UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 6-K

 

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

 

For the month of April 2018

 

Commission File Number 001-16429

 

ABB Ltd

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

 

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

(Address of principal executive office)

 

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

 

Form 20-F ☒ 

Form 40-F ⬜ 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Yes ⬜ 

No ☒ 

 

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

 

 

 

 


 

 

This Form 6-K consists of the following:

 

1.              Press release issued by ABB Ltd dated April 19, 2018, titled “Profitable growth”.

2.              Q1 2018 Financial Information.

3.     Announcements regarding transactions in ABB Ltd’s Securities made by the directors or the members of the Executive Committee.

 

The information provided by Item 2 above is hereby incorporated by reference into the Registration Statements on Form F-3 of ABB Ltd and ABB Finance (USA) Inc. (File Nos. 333-223907 and 333-223907-01) and registration statements on Form S-8 (File Nos. 333-190180, 333-181583, 333-179472, 333-171971 and 333-129271) each of which was previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

  

 


 

 

 

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, APRIL 19, 2018: FIRST QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

Profitable growth

 

     Total orders +6%1; up in all divisions

     Base orders +5%; up in all regions

     Revenues +1%; impacted by lower opening backlog

     Book-to-bill ratio2 at 1.13x

     Operational EBITA margin2 up 20bps to 12.3%

     Net income $572 million; up excluding the gain on the cables divestment in 2017

     Cash flow from operating activities -$518 million; solid cash delivery for the full year expected

 

“We started 2018 with order growth in all divisions, improved revenues and operating results. The integration of B&R is well on track and we are preparing diligently for the closing and subsequent integration of GE Industrial Solutions which we expect to happen in Q2 2018,” said ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer.

“We are continuing to invest in sales, R&D and our leading digital solutions portfolio ABB Ability. With our streamlined and strengthened ABB and the transition year 2017 behind us, we have our focus firmly on our customers and relentless execution,” he added.

Key figures

 

 

ChangE

$ in millions, unless otherwise indicated

Q1 2018

Q1 2017

US $

Comparable1

Orders

9,772

8,403

+16%

+6%

Revenues

8,627

7,854

+10%

+1%

Operational EBITA2

1,060

943

+12%

+4%3

as % of operational revenues

12.3%

12.1%

+0.2pts

 

Net Income

572

724

-21%4

 

Basic EPS ($)

0.27

0.34

-21%5

 

Operational EPS  ($)2

0.31

0.28

+11%5

+6%5

Cash flow from operating activities

-518

509

n.a.

 

Short-term outlook

Macroeconomic signs are trending positively in Europe and the United States, with growth expected to continue in China. The overall global market is back to growth whilst still impacted by uncertainties in various parts of the world. Oil prices and foreign exchange translation effects are expected to continue to influence the company’s results.

______

1 Growth rates for orders, base orders and revenues are on a comparable basis (local currency adjusted for acquisitions and divestitures). US$ growth rates are presented in Key Figures table.

2 For non-GAAP measures, see the “Supplemental Financial Information” attachment to the press release.

3 Constant currency (not adjusted for portfolio changes).

4 Operational net income +10% year on year at $669 million in Q1 2018 compared to $607 million in prior year period.

5 EPS growth rates are computed using unrounded amounts. Comparable operational earnings per share is in constant currency (2014 exchange rates not adjusted for changes in the business portfolio).

 

 

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Q1 2018 Group results

Orders

Total orders rose 6 percent (16 percent in US dollars), up in all divisions in the first quarter compared with a year ago. Base orders (base orders are classified as orders below $15 million) increased 5 percent (15 percent in US dollars), reflecting growth across all regions. Large orders represented 10 percent of total orders, the same level as a year ago.

Change in US dollar exchange rates versus the prior year period resulted in a positive translation impact of 7 percent on reported orders. Changes in the business portfolio related to the acquisition of B&R off-set by divestments made in 2017 had a net positive impact of 3 percent on total reported orders. The book-to-bill ratio was 1.13x compared with 1.07x in the first quarter of 2017.

Total services orders grew 8 percent (15 percent in US dollars), representing 19 percent of total orders.

Market overview 

Regional demand patterns were mainly positive in the first quarter:

      Orders in Europe benefited from rail, specialty vessel and process industry orders. Total orders in Europe were 3 percent lower (15 percent higher in US dollars), with growth in Switzerland, Norway, Spain and Germany offset by declines in France, the UK, Finland and Sweden. Base orders rose 2 percent (21 percent in US dollars).

      In the Americas total orders were stable (1 percent higher in US dollars), driven by increased demand from general industries and some improvement in process industries. Total orders in the United States were steady and orders from Brazil rose while order activity in Canada and Mexico was more muted. Base orders increased 1 percent (3 percent in US dollars).

      In Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) total orders increased 20 percent (30 percent in US dollars). Base orders grew 12 percent (19 percent in US dollars). Both large and base orders developed positively in China, India and the United Arab Emirates.

In ABB’s key customer segments, the following trends were observed:

      Utility customers continued to invest in grid integration, grid automation and HV products, particularly in the AMEA region.

      In industry, ABB saw steady demand for robotics and shorter cycle products, and gained traction with power grids products such as transformers. Process industries, including oil and gas and mining, improved, with higher demand for products supported by the current commodity price outlook. Large project orders in process remained subdued. An ongoing focus on select industries such as Food & Beverage, automotive and 3C (Computers, communications and consumer electronics), proved beneficial for order momentum, particularly for robotics solutions.

      Transport & infrastructure demand was solid, with good orders received for rail electrification. Selective investments were made by specialty vessel customers. Demand for building automation solutions remained healthy, supported by a number of innovative product launches. Data centers and electric vehicle charging orders continue to be strong.

Revenues

Revenues grew 1 percent (10 percent in US dollars) year on year. In the Robotics and Motion and Electrification Products divisions, revenues were well-supported by continued solid order growth. This was tempered by steady revenues in Industrial Automation and lower revenues in Power Grids due to the lower order backlog at the end of 2017 in these divisions.

Service revenues were 8 percent higher (15 percent in US dollars) and represented 18 percent of total revenues, compared with 18 percent a year ago.

PROFITABLE GROWTH

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Change in US dollar exchange rates versus the prior year period resulted in a positive translation impact on reported revenues of 7 percent. Changes in the business portfolio related to the acquisitions of B&R and the divestments made in 2017 had a net positive effect of 2 percent on total reported revenues.

Operational EBITA

Operational EBITA was $1,060 million, 4 percent higher in local currencies (12 percent in US dollars). The operational EBITA was supported by net savings and positive volume and mix, partly offset by commodity prices. ABB continued to reinvest savings in growth over the quarter. The reported operational EBITA margin for the quarter improved to 12.3 percent, an expansion of 20 basis points when compared to the prior year period.

Net income, basic and operational earnings per share

Net income was $572 million, 21 percent lower in US dollars. Excluding non-operating items, which in the first quarter of 2017 included a gain from the divestment of the cables business, ABB’s operational net income2 was $669 million, an increase of 10 percent in US dollars. Basic earnings per share of $0.27 was 21 percent lower compared with the first quarter of 2017. Operational earnings per share of $0.31 was 11 percent higher, and 6 percent higher in constant currency terms5.

Cash flow from operating activities 

Cash flow from operating activities was -$518 million, compared to $509 million in the prior year period. The lower outcome relative to a year ago was mainly driven by the timing of employee incentive payments, which in 2017 were paid in the second quarter, timing of cash flows for large projects, payables and receivables, as well as the timing of tax payments. ABB expects strong cash flow from operating activities in the second quarter and solid cash delivery for the full year.

Q1 divisional performance

 ($ in millions, unless otherwise indicated)

Orders

Change

3rd party base orders

Change

Revenues

Change

Op EBITA %

CHANGE

US$

Comparable1

US$

Comparable1

US$

Comparable1

Power Grids

2,480

+7%

+1%

1,992

+13%

+7%

2,385

+1%

-4%

9.7%

-0.2pts

Electrification Products

2,786

+10%

+3%

2,647

+12%

+5%

2,494

+9%

+2%

15.2%

+1.1pts

Industrial Automation

2,117

+26%

+4%

1,787

+24%

+0%

1,859

+23%

0%

14.1%

+0.4pts

Robotics and Motion

2,579

+18%

+11%

2,313

+16%

+9%

2,209

+15%

+8%

15.3%

+0.5pts

Corporate & other (incl. inter-division elimination)

-190

 

 

12

 

 

-320

 

 

 

 

ABB Group

9,772

+16%

+6%

8,751

+15%

+5%

8,627

+10%

+1%

12.3%

+0.2pts

Effective January 1, 2018, management responsibility and oversight of certain remaining engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) business, previously included in the Power Grids, Industrial Automation, Robotics and Motion operating segments, were transferred to a new non-core operating business within Corporate and Other. Previously reported amounts have been reclassified consistent with this new structure.

Power Grids

Third-party base order momentum continued, increasing 7 percent (13 percent in US dollars). Service orders also grew, contributing to total order growth of 1 percent (7 percent in US dollars). The division booked several large orders which partially offset a tough comparable from the prior year, which included a very large order for an HVDC link between the UK and France. Revenues were 4 percent lower (1 percent higher in US dollars) impacted by the lower order backlog at the end of 2017. The operational EBITA margin of 9.7 percent for the quarter was 20 basis points lower year-on-year, reflecting lower revenue and mix effects in addition to ongoing investment in the division’s Power Up transformation initiatives.

PROFITABLE GROWTH

3/6

 

 


 

 

Electrification Products

Total orders improved 3 percent (10 percent in US dollars) and third-party base orders rose 5 percent (12 percent in US dollars), despite two fewer working days in certain key markets during the quarter. Revenues increased 2 percent (9 percent in US dollars) compared to the same period in 2017. Operational EBITA increased 6 percent, with the margin expanding 110 basis points year on year to 15.2 percent, driven mainly by volume growth, pricing improvements and sustained cost control.

Industrial Automation

Total orders improved 4 percent on a comparable basis driven by service and selective investment for mining and specialty marine vessel solutions. Third-party base orders were steady in the quarter from the high level in the first quarter of 2017. Including B&R and currency effects, total order growth was 26 percent and third-party base order growth was 24 percent compared to the prior year period. Revenues reflect strong base business performance which mitigated the order backlog in the quarter. The operational EBITA margin of 14.1 percent, up 40 basis points, improved primarily due to positive mix, successful project execution and cost savings.

Robotics and Motion

Order growth was reported across all segments and regions in the quarter. Total orders increased 11 percent (18 percent in US dollars) and third-party base orders improved 9 percent (16 percent in US dollars). Revenues increased 8 percent (15 percent in US dollars) on strong execution of the order backlog. Operational EBITA margin was 15.3 percent, up 50 basis points year on year. Improved volumes and mix were aided by focused growth efforts and stronger markets, which in turn improved  under-absorption along with better cost control.

Next Level strategy

ABB has been executing its Next Level strategy since 2014 through the three focus areas of profitable growth, relentless execution and business-led collaboration. During this time ABB has transitioned its portfolio and operations into a market-orientated, focused, leaner company. ABB today offers two clear value propositions, bringing electricity from any power plant to any plug and automating industries from natural resources to finished products. ABB is driving profitable growth through four entrepreneurial divisions, continuing to invest in sales, R&D and its leading digital solutions portfolio, ABB Ability™. ABB’s operating model puts the focus of ABB’s divisions firmly on operational execution, with stronger links between compensation and delivery of operational performance. Along with improving market dynamics, ABB is better positioned in a better market.

Profitable growth

As part of the drive towards profitable growth ABB continues to expand its ABB Ability™ solutions portfolio, which currently includes more than 210 ABB Ability™ solutions. During the quarter, ABB secured multiple new orders utilizing ABB Ability™ solutions including an order to upgrade two critical HVDC links in Australia and an order from the City of Trondheim in Norway for an electric vehicle charging solution.

ABB aims to create value through ongoing portfolio management. The integration of B&R into ABB’s Industrial Automation division to form its global Machine & Factory Automation business unit is now well advanced and on track to increase mid-term revenues in the business unit to a target of more than $1 billion. Building on the integration of B&R, ABB has announced a €100 million investment to build a state-of-the-art research center in Eggelsberg, Austria. The new campus will go into operation during 2020.

Work to secure regulatory approvals to acquire GE Industrial Solutions (GE-IS) continues and the transaction is on track to close by the end of the second quarter.

PROFITABLE GROWTH

4/6

 

 

 


 

 

Relentless execution

Further to the completion of the business model change for EPC a Non-Core business unit has been established within Corporate & Other effective January 1, 2018, reporting directly to the CFO to manage the resolution of remaining EPC activities.

ABB is building on the achievements of the 1,000-day programs that were completed at the end of 2017 with a continued strong focus on Supply Chain Management and Operations Quality. The group continues to deliver net cost savings, outpacing commodity effects and supporting the group’s ongoing aim of offsetting three to five per cent of the group’s cost of sales each year. The group efforts on quality and operations continue with a focus on world-class efficiency and effectiveness across ABB, including supporting ABB’s divisions to implement the extensive program of Lean Six Sigma projects under way across ABB.

Business-led collaboration

ABB continues to strengthen its brand. Effective March 1, 2018, ABB integrated Baldor Electric Company into its global ABB brand as part of the strategy to create a unified brand.

In January, ABB announced a ground breaking partnership agreement with the Formula E electric car motor racing series, now known as the “ABB FIA Formula E Championship”. Formula E serves as a competitive platform to develop and test e-mobility-relevant electrification and digitalization technologies.

Bond issuance

To maintain the efficiency of its capital funding structure, ABB closed a $1.5 billion bond issue in the United States on April 3, 2018, consisting of three tranches with maturities of 2, 5 and 10 years. Net proceeds of the issue are planned to be used for general corporate purposes, including the funding of the GE-IS transaction.

Short- and long-term outlook

Macroeconomic signs are trending positively in Europe and the United States, with growth expected to continue in China. The overall global market is back to growth whilst still impacted by uncertainties in various parts of the world. Oil prices and foreign exchange translation effects are expected to continue to influence the company’s results.

The attractive long-term demand outlook in ABB’s three major customer sectors – utilities, industry and transport & infrastructure – is driven by the Energy and Fourth Industrial Revolutions. ABB is well-positioned to tap into these opportunities for long-term profitable growth with its strong market presence, broad geographic and business scope, technology leadership and financial strength.

More information

The Q1 2018 results press release and presentation slides are  available  on the ABB News  Center at www.abb.com/news and on the  Investor  Relations homepage at www.abb.com/investorrelations.

ABB will host a media call today starting at 10:00 a.m. Central European Time (CET) (9:00 a.m. BST, 4:00 a.m. EDT). The event will be accessible by conference call. The media conference call dial-in numbers are:
UK +44 207 107 0613
Sweden +46 85 051 00 31
Rest of Europe, +41 58 310 50 00
US and Canada +1
866 291 41  66 (toll-free) or +1  631  570 56 13 (long-distance charges)
Lines will be open 10-15 minutes before the start of the call.

