. 

134 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

 
Note 16
Taxes, continued

Unrecognized tax benefits consisted of the following:

($ in millions)

Classification as unrecognized tax items on January 1, 2011

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

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, 2012, 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, 2013, which would, if recognized, affect the effective tax rate

Penalties and 

 interest related  

Unrecognized 

to unrecognized  

tax benefits

tax benefits

Total

714

9

52

(31)

128

(2)

(78)

(135)

(4)

653

10

51

(73)

141

(3)

(89)

(29)

8

669

17

43

(30)

90

(1)

(18)

(46)

9

733

178

2

61

(11)

2

–

(27)

(35)

(1)

169

–

26

(56)

1

–

(11)

(7)

5

127

2

36

–

4

–

(5)

(13)

3

154

892

11

113

(42)

130

(2)

(105)

(170)

(5)

822

10

77

(129)

142

(3)

(100)

(36)

13

796

19

79

(30)

94

(1)

(23)

(59)

12

887

In 2013, the “Increase relating to current year tax positions” included a total of $62 million in taxes related to the interpre­
tation of tax law and double tax treaty agreements by competent tax authorities.

In 2012, the “Decrease relating to prior year tax positions” included a total of $87 million relating to the release of provisions 
due to favorable resolution of a tax dispute in Northern Europe. In 2012, the “Increase relating to current year tax posi­
tions” included a total of $108 million in taxes related to the interpretation of tax law and double tax treaty agreements by 
competent tax authorities. In 2012, the “Decrease due to settlements with tax authorities” included a total of $47 million 
relating to the interpretation of tax law and double tax treaty agreements by competent tax authorities.

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 conse­
quently considered closed.

At December 31, 2013, the Company expected the resolution, within the next twelve months, of uncertain tax positions 
related to pending court cases amounting to $34 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.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 135

 
Note 16
Taxes, continued

Region

Europe

The Americas

Asia

Middle East & Africa

Note 17 
Employee benefits

At December 31, 2013, the earliest significant open tax years that remained subject to examination were the following:

Year

2007

2010

2004

2004

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 including post­
retirement health care benefits, and other employee­related benefits for active employees including long­service  
award plans. The measurement date used for the Company’s employee benefit plans is December 31. The funding policies  
of the Company’s plans are consistent with the local government and tax requirements and several of the plans are  
not required to be funded according to local government and tax requirements.

The Company recognizes in its Consolidated Balance Sheets the funded status of its defined benefit pension plans, 
postretirement plans, and other employee­related benefits measured as the difference between the fair value of the plan 
assets and the benefit obligation.

Obligations and funded status  
of the plans

The change in benefit obligation, change in fair value of plan assets, and funded status recognized in the Consolidated 
Balance Sheets were as follows:

($ in millions)

Benefit obligation at January 1,

Service cost

Interest cost

Contributions by plan participants

Benefit payments

Benefit obligations of businesses 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 acquired

Plan amendments and other

Exchange rate differences

Fair value of plan assets at December 31,

Funded status – underfunded

Defined pension 

Other postretirement 

 benefits

benefits

2013

12,063

249

373

81

(612)

7

(273)

(50)

225

2012

9,817

221

396

77

(559)

684

1,124

(12)

315

12,063

10,282

12,063

8,867

621

403

81

(612)

–

(57)

212

839

347

77

(559)

482

(44)

273

10,930

10,282

2013

281

2012

260

1

9

–

(15)

–

(41)

2

(1)

236

–

–

15

–

(15)

–

–

–

–

1

11

–

(15)

17

2

4

1

281

–

–

15

–

(15)

–

–

–

–

1,133

1,781

236

281

The amounts recognized in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” and “Noncontrolling interests” were:

Defined pension benefits

Other postretirement benefits

December 31, ($ in millions)

Net actuarial loss

Prior service cost

Amount recognized in OCI (1) and NCI (2)

2013

(2,050)

(21)

2012

(2,574)

(32)

2011

(1,826)

(34)

(2,071)

(2,606)

(1,860)

Taxes associated with amount recognized in OCI (1) and NCI (2)

459

631

415

Amount recognized in OCI (1) and NCI (2), net of tax (3)

(1,612)

(1,975)

(1,445)

(1)

(2)

(3)

OCI represents “Accumulated other comprehensive loss”.
NCI represents “Noncontrolling interests”.
NCI, net of tax, amounted to $(3) million, $(7) million and $(2) million at December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

2013

(25)

24

(1)

–

(1)

2012

2011

(69)

33

(36)

–

(36)

(71)

42

(29)

–

(29)

136 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

 
Note 17 
Employee benefits, continued

In addition, the following amounts were recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets:

December 31, ($ in millions)

Overfunded plans

Underfunded plans – current

Underfunded plans – non­current

Funded status – underfunded

December 31, ($ in millions)

Non-current assets

Overfunded pension plans

Other employee­related benefits

Prepaid pension and other employee benefits

December 31, ($ in millions)

Current liabilities

Underfunded pension plans

Underfunded other postretirement benefit plans

Other employee­related benefits

Pension and other employee benefits (see Note 13)

December 31, ($ in millions)

Non-current liabilities

Underfunded pension plans

Underfunded other postretirement benefit plans

Other employee­related benefits

Pension and other employee benefits

Defined pension 

Other postretirement 

 benefits

benefits

2013

(66)

20

1,179

1,133

2012

(49)

27

1,803

1,781

2013

2012

–

18

218

236

–

20

261

281

2013

2012

(66)

(27)

(93)

(49)

(22)

(71)

2013

2012

20

18

44

82

27

20

117

164

2013

2012

1,179

218

242

1,639

1,803

261

226

2,290

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 using 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 
 (overfunded), respectively, was:

2013

2012

PBO

Assets Difference

PBO

Assets Difference

11,054

1,009

12,063

9,855

1,075

10,930

1,199

(66)

1,133

11,378

685

9,548

734

12,063

10,282

1,830

(49)

1,781

The accumulated benefit obligation (ABO) for all defined benefit pension plans was $11,594 million and $11,668 million 
at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The funded status, calculated using 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:

ABO

9,112

2,482

8,161

2,769

2013

2012

Assets Difference

ABO

Assets Difference

951

(287)

664

10,700

968

9,237

1,045

11,668

10,282

1,463

(77)

1,386

11,594

10,930

All of the Company’s other postretirement benefit plans are unfunded.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 137

 
Net periodic benefit cost consisted of the following:

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/(credit)

Amortization of net actuarial loss

Curtailments, settlements and special termination benefits

Net periodic benefit cost

Defined pension benefits

Other postretirement benefits

2013

249

373

(479)

–

34

136

1

314

2012

221

396

(494)

–

42

98

2

2011

242

402

(507)

–

44

52

3

265

236

2013

2012

2011

1

9

–

–

(9)

4

2

7

1

11

–

–

(9)

4

–

7

2

12

–

1

(9)

3

–

9

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 2014 is $115 million and $29 million, respectively.

The net actuarial loss and prior service (credit) for other postretirement benefits estimated to be amortized from  
“Accumulated other comprehensive loss” into net periodic benefit cost in 2014 is $1 million and $(9) million, respectively.

Assumptions

The following weighted­average 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

2013

3.58

1.81

1.14

2012

3.22

1.71

1.04

2013

4.17

–

–

2012

3.35

–

–

The discount rate assumptions are based upon AA­rated corporate bonds. In those countries with sufficient liquidity in 
corporate bonds, the Company used the current market long­term corporate bond rates and matched the bond duration 
with the average duration of the pension liabilities. In those countries where the liquidity of the AA­rated 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 weighted­average assumptions were used to determine the “Net periodic benefit cost”:

(in %)

Discount rate

Expected long­term rate of return on plan assets

Rate of compensation increase

Defined pension benefits

Other postretirement benefits

2013

3.22

4.79

1.71

2012

3.91

5.38

1.62

2011

4.29

5.45

2.05

2013

3.35

–

–

2012

4.07

–

–

2011

5.03

–

–

The “Expected long­term rate of return on plan assets” is derived for each benefit plan by considering the expected 
future long­term return assumption for each individual asset class. A single long­term return assumption is then derived 
for each plan based upon the plan’s current and target asset allocation.

The Company maintains other postretirement benefit plans, which are generally contributory with participants’ 
 contributions 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

2013

8.15%

5.00%

2028

2012

8.60%

5.00%

2028

A one­percentage­point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects at 
 December 31, 2013:

($ in millions)

Effect on total of service and interest cost

Effect on postretirement benefit obligation

138 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

1-percentage-point

Increase

Decrease

1

18

(1)

(15)

 
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.

Asset Class

Equity

Fixed income

Real estate

Other

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 third­party asset 
 managers, in accordance with local statutory regulations, pension plan rules and the respective plans’ investment 
guidelines, 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 risk­controlled 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 
that provides a balance between risk and return. 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 long­term returns of plan assets within specified risk 
 parameters, 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 a 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 investment styles. 
This has resulted in a diversified portfolio with a mix of actively and passively managed investments.

The Company’s global pension asset allocation is the result of the asset allocations of the individual plans, which are  
set by the respective boards of trustees. The target asset allocation of the Company’s plans on a weighted­average basis 
is as follows:

Target percentage

23

57

11

9

100

The actual asset allocations of the plans are in line with the target asset allocations.

Fixed income assets include corporate bonds of companies from diverse industries and government bonds mainly from 
mature­market issuers. Equity assets primarily include investments in large­cap and mid­cap listed companies. Both 
fixed income and equity assets are invested either via funds or directly in individual securities, and include an allocation 
to emerging markets. Real estate investments consist largely of domestic real estate in Switzerland held in the Swiss 
plans. The “Other” asset class includes investments in private equity, hedge funds, commodities, and cash and reflects 
a variety of investment strategies.

Based on the above global asset allocation, the expected long­term return on assets at December 31, 2013, is 4.60 per­
cent. 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 concentration of risks exists in its pension fund assets.

The Company does not expect any plan assets to be returned to the employer during 2014.

At December 31, 2013 and 2012, plan assets include ABB Ltd’s shares (as well as an insignificant amount of the 
 Company’s debt instruments) with a total value of $18 million and $16 million, respectively.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 139

 
 
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, 2013 ($ in millions)

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total fair value

Asset Class

Equity

Equity securities

  Mutual funds/commingled funds

Emerging market mutual funds/commingled funds

Fixed income

  Government and corporate securities

  Government and corporate – mutual funds/commingled funds

Emerging market bonds – mutual funds/commingled funds

Insurance contracts

Cash and short­term investments

Private equity

Hedge funds

Real estate

Commodities

Total

387

–

–

586

–

–

–

143

–

–

–

–

–

2,287

515

1,011

3,442

645

69

505

–

–

82

47

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

155

158

866

32

387

2,287

515

1,597

3,442

645

69

648

155

158

948

79

1,116

8,603

1,211

10,930

December 31, 2012 ($ in millions)

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total fair value

Asset Class

Equity

Equity securities

  Mutual funds/commingled funds

Emerging market mutual funds/commingled funds

Fixed income

  Government and corporate securities

  Government and corporate – mutual funds/commingled funds

Emerging market bonds – mutual funds/commingled funds

Insurance contracts

Cash and short­term investments

Private equity

Hedge funds

Real estate

Commodities

Total

296

–

–

701

–

–

–

170

–

–

–

–

–

1,893

443

1,056

3,367

707

76

252

–

–

87

52

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

164

153

830

35

296

1,893

443

1,757

3,367

707

76

422

164

153

917

87

1,167

7,933

1,182

10,282

In the above table of pension assets at December 31, 2012, certain assets, previously disclosed as Level 1, have been 
disclosed as Level 2, to conform with the current year’s presentation.

