CONTACT: Philippe O. Piette, Jr.

WorldVest Base, Inc.

Jay S. Winuk

Winuk Communications

646-613-7720

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chicago,IL, December 2, 1998 -- WorldVest Base Inc. (http://www.wvb.com) the largest and most respected international financial information provider to the investment banking community, today announced the availability of its information on Data Downlink Corporation's Internet-based service, .xls (http://www.xls.com).

WorldVest Base is providing Data Downlink with its complete database, from which Data Downlink has created several reports that can be downloaded directly into spreadsheets. Commenting on the availability of WorldVest Base's data, Steven Goldstein, chief executive officer of Data Downlink, stated, "We're please to add Worldvest Base to our growing list of content providers. Our customers will benefit greatly from this high quality, accurate data."

Philippe O. Piette Jr., WorldVest Base's president and CEO, said, "Data Downlink has a very exciting service with a unique and complementary mix of content providers. Unlike with other sources, users of .xls can access WorldVest Base's information on a per report or subscription basis and download our data into customizable spreadsheets."

WorldVest Base Inc., the benchmark for high quality international "as reported" financial information, is the leader in providing the broadest coverage of professional grade financial data to the investment banking, accounting, consulting and lending market. WorldVest Base Inc. specializes in the compilation, integration, display and delivery of a superior quality database of descriptive and analytic information on over 12,000 non-US corporations. Well known to professional consulting and investment banking community for 15 years, the company distributed its services traditionally through other parties and since 1997 under its brand name. Aside from the Data Downlink site, the company's data is also distributed via on-line vendors and independent finance oriented web sites, such as OM Stockholm AB ;Woqats; Hemmington Scott ; Six Findata AB; IDD; ADR.COM; as well as through its own web site (http://www.wvb.com).

Data Downlink Corporation, based in New York City and founded in 1996, provides a comprehensive library of premium financial and business information through its web-based search service, called .xls (http://www.xls.com). Offering company financials and economic, demographic, industry, country and market-specific data, .xls is distinguished by allowing the subscribing or pay-per-view user to automatically download database information live directly into a Microsoft Excel or Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet. For more information about Data Downlink and its 50+ different databases, visit the company's web site (www.xls.com) or call customer service at 212-363-9620 in the U.S. or in London at 44 (0)20 3059 5765.

# # #