Economy

General Electric is putting multiple divisions up for sale apparently but market doesn’t care

Key Points
  • General Electric is considering ways to leave the railroad business through a partnership, spin off or possible sale of the division, The Wall Street Journal says, citing sources.
  • The division is one of the industrial conglomerate's oldest and reported $4.7 billion in revenue last year.
  • The move is a major part of new CEO John Flannery's two-year plan to divest assets worth more than $20 billion, sources told the Journal.
  • Reuters also reported the company is "exploring" selling its healthcare information technology business.
GE considers exiting railroad business: Report
VIDEO0:3500:35
GE considers exiting railroad business: Report

General Electric is looking to sell off some of its transportation and healthcare technology-related businesses, according to multiple reports Thursday.

The Wall Street Journal reported the company is looking for a way to leave the railroad business, citing people familiar with the matter.

GE is looking to partner, spin off or possibly sell operations which primarily produce diesel-powered locomotives and railroad equipment, the sources said in the report. The business is one of the industrial conglomerate's oldest and reported $4.7 billion in revenue last year.

The move is a major part of new CEO John Flannery's two-year plan to divest assets worth more than $20 billion, sources told the Journal.

Reuters also reported the company is "exploring" selling its healthcare information technology business, which includes such brands as API Healthcare and Centricity EMR, according to people familiar with the matter.

Separately, PE Hub's Buyouts Magazine reported Thursday, citing sources, that GE has hired Morgan Stanley to explore the sale of that healthcare IT division. Marketing materials have already been distributed to some potential suitors, the sources told the news organization.

Morgan Stanley declined to comment to CNBC.

The market didn't seem to react much to the reports. Shares of GE closed 0.8 percent lower.

GE declined to comment to CNBC.

Flannery took over the company this summer after leading the health care division. The head of GE Transportation, Jamie Miller, is set to become the company's chief financial officer on November 1. The company unexpectedly announced earlier this month its current CFO, Jeffrey Bornstein, will leave GE on Dec. 31.

Read the full story in The Wall Street Journal here.

Read the full story from Reuters here.

— CNBC's Morgan Brennan contributed to this report.

WATCH: CNBC's full exclusive interview with General Electric CEO John Flannery

Watch CNBC's full exclusive interview with General Electric CEO John Flannery
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Watch CNBC's full exclusive interview with General Electric CEO John Flannery