HUNTSVILLE, Ala., and PROVO, Utah—June 21, 2005 – Sirsi Corporation and Dynix Corporation today announced that the two companies are merging to create SirsiDynix, a single company positioned more strongly than either company on its own to develop and deliver leading-edge information technology solutions for libraries and consortia around the world. With detailed planning already being undertaken jointly, the two companies will integrate their worldwide operations. Representatives from both companies are working together to make strategic decisions regarding all aspects of the company's future. Integration and strategic planning for the new company are to be completed in fourth quarter 2005. Decisions now made include adoption of a strategy to continue full development and support of the Unicorn and Horizon 8.x/Corinthian integrated library system (ILS) platforms; appointment of Sirsi CEO Patrick C. Sommers as chief executive of the new company; and appointment of Dynix CEO Jack Blount as a consultant responsible for completing development of Horizon 8.x/Corinthian and as a member of the company's board of directors. Customers' day-to-day contacts with SirsiDynix sales, service, and support organizations remain unchanged.

"As our new name indicates, this is a 'merger of equals,'" said Patrick Sommers, CEO of the new SirsiDynix. "We're bringing together two solid companies with 20+-year track records to create a global organization that offers the library community unparalleled technical expertise, the broadest array of products and services, and unmatched service and support. And because we're profitable and financially sound, customers can count on us today and down the road."

"It's clear that one of the major benefits of the merger is the impressive capabilities that now come together in a single organization," said Jack Blount, Dynix's CEO since 2002. "Our research and development resources, not to mention international service and support capacity, mean that SirsiDynix will be able to meet our customers' diverse, increasingly demanding needs like no other provider."

Extensive portfolio of products and services
SirsiDynix offers the most extensive suite of library technologies on the market, including superior products like the Unicorn and Horizon 7.x Library Management Systems, as well as the next-generation Horizon 8.x/Corinthian platform (the next upgrade to Horizon 7.x) and a host of user interface/portal, content, data-analysis, and productivity solutions.

Going forward, the company will execute on a dual-platform strategy that involves continuing development of both the Unicorn and Horizon 8.x/Corinthian ILS platforms - a sound strategy given the company's expanded resources and the demands of the library community for more and greater technology options. Unicorn and Horizon users can continue to use their system of choice, just as they had prior to the merger.

"Because thousands of libraries around the world depend on Unicorn," said Sommers, "SirsiDynix will continue to invest the R&D required to maintain Unicorn's reputation as the most comprehensive and evolutionary ILS available." The company is now completing beta testing of Unicorn GL3.0 ahead of its general release in August 2005. Development of Unicorn GL3.1 is already underway.

"Dynix customers on a path toward Horizon 8.x/Corinthian can be confident that SirsiDynix will complete this next-generation ILS," said Blount. "We've invested tremendous time, energy, and resources in researching and developing 8.x/Corinthian – that's why we're confident that this new platform offers numerous compelling features and benefits to current and prospective customers." Beta testing of Horizon 8.x/Corinthian will begin in fall 2005, with general release scheduled for first quarter 2006. Horizon 8.x is the ILS solution for public, special, and school libraries; Corinthian is for academic and research libraries.

Users of SirsiDynix legacy systems – sites running Dynix, DRA Classic, and MultiLIS systems – will also continue to be supported, just as they were prior to the merger. The company will work with these customers to chart an upgrade path that works best for them, in terms of both technology and timing.

Integration
The overall integration of SirsiDynix is progressing. Six integration teams, staffed by management representatives from both companies, have been working for weeks to establish best practices, optimal organizational schemes, and effective strategies for the future of SirsiDynix. SirsiDynix will keep its customers up-to-date on the progress of the company's integration through customer-only Web sites, newsletters, Webinars, and other means. Customers will be encouraged to work with their SirsiDynix account managers to ask unique questions or to take advantage of a special online FAQ form that will be available on customer-only Web sites.

Global leadership
SirsiDynix has approximately 4,000 library and consortia clients around the world, serving more than 200 million people through more than 20,000 library outlets. With 725 employees worldwide, the company maintains operations in the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. Primary offices are located in Huntsville, Alabama, Provo, Utah, and St. Louis, Missouri, in the U.S.; Montreal and Waterloo in Canada; London, Paris, Hamburg, Madrid, Leiden (the Netherlands), and Hvidovre (Denmark) in Europe; Melbourne and Adelaide in Australia; Auckland, New Zealand; and Singapore, Taipei, and Shanghai in Asia.

"We're expanding our worldwide presence... our R&D resources are growing... we'll have more products and services than ever... even our name is changing," added Sommers. "But some things won't change at all – namely our firm support of the library community at large and, particularly, our users' groups. We've long been committed to advancing the library profession through education, training, and sponsorship of library events, educational opportunities, scholarships, and other initiatives. As SirsiDynix, we will strengthen these values and continue to take a leadership role in helping libraries, consortia, and the professionals who lead and staff them in addressing the future."

About Dynix

Dynix is the global leader in new-name sales of library management systems and has the largest installed customer base of any library technology vendor. As a committed advocate of the library community, Dynix serves academic, special, school, public, and consortium libraries in over 40 countries. Dynix has more than 100 professional librarians on staff and proven experience in software leadership. Since 1983, Dynix has provided customers visionary technology solutions that support the latest industry standards and offer intuitive functionality. For complete corporate information and a guide to Dynix products and services, visit www.dynix.com.

Contact:

Katy McCann
800-917-4774 · katyp@sirsi.com

Tom Gates
256-704-7063 · tomg@sirsi.com

Universal Resource Sharing Application and URSA are trademarks of Dynix Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.