General Electric (GE) 10-Q 2006 Q1 Quarterly report

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

þ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2006

OR

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ____ to ____

Commission file number 1-35

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

New York	14-0689340
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
3135 Easton Turnpike, Fairfield, CT	06828-0001
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)(203) 373-2211 _______________________________________________ (Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þNo ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer þ   Accelerated filer ¨   Non-accelerated filer ¨  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ¨ No þ

There were 10,398,398,000 shares of common stock with a par value of $0.06 per share outstanding at March 31, 2006.

(1)

General Electric Company

Part I - Financial Information	Page
Item 1. Financial Statements
Condensed Statement of Earnings	3
Condensed Statement of Financial Position	4
Condensed Statement of Cash Flows	5
Summary of Operating Segments	6
Notes to Condensed, Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)	7
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	19
Item 4. Controls and Procedures	28
Part II - Other Information
Item 1. Legal Proceedings	29
Item 2. Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers	29
Item 6. Exhibits	30
Signatures	31

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains “forward-looking statements” - that is, statements related to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” or “will.” Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. For us, particular uncertainties which could adversely or positively affect our future results include: the behavior of financial markets, including fluctuations in interest rates and commodity prices; strategic actions, including dispositions; future integration of acquired businesses; future financial performance of major industries which we serve, including, without limitation, the air and rail transportation, energy generation, media, real estate and healthcare industries; unanticipated loss development in our insurance businesses; and numerous other matters of national, regional and global scale, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive and regulatory nature. These uncertainties may cause our actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in our forward-looking statements. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements.

(2)

Part I. Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

Condensed Statement of Earnings

General Electric Company and consolidated affiliates

	Three months ended March 31 (Unaudited)
	Consolidated						GE						Financial Services (GECS)
(In millions; per-share amounts in dollars)	2006			2005			2006			2005			2006			2005
Sales of goods	$	14,535		$	13,656		$	14,026		$	12,988		$	555		$	674
Sales of services		8,949			7,749			9,060			7,845			-			-
Other income		451			317			479			330			-			-
GECS earnings from continuing operations		-			-			2,270			1,863			-			-
GECS revenues from services		13,886			12,628			-			-			14,126			12,931
Total revenues		37,821			34,350			25,835			23,026			14,681			13,605
Cost of goods sold		11,656			10,606			11,188			9,977			513			635
Cost of services sold		6,005			4,936			6,117			5,032			-			-
Interest and other financial charges		4,361			3,671			384			381			4,107			3,414
Investment contracts, insurance losses and
insurance annuity benefits		749			827			-			-			805			866
Provision for losses on financing receivables		822			902			-			-			822			902
Other costs and expenses		9,037			8,848			3,396			3,311			5,723			5,690
Minority interest in net earnings of
consolidated affiliates		238			216			163			186			75			30
Total costs and expenses		32,868			30,006			21,248			18,887			12,045			11,537
Earnings from continuing operations
before income taxes		4,953			4,344			4,587			4,139			2,636			2,068
Provision for income taxes		(911	)		(784	)		(545	)		(579	)		(366	)		(205	)
Earnings from continuing operations		4,042			3,560			4,042			3,560			2,270			1,863
Earnings from discontinued operations, net of taxes		263			405			263			405			263			405
Net earnings	$	4,305		$	3,965		$	4,305		$	3,965		$	2,533		$	2,268
Per-share amounts
Per-share amounts - earnings from
continuing operations
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.39		$	0.33
Basic earnings per share	$	0.39		$	0.34
Per-share amounts - net earnings
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.41		$	0.37
Basic earnings per share	$	0.41		$	0.37
Dividends declared per share	$	0.25		$	0.22

See notes to condensed, consolidated financial statements. Separate information is shown for “GE” and “Financial Services (GECS).” Transactions between GE and GECS have been eliminated from the “Consolidated” columns.

(3)

Condensed Statement of Financial Position

General Electric Company and consolidated affiliates

	Consolidated						GE						Financial Services (GECS)
(In millions; except share amounts)	3/31/06			12/31/05			3/31/06			12/31/05			3/31/06			12/31/05
Cash and equivalents	$	8,503		$	8,825		$	1,772		$	2,015		$	6,900		$	7,130
Investment securities		45,100			42,148			596			461			44,512			41,710
Current receivables		12,558			14,851			12,764			15,058			-			-
Inventories		11,364			10,474			11,203			10,315			161			159
Financing receivables - net		286,834			287,639			-			-			286,834			287,639
Other GECS receivables		14,360			14,332			-			-			18,855			18,625
Property, plant and equipment (including
equipment leased to others) - net		67,684			67,528			16,370			16,504			51,314			51,024
Investment in GECS		-			-			49,254			50,815			-			-
Intangible assets - net		82,955			81,630			59,141			57,839			23,814			23,791
All other assets		86,947			84,849			36,540			36,752			51,871			49,461
Assets of discontinued operations		58,512			61,066			-			-			58,512			61,066
Total assets	$	674,817		$	673,342		$	187,640		$	189,759		$	542,773		$	540,605
Short-term borrowings	$	153,200		$	158,156		$	2,112		$	1,127		$	151,593		$	157,672
Accounts payable, principally trade accounts		19,096			21,183			10,752			11,870			12,214			13,043
Progress collections and price adjustments accrued		4,354			4,456			4,354			4,456			-			-
Other GE current liabilities		21,181			21,042			21,199			21,059			-			-
Long-term borrowings		222,970			212,281			9,085			9,081			215,086			204,397
Investment contracts, insurance liabilities
and insurance annuity benefits		33,386			33,097			-			-			33,811			33,387
All other liabilities		38,661			39,966			23,020			23,273			15,738			16,787
Deferred income taxes		16,862			16,226			3,775			3,733			13,087			12,493
Liabilities of discontinued operations		49,476			49,527			-			-			49,702			49,763
Total liabilities		559,186			555,934			74,297			74,599			491,231			487,542
Minority interest in equity of consolidated affiliates		8,143			8,054			5,855			5,806			2,288			2,248
Common stock (10,398,398,000 and 10,484,268,000
shares outstanding at March 31, 2006 and
December 31, 2005, respectively)		669			669			669			669			1			1
Accumulated gains (losses) - net
Investment securities		1,159			1,831			1,159			1,831			1,049			1,754
Currency translation adjustments		2,272			2,532			2,272			2,532			2,007			2,287
Cash flow hedges		(549	)		(822	)		(549	)		(822	)		(507	)		(813	)
Minimum pension liabilities		(889	)		(874	)		(889	)		(874	)		(189	)		(179	)
Other capital		25,362			25,227			25,362			25,227			12,525			12,386
Retained earnings		99,808			98,117			99,808			98,117			34,368			35,379
Less common stock held in treasury		(20,344	)		(17,326	)		(20,344	)		(17,326	)		-			-
Total shareowners’ equity		107,488			109,354			107,488			109,354			49,254			50,815
Total liabilities and equity	$	674,817		$	673,342		$	187,640		$	189,759		$	542,773		$	540,605

The sum of accumulated gains (losses) on investment securities, currency translation adjustments, cash flow hedges and minimum pension liabilities constitutes “Accumulated nonowner changes other than earnings,” and was $1,993 million and $2,667 million at March 31, 2006, and December 31, 2005, respectively.

