GE Corporate Lending Provides $197 Million Asset-based Credit Facility to Steve & Barry’s

GE Commercial Finance Corporate Lending today announced it provided a $197 million asset-based credit facility to Steve & Barry’s, a national apparel and accessories retailer. The loan will be used for ongoing working capital needs. GE Capital Markets arranged the transaction.

From more than 250 stores across the U.S., Port Washington, New York-based Steve & Barry’s offers private label and licensed apparel for the whole family at bargain prices. Steve Shore and Barry Prevor founded the company in 1985 selling discounted college apparel to students from stores situated near U.S. universities. In recent years, the company has attracted new shoppers by creating exclusive collections with Sarah Jessica Parker, Venus Williams, Amanda Bynes, Stephon Marbury and others.

“With specialists in retail, GE quickly understood our growth plans and structured a loan tailored to meet our working capital needs,” said Barry Prevor, co-founder and co-CEO of Steve & Barry’s. “GE’s access to capital and ability to make significant commitments also helped accelerate the financing process.”

“We’re dedicated to meeting the unique capital requirements of retailers,” said Jim Hogan, managing director of GE Corporate Lending's Retail group. “Providing smarter financing solutions to help retailers compete in an ever-changing environment is our focus.”

Industry Specialization

To better meet the unique financing needs of customers, GE Corporate Lending has a team of Industry Leaders supported by dedicated research analysts. These industry experts help build smarter financing solutions for companies across key industries: Aerospace & Defense; Automotive; Chemicals & Plastics; Construction; Food, Beverage & Agribusiness; Financial & Business Services; Forest Products; General Manufacturing; Metals and Mining; Retail; Technology & Electronics; and Transportation.

About GE Corporate Lending

With $14 billion in assets, GE Commercial Finance Corporate Lending is one of North America’s largest providers of asset-based, cash flow, structured finance and other financial solutions for mid-size and large companies. From over 30 offices throughout the U.S. and Canada, GE Corporate Lending specializes in serving the unique needs of borrowers seeking $20 million to $2 billion and more for working capital, growth, acquisitions, project finance and turnarounds. In addition, Access GE provides clients with access to GE management best practices to improve business performance. Visit www.gelending.com/clnews to learn more.

About GE Commercial Finance

GE Commercial Finance, which offers businesses around the globe an array of financial products and services, has assets of over $300 billion and is headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut. GE (NYSE: GE) is Imagination at Work – a diversified technology, media and financial services company focused on solving some of the world’s toughest problems. GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit www.ge.com.

GE Provides $225 Million Credit Facility to United Agri Products, Inc., the Largest Independent Distributor of Agricultural and Non-Crop Inputs

GE Commercial Finance’s Global Sponsor Finance business today announced it served as administrative agent for a $225 million term loan Add-on facility to United Agri Products, Inc. GE Capital Markets served as sole lead arranger and sole bookrunner.

The Add-on provides additional liquidity to fund future acquisitions and capital expansion opportunities for UAP’s growth strategies.

UAP is the largest independent distributor of agricultural and non-crop inputs in the United States and Canada. The Company markets a comprehensive line of products including chemicals, seed, and fertilizer to growers and regional dealers. As part of the Company's product offering, it provides a broad array of value-added services including crop management, biotechnology advisory services, custom blending, inventory management and custom applications of crop inputs.

“Once again it was our pleasure to work closely with UAP and their outstanding management team,” said Tony McCord, Managing Director at GE Global Sponsor Finance. “Our team quickly and reliably delivered a capital structure in very uncertain markets, and upsized the Add-on facility from $150 million to $225 million. Given today’s capital markets, it is a true testament to UAP’s financial performance and standing in the market.”

Dennis Roerty, UAP’s Treasurer said, “Given our operational momentum in recent years, we expect this successful Add-on to support our current growth strategy. We appreciate how GE has proven that it is responsive and supportive of UAP and our management team’s plans for growth.”

About United Agri Products, Inc.

