The Commercial Finance division of General Electric Co. (NYSE:GE) is proposing a buyout of Japan's Sanyo Electric's (Other OTC:SANYY) credit operations for a cool $1.1 billion in cash. The board of Sanyo is recommending to the shareholders the acceptance of this deal. For GE, it is the smart move.

General Electric is a hugely diversified company with products ranging from light bulbs, aircraft engines, medical imaging equipment, kitchen and laundry appliances to water processing to media -- with its ownership of the NBC Network. GE has had a difficult time posting up growth numbers since CEO Jeff Immelt took the reins from the legendary Jack Welch some seven years ago. Welch was certainly in the right place at the right time and guided GE for a couple of decades as this company became one of America's largest corporations. Along the way, shareholders were amply rewarded by holding this stock.

The past few years have seen GE stall out and the shares have been a subpar performer. From early 2002 to present, the stock has been range-bound between $39 and $26 -- not exactly enamoring the long-term shareholders. Also, because of GE's massive presence in the S&P 500, institutions must own the shares. The pressure has mounted on Mr. Immelt to grow this companies earnings.

General Electric seems to be focused on the financial divisions to grow the earnings line more aggressively, and they are correct to do so. The GE Commercial Financial division has over $230 billion in assets and operates in more than 100 countries worldwide. There is leverage in this division that somehow the light bulb division will and cannot match. GE is acting more and more like a commercial bank, and with commercial bank margins. Using its mighty cash position and the currency of its shares, GE needs to acquire more assets in the commercial/consumer lending area if it expects to attain a solid 10% growth in revenues and earnings.