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, 2012

Return on plan assets:

  Assets still held at December 31, 2012

  Assets sold during the year

Purchases (sales)

Transfers into Level 3

Exchange rate differences

Balance at December 31, 2012

Return on plan assets:

  Assets still held at December 31, 2013

  Assets sold during the year

Purchases (sales)

Transfers into Level 3

Exchange rate differences

Balance at December 31, 2013

Private equity

Hedge funds

Real estate

Commodities

Total Level 3

177

4

13

(31)

–

1

164

6

8

(24)

–

1

155

113

9

(7)

35

–

3

153

28

(7)

(19)

–

3

158

741

15

–

40

9

25

830

10

–

4

8

14

866

–

(1)

–

35

–

1

35

(3)

–

–

–

–

32

1,031

27

6

79

9

30

1,182

41

1

(39)

8

18

1,211

140 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 17 
Employee benefits, continued

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 
publicly­traded and privately­held securities. Publicly­traded securities that are quoted in inactive markets are valued 
using available quotes and adjusted for liquidity restrictions. Privately­held 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.

Hedge funds are normally not exchange­traded 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

2013

403

164

2012

347

83

2013

15

–

2012

15

–

In 2013, the discretionary contributions included non­cash contributions totaling $160 million of available­for­sale debt 
securities to certain of the Company’s pension plans in Germany and the United Kingdom. In 2012, the discretionary 
contributions included non­cash contributions totaling $42 million of available­for­sale securities to the Company’s 
 pension plans in the United Kingdom and the U.S.

The Company expects to contribute approximately $310 million, including $75 million of discretionary contributions,  
to its defined benefit pension plans in 2014. $25 million of the 2014 discretionary contributions are expected to be 
 non­cash contributions. The Company expects to contribute approximately $18 million to its other postretirement benefit 
plans in 2014.

The Company also contributes to a number of defined contribution plans. The aggregate expense for these plans was 
$243 million, $220 million and $144 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Contributions to multi­employer plans 
were not significant in 2013, 2012 and 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 (net of Medicare subsidies) at December 31, 2013, are as follows:

($ in millions)

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Years 2019–2023

Note 18 
Share-based payment 
arrangements

Defined pension  benefits

Other postretirement benefits

699

687

697

666

661

3,238

18

18

18

19

19

88

The Company has three principal share­based payment plans, as more fully described in the respective sections 
below. Compensation cost for equity­settled awards is recorded in “Total cost of sales” and in “Selling, general and 
administrative expenses” and totaled $71 million, $60 million, and $67 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. 
Compensation cost for cash­settled awards is recorded in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” and is dis­
closed in the “WARs”, “LTIP” and “Other share­based payments” sections of this note. The total tax benefit recog­ 
nized in 2013, 2012 and 2011, was not significant.

At December 31, 2013, the Company had the ability to issue up to 94 million new shares out of contingent capital in 
connection with share­based payment arrangements. In addition, 14 million shares held by the Company in treasury 
stock at December 31, 2013, could be used to settle share­based 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 share­based payment arrange­
ments are presented in Swiss francs.

MIP

Under the MIP, the Company offers options and cash­settled WARs (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 war­
rants are listed by a third­party bank on the SIX Swiss Exchange, which facilitates pricing and transferability of instru­
ments granted under this plan. The options entitle the holder to request that the third­party 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 

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 141

Note 18 
Share-based payment 
arrangements, continued

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 non­transferable.

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.

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 weighted­
average assumptions 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 con­
tractual six­year 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 war­
rants and options. The risk­free rate is based on a six­year Swiss franc interest rate, reflecting the six­year contractual life 
of the warrants and options. In estimating forfeitures, the Company has used the data from previous comparable MIP 
launches.

Expected volatility

Dividend yield

Expected term

Risk­free interest rate

2013

21%

2.90%

6 years

0.57%

2012

27%

3.60%

6 years

0.30%

2011

26%

2.44%

6 years

1.59%

Presented below is a summary of the activity related to warrants and options under the MIP:

Weighted- 

 Weighted-aver-

Aggregate 

Number  

Number  

average exer- 

age remaining 

 intrinsic value 

of instruments 

of shares 

cise price (in 

contractual  

(in millions of 

(in millions)

(in millions)(1)

Swiss francs)(2)

term (in years)

Swiss francs)(3)

Outstanding at January 1, 2013

Granted

Forfeited

Expired

Outstanding at December 31, 2013

Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2013

Exercisable at December 31, 2013

242.5

88.1

(4.8)

(27.9)

297.9

282.5

95.6

48.5

17.6

(1.0)

(5.5)

59.6

56.5

19.1

22.38

21.50

19.60

26.74

21.76

21.81

25.07

(1)

(2)

(3)

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.

3.7

3.7

1.8

185

175

36

At December 31, 2013, there was $79 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non­vested options 
granted under the MIP. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted­average period of 2.0 years. The 
weighted­average grant­date fair value (per instrument) of options granted during 2013, 2012 and 2011 was 0.66 Swiss 
francs, 0.59 Swiss francs and 0.83 Swiss francs, respectively. In 2011 the aggregate intrinsic value (on the date of 
 exercise) of instruments exercised was 11 million Swiss francs ($13 million). There were no exercises in 2013 and the 
aggregate intrinsic value in 2012 was not significant.

Presented below is a summary, by launch, related to instruments outstanding at December 31, 2013:

Exercise price (in Swiss francs)(1) 

36.40 

19.00

22.50

25.50

15.75

17.50

21.50

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  

Weighted-average 

instruments 

of shares 

 remaining contractual 

(in millions)

(in millions)(2) 

term (in years)

25.1

22.8

36.7

43.4

68.2

14.7

87.0

297.9

5.0

4.6

7.3

8.7

13.7

2.9

17.4

59.6

0.4

1.4

2.4

3.4

4.4

4.4

5.4

3.7

142 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

 
Note 18 
Share-based payment 
arrangements, continued

Outstanding at January 1, 2013

Granted

Exercised

Forfeited

Expired

Outstanding at December 31, 2013

Exercisable at December 31, 2013

ESAP

WARs
As each WAR gives the holder the right to receive cash equal to the market price of the 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 straight­line basis over the three­year vesting period. In “Selling, general and administrative expenses”, the Com­
pany recorded an expense of $26 million and income of $8 million in 2013 and 2011, respectively, as a result of changes 
in both the fair value and vested portion of the outstanding WARs. The amount recorded in 2012 was not significant.  
To hedge its exposure to fluctuations in the fair value of outstanding WARs, the Company purchased cash­settled call 
options, which entitle the Company to receive amounts equivalent to its obligations under the outstanding WARs. The 
cash­settled 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 2013, the Company recorded an income of $16 million and in 2011, an expense of $24 million, in “Selling, general and 
administrative expenses” related to the cash­settled call options. The amount recorded in 2012 was not significant.

The aggregate fair value of outstanding WARs was $56 million and $26 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respec­
tively. 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:

Number of WARs (in millions)

66.8

18.8

(13.6)

(0.4)

(4.3)

67.3

23.3

The aggregate fair value at date of grant of WARs granted in 2013, 2012 and 2011, was $13 million, $10 million and 
$10 million, respectively. In 2013, 2012 and 2011, share­based liabilities of $9 million, $7 million and $7 million, respec­
tively, were paid upon exercise of WARs by participants.

The employee share acquisition plan (ESAP) is an employee stock­option plan with a savings feature. Employees save 
over a twelve­month period, by way of regular payroll 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 bank accounts held by a third­party trustee on behalf of the participants and earn interest. 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 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 one­year 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 risk­free rate is based on 
one­year Swiss franc interest rates, reflecting the one­year contractual life of the options. In estimating forfeitures, the 
Company has used the data from previous ESAP launches.

Expected volatility

Dividend yield

Expected term

Risk­free interest rate

2013

20%

2.84%

1 year

0%

2012

23%

3.45%

1 year

0%

2011

33%

3.13%

1 year

0%

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 143

Note 18 
Share-based payment 
arrangements, continued

Presented below is a summary of activity under the ESAP:

Weighted-  

 Weighted- 

Aggregate   

Number of 

average exercise 

average remaining 

intrinsic value 

shares  

price (in  

contractual  

(in millions of 

(in millions)(1)

Swiss francs)(2)

term (in years)

Swiss francs)(2)(3)

Outstanding at January 1, 2013

Granted

Forfeited

Exercised (4)

Not exercised (savings returned plus interest)

Outstanding at December 31, 2013

Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2013

Exercisable at December 31, 2013

4.4

4.7

(0.2)

(3.7)

(0.5)

4.7

4.5

–

17.08

20.82

17.08

17.08

17.08

20.82

20.82

–

0.8

0.8

–

12.6

12.0

–

(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 was approximately $70 million and the corresponding tax benefit was not significant. The shares were delivered out of treasury stock.

LTIP

The exercise prices per ABB Ltd share and per ADS of 22.90 Swiss francs and $25.21, respectively, for the 2013 grant, 
17.08 Swiss francs and $18.30, respectively, for the 2012 grant, and 15.98 Swiss francs and $18.10, respectively, for the 
2011 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. For the 2013 grant, the exercise price has been effectively reduced 
as for every ten shares bought through exercise of the options one additional free share will be delivered; therefore  
the effective exercise prices per ABB Ltd share and per ADS are 20.82 Swiss francs and $22.92, respectively. The table 
above reflects the effective exercise price.

At December 31, 2013, there was $12 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non­vested options 
granted under the ESAP. That cost is expected to be recognized over the first ten months of 2014 in “Total cost of sales” 
and in “Selling, general and administrative expenses”. The weighted­average grant­date fair value (per option) of options 
granted during 2013, 2012 and 2011, was 2.79 Swiss francs, 1.29 Swiss francs and 1.89 Swiss francs, respectively. The 
total intrinsic value (on the date of exercise) of options exercised in 2013 was $24 million while in 2012 and 2011 it was 
not significant.

The Company has a long­term 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, Nomination 
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 2013, 2012 and 2011 launches under the LTIP are each composed 
of two components: (i) a performance component (earnings per share performance for the 2013 and 2012 launches  
and share­price performance for the 2011 launch) and (ii) a retention component.

Under the performance component, the number of shares granted is dependent upon the base salary of the Eligible 
Participant. For the 2013 and 2012 LTIP launches, the actual number of shares that will vest at a future date is dependent 
on (i) the Company’s weighted cumulative earnings per share performance over three financial years, beginning with  
the year of launch, and (ii) the fulfillment of the service condition as defined in the terms and conditions of the LTIP. The 
cumulative earnings per share performance is weighted as follows: 33 percent of the first year’s result, 67 percent of  
the second year’s result and 100 percent of the third year’s result. The actual number of shares that ultimately vest will 
vary depending on the weighted cumulative earnings per share outcome, interpolated between a lower threshold  
(no shares vest) and an upper threshold (the number of shares vesting is capped at 200 percent of the conditional grant). 

For the 2011 LTIP launch, 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 three­year period (Evaluation Period) compared to those of a selected peer group  
of publicly­listed multinational companies and (ii) the fulfillment of the service condition as defined in the terms and con­
ditions of the LTIP. The actual number of shares that ultimately vest 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 (from a reference price of 22.25 Swiss francs for the 2011 launch) and an average annual dividend yield percent­
age (the Company’s Performance). In order for shares to vest, the Company’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 Performance is positive and better than three­quarters 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, non­operating, non­recurring or unforeseen – such as divestments and acquisitions) is nega­ 
tive 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.

144 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

 
 
 
Note 18 
Share-based payment 
arrangements, continued

Under the retention component of the 2013, 2012 and 2011 LTIP launches, each Eligible Participant was conditionally 
granted an individually defined maximum number of shares which fully vest at the end of the respective vesting periods 
(if the participant remains an Eligible Participant until the end of such period).

For the 2013, 2012 and 2011 LTIP launches, under the 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 and 30 percent of the value of the shares  
that have vested in cash, with the possibility to elect to receive the 30 percent portion also in shares rather than cash.