A conference call  and webcast for  analysts and investors is scheduled to begin today at 2:00 p.m. CET (1:00 p.m. BST, 8:00 a.m. EST). Callers are requested to phone in 10 minutes before the start of the call.  The analyst and investor conference call dial-in numbers are:
UK +44 207 107 0613

PROFITABLE GROWTH

5/6

 


 

 


Sweden +46 85 051 00 31
Rest of Europe, +41 58 310 50 00
US and Canada +1
866 291 41  66 (toll-free) or +1  631  570 56 13 (long-distance charges) 

The call will also be accessible  on  the ABB website at: http://new.abb.com/investorrelations/first-quarter-2018-results-webcast. A recorded session will be available  as a podcast one hour  after  the  end of the conference  call and can be downloaded from our website. 

 

ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a pioneering technology leader in electrification products, robotics and motion, industrial automation and power grids, serving customers in utilities, industry and transport & infrastructure globally. Continuing a history of innovation spanning more than 130 years, ABB today is writing the future of industrial digitalization with two clear value propositions: bringing electricity from any power plant to any plug and automating industries from natural resources to finished products. As title partner of Formula E, the fully electric international FIA motorsport class, ABB is pushing the boundaries of e-mobility to contribute to a sustainable future. ABB operates in more than 100 countries with about 135,000 employees. www.abb.com

 

 

Investor calendar 2018/2019

Second quarter 2018 results

July 19, 2018

Third quarter 2018 results

October 25, 2018

Fourth quarter and full year 2018 results

February 2019

 

Important notice about forward-looking  information 

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

Zurich, April 19, 2018

Ulrich Spiesshofer, CEO

 

 


For more information, please contact:

Media Relations
Phone: +41 43 317 71 11
E-mail: media.relations@ch.abb.com

Investor Relations
Phone: +41 43 317 71 11
E-mail: investor.relations@ch.abb.com

ABB Ltd
Affolternstrasse 44
8050 Zurich
Switzerland

 

 

 

 

 

PROFITABLE GROWTH

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1              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

  

2              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

 

Key Figures

 

 

 

 

 

CHANGE

 

($ in millions, unless otherwise indicated)

Q1 2018

Q1 2017

US$

Comparable(1)

 

Orders

9,772

8,403

16%

6%

 

Order backlog (end March)

23,737

23,084

3%

-3%

 

Revenues

8,627

7,854

10%

1%

 

Operational EBITA(1)

1,060

943

12%

4%(2)

 

 

as % of operational revenues(1)

12.3%

12.1%

+0.2 pts

 

 

Net income attributable to ABB

572

724

-21%

 

 

Basic earnings per share ($)

0.27

0.34

-21%(3)

 

 

Operational earnings per share(1) ($)

0.31

0.28

11%(3)

6%(3)

 

Cash flow from operating activities

(518)

509

n.a

 

 

(1)  For a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures see “Supplemental Reconciliations and Definitions” on page 31.

(2)  Constant currency (not adjusted for portfolio changes).

(3) Earnings per share growth rates are computed using unrounded amounts. Comparable Operational earnings per share growth is in constant currency (2014 foreign exchange rates and not adjusted for changes in the business portfolio).

3              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

 

 

 

 

CHANGE

 

($ in millions, unless otherwise indicated)

Q1 2018

Q1 2017

US$

Local

Comparable

 

Orders

ABB Group

9,772

8,403

16%

9%

6%

 

 

Power Grids

2,480

2,324

7%

1%

1%

 

 

Electrification Products

2,786

2,528

10%

3%

3%

 

 

Industrial Automation

2,117

1,674

26%

17%

4%

 

 

Robotics and Motion

2,579

2,177

18%

11%

11%

 

 

Corporate and Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(incl. inter-division eliminations)

(190)

(300)

 

 

 

 

Third-party base orders

ABB Group

8,751

7,598

15%

8%

5%

 

 

Power Grids

1,992

1,763

13%

7%

7%

 

 

Electrification Products

2,647

2,365

12%

5%

5%

 

 

Industrial Automation

1,787

1,441

24%

15%

0%

 

 

Robotics and Motion

2,313

1,991

16%

9%

9%

 

 

Corporate and Other

12

38

 

 

 

 

Order backlog (end March)

ABB Group

23,737

23,084

3%

-3%

-3%

 

 

Power Grids

10,700

10,890

-2%

-7%

-7%

 

 

Electrification Products

3,441

3,157

9%

3%

3%

 

 

Industrial Automation

5,595

5,456

3%

-6%

-8%

 

 

Robotics and Motion

4,261

3,818

12%

4%

4%

 

 

Corporate and Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(incl. inter-division eliminations)

(260)

(237)

 

 

 

 

Revenues

ABB Group

8,627

7,854

10%

3%

1%

 

 

Power Grids

2,385

2,351

1%

-4%

-4%

 

 

Electrification Products

2,494

2,293

9%

2%

2%

 

 

Industrial Automation

1,859

1,513

23%

14%

0%

 

 

Robotics and Motion

2,209

1,920

15%

8%

8%

 

 

Corporate and Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(incl. inter-division eliminations)

(320)

(223)

 

 

 

 

Operational EBITA

ABB Group

1,060

943

12%

4%

 

 

 

Power Grids

232

231

0%

-5%

 

 

 

Electrification Products

377

322

17%

6%

 

 

 

Industrial Automation

262

206

27%

18%

 

 

 

Robotics and Motion

338

282

20%

11%

 

 

 

Corporate and Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(incl. inter-division eliminations)

(149)

(98)

 

 

 

 

Operational EBITA %

ABB Group

12.3%

12.1%

 

 

 

 

 

Power Grids

9.7%

9.9%

 

 

 

 

 

Electrification Products

15.2%

14.1%

 

 

 

 

 

Industrial Automation

14.1%

13.7%

 

 

 

 

 

Robotics and Motion

15.3%

14.8%

 

 

 

 

Income from operations

ABB Group

895

1,023

 

 

 

 

 

Power Grids

193

211

 

 

 

 

 

Electrification Products

318

307

 

 

 

 

 

Industrial Automation

237

211

 

 

 

 

 

Robotics and Motion

313

261

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate and Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(incl. inter-division eliminations)

(166)

33

 

 

 

 

Income from operations %

ABB Group

10.4%

13.0%

 

 

 

 

 

Power Grids

8.1%

9.0%

 

 

 

 

 

Electrification Products

12.8%

13.4%

 

 

 

 

 

Industrial Automation

12.7%

13.9%

 

 

 

 

 

Robotics and Motion

14.2%

13.6%

 

 

 

 

Cash flow from operating activities

ABB Group

(518)

509

 

 

 

 

 

Power Grids

(250)

190

 

 

 

 

 

Electrification Products

81

205

 

 

 

 

 

Industrial Automation

79

120

 

 

 

 

 

Robotics and Motion

73

263

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate and Other

(501)

(269)

 

 

 

4              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

Operational EBITA

 

 

 

Power

Electrification

Industrial

Robotics

 

($ in millions, unless otherwise indicated)

ABB

Grids

Products

Automation

and Motion

 

 

Q1 18

Q1 17

Q1 18

Q1 17

Q1 18

Q1 17

Q1 18

Q1 17

Q1 18

Q1 17

 

Revenues

8,627

7,854

2,385

2,351

2,494

2,293

1,859

1,513

2,209

1,920

 

FX/commodity timing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

differences in total revenues

12

(79)

14

(28)

(6)

(11)

(1)

(13)

1

(12)

 

Operational revenues

8,639

7,775

2,399

2,323

2,488

2,282

1,858

1,500

2,210

1,908

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from operations

895

1,023

193

211

318

307

237

211

313

261

 

Acquisition-related amortization

73

59

10

8

20

26

23

2

16

18

 

Restructuring and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

restructuring-related expenses(1)

11

48

4

3

4

2

4

4

10

 

Changes in retained obligations of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

divested businesses

94

 

Gains and losses from sale of businesses

6

(338)

3

 

Acquisition-related expenses and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

integration costs

33

6

1

(1)

31

1

3

 

Certain other non-operational items

22

102

15

28

(2)

4

1

 

FX/commodity timing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

differences in income from operations

20

(51)

9

(18)

6

(15)

(4)

(14)

4

(7)

 

Operational EBITA

1,060

943

232

231

377

322

262

206

338

282

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operational EBITA margin (%)

12.3%

12.1%

9.7%

9.9%

15.2%

14.1%

14.1%

13.7%

15.3%

14.8%

 

(1) Amounts in 2017 also include the incremental implementation costs in relation to the White Collar Productivity program.



Depreciation and Amortization

 

 

 

Power

Electrification

Industrial

Robotics

 

($ in millions)

ABB

Grids

Products

Automation

and Motion

 

 

Q1 18

Q1 17

Q1 18

Q1 17

Q1 18

Q1 17

Q1 18

Q1 17

Q1 18

Q1 17

 

Depreciation

193

184

45

43

52

50

17

12

35

34

 

Amortization

92

79

17

15

23

29

24

3

17

21

 

including total acquisition-related amortization of:

73

59

10

8

20

26

23

2

16

18



Orders received and revenues by region

 

($ in millions, unless otherwise indicated)

Orders received

CHANGE

Revenues

CHANGE

 

 

 

 

 

 

Com-

 

 

 

 

Com-

 

 

Q1 18

Q1 17

US$

Local

parable

Q1 18

Q1 17

US$

Local

parable

 

Europe

3,582

3,127

15%

2%

-3%

3,149

2,694

17%

4%

-1%

 

The Americas

2,391

2,362

1%

1%

0%

2,390

2,332

2%

2%

1%

 

Asia, Middle East and Africa

3,799

2,914

30%

23%

20%

3,088

2,828

9%

3%

3%

 

ABB Group

9,772

8,403

16%

9%

6%

8,627

7,854

10%

3%

1%

5              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

 

 

 

Interim Consolidated Financial Information

 

 

  

 

 

ABB Ltd Interim Consolidated Income Statements (unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

($ in millions, except per share data in $)

 

 

Mar. 31, 2018

Mar. 31, 2017

 

Sales of products

 

 

7,036

6,469

 

Sales of services and other

 

 

1,591

1,385

 

Total revenues

 

 

8,627

7,854

 

Cost of sales of products

 

 

(4,972)

(4,667)

 

Cost of services and other

 

 

(947)

(819)

 

Total cost of sales

 

 

(5,919)

(5,486)

 

Gross profit

 

 

2,708

2,368

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

 

(1,470)

(1,313)

 

Non-order related research and development expenses

 

 

(353)

(291)

 

Other income (expense), net

 

 

10

259

 

Income from operations

 

 

895

1,023

 

Interest and dividend income

 

 

23

17

 

Interest and other finance expense

 

 

(108)

(79)

 

Non-operational pension (cost) credit

 

 

30

7

 

Income from continuing operations before taxes

 

 

840

968

 

Provision for taxes

 

 

(235)

(208)

 

Income from continuing operations, net of tax

 

 

605

760

 

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

 

(5)

(2)

 

Net income

 

 

600

758

 

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

 

(28)

(34)

 

Net income attributable to ABB

 

 

572

724

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amounts attributable to ABB shareholders:

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations, net of tax

 

 

577

726

 

Net income

 

 

572

724

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share attributable to ABB shareholders:

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations, net of tax

 

 

0.27

0.34

 

Net income

 

 

0.27

0.34

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share attributable to ABB shareholders:

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations, net of tax

 

 

0.27

0.34

 

Net income

 

 

0.27

0.34

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average number of shares outstanding (in millions) used to compute:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share attributable to ABB shareholders

 

 

2,134

2,140

 

Diluted earnings per share attributable to ABB shareholders

 

 

2,145

2,148

 

Due to rounding, numbers presented may not add to the totals provided.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See Notes to the Interim Consolidated Financial Information

 

 

 

 

6              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ABB Ltd Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive

 

Income (unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

($ in millions)

 

 

Mar. 31, 2018

Mar. 31, 2017

 

Total comprehensive income, net of tax

 

 

792

956

 

Total comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax

 

 

(44)

(43)

 

Total comprehensive income attributable to ABB shareholders, net of tax

 

 

748

913

 

Due to rounding, numbers presented may not add to the totals provided.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See Notes to the Interim Consolidated Financial Information

 

 

 

 

7              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

 

 

 

 

ABB Ltd Interim Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

($ in millions, except share data)

Mar. 31, 2018

Dec. 31, 2017

 

Cash and equivalents

4,162

4,526

 

Marketable securities and short-term investments

740

1,102

 

Receivables, net

8,503

8,267

 

Contract assets

2,369

2,149

 

Inventories, net

5,609

5,255

 

Prepaid expenses

321

189

 

Other current assets

607

647

 

Total current assets

22,311

22,135

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

5,440

5,363

 

Goodwill

11,266

11,199

 

Other intangible assets, net

2,575

2,622

 

Prepaid pension and other employee benefits

161

144

 

Investments in equity-accounted companies

166

158

 

Deferred taxes

1,060

1,250

 

Other non-current assets

590

587

 

Total assets

43,569

43,458

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable, trade

5,301

5,419

 

Contract liabilities

2,838

2,908

 

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

2,476

738

 

Provisions for warranties

1,223

1,231

 

Dividends payable to shareholders

1,735

 

Other provisions

1,800

1,882

 

Other current liabilities

3,999

4,291

 

Total current liabilities

19,372

16,469

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt

5,285

6,709

 

Pension and other employee benefits

1,867

1,882

 

Deferred taxes

1,083

1,099

 

Other non-current liabilities

2,018

1,950

 

Total liabilities

29,625

28,109

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

Capital stock

 

 

 

(2,168,148,264 issued shares at March 31, 2018, and December 31, 2017)

188

188

 

Additional paid-in capital

39

29

 

Retained earnings

18,239

19,594

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(4,178)

(4,345)

 

Treasury stock, at cost

 

 

 

(39,383,448 and 29,541,775 shares at March 31, 2018, and December 31, 2017, respectively)

(893)

(647)

 

Total ABB stockholders’ equity

13,395

14,819

 

Noncontrolling interests

549

530

 

Total stockholders’ equity

13,944

15,349

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

43,569

43,458

 

Due to rounding, numbers presented may not add to the totals provided.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See Notes to the Interim Consolidated Financial Information

 

 

8              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ABB Ltd Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

($ in millions)

 

 

Mar. 31, 2018

Mar. 31, 2017

 

Operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

600

758

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

285

263

 

Deferred taxes

 

 

(4)

(8)

 

Net loss (gain) from derivatives and foreign exchange

 

 

73

(15)

 

Net loss (gain) from sale of property, plant and equipment

 

 

(27)

(6)

 

Net loss (gain) from sale of businesses

 

 

6

(338)

 

Share-based payment arrangements

 

