<PAGE>

                                                                  EXHIBIT 2.6

NEITHER THIS WARRANT NOR THE SHARES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE HEREOF HAVE BEEN
REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES
ACT") OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION
FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND SUCH OTHER
SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS WARRANT NOR THE SHARES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE
HEREOF MAY BE SOLD, PLEDGED, TRANSFERRED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF
EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT OR IN A TRANSACTION WHICH IS EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE
PROVISIONS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.


                             SHARE PURCHASE WARRANT

                      To Purchase 182,278 Common Shares of

                              SAND TECHNOLOGY INC.


     THIS CERTIFIES that, for value received, Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.,
(the "Holder"), is entitled, upon the terms and subject to the conditions
hereinafter set forth, at any time on or after May 30, 2000 (the "Issuance
Date") and on or prior to the close of business on May 30, 2003 (the
"Termination Date") but not thereafter, to subscribe for and purchase from
Sand Technology Inc., a Canada corporation incorporated under the Canada
Business Corporations Act (the "Company"), up to 182,278 Common Shares, no
par value of the Company (the "Common Shares"). The purchase price of one
share of Common Share (the "Exercise Price") under this Warrant shall be
$5.6781 (115% of the closing bid price of the Company's Common Shares on the
Trading Day prior to the initial closing date). The Exercise Price and the
number of shares for which the Warrant is exercisable shall be subject to
adjustment as provided herein.

     1.   TITLE TO WARRANT. Prior to the Termination Date hereof and subject
to compliance with applicable laws, this Warrant and all rights hereunder are
transferable, in whole or in part, at the office or agency of the Company by
the holder hereof in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of
this Warrant together with the Assignment Form annexed hereto properly
endorsed.

     2.   AUTHORIZATION OF SHARES. The Company covenants that all Common
Shares which may be issued upon the exercise of rights represented by this
Warrant will, upon exercise of the rights represented by this Warrant, be
duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from
all taxes, liens and charges in respect of the issue thereof (other than
taxes in respect of any transfer occurring contemporaneously with such issue).

     3.   EXERCISE OF WARRANT. Except as provided in Section 4 herein,
exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant may be made at
any time or times on or after the date hereof and before the close of
business on the Termination Date. Exercise of this Warrant or any part hereof
shall be effected by the surrender of this Warrant and the Notice of Exercise
Form annexed hereto duly executed, at the office of the Company (or such
other office or agency


                                       1
<PAGE>

of the Company as it may designate by notice in writing to the registered
holder hereof at the address of such holder appearing on the books of the
Company) and upon payment of the Exercise Price of the shares thereby
purchased by wire transfer or cashier's check drawn on a United States bank,
the holder of this Warrant shall be entitled to receive a certificate for the
number of Common Shares so purchased. Certificates for shares purchased
hereunder shall be delivered to the holder hereof within three (3) Trading
Days after the date on which this Warrant shall have been exercised as
aforesaid. This Warrant shall be deemed to have been exercised and such
certificate or certificates shall be deemed to have been issued, and Holder
or any other person so designated to be named therein shall be deemed to have
become a holder of record of such shares for all purposes, as of the date the
Warrant has been exercised by payment to the Company of the Exercise Price
and all taxes required to be paid by Holder, if any, pursuant to Section 5
prior to the issuance of such shares, have been paid. If this Warrant shall
have been exercised in part, the Company shall, at the time of delivery of
the certificate or certificates representing Warrant Shares, deliver to
Holder a new Warrant evidencing the rights of Holder to purchase the
unpurchased Common Shares called for by this Warrant, which new Warrant shall
in all other respects be identical with this Warrant. This Warrant may also
be exercised by means of a "cashless exercise" in which the holder shall be
entitled to receive a certificate for the number of shares equal to the
quotient obtained by dividing [(A-B) (X)] by (A), where:

(A) = the average of the high and low trading prices per Common Share on the
Trading Day preceding the date of such election on the NASDAQ Stock Market,
or if the Common Shares are not traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market, then the
principal market in terms of volume, and converted into US Dollars;

(B) = the Exercise Price of the Warrants; and

(X) = the number of shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants in
accordance with the terms of this Warrant.


                                       2
<PAGE>

     4.   NO FRACTIONAL SHARES OR SCRIP. No fractional shares or scrip
representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this
Warrant. As to any fraction of a share which Holder would otherwise be
entitled to purchase upon such exercise, the Company shall pay a cash
adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to the
Exercise Price.

