GE Medical Systems and NEC Launch New Operation in Asia: GE Marquette Medical Systems Japan

Tokyo (PROTEXT) - GE Medical Systems, a business unit ofGeneral Electric Company (NYSE: GE) and NEC Corporation (NEC)announced today that the companies' newly established jointventure will begin operations on October 1, 1999 as GE MarquetteMedical Systems Japan. GE Marquette Medical Systems Japan willmarket and distribute medical equipment and services to supportthe more than $200 billion Japanese health care market -- thesecond largest health care market in the world. GE Marquette Medical Systems Japan will offer health careorganizations in Japan a wide-range of leading products from GEMarquette Medical Systems for monitoring patients, diagnosingcardiac disease and managing patient data, which allows medicalprofessionals access to better, more complete clinicalinformation than ever before. In addition, the company willdistribute cardiovascular and cerebral nerve monitoring equipmentdeveloped by NEC Medical Systems. "GE Marquette is focused on global growth, and the health caremarket in Japan is a top priority," said Dr. Frederick Robertson,President and CEO of GE Marquette Medical Systems. "By joiningour leading-edge medical systems with the market expertise of NECMedical Systems and GE Medical Systems-Asia, we are confidentthat GE Marquette Medical Systems Japan will grow to become thepreferred medical systems provider in Japan." GE Marquette Medical Systems Japan will be lead by HideoTakeuchi, 59, former Managing Director of Nihon KohdenCorporation. According to Takeuchi, "GE Marquette-Japan willfurther provide Japanese health care organizations with a morecomprehensive medical offering by integrating NEC MedicalSystems' established distribution network and GE Marquette'stechnology leadership." Under the agreement, nationwide sales offices andapproximately 350 sales and service staff from NEC MedicalSystems will be transferred to GE Marquette Japan. "Health care organizations around the world are increasinglyseeking technology suppliers that can provide integrated medicalsystems that improve both efficiency and patient care," saidTakeuchi. "The breadth and depth of GE Marquette Japan's productand service offering is unique, and positions the company to meetcustomers' needs for comprehensive solutions." The new joint venture is designed to fulfill such customerneeds, and forecasts the annual sales for the first year to bemore than $100 million. The company also intends to market NECproducts in other Asian markets where GE Marquette technology iswell-respected by leading health care professionals. In Japan, GE Marquette products will also continue to bedistributed via existing marketing channels, including NihonKohden Corporation and Atom Medical. GE Marquette Medical Systems is a leading global provider ofmedical diagnostic equipment and services including diagnosticcardiology, patient monitoring and clinical information systems.These offerings include resting ECG, exercise stress testingsystems, and point-of-care monitoring of adult, fetal, andneonatal patients. GE Marquette, a GE Medical Systems Company, isheadquartered in Milwaukee, Wis. Additional information about GEMarquette and its products can be found on the company's web siteat http://www.mei.com . GE Medical Systems is a $6 billionbusiness, employing nearly 20,000 people worldwide. NEC Medical Systems develops and markets medical productsincluding patient monitors, cardiovascular equipment and cerebralnerve equipment. NEC Medical Systems will continue to design,develop and provide the new company with medical products, whichwill continuously be manufactured at NEC Gunma's Utsunomiyaplant. NEC Medical Systems has roughly 550 employees and reportedrevenues 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 networkproducts and semiconductors. On a consolidated basis, NEC has157,800 employees, reported revenues of 4.759 trillion Japaneseyen for 1998 fiscal year, and has a 99.9 percent share of NECMedical Systems (NMS). ots Original Text Service: GE MedicalSystems Internet: http://www.newsaktuell.de Contact: MisaMizukami 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

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