 

12

12

 

Other

 

 

8

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Trade receivables, net

 

 

3

94

 

Contract assets and liabilities

 

 

(307)

(149)

 

Inventories, net

 

 

(249)

(244)

 

Trade payables

 

 

(214)

(11)

 

Accrued liabilities

 

 

(272)

202

 

Provisions, net

 

 

(131)

54

 

Income taxes payable and receivable

 

 

(38)

26

 

Other assets and liabilities, net

 

 

(255)

(137)

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

 

(518)

509

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of marketable securities (available-for-sale)

 

 

(17)

(121)

 

Purchases of short-term investments

 

 

(53)

 

Purchases of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets

 

 

(238)

(192)

 

Acquisition of businesses (net of cash acquired) and increases in cost- and equity-accounted companies

(4)

(15)

 

Proceeds from sales of marketable securities (available-for-sale)

 

 

15

13

 

Proceeds from maturity of marketable securities (available-for-sale)

 

 

124

100

 

Proceeds from short-term investments

 

 

262

821

 

Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment

 

 

26

20

 

Proceeds from sales of businesses (net of transaction costs and cash disposed) and cost- and

 

 

 

equity-accounted companies

 

 

(10)

658

 

Net cash from settlement of foreign currency derivatives

 

 

5

17

 

Other investing activities

 

 

(8)

14

 

Net cash provided by investing activities

 

 

155

1,262

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net changes in debt with original maturities of 90 days or less

 

 

213

10

 

Increase in debt

 

 

7

47

 

Repayment of debt

 

 

(44)

(19)

 

Delivery of shares

 

 

2

83

 

Purchase of treasury stock

 

 

(250)

 

Dividends paid to noncontrolling shareholders

 

 

(7)

(9)

 

Other financing activities

 

 

15

(6)

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

 

(64)

106

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents

 

 

63

41

 

Net change in cash and equivalents – continuing operations

 

 

(364)

1,918

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and equivalents, beginning of period

 

 

4,526

3,644

 

Cash and equivalents, end of period

 

 

4,162

5,562

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplementary disclosure of cash flow information:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest paid

 

 

62

52

 

Taxes paid

 

 

294

201

 

Due to rounding, numbers presented may not add to the totals provided.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See Notes to the Interim Consolidated Financial Information

 

 

 

 

9              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ABB Ltd Interim Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity (unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

($ in millions)

Capital stock

Additional paid-in capital

Retained earnings

Total accumu-

lated other comprehensive loss

Treasury stock

Total ABB

stockholders’ equity

Non-

controlling interests

Total stockholders’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at January 1, 2017

192

24

19,925

(5,187)

(1,559)

13,395

502

13,897

 

Comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

724

 

 

724

34

758

 

Foreign currency translation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

adjustments, net of tax of $(1)

 

 

 

189

 

189

9

198

 

Unrecognized income (expense)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

related to pensions and other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

postretirement plans,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

net of tax of $1

 

 

 

1

 

1

 

1

 

Change in derivatives qualifying as

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

cash flow hedges, net of tax of $0

 

 

 

(1)

 

(1)

 

(1)

 

Total comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

913

43

956

 

Changes in noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

5

5

 

Dividends to

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

noncontrolling shareholders

 

 

 

 

 

(18)

(18)

 

Share-based payment arrangements

 

12

 

 

 

12

 

12

 

Delivery of shares

 

(20)

 

 

103

83

 

83

 

Balance at March 31, 2017

192

16

20,649

(4,998)

(1,456)

14,403

532

14,935

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at January 1, 2018

188

29

19,594

(4,345)

(647)

14,819

530

15,349

 

Cumulative effect of changes in

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

accounting principles

 

 

(192)

(9)

 

(201)

 

(201)

 

Comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

572

 

 

572

28

600

 

Foreign currency translation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

adjustments, net of tax of $(1)

 

 

 

180

 

180

16

196

 

Effect of change in fair value of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

available-for-sale securities,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

net of tax of $(1)

 

 

 

(4)

 

(4)

 

(4)

 

Unrecognized income (expense)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

related to pensions and other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

postretirement plans,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

net of tax of $(3)

 

 

 

10

 

10

 

10

 

Change in derivatives qualifying as

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

cash flow hedges, net of tax of $(3)

 

 

 

(10)

 

(10)

 

(10)

 

Total comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

748

44

792

 

Changes in noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

 

(18)

(18)

 

Dividends to

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

noncontrolling shareholders

 

 

 

 

 

(7)

(7)

 

Dividends declared to shareholders

 

 

(1,735)

 

 

(1,735)

 

(1,735)

 

Share-based payment arrangements

 

12

 

 

 

12

 

12

 

Purchase of treasury stock

 

 

 

 

(249)

(249)

 

(249)

 

Delivery of shares

 

(1)

 

 

3

2

 

2

 

Balance at March 31, 2018

188

39

18,239

(4,178)

(893)

13,395

549

13,944

 

Due to rounding, numbers presented may not add to the totals provided.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See Notes to the Interim Consolidated Financial Information

10              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

Notes to the Interim Consolidated Financial Information (unaudited)

 

 

 

 

Note 1

The Company and basis of presentation

 

ABB Ltd and its subsidiaries (collectively, the Company) together form a pioneering technology leader in electrification products, robotics and motion, industrial automation and power grids serving customers in utilities, industry and transport & infrastructure globally.

 

The Company’s Interim Consolidated Financial Information is prepared in accordance with United States of America generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP) for interim financial reporting. As such, the Interim Consolidated Financial Information does not include all the information and notes required under U.S. GAAP for annual consolidated financial statements. Therefore, such financial information should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

The preparation of financial information in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make assumptions and estimates that directly affect the amounts reported in the Interim Consolidated Financial Information. The most significant, difficult and subjective of such accounting assumptions and estimates include:

·          estimates used to record expected costs for employee severance in connection with restructuring programs,

·          assumptions and projections, principally related to future material, labor and project related overhead costs, used in determining the percentage of completion on projects,

·          estimates of loss contingencies associated with litigation or threatened litigation and other claims and inquiries, environmental damages, product warranties, self-insurance reserves, regulatory and other proceedings,

·          assumptions used in the calculation of pension and postretirement benefits and the fair value of pension plan assets,

·          estimates to determine valuation allowances for deferred tax assets and amounts recorded for uncertain tax positions,

·          growth rates, discount rates and other assumptions used to determine impairment of long lived assets and 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,

·          assessment of the allowance for doubtful accounts, and

·          the estimated effective annual tax rate applicable to the interim financial information.

 

The actual results and outcomes may differ from the Company’s estimates and assumptions.

 

A portion of the Company’s activities (primarily long-term construction activities) has an operating cycle that exceeds one year. For classification of current assets and liabilities related to such activities, the Company elected to use the duration of the individual contracts as its operating cycle. Accordingly, there are accounts receivable, contract assets, inventories and provisions related to these contracts which will not be realized within one year that have been classified as current.

 

Basis of presentation

In the opinion of management, the unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Information contains all necessary adjustments to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the reported interim periods. Management considers all such adjustments to be of a normal recurring nature.

 

The Company has retained obligations (primarily for environmental and taxes) related to businesses disposed or otherwise exited that qualified as discontinued operations. Changes to these retained obligations are recorded in income/loss from discontinued operations, net of tax.

 

The Interim Consolidated Financial Information is presented in United States dollars ($) unless otherwise stated. Due to rounding, numbers presented in the Interim Consolidated Financial Information may not add to the totals provided.

 

Reclassifications

Certain amounts reported in the Interim Consolidated Financial Information for prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation. These changes primarily relate to:

·          the reorganization of the Company’s operating segments (see Note 15), and

·          as a result of the adoption of a number of accounting pronouncements (see Note 2):

(i) the reclassification of Unbilled receivables from Receivables to Contract assets,

(ii) the reclassification of Billings in excess of sales, Advances from customers, certain advances to customers previously reported as a reduction in Inventories, and deferred revenues previously reported in Other current liabilities, to Contract liabilities, and

(iii) the reclassification of certain net periodic pension and postretirement benefits costs/credits from Total cost of sales, Selling, general and administrative expenses and Non-order related research and development expenses to Non-operational pension (cost) credit.



11              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

Note 2

Recent accounting pronouncements

 

Applicable for current periods

Revenue from contracts with customers

As of January 1, 2018, the Company adopted a new accounting standard for recognizing revenues from contracts with customers. The new standard, which supersedes substantially all previously existing revenue recognition guidance, provides a single comprehensive model for recognizing revenues on the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that is expected to be received for those goods or services. The adoption of this standard resulted in only immaterial differences between the identification of performance obligations and the current unit of accounting determination. Therefore, the cumulative effect of initially applying this standard, retrospectively, on retained earnings was not material, however total assets and total liabilities increased by $196 million due to the reclassification of certain advances from customers, previously reported as a reduction in Inventories, to liabilities.

 

While comparative information has not been restated and continues to be measured and reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods presented, the following prior period amounts have been reclassified in the Consolidated Balance Sheets to conform to the presentation requirements of the new standard:

  

 

December 31, 2017

 

 

 

Previously

 

 

 

 

Previously

 

 

($ in millions)

 

reported

Restated

 

 

 

reported

Restated

 

Consolidated Balance Sheet

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

Receivables, net(1)

 

10,416

8,267

 

Contract liabilities(2), (3), (4)

 

2,908

 

Contract assets(1)

 

2,149

 

Billings in excess of sales(2)

 

1,251

 

Inventories, net(3)

 

5,059

5,255

 

Advances from customers(2), (3)

 

1,367

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other current liabilities(4)

 

4,385

4,291

 

Total assets

 

43,262

43,458

 

Total liabilities

 

27,913

28,109

 

(1) $2,149 million of unbilled receivables previously included in Receivables, have been reclassified to Contract assets.

(2) Amounts previously presented as billings in excess of sales and advances from customers, have been reclassified to Contract liabilities.

(3) $196 million of advances from customers, previously recorded net within Inventories, have been reclassified to advances from customers and recorded within Contract liabilities.

(4) Certain amounts recorded as deferred revenues totalling $94 million, have been reclassified from Other current liabilities to Contract liabilities.

 

Other than the reclassifications of 2017 balances in the table above and the additional disclosure requirements, the impact of the adoption on the Company’s Interim Consolidated Financial Information for the three months ended March 31, 2018, was not significant.

 

Income taxes – Intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory

In January 2018, the Company adopted an accounting standard update requiring it to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs instead of when the asset has been sold to an outside party. This update was applied on a modified retrospective basis and resulted in a net reduction in deferred tax assets of $201 million with a corresponding reduction in retained earnings.

 

Improving the presentation of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost

In January 2018, the Company adopted an accounting standard update which changes how employers that sponsor defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement plans present the net periodic benefit cost in the income statement. Under this standard, the Company is required to report the service cost component in the same line item or items as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. Other components of net periodic benefit cost are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside the subtotal of income from operations. Under the amendment only the current service cost component is allowed to be capitalized as a cost of internally manufactured inventory or a self-constructed asset. This update was applied retrospectively for the presentation requirements, and prospectively for the capitalization of the current service cost component requirements. The Company has used the practical expedient, as the amount of other components of net periodic benefit cost capitalized in inventory for prior periods is not significant.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company reclassified $7 million of income and presented it outside of income from operations relating to net periodic pension costs.

 

Recognition and measurement of financial assets and financial liabilities

In January 2018, the Company adopted two accounting standard updates enhancing the reporting model for financial instruments, which include amendments to address aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure. The Company is required to measure equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method) at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. The adoption of this update resulted in the reclassification of the net cumulative unrealized gains on available-for-sale equity securities of $9 million (net of tax) at December 31, 2017 from Total accumulated comprehensive loss to Retained earnings on January 1, 2018.

 

12              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

Classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments in the statement of cash flows

In January 2018, the company adopted an accounting standard update which clarifies how certain cash receipts and cash payments, including debt prepayment or extinguishment costs, the settlement of zero coupon debt instruments, contingent consideration paid after a business combination, proceeds from insurance settlements, distributions from certain equity method investees and beneficial interests obtained in a financial asset securitization, should be presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. This update was applied retrospectively and did not have a significant impact on the consolidated financial statements.

 

Statement of cash flows - Restricted cash

In January 2018, the Company adopted an accounting standard update which clarifies the classification and presentation of changes in restricted cash on the statement of cash flows. It requires the inclusion of cash and cash equivalents that have restrictions on withdrawal or use in total cash and cash equivalents on the statement of cash flows. This update did not have a significant impact on the consolidated financial statements.

 

Clarifying the definition of a business

In January 2018, the Company adopted an accounting standard update which narrows the definition of a business. It also provides a framework for determining whether a set of transferred assets and activities involves a business. This update was applied prospectively and did not have a significant impact on the consolidated financial statements.

 

Clarifying the scope of asset derecognition guidance and accounting for partial sales of nonfinancial assets

In January 2018, the Company adopted an accounting standard update which clarifies the scope of asset derecognition guidance, adds guidance for partial sales of nonfinancial assets and clarifies recognizing gains and losses from the transfer of nonfinancial assets in contracts with noncustomers. This update was applied retrospectively and did not have a significant impact on the consolidated financial statements.

 

Compensation—Stock Compensation

In January 2018, the Company adopted an accounting standard update which clarifies when to account for a change to the terms or conditions of a share‑based payment award as a modification. Under this update, modification accounting is required only if the fair value, the vesting conditions, or the classification of the award (as equity or liability) changes as a result of the change in terms or conditions. This update was applied prospectively and did not have a significant impact on the consolidated financial statements.

 

Applicable for future periods

Leases

In February 2016, an accounting standard update was issued that requires lessees to recognize lease assets and corresponding lease liabilities on the balance sheet for all leases with terms of more than 12 months. The update, which supersedes existing lease guidance, will continue to classify leases as either finance or operating, with the classification determining the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. This update is effective for the Company for annual and interim periods beginning January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted, and is applicable on a modified retrospective basis with various optional practical expedients. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this update on its consolidated financial statements.

 

Measurement of credit losses on financial instruments

In June 2016, an accounting standard update was issued which replaces the existing incurred loss impairment methodology for most financial assets with a new “current expected credit loss” model. The new model will result in the immediate recognition of the estimated credit losses expected to occur over the remaining life of financial assets such as trade and other receivables, held-to-maturity debt securities, loans and other instruments. Credit losses relating to available-for-sale debt securities will be measured in a manner similar to current GAAP, except that the losses will be recorded through an allowance for credit losses rather than as a direct write-down of the security.

 

This update is effective for the Company for annual and interim periods beginning January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted for annual and interim periods beginning January 1, 2019. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this update on its consolidated financial statements.