See notes to condensed, consolidated financial statements. Separate information is shown for “GE” and “Financial Services (GECS).” March 31, 2006, data are unaudited. Transactions between GE and GECS have been eliminated from the “Consolidated” columns.

(4)

Condensed Statement of Cash Flows

General Electric Company and consolidated affiliates

	Three months ended March 31 (Unaudited)
	Consolidated						GE						Financial Services (GECS)
(In millions)	2006			2005			2006			2005			2006			2005
Cash flows - operating activities
Net earnings	$	4,305		$	3,965		$	4,305		$	3,965		$	2,533		$	2,268
Earnings from discontinued operations		(263	)		(405	)		-			-			(263	)		(405	)
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash
provided from operating activities
Depreciation and amortization of property,
plant and equipment		2,132			2,280			633			643			1,499			1,637
Earnings retained by GECS		-			-			871			(2,044	)		-			-
Deferred income taxes		311			(168	)		73			(1	)		238			(167	)
Decrease in GE current receivables		2,472			1,315			2,472			1,387			-			-
Increase in inventories		(878	)		(678	)		(876	)		(671	)		(2	)		(7	)
Decrease in accounts payable		(1,286	)		(1,583	)		(683	)		(1,032	)		(462	)		(850	)
Decrease in GE progress collections		(108	)		(102	)		(108	)		(102	)		-			-
Provision for losses on GECS financing receivables		822			902			-			-			822			902
All other operating activities		(2,089	)		2,188			25			745			(1,104	)		1,708
Cash from operating activities - continuing operations		5,418			7,714			6,712			2,890			3,261			5,086
Cash from operating activities - discontinued operations		91			1,210			-			-			91			1,210
Cash from operating activities		5,509			8,924			6,712			2,890			3,352			6,296
Cash flows - investing activities
Additions to property, plant and equipment		(2,984	)		(2,934	)		(853	)		(412	)		(2,131	)		(2,522	)
Dispositions of property, plant and equipment		1,158			1,811			-			-			1,113			1,814
Net decrease (increase) in GECS financing receivables		(3,063	)		750			-			-			(3,063	)		750
Payments for principal businesses purchased		(2,075	)		(7,300	)		(1,651	)		(2,669	)		(424	)		(4,631	)
All other investing activities		(199	)		866			346			586			(1,481	)		156
Cash used for investing activities - continuing operations		(7,163	)		(6,807	)		(2,158	)		(2,495	)		(5,986	)		(4,433	)
Cash from (used for) investing activities - discontinued operations		800			(359	)		-			-			800			(359	)
Cash used for investing activities		(6,363	)		(7,166	)		(2,158	)		(2,495	)		(5,186	)		(4,792	)
Cash flows - financing activities
Net increase (decrease) in borrowings (maturities of 90 days or less)		(1,498	)		(3,270	)		1,054			503			(2,876	)		(3,675	)
Newly issued debt (maturities longer than 90 days)		24,623			23,722			43			14			24,583			23,677
Repayments and other reductions (maturities longer than 90 days)		(16,103	)		(21,219	)		(122	)		(342	)		(15,981	)		(20,877	)
Net dispositions (purchases) of GE treasury shares		(3,141	)		121			(3,141	)		121			-			-
Dividends paid to shareowners		(2,631	)		(2,336	)		(2,631	)		(2,336	)		(3,404	)		(224	)
All other financing activities		173			(592	)		-			-			173			(592	)
Cash from (used for) financing activities - continuing operations		1,423			(3,574	)		(4,797	)		(2,040	)		2,495			(1,691	)
Cash used for financing activities - discontinued operations		(249	)		(613	)		-			-			(249	)		(613	)
Cash from (used for) financing activities		1,174			(4,187	)		(4,797	)		(2,040	)		2,246			(2,304	)
Increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents		320			(2,429	)		(243	)		(1,645	)		412			(800	)
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year		11,801			15,328			2,015			3,155			10,106			12,367
Cash and equivalents at March 31		12,121			12,899			1,772			1,510			10,518			11,567
Less cash and equivalents of discontinued operations at March 31		3,618			3,504			-			-			3,618			3,504
Cash and equivalents of continuing operations at March 31	$	8,503		$	9,395		$	1,772		$	1,510		$	6,900		$	8,063

See notes to condensed, consolidated financial statements. Separate information is shown for “GE” and “Financial Services (GECS).” Transactions between GE and Financial Services (GECS) have been eliminated from the “Consolidated” columns.

(5)

Summary of Operating Segments

General Electric Company and consolidated affiliates

	Three months ended March 31 (Unaudited)
(In millions)	2006			2005
Revenues
Infrastructure	$	10,152		$	9,374
Industrial		8,140			7,668
Healthcare		3,659			3,321
NBC Universal		4,482			3,601
Commercial Finance		5,484			5,072
Consumer Finance		5,090			4,689
Total segment revenues		37,007			33,725
Corporate items and eliminations		814			625
Consolidated revenues	$	37,821		$	34,350
Segment profit (a)
Infrastructure	$	1,703		$	1,540
Industrial		600			526
Healthcare		496			409
NBC Universal		654			709
Commercial Finance		1,174			926
Consumer Finance		836			735
Total segment profit		5,463			4,845
Corporate items and eliminations		(492	)		(325	)
GE interest and other financial charges		(384	)		(381	)
GE provision for income taxes		(545	)		(579	)
Earnings from continuing operations		4,042			3,560
Earnings from discontinued operations, net of taxes		263			405
Consolidated net earnings	$	4,305		$	3,965

(a)   Segment profit always excludes the effects of principal pension plans, results reported as discontinued operations and accounting changes, and may exclude matters such as charges for restructuring; rationalization and other similar expenses; in-process research and development and certain other acquisition-related charges and balances; technology development costs; certain gains and losses from dispositions; and litigation settlements or other charges, responsibility for which preceded the current management team. Segment profit excludes or includes interest and other financial charges and income taxes according to how a particular segment’s management is measured - excluded in determining segment profit, which we refer to as “operating profit,” for Healthcare, NBC Universal and the industrial businesses of the Infrastructure and Industrial segments; included in determining segment profit, which we refer to as “net earnings,” for Commercial Finance, Consumer Finance, and the financial services businesses of the Infrastructure segment (Aviation Financial Services, Energy Financial Services and Transportation Finance) and the Industrial segment (Equipment Services).  

(6)

Notes to Condensed, Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

1. The accompanying condensed, consolidated financial statements represent the consolidation of General Electric Company and all companies that we directly or indirectly control, either through majority ownership or otherwise. See note 1 to the consolidated financial statements included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005. That note discusses consolidation and financial statement presentation. As used in this report on Form 10-Q (Report) and in the Annual Report on Form 10-K, “GE” represents the adding together of all affiliated companies except General Electric Capital Services, Inc. (GECS or financial services), which is presented on a one-line basis; GECS consists of General Electric Capital Services, Inc. and all of its affiliates; and “Consolidated” represents the adding together of GE and GECS with the effects of transactions between the two eliminated. We reclassified certain prior-period amounts to conform to the current period’s presentation. Unless otherwise indicated, information in these notes to condensed, consolidated financial statements relates to continuing operations.

