Bell Microproducts Inc.

Bell Microproducts is a leading value-added provider of high technology products and solutions serving the industrial and commercial markets. The company offers a wide range of products and solutions in several areas including semiconductors, desktop/RAID/high-end storage, networking and SAN connectivity, SAN and Back-up Software, peripherals, and computing platforms. The company is a leader in the area of storage solutions in both industrial and commercial distribution. These products are available at various levels of integration from raw components to subsystem assemblies to fully integrated, tested and certified system solutions. The company adds value through a broad range of services including testing, kitting, mass storage system integration, the integration of complete computer systems and technical support through its ISO 9002 facilities.

Bell Microproducts markets and distributes more than 100 brand name product lines, as well as its own BellStor storage and Trademark computer brands, to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), value-added resellers (VARs) and system integrators in the Americas. The strong growth of Internet digital content and computing hardware has driven increased demand for Bell Micro's semiconductor and storage products. Revenues from continuing operations have grown at a total compounded annual rate of 39% over the past three years. To capitalize on the growth opportunities of the Internet, Bell Micro has established an e-Business program to drive Business-to-Business solutions to Internet reseller companies and other mass merchandisers. On January 12, 2000, IBM appointed Bell Microproducts as their Technology Group Solutions Partner serving the Americas. Also, on February 2, 2000, Sun Microsystems and TradeMark Computers, a division of Bell Microproducts, announced an agreement for Sun to sell TradeMark's UltraSPARC-based Linux servers through Sun's own established reseller channel. Bell Microproducts offers the channel's most comprehensive lineup of Fibre Channel products and currently provides the industry's only interconnectivity program with assured interoperability.

Recently, Bell Microproducts completed the acquisition of Rorke Data, Hammer Storage, and Ideal Hardware. Rorke Data will significantly add to Bell Micro's existing Fibre Channel, SAN, NAS, and SAS capabilities. Hammer is a leading provider of storage subsystems, playback software, and SAN environments for the creative digital media marketplace. Ideal is a leading UK-based value-added, storage-centric distributor with more than $500 million in annual sales in Europe. These acquisitions are a further step in the company's drive towards a richer mix of products. Electronic Buyers News, a leading industry publication, recognized Bell Microproducts on October 18, 1999 as the winner of the Best Managed Distributor award. The company was ranked first among distributors based on key financial indicators, ability to be a more important partner to suppliers, ability to meet unique demands of customers and other data.

For more information, please visit our website at www.bellmicro.com