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Ref: SD/ES/lam_RS140798.doc

PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL

July 14th, 1998

Richard Snook,
Airth,
Sunning Woods,
Chantonbury Drive,
Sunningdale,
Berkshire,
SL5 9PT

Dear Richard,

We are very pleased that you are considering joining us at Informix Software 
Limited (the "Company"). The purpose of this letter is to set forth our offer 
of employment. We propose that you begin employment with Informix Software 
Limited in the capacity of Vice President, Europe, Middle East & Africa, 
reporting to Bob Finocchio, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Your starting salary, inclusive of base incentive, will be 375,000 pounds 
sterling per annum. The base salary (270,000 pounds sterling per annum) will 
be paid monthly by credit transfer and should reach your bank account on or 
around the 22nd of each month. The payout of your incentive (105,000 pounds 
sterling per annum) will be subject to a separate agreement, but effective 
from your first day of employment. Your salary and your incentive will be 
reviewed after one year of employment and then annually. 

It will be recommended to the Board of Directors that you receive a 
non-qualified Stock option under the Informix Corporate Employee Stock Option 
Plan to acquire 300,000 shares of the common stock of Informix Corporation on 
terms and conditions to be determined solely by the Board of Directors at the 
time of the grant. In the event of a merger or change of control of the 
Company within six months after the effective date of such stock option 
grant, the exercisability of your options will accelerate as to two year's 
additional vesting. If such change of control takes place after such six 
month period, the exercisability of your options will accelerate so as to 
become fully vested.

As set out in and subject to your terms and conditions of employment with the 
Company, in the event of a merger or change in control of the Company during 
your first two years of employment, you will be entitled to receive as 
severance an amount equal to your then prevailing On Target Earnings (base 
salary, plus 100 percent incentive), if your employment is terminated within 
90 days of the initiating event irrespective of which party initiates the 
termination. This amount is inclusive of notice.

If your employment is terminated by the Company for any reason other than 
cause you will be entitled to receive 12 months notice or a payment in lieu 
equal to 12 months notice, paid at your then prevailing On Target Earnings 
(base salary, plus 100 percent incentive). Under the terms of your contract 
you will be required to give six month's notice to terminate your contract of 
employment.

                                                                      OVER/...

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Your package will also include the following:

A Company Car or Company Car Allowance, equivalent to a Jaguar XJR.

A Company fuel card, which covers all business mileage and personal mileage.

Private Medical Insurance for you and your dependants, which includes your 
own annual medical examination.

Life Assurance, a minimum of four times basic salary is provided for all 
employees and is effective immediately, subject to Inland Revenue limits. 
Additional coverage will be provided to supplement the capped amount to 
provide four times basic salary coverage in total.

Long Term Disability Insurance, should you be unable to continue work due to 
a long term illness or disability.

In addition, you will be invited to join the Company Pension Scheme. You 
will be invited to join the Informix Pension Scheme immediately on joining the 
company. Contributions will be as those laid down in the Management Scheme. Any 
additional amounts that can be paid over and above the 'standard scheme' will 
be by way of salary sacrifice. In any event, Inland Revenue maximum funding 
rules will apply.

Full details of all these Employee Benefit schemes will be forwarded to you.

Terms and Conditions of Employment with Informix Software Limited are as 
outlined in the enclosed documents. To the extent that the terms of this 
offer letter contradict the Terms and Conditions of Employment, the terms of 
this offer letter prevail.

On acceptance of this offer, please enter your start date where indicated, 
sign and return one of the attached agreement forms, retaining a copy for 
your records. You will also find enclosed a number of forms, which you should 
complete. Please return these forms together with a copy of your valid 
passport or birth certificate.

This offer is open for a period of seven days from the date of this letter. 
If you have a particular reason why you would like longer to make a decision, 
please let us know within the next few days.

If you have any queries relating to the above, please do not hesitate to 
contact me.

Finally, we look forward to you joining and feel sure that you will have a 
successful and enjoyable career with Informix Software Limited.

Yours sincerely

/s/ Susan Daniel

Susan Daniel,
Vice President, Human Resources

c.c. Bob Finocchio

Enclosures