2. The condensed, consolidated financial statements and notes thereto are unaudited. These statements include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) that we considered necessary to present a fair statement of our results of operations, financial position and cash flows. The results reported in these condensed, consolidated financial statements should not be regarded as necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the entire year. We label our quarterly information using a calendar convention, that is, first quarter is labeled as ending on March 31, second quarter as ending on June 30, and third quarter as ending on September 30. It is our longstanding practice to establish interim quarterly closing dates using a fiscal calendar, which requires our businesses to close their books on either a Saturday or Sunday, depending on the business. The effects of this practice are modest and only exist within a reporting year. The fiscal closing calendar from 1993 through 2013 is available on our website, www.ge.com/secreports.

3. At March 31, 2006, we classified GE Life, Genworth Financial, Inc. (Genworth) and most of GE Insurance Solutions Corporation (GE Insurance Solutions) as discontinued operations. Associated results of operations, financial position and cash flows are separately reported for all periods presented.

Planned sale of GE Life

In March 2006, we initiated a plan to sell GE Life, our U.K.-based life insurance operation. GE Life’s assets were $14,520 million at March 31, 2006; its first quarter 2006 revenues were $799 million; and its first quarter 2006 earnings were insignificant. We have provided for a pre-tax loss of $210 million ($175 million after tax or $0.02 per share) based on our best estimate of sales proceeds. We anticipate selling GE Life by March 31, 2007.

Planned sale of GE Insurance Solutions

Swiss Reinsurance Company (Swiss Re) has agreed to buy the property and casualty insurance and reinsurance businesses and the European life and health operations of GE Insurance Solutions for $8,500 million, including the assumption of $1,700 million of debt. On April 20, 2006, we and Swiss Re agreed that consideration, other than assumed debt, will consist of $2,400 million of newly issued Swiss Re common stock that we will be restricted from selling for 360 days and the remainder will consist of some combination of cash, immediately salable notes and mandatory convertible instruments. We presently expect this transaction to close in the second quarter of 2006, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

(7)

Completed sale of Genworth

In March 2006, we completed the sale of our remaining 18% investment in Genworth through a secondary public offering of 71 million shares of Class A Common Stock and direct sale to Genworth of 15 million shares of Genworth Class B Common Stock. As a result, we recognized a pre-tax gain of $516 million ($300 million after tax or $0.03 per share).

Summarized financial information for discontinued operations is set forth below. Gain on disposal included both actual (Genworth) and estimated (GE Life) effects.

	Three months ended March 31
(In millions)	2006			2005
Discontinued operations before disposal
Revenues from services	$	2,345		$	5,213
Earnings from discontinued operations before
minority interest and income taxes	$	179		$	698
Minority interest		-			99
Earnings from discontinued operations before income taxes		179			599
Income tax expense		(41	)		(280	)
Earnings from discontinued operations before disposal, net of taxes	$	138		$	319
Disposal
Gain on disposal before income taxes	$	306		$	156
Income tax expense		(181	)		(70	)
Gain on disposal, net of taxes	$	125		$	86
Earnings from discontinued operations, net of taxes	$	263		$	405

(8)

	At
(In millions)	3/31/06			12/31/05
Assets
Cash and equivalents	$	3,618		$	2,976
Investment securities		35,023			37,633
Other GECS receivables		13,333			13,915
Other		6,538			6,542
Assets of discontinued operations		58,512			61,066
Eliminations		-			-
Total	$	58,512		$	61,066
Liabilities and equity
Investment contracts, insurance liabilities and
insurance annuity benefits	$	43,525		$	43,378
Other		6,177			6,385
Liabilities of discontinued operations		49,702			49,763
Eliminations		(226	)		(236	)
Total	$	49,476		$	49,527
Total accumulated nonowner changes other than earnings	$	65		$	652

4. GECS revenues from services are summarized in the following table.

	Three months ended March 31
(In millions)	2006		2005
Interest on loans	$	5,342	$	4,863
Operating lease rentals		2,915		2,757
Investment income		660		655
Fees		1,007		847
Financing leases		1,002		1,033
Premiums earned by insurance activities		491		553
Other income		2,709		2,223
Total	$	14,126	$	12,931

(9)

5. We sponsor a number of pension and retiree health and life insurance benefit plans. Principal pension plans include the GE Pension Plan and the GE Supplementary Pension Plan. Principal retiree benefit plans generally provide health and life insurance benefits to employees who retire under the GE Pension Plan with 10 or more years of service. Other pension plans include the U.S. and non-U.S. pension plans whose pension assets or obligations exceeded $50 million. Smaller pension plans and other retiree benefit plans are not material individually or in the aggregate. The effect on operations of the pension and retiree benefit plans follows.

	Principal Pension Plans						Other Pension Plans
	Three months ended March 31						Three months ended March 31
(In millions)	2006			2005			2006			2005
Expected return on plan assets	$	(952	)	$	(970	)	$	(98	)	$	(88	)
Service cost for benefits earned		366			325			83			73
Interest cost on benefit obligation		579			557			93			90
Prior service cost		58			62			1			2
Net actuarial loss recognized		188			81			39			31
Cost of pension plans	$	239		$	55		$	118		$	108

	Principal Retiree Health and Life Insurance Plans
	Three months ended March 31
(In millions)	2006			2005
Expected return on plan assets	$	(32	)	$	(34	)
Service cost for benefits earned		54			53
Interest cost on benefit obligation		114			126
Prior service cost		74			75
Net actuarial loss recognized		18			18
Cost of principal retiree benefit plans	$	228		$	238

(10)

6. GE’s authorized common stock consists of 13,200,000,000 shares having a par value of $0.06 each. Information related to the calculation of earnings per share follows.

	Three months ended March 31
	2006				2005
(In millions; per-share amounts in dollars)	Diluted		Basic		Diluted		Basic
Consolidated
Earnings from continuing operations for
per-share calculation(a)	$	4,042	$	4,042	$	3,560	$	3,560
Earnings from discontinued operations
for per-share calculation(b)		263		263		403		405
Net earnings available for per-share calculation	$	4,305	$	4,305	$	3,963	$	3,965
Average equivalent shares
Shares of GE common stock outstanding		10,442		10,442		10,597		10,597
Employee compensation-related shares,
including stock options		38		-		44		-
Total average equivalent shares		10,480		10,442		10,641		10,597
Per-share amounts
Earnings from continuing operations	$	0.39	$	0.39	$	0.33	$	0.34
Earnings from discontinued operations	$	0.03	$	0.03	$	0.04	$	0.04
Net earnings	$	0.41	$	0.41	$	0.37	$	0.37

(a)	Including dividend equivalents.
(b)	Including dilutive effects of subsidiary-issued stock-based awards.

Earnings-per-share amounts are computed independently each quarter for earnings from continuing operations, earnings from discontinued operations and net earnings. As a result, the sum of per-share amounts from continuing operations and discontinued operations does not always equal the total per-share net earnings for the respective quarters.

