Ask Jeeves (ASKJ) 8-K Ask Jeeves Reports Third Quarter 2004 Results

EXHIBIT 99.1

Ask Jeeves Reports Third Quarter 2004 Results

-Ask Jeeves posts third quarter revenues of $75.7 million-

-Third quarter pro forma income of $0.25 per share-

-Third quarter GAAP net income of $0.15 per share-

EMERYVILLE, Calif., October 27, 2004— Ask Jeeves, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASKJ; “the Company”) today reported results for the third quarter, which ended September 30, 2004. This is the first full financial quarter since the Company’s May 6, 2004 acquisition of Interactive Search Holdings (“ISH”).

Revenues for the quarter ended September 30, 2004 were $75.7 million. These third quarter results represent 178% percent growth over revenues of $27.2 million for the comparable year-ago quarter.

“This marks another strong quarter of earnings and revenue growth,” said Steve Berkowitz, CEO of Ask Jeeves. “We continue to execute well. We accelerated our product roadmap, launching more new features than in any prior quarter. In the process we went beyond the basics of good search to pioneering exciting new features. Customer satisfaction on our flagship Ask Jeeves site is at an all-time high. With the development of great user experiences and world-class technologies as our foundation, our goal as we look to the fourth quarter and 2005 is to continue to execute as we’ve done in the past. We expect to do this while expanding internationally and growing our relationships with advertisers through our newly formed business unit, AJinteractive.”

Pro forma income from continuing operations for the third quarter was $17.6 million, or $0.25 per share. For the comparable year-ago quarter, Ask Jeeves’ pro forma income from continuing operations was $5.1 million, or $0.09 per share. These pro forma results should be evaluated in light of the Company’s financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP. Under GAAP, Ask Jeeves’ income from continuing operations for the third quarter of 2004 was $10.7 million, or $0.15 per share. This compares to income from continuing operations on a GAAP basis of $3.8 million, or $0.07 per share, for the comparable year-ago quarter. Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $89.5 million on September 30, 2004.

A table reconciling the Company’s pro forma income from continuing operations to GAAP income from continuing operations is included in the condensed consolidated financial statements in this release. Ask Jeeves’ pro forma results are calculated by adjusting GAAP income from continuing operations to exclude the effects of amortization of other assets and the other items detailed in the accompanying table. Unless otherwise indicated, all financial, pro forma and other metrics in this release are based on Ask Jeeves’ continuing operations. Ask Jeeves completed the sale of its Jeeves Solutions division on July 1, 2003.

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Business Outlook

The following business outlook contains forward-looking statements describing management’s current expectations for the future. The matters discussed in these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, some of which are listed or referred to in the cautionary note below. The pro forma guidance below has been calculated in a manner consistent with the pro forma historical data provided above and the pro forma tables attached to this earnings release.

Fourth Quarter and 2004 Business Outlook

Commenting on Ask Jeeves’ 2004 business outlook, the Company’s CFO, Steve Sordello, said “This year is shaping up to be another great year for Ask Jeeves. We continued to grow revenue and earnings while investing in our business and building innovative products. At this time last year, we provided guidance for revenue growth of 30 percent and earnings per share of 38 percent for 2004. Today, as a result of strong organic growth and acquisitions, we are expecting to deliver revenue growth of nearly 145 percent and earnings per share growth of 160 percent for this year.”

For the fourth quarter, Ask Jeeves anticipates revenues of $86 million and pro forma income of approximately $22.4 million, or $0.32 per share. Ask Jeeves anticipates that GAAP net income will be $0.22 per share. The anticipated difference between fourth quarter GAAP-basis net income and pro forma income results primarily from amortization of intangible assets associated with the ISH acquisition. The earnings per share forecast assumes a share count of 70 million shares.

For the full year, Ask Jeeves anticipates revenues of approximately $261 million and pro forma income of approximately $1.04 per share for 2004. GAAP net income is expected to be $0.78 per share. The anticipated difference between GAAP-basis net income and pro forma income results is primarily related to the non-cash amortization of intangibles.

