CANTON, Mass., Aug. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- NEI (Nasdaq: NEI), a leading provider of server-based application platforms, deployment solutions and lifecycle support services for software technology developers and OEMs worldwide, today reported financial results for its fiscal third quarter, the period ended June 30, 2012.

Third Quarter Financial Performance and Highlights


    --  Net revenues were $64.6 million, a decrease compared to the $66.1
        million reported for the third fiscal quarter last year but better than
        guidance of $51 to $56 million.
    --  EMC represented 54% of net revenues, a decrease from 63% of net revenues
        for the third fiscal quarter last year and an increase from the 42% of
        net revenues reported in the second quarter of 2012. Tektronix comprised
        9% of net revenues during the quarter, an increase from 8% of net
        revenues in the third fiscal quarter last year and down from the 22% of
        net revenues for the second fiscal quarter this year. Symantec
        represented 17% of net revenues during the quarter, an increase from 10%
        of net revenues during the second fiscal quarter. Since Symantec was a
        new customer in the year-ago quarter, revenues were not yet significant.
    --  Gross margin was 11.2% of net revenues, within guidance of 11.0% to
        11.5% and compared to 11.8% in the third quarter last year.
    --  Operating expenses were $6.3 million, which was above the guidance range
        of $5.5 million to $6.0 million, and compared to $6.1 million in the
        year-ago third quarter. The higher operating expenses were due to
        $592,000 in expenses related to the Company's pending acquisition by
        UNICOM Systems.
    --  Net income on a GAAP basis was $468,000, or $0.01 per share, which
        exceeded the guidance of a loss of $(200,000) to net income of $300,000,
        and compared to net income of $1.9 million, or $0.04 per share in the
        same period a year ago.  The net income for the third quarter of fiscal
        2012 is inclusive of income tax expense of $361,000, while the year-ago
        quarter included income tax (benefit) expense of $(85,000).  As a result
        of the Company's reversal of its deferred income tax valuation allowance
        at September 30, 2011, NEI is now required to record federal income tax
        expense, although it will be realizing the benefit of its deferred
        income tax assets and therefore substantially all of the federal income
        tax expense will not require cash payments.
    --  Non-GAAP net income, which excludes stock-based compensation of
        $118,000, amortization expense of $280,000 and acquisition related
        expenses of $592,000 associated with the pending acquisition, was $1.5
        million, or $0.03 per share, better than the expected range of non-GAAP
        profit of $200,000 to $700,000. The non-GAAP net income compared to
        non-GAAP net income of $2.4 million, or $0.06 per share, in the third
        fiscal quarter of 2011.

On June 18, 2012, NEI 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. As previously reported, the transaction is valued at approximately $63.2 million and currently is expected to close by the end of September 2012.

Greg Shortell, President and Chief Executive Officer of NEI, commented, "During the quarter, NEI signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by UNICOM Systems, Inc., which we believe is in the best interests of our shareholders and provides them with a significant premium to the stock's recent price range prior to the announcement. Operationally, we delivered another quarter of strong execution, exceeding our revenue guidance and reporting ongoing profitability. Revenues were above guidance primarily due to certain customers exceeding their forecasts and also because this was the first quarter since the flooding in Thailand that shipments were not constricted by the availability of hard drives."

For the nine month period ended June 30, 2012, net revenues were $200.2 million, compared to $202.8 million for the same period in 2011. Gross margin was $23.8 million, or 11.9% of net revenues, compared with gross margin of $22.9 million, or 11.3% of net revenues, for the same period last year. Total operating expenses were $18.3 million, or 9.1 percent of net revenues, compared with $18.2 million last year, or 9.0 percent of net revenues in the same period last year. On a GAAP basis, the Company reported net income of $3.2 million, or $0.07 per share, compared with net income of $4.7 million, or $0.11 per share, in the same period last year. The Company's non-GAAP net income, which excludes stock-based compensation, amortization expenses and acquisition related expenses, was $5.0 million compared to non-GAAP net income of $6.4 million for the same period last year. Net income amounts include $2.1 million of income tax expenses compared to $149,000 for the same period last year for the reason described above.

Balance Sheet

NEI finished the quarter with $14.3 million in cash and cash equivalents and $79.3 million in working capital. Accounts receivable increased to $50.3 million and inventory levels decreased to $36.6 million as of June 30, 2012 compared to $42.4 million and $42.9 million, respectively, as of March 31, 2012. NEI also has a $10 million bank credit facility.

Business Outlook

NEI currently anticipates the following results for its fiscal fourth quarter ending September 30, 2012, based on current forecasts from certain customers and historical trends and excluding any costs related to the UNICOM deal.