 

Derivatives and Hedging—Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities

In August 2017, an accounting standard update was issued which expands and refines hedge accounting for both financial and non-financial risk components, aligns the recognition and presentation of the effects of hedging instruments and hedge items in the financial statements, and includes certain targeted improvements to ease the application of current guidance related to the assessment of hedge effectiveness. This update is effective for the Company for annual and interim periods beginning January 1, 2019. For cash flow and net investment hedges as of the adoption date, the guidance requires a modified retrospective approach. The amended presentation and disclosure guidance is required only prospectively. The Company will adopt this update as of January 1, 2019, and is currently evaluating the impact of this update on its consolidated financial statements.

 

Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

In February 2018, an accounting standard update was issued which allows a reclassification of the stranded tax effects in accumulated other comprehensive income resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 to retained earnings. This update is effective for the Company for annual and interim periods beginning January 1, 2019, with early adoption in any interim period permitted. The updated guidance is to be applied in the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period in which the effect of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act related to items remaining in accumulated other comprehensive income are recognized. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this update on its consolidated financial statements.



13              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

Note 3

Acquisitions and divestments

  

Business divestments

There were no significant gains or losses recognized relating to divestments in the three months ended March 31, 2018. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company recorded a net gain (including transaction costs) of $334 million in “Other income (expense), net” and a tax expense of $28 million in “Provision for taxes” relating to the divestment of its high-voltage cable system and cable accessories businesses (the Cables business).

 

The Company has retained certain obligations of the Cables business and thus the Company remains directly or indirectly liable for these liabilities which existed at the date of the divestment. Subsequent to the divestment, the Company recorded a loss of $94 million in the three months ended March 31, 2017, for changes in the amounts recorded for these obligations. In addition, the Company has provided certain performance guarantees to third parties which guarantee the performance of the buyer under existing contracts with customers as well as for certain capital expenditures of the divested business (see Note 7).

 

Planned acquisition of GE Industrial Solutions

On September 25, 2017, the Company announced that it had reached an agreement to acquire GE Industrial Solutions, GE’s global electrification solutions business, for $2.6 billion. The acquisition will strengthen the Company’s global position in electrification and expand its access to the North American market through strong customer relationships, large installed base and extensive distribution networks. GE Industrial Solutions is headquartered in the United States. The Company expects to complete the acquisition of GE Industrial Solutions in the second quarter of 2018 following the receipt of customary regulatory approvals.



Note 4

Cash and equivalents, marketable securities and short-term investments

 

Cash and equivalents, marketable securities and short-term investments consisted of the following:

  

 

 

 

March 31, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marketable

 

 

 

 

Gross

Gross

 

 

securities

 

 

 

 

unrealized

unrealized

 

Cash and

and short-term

 

($ in millions)

Cost basis

gains

losses

Fair value

equivalents

investments

 

Cash

1,925

 

 

1,925

1,925

 

Time deposits

2,278

 

 

2,278

2,237

41

 

Other short-term investments

314

 

 

314

314

 

Debt securities available-for-sale:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government obligations

130

(4)

126

126

 

 

Corporate

93

1

(2)

92

92

 

Equity securities available-for-sale

153

14

167

167

 

Total

4,893

15

(6)

4,902

4,162

740



 

 

 

 

December 31, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marketable

 

 

 

 

Gross

Gross

 

 

 securities 

 

 

 

 

unrealized

unrealized

 

Cash and

and short-term

 

($ in millions)

Cost basis

gains

losses

Fair value

equivalents

investments

 

Cash

1,963

 

 

1,963

1,963

 

Time deposits

2,853

 

 

2,853

2,563

290

 

Other short-term investments

305

 

 

305

305

 

Debt securities available-for-sale:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government obligations

127

(2)

125

125

 

 

Other government obligations

2

2

2

 

 

Corporate

215

1

(1)

215

215

 

Equity securities available-for-sale

152

13

165

165

 

Total

5,617

14

(3)

5,628

4,526

1,102

 

Other short-term investments at March 31, 2018, and December 31, 2017, are receivables of $314 million and $305 million, respectively, representing reverse repurchase agreements. These collateralized lendings, made to a financial institution, have maturity dates of less than one year.



14              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

Note 5

Derivative financial instruments

 

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.

 

Currency risk

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.

 

Commodity risk

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, 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). Primarily swap contracts are used to manage the associated price risks of commodities.

 

Interest rate risk

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 instruments as hedges.

 

Equity risk

The Company is exposed to fluctuations in the fair value of its warrant appreciation rights (WARs) issued under its management incentive plan. A WAR gives its holder the right to receive cash equal to the market price of an equivalent listed warrant on the date of exercise. To eliminate such risk, the Company has purchased cash-settled call options, indexed to the shares of the Company, 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

Total notional amounts at

 

($ in millions)

March 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

March 31, 2017

 

Foreign exchange contracts

16,444

17,280

16,326

 

Embedded foreign exchange derivatives

1,775

1,641

2,151

 

Interest rate contracts

5,726

5,706

4,337

 

Derivative commodity contracts

The following table shows the notional amounts of outstanding commodity derivatives (whether designated as hedges or not), on a net basis, to reflect the Company’s requirements in the various commodities:

  

 

Type of derivative

Unit

Total notional amounts at

 

 

 

March 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

March 31, 2017

 

Copper swaps

metric tonnes

49,420

44,145

37,643

 

Aluminum swaps

metric tonnes

8,400

7,700

5,850

 

Nickel swaps

metric tonnes

12

12

12

 

Lead swaps

metric tonnes

175

 

Zinc swaps

metric tonnes

275

425

125

 

Silver swaps

ounces

2,293,832

1,966,729

1,822,356

 

Crude oil swaps

barrels

140,683

170,331

146,000

 

Equity derivatives

At March 31, 2018, December 31, 2017, and March 31, 2017, the Company held 35 million, 37 million and 42 million cash-settled call options indexed to ABB Ltd shares (conversion ratio 5:1) with a total fair value of $20 million, $42 million and $28 million, respectively.

 

15              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

Cash flow hedges

As noted above, the Company mainly uses forward foreign exchange contracts to manage the foreign exchange risk of its operations, commodity swaps to manage its commodity risks and cash-settled call options to hedge its WAR liabilities. Where such instruments are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the changes in their fair value is recorded in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” and subsequently reclassified into earnings in the same line item and in the same period as the underlying hedged transaction affects earnings. Any ineffectiveness in the hedge relationship, or hedge component excluded from the assessment of effectiveness, is recognized in earnings during the current period.

 

At March 31, 2018, and December 31, 2017, “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” included net unrealized gains of $2 million and $12 million, respectively, net of tax, on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges. Of the amount at March 31, 2018, net gains of $3 million are expected to be reclassified to earnings in the following 12 months. At March 31, 2018, the longest maturity of a derivative classified as a cash flow hedge was 70 months.

 

The amount of gains or losses, net of tax, reclassified into earnings due to the discontinuance of cash flow hedge accounting and the amount of ineffectiveness in cash flow hedge relationships directly recognized in earnings were not significant in the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

The pre-tax 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

 

 

Gains (losses) reclassified from OCI

 

($ in millions)

on derivatives (effective portion)

 

 

into income (effective portion)

 

Three months ended March 31,

2018

2017

 

 

2018

2017

 

Type of derivative

 

 

 

Location

 

 

 

Foreign exchange contracts

2

2

 

Total revenues

2

(2)

 

 

 

 

 

Total cost of sales

3

 

Commodity contracts

(4)

2

 

Total cost of sales

2

2

 

Cash-settled call options

(21)

8

 

SG&A expenses(1)

(14)

6

 

Total

(23)

12

 

 

(10)

9

 

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

 

The amounts in respect of gains (losses) recognized in income for hedge ineffectiveness and amounts excluded from effectiveness testing were not significant for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

Net derivative losses of $11 and net derivative gains of $7 million, both net of tax, respectively, were reclassified from “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” to earnings during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

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 the fair value of the risk component of the underlying debt being hedged, are recorded as offsetting gains and losses in “Interest and other finance expense”. Hedge ineffectiveness of instruments designated as fair value hedges for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, was not significant.

 

The effect of interest rate contracts, designated and qualifying as fair value hedges, on the Consolidated Income Statements was as follows:

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

($ in millions)

2018

2017

 

Gains (losses) recognized in Interest and other finance expense:

 

 

 

 - on derivatives designated as fair value hedges

(25)

1

 

 - on hedged item

26

 

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 derivatives 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.

 

16              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

The gains (losses) recognized in the Consolidated Income Statements on derivatives not designated in hedging relationships were as follows:

  

 

Type of derivative not

Gains (losses) recognized in income

 

designated as a hedge

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

($ in millions)

Location

2018

2017

 

Foreign exchange contracts

Total revenues

(21)

107

 

 

Total cost of sales

26

(60)

 

 

SG&A expenses(1)

(7)

(3)

 

 

Non-order related research and development

(1)

(2)

 

 

Other income (expense), net

(1)

 

 

Interest and other finance expense

25

(6)

 

Embedded foreign exchange contracts

Total revenues

16

(21)

 

 

Total cost of sales

(1)

1

 

 

SG&A expenses(1)

1

2

 

Commodity contracts

Total cost of sales

(22)

26

 

Other

Interest and other finance expense

3

(5)

 

Total

 

19

38

 

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

 

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

  

 

 

March 31, 2018

 

 

Derivative assets

 

Derivative liabilities

 

 

Current in

Non-current in

 

Current in

Non-current in

 

 

“Other current

“Other non-current

 

“Other current

“Other non-current

 

($ in millions)

assets”

assets”

 

liabilities”

liabilities”

 

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange contracts

3

1

 

1

1

 

Commodity contracts

1

 

1

 

Interest rate contracts

24

 

11

 

Cash-settled call options

11

8

 

 

Total

15

33

 

2

12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange contracts

150

27

 

193

55

 

Commodity contracts

11

1

 

13

1

 

Cash-settled call options

1

 

 

Embedded foreign exchange derivatives

31

29

 

20

5

 

Total

192

58

 

226

61

 

Total fair value

207

91

 

228

73

 

 

 

December 31, 2017

 

 

Derivative assets

 

Derivative liabilities

 

 

Current in

Non-current in

 

Current in

Non-current in

 

 

“Other current

“Other non-current

 

“Other current

“Other non-current

 

($ in millions)

assets”

assets”

 

liabilities”

liabilities”

 

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange contracts

4

 

3

1

 

Commodity contracts

6

 

 

Interest rate contracts

42

 

4

 

Cash-settled call options

25

16

 

 

Total

35

58

 

3

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange contracts

142

25

 

190

63

 

Commodity contracts

35

1

 

6

 

Cross-currency interest rate swaps

 

2

 

Cash-settled call options

1

 

 

Embedded foreign exchange derivatives

32

16

 

22

7

 

Total

209

43

 

220

70

 

Total fair value

244

101

 

223

75

 

Close-out netting agreements provide for the termination, valuation and net settlement of some or all outstanding transactions between two counterparties on the occurrence of one or more pre-defined trigger events.

 

Although the Company is party to close-out netting agreements with most derivative counterparties, the fair values in the tables above and in

17              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

the Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2018, and December 31, 2017, have been presented on a gross basis.

 

The Company’s netting agreements and other similar arrangements allow net settlements under certain conditions. At March 31, 2018, and December 31, 2017, information related to these offsetting arrangements was as follows:

  

 

($ in millions)

March 31, 2018

 

 

Gross amount

Derivative liabilities

Cash

Non-cash

 

 

Type of agreement or

of recognized

eligible for set-off

collateral

collateral

Net asset

 

similar arrangement

assets

in case of default

received

received

exposure

 

Derivatives

238

(160)

78

 

Reverse repurchase agreements

314

(314)

 

Total

552

(160)

(314)

78

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

($ in millions)

March 31, 2018

 

 

Gross amount

Derivative liabilities

Cash

Non-cash

 

 

Type of agreement or

 of recognized

eligible for set-off

collateral

collateral

Net liability

 

similar arrangement

liabilities

in case of default

pledged

pledged

exposure

 

Derivatives

276

(160)

116

 

Total

276

(160)

116

 

 

($ in millions)

December 31, 2017

 

 

Gross amount

Derivative liabilities

Cash

Non-cash

 

 

Type of agreement or

 of recognized

eligible for set-off

collateral

collateral

Net asset

 

similar arrangement

 assets 

in case of default

received

received

exposure

 

Derivatives

297

(172)

125

 

Reverse repurchase agreements

305

(305)

 

Total

602

(172)

(305)

125

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

($ in millions)

December 31, 2017

 

 

Gross amount

Derivative liabilities

Cash

Non-cash

 

 

Type of agreement or

 of recognized

eligible for set-off

collateral

 collateral 

Net liability

 

similar arrangement

liabilities

 in case of default

pledged

pledged

exposure

 

Derivatives

269

(172)

97

 

Total

269

(172)

97



Note 6

Fair values

 

The Company uses fair value measurement principles to record certain financial assets and liabilities on a recurring basis and, when necessary, to record certain non‑financial assets at fair value on a non‑recurring basis, as well as to determine fair value disclosures for certain financial instruments carried at amortized cost in the financial statements. Financial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring basis include foreign currency, commodity and interest rate derivatives, as well as cash‑settled call options and available‑for‑sale securities. Non‑financial assets recorded at fair value on a non‑recurring basis include long‑lived assets that are reduced to their estimated fair value due to impairments.

 

Fair value is the price that would be received when selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In determining fair value, the Company uses various valuation techniques including the market approach (using observable market data for identical or similar assets and liabilities), the income approach (discounted cash flow models) and the cost approach (using costs a market participant would incur to develop a comparable asset). Inputs used to determine the fair value of assets and liabilities are defined by a three‑level hierarchy, depending on the reliability of those inputs. The Company has categorized its financial assets and liabilities and non‑financial assets measured at fair value within this hierarchy based on whether the inputs to the valuation technique are observable or unobservable. An observable input is based on market data obtained from 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 certain actively traded debt securities.

Level 2:  Valuation inputs consist of observable inputs (other than Level 1 inputs) such as actively quoted prices for similar assets, quoted prices in inactive markets and inputs other than quoted prices such as interest rate yield curves, credit spreads, or inputs derived from other observable data by interpolation, correlation, regression or other means. The adjustments applied to quoted prices or the inputs used in valuation models may be both observable and unobservable. In these cases, the fair value measurement is classified as Level 2 unless the unobservable portion of the adjustment or the unobservable input to the valuation model is significant, in which case the fair value measurement would be classified as Level 3. Assets and liabilities valued or disclosed using Level 2 inputs include investments in certain funds, reverse repurchase agreements, certain debt securities that are not actively traded, interest rate swaps, commodity swaps, cash‑settled call options, forward foreign exchange contracts, foreign exchange swaps and forward rate agreements, time deposits, as

18              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

well as financing receivables and debt.

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

 

Whenever quoted prices involve bid‑ask spreads, the Company ordinarily determines fair values based on mid‑market quotes. However, for the purpose of determining the fair value of cash‑settled call options serving as hedges of the Company’s management incentive plan, bid prices are used.