Presented below is a summary of activity under the LTIP:

Nonvested at January 1, 2013

Granted

Vested

Expired (3)

Forfeited

Nonvested at December 31, 2013

Number of shares

Equity & Cash or  

choice of 100% 

Only Cash 

Weighted-average 

grant-date  

 Equity Settlement (1)

Settlement (2) 

Total 

fair value per share 

(in millions)

(in millions)

(in millions)

(Swiss francs)

1.6

0.5

(0.3)

–

(0.1)

1.7

1.0

0.4

–

(0.2)

(0.1)

1.1

2.6

0.9

(0.3)

(0.2)

(0.2)

2.8

15.72

20.92

19.54

4.87

16.92

17.65

(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.

Equity­settled awards are recorded in the “Capital stock and additional paid­in 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 vesting period) based on the grant­date fair value of the shares. Cash­settled 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, 2013, there was $14 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to equity­settled awards 
under the LTIP. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted­average period of 2.0 years. The compensation 
cost recorded in 2013, 2012 and 2011, for cash­settled awards was not significant.

The aggregate fair value, at the dates of grant, of shares granted in 2013, 2012 and 2011, was approximately $22 million, 
$22 million and $16 million, respectively. The total grant­date fair value of shares that vested during 2013, 2012 and  
2011 was not significant. The weighted­average grant­date fair value (per share) of shares granted during 2013, 2012 
and 2011, was 20.92 Swiss francs, 15.21 Swiss francs and 17.91 Swiss francs, respectively.

For the earnings per share performance component of the 2013 and 2012 LTIP launches, the aggregate fair value of  
the conditionally granted shares is based on the market price of the ABB Ltd share at each reporting date and the probable 
outcome of the earnings per share achievement that would result in the vesting of the highest number of shares, as 
computed using a Monte Carlo simulation model. The main inputs to this model are the Company’s and financial analysts’ 
revenue growth rates and Operational EBITDA margin expectations.

The aggregate fair value of the shares relating to the (cash­settled) share­price performance component under the 2011 
LTIP launch 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, 2013 and 2012, fair values for the Company and each peer company were as 
follows:

Cash-settled awards at December 31,

Input ranges for:

  Option implied volatilities (%)

  Risk­free rates (%)

Equity betas

Equity risk premiums (%)

2013

From

2012

To

From

16.8

1.7

0.85

5.0

36.7

4.0

1.31

7.0

16.2

1.0

0.85

5.0

To

48.4

3.1

1.24

7.0

For the retention component under the 2013, 2012 and 2011 LTIP launches, the fair value of granted shares for  
equity­settled awards is the market price of the ABB Ltd share on grant date and the fair value of granted shares for 
cash­settled awards is the market price of the ABB Ltd share at each reporting date.

Other share­based payments

The Company has other minor share­based payment arrangements with certain employees. The compensation cost 
related to these arrangements in 2013, 2012 and 2011 was not significant. 

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 145

 
 
Note 19
Stockholders’ equity

At both December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company had 2,819 million authorized shares, of which 2,315 million were 
registered and issued.

At the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (AGM) held in April 2013, at the AGM held in April 2012 and at the AGM 
held in April 2011, shareholders approved the payment of a dividend of 0.68 Swiss francs per share, 0.65 Swiss francs 
per share and 0.60 Swiss francs per share, respectively, out of the capital contribution reserve in stockholders’ equity of 
the unconsolidated statutory financial statements of ABB Ltd, prepared in accordance with Swiss law. The dividends 
were paid in May 2013 (amounting to $1,667 million), May 2012 (amounting to $1,626 million) and May 2011 (amounting 
to $1,569 million), respectively.

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 
2012 and 2011, the bank exercised certain of the call options it held. As a consequence, in 2012, the Company delivered 
2.7 million shares out of treasury stock and in 2011 the Company delivered 6.0 million shares from contingent capital. 
No call options were exercised by the bank in 2013. At December 31, 2013, such call options representing 9.6 million 
shares and with strike prices ranging from 15.75 to 36.40 Swiss francs (weighted­average strike price of 23.12 Swiss 
francs) were held by the bank. The call options expire in periods ranging from May 2014 to May 2019. However, only 
1.0 million of these instruments, with strike prices ranging from 15.75 to 36.40 Swiss francs (weighted­average strike 
price of 31.40 Swiss francs), could be exercised at December 31, 2013, under the terms of the agreement with the bank.

In addition to the above, at December 31, 2013, the Company had further outstanding obligations to deliver:
–  up to 2.6 million shares relating to the options granted under the 2008 launch of the MIP, with a strike price of 

36.40 Swiss francs, vested in May 2011 and expiring in May 2014,

–  up to 4.5 million shares relating to the options granted under the 2009 launch of the MIP, with a strike price of 

19.00 Swiss francs, vested in May 2012 and expiring in May 2015,

–  up to 7.3 million shares relating to the options granted under the 2010 launch of the MIP, with a strike price of 

22.50 Swiss francs, vested in May 2013 and expiring in May 2016,

–  up to 8.7 million shares relating to the options granted under the 2011 launch of the MIP, with a strike price of 

25.50 Swiss francs, vesting in May 2014 and expiring in May 2017,

–  up to 16.6 million shares relating to the options granted under the 2012 launches of the MIP, with a weighted­average 

strike price of 16.06 Swiss francs, vesting in May 2015 and expiring in May 2018,

–  up to 17.4 million shares relating to the options granted under the 2013 launch of the MIP, with a strike price of 

21.50 Swiss francs, vesting in May 2016 and expiring in May 2019,

–  up to 4.7 million shares relating to the ESAP, vesting and expiring in November 2014,
–  up to 1.7 million shares to Eligible Participants under the 2013, 2012 and 2011, launches of the LTIP, vesting and 

 expiring in June 2016, May 2015 and March 2014, respectively, and

–  up to 2.3 million shares in connection with certain other share­based payment arrangements with  employees.

See Note 18 for a description of the above share­based payment arrangements.

In November 2013 and 2012, the Company delivered 3.7 million and 2.3 million shares, respectively, from treasury stock, 
under the ESAP. In 2011, the number of shares delivered under the ESAP was not significant.

Amounts available to be distributed as dividends to the stockholders of ABB Ltd are based on the requirements of  
Swiss law and ABB Ltd’s Articles of Incorporation, and are determined based on amounts presented in the unconsolida t ­ 
ed financial statements of ABB Ltd, Zurich, prepared in accordance with Swiss law. At December 31, 2013, of the 
11,637 million Swiss francs ($13,076 million) total stockholders’ equity reflected in such unconsolidated financial statements, 
2,384 million Swiss francs ($2,679 million) represents share capital and 9,253 million Swiss francs ($10,397 million) 
 represent reserves. Of these reserves, legal reserves for own shares of 296 million Swiss francs ($333 million) and ordinary 
legal reserves of 1,000 million Swiss francs ($1,124 million) are restricted.

In February 2014, the Company announced that a proposal will be put to the 2014 AGM to distribute 0.70 Swiss francs 
per share to shareholders. 

146 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

Note 20
Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing income by the weighted­average number of shares outstanding  during 
the year. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing income by the weighted­average 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 share­based payment arrangements. In 2013, 2012 and 2011, outstanding securities 
representing a maximum of 47 million, 56 million and 39 million shares, respectively, were excluded from the calculation  
of diluted earnings per share as their inclusion would have been anti­dilutive.

Basic earnings per share

($ in millions, except per share data in $)

Amounts attributable to ABB shareholders:

Income from continuing operations, net of tax

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax

Net income

2013

2012

2011

2,824

(37)

2,787

2,700

3,159

4

9

2,704

3,168

Weighted-average number of shares outstanding (in millions)

2,297

2,293

2,288

Basic earnings per share attributable to ABB shareholders:

Income from continuing operations, net of tax

Income (loss) 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 (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax

Net income

1.23

(0.02)

1.21

1.18

–

1.18

1.38

–

1.38

2013

2012

2011

2,824

(37)

2,787

2,700

3,159

4

9

2,704

3,168

Weighted­average number of shares outstanding (in millions)

2,297

2,293

2,288

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 (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax

Net income

8

2

3

2,305

2,295

2,291

1.23

(0.02)

1.21

1.18

–

1.18

1.38

–

1.38

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 147

Note 21
Other comprehensive income

The following table includes amounts recorded within “Total other comprehensive income (loss)” including the related 
income tax effects.

($ in millions)

tax

effect

of tax

tax

effect

of tax

tax

effect

of tax

2013

2012

2011

Before  

Tax  

Net  

Before  

Tax  

Net  

Before  

Tax  

Net  

Foreign currency translation adjustments:

Net change during the year

Available-for-sale securities:

  Net unrealized gains (losses) arising during the year

  Reclassification adjustments for net (gains) losses  

included in net income

Net change during the year

Pension and other postretirement plans:

  Prior service (costs) credits arising during the year

  Net actuarial gains (losses) arising during the year

  Amortization of prior service cost included  

in net income

  Amortization of net actuarial loss included 

in net income

  Amortization of transition liability included 

in net income

Net change during the year

Cash flow hedge derivatives:

  Net gains (losses) arising during the year

  Reclassification adjustments for net (gains) losses  

included in net income

Net change during the year

133

(4)

(14)

(18)

(20)

423

8

–

1

1

4

(132)

25

(2)

140

(41)

–

–

568

(171)

33

(54)

(21)

(5)

11

6

141

389

(6)

383

(280)

5

(275)

(4)

(13)

(17)

(16)

291

23

99

–

397

5

1

6

(2)

–

(2)

3

1

4

(2)

3

1

(42)

(846)

6

(36)

245

(601)

(35)

(750)

33

(3)

102

(32)

–

–

30

70

–

35

55

1

(753)

216

(537)

(694)

(1)

2

1

12

157

(13)

(11)

–

145

(3)

5

2

(23)

(593)

22

44

1

(549)

28

74

(21)

53

(21)

2

(19)

(43)

(15)

(42)

32

14

(7)

(28)

25

(88)

(109)

27

29

(61)

(80)

Total other comprehensive income (loss)

662

(156)

506

(326)

201

(125)

(1,082)

180

(902)

The following table shows changes in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” (OCI) attributable to ABB, by component, 
net of tax:

($ in millions)

Balance at January 1, 2013

 Other comprehensive (loss) income before 

reclassifications

  Amounts reclassified from OCI

Total other comprehensive (loss) income

Less:

  Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests

Balance at December 31, 2013

Unrealized  

Unrealized 

gains (losses)  

Pension  

gains (losses)  

Foreign  currency  

on available- 

and other post-

of cash flow 

translation 

for-sale   

retirement plan 

hedge   

 adjustments

securities

 adjustments

derivatives

(580)

141

–

141

(8)

(431)

24

(4)

(13)

(17)

–

7

(2,004)

275

122

397

3

(1,610)

37

28

(43)

(15)

–

22

Total OCI

(2,523)

440

66

506

(5)

(2,012)

148 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 21
Other comprehensive income, 
continued

The following table reflects amounts reclassified out of OCI in respect of Pension and other postretirement plan adjustments 
and Unrealized gains (losses) of cash flow hedge derivatives:

Details about OCI components, ($ in millions)

Pension and other postretirement plan adjustments:

  Amortization of prior service costs

  Amortization of net actuarial losses

  Total before tax

Tax

Amounts reclassified from OCI

Unrealized gains (losses) of cash flow hedge derivatives:

Foreign exchange contracts

  Commodity contracts

  Cash­settled call options

  Total before tax

Tax

Amounts reclassified from OCI

Location of (gains) losses reclassified from OCI

2013

Net periodic benefit cost (1)

Net periodic benefit cost (1)

Provision for taxes

Total revenues

Total cost of sales

Total cost of sales

SG&A expenses (2)

Provision for taxes

25

140

165

(43)

122

(52)

1

5

(8)

(54)

11

(43)

(1)

(2)

These components are included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost (see Note 17). 
SG&A expenses represent “Selling, general and administrative expenses”.

The amounts reclassified out of OCI in respect of Unrealized gains (losses) on available­for­sale securities were not 
 significant in 2013.