     5.   CHARGES, TAXES AND EXPENSES. Issuance of certificates for Common
Shares upon the exercise of this Warrant shall be made without charge to the
holder hereof for any issue or transfer tax or other incidental expense in
respect of the issuance of such certificate, all of which taxes and expenses
shall be paid by the Company, and such certificates shall be issued in the
name of the holder of this Warrant or in such name or names as may be
directed by the holder of this Warrant; provided, however, that in the event
certificates for Common Shares are to be issued in a name other than the name
of the holder of this Warrant, this Warrant when surrendered for exercise
shall be accompanied by the Assignment Form attached hereto duly executed by
the holder hereof; and the Company may require, as a condition thereto, the
payment of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any transfer tax incidental
thereto.

     6.   CLOSING OF BOOKS. The Company will not close its shareholder books
or records in any manner which prevents the timely exercise of this Warrant.

     7.   TRANSFER, DIVISION AND COMBINATION. (a) Subject to compliance with
any applicable securities laws, transfer of this Warrant and all rights
hereunder, in whole or in part, shall be registered on the books of the
Company to be maintained for such purpose, upon surrender of this Warrant at
the principal office of the Company, together with a written assignment of
this Warrant substantially in the form attached hereto duly executed by
Holder or its agent or attorney and funds sufficient to pay any transfer
taxes payable upon the making of such transfer. Upon such surrender and, if
required, such payment, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant
or Warrants in the name of the assignee or assignees and in the denomination
or denominations specified in such instrument of assignment, and shall issue
to the assignor a new Warrant evidencing the portion of this Warrant not so
assigned, and this Warrant shall promptly be cancelled. A Warrant, if
properly assigned, may be exercised by a new holder for the purchase of
Common Shares without having a new Warrant issued.

          (b)  This Warrant may be divided or combined with other Warrants
upon presentation hereof at the aforesaid office of the Company, together
with a written notice specifying the names and denominations in which new
Warrants are to be issued, signed by Holder or its agent or attorney. Subject
to compliance with Section 7(a), as to any transfer which may be involved in
such division or combination, the Company shall execute and deliver a new
Warrant or Warrants in exchange for the Warrant or Warrants to be divided or
combined in accordance with such notice.

          (c)  The Company shall prepare, issue and deliver at its own
expense (other than transfer taxes) the new Warrant or Warrants under this
Section 7.

          (d)  The Company agrees to maintain, at its aforesaid office, books
for the registration and the registration of transfer of the Warrants.


                                       3
<PAGE>

     8.   NO RIGHTS AS SHAREHOLDER UNTIL EXERCISE. This Warrant does not
entitle the holder hereof to any voting rights or other rights as a
shareholder of the Company prior to the exercise hereof. Upon the surrender
of this Warrant and the payment of the aggregate Exercise Price, the Warrant
Shares so purchased shall be and be deemed to be issued to such holder as the
record owner of such shares as of the close of business on the later of the
date of such surrender or payment.

     9.   LOSS, THEFT, DESTRUCTION OR MUTILATION OF WARRANT. The Company
covenants that upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably
satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this
Warrant certificate or any share certificate relating to the Warrant Shares,
and in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security
reasonably satisfactory to it (which shall not include the posting of any
bond), and upon surrender and cancellation of such Warrant or share
certificate, if mutilated, the Company will make and deliver a new Warrant or
share certificate of like tenor and dated as of such cancellation, in lieu of
such Warrant or share certificate.

     10.  SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS, HOLIDAYS, ETC. If the last or appointed day for
the taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted
herein shall be a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday, then such action may
be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding day not a
Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday.

     11.  ADJUSTMENTS OF EXERCISE PRICE AND NUMBER OF WARRANT SHARES. (a)
STOCK SPLITS, ETC. The number and kind of securities purchasable upon the
exercise of this Warrant and the Exercise Price shall be subject to
adjustment from time to time upon the happening of any of the following. In
case the Company shall (i) pay a dividend in Common Shares or make a
distribution in Common Shares to holders of its outstanding Common Shares,
(ii) subdivide its outstanding Common Shares into a greater number of Common
Shares, (iii) combine its outstanding Common Shares into a smaller number of
Common Shares or (iv) issue any shares of its capital shares in a
reclassification of the Common Shares, then the number of Warrant Shares
purchasable upon exercise of this Warrant immediately prior thereto shall be
adjusted so that the holder of this Warrant shall be entitled to receive the
kind and number of Warrant Shares or other securities of the Company which he
would have owned or have been entitled to receive had such Warrant been
exercised in advance thereof. Upon each such adjustment of the kind and
number of Warrant Shares or other securities of the Company which are
purchasable hereunder, the holder of this Warrant shall thereafter be
entitled to purchase the number of Warrant Shares or other securities
resulting from such adjustment at an Exercise Price per Warrant Share or
other security obtained by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect
immediately prior to such adjustment by the number of Warrant Shares
purchasable pursuant hereto immediately prior to such adjustment and dividing
by the number of Warrant Shares or other securities of the Company resulting
from such adjustment. An adjustment made pursuant to this paragraph shall
become effective immediately after the effective date of such event
retroactive to the record date, if any, for such event.

