GE Commercial Finance Global Media & Communications Provides Funds for Virgo Publishing LLC Transaction with Seaport Capital

Business Wire, Dec 8, 2004

NORWALK, Conn. -- GE Commercial Finance Global Media & Communications announced today that it has provided a senior secured facility for a transaction between Virgo Publishing LLC and Seaport Capital. The transaction closed November 30, 2004.

Founded in 1986 and based in Phoenix, Virgo Publishing is a business-to-business publisher dedicated to meeting the information needs of underserved niche business sectors. The company produces sixteen trade publications and seven trade shows and events diversified across four core industry groups: natural products/healthcare, telecommunications, light industrial, and lifestyle.

GE Commercial Finance is the sole agent and lender. Equity financing for the transaction was supplied by Seaport Capital, company management, and the seller.

President and CEO of Virgo Publishing, Jenny Bolton says, "Our new relationship with GE Commercial Finance and Seaport Capital is very exciting and will allow us to accelerate our current growth strategies. I am looking forward to continuing our expansion into new and existing markets where we can implement our unique style of creating communities through our publishing, Internet, and events businesses."

Based in New York City, Seaport Capital is a leading equity provider to middle market media, telecommunications, information and business services companies. "Seaport Capital highly values its long term relationship with GE's Global Media & Communications team. They have been an outstanding debt capital provider in key transactions due to their deep industry knowledge, structuring flexibility, and ability to respond quickly to new and existing portfolio company opportunities", said Kevin Brandon, partner, Seaport Capital.

"Our group has extensive experience funding 'platform' publishing companies and has a strong appreciation of their appeal and prospects," said David VanderLugt, senior vice president, Global Media & Communications. "This insight, combined with our focus on Seaport's specific requirements for this transaction, enabled us to develop a very attractive financing solution for the Virgo Publishing transaction."

About GE Commercial Finance Global Media & Communications

With over $5 billion in assets and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Delhi, Hong Kong, London, New York, Norwalk, and San Francisco, GE Commercial Finance Global Media & Communications represents a "one-stop" source for the comprehensive range of GE's lending and other structured financial services offered to the media, telecom, leisure & entertainment, and technology marketplace. For more information, please visit www.gegmc.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 $230 billion and is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. General Electric (NYSE: GE) is a diversified technology, media, and financial services company dedicated to creating products that make life better. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.