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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549


Form 10-Q


     
þ
  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
    For the Quarterly period ended September 30, 2004
 
o
  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
    For the transition period from           to

Commission file number 000-26521

Ask Jeeves, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Delaware
  94-3334199
(State or other jurisdiction of
Incorporation or organization)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

5858 Horton St., Suite 350, Emeryville, CA 94608

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(510) 985-7400

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.     Yes þ          No o

      Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).     Yes þ          No o

      The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s Common Stock as of November 5, 2004 was 58,253,731.

The Exhibit Index begins on page 54.




ASK JEEVES, INC.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

             
Page
 PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
   Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements:     3  
     Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003     3  
     Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003     4  
     Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003     5  
     Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements     6  
   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations     15  
   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk     51  
   Controls and Procedures     51  
 PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
   Legal Proceedings     52  
   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds     52  
   Defaults Upon Senior Securities     52  
   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Securities Holders     52  
   Other Information     52  
   Exhibits     52  
     Signatures     53  
 Exhibit 10.5.2.4
 Exhibit 10.5.3
 Exhibit 10.8.1.3
 Exhibit 10.8.2.2
 Exhibit 10.8.3.3
 EXHIBIT 31.1
 EXHIBIT 31.2
 EXHIBIT 32.1

Cautionary Note regarding Forward-Looking Statements

      In addition to historical information, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements are those that predict or describe future events or trends and that do not relate solely to historical matters. You can generally identify forward-looking statements as statements containing the words “believe,” “expect,” “will,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “project,” “assume” or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. All statements in this report regarding our future strategy, future operations, projected financial position, estimated future revenues, projected costs, future prospects, and results that might be obtained by pursuing management’s current plans and objectives are forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements because the matters they describe are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond our control. Our forward-looking statements are based on the information currently available to us and speak only as of the date on which this report was filed with the SEC. We expressly disclaim any obligation to issue any updates or revisions to our forward-looking statements, even if subsequent events cause our expectations to change regarding the matters discussed in those statements. Over time, our actual results, performance or achievements will likely differ from the anticipated results, performance or achievements that are expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements, and such difference might be significant and materially adverse to our stockholders. Many important factors that could cause such a difference are described in this Quarterly Report under the caption “Risk Factors” as well as in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K under the captions “Competition,” “Proprietary Rights” and “Risk Factors,” all of which you should review carefully. Please consider our forward-looking statements in light of those risks as you read this report.

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.     Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

ASK JEEVES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
                     
September 30, December 31,
2004 2003


(Unaudited) (Note 1)
ASSETS
               
Current assets:
               
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 64,779     $ 36,673  
 
Marketable securities
    24,735       143,975  
     
     
 
   
Total cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
    89,514       180,648  
 
Accounts receivable, net
    37,653       12,062  
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    7,042       3,299  
     
     
 
   
Total current assets
    134,209       196,009  
Property and equipment, net
    23,984       10,933  
Goodwill
    262,249        
Intangible assets, net
    94,433       831  
Other assets, net
    5,599       4,482  
     
     
 
   
Total assets
  $ 520,474     $ 212,255  
     
     
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Current liabilities:
               
 
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities
  $ 36,727     $ 12,050  
 
Accrued compensation and related expenses
    7,499       5,137  
 
Accrued restructuring costs
    604       1,167  
 
Deferred revenue
    2,759       5,367  
 
Current portion of capital lease obligation
    751        
     
     
 
   
Total current liabilities
    48,340       23,721  
Convertible subordinated notes
    115,000       115,000  
Capital lease obligations, less current portion
    592        
Other liabilities
    326       326  
     
     
 
   
Total liabilities
    164,258       139,047  
Commitments and contingencies
               
Stockholders’ equity:
               
 
Convertible preferred stock, $.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding
           
 
Common stock, $.001 par value: 150,000,000 shares authorized 58,025,557 and 46,616,445 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively
    992,212       740,845  
 
Accumulated deficit
    (635,024 )     (670,686 )
 
Deferred stock compensation, net
    (4,095 )      
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    3,123       3,049  
     
     
 
   
Total stockholders’ equity
    356,216       73,208  
     
     
 
   
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 520,474     $ 212,255  
     
     
 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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ASK JEEVES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
                                   
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended


September 30, September 30, September 30, September 30,
2004 2003 2004 2003




Revenue
  $ 75,654     $ 27,176     $ 175,224     $ 75,458  
Cost of revenue
    25,014       5,256       49,160       16,259  
     
     
     
     
 
Gross profit
    50,640       21,920       126,064       59,199  
Operating expenses:
                               
 
Product development
    6,741       4,207       16,723       11,006  
 
Sales and marketing
    20,265       8,235       46,140       22,263  
 
General and administrative
    8,300       4,845       19,970       14,036  
 
Amortization of intangible assets
    3,329             5,334        
 
Impairment and write-off of long-lived assets
          702             702  
     
     
     
     
 
Total operating expenses
    38,635       17,989       88,167       48,007  
Operating income
    12,005       3,931       37,897       11,192  
Gain on acquisition and dissolution of joint ventures
                      6,356  
Interest income, net
    193       354       851       899  
Interest expense
    (115 )           (142 )     (164 )
Other income, net
    45       292       262       272  
     
     
     
     
 
Income before income tax provision
    12,128       4,577       38,868       18,555  
Income tax provision
    1,786       738       3,586       1,408  
     
     
     
     
 
Income from continuing operations
    10,342       3,839       35,282       17,147  
Loss from discontinued operations
                      (1,218 )
Gain on sale of discontinued operations
    380       2,482       380       2,482  
     
     
     
     
 
Income from discontinued operations
    380       2,482       380       1,264  
Net income
  $ 10,722     $ 6,321     $ 35,662     $ 18,411  
     
     
     
     
 
Earnings per share — Basic:
                               
 
Income from continuing operations
  $ 0.18     $ 0.09     $ 0.67     $ 0.39  
 
Income from discontinued operations
  $ 0.01     $ 0.05     $ 0.01     $ 0.03  
     
     
     
     
 
 
Net income per share
  $ 0.19     $ 0.14     $ 0.68     $ 0.42  
     
     
     
     
 
Weighted average shares outstanding used in computing basic net income per share
    57,655,846       44,692,016       52,643,594       43,422,327  
     
     
     
     
 
Earnings per share — Diluted:
                               
 
Income from continuing operations
  $ 0.15     $ 0.07     $ 0.54     $ 0.32  
 
Income from discontinued operations
  $ 0.00     $ 0.04     $ 0.01     $ 0.02  
     
     
     
     
 
 
Net income per share
  $ 0.15     $ 0.11     $ 0.55     $ 0.34  
     
     
     
     
 
Weighted average shares outstanding used in computing diluted net income per share
    69,350,140       57,921,361       64,772,913       53,424,494  
     
     
     
     
 
Revenues from related parties
  $ 477     $ 1,131     $ 2,740     $ 3,394  
     
     
     
     
 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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ASK JEEVES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
                     
Nine Months Ended
September 30,

2004 2003


Operating activities
               
Income from continuing operations
  $ 35,282     $ 17,147  
Adjustment to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
 
Loss from discontinued operations
          (1,218 )
 
Depreciation and amortization
    6,701       5,856  
 
Stock compensation
    902       39  
 
Amortization of intangible assets
    11,664       1,807  
 
Impairment and write-off of long-lived assets
          702  
 
Gain on acquisition of joint venture
          (6,124 )
 
Income tax benefit from stock option exercises
    1,711        
 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
   
Accounts receivable
    (7,598 )     (2,341 )
   
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    (1,908 )     (918 )
   
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities
    8,028       6,520  
   
Accrued compensation and related expenses
    (1,488 )     1,291  
   
Accrued restructuring costs
    (564 )     (553 )
   
Deferred revenue
    (3,026 )     (4,570 )
     
     
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
    49,704       17,638  
Investing activities
               
Purchases of property and equipment
    (17,366 )     (5,901 )
Purchases of marketable securities
    (9,999 )     (83,565 )
Redemption of restricted marketable securities
    43       11,000  
Sale of discontinued operations
    380       2,482  
Redemption of marketable securities
    129,032        
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired
    (131,558 )      
     
     
 
Net cash used in investing activities
    (29,468 )     (75,984 )
Financing activities
               
Issuance of common stock
    10,548       12,425  
Repurchase of common stock
    (229 )      
Issuance of convertible subordinated notes, net
          111,744  
Repayment of note payable
    (2,144 )      
Repayment of borrowings under line of credit
          (11,000 )
Repayment of capital lease obligations
    (586 )     (572 )
     
     
 
Net cash provided by financing activities
    7,589       112,597  
     
     
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    281       902  
     
     
 
Increase in cash and cash equivalents
    28,106       55,153  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    36,673       27,613  
     
     
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 64,779     $ 82,766  
     
     
 
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities
               
Common stock issued for business combination
  $ 238,744     $  

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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ASK JEEVES, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 
The Company

      Ask Jeeves, Inc. (“Ask Jeeves” or the “Company”) provides computer users with information search and retrieval services, free of charge, across a diverse portfolio of Web sites and desktop applications. Ask Jeeves generates revenue primarily by displaying advertisements on its Web sites and by selling ads for display on third-party sites in the AJinteractive advertising network. Ask Jeeves seeks to attract Web traffic to its own sites by creating distinctive online experiences that users will find intuitive and satisfying. Ask Jeeves pursues this goal using a multi-brand strategy. Ask Jeeves’ brands include several Web sites dedicated to search (Ask.com, Ask.co.uk, Teoma.com, MySearch.com, MyWebSearch.com and AJKids.com) and three broader-purpose, content-rich “portal” Web sites (iWon.com, Excite.com and MyWay.com). The Company operates a Japanese language search site (Ask.jp), as a joint venture with Transcosmos Inc. and a co-branded portal (Dell.myway.com). Ask Jeeves also makes its search services accessible through several branded search toolbars that users can install in their Internet browsers. The toolbars can be downloaded from Ask Jeeves’ Web sites and are also distributed together with a number of downloadable applications, including Ask Jeeves’ Fun Web Products. Ask Jeeves’ proprietary technologies include its algorithmic search engine, Teoma, natural language processing software, and portal and ad-serving technologies. Through AJinteractive, the Company’s ad sales division, Ask Jeeves offers advertisers a mix of online marketing services, including targeted ad placements on its own sites and across a network of third-party sites.

      Until July 1, 2003, the Company operated through two divisions, Web Properties and Jeeves Solutions. On July 1, 2003, the Company sold certain assets used in the Jeeves Solutions business to Kanisa Inc. (“Kanisa”), at which time the Company ceased offering Jeeves Solutions software and services.

      On May 6, 2004, Ask Jeeves acquired Interactive Search Holdings, Inc. (“ISH”), which became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. ISH operates several portals and search sites and develops and distributes desktop applications. See Note 3 (Acquisitions).

Basis of Presentation

      The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 are unaudited, but include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments and accruals) which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation of the consolidated financial position, operating results and cash flows as of the interim date and for the periods presented. Results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire fiscal year or future periods. The condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2003 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date, but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.

      The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. The investment in the Ask Jeeves Japan joint venture in which the Company has significant influence but does not have a controlling voting interest or a majority interest in the assets, obligations or results of operations is accounted for under the equity method. Investments in which the Company does not have the ability to exert significant influence are accounted for at cost. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated upon consolidation.

      Certain prior period balances have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. The reclassifications did not affect previously reported net income.

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ASK JEEVES, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited) (Continued)
 
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

Use of Estimates

      The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. For the Company, such estimates include revenue recognition, allowances for doubtful accounts, legal contingencies, accounting for income taxes and impairment of long-lived assets. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Concentrations of Revenue

      During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004, paid listing revenues from one provider accounted for 69% and 68% of revenues from continuing operations, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003, paid listing revenues from the same provider accounted for 61% and 52% of revenues from continuing operations, respectively. This provider accounted for 41% and 49% of gross accounts receivable as of September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The Company’s paid listing agreements with this provider are scheduled to terminate December 31, 2007.

Net Income Per Share

      Basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income for the period by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, plus the dilutive effect of outstanding stock options, warrants, and convertible subordinated notes.

Stock-based Compensation

      The Company accounts for employee stock options using the intrinsic value method and makes the required pro forma disclosures as if the fair value method had been used. Compensation expense based on the difference, if any, on the measurement date (generally the date of grant), between the estimated fair value of the Company’s stock and the exercise price of options to purchase that stock is amortized over the vesting period of the related option using the graded vesting method.

      Had compensation cost for the Company’s stock-based compensation plans been determined using the fair value at the grant dates for awards under those plans calculated using the Black Scholes valuation model the Company’s net income and basic and diluted net income per share would have been decreased to the pro forma amounts indicated below (in thousands, except per share amounts):

                                 
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended


September 30, September 30, September 30, September 30,
2004 2003 2004 2003




Net income, as reported
  $ 10,722     $ 6,321     $ 35,662     $ 18,411  
Add:
                               
Stock compensation expense included in reported net income
    474             621       6  

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ASK JEEVES, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited) (Continued)
 
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)
                                   
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended


September 30, September 30, September 30, September 30,
2004 2003 2004 2003




Deduct:
                               
Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for Employee Stock Purchase Plan
    (126 )     (52 )     (405 )     (275 )
Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for stock options
    (9,172 )     (1,446 )     (19,306 )     (5,385 )
     
     
     
     
 
Net income, pro forma
  $ 1,898     $ 4,823     $ 16,572     $ 12,757  
     
     
     
     
 
Net income per share:
                               
 
Basic, as reported
  $ 0.19     $ 0.14     $ 0.68     $ 0.42  
 
Basic, pro forma
  $ 0.03     $ 0.11     $ 0.31     $ 0.29  
 
Diluted, as reported
  $ 0.15     $ 0.11     $ 0.55     $ 0.34  
 
Diluted, pro forma
  $ 0.03     $ 0.08     $ 0.26     $ 0.24  

2. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

      From time to time, the Company is subject to legal proceedings and claims in the ordinary course of business, including claims of alleged infringement of patents, trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property rights, and a variety of claims arising in connection with its services, such as claims alleging defamation or invasion of privacy.

      On October 25, 2001, a putative class action lawsuit captioned Leonard Turroff, et al. vs Ask Jeeves, Inc., et al. was filed against the Company and two of the Company’s officers and directors (collectively the “Individual Defendants”) in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Also named as defendants were Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc., FleetBoston Robertson Stephens, Goldman Sachs & Co., U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray, and Dain Rauscher, Inc., the underwriters of the Company’s initial public offering, or IPO. The complaint alleges violations of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 against all defendants, and violations of Section 15 of the Securities Act against the Individual Defendants in connection with the Company’s IPO. An amended complaint was filed on December 6, 2001, which includes the same allegations in connection with Ask Jeeves’ second public offering in March 2000. The complaints seek unspecified damages on behalf of a purported class of purchasers of common stock between June 30, 1999 and December 6, 2000. This case is similar to, and has been coordinated with, over three hundred other cases filed in the Southern District Court of New York concerning the IPO market of the late 1990’s. A coordinated settlement has been proposed and submitted to the court. On June 24, 2003, a special committee of the Company’s board of directors approved the Company’s participation in this settlement and on July 9, 2003, the Individual Defendants approved the settlement. The settlement has not yet been approved by the court and might be opposed by the underwriter defendants. If the settlement is approved by the court, the Company expects that the costs and expenses of the settlement will be paid by the Company’s insurers, who will be reimbursed by the Company up to the amount of the Company’s $1.0 million insurance retention. Accordingly, the Company has accrued that amount on its consolidated balance sheet. Any payments beyond that amount will be made by the Company’s insurance carriers up to the limits of the relevant policies. If the settlement does not occur, and the litigation against the Company continues, the Company believes it has meritorious defenses and intends to defend the case vigorously.

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ASK JEEVES, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited) (Continued)
 
2. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)

      On January 27, 2004, a lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York captioned American Blind and Wallpaper, Inc. v. Google, Inc., et al., in which Ask Jeeves, Inc., America Online, Inc., Netscape Communications Corporation, Compuserve Interactive Services, Inc., and EarthLink, Inc. were also named as defendants. On February 27, 2004, the Company was served with an Amended Complaint in the matter. The Complaint alleges trademark infringement, false representation, and dilution under the Lanham Act and other claims arising from defendants’ alleged unlawful use of plaintiff’s trademarks. Plaintiff’s claims are based on the allegations that defendants sell keywords identical to plaintiff’s marks to various third parties and by manipulating search results, consumers are unwittingly diverted to competitors’ products and services. The plaintiff seeks injunctive relief and an unspecified amount of damages. The Company has tendered this suit to Google for indemnification pursuant to the terms of the Advertising Services Agreement, dated July 17, 2002, between Ask Jeeves and Google, and Google has agreed to indemnify the Company to the extent the claims relate to Google paid listings. Google filed a motion to dismiss the case on the grounds that the plaintiffs have failed to state a valid claim upon which relief could be granted, the plaintiffs filed an opposing brief and, on September 17, 2004, the court held a hearing on the motion, at which the judge took the parties’ arguments under submission. The judge has not yet ruled on Google’s motion to dismiss.

      The Company acquired full ownership of Focus Interactive, Inc., formerly known as The Excite Network, Inc., on May 6, 2004 upon its acquisition of ISH. On July 29, 2003, Focus Interactive filed a legal action against InfoSpace, Inc. in New York State court, Westchester County captioned Focus Interactive, Inc. v. InfoSpace, Inc., Index No. 03/11873 (Sup. Court Westchester County New York)(“NY Action”) seeking a declaration as to the respective rights and obligations of the parties under an Internet Services Agreement (“ISA”) between Focus Interactive and InfoSpace and seeking damages as a result of InfoSpace’s ISA-related demands. On September 22, 2003, InfoSpace filed a lawsuit against Focus Interactive in Washington State captioned InfoSpace Sales LLC v. Focus Interactive, Inc., Index No. 03-2-36 176-3SEA (Sup. Court Wash., King County)(“Washington Action”) asserting claims and seeking damages for (i) breach of contract (the ISA); (ii) breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing in performing the ISA; (iii) unfair business practices under Washington Rev. Code § 19.86.020 that affect the public interest; (iv) misrepresentation and fraud in the inducement; and (v) a declaratory judgment seeking a declaration that Focus Interactive’s threatened actions would constitute breaches of Focus Interactive’s obligations to InfoSpace under the ISA, the covenant of good faith and fair dealing recognized by Washington law, and the Wash. Rev. Code § 19.86.020. Focus’ motion to dismiss the Washington Action was granted. InfoSpace filed an appeal in the Court of Appeals of the State of Washington. Briefing is not yet complete on this appeal in Washington.

      On September 29, 2003, InfoSpace moved to dismiss the New York Action on the grounds that a declaratory judgment was improper and on forum non conveniens grounds. Focus opposed the motion and on January 7, 2004, the New York Supreme Court denied InfoSpace’s motion to dismiss in its entirety. On February 11, 2004, InfoSpace filed a Notice of Appeal of the Supreme Court decision to the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court for the Second Judicial Department. No briefing has yet occurred on this New York appeal. On January 23, 2004, InfoSpace answered the Complaint in the NY Action and filed counterclaims similar to the claims asserted in the Washington Action. A trial date has been set in the NY Action. The parties have engaged in settlement negotiations, though the Company faces the risk that the settlement negotiations might not be successful.

      On August 3, 2004, a lawsuit was filed in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Francisco captioned Mario Cisneros et al. vs. Yahoo! Inc., et al., in which Ask Jeeves, Inc., Google, Inc., Yahoo! Inc., and several other Internet media companies are named as defendants. The complaint alleges that

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ASK JEEVES, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited) (Continued)
 
2. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)

the defendants engaged in unfair business practices and aided, abetted and conspired with operators of illegal online gambling enterprises by selling and displaying ads for online gambling operations that allegedly violate California law. The complaint purports to be brought on behalf of the general public and a class of all California residents who incurred losses in the prior four years at any illegal Internet gambling site allegedly advertised on defendants’ Web pages. The complaint seeks declaratory and injunctive relief prohibiting Ask Jeeves and the other defendants from selling or displaying such ads. The complaint also seeks to hold Ask Jeeves and the other defendants liable for an unspecified amount of monetary restitution equal to (i) all of the revenue that defendants allegedly earned by displaying ads for illegal gambling operations; (ii) all of the gambling losses suffered by persons using computers in California to access the advertised sites; (iii) all other revenues received by the gambling site operators from such computer users; and (iv) certain State taxes and fees allegedly avoided by the gambling site operators. The complaint was filed against Internet media companies and does not specifically name the gambling site operators themselves as defendants.

