January 30, 2012 – ABB, a global power and automation technology group, and Thomas & Betts Corp., a North American player in low-voltage products, announced today that both companies’ boards of directors have agreed to a transaction in which ABB will acquire Thomas & Betts for $72 per share in cash, or about $3.9 billion.

“Thomas & Betts is a well-run company with strong brands and excellent distribution channels in the world’s largest low-voltage products market,” said Joe Hogan, ABB’s CEO. “Because our products are complementary, we’ll go to market with one of the broadest offerings in the industry. That creates strong growth opportunities for both ABB and Thomas & Betts, and gives customers and distributors one-stop access to one of the widest ranges of low-voltage products.”

The combination of Thomas & Betts’ electrical components and ABB’s low-voltage protection, control and measurement products would create a broader low-voltage portfolio that can be distributed through Thomas & Betts’ network of more than 6000 distributor locations and wholesalers in North America, says ABB, as well as through its own distribution channels in Europe and Asia. The combined product portfolio and enhanced distribution network will enable ABB to double its addressable market in North America, says the company, to about $24 billion.

“This transaction delivers significant value to our shareholders and will enable Thomas & Betts to accelerate our global growth strategy,” said Thomas & Betts chair and CEO Dominic J. Pileggi. “The combination will also enable us to provide our North American customers and distributor network with a broader portfolio of products and will provide long-term opportunities to our employees. This is the right time for this transaction and I believe strongly that ABB is the right partner for our business going forward.”

Thomas & Betts, combined with ABB’s North American low-voltage products business, will become a new global business unit led out of Memphis, Tenn., under the leadership of Pileggi. The transaction is subject to approval by Thomas & Betts shareholders as well as to customary regulatory approvals, and is expected to close by the middle of 2012.