Disposals

ABB Ld
29 December 1999

                  ABB TO SELL NUCLEAR BUSINESS TO BNFL

           ABB Continues Strategic Shift in Business Portfolio


Zurich, Switzerland, December 29, 1999 - ABB, the global technology group, and
nuclear technology company BNFL today announced that BNFL will purchase ABB's
nuclear power businesses.  The value of the transaction is US$485 million. The
sale is subject to the customer regulatory approvals.

Under the terms of the agreement, BNFL will purchase ABB's worldwide nuclear
systems businesses, headquartered in the United States in Windsor, Connecticut.
Apart from the US, ABB's main nuclear operations are in Sweden, France and
Germany. The divested businesses also include nuclear control systems. In total,
the divested businesses employ about 3,000 people and reported revenues of about
US$500 million.

Goran Lindahl, ABB President and CEO, said the divestiture is in line with ABB's
strategy to expand in knowledge and service sectors, and to focus on those
business where clear synergies can be created. 'We think BNFL is in a solid
position to develop the nuclear business, while we concentrate on those areas
where we can combine our expertise across a broad range of industries and tap
our global presence for greater growth', Lindahl said. 'That means delivering
intelligent solutions in, for example, industrial automation, service, power
transmission and distribution, building systems, oil, gas and petrochemicals,
and in finance services.'

BNFL Chief Executive John Taylor said: 'This acquisition builds on BNFL's
purchase earlier this year at Westinghouse Electric Company and represents an
opportunity to offer an even broader range of services to our customers and to
build value for our shareholder.'

'ABB's nuclear power businesses fit in well with those of the BNFL Group in both
product and geographic scope', Taylor said. 'The acquisition expands our
technology portfolio by bringing ABB's boiling water reactor (BWR) systems into
our product mix which we will be able to offer our customers. This move also
allows us to further expand out activities in the US, Europe and Asia, enabling
us to provide our customers with a broader range of product and service
offerings supplied by an expanded global sales and service organization.'

In addition to nuclear products, services and technology, BNFL will also acquire
ABB's strong presence in Asia where, among other things, the company has
delivered eight Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs) to Korea. In the United States
and Europe, ABB's nuclear plant design, fuel and service capabilities will
expand those offered by the BNFL Group through the Westinghouse Electric
Company.

Earlier this year, ABB merged most of its power generation businesses into a
50-50 joint venture with ALSTOM of France, called ABB ALSTOM POWER. Following 
the divestment of its nuclear business, ABB's remaining power generation
business will focus on renewable energy and distributed power.

BNFL is a leading specialist in nuclear technology and a global supplier of
nuclear fuel, products and services.

ABB  is a global technology company serving customers in
power transmission and distribution; automation; oil, gas and petrochemicals;
industrial products and contracting and in financial service. Power generation
customers are served by the  joint venture, ABB ALSTOM POWER. The ABB Group
employs about 170,000 people in more than 100 countries.



ABB Corporate Communications, Zurich
John Fox
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ABB Investor Relations, Zurich
Manfred Ebling
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