      In management’s opinion, resolution of these matters is not expected to have a material adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position. However, depending on the amount and timing, an unfavorable resolution of these matters could materially and adversely affect the Company’s future results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

Indemnifications

      While the Company has various guarantees included in contracts in the normal course of business, primarily in the form of indemnities, these guarantees do not represent significant commitments or contingent liabilities. Accordingly, the Company has not recorded a liability related to indemnification provisions.

Commitments

      The Company signed an eight-year lease for 55,803 rentable square feet in the 555 City Center building in downtown Oakland, California, which is effective beginning July 1, 2004. The future minimum lease payments are $11,550,000.

3. ACQUISITIONS

Interactive Search Holdings

      On May 6, 2004, the Company completed its acquisition of all of the outstanding capital stock of Interactive Search Holdings, Inc. (ISH), an online search and media company. The acquisition significantly increased the Company’s market share and provided additional channels of distribution for the Company’s search services. These factors contributed to a purchase price in excess of the fair value of ISH’s net tangible and intangible assets acquired, and as a result, the Company has recorded goodwill in connection with this transaction.

      The total purchase cost for ISH of approximately $395.1 million consists of the following (in thousands, except share data):

         
Common stock (9,093,590 shares at $25.73 per share)
  $ 233,978  
Stock options (206,238 shares, at fair value)
    4,766  
Cash
    143,984  
Transaction costs
    12,401  
     
 
    $ 395,129  
     
 

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ASK JEEVES, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited) (Continued)
 
3. ACQUISITIONS (Continued)

      The value of the common stock issued was determined based on the average market price of the Company’s common shares over the period including the two days before and after the terms of the acquisition were agreed to and announced. The fair value of the stock options was determined as of the same date using the Black-Scholes option valuation model using the following assumptions: risk-free interest rate of 3.7%, expected life of 4.3 years and a volatility factor of 1.1. No dividend was assumed.

      The total purchase cost of the acquisition of ISH has been allocated to assets and liabilities based on management’s preliminary estimate of their fair values. The excess of the purchase consideration over the fair value of the net assets acquired has been allocated to goodwill. During the third quarter of fiscal 2004, certain adjustments, corrections, and reclassifications to the allocation of the purchase cost of ISH were made. These items resulted in a decrease to goodwill of $9.8 million. None of these items affected the results of operations for the quarter ended September 30, 2004. The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed and the estimated lives of the amortizable intangible assets (in thousands, except lives):

                     
Estimated
Lives

Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 28,178          
Other tangible assets
    24,157          
Amortizable intangible assets:
               
 
Developed/core technology
    3,785       3 years  
 
User Base
    30,608       3 years  
 
Advertiser and distribution partner relationships
    61,479       5 years  
 
Trade names
    5,105       5 years  
Goodwill
    262,249          
     
         
   
Total assets acquired
    415,561          
Liabilities assumed
    (25,146 )        
Deferred stock-based compensation (stockholders’ equity)
    4,714          
     
         
   
Total
  $ 395,129          
     
         

      Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired, and is not deductible for income tax purposes. Goodwill will not be amortized for financial reporting purposes and will be tested for impairment, at least annually. The preliminary purchase price allocation for ISH is subject to revision as more detailed analysis is completed and additional information on the fair value of assets and liabilities becomes available. Any change in the fair value allocated to the net assets of ISH will change the amount of the purchase price allocable to goodwill.

      In conjunction with the acquisition, the Company accrued $775,000 related to involuntary termination benefits. The amount includes severance, COBRA and outplacement services.

      Net deferred income tax assets related to the acquisition of Interactive Search Holdings had been fully offset by a valuation allowance and, accordingly, no such amounts are included in the accompanying condensed combined balance sheet.

      The results of ISH’s operations have been included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements since May 6, 2004, the date of the acquisition. The following unaudited pro forma financial information for Ask Jeeves, Inc., presented in the table below, represents the combined revenue, net income and net income

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ASK JEEVES, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited) (Continued)
 
3. ACQUISITIONS (Continued)

per share of the Company for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 as if the acquisition of ISH had occurred on the first day of the periods presented, including the amortization of identified intangible assets (in thousands, except per share data).

                                 
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended


September 30, September 30, September 30, September 30,
2004 2003 2004 2003




Revenue
  $ 75,654     $ 51,978     $ 228,055     $ 124,462  
Net income from continuing operations
  $ 10,342     $ 1,049     $ 33,679     $ 3,025  
Net income per share — basic
  $ 0.19     $ 0.02     $ 0.56     $ 0.06  
Net income per share — diluted
  $ 0.15     $ 0.02     $ 0.45     $ 0.05  

4. CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED NOTES

      In June 2003, the Company issued $115.0 million aggregate principal amount of zero coupon convertible subordinated notes, due June 1, 2008. The notes were sold at face value and the net proceeds to the Company were $111.5 million, net of costs of issuance of $3.5 million, which have been recorded as other assets and are being amortized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations over the contractual term of the notes.

      The notes are convertible by the holders into shares of the Company’s common stock at any time at a conversion price of $16.90 per share, subject to certain adjustments. This is equivalent to a conversion rate of approximately 59.1716 shares per $1,000 principal amount of notes. Upon conversion, the Company has the right subject to certain conditions to deliver cash (or a combination of cash and shares) in lieu of shares of its common stock.

      The notes are subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future senior indebtedness, as defined in the indenture. The holders of the notes may require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of the notes, subject to specified exceptions, upon the occurrence of a change in control. The Company may pay the repurchase price in cash, shares of its common stock, shares of the surviving corporation or a combination thereof. The Company may not redeem the notes prior to the maturity date.

5. RESTRUCTURING AND FACILITY EXIT COSTS

      In December 2000, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a restructuring program aimed at streamlining the Company’s underlying cost structure to better position the Company for growth and improved operating results. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004, the Company

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ASK JEEVES, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited) (Continued)
 
5. RESTRUCTURING AND FACILITY EXIT COSTS (Continued)

reported no additional restructuring charges. The following table sets forth the restructuring activity during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively (in thousands).

                                   
Accrued Accrued
Restructuring Restructuring
Costs, Restructuring Costs,
Beginning of Period Charges Cash Paid End of Period




Three months ended September 30, 2004
                               
Facility exit costs
  $ 792     $     $ (188 )   $ 604  
     
     
     
     
 
 
Total
  $ 792     $     $ (188 )   $ 604  
     
     
     
     
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2004
                               
Facility exit costs
  $ 1,167     $     $ (563 )   $ 604  
     
     
     
     
 
 
Total
  $ 1,167     $     $ (563 )   $ 604  
     
     
     
     
 
Three months ended September 30, 2003
                               
Facility exit costs
  $ 1,508     $     $ (153 )   $ 1,355  
     
     
     
     
 
 
Total
  $ 1,508     $     $ (153 )   $ 1,355  
     
     
     
     
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2003
                               
Facility exit costs
  $ 1,883     $     $ (528 )   $ 1,355  
Severance and professional fees
    9               (9 )      
     
     
     
     
 
 
Total
  $ 1,892     $     $ (537 )   $ 1,355  
     
     
     
     
 

6. LINE OF CREDIT

      The Company has a revolving line of credit with a bank in the amount of $15.0 million. The line of credit expires on July 1, 2005. Borrowings under the line of credit bear fixed rate interest from the date of borrowing at LIBOR plus 0.4%. All borrowings and letters of credit under the credit facility are collateralized by an equal amount of the Company’s marketable securities. Borrowings under the line are subject to various covenants. As of September 30, 2004, no borrowings were outstanding under the line of credit. Standby letters of credit of approximately $61,000 which are being maintained as security for performance under various obligations, were issued and outstanding under the credit facility.

      Further, our wholly-owned subsidiary, ISH, has additional standby letters of credit totaling $580,000, which are being maintained as security for a capital lease and office space, respectively.

7. BUSINESS SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

      The Company offers advanced Internet search technology to the public through advertiser-supported sites on the World Wide Web. The Company provides its search technologies and services internationally, both directly and through its joint venture. Attribution of revenues by geographic region is based on the country in

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ASK JEEVES, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited) (Continued)
 
7. BUSINESS SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION (Continued)

which the customer is domiciled. Geographic information on revenues from continuing operations is as follows (in thousands):

                                   
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended


September 30, September 30, September 30, September 30,
2004 2003 2004 2003




North America
  $ 61,916     $ 16,643     $ 134,236     $ 49,353  
Europe
    13,261       9,402       38,248       22,711  
Asia
    477       1,131       2,740       3,394  
     
     
     
     
 
 
Total
  $ 75,654     $ 27,176     $ 175,224     $ 75,458  
     
     
     
     
 

8. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

      The components of comprehensive income are as follows (in thousands):

                                     
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended


September 30, September 30, September 30, September 30,
2004 2003 2004 2003




Net income
  $ 10,722     $ 6,321     $ 35,662     $ 18,411  
Other comprehensive income:
                               
 
Change in unrealized gain on investments
    40       142       (207 )     120  
 
Foreign currency translation adjustment
    16       273       281       902  
     
     
     
     
 
   
Comprehensive income
  $ 10,778     $ 6,736     $ 35,736     $ 19,433  
     
     
     
     
 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

      The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and the related notes contained elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. All statements in the following discussion that are not reports of historical information or descriptions of current accounting policy are forward-looking statements. Please consider our forward-looking statements in light of the risks referred to in this report’s introductory cautionary note.

BUSINESS OVERVIEW

      We provide computer users with information search and retrieval services, free of charge, across a diverse portfolio of branded Web sites and desktop applications. We generate revenue primarily by displaying advertisements on our Web sites and by selling ads for display on third-party sites in the AJinteractive advertising network. Our branded Web sites include seven sites dedicated to search and three broader-purpose, content-rich Web sites (known generally as portals). We seek to attract Web traffic to our branded sites by creating distinctive online experiences that users will find intuitive and satisfying. On our Ask Jeeves brand sites (Ask.com in the U.S.; Ask.co.uk in the U.K. and Ask.jp, our Ask Jeeves Japan joint venture) users submit search queries and our proprietary algorithmic search engine, Teoma, delivers a results list of Web pages likely to contain relevant and authoritative answers. Our Smart Search function improves the online experience by delivering the information the user is seeking right on the results page, in response to popular query topics. Our advertising products include keyword-targeted ads, which are popular among advertisers because they appear on search results pages in response to related words in the user’s query. Our proprietary technologies include Teoma, natural language processing software, portal technology and ad-serving processes.

      Our main goal is to increase our Web traffic by attracting more users to our sites and portals and getting them to use our search services more frequently. We are pursuing this goal using a multi-brand strategy and by making our search services accessible in several different ways.

      We have corporate headquarters in Emeryville, California, with offices in several cities throughout the United States, as well as in London, England and Dublin, Ireland. Our Ask Jeeves Japan joint venture has headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.

Recent Events

      Notable events since the filing of our last quarterly report include the following:

  •  Launch of MyJeeves Personal Search — On September 21, 2004, we launched a feature called MyJeeves, which allows users to collect, organize, search and share their own “personal Web.” Users collect pages by clicking a button located next to each search result. Once results are saved, MyJeeves enables users to organize them into folders, print them, share them via email, and add notes to them. The resulting set of Web pages is searchable within MyJeeves (separately from our overall Web index), allowing each user to create his or her own personal Web index. A user’s notes about a page become searchable metadata for that page, improving the relevance of MyJeeves search results, which can be especially important as an individual’s volume of saved information grows. Registration, while not required for use of MyJeeves, provides additional advantages. Registered users can access MyJeeves from any Internet-enabled computer and receive additional storage for their personal Web documents. These users also benefit from increased privacy via password protection. In addition, MyJeeves automatically saves each search query registered users execute (an option that can be toggled on or off). Registration requires only a password and an active email address. MyJeeves is a free service that is integrated into the Ask.com search experience. In connection with the launch of MyJeeves, we redesigned our illustrated butler character.
 
  •  New and Improved Local Search Results — During the third quarter we launched several local search features on Ask.com. Through an arrangement with Citysearch, we now offer searchable access to Citysearch’s local business data. Through an arrangement with Telcontar, we now present maps and

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  links to driving directions on our results pages (in response to appropriate queries) and we have integrated map and driving links with the Citysearch content. And through an arrangement with Topix.net, we now offer local news search in the News channel of Ask.com. These new product features complement our other existing local search features such as Weather, People Search, Movies, Local Time and more.
 
  •  Launch of Teoma 3.0 Search Algorithm — During the third quarter we introduced a major upgrade to our proprietary Teoma search technology, improving the freshness of our search results, expanding the scope of our Web index and supporting Asian-language expansion opportunities. In terms of freshness, Teoma 3.0 supports daily crawls of popular, news and other frequently-updated sites, improving our ability to return recent news and information to our users. It also features a redesigned architecture that we expect will facilitate freshness enhancements in the months ahead. In terms of scope, the Teoma index has now surpassed 2 billion English-only Web documents, and is expected to exceed 2.5 billion by year’s end (in each case measured after the removal of index spam, duplicates and pornographic results). Finally, Teoma 3.0 supports double-byte Asian languages, enabling the recent beta launch of Ask Jeeves Japan’s search site.
 
  •  Launch of Ask Jeeves Japan’s Search Site — On August 24, 2004, we announced the launch of a beta version of Ask.jp, a new Japanese-language Web search site. The site was developed by Ask Jeeves Japan Co., Ltd, which is a joint venture between Ask Jeeves, Inc. and Japan-based Transcosmos Inc. The site’s design is based on Ask.com and utilizes Teoma search technology, creating the first non-English based Teoma index and joining Yahoo! and Google as the only providers of Japanese-language algorithmic Web search. The Japanese-only index currently contains over 150 million Web pages. New pages, features and improvements will be regularly added leading up to the site’s fully-functional launch, scheduled for the first quarter of 2005.
 
  •  AJinteractive — Late in the third quarter, we formally combined the ad sales forces of Ask Jeeves, The Excite Network and MaxOnline into a single advertising division we call AJinteractive. This division sells ads on all of our Web sites, as well as across the third-party sites in the MaxOnline network.

Search

      We offer several different branded search alternatives. We believe that different people prefer to search for information in different ways. By offering a variety of search alternatives, we hope to deliver a search experience to each computer user that he or she will find intuitive and satisfying. In this way, we seek to attract and retain users.

      Most of our search alternatives deliver a results Web page that includes advertiser-sponsored links. These textual advertising links, which we call paid listings, appear on the results page in response to keywords in the user’s query. Advertisers select the keywords that will produce their paid listings. Some of our paid listings are sold to advertisers by our direct sales force while others are supplied to us by our paid listing providers, primarily Google, Inc. Some of our results pages also display keyword-targeted graphic ads, which we call Branded Response. Keyword-targeted ads, such as paid listings and Branded Response, enable advertisers to deliver their message at the moment when viewers are most likely to be interested — when they are actively searching for information related to the advertiser’s product or service. Unlike traditional Web advertisements, which can be intrusive and annoying, keyword ads are often useful to the user, and thus can be more effective for advertisers. We identify keyword-targeted ads as “sponsored” content on our results page and display them separately from the algorithmic search results.

      The search alternatives we offer include search sites and search toolbars, among other methods of accessing our search services.

  •  Search Sites. Our “Ask Jeeves” brand search sites — Ask.com in the U.S., Ask.co.uk in the U.K. and Ask.jp in Japan — utilize our proprietary algorithmic search technology, Teoma, to generate the results list. Teoma’s approach to ranking search results is different from that of other search engines. In the

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  Teoma results list, a site is ranked based on whether other sites linking to it are themselves respected within the pertinent subject-matter community on the Web. For example, Teoma would rank a baseball site based on how many links it receives from other Web sites specifically geared toward baseball aficionados, placing less emphasis on links from general sports or portal sites. Our natural language processing technology enables Teoma to accept and process queries written in natural language, as well as keyword searches. Many of our Teoma results links are presented with a small “binoculars” logo. Using this tool, users can view a pop-up preview of the underlying site to judge its usefulness, without ever leaving our results page. In addition to the Teoma results, Ask.com and Ask.co.uk also display Smart Search results in response to many popular query topics. Our Smart Search function delivers the information the user is seeking right on the results page. For example, if a user enters “Italian restaurants in Brooklyn, NY,” our Smart Search function will display names, addresses and telephone numbers of local Brooklyn Italian restaurants, together with links to a street map showing each restaurant’s location. We believe these direct answers help people find information faster and thereby improve their search experience. Smart Search content is currently available for local business listings and reviews, stock quotes, famous people, pictures, movies, weather, maps and driving directions, white pages listings, ZIP codes, local times, flight delays, snow conditions at ski resorts, definitions, wedding registries, and more. We also offer “Smart Product Search,” which enables users to easily compare product prices across multiple Web merchants. We generally license our Smart Search and Smart Product Search content from third parties. Ask.jp is operated by a joint venture between Ask Jeeves and Transcosmos Inc. Our other branded search sites include Teoma.com, AJKids.com, MySearch.com and MyWebSearch.com. In addition, our search revenue includes revenue arising from search results page advertising on our portals iWon.com and MyWay.com (which encompasses all of MyWay’s revenues because MyWay does not accept other forms of advertising).
 
  •  Search Toolbars. We offer several branded search toolbars, which users can download and install in their Web browsers. These toolbars enable users to run a search using our services from anywhere on the Web without first clicking over to one of our Web sites. Several of our toolbars offer additional benefits such as pop-up blocking and quick access to personalized portal content. Branded toolbars are available from most of our branded sites (other than AJKids.com). Our most popular search toolbars are MySearch and MyWebSearch. These toolbars (like MySearch.com and MyWebSearch.com) allow users to run their search using one of several popular search algorithms — currently Ask Jeeves (Teoma), Google or Yahoo! — or using Looksmart’s Web directory. In each case, we control the results page and, thus, even if a competitor’s technology is selected to provide the algorithmic Web results, we generate revenue from the paid listings and other advertising displays on the results page. Users can download these toolbars for free from our Web sites. In addition, we have distribution arrangements in place with third-party application providers, such as Weatherbug, to bundle our search toolbars with their downloadable applications. In those cases, we and our distribution partners typically share the revenues generated by the bundled toolbar. We also distribute our toolbars as part of our Fun Web Products downloadable application, discussed below.
 
  •  Other Methods of Accessing our Search Services. We enter into agreements with third-party Web site publishers allowing them to add one of our search boxes to their Web sites. When a search is entered into one of those boxes, we control the results page that is displayed, complete with algorithmic results and keyword-targeted ads. We share the resulting ad revenues with the third-party site (as well as with the paid listing provider).

      We display a variety of advertisements on our search results pages. In addition to displaying ads that are sold by our direct sales force, we also display paid listings that are sold by third-parties and supplied to us under contract. Google Inc. is our primary third-party paid listing supplier. Google enters into contracts with hundreds of thousands of advertisers, who bid to have their paid listings appear on search results pages in response to designated keywords. We display paid listings from Google on almost all of the results pages we control and we syndicate them to some of the third-party sites in our syndication network (discussed below). Paid listings are clearly labeled as “sponsored” content on our results pages and are displayed separately from the algorithmic Web results. (On all “Ask Jeeves” brand results pages, the algorithmic Web results are

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generated by our Teoma search engine, not by Google.) Paid listings are priced on a cost per click (or CPC) basis, which means that advertisers are charged only if they get results, that is, only if their paid listing attracts a user’s click. Google shares a portion of its paid listing fees with us. Our right to payment from Google is not contingent upon Google’s ability to collect the fee from its advertisers and we recognize paid listing revenue from Google as soon as we deliver the user’s click. We recognize the paid listing fee as revenue, net of amounts retained by Google. In cases where the user’s click is generated by a third-party site to which we syndicated the paid listing, we continue to recognize our entire receivable from Google as revenue and record our revenue-sharing payment to the third-party site as a Web-traffic acquisition cost (within cost of revenues). Our paid listing supply agreements with Google are scheduled to expire on December 31, 2007, unless renewed by mutual agreement.