    --  Net revenues in the range of $56 million to $61 million.
    --  Gross margin in the range of 10.0% to 11.0% of net revenues.
    --  Operating expenses between $5.5 million and $6.0 million, including an
        estimated $100,000 of stock-based compensation expense and amortization
        expense of $280,000.
    --  Net income (loss) on a GAAP basis in the range of $(200,000) to
        $300,000, net of projected income taxes at an effective rate of 40%.
    --  Net income on a non-GAAP basis in the range of $200,000 to $700,000, net
        of income taxes.

"We are projecting lower gross margins primarily due to customer mix and lower projected net revenues," stated Doug Bryant, Chief Financial Officer. "In regards to our balance sheet, we expect inventory levels to be higher and our cash position to be lower at the end of September because of the last time inventory purchases being executed during the quarter related to the transition of certain EMC product lines that we have previously announced."

Important Information about Non-GAAP References

References by NEI (the "Company") to non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP per share information refer to net income or per share information excluding stock-based compensation expense, amortization expense and expenses related to the Company's pending acquisition by UNICOM. GAAP requires that these expenses be included in determining net income or loss and per share information. The Company's management uses non-GAAP operating expenses, and associated non-GAAP net income (which is the basis for non-GAAP per share information) to make operational and investment decisions, and the Company believes that they are among several useful measures for an enhanced understanding of its operating results for a number of reasons.

First, although the Company undertakes analyses to ensure that its stock-based compensation grants are in line with peer companies and do not unduly dilute shareholders, the Company allocates grants and measures them at the corporate level. Second, management excludes their financial statement effect when planning or measuring the periodic financial performance of the Company's functional organizations since they are episodic in nature and unrelated to its core operating metrics. Last, we believe that providing non-GAAP per share information affords investors a view of results that may be more easily compared to peer companies and enables investors to consider the Company's results on both a GAAP and non-GAAP basis in periods when the Company is undertaking non-recurring activities.

The Company believes these non-GAAP measures will aid investors' overall understanding of the Company's results by providing a higher degree of transparency for certain expenses, and providing a level of disclosure that will help investors understand how the Company plans and measures its own business. However, non-GAAP net income should be construed neither as an alternative to GAAP net income or loss or per share information as an indicator of our operating performance nor as a substitute for cash flow from operations as a measure of liquidity because the items excluded from the non-GAAP measures often have a material impact on the Company's results of operations. Therefore, management uses, and investors should use, non-GAAP measures only in conjunction with the Company's reported GAAP results.

About NEI

NEI is a leading provider of server-based application platforms and lifecycle support services for software developers and OEMs worldwide. Through its expertise and comprehensive suite of solution design, system integration, application management, global logistics, support, and maintenance services, NEI is redefining application deployment solutions to provide customers with a sustainable competitive advantage. More than a decade of appliance innovation with the ability to provide physical, virtual and cloud-ready solutions makes NEI one of the most trusted software deployment partners in the industry. Founded in 1997, NEI is headquartered in Canton, Massachusetts, with facilities in Plano, Texas and Galway, Ireland, and trades on the NASDAQ exchange under the symbol NEI. For more information, visit www.nei.com.

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release regarding the Company's future financial performance, including statements regarding future net revenues, gross margin, operating expenses including stock-based compensation expenses and amortization expense, net income, profitability, inventory, cash, the proposed sale to Unicom and any other statements about the Company's management's future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those factors contained in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2011 and the most recent Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 under the section "Risk Factors" as well as other documents that may be filed by the Company from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the Company's expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future and can be identified by forward-looking words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "should," "will," and "would" or similar words. The Company assumes no obligations to update the information included in this press release.

Contact:

