CONNECTIONS

News from the world-class business campus

www.westparkshannon.com

Summer 2008

GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS), the U.S. and Irish commercialaircraft financing and leasing businesses of GE, has a fleet of 1,475 ownedaircraft it leases to more than 230 airlines in some 70 countries, and it

manages nearly 300 aircraft for others. GECAS offers a wide range of aircrafttypes and financing options, including operating leases and secured debt financing, and

also offers productivity solutions, including spare engine leasing and spare partsfinancing and management. GECAS, a unit of GE Infrastructure, has offices in 28 cities

around the world.

IN THIS ISSUEVision for WesternRegions to be unveiled

Genesis controls globaloperations from WestparkShannon

Central role for newEnterprise Irelandnational HQ

Pictured at the launch were (from left): Piers Devereux, CEO, Olympus Life Research Ireland,Brian O'Connell, Managing Director, Westpark Shannon, Cllr. Sean McLoughlin, Mayor of Shannon,Dr. Ingrid Hunt, ULearning Network Manager, Sue Davies, ULearning Skillnet TechnicalCo-ordinator and Mat Kujawa, ULearning Skillnet Programme Support Manager. See also back cover.

ULearningSkillnet launchat Westpark

GECAS Limited has completed its successfulrelocation to new 70,000 sq. ft. office premisesat Westpark Shannon.

GECAS Limited services all of the non-U.S.assets of GECAS worldwide. This new officerepresents a multi-million euro investment anda renewed commitment to the Shannon area,where it has operated very successfully since1993. The business activities of GECAS Limited include Sales andMarketing, Technical, Underwriting, Legal, Insurance, HumanResources, Finance and Operations Services, includingInformation Technology and Quality.

“We are very pleased with our new state of the art facility inWestpark, which meets all of our business needs for our diverse operations,”commented Declan Hartnett, Director, GECAS Limited.

“More importantly, our staff love their new environment and the improved amenities ofthe new facility. IT and Communications infrastructure are to the highest availablestandards, which is vital to the global operation of our business,” he added.

Westpark Shannon is delighted to welcome such a prestigious new tenant to its campus,Brian O’Connell, Managing Director, said.

“The GECAS investment is a vote of confidence, not only for the Westpark developmentbut for the Shannon Region and Ireland generally. We are pleased also that we wereable to meet the exacting fit-out standards demanded by such a sophisticated globalbusiness,” he added.

Declan Hartnett, Director, GECAS Limited (left) andBrian O’Connell, Managing Director, Westpark Shannon, discussthe move by GECAS into its new 70,000 sq ft office premises at

the campus.

Multi-million euroinvestment byGECAS at WestparkShannon

UK endorsement for AtlanticWay approachIn setting out to chart a visionary plan for the future growth of theWestern Regions, senior businesspeople, influencers and entrepreneursgot a timely boost from a leading UK authority at an Atlantic Waysymposium held in Westpark Shannon.Andrew Lewis is Director of the successful Northern Way project that involves a collaboration ofregions and cities across the North of England.

Outlining the UK experience to symposium delegates, Mr Lewis said: “Like you, we’ve learned thateconomic development agencies, business and local partners are most successful when they pooltheir expertise and work together on a shared economic vision.”

The event was organised by Shannon Chamber of Commerce, supported by Ennis, Galway andLimerick Chambers, and sponsored by Westpark Shannon Ltd. The Chambers were congratulated ontheir initiative by Brian O’Connell, Managing Director, Westpark Shannon.

Visionary planEstablished in 2005, the AtlanticWay is a voluntary organisationcomprised of leaders and decisionmakers in business, education,community organisations, localgovernment, voluntary servicesand development in the West andMid-West Regions.

The Chief Executive of Atlantic Way, PaulO’Brien said the organisation is currentlyfinalising a Vision for the Western Regionsfor 2020. “This document will set out achallenging framework for thedevelopment of a vibrant region centredon Limerick-Shannon-Galway butextending out to the wider West ofIreland hinterland,” he said.

The Plan will outline key priorities forfuture growth under four pillars of activity,‘Connectivity & Infrastructure’, ‘Knowledge& Enterprise’, ‘Tourism & Leisure’, and‘Building Communities, Enriching Lives’.

Note: The Atlantic Way Vision 2020proposals will be presented to theMinister for Transport, NoelDempsey, T.D., at a meeting of thegroup at Westpark Shannon onThursday, July 17.

CONFERENCECENTRE ABOOST FORBUSINESSESThe new, well-appointedconference facility at WestparkShannon is proving increasinglypopular with industry andbusiness interests in the ShannonRegion.