UAP is the largest independent distributor of agricultural and non-crop products in the United States and Canada. The Company markets a comprehensive line of products, including chemicals, fertilizer, and seed to farmers, commercial growers, and regional dealers. UAP also provides a broad array of value-added services, including crop management, biotechnology advisory services, custom fertilizer blending, seed treatment, inventory management, and custom applications of crop inputs. UAP maintains a comprehensive network of approximately 370 distribution and storage facilities and three formulation plants, strategically located in major crop-producing areas throughout the United States and Canada. Additional information can be found on the Company's website, www.uap.com.

About GE Commercial Finance, Global Sponsor Finance

With over $8 billion in assets, and offices in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, London, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco, GE Commercial Finance, Global Sponsor Finance represents a “one-stop ” source for the comprehensive range of GE’s lending and other structured financial services offered to the private equity sponsor market. For more information, please visit www.gegsf.com.

About GE Commercial Finance

GE Commercial Finance, which offers businesses around the globe an array of financial products and services, has assets of over $250 billion and is headquartered in Norwalk Connecticut. GE (NYSE: GE) is Imagination at Work – a diversified technology, media and financial services company focused on solving some of the world’s toughest problems. With products and services ranging from aircraft engines, power generation, water processing and security technology to medical imaging, business and consumer financing, media content and advanced materials, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ge.com.

Seiji Yasubuchi Appointed President and CEO of GE Commercial Finance Japan

GE Commercial Finance announced today that Seiji Yasubuchi has been named President and CEO, GE Commercial Finance Japan. With the alignment of Healthcare Financial Services, Corporate Financial Services, and Capital Solutions, Commercial Finance will approach the market as one business adding more value to customers while strengthening the brand and creating new opportunities for growth.

“This is a critical step in our overall business strategy,” said John Flannery, President and CEO of GE Commercial Finance Asia. "We are committed to Japan and I believe that with Seiji’s wealth of experience and demonstrated leadership we will accelerate growth and expand our footprint in Japan.”

Most recently, Seiji led Business Development as Senior Vice President, GE Commercial Finance Asia. Prior to joining GE, he was the Managing Director of UBS Investment Bank Japan. He has also held several leadership positions with Mitsubishi Corporation. Seiji Yasubuchi has a BA in Economics from Waseda University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

About GE Commercial Finance

GE Commercial Finance (www.gecommercialfinance.com) offers businesses around the globe an extensive array of financial products and services. With more than US$246 billion in assets and expertise in the middle-market, GE Commercial Finance provides loans, operating leases, financing programs and innovative structured capital to help customers grow. Headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut, GE Commercial Finance is a wholly owned subsidiary of the General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), a diversified services, technology and manufacturing company with operations worldwide.

GE Antares Provides $120MM First Lien and $50MM Second Lien Facility for Leading Designer and Manufacturer of Pressure Sensitive Labels

GE Antares today announced it acted as administrative agent for a $120 million first lien secured credit facility and a $50 million second lien secured credit facility to finance the recapitalization of York Tape and Label, Inc., a portfolio company of Wind Point Partners. GE Capital Markets served as lead arranger and bookrunner.

The senior secured credit facility consisted of a $20 million first lien senior secured revolving credit facility, a $100 million first lien senior secured term loan facility, and a $50 million second lien senior secured facility. Proceeds of the credit facility were used to refinance existing senior and subordinated indebtedness of the Company and to provide for working capital needs.

Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, YORK is a leading designer and manufacturer of prime, pressure sensitive labels to a wide range of markets and Fortune 500 companies. It operates five state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities across the country. To complement the Company’s label production, it has a complete Integrated Systems Division that offers labeling, data collection, and printing systems for manufacturing, warehouse, and retail environments.

“Through its extensive production capabilities and reputation for unparalleled customer service, the Company has developed a diverse and blue chip client base,” said Dan Barry, Senior Managing Director of GE Antares. “We are delighted to work with Wind Point Partners and YORK’s strong management team.”

“Our in-depth knowledge of the company allowed GE to offer a flexible financing package,” said Doug Koch, Vice President of GE Antares. “We are pleased to have had the opportunity to provide the refinancing to YORK on behalf of WPP, and we enjoy our value-added partnership with their firm.”