Note 22
Restructuring and related  
expenses
Restructuring­related activities

($ in millions)

Employee severance costs

Estimated contract settlement, loss order and other costs

Inventory and long­lived asset impairments

Total

In 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company executed minor restructuring­related activities and incurred charges of $252 million, 
$180 million and $164 million, respectively, which were mainly recorded in “Total cost of sales”.

2013

154

78

20

252

2012

2011

92

72

16

180

83

53

28

164

At December 31, 2013 and 2012, the balance of restructuring and related liabilities is primarily included in  
“Other provisions”.

Note 23
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 
operating segments consist of Discrete Automation and Motion, Low Voltage Products, Process Automation, Power 
Products and Power Systems. 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:
–  Discrete Automation and Motion: manufactures and sells motors, generators, variable speed drives, programmable 
logic controllers, robots and robotics, solar inverters, wind converters, rectifiers, excitation systems, power quality  
and protection solutions, electric vehicle fast charging infrastructure, components and subsystems for railways, and 
related services for a wide range of applications in discrete automation, process industries, transportation 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. In addition the segment manufactures products for wiring and cable management, 
cable protection systems, power connection and safety. The segment also makes intelligent building control systems  
for home and building automation.

–  Process Automation: develops and sells control and plant optimization systems, automation products and solutions, 

including instrumentation, as well as industry­specific 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.

–  Power Products: manufactures and sells high­ and medium­voltage 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.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 149

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 23
Operating segment and 
geographic data, continued

–  Power Systems: designs, installs and upgrades high­efficiency transmission and distribution systems and power  

plant automation and electrification solutions, including monitoring and control products, software and services and 
incorporating components manufactured by both the Company and by third parties.

–  Corporate and Other: includes headquarters, central research and development, the Company’s real estate activities, 

Group treasury operations and other minor business activities.

The Company evaluates the profitability of its segments based on Operational EBITDA, which represents income from 
operations excluding depreciation and amortization, restructuring and restructuring­related expenses, and acquisition­
related expenses and certain non­operational items, as well as foreign exchange/commodity timing differences in 
income from operations consisting of: (i) unrealized gains and losses on derivatives (foreign exchange, commodities, embed­
ded derivatives), (ii) realized gains and losses on derivatives where the underlying hedged transaction has not yet been 
realized, and (iii) unrealized foreign exchange movements on receivables/payables (and related assets/liabilities).

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. Segment results below are presented before these eliminations, with a total deduction 
for intersegment profits to arrive at the Company’s consolidated Operational EBITDA. Intersegment sales and transfers  
are accounted for as if the sales and transfers were to third parties, at current market prices.

The following tables present segment revenues, Operational EBITDA, the reconciliations of consolidated Operational 
EBITDA to income from continuing operations before taxes, as well as depreciation and amortization, and capital 
expenditures for 2013, 2012 and 2011, as well as total assets at December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011. 

Third-party  revenues

Intersegment revenues

Total revenues

8,909

7,338

8,287

9,096

8,025

193

–

41,848

1,006

391

210

1,936

350

1,583

(5,476)

–

9,915

7,729

8,497

11,032

8,375

1,776

(5,476)

41,848

Third-party  revenues

Intersegment revenues

Total revenues

8,480

6,276

7,946

8,987

7,575

72

–

39,336

925

362

210

1,730

277

1,505

(5,009)

–

9,405

6,638

8,156

10,717

7,852

1,577

(5,009)

39,336

Third-party  revenues

Intersegment revenues

Total revenues

8,047

4,953

8,078

9,028

7,833

51

–

37,990

759

351

222

1,841

268

1,508

(4,949)

–

8,806

5,304

8,300

10,869

8,101

1,559

(4,949)

37,990

2013 ($ in millions)

Discrete Automation and Motion

Low Voltage Products

Process Automation

Power Products

Power Systems

Corporate and Other

Intersegment elimination

Consolidated

2012 ($ in millions)

Discrete Automation and Motion

Low Voltage Products

Process Automation

Power Products

Power Systems

Corporate and Other

Intersegment elimination

Consolidated

2011 ($ in millions)

Discrete Automation and Motion

Low Voltage Products

Process Automation

Power Products

Power Systems

Corporate and Other

Intersegment elimination

Consolidated

150 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

Note 23
Operating segment and 
geographic data, continued

($ in millions)

Operational EBITDA:

  Discrete Automation and Motion

Low Voltage Products

  Process Automation

  Power Products

  Power Systems

  Corporate and Other and Intersegment elimination

Consolidated Operational EBITDA 

Depreciation and amortization

Restructuring and restructuring­related expenses

Acquisition­related expenses and certain non­operational items

Foreign exchange/commodity timing differences in income from operations:

  Unrealized gains and losses on derivatives (foreign exchange, 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)

Income from operations

Interest and dividend income

Interest and other finance expense

Income from continuing operations before taxes

($ in millions)

2013

2012

2011

2013

2012

2011

Depreciation and amortization

Capital expenditure (1)

Discrete Automation and Motion

Low Voltage Products

Process Automation

Power Products

Power Systems

Corporate and Other

Consolidated

285

323

87

223

183

217

263

250

82

209

174

204

1,318

1,182

251

116

83

200

144

201

995

214

204

68

252

101

267

197

208

91

259

194

344

202

149

72

192

136

270

2013

2012

2011

1,783

1,468

1,096

1,637

419

(328)

6,075

1,735

1,219

1,003

1,585

290

(277)

5,555

(1,318)

(1,182)

(252)

(181)

60

14

(11)

(180)

(199)

135

(28)

(43)

1,664

1,059

1,028

1,782

743

(262)

6,014

(995)

(164)

(107)

(158)

(32)

109

4,387

4,058

4,667

69

(390)

4,066

73

(293)

3,838

90

(207)

4,550

Total assets (1)

at December 31,

2013

10,931

9,389

4,537

7,669

7,905

7,633

2012

9,416

9,534

4,847

7,701

8,083

9,489

2011

9,195

3,333

4,777

7,355

7,469

7,519

1,106

1,293

1,021

48,064

49,070

39,648

(1)

Capital expenditure and Total assets are after intersegment eliminations and therefore reflect third­party activities only.

Geographic information

 Geographic information for revenues and long­lived assets was as follows:

($ in millions)

Europe

The Americas

Asia

Middle East and Africa

Revenues

Long-lived assets  

at December 31,

2013

14,385

12,115

11,230

4,118

41,848

2012

14,073

10,699

10,750

3,814

2011

14,657

9,043

10,136

4,154

2013

3,798

1,450

850

156

2012

3,543

1,347

883

174

39,336

37,990

6,254

5,947

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 151

 
 
 
Note 23
Operating segment and 
geographic data, continued

Revenues by geography reflect the location of the customer. Approximately 18 percent, 17 percent and 14 percent of  
the Company’s total revenues in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, came from customers in the United States. Approxi­
mately 12 percent, 12 percent, and 13 percent of the Company’s total revenues in 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively, 
were generated from customers in China. In 2013, 2012 and 2011, more than 98 percent of the Company’s total revenues 
were generated from customers outside Switzerland.

Long­lived assets represent “Property, plant and equipment, net” and are shown by location of the assets. At 
 December 31, 2013, approximately 17 percent, 17 percent and 15 percent of the Company’s long­lived assets were located 
in Switzerland, the U.S. and Sweden, respectively. At December 31, 2012, approximately 17 percent, 17 percent and  
14 percent were located in Switzerland, the U.S. 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.

Note 24
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.

152 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

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 U.S. generally accepted 
accounting principles.

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.

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 (1992 framework) (COSO). Based on this assess­
ment, management has concluded that ABB’s internal control over financial 
reporting was effective as of December 31, 2013. 

Ernst & Young Ltd, 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, 2013, which is included on page 155 of this 
Annual Report.

Ulrich Spiesshofer 
Chief Executive Officer

Eric Elzvik 
Chief Financial Officer

Zurich, Switzerland 
March 7, 2014

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 153

 
 
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 consolidated financial statements  
of ABB Ltd, which are comprised of the consolidated balance sheets as  
of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the related consolidated statements of 
income, comprehensive income, cash flows and changes in stockholders’ 
equity, and notes thereto, for each of the three years in the period ended 
December 31, 2013.

Board of Directors’ Responsibility
The Board of Directors is responsible for the preparation and fair presenta­
tion of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally 
accepted accounting principles and the requirements of Swiss law. This 
responsibility includes designing, implementing and maintaining an internal 
control system relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of consoli­
dated 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 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 Com­
pany 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 proce­
dures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment  
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 policies 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 appropriate to pro­
vide 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, 2013 and 2012, and the consolidated results of its operations and its 
cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2013, 
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, 2013, based on criteria established in 
Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsor­
ing Organizations of the Treadway Commission (1992 framework) (COSO), and 
our report dated March 7, 2014, expressed an unqualified opinion on the effec­
tiveness of ABB Ltd’s internal control over financial reporting.

Ernst & Young Ltd

Leslie Clifford 
Licensed audit expert 
(Auditor in charge)

Zurich, Switzerland 
March 7, 2014

John Cassidy 
U.S. Certified Public Accountant 

154 Financial review of ABB Group | ABB Annual Report 2013

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, 2013, 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 2013 consolidated financial statements of ABB Ltd and  
our report dated March 7, 2014, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Ernst & Young Ltd

Leslie Clifford 
Licensed audit expert 
(Auditor in charge)

Zurich, Switzerland 
March 7, 2014

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, 2013, based on criteria established in Internal Control – 
 Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations 
of the Treadway Commission (1992 framework) (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 reporting. 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 Com­
pany 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 2013 | Financial review of ABB Group 155

156 ABB Ltd Statutory Financial Statements | ABB Annual Report 2013

ABB Ltd Statutory  
Financial Statements

158 Financial Statements of ABB Ltd, Zurich

Contents

 159 Notes to the Financial Statements 

 159  Note 1 General
 159  Note 2 Receivables
 159  Note 3 Loans – Group
 159  Note 4 Participation
 159  Note 5 Current liabilities
 160  Note 6 Stockholders’ equity
 161  Note 7 Contingent liabilities
 161  Note 8 Bonds

 162  Note 9 Significant shareholders
 162  Note 10 Board of Directors compensation
 164  Note 11 Executive Committee compensation
 169   Note 12 Share ownership of ABB by Board members  

and members of the Executive Committee

 173  Note 13 Risk assessment
 174  Proposed appropriation of available earnings
 175  Report of the Statutory Auditor

ABB Annual Report 2013 | ABB Ltd Statutory Financial Statements 157

 
 
 
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 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

Total current assets

Long-term loans – Group

Participation

Own shares

Other assets

Total non-current assets

Total assets

Current liabilities

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

158 ABB Ltd Statutory Financial Statements | ABB Annual Report 2013

2013

2012

600,000

1,200,000

35,914

39,660

(32,062)

(50,608)

(25,946)

42,887

609,845

 (2,792)

607,053

26,054

55,521

(70,701)

(42,906)

(32,962)

38,674

1,173,680

 (500)

1,173,180

2013

853

2012

553

2,697,167

3,347,513

13,127

21,415

2,711,147

3,369,481

900,000

900,000

8,973,229

8,973,229

296,423

9,474

352,387

11,449

10,179,126

10,237,065

12,890,273

13,606,546

54,119

1,199,299

1,253,418

50,351

1,199,040

1,249,391

2,384,186

2,384,186

1,000,000

2,641,522

296,423

1,000,000

3,968,875

395,274

 236,973 

 138,122 

4,470,698

607,053

3,297,518

1,173,180

11,636,855

12,357,155

12,890,273

13,606,546

Notes to Financial Statements

Note 1 
General

Note 2 
Receivables 

December 31 (CHF in thousands)

Non-trade receivables

Non-trade receivables – Group

Accrued income

Accrued income – Group

Total

Note 3 
Loans – Group  

December 31 (CHF in thousands)

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 current year’s presentation.

2013

559

7,630

1,600

3,338

13,127

2012

144

17,412

–

3,859

21,415

2013

900,000

2012

900,000

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.

