The regional staff consists of researchers and statisticians, as well
as journalists and publicists who maintain ongoing media relationships with
major publications in El Salvador.com), the 15th
largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world, is a Rochester,
NY-based global research company that blends premier strategic consulting with
innovative and efficient methods of investigation, analysis and application. life.99 percent stake
in BAC International Bank Inc.

BAC's Credomatic subsidiary is a leading debit and credit
card issuer in the region.

central society

Jabes is experienced in conducting both
qualitative and quantitative research for clients interested in politics and
public opinion, the pharmaceutical industry, usage and attitudinal analysis,
advertising and branding, and customer satisfaction.S.com), Novatris in
Paris (http://www. EOE M/F/D/V. With more than 40 million Hispanics living in the United States,
Latinos are the largest minority group, representing the largest and fastest
growing minority youth population.
"For eight decades, Scholastic has inspired young people from all walks of
life with a love of learning and books," comments Greg Worrell, president of
Scholastic Library Publishing.9 billion in deposits; $1.7
billion in consumer credit card loans , mortgages, and auto, small
business, corporate and commercial loans; and has over 8,000
employees .

government society

Established in September 2002, Jabes Market Research services El Salvador
and anticipates expansion in Guatemala and Honduras over the next several
years.harrisinteractive.com/globalops/globalnet .asp.com.
Ilan Stavans, the Lewis-Sebring Professor of Latin American and Latino
Culture at Amherst College and host of PBS' La Plaza: Conversations with Ilan
Stavans, served as editor in chief ."
Scholastic Library Publishing creates a multitude of products, both in
print and online , for the school and public library market under the imprints
of Grolier(R), Children's Press(R), Franklin Watts(R), and Grolier Online(TM).

About Scholastic
Scholastic Corporation (Nasdaq: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and
distributor of children's books and a leader in educational technology. The Company distributes its products and services through a
variety of channels, including proprietary school-based book clubs,
school-based book fairs, and school-based and direct-to-home continuity
programs; retail stores, schools, libraries and television networks; and the
Company's Internet site, http://www.com. More information can be found
online at www.

reference culture

Manuel Castillo, general manager of Jabes Market Research, states: "Our
company is proud to be a part of the Harris Interactive Global Network.novatris.com. And, although nearly one-in-five children
in America is Hispanic, no one has documented the impact that Latinos have had
on the United States until now.scholastic. The new partnership between GE Consumer Finance
and BAC will enable the two companies to deliver enhanced consumer
credit products to the growing Central American financial services
market."
Credit Suisse First Boston advised BAC in the deal.geconsumerfinance.

government honduras

harrisinteractive .

Press Contacts:
Nancy Wong
Harris Interactive
585-214-7316

Kelly Gullo
Harris Interactive
585-214-7172

Lic.

Scholastic Library Publishing Debuts Encyclopedia Latina: History Culture and Society in the United States

"We believe the combination of GE Consumer Finance's broad global
experience and BAC's established position in Central America will
allow us to accelerate growth opportunities for both of us in this
strategically important emerging market," said Mark W.
"By combining with one of the world leading financial services
companies, and one of the world's most respected brands, we believe we
can expand our offerings of products and services to consumers across
Central America ," said BAC Chairman Carlos Pellas.

About GE Consumer Finance

With more than $151 billion in assets, GE Consumer Finance, a unit
of General Electric Company, is a leading provider of credit services
to consumers, retailers and auto dealers in 41 countries around the
world.com

About GE

GE (NYSE: GE) is Imagination at Work -- a diversified technology,
media and financial services company focused on solving some of the
world's toughest problems.

government reference

We aim to understand a company 's needs and resolve
their research issues with a professional and individualized service. Today, there are
nearly 20 global network member companies representing Africa, Asia,
Australia, the Caribbean, Eastern and Western Europe, Central/North/South
America, and the Middle East.
Known for The Harris Poll(R) and for pioneering Internet-based research
methods, Harris Interactive conducts proprietary and public research to help
its clients achieve clear, material and enduring results .harrispollonline.2 million words,
Encyclopedia Latina explores every aspect of Latino life in America from a
myriad of perspectives, spanning the arts, media, cuisine, government and
politics, science and technology, business, health, and sports, among others.S. "The new Encyclopedia Latina reflects the
diversity of the students we serve and will be in important addition to school
and public library collections. Grolier publishes encyclopedias and is best known for the brands
Encyclopedia Americana(R) and The New Book of Knowledge(R). (BAC), a privately held retail bank and
credit card issuer based in Panama City, Panama. Begor,
president and CEO, GE Consumer Finance-Americas."
"BAC has a strong and respected management team, and they have
built a solid financial services business in Central America," said
Glen Wakeman, president and CEO for GE Consumer Finance in Latin
America .com

society consulates

Harris Interactive Expands Global Affiliate Network in Central America

Though affiliated with Harris Interactive, global network members operate
as totally independent market - and opinion-research firms. (http://www. First-ever comprehensive reference to chronicle
Latino contributions to United States history and culture