Hayden IR
Peter Seltzberg
646-415-8972
peter@haydenir.com
ir@nei.com

                                                                                                          NEI
                                                                                    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
                                                                                         (in thousands, except per share data)
                                                                                                      (unaudited)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
                                                                  Three Months Ended                      Nine Months Ended
                                                                  ------------------                      -----------------
                                                                       June 30,                               June 30,                                June 30,                                 June 30,
                                                                                    2012                                   2011                                     2012                                     2011
                                                                                    ----                                   ----                                     ----                                     ----
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
    Net revenues                                                                 $64,589                                $66,105                                 $200,178                                 $202,764
    Cost of revenues                                                              57,387                                 58,333                                  176,373                                  179,914
                                                                                  ------                                 ------
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
                        Gross profit                                               7,202                                  7,772                                   23,805                                   22,850
                        ----------
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
    Operating expenses:
                         Engineering and
                         development                                               1,586                                  1,610                                    4,859                                    4,788
                         Selling and
                         marketing                                                 1,685                                  1,874                                    5,090                                    5,735
                         General and
                         administrative                                            2,737                                  2,273                                    7,477                                    6,630
                         Amortization of
                         intangible asset                                            280                                    332                                      840                                      997
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
                        Total operating expenses                                   6,288                                  6,089                                   18,266                                   18,150
                                                                                   -----                                  -----                                   ------                                   ------
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
    Income from operations                                                           914                                  1,683                                    5,539                                    4,700
    Interest and other (expense) income, net                                         (85)                                   117                                     (229)                                     163
                                                                                     ---                                    ---
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
    Income before income taxes                                                      $829                                 $1,800                                   $5,310                                   $4,863
    Provision for (benefit from) income taxes                                        361                                    (85)                                   2,124                                      149
                                                                                     ---                                    ---                                    -----                                      ---
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
    Net income                                                                      $468                                 $1,885                                   $3,186                                   $4,714
                                                                                    ====                                 ======                                   ======                                   ======
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
    Net income per share - basic                                                   $0.01                                  $0.04                                    $0.08                                    $0.11
                                                                                   =====                                  =====                                    =====                                    =====
    Net income per share - diluted                                                 $0.01                                  $0.04                                    $0.07                                    $0.11
                                                                                   =====                                  =====                                    =====                                    =====
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
    Shares used in computing basic net income per share                           42,517                                 42,951                                   42,448                                   42,901
    Shares used in computing diluted net income per share                         43,026                                 43,910                                   43,030                                   44,072
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
    The amounts in the table above include employee stock-based compensation as follows (in thousands):
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
                                                                  Three Months Ended                      Nine Months Ended
                                                                  ------------------                      -----------------
                                                                       June 30,                               June 30,                                June 30,                                 June 30,
                                                                                    2012                                   2011                                     2012                                     2011
                                                                                    ----                                   ----                                     ----                                     ----
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
                        Cost of revenues                                             $19                                    $31                                      $65                                     $102
                        Engineering and development                                   17                                     25                                       56                                       87
                        Selling and marketing                                         19                                     76                                       53                                      229
                        General and administrative                                    63                                     82                                      156                                      260
                                                                                     ---                                    ---                                      ---                                      ---
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                    $118                                   $214                                     $330                                     $678
                                                                                    ====                                   ====                                     ====                                     ====

                                                                                                NEI
                                                                          Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliations
                                                                               (in thousands, except per share data)
                                                                                            (unaudited)
                                                                                                                                                                                               
                                                       Three Months Ended                  Nine Months Ended
                                                       ------------------                  -----------------
                                                            June 30,                            June 30,                             June 30,                               June 30,
                                                                        2012                                2011                                  2012                                   2011
                                                                        ----                                ----                                  ----                                   ----
                                                                                                                                                                                               
    GAAP net income                                                     $468                              $1,885                                $3,186                                 $4,714
                                Acquisition
                                related
                                expenses                                 592                                   -                                   691                                      -
                                Amortization
                                of intangible
                                asset                                    280                                 332                                   840                                    997
                                Stock-based
                                compensation                             118                                 214                                   330                                    678
                               ----------
                                                                                                                                                                                               
    Non-GAAP net income                                               $1,458                              $2,431                                $5,047                                 $6,389
                                                                      ======                              ======                                ======                                 ======
                                                                                                                                                                                               
    GAAP basic net income per share                                    $0.01                               $0.04                                 $0.08                                  $0.11
                                Acquisition
                                related
                                expenses                                0.01                                   -                                  0.01                                      -
                                Amortization
                                of intangible
                                asset                                   0.01                                0.01                                  0.02                                   0.02
                                Stock-based
                                compensation                               -                                0.01                                  0.01                                   0.02
                               ------------
                                                                                                                                                                                               
    Non-GAAP basic net income per share                                $0.03                               $0.06                                 $0.12                                  $0.15
                                                                       =====                               =====                                 =====                                  =====
                                                                                                                                                                                               
    GAAP diluted net income per share                                  $0.01                               $0.04                                 $0.07                                  $0.11
                                Acquisition
                                related
                                expenses                                0.01                                   -                                  0.02                                      -
                                Amortization
                                of intangible
                                asset                                   0.01                                0.01                                  0.02                                   0.02
                                Stock-based
                                compensation                               -                                0.01                                  0.01                                   0.02
                               ------------
                                                                                                                                                                                               
