Valley Forge, Pennsylvania-May 3, 2001-IKON Office Solutions (NYSE: IKN) announced today that the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) has engaged IKON to provide customized e-business solutions to meet its business communications requirements and deliver customer support through IKON Online, IKON's e-business offering that enables Web-based customer interaction services. IKON will provide services designed to enable Penn to engage in ordering of equipment, services and supplies from customized e-catalogs. "We're pleased to help Penn leverage the latest e-technology to improve workflow and reduce overall costs as the University continues to enhance its electronic procurement process," said Eric Dirks, Vice President of e-Business for IKON. "Many of our customers elect to do business with IKON because we have a comprehensive e-business strategy. The University of Pennsylvania is the first major university to adopt our comprehensive e-solutions approach during our initial launch phase - which includes ordering contracted equipment, entering service requests and replenishing supplies, all via the Web." IKON will integrate IKON Online into Penn's new electronic procurement system, the "Penn Marketplace," and will provide catalog content. The Penn Marketplace was developed and hosted by TPN Register. TPN Register, a wholly owned subsidiary of GE Global Exchange Services (GXS), is an industry leader in interactive content management. As part of Penn's electronic procurement initiative for university-wide purchasing, faculty and staff will be able to order from a customized catalog of IKON products and services, which will include the latest digital copiers and printers, fax equipment, and complete color solutions. As part of its comprehensive solution, IKON also provides on-site facilities management and off-site document production overflow services to the Penn community. "We are very excited about the potential of IKON's e-business capabilities," said Ralph Maier, Associate Director of Acquisition Services for Penn. "IKON's e-business approach will enhance Penn's existing procurement process while transforming the interaction between customers and the supplier," he concluded. "IKON's creative solution to Penn's product content requirements will enable faculty and staff to efficiently order the appropriate IKON product," added Vira Homick, Acquisition Services Electronic Commerce Manager for Penn.