2005 Business Outlook

Commenting on the 2005 business outlook, Sordello stated “As we look to 2005, we anticipate our revenue growth will come primarily from search, which continues to be one of the best growth areas on the Internet. In addition, we plan to increase investment in international expansion, portals, technology development and marketing, while continuing to grow the business.”

For the year ahead, Ask Jeeves currently anticipates revenues of approximately $365 to $395 million and pro forma income of approximately $1.30 to $1.45 per share for 2005. GAAP net income is expected to be $0.90 to $1.05 per share. The anticipated difference between GAAP-basis net income and pro forma income results primarily from non-cash amortization of intangibles. This guidance should be considered in light of the risks referred to in the cautionary note below.

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Conference Call Scheduled for 5 p.m. Eastern time on October 27, 2004

Ask Jeeves will hold a conference call to discuss its third quarter 2004 results, its business outlook for the fourth quarter and the year 2004, and its preliminary outlook for the year 2005 at 5 p.m. Eastern time on October 27, 2004. A more-detailed outlook will be presented on the call than is contained in this release. Interested persons can listen to a live broadcast of the conference call on the Internet at www.irconnect.com/askjinc/index.html. To listen to the live call, go to the web site at least fifteen minutes prior to the start time to download and install the necessary audio software. For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available one hour after the conclusion of the call at www.ask.com/investor for a period of three months. The financial and statistical information to be discussed during the conference call will be posted on Ask Jeeves Web site at the above address.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements regarding the future are forward-looking statements, including those statements regarding the Company’s potential for future growth, the Company’s anticipated increase in investment in its business, the Company’s plans to continue to innovate and improve and all expectations regarding financial forecasts including revenue and productivity metrics, cash flow, net income, pro forma income, revenue growth and pro forma earnings per share of the Company in the future. The forward-looking guidance provided in this press release is subject to numerous assumptions, risks and other uncertainties and is based on limited information available to Ask Jeeves at this time, which is subject to change. As a result of these uncertainties and information limits, Ask Jeeves’ actual results in the future may differ materially from management’s current expectations. Although management’s expectations may change after the date of this release, Ask Jeeves undertakes no obligation to revise or update the guidance above. The lack of any revision or update is not meant to imply continued affirmation of the guidance.

Factors that might cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: Ask Jeeves’ dependence on a third-party paid placement provider; the risk that acquisitions might not be integrated successfully; the risk of further vertical consolidation in the Internet search and keyword advertising markets; risks associated with rapid technological change; risks that innovations by competitors might cause Ask Jeeves’ user base to migrate to other search engines, or that Ask Jeeves search volume might otherwise decline; risks associated with relying on third parties for search toolbar distribution; the risk that companies’ Internet advertising budgets might contract or grow at a slower pace; Ask Jeeves’ dependence on third parties for some types of content, distribution and advertising delivery; potential lack of market acceptance of Ask Jeeves’ advertising products; introduction of new advertising products or search technologies by competitors; declines in the average selling price of Ask Jeeves’ advertising products; and adverse economic conditions in any of the major countries or markets in which Ask Jeeves does business or to which its web content is targeted. As a relatively short announcement, this press release cannot present a full discussion of such risks. Further information on risk factors that could affect Ask Jeeves’ financial results is included in its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Ask Jeeves encourages investors to read all of the disclosures in its SEC filings for

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a broader discussion of important factors that may be material to investors and may affect Ask Jeeves’ business, financial condition and results of operations.

About Ask Jeeves, Inc.

Ask Jeeves, Inc. provides consumers and advertisers with information retrieval products across a diverse portfolio of Web sites, portals and desktop search applications. Ask Jeeves’ search and search-based portal brands include: Ask Jeeves (Ask.com and Ask.co.uk); Ask Jeeves Japan (Ask.jp, a joint venture); Ask Jeeves for Kids (AJKids.com); Excite (excite.com); iWon (iwon.com); My Search (mysearch.com); My Way (myway.com); My Web Search (mywebsearch.com) and Teoma (teoma.com). Ask Jeeves also owns the search technology Teoma, proprietary natural language processing technology, as well as portal and ad serving technologies. In addition to powering several of the Ask Jeeves brands, the Company syndicates its technologies to help companies increase revenue through powerful search. Ask Jeeves’ advertising division, AJinteractive, provides advertisers with targeted tools to reach a broad base of valuable customers. Ask Jeeves, Inc. is headquartered in Emeryville, California, with offices throughout the United States, as well as in London, England and Dublin, Ireland. For more information, visit http://www.Ask.com or call 510-985-7400.

