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EXHIBIT 99

               SAFE HARBOR UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION
                               REFORM ACT OF 1995

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act") provides a
"safe harbor" for forward-looking statements to encourage companies to
provide prospective information about their companies, so long as those
statements are identified as forward-looking and are accompanied by
meaningful cautionary statements identifying important factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the
statement. The Company desires to take advantage of the "safe harbor"
provisions of the Act. Certain information, particularly information
regarding future economic performance and finances and plans and objectives
of management, contained, or incorporated by reference, in the Company's
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1999 is
forward-looking. In some cases, information regarding certain important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any such
forward-looking statement appear together with such statement. Also, the
following factors, in addition to other possible factors not listed, could
affect the Company's actual results and cause such results to differ
materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements.

Highly Competitive Industry. The computer and office automation supply and
audio-visual presentation products industry is highly competitive. The
Company competes with major full-service office products distributors, other
national and regional computer supply distributors, office products
superstores, direct mail order companies, and, to a lesser extent,
non-specialized retailers. Certain of the Company's competitors, such as
office products superstores and major full-service office products
distributors have substantially greater financial and other resources and
purchasing power than the Company. The Company believes that the computer
supply and audio-visual presentation products industry will become more
consolidated in the future and consequently more competitive. Increasing
competition will result in greater price discounting which will continue to
have a negative impact on the industry's gross margins. There can be no
assurance that the Company will not encounter increased competition in the
future, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business.

Dependence on Certain Key Suppliers. Although the Company regularly carries
products and accessories manufactured by approximately 500 original equipment
manufacturers. The Company's business is dependent upon terms provided by its
key suppliers, including pricing and related provisions, product availability
and dealer authorizations. While the Company considers its relationships with
its key suppliers, including Hewlett-Packard, Sharp and Lexmark to be good,
there can be no assurance that these relationships will not be terminated or
that such relationships will continue as presently in effect. In addition,
changes by one or more of such key suppliers of their policies regarding
distributors or volume discount schedules or other marketing programs
applicable to the Company may have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business. Certain distribution agreements require the Company to make minimum
annual purchases. Under its distribution agreements with Hewlett-Packard,
Lexmark and Imation, the Company is required to make minimum annual purchases
of $5.0 million, $250,000 and $50,000, respectively.

Restrictions Imposed by Debt Arrangements. The Company's outstanding
indebtedness consists primarily of borrowings under the $150.0 million
secured Credit Facility provided by PNC Bank, N.A. and four other banks (the
"Banks"). The Credit Facility contains restrictive covenants, which may have
an adverse effect on the Company's operations in the future. These covenants
include among other restrictions: (i) the maintenance of certain financial
ratios; (ii) restrictions on ( a ) the purchase or sale of assets, ( b ) any
merger, sale or consolidation activity, ( c ) loans, investments and
guaranties made by the Company, ( d ) lease and sale and leaseback
transactions, and ( e ) capital expenditures; and (iii) certain limitations
on the incurrence of other indebtedness. These provisions may constrain the
Company's acquisition strategy, or may delay, deter, or prevent a takeover
attempt that a shareholder might consider in its best interests and may have
an adverse effect on the market price of the Company's Common Stock. In
addition, the Credit Facility prohibits the payment of dividends and certain
repurchases of the Common Stock.

Ability to Manage Growth. The Company expects to experience rapid growth that
will likely result in new and increased responsibilities for management
personnel and which will challenge the Company's management, operating and
financial systems and resources. To compete effectively and manage future
growth, if any, the Company will be required to continue to implement and
improve its operational, financial and management information systems,
procedures and internal controls on a timely basis and to expand, train,
motivate and manage its work force. There can be no assurance that the
Company's personnel, systems, procedures and controls will be adequate to
support the Company's future operations. Any failure to implement and improve
the Company's operational, financial and management systems or to expand,
train motivate or manage employees could have a material adverse effect on
the Company's operating results and financial condition.

Dependence on Computer Systems. The Company's operations are generally
dependent on its proprietary software applications. Modifications to the
Company's computer systems and applications software will be necessary as the
Company executes its expansion plans and responds to the "year 2000 problem,"
customer needs, technological developments, electronic commerce requirements
and other factors. Such modifications may cause disruptions in the operations
of the Company, delay the schedule for implementing the

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integration of newly acquired companies, or cost more to design, implement or
operate than currently budgeted. Such disruptions, delays or costs could
have a material adverse effect on the Company's operations and financial
performance.

