Expanding its "Smart Grid" Capabilities for Utilities, GE Energy Announces Plans to Acquire MapFrame

ATLANTA, GA - Further expanding its “smart grid” portfolio of utility transmission and distribution offerings, GE Energy today announced plans to acquire MapFrame of Dallas, Texas, a leading provider of mobile mapping and field automation technologies.

GE Energy and MapFrame shareholders have signed a purchase agreement authorizing the acquisition. Subject to customary closing conditions, the acquisition is expected to close at the end of June. MapFrame serves nearly 30 major utilities throughout North America, with 35,000 end users.

“With its outstanding industry knowledge, software expertise and proven technology, MapFrame is an excellent fit with our overall smart grid initiative,” said Bob Gilligan, general manager of GE Energy’s transmission and distribution business.

GE’s smart grid offerings are designed to help utilities increase productivity and reliability, while also providing consumers with the information to better manage their electricity use and expenses.

“Adding MapFrame's experience and expertise to our portfolio further expands our capabilities to work with a number of technology platforms, enhancing our ability to support projects across a broad range of applications," added Gilligan.

“This acquisition is very positive news for all of our customers," said Paul Wilson, MapFrame founder and chief executive officer. "We are joining a company with great strengths in areas like technology, research and development and commercial operations. GE's commitment to invest in people and products will greatly increase MapFrame's capability to bring our innovative technologies to an evergrowing number of customers around the world."

MapFrame products provide utility employees with real-time information, enabling them to work more efficiently and productively in the field.

When the acquisition is completed, MapFrame’s employees will join GE’s transmission and distribution operations as part of the Smallworld business, a global leader in geographic information systems (GIS) that joined GE Energy in 2000. Smallworld technology supports application products for telecommunications, utility and public systems organizations.

About GE Energy
GE Energy (www.ge.com/energy) is one of the world’s leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies, with 2007 revenue of $22 billion. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy works in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels. Numerous GE Energy products are certified under ecomagination, GE’s corporate-wide initiative to aggressively bring to market new technologies that will help customers meet pressing environmental challenges.

About GE
GE is Imagination at Work—diversified technology, media and financial services company focused on solving some of the world's toughest problems. With products and services ranging from aircraft engines, power generation, water processing and security technology to medical imaging, business and consumer financing and media content, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.ge.com.

About MapFrame Founded in 1991, today the company is an industry leader in the development of mobile mapping and field automation technology for electric, gas and water utilities, telecommunications and CATV/broadband organizations. With 35,000 deployed end users, MapFrame’s FieldSmart software is a state-of-the-art mapping and field automation solution with a track record of successful implementations, end user acceptance and functionality.

Press Contacts:

Margaret Chapman | +1 678 844 5869 | [email protected]

Gina DeRossi | +1 518 786 6488 | [email protected]

Howard Masto | + 1 518 786 6488 | [email protected]