ABB Q1 profit beats forecasts as company announces robotics spin-off

ZURICH (Reuters) - ABB reported better than expected profit during its first quarter as the Swiss industrial group said it also planned to spin off its robotics division. The maker of factory robots, electric motors and drives said its operational earnings before interest, tax and amortisation (EBITA) rose 13% to $1.59 billion, beating analyst forecasts for $1.

48 billion. (Reporting by John Revill, Editing by Miranda Murray).