Compatible With High-Capacity Diskette Co-Developed By Imation Corp.

OAKDALE, Minn. -- (March 13, 1997) - Mitsubishi Electronics America, Inc., today announced that Mitsubishi Electric Corporation will be offering a new slimline version of its LS-120 floppy disk drives for notebook personal computers (PCs) this summer. LS-120 technology was co-developed by Imation Corp. (NYSE: IMN), the imaging and information company recently spun-off by 3M. Imation manufactures and markets the 3M-brand LS-120 Diskette.

"The mobile PC is increasingly becoming the PC of choice for corporate computer users, and Mitsubishi's announcement is good news for them" said Ray Meifert, director, PC Markets Segment, Imation. "LS-120 slimline drives are perfectly suited to mobile PC users' needs, being the only diskette solution that provides true portability, high capacity, a low power consumption level, and read/write backward compatibility to 1.44 MB diskettes."

Samples of Mitsubishi's new slimline LS-120 floppy drives will be available in June 1997 with mass production scheduled to begin the following month. The new slimline LS-120 design measures 12.7 mm (height) x 96 mm (width) x 126 mm (depth) and weighs only 175 grams, making it ideal for replacing existing floppy drives in notebook PCs.

"This new slimline LS-120 floppy drive enables PC OEMs to offer users the large storage capacity of LS-120 diskettes across their entire product line, from notebooks through workstations," said Tadashi Hasegawa, manager of worldwide floppy drive manufacturing and engineering development, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. "Notebook computer users will no longer need to carry two drives with them -- one for high capacity and another for 1.44 MB operation. A single LS-120 drive accommodates both."

The announcement follows recent, separate announcements from LS-120 drive makers Mitsubishi and Matsushita-Kotobuki Electronics Industries, Ltd. (MKE) 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, OR 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.

Other companies that offer products based on LS-120 technology or have announced plans to do so include Compaq Computer Corp. (NYSE: CPQ), Hitachi-Maxell, Ltd., Siemens Nixdorf and Fujitsu ICL.

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation is a high-volume manufacturer of disk drive storage products based on standard 1.44 MB and new 120 MB LS-120 diskette technologies, as well as optical storage technologies, including the new Digital Video Disc (DVD) technology. The company markets its storage products in North America through the Electronic Device Group division of its wholly owned subsidiary, Mitsubishi Electronics America, Inc.

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.