Bundled With LS-120 Drives, Software Will Improve Performance Significantly

OAKDALE, Minn. (March 13, 1997) -- Imation Corp. (NYSE: IMN), the imaging and information company recently spun off by 3M, today announced the development of a performance-enhancing software product for LS-120 diskette technology.

The software, named LS-120 Performance Accelerator, employs data caching and buffering to enable users of LS-120 drives and diskettes to experience system performance levels similar to that of hard disk drives in most operations under Windows 95. LS-120 Performance Accelerator is slated for commercialization in April 1997.

Now being demonstrated to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), LS-120 Performance Accelerator can be integrated seamlessly into the systems of PCs shipping with standard LS-120 drives and is expected to also be available as an aftermarket product under the Imation brand.

"With LS-120 Performance Accelerator, LS-120 technology is an even clearer choice as the next evolution of 1.44 MB floppy drive," said Ray Meifert, director, PC Markets Segment, Imation. "Now, LS-120 offers backward compatibility, multiple sources of high-volume media and drive manufacturing, and performance levels to satisfy the most demanding user. No other competitive diskette solution meets these standards for desktop and mobile PC users."

Specific pricing information was not released, but the software will not add significant OEM or end-user cost for a complete LS-120 storage solution, according to Meifert. More information about pricing and availability will be released in coming weeks.

The announcement follows recent, separate announcements from LS-120 drive makers Matsushita-Kotobuki Electronics Industries, Ltd. (MKE) and Mitsubishi Electric Corp. that their respective production facilities are capable of producing

LS-120 drives in high volume -- up to 500,000 drives per month by each company. In another recent announcement, O.R. Technology disclosed a strategic alliance with Kaifa Group, one of the largest computer component manufacturing companies in China, to mass produce a 12.7 mm LS-120 drive for notebook computers in 1997.

Imation Corp. supplies a variety of products and services worldwide for the imaging and information industry, and is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of branded removable data storage media for computing applications. The company generated revenues of approximately $2.3 billion in 1996. Imation employs 9,400 people and is based in Oakdale, Minn.

Additional information about Imation is available by calling Imation toll-free at 1-888-466-3456, or through the company's toll-free shareholder information line at 1-888-IMN-NYSE (1-888-466-6973).

Copyright 1996 Imation. All rights reserved.