Michael Nelson, a principal at Wind Point Partners said: “We appreciate GE Antares’ support and responsiveness on the York financing. It demonstrates their ongoing commitment to working with WPP and YORK’s management team. We look forward to continuing our efforts on behalf of both entities.”

About Wind Point Partners

Wind Point Partners® is a private equity investment firm with $2 billion in capital under management. Wind Point focuses on partnering with top caliber executives to acquire solid middle market businesses with a clear path to value creation. Additional information about Wind Point is available at www.windpointpartners.com

About GE Antares Capital

GE Antares Capital is a unit of GE Commercial Finance - Global Sponsor Finance. With over $8 billion in assets, and offices in Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco, GE Antares offers a “one-stop” source for GE’s lending and other services offered to middle market private equity sponsors. Visit www.geantares.com

About GE Commercial Finance

GE Commercial Finance, which offers businesses around the globe an array of financial products and services, has assets of over $233 billion and is headquartered in Norwalk Connecticut. GE (NYSE: GE) is Imagination at Work – a diversified technology, media and financial services company focused on solving some of the world’s toughest problems. With products and services ranging from aircraft engines, power generation, water processing and security technology to medical imaging, business and consumer financing, media content and advanced materials, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ge.com

GE Commercial Finance and NBC Universal Announce $250 Million Equity Fund to Invest in Media and Technology Companies with High Growth Potential

GE Media, Communications & Entertainment, a unit of GE Commercial Finance, and NBC Universal today announced they have launched a $250 million equity fund to invest in media and technology companies with high growth potential. The fund will focus on companies developing technologies, platforms, or business models with a strong strategic fit with NBC Universal in a wide range of areas, including advertising services, wireless, digital content and communities, and international platforms.

GE Media, Communications & Entertainment and NBC Universal also announced they have invested $3 million in Adify, an early stage company based in San Bruno, California. Adify’s unique automated technology represents a breakthrough in serving ads online.

“Just as digital technology drives the convergence of media, communications, and entertainment, it’s creating demand from our customers in these industries for investors who can provide financing and operational solutions,” said Michael Chen, President and Chief Executive Officer, GE Media, Communications & Entertainment. “By partnering with NBC Universal, we’re combining their media and distribution capabilities with our investment expertise to deliver these solutions.”

“In this rapidly changing environment new technologies and new business models emerge every day. This fund gives us an opportunity to participate in the development of cutting edge technologies and to help shape the future of our industry,” said Beth Comstock, President, Integrated Media, NBC Universal. ”We believe in the ad network model, and Adify is a true leap forward in online ad serving technology. Vertical networks are emerging as an important way to develop scale for our marketing clients.”

Adify was founded in 2005 by a group of online advertising pioneers from Flycast Communications, one of the original online ad networks. Adify technology sets up online ad networks by – for the first time - automating management, tracking, reporting, billing, and payment systems. Networks are built around categories ranging from sports to tax season and card games to pet ownership. By combining a large number of sites into one network, publishers can offer their advertising partners highly targeted communities of readers and a greater volume of ad inventory. NBC Universal has seen first-hand the promise of this model with the success of its Healthology vertical ad network, and the company is exploring ways to use Adify’s technology.

The fund will target investments ranging from approximately $3 million to $15 million each. The fund’s management team will work closely with NBC Universal’s businesses to evaluate promising opportunities.

About GE Commercial Finance

GE Commercial Finance, which offers businesses around the globe an array of financial products and services, has assets of over $230 billion and is headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut. GE (NYSE: GE) is Imagination at Work – a diversified technology, media and financial services company focused on solving some of the world’s toughest problems. GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ge.com

About GE Media Communications & Entertainment

With nearly $8 billion in assets and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New York, Norwalk and San Francisco, the Media, Communications & Entertainment business is a global strategic partner to the media, communications & entertainment industries and the technologies that enable them. We bring GE’s full resources and financial strength to each relationship, while delivering industry expertise and flexible financing solutions that maximize stakeholder value. For more information, please visit www.geMCE.com

About NBC Universal

NBC Universal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric and 20% owned by Vivendi.