Purpose

Holding

Domicile

CH-Zurich

Share capital

CHF 2,768,000,000

Ownership interest

2013

100%

2012

100%

The participation is valued at the lower of cost or fair value, using valuation models accepted under Swiss law.

2013

5,092

1,270

46,460

1,297

54,119

2012

3,284

465

44,990

1,612

50,351

ABB Annual Report 2013 | ABB Ltd Statutory Financial Statements 159

Note 6 
Stockholders’ equity  

Share 

 capital

Legal reserves

Capital 

Free reserves

Total 2013

(CHF in thousands)

reserves

reserve

own shares

reserves

earnings

Net income

Opening balance as of January 1

2,384,186 1,000,000

3,968,875

395,274

 138,122 

3,297,518

1,173,180

12,357,155

Ordinary 

 contribution 

Reserve for 

Other   

Retained  

Allocation to retained earnings

Allocation to other reserves

Release to other reserves

Release to other reserves

Dividend payment

Net income for the year

(1,327,353)

(98,851)

 98,851 

 1,327,353 

 (1,327,353)

1,173,180

(1,173,180)

–

–

–

–

 (1,327,353)

607,053

607,053

Closing balance as of December 31

2,384,186 1,000,000

2,641,522

296,423

 236,973 

4,470,698

607,053

11,636,855

Share capital as of December 31, 2013

Issued shares

Contingent shares

Authorized shares

Share capital as of December 31, 2012

Issued shares

Contingent shares

Authorized shares

Number of  

Par value 

Total

registered shares

2,314,743,264

304,038,800

200,000,000

(CHF)

1.03

1.03

1.03

(CHF in thousands)

2,384,186

313,160

206,000

Number of  

Par value 

Total

registered shares

2,314,743,264

304,038,800

200,000,000

(CHF)

1.03

1.03

1.03

(CHF in thousands)

2,384,186

313,160

206,000

During 2013, no call options related to ABB Group’s management incentive plan (MIP), were exercised. During 2012,  
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 2,726,800 shares at CHF 15.30 out of own shares.

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 2013 and 2012, the Company issued, out of own shares, to the group company, 3,734,428 and 2,344,733 
shares at CHF 23.10 and CHF 17.23, respectively.

In 2013 and 2012, the Company transferred 965,601 and 466,622 own shares at an average price per share of CHF 21.03 
in both cases to fulfill its obligations under other share-based arrangements. 

The average acquisition price of the own shares at both December 31, 2013 and 2012, 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

Thereof pledged

2013

2012

18,793,989

24,332,144

–

–

–

–

(4,700,029)

(5,538,155)

14,093,960

18,793,989

7,173,989

3,467,250

160 ABB Ltd Statutory Financial Statements | ABB Annual Report 2013

 
Note 6 
Stockholders’ equity, continued

The own shares are stated at the lower of cost or fair value. As a consequence of the increase in the fair value, the  
own shares were revalued at December 31, 2013 to CHF 21.03 from CHF 18.75 per share, resulting in a write-up of 
CHF 42,887 thousand in 2013.

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.

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 667,425 thousand as of December 31, 2013  
(CHF 274,515 thousand as of December 31, 2012).

Furthermore, the Company has Keep-well agreements with certain group companies. A Keep-well agreement is  
a shareholder agreement between the Company and a group company. These agreements provide for maintenance of  
a minimum 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.

In addition, the Company has provided certain guarantees securing the performance of Group companies in connection 
with commercial paper programs, indentures or other debt instruments to enable them to fulfill the payment obligation 
under such instruments as they fall due. The amount guaranteed under these instruments was CHF 5,499,517 thousand 
as of December 31, 2013 (CHF 6,481,807 thousand as of December 2012).

Furthermore, the Company is the guarantor in the Group’s $2 billion multicurrency revolving credit facility, maturing in 
2015 but no amounts were outstanding at December 31, 2013 and 2012.

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 
Commitments and contingencies” to 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.

2013

499,213

350,000 

 350,086

2012

498,937

350,000

 350,103 

1,199,299

1,199,040

The 1.25% CHF Bonds, due 2016, the 2.25% Bonds, due 2021 and the 1.5% Bonds, due 2018, pay interest annually  
in arrears, at fixed annual rates of 1.25 percent, 2.25 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively.

The bonds are stated at their nominal value less any discount or plus any 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 bonds maturing 2016 and 2021 into floating rate obligations.

Note 8
Bonds

December 31 (CHF in thousands)

Bond 2011–2016 1.25% coupon

Bond 2011–2021 2.25% coupon

Bond 2012–2018 1.5% coupon

Total

ABB Annual Report 2013 | ABB Ltd Statutory Financial Statements 161

 
Note 9
Significant shareholders

Investor AB, Sweden, held 186,580,142 and 182,030,142 ABB Ltd shares as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. 
These holdings represent 8.1 percent and 7.9 percent of ABB Ltd’s total share capital and voting rights as registered in 
the Commercial Register on December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Pursuant to its disclosure notice, BlackRock, Inc., USA, disclosed that, as per July 25, 2011, it, together with its direct 
and indirect subsidiaries, held 69,702,100 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, 2013 and 2012, 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, 2013 and 2012, 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  

2013/2014

2012/2013

(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.

162 ABB Ltd Statutory Financial Statements | ABB Annual Report 2013

 
Note 10
Board of Directors compensation, 
continued

The compensation amounts per individual Board member are listed in the table below:

Paid in 2013

Paid in 2012

November

May

November

May

Board term 2013–2014

Board term 2012–2013

Board term 2012–2013

Board term 2011–2012

–

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(CHF)

(CHF)

(CHF)

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(
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2

d

i

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(CHF)

Name/Function

Hubertus von Grünberg

Chairman of the Board

–

19,616

–

19,739

1,200,000

–

23,298

–

22,685

1,200,000

Roger Agnelli (6)

Member of the Board

75,000

2,419

75,000

2,442

300,000

75,000

2,873

75,000

2,807

300,000

Louis R. Hughes

Member of the Board and 

Chairman of the Finance, 

Audit and Compliance 

 Committee 

Hans Ulrich Märki

Member of the Board and 

Chairman of the Gover-

nance, Nomination and 

100,000

3,233

100,000

3,264

400,000

100,000

3,840

100,000

3,751

400,000

Compensation Committee

–

8,966

–

9,018

400,000

–

10,649

Michel de Rosen(7)

Member of the Board

75,000

2,629

75,000

2,646

300,000

75,000

2,873

Michael Treschow(7) 

–

–

10,364

400,000

5,614

300,000

Member of the Board

75,000

2,629

75,000

2,647

300,000

75,000

2,922

75,000

2,843

300,000

Jacob Wallenberg(6)

Member of the Board

75,000

2,629

75,000

2,647

300,000

75,000

2,873

75,000

2,807

300,000

Ying Yeh(7)

Member of the Board

75,000

2,460

75,000

2,474

300,000

75,000

2,905

75,000

2,807

300,000

Total 

475,000

44,581

475,000

44,877

3,500,000

475,000

52,233

400,000

53,678

3,500,000

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

Represents gross amounts paid, prior to deductions for social security, withholding tax etc.
Number of shares per Board member is calculated based on the net amount due after deductions for social security, withholding tax etc.
For the Board terms 2013–2014 and 2012–2013, 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%. 
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%.
In addition to the Board remuneration stated in the above table, the Company paid, in 2013 and 2012, CHF 147,290 and CHF 211,008, respectively, in employee social security payments.
Member of the Finance, Audit and Compliance Committee
Member of the Governance, Nomination and Compensation Committee

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 2013 and 2012. Except as disclosed herein,  
no payments were made to former Board members in 2013 and 2012. 

Other than as disclosed herein, no members of the Board received any additional fees and remuneration for services 
rendered to ABB. Also, in 2013 ABB did not pay any additional fees or remuneration 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 member of the Board.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | ABB Ltd Statutory Financial Statements 163

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 11
Executive Committee  
compensation

The table below provides an overview of the total compensation of members of the Executive Committee (EC) in 2013, 
comprising cash-based compensation and share-based compensation. Cash-based compensation included the  
base salary, accrued short-term variable compensation for 2013, pension benefits, as well as other benefits represent-
ing mainly social security and health insurance contributions. Share-based compensation includes an estimate of  
the value of the grants under the LTIP and other share-based awards. The compensation is shown gross (i.e. before 
deduction of employee’s social insurance and pension contributions). 

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(CHF)

(CHF)

(CHF)

(CHF)

(CHF)

(CHF)

(CHF)

(CHF)

Name

Ulrich Spiesshofer  (appointed  

CEO as of  September 15, 2013)(4)

1,097,346

1,336,375

247,293

232,225

2,913,239

2,859,135

 – 

5,772,374

Eric Elzvik  

(joined the EC on February 1, 2013)

779,173

779,167

238,437

228,478

2,025,255

981,672

 – 

3,006,927

Jean-Christophe Deslarzes  

(joined ABB on November 15, 2013)(5)

107,938

108,611

Diane de Saint Victor(6)

1,000,001

1,000,000

20,557

283,181

26,576

263,682

991,307

3,381,127

4,636,116

196,137

2,479,319

1,154,907

3,142,500

6,776,726

Frank Duggan(7)

Greg Scheu(8)

Pekka Tiitinen (joined the EC  

on September 15, 2013)

Tarak Mehta 

Veli-Matti Reinikkala

Bernhard Jucker

Claudio Facchin (joined the EC  

666,322

731,259

676,257

742,500

322,308

634,447

2,299,334

251,428

341,149

2,066,336

206,508

760,424

770,006

965,842

206,111

766,500

770,000

969,000

55,892

230,159

270,799

287,455

49,545

518,056

363,814

2,120,897

204,648

2,015,453

239,366

2,461,663

1,246,516

910,437

881,952

801,222

910,437

585,598

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

3,209,771

2,948,288

1,319,278

3,031,334

2,601,051

3,708,179

on December 1, 2013)

58,334

58,334

19,373

3,790

139,831

816,396

 – 

956,227

Total current  

Executive  Committee members

7,143,153

7,412,855

2,226,882

2,520,175 19,303,065

12,139,579

6,523,627

37,966,271

Joe Hogan  
(CEO until  September 15, 2013)

Michel Demaré  
(CFO until  January 31, 2013) 

Gary Steel (EC member  
until November 15, 2013)

Prith Banerjee  
(EC member until May 31, 2013)

Brice Koch (EC member  

until November 30, 2013)

Total former  

1,423,758

2,135,625

207,007

948,293

4,714,683

100,001

100,000

23,154

9,618

232,773

704,376

704,375

255,253

202,724

1,866,728

291,667

218,750

101,173

233,192

844,782

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

4,714,683

 – 

232,773

 – 

1,866,728

 – 

844,782

773,285

776,050

221,812

249,888

2,021,035

1,005,590

 – 

3,026,625

Executive  Committee members

3,293,087

3,934,800

808,399

1,643,715

9,680,001

1,005,590

 –  10,685,591

Total

10,436,240

11,347,655

3,035,281

4,163,890 28,983,066

13,145,169

6,523,627 48,651,862

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

The table above shows accruals related to the short-term variable compensation for the year 2013 for all EC members, except for Prith Banerjee, who received, in May 2013, a pro-rata 
short-term variable compensation payment covering his period of service as an EC member in 2013. For all other EC members, the short-term variable compensation will be paid in 2014, 
after the publication of the financial results. In March 2013, the current and former EC members received the 2012 short-term variable compensation payments totaling CHF 12,641,252. 
Short-term variable compensation is linked to the objectives defined in the ABB Group’s scorecard. Upon full achievement of these objectives, the short-term variable compensation of the 
CEO corresponds to 150 percent of his base salary, while for all other EC members it represents 100 percent of their respective base salary. The Board has the discretion to approve a 
payout that is up to 50 percent higher (representing up to 225 percent of the base salary for the CEO and 150 percent of the base salary for other members of the EC), if the objectives are 
exceeded. 
Other benefits comprise payments related to social security, health insurance, children’s education, transportation, tax advice and certain other items. 
At the day of vesting (June 5, 2016) the value of the share-based awards granted under the LTIP may vary from the above numbers due to changes in ABB’s share price and the outcome 
of the performance (earnings per share) parameter. The LTIP is also subject to service conditions, while the other share-based awards are subject to service and/or other conditions.  
The above amounts have been calculated using the market value of the ABB share on the day of grant and in the case of the performance component of the LTIP, the Monte Carlo simula-
tion model. 
The above compensation figures for Ulrich Spiesshofer represent compensation for the period January 1 to September 14, 2013, in his capacity as Head of the Discrete Automation and 
Motion division and thereafter for his role as Chief Executive Officer. His annual base salary as CEO is CHF 1,600,000.
Jean-Christophe Deslarzes received a replacement share grant of 144,802 shares for foregone benefits with his previous employer, representing a grant date fair value of CHF 3,381,127. 
Of the total, 78,983 shares vest on November 15, 2016, while 65,819 shares vest on November 15, 2018.
Diane de Saint Victor received a special retention share grant of 150,000 shares representing a grant date fair value of CHF 3,142,500. The shares vest on December 31, 2015.
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 January to December 2013. All AED amounts were 
converted into Swiss francs at a rate of CHF 0.2422914 per AED. 
On May 16, 2013, Greg Scheu received a special bonus of CHF 168,750, which was settled in shares (7,942 shares).

