GE Capital Solutions, Franchise Finance Loans $73.75 Million to Fox & Hound Restaurant Group

Business Wire, April 2, 2008

Fox & Hound receives funds to acquire Champps Americana

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- GE Capital Solutions, Franchise Finance committed $73.75 million to Fox & Hound Restaurant Group to acquire Champps Americana, a national chain of restaurants with a burger, beer, and sports theme.

Operating under the brand names Fox & Hound and Bailey's, Fox & Hound Restaurant Group owns entertainment restaurants in 25 states across the nation.

"We had the opportunity to continue a relationship with Fox & Hound and provide financing for an acquisition and new store growth," says Paul Cantieri, vice president of GE Capital Solutions, Franchise Finance. "Stepping forward with this large deal displays our commitment to the company and our industry."

"This is a key acquisition for Fox & Hound," says Clinton Coleman, vice president, Newcastle Capital Management, a private investment fund with an ownership interest in Fox & Hound. "It really opens the door for continued success and future growth. We're pleased GE Capital Solutions, Franchise Finance stepped up in a turbulent market to help us get this deal done."

After the acquisition, with 136 locations, Fox & Hound Restaurant Group offers customers a unique and upscale destination for socializing, eating, and drinking. Each restaurant emphasizes a high energy environment with multiple billiard tables, satellite and cable coverage of a variety of sporting events, and music videos.

GE Capital Solutions, Franchise Finance is a leading lender serving customers in the restaurant, hospitality and branded beverage industries. It provides financing to help franchisees and franchisors grow, compete, and prosper. It offers access to capital with a diverse array of flexible financing options, including funds for purchasing real estate or equipment, new construction or remodels, acquisitions, or refinancing.

About GE Capital Solutions, Franchise Finance

GE Capital Solutions, Franchise Finance is a leading lender for the franchise finance market via direct sales and portfolio acquisition. With more than 30 years of experience and $13 billion in served assets, we serve more than 5,000 customers and more than 22,000 property locations, primarily in the restaurant, hospitality and branded beverage industries. We offer customers access to capital with a menu of products featuring flexible structuring, including financing for acquisitions, refinancing, construction of new units, and remodels for single- and multi-unit operators/chains. More information is available at www.gefranchisefinance.com or by calling toll-free 866-GET-GEFF (438-4333).

GE Capital Solutions provides leasing, lending, and capital investment products and services to help business customers grow. It has more than $100 billion in assets, serves more than a million clients around the world, and is headquartered in Danbury, Connecticut, USA. For more on GE Capital Solutions, go to www.ge.com/capitalsolutions.> 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 Web site at www.ge.com.