Public Class MyStringComparer
    Implements IComparer

    Function Compare(ByVal x As Object, ByVal y As Object) As Integer Implements IComparer.Compare

        Dim cmpstr As String = CType(x, String)
        Dim cmpstr2 As String = CType(y, String)444
      
        If cmpstr.ToLower.StartsWith(cmpstr2.ToLower) Then
            Return 0
        End If

        Return cmpstr.ToLower.CompareTo(cmpstr2.ToLower)

    End Function

End Class