GE has signed an agreement to sell its commercial lending and leasing business in Japan, including Capital Finance, Fleet Service and Vendor Finance, to Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing (SMFL), a member of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group. The transaction includes employees of the business and represents aggregate GE ending net investment (ENI) of approximately US $4.6 billion. The sale price is approximately US $4.8 billion.

“We continue to make quick progress on the sale of our international assets and are pleased to sell this business to a company that is committed to growth for our customers and employees,” said Keith Sherin, GE Capital chairman and CEO. “This is our second transaction with the broader Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and we were happy to work with them again,” he added.

Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing is one of Japan's largest leasing companies. It is developing business overseas, including in China, Southeast Asia and the United States. As previously announced, GE is embarking on a strategy to focus on its high-value industrial businesses and is selling most of GE Capital’s assets. GE will retain the financing verticals that relate to GE’s industrial businesses. When completed, today's transaction will contribute approximately US $0.6 billion of capital to the overall target of approximately US$35 billion of dividends expected to be paid to GE under this plan (subject to regulatory approval).

The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approval. It is expected to close in April 2016. Morgan Stanley acting together with Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities provided financial advice and Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu provided legal advice to GE.