Informix Chooses Fulcrum As Bundled Knowledge-Retrieval
         DataBlade To Ship With INFORMIX-Universal Server In Europe

    HANNOVER, Germany, March 11 /PRNewswire/ - Informix Software, Inc.
(NASDAQ: IFMX) and Fulcrum Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: FULCF; TSE: FUL) today
announced details of a comprehensive alliance in Europe between the two
companies, based on a cross-licensing, cross-distribution agreement. A
DataBlade(R) module from Fulcrum(R) will be the bundled knowledge-retrieval
software that Informix will provide to European customers. Fulcrum will be the
first search software vendor to be directly supported and shipped by Informix
with INFORMIX(R)-Universal Server in major European markets, including the UK,
France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden. The companies will also
actively cooperate in marketing and promotional activities across Europe.
Based on the success of this pilot program in Europe, both companies expect
the program to be rolled out globally in the future.
    ``Fulcrum is a leading provider of knowledge-retrieval software and the
dominant vendor in terms of market share in Europe. We are impressed with the
commitment we have seen from them to work with us to satisfy our customers'
requirements,'' said Ken Coulter, executive vice president, Informix Software,
Inc. ``Fulcrum's software matches the Internet and open systems standards that
guarantees our products will work together in a seamless and integrated way,
now and in the future. That's the kind of flexibility we want our customers to
have access to.''
    ``This agreement will allow Fulcrum and Informix to leverage the strengths
of each other's products, to maximize our market penetration,'' said Eric
Goodwin, Fulcrum's chairman and CEO. ``Like Informix, Fulcrum is known for
providing real software that scales to meet the needs of real business
applications. The unique strengths of Fulcrum SearchServer and
INFORMIX-Universal Server together, for large-scale commercial and corporate
applications, make the partnership between our two companies a natural fit.''
    Bill Zoellick, director at CAP Ventures, a leading document systems
consulting firm, said: ``Fulcrum's knowledge-retrieval DataBlade offers
customers a set of tools for deriving value from the enormous amount of
unstructured information in enterprises today. Our research shows that key
customer requirements for managing this information include rapid deployment,
security, and scaleability. The alliance between Fulcrum and Informix,
providing customers with a solution combining Informix's innovative database
management software with Fulcrum's proven knowledge-retrieval capabilities,
addresses these needs in a single offer.''
    Fulcrum's DataBlade module, based on Fulcrum SearchServer(TM), is
scheduled to be delivered in the summer of 1997 with full multi-lingual
capabilities including support for all major European languages. It will ship
first on Sun Solaris, with additional platforms to follow, including NT and
additional UNIX platforms. The same DataBlade that is bundled in the European
countries will be commercially available in other markets worldwide from
Fulcrum and its partners.
    Informix Software, based in Menlo Park, California, provides innovative
database technology that enables the world's leading corporations to manage
and grow their businesses. Informix is widely recognized as a technology
leader for corporate computing environments, ranging from workgroups to very
large OLTP, content management and data warehouse applications. Informix's
database servers, application development tools, superior customer service,
and strong partnerships enable the company to be at the forefront of many
leading-edge information technology solution areas. More information about
Informix is available via the World Wide Web at http://www.informix.com.
    For 14 years, Fulcrum Technologies Inc. has led the way in building
innovative and effective knowledge management solutions for some of the
world's most important companies. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, Fulcrum
extends its global reach with offices throughout the United States, Europe,
and in Australia and Japan, and through a network of partners worldwide.
Fulcrum is publicly traded on the Nasdaq National Market (``FULCF'') and on
the Toronto Stock Exchange (``FUL''). For more information on Fulcrum and
Fulcrum products, visit Fulcrum's Web site: http://www.fulcrum.com.
    Fulcrum is a registered trademark of Fulcrum Technologies Inc. INFORMIX
and DataBlade are registered trademarks of Informix Software, Inc. Other
trademarks used throughout this document are trademarks of their respective
owners.

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