NOTE: Ask Jeeves, AJinteractive, Ask.com, Teoma, My Way, My Search, My Web Search, iWon and Excite are trademarks or registered trademarks of Ask Jeeves, Inc.

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ASK JEEVES, INC.
PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except share and per share data)

	Three Months Ended										Nine Months Ended
	(unaudited)										(unaudited)
	September 30, 2004					September 30, 2003					September 30, 2004					September 30, 2003
Revenues	$	75,654		100.0	%	$	27,176		100.0	%	$	175,224		100.0	%	$	75,458		100.0	%
Cost of revenues		21,487		28.4	%		4,734		17.4	%		43,225		24.7	%		14,692		19.5	%
Gross profit		54,167		71.6	%		22,442		82.6	%		131,999		75.3	%		60,766		80.5	%
Operating expenses:
Product development		6,666		8.8	%		4,207		15.5	%		16,624		9.5	%		11,004		14.6	%
Sales and marketing		20,050		26.5	%		8,235		30.3	%		45,860		26.2	%		22,262		29.5	%
General and administrative		8,234		10.9	%		4,838		17.8	%		19,871		11.3	%		13,387		17.7	%
Total pro forma operating expenses		34,950		46.2	%		17,280		63.6	%		82,355		47.0	%		46,653		61.8	%
Pro forma operating income		19,217		25.4	%		5,162		19.0	%		49,644		28.3	%		14,113		18.7	%
Interest and other income, net		175		0.2	%		654		2.4	%		807		0.5	%		1,035		1.4	%
Pro forma income before income tax provision		19,392		25.6	%		5,816		21.4	%		50,451		28.8	%		15,148		20.1	%
Income tax provision		1,786		2.4	%		738		2.7	%		3,586		2.0	%		1,408		1.9	%
Pro forma income from continuing operations	$	17,606		23.2	%	$	5,078		18.7	%	$	46,865		26.8	%	$	13,740		18.2	%
Basic pro forma income from continuing operations per share	$	0.31				$	0.11				$	0.89				$	0.32
Weighted average shares outstanding used in computing basic pro forma income from continuing operations per share		57,655,846					44,692,016					52,643,594					43,422,327
Diluted pro forma income from continuing operations per share	$	0.25				$	0.09				$	0.72				$	0.26
Weighted average shares outstanding used in computing diluted pro forma income from continuing operations 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
RECONCILIATION OF PRO FORMA INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS TO GAAP INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
Pro forma income from continuing operations	$	17,606				$	5,078				$	46,865				$	13,740
Cost of revenues		(126	)				—					(165	)				(1	)
Amortization of intangible assets		(3,401	)				(522	)				(5,771	)				(1,566	)
		(3,527	)				(522	)				(5,936	)				(1,567	)
Product Development		(75	)				—					(98	)				(2	)
Sales and marketing		(214	)				—					(280	)				(1	)
General and administrative		(59	)				—					(77	)				(2	)
Amortization of intangible assets		(7	)				(7	)				(22	)				(22	)
Transaction costs		—					—					—					(625	)
		(66	)				(7	)				(99	)				(649	)
Impairment and write off of long-lived assets		—					(702	)				—					(702	)
Amortization of intangible assets		(3,329	)				—					(5,334	)				—
Gain on acquisition and dissolution of joint ventures		—					—					—					6,356
Interest and other income, net		(53	)				(8	)				164					(28	)
Income from continuing operations	$	10,342				$	3,839				$	35,282				$	17,147

Notes:

Adjustments to cost of revenues, product development, sales and marketing, and general and administrative costs relate to amortization of stock based compensation.

Amortization of intangible assets in cost of revenues and general and administrative costs consists of the pro-rata expensing of intangible assets from acquisitions, certain licensing fees, and trademarks.

