Feb. 15, 2000

Ask Jeeves About Its Purchase of Direct Hit

Internet service provider AskJeeves Inc. will acquire Direct Hit Technologies Inc. in a tax-free stock-for-stock transaction valued at $500 million. A total of 5.12 million unregistered shares of AskJeeves stock will be exchanged with Direct Hit's outstanding shares. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2000.