[winkeltripel]

McDonalds also refinanced that real estate after opening the store, to build up liquidity for the next location.

[dylan604]

At this point, isn't GE a financial company more than an engineering/electrics company?

[throwaway2037]

That was true until the Global Financial Crisis in 2008. Now, they use their finance arm to help customers finance very large purchases. This is common in heavy industry.