Transaction costs in 2003 related to certain merger and acquisition activities that did not come to fruition.

Amortization of intangible assets consists of the amortization of intangible assets from the acquisition of ISH in 2004.

Gain on acquisition and dissolution of joint ventures in 2003 consists of a gain from the acquisition of our UK joint venture and a gain from the dissolution of our Ask Jeeves en Espanol joint venture.

The adjustments to interest and other income, net consist of realized gains and losses on investments, losses on disposals of assets, foreign exchange gains and losses, and miscellaneous income.

ASK JEEVES, INC.
PRO FORMA INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS TO PRO FORMA EBITDA FROM CONTINUING
OPERATIONS AND GAAP INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except share and per share data)

	Three Months Ended												Nine Months Ended
	(unaudited)												(unaudited)
	September 30, 2004						September 30, 2003						September 30, 2004						September 30, 2003
	Amount			Per Share			Amount			Per Share			Amount			Per Share			Amount			Per Share
Pro forma income from continuing operations	$	17,606		$	0.25		$	5,078		$	0.09		$	46,865		$	0.72		$	13,740		$	0.26
Depreciation		2,532			0.04			1,633			0.03			6,706			0.10			5,336			0.10
Interest and other income, net		(175	)		—			(654	)		(0.01	)		(807	)		(0.01	)		(1,035	)		(0.02	)
Income tax provision		1,786			0.02			738			0.01			3,586			0.06			1,408			0.02
Pro forma EBITDA from continuing operations		21,749			0.31			6,795			0.12			56,350			0.87			19,449			0.36
Adjustments:
Depreciation		(2,532	)		(0.04	)		(1,633	)		(0.03	)		(6,706	)		(0.10	)		(5,336	)		(0.10	)
Interest and other income, net		175			—			654			0.01			807			0.01			1,035			0.02
Income tax provision		(1,786	)		(0.02	)		(738	)		(0.01	)		(3,586	)		(0.06	)		(1,408	)		(0.02	)
Cost of revenues		(126	)		—			—			—			(165	)		—			(1	)		—
Amortization of intangible assets		(3,401	)		(0.05	)		(522	)		(0.01	)		(5,771	)		(0.10	)		(1,566	)		(0.03	)
		(3,527	)		(0.05	)		(522	)		(0.01	)		(5,936	)		(0.10	)		(1,567	)		(0.03	)
Product development		(75	)		—			—			—			(98	)		—			(2	)		—
Sales and marketing		(214	)		—			—			—			(280	)		—			(1	)		—
General and administrative		(59	)		—			—			—			(77	)		—			(2	)		—
Amortization of intangible assets		(7	)		—			(7	)		—			(22	)		—			(22	)		—
Transaction costs		—			—			—			—			—			—			(625	)		(0.01	)
		(66	)		—			(7	)		—			(99	)		—			(649	)		(0.01	)
Impairment and write off of long-lived assets		—			—			(702	)		(0.01	)		—			—			(702	)		(0.01	)
Amortization of intangible assets		(3,329	)		(0.05	)		—			—			(5,334	)		(0.08	)		—			—
Gain on acquisition and dissolution of joint ventures		—			—			—			—			—			—			6,356			0.11
Interest and other income, net		(53	)		—			(8	)		—			164			—			(28	)		—
Income from continuing operations	$	10,342					$	3,839					$	35,282					$	17,147
Weighted average shares outstanding used in computing diluted income from continuing operations per share		69,350,140		$	0.15			57,921,361		$	0.07			64,772,913		$	0.54			53,424,494		$	0.32

Note: Pro forma EBITDA from continuing operations is defined as pro forma income from continuing operations excluding depreciation, interest and other income, and income tax provision.

ASK JEEVES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except share and per share data)

	Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
	September 30,					September 30,
	(unaudited)					(unaudited)
	2004			2003		2004			2003
Revenues	$	75,654		$	27,176	$	175,224		$	75,458
Cost of revenues		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
Discontinued operations:
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
Loss 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
Loss 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

ASK JEEVES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)

	September 30,		December 31,
	2004		2003
	(unaudited)
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 long-term 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		356,216		73,208
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	520,474	$	212,255