7. Inventories consisted of the following.

	At
(In millions)	3/31/06			12/31/05
Raw materials and work in process	$	6,176		$	5,527
Finished goods		5,561			5,311
Unbilled shipments		280			333
		12,017			11,171
Less revaluation to LIFO		(653	)		(697	)
Total	$	11,364		$	10,474

(11)

8. GECS financing receivables - net, consisted of the following.

	At
(In millions)	3/31/06			12/31/05
Loans, net of deferred income	$	227,528		$	227,923
Investment in financing leases, net of deferred income		63,810			64,309
		291,338			292,232
Less allowance for losses		(4,504	)		(4,593	)
Financing receivables - net	$	286,834		$	287,639

Included in the above are the financing receivables of consolidated, liquidating securitization entities as follows:

	At
(In millions)	3/31/06			12/31/05
Loans, net of deferred income	$	14,755		$	15,868
Investment in financing leases, net of deferred income		131			769
		14,886			16,637
Less allowance for losses		(22	)		(22	)
Financing receivables - net	$	14,864		$	16,615

9. Property, plant and equipment (including equipment leased to others) - net, consisted of the following.

	At
(In millions)	3/31/06			12/31/05
Original cost	$	112,457		$	111,733
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		(44,773	)		(44,205	)
Property, plant and equipment - net	$	67,684		$	67,528

10. Intangible assets - net, consisted of the following.

	At
(In millions)	3/31/06		12/31/05
Goodwill	$	71,002	$	69,611
Intangible assets subject to amortization		9,841		9,932
Indefinite-lived intangible assets(a)		2,112		2,087
Total	$	82,955	$	81,630

(a)   Indefinite-lived intangible assets principally comprised trademarks, tradenames and U.S. Federal Communications Commission licenses.  

(12)

First quarter 2006 changes in goodwill balances follow.

(In millions)	Balance 1/1/06		Acquisitions/ purchase accounting adjustments			Currency exchange and other				Balance 3/31/06
Infrastructure	$	10,166		$	163		$	(14	)	$	10,315
Industrial		8,702			95			7			8,804
Healthcare		13,404			1,081			4			14,489
NBC Universal		17,534			10			-			17,544
Commercial Finance		10,621			85			(11	)		10,695
Consumer Finance		9,184			53			(82	)		9,155
Total	$	69,611		$	1,487		$	(96	)	$	71,002

The amount of goodwill related to new acquisitions recorded during the first quarter of 2006 was $1,277 million. The largest such acquisition was IDX Systems Corporation ($1,099 million), acquired by Healthcare. During 2006, we increased goodwill associated with previous acquisitions by $210 million; the largest such adjustment was an increase of $123 million associated with the 2005 acquisition of Ionics, Inc. by Infrastructure.

Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization

	At
	3/31/06								12/31/05
(In millions)	Gross carrying amount		Accumulated amortization				Net		Gross carrying amount		Accumulated amortization				Net
Patents, licenses and trademarks	$	5,237		$	(1,484	)	$	3,753	$	5,311		$	(1,406	)	$	3,905
Capitalized software		5,738			(3,230	)		2,508		5,586			(3,059	)		2,527
All other		4,911			(1,331	)		3,580		4,737			(1,237	)		3,500
Total	$	15,886		$	(6,045	)	$	9,841	$	15,634		$	(5,702	)	$	9,932

Consolidated amortization expense related to intangible assets subject to amortization was $432 million and $363 million for the quarters ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

(13)

11. GECS borrowings are summarized in the following table.

	At
(In millions)	3/31/06		12/31/05
Short-term borrowings
Commercial paper
U.S.
Unsecured	$	61,724	$	67,643
Asset-backed(a)		8,157		9,267
Non-U.S.		24,870		20,456
Current portion of long-term debt(b)(c)		38,693		41,792
Other		18,149		18,514
Total		151,593		157,672
Long-term borrowings
Senior notes
Unsecured		192,239		180,546
Asset-backed(d)		5,899		6,845
Extendible notes(e)		13,984		14,022
Subordinated notes(f)		2,964		2,984
Total		215,086		204,397
Total borrowings	$	366,679	$	362,069

(a)	Entirely obligations of consolidated, liquidating securitization entities. See note 14.
(b)	Included short-term borrowings by consolidated, liquidating securitization entities of $732 million and $697 million at March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively. See note 14.
(c)	Included $250 million of subordinated notes guaranteed by GE at both March 31, 2006, and December 31, 2005.
(d)	Asset-backed senior notes were all issued by consolidated, liquidating securitization entities. See note 14.
(e)	Included $38 million of obligations of consolidated, liquidating securitization entities at December 31, 2005. See note 14.
(f)	Included $750 million of subordinated notes guaranteed by GE at both March 31, 2006, and December 31, 2005.

12. A summary of increases (decreases) in shareowners’ equity that did not result directly from transactions with shareowners, net of income taxes, follows.

	Three months ended March 31
(In millions)	2006			2005
Net earnings	$	4,305		$	3,965
Investment securities - net		(672	)		(820	)
Currency translation adjustments - net		(260	)		61
Cash flow hedges - net		273			629
Minimum pension liabilities - net		(15	)		13
Total	$	3,631		$	3,848

(14)

13. We adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment (SFAS 123R), on January 1, 2006, using the modified prospective method. Among other things, SFAS 123R requires expensing the fair value of stock options, a previously optional accounting method that we adopted voluntarily in 2002. The transitional effects of this provision of SFAS 123R consisted of a reduction in first quarter 2006 net earnings of $3 million to expense the unvested portion of options granted in 2001.

A comparison of reported net earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, and pro-forma net earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2005, including effects of expensing stock options, follows.

	Three months ended March 31
(In millions; per-share amounts in dollars)	2006		2005
Net earnings, as reported	$	4,305	$	3,965
Earnings per share, as reported
Diluted		0.41		0.37
Basic		0.41		0.37
Stock option expense included in net earnings		25		37
Total stock option expense		25		64	(a)
Pro-forma effects
Net earnings, on pro-forma basis				3,938
Earnings per share, on pro-forma basis
Diluted				0.37
Basic				0.37

Other share-based compensation expense recognized in net earnings was $26 million and $30 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The total income tax benefit recognized in earnings for all share-based compensation arrangements was $27 million and $31 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
(a)	As if we applied SFAS 123R to expense stock options in all periods. Included amounts we actually recognized in earnings.

SFAS 123R also required us to change the statement of cash flow classification of certain tax benefits from share-based compensation deductions beginning on January 1, 2006. As a result, we classified $26 million as cash from financing activities rather than cash from operating activities in the first quarter 2006.

(15)

Other Stock-Related Information

We grant stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs) and performance share units (PSUs) to employees under the 1990 Long-Term Incentive Plan as described in our current Proxy Statement. In addition, we grant options and RSUs in limited circumstances to consultants, advisors and independent contractors (primarily non-employee talent at NBC Universal) under a plan approved by our Board of Directors in 1997 (the consultants’ plan). There are outstanding grants under two separate shareowner-approved option plans for non-employee directors. The last grant was in 2002 and no further grants are expected to be made under these plans. Share requirements may be met from either unissued or treasury shares. Stock options expire 10 years from the date they are granted and vest over service periods that range from one to five years. RSUs give the recipients the right to receive shares of our stock upon the lapse of their related restrictions. Restrictions on RSUs lapse in various increments and at various dates, beginning after three years from date of grant through grantee retirement. Although the plan permits us to issue RSUs settleable in cash, we have only issued RSUs settleable in shares of our stock. PSUs give recipients the right to receive shares of our stock upon the achievement of certain performance targets.

