BIO-key Responds to ComnetiX Demand to Withdraw Unsolicited Offer

Feb. 1, 2007
Companies in disagreement over acquisition offer

WALL, N.J., Jan. 31 -- BIO-key International Inc. (BULLETIN BOARD: BKYI) ("BIO-key"), a leader in wireless public safety solutions and finger based biometric identification, responded today to ComnetiX, Inc.'s ("ComnetiX") (TSX: CXI) demand that BIO-key immediately withdraw its unsolicited offer to acquire all the issued and outstanding common shares of ComnetiX for US $1.29 per share.

BIO-key takes serious issue with ComnetiX's allegations that BIO-key breached its agreement with ComnetiX (the "May 2006 Agreement"), which, among other things, contained a provision that ComnetiX will not acquire or make an offer to acquire ComnetiX shares for a period of one year (the "Standstill Provision").

Pursuant to the May 2006 Agreement, BIO-key and ComnetiX were in exclusive and confidential negotiations about a combination transaction. In particular, the May 2006 Agreement contained the following exclusivity obligation: "if any party or any of its employees, stockholders, agents or representatives receives any unsolicited inquiry (however preliminary), offer or proposal, then such party shall promptly notify the other party and promptly provide a copy of any written letter or other material constituting or accompanying such inquiry, offer or proposal to the other party".

BIO-key and ComnetiX continued their negotiations from May 17, 2006 through to September 12, 2006. These continued negotiations effectively extended the May 2006 Agreement including the exclusivity provisions contained therein. At all times, BIO-key continued to negotiate with ComnetiX in good faith and believed that ComnetiX was honorably and exclusively dealing with BIO-key as a full partner in a proposed transaction.

However, according to ComnetiX's management information circular (the "ComnetiX Circular") issued to ComnetiX shareholders in connection with ComnetiX's proposed plan of arrangement with L-1 Identity Solutions, Inc. ("L- 1"), it appears that ComnetiX and certain members of its board and management team were meeting with representatives of L-1 with respect to a competing transaction as early as May 30, 2006.

Meetings between BIO-key and ComnetiX remained cordial and professional during this entire period from May 17, 2006 to September 12, 2006, while, unbeknownst to BIO-Key, ComnetiX was holding a series of meetings with L-1 and was duplicitously negotiating a similar transaction with L-1 in breach of its exclusivity obligations under the May 2006 Agreement.

BIO-key continued to operate in good faith pursuant to the provisions of the May 2006 Agreement as late as September 12, 2006, when the respective chairmen of BIO-key and ComnetiX participated in a conference call with the sales force of an investment banker hired by BIO-key to raise additional equity funding to facilitate the combined operations of the two businesses.

The ComnetiX Circular states "During the period from September 8, 2006 through to September 12, 2006, the terms of a letter of intent (the "Letter of Intent") were negotiated between executives from ComnetiX and L-1. The Letter of Intent was executed by representatives from both L-1 and ComnetiX on September 12, 2006".

On September 13, 2006, without reasonable cause or any notice or warning, ComnetiX advised BIO-key that it was withdrawing from the negotiation and would not explain the reason behind the decision. On November 15, 2006, ComnetiX announced its intention to proceed with the plan of arrangement with L-1 with the endorsement of ComnetiX's board of directors.

In light of the foregoing, BIO-key contends that ComnetiX committed a clear and fundamental breach of the May 2006 Agreement when ComnetiX breached its exclusivity obligations to BIO-key under the May 2006 Agreement in respect of the L-1 transaction.

When ComnetiX committed this fundamental breach of the May 2006 Agreement, the May 2006 Agreement was at an end and BIO-key was no longer bound by the Standstill Provision.

It should be noted that there is no mention by ComnetiX in its disclosure material of its breach of a fundamental obligation of exclusivity to BIO-key nor does it appear that ComnetiX issued a press release or filed a material change report (on a public or confidential basis) with the Canadian securities regulators in respect of the May 2006 Agreement.

As such, BIO-key intends to proceed with its offer to acquire all the issued and outstanding common shares of ComnetiX dated January 19, 2007 and give ComnetiX shareholders an opportunity to consider the BIO-key offer on its merits. In addition, BIO-key intends to vigorously defend any claims made by ComnetiX, and consider its own remedies, in respect of the May 2006 Agreement.

BIO-key believes its proposed offer to acquire all the issued and outstanding common shares of ComnetiX is superior to L-1's revised proposal as it offers a significantly higher price per ComnetiX share and allows shareholders of ComnetiX to participate in the long-term potential of the combined company. In addition, BIO-key believes that the price offered by L-1 significantly undervalues ComnetiX. Industry comparables are currently commanding a multiple of 4 to 5x revenue while the revised L-1 offer for ComnetiX is remains below 2x revenue. BIO-key believes that the long-term potential of the combined company should be able to command a premium in accordance with industry comparables.

BIO-key believes a combination of the two companies will result in a strong company with the industry's most complete end-to-end solution offering to the law enforcement market and also enable the companies to: share and cross-sell more than 3000 customers; and become a platform company for further business combinations that will uniquely serve the robust and growing state, provincial and local public safety markets.