Desktop Applications

      We promote our MyWebSearch toolbar by distributing it as part of a free downloadable application that adds several features — our Fun Web Products — to users’ computers. These features are designed to make online activities more personal, interesting and fun for users. We make this application available free of charge from several sites (including FunWebProducts.com) and benefit from users’ subsequent use of the search toolbar. Our Fun Web Products include Smiley Central (www.smileycentral.com), Cursor Mania (www.cursormania.com), Popular Screensavers (www.popularscreensavers.com), Pop Swatter (www.popswatter.com), History Swatter (www.historyswatter.com) and three email personalization applications (www.mymailstationery.com, www.mymailsignature.com and www.mymailstamp.com).

Media and Syndication

      Our media and syndication revenues arise primarily from our portals and our sales of online advertising services through AJinteractive.

Portals

      We operate several branded portal Web sites with search functionality. We generate revenue by displaying Web advertising on these sites. Our portals attract users by offering a mix of information and entertainment together with internet services such as email, portfolio tracking, games, message boards and chat. Our portal content includes news, weather, shopping comparisons, horoscopes and more. We generally license these content feeds from third-party providers. Users of each portal can register to receive personalized features, which tend to increase user satisfaction and thereby increase usage of the sites. Our portals and media properties include:

  •  iWon.com. iWon is a content-rich portal with a user loyalty program built around cash sweepstakes prizes. The more times that registered users search through the iWon search box (or utilize other features of the site) the more chances they have to win the daily $10,000 prize and less frequent larger prizes.
 
  •  Excite.com. Excite is a content-rich portal that seeks to attract users by aggregating news, sports, weather and entertainment content and providing e-mail, stock portfolio tracking, search, games, shopping and other services. We own the U.S. rights to The Excite Network’s portal assets; however, we do not own the international rights and we do not control the Excite search results page.
 
  •  MyWay.com. The MyWay portal appeals to users wanting fast and clean content delivery. It offers users a mix of content modules and free email accounts, all built around a prominent search box. MyWay is free from banner ads, pop-up ads, and rich-media ads (which are generally disliked by dial-up users because they load slowly). As a result, MyWay revenues arise from search results page advertising and are classified as search revenue. This site has been well received by users due its clean design and its personalization feature called My Page.
 
  •  Co-Branded Portal. We built and operate a customized portal for Dell, Inc. at Dell.MyWay.com using the content modules and technology we developed for our own sites. We share the ad revenues

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  generated by the portal with Dell, including results page ad revenues generated by searches originating from the co-branded portal.
 
  •  Syndication Network. We also enter into agreements with third-party portal (and other Web site) publishers to deliver, or “syndicate,” Teoma’s algorithmic search results and keyword-targeted paid listings to results pages they control. We share the resulting ad revenues with the third-party site (as well as with the paid listing provider). Depending upon the terms of the arrangement, we may also charge the publisher a fee for the algorithmic results.

      We display both content-targeted and non-targeted ads, such as banners, towers and pop-ups, on our portals. Content-targeted ads are similar to paid listings in that they appear in response to the user’s current interests. However, unlike paid listings, which are produced by keywords in the user’s search query, content-targeted ads appear on a Web page in response to the page’s other content. For example, next to a news story about the U.S. Open, we might display an ad for golf clubs. With this type of ad product, advertisers bid on topics, rather than keywords. We generally obtain content-targeted ads from a third-party provider, namely Google. Our content-targeted ad supply agreement with Google is scheduled to terminate on August 31, 2007, unless renewed by mutual agreement. As with paid listings, we recognize revenue from these content-targeted ads on a cost per click (CPC) revenue-sharing basis, net of amounts retained by the third-party ad provider.

Online Advertising Services — AJinteractive

      Our Internet advertising division, AJinteractive, offers a mix of online advertising products and related services, directly to advertisers.

      AJinteractive offers advertisers the ability to run ads on our portals (and other Web properties) and also to syndicate ads across the third-party Web sites in our MaxOnline network. This advertising inventory is primarily graphical, including banners, towers, rich media, pop-ups, pop-unders and other formats. The sites in MaxOnline’s network are classified into 10 subject-groupings, called “channels” — such as automotive, business and lifestyle — and advertisers select one or more channels on which to run their ads (or they may designate specific networked sites on which their ads will appear). Advertisers can further target their ads based on a range of criteria, including page content and user behavior. AJinteractive also offers lead generation services, sweepstakes and other specialized promotions and email list services.

      We created AJinteractive in the third quarter of 2004 by combining the sales forces and ad products of Ask Jeeves, The Excite Network and MaxOnline.

Licensing

      We license our search technology to our Japanese joint venture (in which we hold a minority interest) for non-recurring license payments received in the third quarter of 2000. We initially recorded these payments as deferred revenue and we recognized them as revenue on a straight-line basis over a four-year period. This license revenue reached the end of its amortization period during the third quarter of 2004 and recognition of the revenue ended.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

      Our condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, which are known as GAAP. These accounting principles require us to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions. We believe that the estimates, judgments and assumptions upon which we rely are reasonable based upon information available to us at the time that these estimates, judgments and assumptions were made. These estimates, judgments and assumptions can affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods presented. To the extent there are material differences between these estimates, judgments or assumptions and actual results, our financial statements will be affected. Our

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accounting policies and estimates that we believe are the most critical to a full understanding and evaluation of our reported financial results include those relating to:

  •  revenue recognition;
 
  •  allowances for doubtful accounts;
 
  •  legal contingencies;
 
  •  accounting for income taxes; and
 
  •  impairment of long-lived assets.

      Each of these critical accounting policies is described in more detail below. Our management has reviewed these critical accounting policies and related disclosures with our Audit Committee. See the Notes to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, which contain additional information regarding our accounting policies and other disclosures required by GAAP.

Revenue Recognition

      We generate revenue from the following main sources:

  •  sales, syndication and display of paid listings, branded advertising and other syndicated services;
 
  •  sales of paid inclusion products;
 
  •  licensing of our search technologies; and
 
  •  AJinteractive advertising sales and services.

      In each case, we recognize revenue in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletin, or SAB, No. 104, Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements and Emerging Issues Task Force Issue 00-21, Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables. In all cases, revenue is recognized only when all of the following criteria are satisfied:

  •  persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists;
 
  •  the service has been performed or delivered, or over the period in which the service is delivered;
 
  •  the price is fixed or determinable; and
 
  •  collectibility of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured. If we doubt the collectibility of revenue at the time it is earned, we defer recognizing the revenue until it is received in cash.

Paid Listings, Branded Advertising and other Syndicated Services

      There are several pricing plans for Internet advertisements, and the way in which we earn ad revenue varies among them. Depending upon the pricing terms, we might earn revenue every time a graphic ad is displayed (referred to as cost per thousand impressions, or CPM, pricing), every time a user clicks on an ad (referred to as cost per click, or CPC, pricing), every time a user indicates interest in the advertised topic (referred to as cost per lead, or CPL, pricing) or every time a user clicks-through on the ad and takes a specified action on the destination site (referred to as cost per action, or CPA, pricing).

      Our paid listing products are textual links that appear on search results pages in response to keywords in the user’s query. They are designed to connect users interested in a particular product or service with an advertiser offering that product or service at the exact moment users need the information, much like a Yellow Pages listing. With these products, advertisers pay only for performance, so paid listings are sold on a cost per click, or “CPC” basis. We recognize revenue from CPC arrangements when a user clicks on the paid listing, provided that collection of the resulting receivable is probable.

      Our branded advertising ranges from keyword-targeted graphic units, which we offer as our Branded Response product, to content-targeted and non-targeted advertising units such as banners, towers, buttons and

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pop-ups, which appear primarily on our portals and syndicated sites. With these products, advertisers generally pay to have their ads displayed over a designated period of time, so branded advertising is generally sold on a cost per thousand impressions, or “CPM,” basis. We recognize revenue derived from CPM arrangements during the period in which the advertising impressions are delivered, provided that no significant obligations remain and collection of the resulting receivable is probable. Our obligations typically include a guaranteed minimum number of “impressions” or times that an advertisement appears. To the extent the minimum guaranteed impressions are not delivered, we continue to run the ad and defer recognition of the corresponding revenue until the remaining guaranteed impression level is achieved.

      We sell some branded advertising for which the advertiser pays only if the user clicks on the ad and goes on to take another action on the destination Web site. This arrangement is known as cost per action, or “CPA,” pricing. We recognize revenue from CPA arrangements when a user takes an action on the destination Web site, provided that collection of the resulting receivable is probable.

      We obtain some of our paid listing and branded advertising inventory directly, when ads are sold to advertisers by our direct sales force, while others are obtained from our third-party providers, primarily Google. We display ads from both sources on our sites and syndicate ads from both sources to third-party sites, in which case we share our ad revenues with the third party. If our direct sales force sells the ad and we syndicate it for display on a third-party site, we recognize the ad revenue on a gross basis in accordance with the criteria set forth in Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 99-19. Such criteria include factors such as whether we act as the primary obligor in the arrangement, perform a significant portion of the service, set the pricing, and retain the credit risk. If we instead procure the paid listing from a third-party provider such as Google and display it on one of our sites or for users of one of our toolbars, we receive revenue-sharing fees from the provider and recognize that revenue net of any amounts retained by the provider. Whether we acquired the advertisement from a paid listings provider or originated the ad sale using our own sales force, if we go on to syndicate the ad to a third-party site we record the revenue-sharing fees we pay to the third party site as Web-traffic acquisition cost (within cost of revenues).

Paid Inclusion

      Until the second quarter of 2004, we offered paid inclusion products, which provided an opportunity for Web sites to ensure that they were included in our search index. We recognize paid inclusion revenue using either of two methods. First, for paid inclusion products that were priced on a “per URL” basis, we collected the revenues in advance and recognized it over the appropriate service period, which was typically one year. Second, for paid inclusion products that were priced on a CPC basis, we recognized the revenue when the click was delivered. Although we have ceased offering either type of paid inclusion product, we will continue to recognize paid inclusion revenue until the termination of all existing paid inclusion service periods.

Licensing

      We license our search technology to our Japanese joint venture (in which we hold a minority interest) for non-recurring license payments received in the third quarter of 2000. We initially recorded these payments as deferred revenue and we are recognizing them as revenue on a straight-line basis over a four-year period. This license revenue reached the end of its amortization period during the third quarter of 2004 and recognition of the revenue ended.

AJinteractive

      Our AJinteractive division generates revenue from ad sales and under commission-based and service fee-based contracts. We recognize these revenues in the period the advertising is delivered, provided collection of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured. For commission-based contracts, we invoice the full amount of revenue due to Web publishers for the sale of their ad inventory and we are entitled to receive a commission.

      We record revenue earned from commission-based contracts on a net basis, which reflects the amount of commissions earned by our company. For service fee-based contracts, we are obligated to pay a fee to the Web publishers for ads placed on their Web sites. We include those fees in cost of revenue. Additionally,

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under service fee-based contracts, we collect payment, and bear the risk of loss, for ads sold. Consequently, we record revenue earned from service fee-based contracts on a gross basis, net of an allowance for advertiser credits, which are estimated and established in the period in which services are provided.

Allowances for Doubtful Accounts

      We make judgments as to our ability to collect outstanding receivables and provide allowances for the portion of receivables when collection becomes doubtful. Provisions are made based upon a specific review of all significant outstanding invoices. For those invoices not specifically reviewed, provisions are provided at differing rates, based upon the age of the receivable. In determining these percentages, we analyze our historical collection experience and current economic trends. If the historical data we use to calculate the allowance provided for doubtful accounts does not reflect the future ability to collect outstanding receivables, additional provisions for doubtful accounts may be needed and our future results of operations could be adversely impacted.

      We also record a provision for estimated revenue adjustments in the same period as the related revenues are recorded. These estimates are based on historical analysis of credit memo data and other factors. If the historical data we use to calculate these estimates does not properly reflect future uncollectible revenue, then a change in the allowances would be made in the period in which such a determination is made and revenues in that period could be impacted.

Legal Contingencies

      We are currently involved in various claims and legal proceedings. Periodically, we review the status of each significant matter and assess our potential financial exposure. If the potential loss from any claim or legal proceeding is considered probable and the amount can be estimated, we accrue a liability for the estimated loss. Because of uncertainties related to these matters, accruals are based only on the best information available at the time. As additional information becomes available, we reassess the potential liability related to our pending claims and litigation and may revise our estimates. Such revisions in the estimates of the potential liabilities could have a material impact on our future results of operations and financial position. See Note 2 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of our material legal proceedings.

Income Taxes

      We use significant judgment in determining our consolidated income tax provision. Uncertainties may arise with respect to the tax treatment of certain transactions, transfer pricing arrangements among related entities, and segregation of foreign and domestic income and expense. Although we believe our estimates are reasonable, we cannot be certain that the final tax outcome of these matters will not be different than that which is reflected in our historical income tax provisions and accruals. Such differences could have a material effect on our income tax provision in the period in which such determination is made.

      Due to uncertainty surrounding when or if we will realize the benefits of our deferred tax assets (primarily from our net operating loss carryforwards), we have recorded a 100% valuation allowance on our net deferred tax assets. Any decrease in the valuation allowance could materially reduce our income tax provision in the period in which such determination is made.

      We provide for United States income taxes on the earnings of our foreign subsidiaries unless they are considered indefinitely invested outside the United States. At September 30, 2004, the cumulative earnings upon which United States income taxes have not been provided are approximately $26.8 million. The income tax that would arise if these items were repatriated is approximately $4.2 million, some or all of which may be reduced by NOL’s or foreign tax credits.

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Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Goodwill

      Our long-lived assets include goodwill and other intangible assets. Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, requires that goodwill be tested for impairment at the reporting unit level (operating segment or one level below an operating segment) on an annual basis and between annual tests in certain circumstances. Application of the goodwill impairment test requires judgment, including the identification of reporting units, assigning assets and liabilities to reporting units, assigning goodwill to reporting units, and determining the fair value of each reporting unit. Significant judgments required to estimate the fair value of reporting units include estimating future cash flows, determining appropriate discount rates and other assumptions. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could materially affect the determination of fair value for each reporting unit. Any impairment losses recorded in the future could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

Intangible Assets

      Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, requires that we record an impairment charge on finite-lived intangibles or long-lived assets to be held and used when we determine that the carrying value of intangible assets and long-lived assets may not be recoverable. Based on the existence of one or more indicators of impairment, we measure any impairment of intangibles or long-lived assets based on a projected discounted cash flow method using a discount rate determined by our management to be commensurate with the risk inherent in our business model. Our estimates of cash flows require significant judgment based on our historical results and anticipated results and are subject to many factors. Any impairment losses recorded in the future could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

      On May 28, 2003, we entered into an agreement to sell certain assets used in our Jeeves Solutions division to Kanisa Inc. (“Kanisa”). The sale of these assets closed on July 1, 2003, at which time we ceased offering Jeeves Solutions products and services. Accordingly, our results of operations are presented below on a continuing operations basis, and the results of the Jeeves solutions division are discussed in the section titled “Loss from Discontinued Operations.”

Revenues

Total Revenue

      The table below presents our total revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 compared to the corresponding periods of the prior year.

                                                 
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,


(dollars in thousands) 2004 2003 Change 2004 2003 Change







Revenue
  $ 75,654     $ 27,176       178.4 %   $ 175,224     $ 75,458       132.2 %

      Total revenues for the third quarter of 2004 grew 178.4% as compared with the third quarter of 2003. Revenues in the third quarter of 2004 included the operations of Interactive Search Holdings, Inc., or ISH, which we acquired May 6, 2004. Additionally, revenues were favorably affected by usage of our Web sites, which we refer to as our Web traffic. Traffic to our non-ISH proprietary sites continued its growth with queries increasing as compared with the third quarter of 2003.

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Revenues by Category and Geographic Region

      We classify our revenues into the following three categories:

  •  Search. Within Search we include revenue arising from advertising on search results pages that we control, regardless of whether the query was received from one of our dedicated search sites, one of our portals or one of our toolbars. We “control” a results page if we have arranged for its various elements to appear together, regardless of whether the Web results list was generated by our Teoma technology or obtained from another provider and regardless of whether the ads were sold by our direct sales force or obtained from a third-party provider.
 
  •  Media and Syndication. Within Media and Syndication we include other revenue arising from our portals (including content-targeted and non-targeted ad revenue, registration fees and merchandise sales) as well as all advertising revenue generated from AJinteractive (including revenue we earn by syndicating ads and Teoma search results for display on results pages and other sites controlled by third-parties).
 
  •  Licensing. Within Licensing we include revenue arising from our search technology license with our Japanese joint venture.

      We also classify our revenues as arising from North America, Europe or Asia.

      The table below presents our revenues for each category and our total revenue, split between North America, Europe and Asia.

                                                   
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,


(dollars in thousands) 2004 2003 Change 2004 2003 Change







Search Revenue:
                                               
 
North America
  $ 42,803     $ 13,845       209.2 %   $ 97,482     $ 40,319       141.8 %
 
Europe
    13,251       9,402       40.9 %     38,236       22,711       68.4 %
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total Search Revenues
    56,054       23,247       141.1 %     135,718       63,030       115.3 %
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
Media and Syndication Revenue:
                                               
 
North America
    19,113       2,798       583.1 %     36,754       9,034       306.8 %
 
Europe
    10             NM       12             NM  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total Media and Syndication Revenues
    19,123       2,798       583.5 %     36,766       9,034       307.0 %
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
License Revenue:
                                               
 
Asia
    477       1,131       (57.8 )%     2,740       3,394       (19.3 )%
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total License Revenues
    477       1,131       (57.8 )%     2,740       3,394       (19.3 )%
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total Revenues
  $ 75,654     $ 27,176       178.4 %   $ 175,224     $ 75,458       132.2 %
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total Revenue:
                                               
 
North America
  $ 61,916     $ 16,643       272.0 %   $ 134,236     $ 49,353       172.0 %
 
Europe
    13,261       9,402       41.0 %     38,248       22,711       68.4 %
 
Asia
    477       1,131       (57.8 )%     2,740       3,394       (19.3 )%
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total Revenues
  $ 75,654     $ 27,176       178.4 %   $ 175,224     $ 75,458       132.2 %
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

Search Revenues

      Search revenues for the third quarter of 2004 grew by approximately $32.8 million or 141.1% as compared with the third quarter of 2003. The increase resulted primarily from the addition of the operations of ISH as well as from growth in non-acquisition related revenues, which was caused primarily by increased

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traffic to our non-ISH proprietary sites. Search revenue growth in Europe resulted entirely from non-acquisition related growth.

Media and Syndication Revenues

      Media and syndication revenues increased approximately $16.3 million or 583.5% in the third quarter as compared with the third quarter of 2003. The most significant factor contributing to the growth in media revenues was the addition of the operations of ISH during the second quarter, which has considerable media and syndication operations including MaxOnline (which is now a part of our AJinteractive online marketing services division).

License Revenues

      License revenues relate to a technology license to our Japanese joint venture and are recognized ratably over the estimated service period applicable to this arrangement. We recorded $477,000 related to this license in the third quarter of 2004 as the amortization period of the license came to an end.

Gross Margin

      Gross profit consists of total revenues less cost of revenues. Gross margin means gross profit expressed as a percentage of total revenue. The following table presents our gross profit and gross margin for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 compared to the corresponding periods of the prior year.

                                                 
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,


(dollars in thousands) 2004 2003 Change 2004 2003 Change







Gross Profit
  $ 50,640     $ 21,920       131.0 %   $ 126,064     $ 59,199       113.0 %
Gross Margin
    66.9 %     80.7 %             71.9 %     78.5 %        

      Cost of revenues consists primarily of costs related to traffic acquisition for our sites, the Ask Jeeves Syndication Network and the AJinteractive Advertising Network, and also includes costs related to delivering our search results and content to our portals. Costs to acquire traffic for our sites and networks include revenue-based payments and similar arrangements with third-parties who direct traffic to those sites. Costs related to delivering our search results include depreciation of Web site equipment, hosting and ad server management fees, salaries and related personnel costs, and amortization charges related to technology acquired in some of our business combinations. Costs related to delivering content to our portals include licensing fees for data and information providers.

