GE Capital is planning to syndicate a $700 million debtor-in-possession credit line for Ames Department Stores, after the troubled discount retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. A banker said that the $700 million revolver will be syndicated, though he was unable to provide pricing or a timeframe. GE Capital spokesman John Oliver declined to comment on the loan. Calls to Ames CFO Rolando de Aguiar were referred to a spokeswoman for Ames, who confirmed that GE Capital would be providing a $700 million credit line and Kimco Funding would provide $55 million. The Ames spokeswoman said the company has received interim approval from the bankruptcy court for its $755 million post-petition financing. The interim approval immediately makes available to the company up to $628 million to acquire merchandise, fund daily operations, pay its associates and retire the existing credit agreements. A hearing on the final approval of the financing is set for Sept. 17, 2001.