NEI (Nasdaq: NEI), a leading provider of server-based application platforms, deployment solutions and lifecycle support services for software technology developers and OEMs worldwide, announced today that it has signed a definitive merger agreement with UNICOM Systems, Inc. ("UNICOM") and a new UNICOM subsidiary under which UNICOM, a global information technology company and part of the UNICOM group of companies, will acquire NEI for $1.45 per common share in cash. The transaction is valued at approximately $63.2 million. This price represents a premium of approximately 85.5% to NEI's closing price of $0.78 on June 18, 2012.