UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) March 9, 2021

General Electric Company

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) (617) 443-3000

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instructions A.2. below):

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

On March 9, 2021, General Electric Company (“GE”) entered into a transaction agreement with AerCap Holdings N.V. (“AerCap”), pursuant to which GE will combine its GE Capital Aviation Services (“GECAS”) business with AerCap for total consideration consisting of approximately $24 billion in cash, 111.5 million ordinary shares of AerCap equivalent to approximately 46% ownership of the combined company and $1 billion paid in AerCap notes and/or cash upon closing. For the first quarter of 2021, in connection with signing the transaction agreement, GE will record an approximate $3 billion non-cash charge and report GECAS as discontinued operations. After the transaction closes, GE intends to use the transaction proceeds and its existing cash sources to reduce debt by approximately $30 billion. The transaction is expected to close in 9-12 months, subject to AerCap shareholder approval, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit 99.1 is being furnished as part of this report:

This document contains “forward-looking statements”—that is, statements related to future, not past, events. These forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words such as "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "seek," "see," "will," "would," "estimate," "forecast," "target," "preliminary," or "range." Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. The inclusion of such statements should not be regarded as a representation that such plans, estimates or expectations will be achieved. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such plans, estimates or expectations include, among others, (1) that one or more closing conditions to the transaction, including certain regulatory approvals, may not be satisfied or waived, on a timely basis or otherwise, including that a governmental entity may prohibit, delay or refuse to grant approval for the consummation of the proposed transaction, may require conditions, limitations or restrictions in connection with such approvals or that the required approval by the shareholders of AerCap may not be obtained; (2) the risk that the proposed transaction may not be completed in the time frame expected by GE or AerCap, or at all; (3) unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the proposed transaction; (4) uncertainty of the expected financial performance of GE or AerCap following completion of the proposed transaction; (5) failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction, including as a result of delay in completing the proposed transaction; (6) the occurrence of any event that could give rise to termination of the proposed transaction; (7) the risk that stockholder litigation in connection with the proposed transaction or other settlements or investigations may affect the timing or occurrence of the contemplated merger or result in significant costs of defense, indemnification and liability; (8) evolving legal, regulatory and tax regimes; (9) changes in general economic and/or industry specific conditions; (10) actions by third parties, including government agencies; and (11) other risk factors as detailed from time to time in GE’s and AerCap’s reports filed with the SEC, including GE’s and AerCap’s annual reports on Forms 10-K and 20-F, periodic quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, periodic current reports on Forms 8-K and 6-K and other documents filed with the SEC. The foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.