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From:	 kgill@brodeur.com
To:	 kgill@brodeur.com
Subject: IBM And Informix Corp. Sign Agreement for Sale of Informix Database
	 Business to IBM
Date:	 Tue, 24 Apr 2001 08:14:38 -0400

IBM And Informix Corp. Sign Agreement for Sale of Informix Database
Business to IBM

Acquisition Strengthens IBM's Database Business; Assures Informix Customers
and Partners Continued Support, Fast Path to e-Business


ARMONK, N.Y. & WESTBORO, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 24, 2001-- IBM
(NYSE:IBM - news) and Informix® Corporation (Nasdaq: IFMX - news) today
announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement for IBM to acquire
the assets of Informix Software--Informix's database business--in a cash
transaction valued at $1 billion.

The acquisition strengthens IBM in the fast-growing distributed database
business, a key strategic priority for IBM. IBM's distributed database revenues
grew 36% year-to-year in the first quarter of 2001.

``Customers are aggressively investing in data management software because data
collection, storage and use are at the core of a successful e-business,'' said
Sam Palmisano, president and chief operating officer of IBM. ``This acquisition
of Informix allows IBM to bring the benefits of leadership database
technologies to more customers faster.''

Informix Software is a leading provider of database management systems for data
warehousing, business intelligence and transaction processing. With an
installed base of more than 100,000 customers worldwide, Informix delivers
high-performance database systems to customers in retail, financial services,
government, healthcare, manufacturing, media and publishing, telecommunications
and other businesses. Key Informix customers include Verizon, Deutsche Telekom,
Sears and Sabre.

Once the acquisition is completed, IBM will:

-- Integrate Informix database business operations and personnel  into the
existing IBM Software data management division led by  General Manager
Janet Perna.

-- Market and sell Informix's database products worldwide through an
integrated IBM and Informix sales force.

-- Maintain existing relationships with Informix customers and business
partners, including support for and updating of current

Informix products.
``The acquisition by IBM is good news for Informix Software's database
customers, partners, employees and stockholders,'' said Peter Gyenes, chairman
and chief executive officer, Informix Corp. ``IBM offers the global resources,
investment protection, support and technology leadership our customers and
partners need for the future, as well as exciting opportunities for our
employees. This acquisition also extends the reach and relevance of key
Informix technologies as they are evolved and integrated into future versions
of IBM data management offerings.''

Informix customers will also benefit from IBM's open platform strategy and
broad array of alliances with leading application developers such as SAP,
Siebel Systems, PeopleSoft, Retek and many others worldwide. IBM intends to
integrate selected Informix technology into future versions of DB2(a) Universal
Database, which will remain IBM's flagship database product.

``Informix customers can be confident that their investments in existing
Informix products are secure,'' said Steve Mills, senior vice president and
group executive, IBM Software. ``These customers will now have a long-term
growth path that enables them to achieve the full potential of e-business.''

Following the sale of the database business to IBM, Informix Corporation will
be totally focused on its other independent operating business - Ascentiala
Software. With annualized revenue in excess of $130 million, Ascential is a
leading provider of information asset management solutions to the Global 2000.
The Company intends to apply the proceeds from the transaction to fund the
growth of Ascential as well as to return a substantial portion of the proceeds
to stockholders through a stock-reduction program, details of which are
expected to be announced at or shortly after closing. Upon the closing of the
transaction, Informix Corporation will be renamed Ascential Software.

In a separate release today, IBM and Ascential Software announced a global
strategic alliance to jointly develop and market information asset management
solutions based on Ascential's DataStage®, DataStage 390 and Media360(TM)
products as well as IBM's DB2 and related product platforms.

The acquisition is subject to Informix shareholder and regulatory approvals,
and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2001.

About IBM

IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of
leadership in helping businesses innovate. For more information about IBM,
visit http://www.ibm.com

About Informix Corporation

Informix Corp. is the parent company of Informix Software, the database
company, a leading provider of database management systems for data
warehousing, transaction processing and e-business applications, and Ascential
Software, the leading provider of Information Asset Management solutions to the
Global 2000. For more information, visit the Informix web site http://www.informix.com

Informix Software, headquartered in Menlo Park, California, has 2,500 employees
worldwide in offices in North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, and
Asia-Pacific, and is a leader in data management technology. Founded in 1980,
Informix Software has consistently strived to optimize performance,
scalability, and total cost of ownership in its data management offerings.

(a) Denotes a trademark of the IBM Corporation

(c)2001 Informix Corporation. All rights reserved. The following are trademarks
of Informix Corporation or its affiliates, one or more of which may be
registered in the U.S. or other jurisdictions: Informix, Ascential, DataStage
and Media360.

Safe Harbor Statement

This public announcement contains forward-looking statements that are subject
to numerous risks and uncertainties. Any statements contained in this public
announcement, including without limitation statements to the effect that the
Companies or their managements ``believes,'' ``expects,'' ``anticipates,''
``plans,'' ``may,'' ``will,'' ``projects,'' ``continues,'' ``intends'' or
``estimates,'' or statements concerning ``potential'' or ``opportunity'' or
other variations thereof or comparable terminology or the negative thereof that
are not statements of historical fact, should be considered forward-looking
statements as a result of certain risks and uncertainties. These risks and
uncertainties could cause actual results and events materially to differ for
historical or anticipated results and events. Investors and potential investors
should review carefully the description of risks and uncertainties which,
together with other detailed information about the Companies, is contained in
the periodic reports that the Companies file from time to time with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Companies' Forms 10-K for
fiscal year 2000.

Contact:

     IBM
     Joe Stunkard
     914-766-1779
     stunkard@us.ibm.com
     Pager: 800-946-4646 Pin:182-6486
                     OR
     Informix Software
     Sharon Thompson
     503-721-2385
     sharon.thompson@informix.com
                     OR
     Miller Consulting for Ascential Software
     Malinda Banash
     617-262-1800 x232
     malinda@millergrp.com
                     OR
     Morgen Walke for Informix Investor Relations
     Stephanie Prince/Gordon McCoun
     212-850-5600
     sprince@morgenwalke.com