10.(xvii)(B)

                                           April 30, 1997



Mr. Kevin Freeman
105 Harbor Drive, #128
Stamford, Connecticut 06902

Dear Kevin:

Reference is made to your Compensation Agreement (the "Agreement") dated as of
March 17, 1997, with Montgomery Ward & Co., Incorporated (the "Company").

In order to induce you to accept the offer of employment contained in the
Agreement, General Electric Capital Corporation ("GE Capital"), as a principal
shareholder in the Company, hereby agrees with you that if, for any reason other
than termination of your employment, either voluntarily by you or for "cause" by
the Company, the Company shall fail to pay to you the base salary for the first
three years of such Agreement and the guaranteed bonuses for each of the first
two years of such Agreement, then GE Capital shall pay such amounts to you as
provided in and subject to the conditions of the Agreement.  This obligation on
the part of GE Capital shall be triggered by your written notice to GE Capital
that the Company has ceased to make such payments as required by such Agreement.

                                Very truly yours,

                                General Electric Capital Corporation



                                By: /s/ Edward D. Stewart
                                   ------------------------------
                                    Edward D. Stewart
                                    Executive Vice President