which severely hampered GE Capital's ability to perform as it did prior to the recession (US$65.435) billion revenue in FY 2007, US$45.730 billion in FY 2011). From FY2009 on, GE Capital began strategically transforming its portfolio to be less focused on risky lending and more focused on middle market lending and specially finance to industrial division customers. This strategy required reducing leverage, improving liquidity, and shedding assets___ all of which cut into previous top-line sales revenue performance.