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GE Capital's Equity Capital Group Makes $8M Investment in Sky Alland

24 November 1998

GE Capital's Equity Capital Group Makes $8 Million Investment in Sky Alland


    COLUMBIA, Mass.--Nov. 24, 1998-- GE Capital's Equity Capital Group today announced that it has made an $8 million strategic investment in Sky Alland, a leader in customer relationship management, based in Columbia, MD. Sky Alland delivers customer retention and acquisition services. Through the purchase of new, preferred stock in Sky Alland, GE Capital's Equity Capital Group joins Safeguard Scientifics, Advanta Partners, Internet Capital Group and Sky Alland employees as key stakeholders in the company.
    "We are excited by GE Capital's endorsement of Sky Alland's business model and service offerings," said Rich Hebert, CEO of Sky Alland. "We will use the investment to fund technology and infrastructure enhancements, corporate expansion and, potentially, acquisitions."
    "In today's economy, it is critical that companies retain existing customers by building and maintaining close relationships with them," said Paul Gelburd, managing director of GE Capital's Equity Capital Group. "Sky Alland's integration of customer relationship management services and innovative technologies helps companies leverage brand identity to increase customer satisfaction and retention."

About Sky Alland


    Sky Alland is a privately held company that has averaged annual growth of more than 30% over the last four years. The company's client portfolio includes Audi, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, BMW, Continental Airlines, Harley Davidson, IBM, Kohler, Mazda, Mitsubishi Motors, Owens Corning, PECO Energy, Porsche, Charles Schwab, Sears, Volkswagen, Wachovia and Wells Fargo.
    Founded in 1984, Sky Alland is an industry leader in customer relationship management. Sky Alland offers a full range of products as components of its customer programs, including lead management, customer satisfaction management, channel management, retention marketing, customer service and cross/up selling. The products are deployed on an outsourced basis using the following services: teleservices, interactive communications, database management, data mining, market research and fulfillment. The company employs 1,000 associates.

About GE Capital


    GE Capital's Equity Capital Group is the private equity arm of GE Capital. GE Capital, with assets of more than US$250 billion, is a global, diversified financial services company with 28 specialized businesses. A wholly owned subsidiary of General Electric Company, GE Capital, based in Stamford, CT, provides equipment management, mid-market and specialized financing, specialty insurance and a variety of consumer services, such as car leasing, home mortgages and credit cards, to businesses and individuals around the world. GE is a diversified manufacturing, technology and services company with operations worldwide.