The Company is utilizing internal resources and outside consultants to
upgrade its software for year 2000 ("Year 2000") compliance. The Company's
computer hardware and operating system are already Year 2000 compliant. New
software has been acquired in response to the Company's expansion and
acquisition program is Year 2000 compliant.

The Company does not currently have redundant computer systems or redundant
dedicated communication lines linking its computers to its warehouses,
although all data is stored on two separate hard drives on a continual basis.
The Company has taken precautions to protect itself from events that could
interrupt its operations, including back-up power supplies that allow the
Company's computer system to function in the event of a power outage,
off-site storage of back-up data, fire protection, physical security systems
and an early warning detection and fire extinguishing system. The occurrence
of any of these events could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
operations and financial performance.

Failure to Implement Acquisition Strategy. The Company's business strategy
includes the acquisition of other computer and office automation supply and
audio-visual presentation product companies in the U.S. and overseas.
Competition for desirable new acquisitions in attractive major metropolitan
markets is expected to increase. No assurance can be given that the Company
will be able to find attractive acquisition candidates or that such
acquisitions can be effected at reasonable prices or in a timely manner, or
that once acquired, the Company will be able to profitably manage such
companies. The failure to complete acquisitions and continue the Company's
expansion could have a material adverse effect on its financial performance.

Integration of Acquisitions. The Company has acquired ten computer and office
automation supply companies, and nine audio-visual presentation products
companies, since its initial public offering in November 1996 and intends to
actively pursue additional acquisitions. No assurance can be given that the
Company will be able to successfully integrate its future acquisitions with
the Company's existing systems and operations. The integration of acquired
businesses may also lead to the resignation of key employees of the acquired
companies and diversion of management attention from other ongoing business
concerns. The costs of integration could have an adverse effect on short-term
operating results. Any or all of these factors could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's operations in the future.

Financing for Acquisitions; Leverage. If acquisitions are consummated for
cash, it is likely that the Company will borrow the necessary funds and,
accordingly, the Company may become highly leveraged as a result thereof. If
it becomes highly leveraged, the Company may be more vulnerable to extended
economic downturns and its flexibility in responding to changing economic and
industry conditions may be limited. The degree to which the Company is
leveraged could have important consequences to purchasers of the Common
Stock, including the impairment of the Company's ability to obtain additional
financing for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and general
corporate purposes. The Company's ability to make principal and interest
payments on its current and future indebtedness and to repay its current and
future indebtedness at maturity will be dependent on the Company's future
operating performance, which is itself dependent on a number of factors, many
of which are beyond the Company's control, and may be dependent on the
availability of borrowings under the Credit Facility or other financing. A
substantial portion of the Company's current borrowing capacity under the
Credit Facility could be consumed by increased working capital needs,
including future acquisitions.

Possible Need for Additional Financing to Implement Acquisition Strategy. No
portion of the Company's working capital has been set aside for the specific
purpose of funding future acquisitions and, therefore, the Company may
require additional funds to implement its acquisition strategy. While the
Company's Credit Facility may be utilized to finance acquisitions, the amount
which may be drawn upon by the Company may be limited. Accordingly, the
Company may require additional debt or equity financing for future
acquisitions. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to
obtain additional debt or equity financing on terms favorable to the Company,
or at all, or if obtained, there can be no assurance that such debt or equity
financing will be sufficient for the financing needs of the Company.

Risks Relating to International Acquisitions. Expansion into international
markets may involve additional risks relating to such things as currency
exchange rates, new and different legal and regulatory requirements,
political and economic risks relating to the stability of foreign governments
and their trading relationship with the United States, difficulties in
staffing and managing foreign operations, differences in financial reporting,
differences in the manner in which different cultures do business, operating
difficulties and other factors.

Exchange Rate Fluctuations. As a result of the purchase of Axidata Inc., a
Canadian computer supply wholesaler in December 1998, the Company's exposure
to fluctuations in exchange rates has increased. Accordingly, no assurance
can be given that the Company's results of operations will not be adversely
affected in the future by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.
The Company has, at times, entered into forward foreign currency exchange
contracts in order to hedge the Company's accounts receivable and accounts
payable. In the future, the Company may, from time to time, consider entering
into other forward foreign currency exchange contracts, although no


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assurances can be given that the Company will do so, or will be able to do
so, or that such arrangements will adequately protect the Company from
fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.

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