Imation Signs Agreement with Optiant to Drive Supply Chain Leadership Implements Supply Chain Optimization for Operational Excellence SOMERVILLE, Mass., (Sept. 4, 2001) - Optiant(tm), Inc. today announced an agreement with Imation Corporation (NYSE:IMN) to help design and implement a postponement strategy for Imation's Data Storage and Information Management division. Optiant's advanced supply chain optimization solution will help Imation enhance supply chain performance. Imation will utilize Optiant's pioneering PowerChain(tm) solutions to configure an optimal supply chain system to support the company's global initiatives to provide customized fulfillment while optimizing resources. Optiant's solution will give Imation greater visibility across the entire supply chain and enhance strategic decision-making in areas such as inventory management, manufacturing and distribution. Imation, based in Oakdale, Minn., is a global leader in designing and delivering a wide range of products and services for removable data storage, color, and image management. The company selected Optiant based on its proven record in improving supply chain performance, expertise in postponement strategy and most significantly, the solution's ability to model and quantify - in dollars - the impact of postponement strategy decisions on the entire supply chain. "Imation continually looks for ways to improve business processes and maintain operational excellence," said John Neidermire, Director, Data Storage and Information Management Business Process Redesign and International Supply Chain at Imation. "Optiant brings additional expertise which will allow us to find the optimal balance between cost containment, inventory and customer responsiveness." Optiant's PowerChain solutions, launched in April 2001, have already demonstrated rapid ROI in manufacturing and distribution environments at Global 1000 companies. The Web-based software enables manufacturers to collaboratively design optimal supply chains from end-to-end, allowing them to quickly assess the impacts of business decisions on cost, efficiency and customer satisfaction. "We're pleased to be working with an innovator like Imation," said Marcus Ruark, president and CEO of Optiant. "We're excited about the opportunity to help Imation extend its market dominance with a high- performance supply chain solution that delivers higher service levels, reduces costs, and ultimately, strengthens profitability." ### About the companies: Optiant, Inc. helps manufacturers maximize profitability through improved strategies across their extended supply chain. Its flagship software solution, the PowerChain suite, enables manufacturers to collaboratively design and configure optimal supply chains, set optimal inventory policies, and integrate supply chain strategy and policies into their strategic sourcing processes. PowerChain solutions are built on patent-pending optimization technology based on more than ten years of leading- edge operations research and industry partnerships at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Optiant is a privately held company based in Somerville, Mass. and can be reached at www.optiant.com or (617) 625-1435. Imation Corp. is a $1.2 billion global company widely recognized as a leader in removable data storage and color image management. Imation removable data storage offerings are a key ingredient in much of the world's technology infrastructure - from corporate data centers, to networks, to small businesses and home users. The product line is one of the broadest in the industry, with magnetic and optical products for the enterprise data center, the network environment, and the consumer. For business users, Imation magnetic tape cartridges deliver reliable data storage in data processing, backup and archive applications. Imation's storage consulting services help customers to improve performance, maximize efficiency, and minimize cost for a multitude of storage environments. Consumers use Imation's broad range of digital media, drives and accessories to store photos, data, music and more. On its own and through industry alliances, Imation continues to pioneer today's proven tape, optical and diskette technologies. Data storage revenues were $866 million in 2000. Imation Color Technologies provides innovative proofing products, software for digital color control and value-added services that reduce cycle times and increase throughput for the graphic arts, creative, marketing communications, office and Internet markets. Building upon its industry-standard Matchprint proofing system, Imation now offers a wide range of digital and conventional Matchprint-branded systems to help professionals ensure accurate color reproduction from concept to final output. Imation works with a growing number of industry partners to embed its color calibration technology in OEM printing and copying devices. Color Technologies revenues were $273 million in 2000. Imation Digital Solutions and Services (DSS) is focused in two areas - OEM Services and Document Imaging. Imation DSS services wide-format color and imaging equipment through relationships with large OEMs. In Document Imaging, Imation DSS is a system integrator for customers with wide-format engineering document imaging systems who are migrating from analog to digital systems. DSS revenues were $94 million in 2000. As of March 31, 2001, Imation employed approximately 4,200 people worldwide. The Company has sales in over 60 countries with international revenues contributing 45% of total sales. Additional information about Imation is available on the Company's website at http://www.imation.com, or by calling Imation at 1.888.466.3456. To receive recent news releases, corporate information and related shareholder services, call Imation's shareholder information line at 1.888.IMN.NYSE (1.888.466.6973). Optiant and PowerChain Suite are trademarks of Optiant, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. Company Contact: Michael Braatz (617) 625-1435 Ext. 234 michael.braatz@optiant.com Media Contacts: Corporate Ink (617) 969-9192 Susan Bassett sbassett@corporateink.com Megan Sayce msayce@corporateink.com