 

When determining fair values based on quoted prices in an active market, the Company considers if the level of transaction 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.

 

Recurring fair value measures

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

  

 

 

March 31, 2018

 

($ in millions)

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total fair value

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Available-for-sale securities in “Marketable securities and short-term investments”:

 

 

 

 

 

Equity securities

167

167

 

Debt securities—U.S. government obligations

126

126

 

Debt securities—Corporate

92

92

 

Receivable in “Other non-current assets”:

 

 

 

 

 

Receivable under securities lending arrangement

79

79

 

Derivative assets—current in “Other current assets”

207

207

 

Derivative assets—non-current in “Other non-current assets”

91

91

 

Total

205

557

762

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative liabilities—current in “Other current liabilities”

228

228

 

Derivative liabilities—non-current in “Other non-current liabilities”

73

73

 

Total

301

301



 

 

 

December 31, 2017

 

($ in millions)

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total fair value

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Available-for-sale securities in “Marketable securities and short-term investments”:

 

 

 

 

 

Equity securities

165

165

 

Debt securities—U.S. government obligations

125

125

 

Debt securities—Other government obligations

2

2

 

Debt securities—Corporate

215

215

 

Receivable in “Other non-current assets”:

 

 

 

 

 

Receivable under securities lending arrangement

79

79

 

Derivative assets—current in “Other current assets”

244

244

 

Derivative assets—non-current in “Other non-current assets”

101

101

 

Total

204

727

931

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative liabilities—current in “Other current liabilities”

223

223

 

Derivative liabilities—non-current in “Other non-current liabilities”

75

75

 

Total

298

298

 

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 “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 risk-free interest rate adjusted for nonperformance risk. The inputs used in present value techniques are observable and fall into the Level 2 category. The fair value of the receivable under the securities lending arrangement has been determined based on the fair value of the security lent.

 

·          Derivatives: The fair values of derivative instruments are determined using quoted prices of identical instruments from an active market, if available (Level 1). If quoted prices are not available, price quotes for similar instruments, appropriately adjusted, or present value techniques, based on available market data, or option pricing models are used. Cash-settled call options hedging the Company’s WAR liability are valued based on bid prices of the equivalent listed warrant. The fair values obtained using price quotes for similar instruments or valuation techniques represent a Level 2 input unless significant unobservable inputs are used.

 

19              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

Non-recurring fair value measures

There were no significant non-recurring fair value measurements during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

Disclosure about financial instruments carried on a cost basis

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

  

 

 

March 31, 2018

 

($ in millions)

Carrying value

 

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total fair value

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and equivalents (excluding available-for-sale securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

with original maturities up to 3 months):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

1,925

 

1,925

1,925

 

Time deposits

2,237

 

2,237

2,237

 

Marketable securities and short-term investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(excluding available-for-sale securities):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time deposits

41

 

41

41

 

Receivables under reverse repurchase agreements

314

 

314

314

 

Other non-current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans granted

32

 

34

34

 

Restricted time deposits

38

 

38

38

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(excluding capital lease obligations)

2,441

 

1,966

475

2,441

 

Long-term debt (excluding capital lease obligations)

5,121

 

4,501

759

5,260



 

 

 

December 31, 2017

 

($ in millions)

Carrying value

 

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total fair value

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and equivalents (excluding available-for-sale securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

with original maturities up to 3 months):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

1,963

 

1,963

1,963

 

Time deposits

2,563

 

2,563

2,563

 

Marketable securities and short-term investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(excluding available-for-sale securities):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time deposits

290

 

290

290

 

Receivables under reverse repurchase agreements

305

 

305

305

 

Other non-current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans granted

32

 

33

33

 

Restricted time deposits

38

 

38

38

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(excluding capital lease obligations)

704

 

400

304

704

 

Long-term debt (excluding capital lease obligations)

6,569

 

6,046

775

6,821

 

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 securities with original maturities up to 3 months), and Marketable securities and short-term investments (excluding available-for-sale securities): The carrying amounts approximate the fair values as the items are short-term 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), and (ii) restricted time deposits whose fair values approximate the carrying amounts (Level 1 inputs).

·          Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt (excluding capital lease obligations): Short-term debt includes commercial paper, bank borrowings and overdrafts. The carrying amounts of short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt, excluding capital lease obligations, approximate their fair values.

·          Long-term debt (excluding capital lease obligations): Fair values of bonds are determined using quoted market prices (Level 1 inputs), if available. For bonds without available quoted market prices and other long-term debt, the fair values are determined using a discounted cash flow methodology based upon borrowing rates of similar debt instruments and reflecting appropriate adjustments for non-performance risk (Level 2 inputs).



20              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

Note 7

Commitments and contingencies

  

Contingencies—Regulatory, Compliance and Legal

Antitrust

In April 2014, the European Commission announced its decision regarding its investigation of anticompetitive practices in the cables industry and granted the Company full immunity from fines under the European Commission’s leniency program.

 

In Brazil, the Company’s Gas Insulated Switchgear business is under investigation by the Brazilian Antitrust Authority (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. With respect to these matters, management is cooperating fully with the authorities. 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.

 

Suspect payments

As a result of an internal investigation, the Company self-reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Justice (DoJ) in the United States as well as to the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in the United Kingdom concerning certain of its past dealings with Unaoil and its subsidiaries, including alleged improper payments made by these entities to third parties. The SFO has commenced an investigation into this matter. The Company is cooperating fully with the authorities. At this time, it is not possible for the Company to make an informed judgment about the outcome of 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 above mentioned regulatory matters and commercial litigation contingencies, the Company will bear the costs of the continuing investigations and any related legal proceedings.

 

Liabilities recognized

At March 31, 2018, and December 31, 2017, the Company had aggregate liabilities of $235 million and $233 million, respectively, included in “Other provisions” and “Other non-current 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.

 

Guarantees

General

The following table provides quantitative data regarding the Company’s third-party guarantees. The maximum potential payments represent a “worst‑case scenario”, and do not reflect management’s expected outcomes.

 

 

Maximum potential payments ($ in millions)

March 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

 

Performance guarantees

1,699

1,775

 

Financial guarantees

16

17

 

Indemnification guarantees

73

72

 

Total

1,788

1,864

 

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. In respect of the above guarantees, the carrying amounts of liabilities at March 31, 2018, and December 31, 2017, were not significant.

 

The Company is party to various guarantees providing financial or performance assurances to certain third parties. These guarantees, which have various maturities up to 2027, mainly consist of performance guarantees whereby (i) the Company guarantees the performance of a third party’s product or service according to the terms of a contract and (ii) as member of a consortium/joint-venture that includes third parties, the Company guarantees not only its own performance but also the work of third parties. 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. The original maturity dates for the majority of these performance guarantees range from one to eight years.

 

In conjunction with the divestment of the high-voltage cable and cables accessories businesses, the Company has entered into various performance guarantees with other parties with respect to certain liabilities of the divested business. At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the maximum potential payable under these guarantees amounts to $856 million and $929 million, respectively, and these guarantees have various maturities ranging from one to ten years.

 

Commercial commitments

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 institutions. 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. At March 31, 2018, and December 31, 2017, the total outstanding performance bonds aggregated to $7.9 billion and $7.7 billion, respectively. There have been no significant amounts reimbursed to financial institutions under these types of arrangements in the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

21              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

Product and order-related contingencies

The Company calculates its provision for product warranties based on historical claims experience and specific review of certain contracts.

The reconciliation of the “Provisions for warranties”, including guarantees of product performance, was as follows:

  

 

($ in millions)

2018

2017

 

Balance at January 1,

1,231

1,142

 

Claims paid in cash or in kind

(75)

(79)

 

Net increase in provision for changes in estimates, warranties issued and warranties expired

43

90

 

Exchange rate differences

24

19

 

Balance at March 31,

1,223

1,172



Note 8

Contract assets and liabilities

 

The following table provides information about Contracts assets and Contract liabilities with customers:

 

 

($ in millions)

March 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

March 31, 2017

 

Contract assets

2,369

2,149

2,300

 

Contract liabilities

2,838

2,908

2,977

 

Contract assets primarily relate to the Company’s right to receive consideration for work completed but for which no invoice has been issued at the reporting date. Contract assets are transferred to receivables when rights to receive payment become unconditional.

 

Contract liabilities primarily relate to up-front advances received on orders from customers as well as amounts collected from customers in excess of revenues recognized predominantly on long-term projects. Contract liabilities are reduced as work is performed and as revenues are recognized.

 

The significant changes in the Contract assets and Contract liabilities balances were as follows:

  

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

2018

 

2017

 

 

Contract

 

Contract

 

Contract

 

Contract

 

($ in millions)

assets

 

liabilities

 

assets

 

liabilities

 

Revenue recognized, which was included in the Contract liabilities balance at Jan 1, 2018/2017

 

 

693

 

 

 

1,026

 

Additions to Contract liabilities - excluding amounts recognized as revenue during the period

 

 

(613)

 

 

 

(818)

 

Receivables recognized that were included in the Contract asset balance at Jan 1, 2018/2017

(673)

 

 

 

(765)

 

 

 

The Company considers unfulfilled orders (order backlog) from customers to be unsatisfied performance obligations. At March 31, 2018, unfulfilled orders were $23,737 million and, of this amount, the Company expects to recognize approximately 64 percent in 2018, approximately 23 percent in 2019 and the balance thereafter.



Note 9

Debt

 

The Company’s total debt at March 31, 2018, and December 31, 2017, amounted to $7,761 million and $7,447 million, respectively.

 

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

The Company’s “Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt” consisted of the following:

  

 

($ in millions)

March 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

 

Short-term debt

523

327

 

Current maturities of long-term debt

1,953

411

 

Total

2,476

738

 

Short-term debt primarily represented issued commercial paper and short-term loans from various banks. At March 31, 2018, and December 31, 2017, $443 million and $259 million, respectively, was outstanding under the $2 billion commercial paper program in the United States.

 

Long-term debt

The Company’s long-term debt at March 31, 2018, and December 31, 2017, amounted to $5,285 million and $6,709 million, respectively.

 

22              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

Outstanding bonds (including maturities within the next 12 months) were as follows:

  

 

 

March 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

 

(in millions)

Nominal outstanding

 Carrying value(1)

Nominal outstanding

 Carrying value(1)

 

Bonds:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.50% CHF Bonds, due 2018

CHF

350

$

365

CHF

350

$

358

 

2.625% EUR Instruments, due 2019

EUR

1,250

$

1,539

EUR

1,250

$

1,493

 

4.0% USD Notes, due 2021

USD

650

$

645

USD

650

$

644

 

2.25% CHF Bonds, due 2021

CHF

350

$

385

CHF

350

$

378

 

5.625% USD Notes, due 2021

USD

250

$

268

USD

250

$

270

 

2.875% USD Notes, due 2022

USD

1,250

$

1,238

USD

1,250

$

1,256

 

0.625% EUR Notes, due 2023

EUR

700

$

859

EUR

700

$

834

 

0.75% EUR Notes, due 2024

EUR

750

$

914

EUR

750

$

889

 

4.375% USD Notes, due 2042

USD

750

$

723

USD

750

$

723

 

Total  

 

 

$

6,936

 

 

$

6,845

 

(1) USD carrying values include unamortized debt issuance costs, bond discounts or premiums, as well as adjustments for fair value hedge accounting, where appropriate.

 

On April 3, 2018, the Company issued the following notes with a principal of:

·           $300 million, due 2020, paying interest semi-annually in arrears at a fixed rate of 2.8 percent per annum,

·           $450 million, due 2023, paying interest semi-annually in arrears at a fixed rate of 3.375 percent per annum, and

·           $750 million, due 2028, paying interest semi-annually in arrears at a fixed rate of 3.8 percent per annum.

The aggregate net proceeds of these bond issues, after underwriting discount and other fees, amounted to $1,494 million.



Note 10

Employee benefits

 

The Company operates defined benefit pension plans, 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 multi-employer plans. The Company also operates other postretirement benefit plans including postretirement health care benefits, and other employee-related benefits for active employees including long-service 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.

 

Net periodic benefit cost of the Company’s defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans consisted of the following:

  

 

($ in millions)

Defined pension benefits

Other postretirement benefits

 

Three months ended March 31,

2018

2017

2018

2017

 

Operational pension cost:

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost

57

59

 

Operational pension cost

57

59

 

Non-operational pension cost (credit):

 

 

 

 

 

Interest cost

59

61

1

1

 

Expected return on plan assets

(109)

(99)

 

Amortization of prior service cost (credit)

(4)

9

(1)

(1)

 

Amortization of net actuarial loss

24

22

 

Non-operational pension cost (credit)

(30)

(7)

 

Net periodic benefit cost

27

52

 

The components of net periodic benefit cost other than the service cost component are included in the line “Non-operational pension (cost) credit” in the income statement.

 

Employer contributions were as follows:

  

 

($ in millions)

Defined pension benefits

Other postretirement benefits

 

Three months ended March 31,

2018

2017

2018

2017

 

Total contributions to defined benefit pension and

 

 

 

 

 

other postretirement benefit plans

46

47

2

2

 

The Company expects to make contributions totaling approximately $218 million and $11 million to its defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans, respectively, for the full year 2018.



23              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

Note 11

Stockholders’ equity

In the first quarter of 2018, the Company purchased on the open market an aggregate of 10 million of its own shares resulting in an increase in Treasury stock of $249 million.

 

At the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on March 29, 2018, shareholders approved the proposal of the Board of Directors to distribute 0.78 Swiss francs per share to shareholders. The declared dividend for the shares outstanding at March 31, 2018, amounted to $1,735 million. The dividend was paid in April 2018.



Note 12

Earnings per share

 

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing income by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing income by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the period, assuming that all potentially dilutive securities were exercised, if dilutive. Potentially dilutive securities comprise outstanding written call options, and outstanding options and shares granted subject to certain conditions under the Company’s share-based payment arrangements.