          (b)  REORGANIZATION, RECLASSIFICATION, MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR
DISPOSITION OF ASSETS. In case the Company shall reorganize its capital,
reclassify its share capital, consolidate or merge with or into another
corporation (where the Company is not the surviving corporation or where
there is a change in or distribution with respect to the Common Shares of


                                       4
<PAGE>

the Company), or sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially
all its property, assets or business to another corporation and, pursuant to
the terms of such reorganization, reclassification, merger, consolidation or
disposition of assets, Common Shares of the successor or acquiring
corporation, or any cash, shares or other securities or property of any
nature whatsoever (including warrants or other subscription or purchase
rights) in addition to or in lieu of common stock of the successor or
acquiring corporation ("Other Property"), are to be received by or
distributed to the holders of Common Shares of the Company, then Holder shall
have the right thereafter to receive, upon exercise of this Warrant, the
number of Common Shares of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the
Company, if it is the surviving corporation, and Other Property receivable
upon or as a result of such reorganization, reclassification, merger,
consolidation or disposition of assets by a holder of the number of Common
Shares for which this Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such event.
In case of any such reorganization, reclassification, merger, consolidation
or disposition of assets, the successor or acquiring corporation (if other
than the Company) shall expressly assume the due and punctual observance and
performance of each and every covenant and condition of this Warrant to be
performed and observed by the Company and all the obligations and liabilities
hereunder, subject to such modifications as may be deemed appropriate (as
determined in good faith by resolution of the Board of Directors of the
Company) in order to provide for adjustments of Common Shares for which this
Warrant is exercisable which shall be as nearly equivalent as practicable to
the adjustments provided for in this Section 11. For purposes of this Section
11, "common stock of the successor or acquiring corporation" shall include
stock of such corporation of any class which is not preferred as to dividends
or assets over any other class of stock of such corporation and which is not
subject to redemption and shall also include any evidences of indebtedness,
shares of stock or other securities which are convertible into or
exchangeable for any such stock, either immediately or upon the arrival of a
specified date or the happening of a specified event and any warrants or
other rights to subscribe for or purchase any such stock. The foregoing
provisions of this Section 11 shall similarly apply to successive
reorganizations, reclassifications, mergers, consolidations or disposition of
assets.

     12.  VOLUNTARY ADJUSTMENT BY THE COMPANY. The Company may at any time
during the term of this Warrant, reduce the then current Exercise Price to
any amount and for any period of time deemed appropriate by the Board of
Directors of the Company.

     13.  NOTICE OF ADJUSTMENT. Whenever the number of Warrant Shares or
number or kind of securities or other property purchasable upon the exercise
of this Warrant or the Exercise Price is adjusted, as herein provided, the
Company shall promptly mail by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, to the holder of this Warrant notice of such adjustment or
adjustments setting forth the number of Warrant Shares (and other securities
or property) purchasable upon the exercise of this Warrant and the Exercise
Price of such Warrant Shares (and other securities or property) after such
adjustment, setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such
adjustment and setting forth the computation by which such adjustment was
made. Such notice, in the absence of manifest error, shall be conclusive
evidence of the correctness of such adjustment.


