REIT negotiates $73M loans.

GE Commercial Finance Real Estate announced it provided $73.5 million of senior fixed-rate mortgage loans to Equity Inns, Inc., the country's third largest hotel real estate investment trust (REIT). This deal brings GE Real Estate's lending volume with hotels to more than $500 million in 2005.

Equity Inns specializes in the upscale extended-stay, all-suite and midscale limited service segments of the hotel industry; it is the largest U.S. REIT focused on that segment. This was the second major transaction between Equity Inns and GE Real Estate. Seven hotels were the collateral for the 10-year loans, which were used to repay Equity Inns' variable rate long-term debt and reduce its line of credit.

"GE Real Estate has already proven its ability to execute, and has the scale, market expertise and commitment to the sector that we look for in a transaction of this size," said Howard Silver, President and Chief Executive Officer of Equity Inns.

"We're focused on companies with solid long-term growth strategies. Equity Inns has a geographically diverse portfolio in key growth markets," said Mark Lanspa, Managing Director of GE Real Estate.

"Based on our leadership in the hospitality sector, we see continued opportunities to expand our strong presence by actively pursuing debt and equity deals for similarly well-positioned companies in 2006."