All grants of GE options under all plans must be approved by the Management Development and Compensation Committee, which consists entirely of outside directors.

Stock Option Activity

	Shares (in thousands)			Weighted- Average Exercise Price			Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years)		Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in millions)
Outstanding at January 1, 2006		259,116			$	33.07
Granted		146				33.28
Exercised		(4,490	)			16.56
Forfeited		(927	)			31.83
Expired		(1,465	)			41.30
Outstanding at March 31, 2006		252,380			$	33.32		4.6		$	1,213
Exercisable at March 31, 2006		197,673			$	33.71		3.8		$	1,048
Options expected to vest		50,624			$	31.69		7.6		$	161

We measure the fair value of each stock option grant at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option pricing model.The weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, was $8.40 and $9.42, respectively. The following assumptions were used in arriving at the fair value of options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005: risk-free interest rates of 4.6% and 4.1%; dividend yields of 3.0% and 2.4%; expected volatility factors of 28% and 28%; and expected lives of 6 years and 6 years. Risk free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. Expected dividend yield is based on a set dividend rate. Expected volatility is based on implied volatility from traded options of our stock and historical volatility of our stock. The expected option life is based on our historical experience of employee exercise behavior.

(16)

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005 was $79 million and $348 million, respectively. As of March 31, 2006, there was $156 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested options. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 3 years and 5 months.

RSU Activity

	Shares (in thousands)			Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years)		Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in millions)
Outstanding at January 1, 2006		33,078
Granted		146
Vested		(379	)
Forfeited		(569	)
Outstanding at March 31, 2006		32,276			6.1		$	1,123
RSUs expected to vest		28,907			5.6		$	1,005

The fair value of each restricted stock unit is the market price of our stock on the date of grant. The weighted-average grant-date fair value of RSUs granted during the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, was $33.26 and $36.20, respectively. The total intrinsic value of RSUs vested during the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, was $13 million and $12 million, respectively. As of March 31, 2006, there was $465 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested RSUs. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 5 years and 7 months.

PSU Activity

As of March 31, 2006, 1.1 million PSUs with a weighted-average remaining contractual term of 2 years and 4 months, an aggregate intrinsic value of $39 million and $20 million of unrecognized compensation cost were outstanding.

(17)

14. We securitize financial assets in the ordinary course of business to improve shareowner returns. The securitization transactions we engage in are similar to those used by many financial institutions. Beyond improving returns, these securitization transactions serve as funding sources for a variety of diversified lending and securities transactions. Historically, we have used both GE-supported and third-party entities to execute securitization transactions funded in the commercial paper and term bond markets.

Securitized assets that are on-balance sheet include assets consolidated upon adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation No. (FIN) 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, as amended. Although we do not control these entities, consolidation was required because we provided a majority of the credit and liquidity support for their activities. A majority of these entities were established to issue asset-backed securities, using assets that were sold by us and by third parties. These entities differ from others included in our consolidated financial statements because the assets they hold are legally isolated and are unavailable to us under any circumstances. Repayment of their liabilities depends primarily on cash flows generated by their assets. Because we have ceased transferring assets to these entities, balances will decrease as the assets repay. We refer to these entities as “consolidated, liquidating securitization entities.”

The following table represents assets in securitization entities, both consolidated and off-balance sheet.

	At
(In millions)	3/31/06		12/31/05
Receivables secured by:
Equipment	$	11,309	$	12,949
Commercial real estate		12,355		13,010
Residential real estate		8,083		8,882
Other assets		13,079		12,869
Credit card receivables		10,973		10,039
GE trade receivables		4,037		3,960
Total securitized assets	$	59,836	$	61,709

	At
(In millions)	3/31/06		12/31/05
Off-balance sheet(a)(b)	$	43,983	$	43,805
On-balance sheet(c)		15,853		17,904
Total securitized assets	$	59,836	$	61,709

(a)	At March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005, liquidity support amounted to $2,159 million and $1,931 million, respectively. These amounts are net of $3,424 million and $3,786 million, respectively, participated or deferred beyond one year. Credit support amounted to $5,648 million and $5,988 million at March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively.
(b)	Liabilities for recourse obligations related to off-balance sheet assets were $63 million and $93 million at March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively.
(c)	At March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005, liquidity support amounted to $8,768 million and $10,044 million, respectively. These amounts are net of $34 million and $138 million, respectively, participated or deferred beyond one year. Credit support amounted to $3,893 million and $4,780 million at March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively.

(18)

The portfolio of financing receivables consisted of loans and financing lease receivables secured by equipment, commercial and residential real estate and other assets; credit card receivables; and trade receivables. Examples of these assets include loans and leases on manufacturing and transportation equipment, loans on commercial property, commercial loans, and balances of high credit quality accounts from sales of a broad range of products and services to a diversified customer base.

Assets in consolidated, liquidating securitization entities are shown in the following captions in the Condensed Statement of Financial Position.

	At
(In millions)	3/31/06		12/31/05
Financing receivables - net (note 8)	$	14,864	$	16,615
All other assets		989		1,289
Total	$	15,853	$	17,904

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

A. Results of Operations

General Electric Company’s consolidated financial statements represent the combination of the industrial manufacturing and product services businesses of General Electric Company (GE) and the financial services businesses of General Electric Capital Services, Inc. (GECS or financial services).

In the accompanying analysis of financial information, we sometimes use information derived from consolidated financial information but not presented in our financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Certain of these data are considered “non-GAAP financial measures” under the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules. For such measures, we have provided supplemental explanations and reconciliations in Exhibit 99 to this report on Form 10-Q.

Unless otherwise indicated, we refer to captions such as revenues and earnings from continuing operations simply as “revenues” and “earnings” throughout this Management’s Discussion and Analysis. Similarly, discussion of other matters in our consolidated financial statements relates to continuing operations unless otherwise indicated.

Overview

General Electric Company earnings from continuing operations increased 14% to $4.042 billion in the first quarter of 2006 compared with $3.560 billion in 2005. Earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations were $0.39 in the first quarter of 2006, up 18% from last year’s $0.33. Five of our six segments contributed double-digit earnings growth for the quarter.

Earnings from discontinued operations were $0.3 billion and included the results of Genworth Financial, Inc. (Genworth), GE Life and most of GE Insurance Solutions Corporation (GE Insurance Solutions).

Net earnings increased 9% to $4.305 billion and EPS increased 11% to $0.41 in the first quarter of 2006.

(19)

Revenues of $37.8 billion in the first quarter of 2006 were 10% higher than in the corresponding period of 2005, reflecting strong organic growth of 9%. A reconciliation between reported and organic revenues is shown in Exhibit 99. Industrial sales increased 11% to $23.1 billion, reflecting core growth, and the effects of the 2006 Olympics broadcasts and acquisitions. Sales of product services (including sales of spare parts and related services) grew 10% to $6.7 billion in the first quarter of 2006. Financial services revenues grew 8% over the comparable period of last year to $14.7 billion, reflecting core growth.