    Non-GAAP diluted net income per share                              $0.03                               $0.06                                 $0.12                                  $0.15
                                                                       =====                               =====                                 =====                                  =====
                                                                                                                                                                                               
    Shares used in computing GAAP and non-GAAP
     basic net income per share
                       42,517              42,951                              42,448                              42,901
                                                                                                                                                                                               
    Shares used in computing GAAP and non-GAAP
     diluted net income per share
                       43,026              43,910                              43,030                              44,072

                                                                    NEI
                                                   Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
                                                               (in thousands)
                                                                (unaudited)
                                                                                                                                        
                                                                            June 30,                             September 30,
                                                                                        2012                                      2011
                                                                                        ----                                      ----
    ASSETS
                                                                                                                                        
    Current assets:
                                                                                                                                        
    Cash and cash equivalents                                                        $14,263                                   $19,852
    Accounts receivable, net                                                          50,274                                    43,522
    Inventories                                                                       36,596                                    24,331
    Deferred income taxes                                                             15,001                                    15,001
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets                                          3,747                                     4,886
                                                                                                                                        
                               Total current
                               assets                                                119,881                                   107,592
                                                                                                                                        
    Property and equipment, net                                                        2,569                                     2,569
    Intangible asset, net                                                              4,404                                     5,244
    Deferred income taxes                                                             14,147                                    15,855
    Other assets                                                                         129                                       131
                                                                                                                                        
                              Total assets                                          $141,130                                  $131,391
                                                                                    ========                                  ========
                                                                                                                                        
    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                                                                                                                                        
    Current liabilities:
                                                                                                                                        
         Accounts payable                                                            $24,447                                   $23,360
         Accrued liabilities                                                           5,089                                     5,749
         Deferred revenue                                                             11,068                                     5,967
                                                                                      ------                                     -----
                                                                                                                                        
                               Total current
                               liabilities                                            40,604                                    35,076
                                                                                                                                        
    Deferred revenue                                                                   4,765                                     4,095
                                                                                       -----                                     -----
                                                                                                                                        
                              Total liabilities                                       45,369                                    39,171
                                                                                                                                        
    Stockholders' equity:
         Common stock                                                                    485                                       481
         Treasury stock                                                               (5,823)                                   (5,646)
         Additional paid-in capital                                                  200,454                                   199,926
         Accumulated deficit                                                         (99,355)                                 (102,541)
                                                                                     -------                                  --------
                                                                                                                                        
                               Total
                               stockholders'
                               equity                                                 95,761                                    92,220
                                                                                                                                        
                               Total
                               liabilities
                               and
                               stockholders'
                               equity                    $141,130                              $131,391
                                                         ========                              ========

                                                                                                      NEI
                                                                                Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                                                                                                 (in thousands)
                                                                                                  (unaudited)
                                                                                                                                                                                                           
                                                                Three Months Ended                      Nine Months Ended
                                                                ------------------                      -----------------
                                                                     June 30,                               June 30,                             June 30,                               June 30,
                                                                                  2012                                   2011                                 2012                                   2011
                                                                                  ----                                   ----                                 ----                                   ----
                                                                                                                                                                                                           
    Cash flows from operating activities:
      Net income                                                                  $468                                 $1,885                               $3,186                                 $4,714
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash
     (used in) provided by operating activities:
                      Depreciation
                      and
                      amortization                                                 548                                    601                                1,690                                  1,708
                      Stock-based
                      compensation                                                 118                                    214                                  330                                    678
                      Change in
                      deferred
                      income taxes                                                 190                                      -                                1,708                                      -
                      Other
                      adjustments                                                   63                                     32                                   71                                     72
                      Changes in
                      operating
                      assets and
                      liabilities                                                5,448                                 (2,255)                             (11,717)                                (5,562)
                                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                                                                           
                      Net cash (used in) provided
                      by operating activities                                    6,835                                    477                               (4,732)                                 1,610
                                                                                                                                                                                                           
    Net cash used in investing activities                                         (429)                                  (588)                                (772)                                (1,998)
    Net cash provided by (used in) financing
     activities                                                                     35                                      7                                  (85)                                    69
                                                                                                                                                                                                           
    Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents                                    6,441                                   (104)                              (5,589)                                  (319)
    Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of
     period                                                                      7,822                                 15,108                               19,852                                 15,323
                                                                                                                                                                                                           
    Cash and cash equivalents, end of period                                   $14,263                                $15,004                              $14,263                                $15,004
                                                                               =======                                =======                              =======                                =======

SOURCE NEI