Empresas y finanzas

GE Capital to Acquire Most of CitiCapital



    GE Capital has agreed to purchase most of CitiCapital, Citigroup´s
    North American commercial lending and leasing business, in an all cash
    transaction. Financial terms were not disclosed and the acquisition is
    expected to close, pending normal regulatory approvals, by the 3rd
    quarter of this year.

    Through the transaction, GE Capital will acquire seven CitiCapital
    equipment finance business lines, including Healthcare Finance

    Private Label Equipment Finance, Material Handling Finance, Franchise
    Finance, Construction Equipment Finance, Bankers Leasing, and
    CitiCapital Canada. CitiCapital´s Tax Exempt Finance business is not
    part of the transaction and will remain with Citi.

    When completed, the deal will add approximately $13.4 billion in
    assets to GE Capital´s Commercial Finance business. CitiCapital has
    approximately 1,400 employees and 160,000 customers throughout North
    America.

    In addition, GE Capital and Citi are exploring strategic
    cross-sell relationships with commercial clients.

    "This acquisition represents another significant growth
    opportunity for GE--one that helps us offer more to customers," said
    Mike Neal, GE vice chairman. "CitiCapital is a well established
    franchise with experienced employees, broad capabilities and a
    terrific customer base. It´s a business we know how to grow. We
    acquired and successfully integrated CitiCapital´s Transportation
    Financial Services Group in 2005."

    The transaction is part of Citigroup´s efforts to direct capital
    to core businesses and drive operational efficiency.

    "This transaction allows Citigroup to release capital from
    non-core areas and redistribute that capital to areas with the
    greatest opportunities for profitable growth," said Peter Knitzer

    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Citibank North America. "This
    divestiture further streamlines our business and better positions the
    firm to leverage marketplace opportunities to benefit our
    shareholders."

    Citi´s Institutional Clients Group advised Citi in the
    transaction.

    About GE Capital

    GE Capital offers consumers and businesses around the globe an
    array of financial products and services. Its Commercial Finance unit
    has assets of approximately $335 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.

    About Citi

    Citi, the leading global financial services company, has some 200
    million customer accounts and does business in more than 100
    countries, providing consumers, corporations, governments and
    institutions with a broad range of financial products and services

    including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment
    banking, securities brokerage, and wealth management. Citi´s major
    brand names include Citibank, CitiFinancial, Primerica, Smith Barney

    Banamex, and Nikko. Additional information may be found at
    www.citigroup.com or www.citi.com.