      Gross margin decreased in the third quarter of 2004 compared to the third quarter of 2003 primarily as a result of ISH’s revenue-share payment obligations. Following the acquisition of ISH, our combined business distributes and syndicates search applications, search technologies and ad products through third parties and third party web sites to a greater extent than we did previously. The revenue-share fees we pay to these third parties are included in cost of revenue and are the primary cause of the decline in gross margin on both a quarter-to-date and year-to-date basis. Also contributing to the decrease are content licensing fees relating to the addition of ISH’s portal business. We expect gross margin in the fourth quarter of 2004 to be comparable to the third quarter.

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Operating Expenses

      Operating expenses consist of product development, sales and marketing, general and administrative and amortization of intangible assets. The following table presents each category of operating expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 compared to the corresponding periods of the prior year.

                                                 
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,


(dollars in thousands) 2004 2003 Change 2004 2003 Change







Product Development
  $ 6,741     $ 4,207       60.2 %   $ 16,723     $ 11,006       51.9 %
Percentage of total revenues
    8.9 %     15.5 %             9.5 %     14.6 %        
Sales and Marketing
  $ 20,265     $ 8,235       146.1 %   $ 46,140     $ 22,263       107.2 %
Percentage of total revenues
    26.8 %     30.3 %             26.3 %     29.5 %        
General and Administrative
  $ 8,300     $ 4,845       71.3 %   $ 19,970     $ 14,036       42.3 %
Percentage of total revenues
    11.0 %     17.8 %             11.4 %     18.6 %        
Amortization of intangible assets
  $ 3,329     $       NM     $ 5,334     $       NM  
Percentage of total revenues
    4.4 %                   3.0 %              
Impairment and write-off of long-lived assets
  $     $ 702       NM     $     $ 702       NM  
Percentage of total revenues
          2.6 %                   0.9 %        

Product Development Expenses

      Product development expenses consist primarily of salaries and related personnel costs, consultant fees and expenses related to the design, development, testing and enhancement of our technology and services. To date, all software development costs have been expensed as incurred.

      Product development expenses increased on a dollar basis but decreased as a percentage of revenue in the third quarter of 2004 as compared with the third quarter of 2003 due to several reasons. Compensation and compensation-related expenses increased as we significantly grew our research and development team in order to expand our Teoma technology and add new features on our Web sites. In the third quarter of 2004, we launched MyJeeves Personal Search, local search and the Teoma 3.0 search algorithm. Further, depreciation expense increased due to the purchase of computer-related assets used to expand our index as well as a nominal increase due to the addition of ISH operations.

      Similarly, for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, product development expenses increased on a dollar basis but decreased as a percentage of revenue compared to the same period in 2003. Higher compensation-related expenses, an increase in incentive compensation due to company performance, as well as ISH-related expenses, drove the overall increase.

      We expect product development expenses to increase on a dollar basis in the fourth quarter of 2004 as we continue to invest in our Teoma technology and new features on our Web sites.

Sales and Marketing Expenses

      Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of advertising, promotional and public relations expenditures, as well as salaries, commissions and related personnel expenses of our sales force.

      For the third quarter of 2004, sales and marketing expenses increased as compared with the corresponding period of the prior year, but decreased as a percentage of revenue. As a result of the acquisition of ISH in 2004, we spent advertising dollars for user acquisitions related to its toolbars. Further, sweepstakes and prizes won by users on iWon.com are included in sales and marketing. Also, compensation increased as we grew our sales force and paid higher levels of compensation due to revenue growth as well as due to the addition of the ISH sales force and marketing activities associated with their operations.

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      Sales and marketing expenses also increased for the first nine months of 2004 compared to the first nine months of 2003, but decreased as a percentage of revenue due to faster revenue growth. The acquisition of ISH was the principal cause of the increase in year-to-date spending compared to the same period in 2003.

      We expect sales and marketing expenses in the fourth quarter of 2004 to increase on a dollar basis relative to the third quarter of 2004 as we plan to continue expanding our advertising campaigns in order to promote our brand and generate traffic.

General and Administrative Expenses

      General and administrative expenses consist of costs for general corporate functions, as well as depreciation and other facilities charges. Also included is the provision for doubtful accounts, various accounting, investor relations and legal costs associated with operating our business, and administrative function salaries.

      We experienced a dollar increase in general and administrative expenses in the third quarter of 2004 and in the first nine months of 2004, compared to the corresponding periods of the prior year, but experienced a decrease in general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue across the same comparison periods. Salaries and related expenses, as well as consultant fees, increased as we hired more employees and consultants to help support the overall growth of the company. Further, legal and insurance fees increased during the quarter, as well as professional service fees related to consultants hired to help us meet regulatory requirements. Finally, we increased our spending on management training programs.

      We expect general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue to decrease slightly in the fourth quarter of 2004.

Amortization of Intangible Assets

      During the second quarter of 2004, we completed the acquisitions of ISH and Tukaroo, which resulted in the creation of amortizable intangible assets, as described in “Acquisitions,” below.

                                                 
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,


(dollars in thousands) 2004 2003 Change 2004 2003 Change







Gains on acquisition and dissolution of joint ventures
  $     $             $     $ 6,356       (100.0 )%
Interest income, net
  $ 193     $ 354       (45.5 )%   $ 851     $ 899       (5.3 )%
Interest expense
  $ (115 )   $       NM     $ (142 )   $ (164 )     (13.4 )%
Other income, net
  $ 45     $ 292       (84.6 )%   $ 262     $ 272       (3.7 )%
Income tax provision
  $ 1,786     $ 738       142.0 %   $ 3,586     $ 1,408       154.7 %
Income from discontinued operations
  $ 380     $ 2,482       (84.7 )%   $ 380     $ 1,264       (69.9 )%

Gains on Acquisition and Dissolution of Joint Ventures

      During the quarter ended September 30, 2003, we recognized a gain of $232,000 relating to the final dissolution of the accounts of AJ en Espanol, following the wind-up of operations. During the quarter ended March 31, 2003, we recognized a gain of $6.1 million representing the fair value of net assets we recorded in excess of the consideration paid upon the acquisition of the remaining outstanding equity interests in our joint venture, Ask Jeeves UK. This amount had been deferred due to a contingent payment obligation in our agreement with our former partners. The gain was recognized as other income when the contingent payment obligation to the former partners expired in March 2003.

Interest Income, Net

      Interest income relates primarily to interest earned on fixed income securities and correlates with the average balance of those investments and prevailing interest rates. Interest income in the third quarter of 2004

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decreased from the third quarter of 2003 due to a decrease in securities held in interest-bearing accounts. We liquidated our marketable securities during the second quarter of 2004 to fund the ISH acquisition. Interest income was relatively flat on a year-to-date basis.

Interest Expense

      Interest expense arises primarily from interest accruing on outstanding borrowings under our line of credit and under our capital leases. During the third quarter of 2003, we paid off our capital lease obligation and thus recorded no interest expense. We acquired new capital leases when we purchased ISH and record interest expense on those leases. Interest expense was relatively flat on a year-to-date basis.

Other Income, Net

      Other income includes gains and losses from foreign currency transactions and the disposal of assets, as well as realized gains and losses from investments. In the third quarter of 2003, we recognized $300,000 in other income relating to professional service fees provided to our joint venture. For the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, other income was relatively flat.

Income Tax Provision

      We recorded an income tax provision in the amount of $1.8 million in the third quarter of 2004, resulting in a year-to-date provision of $3.6 million through September 30, 2004, relating primarily to income from our international operations as well as alternative minimum tax (AMT) in the United States. The provision differs from the amount computed by applying the statutory federal rate principally due to the utilization of federal and state net operating loss carryforwards and foreign income taxed at rates below the federal statutory rate. The tax provision is based upon our estimate of the full year effective rate. The provisions increased from the 2003 periods due to an increase in statutory profits in our international operations, and additional U.S. income subject to AMT.

Income from Discontinued Operations

      On July 1, 2003, we completed the sale of certain assets used in our Jeeves Solutions division to Kanisa, Inc. pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement dated May 28, 2003, by and between us and Kanisa. Accordingly, the results of operations relating to this division are presented in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations as discontinued operations.

      During the second quarter of 2003, we recorded a loss on the discontinued operation, as the Jeeves Solutions division was slowly ramping down in anticipation of the sale in the beginning of the third quarter of 2003. The loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 related to discontinued operations was $1.3 million.

      On July 1, 2004, Kanisa, Inc. paid Ask Jeeves $380,000 in partial satisfaction of the promissory note it delivered to us on July 1, 2003 in connection with Kanisa’s purchase of assets used in the Jeeves Solutions division. The promissory note proceeds received by us on July 1, 2004 have been, and any additional proceeds will be, recorded as additional gain on the Jeeves Solutions transaction on the date of receipt.

Seasonality and Quarterly Fluctuations In Operating Results

      Our operating results may fluctuate significantly in the future as a result of a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control. Factors that may adversely affect our results of operations include:

  •  our ability to attract and retain advertisers and our ability to link our partners to potential customers;
 
  •  the number of queries on our Web sites;
 
  •  our ability to effectively manage our advertising inventory;
 
  •  rate changes for advertising on our Web sites;

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  •  marketing expenses and technology infrastructure costs as well as other costs that we may incur as we expand our operation;
 
  •  seasonal and other fluctuations in demand for our services and for advertising space on our Web sites;
 
  •  our ability to develop and introduce new technology;
 
  •  announcements and new technology introductions by our competitors;
 
  •  our ability to attract and retain key personnel; and
 
  •  costs relating to possible acquisitions and integration of technologies or businesses.

      Because of the foregoing factors, we believe that period-to-period comparisons of our operating results should not be relied upon as an indicator of our future performance.

      As Internet advertising continues the transition from an emerging to a more developed market, seasonal and cyclical patterns may develop in our industry that may also affect our revenues. Similar to traditional media, this may result in our advertising sales being lower during the summer vacation period. Additionally, the seasonality of traffic on our proprietary sites corresponds with overall Internet usage. This may result in lower usage during holidays and the summer vacation period, as fewer people use the Internet. Seasonality in the retail industry and in Internet service usage is likely to cause quarterly fluctuations in our results of operations and could harm our business.

ACQUISITIONS

      On May 6, 2004, we completed the acquisition of all of the outstanding capital stock of Interactive Search Holdings, Inc. (ISH), an online search and media company. The acquisition increased our market share and provided additional channels of distribution for our search services. These factors contributed to a purchase price in excess of the fair value of ISH’s net tangible and intangible assets acquired, and as a result, we have recorded goodwill in connection with this transaction. The results of ISH’s operations have been included in our consolidated financial statements since the date of the acquisition.

      The total purchase cost for ISH of approximately $395.1 million consists of the following (in thousands):

           
Common stock (9,093,590 shares at $25.73 per share)
  $ 233,978  
Stock options (206,238 shares, at fair value)
    4,766  
Cash
    143,984  
Transaction costs
    12,401  
     
 
 
Total purchase cost
  $ 395,129  
     
 

      The value of the common stock issued was determined based on the average market price of our common shares over the period commencing two days before and ending two days after the date on which the terms of the acquisition agreement were publicly announced. The fair value of the stock options was determined as of the same date using the Black-Scholes option valuation model.

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      The total purchase cost of the acquisition of ISH has been allocated to assets and liabilities based on management’s preliminary estimate of their fair value. The excess of the purchase consideration over the fair value of the net assets acquired has been allocated to goodwill. The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed (in thousands):

             
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 28,178  
Other tangible assets
    24,157  
Amortizable intangible assets:
       
 
Developed/core technology
    3,785  
 
User base
    30,608  
 
Advertiser and distribution partner relationships
    61,479  
 
Trade names
    5,105  
Goodwill
    262,249  
     
 
   
Total assets acquired
    415,561  
Liabilities assumed
    (25,146 )
Deferred stock-based compensation (stockholders’ equity)
    4,714  
     
 
   
Total
  $ 395,129  
     
 

      Amortizable intangible assets consist of developed technology, user base, advertiser and distribution partner relationships and trade names, with useful lives not exceeding five years. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired, and is not deductible for income tax purposes. Goodwill will not be amortized for financial reporting purposes and will be tested for impairment, at least annually. The preliminary purchase price allocation for ISH is subject to revision as more detailed analysis is completed and additional information on the fair value of assets and liabilities becomes available. Any change in the fair value of the net assets of ISH will change the amount of the purchase price allocable to goodwill.

      Net deferred tax assets related to the acquisition of Interactive Search Holdings had been fully offset by a valuation allowance and, accordingly, no such amounts are included in the accompanying condensed combined balance sheet.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

      We consider all cash and highly liquid investments with an original maturity of less than three months at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Our primary recurring sources of cash are receipts from revenue and proceeds from the exercise of employee stock options. The primary uses of cash are payroll (salaries, bonuses and benefits), general operating expenses (marketing and facilities) and capital expenditures. The following table presents our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, and related data, at September 30, 2004 compared to December 31, 2003 (dollars in thousands).

                 
September 30, December 31,
2004 2003


Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
  $ 89,514     $ 180,648  
Current ratio*
    2.9       10.7  
Days sales outstanding
    46       41  


Calculated excluding deferred revenue

      During the nine months ended September 30, 2004, cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities declined by $91.1 million from $180.7 million at December 31, 2003 to $89.5 million at September 30, 2004 (of which cash and cash equivalents comprised $64.8 million). The decline was caused primarily by our acquisition of ISH on May 6, 2004, for which we paid $144.0 million in cash, issued approximately

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9.1 million shares of common stock and assumed options to purchase approximately 200,000 shares of common stock.

      Net cash provided by operating activities of $49.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 resulted primarily from income from continuing operations of $35.3 million adjusted for non-cash items, including depreciation and amortization of $6.7 million, amortization of intangible assets of $11.7 million and changes in working capital.

      Net cash used in investing activities of $29.5 million resulted primarily from business acquisitions, net of cash acquired of $131.6 million and purchases of property and equipment of $17.4 million. Partially offsetting these expenditures was the proceeds from the redemption of marketable securities of $129.0 million.

      Net cash provided by financing activities of $7.6 million resulted primarily from our issuance of common stock, mainly from the exercise of stock options. During the third quarter, we paid down a note payable of $2.1 million.

      We have a revolving line of credit with a bank in the amount of $15.0 million. The line of credit expires on July 1, 2005. Borrowings under the line of credit bear interest at LIBOR plus 0.4%. All borrowings and letters of credit are collateralized by an equal amount of our marketable securities. The line of credit agreement contains various covenants. As of September 30, 2004, no borrowings were outstanding. Standby letters of credit of approximately $61,000 were issued and outstanding under the line of credit, which are being maintained as security for performance under lease obligations. Should we choose not to renew the line of credit, we do not believe our business would be harmed. Our wholly-owned subsidiary, ISH, has additional standby letters of credit totaling $580,000, which are being maintained as security for a capital lease and office space.

      On June 8, 2004, we filed a universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. The registration statement was declared effective by the SEC on July 26, 2004 and will permit (but not require) us to offer and sell up to $400.0 million of common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, debt securities or warrants from time to time in one or more public offerings. The terms of any such future offerings will be established at the time of each offering.

      In June 2003, we issued $115.0 million aggregate principal amount of zero coupon convertible subordinated notes, due June 1, 2008. The notes were sold at face value and our net proceeds were $111.5 million, net of costs of issuance of $3.5 million. We issued the notes for general corporate purposes, including potential future acquisitions. The notes are convertible by the holders into shares of our common stock at any time at a conversion price of $16.90 per share subject to certain adjustments. This is equivalent to a conversion rate of approximately 59.1716 shares per $1,000 principal amount of notes. Upon conversion, we have the right, subject to certain conditions, to deliver cash (or a combination of cash and shares) in lieu of shares of our common stock. The notes are subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future senior indebtedness, as defined in the indenture. The holders of the notes may require us to repurchase all or a portion of the notes, subject to specified exceptions, upon the occurrence of a change in control. We may choose to pay the repurchase price in cash, shares of our common stock, shares of the surviving corporation or a combination thereof. We may not redeem the notes prior to the maturity date.

      Our existing cash and marketable securities balances may decline during 2004 or 2005 in the event of a weakening in our business, or changes in our planned cash outlays. However, based upon our current business plan and revenue prospects, we anticipate that our existing cash and marketable securities will be sufficient to fund our anticipated needs for working capital and capital expenditures for at least the next twelve months. Cash from operations could be affected by various risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to the risks detailed in the section “Risk Factors.” Additionally, cash and marketable securities balances may be used to fund strategic acquisitions of other companies, international expansion or products and technologies that are complementary to our business.

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      On an ongoing basis, we will need to generate sufficient cash flow from operations to meet our anticipated needs for working capital and capital expenditures, and repayment of our convertible notes if not converted into stock, or we will need to raise additional capital. However, if we are not successful in generating sufficient cash flow from operations or in raising additional capital when required in sufficient amounts and on terms acceptable to us, these failures could seriously harm our business. If we raise additional funds through the issuance of equity or convertible debt securities, the percentage ownership of our existing stockholders will be reduced.

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

      As of September 30, 2004, our only unconsolidated subsidiary is Ask Jeeves Japan, which generally provides Ask Jeeves’ services within a defined geographic region. We do not have majority voting rights or majority residual interests in the assets or income of any off balance sheet entities, including Ask Jeeves Japan. Further, we have not guaranteed any obligations of unconsolidated entities nor do we have any commitment or intent to provide additional funding to any such entities. Accordingly, we are not materially exposed to any market, credit, liquidity or financing risk that could arise from engaging in such relationships.

      We do not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes.

Contractual Obligations

      The following table summarizes our contractual obligations in specified categories at September 30, 2004, and the effect such obligations are expected to have on our liquidity and cash flows in future periods (in thousands):

                                           
Less than
Total 1 Year 1-3 Years 4-5 Years Thereafter





Convertible subordinated notes due June 1, 2008*
  $ 115,000     $     $ 115,000     $     $  
Capital leases
    1,343       751       592              
Non-cancelable operating leases
    21,900       4,185       6,016       5,355       6,344  
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
Total
  $ 138,243     $ 4,936     $ 121,608     $ 5,355     $ 6,344  
     
     
     
     
     
 


The notes are convertible at any time prior to maturity into shares of our common stock at a conversion price of $16.90 per share, subject to certain adjustments. In the event of such conversion, we will have the right to deliver cash (or a combination of cash and shares of common stock) in lieu of shares of our common stock.

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RISK FACTORS

      Included below are other risk factors that may affect our future operating results.

Risks Related to our Company

Rapid industry change might affect our profitability.

      Although we became profitable in the fourth quarter of 2002, and have remained profitable since that time, we cannot assure investors that we will remain profitable or cash flow positive. Moreover, we might not be able to increase our operating profitability on a quarterly or annual basis. The Internet search industry is rapidly evolving and very turbulent. New search technologies could emerge that make our services comparatively less useful or new business methods could otherwise emerge that divert Web traffic away from our sites. Rapid change such as this makes it difficult for us to forecast our results accurately, particularly over longer periods, and might cause our profitability to decline significantly. Investors should not place undue reliance on our forecasts. To increase profits, we will need to generate revenue growth while continuing to control our expenses. We face the risk that our costs might increase substantially in the future. Indeed, we believe it is critical that we continue to expend financial and management resources to develop our brand loyalty through marketing and promotion, to enhance our search technologies and to expand our brands and services. If we fail to attract Web traffic or control costs, our annual net losses could resume, in which case we would eventually need to obtain additional financing or cease operations.

We derive a significant percentage of our revenue from our targeted-advertising supply arrangements with Google, Inc. Any early termination, non-renewal, breach or other performance deterioration under these contracts could harm our results of operations.

