GE Medical Systems Completes Acquisition of Imatron Inc. to Expand CT Scanner Technology Offering; Enhanced CT Product Line Offers Better Quality, Productivity and Patient Care.

Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers

WAUKESHA, Wis. & SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 19, 2001--GE Medical Systems, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), today finalized the acquisition of Imatron Inc. (NASDAQ: IMAT), a pioneer of Electron Beam Tomography (EBT(TM)) scanners.

Shareholders approved the transaction and the companies completed the merger shortly after the vote. For every 100 shares of Imatron stock owned, each shareholder is entitled to five shares of GE common stock, plus $3.73 in cash in lieu of fractional shares of GE stock. GE stock closed today at $40.78.

The EBT scanner performs unique, high-volume imaging applications and is currently in use at more than 150 major medical facilities and imaging centers around the world.

"The merger of GE and Imatron creates an opportunity to better serve our customers in the dynamic CT marketplace," according to Joseph M. Hogan, President and CEO of GE Medical Systems. "By adding EBT to the world-renowned LightSpeed(TM) family, we are expanding our CT scanner and applications offerings to provide clinicians with superior diagnostic tools, offer greater clinical flexibility and give patients the best care possible."

In 1998, GE's revolutionary multi-slice LightSpeed CT scanner set the benchmark for image quality, performance, reliability and exam time. GE's newest multi-slice CT scanner, the LightSpeed Ultra, continues to expand cardiac, lung and colon applications, reduces patient radiation dose, enhances patient care, and brings new revenue streams into hospitals and free-standing imaging center environments.

"We are pleased to welcome a talented group of employees to our company," said Peter Arduini, General Manager of Global CT at GE Medical Systems. "The EBT 300 offers unique cardiac capabilities designed to meet specific clinical needs and assist in diagnosing an even wider range of patients."

Arduini added that GE will continue to make significant investments in developing both the LightSpeed and EBT systems. "GE is dedicated to its legacy of using our Six Sigma quality methodology to understand our customers' needs and develop critical-to-quality scanner attributes including speed, reliability and image quality," he said.

Manufacturing operations for the EBT C300 scanner will remain headquartered in South San Francisco, Calif.

About GE Medical Systems

GE Medical Systems is an $8 billion global leader in medical imaging, healthcare services, and information technology. Its offerings include networking and productivity tools, clinical information systems, patient monitoring systems, conventional and digital X-ray, computed tomography, magnetic resonance, ultrasound and bone mineral densitometry, positron emission tomography, nuclear medicine, and a comprehensive portfolio of clinical and business services. For more than 100 years, health care providers worldwide have relied on GE Medical Systems for high quality medical technology and productivity solutions. For more information, visit the GE Medical Systems Web site at gemedical.com.