                                       5
<PAGE>

     14.  NOTICE OF CORPORATE ACTION. If at any time:

          (a)  the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Common
Share for the purpose of entitling them to receive a dividend or other
distribution, or any right to subscribe for or purchase any evidences of its
indebtedness, any shares of any class or any other securities or property, or
to receive any other right, or

          (b)  there shall be any capital  reorganization of the Company, any
reclassification or recapitalization of the share capital of the Company or
any consolidation or merger of the Company with, or any sale, transfer or
other disposition of all or substantially all the property, assets or
business of the Company to, another corporation or,

          (c)  there shall be a voluntary or involuntary dissolution,
liquidation or winding up of the Company;

then, in any one or more of such cases, the Company shall give to Holder (i)
at least 30 days' prior written notice of the date on which a record date
shall be selected for such dividend, distribution or right or for determining
rights to vote in respect of any such reorganization, reclassification,
merger, consolidation, sale, transfer, disposition, liquidation or winding
up, and (ii) in the case of any such reorganization, reclassification,
merger, consolidation, sale, transfer, disposition, dissolution, liquidation
or winding up, at least 30 days' prior written notice of the date when the
same shall take place. Such notice in accordance with the foregoing clause
also shall specify (i) the date on which any such record is to be taken for
the purpose of such dividend, distribution or right, the date on which the
holders of Common Shares shall be entitled to any such dividend, distribution
or right, and the amount and character thereof, and (ii) the date on which
any such reorganization, reclassification, merger, consolidation, sale,
transfer, disposition, dissolution, liquidation or winding up is to take
place and the time, if any such time is to be fixed, as of which the holders
of Common Shares shall be entitled to exchange their Common Shares for
securities or other property deliverable upon such disposition, dissolution,
liquidation or winding up. Each such written notice shall be sufficiently
given if addressed to Holder at the last address of Holder appearing on the
books of the Company and delivered in accordance with Section 16(d).

     15.  AUTHORIZED SHARES. The Company covenants that during the period the
Warrant is outstanding, it will reserve from its authorized and unissued
Common Shares a sufficient number of shares to provide for the issuance of
the Warrant Shares upon the exercise of any purchase rights under this
Warrant. The Company further covenants that its issuance of this Warrant
shall constitute full authority to its officers who are charged with the duty
of executing share certificates to execute and issue the necessary
certificates for the Warrant Shares upon the exercise of the purchase rights
under this Warrant. The Company will take all such reasonable action as may
be necessary to assure that such Warrant Shares may be issued as provided
herein without violation of any applicable law or regulation, or of any
requirements of the Principal Market upon which the Common Shares may be
listed.

     The Company shall not by any action, including, without limitation,
amending its certificate of incorporation or through any reorganization,
transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of
securities or any other voluntary action, avoid


                                       6
<PAGE>

or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this
Warrant, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of
all such terms and in the taking of all such actions as may be necessary or
appropriate to protect the rights of Holder against impairment. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will (a) not increase
the par value of any Common Shares receivable upon the exercise of this
Warrant above the amount payable therefor upon such exercise immediately
prior to such increase in par value, (b) take all such action as may be
necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally
issue fully paid and nonassessable Common Shares upon the exercise of this
Warrant, and (c) use all commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all such
authorizations, exemptions or consents from any public regulatory body having
jurisdiction thereof as may be necessary to enable the Company to perform its
obligations under this Warrant.

     Upon the request of Holder, the Company will at any time during the
period this Warrant is outstanding acknowledge in writing, in form reasonably
satisfactory to Holder, the continuing validity of this Warrant and the
obligations of the Company hereunder.

     Before taking any action which would cause an adjustment reducing the
current Exercise Price below the then par value, if any, of the Common Shares
issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, the Company shall take any corporate
action which may be necessary in order that the Company may validly and
legally issue fully paid and non-assessable shares of such Common Shares at
such adjusted Exercise Price.

     Before taking any action which would result in an adjustment in the
number of Common Shares for which this Warrant is exercisable or in the
Exercise Price, the Company shall obtain all such authorizations or
exemptions thereof, or consents thereto, as may be necessary from any public
regulatory body or bodies having jurisdiction thereof.

     16.  MISCELLANEOUS.

          (a)  JURISDICTION. This Warrant shall be binding upon any
successors or assigns of the Company. This Warrant shall constitute a
contract under the laws of New York without regard to its conflict of law
principles or rules, and be subject to arbitration pursuant to the terms set
forth in the Purchase Agreement.

          (b)  RESTRICTIONS. The holder hereof acknowledges that the Warrant
Shares acquired upon the exercise of this Warrant, if not registered, will
have restrictions upon resale imposed by state and federal securities laws.