NEW YORK, Scholastic Library Publishing, a
division of Scholastic, the global children's publishing, education and media
company, today announces the release of Encyclopedia Latina: History, Culture
and Society in the United States, the first interdisciplinary reference book
to chronicle Latino contributions to art , culture and commerce in the United
States.
Children's Press offers primarily non-fiction series for elementary and middle
schools, while Franklin Watts focuses on non-fiction for the high school
market. BAC has 178 branches in
countries including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras ,
Nicaragua and Panama. "This new partnership
will help us expand our business in Central America , and we're excited
to be able to work with a team as successful and respected as BAC. "We're excited about the bank's prospects for future growth.

honduras flags

"Central America has often been overlooked by the world's leading research
companies, so we are delighted that Jabes, whose clients highly value its
contributions and individualized approach, has decided to join our global
network. We
have a highly capable team that offers extensive experience working with
multinational businesses.

To become a member of the Harris Poll Online(SM) and be invited to
participate in future online surveys, http://www.
To develop Encyclopedia Latina, Stavans assembled a who's-who editorial
advisory board of such prominent Latino figures as Ray Suarez of PBS' The
NewsHour; Jorge Ramos of Univision; Richard Delgado, author of The Latino/a
Condition: A Critical Reader, The Coming Race War, and Critical Race Theory;
and the
encyclopedia canvasses the widespread influence that Latinos have left in
every facet of U. Encyclopedia Latina examines the roles of Latinos
in U. culture , from burritos and pop music to literature and education.

Business Editors

STAMFORD, Conn . GE Consumer Finance, based in Stamford, Conn. (USA), offers a
range of financial products, including private label credit cards,
personal loans, bank cards, auto loans and leases, mortgages,
corporate travel and purchasing cards, debt consolidation and home
equity loans and credit insurance. For more
information, visit the company's Web site at www.ge.

culture society

hieurope.com), and through an independent global network of
affiliate market research companies. Grolier Online is
a self-contained, non-commercial electronic gateway offering thousands of
resources for student research, including the Encyclopedia Americana Online,
The New Book of Knowledge Online and the Spanish language encyclopedia Cumbre
en linea(TM) -- serving more than 18 million students and teachers."
Founded in 1952, BAC has about $1.
Ernesto Castegnaro, BAC president and CEO, added, "We look forward
to immediately starting work with GE Consumer Finance on this exciting
new chapter in BAC's growth and development.

central embassies

Jabes Market Research of El Salvador specializes in pharmaceutical, political
and opinion polling

ROCHESTER, N. This relationship will help us extend our presence and strengthen our
research capabilities in Central America," says David Vaden, executive vice
president and chief strategy officer for Harris Interactive. For more
information about the Harris Interactive Global Network, go to
http://www.

About Harris Interactive(R)
Harris Interactive Inc.jabes@integra.
In its four volumes, 650 entries, 2000 pages and 1.S.

GE Consumer Finance to Acquire 49.99 Percent Interest in BAC International Bank Inc.; BAC is a Leading Credit Card Issuer in Central America

----GE Consumer
Finance, one of the largest consumer lending businesses in North
America, today announced that it would acquire a 49. The terms were not disclosed.
This partnership is a great opportunity to add our global perspective
and know-how to the local communities served by BAC.

government central

Y."

About the Harris Interactive Global Network
The Harris Interactive Global Network, an international network of
affiliate market research firms, was established in 1992. offices and wholly
owned subsidiaries, HI Europe in London (http://www. Cecilia Olmedo
Jabes Market Research
El Salvador +011-503-260-0266
Olmedo.sv

With products and services ranging from
aircraft engines, power generation, water processing and security
technology to medical imaging, business and consumer financing, media
content and advanced materials, GE serves customers in more than 100
countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide.

society government

, Harris Interactive(R )
(Nasdaq: HPOL) announces that Jabes Market Research, a full-service market
research and consulting company in El Salvador, has become the newest
affiliate member of the Harris Interactive Global Network of independent
market research companies. Member firms exchange research expertise and
share local -country knowledge on research projects conducted in their region.
Harris Interactive combines its intellectual capital, databases and
technology to advance market leadership through its U. Called "the czar of Latino culture in the
United States" by The New York Times, Stavans is the author of several
best-selling books on Latino culture and Spanish language. society, from baseball to politics , and discusses Latino influences on
U.
Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products
for use in school and at home, including children's books, magazines,
technology -based products, teacher materials, television programming, film,
videos and toys. The transaction ,
which requires regulatory approvals, is expected to close in the next
few months.
BAC is one of the largest banks in Central America and has been
operating in the region for over 50 years.