  

 

 

Basic earnings per share

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

($ in millions, except per share data in $)

2018

2017

 

Amounts attributable to ABB shareholders:

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations, net of tax

577

726

 

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

(5)

(2)

 

Net income

572

724

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average number of shares outstanding (in millions)

2,134

2,140

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share attributable to ABB shareholders:

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations, net of tax

0.27

0.34

 

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

Net income

0.27

0.34

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

($ in millions, except per share data in $)

2018

2017

 

Amounts attributable to ABB shareholders:

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations, net of tax

577

726

 

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

(5)

(2)

 

Net income

572

724

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average number of shares outstanding (in millions)

2,134

2,140

 

Effect of dilutive securities:

 

 

 

Call options and shares

11

8

 

Adjusted weighted-average number of shares outstanding (in millions)

2,145

2,148

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share attributable to ABB shareholders:

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations, net of tax

0.27

0.34

 

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

Net income

0.27

0.34



24              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

Note 13

Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

The following table shows changes in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” (OCI) attributable to ABB, by component, net of tax:

  

 

 

 

Unrealized gains

Pension and

Unrealized gains

 

 

 

Foreign currency

(losses) on

other

(losses) of cash

 

 

 

translation

available-for-sale

postretirement

flow hedge

 

 

($ in millions)

adjustments

securities

plan adjustments

derivatives

Total OCI

 

Balance at January 1, 2017

(3,592)

7

(1,601)

(1)

(5,187)

 

Other comprehensive (loss) income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive (loss) income

 

 

 

 

 

 

before reclassifications

203

(28)

9

184

 

Amounts reclassified from OCI

23

(7)

16

 

Changes attributable to divestments(1)

(5)

6

(3)

(2)

 

Total other comprehensive (loss) income

198

1

(1)

198

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amounts attributable to

 

 

 

 

 

 

 noncontrolling interests

9

9

 

Balance at March 31, 2017

(3,403)

7

(1,600)

(2)

(4,998)



 

 

 

 

Unrealized gains

Pension and

Unrealized gains

 

 

 

Foreign currency

(losses) on

other

(losses) of cash

 

 

 

translation

available-for-sale

postretirement

flow hedge

 

 

($ in millions)

adjustments

securities

plan adjustments

derivatives

Total OCI

 

Balance at January 1, 2018

(2,693)

8

(1,672)

12

(4,345)

 

Cumulative effect of changes in

 

 

 

 

 

 

 accounting principles

(9)

(9)

 

Other comprehensive (loss) income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive (loss) income

 

 

 

 

 

 

before reclassifications

210

(4)

(4)

(21)

181

 

Amounts reclassified from OCI

14

11

25

 

Changes attributable to divestments

(14)

(14)

 

Total other comprehensive (loss) income

196

(4)

10

(10)

192

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amounts attributable to

 

 

 

 

 

 

 noncontrolling interests

16

16

 

Balance at March 31, 2018

(2,513)

(5)

(1,662)

2

(4,178)

 

(1) Amounts mainly relate to the divestment of the high-voltage cable system and cable accessories businesses and are included in the net gain from sale of the business (see  Note  3).

  

The following table reflects amounts reclassified out of OCI in respect of pension and other postretirement plan adjustments:

  

 

($ in millions)

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

Details about OCI components

Location of (gains) losses reclassified from OCI

2018

2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension and other postretirement plan adjustments:

 

 

 

 

Amortization of prior service cost

Non-operational pension (cost) credit(1)

(5)

8

 

Amortization of net actuarial loss

Non-operational pension (cost) credit(1)

24

22

 

Total before tax

 

19

30

 

Tax

Provision for taxes

(5)

(7)

 

Amounts reclassified from OCI

 

14

23

 

(1) These  components  are  included  in  the  computation  of  net  periodic  benefit  cost  (see  Note  10).

 

The amounts in respect of Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities and Unrealized gains (losses) of cash flow hedge derivatives were not significant for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.



25              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

Note 14

Restructuring and related expenses

 

White Collar Productivity program

In September 2015, the Company announced a two-year program aimed at making the Company leaner, faster and more customer-focused. Productivity improvements include the rapid expansion and use of regional shared service centers as well as the streamlining of global operations and head office functions, with business units moving closer to their respective key markets. In the course of this program, the Company has implemented and executed various restructuring initiatives across all operating segments and regions.

 

As of December 31, 2017, the Company had incurred substantially all costs related to the White Collar Productivity program.

 

Liabilities associated with the White Collar Productivity program are primarily included in “Other provisions”. The following table shows the activity from the beginning of the program to March 31, 2018, by expense type.

  

 

 

Employee

Contract settlement,

 

 

($ in millions)

severance costs

loss order and other costs

Total

 

Liability at January 1, 2015

 

Expenses

364

5

369

 

Cash payments

(34)

(1)

(35)

 

Liability at December 31, 2015

330

4

334

 

Expenses

232

3

235

 

Cash payments

(106)

(3)

(109)

 

Change in estimates

(102)

(1)

(103)

 

Exchange rate differences

(23)

(23)

 

Liability at December 31, 2016

331

3

334

 

Expenses

35

3

38

 

Cash payments

(110)

(5)

(115)

 

Change in estimates

(164)

(164)

 

Exchange rate differences

28

28

 

Liability at December 31, 2017

120

1

121

 

Cash payments

(37)

(37)

 

Change in estimates and exchange rate differences

(3)

(3)

 

Liability at March 31, 2018

80

1

81

 

The change in estimates during 2016 of $103 million is due to significantly higher than expected rates of attrition and internal re-deployment and a lower than expected severance cost per employee for the employee groups affected by the first phase of restructuring initiated in 2015.

 

The change in estimates during 2017 of $164 million is mainly due to higher than expected rates of attrition and internal re‑deployment. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, $31 million of the 2017 change in estimates, was recorded primarily as reductions in Cost of sales of $17 million and in Selling, general and administrative expenses of $10 million and related to restructurings initiated in both 2015 and 2016.

 

The following table outlines the net costs incurred in the three months ended March 31, 2017, and the cumulative net costs incurred to December 31, 2017:

  

 

 

 

 

 

Net cost incurred

Cumulative net

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

cost incurred up to

 

($ in millions)

 

 

 

March 31, 2017(1)

December 31, 2017(1)

 

Power Grids

 

 

 

(7)

60

 

Electrification Products

 

 

 

(4)

72

 

Industrial Automation

 

 

 

(4)

106

 

Robotics and Motion

 

 

 

56

 

Corporate and Other

 

 

 

(7)

91

 

Total

 

 

 

(22)

385

 

(1) Net costs incurred in 2017 and Cumulative net costs incurred up to December 31, 2017 have been recast to reflect the reorganization of the Company’s operating segments as outlined in Note 15.

 

26              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

The Company recorded the following expenses, net of changes in estimates, under this program:

  

 

 

 

 

 

Cumulative costs

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

 incurred up to

 

($ in millions)

 

 

March 31, 2017(1)

December 31, 2017

 

Employee severance costs

 

 

(22)

365

 

Estimated contract settlement, loss order and other costs

 

 

10

 

Inventory and long-lived asset impairments

 

 

10

 

Total

 

 

(22)

385

 

(1)  Of which $14 million was recorded in “Total cost of sales” and $4 million in “Selling, general and administrative expenses”.



 

Note 15

Operating segment data

 

The Chief Operating Decision Maker (CODM) is the Chief Executive Officer. 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 Electrification Products, Robotics and Motion, Industrial Automation and Power Grids. The remaining operations of the Company are included in Corporate and Other.

 

Effective January 1, 2018, management responsibility and oversight of certain remaining engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) businesses, previously included in the Power Grids, Industrial Automation and Robotics and Motion operating segments, were transferred to a new non-core operating business within Corporate and Other. In addition, the results of certain businesses divested which, prior to their divestment in March 2018, were included within the Industrial Automation segment have been reclassified to Corporate and Other for all periods presented.

 

The segment information for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and at December 31, 2017, has been recast to reflect these organizational changes.

 

A description of the types of products and services provided by each reportable segment is as follows:

 

·          Power Grids: offers a range of products, systems, service and software solutions across the power value chain of generation, transmission and distribution, to industry, utility, transport & infrastructure customers. These offerings address existing and evolving grid needs such as the integration of renewables, digital substations, network control solutions, microgrids and asset management. The division portfolio includes AC and DC transmission systems, substations, as well as a wide range of power, distribution and traction transformers and an array of high-voltage products, such as circuit breakers, switchgear and capacitors.

 

·           Electrification Products: manufactures and sells products and services including electric vehicle charging, solar inverters, modular substation packages, switchgear, UPS solutions, circuit breakers, control products, wiring accessories, enclosures and cabling systems, and intelligent home and building solutions designed to integrate and automate the lighting, heating and ventilation, and security and data communication networks.

 

·          Industrial Automation: develops and sells integrated automation and electrification systems and solutions, such as process and discrete control solutions, advanced process control software and manufacturing execution systems, sensing, measurement and analytical instrumentation and solutions, electric ship propulsion systems, as well as solutions for modern machine and factory automation and large turbochargers. In addition, the division offers a comprehensive range of services ranging from repair to advanced services such as remote monitoring, preventive maintenance and cybersecurity services.

 

·          Robotics and Motion: manufactures and sells robotics, motors, generators, drives, wind converters, components and systems for railways and related services and digital solutions for a wide range of applications in industry, transportation and infrastructure, and utilities.

 

·          Corporate and Other: includes headquarters, central research and development, the Company’s real estate activities, Group Treasury Operations, non-core operating activities, historical operating activities of certain divested businesses and other minor business activities.

 

The Company evaluates the profitability of its segments based on Operational EBITA, which represents income from operations excluding:

  

·          amortization expense on intangibles arising upon acquisitions (acquisition-related amortization),

·          restructuring and restructuring-related expenses,

·          changes in the amount recorded for retained obligations of divested businesses occurring after the divestment date (changes in retained obligations of divested businesses),

·          changes in estimates relating to opening balance sheets of acquired businesses (changes in pre-acquisition estimates),

·          gains and losses from sale of businesses,

·          acquisition-related expenses and integration costs,

·          certain other non-operational items, as well as

·          foreign exchange/commodity timing differences in income from operations consisting of: (a) unrealized gains and losses on derivatives (foreign exchange, commodities, embedded derivatives), (b) realized gains and losses on derivatives where the underlying hedged transaction has not yet been realized, and (c) 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

27              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

segments. Segment results below are presented before these eliminations, with a total deduction for intersegment profits to arrive at the Company’s consolidated Operational EBITA. 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 disaggregated segment revenues from contracts with customers, Operational EBITA, and the reconciliations of consolidated Operational EBITA to Income from continuing operations before taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, as well as total assets at March 31, 2018, and December 31, 2017.

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31, 2018

 

 

Power

Electrification

Industrial

Robotics and

Corporate

 

 

($ in millions)

Grids

Products

Automation

Motion

and Other

Total

 

Geographical markets 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

673

937

808

709

22

3,149

 

The Americas

671

648

377

684

10

2,390

 

Asia, Middle East and Africa

901

800

639

692

56

3,088

 

 

2,245

2,385

1,824

2,085

88

8,627

 

End Customer Markets 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Utilities

1,581

540

296

167

62

2,646

 

Industry

496

1,088

1,077

1,622

13

4,296

 

Transport & infrastructure

168

757

451

296

13

1,685

 

 

2,245

2,385

1,824

2,085

88

8,627

 

Product type 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Products

1,317

2,085

639

1,511

16

5,568

 

Systems

551

137

464

244

72

1,468

 

Services and other

377

163

721

330

1,591

 

 

2,245

2,385

1,824

2,085

88

8,627

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Third-party revenues

2,245

2,385

1,824

2,085

88

8,627

 

Intersegment revenues

140

109

35

124

(408)

 

Total Revenues

2,385

2,494

1,859

2,209

(320)

8,627

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31, 2017

 

 

Power

Electrification

Industrial

Robotics and

Corporate

 

 

($ in millions)

Grids

Products

Automation

Motion

and Other

Total

 

Geographical markets 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

648

804

590

607

44

2,693

 

The Americas

688

627

318

659

40

2,332

 

Asia, Middle East and Africa

851

751

572

537

118

2,829

 

 

2,187

2,182

1,480

1,803

202

7,854

 

End Customer Markets 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Utilities

1,619

576

302

177

146

2,820

 

Industry

442

906

800

1,326

51

3,525

 

Transport & infrastructure

126

700

378

300

5

1,509

 

 

2,187

2,182

1,480

1,803

202

7,854

 

Product type 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Products

1,200

1,923

298

1,312

4,733

 

Systems

678

121

534

208

195

1,736

 

Services and other

309

138

648

283

7

1,385

 

 

2,187

2,182

1,480

1,803

202

7,854

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Third-party revenues

2,187

2,182

1,480

1,803

202

7,854

 

Intersegment revenues

164

111

33

117

(425)

 

Total Revenues

2,351

2,293

1,513

1,920

(223)

7,854

 

28              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

($ in millions)

2018

2017

 

Operational EBITA:

 

 

 

Power Grids

232

231

 

Electrification Products

377

322

 

Industrial Automation

262

206

 

Robotics and Motion

338

282

 

Corporate and Other and Intersegment elimination

(149)

(98)

 

Consolidated Operational EBITA

1,060

943

 

Acquisition-related amortization

(73)

(59)

 

Restructuring and restructuring-related expenses(1)

(11)

(48)

 

Changes in retained obligations of divested businesses

(94)

 

Gains and losses from sale of businesses

(6)

338

 

Acquisition-related expenses and integration costs

(33)

(6)

 

Certain other non-operational items

(22)

(102)

 

Foreign exchange/commodity timing differences in income from operations:

 

 

 

Unrealized gains and losses on derivatives (foreign exchange,

 

 

 

commodities, embedded derivatives)

(20)

76

 

Realized gains and losses on derivatives where the underlying hedged

 

 

 

transaction has not yet been realized

7

10

 

Unrealized foreign exchange movements on receivables/payables (and

 

 

 

related assets/liabilities)

(7)

(35)

 

Income from operations

895

1,023

 

Interest and dividend income

23

17

 

Interest and other finance expense

(108)

(79)

 

Non-operational pension (cost) credit

30

7

 

Income from continuing operations before taxes

840

968

 

(1) Amounts in 2017 also include the incremental implementation costs in relation to the White Collar Productivity program.

 

 

 

Total assets(1)

 

($ in millions)

March 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

 

Power Grids

8,399

8,387

 

Electrification Products

10,483

10,314

 

Industrial Automation

7,155

7,258

 

Robotics and Motion

8,140

8,134

 

Corporate and Other

9,392

9,365

 

Consolidated

43,569

43,458

 

(1) Total assets are after intersegment eliminations and therefore reflect third-party assets only.

  

 

29              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

  

30              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

 

 

 

Supplemental Reconciliations and Definitions

 

 

 

 

The following reconciliations and definitions include measures which ABB uses to supplement its Interim Consolidated Financial Information (unaudited) which is prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP). Certain of these financial measures are, or may be, considered non-GAAP financial measures as defined in the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

 

While ABB’s management believes that the non-GAAP financial measures herein are useful in evaluating ABB’s operating results, this information should be considered as supplemental in nature and not as a substitute for the related financial information prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Therefore these measures should not be viewed in isolation but considered together with the Interim Consolidated Financial Information (unaudited) prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2018.

 

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted a new accounting standard, Revenue from contracts with customers, and consistent with the method of adoption elected, comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards previously in effect for those periods (see Note 2).

 

Comparable growth rates

 

Growth rates for certain key figures may be presented and discussed on a “comparable” basis. The comparable growth rate measures growth on a constant currency basis. Since we are a global company, the comparability of our operating results reported in U.S. dollars is affected by foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. We calculate the impacts from foreign currency fluctuations by translating the current-year periods’ reported key figures into U.S. dollar amounts using the exchange rates in effect for the comparable periods in the previous year.

