Businessman Purchases Harley-Davidson Dealership with GE Commercial Finance.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Mike Durbin has always dreamed of being an entrepreneur and owning his own business. Beginning his career in operations management, Durbin's goal was to gain experience that would eventually help him develop a business. He went from operations to merchandising and then to inventory management.

Durbin now has a piece of one of America's most recognizable brands.

Durbin is both a business owner and a part of the storied Harley-Davidson franchise, after having purchased the Paradise Harley-Davidson dealership in Tigard, Ore., just southwest of Portland.

"I have always wanted to own a business, and I knew I wanted to be part of something with considerable brand equity rather than starting from scratch," says Durbin. "The idea for Harley-Davidson came to me when I was in San Francisco with my brother-in-law who wanted a Harley-Davidson San Francisco tee-shirt. I saw the motorcycles and merchandise and something clicked."

GE Commercial Finance, Franchise Finance (GEFF) financed a multi-million dollar acquisition, which included a multi-million dollar business loan. It is one of many deals GEFF has done with Harley-Davidson.

"Not only did GEFF make the best offer, but I was familiar through some acquisition deals my father had made with them," says Durbin. "The dealership's former owners also dealt with them. Their familiarity with Harley-Davidson and experience in franchise financing helped get things done; they really knew how to help me get exactly what I needed."

Cliff Kraushaar, the account executive at GEFF who led the deal, says the deal was representative of the wide array of services that GEFF provides its customers.

"Twenty years of experience has given us the knowledge to make certain a deal is tailored to meet the customer's expectations. Acquisitions, remodeling, refinancing, or new construction -- whatever the circumstances are, we've already been there and are ready to help you realize your dreams."

GE Commercial Finance, Franchise Finance (GEFF) is a leading lender for the franchise finance market via direct sales and portfolio acquisition in the United States and Canada. With more than $12 billion in served assets, GEFF serves more than 6,000 customers and more than 21,000 property locations, primarily in the restaurant, hospitality, branded beverage, storage, and automotive industries. GEFF offers customers access to capital with a menu of products featuring flexible structuring, including financing for acquisitions, refinancing, construction of new units and remodels for single- and multi-unit operators/chains. More information is available at www.gefranchisefinance.com or by calling toll-free 866-GET-GEFF (438-4333).

GE Commercial Finance, which offers businesses around the globe an array of financial products and services, has assets of more than US$220 billion and is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, USA. General Electric (NYSE: GE) is a diversified technology, media and financial services company dedicated to creating products that make life better.