      We have entered into several agreements with Google, Inc. pursuant to which Google supplies paid listings and other services to some of our Web sites. We derive a significant percentage of our revenue from these agreements. For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, our revenue from Google under these agreements comprised 69% of our total revenues. These agreements include the following:

  •  In 2002, Ask Jeeves, Inc. entered into an agreement with Google, Inc., to participate in Google’s sponsored links program (subsequently renamed AdWords). Under this agreement, Google sells paid listings to tens of thousands of advertisers and we display their paid listings on specified U.S. Ask Jeeves and Teoma brand Web sites in response to keywords in users’ search queries. Google’s advertisers pay a fee whenever users click on the paid listings. Under this agreement, we also syndicate Google’s paid listings, together with our search results, to third-party Web sites in the Ask Jeeves Syndication Network. In exchange for making the Web traffic on these various sites available to Google’s advertisers, we share in the revenue generated from those advertisers. This U.S. agreement with Google was scheduled to terminate in September 2005 (but allowed for termination for convenience by either party during September or October of 2004). On July 26, 2004, this agreement was amended and restated to, among other changes, extend its scheduled term until December 31, 2007.
 
  •  In May 2003, our U.K. subsidiary, the Ask Jeeves UK Partnership, entered into an agreement with a Google subsidiary to display Google’s paid listings on our Ask Jeeves’ branded U.K. Web site, replacing a previous paid listing provider. We share in the revenue generated when users click on those paid listings. Our U.K. subsidiary assigned this agreement to our European subsidiary in 2003 as part of our European restructuring. This U.K. agreement with Google was scheduled to terminate in May 2005. On July 26, 2004, this agreement was amended to, among other changes, extend its scheduled term until December 31, 2007.
 
  •  In May 2003, Focus Interactive, Inc. (formerly known as The Excite Network, Inc.), a wholly-owned subsidiary of ISH, entered into an agreement with Google. (We acquired full ownership of Focus Interactive in May 2004 upon our acquisition of ISH.) Under this agreement, Google supplies both paid listings and search results to specified Web sites owned and operated by Focus Interactive. Focus

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  pays a fee for the search results and shares in the revenue generated by the paid listings. The initial term of this agreement was scheduled to expire August 31, 2007. On July 26, 2004, this agreement was amended to, among other changes, extend its scheduled term until December 31, 2007.
 
  •  In September 2003, Focus Interactive entered into an agreement with Google to participate in its content-targeted ad program (subsequently renamed AdSense). Under this agreement, Google supplies content-targeted ads to some of the Web sites owned and operated by Focus Interactive and the parties share in the revenue generated by those ads. Content-targeted ads are similar to paid listings in that they are selected for display based upon the user’s current interests. However, paid listings are textual links selected for display on a search results page based on keywords in the user’s search query; whereas content-targeted ads are selected for display on any Web page based upon the subject matter of that Web page (which Google attempts to determine by crawling, hand-mapping, spotting keywords or other means) and might appear in text, audio, video, graphic or some other format. The term of this agreement is scheduled to expire August 31, 2007.

      If our contracts with Google are not renewed by mutual agreement of the parties, or if Google fails to perform under these contracts or if they are terminated for any other reason, we would need to find another suitable provider or otherwise replace the lost revenues. Although alternate paid listing providers (such as Yahoo! Inc.’s Overture Services division and FindWhat.com) are currently available in the market, the paid listing market is consolidating (for example, Espotting Media merged with FindWhat.com), and we face the risk that we might be unable to negotiate equally advantageous terms with such providers. Even if we were to negotiate equally advantageous terms, we would face the risk that such providers might supply us with less-relevant links (which would be less likely to attract clicks and thus less likely to generate revenue). Similarly, if Google’s performance under these contracts unexpectedly deteriorates or if our ability to generate traffic for paid listings and content-targeted ads decreases, our results of operations could be harmed.

If the performance of our search toolbar distribution channels declines, or if our distributors decide not to renew our distribution arrangements at the end of the applicable contract terms, we will likely experience reduced search volume and lower advertising revenue.

      A material portion of our search revenue is generated by searches originating from our search toolbars. We distribute our search toolbars to the public through a variety of channels, including through downloadable software bundles distributed by third-parties. We face the risk that our distribution channels might not continue to produce new toolbar installations at the rates experienced in the recent past due to any number of causes, such as increasing competition, increasing public suspicion that any downloadable application might contain spyware or adware, increasing removal activity by anti-spyware programs, and the increased legal difficulties faced by key elements of the software bundles such as peer-to-peer file sharing applications. We face a risk that these problems will become worse. We also face a risk that our distributors will not renew our distribution agreements at the end of the applicable contract terms. Any decline in the effective toolbar installation rate we generate will likely cause us to experience reduced query volume and lower advertising revenue.

We expect our operating expenses to continue to increase as we invest in increasing brand loyalty through marketing and promotion, enhancing our search technologies, developing our media properties and acquiring other businesses.

      We currently expect that our operating expenses will continue to increase as we continue to invest in:

  •  increasing brand loyalty through marketing and promotion;
 
  •  enhancing our search technologies;
 
  •  improving and expanding our portal content;
 
  •  funding greater levels of product development;

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  •  developing and commercializing additional media properties; and
 
  •  acquiring and integrating complementary businesses and technologies.

      We face a risk that these investments will not result in commensurate increases in our Web traffic or revenues. If our expenses increase at a greater pace than our revenues, our operating results will likely be harmed.

Web-based business models are still evolving.

      Our advertising revenue will depend on our ability to achieve, measure and demonstrate to advertisers the breadth of Web traffic using our search service and the value of our targeted advertising. Currently, there are a variety of pricing models for selling advertising on the Internet, including models based on the number of impressions delivered, the number of click-throughs by users, the duration over which the advertisement is displayed or the number of keywords to which the advertisement is linked. It is still difficult to predict which pricing model, if any, will emerge as the industry standard. In addition, technological changes could impact the success of particular business models. Finally, we are constantly optimizing and changing the advertising implementation on our Web sites, which might reduce our advertising revenue. This uncertainty makes it difficult to project our long-term advertising rates and revenues. A decrease in advertising or cuts in advertising rates would reduce our total revenue.

If we cannot maintain the popularity of our search engine among Internet users, our business will be significantly harmed.

      Our Ask Jeeves and Teoma brand search sites will be successful only if a critical mass of Internet users regularly uses our search services as a method of navigating the Internet. Internet users have a variety of other search techniques, including other search engines and subject-matter directories, available to them to find information on the Web. Users can also use non-Web-based methods of obtaining information through the Internet, including chat rooms and e-mail, rather than browsing through Web sites. Our search technologies, including our Teoma technology, are novel. It is difficult to predict the rate at which users will sample our services and the extent to which they will adopt them as their search technology. Even in the case of repeat users, it is difficult to know whether they return to our Web sites because they are satisfied with our offerings or because they are dissatisfied with the alternatives. At any time, users of our services might revert to prior search techniques or choose new search techniques altogether. We cannot assure you that widespread acceptance of our search technologies and services will occur. If we cannot maintain the popularity of our search engine among Internet users, that aspect of our business plan will fail.

If we fail to compete effectively against our current and potential competitors, we will lose market share.

      We compete in markets that are intensely competitive and rapidly changing. Many of our competitors are bringing new search technologies to market, allocating extensive resources to product development and marketing and expanding their search offerings. We compete with search destinations, portals, and search technology providers.

  •  Search Destinations and Search-Centric Portals. In our efforts to attract Web traffic, we compete against search destinations such as Google Inc. and Infospace, as well as against search-centric portals such as Yahoo! Inc., America Online (AOL), Microsoft Network (MSN) and other smaller companies. MSN recently redesigned its site to feature search services more prominently and has announced plans to cease using Yahoo’s search services next year and, instead, to implement its own algorithmic search engine, which is currently under development.
 
  •  Search Technology Providers. In our efforts to produce algorithmic search results that users will find intuitive and satisfying, we compete against search technology providers such as Google, Inc., Yahoo! Inc., and a number of other smaller companies. We also compete against several meta-search providers, which seek to combine and repackage search results produced by other algorithms. MSN

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  recently launched a Web site providing a test, or beta, version of the algorithmic search engine it is developing and has announced plans to integrate expanded search functionality into the next version of the Windows operating system. Microsoft has stated that its algorithmic search technology will be capable of processing natural language queries.
 
  •  Internet Advertising Services. In our efforts to attract third-party Web site publishers to join our advertising networks, we compete against other online advertising networks, such as Overture Services, Inc. (a subsidiary of Yahoo!), Google, Inc., FindWhat.com, DoubleClick and Kanoodle, as well as against several smaller online advertising networks. In our efforts to establish direct relationships with advertisers we compete against those same online advertising networks as well as against non-Internet media publishers and traditional advertising agencies.

      Some of our existing competitors (as well as potential new competitors), have longer operating histories, greater name recognition, larger customer bases and significantly greater financial resources than we do. They might use their experience and resources against us in a variety of competitive ways, including by making acquisitions, investing more aggressively in research and development and competing more aggressively for web sites and advertisers.

      In addition, vertical integration appears to be increasing in the Internet search and advertising industry. For example, in the past few years, Yahoo! has acquired several search engines (Inktomi, AltaVista and AllTheWeb) as well as Overture Inc., a provider of search services, paid listings and related advertising. Similarly, Google administers its own advertising networks and has recently started to offer internet email and a desktop search application. Vertically integrated search providers, like Yahoo! Inc. and Google, Inc. have greater resources and functionality, and might be able to inhibit our access to advertisers or end users.

Some of our competitors provide Internet access, operating systems, online services or computer hardware to our users (or collaborate with such providers) and might leverage those strengths to increase their market share for search queries.

      In order to access our search services, users must utilize computer hardware, an operating system, an internet service provider, or ISP, and an Internet browser. Some of our existing competitors might leverage their strength in those areas in an attempt to increase their market share for search queries. For example, our competitors MSN and AOL are both internet service providers and our competitor Yahoo! is collaborating with SBC, a prominent internet service provider, to provide a suite of online services to SBC’s subscriber base. In each case, those activities result in our competitors’ search boxes being displayed on the home pages of many of their Internet subscribers. We face a risk that other computer manufacturers or other providers of internet access, operating systems, online services or browsers might leverage those products so as to facilitate or encourage their customers’ use of competitive search sites. Microsoft, in particular, has announced that the next version of Windows will include expanded search functionality. In addition, because those other companies often collect user registration data, we face a risk that those companies (or their collaborators) might be more effective than us in targeting local search, results relevancy and advertisements to the specific tastes of their users. To the extent that users opt to use the search services favored by these providers, rather than our search services, our market share and revenues might decline.

Our growth will depend on our ability to attract and retain new users through effective promotional campaigns.

      We believe that favorable consumer and business community perceptions of the Ask Jeeves brands are essential to our future success. Accordingly, we intend to continue pursuing brand-enhancement strategies, which may include mass market and multimedia advertising, promotional programs and public relations activities. As with any public awareness campaign, we face the risk that our expenditures might not lead to the desired result; that is, we might experience no net increase in our brand recognition, brand loyalty, number of new users, or Web site traffic. Furthermore, even if such increases occur, they might not be sufficiently large to justify the expenditures. If we are unable to promote brand awareness and loyalty in a cost-effective manner, we are unlikely to attract new users and our existing user base might shrink through attrition.

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If we are unable to develop new search products and enhancements rapidly and successfully, as well as to integrate acquired technologies, we might be unable to maintain user satisfaction with our search alternatives.

      In the highly competitive, consolidating, and rapidly changing Internet search environment, our future success depends in large part on our ability to develop or acquire and introduce new search technology that meets the needs of our users. For example, in 2004 we acquired technology from Tukaroo Inc. and ISH. However, we might be unable to develop and integrate such technologies into our search services more rapidly than our competitors, several of which are larger and may have significantly greater resources available for investment in technology. If we are unable to rapidly and successfully develop, acquire, or integrate new technology into the search services we offer, we might lose market share to our faster competitors and never recoup our development or acquisition costs.

Recent acquisitions and any future acquisitions might disrupt our business, dilute stockholder value, divert management attention or be difficult to integrate.

      On May 6, 2004, we acquired Interactive Search Holdings, or ISH, which nearly doubled the size of our company. We also recently acquired Tukaroo, Inc., a small private company. We may in the future seek to acquire or invest in additional businesses, products or technologies that we believe could complement or expand our business, augment our market coverage, enhance our technical capabilities or that may otherwise offer growth opportunities. The integration of ISH’s operations with our own required significant management attention and is still ongoing. This and any future acquisitions might disrupt our internal operations or otherwise require excessive management attention, which could negatively affect other corporate initiatives. The potential risks of any acquisition include:

  •  difficulties in assimilating and integrating acquired personnel, systems, operations, technologies or products;
 
  •  adverse effects on our current employees and the inability to retain employees of acquired companies;
 
  •  unanticipated costs associated with acquisitions;
 
  •  diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns and potential disruption of our ongoing business;
 
  •  adverse effects on our existing business relationships with our customers;
 
  •  potential patent or trademark infringement by acquired technologies;
 
  •  use of substantial portions of our available cash as all or a portion of the purchase price; and
 
  •  dilution of our current stockholders due to issuances of additional securities as consideration for acquisitions.

      If we experience any of the above problems, or are otherwise unable to integrate ISH or future acquired companies successfully or to create new or enhanced services, we might not achieve the anticipated benefits from our acquisitions. If we fail to achieve the anticipated benefits from the acquisitions, we might incur increased expenses and experience a shortfall in our anticipated revenues and we might not obtain a satisfactory return on our investment. In addition, if a significant number of employees of acquired companies fail to remain employed with us, we may experience difficulties in achieving the expected benefits of the acquisitions.

      In addition, we might spend significant management time and costs in pursuing acquisitions that do not come to fruition.

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If we fail to maintain effective internal financial and managerial systems, controls and procedures, our results of operations may be harmed.

      Our past business realignment and reductions in workforce placed a significant strain on our managerial staff, financial controls and operational resources as our employees assumed greater responsibilities and learned to manage their increased workload with reduced resources. Although we have added additional staff and resources since becoming profitable, we face additional challenges which continue to put strains on our procedures. These challenges include preparing for our initial Internal Control Report (which will be required in our next Form 10-K) and integrating the internal control systems of companies we acquire. In particular, our effort to review and revise our internal controls in anticipation of the first Internal Control Report is placing a significant strain on our managerial resources and is causing us to delay business initiatives that we would otherwise undertake. We continue to evaluate our operational and financial systems and our managerial controls and procedures to determine what changes, if any, might help us to manage our current operations better. We face the risk that our systems, procedures and controls might not be adequate to support our operations or to maintain accountability for our assets. Any such failure could harm our results of operations. We also face the risk that any pending revisions to our systems of internal controls might not be in place early enough to support year-end audit testing. In that case, we or our auditors might be unable to conclude that our systems were effective at year end, which might cause investor confidence in our reported financial results to decline, causing the market price of our securities to fall.

Our international operations expose us to additional risks and additional international expansion efforts might lose money.

      We operate a separate Web site, Ask.co.uk, located in Dublin, Ireland, that provides Internet search services to our users in the United Kingdom, Ireland and elsewhere in Europe. In addition, we hold a 47% interest in Ask Jeeves Japan, a joint venture selling a search software product, Answers, to the Japanese market and a recently-launched Japanese-language Web search site with Japan-specific content. We are also planning on expanding to certain European markets in the near term. As part of our corporate restructuring in 2001, we terminated our participation in projects seeking to launch versions of our search sites for Spanish speaking and Australian users. Any further expansion into international markets would require substantial management attention and financial resources. Establishing foreign operations is a significant investment that might not produce desired returns. However, our competitors are expanding their operations internationally, thus if we do not expand internationally we may lose market share.

      Like our current foreign operations, any future expansion efforts would be subject to risks associated with international operations, including:

  •  the impact of business cycles and downturns in economies outside the United States;
 
  •  longer payment cycles and greater difficulty in accounts receivable collections;
 
  •  time and resources required to comply with foreign regulatory requirements;
 
  •  unexpected changes in regulatory requirements;
 
  •  difficulties and costs of staffing and managing foreign operations;
 
  •  potential tax liabilities if our transfer-pricing practices are successfully challenged by the tax authorities of the nations in which we operate;
 
  •  reduced protection for intellectual property rights in some countries;
 
  •  unanticipated tax costs associated with the cross-border use of intangible assets;
 
  •  political and economic instability;
 
  •  fluctuations in currency exchange rates;
 
  •  difficulty in maintaining effective communications with employees and customers due to distance, language and cultural barriers;

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  •  lower brand recognition for Ask Jeeves and the Jeeves character in non-English speaking countries;
 
  •  lower per capita Internet usage in many foreign countries, for a variety of reasons including lower disposable incomes, lack of adequate telecommunications and computer infrastructure and concerns regarding online security for e-commerce transactions; and
 
  •  competition in international markets from a broad range of competitors.

Legal actions may be initiated against us seeking to hold us liable for our links to third-party Web sites.

      Our Internet search services are designed to link users directly to a page within a third-party Web site that contains a response to a user’s query. These direct links might expose us to legal actions seeking to hold us liable for the content of those third-party Web sites. These actions might claim, for example, that we should be liable for copyright or trademark infringement or other unauthorized actions by the third-party Web site. Although defenses are available to many such claims under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, they require us to follow specified procedures, which we might fail to follow precisely. Other claims may be based on errors or false or misleading information provided through our Web sites, including information deemed to constitute professional advice including legal, medical, financial or investment advice. Although our “Ask Jeeves” brand sites attempt to screen out pornography (unless the user elects to deactivate the screen) other claims may be based on our links to sexually explicit Web sites and our provision of sexually explicit advertisements when this content is displayed. We do not believe that any such claim would have legal merit, but defending against such a legal action could be expensive and distract management. Implementing measures to reduce our exposure to such claims may require us to spend substantial resources and limit the attractiveness of our service to users.

If we are unable to continually enhance the content and services of our portal Web sites, our user base may decline and our attractiveness to advertisers may diminish.

      We operate proprietary portal sites (at Excite.com, MyWay.com and iWon.com) and implement and manage portal sites for third parties. We intend to introduce additional or enhanced content and services on these portals in the future in order to retain our current users, attract new users and remain attractive to advertisers. Our reputation and brands could be adversely affected if we introduce content or a service that is not favorably received. We have in the past and may continue in the future to experience difficulties that delay the introduction of new content or services. Further, new content and services have in the past and may in the future contain errors that we discover only after they are introduced, requiring us to disable them while we modify their design to correct these errors. Implementing enhancements to our web site is costly and requires significant time from our engineering personnel. Any delays we experience in implementing enhancements to our portals might reduce our user base and diminish our attractiveness to advertisers. If we are unable to continue to enhance the features and functionality of our portal sites on a timely and cost-effective basis to meet evolving user demands and compete effectively with other portals, or if these enhancements do not achieve widespread market acceptance, our existing user base may not visit our portal Web sites as frequently. Our failure to grow our user base or frequency of visits to our portal sites might diminish our attractiveness to advertisers.

Efforts of third-party ISPs to block spam email might interfere with the email services we offer to users of our portals.

      Our email terms of service prohibit our users from sending so-called “spam” email using their accounts on our portals. Nonetheless, from time to time, spam email has originated from the email accounts of our portal users, sometimes caused by viruses that infect a user’s computer and cause it to send email without the user’s knowledge or active participation. We act diligently and aggressively to enforce our email policies and to prevent spammers from utilizing our users’ accounts in that way. However, as a result of such spam originating from our servers, third-party internet service providers (or other mail service providers) have, from time to time, blocked their account holders from receiving any email, even legitimate email, sent from our

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servers. These events decrease the utility of our email service to users and, should they continue over time, the registered user base of our portals might decline.

Sweepstakes regulations might limit our ability to conduct sweepstakes on iWon.com or limit participation in our sweepstakes, which would adversely affect our business model.

      The business model of our iWon portal and certain other products we distribute is premised upon our ability to operate sweepstakes. Sweepstakes are subject to the gambling, lottery and disclosure laws of various jurisdictions in which we offer our sweepstakes. Although we outsource the operation of certain aspects of our sweepstakes to SCA Promotions, an independent sweepstakes execution company, and we believe that we operate our sweepstakes in compliance with current laws and regulations in all applicable jurisdictions, we cannot assure investors that we are in full compliance or that these laws and regulations will not change in the future. If new laws or regulations are adopted that proscribe or limit our ability to conduct sweepstakes online through our iWon Web site or other products or significantly limit the range of individuals who can participate in our sweepstakes, the long term ability of our iWon portal or these products to generate revenues would be severely undermined. From time to time, Congress and state legislatures and regulatory agencies announce initiatives aimed at the sweepstakes industry in general or regulating Internet sweepstakes in particular. We believe that additional laws and regulations are likely to be enacted, but we cannot predict what they will be or what effect they might have. If we expand our sweepstakes business model internationally, we may be subject to additional international sweepstakes regulation. Additionally, the Internet is a relatively new medium for sweepstakes, and it is difficult to predict how existing laws and regulations will be applied to our businesses.