GE Supports Peak Broadcasting with $86.5 Million in Financing

GE Commercial Finance – Media, Communications & Entertainment (formerly Global Media & Communications) today announced that it has provided Peak Broadcasting with financing for the company’s acquisition of seven radio stations in the Fresno, California market. The $86.5 million transaction closed March 30.

GE – Media, Communications & Entertainment is the administrative agent and underwriter for the $68.5 million first lien, while GE Capital Markets acted as sole lead arranger and bookrunner for the entire facility.

“GE played an instrumental role in supporting our acquisition,“ said Todd Lawley, CEO of Peak Broadcasting. “Their Media, Communications & Entertainment group’s knowledge and experience in the broadcasting space is unrivaled, and their financing guidance allowed us to move forward with ease and to focus on transitioning our quality programming, customer-based advertising solutions and new media innovations to the Fresno market.”

This facility will also support Peak Broadcasting’s pending acquisition of six radio stations in the Boise, Idaho market. Upon FCC deal approval, the company will focus on programming and new media for the two AM and four FM stations.

“The radio broadcast industry is going through a period of de-consolidation as larger companies try to divest assets,” said Robert Malone, vice president, GE - Media, Communications & Entertainment. “This trend provides opportunity for new industry players to break out into new markets and expand programming to reach new audiences. We look forward to continuing to provide best-in-class financing solutions to our clients in the media sector to help them reach their business goals.”

About GE Commercial Finance – Media, Communications & Entertainment

With nearly $8 billion in assets and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New York, Norwalk and San Francisco, the Media, Communications & Entertainment business is a global strategic partner to the media, communications & entertainment industries and the technologies that enable them. We bring GE’s full resources and financial strength to each relationship, while delivering industry expertise and flexible financing solutions that maximize stakeholder value. For more information, please visit www.geMCE.com.

About GE Commercial Finance

GE Commercial Finance, which offers businesses around the globe an array of financial products and services, has assets of over $206 billion and is headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut. GE (NYSE: GE) is Imagination at Work – a diversified technology, media and financial services company focused on solving some of the world’s toughest problems. GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ge.com.

GE Corporate Lending Appoints Brett Haring Managing Director of Northeast Region

GE Commercial Finance Corporate Lending today announced the appointment of Brett Haring as Managing Director of its Northeast Region. In this role, Haring will lead the regional team responsible for providing asset-based, cash flow and structured finance solutions to businesses seeking $20 million to $1 billion or more.

Haring has more than 18 years of experience with GE Commercial Finance. Most recently he held the position of President and CEO of the Technology Finance business within GE Capital Solutions, the equipment finance group. Haring joined GE in 1989 and held various sales and leadership positions including Senior Vice President of Business Development, GE Capital Solutions, and General Manager of the Pacific Region.

“Brett brings a wealth of finance and business development experience to this key role,” said Tom Quindlen, president and CEO of GE Corporate Lending. “GE’s ability to provide smarter capital to clients relies on our investment in knowledgeable leaders like Brett, who understand client needs and can work with the northeast team do deliver the breadth of products and services GE has to offer.“

Brett holds a Bachelors degree in Finance from Arizona State University and will be based in Norwalk, CT.

About GE Corporate Lending

With $14 billion in assets, GE Commercial Finance Corporate Lending is one of North America’s largest providers of asset-based, cash flow, structured finance and other financial solutions for mid-size and large companies. From over 30 offices throughout the U.S. and Canada, Corporate Lending specializes in serving the unique needs of borrowers seeking $10 million to $1 billion and more for working capital, growth, acquisitions, project finance and turnarounds. Visit www.gelending.com/clnews for more information.

About GE Commercial Finance

GE Commercial Finance, which offers businesses around the globe an array of financial products and services, has assets of over $233 billion and is headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut. GE (NYSE: GE) is Imagination at Work – a diversified technology, media and financial services company focused on solving some of the world’s toughest problems. GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit www.ge.com