GE Capital resumes dividend to GE

GE Capital Corp. will resume dividend payments to its parent, General Electric Co., after a three-year suspension as it continues to strengthen from the financial crisis
GE Capital's board declared a $475 million quarterly dividend and plans to payout 30% of its total 2012 earnings
The company also plans to pay GE a $4.5 billion special dividend this year
GE's finance arm had said in December it was on track to resume dividend payments to its corporate parent as it forecast double-digit earnings growth this year on improved lending margins and a rebounding real-estate portfolio
"This action demonstrates the strength of GE Capital and the significant actions taken to strengthen its liquidity, capital, asset quality and profitability," said GE Chairman and Chief Executive Jeff Immelt
GE now plans to accelerate its common stock repurchases, starting in the second quarter