Risks Related to Operating in our Industry

A decrease in expenditures by advertisers and direct marketers or a downturn in the economy could cause our advertising revenues to decline significantly in any given period.

      We generate our revenue almost entirely from advertising, directly or indirectly. We sell ads on our portals and search sites, we sell and syndicate ads for display across the AJinteractive advertising network and the Ask Jeeves Syndication Network, we provide other direct marketing services through AJinteractive and we display ads supplied to us by Google’s AdWords and AdSense Programs. We believe that a large portion of our advertising revenue is derived from ad purchases by Web publishers, direct marketers, advertisers and advertising agencies. Expenditures by those advertisers and direct marketers tend to be cyclical, reflecting overall economic conditions as well as budgeting and buying patterns. We expect our ad revenues to continue to exhibit cyclicality. Although online advertising spending is expected to increase over the next few years, we face the risk that online advertising spending might increase slower than predicted, or not at all, or that our market share for online ad dollars might decline. As a result of these risks, our revenues from marketing and advertising services might not increase or might decline significantly in any given period.

New technologies could block our ads, which would harm our business.

      Technologies might be developed that users could use to block the display of our ads. Most of our revenues are derived from fees paid to us (or to our paid listing providers) by advertisers in connection with the display of ads on web pages. As a result, ad-blocking technology could, in the future, adversely affect our operating results.

Index spammers could harm the integrity of web search results, which could damage our reputation and cause our users to be dissatisfied with our services.

      There is an ongoing and increasing effort by “index spammers” to develop ways to manipulate the results lists of leading search engines in order to make the spammers’ sites appear near the top of the lists. For example, our Teoma search technology ranks a web page’s authority based in part on the relevance of the web sites that link to it, and spammers often link a group of web sites together in an attempt to cause Teoma

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to over-estimate a site’s authority and thereby increase its ranking in the results list. We take this problem very seriously because providing relevant and authoritative information to users is critical to our success. This problem also affects Google and Yahoo!, which provide search results on some of our sites (including MySearch.com). If we or our competitors are unable to develop more sophisticated algorithms that are not influenced by index spam, our reputation for delivering relevant information could be diminished and the usefulness of Internet search engines, in general, could fall. Either result could cause a decline in our user traffic which, in turn, would result in lower search and media revenues.

The operating performance of computer systems and Web servers is critical to our business and reputation.

      Any system failure, including network, software or hardware failure due to a computer virus, malicious users (sometimes called hackers) or otherwise, that causes an interruption in our service or a decrease in our responsiveness could result in reduced user traffic on our Web sites and reduced revenues for our business.

      We have network and server equipment located at Metromedia Fiber Network in California and England, MCI in Massachusetts, Qwest in Newark, New Jersey, and Esat Telecommunications Ltd., in Dublin, Ireland. Although we believe that our current back-up methods are adequate, we face the risk that our back-up servers might fail or might cause an interruption in our service.

      We have experienced slower response times and interruptions in service due to malfunction at our hosting facilities and on the Internet backbone networks, major software upgrades on our Web sites and undetected software defects. These Web site interruptions have lasted for periods ranging from a few minutes to three hours. In addition, our Web sites also could be affected by computer viruses, electronic break-ins or other similar disruptions. During the second quarter of 2004, the chat rooms on our portals went offline for several hours as a result of coordinated hacker attacks. Although we have taken actions to remedy this problem, we face the risk that it might recur. If we continue to experience outages, frequent or persistent system failures or degraded response times, user satisfaction would decrease, we would likely lose advertising revenues and our reputation and brands could be permanently harmed.

      Our users depend on Internet service providers, online service providers and other Web site operators for access to our Web sites. Each of these types of providers has experienced significant outages in the past and could experience outages, delays and other operating difficulties due to system failures unrelated to our systems.

      The occurrence of an earthquake or other natural disaster, a terrorist attack, or unanticipated problem at our principal facilities or at the servers that host or backup our systems could cause interruptions or delays in our interactive network or a loss of data. Our systems are vulnerable to damage or interruption from fire, flood, power loss, telecommunications failure, break-ins, earthquake and similar events. We have not developed a comprehensive disaster recovery plan to respond to system failures. Our insurance policies might not adequately compensate us for losses that may occur due to interruptions in our service.

Our long-term success depends upon the growth and acceptance of Internet advertising as an effective alternative to traditional advertising media.

      We compete with traditional media including television, radio and print, in addition to other high-traffic Web sites, for a share of advertisers’ total advertising expenditures. We face the risk that advertisers might find Internet advertising to be less effective than traditional media at promoting their products or services and may further reduce or eliminate their expenditures on Internet advertising. Many potential advertisers and advertising agencies have only limited experience advertising on the Internet and have not devoted a significant portion of their advertising expenditures to Internet advertising. Acceptance of the Internet among advertisers will depend, to a large extent, on the perceived effectiveness of Internet advertising and the continued growth of commercial usage of the Internet. Filter software programs that limit or prevent advertising from being displayed on a user’s computer are available. It is unclear whether this type of software will become widely accepted, but if it does, it would negatively affect Internet-based advertising. Our business could be seriously harmed if the market for Internet advertising does not continue to grow.

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Growth in the keyword-targeted advertising market might be slowed by the application of trademark laws.

      When advertisers purchase keyword-targeted internet advertising, they pay to have their graphic ad or textual paid listing appear on a search response page whenever a user includes the advertiser’s designated keyword(s) in his or her search query. Recently a lawsuit was filed against Google and against us alleging that defendants’ sale of advertising triggered by keywords identical to plaintiff’s trademark infringes that trademark. The plaintiff is seeking an injunction and an unspecified amount of damages. We face a risk that trademark law might confer upon the owner of the trademark the exclusive right to select such trademark as a keyword when purchasing keyword-targeted advertising. Such a result might reduce the overall market for keyword advertising, and might result in lower advertising revenue than would otherwise be generated.

Disruption of our ad serving arrangements due to system failures or capacity constraints could harm our reputation.

      In 2004, our AJinteractive ad sales division began serving banner, tower and interstitial ads to its advertising network. AJinteractive’s ad management technologies reside in data centers in multiple locations in the United States. Continued and uninterrupted performance of these technologies is critical to AJinteractive’s ad serving success. Customers may become dissatisfied by any system failure that interrupts our ability to provide our services to them, including failures affecting our ability to deliver advertisements without significant delay to the viewer or our ability to deliver a customer’s online marketing campaign. Sustained or repeated system failures would reduce the attractiveness of AJinteractive’s products and services to customers and could result in contract terminations or damages resulting from claims or litigation, thereby reducing revenue. Slower response time or system failures may also result from straining the capacity of our technology due to an increase in the volume of advertising delivered through AJinteractive’s servers. To the extent that we do not effectively address any capacity constraints or system failures at AJinteractive, our reputation would be adversely affected.

A breach of our computer security could damage our reputation and deter customers from using our services.

      We attempt to protect our computer systems and network from physical break-ins, security breaches and other disruptive problems caused by the Internet or other users. Computer break-ins could jeopardize the security of information stored in and transmitted through our computer systems and network, which could reduce our ability to retain or attract customers, damage our reputation or subject us to litigation. We could be subject to denial of service, vandalism and other attacks on our systems by Internet hackers. Although we intend to continue to implement security technology and establish operational procedures to prevent break-ins, damage and failures, these security measures might fail. Our insurance coverage might be insufficient to cover losses that result from such events.

Spyware concerns might result in reduced revenue from our toolbars or search services.

      Recently, public concern has arisen regarding so-called “spyware” (programs that surreptitiously monitor users’ behavior) and “adware” (programs that cause advertising to pop-up on the user’s computer based on the user’s online activity). These programs are often installed on users’ computers either without their consent or without their full understanding as users’ navigate the Internet. Concern over spyware and adware might cause users to distrust unknown Web sites and to be less inclined to use the Internet, in general, or to be less inclined to visit new or unknown Web sites, in particular. Either result could decrease search engine usage and thus lead to a decline in our Web traffic and our ad revenues.

      Moreover, in response to spyware and adware concerns, several programs are available that claim to identify and remove spyware and adware from users’ computers. Our toolbars do not contain spyware or adware. However, some of our search toolbars have, from time to time, been identified by these programs as spyware. We actively seek to persuade the authors of the anti-spyware programs that our toolbars should not be included on their lists. However, to the extent that we are not successful, or to the extent that new anti-

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spyware programs classify our toolbars as spyware, our goodwill might be harmed and users of those programs might uninstall our toolbars. Loss of goodwill or a decline in our installed user base could cause our Web traffic, and thus our ad revenues, to decline.

If we do not adapt our search services for users of cell phones, PDAs and similar devices, we might lose market share as users increasingly use handheld devices to access the Internet.

      In the coming years, the number of individuals who access the Internet through devices other than a personal computer is expected to increase. These alternative devices include personal digital assistants, known as PDAs, cellular telephones and television set-top devices. The low resolution, functionality and memory currently associated with some of these alternative devices might prevent or impede their users from accessing our graphics-rich Web services. Unless we successfully launch a version of our Web search service that is easily accessible through these alternative devices, we face a risk of losing market share if personal computer users migrate toward use of these alternative devices to access the Internet.

Our ability to remain profitable might depend on continued growth of Internet use.

      Our revenue model depends in large part on the volume of Internet user traffic to our Web sites. Our business will be harmed if Internet usage does not continue to grow or grows at significantly lower rates compared to current trends. The continued growth of the Internet is subject to various risks, many of which are outside our control. These risks include the following:

  •  the Internet infrastructure might not be able to support the demands placed on it;
 
  •  performance and reliability of the Internet might decline as usage grows and disruptions caused by malicious users or hackers increases;
 
  •  locating useful information online might become more difficult as the number of Web sites proliferates, causing Internet usage rates to decrease or to grow at a decreasing rate;
 
  •  users might hesitate to engage in online commerce because they feel insecure transmitting confidential information, such as credit card numbers, over the Internet; and
 
  •  users’ privacy concerns might lead them to reduce Internet use so as to prevent Web sites from gathering user information without the user’s knowledge or consent.

Our business might suffer if any of our key executives discontinues employment with us.

      Our future success depends to a large extent on the services of our key managerial employees. Although we have signed offer letters with our executives, we have not entered into formal employment agreements with them and we do not maintain key person life insurance. If we are unable to retain our executive officers or key management personnel or attract additional qualified management in the future, our business might be materially harmed.

Our success depends on our ability to attract and retain skilled technical employees.

      Our success depends on our ability to attract, retain and motivate highly skilled employees. Competition for employees with skills in search technology is intense. We have experienced, and we expect to continue to experience in the future, difficulty in hiring and retaining highly skilled employees with appropriate qualifications. If we fail to attract, retain and motivate highly-skilled employees, our business will be harmed.

We may face potential liability, loss of users and damage to our reputation for violation of privacy policies.

      We have a policy against using personally identifiable information obtained from users of our search technologies without the user’s permission. In the past, the Federal Trade Commission has investigated companies that have used personally identifiable information without permission or in violation of a stated privacy policy. Under the UK Data Protection Act and the EU Data Protection Directive, a failure to ensure

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that personal information is accurate and secure or a transfer of personal information to a country without adequate privacy protections could result in criminal or civil penalties. If we use personally identifiable information without permission or in violation of our policy, we may face potential liability for invasion of privacy for compiling and providing information to our corporate customers and electronic commerce merchants.

Privacy concerns relating to email, local search or other elements of our technology could damage our reputation and deter current and potential users or advertisers from using or advertising.

      From time to time, concerns might be expressed about whether our ad products and Internet services compromise the privacy of users or others. Concerns about our collection, use or sharing of personal information or other privacy-related matters could damage our reputation and operating results, even if those concerns are unfounded or even if our activities are permitted by our privacy policies and by law.

      For example, privacy concerns might arise regarding the Web mail functions we offer to the public through our Excite, iWon and MyWay portals. Recently several groups have raised privacy concerns in connection with a competitor’s plans to offer contextually-targeted ads on its users’ personal Web-mail pages. These concerns have attracted a significant amount of public commentary and attention. Although we do not currently display targeted-ads on Web-mail pages, we do display non-targeted ads on the personal Web-mail pages of both iWon users and regular (i.e., non-premium paying) Excite users. (By contrast, MyWay users’ Web-mail is ad free.) In light of the recent controversy surrounding contextually-targeted Web mail ads, our users might assume that our Web mail ads are also contextually targeted, which might diminish users’ goodwill toward us and toward our advertisers. If this result occurs, or if our advertisers fear this result might occur, our advertising revenues could decline.

      Similarly, privacy concerns might arise regarding so-called “local search” results. Increasingly, paid listing providers are delivering paid listings that are determined, in part, by the location (or the presumed location) of the user. The paid listing provider will sometimes be able to identify a user’s location by the IP address of the user’s computer or from registration information the user might have provided the search site (if the site retransmits it to the paid listing provider along with the query). We face a risk that local search might result in users feeling less anonymous online, which could reduce our Web traffic and cause fewer local advertisers to invest in targeted Internet ads.

Our portal Web sites could be disrupted and confidential user information could be compromised by a security breach, virus or other computer problems caused by third parties.

      The future success of our portals will depend on the security of our computer systems and those of our third party providers. An important feature of portal Web sites is our ability to develop, maintain and process data relating to our portal users, without compromising its integrity or confidentiality. For example, we maintain databases with information on registered users of our portals. Computer viruses or problems caused by third parties could lead to interruptions, delays or cessation in our portal sites. The inadvertent transmission of computer viruses could expose us to a material risk of loss or litigation and possible liability. Moreover, if a computer virus affecting our system is highly publicized, our reputation could be materially damaged and our user traffic might decrease.

      Third parties could also potentially jeopardize the security of confidential information stored in our computer systems or our third party providers’ computer systems by their inappropriate use of the Internet, including breaking into our and their databases and other parts of our and their computer network. Any compromise of security or public perception that we engaged in unauthorized release of user information would harm our ability to attract and retain users. Unauthorized access to or use of confidential information could result in potential liability and damages under privacy laws.

Government regulation and legal uncertainties could harm our business.

      Any new law or regulation pertaining to the Internet, or the application or interpretation of existing laws, could decrease the demand for our services, increase our cost of doing business or otherwise seriously harm

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our business. There is, and will likely continue to be, an increasing number of laws and regulations pertaining to the Internet. These laws or regulations may relate to liability for information retrieved from or transmitted over the Internet, online content regulation, user privacy, taxation and the quality of products and services. Furthermore, the growth and development of electronic commerce may prompt calls for more stringent consumer protection laws that may impose additional burdens on electronic commerce companies as well as companies like us that provide electronic commerce services.

      We file tax returns in such states as required by law based on principles applicable to traditional businesses. However, one or more states could seek to impose additional income tax obligations or sales tax collection obligations on out-of-state companies, such as ours, which engage in or facilitate electronic commerce. A number of proposals have been made at state and local levels that could impose such taxes on the sale of products and services through the Internet or the income derived from such sales. Such proposals, if adopted, could substantially impair the growth of electronic commerce and seriously harm our profitability.

      Legislation limiting the ability of the states to impose taxes on Internet-based transactions was enacted by the United States Congress. However, this legislation, known as the Internet Tax Freedom Act, imposed only a three-year moratorium on state and local taxes on electronic commerce, where such taxes are discriminatory, unless such taxes were generally imposed and actually enforced prior to October 1, 1998. The legislation, which commenced October 1, 1998 and was to have expired on October 21, 2001, has since been given a five-year extension by the House of Representatives. It is unclear which steps the legislature will take next, and failure to continue to renew this legislation would allow various states to impose taxes on Internet-based commerce. The imposition of such taxes could impair the growth of the electronic commerce marketplace and impair our ability to remain profitable.

      In addition, we are not certain how our business might be affected by the application to Internet commerce of existing laws governing issues such as property ownership, copyrights, encryption and other intellectual property issues, taxation, libel, obscenity and export or import matters. The vast majority of such laws were adopted prior to the advent of the Internet. As a result, they do not contemplate or address the unique issues of the Internet and related technologies. Changes in laws intended to address such issues could create uncertainty in the Internet market. Such uncertainty could reduce demand for our services or increase the cost of doing business as a result of litigation costs or increased service delivery costs.

      Several recent federal laws could have an impact on our business. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act is intended, in part, to limit the liability of eligible online service providers for listing or linking to third-party Web sites that include materials that infringe copyrights or other rights of others. The Children’s Online Protection Act and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act are intended to restrict the distribution of certain materials deemed harmful to children and impose additional restrictions on the ability of online services to collect user information from minors. In addition, the Protection of Children From Sexual Predators Act of 1998 requires online service providers to report evidence of violations of federal child pornography laws under certain circumstances. Such legislation may impose significant additional costs on our business or subject us to additional liabilities.

      Due to the nature of the Web, it is possible that the governments of other states and foreign countries might attempt to regulate Web transmissions or prosecute us for violations of their laws. We might unintentionally violate such laws, such laws might be modified and new laws might be enacted in the future. Any such developments (or developments stemming from enactment or modification of other laws) could increase the costs of regulatory compliance for us or force us to change our business practices.

Third parties may bring intellectual property infringement claims against us that would be expensive to defend and, if successful, could subject us to significant liability and block us from using key technology.

      From time to time in the ordinary course of business we have been subject to claims of alleged infringement of the trademarks, patents, and other intellectual property rights of third parties. Any such claims, if made, and any resulting litigation, should it occur, could subject us to significant liability for damages. In addition, even if we prevail, litigation could be time-consuming and expensive to defend, and

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could result in the diversion of our time and attention. Any claims from third parties may also result in limitations on our ability to use the intellectual property subject to these claims unless we are able to enter into license agreements that might not be available on reasonable terms, or at all.

If high quality, third-party data ceases to be available, or directly accessible, on the Web, our business might fail.

      Our Internet search services provide users with a list of links to pages within third-party Web sites that are relevant to the user’s query. We generally have no control over the content of these third-party Web sites. Similarly, the content on our portals is generally supplied to use by third parties under license. If these third-party Web sites and content feeds do not contain high-quality, up-to-date information, the utility of our search services and portals will be reduced. In addition, when our search engine attempts to direct the user to a page within a third-party company’s Web site, the company administering the site sometimes automatically redirects users to that company’s own home page. If third-party companies prevent us from directly linking our users to pages within their Web sites, and if there are no comparable alternative Web sites to which we can direct our users, the utility and attractiveness of our services to users will be reduced. If the utility of our services and portals diminishes for either of the above reasons, traffic on our Web sites will likely fall, which would reduce our ability to charge for advertising and premium listings.

Terrorist activities and resulting military and other actions could harm our business.

      Terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C. in September of 2001 disrupted commerce throughout the world. The continued threat of terrorism, recent military action in Iraq, and heightened security measures in response to this threat may cause significant disruption to commerce throughout the world. To the extent that disruptions result in a general decrease in corporate spending on advertising, our business and results of operations could be harmed. We are unable to predict whether the threat of terrorism or the responses thereto will result in any long-term commercial disruptions or if such activities or responses will have a long-term adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition. Additionally, if any attacks were to affect our key data centers, our business could be harmed.

Risks Related to Accounting Matters

If requirements relating to accounting treatment for employee stock options are changed, we might decide to change our compensation practices, which might increase our cash compensation expense.

      We currently account for the issuance of stock options under Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. If proposals currently under consideration by standards-setting authorities are adopted, we may be required to treat the fair value of the stock options granted to employees as compensation expense. Such a change would likely have a negative effect on our earnings. In response to a requirement to expense the fair value of stock options, we might decide to decrease the number of employee stock options granted to our employees. Such a reduction could affect our ability to retain existing employees and attract qualified candidates, and increase the cash compensation we would have to pay to them. An increase in employee wages and salaries would decrease our cash available for marketing, product development and other uses.

If accounting interpretations relating to revenue recognition change, our reported revenues could decline or we could be forced to make changes in our business practices.