Overall, acquisitions contributed $1.0 billion and $3.8 billion to consolidated revenues in the first quarters of 2006 and 2005, respectively. Our consolidated net earnings in the first quarters of 2006 and 2005 included approximately $0.1 billion and $0.3 billion, respectively, from acquired businesses. We integrate acquisitions as quickly as possible. Only revenues and earnings from the date we complete the acquisition through the end of the fourth following quarter are attributed to such businesses. Dispositions also affected our operations through lower revenues of $0.3 billion and $0.4 billion in the first quarters of 2006 and 2005, respectively. The effect on earnings was inconsequential in each of the first quarters of 2006 and 2005.

Segment Operations

Operating segments comprise our six businesses focused on the broad markets they serve: Infrastructure, Industrial, Healthcare, NBC Universal, Commercial Finance and Consumer Finance. For segment reporting purposes, certain GECS businesses are included in the industrial operating segments that actively manage such businesses and report their results for internal performance measurement purposes. These include Aviation Financial Services, Energy Financial Services and Transportation Finance reported in the Infrastructure segment, and Equipment Services reported in the Industrial segment.

Segment profit is determined based on internal performance measures used by the Chief Executive Officer to assess the performance of each business in a given period. In connection with that assessment, the Chief Executive Officer may exclude matters such as charges for restructuring; rationalization and other similar expenses; in-process research and development and certain other acquisition-related charges and balances; technology development costs; certain gains and losses from dispositions; and litigation settlements or other charges, responsibility for which preceded the current management team.

Segment profit always excludes the effects of principal pension plans, results reported as discontinued operations and accounting changes. Segment profit excludes or includes interest and other financial charges and income taxes according to how a particular segment’s management is measured - excluded in determining segment profit, which we refer to as “operating profit,” for Healthcare, NBC Universal and the industrial businesses of the Industrial and Infrastructure segments; included in determining segment profit, which we refer to as “net earnings,” for Commercial Finance, Consumer Finance, and the financial services businesses of the Infrastructure segment (Aviation Financial Services, Energy Financial Services and Transportation Finance) and the Industrial segment (Equipment Services).

We have reclassified certain prior-period amounts to conform to the current period’s presentation. In addition to providing information on segments in their entirety, we have also provided supplemental information for certain businesses within the segments.

(20)

Infrastructure

	Three months ended March 31
(In millions)	2006		2005
Revenues	$	10,152	$	9,374
Segment profit	$	1,703	$	1,540
Revenues
Aviation	$	3,041	$	2,590
Aviation Financial Services		934		817
Energy		3,835		3,951
Energy Financial Services		301		228
Oil & Gas		772		641
Transportation		1,023		756
Segment profit
Aviation	$	645	$	527
Aviation Financial Services		206		163
Energy		436		577
Energy Financial Services		117		94
Oil & Gas		55		27
Transportation		204		82

Infrastructure revenues increased 8%, or $0.8 billion, in the first quarter of 2006 as higher volume ($0.8 billion) was partially offset by the strengthening U.S. dollar ($0.1 billion) and lower prices ($0.1 billion) at the industrial businesses of the segment. The increase in volume reflects increased sales of commercial and military services and commercial engines at Aviation and increased locomotive sales at Transportation, partially offset by lower sales at Energy. Energy sold 21 large heavy-duty gas turbines in the first quarter of 2006, compared with 34 in the corresponding period of 2005. Revenues also increased as a result of organic revenue growth at Aviation Financial Services ($0.1 billion) and Energy Financial Services ($0.1 billion).

Segment profit rose 11%, or $0.2 billion, as productivity ($0.2 billion) and higher volume ($0.1 billion) were partially offset by higher material and other costs ($0.1 billion) and lower prices ($0.1 billion) at the industrial businesses of the segment. We realized productivity improvements at Transportation and Aviation. Volume increases were primarily at Aviation. Segment profit from the financial services businesses increased $0.1 billion as a result of core growth at Aviation Financial Services and Energy Financial Services, despite the absence of a 2006 counterpart to the 2005 one-time benefits from our aircraft leasing reorganization.

(21)

Industrial

	Three months ended March 31
(In millions)	2006		2005
Revenues	$	8,140	$	7,668
Segment profit	$	600	$	526
Revenues
Consumer & Industrial	$	3,534	$	3,261
Equipment Services		1,634		1,574
Plastics		1,644		1,648
Segment profit
Consumer & Industrial	$	220	$	165
Equipment Services		16		10
Plastics		225		240

Industrial revenues rose 6%, or $0.5 billion, in the first quarter of 2006 as higher volume ($0.5 billion) was partially offset by the strengthening U.S. dollar ($0.1 billion) at the industrial businesses in the segment. The increase in volume was primarily at Consumer & Industrial and at Security which acquired Edwards Systems Technology late in the first quarter of 2005. Revenues at Equipment Services also increased as a result of organic revenue growth ($0.1 billion).

Segment profit rose 14%, or $0.1 billion, in the first quarter of 2006 as productivity ($0.2 billion), primarily at Consumer & Industrial and Plastics, was partially offset by higher material and other costs ($0.1 billion), primarily at Consumer & Industrial. Segment profit was unaffected by price as higher prices at Consumer & Industrial offset lower prices at Plastics.

Healthcarerevenues rose $0.3 billion, or 10%, in the first quarter of 2006 compared with the first quarter of 2005 as higher volume ($0.5 billion) more than offset the strengthening U.S. dollar ($0.1 billion) and the effect of lower prices ($0.1 billion). The increase in volume relates to the 2006 acquisition of IDX, growth in services at Healthcare IT, and stronger ultrasound, CT and X-ray equipment sales. Operating profit of $0.5 billion in 2006 was 21% higher than in the first quarter of 2005 as the effects of productivity ($0.1 billion) and higher volume ($0.1 billion) more than offset the effect of lower prices ($0.1 billion).

NBC Universalreported revenues of $4.5 billion in the first quarter of 2006 compared with $3.6 billion in the first quarter of 2005. The $0.9 billion, or 24%, increase in revenues primarily resulted from the absence of a prior-year counterpart to the 2006 Olympic Games broadcasts ($0.7 billion), the effects of exiting a film distribution agreement ($0.2 billion) and improvements in the film ($0.1 billion) and cable ($0.1 billion) businesses, partially offset by the effects of lower ratings on network and station ad sales ($0.2 billion). Segment profit declined 8%, or $0.1 billion, in the first quarter of 2006, as the favorable effects of the film distribution exit ($0.1 billion) were more than offset by the effects of lower earnings from network and station operations ($0.2 billion), including the 2006 Olympics broadcasts ($0.1 billion).

(22)

Commercial Finance

	Three months ended March 31
(In millions)	2006		2005
Revenues	$	5,484	$	5,072
Segment profit	$	1,174	$	926
	At
(In millions)	3/31/06		3/31/05		12/31/05
Total assets	$	195,209	$	187,626	$	190,546
	Three months ended March 31
(In millions)	2006		2005
Revenues
Capital Solutions	$	2,820	$	2,889
Real Estate		1,075		898
Segment profit
Capital Solutions	$	339	$	286
Real Estate		441		310
	At
(In millions)	3/31/06		3/31/05		12/31/05
Total assets
Capital Solutions	$	88,661	$	86,230	$	87,306
Real Estate		37,566		36,299		35,323

Commercial Finance revenues and net earnings increased 8% and 27%, respectively, compared with the first quarter of 2005. Revenues for the first quarters of 2006 and 2005 included $0.2 billion and $0.1 billion from acquisitions, respectively, and in 2006 were reduced by $0.2 billion as a result of dispositions. Revenues for the quarter also increased $0.4 billion compared with the first quarter of 2005 as a result of organic revenue growth ($0.5 billion), partially offset by the strengthening U.S. dollar ($0.1 billion). The increase in net earnings resulted primarily from core growth ($0.2 billion), including growth in lower-taxed earnings from global operations.

