GE and NBC Net units join to target small businesses

The joint venture is aimed specifically at small-business owners.

Under the agreement, GE Small Business Solutions (GE SBS), a division of GE Capital, will be featured as a primary financing resource and content provider on NBCi's AllBusiness.com site, targeting businesses with annual sales under $20 million. In turn, GE SBS will distribute AllBusiness content and services as well as jointly sell AllBusiness products on the GE SBS Web site.

Additionally, AllBusiness will be adding new services to its site through GE SBS, including vehicle leasing, working capital loans, credit lines, equipment loans and equipment leasing, the companies said in a statement.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

This marks the first content distribution deal for GE SBS since the division launched in February. GE SBS offers online financial resources such as commercial real estate financing, equipment financing and corporate credit cards to small businesses.

Also in February, NBCi, the broadcasting company's Internet venture, acquired AllBusiness in a stock deal valued at roughly $225 million. AllBusiness is a Web site that offers advice and services designed to help small-business owners manage their companies. CNET, the publisher of News.com, has a stake in NBCi.

Launched in November 1999, NBCi has quickly accumulated a wide range of Web-based entertainment, community, e-commerce and directory sites and has taken a particular interest in bolstering its efforts in the more lucrative business-to-business sector.

Both companies, which are expected to unveil the new alliance during an event in San Francisco tonight, said the agreement will help them tap into each other's customer base.

"Together, we will aim to significantly help small businesses succeed," AllBusiness chief executive Teymour Boutros-Ghali said in a statement.