      Over the last several years, the accounting profession has issued several standards and interpretations relating to revenue recognition. For example, the Emerging Issues Task Force, or EITF, reached a consensus on Issue No. 00-21, Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables, and the Securities and Exchange Commission staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin, or SAB, No. 104, Revenue Recognition, which explains how the SEC staff believes existing revenue recognition rules should be applied. We believe that our current revenue recognition policies comply with EITF 00-21 and SAB 104.

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      The accounting profession continues to discuss revenue recognition standards with the objective of providing guidance on potential interpretations. These discussions and the issuance of interpretations, once finalized, could lead to unanticipated changes in our current revenue accounting practices, which could cause us to recognize lower revenues. These changes may extend sales cycles, increase administrative costs and otherwise harm our business.

Risks Related to the Capital Markets

We may not be able to secure additional financing to meet our future capital needs.

      If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flows from operations to cover our expenses and capital expenditures, we will need to raise additional funds. We may require additional funding, for example, to fund brand promotion, develop new or enhanced products and services, respond to competitive pressures or make acquisitions. We might be unable to obtain any required additional financing on terms favorable to us, or at all. If adequate funds are not available on acceptable terms, we might be unable to fund our expansion, successfully promote our brand, develop or enhance products and services, respond to competitive pressures or take advantage of acquisition opportunities, any of which could seriously harm our business. In 2004, the SEC declared effective our shelf registration statement that will permit (but not require) us to offer and sell up to $400.0 million of common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, debt securities or warrants from time to time in one or more public offerings. The terms of any such future offerings will be established at the time of each offering. If we raise additional funds through the issuance of equity securities, our stockholders might experience dilution of their ownership interest, and the newly issued securities might have rights superior to those of the common stock. If we raise additional funds by issuing debt, its terms may impose limitations on our operations, including limitations on the payment of dividends. If we do not sustain profitability in the future and are unable to obtain additional financing, then we will eventually be unable to continue our operations.

Our stock price may fluctuate significantly regardless of our actual operating performance.

      Our common stock is listed for trading on the Nasdaq National Market. The trading price of our common stock has been and may continue to be highly volatile. Our stock price may be subject to wide fluctuations in response to a variety of factors, including:

  •  actual or anticipated variations in quarterly operating results and announcements of technological innovations;
 
  •  new products or services offered by us or our competitors;
 
  •  changes in financial estimates by securities analysts;
 
  •  changes in research coverage by securities analysts;
 
  •  conditions or trends in the Internet services industry;
 
  •  any announcement by us of significant acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments;
 
  •  additions or departures of key personnel;
 
  •  sales by current holders of our common stock and general financial conditions and investor sentiment regarding Internet companies generally; and
 
  •  other events that may be beyond our control.

      In addition, the Nasdaq National Market, where most publicly held Internet companies are traded, has periodically experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations. These fluctuations may be unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of these companies. These broad market and industry factors may harm the market price of our common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance. In the past,

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following periods of volatility in the market price of an individual company’s securities, securities class action litigation often has been instituted against that company. This type of litigation could result in substantial costs and a diversion of management’s attention and resources. Additionally, volatility or a lack of positive performance in our stock price may adversely affect our ability to retain key employees, all of whom have been granted stock options.

If we fail to meet the expectations of public market analysts and investors, the market price of our common stock may decrease significantly.

      Public market analysts and investors have not been able to develop consistent financial models for the Internet market because of the unpredictable rate of growth of Internet use, the rapidly changing models of doing business on the Internet and the Internet’s relatively low barriers to entry. As a result, and because of the other risks noted in this discussion, our actual results might not meet the expectations of public market analysts and investors in future periods. If this occurs, the price of our common stock will likely decrease.

Future sales of our stock could affect our stock’s market price.

      If our stockholders sell substantial amounts of our common stock, including shares sold by directors or officers and shares issued upon the exercise of outstanding options or in connection with acquisitions, the market price of our common stock could fall. These sales also might make it more difficult for us to sell equity or equity-related securities in the future at a time and price that we deem appropriate.

Provisions in Delaware law and our charter, stock option agreements and offer letters to executive officers may prevent or delay a change of control.

      We are subject to the Delaware anti-takeover laws regulating corporate takeovers. These anti-takeover laws prevent Delaware corporations from engaging in a merger or sale of more than 10% of its assets with any stockholder, including all affiliates and associates of the stockholder, who owns 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock, for three years following the date that the stockholder acquired 15% or more of the corporation’s assets unless:

  •  the board of directors approved the transaction in which the stockholder acquired 15% or more of the corporation’s assets;
 
  •  after the transaction in which the stockholder acquired 15% or more of the corporation’s assets, the stockholder owned at least 85% of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock, excluding shares owned by directors, officers and employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held under the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or
 
  •  on or after this date, the merger or sale is approved by the board of directors and the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the stockholder.

      A Delaware corporation may opt out of the Delaware anti-takeover laws if its certificate of incorporation or bylaws so provide. We have not opted out of the provisions of the anti-takeover laws. As such, these laws could prohibit or delay mergers or other takeover or change of control of Ask Jeeves and may discourage attempts by other companies to acquire us.

      Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws include a number of provisions that may deter or impede hostile takeovers or changes of control or management. These provisions include:

  •  our board is classified into three classes of directors as nearly equal in size as possible with staggered three year-terms;
 
  •  the authority of our board to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock and to determine the price, rights, preferences and privileges of these shares, without stockholder approval;

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  •  all stockholder actions must be effected at a duly called meeting of stockholders and not by written consent;
 
  •  except under limited circumstances, special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by the chairman of the board, the chief executive officer, the board of directors or by holders of shares entitled to cast not less than 50% of the votes of the meeting; and
 
  •  except under limited circumstances, no cumulative voting is allowed.

      These provisions may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control. In addition, certain material agreements contain change in control provisions that may discourage or delay attempts to acquire us.

      Furthermore, in April 2001, we adopted a stockholder rights plan and declared a dividend distribution of one right for each outstanding share of common stock to stockholders of record as of May 7, 2001. Each right entitles the holder to purchase one unit consisting of one one-thousandth of a share of our Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock for $20 per unit. Under certain circumstances, if a person or group acquires 15% or more of our outstanding common stock, holders of the rights (other than the person or group triggering their exercise) will be able to purchase, in exchange for the $20 exercise price, shares of our common stock or of any company into which we are merged having a value of $40. The rights expire on May 7, 2011 unless extended by our board of directors. Because the rights may substantially dilute the stock ownership of a person or group attempting to take us over without the approval of our board of directors, our rights plan could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us or a significant percentage of our outstanding capital stock without first negotiating with our board of directors regarding such acquisition.

      Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that we will indemnify officers and directors against losses that they may incur in investigations and legal proceedings resulting from their services to us, which may include services in connection with takeover defense measures. These provisions may have the effect of preventing changes in our management.

      Offer letters and severance benefit letter agreements with our executive officers provide for the payment of severance and acceleration of options upon the termination of these executive officers following a change of control of Ask Jeeves. These provisions in our stock option agreements, offer letters and severance benefit letter agreements could have the effect of discouraging potential takeover attempts.

Risks Related to our Subordinated Convertible Notes

Our stock price has been volatile historically and may continue to fluctuate widely regardless of our actual operating performance. Significant volatility in the price of our common stock will likely cause the price of the notes to fluctuate significantly, which may make it difficult for holders to resell the notes or the shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes when desired or at attractive prices.

      Because the notes are convertible into shares of our common stock, volatility or depressed prices for our common stock could have a similar effect on the trading price of the notes. Holders who receive common stock upon conversion also will be subject to the risk of volatility and depressed prices of our common stock. In addition, the existence of the notes may encourage short selling in our common stock by market participants because the conversion of the notes could depress the price of our common stock, and the short selling could also put downward pressure on the market price of our common stock.

The notes are subordinated and there are no financial covenants in the indenture. Therefore, we may be unable to repay our obligations under the notes.

      The notes are unsecured and subordinated in right of payment in full to all of our existing and future senior debt. Because the notes are subordinated to our senior debt, in the event of (1) our liquidation or insolvency, (2) a payment default on our designated senior debt, (3) a covenant default on our designated senior debt (as defined in “Description of Notes — Subordination of Notes” in the resale prospectus), or

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(4) acceleration of the notes due to an event of default, we will make payments on the notes only after our senior debt has been paid in full. After paying our senior debt in full, we might not have sufficient assets remaining to pay any or all amounts due on the notes.

      Our subsidiaries are separate legal entities and have no obligation to make any payments on the notes or make any funds available for payment on the notes, whether by dividends, loans or other payments. The payment of dividends and the making of loans and advances to us by our subsidiaries may be subject to statutory or contractual restrictions and are dependent upon the earnings of our subsidiaries. Our subsidiaries have not guaranteed the payment of the notes. Our right to receive assets of any of our subsidiaries upon their liquidation or reorganization, and a noteholder’s right to participate in these assets, will be effectively subordinated to the claims of that subsidiary’s creditors. Consequently, the notes are effectively subordinated to all liabilities, including trade payables, of any of our subsidiaries and any subsidiaries that we may in the future acquire or establish, except to the extent that we are recognized as a creditor of such subsidiary, in which case our claims would still be subordinate to any security interests in the assets of such subsidiary and any debt of such subsidiary senior to that held by us.

      As of September 30, 2004, (i) we had $23.2 million of senior debt outstanding consisting primarily of operating leases, and (ii) our subsidiaries had no outstanding indebtedness and approximately $6.9 million of other liabilities, including trade payables, but excluding intercompany liabilities, to which the notes are effectively subordinated. Neither we nor our subsidiaries are prohibited or limited from incurring debt or acting as guarantors of debt for others in whom we or our subsidiaries may have an interest under the indenture. Our ability to pay our obligations on the notes could be adversely affected by our or our subsidiaries’ incurrence of additional indebtedness or other liabilities. We and our subsidiaries may from time to time incur additional indebtedness and other liabilities, including senior debt. See “Description of Notes — Subordination of Notes” in the resale prospectus.

We significantly increased our leverage as a result of the sale of the notes.

      In connection with the sale of the notes, we incurred $115.0 million of indebtedness, which substantially increased our principal payment obligations. The degree to which we are leveraged could materially and adversely affect our ability to obtain financing for working capital, acquisitions or other purposes and could make us more vulnerable to industry downturns and competitive pressures.

We do not expect a public market for the notes to develop.

      There currently is no organized trading market for the notes in as much as they are not listed on any exchange and there can be no assurance as to (1) the liquidity of any market for the notes that may develop; (2) the ability of the holders to sell their notes; or (3) the prices at which holders of the notes would be able to sell their notes. If markets were to exist, the notes could trade at prices higher or lower than their initial purchase prices depending on many factors. If an active market for the notes fails to develop or be sustained, the trading price of the notes could decline significantly. We do not intend to apply for listing of the notes on any securities exchange or for quotation on The Nasdaq National Market.

We might not have the ability to repurchase the notes in cash if a holder exercises its repurchase right upon the occurrence of a change in control.

      Holders of the notes have the right to require us to redeem the notes upon the occurrence of a change in control prior to maturity as described under the heading “Description of Notes — Purchase of Notes at Your Option Upon a Change in Control” in the resale prospectus. We might not have sufficient funds to make the required repurchase in cash at such time or the ability to arrange necessary financing on acceptable terms. In addition, our ability to repurchase the notes in cash might be limited by law or the terms of other agreements relating to our indebtedness outstanding at the time. We have the ability under the terms of the notes to pay the repurchase price in shares of our common stock, regardless of whether we have cash available, but doing so might be highly dilutive.

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Interest Rate Sensitivity

      We are exposed to interest rate, market and credit risk and related changes in the market values of our investment portfolio. Our investment portfolio consists primarily of high credit quality US, state and municipal government, corporate, asset-backed, and agency debt instruments. Investments in both fixed and floating rate securities have some degree of interest rate risk. Fixed rate securities may have their fair market value adversely impacted by increases in interest rates. Floating rate securities may produce less income than anticipated if interest rates fall. As a result, changes in interest rates may cause us to incur losses in principal if we are forced to sell securities that have declined in market value or may result in lower than anticipated investment income. Our investment portfolio is categorized as available-for-sale and accordingly is presented at fair value on the balance sheet.

      We manage our exposure to interest rate, market and credit risk in the investment portfolio with investment policies and procedures that limit such variables as term, credit rating and the amount of credit exposure to any one issue, issuer and type of instrument. We have not used derivative financial instruments in our investment portfolio.

      During the nine months ended September 30, 2004, the effects of changes in interest rates on the fair market value of our marketable investment securities and our earnings were not material. Further, we believe that the impact on the fair market value of our securities and our earnings from a hypothetical 10% change in interest rates would not be significant.

      We do not use derivative financial instruments in our investment portfolio to manage interest rate risk. We place our investments in instruments that meet high credit quality standards, as specified in our investment policy guidelines, which limits the amount of credit exposure to any one issue, issuer or type of instrument.

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk

      The majority of our revenue, expense and capital purchasing activities are transacted in U.S. dollars. However, since a significant portion of our operations occurs outside of the U.S., we enter into transactions in other currencies, including the British pound and the Euro. We currently do not hedge our exposure to foreign exchange rate fluctuations. However, in order to limit such exposure some contracts of our international operations are denominated in U.S. dollars and certain cash balances are maintained in U.S. dollars. Our international business is subject to risks typical of an international business, including but not limited to differing economic conditions, changes in political climate, differing tax structures, transfer pricing risks, other regulations and restrictions and foreign exchange rate volatility, particularly the exchange rate between the British pound and the U.S. dollar. Changes in these or other factors could harm our business, operating results and financial condition.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

      Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as of the end of the period covered by this report, which we refer to as the Evaluation Date. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the Evaluation Date such that the information relating to Ask Jeeves, including our consolidated subsidiaries, required to be disclosed in our SEC reports:

  •  is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, and
 
  •  is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

      For a description of our material legal proceedings, please refer to Note 2 (commitments and contingencies) to our condensed consolidated financial statements in Part I, Item 1 of this quarterly report.

 
Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

      None.

 
Item 3.  Defaults Under Senior Securities

      None.

 
Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Securities Holders

      None.

 
Item 5.  Other Information

      Not applicable.

 
Item 6.  Exhibits

      The exhibits listed on the Exhibit Index (following the Signatures section of this report) are included, or incorporated by reference, in this quarterly report.

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SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

  ASK JEEVES, INC.

November 8, 2004
  By:  /s/ STEVEN BERKOWITZ
 
  Steven Berkowitz
  Chief Executive Officer
  (Principal Executive Officer)

November 8, 2004
  By:  /s/ STEVEN J. SORDELLO
 
  Steven J. Sordello
  Chief Financial Officer
  (Principal Financial Officer)

November 8, 2004
  By:  /s/ SCOTT T. BAUER
 
  Scott T. Bauer
  Vice President and Corporate Controller
  (Principal Accounting Officer)

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EXHIBIT INDEX

      Pursuant to Item 601(a)(2) of Regulation S-K, this Exhibit Index immediately precedes the exhibits.

      The following exhibits are included, or incorporated by reference, in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (and are numbered in accordance with Item 601 of Regulation S-K).

         
Exhibit No. Description


        Plans of Acquisition, Reorganization, Arrangement, Liquidation or Succession
  2.1     Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated June 29, 1999, by and between the Registrant and AJ Merger Corporation (previously filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 12, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).
  2.2     Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, dated as of November 19, 1999, by and among the Registrant, Net Effect Systems, Inc. and Neutral Acquisition Corp. (previously filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed November 18, 1999, and incorporated herein by reference).
  2.3     Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, dated as of January 25, 2000, by and among the Registrant, Direct Hit Technologies, Inc. and Answer Acquisition Corp. (previously filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed February 14, 2000, and incorporated herein by reference).
  2.4     Certificate of Ownership and Merger Merging Net Effects Systems, Inc. and Direct Hit Technologies, Inc. with and into the Registrant, dated as of December 28, 2000 (previously filed as Exhibit 2.4 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 12, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).
  2.5     Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, dated as of September 10, 2001, by and among the Registrant, Answer Acquisition Corp. No. 2, and Teoma Technologies, Inc., and solely with respect to Article X, Hawk Holdings, LLC, as Stockholders’ Agent, and Chase Manhattan Bank and Trust, N.A., as Escrow Agent (previously filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed September 17, 2001, and incorporated herein by reference).
  2.6     Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated March 3, 2004, by and among the Registrant, Interactive Search Holdings, Inc., Aqua Acquisition Corp. and Aqua Acquisition Holdings LLC (previously filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed March 5, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference).
        Charter Documents
  3.1.1     Certificate of Incorporation of AJ Merger Corporation (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Form S-1, filed April 30, 1999, and incorporated herein by reference).
  3.1.2     Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, dated July 6, 1999 (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1.2 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 12, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).
  3.1.3     Certificate of Correction of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, dated as of April 6, 2001 (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1.3 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 12, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).
  3.1.4     Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed May 10, 2001, and incorporated herein by reference).
        Bylaws
  3.2     Bylaws of the Registrant (previously filed as Exhibit 3.4 to the Registrant’s Form S-1, filed April 30, 1999, and incorporated herein by reference).
  3.2.2     Certificate of Amendment of Bylaws, adopted on October 30, 2003 (previously filed as Exhibit 3.2.2 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 1, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference)

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Exhibit No. Description


        Instruments Defining the Rights of Security Holders
  4.1     Specimen Certificate for Registrant’s Common Stock (previously filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Amendment No. 2 to Form S-1, filed June 7, 1999, and incorporated herein by reference).
  4.2.1     Rights Agreement (commonly called a “poison pill plan”), dated as of April 26, 2001, between the Registrant and Fleet National Bank, N.A. (previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed May 10, 2001, and incorporated herein by reference).
  4.2.2     Form of Rights Certificate (filed as Exhibit B to Rights Agreement, dated as of April 26, 2001, between the Registrant and Fleet National Bank, N.A., previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed May 10, 2001, and incorporated herein by reference).
  4.3.1     Indenture (relating to the Zero Coupon Subordinated Convertible Notes), dated as of June 4, 2003, by and between Ask Jeeves, Inc. and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (previously filed as Exhibit 4.3.1 to the Registrant’s Form S-3 registration statement, filed September 19, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).
  4.3.2     Form of Zero Coupon Convertible Subordinated Note (included within Exhibit 4.3.1).
  4.4     Form of Stock Resale Agreement, dated March 3, 2004, between Ask Jeeves, Inc. and each of the following (stockholders of Interactive Search Holdings, Inc.), separately: Bain Capital Fund VI, L.P.; BCIP Associates II; BCIP Trust Associates II; BCIP Associates II-B; BCIP Trust Associates II-B; BCIP Associates II-C; PEP Investments PTY LTD.; Sankaty High Yield Asset Partners, L.P.; Sankaty High Yield Partners II, L.P.; Brookside Capital Partners Fund L.P.; BCI-I, LLC; BCI-II, LLC; RGIP, LLC; William Daugherty; J.P. Morgan Partners (BHCA), L.P.; Jonas Steinman; Viacom Inc.; Frank William Daugherty, III 2004 GRAT; and Jonas L. Steinman 2004 GRAT (previously filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed March 5, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference).
        Equity Compensation Plan Documents
  10.1.1.1†     1996 Equity Incentive Plan (previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Form S-1, filed April 30, 1999, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.1.1.2†     Form of Option Agreement for the 1996 Equity Incentive Plan (previously filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Form S-1, filed April 30, 1999, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.1.2.1†     1999 Equity Incentive Plan, adopted April 16, 1999 and approved by Stockholders on May 21, 1999 and May 25, 2000 (composite plan document reflecting amendments adopted through May 15, 2003) (previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Form S-8, filed May 15, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.1.2.2†     Appendix A to the 1999 Equity Incentive Plan, effective as of January 1, 2004 (relating to the automatic option grant program for eligible directors), including the form of Eligible Director Option Agreement (previously filed as Exhibit 10.1.2.2 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-K, filed August 9, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.1.2.3†     Form of Stock Option Grant Notice for the 1999 Equity Incentive Plan (previously filed within Exhibit 10.4.1 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed April 2, 2001, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.1.2.4†     Form of Option Agreement for the 1999 Equity Incentive Plan (previously filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s Form S-8, filed November 15, 2001, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.1.2.5†     Form of Addendum to Stock Option Agreement applicable to certain grants under the 1999 Equity Incentive Plan from the Registrant to each of A. George (Skip) Battle, Steven Berkowitz, Steven Sordello, Heather Staples and Claudio Pinkus (previously filed as exhibit 10.1.2.4 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q filed August 5, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.1.3.1†     1999 Non-Qualified Equity Incentive Plan, as Amended through January 10, 2001 (previously filed as Exhibit 99.4 to the Registrant’s Form S-8, filed November 15, 2001, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.1.3.2†     Form of Option Agreement for the 1999 Non-Qualified Equity Incentive Plan (previously filed as Exhibit 99.5 to the Registrant’s Form S-8, filed November 15, 2001, and incorporated herein by reference).

