Apple Expands Distribution Through Alliance with Tech Data

CUPERTINO, California and CLEARWATER, Florida—March 16, 2000—Apple® and Tech Data Corp. today announced an agreement authorizing Tech Data to distribute Apple’s innovative hardware and software product lines throughout the U.S.

“Tech Data has made a strong commitment to help Apple get our products into the channel faster,” said Mitch Mandich, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide sales. “They have the resources and commitment to help us grow and further advance our channel strategy while delivering exceptional service to our reseller network.”

“Apple’s new direction and product line innovations are winning unanimous accolades as Apple continues to gain momentum and even stronger user loyalty within many key market segments,” said Steven A. Raymund, Tech Data’s chairman and chief executive officer. “We offer the economies of scale, ongoing infrastructure investments and long-term strategic direction to keep pace with the rising demand for Apple and Apple-compatible products.”

Tech Data is establishing a business unit to focus exclusively on Apple solutions and the requirements of Apple-authorized resellers, and will include cross-divisional support from dedicated sales, product marketing, marketing services and technical support personnel.

Tech Data’s European and Latin American subsidiaries already carry Apple products and are among the vendor’s largest suppliers in these markets. A comprehensive marketing program is being implemented to promote the availability of Apple products from Tech Data in the U.S.

For more information about Apple products available from Tech Data, resellers may contact the company at (800) 237-8931 or visit its Web site at www.techdata.com.

About Apple
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Apple is committed to bringing the best personal computing experience to students, educators, creative professionals and consumers around the world through its innovative hardware, software and Internet offerings.

About Tech Data
Tech Data Corporation (NASDAQ/NMS: TECD), founded in 1974, is a leading global provider of IT products, logistics management and other value-added services. The Fortune 500 company and its subsidiaries serve more than 100,000 technology resellers in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East. Tech Data’s extensive service offering includes pre— and post-sale training and technical support, financing options, configuration and assembly services as well as a full range of award-winning electronic commerce solutions. The company generated sales of $16.1 billion in its most recent 12-month fiscal period, which ended Oct. 31, 1999.

Press Contacts:
Chuck Miller
Tech Data
(727) 571-9305
cmiller@techdata.com

Katie Cotton
Apple
(408) 974-7269
katiec@apple.com

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