164 ABB Ltd Statutory Financial Statements | ABB Annual Report 2013

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 11
Executive Committee  
compensation, continued

Furthermore, in 2013, certain former EC members received contractual compensation for the period after leaving  
the EC, as shown in the table below. The compensation included the base salary, accrued short-term variable 
 compensation for 2013, 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  

Base salary

(CHF)

Short-term   
variable
compensation(1)

Pension  benefits

Other benefits(2)

2013
Total cash-based 
 compensation

(CHF)

(CHF)

(CHF)

(CHF)

(CEO until September 15, 2013)(3)

586,253

879,375

85,239

323,314

1,874,181

Michel Demaré  

(CFO until January 31, 2013)(4)

1,100,006

1,100,000

255,549

428,053

2,883,608

Gary Steel  

(EC member until November 15, 2013)(4)

100,626

100,625

36,465

14,276

251,992

Brice Koch  

(EC member until November 30, 2013)(4)

Total

70,551

1,857,436

70,550

2,150,550

20,174

397,427

34,447

800,090

195,722

5,205,503

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

The short-term variable compensation will be paid in 2014, after the publication of the financial results.
Other benefits comprise payments related to social security, health insurance, children’s education, transportation, tax advice and certain other items. 
The above compensation figures of Joe Hogan represent compensation for the period September 16 to December 31, 2013, during which he was acting as a Senior Adviser  
to the ABB Board.
The above compensation figures of Michel Demaré, Gary Steel and Brice Koch represent contractual compensation for the period following their departure from the EC  
to December 31, 2013.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | ABB Ltd Statutory Financial Statements 165

Note 11
Executive Committee  
compensation, continued

The table below provides an overview of the total compensation of members of the EC in 2012, comprising cash-based 
compensation and an estimate of the value (at grant date) of shares conditionally granted under the 2012 one-time 
Acquisition Integration Execution Plan (AIEP) that vest in January 2014 and the three-year Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) 
that vest in 2015. Cash-based compensation includes the base salary, accrued short-term variable compensation  
for 2012, 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).

e

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(CHF)

(CHF)

2,010,011

3,316,500

1,200,007

1,320,000

805,002

865,673

791,993

885,500

962,500

880,000

950,004

1,045,000

770,006

816,669

718,837

641,963

847,000

913,000

803,000

697,279

Name

Joe Hogan

Michel Demaré

Gary Steel

Ulrich Spiesshofer

Diane de Saint Victor

Bernhard Jucker

Veli-Matti Reinikkala

Brice Koch 

Tarak Mehta 

Frank Duggan(4)

Greg Scheu (joined on May 1, 2012)

450,002

495,000

Prith Banerjee  

)
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(CHF)

(CHF)

(CHF)

(CHF)

(CHF)

431,284

6,042,665

4,115,136

377,968

3,169,425

 – 

 – 

 – 

10,157,801

3,169,425

172,054

2,149,494

851,003

896,656

3,897,153

164,948

2,228,801

1,363,655

974,623

4,567,079

138,762

2,084,338

899,193

891,085

3,874,616

179,220

2,454,596

1,067,784

1,058,174

4,580,554

145,236

2,026,134

865,483

857,673

3,749,290

212,479

2,176,573

1,099,345

924,511

4,200,429

369,734

2,113,752

405,734

2,058,353

42,727

1,149,545

820,512

820,512

713,574

813,119

3,747,383

835,403

3,714,268

751,851

2,614,970

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(CHF)

284,870

271,450

286,938

235,680

273,583

280,372

263,892

234,425

222,181

313,377

161,816

(joined ABB on May 7, 2012)

456,523

500,914

137,742

401,148

1,496,327

740,017

389,860

2,626,204

Total Executive Committee 

 members as of December 31, 2012 10,476,690 12,665,693

2,966,326

3,041,294

29,150,003

13,356,214

8,392,955

50,899,172

Peter Leupp (retired from the EC  
on March 1, 2012)(5)

Total former Executive Committee 

496,694

291,960

167,900

206,794

1,163,348

members as of December 31, 2012

496,694

291,960

167,900

206,794

1,163,348

 – 

 – 

 – 

1,163,348

 – 

1,163,348

Total

10,973,384

12,957,653

3,134,226

3,248,088

30,313,351

13,356,214

8,392,955 52,062,520

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

The table above shows accruals related to the short-term variable compensation for the year 2012 for all EC members, except for Peter Leupp, who received in July 2012 a pro-rata short-
term variable compensation payment covering the period of his service as an EC member. For all other EC members, the short-term variable compensation will be paid in 2013, after the 
publication of the financial results. In March 2012, the current and former EC members received the 2011 short-term variable compensation payments totaling CHF 12,102,149. Short-term 
variable compensation is linked to the objectives defined in the ABB Group’s scorecard. Upon full achievement of these  objectives, the short-term variable compensation of the CEO 
 corresponds to 150 percent of his base salary, while for all other EC members it represents 100 percent of their respective base salary. The Board has the discretion to approve a payout 
that is up to 50 percent higher (representing up to 225 percent of the base salary for the CEO and 150 percent of the base salary for other members of the EC), if the objectives are ex-
ceeded. For 2012, the Board exercised its discretion and awarded a 10 percent higher payout, reflecting the Company’s performance against the objectives. 
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. earnings per share) and may therefore vary in value from the above numbers at the 
date of vesting, January 3, 2014 (AIEP) and May 31, 2015 (LTIP). The above amounts have been calculated using the market value of the ABB share on the day of grant and, in the case of 
the AIEP and the performance component of the LTIP, the Monte Carlo simulation model.
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 January to December 2012. All AED amounts were 
converted into Swiss francs at a rate of 0.2491288 per AED. 
The above compensation figures for Peter Leupp include contractual payments for the period March 1, 2012 to July 31, 2012, but exclude payments to him, after his retirement from the 
EC, in his capacity as director of ABB in China and of ABB Limited, India. 

166 ABB Ltd Statutory Financial Statements | ABB Annual Report 2013

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 11
Executive Committee 
compensation, continued

LTIP awards granted to members of the EC during 2013 are summarized in the table below. The vesting date of the 
respective award is listed in the footnotes to the table.

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(CHF)

Name

Ulrich Spiesshofer  

(appointed CEO as of September 15, 2013)

50,024

1,172,858

78,395

1,686,277

128,419

2,859,135

Eric Elzvik  

(joined the EC on February 1, 2013)

16,659

422,926

27,071

558,746

43,730

981,672

Jean-Christophe Deslarzes  

(joined ABB on November 15, 2013)

Diane de Saint Victor

Frank Duggan

Greg Scheu

Pekka Tiitinen  

(joined the EC on September 15, 2013)

Tarak Mehta

Veli-Matti Reinikkala

Bernhard Jucker

Claudio Facchin  

16,659

19,599

15,023

14,553

13,720

15,023

15,091

18,992

393,579

497,564

381,392

369,460

321,678

381,392

383,119

482,154

27,071

31,848

25,632

24,830

22,294

25,632

9,810

37,033

597,728

657,343

529,045

512,492

479,544

529,045

202,479

764,362

43,730

51,447

40,655

39,383

36,014

40,655

24,901

56,025

991,307

1,154,907

910,437

881,952

801,222

910,437

585,598

1,246,516

(joined the EC on December 1, 2013)

13,720

324,144

22,294

492,252

36,014

816,396

Total Executive Committee members  

as of December 31, 2013

209,063

5,130,266

331,910

7,009,313

540,973

12,139,579

Brice Koch (EC member until November 30, 2013)(5)

Total former Executive Committee members

16,593

16,593

421,250

421,250

28,311

28,311

584,340

584,340

44,904

44,904

1,005,590

1,005,590

Total

225,656

5,551,516

360,221

7,593,653

585,877

13,145,169

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

Vesting date June 5, 2016.
The shares of the performance component are valued using the market value of the ABB share on the grant date and the Monte Carlo Simulation Model. The estimated value applied  
to the shares of the retention component represents the market value of the ABB share on the grant date of the award. 
The LTIP foresees to deliver 30 percent of the value of the vested retention shares in cash. However participants have the possibility to elect upon vesting to receive 100 percent  
of the vested award in shares.
The vested performance component under the plan, if any, will be fully settled in cash. The plan foresees a maximum payout of 200 percent of the number of reference shares,  
based on the weighted cumulative EPS performance against predefined objectives.
In connection with his resignation from ABB, Brice Koch forfeited all unvested share grants under the LTIP.

In addition to the above awards, 9 members of the EC, participated in the tenth launch of ESAP which will allow them  
to save over a twelve-month period and, in November 2014, use their savings to acquire ABB shares under the ESAP.  
All EC members who participated in ESAP are each entitled to acquire up to 440 ABB shares at an exercise price of 
CHF 22.90 per share. In addition, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the tenth launch of ESAP, each partici-
pant will receive one share free of charge for every 10 shares purchased.

No parties related to any member of the EC 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 EC.

No loans or guarantees were granted to members of the EC in 2013. 

ABB Annual Report 2013 | ABB Ltd Statutory Financial Statements 167

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 11
Executive Committee 
compensation, continued

LTIP share based grants to members of the EC during 2012 are summarized in the table below. The vesting date of the 
respective award is listed in the footnotes to the table. 

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123,541

 1,860,269 

148,249

 2,254,867 

271,790

4,115,136

 – 

20,781

22,588

20,652

24,524

19,878

21,426

18,845

18,845

17,425

18,071

 – 

 312,919 

 340,128 

 310,976 

 369,280 

 299,321 

 322,631 

 283,767 

 283,767 

 262,384 

 272,112 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

35,377

67,293

38,673

45,924

37,223

51,066

35,289

35,289

29,664

30,763

 538,084 

 1,023,527 

 588,217 

 698,504 

 566,162 

 776,714 

 536,745 

 536,745 

 451,190 

 467,905 

56,158

89,881

59,325

70,448

57,101

72,492

54,134

54,134

47,089

48,834

851,003

1,363,655

899,193

1,067,784

865,483

1,099,345

820,512

820,512

713,574

740,017

Name

Joe Hogan

Michel Demaré

Gary Steel

Ulrich Spiesshofer

Diane de Saint Victor

Bernhard Jucker

Veli-Matti Reinikkala

Brice Koch

Tarak Mehta 

Frank Duggan

Greg Scheu (joined on May 1, 2012)

Prith Banerjee (joined ABB on May 7, 2012)

Total Executive Committee members  

as of December 31, 2012

326,576

4,917,554

554,810

8,438,660

881,386

13,356,214

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

Vesting date May 31, 2015.
The shares of the performance component are valued using the market value of the ABB share on the grant date and the Monte Carlo Simulation Model. The estimated value applied to 
the shares of the retention component, represents the market value of the ABB share on the grant date of the award. 
The LTIP 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 component under the plan, if any, will be fully settled in cash. The plan foresees a maximum payout of 200% of the number of reference shares, based on the 
weighted cumulative EPS performance against predefined objectives.