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Exhibit No. Description


  10.1.3.3†     2002 UK Approved Rules for Grants under the 1999 Non-Qualified Equity Plan (the “UK Sub Plan”), as adopted by the Registrant on January 13, 2003 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.1.3.3 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q, filed May 2, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.1.4†     1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended through May 25, 2000 (previously filed as Exhibit 99.3 to the Registrant’s Form S-8, filed November 15, 2001, and incorporated herein by reference).
        Other Compensation-Related Agreements
  10.2.1.1†     Offer letter dated as of January 5, 1999, by and between the Registrant and Frank A. Vaculin (previously filed as Exhibit 10.18 to the Registrant’s Form S-1, filed April 30, 1999, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.1.2†     Severance terms as of April 30, 2001, by and between the Registrant and Frank A. Vaculin (previously filed as Exhibit 10.18.1 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 28, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.2.1†     Offer letter dated as of May 27, 1999, by and between the Registrant and George S. Lichter (previously filed as Exhibit 10.29 to the Registrant’s Amendment No. 2 to Form S-1, filed June 7, 1999, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.2.2†     Incentive Agreement, entered into as of January 2, 2001, by and between the Registrant and George Lichter (previously filed as Exhibit 10.46.1 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 28, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.2.3†     Amendment to Incentive Agreement, dated June 18, 2001, by and between the Registrant and George Lichter (previously filed as Exhibit 10.46.2 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 28, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.2.4†     Second Amendment to Incentive Agreement, entered into as of August 30, 2001, by and between the Registrant and George Lichter (previously filed as Exhibit 10.46.3 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 28, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.2.5†     Separation Agreement, dated February 6, 2002, made by and between George Lichter and the Registrant (previously filed as Exhibit 10.46.4 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 28, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.3.1†     Offer letter dated as of December 8, 2000, by and between the Registrant and A. George (Skip) Battle (previously filed as Exhibit 10.40 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed April 2, 2001, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.3.2†     Offer letter of New Terms of Employment, dated April 3, 2001, by and between the Registrant and A. George (Skip) Battle (previously filed as Exhibit 10.41 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 14, 2001, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.3.3†     Severance Benefit Letter Agreement, dated as of November 14, 2002, by and between the Registrant and A. George (Skip) Battle (previously filed as Exhibit 10.2.3.3 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 12, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.4.1†     Promissory Note, dated March 15, 2001, by and between the Registrant and Steven J. Sordello (previously filed as Exhibit 10.43 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 14, 2001, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.4.2†     Severance Benefit Letter Agreement, dated as of November 14, 2002, by and between the Registrant and Steven J. Sordello (previously filed as Exhibit 10.2.4.2 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 12, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.4.3†     Addendum to Stock Option Agreement regarding the April 1, 2003 stock option grant under the 1999 Equity Incentive Plan from the Registrant to Steven J. Sordello (previously filed as Exhibit 10.2.4.3 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 5, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).

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Exhibit No. Description


  10.2.4.4†     Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the 1999 Equity Incentive Plan by and between the Registrant and Steven J. Sordello, dated September 30, 2003 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.2.4.4 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed November 4, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.5†     Severance letter dated March 28, 2001, by and between the Registrant and Adam Klein previously filed as Exhibit 10.39.1 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 28, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.6.1†     Offer letter dated April 23, 2001, by and between the Registrant and Steven Berkowitz (previously filed as Exhibit 10.42 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 14, 2001, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.6.2†     Severance Benefit Letter Agreement, dated as of November 14, 2002, by and between the Registrant and Steven Berkowitz (previously filed as Exhibit 10.2.6.2 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 12, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.6.3†     Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the 1999 Equity Incentive Plan by and between the Registrant and Steven Berkowitz, dated September 30, 2003 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.2.6.3 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed November 4, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.7.1†     Incentive Agreement, entered into as of January 2, 2001, by and between the Registrant and Claudio Pinkus (previously filed as Exhibit 10.45.1 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 28, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.7.2†     Amendment to Incentive Agreement, dated June 18, 2001, by and between the Registrant and Claudio Pinkus (previously filed as Exhibit 10.45.2 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 28, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.7.3†     Second Amendment to Incentive Agreement, entered into as of August 29, 2001, by and between the Registrant and Claudio Pinkus (previously filed as Exhibit 10.45.3 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 28, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.7.4†     Third Amendment to Incentive Agreement, entered into as of November 17, 2001, by and between the Registrant and Claudio Pinkus (previously filed as Exhibit 10.45.4 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 28, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.7.5†     Severance Benefit Letter Agreement, dated as of November 14, 2002, by and between the Registrant and Claudio Pinkus (previously filed as Exhibit 10.2.7.5 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 12, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.7.6†     Severance Agreement by and between the Registrant and Claudio Pinkus, dated August 28, 2003 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.2.7.6 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed November 4, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.8.1†     Form of Indemnity Agreement by and between the Registrant and each of its then-current directors and executive officers (previously filed as Exhibit 10.27 to the Registrant’s Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1, filed May 10, 1999, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.8.2†     Form of Indemnification Agreement, entered into in May 2003 (or subsequently) between the Registrant and each of A. George (Skip) Battle, David Carlick, Joshua Goldman, Garrett Gruener, James Kirsner, Geoffrey Y. Yang, Scott Bauer, Steve Berkowitz, Adrian Cox, Jim Diaz, Paul Gardi, Scott Garell, John Scott Lomond, Tuoc Long, Claudio Pinkus, Brett Robertson, Steve Sordello, Heather Staples and Mark Stein (previously filed as Exhibit 10.2.8.2 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q, filed August 5, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.9.1†     Severance Benefit Letter Agreement, dated as of December 3, 2002, by and between the Registrant and Brett M. Robertson (previously filed as Exhibit 10.2.9.1 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 12, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.9.2†     Offer Letter dated November 25, 2002 by and between the Registrant and Brett M. Robertson (previously filed as Exhibit 10.2.9.2 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed May 3, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference).

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  10.2.10†     Severance Benefit Letter Agreement, dated as of November 14, 2002, by and between the Registrant and Heather J. Staples (previously filed as Exhibit 10.2.10.1 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 12, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.11†     Separation Agreement and Mutual Release, dated as of December 23, 2002, by and between the Registrant and Cynthia Pevehouse (previously filed as Exhibit 10.2.11 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 12, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.12†     Offer Letter dated October 27, 2003 by and between the Registrant and Adrian Cox (previously filed as Exhibit 10.2.12.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed May 3, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.13.1†     Offer letter dated April 30, 2004 by and between Ask Jeeves, Inc. and F. William Daugherty, III (previously filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed July 20, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.13.2     Non-Competition Agreement, dated March 3, 2004, between Ask Jeeves, Inc. and F. William Daugherty, III (previously filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed March 5, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.14.1†     Offer letter dated April 30, 2004 by and between Ask Jeeves, Inc. and Jonas Steinman (previously filed as Exhibit 10.6 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed July 20, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.2.14.2     Non-Competition Agreement, dated March 3, 2004, between Ask Jeeves, Inc. and Jonas Steinman (previously filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed March 5, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference).
        U.S. Leases
  10.3.1     Office Lease dated as of April 29, 1999, by and between the Registrant and Emery Station Associates, L.L.C. (previously filed as Exhibit 10.28 to the Registrant’s Amendment No. 2 to Form S-1, filed June 7, 1999, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.3.2     Master Lease Agreement dated as of June 15, 1999, by and between the Registrant and Comdisco, Inc. (previously filed as Exhibit No. 4 to the Registrant’s Amendment No. 4 to Form S-1, filed June 29, 1999, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.3.3     Lease Amendment and Termination Agreement, made February 4, 2002, by and between the Registrant, as Tenant, and Oakland City Center LLC, as Landlord (previously filed as Exhibit 10.48 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 28, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.3.4     Lease (for Ask Jeeves’ new headquarters space in Oakland, CA) dated as of June 30, 2004, by and between the Registrant and 555 Twelfth Street Venture, LLC (previously filed as Exhibit 10.3.4 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-K, filed August 9, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.3.5.1     Lease (for Ask Jeeves’ offices in Irvington, NY), dated July 27, 1999 by and between Focus Interactive, Inc. (formerly known as CTC Bulldog, Inc.) and Bridge Street Properties LLC (previously filed as Exhibit 10.1.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed July 20, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.3.5.2     Amended Lease (for Ask Jeeves’ offices in Irvington, NY), dated September 22, 2002, by and between Focus Interactive, Inc. (formerly known as iWon, Inc.) and Bridge Street Properties LLC (previously filed as Exhibit 10.1.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed July 20, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference).
        Ask Jeeves U.K. Documents
  10.4.1     Agreement Relating to the Sale and Purchase of the Entire Issued Share Capital of Carlton & Granada Internet Limited, dated as of February 7, 2002, by and among the Registrant, Carlton Communications PLC, Granada Media Group Limited, Carlton & Granada Internet Limited, Ask Jeeves (Jersey) Limited and Ask Jeeves International, Inc. (previously filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Form S-3, filed March 6, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference).

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  10.4.2     Further Supplemental Partnership Deed relating to Ask Jeeves UK, dated February 14, 2002, by and among the Registrant, Carlton Communications PLC, Granada Media Group Limited, Carlton & Granada Internet Limited, Ask Jeeves (Jersey) Limited, Ask Jeeves International Inc. and Ask Jeeves UK (previously filed as Exhibit 10.49 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed April 30, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.4.3     Tax Deed relating to the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Carlton & Granada Internet Limited, dated March 6, 2002, by and among the Registrant, Carlton Communications PLC and Granada Media Group Limited (previously filed as Exhibit 10.50 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed April 30, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.4.4     Underlease, dated March 15, 2000, by and between City & General (West End) Limited and the Ask Jeeves UK Partnership (previously filed as Exhibit 10.4.4 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 12, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).
        Japanese Joint Venture Documents
  10.5.1‡     Joint Venture Agreement by and between Trans Cosmos Inc. USA Pacific Holdings Company III, and Ask Jeeves International, Inc., dated as of August 31, 2000 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.5.1 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 12, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.5.2.1‡     Distribution and License Agreement by and between Ask Jeeves International, Inc., the Registrant, transcosmos, inc. and Ask Jeeves Kabushiki Kaisha (also known as A.J.J. Co., Ltd., in English) (“AJ Japan”), dated as of August 31, 2000 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.5.2.1 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 12, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.5.2.2‡     Amendment No. 1 to the Distribution and License Agreement by and between Ask Jeeves International, Inc. and AJ Japan, dated as of December 1, 2000 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.5.2.2 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 12, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.5.2.3‡     Amendment No. 2 to the Distribution and License Agreement by and between Ask Jeeves International, Inc. and AJ Japan, dated as of January 1, 2002 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.5.2.3 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 12, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.5.2.4‡*     First Amended and Restated Distribution and License Agreement by and between Ask Jeeves International, Inc., AJ Japan, the Registrant and Trans Cosmos, Inc., dated as of June 1, 2003.
  10.5.3‡*     Hosted Services Agreement by and between Ask Jeeves International, Inc. and AJ Japan, dated August 23, 2004.
        Warrants to Purchase Common Stock of the Registrant
  10.6.1     Warrant to purchase 15,000 shares of Common Stock granted by the Registrant to Antenna Group Provided, dated as of June 30, 1998 (previously filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Registrant’s Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1, filed May 10, 1999, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.6.2     Warrant to purchase 105,000 shares of Common Stock granted by the Registrant to Boris Katz, dated as of July 26, 2001 (previously filed as Exhibit 4.7 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 28, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.6.3     Warrant to purchase 70,000 shares of Common Stock granted by the Registrant to Patrick Winston, dated as of July 26, 2001 (previously filed as Exhibit 4.8 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 28, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference).
        Registration Rights Agreements
  10.7.1     Form of Registration Rights Agreement, between the Registrant and Stockholders of Net Effect Systems, Inc. (previously filed as Exhibit 10.35 to the Registrant’s Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1, filed February 23, 2000, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.7.2     Registration Rights Agreement, dated September 10, 2001, by and between the Registrant and the multiple parties listed therein (previously filed as Exhibit 10.44 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed September 17, 2001, and incorporated herein by reference).

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  10.7.3     Registration Rights Agreement (relating to the Zero Coupon Subordinated Convertible Notes), dated as of June 4, 2003, by and between Ask Jeeves, Inc. and Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, as initial purchaser (previously filed as Exhibit 10.7.3 to the Registrant’s Form S-3 registration statement, filed September 19, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).
        Miscellaneous
  10.8.1.1‡     Advertising Services Agreement, dated July 17, 2002, by and between the Registrant and Google, Inc. (previously filed as Exhibit 10.52 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 14, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.8.1.2‡     Amendment Number One to Advertising Services Agreement, dated October 23, 2002, by and between the Registrant and Google, Inc. (previously filed as Exhibit 10.8.2 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 12, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.8.1.3‡*     Amended and Restated Advertising Services Agreement, dated July 26, 2004, by and between the Registrant and Google, Inc.
  10.8.2.1‡     Google Services Agreement, dated May 15, 2003, by and between the Ask Jeeves UK Partnership and Google Technology, Inc. (previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 15, 2003, filed May 29, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.8.2.2‡*     First Amendment to Google Services Agreement and Order Form, dated July 26, 2004, by and between Ask Jeeves Europe Limited (as assignee of the Ask Jeeves UK Partnership) and Google Technology, Inc.
  10.8.3.1‡     Google Services Agreement and related Order Form, dated May 23, 2003, by and between Google Technology Inc. and Focus Interactive, Inc. (formerly known as The Excite Network, Inc.) (previously filed as Exhibit 10.3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed July 20, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.8.3.2‡     Amendment No. 1 to Google Order Form (amending the Order Form dated May 23, 2003), dated September 19, 2003, by and between Google Inc. and Focus Interactive, Inc. (previously filed as Exhibit 10.3.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed July 20, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.8.3.3‡*     Amendment Number One to Google Services Agreement, dated July 26, 2004, by and between Focus Interactive, Inc. and Google Inc.
  10.8.4‡     Google Services Agreement (Content Targeting), dated September 19, 2003, by and between Google Inc. and Focus Interactive, Inc. (previously filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed July 20, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.9.1‡     Agreement by and between the Registrant and The Wodehouse No. 3 Trust, dated as of January 1, 2000 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.9 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 12, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.9.2‡     First Amendment to Agreement by and between the Registrant and The Wodehouse No. 3 Trust, dated as of May 9, 2003 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.9.2 to the Registrant’s Form 10-Q filed August 5, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.10.1‡     DARTTM Service Agreement for Publishers by and between DoubleClick Inc. and the Registrant, effective as of June 30, 1999 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.10.1 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 12, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.10.2‡     Addendum No. 1 to DART Service Agreement for Publishers by and between DoubleClick Inc. and the Registrant, effective as of October 1, 2000 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.10.2 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 12, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.10.3‡     Addendum No. 2 to DART Service Agreement for Publishers by and between DoubleClick Inc. and the Registrant, effective as of March 30, 2001 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.10.3 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 12, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).

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  10.10.4‡     DFP Extension Addendum No. 3 to DART Service Agreement for Publishers by and between DoubleClick Inc. and the Registrant, effective as of November 1, 2002 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.10.4 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 12, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.10.5.1     DoubleClick Master Services Agreement (the “U.S. Master Agreement”) by and between DoubleClick, Inc. and the Registrant, dated February 27, 2004 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.10.5.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed May 3, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.10.5.2‡     DART Services Attachment for Publishers (the “DFP Attachment” to the U.S. Master Agreement) by and between DoubleClick, Inc. and the Registrant, dated February 27, 2004 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.10.5.2 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed May 3, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.10.6.1     DoubleClick European Master Services Agreement (the “European Master Agreement”) by and between DoubleClick, Inc. and Ask Jeeves Europe, Ltd., dated February 27, 2004 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.10.6.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed May 3, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.10.6.2‡     DART Services Attachment for Publishers (the “DFP Attachment” to the European Master Agreement) by and between DoubleClick, Inc. and Ask Jeeves Europe, Ltd., dated February 27, 2004 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.2.9.2 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed May 3, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.11     Asset Purchase Agreement dated May 28, 2003 (relating to the disposition of the Jeeves Solutions assets) by and between Ask Jeeves, Inc., as seller, and Kanisa Inc., as buyer, (previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 28, 2003, filed May 29, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.12.2     Form of Standstill Agreement, dated March 3, 2004, between Ask Jeeves, Inc. and each of the following (stockholders of Interactive Search Holdings, Inc.), separately: Bain Capital Fund VI, L.P.; BCIP Associates II; BCIP Trust Associates II; BCIP Associates II-B; BCIP Trust Associates II-B; BCIP Associates II-C; PEP Investments PTY LTD.; Sankaty High Yield Asset Partners, L.P.; Sankaty High Yield Partners II, L.P.; Brookside Capital Partners Fund L.P.; BCI-I, LLC; BCI-II, LLC; RGIP, LLC; William Daugherty; J.P. Morgan Partners (BHCA), L.P.; Jonas Steinman; Frank William Daugherty, III 2004 GRAT; and Jonas L. Steinman 2004 GRAT (previously filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed March 5, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.12.3     Form of Stockholder Agreement, dated March 3, 2004, between Ask Jeeves, Inc. and each of the following (stockholders of Interactive Search Holdings, Inc.), separately: Bain Capital Fund VI, L.P.; BCIP Associates II; BCIP Trust Associates II; BCIP Associates II-B; BCIP Trust Associates II-B; BCIP Associates II-C; PEP Investments PTY LTD.; Sankaty High Yield Asset Partners, L.P.; Sankaty High Yield Partners II, L.P.; Brookside Capital Partners Fund L.P.; BCI-I, LLC; BCI-II, LLC; RGIP, LLC; William Daugherty; J.P. Morgan Partners (BHCA), L.P.; Jonas Steinman; Viacom Inc.; Frank William Daugherty, III 2004 GRAT; and Jonas L. Steinman 2004 GRAT (previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed March 5, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.13.1‡     S&P Comstock Information Distribution License Agreement, dated January 13, 2000, by and between S&P ComStock, Inc. and Focus Interactive, Inc. (formerly known as iWon, Inc.) (previously filed as Exhibit 10.2.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed July 20, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.13.2‡     Amendment Number 1 to Information Distribution License Agreement, dated December 5, 2001, by and between S&P ComStock Inc. and Focus Interactive, Inc. (formerly known as iWon, Inc.) (previously filed as Exhibit 10.2.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed July 20, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.13.3‡     Amendment Number 2 to Information Distribution License Agreement, dated December 5, 2001, by and between S&P ComStock Inc. and Focus Interactive, Inc. (formerly known as iWon, Inc. and as The Excite Network, Inc.) (previously filed as Exhibit 10.2.3 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed July 20, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference).

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  14.1     Code of Ethics of the Registrant, as currently in effect (previously filed as Exhibit 14.1 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 1, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference).
  21.1     Subsidiaries of the Registrant (previously filed as Exhibit 21.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 9, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference).
  31.1*     Certification of Steven Berkowitz under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  31.2*     Certification of Steven J. Sordello under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  32.1*     Certifications under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.


Filed herewith.

†  Denotes a management contract or compensatory plan.
 
‡  Portions of this exhibit were omitted and filed separately with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.

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