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<TITLE>Form 8-K</TITLE>
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    <P ALIGN="CENTER">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<FONT SIZE="2"><BR>
    </FONT></B><FONT SIZE="2">Washington, D.C. 20549</FONT></TD>
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    <P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</B></FONT></TD>
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    <P ALIGN="CENTER">FORM 8-K<BR>
    CURRENT REPORT</B></FONT></TD>
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    <P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
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    <P ALIGN="CENTER">Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of<BR>
    The Securities Exchange Act of 1934</FONT></TD>
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    <P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
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    <P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
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    <P ALIGN="CENTER">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) October
    10, 2003</FONT></TD>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
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    <P ALIGN="CENTER">GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY</B></FONT></TD>
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    <P ALIGN="CENTER"><hr size="1"></FONT></TD>
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    <TD VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE="1">
    <P ALIGN="CENTER">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</FONT></TD>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
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    <TD WIDTH="19%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="38%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
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    <P ALIGN="CENTER">New York</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="19%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE="2"><B>
    <P ALIGN="CENTER">1-35</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="38%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE="2"><B>
    <P ALIGN="CENTER">14-0689340</B></FONT></TD>
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    <TD WIDTH="39%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE="2">
    <P ALIGN="CENTER"><hr size="1"></FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="19%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE="2">
    <P ALIGN="CENTER"><hr size="1"></FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="38%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE="2">
    <P ALIGN="CENTER"><hr size="1"></FONT></TD>
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    <P ALIGN="CENTER">(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)</FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="19%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE="1">
    <P ALIGN="CENTER">(Commission File Number)</FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="38%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE="1">
    <P ALIGN="CENTER">(IRS Employer Identification No.)</FONT></TD>
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    <P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="19%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="38%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
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    <P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="19%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="38%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
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    <TD WIDTH="39%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE="2"><B>
    <P ALIGN="CENTER">3135 Easton Turnpike, Fairfield, Connecticut</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="19%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="38%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE="2"><B>
    <P ALIGN="CENTER">06828-0001</B></FONT></TD>
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    <P ALIGN="CENTER"><hr size="1"></FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="19%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="38%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE="2">
    <P ALIGN="CENTER"><hr size="1"></FONT></TD>
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    <TD WIDTH="39%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE="1">
    <P ALIGN="CENTER">(Address of principal executive offices)</FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="19%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="38%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE="1">
    <P ALIGN="CENTER">(Zip Code)</FONT></TD>
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    <TD WIDTH="39%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE="2">
    <P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="19%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="38%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
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    <TD WIDTH="39%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE="2">
    <P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="19%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="38%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
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    <TD VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN="5"><FONT SIZE="2">
    <P ALIGN="CENTER">Registrant's telephone number, including area code <U>
    (203) 373-2211</U></FONT></TD>
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<P ALIGN="CENTER"></P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">&nbsp;</P>
<p ALIGN="center">(1)</P>
<HR Style='page-break-after:always'>
<B>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">Item 5. Other Events</P>
</B>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On October 8, 2003, General Electric Company (&quot;GE&quot;) issued
a press release announcing the signing of a definitive agreement for the merger
of NBC with Vivendi Universal Entertainment (&quot;VUE&quot;) to create one of the world's
fastest-growing media companies. The new company, to be called NBC Universal,
will be 80%-owned by GE, with 20% held by the shareholders of VUE. </P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As part of the transaction, the shareholders of VUE are
expected to receive at closing their share of $3.8 billion of cash
consideration, of which Vivendi Universal, as 86% owner of VUE, is expected to
receive approximately $3.3 billion. GE intends to issue GE common stock at or
prior to closing to fund the cash portion of the transaction. In addition, NBC
Universal will assume approximately $1.7 billion of debt. Beginning in 2006,
