Overture to Acquire Web Search Unit of Fast Search & Transfer — FAST

Business Wire, Feb 25, 2003

FAST operates in the United States (Boston, San Francisco), Europe (Norway, France, Germany, Italy, UK), and Japan, and is publicly traded under the ticker symbol 'FAST' on the Oslo Stock Exchange. Please visit www.fastsearch.com for more information or see FAST in action at our technology showcase www.alltheweb.com.

(C) 2003 Fast Search & Transfer ASA -- Fast Search & Transfer, FAST, and the FAST four-colored logo are trademarks of Fast Search & Transfer ASA. All rights reserved. FAST disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including, without limitation, statements regarding the following: the proposed acquisitions of FAST's Web search unit and AltaVista; the expected timing thereof; that Overture's search users, advertisers and affiliates will benefit from the acquisitions; that Overture will realize certain synergies and the timing of realizing such synergies; Overture's planned product offerings; management's expectations regarding Overture's future financial performance, including Overture's future revenue, traffic acquisition costs, income before taxes, earnings per share and EBITDA and the effect of the acquisitions on Overture's financial performance, including when the transactions will be accretive to earnings; the growth of search and paid inclusion and Overture's ability to capitalize on those opportunities; the acceptance and adoption of Pay-For-Performance search and paid inclusion; Overture's research and development program; Overture's affiliate partnerships and affiliate program and Overture's business model. Actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements due to risks such as: the risk that one or both of the acquisitions will not be completed on a timely basis or at all; the risk that Overture will not realize value from the acquisitions; the risk that it may take longer to achieve value than current management expectations; the risk that Overture will not be able to integrate the people, services, technology and product lines of FAST's Web search unit or AltaVista in an efficient and timely manner or at all; transaction and other expenses relating to the AltaVista and FAST transactions; possible fluctuations in the demand for Overture's services (including on a combined basis with AltaVista and/or FAST); possible fluctuations in economic conditions affecting the markets for Overture's services (including on a combined basis with AltaVista and/or FAST); Overture's ability to compete with existing or new competitors; unforeseen difficulties in developing or offering new products and services; possible future price cutting or other actions by Overture's competitors; the risk that Overture's key performance metrics, including overall traffic and use of Overture's services, number of paid clicks, average price per paid click and the number of advertisers might not continue to increase at historical rates or might decline; the risk that Overture's affiliates may not elect to purchase additional services from Overture as a result of the acquisitions; and the risk that Overture may not experience benefits through agreements with its affiliates or that affiliates may not continue or renew their agreements with Overture. For a discussion of other risks that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from such forward-looking statements, see the discussion of "Risks That Could Affect Our Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Overture's 10-Q filing with the SEC for the period ended September 30, 2002. Overture undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.