OAKDALE, Minn. (Oct. 22, 2001)—Imation Corp. (NYSE: IMN), a worldwide leader in data storage and information management, today announced an agreement with IBM to manage and deliver after-market data storage media distribution services for IBM worldwide. The agreement establishes Imation as a key distributor of IBM brand media products—including but not limited to IBM LTO Ultrium and IBM TotalStorage Enterprise 3590 cartridges—providing sales, marketing, distribution, and management services to customers using IBM's storage media products. Imation was chosen for its marketing and supply chain expertise, built through long-standing co-development relationships with leading drive manufacturers, and nearly 50 years experience manufacturing and delivering reliable data storage media. "We are pleased with the opportunity to provide users of IBM storage products with storage media products and distribution services that mirror the high quality and reliability they have come to expect from IBM," said Stephen Dwyer, business development manager, Data Storage and Information Management, Imation. "This agreement marks another phase in the long-standing relationship between our two companies." The three-year contract covers Imation distribution of IBM branded media including all facets of order management, procurement assistance, customer contact management, and warranty returns. International fulfillment and distribution also are included under the contract, including distribution to the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa. The services will be managed by an Imation distribution, sales and marketing organization independent from the existing Imation data storage product line businesses. "Our agreement with Imation is a crucial part of our tape storage strategy to maintain strong relationships with media manufacturers and distributors, and to ensure tape system users are offered superior media services," said Bob Maness, director of worldwide product marketing, tape products, Storage Systems Group, IBM. "Imation provides a worldwide distribution network that strongly supports our distribution strategy for tape. Over the years, we've worked with Imation's strong technical and marketing team to promote IBM tape media offerings. This collaboration is a new phase in our relationship that will benefit our customers. The contract is effective now and runs through 2004.