Vivendi Universal will have the option to begin monetizing its ownership
interest at fair market value.</P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The merger is subject to customary approvals from various
regulatory agencies. The companies anticipate completing the transaction in the
first half of 2004. </P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On October 10, 2003, GE and Amersham
plc (&quot;Amersham&quot;)
announced their agreement on the terms of a share exchange transaction through
which GE and its subsidiary GE Investments, Inc. will acquire Amersham. The
terms of the transaction value the share capital of Amersham at approximately
&pound;5.7&nbsp;billion ($9.5&nbsp;billion) on a diluted basis.</P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The number of GE shares to be issued in exchange for each
Amersham share will be finally determined at closing. Applying the exchange
ratio determined as of the announcement date, approximately 307.1 million GE
shares (313.5 million on a diluted basis) would be issued. In no event will more
than approximately 391.7 million GE shares (399.9 million on a diluted basis) be
issued in the transaction.</P>
<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The transaction is subject to obtaining certain European Commission and
United States regulatory clearances and other customary conditions. The
necessary regulatory clearances are expected to be obtained within the first
half of 2004. </P>
<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amersham, headquartered in the United Kingdom, is a global leader in
medical diagnostics and life sciences. The Amersham Group was formed in 1997
through the mergers of Amersham International (United Kingdom), Pharmacia
Biotech (Sweden) and Nycomed (Norway). Amersham has three main business areas:
medical diagnostics, operating as Amersham Health, and protein separations and
discovery systems, together operating as Amersham Biosciences. For the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2002, Amersham reported sales of &pound;1.6 billion ($2.4
billion) and net income of &pound;179 million ($269 million). For the six-month period
ended June 30, 2003, Amersham reported sales of &pound;808 million ($1.3 billion) and
net income of &pound;45 million ($72 million). As at June 30, 2003, Amersham reported
net assets of &pound;1.2 billion ($2.0 billion). Amersham's financial information is
prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United Kingdom. </P>
<B>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure</P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition</P>
</B>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The following information is furnished pursuant to Item 9,
&quot;Regulation FD Disclosure&quot; and Item 12, &quot;Results of Operations and Financial
Condition.&quot;</P>
<p ALIGN="center">(2)</P>
<HR Style='page-break-after:always'>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On October 10, 2003, General Electric Company issued a
press release setting forth GE's third-quarter 2003 earnings. A copy of GE's
press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99(a) and hereby incorporated by
reference. This press release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures. A
reconciliation of those measures to the most directly related comparable GAAP
measures is attached hereto as Exhibit 99(b).</P>
<B>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">Exhibit Index</P>
</B>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">99(a)&nbsp;Press release, dated: October 10, 2003, issued by General
Electric Company</P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">99(b)&nbsp;Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures</P>
<p ALIGN="center">(3)</P>
<HR Style='page-break-after:always'>
<B>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">Signature</P>
</B>
<P ALIGN="LEFT">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;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 thereunto duly authorized. </P>
<P ALIGN="LEFT"></P>
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  <TR>
    <TD WIDTH="47%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="53%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE="2">
    <P ALIGN="LEFT">GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY</FONT></TD>
  </TR>
  <TR>
    <TD WIDTH="47%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="53%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE="2">
    <P ALIGN="LEFT">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  </TR>
  <TR>
    <TD WIDTH="47%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="53%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE="2">
    <P ALIGN="LEFT">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
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    <TD WIDTH="47%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="53%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE="2">
    <P ALIGN="LEFT">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
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    <TD WIDTH="47%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE="2">
    <P ALIGN="RIGHT">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="53%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE="2">
    <P ALIGN="LEFT">/s/&nbsp;Philip D. Ameen</FONT></TD>
  </TR>
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    <TD WIDTH="47%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="53%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE="2">
    <P ALIGN="CENTER"><hr size="1"></FONT></TD>
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    <TD WIDTH="47%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD WIDTH="53%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE="2">
    <P ALIGN="LEFT">Philip D. Ameen<BR>
    Vice President and Comptroller</FONT></TD>
  </TR>
  <TR>
    <TD WIDTH="47%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE="2">
    <P ALIGN="LEFT">Date: October 10, 2003</FONT></TD>
    <TD WIDTH="53%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD>
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<FONT SIZE="2">
<P ALIGN="LEFT"></P>
<p ALIGN="center">(4)</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
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Form 8-K
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) October
    10, 2003
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
New York
1-35
14-0689340
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
3135 Easton Turnpike, Fairfield, Connecticut
06828-0001
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code
(203) 373-2211
(1)
Item 5. Other Events
On October 8, 2003, General Electric Company ("GE") issued
a press release announcing the signing of a definitive agreement for the merger
of NBC with Vivendi Universal Entertainment ("VUE") to create one of the world's
fastest-growing media companies. The new company, to be called NBC Universal,
will be 80%-owned by GE, with 20% held by the shareholders of VUE.
