Press Release: May 8, 2000

WR Hambrecht + Co Initiates Coverage of Asiacontent.com (IASIA) With BUY Rating and $17.50 Price Target

Company partner-of-choice within exploding Pan-Asian Internet market

San Francisco, CA, May 8, 2000—WR Hambrecht + Co today initiated research coverage on Asiacontent.com (IASIA) with a BUY rating and $17.50 price target. WR Hambrecht + Co.’s eMarkets and Portals analyst Derek Brown cited Asiacontent.com’s localized expertise, centralized operational and technological platforms, and expansive online reach in Asia as key reasons for the rating. WR Hambrecht + Co offers all its research reports free and real-time at www.wrhambrecht.com.

"Asiacontent.com is the partner-of-choice for globally branded consumer Internet companies seeking a pan-Asian presence. We believe the Company’s unique business model, which integrates content publishing and ad serving, makes it an invaluable one-stop resource and positions it to capitalize on the explosive growth potential of the Asian Internet market," Brown said.

Brown projects Asiacontent.com’s total revenues will reach $20.3 million in 2000 and $52.6 million in 2001, up from $3.0 million in 1999.

Asiscontent.com provides content publishing and ad serving to a Pan-Asian audience.