HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GE Commercial Finance ("GE") wishes to announce its investment of US$50 million in Credit Orienwise Group Limited ("COG"), by the purchase of COG's shares from its controlling shareholder. COG holds indirectly the entire equity interest of China Orienwise Limited ("COL" or the "Company"). GE's investment represents on a fully converted basis approximately 7.8% of the total shares of COG
With presence across China's major economic regions, COG is one of the fastest growing non-bank finance corporations in Greater China. COG's strong performance and broad strategic footprint will broaden GE's financing capabilities and create growth opportunities for the company.
"GE is a leading international player in the financial services industry," said Zhang Kaiyong, Chairman of Credit Orienwise Group. "The strategic cooperation between Credit Orienwise and GE Commercial Finance will strengthen our competitive advantage and create significant value for our shareholders."
As a strategic shareholder, GE will appoint a director to the board of directors of COG and certain of its subsidiaries including COL.
In addition, COG has entered into a memorandum of understanding ("MOU") with GE to expand its product and services to Greater China small and medium enterprises. Pursuant to the MOU, GE and COG intend to setup an equally owned joint venture focused initially on the business of international and domestic factoring, and expandable to other trade finance products, inventory financing, purchase order financing or leasing. The memorandum of understanding includes an agreement by GE to provide technical services to COG. Detailed terms of the joint venture are yet to be agreed to by both COG and GE.
"We are pleased to partner with Credit Orienwise," said Nancy Ku, President and CEO of GE Commercial Finance China. "The synergies between COG's local network and our global expertise will significantly extend COG's market position and capabilities."
Morgan Stanley Asia Limited was the exclusive financial advisor to the controlling shareholder of COG in this deal.
About GE Commercial Finance
GE Commercial Finance 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.
About Credit Orienwise Group
Credit Orienwise Group is one of the largest private guarantee companies and SME lenders in China. Its key businesses include corporate, individual and performance guarantees, as well as entrusted lending and advisory services, mostly to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In the past few years, the under-served financing needs of SMEs and China's under-developed credit culture have together acted as key drivers behind the company's quick growth and good profitability. Strategic investors include GE, Asian Development Bank, Citigroup Venture Capital International and The Carlyle Group. As of December 2006, it had total assets of RMB3.5 billion (US$449 million).
Contacts
GE
Lincoln Pan,
+85-2-21006799
[email protected]
Jeff Wilson
GE Capital Corporate Finance
[email protected]
1-203-749-6340