(23)

Consumer Finance

	Three months ended March 31
(In millions)	2006		2005
Revenues	$	5,090	$	4,689
Segment profit	$	836	$	735
	At
(In millions)	3/31/06		3/31/05		12/31/05
Total assets	$	158,508	$	149,912	$	158,829

Consumer Finance revenues and net earnings increased 9% and 14%, respectively, compared with the first quarter of 2005. Revenues for the first quarter of 2006 included $0.2 billion from acquisitions. Revenues for the quarter also increased $0.2 billion compared with the first quarter of 2005 as a result of organic revenue growth ($0.4 billion), partially offset by the strengthening U.S. dollar ($0.2 billion). The increase in net earnings resulted primarily from acquisitions ($0.1 billion).

Discontinued Insurance Operations

	Three months ended March 31
(In millions)	2006		2005
Earnings from discontinued operations, net of taxes	$	263	$	405

In 2006, we continue to reduce our exposure to insurance in a disciplined fashion. In March 2006, we initiated a plan to sell GE Life, our U.K.-based life insurance operation. We have provided for a pre-tax loss of $0.2 billion ($0.2 billion after tax or $0.02 per share) based on our best estimate of sales proceeds. We anticipate selling GE Life by March 31, 2007.

Swiss Reinsurance Company (Swiss Re) has agreed to buy the property and casualty insurance and reinsurance businesses and the European life and health operations of GE Insurance Solutions for $8.5 billion, including the assumption of $1.7 billion of debt. On April 20, 2006, we and Swiss Re agreed that consideration, other than assumed debt, will consist of $2.4 billion of newly issued Swiss Re common stock that we will be restricted from selling for 360 days and the remainder will consist of some combination of cash, immediately salable notes and mandatory convertible instruments. We presently expect this transaction to close in the second quarter of 2006, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

In March 2006, we completed the sale of our remaining 18% investment in Genworth through a secondary public offering of 71 million shares of Class A Common Stock and direct sale to Genworth of 15 million shares of Genworth Class B Common Stock. As a result, we recognized a pre-tax gain of $0.5 billion ($0.3 billion after tax or $0.03 per share).

(24)

Discontinued operations comprise GE Life, our U.K.-based life insurance operation; the property and casualty insurance and reinsurance businesses and the European life and health operations of GE Insurance Solutions and most of its affiliates; and Genworth, our formerly wholly-owned subsidiary that conducted most of our consumer insurance business, including life and mortgage insurance operations. Results of these businesses are reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented.

Earnings from discontinued operations net of taxes for the first quarter of 2006 reflected the gain on the sale of our remaining 18% investment in Genworth common stock ($0.3 billion) and earnings from the portions of GE Insurance Solutions described above ($0.1 billion), partially offset by the estimated loss on the planned sale of GE Life ($0.2 billion). GE Insurance Solutions results will be included in our discontinued operations to the date of closing, which is expected to be the second quarter of 2006. GE Life results will be included in our discontinued operations until a transaction is completed. We anticipate selling GE Life by March 31, 2007.

Earnings from discontinued operations net of taxes for the first quarter of 2005 reflected our share of Genworth 2005 earnings from operations ($0.2 billion), the gain related to Genworth’s secondary public offering ($0.1 billion) and the operations of GE Insurance Solutions ($0.2 billion).

Corporate items and eliminations expense for the first quarter of 2006, reflects an increase in costs of our principal pension plans ($0.2 billion) compared with the first quarter of 2005.

B. Statement of Financial Position

Overview of Financial Position

Major changes in our financial position resulted from the following:

• During the first quarter of 2006, we completed the sale of our remaining 18% investment in Genworth common stock and we initiated a plan to sell GE Life. We have separately reported the assets and liabilities related to these discontinued operations for all periods presented.

• The U.S. dollar was stronger at March 31, 2006, than it was at December 31, 2005, reducing the translated levels of our non-U.S. dollar assets and liabilities.

Consolidated assets were $674.8 billion at March 31, 2006, an increase of $1.5 billion from December 31, 2005. GE assets decreased $2.1 billion, while financial services’ assets increased $2.2 billion.

GE assets were $187.6 billion at March 31, 2006, a $2.1 billion decrease from December 31, 2005. The decrease reflects a $2.3 billion decrease in current receivables and a $1.6 billion decrease in GE’s investment in GECS, partially offset by a $1.3 billion increase in intangible assets, primarily related to the acquisition of IDX Systems Corporation by Healthcare, and a $0.9 billion increase in inventories.

Financial services assets were $542.8 billion at March 31, 2006. The $2.2 billion increase from December 31, 2005, was primarily attributable to increases in investment securities of $2.8 billion and other assets of $2.4 billion, offset by a decrease in assets of discontinued operations of $2.6 billion.

Consolidated liabilities of $559.2 billion at March 31, 2006, were $3.3 billion higher than the year-end 2005 balance. GE liabilities decreased $0.3 billion, while financial services’ liabilities increased $3.7 billion.

(25)

GE liabilities were $74.3 billion at March 31, 2006. During the first quarter of 2006, accounts payable decreased $1.1 billion to $10.8 billion and total borrowings increased $1.0 billion to $11.2 billion ($2.1 billion short term and $9.1 billion long term) at March 31, 2006, compared with December 31, 2005. The ratio of borrowings to total capital invested for GE at the end of the first quarter was 9.0% compared with 8.1% at the end of last year and 9.4% at March 31, 2005.

Financial services liabilities increased $3.7 billion to $491.2.billion reflecting an increase in total borrowings of $4.6 billion offset by decreases in other liabilities of $1.0 billion, from year-end 2005.

Consolidated cash and equivalents were $8.5 billion at March 31, 2006, a decrease of $0.3 billion during the first quarter of 2006. Cash and equivalents amounted to $9.4 billion at March 31, 2005, a decrease of $2.7 billion from December 31, 2004. GE cash from operating activities (CFOA) is a useful measure of performance for our non-financial services businesses and totaled $6.7 billion in the first quarter of 2006 and $2.9 billion in the first quarter of 2005.

With respect to GE CFOA, we believe it is useful to supplement our GE Condensed Statement of Cash Flows and to examine in a broader context the business activities that provide and require cash.

	Three months ended March 31
(In billions)	2006			2005
Operating cash collections	$	24.7		$	21.5
Operating cash payments		(21.4	)		(18.8	)
Cash dividends from GECS		3.4			0.2
GE cash from operating activities	$	6.7		$	2.9

The most significant source of cash in CFOA is customer-related activities, the largest of which is collecting cash following a product or services sale. GE operating cash collections increased by about $3.2 billion during the first quarter of 2006. These increases are consistent with the changes in comparable GE operating segment revenues. Analyses of operating segment revenues discussed in the preceding Segment Operations section is the best way of understanding their customer-related CFOA.