Featuring elegant and spaciousmeeting and conference facilitieswith a capacity for up to 200people, the Conference Centreoffers full onsite audio-visual andother supports.

“We offer excellent facilities forsmall to medium-sized meetings,conferences and events,” saidUna McMahon, ConferenceManager at Westpark Shannon.

“Options include break-out roomsand boardrooms with voiceconferencing facilities. Fullcatering can be arranged, with anattractive restaurant onsite. Otheramenities include businessbureau supports, free car parkingand easy access for those withimpaired mobility,” she added.

The new Conference Centre atWestpark Shannon is one of akind in the area, and offers avery useful facility for businesses.It was a perfect venue for theChamber when it hosted theAtlantic Way Symposium. Theatmosphere was excellent andstaff helpful – I would highlyrecommend it as an event venue.

Ian BarrettPresident

Shannon Chamber of Commerce

Pictured at the Atlantic Way Symposium organised byShannon Chamber of Commerce in Westpark Shannon

were (from left): Ian Barrett, President, Shannon Chamberof Commerce, Brian O’Connell, Managing Director,

Westpark Shannon Ltd, Andrew Lewis, Director, NorthernWay Project and Paul O’Brien, Chief Executive, Atlantic Way.

www.westparkshannon.com

Una McMahon, Conference Manager,Westpark Shannon.

Una can be contacted at:T +353 (0) 61 479111E unamcmahon@westparkshannon.com

DIARY DATES Events taking place at Westpark Shannon over the coming months include:

End of JuneSES moving into their new office facilities.

July 17Atlantic Way Vision 2020 proposals beingpresented to Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey,T.D., at meeting of Atlantic Way group.

July Enterprise Ireland Regional Headquarters Opening.

SeptemberAtlantic Way Regional Summit – date to beconfirmed.

October 16 – 17 Enterprise Ireland International Markets Week forcompanies in Midlands, Mid-West and South-WestRegions.

“

”

Genesis goes globalfrom ShannonOne-third of the world's 19,000 commercialpassenger jets are now leased from third-partyleasing companies, one of which, GenesisLease Limited, has its global headquarters atWestpark Shannon.

“More and more airlines are turning to leasing a portion oftheir fleets rather than purchasing the aircraft,” said JohnMcMahon, Chairman and CEO of Genesis Lease.

Genesis now has 53 aircraft on lease to 33 airlines in 17countries throughout the world. The company focuses onaircraft acquisitions and pursuing growth while using the worldwide platform of GE CommercialAviation Services Limited, or GECAS, to service its portfolio of leases.

Set up in 2006, the company relocated its global HQ to the Westpark campus in June 2007 andrecently moved into an expanded c. 11,000 sq ft premises there.

NYSE listingListed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “GLS”, Genesis has a marketcapitalization of $559 million. It was awarded “Overall Deal of the Year” by the prestigious aviationindustry publication, ‘Airfinance Journal’ for an innovative series of funding transactions. Recently,John McMahon and Genesis Lease were also featured in a Forbes magazine article on aircraftleasing.

A native of Limerick, Chairman and CEO, John McMahon, has more than twenty years experiencein the aviation industry gained with Aer Lingus, GPA Group, GECAS and debis AirFinance (nowAerCap).

Most of the Genesis senior management team have returned to Ireland after many yearsoverseas, including Chief Financial Officer, Alan Jenkins, previously with AWAS, an Australian aircraftleasing company, and Chief Commercial Officer, Cian Dooley, who was with Boeing in Seattle.

John McMahon, Chairman and CEO,Genesis Lease Limited.

• OFFICESOver 300,000 sq ft of office space constructed to date. More than 200,000 sq ft fully occupied, with a third unit being built out for Schwarz Pharma, ready for occupancy by December 2008.

Office suites, from 200,000 sq ft to corporate headquarters in excess of 100,000 sq ft, available. The office design and the super warm fit-out, prepared in advance with installedair conditioning and heating, allows occupation within 6 – 8 weeks from agreement.

• BUILDINGSThere are 7 buildings currently planned around the oval-shapedhill of the campus. The 4th unit will commence towards the end of 2008.

• LOCATIONParkland campus of 38 acres (15.4ha), enjoying panoramic viewsof Shannon International Airportand Shannon Free Zone close to national motorway.

• IT FACILITIESThe pre-designed, planned and constructed telehouses, with a resilient backbone fibre, allow a choice of carrier and multiple carriers, where required, by tenants. Currently there are 6 different carriers providing service to the campus.

• LANDSCAPINGOver 75% of the campus infrastructure is in place, including roads, pathways and walkways, with over 10,000 semi-mature trees planted.

