Their activists spur positive changes

Article Excerpt

ABB LTD. (ADR) $19 (New York symbol ABB; Manufacturing & Industry sector; ADRs outstanding: 2.1 billion; Market cap: $39.9 billion; Dividend yield: 4.2%; Takeover Target Rating: Low; www.abb.com) makes transformers, transmission systems and circuit breakers for electrical utilities. It also produces automation systems and robotics for industrial clients. For the last two years, activist investor Cevian Capital, ABB’s second-largest shareholder, has called for the sale of the company’s power grid business because it is much less profitable than ABB’s other segments, despite generating 30% of overall sales. That represents considerable sales efforts and resources for an underwhelming contribution to earnings. Thanks to Cevian’s pressure, the company recently agreed to sell the power grid business to Japan’s Hitachi Ltd. That firm will pay between $7.6 billion and $7.8 billion for an initial 80.1% stake. ABB plans to use the proceeds to buy back its shares. The company expects to complete the sale in the first half of 2020. ABB also has an option to sell its remaining…