Micro Focus Announces New Approach to Modernizing IBM Mainframe PL/I Applications

Micro Focus Server Enterprise Edition provides a low-risk, self-funding alternative to re-write or package replacement strategies for PL/I assets

Newbury, UK, 28th November 2011

It's estimated that organizations running PL/I applications on IBM® mainframes are spending in excess of $1 billion per annum in operating costs. As a result, enterprises are looking for alternatives to deliver the same business capabilities for less while retaining the existing intellectual property built into the PL/I applications. To help organizations address this, Micro Focus (LSE: MCRO.L), the leading provider of enterprise application modernization, testing and management solutions, today released Micro Focus Server Enterprise Edition for PL/I, the first complete, cross-platform migration solution that enables mainframe PL/I applications to be moved, with minimal changes, from an IBM® mainframe to Linux®, Unix® or Windows Server® platforms, where they can be operated for a fraction of the cost.

Organizations now have a brand new, low-risk alternative when considering modernization options for their PL/I application portfolios that avoids the need to rewrite, convert or replace mature PL/I applications that deliver unique competitive advantage. For many IT departments this means that they will be able to self-fund ongoing PL/I application modernization by reinvesting a proportion of the annual operating cost savings, which can be as much as 70 percent, into modernization and innovation.

Leading financial organizations in Germany, the UK and Italy have already utilized Micro Focus Server Enterprise Edition for PL/I to deliver significant business benefits.

A leading global integrated financial services provider has replicated its core application for management of insurance customers, contracts, claims and provisions on commodity Xeon-based servers. This means this central system is now available on low cost servers, for use in countries where they need local systems but cannot afford the operating expense of mainframe data centers. The group believes this freedom will make them more competitive while saving the group tens, if not hundreds, of millions of Euros over the coming years.

A top UK provider of business process outsourcing and integrated professional support service solutions migrated one client's complete life and pensions application to a Windows Server® with no loss of functionality or precision while improving performance and cutting operating costs by 70 percent.

Intersistemi helped a leader in the private banking sector in Italy move a single suite of account administration and market analysis applications from the parent group's mainframe to Windows Server, in order to save an estimated €3 million in charges over the next three years.

"Organizations relying on PL/I application portfolios to run their businesses have had several options to explore for modernization. Their choices have traditionally been to retain, retire, rewrite or replace. Re-hosting, a solution that emulates the mainframe environment on distributed platforms has historically applied to COBOL portfolios. For many organizations, re-hosting remains a good starting point for a broader mainframe modernization strategy," said Dale Vecchio, Research VP at Gartner, Inc.

"Companies worldwide are continuing to increase their deployments of mission-critical applications on Windows Server and SQL Server. The PL/I migration solution from Micro Focus can help companies that still depend on PL/I-based mainframe applications to move to the Microsoft application platform. Companies making this switch are driven by improved agility, price/performance, and a large ecosystem of applications and skilled resources," said Microsoft's worldwide director of platform modernization Bob Ellsworth.

Micro Focus Server Enterprise Edition is the only integrated cross platform PL/I system migration product on the market. It enables the bulk of PL/I application code to be migrated without change and provides support for COBOL and all other key IBM mainframe subsystems used by PL/I applications. Having this full range of language and subsystems support on Windows Server, Linux and UNIX is essential when migrating PL/I systems as it reduces risk, a key factor for all organizations considering migration.

"PL/I applications running on IBM mainframes are nearly always business-critical. It is therefore crucial to provide a robust platform that helps organizations move applications with as few changes as possible," said Kevin Brearley, Director Product Management at Micro Focus. "Our products mitigate risk, which is the number one concern of CIOs interested in exploring how migration can benefit their organizations."

Notes to Editors

Associated Press Release

• Intersistemi helps Italian bank save €3m using Micro Focus Server Enterprise Edition for PL/I

For information on Micro Focus' PL/I application migration capabilities, visit:
http://www.microfocus.com/pli

Or visit us at booth 28 at HP Discover in Vienna to see the first public product demonstration:
https://h30406.www3.hp.com/campaigns/2010/events/discover/vienna/index.php

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About Micro Focus

Micro Focus, a member of the FTSE 250, provides innovative software that allows companies to dramatically improve the business value of their enterprise applications. Micro Focus Enterprise Application Modernization, Testing and Management software enables customers' business applications to respond rapidly to market changes and embrace modern architectures with reduced cost and risk. For additional information please visit www.microfocus.com.

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About Intersistemi

Intersistemi Italia S.p.A. was established in 1987 to focus on the Italian Information Technology market. With headquarters based in Rome, it now has regional subsidiaries in Florence, L'Aquila, Milan, Terni, Turin, Padua and Sassari, and international subsidiaries in Switzerland, Turkey and Saudi Arabia . Intersistemi's revenue in 2009 was €11.3 million. With over 200 technology specialists amongst its workforce; 93% of whom are dedicated to the software factory, the company has established its strong market position by focussing on evolving technologies designed to meet the needs of today's market. Intersistemi has gained a reputation for delivering a high level of service and quality to all projects it becomes involved with. \For further information see: http://www.intersistemi.it/