Share-based awards granted to members of the EC under the one-time AIEP during 2012 are summarized in the table 
below. The vesting date of the award is listed in the footnotes to the table.

Number of conditionally granted 

Total estimated value of  

shares under the one-time 2012 

share-based grants under the  

launch of AIEP(1)(3)

one-time AIEP in 2012(2)

Name

Joe Hogan

Michel Demaré

Gary Steel

Ulrich Spiesshofer

Diane de Saint Victor

Bernhard Jucker

Veli-Matti Reinikkala

Brice Koch

Tarak Mehta 

Frank Duggan

(CHF)

–

–

66,795

72,603

66,380

78,827

63,891

68,870

60,572

62,232

56,008

29,042

–

–

896,656

974,623

891,085

1,058,174

857,673

924,511

813,119

835,403

751,851

389,860

8,392,955

Greg Scheu (joined on May 1, 2012)

Prith Banerjee (joined ABB on May 7, 2012)

Total Executive Committee members as of December 31, 2012

625,220

(1)

(2)

(3)

Vesting date January 3, 2014.
The shares are valued using the market value of the ABB share on the grant date and the Monte Carlo Simulation Model.
The AIEP foresees to deliver 30 percent of the value of the vested shares in cash, but participants have the possibility to elect, prior to vesting, to receive 100 percent of the vested award  
in shares. The plan foresees a maximum payout of 768,286 shares, subject to the fulfillment of the plan objectives and the assessment by the CEO of the individual’s performance. 

168 ABB Ltd Statutory Financial Statements | ABB Annual Report 2013

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 

Jacob Wallenberg(1)

Ying Yeh

Total

At December 31, 2013 and 2012, 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, 2013

December 31, 2012 

212,725

165,533

70,425

428,176

133,870

102,782

180,158

13,843

173,370

160,672

63,928

410,192

128,595

97,506

174,882

8,909

1,307,512

1,218,054

(1)

Share amounts provided in this section do not include the shares beneficially owned by Investor AB, of which Mr. Wallenberg is chairman.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | ABB Ltd Statutory Financial Statements 169

 
 
Note 12
Share ownership of ABB by  
Board members and members  
of the Executive Committee,  
continued

At December 31, 2013 and 2012, the members of the Executive Committee, as of that date, held the following number of 
shares (or ADSs representing such shares), the conditional rights to receive ABB shares under the LTIP, options and/or 
warrants (either vested or unvested as indicated) under the MIP, and unvested shares in respect of other compensation 
arrangements: 

Vested  

at Dec. 31, 

2013

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Unvested at December 31, 2013

s
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v

i
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2
(

P
E

I

A
2
1
0
2

e
m

i
t
-
e
n
o

e
h
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m
o
r
f

s
t
i
f
e
n
e
b

e
n
o
g
e
r
o
f

r
o
f

t
n
a
r
g

e
r
a
h
s

t
n
e
m
e
c
a

l

p
e
R

)
3
(

r
e
y
o

l

p
m
e

r
e
m

r
o
f

(vesting  

e
r
a
h
s

n
o

i
t
n
e
t
e
r

l

a

i

c
e
p
S

)
3
(

t
n
a
r
g

(vesting  

(vesting  

(vesting  

(vesting  

(vesting  

(vesting  

2016 and 

(vesting  

2014)

2015)

2014)

2015)

2016)

2014)

2018)

2015)

Name

Ulrich Spiesshofer 

 (appointed CEO as of 

 September 15, 2013)

148,179

 – 

 – 

 – 

31,104

67,293

78,395

72,603

Eric Elzvik (joined the EC 

on February 1, 2013)

23,284

201,250

221,375

287,500

 – 

27,071

 – 

 – 

 – 

Jean-Christophe 

 Deslarzes (joined ABB on 

November 15, 2013)

 – 

Diane de Saint Victor

201,707

 – 

 – 

Frank Duggan

Greg Scheu(4)

Pekka Tiitinen  

(joined the EC on 

 September 15, 2013)

Tarak Mehta

Veli-Matti Reinikkala

Bernhard Jucker

Claudio Facchin  

(joined the EC on 

26,389

422,215

7,974

201,250

221,375

603,750

221,375

5,500

24,670

137,388

154,050

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 December 1, 2013)

1,883

Total Executive 

 Committee members  

 – 

 – 

26,359

21,326

 – 

 – 

24,211

18,517

27,753

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

27,071

 – 

144,802

38,673

35,289

29,664

31,848

66,380

25,632

62,232

24,830

56,008

12,041

35,289

37,223

45,924

22,294

 – 

25,632

60,572

9,810

63,891

37,033

78,827

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

150,000

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

11,458

17,598

22,294

 – 

 – 

 – 

as of December 31, 2013

731,024

1,428,465

664,125

287,500

160,728

318,994

331,910

460,513

144,802

150,000

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

Warrants and options may be sold or exercised/converted into shares at the ratio of 5 warrants/options for 1 share.
The LTIP foresees delivering 30 percent of the value of the vested retention shares in cash and the Acquisition Integration Execution Plan (AIEP) foresees delivering 30 percent of the value 
of the vested shares in cash. However, under both plans participants have the possibility to elect to receive 100 percent of the vested award in shares.
The Replacement share grant and the Special retention share grant foresee delivering 30 percent of the value of the vested shares in cash. However, under both plans participants have 
the possibility to elect to receive 100 percent of the vested award in shares.
Total number of shares held includes 32 shares held by children. 

170 ABB Ltd Statutory Financial Statements | ABB Annual Report 2013

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 12
Share ownership of ABB by  
Board members and members  
of the Executive Committee,  
continued

Name

Joe Hogan

Michel Demaré(4)

Gary Steel

Ulrich Spiesshofer

Diane de Saint Victor

Bernhard Jucker

Veli-Matti Reinikkala

Brice Koch

Tarak Mehta

Frank Duggan

Greg Scheu  

(joined on May 1, 2012)

Prith Banerjee  

Vested  

at Dec. 31, 

2012

s
n
o

i
t
p
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v

f
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b
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1
(

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r
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d
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 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

190,850

631,930

d

l

e
h

s
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r
a
h
s

f
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b
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u
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l

a
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255,046

397,772

219,365

164,191

179,189

134,118

122,763

30,424

15,771

15,803

Unvested at December 31, 2012

s
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1
(

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b
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d

s
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a
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S

)
3
(

P
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A
2
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0
2

e
m

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s
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b

n
o
-
n
g

i

s

f
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p
s
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n

i

d
e
t
n
a
r
g

s
e
r
a
h
s

f
o

r
e
b
m
u
N

(vesting  

(vesting  

(vesting  

(vesting  

(vesting  

(vesting  

(vesting  

2015)

2014)

2013)

2013)

2014)

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

2013)

87,841

41,609

23,140

23,440

21,938

27,647

20,065

21,036

12,714

14,309

2014)

99,371

40,450

23,517

31,104

26,359

27,753

18,517

27,388

24,211

21,326

148,249

 – 

35,377

67,293

 – 

 – 

66,795

72,603

38,673

66,380

45,924

78,827

37,223

63,891

51,066

35,289

68,870

60,572

35,289

62,232

189,682

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

(joined ABB on May 7, 2012)

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

Total Executive Committee  

32

544,920

201,250

221,375

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

29,664

56,008

30,763

29,042

members as of December 31, 2012

1,534,474

1,367,700

201,250

221,375

293,739

339,996

554,810

625,220

189,682

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

Options may be sold or exercised/converted into shares at the ratio of 5 options for 1 share.
The LTIP 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.
The AIEP foresees to deliver 30 percent of the value of the vested shares in cash, but participants have the possibility to elect to receive 100 percent of the vested award in shares.  
The actual number of shares to be delivered could be increased up to a total maximum amount of 768,286 shares.
Total number of shares held includes 4,500 shares held jointly with spouse.

ABB Annual Report 2013 | ABB Ltd Statutory Financial Statements 171

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 12
Share ownership of ABB by  
Board members and members  
of the Executive Committee,  
continued

Furthermore, at December 31, 2013, the following members of the Executive Committee held vested WARs and 
 conditionally granted ABB shares under the performance component of the LTIP 2013, 2012 and 2011, which at the  
time of vesting will be settled in cash.

Vested  

at Dec. 31, 2013

Unvested at December 31, 2013

s
R
A
W
d
e
t
s
e
v

y

l
l

u
f

f
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e
b
m
u
N

I

P
M
e
h
t

r
e
d
n
u

d

l

e
h

 – 

434,380

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

Name

Ulrich Spiesshofer  

(appointed CEO as of September 15, 2013)

Eric Elzvik  

(joined the EC on February 1, 2013)

Jean-Christophe Deslarzes  

(joined ABB on November 15, 2013)

Diane de Saint Victor

Frank Duggan

Greg Scheu

Pekka Tiitinen  

(joined the EC on September 15, 2013)

Tarak Mehta

Veli-Matti Reinikkala

Bernhard Jucker

Claudio Facchin  

(joined the EC on December 1, 2013)

Total Executive Committee members  

675,000

s
e
r
a
h
s

d
e
t
n
a
r
g

y

l
l

a
n
o

i
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 c

f
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b
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n
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u
m
x
a
M

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e
c
n
a
m

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o
f
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p

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t

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d
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u

1
1
0
2

e
h
t

f
o

t
n
e
n
o
p
m
o
 c

P

I

T
L

e
h
t

f
o

h
c
n
u
a

l

(vesting  

2014)

t
n
e
n
o
p
m
o
c

e
c
n
a
m

r
o
f
r
e
p

f
o

r
e
b
m
u
n

e
c
n
e
r
e
f
e
R

e
h
t

r
e
d
n
u

s
e
r
a
h
s

h
c
n
u
a

l

2
1
0
2

e
h
t

f
o

P

I

T
L

e
h
t

f
o

(vesting  

2015)

t
n
e
n
o
p
m
o
c

e
c
n
a
m

r
o
f
r
e
p

f
o

r
e
b
m
u
n

e
c
n
e
r
e
f
e
R

e
h
t

r
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d
n
u

s
e
r
a
h
s

h
c
n
u
a

l

3
1
0
2

e
h
t

f
o

P

I

T
L

e
h
t

f
o

(vesting  

2016)

15,460

22,588

 – 

 – 

14,194

13,780

 – 

 – 

12,516

11,965

17,933

7,639

 – 

 – 

20,652

18,845

17,425

6,950

18,845

19,878

24,524

10,665

50,024

16,659

16,659

19,599

15,023

14,553

13,720

15,023

15,091

18,992

13,720

as of December 31, 2013

1,109,380

93,487

160,372

209,063

172 ABB Ltd Statutory Financial Statements | ABB Annual Report 2013

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 12
Share ownership of ABB by  
Board members and members  
of the Executive Committee,  
continued

At December 31, 2012, the following members of the Executive Committee held conditionally granted ABB shares under 
the performance component of the LTIP 2012, 2011 and 2010, which at the time of vesting will be settled in cash.

Unvested at December 31, 2012

t
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L

(vesting 2013)

(vesting 2014)

(vesting 2015)

58,854

27,740

14,952

15,146

14,175

17,865

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

–

–

123,541

–

20,781

22,588

20,652

24,524

19,878

21,426

18,845

18,845

17,425

18,071

Name

Joe Hogan

Michel Demaré

Gary Steel

Ulrich Spiesshofer

Diane de Saint Victor

Bernhard Jucker

Veli-Matti Reinikkala

Brice Koch

Tarak Mehta

Frank Duggan

Greg Scheu (joined on May 1, 2012)

Prith Banerjee (joined ABB on May 7, 2012)

Total Executive Committee members as of December 31, 2012

193,126

202,695

326,576

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, 2013 and 2012.

