UNICOM Systems to acquire Network Engines through shareholder – approved merger

Stockholders to receive $1.45 per share in cash; transaction valued at $61.8 million

MISSION HILLS, CA, June 18, 2012 – UNICOM® Systems, Inc., a division of the UNICOM group of companies, a global leader in innovative software and solutions for the enterprise computing community, including data management, data-warehousing, outsourcing, integration, communications and commerce, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to  acquire Network Engines, Inc. (Nasdaq: NEI) through a new UNICOM subsidiary.  NEI is a leading provider of server-based application platforms, deployment solutions and lifecycle support services for software technology developers and OEMs worldwide for $1.45 per common share in cash.  The transaction is valued at approximately $61.8 million.  This price represents a premium of approximately 85.9% to NEI’s closing price of $0.78 on June 15, 2012.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and the approval of NEI shareholders.  The Boards of Directors of both NEI and UNICOM have unanimously approved the transaction and the NEI Board of Directors has recommended that NEI shareholders vote in favor of the transaction.  The transaction is currently expected to close within NEI’s fiscal 2012 fourth quarter ending September 30, 2012.  Shareholders of NEI holding shares representing approximately 14.6% of the shares outstanding have entered into agreements with UNICOM under which they have agreed to vote their shares in favor of the proposed merger. Upon the consummation of the merger NEI will become a private company, wholly owned by UNICOM.

Corry Hong, UNICOM’s founder and Chief Executive Officer stated, “Over the past 30 years, UNICOM has built a global reputation for excellence in serving information technology buyers in government and Fortune 500 enterprises.  The acquisition of NEI represents the next step in expanding UNICOM’s ability to deliver world-class IT products and services to enterprise customers.”

Under the terms of the definitive merger agreement, NEI is permitted to solicit alternative acquisition proposals from third parties through July 18, 2012 and intends to consider any such proposals.  There can be no assurances that the solicitation of such proposals will result in an alternative acquisition transaction.  It is not anticipated that any developments will be disclosed with regard to this process unless the Company’s Board of Directors makes an affirmative decision to proceed with an alternative acquisition proposal. 

In addition, NEI may, at any time, subject to the terms of the definitive merger agreement, respond to unsolicited alternative acquisition proposals.  The definitive merger agreement also contains certain break-up fees payable to each party in connection with the termination of the definitive merger agreement under certain circumstances.

Greg Shortell, President and Chief Executive Officer of NEI, commented, “This offer represents an attractive opportunity to deliver premium value and liquidity to NEI’s shareholders.  I am excited about the potential for future growth with a strategic partner of UNICOM’s stature and global reach.  This is an excellent opportunity to realize short- and long-term benefits for our customers, employees and technology partners,” said Shortell.

Media Contact

Mr. Russ Guzzo
russ.guzzo@unicomglobal.com
+1.818.838.0606

About UNICOM Systems, Inc.

www.unicomsi.com

The UNICOM Systems technology division delivers world-class CICS automation and z/OS and z/VM software solutions to IBM Z customers globally, integration services and solutions to commercial and government organizations, and application development tools for Linux/Unix and Windows customers.

UNICOM's flagship product, AUTOMON/CICS, is an award winning solution which powers some of the largest CICS installations worldwide. Today UNICOM Systems offers dozens of mission-critical solutions for a variety of platforms in several categories including Performance Management, Application Lifecycle Management, Storage and Security Management, Application Development and Application Modernization.

About UNICOM® Global

www.unicomglobal.com

UNICOM Global consists of more than fifty (50) corporate entities encompassing a wide range of businesses across all geographic regions. With its corporate headquarters in Los Angeles, California, to offices in Illinois, Kentucky, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Carolina, New Jersey, Texas and Virginia, throughout EMEA in the UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland and the UAE, and across Asia/Pacific with locations in Japan, China, India, Australia, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan and the Philippines.

UNICOM Global offers deep in-house resources and flexible IT solutions to our partners worldwide. UNICOM Global focuses on acquiring and integrating mature and growing mid-cap NASDAQ, London Stock Exchange AIM and German publicly-traded companies in technology, financing, IT, real estate, and business services. Please visit our websites for additional information about the services, products and solutions that UNICOM Global offers:

www.unicomglobal.com

UNICOM Global - Assets, capital and investment management

www.unicomsi.com

UNICOM Systems - IBM Mainframe software products

www.unicomgov.com

UNICOM Government (formerly NASDAQ: GTSI) - Government IT solutions

www.unicomengineering.com

UNICOM Engineering (formerly NASDAQ: NEI) Appliance platform

www.unicom.org

UNICOM Science and Technology Parks

www.unicomtechnologypark.com

UNICOM Technology Park – Innovation Labs in Virginia

www.unicomsciencepark.com

UNICOM Science and Technology Park – Innovation Labs in New Jersey

www.unicom-capital.com

UNICOM Capital - Business and Financial Services

www.usrobotics.com

USRobotics - Data communications products

www.memeo.com

Memeo - Enterprise-grade Secure File Sharing for the Cloud

www.firetide.com

Firetide - Wireless technology solutions for security and transportation

www.detec.com

DETEC - Document composition products

www.softlanding.com

SoftLanding Systems - IBM i software products

www.macro4.com

Macro 4 (formerly LONDON: MAO) - Document Management products

www.illustro.com

illustro - z/OS and z/VSE software products

www.iet-solutions.com

iET Solutions - ITSM software products

www.eden.com

Eden - Mergers & Acquisitions, Business & Financial Services, and Real Estate

www.cics.com

CICS.com - Hardware, Software, Outsourcing and Professional Services

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