IslamiQ.com and Sybase Enter Into a Strategic Global Alliance.

Business/Technology Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 4, 2000

IslamiQ.com, the world's first dedicated Islamic financial and investment portal, today announced it had advanced its global expansion plans through a strategic alliance agreement with Sybase, Inc., (Nasdaq:SYBS), a premier supplier of e-Business solutions.

Commenting on the partnership, Dr. Hasnita Dato' Hashim, CEO of IslamiQ.com, said, the agreement was expected to enhance the portal which already provides an array of financial, resource and transactional services to Muslim and other professional investors worldwide in accordance with Islamic (Shari'ah) Law. The Islamic equity market is estimated to be U.S. $150 billion with a 20% annual growth rate.

"In today's information revolution, IslamiQ.com connects people around the globe, and we need a capable technology alliance to provide the seamless integration between IslamiQ.com online services and the users online experience. With its global reach, we expect Sybase to complement this role," said Dr. Hashim.

Through its alliance agreement with Sybase, IslamiQ.com will enlist the support of Sybase professional services, and gain access to Sybase Solution Centers, thus facilitating development of the IslamiQ.com financial portal. The IslamiQ.com-Sybase alliance will include Sybase(R) Enterprise Portal (EP), the industry's first enterprise-class portal product, which will help drive the evolution of IslamiQ.com's dynamic e-Business content. The agreement will also enable IslamiQ.com to provide greater accessibility to visitors and investors to the portal, as well as greater flexibility and access to a wider range of applications.

IslamiQ.com chose Sybase EP because of Sybase's reputation for stability, security and scalability, as well as proven success with high volume systems, particularly in the financial markets. As one of the largest independent software companies in the world, Sybase has 68 of the top 100 global banks as its financial services customers.

"Although there are many financial Web portals in the market, IslamiQ.com is unique because it has a team of analysts trained in specialized screening and filtration to ensure that selected businesses conform to Islamic guidelines and principles," said Rich LaBarbera, senior vice president and general manager of the Enterprise Solutions Division at Sybase, Inc., "Through this alliance, Sybase EP will enable IslamiQ.com's customers to transact business with ease and confidence, offering customers more choice and specialized personalization and help IslamiQ.com target the right audience. We look forward to a long relationship with IslamiQ.com."

IslamiQ.com also announced that its expansion into the U.S. market had commenced with the opening of an office in New York City on October 1.

About IslamiQ

IslamiQ.com, headquartered in London, UK, is an Internet company with a global reach that offers information on sophisticated financial services and products that are compliant with Islamic principles, including a "stocks screening process" covering major stock exchanges. The IslamiQ.com portal facilitates Muslim individual investors and professionals worldwide better managing their financial affairs according to Islamic (Shari'ah) law. The company's web site is http://www.islamiq.com.

About Sybase, Inc.

Headquartered in Emeryville, CA, Sybase, Inc., is one of the largest global independent software companies. Sybase helps businesses integrate, manage, and deliver applications, content, and data anywhere they are needed. The company's products, combined with its world-class professional services and partner technologies, provide a comprehensive platform for integrated, end-to-end solutions in mobile and wireless computing, data warehousing, and Web environments. Sybase focuses especially on Enterprise Portal (EP) solutions, which give businesses the ability to extend their enterprise to customers, partners, and suppliers by converting stored data into useful information, which can be organized, integrated, and personalized for use anywhere at anytime.

Sybase customers represent the industries leading the global economy, with strong concentrations in financial services, public sector, telecommunications, and healthcare. The company's Web address is http://www.sybase.com.

Notes to editors:

-- IslamiQ.com was launched in March 2000, by Dr Hasnita Dato' Hashim, one of
the pioneers of Islamic investment banking, and Peter Farid Faisal, an
entrepreneur with 22 years in the media industry. The site offers information
on investment products that are within the principles of Shari'ah law.

-- IslamiQStocks.com was launched in August and is the first website to offer a
comprehensive "stocks screening process" according to Shari'ah Law.

-- IslamiQ is currently raising new funds for further development with a view
to floating on an international market by the end of 2002.

Special Note: Statements concerning Sybase's future business relationships are by nature forward-looking statements that involve a number of uncertainties and risks and cannot be guaranteed. Factors that could ultimately affect such statements are shifts in customer or market demand, rapid technological changes, the interoperability of the Company's products with other software products and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC filings (copies of which can be viewed on the Company's web site).

Sybase is a registered trademark of Sybase, Inc.