Other than as disclosed, at December 31, 2013 and 2012, no party related to any member of the Board of directors or 
Executive Committee held any shares of ABB or options in ABB shares. 

Note 13
Risk assessment

Once a year, the Company’s Board of directors performs a risk assessment in accordance with the group’s risk man-
agement process and discusses appropriate actions if necessary. 

ABB Annual Report 2013 | ABB Ltd Statutory Financial Statements 173

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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

2013

607,053

4,470,698

5,077,751

2012

1,173,180

3,297,518

4,470,698

–

–

–

–

5,077,751

4,470,698

The Board of directors proposes to carry forward the available earnings in the amount of CHF 5,077,751 thousand.

On February 13, 2014, the Company announced that a proposal will be put to the April 2014 Annual General Meeting 
to convert capital contribution reserve to other reserves in the amount of CHF 0.70 per share and distribute a dividend  
for the 2013 fiscal year of CHF 0.70 per share. 

174 ABB Ltd Statutory Financial Statements | ABB Annual Report 2013

Report of the Statutory Auditor

To the General Meeting of ABB Ltd, Zurich

As statutory auditor, we have audited the financial statements of ABB Ltd, 
which comprise the balance sheet, income statement and notes, for the year 
ended December 31, 2013, presented on pages 157 to 174.

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 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 apply-
ing 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 estimates 
made, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the 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 for the year ended December 31, 2013 
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 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 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 recommend that the financial statements submitted to you be approved.

Ernst & Young Ltd

Leslie Clifford 
Licensed audit expert 
(Auditor in charge)

Zurich, Switzerland 
March 7, 2014 

Thomas Stenz 
Licensed audit expert 

ABB Annual Report 2013 | ABB Ltd Statutory Financial Statements 175

176 Investor information | ABB Annual Report 2013

Investor information

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Investor information 177

Investor information

ABB Ltd share price trend  
during 2013

During 2013, the price of ABB Ltd shares listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange increased 25 percent, while the Swiss Per­
formance Index increased 25 percent. The price of ABB Ltd shares on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm increased 27 percent, 
while the OMX Stockholm 30 Index increased 21 percent. The price of ABB Ltd American Depositary Shares traded  
on the New York Stock Exchange increased 28 percent while the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 26 percent.

Source: Bloomberg

Share price  
(data based on closing prices)

2013

High

Low

Year­end

Average daily traded number of shares, in millions

Source: Bloomberg

Annual highs and lows

2009

2010 

2011 

2012

Source: Bloomberg

Market capitalization

Shareholder structure

Major shareholders

Dividend proposal

178 Investor information | ABB Annual Report 2013

SIX Swiss Exchange  

Stockholm 

Stock Exchange  

NASDAQ OMX 

New York  

(CHF)

23.53

19.20

23.48

5.06

(SEK)

172.30

133.50

170.00

1.82

(US$)

26.56

20.87

26.56

1.54

SIX Swiss Exchange

Stockholm Exchange

Stock Exchange

NASDAQ OMX

New York

High

(CHF)

22.20

23.86

23.88

20.12

Low

(CHF)

13.16

18.43

15.00

14.83

High

(SEK)

151.50

161.30

170.20

146.70

Low

(SEK)

98.50

129.00

112.40

109.00

High

(US$)

21.90

22.69

27.49

21.91

Low

(US$)

10.97

16.05

16.42

15.42

On December 31, 2013, ABB Ltd’s market capitalization based on outstanding shares (total number of outstanding 
shares: 2,300,649,304) was approximately CHF 54 billion ($61 billion, SEK 391 billion).

As of December 31, 2013, the total number of shareholders directly registered with ABB Ltd was approximately 172,000. 
In addition, another approximately 229,000 shareholders hold shares indirectly through nominees. In total, ABB has 
approximately 401,000 shareholders.

As of December 31, 2013, Investor AB, Stockholm, Sweden, owned 186,580,142 shares of ABB Ltd, corresponding to  
8.1 percent of total capital and votes of ABB Ltd as registered in the Commercial Register on December 31, 2013. As  
of July 25, 2011, BlackRock Inc., New York, USA, 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, 2013. To the best  
of ABB’s knowledge, no other shareholder held 3 percent or more of the total voting rights as of December 31, 2013.

ABB’s Board of Directors has proposed a dividend with respect to 2013 of CHF 0.70 per share, compared to CHF 0.68 per 
share with respect to the prior year. Translated into US dollars using year­end 2013 exchange rate, the dividend cor­
responds to approximately 65 percent of ABB’s 2013 net income per share. 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 2013, 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 30, 2014, the ex­dividend date would be 
May 5, 2014, for shares traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange and NASDAQ OMX Stockholm as well as for American 
Depositary Shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The respective dividend pay­out dates would be May 8, 
2014, in Switzerland, May 12, 2014, in Sweden, and May 15, 2014, 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)

Weighted­average number of shares outstanding (in millions)

Dilutive weighted­average number of shares outstanding (in millions)

2013

0.70(1)

1.03

1

1.21

8.12

1.58

65%

2,297

2,305

2012

0.68

1.03

1

1.18

7.36

1.65

63%

2,293

2,295

2011

0.65

1.03

1

1.38

6.89

1.58

50%

2,288

2,291

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

Proposed by the Board of Directors and subject to approval by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting on April 30, 2014, in Zurich, Switzerland
Calculation based on dilutive weighted­average number of shares outstanding
Calculation based on the number of shares outstanding as of December 31
Dividend per share (converted to US dollars at year­end exchange rates) divided by basic earnings per share

ABB Ltd Annual General Meeting

The 2014 Annual General Meeting of ABB Ltd will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 30, 2014, at the Messe 
Zurich hall in Zurich­Oerlikon, Switzerland. The Annual General Meeting will be held principally in German and will be 
 simultaneously translated into English and French. Shareholders entered in the share register, with the right to vote,  
by April 22, 2014, 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 24, 2014. 
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 4, 2014.

ABB shareholders’ calendar 2014

For shareholders in Sweden an Information Meeting will be held in Västerås, Sweden, on May 05, 2014, at 10:00 a.m.

First­quarter 2014 results

ABB Ltd Annual General Meeting, Zurich

ABB Ltd Information Meeting, Västerås

Second­quarter 2014 results

Capital Markets Day

Third­quarter 2014 results

April 29

April 30

May 05

July 23

September 9

October 22

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Investor information 179

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 28, 2014

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

Long­term corporate credit rating 
Long­term senior unsecured debt 
Short­term corporate credit rating 
Outlook: Stable

A 
A 
A–1 

Long­term senior unsecured rating 
Short­term debt rating 
Outlook: Stable

A2 
Prime­1* 

* ABB Ltd’s financing subsidiaries have also a Prime­1 rating, with the exception of ABB Capital B.V. which has a Prime­2 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 long­term and short­term credit ratings.

2011–2015 Financial targets  
and definitions

ABB has published financial targets for the period 2011 to 2015, which are available at www.abb.com/2015targets. 
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.

At the divisional level, ABB provides organic revenue growth targets on a compound annual growth rate basis as  
well as profitability targets in the form of Operational EBITDA margins.

Operational EBITDA represents income from operations excluding depreciation and amortization, restructuring and 
restructuring­related expenses, and acquisition­related expenses and certain non­operational items, as well as foreign 
exchange/commodity timing differences in income from operations consisting of: (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, and (iii) unrealized foreign exchange movements on 
 receivables/payables (and related assets/liabilities). 

Operational EBITDA margin is Operational EBITDA as a percentage of Operational revenues. Operational revenues are 
total revenues adjusted for foreign exchange/commodity timing differences in total revenues of: (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) unrealized foreign exchange movements on receivables (and related assets). 

180 Investor information | ABB Annual Report 2013

 
 
 
 
Free cash flow is calculated as net cash provided by operating activities adjusted for: i) purchases of property, plant and 
equipment and intangible assets, ii) proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment, and iii) changes in financing 
and other non­current receivables, net (included in other investing activities).

Cash return on invested capital (CROI) is calculated as Adjusted cash return divided by Capital invested. Adjusted cash 
return is calculated as the sum of i) net cash provided by operating activities and ii) interest paid. Capital invested 
is the sum of i) Adjusted total fixed assets, ii) Net working capital and iii) Accumulated depreciation and amortization. 
Adjusted total fixed assets is the sum of i) property, plant and equipment, net, ii) goodwill, iii) other intangible assets, 
net, and iv) investments in equity­accounted companies less v) deferred tax liabilities  recognized in certain acquisitions.

Outstanding public bonds, as of February 28, 2014, are listed in the table below.

Bondholder Information

Issuer

ABB Ltd

ABB Ltd

ABB Ltd

ABB Finance (Australia) Pty Limited

ABB Finance (USA) Inc.

ABB Finance (USA) Inc.

ABB Finance (USA) Inc.

ABB Finance B.V.

Issued Principal Amount

Coupon

CHF 500 million

CHF 350 million

CHF 350 million

AUD 400 million

USD 500 million

USD 1,250 million

USD 750 million

EUR 1,250 million

1.25%

1.50%

2.25%

4.25%

1.625%

2.875%

4.375%

2.625%

Due

10/11/2016

11/23/2018

10/11/2021

11/22/2017

05/08/2017

05/08/2022

08/08/2042

03/26/2019

ISIN

CH0139264961

CH0146696528

CH0139265000

AU3CB0202216

US00037BAA08

US00037BAB80

US00037BAC63

XS0763122578 

144A: US00038AAA16  

ABB Treasury Center (USA), Inc.

USD 600 million

2.50%

06/15/2016

RegS: USU00292AA73

144A: US00038AAB98  

ABB Treasury Center (USA), Inc.

Thomas & Betts Corporation

USD 650 million

USD 250 million

4.00%

5.625%

06/15/2021

RegS: USU00292AB56

11/15/2021

US884315AG74

ABB Annual Report 2013 | Investor information 181

2013 price trend for ABB Ltd shares

Price trend for ABB Ltd shares

Swiss Performance Index rebased

1/13 

2/13 

3/13 

4/13 

5/13 

6/13 

7/13 

8/13 

9/13 

10/13 

11/13 

12/13

Price trend for ABB Ltd shares

OMX 30 Index rebased

1/13 

2/13 

3/13 

4/13 

5/13 

6/13 

7/13 

8/13 

9/13 

10/13 

11/13 

12/13

Price trend for ABB Ltd shares

Dow Jones Index rebased

Zurich

CHF

25

24

23

22

21

20

19

18

17

16

15

Stockholm

SEK

180

173

166

159

152

145

138

131

124

117

110

New York

USD

28

27

26

25

24

23

22

21

20

19

18

1/13 

2/13 

3/13 

4/13 

5/13 

6/13 

7/13 

8/13 

9/13 

10/13 

11/13 

12/13

Source: Bloomberg

182 Investor information | ABB Annual Report 2013

 
 
 
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 2013 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 2013 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 forward­looking 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,” 
“continue,” “target,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect” 
and similar words and the express or implied dis­
cussion of strategy, plans or intentions are intended 
to  identify forward­looking statements. These for­
ward­looking statements are subject to risks, uncer­
tainties 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, long­term 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 policies, 
taxation, or accounting standards and  practices 
and (xiii) other factors described in documents that 
we may furnish from time to time with the US Secu­
rities and Exchange Commission, including our 
Annual Reports on Form 20­F. Although we believe 
that the expectations reflected in any such forward­
looking statements are based on reasonable as­
sumptions, we can give no assurance that they will 
be achieved. We undertake no obli gation to update 
publicly or revise any forward­looking statements 
because of new information, future events or other­
wise. In light of these risks and uncertainties, 
the forward­looking information, events and circum­
stances might not occur. Our actual results and 
performance could differ substantially from those 
anticipated in our forward­looking statements.

ABB Ltd
Corporate Communications  
P.O. Box 8131  
CH­8050 Zurich  
Switzerland
Tel:  +41 (0)43 317 71 11
Fax: +41 (0)43 317 79 58

www.abb.com

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