 

Comparable growth rates are also adjusted for changes in our business portfolio. Adjustments to our business portfolio occur due to acquisitions, divestments, or by exiting specific business activities or customer markets. The adjustment for portfolio changes is calculated as follows: where the results of any business acquired or divested have not been consolidated and reported for the entire duration of both the current and comparable periods, the reported key figures of such business are adjusted to exclude the relevant key figures of any corresponding quarters which are not comparable when computing the comparable growth rate. Certain portfolio changes which do not qualify as divestments under U.S. GAAP have been treated in a similar manner to divestments. Changes in our portfolio where we have exited certain business activities or customer markets are adjusted as if the relevant business was divested in the period when the decision to cease business activities was taken. We do not adjust for portfolio changes where the relevant business has annualized revenues of less than $50 million.

 

The following tables provide reconciliations of reported growth rates of certain key figures to their respective comparable growth rate.

 

Divisional comparable growth rate reconciliation

 

 

Q1 2018 compared to Q1 2017

 

 

Order growth rate

 

Revenue growth rate

 

 

US$

Foreign

 

 

 

US$

Foreign

 

 

 

 

(as

exchange

Portfolio

 

 

(as

exchange

Portfolio

 

 

Division

reported)

impact

changes

Comparable

 

reported)

impact

changes

Comparable

 

Power Grids

7%

-6%

0%

1%

 

1%

-5%

0%

-4%

 

Electrification Products

10%

-7%

0%

3%

 

9%

-7%

0%

2%

 

Industrial Automation

26%

-9%

-13%

4%

 

23%

-9%

-14%

0%

 

Robotics and Motion

18%

-7%

0%

11%

 

15%

-7%

0%

8%

 

ABB Group

16%

-7%

-3%

6%

 

10%

-7%

-2%

1%



Regional comparable growth rate reconciliation

 

 

Q1 2018 compared to Q1 2017

 

 

Order growth rate

 

Revenue growth rate

 

 

US$

Foreign

 

 

 

US$

Foreign

 

 

 

 

(as

exchange

Portfolio

 

 

(as

exchange

Portfolio

 

 

Region

reported)

impact

changes

Comparable

 

reported)

impact

changes

Comparable

 

Europe

15%

-13%

-5%

-3%

 

17%

-13%

-5%

-1%

 

The Americas

1%

0%

-1%

0%

 

2%

0%

-1%

1%

 

Asia, Middle East and Africa

30%

-7%

-3%

20%

 

9%

-6%

0%

3%

 

ABB Group

16%

-7%

-3%

6%

 

10%

-7%

-2%

1%



31              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

Order backlog growth rate reconciliation

 

 

March 31, 2018 compared to March 31, 2017

 

 

 

US$

Foreign

 

 

 

 

 

(as

exchange

Portfolio

 

 

 

Division

reported)

impact

changes

Comparable

 

 

Power Grids

-2%

-5%

0%

-7%

 

 

Electrification Products

9%

-6%

0%

3%

 

 

Industrial Automation

3%

-9%

-2%

-8%

 

 

Robotics and Motion

12%

-8%

0%

4%

 

 

ABB Group

3%

-6%

0%

-3%

 



Other growth rate reconciliations

 

 

Q1 2018 compared to Q1 2017

 

 

 

 

US$

Foreign

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(as

exchange

Portfolio

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

reported)

impact

changes

Comparable

 

 

 

 

 

 

Large orders

27%

-10%

-5%

12%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Base orders

15%

-7%

-3%

5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service orders

15%

-8%

1%

8%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service revenues

15%

-7%

0%

8%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

Division realignment

 

Effective January 1, 2018, management responsibility and oversight of certain remaining engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) businesses, previously included in the Power Grids, Industrial Automation and Robotics and Motion operating segments, were transferred to a new non-core operating business within Corporate and Other. See Note 15 to the Interim Consolidated Financial Information (unaudited) for further details on the realignment.

 

The following information presents a reconciliation of growth rates of orders and revenues for 2017 compared with 2016 to reflect these organizational changes:

 

Divisional comparable growth rate reconciliation

 

 

Q1 2017 compared to Q1 2016

 

 

Order growth rate

 

Revenue growth rate

 

 

US$

Foreign

 

 

 

US$

Foreign

 

 

 

 

(as

exchange

Portfolio

 

 

(as

exchange

Portfolio

 

 

Division

reported)

impact

changes

Comparable

 

reported)

impact

changes

Comparable

 

Power Grids

-20%

3%

0%

-17%

 

3%

3%

0%

6%

 

Electrification Products

1%

3%

0%

4%

 

0%

3%

0%

3%

 

Industrial Automation

-7%

2%

0%

-5%

 

-7%

2%

0%

-5%

 

Robotics and Motion

4%

3%

0%

7%

 

3%

2%

0%

5%

 

ABB Group

-9%

2%

4%

-3%

 

-1%

3%

1%

3%



 

 

 

Q2 2017 compared to Q2 2016

 

 

Order growth rate

 

Revenue growth rate

 

 

US$

Foreign

 

 

 

US$

Foreign

 

 

 

 

(as

exchange

Portfolio

 

 

(as

exchange

Portfolio

 

 

Division

reported)

impact

changes

Comparable

 

reported)

impact

changes

Comparable

 

Power Grids

-6%

2%

0%

-4%

 

-1%

2%

0%

1%

 

Electrification Products

-4%

3%

0%

-1%

 

-1%

3%

0%

2%

 

Industrial Automation

6%

2%

0%

8%

 

-9%

2%

0%

-7%

 

Robotics and Motion

12%

3%

0%

15%

 

3%

2%

0%

5%

 

ABB Group

0%

3%

0%

3%

 

-3%

3%

1%

1%



 

 

 

Q3 2017 compared to Q3 2016

 

 

Order growth rate

 

Revenue growth rate

 

 

US$

Foreign

 

 

 

US$

Foreign

 

 

 

 

(as

exchange

Portfolio

 

 

(as

exchange

Portfolio

 

 

Division

reported)

impact

changes

Comparable

 

reported)

impact

changes

Comparable

 

Power Grids

-8%

-1%

0%

-9%

 

2%

-1%

0%

1%

 

Electrification Products

7%

0%

0%

7%

 

5%

0%

0%

5%

 

Industrial Automation

30%

-3%

-17%

10%

 

15%

-2%

-12%

1%

 

Robotics and Motion

5%

-1%

0%

4%

 

10%

-2%

0%

8%

 

ABB Group

8%

0%

-3%

5%

 

6%

-2%

-1%

3%



 

 

 

Q4 2017 compared to Q4 2016

 

 

Order growth rate

 

Revenue growth rate

 

 

US$

Foreign

 

 

 

US$

Foreign

 

 

 

 

(as

exchange

Portfolio

 

 

(as

exchange

Portfolio

 

 

Division

reported)

impact

changes

Comparable

 

reported)

impact

changes

Comparable

 

Power Grids

-15%

-3%

0%

-18%

 

-2%

-3%

0%

-5%

 

Electrification Products

12%

-2%

0%

10%

 

2%

-3%

0%

-1%

 

Industrial Automation

16%

-4%

-13%

-1%

 

15%

-5%

-10%

0%

 

Robotics and Motion

10%

-4%

0%

6%

 

10%

-4%

0%

6%

 

ABB Group

2%

-3%

-2%

-3%

 

3%

-3%

-1%

-1%

33              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

Operational EBITA margin

 

Definition

Operational EBITA margin

Operational EBITA margin is Operational EBITA as a percentage of Operational revenues.

 

Operational EBITA

Operational earnings before interest, taxes and acquisition-related amortization (Operational EBITA) represents Income from operations excluding:

·          acquisition-related amortization (as defined below),

·          restructuring and restructuring-related expenses,

·          changes in the amount recorded for retained obligations of divested businesses occurring after the divestment date (changes in retained obligations of divested businesses),

·          changes in estimates relating to opening balance sheets of acquired businesses (changes in pre-acquisition estimates) ,  

·          gains and losses from sale of businesses,

·          acquisition-related expenses and non-operational integration costs,

·          certain other non-operational items, as well as

·          foreign exchange/commodity timing differences in income from operations consisting of: (a) unrealized gains and losses on derivatives (foreign exchange, commodities, embedded derivatives), (b) realized gains and losses on derivatives where the underlying hedged transaction has not yet been realized, and (c) unrealized foreign exchange movements on receivables/payables (and related assets/liabilities).

 

Amounts relating to changes in retained obligations of divested businesses (as defined above), were previously included within acquisition-related expenses and certain non-operational items. In periods prior to 2017, there were no significant amounts to warrant separate presentation.

 

Operational EBITA is our measure of segment profit but is also used by management to evaluate the profitability of the Company as a whole.

 

Acquisition-related amortization

Amortization expense on intangibles arising upon acquisitions.

 

Operational revenues

The Company presents Operational revenues solely for the purpose of allowing the computation of Operational EBITA margin. 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). Operational revenues are not intended to be an alternative measure to Total Revenues, which represent our revenues measured in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

 

Reconciliation

The following tables provide reconciliations of consolidated Operational EBITA to Net Income and Operational EBITA Margin by division.

 

Reconciliation of consolidated Operational EBITA to Net Income

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

($ in millions)

2018

2017

 

Operational EBITA

1,060

943

 

Acquisition-related amortization

(73)

(59)

 

Restructuring and restructuring-related expenses(1)

(11)

(48)

 

Changes in retained obligations of divested businesses

(94)

 

Gains and losses from sale of businesses

(6)

338

 

Acquisition-related expenses and non-operational integration costs

(33)

(6)

 

Certain other non-operational items

(22)

(102)

 

Foreign exchange/commodity timing differences in income from operations:

 

 

 

Unrealized gains and losses on derivatives (foreign exchange,

 

 

 

commodities, embedded derivatives)

(20)

76

 

Realized gains and losses on derivatives where the underlying hedged

 

 

 

transaction has not yet been realized

7

10

 

Unrealized foreign exchange movements on receivables/payables (and

 

 

 

related assets/liabilities)

(7)

(35)

 

Income from operations

895

1,023

 

Interest and dividend income

23

17

 

Interest and other finance expense

(108)

(79)

 

Non-operational pension (cost) credit

30

7

 

Income from continuing operations before taxes

840

968

 

Provision for taxes

(235)

(208)

 

Income from continuing operations, net of tax

605

760

 

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

(5)

(2)

 

Net income

600

758

 

(1) Amounts in 2017 also include the incremental implementation costs in relation to the White Collar Productivity program.

34              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

Reconciliation of Operational EBITA margin by division

 

 

Three months ended March 31, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other and

 

 

 

Power

Electrification

Industrial

Robotics

Intersegment

 

 

($ in millions, unless otherwise indicated)

Grids

Products

Automation

and Motion

elimination

Consolidated

 

Total revenues

2,385

2,494

1,859

2,209

(320)

8,627

 

Foreign exchange/commodity timing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

differences in total revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gains and losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

on derivatives

17

(4)

(4)

4

6

19

 

Realized gains and losses on derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

where the underlying hedged

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

transaction has not yet been realized

4

3

(11)

(4)

 

Unrealized foreign exchange movements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

on receivables (and related assets)

(7)

(2)

(3)

9

(3)

 

Operational revenues

2,399

2,488

1,858

2,210

(316)

8,639

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from operations

193

318

237

313

(166)

895

 

Acquisition-related amortization

10

20

23

16

4

73

 

Restructuring and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

restructuring-related expenses

4

4

2

4

(3)

11

 

Changes in retained obligations of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

divested businesses

 

Gains and losses from sale of businesses

3

3

6

 

Acquisition-related expenses and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

non-operational integration costs

1

31

1

33

 

Certain other non-operational items

15

(2)

1

8

22

 

Foreign exchange/commodity timing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

differences in income from operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gains and losses on derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(foreign exchange, commodities,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

embedded derivatives)

9

6

(8)

2

11

20

 

Realized gains and losses on derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

where the underlying hedged

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

transaction has not yet been realized

2

2

(11)

(7)

 

Unrealized foreign exchange movements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

on receivables/payables

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(and related assets/liabilities)

(2)

2

2

5

7

 

Operational EBITA

232

377

262

338

(149)

1,060

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operational EBITA margin (%)

9.7%

15.2%

14.1%

15.3%

n.a.

12.3%

 

35              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

 

 

Three months ended March 31, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other and

 

 

 

Power

Electrification

Industrial

Robotics

Intersegment

 

 

($ in millions, unless otherwise indicated)

Grids

Products

Automation

and Motion

elimination

Consolidated

 

Total revenues

2,351

2,293

1,513

1,920

(223)

7,854

 

Foreign exchange/commodity timing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

differences in total revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gains and losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

on derivatives

(50)

(23)

(18)

(18)

(18)

(127)

 

Realized gains and losses on derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

where the underlying hedged

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

transaction has not yet been realized

(5)

2

(3)

 

Unrealized foreign exchange movements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

on receivables (and related assets)

27

12

5

6

1

51

 

Operational revenues

2,323

2,282

1,500

1,908

(238)

7,775

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from operations

211

307

211

261

33

1,023

 

Acquisition-related amortization

8

26

2

18

5

59

 

Restructuring and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

restructuring-related expenses(1)

3

4

10

31

48

 

Changes in retained obligations of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

divested businesses

94

94

 

Gains and losses from sale of businesses

(338)

(338)

 

Acquisition-related expenses and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

non-operational integration costs

(1)

3

4

6

 

Certain other non-operational items

28

4

70

102

 

Foreign exchange/commodity timing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

differences in income from operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gains and losses on derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(foreign exchange, commodities,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

embedded derivatives)

(41)

(16)

(17)

(10)

8

(76)

 

Realized gains and losses on derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

where the underlying hedged

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

transaction has not yet been realized

(3)

(2)

(5)

(10)

 

Unrealized foreign exchange movements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

on receivables/payables

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(and related assets/liabilities)

26

1

5

3

35

 

Operational EBITA

231

322

206

282

(98)

943

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operational EBITA margin (%)

9.9%

14.1%

13.7%

14.8%

n.a.

12.1%

 

(1) Amounts in 2017 also include the incremental implementation costs in relation to the White Collar Productivity program.

36              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

Operational EPS

 

Definition

Operational EPS

Operational EPS is calculated as Operational net income divided by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding used in determining basic earnings per share.

