<PAGE>

                      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) December 20, 1996
                                       
                                       
                           GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
            ------------------------------------------------------
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                                       


        New York                   1-35                 14-0689340
    ---------------           -------------         ------------------
    (State or other            (Commission            (IRS Employer
    jurisdiction of            File Number)        Identification No.)
     incorporation)


        3135 Easton Turnpike, Fairfield, Connecticut         06431
        --------------------------------------------         ------
          (Address of principal executive offices)         (Zip Code


      Registrant's telephone number, including area code  (203) 373-2211
                                                          --------------

<PAGE>

Item 5.   Other Events

      The registrant announced that on December 19, 1996, GE's Board of
Directors voted to increase the Company's quarterly dividend, increase and
extend its share repurchase program, and recommend a two-for-one split of GE
stock.  These Board actions:

      *     Increased the Company's quarterly dividend by 13% to 52 cents per
            share.  The dividend declared on December 19 is payable on January
            27, 1997, to share owners of record at the close of business on
            December 31, 1996.
      
      *     Increased GE's share repurchase program from $9 billion to $13
            billion and extended the program through 1998.
      
      *     Recommended for approval at the April 23, 1997 Annual Share
            Owners Meeting a two-for-one split of GE's common stock.

Item 7.   Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and
          Exhibits

          Exhibits:
          --------
          (99)  Press release, dated December 19, 1996, issued by General
                Electric Company

                                  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 thereunto duly authorized.

                                    GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    By Philip D. Ameen
                                       ----------------------------
                                       Vice President and Comptroller
                                    
Date:  December 20, 1996
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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) December 20, 1996
                                       
                                       
                           GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
            ------------------------------------------------------
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                                       

        New York                   1-35                 14-0689340
    ---------------           -------------         ------------------
    (State or other            (Commission            (IRS Employer
    jurisdiction of            File Number)        Identification No.)
     incorporation)

        3135 Easton Turnpike, Fairfield, Connecticut         06431
        --------------------------------------------         ------
          (Address of principal executive offices)         (Zip Code

      Registrant's telephone number, including area code  (203) 373-2211
                                                          --------------
Item 5.   Other Events

      The registrant announced that on December 19, 1996, GE's Board of
Directors voted to increase the Company's quarterly dividend, increase and
extend its share repurchase program, and recommend a two-for-one split of GE
stock.  These Board actions:

      *     Increased the Company's quarterly dividend by 13% to 52 cents per
            share.  The dividend declared on December 19 is payable on January
            27, 1997, to share owners of record at the close of business on
            December 31, 1996.
      
      *     Increased GE's share repurchase program from $9 billion to $13
            billion and extended the program through 1998.
      
      *     Recommended for approval at the April 23, 1997 Annual Share
            Owners Meeting a two-for-one split of GE's common stock.

Item 7.   Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and
          Exhibits

          Exhibits:
          --------
          (99)  Press release, dated December 19, 1996, issued by General
                Electric Company

                                  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 thereunto duly authorized.

                                    GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    By Philip D. Ameen
                                       ----------------------------
                                       Vice President and Comptroller
                                    
Date:  December 20, 1996