GE Medical Systems, a business unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE) and NEC Corporation (NEC) announced today that the companies' newly established joint venture will begin operations on October 1, 1999 as GE Marquette Medical Systems Japan. GE Marquette Medical Systems Japan will market and distribute medical equipment and services to support the more than $200 billion Japanese health care market -- the second largest health care market in the world. GE Marquette Medical Systems Japan will offer health care organizations in Japan a wide-range of leading products from GE Marquette Medical Systems for monitoring patients, diagnosing cardiac disease and managing patient data, which allows medical professionals access to better, more complete clinical information than ever before. In addition, the company will distribute cardiovascular and cerebral nerve monitoring equipment developed by NEC Medical Systems. "GE Marquette is focused on global growth, and the health care market in Japan is a top priority," said Dr. Frederick Robertson, President and CEO of GE Marquette Medical Systems. "By joining our leading-edge medical systems with the market expertise of NEC Medical Systems and GE Medical Systems-Asia, we are confident that GE Marquette Medical Systems Japan will grow to become the preferred medical systems provider in Japan." GE Marquette Medical Systems Japan will be lead by Hideo Takeuchi, 59, former Managing Director of Nihon Kohden Corporation. According to Takeuchi, "GE Marquette-Japan will further provide Japanese health care organizations with a more comprehensive medical offering by integrating NEC Medical Systems' established distribution network and GE Marquette's technology leadership." Under the agreement, nationwide sales offices and approximately 350 sales and service staff from NEC Medical Systems will be transferred to GE Marquette Japan. "Health care organizations around the world are increasingly seeking technology suppliers that can provide integrated medical systems that improve both efficiency and patient care," said Takeuchi. "The breadth and depth of GE Marquette Japan's product and service offering is unique, and positions the company to meet customers' needs for comprehensive solutions." The new joint venture is designed to fulfill such customer needs, and forecasts the annual sales for the first year to be more than $100 million. The company also intends to market NEC products in other Asian markets where GE Marquette technology is well-respected by leading health care professionals. In Japan, GE Marquette products will also continue to be distributed via existing marketing channels, including Nihon Kohden Corporation and Atom Medical. GE Marquette Medical Systems is a leading global provider of medical diagnostic equipment and services including diagnostic cardiology, patient monitoring and clinical information systems. These offerings include resting ECG, exercise stress testing systems, and point-of-care monitoring of adult, fetal, and neonatal patients. GE Marquette, a GE Medical Systems Company, is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis. Additional information about GE Marquette and its products can be found on the company's web site at http://www.mei.com . GE Medical Systems is a $6 billion business, employing nearly 20,000 people worldwide. NEC Medical Systems develops and markets medical products including patient monitors, cardiovascular equipment and cerebral nerve equipment. NEC Medical Systems will continue to design, develop and provide the new company with medical products, which will continuously be manufactured at NEC Gunma's Utsunomiya plant. NEC Medical Systems has roughly 550 employees and reported revenues of 14.8 billion Japanese yen for 1998 fiscal year. NEC Corporation is a Japan's leading company that develops, manufactures and markets computers, telecommunications network products and semiconductors. On a consolidated basis, NEC has 157,800 employees, reported revenues of 4.759 trillion Japanese yen for 1998 fiscal year, and has a 99.9 percent share of NEC Medical Systems (NMS). ots Original Text Service: GE Medical Systems Internet: http://www.newsaktuell.de Contact: Misa Mizukami of GE Medical Systems, 042-585-5856, or Chris Shimizu, Public Relations Division of NEC Corporation, 03-3798-6511, E- mail shimizu@p10-22150.star.nec.co.jp Web site: http://www.mei.com