• EMPLOYMENT700 people are employed in companies located oncampus to date.

www.westparkshannon.com

Westpark ShannonInteresting Facts,Figures & Images

Enterprise Ireland, thegovernment agency withresponsibility for thedevelopment of theindigenous industry sector,has located one of its nationaldivisional headquarters atWestpark Shannon.

The Entrepreneurship and RegionalDevelopment Division will play a central rolein guiding Ireland’s future economicprospects.

The Enterprise Ireland (EI) national HQ for allits regional operations is to further promotebalanced development and thriving entrepre-neurship throughout Ireland.

“Growing vibrant, export-led Irish companiesin all regions is fundamental to the country’seconomic success in coming years,” saidBrendan Flood, Enterprise Ireland.

“This drive is not directed at lesseningDublin’s future potential but rather atvigorously counterbalancing its expansion. Itaims to develop strong Irish-ownedcompanies and a spirit of enterprise in allparts of Ireland,” he added.

Mr Flood is Divisional Manager in charge ofthe Entrepreneurship & RegionalDevelopment HQ at Westpark Shannon. This70-strong team, based in a 20,000 sq ft

facility, will have overall responsibility for all 10 EI regions that previously reported into Dublin.

In addition to the National H.Q for Entrepre-neurship and Regional Development, theMid-West Region office will be based atWestpark, following the transfer of that rolefrom Shannon Development. Also housedthere is a co-ordination unit for the 35County and City Enterprise Boards, and anumber of industry sector specialists with anational responsibility.

Initiatives“Multinationals are, and will continue to be,critical to Ireland’s economy. However,growing a cohort of Irish companies with theambition, leadership and innovation

necessary to achieve global scale is now akey national objective,” said Mr Flood.Initiatives being taken by EI to drive entrepre-neurship and balanced development in allregions include: • Promoting high potential start-ups (HPSUs).• Working with third-level colleges.• Establishing community enterprise centres.• Engaging with existing clients, including lessactive companies.

• Working in partnership with other agencies to promote entrepreneurship and support start-up activity.

Brendan Flood on…Westpark Shannon’s role

The strategic positioning and world-classcampus facilities of Westpark Shannon arevery important to Enterprise Ireland as itssteps up its national regional developmentdrive, the Enterprise Ireland HQ managersaid.

With an impressive parkland setting andwell-equipped Conference Centre, the Parkis an ideal venue for our regular RegionalDirector meetings and all contact withclients.

Located right beside the InternationalAirport, it’s also perfectly situated to hostinternational gatherings. For instance, inOctober, we will welcome officials from 31EI overseas offices, as well as indigenouscompanies from the Midlands, Mid-Westand South-West Regions, to an ‘Interna-tional Markets Week’ event in Westpark.

ULearning brings academia and industry together

To find out more aboutlocating in Westpark Shannon

Visit:www.westparkshannon.com

Contact:T: +353 (0) 61 479111F: +353 (0) 61 479899

info@westparkshannon.com

PIVOTAL ROLE FOR ENTERPRISE IRELAND’S NEW NATIONALHQ AT WESTPARK SHANNON

“Connections” is a publication of Westpark ShannonLimited, the developer of Westpark Shannon.

Note: While every effort is taken to ensure the accuracy ofthis publication, no liability is accepted for error or

omission.

The availability of a skilled workforceand the continuous development ofemployee skills are critical to theongoing success story of industry inIreland, Piers Devereux, CEO ofOlympus Life Research Ireland, hassaid.The top executive of the Co. Clare-based lifesciences manufacturer made his remarks whenofficially launching the ULearning Skillnetprogramme, www.ulearning.ie at WestparkShannon.

ULearning brings together academia andindustry to offer flexible, modular learning forindividuals. Programmes are offered in the areasof science, technology and engineering at levels7, 8 and 9, equivalent to degree and masterslevel qualifications.

Westpark Shannon is the promoter of theULearning network, which has its offices on theWestpark campus. Other key participants are theAtlantic University Alliance and industry membercompanies.

Further information on the ULearning Network and programmes canbe had from the Network’s offices at Westpark Shannon.Tel: 061 708835. Email: info@ulearning.ie or fromNetwork Manager, Dr Ingrid Hunt at Ingrid.Hunt@ul.ie

At the launch L to R: Prof. Eamonn Murphy, Enterprise Research Centre, UL, PiersDevereux, CEO, Olympus Life Research Ireland, Dr Ingrid Hunt, ULearning NetworkManager, Mat Kujawa, ULearning Skillnet Programme Support Manager and Brian

O’Connell, Managing Director, Westpark Shannon.

www.westparkshannon.com

Brendan Flood,Divisional Manager, Enterprise Ireland.

“

”