The most significant operating use of cash is to pay our suppliers, employees, tax authorities and others for the wide range of material and services necessary in a diversified global organization. GE operating cash payments increased in the first quarter of 2006 by about $2.6 billion, comparable to the increases in GE total costs and expenses.

Dividends from GECS represented distribution of a portion of GECS retained earnings, including proceeds from certain business sales, and are distinct from cash from continuing operating activities within the financial services businesses, which decreased in the first quarter of 2006 by $1.8 billion to $3.3 billion. The amount we show in CFOA is the total dividend, including the normal dividend as well as any special dividends from excess capital primarily resulting from GECS business sales. A $2.5 billion special dividend was paid by GECS to GE in the first quarter of 2006; no special dividends were paid by GECS during the first quarter of 2005.

(26)

Based on past performance and current expectations, in combination with the financial flexibility that comes with a strong balance sheet and the highest credit ratings, we believe we are in a sound position to grow dividends, continue to execute on our announced $25 billion share repurchase program and continue making selective investments for long-term growth.

C. Financial Services Portfolio Quality

Investment securities comprise mainly available-for-sale investment-grade debt securities supporting obligations to annuitants and policyholders. We regularly review investment securities for impairment based on criteria that include the extent to which cost exceeds market value, the duration of that market decline, our intent and ability to hold to recovery and the financial health and specific prospects for the issuer. Of available-for-sale securities with unrealized losses at March 31, 2006, approximately $0.1 billion was at risk of being charged to earnings in the next 12 months; substantially all of this amount related to the automotive and commercial aviation industries. Impairment losses were inconsequential for each of the first quarters of 2006 and 2005.

Financing receivables is our largest category of assets and represents one of our primary sources of revenues. The portfolio of financing receivables, before allowance for losses, was $291.3 billion at March 31, 2006, and $292.2 billion at December 31, 2005. The related allowance for losses at March 31, 2006, amounted to $4.5 billion compared with $4.6 billion at December 31, 2005, representing our best estimate of probable losses inherent in the portfolio. A discussion of the quality of certain elements of the financing receivables portfolio follows. For purposes of that discussion, “delinquent” receivables are those that are 30 days or more past due; and “nonearning” receivables are those that are 90 days or more past due (or for which collection has otherwise become doubtful).

Financing receivables, before allowance for losses, decreased $0.9 billion from December 31, 2005, primarily as a result of securitization and sales ($10.6 billion), loans transferred to assets held for sale ($1.1 billion) and the strengthening U.S. dollar ($0.9 billion), partially offset by core growth ($11.3 billion) and acquisitions ($1.1 billion). Related nonearning receivables were $4.2 billion at March 31, 2006, compared with $4.1 billion at year-end 2005, both representing 1.4% of outstanding receivables, respectively. This increase was primarily related to higher nonearning receivables in our European secured financing business at GE Consumer Finance, a business that tends to experience relatively higher delinquencies but lower losses than the rest of our consumer portfolio, partially offset by decreases in our U.S. portfolio resulting from an improving economic environment.

Delinquency rates on managed Commercial Finance equipment loans and leases and managed Consumer Finance financing receivables follow.

	Delinquency rates at
	3/31/06		(a)	12/31/05		3/31/05
Commercial Finance	1.31	%		1.31	%	1.54	%
Consumer Finance	5.14			5.08		5.18

(a)   Subject to update.  

Delinquency rates at Commercial Finance decreased from March 31, 2005, to March 31, 2006, primarily resulting from improved credit quality across all portfolios.

(27)

Delinquency rates at Consumer Finance increased from December 31, 2005, to March 31, 2006, as a result of seasonality in consumer spending and higher delinquencies in our European secured financing business, discussed above, partially offset by decreases in our U.S. portfolio resulting from an improving economic environment. The decrease from March 31, 2005, to March 31, 2006, reflected improved economic conditions, partially offset by higher delinquencies in our European secured financing business, discussed above.

D. Debt Instruments

During the first quarter of 2006, GECS and GECS affiliates issued $24 billion of senior, unsecured long-term debt. This debt was both fixed and floating rate and was issued to institutional and retail investors in the U.S. and 13 other global markets. Maturities for these issuances ranged from one to forty years. We used the proceeds primarily for repayment of maturing long-term debt, but also to fund acquisitions and organic growth. We anticipate that we will issue between $31 billion and $41 billion of additional long-term debt during the remainder of 2006, mostly to repay maturing long-term debt. The ultimate amount we issue will depend on our needs and on the markets.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Under the direction of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we evaluated our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting and concluded that (i) our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2006, and (ii) no change in internal control over financial reporting occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2006, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, such internal control over financial reporting.

(28)

Part II. Other Information

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

In April 2006, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) informed the company that it was contemplating seeking $990,000 in penalties for violations of the Clean Air Act at its Mt. Vernon, Indiana Plastics facility. EPA has asserted that the company failed to adequately control air emissions from valves and inlet pipes in an underground piping system. We disagree with those assertions and EPA has already modified its position to reduce the number of potential violations based on conversations with GE. The company is engaged in settlement discussions with the agency over both the nature and severity of the alleged violations.

Item 2. Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

Period(a)	Total number of shares purchased(b)		Average price paid per share		Total number of shares purchased as part of our share repurchase program(c)		Approximate dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under our share repurchase program
(Shares in thousands)
2006
January		57,020		$34.03		51,309
February		26,135		$33.20		22,177
March		22,071		$34.21		14,597
Total		105,226		$33.86		88,083		$16.7 billion

(a)	Information is presented on a fiscal calendar basis, consistent with our quarterly financial reporting.
(b)	This category includes 17,143 thousand shares repurchased from our various benefit plans, primarily the GE Savings and Security Program (the S&SP). Through the S&SP, a defined contribution plan with Internal Revenue Service Code 401(k) features, we repurchase shares resulting from changes in investment options by plan participants.
(c)	This balance represents the number of shares that were repurchased through the 2004 GE Share Repurchase Program as modified by the GE Board in November 2005 (the Program) under which we were authorized to repurchase up to $25 billion of our common stock through 2008. The Program is flexible and shares are acquired with a combination of borrowings and free cash flow from the public markets and other sources, including GE Stock Direct, a stock purchase plan that is available to the public. As major acquisitions or other circumstances warrant, we modify the frequency and amount of share repurchases under the Program.

(29)

Item 6. Exhibits

Exhibit 10	First and Second Amendments to the Transaction Agreement by and between Swiss Reinsurance Company and General Electric Company, dated April 20, 2006.
Exhibit 11	Computation of Per Share Earnings*.
Exhibit 12	Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
Exhibit 31(a)	Certification Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Amended.
Exhibit 31(b)	Certification Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Amended.
Exhibit 32	Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
Exhibit 99	Financial Measures That Supplement Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
	*	Data required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, Earnings per Share, is provided in note 6 to the condensed, consolidated financial statements in this report.

(30)

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

	General Electric Company (Registrant)
April 26, 2006	/s/ Philip D. Ameen
Date	Philip D. Ameen Vice President and Comptroller Duly Authorized Officer and Principal Accounting Officer

(31)