Middle Market Healthcare Executives Expect Proposed Healthcare Reform Will Be Good for Businesses

Exclusive Study Reveals Resiliency in the Healthcare Sector as Executives Expect
Growth Opportunities in Light of Market Downturn
NEW YORK--(Business Wire)--
Middle market healthcare executives favor the Obama administration`s proposed
healthcare reform initiatives by a nearly 2:1 margin and they believe some
reform initiatives will be good for business and will have a positive impact on
their operations, according to an exclusive study released today by CIT Group
Inc. (NYSE: CIT), a leading provider of financing and advisory services to the
middle market.

The study includes the following key findings:

* 60% of middle market healthcare executives expect revenue growth over the next
12 months.
* 43% expect their workforce to grow over the next 12 months.
* 82% see their capital expenditures as stable or rising.
* Compared to a study of their peers from a variety of industries three months
earlier, healthcare executives are more optimistic about their sector, but less
optimistic about the near-term recovery of the U.S. economy.

The research report, "U.S. Middle Market Outlook 2009: Resiliency in the
Healthcare Sector,"shows how healthcare companies, while realistic about the
difficult economy, are more immune than other industries to the effects of the
global recession and in fact see growth opportunities in the current
environment. This study isthe second in a series of four middle market studies
to be produced this year by Forbes Insights.

"Middle market healthcare executives are optimistic about the positive impact
that the Obama administration`s proposed plans for healthcare reform will have
on their businesses," said Margaret Au Brown, President and Co-Head of CIT
Healthcare. "While other industries have decreased borrowing activity, our
middle market healthcare clients continue to borrow at a steady pace as they
prepare for the costs associated with these healthcare reform initiatives."

The study is based on the responses of more than 100 senior-level financial
decision makers at U.S. middle market healthcare companies (those with annual
revenues between $25 million and $1 billion). It highlights how these executives
are managing the current economic crisis and also reveals their outlook for the
remainder of 2009.

"As a counter-cyclical sector, many healthcare companies are poised to take
advantage of opportunities in the current market downturn," said Steven N.
Warden, President and Co-Head of CIT Healthcare. "Middle market executives
recognize the troubling economy, but despite this, more than half of them have
seen their businesses grow or remain the same over the past year. In fact, many
expect a similar trend in the coming year, as they place a greater focus on
operating efficiencies and new investment in capital and equipment."

Middle market companies, a key component of the U.S. economy, account for more
than $6 trillion in sales and employ almost 32 million Americans (2002 U.S.
Census).

The study includes the following detailed findings:

* Strong support for Obama healthcare reform. By a nearly 2:1 ratio, 56% of
executives overall and 67% of executives from hospitals/medical centers said
they are in favor of reform "in general." For many healthcare businesses, areas
of reform may present new opportunities for growth.

* Electronic health records and preventive care good for business. Of study
respondents, 70% expect the increased use of electronic health records to have a
positive impact on their business. In addition, 67% of middle market healthcare
executives expect that their businesses will benefit from reform proposals that
place greater focus on preventive care.

* Resilience against effects of the recession and positive outlook on the
future. While middle market healthcare executives acknowledge the troubling
economy, they have been able to weather the storm and grow their companies
during these difficult times. Over the past 12 months, 64% of middle market
healthcare executives saw their revenues either grow (49%) or grow significantly
(15%), and executives continue to see additional opportunities for growth in the
future. During the next 12 months, 60% of middle market healthcare executives
expect their revenues to either grow (48%) or grow significantly (12%).
* Investing for future growth. While other industries have been tightening their
purse strings, middle market healthcare companies continue to invest in their
businesses. Forty-two percent of executives expect their company`s capital
expenditures to increase (38%) or increase significantly (4%) in the coming
year, while 40% expect these investments to remain the same. Of the healthcare
companies surveyed, 51% indicated that they will primarily be investing in new
technology (27%) and acquisitions (24%).

* Active job market. Other industries may be reducing their workforces during
the downturn, but healthcare companies are still hiring. Forty-three percent of
respondents said they expect the size of their workforce to grow over the next
12 months, and 41% expect it to remain the same.

* Less optimistic about economic recovery in 2009. While healthcare executives
are highly confident of their own industry, their views on the near-term
recovery of the U.S. economy are less optimistic. Only 54% see the financial
crisis bottoming out in 2009, while 63% see the financial markets turning around
in 2010. These results are indicative of recent market events and are in
contrast to CIT`s earlier study results, in which 80% of middle market
executives from a variety of industries said they expected the crisis to bottom
out in 2009 and 46% saw the financial market turnaround occurring within the
year.

Individuals interested in receiving future updates on CIT via e-mail can
register at http://newsalerts.cit.com.

EDITOR`S NOTE:

Complimentary copies of "U.S. Middle Market Outlook 2009: Resiliency in the
Healthcare Sector," as well as podcasts related to the study featuring Margaret
Au Brown and Steven N. Warden, Presidents and Co-Heads of CIT Healthcare, can be
downloaded at http://middlemarket.cit.com.

About the Report

"U.S. Middle Market Outlook 2009: Resiliency in the Healthcare Sector"is the
second in a series of four in-depth studies on the middle market being produced
by Forbes Insights in association with CIT. Forbes Insights surveyed 101
healthcare executives at U.S. middle market companies in April and May 2009. All
those surveyed had functional responsibility for finance, strategy and business
development, or general management at healthcare companies with revenues between
$25 million and $1 billion. They represented a range of for-profit healthcare
segments, including hospitals/medical centers/practices, nursing/rehabilitation
centers, medical device manufacturers, and others.

About Forbes Insights

Forbes Insights is the custom research practice of Forbes Media, publisher of
Forbes magazine and Forbes.com, whose combined media properties reach nearly 50
million business decision makers worldwide on a monthly basis. Taking advantage
of a proprietary database of senior-level executives in the Forbes community,
Forbes Insights` research covers a wide range of vital business issues,
including talent management, corporate social responsibility, financial
benchmarking, risk and regulation, and doing business in emerging markets.

About CIT

CIT (NYSE: CIT) is a bank holding company with more than $60 billion in finance
and leasing assets that provides financial products and advisory services to
small and middle market businesses. Operating in more than 50 countries across
30 industries, CIT provides an unparalleled combination of relationship,
intellectual and financial capital to its customers worldwide. CIT maintains
leadership positions in small business and middle market lending, retail
finance, aerospace, equipment and rail leasing, and vendor finance. Founded in
1908 and headquartered in New York City, CIT is a member of the S&P 500 and
Fortune 500. www.cit.com

CIT Group Inc.
CIT MEDIA RELATIONS:
C. Curtis Ritter, 212-461-7711
Vice President, Director of External Communications & Media Relations
Curt.Ritter@cit.com
or
CIT INVESTOR RELATIONS:
Ken Brause, 212-771-9650
Executive Vice President
Ken.Brause@cit.com
or
FORBES INSIGHTS:
Debbie Weathers, 212-366-8848
dweathers@forbes.net

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