US Realty Advisors, a real estate investment banking, assetmanagement and corporate advisory firm, will originate thetransactions and manage the properties. The acquisition programwill emphasize obtaining assets that are net leased for at least 15years to tenants with credit ratings from B to BBB, and willinclude warehouse, retail and office properties. GE Capital RealEstate officials note that the properties can be existing ones thatare sold by a corporation and leased back, or new properties thatare owned by third parties.

"We are very excited about entering the corporate real estatemarket through a joint venture with USRA," says Kathy Cassidy,executive vice president and managing director, Strategic Venturesfor GE Capital Real Estate. "Corporations own almost $2 trillion ofcommercial real estate and we believe we can create a diversifiedportfolio that is well leased to good credit tenants on long-termleases. USRA has a terrific track record in this business, adiverse network to source transactions with major corporate tenantsand the comprehensive skills to execute our business strategy."

Richard H. Ader, managing partner of US Realty Advisors adds,"We look forward to this significant strategic relationship with GECapital. Net lease transactions offer large US and foreigncorporations a cost-effective way to control the real estate assetsused in their business, with operating flexibility and off-balancesheet accounting treatment. Our venture with GE Capital willsignificantly expand the capital available to service thisgrowing-corporate market."