          (c)  NONWAIVER AND EXPENSES. No course of dealing or any delay or
failure to exercise any right hereunder on the part of Holder shall operate
as a waiver of such right or otherwise prejudice Holder's rights, powers or
remedies, notwithstanding all rights hereunder terminate on the Termination
Date hereof. If the Company willfully fails to comply with any material
provision of this Warrant, the Company shall pay to Holder such amounts as
shall be sufficient to cover any costs and expenses including, but not
limited to, reasonable attorneys' fees, including those of appellate
proceedings, incurred by Holder in collecting any amounts due pursuant hereto
or in otherwise enforcing any of its rights, powers or remedies hereunder.


                                       7
<PAGE>

          (d)  NOTICES. Any notice, request or other document required or
permitted to be given or delivered to the holder hereof by the Company shall
be delivered in accordance with the notice provisions of the Purchase
Agreement.

          (e)  LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. No provision hereof, in the absence
of affirmative action by Holder to purchase Common Shares, and no enumeration
herein of the rights or privileges of Holder hereof, shall give rise to any
liability of Holder for the purchase price of any Common Shares or as a
shareholder of the Company, whether such liability is asserted by the Company
or by creditors of the Company.

          (f)  REMEDIES. Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise
all rights granted by law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to
specific performance of its rights under this Warrant. The Company agrees
that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss
incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Warrant and
hereby agrees to waive the defense in any action for specific performance
that a remedy at law would be adequate.

          (g)  SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. Subject to applicable securities laws,
this Warrant and the rights and obligations evidenced hereby shall inure to
the benefit of and be binding upon the successors of the Company and the
successors and permitted assigns of Holder. The provisions of this Warrant
are intended to be for the benefit of all Holders from time to time of this
Warrant and shall be enforceable by any such Holder or holder of Warrant
Shares.

          (h)  INDEMNIFICATION. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless Holder from and against any liabilities, obligations, losses,
damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, claims, costs, attorneys'
fees, expenses and disbursements of any kind which may be imposed upon,
incurred by or asserted against Holder in any manner relating to or arising
out of any failure by the Company to perform or observe in any material
respect any of its covenants, agreements, undertakings or obligations set
forth in this Warrant; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company will not be liable
hereunder to the extent that any liabilities, obligations, losses, damages,
penalties, actions, judgments, suits, claims, costs, attorneys' fees,
expenses or disbursements are found in a final non-appealable judgment by a
court to have resulted from Holder's negligence, bad faith or willful
misconduct in its capacity as a shareholder or warrantholder of the Company.

          (i)  AMENDMENT. This Warrant may be modified or amended or the
provisions hereof waived with the written consent of the Company and the
Holder.

          (j)  SEVERABILITY. Wherever possible, each provision of this
Warrant shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid
under applicable law, but if any provision of this Warrant shall be
prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be
ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without
invalidating the remainder of such provisions or the remaining provisions of
this Warrant.

          (k)  HEADINGS. The headings used in this Warrant are for the
convenience of reference only and shall not, for any purpose, be deemed a
part of this Warrant.


                                       8
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be executed
by its officer thereunto duly authorized.

Dated: May ___, 2000


                                       SAND TECHNOLOGY INC.


                                       By: /s/ Arthur G. Ritchie
                                           ----------------------------------
                                           Arthur G. Ritchie, President & CEO



                                       9
<PAGE>

                               NOTICE OF EXERCISE

To:  Sand Technology Inc.

     (1)  The undersigned hereby elects to purchase ________ Common Shares
(the "Common Shares"), of Sand Technology Inc. pursuant to the terms of the
attached Warrant, and tenders herewith payment of the exercise price in full,
together with all applicable transfer taxes, if any.

     (2)  Please issue a certificate or certificates representing said Common
Shares in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is specified
below:

                           __________________________________
                           (Name)

                           __________________________________
                           (Address)

                           __________________________________


Dated:

                                          _______________________________
                                          Signature
<PAGE>

                                 ASSIGNMENT FORM

                    (To assign the foregoing warrant, execute
                   this form and supply required information.
                  Do not use this form to exercise the warrant.)

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the foregoing Warrant and all rights evidenced
thereby are hereby assigned to

__________________________________________________________ whose address is

_________________________________________________________________________ .



___________________________________________________________________________

                                            Dated: ______________ , _______


                          Holder's Signature: _____________________________

                          Holder's Address:   _____________________________


Signature Guaranteed: _____________________________________________________

NOTE: The signature to this Assignment Form must correspond with the name as
it appears on the face of the Warrant, without alteration or enlargement or
any change whatsoever, and must be guaranteed by a bank or trust company.
Officers of corporations and those acting in an fiduciary or other
representative capacity should file proper evidence of authority to assign
the foregoing Warrant.