INGRAM MICRO ANNOUNCES 250 CHARTER MEMBERS, END-USER LAUNCH FOR PARTNERSHIP AMERICA

Program Resellers, Manufacturers Premiere at FOSE in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON, March 16, 1999

Ingram Micro Inc., the world's largest wholesale distributor of technology products and services, today announced the addition of 250 expert government and education technology resellers to its Partnership America membership program. The company also announced it will begin strategically marketing the Partnership America value proposition to the end-user community.

Partnership America is a membership-based network of technology resellers that dedicate more than half of their business to servicing public entities, such as federal, state and local government and universities, schools and libraries. Partnership America resellers are designated as experts in the market and meet requirements, such as product and service authorizations.

"The response to Partnership America by our valued reseller customers has been overwhelming. We are pleased to welcome 250 charter members into this network. Ingram Micro believes that the dedication and expertise of these members -- complemented by a variety of lease financing, management and marketing services -- will result in the highest quality service and total IT solutions for the government and education end user," said Jay Lambke, vice president, Government and Education Division, for Ingram Micro.

Partnership America resellers receive valuable services, such as end-user sales leads, a Web-based community, marketing pass-through funds, manufacturer training, bid support, firm-fixed pricing, product discounts and GSA schedule support.

Charter member John Schulte, sales director for Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Northern NEF, said: "As a Partnership America reseller, we provide technology solutions that meet the specific needs of today's government and education customers. We have made a long-term commitment to this market. We bring customers reliable products, services and support that are backed by the world's largest wholesale distributor of technology solutions."

Marketing the Partnership America Value Proposition

With the recruitment phase of Partnership America underway, Ingram Micro is launching the second phase of the program. Driving demand into members' business is the goal of marketing the Partnership America value proposition to public-sector end users via direct mail, advertising and electronic marketing.

Pam Smith, senior director, strategic marketing for Ingram Micro's Government and Education Division, said: "Partnership America is designed to help maximize the reseller's role as a relationship provider and a partner in the government and education end user's success. Ingram Micro's role in this program is secondary to the services, relationship and product solutions that Partnership America members provide to the end user. Our goal in marketing this message is to help end users realize the value resellers provide in the procurement of IT products."

The inaugural marketing effort takes place this week at FOSE in Washington, D.C. Partnership America can be found on the show floor, booth #3206, where reseller members and manufacturers will answer questions and provide information on the latest market trends.

Promotions will be communicated under the Partnership America program and name and will not bear Ingram Micro's name. End users will be referred to www.partnershipamerica.com, a real-time, virtual government and education community. Here end users can find technology news, product information and presentations as well as a Partnership America member profiler, which provides details on members in their area as well as links to member Web sites, where orders can be placed.

Partnership America is sponsored by nearly 300 manufacturers with key sponsorship from 3Com, Cisco, Compaq, Iomega and Microsoft. Key sponsors have committed to providing reseller training, marketing funds and special events and promotions.

About Ingram Micro Inc.

Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE:IM), headquartered in Santa Ana, Calif., is the world's largest wholesale distributor of technology products and services, and is a leading provider of assembly and integration services with 1998 sales of $22.0 billion. The company and its subsidiaries operate in 31 countries and distribute more than 200,000 products to more than 140,000 resellers in 130 countries.

Contact

Cara Stewart
Ingram Micro Inc.
(714) 382-1404