As part of the transaction, the shareholders of VUE are
expected to receive at closing their share of $3.8 billion of cash
consideration, of which Vivendi Universal, as 86% owner of VUE, is expected to
receive approximately $3.3 billion. GE intends to issue GE common stock at or
prior to closing to fund the cash portion of the transaction. In addition, NBC
Universal will assume approximately $1.7 billion of debt. Beginning in 2006,
Vivendi Universal will have the option to begin monetizing its ownership
interest at fair market value.
The merger is subject to customary approvals from various
regulatory agencies. The companies anticipate completing the transaction in the
first half of 2004.
On October 10, 2003, GE and Amersham
plc ("Amersham")
announced their agreement on the terms of a share exchange transaction through
which GE and its subsidiary GE Investments, Inc. will acquire Amersham. The
terms of the transaction value the share capital of Amersham at approximately
£5.7 billion ($9.5 billion) on a diluted basis.
The number of GE shares to be issued in exchange for each
Amersham share will be finally determined at closing. Applying the exchange
ratio determined as of the announcement date, approximately 307.1 million GE
shares (313.5 million on a diluted basis) would be issued. In no event will more
than approximately 391.7 million GE shares (399.9 million on a diluted basis) be
issued in the transaction.
The transaction is subject to obtaining certain European Commission and
United States regulatory clearances and other customary conditions. The
necessary regulatory clearances are expected to be obtained within the first
half of 2004.
Amersham, headquartered in the United Kingdom, is a global leader in
medical diagnostics and life sciences. The Amersham Group was formed in 1997
through the mergers of Amersham International (United Kingdom), Pharmacia
Biotech (Sweden) and Nycomed (Norway). Amersham has three main business areas:
medical diagnostics, operating as Amersham Health, and protein separations and
discovery systems, together operating as Amersham Biosciences. For the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2002, Amersham reported sales of £1.6 billion ($2.4
billion) and net income of £179 million ($269 million). For the six-month period
ended June 30, 2003, Amersham reported sales of £808 million ($1.3 billion) and
net income of £45 million ($72 million). As at June 30, 2003, Amersham reported
net assets of £1.2 billion ($2.0 billion). Amersham's financial information is
prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United Kingdom.
Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure
Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition
The following information is furnished pursuant to Item 9,
"Regulation FD Disclosure" and Item 12, "Results of Operations and Financial
Condition."
(2)
On October 10, 2003, General Electric Company issued a
press release setting forth GE's third-quarter 2003 earnings. A copy of GE's
press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99(a) and hereby incorporated by
reference. This press release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures. A
reconciliation of those measures to the most directly related comparable GAAP
measures is attached hereto as Exhibit 99(b).
Exhibit Index
99(a) Press release, dated: October 10, 2003, issued by General
Electric Company
99(b) Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures
(3)
Signature
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 thereunto duly authorized.
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
By:
/s/ Philip D. Ameen
Philip D. Ameen
Vice President and Comptroller
Date: October 10, 2003
(4)