INFORMIX TO ACQUIRE ARDENT SOFTWARE

Informix and Ardent Software announced that they have reached a definitive agreement to combine their operations in a transaction valued, on a fully diluted basis, at approximately $880 million, based on the closing price of Informix common stock on November 30, 1999. The combination accelerates the strategies of both companies and creates a $1 billion open software infrastructure.

Under terms of the agreement, which was unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, 3.5 shares of Informix common stock will be exchanged for each outstanding Ardent share and Informix will assume all outstanding Ardent options. The transaction is expected to be accounted for as a pooling of interests and to be accretive to Informix's earnings per share in 2000, excluding non-recurring transaction-related costs. The transaction will be treated as a tax-free reorganization for Ardent shareholders. Completion of the transaction, which is subject to the approval of stockholders of both companies and customary regulatory reviews, is expected to occur in the first quarter of 2000.

"In today's i.Economy, businesses must continually update their product offerings and business processes to remain competitive. The Web is where customers, partners and prospects go to obtain information, buy products and get support. When competition is just a click away, speed, convenience and a personalized experience are a distinct advantage that can only be gained by directly linking what you offer to what you know about your audience's needs and preferences," said Jean-Yves Dexmier, president and chief executive officer of Informix. "Business intelligence is what gives you this insight, but winning in the i.Economy requires that business intelligence and e-commerce solutions be tightly integrated to drive dynamic content and commerce. The combination of Informix and Ardent is so compelling because it creates the market leader for the business intelligence infrastructure that makes this integration possible."

For more information about Ardent, visit http://www.ardentsoftware.com.

For more information about Informix, visit http://www.informix.com.