 

Operational net income

Operational net income is calculated as Net income attributable to ABB adjusted for the following:

(i)        acquisition-related amortization,

(ii)      restructuring and restructuring-related expenses,

(iii)     non-operational pension cost (credit),

(iv)     changes in retained obligations of divested businesses,

(v)       changes in pre-acquisition estimates,

(vi)     gains and losses from sale of businesses,

(vii)    acquisition-related expenses and non-operational integration costs,

(viii)  certain other non-operational items,

(ix)     foreign exchange/commodity timing differences in income from operations consisting of: (a) unrealized gains and losses on derivatives (foreign exchange, commodities, embedded derivatives), (b) realized gains and losses on derivatives where the underlying hedged transaction has not yet been realized, and (c) unrealized foreign exchange movements on receivables/payables (and related assets/liabilities), and

(x)       The amount of income tax on operational adjustments either estimated using the Adjusted Group effective tax rate or in certain specific cases, computed using the actual income tax effects of the relevant item in (i) to (vii) above.

 

Acquisition-related amortization

Amortization expense on intangibles arising upon acquisitions.

 

Adjusted Group effective tax rate

The Adjusted Group effective tax rate is computed by dividing an adjusted provision for taxes by an adjusted income from continuing operations before taxes. Certain amounts recorded in income from continuing operations before taxes and the related provision for taxes (primarily gains and losses from sale of businesses) are excluded from the computation.

 

Constant currency Operational EPS adjustment and Operational EPS growth rate (constant currency)

In connection with ABB’s 2015-2020 targets, Operational EPS growth is measured assuming 2014 as the base year and uses constant exchange rates. We compute the constant currency operational net income for all periods using the relevant monthly exchange rates which were in effect during 2014 and any difference in computed Operational net income is divided by the relevant weighted-average number of shares outstanding to identify the constant currency Operational EPS adjustment.

 

Reconciliation

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

($ in millions, except per share data in $)

2018

2017

Growth(3)

 

Net income (attributable to ABB)

572

724

 

 

Operational adjustments:

 

 

 

 

Acquisition-related amortization

73

59

 

 

Restructuring and restructuring-related expenses(1)

11

48

 

 

Non-operational pension cost (credit)

(30)

(7)

 

 

Changes in retained obligations of divested businesses

94

 

 

Gains and losses from sale of businesses

6

(338)

 

 

Acquisition-related expenses and non-operational integration costs

33

6

 

 

Certain non-operational items

22

102

 

 

FX/commodity timing differences in income from operations

20

(51)

 

 

Tax on operational adjustments(2)

(38)

(30)

 

 

Operational net income

669

607

10%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average number of shares outstanding (in millions)

2,134

2,140

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operational EPS

0.31

0.28

11%

 

Constant currency Operational EPS adjustment

0.04

0.05

 

 

Operational EPS (constant currency basis - 2014 exchange rates)

0.35

0.33

6%

 

(1) Amounts in 2017 also include the incremental implementation costs in relation to the White Collar Productivity program.

(2) Tax amount is computed by applying the Adjusted Group effective tax rate to the operational adjustments, except for gains and losses from sale of businesses for which the actual provision for taxes resulting from the gain or loss has been computed.

(3) Growth is computed using unrounded EPS amounts.

  

 

37              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

Net debt

 

Definition

Net debt

Net debt is defined as Total debt less Cash and marketable securities.

 

Total debt

Total debt is the sum of Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt, and Long-term debt.

 

Cash and marketable securities

Cash and marketable securities is the sum of Cash and equivalents, and Marketable securities and short-term investments.

 

Reconciliation

 

($ in millions)

March 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

 

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

2,476

738

 

Long-term debt

5,285

6,709

 

Total debt

7,761

7,447

 

Cash and equivalents

4,162

4,526

 

Marketable securities and short-term investments

740

1,102

 

Cash and marketable securities

4,902

5,628

 

Net debt

2,859

1,819

38              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

Net working capital as a percentage of revenues

 

Definition

Net working capital as a percentage of revenues

Net working capital as a percentage of revenues is calculated as Net working capital divided by Adjusted revenues for the trailing twelve months.

 

Net working capital

Net working capital is the sum of (i) receivables, net, (ii) contract assets,  (iii) inventories, net, and (iv) prepaid expenses; less (v) accounts payable, trade, (v) contract liabilities, and (vi) other current liabilities (excluding primarily: (a) income taxes payable, (b) current derivative liabilities, (c) pension and other employee benefits, and (d) payables under the share buyback program); and including the amounts related to these accounts which have been presented as either assets or liabilities held for sale.

 

Adjusted revenues for the trailing twelve months

Adjusted revenues for the trailing twelve months includes total revenues recorded by ABB in the twelve months preceding the relevant balance sheet date adjusted to eliminate revenues of divested businesses and the estimated impact of annualizing revenues of certain acquisitions which were completed in the same trailing twelve-month period.

 

Reconciliation

 

($ in millions, unless otherwise indicated)

March 31, 2018

March 31, 2017

 

Net working capital:

 

 

 

Receivables, net

8,503

7,618

 

Contract assets

2,369

2,300

 

Inventories, net

5,609

4,905

 

Prepaid expenses

321

230

 

Accounts payable, trade

(5,301)

(4,471)

 

Contract liabilities

(2,838)

(2,977)

 

Other current liabilities(1)

(3,424)

(3,330)

 

Net working capital

5,239

4,275

 

Total revenues for the three months ended:

 

 

 

March 31, 2018 / 2017

8,627

7,854

 

December 31, 2017 / 2016

9,280

8,993

 

September 30, 2017 / 2016

8,724

8,255

 

June 30, 2017 / 2016

8,454

8,677

 

Adjustment to annualize/eliminate revenues of certain acquisitions/divestments

95

(284)

 

Adjusted revenues for the trailing twelve months

35,180

33,495

 

Net working capital as a percentage of revenues (%)

14.9%

12.8%

 

(1)  Amounts exclude $575 million and $584 million at March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, related primarily to (a) income taxes payable, (b) current derivative liabilities, and (c) pension and other employee benefits.

39              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

Free cash flow conversion to net income

 

Definition

Free cash flow conversion to net income

Free cash flow conversion to net income is calculated as Free cash flow divided by Net income attributable to ABB.

 

Free cash flow (FCF)

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 non-current receivables, net (included in other investing activities).

 

Free cash flow for the trailing twelve months

Free cash flow for the trailing twelve months includes free cash flow recorded by ABB in the twelve months preceding the relevant balance sheet date.

 

Net income for the trailing twelve months

Net income for the trailing twelve months includes net income recorded by ABB in the twelve months preceding the relevant balance sheet date.

 

Free cash flow conversion to net income

 

 

Twelve months to

 

($ in millions, unless otherwise indicated)

March 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

2,772

3,799

 

Adjusted for the effects of:

 

 

 

Purchases of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets

(995)

(949)

 

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

72

66

 

Changes in financing receivables and other non-current receivables

1

10

 

Free cash flow

1,850

2,926

 

Net income attributable to ABB

2,061

2,213

 

Free cash flow conversion to net income

90%

132%



Reconciliation of the trailing twelve months to March 31, 2018

 

 

 

Purchases of

 

Changes in

 

 

 

Net cash

property, plant

Proceeds

financing

 

 

 

provided by

and equipment

from sale of

receivables and

Net income

 

 

 operating 

and intangible

property, plant

other non-current

attributable

 

($ in millions)

 activities 

 assets 

and equipment

receivables

to ABB

 

Q2 2017

467

(225)

10

(1)

525

 

Q3 2017

954

(203)

20

571

 

Q4 2017

1,869

(329)

16

3

393

 

Q1 2018

(518)

(238)

26

(1)

572

 

Total for the trailing twelve months

to March 31, 2018

2,772

(995)

72

1

2,061

40              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

Finance net

 

Definition

Finance net is calculated as Interest and dividend income less Interest and other finance expense.

 

Reconciliation

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

($ in millions)

2018

2017

 

Interest and dividend income

23

17

 

Interest and other finance expense

(108)

(79)

 

Finance net

(85)

(62)



Book-to-bill ratio

 

Definition

Book-to-bill ratio is calculated as Orders received divided by Total revenues.

 

Reconciliation

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

($ in millions, unless otherwise indicated)

2018

2017

 

Orders received

9,772

8,403

 

Total revenues

8,627

7,854

 

Book-to-bill ratio

1.13

1.07

41              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

Reconciliation of Operational EBITA margin by division for prior periods

 

The following tables provide operational EBITA margin reconciliations for prior periods.

 

 

Three months ended December 31, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other and

 

 

 

Power

Electrification

Industrial

Robotics

Intersegment

 

 

($ in millions, unless otherwise indicated)

Grids

Products

Automation

and Motion

elimination

Consolidated

 

Total revenues

2,721

2,696

2,011

2,197

(345)

9,280

 

Foreign exchange/commodity timing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

differences in total revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gains and losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

on derivatives

13

(7)

2

29

37

 

Realized gains and losses on derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

where the underlying hedged

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

transaction has not yet been realized

7

4

2

1

14

 

Unrealized foreign exchange movements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

on receivables (and related assets)

4

3

1

2

(1)

9

 

Operational revenues

2,732

2,712

2,009

2,203

(316)

9,340

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from operations

206

318

214

247

(381)

604

 

Acquisition-related amortization

11

22

22

16

4

75

 

Restructuring and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

restructuring-related expenses(1)

32

17

36

35

19

139

 

Changes in pre-acquisition estimates

8

8

 

Gains and losses from sale of businesses

78

78

 

Acquisition-related expenses and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

non-operational integration costs

1

12

27

2

42

 

Certain other non-operational items

18

8

20

46

 

Foreign exchange/commodity timing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

differences in income from operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gains and losses on derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(foreign exchange, commodities,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

embedded derivatives)

8

9

(4)

(1)

12

 

Realized gains and losses on derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

where the underlying hedged

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

transaction has not yet been realized

8

(2)

3

(1)

8

 

Unrealized foreign exchange movements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

on receivables/payables

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(and related assets/liabilities)

4

6

1

(2)

9

 

Operational EBITA

284

398

299

303

(263)

1,021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operational EBITA margin (%)

10.4%

14.7%

14.9%

13.8%

n.a.

10.9%

 

(1) Amounts in 2017 also include the incremental implementation costs in relation to the White Collar Productivity program.

 

42              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

 

 

Three months ended September 30, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other and

 

 

 

Power

Electrification

Industrial

Robotics

Intersegment

 

 

($ in millions, unless otherwise indicated)

Grids

Products

Automation

and Motion

elimination

Consolidated

 

Total revenues

2,449

2,596

1,780

2,197

(298)

8,724

 

Foreign exchange/commodity timing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

differences in total revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gains and losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

on derivatives

10

6

(8)

13

9

30

 

Realized gains and losses on derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

where the underlying hedged

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

transaction has not yet been realized

(17)

(9)

1

(1)

(26)

 

Unrealized foreign exchange movements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

on receivables (and related assets)

3

(6)

2

(7)

1

(7)

 

Operational revenues

2,445

2,596

1,765

2,204

(289)

8,721

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from operations

232

393

164

336

(237)

888

 

Acquisition-related amortization

8

24

21

16

5

74

 

Restructuring and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

restructuring-related expenses(1)

12

(2)

40

2

40

92

 

Changes in pre-acquisition estimates

(2)

(2)

 

Gains and losses from sale of businesses

1

1

 

Acquisition-related expenses and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

non-operational integration costs

1

8

18

27

 

Certain other non-operational items

8

1

34

43

 

Foreign exchange/commodity timing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

differences in income from operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gains and losses on derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(foreign exchange, commodities,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

embedded derivatives)

12

3

8

8

31

  

Realized gains and losses on derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

where the underlying hedged

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

transaction has not yet been realized

(19)

(5)

2

(22)

 

Unrealized foreign exchange movements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

on receivables/payables

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(and related assets/liabilities)

5

(7)

(2)

(3)

(1)

(8)

 

Operational EBITA

259

417

237

361

(150)

1,124

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operational EBITA margin (%)

10.6%

16.1%

13.4%

16.4%

n.a.

12.9%

 

(1) Amounts in 2017 also include the incremental implementation costs in relation to the White Collar Productivity program.

 

43              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

 

 

Three months ended June 30, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other and

 

 

 

Power

Electrification

Industrial

Robotics

Intersegment

 

 

($ in millions, unless otherwise indicated)

Grids

Products

Automation

and Motion

elimination

Consolidated

 

Total revenues

2,507

2,509

1,575

2,082

(219)

8,454

 

Foreign exchange/commodity timing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

differences in total revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gains and losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

on derivatives

(29)

(19)

(9)

(1)

6

(52)

 

Realized gains and losses on derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

where the underlying hedged

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

transaction has not yet been realized

(8)

(2)

1

(1)

(10)

 

Unrealized foreign exchange movements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

on receivables (and related assets)

24

3

9

2

(2)

36

 

Operational revenues

2,494

2,493

1,573

2,084

(216)

8,428

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from operations

226

334

209

282

(174)

877

 

Acquisition-related amortization

9

26

2

16

3

56

 

Restructuring and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

restructuring-related expenses(1)

18

13

5

17

31

84

 

Changes in pre-acquisition estimates

2

2

 

Gains and losses from sale of businesses

(2)

9

7

 

Acquisition-related expenses and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

non-operational integration costs

1

3

4

8

 

Certain other non-operational items

24

9

15

48

 

Foreign exchange/commodity timing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

differences in income from operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gains and losses on derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(foreign exchange, commodities,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

embedded derivatives)

(51)

(23)

(19)

(7)

7

(93)

 

Realized gains and losses on derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

where the underlying hedged

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

transaction has not yet been realized

(10)

2

(8)

 

Unrealized foreign exchange movements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

on receivables/payables

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(and related assets/liabilities)

36

9

12

6

(2)

61

 

Operational EBITA

253

373

211

314

(109)

1,042

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operational EBITA margin (%)

10.1%

15.0%

13.4%

15.1%

n.a.

12.4%

 

(1) Amounts in 2017 also include the incremental implementation costs in relation to the White Collar Productivity program.

44              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ABB  Ltd

Corporate Communications

P.O.  Box  8131

8050 Zurich 

Switzerland

Tel:        +41  (0)43  317  71  11

Fax:       +41  (0)43  317  79  58

 

www.abb.com     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

45              Q1 2018 Financial Information 


 

January — March 2018 — Q1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ABB Ltd announces that the following members of the Executive Committee or Board of Directors of ABB have purchased, sold or been granted ABB’s registered shares, call options and warrant appreciation rights (“WARs”), in the following amounts:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name

 

Date

 

Description

 

Purchased

 

Sold

 

Price

Claudio Facchin

 

February 13, 2018

 

Shares

 

11,000

 

 

 

CHF

23.00

Louis R. Hughes

 

February 16, 2018

 

Shares

 

 

 

8,000

 

CHF

23.61

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

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: April 20, 2018.

By:

/s/ Jessica Mitchell

 

 

Name:

Jessica Mitchell

 

 

Title:

Group Senior Vice President and
Head of Investor Relations

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: April 20, 2018.

By:

/s/ Richard A. Brown

 

 

Name:

Richard A. Brown

 

 

Title:

Group Senior Vice President and
Chief Counsel Corporate & Finance