SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of: November 2003
Commission File Number: 001-16429
ABB Ltd
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
N/A
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(Translation of registrant's name into English)
Switzerland
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(Jurisdiction of organization)
P.O. Box 8131, Affolternstrasse 44, CH-8050, Zurich, Switzerland
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(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's telephone number, international: + 011-41-1-317-7111
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F X Form 40-F
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes No X
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If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-________
This Form 6-K consists of the following:
1. Press release of ABB Ltd (the "Company"), dated November 20, 2003 in
connection with the approval by the Company's shareholders of a share
capital increase.
THE MATERIAL SET FORTH HEREIN IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT
INTENDED, AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED, AS AN OFFER TO SELL, OR AS A SOLICITATION
OF AN OFFER TO PURCHASE, ANY SECURITIES. THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN HAVE
NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS
AMENDED, OR THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE
UNITED STATES, EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT
SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE
STATE LAWS. THE COMPANY DOES NOT INTEND TO MAKE A PUBLIC OFFERING OF SECURITIES
IN THE UNITED STATES.
Press Release
ABB shareholders approve share capital increase to raise about US$ 2.5 billion
Zurich, Switzerland, November 20, 2003 - ABB shareholders today approved a share
capital increase expected to raise about US$ 2.5 billion, at an extraordinary
general meeting held in Zurich.
ABB now plans to issue and list 840 million new shares, at an offer price of CHF
4 per share on the SWX, Stockholm, London and Frankfurt stock exchanges.
A total of 1,241 shareholders attended the extraordinary general meeting,
representing 48.7 percent of the total share capital entitled to vote. Holders
of about 99 percent of the shares represented at the meeting voted in favor of
the plan.
The share capital increase is the key part of a three-component capital-
strengthening program announced by ABB on October 28, 2003. Under the program,
ABB has already signed a three-year US$ 1 billion credit facility agreement with
a group of banks, and yesterday successfully sold EUR 650 million bonds.
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable
utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering
environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100
countries and employs about 120,000 people.
Some of the information contained in this press release contains forward-looking
statements. Readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are
not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and
that actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking
statements as a result of various factors. ABB undertakes no obligation to
publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.
The information contained herein is not for publication or distribution into the
United States. The material set forth herein is for informational purposes only
and is not intended, and should not be construed, as an offer of securities for
sale in the United States. The securities described herein have not been and
will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), or the laws of any state, and may not be offered or sold
within the United States, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a
transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act
and applicable state laws. There is no intention to register any portion of the
offering described herein in the United States or to conduct a public offering
of securities in the United States.
The information contained herein shall not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the securities
referred to herein, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or
sale would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or
qualification under the securities laws of any jurisdiction.
This press release does not constitute an offer of rights or shares for sale or
a solicitation of an offer to purchase rights or shares in Germany and is for
information purposes only. Readers of this press release are requested to inform
themselves about and to observe any such restrictions. No public offering of
rights or shares is being conducted in Germany. Any offer or sale of rights or
shares in Germany may only be made in compliance with the German Securities
Prospectus Act (Wertpapier-Verkaufsprospektgesetz). No sales prospectus
(Verkaufsprospekt) under the German Securities Sales Prospectus Act has been, or
will be, published with respect to the rights or shares.
"The information contained herein is not for publication or distribution into
Italy. The public will not be solicited in Italy in connection with the
securities referred to herein and no securities will be offered, sold or
delivered in Italy and no copies of any offering document relating to the
securities will be delivered in Italy, unless such activities (i) are carried
out by or through intermediaries authorized to perform investment services in
Italy, (ii) either do not qualify as solicitation of investment or qualify as a
solicitation exempted from the requirement of a prospectus, and (iii) are
carried out in compliance with applicable securities and banking laws and
regulations."
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
ABB LTD
Date: November 20, 2003 By: /s/ HANS ENHORNING
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Name: Hans Enhorning
Title: Group Vice President,
Assistant General Counsel
By: /s/ FRANCOIS CHAMPAGNE
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Name: Francois Champagne
Title: Group Vice President,
Senior Counsel