US Realty Advisors, a real estate investment banking, asset management and corporate advisory firm, will originate the transactions and manage the properties. The acquisition program will emphasize obtaining assets that are net leased for at least 15 years to tenants with credit ratings from B to BBB, and will include warehouse, retail and office properties. GE Capital Real Estate officials note that the properties can be existing ones that are sold by a corporation and leased back, or new properties that are owned by third parties.

"We are very excited about entering the corporate real estate market through a joint venture with USRA," says Kathy Cassidy, executive vice president and managing director, Strategic Ventures for GE Capital Real Estate. "Corporations own almost $2 trillion of commercial real estate and we believe we can create a diversified portfolio that is well leased to good credit tenants on long-term leases. USRA has a terrific track record in this business, a diverse network to source transactions with major corporate tenants and the comprehensive skills to execute our business strategy."

Richard H. Ader, managing partner of US Realty Advisors adds, "We look forward to this significant strategic relationship with GE Capital. Net lease transactions offer large US and foreign corporations a cost-effective way to control the real estate assets used in their business, with operating flexibility and off-balance sheet accounting treatment. Our venture with GE Capital will significantly expand the capital available to service this growing-corporate market."